Date: |
1504, 1524, 1531, 1481 and 1522 |
MeMO memorial object ID: |
268 |
Commemorated party: |
The double slab commemorates members of the Van Zijl and Van Swieten families. Jan Jacobz. van Swieten
(d. 1524) and Jan van Swieten (d. 1531) were secular clergy (wereldheren), and as such they were allowed to
be buried with other family members. They were the sons of Jacob Hugenz. van Swieten (d. 1504), who is also
commemorated with this slab. Their mother Celi van Zijl and her daughter Alijt are commemorated with a
smaller floor slab or 'headstone' (hooftstuck) now situated in the south aisle of
the nave. The other persons commemorated are Dirck van Zijl (d. 1481) and Daniel van Zijl (d. 1522). |
Current location: |
Central nave (middenkerk), near the organ |
Original location: |
Prior to the 1960-1967 restoration, this slab was situated in the presbytery; according to the
register of graves the original location was the central nave (middenkerk), row 7, graves 8 and 9 (R7 G8-9) |
Short description: |
Double slab of light sandstone, vertically divided into two sections, each with their own marginal
inscriptions in Gothic textualis and heraldry, the dexter side featuring the shields of the Van Swieten family and a
quatrefoil containing a chalice and Eucharist, the sinister side a medallion with the shields of the Van Zijl family,
and in the centre an indent that formerly contained a memorial brass with inscription. |
Condition: |
The slab is largely complete but badly worn, and the imagery and inscriptions are only partly
legible; the lower right corner and the brass plate are missing. |
Material: |
Green-grey Öland limestone |
Dimensions: |
232 x 170 cm |
Inscription 1 (dexter): |
'Hier leit begraven Jacob Hugenz. hij sterf anno XVc ende IIII den XXVe Novembris. int jaer XVc
ende XXIII op St. Jacobsdach sterf Jan Jacobz. priester bidt voir die zielen' |
Translation 1: |
Here lies buried Jacob Hugenz. who died in the year 1504 on the 25th of November. In the year 1524
on St James's day [25 July] died Jan Jacobz., priest. Pray for the souls. |
Inscription 2 (sinister): |
'Hier leit begraven Dirck van Zijl hij sterf int jaer 1481 op St. Mathys dach. int jaer XVc XXII den XIII
Junij sterf Daniel van Zijl bidt voir die zielen' |
Translation 2: |
Here lies buried Dirck van Zijl who died in the year 1481 on St Matthew's day [29 September]. In the
year 1522 on the 13th of June died Daniel van Zijl. Pray for the souls. |
Language: |
Dutch |
Heraldry: |
On the dexter side of the slab: to the left of the chalice the heraldic shield of the Van Swieten
family (three violins, 2-1) and to the right (sinister) the Van Zijl shield (a chevron with three crosses
saltire). On the sinister side of the slab in the central medallion the badly worn shield of the Van Zijl
family (a chevron with three crosses saltire) surmounted by a helmet and decorated with mantling. The corners of
the slab also feature the shields of Van Swieten (dexter) and of Van Zijl (sinister). |
Alterations: |
Additional inscriptions from the seventeenth century commemorate later members of the Van Swieten
family, including Huygh Willemz. van Swieten (d. 1620), who was alderman and burgomaster of Oudewater. Another
inscription situated beneath the Van Zijl shield on the sinister side has not been transcribed and is no
longer legible. |
General remarks: |
The slab was recorded by the Utrecht antiquary
Aernout
van Buchel (Buchelius, 1565-1641). He transcribed the text 'Heer Jan van Swieten priester sterf int jaer ons
Heeren 1531 in octobri' (Sir Jan van Swieten, priest, died in the year of our Lord 1531 in October) that was
apparently engraved on the brass plate originally placed in the centre of the slab. Van Buchel also recorded an inscription and
the heraldic shields of the Van Swieten and Van Zijl families that he found engraved on a pillar on the south side,
commemorating Jan Jacobz. van Swieten, priest (d. 25 July 1525), Dirck van Zijl (d. 25 February 1480), Daniel van
Zijl (d. 13 June 1522), Geerlof Jacobz. van Swieten (d. 27 November 1504), Claes Wouterz. (d. 25 August 1536), and
Agatha, widow of Wouter Claasz. (d. 19 May 1544). |
