Freiburger historische Bestände - digital

APPENDIX.

Letters and Documents.

I.

Martin Behaih an seinen Oheim
Leonhard Behaim in Nurnberg.1

»J<yhs 1477 adj. 17 april in mechel.
maria

Mein frewntlichen gruff vnd
willigen dienft allezeit lieber vetter
das es dir vnd alien deinem Hauff-
gef indt wol gieng vnd gefunt werft
war mir ein grofs frewd von dir zu
horen, lieber vetter als ich dir am
nagften in meinem brieff des datum
ftund vmb fafnacht dorin ich dir
fchreib wie ich vermaint vnd hofft
itzund in der nagften franckfurtter
faftenmes vergangen zu franckfurtt
geweft feyn, das hett ich ficher
gern gethone. Und hett mich
allerding dortzu gericht vnd wert
nit anders ich solt mit mains herrn
fone dargezogen feyn, also kam
pluffpluck potfch wie es fo beforglich
auff dem weg ftend so wolt mein
herr nit fein fone mit feinem gutt
wagen darauff verkauft mein her
feine lacken einem teutfchen kauff-
mann zu anttorff. Alfo hett ich
meins herren radt mit wem ich
zihen follt, wolt er mir nit ratten
ob ich mit fremcTen leutten zihen
folt. Alfo wolt ich aus meiner
aigen verftentn nit wagen auff das
felb bin ich hie zu mechel belieben
darumb bitt ich dich freuntlich das
du mir mein fchreiben nit in argk
auff nemeft wan ich gern dort
geweft wer vnd ichs im beften nach
radt meins herrn an hab ften laffen.

Von neuen meren wais ich nit
befunders zu fchreiben dan das
ytzunt an funtag nachft vergangen
ift des kaisers inbafaria hier geweft
darin was herzog ludwig den man
nennt den frantzen hertzog vnd der
bifchoph von metz vnd man ist
hoffend des keifers fone mit nanme
Maximillian auf halb mey hier fol
feyn vnd mein noiffrawen von
burgongue in zu der ee zu haben 1

Martin Behaim to his uncle
Leonhard Behaim in Nuremberg.1

►J« yhs. At Mechlen, April 17,
1477. Maria

My friendly greeting and willing
service at all times: Dear Cousin,
I heard with great pleasure that
thou and all thy household are well
and in good health. Dear Cousin, in
my last letter of shrovetide [February
18], I wrote that I intended and
hoped to have attended the last
lent fair at Frankfurt. I should
certainly have liked to do so, and
had prepared everything, and it
was settled that I should go there
with the son of my master (Herr),
when all at once (pluffpluck) we
heard that the roads were not safe.
Therefore my master would not risk
his son or his merchandize, and
sold his cloth to a German merchant
at Antwerp. I then asked my
master's advice as to with whom I
should travel, but he would not
advise me to go with strangers, nor
did I venture to do so on my own
opinion. I therefore remained at
Mechlin and beg thee kindly not
to think ill of this letter, for I
should have liked to go, but thought
best to follow the advice of my
master, and did not do so.

Of news I have nothing special
to report, unless it be that on
Sunday last [April 13], the
Emperor's embassy was here, and
with it Duke Louis, called the
French Duke, and the Bishop of
Metz, and they hope that the
Emperor's son Maximilian will be
here about the middle of May, in
order to marry my lady of
Burgundy3; and everyone is very
glad of this. My lady of Burgundy
has also come to Mechlin and will
remain here. I know of nothing
else to write about except that I

vnd ydermann ift des fere froo.
Auch ift mein frawe von borgogne
hier zu mechel komen die wirtt
hier wonen belleiben. Nit anders
wais ich dir zu diefsem mal zu
fchreiben dan das mir kein brieff
ift von dir worden fider dem des
datum ftedt am fontag nach lucie
das was adj. 15 decembrio. Damit
bis gott dem almechtigen bevohlen,
grufs mir dein weib vnd dein fwiger
vnd dein hauffgefind. Datum zu
mechel mit eillen gefchriben am
heiltums abett 3 anno lxxvij jar ut
supra. Mertein Beheim.

have received no letter from thee
since the one dated Sunday after
Lucia, or December 15 [1476].
Be therefore commended to God
the Almighty j give greetings to
thy wife, thy father-in-law and thy
household. "Written in haste at
Mechlin, on the eve of the Festival
of the Lance and the Nails,3 anno
'77 [April 17, 1477], as above.

Mertein Behbim.

Martin Behaim an seinen Oheim
Leonhard Behaim in Nurnbebo.4

►Ji yhs. 1477 adj. 13 otubrio in
mechel. maria »|«

Mein vntterdenighen willighen
dinft alle zeit bereyt lieber vetter
das es dir vnd deiner hausfrawen
▼nd alien deinen kinder vnd hauff
gefindt wol gieng vnd gefundt werft
hort ich fere gern wifs lieber vetter
ich hoff du habft von meiner lieben
muter vnd von michel deinem sone
wol vernomen das ich itz in der
nagften vergangen herbftmeff zu
franckffurtt nach meiner mutter
begertten bey partolmes von eib
bin geweffen vnd hab ptolmes von
eib da geholffen vnd hab auch pas
gefehen vnd erlernt was da fur ein
handel fey. Nach dem fo hat mich
der von eib widerumb nach endung
der meff gen mechel en meinem
vorigen herrn mit namen Joriusvon
dorpp noch den winter getan vmb

II.

Martin Behaim to his uncle
Leonhard Behaim in Nuremberg.4

»J« yhs. Mechlin, October 13, 1477.
Maria

At all times thy obedient and
willing servant. Dear Cousin, I
heard very gladly that thou, thy
housewife, all thy children and
household are well. I hope thou
hast heard through my dear mother
and thy son Michael that I
attended the last autumn fair at
Frankfurt with Bartholomew von
Eib, as desired by my mother, and
that I assisted there Bart, von Eib,
and saw and learnt how trade is
carried on there. At the close of
the fair von Eib sent me back to
Mechlin, to my old master, Jorius
von Dorpp, with whom I am to
stay next winter, and am to look
further about me. I therefore
started on my way briskly, and by
the grace of God Almighty, I got

1 Ghillany, Urkunde II. See p. 8.

« The marriage of Maximilian and Mary of Burgundy was celebrated at Ghent on
August 20, 1477.

* This Festival, Festum reliquiorum et armorum, is celebrated on the Friday after

Low Sunday (the Sunday next after Easter).

* Ghillany, Urkunde V. A facsimile of this letter faces this page.

p 2