FROM THE SPANISH MONARCHY, I99 



which the fuperior power of their princes impofed on 

 the neighbouring kings. The burgundian flag was re- 

 flected in every fea, the authority of their fovereign 

 gave energy to their undertakings, and rendered the 

 attempt of a private perfon the concern of a formidable 

 ftate. So powerful a protection foon put them in a 

 condition even to renounce the hanfeatic league, and 

 to perfecute thefe arrogant rivals over all the fea. The 

 hanfeatic merchant, to whom the fpanifh ports were 

 fhut, was at length forced againft his will to frequent the 

 flemifh fairs, and to receive the commodities of Spain 

 at the Netherland mart. 



Bruges, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, 

 was the centre of the whole european trade, and the 

 great commercial emporium of all nations. In the year 

 1468, they numbered 150 merchant-vefTels, riding at 

 once in the harbour of Sluys. Here were the maga- 

 zines of all northern productions for the fouth, and of 

 all the fouthern and levantine for the north. They 

 were tranfported in hanfeatic bottoms through the 

 Sound, and along the Rhine to Upper Germany, or 

 carried over land to Brunfwic and Luneburg. 



It is the natural courfe of human affairs, that an un- 

 bounded luxury is the attendant on long profperity. 

 The feducing example of Philip the good could not 

 but haften this event. The court of the duke of Bur- 

 gundy was the moll voluptuous and fplendid in Europe, 

 not even excepting thofe of the italian princes. The 

 coflly drefles of the great, which afterwards ferved for 

 patterns to the Spaniards, were foon extended to the 

 people at large ; and the meaneft burgher walked the 



p 4 ftreets 



