Kings & rulers > History of the reign of the Emperor Charles V. > Volume 1

I.
STATE OF EUROPE.
h
was confecrated by the church to religion. Cut-
torn, with authority fcarcely lets facred, had ap¬
propriated it to literature. All the fciences cul¬
tivated in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries
were taught in Latin. All books with refpebt
to them were written in that language. It would
have been deemed a degradation of any impor¬
tant fubjedt, to have treated of it in a modern
language. This confined fcience within a very'
narrow circle. The learned alone were admitted
into the temple of knowledge; the gate was fhut
againlf all others, who were fuffered to remain
involved in their former darknefs and ignorance.
But. though fcience was thus prevented, du¬
ring feveral ages, from diffufing itfelf through
fociety, and its influence was much circumfcribed;
the progrefs which it made may be mentioned,
neverthelefs, among the great caufes which con¬
tributed to introduce a change of manners into
Europe. The ardent, though ill-judged fpirit
of inquiry which I have defcribed, occafioned a
fermentation of mind that put ingenuity and in¬
vention in motion, and gave them vigour. It
led men to a new employment of their faculties,
which they found to be agreeable as well as in-
tereiling. It accullomed them to exercifes and
occupations which tended to foften their man¬
ners, and to give them fome relifh for the gentle
virtues, peculiar to people among whom Icience
has been cultivated with fuccefs [EE].
X. The progrefs of commerce had confider-
able influence in poliflting the manners of the Eu¬
ropean nations, and in eftablilhing among them
order, equal laws, and humanity. The wants of
[EE] Note XXVUI.
men,