Confrerie van de Handbussche

Author: 
Kempers, J. P.
Publisher: 
Koninklijke Scherpschutters-gilde
Year: 
1855

Full title

De Koninklijke Scherpschutters-gilde: "Ridderlijke Confrerie Diletto ed Arme", oudtijds de Ridderlijke Broederschap, genaamd: de Confrerie van de Handbussche, binnen Delft

literal translation: The Royal Sharpshooter's Guild: Chivalrous Fraternity "Diletto ed Arme", in olden times the Chivalrous Brotherhood, named: the Fraternity of the Pistol, within Delft

In the secondary literature, there seems to be ambiguity about the Dutch schutter and schieter and thus scherpschutter and schutterskoning. Schieter is clearly a shooter, but should schutter be translated as shooter or guard?

What about "Diletto"? It is not in any Dutch dictionaries of the time. I found this:

Ridderlijke Confrerie Diletto ed Arme (Vermaak en Wapenen) te Delft, 1854-1855.

Sewel's Dutch-English dictionary of 1735 (3rd ed.) has the following translations:

  • Handbus - a Pistol, harquebuss
  • met scherp shieten - to shoot with bullets or any other shot
  • Schieter - a Shooter
  • Schutten - to Stop., hinder., keep out, prevent
  • Schutter - a Musketeer, shooter
  • Schutting - a Stopping, keeping out
  • Vermaak - amusement, entertainment, diversion

Thus, Ridderlijke Confrerie Diletto ed Arme is Chivalrous Fraternity of Amusement and Weapons