by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER VII
A DANGEROUS MISSION
"I hear you have a letter for me from my good friend the burgomasterof Enkhuizen," the Prince of Orange said, as Ned with a deepreverence approached the table at which he was sitting. "He sendsme no ill news, I hope?"
"No, your excellency," Ned said. "It is on a matter personal tomyself that he has been good enough to write to you, and I craveyour pardon beforehand for occupying your time for a moment withso unimportant a subject."
The prince glanced at him keenly as he was speaking, and saw thatthe young fellow before him was using no mere form of words, butthat he really felt embarrassed at the thought that he was intrudingupon his labours. He opened the letter and glanced down it.
"Ah! you are English," he said in surprise. "I thought you acountryman of mine."
"My mother is from Holland, sir," Ned replied; "and has brought meup to speak her language as well as my father's, and to feel thatHolland is my country as much as England."
"And you are the son of the English captain who, lately, as I heard,being stopped in his passage down the Zuider Zee by the Spanish shipDon Pedro, defended himself so stoutly that he inflicted great lossand damage upon the Spaniard, and brought his ship into Enkhuizenwithout further damage than a grievous wound to himself. Theburgomaster tells me that you are anxious to enter my service as avolunteer, and that you have the permission of your parents to doso.
"Many of your brave compatriots are already coming over; and I amglad indeed of their aid, which I regard as an omen that Englandwill some day bestir herself on our behalf. But you look young forsuch rough work, young sir. I should not take you for more thaneighteen."
"I am not yet eighteen, sir," Ned said, although he did not thinkit necessary to mention that he still wanted two years to that age."But even children and women have aided in the defence of theirtowns."
"It is somewhat strange," the prince said, "that your parentsshould have countenanced your thus embarking in this matter at soyoung an age."
"The Spaniards have murdered my grandfather, three of my uncles, andan aunt; and my father would, had it not been that he is disabledby the wound he received, and which has cost him the loss of a leg,have himself volunteered," Ned replied. "But, sir, if you thinkme too young as yet to fight in the ranks, my father thought thatyou might perhaps make use of me in other ways. I have sailedup every river in the Netherlands, having been for the last fiveyears in my father's ship trading with these ports, and know theirnavigation and the depth of water. If you have letters that youwant carried to your friends in Flanders, and would intrust themto me, I would deliver them faithfully for you whatever the risk;and being but a boy, could pass perhaps where a man would besuspected. I only ask, sir, to be put to such use as you can makeof me, whatever it may be, deeming my life but of slight accountin so great and good a cause."
"No man can offer more," the prince said kindly. "I like your face,young sir, and can see at once that you can be trusted, and thatyou have entered upon this matter in a serious spirit. Your fatherhas proved himself to be a brave fighter and a skilful sailor, andI doubt not that you are worthy of him. Your youth is no drawbackin my eyes, seeing that I myself, long before I reached your age,was mixed up in state affairs, and that the Emperor Charles, mymaster, did not disdain to listen to my opinions. I accept youroffer of service in the name of the Netherlands; and deeming that,as you say, you may be of more service in the way of which youhave spoken than were I to attach you to one of the regiments I amraising, I will for the present appoint you as a volunteer attachedto my own household, and, trust me, I will not keep you long inidleness."
He touched a bell and the page entered. "Take this gentleman," hesaid, "to Count Nieuwenar, and tell him that he is to have rank asa gentleman volunteer, and will at present remain as a member ofmy household, and be treated as such."
With a kindly nod he dismissed Ned, who was so affected by thekindness of manner of the prince that he could only murmur a wordor two of thanks and assurance of devotion. One of the burgomaster'sletters, of which Ned was the bearer, was to Count Nieuwenar, theprince's chamberlain, and when the page introduced him to thatofficer with the message the prince had given him, Ned handed tohim the burgomaster's letter. The count ran his eye down it.
"My friend the burgomaster speaks highly in your praise, youngsir," he said; "and although it needed not that since the princehimself has been pleased to appoint you to his household, yet I amglad to receive so good a report of you. All Holland and Zeelandhave been talking of the gallant fight that your father's ship madeagainst the Spaniard; and though I hear that the Queen of Englandhas made remonstrances to the Spanish Ambassador as to this attackupon an English ship, methinks that it is the Spaniards who sufferedmost in the affair."
"Would you kindly instruct me, sir, in the duties that I have toperform."
"There are no duties whatever," the count said with a smile. "Thereis no state or ceremony here. The prince lives like a privatecitizen, and all that you have to do is to behave discreetly, topresent yourself at the hours of meals, and to be in readiness toperform any service with which the prince may intrust you; althoughfor what service he destines you, I own that I am in ignorance.But," he said more gravely, "the prince is not a man to cumberhimself with persons who are useless to him, nor to keep about hisperson any save those upon whose fidelity he is convinced that hecan rely. Therefore I doubt not that he will find work for you todo, for indeed there is but little ease and quiet for those whoserve him. This afternoon I will find for you an apartment, and Imay tell you that although you will have at present no duties toperform, and need not therefore keep in close attendance, it werebetter that you should never be very long absent; for when theprince wants a thing done he wants it done speedily, and valuesmost those upon whom he can rely at all times of the night and day.Return here at noon, and I will then present you to the gentlemenand officers with whom you will associate."
On leaving the chamberlain Ned walked for some time through thestreets of Rotterdam. He scarcely noticed where he went, so fullwere his thoughts of the reception that he had met with, and themore than realization of his hopes. The charm of manner, as wellas the real kindness of the prince, had completely captivated him,as indeed they did all who came in contact with him, and he feltthat no dangers he could run, no efforts he could make would be toogreat if he could but win the approbation of so kind a master. Hepresented himself to the chamberlain at the hour named, and thelatter took him to a large hall in which many officers and gentlemenwere about to sit down to dinner, and introduced Ned to them asthe son of the English captain who had so bravely beaten off theDon Pedro, and whom the Prince of Orange had received into hishousehold in the quality of a gentleman volunteer.
Ned was well received, both on his own account and from the goodwillthat was entertained towards England. Although personally the Princeof Orange kept up no state and lived most simply and quietly, hestill maintained an extensive household, and extended a generoushospitality more suited to his past wealth than to his presentnecessities. He had the habits of a great noble; and althoughpressed on all sides for money, and sometimes driven to make whathe considered great economies in his establishment, his house wasalways open to his friends and adherents.
Certainly in the meal to which he sat down Ned saw little signs ofeconomy. There was but little silver plate on the table, for theprince's jewels and plate had been pledged years before for thepayment of the German mercenaries; but there was an abundance offood of all kinds, generous wine in profusion, and the guests wereserved by numerous pages and attendants.
On the following day the prince rode to Haarlem accompanied by hishousehold and a hundred horsemen, for at Haarlem he had summoneda meeting of the representatives of the states that still remainedfaithful to him. As soon as they were settled in the quartersassigned to them Ned sallied out to make inquiries concerning therelatives with whom his aunt and cousins had taken refuge. As heknew her maiden name he had no great diffi
culty in learning thepart of the town in which her father dwelt, and knowing that theprince would at any rate for the rest of the day be wholly absorbedin important business, made his way thither, introducing himselfto the burgher.
"Ah!" the latter said, "I have often heard my daughter speak ofher sister-in-law who had married and settled in England. So youare her son? Well, you will find her house in the street that runsalong by the city wall, near the Watergate. It was well that shehappened to be laid up with illness at the time Alva's ruffiansseized and murdered her husband and his family. She was well nighdistraught for a time, and well she might be; though, indeed, herlot is but that of tens of thousands of others in this unhappycountry. I would gladly have welcomed her here, but I have anothermarried daughter who lives with me and keeps my house for me, andas she has half a dozen children the house is well nigh full. AndElizabeth longed for quiet in her sorrow, so I established her inthe little house I tell you of. I have been going to write to yourfather, but have put it off from time to time, for one has so muchto think of in these days that one has no time for private matters.She tells me that her husband and his brothers had, foreseeing theevil times coming, sent money to England to his care, and that ithas been invested in houses in London."
"I believe that is so," Ned replied; "and my father, who is atpresent lying sorely wounded at Enkhuizen, will, I am sure, nowthat he knows where my aunt is, communicate with her by letter onthe subject. I will give you his address at Enkhuizen, and as itis but a short journey from here you might perhaps find time to goover and see him, when he will be able to talk freely with you onthe subject. Now, with your permission I will go and see my aunt."
Ned had no difficulty in finding the house indicated. He knockedat the door, and it was opened by his aunt herself. She looked upfor a moment inquiringly, and then exclaimed:
"Why, it is my nephew, Edward Martin! It is nearly two years sinceI saw you last, and so much has happened since;" and she burst intotears.
Ned followed her into the house, where he was warmly welcomed byhis two cousins--girls of fourteen and fifteen years old. He hadfirst to explain how it was that he had come to Haarlem, and theywere grieved indeed to hear what had happened to Captain Martin,who was a great favourite with them.
"And so you have entered the service of the Prince of Orange?"his aunt said when he had finished his story. "Truly I wonder thatyour father and mother have allowed you to embark in so hopelessan enterprise."
"Not hopeless," Ned said. "Things look dark at present, but eitherEngland or France may come to our help. At any rate, aunt, if theSpanish army again sweeps over Holland and Zeeland surely you,with two girls, will not await its approach. You have friends inEngland. My father and mother will be only too glad to have youwith them till you can make yourself a home close by. And thereare the moneys sent over that will enable you to live in comfort.It will not be like going among strangers. There is quite a colonyof emigrants from the Netherlands already in London. You will findplenty who can speak your language."
"All my family are here," she replied; "my father, and brothers,and sisters. I could never be happy elsewhere."
"Yes, aunt, I can understand that. But if the Spaniards come, howmany of your family may be alive here a week afterwards?"
The woman threw up her hands in a gesture of despair.
"Well, we must hope for the best, aunt; but I would urge you moststrongly if you hear that a Spanish army is approaching to fly toEngland if there be an opportunity open to you, or if not to leavethe city and go to some town or village as far from here as possible."
"Haarlem is strong, and can stand a stout siege," the woman saidconfidently.
"I have no doubt it can, aunt. But the Spaniards are good engineers,and unless the Prince of Orange is strong enough to march to itssuccour, sooner or later it must fall; and you know what happensthen."
"Why should they come here more than elsewhere? There are manyother towns that lie nearer to them."
"That is so, aunt. But from the walls you can see the towers andspires of Amsterdam, and that city serves them as a gathering placein the heart of the country whence they may strike blows all round;and, therefore, as you lie so close, one of the first blows maybe struck here. Besides, if they take Haarlem, they cut the longstrip of land that almost alone remains faithful to the princeasunder. Well, aunt, please think it over. If you doubt my wordswrite to my mother at Enkhuizen. I warrant she will tell you howgladly she will receive you in England, and how well you may makeyourself a home there. I do not know how long I am to be stayinghere, and I have to be in close attendance on the prince in case hemay suddenly have occasion for my services, but I will come downevery day for a talk with you; and I do hope that for the sakeof my cousins, if not for your own, you will decide to leave thistroubled land for a time, and to take refuge in England, where nonewill interfere with your religion, and where you can live free fromthe Spaniard's cruel bigotry."
Ned remained for a fortnight without any particular duties. Whenthe prince was closeted with persons of importance, and he knewthat there was no chance of his being required, he spent much ofhis time at his aunt's. He was beginning to feel weary of hangingabout the prince's antechamber doing nothing, when one day a pagecame up to him and told him that the prince required his presence.He followed the boy to the prince's cabinet, full of hope that hewas to have an opportunity of proving that he was in earnest inhis offers of service to the cause of Holland.
"I daresay you began to think that I had forgotten you," the princebegan when the page had retired and the curtain had fallen behindhim, "but it is not so. Until today I have had no occasion for yourservices, but have now a mission to intrust to you. I have lettersthat I wish carried to Brussels and delivered to some of my friendsthere. You had best start at once in the disguise of a peasant boy.You must sew up your despatches in your jerkin, and remember thatif they are found upon you a cruel death will surely be your fate.If you safely carry out your mission in Brussels return with theanswers you will receive by such route as may seem best to you;for this must depend upon the movements of the Spaniards. Thechamberlain will furnish you with what money you may require."
"Thanks, your excellency, I am provided with sufficient means forsuch a journey."
"I need not tell you, my lad, to be careful and prudent. Remember,not only is your own life at stake, but that the interest of thecountry will suffer, and the lives of many will be forfeited shouldyou fail in your mission. You will see that there are no names uponthese letters; only a small private mark, differing in each case,by which you can distinguish them. Here is a paper which is a keyto those marks. You must, before you start, learn by heart thenames of those for whom the various letters are intended. In thisway, should the letters fall into the hands of the Spaniards, theywill have no clue as to the names of those to whom they are addressed.
"This paper, on which is written 'To the Blue Cap in the SouthCorner of the Market Square of Brussels,' is intended to incloseall the other letters, and when you have learned the marks CountNieuwenar will fasten them up in it and seal it with my seal.The object of doing this is, that should you be captured, you canstate that your instructions from me are to deliver the packet toa man with a blue cap, who will meet you at the south corner ofthe Market Square at Brussels, and, touching you on the shoulder,ask 'How blows the wind in Holland?' These are the instructions Inow give you. If such a man comes to you you will deliver the packetto him, if not you will open it and deliver the letters. But thislast does not form part of your instructions.
"This device will not save your life if you are taken, but itmay save you from torture and others from death. For were theseunaddressed letters found upon you, you would be put to such crueltortures that flesh and blood could not withstand them, and thenames of those for whom these letters are intended would be wrungfrom you; but inclosed as they are to Master Blue Cap, it may bebelieved that you are merely a messenger whose instructions extendno further than the handing over the parcel to a frie
nd of minein Brussels. Now, you have no time to lose. You have your disguiseto get, and these signs and the names they represent to committo heart. A horse will be ready in two hours time to take you toRotterdam, whence you will proceed in a coasting vessel to Sluysor Axel."
At the time named Ned was in readiness. He was dressed now as a youngFlemish peasant. He had left the chest with his clothes, togetherwith his armour and weapons, in the care of his aunt's father, forhe hoped that before his return she would have left the town. Hecould not, however, obtain any promise that she would do so. Herargument was, if other women could stay in Haarlem why should shenot do the same. Her friends and family were there; and although,if the Spaniards were to besiege the town, she might decide to quitit, she could not bring herself to go into exile, unless indeedall Holland was conquered and all hope gone.
Ned carried a stout stick; which was a more formidable weapon thanit looked, for the knob was loaded with lead. He hesitated abouttaking pistols; for if at any time he were searched and such weaponsfound upon him the discovery might prove fatal, for a peasant boycertainly would not be carrying weapons that were at that timecostly and comparatively rare. His despatches were sewn up in thelining of his coat, and his money, beyond that required for thepresent use, hidden in his big boots. A country horse with roughtrappings, such as a small farmer might ride, was in readiness, andmounting this he rode to Rotterdam, some thirty-five miles distant,and there put it up at a small inn, where he had been charged toleave it.
He then walked down to the river and inquired about boats sailingfor the ports of Sluys or Axel. He was not long in discoveringone that would start the next day for the latter place, and afterbargaining with the master for a passage returned to the inn. Thenext morning he set sail soon after daybreak. There were but threeor four other passengers, and Ned was not long before he establishedhimself on friendly terms with the master and the four men thatconstituted the crew.
"I wonder," he said presently to the master, "that trade still goeson between the towns of Holland and those in the provinces thathold to Alva."
"The citizens of those towns are greatly divided in their opinions,"the captain said. "Many would gladly rise if they had the chance,but they lie too close to the Spanish power to venture to do so.Still they are friendly enough to us; and as they have need of ourgoods and we of theirs, no one hinders traffic or interferes withthose who come and go. Most of these towns have but small Spanishgarrisons, and these concern themselves not with anything thatgoes on beyond maintaining the place for Spain. It is the Catholicmagistrates appointed by Alva who manage the affairs of the towns,and as these are themselves mostly merchants and traders theirinterests lie in keeping the ports open and encouraging trade,so we come and go unquestioned. The Spaniards have enough on theirhands already without causing discontent by restricting trade.Besides, the duke affects to consider the rising in Hollandand Zeeland as a trifling rebellion which he can suppress withoutdifficulty, and it would be giving too much importance to themovement were he to close all the ports and forbid communication."
"Will you go outside or inside Walcheren?"
"Outside," the captain replied. "It is the longest way, but thesafest. The Spaniards hold Middleburg and Tergoes, and have latelydefeated the force from Flushing that endeavoured to captureTergoes. There are many of our craft and some of the Spaniards inthe passages, and fighting often takes place. It is better to avoidrisks of trouble, although it may be a few leagues further roundby Walcheren. I am ready to take my share of the fighting when itis needful, and aid in carrying the troops across from Flushingand back, but when I have goods in my hold I like to keep as wellaway from it as may be."
They cast anchor off Flushing, for the wind was now foul, but whentide turned they again got under way and beat up the channel toAxel. No questions were asked as they drew up alongside the wharves.Ned at once stepped ashore and made his way to a small inn, chieflyfrequented by sailors, near the jetty. The shades of night werejust falling as they arrived, and he thought it were better notto attempt to proceed further until the following morning. He hadbeen several times at Axel in the Good Venture, and was familiarwith the town. The population was a mixed one, for although situatedin Brabant, Axel had so much communication with the opposite shoresof Holland that a considerable portion of the population had imbibedsomething of the spirit that animated their neighbours, and would,if opportunity offered, have gladly thrown off the authority ofthe officials appointed by the Spaniards.
Ned knew that as a stranger he should be viewed with great suspicionby the frequenters of the little inn, for the spy system was carriedto such an extent that people were afraid to utter their sentimentseven in the bosom of their own families. He therefore walked aboutuntil it was time to retire to rest, and in that way escaped alikethe suspicions and questionings he might otherwise have encountered.He could easily have satisfied them as to the past--he had justarrived in the coasting smack the Hopeful from Rotterdam, and themaster of the craft could, if questioned, corroborate hisstatement--but it would not be so easy to satisfy questioners as tothe object of his coming. Why should a lad from Holland want to cometo Brabant? Every one knew that work was far more plentiful inthe place he had come from than in the states under the Spaniards,where the cultivators scarce dare sow crops sufficient for theirown consumption, so extensive was the pillaging carried on by theSpanish troops.
These, always greatly in arrears of pay, did not hesitate to takeall they required from the unfortunate inhabitants; and the latterknew that resistance or complaint was alike useless, for thesoldiers were always on the verge of mutiny. Their officers hadlittle control over them; and Alva himself was always short ofmoney, and being unable to pay his troops was obliged to allow themto maintain themselves upon the country.
As soon as the gates were open in the morning Ned made his wayto that through which the road to Brussels ran. The four or fiveSpanish soldiers at the gate asked no questions, and Ned passedon with a brisk step. He had gone about three miles when he heardsounds of horses' hoofs behind him, and presently two men camealong. One was, by his appearance, a person of some importance,the other he took to be his clerk. Ned doffed his hat as the horsewent past.
"Where are you going lad?" the elder of the two men asked.
"I am going, worshipful sir, to see some friends who live at thevillage of Deligen, near Brussels."
"These are evil times for travelling. Your tongue shows that youcome not from Brabant."
"No, sir, my relations lived at Vordwyk, hard by Amsterdam."
"Amsterdam is a faithful city; although there, as elsewhere, thereare men who are traitors to their king and false to their faith.You are not one of them, I hope?"
"I do not know," Ned said, "that I am bound to answer questions ofany that ride by the highway, unless I know that they have rightand authority to question me."
"I have right and authority," the man said angrily. "My name isPhilip Von Aert, and I am one of the council charged by the viceroyto investigate into these matters."
Ned again doffed his hat. "I know your name, worshipful sir, asthat of one who is foremost in searching out heretics. There arefew in the land, even ignorant country boys like myself, who havenot heard it."
The councillor looked gratified. "Ah! you have heard me well spokenof?" he said.
"I have heard you spoken of, sir, well or ill, according to thesentiments of those who spoke."
"And why have you left Amsterdam to journey so far from home? Thisis a time when all men must be looked upon with suspicion untilthey prove themselves to be good Catholics and faithful subjects ofthe king, and even a boy like you may be engaged upon treasonablebusiness. I ask you again, why are you leaving your family atAmsterdam?"
"Misfortunes have fallen upon them," Ned replied, "and they can nolonger maintain me."
"Misfortunes, ah! and of what kind?"
"Their business no longer brings them in profit," Ned replied."They lived, as I told your worship, not in the town itself, b
ut ina village near it, and in these troubled times trade is well nighat a standstill, and there is want at many a man's door."
"I shall stop for the night at Antwerp, where I have business todo; see when you arrive there that you call upon me. I must havefurther talk with you, for your answers do not satisfy me."
Ned bowed low.
"Very well, see that you fail not, or it will be the worse for you."So saying Von Aert put spurs to his horse, which had been walkingalongside Ned as he conversed, and rode forward at a gallop.