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Xxxii History. HOLLAND.
the day on which the States intended to have conferred upon him
the dignity of an hereditary count of Holland. The year following
his death his son Maurice was elected stadtholder in his stead.
Under his presidency (1585-1625) the power and wealth of
the Republic rapidly increased, active hostilities were frequently
undertaken against the Spaniards, and the E. Indian trading com-
pany was formed (1602). Meanwhile, however, there arose serious
dissensions between the democratic and the government parties,
which were greatly < avated by the pernicious theological contro-
yersies of the Arminians and the Gomarists (p. 378). Contrary to
the sound advice of the stadtholder, the States in their anxiet
commercial prosperity concluded a twelve years’ peace with Sj
in 1609. Incensed by the quarrels which now ensued, Maurice
caused the influential John van Oldenbarneveld, the pensionary or
chancellor of the province of Holland, then in h d year, to be
arrested and condemned to death by a partial tribunal in 1619
(p. 262), but by this judicial murder he did not succeed in intimid-
ating his refractory subjec Maurice died in 1625, and was suc-
ceeded by his brother Frederick Henry (1625-47), under whom
the unity of the Republic became more consolidated, and the
prosperity of the States reached its climax. Both by land and by
sea they triumphed over the Spaniards in the hostilities which now
broke out afresh; and in 1628 the gallant admiral Piet Hein
captured the Spanish ‘silver fleet’. The Dutch commerce of that
period was the most widely extended in the world.
The great Dutch navigators Houtman, Heemskerck, Davis, Schou-
ten, Lemaire, Hartog, Edels, Schapenham, Nuyt, Vianen, Caron, Tas-
man, De Vries, Van Campen, and Berkel, explored the most dist
coasts in the world during this period, while the EK. Indian factories
especially that of Batavia, which had been established in 1619,
mil ded a rich harvest. The re school of painting now attained
its culminating point (comp. p.lii), and the sclences were also
highly cultivated during this ap ee rous epoch, as the well-known
names of Grotius, Vossius, Heinsius, Gronovius, etc., abundantly
testify.
Frederick Henry died in 1647, shortly before the Peace of
Westphalia, by which the independence of the United States of the
Netherlands was formally recognised, and was succeeded by his
son William, then in his 21st year.
The renewal of dissensions between the States and the stadt-
holder determined them, on the early death of this prince in 1650,
not to elect a new governor, and the reins of government were now
entrusted to the distinguished Grand Pensionary John de Witt,
able and energetic senator. :
During this period the navigation acts were passed by Crom-
well, placing restrictions on the Dutch meee and thus giving rise
to the war which called into activity the talents of Tromp , De
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