History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce, 1586c

"History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce--1609" by John Lothrop Motley is a historical exploration of the Netherlands during a time of intense conflict, around the late 1500s. It tells about what happened after William the Silent died and how things led to a break in the long war. The book looks at how different countries like Spain and England were involved, showing the hard times that people in the Netherlands experienced during the Eighty Years' War. It focuses on Alexander Farnese, the Duke of Parma, who had to deal with battles, political tricks, and secret talks with English people who wanted peace. The book describes hard times in Flanders, the problems of the English and Dutch armies, and fights between important people like Sir Philip Sidney and the Earl of Leicester, using stories of trickery and misunderstandings. It shows how the war hurt regular people, especially in cities like Antwerp, and explains the careful political moves that decided the future of the United Provinces during this unstable time.