Document: Declaration of Philip Gerardy respecting a wound he received at night from Jan Jansen Damen after conducting him home

Philip Gerraerdy[1] from Paris, lying abed sick [ and wounded ], deposes at the [ request ] of the honorable fiscal, Van der Hoykens, that last Monday night, sometime between twelve and one o’clock, he went with Jan Damen to conduct him home. Having come there (after Jan Damen’s servant man had threatened to shoot him with a pistol), Jan Damen told his servant to go to sleep, who said, I will not. Finally, the above mentioned Jan Damen and Dirck, his servant, began to fight, the man having a knife and Jan Damen a scabbard. Said Jan Damen falling backward, he, the deponent, having his drawn sword in his hand for the purpose of separating them, kept the servant from Jan Damen, who got up and ran into the house. He immediately came again out of the house with a knife and as it was very dark, Jan Damen struck him, the deponent, under the shoulder-blade. The aforesaid Philip Gerardy also declares that he is not aware that he, the deponent, and Jan Damen ever in their lives had any personal grudge or quarrel and that this accident occurred suddenly and without intention on the part of Jan Damen. He, the deponent, also requests the fiscal not to molest Jan Damen on that account. Done the 11th of April anno 1643, in the presence of the undersigned witnesses.

John Lightfoote
Touchyn Briel
Cornelis van Tienh.