Chapter Twelve

The Port of Amsterdam 1585 A.D.

A Secret

By 1585 A.D., every Dutch attempt to find a more benevolent king to replace the tyrannical Philip II, had failed. The previous attempt made by Prince William of Orange to make the Duke of Anjou, the brother of the French King, the Sovereign of the Netherlands, ended with the death of both men. Other Dutch efforts to induce Henry II, the French King, or lure the reluctant Queen Elizabeth of England to become the Dutch monarch had also ended in failure. Both rulers, particularly the English Queen, had declined the offer of the crown on numerous occasions and the French Royal family, fearing the Huguenots had recently entered into an alliance with the enemy, Spain.

Yet these efforts were not in vain, for Elizabeth had now sent the English Earl of Leicester along with five thousand soldiers, to be appointed first Governor-General of the Netherlands, with the anticipation he would one day become the Dutch king. The Earl, as prospective monarch, never bothered to learn the Dutch language and failed to understand how important unrestricted trade was to his Burger constituency, particularly the two crucial provinces of Holland and Zeeland. Those two wealthy regions, unlike the five poorer provinces, provided about eighty percent of the funding necessary to carry on the ongoing struggle with Spain. The growing hostility of Holland and Zeeland to Leicester’s leadership would eventually force the English Earl to return uncrowned to England. The final breach was the ongoing trade in grain between Dutch merchants and Spanish army quartermasters, even while the war progressed. The Dutch were, in fact, feeding the army they were fighting. The Earl felt that such trade was treasonous and attempted to forbid merchants in Holland and Zeeland from continuing the practice. Holland felt the trade was essential because the profits funded the fleets of Dutch privateers known as the “Sea Beggar Fleets” and a major part of the expenses of the Dutch Republican Army. In the end, the Dutch decided free trade was the lifeblood of the Netherlands and more important than any replacement king from England. In many ways, the Republican form of government owed its incredible existence to the failure of anyone to find a replacement for Philip’s forfeited crown.

The Netherlands was now governed by representatives sent from the seven rebellious provinces in the north to the Estates General at The Hague. After the assassination of William of Orange, that legislative body was forced to bear the additional burden of making executive decisions. Those assembled had the responsibility of collectively governing in the best interests of the new Dutch Nation. Yet, some members, like many politicians, put the selfish needs of their constituency above the welfare of the entire Republic. Many delegates had a tendency to represent a region’s commercial or religious interests. When William was alive, the Estates General eventually conceded to his patriotic agenda, but after his death, financial matters and radical religious issues often immobilized the government.

Alessandro Farnese, best known as the Duke of Parma, was Spain’s best military commander since his arrival in the Netherlands in 1577, and would eventually be appointed the sole Spanish military commander in the Low Countries by his cousin King Phillip. He proved a ruthless and cunning foe of the Dutch. Great cities such as Brussels and later Antwerp fell to him after a two year siege. Antwerp, the largest city in the Low Countries would be lost to Spanish domination forever, forcing the minority Protestant population to seek sanctuary in the north. By 1584, Parma’s invincible army seemed poised to wage one last campaign and crush the rebellion completely. However, sometimes things are not always as they might seem. The Duke had to deal with a set of conflicting military goals given to him by the Spanish King. While it was true the Dutch had failed to win a single battle against Parma, they had by perseverance, worn down Parma’s reputation by attrition. The continued resistance had eroded, over time, King Philip’s faith in his greatest commander, Count Parma.

Philip II had grown distrustful of his cousin, a commander-in-chief who spent enormous sums of money, won every battle, yet was unable to end the revolt. The king decided to send parts of Parma’s army south, not north, to guard against the border threat from the French Huguenots who were a problem for his ally the French king. Philip then ordered many of Parma’s remaining soldiers to mass for the invasion of England, long before the expected arrival of the Armada needed to ferry them to English soil. These actions removed much of the military pressure on the Northern provinces that were holding out in open rebellion. Philip, having at least inspired, if not paid for the assassination of William of Orange, now gave his dispirited Dutch opponents the precious gift of time to find a new leader. This allowed William’s seventeen-year old son, Maurice of Nassua, a chance to mature into the most effective military leader in the history of the Dutch Republic. Despite the setbacks and the assassination, a calm and determined attitude developed among the rebellious nobles, burgers, and commoners in the north. They thought, with the help of the Almighty, the revolution would prevail. It became a matter of faith among the growing Calvinist faithful that such was God’s Will. The people of Amsterdam, a former royalist city, had heard that higher calling and evolved into the King Philip’s most determined opponent.

To Amsterdam’s citizens, the glorious adventures of Abrahams Youngest Son renewed the resolve to continue the fight. The people saw the small Jachtschip as an extension of themselves. The ship had survived insurmountable obstacles; so too would their growing city, which had taken on the mantel of not just supporting but leading the revolution. The ship’s surprising accomplishments reminded even wavering patriots that the Dutch David would eventually slay the Spanish Goliath. The news from Hoorn about the exploits of the Jachtschip excited the city into a volume of chatter that surpassed anything heard-even when the Baron Clifford Van Weir rode against the wild men. It was the only topic of conversation in the market places, taverns, and breakfast tables. Captain Jon Van Weir and First Officer Gustoff Roulfs were hailed as representative of the next great generation willing to carry on the struggle for independence. Amsterdam, now a solidly Calvinist city, warmly adopted both young men as their favorite sons despite the rumors that Jon was married in a Roman Cathedral to a Catholic Venetian princess. They felt the marriage was God’s will and his wife would one day convert to the new true faith.

On the repaired and refreshed ship sailing towards Amsterdam, Jon and Gustoff listened to angry deliberations among the crew. The seamen and soldiers were arguing among themselves on how to divide their share of the money received from the prize and the much more valuable treasure chests. Such deliberations were democratic but boisterous affairs. Financial rewards were a large part of the lure of the sea for Dutch sailors. In the end, they decided the families of the deceased, the boatswain, and the pilot, would receive two shares each. All others would receive one share, with half a share awarded to those who joined the ship in transit. The officers needed no deliberation to divide their share. Jon van Weir, as Captain, was technically eligible for lion’s share but had generously decided it would be split evenly among himself, Gustoff, and the master. The layover in Hoorn upped the chances that Jon’s father and Gustoff’s mother would be in Amsterdam when they arrived. The voyage had mellowed both young men. Jon became more appreciative of the lure of leading men in battle since experiencing the feelings of command. He now understood how a fervent patriot and warrior like his father might choose the battlefield. Jon felt a similar sense of duty when he left Maria in Venice. Gustoff became more disciplined and much more self-assured. Both wanted to place the unpleasant emotions of their youth behind them.

Since leaving Hoorn, the crew had made the ship as presentable as possible for the homecoming. They proudly raised two flags from the top mast. One bore the family crest of the House of Orange and the other the newer tricolored flag of the Republic obtained in Hoorn. Other masts held flags representing the victories over Spanish and Ottoman ships. With the ship in order, they turned their scrutiny to the rather scruffy appearance of both officers. Some thought they had embarrassed the ship’s company with their disheveled appearance during the layover at Hoorn. The right to wear sea beards and uncut hair was universally given to seamen, but officers were expected to keep a neater appearance. It was the master who informed both Jon and Gustoff of the crew’s disenchantment and of the boatswain’s offer of his modest barbering services. Both acquiesced to the sailors’ wishes.

The newly well-groomed, young officers were a sight to behold as they sailed into the Port of Amsterdam. Both wore their grey dress uniforms adorned with the purple lace and gold trim. Gustoff wore the brace of silver pistols given to him by the Baron, while Jon had an ancient gold plated Venetian officer’s sword hanging perpendicularly along his leg, another gift from his father-in-law. It was the same sword he had used to slay two disembarking Moors. In a rare tribute, the crew left the two officers standing alone on the ship’s quarterdeck, making them more visible to the thousands of citizens awaiting the ship’s arrival. As the ship made its docking maneuver, Jon occasionally snapped an exaggerated salute, while Gustoff repeatedly waved his hat to the adoring crowd. The city’s cannons roared a thunderous welcoming salute. A contingent of sheriffs had roped off the immediate area at the mooring. The area was reserved for dignitaries and the crew’s families. When a walkway connected the ship to the dock, a familiar voice asked for permission to come on board. Not waiting for a reply, the Baron Clifford van Weir gallantly ushered Reylana and Henri Roulfs on to the main deck of Abraham’s Youngest Son. To the crowd’s delight, Gustoff instinctively embraced his parents, especially his mother, while the Baron, in a rare moment of emotion, almost uncomfortably hugged his son as the onlookers cheered. To everyone’s relief, the continuous roar of the crowd prevented any conversation. After the crew’s family members came on board, the dignitaries scrambled up the passageway to shake Jon’s and Gustoff’s hand and those of any crew member in reach. With the captain distracted, the Jachtschip became in danger of being swamped by overcrowding. The boatswain took charge and had the sheriffs bar anyone else from boarding. Sensing the crowd’s disappointment, John directed that the Moorish treasure be brought to the quarterdeck where the throng could see the chests. He addressed the people, promising all a future tour of the ship. He thanked them for welcoming their ship home. The crowd and the politicians slowly dispersed leaving space for the crew to unite with loved ones. The city supplied a meal. Soon food handlers were distributing food and drink to everyone on board and the ship’s master, who earlier delivered the diplomat and the prize to Amsterdam, was welcomed back aboard.

The Master was invited with the Baron and the Roulfs to Jon’s small captain’s cabin. As they sat down in the cramped quarters, he told the families their sons were extraordinary young men and he felt honored to have served with them. He emphasized that Jon’s leadership and Gustoff’s uncanny aim brought glory to the Jachtschip and Holland. Sensing their son’s embarrassment, he reported to Jon on his activities since reaching Amsterdam. He told Jon that he had received a number of bids on the prize inflated by the excitement of the moment and recommended a quick acceptance of the highest one. Without seeking counsel, Jon told him to sell the captured ship. With the issue of the prize settled, the Master turned the discussion to the Moroccan treasure. The Master was approached by a consortium of gemstone merchants from Amsterdam requesting to view the treasure chests. They wanted to set a price for the contents of all five chests. Reylana, never timid about expressing an opinion, suggested that another coalition of merchants be given the same opportunity. The Baron more or less begrudgingly reminded everyone they needed a very good reason to dispose of the treasure outside of Amsterdam. Everyone agreed that the offer from any other region needed to be substantially higher. The Baron reported that the Estate General was so pleased by the success of the voyage they had already authorized the wages still owed to the crew. Since no respectable Dutch seaman would leave a vessel until he received every guilder he was due, sometimes waiting a long time for their pay, this was good news for the seamen and soldiers. Once the treasure was disposed of, they would be going home. The day became even more special for Jon when his Uncle Karl and Aunt Sara unexpectedly arrived. It seems his father had sent a detachment of horsemen to fetch them when he received word the ship arrived at Hoorn. Jon loved his Aunt Sara who had managed the maternal role in his life after his mother’s and grandmother’s death. His Uncle Karl was a surrogate father when his father went away to war. It was Lord Karl rather than his father who taught him many of the things he would need to know when he became the next Lord of the Droger Land. It was an official title his uncle had forsaken when he married the commoner Sara.

Sharing such a celebration was anything but unique for these families. Their ancestors had welcomed home hundreds of warrior sons and jointly mourned the loss of others. It was just another joyous day for two lineages that transcended generations. Today’s proud moment only reestablished the bond between the Roulfs and the van Weir’s. Once the important discussion regarding the ship’s business was over, the initial questions from both families were mostly about Jon’s bride. Modestly, Jon would only say that they would be pleased with his choice and he apologized that circumstance had not allowed prior approval by his father and family. Jon smiled as he told them Maria was pleasing on the eyes and the most remarkable young woman they would ever meet. He felt it ill advised to mention the baby until he received official word that all was well. Yet, in his heart, he already knew that all was well. After the questions about Maria subsided, the families pressed for more details about the remarkable voyage. Lord Clifford wanted to know about the Venetian military, while Lord Karl’s curiosity lay with the similarities noted between the Venetian and Dutch forms of Republican government. Henri inquired about Mediterranean galleys while Sara and Reylana were happiest when the conversation focused on the fashion and fads observed at the Venetian court. Jon and Gustoff did their best to answer every question, but received vague or evasive replies to their own inquiries about events at home during their absence. It was Gustoff and not Jon who began to suspect that the families were hiding something from them. And they were. It was the same secret being withheld by the Duke of Parma from the Spanish king. Gustoff also told his parents about the young African stowaway Kahili and asked them to take him home with them to Rotterdam. As the families departed, Jon and Gustoff promised to visit home as soon as the ship’s issues were resolved.

As the sun rose that next morning, a group of Amsterdam’s gemstone merchants arrived at the dock to examine the contents of the five treasure chests. They were predominately Jewish and accompanied by scribes. The group carefully examined the contents of each chest, while a description of each item and its value was recorded. There were many objects in each chest and it was midday before the evaluation was completed. The merchants clustered together examining the figures the scribes had recorded. The richest merchant, the leader of the group, gave Jon what he described as a most generous tentative offer. It was an enormous sum in Dutch guilders, but the merchant had left room for further negotiations. He explained the value of a few gold and silver items needed clarification because of artistic value. He seemed unsurprised when Jon informed him that another group planned to appraise the chests but made sure Jon understood his group might raise their initial offer. The group Reylana had recommended came two days later. After a succinct process, they placed a bid a quarter again over the offer from their peers in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam group, informed of a higher bid, countered with a bid half again larger than their original offer, which Jon accepted. The revenue produced by the chests and prize meant each crew member would net eight year’s worth of wages in guilders; the officer’s portion would make each financially independent for life. Secrets are hard to keep aboard a ship and the crew knew Reylana’s suggestion had yielded the equivalent of two extra years of wages for each man. Gustoff’s mother Reylana became a very popular person in the eyes of the crew.

The next day, Jon received a written dispatch from the Estates General. It contained an official proclamation lauding the ship’s accomplishments and ordered him to deliver Abraham’s Youngest Son to a dry dock facility in Amsterdam. The last few lines of the dispatch were even more surprising. “Captain Jon van Weir and First Officer Gustoff Roulfs are relieved of their duties at the request of Baron Clifford van Weir and reassigned to his command. The Dutch People will be forever grateful for your service.” Since Jon had envisioned sailing the Jachtschip against the enemy privateers blockading many of the Netherlands’s ports, he was truly surprised by the news. Why had his father requested their removal? Unpredictably, when Jon read the letter to Gustoff, he was the one who reacted with calmness for he suspected something amiss when his parents returned so rapidly to Rotterdam. His own father had made no effort to inspect the alterations made to the ship in Venice. They both went to see the Baron, who was still in Amsterdam. The Baron met them without the usual cordial greeting. He simply said, “The Droger Land is in danger, and you are needed.”

Jon’s father went on to explain that the crafty Duke of Parma was secretly enlisting new mercenary forces in Germany, in addition to the sixty thousands troops he already commanded. Catholic and Lutheran princes, financed by Parma and promised the spoils of war, were recruiting men for a surprise winter campaign against Central Holland. Parma’s goal was to force open Holland’s side door. The Baron explained the path chosen ran through the once impassable Great Swamp that divided Germany from the Netherlands. The ever colder winters froze enough of the swamplands to make a mid-winter passage feasible. Parma had carved a route that ran directly through the once impregnable Droger Land. He thought subduing the historic place would shatter morale and inflict a fatal psychological and military defeat upon the Dutch. Once the Droger Land was taken, Parma planned to use the Duchy’s plentiful food stores to feed his victorious troops, allowing further strikes into the heart of Holland. The Dutch would be forced to weaken their overall defenses, transferring troops north to meet this new threat. Once the southern defensive perimeter was weakened, Parma could justify the use of the troops prematurely massed for the invasion of England, for a quick and decisive conquest of Holland and Zeeland. He could promise Phillip II the final termination of the Dutch rebellion. Dutch spies were reporting that Spanish ships were using the few ports they held in the Northern Quarter to funnel huge amounts of munitions to this assembling army, which was accompanied by Spanish engineers who had the skills needed to build the causeways and bridges to span the swampland.

Sadly, the Droger Land was being offered little help by the Dutch politicians at The Hague, who were recommending its evacuation. They thought it better to meet this new threat in the more defensible marshlands, as Lady Hester van Weir had once done. The young men didn’t need to be told the idea of surrendering the homeland without a fight was preposterous. They only needed to be told the role they were expected to play. The usually stoic Baron could not resist a smile as he told them the initial defense would begin on water. Jon would take command of the existing gunboat fleet and defend Lake Derick while coordinating a series of early ambushes deep inside the swamp. Despite the help from Spanish engineers, it was not easy for the German mercenaries to build a road across the swamplands, and the Baron trusted his son would make it even more difficult.

Gustoff began to understand why his father’s seemed disinterested in the Jachtschip as the Baron explained his role. Gustoff would command a brand new fleet that Henri was already building in Rotterdam. This fleet would have awesome firepower. It would be Gustoff’s job to assist his father with the construction of the boats which the Baron described as floating gun platforms. Some cannons had already been acquired, but it would also be Gustoff’s responsibility to find more. He would also have the responsibility to train local volunteers to man the new fleet. The Baron told Gustoff he had six weeks to complete his assigned tasks and he was to leave for Rotterdam immediately. The Baron smiled as he issued a command. “Admiral Gustoff Roulfs, you are dismissed for your immediate departure.”