Page:Margaret of Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (Robinson 1886).djvu/91

76 intolerance of her brother and the Cardinal do Tournon, must have turned for sympathy to this young Béarnois who, like herself, dreaded the Inquisition as the deadliest blight that could fall on any kingdom.

Thus they had two essential points in common: unity of interests and religious sympathy. For the rest, Duchess Margaret was a charming woman of the world, socially and intellectually the superior of Henry; and she was the sister of the king whose influence was most necessary to him. He was an impetuous, brave, ambitious youth; sufficiently resembling her knightly ideal to attract her interest, unfortunate enough to command her compassion. He was poor and valiant, he was kind and just to his subjects; and these would be great merits in the eyes of Margaret. That he was headstrong, fickle, and violent was scarcely apparent; and he was so young. He had, indeed, much in his favour. "Had he not been so given to women as he was," says Bordenave, "he would have been irreprehensible. He loved his people like his own children." Margaret, listening to all his generous plans on behalf of his subjects, became warmly interested in their ardent and unfortunate young king. And he wished nothing more than to marry the only sister of the King of France.

But in this early spring of 1526 Margaret had much to do beside talking with Henry d'Albret. In February Anne de Montmorency returned to France, his ransom paid, with the news that Francis was concluding a treaty with Charles, to whose sister Leonor he had been formally betrothed on the 12th February. The approaching release of the King gave great satisfaction in France, but not the joy, the outburst of