History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

the States, after asserting their own supreme
authority, unanimously chose Prince Maurice as
their governor, though still with a reservation to
Queen Elizabeth. It was not respect alone for the
memory of his great father which induced the
States to repose so great a trust, at so momentous a
period of their existence, in one who was then only
twenty-one years of age. From his earliest youth
the prince had given proof of his superior prudence
and capacity, and in the execution of his high
command he made good the hopes entertained of
him when he entered upon it. If he possessed in
lower degree than his illustrious sire the faculty of
governing men, he was nevertheless superior to
him in the military art, and this was the science
most needed at this moment by the States. Maurice
became the greatest captain of his age: not only
was he famous in the discipline of his armies, but
his genius,: rising above the maxims then in vogue,
enabled him to invent or to perfect a system of
fortification much more complete, and which soon
became common.[1] The marvellous political
ability of William, now lost to the States, was
supplied in some sort by a school of statesmen that
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