BERENICE,
Daughter of Herod Agrippa the First, King of Judea, grandson of Herod the Great, was the sister of Herod Agrippa the Second, before whom Paul preached, and married her uncle, Herod, king of Chalcis, at whose death she signified her willingness to become the wife of Polemon, King of Cilicia, if he would embrace Judaism. Polemon, induced by her wealth, consented; but Berenice soon deserted him, and he returned to his former faith.
Scrupulous in all religious observances, she made a journey to Jerusalem, where she spent thirty days in fasting and prayer. While thus engaged, she suffered a thousand indignities from, the Roman soldiers. She also went barefoot to the Roman governor to intercede for her people, but he treated her with open neglect. Berenice then resolved to apply to Vespasian, emperor of Rome, or his son Titus, to avoid being involved in the ruin of her nation. She accordingly went, with her brother, to Rome, and soon gained Vespasian by her liberality, and Titus by her beauty. Titus wished to marry her; but the murmurs of the Roman people prevented him; he was even obliged to banish her, with a promise of a recall when the tumult should be appeased. Some historians assert that Berenice returned and was again banished.
She is mentioned in the 26th. chapter of the Acts of the Apostles as coming with her brother Agrippa to Cesarea, to salute Festus.
BERNARD, CATHARINE,
Of the academy of the Ricovrate of Padua, was born at Rouen, and died at Paris in 1712. Her works were several times crowned by the French academy, and by that of the Jeux-Floraux. Two of her tragedies were represented at the French theatre, "Brutus," in 1691, and "Laodamia." It is thought she composed these pieces conjointly with Fontenelle, her friend and countryman. She wrote several other works in verse, showing ease and sometimes delicacy. She acquired some celebrity by her placet to Louis the Fourteenth, to petition for the two hundred crowns given to her annually by that prince; it is to be seen in the "Recueil de vers Choisis du père Bonhors." She discontinued writing for the theatre at the advice of Madame la Chanceliére de Pont-Chartrain, who gave her a pension; even suppressing several little pieces, which might have given wrong impressions of her manners and religion. Two romances are likewise ascribed to her; "The Count d'Amboise," and "Ines of Cordova." Some of the journalists attributed to her, others to Fontenelle, the account of the "Island of Borneo."
BERNERS, or BARNES, JULIANA,
Sister of Richard, Lord Berners, is supposed to have been born about 1388, and was a native of Essex. She was prioress of Sopewell nunnery, and wrote "The Boke of Hawkyng and Huntyng," which was one of the first works that issued from the English press. She is represented as having been beautiful, high-spirited, and fond of all active exercises. She lived to an advanced age, and was highly respected and admired. The indelicacies that are found in her book, must be imputed to the barbarism of the times. She is usually spoken of by contemporary writers as Lady Juliana Bernerst.
