. A history of mediaeval and modern Europe for secondary schools. rdant elements united on acommon decree only with ponderous slowness. Such a decree,once promulgated, was almost non-enforcible. Frequently astate would refuse to enforce an unwelcome decree, and in thatcase the only remedy was to declare war upon the taxation for the whole Empire was often al-most impossible. Private wars were frequent. u Robberknights let their horses bite off travelers purses. 2 Therewere thus many tokens of public anarchy. Yet this is onlyone side of the picture. Many of the principalities we
. A history of mediaeval and modern Europe for secondary schools. rdant elements united on acommon decree only with ponderous slowness. Such a decree,once promulgated, was almost non-enforcible. Frequently astate would refuse to enforce an unwelcome decree, and in thatcase the only remedy was to declare war upon the taxation for the whole Empire was often al-most impossible. Private wars were frequent. u Robberknights let their horses bite off travelers purses. 2 Therewere thus many tokens of public anarchy. Yet this is onlyone side of the picture. Many of the principalities were wellgoverned. A great spirit of enterprise and a ready acceptance 1 Liibeck was the presiding city of the great Hanseatic League of cities ofNorth Germany, especially those along the North Sea and Baltic, — a confed-eracy which for a long time controlled the trade in those parts and fought onequal terms with the Kings of Denmark and of Sweden. 2 A rhyme current among lawless peasants ran: — To ride and to rob is no shame!The best in the land do the same!. THE WORLD AT END OF MIDDLE AGES 221 of new ideas had permeated the bulk of the population. Therewas a great zeal to develop schools, and to found universitiesin all the important states. Also Germans were very proud ofthe Fatherland and jealous of foreigners. The longing fora united, firm government which should give prosperity athome and glory abroad was very great. There was also astrong current of feeling that all was not well with the Church,and that here, too, must come a radical reformation. 121. The coming of Spain. By 1500 a new Christian powerhad begun to interfere in the affairs of Europe — the united
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