A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Grotius, Mary
GROTIUS, MARY,
Daughter of Baron Reigesberg, of Zealand, was married to the renowned Hugh Grotius, July, 1608. She proved herself worthy of her illustrious husband; was his confidant and counsellor in all his pursuits, and by her fortitude and persevering affection sustained him in every reverse of fortune. When, in 1619, he was sentenced, for his political writings, to imprisonment for life in the fortress' of Louvestein, she petitioned to accompany him. This was granted on condition that if she went into the prison she should never come out She agreed to this, but finally was allowed to go oat twice a week. In prison, Grotius devoted himself entirely to his literary pursuits, while his true wife was studying how to effect his liberation. She accomplished this in the following manner.
She had been permitted to borrow books of his friends for him, and when he had used the books, they were carried hack in a chest in which his linen was carried to and from his laundress. The first year his guards were very exact in examining the chest; but being used to find nothing in it besides books and linen, they grew remiss, and did not take the trouble to open it. Madame Grotius observed this, and proposed her plan. She represented to her husband that it was in his power to get out of prison, if he would pat himself into this chest. But to prevent any danger to his health, she caused holes to be bored opposite to where his face was to be, so that he might breathe freely; and persuaded him to try if he could remain shut up in that confined posture (the chest was only three and a half feet in length, as long as it would require to go from Louvestein to Gorcum. Finding it might be done, she then watched for a fayourable opportunity to make the attempt. The commandant being called away, this faithful wife contrived to get her husband carried out in the chest, as though it were filled with books, while she remained in prison, pretending that he was very ill. Thus Grotius escaped, and went to Paris, where he had many friends. She was for a time confined and treated with great rigour; but finally released, and allowed to join her husband. Subsequently, when he wished to return to Holland, she went first to prepare the way. And then, when she made a journey into Zealand, to pick up the remains of their fortune, his biographer observes, "Time passed horribly with Grotius till the return of his life. She had always been his consolation in adversity. In truth, the most important works of this wonderful man owe their perfection, if not their origin, to her. She encouraged his plans, assisted him in preparing his writings for the press, and was his guardian and guiding angel through all the perils and perplexities of his life."