OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 405 



the towns from the field. All which miseries, truly 

 to speak, have been wrought by Spain and the 

 Spanish faction. 



The Low Countries, which were, within the age 

 of a young man, the richest, the best peopled, and the 

 best built plots of Europe, are in such estate, as a 

 country is like to be in, that hath been the seat of 

 thirty years war : and although the sea-provinces be 

 rather increased in wealth and shipping than other 

 wise ; yet they cannot but mourn for their distrac 

 tion from the rest of their body. 



The kingdom of Portugal, which of late times, 

 through their merchandizing and places in the East 

 Indies, was grown to be an opulent kingdom, is now 

 at the last, after the unfortunate journey of Afric, 

 in that state as a country is like to be, that is re 

 duced under a foreigner by conquest ; and such a 

 foreigner as hath his competitor in title, being a 

 natural Portugal and no stranger ; and having been 

 once in possession, yet in life ; whereby his jealousy 

 must necessarily be increased, and through his jea 

 lousy their oppression : which is apparent, by the 

 carrying of many noble families out of their na 

 tural countries to live in exile, and by putting to 

 death a great number of noblemen, naturally born 

 to have been principal governors of their countries. 

 These are three afflicted parts of Christendom ; 

 the rest of the states enjoy either prosperity or 

 tolerable condition. 



The kingdom of Scotland, though at this present, 

 by the good regiment and wise proceeding of the 



