ing his preparations to subdue the country. By the death of the
prince Holland was left without an effective leader, while in the duke
Spain had one of the most accomplished and energetic generals of his
age. Parma saw that Antwerp was the key to the situation, and he
directed his whole attention to its capture.

"Before this time the Prince of Orange had realized that the loss of
Antwerp would be the loss of the whole of the region which is now called
Belgium; and when it was clear in what direction his skilful antagonist
proposed to operate, he had advised the cutting of the dike on your
right, which would lay the country under water, and open a channel of
communication with Holland and Zealand by water. Unfortunately, his
advice was disregarded till the duke had secured the dikes--a neglect
which caused the loss of Antwerp, and with it the whole of Flanders.

"Though Parma had erected forts all along the banks of the river, the
hardy Dutchmen ran the gantlet of them, and Antwerp was well supplied
with food, the price being four times as much as in Holland. The people
of the city, and even their leaders, ridiculed the idea of constructing
the bridge, and took no steps to prevent it. The death of Orange caused
a panic throughout the Netherlands, of which the shrewd Parma took
advantage, and urged on his preparations. Though crippled in a measure
by the neglect of his sovereign to supply him with men and money, the
bridge was completed in the face of tremendous obstacles. It was
twenty-four hundred feet long, and composed of thirty-two boats, or
vessels, bound together by hawsers, cables, and beams. On each side was
a wall of timbers, and on the structure guns were planted for its
defence. A fort was erected at each end, heavily armed and manned.

"When the bridge was finished, the Antwerpers, who had laughed to scorn
the idea of such a structure, found that their supplies were cut off.
They made two attempts to break through the bridge, but failed in both,
though in one of them they made a breach by exploding a fire-ship, and
destroyed nearly a thousand Spanish soldiers, and Parma himself was
knocked senseless. The attempt was not followed up with sufficient
energy, and the Spaniard had time to repair the work. Antwerp, deprived
of provisions by the skill and determination of the duke, was starved
out and compelled to surrender. The country continued under the Spanish
yoke, while the United Provinces maintained their