United States or Oman ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


The distance from Leyden to the outer dyke was fifteen miles; ten of these were already flooded, and the flotilla, which consisted of more than 200 vessels, manned in all with 2500 veterans, including 800 of the wild sea beggars of Zeeland, renowned as much for their ferocity as for nautical skill, started on their way, and reached without difficulty the great dyke called the Land Scheiding.

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 admiral had believed that the Land Scheiding once cut, the water would flood the country as far as Leyden, but another dyke, the Greenway, rose a foot above water three- quarters of a mile inside the Land Scheiding. As soon as the water had risen over the land sufficiently to float the ships, the fleet advanced, seized the Greenway, and cut it.

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 prince had given orders that the Land Scheiding, whose top was still a foot and a half above water, should be taken possession of at all hazard, and this was accomplished by surprise on the night of the 10th. The Spaniards stationed there were either killed or driven off, and the Dutch fortified themselves upon it.

Yonder, where the cannon thundered and the horizon glowed, lay the Land- scheiding, the bulwark which for centuries had guarded the plains surrounding Leyden from the assaults of the waves, and now barred the way of the fleet bringing assistance.

They completely defeated the enemy, who retired, leaving hundreds of dead on the field, and the patriots in complete possession of the Land- scheiding. This first action was sanguinary and desperate. It gave a earnest of what these people, who came to relieve; their brethren, by sacrificing their, property and their lives; were determined to effect.

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.

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.