Twee brieven [...] aan Everhardus vander Hooght

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to consider for one's own self what meaning the words could have, being understood in sincerity. And then it stood firm with me, (as it also stood with the two previous Acten Acts or official records) to sacredly maintain what I had once signed. This writing was contained in 6 Articles; the first of which accepted the first 6 of the 13; and the 5 others contained my declaration on the 7 last Articles, mentioned more than once, presented to me first by the Kerkenraad Church Council or Consistory, and thereafter by the Classis regional governing body of the church. However, being busy with them for three whole days, they reformed some, and left others open; until such time that I should first have declared myself on those thus reformed (gedreffeerde drafted or prepared was their word): for which I was given 13 days of time; namely to declare myself on the 20th of the same month, after negotiation, as before, with the Brother deputies. Now it was no longer about those 13 Articles; but about this last mentioned Act, which they called the 6 gedreffeerde Artykelen prepared articles, that one should work on by mouth and script. But those 13 days fell far too short for that: having been able to have no more than two of the four deputies together at once; through various hindrances of matters, concerning their service, house and person; not from my side, who stood ready to speak with them fairly. It was from this that the Classis again could not proceed on the 20th, however much it was urged: and it was then first found, that a much more ample time was needed for it; which nevertheless was taken no further than two months, and that with the condition, to finish it once and for all after the lapse of the same. Notice of this was given to the Gemeente Congregation from the pulpits. It was in those two months that it first really came to the point, and the chapters of my Book were thoroughly examined; through which the mutual writings from the 2nd of October until the 22nd of January were exchanged, taking up together about twenty sheets of paper. However, the deputies found no other way out of this, than to propose to me, that I myself should draw up a new Acte van voldoeninge Act of satisfaction or atonement, or further Declaration, which they might again submit in my name as before? For that purpose, for greater certainty, I took a draft that had come into my hands immediately after the other in like manner; and of which I even at this hour do not know the drafter.