The emperor was here entirely overcome by emotion, and embracing Philip, sank exhausted into his chair.  The affecting scene moved all the audience to tears.  Soon after this, with the same formalities the emperor resigned the crown of Spain to his son, reserving to himself, of all his dignities and vast revenues, only a pension of about twenty thousand dollars a year.  For some months he remained in the Low Countries, and then returned to Spain to seek an asylum in a convent there.

When in the pride of his power he once, while journeying in Spain, came upon the convent of St. Justus in Estramadura, situated in a lovely vale, secluded from all the bustle of life.  The massive pile was embosomed among the hills; forests spread widely around, and a beautiful rivulet murmured by its walls.  As the emperor gazed upon the enchanting scene of solitude and silence he exclaimed, “Behold a lovely retreat for another Diocletian!”

The picture of the convent of St. Justus had ever remained in his mind, and perhaps had influenced him, when overwhelmed with care, to seek its peaceful retirement.  Embarking in a ship for Spain, he landed at Loredo on the 28th of September, 1556.  As soon as his feet touched the soil of his native land he prostrated himself to the earth, kissed the ground, and said,

“Naked came I into the world, and naked I return to thee, thou common mother of mankind.  To thee I dedicate my body, as the only return I can make for all the benefits conferred on me.”

Then kneeling, and holding the crucifix before him, with tears streaming from his eyes, and all unmindful of the attendants who were around, he breathed a fervent prayer of gratitude for the past, and commended himself to God for the future.  By slow and easy stages, as he was very infirm, he journeyed to the vale of Estramadura, near Placentia, and entered upon his silent, monastic life.

His apartments consisted of six small cells.  The stone walls were whitewashed, and the rooms furnished with the utmost frugality.  Within the walls of the convent, and communicating with the chapel, there was a small garden, which the emperor had tastefully arranged with shrubbery and flowers.  Here Charles passed the brief remainder of his days.  He amused himself with laboring in the garden with his own hands.  He regularly attended worship in the chapel twice every day, and took part in the service, manifestly with the greatest sincerity and devotion.

The emperor had not a cultivated mind, and was not fond of either literary or scientific pursuits.  To beguile the hours he amused himself with tools, carving toys for children, and ingenious puppets and automata to astonish the peasants.  For a time he was very happy in his new employment.  After so stormy a life, the perfect repose and freedom from care which he enjoyed in the convent, seemed to him the perfection of bliss.  But soon the novelty wore away, and his constitutional despondency returned with accumulated power.