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.
