The city of Ghent has saved a 16th-century letter from Queen Elizabeth I of England to former Ghent leader Jan van Hembyse from being auctioned.
The city paid €23,177 for the historic document, after it was scheduled to be auctioned on Thursday morning in Scotland. Last week, Ghent’s City Council requested the auction house to stop the sale and return the letter to Ghent, stating it was a government document that belonged in the city archives.
Discussions with the auction house revealed that the current owner bought the letter in good faith in 2022 but was willing to transfer it to Ghent. However, this transfer was not free; the city paid €23,177 to cover the costs, according to councillor Filip Watteeuw (Groen). This amount approximates the document’s estimated value.
"This was the most economical solution," explained the councillor’s spokesperson. There might have been a legal argument for reclaiming the letter without payment, but legal expenses would have been incurred. "We made the decision quickly."
The letter from 1578 sees Queen Elizabeth urging Jan van Hembyse, then leader of the Calvinist Republic in Ghent, to ensure fair trials for Catholic prisoners. The Calvinist Republic was established in 1577 following a coup against the Habsburg Catholic rule and lasted until 1584.
The signed letter will return to Ghent in the coming weeks and will be preserved in the city archives. "All residents of Ghent will have the opportunity to view the letter," announced Watteeuw.
