History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

sovereignty left the Netherlands.
In the one land of the Low Countries, there
were at this moment three communities or nations.
The Walloons, yielding to the influence of a
common faith, had returned under the yoke of
Spain. The Central Provinces, also mostly Popish,
had ranged themselves under the sovereignty of the
Duke of Anjou, brother of Henry III. of France.
The Provinces of Holland and Zealand had elected
(1581), as we have just seen, the Prince of Orange
as their king.[1] His acceptance of the dignity was
at first provisional. His tenure of sovereignty was
to last only during the war; but afterwards, at the
earnest entreaty of the States, the prince consented
that it should be perpetual. His lack of ambition, or
his exceeding sense of honor, made him decline the
sovereignty of the Central Provinces, although this
dignity was also repeatedly pressed upon him; and
had he accepted it, it may be that a happier destiny
would have been in store for the Netherlands. His
persistent refusal made these Provinces cast their
eyes abroad in search of a chief, and in an evil hour
their choice lighted upon a son of Catherine de
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