The third was sometimes styled “of Greenwich” and “of East Combe, Kent,” and founded the family of Fortrye of Wombwell Hall.
There came to England in 1680 the representative of a family, certainly involved in the old persecutions under Philip II. in the Netherlands, but at a later date than Duke Alva’s vice-royalty. Alexander, Prince of Parma (afterwards Duke), assumed the reins of government on 1st October 1578. Brussels was in the hands of the insurgents, having the Baron de Heez, a nobleman of Guelderland, and a Protestant, as its Governor. Parma took Brussels in 1585; Baron de Heez was made a prisoner;[1] he was beheaded, and his estate was confiscated. His youngest son, Theodore Janssen de Heez, fled to France, and founded a family at Angouleme; and his grandson, Theodor Janssen, born in 1654, came as a French refugee to England in 1680, and founded a family of baronets.
In the year 1570, Anthony Solen, a refugee printer, received the freedom of the city of Norwich; in the liber introitnum there is this entry, “Alien, Anthony Solen, prynter, jurat-civ, 1570.” Mr George Vertue wrote to Mr Joseph Ames, in the middle of last century:—
“Monday, Sept. 8. — Sir, According to your desire I have here enclosed the short note I mentioned to you at the Society [of Antiquaries] concerning a printer who first introduced printing at Norwich.
“In 1565 many strangers from the low countries came and settled at Norwich city. Masters, workmen, and servants had Her Majesty’s letter-patent to work and make all sorts of woollen manufactures there; men, women, and children, about 3925. This was encouraged by the mayor and sheriffs of the city, who waited on Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, at his palace there, and consulted about such orders as was necessary to regulate affairs concerning strangers settling there, and having the freedom and liberty of the city granted to them. Amongst these strangers the art of printing was now introduced here by Anthony Solen, printer, one of the strangers, which was so well approved of by the city (1570) that they presented him with his freedom.”
As to the refugees of Norwich, Mr Burn says, “The Dutch congregation had the quire of the Friars Preachers’ Church assigned them for their religious assemblies; the French or Walloons had the Bishops’ chapel, and afterwards St Mary at Tombland.” The total of 3925, given by Mr Vertue, is founded on the “Searche,” or Census of 1571:—
Dutch (men), 868; Walloons (men), 203. Women, 1273; children under fourteen, 1681.
The following entries are copied from their surviving baptismal register:—
“1637. Abandon par le ministre et consistoire de l’eglise Wallonne de Norwich de la chapelle on ils avoient eu le privilege de s’assembler depuis 63 on 64 ans — s’assemblevont dorenavant au Temple de petite Sainte-Marie, à eux octoyé pour dix ans par les Magistrats.”
“1638. L’eglise de Norwich prend le nom d’eglise Flamengue.”
In the Public Record Office, the State Papers, domestic, Elizabeth, vol. 82, consist of “The Reporte of the Searche of all the Straungers wythin London and Southwark, and the liberties thereof, made the xth daye of November 1571.” The preamble of this report is:—
“To the ryght honorable the lordes of the Quene’s Maiestyes most honorable pryvie councell.
“Pleasythe youre honours, according to the tenor of youre honorable letters to us the Maior and Aldermen of London latelye directed for the Inquisicion and searche of all Straungers within this Citye and the lyberties of the same; We, on the tenth of this November, Informed the same accordinglye, as by thys booke heareafter at large maye appeare unto youre honours.”
The members and adherents of the French Church at the above date, in London and Southwark, the liberties and suburbs thereof, were 1450 in number. The Huguenots and their descendants numbered 657, but a few of these were of “no church,” and a few had joined their parish churches. Allowing for these deductions, the proportion of Walloons to Huguenots in the congregation of 1450 may have been 850 to 600. All these persons did not profess to be refugees on account of religious persecution. Two or three had come to England in the reign of Henry
- ↑ Motley gives the date of the capitulation of Brussels, 13th March 1585, but mentions no executions.
