The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-15
HOW THE SETGE WAS RAISED

cities in that queerest Of ali little coun
tries, Holland, is Leyden, at the mouth
of the old Rhine. II is emphatically 8
city of moats and dykes, of canals and
wind-mills, of dog carts and red roofs.
Dutch thrift, Dutch frugality, Dutch
cleanliness are apparent everywhere,
and also more than usual Dutch quaint.
ness.
The city stands in the heart of we'll
titled country. La the centre OF the
town is hill. one of the old mounds OF
refuge raised hundreds Of years ago,
and on its summit is ruined fortress
called hengist's Tower.
Three hundred years ago Leyden was
one of the most prosperous cities Of the
low countries. Its population was in
dustrious. enterprising, aud rich; more
than four hundred great weaving estab-
lishments were in the city. Beyond
the strong dykes which kept back the
sureipg ocean went up the noise of a
thousand toiliug. happy people. Ihey
were brave, too, and they were Pro-
testants.
Holland, by a series of lortuitous cir
cumstances. had fallen into the hands Of
the kings of Spain and the heartless
Philip H., an ardent Catholic, set his
face strong against the spread OF the
Reformation. He commenced q cruel
persecu.ion Of his Protestant subjects,
and 80 severe was it in Holland that
the people revolted. Then followed
war. direful, calamitous war, that desc
lated the fair cities and made the low
countries almost a desert.
The Spanish soldiers were the best IN
the world. and they were led by the
bravest. ablest, most ruthless general
of his time, iron-hearted even beyond
the hardness of his age-Fredrlque,
Duke OF Alva. But they met with
stubborn resistance. The descendants
of the men who had conquered the sea
and walled it out from their Hood
swept lands, had the brave. determined
spirits of their fathers. and they did
not WELD without struggle. All
Europe looked on, interested spectators.
The Dutch had taken Holland, but
could they defesd it, 1t looked IN
deed very doubtful. City after city
surrendered, aud the inhabitants were
butchered, for Philips soldiers had
hearts of stone. and gave no mercy.
At last the Spanish host sat down be-
fore Leyden, and the gray haired pitt
less Duke erected costly pavilion and
swore terrible oath that he would not
take it down until the city yielded.
But the inhabitants knew that 1t was
useless to invoke Spanish clemency. and
very quietly made up Their mindS To
die of hunger in defense Of Their
hearths and homes, if need be, rather
than be slaughtered ruthlessly by
Spanish bayonets, or perish in the tor
ture chambers Of the Inquisition.
One hope sustained them-that was
that their valiant prince, William OF
Orange. who had managed to gather
small army around him, would find
some one to help them. 80, though
they had but little food in the city and
no way of getting more, they waited
patiently as they might.
One day there flew into the city, over
the heads Of the Spaniards, carrier
pigeon. which bore under its wing
letter from Prince William bidding
them hold out, and promising succor
at the earliest opportunity. As safe
guard. however. he recommended The
outstanding Of food, and that the popu'
lation be put on short allowance. They
followed his advice. and sent back word
that they could hold out six months
with food and another without. "
Slowly the six months passed, and
the stout hearted citizens saw hunger
staring them in the face. After an
other month there was no bread to eat
at all, and they began to strip the trees
of their leaves, till there was nothing
left that was green in the city. Still
the burgomaster refus d to listen to
any terms OF surrender, and when sew
eral of the most desperate clamored to
let the Spaniards in, to save thlr starry
| ing families, that stern official offered
them his own body for food, which
sileoced forever all talk of listening to
the enemy.
Tine Iassed slowly and monotonous-
lly. The summer skies seemed brazen
above them. Day by day they grew
thinner aud pller; it might have been
an army of ghosts that marched to the
walls. or searched the cutters for a
morsel OF fool. Every day the burgo-
master and his soldiers went up to
Hegist's Tower, and looked. and looked
in vain, for the succor that had been
promised them. No friendly banner:
were near in sight; but beneath then
gloomy and poitentious lay the camI
of cruel Alva'5 grim warriors, and fai
OF, beyond the Western skies, flashed
the cold waves of the North Sea. will
not a sail upon them. Hope grew fain
in their hearts,
And now at this most distressing tim'
another carrier-pigeon brought cheer
ing intelligence from William o
Orange. That gallant prince had beef
unable, despite all his endeayors, to Civ,
the city succor, and he was now goinI
to resort to desperate expedient. Thei
former enemy was to help them hgh
the pr, sent foei in other words, he ex
planned 10 the suffering citizens that a
no occupied several important points Oh