But, without that advantage, there were men whose sagacity told them that it was the hour for deeds and not for dreams.

For to Leicester and Walsingham, as well as to Paul Buys and Barneveld, peace with Spain seemed an idle vision.

It was unfortunate that they were overruled by Queen Elizabeth and Burghley, who still clung to that delusion; it was still more disastrous that the intrigues of Leicester had done so much to paralyze the republic; it was almost fatal that his departure, without laying down his authority, had given the signal for civil war.
During the winter, spring, and summer of 1588, while the Duke--in the face of mighty obstacles--was slowly proceeding with his preparations in Flanders, to co-operate with the armaments from Spain, it would have been possible by a combined movement to destroy his whole plan, to liberate all the Netherlands, and to avert, by one great effort, the ruin impending over England.

Instead of such vigorous action, it was thought wiser to send commissioners, to make protocols, to ask for armistices, to give profusely to the enemy that which he was most in need of--time.
Meanwhile the Hollanders and English could quarrel comfortably among themselves, and the little republic, for want of a legal head, could come as near as possible to its dissolution.
Young Maurice--deep thinker for his years and peremptory in action--was not the man to see his great father's life-work annihilated before his eyes, so long as he had an arm and brain of his own.

He accepted his position at the head of the government of Holland and Zeeland, and as chief of the war-party.