The Rise of the Dutch Republic — Volume 23: 1576Motley, John Lothrop
History
The Rise of the Dutch Republic — Volume 23: 1576
Motley, John Lothrop
Netherlands -- Church history; Netherlands -- History -- Eighty Years' War, 1568-1648
the belfry of the cathedral, the tender and melodious chimes.
Never was there a more monstrous massacre, even in the blood-stained
history of the Netherlands. It was estimated that, in the course of this
and the two following days, not less than eight thousand human beings
were murdered. The Spaniards seemed to cast off even the vizard of
humanity. Hell seemed emptied of its fiends. Night fell upon the scene
before the soldiers were masters of the city; but worse horrors began
after the contest was ended. This army of brigands had come thither with
a definite, practical purpose, for it was not blood-thirst, nor lust, nor
revenge, which had impelled them, but it was avarice, greediness for
gold. For gold they had waded through all this blood and fire. Never
had men more simplicity of purpose, more directness in its execution.
They had conquered their India at last; its golden mines lay all before
them, and every sword should open a shaft. Riot and rape might be
deferred; even murder, though congenial to their taste, was only
subsidiary to their business. They had come to take possession of the
city's wealth, and they set themselves faithfully to accomplish their
task. For gold, infants were dashed out of existence in their mothers'
arms; for gold, parents were tortured in their children's presence; for
gold, brides were scourged to death before their husbands' eyes.
Wherever, treasure was suspected, every expedient which ingenuity;
sharpened by greediness, could suggest, was employed to-extort it from
its possessors. The fire, spreading more extensively and more rapidly
than had been desired through the wealthiest quarter of the city, had
unfortunately devoured a vast amount of property. Six millions, at
least, had thus been swallowed; a destruction by which no one had
profited. There was, however, much left. The strong boxes of the
merchants, the gold, silver, and precious jewelry, the velvets, satins,
brocades, laces, and similar well concentrated and portable plunder, were
rapidly appropriated. So far the course was plain and easy, but in
private houses it was more difficult. The cash, plate, and other
valuables of individuals were not so easily discovered. Torture was,
therefore; at once employed to discover the hidden treasures. After all
had been, given, if the sum seemed too little, the proprietors were
brutally punished for their poverty or their supposed dissimulation.
A gentlewoman, named Fabry, with her aged mother and other females of the
family, had taken refuge in the cellar of her mansion. As the day was
drawing to a close, a band of plunderers entered, who, after ransacking
the house, descended to the cellarage. Finding the door barred, they
forced it open with gunpowder. The mother, who was nearest the entrance,
fell dead on the threshold. Stepping across her mangled body, the
brigands sprang upon her daughter, loudly demanding the property which
they believed to be concealed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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