XCV111                               1NTR0B UCTION.
ceived from him an expression of his satisfaction,
together with an order to remain at court, as his ser-
vices would shortly be again put into requisition.
With the year 1516 really begins the great diplo-
matic and active career of Herberstein, as he then
undertook the first journey to Russia. Before start-
ing on this, however, he was employed on a mission,
the management of which was also very difficult, and
required extraordinary prudence and perseverance.
Christian II of Denmark had two years before mar-
ried Isabella, second daughter of Philip of Spain,
a princess adorned with all the good qualities of her
race; but that her lot could not be a happy one, may
be judged from the character and public actions of
that voluptuous tyrant. She complained to Charles
of Burgundy, and to her powerful grandfather, the
emperor Maximilian, of the shameful neglect she
suffered on account of the ill-famed Dyveke and her
mother Siegbrit, for the former of whom the king
was possessed with a most infatuated affection. The
queen also even complained of being personally ill-
treated. The two monarchs, thus appealed to by
their relative, resolved to send ambassadors to Chris-
tian, in order to remonstrate with him, and to require
that he should show better treatment to his wife; and
this very difficult and, in any case, ungrateful office
was assigned by the emperor to Herberstein. He left
the court in January 1516, and after fulfilling various ,
commissions assigned to him by the way, came to
Nykoping, where the unfortunate Queen Isabella .
then resided.    Here he found also two ambassadors