tg6 DEFECTION OP TH£ NETHERLANDS 



fore their tribunal, and to behead them in the very 

 fight of this princefs. During the fhort government 

 of the dutchefs Maria till her marriage, the com- 

 monalty acquired a degree of confequence and power 

 which elevated them nearly to the rank of a free ftate. 

 On the death of his fpoufe, Maximilian, of his own 

 authority, took upon him the government, as the 

 guardian of his fon. The ftates, offended at this at- 

 tack upon their rights, refufed to acknowledge his fu- 

 premacy, and could no farther be brought to com- 

 pliance, than to tolerate him as fladtholder for a deter- 

 minate time, and that under conditions to which they 

 obliged him to fwear. Maximilian believed he might 



o o 



fafely trefpafs on the conftitution, on becoming king 

 of the Romans. He impofed extraordinary taxes on 

 the provinces, remitted the fervices of the Burgun- 

 dians and Germans, and filled the country with foreign 

 troops. But the jealoufy of thefe republicans kept 

 equal pace with the power of their regent. The peo- 

 ple flew to their arms, as he made his entrance into 

 Bruges at the head of a numerous train ; feized upon 

 his perfon, and laid him prifoner in the fortrefs. Not- 

 withftanding the powerful interceffion of the imperial 

 and the rorrian courts, he could not obtain his freedom 

 till the nation was fatisfied on the points in contro- 

 verfy. 



The fecurity of life and property, which arofe from 

 milder laws and an equal adminiftration of juftice, pro- 

 moted diligence and induftry in thefe countries. In 

 perpetual combat with the ocean, and the torrents of 

 impetuous rivers, which raged againfc the lower lands, 

 and the force whereof mull be broken by dams, and 



