1638- English printer in Rotterdam

p.349 & p.350

p. 351 & p.352

Interesting document! Just looked at the first, it concerns the sale of the printers' business located at the Academy by Moxon to other buyers. I will post the transcription and translation of the first doc separately.

Op huyden den XXVIII mey anno 1638 compareerde voor mijn,
Arnoudt Wagensvelt, notaris publycq, bij den Hove van Hollant
geadmitteert, residerende tot Rotterdam ende voor den naergenoemden
getuygen James Moxon, Engels boeckedrucker hier ter stede,
dewelcke bekende gecedeert, getransporteert, opgedraegen ende
overgegeven te hebben, zoo als hij cedeert, transporteert, op-
draecht ende manuelijck overgeeft bij desen aen, ten behoeve, ende
in vrijen eygendom van mr. Edmund Whits, Christoffel
Huling ende Catarijn Dorrel, sekere druckerije met alle
de gereetschappe, appendentien ende dependentien vandien, staende
inde accademie binnen deser stede, bij henlieden getransproteerdens
gehuert ofte doen huren, ende sulx op heurlieden eygen gehuerden
bodem. Als eerstelijck de naervolgende letters, namentlijck brevier
Englis ende Engels Engels, mitsgaders mediaen Engels,
tweehondertachtendertich ponden, noch dryehondertveer-
tich ponden van Augustijn Romeyn met cossive. Item
hondert pont van mediaen Romeyn. Item vierhondertveer-
tich ponden van mongrell(?) met cossive, noch twintich
pont musycqnoten ende lestelijck noch dryehondervijftich
pont van brevier Romeyn. Voorts de gereetschappe daer-
toe behoorende, als eerstelijck twee porsen, negentien paer
cassen, vier raemen, ses galleyen, elff papierborden,
een houten sethaeck, vijff isere sethaecken, twee corrigeers-
steenen, een loochketel met een loochback, ballehouten
met elsens, priemen, hamers, spongien, nijptangen, scharen
ende andere diergelijcke gereetschappen. Noch twee nyeuwe
form#en om papieren opte setten, een pale ofte schuppe, vier-
entwintich stocken om gedruct papier op te hangen, verschey-
den formaet houten met sijn toebehoorten, vier cramen daer de
cassen opstaen, noch dertich ende meer gesneden houten
platen, prenten ende letters voor een bibel in quarto, met
de tytel voor de seven bibel, alsmede de titel voor den
bijbel in octavo ende de bibel in twelven. Ende lestelijck
den titel voor den Testament in vierentwintichste. Cede-
rende ende affstant doende hij comparant mits desen van alle het
recht, actie, opseggens ende toeseggens hem comparant eenich-
sints gecompeteert hebbende ^aen alle dien vooren gespecificeerde partijen ende dat^ aen ende ten behoeve van mr. Edmund
---
Whits, Christoffel Huling ende Cataryn Dorell alle vorenge-
noempt. Ende bekende hij comparant vanden transporte deses
voldaen ende betaelt te wesen mette somme van duysent-
vijffentsestich gulden eene stuyvers, die de voors. mr. Edmund Whits
cum sociis hem comparant in verscheyde partien hebben gegeven
ende voor hem betaelt#.
# Compareerden mede ten
selven daege voor ons
notario ende naergenoemden
getuygen de voors. Chris-
toffel Huling ende Cata-
rijn Dorel voor haer
selven, is vervangende
Edmont Withs, ende
verclaerden de voorss. trans-
porte soo die leyt te
accepeteren.
Consenterende hiervan acte aldus
ende gepasseert binnen de voorss. stede Rotterdam, ter
presentie van Franchois Hillenius, Engelsman, inwoonder allhier
ende Niclaes van Percijn, mijns clercq, als getuygen hier-
tie gerequireert.

Translation of the first document

Today, on the 28th of May in the year 1638 appeared before me,
Arnoudt Wagensvelt, public notary, admitted as such by the Court of Holland,
residing in Rotterdam and before the witnesses mentioned below
James Moxon, English printer of books within this city,
who confirmed to have conceded, transfered, commissioned and
handed over, like as he is conceding, transferring, com-
missioning and actually handing over through this document to and in favour of,
and in free possession of mr. Edmund Whits, Christoffel
Huling and Catarijn Dorrel, a certain press room with all its
related tools and related items, located
within this city's university, that is rented by those who received the transferred items
on the location they rented themselves. Firstly the printing characters mentioned below, i.e. Brevier
English* and English English*, as well as Mediaan English*,
238 pounds, another 340
pounds of Augustijn Romeyn* with italics. Also,
100 pound of Mediaan Romeyn. Also, 440 pounds of mongrel with italics, another 20
pound of music notes, and last another 350
pound of Brevier Romeyn. Furthermore, the instruments belonging to the print room,
like firstly two presses, 19 sets of
typesetter's cases, 4 frameworks, 6 galleys**, 11 boards for paper,
a wooden composing stick, 5 iron composing sticks, 2 corrector's
stones***, a cettle for cooking lye with a lye basin****, wooden balls
with stitching awls, stitching awls, hammers, sponges, pincers, scissors
and other tools like that. Furthermore, 2 new
frameworks to put paper sheets on, a fire shovel or spade, 24
sticks to hang out printed paper sheets (to dry),
wooden rulers in various different formats with all related items, 4 stalls
the typesetter's cases are put on, over 30 cut wooden
plates, pictures and characters for a bible in quarto*****, with
the title page of the same bible, as well as the title page of the
bible in octavo***** and the bible in duodecimo*****. Ultimately,
the title page of the Testament in 24o******. The comparant hereby is conceding
and renouncing all rights and actions, as well all promises related to him in any way or measure, to the parties specified before and such to and to the benefit of mr. Edmund
---
Whits, Christoffel Huling and Cataryn Dorell, all mentioned above.
And the comparant confirmed that in regard to this transfer, he was
satisfied being paid 1065 guilders and 1 stuyver, handed and paid to him by the aforementioned mr. Edmund Whits
and his associates in several portions.
# On the same day appeared before me, notary, and before the witnesses mentioned below, the aforementioned Christoffel Huling and Catarijn Dorel (for her self, also representing Edmont Withs) and they declared to accept the aforementioned transfer as-is.
Agreeing to this corresponding notarial deed, and passed (before the notary) within the aforementioned city of Rotterdam, in the presence of Franchois Hillenius, Englishman, living here (in Rotterdam) and of Niclaes van Percijn, my clerk, requested to act as witnesses.

* These are terms used for specific sizes of characters; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_point-size_names
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galley_proof
*** A flat stone used when correcting the galley proof; this stone was l&ing on a bed of bran in order to minimise the effects of pressure on the characters alread& set in the galle& while making the final corrections
**** L&e was cooked and then put in a basin to be used for cleaning the ink from used printing characters (to prepare them for new, clean usage)
***** These are terms used for indicating the paper size of the print; see Wikipedia for more info on the respective sizes
****** 24o being half the size of duodecimo

Keyboard issue ;)

* These are terms used for specific sizes of characters; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_point-size_names
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galley_proof
*** A flat stone used when correcting the galley proof; this stone was lying on a bed of bran in order to minimise the effects of pressure on the characters already set in the galley while making the final corrections
**** Lye was cooked and then put in a basin to be used for cleaning the ink from used printing characters (to prepare them for new, clean usage)
***** These are terms used for indicating the paper size of the print; see Wikipedia for more info on the respective sizes
****** 24o being half the size of duodecimo

Wow Rene- this is absolutely fantastic!

Can' thank you enough and I know Graham, the archivist at the Moxon society will be thrilled with this translation of such a fascinating document.

Many thanks too for the explanation of the terms used too. 

I really appreciate your time and efforts to help me and the society.

warmest best wishes

Anne

The transcription of the second one. For as far as I can understand it, this is an agreement in which the new buyers / owners favourably grant James Moxon the continued use of their print room in order to execute and finish orders still running at that time.

Op huyden den XXVIII mey anno XVIc achtendertich
compareerde voor mijn, Arnoudt Wagensfelt, notaris
publycq, bij den Hove van Hollant geadmitteert, resi-
derende tot Rotterdam, ende voor de naergenoemden
getuygen Christoffel Huling ende Catarijn Dorrel,
voor haer selven ende in desen vervangen haer
sterck maeckende, de rato caverende voor mr.
Edmund Whits ter eenere ende James Moxon,
Engels bouckedrucker hier ter stede ter andere
sijde ende bekenden den voornoemde Christoffel Huling
ende Catarijn Dorrel qualitate qua dat sij precario
hebben gelaten onder den voornoemde James Moxon, die
oock bekent precario onder hem te houden (tot
uytvoeringe ende voltreckinge van het drucken
van vierduysent bibels psalmen ende aencleven
vandien ende bovendien nocht tweeduysent psalmen
die den voornoemde James Moxon heeft aangenomen
te drucken voor den voornoemden Christoffel Huling,
Catalijn Dorrel ende mr. Edmund With)
sekere soodanige druckerije met alle de gereet-
schappe, appendentien ende dependentien vandien,
staende inde accademie binnen deser stede als
letteren, gesneden platen ofte prenten ende
diergelijcke gereetschappen als den voornoemde James
Moxon op huyden voor mijn, notario, ende den
naergenoemden getuygen aande voornoemde Edmunt
Whits, Christoffel Huling ende Catarin Dorrel
---
heeft getransporteert, gecedeert ende manuelijck over-
gegeven, belovende derhalven den voornoemden James Moxon
geene der voorsz. gereetschappe te sullen vermin-
deren, maer deselve in 't geheel te laeten tot
profite van de voornoemde Edmund Whits, Christoffel
Huling enden Catarijn Dorrel, omme bij henlieden tot
haer believen wederom geaenvaert ende naer
haer genomen te werden onder verbant van sijn
comparants persoon ende goederen, present ende toecom-
ende de selve stellen ten bedwang van allen
hoven ende gerechten, consenterende hier-
van een ofte meer acte in forma. Aldus gedaen ende
gepasseert binnen de voorsz. stat Rotterdam
ter presentie van Francoys Hillenius
ende Niclaes van Percijn, mijnen clercq, als ge-
tuygen hiertoe gerequireert.

And my attempt to translate this

Today, the 28th of May in the year 1638
appeared before me, Arnoudt Wagensfelt, public notary,
admitted by the High Court of Holland and resi-
ding at Rotterdam, and before the witnesses mentioned below,
Christoffel Huling and Catarijn Dorrel,
on behalf of themselves and while acting as remplacant,
taking care of the interests, each taking care of their own part in this, of mr.
Edmund Whits as first party and James Moxon,
English book printer within this city as the other
party, the aforementioned Christoffel Huling
and Catarijn Dorrel each in their own quality confirming to favourably have
the aforementioned James Moxon keeping, James Moxon
also confirming to keep favourably (in order
to execute and complete the printing
of 4,000 Biblical psalms and items related
to that as well as of another 2,000 psalms
the aforementioned James Moxon accepted to
print for the aforementioned Christoffel Huling,
Catalijn Dorrel, and mr. Edmund With)
a certain print room with all instruments and
other items belonging to or depending on it,
located in the university of this city as well as
print characters, cut plates or pictures and
tools like that in the same way and amount as the aforementioned James
Moxon has transferred, conceded and handed over before me, the notary, and before the
witnesses mentioned below to the aforementioned Edmunt
Whits, Christoffel Huling, ane Catalijn Dorrel,
---
while promising not to dispose of any of the aforementioned tools,
but to keep them complete to the
benefit of the aforementioned Edmund Whits, Christoffel
Huling, and Catarijn Dorrel, in order to be repossessed by those persons,
setting himself and his present as well as his possessions as collateral
as a guarantee, this collateral being subject to the decisions of any
high or regular judicial court, agreeing that one or multiple formal deeds
should be composed regarding this. Done accordingly and
passed before the notary within the aforementioned city of Rotterdam
in the presence of Francoys Hillenius
and Niclaes van Percijn, my clerk, requested to act
as witnesses in this case.

Third doc will follow, but a heads-up: the third one is a deed in which the three new owners of the print shop promise to return the print shop to James Moxon as soon as he will have printed the 4,000 bibles, psalms and related issues as well as the additional order of 2,000 psalms.

This set of documents clarifies how deliveries could be guaranteed in case of large orders: the printer temporarily transferred the ownership to the people who commissioned the order to him and would receive the print shop back in his own hands as soon as he would have delivered his order properly.

Dear Rene

This is all quite fascinating isn't it? The agreement is almost like a 'lease buy back' deal.

I haven't had time to research further but when I get back home -currently traveling :-) I'll look into the other people named in the document. Edmund Whit(e) sounds English to me.

I'm curious who would buy all those bibles and psalms?Were they for a Dutch market or English? Also was James Moxon able to speak Dutch I wonder?

You have done a wonderful job with these documents and I know I can thank you not only on my behalf but also on behalf of the Moxon society researcher Graham.

Just a final question. Are you happy to be credited in the article Graham plans to write about these new sources in the Moxon Society Magazine?

warmest best wishes

Anne

Hi Anne,

I think all comparants (Christoffel Huling, Edmund Whits and Catarijn Dorrel) are English, looking at their names.

I do know that book printing, especially bibles was highly developed in the Low Countries back then; it seems that even English royalty at some time ordered their bibles from printers based in the Low Countries.

Happy to help out, credits are always appreciated :).

Will post the final doc in a few moments.

Op huyden den XXVIII mey anno 1638 compareerde etcetera
Christoffel Huling ende Catarijn Dorrel voor haerselven
ende in desen vervangende, haer sterck maeckende ende de rato
caverende voor mr. Edmont Whits, dewelcke bij desen
belooffden dat sij aen James Moxon, Engels bouc-
bedrucker hier ter stede sullen restitueren ende weder-
geven alsulcken druckerye met alle de gereetschappe,
appendentien ende dependentien vandien, staende in de
accademie binnen deser stede, als letteren, gesneden platen
ofte prenten ende diergelijcke gereetschappe als de voornoemde
Moxon op huyden voor mijn, notario, ende de naerge-
noemden getuygen aenden voornoemde Edmont Whits, Christof-
fel Huling ende Catarijn Dorrel heeft getransporteert,
gecedeeert ende manuelijck overgegeven ende dat soo
haest hij, James Moxon, voor haer comparanten volgens de
conditien daervan gemaect sal hebben gedruckt ende
aen henlieden gelevert vierduysent bibels, psalmen ende
aencleven vandien ende bovendien noch tweeduysent
psalmen die hij heeft aengenomen te drucken, onder
verbandt van haerlieder respective personen ende goederen,
present ende toecomende, deselve stellende ter bedwang
van allen hoven ende gerechten, consenterende hier-
van acte. Aldus gedaen ende gepasseert bin-
nen d' voorss. stadt Rotterdam ter presentie van Franchois Hil-
lenius, inwoonder alhier, ende Niclaes van Percijn,
mijnen clercq, als getuygen hiertoe gerequireert.

----

Today, the 28th of May in the year 1638 appeared etcetera
Christoffel Huling and Catarijn Dorrel on their own behalf
and in regard to this case replacing, serving the interests of and each for their own part
taking care of business for mr. Edmont Whits, these comparants hereby
promising to give back and return to James Moxon, English book
printer within this city
such print office with all the tools
and all its related items, situated within the
university within this city, like print characters, cut plates
or pictures and such tools as the aforementioned
Moxon today has transferred, conceded and handed over before me, notary, and before the
witnesses mentioned below to the aforementioned Edmont Whits, Christof-
fel Huling, and Catarijn Dorrel,
as soon as he, James Moxon, will have printed and delivered on the order of the comparants to them
in accordance with the related conditions 4,000 bibles and psalms and related
items as well as 2,000 psalms he [James Moxon] has accepted to print, agreeing to the drafting of a deed concerning this.
Done and passed before the notary within
the city of Rotterdam in the presence of Franchois Hil-
lenius, inhabitant of this city, and of Niclaes van Percijn,
my clerk, requested to act as witnesses to this case.

Dear Rene

Many thanks for completing the 'English printer' documents which have proved most interesting.

You were right. It seems that Edmund Whits, Christoffel Hurling and Catarijn Dorrel were all English merchants. I find the fact that an English woman was involved in trading in Rotterdam in1638 quite fascinating. She had at least 2 sons; Jan & Thomas also trading in Rotterdam at that time, with it appears land in Barbados.

I will forward all your work to the Moxon society later this week when I get home.

very best wishes

Anne