Vught and 's-Hertogenbosch, 1600

HOOGE MOET / SELDE GOET

A view of the cavalry duel between Geraert [Gerard] Abramsz. van Houwelingen (nickname 'Leckerbeetjen' [or gourmand]; c.1560-5 February 1600) and 21 of his men, all in the service of the Spanish Netherlands, and the French Pierre de Breauté and 21 of his men, all in the service of the States General on the heathland near Vucht on 5 February 1600, resulting in the deaths of van Houwelingen and de Breauté. Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648).

This minor encounter which took place to the west of Vught, about a kilometer from 's-Hertogenbosch (seen on the left skyline on this print), was the result of an insult by de Breauté that his horsemen were superior to those of the Spanish forces and, in particular, those of van Houwelingen (who was one of the lieutenants of Antonie Schetz van Grobbendonk, 1564-1641, military governor of 's-Hertogenbosch) who, to defend his honour, challenged de Breauté and his men to a duel. What ensued was a bloody fight to the death which is shown in this print. The combatants are wearing full armour and are mounted, using an arquebus as well as swords. Several weapons are depicted in detail and cavalrymen are firing their guns while mounted, holding them with one hand, the black powder generating a large amount of smoke. The gun is also shown holstered on the side of the horse. The vanquished Geraert Leckerbeetjen is shown lying dead on the ground, while de Breauté is depicted mounting the second of the three horses which he used in the conflict. He later surrendered and was murdered in cold blood.

The Dutch proverb, 'Hooge moet / selde goet' which is prominently engraved in the centre of the text, translates as 'Pride [is] seldom good'. Its up-to-date version is rendered as 'Hoogmoed komt voor de val': ''Pride comes before a fall'. [I am grateful to Kirsten Sierag for providing this information.]

The bloody encounter was the subject of several paintings and prints, all of them after the original painting by Sebastian Vrancx, which was made in 1600 and entitled 'Slag van Leckerbetken', which is in the Koninlijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp (Inv. Nr. 772). Another painting of 'The Death of Geraert Leckerbeetje' by or after Sebastian Vranx is in the collections of the Leeds Museums and Galleries at Temple Newsam House. A discussion and list of the different prints and paintings, as well as an account of the battle, is given by van Eekelen (2009).