Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-09-05
A DUTCH FREEBOOTER.

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territory in their coils. These are but
slightly separated Vessel, WAL
and ancient Rhine, while the Scheldt
and Mouse are spread more widely
asunder. The Rhine, strictly SO called
from its entrance into Notnerland lin
1866 belonged to the rebels, (against
Phillip III. of Spain, but on the edge OF
the Batavian territory the ancient river
flowed through desolate and forlorn
debateablo country. This unfortunate
district was the arch-episcopa electorate
of Cologne. Overrun by hordes of brl-
gandS, and crushed almost out of oXis-
tence by that most deadly Of all systems
of taxation, the brand schatzung," it
thieves. The "hrand schatzung," has
no name in English, but ii was the we'll
known impost levied by rowing COM
manders, and even by respectable gen.
erals in all nations. A hamlet, cluster
of farm houses, country district, or
wealthy city, in order to escape being
burned and ravaged, us the penalty of
having fallen into the conquerors
hands, paid heavy sum of ready
money on the nail, at command Of the
conqueror. The free companions of
the sixteenth century drove a lucrative
business in this particular branch of in
dustry; and when to this was added the
more direct profits derived from actual
plumber, sack, and ransoming, il was
natural that II large fortune was often
the result to the thrifty and persevering
commander of free Iances.
OF all the professors of this cumpre-
hensive art, the terrible Martin Schenk
was ure-eminent. Immediately con
nected with the chief military events of
the period which now occupies us, be
was also the very archetype OF the ma
rauderS, whose existence was character.
istic of the epoch. Born i'll 1888, of All
ancient and noble family OF Gelderland,
Martin Schenk had inherited no prop
erty but the sword. Serving Tor u brief
stein, he Joined, while yet Il youth,
the banner of William of Orange,
mt the head of two men-at-arms. the
humble knight-errant, with his brace
squires, was received with courtesy by
the prince and the estates, but ne soon
quarreed With his patrons. There was
castle of Blyenbeck, belonging to his
cousin, which he chose to consider his
rightiul property, because he was of the
same race, and because it was a con-
venient and productive estate and resi-
dence. The courts had different views
Of public law, and supported the ousted
cousin. Martin shut himself up IN the
castle, and having recently committed
a Il, ho,N,;n,J,
still further increased his unpopularity
with the patriots, he made overtures
to Parma, general of Philip IL Alex
ander was gsd to enlist so bold a sol
dier on his side, and assisted Schenk in
his besieged stronghold. For years
afterwards, his services under the
kings banner, were most brilliant, and
he rose to the highest military COM
mand, while his Golfers, meantime were
rapidly filling with the result of his rob
berries and "6rdRd SchdtSungs"
Martins couple of lances had eX-
banded into a corps of free companions,
the most truculent, the most obedient,
the most rapacious in Chrlstendom.
Never we're freebooterS more tormid.
able to the world ut large, or mere do
cie to their chief, than were the fol.
lowers Of General Schenk. Never was
amore finished captain or highwayman.
He was man who was never sober, yet
who never smiled. His habtual intoxi-
cation seemed only to increase both
his audaclty and his taciturnity, with
cut disturbing his reason. He was in
capable Of fear, of fatigue, of remorse.
He could remain for days and nights
without dlsmouuting- eating, drinking,
and sleeping in the saddle; 50 that 10
terrible centaurs his horse seemed Il part
of himself. His soldiers followed him
like hounds, and were treated by
him like hounds. He habtually
scourged them, often took with his
own hand the lives of such as displeased
him, and had been known to cause in.
divduals of them to jump from the
top Of church steeples at his command;
vet the pack were ever staunch 10 mis-
orders, for they knew that he always
led them where the game was plenty
He was the most formidable, the most
interruptions, the most audacious
Netherlander who wore Philips colors:
but he had received small public re-
ward for his service, and the wealth
which he earned on the highroad did
not suffice ior his ambition.
On 18th Of May, 1885, at an hour
after midnight, he had secret inter
view with Count Meurs. stakeholder for
the states Of Gelderland, and agreed y
transfer his merceinary allegiance 70
the republic. He made good terms.
He was to be acknowledgements OF
Gelderland. and he was 70 have rank
a. marshal 81 the camp in the states
army, with salary Of twelve hundred
and fifty guilders, Dutch silver coins
worth little more than forty cents
eachl a moItn. lie agreed to resign
Biz famous castle Of BIyenbeck, but
was 10 be reimbursed with estates Of the