The oath of the Schependom

I hereby swear to be just alderman in Antwerp, to protect the right of the holy church, to help preserve the right and the glory of my gracious lord the Duke of Brabant; to help preserve the right, the privileges, the customs, usages and privileges of the city; to give counsel and keep counsel secret. And if the judge entitled to do so enjoins me, I will give a fair verdict, according to charges and defences. And I will not renounce all that for the sake of kinship, for the sake of friendship, for the sake of reward, for the sake of anxiety, for the sake of fear, for the sake of compulsion, nor for the sake of fear of death. I will do all that befits a good, just and trustworthy alderman of Antwerp, according to my power, my knowledge, my wisdom and my five senses. Furthermore, I swear [to uphold] the privilege of the Blijde Inkomst, granted by my gracious lord the duke, in accordance with the way it is stated in the issued charter; I promise and declare that I will not do anything against it, without guile or bad faith. So help me God, these saints and all God's saints.