For though the family tree only identifies three children, apparently by tradition there was yet another unnamed eldest daughter, who attached herself to a suitor of a social status unacceptable to her parents. To contemporary mores, this was a great offence. So much so that the Baron van Arkel decreed that his errant daughter should take the veil, and live in seclusion in the convent located on the grounds of the castle. As was then customary, when a young lady of high rank was about to enter the orders, the parents would give a grand feast with music and dancing, prior to her entering a spiritual life. And so it was that on the 15th of April 1590, all the local nobility and gentry were invited to a lavish feast at the castle. As the festivities were reaching their greatest height, a great fire broke out in the castle and, within minutes, the convent too was also in flames. Despite the desperate efforts of the guests and servants, the fire could not be subdued and tragically many people perished in the flames. The Baron himself risked his life in the rescue attempts, notably to aid his wife who was pregnant with Catherine and as a result he was critically injured. The story goes that it later transpired that during the party, an elegant young stranger had been seen deep in conversation with his errant daughter, however the two of them mysteriously disappeared just before the fire broke out, and they were never to be seen or heard of again.