She died in 1558, surviving her husband by
three years. See Rouard's rare _Notice dun Recueil de
Crayons a la Bibliotheque Mejanes d'Aix_, Paris, 1863.--Ed.
Now this Prince conceived a deep affection for a widow lady called
Madame de Neufchastel, (2) who was reputed the most beautiful woman it
were possible to see; and if the Prince of Bel-hoste loved her well, his
wife loved her no less, and would often send and bid her to dinner,
for she deemed her so discreet and honourable, that, instead of being
grieved by her husband's love for her, she rejoiced to see him address
his attentions to one so full of honour and virtue.
2 M. Lacroix thinks that this lady may be Jane de Hochberg,
only daughter of Philip, sovereign Count of Neufchatel.
According to the custom of the time, she was commonly called
Madame de Neufchatel, despite her marriage with Louis
d'Orleans, Duke of Longueville. She died in 1543, after a
lengthy widowhood. We consider the accuracy of M. Lacroix's
surmise to be extremely doubtful, for the names of both the
men figuring in the story are obviously altered so as to
conceal their identity, and it is therefore not likely that
Queen Margaret would designate the lady by her real name,
and thus publish her shame to the world.
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