Page:Margaret of Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (Robinson 1886).djvu/138

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(1539–1540.)

this time the Emperor's good town of Ghent revolted against him, and beseeched the King of France to grant his protection to Flanders. Here was a brilliant opportunity for Francis. By espousing the cause of Protestant Flanders he would virtually conclude a league between himself and the great schism of Northern Europe, while in defying Charles he would give a pledge to Soliman. This was the dread of Montmorency, the dear desire of Margaret. All through the winter of 1539, the spring of 1540, she is busy with the English ambassadors, trying to win her brother to make a league with Henri VIII., trying to estrange from the influence of Montmorency.

But Montmorency was all in the ascendant now, and the Turco-Huguenot alliance had lost some of its first attention to the volatile mind of the King. Francis, under Montmorency, began to think again of Milan, to wish again for the friendship of Charles. Therefore, to the surprise of those who believed themselves his real allies, Francis refused the offer of