AT2 History of the Spanish Inquisition. [Nov. 
In his codicil, written twelve days before his death, Charles V. thus expresses 
himself; “ WhenI had been informed that many persons had been arrested. in 
some provinces, and that others were to be taken as accused of Lutheranism, 
Iwrote to the princess my daughter, to inform her in what manner they should 
be punished, and the evil remedied. Ialso wrote afterwards to Louis Quixada, 
and authorized him to act in my name in the same affair; and although I am 
persuaded that the king my son, the princess my daughter, and the ministers 
have already, and will always, make every possible effort to destroy so great an 
evil, with all the severity and promptitude which it requires; yet, considering 
what I owe to the service of our Lord, the triumph of his faith, the preserva- 
tion of his church and the Christian religion (in the defence of which I haye 
performed such painful labours at the risk of my life, as every one knows); and 
particularly desiring, above all, to inspire my son, whose catholic sentiments I 
know, with the wish of imitating my conduct, and which I hope he will do, 
from knowing his virtue and piety, I beg and recommend to him very particularly, 
as much as I can and am obliged to do, and command him moreover in my qua- 
lity of father, and by the obedience which he owes me, to labour with, diligence, 
as in a point which particularly interests him, that the heretics shall be prosecuted 
and chastised with all the severity which their crimes deserve, without permitting 
any criminal to be excepted, without any respect for the intreaties, or rank, or 
quality of the persons; and that my intentions may have their full and entire 
effect, I desire him to protect the holy office of the Inquisition, for the great 
numbers of crimes which it prevents or punishes, remembering that I have charged 
him to do so in my will, that he may fulfil his duty asa prince, and render himself 
worthy that the Lord should make his reign prosperous, conduct his affairs, 
and protect him against his enemies, to my consolation.” 
But a still more curious document, as it relates to our own country, 
is the letter of Philip the Second to exculpate himself to the Pope. 
This furious bigot was near being King of England; and between him 
and Queen Mary we should have had a kingdom flowing with massacre. 
He boasts in this letter of his persecutions among us; and he evidently 
wanted nothing but power to have given us the whole benediction of 
popery. 
Since I informed you of the conduct of the Pope, and of the news received 
from Rome, I have learnt that his holiness proposes to excommunicate the 
emperor and me, to put my states under an interdict, and to prohibit the divine 
service. Having consulted learned men on this subject, it appears that it is not 
only an abuse of the power of the sovereign pontiff, founded only on the 
hatred and passion, which, certainly, has not been provoked by our conduct, 
but that we are not obliged to submit to what he has ordained im respect to our 
persons, on account of the great scandal which would be caused by our con- 
fessing ourselves guilty, since we are not so, and the great sin which we should 
commit in so doing. In consequence, it has been decided, that if I am interdicted 
from certain things, I am not obliged to deprive myself of them, as those do who 
are excommunicated, although a censure may be sent to me from Rome, 
according to the disposition of his holiness. For after having destroyed the 
sects in England, brought this country under the influence of the church, pur- 
sued and punished the heretics without ceasing, and obtained a success which 
has always been constant, I see that his holiness evidently wishes to ruin my 
kingdom, without considering what he owes to his dignity; and I have no 
doubt that he would succeed if we consented to his demands, since he’ has 
already revoked all the legations which Cardinal Pole received for this kingdom, 
and which had produced so much benefit. These reasons, other important 
considerations, the necessity of preparing for all events, and of protecting our 
people from being surprised, have induced us to draw up,.in the name of his 
majesty, and in our own, an act of recusation in form, of which I intended to 
send youa copy; but as this piece is very long, and the courier is setting out 
