Translation
Floris XVII.
The year 1265. Count. Regned 30 years.
This is Floris the Fourth, who took for a wife,
A daughter of the Duke of Brabant and Lotharingia:
Who bore him two sons and three daughters, fresh of body.
He was quick at arms, and also strong and stiff of limb.
In a jousting match at Corbie, where he received the prize,
He was struck down through jealousy, that hateful thing,
By the Count of Clermont, treacherously contrived this envy:
Which traitor was killed in return and suffered quick revenge
By the Count of Cleves, who also took the body of this lamented Prince,
And brought it to Rijnsburg in Holland to be buried.
William XVIII.
The year 1235. Count. Regned 20 years.
Count William, Floris' son, still young of years,
Was under the guardianship of Bishop Otto, his uncle,
And grew up in virtue so that no one was his equal:
He was chosen King of the Romans, young but well experienced.
He won Aachen through a dam made with great artifice:
And founded in The Hague, as a rich Prince,
To settle the country's affairs, a bold court.
But he had one son by the Duke of Brunswick's daughter.
Having reigned twenty years with prize and praise,
He was struck down at Hoogwoud, whereby the land suffered great grief.
Floris XIX.
The year 1271. Count. Regned 26 years.
AFTER King William's death, since his son was still a child,
His brother Floris began to govern the land as guardian:
But he, being seventeen years old and well-considered,
With military force scattered the Frisians like dust from the wind,
And dug up his father's bones, which he took from there,
And caused them to be buried in the Abbey at Middelburg.
By the Count of Flanders' daughter, whom he married,
He had seven sons; Gerrit van Velsen, a bold man,
Not without cause struck him dead, which many mourned:
And he was buried at Rijnsburg, as one may see.
John XX.
The year 1296. Count. Regned 4 years.
This is John the First, a Count so named,
Who married a King's daughter as we know,
Named Elisabeth, a very beautiful maiden.
Often has he thrown the Frisians out of the field:
And subdued Utrecht, as an undaunted Prince.
He was at Delft when Sir Wolfert was thrown onto the streets,
Where he had been greatly tormented from the top of his lodging.
This Count died without leaving children behind,
Was interred at Rijnsburg with the mourning of his subjects.
John XXI.
The year 1300. Count. Regned 5 years.
King William's sister's son, Count John of Hainaut,
Had as a wife a proud daughter of Luxembourg,
Who brought forth to him three faithful sons.
He relieved Zierikzee from siege: and so I maintain,
Brought the Flemings there into great danger,
Taking prisoner their Count Guy, I believe,
When this had happened, understand well here,
This fine Count departed to Hainaut,
And died there in peace, this fine Prince,
And was buried with great mourning at Valenciennes.
