CHARLES I.

5

protestants in the empire. This was the famed chap.Gustavus , whose heroic genius, seconded by the in.wisest policy , made him in a little time the mostdistinguished monarch of the age, and renderedhis country formerly unknown and neglected,of great weight in the balance of Europe. Toencourage and affist him in his projected invasionof Germany, Charles agreed to furnish him withsix thousand men; but, that he might preservethe appearance of neutrality , he made use of themarquis of Hamilton’s name *. That noblemanentered into an engagement with Gustavus; andinlisting these troops in England and Scotland atCharles’s expense , he landed them in the Elbe.

The decisive battle of Leipsic was fought soonafter; where the conduct of Tilly and the valor vof the Imperialists were overcome by the superiorconduct of Gustavus and the superior valor ofthe Swedes. What remained of this hero’s life wasone continued series of victory , for which hewas less beholden to fortune , than to those per-sonal endowments, which he derived from natureand from industry. That rapid progress of con-quest , which we so much admire in ancienthistory, was here renewed in modern annals;and without that cause , to which, in formerages , it had ever been owing. Military nationswere not now engaged against an undisciplinedand unwarlike people; nor heroes set in oppositionto cowards. The veteran troops of Ferdinand,

3 Rustrworth , vol. i. p. 4 6. 5 j. 62. Sb

B 3