8.9. 9. How ready the Nobility are to defend the Throne.
The English nobility buried themselves with Charles the First under
the ruins of the throne; and before that time, when Philip the Second
endeavoured to tempt the French with the allurement of liberty, the
crown was constantly supported by a nobility who think it an honour to
obey a king, but consider it as the lowest disgrace to share the power
with the people.
The house of Austria has ever used her endeavours to oppress the
Hungarian nobility; little thinking how serviceable that very nobility
would be one day to her. She would fain have drained their country of
money, of which they had no plenty; but took no notice of the men, with
whom it abounded. When princes combined to dismember her dominions, the
several parts of that monarchy fell motionless, as it were one upon
another. No life was then to be seen but in those very nobles, who,
resenting the affronts offered to the sovereign, and forgetting the
injuries done to themselves, took up arms to avenge her cause, and
considered it the highest glory bravely to die and to forgive.
