PROM THE SPANISH MONARCHY. I77 



ever returned to fee their country again; and thofe 

 few had left it while ftriplings, and reviiited it when 

 enervated by age. Gold being become more common 

 made the military eftablifhment always higher ; the in- 

 crealing charms of luxury and indolence much in- 

 hanced the price of the opponte virtues* With the 

 rebels the cafe was totally reverfed. All the thoufands 

 that were chaced out of the fouthern Netherlands by 

 the barbarities of the royal vicegerent, which the war 

 of the huguenots had forced out of France, and the 

 coercions of confcience had driven from other parts of 

 Europe, all flocked to them. The whole chriftian 

 world fupplied them with recruits. For them the fa- 

 natic ifm both of the perfecutors and the perfecuted was 

 at work. The lively enthuliafm of a doctrine newly 

 come up, revenge, hunger, and hopelefs mi'fery, drew 

 from every diftricT: in Europe, adventurers under their 

 banner. All the partizans of the new doctrine, all that 

 had fufFered, or had ftill any thing to fear from de- 

 fpotifm, confidered their own fortunes as attached to 

 thofe of this riling republic. Every vexation endured 

 from a tyrant, gave a denizen to Holland. Men 

 thronged to a country where liberty waved her ani- 

 mating itandard, where the fugitive religion was en- 

 fured of fafety, and of being avenged of its perfecutors. 

 When we reflect on the confluence of all nations in 

 Holland now, who on their entrance into its territories, 

 regain their rights as men ; what muft it have been at 

 that time, when all the refl: of Europe was lighing un- 

 der a gloomy fpiritual oppreffion, when Amfterdam was 

 almoft the fole free port for the various opinions of 

 mankind ? Hundreds of families flew with their pro- 

 ve l, 1* si p er *y 



