BLOIS, COUNTSHIP OF

held in fee by Robert the Strong, Margrave of Neustria, and his succe or s (865-c. 940); then pa ed to Capetian family; subsequently united with crown by acce ion of Louis XII., grandson: of Louis I., Duke of Orleans, who had purchased it from Guy II. ish mystic; became Abbot of Lie ies (Hainaut), 1530; many of his works, which were written in Latin, have been trans. into English: Book of Spiritual Instruction (1900); Comfort for the Fainthearted (1903); Sanctuary of the Faithful Soul (1905). Eng. topographer; rector of Fersfield (Norfolk); author ofa valuable History of Norfolk, two vol’s only being pub. during his lifetime, the work being completed in eleven vol’s at a later date. vére; according to legend, discovered Richard Cosur de Lion, imprisoned at Durrenstein, by singing one of Richard’s songs. stage-name of Jean Franco is Grave let, Fr. tight-rope walker; cro ed Niagara Falls (1859) on a tight-rope, during the course of which performance he carried @ man on his back, cooked an omelette, and wheeled a barrow. He appeared at the Crystal Palace, London, or elsewhere in England during 1861-62; after int aa wt wards retired, but reappeared (1880); last appearance (1896).