The two sieges of Leyden followed, with their starvation and pestilence; and at last, when only a handful of people were left, the distant dikes were cut and the water slowly crept across the fields; then a great storm arose, and so swept in the sea that the Dutch navy could sail across the land to the city's relief. Alva left for Spain, and the new regent and commander, Requesens, came. Soon after the Dutch issued their Declaration of Independence, July 26, 1581, and later formed the United States of the Dutch Republic.
Two other governors came to Holland, Don John of Austria and Alexander of Parma, but neither could bring the Dutch to submission. The siege of Antwerp followed, and soon after William was assassinated by a Spaniard. In despair Holland offered the sovereignty of the country first to France and then to England; both refused it, but Queen Elizabeth sent men and money. Sir Walter Raleigh, the Earl of Leicester, Miles Standish, Captain John Smith, and Sir Philip Sidney came, and the last lost his life on the battle-field.
Maurice, the son of William, now took command, and was called "the foremost soldier of Europe." It was not long till Spain, weary of forty years of struggle with an unconquerable people, signed a treaty of peace and virtually acknowledged Holland's independence.
Clubs should take up the whole story of the relations of Holland and England and observe how, three years later, when the Armada came, Holland helped England to meet it. Discuss the bearings of this great struggle for liberty on other nations: what was really won?
Read of the different sieges from Motley; notice also what he says of the work of the Inquisition and its effect on the resistance of the people. Read George Ebers' The Burgomaster's Wife and Dumas' The Black Tulip. There are also two books written for boys by G. A. Henty which are worth looking over: one, By Pike and Dike, dealing with the siege of Haarlem, and the other, By England's Aid. Ruth Putnam's life of William the Silent should be read.
VI—AFTER THE WAR
Holland, in spite of her terrible losses by death in battle, by starvation, and by torture, and the immense destruction of property, and the cost of carrying on the war, was yet left in a strong position. She was at once enriched by the coming of thousands of intelligent merchants and artisans from the south, flying from persecution, and her trade and colonies were uninjured. The great Bank of Amsterdam flourished, and had an interesting history. The curious event of the time was the "tulip mania," a wild speculation which was disastrous to the nation.
VII—HOLLAND AND PROTESTANTISM
All over Europe religion and politics intermingled, and it was so in Holland. The country as a whole followed the Calvinistic form of faith, and this led to internal difficulties. It was really a question whether Church and State should be united or separated. Maurice, Barneveldt, and Grotius were the leaders. Barneveldt, a truly able statesman, was beheaded; Grotius, the famous scholar, escaped from imprisonment to Paris. Complications arose from the coming of persecuted peoples; the Albigenses from France, the Waldenses from Italy, and the Anabaptists. In the end democracy won, religious liberty was assured, and Church and State were kept apart. At this point tell the story of the Pilgrim Fathers in Holland, and show how far ahead of the times Holland was in her religious position.