1 



I 7 0 DEFECTION OF THE NETHERLANDS 



completion is the hiftory before us. The nation of 

 whom I am now to fpeak, was the moft peaceable of all 

 the people of the earth ; and of all their neighbours was 

 the leaft capable of that heroic fpirit which' gives a 

 kind of colour even, to the viler! actions. The preflure 

 of circumftances took them as it were by furprife, 

 forced them to fee their own powers, and drove 

 them into a tranfient greatnefs, which they never 

 would eife have had, and which probably they will 

 never again acquire. The power therefore with which 

 they acted, is not departed from mankind. The hap- 

 py confequence which crowned their fturdy perfeve- 

 ranee is not denied to us, if periods of a like nature 

 fhould return, and give us fimilar occahons for limilar 

 deeds. Accordingly, it is the very want of heroical 

 greatnefs which renders this event appropriate and in- 

 ■ tractive ; and if others make it their bulinefs to fhew 

 the prevalence of genius over accident, I lhall here 

 prefent a picture, where neceffity is feen creating ge- 

 nius, and accident making heroes. 



If it be any where allowed to admit the interference 

 of a fuperior intellect among human affairs, it muft be 

 in this piece of hiftory, which feems fo contradictory 

 to reafon and all experience. Philip the fecond, the 

 moft potent fovereign of his times, whofe tremendous 

 fuperiority of power threatened no lefs than to reduce 

 all Europe to its fubjection, whofe treafures exceeded 

 the united wealth of all the princes of chriftendom, 

 whofe fleets gave law in every fea ; a monarch who had 

 numerous armies on foot to fecond his dangerous 

 views ; troops, hardened by long and bloody wars, and 

 actuated by a roman valour^ poflefled by an uncon- 

 querable 



