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AVIEW of the PROGRESS of SOCIETY in EUROPE,
From the Subverfion of the ROMAN EMPIRE, to the
Beginning of the SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

By WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D. D.
PRINCIPAL of the University of EDINBURGH, and HISTORIO
GRAPHER to His MAJESTY for SCOTLAND.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

Printed by W. and W. STRAHAN,

For W. STRAHAN; T. CADELL, in the Strand; and J. BALFOr,
at Edinburgh. MDCCLXIX.

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TO THE

K IN G..

I

SIR,

PRESUME to lay before Your Majesty the History of a Period, which, if the abilities of the Writer were equal to the dignity of the Subject, would not be unworthy the attention of a Monarch, who is no less a Judge than a Patron of Literary

Merit.

HISTORY claims it as her prerogative to offer inftruction to KINGS, as well as to their people. What reflections the Reign of the Emperor CHARLES

CHARLES V. may fuggeft to Your Majefty, it becomes not me to conjecture. But your Subjects cannot observe the various calamities, which that Monarch's ambition to be distinguished as a Conqueror, brought upon his dominions, without recollecting the felicity of their own times, and looking up with gratitude to their Sovereign, who, during the fervour of youth, and amidst the career of victory, poffeffed fuch selfcommand, and maturity of judgment, as to set bounds to his own triumphs, and prefer the bleffings of peace to the splendour of military glory.

POSTERITY will not only celebrate the Wisdom of Your Majefty's choice, but will enumerate the many Virtues, which render Your Reign confpicuous for a facred regard to all the duties, incumbent on the Sovereign of a Free People.

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