Both Holland and England had colonies in India and elsewhere, and now their trade conflicted. The antagonism thus roused was increased by the fact that the Dutch had given shelter to the Stuarts. The English forced on Holland a two-years' war which was entirely on the sea, and was led by four great admirals: Blake and Monk on the side of the English, and Tromp and De Ruyter on the side of the Dutch. The story is full of interest; the result favored the Dutch.
The great political leader, John De Witt, came into prominence at this period; he was called "The Wisdom of Holland." He had the descendant of William the Silent educated, and later originated the plan of having him marry Mary, the daughter of the Duke of York, later James the Second of England, hoping so to weld the two countries together. De Witt's murder by the mob in 1672 is a blot on the country's honor.
IX—THE SECOND NAVAL WAR WITH ENGLAND
The reins of the government were in the hands of the Stadtholder William, another prince of Orange; but, in spite of all efforts, war on account of the colonies broke out. A great naval battle occurred, and the English fleet was burned. Later, France, aided by England, invaded Holland, but again the dikes were cut and the foreigners driven away. Years of war followed, with different countries taking part, and with Spain, strangely enough, siding with Holland. In a battle in the Mediterranean, De Ruyter, the idol of his people, was killed.
There was much talk at the time of making William king of the Netherlands, but just then England took up the project of having him marry Mary, as De Witt had planned, and this he did. He invaded England, was received gladly by the people, and was crowned joint sovereign with Mary in London. King James fled, and the new dynasty was established peacefully.
X—HOLLAND'S LATER HISTORY
In 1747, when all Europe had been in turmoil, the whole seven provinces of the Netherlands, which had been loosely connected, united, and the stadtholder became the real ruler of his people; but dissensions arose, his powers were curtailed, and at last civil war broke out. The King of Prussia took part, and Amsterdam was besieged and capitulated. Later Napoleon came, and Holland was soon only one of his little kingdoms. Against him, at Waterloo, the Prince of Orange fought with the allies. After the victory the prince made a triumphal entry into The Hague, and took the title of Sovereign Prince. The republic, which had existed only in name for years, ended there, for presently he was crowned as King William I.
Belgium united with Holland in a union which could not last, and a nine years' war followed, with one memorable event, when Lieutenant Van Speyk blew up his own ship with all on board, rather than surrender. Belgium and Holland separated. William I. was followed by William II. and William III., and the young Queen Wilhelmina, who is the daughter of the last king. She and her consort are the rulers to-day.
HOLLAND AND LEARNING, ART, LITERATURE, AND SCIENCE
There is only one great university in Holland, that of Leyden, founded in commemoration of the great siege by William the Silent. Learned men from all over Europe flocked there at one time, and its students numbered two thousand. To-day there are only a few hundred, as in the other two smaller universities. But Leyden is still famous for its museums, among the richest in Europe.