ACA, Family De Graeff Archive (76), Inv. Nr. 122, Items Nrs. 307 and 308
The transcription follows item nr. 307 (diploma in canon law) and includes, within square brackets, the words where nr. 308 (diploma in civil law) differs.
Universis praesentes literas Inspecturis Petrus des Chasteaux, presbyter Iuris utriusque et sacrae facultatis theologiae parisiensis doctor et socius sorbonicus scholasticus et canonicus Insignis ecclesiae et almae universitatis Aurelianensis Cancellarius, salutem. Plurima sunt quae nos monent ut illi praemiis dignitatum Insignibus extollantur qui se viros fortes praebent ac strenuos et maxime qui sacri Iuris Canonici [Civilis] scientiae per quam spiritualia disponuntur, pariter et terrena, assiduo labore et curiosa vigilia agrum perfodientes scientiae thesaurum collegerunt. Cum igitur eruditum virum magistrum Petrum de Graeff Amstelo Batavum in dicto Iure baccalaureum nobis per magnae scientiae sagacis diligentiae et per optimae famae viros utriusque Iuris dictae universitatis professores in ea actu regentes oblatum examinaverimus et per alios doctores ipsum explorari cum rigore fecerimus diligenter qui post rigidum publici examinis certamen excussum uno ore asserebant eundem De Graeff dignum et sufficientem ac talem approbantes nobis obtulerunt ad titulum licentiae in dicto Iure obtinendum. Nosque ipsi de eius honestis moribus probitate vitae Litterarumque scientia per plures qui ipsum noverunt ad plenum fuerimus certiores facti et quod a puerilibus exordiis per stadia disciplinae scholasticae currendo sic profecerit ut iam per eum veluti duris assuetum athletam ecclesia dei resque publica Christiana adiuvari possit, pupilli vero viduae ceteraeque miserabiles personae defendi. Id Circo volentes eidem De Graeff post angustias solamen post certamina victoriam et requiem post labores elargiri, tametsi eius merita nequeamus ad sufficientiam honorare, Idoneum tamen ad dictam Licentiam censemus atque post examinis habiti rigorem contulimus Invocato Jesu Christi nomine eiusque intactae Matris ac victoriosae Sanctae Crucis, authoritate apostolica nobis concessa et qua fungimur in hoc negotio damus atque concedimus eidem magistro Petro de Graeff praesenti et acceptanti Licentiam et authoritatem regendi legendi ordinarie docendi publice disputandi dubia declarandi et Interpretandi in dicto Iure Canonico [Civili] atque caetera omnia quae ad doctoratum Iuris Canonici [Civilis] spectare et pertinere noscuntur hic et ubilibet locorum. Datum Aureliae sub sigillo nostro et scribae nostri signo, anno domini millesimo sexcentesimo sexagesimo, die vero decima sexta, mensis novembris / praesentibus Petro Jannis et Isaaco Collot testibus ad praemissa vocatis.
De Lalande Antecessor[1] et Rector, Riviere[?] Antecessor
Nequid huic diplomati desit, quo ad plenam perfectamque eius et similium formam, sicut vetera Aurelianensis Academiae exigunt statuta, nomen meum auctoritate publica hic apposui et sigillum Inc[li]tae Nat[ion]is Germ[ani]cae appendi iussi.
Johann Adam de Schöning
I[nclitae] N[ationis] G[ermanicae] Procurator
English Translation
Pierre de Chasteaux, priest, Parisian doctor of both rights and of the sacred faculty of theology and member of the Sorbonne, scholar and canon of the distinguished Church and chancellor of the nurturing Aurelian University, greets all who will examine this act. Many are those things that induce us to elevate, with exceptional awards of merit, those who show themselves to be determined and tenacious men and especially those who, digging in the field of the knowledge of sacred canon [civil] law with constant effort and scrupulous attention, by means of which spiritual things are arranged as well as earthly things, have acquired the treasure of doctrine. Therefore, after having examined the learned man, the master Pieter de Graeff, Batavian of Amsterdam, baccalaureate in the aforementioned law, presented to us by men of great knowledge, keen discipline and great fame, professors of both rights in the aforementioned university, who currently hold the office in it, and, having carefully considered that the same was examined with inflexibility by other doctors, who, after the rigorous challenge of a public examination, unanimously declared De Graeff himself worthy and adequate and presented him to us, proving him to be of such quality as to obtain the license in the aforementioned right. And, we were fully informed of his honest behavior, of his probity of life, of his knowledge of scholarship by many who knew him, and, given that, since the early beginnings, running through the stages of educational training, he has made so much progress that now, through him, as an athlete accustomed to demanding efforts, the Church of God and the Christian community can be helped, in particular orphans and widows and all other unfortunate people can be defended. For this reason, wanting to give the same De Graeff relief after hardships, victory after struggles and rest after fatigue, although we cannot sufficiently honor his merits, we nevertheless consider him suitable for this license and, after the inflexibility of the examination, we have discussed, having invoked the name of Jesus Christ and his virgin Mother and the victorious Holy Cross, for the authority granted to us that we use in this office, we give and grant to the same master Pieter de Graeff who is present and who receives the license and authority to rule, read, teach regularly, debate publicly, clarify and interpret doubtful matters in canon [civil] law and all other questions that are known to concern and are pertinent to the doctorate of canon [civil] law, here and everywhere else. Given in Orléans under our seal and the signature of our scribe in the year of the Lord one thousand six hundred and sixty, on the sixteenth day of the month of November, present as witnesses Petrus Jannius and Isaac Collot, witnesses summoned to the premises.
De Lalande Predecessor and Rector, Riviere[?] Predecessor
There is nothing lacking in this diploma, to which, in full and perfect form of it and the like, as the old statutes of the Aurelian Academy require, I have placed my name here by public authority, and ordered the seal of the Illustrious German Nation to be affixed.
Johann Adam de Schöning
Officer of the Illustrious German Nation
Jacobus Delalande, mentioned in the Bulletin de la Société archéologique et historique de lâOrléanais 1916, Tome 17, n. 210, p. 291.