by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XVIII
THE SIEGE OF LEYDEN
The Spaniards had no sooner appeared before Leyden than they setto work to surround it with a cordon of redoubts. No less thansixty-two, including those left standing since the last siege, wereerected and garrisoned, and the town was therefore cut off fromall communication from without. Its defenders were few in number,there being no troops in the town save a small corps composedof exiles from other cities, and five companies of burgher guard.The walls, however, were strong, and it was famine rather than thefoe that the citizens feared. They trusted to the courage of theburghers to hold the walls, and to the energy of the Prince ofOrange to relieve them.
The prince, although justly irritated by their folly in neglectingto carry out his orders, sent a message by a pigeon to them,encouraging them to hold out, and reminding them that the fate oftheir country depended upon the issue of this siege. He imploredthem to hold out for at least three months, assuring them thathe would within that time devise means for their deliverance. Thecitizens replied, assuring the prince of their firm confidence intheir own fortitude and his exertions. On the 6th of June the GrandCommander issued what was called a pardon, signed and sealed bythe king. In it he invited all his erring and repentant subjectsto return to his arms, and accept a full forgiveness for their pastoffense upon the sole condition that they should once more enterthe Catholic Church. A few individuals mentioned by name were aloneexcluded from this amnesty. But all Holland was now Protestant, andits inhabitants were resolved that they must not only be conqueredbut annihilated before the Roman Church should be re-established ontheir soil. In the whole province but two men came forward to takeadvantage of the amnesty. Many Netherlanders belonging to the king'sparty sent letters from the camp to their acquaintances in thecity exhorting them to submission, and imploring them "to take pityupon their poor old fathers, their daughters, and their wives;"but the citizens of Leyden thought the best they could do for theserelatives was to keep them out of the clutches of the Spaniards.
At the commencement of the siege the citizens gathered all theirfood into the magazines, and at the end of June the daily allowanceto each full grown man was half a pound of meat and half a poundof bread, women and children receiving less.
The prince had his headquarters at Delft and Rotterdam, and animportant fortress called the Polderwaert between these two citiessecured him the control of the district watered by the rivers Ysseland Maas. On the 29th of June the Spaniards attacked this fort, butwere beaten off with a loss of 700 men. The prince was now occupiedin endeavouring to persuade the Dutch authorities to permit thegreat sluices at Rotterdam, Schiedam, and Delft Haven to be opened.The damage to the country would be enormous; but there was no othercourse to rescue Leyden, and with it the whole of Holland, fromdestruction.
It was not until the middle of July that his eloquent appealsand arguments prevailed, and the estates consented to his plan.Subscriptions were opened in all the Dutch towns for maintainingthe inhabitants of the district that was to be submerged untilit could be again restored, and a large sum was raised, the womencontributing their plate and jewellery to the furtherance of thescheme. On the 3rd of August all was ready, and the prince himselfsuperintended the breaking down of the dykes in sixteen places,while at the same time the sluices at Schiedam and Rotterdam wereopened and the water began to pour over the land.
While waiting for the water to rise, stores of provisions werecollected in all the principal towns, and 200 vessels of smalldraught of water gathered in readiness. Unfortunately no soonerhad the work been done than the prince was attacked by a violentfever, brought on by anxiety and exertion.
On the 21st of August a letter was received from the town sayingthat they had now fulfilled their original promise, for they hadheld out two months with food and another month without food. Theirbread had long been gone, and their last food, some malt cake, wouldlast but four days. After that was gone there was nothing left butstarvation.
Upon the same day they received a letter from the prince, assuringthem that the dykes were all pierced and the water rising upon thegreat dyke that separated the city from the sea. The letter wasread publicly in the marketplace, and excited the liveliest joyamong the inhabitants. Bands of music played in the streets, andsalvos of cannon were fired. The Spaniards became uneasy at seeingthe country beyond them gradually becoming covered with water,and consulted the country people and the royalists in their camp,all of whom assured them that the enterprise of the prince was animpossibility, and that the water would never reach the walls.
The hopes of the besieged fell again, however, as day after daypassed without change; and it was not until the 1st of September,when the prince began to recover from his fever, and was personallyable to superintend the operations, that these began in earnest.The distance from Leyden to the outer dyke was fifteen miles; tenof these were already flooded, and the flotilla, which consisted ofmore than 200 vessels, manned in all with 2500 veterans, including800 of the wild sea beggars of Zeeland, renowned as much for theirferocity as for nautical skill, started on their way, and reachedwithout difficulty the great dyke called the Land Scheiding. Betweenthis town and Leyden were several other dykes, all of which wouldhave to be taken. All these, besides the 62 forts, were defendedby the Spanish troops, four times the number of the relieving force.
Ned had been in close attendance upon the prince during hisillness, and when the fleet was ready to start requested that hemight be allowed to accompany it. This the prince at once granted,and introduced him to Admiral Boisot.
"I shall be glad if you will take Captain Martin in your own ship,"he said. "Young as he is he has seen much service, and is full ofresource and invention. You will, I am sure, find him of use; andhe can act as messenger to convey your orders from ship to ship."
The prince had given orders that the Land Scheiding, whose top wasstill a foot and a half above water, should be taken possession ofat all hazard, and this was accomplished by surprise on the nightof the 10th. The Spaniards stationed there were either killed ordriven off, and the Dutch fortified themselves upon it. At daybreakthe Spaniards stationed in two large villages close by advanced torecover the important position, but the Dutch, fighting desperately,drove them back with the loss of some hundreds of men. The dykewas at once cut through and the fleet sailed through the gap.
The admiral had believed that the Land Scheiding once cut, thewater would flood the country as far as Leyden, but another dyke,the Greenway, rose a foot above water three-quarters of a mileinside the Land Scheiding. As soon as the water had risen over theland sufficiently to float the ships, the fleet advanced, seized theGreenway, and cut it. But as the water extended in all directions,it grew also shallower, and the admiral found that the only way bywhich he could advance was by a deep canal leading to a large merecalled the Fresh Water Lake.
This canal was crossed by a bridge, and its sides were occupiedby 3000 Spanish soldiers. Boisot endeavoured to force the way butfound it impossible to do so, and was obliged to withdraw. He wasnow almost despairing. He had accomplished but two miles, the waterwas sinking rather than rising owing to a long continued east wind,and many of his ships were already aground. On the 18th, however,the wind shifted to the northwest, and for three days blew a gale.The water rose rapidly, and at the end of the second day the shipswere all afloat again.
Hearing from a peasant of a comparatively low dyke between twovillages Boisot at once sailed in that direction. There was a strongSpanish force stationed here; but these were seized with a panicand fled, their courage unhinged by the constantly rising waters,the appearance of the numerous fleet, and their knowledge of thereckless daring of the wild sailors. The dyke was cut, the twovillages with their fortifications burned, and the fleet moved onto North Aa. The enemy abandoned this position also, and fled toZoetermeer, a strongly fortified village a mile and a quarter fromthe city walls. Gradually the Spanish army had been concentratedround the city as the water drove them back, and they were principa
llystationed at this village and the two strong forts of Lammen andLeyderdorp, each within a few hundred yards of the town.
At the last named post Valdez had his headquarters, and ColonelBorgia commanded at Lammen. The fleet was delayed at North Aa byanother dyke, called the Kirkway. The waters, too, spreading againover a wider space, and diminished from the east wind again settingin, sank rapidly, and very soon the whole fleet was aground; forthere were but nine inches of water, and they required twenty tofloat them. Day after day they lay motionless. The Prince of Orange,who had again been laid up with the fever, rose from his sickbedand visited the fleet. He encouraged the dispirited sailors, rebukedtheir impatience, and after reconnoitering the ground issued ordersfor immediate destruction of the Kirkway, and then returned toDelft.
All this time Leyden was suffering horribly. The burghers wereaware that the fleet had set forth to their relief, but they knewbetter than those on board the obstacles that opposed its progress.The flames of the burning villages and the sound of artillery toldthem of its progress until it reached North Aa, then there was along silence, and hope almost deserted them. They knew well thatso long as the east wind continued to blow there could be no risein the level of the water, and anxiously they looked from thewalls and the old tower for signs of a change. They were literallystarving, and their misery far exceeded even that of the citizensof Haarlem.
A small number of cows only remained, and of these few were killedevery day, and tiny morsels of meat distributed, the hides andbones being chopped up and boiled. The green leaves were strippedfrom the trees, and every herb gathered and eaten. The mortalitywas frightful, and whole families died together in their housesfrom famine and plague; for pestilence had now broken out, and fromsix to eight thousand people died from this alone. Leyden abandonedall hope, and yet they spurned the repeated summonses of Valdezto surrender. They were fully resolved to die rather than to yieldto the Spaniards. From time to time, however, murmurs arose amongthe suffering people, and the heroic burgomaster, Adrian Van derWerf, was once surrounded by a crowd and assailed by reproaches.
He took off his hat and calmly replied to them: "I tell you I havemade an oath to hold the city, and may God give me strength tokeep it. I can die but once--either by your hands, the enemy's,or by the hand of God. My own fate is indifferent to me; not so thatof the city intrusted to my care. I know that we shall all starveif not soon relieved; but starvation is preferable to the dishonoureddeath which is the only alternative. Your menaces move me not.My life is at your disposal. Here is my sword; plunge it into bybreast and divide my flesh among you. Take my body to appease yourhunger; but expect no surrender so long as I remain alive."
Still the east wind continued, until stout admiral Boisot himselfalmost despaired. But on the night of the 1st of October a violentgale burst from the northwest, and then shifting, blew more stronglyfrom the southwest. The water was piled up high upon the southerncoast of Holland, and sweeping furiously inland poured through theruined dykes, and in twenty-four hours the fleet was afloat again.At midnight they advanced in the midst of the storm and darkness.Some Spanish vessels that had been brought up to aid the defenderswere swept aside and sunk.
The fleet, sweeping on past half submerged stacks and farm houses,made its way to the fresh water mere. Some shallows checked it fora time, but the crews sprang overboard into the water, and by mainstrength hoisted their vessels across them. Two obstacles alonestood between them and the city--the forts of Zoeterwoude andLammen, the one five hundred, and the other but two hundred andfifty yards from the city. Both were strong and well supplied withtroops and artillery, but the panic which had seized the Spaniardsextended to Zoeterwoude. Hardly was the fleet in sight in thegray light of the morning when the Spaniards poured out from thefortress, and spread along a road on the dyke leading in a westerlydirection towards the Hague.
The waves, driven by the wind, were beating on the dyke, and itwas crumbling rapidly away, and hundreds sank beneath the flood.The Zeelanders drove their vessels up alongside, and pierced themwith their harpoons, or, plunging into the waves, attacked themwith sword and dagger. The numbers killed amounted to not less thana thousand; the rest effected their escape to the Hague. Zoeterwoudewas captured and set on fire, but Lammen still barred their path.Bristling with guns, it seemed to defy them either to capture orpass it on their way to the city.
Leyderdorp, where Valdez with his main force lay, was a mile and ahalf distant on the right, and within a mile of the city, and theguns of the two forts seemed to render it next to impossible forthe fleet to pass on. Boisot, after reconnoitering the position,wrote despondently to the prince that he intended if possible onthe following morning to carry the fort, but if unable to do so,he said, there would be nothing for it but to wait for another galeof wind to still further raise the water, and enable him to makea wide circuit and enter Leyden on the opposite side. A pigeon hadbeen despatched by Boisot in the morning informing the citizens ofhis exact position, and at nightfall the burgomaster and a numberof citizens gathered at the watchtower.
"Yonder," cried the magistrate, pointing to Lammen, "behind thatfort, are bread and meat and brethren in thousands. Shall all thisbe destroyed by Spanish guns, or shall we rush to the aid of ourfriends?"
"We will tear the fortress first to fragments with our teeth andnails," was the reply; and it was resolved that a sortie shouldbe made against Lammen at daybreak, when Boisot attacked it on theother side. A pitch dark night set in, a night full of anxiety tothe Spaniards, to the fleet, and to Leyden. The sentries on the wallssaw lights flitting across the waters, and in the dead of night thewhole of the city wall between two of the gates fell with a loudcrash. The citizens armed themselves and rushed to the breach,believing that the Spaniards were on them at last; but no foe madehis appearance.
In the morning the fleet prepared for the assault. All was stilland quiet in the fortress, and the dreadful suspicion that the cityhad been carried at night, and that all their labour was in vain,seized those on board. Suddenly a man was seen wading out from thefort, while at the same time a boy waved his cap wildly from itssummit. The mystery was solved. The Spaniards had fled panic strickenin the darkness. Had they remained they could have frustrated theenterprise, and Leyden must have fallen; but the events of thetwo preceding days had shaken their courage. Valdez retired fromLeyderdorp and ordered Colonel Borgia to evacuate Lammen.
Thus they had retreated at the very moment that the fall of the wallsapped by the flood laid bare a whole side of the city for theirentrance. They heard the crash in the darkness, and it but addedto their fears, for they thought that the citizens were sallyingout to take some measures which would further add to the heightof the flood. Their retreat was discovered by the boy, who, havingnoticed the procession of lights in the darkness, became convincedthat the Spaniards had retired, and persuaded the magistrates toallow him to make his way out to the fort to reconnoitre. As soonas the truth was known the fleet advanced, passed the fort, anddrew up alongside the quays.
These were lined by the famishing people, every man, woman,and child having strength to stand having come out to greet theirdeliverers. Bread was thrown from all the vessels among the crowdas they came up, and many died from too eagerly devouring the foodafter their long fast. Then the admiral stepped ashore, followedby the whole of those on board the ships. Magistrates and citizens,sailors and soldiers, women and children, all repaired to the greatchurch and returned thanks to God for the deliverance of the city.The work of distributing food and relieving the sick was thenundertaken. The next day the prince, in defiance of the urgententreaties of his friends, who were afraid of the effects of thepestilential air of the city upon his constitution enfeebled bysickness, repaired to the town.
Shortly afterwards, with the advice of the States, he granted thecity as a reward for its suffering a ten days' annual fair, withouttolls or taxes, and it was further resolved that a university should,as a manifestation of the gratitude of the people of Holland, beestablished wit
hin its walls. The fiction of the authority of Philipwas still maintained, and the charter granted to the universitywas, under the circumstances, a wonderful production. It was drawnup in the name of the king, and he was gravely made to establishthe university as a reward to Leyden for rebellion against himself.
"Considering," it said, "that during these present wearisome warswithin our provinces of Holland and Zeeland, all good instructionof youth in the sciences and literary arts is likely to come intoentire oblivion; considering the difference of religion; consideringthat we are inclined to gratify our city of Leyden, with itsburghers, on account of the heavy burden sustained by them duringthis war with such faithfulness, we have resolved--after ripelydeliberating with our dear cousin William Prince of Orange,stadtholder--to erect a free public school, and university," &c. So ranthe document establishing this famous university, all needful regulationsfor its government being intrusted by Philip to his above mentioneddear cousin of Orange.
Ned Martin was not one of those who entered Leyden with Boisot'srelieving fleet. His long watching and anxiety by the bedside ofthe prince had told upon him, and he felt strangely unlike himselfwhen he started with the fleet. So long as it was fighting its wayforward the excitement kept him up; but the long delay near thevillage of Aa, and the deep despondency caused by the probablefailure of their hopes of rescuing the starving city, again broughton an attack of the fever that had already seized him before starting,and when the Prince of Orange paid his visit to the fleet Boisottold him the young officer he had recommended to him was down withfever, which was, he believed, similar to that from which the princehimself was but just recovering.
The prince at once ordered him to be carried on board his owngalley, and took him with him back to Delft. Here he lay for amonth completely prostrated. The prince several times visited himpersonally, and, as soon as he became in some degree convalescent,said to him:
"I think we have taxed you too severely, and have worked you inproportion to your zeal rather than to your strength. The surgeonsays that you must have rest for awhile, and that it will be wellfor you to get away from our marshes for a time. For two years youhave done good and faithful service, and even had it not been forthis fever you would have a right to rest, and I think that yournative air is best for you at present. With the letters that cameto me from Flushing this morning is one from your good father,asking for news of you. His ship arrived there yesterday, and he hasheard from one of those who were with Boisot that you have fallenill; therefore, if it be to your liking, I will send you in one ofmy galleys to Flushing."
"I thank your excellency much," Ned said. "Indeed for the lastfew days I have been thinking much of home and longing to be back.I fear that I shall be a long time before I shall be fit for hardwork again here."
"You will feel a different man when you havebeen a few hours at sea," the prince said kindly. "I hope to seeyou with me again some day. There are many of your countrymen, who,like yourself, have volunteered in our ranks and served us wellwithout pay or reward, but none of them have rendered better servicethan you have done. And now farewell. I will order a galley to begot in readiness at once. I leave myself for Leyden in half an hour.Take this, my young friend, in remembrance of the Prince of Orange;and I trust that you may live to hand it down to your descendantsas a proof that I appreciated your good services on behalf of apeople struggling to be free.
So saying he took off his watch and laid it on the table by Ned'sbedside, pressed the lad's hand, and retired. He felt it really asacrifice to allow this young Englishman to depart. He had for yearsbeen a lonely man, with few confidants and no domestic pleasures.He lived in an atmosphere of trouble, doubt, and suspicion. Hehad struggled alone against the might of Philip, the apathy of thewestern provinces, the coldness and often treachery of the nobles,the jealousies and niggardliness of the Estates, representing citieseach of which thought rather of itself and its privileges than ofthe general good; and the company of this young Englishman, withhis frank utterances, his readiness to work at all times, and hisfreedom from all ambitions or self interested designs, had beena pleasure and relief to him, and he frequently talked to him farmore freely than even to his most trusted counsellors.
Ever since the relief of Alkmaar Ned had been constantly with him,save when despatched on missions to various towns, or to see thatthe naval preparations were being pushed on with all speed; and hisillness had made a real blank in his little circle. However, thedoctors had spoken strongly as to the necessity for Ned's gettingaway from the damp atmosphere of the half submerged land, and he atonce decided to send him back to England, and seized the opportunitydirectly the receipt of Captain Martin's letter informed him thatthe ship was at Flushing.
An hour later four men entered with a litter; the servants hadalready packed Ned's mails, and he was carried down and placed onboard one of the prince's vessels. They rowed down into the Maas,and then hoisting sail proceeded down the river, kept outsidethe island to Walcheren, and then up the estuary of the Scheldtto Flushing. It was early morning when they arrived in port. Nedwas carried upon deck, and soon made out the Good Venture lying aquarter of a mile away. He was at once placed in the boat and rowedalongside. An exclamation from Peters, as he looked over the sideand saw Ned lying in the stern of the boat, called Captain Martinout from his cabin.
"Why, Ned, my dear boy!" he exclaimed, as he looked over the side;"you seem in grievous state indeed."
"There is not much the matter with me, father. I have had fever,but am getting over it, and it will need but a day or two at seato put me on my feet again. I have done with the war at present,and the prince has been good enough to send me in one of his owngalleys to you."
"We will soon get you round again, never fear, Master Ned," Peterssaid as he jumped down into the boat to aid in hoisting him onboard. "No wonder the damp airs of this country have got into yourbones at last. I never can keep myself warm when we are once inthese canals. If it wasn't for their schiedam I don't believe theDutchmen could stand it themselves."
Ned was soon lifted on board, and carried into the cabin aft. TheGood Venture had already discharged her cargo, and, as there wasno chance of filling up again at Flushing, sail was made an hourafter he was on board, and the vessel put out to sea. It was nowearly in November, but although the air was cold the day was fineand bright, and as soon as the vessel was under weigh Ned waswrapped up in cloaks and laid on a mattress on deck, with his headwell propped up with pillows.
"One seems to breathe in fresh life here, father," he said. "It ispleasant to feel the motion and the shock of the waves after beingso long on land. I feel stronger already, while so long as I wasat Delft I did not seem to gain from one day to the other. I hopewe sha'n't make too rapid a voyage; I don't want to come home asan invalid."
"We shall not make a fast run of it unless the wind changes, Ned.It blows steadily from the west at present, and we shall be luckyif we cast anchor under a week in the Pool."
"All the better, father. In a week I shall be on my legs againunless I am greatly mistaken."
Ned's convalescence was indeed, rapid, and by the time they enteredthe mouth of the Thames he was able to walk from side to side ofthe vessel, and as the wind still held from the west it was anotherfour days before they dropped anchor near London Bridge. Ned wouldhave gone ashore in his old attire; but upon putting it on thefirst day he was able to get about, he found he had so completelyoutgrown it that he was obliged to return to the garments he hadworn in Holland.
He was now more than eighteen years of age, and nearly six feet inheight. He had broadened out greatly, and the position he had forthe last year held as an officer charged with authority by theprince had given him a manner of decision and authority altogetherbeyond his years. As he could not wear his sailor dress he choseone of the handsomest of those he possessed. It consisted of maroondoublet and trunks, slashed with white, with a short mantle of darkgreen, and hose of the same colour; his cap was maroon in colour,with small white and orange plumes,
and he wore a ruff round hisneck. Captain Martin saluted him with a bow of reverence as he cameon deck.
"Why, Ned, they will think that I am bringing a court gallant withme. Your mother and the girls will be quite abashed at all thisfinery."
"I felt strange in it myself at first," Ned laughed; "but ofcourse I am accustomed to it now. The prince is not one who caresfor state himself, but as one of his officers I was obliged to bewell dressed; and, indeed, this dress and the others I wear weremade by his orders and presented to me. Indeed I think I am verymoderate in not decking myself out with the two gold chains Ihave--the one a present from his highness, the other from the cityof Alkmaar--to say nothing of the watch set with jewels that theprince gave me on leaving."
Ned's mother and the girls were on the lookout, for the Good Venturehad been noticed as she passed. Ned had at his father's suggestionkept below in order that he might give them a surprise on hisarrival.
"I verily believe they won't know you," he said as they approachedthe gate. "You have grown four inches since they saw you last, andyour cheeks are thin and pale instead of being round and sunburnt.This, with your attire, has made such a difference that I am sureanyone would pass you in the street without knowing you."
Ned hung a little behind while his mother and the girls met hisfather at the gate. As soon as the embraces were over Captain Martinturned to Ned and said to his wife:
"My dear, I have to introduce an officer of the prince who has comeover for his health to stay awhile with us. This is Captain Martin."
Dame Martin gave a start of astonishment, looked incredulously fora moment at Ned, and then with a cry of delight threw herself intohis arms.
"It really seems impossible that this can be Ned," she said, as,after kissing his sisters, he turned to her. "Why, husband, it isa man!"
"And a very fine one too, wife. He tops me by two inches; and as tohis attire, I feel that we must all smarten up to be fit companionsto such a splendid bird. Why, the girls look quite awed by him!"
"But you look terribly pale, Ned, and thin," his mother said; "andyou were so healthy and strong."
"I shall soon be healthy and strong again, mother. When I have gotout of these fine clothes, which I only put on because I could notget into my old ones, and you have fed me up for a week on goodEnglish beef, you will see that there is no such great change inme after all."
"And now let us go inside," Captain Martin said; "there is asurprise for you there." Ned entered, and was indeed surprised atseeing his Aunt Elizabeth sitting by the fire, while his cousinswere engaged upon their needlework at the window. They, too, lookedfor a moment doubtful as he entered; for the fifteen months sincethey had last seen him, when he left them at the surrender ofHaarlem, had changed him much, and his dress at that time had beenvery different to that he now wore. It was not until he exclaimed"Well, aunt, this is indeed a surprise!" that they were sure of hisidentity, and they welcomed him with a warmth scarcely less thanhis mother and sisters had shown.
Elizabeth Plomaert was not of a demonstrative nature; but althoughshe had said little at the time, she had felt deeply the care anddevotion which Ned had exhibited to her and her daughters duringthe siege, and knew that had it not been for the supplies of food,scanty as they were, that he nightly brought in, she herself, andprobably the girls, would have succumbed to hunger.
"When did you arrive, aunt?" Ned asked, when the greetings wereover.
"Four months ago, Ned. Life was intolerable in Haarlem owing to thebrutal conduct of the Spanish soldiers. I was a long time bringingmyself to move. Had it not been for the girls I should never havedone so. But things became intolerable; and when most of the troopswere removed at the time Count Louis advanced, we managed to leavethe town and make our way north. It was a terrible journey toEnkhuizen; but we accomplished it, and after being there a fortnighttook passage in a ship for England, and, as you see, here we are."