We, Andries Jasperszoon van Vesanevelt and Jacob Paets, aldermen (schepenen) of Leiden, attest that before us appeared Pineas Eduwaertszoon, hosier, declaring that, in accordance with certain written conditions, he had publicly purchased from Gillis Elsevier a parcel of vacant, unbuilt land situated within this city, in a certain common gate and passage, coming out on the south side of the Nonnensteeg, marked according to the map and conditions made thereof with the letter D. Bounded, on the one side in front, by Claes Lijbaert, mason, and next to him Cornelis Goossenszoon, also a mason, and on the other side by parcel E belonging to Cornelis Stevenszoon van Zuylen, carpenter, extending from the aforesaid passage in front to the rear against parcel F, which the seller has retained for himself.
And the appearer acknowledged that, by reason of the said purchase, he owed the aforesaid Gillis Elsevier a redeemable ground rent (losrente) of six guilders — at 40 groot the piece — and five stuivers per year, falling due annually on May Day, which he, the appearer, together with Jaecques Rabault, wool-plucker (who appeared before us aldermen as surety and principal debtor, renouncing the benefits of order and discussion [beneficium ordinis et excussionis], of which he declared himself fully informed), promised to pay every year in full, in free money, without any deduction or reduction, whether for taxes, subventions, assessments on land valuations (verpondingen), or other contributions of the hundredth, fiftieth, twentieth, or tenth penny, more or less, however these might be named and by whomever they have already been imposed and levied, or shall yet be imposed — even should it be declared by placard or otherwise that a reduction or abatement must be allowed and suffered on this and similar rents, of all such benefit and advantage the appearers expressly renounced and gave up hereby.
The first year's rent shall accordingly fall due on May Day of the year sixteen hundred and eleven, and so forth from year to year, for as long and until such time as the said rent shall effectively have been redeemed and paid off — which the appearers and their successors shall at all times be permitted to do whenever it pleases them, provided that they pay at once and in a single sum, in good current coin or silver money, a sum of one hundred guilders of the aforesaid currency as principal, together with all arrears of rent which, at the day of such redemption, shall according to the course of time have fallen due and remain unpaid.
For this the aforesaid Pineas Eduwaertszoon binds specifically the aforesaid purchased parcel of land, and further both appearers generally bind all their respective goods, movable and immovable, present and future, none excepted. The aforesaid Pineas Eduwaertszoon further promised to relieve and hold harmless his aforesaid brother-in-law and surety on account of the aforementioned suretyship, under the same obligation as above.
And all this in good faith and without deceit. In witness whereof this is confirmed with our seals, on the third of December of the year sixteen hundred and ten. Undersigned: J. Swanenburch, sealed, etcetera.
Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.
