The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1572-73

The Rise of the Dutch Republic,
1572-73

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Title: The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1572-73
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4820] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 19,
2002]

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Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1572-73 ***

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MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, PG EDITION,
VOLUME 20.
THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC
By John Lothrop Motley
1855

1572-73 [

CHAPTER VIII
.]
Affairs in Holland and Zealand--Siege of Tergoes by the patriots--
Importance of the place--Difficulty of relieving it--Its position--
Audacious plan for sending succor across the "Drowned Land"--
Brilliant and successful expedition of Mondragon--The siege raised--
Horrible sack of Zutphen--Base conduct of Count Van den Berg--
Refusal of Naarden to surrender--Subsequent unsuccessful deputation
to make terms with Don Frederic--Don Frederic before Naarden--
Treachery of Romero--The Spaniards admitted--General massacre of
the garrison and burghers--The city burned to the ground--Warm
reception of Orange in Holland--Secret negotiations with the Estates--
Desperate character of the struggle between Spain and the provinces
--Don Frederic in Amsterdam--Plans for reducing Holland--Skirmish

on the ice at Amsterdam--Preparation in Harlem for the expected
siege-- Description of the city--Early operations--Complete
investment-- Numbers of besiegers and besieged--Mutual
barbarities--Determined repulse of the first assault--Failure of
Batenburg's expedition-- Cruelties in city and camp--Mining and
countermining--Second assault victoriously repelled--Suffering and
disease in Harlem--Disposition of Don Frederic to retire--Memorable
rebuke by Alva--Efforts of Orange to relieve the place--Sonoy's
expedition--Exploit of John Haring--Cruel execution of prisoners on
both sides--Quiryn Dirkzoon and his family put to death in the
city--Fleets upon the lake-- Defeat of the patriot armada--Dreadful
suffering and starvation in the city--Parley with the besiegers--Despair
of the city--Appeal to Orange--Expedition under Batenburg to relieve
the city--His defeat and death--Desperate condition of Harlem--Its
surrender at discretion--Sanguinary executions--General
massacre--Expense of the victory in blood and money--Joy of Philip at
the news.
While thus Brabant and Flanders were scourged back to the chains
which they had so recently broken, the affairs of the Prince of Orange
were not improving in Zealand. Never was a twelvemonth so marked
by contradictory fortune, never were the promises of a spring followed
by such blight and disappointment in autumn than in the memorable
year 1572. On the island of Walcheren, Middelburg and Arnemuyde
still held for the King--Campveer and Flushing for the Prince of
Orange. On the island of South Bevelaad, the city of Goes or Tergoes
was still stoutly defended by a small garrison of Spanish troops. As
long as the place held out, the city of Middelburg could be maintained.
Should that important city fall, the Spaniards would lose all hold upon
Walcheren and the province of Zealand.
Jerome de 't Zeraerts, a brave, faithful, but singularly unlucky officer,
commanded for the Prince in Walcheren. He had attempted by various
hastily planned expeditions to give employment to his turbulent
soldiery, but fortune had refused to smile upon his efforts. He had laid
siege to Middelburg and failed. He had attempted Tergoes and had
been compelled ingloriously to retreat. The citizens of Flushing, on his
return, had shut the gates of the town in his face, and far several days
refused to admit him or his troops. To retrieve this disgrace, which had

sprung rather from the insubordination of his followers and the dislike
which they bore his person than from any want of courage or conduct
on his part, he now assembled a force of seven thousand men, marched
again to Tergoes, and upon the 26th