[Pamphlet, 1650, Golden Age] ‘t Muyder Spoockje, ontdeckt aen haren Drost den Heer Gerard Bicker, zijnde een levendigh Discours tusschen een Muyenaer, en een Amsterdammer, over’tgene den Drost op syn Voyagie tusschen Muyden en Amsterdam is wedervaren. [s.n.], 1650, 6 pp.
‘t Muyder Spoockje mocks the “drost” (or bailiff) of Muiden, Gerard Bicker, who was assigned with the task of guarding the access roads to Amsterdam. Also nicknamed “De dikke Bicker” or “fat Bicker” – his weight allegedly hit 220 kg – a portrait of Gerard Bicker is nowadays on display at the Rijksmuseum.
Barely a year after he was appointed bailiff, Bicker had to inform the mayors of Amsterdam about stadholder William II’s plans of attacking the city. William’s forces were already in the vicinity, but could not quite find Amsterdam. According to the pamphlet of ‘t Muyder Spoockje, Bicker was blinded by fear: he jumped out of the window and fled in a tiny boat. Covered in dirt, he arrived at the gates of Amsterdam the next morning.
pamphlets – mockery – Gerard Bicker – Amsterdam – Muiden
€ 163,50 (€ 150,00 ex. btw)