2,03 DEFECTION OF THE NETHERLANDS 



dition of the flemifli cities. The Italians began to 

 bring their own lilks to Antwerp for fale, and the fie- 

 mim clothiers, who had fettled in England, fent thi- 

 ther their commodities likewife; by which the city of 

 Bruges acquired two capital branches of commerce. 

 Their increafing pride had long ago violated the 

 hanfeatic league, which they now entirely abandoned, 

 and effcabli fried their Ihops at Antwerp. In the year 

 15 1 6, it was deferted by all the foreign merchants, in- 

 fomuch that only a few Spaniards remained ; but its 

 profperity was long upon the decline, as it had been 

 long arriving at its height. 



Antwerp, in the fixteenth century, was in polTeflion 

 of that commerce which had been banilhed by the lux- 

 ury of the flemilh towns ; and under the reign of 

 Charles V. this city was the moft opulent and profpe- 

 xous of any in the chriftian world. A river like the 

 Scheldt, whofe broad mouth has the fame flux and re- 

 flux with the German ocean, and is able to bear the 

 larger! fhips clofe under the walls, naturally renders it 

 the common rendezvous of all the vefTels'that frequent 

 thefe coafts. Its free mart brought hither merchants 

 from all countries. The induftry of the nation, had 

 reached its utmoft extent at the commencement of this 

 century. Agriculture, linen-manufactories, the breed- 

 ing of cattle, the chace and the fifhery enriched the 

 countryman ; arts, manufactures and commerce poured 

 wealth into the cities. It was not long before the pro - 

 ducts of flemilh induflry were feen in Arabia, Perfia, 

 and India. Their fhips covered the ocean, and we fee 

 them in the Euxine contending for the maftery with 



the 



