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Behind the strong fort of Lammen, defended by several hundred Spanish soldiers, and the Castle of Cronenstein, a keen eye could distinguish the Beggars' vessels. During Thursday and Friday Wilhelm watched in vain for a dove, but on Saturday his best flier returned, bringing a letter from Admiral Boisot, who called upon the armed forces of the city to sally out on Friday and attack Lammen.
In his precipitate retreat before the advancing rebels, the Commander had but just found time for this elegant effusion, and, for his parting instructions to Colonel Borgia that the fortress of Lammen was to be forthwith abandoned. These having been reduced to writing, Valdez had fled so speedily as to give rise to much censure and more scandal.
Suddenly a man was descried, wading breast-high through the water from Lammen towards the fleet, while at the same time, one solitary boy was seen to wave his cap from the summit of the fort. After a moment of doubt, the happy mystery was solved. The Spaniards had fled, panic struck, during the darkness.
Have you seen the great Ark of Delft? It's a huge vessel, moved by wheels, by which the water is thrust aside. You'll be delighted with it. At last the Lord gave us the storm and the spring-tide. Then the vessels had the right depth of water. There was warm work again at the Kirk-way, but the day before yesterday we reached Lammen.
Had they remained they could have frustrated the enterprise, and Leyden must have fallen; but the events of the two preceding days had shaken their courage. Valdez retired from Leyderdorp and ordered Colonel Borgia to evacuate Lammen. Thus they had retreated at the very moment that the fall of the wall sapped by the flood laid bare a whole side of the city for their entrance.
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.
You are people of the right stamp, and soon after a lad about as large as one of you, came to our vessel and told us he had seen a long procession of lights move out of the fort during the night and march away. At first we wouldn't believe him, but the boy was right. The water had grown too hot for the crabs, and the lights the lad saw were the Spaniards' lunts. Look, children, there is Lammen "
Suddenly a man was descried, wading breast-high through the water from Lammen towards the fleet, while at the same time, one solitary boy was seen to wave his cap from the summit of the fort. After a moment of doubt, the happy mystery was solved. The Spaniards had fled, panic struck, during the darkness.
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.
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.
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