History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

mass; his coolness on the battle-field gave
confidence to his soldiers; and while his courage
and skill fitted him to cope with his antagonists in
war, his wisdom, and cunning, and patience won
for him not a few victories in the battles of
diplomacy. His conduct and valor considerably
retrieved at the beginning the affairs of Philip, but
the mightier intellect with which he was
confronted, and the destinies of the cause against
which he did battle, attested in the end their
superiority over all the great talents and dexterous
arts of Alexander of Parma, seconded by the
powerful armies of Spain. After the toil and
watchfulness of years, and after victories gained
with much blood, to yield not fruit but ashes, he
too had to retire from the scene disappointed,
baffled, and vanquished.
A revived bigotry had again split up the lately
united Fatherland, and these divisions opened an
entrance for the arts and the arms of Parma.
Gathering up the wreck of the army of Don John,
and reinforcing the old battalions by new recruits,
Parma set vigorously to work to reduce the
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