One of the two leaders of the citizens, John Matthiesen, made a sortie against the troops with only thirty followers, filled with the idea that he was a second Gideon, and that God would come to his aid to defeat the oppressors of His chosen people.  The aid expected did not come, and Matthiesen and his followers were all cut down.  His death left John of Leyden supreme.  He claimed absolute authority in the new “Zion,” received daily fresh visions from heaven, which his followers implicitly believed and obeyed, and indulged in wild excesses which only the insane enthusiasm of his followers kept them from viewing with disgust.  Among his mad freaks was that of running around the streets naked, shouting, “The King of Zion is come.”  His lieutenant Knipperdolling, not to be outdone in fanaticism, followed his example, shouting, “Every high place shall be brought low.”  Immediately the mob assailed the churches and pulled down all the steeples.  Those who ventured to resist the monarch’s decrees were summarily dealt with, the block and axe, with Knipperdolling as headsman, quickly disposing of all doubters and rebels.

Such was the doom of Elizabeth, one of the prophet’s wives, who declared that she could not believe that God had condemned so many people to die of hunger while their king was living in abundance.  John beheaded her with his own hands in the market-place, and then, in insane frenzy, danced around her body in company with his other wives.  Her loss was speedily repaired.  The angels were kept busy in picking out new wives for the inspired tailor, till in the end he had seventeen in all, one of whom, Divara by name, gained great influence by her spirit and beauty.

While all this was going on within the city, the army of besiegers lay encamped about it, waiting patiently till famine should subdue the stubborn courage of the citizens.  Numbers of nobles flocked thither by way of pastime, in the absence of any other wars to engage their attention.  Nor were the citizens without aid from a distance.  Parties of their brethren from Holland and Friesland sought to relieve them, but in vain.  All their attempts were repelled, and the siege grew straiter than ever.

The defence from within was stubborn, women and boys being enlisted in the service.  The boys stood between the men and fired arrows effectively at the besiegers.  The women poured lime and melted pitch upon their heads.  So obstinate was the resistance that the city might have held out for years but for the pinch of famine.  The effect of this was temporarily obviated by driving all the old men and the women who could be spared beyond the walls; but despite this the grim figure of starvation came daily nearer and nearer, and the day of surrender or death steadily approached.

A year at length went by, the famine growing in virulence with the passing of the days.  Hundreds perished of starvation, yet still the people held out with a fanatical courage that defied assault, still their king kept up their courage by divine revelations, and still he contrived to keep himself sufficiently supplied with food amid his starving dupes.