16610831LUN00

1661, August 31

Lunda Wick

Twelve nobles and churchmen in Unst, Shetland, confirm that Herman and Gerdt Detken and their predecessors, citizens from Bremen, have been honest and faithful merchants, and have supported the church and people of Shetland.

Created for and published on the HANSdoc website of the German Maritime Museum, Bremerhaven, by Bart Holterman in the context of the research project Between the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea: interdisciplinary Studies of the Hanse. Licensed CC BY.

B1

Bremen, Staatsarchiv der Freien und Hansestadt Bremen

2-W.9.b.10 (Auslandsbeziehungen England)

One bifolio

20,5x31,5cm

Paper

Modern foliation in pencil, 11, 14.

Both versions written in the same hand as the copies and translations of the quittances of David Murray.

Scots

On the back: Testimoniall for Harman and Gerdt Detkines.

16610831LUN00SAB0

B2

Bremen, Staatsarchiv der Freien und Hansestadt Bremen

2-W.9.b.10 (Auslandsbeziehungen England)

One bifolio

21x33cm

Paper

Modern foliation in pencil, 12-13.

Both versions written in the same hand as the copies and translations of the quittances of David Murray.

Translation

High German

On the back: Testimonium führ Harman undt Gerdt Detkenß and in another hand Lit. E.

16610831LUN00SAB1

Scots original

Be it kendt till all men whom it effieres to whose knowledge this present testimoniall shal come, we, the gentlemen, heritores, minister and elders withine the isle and parochine of Unst in Zetland, truely testifies and declares, that the bearers heeroffe, Harmen Detkine, and Gerdt Detkine his brother marchands burgesses of Bremen whose predicessors have beene merchands and traders to this countrie, and in special heere amongst us, the space of ane hundreth yeers or thereby, whereofe their vinqw? father1 continued as merchand heere the space of fifftie tuo yeers, and themselves the space of fourtie tuo yeers, and nothing knowne to us worthy of any churchcensure, bot have behaved themselffs as becomes lovest godly, and good christians, both in lyffe and conversatione, frequenting all publicke ordinances semblable to professores of the gosspell, and liberall towardh our poore, and also verie carefull in helping us in repairing our ruinous churches, and acts all publicke imployment with the countrie and in our island according to equitie and conscience, so that the poore doeth blesse them, and also have dealt verie honestlie in theire trade of merchandise, in buying and selling with poeple of all rancks, and for the more verificatione heerofe we have subscrived thire presents with our oune handh, and writen be our clerke of sessione at the kirke of Weik in Unst the last day of august the yeere of god 1661.

Ja(mes) Sinclair of Schalloway
Androw Bruce of Munies
Magnus Hendersone of Gardy
Johne Roß elder
Niniane Hendersone elder
William Thomsone
Mr. Tho(mas) Frazer minister att Unst
William Bruce elder
J. Sands
James Edie elder
James Mowat elder
Jo. Abernethie clerke to the session

Transcript of B1 by Bart Holterman, 2017

German translation

Zuwissen sey hiemit jedermäniglichen wem eß angehet führ wen dieser testimonium konnten werden wir, von adel, possessoren, predigtere, undt kirchen-elderen, inwendig den insul undt kirchspiel Unst, in Schetlandt, warhafftig bezeugen undt erklähren, daß die inhabern undt vorzeigern dieseß Harman Detken; undt Gerdt Detken, brüder kauffhandlern burgern in Bremen, welchen vorähltern, kauff- undt handelßleute in diesen landt, undt insonderheit hierunter unter unß die zeit von hunderth jahren ungefehr, worvon, ihr vatter sehliger1 ist hier kauffman verblieben fiufftigzh zwey jahren undt sie die zeit von viertzig zwey jahren, undt unß nichteß offentlich bewust daß sie sich gehalten haben, wieder unsern kirchen gesetz undt ordnung, oder etwaß begangen haben daß straaffenß werth gewesen, sondern haben sich in ihrem leben undt wandel so verhalten, wie eß gute christen geziemtt in frequentirung allen offentlichen gotteßdiensten, bekennern deß evangelions gebührende; undt gegen unsern armen sehr freygebig, imgleichen sehr sorgfeltig in reparirung unsern ruinirten kirchen; undt verrichteten alle offentlichen imployrung im landt, gerichtigkeit gemeß, mit gutem gewissen; also; daß die arme leute ihnen segnen, undt haben auch sehr ehrlich gehandelt in ihren kauffhandlung in kauffen undt verkauffen mit allen standß persohnen, zu mehrer versicherung dieseß, haben wir dieseß mit eigenen handen untergeschrieben, geschrieben durch unsern, sessionschreibern zur kirchen Weik in Unst, den letzen augustii anno 1661.

Jacob Sinclair von Scalloway
Andreß Brüce von Munieß
Magnus Henderson von Gardy
Johan Roß alderman
Ninian Henderson senior
Wilhelm Thomson
M. Tho(mas) Frazer pastor gezeugen
Wilhelm Brüce kirchen elder
J. Sandß
Jacob Edie kirchen elder
Jacob Moduat kirchen elder
Johan Abernethie clericus consistorii.

Transcript of B2 by Bart Holterman, 2017