CHAPTER SEVEN.
Jaqueline had welcomed a third of her white-winged birds to her tower.The pigeon bore a letter dictated by Admiral Boisot, though sherecognised the handwriting of Captain Van der Elst. It stated that thefleet led by an enormous vessel, the "Ark of Delft," with shot-proofbulwarks, and moved by paddle-wheels turned by a crank, had reached theLand-Scheiding, and that he hoped, ere long, the large dyke would bebroken through and that the way would be opened to the very walls of thecity. The Prince also sent a message urging the citizens yet longer tohold out, reminding them that with Leyden all Holland must also perish.This letter for a time greatly encouraged the suffering garrison; thosewho understood the nature of the undertaking were aware that muchdepended on the direction of the wind. An easterly gale was calculatedto blow back the waters and prevent their rising, while one from thesouth or west would force them on towards the city. The wind was nowblowing from the cast and the tides were at their lowest, so that thewaters were making but slow progress. Still the loyal-hearted among thepopulation, trusting to their Prince's promises, were assured that if itwas in the power of human help they would in time be relieved. The"Glippers," however, who professed to know the country well, ridiculedthe desperate project. Those in the town taunted their fellow-citizens,frequently crying out, "Go up to the tower and tell us if you can seethe ocean coming over the dry land to our relief." Day after day theydid go up, hoping, praying, fearing, and at last almost despairing ofrelief from God or man. Letters were also daily received from thosewith Valdez urging the inhabitants to spare themselves furthersuffering. Young Albert and Berthold had made themselves especiallyuseful by going round the ramparts, not once or twice a day, but manytimes during the day and night, at all hours, so that they might notonly see that the sentinels were keeping a vigilant watch, but that theymight be able to discover treachery should any have been attempted.They had one evening gone to the top of Hengist's Tower, a spot theywere especially fond of visiting at all hours of the day and night, whenthey saw the hitherto dark sky to the southward suddenly illumined bybright flashes of light following one another in rapid succession.
"Hark, I can hear the roar of guns," exclaimed Berthold. They listened,there was no doubt about it. The flashes continued, now fires blazed upin various directions. There was more firing, not always in the sameplace, the tide of battle was evidently moving on. The lads were atlength joined by several citizens.
"The Sea Beggars are coming!" shouted Albert, unwittingly, "they arefighting their way towards us."
"We must not be too sanguine," observed one of the citizens. "There maybe fighting taking place, but we cannot tell who is gaining the victory.It may be that the Spaniards are driving back our friends."
"I am very sure that they are not," cried Albert. "Admiral Boisot andhis gallant followers are victorious--of that I am certain."
"Count Louis and his whole army were cut to pieces not long ago,"remarked this citizen, in a melancholy tone. The mystery was not solvedthat night, and the whole of the next day went by without anyinformation having been received of what had taken place.
The following night the two lads were passing along the top of the wallin the neighbourhood of the Cowgate, looking southward, when they caughtsight of the figure of a person close below them who had suddenly comeinto view.
"Send me down a rope and be quick about it, or I may be caught by theSpaniards, for they are close upon me," he exclaimed.
"They will scarcely venture within range of our guns," said Berthold."But we will haul you up as soon as we can get a rope."
"I know where to find one not far off," said Albert, and he hurriedaway, while Berthold summoned two or three of the guard to theassistance of the stranger. Albert quickly returned with a rope ofsufficient length and strength. Scarcely was it lowered when thestranger hauled himself up with the agility of a monkey.
"Don't you remember me?" he said, looking at Berthold. "I am HansBosch, you know that you can trust me; I have accompanied Captain Vander Elst, and he will be up here before long. I have led the Spanishguard a pretty dance to draw off their attention, that he might the moreeasily pass by them. I don't think they are likely to have caught him,though if he does not appear soon I must go back again. I know part ofhis message, which I may give if he does not appear, but I hope that hewill deliver it himself."
This news so greatly excited Berthold and Albert that they were muchinclined to set out with Hans to look for their friend, but he advisedthem to do nothing of the sort.
"They might as well try to catch a Will-o'-the-Wisp as me," he said,"but they would trap you in a moment. No, no; if I go, I go alone."
At length, to their great joy, another figure was seen.
"Quick! quick! That's him!" exclaimed Hans. "That's the captain.Quick! quick! The chances are he has a dozen Spaniards at his heels!"
The rope was lowered, and the captain was quickly hauled up to to thetop of the wall. He shook Albert and Berthold warmly by the hand.
"I must lose no time," he said, "in reporting to the burgomaster andcommandant the steps the Prince has taken for the relief of the city.You are undoubtedly eager to hear, but I must reserve my report for yourciders."
The two lads hastened on with their friend, and fortunately found theburgomaster in consultation with the commandant. The boys stood eagerlylistening while the captain delivered his message.
"You heard that the admiral had received directions from the Prince totake possession of the Land-Scheiding. This was done two nights ago.But a few Spaniards were found stationed on the dyke, and they werequickly driven off when we fortified ourselves upon it. In the morningthe enemy endeavoured to recover the lost ground, and attacked us inconsiderable force, but we drove them back, they leaving hundreds ofdead on the field. No time was lost in breaking through the dyke inseveral places. The water rushing on, the fleet sailed through thegaps; but, to our disappointment, we found another dyke, that of theGreenway, three quarters of a mile further on, rising at least a footabove the waters. This had also been left ill-protected, and ouradmiral promptly attacking it, took possession, and levelling it in manyplaces, brought the flotilla over its ruins. Soon afterwards, however,the further progress of the fleet was arrested by the shallowness of thewater; but our admiral, knowing the anxiety you must be feeling,dispatched me to inform you of this, and to assure you that he waits butthe rising of the tide and a favourable wind to bring you succour."
The news was thus far satisfactory, and the captain was warmly thankedfor bringing it, but that he received his reward when at theburgomaster's invitation he accompanied him home, there could be littledoubt.
The wind, however, still blew from the east, and the inhabitants wellknew that as long as it came from that quarter they must look in vainfor the wished-for ocean to reach their walls.
Day after day the siege continued; the inhabitants were suffering notonly from famine, but from pestilence, produced by the scantiness oftheir food. Hapless infants were starved to death, mothers dropped deadin the streets with their dead children in their arms, and in many ahouse the watchmen in their rounds found whole families of corpses,father, mother, and children, lying side by side, struck down bypestilence. Bread, malt cake, and horse-flesh had entirely disappeared.A small number of cows had been kept as long as possible for theirmilk, but a few of these were killed from day to day, and distributed inminute proportions, scarcely, however, sufficient to support life amongthe famishing population, while their hides chopped and boiled weregreedily devoured. Green leaves were stripped from the trees, everyliving herb was converted into human food; dogs and rats were caught andeaten. Still, although papers offering a free pardon were sent into thecity, the inhabitants spurned them, and refused to listen to treacherouspromises of the foe.
The commandant was anxious to send a trusty messenger to the Prince, andwhile pointing out the urgent necessity for relief, promising to resistto the last.
"Will you return, Capta
in Van der Elst?" he asked of Karl, who was inattendance on him. "I dare not order any man on so desperate anundertaking, for the Spaniards keep a vigilant watch, and will have nomercy on any one whom they capture."
"If it were to certain death, I would go," answered Karl. "And I placemy services at your disposal. At the same time the danger is not sogreat as you suppose. Several of the forts in the lower ground havebeen flooded, and the trenches filled with water, so that the Spaniardshave been compelled to evacuate them, and thus to those who areacquainted with their position the way is far more open than it has beenheretofore, while numerous sentries at the outposts have beenwithdrawn."
"To-night be prepared to set out; a skiff shall be in readiness havingserved at sea, you know well how to manage her," answered thecommandant.
Karl took his leave, and repaired to the house of the burgomaster toreceive any message he might desire to send. He might have had anothermotive. He found the chief magistrate and his daughter seated alone.Though suffering from the severe privation she had undergone in commonwith the rest of the population, if possible the Lily looked more lovelythan ever. She smiled as the young soldier entered, but her liptrembled on hearing of the duty he had undertaken, yet not a word didshe utter to dissuade him from it.
"My prayers will be offered that Heaven protect you," she murmured, in alow voice as he approached her, while the burgomaster was writing somebrief notes.
"I trust that I may return, perhaps ere many hours are over, on boardthe fleet to bring you succour," he answered. "You will know of ourapproach, for our guns will thunder against the fortresses of the enemywhen the waters rise sufficiently to enable us to advance."
"The wind still blows from the cast and keeps back the fleet," sheobserved.
"But the wind may ere long change, and depend upon it our brave admiraland his `Sea Beggars' will not linger the moment there is sufficientwater to float their ships," said Karl, in an encouraging tone. Whenher eyes were lifted towards his countenance, their expression was verydifferent to that with which she had regarded the baron. With naturalreluctance Karl, having received his dispatches, at length rose to takeleave and prepare for his enterprise. As there were traitors within thegates he kept all his arrangements secret. They were known only to histwo young friends and Hans Bosch, who undertook to accompany him. Nottill late on the following day was it even known that he had set outwhen the burgomaster announced that he had despatched another messengerto entreat their friends to hasten to their relief. Desperate as hadbeen the state of matters in the besieged city, they hourly becameworse. Leyden, indeed, appeared to be at its last gasp. The nobleburgomaster maintained his heroic bearing, ever moving about toencourage the wavering and to revive the drooping spirits of the loyal;but a trial greater than any he had yet had to endure was in store forhim.
Jaqueline had from the first employed herself in going among the sickand suffering, and carrying such relief as she was able to afford, andconsoling the afflicted ones from that Book in which true comfort alonecan be found. In these active duties she found her chief solace. Notonly was she enduring physical suffering! but no certain tidings hadbeen received of Captain Van der Elst, and reports were current that hehad been captured by the Spaniards, it being well known that if such wasthe case a cruel death must have been his fate. One evening the Lilywas returning to her home from one of her expeditions of mercy, attendedby Margaret, an old and faithful servant, who was her constantcompanion. As darkness was already overspreading the city, she hurriedon, unwilling to be out so late at night, when she was accosted by apoor woman, who, with a piteous tale, too likely to be true, entreatedthat she would visit her perishing family. Without hesitation shedesired Margaret to return home and obtain such scanty provisions asremained, while she accompanied the suppliant. Margaret, havingcollected a small amount of food, hurried back to rejoin her mistress atthe address given by the woman who had spoken to her, but no livingbeings were in the house; three corpses alone lay on the floor.Margaret, without a moment's loss of time, went to all the neighbouringhouses, inquiring for the Vrouw Jaqueline, but no one had seen her.Almost frantic she hurried through the streets of the city, but hersearch was fruitless. At last she went back with the overwhelmingintelligence, which she entreated Berthold to break to his uncle. Theburgomaster, who had hitherto held out so bravely, for a moment seemedstunned, but quickly recovering himself he directed Berthold to send allthe servants of the house to him, but no one was able to afford theslightest information to account for Jaqueline's disappearance.
"I would lay my life that the Baron Van Arenberg has had something to dowith it," exclaimed Berthold. "If you will let me I will get Albert andwe will go to his house. We shall soon judge by the way he receives theintelligence whether he knows anything about the matter." Bertholdreceived the leave he requested, while the burgomaster himself forthwithsent a band of watchmen round in all directions through the town insearch of Jaqueline, while he called at numerous houses and visited allthe friends on whom he could rely to obtain their assistance in thesearch. The first to make their appearance at his house were Albert andBerthold.
"We were right," they exclaimed. "The baron's servants know nothing ofhim; he left home at an early hour this afternoon, and has not sincereturned. Most of his domestics, who were `Glippers,' have long agomade their escape. The watchmen in the course of the night came in withequally unsatisfactory reports--not a trace of the Vrouw Jaqueline hadbeen discovered."
"May God protect my child," exclaimed the burgomaster, bowing his head."She is beyond human aid."
No one would have believed from his appearance the next morning, when heleft his home to attend to his magisterial duties, that a deep domesticsorrow had overtaken him. He started as he quitted his door, for there,on the very threshold, lay a dead body, thus placed as if to reproachhim for his stern determination in holding out.
"We shall all soon be like him who lies there," cried many voices.
"It were better to have yielded than have been compelled to endure suchsuffering," shouted others.
Unheeding them, the burgomaster proceeded to a triangular space in thecentre of the town, into which many of the principal streets opened, andin which stood the church of Saint Pancras, two ancient lime treesgrowing on either side of the entrance now stripped bare of leaves bythe famishing people. Ascending the steps, Adrian Van der Werf stoppedwhile he regarded the numberless angry faces turned towards him. For amoment he stood there, his figure tall and imposing, his visage dark andhaggard, his eye yet tranquil and commanding, and then waving hisbroad-brimmed hat for silence, he exclaimed, "What would you, myfriends? Why do you murmur that we do not break our vows and surrenderour city to the Spaniards, a fate more horrible than the agony which shenow endures? I tell you I have made a vow to hold the city, and may Godgive me strength to keep it. I can die but once, whether by your hands,by the enemy's, or by the hand of God. My own fate is indifferent tome, not so that of the city entrusted to our care. I know that we shallsoon starve, but starvation is preferable to the dishonoured death whichis the only alternative. Your menaces move me not. My life is at yourdisposal. Here is my sword, plunge it into my breast and divide myflesh among you, take my body to appease your hunger, but expect nosurrender as long as I remain alive."
The words of the brave burgomaster inspired a new courage in the heartsof those who heard him. Shouts of applause and defiance rose from thefamishing, but enthusiastic crowd, they hurried to the ramparts to hurlrenewed defiance at the enemy.
"Ye call us rat-eaters and dog-eaters," they cried; "so long as ye heara dog bark or a cat mew within the walls ye may know that the city holdsout; when the last hour has come, we will with our own hands set fire tothe houses and perish in the flames rather than suffer our homes to bepolluted and our liberties to be crushed."
CHAPTER EIGHT.
Truly it has been said that Leyden was sublime in its despair. Dayafter day went by and yet no relief came, but the wind,
which had longblown steadily from the cast, suddenly changed to the westward. Atlength Albert and Berthold, who had regularly visited Jaqueline's tower,discovered the fourth pigeon. They eagerly examined its wing, beneathit was a letter which came from the admiral. The fleet had reachedNorth Aa, and in a few days at furthest he expected to reach the gatesof the city. The burgomaster read the letter as before in themarket-place, and the bells rang out a joyous peal. Once more, however,the wind shifted, and the hopes of the garrison of Leyden sank to thelowest ebb.
We must now return to the evening when Jaqueline, having sent herattendant Margaret to obtain provisions for the suffering family,accompanied the woman who had supplicated her. Suddenly, as she waspassing close to a canal, she found herself lifted from her feet, whilea thick cloak was thrown over her. In vain she attempted to shriek forhelp, in another instant she heard the splash of oars.
"Do not fear, you are in the safe keeping of one who desires to save youfrom horrible suffering and death," whispered a voice in her ear.Notwithstanding these assurances, Jaqueline entreated that she might beplaced on shore, and endeavoured by her cries to attract the attentionof any who might be passing. Vain were her efforts, the thick folds ofthe cloak prevented her voice being heard, while a heavy mist, togetherwith the shades of night, shrouded the canal as the boat glided forward.Jaqueline knew that the canal extended out beneath the city walls, andshe hoped that the boat would be challenged as it passed under them andbe compelled to put to shore. Keeping silent, she resolved to take theopportunity of making another effort to escape from her captors; as thespot was approached, however, she felt a hand pressed on her mouth. Invain she struggled to free herself, she heard the sign and counter-signgiven, and the boat impelled by four sturdy rowers soon left the citywalls behind. Strange as it might seem, thinking more of the safety ofher townsmen than of herself, the idea occurred to her that if personscould thus, undiscovered, leave the city, an armed force might beintroduced by the gates, and disastrous might be the consequences. Shewas, she had reason to fear, being carried to the Spanish camp, but whocould have been guilty of so treacherous an act? She was not left longin doubt, the person who had before addressed her in a subdued tone nowraised his voice, and she recognised it as that of Van Arenberg. Forsome time she could not sufficiently command herself to speak, atlength, however, she said in a calm tone, "I will not pretend to beignorant that it is you who have committed this unwarrantable act ofviolence, and I insist that you carry me back to the city and restore meto my father, his mental anxiety already so overwhelming, when he findsthat I am lost, may bring him to the grave."
"I have but acted, my beloved Jaqueline, as you would secretly wish, tosave you from that destruction which must, ere many days have passed,descend on the city. My object is to carry you to a place of safety,all I ask being your hand and love."
"The former I will not give, the other I cannot bestow," answeredJaqueline, firmly. "Had I before been willing in obedience to myfather's wishes to try and love you, the outrage you have committedwould have changed my sentiments, and I again insist that you returnwith me to the city."
"To do so is utterly impossible," answered Van Arenberg. "The sentries,as we passed beneath the fortress of Zoeterwoude, nearly detected theboat, and we should certainly be captured were we to make the attempt.We will now, therefore, proceed towards Delft, where you will be amongfriends, and safe from the foes you dread."
Jaqueline greatly doubted that the baron spoke the truth. Again andagain she insisted, notwithstanding all the risks they might run, thatthey should return to the city. She saw at length that allexpostulation was useless, the darkness of night prevented her fromobserving the direction they were taking. Suddenly the sound of heavyguns broke on her ear, followed by the rattle of musketry. Lookingsouthward she saw bright flashes glancing over the water in rapidsuccession; she thought, too, that she could even hear the shouts of thecombatants, the clashing of swords and battle-axes. It was evident thata fierce fight was raging in that direction. The rowers, who hadhitherto been exerting themselves to the utmost, paused, and exchanged afew hurried words. It appeared to her that they had lost their way, formany new channels, deepened by the inflowing waters, branched off onevery hand.
Van Arenberg ordered them to row on.
"In what direction shall we go?" asked one of the men. "We may chanceto run our noses into the lion's den. See, fires are blazing on allsides, and friends and foes are likely to treat us in the same fashion."Van Arenberg, anxious for Jaqueline's safety, and perhaps for his own,urged his crew to row away from the point where the engagement appearedto be raging most furiously. Already round shot and bullets came flyingacross the water, and a stray one might chance to hit the boat. The menappeared undecided which way to go, when one of them cried out, "There'sa boat astern! She may, perchance, be that of an enemy, and if so weshall to a certainty be knocked on the head."
"Row then for your lives!" cried Van Arenberg, for he had equally tofear the Hollanders and Spaniards; the latter, not aware of histreachery, might, before he could show his pass, shoot him down or runhim through with their pikes, while his own countrymen would treat himas a hated renegade. The crew, needing no second bidding, bent to theiroars with all the strength they possessed. Their flight was, however,discovered by the boat they had seen, which immediately gave chase.Jaqueline believed that their pursuers were Spaniards, and was as eagerto escape as the baron, but sturdily as the crew of the villagers whomhe had hired plied their oars, the others came on faster. The night wasso dark that it was impossible to distinguish objects ahead. At anymoment they might find themselves stranded on the shore, or stopped bysome impassable shallow. The baron now urged the men to be cautious,now to row with might and main.
Ever and anon the glare from the burning villages, and from fires on thedykes, showed that the boat in chase was gaining on them.
"It were far better to stop and fight," cried the chief man of the crew."As to escaping, there is no chance of that in the end, for the fellowsastern have a much lighter boat than ours."
"Fifty guilders if you beat them off," cried the baron. "Lady, you mustlie down at the bottom of the boat, or you may chance to be struck by ashot, or injured by the pikes of our pursuers, should they overtake us."
"I fear less the weapons of our foes than I do your designs," answeredJaqueline, with a tone of scorn, retaining her seat. There was littletime to hold parley on the subject. In another moment the boat wasalongside, and a voice in Dutch shouted, "Yield! inform us whither youare bound."
"Treachery! treachery!" cried the baron. "They are Spaniards; we mayyet escape them."
But Jaqueline recognised the voice. "Karl," she exclaimed, "save me,save me!" and she sprang towards the boat.
Van Arenberg would have prevented her reaching it, but his sword whirledfrom his hand, the next instant he was driven overboard by a thrust froma pike through his breast. A despairing cry was heard, and before thepeople could clutch his clothes he was swept away by the current. In afew words Jaqueline told of the outrage to which she had been subjected.Captain Van der Elst accounted for the circumstance of his having soprovidentially rescued her by saying that he had been sent toreconnoitre the enemy's position, and supposing that the boat was mannedby Spaniards he had given chase. She entreated that he would proceed inhis duty.
"No harm can come to me while I am by your side," she said, scarcelythinking of the interpretation which might be put upon the words sheuttered. He pressed her hand. Having ordered the villagers' boat tofollow at a distance, warning them of the punishment they would receiveshould they attempt to escape, he continued on till he had performed theduty on which he had been despatched. Morning was approaching when hereturned to the fleet, which had just broken through the second greatdyke and destroyed the villages of Zoetermeer and Benthuyzen, and nowborne on by the rising waters was advancing towards Leyden. Karlconveyed Jaqueline on board the admiral's ship, manned by asavage-looking crew, the
wild Beggars of the Sea. Ferocious, however,as they were to their foes, to her they were civil and courteous. Eighthundred of them, mostly Zealanders, manned the fleet. The greaternumber were scarred, hacked, and even maimed in the unceasing conflictsin which their lives had been passed, while they were renowned far andwide as much for their nautical skill as their ferocity. Theirappearance was both eccentric and terrific; they wore crescents in theircaps with the inscription, "Rather Turkish than Popish." They wereknown never to give nor take quarter; they went to mortal combat only.They had sworn to spare neither noble nor simple, neither King, Kaiser,nor Pope, should they fall into their power. Each ship carried tenguns, and was propelled, the smaller by ten, the larger by eighteenoars, the whole fleet having on board 2,500 veterans, experienced bothon land and water. Jaqueline was conducted to the admiral's cabin; itboasted neither of magnificence nor elegance; indeed, very little ofcomfort, for the vessels had been fitted out for rough work, and noladies had been expected on board. The stout old admiral welcomed hisguest.
"You may rest here in security, my pretty maiden," he said; "and I trustere many days are over to restore you to the arms of your brave father."
Not long afterwards the order was issued for the fleet once more toadvance, and Jaqueline's heart beat high with hope, for the second dykewas attacked. The Spaniards, scarcely stopping to encounter the enemy,flung away their arms as they saw the dreaded sea rovers approaching.The barrier was quickly broken, and again the fleet pushed forward overthe submerged country till it reached North Aa. Scarcely, however, hadthe ships arrived there than once more the easterly wind began to blow,driving the waters away from the city. Lower and lower they sank, untilthe ships grounded, and further progress became impossible. The delaysorely tried the patience of the eager crews, and many leaping into thewater, attempted to lift their ships over the shallows, but theirstrength was unequal to the task. There they lay stranded, withscarcely nine inches of water round them. Jaqueline's anguish of mindwas increased from knowing too well the consequences of the delay to thestarving inhabitants of the beleaguered city. Though confident of theresolution of her father and the commandant, she was aware of thedireful effect which starvation had already produced among theinhabitants. Would they continue to hold out? Ten thousand Spaniardsstill surrounded the walls, and at any moment might break in, andmassacre and rapine would sweep over her native city. Night and day sheprayed that the dreaded catastrophe might be averted, yet day after daypassed, and the fleet lay in sight of the walls, but too far distant fortheir cannon to reach the enemy. Even Admiral Boisot was in despair.He despatched a letter to the Prince, stating his belief that if thespring tides, soon to be expected, should not, together with the strongsouth-westerly wind, come immediately to their relief, he should becompelled to abandon the expedition. Not many hours after the letterhad been despatched a large boat was seen rowing swiftly towards thefleet from the southward. She soon came alongside the admiral's ship.A cry, "It is the Prince! our noble Prince," burst from the throats ofthe sea rovers as they welcomed him on board, though they observed withsorrow that his commanding figure was fearfully emaciated, his nobleface pale as death. He had, indeed, only just risen from a bed ofsickness, and few knew how near to death's door he had been, his diseaseaggravated by a report which had reached him that Leyden had fallen, yetall the time he had been directing the plans for bringing the fleetacross the land. His countenance assumed a cheerful aspect as he spoketo the almost despairing admiral and his officers.
"I know the people of Leyden," he said, "they will hold out till you canreach them. Ere long the sea will rise. Already the water is deeperthan when I came on board."
The Prince was right, he had observed clouds gathering in thesouth-western horizon, and ere long a strong wind from that quarterbegan to blow, the tide flowed in, the water swept over the dykes,cheers rose from the throats of the seamen. Once more their ships wereafloat, sails were spread, the oars run out, and now they went glidingon led by the "Ark of Delft," until Zoetermeer was reached. Here adesperate effort was made by the Spaniards to stop their progress, butthat village and others in the neighbourhood were attacked, the enemydriven out, and they were set on fire. The blaze lighted up themidnight sky, announcing to the fainting garrison that relief wasapproaching. Barrier after barrier was passed, and for many an hour inthe midst of the howling storm and pitchy darkness a fierce battleraged. The victorious Hollanders pushed further on, but still two fortsof great strength, those of Zoeterwoude and Lammen, lay between them andthe city, garrisoned by the enemy's best troops and armed with heavyartillery. They must be captured before the city could be gained.Stout as were the rovers' hearts, their vessels, though large, wereslightly built, and, except the "Ark of Delft," were incapable ofstanding the heavy shot which would be hurled against them. The Spanishvessels, hitherto kept in reserve, advanced to the fight, but werequickly sunk, their crews miserably perishing, and ere a shot was firedagainst Zoeterwoude the Spaniards were seen in full flight along the topof the dyke leading towards the Hague. The rovers followed, leapingfrom their vessels and slaying all whom they could overtake, many of thefugitives perishing in the fast advancing waves as the dykes crumbledbeneath their feet. But yet another fort, that of Lammen, the strongestof all, remained, held by the main body of the enemy. The fleetapproached, but the admiral dared not expose his ships to the storms ofshot hurled towards them, and therefore waited for the return of night,resolving either to make a desperate assault--though he almost despairedof success--or, should the waters rise, to carry his ships round by acircuitous way to the opposite side; but this as yet the depth of waterwould not allow.
That day was one of the deepest anxiety, although the rain and windwhich came from the south-west were undoubtedly causing the waters torise. As evening drew on the storm increased, the night became darkerand darker. Loud crashes were heard, lights were seen flitting acrossthe black face of the waters proceeding from the direction of the fort,but no one could account for the cause of these sounds and appearances.At length a fearful report ran through the fleet that the enemy hadburst into the city, and thus that all the efforts they had made were invain. Still the strange lights appeared and vanished in the darkness;what they portended no one could say. At dawn the admiral issued theorder to assault the fortress; the eager crews sprang into their boatsfully expecting a desperate encounter, but no shot saluted them, all wassilent within. Had the Spaniards really then, at the last moment,captured the city? The fleet pushed on, though it was believed thatsome fearful treachery was intended and that they might suddenly beattacked by an overwhelming force.
As soon as the ships got near enough, Captain Van der Elst, who hadundertaken to lead the assault, plunging into the waters waded towardsthe fort. As he was striding on a voice from the summit hailed him andhe saw young Albert Van der Does who, having crossed from the city andclimbed to the top of the embankment, was waving his cap and loudlycheering. Karl soon joined him, and they were in time to see therearguard of the Spaniards escaping towards the Hague. Albert's shoutsquickly attracted the attention of the inhabitants of Leyden and gavethem the first intimation that the enemy had fled. In a few minutes,led by Albert, Karl was in the presence of the burgomaster, and hadassured him both of the success of their enterprise and of hisdaughter's safety.
"God be praised, for He has fought for us," exclaimed the burgomaster."Had not the Spaniards fled when they did, what earthly powers couldhave prevented them from entering our city?" And he pointed to a largeportion of the wall which had fallen during the night and left a breachthrough which the foe might have poured into the streets. The fleet nowsailed up through the canals, the famishing people who lined the quaysstretching out their hands to receive the food bestowed on them by therough Sea Beggars, many of whom dashed aside their tears as they beheldthe emaciated forms of the citizens, the corpse-like look of the womenand children, and heard their plaintive cries for food. The first actof the brave admiral and his
crew was to repair to the great church,accompanied by the commandant, the chief magistrate, and other citizens,to return thanks for their success, then a hymn arose which was abruptlyterminated by the sounds of weeping though the tears were those of joyand gratitude. Among the first to land, escorted by the brave CaptainVan der Elst, who had returned on board for the purpose of conductingher to the shore, was the Lily of Leyden; he had the happiness ofrestoring her to her father's arms. The burgomaster, who had hithertosternly refused to yield to the foe, melted into tears as he embracedhis daughter, then turning to Captain Van der Elst, he said--
"You have proved yourself worthy of the fairest in the land; I can nolonger refuse to bestow my daughter's hand on one who will, I am sure,in these times of danger protect her with his life."
Thus was Leyden saved after enduring a siege of five months, havingexperienced sufferings never surpassed by any recorded on the page ofhistory. The Prince was the first to acknowledge the deep debt ofgratitude Holland owed to the heroic fortitude of the noble burgomasterand his fellow-citizens. The people of Holland and Zealand, to show howmuch they were indebted to the citizens, established that universitywhich, thus founded at the darkest period of their country's struggle,was in after times to become so celebrated. Imposing as were theceremonies which took place on its establishment, the following winterthey were, in the opinion of many, surpassed by the magnificence of theentertainment given on the occasion of the marriage of Captain Van derElst and the fair Lily of Leyden.
THE END.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends