A.D.

Page

The duke of Alva, repulsed before Alcmaer, petitions to

be recalled [A. D. 1473.]

6

He is succeeded in the government of the Low Countries
by Requesens, Commandator of Castile
Middleburg taken by the Zealanders [A. D. 1574]
ibid.
The siege of Leyden; which the Spaniards are compelled
1574] idid.
to raise, after the most vigorous exertions

The conferences at Breda [A. D. 1575]

ibid.

7

The revolted provinces reduced to great distress, offer

their sovereignty to Queen Elizabeth

ibid.

ibid.

8

She rejects it for political rersons
The Spanish troops in the Netherlands mutiny on the
death of Requesens [A. D. 1576]
The pacification of Ghent
Don John of Austria, the new governor of the Low Coun-
tries, agrees to confirm it

He violates his

engagements

ibid.

ibid.

9

"

1778 Queen Elizab. engages to support the revolted provinces ib.

Don John deposed by a decree of the States

10

They are distracted by jealousies and dissentions

Death of Don John

ibid.

ibid.

He is succeeded in the command of the Spanish army in

the Netherlands by the famous Alexander Farnese, duke

of Parma

1579 The UNION of the Seven Provinces signed at Utrecht 11

ibid.

The nature of the Union

1580 The United Provinces finally withdraw their allegiance

ibid.

-

from Philip II.

12

The expedition of Don Sebastian, king of Portugal, to the
coast of Africa

His death

ibid.

1584 It is discovered

-

ibid.

1521 Philip II. makes himself master of the kingdom of Portu. 13

1582 Attempt against the life of the prince of Orange ibid.

He is opposed to the duke of Parma

Distracted state of affairs in Scotland

14

Account of the voyage of Sir Francis Drake

Discontents of the Catholics in England

Plot against the life of Elizabeth

ibid.

James, the young king, is made prisoner at Ruthven 15

1583 The Spaniards invade Ireland

16

ibid.

17

18

ibid.

ibid.

ibid.

Assassination of William prince of Orange

His son Maurice elected Stadtholder

The duke of Parma invests Antwerp

19

1585 The citizens agree to acknowledge the authority of Phi-

ibid.

20

lip

Rapid decay of that city

The United Provinces offer their sovereignty to Henry

III. of France

20

He

Page

A. D.

He is obliged to reject it, on account of the distracted state

of his kingdom

20

Queen Elizabeth sends over an army of six thousand men,
under the earl of Leicester, to the assistance of the
States

And dispatches Sir Francis Drake, with a fleet of twenty
sail, to distress the Spaniards in the West-Indies
1586 Success of Drake

22

ibid.

Misconduct of Leicester

ibid.

He is recalled

ibid.

23
ibid.

24
ibid.

25
ibid.
26
ibid.

27

Babington's conspiracy against the life of Elizabeth
Trial of Mary Queen of Scots

Her spirited defence

She is condemned to suffer death

Examination of the evidence against her

1587 Affecting circumstances attending her execution
Her gallant behaviour

Her character

Hypocritical sorrow of Elizabeth

James VI. king of Scotland, seems determined to revenge
the death of his mother
ibid.

He is induced to live on good terms with the court of Eng-

land

28

ibid.

29

Naval exploits of Drake and Cavendish

The sailing of the Spanish Armada is retarded

1588 Philip II. makes new and great preparations for invading

ibid.

30

31

ibid.

England

Naval and military force of Elizabeth

Undaunted courage of the English Queen

The Spanish Armada sails

Defeated by the English fleet under the earl of Effingham

and Sir Francis Drake

32

It is attacked by a violent storm and wrecked on the west-

ern isles of Scotland, and on the coast of Ireland 33

French Protestants reduced to great distress by the pow-
er of the Catholic League

Ambition of the second duke of Guise

His violent death

ibid.

34

ibid.

1589 The duke of Mayenne, his brother, succeeds him in the

command of the League

35

Henry III. enters into a confederacy with the Hugonots,
and advances to the gates of Paris, which was in the hands
of the Catholics

king of Navarre

Reflections on such fanatical acts of violence

ibid.

He is assassinated by James Clement, a Dominican friar ib.

The succession to the crown of France left open to the

36

-

ibid.

LET-

LETTER LXX.

The general View of Europe continued, from the Accession of

Henry IV. to the Peace of Vervins, in 1598.

A. D.

Page

1589 Henry IV. is obliged to abandon the siege of Paris 37

Ready to sink under the power of the Catholic League, he

applies to the queen of England for aid

She sends him a supply of men and money

1590 He gains the battle of Ivri

ibid.

38

ibid.

39

ibid.

Invests Paris

That city is relieved by the duke of Parma
Prince Maurice makes rapid progress in the Low Coun-
tries, during the absence of this commander
The king of France is surrounded by enemies

1591 Queen Elizabeth sends him fresh succours

He forms the siege of Rouen

ibid.
ibid.

40

ibid.

The duke of Parma compels him to raise the siege ibid.

Rupture among the Catholics

1592 Death of the duke of Parma

41

ibid.

ibid.

1593 Intrigues of the Spanish faction in France

Henry IV. in order to please the majority of his subjects,

embraces the Catholic religion
43

The followers of both religions become diffident of the

king's professions

44

45

He removes their suspicions by his generosity and huma-

nity to all his subjects

1594 Paris, and other places held by the Catholics, submit to
the royal authority
ibid.

Progress of Prince Maurice and Sir Francis Vere in the

Low Countries

46

1595 Henry IV. obliges the duke of Mayenne to sue for an ac-

commodation

47

The Spaniards take Cambray, Calais and Amiens

1597 Henry retakes Amiens

ibid.

49

1598 Ile passes the Edict of Nantes, in favour of the Hugo-

nots

ibid

ibid.

The Catholic League is utterly dissolved

Cadiz taken by an English armament, under the earls of

Effingham and Essex

50

Great loss sustained by the Spaniards

ibid.

Peace concluded between Henry IV. and Philip 1I. at

Vervins
51

LETTER LXXI.

Spain and the Low Countries, from the Peace of Vervins to the

Truce, in 1609, when the Freedom of the United Provinces

was acknowledged.

1598 Treaty between England and Holland

52

Death

Death and character of Philip II.

53

He is accused of the murder of his son Don Carlos'

Decline of the Spanish monarchy

54

The Sovereignty of the Low Countries transferred to the
Infanta Isabella, married to Albert, archduke of Aus-
tria
ibid.

A. D.

The States refuse to acknowledge the authority of their
new sovereigns
ibid.

1599 The United Provinces are precluded all intercourse with

Spain, Portugal, or the Spanish Netherlands.

55

The Dutch turn their views toward the East-Indies

ibid.

ibid.

War carried on with vigour in the Low Countries

1600 The Spaniards defeated in the battle of Newport 56

Bravery of the English troops under Sir Francis Vere ib.

1601 Siege of Ostend

57

1602 It is changed into a blockade

ibid.

1604 Resumed, and the place taken by the famous Spinola 58

Progress of Prince Maurice

ibid.

1605 He is opposed by a great army, under Spinola

Rapid success of the Spanish commander

59

ibid.

ibid.

1606 His troops mutiny for want of pay

1607 A suspension of arms

60

1609 Truce of twelve years, concluded between Philip III. and
the United Provinces

ibid.

ibid.

61

ibid.

Expulsion of the Morescoes

Impolicy of that measure

The languishing condition of Spain

LETTER LXXII.

The domestic History of England, from the Defeat of the Spa-

nish Armada, 1588, to the death of Queen Elizabeth, with

some particulars of Scotland and Ireland.

1588 Economy and vigour, the leading characteristics of Eliza-

beth's administration

61

62

1693 Her bold speech to the parliament

She supports the decrees of the Star Chamber and Court

of High Commission

Grievous monopolies under her reign

Her jealousy of her prerogative

ibid.

ibid.

63

She obstinately refuses to name a successor

64

Is supposed to have encouraged Gowie's conspiracy ibid.

Distracted and barbarous state of Ireland

Elizabeth endeavours to civilize it

65

ibid
ibid.

Account of Hugh O'Neal, earl of Tyrone

1594 He rises in open rebellion, and gains several advantages

over the English commanders

66

1599 The earl of Essex sent against him, under the title of Lord-
Lieutenant, with an army of sixteen thousand men ibid.

Page

66

Essex fails in his enterprize, and returns contrary to the

queen's order

67

1600 He is divested of his employments, and sentenced to re-

main a prisoner during her majesty's pleasure

She resolves to pardon him, but is persuaded to make a
farther trial of his submission

A. D.

ibid.

ibid.

He cabals against her authority
1601 On finding his intrigues are discovered, he attempts but
in vain to raise the City

ibid.
Surrenders at discretion, and is convicted of high trea-

ibid.

son

Agitation of Elizabeth on signing the warrant for his ex-

ecution

70

ibid.

ibid.

The king of Scotland sends two ambassadors to the En-

glish court to congratulate the queen on her escape from

the late conspiracy

71

He is privately beheaded in the Tower

His character and conduct considered

They find the people of England favourable to the succes-
sion of their master

Lord Mountjoy subdues the Irish rebels

Elizabeth sinks into deep melancholy

Its cause

It is increased by a singular discovery

Death of the queen

Her character

1598 Wretched state of France at the peace of Vervins

Popular character, and liberal policy of Henry IV.

Character of the duke de Sully, his prime minister

Sully's attention to the finances

ibid.

ibid.

72

ibid.

LETTER LXXIII.

France, from the Feace of Vervins, in 1598, to the Death of

Henry IV. 1610, with some Account of the Affairs of Ger-

many, under Rodolph II.

He augments the revenue, yet diminishes the taxes

His maxims of policy too rigid for a great kingdom

The king's ideas more just and extensive

1602 He introduces the culture of silk

1607 Establishes manufactures, and promotes commerce

His licentious amours

His favourite mistresses

73

74

75

76

ibid.

77

ibid.

ibid.

78

ibid.

ibid.

79

ibid.

80

ibid.

1608 Intrigues of the court of Spain

Disputed succession to the duchies of Cleves and Juliers ib

Pacific character and mild administration of the Emperor

Podolph II. son and successor to Maximilian

Ambition of his brother Matthias

ibid.

81

82

1609 Evangelical Union and Catholic League in Germany

Competitors for the duchies of Cleves and Juliers

The Emperor sequestrates the disputed fiefs

The Protestant claimants,though abetted by the Evangelical

ibid.

ibid.