HANSdoc Database

15570514BRE00

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1557, May 14

[Bremen]

Minute of the Bremen lower court, in which Hinrick Sprenger states that he bought the trading company from Christoffer Meyer in Shetland, which they use to have together, together with the booth, so that Meyer had no longer anything to do with the company. Witnesses are Reineke Hargestede and Harmen Middendorp, who confirm that Sprenger bought the company from Meyer, but do not know what both men did on Shetland.

15570900SHE00

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1557, [September]

[Shetland]

Gerdt Breker obliges to Brun Oldenburg, Johan Belink, Oltman Icken, Harmen Middendorp, and Johan Ellebracht, that he will pay 150 Bremen marks to the heirs of Cordt Hemeling, and 20 daler to the foud of Shetland Olave Sinclair, because of his involvement in the death of Hemeling. He mortgages his posessions in and around Bremen, including his house and booth, and promises not to leave the ship that takes him back to Germany.

15580207BRE00

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1558, February 7

[Bremen]

Lawyer Dirick van Minden to [Bremen]: answer to the complaint against his client Gerdt Breker by Brun Oldenburg and Johan Beling about the death of Cordt Hemeling in Shetland, in which he explains the circumstances that led to Hemeling's death. It was the rude behaviour of Hemeling himself that led to a fight on the ship, in which he was hit among others by Breker, and fell down. However, it cannot be proven that it was these events that led to his death, as he acted normally afterwards for 10 or 12 days, before he was found dead in his bunk. As Breker had no other choice than to confess, the obligation was forced upon him and therefore, it is pleaded to be declared null and void.

15590109BRE00

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1559, January 9

[Bremen]

Verdict of the Bremen city council in the case about the death of Cordt Hemeling on Shetland, in which it is decided that Gerdt Breker should fulfill the conditions set out in his obligation towards his warrantors Johan Beling and Brun Oldenburg, but that he is free to raise a suit against Gerdt Hemeling, the brother of the deceased skipper, and the ship's crew.

15590201BRE00

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1559, February 1

[Bremen]

Lawyer Dirick van Minden to [Bremen]: complaint of his client Gerdt Breker against Gerdt Hemeling, the brother of skipper Cordt Hemeling, who allegedly died of injuries inflicted to him by Breker on Shetland, but acted normally and even helped Breker after the incident. Therefore, with an appeal to statute 101 of the city legislation, it is unfair that Breker had to pay 150 Bremen mark to Hemeling and was expelled from the city, and it is demanded that that claim is withdrawn.

15590906BRA00

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1559, September 6

Brow

Olave Sinclair, governour of Shetland, testifies how in August 1557, German skipper Cordt Hemeling was slain by Gerdt Breker, a member of his crew, in Shetland, how he was sought and found, and that five men were appointed as Breker's warrantors before Sinclair on Cordt's brother Gerdt Hemeling's incentive.

15591212BRE00

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1559, December 12

[Bremen]

Gerdt Hemeling to Bremen: defense against the complaint of Gerdt Breker's lawyer Didrick van Minden in the case about the death of his brother Cordt Hemeling on Shetland, in which he states that the witnesses contradict each other about what happened in Shetland, and that there is no alternative explanation for the cause of death of Hemeling than that he died from the blow dealt to him by Breker. Moreover, Breker confessed before Shetland governour Olave Sinclair, of whom he sends a letter of testimony, and demands that Breker pays the desired amount.

15600115BRE00

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1560, January 15

[Bremen]

Lawyer Dirick van Minden to Bremen: replication to the defense of Gerdt Hemeling against his client Gerdt Breker in the case about the death of skipper Cordt Hemeling in Shetland, in which he states that the witnesses do not contradict each other, that Breker cannot pay the desired amount, and there is not enough evidence to convict him for manslaughter of Hemeling. Moreover, the translation of the testimony of Shetland governour Olave Sinclair is not valid as evidence because it is not verified by a notary.

15600129BRE00

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1560, January 29

[Bremen]

Gerdt Hemeling to [Bremen]: rejoinder and final plea to the replication of Didrick van Minden, lawyer of Gerdt Breker, in the case about the death of Cordt Hemeling in Shetland, in which he states that he could not have forced Breker to sign his obligation, as he was about a week sailing away when it happened, and that statute 101 is not valid in this case, as the manslaughter happened abroad and not in the city of Bremen.

15600212BRE00

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1560, February 12

[Bremen]

Lawyer Dirick van Minden to [Bremen]: surrejoinder and final plea to the rejoinder of Gerdt Hemeling against his client Gerdt Breker in the case about the death of Cordt Hemeling in Shetland, in which he repeats that Breker should not be convicted of manslaughter, and asks the council to decide whether statute 101 is valid here, since both parties are citizens of Bremen.