HHISTORIANS OFTEN REFER TO THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY as an age of crisis. After the economic and demographic growth of the sixteenth century, Europe faltered into stagnation and retrenchment. This was partially due to climate changes beyond anyone’s control, but it also resulted from bitter religious divides, increased governmental pressures, and war. In the long run, however, governments proved increasingly able to impose their will on the populace, and the period witnessed spectacular growth in army size as well as new forms of taxation, government bureaucracies, and increased state sovereignty.