THE BRITISH

QUARTERLY REVIEW.

JANUARY 1, 1856.

ART I.-History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain. By WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. 2 vols. Bentley.

AMONG the many important subjects of inquiry which the history of the sixteenth century suggests, few are more striking than the sudden and prominent part taken by Spain in European politics. During the long succession of the middle ages, nearly every other European state and kingdom-Italy, France, Germany, England, the free cities of Flanders, the flourishing towns on the shores of the Baltic, even remoter kingdoms, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, by turns, or together, took part in the stirring drama of those times; while Spain, separated only by the chain of the Pyrenees, appeared as utterly cut off from the great European family, as the regions beyond the Caucasus. Indeed, from those half mythic times, when the chronicler told of Charlemagne's paladins, and the fatal pass of Rouncevalles, to the day when Columbus laid a new world at her feet, Spain scarcely ever appears on the pages of European history,-scarcely even in European legend and romance. Even their deadliest foemen, the Saracens, held a far more prominent place in the popular mind than the Spaniard.

It was not until almost the close of the fifteenth century that Spain first challenged a place in the councils of Europe. But, under Charles V., mighty was her power and influence, and as mighty during the reign of his son. Unlike his father, who, not content with the strifes of diplomacy, charged with his armies mounted on his war-steed, and even when struck down by his 'old enemy,' and helpless as an infant, was borne in a litter at their head-Philip withdrew from personal warfare; but

then, in the privacy of his cabinet, he wove those intricate webs of state-policy, and issued those sanguinary mandates, which made the influence of the Escorial to be felt beyond the uttermost bounds of Europe. The history of this great Archimago of the Romish faith is, indeed, an important one-not to be manufactured with scissors and paste; nor is it a theme for the superficial historical student; for, along the whole course of his life, with how many kingdoms and peoples was he brought in contact! England, with the strife of her reformation and the rise of her proud nationality; Flanders, with its deadlier strife for religion and freedom; Germany, with the feuds of its princes and the contests of its people; and France, with her fierce conflict of rival parties, the treachery of the Guises and Catherine de Medicis, and that crowning atrocity, the massacre of Saint. Bartholomew. Even signal victories over the Turk-the Cross, as of yore, triumphant over the Crescent-cast a romantic splendour over that long reign. And all along there is the sullen countenance and cold, but expressive features of Philip the Second looking out upon us; and his dark sinister eye glares forth like that of some evil spirit, bent on the work of destruction, fearful indeed to contemplate, but from whence shall eventually arise abiding good. We are gratified to find that Mr. Prescott has undertaken this important history. No one can be better qualified for the task than himself, both from his previous knowledge of the history of Spain, and his command of hitherto unemployed materials, but, more than all, his skill and judgment in using them. Only the two first volumes are, as yet, before us, and to them we will now proceed to direct the attention of the reader.

Philip the Second was born at Valladolid, on the 21st of May, 1527. Ere the festivities customary on the birth of an heir to the crown could be completed, tidings of the capture of Clement the Seventh and of the atrocious sack of Rome arrived, and the Emperor, who, doubtless, shared the general indignation, although he cannot be altogether acquitted of participation in the earlier steps which led to these results, immediately gave orders that all public rejoicings should cease. The disappointed Spaniards obeyed this mandate most reluctantly, and, singularly enough, prophesied that the reign of the prince, who, in after years, became so uncompromising and unscrupulous a champion of the Church, would be injurious both to her and to Spain. Well had it been for that age had the augury proved true. Charles seems to have exercised a praiseworthy care in the education of his only son. The first seven years of the boy's life were passed with his mother, Isabella of Portugal, an excellent woman,

His Education-his Journey to Brussels.

5

worthy of her namesake ancestress, and then he was transferred to the superintendence of Juan Martinez Seliceo, a professor in the college of Salamanca, under whose teaching he became a tolerable Latin scholar, and also made some progress in French and Italian. Philip's proficiency in languages, however, never rivalled his father's, for, in conversation, he was rarely inclined to venture beyond his own mother-tongue. He is said to have shown a more decided taste for science, especially the mathematics, while to the arts, especially architecture, he in after life paid much attention. While the learned professor of Salamanca thus superintended Philip's literary education, Don Juan de Zuñiga, commendador mayor of Castile, was charged with his instruction in all those athletic and graceful exercises which were indispensable to the accomplished cavalier of the sixteenth century. But little taste had Philip for these accomplishments, in which in youth his father had delighted, and, far worse, still less inclination had he to receive those lessons of lofty principle, of honour, and truthfulness, which his noble-hearted tutor was well qualified to impart, and for which the wise father had warmly eulogized him. As Philip grew in years, and slowly unfolded the peculiar qualities of his disposition,' caution, reserve, suspicion, and an utter absence of generous feeling, became strongly marked, and, together with the acuteness beyond his years, which he is said to have displayed, and his perfect self-possession, must, even in his boyhood, have indicated what manner of man he should be.' The loss of his mother ere he was twelve years old, his appointment to the regency, his marriage with his first cousin, Mary of Portugal, at the early age of sixteen, and the birth of his son, the ill-fated Don Carlos, with the consequent death of his young wife within two years after, may be noticed as we pass on to the first important event of Philip's history, his visit to his father at Brussels, in the autumn of 1548.

This visit was arranged with the greatest magnificence, for the emperor was desirous that his son should make an appear'ance that would dazzle the imagination of the people among 'whom he passed,' and should flatter his Flemish subjects, too, by the assumption of a state to which they had been accustomed by their Burgundian princes. Sailing from Rosas with a fleet of fifty-eight vessels, commanded by the illustrious Andrew Doria, Philip arrived at Genoa, and after a few days' festivity, during which, however, we find he made his first essay in kingcraft most successfully, the narrator informing us that, while his answer to the suppliant was exceedingly complimentary, it was sufficiently ambiguous as to the essentials,' he proceeded to Milan, and,

crossing the Tyrol, took the road past Munich and Heidelberg towards Flanders.

Four months were occupied by this splendid progress; and, as the heir of the great Emperor rode slowly along, each village sent out its inhabitants to gaze, and each town and city reverently opened its gates, and welcomed him with thunders of artillery, with humblest addresses, and not infrequently with silver goblets brimful of golden ducats. These last were received by Philip himself with gracious condescension. The reply to the addresses the taciturn prince delegated to the Duke of Alva, who, already high in favour, rode beside him. At length the gorgeous procession entered Flanders; and, as it drew near Brussels, the eager crowds rushed forth, greeting their future ruler with wild enthusiasm, and amid the roaring of cannon, the merry peals of myriad bells, and the shouts of heartiest welcome, Philip, with Alva at his bridle-rein, entered the festive city. Philip and Alva in Brussels! What would have been the greeting could a prophet voice have foretold the unimaginable miseries these two should inflict on its inhabitants!

The meeting between the father and son was affectionate; it was nearly seven years since they had met, and Charles, ambitious and grasping as he was, was not deficient in natural affection.

He must have been pleased with the alteration which time had wrought in Philip's appearance,' Mr. Prescott remarks, and we subjoin his full-length portrait.

'He was now twenty-one years of age, and was distinguished by a comeliness of person, remarked upon by more than one who had access to his presence. That report is confirmed by the portraits of him, from the pencil of Titian, taken before the freshness of youth had faded into the sallow hue of disease, and when care and anxiety had not yet given a sombre, perhaps sullen expression to his features. He had a fair, and even delicate complexion. His hair and beard were of a light yellow; his eyes blue, with the eyebrows somewhat too close together. His nose thin and aquiline. The principal blemish in his countenance was his thick Austrian lip; his lower jaw protruded even more than his father's. To his father, indeed, he bore a great resemblance in his lineaments, though those of Philip were of a less intellectual cast. In stature he was somewhat below the middle height, with a slight symmetrical figure, and well-made limbs. He was attentive to his dress, which was rich and elegant, but without any affectation of ornament. His demeanour was grave, with that ceremonious observance which marked the old Castilian, and which may be thought the natural result of Philip's slow and phlegmatic temperament.'

But Philip, although resembling his father in some points, both in person and character, was, in many essential respects, widely different. Charles was far more Fleming than Spaniard ;

The marked Contrast between Philip and Charles V. 7

Philip far more Spaniard than Fleming- indeed, altogether Spanish in tastes and feeling. The free and frank deportment of the emperor, which, despite of his tyrannical measures, rendered him so popular with his Flemish and German subjects, contrasted strangely in their eyes with the cold, formal demeanour of his son. The love of athletic sports which Charles in his youth displayed, his taste for gorgeous ceremonial and a splendid court, even his love of good cheer-the potted capon and eel-pasties, for which he endured a penance far more severe than hair shirt or scourge could inflict and his deep potations-the mighty goblet, containing a full quart of Rhenish, drained at a single draught, as Roger Ascham, who witnessed this feat of imperial excess, so wonderingly records-all these endeared him to the wealthy, pomp-loving, luxurious burghers of Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp, who could scarcely comprehend, far less admire, the prince who, although but just past twenty, rigidly adhered to one system of diet, who seldom took part in the tourney, scarcely ever hunted, but preferred to pass his hours in the privacy of his own apartment, in company with a favourite few, but talking of nothing and thinking of nothing but Spain. But however distasteful to Philip, he was compelled, in conformity with his father's will, to take part in the festivities in his honour; and in the great square of Brussels, opposite the palace, and arrayed in unaccustomed splendour of cloth of gold and violet velvet, he ran the first course against Count Mansfeldt, and received a brilliant ruby as the prize. There is a mournful interest in the details of this tournament, so graphically and spiritedly described by Mr. Prescott. Count Hoorne, among the challengers, and the gallant Count Egmont, with lance in rest, supporting Philip; and Alva sitting among the judges, while the emperor, beneath the gorgeous canopy of crimson and gold, his sisters, the regent, and the dowager queen of France, on either hand, occupied almost the very spot where, on that sad morning twenty years after, the tolling bells, the black scaffold, and the headsman, drew together a greater, but heartbroken crowd, to witness the execution of those two gallant nobles, while Alva, drunk with blood, but with thirst yet unsatiated, watched behind the lattice the fall of their gory heads.

A residence of more than two years in Flanders, if insufficient to reconcile Philip to the habits of his Flemish subjects, was an amply sufficient space of time for Charles to initiate his son into that science of government which he understood so well. Every day Philip passed some time in his father's cabinet conversing on public affairs, or in attending the sittings of the council of state; and it is probable that Charles 'found his son an apt and docile