ambition and disappointed pride. Anna gave
much attention to the education of her sons,
and made one Gnaphseus the tutor of the
young Counts, who studied at the University
of Strassburg. In 1558, Edzard, the eldest,
came of age. Anna preferred John, her
youngest son, to his brothers, and begged
the Emperor to make all three sons the Lords
of the land. This was against the principle
of primogeniture, recognised by Edzard I.,

in the agreement of 1527. The Emperor

108



EDZARD II, CHRISTOPHER, AND JOHN

consented on condition that the Countess was
to govern until the Council should choose one
of the sons to be the reigning Count. Soon
the question of Edzard's marriage began to
be discussed. Duke Franz von Sachsen-
Lauenburg, who was connected with the
House of Cirksena as well as with the
Swedish House, wished Edzard to marry the
Swedish Princess Catherine, the daughter of
Gustavus I., and in 1557 several Swedish
Ambassadors were sent to East Frisia to
negotiate the marriage settlement, and to
arrange a commercial treaty. During this
visit Edzard was asked by the Embassy to
come to Sweden. Edzard's personality pleased
the Swedish Eoyal House, as he was un-
usually attractive. The marriage contract
contained a provision to the effect that
Edzard's eldest son should be his eventual
successor. The Princess's dowry was agreed
on as 100,000 thalers and many jewels.
Xorden and Berum were to be her dower
(widow's portion), as well as a revenue of

6000 thalers.

109



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

John went with Edzard, his brother, to
Sweden, and there fell in love with the gay
Cecilia, Catherine's fair sister, who was a
precocious girl The ardent lover, then a
youth of twenty, climbed into her room late
one night through the window, some say
by invitation, and was caught by Cecilia's
eldest brother, Eric. He was thrown into
prison and his life threatened, for Eric had
reported all to his father, King Gustavus.
Although Edzard begged to be imprisoned with
his brother, John was hurried away to a castle
far away in the country, where he was im-
prisoned. There is no doubt that much of
the indignation of the Koyal Family of Sweden
was assumed, in order to place them in a
better position in respect of the negotiations
for Catherine's marriage with Edzard. Coun-
tess Anna was in despair at the plight of her
favourite son, and begged all the Princes for
help, especially the Elector of Brandenburg, at
whose Court John had been staying. After
much pleading John was set at liberty within

the space of three months, on his promising

110



EDZARD II., CHRISTOPHER, AXD JOHN

not to take any revenge. This unhappy
experience of his early life made him earnest
and quiet, and a hater of women. Cecilia,
foro-etful of her first lover, married a Markcrraf
of Baden, and became a Koman Catholic. John
returned to his mother, who was anxiously
awaitino- him, and then went to the Court at
Brandenburg. The marriage of Count Edzard
and Catherine took place in 1559. Edzard's
wife stayed in Sweden until peace was restored
between the Cirksena and the Swedish Court.
Indeed, her first child, Margaret, was born in
Sweden. Then coming with her husband to
East Frisia, the postponed marriage festivities
took place at Aurich, when the Lady Heilwig
of Cirksena was betrothed to Duke Otto of
Liineburgr. Catherine was a strict Lutheran,
and very narrow in her views. Having come
from a country that boasted but few towns
and villages, she was astonished to see the
Frisian cities with big houses, and a popula-
tion comparatively dense. John returned to
East Frisia in 1561, and from this date, state

documents and coins bear the names of the

111



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

three Counts, " Edzard, Christopher, und
Johann." Christopher went to join in a
crusade against the Turks, and unfortunately
died of dysentery at Comorn, in Hungary, in

1566. Edzard and John were then anew
enfeoffed, although as yet Anna was regarded
by her two sons as the ruler of the country.
Edzard obeyed her on account of her intel-
lectual superiority and habit, John rather
from inclination and sympathy.

East Frisia, to a certain extent, now became
involved in the war raging in the Low Coun-
tries. Alba was sent to the Netherlands in

1567, where he was opposed by Prince William

of Orange (called "the Silent"), the future

founder of the independence of the Netherlands.

This affected East Frisia to an important degree,

because William's brother, Ludwig of Nassau,

collected about him at Emden the Netherland

fugitives. Alba, in order to disperse this

embryonic force, sent Count Aremburg against

Ludwig. Aremburg was defeated, and both

he and Ludwig's brother, Adolf of Nassau,

were slain, as report had it, by each other's

112



EDZARD II., CHRISTOPHER, A2CD JOHN

sword. At the battle of Jemgum, however,
Alba defeated Ludwig, who escaped in a boat
to Emden. As a result of Ludwig's defeat,
Alba took sixteen cannon. The Counts Edzard
and John asked the Emperor for a compensatory
sum of 300,000 gulden, for the harm done by
AJba's soldiers during this campaign, but there
is no record of the payment of any such sum.

Terrible floods took place in 1570, and much
of the work of Countess Anna's Regency in the
buildings of dams and dykes was undone.

English cloth had long been exported to East
Frisia, and at this time many cloth-weavers,
banished by Queen Mary I. of England, on
account of their adherence to the Protestant
faith, came to Emden. Anna, by the ill-
advised favour which she had constantly
shown towards Count John, her younger son,
wrought much ill-feeling between the brothers.
The Swedish Princess Catherine, Edzard's wife,
who was a proud and haughty woman, refused
to give way to the younger brother. A war
broke out in 1570, as a consequence of this
dispute, between Edzard and John. A series

113 H



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

of brotherly quarrels seemed hereditary in the

House of Cirksena.

Edzard 11. was tall, well-mannered, and good

at all sports, but he stammered in his speech,

and was not quick at thinking. His wife,

the Princess, gradually gained greater influence

over him, and he became a Lutheran, while

John remained an adherent of the reformed

religion. The dissensions in the land were

now represented by the two brothers. Edzard

wished his brother John to give up his claims

to the country, and, like his Uncle John,

to take as a compensation a sum of money.

John refused, for in his own interest he wished

the country to be divided. The brothers went

with their dispute to the Imperial Court at

Speier. The Court desired the brothers to

equally share in the duties of state. Edzard, not

satisfied with this compromise, asked the King

of Sweden to mediate. The Diet meanwhile

announced that Edzard w^as sole heir, and that

to divide the country would be to ruin it.

Countess Anna died at Gretsyl in 1575.

Edzard was not at her deathbed, for the

114



EDZART) II., CHRISTOPHER, AND JOHN

relations between mother and son, never very
cordial, had of late become much strained.
She lies buried in the Great Church at Emden,
where rest so many of the Cirksena. Edzard's
wife came to the funeral, which was conducted
with great ceremony. After Anna's death
John became Lord of Gretsyl, Stickhausen, and
Leerort. He fortified these towns and claimed
half of the customs money levied at Emden.
Edzard objected to these claims, particularly
to the payment of any part of the customs
dues, and asked the Emperor, Rudolf 11. , to help
in this dispute. The Emperor, however, re-
ferred him to the Diet. The Diet, after some
discussion, divided the country between the
brothers, John keeping his three towns.
Edzard asked the Hansa in 1576 to add
Emden to their Union, which they, however,
refused to do.

Maria of Jever died in 1575, and by the
terms of her will Count John of Oldenburg
became her heir. She stated that she wished
Jever never to become the property of the

House of Cirksena, forgetful of her promise to

115



FROM SQUIRE TO PRmCE

Count Enno II. Since then Jever lias always

belonged to Oldenburg, in accordance with

Countess Maria's dying wish.

Balthasar's sister, Onna, Countess of Ritberg,

had left a son, John, called "The Madman."

He died in prison. His wife, Agnes or Agneta,

a gentle patient woman, held his inheritance

for her two daughters : Armgard (who became

the wife of Count Erich of Hoya, and inherited

the County of Ritberg), and Walburg, who

was heir to Harlingerland. Edzard asked the

Lady Walburg in marriage for his eldest son,

Enno. After some discussion this union was

agreed to, and Enno, when eighteen years old,

married Walburg and lived at Esens. Edzard,

wishing to mark this day as a special festival,

entered Esens at the head of three hundred

riders, a sight not altogether pleasing to the

shade of Balthasar.

The Lady Armgard of Hoya died soon after,

and Walburg inherited Ritberg. As a result

of this inheritance, Enno was made Lord of

the County of Ritberg by the Laudgraf, William

of Hesse. In 1586 the Lady Walburg bore

116



m




EDZAED II., CHRISTOPHER, AND JOHN

a son, who died after a few days. Walburg
did not live long after this unfortunate event,
and, dying suddenly, left two daughters. East
Frisia was a fief, and recognised only male
inheritance, Harlingerland, on the other hand,
was heritable by females, so that the provinces
threatened to be again divided. The death
of Walburg was a hard blow for Edzard and
Enno. A rumour spread that Walbui-g had
been poisoned, and three women were tortured
to death to gain a confession, but in vain.
She probably died from natural causes.

Edzard had his two younger sons brought
up in the Eoman Catholic faith. Religious
discussions were growing more violent in the
Netherlands at this time, and the Emperor
advised the East Frisians not to favour
the Netherlanders, Rumours spread that
Edzard was in the paid service of King Philip
II. of Spain, a report that injured the Count
both with the Emperor and with his own
subjects. In 1581 Count John sought help
from Queen Elizabeth, who, with her well-
known love of meddling in foreign politics.



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

tried to reconcile the two brothers, but their
religious opinions kept them apart. Margaret,
the eldest daughter of Count Edzard, died in
1588, and her body was brought to the " Grosse
Kirche " of Emden to be interred. The Lutheran
clergymen, by Edzard's command, attempted
to read the service in the church. The con-
gregation, however, forbade him to go up the
chancel, and he had to officiate in the private
chapel. Edzard was now convinced that in
religious matters he could not force his subjects
to follow his own ideas, and at length abandoned
the attempt in disgust.

Count Edzard, instead of choosing his Coun-
cillors from among his people, as his ancestors
had done, took foreigners as his advisers.
The Frisian nobles hated this practice, and
would have little to do with the strangers.
Edzard, nothing daunted, insisted upon the
fulfilment of his orders, as he wished to show
that he was supreme lord. This was due to
the influence of his wife, Catherine, the Swedish
Princess, who, after the manner of women

in all times, and ever mindful that she was

118



EDZAED II, CHRISTOPHER, AND JOHN

a King's daughter, could not forget that her
husband was only a Count. Her brother often
scoffed at her about her small country, and
this appears to have touched her pride. The
chronicles of the time call Catherine a
"mischief-making woman." There is no evi-
dence to show, however, any malice in her
acts.

Edzard's daughter, Anna, whose first husband
had been the Elector Palatine, wished to marry
again, and Edzard asked the Council in 1582
to settle on her 20,000 gulden. The Commons
asked Edzard to sign an agreement that this
sum should only be paid once, a measure of
precaution the Commons seem to have adopted
as a habit.

Besides the civil war intermittently raging
between Edzard and John, strife in the Nether-
lands threatened to break out again, and the
Council, in despair at the divided state of the
land, begged the brothers to arrange a recon-
ciliation. This appeared impossible, in spite
of much talk, and the two turned to the

Emperor for help, as usual. In September

119



FROM SQUIEE TO PRINCE

1587 Edzard's two elder sons, Enno and

John, took possession of the fortress of

Stickhausen. Count John, the uncle, was so

enraged at this act, that Enno went to Leerort

to pacify him, but he was not admitted to

his uncle's presence. Menso Alting, by Enno's

wish, visited Count John who was ill and

melancholy, and was assured by John that

he only wished for a just decision of the

dispute between Edzard and himself. Edzard,

still in some fear, however, forbade the gates

of Emden to be opened to John in case he

should come to the town. In 1589 Duke

Julius of Braunschweig-Detmold and Count

Simon of Lippe were selected to be the

arbitrators in the quarrels of the two brothers.

The Emperor's decree confirming their decision,

which was really a compromise, is the first

document in the East Frisian records.

The Spaniards at this time made inroads

into Frisia, but the East Frisian Council would

not grant money to levy soldiers, and the

country remained unprotected. Edzard

neglected to carry out the conditions of the

120



EDZARD II., CHRISTOPHER, AND JOHN

compromise of 1589, and new troubles
threatened to arise.

Count John, the brother of Edzard II., died
on St Michael's Day at Stickhausen, in 1591,
His portrait is that of a handsome man, with
an air of melancholy. About midnight the
news of his death came to Aurich, and two
hours later Edzard was on his way to Stick-
hausen, while his son John hurried to Leerort
to fortify the castles. Enno's whereabouts
at the time of his uncle's death is not
stated.

The corpse of John was brought to Emden,
and Edzard and his wife, the Princess Catherine,
went to the funeral. Menso Alting, the
clergyman of the reformed party, preached,
and hoped by his sermon to make an im-
pression on Enno, a hope in which he was
not destined to succeed, as Enno was not
present ; undismayed, Menso Alting had his
sermon printed, and dedicated it to the heir.
Enno, who liked clever men, enjoyed Menso's
society, and spent much time with him.

Menso hoped to win the future ruler over

121



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

to the reformed cause, but Count Edzard, after
John's death, expelled the reformed clergy-
men, and replaced them by Lutherans.
Menso tried to influence Edzard through
his son, Enno, but in vain. As time went
on, Edzard grew more despotic. He even
imprisoned six burghers without due cause,
and set them at liberty only when compelled
by the Emperor's commands. Among other
arbitrary acts, he levied high taxes. For his
Chief Councillor he chose one Ficinus, a man
hated by the people, who believed him to be
a Jesuit. Edzard wished the Council to settle
a certain dowry on his daughters, but the
Commons refused, and, as usual, the Emperor
was asked to mediate. He called a Council
at Norden, in 1593, but Edzard did not come
himself, and in his place sent Enno. At this
Council the taxes were fixed, and a poll-tax
was required, but the people refused to pay.

After several more instances of the despotic
use of his power the people began to be afraid
that Catherine and Edzard inclined towards

the Roman Catholic religion, and rumour

122



EDZARD IT., CHRISTOPHER, AND JOHN

declared that Edzard's younger sons were

Roman Catholics. This rumour created much

excited opposition, which was helped by the

writings of Menso Alting, who had been asked

by the Diet of Groningen to reform their

Church. Edzard wished to depose him, but

he refused, saying that the Church of Emden

had elected him, not the Count of East Frisia.

The Magistracy could do nothing in the affair,

although urged by Edzard to take some step.

Menso said that if the Church wished him

to give up his post, he would do so at once.

In order to settle the difficulty Enno came

to Emden, invited Menso several times to

meet him, and tried to gather his view of the

affair. Enno found that malcontents w^ere

numerous, and seeing that mediation was

impossible, he returned to Aurich, and from

there, washing his hands of the affair, went

on a journey. As the Emden burghers did

not fulfil Edzard's wish by expelling Menso,

Edzard and Catherine sought aid from their

relation, the King of Sweden, who promised

to allow no Emden ship in the harbour of

123



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

Danzig. Upon hearing this the Diet of Emden
called upon the Emperor for help. Ficinus,
who appeared before the Emperor at Prague,
succeeded in winning him over to Edzard's
side, and a warrant was sent against the
burghers of Emden ; but even yet the obstinate
burghers would not give in. Edzard claimed
the alms collected in the churches, but the
Church Council refused to give him the money.
He called a Council together, but without
avail. The famous Emden insurrection broke
out on 18th of March 1595. All things at
this time were of bad omen for Edzard. The
Town Council was deposed and a new one
chosen. The nobles assembled at Oldersum,
and advised the Count to appear at a Council in
person, and not to send his Councillors. They
begged him, in addition, not to levy foreign
troops, but this he refused. A new complaint,
trivial in its nature, against Edzard, was sent
to the Emperor at Prague. The Emperor by
this time must have been rather tired of the
unruly East Frisian people. Edzard, not to
be outdone, asked the Netherlands to mediate.



124



EDZARD II, CHRISTOPHER, AXD JOHN

At last the Treaty of Delfzyl gave peace for a
time to both Emden and the Count. Emden,
until then a small commercial harbour, now
increased continually in importance.

Enno wished to wed Princess Anna of
Holstein after the death of his first wife, and
negotiations for the marriage were duly carried
out, so that Enno went, in June 1598, to marry
the Princess of his choice.

The plague raged in Emden, Aurich, and
Norden in 1597, an omen regarded as evil
for the marriage of the Heir Apparent. Count
Edzard had been unwell for some time, and
on the 27th February 1599 had his relatives
called to his deathbed. When they were all
present he raised his head and blessed his
children and grandchildren, making the sign
of a cross. He asked his children for the sake
of the love and duty they owed him to live
in peace with their mother. Two days later,
on the 1st of March 1599, he died, unregretted
by his people.

When Edzard took the Government of the

country into his hands, the people were

125



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

attached to their Reigning House by a cen-
tury of joy and sorrow which they had spent
together. Enno II., although brave and popular,
had been thoughtless and careless, but Countess
Anna's protecting hand after his death had
restored peace and prosperity to the country.
She, however, by unduly favouring her younger
son, had sown the seeds of dissension, and
peace was destroyed. Of the Princess Catherine,
who bore Count Edzard eleven children, it is
said that she " abode until old age in the
fear of the Lord." She established a Home
for Widows at Haag. The people who had
called Edzard I. their father, had little love
for Catherine, and none for Edzard II. They
had but small confidence in him as their ruler
and lord. The Frisians looked on him rather
as a stepfather, and regarded his lightest act
with distrust. Edzard himself is described as
'* generous, pious, and learned." He ruled,
co-jointly with his mother and brothers, for
nearly forty-one years. Experience, however,
shows that it is wiser to have a single head

to a state. In this case Edzard and John

126



EDZARD II., CHRISTOPHER, AND JOHN

(after Christopher's death) separated, and
divided not only land, power, and religion,
but also the hearts of their people. After
John's death, the lands torn away rightly
returned to Edzard, but in no sense can he
be regarded as a great or even as a successful
ruler.

It was a characteristic of the Frisian people
to trust absolutely until they found their
trust betrayed ; when that happened, they
were unsparing in condemnation. Slow to
anger ; when aroused, their passion was at
white heat, and they showed neither mercy
nor charity. " Nemo me impune lacessit,"
appeared to be their motto, and the man
who disregarded its warning, did so to his
sorrow.



127



THE LATER COUNTS.— ENNO III.



THE LATER COUNTS.— ENNO III.

AA/'HEN the five sons of Edzard 11. came

together after their father's death, in

order to sign the Treaty of Delfzyl, the people

saw that, having regard to the state of things

during former reigns, their brotherly love was

very marked. After their father's death not

one of the brothers thought of disclaimino^

their eldest brother Enno as their Lord. This

was partly due to their mother's influence.

The people hoped that Enno would really

restore peace in his country ; and were ready

to receive him with open arms. Enno was

in the prime of manhood at the time of his

accession ; he is described as brave, handsome,

and charming in manner. The chronicles say

that he often regretted his father's severity

in dealing with the Commons, and that he

had never approved the heavy taxes so

131



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

arbitrarily levied by Count Edzard 11. His
adversaries complained of Enno's severity in
Harlingerland, but the Harlingers, on the
other hand, called him kind and indulgent.
He was liberal in his views, and was respected
by his enemies. In days of peace it is likely
that his reign would have been a happy one,
but the inheritance of strife and dissension
left by his father carried its own punishment.
It appeared to Enno necessary, that as punish-
ment for the rebellion of its citizens, some
measure of humiliation should be meted out
to the town of Emden. Edzard had treated
the three estates of Nobles, Clergy, and People
with so little consideration, that the nobles
still felt aggrieved, but Enno knew that their
ambition would make them willing to join
his cause. The nobles begged Count Enno
to bring the corpse of Edzard to Emden, but
they also required Enno to dismiss the foreign
troops sent by his father. At the same time,
the people of Emden begged the Count to
help them punish certain pirates ; the leader

of the band was taken prisoner, but escaped,

132




COUNT EXXO III.



From a portrait in the Tou<n Hall
at Aunch ]



7 'o face page 132



THE LATER COUNTS.— EXXO III.

some say by the Count's connivance. A
deputation was sent to Count Enno, but he
received it coldly, and affairs began again to
wear an evil look in Emden. A new insur-
rection broke out, and a Council was called
on the 2nd of June 1599. Several questions
were discussed, among others the following.

Enno, as the first-born, and according to the
system of primogeniture, called himself horn
Count. The Council would not agree to this
assumption, and wished his title to be elected
Count. Much time was lost in this trivial
discussion, but at last the Assembly had to
give up their preference for the word elected.
Then followed a host of complaints, nearly all
petty, relating to meadow-right, cattle, water,
and other unimportant matters. In September
1599, the Concord of Emden was signed, but
although the Assembly promised Enno 100,000
thalers, the peace secured was only temporary.
The nobles did homage to Enno, and in Novem-
ber 1599, Enno entered Emden in triumph with
thirty knights and twenty-two carriages. Menso
Alting, now an old man, preached at the service



FROM SQUIRE TO PRINCE

held on the day of homage, and, with pointed

reference to the new Count, chose David as the

type of a good king. Enno and his brother

Gustavus after the service, went to the new

market, and Franzius, the Chancellor, made a

speech in reply to the address of Menso Alting,

in which he referred pointedly to the duty of

subjects. Then the procession went to the

Town Hall, where a banquet was held. In the

evening bonfires were lit in front of the houses,

and there was general rejoicing. The town

of Emden gave as a gift the sum of 10,000

thalers to the Countess Anna, Enno's wife.

Enno made William of Kniphausen Warden of

Emden, an appointment that was popular. In

many ways Enno tried to gain the love of his

burghers ; he often visited the citizens and