XII. BOOK deavoured to better his fortune by serving as an adventurer in the armies of Spain. The peace of Chateau-Cambresis restored to him his paternal dominions. As these are environed on every hand by powerful neighbours, all whose motions the dukes of Savoy must observe with the greatest attention, in order not only to guard against the danger of being surprised and overpowered, but that they may choose their side with discernment in those quarrels wherein it is impossible for them to avoid taking a part, this peculiarity of their situation seems to have had no inconsiderable influence on their character. By rousing them to perpetual attention, by keeping their ingenuity always on the stretch, and engaging them in almost continual action, it hath formed a race of princes more sagacious in discovering their true interest, more decisive in their resolutions, and more dexterous in availing themselves of every occurrence which presented itself, than any perhaps that can be singled out in the history of Europe. By gradual acquisitions the dukes of Savoy have added to their territories, as well as to their own importance; and aspiring at length to regal dignity, which they obtained about half a century ago, by the title of kings of Sardinia, they hold now no inconsiderable rank among the monarchs of Europe. Of the United The territories which form the republic of the United NeProvinces. therlands, were lost during the first part of the sixteenth century, among the numerous provinces subject to the house of Austria; and were then so inconsiderable, that hardly one opportunity of mentioning them hath occurred in all the busy period of this history. But soon after the peace of ChateauChambresis, the violent and bigoted maxims of Philip's government, being carried into execution with unrelenting rigour by the duke of Alva, exasperated the free people of the LowCountries to such a degree, that they threw off the Spanish yoke and asserted their ancient liberties and laws. These they defended with a persevering valour, which gave employment to the arms of Spain during half a century, exhausted the vigour, ruined the reputation of that monarchy, and at last constrained their ancient masters to recognise and to treat with them as a free and independent state. This state, founded on liberty, and reared by industry and economy, grew into great reputa tion, even while struggling for its existence. But when peace and security allowed it to enlarge its views and to extend its commerce, it rose to be one of the most respectable as well as enterprising powers in Europe. The transactions of the kingdoms in the north of Europe, have been seldom attended to in the course of this history. BOOK XII. Russia remained buried in that barbarism and obscurity, Of Russia. from which it was called about the beginning of the present century, by the creative genius of Peter the Great, who made his country known and formidable to the rest of Europe. ark and In Denmark and Sweden, during the reign of Charles V. Of Dengreat revolutions happened in their constitutions, civil as well Sweden. as ecclesiastical. In the former kingdom, a tyrant being degraded from the throne, and expelled the country, a new prince was called by the voice of the people to assume the reins of government. In the latter, a fierce people, roused to arms by injuries and oppression, shook off the Danish yoke, and conferred the regal dignity on its deliverer, Gustavus Ericson, who had all the virtues of a hero and of a patriot. Denmark, exhausted by foreign wars, or weakened by the dissensions between the king and the nobles, became incapable of such efforts as were requisite in order to recover the ascendant which it had long possessed in the north of Europe. Sweden, as soon as it was freed from the dominion of strangers, began to recruit its strength, and acquired in a short time such internal vigour, that it became the first kingdom in the north. Early in the subsequent century, it rose to such a high rank among the powers of Europe, that it had the chief merit in forming, as well as conducting, that powerful league, which protected not only the protestant religion, but the liberties of Germany against he bigotry and ambition of the house of Austria. INDEX TO THE SECOND AND THIRD VOLUMES. N. B. The Roman numerals direct to the volume, A ABSOLUTION, the form of that used by father Tetzel in Germany, Adorni, the faction of; assists the imperial general Colonna in the reduc- Adrian of Utrecht, made preceptor to Charles V. under William de Africa, the Spanish troops sent by cardinal Ximenes against Barbarossa Aigues-Mortes, interview between the emperor Charles and Francis Aix-la-Chapelle, the emperor Charles crowned there, ii, 69. Ferdi- Alarcon, don Ferdinand, Francis I. of France, taken prisoner at the Albany, John Stuart, duke of, commands the French army sent by Albert of Brandenburg, grand-master of the Teutonic order, becomes a Alexander VI. pope, remarks on the pontificate of, ii, 91. Algiers, how it was seized by Barbarossa, ii, 299. Is seized by the Alva, duke of, adheres to Ferdinand of Aragon, in his dispute with the. a truce with the pope, 292. Negotiates a peace between Philip and Amerstorff, a nobleman of Holland, associated by Charles V. with car- Anabaptists, the origin of that sect deduced, ii, 238. Their principal Angleria, his authority cited in proof of the extortions of the Flemish Anhalt, princes of, avows the opinions of Martin Luther, ii, 174. |