ness, intrigue, insincerity, and suspicion; yet throughout he was loyal, single-hearted, and, where left to himself, truthful. For his good qualities he seems to have been much indebted to Quixada and Magdalena, as if they, devoted, benevolent, honest, gracious, had been sent into the world specially that he might become more generous than other men. Quixada and his wife, in their admirable qualities, are quite exceptional persons. That Don John was brave is a point not so much to be remarked on, for bravery was certainly by no means rare in his day. Venetians, Genoese, Romans, Spaniards, all were, in his fleet, men of courage and endurance.
That Don John was quick and decided in matters of duty, and that he could be pitiful and merciful, are the traits which most distinguish him from his fellow-warriors. And his aptitude for command must have been a natural gift: as a youth he could sway, and cause to act together, rugged natures, in a manner which many a leader cannot acquire after decades passed in camps and combats. At Lepanto, although he had at hand the experience of the veterans Requesens and Santa Cruz to lean upon, if he had required and chosen, there was not a sign of his being the scion of royalty sent to win fame through the agency of men abler than himself. On the contrary, he not only directed his fleet as far as any commander could, but he fought his flag-ship himself, never asking or accepting advice, and so did his work that grim old warriors were astonished at his achievements. Had Philip not been so pitiful a character, he, with such a brother under him to wield loyally the forces of Spain, might have changed the face of Europe, and perhaps established that rule over the Western world which some observers thought to be destined for the House of Austria.
Besides admiring his heroism, we must sympathise with Don John in sentiments not purely heroic. It is through these, probably, that he touches our hearts, more than by his exploits. The dutiful affection which he always rendered to his foster-parents, and his devotion to Doña Magdalena to his life's end, will, to many a tender breast, make his glorious deeds look exceeding glorious, and will cause even censorious minds to tolerate his fame.
The work before us, from which we have been endeavouring to draw out in little the thread of the principal character's career, is in reality a history of Europe for the eleven years from 1567 to 1578. Events of the period are so varied in place and in character, that interest in the narrative is kept ever alive. The Morisco rebellion, the naval war with the Turks, the intrigues of the Italian States, the settlements of pirates along the North African shores, the struggles caused by the Reformation in Northern Europe, engage in succession the reader's attention. He is made to see, too, the difficult position of the Court of Rome between the threatening infidels on the one hand and the reformers on the other. No narration could be less smothered with Dryasdust inflictions; and yet this is full of didactic illustrations of the ancient life, political, military, and social, of those stirring times. It is remarkable that England in those days stood aloof from the politics regarding the Turk, which were engrossing Southern Europe, and indeed the greater part of Europe. The English appear to have lost the crusading spirit by that time, and to have
