"I think we are intimate enough, now, to ask you a question or two, Harry, touching my aunt," continued Rose, looking stealthily over her shoulder, as if apprehensive of being overheard. "You know how fond she is of speaking of the sea, and of indulging in nautical phrases ?"

"Any one must have observed that, Rose," answered the young man, gazing up at the wall, in order not to be compelled to look the beautiful creature before him in the eyes-" Mrs. Budd has very strong tastes that way."

"Now tell me, Harry—that is, answer me frankly—I mean-she is not always right, is she?"

"Why, no; not absolutely so-that is, not absolutely always sofew persons are always right, you know."

Rose remained silent and embarrassed for a moment; after which she pursued the discourse.

"But aunty does not know as much of the sea and of ships as she thinks she does?"

"Perhaps not. We all overrate our own acquirements. I dare say that even I am not so good a seaman as I fancy myself to be."

"Even Spike admits you are what he calls a prime seaman.' But it is not easy for a woman to get a correct knowledge of the use of all the strange, and sometimes uncouth, terms that you sailors use." "Certainly not; and for that reason I would rather you should never attempt it, Rose. We rough sons of the ocean would prefer to hear our wives make divers pretty blunders, rather than to be swaggering about like so many 'old salts.""

"Mr. Mulford! Does Aunt Budd swagger like an old salt?” "Dearest Rose, I was not thinking of your aunt, but of you. Of you, as you are, feminine, spirited, lovely in form and character, and of you a graduate of the ocean, and full of its language and ideas."

It was probable that Rose was not displeased at this allusion to herself, for a smile struggled around her pretty mouth, and she did not look at all angry. After another short pause, she resumed the dis

course.

"My aunt did not very clearly comprehend those explanations of yours about the time of day, and the longitude," she said, "nor am I quite certain that I did myself."

"You understood them far better than Mrs. Budd, Rose. Women are so little accustomed to think on such subjects at all, that it is not surprising they sometimes get confused. I do wish, however, that your aunt could be persuaded to be more cautious in the presence of strangers, on the subject of terms she does not understand."

"I feared it might be so, Harry," answered Rose, in a low voice, as if unwilling even he should know the full extent of her thoughts on this subject; "but my aunt's heart is most excellent, though she may make mistakes occasionally. I owe her a great deal, if not absolutely my education, certainly my health and comfort, and more prudent, womanly advice than you may suppose, perhaps, since I have left school. How she became the dupe of Spike, indeed, is to me unaccountable; for she is, in general, both acute and skilful."

"Spike is a man of more art than he appears to be to superficial observers. On my first acquaintance with him, I mistook him for a frank, fearless, but well-meaning sailor, who loved hazardous voyages

and desperate speculation-a sort of innocent gambler; but I have learned to know better. His means are pretty much reduced to his brig, and she is getting old, and can do but little more service. His projects are plain enough now. By getting you into his power, he hoped to compel a marriage, in which case both your fortune and your aunt's would contribute to repair his."

"He might have killed me, but I never would have married him," rejoined Rose, firmly. "Is not that Jack coming down the steps of the light-house?"

"It is. I find that fellow's attachment to Spike very extraordinary, Rose. Can you, in any manner, account for it?"

Rose at first seemed disposed to reply. Her lips parted, as if about to speak, and closed again, as, glancing her eyes toward the open door, she seemed to expect the appearance of the steward's little, rotund form on its threshold, which held her tongue-tied. A brief interval elapsed, however, ere Jack actually arrived, and Rose, perceiving that Harry was curiously expecting her answer, said hurriedly "it may be hatred, not attachment."

The next instant Jack Tier entered the room. He had been gone rather more than an a hour, not returning until just as the sun was about to set in a flame of fire.

"Well, Jack, what news from the Poughkeepsie?" demanded the "You have been gone long enough to make sure of your errand. We are not to see the man-of-war's man to-night."

mate.

"Whatever you see my advice to you is to keep close and to be on your guard," answered Jack, evasively.

"I have little to fear of any of Uncle Sam's craft. A plain story and an honest heart, will make all clear to a well-disposed listener. We have not been accomplices in Spike's treasons, and cannot be made to answer for them."

“Take my advice, maty, and be in no hurry to hail every vessel you see. Uncle Sam's fellows may not always be at hand to help you. Do you not know that this island will be tabooed to seamen for some time to come?"

"Why so, Jack? The islet has done no harm, though others may have performed wicked deeds near it."

"Two of the drowned men lie within a hundred yards of this spot, and sailors never go near new-made graves, if they can find any other place to resort to."

"You deal in enigmas, Jack; and did I not know that you are very temperate, I might suspect that the time you have been gone has been passed in the company of a bottle of brandy."

"That will explain my meaning," said Jack, laconically, pointing as he spoke seemingly at some object that was to be seen without.

The door of the house was wide open for the admission of air. It faced the haven of the islets, and just as the mate's eyes were turned to it, the end of a flying-jib boom, with the sail down, and fluttering beneath it, was coming into view. "The Poughkeepsie!" exclaimed Mulford, in delight, seeing all his hopes realized, while Rose blushed to the eyes. A pause succeeded, during which Mulford drew aside, keeping his betrothed in the background, and as much out of sight as possible. The vessel was shooting swiftly into view, and presently all there could see it was the Swash.

THE SACK OF ROME, MAY, 1527.

FROM AN ORIGINAL SPANISH LETTER OF THE TIME.

TRANSLATED BY SIR ALEXANDER DUFF GORDON.

FRAGMENT of a letter touching the assault and sack of Rome in May 1527, the imperialist army being commanded by the constable, Charles de Bourbon, who, from pique against Francis I., the king of France, followed the party of Charles V. of Spain, and was killed during the assault by a shot from an arquebuss on the 6th of May, 1527.*

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS SIR,-On the 1st of May, 1527, I wrote to you fully, and forwarded certain papers touching the house which was bought of the Dean and Chapter, together with other papers and old documents connected therewith. I did likewise inform you of the death of Doctor Juan Fernandez,—who, I trust, is in heaven,-and of other matters, which you will see more fully set forth in the copies of sundry letters herewith enclosed. For which reason, in this letter I will summarily, and in few words, narrate what hath occurred since I last wrote; seeing that you will learn from the bearer of these despatches all particulars. But such great events have occurred, that no time, no wisdom, no judgment, would be sufficient to detail them.

Last Saturday month (the 4th of May, 1527) parties from the imperialist army began to shew themselves in the neighbourhood of Rome, after having made a feint of marching upon Florence. That same day several horsemen sallied forth from Rome to skirmish with them, and brought in some eight or ten stragglers of the imperialist light horse; the which did cause much rejoicing in Rome.

The army, sir, advanced with such rapidity, that, on Monday the 6th of May, leaving behind them the heavy artillery wherewith to batter the walls, -a party of Spaniards carried by escalade the strongest point of Rome, that part lying between the Belvedere and the gate of San Pancratio; and, I may almost say, that in one moment they carried the Borgo. The Spaniards fired at the Pope during his flight from the Vatican to the castle of St. Angelo, and, had they been quicker,-by the time one might say three credos or so,-they would have caught his holiness in the Vatican. In the space of one hour they killed so many people in the Borgo, that none but those who could manage to find refuge in the castle of St. Angelo escaped with their lives. I heard say that the loss on the side of his holiness is above six thousand,-nay, some go so far as to say even eight thousand men,—while the imperialists have not lost above a hundred men, and these were chiefly killed by the artillery. It was like a miracle; but the cruelties which the imperialists have since committed detract somewhat from the idea that this miracle was performed from any merit of theirs. But, as these matters are God's secrets, and the sins of this people have been exceeding great, God alone knoweth the cause why such persecution hath befallen them. We

Extracted from some original letters directed to the Chancellor Gatinara, which exist in the archives of Simancas. "Documentos ineditos para la Historia

de España," 7 vols. Madrid, 1842-1846.

have, likewise, had our share thereof, since no respect was shewn to any one, whatever was his nation or condition, his quality or estate. This same Monday, sir, and before the assault, Monsieur de Bourbon, seeing the small account which the Pope and the Roman people took of his coming, did send a trumpeter to invite the Romans to send some person or persons with whom he might treat concerning the delivery of the town into his hands, so as to save Rome from being sacked: and Señor Renzo de Cheri Ursino, who had been made the captain-general of the Pope's army, dismissed the trumpeter with rough words. This did anger Bourbon, and add more fury to his assault. In order to animate his own people, Bourbon placed himself in the front rank, and was killed in one of the first discharges by a shot from an arquebuss. This death of Bourbon was the cause of three parts of the mischiefs and cruelties which did not afterwards ensue, seeing that, even had Rome been sacked, the pillaging would have lasted one day instead of nine or ten, as it did actually last; during which time the imperialists were unceasingly plundering and killing; or torturing people to make them discover where their money and goods were concealed.

Sir, after the Borgo had been carried by assault, and all the people there killed, the Prince of Orange, and the other captains, to prevent, if possible, the sacking of Rome, did send another trumpeter, with an officer, to require of the Romans to treat with them. They demanded money to pay the imperialists, and to have the best quarters for their troops. Again Señor Renzo de Cheri Ursino, the captaingeneral, did reply discourteously, and warned them that if they came again he would infallibly hang them up by the neck. And although the Roman people, seeing and knowing the certain perdition to which they were exposed, wished to send their delegates to Monsieur de Bourbon, neither the Pope nor the captain-general would ever give way. The imperialists, therefore, seeing that nothing was to be got by good words, entered Rome in such a manner that the sack lasted nine or ten days, during which time the greatest cruelties were committed, the which are so numerous, sir, that neither ink nor paper would be sufficient to indite, nor any man's memory capable to retain them. We who escaped with our lives, whether Spaniards, Germans, or Italians, do consider ourselves most fortunate. If any house has escaped well in all Rome, it is that one which is occupied by me and by the secretary Perez; for I wrote to you that when the Duke of Sesa left Rome I took in the secretary Perez. We paid a ransom of two thousand and four hundred ducats; and, for escaping with our lives, for not having been put to the torture, like so many others, and for not having been despitefully entreated, we have given and do give infinite thanks unto the Lord, and we do think ourselves exceeding fortunate to have escaped by paying such a ransom; in which payment we were much assisted by several persons who took refuge in our house. In addition to my other necessities, sir, this adversity hath befallen me, for to a certainty my share will amount to about six hundred ducats, and we are seeking everywhere for money. As long as I live I shall never be able to pay this debt, in addition to others. But withal I render unto God my unfeigned thanks, in that he hath spared my life: for, during nine or ten days, not a moment passed in which I and the others did not expect instant death.

Sir, the cardinals who were in Rome, after having ransomed their houses and their persons once, had their houses and their property plundered: their persons were seized, and they were dragged on foot by the soldiery as vile malefactors through the streets, without so much as a servant to accompany, or a horse to carry them. It is impossible to imagine anything which could cause greater grief. I do aver to you, sir, that I thought I should have died thus to have seen that blessed gentleman, the Cardinal of Sienna, between eight or ten lanzquenets, a prisoner-on foot-naked-without even a girdle,having only a short cloak to cover his nakedness. These men had pillaged his house, and ransacked the houses of the other cardinals, and had not left them even the value of a ducat wherewith to supply their wants. And, seeing that much people, with their linen, their jewels, and their money, had taken shelter in these houses, the cardinals did run much risk and peril: and thus, sir, the soldiers must have got an enormous booty by the sack of Rome, because, besides plundering all the linen, the jewels, and the gold, they fixed a price on every one's head, as ransom money. Men, women, and children,-all had to pay; many were tortured, nay, many were killed, with unheard of cruelties.

The ambassador of Portugal, sir, was in one of the strongest houses in all Rome, and, for this reason, as well as on account of his position, much people, with their linen, their money, and their jewels, had taken refuge in his house, and the ransom of these people was estimated at one million of gold. But the house was, nevertheless, pillaged, and all the people made prisoners, so that the ambassador had not even a shirt or a cloak left him, but went about in his drawers, and in a doublet; nor had he, or any else in his house, any one thing left to them in this world. They made no difference between Spaniards or imperialists;-no respect was paid to any one. Rome will not be what it was before for fifty years to come. of the women and children, sir, in the streets, were sufficient to break a man's heart. In many parts there were so many dead bodies that it was almost impossible to walk; and, as they lay many days unburied, these bodies, together with the carcases of the dead horses, did cause such a pestilent smell, that for certain the plague will much increase, unless, indeed, God bringeth some remedy.

The screams

There hath not remained, sir, one church, one convent, one nunnery, which hath not been pillaged: many of the clergy, many friars and nuns, have been put to the torture, to force them to discover the money and the linen which peradventure might have been concealed in their houses. The nuns did scream frightfully while the rude soldiery were dragging them through the streets, and ill-treating them;-it was enough to melt a heart of stone!

The church of St. Peter is utterly plundered, the gold and silver containing the sacred relics taken away; the relics scattered about the floor, so that nothing can be distinguished. In this same church of St. Peter many dead bodies do lie about within the very chapel dedicated to St. Peter. Close to the very altar there are pools of blood; nay, even the carcases of dead horses are to be seen there.

VOL. XXII.

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