Maximilian, mainly owing to his dilatory conduct, thus found himself exposed to the most unpardonable of insults at the hands of a mere stripling. Not merely had Charles VIII. deprived him of his lawful wife and her inheritance, but in so doing he repudiated Maximilian's daughter Margaret, who, since 1482, had been educated at the Court of Charles as the future Queen of France. To aggravate matters, Charles {25} showed no inclination to restore Margaret's magnificent dowry, which consisted of Artois, Picardy and Franche Comté. Nothing could exceed Maximilian's indignation, and, full of threats of vengeance, he entered into an offensive alliance against France with the Kings of England and Spain. But the acquisition of Brittany had set a seal to the internal consolidation of France, and Charles, having deprived his enemies of an excellent base for hostile operations, was now free to indulge in his golden dreams of foreign conquest. No concession was thought too great to secure the neutrality of his neighbours. Henry VII. was bought off by hard cash and by the promise of a yearly pension; Ferdinand was appeased by the cession of the coveted provinces of Roussillon and Cerdagne. Maximilian, whose troops were meeting with some success in Franche Comté,[29] saw himself deserted by his allies, and consented to pocket his outraged dignity in return for the substantial concessions of the Peace of Senlis (May 23, 1493). His daughter Margaret was restored, and the French evacuated Franche Comté, Artois and Nevers, in favour of the young Archduke Philip. [1] Saints Bonosus and Maximilian, martyrs A.D. 360 (day, August 21). [2] Library, Siena Cathedral. [3] Janssen, _Gesch. des deutschen Volkes_, i. page 593. [4] Quoted by Le Glay, _Correspondance de Maximilian et de Marguerite_, vol. ii. page 345. [5] Janssen, i. 593. [6] Austriae Est Imperare Orb; Universo. [7] _See_ Rausch, _Die Burgundische Heirat Maximilians I_. [8] Chmel, _Mon. Hapsb._ I. i. 33, p. 136 (quoted Rausch). [9] On January 24, Maximilian had not yet heard of Charles' death. Lichnowsky Reg. vii. 2004 (quoted Rausch). [10] Letter dated March 26. [11] They freed Duke Adolf of Gueldres, in hope of forcing him on Mary. _See_ Rausch. [12] Pontus Heuterus, _Rerum Belgie_, lib. ii. 69. [13] Letter of Wilhelm v. Hoverde, August 23, 1477, quoted Janssen, i. 592. [14] A former sweetheart of Maximilian, from whom he seems to have had a most tearful parting.--V. von Kraus, _Maximilians I. vertraulicker Briefwechsel init Sigmund Prüschenk_, p. 30. [15] Maximilian to S. P. (December 8, 1477).--v. Kraus, p. 27. [16] "Mein gemahl ist ein gantze waidtmännin mit valckhen und hundten. Sie hat ein weis windtspil daz laufft vast bald."--_Ibid._ [17] "Ich bin aber der armist Mensch daz ich nicht essen schlaffn spatziren stechen (tilt) mag von ubrigen geschefften."