Spain cannot be said to have been a powerful state until the reign1 of Ferdinand and Isabella; when the crowns of Castile and Arragon were united, and when the discoveries of Columbus added a new world to their extensive territories. Nor, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, was the power of the crown as absolute as during the sway of the Austrian princes. The nobles were animated2 by a bold and free spirit, and the clergy3 dared to resist the encroachments of royalty4, and even the usurpations of Rome. Charles V. succeeded in suppressing the power of the nobles, and all insurrections of the people, and laid the foundation for the power of his gloomy son, Philip II. With Philip commenced the grandeur5 of the Spanish monarchy7. By him, also, were sown the seeds of its subsequent decay. Under him, the inquisition was disgraced by ten thousand enormities, Holland was overrun by the Duke of Alva, and America conquered by Cortes and Pizarro. It was he who built the gorgeous palaces of Spain, and who, with his Invincible8 Armada, meditated9 the conquest of England. The wealth of the Indies flowed into the royal treasury10, and also enriched all orders and classes. Silver and gold became as plenty at Madrid as in old times at Jerusalem under the reign of Solomon. But Philip was a different prince from Solomon. His talents and attainments11 were respectable, but he had a jealous and selfish disposition12, and exerted all the energies of his mind, and all the resources of his kingdom, to crush the Bigotry13 of Philip II. Protestant religion and the liberties of Europe.
Among the first acts of his reign was the effort to extinguish Protestantism in the Netherlands, an assemblage of seigniories, under various titles, subject to his authority. The opinions of Luther and Calvin made great progress in this country, and Philip, in order to repress them, created new bishops14, and established the Inquisition. The people protested, and these protests were considered as rebellious15.
At the head of the nobility was William, the Prince of Orange, on whom Philip had conferred the government of Holland, Zealand, Friesland, and Utrecht, provinces of the Netherlands. He was a haughty16 but resolute17 and courageous18 character, and had adopted the opinions of Calvin, for which he lost the confidence of Philip. In the prospect19 of destruction, Revolt of the Netherlands. he embraced the resolution of delivering his country from the yoke20 of a merciless and bigoted21 master. Having reduced the most important garrisons22 of Holland and Zealand, he was proclaimed stadtholder, and openly threw off his allegiance to Spain. Hostilities23, of course, commenced. Alva, the general of Philip, took the old city of Haerlem, and put fifteen hundred to the sword, among whom were all the magistrates24, and all the Protestant clergy.
Don John, Archduke of Austria, and the brother of Philip, succeeded the Duke of Alva, during whose administration the seven United Provinces formed themselves into a confederation, and chose the Prince of Orange to be the general of their armies, admiral of their fleets, and chief magistrate25, by the title of stadtholder. But William was soon after assassinated26 by a wretch27 who had been bribed28 by the exasperated29 Philip, and Maurice, his son, received his title, dignities, and power. His military talents, as the antagonist30 of the Duke of Parma, lieutenant31 to Philip, in the Netherlands, secured him a high place in the estimation of warriors32. To protect this prince and the infant republic of Holland, Queen Elizabeth sent four thousand men under the Earl of Leicester, her favorite; and, with this assistance, the Hollanders maintained their ground against the most powerful monarch6 in Europe, as has been already mentioned in the chapter on Elizabeth.
After the loss of the Netherlands, the next great event of his reign was the acquisition of Portugal, to which he laid claim on the death of Don Henry, in 1581. There were several other claimants, but Philip, with an army of twenty thousand, was stronger than any of the others. He gained a decisive victory over Don Antonio, uncle to the last monarch, and was crowned at Lisbon without opposition33.
The Revolt of the Moriscoes. revolt of the Moriscoes occupies a prominent place in the annals of this reign. They were Christianized Moors35, but, at heart, Mohammedans. A decree had been published that their children should frequent the Christian34 church, that the Arabic should no longer be used in writing, that both men and women should wear the Spanish costume, that they no longer should receive Mohammedan names, or marry without permission. The Moriscoes contended that no particular dress involved religious opinions, that the women used the veil according to their notions of modesty36, that the use of their own language was no sin, and that baths were used, not from religious motives37, but for the sake of cleanliness. These expostulations were, however, without effect. Nothing could move the bigoted king. So revolt followed cruelty and oppression. Great excesses were committed by both parties, and most horrible barbarities were exhibited. The atrocious nature of civil war is ever the same, and presents nearly the same undeviating picture of misery38 and crime. But in this war there was something fiendish. A clergyman was roasted over a brazier, and the women, wearied with his protracted39 death, despatched him with their needles and knives. The rebels ridiculed40 the sacrifice of the mass by slaughtering41 a pig on the high altar of a church. These insults were retaliated42 with that cruelty which Spanish bigotry and malice43 know so well how to inflict44. Thousands of defenceless women and children were murdered in violation45 of the most solemn treaties. The whole Moorish46 population was finally exterminated47, and Granada, with its beautiful mountains and fertile valleys, was made a desert. No less than six hundred thousand were driven to Africa—an act of great impolicy, since the Moriscoes were the most ingenious and industrious48 part of the population; and their exile contributed to undermine that national prosperity in which, at that day, every Spaniard gloried. But destruction ever succeeds pride: infatuation and blindness are the attendants of despotism.
The destruction of the Spanish Armada, and the losses which the Spaniards suffered from Sir Francis Drake and Admiral Hawkins, have already been mentioned. But the pride of Philip was mortified49, rather than that his power was diminished. His ambition received a check, and he found it impossible to conquer England. His finances, too, became deranged50; still he remained the absolute master of the richest kingdom in the world.
The Causes of Decline of the Spanish Monarchy. decline of the Spanish monarchy dates from his death which took place in his magnificent palace of the Escurial, in 1598. Under his son Philip III., decline became very marked, and future ruin could be predicted.
The principal cause of the decline of prosperity was the great increase of the clergy, and the extent of their wealth. In the Spanish dominions51, which included Spain, Naples, Milan, Parma, Sicily, Sardinia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the Indies, there were fifty-four archbishops, six hundred and eighty-four bishops, seven thousand hospitals, one hundred thousand abbeys and nunneries, six hundred thousand monks52, and three hundred and ten thousand secular53 priests—a priest to every ten families. Almost every village had a monastery54. The diocese of Seville had fourteen thousand priests, nearly the present number of all the clergy of the establishment in England. The cathedral of Seville gave support and occupation to one hundred priests.
And this numerous clergy usurped55 the power and dignities of the state. They also encouraged that frightful56 inquisition, the very name of which conjures57 up the most horrid58 images of death and torture. This institution, committed to the care of Dominican monks, was instituted to put down heresy59; that is, every thing in poetry, philosophy, or religion, which was distasteful to the despots of the human mind. The inquisitors had power to apprehend60 people even suspected of heresy, and, on the testimony61 of two witnesses, could condemn62 them to torture, imprisonment63, and death. Resistance was vain; complaint was ruin. Arrests took place suddenly and secretly. Nor had the prisoner a knowledge of his accusers, or of the crimes of which he was accused. The most delicate maidens64, as well as men of hoary65 hairs and known integrity, were subjected to every outrage66 that human nature could bear, or satanic ingenuity67 inflict. Should the jailer take compassion68, and bestow69 a few crumbs70 of bread or drops of water, he would be punished as the greatest of traitors71. Even nobles were not exempted72 from the supervision73 of this court, which was established in every village and town in Portugal and Spain, and which, in the single city of Toledo, condemned74, in one year, seventeen thousand people. This institution was tolerated by the king, since he knew very well that there ever exists an intimate union between absolutism in religion and absolutism in government.
Besides the spiritual despotism which the clergy of Spain exercised over a deluded75 people, but a people naturally of fine elements of character, The Increase of Gold and Silver. the sudden increase of gold and silver led to luxury, idleness, and degeneracy. Money being abundant, in consequence of the gold and silver mines of America, the people neglected the cultivation76 of those things which money could procure77. Then followed a great rise in the prices of all kinds of provision and clothing. Houses, lands, and manufactures also soon rose in value. Hence money was delusive78, since, with ten times the increase of specie, there was a corresponding decrease in those necessaries of life which gold and silver would purchase. Silver and gold are only the medium of trade, not the basis of wealth. The real prosperity of a country depends upon the amount of productive industry. If diamonds were as numerous as crystals, they would be worth no more than crystals. The sudden influx79 of the precious metals into Spain doubtless gave a temporary wealth to the kingdom; but when habits of industry were lost, and the culture of the soil was neglected, the gold and silver of the Spaniards were exchanged for the productive industry of other nations. The Dutch and the English, whose manufactures and commerce were in a healthy state, became enriched at their expense. With the loss of substantial wealth, that is, industry and economy, the Spaniards lost elevation80 of sentiment, became cold and proud, followed frivolous81 pleasures and amusements, and acquired habits which were ruinous. Plays, pantomimes, and bull-fights now amused the lazy and pleasure-seeking nation, while the profligacy82 of the court had no parallel in Europe, with the exception of that of France. The country became exhausted83 by war. The finances were deranged, and province after province rebelled. Every where were military reverses, and a decrease of population. Taxes, in the mean while, increased, and a burdened people lamented84 in vain their misfortune and decline. Decline of the Spanish Monarchy. The reign of Philip IV. was the most disastrous85 in the annals of the country. The Catalan insurrection, the loss of Jamaica, the Low Countries, and Portugal, were the results of his misrule and imbecility. So rapidly did Spain degenerate86, that, upon the close of the Austrian dynasty, with all the natural advantages of the country, the best harbors and sea-coast in Europe, the richest soil, and the finest climate, and with the possession of the Indies also, the people were the poorest, the most ignorant, and the most helpless in Europe. The death of Charles II., a miserable87, afflicted88, superstitious89, priest-ridden monarch, left Spain without a king, and the vacant throne became the prize of any monarch in Europe who could raise and send across the Pyrenees the largest army. It fell into the power of Louis XIV., and the Bourbon princes have ever since in vain attempted the restoration of the broken monarchy to its former glory. But, alas90, Spain has, since the spoliation of the Mexicans and Peruvians, only a melancholy91 history—a history of crime, bigotry, anarchy92, and poverty. The Spaniards committed awful crimes in their lust93 for gold and silver. "They had their request," but God, in his retributive justice, "sent leanness into their souls."
For the history of Spain during the Austrian princes, see a history in Lardner's Encyclopedia94; Watson's Life of Philip II.; James's Foreign Statesmen; Schiller's Revolt of the Netherlands; Russell's Modern Europe; Prescott's Conquest of Mexico and Peru.
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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attainments
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| 成就，造诣； 获得( attainment的名词复数 )； 达到； 造诣； 成就 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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bigotry
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| n.偏见，偏执，持偏见的行为[态度]等 | |
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bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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bigoted
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| adj.固执己见的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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slaughtering
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的现在分词 ) | |
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retaliated
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| v.报复，反击( retaliate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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exterminated
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| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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deranged
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| adj.疯狂的 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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secular
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| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
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monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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usurped
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| 篡夺，霸占( usurp的过去式和过去分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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conjures
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的第三人称单数 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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heresy
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| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
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apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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hoary
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| adj.古老的；鬓发斑白的 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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exempted
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| 使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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delusive
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| adj.欺骗的，妄想的 | |
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influx
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| n.流入，注入 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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profligacy
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| n.放荡，不检点，肆意挥霍 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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encyclopedia
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| n.百科全书 | |
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