truth as was only in the breast of Monsieur d'Arras on the emperor's side, or in Baron Hadeck on Duke Maurice's side, with whom and with one other of his counsel he only conferred all his purposes three years before he brake out with the emperor; but I mean such a truth as by conference and common consent amongst all the ambassadors and agents in this court, and other witty and indifferent heads beside, was generally conferred and agreed upon. What better commodity to know the truth, any writer in Greek, Latin, or other tongue hath had, I cannot perceive, except only Xenophon, Cæsar, and Philip Comines; which two first worthy writers wrote their own acts so wisely, and so without all suspicion of partiality, as no man hitherto, by my opinion, hath borne himself so uprightly in writing the histories of others; the third, having in a manner the like opportunity, hath not deserved like commendations, at least as I suppose. England hath matter, and England hath men furnished with all abilities to write; who, if they would, might bring both like praise unto themselves, and like profit to others, as these two noble men have done. They lay for their excuse the lack of leisure: which is true in deed but if we consider the great affairs of Cæsar, we may judge he was worthy to win all praise, that was so willing and witty to win such time, when his head and his hands night and day were ever most full.

-Would to God that these our men, as they are ready to praise him, were even as willing to follow him, and so to win like praise themselves.

And to keep you no longer, with my private talk, from the matter itself, I will begin at the spring of the matter from whence all these mischiefs did flow, the which now hath so overflowed the most part of Chris

tendom, as God only from heaven must make an end of this miserable tragedy, wherein these two great princes take such pleasure still to play. In religion and liberty were said to be of many men the very causes of all these stirs yet in mine opinion, and as the matter itself shall well prove it, unkindness was the very seed whereof all these troubles did grow. A knight of England, of worthy memory for wit, learning, and experience, old Sir Thomas Wyat, wrote to his son, that the greatest mischief amongst men, and least punished is unkindness: the greatest mischief truly, and least punished also by any ordinary law and sentence : yet, as I have seen here by experience, unkindness hath so wrought with men, as the men were not afraid to attempt their revenge, nor the emperor able to withstand their displeasure. Yea, unkindness was only the hook, which Henry the French king hath used these late years, to pluck from the emperor and draw to himself so many princes and great commodities as he hath with this hook baited with money, the bait of all mischief, the French king hath not ceased to angle at as many hearts in Italy and Germany as he knew any matter of unkindness to be ministered unto by the emperor.

There be few princes in all the empire but, if I had leisure, I could particularly prove, and when I come home in our private talk I will fully declare, that some good big matter of unkindness hath been offered unto

them by the emperor. Yea Ferdinand his brother,

Maximilian his nephew and son-in-law, the dukes of Bavaria and Cleves, which have married his nieces, have been shrewdly touched therewith. Also the papistical bishops, as Mentz, Bamberg, Herbipolis, Saltzburg, and divers others, have felt their part herein. Few princes or states, protestants or papists,

but have been troubled therewith. But even as a quartan in the beginning is a wandering disease in the body, unknown what it will turn unto, and yet at last it draweth to certain days and hours; even so these griefs in the whole body of the empire did first work secretly, and not appear openly, until this melancholy unkindness did so swell in men's stomachs, that at length, in Inspruck, it brast [burst] out into a shrewd sickness, whereof the first fit was felt to be so dangerous, that if the emperor and we had not more speedily changed the, air, I am afraid, and sure I am we were well afraid then, the sickness would have proved also to us that were present with him very contagious.

Well, this grief growing thus to certain fits, and I myself being not greatly grieved at the heart with it, but had leisure enough with small jeopardy (I thank God) to look quietly upon them that were sick; because I would not be idle amongst them, I began daily to note the working of this sickness; and namely, from the 19th of May 1552, when we ran from Inspruck, till the first of next January, when the siege of Metz was abandoned. Nevertheless, before I come to these ordinary days, I will shortly touch how the emperor, being in peace with all the world, 1550, when we came to his court, had soon after so many enemies as he knew not which way to turn him.

THE TURK.

HE date of peace between the emperor and the Turk had to expire an. 1551. The emperor hearing what preparation the Turk had made the year before for war, and especially by sea, which must needs be against Christendom, thought it better for him to end the peace

with some advantage, than that the Turk should begin the war with too much strength : and therefore in summer 1550, he sent John de Vega, viceroy of Sicily, and Andrea Doria, into Barbaria, who won the strong town of Africa [Tunis] from Dragut Rayes, some time a pirate, and now the Turk's chief doer in all the affairs of Africa and mare Mediterraneo. This court raised up other rumours of this breach with the Turk: how that this enterprise was made for Seripho's sake, a heathen king, but the emperor's friend in Barbaria, to whom Dragut Rayes had done great wrong. Yet men that knew the truth, and are wont also to say it, have told me that the town of Africa stood so fit to annoy Spain for the Turk, when he list, that the emperor was compelled to seek by all means to obtain it, much fearing, lest, when he was absent in Germany, the Turk would be too nigh and too homely a guest with him in Spain, whensoever the peace should be expired.

The whole story of winning Africa ye may read when you list, being well written in Latin, by a Spaniard that was present at it.

Africa was earnestly required again by the Turk, and fair promised again by the emperor; but being indeed not delivered, the Turk for a revenge the next year, first assaulted Malta, and after won Tripoli, from whence the Turk may easily and suddenly, whensoever he list, set upon Sicily, Naples, or any coast of Italy or Spain, and most commodiously whatsoever the emperor doth hold in Barbary: so that the gain of Africa is thought nothing comparable with the loss of Tripoli.

When Tripoli was besieged by the Turks, Monsieur Daramont was sent ambassador to Constantinople from the French king: and arriving by the way at Malta, he was desired by the great-master of the order to go to

Tripoli, and, for the friendship that was between France and the Turk, to treat for the Christians there. Daramont did so, and had leave of the Turk's general to enter the town and talk with the captain. And by this means they within yielded; on this condition, to part safe with bag and baggage, which was granted by the general. But as soon as the Turks entered the town, they put old and young, man, woman, and child, to the sword; saving two hundred of the strongest men to be their galley-slaves for ever. The general being asked why he kept no promise, made this answer : If the emperor had kept faith with my master for Africa, I would not have broken with them of Tripoli ; and therefore (saith he) with Christian men which care for no truth, promises may justly be broken. This Turkish cruelty was revenged this last year in Hungary, when like promise of life was made, and yet all put to the sword, the Christians bidding the Turks remember Tripoli. To such beastly cruelty the noble feats of arms be come unto betwixt the Christian men and the Turks. And one fact of either side is notable to be known, yet horrible to be told and fouler to be followed; and it is pity that man's nature is such as will commonly commend good things in reading, and yet will as commonly follow ill things in doing.

The basha of Buda took in a skirmish a gentleman of the king of the Romans; for whose delivery, men for entreaty, and money for his ransom were sent to Buda. The basha appointed a day to give them answer; and at time and place assigned, called for them, and sent for the gentleman likewise. And suddenly came out two hangmen, bare-armed, with great butcher's knives in their hands, bringing with them certain bandogs muzzled, kept hungry without meat of purpose. The