PROM THE SPANISH MONARCHY, 1 73 



for reducing; this ofFsoring; of chance into a plan of the 

 moil confummate wifdom. 



William had filently refolved, like a fecond Brutus, 

 to devote himfelf to the facred caufe of liberty. Far 

 fuperior to the fuggeftions of a felfim timidity, he re- 

 nounced his pretentions to the throne, magnanimoufly 

 diverted himfelf of his princely quality, fubmitted to 

 a voluntary poverty, and becomes nothing more than 

 a citizen of the world. The juftice of the caufe was 

 eftimated by the fortune of war; but mercenaries 

 picked up at random, and unwarlike peafants could 

 not Hand againft the furious attacks of a difciplined 

 army. Twice he led his fpiritlefs troops againft the 

 tyrant, twice they abandoned him ; but his courage 

 never abated ; Philip the fecond fent him as many re- 

 inforcements as his cruel avarice had rendered beggars. 

 Fugitives, rejected by their country, fought one at 

 fea, and endeavoured to fat i ate on the fhips of their 

 enemies both their rao;e and their hunger. Now mari- 



o o 



time heroes were made out of corfairs, they collected 

 a navy of the prizes they had taken, and a republic 

 rofe up from a morafs. Seven provinces at once ihook 

 off their bonds ; and formed a riling itate, powerful 

 by concord, by its inundations, and by defpair. A 

 foiemn decree of the nation depofed the tyrant from 

 his throne, and the fpanifh name was obliterated from 

 the laws. A deed was now done for which there were 

 no hopes of forgivenefs ; the republic became formida- 

 ble from its inability to retreat. The covenant they 

 had entered into was torn by factions, the dreadful 

 element itfelf, the fea, as if in league with their op- 

 preiTors, threatened tiieir tender government with an 



early 



