OK, let's make things simpler and change English to British. 🙂 I know that isn't technically accurate, but to me that includes Wales, Scotland, and even Ireland, at least Northern, at the time.  Still think it's oddly interesting that a Dutch guy would be king without the use of force during the Anglo-Dutch wars.  That's what makes me think there's something up with the House of Orange that is vastly different than the Dutch Republic…yet they eventually came together.  😮  Time to stop pulling my hair out and just wait until I read one of these books!

I don't mnd dry as long as it's accurate.  Would rather read a properly researched and cited book than one where I'm wondering where the author's information came from.  Both books mentioned here are cited often.  I think I'll start by getting a better background in the Thirty Years War and then get more in depth with the Eighty Years War, the Dutch Revolution.  Just read here how the Declaration of Independence is similar to and maybe influenced by the Dutch Plakkaat van Verlatinge or Act of Abjuration.  I also find the Anglo-Dutch wars particularly interesting seeing that they were primarily naval battles.  Actually I find all this interesting which explains my interest in sea empires.  One big question I have is how and why did William of Orange invade England and become king with virtually no opposition.  I suspect the alliance between the Dutch and England was very strong at that time and remained strong until the Dutch supported American independence.