PHILIP II (OF SPAIN) & Jan Baptista Ruyshken. — Enfeoffment (Leenbrief).

Maastricht, 1585. Manuscript on velum with red wax seal of King Philip II of Spain. Size: ca. 54,0 x 61 cm. - Folds (as issued), some stains, and some small losses along the folds, seal with losses. * Document / enfeoffment (leenbrief). In this document Jan Baptista Rusykhen is proclaimed as a vassal of the king of Spain. The vassalage system established mutual obligations between the king and the vassal. Where the subordinate party (vassal) had the obligation to military support the king in exchange for certain privileges, such as land. The document is interesting because only shortly before (in 1581) the Dutch Republic was established by William of Orange. However, not all provinces joined the rebellion. Parts of the current provice of Limburg and Overmaas did not. Therefore documents drawn up in these regions still bore the seal of the Spanish King.