We offer as long a sketch of the siege of Leyden as our limits will
allow, this being a portion of history to which we always turn with
pleasure: the emancipation of the Netherlands from the domination of
Spain is one of the most noble efforts in the annals of mankind.
The cruelties of the duke of Alva had alienated every heart in Holland
from the court of Spain, and had left none but harsh means to his
successor, Don Louis, of retaining the provinces in their allegiance.
Being desirous of distinguishing his accession to power by a bold
stroke, he sent Francis Valdes to besiege Leyden. The environs of this
city, intersected in all directions by canals, presented incredible
difficulties to the making of the approaches. Our readers will perceive
this the more clearly when we state that it had eight gates, fifty
islands, and one hundred and forty-five bridges, mostly built of
freestone. The rapid waters of the Rhine, which bathe its walls, assist
in rendering Leyden impregnable. Valdes had already been frequently
repulsed in his attacks, when Count Louis, entering Flanders, brought
him a formidable army. Valdes then once more presented himself before
Leyden, and regularly blockaded it. The Hollanders, having fortified
all the passages capable of retarding the progress of the enemy,
strengthened with troops the village of Alful, which was built
upon a canal, whose sluices could stop or suspend the course of the
waters; a sanguinary battle was necessary to make himself master
of this point. Possessed of the neighbouring fortifications, the
Spanish general pressed Leyden very closely. Having a belief that
there was no garrison, the Spaniards threw letters into the place, to
persuade the inhabitants to surrender: they received an answer over
the walls, “that they must not expect anything of the kind as long as
they could hear the dogs of Leyden bark.” Resolved to defend their
country to the last extremity, the besieged made a furious sortie, and
attacked the garrison of the fort of Lamene; but their impetuosity
could not resist the numbers of the Spaniards, and they were obliged
to return to their walls. This check did not in the least diminish
their courage; they repaired the walls of Leyden, and exhausted the
resources of art to create defences. Jean Vanderdoës, a poet known in
literature by the name of _Janus Douza_, commanded in the city; and,
notwithstanding his possession of talents so opposite to such a task,
performed his difficult duties admirably. He animated and supported his
fellow-citizens amidst pressing dangers. Notwithstanding his cares,
there was a moment of dissatisfaction. The people, in a seditious
manner, demanded food of their leaders; the governor answered coolly,
“that it was perfectly indifferent to him whether he died by their
hands or those of the Spaniards; that if his flesh would satisfy them,
they were welcome to tear him to pieces and eat him.” These words
overwhelmed the murmurers with confusion. The Seigneur de Ligne,
governor of Harlem, exhorted them to submit to the conditions offered
by the king of Spain; but the inhabitants replied: “We know that the
project of the Spaniards is to subdue Leyden by famine; but we are not
afraid of that. When we have consumed all our provisions, we will eat
our left arms and defend ourselves with the right against our tyrants;
death is a thousand times preferable to their odious despotism.”
After this declaration, a paper currency was fabricated, with this
inscription: “_For Liberty._” This currency was faithfully exchanged
for money when the siege was terminated. But famine made frightful
ravages; and, if not promptly succoured, Leyden must succumb. The
States of Holland assembled, and after long and earnest deliberation,
it was resolved to inundate the province. In the beginning of August,
two dykes of the Meuse and the Yssel were cut, between Rotterdam and
Gonda. In an instant, the smiling fields in the neighbourhood of Delft,
Gonda, Rotterdam, and Leyden were covered with water. The Spaniards
were astonished, but their forts secured them, and the place remained
besieged. The Hollanders were anxious at least to take advantage of
the waters to convey provisions into Leyden; they constructed boats in
the shape of galleys, with oars, so that they might the more easily
force passages, and attack the forts of the Spaniards. The Dutch
admiral Boizot endeavoured to break through the blockade and convey
provisions into Leyden, but the waters were not sufficiently high,
except in the rivers and lakes, which were well guarded, and he could
not approach the city. The Dutch waited with impatience for the high
tides, upon which the deliverance of the province seemed to depend.
Whilst the Spaniards were constantly employed in securing their
redoubts from inundation, by closing up all their issues with earth
and hay, the overflowing ocean came rushing in in all its power, swept
away these feeble barriers, and made the environs of Leyden one vast
sea. The Hollanders immediately set sail; a fleet of a hundred and
fifty vessels, laden with provisions, advanced in the best order, and
surmounted every obstacle. The terrified Spaniards retired to places of
safety, but, in spite of all their celerity, they could not evacuate
their redoubts without losing a great number of people. Driven from
their fortifications by the waters, and pursued by the enemy, some were
massacred, and the rest swallowed up by the waves. Strada relates that
a Spanish captain was seized by his clothes, with long hooks, and made
a prisoner, and thrown into a bark. This bold man took advantage of the
crew being engaged, sprang up, seized a halbert, killed three of the
Dutch soldiers, forced the others to save themselves by swimming, and
regained his companions, with the bark and the provisions it contained.
The Spaniards lost fifteen hundred men in this retreat from the waters.
Leyden enjoyed the satisfaction of being delivered from present
dangers, but this was sadly embittered by the recollection of having
lost six thousand citizens by famine and misery, during the blockade.