On his return to Groningen, the estates were summoned, and received a
severe lecture for their suspicious demeanour in regard to the rebellion.
In order more effectually to control both province and city, the
Governor-general ordered the construction of a strong fortress, which
was soon begun but never completed. Having thus furnished himself with
a key to this important and doubtful region, he returned by way of
Amsterdam to Utrecht. There he was met by his son Frederic with strong
reinforcements. The Duke reviewed his whole army, and found himself at
the head of 30,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry. Having fully subdued the
province, he had no occupation for such a force, but he improved the
opportunity by cutting off the head of an old woman in Utrecht. The Vrow
van Diemen, eighteen months previously, had given the preacher Arendsoon
a night's lodging in her house. The crime had, in fact, been committed
by her son-in-law, who dwelt under her roof, and who had himself, without
her participation, extended this dangerous hospitality to a heretic; but
the old lady, although a devout Catholic, was rich. Her execution would
strike a wholesome terror into the hearts of her neighbours. The
confiscation of her estates would bring a handsome sum into the
government coffers. It would be made manifest that the same hand which
could destroy an army of twelve thousand rebels at a blow could inflict
as signal punishment on the small delinquencies of obscure individuals.
The old lady, who was past eighty-four years of age, was placed in a
chair upon the scaffold. She met her death with heroism, and treated her
murderers with contempt. "I understand very well," she observed, "why my
death is considered necessary. The calf is fat and must be killed." To
the executioner she expressed a hope that his sword was sufficiently
sharp, "as he was likely to find her old neck very tough." With this
grisly parody upon the pathetic dying words of Anne Boleyn, the
courageous old gentlewoman submitted to her fate.