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First siege of Leyden Commencement of the second Description of the city Preparations for defence Letters of Orange Act of amnesty issued by Requesens Its conditions Its reception by the Hollanders Correspondence of the Glippers Sorties and fierce combats beneath the walls of Leyden Position of the Prince His project of relief Magnanimity of the people Breaking of the dykes Emotions in the city and the besieging camp Letter of the Estates of Holland Dangerous illness of the Prince The "wild Zealanders" Admiral Boisot commences his voyage Sanguinary combat on the Land Scheiding Occupation of that dyke and of the Green Way Pauses and Progress of the flotilla The Prince visits the fleet Horrible sufferings in the city Speech of Van der Werf Heroism of the inhabitants The Admiral's letters The storm Advance of Boisot Lammen fortress An anxious night Midnight retreat of the Spaniards The Admiral enters the city Thanksgiving in the great church The Prince in Leyden Parting words of Valdez Mutiny Leyden University founded The charter Inauguration ceremonies.
The numbers who thus fell beneath these corsairs, who neither gave nor took quarter, were never counted, but probably not less than a thousand perished. The rest effected their escape to the Hague. The first fortress was thus seized, dismantled, set on fire, and passed, and a few strokes of the oars brought the whole fleet close to Lammen.
It was now swarming with troops, for the bulk of the besieging army had gradually been driven into a narrow circle of forts, within the immediate neighbourhood of Leyden. Besides Zoeterwoude, the two posts where they were principally established were Lammen and Leyderdorp, each within three hundred rods of the town.
At Leyderdorp were the head-quarters of Valdez; Colonel Borgia commanded in the very strong fortress of Lammen. The fleet was, however, delayed at North Aa by another barrier, called the "Kirk-way."
Two obstacles alone stood between them and the city the forts of Zoeterwoude and Lammen, the one five hundred, and the other but two hundred and fifty yards from the city. Both were strong and well supplied with troops and artillery, but the panic which had seized the Spaniards extended to Zoeterwoude.
Shall all this be destroyed by the Spanish guns, or shall we rush to the rescue of our friends?" "We will tear the fortress to fragments with our teeth and nails," was the reply, "before the relief, so long expected, shall be wrested from us." It was resolved that a sortie, in conjunction with the operations of Boisot, should be made against Lammen with the earliest dawn.
A pigeon had been despatched by Boisot in the morning informing the citizens of his exact position, and at nightfall the burgomaster and a number of citizens gathered at the watchtower. "Yonder," cried the magistrate, pointing to Lammen, "behind that fort, are bread and meat and brethren in thousands. Shall all this be destroyed by Spanish guns, or shall we rush to the aid of our friends?"
The noise of the wall, as it fell, only inspired them with fresh alarm for they believed that the citizens had sallied forth in the darkness, to aid the advancing flood in the work of destruction. All obstacles being now removed, the fleet of Boisot swept by Lammen, and entered the city on the morning of the 3rd of October. Leyden was relieved.
The magistrates, fearing a trap, hesitated for a moment to believe the truth, which soon, however, became quite evident. Valdez, flying himself from Leyderdorp, had ordered Colonel Borgia to retire with all his troops from Lammen. Thus, the Spaniards had retreated at the very moment that an extraordinary accident had laid bare a whole side of the city for their entrance.
The magistrates, fearing a trap, hesitated for a moment to believe the truth, which soon, however, became quite evident. Valdez, flying himself from Leyderdorp, had ordered Colonel Borgia to retire with all his troops from Lammen. Thus, the Spaniards had retreated at the very moment that an extraordinary accident had laid bare a whole side of the city for their entrance.
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