54 THE SHEEP. 



same, for seven years, and so forth. Absurd as are these, 

 and many more of the laws of the times, the woollen trade 

 arid manufacture had been continually extending ; and, in 

 the" glorious reign of Elizabeth, became one of the main 

 sources of national opulence and power. 



With the progressive increase, during the preceding reigns, 

 of the foreign export trade in manufactured goods, the ex- 

 portation of raw wool had been gradually declining, and 

 became continually less a means of supplying the wants of 

 needy princes. Elizabeth, with a provident sagacity, did not 

 prohibit the exportation of the raw material ; and thus, while 

 she supported the manufacturer, she encouraged the growth of 

 native wool, by suffering the growers to send their produce 

 to the most suitable market. This wise policy had a happy 

 effect ; while events arose, in connexion with the melancholy 

 history of other countries, which gave a new vigour to the 

 manufacturing industry of England. 



Charles V. had succeeded, together with his other fair 

 dominions, to the sovereignty of the Low Countries, then 

 including the Dutch provinces. The doctrines of the Refor- 

 mation, so well suited to the genius of a frugal and calcu- 

 lating people, had early made a silent progress in the coun- 

 try ; but here, as elsewhere, the strength of authoritv was 

 put forth to repress the spreading heresy. Civil grievances 

 were added to religious quarrels. Charles lived to witness 

 and deplore the growing discontent of his once faithful people; 

 but it was reserved for his son and successor Philip II. to fan 

 the embers of rebellion into flame, and complete the ruin of 

 his rich and peaceful provinces. The people, who had been 

 termed in contempt Geux, or beggars, by the minions of the 

 Court, assumed, with bitter irony, the wallet and the staff as 

 the ensign of their confederacy, and everywhere made head 

 against their oppressors. A civil war ensued, rendered hor- 

 rible by the merciless severity with which it was carried on ; 

 by the sacking of rich towns, and other excesses of merce- 

 nary soldiers ; by confiscations and judicial murders. After 



