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ring the most ardent period of life, he acquired such knowledge in the art of war as enabled him to vie with the most able generals of his age. He placed unbounded confidence in his officers, rejoiced in the augmentation of their fame, and rewarded their services with princely munificence; and, though destitute of that suavity of manners which marked the character of his French competitor, he was no stranger to the virtues which excite admiration and ensure attachment.

There were, however, some great defects in Charles's political character. His ambition appears to have been insatiable, and his ardent desire of being distinguished as a conqueror, involved him in perpetual wars, and prevented him from attending to the police and improvement of his kingdom. The addition of the imperial crown to his hereditary dominions engaged him in projects so complicated and arduous, that he had often recourse to low artifices in the execution of them, and sometimes dishonoured his royal character by flagrant devia, tions from integrity. Besides his successor, Philip, the emperor had several sons, who died in their infancy, and two daughters, the infanta Maria, who espoused the archduke Maximilian, and the infanta Joanna, who married the prince of Portugal. He had also two natural children, namely, Margaret, who was married to Cosmo de Medicis; and Don Juan, who was brought up by one of the emperor's faithful servants, till Don Philip was made acquainted with the secret of his birth.

... But to return from this digression. A treaty of peace was concluded, in the spring of 1559,

between

between the crowns of Spain and France, in consequence of which his catholic majesty consented to espouse Henry's daughter, Elizabeth, and the contested territories were mutually given up. The French king did not long enjoy the effects of this pacification, being accidentally killed at a tournament: but his disaster had no influence either on the treaty or the mar riage.

After making some necessary arrangements in the Netherlands, Philip hastened his return to Spain, and convened an assembly of the states at Toledo, where, in pursuance of the deceased emperor's request, he publicly acknowledged John of Austria for his brother. On the fourth of October, he sanctioned an auto da fe with his presence; and on the second of the ensuing February, celebrated his nuptials with the princess of France.

At the earnest solicitations of the knights of Malta, an expedition was undertaken to recover Tripoli from the infidels; and the duke de Me-' dina Cœli, who was invested with the chief command, flattered himself with the expectation of Complete success: but whilst he was exulting over the reduction of an island called Gerbes, his fleet was surprised by basha Piali with the whole force of the Othman empire, and a scene of carnage ensued which scarcely merits the name of an engagement. Forty galleys were either sunk or captured by the Turks; several persons of distinction were taken pri soners; the duke himself escaped with great difficulty, and Gerbes was wrested from its Christian conquerors. Don Philip was much dejected at the news of this disaster, and im mediately

mediately demanded the pope's permission for laying contributions on the clergy. About the same time, he transferred his court from Toledo to Madrid; and, soon afterward, laid the foundation of the Escurial, which he ordered to be built in the form of a gridiron, because St. Lawrence, to whose honour he dedicated it, was said to have been broiled alive, at Rome, in the third century.

A. D. 1563.

In the ensuing spring, Hassan, king of Algiers, avowed his intention of recovering Oran and Mazalquiver out of the hands of the Spaniards; and employed in this expedition the whole force of the infidels in Africa, besides a naval armament which was furnished by the grand signior: but the governors of the fortresses acted with such prudence and vigilance, that their respective garrisons were enabled to hold out till a Christian fleet arrived, and compelled the besieger to draw off his forces. In consequence of this war, all the Moors of Valencia: were suddenly disarmed, by order of government, and six thousand sabres that were taken from them were sent to the Spanish troops in the island of Sardinia. Shortly after these transactions, an instrument was drawn up, by which all the Spanish possessions in America were irrevocably, annexed to the Castilian diadem; and, about the same time, the viceroy of Sicily reduced the important fortress of Penon de Velez, under the cannon of which the Moorish corsairs used to take refuge when chased by the Spanish galleys.

The grand signior was no sooner, informed of the loss of Peron de Velez, and the subsequent destruction of another place to which the Turk

ish pirates frequently resorted, than he fitted out a prodigious armament, and ordered Sinan Basha to invade the island of Malta with all possible expedition. But the grand master took such admirable precautions for the defence of the place, and procured such powerful auxiliaries, that the enemy was compelled, after a sanguinary conflict, to retire with precipitation.

Upon the misrepresentation of Guerrero, archbishop of Granada, Pius V. who had lately ascended the papal throne, wrote in very warm terms to Philip, in order to stir him up against the Morescoes; and the king cheerfully took his advice, notwithstanding the serious embarrassments which he had already brought upon himself by his tyrannic conduct toward the protes tants in the Netherlands. He, accordingly, sent an express into the kingdom of Granada, commanding all the Morescoes to submit to an immediate change of habit, manners, and language. The Moors were much distressed at this cruel order, and sent deputies to refute the accusations which had been laid against them; but neither their entreaties, nor even the remonstran ces of the Spanish officers had any effect upon the king. His inflexibility, however soon produced the most alarming consequences, as will appear in the sequel.

A. D.

Whilst the duke of Alba was executing his master's orders in the Netherlands, 1568.. Don Carlos of Spain formed a resolution of quitting his father's court and retiring into Germany: but the nobles to whom he applied for pecuniary assistance discovered his intentions, and Philip went in person to his apartments, where he caused him to be arrested.

Philip

Philip acted with great moderation upon this occasion, and gave notice to the pope's nuncio, and to all the foreign ministers, of the motives which had compelled him to adopt a measure so inimical to his paternal feelings. He also informed their imperial majesties, who interposed with great anxiety for the prince's safety, that he had taken the advice of both divines and civilians; and that his future actions toward the royal prisoner would be marked by caution and tenderness.

Carlos, however, bore his confinement. with the utmost impatience. He refused all kind of nourishment for two days, and afterwards overloaded his stomach with food. By this conduct and an immoderate use of cold water, he brought on a dysentery which baffled the skill of his physicians. He then sent for his father, and, having obtained forgiveness for his misconduct, he expired in the twenty-fourth year of his age. This prince had the misfortune to be deformed in his -person, and to have a weakness in one of his legs. He was also of an unhappy disposition, hasty "passionate, and sullen, very apt to take offence, and remarkably implacable in his aversions. His governor, Garcia Toledo, and the duke of Alba, narrowly escaped assassination in consequence of some offence which they had given him; and his intended flight into Germany, seems to have resulted from some secret discontent which he had conceived against his father. Some writers have affirmed that he was put to death by his father's command: but this assertion seems highly improbable, and is contradicted by the best Spanish historians..

The Morescoes, finding all their remonstrances

ineffectual,

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