September 2, 2025 • 25 mins
Set in the tumultuous 1570s, By Pike and Dyke plunges listeners into the harrowing world of the Netherlands, where the shadow of Spanish tyranny looms large. Amidst the chaos, Edward Ned‚ Martin‚a young man caught between two worlds as the son of an English captain and a Dutch lady‚takes a stand to help his mothers people and seek vengeance for his slain relatives. Joining the ranks of the revolutionary leader William the Silent, Prince of Orange, Ned embarks on perilous secret missions across occupied territories. Through narrow escapes, fierce naval battles, and heart-stopping sieges, he witnesses the stirring yet tragic birth of the Dutch republic. (Summary by D. Leeson)
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter sixteen of by Pike and Dike, a Tale of
the Rise of the Dutch Republic. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain by Pike and Dike by G. A. Henty,
Chapter sixteen, Friends in Trouble within the little town of Alkmar.
All went on quietly while the Spaniards constructed their lines
of investment and mounted their batteries. The men labored continually
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at strengthening their walls. The women and children carried materials.
All the food was collected in magazines and rations served
out regularly. A carpenter named Peter vander May managed to
make his way out of the city a fortnight after
the investment began, with letters to the Prince and Sonoy
giving the formal consent of all within the walls for
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the cutting of the dikes when it should be necessary, for,
according to the laws of Holland, a step that would
lead to so enormous a destruction of property could not
be undertaken even in the most urgent circumstances without the
consent of the population. At daybreak by the eighteenth of September,
a heavy cannonade was opened against the walls, and after
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twelve hours fire two breeches were made. Upon the following morning,
two of the best Spanish regiments, which had just arrived
from Italy, led the way to the assault, shouting and
cheering as they went, and confident of an easy victory.
They were followed by heavy masses of troops. Now ned
was again to see what the slow and somewhat apathetic
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Dutch Burghers could do. When fairly roused to action, every
man capable of bearing a weapon was upon the walls,
and not even in Harlem was an attack received with
more coolness and confidence. As the storming parties approached, they
were swept by artillery and musketry, and as they attempted
to climb the breeches, boiling water, pitch and oil, molten lead,
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and unslaked lime were poured upon them. Hundreds of tarred
and blazing hoops were skillfully thrown onto their necks, and
those who, in spite of these terrible missiles mounted the
breach found themselves confronted by the soldiers and Burghers armed
with axe and pike, and were slain or cast back. Again.
Three times was the assault renewed, fresh troops being ever
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brought up and pressing forward, wild with rage. At their
repulses by so small a number of defenders, but each
was in turn hurled back. For four hours, the desperate
fight continued, The women and children showed a calmness equal
to that of the men, moving backwards and forwards between
the magazines and the ramparts, with supplies of missiles and
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ammunition to the combatants. At nightfall, the Spaniards desisted from
the attack and fell back to their camp, leaving a
thousand dead behind them, while only twenty four of the
garrison and thirteen of the burghers lost their lives. A
Spanish officer, who had mounted the breach for an instant
and after being hurled back almost miraculously escaped with his life,
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reported that he had seen neither helmet nor harness as
he looked down into the city, only some plain looking
peopleorally dressed like fishermen. The cannonade was renewed on the
following morning, and after seven hundred shots had been fired
and the breeches enlarged, a fresh assault was ordered, but
the troops absolutely refused to advance. It seemed to them
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that the devil whom they believed the Protestants worshiped, had
protected the city. Otherwise, how could a handful of townsmen
and fishermen have defeated the invincible soldiers of Spain, outnumbering
them eightfold. In vain Don, Frederick and his generals entreated
and stormed. Several of the soldiers were run through the body,
but even this did not intimidate the rest into submission,
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and the assault was in consequence postponed. Already, indeed, there
was considerable uneasiness in the Spanish camp. Governor Sonoy had
opened many of the dikes, and the ground in the
neighborhood of the camp was already feeling soft and boggy.
It needed but that two great dikes should be pierced
to spread inundation over the whole country. The carpenter, who
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had soon after the commencement of the siege carried out
the despatches, had again made his way back. He was
the bearer of the copy of a letter sent from
the Prince to Sonoy, ordering him to protect the dikes
and sluices with strong guards, lest the peasants, in order
to save their crops, should repair the breeches. He was
directed to flood the whole country at all risks, rather
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than to allow Alkmaar to fall. The Prince directed the
citizens to kindle four great beacon fires as soon as
it should prove necessary to resort to extreme measures, and
solemnly promised that as soon as the signal was given,
an inundation should be created which would sweep the whole
Spanish army into the sea. The carpenter was informed of
the exact contents of his dispatches, so that in case
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of losing them in his passage through the Spanish camp,
he could repeat them by word of mouth to the citizens.
This was exactly what happened. The despatches were concealed in
a hollow stick, and this stick the carpenter, in carrying
out his perilous undertaking, lost. As it turned out, it
was fortunate that he did so. The stick was picked
up in the camp and discovered to be hollow. It
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was carried to Don Frederick, who read the despatches and
at once called his officers together. Alarmed at the prospect
before them, and already heartily sick of the siege in
which the honour all fell to their opponents, they agreed
that the safety of any army of the picked troops
of Spain must not be sacrificed merely with the hope
of obtaining possession of an insignificant town. Orders were therefore
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given for an immediate retreat, and on the eighth of
October the siege was raised and the troops marched back
to Amsterdam. Thus, for the first time, the Spaniards had
to recoil before their puny adversaries. The terrible loss of
life entailed by the capture of Haarlem had struck a
profound blow at the haughty confidence of the Spaniards and
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had vastly encouraged the people of Holland. The successful defense
of Alkmar did even more. It showed the people that
resistance did not necessarily lead to calamity, that the risk
was greater in surrender than in defiance, and above all,
that in their dikes they possessed means of defense that,
if properly used, would fight for them even more effectually
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than they could do for themselves. Ned had taken his
full share in the labors and dangers of the siege.
He had been indefatigable in seeing that all the arrangements
worked well and smoothly, had slept on the walls with
the men. Encouraged, the women talked and laughed with the
children and done all in his power to keep up
the spirits of the inhabitants. At the assault on the breeches,
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he had donned his armor and fought in the front
line as a volunteer under the officer in command of
the garrison. On the day when the Spaniards were seen
to be breaking up their camps and retiring, a meeting
was held in the town hall. After a solemn thanksgiving
had been offered in the church, and by acclamation ned
was made a citizen of the town and was presented
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with a gold chain as a token of the gratitude
of the people of Alkmar. There was nothing more for
him to do here, and as soon as the Spaniards
had broken up their camp, he mounted a horse and
rode to Enkhausen, bidding his escort follow him at once.
On foot, he had learned from the carpenter who had
made his way in, that the fleet was collected, and
that a portion of them from the northern ports under
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Admiral Dirk Zohn had already set sail, and the whole
were expected to arrive in a few days. In the
Zider's zee. As he rode through the street on his
way to the Burgomaster's. His eye fell upon a familiar face,
and he at once reined in his horse, Ah Peters,
he exclaimed, is it you? Is the good venture in port?
Peters looked up in astonishment. The voice was that of
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Ned Martin, but he scarce recognized in the handsomely dressed
young officer, the lad he had last seen a year before.
Why it is Master Ned, sure enough, he exclaimed, shaking
the Lad's hand warmly. Though if you had not spoken,
I should have assuredly passed you. Why, lad, you are transformed.
I took you for a young noble, with your brave
attire and your gold chain, and you look years older
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than when I last saw yer. You have grown into
a man. But though you have had to your height
and your breadth, your cheeks have fallen in greatly, and
your color has well nigh faded away. I have had
two long bouts of fasting Peters, and have but just
finished the second. I am Captain Martin, now by the
favor of the Prince of Orange. How are they at home?
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And how goes it with my father? He is on board,
Master Ned. This is his first voyage, and right glad
we are as you may guess to have him back again,
and joyful will he be to see you. He had
your letters safely that you wrote after the fall of Harlem,
and it would have done you good if you had
heard the cheers in the summer house when he read
it out to the captain's there. We had scarce thought
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we should ever hear of you again. I will put
up my horse at the burgomasters peters and come on
board with you at once. I must speak to him first.
For a few minutes. A messenger was sent off on
horseback last night, the moment the road was opened, to
say that the Spaniards had raised the siege of Alkmaar.
But I must give him a few details. So you
have been there too. The guns have been firing and
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the bells ringing all the day, and the people have
been well nigh out of their minds with joy. They
had looked to the Spaniards coming here after they had
finished with Alkmaar, and you may guess how joyful they
were when the news came that the villains were going
off beaten. A quarter of an hour later, ned leapt
from the quay on to the deck of the Good Venture.
His father's delight was great as he entered the cabin,
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and he was no less astonished than Peter's had been
at the change that a year had made in his appearance. Why, Ned,
he said, after they had talked for half an hour,
I fear you are getting much too great a man
of her to settle down again to work here. Not
at all, Father, Ned, laughed, I have not the least
idea of remaining permanently here. I love the sea, and
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I love England and my home, and nothing would tempt
me to give them up. I cannot leave my present
work now. The Prince has been so kind to me
that even if I wished it, I could not withdraw
from his service now. But I do not wish in
another year. If all the Dutch cities prove as staunch
as Harlem and Alkmar have done, the Spaniards will surely
begin and to see that their task of subduing such
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a people is a hopeless one. At any rate, I
think that I can then very well withdraw myself from
the work and follow my profession again. I shall be
old enough then to be your second mate, and to
relieve you of much of your work. I shall be
glad to have you with me, Captain Martin said, of
course I still have the supercargo, but that is not
like going ashore and seeing people one's self. However, we
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can go on as we are for a bit. You
have been striking a blow for freedom, lad I mean
to do my best to strike one tomorrow or next day.
How is that Father Bossu's fleet of thirty vessels are
cruising off the town, and they have already had some
skirmishes with dirk Zune's vessels, but nothing much has come
of it yet. The Spaniards, although their ships are much
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larger and heavily armed, and more numerous too than Oz,
do not seem to have any fancy for coming to
close quarters. But there is sure to be a fight
in a few days. There is a vessel in port
which will go out crowded with the fishermen here to
take part in the fight. And I am going to
fly the Dutch flag for once instead of the English,
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and am going to strike a blow to pay them
off for the murder of your mother's relations. To say
nothing of this, And he touched his wooden leg. There
are plenty of men here ready and willing to go,
and I have taken down the names of eighty who
will sail with us, so we shall have a strong
crew and shall be able to give a good account
of ourselves. Can I go with you, father, ned asked eagerly,
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if you like, lad. It will be tough work, you know,
for the Spaniards fight well, that cannot be denied. But
as you stood against them when they have been five
to one in the breaches of Harlem and Alkmar, to
say nothing of our skirmish with them, you will find
it a novelty to meet them when the odds are
not altogether against us. The next day, the eleventh of October,
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the Patriot fleet were seen bearing down with a strong
easterly breeze upon the Spaniards who were cruising between Enkhausen
and Horn. All was ready on board the Good Venture
and her consort. The bells rang and a swarm of
hardy fishermen came pouring on board. In five minutes, the
sails were hoisted and the two vessels flying the Dutch
flag started amidst the cheers of the Burghers on the
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walls to take their share in the engagement. They came
up with the enemy just as dirk Zoun's vessels engaged
them and at once joined in the fray. The Patriot
fleet now numbered twenty five vessels against the thirty Spaniards,
most of which were greatly superior in size to their opponents.
The Dutch at once maneuvered to come to close quarters,
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and the Spaniards, who had far less confidence in themselves
by sea than on land, very speedily began to draw
out of the fight. The Good Venture and a Dutch
craft had laid themselves alongside a large Spanish ship and
boarded her from both sides. Ned and Peters, followed by
the English sailors, clambered on board near the stern, while
the Dutch fishermen, most of whom were armed with heavy axes,
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boarded at the waist. The Spaniards fought but feebly, and
no sooner did the men from the craft on the
other side pour in and board her than they threw
down their arms. Four other ships were taken, and the
rest of the Spanish vessels spread their sails and made
for Amsterdam, hotly pursued by the Dutch fleet. One huge
Spanish vessel alone, the Inquisition, a name that was in
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itself an insult to the Dutch, and which was by
far the largest and best manned vessel in the two
fleets disdained to fly. She was the Admiral's vessel, and Bossu,
who was himself a native of the Netherlands, although deserted
by his fleet, refused to fly before his puny opponents.
The Spaniards in the ships captured had all been killed
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or fastened below, and under charge of small parties of
the Dutch sailors. The Prizes sailed for Rankhausen. The ship
captured by the Good Venture, had been the last to
strike her flag, and when she started under her Prize crew,
there were three smaller Dutch ships besides the Good Venture.
On the scene of the late conflict. With a cheer,
nentered from boat to boat. The four vessels sailed towards
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the Inquisition. A well directed broadside from the Spaniards cut
away the masts out of one of them and left
her in a sinking condition. The other three got alongside
and grappled with her. So high did she tower above
them that her cannon were of no avail to her
now and locked closely together, the sailors and soldiers fought
as if on land. It was a life and death contest.
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Mossu and his men, clad in coats of mail, stood
with sword and shield on the deck of the Inquisition
to repel all attempts to board. The Dutch attacked with
their favorite missiles, pitched hoops, boiling oil and molten lead.
Again and again they clambered up the lofty sides of
the Inquisition and gained a momentary footing on her deck,
only to be hurled down again into their ships below.
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The fight began at three o'clock in the afternoon and
lasted till darkness, but even this did not terminate it,
and all night Spaniards and Dutchmen grappled in deadly conflict.
This time, the vessels were drifting as the winds and
tide took them, and at last grounded on a shoal
called the Neck near Wideness. Just as morning was breaking.
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John Herring of Horn, the man who had kept a
thousand at bay on the Daimar Dyke and who now
commanded one of the vessels, gained a footing on the
deck of the Inquisition, unnoticed by the Spaniards, and hauled
down her colors. But a moment later he fell dead,
shot through the body. As soon as it was light
the country people came off in boats and joined in
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the fight, relieving their compatriots by carrying their killed and
wounded on shore. They brought fresh ammunition as well as men,
and at eleven o'clock Admiral Bossu, seeing that further resistance
was useless and that his ship was aground on a
hostile shore, his fleet dispersed, and three quarters of his
soldiers and crew dead or disabled, struck his flag and
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surrendered with three hundred prisoners. He was landed at Horn,
and his captors had great difficulty in preventing him from
being dad Horn to pieces by the populace in return
for the treacherous massacre at Rotterdam of which he had
been the author. During the long fight, ned Martin behaved
with great bravery. Again and again he and Peters had
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led the boarders, and it was only his morion and
breast piece that had saved him many times from death.
He had been wounded several times, and was so breathless
and hurt by his falls from the deck that at
the end he could no longer even attempt to climb
the sides of the Spanish vessel. Captain Martin was able
to take no part in the melee. He had, at
the beginning of the fight taken up his post on
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the taffrail, and seated there, had kept up a steady
fire with a musket against the Spaniards as they showed
themselves above. As soon as the fight was over, the
Good Venture sailed back to Enkhausen. Five of her own
crew and thirty eight of the volunteers on board her
had been killed, and there was scarcely a man who
was not more or less severely wounded. The English were
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received with tremendous acclamation by the citizens on their arrival port,
and a vote of thanks was passed to them at
a meeting of the burghers in the town hall. Ned
sailed round in the Good Venture to Delft and again
joined the Prince of Orange there, and was greatly commended
for his conduct at Alkmar, which had been reported upon
in the most favorable terms by Sonoy. On learning the
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share that the Good Venture had taken in the sea fight,
the Prince went on board and warmly thanked Captain Martin
and the crew, and distributed a handsome present among the latter.
Half an hour after the Prince returned to the palace,
he sent for Ned did you not say? He asked
that the lady who concealed you at Brussels was the
Countess Juan Harp. Yes, your highness, you have no bad
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news of her. I hope, I am sorry to say
that I have. The Prince replied, I have just received
a letter brought me by a messenger from a friend
at Maastricht. He tells me, among other matters, that the
Countess and her daughter were arrested there two days since
they were passing through in disguise and where it was
suppose making for Germany, when it chanced that the Countess
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was recognized by a man in the service of one
of the magistrates. It seems he had been born on
von Harp's estate and knew the Countess well by sight.
He at once denounced her, and she and her daughter
and a woman they had with them were thrown into prison.
I am truly sorry, for the count was a great
friend of mine, and I met his young wife many
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times in the happy days before these troubles began. Ned
was greatly grieved when he heard of the danger to
which the lady who had behaved so kindly to him
was exposed, And an hour later he again went into
the Prince's study. I have come in to ask, sir,
if you will allow me to be absent for a time. Certainly,
Captain Martin, the Prince replied, Are you thinking of paying
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a visit to England? No, Sir, I am going to
try if I can do anything to get the Countess
van Harp out of the hands of those who have
captured her. But how are you going to do that,
the Prince asked, in surprise. It is one thing to
slip out of the hands of Alva's minions, as you
did at Brussels, but another thing altogether to get two
women out of prison. That is so, Ned said. But
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I rely much, sir, upon the document which I took
a year since from the body of von Art's clerk,
and which I have carefully preserved ever since. It bears
the seal of the Blood Counsel, and is in order
to all magistrates to assist the Bearer in all ways
that he may require. With the aid of that document,
I may succeed in unlocking the doors of the prison.
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It is a bold enterprise, the Prince said, and may
cost you your life. Still I do not say it
is impossible. I have also ned said some orders for
the arrest of prisoners. These are not sealed, but bear
the signature of the President of the Council. I shall
go to a scrivener and shall get him to copy
one of them exactly, making only the alteration that the
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persons of the Countess von Harp, her daughter and servant
are to be handed over to my charge for conveyance
to Brussels alone. This document might be suspected, but fortified,
as I am by the other with the seal of
the Council, it may pass without much notice. Yes, but
you would be liable to detection by any one who
has known this man Cheney. There is a certain risk
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of that, Ned replied, And if any one who knew
him well met me, I should of course be detected.
But that is unlikely. The man was about my height,
although somewhat thinner. His principal mark was a most evil
squint that he had, and that any one who had
once met him would be sure to remember. I must
practice crossing my eyes in the same manner when I
present my papers. The Prince smiled. Sometimes you seem to
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me a man Martin, and then again you enter upon
an undertaking with the light heartedness of a boy. However,
far be it from me to hinder your making the attempt.
It is pleasant, though rare, to see people mindful of
benefits bestowed upon them, and one is glad to see
that gratitude is not altogether a lost virtue. Go, my lad,
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and may God aid you in your scheme. I will
my self send for a scrivener at once and give
him instructions. It may well be that he would refuse
to draw up such a document as you require merely
on your order. Leave the order for a rest with me,
and I will bid him get a facsimile made. In
all respects, you will require two or three trusty men
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with you to act as officials under your charge. I
will give you a letter to my correspondent in Mastricht,
begging him to provide some men on whom he can
rely for this work. It would be difficult for you,
a stranger in the town, to put your hand upon them.
The next morning, Ned, provided with the forged order of release,
started on his journey. He was disguised as a peasant
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and carried a suit of clothes similar in cut and
fashion to those worn by Jeannet. He went first to Rotterdam,
and bearing west, crossed the river Lek and then struck
the ball at Gorikin, and there hired a boat and
proceeded up the river to Nimajen. He then walked across
to Grave and again taking boat, proceeded up the maas
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passed Venlo and Rhorimond to Maastricht. He landed a few
miles above the town and changed his peasant clothes for
the suit he carried with him. At a farmhouse, he
succeeded in buying a horse, saddle and bridle. The animal
was but a poor one, but it was sufficiently good
for his purpose, as he wanted it not for speed,
but only to enable him to enter the city on horseback.
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Mastricht was a strongly fortified city, and on entering its gates,
Ned was requested to show his papers. He at once
produced the document bearing the seal of the Council. This
was amply sufficient, and he soon took up his quarters
at an inn. His first step was to find the
person for whom he bore the letter from the Prince,
the gentleman, who was a wealthy merchant. After reading the
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missive and learning from Ned the manner in which he
could assist him at once promised to do so. You
require three men, you say, dressed as officials in the
employment of the council. The dress is easy enough, for
they bear no special badge or cognizance. Although generally they
are at a hired in dark green doublets and trunks
and red hoes. There will be no difficulty as to
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the men themselves. The majority of the townsmen are warmly
affected to the patriotic cause, and there are many who
are at heart Protestants, though like myself, obliged to abstain
from making open confession of their faith. At any rate,
I have three men at least upon whom I can
absolutely rely. Their duty, you say, will be simply to
accompany you to the prison, and to ride with these
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ladies until beyond the gates. They must of course be mounted,
and must each have pillions for the carriage of the
prisoners behind them. Once well away from the town, they
will scatter, leave their horses at places I shall appoint,
change their clothes, and return into the city. What do
you mean to do with the ladies when you have
got them free? I do not know what their plans
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will be, or where they will wish to go, Ned said,
I should propose to have a vehicle with a pair
of horses awaiting them two miles outside the town. I
should say that a country cart would be least likely
to excite suspicion. I would have three peasant's dresses there
with it. I do not know that I can make
further provision for their flight, as I cannot say whether
they will make for the coast or try to continue
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their journey across the frontier. You can leave these matters
to me, the merchant said. The cart and disguises shall
be at the appointed spot whenever you let me know
the hour at which you will be there. You must
give me until noon tomorrow to make all the arrangements.
Very well, Sir Ned said, I am greatly obliged to you,
and the Prince, who is a personal friend of the Countess, will,
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I am sure, be greatly pleased when he hears how
warmly you have entered into the plans for aiding her escape.
I will present myself to the magistrates tomorrow at noon
and obtain from them the order upon the governor of
the prison to hand the ladies over to me. If
I should succeed, I will go straight back to my inn,
if you will place someone near the door there to
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see if I enter, which if I succeed, will be
at about one o'clock. He can bring you the news.
I will have my horse brought round at two, and
at that hour your men can ride up and join me,
and I will proceed with them straight to the prison.
End of Chapter sixteen.
Chapter sixteen of by Pike and Dike, a Tale of
the Rise of the Dutch Republic. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain by Pike and Dike by G. A. Henty,
Chapter sixteen, Friends in Trouble within the little town of Alkmar.
All went on quietly while the Spaniards constructed their lines
of investment and mounted their batteries. The men labored continually
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at strengthening their walls. The women and children carried materials.
All the food was collected in magazines and rations served
out regularly. A carpenter named Peter vander May managed to
make his way out of the city a fortnight after
the investment began, with letters to the Prince and Sonoy
giving the formal consent of all within the walls for
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the cutting of the dikes when it should be necessary, for,
according to the laws of Holland, a step that would
lead to so enormous a destruction of property could not
be undertaken even in the most urgent circumstances without the
consent of the population. At daybreak by the eighteenth of September,
a heavy cannonade was opened against the walls, and after
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twelve hours fire two breeches were made. Upon the following morning,
two of the best Spanish regiments, which had just arrived
from Italy, led the way to the assault, shouting and
cheering as they went, and confident of an easy victory.
They were followed by heavy masses of troops. Now ned
was again to see what the slow and somewhat apathetic
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Dutch Burghers could do. When fairly roused to action, every
man capable of bearing a weapon was upon the walls,
and not even in Harlem was an attack received with
more coolness and confidence. As the storming parties approached, they
were swept by artillery and musketry, and as they attempted
to climb the breeches, boiling water, pitch and oil, molten lead,
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and unslaked lime were poured upon them. Hundreds of tarred
and blazing hoops were skillfully thrown onto their necks, and
those who, in spite of these terrible missiles mounted the
breach found themselves confronted by the soldiers and Burghers armed
with axe and pike, and were slain or cast back. Again.
Three times was the assault renewed, fresh troops being ever
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brought up and pressing forward, wild with rage. At their
repulses by so small a number of defenders, but each
was in turn hurled back. For four hours, the desperate
fight continued, The women and children showed a calmness equal
to that of the men, moving backwards and forwards between
the magazines and the ramparts, with supplies of missiles and
(02:30):
ammunition to the combatants. At nightfall, the Spaniards desisted from
the attack and fell back to their camp, leaving a
thousand dead behind them, while only twenty four of the
garrison and thirteen of the burghers lost their lives. A
Spanish officer, who had mounted the breach for an instant
and after being hurled back almost miraculously escaped with his life,
(02:53):
reported that he had seen neither helmet nor harness as
he looked down into the city, only some plain looking
peopleorally dressed like fishermen. The cannonade was renewed on the
following morning, and after seven hundred shots had been fired
and the breeches enlarged, a fresh assault was ordered, but
the troops absolutely refused to advance. It seemed to them
(03:14):
that the devil whom they believed the Protestants worshiped, had
protected the city. Otherwise, how could a handful of townsmen
and fishermen have defeated the invincible soldiers of Spain, outnumbering
them eightfold. In vain Don, Frederick and his generals entreated
and stormed. Several of the soldiers were run through the body,
but even this did not intimidate the rest into submission,
(03:36):
and the assault was in consequence postponed. Already, indeed, there
was considerable uneasiness in the Spanish camp. Governor Sonoy had
opened many of the dikes, and the ground in the
neighborhood of the camp was already feeling soft and boggy.
It needed but that two great dikes should be pierced
to spread inundation over the whole country. The carpenter, who
(03:58):
had soon after the commencement of the siege carried out
the despatches, had again made his way back. He was
the bearer of the copy of a letter sent from
the Prince to Sonoy, ordering him to protect the dikes
and sluices with strong guards, lest the peasants, in order
to save their crops, should repair the breeches. He was
directed to flood the whole country at all risks, rather
(04:18):
than to allow Alkmaar to fall. The Prince directed the
citizens to kindle four great beacon fires as soon as
it should prove necessary to resort to extreme measures, and
solemnly promised that as soon as the signal was given,
an inundation should be created which would sweep the whole
Spanish army into the sea. The carpenter was informed of
the exact contents of his dispatches, so that in case
(04:40):
of losing them in his passage through the Spanish camp,
he could repeat them by word of mouth to the citizens.
This was exactly what happened. The despatches were concealed in
a hollow stick, and this stick the carpenter, in carrying
out his perilous undertaking, lost. As it turned out, it
was fortunate that he did so. The stick was picked
up in the camp and discovered to be hollow. It
(05:02):
was carried to Don Frederick, who read the despatches and
at once called his officers together. Alarmed at the prospect
before them, and already heartily sick of the siege in
which the honour all fell to their opponents, they agreed
that the safety of any army of the picked troops
of Spain must not be sacrificed merely with the hope
of obtaining possession of an insignificant town. Orders were therefore
(05:25):
given for an immediate retreat, and on the eighth of
October the siege was raised and the troops marched back
to Amsterdam. Thus, for the first time, the Spaniards had
to recoil before their puny adversaries. The terrible loss of
life entailed by the capture of Haarlem had struck a
profound blow at the haughty confidence of the Spaniards and
(05:46):
had vastly encouraged the people of Holland. The successful defense
of Alkmar did even more. It showed the people that
resistance did not necessarily lead to calamity, that the risk
was greater in surrender than in defiance, and above all,
that in their dikes they possessed means of defense that,
if properly used, would fight for them even more effectually
(06:07):
than they could do for themselves. Ned had taken his
full share in the labors and dangers of the siege.
He had been indefatigable in seeing that all the arrangements
worked well and smoothly, had slept on the walls with
the men. Encouraged, the women talked and laughed with the
children and done all in his power to keep up
the spirits of the inhabitants. At the assault on the breeches,
(06:30):
he had donned his armor and fought in the front
line as a volunteer under the officer in command of
the garrison. On the day when the Spaniards were seen
to be breaking up their camps and retiring, a meeting
was held in the town hall. After a solemn thanksgiving
had been offered in the church, and by acclamation ned
was made a citizen of the town and was presented
(06:50):
with a gold chain as a token of the gratitude
of the people of Alkmar. There was nothing more for
him to do here, and as soon as the Spaniards
had broken up their camp, he mounted a horse and
rode to Enkhausen, bidding his escort follow him at once.
On foot, he had learned from the carpenter who had
made his way in, that the fleet was collected, and
that a portion of them from the northern ports under
(07:12):
Admiral Dirk Zohn had already set sail, and the whole
were expected to arrive in a few days. In the
Zider's zee. As he rode through the street on his
way to the Burgomaster's. His eye fell upon a familiar face,
and he at once reined in his horse, Ah Peters,
he exclaimed, is it you? Is the good venture in port?
Peters looked up in astonishment. The voice was that of
(07:33):
Ned Martin, but he scarce recognized in the handsomely dressed
young officer, the lad he had last seen a year before.
Why it is Master Ned, sure enough, he exclaimed, shaking
the Lad's hand warmly. Though if you had not spoken,
I should have assuredly passed you. Why, lad, you are transformed.
I took you for a young noble, with your brave
attire and your gold chain, and you look years older
(07:55):
than when I last saw yer. You have grown into
a man. But though you have had to your height
and your breadth, your cheeks have fallen in greatly, and
your color has well nigh faded away. I have had
two long bouts of fasting Peters, and have but just
finished the second. I am Captain Martin, now by the
favor of the Prince of Orange. How are they at home?
(08:16):
And how goes it with my father? He is on board,
Master Ned. This is his first voyage, and right glad
we are as you may guess to have him back again,
and joyful will he be to see you. He had
your letters safely that you wrote after the fall of Harlem,
and it would have done you good if you had
heard the cheers in the summer house when he read
it out to the captain's there. We had scarce thought
(08:37):
we should ever hear of you again. I will put
up my horse at the burgomasters peters and come on
board with you at once. I must speak to him first.
For a few minutes. A messenger was sent off on
horseback last night, the moment the road was opened, to
say that the Spaniards had raised the siege of Alkmaar.
But I must give him a few details. So you
have been there too. The guns have been firing and
(08:58):
the bells ringing all the day, and the people have
been well nigh out of their minds with joy. They
had looked to the Spaniards coming here after they had
finished with Alkmaar, and you may guess how joyful they
were when the news came that the villains were going
off beaten. A quarter of an hour later, ned leapt
from the quay on to the deck of the Good Venture.
His father's delight was great as he entered the cabin,
(09:20):
and he was no less astonished than Peter's had been
at the change that a year had made in his appearance. Why, Ned,
he said, after they had talked for half an hour,
I fear you are getting much too great a man
of her to settle down again to work here. Not
at all, Father, Ned, laughed, I have not the least
idea of remaining permanently here. I love the sea, and
(09:40):
I love England and my home, and nothing would tempt
me to give them up. I cannot leave my present
work now. The Prince has been so kind to me
that even if I wished it, I could not withdraw
from his service now. But I do not wish in
another year. If all the Dutch cities prove as staunch
as Harlem and Alkmar have done, the Spaniards will surely
begin and to see that their task of subduing such
(10:02):
a people is a hopeless one. At any rate, I
think that I can then very well withdraw myself from
the work and follow my profession again. I shall be
old enough then to be your second mate, and to
relieve you of much of your work. I shall be
glad to have you with me, Captain Martin said, of
course I still have the supercargo, but that is not
like going ashore and seeing people one's self. However, we
(10:25):
can go on as we are for a bit. You
have been striking a blow for freedom, lad I mean
to do my best to strike one tomorrow or next day.
How is that Father Bossu's fleet of thirty vessels are
cruising off the town, and they have already had some
skirmishes with dirk Zune's vessels, but nothing much has come
of it yet. The Spaniards, although their ships are much
(10:47):
larger and heavily armed, and more numerous too than Oz,
do not seem to have any fancy for coming to
close quarters. But there is sure to be a fight
in a few days. There is a vessel in port
which will go out crowded with the fishermen here to
take part in the fight. And I am going to
fly the Dutch flag for once instead of the English,
(11:07):
and am going to strike a blow to pay them
off for the murder of your mother's relations. To say
nothing of this, And he touched his wooden leg. There
are plenty of men here ready and willing to go,
and I have taken down the names of eighty who
will sail with us, so we shall have a strong
crew and shall be able to give a good account
of ourselves. Can I go with you, father, ned asked eagerly,
(11:30):
if you like, lad. It will be tough work, you know,
for the Spaniards fight well, that cannot be denied. But
as you stood against them when they have been five
to one in the breaches of Harlem and Alkmar, to
say nothing of our skirmish with them, you will find
it a novelty to meet them when the odds are
not altogether against us. The next day, the eleventh of October,
(11:51):
the Patriot fleet were seen bearing down with a strong
easterly breeze upon the Spaniards who were cruising between Enkhausen
and Horn. All was ready on board the Good Venture
and her consort. The bells rang and a swarm of
hardy fishermen came pouring on board. In five minutes, the
sails were hoisted and the two vessels flying the Dutch
flag started amidst the cheers of the Burghers on the
(12:13):
walls to take their share in the engagement. They came
up with the enemy just as dirk Zoun's vessels engaged
them and at once joined in the fray. The Patriot
fleet now numbered twenty five vessels against the thirty Spaniards,
most of which were greatly superior in size to their opponents.
The Dutch at once maneuvered to come to close quarters,
(12:34):
and the Spaniards, who had far less confidence in themselves
by sea than on land, very speedily began to draw
out of the fight. The Good Venture and a Dutch
craft had laid themselves alongside a large Spanish ship and
boarded her from both sides. Ned and Peters, followed by
the English sailors, clambered on board near the stern, while
the Dutch fishermen, most of whom were armed with heavy axes,
(12:57):
boarded at the waist. The Spaniards fought but feebly, and
no sooner did the men from the craft on the
other side pour in and board her than they threw
down their arms. Four other ships were taken, and the
rest of the Spanish vessels spread their sails and made
for Amsterdam, hotly pursued by the Dutch fleet. One huge
Spanish vessel alone, the Inquisition, a name that was in
(13:19):
itself an insult to the Dutch, and which was by
far the largest and best manned vessel in the two
fleets disdained to fly. She was the Admiral's vessel, and Bossu,
who was himself a native of the Netherlands, although deserted
by his fleet, refused to fly before his puny opponents.
The Spaniards in the ships captured had all been killed
(13:41):
or fastened below, and under charge of small parties of
the Dutch sailors. The Prizes sailed for Rankhausen. The ship
captured by the Good Venture, had been the last to
strike her flag, and when she started under her Prize crew,
there were three smaller Dutch ships besides the Good Venture.
On the scene of the late conflict. With a cheer,
nentered from boat to boat. The four vessels sailed towards
(14:03):
the Inquisition. A well directed broadside from the Spaniards cut
away the masts out of one of them and left
her in a sinking condition. The other three got alongside
and grappled with her. So high did she tower above
them that her cannon were of no avail to her
now and locked closely together, the sailors and soldiers fought
as if on land. It was a life and death contest.
(14:26):
Mossu and his men, clad in coats of mail, stood
with sword and shield on the deck of the Inquisition
to repel all attempts to board. The Dutch attacked with
their favorite missiles, pitched hoops, boiling oil and molten lead.
Again and again they clambered up the lofty sides of
the Inquisition and gained a momentary footing on her deck,
only to be hurled down again into their ships below.
(14:49):
The fight began at three o'clock in the afternoon and
lasted till darkness, but even this did not terminate it,
and all night Spaniards and Dutchmen grappled in deadly conflict.
This time, the vessels were drifting as the winds and
tide took them, and at last grounded on a shoal
called the Neck near Wideness. Just as morning was breaking.
(15:09):
John Herring of Horn, the man who had kept a
thousand at bay on the Daimar Dyke and who now
commanded one of the vessels, gained a footing on the
deck of the Inquisition, unnoticed by the Spaniards, and hauled
down her colors. But a moment later he fell dead,
shot through the body. As soon as it was light
the country people came off in boats and joined in
(15:30):
the fight, relieving their compatriots by carrying their killed and
wounded on shore. They brought fresh ammunition as well as men,
and at eleven o'clock Admiral Bossu, seeing that further resistance
was useless and that his ship was aground on a
hostile shore, his fleet dispersed, and three quarters of his
soldiers and crew dead or disabled, struck his flag and
(15:52):
surrendered with three hundred prisoners. He was landed at Horn,
and his captors had great difficulty in preventing him from
being dad Horn to pieces by the populace in return
for the treacherous massacre at Rotterdam of which he had
been the author. During the long fight, ned Martin behaved
with great bravery. Again and again he and Peters had
(16:13):
led the boarders, and it was only his morion and
breast piece that had saved him many times from death.
He had been wounded several times, and was so breathless
and hurt by his falls from the deck that at
the end he could no longer even attempt to climb
the sides of the Spanish vessel. Captain Martin was able
to take no part in the melee. He had, at
the beginning of the fight taken up his post on
(16:35):
the taffrail, and seated there, had kept up a steady
fire with a musket against the Spaniards as they showed
themselves above. As soon as the fight was over, the
Good Venture sailed back to Enkhausen. Five of her own
crew and thirty eight of the volunteers on board her
had been killed, and there was scarcely a man who
was not more or less severely wounded. The English were
(16:56):
received with tremendous acclamation by the citizens on their arrival port,
and a vote of thanks was passed to them at
a meeting of the burghers in the town hall. Ned
sailed round in the Good Venture to Delft and again
joined the Prince of Orange there, and was greatly commended
for his conduct at Alkmar, which had been reported upon
in the most favorable terms by Sonoy. On learning the
(17:19):
share that the Good Venture had taken in the sea fight,
the Prince went on board and warmly thanked Captain Martin
and the crew, and distributed a handsome present among the latter.
Half an hour after the Prince returned to the palace,
he sent for Ned did you not say? He asked
that the lady who concealed you at Brussels was the
Countess Juan Harp. Yes, your highness, you have no bad
(17:41):
news of her. I hope, I am sorry to say
that I have. The Prince replied, I have just received
a letter brought me by a messenger from a friend
at Maastricht. He tells me, among other matters, that the
Countess and her daughter were arrested there two days since
they were passing through in disguise and where it was
suppose making for Germany, when it chanced that the Countess
(18:03):
was recognized by a man in the service of one
of the magistrates. It seems he had been born on
von Harp's estate and knew the Countess well by sight.
He at once denounced her, and she and her daughter
and a woman they had with them were thrown into prison.
I am truly sorry, for the count was a great
friend of mine, and I met his young wife many
(18:24):
times in the happy days before these troubles began. Ned
was greatly grieved when he heard of the danger to
which the lady who had behaved so kindly to him
was exposed, And an hour later he again went into
the Prince's study. I have come in to ask, sir,
if you will allow me to be absent for a time. Certainly,
Captain Martin, the Prince replied, Are you thinking of paying
(18:46):
a visit to England? No, Sir, I am going to
try if I can do anything to get the Countess
van Harp out of the hands of those who have
captured her. But how are you going to do that,
the Prince asked, in surprise. It is one thing to
slip out of the hands of Alva's minions, as you
did at Brussels, but another thing altogether to get two
women out of prison. That is so, Ned said. But
(19:09):
I rely much, sir, upon the document which I took
a year since from the body of von Art's clerk,
and which I have carefully preserved ever since. It bears
the seal of the Blood Counsel, and is in order
to all magistrates to assist the Bearer in all ways
that he may require. With the aid of that document,
I may succeed in unlocking the doors of the prison.
(19:29):
It is a bold enterprise, the Prince said, and may
cost you your life. Still I do not say it
is impossible. I have also ned said some orders for
the arrest of prisoners. These are not sealed, but bear
the signature of the President of the Council. I shall
go to a scrivener and shall get him to copy
one of them exactly, making only the alteration that the
(19:50):
persons of the Countess von Harp, her daughter and servant
are to be handed over to my charge for conveyance
to Brussels alone. This document might be suspected, but fortified,
as I am by the other with the seal of
the Council, it may pass without much notice. Yes, but
you would be liable to detection by any one who
has known this man Cheney. There is a certain risk
(20:12):
of that, Ned replied, And if any one who knew
him well met me, I should of course be detected.
But that is unlikely. The man was about my height,
although somewhat thinner. His principal mark was a most evil
squint that he had, and that any one who had
once met him would be sure to remember. I must
practice crossing my eyes in the same manner when I
present my papers. The Prince smiled. Sometimes you seem to
(20:36):
me a man Martin, and then again you enter upon
an undertaking with the light heartedness of a boy. However,
far be it from me to hinder your making the attempt.
It is pleasant, though rare, to see people mindful of
benefits bestowed upon them, and one is glad to see
that gratitude is not altogether a lost virtue. Go, my lad,
(20:56):
and may God aid you in your scheme. I will
my self send for a scrivener at once and give
him instructions. It may well be that he would refuse
to draw up such a document as you require merely
on your order. Leave the order for a rest with me,
and I will bid him get a facsimile made. In
all respects, you will require two or three trusty men
(21:18):
with you to act as officials under your charge. I
will give you a letter to my correspondent in Mastricht,
begging him to provide some men on whom he can
rely for this work. It would be difficult for you,
a stranger in the town, to put your hand upon them.
The next morning, Ned, provided with the forged order of release,
started on his journey. He was disguised as a peasant
(21:39):
and carried a suit of clothes similar in cut and
fashion to those worn by Jeannet. He went first to Rotterdam,
and bearing west, crossed the river Lek and then struck
the ball at Gorikin, and there hired a boat and
proceeded up the river to Nimajen. He then walked across
to Grave and again taking boat, proceeded up the maas
(22:00):
passed Venlo and Rhorimond to Maastricht. He landed a few
miles above the town and changed his peasant clothes for
the suit he carried with him. At a farmhouse, he
succeeded in buying a horse, saddle and bridle. The animal
was but a poor one, but it was sufficiently good
for his purpose, as he wanted it not for speed,
but only to enable him to enter the city on horseback.
(22:22):
Mastricht was a strongly fortified city, and on entering its gates,
Ned was requested to show his papers. He at once
produced the document bearing the seal of the Council. This
was amply sufficient, and he soon took up his quarters
at an inn. His first step was to find the
person for whom he bore the letter from the Prince,
the gentleman, who was a wealthy merchant. After reading the
(22:44):
missive and learning from Ned the manner in which he
could assist him at once promised to do so. You
require three men, you say, dressed as officials in the
employment of the council. The dress is easy enough, for
they bear no special badge or cognizance. Although generally they
are at a hired in dark green doublets and trunks
and red hoes. There will be no difficulty as to
(23:05):
the men themselves. The majority of the townsmen are warmly
affected to the patriotic cause, and there are many who
are at heart Protestants, though like myself, obliged to abstain
from making open confession of their faith. At any rate,
I have three men at least upon whom I can
absolutely rely. Their duty, you say, will be simply to
accompany you to the prison, and to ride with these
(23:27):
ladies until beyond the gates. They must of course be mounted,
and must each have pillions for the carriage of the
prisoners behind them. Once well away from the town, they
will scatter, leave their horses at places I shall appoint,
change their clothes, and return into the city. What do
you mean to do with the ladies when you have
got them free? I do not know what their plans
(23:48):
will be, or where they will wish to go, Ned said,
I should propose to have a vehicle with a pair
of horses awaiting them two miles outside the town. I
should say that a country cart would be least likely
to excite suspicion. I would have three peasant's dresses there
with it. I do not know that I can make
further provision for their flight, as I cannot say whether
they will make for the coast or try to continue
(24:09):
their journey across the frontier. You can leave these matters
to me, the merchant said. The cart and disguises shall
be at the appointed spot whenever you let me know
the hour at which you will be there. You must
give me until noon tomorrow to make all the arrangements.
Very well, Sir Ned said, I am greatly obliged to you,
and the Prince, who is a personal friend of the Countess, will,
(24:31):
I am sure, be greatly pleased when he hears how
warmly you have entered into the plans for aiding her escape.
I will present myself to the magistrates tomorrow at noon
and obtain from them the order upon the governor of
the prison to hand the ladies over to me. If
I should succeed, I will go straight back to my inn,
if you will place someone near the door there to
(24:52):
see if I enter, which if I succeed, will be
at about one o'clock. He can bring you the news.
I will have my horse brought round at two, and
at that hour your men can ride up and join me,
and I will proceed with them straight to the prison.
End of Chapter sixteen.
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