Character reference by John Ellis, about 50 years old, wool comber, living in Leiden, and Roger Wilson, about 34 years old, camlet weaver, living in Leiden, on behalf of Richard Masterson, wool comber, living in Leiden.
There appeared before the undersigned aldermen of the city of Leiden, Jan Ellis, wool comber, aged about 50 years, and Rogier Wilson, camlet weaver, aged about 34 years, both living within this city.
And they declared and affirmed, having been lawfully sworn and examined under solemn oath, at the request and instance of Ridtsart Mestersz., likewise a wool comber, that it was true that they, the appearers, have had good acquaintance with the aforesaid petitioner for about seven years past, and that during that same time they have maintained good conversation and friendship with the said petitioner within this city, such that they, the appearers, know that the petitioner has, in all his trade and conduct towards them and likewise towards everyone else during the aforesaid seven years, conducted himself honestly and virtuously, as befits and becomes a virtuous young man, without ever, to the appearers' knowledge, his having been rumoured or reputed to have committed any evil deeds, still less to have been apprehended for such. Declaring nothing further.
So truly may Almighty God help them both. Done the 20th of March, sixteen hundred and nineteen. H.P. Codijck, G. van Lanschott.
Marginal note: Note that a duplicate of this deed has been issued in the Latin language, the translation of which is attached to the copy of the minutes of the depositions.
Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.
Read the original Dutch transcription
Compareerden voor den ondergeschreven schepenen der stadt Leyden, Jan Ellis, wolcammer, out omtrent 50 jaren, ende Rogier Wilson, greynwercker, out omtrent 34 jaren, beyde wonende binnen deser stede. Ende verclaerden ende affirmeerden bij solemnelen eede hen wettelicken gestaeft ende afgenomen ter requisitie ende instantie van Ridtsart Mestersz., mede wolcammer, waerachtich te wesen dat sij comparanten omtrent den tijt van zeven jaren herwaerts goede kennisse hebben gehadt aen de voorn. requirant ende geduyrende deselve tijt met denselven requirant binnen deser stede goede conversatie ende vrientschap gehouden hebben, sulx dat sij comparanten weten dat den requirant hem in allen sijnen handel ende wandel tegens hen comparanten, mitsgaders tegens eenen yegelicken geduyrende de voorgemelde zeven jaren eerlicken ende vromelicken gedragen heeft, gelijc een deuchdelic jongman betaemt ende toestaet, sonder oyt van eenige quade daden, dat sij comparanten weten, berucht off befaemt, veel min daerover achterhaelt te sijn. Wijders niet verclarende. So waerlic most hen comparanten beyde Godt Almachtich helpen. Actum den 20en marty 1600negentien. H.P. Codijck G. van Lanschott Aantekening in de marge: nota: Dat van dese acte een dubbelt in Latijnscher tale is uytgegeven, waervan ‘t translaet hangt aen de coppel van de minuten der attestatiën.
Original source:Erfgoed Leiden · record group 0508 · call no. 79N · folio 284v
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