To all and each of the kings, princes, dukes, marquesses, counts, archbishops, bishops, nobles, barons, abbots, governors, seneschals, magistrates and municipal councillors; likewise to all and each of the admirals and administrators of provinces, regions, cities, castles, fleets, ships, straits and bays, or overseers of ports; to those distinguished by any title of honour or dignity, and to all others exercising authority on land or sea to whose notice this present letter may come; and especially to the most illustrious, eminent and esteemed gentlemen, the chief magistrate, magistrates and council of the renowned royal city of Stockholm, under the rule of the most valiant and invincible King of Sweden:

We, the Provost and Bailies of the royal town of Aberbroth in the Kingdom of Scotland, and the other undersigned, wish enduring happiness and salvation in Him in whom the salvation of His own is most certain.

Since the foremost concern and duty of those entrusted with the administration of public affairs ought to be to bear witness to the truth, especially in matters whose concealment may prejudice the innocent; and since James, David, Adam and Henry Lejell, merchants (who are and have been full brothers, born of one father and one mother, lawfully conceived and begotten in marriage and an undefiled marriage bed), have petitioned and requested us to be pleased to testify publicly to their legitimate birth:

We, in fulfilment of the duty incumbent upon us and in order to uphold the truth, caused this petition to be examined and diligently investigated. Trustworthy witnesses were summoned by our authority for this purpose. They appeared before us, as is customary, while we sat in court to administer justice and hear causes. Having touched the holy Gospel, raised their fingers, extended their arms and recited the prescribed words, invoking God as witness, they swore, deposed and unanimously attested as follows.

They knew with certainty, as is also known to us, that the aforementioned James, David, Adam and Henry Lejell were lawfully begotten of well-born parents joined in lawful marriage, and descended from honourable families on both their father’s and their mother’s side. Their father was the upright and noble gentleman Patrick Lejell, Bailie of Aberbroth; their paternal grandfather was Adam Lejell, Bailie of the said town of Aberbroth; and their paternal grandmother was Bessia Broun, legitimate daughter of the upright and distinguished gentleman James Broun, merchant of Aberbroth.
Their mother was Euphemia Symson, likewise chaste and upright, and also born of a distinguished lineage. Their maternal grandfather was James Symson in the parish of Aberbroth, within the sheriffdom of Angus; their maternal grandmother was Janetta Rynnd, legitimate daughter of the distinguished and well-born gentleman James Rynnd.

All these persons, joined in lawful matrimony, lived honourably without any stain or blemish of infamy or disgrace, and left surviving offspring devoted to virtue and the finest arts. Both the parents and the sons are very well known by sight to us and to the said witnesses, and the latter are everywhere held and regarded as their sons.

As we have clearly ascertained these things to be true, supported by the testimony of the said witnesses, so we further attest that they are true and bring them to the knowledge of all whom they concern.

Request and authentication We therefore ask and earnestly entreat you all, with due respect for your dignity, to extend to the aforementioned merchants James, David, Adam and Henry Lejell every courtesy, honour and mark of respect. We shall return an equal favour to you should you wish to make use of our assistance in any matter.

In witness and testimony of all and each of the foregoing matters, we have caused our own town seal to be affixed to this present letter, signed by our order.

At Aberbroth, on the fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and fifty-five

Mrsle, Preacher of the Gospel.
I. Octerlouni, Provost.
I. Ramsay, Bailie.
David Octerlouni, Bailie.
F. Benson, Clerk.

“We have verified that this agrees with the original itself on parchment.”
F. A. Kebon John E. Bask

“I have examined [this] on the basis of the authenticated copy.”
John Bierchen