On this day in 1572 Admiral William de la Marck ordered the execution of nineteen Catholic priests in the Dutch town of Brielle. Prince William of Orange had issued an order that priests were not to be molested, but de la Marck ignored this instruction. They became the Gorkum Martyrs.
William de la Marck was admiral of the sea Beggars, or Watergeuzen in Dutch. The Sea Beggars were a privateer naval force with letters of marque numbering upwards of eighty ships, which fought in the Eighty Years War, against Spanish occupation of the Netherlands. The name derives from an incident in 1566 when permission was granted to present a petition of grievances to the regent, Margaret Duchess of Parma. Around 300 nobles marched to the palace, and the duchess was a little alarmed. Berlaymont, one of her councillors, told her not to fear, they were only beggars. The name stuck.
In 1572, the Sea Beggars, led by William van der Marck, known as Lumey, set their sights on Brielle, a strategic fortress town in the Netherlands. With their nimble ships and unwavering resolve, the sea beggars launched a surprise attack, overpowering the enemy forces and capturing the town. This victory marked a turning point in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule, bolstering the morale of the Dutch resistance and inspiring others to join their cause. Brielle became a symbol of resistance and ignited a desire for freedom among the Dutch people.
Buoyed by their success, the sea beggars then turned their attention to Vlissingen (now Flushing), another key stronghold held by the Spanish. In 1572, under the leadership of Admiral Louis Boisot, the Sea Beggars launched a daring assault on the city. Despite facing a formidable Spanish fleet, the Sea Beggars skilfully manoeuvred their ships, employing superior tactics to achieve victory. The capture of Vlissingen was a significant blow to Spanish control in the region and further fuelled the Dutch rebellion.
Around 1571 Francis Walsingham sent Sir Anthony Standen to the Netherlands to gather intelligence. Since I have an interest in all matters nautical, I decided Sir Anthony may have joined the Sea Beggars. It did include a great many nationalities. I have done what I can to trace the key events of the period, in an entertaining yet informative way, in The Spy who Sank the Armada.