ne
called Rolandine, (2) who was near akin to the Queen; but the latter,
being for some reason unfriendly with the maiden's father, showed her no
great kindness.

Now, although this maiden was not one of the fairest--nor yet indeed was
she of the ugliest--she was nevertheless so discreet and virtuous that
many persons of great consequence sought her in marriage. They had,
however, but a cold reply; for the father (3) was so fond of his money
that he gave no thought to his daughter's welfare, while her mistress,
as I have said, bore her but little favour, so that she was sought by
none who desired to be advanced in the Queen's good graces.

1 This is evidently Anne of Brittany, elder daughter of Duke
Francis II. and wife in turn of Charles VIII. and Louis XII.
Brantome says: "She was the first to form that great Court
of ladies which we have seen since her time until now; she
always had a very great suite of ladies and maids, and never
refused fresh ones; far from it, indeed, for she would
inquire of the noblemen at Court if they had daughters, and
would ask that they might be sent to her."--Lalanne's
_OEuvres de Brantome_, vol. vii. p. 314--L.

2 This by the consent of all the commentators is Anne de
Rohan, elder daughter of John II. Viscount de Rohan, Count
of Porhoet, Leon and La Garnache, by Mary of Brittany,
daughter of Duke Francis I. The date of Anne de Rohan's
birth is not exactly known, but she is said to have been
about thirty years of age at the time of the tale, though
the incidents related extend over a somewhat lengthy period.
However, we know that Anne was ultimately married to Peter
de Rohan in 1517, when, according to her marriage contract,
she was over thirty-six years old (_Les Preuves de Histoire
ecclesiastique et civile de Bretagne_, 1756, vol. v. col.
940). From this we may assume that she was thirty in or
about 1510. The historical incidents alluded to in the tale
would, however, appear to have occurred (as will be shown by
subsequent notes) between 1507 and 1509, and we are of
opinion that the Queen of Navarre has made her heroine
rather older than she really was, and that the story indeed
begins in or about 1505, when Rolandine can have been little
more than five or six and twenty.--Ed.

3 See notes to Tale XL. (vol. iv).

Thus, owing to her f