he wrote, to Count Louis, “nevertheless, since it has otherwise pleased the good God, we must conform ourselves to His divine will.  I take the same God to witness that I have done everything according to my means, which was possible, to succor the city.”  A few days later, writing in the same spirit, he informed his brother that the Zealanders had succeeded in capturing the castle of Rammekens, on the isle of Walcheren.  “I hope,” he said, “that this will reduce the pride of our enemies, who, after the surrender of Harlem, have thought that they were about to swallow us alive.  I assure myself, however, that they will find a very different piece of work from the one which they expect.”

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     Enthusiasm could not supply the place of experience
     Envying those whose sufferings had already been terminated
     Leave not a single man alive in the city, and to burn every house
     Not strong enough to sustain many more such victories
     Oldenbarneveld; afterwards so illustrious
     Sent them word by carrier pigeons
     Three hundred fighting women
     Tyranny, ever young and ever old, constantly reproducing herself
     Wonder equally at human capacity to inflict and to endure misery

MOTLEY’S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, PG EDITION, VOLUME 21.

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By John Lothrop Motley 1855 1573 [chapter IX.]

Position of Alva—­Hatred entertained for him by elevated personages —­Quarrels between him and Medina Coeli—­Departure of the latter—­ Complaints to the King by each of the other—­Attempts at conciliation addressed by government to the people of the Netherlands—­Grotesque character of the address—­Mutinous demonstration of the Spanish troops—­Secret overtures to Orange—­ Obedience, with difficulty, restored by Alva—­Commencement of the siege of Alkmaar—­Sanguinary menaces of the Duke—­Encouraging and enthusiastic language of the Prince—­Preparations in Alkmaar for defence—­The first assault steadily repulsed—­Refusal of the soldiers to storm a second time—­Expedition of the Carpenter-envoy—­ Orders of the Prince to flood the country—­The Carpenter’s despatches in the enemy’s hands—­Effect produced upon the Spaniards —­The siege raised—­Negotiations of Count Louis with France—­ Uneasiness and secret correspondence of the Duke—­Convention with the English government—­Objects pursued by Orange—­Cruelty of De la Marck—­His dismissal from office and subsequent death—­Negotiations with France—­Altered tone of the French court with regard to the St. Bartholomew—­Ill effects of the crime upon the royal projects—­ Hypocrisy of the Spanish government—­Letter of Louis to Charles IX.  —­Complaints of Charles IX.—­Secret aspirations of that monarch and of Philip—­Intrigues concerning the Polish election—­Renewed negotiations