Shakespeare, Love’s Labor’s Lost, act ii. sc. 1 (1594).

Biron (Charles de Gontaut due de), greatly beloved by Henri IV. of France.  He won immortal laurels at the battles of Arques and Ivry, and at the sieges of Paris and Rouen.  The king loaded him with honors:  he was admiral of France, marshal, governor of Bourgoyne, duke and peer of France.  This too-much honor made him forget himself, and he entered into a league with Spain and Savoy against his country.  The plot was discovered by Lafin; and although Henri wished to pardon him, he was executed (1602, aged 40).

George Chapman has made him the subject of two tragedies, entitled Biron’s Conspiracy and Biron’s Tragedy (1557-1634).

Biron, eldest son of count Baldwin, who disinherited him for marrying Isabella, a nun.  Biron now entered the army and was sent to the siege of Candy, where he fell, and it was supposed died.  After the lapse of seven years, Isabella, reduced to abject poverty, married Villeroy (2 syl.), but the day after her espousals Biron returned, whereupon Isabella went mad and killed herself.—­Thomas Southern, Isabella, or the Fatal Marriage.

During the absence of the elder Macready, his son took the part of “Biron” in Isabella.  The father was shocked, because he desired his son for the Church; but Mrs. Siddons remarked to him, “In the Church your son will live and die a curate on L50 a year, but if successful, the stage will bring him in a thousand.”—­Donaldson, Recollections.

BIRTHA, the motherless daughter and only child of As’tragon the Lombard philosopher.  In spring she gathered blossoms for her father’s still, in autumn, berries, and in summer, flowers.  She fell in love with duke Grondibert, whose wounds she assisted her father to heal.  Birtha, “in love unpractised and unread,” is the beau-ideal of innocence and purity of mind.  Grondibert had just plighted his love to her when he was summoned to court, for king Aribert had proclaimed him his successor and future son-in-law.  Gondibert assured Birtha he would remain true to her, and gave her an emerald ring which he told her would lose its lustre if he proved untrue.  Here the tale breaks off, and as it was never finished the sequel is not known.—­Sir W. Davenant, Gondibert (died 1668).

BISHOP MIDDLEHAM, who was always declaiming against ardent drinks, and advocating water as a beverage, killed himself by secret intoxication.

BISHOPS.  The seven who refused to read the declaration of indulgence published by James II. and were by him imprisoned for recusancy, were archbishop Sancroft (Canterbury), bishops Lloyd (St. Asaph), Turner (Ely), Kew (Bath and Wells), White (Peterborough), Lake (Chichester), Trelawney (Bristol). Being tried, they were all acquitted (June, 1688).

BISTO’NIANS, the Thracians, so called from Biston (son of Mars), who built Bisto’nia on lake Bis’tonis.