HANSdoc Database

15570514BRE00

Transcript available

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

Transcript available

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.

15590906BRA00

Transcript available

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

Transcript available

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.