CHAPTER FOUR.
The brave commandant, attended by young Albert, set an example ofenduring energy to his fellow-citizens. From morning till night he wasto be seen going round and round the fortifications, showing were pointsmight be strengthened with advantage, and to encourage the labourers,often himself taking a spade or pick in hand. Where fresh batteries hadto be thrown up, the work was one which greatly taxed the strength ofthe citizens, but they all knew that their lives depended on theirrepairing and strengthening their defences before their foes shouldagain attack them. Not only the citizens of all ranks, but their wivesand children assisted, many who had never before engaged in manuallabour offering their services to carry baskets of earth to theramparts, and otherwise aiding in the work going forward. In this taskthe commandant was ably supported by the burgomaster and othermagistrates. Jaqueline often accompanied the burgomaster, and set anexample to the citizens' wives and daughters by carrying baskets ofearth, nor did her father, tenderly cherished though she had alwaysbeen, attempt to prevent her from performing the task which sheconsidered right. He felt the importance of the example she set toothers, for when they saw the fair Lily, the admired of all, engaged inmanual labour for the common good, no one, not even the most delicate,could venture to hold back. It would have been well for the citizens ifthey could have obtained provisions as easily as they could repair theirwalls, but the country had already been drained by the Spaniards,mounted parties of whom were even now ranging as near as they couldventure, to prevent supplies from being sent into Leyden. Barges ladenwith corn, and carts, however, were constantly arriving at the city, andoccasionally a few oxen, while horsemen rode out in various directionsto induce the peasantry to send in all the provisions they could spare,reminding them that they would before long fall into the hands of theirfoes, who would take them without payment. Still the amount of foodcollected fell far short of what was required. The citizens did notlabour with the dull apathy of despair, but with warm enthusiasm, theyall being resolved to rival their countrymen at Alkmaar. The men sangat their work, and the girls chatted as if they were engaged in someholiday task. The only person who appeared not in any way to partake ofthe general enthusiasm was the Baron Von Arenberg, who excused himselfon the plea that he was out of health, and that any exertion would beexceedingly injurious to him, though he had no objection to standingstill and watching others at work, which he declared ought to afford thelabourers ample encouragement. He did not, however, make his appearancein public as often as he had been accustomed to do. He was greatly putout from the circumstance that when calling at the house of theburgomaster he had seldom found him at home, and that Jaqueline hadinvariably excused herself from seeing him during the absence of herfather. He had therefore not known how she was employed. Curiosityhad, however, prompted him one bright morning to take a walk round theramparts, and he arrived at a spot where a new battery was being thrownup. On a high mound stood the burgomaster, and near him a number of menwere engaged in the more severe labour of the undertaking, while troopsof women, some with full baskets, were bringing up earth from the trenchwhich was being dug, while others were returning with the empty ones.The baron started with astonishment, for at the head of one of theparties appeared the Lily of Leyden carrying with a companion a basketof earth; her dress, though not ungraceful, was suited to heroccupation. Me gazed as if at first unable to believe his senses, aflush mantled on his brow.
"Can her father thus allow her to degrade herself?" he exclaimed to oneof the eldest and chief citizens who was standing by, whose daughtersand grand-daughters were similarly employed, though the baron was notaware of the fact. "The task too is utterly useless; should theSpaniards again lay siege to the town, they will, before two weeks areover, have gained an entrance, and they have already shown the penaltiesthey intend to exact from those who resist their authority."
"Baron Van Arenberg, such I am bound to believe is your honest opinion,but understand that we trust in God, in the true courage which animatesthe breasts of patriots, and in that aid which our noble Prince willmost assuredly send us," answered the old man, in a stern tone. "Thetask in which the fair Jaqueline is engaged raises her higher than herbeauty, her position, or her wealth can do in the eyes of hercountrymen. Look at my daughters and grand-children, they feel proud ofimitating her; when you communicate with your friends, the `Glippers,'tell them how the matrons and maidens of Leyden are employed, and letthem warn the Spaniards of the death which awaits them should theyassail our ramparts."
The baron again started, but with a different feeling than before, anddeclared that he was no "Glipper," though he was not inspired, heconfessed, with the same enthusiasm which at present animated thecitizens of Leyden.
"It may be that you are not a `Glipper,' but your remarks savour much ofthe principles which animate them," observed the old citizen, in a drytone. "Speak them not aloud to others, or you may chance to be lookedupon as a traitor and be treated as such."
By a strong effort the baron quelled his rising anger; he could gain nocredit by a dispute with the aged and highly esteemed citizen who hadthus spoken to him, and turning aside he directed his steps homeward.He fancied that it would be derogatory to his rank to engage in manuallabour, and yet he could not stand by and see the fair Jaqueline andother young ladies of position thus employed without offering to assistthem, unless he was prepared to be regarded as destitute alike of allchivalric and patriotic feelings. On reaching the handsome mansion heinhabited, after pacing several times across the room, he threw himselfinto a chair to consider what course he should pursue. The oldcitizen's remarks had warned him of the danger he would incur should hebe supposed to advocate a surrender to the Spaniards, and he would be instill greater danger should it be discovered that he was carrying on asecret correspondence with Valdez through his "Glipper" friends; he wasalso mortified and annoyed at seeing Jaqueline so degrading herself, ashe considered, by labouring like any peasant girl at the fortifications."How can her father, who dotes on her as the apple of his eye, allowher thus to demean herself?" he exclaimed, "to exhaust her health andstrength, to soil her fair hands with the moist and black earth; thevery thought is unbearable!" He again rose and paced across the room,half inclined to order his servants to prepare for an instant journey."If I remain I shall have to share the sufferings these obstinatecitizens are preparing to bring down on themselves, or indeed I may losemy life. I would rather sacrifice my property than do that. I may byjoining General Valdez at once gain better terms for them, little asthey deserve it at my hands, at all events I shall secure my ownpossessions." He rang a bell to summon an attendant, but no oneanswered to the call. At length he inquired of the old one-leggedporter who had admitted him, when, to his disgust, he found that thewhole of his establishment had gone out to labour at the fortifications."They will soon get tired of the work and return," he said to himself,but the delay gave him further time for reflection. "If I go I mustabandon all hope of winning the Lily of Leyden, unless the city isspeedily captured and I am able to save her from the terrible danger shewould incur during the assault. For her sake I must not allow her torun that risk; no, the only safe course, as far as she is concerned, forme to follow is to remain either to gain her father's consent to ourimmediate union, or to persuade her to fly with me, while there is yettime, to a place of safety. She might be unwilling to go to the Hague,but I might take her to Delft or Rotterdam, where she would be equallysafe; and although she might at first regret having left her father andother friends in this city, a very few weeks will show her what amerciful escape she has had. It may yet be some days before Valdez andhis army can reach the neighbourhood, I will remain and employ the timein endeavouring to persuade her to take the only step which can secureher safety. I cannot bear the thought that one so lovely should bedoomed to the fearful fate in which she will be involved when theSpaniards capture the city."
Fortunately there were few in Leyden who entertained the baron'sopinions. While he re
mained at home, his mind agitated by conflictingdoubts and fears, the rest of the inhabitants were engaged as has beendescribed. The commandant, accompanied by his son Albert, remainedchiefly on the ramparts; he had to inspect the firearms as they wererepaired or manufactured by the armourers, ceaselessly working day andnight, and he had likewise to examine the few recruits who could becollected from the country round to assist in the defence, and especialattention had to be given to the exercising of the men at the great gunsplaced in the various forts. The burgomaster, among his many otherduties, daily visited the storehouses to see the progress made incollecting food, both for man and beast, and he also inspected the pensand sheds in which the cattle were placed as they were driven in, whilehe made preparation for all the various contingencies which might occur.And, although he desired his daughter to set the example to the womenand girls of Leyden, remembering that she was utterly unused to manualwork, he, after a time, summoned her home to take the rest andrefreshment she required.
"Go, my sweet Jaqueline," said Vrouw Margaret de Munto, the wife of oneof the chief magistrates. "You have shown us how the most delicate canwork, and we will not be idle during your absence."
Jaqueline, whose arms and shoulders were aching with the unwontedlabour, was, it must be confessed, thankful to obey her father's summonsto return home. She was rewarded with the consciousness that she hadperformed her duty, and she hoped to have strength to continue it, butshe was more out of spirits than was usual with her. Some days hadpassed since her young cousin Berthold had accompanied Captain Van derElst to Rotterdam and they had not again made their appearance. Theburgomaster could not account for the delay, but felt sure that thePrince would immediately send them back with despatches confirming JohnVan der Does in his appointment as Commandant, and stating what plans heproposed for their relief. The Lily cast many a glance over the plainin the hopes of seeing the two horsemen approaching; but thoughoccasionally trains of carts and baggage-horses laden with sacks ofcorn, and small herds of cattle were seen on the roads, the two absentones whose safe return would have relieved her anxiety failed to appear.As the foragers brought in word that parties of Spaniards who had comefrom the direction of the Hague had been met with, some fears wereentertained that Captain Van der Elst and Berthold might have falleninto their hands.
"Berthold is too well acquainted with the country to allow himself andhis companion easily to be caught," observed the burgomaster. "Perhapsthe Prince is waiting to decide on the plan he proposes to adopt for ourrelief. We shall see them in a day or two; though it is but naturalthat you should feel as anxious about your cousin Berthold as I do.They will arrive, I feel sure, before the Spaniards approach our walls,as the Prince, who keeps himself well acquainted with the enemy'smovements, will not detain them too long, so as to prevent them gettingin with safety."
The Lily sighed, for she feared there might be some miscalculation asday after day notice had been brought of the rapid approach of the hatedfoe, and at any hour it seemed that their advanced guard might appearbefore the walls. The burgomaster had thrown himself into an armchairthe first rest he had sought that day since early dawn, havingespecially desired his daughter to retire. Scarcely, however, had hetaken his pen in hand to sign certain documents which had been broughtto him, than the bells of the nearest church struck a peculiar note,which was taken up by the others in different parts of the city in rapidsuccession. It was the tocsin peal, announcing the approach of anenemy, and summoning the citizens to the ramparts. The burgomasterimmediately rose, and sending word to Jaqueline on no account to leavethe house, set forth to the Stadhuis, where he knew that the principalmagistrates would quickly assemble. As he was leaving the door of hishouse he was met by young Albert Van der Does.
"The commandant has sent me, Burgomaster, to request your presence onthe north-western rampart, where he, with several officers, is waitingyour arrival. A body of troops has been seen approaching along thecauseway from the direction of the Castle of Valkenburg."
The burgomaster, notwithstanding his fatigue, accompanied young Albertat a rapid pace. From every direction people of all ranks werehastening through the streets, some girding on their swords as they lefttheir doors, while their wives or daughters handed to them theirfirearms. Many an eye was turned in the direction of the approachingtroops.
"They march more quickly than the Spaniards are wont to do," observedthe commandant to the burgomaster.
"Can they be troops sent by the Prince to assist in the defence of thecity?" asked the latter.
"They would not be coming from that direction," said the commandant."By their pennons, and the sombre appearance which pervades their ranks,I suspect that they are English."
The foreign troops drew nearer, and no doubt longer remained that theywere English, and as far as could be calculated numbered between fiveand six hundred men.
"They will be a welcome addition to our garrison," observed one of themagistrates. "For those islanders are brave fellows and fight well onall occasions."
"Notwithstanding, unless they bring a written order to me from thePrince to admit them, I will dispense with their services wherever theycome from," said the commandant. "The English are trustworthy enough,and fight well if they are well fed and are satisfied with theirquarters, but I would not trust them should a famine get within ourwalls; and should they begin to feel the pinchings of hunger, they wouldthen cry out that we must surrender, and would induce others to followtheir evil example. They well know that it is the policy of theSpaniards just now to behave courteously to the English, and thesemercenaries would hope that their lives would be spared, though everyother man in the place were put to death. No, no; even though ournumbers be few let us rather trust to the stubborn hearts of ourHollanders than to such men as those probably are."
The burgomaster and the other magistrates, after a short consideration,fully agreed with the sentiments expressed by the commandant. In ashort time the English commander, galloping ahead of his men, rode up tothe walls and in the name of William, Prince of Orange, demanded instantadmittance.
"Whence do you come, Colonel Chester?" inquired the commandant, whorecognised the officer as the commander of a body of English troops inthe service of the Prince.
"From Valkenburg," was the answer. "I have been obliged to abandon thatfortress, from being assured that it would be hopeless to attemptholding out against the Spaniards, who I hear are advancing with anoverwhelming force, and I had neither provisions nor sufficientammunition to stand a lengthened siege, I therefore judged it prudent tomarch here to assist you in the defence of your city."
"I regret that I cannot admit you or your men, Colonel Chester," saidthe commandant. "Our garrison is already of sufficient strength, and wehave as many mouths to feed as we can find provisions for."
"But my men and I shall be cut to pieces by the Spaniards, who, if theyovertake us in the open country, and we cannot hope to reach any otherfortress in which we can defend ourselves, have threatened vengeanceagainst all who side with the Prince of Orange."
"There was one fortress you might have defended, and that you thoughtfit to abandon, regardless of the interests of the noble prince whom youengaged to serve," answered the commandant, sternly.
In vain the English colonel pleaded that the lives of his whole bandwould be sacrificed if they were not admitted within, the city. Thecommandant was firm in his resolution and declined their services, andthey at length finding that they pleaded in vain, forming themselvesinto compact order moved on till they reached the causeway leading tothe Hague. At length they were lost to sight in the distance; some fewregretted that the commandant had refused the assistance of so manysturdy men-at-arms, but the act inspired the citizens with freshcourage, each man now feeling that on his own bravery and resolution thesafety of the city depended.