_Francesca_, a Venetian maiden, daughter of old Minotti, governor of Corinth. Alp, the Venetian commander of the Turkish army in the siege of Corinth, loved her; but she refused to marry a renegade. Alp was shot in the siege, and Francesca died of a broken heart.—Byron, _Siege of Corinth_ (1816). Medora, Neuha, Leila, Francesca, and Theresa, it has been alleged, are but children of one family, with differences resulting from climate and circumstances.—Finden, _Byron Beauties_. ⁂ “Medora” in _The Corsair_; “Neuha” in _The Island_; “Leila” in _The Giaour_; and “Theresa,” in _Mazeppa_. =Francesco=, the “Iago” of Massinger’s _Duke of Milan_; the Duke Sforza “the More” being Othello; and the cause of hatred being that Sforza had seduced “Eugenia” Francesco’s sister. As Iago was Othello’s favorite and ancient, so Francesco was Sforza’s favorite and chief minister. During Sforza’s absence with the camp, Francesco tried to corrupt the duke’s beautiful young bride Marcelia, and being repulsed, accused her to the duke of wishing to play the wanton with him. The duke believed his favorite minister, and in his mad jealously ran upon Marcelia and slew her. He was then poisoned by Eugenia, whom he had seduced.—Massinger, _The Duke of Milan_ (1622). (See FRANCISCO.) =Francis=, the faithful, devoted servant of “the stranger.” Quite impenetrable to all idle curiosity.—Benj. Thompson, _The Stranger_ (1797). _Francis_ (_Ayrault_), a visionary who living in the dream-world he has evoked, neglects his nearest of kin, and lets opportunities of happiness, usefulness and patriotic service go by unimproved.—Thomas Wentworth Higginson, _The Monarch of Dreams_ (1887). _Francis_ (_Father_), a Dominican monk, the confessor of Simon Glover.—Sir W. Scott, _Fair Maid of Perth_ (time, Henry IV.). _Francis_ (_Le Baron_). Young French nobleman who renounces king and country. Is shipwrecked in New England, marries Molly Wilder and settles in Plymouth as a physician. He is the father of Lazarus le Baron.—“Round Robin Series,” _A Nameless Nobleman_. _Francis_ (_Father_), a monk of the convent at Namur.—Sir W. Scott, _Quentin Durward_ (time, Edward IV.). =Franciscans.= So called from St. Francis, of Assisi, their founder, in 1208. Called “Min´orites” (_or Inferiors_), from their professed humility; “Gray Friars,” from the color of their coarse clothing; “Mendicants,” because they obtained their daily food by begging; “Observants,” because they observed the rule of poverty. Those who lived in convents were called “Conventual Friars.” =Franciscan Sisters= were called “Clares,” “Poor Clares,” “Minoresses,” “Mendicants,” and “Urbanites” (3 _syl._) =Francis´co=, the son of Valentine. Both father and son are in love with Cellide (2 _syl._), but the lady naturally prefers the son.—Beaumont and Fletcher, _Mons. Thomas_ (1619). _Francis´co_, a musician, Antonio’s boy in _The Chances_, a comedy by Beaumont and Fletcher (1620).