The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1572-73 | Page 9

stormed the place gallantly, routed the
whole garrison, killed three hundred, and took possession of the works
and village. Next day, Don Frederic appeared before the walls of
Harlem, and proceeded regularly to invest the place. The misty weather
favored his operations, nor did he cease reinforcing himself; until at
least thirty thousand men, including fifteen hundred cavalry, had been
encamped around the city. The Germans, under Count Overstein, were
stationed in a beautiful and extensive grove of limes and beeches,
which spread between the southern walls and the shore of Harlem Lake.
Don Frederic, with his Spaniards, took up a position on the opposite
side, at a place called the House of Kleef, the ruins of which still
remain. The Walloons, and other regiments were distributed in different
places, so as completely to encircle the town.
[Pierre Sterlinckx: Eene come Waerachtige Beschryvinghe van alle
Geschiedinissen, Anschlagen, Stormen, Schermutsingen oude Schieten
voor de vroome Stadt Haerlem in Holland gheschicht, etc., etc.-- Delft,
1574.--This is by far the best contemporary account of the famous siege.
The author was a citizen of Antwerp, who kept a daily journal of the
events as they occurred at Harlem. It is a dry, curt register of horrors,
jotted down without passion or comment.-- Compare Bor, vi. 422, 423;
Meteren, iv. 79; Mendoza, viii. 174, 175; Wagenaer, vad. Hist., vi. 413,
414.]

On the edge of the mere the Prince of Orange had already ordered a
cluster of forts to be erected, by which the command of its frozen
surface was at first secured for Harlem. In the course of the siege,
however, other forts were erected by Don Frederic, so that the aspect of
things suffered a change.
Against this immense force, nearly equal in number to that of the whole
population of the city, the garrison within the walls never amounted to
more than four thousand men. In the beginning it was much less
numerous. The same circumstances, however, which assisted the
initiatory operations of Don Frederic, were of advantage to the
Harlemers. A dense frozen fog hung continually over the surface of the
lake. Covered by this curtain, large supplies of men, provisions, and
ammunition were daily introduced into the city, notwithstanding all the
efforts of the besieging force. Sledges skimming over the ice, men,
women, and even children, moving on their skates as swiftly as the
wind, all brought their contributions in the course of the short dark days
and long nights of December, in which the wintry siege was opened.
The garrison at last numbered about one thousand pioneers or delvers,
three thousand fighting men, and about three hundred fighting women.
The last was a most efficient corps, all females of respectable character,
armed with sword, musket, and dagger. Their chief, Kenau Hasselaer,
was a widow of distinguished family and unblemished reputation,
about forty-seven years of age, who, at the head of her amazons,
participated in many of the most fiercely contested actions of the siege,
both within and without the walls. When such a spirit animated the
maids and matrons of the city, it might be expected that the men would
hardly surrender the place without a struggle. The Prince had
assembled a force of three or four thousand men at Leyden, which he
sent before the middle of December towards the city under the
command of De la Marck. These troops were, however, attacked on the
way by a strong detachment under Bossu, Noircarmes, and Romero.
After a sharp, action in a heavy snow-storm, De la Marek was
completely routed. One thousand of his soldiers were cut to pieces, and
a large number carried off as prisoners to the gibbets, which were
already conspicuously erected in the Spanish camp, and which from the
commencement to the close of the siege were never bare of victims.
Among the captives was a gallant officer, Baptist van Trier, for whom

De la Marck in vain offered two thousand crowns and nineteen Spanish
prisoners. The proposition was refused with contempt. Van Trier was
hanged upon the gallows by one leg until he was dead, in return for
which barbarity the nineteen Spaniards were immediately gibbeted by
De la Marck. With this interchange of cruelties the siege may be said to
have opened.
Don Frederic had stationed himself in a position opposite to the gate of
the Cross, which was not very strong, but fortified by a ravelin.
Intending to make a very short siege of it, he established his batteries
immediately, and on the 18th, 19th, and 20th December directed a
furious cannonade against the Cross-gate, the St. John's-gate, and the
curtain between the two. Six hundred and eighty shots were discharged
on the first, and nearly as many on each of the two succeeding days.
The walls were much shattered, but men, women, and