468 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 67. streets of their own splendid cities, had transferred their capital and their arts to London and to Bristol. For every languid English gentleman, who had fled to France to enjoy the consolations of the Catholic re- ligion, a hundred Flemish artisans sought the Island where they could toil in safety with their families, wor- ship after their own fashion, and eat the fruit of their labours. The thousand ships, which in the old times had sought annually the waters of the Scheldt, now discharged their cargoes on the wharves between Lon- don and Blackwall ; and the great English commercial companies were absorbing the trade of the world, while the Castiles were drained of their manhood to feed the Flanders armies or defend the Empire of the two In- dies. Gallicia, Portugal, and Andalusia, were saved from periodic famines by English corn. The Inquisi- tion itself had at length bowed before the mystery of Providence which had given plenty to heretics, and need and hunger to true believers ; and Philip, waiting for the time when Guise or Parma should have con- quered their wealth for the servants of the Church, was compelled meanwhile to invite to his harbours, by spe- cial privileges and favours, the insolent Islanders who brought food to his perishing subjects. New markets were opened daily for the fast-increasing manufactures, and difficulties only served to call out fresh resources. A trade had sprung up with the East. Cargoes of woollen and hardware had been shipped by the Russian company to the Neva, carried thence by caravans to Astracan, and thence by the Caspian into Persia. The Court of Denmark, tempted by the opportunity, had
