ft a breach
through which the foe might have poured into the streets. The fleet now
sailed up through the canals, the famishing people who lined the quays
stretching out their hands to receive the food bestowed on them by the
rough Sea Beggars, many of whom dashed aside their tears as they beheld
the emaciated forms of the citizens, the corpse-like look of the women
and children, and heard their plaintive cries for food. The first act
of the brave admiral and his crew was to repair to the great church,
accompanied by the commandant, the chief magistrate, and other citizens,
to return thanks for their success, then a hymn arose which was abruptly
terminated by the sounds of weeping though the tears were those of joy
and gratitude. Among the first to land, escorted by the brave Captain
Van der Elst, who had returned on board for the purpose of conducting
her to the shore, was the Lily of Leyden; he had the happiness of
restoring her to her father's arms. The burgomaster, who had hitherto
sternly refused to yield to the foe, melted into tears as he embraced
his daughter, then turning to Captain Van der Elst, he said--

"You have proved yourself worthy of the fairest in the land; I can no
longer refuse to bestow my daughter's hand on one who will, I am sure,
in these times of danger protect her with his life."

Thus was Leyden saved after enduring a siege of five months, having
experienced sufferings never surpassed by any recorded on the page of
history. The Prince was the first to acknowledge the deep debt of
gratitude Holland owed to the heroic fortitude of the noble burgomaster
and his fellow-citizens. The people of Holland and Zealand, to show how
much they were indebted to the citizens, established that university
which, thus founded at the darkest period of their country's struggle,
was in after times to become so celebrated. Imposing as were the
ceremonies which took place on its establishment, the following winter
they were, in the opinion of many, surpassed by the magnificence of the
entertainment given on the occasion of the marriage of Captain Van der
Elst and the fair Lily of Leyden.

THE END.

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