DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63221#0195
THE SPANISH CAPTIVITY 155
had meant to travel at her leisure. This was no longer safe.
If Charles V wanted to seize her, he had a right to do so
were she found in his Empire a moment after the allotted
date. She was still a fortnight’s journey from the frontier,
and her passport lasted for only half that time. If her
strength held out, it was just possible for her to reach
France before it was too late. Her spirit was up. She set
off on the instant; accomplished in a single day the journey
of four; and reached the frontier in one week instead of
two, an hour before the expiration of her term. The
Emperor was successfully checkmated; he had not taken
his Queen, and the Queen did not easily forgive his
behaviour. Years afterwards, when he was passing through
Paris to the Low Countries and making a stay with Francis,
Margaret, finding herself one evening seated at table between
them, maliciously reminded Charles of his famous safe-conduct
and was able to enjoy his embarrassment.
His cunning, and his bad faith to his prisoner made him
so universally unpopular that, after Margaret’s return, he
found it advisable to change his course. All the Powers of
Europe took up the question; the great Scholars agitated
for the King’s release; and Erasmus was not the only man
of letters who wrote to the Emperor demanding it. The
abdication had come to nothing, but at last Francis’ cousin,
Montmorency, was able to conclude negotiations. Francis
was set free, on condition that he ratified the inglorious
Treaty at the first French town he reached. It gave up
Burgundy besides the King’s Italian territories, and pro-
mised the two little princes as hostages to Spain—not to
speak of numerous minor concessions, Lannoy conducted
had meant to travel at her leisure. This was no longer safe.
If Charles V wanted to seize her, he had a right to do so
were she found in his Empire a moment after the allotted
date. She was still a fortnight’s journey from the frontier,
and her passport lasted for only half that time. If her
strength held out, it was just possible for her to reach
France before it was too late. Her spirit was up. She set
off on the instant; accomplished in a single day the journey
of four; and reached the frontier in one week instead of
two, an hour before the expiration of her term. The
Emperor was successfully checkmated; he had not taken
his Queen, and the Queen did not easily forgive his
behaviour. Years afterwards, when he was passing through
Paris to the Low Countries and making a stay with Francis,
Margaret, finding herself one evening seated at table between
them, maliciously reminded Charles of his famous safe-conduct
and was able to enjoy his embarrassment.
His cunning, and his bad faith to his prisoner made him
so universally unpopular that, after Margaret’s return, he
found it advisable to change his course. All the Powers of
Europe took up the question; the great Scholars agitated
for the King’s release; and Erasmus was not the only man
of letters who wrote to the Emperor demanding it. The
abdication had come to nothing, but at last Francis’ cousin,
Montmorency, was able to conclude negotiations. Francis
was set free, on condition that he ratified the inglorious
Treaty at the first French town he reached. It gave up
Burgundy besides the King’s Italian territories, and pro-
mised the two little princes as hostages to Spain—not to
speak of numerous minor concessions, Lannoy conducted