The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1572-73 | Page 4

his own people,
while his wife, Mary of Nassau, then far advanced in pregnancy, was
left behind, disguised as a peasant girl, in an obscure village.
With the flight of Van den Bergh, all the cities which, under his
guidance, had raised the standard of Orange, deserted the cause at once.

Friesland too, where Robles obtained a victory over six thousand
patriots, again submitted to the yoke. But if the ancient heart of the free
Frisians was beating thus feebly, there was still spirit left among their
brethren on the other side of the Zuyder Zee. It was not while William
of Orange was within her borders, nor while her sister provinces had
proved recreant to him, that Holland would follow their base example.
No rebellion being left, except in the north-western extremities of the
Netherlands, Don Frederic was ordered to proceed from Zutphen to
Amsterdam, thence to undertake the conquest of Holland. The little city
of Naarden, on the coast of the Zuyder Zee, lay in his path, and had not
yet formally submitted. On the 22nd of November a company of one
hundred troopers was sent to the city gates to demand its surrender. The
small garrison which had been left by the Prince was not disposed to
resist, but the spirit of the burghers was stouter than, their walls. They
answered the summons by a declaration that they had thus far held the
city for the King and the Prince of Orange, and, with God's help, would
continue so to do. As the horsemen departed with this reply, a lunatic,
called Adrian Krankhoeft, mounted the ramparts and, discharged a
culverine among them. No man was injured, but the words of defiance,
and the shot fired by a madman's hand, were destined to be fearfully
answered.
Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the place, which was at best far from
strong, and ill provided with arms, ammunition, or soldiers, despatched
importunate messages to Sonoy, and to ether patriot generals nearest to
them, soliciting reinforcements. Their messengers came back almost
empty handed. They brought a little powder and a great many promises,
but not a single man-at-arms, not a ducat, not a piece of artillery. The
most influential commanders, moreover, advised an honorable
capitulation, if it were still possible.
Thus baffled, the burghers of the little city found their proud position
quite untenable. They accordingly, on the 1st of December, despatched
the burgomaster and a senator to Amersfoort, to make terms, if possible,
with Don Frederic. When these envoys reached the place, they were
refused admission to the general's presence. The army had already been
ordered to move forward to Naarden, and they were directed to
accompany the advance guard, and to expect their reply at the gates of
their own city. This command was sufficiently ominous. The

impression which it made upon them was confirmed by the warning
voices of their friends in Amersfoort, who entreated them not to return
to Naarden. The advice was not lost upon one of the two envoys. After
they had advanced a little distance on their journey, the burgomaster
Laurentszoon slid privately out of the sledge in which they were
travelling, leaving his cloak behind him. "Adieu; I think I will not
venture back to Naarden at present," said he, calmly, as he abandoned
his companion to his fate. The other, who could not so easily desert his
children, his wife, and his fellow- citizens, in the hour of danger, went
forward as calmly to share in their impending doom.
The army reached Bussem, half a league distant from Naarden, in the
evening. Here Don Frederic established his head quarters, and
proceeded to invest the city. Senator Gerrit was then directed to return
to Naarden and to bring out a more numerous deputation on the
following morning, duly empowered to surrender the place. The envoy
accordingly returned next day, accompanied by Lambert Hortensius,
rector of a Latin academy, together with four other citizens. Before this
deputation had reached Bussem, they were met by Julian Romero, who
informed them that he was commissioned to treat with them on the part
of Don Frederic. He demanded the keys of the city, and gave the
deputation a solemn pledge that the lives and property of all the
inhabitants should be sacredly respected. To attest this assurance Don
Julian gave his hand three several times to Lambert Hortensius. A
soldier's word thus plighted, the commissioners, without exchanging
any written documents, surrendered the keys, and immediately
afterwards accompanied Romero into the city, who was soon followed
by five or six hundred musketeers.
To give these guests a hospitable reception, all the housewives of the
city at once set about preparations for a sumptuous feast, to which the
Spaniards did ample justice, while the colonel and his officers were
entertained by Senator