Of his eleven children, the following are the most important:—
1. Philip William, son of Anne of Egmont, a captive in Spain since 1567; ob. s.p. 1618.
2. Maurice, son of Anne of Saxony, Stattholder from 1587 to 1625.
3. Frederick Henry, son of Louisa de Coligny, Stattholder from 1625 to 1647.
[73] The Earl of Leicester was the brother of Guildford Dudley, the husband of Lady Jane Grey, executed 1554.
[74] Alexander had become Duke of Parma on the death of his father Ottavio, September 1586.
[75] This is generally attributed to the parsimony of the Queen. But on this and other popular errors cf. State Papers relating to Defeat of the Spanish Armada, Navy Records Society, Introduction.
[76] In 1590, Maurice was also appointed Stattholder and Captain-general of Guelderland, Utrecht, Overyssel; but he never was appointed Captain-general of the whole Union.
[77] That Alexander had been approached on this subject is true; but that he ever entertained such a proposal there is not the slightest proof.
[78] The eldest son, Philip, had been kidnapped from school and sent to Spain in 1567. When he returned in 1596, he had become a Catholic and a supporter of Spanish rule.