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diff --git a/23189.txt b/23189.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99bd80f --- /dev/null +++ b/23189.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2940 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lily of Leyden, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lily of Leyden + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Release Date: October 25, 2007 [EBook #23189] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LILY OF LEYDEN *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Lily of Leyden, by W.H.G. Kingston. +________________________________________________________________________ + +________________________________________________________________________ +THE LILY OF LEYDEN, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +The warm sun of a bright spring day, in the year of grace 1574, shone +down on the beautiful city of Leyden, on its spacious squares and +streets and its elegant mansions, its imposing churches, and on the +smooth canals which meandered among them, fed by the waters of the +sluggish Rhine. The busy citizens were engaged in their various +occupations, active and industrious as ever; barges and boats lay at the +quays loading or unloading, some having come from Rotterdam, Delft, +Amsterdam, and other places on the Zuyder Zee, with which her watery +roads gave her easy communication. The streets were thronged with +citizens of all ranks, some in gay, most in sombre attire, moving +hurriedly along, bent rather on business than on pleasure, while +scattered here and there were a few soldiers--freebooters as they were +called, though steady and reliable--and men of the Burgher Guard, +forming part of the garrison of the town. Conspicuous among them might +have been seen their dignified and brave burgomaster, Adrian Van der +Werf, as he walked with stately pace, his daughter Jaqueline, +appropriately called the Lily of Leyden, leaning on his arm. She was +fair and graceful as the flower from which she derived her name, her +features chiselled in the most delicate mould, her countenance +intelligent and animated, though at present graver than usual. After +leaving their house in the Broedestrat, the principal street of Leyden, +they proceeded towards an elevation in the centre of the city, on the +summit of which rose the ancient tower of Hengist, generally so called +from the belief that the Anglo-Saxon conquerors of Britain crossed over +from Holland. Mynheer Van der Werf and Jaqueline reaching the foot of +the mound, slowly ascended by a flight of winding steps, till they +gained the battlements on the top of the ancient tower, the highest spot +for many miles around. Here they stood for some minutes gazing over the +level country, of which they commanded a perfect panoramic view. Below +them lay the city, surrounded by a moat of considerable width and stout +walls, which had already been proved capable of resisting the attack of +foes eager to gain an entrance. Here and there bridges led over the +moat, protected by forts of no mean strength. In all directions were +silvery threads glittering in the sun, marking the course of the canals +which led to Haarlem and Amsterdam on the north, and Delft, Rotterdam, +Gouda, and many other towns on the banks of the Yessel and the Meuse on +the south, while occasionally wide shining expanses showed the existence +of meers or lakes of more or less extent, while westward the blue ocean +could be seen, and to the south-west Gravenhague, or The Hague, as the +place is more generally called. On every side were smiling villages, +blooming gardens, corn-fields, and orchards, betokening the industry and +consequent prosperity of the inhabitants. The city at this time bore +but few traces of the protracted siege it had endured for a whole year, +and which had been raised only three months before, when the Spanish +force under Valdez, a lieutenant of the ferocious Alva, had been +summoned to the frontier, in consequence of the rumoured approach of a +patriot army under Prince Louis of Nassau. + +At the period when our story commences, the heroic Prince William of +Orange, loyally aided by his brothers, Louis, Henry, and John, and by +other noble patriots, had struggled for seven long years to emancipate +Holland from the cruel yoke imposed upon her by the bigot Philip of +Spain and the sanguinary Duke of Alva. Their success had been varied; +though frequently defeated, they had again rallied to carry on the +desperate struggle. Several of their most flourishing cities had been +besieged by the hated foe, some had fallen, and the inhabitants had been +mercilessly slaughtered; others had successfully resisted, and the +Spaniards had been compelled to retire from their walls. Count Louis +had been defeated in a campaign in Friesland, but had escaped into +Germany, where he had lost no time in endeavouring to raise another +army. The Prince of Orange himself was then in possession of Rotterdam, +Delft, and the intermediate country. Between those two cities was the +important fortress of Polderwaert, which secured him in the control of +the quadrangle watered on two sides by the Yessel and Maas or Meuse. +The Spaniards meantime occupied the coast from the Hague to Vlaardingen, +on the bank of the Maas. It should be understood that the country +extending northward from the rivers which have been mentioned towards +Leyden was generally level, and considerably lower than the ocean, which +was kept out by enormous banks or dykes, and that it had been, by the +industry of the inhabitants, brought under a perfect state of +cultivation. There were certain spots, however, raised slightly above +the surrounding flat, on all of which villages had been built. Enormous +sluices existed at Rotterdam, Schiedam, and other places, by which the +supply of water in the canals could be regulated; over these, as well as +the dykes along the banks of the river, the Prince of Orange held +perfect control. Besides the small force which enabled him to hold +Rotterdam and Delft, he possessed a fleet of broad, flat-bottomed +vessels, well suited for the navigation of the shallow waters of +Zealand, where, under the brave and able Admiral Boisot, they were able +to bid defiance to the ships sent against them by the Spaniards. Their +crews consisted of those hardy sons of the ocean who, under the name of +"The Beggars of the Sea," had already rendered such good service in the +cause of Freedom by the capture of Brill, the first place in Holland +where the Prince of Orange was proclaimed Stadtholder, and in many other +enterprises, when, according to their rule, no quarter was given to +their hated foe. Besides Rotterdam, Delft, and Leyden, many other towns +in various parts of Holland were garrisoned by the partisans of the +Prince of Orange, and had either, with some exceptions, not been +attacked by the Spaniards, or had successfully resisted the forces sent +against them. Two, unhappily, had fallen; the fearful cruelties to +which their inhabitants had been subjected by their conquerors showed +the others what they must expect should they be unable to hold out. Of +these, in Naarden, a small city on the coast of the Zuyder Zee, scarcely +a man had been left alive, the whole population having been given over +to indiscriminate slaughter. Haarlem, after an heroic defence of seven +months, had been compelled to capitulate, when, notwithstanding the +promises of Don Frederic, Alva's son, a large number of the principal +citizens, as well as others of all ranks, and every man who had borne +arms, were cruelly put to death, the survivors being treated with the +greatest cruelty. The mind shrinks from contemplating such horrors, and +the Hollanders might well desire to emancipate themselves from the rule +of a sovereign capable of allowing them. + +The burgomaster and his daughter had stood for some minutes without +speaking, their eyes gazing down on the smiling landscape which has been +described, yet the minds of neither of them had been engaged in admiring +its beauties. + +"Would that I had been more determined in endeavouring to induce our +citizens to level those forts and redoubts left by the Spaniards, and +had also taken steps to re-victual the city and to strengthen our +garrison. I have just received a letter from our noble Stadtholder, +urging me to see to these matters, and I must do so without delay." The +burgomaster, as he spoke, pointed to several redoubts and forts which in +different directions had been thrown up by the Spaniards during their +former investment of the place. To the south-east and east were two of +especial strength--Zoeterwoude and Lammen, the first about 500 yards +from the walls, the latter not more than half that distance. From these +forts a bank or causeway ran westward towards the Hague. + +"I ought to have exerted all the influence I possessed to get the task +accomplished," continued the burgomaster. "By God's merciful providence +we were before preserved, but He helps those who, trusting to Him, +labour as He would have them. The Spaniards may not return, but it is +our duty to be prepared for them, though I trust that we shall soon hear +of a glorious victory gained over them by the noble Count Louis." + +"Heaven defend him and his brave troops," murmured Jaqueline; and she +thought of one who had accompanied the Count to the field and who had +from his earliest days engaged in the desperate struggle both at sea and +on shore. Again the burgomaster was silent, and Jaqueline's thoughts +wandered far away to the army of Count Louis. The chief magistrate had +come up, as was his wont, to consider the measures which it might be +necessary to take for the benefit of the city over which he presided. +Here, under ordinary circumstances, he was not likely to be interrupted +by visitors. Jaqueline's thoughts were recalled to the present moment +by hearing a light footstep ascending the stairs of the tower. A young +boy appeared, whose dress showed that he belonged to the upper orders, +his countenance animated and intelligent. "Why, Albert Van der Does, +what has brought you here in so great a hurry?" asked Jaqueline, as she +cast a glance at the boy's handsome face glowing with the exertion he +had made. + +"I had gone to your house, and finding that you had come up here, I +thought you would give me leave to follow you," he answered. + +"You have taken the leave, at all events," she said, smiling; "but what +object had you in coming here this morning?" + +"A very important one; I want you to accept the remainder of my pigeons; +those I before gave you have become so tame and look so happy that I am +unwilling to deprive the others of the privilege of belonging to you." + +"Is it only affection for your feathered friends that induces you to +make me the offer?" she asked, archly. + +"I confess that I have another reason," he answered. "I shall no longer +have time to attend to my pets; I heard my father say that we shall soon +be engaged in more stirring work than we have had since the Spaniards +marched to the eastward. As soon as Count Louis forms a junction with +the Prince, every person capable of bearing arms should be prepared to +engage in the struggle, and I want, therefore, to practice the use of +weapons and to learn to be a soldier." + +"You will make a brave one, I am sure," said Jaqueline. + +"And will you accept my birds?" asked Albert. + +"I cannot refuse what you so freely offer, though, if you repent, you +shall have them again," said Jaqueline. + +"Then may I bring them to you this evening?" asked Albert. + +"Thank you, Albert; we are always glad to see you; and if you bring your +pigeons, I promise to train and pet them as I have those you before gave +me," she answered. + +"Then I will come this very evening, with your cousin Berthold, whom I +left at his books in my father's study. Fond as he is of his books, he +says that he must lay them aside to learn the use of arms with me; for +as soon as Count Louis appears, we intend to go out and join him. We +have but a short time to prepare, as, before many days are over, the +Count and his army will have fought their way to Delft, and we must +commence the work of driving the Spaniards out of our country or into +the rivers and meers, where they have sent so many of our brave +Hollanders." + +Jaqueline smiled approvingly, admiring, as she did, the enthusiasm of +the gallant boy, so consonant with her own feelings. + +"I am much obliged to you for your readiness to accept my birds, and now +I must deliver a message I have brought from my father to the +burgomaster. My father desires to see him about the fortifications, and +as he bade me say that the matter is of importance, I ought to have +given it first." + +The burgomaster had been so pre-occupied with his own thoughts that he +had not observed young Albert Van der Does, and now started as the boy +addressed him with that deference due to his age and rank. + +"Tell your father that I will at once visit him. Although a man of +letters and devoted to study, I know that he possesses, among his other +talents, a military genius, which makes me value his opinion; say also +that it is the very subject which has been occupying my thoughts." + +"My father is more out of spirits than I have ever seen him," said +Albert. "It is owing to a letter he lately received from a friend at +Utrecht, detailing an extraordinary circumstance which occurred in that +city some time ago. It is said that five soldiers of the Burgher Guard +were on their midnight watch, when, the rest of the sky being as dark as +pitch, they observed, directly over their heads, a clear space, equal in +extent to the length of the city, and of several yards in width. +Suddenly two armies, in battle array were seen advancing upon each +other; one moved rapidly up from the north-west, with banners waving, +spears flashing, trumpets sounding, accompanied by heavy artillery and +squadrons of cavalry; the other came slowly from the south-east. They +at length met and joined in a desperate conflict for a few moments; the +shouts of the combatants, the heavy discharge of cannon, the rattle of +musketry, the tramp of foot soldiers, the rush of cavalry, were +distinctly heard. The very firmament trembled with the shock of the +contending hosts, and was lurid with the fire of their artillery. Then +the north-western army was beaten back in disorder, but, rallying again, +formed into solid column, and once more advanced towards the +south-eastern army, which was formed into a closely-serried square, with +spears and muskets. Once more the fight raged, and the sounds were +heard as distinctly as before; the struggle was but short, the lances of +the south-eastern army snapped like hemp-sticks, and their firm columns +went down together in mass beneath the onset of their foes. The +overthrow was complete. Scarcely had the victors and vanquished +vanished, than the clear blue space where they had stood appeared +suddenly streaked with broad crimson streams flowing athwart the sky. +The five soldiers reported the next day what they had witnessed to the +magistrates of Utrecht, who examined them separately, and each swore to +what he had seen. My father said that he should not have been inclined +to believe the account had not the evidence been so strong in favour of +its truth." + +"This is strange," observed the burgomaster. "Your father will +assuredly show me the letter, and I shall then the better be able to +judge how far I can give the account credence. We know that strange +portents have appeared in the sky before great events, at the same time +these men of the Burgher Guard may have allowed their imaginations to +run riot. They knew that a battle was likely ere long to take place +should the Spaniards attempt to impede the march of Count Louis, and +some passing clouds may have appeared to them to represent the scene +they have described. Grant that they beheld something extraordinary, +yet they may have been mistaken, and the south-eastern army--for from +that direction the Count must be advancing--may prove victorious." + +"My father would fain hope as you do, Mynheer Van der Werf, but his +friend, one of the magistrates of Utrecht, fully believes in the +apparition, and has imbued him with his own desponding spirit." + +"Bear to him my regards, and beg him to cheer up," said the burgomaster. +"He must not allow his brave spirit to be agitated by a tale which may +after all have originated in the heated imaginations of a few ignorant +men. Had the whole city witnessed the spectacle it might have been +different." + +While the burgomaster and Jaqueline were looking out from the summit of +Hengist's tower, two gentlemen approached it from opposite directions; +the one was of good figure, handsomely dressed in silken doublet and +cloak, with a feather in his cap, and a rapier, apparently more for +ornament than use, by his side. He walked with no laggard step, looking +up ever and anon towards the top of the tower. The other came on at +still greater speed, his appearance contrasting greatly with that of the +first; a heavy sword hung by his side, and over his shoulders was an +orange sash, which partly covered a breastplate showing many a deep +dent, while his dress was travel-stained and bespattered with dark red +marks, while his frank and open countenance wore an expression of grief +and anxiety. The two as they met exchanged salutes, the manner of the +latter being hurried, as if he desired not to be stopped. + +"Why, what has happened, Captain Van der Elst?" exclaimed the young +gallant who has just been introduced. + +"I am in search of the burgomaster, and have been told that he was seen +going to the Tower of Hengist," said the other, without answering the +question. + +"I am also bound there, and will gladly accompany you," was the reply. + +"Pardon me, Van Arenberg, but the business I am on is of too great +importance to brook delay." And Karl Van der Elst sprang on up the +ascent at a rate which Baron Van Arenberg, without lowering his dignity, +could not venture to imitate. A blush rose for a moment on the Lily's +fair cheek as she saw him coming; her countenance, however, the next +moment assumed an expression of alarm when she remarked his appearance. +He bowed as he approached, gazing at her with a look of sorrow in his +dark eyes which did not tend to reassure her, and without offering any +other greeting, much as he might have desired it, he addressed himself +to the burgomaster, who inquired in an anxious tone, "What news do you +bring, Captain Van der Elst? Has Count Louis defeated the Spaniards? +Has he yet formed a junction with the Prince?" + +The young officer, his feelings almost mastering him, could with +difficulty reply, "Count Louis with his brother, Count Henry, the brave +Duke Christopher, and the whole army have been annihilated. We met the +foe near the village of Mookie, where we were hemmed in; in vain we +tried to cut our way through the ranks of the Spaniards. Count Louis, +his brother, and Duke Christopher, with four thousand gallant men, fell +in the attempt. I had just before been despatched to make a circuit in +order to get upon the enemy's flank, which I was ordered to attack. +Before I could reach it the day was lost; the victorious cavalry of the +Spaniards charged over the field, butchering all they met. Many of our +men were suffocated in the marshes or in the river, and others were +burnt in the farmhouses where they had taken refuge. Finding that +success was hopeless, and that I could do nothing to retrieve the day, I +drew off my shattered troop, and I have deemed it my duty to hasten on +to warn the inhabitants of Leyden that the enemy are rapidly advancing +again to lay siege to their walls." At first the burgomaster seemed +inclined to discredit the intelligence. + +"Surely all could not have been destroyed, some of the soldiers may have +cut their way through, and escaped as you have done?" Karl shook his +head. + +"I obtained too distinct a view of the fatal field to allow me to +indulge in such a hope," he answered. "I would gladly have sought for +an honourable death myself among my friends had I not reflected that the +safety of my brave band depended on me, and that we might yet render +service to our country." + +While he was speaking, Baron Van Arenberg joined the party, and, after +saluting Jaqueline in a self-confident manner, stood listening with a +supercilious air to the young soldier. + +"That you have escaped from the field, Captain Van der Elst, is evident; +but I fain would doubt that so many brave men would have yielded to the +Spaniards," he observed. + +"They yielded not to the Spaniards, but to death," answered Captain Van +der Elst. "I myself visited the field of slaughter at night, when the +Spaniards had withdrawn, in search of my beloved leader. His body, if +it was there, lay among the heaps of slain, most of whom had been +stripped by rapacious plunderers, and disfigured by the hoofs of the +enemy's horses." + +"I believe your report, captain," said the burgomaster, stretching out +his hand and pressing that of Van der Elst. "Our duty is clear, not a +moment is to be lost in preparing for the defence of our city, and the +burghers of Leyden must resist to the last. You will remain and aid us +with your advice?" + +"Would that I could," answered Karl, glancing for a moment at Jaqueline; +"but I must hasten to the Prince of Orange, to give him a full account +of the events which have taken place, and to receive his orders. +Bereaved as he is of his brothers, it is the duty of every true-hearted +man to rally round him." + +"You are right," said the burgomaster; "but I must beg you to bear a +message from me to the Prince, requesting that he will allow you to +return, and, if possible, to bring some men-at-arms with you. Lay +before him the weak state of our garrison; say that we have but five +companies of the Burgher Guard and a small corps of freebooters; but +that our walls are strong, the hearts of our citizens staunch, and that +they will, I feel assured, fly to arms the instant they receive the +summons. Assure him that we will endeavour to imitate the example of +the brave citizens of Alkmaar, and hold out till he can send us +succour." + +"I will faithfully deliver your message, mynheer, and you may rest +assured that if it depends on my freedom of action I will gladly return +to render you such assistance as I can give," answered Captain Van der +Elst, his countenance brightening as he spoke, his eyes once more +turning towards Jaqueline, who, with Baron Van der Arenberg and Albert, +stood a little distance apart. + +"The citizens of Leyden can well dispense with the service of one who, +by his own showing, seems to have fled from the scene of battle," +whispered Van Arenberg to Jaqueline in too low a tone for Captain Van +der Elst to hear him. On hearing this, without replying, she turned +away, and moved closer to her father. + +"He is as brave a soldier as ever lived," exclaimed Albert, who had +overheard the remark, his countenance flushing as he spoke. "My father +knows and admires him, and was only the other day speaking of the many +gallant deeds he has performed. He was with De la Marck on board the +fleet of the `Beggars of the Sea,' when they captured Brill, he was at +Flushing when the standard of liberty was raised there, he assisted in +the defence of Alkmaar, and I scarcely know how many sea battles he has +been engaged in, while he served with Prince Louis during his campaign +in Friesland; and I am very sure that it was his good fortune, or rather +his courage and discretion, enabled him to escape from the Battle of +Mookerheyde." + +The Lily's bright eyes sparkled, and she gave Albert an approving look +as he was speaking. + +"You would make out this young captain a very Amadis," said Van +Arenberg, in a sarcastic tone. "Your father must have obtained the +report of his heroic deeds from himself I suspect, for I never heard him +spoken of in the same laudatory manner." + +"Why, Baron, one would suppose, from the way you speak, that you were +jealous of him," said Albert, with the boldness of a brave boy who felt +that he was defending a maligned friend. "You insinuate that he ran +away from Mookerheyde, and I am very sure that he did nothing of the +sort. He went back to the field to look for the dead bodies of the +Count and his brother, and he could not have done that without running a +great risk of being killed or taken prisoner, and it was not till he had +assured himself of the sad fact that Count Louis and the rest were dead +that he led off his men, and came here to give us warning that we might +prepare for the enemy." + +The baron, whose features were flushed with annoyance, for Jaqueline +overheard all that was said, was about to make an angry reply, when the +burgomaster called Albert. "Hasten to your father, my good Albert, +break the sad news you have heard, and say that I shall esteem it a +favour if he will come forthwith to meet me at the council hall, as I +would desire to have some time to speak with him on these matters before +the rest of the councillors arrive. I will, on my way, send round to +summon them, as we must lose no time in preparing to defend our city." + +Albert, with the activity of youth, leaped down the steps, while the +burgomaster prepared to descend with greater caution. "Baron Van +Arenberg," he said, "I must request you to escort my daughter to her +home, while Captain Van der Elst accompanies me to the Stadhuis, as we +have matters of importance to discuss on our way. I hope that you will +afterwards join us there, and will offer your services to aid in the +defence of the place." + +Baron Van Arenberg expressed the honour and pleasure he felt at the +charge committed to him, although Jaqueline, while bowing her head in +acquiescence, showed by her manner that the arrangement afforded her no +especial satisfaction. The Lily, as may be conjectured, had many +admirers, for not only was she fair and graceful, with a sweet +disposition, but it was supposed that she would inherit the wealth of +the burgomaster; hitherto, however, as far as was known, her heart was +untouched, and she had favoured no one. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +On reaching the foot of the mound the burgomaster and Captain Van der +Elst proceeded to the Stadhuis, while Baron Van Arenberg accompanied +Jaqueline in the direction of her own house. She walked on, though with +graceful step, far more rapidly than her companion wished, looking +directly before her without turning her head, unless it was absolutely +necessary to do so. + +"I am still not altogether satisfied as to the entire truth of the +report brought by this young captain regarding the destruction of Count +Louis and his army. The Spanish troops are undoubtedly brave and +disciplined, but it seems incredible to me that they should have cut to +pieces in so short a time the large number of levies the Count is +reported to have had with him. If they allowed themselves to be so +easily defeated all I can say is, that they deserved their fate. In my +opinion it is a pity that we Hollanders should so persistently hold out +against the troops of our lawful sovereign; far better by yielding with +a good grace to bring the fighting to an end." + +"And share the fate of the unhappy inhabitants of Haarlem," answered +Jaqueline, for the first time turning her head and glancing at him with +a look which betokened as much contempt as her features were capable of +exhibiting. "Think of the thousands of our countrymen who have been +cruelly butchered because they were determined to hold fast to our +Protestant faith rather than confess that of our foreign tyrants. I +should say, let every man and woman perish bravely, fighting to the last +rather than basely give up their birthrights." + +"I will not venture to argue with you on that point, fair Jaqueline," +answered Van Arenberg. "I wish as much as any Hollander can do to +preserve our birthrights, as well as my castle and broad estates, but I +assure you that you underrate the power of the Spaniards. Our cause, +the patriot cause, is desperate; it is on account of the deep admiration +I feel for you, if I may use no warmer term, that I would save you from +the horrors to which others have been exposed." + +"I speak the sentiments held by my father and every right-minded man in +our city--ay! and woman too," answered Jaqueline, in a firm tone. "We +would imitate our sisters in Haarlem and Alkmaar and join the citizens +in defending our walls." + +"But should the city be again besieged--and it assuredly will be should +the report of the total defeat of Count Louis prove correct--how can +Leyden hope to hold out against the disciplined and experienced troops +of the king? The Prince of Orange has no force sufficient to relieve +the city, and be assured that the fate which overtook Haarlem will be +that of Leyden, though the inhabitants are not likely to be treated with +that measure of forbearance which those of Haarlem received." + +"If you speak of the measure of forbearance awarded to Haarlem, that was +small indeed," said Jaqueline. "You seem to forget that every citizen +of wealth was massacred, that every Hollander who had borne arms in the +siege was put to death, while many hundreds of other citizens were +afterwards murdered by the savage Spaniards who desired to strike terror +into the hearts of the survivors. I should say, rather than submit to +so terrible a fate, let us struggle to the last, and then perish amid +the ruins of the town." + +"You are indeed, lovely Jaqueline, worthy of being a heroine of romance, +and already you inspire me with some of the enthusiasm which you feel, +though I cannot pretend to believe that the efforts which the citizens +of Leyden may make will be crowned with success; yet believe me that I +was prompted entirely by my earnest desire to preserve one I prize so +highly and her family from impending destruction to give the advice I +venture to offer." + +"I am well aware of the admiration in which you hold me, Baron Van +Arenberg," answered Jaqueline, "but whatever are your motives, even were +I certain that our cause is desperate, and I do not believe that it is +(for I feel assured that God will prosper the right in the end), I would +not by word or act counsel my father and the citizens of Leyden to yield +while a single man remains alive to strike a blow for freedom." + +Gentle as Jaqueline looked while she spoke, her voice and manner were +firm and determined, while she showed that she was anxious to bring the +discussion to an end. It might have afforded more encouragement to the +baron had she endeavoured to win him over to the opinions she held, but +beyond expressing them she made no attempt to do so. The baron, +however, fancied that he was too well acquainted with the female heart +to despair of success; he was young, good-looking, and wealthy, and as +far as was known his moral character was irreproachable. The +burgomaster, deceived by his plausible manners, trusted him fully, and +considering from his rank and wealth that he would be a suitable husband +for his fair daughter, invited him frequently to the house, and had +always received him in a cordial manner. The baron had therefore good +reason to believe that his suit would be successful. + +On reaching her father's house, Jaqueline politely, though somewhat +stiffly, thanked him for the service he had rendered in escorting her +home, and the door opening, she entered without expressing the slightest +wish that he would remain. He lingered, expecting that she would at +last remember what he looked upon as her neglect, but she ascended the +steps without further notice of him. He stamped impatiently as he +walked away, muttering, "It is clear that I have a rival, or the fair +Lily would not treat my advances so coldly, supported, as she knows I +am, by her father. Instead of feeling honoured, as she ought, at being +sought in marriage by a noble, she seems utterly regardless of my rank +and personal qualifications. I am very sure that I can make myself as +agreeable to women as can most men, and from her beauty alone, +independent of her fortune, she is well worth winning, so I must not +despair. Still it will never do to have her cooped up in this hapless +town should it be again invested by the Spaniards; I have no fancy +indeed to stay in it myself, and I must bend all my efforts towards +finding the means of carrying her away before the siege commences. +There is not a day, however, to be lost. She appears to have no fear +herself, but I may work upon the feelings of her father, and induce him, +for the sake of preserving her from the horrors of the siege, to entrust +her to my care. I must venture upon some warmer expressions of love and +devotion than I have hitherto exhibited, and by describing the horrible +fate which may be hers should she remain, and the happiness which awaits +her if she will consent to accompany me, as my wife, out of the country, +I may induce her to yield more willingly than she at present seems +inclined to do." Such were the thoughts which occupied the mind of the +baron as he proceeded with leisurely step towards the Stadhuis, where he +had no great desire to make his appearance, although having been +expressly invited by the burgomaster he could not avoid going. He found +the chief magistrates, most influential citizens, assembled. The +burgomaster had informed them of the sad intelligence he had just +received, and Captain Van der Elst, at his desire, had described the +battle and its disastrous termination. One circumstance alone afforded +satisfaction, it was that Count John, now the Prince's only surviving +brother, who had already done so much for the cause, although expecting +to participate in the battle, had, at the urgent request of the other +leaders, left the army two days before the action, in order to obtain at +Cologne money to pay the troops. The young captain had just finished +his account. The first point to be settled was the selection of a +military chief whom all would be ready to obey. + +The burgomaster rose. After expressing his readiness to devote his +fortune, his life, and everything he possessed to the cause, he +acknowledged that he had no military experience or talents, and urged +upon his fellow-citizens the importance of selecting a man who possessed +the talents in which he was wanting. "There is one," he said. "John +Van der Does, Seigneur of Nordwyck, a gentleman of distinguished family, +but still more distinguished for his learning, his poetical genius, his +valour and military accomplishments; if we select him, the Prince I am +sure will sanction our appointment." + +Without a dissentient voice the Seigneur of Nordwyck was elected +military commandant. The burgomaster did not conceal from them the +dangers and the sufferings which perchance they would have to undergo, +but he added, "Remember Naarden, my friends, we cannot too often reflect +on the fate of Naarden; although the inhabitants offered no resistance, +they were indiscriminately slaughtered, and such may be our lot even if +we go humbly forth to sue for pardon from the conquerors of Mookerheyde. +Remember Haarlem, which, although defended with the heroism which ought +to have inspired respect and consideration in the hearts of the +conquerors, was treated with cruelties from the bare contemplation of +which the mind shrinks back with horror; then let us think of Alkmaar +which so bravely and successfully resisted, and imitate the example of +its citizens with the hope and confidence that we shall be equally +successful in driving back the hated foe." + +Other patriotic magistrates spoke in the same strain, and all were +unanimous in their resolution to defend their city to the last, while it +was agreed that steps should instantly be taken for that object. +Unhappily much precious time had already been lost; the forts and +redoubts thrown up by the Spaniards still remained, and at present the +defenders of the city had too much to do within the walls to attempt +levelling them. The new commandant urged them to strengthen the +fortifications, and in the meantime to obtain such stores of provisions +from the immediate neighbourhood as could be collected. There were a +_few_, however, who, although they did not vote in opposition to the +opinions of the majority, yet spoke of the hopelessness of the +undertaking in which they were about to engage. Among these was Baron +Van Arenberg, although he expressed himself carefully he did his best to +persuade the citizens that their wisest course would be to yield before +proceeding to extremities. + +"I say not that such is what I advise," he observed. "But conciliatory +measures might prove successful; if they fail let us by all means +endeavour to keep out the enemy as long as we can." + +"The Spaniards have already shown us the uselessness of conciliatory +measures as well as the utter worthlessness of their guarantees for the +safety of those who submit," said the burgomaster. "It would be +suicidal madness to trust them; let us put faith in God, who defends the +right, in our own resolute courage and power of endurance, in our strong +walls, and in the assistance which the Prince of Orange will afford us +at our need." + +The baron was silent; he was especially anxious not to say anything +which might offend the burgomaster by openly differing from him; but his +remarks encouraged others connected with certain persons, their +relations or friends, recreant Hollanders, who had sided with the +Spaniards and professed to have returned to the Faith of Rome. These +men were familiarly called Glippers; their object was to induce their +countrymen to follow their example. A few holding their opinions +remained in the city, either kept there by business or with the +intention of creating dissension among the patriots. Although Baron Van +Arenberg openly professed to be a patriot, yet from the expressions he +let fall many already began to suspect his designs. When those who +followed him spoke, their opinions were received with loud expressions +of disapprobation. He saw that in the present state of the public mind +it would be prudent for the future more carefully to conceal his +sentiments than he had hitherto done. "I must bide my time," he said to +himself. + +Numerous matters of importance were discussed, and the persons supposed +best suited for certain duties were selected to superintend the various +tasks which had to be performed to prepare the city for the expected +siege. One undertook to procure cattle, another fodder, a third corn; +others to collect arms and ammunition. The strengthening of the +fortifications was allotted to several who had some experience in such +matters. The guns and their carriages had to be looked to, such +buildings as were suited for storehouses were to be prepared, and +hospitals fitted up to receive the sick or wounded; indeed, no point was +neglected. All these arrangements having been made, the brave John Van +der Does, the newly-elected commandant, rose. + +"We have not concealed from ourselves the difficulties and dangers of +the task we have undertaken," he said. "But, my friends and +fellow-citizens, on God, on your stout arms, and on the energy of our +Prince we will rely to defend our city against all the foes who may +appear before our walls," he exclaimed, as he drew his sword; and +raising it above his head, he added, "Never will I again sheathe this +weapon till the hated Spaniard has been driven from our country, and we +may henceforth repose in peace." + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +Not a moment was lost after the Council broke up in commencing the +all-important tasks which each member had undertaken. The burgomaster, +however, did not forget the duties of hospitality; taking the arm of +Captain Van der Elst, he said-- + +"Come with me, my friend, and partake of some refreshment, which you +must sadly need. You have ridden hard all this morning, and have still +a long journey to perform before you can reach Rotterdam, with the risk +of encountering marauding parties of Spaniards, who may have ventured +forth from Gravenhague. I will give orders in the meantime that you may +be provided with the best horse the city affords, for your own steed has +scarcely had sufficient time to rest to carry you as rapidly as you +desire on your journey." + +Karl acknowledged that his horse was wellnigh knocked up, and thankfully +accepted the burgomaster's invitation, though he was anxious not to +delay a moment longer than was necessary before proceeding on his +journey. Directly the burgomaster, accompanied by Van der Elst, arrived +at his house, the repast, which had long been ready, was placed on the +table, and Jaqueline appeared to preside at it. She received the young +captain with less frankness than she might generally have bestowed on +her father's friends. There was a slight timidity in her manner, which, +in spite of herself, she could not help exhibiting, and a blush rose for +a moment to her cheek as she replied to his greeting. + +"And are you able to remain and assist us in preparing for the defence +of our town?" she asked. + +"Would that I were able to remain," he answered. "But I must hurry on +as fast as my steed can go to see the Prince and to receive his +directions for my future guidance; but I will not fail to suggest to him +that I may be of service in assisting in the defence of Leyden, and +unless he should require me for important work elsewhere, I hope that he +will allow me to return." + +"I trust so," murmured Jaqueline, raising her eyes and casting a +momentary glance at him. + +The meal was soon concluded, for Captain Van der Elst was unwilling to +spend a moment longer than was necessary at the table, though he would +fain probably have enjoyed a longer conversation with Jaqueline. He had +to wait a short time for the arrival of his horse, which enabled him to +exchange a few more words with Jaqueline. While they were speaking +Berthold and Albert arrived, each laden with a cage containing some +beautiful white pigeons, which might easily, from the gracefulness of +their form, have been mistaken for doves. + +"You see, Vrouw Jaqueline, that I have not forgotten my promise, and I +am sure that you will take better care of them than I could do," said +Albert. "They each have got their names, and will come when you summon +them, besides which, if they are carried to any distance, however great, +they will always fly back as fast as their wings can bear them. I have +trained them carefully to perform this duty; see here is one I call the +Lily, because it is the fairest and most beautiful of all. See how +smooth and glossy are its feathers, every one of the most snowy white." + +Jaqueline thanked Albert for the birds, and promised to tend them +carefully. + +"They will be content, however, at present to remain in their cage, so +you need not trouble yourself about them," he observed. + +Captain Van der Elst did not fail to admire the pigeons. "Should the +city be beleaguered they may be of the greatest possible use some day, +if you can send them to the head-quarters of the Prince, as beneath +their wings they can carry the messages far more securely and rapidly +than the fastest runner," he remarked. "At present the country is open, +and I shall have to ride hard. I will not ask your permission to carry +any of the birds with me, but perhaps in a few days before the Spaniards +gather round the city you will allow four of them to be taken to Delft +or Rotterdam that they may return with such messages as the Prince may +desire to send." + +"It did not occur to me when I undertook to tend the pretty birds that +they might prove of the service you suggest," said Jaqueline. "You are +indeed most welcome to take as many as you can employ. I shall prize +them more than ever when they have thus assisted our glorious cause." + +Suddenly Berthold, on hearing that Captain Van der Elst was about to set +out for Rotterdam, started up. "If my uncle will give me leave may I +accompany you?" he exclaimed. "I know all the crossways and cross cuts +better probably than you do, or indeed than anybody you can find, and I +might be useful in guiding you." + +"Will you have my nephew as your companion?" asked the burgomaster. + +"I would gladly have his society, but I am unwilling to expose him to +the risks I may incur," answered Captain Van der Elst. "The Spaniards +are likely to be more vigilant than ever, and their light horse will +probably be scouring the country either to forage or to interrupt the +communication between the cities." + +"That is the very reason why I wish to go with you," said Berthold. "I +know the roads thoroughly, for as soon as the Spaniards had retired, +feeling like a bird set free I scoured over the whole country, and +amused myself in making a plan of them." + +"As Berthold knows the country so well, surely it will lessen the risk +you would have to run alone if you will take him with you," observed +Jaqueline. "I am sure that he will feel it an honour to accompany you, +and he can return speedily with any message the Prince may have to +send." + +Captain Van der Elst's scruples being overcome by these arguments, he no +longer hesitated to accept the offer made by Berthold, who hurried out +as soon as he had snatched some food to see that his horse was got +ready. + +"I quite envy you," said Albert to him. "I should like to go also, but +I know that my father will require my services, and I must even now +hurry back to him." + +In a short time, the two steeds being brought to the door, Captain Van +der Elst and his young companion, having bid farewell to the burgomaster +and Jaqueline, proceeded towards the Cowgate, the southern entrance to +the town, leading towards Rotterdam. Jaqueline watched them eagerly as +they rode off, undoubtedly a prayer ascended from her heart for their +safe arrival. The country was green with the bright grass of early +spring, the fruit trees in numerous orchards were covered with bloom, +giving fragrance to the air. For the first part of the distance there +was but little risk of their encountering enemies, and by the time they +had got further on the sun would already be setting, and they would have +the advantage of being concealed by the shades of evening. The village +of Zoeterwoude, standing on a slight elevation above the surrounding +plain, was soon passed, and that of Zuidbrunt, close to a large and +shallow meer, was next reached, but they neither of them entered lest a +party of Spaniards might have ventured thus far from their +head-quarters. They had already passed three enormous dykes running +across their road, one beyond the other, built for the purpose of +protecting the city from the inroads of the sea. Roads, of course, ran +along the top of these, some towards the Hague, others towards Delft, +Gouda, and numerous towns and villages to the right and left. Although +hitherto not a Spanish soldier had been seen, at any moment some might +be encountered. There were no heights or even tall trees from the top +of which a view could be obtained of the surrounding country, so that +they might know how to avoid their foes. Their anxiety was much +relieved when they saw the sun sinking into the not distant ocean. The +Prince frequently visited Delft, but Captain Van der Elst believed that +he was now to be found at Rotterdam, and although the former city was +but slightly out of their course, he proposed avoiding it and riding +directly for Rotterdam. More than half the distance had been performed. +A short way to the left lay the village of Zoetermeer, raised, like +others, slightly above the plain, and they already perceived the green +trees and red roofs of the houses peeping up among them, lighted up by +the last rays of the setting sun. + +"Too much haste the less speed," observed the captain. "It is a true +saying, and we must therefore bait our horses and give them a short +breathing time, or they may break down before we reach our journey's +end." + +"Might we not push on without stopping, and trust to the animals to keep +up their strength to the last?" asked Berthold. "They are both good +nags and sound in wind, and can manage a pretty broad ditch when pressed +at it." + +"We may have to try their mettle even yet," said the captain. "And they +will the better do their work after a feed of corn; besides, we may have +to ride back, and we shall probably find no horses to exchange for them +in Rotterdam." + +"As you think best," said Berthold. And they rode along a causeway +which seemed to lead directly for the village. On reaching it they +pulled up at the door of a small inn, the only one the place afforded. +The landlady hurried out to meet them, and desired to know whether they +intended to stop there the night. + +"No, friend, we wish only to bait our horses, and must be in the saddle +again as soon as they are rested. It may be more prudent than +remaining, for we cannot tell at what moment we might receive a visit +from those savage hounds the Spaniards." + +"Reports have been brought in of several foraging parties being out, who +take what they can find without paying a styver in return, besides which +they ill-treat the people on all occasions," observed the landlord. "It +would be a satisfaction if some of our young fellows were to break their +heads, but if they were to make the attempt our village would to a +certainty be burnt down, so we must humbly submit to save our skins." + +"I cannot advise you for the present to do otherwise," answered Captain +Van der Elst. "But the time may shortly arrive when we shall drive our +hated foes into the sea." + +"Would that it may come soon before they have, like a flock of locusts, +eaten up every green thing in the land," exclaimed the landlord. + +"The information you give shows me the importance of our being on the +road again without delay," said Captain Van der Elst, as he and Berthold +accompanied the landlord to the stable, where room was at once made for +their horses by turning out a couple of others. The landlord then +pressed them to come in and take some refreshment, but they both +declined. + +"Not even a glass of Rhenish wine? I have some of the best," said mine +host. But they refused, considering that their time would be better +occupied in rubbing down their steeds, and moistening their lips from a +bucket of water, after they had finished their corn. + +"You can still render us a service, friend, by sending out to learn if +any Spaniards are yet in the neighbourhood," said the captain, "Surely +that I will do," answered the landlord, and he summoned a couple of +active-looking lads and directed them to run out as far as their legs +could carry them in ten minutes, and to try and discover if any cavalry +were near at hand. "Foot soldiers are not likely to venture thus far, +so we need have no fear of them," he observed. + +The lads clearly understood what was required of them, and started +together in opposite directions. They had not been gone the allotted +time when one of them came hurrying back, covering the ground with long, +rapid strides. + +"If the mynheers do not wish to be made prisoners, they had better be +out of the village as soon as they can saddle up," he said. "I caught +sight of a party of horsemen just passing the border of the Meer where +the willows grow; there must have been a dozen of them or more; but I +only stopped to count thus far and then took to my heels, expecting +every moment to have a shot whistle by my ears." + +"You have done well, Hans," said the landlord. + +"And here is a reward for your service," added Berthold, giving the +youth a coin. + +"I did it of my own free will," answered Hans. "It is not the first +time I have been set to watch the Spaniards, or that they have tried to +catch me, and found that they had a Will-o'-the-Wisp to deal with; but +this was an easy task, and nothing to boast of." Hans was saying this +while he was assisting Berthold to replace the bit in the horse's mouth, +and to tighten the girth of his saddle, the landlord rendering the same +service to Captain Van der Elst. The next moment they were in the +saddle and pushing full speed through the village to the southward. +Should they be discovered, they would not only run the risk of being +shot at, but would expose the landlord to punishment for having +entertained them. Looking back, they could see no one following, and +hoped, therefore, that they had escaped observation, while their horses, +refreshed, made up for the short delay by getting on at full speed. +They soon passed the village of Bleiswijk, between which and the next +place ran a broad causeway forming the high road to Rotterdam. Though +the gloom of evening was increasing, there was still sufficient light to +enable them to see objects at some distance. Berthold, who knew the +road best, was leading, when suddenly he reined in his horse, and made a +sign with his right hand for his companion to do the same. + +"See, just coming from the right, are a score of horsemen; they may be +Hollanders, or Free Lances, though from the height of their helmets they +look more like Spaniards," he exclaimed. "We had better avoid them." + +"How is that to be done?" asked Captain Van der Elst. + +"We passed just now on the left a narrow dyke, which runs, I know, in a +south-westerly direction; at the farther end is a bridge which leads +across the Rotte. If we are pursued, we must leave the road and ride +across the country. We can without difficulty swim the river, when the +Spaniards, with the heavy trappings of their horses, would not be able +to follow." + +Scarcely had Berthold said this when they could see against the sky the +figures of a large number of horsemen moving along a road to the right. + +"We might even now, by dismounting, lead our horses down into the plain, +and perhaps escape observation," said Berthold. + +"No, no, as we can see them they must have discovered us," said the +captain. "Lead the way across the dyke you spoke of; I will follow +closely at your heels." + +As there was no time for further deliberation, Berthold, turning his +horse's head and passing the captain, galloped along the way they had +come for a few minutes and then turned off along the top of the dyke he +had described. The moment they turned they heard shouts, evidently +coming from the horsemen they wished to avoid. + +"Those are Spanish voices," said the captain. "I know them well. Push +on, Berthold!" But the road along the top of the dyke was much rougher +than the one they had left, and it made it necessary for them to keep a +careful hand on their reins to prevent their horses from falling. From +the way the dyke ran it formed an angle with the high road, and they +were soon again brought within sight of the Spanish horsemen, who +shouting out to them to stop, fired several shots in rapid succession. + +"The fellows are not bad marksmen," said Berthold, "for I heard two or +more bullets whistle close to my ears." + +Captain Van der Elst continued shouting out, "Ride on! ride on!" more to +show that he himself was unhurt than that there was any necessity to +urge on Berthold. The Spaniards were evidently unwilling to trust +themselves to the low ground for fear of finding that it was a morass, +into which their steeds might plunge with little hope of extricating +themselves. On seeing that the fugitives had a good chance of escaping, +although some of the Spaniards galloped after them along the road, the +others continued firing their carbines, though fortunately they missed +their aim. The two fugitives were soon beyond the range of the Spanish +musketeers, but Captain Van der Elst still cried out to his companion, +"Go on! go on!" for, glancing behind him, he saw indistinctly through +the gloom the heads of several horsemen following them. + +"We shall soon be at the bridge," cried Berthold. "I do not think the +Spaniards will attempt to cross it." Just as he had announced that they +were close upon it they saw a body of horse who had evidently galloped +round to take possession of the post. This discovery was made, however, +in time to enable Berthold to ride his horse down the side of the dyke, +the captain following his example. "Come along," he cried out, "the +ground is somewhat soft, but these horses are accustomed to it, and we +may get over it much faster than our pursuers." Having proceeded some +distance, they had good reason to hope that they had not been seen. + +"We must now make for the river, and a few minutes will carry us safe +across it," said Berthold. + +The horses as they reached the bank, without hesitation plunged in, and +bravely breasted the smooth water. They had got more than halfway +across when again they heard the shouts of a number of Spaniards +ordering them to return. + +"You may shout yourselves hoarse, my men," cried Berthold. "We have no +intention of obeying you." Finding that their shouts produced no +effect, they fired several bullets from their fire-arms, and the bullets +came spattering into the water like a shower of hail, but the gallant +steeds bore their riders to the opposite bank unhurt, and soon +scrambling up, the captain and Berthold continued their course over the +fields. + +"Will not the Spaniards cross the bridge and attempt to overtake us?" +asked the captain. "We must be prepared for the contingency." + +"I think not," answered Berthold. "They might encounter some of the +Prince's cavalry, and are not likely to venture further south." + +They at length gained another dyke, on the summit of which the road ran +directly for Rotterdam. They now galloped forward with less +apprehension of meeting an enemy, and at length, about two hours after +dark, entered Rotterdam. They immediately inquired the way to the house +where the Prince was residing. From the remarks they heard made, they +discovered that the news of the disaster at Mookerheyde had already +reached the city, for which the captain was thankful, as it would save +him from the painful necessity of announcing it to the Prince. They +found guards before the door, and several grooms and other servants, to +one of whom they committed their horses. Captain Van der Elst at once +delivered to a gentleman-in-waiting his name and the object of his +visit, and they had no time even to shake off the water which still +clung to the lower part of their garments, when they were informed that +the Prince desired to see them. They followed their guide into an +apartment plainly furnished, with several writing-tables; at one of +these sat a tall, dignified man with brown hair, moustachios and beard, +a forehead broad and lofty, and eyes bright and full of expression. The +captain advancing, bowed, and introduced his young companion as the +nephew of the Burgomaster of Leyden. The Prince, who had risen, +received them gravely, but at the same time in a cordial manner. + +"You bring further intelligence, Captain Van der Elst, from the field of +Mookerheyde?" he said. "Of the main particulars I have already been +informed by some few who escaped and made their way here." + +Captain Van der Elst briefly explained how he himself had escaped, and +being well assured that Leyden would again be attacked that he had +considered it his duty to ride round to that city in order to prepare +the inhabitants for what was likely to occur. He then gave an account +of the meeting of the Council, stating that John Van der Does had been +elected military commandant, subject to his approval. + +"They could not have made a better choice," remarked the Prince. "It +shall be confirmed." In a few brief sentences he questioned the captain +regarding the battle of Mookerheyde. A tone of melancholy pervaded all +he said, but he in no other way showed the deep grief which weighed him +down. The Prince sat silently listening, his countenance unmoved, while +the captain made his report, and Berthold began to fear that his friend +might be blamed for his conduct. He was, therefore, greatly relieved +when the Prince remarked, "You have exhibited courage and discretion, +Captain Van der Elst, qualities we greatly need in the present +emergency. I must send you back with a message to the citizens of +Leyden to urge them to maintain the town against the foes of our country +to the last gasp. They ought to have destroyed the forts the Spaniards +left, to have amply provisioned the city, and to have secured an +efficient garrison; but I will not now speak of what is passed. Remind +them from me that they are about to contend not for themselves alone, +but that the fate of our country of unborn generations may, in all human +probability, depend on the issue about to be tried. Eternal glory will +be their reward if they manifest the courage worthy of their race, and +of the sacred cause of religion and liberty. Say that I implore them to +hold out at least three months, and I pledge my word that I will within +that time devise the means of delivering them. Advise them immediately +to take an account of their provisions of all kinds, including the live +stock, and let the strictest economy be employed in their consumption. +Stay, I will sign the commission appointing the Seigneur of Nordwyck as +Commandant, and write what I deem necessary to confirm the message I +verbally send by you. When can you again set out?" + +The captain acknowledged that he and his young companion had had no +refreshment or rest since they left Leyden, but that he himself was +willing to start immediately could a fresh horse be found for him. He, +however, considered that he ought to mention having encountered several +parties of Spaniards, and that there would be some risk of being +captured on the return journey. When he also explained the energetic +measures the burgomaster and commandant were already taking, the Prince +replied, "Wait, then, till to-morrow, when you may get over the most +hazardous part of the distance during the night." + +The Prince having spoken a few words of encouragement to Berthold, which +he was never likely to forget, signified to them that they might retire, +and gave orders to one of the officers to attend to their wants. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +The brave commandant, attended by young Albert, set an example of +enduring energy to his fellow-citizens. From morning till night he was +to be seen going round and round the fortifications, showing were points +might be strengthened with advantage, and to encourage the labourers, +often himself taking a spade or pick in hand. Where fresh batteries had +to be thrown up, the work was one which greatly taxed the strength of +the citizens, but they all knew that their lives depended on their +repairing and strengthening their defences before their foes should +again attack them. Not only the citizens of all ranks, but their wives +and children assisted, many who had never before engaged in manual +labour offering their services to carry baskets of earth to the +ramparts, and otherwise aiding in the work going forward. In this task +the commandant was ably supported by the burgomaster and other +magistrates. Jaqueline often accompanied the burgomaster, and set an +example to the citizens' wives and daughters by carrying baskets of +earth, nor did her father, tenderly cherished though she had always +been, attempt to prevent her from performing the task which she +considered right. He felt the importance of the example she set to +others, for when they saw the fair Lily, the admired of all, engaged in +manual 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 if +they could have obtained provisions as easily as they could repair their +walls, but the country had already been drained by the Spaniards, +mounted parties of whom were even now ranging as near as they could +venture, to prevent supplies from being sent into Leyden. Barges laden +with corn, and carts, however, were constantly arriving at the city, and +occasionally a few oxen, while horsemen rode out in various directions +to induce the peasantry to send in all the provisions they could spare, +reminding them that they would before long fall into the hands of their +foes, who would take them without payment. Still the amount of food +collected fell far short of what was required. The citizens did not +labour with the dull apathy of despair, but with warm enthusiasm, they +all being resolved to rival their countrymen at Alkmaar. The men sang +at their work, and the girls chatted as if they were engaged in some +holiday task. The only person who appeared not in any way to partake of +the general enthusiasm was the Baron Von Arenberg, who excused himself +on the plea that he was out of health, and that any exertion would be +exceedingly injurious to him, though he had no objection to standing +still and watching others at work, which he declared ought to afford the +labourers ample encouragement. He did not, however, make his appearance +in public as often as he had been accustomed to do. He was greatly put +out from the circumstance that when calling at the house of the +burgomaster he had seldom found him at home, and that Jaqueline had +invariably excused herself from seeing him during the absence of her +father. He had therefore not known how she was employed. Curiosity +had, however, prompted him one bright morning to take a walk round the +ramparts, and he arrived at a spot where a new battery was being thrown +up. On a high mound stood the burgomaster, and near him a number of men +were engaged in the more severe labour of the undertaking, while troops +of women, some with full baskets, were bringing up earth from the trench +which was being dug, while others were returning with the empty ones. +The baron started with astonishment, for at the head of one of the +parties appeared the Lily of Leyden carrying with a companion a basket +of earth; her dress, though not ungraceful, was suited to her +occupation. Me gazed as if at first unable to believe his senses, a +flush mantled on his brow. + +"Can her father thus allow her to degrade herself?" he exclaimed to one +of the eldest and chief citizens who was standing by, whose daughters +and grand-daughters were similarly employed, though the baron was not +aware of the fact. "The task too is utterly useless; should the +Spaniards again lay siege to the town, they will, before two weeks are +over, have gained an entrance, and they have already shown the penalties +they 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 animates +the breasts of patriots, and in that aid which our noble Prince will +most assuredly send us," answered the old man, in a stern tone. "The +task in which the fair Jaqueline is engaged raises her higher than her +beauty, her position, or her wealth can do in the eyes of her +countrymen. Look at my daughters and grand-children, they feel proud of +imitating her; when you communicate with your friends, the `Glippers,' +tell them how the matrons and maidens of Leyden are employed, and let +them warn the Spaniards of the death which awaits them should they +assail our ramparts." + +The baron again started, but with a different feeling than before, and +declared that he was no "Glipper," though he was not inspired, he +confessed, with the same enthusiasm which at present animated the +citizens of Leyden. + +"It may be that you are not a `Glipper,' but your remarks savour much of +the principles which animate them," observed the old citizen, in a dry +tone. "Speak them not aloud to others, or you may chance to be looked +upon as a traitor and be treated as such." + +By a strong effort the baron quelled his rising anger; he could gain no +credit by a dispute with the aged and highly esteemed citizen who had +thus spoken to him, and turning aside he directed his steps homeward. +He fancied that it would be derogatory to his rank to engage in manual +labour, and yet he could not stand by and see the fair Jaqueline and +other young ladies of position thus employed without offering to assist +them, unless he was prepared to be regarded as destitute alike of all +chivalric and patriotic feelings. On reaching the handsome mansion he +inhabited, after pacing several times across the room, he threw himself +into a chair to consider what course he should pursue. The old +citizen's remarks had warned him of the danger he would incur should he +be supposed to advocate a surrender to the Spaniards, and he would be in +still greater danger should it be discovered that he was carrying on a +secret correspondence with Valdez through his "Glipper" friends; he was +also mortified and annoyed at seeing Jaqueline so degrading herself, as +he considered, by labouring like any peasant girl at the fortifications. +"How can her father, who dotes on her as the apple of his eye, allow +her thus to demean herself?" he exclaimed, "to exhaust her health and +strength, to soil her fair hands with the moist and black earth; the +very 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 obstinate +citizens are preparing to bring down on themselves, or indeed I may lose +my life. I would rather sacrifice my property than do that. I may by +joining General Valdez at once gain better terms for them, little as +they deserve it at my hands, at all events I shall secure my own +possessions." He rang a bell to summon an attendant, but no one +answered to the call. At length he inquired of the old one-legged +porter who had admitted him, when, to his disgust, he found that the +whole 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 must +abandon all hope of winning the Lily of Leyden, unless the city is +speedily captured and I am able to save her from the terrible danger she +would incur during the assault. For her sake I must not allow her to +run that risk; no, the only safe course, as far as she is concerned, for +me to follow is to remain either to gain her father's consent to our +immediate union, or to persuade her to fly with me, while there is yet +time, 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 equally +safe; and although she might at first regret having left her father and +other friends in this city, a very few weeks will show her what a +merciful escape she has had. It may yet be some days before Valdez and +his army can reach the neighbourhood, I will remain and employ the time +in endeavouring to persuade her to take the only step which can secure +her safety. I cannot bear the thought that one so lovely should be +doomed to the fearful fate in which she will be involved when the +Spaniards capture the city." + +Fortunately there were few in Leyden who entertained the baron's +opinions. While he remained at home, his mind agitated by conflicting +doubts and fears, the rest of the inhabitants were engaged as has been +described. The commandant, accompanied by his son Albert, remained +chiefly on the ramparts; he had to inspect the firearms as they were +repaired or manufactured by the armourers, ceaselessly working day and +night, and he had likewise to examine the few recruits who could be +collected from the country round to assist in the defence, and especial +attention had to be given to the exercising of the men at the great guns +placed in the various forts. The burgomaster, among his many other +duties, daily visited the storehouses to see the progress made in +collecting food, both for man and beast, and he also inspected the pens +and sheds in which the cattle were placed as they were driven in, while +he made preparation for all the various contingencies which might occur. +And, although he desired his daughter to set the example to the women +and girls of Leyden, remembering that she was utterly unused to manual +work, he, after a time, summoned her home to take the rest and +refreshment she required. + +"Go, my sweet Jaqueline," said Vrouw Margaret de Munto, the wife of one +of the chief magistrates. "You have shown us how the most delicate can +work, and we will not be idle during your absence." + +Jaqueline, whose arms and shoulders were aching with the unwonted +labour, was, it must be confessed, thankful to obey her father's summons +to return home. She was rewarded with the consciousness that she had +performed her duty, and she hoped to have strength to continue it, but +she was more out of spirits than was usual with her. Some days had +passed since her young cousin Berthold had accompanied Captain Van der +Elst to Rotterdam and they had not again made their appearance. The +burgomaster could not account for the delay, but felt sure that the +Prince would immediately send them back with despatches confirming John +Van der Does in his appointment as Commandant, and stating what plans he +proposed for their relief. The Lily cast many a glance over the plain +in the hopes of seeing the two horsemen approaching; but though +occasionally trains of carts and baggage-horses laden with sacks of +corn, and small herds of cattle were seen on the roads, the two absent +ones whose safe return would have relieved her anxiety failed to appear. +As the foragers brought in word that parties of Spaniards who had come +from the direction of the Hague had been met with, some fears were +entertained that Captain Van der Elst and Berthold might have fallen +into their hands. + +"Berthold is too well acquainted with the country to allow himself and +his companion easily to be caught," observed the burgomaster. "Perhaps +the Prince is waiting to decide on the plan he proposes to adopt for our +relief. We shall see them in a day or two; though it is but natural +that 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's +movements, will not detain them too long, so as to prevent them getting +in with safety." + +The Lily sighed, for she feared there might be some miscalculation as +day after day notice had been brought of the rapid approach of the hated +foe, and at any hour it seemed that their advanced guard might appear +before the walls. The burgomaster had thrown himself into an armchair +the first rest he had sought that day since early dawn, having +especially desired his daughter to retire. Scarcely, however, had he +taken his pen in hand to sign certain documents which had been brought +to 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 rapid +succession. It was the tocsin peal, announcing the approach of an +enemy, and summoning the citizens to the ramparts. The burgomaster +immediately rose, and sending word to Jaqueline on no account to leave +the house, set forth to the Stadhuis, where he knew that the principal +magistrates would quickly assemble. As he was leaving the door of his +house he was met by young Albert Van der Does. + +"The commandant has sent me, Burgomaster, to request your presence on +the north-western rampart, where he, with several officers, is waiting +your arrival. A body of troops has been seen approaching along the +causeway from the direction of the Castle of Valkenburg." + +The burgomaster, notwithstanding his fatigue, accompanied young Albert +at a rapid pace. From every direction people of all ranks were +hastening through the streets, some girding on their swords as they left +their doors, while their wives or daughters handed to them their +firearms. Many an eye was turned in the direction of the approaching +troops. + +"They march more quickly than the Spaniards are wont to do," observed +the commandant to the burgomaster. + +"Can they be troops sent by the Prince to assist in the defence of the +city?" 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 they +were English, and as far as could be calculated numbered between five +and six hundred men. + +"They will be a welcome addition to our garrison," observed one of the +magistrates. "For those islanders are brave fellows and fight well on +all occasions." + +"Notwithstanding, unless they bring a written order to me from the +Prince to admit them, I will dispense with their services wherever they +come from," said the commandant. "The English are trustworthy enough, +and fight well if they are well fed and are satisfied with their +quarters, but I would not trust them should a famine get within our +walls; and should they begin to feel the pinchings of hunger, they would +then cry out that we must surrender, and would induce others to follow +their evil example. They well know that it is the policy of the +Spaniards just now to behave courteously to the English, and these +mercenaries would hope that their lives would be spared, though every +other man in the place were put to death. No, no; even though our +numbers be few let us rather trust to the stubborn hearts of our +Hollanders 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 a +short time the English commander, galloping ahead of his men, rode up to +the walls and in the name of William, Prince of Orange, demanded instant +admittance. + +"Whence do you come, Colonel Chester?" inquired the commandant, who +recognised the officer as the commander of a body of English troops in +the service of the Prince. + +"From Valkenburg," was the answer. "I have been obliged to abandon that +fortress, from being assured that it would be hopeless to attempt +holding out against the Spaniards, who I hear are advancing with an +overwhelming force, and I had neither provisions nor sufficient +ammunition to stand a lengthened siege, I therefore judged it prudent to +march here to assist you in the defence of your city." + +"I regret that I cannot admit you or your men, Colonel Chester," said +the commandant. "Our garrison is already of sufficient strength, and we +have 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 they +overtake us in the open country, and we cannot hope to reach any other +fortress in which we can defend ourselves, have threatened vengeance +against all who side with the Prince of Orange." + +"There was one fortress you might have defended, and that you thought +fit to abandon, regardless of the interests of the noble prince whom you +engaged to serve," answered the commandant, sternly. + +In vain the English colonel pleaded that the lives of his whole band +would be sacrificed if they were not admitted within, the city. The +commandant was firm in his resolution and declined their services, and +they at length finding that they pleaded in vain, forming themselves +into compact order moved on till they reached the causeway leading to +the Hague. At length they were lost to sight in the distance; some few +regretted that the commandant had refused the assistance of so many +sturdy men-at-arms, but the act inspired the citizens with fresh +courage, each man now feeling that on his own bravery and resolution the +safety of the city depended. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +Active and intelligent scouts had been sent out to watch the movements +of the enemy, and to bring back due notice of their approach to Leyden. +The citizens meantime were labouring as before at their fortifications; +they well knew that there was no time to spare to complete their work. +Van Arenberg, who had still managed to retain the confidence of the +burgomaster, was a constant visitor at his house during the short time +in the evening that he was at home. The baron, however, was convinced +that there was no longer a hope of persuading the stout-hearted +magistrate to submit, and yet anxious as he was to get outside and avoid +the miseries he saw impending, he could not bring himself to abandon the +prospects of winning the fair Lily. He still, therefore, endeavoured to +work on her feminine nature by pointing out to her the horrors and +sufferings in which she must share with the other inhabitants of the +place should she remain. + +"You have often spoken to me on this subject, Baron Van Arenberg," she +answered, regarding him calmly; "but know that I would rather trust to +the pikes and swords of the citizens of Leyden to defend our poor women +and children from the clutches of the Spanish soldiery than I would to +the tender mercies of their general. It is useless again to speak to me +on the subject; but since you fancy that you see so clearly the dreadful +doom prepared for those who remain, I advise you to quit the city while +there is time." + +The baron could say no more, but he muttered as he walked homeward that +evening, "I must take other means of carrying out my object." + +The next morning Jaqueline had repaired with her father to the ramparts +on the south side of the town. They were soon joined by Albert. + +"I met Arenberg just now," he said to Jaqueline, "looking as sulky as a +bear. He asked where you were gone, as he had not found you at home. I +could not tell him, as I did not know, and would not have told him if I +had known; but I saw him start off to the north side of the town, so +there is no fear of your being troubled by his presence." + +"But how do you know his presence troubled me?" asked Jaqueline. + +"Because I am very sure you cannot like a man who is a `Glipper' at +heart, whatever he may seem to be to people openly; and I have observed +the way you always speak to him, and very glad I have been to see it." + +Jaqueline was inclined to smile, and she could not chide Albert for his +frankness. + +"Hulloa! look up there!" he exclaimed, pointing along the road. "I see +two men on horseback and another on foot. What if they should prove to +be the captain and Berthold with a guide? Perhaps they will bring us +good news." + +"They do not come on as fast as I should have expected," said Jaqueline, +watching them intently. "Yet they seem to be cavaliers, not common +horse soldiers. Perhaps they have to wait for their guide." + +The two horsemen and their attendant on foot drew near. + +"It is Captain Van der Elst and my cousin Berthold!" exclaimed +Jaqueline, in a more joyous tone than she had spoken for many a day. +"The message they bring from the Prince will, I trust, encourage our +citizens." + +"Encouragement they will certainly bring if they come from William the +Silent, who is very sure to inspire all whom he addresses with the +spirit which animates his own dauntless mind. We will go down to the +gate to meet them," said the burgomaster. + +The captain and Berthold, with their companion, having answered the +challenge of the sentries, were forthwith admitted. Perceiving the +burgomaster and Jaqueline, they leaped from their steeds, and giving the +reins to their companion, advanced towards them. + +"We have been a much longer time in reaching the city than the Prince or +we ourselves expected," said the captain, after the usual greetings. +"We were pursued by a party of Spaniards, and had to take refuge in the +fortress of Polderwaert, from which for several days we were unable to +make our escape; but the message we bring will, I trust, encourage the +citizens and garrison of Leyden to defend the city until the Spaniards +are compelled to retire." + +"There is little doubt about that," said Berthold. "He has not told you +how, after we had taken refuge in the fortress, through his vigilance +and courage, the Spaniards, who attempted to surprise it, were driven +off, and had he not been charged with the message from the Prince, he +would have been detained to assist in its defence should it again be +attacked." + +"And who is that lanky fellow you brought with you, who is leading on +the horses after us?" asked Albert of his friend, as they followed the +burgomaster with Jaqueline and the captain. + +"A first rate fellow, Hans Bosch, he has done us good service twice +already, besides piloting us along last night by paths which I could not +have found by myself, though I know the country pretty well; he +volunteered to come in order to carry messages from the city, and very +useful we are likely to find him." + +As it was important at once to communicate the message brought by +Captain Van der Elst, the burgomaster summoned the chief inhabitants +forthwith to the Stadhuis. The captain having delivered his written +despatches, spoke as he had been directed, employing the very words the +Prince himself had used, and advancing the most powerful arguments to +induce the citizens not to yield to their foes. "He implores you," he +continued, "to hold out for at least three months, and he pledges his +word that he will within that time devise the means of delivering you +from the Spaniards." + +"For six months, if necessary, even if we have to eat the grass in our +squares, the shoes on our feet, the rats and dogs to be found in the +streets," was the reply. + +"I will announce your resolution to the Prince, and it will, I am sure, +encourage him to continue the efforts he is making for your relief," +answered the captain. "Had Prince Louis lived and joined him he would +have had an army at his disposal, but the forces he can at present +muster are only sufficient for the protection of Rotterdam and Delft." + +The address of the Prince was printed and circulated throughout the +city. After the meeting broke up, the burgomaster invited the young +captain to accompany Berthold to his house. + +"And who's your attendant, he appears to be a strange being?" + +"There are not many like Hans Bosch," remarked Berthold. "He has twice +saved us from falling into the hands of the Spaniards, and, if I mistake +not, will still render us good service, he can run like a deer and leap +like a young calf. There are few who can dodge the Spaniards as he can, +and if we get shut up in the city, he will manage to get out again and +slip through their ranks so as to let the Prince know what we are +about." + +"Berthold does not over-praise Hans Bosch," observed the captain. "I +commend him to your care, Burgomaster, while he remains in the city, and +he will be ready to make himself useful when his services are required." +It was the first evening since preparations for the defence were +commenced, that any of the inhabitants were able to take rest. Though +labourers were still employed on the works, they were nearly completed, +and Jaqueline felt that she might, without neglecting her self-imposed +duty, return home and resume her ordinary attire, so that she could +preside at her father's table. There were no guests besides Captain Van +der Elst and Albert--Berthold always resided with his uncle. + +"Can you now remain with us?" asked the burgomaster of Captain Van der +Elst. + +"Would that I could," answered Karl, his eyes turning for a moment +towards Jaqueline. "But our Prince requires my services and directed me +to return without delay, he has, as you know, but few officers. His +great object is forthwith to raise a force of sufficient strength to +drive the Spaniards from your gates; he did not inform me how it was to +be done, but it will be no easy task, for he has to garrison Rotterdam +and Delft, and to guard the immediate country. Were he to leave those +places unprotected, all might be lost." + +"We will trust to his sleepless energy and determination, both to devise +and carry out a project for our relief," observed the burgomaster. + +"An idea has occurred to me, Captain Van der Elst!" exclaimed Albert. +"I lately gave four beautiful carrier pigeons to the Vrouw Jaqueline, +and if she will consent to make them over to you, you can carry them +with you, and by their means inform us what progress the Prince is +making in his plans for our relief. Do you consent to give up your +pets, Vrouw Jaqueline?" + +"Most willingly," she answered, "if Captain Van der Elst will undertake +the charge of the birds." + +"I will tend them carefully, and trust that they may become the +messengers of happy news," he said, a smile for a moment lighting up his +countenance. + +Albert proposed that they should at once visit the pigeons with Captain +Van der Elst, and instruct him how they were to be fed and treated, as +it was possible that he might have to depart at an early hour the next +morning. As Jaqueline expressed her readiness to do as Albert proposed, +the whole party, with the exception of the burgomaster, accompanied her +to the tower of the house in which they were kept. In the same tower +was situated her boudoir, and hence she could enjoy a wider view over +the country than from any other part of the house. + +"We must put them into two small cages, so that they may be carried +easily on horseback, or by a man on foot, if necessary," said Albert. +"Come, Berthold, if your cousin will allow us, we will go and procure +such cages. I know where they are to be found, and we will be back in a +few minutes." As Jaqueline did not forbid them, they set off. + +It was the first time that Jaqueline and Karl Van der Elst had been +together. They had never spoken of love, and the present moment seemed +most inappropriate. Karl did not conceal from himself the dangers to +which he must be exposed in carrying out the projects of the Prince, nor +could he shut his eyes to the fearful risk all the inhabitants of Leyden +must run, even though relief might soon be brought to them. He, almost +against his intentions, spoke a few words to Jaqueline, the meaning of +which she could not fail to understand. + +"It may be weeks--months--before we meet again, but my feelings, when I +have learned once to esteem, are not given to change," she said. The +young captain had reason to be content with the look which accompanied +her words, even more than with the words themselves. The two lads soon +returned with the cages, which were so small that two pigeons could only +be pressed into each. + +"They will be hurt, poor things," cried Jaqueline. + +"Oh, no, no," said Albert, "they will support each other, and travel far +more comfortably than if they had more space, and were allowed to tumble +about." + +As the captain had to start the following morning, Arthur and Berthold +undertook to carry the birds to his lodgings that evening. + +Captain Van der Elst, accompanied by Hans Bosch, for whom a horse had +been provided, and who carried the two cages, set off at an early hour +the following morning. Secretly as his departure had been arranged, it +was discovered by Baron Van Arenberg, who had that morning risen at an +earlier hour than usual and gone out to the ramparts. The baron +recognised him, and muttered, as he observed him leaving the gate, "It +will be many a long day before he is again within the walls of Leyden, +for ere long the Spaniards, if I mistake not, will be in possession of +them." + +In the evening the burgomaster, accompanied by his daughter and nephew +and Albert, had ascended to the top of the Tower of Hengist, when +Albert, whose eyes were of the sharpest, exclaimed, pointing over the +city to the eastward, "See, see, there come a large body of men; they +must be either the troops the Prince has promised to send to our +assistance, or the Spaniards." + +The rest of the party gazed in the same direction. "They form the +advance guard of our foes," said the burgomaster. "Albert and Berthold, +hasten and give the information to the commandant; he will take good +care that the walls are forthwith manned, though the Spaniards, after a +day's march, will be in no mood to make an attack when they know full +well that we shall give them as warm a reception as did our friends at +Alkmaar." + +In a few minutes the bells of all the churches were ringing forth the +well-known call to arms, and the citizens, with their weapons in hand, +were seen hurrying to man the forts and ramparts. The burgomaster, with +Jaqueline, remained some time longer on the top of the tower that he +might judge what positions the Spanish general was likely to take. The +head of the leading column advanced till it reached a spot just beyond +range of the guns in the batteries, then it halted to wait for the +arrival of other troops; these quickly followed, the whole force +numbering not less than eight thousand men, Walloons and Germans. Some +immediately took possession of Leyderdorp, and of the other forts which +ought to have been destroyed, while others, armed with pickaxes and +spades, without a moment's loss of time began throwing up fresh lines +and forts, a third party being employed in pitching the tents and +forming a camp just beyond them. All night long a vigilant watch was +kept, as it was very possible that the Spaniards might attempt to +surprise the city in the hopes of capturing it at once, and saving +themselves from the annoyance and sufferings of a protracted siege. +Young Albert and Berthold together went the rounds to see that the +sentries were at their posts and wide awake, and that no post was left +without a sufficient guard. No experienced officers could have been +more on the alert. More than once they met the commandant, who, +entrusting nothing of importance to others, was himself going the +rounds. + +He gave the lads some words of approval. "While the young ones show +such zeal I feel confident that we shall keep the foe in check till they +are compelled ignominiously to retreat," he observed. + +For several days the citizens beheld the foreign troops gathering round +them, bringing their batteries closer to the walls, till Leyden was +invested by no less than sixty-two redoubts, while fresh troops were +seen coming in to swell the ranks of the besiegers. The city was now +placed on a strict allowance of food, all the provisions having been +purchased by the authorities, with an allowance of half a pound of meat, +half a pound of bread allotted to each full-grown man, and to the rest +in due proportion. At length the soldiers, and even some of the +burghers began to murmur at their own inactivity; to give them +confidence the commandant allowed a sortie to be made, promising a +reward to each man who brought in the head of a Spaniard. The men of +Leyden waited till nightfall, having previously carefully surveyed the +point it was proposed to attack. All was still in the city, the +Spaniards might have supposed that the besieged were sleeping, when +suddenly the gate at which the sortie was to be made was thrown open, +three hundred men eager for the fray noiselessly rushed out, not a word +was spoken, not a shout raised till they were upon their foe. The +Spaniards, the work of the day over, had piled their arms, and had +scarcely time to fall into their ranks before their enemies were upon +them; though a score or more fell yet they were too well disciplined to +remain long in a state of confusion, and the officer leading the sortie +deemed it prudent to call back his men. They returned without the loss +of one of their number, bringing back at least a dozen Spanish heads, +such was the savage commencement of the struggle. Night after night +similar enterprises were undertaken, not always with the same result, +though the Hollanders were invariably successful, so silently and well +executed were all their sorties, but several brave men fell, and the +commandant, from fear of losing too many of his troops, deemed it +necessary to prohibit any from leaving the gates without his express +order. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +The inhabitants of Leyden were already fearfully hard pressed for food. +Their bread was entirely consumed; they had but a small supply of malt +cake, with a few cows--kept as long as possible for their milk--besides +these an equal number of horses and sheep; but every day these +provisions were becoming more and more scanty, and unless they could +speedily be relieved, starvation threatened them. The burgomaster and +Council were assembled when a letter which had been sent in from Valdez, +with a flag of truce, was received. The burgomaster read it aloud. It +offered an amnesty to all Hollanders, except a few mentioned by name, +provided they would return to their allegiance; it promised forgiveness, +fortified by a Papal Bull which had been issued by Gregory the +Thirteenth to those Netherland sinners who duly repented and sought +absolution for their sins, even though they sinned more than seven times +seven. Besides this public letter were received epistles despatched by +the "Glippers" from the camp to their rebellious acquaintances in the +city, exhorting them to submission, and imploring them to take pity upon +their poor old fathers, their daughters, and their wives. + +"What say you, my friends?" exclaimed the burgomaster, who read these +letters aloud. "The Spanish general offers us free pardon for defending +our hearths and homes as we have hitherto done, and by God's grace we +will continue to do. The same plausible offers Don Frederic made to the +citizens of Haarlem. And what happened? The slaughter which overtook +old and young alike, their city plundered, their homes ruined, can +testify as to the value of such offers. Shall we share their fate, or +shall we hold out like men until the relief, which assuredly will come, +arrives, although we have only malt cake to live upon, and but little of +that, and a few cows, horses, goats, and dogs; and as to the remark of +these `Glippers,' the best pity we can show our poor old fathers, +daughters, and wives is to keep them from the clutches of the Spanish +soldiery." + +"We will fight to the last! We will fight to the last!" was the +unanimous response taken up by all the citizens in the streets. It was +agreed that no answer should be sent to the Spanish general; indeed some +proposed hanging the herald, who was glad to make his escape with a +single line in Latin, on a sheet of paper, handed to him-- + +"When the trapper seeks to lure his bird, he softly plays his pipe." + +Good care was taken that the herald should see nothing going on within +the walls, or be able to report a word about the haggard countenances of +the defenders. From their frowning looks and taunting expressions he +was probably glad to escape with his life. Meantime the condition of +the inhabitants became worse and worse. + +Jaqueline, with other maidens and matrons of rank, had formed themselves +into a band to carry such relief as they could obtain for the sufferers. +Day after day they nobly prosecuted their self-imposed duties, and many +by their means were aided who might otherwise have perished. Returning +one evening to her tower to attend her remaining pigeons, which as yet +she had not allowed to be killed in the hopes that they might serve some +useful purpose, after feeding them as was her wont, she was seated at +the window, inhaling the pure air which the lower part of the city had +failed to afford, when she observed a white spot in the sky glittering +in the rays of the setting sun. Nearer and nearer it came till she +perceived that it was a bird. It soon flew in at the window and +alighted in her arms. It was one of her own pigeons; beneath its wing +she discovered, securely fastened by a silken thread, a small folded +paper. Quickly untieing and releasing her bird, which she placed with +its companions, she hurried down with the document to her father. It +was, as she hoped, from Captain Van der Elst, written by the directions +of the Prince. He assured the citizens that he was already preparing +the promised aid, and that he hoped all difficulties would soon be +overcome. He again reminded the garrison of Leyden that the fate of +their country depended on their holding out. The captain did not say, +what was really the case, that the Prince himself was lying ill of a +fever at Rotterdam, and that unforeseen delays had occurred. As may be +supposed he added a few words of his own to be read only by Jaqueline, +who would, he trusted, receive the epistle. The burgomaster lost no +time in communicating the contents of the letter to the brave +commandant. The despatch served to revive the drooping spirits of the +garrison; still there was a further delay. Again the Spaniards attacked +the walls and were once more repulsed, but the numbers of the garrison +were slowly though surely decreasing, yet neither the burgomaster nor +John Van der Does entertained a thought of submission. As only one of +the pigeons had returned, Jaqueline hoped that another might soon appear +bringing more certain news of relief. She paid, as may be supposed, +frequent visits to her tower, gazing in the direction when she hoped her +winged messenger would appear. Her numerous duties compelled her +frequently to be absent, but each time she returned home she hurried +there, as often to be disappointed. She had risen one morning rather +later than usual from her couch, when going to the tower she perceived +that the number of her pigeons was increased, quickly searching out the +new arrival she discovered, as she had expected, a letter below its +wing, it was longer than the previous one. As the burgomaster, to whom +she carried it, read the news it contained his eyes brightened. It was +from the Prince himself; it said that the sluices at Rotterdam and +Schiedam had been opened, that the dykes were all pierced, that the +water was rising upon the Land-Scheiding, the great outer barrier which +separated the city from the sea; that he had a fleet of two-hundred +vessels in readiness stored with provisions, under the command of +Admiral Boisot, and that as soon as there was sufficient depth of water, +the fleet would fight its way to the walls of Leyden and bring the +citizens relief. + +"This is indeed joyous news!" exclaimed the burgomaster. He at once +directed Berthold to summon the city musicians to meet him, with their +instruments, in the market-place, to which, accompanied by Jaqueline, he +immediately repaired. He knew that many of the chief citizens would +soon collect there. Taking the letter, he read it publicly, when the +bands of music striking up, marched through the streets playing lively +melodies and martial airs. The bells rang out merry tunes, and salvos +of cannon were fired not at the foe but at brief intervals, to give +indubitable signs that the city was rejoicing. + +"These scenes will astonish our enemies, who will at first be unable to +comprehend their import, but I've an idea they will soon find out, and +may deem it wise to decamp," exclaimed Berthold. Albert proposed making +a sortie to attack the Spaniards before they had recovered from their +astonishment at hearing the joyful sounds from the city, and seeing the +waters flowing over the land. + +"No! no!" answered the commandant. "Many valuable lives might be +sacrificed, and the ocean will ere long fight for us far more +effectually than our swords." + +The burgomaster, generally accompanied by Jaqueline, paid frequent +visits to Hengist Tower. + +Already from its summit the waters could be seen covering spaces which +had hitherto been dry land, the canals having in many places risen ten +inches and were overflowing their banks, though the great dyke five +miles off still prevented the flood from reaching the Spanish camp. The +had one evening gone there with Berthold and Albert, who were especially +eager in watching the rise of the flood. Already in the far distance +the rays of the sun glittered on the rising waters, where hitherto only +green fields and orchards had been seen, but between that shining +expanse and the city lay about five miles off the Land-Scheiding, a +strong dyke which had been spoken of, and within it were also several +circumvallations thrown up to defend the city from the encroachments of +the ocean. These all had to be passed before the fleet could reach the +walls. Though there were canals navigable at all times by vessels of +small burden, the Land-Scheiding was still a foot and a half above the +water, forming an impassable barrier, besides which in the intermediate +space were numerous villages held by the king's troops. While the two +lads were standing somewhat apart from the burgomaster and Jaqueline +they observed a person approaching the tower. "It is that fellow Van +Arenberg," whispered Albert. "I wonder he has ventured to remain so +long in the city, he might all this time have been with the Spaniards, +whom he is so constantly praising and advising the people to confide in. +When the fighting is going on he is never to be seen on the ramparts, +and though he receives his rations I suspect that it is only a +make-believe, and that he has a secret store of provisions in his own +house." + +"It would not do to say that to the burgomaster," observed Berthold. +"He still believes him to be honest, though wanting in spirit, and +would, I suspect, even now let Jaqueline marry him if he were to press +his suit and she were to consent." + +"That is not very likely to happen," said Albert. "She would be more +ready to marry Captain Van der Elst." + +"I do not know," answered Berthold. "During our journey he never, that +I recollect, once spoke to me about her; but here comes the baron, we +had better keep out of his way, for if I meet him I shall be inclined to +say something he won't like." + +The baron, who certainly seemed to have suffered less than most of the +inhabitants of Leyden from scanty food and constant watching, now +reaching the top of the tower approached the burgomaster and Jaqueline. +Having in his usual courteous and polished manner paid his respects to +the Lily and her father, he pointed southward. + +"You are looking out there, I conclude, for the appearance of admiral +Boisot and his Sea Beggars, but I fear that we shall look in vain; his +flotilla may reach the Land-Scheiding, but beyond that no mortal power +can enable his ships to advance; even should they pierce it, as the +Prince expects, it is impossible that they can pass all those other +barriers with the victorious troops of Valdez opposing them and +garrisoning every village and fort." + +"God can make a way if man cannot," answered the burgomaster. + +"But He may not think fit to make one for those daring outlaws to reach +Leyden," said the baron. "Would that I could hope that relief was +likely to come, but I have long despaired, as you know, of obtaining it, +and I have sought you, Burgomaster, to entreat you that even should you +consider it your duty to remain you will allow me to escort your fair +daughter to some place where she may escape the unspeakable miseries +which are gathering round the inhabitants of this unhappy city. I can, +through some influential friends, obtain a safe pass from Valdez, and +can also through their means arrange for her secret departure from the +city, so that whatever happens she will at all events be preserved." + +"Even should she wish it, my duty to my fellow-citizens will prevent me +from permitting her to go," answered the burgomaster. "Her departure +would tend to dishearten those who have already sufficient to try them; +but you may ask her." + +Jaqueline had, while the baron was speaking to her father, withdrawn +from his side, and was about to join her cousin and Albert when the +young noble approached her. In carefully measured words he spoke of his +love and devotion, and offering his hand and heart, entreated her at +once to become his wife that he might be able to rescue her from the +dangers by which she was surrounded. + +"I have your father's permission," he added, "and whatever opinion he +may consider it his duty to express publicly I cannot but believe that +his mind will be greatly relieved when he knows that you are beyond the +reach of harm." + +"It may be that you have my father's permission to speak to me," she +answered, "but he would never counsel me to play a dastard's part and +dishearten my fellow-citizens, whom I am bound to encourage. +Understand, Ernst Van Arenberg, sooner would I remain among those who +are stricken down every day by famine and pestilence, and share their +fate, if God so wills it, than wed one who traitorously counsels +submission to the foe." + +As she spoke she fixed her clear blue eyes on him with a look the +meaning of which he could not misinterpret, for it showed the scorn his +proposal had inspired. He might have seen that his cause was hopeless, +yet he could not even now abandon her, and was again about to speak when +Berthold and Albert came up with an independent air, the former +exclaiming-- + +"Look out there, Jaqueline! Look out, your eyes are keen enough to see +the sun shining on some score of white sails far away to the southward; +they form, I doubt not, the vanguard of a relieving fleet, and before +long the Spaniards, the `Glippers,' and their friends will be scampering +off to escape being overwhelmed by the rising tide." + +"It is high time for you, Baron, to go and give the Spaniards warning if +you wish to serve them a good turn," said Albert. + +The baron frowned at the lad, who looked so unconscious of having said +anything disagreeable that he did not venture to reply. At length the +burgomaster, addressing Jaqueline, proposed to return home, and desired +his nephew and Albert to follow him, but a word from Jaqueline prevented +him from inviting the baron, as he might otherwise have done, to his +house. Van Arenberg descended the steps close behind them, but +receiving no intimation that he might accompany them from Jaqueline or +her father, he was compelled to lift his beaver, which he did with a +somewhat haughty air, and without taking the slightest notice of the +lads, walked away in an opposite direction. The burgomaster, who had +overheard some of the boy's remarks, chided them for speaking so rudely +to the baron. + +"Though the opinion you have formed of him is, I fear, right, it becomes +you not thus to address a person so much your senior in age as well as +in rank," he said. + +Jaqueline, however, interfered, and told her father that she was +thankful to them for coming so opportunely to her assistance, and +preventing her from uttering expressions which the baron might have +deemed far more severe than anything her cousin and Albert could say. + + + +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 she +recognised the handwriting of Captain Van der Elst. It stated that the +fleet led by an enormous vessel, the "Ark of Delft," with shot-proof +bulwarks, and moved by paddle-wheels turned by a crank, had reached the +Land-Scheiding, and that he hoped, ere long, the large dyke would be +broken through and that the way would be opened to the very walls of the +city. The Prince also sent a message urging the citizens yet longer to +hold out, reminding them that with Leyden all Holland must also perish. +This letter for a time greatly encouraged the suffering garrison; those +who understood the nature of the undertaking were aware that much +depended on the direction of the wind. An easterly gale was calculated +to blow back the waters and prevent their rising, while one from the +south or west would force them on towards the city. The wind was now +blowing from the cast and the tides were at their lowest, so that the +waters were making but slow progress. Still the loyal-hearted among the +population, trusting to their Prince's promises, were assured that if it +was in the power of human help they would in time be relieved. The +"Glippers," however, who professed to know the country well, ridiculed +the desperate project. Those in the town taunted their fellow-citizens, +frequently crying out, "Go up to the tower and tell us if you can see +the ocean coming over the dry land to our relief." Day after day they +did go up, hoping, praying, fearing, and at last almost despairing of +relief from God or man. Letters were also daily received from those +with Valdez urging the inhabitants to spare themselves further +suffering. Young Albert and Berthold had made themselves especially +useful by going round the ramparts, not once or twice a day, but many +times during the day and night, at all hours, so that they might not +only see that the sentinels were keeping a vigilant watch, but that they +might be able to discover treachery should any have been attempted. +They had one evening gone to the top of Hengist's Tower, a spot they +were especially fond of visiting at all hours of the day and night, when +they saw the hitherto dark sky to the southward suddenly illumined by +bright 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 up +in various directions. There was more firing, not always in the same +place, the tide of battle was evidently moving on. The lads were at +length joined by several citizens. + +"The Sea Beggars are coming!" shouted Albert, unwittingly, "they are +fighting their way towards us." + +"We must not be too sanguine," observed one of the citizens. "There may +be 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 and +his 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 solved +that night, and the whole of the next day went by without any +information having been received of what had taken place. + +The following night the two lads were passing along the top of the wall +in the neighbourhood of the Cowgate, looking southward, when they caught +sight of the figure of a person close below them who had suddenly come +into view. + +"Send me down a rope and be quick about it, or I may be caught by the +Spaniards, 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 hurried +away, while Berthold summoned two or three of the guard to the +assistance of the stranger. Albert quickly returned with a rope of +sufficient length and strength. Scarcely was it lowered when the +stranger hauled himself up with the agility of a monkey. + +"Don't you remember me?" he said, looking at Berthold. "I am Hans +Bosch, you know that you can trust me; I have accompanied Captain Van +der Elst, and he will be up here before long. I have led the Spanish +guard a pretty dance to draw off their attention, that he might the more +easily 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 of +his message, which I may give if he does not appear, but I hope that he +will deliver it himself." + +This news so greatly excited Berthold and Albert that they were much +inclined to set out with Hans to look for their friend, but he advised +them 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 the +top of the wall. He shook Albert and Berthold warmly by the hand. + +"I must lose no time," he said, "in reporting to the burgomaster and +commandant 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 your +ciders." + +The two lads hastened on with their friend, and fortunately found the +burgomaster in consultation with the commandant. The boys stood eagerly +listening while the captain delivered his message. + +"You heard that the admiral had received directions from the Prince to +take possession of the Land-Scheiding. This was done two nights ago. +But a few Spaniards were found stationed on the dyke, and they were +quickly driven off when we fortified ourselves upon it. In the morning +the enemy endeavoured to recover the lost ground, and attacked us in +considerable force, but we drove them back, they leaving hundreds of +dead on the field. No time was lost in breaking through the dyke in +several places. The water rushing on, the fleet sailed through the +gaps; but, to our disappointment, we found another dyke, that of the +Greenway, three quarters of a mile further on, rising at least a foot +above the waters. This had also been left ill-protected, and our +admiral promptly attacking it, took possession, and levelling it in many +places, brought the flotilla over its ruins. Soon afterwards, however, +the further progress of the fleet was arrested by the shallowness of the +water; but our admiral, knowing the anxiety you must be feeling, +dispatched me to inform you of this, and to assure you that he waits but +the rising of the tide and a favourable wind to bring you succour." + +The news was thus far satisfactory, and the captain was warmly thanked +for bringing it, but that he received his reward when at the +burgomaster's invitation he accompanied him home, there could be little +doubt. + +The wind, however, still blew from the east, and the inhabitants well +knew that as long as it came from that quarter they must look in vain +for the wished-for ocean to reach their walls. + +Day after day the siege continued; the inhabitants were suffering not +only from famine, but from pestilence, produced by the scantiness of +their food. Hapless infants were starved to death, mothers dropped dead +in the streets with their dead children in their arms, and in many a +house the watchmen in their rounds found whole families of corpses, +father, mother, and children, lying side by side, struck down by +pestilence. Bread, malt cake, and horse-flesh had entirely disappeared. +A small number of cows had been kept as long as possible for their +milk, but a few of these were killed from day to day, and distributed in +minute proportions, scarcely, however, sufficient to support life among +the famishing population, while their hides chopped and boiled were +greedily devoured. Green leaves were stripped from the trees, every +living herb was converted into human food; dogs and rats were caught and +eaten. Still, although papers offering a free pardon were sent into the +city, the inhabitants spurned them, and refused to listen to treacherous +promises of the foe. + +The commandant was anxious to send a trusty messenger to the Prince, and +while pointing out the urgent necessity for relief, promising to resist +to the last. + +"Will you return, Captain Van der Elst?" he asked of Karl, who was in +attendance on him. "I dare not order any man on so desperate an +undertaking, for the Spaniards keep a vigilant watch, and will have no +mercy on any one whom they capture." + +"If it were to certain death, I would go," answered Karl. "And I place +my services at your disposal. At the same time the danger is not so +great as you suppose. Several of the forts in the lower ground have +been flooded, and the trenches filled with water, so that the Spaniards +have been compelled to evacuate them, and thus to those who are +acquainted with their position the way is far more open than it has been +heretofore, while numerous sentries at the outposts have been +withdrawn." + +"To-night be prepared to set out; a skiff shall be in readiness having +served at sea, you know well how to manage her," answered the +commandant. + +Karl took his leave, and repaired to the house of the burgomaster to +receive any message he might desire to send. He might have had another +motive. He found the chief magistrate and his daughter seated alone. +Though suffering from the severe privation she had undergone in common +with the rest of the population, if possible the Lily looked more lovely +than ever. She smiled as the young soldier entered, but her lip +trembled on hearing of the duty he had undertaken, yet not a word did +she utter to dissuade him from it. + +"My prayers will be offered that Heaven protect you," she murmured, in a +low voice as he approached her, while the burgomaster was writing some +brief notes. + +"I trust that I may return, perhaps ere many hours are over, on board +the fleet to bring you succour," he answered. "You will know of our +approach, for our guns will thunder against the fortresses of the enemy +when the waters rise sufficiently to enable us to advance." + +"The wind still blows from the cast and keeps back the fleet," she +observed. + +"But the wind may ere long change, and depend upon it our brave admiral +and his `Sea Beggars' will not linger the moment there is sufficient +water to float their ships," said Karl, in an encouraging tone. When +her eyes were lifted towards his countenance, their expression was very +different to that with which she had regarded the baron. With natural +reluctance Karl, having received his dispatches, at length rose to take +leave and prepare for his enterprise. As there were traitors within the +gates he kept all his arrangements secret. They were known only to his +two young friends and Hans Bosch, who undertook to accompany him. Not +till late on the following day was it even known that he had set out +when the burgomaster announced that he had despatched another messenger +to entreat their friends to hasten to their relief. Desperate as had +been the state of matters in the besieged city, they hourly became +worse. Leyden, indeed, appeared to be at its last gasp. The noble +burgomaster maintained his heroic bearing, ever moving about to +encourage 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 for +him. + +Jaqueline had from the first employed herself in going among the sick +and suffering, and carrying such relief as she was able to afford, and +consoling the afflicted ones from that Book in which true comfort alone +can be found. In these active duties she found her chief solace. Not +only was she enduring physical suffering! but no certain tidings had +been received of Captain Van der Elst, and reports were current that he +had been captured by the Spaniards, it being well known that if such was +the case a cruel death must have been his fate. One evening the Lily +was returning to her home from one of her expeditions of mercy, attended +by Margaret, an old and faithful servant, who was her constant +companion. As darkness was already overspreading the city, she hurried +on, unwilling to be out so late at night, when she was accosted by a +poor woman, who, with a piteous tale, too likely to be true, entreated +that she would visit her perishing family. Without hesitation she +desired Margaret to return home and obtain such scanty provisions as +remained, while she accompanied the suppliant. Margaret, having +collected a small amount of food, hurried back to rejoin her mistress at +the address given by the woman who had spoken to her, but no living +beings were in the house; three corpses alone lay on the floor. +Margaret, without a moment's loss of time, went to all the neighbouring +houses, inquiring for the Vrouw Jaqueline, but no one had seen her. +Almost frantic she hurried through the streets of the city, but her +search was fruitless. At last she went back with the overwhelming +intelligence, which she entreated Berthold to break to his uncle. The +burgomaster, who had hitherto held out so bravely, for a moment seemed +stunned, but quickly recovering himself he directed Berthold to send all +the servants of the house to him, but no one was able to afford the +slightest information to account for Jaqueline's disappearance. + +"I would lay my life that the Baron Van Arenberg has had something to do +with it," exclaimed Berthold. "If you will let me I will get Albert and +we will go to his house. We shall soon judge by the way he receives the +intelligence whether he knows anything about the matter." Berthold +received the leave he requested, while the burgomaster himself forthwith +sent a band of watchmen round in all directions through the town in +search of Jaqueline, while he called at numerous houses and visited all +the friends on whom he could rely to obtain their assistance in the +search. The first to make their appearance at his house were Albert and +Berthold. + +"We were right," they exclaimed. "The baron's servants know nothing of +him; he left home at an early hour this afternoon, and has not since +returned. Most of his domestics, who were `Glippers,' have long ago +made their escape. The watchmen in the course of the night came in with +equally unsatisfactory reports--not a trace of the Vrouw Jaqueline had +been 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 he +left his home to attend to his magisterial duties, that a deep domestic +sorrow 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 reproach +him 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 such +suffering," shouted others. + +Unheeding them, the burgomaster proceeded to a triangular space in the +centre of the town, into which many of the principal streets opened, and +in which stood the church of Saint Pancras, two ancient lime trees +growing on either side of the entrance now stripped bare of leaves by +the famishing people. Ascending the steps, Adrian Van der Werf stopped +while he regarded the numberless angry faces turned towards him. For a +moment he stood there, his figure tall and imposing, his visage dark and +haggard, his eye yet tranquil and commanding, and then waving his +broad-brimmed hat for silence, he exclaimed, "What would you, my +friends? Why do you murmur that we do not break our vows and surrender +our city to the Spaniards, a fate more horrible than the agony which she +now endures? I tell you I have made a vow to hold the city, and may God +give 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 to +me, not so that of the city entrusted to our care. I know that we shall +soon starve, but starvation is preferable to the dishonoured death which +is the only alternative. Your menaces move me not. My life is at your +disposal. Here is my sword, plunge it into my breast and divide my +flesh among you, take my body to appease your hunger, but expect no +surrender as long as I remain alive." + +The words of the brave burgomaster inspired a new courage in the hearts +of those who heard him. Shouts of applause and defiance rose from the +famishing, but enthusiastic crowd, they hurried to the ramparts to hurl +renewed defiance at the enemy. + +"Ye call us rat-eaters and dog-eaters," they cried; "so long as ye hear +a dog bark or a cat mew within the walls ye may know that the city holds +out; when the last hour has come, we will with our own hands set fire to +the houses and perish in the flames rather than suffer our homes to be +polluted and our liberties to be crushed." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +Truly it has been said that Leyden was sublime in its despair. Day +after day went by and yet no relief came, but the wind, which had long +blown steadily from the cast, suddenly changed to the westward. At +length Albert and Berthold, who had regularly visited Jaqueline's tower, +discovered the fourth pigeon. They eagerly examined its wing, beneath +it was a letter which came from the admiral. The fleet had reached +North Aa, and in a few days at furthest he expected to reach the gates +of the city. The burgomaster read the letter as before in the +market-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 the +lowest ebb. + +We must now return to the evening when Jaqueline, having sent her +attendant Margaret to obtain provisions for the suffering family, +accompanied the woman who had supplicated her. Suddenly, as she was +passing close to a canal, she found herself lifted from her feet, while +a thick cloak was thrown over her. In vain she attempted to shriek for +help, in another instant she heard the splash of oars. + +"Do not fear, you are in the safe keeping of one who desires to save you +from horrible suffering and death," whispered a voice in her ear. +Notwithstanding these assurances, Jaqueline entreated that she might be +placed on shore, and endeavoured by her cries to attract the attention +of any who might be passing. Vain were her efforts, the thick folds of +the cloak prevented her voice being heard, while a heavy mist, together +with the shades of night, shrouded the canal as the boat glided forward. +Jaqueline knew that the canal extended out beneath the city walls, and +she hoped that the boat would be challenged as it passed under them and +be compelled to put to shore. Keeping silent, she resolved to take the +opportunity of making another effort to escape from her captors; as the +spot was approached, however, she felt a hand pressed on her mouth. In +vain she struggled to free herself, she heard the sign and counter-sign +given, and the boat impelled by four sturdy rowers soon left the city +walls behind. Strange as it might seem, thinking more of the safety of +her townsmen than of herself, the idea occurred to her that if persons +could thus, undiscovered, leave the city, an armed force might be +introduced by the gates, and disastrous might be the consequences. She +was, she had reason to fear, being carried to the Spanish camp, but who +could have been guilty of so treacherous an act? She was not left long +in doubt, the person who had before addressed her in a subdued tone now +raised his voice, and she recognised it as that of Van Arenberg. For +some time she could not sufficiently command herself to speak, at +length, however, she said in a calm tone, "I will not pretend to be +ignorant that it is you who have committed this unwarrantable act of +violence, and I insist that you carry me back to the city and restore me +to my father, his mental anxiety already so overwhelming, when he finds +that I am lost, may bring him to the grave." + +"I have but acted, my beloved Jaqueline, as you would secretly wish, to +save 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," answered +Jaqueline, firmly. "Had I before been willing in obedience to my +father's wishes to try and love you, the outrage you have committed +would have changed my sentiments, and I again insist that you return +with 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 the +boat, and we should certainly be captured were we to make the attempt. +We will now, therefore, proceed towards Delft, where you will be among +friends, and safe from the foes you dread." + +Jaqueline greatly doubted that the baron spoke the truth. Again and +again she insisted, notwithstanding all the risks they might run, that +they should return to the city. She saw at length that all +expostulation was useless, the darkness of night prevented her from +observing the direction they were taking. Suddenly the sound of heavy +guns broke on her ear, followed by the rattle of musketry. Looking +southward she saw bright flashes glancing over the water in rapid +succession; she thought, too, that she could even hear the shouts of the +combatants, the clashing of swords and battle-axes. It was evident that +a fierce fight was raging in that direction. The rowers, who had +hitherto been exerting themselves to the utmost, paused, and exchanged a +few hurried words. It appeared to her that they had lost their way, for +many new channels, deepened by the inflowing waters, branched off on +every hand. + +Van Arenberg ordered them to row on. + +"In what direction shall we go?" asked one of the men. "We may chance +to run our noses into the lion's den. See, fires are blazing on all +sides, 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 appeared +to be raging most furiously. Already round shot and bullets came flying +across the water, and a stray one might chance to hit the boat. The men +appeared undecided which way to go, when one of them cried out, "There's +a boat astern! She may, perchance, be that of an enemy, and if so we +shall to a certainty be knocked on the head." + +"Row then for your lives!" cried Van Arenberg, for he had equally to +fear the Hollanders and Spaniards; the latter, not aware of his +treachery, might, before he could show his pass, shoot him down or run +him through with their pikes, while his own countrymen would treat him +as a hated renegade. The crew, needing no second bidding, bent to their +oars 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 eager +to escape as the baron, but sturdily as the crew of the villagers whom +he had hired plied their oars, the others came on faster. The night was +so dark that it was impossible to distinguish objects ahead. At any +moment they might find themselves stranded on the shore, or stopped by +some 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 the +dykes, 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 fellows +astern have a much lighter boat than ours." + +"Fifty guilders if you beat them off," cried the baron. "Lady, you must +lie down at the bottom of the boat, or you may chance to be struck by a +shot, 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," answered +Jaqueline, with a tone of scorn, retaining her seat. There was little +time to hold parley on the subject. In another moment the boat was +alongside, and a voice in Dutch shouted, "Yield! inform us whither you +are bound." + +"Treachery! treachery!" cried the baron. "They are Spaniards; we may +yet 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 whirled +from his hand, the next instant he was driven overboard by a thrust from +a pike through his breast. A despairing cry was heard, and before the +people could clutch his clothes he was swept away by the current. In a +few words Jaqueline told of the outrage to which she had been subjected. +Captain Van der Elst accounted for the circumstance of his having so +providentially rescued her by saying that he had been sent to +reconnoitre the enemy's position, and supposing that the boat was manned +by Spaniards he had given chase. She entreated that he would proceed in +his duty. + +"No harm can come to me while I am by your side," she said, scarcely +thinking of the interpretation which might be put upon the words she +uttered. He pressed her hand. Having ordered the villagers' boat to +follow at a distance, warning them of the punishment they would receive +should they attempt to escape, he continued on till he had performed the +duty on which he had been despatched. Morning was approaching when he +returned to the fleet, which had just broken through the second great +dyke and destroyed the villages of Zoetermeer and Benthuyzen, and now +borne on by the rising waters was advancing towards Leyden. Karl +conveyed Jaqueline on board the admiral's ship, manned by a +savage-looking crew, the wild Beggars of the Sea. Ferocious, however, +as they were to their foes, to her they were civil and courteous. Eight +hundred of them, mostly Zealanders, manned the fleet. The greater +number were scarred, hacked, and even maimed in the unceasing conflicts +in which their lives had been passed, while they were renowned far and +wide as much for their nautical skill as their ferocity. Their +appearance was both eccentric and terrific; they wore crescents in their +caps with the inscription, "Rather Turkish than Popish." They were +known 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 ten +guns, and was propelled, the smaller by ten, the larger by eighteen +oars, the whole fleet having on board 2,500 veterans, experienced both +on land and water. Jaqueline was conducted to the admiral's cabin; it +boasted neither of magnificence nor elegance; indeed, very little of +comfort, for the vessels had been fitted out for rough work, and no +ladies had been expected on board. The stout old admiral welcomed his +guest. + +"You may rest here in security, my pretty maiden," he said; "and I trust +ere 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 to +advance, and Jaqueline's heart beat high with hope, for the second dyke +was 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 over +the submerged country till it reached North Aa. Scarcely, however, had +the ships arrived there than once more the easterly wind began to blow, +driving the waters away from the city. Lower and lower they sank, until +the ships grounded, and further progress became impossible. The delay +sorely tried the patience of the eager crews, and many leaping into the +water, attempted to lift their ships over the shallows, but their +strength was unequal to the task. There they lay stranded, with +scarcely nine inches of water round them. Jaqueline's anguish of mind +was increased from knowing too well the consequences of the delay to the +starving inhabitants of the beleaguered city. Though confident of the +resolution of her father and the commandant, she was aware of the +direful effect which starvation had already produced among the +inhabitants. Would they continue to hold out? Ten thousand Spaniards +still surrounded the walls, and at any moment might break in, and +massacre and rapine would sweep over her native city. Night and day she +prayed that the dreaded catastrophe might be averted, yet day after day +passed, and the fleet lay in sight of the walls, but too far distant for +their cannon to reach the enemy. Even Admiral Boisot was in despair. +He despatched a letter to the Prince, stating his belief that if the +spring tides, soon to be expected, should not, together with the strong +south-westerly wind, come immediately to their relief, he should be +compelled to abandon the expedition. Not many hours after the letter +had been despatched a large boat was seen rowing swiftly towards the +fleet from the southward. She soon came alongside the admiral's ship. +A cry, "It is the Prince! our noble Prince," burst from the throats of +the sea rovers as they welcomed him on board, though they observed with +sorrow that his commanding figure was fearfully emaciated, his noble +face pale as death. He had, indeed, only just risen from a bed of +sickness, and few knew how near to death's door he had been, his disease +aggravated by a report which had reached him that Leyden had fallen, yet +all the time he had been directing the plans for bringing the fleet +across the land. His countenance assumed a cheerful aspect as he spoke +to the almost despairing admiral and his officers. + +"I know the people of Leyden," he said, "they will hold out till you can +reach them. Ere long the sea will rise. Already the water is deeper +than when I came on board." + +The Prince was right, he had observed clouds gathering in the +south-western horizon, and ere long a strong wind from that quarter +began to blow, the tide flowed in, the water swept over the dykes, +cheers rose from the throats of the seamen. Once more their ships were +afloat, sails were spread, the oars run out, and now they went gliding +on led by the "Ark of Delft," until Zoetermeer was reached. Here a +desperate effort was made by the Spaniards to stop their progress, but +that village and others in the neighbourhood were attacked, the enemy +driven out, and they were set on fire. The blaze lighted up the +midnight sky, announcing to the fainting garrison that relief was +approaching. Barrier after barrier was passed, and for many an hour in +the midst of the howling storm and pitchy darkness a fierce battle +raged. The victorious Hollanders pushed further on, but still two forts +of great strength, those of Zoeterwoude and Lammen, lay between them and +the city, garrisoned by the enemy's best troops and armed with heavy +artillery. They must be captured before the city could be gained. +Stout as were the rovers' hearts, their vessels, though large, were +slightly built, and, except the "Ark of Delft," were incapable of +standing the heavy shot which would be hurled against them. The Spanish +vessels, hitherto kept in reserve, advanced to the fight, but were +quickly sunk, their crews miserably perishing, and ere a shot was fired +against Zoeterwoude the Spaniards were seen in full flight along the top +of the dyke leading towards the Hague. The rovers followed, leaping +from their vessels and slaying all whom they could overtake, many of the +fugitives perishing in the fast advancing waves as the dykes crumbled +beneath their feet. But yet another fort, that of Lammen, the strongest +of all, remained, held by the main body of the enemy. The fleet +approached, but the admiral dared not expose his ships to the storms of +shot hurled towards them, and therefore waited for the return of night, +resolving either to make a desperate assault--though he almost despaired +of success--or, should the waters rise, to carry his ships round by a +circuitous way to the opposite side; but this as yet the depth of water +would not allow. + +That day was one of the deepest anxiety, although the rain and wind +which came from the south-west were undoubtedly causing the waters to +rise. As evening drew on the storm increased, the night became darker +and darker. Loud crashes were heard, lights were seen flitting across +the 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 had +burst into the city, and thus that all the efforts they had made were in +vain. Still the strange lights appeared and vanished in the darkness; +what they portended no one could say. At dawn the admiral issued the +order to assault the fortress; the eager crews sprang into their boats +fully expecting a desperate encounter, but no shot saluted them, all was +silent within. Had the Spaniards really then, at the last moment, +captured the city? The fleet pushed on, though it was believed that +some fearful treachery was intended and that they might suddenly be +attacked by an overwhelming force. + +As soon as the ships got near enough, Captain Van der Elst, who had +undertaken to lead the assault, plunging into the waters waded towards +the fort. As he was striding on a voice from the summit hailed him and +he saw young Albert Van der Does who, having crossed from the city and +climbed to the top of the embankment, was waving his cap and loudly +cheering. Karl soon joined him, and they were in time to see the +rearguard of the Spaniards escaping towards the Hague. Albert's shouts +quickly attracted the attention of the inhabitants of Leyden and gave +them the first intimation that the enemy had fled. In a few minutes, +led by Albert, Karl was in the presence of the burgomaster, and had +assured him both of the success of their enterprise and of his +daughter'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 could +have prevented them from entering our city?" And he pointed to a large +portion of the wall which had fallen during the night and left a breach +through which the foe might have poured into the streets. The fleet now +sailed up through the canals, the famishing people who lined the quays +stretching out their hands to receive the food bestowed on them by the +rough Sea Beggars, many of whom dashed aside their tears as they beheld +the emaciated forms of the citizens, the corpse-like look of the women +and children, and heard their plaintive cries for food. The first act +of 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 abruptly +terminated by the sounds of weeping though the tears were those of joy +and gratitude. Among the first to land, escorted by the brave Captain +Van der Elst, who had returned on board for the purpose of conducting +her to the shore, was the Lily of Leyden; he had the happiness of +restoring her to her father's arms. The burgomaster, who had hitherto +sternly refused to yield to the foe, melted into tears as he embraced +his daughter, then turning to Captain Van der Elst, he said-- + +"You have proved yourself worthy of the fairest in the land; I can no +longer 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, having +experienced sufferings never surpassed by any recorded on the page of +history. The Prince was the first to acknowledge the deep debt of +gratitude Holland owed to the heroic fortitude of the noble burgomaster +and his fellow-citizens. The people of Holland and Zealand, to show how +much they were indebted to the citizens, established that university +which, thus founded at the darkest period of their country's struggle, +was in after times to become so celebrated. Imposing as were the +ceremonies which took place on its establishment, the following winter +they were, in the opinion of many, surpassed by the magnificence of the +entertainment given on the occasion of the marriage of Captain Van der +Elst and the fair Lily of Leyden. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lily of Leyden, by W.H.G. 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