De jurist, diplomat en politician dr. Hessel Aysma (ca. 1528-1592) was member of Provincial Executive of Friesland (1559-1560), syndic of Groningen (1560-1567) and in 1567 he took refuge in Emden, where he was in service of the Eastfrisian house of counts. Back in Friesland he was a member of the States General (1577-1580) and president of the Court of Friesland (1578/1580-1587). In 1584 and 1585 he participated in the delegations, that offered the Dutch sovereignty to Henry III of France and Elizabeth I of England.

In the years after 1580 Aysma was a very influential politician and as head of the Court-faction a faithful follower of the earl of Leicester (1586-1587). In doing so he clashed with stadholder William Louis of Nassau and with the States-faction led by Karel Roorda. After Leicester's failure in 1587 Aysma was put under house-arrest and deposed as president. In 1618 his son Taco took care for a rehabilitation. The aim of this biography is to gain an insight into the process of state-building in Friesland during the Dutch Revolt.