[Footnote 163: 'Ita habent Hebræa.'—_Actes du Parlement._] [Footnote 164: Crévier, _Hist. de l'Université de Paris_, v. p. 249.] [Footnote 165: 'Hæc propositio temeraria est et scandalosa.'—D'Argentré, _Collectio Judiciorum de novis Erroribus_, ii. p. 78.] CHAPTER XVIII. MARGARET'S SORROWS AND THE FESTIVITIES OF THE COURT (1530-1531.) When was France to turn herself towards the Word of God? At the time of her brother's return from his Spanish captivity, Margaret had solicited him to grant liberty of preaching the Gospel, and the king, as will be remembered, had deferred the matter until his sons were restored to freedom. That moment seemed to have arrived. In order to recover his children, Francis had sacrificed at Cambray (June 1529), in _the Ladies' Peace_, the towns he had conquered, the allies who had been faithful to him, and two millions of crowns besides. It was not, however, until ten months later that the children of France returned. All the royal family hurried to the Spanish frontier to receive them; all, except Margaret. 'As it would be difficult to take you further without danger,' said her mother, 'the king and I have determined to leave you behind for your confinement.'[166] Margaret, uneasy and perhaps a little jealous, wrote to Montmorency: 'When the King of Navarre is with you, I pray you to advise him; but I much fear that you will not be able to prevent his falling in love with the Spanish ladies.'[167] At the beginning of July the king's children were restored to their father; Margaret was transported with joy, and showed it by her enthusiastic letters to Francis I.[168] She loved these princes like a mother. More serious thoughts soon filled her mind: the epoch fixed by her brother had arrived, but would he keep his promise? [Sidenote: MARGARET PROMOTES UNITY.]