Public-domain ebook
by John Lord
Language: en1,003 downloads on Project Gutenberg
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In: Children's History·Children's Instructional Books·History - European
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #24598.
John Lord’s “A Modern History, From the Time of Luther to the Fall of Napoleon” is a concise survey of European political and religious transformation from the mid‑sixteenth century through the early nineteenth. The work opens with a detailed publishing notice and a preface in which Lord declares his intent to condense “the great and varied subjects” of the last three hundred years into a connected narrative that favors ideas, reforms, and influential figures over exhaustive chronologies. He promises to include essential dates, battles, and names while steering clear of “minute details and elaborate disquisitions,” and he supplies a list of standard authors at the end of each chapter for further study. The book proceeds chapter by chapter, covering topics as diverse as the Reformation, the Thirty‑Years’ War, the rise of absolutism, and the colonial ventures of European powers, each framed as a stepping stone toward the Napoleonic era.
The text reflects the mid‑nineteenth‑century educational tone of its author, blending a didactic voice with a readable, almost conversational style. Lord’s language is straightforward, his sentences brisk, and his occasional moral reflections give the narrative a modestly persuasive edge. Readers who appreciate a broad‑sweep overview, students seeking a structured outline for a course, teachers looking for a supplemental handout, or general history enthusiasts who prefer a single volume that links major events without drowning in footnotes, will find this work engaging. Those accustomed to highly specialized scholarship may find the treatment superficial, but anyone interested in a panoramic, accessible account of Europe’s march from Luther to Napoleon will likely enjoy the book’s balanced blend of fact and narrative.
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Chicago: S. C. GRIGGS & Co.--_Charleston, S. C._: J. M. Greer & Son; Edward Perry & Son.--_Raleigh, N. C._: Williams & Lambeth.--_Baltimore, Md._: Cushings & Bailey; W. J. C Dulaney & Co.--_New Orleans, La._: Stevens & Seymour.--_Savannah, Ga._: J. M. Cooper & Co.--_Macon, Ga._: J. M. Boardman.--_Augusta, Ga._: Thos. Richards & Son.--_Richmond, Va._: Woodhouse & Parham.
1874.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by JOHN LORD, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
PREFACE.
In preparing this History, I make no claim to original and profound investigations; but the arrangement, the style, and the sentiments, are my own. I have simply attempted to condense the great and varied subjects which are presented, so as to furnish a connected narrative of what is most vital in the history of the last three hundred years, avoiding both minute details and elaborate disquisitions. It has been my aim to write a book, which should be neither a chronological table nor a philosophical treatise, but a work adapted to the wants of young people in the various stages of education, and which, it is hoped, will also prove interesting to those of maturer age; who have not the leisure to read extensive works, and yet who wish to understand the connection of great events since the Protestant Reformation. Those characters, institutions, reforms, and agitations, which have had the greatest influence in advancing society, only have been described, and these not to the extent which will satisfy the learned or the curious. Dates and names, battles and sieges, have not been disregarded; but more attention has been given to those ideas and to those men by whose influence and agency great changes have taken place. In a work so limited, and yet so varied, marginal references to original authorities have not been deemed necessary; but a list of standard and accessible authors is furnished, at the close of each chapter, which the young student, seeking more minute information, can easily consult. A continuation of this History to the present time might seem desirable; but it would be difficult to condense the complicated events of the last thirty years into less than another volume. Instead of an unsatisfactory compend, especially of subjects concerning which there are great differences of opinion, and considerable warmth of feeling, useful tables of important events are furnished in the Appendix. I have only to add, that if I have succeeded in remedying, in some measure, the defects of those dry compendiums, which are used for want of living histories; if I have combined what is instructive with what is entertaining; and especially if I shall impress the common mind, even to a feeble degree, with those great moral truths which history ought to teach, I shall feel that my agreeable labor is not without its reward.
J. L.
BOSTON, October, 1849.
CONTENTS.
Revival of the Arts -- Influence of Feudalism -- Effects of Scholasticism -- Ecclesiastical Corruptions -- Papal Infallibility -- The sale of Indulgences -- The Corruptions of the Church -- Necessity for Reform.
The Early Life of Luther -- Luther's Early Religious Struggles -- The Ninety-Five Propositions -- Erasmus -- Melancthon -- Leo X. -- The Leipsic Disputation -- Principles of the Leipsic Disputation -- The Rights of Private Judgment -- Luther's Elements of Greatness -- Excommunication of Luther -- The Diet of Worms -- Imprisonment at Wartburg -- Carlstadt -- Thomas Muenzer Ulric -- Zwingle -- Controversy between Luther and Zwingle -- Diet of Augsburg -- League of Smalcalde -- Death and Character of Luther.
Charles V. -- Spain and France in the Fifteenth Century -- Wars between Charles and Francis. -- Diet of Spires -- Hostilities between Charles and Francis -- African War -- Council of Trent -- Treachery of Maurice -- Captivity of the Landgrave of Hesse -- Heroism of Maurice -- Misfortunes of Charles -- Treaty of Passau -- Character of Charles.
Rise of Absolute Monarchy -- Henry VIII. -- Rise of Cardinal Wolsey -- Magnificence of Henry VIII. -- Anne Boleyn -- Queen Catharine -- Disgrace and Death of Wolsey -- More -- Cranmer -- Cromwell -- Quarrel with the Pope -- Suppression of Monasteries -- Execution of Anne Boleyn -- Anne of Cleves -- Catharine Howard -- Last Days of Henry -- Death of Henry.
War with Scotland -- Rebellions and Discontents -- Rivalry of the great Nobles -- Religious Reforms -- Execution of Northumberland -- Marriage of the Queen -- Religious Persecution -- Character of Mary -- Accession of Elizabeth.
Mary, Queen of Scots -- John Knox -- Marriage of Mary -- Darnley -- Bothwell -- Civil War in Scotland -- Captivity of Queen Mary -- Execution of Mary -- Military Preparations of Philip II. -- Spanish Armada -- Irish Rebellion -- The Earl of Essex -- Character of Elizabeth -- Improvements made in the Reign of Elizabeth -- Reflections.
Catharine de Medicis -- Civil War in France -- Massacre of St. Bartholomew -- Henry III. -- Henry IV. -- Edict of Nantes -- Improvements during the Reign of Henry IV. -- Peace Scheme of Henry IV. -- Death of Henry IV. -- France at the Death of Henry IV.
Bigotry of Philip II. -- Revolt of the Netherlands -- Revolt of the Moriscoes -- Causes of the Decline of the Spanish Monarchy -- The Increase of Gold and Silver -- Decline of the Spanish Monarchy.
The Roman Power in the Seventeenth Century -- Rise of the Jesuits -- Rapid Spread of the Jesuits -- Extraordinary Virtues of the older Jesuits -- The Constitution of the Jesuits -- Degeneracy of the Jesuits -- Evils in the Jesuit System -- The Popes in the Seventeenth Century -- Nepotism of the Popes -- Rome in the Seventeenth Century.
Political Troubles after the Death of Luther -- Diet of Augsburg -- Commencement of the Thirty Years' War -- The Emperor Frederic -- Count Wallenstein -- Character of Wallenstein -- Gustavus Adolphus -- Loss of Magdeburg -- Wallenstein reinstated in Power -- Death of Gustavus Adolphus -- Assassination of Wallenstein -- Treaty of Westphalia.
Regency of Mary de Medicis -- Rise of Cardinal de Richelieu -- Suppression of the Huguenots -- The Depression of the great Nobles -- Power of Richelieu -- Character of Richelieu -- Effects of Richelieu's Policy -- Richelieu's Policy -- Cardinal de Retz -- Prince of Conde -- Power of Mazarin -- Death of Mazarin.
Accession of James I. -- The Genius of the Reign of James -- Conspiracy of Sir Walter Raleigh -- Gunpowder Plot -- Persecution of the Catholics -- Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset -- Greatness and Fall of Somerset -- Duke of Buckingham -- Lord Bacon -- Trial and Execution of Raleigh -- Encroachments of James -- Quarrel between James and Parliament -- Death of James -- The Struggle of Classes -- Rise of Popular Power -- Quarrel between the King and the Commons -- The Counsellors of Charles -- Death of Buckingham -- Petition of Right -- Earl of Strafford -- John Hampden -- Insurrection in Scotland -- Long Parliament -- Rebellion of Ireland -- Flight of the King from London -- Rise of the Puritans -- Original Difficulties and Differences -- Persecution during the Reign of Elizabeth -- Archbishops Grindal and Whitgift -- Persecution under James -- Puritans in Exile -- Troubles in Scotland -- Peculiarities of Puritanism in England -- Conflicts among the Puritans -- Character of the Puritans -- John Hampden -- Oliver Cromwell -- The King at Oxford -- Cromwell after the Battle of Marston Moor -- Enthusiasm of the Independents -- Battle of Naseby -- Success of the Parliamentary Army -- Seizure of the King -- Triumph of the Independents -- Cromwell invades Scotland -- Seizure of the King a second Time -- Trial of the King.
Storming of Drogheda and Wexford -- Battle of Worcester -- Policy of Cromwell -- The Rump Parliament -- Dispersion of the Parliament Cromwell assumes the Protectorship -- The Dutch War -- Cromwell rules without a Parliament -- The Protectorate -- Regal Government restored.
The Restoration -- Great Public Rejoicings -- Reaction to Revolutionary Principles -- Excellencies in Charles's Government -- Failure of the Puritan Experiment -- Repeal of the Triennial Bill -- Secret Alliance with Louis XIV. -- Venality and Sycophancy of Parliament -- Restrictions on the Press -- Habeas Corpus Act -- Titus Oates -- Oates's Revelations -- Penal Laws against Catholics -- Persecution of Dissenters -- Execution of Russell and Sydney -- Manners and Customs of England -- Milton -- Dryden -- Condition of the People of England.
Accession of James II. -- Monmouth lands in England -- Battle of Sedgemoor -- Death of Monmouth -- Brutality of Jeffreys -- Persecution of the Dissenters -- George Fox -- Persecution of the Quakers -- Despotic Power of James -- Favor extended to Catholics -- High Commission Court -- Quarrel with the Universities -- Magdalen College -- Prosecution of the Seven Bishops -- Tyranny and infatuation of James -- Organized Opposition -- William, Prince of Orange -- Critical condition of James -- Invasion of England by William -- Flight of the King -- Consummation of the Revolution -- Declaration of Rights.
The Power and Resources of Louis -- His Habits and Pleasures -- His Military Ambition -- William, Prince of Orange -- Second Invasion of Holland -- Dutch War -- Madame de Montespan -- Madame de Maintenon -- League of Augsburg -- Opposing Armies and Generals -- War of the Spanish Succession -- Duke of Marlborough -- Battle of Blenheim -- Exertions and Necessities of Louis -- Treaty of Utrecht -- Last Days of Louis -- His Character.
Irish Rebellion -- King James in Ireland -- Freedom of the Press -- Act of Settlement -- Death of William III. -- Character of William -- Sir Isaac Newton and John Locke -- Anne -- The Duke of Marlborough -- Character of Marlborough -- Whigs and Tories -- Dr. Henry Sacheverell -- Union of Scotland and England -- Duke of Hamilton -- Wits of Queen Anne's Reign -- Swift -- Pope -- Bolingbroke -- Gay -- Prior -- Writers of the Age of Queen Anne.
Early History of Russia -- The Tartar Conquest -- Accession of Peter the Great -- Peter's Reforms -- His War with Charles XII. -- Charles XII. -- Building of St. Petersburg -- New War with Sweden -- War with the Turks -- Peter makes a second Tour -- Elevation of Catharine -- Early History of Sweden -- Introduction of Christianity -- Gustavus Vasa -- Early Days of Charles XII -- Charles's Heroism -- His Misfortunes -- His Return to Sweden -- His Death.
Accession of George I. -- Sir Robert Walpole -- The Pretender -- Invasion of Scotland -- The South Sea Bubble -- The South Sea Company -- Opposition of Walpole -- Mania for Speculation -- Bursting of the South Sea Bubble -- Enlightened policy of Walpole -- East India Company -- Resignation of Townshend -- Unpopularity of Walpole -- Decline of his power -- John Wesley -- Early life of Wesley -- Whitefield -- Institution of Wesley -- Itinerancy -- Great influence and power of Wesley.
Commercial Enterprise -- Spanish Conquests and Settlements -- Portuguese Discoveries -- Portuguese Settlements -- Early English Enterprise -- Sir Walter Raleigh -- London Company incorporated -- Hardships of the Virginia Colony -- New Charter of the London Company -- Rapid Colonization -- Indian Warfare -- Governor Harvey -- Arbitrary Policy of Charles II. -- Settlement of New England -- Arrival of the Mayflower -- Settlement of New Hampshire -- Constitution of the Colony -- Doctrines of the Puritans -- Pequod War -- Union of the New England Colonies -- William Penn -- Settlement of New York -- Conquest of New Netherlands -- Discovery of the St. Lawrence -- Jesuit Missionaries -- Prosperity of the English Colonies -- French Encroachments -- European Settlements in the East -- French Settlements in India -- La Bourdonnais and Dupleix -- Clive's Victories -- Conquest of India.
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