Haarlemse burgerij smeekt de prins van Oranje om hulp, ca. 1577-1579 by Hendrick Goltzius

William of Orange stands at the left, greeted by personifications of the 'Common Land' and the 'Citizens of Haarlem,' the latter depicted as a woman kneeling in heavy chains. Surrounding them are allegorical virtues including Piety (Pietas), Duty (Officium), and High Need (Hoge Noodt), who testify to the city's suffering following the Spanish siege. Large banners and text blocks in Dutch provide a poetic appeal for financial and military relief for the devastated city.

This work is a prime example of the political application of Mannerist allegory, common in the circle of Hendrick Goltzius. While historical in nature, its use of personified virtues and complex emblematic imagery connects to the broader Northern Renaissance tradition of using visual metaphors to express moral and philosophical truths during times of social upheaval.

Inscriptions(Dutch)

Prince van Orangien Hoge Noodt Begeerlijck Verlangen Tgemeenlandt Officium Pietas Haerlemse Burgerij Calamitas H. Wellecoom vermaemde bloeme va Orange B. Wellecoom keyserlicke Stam va Nassouwe H. Wellecoom betemmer van D'homoedt van Spangien B. Wellecoom der Lande noothulper vol trouwe H. Wellecoom troost van Haerlem benaut van rouwen Lesten zijn groot dochter voor u te dragen. My jammert uwer wt vrundtlycke made dogen Maer u te verlichten naer eijsch van u clagen Vermach ic nyet geen hulp can ic u betogen Want ic draech bij na zelf last na mijn Vermogen Dye cleynen zonder welcke tgroot niet mach bestaen Den zwacken te dragen betaemt wel den sterken Daer mee doende eert loon eëter doende aen Meentme voort vergaan hoeden ist groot zal vergaan Wilmen Haerlems trouwe vroomheyt nyet ammerken Wat stee zal willen docht met perikel werken Liefde getrou tot het gemeen beste Met goede wil bouen tvermogen groot Brachten helaes in duterste noot Vant zwaerdt, van honger, va felle peste Van lastige schulden, van armoet bloot Van een verderflijke brandt int leste Dit maect dees scoon Stee een ellendich neste Tis tegen uwe aengeboorn goedicheyt Edel Prince trouwe weldaet te vergeten Helpt doch dees help waerdige stee met spoedicheyt Dye door weldaet vroom in dasche leyt gemeten Gedenct hoe haer uyt vermaerde Stoutmoedicheyt Vande Spaensche macht den spits heeft afgebeten En tlant beschermt dat in anxte was geseten. A° 1573.

Translation

Prince of Orange
Great Distress
Earnest Desire
The Common Land
Duty
Piety
Haarlemry
Calamity

H. Welcome, renowned flower of Orange
B. Welcome, imperial lineage of Nassau
H. Welcome, restrainer of the pride of Spain
B. Welcome, true helper of the land in distress
H. Welcome, comfort of Haarlem, afflicted with grief

The burdens are great for you to bear.
I lament your suffering out of friendly kindness
But to lighten your load as your complaints demand
I cannot; no help can I offer you
For I myself carry a burden nearly to my capacity

Those small ones without whom the great cannot exist
It befits the strong to bear the weak
Thereby earning honor while doing so

If we expect the great to perish if the guard perishes
If one will not heed Haarlem’s loyalty and piety
What city would ever want to act in danger?

Love loyal to the common good
With good will beyond great ability
Brought alas into this deepest distress
By the sword, by hunger, by fierce plague
By burdensome debts, by naked poverty
By a ruinous fire at the last
This makes this beautiful city a miserable nest

It is against your inborn goodness
Noble Prince, to forget loyal benefaction
Do help this city worthy of help with haste
Which through benefaction lies measured in ashes
Remember how her renowned courage
Bit off the spearhead of the Spanish might
And protected the land that sat in anxiety.
A° 1573.

Haarlemse burgerij smeekt de prins van Oranje om hulp, ca. 1577-1579

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