Finally, on the 13th October, Margaret was received at Toledo by the Emperor in person, "with great politeness," says Ferreras, the Spaniard; but Margaret does not seem so satisfied. "Je le trouvay bien froit," she writes to her brother—"I found him very cold, but not inclined to stand on ceremony; for he put me off on pretext of speaking to his council, and said he would give me an answer to-day. And then he took me to see Queen Alyenor, his sister; where I stayed until quite late. And last night I went to see her, and she spoke to me in terms of great friendliness. It is true she goes on her journey[1] to-morrow, and I must go and take leave of her. I think she goes more by obedience than by choice, for they keep her very much in order. And as I was talking to her the Viceroy came in quest of me, and I went to the Emperor's apartments, who sent for me to come to his chamber; and he told me he desired your deliverance in perfect amity; but, in the end, he stopped at the question of Burgundy."
Margaret, by this time, centred her hopes on the intercession of Leonor. The Emperor's fine speeches, though abundant, covered an iron will, and she learned to put little trust in them. "He assures me always," she writes, "that he will do a thing that I shall marvel at." "But," she adds, elsewhere, "I think they all wish to content me without doing anything in reason." And again, "Everyone tells me he loves the King, but I have little experience of it." The only way to get at a peace was through Leonor, who might bring Burgundy as a dower.
"I desire, for your good, things which the pains of
- ↑ To Talavers, out of the way of Madame d'Alençon's influence.—State Papers, Cardinal de Granvelle.
