The silent ocean does the event attend,
Which leader shall the doubtful victory bless,
And give an earnest of the war's success;
When Heaven itself, for England to declare
Turns ship, and men, and tackle, into air.

Shortly before the marriage of Prince William of Orange, the future king of England, with Mary, the daughter of the Duke of York, who later became King James II, Waller wrote two poems, one Of the Lady Mary, and another To the Prince of Orange in 1677. Both are gems of poetry, and interesting enough to be given here in full.

OF THE LADY MARY

As once the lion honey gave

Out of the strong such sweetness came;

A royal hero, no less brave,

Produced this sweet, this lovely dame.

To her the prince, that did oppose
Such mighty armies in the field,
And Holland from prevailing foes
Could so well free, himself does yield.

No Belgia's fleet (his high command)
Which triumphs where the sun does rise,
Nor all the force he leads by land,

Could guard him from her conquering eyes.

Orange, with youth, experience has;
In action young, in council old;
Orange is, what Augustus was,
Brave, wary, provident, and bold.

On that fair tree which bears his name,
Blossoms and fruit at once are found;

In him we all admire the same,

His flowery youth with wisdom crowned!

Empire and freedom reconciled
In Holland are by great Nassau;
Like those he sprung from, just and mild,
To willing people he gives law.

Thrice happy pair! so near allied
In royal blood, and virtue too!
Now Love has you together tied,

May none this triple knot undo!

The church shall be the happy place

Where streams, which from the same source run, Though divers lands awhile they grace,

Unite again, and are made one.

A thousand thanks the nation owes
To him that does protect us all;
For while he thus his niece bestows,
About our isle he builds a wall;

A wall! like that which Athens had,
By the oracle's advice, of wood;
Had theirs been such as Charles has made,
That mighty state till now had stood.

TO THE PRINCE OF ORANGE IN 1677

Welcome, great Prince, unto this land,
Skilled in the arts of war and peace,
Your birth does call you to command,
Your nature does incline to peace.

When Holland, by her foes oppressed

No longer could sustain their weight; To a native prince they thought it best To recommend their dying state.

Your very name did France expel;

Those conquered towns which lately cost So little blood, unto you fell

With the same ease they once were lost

'Twas not your force did them defeat; They neither felt your sword nor fire; But seemed willing to retreat,

And to your greatness did conspire.

Nor have you since ungrateful been,
When at Seneff you did expose,
And at Mount Cassel, your own men
Whereby you might secure your foes.

Let Maestricht's siege enlarge your name,
And your retreat at Charleroy;
Warriors by flying may gain fame
And Parthian-like their foes destroy.

Thus Fabius gained repute of old,
When Roman glory gasping lay;
In council slow, in action cold,

His country saved, running away.

What better method could you take?
When you by beauty's charm must move,

And must at once a progress make,
I' th' stratagems of war and love.

He that a princess' heart would gain,
Must learn submissively to yield;
The stubborn ne'er their ends obtain;
The vanquished masters are o' the field.

Go on, brave Prince, with like success,
Still to increase your hoped renown,

Till to your conduct and adress,

Not to your birth, you owe a crown

Proud Alva with the power of Spain
Could not the noble Dutch enslave;

And wiser Parma strove in vain

For to reduce a race so brave.

They now those very armies pay,

By which they were forced to yield to you;

Their ancient birthright they betray,

By their own votes you them subdue.

Who can then liberty maintain

When by such arts it is withstood? Freedom to princes is a chain

To all that spring from royal blood.

CHAPTER XXXVI

HOLLAND'S INFLUENCE DURING THE TIME OF WILLIAM III, KING OF ENGLAND AND STADHOLDER OF HOLLAND. DANIEL DE FOE, MATTHEW PRIOR, BURNET AND LOCKE.

The time of the glorious English revolution in 1688, was different from that of the Anglo-Dutch wars, during Cromwell's Republic, and after the restoration of the Stuarts. Enmity and hatred between Holland and England gave place to a confederation between the two nations against one foe, Louis XIV of France, who threatened all Protestantism in England as well as in Holland, with extirpation. Protestantism in its last and great struggle for freedom. and existence, found in Prince William III a leader, both in politics and on the battlefield, able enough to match the French intrigues as well as the French armies. Married to the noble Mary, daughter of James II, a princess, whose lovely character and great devotion to her husband, and to the cause of Protestantism enabled her to give him the best assistance that anybody could imagine, William was called to a great task, which he notwithstanding all difficulties, in Holland as well as in England, performed in the most splendid way.

The feelings in England towards Holland were now better than during the period of the Anglo-Dutch wars, yet, there remained many malcontents, some of whom were the zealous adherents of Catholicism,