privileges, but trampling on their fellow-men in a lower scale of
humanity. Kings and aristocrats sneered at the vulgar republic where
Hans Miller, Hans Baker, and Hans Brewer enjoyed political rights end
prated of a sovereignty other than that of long-descended races and of
anointed heads. Yet the pikemen of Spain and the splendid cavalry and
musketeers of Italy and Burgundy, who were now beginning to show their
backs both behind entrenchments and in the open field to their republican
foes, could not deny the valour with which the battles of liberty were
fought; while Elizabeth of England, maintainer, if such ever were, of
hereditary sovereignty and hater of popular freedom, acknowledged that
for wisdom in council, dignity and adroitness in diplomatic debate, there
were none to surpass the plain burgher statesmen of the new republic.

And at least these Netherlanders were consistent with themselves. They
had come to disbelieve in the mystery of kingcraft, in the divine
speciality of a few transitory mortals to direct the world's events and
to dictate laws to their fellow-creatures. What they achieved was for
the common good of all. They chose to live in an atmosphere of blood and
fire for generation after generation rather than flinch from their
struggle with despotism, for they knew that, cruel as the sea, it would
swallow them all at last in one common destruction if they faltered or
paused. They fought for the liberty of all. And it is for this reason
that the history of this great conflict deserved to be deeply pondered by
those who have the instinct of human freedom. Had the Hollanders basely
sunk before the power of Spain, the proud history of England, France, and
Germany would have been written in far different terms. The blood and
tears which the Netherlanders caused to flow in their own stormy days
have turned to blessings for remotest climes and ages. A pusillanimous
peace, always possible at any period of their war, would have been hailed
with rapture by contemporary statesmen, whose names have vanished from