2l6 DEFECTION OP THE NETHERLANDS 



people. The fplendor of his victories at the fame time 

 dazzled their eyes ; the glory of their fovereign, which, 

 in fome meafure rebounded upon them, lulled their 

 republican vigilance afieep ; the tremendous cloud of 

 invincibility which enfhrouded the conqueror of Ger- 

 many, France, Italy, and Africa, filled the factions 

 with awe. And then, who can be ignorant, how far a 

 man, whether a private perfon or a prince, may ven- 

 ture, who has been able to fix on himfelf tjie admira- 

 tion of all men ! His frequent perfonal appearance in 

 thefe parts, which, according to his own acknowledge- 

 ment, he vilited at ten feveral times, kept the malcon- 

 tents within bounds ; the repeated a6ls of fevere and 

 fpeedy juftice fupported the dread of fovereign autho- 

 rity, Charles, in fhort, was born in the Netherlands, 

 and loved the nation in which he had palled his youth. 

 Their manners pleated him, the natural fimplicity of 

 their character and converfe, gave him an agreeable 

 relaxation from the ftiff and formal gravity of the Spa- 

 niards. He fooke their language, and conducted his 

 private life by their cuftoms. The burdenfome eti- 

 quette, that unnatural wall of fcparation between king 

 and people, was banifhed from BrurTels. No invidious 

 foreigner denied them accefs to their prince ; the paf~ 

 fage to him was through their own countrymen, to, 

 whom he intr lifted his perfon. He converfed much 

 and readily with them ; his deportment was plealing, 

 and his converfation ingratiating. Thefe little com- 

 placencies gained him their affection, and whilft his 

 rapacious hands were employed in pillaging their pro- 

 perty, while his armies were treading down their corn, 

 his viceroy opprefTmg them a and his executioner put- 

 ting 



