10 Overloper

10. Near the castle, where the bench of aldermen also sat. 
1576
Defector
Jonker Walraven van Nuijnhem came from his hometown of 
's-Hertogenbosch to Gemert. For the occasion, in addition to all the aldermen and the secretary, the commander and the pastor joined the bench of aldermen. Twenty-three years ago, the squire made his will with his now-deceased wife. And now he is old and ill - but still sound of mind - and he comes specially to the Commandery of the Teutonic Order to drastically change that will. He is received with every honor.
    ‛In the name of Our Lord, amen. Condt be one and all that on the 28th of May of the year 1576, in the papacy of our Most Holy Father Lord Gregory, in the fifth year of his papacy, the noble jonker Walraven van Nuijnhem personally appeared before us.
The squire is suffering. He makes the comparison with Our Lord's suffering on the wood of the Holy Cross. This has not so much to do with his illness, it is about that lout of a son of his, Floris. That lout went to fight for the Dutch. The enemy no less. Let's not forget that there is a war going on. For eight years! God knows it will last eighty years.
    ‛I accuse my son Floris of being unfaithful to his homeland. He is taking on his own king and duke of Brabant. I exclude him from the right of inheritance.'The commander, the pastor, the secretary and those aldermen skilled in the art of writing signed the new will with beautiful curls. Curls, which in their panache do not match the seriousness of the moment. For indeed, patriotism takes precedence over a father's love for his son. After all, we are only writing the year fifteen hundred seventy-six.