(Francis), Lord of Someldyck and Spuyck, was one of the greatest ministers for negociation the United Provinces could ever boast of. His father, Cornelius Aarfens, was Register to the States; and being acquainted with Mr Pleffis Moray, at the Court of William Prince of Orange, he prevailed upon him to take his son under him, with whom he continued some years. John Olden Barneveldt, who presided over the affairs of Holland and all the United Provinces, sent him afterwards agent into France, where he learned to negociate under those profound politicians Henry IV. Villeroy, Silleri, Rossie, Jaonnin, &c., and he acquired himself in such a manner as to obtain their approbation. Soon after, he was invested with the character of ambassador, being the first who was recognized as such by the French court; at which time Henry IV. declared, that he should take precedence next to the Venetian minister. He resided in France 15 years; during which time he received great marks of esteem from the king, who created him a knight and baron; and for this reason he was received amongst the nobles of the province of Holland. However, he became at length so odious to the French court, that they desired to have him recalled. He was afterwards deputed to Venice, and to several German and Italian princes, upon occasion of the troubles in Bohemia. He was the first of three extraordinary ambassadors sent to England in 1629, and the second in 1641; in which latter embassy he was accompanied by the Lord of Brederode as first ambassador, and Heemvelt as third, to treat about the marriage of Prince William, son to the Prince of Orange. He was likewise ambassador-extraordinary at the French court in 1624, and the Cardinal de Richelieu having just Aarsens just taken the administration of affairs into his hands, and knowing he was an able man, made use of him to serve his own purposes. He died in a very advanced age; and his son, who survived him, was reputed the wealthiest man in Holland.

Aarsens (Peter), a painter, called in Italy Pietro Longo, because of his stature, was born at Amsterdam 1519. He was eminent for all kinds of subjects; but was particularly famous for altar-pieces, and for representing a kitchen with its furniture: he had the pain to see a fine altar-piece of his destroyed by the rabble in the insurrection 1566, though a lady of Alkmaar offered 200 crowns for its redemption.

Aartgen, or Aertgen, a painter of merit, was the son of an woolcomber, and born at Leyden in 1498. He worked at his father's trade until he had attained the age of eighteen; and then, having discovered a genius for drawing, he was placed with Cornelius Engelheilitz, under whom he made considerable progress in painting. He became so distinguished, that the celebrated Francis Floris went to Leyden out of mere curiosity to see him. He found him inhabiting a poor half ruined hut, and in a very mean style of living: He solicited him to go to Antwerp, promising him wealth and rank suitable to his merit; but Aartgen refused, declaring that he found more sweets in his poverty than others did in their riches. It was a custom with this painter never to work on Mondays, but to devote that day, with his disciples, to the bottle. He used to stroll about the streets in the night, playing on the German flute, and in one of these frolics was drowned in 1564.

Asar (anc. geogr.), a town of Palestine, in the tribe of Judah, situate between Azotus and Ascalon. In Jerome's time it was an hamlet.