Amended will of November 17
Two weeks after writing it, Leeuwenhoek and his daughter Maria added a paragraph to their self-composed will of November 17. They specified that, contrary to the will of 1719, the longer living of the two could alter any provisions in the 17 November 1721 will, including the executors. Written in Leeuwenhoek's hand and sign by him, Maria, the two executors, and the notary.
Jan de Bries, notary ONA inv. 2415J, fol. 596. The original from notary Jan de Bries bound in ONA inv. 2791 p. 23, Joris Geesteranus, notary
Wij onder geschreven testatuuren hebben hiervoren geseyt dat de langstlevende, de genoemde legaaten niet en sullen verminderen, maar wel vermeerderen, maar nu verklaaren wij testatuuren, dat de langstlevende van ons beyde de magt sal hebben om de legaaten in dit ons testament gemelt te niet te doen, te verminderen of te vermeerderen, hetsy onder de hand als was het sonder segel ende dat sulks in waarde sal houden, als was het voor notaris ende getuygen gepasseert, ende in dese testament stont uytgedrukt en soodanige magt, sal ook de langstlevende hebben om de executuurs hoewel die bij ons hier sijn aangestelt, deselve te niet te doen en andere in derselver plaatse aan te stellen.
Heden den 26 November 1721
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
Maria van Leeuwenhoek
executeurs
d' Heer Jan van Leeuwen
d' Heer Gerard van Loon
d' Heer Jan de Bries
We have previously stated under written wills that the survivor will not decrease the said legacies, but will increase them. But now we declare that the survivor will have the power to annul the legacies in this our will, to decrease or to increase, either in hand as if it were without seal and that it will retain its value, as if it had passed before a notary and witnesses, and that it has been boldly expressed in this will and such power, which the surviving spouse will also have to abolish the executors, although they have been appointed by us here, and to appoint others in their place.
