Citizens of Haarlem Plead with Prince of Orange to Lift the Siege by Hendrick Goltzius

Prince William of Orange stands at the left, greeted by a procession of personified virtues and states of being including 'Extreme Need' and 'Eager Longing'. A kneeling woman representing the Haarlem citizenry is bound by the chains of 'Calamity', while 'Duty' and 'Piety' look on from the right. Extensive Dutch verses in scrolls and tablets describe the city's suffering from famine, plague, and war while appealing to the Prince's noble character.

This print demonstrates the use of Mannerist allegory to frame political events within the context of civic and moral virtue. It reflects the early career of Hendrick Goltzius and the application of Neostoic ideals—such as 'Officium' (Duty) and 'Pietas' (Piety)—which were central to the intellectual life of the Haarlem Mannerists and the Dutch Revolt.

Inscriptions(Dutch)

H. Wellecoom vernaemde bloemevā Orangie B. Wellecoom keyserlicke Stam vā Nassouwe H. Wellecoom betemmer van Dhomoedt van Spangiē B. Wellecoom der Landē noothulper vol etrouwe H. Wellecoom troost van Haerlem benaut van rouwen V lasten zyn groot dochter voor v te dragen My jammert uwer wt vrundtlyc mate dogen Maer y te verlichten naer eysch van v dagen Vermach ic niet geen hulp can ic v betogen Want ic draech by na zelf last na mijn vermogen Daer mē doechde eert loctmē elc ter doochdé aan Den zwackē te dragen betaemt wel den sterken Dye cleynē zonder welcke tgroot niet mach bestaē Moetmē voort vergaen houden oft groot zal vergaen Wilmē Haerlems trouwe vromheyt nyet aenmerken Wat Stee zal willen Doecht met perikel werken Liefde getrou tot het gemeen beste Met goede wil bouen tvermogen groot Brachten helaes in diuterste noot Vant zwaerdt, van honger, vā felle peste Van lastige schulden, van armoet bloot Van een verderflyke brandt int leste Dit maect dees scoon Stee een ellēdich neste Tis tegen uwe aengeboorn goedicheyt Edel Prince trouwe weldaet te vergeten Helpt doch dees help waerdige Stee met spoedicheyt Dye door weldaedt vroom in dasche leyt gemeten Gedenckt hoe haer wyt vermaerde Stoutmoedicheyt Vande Spaensche macht den spits heeft afgebetē En tlant bescermt dat in anxte was gesetē Labels: Prince van Orangien, Hoge Noodt, Begeerlijck Verlangen, tGemeenlandt, Haerlemse Burgerye, Officium, Calamitas, Pietas.

Translation

H. Welcome renowned flower of Orange
B. Welcome imperial lineage of Nassau
H. Welcome tamer of the pride of Spain

B. Welcome, faithful succor of the lands
H. Welcome, comfort of Haarlem distressed by mourning

Your burdens are great for you to bear
I grieve for your suffering beyond friendly measure
But to lighten them according to the demand of your days
I cannot; no help can I offer you
For I carry almost a burden myself beyond my strength

Where virtue is honored, one is drawn to each virtue
To support the weak well becomes the strong
The small without which the great cannot exist

Must one let perish what ought to be preserved, or let the great perish?
If one will not acknowledge Haarlem's faithful bravery
What city will want to work for Virtue at its own peril?

Love, faithful to the common good
With good will beyond great ability
Brought us, alas, into the utmost distress
By the sword, by hunger, by fierce pestilence
By burdensome debts, by stark poverty
By a destructive fire at the last
This makes this beautiful city a miserable nest

It is against your innate goodness
Noble Prince, to forget faithful benefits
Do help this aid-worthy city with haste
Which, through good deeds, lies measured in the ashes
Remember how its far-renowned Stoutheartedness
Bit off the tip of the Spanish might
And protected the land that was set in anxiety

Labels: Prince of Orange, Dire Need, Desirous Longing, The Common Land, Haarlem Citizenry, Duty, Calamity, Piety.

Citizens of Haarlem Plead with Prince of Orange to Lift the Siege

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