Document: Complaint of the magistrates of Middelburgh against Peter Taelman

Mr. Coo, and Mr. Hazard, magistrates of the village of Middelborch remonstrate at the session of the director general and councilors the following: that William Pidgion had requested of them at Vlissingen that Taelman’s tobacco be attached, because he saw that Taelman intended to send his tobacco away, which the magistrates permitted and he was summoned at once to the next court session; in the meantime, Taelman, before coming to the council or awaiting the decision, sent his tobacco away, in contempt of the law.

The magistrates, having been given the choice by the director general and councilors, whether the aforesaid Taelman was to be punished here in the city or whether they wanted to punish him themselves in their court, answer that they are not inclined to do so severely because Taelman is a poor man; however, if the lord general and councilors are so pleased, they are to punish him as is proper according to the circumstances of the case, which was granted, ady ut supra.