Connecticut western news., 1872-11-01
The Siege Of T,nyden.

The SiegeO Leyden.
 The siege of Leyden, Holland, which was commenced late in May, l574, is a noteworthy fact in the history of that country. This city one of the most beau tiful in the Netherlands, stood in the midst of broad pastures and green mead ows that had been reclaimed from the sea. Over these fertile fields many an eager eye was soon to be cast, in the hope that the waters might be seen again rolling over the land once their bed. From the first, preparations were made for a long siege All the food was put into the hands of the authorities and doled out by weight, half a pound of meat, and as much bread daily to man, and due proportion to women aud children. The Prince of Orange im- plored the citizens to hold out for three months, assuring them that within that time he would devise some means for their deliverance. He had no force with which to raise the siege, but he held position which would enable him to cut through the dykes and allow the ocean to reclaim the land which had been wrested from it.. "Better drowned land than lost land, " exclaimed the patriots as tbey calmly de-
  The waters that should flood the Spanish camp would also bear supplies to the town. We need not dwell upon, the mere fighting during this siege. It was repetition of the scenes of Harlem and Alkmaar. Early in August the sluices were opened and the waters began slowly to rise. The bread in the city was gone, ,the only food left was malt cake. On the Fist letter reached the Prince from the city, stating that they had fulfilled their promise. They had held out three months-Two with food and one without. Their malt cake would last but four days longer. The Prince lay i'll of fever; but from the sick bed he directed all the operations. Five miles from Leyden was the great dyke. called the Land Scheiding. The piercing of the outer dykes had already laid the ten miles between this and the ocean under water. The besieging forces lay between this Land-Scheiding and the city. If this dyke were cut through, the Spanish intrenchments would be flooded, and it was supposed that the waters would float the boats of the deliverers, laden with provisions to the very walls of the be- leaguered city. It was now the 11th ot September and still the starving town held out. On that plight the Land -Scheid- ing was pierced, and the boats passed through the gaps. But it was found that another dyke three quarters of mile be- yond. intervened. This had been left un- guarded by the Spaniards and was also | preached. Yet now tho waters diffused over so large space rose but slowly. A strong east wind also was driving them back toward the sea. So passed week | from the time of the opening of the Land. Scheiding, and the boats lay aground three miles from the city. But on the 18th the wind veered and blew a gale from the northwest. The waters rose the armada and three-fourths of the city. Again the wind veered, tine waters fell, leaving the boats fast aground. In the narrow space | between the town and the Rect lay now the beleaguering forces. They knew that the town was at its last gasp, and taunt. ingly called the defenders cat eaters and dog eaters. "It is true' they replied and so long as you hear a cat mew or g dog bark, ye may know that we hold out and when all has perished but ourselves we will devour our own left arms anc fight you with the right. When the last hour has come we will set fire 10 the city and perish in the flames" Still the fleet lay stranded, and the city vanes pointed ever eastward. Until the winc changed the waters would not rise. Al last on the second of October, violent equinoctial storm arose from the west dashing the waters in upon the land over the ruined dykes. The vessels were again afoat for the city walls. Two strong forts lay in their way which nigh have disputed their advance. But the Spaniards were panic stricken at being thus invaded by the ocean, and poured tumultuously overithe narrow dyke whicl formed the only path to the firm land The wild Zealand sailors, almost amphib ious leaped from their vessels upon the retreating masses, and drove them from the crumbling dyke into the sea. So on the morning of the third of October Leyden was relieved. On the very nex day the wind again shifted and drov' the waters back. In few days the land was again bare and the work of recon structing the dykes was begun.