Modern Translation
Regest: 1 October 1514. Vincent Cornelisz., master of the udit Office, reports on how he dealt with the confession of the late steward Jan Stalpaert, who admitted to having committed fraud in the collection of funds for the campaign of the States of Holland in 1488–1490.
When the late Master Jan Stalpaert, who had served as master of the Audit Office in The Hague during his lifetime, reached the end of his life, he wished to clear his conscience and account for the administration he had conducted, together with the late Master Dirk Potter, in the years 1488, 1489 and 1490, concerning the campaign of Rotterdam, Woerden and Montfort. He drew up a handwritten statement covering both the payments made at that time, whether large or small, and other items where there had been omissions. This served as an explanation and overview of his accounts, insofar as they did not correspond with the final balance of those accounts.
He entrusted this statement to Master Pieter van der Goude, parish priest of the Chapel at the Binnenhof in The Hague, so that after his death he might hand it over to Master Vincent Cornelisz., also master of the Audit Office and his colleague. During his lifetime, he had asked him to present this statement after his death and to ensure that the balance of his account could then be corrected, as he wished both in life and at the time of his death — which is indeed what happened.
The contents of that statement, written by himself, follow below word for word.
The aforementioned original statement, verbatim as stated above, has remained in my possession, Vincent Cornelisz. I hereby declare that this is the case and that it took place in this manner. In accordance with all this, the widow and heirs of the aforementioned late Master Jan Stalpaert have paid to the city of Delft, in reduction of the aforementioned debt of 9,072 pounds, the sum of 5,337 pounds, which in the currency currently in circulation amounts to 1,779 pounds. And this for the repose of the soul of the aforementioned Master Jan.
After I, Master Frans Coebel, lawyer of the province, had submitted this to the States of the province, they were satisfied, as it served to alleviate the province’s burdens. It was therefore decided that this should be noted at the end of the account of the aforementioned late Masters Dirk Potter and Jan Stalpaert, concerning the campaign of Rotterdam, Woerden and Montfort, and recorded for posterity. I have therefore attached that statement to the aforementioned account.
In confirmation of all this, I, the aforementioned Vincent, have placed my signature below on the first day of October 1514.
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