"There is the Castle of Loevestein," said the captain of the boat, who spoke good English, "and the fort below has the same name."
"Did you ever hear of it before?" asked Mr. Mapps, who was on the lookout for places of historical interest, as he turned to a group of seamen.
"You mentioned it this morning," replied one of the students.
"In what connection?"
"Some man had a wonderful escape from it," added another.
"Who was that man?"
"A Dutchman with a Latin name."
"Grotius, or De Groot," added Mr. Mapps. "The Stadtholder, Prince Maurice, the boy general and ruler, wished to make himself hereditary sovereign of the Netherlands, and was opposed by the judge, Barneveldt, and Grotius. The prince carried the day; Barneveldt was executed, and Grotius imprisoned in this castle, where he was kept nearly two years. He was very strictly guarded at first; but his wife, finding that the vigilance of the sentinels was relaxed, devised a scheme for effecting his liberation. The books, papers, and linen of the prisoner were conveyed to him in a large box, which the guards, having so often searched in vain for contraband articles, at last neglected to examine. The box, and the carelessness of the soldiers, suggested to the wife of Grotius the means of getting her husband out of the castle.
"She prepared the chest by boring some holes in it, for the admission of the air, and took her servant-girl into her confidence. The box was conveyed to the apartment of Grotius, and the project explained to him. He did not relish the idea of being shut up in a chest, and rolled about in a boat; but his wife's entreaties prevailed over his scruples. It was pretended that the box was filled with books which the learned man had borrowed in Gorcum, the town which you see on the other side of the river.
"The chest, containing the philosopher, was conveyed by the soldiers down to the boat, in charge of the servant-girl. When one of them complained of its weight, the man said it was the Arminian books which were so heavy; for Grotius was an Arminian in his theology. The soldier suggested that it was the Arminian himself; but this was intended as a joke, and the box was tumbled into the boat. The servant made a signal with her handkerchief to her mistress, who was looking out of the window, to indicate that all was right.