Two million burned

16th century, Antwerp.

Emperor Charles V famously borrowed huge sums from bankers and merchants such as the Fuggers of Augsburg or Jan Daens, a wealthy Antwerp merchant.

On one occasion Daens lent the emperor the enormous sum of two million in cash, and asked him, as a favour, to honour him by dining at his house. Charles accepted.

The merchant entertained him with every kind of delicacy and the most lavish service. The astonished emperor was about to leave when Daens begged him to stay five more minutes. Servants brought in a silver tray of perfumed wood, and the host set it alight before his surprised guest. On another tray they brought the loan document and showed it to the emperor, who recognised it at once. Daens then threw it into the flames and, as it burned, said:

“I consider myself well paid by the honour Your Majesty has done me by dining in my house.”