Three days long the city was abandoned to that trinity of furies which ever wait upon War’s footsteps—­Murder, Lust, and Rapine—­under whose promptings human beings become so much more terrible than the most ferocious beasts.  In his letter to his master, the Duke congratulated him upon these foul proceedings as upon a pious deed well accomplished.  He thought it necessary, however; to excuse himself before the public in a document, which justified the sack of Mechlin by its refusal to accept his garrison a few months before, and by the shots which had been discharged at his troops as they approached the city.  For these offences, and by his express order, the deed was done.  Upon his head must the guilt for ever rest.

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks: 

     Hanged for having eaten meat-soup upon Friday
     Provided not one Huguenot be left alive in France
     Put all those to the torture out of whom anything can be got
     Saint Bartholomew’s day
     Science of reigning was the science of lying

MOTLEY’S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, PG EDITION, VOLUME 20.

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By John Lothrop Motley
1855

1572-73 [Chapter viii.]

Affairs in Holland and Zealand—­Siege of Tergoes by the patriots—­ Importance of the place—­Difficulty of relieving it—­Its position—­ Audacious plan for sending succor across the “Drowned Land”—­ Brilliant and successful expedition of Mondragon—­The siege raised—­ Horrible sack of Zutphen—­Base conduct of Count Van den Berg—­ Refusal of Naarden to surrender—­Subsequent unsuccessful deputation to make terms with Don Frederic—­Don Frederic before Naarden—­ Treachery of Romero—­The Spaniards admitted—­General massacre of the garrison and burghers—­The city burned to the ground—­Warm reception of Orange in Holland—­Secret negotiations with the Estates—­ Desperate character of the struggle between Spain and the provinces —­Don Frederic in Amsterdam—­Plans for reducing Holland—­Skirmish on the ice at Amsterdam—­Preparation in Harlem for the expected siege—­ Description of the city—­Early operations—­Complete investment—­ Numbers of besiegers and besieged—­Mutual barbarities—­Determined repulse of the first assault—­Failure of Batenburg’s expedition—­ Cruelties in city and camp—­Mining and countermining—­Second assault victoriously repelled—­Suffering and disease in Harlem—­Disposition of Don Frederic to retire—­Memorable rebuke by Alva—­Efforts of Orange to relieve the place—­Sonoy’s expedition—­Exploit of John Haring—­Cruel execution of prisoners on both sides—­Quiryn Dirkzoon and his family put to death in the city—­Fleets upon the lake—­ Defeat of the patriot armada—­Dreadful suffering and starvation in the city—­Parley with the besiegers—­Despair of the city—­Appeal to Orange—­Expedition under Batenburg