lthough, or perhaps because, in favor at
the Vatican, had gained no footing in the imperial court; and as its
fame grew, the prelates around the throne, sons or friends of the
ancient orders, were more likely to remind their master, that its
general had been once admonished by the holy office of Toledo, than to
dwell on his piety and eloquence, or on the splendid success of his
missions in the East. But from his ancient servant and brother in arms,
in the quiet shades of Yuste, Charles heard a different tale, which
seems to have changed his feelings towards the Jesuits, from distrust
and dislike, to approval and friendly regard.

Sometimes the talk of the emperor and his guest was of old times, and of
their former selves. "Do you remember," said Charles, "how I told you in
1542, at Moncon," during the holding of the Cortes of Aragon, "of my
intention of abdicating the throne? I spoke of it to only one person
besides." The Jesuit replied that he had kept the secret truly, but that
now he hoped he might mention the mark of confidence with which he had
been honored. "Yes," said Charles; "now that the thing is done, you may
say what you will."

One of the emperor's most curious and interesting revelations to Borja,
was the fact that he had composed memoirs of a part of his reign. He
asked if the father thought that a man's writing an account of his own
actions savored too much of vanity; and said, that he had drawn up a
notice of his various campaigns and travels, not with any view to
vain-glory, but in order that the truth might be known; for he had
observed in the works of the historians of his time, that they were led
into error, as much by ignorance, as by passion and prejudice. What
judgment Borja delivered upon this case of conscience does not appear.
Nor is the fate of the memoirs known. But the work cannot have been
large, having been composed to beguile time spent in sailing down the
Rhine from Mayence. Van Male, to whose letters we owe our knowledge of
this fact, and who was employed to translate his master's French into
Latin, praises the terseness and elegance of the style. This translation
was spoken of, in 1560, by Ruscelli, in a letter addressed to Philip
II., as soon to be published; and Brantome wonders why so excellent a
speculation could have been neglected by the booksellers. It is plain,
therefore, that Borja is not to be blamed for the loss, if they are
indeed lost, of the precious commentaries of the