He refused his ratification;[123] now he declared the conquest of Guienne to be a task of such magnitude that preparations must be complete before April, a date already past; and he recommended Henry to come into the truce with Louis, the existence of which he had now to confess.

Henry had not yet fathomed the depths; he even appealed to Ferdinand's feelings and pathetically besought him, as a good father, not to forsake him entirely.[124] But in vain; his father-in-law deserted him at his sorest hour of need.

To make peace was out of the question.

England's honour had suffered a stain that must at all costs be removed.

No king with an atom of spirit would let the dawn of his reign be clouded by such an admission of failure.