Character reference by Degory Priest, about 40 years old, hatter, living in Leiden, and Samuel Lee, about 30 years old, living in Leiden, hatter, on behalf of Nicholas Claverley, tobacco pipe maker, presently still living in Leiden.
There appeared before the undersigned aldermen of the city of Leiden, Degore Priest, hatter, aged about 40 years, and Samuel Lee, also a hatter, aged about 30 years, both residing within this city, and they, at the request and instance of Claes Claverly, tobacco-pipe maker, presently likewise still residing within this city, having been lawfully sworn and examined under solemn oath, testified and declared that they, the appearers, have had and maintained very good acquaintance and honest dealings with the requester for the past four years or thereabouts, that is, ever since the requester came to live within this city; and that the said requester has, during the aforesaid time, continually lived in the house of the aforesaid Degore, as he still does at present.
So that the appearers are very well acquainted with the aforesaid requester's conduct, dealings, and behaviour, which has always been, and still is, such as befits and is proper to an honest person, without the appearers ever having heard or seen that the aforesaid requester has engaged or meddled in any evil, unlawful, or dishonest matters, or that he has on that account been of ill repute or infamous, still less that he has ever been apprehended for such; so that they esteem and hold the requester to be a man of honour, standing in good name and reputation. So truly may Almighty God help him, the appearer.
Done the [day left blank in the original] of April 1619.
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 Degore Priest, hoedemaker, out omtrent 40 jaren, ende Samuel Lee, mede hoedemaker, out omtrent 30 jaren, beyde wonende binnen deser stede, ende hebben ter requisitie ende instantie van Claes Claverly, tobacpijpmaker, jegenwoordich mede noch binnen deser stede wonende, bij solemnelen eede henluyden wettelicken gestaeft ende affgenomen, getuycht ende verclaert dat sij comparanten met den requirant den tijt van vier jaren herwaerts of daeromtrent ende sedert dat den requirant binnen deser stede comen wonen is, seer goede kennisse ende eerlicke conversatie gehadt ende gehouden hebben, ende dat denzelven requirant geduyrende de vers. tijt continuelicken ten huyse van de vers. Degore heeft gewoont, gelijc hij ooc aldaer noch wonachtich is, sulx dat sij comparanten van des vers. requirants ommegang, handel ende wandel seer wel bewust zijn, dewelcke sodanich altijt geweest is ende noch is, als een eerlic persoon betaemt ende toestaet, sonder dat sij comparanten oyt gehoort off gesien hebben dat den vers. requirant sich met quade ongeoorlofde ofte oneerlicke dingen beholpen off bemoeyt heeft, ofte dat hij ter sake van dien berucht off befaemt, veel min daerover achterhaelt is geweest, zulx dat sij den requirant achten ende houden voor een man met eeren, als staende ter goeder name ende fame. Zo waerlic most hem comparant Godt Almachtich helpen. Actum den …. april 1600negentien.
Original source:Erfgoed Leiden · record group 0508 · call no. 79M · folio 287
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