On the 30th of April 1620 appear before the aldermen of Leiden Claes Libaert, mason, 62 years old, and William Tradfort, serge weaver, 26 years old, both resident in Leiden.
There appeared before the undersigned aldermen of the city of Leiden, Claes Libaert, mason, aged about 62 years, and Willem Tradfert, serge weaver, aged about 26 years, both residing within this city, and they have, at the request and instance of Samuel Singelton, journeyman, at present serving in the inner watch of this city, been lawfully sworn and examined under solemn oath, and have testified and declared to be true, that they, the deponents — namely the aforesaid Claes Libaert for about fourteen years, and the aforesaid Willem Tradfert for about the space of eleven years — have had and maintained good acquaintance with the requester, during which acquaintance the deponents, in their dealings and conversation with the requester, have found nothing other than all uprightness and virtue, as befits and is proper to an honest person, without the deponents knowing or ever having understood that the requester has been notorious or reputed for any evil deeds, misdeeds, or offences, still less that he has ever been apprehended for such; so that they hold the requester to be a man of honour, standing in good name and fame.
So truly may God Almighty help them, the appearers. Done the 30th of April sixteen hundred twenty. Symen Willemszoon van Pecken; J. Janszoon Orlers.
[In the margin: Done Pro Deo.]
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, Claes Libaert metselaer out omtrent LXII jaren, ende Willem Tradfert saeywercker out omtrent XXVI jaren beyde wonende binnen deser stede, ende hebben ter requisitie ende instantie van Samuel Singelton operman, althans leggende in dienste onder de binnewachte deser stede bij solemnelen eede hen wettelicken gestaeft ende affgenomen getuycht ende verclaert warachtich te wesen, dat zij deposanten te weten de voornoemde Claes Libaert omtrent veertien jaren ende de voors(egde) Willem Tradfert omtrent den tijt van elff jaren, aen den requirant goede kennisse hebben gehadt ende gehoud en geduyrende welcke kennisse zij deposanten in haren ommegang ende conversatie met den requirant niet anders bevonden hebben dan alle vromicheyt ende deucht gelijck als een eerlick persoon toestaet ende betaemt, zonder dat sij deposanten weeten off oyt verstaen hebben, dat den requirant met eenige quade feyten, mesusen off delicten, berucht off befaemt veel min daer van achterhaelt is geweest zulcx dat sij den requirant houden voor een man mit eeren, staende ter goeder naeme ende fame. Zoo waerlick most hen comparanten Godt almachtich helpen. Actum den XXXen Aprilis XVIc ende twintich Symen Willemszoon van Pecken J. Janszoon Orlers In de marge: Gedaen Pro Deo
Original source:Erfgoed Leiden · record group 0508 · call no. 79N · folio 91v
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