ALCMAER

ALCMAER, a city of the United Provinces, seated in North Holland, about four miles from the sea, fifteen from Haarlem, and eighteen from Amsterdam. It is a handsome city, and one of the cleanest in Holland. The streets and houses are extremely neat and regular, and the public buildings very beautiful. It had formerly two parish-churches, dedicated to St. Matthew and St. Lawrence. The latter had so high a tower, that it served for a sea-mark to the vessels that were in the open sea; but, in 1464, it tumbled down, and damaged the other church so much, that they were both demolished in 1470, and one church was built in their stead, dedicated to the same saints. The Spaniards, under the command of Frederic of Toledo, son of the duke d'Alva, came to besiege it, after they had taken Haarlem in 1573; but were forced to raise the siege, after three months lying before it, as well on account of the infection of the air as the stout resistance of the inhabitants and soldiers; even the women

men signalizing themselves bravely in its defence. It is recorded in the register of this city, that, in the year 1637, one hundred and twenty tulips, with the off-sets, sold for 90,000 florins. The town has a very good trade in butter and cheese, of which a vast quantity is sold every year, and is esteemed the best in Holland. E. long. 4. 26. N. lat. 52. 28.