Twee brieven [...] aan Everhardus vander Hooght

jump as the chance might turn: and that I had not acted in good faith. Those who are of such a nature, think that I am also thus. Therefore I find it necessary to say a little here, as far as it is useful and permitted for me. Four times I have delivered a writing, wherewith I intended to satisfy the Kerkenraad Consistory or Church Council or Classis regional governing body. The first was on Thursday the 2nd of August during the holding of the Synod the provincial church assembly, to the Consistory: in which those, assembled the Sunday following, took no pleasure; just as is also mentioned in the Acts of the Synod article 41. This was my own work: arranged nonetheless according to the thoughts of many, as best I could perceive; to satisfy all as much as was in me. The second was on Thursday the 30th of the same month, after the Synod; in place of an answer to the 13 Articles, first presented to me by the Consistory: upon which they declared the day thereafter to take no sufficient satisfaction formal expression of agreement or repentance. This is printed behind those Articles without the Consistory's and my doing or knowledge. In that declaration I had followed the sense, and as much as possible the own words of two of my fellow brothers: who having been requested by me, to please tell me, as much as they could learn from the others, and as they themselves judged, what satisfaction the Consistory would indeed demand of me; each gave me a separate draft in writing, both of which differed much in the weight of the demand. I took the middle ground, after much deliberation by myself, what I might wring to the utmost from my conscience (as it was then disposed); thus setting down less than the one and yet more than the other demanded. I then let both see that: of whom one first in particular, and then both together gave me the hope, that it would pass. But the feeling or the suspicion that was with one or another member, that I did not mean something here or there for the best, caused this on Friday, without I myself being called to further explanation of all such words, to be also rejected as far as has been said. Therewith I had finished before the Consistory, the month of August now being ended: and the matter was on the 3rd of September thus entirely given up to the Classis. Which for the handling of the same, then took the next time of the usual meeting, which was the 1st of October; where the 4 deputies