This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1845 Excerpt: ...his attention but little. The reformation obstructed his designs, as did also the kingdom of France; this kingdom lying between his dominions, and its king, Francis I., being his rival in every thing, even in the arts, loved and honoured by both. The years of government of Charles V. were passed in wars, --most of them against France, in Italy; the league of Smalcalde, in Germany; the Turks, in Hungary; and the worthy followers of their religion on the coast of Africa. He marched into the field against all these, and was for the most part fortunate; but he was never greater than in misfortune, when his fleet was shattered by the storm off Algiers, and his life was exposed to the greatest danger. He desired unlimited sovereignty over Germany and Italy; and would perhaps have gained it, had he been quicker in his movements, instead of proceeding with too much caution. Charles was too sly, and yet not sly enough. He, in whose dominions the sun never set, was so destitute of money, that he was often not able to pay an army of thirty thousand men; it frequently, on that account, refused to obey, and could not therefore be depended on. Charles, the enemy of popular freedom, deprived Spain of its bid constitution. "Weak in body, and discontented in mind on account of many undertakings that had failed, this Habsburg, the last of the Roman emperors, crowned by a pope, feeling the transitoriness and vanity of human greatness, descended the throne in the convent of St. Just, belonging to the order of St. Jerome, in Spain; there he died two years after. 99. CHRISTOPHER, DUKE OF WIRTEMBERG. Born at Uracil 1515. Died at Stuttgart 1668. Christopher's youth was one of suffering, which is often a school for promoting greatness; he, together with his parents, was driven ...