Jordaens is willing to accept the office of dean and to assume its financial obligations, but he wished to be exempted from paying the debts of his predecessors. The burgomasters and aldermen then asked alderman Jan Happart to investigate the issue, but they decided that Jordaens should take the oath immediately and accept the office of dean, whatever the outcome of Happart’s investigation.
Place and date
Antwerp, 30-09 or 01-10-1621
Archival reference
Felixarchief / Antwerp City Archives, Privilege Chamber, PK # 716, fol. 145r-v
Transcription
Felixarchief / Antwerp City Archives, Privilege Chamber, PK # 716, fol. 145r-v
Transcribed by Piet Bakker
Document described in:
How to cite: Bakker, Piet. “Jordaens’ answer to the notice of the city council.” In Jordaens Van Dyck Panel Paintings Project. Edited by Joost Vander Auwera and Justin Davies.
jordaensvandyck.org/archive/jordaens-answer-to-the-notice-of-the-city-council-30-september-1621/ (accessed 26 December 2024)
Verthoont met Reverentie van de dienstwillige Jacques Jordaens schilder hoe dat hem bij acte van U.E. van 30 Septembren lestleden is geordonneert eedt te comen doen als deken van St. Lucas gulde binnen dese stadt, Ende hoewel de suppliant meijnt dat men hem van dese last wel hadde behoiren voor alnoch soe excuseren vuijt vele verscheijde redenen mondelingh verhaelt, nochtans sonder hem suppliant wel begeeren te conformeren naer de voorschreven ordonnantie, Ende doen de dienst ende debvoiren daertoe staende, dan gemerct de suppliant verstaet dat de jegenwoordighe dienende dekens merckelijck groote somme van penningen aen de voorseide gulde ten achter soude sijn, als meer gespendeert dan ontfangen hebbende, ende
Jordaens shows respectfully his awareness of the request to become dean of the Guild of St. Luke, and although he believes that he should have been deprived of this burden, for many reasons like he had explained orally, he will, although without much enthusiasm, conform to the prescribed ordinance, and will assume the office and all obligations arising therefrom. Jordaens notes, however, that he has understood that the current deans have left substantial debts, because they have spent more than they have received, and that
dat sij die tachterheijt souden pretenderen opden suppliant (den voorseiden eedt gedaen hebbende) te verhaelen, d’welck hem ganschelijck is ongelegen maer dat genoech behoort te sijne dat hij doe sijne dienst en de vervalle de oncosten ende doet de deboursementen vallende in sijnen tijt ende dekenschap, Ende op dat naemaels hier op geen disput en valle, soe bidt de suppliant ootmoedelijck dat U.E. gelieve opde marge van desen te declareren dat hij sal gestaen doende den behoorlijcken dienste ende deboursementen vallende in sijn voorseiden tijt, Ende met tgene hij den selven tijt geduerende sal ontfanghen ende vuijtgeven ende daervan doende behoorlijcke rekeninghe Dwelck doende etc. ondertekend Jacques Jordaens
Mijne Heeren Burgemeesteren ende Schepenen hebben gecommitteert heer Jan Happart, Riddere, Schepene, die hem nopende dinhouden deser sal informeren om daernaer desselffs rapport gehoort voorts geordonneert te werden naer behoiren, Actum 1a Octobris anno 1621. Ondertekend J. Brandt
In de marge
Daer naer hehoort trapport vanden voorschreven Commissaris, Mijne Heeren Burgemeesteren ende Schepenen ordonneren den suppliant te doen den eedt als deken, sonder prejuditie vant versuecke bij dese requeste gedaen. Actum 1a Octobris anno 1621. Ondertekend J. de Pape
they might later pass these on to Jordaens because he had taken the oath. That would be very unconvenient to him, because it ought to be enough that he confines himself to the expenses that result from his service. And so that there will be no discussion about this later, Jordaens asks the Burgomasters and Aldermen humbly a note in the margin in which is said that he will perform his duties properly and take responsibility for all the payments in his time and that he at the end of his period will provide a sound account of all receipts and expenses. Signed by Jacques Jordaens
My Lords Burgomasters and Aldermen have ordered Jan Happart, Knight, Alderman, to investigate Jordaens’ request to then report on it properly, Actum 1st October anno 1621. Signed J. Brandt
In margin:
After the order to the appointed Commissioner, My Lords Burgomasters and Aldermen oblige Jordaens to take the oath as a dean, without a ruling on his request being made. Actum 1st October anno 1621. Signed J. de Pape