† 1589
Profile
- Forenames
- Jan
- Surname
- Holstein
- Died
- Dale (Aalten), 11 June 1589
- Occupation / role
- Under-Bailiff of Aalten
- 11 June 1589
Died
Dale (Aalten)
Sources
During the Eighty Years’ War, the population of East Gelderland was regularly plagued by roaming armies. Plundering, extortion, and rape drove the farmers and villagers to despair. Jan Holstein was the Bailiff of Aalten at the time, and although he was largely powerless, he did stand up for the people of Aalten and did his best to put an end to the looting.
In 1588 waren er vredesonderhandelingen gaande tussen de hertog van Parma en koningin Elisabeth van Engeland, welke laatste ook de Staten daarin tracht te betrekken. Daarop doelend schreef Holstein aan Gotfried Gerardi, raadsman van de pandvrouwe van Anholt:
“Ik hoop maar, dat de vurig gewenschte vrede tot stand kome; dan zouden deze arme schapen weer moed kunnen vatten. Ze ploegen meerendeels met koeien, die ze nog overhielden, het land en arbeiden als muilezels. Wij steken diep in de schulden en kunnen geen geld meer krijgen; ook mijn crediet is ten einde. Moge God ons nog voor den oogst uitkomst geven, opdat het koren veilig binnengehaald kan worden. Anders zou ik geen raad weten.“
G.H. Rots wrote in 1938 about how Jan Holstein lost his life:
“De Voogd van Aalten, Jan of Johan Holstein, die voor de Aaltensche bevolking herhaaldelijk in de bres sprong, is op een eigenaardige manier omgekomen. Wij lezen daarvan in “Het Oude Kerspel Winterswijk” dat op den 11en Juni 1589 ten huize van een zekeren Grevink op ‘t Walfort bij Aalten een doopfeest werd gehouden, waar ook de Voogd van Aalten aanwezig was, nog wel als peetoom der kleine. Ook waren aanwezig de Heeren van ‘t Walfort en Lintelo, (de heeren van Lintelo waren ook eigenaar van ‘t Walfort).
The Bailiff of Aalten had received a promotion; following the death of ‘Hendrik van den Bungard’, he had become the Land Clerk of the Lordship of Bredevoort. This appears to have been a thorn in the side of the Lords of Lintelo; at any rate, a dispute began on the subject, during which Holstein noticed that the Van Lintelo brothers were not easy men to deal with.
Holstein attempted to leave the banquet table unnoticed and slipped under the table. He crawled on hands and knees toward the door and made a quick escape. However, Diederik van Lintelo noticed this, pursued Holstein, and hurled all sorts of insults at him. The argument escalated. Holstein maintained that the Lady of the Manor had the right to appoint Land Clerks, while Diederik van Lintelo attributed that right to the Nobles of the Lordship. This resulted in a physical altercation, during which Diederik van Lintelo drew a short sword and wounded Holstein. The injury was so severe that the Bailiff died three days later.”
This case was brought before the Bredevoort court on August 5 of that year. The accused was not present. He had fled to Bocholt and was hiding there. He was sentenced to death in absentia and ordered to pay a fine of 1,000 guilders to the Lady of the Manor. To collect this money, the tenants of Diederik van Lintelo were informed that they had to pay their rent to the Lady’s steward until the sum of the fine was collected.
Die pachters waren ‘Ruwenhoeven’, Hendrik Penmenger, ‘Winkelhorstinck’, ‘Swijtinck’, ‘Lanckhof’, ‘den Herinck’ en ‘den Poll’. Door bemiddeling van eenige invloedrijke personen o.a. den Prior van Klooster Schaer, Johanna van Dort, Hendrik en Clara van Lintelo, werden pogingen aangewend voor gratie. Die gratie is verleend, maar de boete moest hij betalen.
Herman Poelhuis, the bailiff of Dinxperlo, was appointed as the bailiff of Aalten. It appears this was a temporary appointment, as in 1605, Lubbert Spaltman is mentioned as the bailiff of Aalten.”