Bartholomew Smith

There appeared before the undersigned aldermen Laurens Coolszone, serge weaver, aged about 38 years, and Bartholomees Smit, fustian weaver, aged about 29 years, both living in the Katalineveststege within this city of Leiden. And they, having been duly sworn and examined under solemn oath, at the request of Davidt de Kneeck, serge weaver, living here, testified and declared it to be true that, last Saturday at about half past eleven, they the witnesses, sitting working at their aforesaid respective dwellings, heard a commotion, and going out of the house into the street on that account, saw that the aforesaid requester, together with Pieter Pietersz. Lofrys, were standing at the corner of the same Katalineveststege near the Achtergraft.

They then heard that, among other quarrelsome words which the requester and the aforesaid Lofrys exchanged with one another, the said Lofrys said to the requester that he had committed a false oath and that he, Lofrys, had thereby suffered loss, repeating and recounting the same or similar words in substance several times. Whereafter the aforesaid Lofrys went home, and having brought home a small net with mussels which he had been carrying on his arm, came back to the same place where the requester was standing, the said Lofrys then calling out in a loud voice that the requester was a perjured scoundrel, with such or similar words in effect.

Testifying nothing further, so truly might God Almighty help them the appearers. Done this 4th of February in the year sixteen hundred and ten. Jaspersz. van Vesanevelt. Wyllem Govarts.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Bartholomees de Smith, merchant of London in England, was admitted as a citizen on the testimony and surety of Jan Carpentier, serge merchant, and Jacob Steven, wool comber, on the 5th of April in the year 1611, before Leeuwen and Paedts.

In the margin: received 3 pounds 4 shillings.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden. This entry is a brief citizenship-register line rather than a full notarial act.

We, Andries Jasperszoon van Vesanevelt and Master Johan Goes, aldermen of Leiden, make known that before us came Bartholomees Smith, who acknowledged, for himself and his heirs, to have sold, and by these presents did sell, to Jan Carpentier, serge merchant, a house and grounds standing and situated within this city, in the Sint Catherijnensteeg, bounded on the one side by Pauwels Trelcatius and Pieter Casijer, and on the other side by Adriaen Adriaenszoon van der Laerbrugge, running from the aforesaid alley through to the rear into a certain newly laid-out street there, exactly as the aforesaid house and grounds are presently built and constructed, and as used and inhabited, charged first with a redeemable annuity of five guilders of 40 groten each, in current money, per year, payable to Sion Lus, tavern-keeper, of which the first year's rent, chargeable to the buyer, shall fall due at May-day of the year sixteen hundred and eleven; and further with a sum of five hundred and fifty guilders of the aforesaid currency, owed at once, likewise due to the aforesaid Syon Lus from the sale of the aforesaid house and grounds, and to be paid to him, likewise in current money, with seventy-five of the aforesaid guilders in ready money, which fell due at May-day of the year sixteen hundred and ten past, together with the taking possession of the aforesaid house and grounds; and further with a like seventy-five guilders per year, of which the first year shall fall due at May-day of the year sixteen hundred and eleven.

And further with the warranties and conditions contained in the decree-deed concerning the same, an authentic copy of which the appearing party hereby delivered to the aforesaid Jan Carpentier, with all rights and claims thereto.

The appearing party promised, moreover, alongside and subject to the aforesaid charges and conditions, to free and warrant the aforesaid house and grounds from any further encumbrance or claim that might have been brought upon it by him during the time of his ownership, under the general obligation of all his, the appearing party's, goods, movable and immovable, present and future, none excepted.

Furthermore, the appearing party acknowledged that, by reason of the aforesaid sale and conveyance, he had been fully satisfied, paid, and content, down to the very last penny, provided that he remains indemnified as is proper from the aforementioned charges; and all this in good faith and without deceit or trickery.

In witness whereof this deed has been confirmed with our seals, on the tenth of October in the year sixteen hundred and twelve. Below was written: J. Swanenburch. Sealed, etcetera.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Registered the 27th of November 1614: Jaeques Kinslandt, tailor, bachelor from England, accompanied by Bartholomees Smeth, his acquaintance, and Robbert Juy, also his acquaintance, with Nelken Kaerlil, spinster from Hull in England, accompanied by Janneken Ras, her sister, and Derka Smit, her acquaintance.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden. This entry is a brief marriage-banns register line rather than a full notarial act.

Today, the 13th of March 1617, there appeared before me, notary public, and before the undersigned witnesses, Joris Blexten, resident of this city, who hereby set himself up and constituted himself as surety and guarantor, renouncing the benefit of order (beneficium ordinis), for Bartholomeus Smit, in order to pay to Jan Crip, Englishman, such sum of thirty-five guilders as the aforesaid Smit was recently condemned to pay, by the Lords Peacemakers (vredemaeckers) of this city, to the benefit of the aforesaid Jan Crip, with one half payable on the coming May Day and the other half on the following St. James's Day.

The appearer accordingly promised to satisfy and pay the aforesaid condemnation himself at the aforesaid terms, under obligation of his person and goods, subjecting the same for that purpose to the execution of all the lord's rights and courts.

The aforesaid Bartholomeus Smit, likewise appearing before us, notary and witnesses, in turn promised to hold the aforesaid Joris Blexten free of cost and harmless on account of this his suretyship, under like obligation and constraint as above; and the appearers further requested an instrument of this.

Thus done within the city of Leiden, at the house of me, the notary, on the aforesaid day and year, in the presence of Cornelis Joppenszoon, wine merchant, and Abraham Ente, pastry baker, residents of the aforesaid city, as witnesses requested hereto. Bartholomeus Smit — his own mark set. Joris Blecxten — his own mark set. Abram Ente. Cornelis Joppen. J. van Kuyck, substitute notary, 1617.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Recorded the 4th of July 1618. Bartholomees Smith, tobacco pipe maker from London in England, widower of Darkes Smith, accompanied by Barent Ros, his brother-in-law, with Lysbeth Kaerlil of Hull in England, widow of Jaecques Kaerlil, silversmith, accompanied by Annetgen Ros, her acquaintance.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden. This entry is a brief banns register line rather than a full notarial act.

Today, the 21st of May in the year sixteen hundred and nineteen, there appeared before me, Ewout Henricxz. Craen, notary public, admitted by the Court of Holland upon the nomination of the city of Leiden, and before the witnesses named hereafter, Robert Crouts, tobacco pipe maker, living within the city of Leiden, about 40 years of age.

And at the request and instance of Niclaes Claverly, likewise a tobacco pipe maker, living within the aforesaid city, he has, upon his conscience and the salvation of his soul, in place of an oath, testified and declared to be true that about three and a half years ago — though without having retained the precise time, nor wishing to be held to it — he, the deponent, together with and alongside one Bartholomees Smit, also a tobacco pipe maker living in Leiden, was at Haarlem with the person of Richart Teiril, an English merchant; which Richard then related to him, the deponent, and the aforesaid Smit, that his, Richard's, brother had some time before been murdered in England, although the said brother had at that time no more than half an English crown, amounting to twenty-five stivers in Dutch money, upon him.

And among other things the aforesaid Richard, having said that he would like to speak with the requester once, to see whether the requester might be able to give him some information regarding the person who might be guilty of the aforesaid deed, he, the deponent — who had never before heard of the said murder — notified the requester by letter that he should come to Haarlem in order to speak once with the aforesaid Richard concerning this matter, adding that, if the requester were guilty of the said murder, he might then keep out of the way.

But the requester, having received the said letter, came to Haarlem in great haste the next day in order to speak with the said merchant, but found that the said merchant had travelled to Amsterdam on his affairs, so that the requester could not then speak with him.

The deponent further declared that when the aforesaid Teirill came to Leiden about a fortnight later, to the house of him the deponent, he, the deponent, brought him to the requester, and the aforesaid Teirill, having spoken with and examined the requester at length, afterwards said that he found that the requester had no guilt in the said murder.

Declaring nothing further, the deponent offering, should it be necessary and if requested by way of recolement, to confirm the foregoing more fully under solemn oath before any judges, of which the requester requested one or more instruments.

Thus done within the city of Leiden, at the house of me the notary, in the presence of Digory Pryst, hatter, and Pieter Joostensz. Warmont, clerk, as trustworthy witnesses required hereto together with me, the notary.

Mark set by the hand of the aforesaid Digory Pryst. Robart Crouch. P. Warmont. 1619. E.H. Craen, notary public, subscribed, 1619.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

On this day, the 27th of May in the year sixteen hundred and nineteen, there appeared before me, Ewout Henricxz. Craen, notary public, admitted by the Court of Holland upon the nomination of the city of Leiden, and before the witnesses named below, Joris Vergus, old shoemaker (cobbler), living within the city of Leiden, aged about 38 years, who, at the request and instance of Niclaes Claverly, tobacco pipe maker, likewise living within the city of Leiden, testified and declared it to be true, upon his conscience and the salvation of his soul, in place of an oath, that about five months ago — though without having retained the precise time, nor wishing to be held to it — he the deponent, together with some other persons, and among others also the requester and Bartholomees Smit, tobacco pipe maker, was at the inn called 'de cleyne trou in de werelt' in the Raemsteech within Leiden, where the requester had been summoned to come.

And that he the deponent then heard that the aforesaid Bartholomees Smit made remarks against the requester, the said Smit saying openly that the requester had murdered a man on the road in England, on whom he had found no more than half an English crown. The said Smit adding thereto that he would help the requester out of the city, whatever it cost, and that if the requester wished to sleep that night in his bed, he, Smit, would have him fetched from there by the sheriff, with more words to that effect.

Declaring nothing further, the deponent offering, should it be necessary and should he be asked to do so upon recollection, to confirm the foregoing further under solemn oath; of which the requester asked one or more instruments. Thus done within Leiden, at the house of me the notary, in the presence of Pieter Joostensz. Warmont and Cornelis Dircxz., clerks, as credible witnesses summoned hereto together with me the notary. [Signed:] Joris Fergus. P.J. Warmont, 1619. Dircxz. E.H. Craen, notary public, subscribed, 1619.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

There appeared before me, notary, and the witnesses named below, Steven Buttervelt, tobacco merchant, aged about 29 years, and Bartholomeus Smit, likewise tobacco merchant, aged about 41 years, both living within this city, who testified and declared, upon their respective consciences, the salvation of their souls, and their word of honour in place of an oath, at the instance and request of Wouter Smith, tobacco merchant of Amsterdam, that the following is true.

First, the aforesaid Steven Buttervelt [testified] that before Christmas last past (without wishing to be held to the exact time), in The Hague, he bought from certain Spaniards who were lodged at [the inn called] the Stork, a roll of tobacco weighing eight pounds, for the sum of four guilders in cash [per pound — this phrase is unclear/garbled in the source transcription].

After this, the aforesaid Bartholomeus Smit testified and declared that around the aforesaid time he had asked the aforesaid Spaniards about one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco for sale, who showed him five or six rolls; and he, the deponent, asked to see a larger quantity, because he and his associates intended to buy one hundred and fifty pounds, or a hogshead. Whereupon the aforesaid Spaniards answered that they would lay out some of the aforesaid rolls as a sample and would then discuss the sale, and they held or asked six guilders for each pound; whereupon he, the deponent, together with his associates, offered three guilders in cash for each pound; and since they could not agree with one another concerning the price, they parted from one another without concluding anything or making any bargain. In all of this, the aforesaid Spaniards and the deponents made use of Servaes Groffy, soldier under the guard of His Princely Excellency, as interpreter.

Testifying nothing further, the deponents offered to confirm all the foregoing further, in case of recolement [a formal re-reading and confirmation], before any lords and courts; the requesting party requested a deed hereof.

Thus done within Leiden, at the house and office of me, the notary, on the 9th of July in the year 1621, in the presence of Thomas Harmanszoon Verhaegen and Henrick Mathijszoon van Govert, my clerks, as witnesses requested hereto.

[Signed] Steven Butterfield. Bartel Melsmijt. Thomas Hermansen Verhagen. H.M. van Govert. In my presence, P. van Rhijn, notary public, 1621.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden. One short phrase describing the price of the first roll of tobacco ("...vier gulden aen contant gelt we het pondt...") is awkwardly worded or possibly corrupted in the source transcription; it has been rendered as literally as possible.