Although for a time she lived in concealment, in the end she lost all
fear, and (what is worse) became so exceedingly proud of her lover that
at church she would set herself before most of the honourable women of
the town, wives of officials and others. Moreover, she had children
by the Canon, and among others a daughter who was married to a rich
merchant, and who had so magnificent a wedding that all the women of
the town murmured exceedingly, yet were powerless to set the affair to
rights.

Now it happened that at this time Queen Claude, wife of King Francis,
passed through the town of Autun, having with her my Lady the Regent,
mother of the King aforesaid, and the Duchess of Alençon, her daughter.
(1) One of the Queen's waiting-women, named Perrette, came to the
Duchess and said--

"Madam, I pray you listen to me, and you will do a better deed than if
you went to hear the whole day's service at the church."

1 This would have occurred in the late autumn of 1515, when
the Court journeyed southward to meet Francis I. on his
return from the Marignano campaign.--Ed.

The Duchess gave ready heed, knowing that nought but good counsel could
come from her. Then Perrette forthwith told her how she had taken a
young girl to help her in washing the Queen's linen, and how, on asking
the news of the town, she had heard from her the vexation which all the
honourable women endured at seeing the Canon's mistress go before them,
together with some of the history of the wicked woman's life.