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Water Line 1573

Leiden is famous in history from the Siege which it endured from the Spaniards under Valdez in 1573-4. The defence of the place was intrusted to John Vander Does; the burgomaster of the town was Pieter Adrianzoon Vanderwerf; and the example of heroism and endurance afforded by the citizens under their guidance has not been surpassed in any country. When Vander Does was urged by Valdez to surrender, he replied, in the name of the inhabitants, that " when provisions failed them they would devour their left hands, reserving their right to defend their liberty." For nearly four months the inhabitants had'held out without murmuring ; every individual, even to the women and children, taking a share in the defence. For seven weeks bread had not been seen within the walls; provisions had been exhausted, and the horrors of famine had driven the besieged to appease their hunger with the flesh of horses, dogs, cats, and other foul animals; roots and weeds were eagerly sought for. So strictly was the blockade maintained, that evciy attempt on the part of their friends to throw in provisions had failed. Pestilence came in the train of famine, and carried off at least 6000 of the inhabitants, so that the duty of burying them was almost too severe for those who were left, worn out by fatigue, watching, and emaciation. At length two carrier pigeons flew into the town, bearing tidings that relief was at hand.

The Prince of Orange had finally adopted the determination of cutting the dykes of the Maas and Ijssel, to relieve the heroic town. As this fearful alternative could ruin the whole province of Holland, it is not to be wondered at that it was only adopted after much hesitation and as a last resource. But the inundation, even when the water was admitted, did not produce the anticipated results; although the country between Gouda, Dort, Rotterdam, and Leiden was submerged, it only rose a few feet. The flotilla of 200 boats, built by the Prince of Orange at Rotterdam, and manned by 800 Zealanders under Boisot, destined for the relief memorable siege of 1574 of the town, was thus prevented from approaching it, though the inhabitants could easily descry it from their walls.

Then it was that, driven frantic by disappointment as well as suffering, they approached, in a tumultuous mob, the burgomaster, and demanded from him, peremptorily, bread or the surrender of the town. "I have sworn to defend this city," answered the heroic governor, "and by God's help I mean to keep that oath. Bread I have none ; but, if my body can afford you relief and enable you to prolong the defence, take it and tear it to pieces, and let those who are most hungry among you share it." Such noble devotion was not without its effect: the most clamorous were abashed, and they all retired in silence; but, fortunately the misery of the besieged was now nearly at an end, and another power above that of man effected the relief of the town of Leiden.

The wind, which had for many weeks been in the N.e., changed to the N.w., driving the tide up the river ; it then suddenly veered to the s., and one of those violent and continued storms which, even when the dykes are entire, cause such anxiety for the safety of the country, acting with accumulated violence upon the waters, widened the breaches already cut in the dykes, and drove in the flood upon the land with the force of an overwhelming torrent. The inundation not only spread as far as the walls of Leiden, but with such suddenness that the ramparts thrown up by the Spaniards were surrounded, and more than 1000 of their soldiers were overwhelmed by the flood.

The same tide which swept them away carried the flotilla of boats of the Prince of Orange, laden with provisions, to the gates of Leiden. An amphibious battle was fought among the branches of the trees, partly on the dykes, partly in boats, and in the end the Spaniards, who had boasted that it was as impossible for the Dutch to save Leiden from their hands as to pluck the stars from heaven, were driven from their palisades and entrenchments. This almost miraculous deliverance took place on the 3rd of October, 1574, a day still commemorated by the citizens. As an additional proof of Divine interference on this occasion, the Dutch historians remark that the wind from the s.w., which had carried the water up to the walls, after three days turned to the N.e., so as effectually to drive it back again. Thus it might well be said that both wind and water fought in the defence of Leiden.

The narrow canal de Keete, separating the islands of Tholen and Duiveland, is celebrated for the intrepid bravery with which it was crossed in 1575, partly by wading and partly by means of small boats, by 1700 Spanish volunteers under Requesens, the successor of the Duke of Alva, notwithstanding the incessant and galling iire of the Flemish defenders of the island, many of whom crowded round the assailants in boats. The capture of Zieriksee was the reward of this determined attack. The siege had already lasted a whole year, during which besiegers and besieged had alike distinguished themselves by numerous feats of valor. The difficulties of the siege were greatly increased by the opening of the floud-gates and the complete inundation of the island, while the besieged were reduced to great extremities on account of the shallowness of the water, which precluded the possibility of communication with their fleet under the Prince of Orange, and thus cut off all hope of fresh supplies of provisions and ammunition.