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The story takes place in the 16th century, during the Spanish occupation of the Netherlands. It revolves around the van Goorl family, particularly Lysbeth van Hout, a young and wealthy heiress, and her sons, Adrian and Foy. The narrative explores themes of love, faith, and survival amidst the turmoil of war and persecution. Lysbeth, who is initially forced into a marriage with the cunning and ambitious Count Don Juan de Montalvo, eventually escapes and finds refuge with her true love, Dirk van Goorl. However, their happiness is short-lived, as they face numerous challenges, including the threat of the Spanish Inquisition and the pursuit of Montalvo, who seeks to reclaim Lysbeth and her wealth. The story follows the van Goorl family's struggles and triumphs as they navigate the treacherous landscape of 16th-century Netherlands, ultimately finding hope and redemption in the face of adversity. Along the way, the characters must confront their own flaws and weaknesses, as well as the darkness of the world around them, in order to emerge stronger and more resilient. The novel is a sweeping tale of adventure, romance, and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of one of the most tumultuous periods in European history.
The scene is set in 1544 in the city of Leyden, where the Emperor Charles V rules the Netherlands. The story takes place during a winter holiday, with the city's canals frozen and people skating and enjoying sledging matches. Lysbeth van Hout, a young and wealthy heiress, is among the revelers, accompanied by her maid Greta. She meets a strange and gaunt woman named Martha, who claims to have known Lysbeth's father and warns her of the dangers of the Spanish Inquisition. Lysbeth is then approached by a cap-seller who seems to be a spy, and later by a Spanish officer, Count Don Juan de Montalvo, who asks her to be his passenger in the final sledge race. Despite her initial reluctance and the disapproval of her cousin Dirk van Goorl, Lysbeth agrees to ride with the Count. The race becomes a symbol of the struggle between the Spanish and the Dutch, with the Count's black wolf sledge representing the Spanish and Pieter van de Werff's grey badger sledge representing the Dutch. In the end, the grey badger sledge wins, and Lysbeth experiences a strange and vivid dream-like vision, in which the race becomes a metaphor for the larger conflict between the two nations.
Lysbeth finds herself in a precarious situation after the sledge race, as she is taken by Count Don Juan de Montalvo to a remote location where a group of Spanish soldiers are holding a prisoner, Martha the Mare, a woman who had spoken to her earlier that day. The Count asks Lysbeth to testify against Martha, who is accused of being a heretic, but Lysbeth, despite being a Catholic, decides to lie under oath to save Martha's life. In return, the Count demands that Lysbeth spend the rest of the evening with him, and she is forced to accompany him on a tour of the military posts in the town. As the night wears on, Lysbeth becomes increasingly uncomfortable and anxious to return home, but the Count continues to延 her, making her feel trapped and obligated to him. Meanwhile, Black Meg, the spy who had accused Martha, is punished by being dunked in a hole in the ice, and Lysbeth is left to wonder what consequences her actions will have, and what price she will have to pay for saving Martha's life.
Lysbeth returns home with Count Don Juan de Montalvo, who has been using his charm and courtesy to win over her family and friends. Despite her initial reluctance, Lysbeth is forced to introduce Montalvo to her aunt and cousin, and he quickly becomes the center of attention at the supper party. Montalvo tells a story about how he and Lysbeth had saved a woman's life earlier that day, and he uses this tale to gain the sympathy and admiration of the guests. As the evening wears on, Montalvo's true nature is slowly revealed, and it becomes clear that he is a cunning and ambitious man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Meanwhile, Pieter van de Werff, the winner of the sledge race, is impressed by Montalvo's military strategy and the two engage in a discussion about how to defend Leyden from attack. As the night comes to a close, Montalvo's influence over Lysbeth's family and friends is solidified, and it seems that he has won a significant victory in his campaign to win Lysbeth's heart and gain control over her wealth and social status.
The chapter explores the thoughts and reflections of three main characters: Dirk van Goorl, Lysbeth van Hout, and Captain Juan de Montalvo. Dirk wakes up with a headache and regrets his actions from the previous day, including his failure to protect Lysbeth from Montalvo's advances. He is aware of the danger of being a Lutheran in a Catholic-dominated society and fears that his secret may be discovered. Lysbeth, on the other hand, is angry with Dirk for not being more assertive and for allowing Montalvo to take advantage of her. She feels trapped and obligated to Montalvo, who has made it clear that he intends to pursue her. Montalvo, meanwhile, is revealed to be a cunning and unprincipled man who is driven by his desire for wealth and admiration. He has set his sights on Lysbeth's fortune and is determined to win her hand in marriage, even if it means manipulating and deceiving those around him. The chapter also introduces Black Meg, a mysterious and menacing figure who is willing to do Montalvo's bidding in exchange for payment. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Montalvo will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and that Lysbeth and Dirk are in grave danger of becoming pawns in his game of power and deception.
The story continues with Dirk van Goorl, who receives a message from Count Don Juan de Montalvo, reminding him of a dinner engagement. Dirk attends the dinner, where he meets other guests, including a young Netherlander named Brant, who turns out to be his cousin. After the dinner, Dirk and Brant discover they share a common faith and exchange passwords, revealing themselves to be members of the New Religion. They pray and read from the Bible, seeking guidance on Dirk's situation with Lysbeth, who is a Catholic. The Bible seems to provide an answer, suggesting that Dirk should speak to Lysbeth and leave the rest to God. Meanwhile, a mysterious and ominous presence is felt throughout the chapter, and Dirk has a disturbing dream, which he believes may be a portent of evil to come.
Lysbeth van Hout is faced with a difficult decision when Count Don Juan de Montalvo threatens to have her cousin Dirk van Goorl arrested and executed for heresy unless she agrees to marry him. Montalvo has obtained evidence of Dirk's alleged heresy and uses it to blackmail Lysbeth into accepting his proposal. Lysbeth, who is in love with Dirk, is torn between her feelings for him and the need to save his life. She decides to trick Dirk into revealing his true faith, and when he confesses to being a heretic, she tells him that she cannot marry him unless he renounces his faith. Dirk refuses to do so, and Lysbeth is forced to reject him. After Dirk leaves, Montalvo emerges from his hiding place and burns the evidence he had gathered, but warns Lysbeth that he has more evidence and will use it to destroy Dirk if she does not fulfill her promise to marry him. Lysbeth, filled with fury and hatred, curses Montalvo and calls down God's wrath upon him. Montalvo, realizing the depth of Lysbeth's feelings, is filled with fear and uncertainty, and the chapter ends with him creeping away, his face pale and his heart heavy.
Nine months have passed since Lysbeth's marriage to Count Don Juan de Montalvo, and it is clear that the union is unhappy. Lysbeth has been forced to surrender her property and wealth to Montalvo, who has used it to pay off his debts and fund his lavish lifestyle. Meanwhile, Hendrik Brant, a friend of Dirk van Goorl, receives a visit from Black Meg, a mysterious and untrustworthy figure who claims to have evidence that Montalvo is not legally married to Lysbeth. Brant agrees to pay Black Meg for the evidence, which includes letters from Montalvo's supposed wife in Spain, and he sets out to verify the claims. With the help of his friend Pieter van de Werff, Brant travels to Brussels and secures an order for Montalvo's arrest and trial. The chapter ends with Montalvo's arrest at his home in Leyden, where Lysbeth is present and learns that she is not legally married to him, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and free.
Lysbeth, having discovered she is not legally married to Count Don Juan de Montalvo, feels a mix of emotions, from exultation to despair. She becomes aware of the shame and stigma associated with her situation and is shunned by the community. Overwhelmed, she attempts to take her own life by wading into the Haarlemer Meer, but is rescued by Martha the Mare, a mysterious and fierce woman who lives on the lake. Martha takes Lysbeth to her island home, where she gives birth to a son, Adrian, fathered by Montalvo. As Lysbeth recovers, Martha tends to her and shares her own story of vengeance against the Spaniards. Lysbeth begins to question her Catholic faith and is introduced to the teachings of the New Religion through Martha's readings from the Testament. Eventually, Dirk van Goorl, the man Lysbeth loves, finds her on the island, and they reunite, with Dirk accepting Lysbeth and her child. Montalvo is put on trial, found guilty, and sentenced to serve in the galleys. Lysbeth and Dirk get married, take Adrian in, and Lysbeth joins the New Religion. She later gives birth to another son, Foy, who becomes the hero of the story.
The story takes place many years after Lysbeth found refuge on an island in the Haarlemer Meer. Her sons, Adrian and Foy, are now grown men. The scene is set in a time of great turmoil and persecution in the Netherlands, with the Spanish authorities cracking down on Protestants. The family attends a secret meeting led by the preacher Jan Arentz, where they witness the martyrdom of two men, Mark and Andreas Jansen, who are burned at the stake for their faith. Meanwhile, Foy and his father Dirk are accompanied by their loyal servant Martin, a giant of a man with a troubled past. As they make their way home, they encounter a woman, Vrouw Jansen, being chased by Spanish soldiers, and Martin intervenes, killing the soldiers and saving the woman. The family returns home, where they discuss the events of the day and their own struggles with faith and survival in a time of great danger. Adrian, who is more reserved and calculating than his brother Foy, is criticized for his lack of emotion and his tendency to observe the world around him with a detached air. The chapter ends with Foy and Martin engaging in a lively conversation, where Martin reveals more about his past as a prizefighter and his loyalty to the van Goorl family.
The chapter revolves around Adrian van Goorl, the son of Lysbeth van Hout, who is struggling to find his place in the world. Adrian is a complex character with a mix of Spanish and Dutch influences, and his thoughts and feelings are deeply rooted in his desire for wealth, power, and recognition. He is a poet at heart and has written a sonnet to the Spanish beauty, Isabella d'Ovanda, which he reads to his servant, Martin. Meanwhile, a group of rogue characters, including Black Meg and the Butcher, are plotting to capture a young girl who may be carrying a valuable letter. As Adrian goes out hawking, he is taunted by a group of young boys who mock his Spanish heritage, leading to a violent outburst from Adrian. The chapter explores Adrian's inner turmoil, his relationships with those around him, and the societal pressures that shape his actions and decisions.
Adrian, still reeling from the loss of his falcon, encounters a group of robbers attacking a young woman, Elsa Brant, and her companions in the woods. He intervenes, using his staff to fight off the robbers, and rescues Elsa. As they travel to the van Goorl's house, Adrian becomes infatuated with Elsa, but she seems uneasy around him. Upon arriving at the house, Adrian's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and arrogant, leading to a confrontation with his stepfather, Dirk, and his brother, Foy. The argument escalates, and Adrian makes a shocking remark about his mother's past, causing Lysbeth to cry out in anguish. Dirk, furious, orders Martin to remove Adrian from the house, and a physical altercation ensues. Martin, with his immense strength, overpowers Adrian and is about to throw him out when Adrian attempts to attack him with a dagger. However, Martin quickly disarms Adrian and escorts him out of the house, leaving him seemingly lifeless on the threshold.
The scene opens with Lysbeth, Dirk, and Foy discussing the recent altercation between Adrian and Martin, which left Adrian injured and bleeding. The family is still reeling from the incident, with Lysbeth blaming Dirk for being too harsh on Adrian. Meanwhile, Dirk receives a letter from his cousin Hendrik Brant, who is in danger due to his suspected involvement with the New Faith. Brant entrusts Dirk with the care of his daughter Elsa and tasks him with retrieving a hidden treasure, which is to be used for the defense of their country and the freedom of religious faith. Dirk decides to send Foy and Martin to The Hague to carry out Brant's instructions, despite Lysbeth's concerns for Foy's safety. As Foy prepares to leave, Lysbeth gives him a steel shirt that had been passed down from her father, which is said to be impenetrable to sword or dagger. Martin, meanwhile, reveals that he has been preparing for the journey by making a bullskin garment to protect himself. The two set off towards The Hague, ready to face whatever dangers lie ahead.
Foy van Goorl and his servant Martin arrive at the Witte Poort in Leyden, preparing to travel to The Hague to retrieve a treasure for Hendrik Brant. They are stopped by a customs officer who inspects their cargo, a church chandelier, before allowing them to pass. In The Hague, they meet with Brant, who explains that his life is in danger and that he has hidden a large sum of money in a boat called the Swallow. Brant asks Foy and Martin to retrieve the boat and sail it out to sea, where they can hide the treasure or blow it up to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Foy and Martin agree to take on the task, and Brant gives Martin a document promising him a reward of 5,000 florins if they are successful. As they prepare to set out, they are joined by two women, Red Bow and her companion, who help them evade detection by the authorities. They make their way to the canal, where they board a boat and begin to row towards the Swallow. Along the way, they are attacked by an assassin, but Martin is able to defend them and they continue on their mission. As they approach the wharf where the Swallow is docked, the two women bid them farewell and disembark, leaving Foy and Martin to complete their task.
Foy and Martin, accompanied by the pilot Hans, navigate the canal in the boat Swallow, trying to evade the Spanish soldiers who are pursuing them. As they approach the sea, they are met with resistance from the soldiers, and Hans is fatally shot. Before he dies, Hans instructs Foy and Martin to head to the Haarlem Mere, where they will meet Mother Martha, a mysterious and fierce woman who knows the waters. They follow Hans' instructions and eventually meet Mother Martha, who helps them hide the treasure by digging a hole in the marshy soil and burying the five barrels marked with the initial B. After completing the task, they return to the Swallow and prepare to face the Spanish soldiers who are still pursuing them. Mother Martha comes up with a plan to fire the ship and pretend it is blown up, in order to deceive the Spaniards and protect the treasure. The plan is successful, and the Spaniards are killed in the explosion. However, the Spanish captain, Ramiro, manages to escape and sail away. Despite Martin's suggestion to pursue him, Foy decides to let him go, still shaken by the events that have unfolded.
The story follows Señor Ramiro, formerly known as Count Juan de Montalvo, who has escaped from the galleys after serving nearly 14 years. He has reinvented himself as a notary and man of affairs in Spain, but his past experiences have left him with a deep-seated fear of Lysbeth van Goorl, the woman he wronged in the past. Ramiro becomes involved in a plot to steal the treasure of Hendrik Brant, a wealthy goldsmith, and enlists the help of various confederates, including Black Meg. However, his plans are foiled when Foy van Goorl and his servant Martin intervene, sinking the ship and burying the treasure. Ramiro is forced to flee and decides to go to Leyden, where he knows he will have to confront Lysbeth and her family again. Meanwhile, Foy returns home to his family and begins to tell them the story of his adventures, but Martin cautions him to keep the secret of the treasure's hiding place safe, warning him that the Spanish authorities may use torture to extract the information. Foy is forced to tell a lie to his family, saying that the map of the hiding place was lost, in order to protect the secret.
The story continues with Foy van Goorl recounting his adventures to his family, but he and Martin are secretive about the treasure's hiding place, leading to suspicion from Dirk. Lysbeth intervenes, suggesting that Foy and Martin are hiding the truth to protect the family from potential danger. The family swears to never speak of the treasure again. Meanwhile, Adrian, who has been recovering from his injury, becomes infatuated with Elsa Brant and decides to declare his love to her. However, Elsa rejects his advances, still grieving for her father, Hendrik Brant, who was recently executed. Adrian seeks the advice of Black Meg, who introduces him to a mysterious master who claims to be able to help him win Elsa's heart. The master offers to provide a love philtre to induce Elsa's affection, and Adrian agrees to use it. Unbeknownst to Adrian, the master has ulterior motives, seeking to use him to gain evidence against Dirk, Foy, and Martin, and ultimately to obtain the treasure for himself.
The chapter revolves around Adrian's continued visits to the mysterious master, who claims to possess supernatural abilities, in an attempt to win Elsa's heart. The master provides Adrian with a love philtre, which he eventually administers to Elsa without her knowledge. Meanwhile, Lysbeth and Elsa encounter the new governor of the prison, Ramiro, who is revealed to be the same man who had wronged Lysbeth in the past, Juan de Montalvo. Lysbeth is filled with dread and determines to warn her husband, Dirk, about the danger that Ramiro poses. She also visits the sick Vrouw Jansen, who is suffering from the plague, and later burns her clothes and purifies herself to prevent infection. The chapter ends with a sense of foreboding, as Lysbeth and Dirk discuss the threat posed by Ramiro and the possibility of fleeing Leyden. The family's supper is a somber affair, with each member lost in their own thoughts and concerns.
The chapter revolves around the intense emotions and conflicts within the van Goorl family as they face the threat of Ramiro, also known as Count Juan de Montalvo, who has arrived in Leyden seeking to claim the treasure of Hendrik Brant. Lysbeth, Dirk, Foy, and Martin gather to discuss their plan to escape Leyden and protect the treasure, with Lysbeth expressing her fears and doubts about their safety. Meanwhile, Adrian's attempts to win Elsa's heart are met with rejection, and he discovers that she is betrothed to his brother Foy. Adrian's anger and jealousy boil over, and he reveals that he had given Elsa a love philtre, which she discovers and is outraged by. The chapter ends with Adrian seeking the help of the mysterious Master, who had provided him with the love philtre, to find an antidote and win Elsa back. Throughout the chapter, Foy has a vision of war and glory, which seems to foretell the coming struggles and conflicts that the family will face.
Adrian, still reeling from his failed attempt to win Elsa's heart, visits the mysterious Master, who claims to have supernatural abilities, in hopes of finding an antidote to the love philtre that has backfired. However, the Master's true intentions are revealed, and Adrian is tricked into providing information that will be used against his family. The Master, who is actually Ramiro, a captain and governor of the Gevangenhuis, uses Adrian's testimony to accuse his stepfather, Dirk, and brother, Foy, of heresy and other crimes. Adrian, realizing his mistake, tries to warn Foy and Martin, but they are already under attack by Spanish soldiers. Foy and Martin take refuge in a shot tower, where they prepare to defend themselves against the soldiers. Despite being outnumbered, they put up a fierce fight, using the tower's advantages to their favor. However, they are eventually forced to drop down from the tower and charge through a barrier of flames, where they engage in a desperate battle against the soldiers. Martin is eventually overpowered and taken captive, while Foy's fate is left uncertain.
Foy and Martin are taken to the Gevangenhuis, a prison in Leyden, after being captured by Spanish soldiers. They are thrown into a dark and filthy dungeon, where they meet a mysterious woman named Mary who is also a prisoner. Mary is kind and helps them, giving Martin her smock to use as a bandage for Foy's wounds. Despite her own impending execution, Mary shows bravery and faith, and Foy and Martin are inspired by her example. The next morning, Foy and Martin are taken to the court-room, where they are confronted by Ramiro, the governor of the prison, and the Inquisitor. The Inquisitor signs a blank warrant, leaving Ramiro to fill it in, and Ramiro offers to release Foy and Martin if they reveal the location of the hidden treasure. However, Foy and Martin refuse to betray their trust, even when Ramiro threatens to harm their loved ones and offers to let them go in exchange for the treasure. Ramiro then calls for the Professor Baptiste, presumably to begin the torture process.
Martin and Foy are taken to the torture chamber in the Gevangenhuis, where they are to be interrogated by the Professor, a ruthless and experienced torturer. However, Martin, who had initially appeared to be cowardly, reveals his true intentions and orchestrates a daring escape. He uses his strength to overpower the Professor and the guards, and with Foy's help, they manage to bolt the door and trap their captors inside. Martin then retrieves his sword, Silence, and carries Foy on his back as they make their way out of the prison, fighting off the guards and escaping into the city. Meanwhile, Dirk, who is being held in a separate cell, learns of their escape from a cook who brings him food and is overjoyed, knowing that the secret of the treasure is safe. Lysbeth, who has also learned of the escape, visits her cousin, van de Werff, and begs him to help her rescue her husband and son by raising the town and attacking the Gevangenhuis, but van de Werff is hesitant, fearing the consequences of such an action and the potential destruction of the city.
Lysbeth, aware that she has contracted the plague, visits her husband Dirk in prison, where he is being held by the ruthless Captain Montalvo. Montalvo, who has a personal vendetta against Lysbeth, offers to spare Dirk's life if she can persuade him to reveal the location of a hidden treasure. However, Lysbeth knows that Dirk does not know the location of the treasure and that Montalvo's true intention is to torture him to death. In a desperate bid to save her husband, Lysbeth decides to infect him with the plague, knowing that it will kill him quickly and spare him the agony of torture. Meanwhile, Lysbeth's son Adrian is revealed to be a traitor, having signed a document that condemns his stepfather and brother to death. Lysbeth confronts Adrian and renounces him, banishing him from the family. As the news of Mechlin's massacre spreads, the people of Leyden rise up in revolt, storming the prison and freeing the prisoners. However, they arrive too late to save Dirk, who has already died from the plague.
Adrian, filled with hatred and a desire for revenge against Ramiro, who had tricked and betrayed him, encounters his enemy in a room at the home of his spy hosts, Black Meg and Hague Simon. Despite having the upper hand, Adrian hesitates to kill Ramiro when the latter reveals that he is his father, and instead engages in a fierce sword fight. Ramiro, using his cunning and experience, eventually gains the upper hand, but Adrian spares his life. Ramiro then proposes an alliance between them, offering to help Adrian recover his honor and marry the woman he loves, Elsa Brant, in exchange for his son's loyalty and assistance in recovering a vast treasure. Adrian, tempted by the promise of wealth and power, agrees to the alliance, and Ramiro reveals that he intends to recover the treasure of Hendrik Brant, which will legally belong to Adrian if he marries Elsa. Ramiro also requests that Adrian convert to Catholicism, which Adrian agrees to do, and the two men seal their pact with an embrace, witnessed by Black Meg and Hague Simon. However, it is hinted that Ramiro's intentions may not be entirely genuine, and that he may be manipulating Adrian for his own purposes.
The chapter begins with Adrian's baptism into the Catholic Church, which is met with resistance from a mob of heretics who surround the church. The group, including Ramiro, Hague Simon, and several priests, takes refuge in a tomb beneath the church, where they wait out the chaos above. Meanwhile, Martha, also known as the Mare, delivers a sermon to the mob, condemning the Spanish and the Catholic Church, and reveals her own tragic past and motivations for seeking vengeance. She also claims responsibility for the death of the Abbe Dominic, who was hung from the Rood in the church. The chapter then shifts to Elsa, who receives a visit from Martha and learns about Foy's safety and the bravery of Red Martin. Martha shares her visions and warnings with Elsa, including the location of the treasure of Hendrik Brant, which is hidden in the hilt of Red Martin's sword, Silence. The chapter ends with Martha departing and Elsa reflecting on the dangers and uncertainties of their situation.
The story takes place at the Red Mill, a deserted and eerie location on the outskirts of Haarlem, where Adrian and his father, Ramiro, have taken refuge after escaping from Leyden. Adrian is growing weary of the place and the constant card games with his father, who is trying to teach him the value of paying debts of honor. Meanwhile, Hague Simon and Black Meg return with Elsa Brant, who has been kidnapped and brought to the mill against her will. Ramiro reveals that he plans to marry Elsa to either Adrian or himself in order to gain control of her inheritance, the wealth of the late Hendrik Brant. Adrian is torn between his love for Elsa and his reluctance to marry her against her will, but ultimately decides that it would be better for her to marry him than his father. Ramiro, however, is determined to see the marriage take place, and orders Simon to find a priest to perform the ceremony. As the story unfolds, Adrian becomes increasingly desperate and trapped, while Ramiro's true intentions and motivations are slowly revealed.
The chapter revolves around the forced marriage of Elsa Brant to Adrian van Goorl, orchestrated by his father Ramiro. Elsa, who is in love with Foy van Goorl, is kidnapped and brought to the Red Mill, where the ceremony takes place. Despite her protests and refusals, the marriage is conducted by a corrupt priest, Father Thomas, who is bribed by Ramiro. The ceremony is a brutal and disturbing scene, with Elsa being gagged and forced to participate. Just as the marriage is finalized, the dyke outside the mill bursts, and the floodwaters rush in, sweeping away the mill and everyone in it, except for Ramiro, Adrian, and the boatmen, who escape by boat. The next morning, they return to find that the mill has been destroyed, and Elsa is presumed dead. Ramiro retrieves the body of Father Thomas from the water and takes back the gold he had paid him, revealing his true nature as a ruthless and cunning man. The chapter ends with Adrian mourning the loss of Elsa and realizing that he is now her heir, while Ramiro hints that he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, including eliminating anyone who stands in his way.
Foy van Goorl and his servant Martin are searching for Elsa Brant, who has been kidnapped by Ramiro and his accomplices. They eventually track her down to the Red Mill, where she was forced to marry Foy's brother Adrian. However, the mill is destroyed in a flood, and Elsa is rescued by Foy and Martin. As they sail away from the mill, Elsa tells them about her ordeal and her forced marriage. Foy is devastated by the news, but Elsa assures him that she does not consider herself married to Adrian. Martha, a mysterious and fierce woman, joins them on their journey and prophesies that they will face great dangers but will ultimately be safe. The group sails into the city of Haarlem, which is under siege by the Spanish army, and prepares to face the coming battle together.
The city of Haarlem has fallen to the Spanish army after a long and brutal siege, and the survivors are being rounded up and imprisoned. Foy, Martin, Elsa, and Martha are among those captured, and they are taken to a house where Ramiro, the Spanish captain, is staying. Ramiro reveals that he has been searching for the treasure of Hendrik Brant, which he believes is hidden in the hilt of Martin's sword, Silence. However, Martin and Foy are able to escape with the help of Adrian, who has had a change of heart and wants to make amends for his past mistakes. As they flee the city, they discuss what to do next, and Martha suggests that they try to retrieve the treasure before Ramiro can get to it. Along the way, Adrian tells the story of how he was manipulated by Ramiro and forced to commit terrible acts, and he begs for forgiveness from his brother and Elsa. The group decides to head to the location of the treasure, and as they approach the island where it is hidden, they see Ramiro's sail on the horizon, and they know they must act quickly to get to the treasure before he does.
The story continues with Foy, Martin, and Elsa escaping from Haarlem and retrieving the treasure of Hendrik Brant from its hiding place on an island. However, they are soon pursued by Ramiro, also known as Juan de Montalvo, and his men. A fierce battle ensues, and Martha, a mysterious and fierce woman, helps them defeat the Spaniards. Ramiro is captured and taken aboard their boat, where he attempts to escape and kill Adrian, but is thwarted by Martin. The group eventually returns to Leyden, where they are greeted as heroes. Lysbeth, Foy's mother, is reunited with her son and learns of the death of her other son, Adrian, at the hands of Ramiro. She is filled with sorrow and anger, and when Ramiro is brought before her, she refuses to show him mercy. Instead, she allows the people of Leyden to judge him, and Martin presents Ramiro to the crowd, recounting his many crimes. The crowd is enraged, and Martin ultimately hurls Ramiro into their midst, where he is killed. The story concludes with the people of Leyden having passed judgment and executed it upon the noble Spaniard, the Count Juan de Montalvo.
The chapter describes two scenes, the first taking place in Leyden where William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch resistance, is struggling to find funds to defend the city against the Spanish army. Foy van Goorl and his servant Red Martin arrive with a cart containing the treasure of Hendrik Brant, which they had recovered and brought to Orange to help fund the war effort. The treasure, which includes gold coins and precious jewels, is enough to pay the soldiers and build a fleet to relieve the siege of Leyden. The second scene takes place in Norwich, England, where Lysbeth van Goorl and Elsa Brant have been living in exile. They receive a surprise visit from Foy and Martin, who have escaped from Leyden and bring news of the city's relief. The chapter ends with a sense of joy and relief as the characters reunite and give thanks for their deliverance. The story concludes with a sense of closure and new beginnings for the characters, as they look to the future with hope and optimism.