On 10 Mar 1538 Philip Hoby (age 33) arrived in Brussels [Map] with Hans Holbein The Younger (age 41) having been sent by Thomas Cromwell 1st Earl Essex (age 53) to procure a portrait of Christina Oldenburg Duchess Lorraine (age 16). King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 46) received the protrait on 18 Mar 1538 and was reported to have been pleased.

In 1549 William Brooke 10th Baron Cobham (age 21) accompanied Paget's embassy at Brussels [Map].

In Nov 1555 Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 28) wrote a letter from Brussels [Map] pleading for permission to return to England to pay his respects to Queen Mary and to his mother.

Evelyn's Diary. 22 Sep 1641. I went again to Rotterdam to receive a pass which I expected from Brussels [Map], securing me through Brabant and Flanders, designing to go into England through those countries. The Cardinal Infante (age 32), brother to the king of Spain (age 36), was then governor. By this pass, having obtained another from the Prince of Orange, upon the 24th of September I departed through Dort; but met with very bad tempestuous weather, being several times driven back, and obliged to lie at anchor off Keele, other vessels lying there waiting better weather. The 25th and 26th we made other essays; but were again repulsed to the harbour, where lay sixty vessels waiting to sail. But, on the 27th we, impatient of the time and inhospitableness of the place, sailed again with a contrary and impetuous wind and a terrible sea, in great jeopardy; for we had much ado to keep ourselves above water, the billows breaking desperately on our vessel: we were driven into Willemstad, North Brabant, a place garrisoned by the English, where the Governor of had a fair house. The works, and especially the counterscarp, are curiously hedged with quick, and planted with a stately row of limes on the rampart. The church is of a round structure, with a cupola, and the town belongs entirely to the Prince of Orange, as does that of Breda [Map], and some other places.

Evelyn's Diary. 05 Oct 1641. But there was nothing about this city which more ravished me than those delicious shades and walks of stately trees, which render the fortified works of the town one of the sweetest places in Europe; nor did I ever observe a more quiet, clean, elegantly built, and civil place, than this magnificent and famous city of Antwerp [Map]. In the evening, I was invited to Signor Duerte's, a Portuguese by nation, an exceeding rich merchant, whose palace I found to be furnished hke a prince's. His three daughters entertained us with rare music, vocal and instrumental, which was finished with a handsome collation. I took leave of the ladies and of sweet Antwerp [Map], as late as it was, embarking for Brussels [Map] on the Scheldt in a vessel, which delivered us to a second boat (in another river) drawn or towed by horses. In this passage, we frequently changed our barge, by reason of the bridges thwarting our course. Here I observed numerous families inhabiting their vessels and floating dwellings, so built and divided by cabins, as few houses on land enjoyed better accommodation, stored with all sorts of utensils, neat chambers, a pretty parlour, and kept so sweet, that nothing could be more refreshing. The rivers on which they are drawn are very clear and still waters, and pass through a most pleasant country on both the banks. We had in our boat a very good ordinary, and excellent company. The cut is straight as a line for twenty English miles. What I much admired was, near the midway, another artificial river, which intersects this at right angles, but on an eminence of ground, and is carried in an aqueduct of stone so far above the other, as that the waters neither mingle, nor hinder one another's passage.

Evelyn's Diary. 07 Oct 1641. We arrived at Brussels [Map] at nine in the morning. The Stadthouse, near the market-place, is, for the carving in freestone, a most laborious and finished piece, well worthy observation. The flesh-shambles are also built of stone. I was pleased with certain small engines, by which a girl, or boy, was able to draw up, or let down, great bridges, which in divers parts of this city crossed the channel for the benefit of passengers. The walls of this town are very entire, and full of towers at competent distances. The cathedral is built upon a very high and exceeding steep ascent, to which we mounted by fair steps of stone. Hence I walked to a convent of English Nuns, with whom I sat discoursing most part of the afternoon.

Evelyn's Diary. 08 Oct 1641. At near eleven o'clock, I repaired to his Majesty's (age 40) agent. Sir Henry De Vic (age 42), who very courteously received me, and accommodated me with a coach and six horses, which carried me from Brussels [Map] to Ghent [Map], where it was to meet my Lord of Arundel (age 56), Earl Marshal of England, who had requested me when I was at Antwerp [Map] to send it for him, if I went not thither myself.

Evelyn's Diary. 08 Oct 1641. Thus taking leave of Brussels [Map] and a sad Court, yet full of gallant persons, (for in this small city, the acquaintance being universal, ladies and gentlemen, I perceived, had great diversions and frequent meetings,) I hasted towards Ghent [Map]. On the way, 1 met with divers little waggons, prettily contrived and full of peddling merchandises, dravm by mastiff-dogs, harnessed completely like so many coachhorses; in some four, in others six, as in Brussels [Map] itself I had observed. In Antwerp [Map] I saw, as I remember, four dogs draw five lusty children in a chariot: the master commands them whither he pleases, crying his wares about the streets. After passing through Ouse, by six in the evening, I arrived at Ghent [Map]. This is a city of so great a circumference, that it is reported to be seven leagues round; but there is not half of it now built, much of it remaining in fields and desolate pastures even within the walls, which have strong gates towards the west, and two fair churches.