Many are acquainted with The Scarlet Pimpernel stories by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. She also authored two stories entitled The Laughing Cavalier (1913) and The First Sir Percy (1921) featuring William Stoutenburg, one of Johann Van Oldenbarneveldt’s two sons. Her tale paints his angst while in the face of his lost title, position, and holdings. The setting is in Holland following the period of the failed assassination attempt upon Prince Maurice of Nassau, in retaliation for the beheading of his esteemed father. The outlawed William spurns all and plays the villain to the hero in these tales. The connection between William and our ancestor Pieter proves to be as elusive as the beloved Pimpernel. Enjoy these whimsical texts in full right here:
Additional information about the Baroness and her books may be found online at Wikipedia.