Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/229

 Chap. TX] PORTUGUESE DECLINE. 195

Another caase of Portuguese decline in the East may be found in the state of a.d. isso

Eui'opean politics. In 1580, after the short and inglorious reign of Henry the Cardinal, Portugal lost her national independence, and became subject to the bigoted and t^Taimical rule of Philip II. of Spain. She was thus obliged to Causes of follow in the wake of lier more powerful neighbour, and see all her interests decline sacrificed in the prosecution of objects from which she could not possibly reap any advantage. While her domestic interests were sacrificed, it is not to be supposed that those of her colonies were duly attended to. In connection with the degrading bondage to which Portugal was thus reduced, we see a third cause of rapid decay in the hostility which Pliilip's an'ogance provoked in other European states. The United Provinces of Holland, after throwing off his yoke, continued at open war with him, and saw no quarter in which they could so effectually resent the wrongs, and indemnify themselves for the losses they had suffered, as in the East. To the same quarter the eyes of the English had long been turned ; and after they had triumplied gloriously over the Armada, which was to have en.slaved them by a double yoke of the most intolerable description — the yoke of Spain and the yoke of Rome, all the friendly or prudential con- siderations which had prevented them from claiming a share in the Portuguese Indian monopoly ceased to have any weight, and their determination to establish an independent traffic in the East was openly avowed. Thus, at the very moment when Portugal Wfis scarcely able to maintain her position, even had she been left alone to deal with native powers after her own fashion, she saw herself brought face to face with two most formidable competitors. To these we now tmn.

CHAPTEll IX.

Attempts to roach India by other routes than that of the Cape —Their failure by the north-west and north-east — The south-west passage practicable but circuitous — Superiority "of the passage by the Cape generally recognized — First voyages of the English and Dutch by that route.

ENRY VII. of Enghind had the reputation of being one of Maritime

1 ii'i 1 1 /■!• i-i- enter|)ri»e

the most enlightened monarchs of lus age, and ni lum, inKngiaui. accordingly. Columbus hoped to find a patron at once able to appreciate his grand scheme of discovery, and disposed to ad- vance the fvmds necessary for carrying it into effect. Unfor- tunately Henry, with all his talents, was of a penurious, avaricious temper, and remained so long in suspense between the advantages to be gained by the enterprise if it should succeed, and the pecuniary loss to which it would subject