take care, that the king and his attendants should have no lack of horses on his journey, that he may be sensible of the interest we take in his progress, and of our earnest desire that his treatment in all respects may be good and honourable. We write to our cousin the Marquis of Bradenburgh now being at Valencia, that he should pay the king a visit on our part, and see that horses be provided. This letter will be intrusted to your care, and you will read it. Write also yourself to the said marquis, giving him your instructions as to what he should do and say, and among them, that he make his visit handsomely accompanied, as he well knows how.

"As to what is to be done with our said fleet which you have brought, it is my wish on this subject also to consult with you in person, and to have your opinion and advice. It is our desire that before you take your leave of the King of France, you should endeavour, if possible, that, besides what he has already accorded, in case it should prove not desirable that his galleys should return to Genoa, the rest of the French fleet should abstain from making war or causing damage to any of our vassals or servants during the term of fifteen days after the arrival of our fleet on the coasts of Spain. You might indeed prolong this term to two months or less after the expiration of the fifteen days, but for this it would be necessary to take the precaution of sufficient security, and also that the six galleys of the King of France should remain with ours, as you have been at the charge of their equipment. With regard to the ten thousand ducats which you have thought necessary for the said fleet, we have incontinently ordered them to be forthcoming, and will transmit them as soon as possible without fail.

"For the rest, we have no doubt, but you will take care to make the king of France satisfied with the proposed movement to the said Patina, telling him of the honourable treatment he may expect, and of our good intentions towards an universal peace and his consequent enlargement, maintaining throughout this matter our own honor without sullying his, and preserving the good opinion of the friends of both. You may further assure him in the most courteous terms, that his present removal is only until we have time to come to a good resolution and conclusion of the whole matter. write thus, because we think it proper that you should spare no pains to make him satisfied, and to keep him cheerful, that he may not take in ill part, or as unkind treatment, his being placed in the castle of Patina, where his person, I repeat, must be kept in perfect security.

*

We

"Instead of your maitre d'hotel, who has been taken ill on the road, we send Colin Bajonier; and we have now nothing further to say, until we hear from you, which we much desire; and for this purpose you can send back the said Colin, or some other person as soon as possible, and inform us of what you have done, in the aforesaid matters, and when we may expect you here.

"Given in our city of Toledo, Tuesday the 20th of June, 1525. ""

As a further specimen of the Emperor's character, we will extract part of a letter addressed by him confidentially to his brother the Archduke Ferdinand. The reader will observe the decided terms in which the Emperor alludes to the Lutherans. It is curious to contrast the resolution to enforce uniformity of religious opinion, as expressed in the following letter, with a speech made by Charles not long before his death, when in his monastic retirement he used to amuse himself by making clocks and watches, which he could never make to keep time together. "How impracticable was the object in which I so much employed myself during my grandeur ! How impossible that I, who could never make two machines that would go exactly alike, could ever make mankind concur in the intricate and mysterious doctrines of religion!"*

"My good brother!

"I have received your letters by the Commander Meneses, bearer of the present dispatch, and am much rejoiced at the good news of you which he has brought me. He has informed me (having sent his credentials in writing, as did likewise Salinas) of all the things that you desired him to say, in which I have found much that is good, for which I thank you cordially-and now to answer you thereupon.

"First-As to the movement of the Lutherans, and the evil they have done, and to all appearance mean to do; it has annoyed, and does continue to annoy me bitterly. If it were in my power to remedy it speedily, I would spare neither my person nor my estates in the cause, but you see the difficulty there is in it, especially since I hope to be in Italy so soon, in order to take possession of my crowns, as I have already written you word.

"When that is done, I mean to exert all my power in the extermination of this said sect of the Lutherans, nothing doubting, that awaiting my aforesaid return, you will pro

vide for the encounter against them in the best manner you can, as you have very well done heretofore; and besides the honour and merit you will acquire towards God, and the world, I shall hold myself much bounden to you for it.

"As to the dispatch that you ask for, concerning the necessary letters and instructions which would be required on the subject of your election to be king of the Romans, and your wish that I should let you know how far and in what manner I shall be both able and willing to assist you in gaining the electors in the said election, I pray you to believe and to consider well, that it would be very desirable both for your affairs and my own, that this thing should be done. Nevertheless you know and are aware of the condition of the said electors, and how that I do not think all the gold of Spain could gain them at present, because of the difficulties which would be suggested by such people as you well know are far from being favourably disposed towards us. They would raise suspicions, zizanie (discords), scruples, diffidence and great jealousy both between the potentates of Italy and the several princes of Germany. They would probably allege, and with truth, that at present I am myself, in fact, no more than King of the Romans, and that on this account the election of another ought to be deferred.

"Under this pretext they would bring me into some quarrel which I should have difficulty in getting out of; whilst you would be involved in the same, inasmuch as my troubles so strictly concern you. Wherefore, my good brother, I advise you to keep this matter very secret, and not to let any one hear of it, until I have assumed my said crowns as Emperor. This done, you may be assured that I will assist you in the said election, with all my power, and, by my presence then, I shall do more to the purpose with one golden florin, than could now be effected with one million. Wherefore, as aforesaid, the thing cannot be done till my coronation is over-for it would only be los ing money, and spoiling all to attempt it at present.

"I am at this time writing to several princes of Germany, and addressing myself to them as having concluded to go shortly to my coronation, as you will advertise them more at length. I am not writing to them to prepare themselves, nor to come to meet me, because they would require money, and would afterwards hold me responsible for it. Wherefore, considering that they are not bound to appear at the said coronation, I have thought it better to send them no other notice of it, than one of courtesy such as my said letters contain. I have desired the superscriptions to be left blank and open, in order that you may have them filled up and directed to whomsoever you please; and I think they may serve and assist in the readier dispatch and conclusion of the said Diet of VOL. XXXVI.-NO. CCXIV.

St. Michel's, under colour of the necessity of commencing at that time your journey towards Milan, there to join or await me-for I singularly desire to see you, and to enjoy the comfort and pleasure of your fraternal presence, and that we may confer together on all our affairs. Wherefore I will give you early notice of the time you should leave Germany, and it suffices for the present, that you hold everything in good order and readiness, as I have no doubt you well know how to do.

"The King of France is now here-I have caused him to be placed in the castle of Patina, where he will be well treated. He has offered me certain articles of peace, which I send you a copy of, and has promised to do still better. I will let you know the result; and if it tends to my honour and advantage, and to the preserving of my friends, I will follow your advice in coming to terms, well knowing that it would be very propitious to my interests to make peace before I leave this for Italy. If the said peace cannot be concluded, I shall order the said King of France to be kept here in all safety, and will deliberate on the subject of a war for next year.'"

When Francis I. was taken prisoner to Spain, he lost his health, partly from confinement, but chiefly from anguish of mind. He was visited while in prison by his favourite sister Marguerite de Valois, whom he used to call, punning on her name, "La Marguerite des Marguerites." She came to Spain also with the intention of treating for peace with the Emperor. The letters from Margaret to the Emperor are very brief, and we are disappointed with this part of the correspondence. Mr. Bradford's account of Margaret is a very fair specimen of his own style of composition, and will not be without interest for many readers; but we have not room for extracting more than what relates to her visit to Francis:

"The duchess set out on her mission, attended by some of the dignitaries of the kingdom, even before the safe conduct demanded of the Emperor had reached Lyons; provided with full powers from the Regent, and accredited in her own person to conduct the negociation. About the time of her arrival at Madrid, the king's illness had assumed a dangerous character. The Emperor, according to his itinerary, given in another part of this volume, had come to visit him the day before. The entry is as follows, 'On the 18th of September, the Emperor came from Segovia, which he had left on the 16th, to Madrid, to visit the King of France, who according to the report of his physicians, was

2 G

very ill. On the following day also arrived the Duchess of Alençon, the king's sister, whom the Emperor received on the staircase and conducted to the sick bed of Francis ; after which the Emperor again departed, leaving the duchess with the king her brother.'

"No great impression seems to have been made on Charles's sensibility or generosity at this touching interview. The duchess was left to employ all her address in treating with cold-hearted counsellors, officially concerned, whose determination was made, and who abated nothing of their oppressive conditions.

"There seemed to be some shew of good feeling on the part of Charles, when he first presented himself to his illustrious captive. 'Sir,' said Francis, when the Emperor first appeared before him, you come to witness the death of your prisoner;' 'You are not my prisoner,' returned Charles, but my friend and my brother; I have no other desire than to give you liberty, and all the satisfaction you desire.'

"It would have been well if these consoling words had been followed by corresponding actions; but other affairs called him off to Toledo to meet Bourbon, whose interests also were to be considered in the arrangements pending with Francis. The marks of friendship and favour heaped upon this illfated and culpable prince by his new master, roused the indignation of the Castilian nobles. It was on this occasion that the Marquis of Villana, whose palace had been assigned as his temporary residence, thus dared to address the Emperor: Sire, I can refuse nothing to your majesty; but the moment Bourbon quits my house, I shall set fire to it, as a place polluted by the presence of a traitor, and no longer a fit residence for men of honour.'

"It was on the final departure of the Duchess of Alençon, that the king's dejection returned; when in utter despair of obtaining his liberty on terms otherwise than dishonourable to himself and ruinous to the interests of his country, he came to the resolution of abdicating his crown.

This magnanimous determination was soon resounded throughout Europe, and redoubled the interest felt for his misfortunes. All the men of letters were forward in deploring his fate; and Erasmus, a subject of the Emperor, had the boldness thus to plead his cause to his master. 'If I were conqueror,' wrote this eminent man, I would thus speak to the conquered; My brother, fate has made you my prisoner; a like misfortune might have happened to me. Your defeat shews the fragility of all human greatness: Receive your freedom; become my friend. Let all rivalry cease between us except that of virtue. In delivering you, I acquire more glory than if I had conquered France. In accepting this kindness with gratitude, you achieve more than if you had driven me from Italy.'

"This good advice was all thrown away;

666

"Sire!

"The kind visit which you have been pleased to make to the king my brother, and the good words which the present satisfactory messenger has brought him from you, as well as the letters you have condescended to write to me with your own hand, and which I have shewn him, have given him so much comfort and case, that I now see him out of all danger for the present, rejoicing in the hope of a speedy termination of affairs, and the continuation of your entire friendship.

"Whereupon, Sire, for fear of a relapse, which might prove fatal, and thus deprive you of so good and affectionate a friend and brother as I know him to be, may it please you to permit for the same cause that you kindly agreed to my coming here, that I should shortly go to you, in order that I may at once witness the union of two princes whom God has placed together upon earth, and endued with greater power and excellence than others, for some inestimable good. And this I now more than ever hope for. "Your most humble "MARGUERITE.

"To the Emperor.'"

The letters from the Court of London from Chapnys (the Capucius of Shakspeare), are also extremely interesting, though not containing much important matter. But we have shown to our readers that the volume before us is a most valuable accession to a

historical library, and every one who has a copy of Robertson's "Charles V." on his shelves, ought to place this volume by its side. There is an actuality about this volume, and a presentation of historical subjects at first hand, which give it great value. Robertson's work is too general in its views, and not sufficiently graphic in its details; and as an illustrative commentary upon the times under consideration, this volume of Mr. Bradford's is a most valuable present. We are under obligation to him for his labours and most valuable researches, and hope that we shall have the pleasure

of meeting him again in the historical field.

The state of Europe since the days of the Emperor Charles presents so interesting a subject, from its wonderful changes, that we propose to notice it in connexion with some recent contributions to historical science. What we have said at the commencement of this article may serve as a preliminary introduction to our historical reviews of the chief events in the histories of the Five Great Powers, together with those of the Papacy and Italian States, since the days of Charles V.

GRACE'S month of trial had expireda second rolled over, and she was still with Mrs. Saunders, learning something every day, and a favourite with all. Her first friend, the cook, treated her like her own child, and took care to let her want for nothing in the cating way; and as her business was chiefly in the kitchen, she learned a great deal of cooking; and the housemaid taught her to sew, and took her up stairs, and shewed her how to make the beds and clean the rooms; and the laundry-maid taught her to wash and make up things; and William, the butler, used to take her on his knee in the evenings, and hear her say her letters, and tell her stories; and Miss Jane taught her a lesson every day in the school-room, before her mamma; and Grace was by no means a stupid pupil, she had quite learned her alphabet, and was spelling little words. But Jane had hard work teaching her about God and Jesus Christ. It was a long time before she could impress on her mind that "God's eyes were on every place, beholding the evil and the good." And Jane sometimes got a little impatient with her pupil; but her mother's clear eye looked over at her, and she checked herself and recommenced again; and sometimes she wished to go out, and wanted to put off the instruction till late in the day;

but Mrs. Saunders never would allow this. "You have undertaken the education of Grace, my dear Jane, at your own request, and you must attend to it regularly-the lesson will soon cease to be thought of by both you and her, if the hour is optional." And so Grace pursued her studies, loving everybody and loved by all. She was now quite a pretty girl, with nice rosy cheeks, and sweet blue eyes smiling into yours as she addressed you. And Jane taught her prayers, and spoke of Jesus Christ, and how we were to pray to God in his name. Grace, as she took off her clothes at night, and knelt down to of fer her little petitions to the Almighty, would think of her father at home, and Peter, and Katty, and wonder had they as good clothes as she had. And then her thoughts came back to where she was, and she prayed God to bless the good lady who gave her all those things. And then she would dream that she and Ned were wandering over the country again, and that she was toiling home to the hut on the bog with the bag on her back; and she tripped and fell; and Ned tried to help her up; and she awoke, and found herself in her nice little bed, instead; but poor Ned was gone. And then she would cry and fall asleep again.

Another month rolled over, and Jane was not tired of teaching Grace her les

sons. But were all Grace's trials ended? Had she no temptations to resist like other people? Mrs. Saunders allowed her to learn her lessons in the schoolroom, and write on the slate, which she had just commenced; and sometimes she brought up her work to be taught more regularly than Catherine the housemaid instructed her below stairs. And one day they had all gone out to drive, and she had learned her lesson in the school-room after they went, and written a copy of strokes on the slate. And now she took up her work to go on hemming a rubber that her mistress had given her as a trial, and after two or three stitches she awkwardly broke her needle. What should she do? Mrs. Saunders always blamed her when she broke her needle-she said it was carelessness. If she could but get another. Oh, there was Miss Jane's work-box on the table. If it was open? She stood up-paused for a second, then went over to the table-stopped again. She tried was it open. It was. Oh, what a pretty looking-glass in the back of it! And Grace looked at the glass, and made it seem ten times more charming. What a nice thimble !-it just fitted her. She had a very ugly thimble compared with it. And a dear little pair of scissors! But where were the needles? She had seen Miss Jane take them out of a little book. Where was it? Ha! there's a little blue rib. bon. What is this? And she pulled, and the whole thing came up; and there was the needle-book underneath. She opened it, and got a needle. Ah, Grace! shut the whole thing up, now. Do, darling Grace! There's trouble before you, Grace. No! She put the needlebook back. There was something blue in the corner. What is this? She took it up. A nice little blue bag, with bright beads at the ends, and rings on it. Oh, how pretty! and so heavy. What makes it heavy? Poor Grace! And she pulled up the rings, and turned it up; and then shining white money poured into her hand. Sixpences-shillings-and big shillings! She never saw so much before. Now, dear Grace-steady, resist, do not sully your sweet name by taking any. The silver glittered on her palm. All Miss Jane's. So much. She did not know how much. Would Miss Jane miss one little sixpence? And she took one up with her other hand. A little sixpence from so much.

She looked at it. All Miss Jane's Christmas-boxes. She was keeping it up to buy something. Miss Jane, her little mistress, who was so good to her. Would she take her sixpence? Miss Jane who taught her, who was her friend, and advised her-Miss Jane who spoke to her of poor Ned, who told her of God and Jesus ChristMiss Jane who said "God's eyes are on every place beholding the evil and the good." The sixpence dropped back to the rest. Hurrah! hurrah! she conquered. She did not sin-she held the bright jewel of honesty and gratitude still unstained. God keep thee so by His grace, my darling child! She took the purse again to put the silver back. But stop. 'Tis not over yet. A shadow darkened the window of the room, which opened on the grass-plot in front. Grace looked up.

Oh, God! Oh! horror of horrors! Her mother looking in at her. Now Grace trembled-now she prayed that the bolt was shot inside-for 'twas really a door, though like a window. Ah, Grace! your evil genius was near you when you went to look for that needle. There she is. Her mother looking at her. She laid her hand on the door-it opened—she came into the room.

"'Haith yer thrivin', Grace, ahagur, since ye left home-ye've med yer fortin, an' ye're countin' the money. Begorra, its quick work wid ye. Maybe ye'd tell us the secret," she continued, coming towards her stealthily.

"Arrah, dont be grippin' it up in yer han', that a way-shew us how much is id?"

"Mother, mother!" whispered Grace, almost choking, "it's all Miss Jane's.' And she put her hand behind her.

"Come, be aisy now-an' if id's not yours, what is it in yer hand for." Grace was pale-she became crimson. "Shew id here," continued her mother, "sure I'll not ate it."

"Ye'll not take any?" asked Grace, in her innocence.