EUROPE TO-DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 229, 26 August 1938, Page 2

EUROPE TO-DAY

PILGRIMS AND HERCI3. In Leiden we will let John Street tell us of its pilgrims and its heroes. The great church of St. Peter’s is always worth a visit' from English people, because of its connection with their own John Itobinson.

It would lie quite forgivable if you retorted “Who was John Itobinson, and what was so typical an English name doing in so typical a Dutch city?” In the early sixteen hundreds, the Pilgrim Fathers lived in Leiden for some years before they eventually crossed the Atlantic. Itobinson was leader and inspiration to this little group of English people who had sailed for Holland to escape the religious persecution of James I and had come to Leiden by way of Amsterdam. Within sight of the University stands a statue of the burgomaster, Van der Wert'—and thereby bangs a tale! In 1574 Leiden was besieged by the Spaniards, a long and terrible period of privation endured by the inhabitants with characteristic stocism and courage. Van der Werf set a leader’s example to his people, but as relief failed to arrive, the situation became increasingly desperate and the long suffering population was dying in hundreds from starvation and its attendant plagues. Finally, in despair, a numlier of townspeople waylaid their burogmaster and appealed to him to end their mysery bv surrendering the city. Van der Werf, however, was adamant, and, to prove that he had the courage of his own convictions, thereupon offered his own bodv .to he distributed as food to the starving people. Soon afterwards, however, William of Orange raised the siege by broaching a portion of the sea dyke so that his relief ships could sail in over the flooded fields almost up to Leiden’s city walls.

William was so very impressed with the behaviour of the besieged townspeople, that he offered them the choice of two benefits —exemption from taxation or the gift of a university. They took the university, and among the famous personalities who studied there was our own Oliver Goldsmith.

The relief of the great Siege of Leiden is still observed, on October 3 of each year, by a great feast of Hutspot (carrots, potatoes, onions, and boiled beef) —a comforting assurance that, even in Leiden, matter sometimes triumphs over mind! —(G.)