2009/09/22

The Moon, Come to Earth: Dispatches from Lisbon

by Philip Graham

(four of the dispatches concern Luso-Jewish topics: "365 Days of Pork Surprise" (the difficulty of finding real alheiras in Lisbon), "We Capture the Castle" (which includes a visit to Belmonte's synagogue and Jewish museum), "Salvage" (which includes a visit to the Jewish section of the Praia cemetery in Cape Verde, and a meeting with the newly-minted Israeli ambassador), and "Three Churches," which uncovers the anti-semitism behind a Santarém church's "miracle," describes the São Domingos massacre of New Christians, and praises 16th Century playwright Gil Vicente for his critique of the Inquisition.)



Part travelogue and part memoir, Philip Graham’s The Moon, Come to Earth brings us the news of Portugal past and present, touching on food and sports, religion and language, music and literature and art. Graham’s greatest strength is his ability to observe sharply and think clearly through the varied roles of public spectacle: the many ways in which the Portuguese tell stories of and to themselves through fireworks festivals and bullfights, medieval fairs and theater, magic shows and soccer matches and transformational public art. Given structure by his repeated return to the concept of saudade—‘a complicated feeling that combines sorrow, longing and regret, laced perhaps with a little mournful pleasure’—and given buoyancy by the ebullience of his voice, The Moon, Come to Earth shows Graham at the top of his game.

—Roy Kesey, author Nothing in the World and All Over


2009/09/20

JEWS IN THE AZORES pre 1773--PICO
mlopesazevedo

The presence of Portuguese Jews in the Azores likely predates the ineffective edict of expulsion of December 5, 1496 of king Manuel I, and the subsequent forced mass baptism of all Portuguese Jews  in the fall of 1497. Very little research has been done concerning Jewish presence in the  Azores before the 19th century. ( Prime Minister  Pombal who ended the persecution of New Christians permitted Jews to return to Portugal in the late 18th century-see related posts)

With respect to the island of Pico, there is a reference in a local history publication by Lajes city Council to an expulsion in 1503 of a New Christian. ( Historia do concelho das Lages, F.S.de Lacerda Machado, Figueira da Foz, 1936-reprinted by Lages city council in 1991)

The author states at p. 91 (after a summarising the 1496 edict),

" alguns procuraram asilo nas ilhas.." (some sought asylum in the islands)

He then describes the lifestyle of the early Jews in Lajes (which appears not to be based on any historical fact) and refers to the case of a New Christian, Afonso Alvares (merchant) who was expelled from Pico on November 4, 1503. Apparently Alvares did not take it lying down because he returned in 1507 with a letter from the King ordering his reinstatement on the island. The king's order was not well received by the council but was supported by one Pedro Anes, a municipal councillor. Anes' support of Alvares forced his resignation from Council on August 20, 1507. The author states that the Council considered Anes to be a Jew.

Lacerda Machado states that the archives contains no other information about the case. If I recall correctly, he comments that the file went missing.  Perhaps it was destroyed in an unrelated sacking of municipal records by an enraged mob in the 19th century.

The author ends the chapter with a reference to "Abraham" a well known Jew in Lajes in 1848. Abraham was probably one of the returning Sephardim from North Africa and Gibraltar at the beginning of the 19th century who settled on one of the islands. There are cemeteries from that period in São Miguel, Terçeira, Fayal, and an extant synagogue in Ponta Delgada.

Some new research is being currently conducted but much more needs to be done. The Amsterdam notarial records posted elsewhere are a rich source of information for the 16th and early 17th centuries with many references to the Azores. Research in the national archives in Lisbon by Fernanda Guimarães will add greatly to available information concerning Azorean cases in the Inquisition, which were tried in Lisbon where today stands the Dona Maria II national theatre on the north end of Rossio square and the location of the forced baptism of 1497 .

Fernanda's research points to well developed communications between New Christians in Ponta Delgada, Livorno (Leghorn), Lisbon, and London. Samuel Usques', Consolation for the Tribulations of Israel, published in Portuguese  in 1553 at Ferrara, likely paid for by the "Senhora" (Dona Gracia Mendes (Nassi) born in Lisbon, the wealthiest banker in Europe at the time),  made its way to Ponta Delgada in the Azores! (Inquisition file  of Maria Lopes, the first Azorean to be burned at the stake in Lisbon. In the late 1500's, she wrote prayers in Hebrew while incarcerated before her demise).

(2 of 2) Notarial Records relating to the Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam before 1639



Studia Rosenthaliana, Journal of the History, Culture and Heritage of the Jews
in the Netherlands, vol. 35, nr. 1, 2001
Notarial Records relating to the Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam before 16391


No. 3546
Statement made by the notary at the request of Diego Fernandes Dias,
Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, saying that he drew up for the said Dias two
insurance policies concerning tobacco that was shipped from Bayonne to
Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Jacome Louis loaded the tobacco in the ships St
Pieter of skipper Claes Franssen from Rotterdam and in De Schoenmaker of
skipper Jan IJsbrantsz from Krommeniedijk. The tobacco was consigned to the
said Dias. The insurance of the tobacco, that belonged to Dias, was taken out
on his account; various merchants and burghers of Amsterdam participated in
the policies for certain sums. The said Jacome Luis is only a private
correspondent and factor who acts on orders and receives a commission for
loading and shipping goods that Dias and other Portuguese merchants send him
or that he receives for them from other places.2

1627 July 1
Not. Arch. 634 f. 113v.-114
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.


No. 3547
Note made by the notary, saying that he registered an attestation for Pimentel
(a), alias David Abeniacar by Cornelis de Cuijper and that 18 stivers are due
to him plus the fee of the witnesses.

1627 July 7
Not. Arch. 373 f. 375
Not. Willem Cluijt


No. 3548
David Pallache in Amsterdam authorises Pieter Janssen Cachiopin, merchant from
Rotterdam, to arrest in Rotterdam Manuel de Morais Tavares, Portuguese
nobleman and to attach his goods in order to obtain payment of 1000 guilders
that Tavares owes him.

1627 July 10
Not. Arch. 634 f. 118v.-119
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.3


No. 3549
Michiel Corssen Corael, merchant in Amsterdam, speaking for Diego Fernandes
Branco, merchant in Madeira, declares that he received from Jeronima Gomes,
widow of Diogo Gomes Duarte, the sum of 661 guilders and 12 stivers, which sum
Jeronima Gomes had received from skipper Evert Jansz Waterhondt from
Rotterdam, for the delivery of candied peel. Branco had allowed this sum to be
paid out to Corael in a letter dated 13 December 1626.

1627 July 13
Not. Arch. 633 f. 19
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.4



No. 3550
Statement made by Diogo Martins and Bartholomeus Sijmons about the following.
A controversy involving a few consignments of rope-work has arisen between
Francisco and Manuel Ramires Pina, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam on the
one side and Jan Ibesz, Wiggert Jansz and Hendrick Agges, rope-makers on the
other side. The consignments were sold to the Portuguese merchants to be
delivered in La Havre at their, that is the buyers’, risk and cost. The
merchants maintain that the rope-makers should pay all expenses for the
rope-work including the toll, labourers’ wages, warehouse rent etc. The
rope-makers say that they only have to pay the freight-price and the pilotage
and harbour dues. After a court suit both parties agreed to adhere to the
verdict of Diogo Martins and Bartholomeus Sijmons as chosen arbiters. The
arbiters’ verdict is that the rope-makers are only responsible for the
freight-price, pilotage and harbour dues and that they have found that this is
the customary procedure with such consignments of rope.

1627 July 17
Not, Arch. 846 f. 246
Not. Jozef Steijns



No. 3551
Notice served at the request of Jan Kuijsten, Aernout van Liebergen, Cornelis
Michielsz Blau and Pieter van den Trille, merchants in Amsterdam, upon Diego
da Silva, Portuguese merchant, presently sojourning in Amsterdam. These people
are willing to pay Da Silva immediately the sum of money to which each of them
has been sentenced, with the interest of six and a quarter percent a year,
provided that Da Silva puts up sureties in case they should win when the case
is revised, because Da Silva does not reside in Amsterdam. They promise that
they will deposit the money with the court’s clerk. Da Silva answers that he
adheres to his lawful right. Witnesses are Manuel Rodrigues d’Espinoza and
Thomas de Mercado.

1627 July 19
Not. Arch. 634 f. 123-123v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3552
Antonio Martins Viegas, aged 60, Philipe Dorta Henriques, aged 32 and Diego
Fernandes Dias, aged 31, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, declare at the
request of Jan Kuijsten and associates that Diego da Silva and Manuel Aires,
who have lived and traded in Amsterdam, left this city to settle in Gl¸ckstadt
but that Diego da Silva is staying in Amsterdam to continue a lawsuit.

1627 July 20
Not. Arch. 692B f. 444
Not. Jan Warnaerts.



No. 3553
Francisco Coutinho, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, authorises Duarte Pires
Brandao and Lopo Nunes, Portuguese merchants in Hamburg, to claim from Gabriel
Gomes, Portuguese merchant in Hamburg, certain goods including some baize and
to collect outstanding debts.

1627 July 23
Not. Arch. 634 f. 125-126
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3554
Diego Nunes Belmonte and Francisco Vas de Leon, Portuguese merchants in
Amsterdam, authorise Willem Tristran, merchant in London, to claim for them
the goods that had been loaded for their account in SalÈ in the ship De Blauwe
Duijff of skipper Aert Adriaensz from Rotterdam, if necessary by law, or in
case the goods have been sold in London, to collect the proceeds. The ship was
seized by the English and taken to London.

1627 July 24
Not. Arch. 634 f. 126-127
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3555
Freight contract between Joan de Haro, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, as
freighter on the one side and skipper Harman Kramer from Danzig on the other
side. The ship De Fortuijne, large 80 lasts, armed with four iron guns and
four stone guns, will sail with goods from Amsterdam to Faro, sailing around
England and Scotland. Unload and load with figs and other goods within eight
weeks and back to Amsterdam even if the bills of lading mention other places.
The freight price amounts to 84 guilders a last. One last equals 160 small
baskets of figs, 4000 pounds of figs in caskets, 3600 pounds of almonds, four
pipes of oil and 8 cases of sugar. If the skipper is the first to arrive in
Amsterdam with figs, he will get a new coat.

1627 July 25
Not. Arch. 634 f. 128v-129
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.




No. 3556
Affidavit by the notary, saying that a certain letter was written and signed
by Pero Machado in Faro. The notary then makes the following statement at the
request of Antonio Martins Viegas. Around April 26 Viegas showed him this
letter in Portuguese at Nieuwmarkt in Amsterdam. The notary translated this
letter into Dutch. On March 20 or 22 he served a notice upon Viegas at the
request of IJsbrant Dobbesz and Dirck Corver, together with Willem Muijlman
the insurers’ chosen representatives. These insurers had underwritten an
insurance for Viegas concerning figs and other goods coming from the Concado
with the ship of skipper Cornelisz from Berchem. In the notice Viegas was
requested to give immediate orders for the sale of wet and damaged figs that
came from this ship in order to prevent more decay and damage. Viegas and Izak
van Geleijn, grocer reached an agreement on March 26 in the inn De Hertog van
Cleef at the back of the Exchange here. Garbrant Dobbesz, son of the said
IJsbrant and the notary were present at this occasion.

1627 July 28
Not. Arch. 634 f. 130v-131
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3557
Freight contract between Cornelis Adriaensen Backer, merchant from Haarlem and
Diego Fernandes Dias, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam on the one side and
skipper Frans Gerritsz from Frederikstad on the other side. The ship St Paul,
large 50 lasts, will sail with goods from Rotterdam to Frederikstad. There the
ship will be armed with four stone guns and then proceed to Aveiro; unload and
load with salt within a fortnight and then to Sicioen5 in Galici; unload
within a fortnight and then to Vigo, also in Galicia and load goods within 3
weeks and then to Amsterdam, where the ship will be unloaded. The freight
amounts to 2.780 guilders. The primage is 20 guilders for a new flag. In
Aveiro or Galicia the skipper can receive an advance of up to 150 guilders,
with one real at 6 stivers. The skipper may have to take on board one person
whose salary will be paid by the freighters, but whom the skipper will have to
feed.

1627 July 30
Not. Arch. 634 f. 131v-132
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.


N0. 3558
Freight contract between Pedro Homem de Medeiros, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, on the one side and Gerrit Cornelisz from Schiedam on the other
side. The journey will be made with the ship St. Pieter, large 50 lasts and
armed with two iron guns, two ball headed stone guns and another two stone
guns. The ship will depart from Amsterdam with a cargo of goods to Faro around
the north of England and Scotland; unload and load with figs and other goods
within 8 weeks and back to Amsterdam and unload there, even if the bills of
lading mention Hamburg or another place. The freight price is 84 guilders a
last, reckoning as one last: 160 small baskets of figs, 4000 pounds of figs in
casks, 3600 pounds of almonds, 4 pipes of oil and 8 cases of sugar. The
skipper will be compensated for extra lay-days in Faro, which sum will be
determined by arbiters in Amsterdam after the journey.

1627 August 2
Not. Arch. 634 f. 132v-133
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3559
Gerrit Cornelisz from Schiedam, skipper of the ship St Pieter, large 50 lasts,
makes the following statement. Pedro Homem de Medeiros, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, is the owner of the said ship for a 1/8 share. The ship is ready to
depart for the Condado and De Medeiros paid for the fitting out of this ship
for 1/8 share.

1627 August 2
Not. Arch. 634 f. 133v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3560
Francisco Gomes Henriques, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, who has a
power-of-attorney from Eduart Henriques, doctor of medicine in Bordeaux
according to an instrument of 27 September 1626, authorises in his turn Pieter
Lombaert, merchant in Middelburg. Lombaert can claim from the Admiralty in
Zeeland or elsewhere five cases of sugar and 2 sheets of cinnamon that were
loaded in Lisbon in the ship La Michelle of skipper Jean Simonce by Francisco
Vaz d’AlcobaÁa for the account of the said Eduart Henriques. The goods were
consigned to Nuno Alvares de Mattos in Nantes. Lombaert can also collect the
proceeds of these goods, should they have been sold. He revokes an earlier
power-of-attorney that he gave to Abraham de Nan.6

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 134v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.


No. 3561
Protest of non-payment. Francisco Vas de Leon, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, requests Francisco Coutinho, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, to
pay a bill of exchange of 1000 thaler at 34 plaques a thaler. The bill was
drawn in Hamburg on 16 June 1627 with a term of 17 weeks. The value was
received from Luis Dias de Lemos, to be put to the account of Gonsalo Lopes
Coutinho. The bill was drawn by Lopo Nunes to the benefit of Luis Dias de
Lemos and in his absence of Francisco Vaz de Leon. Coutinho is rumoured to be
insolvent. His maid says that he is not at home.

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 135
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3562
Protest of non-payment. Jozef da Costa asks Francisco Countiho to pay a bill
of exchange of 500 thaler at 34 1/2 plaques a thaler. The bill was drawn in
Hamburg on 28 January 1627 with a term of 29 weeks. The value was received
from Mordechay da Costa, to be put to the account of Gonsalo Lopes. The bill
was drawn by Lopo Nunes. Coutinho’s maid says that he is not at home. Coutinho
is rumoured to be insolvent.

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 135-135v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3563
Protest of non-payment. Denis Jenes asks Francisco Coutinho to pay a bill of
500 thaler at 34 plaques a thaler. The bill was drawn in Hamburg by Lopo Nunes
on 11 June 1627 with a term of 17 weeks. The value was received from Miguel
Romes for the account of Gonsalo Lopes Coutinho. Francisco Coutinho’s maid
says that her master is not at home. Francisco Coutinho is rumoured to be
insolvent.

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 135v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3564
Protest of non-acceptance. Duarte de Palacios, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, asks Francisco Coutinho, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, to
accept a bill of exchange of 1600 thaler at 34 plaques a thaler. The bill was
drawn in Hamburg on 28 July 1627 by Lopo Nunes with a term of 11 weeks, the
value received from Duarte Esteves Pina to be put to the account of Gonsalo
Lopes. Philip Dorta, Francisco Coutinho’s brother-in-law, says that Coutinho
is out of town and that there are no orders to accept the bill.

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 135v.-136
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3565
Protest of non-acceptance. Joseph da Costa asks Francisco Coutinho, Portuguese
merchant in Amsterdam, to accept a bill of exchange of 1200 thaler at 33 3/4
plaques a thaler. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 28 July 1627 by Lopo Nunes
with a term of 4 weeks, the value received from Migel Romes, to be put to the
account of Gonsalo Lopes. Philipe Dorta, Countiho’s brother-in-law, says that
there are no orders to accept the bill.

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 136
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3566
Protest of non-acceptance. Francisco da Costa Delvas, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, asks Francisco Coutinho, also Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, to
accept a bill of exchange of 450 thaler at 33 3/4 plaques a thaler. The bill
was drawn in Hamburg on 23 July 1627 by Lopo Nunes with a term of 6 weeks. The
value was received from Abraham and Jacob Fidanque.
Philipe Dorta, Coutinho’s brother-in-law, says that Coutinho is out of town.
The holder of the bill, Francisco da Costa Delvas, had his cousin Balthasar
Cardozo hand over the bill to Coutinho on 2 August last, to be accepted.
Coutinho did neither return nor accept the bill and left Amsterdam on the same
day. Philipe Dorta does not want to return the bill because he has no orders
to do so.

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 136-136v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3567
Protest of non-payment. Miguel de Pas, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, asks
Francisco Coutinho, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, to pay a bill of
exchange of 952 17/64 dollars at 34 stivers a dollar. The bill was drawn in
Hamburg on 30 June 1627 with a term of 16 weeks to the benefit of Francisco
Fernandes Homem and in his absence of Miguel de Pas. The value was received
from Francisco Fernandes Homem. The maid says that Coutinho has left town.
Coutinho is rumoured to be insolvent.

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 136v-137
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3568
Protest of non-payment. Adriaen and Gerrit Veen ask Francisco Coutinho to pay
a bill of exchange of 1000 dollars at 34 stivers a dollar. The bill was drawn
in Hamburg on 17 April 1627 with a term of 22 weeks. The value was received
from Julio van de Moere for the account of Gonsalo Lopes Coutinho. Francisco
Coutinho is out of town and is rumoured to be insolvent.

1627 August 6
Not. Arch. 634 f. 137-137v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3569
Nathaniel Aernouts, merchant, declares at the request of Jan Pietersen van
Nes, merchant, acting for Gerrit Cornelisz Finckert from Norden, that on the
strength of a proven IOU of 2 August, he had to pay Francisco Coutinho 2400
guilders. The latter asked him to pay first and then talk to Pietersen.

1627 August 7
Not. Arch. 441 f. 159v.
Not. Palm Mathijsz.



No. 3570
Around three o’clock in the afternoon the notary, acting at the request of Jan
Ras and Agge Ottens, farmer and associate of the impost of tobacco
respectively, goes to the house of Francisco Coutinho in ‘de Ververijen’,
accompanied by the above said people, in order to investigate the back and
front cellar with the assistance of Carsten Hendricksz d’Angst and Lourens
Claesz, servants of the sheriff. In the back cellar they found two cases with
11 large rolls and 2 small rolls of tobacco and some parts of rolls and a few
loose pieces of tobacco. Although Jan Ras and Agge Ottens said that there
should be more tobacco, none of the Portuguese who were there in great
numbers, admitted to this.
In the same afternoon around six o’clock the notary returns with Ras and
Ottens and with Jan Rogge, another associate of the impost, to the house of
Coutinho to investigate further. In the front cellar a white case with six
large rolls of tobacco was found. This case had been in the cellar earlier but
they had not been told that it contained tobacco.

1627 August 7
Not. Arch. 846 f. 275-276
Not. Jozef Steijns



No. 3571
Notice served at the request of Jacques Boursse, merchant in Amsterdam, upon
Francisco Coutinho who is rumoured to be absent because he is insolvent.
Boursse says that on March 30 last he underwrote an insurance for Coutinho
concerning the ship De Gratie Godts of skipper Anthony Henricksz for a journey
from Amsterdam to SalÈ and back at a premium of 20 percent for the outward
bound and return journey and that he received only half of the premium. Now
that the ship is on its return journey and Coutinho is absent without having
paid the remaining half of the premium for the return journey, Boursse
considers the insurance for the return journey null and void and refuses to
carry any further risk. Coutinho’s wife answers that she knows nothing about
this and that her husband is out of town.

1627 August 13
Not. Arch. 395A f. 120
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.



No. 3572
Jozef da Costa, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, declares that on 23
September 1626 he received from Cornelis van Coeschot de Jonge two gilded
covered cups, one silver platter, one silver jug and twelve silver spoons for
which he paid some money in advance. He received the sum due to Van Coeschot
of 177 guilders and twelve stivers from Valerius van Gistelen de Oude,
merchant in Amsterdam, to whom he handed over the said silver ware.

1627 August 13
Not. Arch. 700A f. 545
Not. Jan Warnaertsz.



No. 3573
Statement by Francisco Rodrigues Crasto, Portuguese in Amsterdam, aged 50 and
by Samuel de Leon, Portuguese, aged 25, made at the request of Duarte
Rodrigues Mendes. The statement is made in Portuguese and translated into
Dutch by the notary.
Crasto declares that around June 20, 1624 he received from Mendes 29 guilders
and 7 stivers that Mendes had to pay him on the orders of Jacques Masuere,
wine seller as the brokerage fee for 587 bound cask staves. Masuere had sold
these to Mendes in several consignments from 29 May till 8 August 1623. De
Leon declares that he was present and that he heard Masuere order Mendes to
pay this sum to Rodrigues.

1627 August 15
Not. Arch. 395A f. 126
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.



No. 3574
Statement made by the notary at the request of Rodrigo Alvares de Pas,
Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. In February of this year Jan Stuart from
Scotland asked him several times to talk to the said De Pas about the fact
that Stuart had been imprisoned in Spain in his capacity as skipper of the
ship St Andries, which ship belonged to De Pas and associates. He had had to
make quite some expenses because of this. Stuart threatened to harm De Pas
financially and bodily if he would not comply with his demands.

1627 August 16
Not. Arch. 634 f. 140v-141
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.




No. 3575
Freight contract between Francisco and Manuel Mendes Trancoso, Diogo and
Rodrigo Drago, Francisco Lopes de Azevedo and Manuel Alvares Henriques as
freighters on the one side and skipper Michiel Dircksz from Huisduinen as
hired skipper on the other side.
The ship Bıa Ventura, large 60 lasts will sail with goods from Amsterdam to
Terceira, sailing around England; unload and reload with goods and back to
Amsterdam. The freight amounts to 220 guilders as rent for the whole journey.
There is a primage of about 100 guilders for the skipper. The skipper will
engage six men and a boy with the owners’ advice. The crew will be paid two
months’ wages in advance and the rest upon return. If there is no return cargo
the ship will either be sold in Terceira or wait there. The skipper and the
crew can return to the Netherlands with other ships. The crew’s wages will run
until their return to Amsterdam.

1627 August 18
Not. Arch. 395A f. 133-134
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobsz.



No. 3576
Maria Marcijs from Koningsbergen, single, aged 22, makes the following
statement at the request of deputy sheriff Tengnagel. From March of this year
until about a month ago she had intercourse with Mozes Nunes Pina, son of
Thomas Nunes Pina. This took place in her home at Anjeliersgracht for about
six weeks and then at the house of master Jeremias in De Meerman in
Koningstraat. From May until one month ago he paid her one crown a week for
her food and also her rent till All Saints’ Day next. She never knew that
Mozes Nunes Pina was a Jew. She agreed to pay the deputy sheriff 30 guilders
for this mistake, which money he received from her.

1627 August 20
Not. Arch. 395A f. 141
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.



No. 3577
Statement made by Michael de Crasto, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. He has
bought a ship in Enkhuizen from the widow of Lambert Cornelisz Cruyff. The
ship, called Estrele Dourada (Gouden Ster) was rebaptised as St Miguel. The
ship is about 50 lasts large and its skipper is Harke Gerritsz from Enkhuizen.
Michael de Crasto and the other shareholders agree that this ship will sail to
Terceira and from there back and forth to Brasil with a Portuguese skipper and
a Portuguese crew. Shareholders are: Diogo Martins, David Abeniacar, Jacob
Franco, Manuel Lopes Nunes, Afonso Henriques, Thomas Fernandes, Antonio Lopes
Pereira, Felipe Henriques. In Terceira also: Sebastiao d’Andrade and Manuel
Roiz d’Oliveira.

1627 August 20
Not. Arch. 634 f. 142-142v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.
Instrument in Portuguese.



No. 3578
Daniel Nunes, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, authorises Duarte Fernandes
Vega, Portuguese merchant in Rotterdam, to attach in Rotterdam the ship St
Pieter, formely skippered by Jan Willemsz. The ship was taken there by ships
of the Rotterdam Admiralty. Fernandes Vega is to claim from the Admiralty the
goods that had been loaded in this ship for his account or the proceeds of the
goods.

1627 August 20
Not. Arch. 634 f. 143-143v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3579
Bento Osorio, Denis Jenes and Manuel Baruch, Portuguese in Amsterdam, make the
following statement. In Lisbon Pieter Cornelisz. loaded in the ship De
Eenhoorn of skipper Nicolaes Croon, 44 cases of sugar, among which 20 cases of
white, 19 cases of muscovado and 5 cases of panelado sugar and 19 bags of
pepper. The ship was destined for Venice and its cargo was consigned to Martin
Hurean and Aluise du Bois. Bento Osorio received the goods from the warehouse
of the Admiralty in Amsterdam in the name of Lucanelli, proxy of the
interested parties and living in Venice. In all probability three to four
hundred pounds of sugar were removed from 5 or 6 cases of white and muscovado
sugar and four to five hundred pounds of pepper from eight bags of pepper.
They believe that one will find that there is also a shortage in the other
cases of sugar and bags of pepper.

1627 August 20
Not. Arch. 634 f. 143v-144
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3580
Philip Dorta Henriques, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, relinquishes his
right as preferential creditor of the estate of Jan van den Eijnde de Jonge
and is content to act as co-creditor with the other creditors. He also
abandons all cases and suits brought before the Court or elsewhere.

1627 August 23
Not. Arch. 846 f. 288-289
Not. Jozef Steijns



No. 3581
Agreement in which Guiomar Henriques buys from Jullien Lauson a consignment of
French cloth or linen for 325 pounds Flemish. Lauson receives in payment a
similar sum in insurances underwritten for Guiomar Henriques, viz. by Albert
Schuyt for 100 pounds Flemish, IJsbrant Dobbesz for 200 pounds Flemish and by
David Otsenborn for 25 pounds Flemish according to several policies,
transferred with the verdict given by the Amsterdam Insurance Chamber. Guiomar
Henriques will give this to Lauson at the earliest opportunity, at the most
within 17 months. Should she fail to do so, she will have to pay the 325
pounds Flemish in cash promptly. If the transference takes place after six
months, Guiomar will have to pay an interest of 7 percent a year for the
remaining period. In any case she will have to pay three months interest.

1627 August 24
Not. Arch. 395A f. 150-150v.
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.



No. 3582
Statement made by Bento Osorio, Abraham da Costa, Joan Peres da Cunha and
Denis Yanes (Jenes), merchants in Amsterdam. They have received a letter from
their correspondents in Hamburg, informing them that Miguel Lopes Fernandes,
who is presently living in Hamburg and who used to live in Amsterdam for eight
or ten years, is now seriously ill. He is trembling all over his body as if he
has been stricken with paralysis and there is nobody in Hamburg who can cure
him. They have heard of a Dutch doctor or master who lives in Wormer and who
can cure serious illness with God’s help. After having discussed Fernandes’s
condition with them, this doctor had answered them positively, saying that he
could cure Fernandes if Fernandes should decide to come to The Netherlands.
They advise him to do this since Fernandes has little money and is burdened
with a large family. After his recovery he could then provide for his family
by working as a broker, in which capacity he has worked in Hamburg for quite
some time and thus improve his financial position.

1627 August 25
Not. Arch. 634 f. 145-145v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3583
David Abeniacar, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, transfers to Diogo Martins
Bondia a policy of 400 pounds Flemish. Willem Voermans and Arnout van
Liebergen underwrote this sum for an insurance of the ship of Michiel
Laurensen and its cargo. Besides this a 1/4 share of the ship St Michiel of
skipper Harck Gerritsen and its cargo and 1/16 share of the ship St George of
skipper Claes Duijs and the goods that remain with Sebastiao d’Andrade on the
island of Terceira and the proceeds of these goods. Bondia declares that with
this tranference he is fully paid and content.

1627 August 27
Not. Arch. 395A f. 161-161v.
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs
Instrument in Portuguese.



No. 3584
Freight contract between Francisco Lopes d’Azevedo, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, as freighter on the one side and skipper Jan Janssen Vollehoof,
burgher of Amsterdam, on the other side. The ship De Swarte Leeu, large 40
lasts, will sail from Amsterdam to Faro with wood and other goods; unload and
reload with goods within 2 months and back to Amsterdam (even if the bills of
lading mention Hamburg or elsewhere) and unload.
The freight amounts to 80 guilders a last, taking as one last: 160 small
baskets of figs, 4000 pounds of figs in casks, 3600 pounds of almonds, 4 pipes
of oil, 8 cases of sugar and other goods according to the customs of the
Condado. There is a primage of 5 pounds Flemish. Extra lay-days will be
compensated according to a verdict by arbiters in Amsterdam.

1627 August 27
Not. Arch. 634 f. 147v-148
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3585
Statement by Gerrit Mattheusz, 50 years of age, packer of linen in Amsterdam,
made at the request of Pieter van Houten, seller of plumage in Amsterdam.
A few years ago he delivered for Van Houten a bale of linen to Francisco
Mendes de Medeiros. This bale, that he inspected at the house of Pedro Homem
about half a year ago, contained 40 half pieces of flatly folded crimson linen
with a gold border. He declares that it was first quality Frisian linen with a
length of more than 1000 yards, according to the notes that were attached. He
himself had measured and packed the linen.

1627 August 30
Not. Arch. 846 f. 300
Not. Jozef Steijns



No. 3586
Freight contract between Joan de Haro, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, as
freighter on the one side and skipper Harmen Wilkes from Enkhuizen on the
other side. The ship De Fortuyne, large 40 lasts, will sail with goods from
Amsterdam to Tavira in the Condado; unload and reload and further to Faro to
load the rest there and back to Amsterdam after a lay-time of two months and
unload. The freight amounts to 80 guilders a last, taking as one last: 160
small baskets of figs, 4000 pounds of figs in casks, 3600 pounds of almonds, 4
pipes of oil and 8 cases of sugar. Extra lay-days will be compensated
according to a verdict of arbiters.

1627 September 1
Not. Arch. 635 f. 5-6
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3587
Statement made by Jeronimus le Febvre and Francisco Vas de Leao, merchants in
Amsterdam. De Leao has delivered to Le Febvre 4000 pearls of 16 stivers each,
amounting in total to 3200 guilders, one diamond of 400 guilders and further
paid to Isack Ellis a bond of 2000 guilders, to Master Leendert in the house
of correction (Rasphuis) 114 guilders and another 30 guilders in cash and on
the orders of Le Febvre and accepted in his own name 41 guilders to be paid to
Francisco Gomes, all together amounting to 6985 guilders. He further delivered
to Le Febvre 40 pieces of Kersey cloth at 30 guilders a piece as part of the
above amount of money.
In return Le Febvre has delivered to De Leao 21 half pieces of cloth,
measuring 400 yards in total at 4 guilders a yard, another 60 pieces of Kersey
cloth at 36 guilders a piece, another 43 pieces of Kersey cloth at 35 guilders
a piece, 35 pieces of white Kersey cloth at 28 guilders a piece, 6 half pieces
of burled cloth measuring 114 yards at 6 guilders a yard, another 36 guilders
for 9 yards that were twice the customary size and 20 guilders for the
exchange of half a piece of cloth, in total amounting to 6985 guilders.
Manuel Pimentel act as witness.

1627 September 2
Not. Arch. 782 (folder 10) f. 45
Not. Jan Verheij



No. 3588
Johannes Huer, aged 24, hatter in Amsterdam, makes the following statement at
the request of Pieter van Houten, plumage seller in Amsterdam. When around
February 10, last Pedro Homem, Portuguese, arranged the sale of linen and
plumage belonging to Van Houtem through the conciÎrge of Amsterdam, Pieter van
Houten had travelled to The Hague. When Van Houten returned the day after the
sale, he was extremely upset to hear that Homem had arranged the public sale
of these goods. Willem Verstegen, 18 years of age and in the service of the
said Huer, confirms that the above statement is true.

1627 September 8
Not. Arch. 846 f. 318
Not. Jozef Steijns


No. 3589
Diego Fernandes Dias, Portuguese merchant who has resided in Amsterdam for a
long time, gives a power-of-attorney to Johan Helt, merchant in London. Helt
is authorised to claim in London and elsewhere 5 pipes, 2 casks and 1 case of
tobacco that had been loaded in Bayonne by Jacome Luis in the ships of
skippers Claes Fransen from Rotterdam and Jan IJsbrantsz from Krommeniedijk,
to be delivered in Amsterdam. Both ships were taken to Dover by English ships,
where the tobacco was unloaded by officers of the English King.

1627 September 9
Not. Arch. 634 f. 153v-154v
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3590
Statement of skipper Pedro Alvares de Sette from Masarelles in the headland of
Oporto in Portugal, sojourning in Amsterdam, made at the request of Antoni de
CaÁeres, Portuguese merchant in Hamburg, also sojourning in Amsterdam.
When his ship, loaded with sugar and other merchandise sailed from Bahia de
Todos los Santos in Brazil destined for Oporto, it was seized by a ship of the
West India Company (Amsterdam Chamber) and taken to Amsterdam. There this ship
and its cargo were confiscated. The Admiralty assessed the goods to be sold.7

1627 September 10
Not. Arch. 635 f. 2
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3591
Statement made by Francisco Coutinho, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam and by
IJsbrant Dobbesz, merchant and representative of the insurers who insured for
Coutinho the hull of the ship De Gratie Goden. This ship, skippered by Antoni
Hendricx, was captured on its journey by an Algerian pirate and taken to
Algiers. After the ship had been robbed of all goods, it was released and
sailed to Livorno. They authorise Jacomo Mille, Jan Noirot and David Machorra
Leon, merchants in Livorno, to attach the ship there.

1627 September 13
Not. Arch. 635 f. 19-20
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.


No. 3592
Freight contract between Francisco Vas Pinto, Simao Gomes Dias and Joao de la
Faya, Portuguese merchants on the one side and skipper Jan Jansz Spaignaert on
the other side. The journey will be made with the ship De Coninck David, large
44 lasts, armed with 2 iron guns and 4 stone guns and a crew of 7. The ship
will sail with a cargo of goods from Amsterdam to Texel and from there to
Angra (Terceira); unload and reload there within a lay-time of 3 months minus
3 days and back to Amsterdam and unload there. The freight amounts to 3000
guilders. The primage is a new flag. The skipper is to take 15 passengers from
Tereira to Amsterdam. They will provide for themselves. Jullien l’Ansou signs
for the skipper.

1627 September 14
Not. Arch. 395A f. 224-225
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs



No. 3593
Statement made by Jan de Wael, aged 50 and Jan Jansz den Uyl, aged 45,
flatboat men, at the request of Joao de la Faya, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam. This afternoon they transported to the house of De la Faya three
casks of tobacco from the ship of Claes Cornelisz from Limmen that had arrived
from Bayonne. One of the casks from which the bottom had broken and fallen
into the cask that had been repaired a bit, was much lighter than the other
two casks.

1627 September 15
Not. Arch. 395A f. 229
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs



No. 3594
Freight contract between Francisco and Manuel Mendes Trancoso, Diogo and
Rodrigo Drago, Francisco Lopes de Azevedo and Manuel Alvares Henriques as
owners and freighters on the one side and hired skipper Mieuwesz Jansz from
Zaandam on the other side. The ship St Pieter, large 30 lasts will sail to
Saint-Malo with goods or ballast, unload and load with fish or other goods and
then to Terceira and unload there. The freight price consists of a fee of 240
guilders for the skipper. The skipper, advised by the owners, will hire a crew
of 5. The ship will remain in Terceira and the crew will have to return with
other ships. The wages of the crew will run until return in Amsterdam. Two
months’ wages will be advanced.

1627 September 16
Not. Arch. 395A f. 248-249
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs



No. 3595
Matias Rodrigues Cardozo, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, conveys to Samuel
Sautin, merchant in Amsterdam, two parcels with 12 pieces of baize and 12
pieces of serge and a small case with 108 pairs of English stockings. He had
loaded these goods in Rotterdam in 1626 in the ship St Andries of skipper
Evert Jansz Waterhondt from Rotterdam. The ship had been destined for Madeira
but was seized and taken to England. The ship was released because of the
verdict of a judge from the Admiralty in London.

1627 September 17
Not. Arch. 635 f. 23
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3596
Janneke Alverman, Hendrik Alverman’s widow, sojourning in Amsterdam,
authorises Hans Stegeman, the husband of her daughter Anneke Alverman, living
in Hamburg, to claim from Gonsalvo Lopes Coutinho, Portuguese merchant in
Hamburg, that which he owes her. Before he left for Hamburg Coutinho used to
live in Gl¸ckstadt.

1627 September 17
Not. Arch. 635 f. 25-26
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3597
Duarte Fernandes de Pas, merchant in Amsterdam, authorises his son Francisco
Fernandes de Pas in Alkmaar, to renew the attachment of the money that was
consigned by him to the clerk of the court’s office in Alkmaar.

1627 September 23
Not. Arch. 395A f. 268
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs



No. 3598
At the request of Jan Ras, impost master of tobacco, the notary is in the
conciÎrge’s warehouse at the Heiligewegspoort. A smith has opened an oaken
chest in which there are four large rolls and two small rolls of tobacco.
There are also five pieces from rolls of mouldy tobacco. Jan Ras declares that
this tobacco comes from Francisco Coutinho’s house.

1627 September 23
Not. Arch. 846 f. 340
Not. Jozef Steijns



No. 3599
Thomas Nunes Pina, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, declares that David
Abeniacar, alias Sebastiao Mendes Pimentel, also Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, is shareholder for 1/8 share of the ship St Jago and its cargo. The
ship with skipper Manuel Henriques from Viana will sail to Madeira and from
there to Pernambuco with merchandise.

1627 September 24
Not. Arch. 634 f. 158v
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.
Instrument in Portuguese



No. 3600
Copy of an affidavit by Fredrick Pietersz from Hamburg, skipper of the ship De
Hope, saying that he is lying ready in Viana to depart for Hamburg.
He also declares that he received from Manuel Alvares Gondin 11 cases of sugar
and 3 oxheads of tobacco for the account of Jacomo Coronel in Hamburg, to be
delivered there to the said Coronel at a freight price of 252 marks.

1627 September 24
Not. Arch. 636 f. 20
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3601
Freight contract between Simon Gomes Dias, Francisco Vas Pinto and Joao de la
Faya, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam as owners and freighters on the one
side and Jacob Volckertz Bobbert as hired skipper on the other side. The ship
De Engel Gabriel, large 35 lasts will sail from Amsterdam to Terceira with
goods or ballast; unload there and deliver the ship to skipper Manuel
Pinheiro, Antonio Alvares from Brazil and Joan d’Avila or one of them. The
freight consists of a salary of 220 guilders, half of which will be paid
before departure and the other half after return in Amsterdam. The
owners/freighters further hire Rut Andries Noortcaep, first mate, Adriaen
Claesz, high boatswain, Pieter Jansz, carpenter, two sailors and a boy, who
will receive a monthly wage of 36, 20, 19, 11, 11 and 6 guilders respectively.
Two months of their wages will be paid in advance. The ship will remain in
Terceira and the crew will have to return to Amsterdam on other ships. The
crew’s wages will start from the departure from Texel and run till arrival in
Amsterdam. Should the skipper and crew have to return to Zeeland because of
ice or other circumstances, the owners will pay for their trip on land
including their luggage.

1627 October 4
Not. Arch. 395B f. 295-296
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs



No. 3602
Beatris da Fonseca, Rui Fernandes Correa’s widow, declares that she owed 185
pounds Flemish to Francisco Gomes Henriques, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam.
Miguel Fernandes da Fonseca, her son, pays 65 pounds Flemish and the remaining
120 pounds will be paid by Duarte Henriques from Bordeaux.

1627 October 4
Not. Arch. 635 f. 38
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.
Instrument in Portuguese.



No. 3603
Sebastiao Mendes Pimentel, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, conveys to Diego
Martins, also Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, a 1/8 share of the ship St
Jago, including a 1/8 share of its cargo and the insurance.8

1627 October 5
Not. Arch. 634 f. 158v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.
Instrument in Portuguese



No. 3604
Because he is ill Francisco Ramires Pina, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam,
authorises Louis Vas, also Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, to declare before
the Court of Holland that his estate does not exceed 12000 guilders and that
he cannot pay the double thousandth penny. Witnesses are Isac Zacuto and
Manuel Baruch.

1627 October 8
Not. Arch. 635 f. 46-47
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3605
Mendo Lopes, aged 50, Michiel Despinoza, aged 38 and Jorge Fernandes Canero,
aged 31, Portuguese in Amsterdam, make the following statement at the request
of Diego da Silva, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. In April 1627 the said Da
Silva came to Amsterdam from Gl¸ckstadt. He has remained here because of a
lawsuit that Da Silva and his brother-in-law have started before the High
Council against Johan Kuysten, Arnout van Libergen and associates concerning
an insurance they underwrote for goods from Viana to Hamburg, loaded in the
ship of skipper David van der Heijden.

1627 October 8
Not. Arch. 635 f. 47-48
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.


No. 3606
Arent Vechteresse from Medemblik, skipper of the ship St Pieter, authorises
Claes Pietersz to claim from Thomas Nunes Pina, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam and freighter of his ship on Terceira, the money due to him from
this journey.

1627 October 9
Not. Arch. 259A f. 159
Not. Jacob Meerhout



No. 3607
Sebastiao Mendes Pimentel, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, conveys to Diego
Martins, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, the following goods and shares for
money that the latter has paid for him and will pay for him.
Firstly, half of his share of the ship Jonas of skipper Bartelt Olthuys from
Hamburg and half of its cargo. The other half of the cargo concerns Andre
Fernandes Pais, Portuguese merchant in Hamburg. In Faro the ship will be
loaded by licentiate Pero Machado or someone else. This also includes the
insurance for 1500 pounds Flemish from September 24 till October 6, 1627 that
was first underwritten by Izak Bevelot and continued by Albert Velecar.
Secondly, a consignment of baize sent for his account from Hamburg to Lisbon
in 1626 by Andre Fernandes Cardozo or Pais to Francisco Morelli and LaurenÁo
Pestana with the ships of skippers Pieter Tam, Jacob Fox, Jochem Martens and
Pieter Witgrove including the insurance taken out in Amsterdam in four
different policies amounting to 500 pounds Flemish.

1627 October 14
Not. Arch. 634 f. 161-161v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3608
Copy of an affidavit by Fredrick Pietersz from Hamburg, skipper of the ship De
Hope, that is ready in Viana to depart for Hamburg. The skipper declares that
he received on board from Michiel Jacome Peixoto ten cases of sugar to be
delivered in Hamburg to Francisco and Manuel Ramires Pina at a freight price
of 19 marks a case.

1627 October 19
Not. Arch. 635 f. 170-171
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3609
Copy of an affidavit by Fredrick Pietersz from Hamburg, skipper of the ship De
Hope that lies ready in Viana to depart for Hamburg. The skipper declares that
Fernan Ferreia loaded six cases of sugar in his ship for the account and risk
of Sebastian Aires to be delivered in Hamburg to Rui Gomes da Silveira at a
freight price of 19 marks a case.

1627 October 20
Not. Arch. 636 f. 20-21
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.




No. 3610
Power-of-attorney given by Francisco and Manuel Mendes Franco, Diego and
Rodrigo Carlos, Francisco Lopes d’Azevedo and Manuel da Cunha, Portuguese
merchants in Amsterdam and owners of the ship De Goede Fortuijn. This ship,
large 60 lasts and skippered by Michiel Dircxz from Huisduinen, was seized by
a French privateer from Vlissingen on its journey from Amsterdam to Terceira
and taken to Vlissingen. The above ship owners authorise Joannes de Renialme,
merchant in Middelburg, to claim from the Councils of the Admiralty in Zeeland
and elsewhere this ship and its cargo and to obtain compensation for the
damage that they suffered.9

1627 October 25
Not. Arch. 635 f. 61-62
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.


No. 3611
Statement by Adriaen Dircx from Huisduinen, aged 48, first mate and Pieter
Adriaensz from Huisduinen, aged 24, both members of the crew of skipper
Michiel Dircx from Huisduinen, made at the request of Francisco and Manuel
Mendes Franco, Diego and Rodrigo Carlos, Francisco Lopes d’Azevedo and Manuel
da Cunha, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam. Recently they sailed on the ship
De Fortuijn or Beneventura, skippered by Michiel Dircx. Loaded with goods from
Amsterdam they sailed from Texel around England and Scotland bound for
Terceira on August 27. On 2 October, after a storm they came to the island St.
Michiel.10 There they were attacked by a ship owned by a Frenchman from
Vlissingen, a privateer. Heavy guns were fired at them and the privateers came
on board and took over the ship. The crew, 13 men and a boy, were transferred
to the privateer’s ship and taken to Vlissingen on October 18. On the way the
privateers opened all casks, cases and parcels and took goods from them and
sold them in Vlissingen.

1627 October 25
Not. Arch. 635 f. 62-64
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.


No. 3612
Copy of an affidavit by Pieter Witgrove from Hamburg, skipper of the ship St
Pieter that lies ready in Viana to sail for Hamburg. Michiel Jacome Peixoto
has loaded in his ship ten cases of sugar for the account and risk of
Francisco and Manuel Ramires Pina in Hamburg at a freightprice of 20 marks a
case. If other merchants pay less for the freight he will also charge less.

1627 October 25
Not. Arch. 635 f. 169-170
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.




No. 3613
Gabriel Fernandes conveys as guarantee to Jacques Pietersz in Amsterdam a bond
of 466 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 groats Flemish, chargeable to Cornelis van
Nispen, issued in The Hague.

1627 October 26
Not. Arch. 704B f. 283
Not. Jan Warnaertsz. (b)



No. 3614
Ritchert Bae, aged 33, merchant in London makes the following statement at the
request of Hillebrant den Otter, seigneur of Ravensbergen and Floris den
Otter. He used to live in Viana for about 14 years and was well acquainted
there with Jean Dies Geves, brother of Manuel Dies Geves. Jean Dies Geves is a
highly respected man there and is clerk of ‘three to a hundred’ which is an
extremely honourable position for which only the most honest people qualify.
He further declares that he was in Viana on June 3, 1627 and that Jean Dies
Geves got into trouble with the judicial authorities about a ship with masts
that had belonged to Geves for a few years and that, according to the
authorities, had been sent to him from Holland. Jean Dies Geves had to pay a
lot of money to the judicial authorities to solve these problems.

1627 October 27
Not. Arch. 692B f. 550-551
Not. Jan Warnaertsz.



No. 3615
Branca Lopes, alias Rifca Namias Torres, widow of Gaspar Nunes Torres, acting
as her daughter’s guardian, authorises the parnassim of the congregation in
Livorno to collect from David and Abraham Navarro there the money due to her
in the above capacity. Diego Fernandes Dias signs for his sister Branca Lopes.

1627 November 2
Not. Arch. 632 f. 34
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3616
Because of his illness Francisco Ramires Pina, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, authorises Steven Groulart in The Hague to swear under oath before
the States of Holland and West Frisia that his estate does not amount to more
than 12,000 guilders and that he cannot pay the double thousandth penny on
that sum.

1627 November 2
Not. Arch. 635 f. 71-72
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3617
Copy of a notice served by Abraham Pina, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam,
upon Jan le Roux, merchant in Amsterdam. Pina had agreed with him about a
shipment of 30 lasts of fine coal to be loaded in his ship that was skippered
by Arie Schellinger and that was destined for St. Malo at a freight price of 6
guilders a last.
After the ship had been fitted out and had its ballast removed, a heavy storm
hit it. Le Roux had failed to load the coal so that the ship, that had already
been moved outside the palisade had gotten into danger. Le Roux answers that
the coal had not been loaded because the lighter carrying the coal, had run
aground inside the palisade. As soon as this boat is afloat again it will go
to Pina’s ship.

1627 November 2
Not. Arch. 635 f. 168
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3618
Freight contract between Diego Lopes Telles, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam,
as freighter and skipper Jan Bouwensz from Rotterdam. It concerns a journey
with the ship De Fortuijne, large 50 lasts, lying in Rotterdam that is to sail
to Santa Cruz (on Tenerife) with 150 pipes in sheaves, 5 or 6 parcels of
retail goods and 3 or 4 pipes of goods. The freighter may load these goods
free of charge. In Santa Cruz he will have a lay-time of two months to unload
and reload with 25 lasts or 50 barrels of goods, consisting of wines, brandy
or other goods and sail back to Amsterdam. The freight will be 90 guilders a
last. During the lay-time the skipper can make a journey to Lanzarote to get
salt. The skipper may have to load 8 or 10 lasts more in Tenerife.

1627 November 4
Not. Arch. 635 f. 75-76
Sibrant Cornelisz.


No. 3619
Freight contract between Joan de Haro, Portuguese merchant, as freighter on
the one side and skipper Willem Jacobsz from Monnikendam on the other side. It
concerns a journey with the ship St Pieter, large 70 lasts of French salt,
that will sail from Amsterdam to Faro; unload and reload there and back to
Amsterdam, even if the bills of lading mention Hamburg or elsewhere. The
freight amounts to 4350 guilders. Extra lay-days will be compensated according
to a decision of arbiters in Amsterdam. If necessary the skipper will be given
70 to 80 reals of eight in Faro, which will be deducted from the freight. If
the authorities in Faro confiscate or attach the ship because of contraband
goods, the freighter will have to pay the skipper and his owners 1000 guilders
for the ship and its appurtenances. Should the ship be released later and
return to The Netherlands, the skipper and his owners will regain possession
of the ship if they repay the 1000 guilders with interest and expenses to De
Haro.

1627 November 10
Not. Arch. 635 f. 80-82
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3620
Philips Bournon, burgher of Amsterdam, authorises Jan Willemsz Swart, attorney
before the tribunal in Amsterdam, to affirm an IOU in his name before the
Amsterdam judicial authorities to the benefit of Duarte Fernandes, to a sum of
260 guilders.

1627 November 11
Not. Arch. 721 f. 371
Not. Pieter Carels



No. 3621
Freight contract between Jeronimo Rodrgiues de Sousa, Francisco Vas de Leon,
Francisco Gomes Henriques and Duarte de Palacios, Portuguese merchants, as
freighters and skipper Willem Jansz Spangiaert from Monnikendam. It concerns a
journey with the ship ‘t Postpaert, large 80 lasts, armed with 8 iron guns and
6 stone guns, that will sail from Amsterdam to Terceira with a cargo of goods;
unload and reload within 8 weeks and sail back to Amsterdam (even if the bills
of lading mention Hamburg or elsewhere). The freight amounts to 4600 guilders.
The skipper will get 23 guilders for every extra lay-day in Terceira.

1627 November 17
Not. Arch. 635 f. 94-95
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3622
Statement by Harck Gerritsen, aged 48, and Foppe Gerritsz, aged 52, both from
Enkhuizen, made at the request of Diego Martins and Sebastiao Mendes Pimentel,
Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam. On their last journey they sailed as
skipper and first mate respectively on the ship St Michel, large 60 lasts. On
August 8, 1627 they left Texel with this ship with goods loaded by Martins and
Pimentel, destined for Terceira. Between Wight and Beachy Head their ship was
seized by an English privateer. The parcels and cases with general goods that
had been loaded in the ship, were opened and their contents divided among the
privateers. Their ship and its remaining cargo were taken to Dover and
confiscated by the owners of the privateer. The ship was sold to an Englishman
who equipped it for a journey to Barbary. Harck Gerritsen travelled from Dover
to London where he appealed to the ambassador of The Netherlands and to Jan
Luce and other merchants in order to try and get the ship and its cargo
released. Their advice was to return home because it would be a waste of time
and money, in view of the experiences of other skippers.

1627 November 17
Not. Arch. 635 f. 97-100
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3623
Pieter van Heijst, cloth merchant and Gabriel Fernandes, jewel merchant, both
living in Amsterdam, stand surety for Joris Gijsen, attorney, for 160 guilders
concerning the rent of the house in which he is living, this to the benefit of
Jacob de Goijer, to be paid in May 1628.

1627 November 22
Not. Arch. 704B f. 308
Not. Jan Warnaertsz (c)



No. 3624
Hans Lorick, David Hansen, Severijn Nielsen and Christian Kullsen, all from
Copenhagen, commit themselves to indemnify Ernst Roetert, former alderman,
Paulus Wilhelm and Egbert Gerritsz Backer, merchants in Amsterdam, against the
surety given by Roetert and the others for Boy Laersen to the benefit of Arent
Querido, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, for the sum of 2000 guilders to be
paid within 5 months.
Boy Laersen in his turn, promises to indemnify his guarantors of their
commitment and to pay this sum of 2000 guilders with costs and interest in
Amsterdam within five months.

1627 November 22
Not. Arch. 781 folder 17
Not. Jan Verheij



No. 3625
Freight contract between ship owner Joan Huijgens, merchant in Rotterdam and
freighter Antonio Martins Viegas, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, on the one
side and skipper Pieter Sijmonsz from Monnikendam on the other side.
The ship St Jacob, large 25 lasts, armed with four iron guns and two stone
guns, will sail from Amsterdam to Faro with a cargo of goods; unload and
reload within 6 weeks and sail back to Amsterdam (even if the bills of lading
mention Hamburg or elsewhere) and unload there. The freight amounts to 85
guilders a last, taking as one last 160 baskets of figs, 3600 pounds of
almonds, 4 pipes of oil and 8 cases of sugar.11

1627 November 24
Not. Arch. 635 f. 104-106
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3626
Cogie Saharat, Persian, aged 65, makes the following statement assisted by
interpreter Isack Chamis, a Portuguese who speaks Persian as well as Dutch.
On several occasions, starting from 20 June 1626 he handed over to Dirck
Alewijn, merchant in Amsterdam, 14 bags of Dutch talers, totalling 11566
talers, together with two golden chains. These have now been restored to him.
He promises to pay within 8 or 10 days to Alewijn through the intermediary of
Bartolt Bartoltsz, a sum of 1583 guilders, one stiver and eight pennies, which
money is due to Alewijn because of merchandise and cloth that he received from
Alewijn.

1627 November 25
Not. Arch. 233 f. 194v.-195v.
Not. Jacob Meerhout



No. 3627
Joriaen Hendrixsz from Bergen in Norway, who is about to depart for the East
Indies as sailmaker on the ship Schiedam, appoints his sister Geertuijdt
Hendrix, who is presently living with Isack Marcusz, a broker living on
Vlooienburg, as his only and universal heir. At the time of his death his
father or mother or the surviving parent will get the legitimate share.

1627 November 27
Not. Arch. 782 folder 17
Not. Jan Verheij



No. 3628
Godge Sarhardt, Armenian merchant, authorises Dubbelt Worst, merchant in
Amsterdam, to collect that which is due to him from the division of 2,843 1/2
reals of eight that came with other money from the ship De Drije Coningen of
skipper Henrick Cornelisz Denijs. This ship was seized by the Emir Alij at
midnight on June 23, 1624, after which the goods were robbed.
He also authorises Izak Chamis, who acts as interpreter with Jean Sacharias to
explain the case and to bring the divisions about, but not to collect the
money. Dubbelt Worst can substitute his father or brother in his place.


1627 December 2
Not. Arch. 395B f. 478-478v
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs



No. 3629
Notice served upon Abraham de Pina, Portuguese, at the request of Jean le
Roux, merchant in Amsterdam. Le Roux chartered the ship De Hope, with skipper
Aris Schellinger from Medemblik, from De Pina and loaded it with about 30
lasts of coal destined for Saint Malo in the beginning of November 1627. The
stipulation was that the ship was to sail immediately and complete its journey
without any loss of time. The ship left Amsterdam for Texel on November 10 and
the whole fleet of ships that was lying there sailed to Saint Malo with a
special convoy on November 17. Three well armed ships were also sent to Saint
Malo with the fleet of Rouen and several other ships so that the above ship
could safely go. Yet, Le Roux was informed that the said ship did not sail.
Since it is very important for him to take the coal to market in Saint Malo as
quickly as possible, he will claim all damage and expenses from De Pina. De
Pina accepts the notice.12

1627 December 3
Not. Arch. 395B f. 482-482v.
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.



No. 3630
Notice served at the request of Miguel and Lopo de Luna Montalto, Portuguese
merchants in Amsterdam, upon Jeronimus le Febvre, cloth seller in Amsterdam.
They request him to pay the sum of 1000 pounds Flemish within 24 hours
according to the agreement made on 29 October. Le Febvre had promised to pay
this sum on penalty of 100 pounds Flemish to be paid to the poor. Le Febvre
answers that he has always been willing to pay, provided that the Montaltos
would also comply with the agreement.13 Montalto answers that they have
already complied with the contract and that it is up to Le Febvre to do the
same.
1627 December 8
Not. Arch. 371A f. 254-254v
Not. Willem Cluijt



No. 3631
Matias Rodrigues Cardozo, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, declares that
skipper Claes Cornelisz from Limmen paid him 130 guilders. This sum was paid
because of the three rolls of tobacco that were part of a larger consignment
that had been loaded in his ship in Bayonne by Antonio da Costa Cortissos.
These rolls have been stolen. The sum is for half of the tobacco that was
‘Varina’ tobacco and weighed on average 11 pounds and costed 7 guilders a
pound. If the skipper manages to find the tobacco and if the proceeds are more
than 130 guilders, he will pay the extra money to Cardozo.

1627 December 10
Not. Arch. 635 f. 128
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3632
Freight contract between Diego Fernandes Dias, Portuguese merchant, as
freighter on the one side and Sijbrant Cornelisz from Amsterdam, as skipper on
the other side. The ship ‘t Postpaert, large (...) (d) lasts will sail in
ballast or with some goods from Amsterdam to Aveiro. It will sail from Aveiro
within a fortnight with salt to Betanzos in Galicia or Ribadeo or Siciren14 in
Asturia and unload there within a fortnight.
The freight amounts to 75 guilders for every thousand salt. This is 21
guilders and 10 stivers a last, taking one thousand salt as 3 1/2 last. This
sum is to be paid to the shipowners in Amsterdam. The primage is a new flag
for the skipper. The skipper commits himself to three similar jouneys, that is
from Aveiro with salt to one of the above mentioned places at the above
conditions.
Expenses for letters and passports will be shared by the freighter and the
skipper.

1627 December 15
Not. Arch. 635 f. 130-132
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3633
Notice served upon Bento Osorio by Jan Stassart, Albert Schuyt, Godert
Kerckringh, Adriaen Andriesz, also acting for the widow of his brother Claes
Andriesz and Jan Smit. In November 1618 Osorio took out an insurance for wheat
with the above mentioned insurers. According to a verdict of the Insurance
Chamber of 12 September 1620 the insurers had to provide surety for the sums
underwritten by each of them respectively to the benefit of Osorio. The
interest was 12 percent a year.
On November 1626 the judicial authorities decided that they agreed with the
verdict of the Insurance Chamber. Osorio, however, did not return the surety
notwithstanding several requests and he also kept back documents from the
insurers.
In a similar case the insurers paid a surety to the late Barent Sweerts and
Luca Claesz’s children and this case proceded according to the rules.
On 10 December, Osorio failed to show the notice of the Insurance Chamber of
10 November 1620 to the judicial authorities, while all parties were to show
all their documents, none excluded.

1627 December 15
Not. Arch. 662 f. 108v-109v.
Not. Jan Warnaerts



No. 3634
Notice served by Jean le Roux, merchant in Amsterdam, upon Abraham de Pina,
Portuguese. Le Roux repeats his notice of 3 December, saying the following. On
17 November De Pina failed to allow the ship De Hope with skipper Aris
Schellinger from Medemblik to depart with the fleet of ships that was lying
ready to depart for Saint Malo with a special convoy. Le Roux had loaded two
parcels of baize and about 30 lasts of coal in this ship. De Pina also let
every good opportunity of wind and weather go by. He requests De Pina to let
the ship depart, now that another fleet of ships destined for Saint Malo is
lying ready at Texel. If De Pina fails to do this Le Roux will claim the
damage of a possible lower price for the coal and baize from De Pina. De Pina
answers that the attachments in France are still going on and that he asked Le
Roux to rent a lighter to unload the coal and bring it back to Amsterdam.
Since Le Roux did not do this, he himself rented a lighter with which the coal
will arrive in Amsterdam today or tomorrow.

1627 December 16
Not. Arch. 395B f. 530-531
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs



No. 3635
Notice served at the request of Jacques Boursse, merchant in Amsterdam, upon
Sebastiaen Mendes Pimentel, Portuguese. On 18 December 1626 Boursse insured
for Pimentel 100 pounds Flemish for a journey of the ship St Joris of skipper
Claes Douwesz from Amsterdam to Terceira and back. The ship went to Terceira
and made several trips there from one island to the other so that because of
the lengthy journey most of the crew left the ship. The ship was to have
sailed back around England, which cannot be done now. Boursse says that the
insurance is invalid for the return journey because he did not receive the
premium. Pimentel answers that Boursse will have to carry the risk of the
return journey. Boursse did not carry any risk for the trips made there.

1627 December 17
Not. Arch. 395B f. 540-540v.
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs



No. 3636
Notice served at the request of Abraham de Pina, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, upon Jean le Roux, merchant in Amsterdam.
De Pina says that he notified Le Roux on 1 December that because of the
continuing attachments in France, he does not intend to send the ship De Hope
with skipper Aris Schellinger from Medemblik, in which ship Le Roux has loaded
coal, to Saint Malo. He requested Le Roux to rent a lighter and have the coal
unloaded and brought to Amsterdam. Le Roux failed to do so and that is why De
Pina himself rented a lighter that brought the coal to Amsterdam. He asks Le
Roux to accept the coal and pay the expenses.15 The notary notifies De Pina of
the above answer on 23 December 1627. De Pina answers that he adheres to his
earlier notice and says that Le Roux can collect the above mentioned goods,
ship them or leave them, because these goods do not concern De Pina and that
Le Roux should do as he thinks best.

1627 December 21
Not. Arch. 395 f. 559-559v.
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.



No. 3637
The notary makes the following statement at the request of Diego Martins and
Sebastiaen Mendes Pimentel, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam. On September 21
or 22, 1627 Martins showed him a letter at the Exchange, written by Harck
Gerritsz, skipper of the ship St Michiel or Den Engels St Michiel. In this
letter he notified the insurers who insured goods in this ship for Martins and
Pimentel, that this ship was brought to Dover by the English on its journey
from Amsterdam to Terceira. On September 9, 1627 the notary drew up an
insurance policy for Jeronimo Doria d’Andrade, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam, concerning goods loaded in the above ship, which were underwritten
and insured for D’Andrade for a sum of 50 pounds Flemish by Albert Schuijt,
merchant in Amsterdam.

1627 December 22
Not. Arch. 635 f. 138
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3638
Freight contract between Lopo Ramires, merchant in Amsterdam, as freighter on
the one side and skipper Jan Albertzen Poy, burgher of Amsterdam, on the other
side. The ship De Abrahams Offerhande, large about 55 lasts, will sail from
Amsterdam to Le Havre. The lay-time is 14 days. The skipper will receive 10
pounds Tournois for every extra day. The freight price amounts to 800 pounds
of 20 sous Tournois each. If the skipper does not get paid in Le Havre for
some reason, the freighter will have to pay the freight in Amsterdam plus
interest. All expenses will be for the freighter, should the ship be attached.
If the ship is impounded the freighter will have to pay 5000 guilders.
Francisco Ramires Pina, merchant in Amsterdam, stands surety for Lopo Ramires.


1627 December 23
Not. Arch. 234 f. 26-27
Not. Jacob Meerhout.



No. 3639
Freight contract between Lopo Ramires, merchant in Amsterdam, as freighter on
the one side and skipper Gerrit Jansse Bort, burgher of Amsterdam, on the
other side. The ship Den Engel Gabriel, large 60 lasts, will sail from
Amsterdam to Le Havre. The lay-time there is 14 days. The skipper will receive
10 pounds Tournois for every extra day. The freight price amounts to 850
pounds of 20 sous Tournois each.
If the skipper is not paid in Le Havre for some reason, the freighter will pay
him in Amsterdam plus interest. The freighter is to pay all expenses if the
ship is attached. In case the ship is impounded, the freighter will have to
pay 6000 guilders. Francisco Ramires Pina, merchant in Amsterdam, stands
surety for Lopo Ramires.

1627 December 23
Not. Arch. 234 f. 27v.
Not. Jacob Meerhout



No. 3640
Statement by Juan GonÁales, 37 years of age, sworn Portuguese broker, made at
the request of Miguel de Pas, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. On 13 January
1626 he acted as broker in an insurance of 50 pounds Flemish taken out by De
Pas and company and underwritten by Dirck Honckelboer. The insurance concerns
a journey with the ship of skipper Antoni Hendrixsz from SalÈ to Amsterdam at
12 percent. He received the premium of 6 pounds Flemish from De Pas and
settled it with Honckelboer with 9 pounds and 10 shillings Flemish that he
received from Honckelboer for Matias Rodrigues, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam. This sum concerned a premium of 10 pounds Flemish for an insurance
that Honckelboer had underwritten for Matias Rodrigues. This insurance
concerned a journey with the ship of skipper Robbert Word, whose ship was
seized at the Azores before any goods had been loaded. At the request of the
said Rodrigues GonÁales he agreed with the insurers who had underwritten the
policy, viz. IJsbrant Dobbesz and Honckelboer, to return the premium they had
received, minus one half percent for their signatures. He received from
Honckelboer three pounds and 10 shillings Flemish from the remaining money.
Honckelboer deducted three pounds Flemish because these were due to
Honckelboer from Rodrigues for goods sold to him.

1627 December 27
Not. Arch. 636 f.15-17
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3641
Affidavit made by the notary at the request of Belchior Lopes, Portuguese
merchant in Amsterdam. At the request of Lopes he went to the cellar under the
house of Diego Fernandes Dias, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, behind
Breestraat near the lepers, on Thursday, 23 December. There was a case of
sugar there, of which Lopes said that he had received it from Madeira with the
ship of skipper Harmen Dirxcsz. The case had been opened by a cooper and
appeared to have been damaged by water and had lost about a third of its
contents. Lopes had declared that to prevent damages, he would sell the wet
sugar as best he could and claim the damage from his insurer. The notary
further declared that on that same day he went to see one of the insurers,
Jean van Harinckhoucq and asked him to come and inspect the case of sugar and
determine the damage. Harinckhoucq, however, did not come.

1627 December 29
Not. Arch. 636 f. 13-15
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.



No. 3642
Statement by Dirck Conijnenbosch, aged 56, from Amsterdam, made at the request
of Miguel de Pas. About six months ago he received from De Pas a bond of 154
guilders, 1 stiver and 8 pennies, chargeable to Dirck Honckelboer. The latter
had promised to pay the bond, but after he had asked Honckelboe for payment
several times in vain, he returned the bond to De Pas.

1627 December 29
Not. Arch. 636 f. 17
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

***

(a) No first name was mentioned. The alias of David Abeniacar is Sebastiao
(Mendes) Pimentel: N.A. 634/158v., 24 September 1627.

(b) draft instrument, undated.

(c) Incomplete draft instrument.

(d) Not filled in.

Notes
Top
Notes


Prepared by the staff of the Amsterdam Municipal Archives. Translations by
S. Hart.
On the same day a similar statement is given at the request of the brothers
Pedro and Joan de la Faija, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam.
In the margin it says that this authorisation was passed in another form.
10 June 1627. David Pallache in Amsterdam, authorises Pieter Janssen
Cachiopin, merchant in Rotterdam, to have Manuel Morais Tavares, Portuguese
nobleman in Rotterdam, arrested and to attach his goods until Tavares will
have paid him 1000 guilders and until the case between him and Tavares has
been settled before the States General. (N.A. 634/121v.-122; not. Sibrant
Cornelisz.)
See also: N.A. 633/18v-19, 20 February 1626
Place name is unknown. Perhaps Cedeira is meant.
Probably Abraham de Nantes.
On October 16 this is confirmed by Francisco da Costa d’Elvas and Diego
Fernandes Dias, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam. At the request of De
CaÁeres they make the following statement. They were told by the skipper
that his ship had been seized by the West India Company and that the cargo
also contained a consignment of sugar loaded by Duarte Luis and consigned to
Francisco de CaÁeres in Oporto.
On November 1, 1627 Diego Martins renounces the above conveyance.
The instrument contains a marginal note telling that on 25 October 1627 the
power-of-attorney was transferred to Jeronimo de Haro.
Sao Miquel, Azores
The deed mentions that on December 22, 1627 Viegas and the skipper agree to
change the destination to Madeira, this to prevent difficulties with the
authorities in the Condado. The freight price will be calculated with 8
cases of sugar for one last, 4 pipes of wine or 4000 pounds of preserves. It
is further stipulated that instead of 8 cases of sugar for one last, the
usual measures of weight will be used, viz. 108 arrobas and 32 pounds an
arroba.
On fol. 484-484v. the same instrument in French.
The deed also mentions that on December 10 the notary serves a notice upon
Miguel de Luna Montalto at the exchange, at the request of Jeronimus le
Febvre, saying that Montalto and his brother have to comply with the
agreement they made with Le Febvre within 24 hours and that if they fail to
do so, they will have to pay the fine for the poor.
It is uncertain which place is meant. Possibly Cedeira in Galicia.
The notice contains the following answers: Le Roux answers on 22 December
1627. He denies having received De Pina’s notice of 1 December 1627 in which
he was to have asked him to unload the coal. He adheres to his earlier
notices and again notifies De Pina that he will have to ship the mentioned
goods to Saint Malo, viz. 900 1/4 weights of coal, two parcels with seven
pieces of baize and four small casks of fish. If De Pina fails to do so, he
will have to pay the highest price that the goods would have fetched after
the arrival of the ship De Roose of skipper Claes Wijboutsz, that sailed
from Texel on November 17 and arrived in Saint Malo five days later. Le Roux
is willing to collect the four parcels of baize and the four casks of fish.
He also requests De Pina to return to him the letters that he had written

Studia Rosenthaliana

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Studia Rosenthaliana, Volume 34, Number 1, 2000

(1 of 2) Notarial Records relating to the Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam before 1639 1


No. 3499

Anna Jans, widow of Willem Claesz, living in Amsterdam, declares that she owes Samuel de Leon the sum of 70 guilders as the remainder of a larger sum concerning the sale and delivery of tobacco. She promises to repay 6 guilders a week, starting from 8 January 1627.

1627 January 3

Not. Arch. 394A, fol. 3

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.2

No. 3500

At the request of Thomas Nunes Pina, merchant in Amsterdam, the notary asks Jan Gerritsz Kinckhuijsen, merchant in Amsterdam, broker Hans Verschuere and Manuel Pinto, Portuguese in Amsterdam, whether they know that Francisco Lopes Gomes, Portuguese merchant, formerly residing in Lisbon, is now trading in Amsterdam and whether they are willing to declare what they know about this. Pinto declares that for some of time he and Cornelis Jansen Melcknap, sworn broker in Amsterdam, helped to negotiate an exchange agreement between Gomes and Lenart Lenartsz, merchant in Amsterdam. The agreement concerned 13 pipes of oil at 76 pounds Flemish a barrel, that Lenart Lenartsz delivered to Gomes, in exchange for a silver jug and some pieces of processed silver with a consignment of money that Gomes delivered to Lenartsz. The exchanged goods were worth 500 pounds Flemish. Before this he helped to negotiate some other exchange agreements between Gomes and other merchants in Amsterdam concerning paper, perpetuana and other goods. Kinckhuijsen declares that about a year and a half earlier he had sold a consignment of linen worth 1,500 guilders to Gomes in Amsterdam. Hans Verschuere declares that some time ago he had negotiated an exchange of goods as sworn broker and that he had been requested to do some others transactions and that Gomes is a peculiar person and is difficult to negotiate with. At the request of Pina, the notary declares that in August 1625 Gomes sold and delivered a string of pearls at 1,180 guilders to Johan Vernadt in Amsterdam. Later, when Vernadt left, the affair was settled through the intervention of himself and of Izak Florianus between Gomes’s brother and Philibert Vernadt, brother of Johan Vernadt. Gomes received the sum of 800 guilders for this string of pearls, paid in installments.

1627 January 5

Not. Arch. 633, f. 129-129v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3501

Pieter Mefferdt, manufacturer of playing cards and Simao Vas de Fontes, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, make the following contract of sale in advance. Starting 1 January 1627 Meffert will deliver at the end of every month 32 dozen Spanish playing cards at a price of 30 stivers a dozen for a period of two years. Mefferdt has 90 or 92 dozen ready that he may deliver immediately instead of the 64 dozen that are due for the first two months at the end of March. During these two years Mefferdt is not allowed to make or to have Spanish cards made for others, to sell them or have them sold at a fine of 100 guilders to the benefit of the poor. Should either party fail to deliver or receive and pay, he will have to pay the other party a fine of 50 guilders, and he will have to comply with the contract if that is what the other party desires. Valerius van der Hoeven and Thomas Fernandes Junior stand surety for Pieter Mefferdt and Simao Vas de Fontes respectively.

1627 January 7

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 10-10v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3502

Copy of the will of Jozef Nahemias, alias Gaspar Nunes Torres, dated 26 October 1626. He appoints his brother Jacob Nahemias Torres, alias Antonio Nunes Torres and Jacob Israel Dias, alias Gonsalo Dias Pato as the executors of his will.

He bequeaths a silver lamp that is used by the Beth Jacob congregation to the same. He leaves to his wife Reijna Nahemias 1,200 pounds Flemish and half of all gold and silver jewellery, in addition to what is due to her in the ketuba: he leaves the other half to his daughter Judica Nahemias Torres. He leaves to the congregations Beth Israel and Neve Salom 20 guilders each for escava to be divided among the poor. He leaves 1,500 guilders to his late brother Manuel Lopes’s daughter, living in Livorno, for her dowry. He leaves to her brother Daniel, his nephew, 500 guilders for the necessary medicine for his mother. He leaves to the two daughters of his late brother Matthias Lopes 1,000 guilders each for their dowries. He leaves to each of the three daughters of his brother Jacob Nahemias Torres 1,000 guilders for their dowry. He leaves to the four sons of his sister Violante Nunes and Abraham Navarro 400 guilders each and additional 10 guilders to her eldest son Izak Navarro. To the daughter of his niece Felipa Nunes in Lisbon he leaves 3,000 guilders for her dowry. To the daughter of his cousin Clara Nunes, wife of Vastanho, he leaves 300 guilders for her dowry.

To the three daughters of his cousin Maria Nunes, who are living with her mother, the daughter of Manuel Laurenço in Amsterdam, 50 pounds Flemish each. To the daughter of Ergas and his cousin Ilena Nunes he leaves 40 pounds Flemish for her dowry.

To the three daughters of his cousin Sebastiao Nunes 500 guilders each. To Izak de Jonge, who is growing up in his house, 2,000 guilders. To his nieces, daughters of Felipa Nunes 120 guilders each for their marriage. To his nieces, daughters of his cousin Beatrix Nunes, wife of Laurenço Rodrigues, 120 guilders each for their marriage. He leaves 40 pounds Flemish to the poor of Amsterdam. He leaves to his niece Francisca Nunes, who is daughter of his sister Rodriga Nunes, and married to Vasco de Mesquita, 150 guilders. To his nephew Francisco Nunes, son of his sister Rodriga Nunes, he leaves 150 guilders. To his cousin Izak Israel Nunes, alias Domingos Nunes 100 guilders that will be administered for him by Diego Fernandes Dias.

He appoints his daughter Judica Nahemias Torres as his principal heir. He wishes her to marry his cousin David Nahemias Torres, son of Jacob Nahemias Torres, alias Antonio Nunes Torres. In which case he will give David Nahemias Torres 500 pounds Flemish. Should the relatives to whom he leaves a gift for their marriage, remain single, these gifts will remain with his daughter Judica. A sum of 1,000 crusados (400 pounds Flemish) will have to be used to set up a fund, the proceeds of which should be used to support his relatives or for gifts at their marriage.

Witnesses are Rodrigo Fernandes, alias Abraham Navarro, Samuel Israel Dias, Izak Israel Dias, David (Israel) Dias, Jacob Baruch, Daniel Nunes, Jacob (Fernandes) Burgos and Izak Navarro. On 26 October 1626 Gaspar Nunes Torres ratifies his testament in the presence of Gaspar Febos, Daniel Nunes, Matias Rodrigues Cardoso and Jozua Egas as witnesses. He wants his wife Rifica Nahemias Torres to be the guardian of his daughter Judica.

1627 January 10

Not. Arch. 633, f. 134-135

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

Instrument in Portuguese.

No. 3503

Isabel Rodrigues, widow of Manuel Rodrigues de Olivença, assisted by her son Jacob Messia, conveys to Diego Nunes Belmonte an insurance of 225 pounds Flemish in a policy of 350 pounds Flemish, the rest of which concerns another person. The insurance was taken out on money and goods loaded in Salé for the journey to Amsterdam in two ships. These ships are De Bloempot with Skipper Abraham Jansen and De Blauwe Duif with Skipper Aert Ariaensen. The insurance was underwritten by the following insurers.

Willem and Henk de Vries for 100 pounds, Jean le Roux for 100 pounds, Fernando de la Faille, Michel Cornelisz Blau and David Otsenborn each for 50 pounds. She further conveys to Belmonte her share in 20 cases of muscovado sugar that are in the hands of Manuel Esteves in Hamburg and further all securities that are administered by Aron Querido in Salé.

These conveyances serve in payment and reduction of 2,666 guilders and 9 stivers that Belmonte paid for her to her son Izak Messia. Witness is Jacob Jesurun.

1627 January 15

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 29-29v.

Not. Jacob and Nicoleas Jacobs

Instrument in Portuguese.

No. 3504

Guillaume Quibors, serge worker, 67 years old, makes the following statement at the request of Felipe Dorta Henriques, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. All serge workers who work outside the house of their employer, are given money by him to buy two warp frames and to pay for the spinning and combing. If the serge worker quits his master’s employment, he will have to pay this money back. This money is reserved for the serge worker as wages because the masters, besides bringing each piece of serge to their homes, pay their serge workers for their labour and give them money to buy a new warp frame. These conditions were also drawn up in his presence between the said Henriques and Sijdrach Danielsz, also serge worker, who was employed by Henriques. On 22 January 1627 Aron de Pas, Portuguese merchant, 28 years old, declares, also at the request of Henriques, that he was present when this contract was drawn up between Henriques and Danielsz. Henriques then provided Danielsz with two warp frames and money for the spinning and combing of two pieces. Danielsz still owes the greater part of this money.

1627 January 18

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 38-38v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.2

No. 3505

Willem Erick from Lübeck, aged 27, Claes Croon from Hamburg, aged 25 and Mattheus Vet from Hamburg, aged 25, skippers of the ships De Twaelf Apostelen, De Eenhooren and De Paerle respectively, make the following statement at the request of David Senior, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam.

On 10 August last they left from Lisbon with their ships, Willem Erick destined for Livorno, and the other two destined for Venice. After they had dropped anchor near Almeria, they were approached by captain Cornelisz Moens, who commanded a large man-of-war armed with 20 pieces and a crew of about 100 men, and by captain Anthony de Ledekerke, commander of a man-of-war with 10 pieces and a crew of about 60, who was accompanied by an English ship armed with 18 pieces and another six Dutch ships that were mostly well armed. When this fleet approached them, they neared the coast as much as they could. They were approached by a boat from this fleet twice and were ordered to come to the fleet, but they answered that they did not know if they were Moorish or what kind of ships they were. Then the whole fleet sailed up to them. When they saw this they went by boat to the man-of-war of Captain Moens who was the admiral of the fleet. When they showed him their passports he took over and occupied their ships. Their ships were looted and taken to Holland with the cargoes. The De Twaelf Apostelen arrived at Texel around 12 October last and was taken to Amsterdam. The ships were unloaded on the orders of the Admiralty and the goods were stored. Part of the goods from De Twaelf Apostelen was sold by the Admiralty.

1627 January 18

Not. Arch. 692B, p. 246-248

Not. Jan Warnaerts.

No. 3506

Wiggert Jansz, rope-maker, declares for himself and for Marry Jansz, Jan Olfert’s widow, to have sold to Jeronimo Rodrigues de Sousa, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, 200 to 220 ship’s pounds of rope-work of genuine Westkappel yarn with the Amsterdam hallmark, smooth and well structured and tarred. The sellers will have to have half or more of this consignment ready as soon as the ice has melted and the rest a fortnight or three weeks later if the waterways remain open. The rope-work is to be shipped from Amsterdam to St Malo at the expense of the sellers, to be delivered there to the buyer’s agent. When news is received from St Malo that the rope-work has been delivered, the buyer will have to pay the sellers the sum of 33 guilders and 5 stivers for each ship’s pound of rope (reckoning 300 pounds as a ship’s pound). Juan Gonçales signs as broker.

1627 January 21

Not. Arch. 846, f. 32-33

Not. Jozef Steijns

No. 3507

Bartholomeus Sijmonsz and Hendrick Aggesz, rope-makers, sold to Jeronimo Rodrigues de Sousa, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, 200 ship’s pounds of rope-work of genuine ‘Westkappel’ yarn with the Amsterdam hallmark, smooth and well structured and tarred. The sellers will have to have half or more ready as soon as the ice has melted and the remainder in a fortnight or three weeks after if the waterways remain open. The rope-work is to be shipped from Amsterdam to St Malo at the expense and risk of the sellers, to be delivered to the buyer’s agent there. When the message is received that the rope-work has been delivered, the buyer is to pay the sellers in Amsterdam the sum of 34 guilders for each ship’s pound, reckoning a ship’s pound as 300 pounds.

1627 January 21

Not. Arch. 846, f. 41-42

Not. Jozef Steijns

No. 3508

Notice served at the request of the Tobacco Impostmasters of Holland and West Friesland upon Emanuel Lopes de Lion, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. The Impostmasters request Emanuel Lopes de Lion to have the five casks of tobacco that he received from outside the city and the cask that he is to receive at the Weigh House of Amsterdam or at his own home, to be weighed by sworn weighers in the presence of the Impostmasters or their collector in accordance with the third article of the Ordinance on the strength of which this impost was leased out. De Lion answers that he will comply with the notice.

1627 January 29

Not. Arch. 846, f. 51

Not. Jozef Steijns.

No. 3509

Notice served at the request of Rodrigo Alvares de Pas, acting for his father Francisco de Pas, upon Pieter Seullijn, Jan Bicker and Bartolomeus Bertels, merchants in Amsterdam, who insured for the said Francisco de Pas hemp and other goods loaded in the ship of Skipper Goosen Gerritsz. The journey went from Danzig to Porto and the said hemp was unloaded in Hoorn and is now in the hands of Francisco Coutinho in Amsterdam. Coutinho keeps the hemp as security for the bail that he put up for the freight price that is claimed by the skipper, with whom he is involved in a litigation. De Pas requests that the insurers collect the hemp according to the abandonment made to them and to reach an agreement with Coutinho as if it were their own case, and requests them to allow him to transfer the policy to the Insurance Chamber to be dispatched.

1627 February 3

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 64

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3510

Notice served at the request of Barbara Thomasdr. upon Abraham da Costa, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. The rolls of tobacco that she bought from Da Costa at 1,400 guilders, of which the first payment of 350 guilders was made by her, are partly rotten and dried. She does not want to keep the tobacco and wants restitution of the sum she paid, with deduction of the tobacco that she sold, possibly to be determined by arbiters. Abraham da Costa acknowledges receipt of the notice.

1627 February 4

Not. Arch. 634, f. 7v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3511

Dr Joseph Bueno, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, serves the following notice upon Jan van Nudt. Van Nudt bought from Bueno 6 bags of Segovian wool at 600 guilders. Van Nudt was to pay immediately but failed to do so. On the day of the sale, contrary to good business practice, he obtained letters of cession from the High Council of Holland, which letters are only meant for those who suffered damage and loss but not for those who transfer goods in bad faith to others or embezzle them and thus commit fraud upon the legal owner. He notifies Van Nudt to restitute the wool to him or to pay immediately. Van Nudt’s servant asks for a copy of the notice.

1627 February 5

Not. Arch. 634, f. 8v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3512

Francisco de Caceres, 54 years old, burgher and Joao Rodrigues, 42 years old, inhabitant of Amsterdam, declare at the request of André Alvares that the said Alvares has lived in Amsterdam with his wife and children for more than 10 years. Some time ago, after his wife died, he made a trip to France and returned to his house and children in Amsterdam about two months ago. They have known Alvares for more than ten years and are well acquainted with him on the whole.

1627 February 15

Not. Arch. 394 A, f. 88

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3513

Pieter Jansen Flassenbaert, Walich Cornelissen and Wijer Janssen, living at Wieringen, declare, also in the name of their helpers, to have received 340 guilders from Sebastiao Mendes Pimentel, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam.

This sum was awarded to them because of a verdict of arbiters Wessel Becker and Dirck de Leeu, merchants in Amsterdam for their trouble in salvaging the ship Sta Maria with Skipper Hendrick Schult from Lübeck and its cargo. This ship, coming from the Condado had been sailed aground at the northern side of ’t Vlaeck, 4 by a pilot from Huisduinen after which they raised the ship and its cargo and sailed it around Wieringen and then to Amsterdam.

1627 February 23

Not. Arch. 634, f. 20v.-21

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3514

John Stuart from Dumbarton (Scotland) declares he has reached an agreement with Jozef Justo, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, concerning his claims on the late Francisco de Pas, Justo’s father and Michael Cardoso and Rodrigo Alvares de Pas. It concerns expenses made by them for his ship on its journey to Malaga in 1623 and during his imprisonment there. He declares that Justo paid him a sum of 100 guilders.

1627 February 26

Not. Arch. 634, f. 32v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3515

Testament of Isabel Nunes, wife of Izak Chamis, living in Amsterdam in which she appoints her sister Francisca Rodrigues as her universal heiress.5

1627 March 5

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 133-133v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs

No. 3516

Statement made by Maria Nunes, Manuel Lourenço’s widow. After the death of her brother Gonçalo Lopes a sum of money was handed over to her brother-in-law Diogo Lopes Estonçes. Moreover the late Gaspar Nunes Torres gave him a little money for some raisins (?)6 on the orders of Gaspar Nunes Castello. On 26 January last the said Estonçes gave her all the money, capital as well as interest through the intermediary of Diogo Fernandes Dias. She paid this sum to Dr Diogo Lopes Telles together with the value of 500 crusados for the account of her brother Antonio Nunes de Oliveira on 25 February last, all this for the marriage of her daughter Rachel. She declares that the said Estonçes gave her a sum of 29 guilders and 5 stivers, with which all accounts between her and her brother-in-law have been settled so that she has no further claims on him. Rodrigo Fernandes signs as witness.

1627 March 5

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 134-134v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs

Instrument in Portuguese.

No. 3517

Manuel d’Orta, merchant in Amsterdam, makes the following statement at the request of Duarte Fernandes. About three years ago he was in Paris where he heard that a certain Rusco, Italian merchant there, had been condemned to be hanged for having forged some notarial instruments but that through a petition for clemency to the queen he had been pardoned and released. The notary however, with whom he had committed the forgery, was hanged.

1627 March 8

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 139

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3518

Jan Werbrouck, merchant in Haarlem, acting for himself and as guardian of the minor children of the late Jan Verschuyren de Oude, gives power-of-attorney to Hans Collosijs, burgher of Amsterdam, to settle a dispute with Jan Gonsalvo, Portuguese. The dispute concerns certain pieces of woven cloth that were sold for him and for the said Jan Verschuyren de Oude, his grandfather, by his brother-in-law Hans Verschuyren, sworn broker, to Jan Gonsalvo in June 1617. He is authorised to collect the money due to them.

1627 March 18

Not. Arch. 550B, f. 78

Not. Jacob Westfrisius

No. 3519

Statement made by Antonio Martins Viegas, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam and his son Manuel Viegas. Mattheus de Quester, postmaster in London, and his son have committed themselves before the Court of the Admiralty in London as surety for the sum of 12,000 guilders concerning the release of goods loaded in Faro for the account of Antonio Martins Viegas in the ship, the St Pieter of Skipper Cornelis van Berchem. The ship ran into trouble in England and was released on bail paid by the said Mattheus de Quester. Now that IJsbrant Dobbesz, merchant in Amsterdam, has committed himself as counter-surety for De Quester and his son, Antonio Martins Viegas and Manuel Viegas stand surety for 12,000 guilders for the sureties and counter-sureties. On 27 April 1627 Pedro Homem de Medeiros stands surety for Antonio Martins Viegas and Manuel Viegas, his father-in-law and brother-in-law respectively.

1627 March 18

Not. Arch.634, f. 35-35v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3520

The notary makes the following statement at the request of Jeronimo Doria d’Andrade, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. Yesterday he went to Jan van Hoorn for Doria d’Andrade to notify him that because of his insolvency 7 he would not carry any risk for the 100 pounds Flemish that he had insured for Doria d’Andrade for a journey to the Azores and back with Skipper Claes Douwesz from Vlieland, unless Jan van Hoorn provided security for his own signature. Moreover Doria d’Andrade would remain creditor to Jan van Hoorn for half of the premium at 10 pounds Flemish that was paid to him for the insurance. Van Hoorn answered that he was satisfied that he had been released from the risk and that he had not received any premium for the insurance from the broker.

1627 March 24

Not. Arch. 634, f. 42

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3521

Skipper Hijmrijck Schutte from Lübeck declares that Sebastian Mendes Pimentel, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, paid him the freight-price for a journey with the ship Sta Maria from Hamburg to the Condado and then to Amsterdam, which ship was freighted in Hamburg by André Fernandes Cardoso.

1627 March 25

Not. Arch. 634, f. 43v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3522

Statement made by the notary at the request of Pedro Homem de Medeiros, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. On 26 February last he went to the St Anthonisluis in this city to see a flatboat with a consignment of sugar that Simon de Goijer declared to have unloaded from the ship of Skipper Hendrick Hoijer, coming from Lisbon. He found that one case of muscovado sugar of this consignment that concerned the said Medeiros, was two-thirds empty. Apparently the sugar had been washed away by water and the remaining sugar was watery. Simon de Goijer had declared that this case had been stowed at the main mast and that other cases that had been stowed there and concerned other people, were also damaged. On 15 March the notary went to the Weigh House where De Medeiros delivered 10 cases of muscovado sugar to Hans Wijn, confectionner in Amsterdam, including the said case of muscovado sugar. This one appeared to have a gross weight of 302 pounds.

1627 April 12

Not. Arch. 634, f. 57v.-58

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3523

At the request of Jeronimo Rodrigues de Sousa, Portuguese merchant, Hans Hendricksz, aged 37 and Hendrick Claesz, aged 23, labourers at the Weigh House with the Scottish warehousing company, make the following statement. Around 24 December 1626, they were in the attic of De Sousa’s warehouse with the ‘De Morgenstont’ signboard, handling four bales of Portuguese pepper in double bags. These bags had been cut open and had been inspected by the buyer Anthony Aertsz. They sewed up the holes of these four bales of pepper that were the foremost of 36 similar bales of pepper, and had them weighed at the Weigh House in the city. The bales were dry and in good condition at the time. They had not noticed any dampness or damage. 8

1627 April 13

Not. Arch. 846, f. 109-110

Not. Jozef Steijns

No. 3524

Daniel Nunes, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, makes the following agreement with Skipper Jan Willemsz from Amsterdam and his owner Daniel de Vos in Amsterdam. With the approval of Diego Fernandes Dias who transferred the charter to Daniel Nunes, the skipper will make four journeys according to the freight contract of 16 November 1626 adhering to the conditions specified in the contract. Nunes will make an advance payment of 150 guilders to the skipper and his owner for which 600 reals in silver will be deducted from the freight price. This sum is to be paid back plus 100 guilders if the journey is not made or if the ship is wrecked or seized by privateers. The skipper and his owner have been sentenced to pay this sum by the judicial authorities of Amsterdam and Nunes may charter another ship at their expense to make this journey. If after the release of the attachment the skipper does not begin his journey immediately or if he accepts another charter, this sum of 150 guilders should also be paid back.

1627 April 16

Not. Arch. 632, f. 232

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz. 9

No. 3525

Copy of an affidavit of Pieter Janssen from Lübeck, skipper of the ship Den Jaeger, that lies ready in Viana to sail to Hamburg. He declares he has received from Gaspar Caminha Rego 14 cases of sugar for the account and risk of Diego Carlos in Hamburg, to be delivered to the said Diego Carlos at a freight price of 21 marks a case.

1627 April 18

Not. Arch. 634, f. 124

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3526

At the request of Pedro Homem Coronel, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, the notary declares that on 3 March last he went to Coronel’s house in Breestraat near St Anthonispoort where 21 cases of panelado sugar were stored in the cellar. Coronel had received the sugar from Lisbon with the ship Den Engel Gabriel of Skipper Hendrick Hoijer from Hamburg. The notary established that some of the cases were wet and damaged by seawater. Some cases had a gross weight of 542, 618 and 420 pounds according to the Weigh House in this city.

1627 April 19

Not. Arch.634, f. 59v.-60

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3527

Francisco de Caçeres from Amsterdam, about 54 years old, makes the following statement at the request of Antonio Martins Viegas. In 1622 he mediated between Viegas and Leonard de Beer so that both parties would submit their dispute concerning certain accounts to arbitration by Francisco Mendes de Medeiros and Michael Corael. De Beer effected an attachment with some grocers who owed Viegas money. De Caçeres had the attachment lifted by Willem Pietersz, sheriff’s officer, according to an instrument passed to that effect. From information supplied by De Beer, De Caçeres knows that Manuel Viegas, the son of Antonio Martins Viegas, looked after his father’s affairs in Spiritu Santo in Bahia. De Beer had asked Viegas junior in a letter to help Dirck Pietersz with a ship with Brazil wood. All expenses, including gifts, would be refunded by him. In his letter De Beer promised De Caçeres a share in the wood. When the affair was discovered Dirck Pietersz was imprisoned and the ship sailed out. Manuel Viegas was suspected and arrested in Bahia and was found to be carrying De Beer’s letter. Viegas junior was then tried and put in jail endangering his life. Through gifts he managed to get his sentence converted to 7 years forced labour in Africa. De Beer, who had told all of this to De Caçeres, said that he considered the expenses to be very high and that he would settle the matter with an verbal agreement. When Viegas senior noticed that De Beer failed to comply and was about to leave for Hamburg, he tried to have him jailed but failed. De Beer then went to Hamburg. Viegas senior then applied to the courts in Amsterdam and Hamburg to compel De Beer to settle the matter before he returned to Amsterdam and if he failed to do so, to have him tried in absence. De Caçeres refers to the applications to the courts for particulars.

1627 April 20

Not. Arch. 394B, f.278-278v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3528

Freight contract between Francisco Vas de Leon and Ruy Gomes Fronteira, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, as freighters, each for one half and Lucas Jansen from Enkhuizen, skipper of the ship De Swarte Leeu, large 60 lasts, armed with 4 iron pieces and 4 stone pieces and a crew of 10. The journey will go from Enkhuizen with a cargo to Salé, unload and load within eight weeks and back to Amsterdam. The ship is to sail around the back of England and Scotland or through the Channel in case of bad tides and heavy storms. The freight price amounts to 3,300 guilders. Arbiters in Amsterdam will determine the compensation for extra lay-days. The freighters will only pay the expenses for anchorage and piloting in Salé.

1627 April 20

Not. Arch. 634, f. 61-62

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3529

Protest of non-payment. Jeronimo Rodrigues Mendes, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, requests Michael Cardoso and Rodrigo Alvares de Pas, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, to pay the remainder of a bill of exchange of 35 guilders and 1 stiver. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 2 October 1626 for a sum of 1,080 thaler at 34 stivers a thaler, to be paid within 26 weeks. The drawer is Jacob Justo, the value received from Manuel Esteves. Cardoso and De Pas accepted the bill. The reason for non-payment is not given.

1627 10 April 21

Not. Arch. 634, f. 62-62v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3530

Statement made at the request of Duarte Saraiva and Michael Cardoso, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, by Albert Dauberck, alias Alberto Montera, sojourning in Amsterdam, also acting for Rodrigo Alvares de Pas.

He borrowed 2,400 guilders on bottomry conditions from Saraiva and De Pas on the ship St Philippo of which he was skipper. The ship later returned to this country as a result of the crew’s lawlessness and was given a new skipper, Hendrick Pietersz from Norden. The destination was changed to Viana. The bottomry remained valid for the journey to Viana, according to the two letters of bottomry for Saraiva, Cardoso and De Pas that were passed before notary Sibrant Cornelisz for that sum.

1627 April 21

Not. Arch. 634, f. 63v.-64

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3531

Statement made by Gabriel Fernandes, merchant in Amsterdam, who has a conveyance from Philips van der Steijn, merchant in Antwerp, according to a notarial instrument passed before Guilhaume Rousseau, notary in Antwerp on 28 September 1621. He owes Wilhelm van Welij, merchant in Amsterdam, the sum of 133 pounds, 6 shillings and 8 groats Flemish for money received from Van Welij. He promises to pay this sum on October 1 next. He gives the following items as securety. First of all the sum of 600 pounds Flemish that is owed by Lamoral, Baron de Tassis, postmaster-general of Brabant to Philips van der Steijn, according to a bond of 8 February 1618, to be paid in three annual terms, the last term of which fell due on 8 February 1621. Secondly the sum of 500 pounds Flemish that the said Baron de Tassis owes to Philips van der Steijn, according to a bond of 10 December 1620, to be paid within three years that became due on 8 February 1621. Thirdly a bond of 250 pounds Flemish given by Philips van der Steijn to the benefit of Fernandes, to be paid to him or on his orders to someone else. Fourthly a bill of exchange of 100 pounds Flemish drawn by Harman van der Pellens on Nicolaes van der Pellens, which bill has been accepted. Even though the bill reads: value received from Wilhelm van Welij, to be paid to Daniel Deegbroot or order, this bill concerns him only. Fifthly a bill of exchange of 150 pounds Flemish drawn by Harman van der Pellens on Nicolaes van der Pellens, which bill has been accepted, to be paid to Jehan Paulo Dorco or order. Although the value was received from Gaspar Fernandes Vega, this bill concerns him only. Then twelve large maritime paintings, each three ells long and as high as the linen and one narwhal horn weighing more than ten ounces. Finally a ‘Lucretia’ of palmwood, supposedly made by Albert Dur.

1627 April 25

Not. Arch. 394B, f. 286-287v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs

No. 3532

Jacob Nehemias Torres and Jacob Israel Dias, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, executors of the will made on 26 October 1626 by Josef Nehemias Torres, alias Gaspar Nunes Torres, authorise Israel and David Nehemias and Pascoal and Daniel Nehemias Torres, living in Livorno and Pisa respectively, to defend the said persons against David and Abraham Navarro and to collect from them the money that they owe to the estate of the late Josef Nehemias Torres.

1627 April 26

Not. Arch. 632, f. 33

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

Instrument in Portuguese.

No. 3533

Freight contract between Jeronimo and Duarte Rodrigues Mendes as freighters, both for one half and Michael de Pas and Francisco Coutinho for the others half, with Skipper Antoni Heijnderick, burgher of Amsterdam who is assisted by his owner Francisco Coutinho. The journey will be made by the ship De Gratie Godes, large 80 lasts, armed with 8 iron pieces and 4 stone pieces and a crew of 15. The ship will sail from Amsterdam with a general cargo and wood to Salé, where the ship will be unloaded and reloaded in 8 weeks by Abraham de Leon, agent of the freighters, or in his absence by Daniel de Leon and Jozef de Pas. Back to Amsterdam and unload there. The primage is 30 guilders for a new flag. The freight price is 3,950 guilders. Arbiters in Amsterdam will determine the compensation for extra lay-days. If one freighter cannot load his half completely, the other freighter can make use of this space at payment of the freight price pro rata. This freight price may not exceed 45 guilders a last.

1627 April 26

Not. Arch. 634, f. 67v-68v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3534

Sworn statement made by Pieter Bussel, 36 years of age, tailor and Jacob Harmanssen, 24 years of age, shoemaker, living in Amsterdam, at the request of substitute sheriff Tengnagel for Stijntgen Tijsdr., widow. Bussel declares that on Saturday eight days ago he travelled to Delfzijl at the request of Tengnagel and the said widow to hear from a Jew called Samuel, brother of a certain Isack who recently received corporal punishment in Amsterdam, what had happened between this Samuel and a certain Julius Cruijsberghen who had been there earlier. Both declare that Samuel had a letter written about this by someone that he signed in Hebrew in their presence and that he handed it to Bussel to be delivered to the substitute sheriff. In this letter Samuel described what had happened; he also mentioned that he had given Cruijsberghen 80 guilders to be handed to the widow to compensate her for the goods that had been stolen from her and that had been sold by his brother Isack, this to prevent a scandal for his brother. He had also given Cruijsberghen 4 rix-dollars for his travel expenses and a diamond ring for his wife, which was confirmed by many Jews who were present. Both further declare that in Emden Cruijsberghen posed as a servant of the sheriff and that he showed a letter that, according to him, was signed by two Amsterdam burgomasters and by the said Izack, who was then in prison here, authorising Cruijsberghen to investigate certain articles of clothing and goods that were supposed to belong to Izack. The said Jews in Dam 11 had confirmed that by these means Cruijsberghen had obtained clothing from some people and money from others, so that he would not bring trouble upon them.

1627 May 3

Not. Arch. 749, f. 410-412

Not. Pieter van Perssen ( Jozef Steijns)

No. 3535

Freight contract between Francisco da Costa d’Elvas and Matias Rodrigues Cardoso, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, as freighters and Skipper Pieter Franssen, burgher of Amsterdam. The ship De Lieffde, large 50 lasts, will sail from Texel to Madeira with goods; unload and load within two months and back to Amsterdam and unload there. The freight price amounts to 3,000 guilders. Arbiters in Amsterdam will determine the compensation for extra lay-days.

1627 May 11

Not. Arch. 634, f. 73v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz. 12

No. 3536

Hendrick Pietersz from Hamburg, notifies Simao Pinto and Manuel Rodrigues to accept the 29 rolls of tobacco that he sold to them 10 days ago through the intervention of Manuel de Campos, sworn broker. Manuel Rodrigues answers that he will appear before the authorities and say to them what he has to say.

1627 May 12

Not. Arch. 704B, f. 124

Not. Jan Warnaertsz 13

No. 3537

Protest of non-acceptance. Marten Aernouts requests that Duarte de Palaçios, merchant in Amsterdam, pay a bill of exchange of 500 thalers at 34 stivers a thaler. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 15 January 1627 with a term of 21 weeks by Henrique de Lima. The payee is Diderich Boshart. The bill was endorsed by Marten Aernouts in Hamburg on 28 April 1627. Duarte de Palaçios answers that he accepted the first bill of exchange and that he therefore does not accept the second one and that he will pay either one of them on the date of maturity. The notary says that he has no evidence of the acceptance of the first bill and he therefore protests against the bill.

1627 May 19

Not. Arch. 543A, f. 18 (portfolio 1627)

Not. Jacob Westfrisius

No. 3538

Hendrick Ruben, living in Altena and sojourning in Amsterdam, husband of the daughter of the late Thomas Leamer, an Englishman who died in Amsterdam, authorises Thomas Couper, burgher of Amsterdam and Francisco Coutinho, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, to start legal proceedings before the Court of Amsterdam against Fredrick Leker, merchant in Amsterdam.

1627 June 2

Not. Arch. 634, f. 87-87v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3539

Protest of non-payment. Pedro Homem de Medeiros, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, requests from Antoni and Leonardo de Schot payment of a bill of exchange of 800 thalers at 34 5/8 stivers a thaler. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 21 April 1627 by Jean Rijcquelsmo and is due on 8 June 1627. The value was received from Louis Gomes. Antoni de Schot is rumoured to be insolvent. De Schot’s servant answers that there are no orders for payment.

1627 June 10

Not. Arch. 634, f. 93

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3540

Protest of non-payment. Thomas Fernandes and Pedro Homem de Medeiros, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, request Antoni and Leonart de Schot, merchants in Amsterdam, to pay a bill of exchange of 500 thalers at 33 a thaler, with a term of 8 weeks. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 2 May 1627 by Antoni and Leonart de Schot. The value was received from Luis Gomes de Medeiros. Antoni de Schot accepted the bill. His servant declares that Antoni de Schot is not at home and that he has no orders for payment. Antoni de Schot is rumoured to be insolvent.

1627 June 10

Not. Arch. 634, f. 94-94v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3541

Protest of non-payment. Diego Fernandes Dias, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, requests Antoni de Schot to pay a bill of exchange of 303 1/3 crowns (écus) at 125 groats a crown. The bill was drawn in Rouen on 2 May 1627 by Henri van Okhuisen. The payee is Jacob Hendrix; the value received from Rene Pietersz and Nicolaes Dircksz; the endorsed party is Abraham van Cleef. Antoni and Leonart de Schot accepted the bill. Antoni de Schot’s servant says that his employer is not at home and that he has no orders to pay the bill and advises Dias to go to Paulus and Samuel Timmerman. Antoni de Schot is rumoured to be insolvent. Hendrick de Picquer, merchant in Amsterdam, declares that he will pay the bill for the account of the drawer, in the name of the refinery in Rouen.

1627 June 12

Not. Arch. 634, f. 98-98v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3542

Protest of non-payment. Diogo Martins, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, requests that Antoni de Schot pay a bill of exchange of 917 thalers at 33 5/8 a thaler; the bill is due on 15 June. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 14 April 1627 by Antoni and Leonart de Schot; the value was received from Louis Gomes de Medeiros. Antoni de Schot’s servant answers that his employer is not at home. He is rumoured to be insolvent. The notary declares that the current rate of exchange from Amsterdam to Hamburg is 33 1/8 stivers a thaler if paid from Hamburg.

1627 June 12

Not. Arch. 634, f. 99v.-100

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3543

Stephanus Rodrigues da Costa, 14 Portuguese, at present in prison, 31 years old, makes the following statement at the request of Captain Benedictus de Rego, also in prison. About eight months ago he agreed with a button-maker that the latter would make 20 dozen buttons for him according to a sample, at 30 stivers a dozen. When these buttons were delivered it appeared that they did not match the sample and he refused to accept these buttons. At the insistence of the button-maker he accepted and paid 17 dozens of buttons but there was no mention of further buttons to be made. About 12 days ago the button-maker visited him in prison with a few other dozens of buttons that had been made perfectly according to the first sample. He refused to accept these since he had not given such an order, contrary to the button-maker’s claims.

1627 June 21

Not. Arch. 550B, f. 168-168v.

Not. Jacob Westfrisius

No. 3544

Pedro and Jan Pinto, Portuguese merchants who have been living in Amsterdam for a long time, give power-of-attorney to Jean Letheullier, merchant in London. Letheullier is authorised to claim in Dover and elsewhere three casks of tobacco that were loaded for their account in Bayonne in the ship De Schoenmaker of Skipper Jan IJsbrantsz from Krommeniedijk by Jacomo Luis. The ship was arrested by English ships and taken to Dover.

1627 June 28

Not. Arch. 634, f. 109-110

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz. 15

Notes
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Notes


  1. [Back] Prepared by the staff of the Amsterdam Municipal Archives. Translations by S. Hart.
  2. [Back] The instrument was not signed.
  3. [Back] On f. 37 a combined copy of both instruments.
  4. [Back] Probably Wieringer Vlack.
  5. [Back] She revokes this will on 22 April 1627 (f. 133v.)
  6. [Back] Litterally: ‘pasas’.
  7. [Back] The instrument reads: ‘insolentie’.
  8. [Back] Annexed to this instrument the following statement: On April 14 Antonio Fernanades, 35 years old, Portugese in Amsterdam, makes the following statement at the reqeust of De Sousa with David Abiatar, Portugese, acting as interpreter. Around 23 December 1626 Artsz bought four fardels of cinnamon and four bales of Portugese pepper in double bags in the attic of De Sousa. Before the purchase Aertsz took some pepper from the bags and inspected it in a wooden bowl or dish and being satisfied, asked for the pepper to be delivered at the Weight House (Not. Arch. 846, f. 110-111, Not. Jozef Steijns. 1626 April 14).
  9. [Back] This instrument is written in the margin of the instrument passed on 16 November 1626, f. 231-232.
  10. [Back] Erroneously: 1626.
  11. [Back] Probably Appingendam.
  12. [Back] In the margin it is mentioned that this freight contract was not passed.
  13. [Back] Draft instrument.
  14. [Back] Notary: a Costra.
  15. [Back] In the margin the notary refers to the following power-of-attorney as having been passed in a different form: Pedro and Jan del la Faya, brothers and Portugese merchants who have lived in Amsterdam for a long time, authorise Jean Letheullier, merchant in London, to claim 3 casks of tobacco in Dover or elsewhere. Jacomo Louis had loaded these casks for their account under the name of Pedro and Jan Pinto – which is the name they use in business because of the threat from the Inquisition in Spain – in the ship De Schoenmaker of skipper Jan IJsbrantsz from Krommeniedijk. This ship was taken by the English and brought to Dover. A similar power-of-attorney was passed on the sane day by Diego Fernandes Dias, Portugese merchant in Amsterdam, for Jan Luce, merchant in London, to claim tobacco that had been loaded by Dias in the ship of Jan Ijsbrantsz from Krommeniedijk and Claes Fransz from Rotterdam (Not. Arch. 634, f. 115. Not. Sibrant Cornelisz. 1627 June 28).