Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 3.djvu/622

602 reckoned to consist the only hope, comfort, and safeguard of Christendom.'

Until the treaty had been ratified by the Emperor in person (which was done with all ceremony and solemnity in Spain, on the 3ist of March), it was not publicly announced; but Paget was recalled from France; a secret of so much importance was virtually none; and Francis, who, like the rest of the world, had, in spite of his pretended suspicions, been really incredulous, was alarmed when the fact broke upon him, and regretted that he had been committed by his minister to extreme measures. Marillac was superseded in haste; as an evidence of pacific intentions, a mild and moderate successor, M. Dorthe, was sent over in his place; and when Paget appeared at Court to present his letters of revocation, they were received with the utmost unwillingness, and the King condescended to explanations and apologies. If any better motive could be imagined to have influenced Francis than fear