The Rise of the Dutch Republic — Volume 15: 1568, part IIMotley, John Lothrop
History
The Rise of the Dutch Republic — Volume 15: 1568, part II
Motley, John Lothrop
Netherlands -- Church history; Netherlands -- History -- Eighty Years' War, 1568-1648
been dragged across, they joined their comrades in the mad chase along
the narrow dykes, and through the swampy and almost impassable country
where the rebels were seeking shelter. The approach of night, too soon
advancing, at last put an end to the hunt. The Duke with difficulty
recalled his men, and compelled them to restrain their eagerness until
the morrow. Three hundred of the patriots were left dead upon the field,
besides at least an equal number who perished in the river and canals.
The army of Louis was entirely routed, and the Duke considered it
virtually destroyed. He wrote to the state council that he should pursue
them the next day, but doubted whether he should find anybody to talk
with him. In this the Governor-general soon found himself delightfully
disappointed.
Five days later, the Duke arrived at Reyden, on the Ems. Owing to the
unfavorable disposition of the country people, who were willing to
protect the fugitives by false information to their pursuers, he was
still in doubt as to the position then occupied by the enemy. He had
been fearful that they would be found at this very village of Reyden.
It was a fatal error on the part of Count Louis that they were not.
Had lie made a stand at this point, he might have held out a long time.
The bridge which here crossed the river would have afforded him a retreat
into Germany at any moment, and the place was easily to be defended in
front. Thus he might have maintained himself against his fierce but wary
foe, while his brother Orange, who was at Strasburg watching the progress
of events, was executing his own long-planned expedition into the heart
of the Netherlands. With Alva thus occupied in Friesland, the results of
such an invasion might have been prodigious. It was, however, not on the
cards for that campaign. The mutinous disposition of the mercenaries
under his command had filled Louis with doubt and disgust. Bold and
sanguine, but always too fiery and impatient, he saw not much possibility
of paying his troops any longer with promises. Perhaps he was not
unwilling to place them in a position where they would be obliged to
fight or to perish. At any rate, such was their present situation.
Instead of halting at Reyden, he had made his stand at Jemmingen, about
four leagues distant from that place, and a little further down the
river. Alva discovered this important fact soon after his arrival at
Reyden, and could not conceal his delight. Already exulting at the error
made by his adversary, in neglecting the important position which he now
occupied himself, he was doubly delighted at learning the nature of the
place which he had in preference selected. He saw that Louis had
completely entrapped himself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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