Reconciliation after the Bochum fire

Transcription

Original

Die Stadt Bochum verträgt sich durch Vermittlung des Schultheißen Johann Wolff und des Stadtrats von Hattingen mit Johann Schriver, Rentmeister zu Blankenstein, in dessen Hause zu Bochum im Jahre 1517 der die ganze Stadt zerstörende Brand entstanden war, und gestattet ihm und den Seinen die freie Rückkehr nach Bochum. 1525, 7. April.

Wy, Henrich Oevelgunne, Dirich Sybe, beide Bürgermeistere, vort sementliche Raitzfrunde und gantze Gemeynheit der Stat Boichem, doein tsamen kunt: Also in Burtyden durch Ungeluckes halven Johann Schrivers Vuyr, itzont Rentemeisters to Blanckensteine, unse Stat Boichem verbrant worden, dairdorch hey uit Boichen ruymen ind wyken moiste, dat doch eirtytz dorch unses genedichsten, lieven Heren Hertogen van Cleve, syn Amptluide ind andere Vrunde, quitlich verdragen was worden, dat hei unß vur sulchen grothen unverseinden Schaden eynen benoimpden Pennink geven soilde, dat sich doch tuschen uns beiden Parthien bis herto unthailden.

So bekennen wy nu sementlich ind besunder vor uns ind unse Naekoemlinghen overmitz dussen openen Brieve, dat wy nu dorch unse volmechtige Vrunde, wy dairto verordent, geschickt ind gebeden hadden, mit Namen Johan Wolff, unsen Schoulthen, Henrich Oevelgunne, unsen Burgemeister, und Johann Boemken, aen unser Syden, deshalven upt nye vastlich to haldende, guitlich verdragen, verlickt ind gescheiden synt worden.

Also dat achter dussem Daghe Johann Schriver, Rentemeister vurgenant, mit syner Huysfrauwen, oren Kindern ind Erven, ungefairt moeghen ghaen ind stain, passieren, koemen ind varen bynnen Boichem, ind oeir Huysstede aldair betymmeren, vort oeir Guit, bynnen ind buthen Boichem geleghen, vredelich bewonen, gebruiken ind geneiten moeghen, gelich sye vur dem Brande to doein plegen.

Ind wy noch unse Erven eder Nakomelingen, noch nemant van unse wegen, en sullen noh en willen em, syner Huysfrauwen, noch oeren Kindern ind Erven alsulchen ungelucklichen unversienden Brant nummer vorhailden, verwyten, noch enyghe Archwillicheit derhalffen tot oeren Hinder ind Schaden vor to kerende in gheinerleye Wyse.

Ind wert Saicke ymant van den unseren dair enboewen enige Moetwill mit Gewalt, mit Rechte off suß anders sich aen oen off oeir Erven keirden ind deden des Brandes halven, dair vor willen wy oen altyt gans ind all, buithen oeren Entgeltnisse ind Schaden, bescheirmen, beschudden ind dair van qwitten.

Ind umb Oirsaicken halven, uns dairto bewegende, schelden ind verladen wy dairumb oen, syne Huysfrauwe ind oere Erven des Brandes halven qwit, ledich ind loß then ewighen Daghen, sonder Argelist.

Heir mede by, oever ind aene waeren aen des vurscr. Renthemeisters Syden dey erenveste ind vrome Wessel Hasenkamp, Burgemeistere, ind etliche Raitzfrunde der Stat van Hatneggen, den dusse guetliche Scheidinge ind Motsoen mede wittich ind kundich is.

Dusses alles tho Orkunde der Wairheit heben wy, Burgemeistere van Boichem vurgenant, ind Raitzfrunde ind sementliche Gemeynt, unser Stat Segell vur uns ind unse Nakomelinghen an dussen Breiff gehangen.

Ind tot vorderem ind meren Tuige der Wairheit aller vurgenanten Punthen so heben wy, Burgemeisters, Raitzfrunde ind sementlicke Gemeinheit der Stadt Boichem, gebeden den eirbaren Johann Wolff, itzont unsen Schulten, ind dey eirbaren ind vorsichtigen Burgemeistere ind Raidt der Stadt van Hatneggen, dat sy oere Segelle by dat unse mede aen dussen Breiff hebn gehangen.

Des ich Johann Wolff, Schulte, ind wy, Burgemeisters ind Raidt der Stadt Hatneggen, bekennen wair to syn ind umb der van Boichem Bede willen, so wy mede oever ind aen dusser fruntlicher Scheidonghen syn gewest, gerne gedain hebn.

Gegeven in dem Jare unses Herren viffteinhondert ind viff ind twintich, up Fridach nae dem Sondage Judica.

English Translation

The city of Bochum, through the mediation of the schout (sheriff) Johann Wolf and the town council of Hattingen, reaches a settlement with Johann Schriver, rentmaster of Blankenstein, in whose house in Bochum the fire originated in 1517 that destroyed the entire city, and grants him and his family free return to Bochum. 7 April 1525.

We, Henrich Oevelgunne and Dirich Sybe, both mayors, together with all the councillors and the entire community of the city of Bochum, hereby make known:

Whereas in former times, through misfortune, a fire originating from Johann Schriver, now rentmaster of Blankenstein, burned our city of Bochum, as a result of which he was required to leave and depart from Bochum; and whereas this had already been provisionally settled through our most gracious and beloved lord, the Duke of Cleves, by means of his officials and other friends, such that Schriver was to pay to us a specified sum of money in compensation for the great and unintended damage caused—yet this matter has until now remained unresolved between both parties;

Therefore we now, jointly and individually, for ourselves and our descendants, by means of this open letter, acknowledge that we have now, through our authorised friends appointed for this purpose, namely Johann Wolf, our schout, Henrich Oevelgunne, our mayor, and Johann Boemken, on our behalf, entered into a firm, peaceful, and final settlement and reconciliation.

Accordingly, from this day forward, Johann Schriver, aforesaid rentmaster, together with his wife, children, and heirs, shall be permitted to go and stand freely, to pass, come, and travel within Bochum; to rebuild his dwelling there; and to peacefully possess, use, and enjoy his property, whether located within or outside Bochum, just as he did before the fire.

Neither we, nor our heirs or descendants, nor anyone acting on our behalf, shall ever reproach, accuse, or in any way hold against him, his wife, children, or heirs this unfortunate and unintended fire, nor cause them any harm or disadvantage because of it.

And should any person among us act with violence, through legal means or otherwise, against him or his heirs on account of the fire, we shall fully and completely protect and defend him against such actions, and hold him harmless from all loss or damage.

For these reasons, we hereby absolve and release him, his wife, and his heirs, for all time, from all blame, liability, and accusation arising from the fire, without deceit or reservation.

Present on the side of the said rentmaster were the honourable and upright Wessel Hasenkamp, mayor, and several councillors of the city of Hattingen, who were fully informed of and witnesses to this amicable settlement and reconciliation.

In testimony of the truth of all this, we, the aforesaid mayors, councillors, and entire community of the city of Bochum, have affixed the seal of our city to this letter, for ourselves and our descendants.

And for further and greater confirmation of the truth of all the above points, we, the mayors, councillors, and entire community of the city of Bochum, have requested the honourable Johann Wolf, now our schout, and the honourable and prudent mayors and council of the city of Hattingen, that they affix their seals alongside ours to this letter—which they, Johann Wolf, schout, and we, the mayors and council of the city of Hattingen, acknowledge to be true and have gladly done at the request of the city of Bochum, since we were present and involved in this friendly settlement.

Given in the year of Our Lord 1525, on the Friday after the Sunday Judica.