On this day, the 19th of March in the year 1623, there appeared before me, Pieter Claesz van Rijn, notary public, and the witnesses named below, Niclaes Claveren, about 33 years old, Jan Sammers, about 26 years old, and Jan Immen, about 30 years old, all Englishmen living within this city of Leiden, who testified and declared, upon their respective consciences, the salvation of their souls, and in men's truth, in place of an oath, at the instance and request of Thomas Immen, likewise an Englishman, tobacco merchant within the aforesaid city, to be true: that they, the deponents, on Thursday last, eight days ago, heard from the mouth of a certain Christoffel, glove maker, formerly living in the house of the requesting party, say to the requesting party's wife that he, Christoffel, knew much evil and ugly deeds of the requesting party, and that it was not good that it should come out, for if it came out it might cost him four or five hundred guilders, indeed possibly even his neck.
They further declare that they, the deponents, on Monday last, in a certain inn here, namely at the house of Abraham Pietersz de Vos, innkeeper on the Langebrug, where the sign of the Church of Our Lady of Antwerp hangs out, asked the same Christoffel, in the presence of the requesting party, whether he would stand by the aforesaid spoken words, whereupon he boldly said that they were lying about it and that he had never said any such thing nor intended to say it, but that he would gladly drink a full can of beer on it, as indeed he did, wishing that he might choke on it if he had said such a thing, adding further that he knew nothing of the requesting party other than all honor and virtue, whereas he had on the contrary spoken all the aforesaid injurious words.
Testifying nothing further, they offered to confirm all the foregoing more fully at any time, in case of recolement, before lords and courts. The requesting party requested an instrument hereof. Thus done within Leiden, at the inn of Abraham Pietersz de Vos, in the presence of the said de Vos and Master Jan Leverssen, surgeon, as witnesses requested hereto.
[Signed:] X Niclaes Claveren, his mark. John Sammes. John Ymman. Abraham Pietersen de Vos. John Leversedge. In my presence, P.C. van Rhijn, notary public, 1623.
Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.
