necessity, which spurred on their
industry; and no nation ever shewed so well how powerful its
operation is: so that, though they were at first behind the Flemings in
commerce and manufactures, they got the better, and became more
rich and powerful. While the persecution of Philip, who was King of
Spain, while his brother Ferdinand, Emperor of Germany, was at the
head of the Austrian dominions there, and was a dependant of the
Spanish monarchs.

--While the persecution of Philip, uniting the authority of the
hereditary dominions of Austria with that of Spain, compelled many
of the most industrious artisans, of that portion of the Low Countries
that has since been distinguished by the title of the Austrian
Netherlands, to leave their country, the Dutch provinces were making
preparations to throw off the yoke of Spain.

[Transcriber's note: possible partly duplicated section, here reproduced
as-is from the original.]

Not only did the Dutch become more wealthy than their neighbours,
but they became also more tenacious of their liberty, more patriotic
and free; for the situation of their country required economy, union,
and patriotic exertion, even for the preservation of its existence.

After Holland had already made considerable advances towards
wealth, it obtained great superiority by a fortunate improvement on
the art of curing herrings. Though herrings had been barrelled for
exportation, for more than two hundred years, it was only towards the
end of the fourteenth, or beginning of the fifteenth century, that the
present method of curing them was invented by the Dutch, which gave
them a decided superiority in that article. {43} This prepared the way
for the downfal =sic= of Flanders; to which its pride, and the mutinous
spirit of the manufacturers in the towns did not a little contribute.

The decline of the Austrian Low Countries was brought on entirely by
three causes; the oppression of the government, the Dutch excelling
and supplanting them in arts and industry, and their own pride and
insolence. At one time, Bruges, at another time, Antwerp, took on
them to act as sovereigns, and as if independent, while, at the same
time, the people were almost constantly disobedient to their
magistrates. They had first become industrious under the influence of

---
{43} It was discovered in 1397, or soon after.
-=-

[end of page #47]

necessity; but that was gone, and they could not continue in the same
course, when