She (the Queen) wishing to complain to her brother,
Madame de Chastillon made her that fine remonstrance which will be seen
in the story, and gave her that beautiful advice which is one of the
finest, most judicious, and most fitting that could be given to avoid
scandal: did it come even from a first president of (the Parliament of)
Paris. Yet it well showed that the lady was quite as artful and shrewd
in such secret matters as she was sensible and prudent; and for this
reason there is no need for doubt as to whether she kept her affair with
the Cardinal a secret. My grandmother, Madame la Senechale of Poitou,
had her place after her death, by election of King Francis who chose and
elected her, and sent to fetch her even in her house, and gave her
with his own hand to the Queen his sister, for he knew her to be a very
well-advised and very virtuous lady, but not so shrewd, or artful, or
ready-witted in such matters as her predecessor, or married either a
second time.
"And if you wish to know to whom the story applies, it is to the Queen
of Navarre herself and Admiral de Bonnivet, as I hold it from my late
grandmother; and yet it seems to me that the said Queen should not have
concealed her name, since the other could not obtain aught from her
chastity, but went off in confusion, and since she herself had meant
to divulge the matter had it not been for the fine and sensible
remonstrance which was made to her by the said lady of honour, Madame de
Chastillon.
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