Michiel de Ruyter Page #6

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our ships but go ashore as well.

The English want an invasion.

That's to our advantage.

They want to reach the coast,

so they'll try to go ashore here or here.

The wind comes from the south and

so we'll do what they expect us to do.

We're going to sail in line here...

and then Tromp is going to leave

a hole here. He's good at that.

You want them to sail through.

The tide could be in our advantage.

It's our only chance.

Brilliant.

My head is like an old piss bucket.

Can someone tell me what the plan is?

Girls, you're going with Klaartje.

You can't go to the coast by yourself.

Go on.

Not through the front door.

Through the back.

Hoist the sails.

Pull the ropes.

Keep going.

They're taking the bait.

Come on.

Everyone, get off the ship.

We're going through that hole there.

It's our chance to reach the coast.

Man the guns.

Hurry up, prepare the cannons.

For once I do what you say...Admiral.

The French fleet arrived.

Take the Vooruitgang.

You know the plan.

Aye aye, Admiral.

Boatswains in front of the mast.

Prepare to come about.

Get ready.

De Ruyter is trying to defend the coast.

Let's go.

Damn it.

Abandon ship.

Let us come about then.

Load starboard.

Prepare to come about.

Come about.

Prepare to come about.

Every ship should pull back.

Lift those cannons. Up.

Carpenters, to the front.

Fire.

Pull back.

Pull back.

To victory.

Huzzah for De Ruyter.

Bestevaer.

Bestevaer.

You know what you promised.

Just one more talk and it's over.

People are being arrested everywhere.

Don't say anything foolish to the Prince.

There are some people here

I want to introduce you to.

These gentleman represent

about a quarter of our army.

You want me to join a rebellion?

You can be the symbol of our resistance.

The people look up to you.

And I have the fleet behind me.

You're crazy, man.

Plunge the country into a civil war?

Anything is better

than a dictatorship.

A disgrace.

This is a total disgrace.

Be careful, Michiel.

Trust no one.

Look around you.

That just gives them a

reason to arrest you.

We have to show that we can work together.

We must rebuild this country together.

The republicans are reorganizing.

They want De Ruyter as their leader.

The people love him.

That's the problem, Your Highness.

We have a plan to solve that problem.

The Prince of Orange.

Thank you.

I would like to thank one man...

without whom this glorious victory

would never have occurred.

The great hero from the Battle of Texel:

Cornelis Tromp.

They don't know what they're doing.

Bravo.

Bravo.

Do you have a moment?

I'll be right with you.

Retirement?

Back to Zeeland?

What will the Netherlands do without you?

This country has a great leader.

The country has a great leader.

How can I be a great leader

for all the Dutch...

if they don't all love me?

I'm not like him.

Your Highness is underestimating himself.

Are you serious?

The king can unite the country.

Rise above the parties.

You want me to release the rebels.

A nice gesture.

Have you heard what they say about me?

That's how they thank me,

after everything I did for my people.

Surely you can admit that.

Should I just watch the

republicans ruin our country?

I can't just stand idly by.

Like with Johan and Cornelis de Witt?

Was that massacre also for

the good of the country?

I had nothing...

Nothing to do with that?

We couldn't control the mob.

No one had any idea.

Your people incited the nation

against the De Witts for months.

Pamphlets, agitators, filthy back room politics.

How dare you?

You'll have to live

with your conscience.

How dare you?

Still De Witt's friend, eh?

I'm starting to doubt if you'll

obey me when it's needed.

I have always served my country.

If only the country

was as stable as you.

Your Highness can be assured of my dedication.

But am I?

Admiral.

I hoped this wouldn't be necessary,

but my advisers were right.

I'll accept your retirement

on one condition.

Your Highness?

You carry out one last mission.

You're going to the Mediterranean Sea.

A secret mission against the French.

Why should I?

It's not wise to refuse a direct order

from your Prince.

It's hard to protect

a traitor's family.

De Ruyter.

I might as well have condemned him to

death. That would've been more honest.

Think of it as an act

of a true statesman.

I've decided to form an alliance

with the English throne.

I have to seize this opportunity.

A marriage with Mary Stuart.

Think of it as an act

of a true statesman.

I couldn't sleep either.

Why, Michiel?

Why did you accept that mission?

You have nothing to prove.

They can't force us.

That's not it.

So you want a state funeral?

I don't want to cause a civil war.

And you won't. It's not your fault

those men are in prison.

Someone has to obey the Prince.

The Prince?

He only wants to get rid of you.

They all want to get rid of you.

Your success is too great.

Don't you see what they're doing?

They want you dead,

just like with Johan.

Someone needs to lead by example.

A good example.

Let someone else do it.

They always reconcile.

Too much blood has been spilled.

The country is torn.

I don't care if the country is torn.

I just want us to enjoy

our retirement in peace.

What do you mean?

What did the Prince say?

Did he threaten us?

So he did.

He wasn't even subtle about it.

And you want to risk your life again

for a man like that?

A man who has never cared

about other people...

or what it's like for us

and the children.

I do this for you and the children.

He guarantees your safety

while I'm gone.

And if you survive and come back?

Will it be over then?

Will they leave us alone?

You're not coming back.

You're not leaving me alone,

do you hear me?

You're not leaving me by myself.

Of course, darling.

Of course I'm coming back.

No, no, no, no.

Be a good boy.

Raise up. Smooth.

Daddy loves you very much.

Forgive me, my love.

Come on, let's go home.

I count no more than 12 ships.

Where is the Seven Provinces?

Is that all they have?

What's the honor in that?

Prepare for combat.

Get ready.

Load the cannons.

Fire.

Reload the cannons.

Hurry up with those cannons.

God damn it.

Faster, faster.

Fire.

Surgeon to the top deck.

Stay with us.

Slightly more to port.

Anna.

Michiel de Ruyter is dead.

Load the cannons with blank shells.

Let's honor our enemy.

Get ready to pay tribute.

Look at them.

Orangists and republicans,

side by side for the first time.

I never could have done that.

I've seen enough.

The end of an era.

That is Anna De Ruyter,

let her through.

Give him the most beautiful grave

possible.

All right.

William III married Mary Stuart in 1677.

In 1688, William III fell in England.

He became King of England, Ireland and Scotland.

Willhem and Mary never had children.

Bentinck remained at his side until his death.

De Ruyter was shot in the right leg,

which was amputated after an infection.

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