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HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS
From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce—1609
By John Lothrop Motley
MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 51
History of the United Netherlands, 1587
Barneveld's Influence in the Provinces—Unpopularity of Leicester intrigues—of his Servants—Gossip of his Secretary— Its mischievous Effects—The Quarrel of Norris and Hollock— The Earl's Participation in the Affair—His increased Animosity to Norris—Seizure of Deventer—Stanley appointed its Governor—York and Stanley—Leicester's secret Instructions—Wilkes remonstrates with Stanley—Stanley's Insolence and Equivocation—Painful Rumours as to him and York—Duplicity of York—Stanley's Banquet at Deventer—He surrenders the City to Tassis—Terms of the Bargain— Feeble Defence of Stanley's Conduct—Subsequent Fate of Stanley and York—Betrayal of Gelder to Parma—These Treasons cast Odium on the English—Miserable Plight of the English Troops—Honesty and Energy of Wilkes—Indignant Discussion in the Assembly.
The government had not been laid down by Leicester on his departure. Ithad been provisionally delegated, as already mentioned to the state-council. In this body-consisting of eighteen persons—originallyappointed by the Earl, on nomination by the States, several members werefriendly to the governor, and others were violently opposed to him. TheStaten of Holland, by whom the action of the States-General was mainlycontrolled, were influenced in their action by Buys and Barneveld. YoungMaurice of Nassau, nineteen years of age, was stadholder of Holland andZeeland. A florid complexioned, fair-haired young man, of sanguine-bilious temperament; reserved, quiet, reflective, singularly self-possessed; meriting at that time, more than his father had ever done, theappellation of the taciturn; discreet, sober, studious. "Count Mauricesaith but little, but I cannot tell what he thinketh," wrote Leicester'seaves-dropper-in-chiefs. Mathematics, fortification, the science of war—these were his daily pursuits. "The sapling was to become the tree,"and meantime the youth was preparing for the great destiny which he felt,lay before him. To ponder over the works and the daring conceptions ofStevinus, to build up and to batter the wooden blocks of mimic citadels;to arrange in countless combinations, great armies of pewter soldiers;these were the occupations of his leisure-hours. Yet he was hardlysuspected of bearing within him the germs of the great militarycommander. "Small desire hath Count Maurice to follow the wars," saidone who fancied himself an acute observer at exactly this epoch. "Andwhereas it might be supposed that in respect to his birth and place, hewould affect the chief military command in these countries, it is foundby experience had of his humour, that there is no chance of his enteringinto competition with the others." A modest young man, who could bidehis time—but who, meanwhile, under the guidance of his elders, was doinghis best, both in field and cabinet, to learn the great lessons of theage—he had already enjoyed much solid practical instruction, under sucha desperate fighter as Hohenlo, and under so profound a statesman asBarneveld. For at this epoch Olden-Barneveld was the precept