THE HISTORY OF MODERN EUROPE. WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND A VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF SOCIETY. FROM THE RISE of the MODERN KINGDOMS TO THE PEACE of PARIS, in 1763. IN A SERIES of LETTERS from a NOBLEMAN to his SoN. A NEW EDITION, carefully corrected. VOL. III, My 77217 LONDON, Printed for G. G. J. and J. ROBINSON, Paternofter-row; and A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE A.D. THIRD VOLUME OF THE History of Modern Europe. PART I. From the RISE of the MODERN KINGDOMS, to the A general View of the Tranfactions of Europe, from the Death of Charles IX. in 1574, to the Acceffion of Henry IV. the firft King of the Branch of Bourbon, to the Throne of France, in 1589; including the Rife of the Republic of Holland, the unhappy Catastrophe of Don Sebaftian King of Portugal, the Execution of Mary Queen of Scots, and the Defeat of the Spanish Armada. CCESSION of Henry III. of France Page 1574 A He attempts to refore the royal authority by acting as umpire between the Proteftants and Catholics ibid. 1575 The king of Navarre places himself at the head of the protes 3 tants. 1576 They obtain advantageous conditions ibid 1577 Are threatened by the famous Catholic League, which is headed by the Duke of Guise 4 Retrospective view of the Civil wars in the Low Countries A 2 Phillip II. of Spain declares himself protector of that league ib. ibid. 1 A.D. The Flemish fea-adventurers make themselves mafters of the : Page Brille [A. D. 1572] The provinces of Holland and Zealand throw off the Spani yoke; and William prince of Orange, by forming the revolted towns into a league, lays the foundation of the repub. lic of the United Provinces 6 The duke of Alva, repulfed before Alcmaer, petitions to be recalled [A. D. 1573] ibid. He is fucceeded in the government of the Low Countries by Requefens, Commandator of Caftile Middleburg taken by the Zealanders [A. D. 1574] ibid. ibid. 8 The revolted provinces reduced to great diftrefs, offer their fovereignty to Queen Elizabeth ibid. She rejects it, for political reafons 9 The Spanish troops in the Netherlands mutiny on the death of ibid. The pacification of Ghent ibid. Don John of Auftria, the new governor of the Low Countries, agrees to confirm it He violates his engagements 10 ibid. 1578 Queen Elizabeth engages to fupport the revolted provinces ib. Don John depofed by a decree of the States They are distracted by jealoufies and diffenfions Death of Don John ibid. 12 He is fucceeded in the command of the Spanish army in the 1579 The UNION of the Seven Provinces figned at Utrecht The nature of that Union ibid. ibid. 13 1580 The United Provinces finally withdraw their allegiance from Philip II. ibid. The expedition of Don Sebaftian, king of Portugal, to the coaft of Africa His death 14 ibid. 1581 Philip II. makes himself master of the kingdom of Portugal 15 He is opposed to the duke of Parma James, the young king, is made prifoner at Ruthven 1583 The Spaniards invade Ireland Account of the voyage of Sir Francis Drake The Duke of Parma invefts Antwerp 1585 The citizens agree to acknowledge the authority of Philip Rapid decay of that city 19 20 ibid. 21 ibid. ibid. The United Provinces offer their fovereignty to Henry III. of 23 He is obliged to reject it, on account of the distracted state of his kingdom ibid. Queen Elizabeth fends over an army of fix thousand men, under the earl of Leicester, to the affiftance of the States 24 And difpatches Sir Francis Drake, with a fleet of twenty fail to diftrefs the Spaniards in the West Indies 1586 Success of Drake Misconduct of Leicester He is recalled Babington's confpiracy aganft the life of Elizabeth Her fpirited defence She is condemned to fuffer death Examination of the evidence against her Her gallant behaviour ibid. ibid. 1587 Affecting circumstances attending her execution ibid. Her character 30 Hypocritical forrow of Elizabeth ibid. James VI. king of Scotland feems determined to revenge the death of his mother Naval exploits of Drake and Cavendish He is induced to live on good terms with the court of England The failing of the Spanish Armada is retarded ibid. 1588 Philip II. makes new and great preparations for invading Eng Defeated by the English fleet, under the earl of Effingham and Sir Francis Drake 36 It is attacked by a violent form and wrecked on the western |