The Lily of Leyden by William Henry Giles Kingston
CHAPTER THREE.
Not a moment was lost after the Council broke up in commencing theall-important tasks which each member had undertaken. The burgomaster,however, did not forget the duties of hospitality; taking the arm ofCaptain Van der Elst, he said--
"Come with me, my friend, and partake of some refreshment, which youmust sadly need. You have ridden hard all this morning, and have stilla long journey to perform before you can reach Rotterdam, with the riskof encountering marauding parties of Spaniards, who may have venturedforth from Gravenhague. I will give orders in the meantime that you maybe provided with the best horse the city affords, for your own steed hasscarcely had sufficient time to rest to carry you as rapidly as youdesire on your journey."
Karl acknowledged that his horse was wellnigh knocked up, and thankfullyaccepted the burgomaster's invitation, though he was anxious not todelay a moment longer than was necessary before proceeding on hisjourney. Directly the burgomaster, accompanied by Van der Elst, arrivedat his house, the repast, which had long been ready, was placed on thetable, and Jaqueline appeared to preside at it. She received the youngcaptain with less frankness than she might generally have bestowed onher father's friends. There was a slight timidity in her manner, which,in spite of herself, she could not help exhibiting, and a blush rose fora moment to her cheek as she replied to his greeting.
"And are you able to remain and assist us in preparing for the defenceof our town?" she asked.
"Would that I were able to remain," he answered. "But I must hurry onas fast as my steed can go to see the Prince and to receive hisdirections for my future guidance; but I will not fail to suggest to himthat I may be of service in assisting in the defence of Leyden, andunless he should require me for important work elsewhere, I hope that hewill allow me to return."
"I trust so," murmured Jaqueline, raising her eyes and casting amomentary glance at him.
The meal was soon concluded, for Captain Van der Elst was unwilling tospend a moment longer than was necessary at the table, though he wouldfain probably have enjoyed a longer conversation with Jaqueline. He hadto wait a short time for the arrival of his horse, which enabled him toexchange a few more words with Jaqueline. While they were speakingBerthold and Albert arrived, each laden with a cage containing somebeautiful white pigeons, which might easily, from the gracefulness oftheir form, have been mistaken for doves.
"You see, Vrouw Jaqueline, that I have not forgotten my promise, and Iam sure that you will take better care of them than I could do," saidAlbert. "They each have got their names, and will come when you summonthem, besides which, if they are carried to any distance, however great,they will always fly back as fast as their wings can bear them. I havetrained them carefully to perform this duty; see here is one I call theLily, because it is the fairest and most beautiful of all. See howsmooth and glossy are its feathers, every one of the most snowy white."
Jaqueline thanked Albert for the birds, and promised to tend themcarefully.
"They will be content, however, at present to remain in their cage, soyou need not trouble yourself about them," he observed.
Captain Van der Elst did not fail to admire the pigeons. "Should thecity be beleaguered they may be of the greatest possible use some day,if you can send them to the head-quarters of the Prince, as beneaththeir wings they can carry the messages far more securely and rapidlythan the fastest runner," he remarked. "At present the country is open,and I shall have to ride hard. I will not ask your permission to carryany of the birds with me, but perhaps in a few days before the Spaniardsgather round the city you will allow four of them to be taken to Delftor Rotterdam that they may return with such messages as the Prince maydesire to send."
"It did not occur to me when I undertook to tend the pretty birds thatthey might prove of the service you suggest," said Jaqueline. "You areindeed most welcome to take as many as you can employ. I shall prizethem more than ever when they have thus assisted our glorious cause."
Suddenly Berthold, on hearing that Captain Van der Elst was about to setout for Rotterdam, started up. "If my uncle will give me leave may Iaccompany you?" he exclaimed. "I know all the crossways and cross cutsbetter probably than you do, or indeed than anybody you can find, and Imight be useful in guiding you."
"Will you have my nephew as your companion?" asked the burgomaster.
"I would gladly have his society, but I am unwilling to expose him tothe risks I may incur," answered Captain Van der Elst. "The Spaniardsare likely to be more vigilant than ever, and their light horse willprobably be scouring the country either to forage or to interrupt thecommunication between the cities."
"That is the very reason why I wish to go with you," said Berthold. "Iknow the roads thoroughly, for as soon as the Spaniards had retired,feeling like a bird set free I scoured over the whole country, andamused myself in making a plan of them."
"As Berthold knows the country so well, surely it will lessen the riskyou would have to run alone if you will take him with you," observedJaqueline. "I am sure that he will feel it an honour to accompany you,and he can return speedily with any message the Prince may have tosend."
Captain Van der Elst's scruples being overcome by these arguments, he nolonger hesitated to accept the offer made by Berthold, who hurried outas soon as he had snatched some food to see that his horse was gotready.
"I quite envy you," said Albert to him. "I should like to go also, butI know that my father will require my services, and I must even nowhurry back to him."
In a short time, the two steeds being brought to the door, Captain Vander Elst and his young companion, having bid farewell to the burgomasterand Jaqueline, proceeded towards the Cowgate, the southern entrance tothe town, leading towards Rotterdam. Jaqueline watched them eagerly asthey rode off, undoubtedly a prayer ascended from her heart for theirsafe arrival. The country was green with the bright grass of earlyspring, the fruit trees in numerous orchards were covered with bloom,giving fragrance to the air. For the first part of the distance therewas but little risk of their encountering enemies, and by the time theyhad got further on the sun would already be setting, and they would havethe advantage of being concealed by the shades of evening. The villageof Zoeterwoude, standing on a slight elevation above the surroundingplain, was soon passed, and that of Zuidbrunt, close to a large andshallow meer, was next reached, but they neither of them entered lest aparty of Spaniards might have ventured thus far from theirhead-quarters. They had already passed three enormous dykes runningacross their road, one beyond the other, built for the purpose ofprotecting the city from the inroads of the sea. Roads, of course, ranalong the top of these, some towards the Hague, others towards Delft,Gouda, and numerous towns and villages to the right and left. Althoughhitherto not a Spanish soldier had been seen, at any moment some mightbe encountered. There were no heights or even tall trees from the topof which a view could be obtained of the surrounding country, so thatthey might know how to avoid their foes. Their anxiety was muchrelieved when they saw the sun sinking into the not distant ocean. ThePrince frequently visited Delft, but Captain Van der Elst believed thathe was now to be found at Rotterdam, and although the former city wasbut slightly out of their course, he proposed avoiding it and ridingdirectly for Rotterdam. More than half the distance had been performed.A short way to the left lay the village of Zoetermeer, raised, likeothers, slightly above the plain, and they already perceived the greentrees and red roofs of the houses peeping up among them, lighted up bythe last rays of the setting sun.
"Too much haste the less speed," observed the captain. "It is a truesaying, and we must therefore bait our horses and give them a shortbreathing time, or they may break down before we reach our journey'send."
"Might we not push on without stopping, and trust to the animals to keepup their strength to the last?" asked Berthold. "They are both goodnags and sound in wind, and can manage a pretty broad ditch when pressedat it."
"We may have to try their mettle even yet," sai
"As you think best," said Berthold. And they rode along a causewaywhich seemed to lead directly for the village. On reaching it theypulled up at the door of a small inn, the only one the place afforded.The landlady hurried out to meet them, and desired to know whether theyintended to stop there the night.
"No, friend, we wish only to bait our horses, and must be in the saddleagain as soon as they are rested. It may be more prudent thanremaining, for we cannot tell at what moment we might receive a visitfrom those savage hounds the Spaniards."
"Reports have been brought in of several foraging parties being out, whotake what they can find without paying a styver in return, besides whichthey ill-treat the people on all occasions," observed the landlord. "Itwould be a satisfaction if some of our young fellows were to break theirheads, but if they were to make the attempt our village would to acertainty be burnt down, so we must humbly submit to save our skins."
"I cannot advise you for the present to do otherwise," answered CaptainVan der Elst. "But the time may shortly arrive when we shall drive ourhated foes into the sea."
"Would that it may come soon before they have, like a flock of locusts,eaten up every green thing in the land," exclaimed the landlord.
"The information you give shows me the importance of our being on theroad again without delay," said Captain Van der Elst, as he and Bertholdaccompanied the landlord to the stable, where room was at once made fortheir horses by turning out a couple of others. The landlord thenpressed them to come in and take some refreshment, but they bothdeclined.
"Not even a glass of Rhenish wine? I have some of the best," said minehost. But they refused, considering that their time would be betteroccupied in rubbing down their steeds, and moistening their lips from abucket of water, after they had finished their corn.
"You can still render us a service, friend, by sending out to learn ifany Spaniards are yet in the neighbourhood," said the captain, "Surelythat I will do," answered the landlord, and he summoned a couple ofactive-looking lads and directed them to run out as far as their legscould carry them in ten minutes, and to try and discover if any cavalrywere near at hand. "Foot soldiers are not likely to venture thus far,so we need have no fear of them," he observed.
The lads clearly understood what was required of them, and startedtogether in opposite directions. They had not been gone the allottedtime when one of them came hurrying back, covering the ground with long,rapid strides.
"If the mynheers do not wish to be made prisoners, they had better beout of the village as soon as they can saddle up," he said. "I caughtsight of a party of horsemen just passing the border of the Meer wherethe willows grow; there must have been a dozen of them or more; but Ionly stopped to count thus far and then took to my heels, expectingevery moment to have a shot whistle by my ears."
"You have done well, Hans," said the landlord.
"And here is a reward for your service," added Berthold, giving theyouth a coin.
"I did it of my own free will," answered Hans. "It is not the firsttime I have been set to watch the Spaniards, or that they have tried tocatch me, and found that they had a Will-o'-the-Wisp to deal with; butthis was an easy task, and nothing to boast of." Hans was saying thiswhile he was assisting Berthold to replace the bit in the horse's mouth,and to tighten the girth of his saddle, the landlord rendering the sameservice to Captain Van der Elst. The next moment they were in thesaddle and pushing full speed through the village to the southward.Should they be discovered, they would not only run the risk of beingshot at, but would expose the landlord to punishment for havingentertained them. Looking back, they could see no one following, andhoped, therefore, that they had escaped observation, while their horses,refreshed, made up for the short delay by getting on at full speed.They soon passed the village of Bleiswijk, between which and the nextplace ran a broad causeway forming the high road to Rotterdam. Thoughthe gloom of evening was increasing, there was still sufficient light toenable them to see objects at some distance. Berthold, who knew theroad best, was leading, when suddenly he reined in his horse, and made asign with his right hand for his companion to do the same.
"See, just coming from the right, are a score of horsemen; they may beHollanders, or Free Lances, though from the height of their helmets theylook more like Spaniards," he exclaimed. "We had better avoid them."
"How is that to be done?" asked Captain Van der Elst.
"We passed just now on the left a narrow dyke, which runs, I know, in asouth-westerly direction; at the farther end is a bridge which leadsacross the Rotte. If we are pursued, we must leave the road and rideacross the country. We can without difficulty swim the river, when theSpaniards, with the heavy trappings of their horses, would not be ableto follow."
Scarcely had Berthold said this when they could see against the sky thefigures of a large number of horsemen moving along a road to the right.
"We might even now, by dismounting, lead our horses down into the plain,and perhaps escape observation," said Berthold.
"No, no, as we can see them they must have discovered us," said thecaptain. "Lead the way across the dyke you spoke of; I will followclosely at your heels."
As there was no time for further deliberation, Berthold, turning hishorse's head and passing the captain, galloped along the way they hadcome for a few minutes and then turned off along the top of the dyke hehad described. The moment they turned they heard shouts, evidentlycoming from the horsemen they wished to avoid.
"Those are Spanish voices," said the captain. "I know them well. Pushon, Berthold!" But the road along the top of the dyke was much rougherthan the one they had left, and it made it necessary for them to keep acareful hand on their reins to prevent their horses from falling. Fromthe way the dyke ran it formed an angle with the high road, and theywere soon again brought within sight of the Spanish horsemen, whoshouting out to them to stop, fired several shots in rapid succession.
"The fellows are not bad marksmen," said Berthold, "for I heard two ormore bullets whistle close to my ears."
Captain Van der Elst continued shouting out, "Ride on! ride on!" more toshow that he himself was unhurt than that there was any necessity tourge on Berthold. The Spaniards were evidently unwilling to trustthemselves to the low ground for fear of finding that it was a morass,into which their steeds might plunge with little hope of extricatingthemselves. On seeing that the fugitives had a good chance of escaping,although some of the Spaniards galloped after them along the road, theothers continued firing their carbines, though fortunately they missedtheir aim. The two fugitives were soon beyond the range of the Spanishmusketeers, but Captain Van der Elst still cried out to his companion,"Go on! go on!" for, glancing behind him, he saw indistinctly throughthe gloom the heads of several horsemen following them.
"We shall soon be at the bridge," cried Berthold. "I do not think theSpaniards will attempt to cross it." Just as he had announced that theywere close upon it they saw a body of horse who had evidently gallopedround to take possession of the post. This discovery was made, however,in time to enable Berthold to ride his horse down the side of the dyke,the captain following his example. "Come along," he cried out, "theground is somewhat soft, but these horses are accustomed to it, and wemay get over it much faster than our pursuers." Having proceeded somedistance, they had good reason to hope that they had not been seen.
"We must now make for the river, and a few minutes will carry us safeacross it," said Berthold.
The horses as they reached the bank, without hesitation plunged in, andbravely breasted the smooth water. They had got more than halfwayacross when again they heard the shouts of a number of Spaniardsordering them to return.
"You may shout yourselves hoarse, my men," cried Berthold. "We have nointention of obeying you." Finding that their shouts produced noeffect, they fired
"Will not the Spaniards cross the bridge and attempt to overtake us?"asked the captain. "We must be prepared for the contingency."
"I think not," answered Berthold. "They might encounter some of thePrince's cavalry, and are not likely to venture further south."
They at length gained another dyke, on the summit of which the road randirectly for Rotterdam. They now galloped forward with lessapprehension of meeting an enemy, and at length, about two hours afterdark, entered Rotterdam. They immediately inquired the way to the housewhere the Prince was residing. From the remarks they heard made, theydiscovered that the news of the disaster at Mookerheyde had alreadyreached the city, for which the captain was thankful, as it would savehim from the painful necessity of announcing it to the Prince. Theyfound guards before the door, and several grooms and other servants, toone of whom they committed their horses. Captain Van der Elst at oncedelivered to a gentleman-in-waiting his name and the object of hisvisit, and they had no time even to shake off the water which stillclung to the lower part of their garments, when they were informed thatthe Prince desired to see them. They followed their guide into anapartment plainly furnished, with several writing-tables; at one ofthese sat a tall, dignified man with brown hair, moustachios and beard,a forehead broad and lofty, and eyes bright and full of expression. Thecaptain advancing, bowed, and introduced his young companion as thenephew of the Burgomaster of Leyden. The Prince, who had risen,received them gravely, but at the same time in a cordial manner.
"You bring further intelligence, Captain Van der Elst, from the field ofMookerheyde?" he said. "Of the main particulars I have already beeninformed by some few who escaped and made their way here."
Captain Van der Elst briefly explained how he himself had escaped, andbeing well assured that Leyden would again be attacked that he hadconsidered it his duty to ride round to that city in order to preparethe inhabitants for what was likely to occur. He then gave an accountof the meeting of the Council, stating that John Van der Does had beenelected military commandant, subject to his approval.
"They could not have made a better choice," remarked the Prince. "Itshall be confirmed." In a few brief sentences he questioned the captainregarding the battle of Mookerheyde. A tone of melancholy pervaded allhe said, but he in no other way showed the deep grief which weighed himdown. The Prince sat silently listening, his countenance unmoved, whilethe captain made his report, and Berthold began to fear that his friendmight be blamed for his conduct. He was, therefore, greatly relievedwhen the Prince remarked, "You have exhibited courage and discretion,Captain Van der Elst, qualities we greatly need in the presentemergency. I must send you back with a message to the citizens ofLeyden to urge them to maintain the town against the foes of our countryto the last gasp. They ought to have destroyed the forts the Spaniardsleft, to have amply provisioned the city, and to have secured anefficient garrison; but I will not now speak of what is passed. Remindthem from me that they are about to contend not for themselves alone,but that the fate of our country of unborn generations may, in all humanprobability, depend on the issue about to be tried. Eternal glory willbe their reward if they manifest the courage worthy of their race, andof the sacred cause of religion and liberty. Say that I implore them tohold out at least three months, and I pledge my word that I will withinthat time devise the means of delivering them. Advise them immediatelyto take an account of their provisions of all kinds, including the livestock, and let the strictest economy be employed in their consumption.Stay, I will sign the commission appointing the Seigneur of Nordwyck asCommandant, and write what I deem necessary to confirm the message Iverbally send by you. When can you again set out?"
The captain acknowledged that he and his young companion had had norefreshment or rest since they left Leyden, but that he himself waswilling to start immediately could a fresh horse be found for him. He,however, considered that he ought to mention having encountered severalparties of Spaniards, and that there would be some risk of beingcaptured on the return journey. When he also explained the energeticmeasures the burgomaster and commandant were already taking, the Princereplied, "Wait, then, till to-morrow, when you may get over the mosthazardous part of the distance during the night."
The Prince having spoken a few words of encouragement to Berthold, whichhe was never likely to forget, signified to them that they might retire,and gave orders to one of the officers to attend to their wants.