Montmorency who carried the deed to France, and Charles V. in ordering
the arrest of Margaret had no other aim than that of securing an
additional hostage in case his treaty with Francis should not be
fulfilled.

1 _Captivité de François 1er, &c._, p. 85.

2 Génin's Notice in the _Lettres de Marguerite, &c._, p.
25.

Margaret, pressed by her brother, at last asked for authorisation to
leave Spain. By the manner in which the permission was granted she
perceived that the Emperor wished to delay rather than hasten her
journey. During November she wrote Francis a letter in which this
conviction was plainly expressed, and about the 19th of the month she
left Madrid upon her journey overland to France.

At first she travelled very leisurely, but eventually she received
a message from her brother, advising her to hasten her speed, as the
Emperor, hoping that she would still be in Spain in January, when her
safe-conduct would expire, had given orders for her arrest. Accordingly,
on reaching Medina-Celi she quitted her litter and mounted on horseback,
accomplishing the remainder of her journey in the saddle. Nine or ten
days before the safe-conduct expired she passed Perpignan and reached
Salces, where some French nobles were awaiting her.

Soon after her return to France she again took charge of the royal
children, who once more fell ill, this time with the measles, as
Margaret related in the following characteristic letter addressed to her
brother, still a prisoner in Spain:--