The Amulet

[Footnote 1: "All the foreign merchants who resided at Bruges, with the

exception of a few Spaniards, established themselves here about the year

1516, to the great disadvantage of Bruges and to the advantage of

Antwerp."--Le Guicciardini, Description of the Low Countries. Arnhem,

1617, p. 113.]

[Footnote 2: C. Schibanius, in his Origines Antwerpien Sum, says that he

has often seen in the Scheldt twenty-five hundred vessels, many of which

were detained at anchor for two or three weeks before being able to

approach the wharf.]

[Footnote 3: The stables, and coach-houses used by this company for

transportation still exist at Antwerp. Although they are now occupied as

barracks, they preserve their original name--Hessenhaus.]

[Footnote 4: See the statistics of population given by Schibanius in the

History of Antwerp, by Mertens & Torfo, Part IV., ch. v.]

[Footnote 5: The inhabitants of Antwerp are experienced and skilled in

commercial affairs, and although they may not have left their own country

the greater part of them, even the women, can speak four, five, and

sometimes seven different languages.]

[Footnote 6: "The nobles of Netherlands do not engage in commerce like the

Italian noblemen from Venice, Florence, Genoa, and Lucca."--L.

Guiccardini, Description of the Low Countries, p. 140.]

[Footnote 7: "Two well-known Italian merchants, both of noble birth,

natives of Lucca, who were great friends." Van Mertens, History of the

Low Countries, Vol. I.]

[Footnote 8: The bailiff (schoat) was the representative of the prince in

the prosecution of crimes. He alone, and his agents by his orders, could

make arrests, except in cases of flagrant crime or of persons lying in

wait. This high functionary was also called the margrave, because the

margrave of the Low Countries was, in virtue of that office, the bailiff

of the city of Antwerp.]

[Footnote 9: "It is estimated that three thousand new houses were either

erected by himself, or by others through his assistance."--Mertens &

Torfo, History of Antwerp.]

[Footnote 10: This church was demolished at the commencement of this

century. The spot upon which it stood is now called the "Plain of Saint

Walburga."]

[Footnote 11: In the History of Antwerp, by Mertens & Torfo, Part IV.,

Chapter iii., is found a view of the city, from the banks of the Scheldt,

as it was in 1556, and details concerning the principal edifices.]

[Footnote 12: "Geronimo went to Simon and demanded payment of the sum

lent, and for which he held a note. Turchi made various excuses, and put

off payment from day to day."--Matteo Bandello.]

[Footnote 13: "A fierce desire of vengeance took possession of Simon, and

he sought to kill Geronimo."--Matieo Bandello.]