frROM THE SPANISH MONARCHY. <2>0g 



the calls of the place and the prefent occafion, and re- 

 voked in Antwerp an ordinance, which he would have 

 enforced at Madrid and Lilbon with all the terrors of 

 authority. 



What rendered tht reign of Charles the fifth parti- 

 cularly remarkable, in regard to the Netherlands, was 

 the great revolution in matters of faith, which was 

 brought about under him, and which demands our 

 more circumftantial notice, as the principal fource of 

 the infurrection that afterwards happened. This it was 

 that firfh introduced arbitrary power into the inrhoft 

 fanctuary of the conftitution, taught them to give a 

 terrible proof of their ability, and thus gave it a kind 

 of legitimacy, as it carried the republican fpirit to a 

 dangerous height. As the latter diiplayed itfelf in the 

 exceffes of fedition and anarchy? the monarchical au- 

 thority mounted to the fummit of defpotifm. 



Nothing is more natural than the tranfition from 

 civil to religious liberty* The man of the nation that 

 is once acquainted with the true value of human nature, 

 fey living under a happy form of government, that is 

 accuftomed to infpecT the laws in which the fupreme 

 authority confifts, or which they themfelves have framed ; 

 whofe fpirit is brightened by activity, whofe feelings 

 are expanded by the enjoyment of life, whofe natural 

 courage is elevated by inward fecurity and welfare, 

 fuch a nation and fuch a man will not fo eafilv as an- 

 other furrender himfelf up to the blind authority of a 

 ftupid defpotical faith, and will fooner than others rife 

 above it. There was ft ill another circumftauce that fa- 

 voured the growth of the new religion in thefe parts. 

 Italy, at that time the feat of the greateft intellectual 



vol. i. v refinement, 



