Till _Charles_ the fift th’emperiall power did bend ’Gainst Rome, which _Burbon_ skilfully did guide, Which sore declining[2026] Italy did rend: For th’right that him her holinesse denide, Wholly her selfe enforced to defend Gainst him that iustly punished her pride, To which my selfe I lastly did betake, Seeing[2027] thereof what fortune ment to make. 35. And at the siege with that great generall seru’d, When he did[2028] girt her stubborne waste with steele, Within her walles who well neer being staru’d, And that with faintnes she began to reele, Shewing her selfe a little as she swaru’d: First her then noting I began to feele, She whose great power so far abroad did rome, What in her selfe she truly was at home. 36. That the great schoole of the false world was then, Where her’s their subtill practises did vie, Amongst that mightie confluence of men, French plots propt vp by English policie, The German powers, false shuffling, and agen All countermin’d by skilfull Italy, Each one in possibility to win, Great rests were vp and mightie hands were in. 37. Here first to worke my busie braine was set, (My inclination finding it to please This stirring world which strongly still did whet) To temper in so dangerous assaies, Which did strange formes of policies beget: Besides in times so turbulent as these, Wherein my studies hopefully did[2029] bend Vnto that point the wisest[2030] made their end. 38. And my experience happily me taught Into the secrets of those times to see, From whence to England afterward I brought Those slights of state deliu’red vnto[2031] me, In t’which were then but very[2032] few that sought, Nor did with th’umour of that age agree, After did great and fearfull[2033] things effect, Whose secret working few did then suspect. 39. When though t’were long it hapned yet at last Some hopes me homeward secretly allur’d, When many perils strangely I had past, As many sad calamities endur’d Beyond the moone, when I began to cast By my rare parts what place might be procur’d, If they at home were to the mightie knowne, How they would seeme compared with their owne. 40. Or if that there the great should me neglect, As I the worst that vainely did not feare, To my experience how to gaine respect In other countries that doe hold it deare, And now occasion seemed to reiect,[2034] Whil’st still before me other rising were, And some themselues had mounted to the skie, Little before vnlike to thriue as I. 41.