FROM THE SPANISH MONARCHY. 179 



commodities. Even during this war, Philip had it not 

 in his power to prevent his own fubjecls from dealing 

 with the republic of Holland : nay he could not have 

 wilhed to prevent them. He himfelf defrayed the ex- 

 pence the rebels were at in defending themfelves ; for 

 the very war they were obliged to maintain increafed 

 the export of their wares. The monftrous difburfe- 

 ments he made for the fupport of his fleets and armies 

 flowed moftly into the treafury of the republic ; which 

 iupplied the flemifh markets as well as thofe of Bra- 

 bant. Whatever Philip fet in motion againfl: the re- 

 bels, operated eventually in their favour. He was un- 

 able to do any thing effectually againlt this enemy ; as 

 it was impoffible for him to raife a rampart round his 

 country. All the immenfe fums that were confumed 

 in this war of forty years, were only poured into the 

 lieve of the Danaids, running through into a bottom- 

 lefs gulf. 



The flow progrefs of the war, occaiioned as much 

 detriment to the king of Spain, as it brought advan- 

 tage to the rebels. His army was for the moft part 

 compofed of the remains of thofe victorious troops 

 who had already gathered their laurels under Charles 

 the fifth. Age and long fervices entitled them to re- 

 pofe ; numbers of them whom the war had enriched, 

 longed with impatience to return to their homes, where 

 they might pafs in eafe the remainder of a toilfome life. 

 Their former zeal, their bravery and heroic ardour, de-,. 

 clmed in the fame degree, as they imagined they hacL. 

 performed enough for duty and for glory, and mould. 

 Begin to reap the fruits of fo many hard campaigns. 

 Hence it came to pafs, that troops who were accuf- 

 . n a tomed 



