This is the first book of the Prince of Orange Trilogy by Marjorie Bowen. This Prince of Orange is William III, great-grandson of William the Silent (whose grand tomb is found in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft).

In between, there was apparently a bad Orange. This William was born after his father (who’d tried to take over rule of the Netherlands as a King), died, the Stadtholdership which he had held was done away with, and the Provinces put under rule of a Grand Pensionary, John de Witt. Mr. de Witt was apparently then, both tutor and jailor of the young Prince. In this book, de Witt is portrayed as a man of constancy and integrity, who worked hard for the peace of The Netherlands. As the French army approached, wanting the riches of the country, he still advocated peace, though it would mean extremely hard concessions. He did not trust the young Prince, expecting him to turn out like his father and to try to put the country under his heel.

William, though, was not of that stripe. In his heart and learning, he took after William I. He wanted only to avoid the so-called peace that would ruin the Netherlands, and to raise an army, (which de Witt had mostly dismantled in his quest for peace), to fight the French for his country’s liberty. When he was finally awarded the Captain Generalship, he was so hampered about with rules from the Grand Pensionary, that he could make no moves without consulting a board first, had to use the generals they gave him, even though most were not loyal to him, and one was a traitor and let the French through. Defeat after defeat, with the French having taken some major cities.

Emissaries of the King of France (Louis, his cousin), and the King of England (Charles, his uncle), who are in league with each other against the United Provinces, approach him.

“If you make this peace, not only will the war be removed from your country, but you will be made Sovereign of it, and both the Kings will secure you, at home and abroad. For their Majesties agree to make this a condition of peace with the States, that they take you for King over such of the Low Countries as be left after we have had our partage.”

Which he refuses: ”I believe myself in honour, and in conscience, bound not to prefer my interest before my obligation.” “You offer me what I would not stoop to pick up, my lord.”

Although a great sacrifice to the country, he has the dykes cut to use the sea as ally to get rid of the French, and maintain liberty for his people.

I can’t wait to read the next two books! ( )