John Inman

Today, the 19th of March 1623, there appeared before me, Pieter Claesz van Rijn, notary public, and the witnesses named below, Thomas Immen, tobacco seller, aged about 35 years, Jan Immen, aged about 30 years, Jan Sammes, aged about 26 years, and Mr. Jan Leversedge, surgeon, all residing within this city of Leiden. They testified and declared, on their word of honour in lieu of oath, at the instance and request of Niclaes Claveren, likewise a tobacco seller, that it was true that they, the deponents, on the Thursday last past, at the house and inn of Abraham de Vos, innkeeper on the Langebrug here, at the sign of the Church of Our Lady of Antwerp, had heard from the mouth of Pieter Buyt, innkeeper of the White Unicorn on the aforesaid Langebrug, and acknowledged, that one Christoffel, glovemaker, on the Monday evening before that, had run out of his house together with three other men to seek the requesting party at the aforesaid inn at the sign of the Church of Our Lady of Antwerp, with the intention of giving him a sound thrashing with certain long, thick sticks which each of them had taken under his arm for that purpose; and not finding him there, they went from there to the house of Monsieur Jacobus Quarles (who likewise appeared and declared the same), and coming there they asked after the requesting party, saying that someone had come from England to see his friends; and not finding him there either, they went from there to the Sonneveldsteeg, to the house of the aforesaid Thomas Immen, and not finding him there either, they went on further.

They testified to nothing further, the deponents offering that the foregoing be confirmed more fully, whenever required in case of recolement, before any lords and courts of justice. The requesting party asked for an act of this to be drawn up.

Thus done at the inn of the aforesaid Abraham de Vos, in the presence of the same de Vos and Willem Jansz Nebbevercken, as witnesses requested hereto.

[Signed:] Thomas Inman, John Inman, John Sammes, John Leversedge, Jacobus Quarlen, Abram Pyetersen de Vos, Willem Jansz. In my presence, P.C. van Rhijn, notary public, 1623.

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

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.