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History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

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were struggl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area below. The battle had<br />

now spread over all <strong>the</strong> city. In every street men<br />

were fight<strong>in</strong>g and blood was flow<strong>in</strong>g. Many rushed<br />

to <strong>the</strong> gates and sought to escape, but <strong>the</strong>y found<br />

<strong>the</strong>m locked, and were thrown back upon <strong>the</strong> sword<br />

and fire. The battle was go<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> citizens,<br />

but <strong>the</strong>ir rage and hatred <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spaniards made<br />

<strong>the</strong>m cont<strong>in</strong>ue <strong>the</strong> fight. Goswyn Verreyek, <strong>the</strong><br />

margrave <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city, combated <strong>the</strong> foe with <strong>the</strong><br />

burgomaster ly<strong>in</strong>g dead at his feet, and at last he<br />

himself fell, add<strong>in</strong>g his corpse to a heap <strong>of</strong> sla<strong>in</strong>,<br />

composed <strong>of</strong> citizens, soldiers, and magistrates.<br />

While <strong>the</strong> fire was devour<strong>in</strong>g hundreds <strong>of</strong> noble<br />

mansions and millions <strong>of</strong> treasure, <strong>the</strong> sword was<br />

busy cutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> citizens. The Spaniard made no<br />

dist<strong>in</strong>ction between friend and foe, between Papist<br />

and Protestant, between poor and rich. Old men,<br />

women, and children; <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r at <strong>the</strong> hearth, <strong>the</strong><br />

bride at <strong>the</strong> altar, and <strong>the</strong> priest <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sanctuary --<br />

<strong>the</strong> blood <strong>of</strong> all flooded <strong>the</strong> streets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir city on<br />

that terrible day.<br />

Darkness fell on this scene <strong>of</strong> horrors, and now<br />

<strong>the</strong> barbarities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day were succeeded by <strong>the</strong><br />

425

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