History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

Chapter 18
The Siege of Haarlem
BOTH sides began to prepare for the inevitable
struggle. The Prince of Orange established himself
at Leyden, the town nearest to Haarlem on the
south, and only some ten English miles distant
from it. He hoped from this point to be able to
direct the defense, and forward provisions and
reinforcements as the, bravo little town might need
them. Alva and his son Toledo, on the other hand,
when they learned that Haarlem, instead of opening
its gates, had resolved to resist, were filled with
rage, and immediately gave orders for the march of
their troops on that presumptuous little city which
had dared to throw down the gage of battle to the
whole power of Spain.
Advancing along the causeway which traverses
the narrow isthmus that separates the waters of the
Haarlem Lake from the Zuyder Zee, the Spanish
army, on the 11th of December, 1572, sat down
before Haarlem. Regiment continued to arrive after
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