Gerard van Groesbeeck

[2] In a session of the Estates of the principality in 1566, as Calvinists were beginning to preach openly in the Low Countries, the bishop urged a more rigorous repression of heresy.

[2] In 1567, as the Dutch Revolt was beginning in the neighbouring Habsburg Netherlands, the towns of Hasselt, Maaseik, Stokkem and Maastricht openly rejected the bishop’s authority.

With increasing numbers of Protestant refugees from the Habsburg Netherlands entering the principality, edicts were issued on 14 April 1567 and again on 27 September giving all foreigners three days' notice to depart from the territory, unless they were able to claim citizenship rights or could demonstrate that they had been living there peaceably for more than two years, with attestations that they had not participated in the Iconoclastic Fury.

[2] While seeking to remain neutral in the Eighty Years’ War, Gerard van Groesbeeck was obliged to contend with infringements on his rights and territory by both the Duke of Alva and the Prince of Orange, particularly affecting Tongeren, Sint-Truiden, Saint-Hubert and Hastière, all of which were plundered by one side or the other.

[2] On 28 October 1568 Orange appeared before the walls of Liège with an army, demanding passage and promising to respect the city’s liberties, but was refused entry.

He assaulted the city and began siege works, but quickly abandoned them, burning the convents of Saint-Laurent, Saint-Gilles and Val-Benoît before retreating.