.I§8 DEFECTION OF THE NETHERLANDS 



the wares of India, the Italian cities drew to themfelves 

 this lucrative branch of commerce, and formed in Ger- 

 many the hanfeatic league, the Netherlands became 

 the important mart between the north and fouth. * Be- 

 hind them an inexplorable tract of continent, towards 

 the weft lying open to the main, by fo many hofpita- 

 ble havens, thefe countries feemed expreflly ordained 

 to be the centre of commerce, the place of confluence 

 for all nations. Veffels that could not well make the 

 tedious voyage from the Mediterranean to the Baltic in 

 the courfe of a feafon, readily pitched upon a place of 

 meeting, that lay in the midft between the two. In 

 the principal cities of the Netherlands flaples were' im- 

 mediately erected. Britains, Spaniards, Italians, French, 

 Germans, and the people of the north, flocked here 

 together with products from all the regions of the 

 globe. The concurrence of fellers lowered the price of 

 materials, indufhy was animated with vigour, becaufe 

 the market was at the door. With the neceffary cir- 

 culation of money came in the courfe of exchange, 

 which opened a new fource of wealth. The princes of 

 the country, become at length better acquainted with 

 their real interefts, encouraged the merchant with 

 great immunities, and found out the art of protecting 

 their trade by advantageous treaties 1 with foreign powers. 

 When, in the fifteenth century feveral Angle provinces 

 united themfelves under one fovereign, a flop* was put 

 to their pernicious private wars, as their feparate inte- 

 refts were now clofely combined by one common go? 

 vernment. Their commerce throve, and their we! -are 

 was increafed by the advantages of a continued peace 



which 



