Chapter I: Front Matter

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EUROPE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 1494-1598

by

A. H. JOHNSON, M.A.

* * * * * *

_In Eight Volumes. Crown 8vo. With Maps, etc._
_Six Shillings net each Volume._
_The Complete Set £2, 8s. net._

PERIODS OF EUROPEAN HISTORY

General Editor--ARTHUR HASSALL, M.A.,
Student of Christ Church, Oxford.

The object of this series is to present in separate Volumes a comprehensive and trustworthy account of the general development of European History, and to deal fully and carefully with the more prominent events in each century.

The Volumes embody the results of the latest investigations, and contain references to and notes upon original and other sources of information.

No such attempt to place the History of Europe in a comprehensive, detailed, and readable form before the English Public has previously been made, and the Series forms a valuable continuous History of Mediæval and Modern Europe.

=Period I.--The Dark Ages.= 476-918.
By C. W. C. Oman, M.A., Chichele Professor of Modern History in
the University of Oxford. _6s. net._

=Period II.--The Empire and the Papacy.= 918-1273.
By T. F. Tout, M.A., Professor of Mediæval and Modern History
in the University of Manchester. _6s. net._

=Period III.--The Close of the Middle Ages.= 1273-1494.
By R. Lodge, M.A., LL.D., Professor of History at the
University of Edinburgh. _6s. net._

=Period IV.--Europe in the 16th Century.= 1494-1598.
By A. H. Johnson, M.A., Historical Lecturer to Merton, Trinity,
and University Colleges, Oxford. _6s. net._

=Period V.--The Ascendancy of France.= 1598-1715.
By H. O. Wakeman, M.A., late Fellow of All Souls’ College,
Oxford. _6s. net._

=Period VI.--The Balance of Power.= 1715-1789.
By A. Hassall, M.A., Student of Christ Church, Oxford. _6s.
net._

=Period VII.--Revolutionary Europe.= 1789-1815.
By H. Morse Stephens, M.A., Professor of History at the
University of California, Berkeley, California, U.S.A. _6s.
net._

=Period VIII.--Modern Europe.= 1815-1899.
By W. Alison Phillips, M.A., formerly Senior Scholar of St.
John’s College, Oxford. _6s. net._

THE DARK AGES, 476-918

By C. W. C. OMAN, M.A., Chichele Professor of Modern History
in the University of Oxford.

Forming Volume I. of Periods of European History.

‘A thorough master of his subject, and possessed of a gift
for clear expositions, he has supplied the student with a
most valuable and helpful book.’--_Spectator._

‘No better exponent of this era, so full of difficulties and
complications, could have been chosen.’--_Journal of
Education._

‘Mr. Oman has done his work well. His narrative is Clear and
interesting, and takes full account of recent
research.’--_English Historical Review._

‘This volume will be valued by all historical students as
supplying a real want in our historical literature, and
supplying it well.... His touch is sure and his insight
keen. For the accuracy of his facts his historical
reputation is a sufficient guarantee.’--_Times._

THE EMPIRE AND THE PAPACY, 918-1273

By T. F. TOUT, M.A., Professor of Mediæval and Modern History
in the University of Manchester.

Forming Volume II. of Periods of European History.

‘This admirable and impartial work.... A more trustworthy
historical treatise on the period and subject has not
hitherto appeared.’--_Morning Post._

‘One of the best of the many good historical textbooks which
have come out of our universities in recent
years.’--_Times._

‘Altogether Professor Tout has given us a most trustworthy
adjunct to the study of mediæval times, which all who may be
called upon to interpret those times to others may safely
recommend and themselves profit by.’--_English Historical
Review._

THE CLOSE OF THE MIDDLE AGES, 1273-1494

By R. LODGE, M.A., LL.D., Professor of History at the
University of Edinburgh.

Forming Volume III. of Periods of European History.

‘The book is admirably written, it contains maps and
genealogical tables, an exhaustive index, and a bibliography
which students will value as an aid to the interpretation of
the whole period as well as a clue to any part of
it.’--_Standard._

‘We are exceedingly thankful for the Series, and as we have
already said, to Prof. Lodge. There is no longer any excuse
for English-speaking teachers to be wholly ignorant of the
history of Europe. The obligation lies on them to purchase
these volumes, and then read, mark, learn, and inwardly
digest them, so that they can supplement their teaching with
intelligible comment.’--_School World._

‘The book must be regarded as quite indispensable to all
English students of the late Middle Ages.’--_University
Correspondent._

‘Professor Lodge’s book has the supreme merit of clearness,
not less than that of conciseness.’--_Pall Mall Gazette._

‘A work of great value on one of the most difficult and at
the same time one of the most important periods of European
history. The book is a monument of skill and
labour.’--_Aberdeen Journal._

EUROPE IN THE 16TH CENTURY, 1494-1598

By A. H. Johnson, M.A., Historical Lecturer at Merton,
Trinity, and University Colleges, Oxford.

Forming Volume IV. of Periods of European History.

‘A singularly clear, thorough, and consistent account of the
great movements and great events of the time, and the volume
may be accepted as one of the best extant handbooks to a
period as complex as it is important.’--_Times._

‘In the present volume Mr. A. H. Johnson has made a useful
and unpretentious contribution to a Series of which it can
be said more truly than of most series that it supplies a
real want. Mr. Johnson is well known as one of the most
experienced and successful teachers of history at Oxford,
and the book has all the merits which the fact of being
written by a good teacher can give it. It is clear,
sensible, and accurate, and commendably free from fads or
bias.’--_Manchester Guardian._

‘There is certainly no other single book in English which
covers the ground so adequately.’--_University
Correspondent._

‘Mr. Johnson’s narrative is clear and accurate, and his
grasp of the history of his period wonderfully strong and
comprehensive.’--_Journal of Education._

THE ASCENDANCY OF FRANCE, 1598-1715

By H. O. Wakeman, M.A., Late Fellow of All Souls College,
Oxford.

Forming Volume V. of Periods of European History.

‘His story is no dry compendium, but a drama, each act and
scene of which has its individual interest.’--_Guardian._

‘Mr. Wakeman has produced an excellent sketch, both clear
and concise.’--_Oxford Magazine._

‘Mr. Wakeman’s book is a sound, able, and useful one, which
will alike give help to the student, and attract the
cultivated general reader.’--_Manchester Guardian._

‘A thoroughly scholarly and satisfactory monograph.’--_Leeds
Mercury._

THE BALANCE OF POWER, 1715-1789

By A. Hassall, M.A., Student of Christ Church, Oxford.

Forming Volume VI. of Periods of European History.

‘Although it contains more than 400 pages, we felt as we
read its last page that it was too short. It is not,
however, too short to prevent its author dealing adequately
with his subject according to the scheme of the whole
Series. There is little detail in it, and but little
theorising, and what it contains are clear statements of
masterly summaries.... We may cordially recommend this
interesting and well-written volume.’--_Birmingham Daily
Gazette._

‘Treated with much accuracy, patience, and
vigour.’--_Educational Times._

‘The author has struggled manfully with the difficulties of
his subject, and not without a distinct measure of success.
He has availed himself of the latest researches on the
period, and his narrative is well ordered and illustrated by
excellent maps and some useful appendices.’--_Manchester
Guardian._

REVOLUTIONARY EUROPE, 1789-1815

By H. Morse Stephens, M.A., Professor of History at the
University of California, U.S.A.

Forming Volume VII. of Periods of European History.

‘As a piece of literary workmanship can hardly be
surpassed.... The result is a boon to students, and a
serviceable book of reference for the general
reader.’--_Daily News._

‘Mr. Stephens has written a very valuable and meritorious
book, which ought to be widely used.’--_Manchester
Guardian._

‘An admirable, nay, a masterly work.’--_Academy._

‘To say that Mr. Morse Stephens has compiled the best
English textbook on the subject would be faint
praise.’--_Journal of Education._

‘We are happy to extend a hearty welcome to this much-needed
Series, which, if it throughout keeps on the same high level
of this volume, will fill up a painful gap in our accessible
historical literature.’--_Educational Times._

‘The volume contains one of the clearest accounts of the
French Revolution and the rise of the First Napoleon ever
written. In fact, it is the work of a real historian. The
style of the book is strong and picturesque.’--_Western
Morning News._

MODERN EUROPE, 1815-1899

By W. Alison Phillips, M.A., formerly Senior Scholar of St.
John’s College, Oxford.

Forming Volume VIII. of Periods of European History.

‘An exceedingly difficult task has been accomplished, we may
say without hesitation, to admiration. We have read the book
with the keenest and quite unflagging enjoyment, and we
welcome it as one of the very best histories that have been
written within the last few years.’--_Guardian._

‘It has achieved, with a remarkable success, the difficult
task of compressing into a compact space the long history of
a time of extraordinary complications and entanglements;
but--much more important--it has never lost vigour and
interest throughout the whole survey.... The completeness of
the book is really extraordinary.... The book is by far the
best and handiest account of the international politics of
the nineteenth century that we possess.... Should give Mr.
Alison Phillips distinct rank among historians of the
day.’--_Literature._

‘Altogether, the book offers a most luminous and quite
adequate treatment of its subject, and makes a worthy
conclusion of a Series that well deserves to be
popular.’--_Glasgow Herald._

‘He presents his materials with model clearness and
arrangement, and with a sound literary style, which will
make the book attractive to the general reader as well as
useful to the student.’--_Scotsman._

‘Mr. Phillips shows decided literary power in the handling
of a not too manageable period, and few readers with any
appreciation of the march of history, having once commenced
the book, will be content to lay it aside until the last
page is reached.’--_Manchester Guardian._

‘This thoughtful volume will give the intelligent reader
both profit and pleasure.’--_Spectator._

* * * * * *

EUROPE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 1494-1598

by

A. H. JOHNSON, M.A.

Historical Lecturer to Merton, Trinity and University Colleges, Oxford

PERIOD IV

Rivingtons 34 King Street, Covent Garden London 1909

FIFTH EDITION

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