Whether he was capable of Outgeneralling Alexander Farnese or no, will be better seen, perhaps, in subsequent chapters; but there is no doubt that he was reasonable enough in thinking, at that juncture, that a hard campaign rather than a "merchant's brokerage" was required to obtain an honourable peace.
"Project Gutenberg History of The Netherlands, 1555-1623, Complete"
John Lothrop Motley