The rise of the Dutch republic, Volume 2 |
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Aerschot afterwards Alençon already Alva Anjou Antwerp Archives et Correspondance arms army Bentivoglio Brabant brother Brussels burghers Cabrera Catholic cause Champagny citizens command Correspondance de Philippe Council Count John death Don John Duke Duke of Anjou enemy envoys Escovedo estates favour force France French Gérard Ghent Governor Groen hand Holland and Zealand honour Hoofd hundred Ibid Imbize King Kluit Lalain land letter liberty Louis of Nassau magistrates Maison d'Orange Majesty Meantime Mendoza ment Meteren negotiations Netherlands never nobles Parma party patriots peace Philip Prince of Orange Prinst prisoners provinces Queen Reformed religion religious Renneberg Requesens royal Saint Aldegonde sent siege soldiers soon sovereign sovereignty Spain Spaniards Spanish stadholder states-general Strada Tassis Thou thousand tion treaty troops ubi sup Utrecht Viglius viii Vynckt Wagenaer Walloon whole William William of Orange William the Silent wrote xvii
Popular passages
Page 132 - I know that we shall starve if not soon relieved ; but starvation is preferable to the dishonored death which is the only alternative. Your menaces move me not; my life is at your disposal; here is my sword, plunge it into my breast, and divide my flesh among you. Take my body to appease your hunger, but expect no surrender, so long as I remain alive.
Page 134 - 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. This last obstacle rose formidable and frowning directly across their path. Swarming as it was with soldiers, and bristling with artillery, it seemed...
Page 134 - It was resolved. that a sortie, in conjunction with the operations of Boisot, should be made against Lammen with the earliest dawn. Night descended upon the scene, a pitch dark night, full of anxiety to the Spaniards, to the armada, to Leyden. Strange sights and sounds occurred at different moments to bewilder the anxious sentinels. A long procession of lights issuing from the fort was seen to flit across the black face of the waters in the dead of night, and the...
Page 131 - ... naturally engendered of hardship and famine, now came, as if in kindness, to abridge the agony of the people. The pestilence stalked at noonday through the city, and the doomed inhabitants fell like grass beneath its scythe.
Page 130 - A week had elapsed since the great dike had been pierced, and the flotilla now lay motionless in shallow water, having accomplished less than two miles. The wind, too, was easterly, causing the sea rather to sink than to rise. Everything wore a gloomy aspect, when, fortunately, on the 18th, the wind shifted to the northwest, and for three days blew a gale. The waters rose rapidly, and before the second day was closed the armada was afloat again. Some fugitives from Zoetermeer village now arrived,...
Page 444 - Upon its left side, as one approached the stairway, was an obscure arch, sunk deep in the wall, and completely in the shadow of the door. Behind this arch a portal opened to the narrow lane at the side of the house. The stairs themselves were completely lighted by a large window, halfway up the flight.
Page 450 - Frisian races with the subtler, more delicate, and more graceful national elements in which the genius of the Frank, the Roman, and the Romanized Celt were so intimately blended. As long as the Father of the country lived, such a union was possible. His power of managing men was so unquestionable, that there was always a hope, even in the darkest hour, for men felt implicit reliance, as well on his intellectual resources as on his integrity. This power of dealing with his fellow-men he manifested...
Page 454 - His temperament was cheerful. At table, the pleasures of which, in moderation, were his only relaxation, he was always animated and merry, and this jocoseness was partly natural, partly intentional. In the darkest hours of his country's trial, he affected a serenity which he was far from feeling, so that his apparent...
Page 133 - The letter was read publicly upon the market-place, and the bells were rung for joy. Nevertheless, on the morrow, the vanes pointed to the east, the waters, so far from rising, continued to sink, and Admiral Boisot was almost in despair. He wrote to the Prince, that if the...
Page 127 - will we see our whole land and all our possessions perish in the waves, than forsake thee, Leyden. We know full well, moreover, that with Leyden, all Holland must perish also.