Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/285



years passed, and still the war continued. But it was conducted in a languid and desultory manner, and there were many intervals of peace. The Grand Commander Requesens had been succeeded by Don John of Austria, and he by Alexander of Parma.

The provinces of Holland and Zealand were united in one great hatred and one great hope. They determined to regain their ancient privileges and to expel the detested foreigners from their soil. Brave little Holland was the leader in this enterprise. Think for a moment of that narrow strip of sand and half-submerged earth, only one hundred and twenty miles in length, and from four to forty miles in width, and of that one man, with a backing of only a few cities, waging war for ten years with the most powerful despot of the age!

In the breathing space now afforded them, the people of Holland and Zealand repaired the dykes which they had destroyed in self-defence. It was a 271