Your Serene Electoral Highness has referred to my humble judgment the petition of Joan van Piethoffen, the supplicant prays Your Electoral Highness for a gracious decree as accessist in the court music, he has indeed served for two years with his voice on the Duc Sall (doxal), hopes in time to deserve the good will of Your Serene Highness by his industry, and his father who enjoys the grace of serving Your Highness as bass singer prays his appointment, I pray most humbly and obediently for instruction concerning your Highness’s good will in the matter, submit myself humbly and obediently to Your Serene Highness’s grace and remain in greatest humility. Your Serene and Electoral Highness’s Most Humble and obedient servant Gottwaldt, Director of the Chamber Music. A further report was made to the Elector as follows: BONN, March 27, 1756. _Coloniensis gratiosa._ Chamber Music Director Gottwaldt _ad supplicam_ of Joan van Betthoffen has served two years on the docsal and hopes through his industry to serve further to the satisfaction of Your Electoral Highness, to which end his father who through Your Highness’s grace serves as bass singer will seek completely to qualify him which may it please Your Serene Highness to allow. _Idem_ Gottwaldt _ad supplicam_ Ernest Haveckas, accessist in the court music, reports that suppliant, though not fully capable as yet hopes by special diligence to make himself worthy of Your Highness’s service and would be encouraged and rejoiced in his efforts if Your Serene Highness would graciously deign to grant him a _decreto_, humbly praying to be informed as to Your Highness’s wishes in the matter. _DECRETUM_ Court Musician’s Decree for Johan van Biethofen. _Clm. A._ Whereas His Serene Electoral Highness of Cologne, Duke Clement August in Upper and Lower Bavaria etc. Our Gracious Lord on the humble petition of Johan van Biethofen and in consideration of his skill in the art of singing, also the experience in the same already gained, having graciously declared and accepted him as court musician, appoint and accept him by this writing; therefore the said Biethofen receives this decree with the gracious sign manual and seal of the Privy Chancellary, and those who are concerned to recognize him hereafter as an Electoral court musician and to pay him such respect as the position deserves. Bonn, March 25, 1756. Johann van Beethoven was 16 years old at this time. Why he should appear in the Court Calendar as an _accessist_ four years after the publication of this decree appointing him Court Musician does not appear. THE DUTIES OF COURT CHAPELMASTERS