The Dutch (28 page)

Jon knew his mother's homeland of Emsland had good farmland and was many times larger than the Droger Land. While most of Lower Saxony had unproductive and sandy soil, Emsland contained layers of rich loam deposited by Ice Age glaciers, making it a valuable principality. After Fredrick's gallant death, Charles V, unscrupulously appropriated all of Emsland, depriving Fredrick's daughter of her rightful inheritance. He did so by declaring Princess Lillian his ward. Jon was aware that the emperor had arranged the marriage between his mother and his father. He always assumed his family's opposition to Charles, and now toward his son Phillip, had been rooted in this theft of his mother's lands. Jon surmised his own assumptions were wrong when his father reminded Jon that land outside their ancestral homeland had little appeal to him or their ancestors. When such holdings were acquired, by marriage or conquest, they were bartered away. The previous lords of their bloodline knew the dangers in acquiring land outside their domain. His father emphasized that the conflict with Charles V and his family had nothing to do with his mother's stolen estate. The issue had to do with a matter of family honor, the treatment Jon's mother received while the emperor's ward. It was the reason his father looked upon the imminent battle as an opportunity. He hoped it allowed their family to take revenge for the sufferings inflicted on an innocent, young girl. The girl, Princess Lillian became his wife, and Jon's mother.

The Baron spoke with a contemptuous tone as he explained how the devious Emperor had failed in his duties as Jon's mother's guardian. After Fredrick's death, he callously placed Lillian into the care of Catholic allies who intermittently subjected her to beatings and other humiliations in an attempt to force her to recant her new Lutheran faith. For three years, the proud princess endured, defiantly maintaining her belief in the Reformation. Those torments only ceased when gossip at court, about the mistreatment, forced the emperor to move her to his capital at Brussels.

The Baron emphasized the Jon's grandfather; Lord Willem, knew nothing about what had transpired to the girl when he received a summons to the royal palace in Brussels. The Emperor wanted to announce the betrothal of Princess Lillian of Emsland to Willem's eldest son. Grandfather knew the selection of a Saxon princess for his son's bride was an unexpected honor. He first thought the emperor was rewarding the van Weir's family's service to the crown, but sensed something amiss. Soon the whispers of the court confirmed that his sovereign was hiding something. The Emperor, wanting to conceal any trace of the barbaric treatment, decided to move the girl far away from court and considered Willem's domain far enough away from Brussels. In a heated conversation, Willem made the King admit the abuse, which Charles blamed on the religious zealotry. He assured Lord Willem that the Princess remained chaste and offered a generous dowry if Grandfather consented to the marriage. Willem demanded to meet Lillian before making a decision, and when he did, he found she had lost none of the demeanor expected of a Saxon Princess. He acquiesced to the union when he found Lillian still courageous enough to demand religious freedom within Willem's household, but practical enough to consent to a Roman Catholic wedding for the sake of her future husband's family. The Baron continued, “The date was left to our family's discretion after the engagement was announced at court. Rather than leave the girl in the emperor's care, your grandfather took Lillian home with him. For the rest of his life, my father and your grandfather looked upon the emperor with scorn. The affair forever strained his relationship with the man for whom he willingly sacrificed his sword arm.”

The Baron's voice softened as he told his son he had always been mindful of his future role, trying always to learn how to be a proper warrior and lord. “Yet”, he told Jon, “I was not prepared when father returned with this beautiful princess and told me she was to be my bride.” He said he was mesmerized by her and would be until her death. The Baron remembered most, the girl's reddish-blonde hair, the color of the setting sun, and that same glow seemed to shine from her entire being. He recollected that he felt awkward in her presence, finding it difficult to speak with her, but she never seemed to mind. She later told him that he possessed attributes she had seen in her own father Fredrick. Their courtship was unnecessary for they had unexpectedly become a pair almost immediately and looked forward to their lives together. The Baron said they never discussed her experiences as the emperor's ward. He divulged to Jon that his grandparents immediately accepted Lillian as their daughter and Grandmother always referred to Lillian as that “lovely girl.” Lillian responded to their nurturing by returning their affections a hundred fold. Uncle Karl, only fifteen, became her younger brother and best friend. Karl shared with her the childlike activities she missed during her captivity. He enjoyed making her laugh and she enjoyed playing tricks on him. While Lillian mounted a saddle well, it was Karl who taught her to ride bareback and to swim. The Baron noted it was his wise brother who suggested a version of the Bible in her native tongue must be the Baron's first gift to his bride. Lillian was delighted with the Holy Book. It was Karl who devised an elaborate scheme so the three could attend Protestant services clandestinely each Friday. Both knew it would make Lillian happy but they feared it would surely upset their very Catholic Mother. The Baron smiled as he told Jon that the charade Karl devised soon became the worst kept secret in the history of the realm.

The Baron seemed to be speaking to himself as he told his son how they would ride to the town for “lessons” at a secondary school. “For a short time we worked on language skills, Lillian in French and we in German and we copied text so we had something written to show your Grandmother when she asked about our activities that day. Afterwards we would slip away to our real destination-the Calvinist meeting house.” That service was the most popular of the “Reformed” religions that followed the advent of Lutheranism and the Duchy had no Lutheran house of worship. Lillian accepted the meeting as a good alternative. She found Calvinism rational and never forgot the many Lutheran brethren had abandoned her family in their hour of need. The pastor, John Pastel, were forced to flee France when the Spirit of God descended upon him. He was a soft-spoken man, with a gift for the word, who became inspiringly eloquent during sermons. He taught Predestination and ensured parishioners that God had personally favored each for salvation. He welcomed everyone as a Saint who had already been saved by the Lord's Will alone. Pastel became the most popular preacher in the realm. Soon Lillian and Karl “secretly” became members of the congregation but the Baron said he had to be more cautious considering his position as the future Lord with allegiance to a Catholic Sovereign. The Baron quietly laughed and added,” We were mischievously proud each time we returned to the castle with our activities undiscovered, or so we foolishly thought.”

The Baron smiled as he continued,” Naturally my parents were informed immediately their sons were accompanying their future daughter-in-law to Protestant services. It is humorous, even now, to think, as members of this ruling family, we could have gone anywhere unnoticed. However, my parents decided to cast a blind eye, though we caused Grandmother, a devoted Catholic, some distress. Grandfather saw allowing the attendance as a matter of honor. Whenever Grandmother wavered, he reminded her of the pledge made to Lillian in Brussels. My father was also a good politician who knew a majority of his subjects were embracing the new religion, partly because of the tolerant environment he created. When Grandmother's priest complained, Lord Willem silenced him with a single question: ‘Did the good priest want a Catholic or Protestant wedding for the couple?”

Jon's father, baron Clifford von Weir seemed lost in thought as he continued, “On my eighteenth birthday we married, taking our vows from the Roman Catholic Primate, probably at the emperor's command. The bishop seemed displeased at making the long journey from Brussels. The celebration was held at the castle's grand hall with noble families from Holland and Frisia in attendance. We spent our wedding night in the high tower and my parents were relieved when our relationship remained warm after that first night together.” Grandfather had no faith in anything that Charles V told him.

“By this time Charles V, had moved his court to Spain and sent congratulations along with a command forbidding us to travel abroad. The dowry delivered was a mere pittance of the one promised, but we did receive a host of royal gifts we did not expect. To our surprise, wedding presents arrived from all the noble families of Lower Saxony. The same families, who failed her and her father, now thought a few gemstones would make amends. Each gift was addressed:
Lady Lillian of Emsland, Daughter of the Noble Fredrick, and Rightful Princess of Emsland.”
The Baron smiled broadly remembering,
“Your mother had my father refuse each of those gifts.”

“The emperor had placed no restrictions on internal travel, so father insisted we visit the major cities in the Netherlands,” Jon's father continued. “We began with a trip to Ghent, which had historical significance for our family and was also the birthplace of Charles V. From there we traveled to Brussels and on to Antwerp. We were warmly welcomed everywhere. The nobility clamored for us to accept the hospitality of their homes. Many were becoming dissatisfied with the emperor who was catering to the ever-growing, powerful Spanish influences within his empire. We spent six months in the south before arriving in Rotterdam. For us, it was the most memorable part of the entire sojourn. We relaxed at your Aunt's palace while she visited other relatives in France. We declined invitations, spending our time in each other's arms. Once we borrowed a yacht from Henri and sailed far out to the North Sea before foul and dangerous weather forced our return. Reylana, Henri's wife, often took your mother shopping and they became good friends. We treasured the freedom and privacy but much too soon your Aunt returned and we left for home. Once home, we learned that father had banished Karl from the castle. It seems my younger brother had found more than a love of God at the Friday meetings. He had discovered the lovely Maiden Sara.”

For a brief moment, the Barons mind was fixated on the color blue, but he continued, “At that time Sara was the pastor's daughter and she too had his wondrous gift for language. She spent her time teaching converts to read. Chosen Calvinists were expected to comprehend the word of God as written in the Bible which made the ability to read very important. Sara was a pretty girl with sandy brown hair she always covered in a blue bonnet, and everyone liked Sara, particularly Karl. The two had a natural attraction for each other and their relationship blossomed. One night at dinner, my brother told my parents that he too wished to wed. When they promised to search for the right bride, he told them he wanted to marry Sara. My father was a great Lord who understood the world was changing but the thought of his son marrying a commoner was too much change. He felt the marriage would diminish respect for our family in Holland and forbid future contact with the girl. Karl defied father, kept seeing Sara, and was banished from the castle. Worse still, Sara's father understood a Lord's wrath and convinced his daughter their relationship would destroy Karl's birthright and his future. Sara reluctantly refused to see Karl. It was a difficult time for my brother, who had taken up residency where the gunboat fleet was sheltered. For those months he dealt with his sorrow through activity. He spent his mornings building a wall around the boat house and his afternoons reading by the lake. The local farming matrons were all sympathetic to their young Lord's plight and saw to it he was the best fed exile in history. His situation changed when a warning fire signaled a brigand attack on the settlement nearest the great swamp.”

Clifford restlessly rose to stretch his legs adding gestures to his words as he told Jon about the settlement which was the last reclaimed from the water that had once had been three smaller settlement islands. “The farmers, related by marriage, petitioned to build dams that would seal the openings that allow water to divide them. When the damns were completed and the water was drained, it fashioned wide polders six feet below the adjoining land but well protected from the wind. It also created a more tempered environment which could grow grapes, an outstanding cash crop, as other vineyards in Northern Europe perished from the cold. The new large island became the most prosperous settlement in the south. Still, it was situated near the most accessible part of the swamp and the one most often attacked by new marauding bands from Germany. Grandfather built the settlers a stone meeting hall that provided an easily defended refuge until help arrived from the mainland.”

“That night, Karl was at the boat house when the signal fire was spotted. When enough men arrived, Karl launched a single gunboat to assist the settlers. The boat arrived unobserved in the darkness as the bandits were besieging the hall which was in imminent danger of being overrun; Karl decided to attack the more numerous brigands with the few men he had. He led the assault from the darkness and forced the brigands to flee after a fierce fight. During the battle, Karl took a pistol shot to his head which rendered him unconscious and bleeding profusely from the wounds to his scalp. Only his sturdy helmet prevented his death. It is the reason we all now know this place as Karl's Isle.”

Clifford wiped his brow and returned to his seat describing what he and his father came upon when they arrived with the remainder of the fleet. “Karl's surviving men had made a litter from shields and were carrying his almost lifeless body to his gunboat. One of the veterans, who had fought alongside Lord Willem in France, told him with tears in his eyes, ‘your youngest son fought well, my Lord'. A sixty caliber pistol ball had punctured Karl's helmet cutting a crease across the right side of his scalp. A concussion left him wandering in and out of a consciousness. My brother was taken to the castle and the healer summoned. Then my father did something truly remarkable. Hearing Karl's delirious calls for Sara, father rode to town and returned with Sara on the back of his own horse. Mother, Sara, and my Lillian nursed Karl to health and, by the time he fully recovered, a bond developed among the women that transcended birth and status. Grandmother, who usually quietly acquiesced to her husband's decisions, firmly told Lord Willem, they now had a second daughter Sara, and he needed to pursue a solution that avoided turning the girl into a harlot or courtesan. In Grandmother's eyes, Sara had become that ‘Sweet girl'. Grandfather spent a vast sum of money buying Sara's family a noble title from the French King, who always had an inventory of such titles for the right price. Once he had the documentation in hand; the two were allowed to marry in a private ceremony with the clear understanding that neither Karl nor his children would become the Great Lord. Grandfather also insisted that Sara always be address as ‘Lady Sara', and even Karl used the phase to appease father. A few months later, the controversy became almost irrelevant when my Lillian announced she was with child.”