Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius is smuggled out of jail in a book chest
The persecuted Dutch lawyer escapes his castle prison hidden in a large wooden trunk
Hugo Grotius was a towering figure in Dutch legal history a 17th century humanist scholar, theologian, writer, diplomat. lawver and iurist widely considered to be the father of international law. However, this learned man is also remembered for the peculiarly apt method he used to flee captivity - escaping in a book chest.
The following June, convicted of high treason, he was condemned to life imprisonment and sent to Loevestein Castle to serve his sentence.
Grotius was, though, permitted a few com-forts. His family lived in the castle with him, and he was allowed a supply of books, paper and ink to enable him to continue studying and writing.
A chest containing necessary books was regularly brought to his cell - always inspected carefully for any evidence of collusion with supporters outside the castle walls. At first, anyway; over time, the guards became increasingly lax in their searches. Thus the captive spotted his opportunity.
On 22 March 1621, Grotius, his wife Maria and his maidservant Else van Houweningen carried out their plan to break him out of his prison. Having spent long hours training himself to lie still, Grotius squeezed inside the empty book chest in his cell. An annual fair in the nearb town of Gorinchem provided a distraction and, as anticipated, the chest - packed, so Maria and Else claimed, with heavy books - escaped inspection. With Grotius inside, it was hefted out and away by unsuspecting guards.
Elsie accompanied the chest on its journey across the river to the town. Prising himself out of the chest, Grotius was met by supporters who aided his flight to Paris. Securing asylum in France and the support of Louis XIII, Grotius remained there in exile for many years.
Source ~ BBC History Magazine
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