instructed her in Latin and French literature, and also taught her
Spanish and Italian, in which languages Brantôme asserts that she became
proficient. "But albeit she knew how to speak good Spanish and good
Italian," he says, "she always made use of her mother tongue for matters
of moment; though when it was necessary to join in jesting and gallant
conversation she showed that she was acquainted with more than her daily
bread." (3)

1 Sainte-Marthe's _Oraison funèbre de la Royne de Navarre_,
p. 22. Margaret's modern biographers state that this lady was
Madame de Chastillon, but it is doubtful which Madame
de Chastillon it was. The Rev. James Anderson assumes it was
Louise de Montmorency, the mother of the Colignys, whilst
Miss Freer asserts it was Anne de Chabannes de Damniartin,
wife of James de Chastillon, killed in Italy in 1572. M.
Franck has shown, in his edition of the _Heptameron_, that
Anne de Chabannes died about 1505, and that James de
Chastillon then married Blanche de Tournon. Possibly his
first wife may have been Margaret's governess, but what is
quite certain is that the second wife became her lady of
honour, and that it is she who is alluded to in the
_Heptameron_.

2 Odolant Desnos's _Mémoires historiques sur Alençon_,
vol. ii.

3 Brantôme's _Rodomontades espagnoles_, 18mo, 1740, vol.
xii. p. 117.

Such was Margaret's craving for knowledge that she even wished to