Woman's Club Work and Programs Part 16

I--THE LOW COUNTRIES

The history of this part of the north began when Julius Caesar came to Gaul. At the farthest point lay a huge mora.s.s covered with forests called Batavia, and one race living there, the Friesian, was noted for its independent, untamed character. Their law declared that "the race should be free as long as the wind blew out of the clouds," and this ancient saying has always been the rallying cry of Dutch patriotism.

At first under German dominion, the country became later a part of the Holy Roman Empire, and was ruled by a prince bishop. Later the Counts of Holland governed, and after the Crusades, when the feudal system was perfected, the great towns became practically independent. We read of magistrates, mayors, and aldermen. The population changed rapidly, commerce flourished, learning spread, and Holland became famous as the great cloth market of the world.

Close this period by noting two important points: First, that after the land had all been cleared and drained the people built dikes and forced the sea back, so gaining much arable land; second, that the great guilds of the time had much to do with the future history of the country. They existed among artisans and manufacturers, and, in addition, the curious guilds of rhetoric gave theatrical exhibitions and had processions, the latter called Land Jewels, from their magnificence. Motley lays emphasis on the value of the guilds in keeping alive the sentiment of liberty.

II--PHILIP THE GOOD

In the fifteenth century, Philip the Good of Burgundy, by purchase, usurpation, and marriage dower, became the head of the Low Countries.

The real rulers of the country were the stadtholders, and the great cities stood individually rather than unitedly. Read the story of the war against England under Philip; note the rise of the fisheries and their immense importance commercially, as well as the beginning of the Dutch navy in the fishing fleet. Read also in Brave Little Holland of the curious political parties called the "Cods" and the "Hooks." Notice the beginnings of the Reformation in other countries under Luther and Calvin, and have a paper on Erasmus of Holland; contrast his teachings with those of the other reformers. Read Henry Kingsley's novel, called Old Margaret, on this time, and also Scott's Quentin Durward, and Mary of Burgundy, by G. P. R. James.

III--TROUBLE WITH SPAIN

Pa.s.sing rapidly through several intervening reigns, we come to that of Philip the Fair, whose momentous marriage with the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain brought the Netherlands into conflict with the greatest power in the world. Their son Charles, born in 1500, and called Count of Flanders, became King of Spain and then Emperor of Germany. He was hard, narrow-minded, selfish, and a religious bigot.

As soon as he realized the inroads Protestantism was making in Europe, he determined to put it down. He prohibited the reading of the Bible, just printed in Amsterdam, and established the Inquisition, which in Holland alone put to death over fifty thousand people. After fifty years of disastrous rule he abdicated in favor of his son Philip.

At the great ceremony which marked this event three famous persons took part: Charles himself; the Stadtholder of Holland, William, Prince of Orange, on whose arm Charles leaned; and Philip the new sovereign, who inherited all his father's bigotry, and added a cruelty which exceeded it.

IV--ACCESSION OF PHILIP II. OF SPAIN

It was only a short time before William discovered that Philip had planned a ma.s.sacre of all the Protestants of Holland; although himself a Catholic, he quietly returned home at once and gave warning of the danger; it was then that he obtained the t.i.tle of William the Silent.

The Dutch had received Philip in their country, but now, while pledging loyalty to him, they asked the withdrawal of the Spanish troops, which so angered the King that he left the country, vowing vengeance. Read from Motley the account of the memorable scene of the parting between Philip and William, and also his estimate of Philip.

Philip left behind him Margaret of Parma, his half-sister, as regent.

Holland begged her to suspend the Inquisition. Have a paper on the banquet at which the pet.i.tion was presented, and the founding there of the famous order of "The Beggars of Holland," who did such wonderful things on land and sea. Close the program with a sketch of William, who now becomes one of the foremost men of history of any period.

V--THE WAR

Philip was determined to uproot Protestantism in Holland at all costs.

He sent there the merciless Duke of Alva with more than ten thousand picked troops; he established himself at Antwerp, formed the terrible "Blood Council," p.r.o.nounced sentence of death on all the people of the Netherlands, and summoned William to appear before him. Margaret withdrew from the country; William fled to Germany, and was outlawed; ten thousand Hollanders escaped to England. William, directing the war from Germany, placed his brother Louis at the head of the troops; a great battle, Heiliger Lee, followed, in which by a stratagem the Spanish were utterly defeated. Declaring himself a Protestant, William returned and took the field.

Read the story of Egmont and Hoorn and their fate in Motley and in Goethe's drama. Have selections from these novels bearing on the time: Lysbeth, by H. Rider Haggard, and Jan van Elselo, by G. and M.

Coleridge.

Alva fought and defeated William at Geta and dispersed his army.

Believing victory his, he had a great statue of himself erected at Antwerp; but twenty-four vessels of the little new navy manned by the "Water Beggars" turned the tide against him, and at this point the great struggle really began.

Only the few leading events can be touched upon here, but clubs should take up the whole wonderful story of the conflict, in many respects the most interesting war of history.

The seven months' siege of Haarlem, with its heroic defense and final destruction, was followed by the siege of Alkmaar, when women and boys helped fight in the trenches; the dikes were cut and the Spaniards driven out by the sea.

The two sieges of Leyden followed, with their starvation and pestilence; and at last, when only a handful of people were left, the distant dikes were cut and the water slowly crept across the fields; then a great storm arose, and so swept in the sea that the Dutch navy could sail across the land to the city's relief. Alva left for Spain, and the new regent and commander, Requesens, came. Soon after the Dutch issued their Declaration of Independence, July 26, 1581, and later formed the United States of the Dutch Republic.

Two other governors came to Holland, Don John of Austria and Alexander of Parma, but neither could bring the Dutch to submission. The siege of Antwerp followed, and soon after William was a.s.sa.s.sinated by a Spaniard.

In despair Holland offered the sovereignty of the country first to France and then to England; both refused it, but Queen Elizabeth sent men and money. Sir Walter Raleigh, the Earl of Leicester, Miles Standish, Captain John Smith, and Sir Philip Sidney came, and the last lost his life on the battle-field.

Maurice, the son of William, now took command, and was called "the foremost soldier of Europe." It was not long till Spain, weary of forty years of struggle with an unconquerable people, signed a treaty of peace and virtually acknowledged Holland's independence.

Clubs should take up the whole story of the relations of Holland and England and observe how, three years later, when the Armada came, Holland helped England to meet it. Discuss the bearings of this great struggle for liberty on other nations: what was really won?

Read of the different sieges from Motley; notice also what he says of the work of the Inquisition and its effect on the resistance of the people. Read George Ebers' The Burgomaster's Wife and Dumas' The Black Tulip. There are also two books written for boys by G. A. Henty which are worth looking over: one, By Pike and Dike, dealing with the siege of Haarlem, and the other, By England's Aid. Ruth Putnam's life of William the Silent should be read.

VI--AFTER THE WAR

Holland, in spite of her terrible losses by death in battle, by starvation, and by torture, and the immense destruction of property, and the cost of carrying on the war, was yet left in a strong position. She was at once enriched by the coming of thousands of intelligent merchants and artisans from the south, flying from persecution, and her trade and colonies were uninjured. The great Bank of Amsterdam flourished, and had an interesting history. The curious event of the time was the "tulip mania," a wild speculation which was disastrous to the nation.

VII--HOLLAND AND PROTESTANTISM

All over Europe religion and politics intermingled, and it was so in Holland. The country as a whole followed the Calvinistic form of faith, and this led to internal difficulties. It was really a question whether Church and State should be united or separated. Maurice, Barneveldt, and Grotius were the leaders. Barneveldt, a truly able statesman, was beheaded; Grotius, the famous scholar, escaped from imprisonment to Paris. Complications arose from the coming of persecuted peoples; the Albigenses from France, the Waldenses from Italy, and the Anabaptists.

In the end democracy won, religious liberty was a.s.sured, and Church and State were kept apart. At this point tell the story of the Pilgrim Fathers in Holland, and show how far ahead of the times Holland was in her religious position.

VIII--TROUBLES BETWEEN HOLLAND AND ENGLAND

Both Holland and England had colonies in India and elsewhere, and now their trade conflicted. The antagonism thus roused was increased by the fact that the Dutch had given shelter to the Stuarts. The English forced on Holland a two-years' war which was entirely on the sea, and was led by four great admirals: Blake and Monk on the side of the English, and Tromp and De Ruyter on the side of the Dutch. The story is full of interest; the result favored the Dutch.

The great political leader, John De Witt, came into prominence at this period; he was called "The Wisdom of Holland." He had the descendant of William the Silent educated, and later originated the plan of having him marry Mary, the daughter of the Duke of York, later James the Second of England, hoping so to weld the two countries together. De Witt's murder by the mob in 1672 is a blot on the country's honor.

IX--THE SECOND NAVAL WAR WITH ENGLAND

The reins of the government were in the hands of the Stadtholder William, another prince of Orange; but, in spite of all efforts, war on account of the colonies broke out. A great naval battle occurred, and the English fleet was burned. Later, France, aided by England, invaded Holland, but again the dikes were cut and the foreigners driven away.

Years of war followed, with different countries taking part, and with Spain, strangely enough, siding with Holland. In a battle in the Mediterranean, De Ruyter, the idol of his people, was killed.

There was much talk at the time of making William king of the Netherlands, but just then England took up the project of having him marry Mary, as De Witt had planned, and this he did. He invaded England, was received gladly by the people, and was crowned joint sovereign with Mary in London. King James fled, and the new dynasty was established peacefully.

X--HOLLAND'S LATER HISTORY

In 1747, when all Europe had been in turmoil, the whole seven provinces of the Netherlands, which had been loosely connected, united, and the stadtholder became the real ruler of his people; but dissensions arose, his powers were curtailed, and at last civil war broke out. The King of Prussia took part, and Amsterdam was besieged and capitulated. Later Napoleon came, and Holland was soon only one of his little kingdoms.

Against him, at Waterloo, the Prince of Orange fought with the allies.

After the victory the prince made a triumphal entry into The Hague, and took the t.i.tle of Sovereign Prince. The republic, which had existed only in name for years, ended there, for presently he was crowned as King William I.

Belgium united with Holland in a union which could not last, and a nine years' war followed, with one memorable event, when Lieutenant Van Speyk blew up his own ship with all on board, rather than surrender. Belgium and Holland separated. William I. was followed by William II. and William III., and the young Queen Wilhelmina, who is the daughter of the last king. She and her consort are the rulers to-day.

HOLLAND AND LEARNING, ART, LITERATURE, AND SCIENCE

There is only one great university in Holland, that of Leyden, founded in commemoration of the great siege by William the Silent. Learned men from all over Europe flocked there at one time, and its students numbered two thousand. To-day there are only a few hundred, as in the other two smaller universities. But Leyden is still famous for its museums, among the richest in Europe.