THE HISTORY . OF THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CHARLES V. WITH A VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF SOCIETY IN EUROPE, FROM THE SUBVERSION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. BY WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D.D. F.R.S.E. PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, AND HISTORIOGRAPHER TO HIS MAJESTY FOR SCOTLAND. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. I. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR STIRLING & SLADE, EDINBURGH; AND FOR JOHN OTRIDGE, LACKINGTON & CO. R. PRIESTLY, LONDON. TO THE KING. SIR, I PRESUME to lay before your Majesty the History of a period, which, if the abilities of the writer were equal to the dignity of the subject, would not be unworthy the attention of a Monarch, who is no less a judge than a patron of literary merit. VOL. IV. HISTORY claims it as her prerogative to offer instruction to Kings as well as to their people. What reflections the reign of the Emperor CHARLES V. may suggest to your Majesty, it becomes not me to conjecture. But your subjects cannot observe the various calamities which that Monarch's ambition to be distinguished as a conqueror brought upon his dominions, without recollecting the felicity of their own times, and looking up with gratitude to their Sovereign, who, during the fervour of youth, and amidst the career of victory, possessed such self-command and maturity of judgment, as to set bounds to his own triumphs, and prefer the blessings of peace to the splendour of military glory. POSTERITY will not only celebrate the wisdom of your Majesty's choice, but will enumerate the many virtues which render your reign conspicuous for a sacred regard to all the duties incumbent on the Sovereign of a free people. Ir is our happiness to feel the influence of these virtues, and to live under the dominion |