"We are ready now," the countess said. "I have my jewels and purse. As for the things we leave behind, they are scarce worth the taking by the Spaniards."
Locking the door of the house behind them the three women accompanied Ned down to the riverside. He took the first boat that came to hand and rowed them down to the fleet, which was moored1 a quarter of a mile below the town. He passed the first ship or two, and then rowed to one with whose captain he was acquainted.
"Captain Enkin," he said, "I have brought on board two ladies who have long been in hiding, waiting an opportunity of being taken to Holland--the Countess Von Harp4 and her daughter. I fear greatly that Antwerp will fall today, and wish, therefore, to place them in safety before the fight begins. Before sunset, unless I am mistaken, you will have a crowd of fugitives5 on board."
"I am very pleased, madam," the captain said, bowing to the countess, "to receive you, and beg to hand over my cabin for your use. The name you bear is known to all Dutchmen; and even were it not so, anyone introduced to me by my good friend Captain Martin would be heartily6 welcome.
"Are you going to return on shore?" he asked Ned.
"Yes, I must do so," Ned replied. "I promised the governor to stand by him to the last; and as he has scarce a soul on whom he can rely, it is clearly my duty to do so. It is not for me to shirk doing my duty as long as I can, because I fear that the day will go against us."
"You will have difficulty in getting off again if the Spaniards once enter the city," the captain said. "There will be such a rush to the boats that they will be swamped before they leave shore."
"I have a boat hidden away in which I hope to bring off the governor with me," Ned replied. "As to myself, I can swim like a fish."
"Mind and get rid of your armour7 before you try it. All the swimming in the world could not save you if you jumped in with all that steel mail on you."
"I will bear it in mind," Ned said. "Goodbye, countess. Good-bye, Fraulein Gertrude. I trust to see you at nightfall, if not before."
"That is a very gallant8 young officer," Captain Enkin said as the two ladies sat watching Ned as he rowed to the shore.
"You addressed him as Captain Martin?" the countess said.
"Yes, he has been a captain in the prince's service fully9 three years," the sailor said; "and fought nobly at Alkmaar, at the naval10 battle on the Zuider Zee, and in the sea fight when we drove Romero's fleet back in Bergen. He stands very high in the confidence of the prince, but I do not think he is in our service now. He is often with the prince, but I believe he comes and goes between England and Holland, and is, men say, the messenger by whom private communications between the queen of England and the prince are chiefly carried."
"Yes, he is young," Captain Enkin replied. "Not, I suppose, beyond seven or eight and twenty. He was a captain and high in the prince's confidence when I first knew him three years ago, so he must surely have been four or five and twenty then; and yet, indeed, now you speak of it, methinks he is greatly bigger now than he was then. I do not think he was much taller than I am, and now he tops me by nigh a head. But I must surely be mistaken as to that, for the prince would scarcely place his confidence in a mere12 lad."
The countess made no reply, though she exchanged a quiet smile with her daughter. They knew that Ned could not be much more than twenty. He was, he had said, about three years older than Gertrude, and she had passed seventeen but by a few months.
Ned, on returning to shore, tied up the boat, and then proceeded to the palace of the governor. A servant was holding a horse at the door.
"The governor ordered this horse to be ready and saddled for you, sir, when you arrived, and begged you to join him at once in the marketplace, where he is telling off the troops to their various stations."
Leaping on the horse, Ned rode to the marketplace, and at once placed himself under orders of the governor.
"There is nothing much for you to do at present," Champagny said. "The troops are all in their places, and we are ready when they deliver the assault."
It was not until eleven o'clock that the Spaniards advanced to the attack--3000 of them, under their Eletto, by the street of St. Michael; the remainder with the Germans, commanded by Romero, by that of St. George. No sooner did the compact masses approach the barricades13 than the Walloons, who had been so loud in their boasts of valour, and had insisted upon having the post of danger, broke and fled, their commander, Havre, at their head; and the Spaniards, springing over the ramparts, poured into the streets.
"Fetch up the Germans from the exchange!" Champagny shouted to Ned; and leaping his horse over a garden wall, he himself rode to another station and brought up the troops there, and led them in person to bar the road to the enemy, trying in vain to rally the flying Walloons he met on the way. For a few minutes the two parties of Germans made a brave stand; but they were unable to resist the weight and number of the Spaniards, who bore them down by sheer force. Champagny had fought gallantly14 in the melee15, and Ned, keeping closely beside him, had well seconded his efforts; but when the Germans were borne down they rode off, dashing through the streets and shouting to the burghers everywhere to rise in defence of their homes.
They answered to the appeal. The bodies already collected at the exchange and cattle market moved forward, and from every house the men poured out. The Spanish columns had already divided, and were pouring down the streets with savage16 cries. The German cavalry17 of Havre under Van Eude at once deserted18, and joining the Spanish cavalry fell upon the townsmen. In vain the burghers and such of the German infantry19 as remained faithful strove to resist their assailants. Although they had been beaten off in their assaults upon breaches20, the Spaniards had ever proved themselves invincible21 on level ground; and now, inspired alike by the fury for slaughter22 and the lust23 for gold, there was no withstanding them.
Round the exchange some of the bravest defenders24 made a rally, and burghers and Germans, mingled25 together, fought stoutly26 until they were all slain27.
There was another long struggle round the town hall, one of the most magnificent buildings in Europe; and for a time the resistance was effective, until the Spanish cavalry and the Germans under the traitor28 Van Eude charged down upon the defenders. Then they took refuge in the buildings, and every house became a fortress29, and from window and balcony a hot fire was poured into the square. But now a large number of camp followers30 who had accompanied the Spaniards came up with torches, which had been specially31 prepared for firing the town, and in a short time the city hall and other edifices32 in the square were in flames.
The fire spread rapidly from house to house and from street to street, until nearly a thousand buildings in the most splendid and wealthy portion of the city were in a blaze.
In the street behind the town hall a last stand was made. Here the margrave of the city, the burgomasters, senators, soldiers, and citizens fought to the last, until not one remained to wield33 a sword. When resistance had ceased the massacre34 began. Women, children, and old men were killed in vast numbers, or driven into the river to drown there.
Then the soldiers scattered35 on the work of plunder36. The flames had already snatched treasures estimated at six millions from their grasp, but there was still abundance for all. The most horrible tortures were inflicted37 upon men, women, and children to force them to reveal the hiding places, where they were supposed to have concealed38 their wealth, and for three days a pandemonium39 reigned40 in the city. Two thousand five hundred had been slain, double that number burned and drowned. These are the lowest estimates, many placing the killed at very much higher figures.
Champagny had fought very valiantly41, joining any party of soldiers or citizens he saw making a defence. At last, when the town hall was in flames and all hope over, he said to Ned, who had kept throughout the day at his side: "It is no use throwing away our lives. Let us cut our way out of the city."
"I have a boat lying in readiness at the bridge," Ned said. "If we can once reach the stairs we can make our way off to the fleet."
As they approached the river they saw a Spanish column crossing the street ahead of them. Putting spurs to their horses they galloped43 on at full speed, and bursting into it hewed44 their way through and continued their course, followed, however, by a number of Spanish infantry.
"These are the steps!" Ned exclaimed, leaping from his horse.
Champagny followed his example. The Spaniards were but twenty yards behind.
"If you pull on that rope attached to the ring a boat lying under the bridge will come to you," Ned said. "I will keep them back till you are ready."
Ned turned and faced the Spaniards, and for two or three minutes kept them at bay. His armour was good, and though many blows struck him he was uninjured, while several of the Spaniards fell under his sweeping45 blows. They fell back for a moment, surprised at his strength; and at this instant the governor called out that all was ready.
Ned turned and rushed down the steps. The governor was already in the boat. Ned leaped on board, and with a stroke of his sword severed46 the head rope. Before the leading Spaniards reached the bottom of the steps the boat was a length away. Ned seated himself, and seizing the oars47 rowed down the river. Several shots were fired at them from the bridge and wharves48 as they went, but they passed on uninjured. Ned rowed to the admiral's ship and left the governor there, and then rowed to that of Captain Enkin.
"Welcome back," the captain said heartily. "I had begun to fear that ill had befallen you. A few fugitives came off at noon with the news that the Spaniards had entered the city and all was lost. Since then the roar of musketry, mingled with shouts and yells, has been unceasing, and that tremendous fire in the heart of the city told its own tale. For the last three hours the river has been full of floating corpses49; and the countess and her daughter, who until then remained on deck, retired50 to pray in their cabin. The number of fugitives who have reached the ships is very small. Doubtless they crowded into such boats as there were and sank them. At any rate, but few have made their way out, and those chiefly at the beginning of the fight. Now we had best let the ladies know you are here, for they have been in the greatest anxiety about you."
Ned went to the cabin door and knocked. "I have returned, countess."
In a moment the door opened. "Welcome back, indeed, Captain Martin," she said. "We had begun to fear that we should never see you again. Thankful indeed am I that you have escaped through this terrible day. Are you unhurt?" she asked, looking at his bruised51 and dented52 armour and at his clothes, which were splashed with blood.
"I have a few trifling53 cuts," he replied, "but nothing worth speaking of. I am truly thankful, countess, that you and your daughter put off with me this morning."
"Yes, indeed," the countess said. "I shudder54 when I think what would have happened had we been there in the city. What a terrible sight it is!"
"It is, indeed," Ned replied. The shades of night had now fallen, and over a vast space the flames were mounting high, and a pall55 of red smoke, interspersed56 with myriads57 of sparks and flakes58 of fire, hung over the captured city. Occasional discharges of guns were still heard, and the shrieks59 of women and the shouts of men rose in confused din2. It was an immense relief to all on board when an hour later the admiral, fearing that the Spaniards might bring artillery60 to bear upon the fleet, ordered the anchors to be weighed, and the fleet to drop a few miles below the town.
After taking off his armour, washing the blood from his wounds and having them bound up, and attiring61 himself in a suit lent him by the captain until he should get to Delft, where he had left his valise, Ned partook of a good meal, for he had taken nothing but a manchet of bread and a cup of wine since the previous night. He then went into the cabin and spent the evening in conversation with the countess and her daughter, the latter of whom had changed since they had last met to the full as much as he had himself done. She had been a girl of fourteen--slim and somewhat tall for her age, and looking pale and delicate from the life of confinement62 and anxiety they had led at Brussels, and their still greater anxiety at Maastricht. She was now budding into womanhood. Her figure was lissome63 and graceful64, her face was thoughtful and intelligent, and gave promise of rare beauty in another year or two. He learned that they had remained for a time in the village to which they had first gone, and had then moved to another a few miles away, and had there lived quietly in a small house placed at their disposal by one of their friends. Here they had remained unmolested until two months before, when the excesses committed throughout the country by the mutinous65 soldiery rendered it unsafe for anyone to live outside the walls of the town. They then removed to Antwerp, where there was far more religious toleration than at Brussels; and the countess had resumed her own name, though still living in complete retirement66 in the house in which Ned had so fortunately found her.
"The times have altered me for the better," the countess said. "The Spaniards have retired from that part of Friesland where some of my estates are situated67, and those to whom Alva granted them have had to fly. I have a faithful steward68 there, and since they have left he has collected the rents and has remitted69 to me such portions as I required, sending over the rest to England to the charge of a banker there. As it may be that the Spaniards will again sweep over Friesland, where they still hold some of the principal towns, I thought it best, instead of having my money placed in Holland, where no one can foresee the future, to send it to England, where at least one can find a refuge and a right to exercise our religion."
"I would that you would go there at once, countess; for surely at present Holland is no place for two unprotected ladies. Nothing would give my mother greater pleasure than to receive you until you can find a suitable home for yourselves. My sisters are but little older than your daughter, and would do all in their power to make her at home. They too speak your language, and there are thousands of your compatriots in London."
"What do you say, Gertrude?" the countess asked. "But I know that your mind has been so long made up that it is needless to question you."
"Yes, indeed, mother, I would gladly go away anywhere from here, where for the last six years there has been nothing but war and bloodshed. If we could go back and live in Friesland among our own people in safety and peace I should be delighted to do so, but this country is as strange to us as England would be. Our friends stand aloof72 from us, and we are ever in fear either of persecution73 or murder by the Spanish soldiers. I should be so glad to be away from it all; and, as Captain Martin says, there are so many of our own people in London, that it would scarce feel a strange land to us."
"You have said over and over again that you would gladly go if you could get away, and now that we can do so, surely it will be better and happier for us than to go on as we have done. Of course it would be better in Holland than it has been here for the last four years, because we should be amongst Protestants; but we should be still exposed to the dangers of invasion and the horrors of sieges."
"It is as my daughter says, Captain Martin; our thoughts have long been turning to England as a refuge. In the early days of the troubles I had thought of France, where so many of our people went, but since St. Bartholomew it has been but too evident that there is neither peace nor safety for those of the religion there, and that in England alone can we hope to be permitted to worship unmolested. Therefore, now that the chance is open to us, we will not refuse it. I do not say that we will cross at once. We have many friends at Rotterdam and Delft, and the prince held my husband in high esteem74 in the happy days before the troubles; therefore I shall tarry there for a while, but it will be for a time only. It will not be long before the Spanish again resume their war of conquest; besides, we are sick of the tales of horror that come to us daily, and long for calm and tranquillity75, which we cannot hope to obtain in Holland. Had I a husband or brothers I would share their fate whatever it was, but being alone and unable to aid the cause in any way it would be folly76 to continue here and endure trials and risks. You say that you come backwards77 and forwards often, well then in two months we shall be ready to put ourselves under your protection and to sail with you for England."
The next morning the admiral despatched a ship to Rotterdam with the news of the fate of Antwerp, and Ned obtained a passage in her for himself, the ladies, and servant, and on arriving at Rotterdam saw them bestowed79 in comfortable lodgings81. He then, after an interview with the prince, went on board a ship just leaving for England, and upon his arrival reported to the minister, and afterwards to the queen herself, the terrible massacre of which he had been a witness in Antwerp.
The Spanish fury, as the sack of Antwerp was termed, vastly enriched the soldiers, but did small benefit to the cause of Spain. The attack was wanton and unprovoked. Antwerp had not risen in rebellion against Philip, but had been attacked solely82 for the sake of plunder; and all Europe was shocked at the atrocities83 that had taken place, and at the slaughter, which was even greater than the massacre in Paris on the eve of St. Bartholomew. The queen remonstrated84 in indignant terms, the feeling among the Protestants in Germany was equally strong, and even in France public feeling condemned85 the act.
In the Netherlands the feeling of horror and indignation was universal. The fate that had befallen Antwerp might be that of any other sister city. Everywhere petitions were signed in favour of the unity3 of all the Netherlands under the Prince of Orange. Philip's new governor, Don John, had reached the Netherlands on the very day of the sack of Antwerp, and endeavoured to allay86 the storm of indignation it had excited by various concessions87; but the feeling of unity, and with it of strength, had grown so rapidly that the demands of the commissioners88 advanced in due proportion, and they insisted upon nothing less than the restoration of their ancient constitution, the right to manage their internal affairs, and the departure of all the Spanish troops from the country.
Don John parleyed and parried the demands, and months were spent in unprofitable discussions, while all the time he was working secretly among the nobles of Brabant and Flanders, who were little disposed to see with complacency the triumph of the democracy of the towns and the establishment of religious toleration. Upon all other points Don John and his master were ready to yield. The Spanish troops were sent away to Italy, the Germans only being retained. The constitutional rights would all have been conceded, but on the question of religious tolerance89 Philip stood firm. At last, seeing that no agreement would ever be arrived at, both parties prepared again for war.
The Queen of England had lent 100,000 pounds on the security of the cities, and the pause in hostilities90 during the negotiations91 had not been altogether wasted in Holland. There had been a municipal insurrection in Amsterdam; the magistrates92 devoted93 to Philip had been driven out, and to the great delight of Holland, Amsterdam, its capital, that had long been a stronghold of the enemy, a gate through which he could at will pour his forces, was restored to it. In Antwerp, and several other of the cities of Brabant and Flanders, the citizens razed94 the citadels95 by which they had been overawed; men, women, and children uniting in the work, tearing down and carrying away the stones of the fortress, that had worked them such evil.
Antwerp had at the departure of the Spanish troops been again garrisoned96 by Germans, who had remained inactive during this exhibition of the popular will. The Prince of Orange himself had paid a visit to the city, and had, at the invitation of Brussels, proceeded there, and had received an enthusiastic reception, and for a time it seemed that the plans for which so many years he had struggled were at last to be crowned with success. But his hopes were frustrated97 by the treachery of the nobles and the cowardice98 of the army the patriots71 had engaged in their service.
Many of the Spanish troops had been secretly brought back again, and Don John was preparing for a renewal99 of war.
Unknown to the Prince of Orange, numbers of the nobles had invited the Archduke Mathias, brother of the Emperor Rudolph of Germany, to assume the government. Mathias, without consultation100 with his brother, accepted the invitation and journeyed privately101 to the Netherlands. Had the Prince of Orange declared against him he must at once have returned to Vienna, but this would have aroused the anger of the emperor and the whole of Germany. Had the prince upon the other hand abandoned the field and retired into Holland, he would have played into the hands of his adversaries102. Accordingly he received Mathias at Antwerp with great state, and the archduke was well satisfied to place himself in the hands of the most powerful man in the country.
The prince's position was greatly strengthened by the queen instructing her ministers to inform the envoy103 of the Netherlands that she would feel compelled to withdraw all succour of the states if the Prince of Orange was deprived of his leadership, as it was upon him alone that she relied for success. The prince was thereupon appointed Ruward of Brabant, a position almost analogous104 to that of dictator. Ghent, which was second only in importance to Antwerp, rose almost immediately, turned out the Catholic authorities, and declared in favour of the prince. A new act of union was signed at Brussels, and the Estates General passed a resolution declaring Don John to be no longer governor or stadtholder of the Netherlands. The Prince of Orange was appointed lieutenant105 general for Mathias, and the actual power of the latter was reduced to a nullity, but he was installed at Brussels with the greatest pomp and ceremony.
Don John, who had by this time collected an army of 20,000 veterans at Namur, and had been joined by the Prince of Parma, a general of great vigour106 and ability, now marched against the army of the Estates, of which the command had been given to the nobles of the country in the hope of binding107 them firmly to the national cause.
The patriot70 army fell back before that of the Spaniards, but were soon engaged by a small body of cavalry. Alexander of Parma came up with some 1200 horse, dashed boldly across a dangerous swamp, and fell upon their flank. The Estates cavalry at once turned and fled, and Parma then fell upon the infantry, and in the course of an hour not only defeated but almost exterminated108 them, from 7000 to 8000 being killed, and 600 taken prisoners, the latter being executed without mercy by Don John. The loss of the Spaniards was only about ten men. This extraordinary disproportion of numbers, and the fact that 1200 men so easily defeated a force ten times more numerous, completely dashed to the ground the hopes of the Netherlands, and showed how utterly109 incapable110 were its soldiers of contending in the field with the veterans of Spain.
The battle was followed by the rapid reduction of a large number of towns, most of which surrendered without resistance as soon as the Spanish troops approached. In the meantime the Estates had assembled another army, which was joined by one composed of 12,000 Germans under Duke Casimir. Both armies were rendered inactive by want of funds, and the situation was complicated by the entry of the Duke of Alencon, the brother of the King of France, into the Netherlands. Don John, the hero of the battle of Lepanto, who had shown himself on many battlefields to be at once a great commander and a valiant42 soldier, was prostrate111 by disease, brought on by vexation, partly at the difficulties he had met with since his arrival in the Netherlands, partly at the neglect of Spain to furnish him with money with which he could set his army, now numbering 30,000, in motion, and sweep aside all resistance. At this critical moment his malady112 increased, and after a week's illness he expired, just two years after his arrival in the Netherlands.
He was succeeded at first temporarily and afterwards permanently113 by Alexander of Parma, also a great commander, and possessing far greater resolution than his unfortunate predecessor114.
The two years had been spent by Edward Martin in almost incessant115 journeyings between London and the Netherlands. He now held, however, a position much superior to that which he had formerly116 occupied. The queen, after hearing from him his account of the sack of Antwerp and his share in the struggle, had said to the Secretary, "I think that it is only just that we should bestow78 upon Captain Martin some signal mark of our approbation117 at the manner in which he has for two years devoted himself to our service, and that without pay or reward, but solely from his loyalty118 to our person, and from his goodwill119 towards the state. Kneel, Captain Martin."
The queen took the sword that Walsingham handed to her, and said, "Rise, Sir Edward Martin. You will draw out, Mr. Secretary, our new knight120's appointment as our special envoy to the Prince of Orange; and see that he has proper appointments for such a post. His duties will, as before, be particular to myself and the prince, and will not clash in any way with those of our envoy at the Hague."
The delight of Ned's mother and sisters when he returned home and informed them of the honour that the queen had been pleased to bestow upon him was great indeed. His father said:
"Well, Ned, I must congratulate you with the others; though I had hoped to make a sailor of you. However, circumstances have been too much for me. I own that you have been thrust into this work rather by fortune than design; and as it is so I am heartily glad that you have succeeded. It seems strange to me that my boy should have become Sir Edward Martin, an officer in the service of her majesty121, and I say frankly122 that just at present I would rather that it had been otherwise. But I suppose I shall get accustomed to it in time, and assuredly none but myself will doubt for a moment that you have gained greatly by all this honour and dignity."
Queen Elizabeth, although in some respects parsimonious123 in the extreme, was liberal to her favourites, and the new made knight stood high in her liking124. She loved to have good looking men about her; and without being actually handsome, Ned Martin, with his height and breadth of shoulder, his easy and upright carriage, his frank, open face and sunny smile, was pleasant to look upon. He had served her excellently for two years, had asked for no rewards or favours, but had borne himself modestly, and been content to wait. Therefore the queen was pleased to order her treasurer125 to issue a commission to Sir Edward Martin, as her majesty's special envoy to the Prince of Orange, with such appointments as would enable him handsomely to support his new dignity and his position as her representative.
Even Captain Martin was now bound to confess that Ned had gained profit as well as honour. He did indeed warn his son not to place too much confidence in princes; but Ned replied, "I do not think the queen is fickle126 in her likes and dislikes, father. But I rely not upon this, but on doing my duty to the state for further employment. I have had extraordinary good fortune, too; and have, without any merit save that of always doing my best, mounted step by step from the deck of the Good Venture to knighthood and employment by the state. The war appears to me to be as far from coming to an end as it did six years ago; and if I continue to acquit127 myself to the satisfaction of the lord treasurer and council, I hope that at its conclusion I may be employed upon such further work as I am fitted for."
"You speak rightly, Ned; and I am wrong to feel anxiety about your future when you have already done so well. And now, Ned, you had best go into the city and order from some tailor who supplies the court such suits as are fitting to your new rank. The queen loves brave dresses and bright colours, and you must cut as good a figure as the rest. You have been somewhat of an expense to me these last two years; but that is over now, and I can well afford the additional outlay128 to start you worthily129. What was good enough for Captain Martin is not good enough for Sir Edward Martin; therefore stint130 not expense in any way. I should not like that you should not hold your own with the young fops of the court."
It was well that Ned had provided himself with a new outfit131, for he was not sent abroad again for more than a month, and during that time he was almost daily at court, receiving from the royal chamberlain a notification that the queen expected to see him at all entertainments. At the first of these Lord Walsingham introduced him to many of the young nobles of the court, speaking very highly of the services he had rendered; and as the queen was pleased to speak often to him and to show him marked favour, he was exceedingly well received, and soon found himself at ease.
He was, nevertheless, glad when the order came for him to proceed again to Holland with messages to the Prince of Orange. Upon his arrival there he was warmly congratulated by the prince.
"You have well earned your rank," the prince said. "I take some pride to myself in having so soon discovered that you had good stuff in you. There are some friends of yours here who will be glad to hear of the honour that has befallen you. The Countess Von Harp and her daughter have been here for the last six weeks. I have seen them several times, and upon each occasion they spoke132 to me of their gratitude133 for the services you have rendered them. One of my pages will show you where they are lodging80. They are about to proceed to England, and I think their decision is a wise one, for this country is at present no place for unprotected women."
The countess and her daughter were alike surprised and pleased when Ned was announced as Sir Edward Martin. And when a fortnight later Ned sailed for England, they took passage in the same ship. Ned had sent word to his mother by a vessel134 that sailed a week previously135 that they would arrive with him, and the best room in the house had been got in readiness for them, and they received a hearty136 welcome from Ned's parents and sisters. They stayed a fortnight there and then established themselves in a pretty little house in the village of Dulwich. One of Ned's sisters accompanied them to stay for a time as Gertrude's friend and companion.
Whenever Ned returned home he was a frequent visitor at Dulwich, and at the end of two years his sisters were delighted but not surprised when he returned one day and told them that Gertrude Von Harp had accepted him. The marriage was not to take place for a time; for Ned was still young, and the countess thought it had best be delayed. She was now receiving a regular income from her estates; for it had been a time of comparative peace in Holland, and that country was increasing fast in wealth and prosperity.
Alexander of Parma had by means of his agents corrupted137 the greater part of the nobility of Flanders and Brabant, had laid siege to Maastricht, and, after a defence even more gallant and desperate than that of Haarlem, and several terrible repulses138 of his soldiers, had captured the city and put the greater part of its inhabitants--men and women--to the sword. After vain entreaties139 to Elizabeth to assume the sovereignty of the Netherlands, this had been offered to the Duke of Anjou, brother of the King of France.
The choice appeared to be a politic140 one, for Anjou was at the time the all but accepted suitor of Queen Elizabeth, and it was thought that the choice would unite both powers in defence of Holland. The duke, however, speedily proved his incapacity. Irritated at the smallness of the authority granted him, and the independent attitude of the great towns, he attempted to capture them by force. He was successful in several places; but at Antwerp, where the French thought to repeat the Spanish success and to sack the city, the burghers gathered so strongly and fiercely that the French troops employed were for the most part killed, those who survived being ignominiously141 taken prisoners.
Anjou retired with his army, losing a large number of men on his retreat by the bursting of a dyke142 and the flooding of the country. By this time the Prince of Orange had accepted the sovereignty of Holland and Zeeland, which was now completely separated from the rest of the Netherlands. After the flight of Anjou he received many invitations from the other provinces to accept their sovereignty; but he steadily143 refused, having no personal ambition, and knowing well that no reliance whatever could be placed upon the nobles of Brabant and Flanders.
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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din
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unity
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harp
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fugitives
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heartily
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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10
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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11
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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13
barricades
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| 路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 ) | |
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14
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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15
melee
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| n.混战；混战的人群 | |
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16
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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17
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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18
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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19
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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20
breaches
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| 破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背 | |
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21
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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22
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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23
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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24
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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25
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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26
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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27
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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28
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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29
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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30
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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31
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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32
edifices
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| n.大建筑物( edifice的名词复数 ) | |
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33
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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34
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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35
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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36
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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37
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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39
pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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40
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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41
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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42
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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43
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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44
hewed
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的过去式和过去分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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45
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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46
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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47
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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49
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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50
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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51
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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52
dented
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| v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等） | |
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53
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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54
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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55
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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56
interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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57
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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58
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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59
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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60
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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61
attiring
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| v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的现在分词 ) | |
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62
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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63
lissome
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|
| adj.柔软的；敏捷的 | |
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64
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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65
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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66
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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67
situated
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|
| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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68
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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69
remitted
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| v.免除（债务），宽恕( remit的过去式和过去分词 )；使某事缓和；寄回，传送 | |
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70
patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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71
patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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72
aloof
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|
| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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73
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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74
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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75
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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76
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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77
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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78
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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79
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
lodging
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|
| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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81
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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82
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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83
atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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84
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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85
condemned
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|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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86
allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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87
concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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88
commissioners
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|
| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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89
tolerance
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| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
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90
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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91
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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92
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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93
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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94
razed
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| v.彻底摧毁，将…夷为平地( raze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
citadels
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|
| n.城堡，堡垒( citadel的名词复数 ) | |
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96
garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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97
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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98
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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99
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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100
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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101
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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102
adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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103
envoy
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| n.使节，使者，代表，公使 | |
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104
analogous
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| adj.相似的；类似的 | |
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105
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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106
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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107
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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108
exterminated
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| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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109
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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110
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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111
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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112
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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113
permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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114
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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115
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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116
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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117
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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118
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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119
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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120
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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121
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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122
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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123
parsimonious
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| adj.吝啬的，质量低劣的 | |
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124
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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125
treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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126
fickle
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| adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的 | |
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127
acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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128
outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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129
worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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130
stint
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| v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事 | |
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131
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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132
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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133
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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134
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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135
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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136
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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137
corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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138
repulses
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| v.击退( repulse的第三人称单数 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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139
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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140
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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141
ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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142
dyke
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| n.堤，水坝，排水沟 | |
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143
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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