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APPENDIX.

THE SUPPOSED NARRATORS OF THE _HEPTAMERON_ TALES.

In his introductory essay to this translation of the _Heptameron_, Mr.
George Saintsbury has called attention to the researches of various
commentators who have laboured to identify the supposed narrators of
Queen Margaret's tales. As it may be fairly assumed that the setting
of the work is pure invention on the Queen's part, the researches in
question can scarcely serve any useful purpose. Still they appear to
have had considerable attraction for several erudite editors, whose
opinions, occasionally alluded to in our notes, we will here briefly
summarise for the information of those whom the matter may interest:--

OISILLE, a widow lady of long experience, is supposed by Messrs. de
Lincy, Lacroix, Genin, Frank, de Montaiglon and Miss Mary Robinson to be
Louise of Savoy. In some MSS. the name is written Osyle, the anagram
of _Loyse_, in which fashion Louise was spelt in old French. It may be
pointed out, _en passant_, that Brantome's grandmother, the Senechale
of Poitou, whose connection with the _Heptameron_ is recorded, was also
named Louise (see ante, vol. i. p. lxxxii.).

PARLAMENTE, wife of Hircan, is supposed by the same commentators to be
Queen Margaret herself; this is assumed mainly because the views
which Parlamente expresses on religion, philosophy, men and women,
are generally in accord with those which the Queen is known to have
professed.

HIRCAN, in M. de Lincy's opinion, might be the Duke of Alencon,
Margaret's first husband. Messrs. Frank and Mont-aiglon, following M.
Lacroix, prefer to identify him as Henry d'Albret, King of Navarre.
They conjecture the name of Hircan to be derived from Ilanricus, a not
uncommon fashion of spelling Henricus. It might, however, simply come
from _hircus_, a he-goat, for Hircan is a man of gross, sensual tastes.

LONGARINE, a young widow, is supposed by M. de Lincy to be Blanche de
Chastillon, _nee_ de Tournon (concerning whom see _ante_, vol. i. p. 84,
n. 7, and p. 120 _et seq_.; vol. iv. p. 144, n. 2; and vol. v. p. 25, n.
2). M. Frank, however, thinks she is Aimee Motier de la Fayette, lady of
_Longray_, widow of Francis de Silly, Bailiff of Caen, and _gouvernante_
to Queen Margaret's daughter, Jane of Navarre. Miss Robinson shares this
opinion, but M. de Montaiglon thinks that _Longarine_ would rather
be Aimee Motier de la Fayette's daughter Frances, married to