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De Gulden Passer. Jaargang 57 (1979)

De Gulden Passer. Jaargang 57

(1979)– [tijdschrift] Gulden Passer, De–rechtenstatus Auteursrechtelijk beschermd

Vorige Volgende

Seventeen letters from Hendrik Jansen van Barrefelt (Hiel) to Jan Moretus*
by Prof. Alastair Hamilton
(Urbino)

Introduction

1

The pseudonym ‘Hiël, the uniform life of God’ defied identification for over two and a half centuries. Gottfried Arnold1 in 1699 and Francis Okely2 in 1781 published extracts from Hiël's

works; Pierre Poiret3 in 1708 provided an analysis of his doctrine. People were aware of the influence exerted by Hiël on the Spanish Biblical scholar Benito Arias Montano, and from his works they deduced certain details about his life. It was not until 1862, however, that Hiël was revealed to be Hendrik Jansen van Barrefelt, the schismatic follower of the founder of the Family of Love, Hendrik Niclaes. The identification was the work of Friederich Nippold4, and since then Barrefelt has more than come into his own. The research performed by Max Rooses5, Bruno Becker, Maurits Sabbe and H.F. Bouchery6 prepared the ground for the stimulating pieces by Professor Herman de la Fontaine Verwey7. Recently, too, Dr Bernard Rekers, in an interesting study on Arias Montano8, has made high claims for Barrefelt's importance in both an intellectual and a political sphere. My object in publishing the following letters from Barrefelt to Jan Moretus contained in the Plantinian archives is to terminate a task initiated by Jean Denucé in the final volumes of Plantin's correspondence, and to provide some more material which could contribute to a proper reappraisal on the one hand of Barrefelt's activities and influence, and on the other of the group of men who surrounded him.

2

Hendrik Jansen van Barrefelt was born in Barneveld in Gelderland9. We can do no more than guess at the date: judging from the constant references to his great age in his last letters I would place it in the second decade of the sixteenth century. In the early years of his life he was a weaver. Once an Anabaptist, he entered the service of Hendrik Niclaes in the early 1540s, at the time when that rich merchant had moved from Amsterdam to Emden and founded the Family of Love. Barrefelt lived in Niclaes' house in Emden; he saw to the printing of Niclaes' first writings by Dirck van den Borne in Deventer, and then to the distribution of the works in the Frisian regions, Overijssel, Holland and Brabant. In his capacity as Niclaes' agent in the area of Antwerp Barrefelt probably made the acquaintance of Christophe Plantin some time in the mid-1550s, when Plantin replaced Dirck van den Borne as Niclaes' printer. By 1560 Barrefelt had married. Little can be ascertained about his family, but in 1573 he is reported to have had a son aged twelve; he had at least one daughter10; and we see from his correspondence (Letter IX) that he had a sister wedded with the bookseller from Groningen Bernardt Lamrinck.

Hendrik Niclaes left Emden in about 1562, repairing first to Kampen and then to Rotterdam. Of Barrefelt's movements in the 1560s we know nothing. It is likely that his sense of loyalty towards Niclaes began to wane and it may have been in this period that he had the mystical experience he described later in his Grondstuck11, and decided that the instructions imparted directly by the Spirit were preferable to those delivered by Hendrik Niclaes. He remained, moreover, in touch with Plantin: his friendship is attested12 in the late 1560s or early 1570s with the rich Brabantine

spice-merchant Arnold 'tKint, one of Plantin's many agents and the brother-in-law of Hans Spierinck, another spice-merchant who was later to marry the printer's daughter Catherine.

By 1568 or 1569 Niclaes had settled in Cologne and, strained though their relationship was, it is possible that Barrefelt took Cologne as his base at about the same time13. Conveniently situated on the trade route between Frankfurt and the Low Countries, a city where Plantin's agents regularly assembled on their way to the trade fairs, Cologne had the advantage of a tolerant magistracy14 which made it one of the principal havens for refugees from the wars in the Netherlands. Niclaes was eager to surround himself by as many of his followers as possible and encouraged the arrival of the sail-maker from Dordrecht Cornelis Jansen and the preacher Huibert Duifhuis after the Flemish government troops had occupied Rotterdam in the spring of 1572. It was in Cologne that Niclaes had the revised and new editions of his works printed throughout the 1570s, so we can take it that there was a large Familist colony ready to facilitate the existence of fellow members of the sect. As the consequence of a series of visions and an increasingly wide and varied amount of adherents, however, Niclaes was also intensifying his endeavour to turn the Family of Love into a visible organisation with an elaborate hierarchy dependent on his own person. This contrived apotheosis met with objections. Cornelis Jansen and Duifhuis refused to accept Niclaes' authority and decided to abandon him, Duifhuis accepting an invitation to minister at the St. Jacobskerk in Utrecht early in 157415.

Niclaes' quarrel with Cornelis Jansen and Duifhuis, which seems to have lasted for the best part of 1573, coincided with a lengthy

disagreement with Barrefelt of which there are two versions, Niclaes' and Barrefelt's. Barrefelt was later to tell Coornhert16 that his reason for abandoning Niclaes was the same as that of Duifhuis: the dispute was exclusively doctrinal; he could no longer countenance Niclaes' ‘errors’; and, like Duifhuis and Cornelis Jansen, he opposed Niclaes' claims to monopoly of inspiration and authority. Niclaes, on the other hand, attributed the quarrel to financial reasons17. Barrefelt, Niclaes tells us, had been allowed to collect the interest on a sum of money which had been bequeathed to the Family of Love by Martynken Coels in Antwerp, and which Niclaes had entrusted to Arnold 'tKint. Barrefelt and his wife, however, complained of the insufficiency of their income. Niclaes did all he could to pacify them, and even took their twelve-year-old son into his service, but it was to no avail. Barrefelt entered into league with Augustijn van Hasselt, another of Niclaes' former printers, and, together with Plantin and his large circle of friends, relatives and business associates, broke with Niclaes.

Although we are unlikely ever to know which of these two versions is correct, from their own point of view both Barrefelt and Niclaes were probably telling the truth. Barrefelt did indeed find Niclaes' authority unacceptable and left him for that reason, while Niclaes, in all good faith, attributed the rift to a financial misunderstanding of a type which, we shall see in the letters that follow, was far from uncommon in the Family of Love. That Barrefelt and Arnold 'tKint were associated financially is apparent from Barrefelt's repeated attempts in the early 1590s to persuade Kasper de Wedyger (who may well have been 'tKint's executor) to release the money which Barrefelt believed 'tKint had left him at his death in about 158818. Here, too, the quarrel between Barrefelt and De Wedyger seems to have been due more to a misunderstanding than to deliberate dishonesty on either side. The same can be said, moreover, of the bequest which a Provençal jeweller living in Paris made to Niclaes and which Plantin was

supposed to transfer to Kampen in 1562. Plantin claimed - and there is no reason why we should share Niclaes' doubts about his honesty - that he had appropriated part of the bequest to cover debts and expenses he had incurred on the jeweller's behalf19.

3

In the mid-1570s20 - if not earlier - Barrefelt was writing his principal works, all of which (with the exception of the Biblical images) he signed with the name Hiël, and it was in editing and producing them that we see the schismatic followers of Hendrik Niclaes again assembled in a confraternity both spiritual and financial reminiscent of Niclaes' original foundation. Barrefelt's main work, Het Boeck Der Ghetuygenissen vanden verborghen Ackerschat, was edited in Utrecht by Duifhuis21. Duifhuis died in 1581, the year in which Plantin probably published the Acker-schat and the first volume of Barrefelt's Sendt-Brieven in the original Dutch and in a French translation22. Three years later he printed the Biblical images, Imagines et Figurae Bibliorum23, with copperplates by Pieter van der Borcht and Barrefelt's commentaries in Dutch, Latin and French (Plantin himself was responsible for the French translation24 if not of the first, certainly of the second, version of these commentaries).

The 1580s were Barrefelt's years of glory. Although he had returned to Cologne well before the end of the decade, Barrefelt seems to have spent the period between 1583 and 1585 in Antwerp and Leiden, in the company of Plantin25. And Plantin, exploiting his wide field of friends and business contacts, made every effort to distribute Barrefelt's works outside the Netherlands. In 1583 he tried to introduce them into the circle of François de Valois, Duke of Anjou, by way of his old friend Pierre Porret in Paris26. Between 1585 and 1588 he dispatched Latin and French translations to Benito Arias Montano27 at the Escorial, some of them through Philip II's secretary Gabriel de Zayas28. How successful Plantin was in spreading ‘Hiëlism’ is debatable. Pierre Porret's letters from Paris would seem to tell a story of failure29. The members of Anjou's court appear to have taken little more than a cursory interest in Barrefelt's writings. In August 1590 Frans Raphelengius the Younger asked Jan Moretus what he should do with the unsold stock of Barrefelt's works which were still in the keeping of Porret's illegitimate son Chrétien in Leiden30, and two years later we find Jan Dresseler transporting copies of Barrefelt's Sendt-Brieven in both Dutch and French to Cologne in the hope of selling them at

Frankfurt31 - with what success we do not know. In Spain Plantin was perhaps more fortunate. Although I have doubts about whether Arias Montano came under Barrefelt's influence while he was staying in Antwerp between 1568 and 157532 (in what language would they have communicated? and why did Plantin find it necessary to tell Arias Montano that Barrefelt knew no other language than Dutch in 158733?) there can be no doubt about the enthusiasm with which Arias Montano received the Latin and French translations of Barrefelt's works which Plantin sent him in the 1580s. This emerges clearly from his letters to the printer and from his striking acknowledgement of Barrefelt in his commentary to the Book of Revelation printed by Plantin in 158834. Whether or not Barrefelt's thought spread farther than Arias Montano in Spain is a question that remains to be answered35.

These isolated failures and successes abroad were of less immediate importance to Barrefelt than the friendships he made through Plantin in the Low Countries. For it was there and in Cologne that Barrefelt met the individuals whose support was to stand him in good stead in the last years of his life in the Rhineland. If we except Justus Lipsius, whose professed devotion to Barrefelt seems to have declined when he left Leiden in 1591 and returned to the Catholic Church36, these were the men who, even after

Plantin's death in 1589, formed the backbone of the ‘Hiëlist’ movement. They were rich - often richer than the printer to whom some of them advanced considerable quantities of money - and they were therefore in a position to make conspicuous financial contributions to de komenschop, the ‘business’, one of whose chief purposes was to provide for the furtherance of Barrefelt's ideas. The principal importance of Barrefelt's correspondence - of the letters published by Denucé and of the letters that follow - is that they contain the names of these men and tell us about the rôle they were playing in the production and distribution of Barrefelt's works.

To start with, of course, there were the immediate members of Plantin's family. Hans Spierinck37, a spice-merchant, married Plantin's daughter Catherine in November 1575, after her first husband, Jean Gassen, had died as the consequence of an attack by bandits. He had spent some time in Cologne before moving to Hamburg where he represented his father-in-law until 1583. In 1585 he was in Leiden and by 1589 he had returned to Antwerp. The brother-in-law of Arnold 'tKint, he had probably become a close friend of Barrefelt when living in Cologne after 1577. Frans Raphelengius38, on the other hand, who had married Plantin's eldest daughter Marguerite and who settled in Leiden in 1585 to take over the Officina Plantiniana from his father-in-law, must have made the acquaintance of Barrefelt before leaving Antwerp for Leiden. In 1586 he was appointed professor of Hebrew at Leiden university and by 1589 he had virtually lost interest in running his father-in-law's press, leaving the administration in the hands of his sons, Christoffel and Frans the Younger. How close his friendship was with Barrefelt is questionable. Certainly his sons called on Barrefelt in Cologne and appear to have printed

at least one of his works39, but Frans the Elder was evidently reluctant to commit himself too deeply to producing the writings of his father-in-law's old friend40. What is almost certain, however, is that Plantin's Leiden branch at first retained Van der Borcht's plates of the Biblical images which were later to have such a success in Amsterdam. Finally there was Jan Moretus41 who had married Plantin's second daughter, Martine, in 1570. Plantin regarded Jan Moretus as his heir, and it was as the printer's spiritual successor that Barrefelt wrote to him, hoping that he would share his father-in-law's enthusiasm for the ‘business’. Unfortunately none of the many letters which Moretus wrote to Barrefelt have survived, and there is no way of telling whether he was loyally observing a friendship inherited from his father-in-law, or whether he would have liked to take a more active part in the publication of Barrefelt's works than political and commercial caution permitted.

The other members of the ‘business’ mentioned in Barrefelt's correspondence with Plantin and Moretus were nearly all Plantin's agents. I have already referred to Arnold 'tKint42, the opulent spice-merchant whose friendship with Barrefelt can be traced back to the late 1560s or early 1570s and who, after his death in about 1588, was succeeded by his two sons Arnold the Younger and Hendrik. We are less well-informed about the various members of the Bylant family43 who played such an important part in

Barrefelt's life, putting up his daughter and seeing to the distribution of his works in Antwerp. Of Rogier Elebo44 we know that he, like Spierinck and 'tKint, was a spice-merchant, while Jan Dresseler came from one of the richest families in Antwerp45. Jan Dresseler's father, a cousin of Jan Moretus, had died by 159046 and it is not clear whether Jan the Younger or his father was a rag-merchant. Jan the Younger, at all events, was working for Plantin by 1586 and in that year he was taken prisoner by the troops of the States-General between Brussels and Namur on his way to Frankfurt and was held to ransom. In the following year he signed a contract with Plantin stipulating the terms on which he would sell his books in Frankfurt47, and in February 1590

he renewed the contract with Jan Moretus48. Another man who is constantly mentioned in Barrefelt's letters is someone whose international connections deserve to be studied in greater detail: Arnold Mylius. After representing his father-in-law Arnold Birckmann in Antwerp, Mylius took over Birckmann's bookshop in Cologne in 1585 and remained, until his death, one of the principal links between the book-trade on the Continent and the various Dutch émigré merchant families living in England49. Finally we have a man of Spanish descent - Plantin's old friend and backer, the marrano merchant Luis Pérez50, whose daughter Adrienne married the mayor of Antwerp Nicolas Rockox in 1589; and Ferdinand Real51, who owned an important commercial enterprise in Cologne.

The majority of Barrefelt's acquaintances in Cologne, then, were merchants, either Brabantine merchants who came from Antwerp on business journeys, usually on their way to the Frankfurt fairs, or members of merchant families well-established in Cologne. This was the case of the man about whom Barrefelt complains so frequently in his letters, Kasper de Wedyger52, one of the municipal taxcollectors, and of the woman with whom Barrefelt was lodging. The latter was Margrieta von Honthum, the widow of a member of a family of merchants who had long been active in the Rhineland and who had numerous connections with the Netherlands. After hoping to apprentice her son Hans to Jan Moretus, Margrieta

von Honthum gave up the idea on account of the dangers besetting travellers between Cologne and Antwerp and sent him to work with Mylius53.

4

An interesting feature of Barrefelt's supporters in Germany and the Low Countries is their religious affiliation. Many of them - Plantin himself, Jan Moretus, Luis Pérez, Frans Raphelengius the Younger - were Catholics, but the idea that ‘Hiëlism’ appealed more to Catholics than to Protestants should be modified. The elder Raphelengius and his son Christoffel were Reformed Protestants54, as was Rogier Elebo55. Jan Dresseler, on the other hand, appears to have been a Lutheran56. Why did these men of different religious allegiances gather together in the determination to promote the works of Barrefelt? If the variety of their religions tells us something about ‘Hiëlism’, it also tells us a certain amount about the Protestantism, or indeed the Catholicism, of the men in question: a faith of the most tolerant kind, in which dogma can have had little place.

There was a deep conviction amongst the men surrounding Plantin that external religious observances were of secondary importance, and the accommodating doctrine of Barrefelt was admirably suited to such a conviction57. Barrefelt had learnt his lesson from Hendrik Niclaes. He had had occasion to observe the disenchantment caused by a man whose personal claims increased day by day. He had watched the concept of the invisible church yield to an attempt to impose a visible structure. He was, in all probability, aware of the fact that Niclaes' perfectionist allegories had been taken literally by many of Niclaes' more ignorant adherents and had provided the Family of Love with some discredit. Throughout his works, therefore, Barrefelt displayed a caution that stood in marked contrast to Niclaes' audacity.

Barrefelt's message was centred on the importance of self-knowledge. We must, he maintained, know ourselves in order to recognise those signs by which God makes Himself known to us in our soul - an essentially personal operation which can differ from one individual to the other, and from which nobody is necessarily excluded. Once the sign of God has been recognised, once the subject has prepared himself by contrition, humility and the imitation of Christ, he will again be incorporated in the Oneness of God from which Adam tore him away. The fundamental object of Barrefelt, then, was to show all men, whatever their creed, the way to incorporation in the mystical body of Christ. Beside this object all ceremonies could be classed as adiaphora, things not essential to salvation but which could, Barrefelt believed, serve a temporary purpose if observed in the right spirit.

Where Niclaes had been outspoken Barrefelt was moderate. There can be little doubt that he, like Niclaes, preferred Catholicism to Protestantism, but in the work of Barrefelt we find none of the outbursts against the Reformation which we find in a book like Niclaes' Evangelium Regni58. Barrefelt did explicitly reject justification by faith59, but he did so primarily in order to condemn the

potential antinomianism which it entailed. He concentrated far less than Niclaes on describing the damnation in store for those who paid no heed to his words. He hesitated to set himself up as a master. He was, rather, a witness showing - and not leading - the way to salvation. Other men had as much right to inspiration as he, and his mission was to teach them how to obtain it, not to set himself above them or to found a sect.60.

During the wars of religion which afflicted the Netherlands and Germany in the last thirty years of the sixteenth century Barrefelt's conciliatory, undogmatic message had a particular appeal to merchants. It is enough to look at the experiences of Plantin's acquaintances to see how directly they were affected by one of the most disagreeable consequences of the wars - bands of marauding soldiers and brigands, and the habit, amongst the organised troops, of holding hostages to ransom. Jean Gassen, Plantin's son-in-law, died after being attacked by bandits in the Low Countries in March or April 157461; Dresseler, as we saw, was held to ransom in 1586; Barrefelt tells Moretus of fourteen citizens of Antwerp captured near Trier in 1590 and asks if Dresseler is among them62; and Margrieta von Honthum dared not send her son to Antwerp in the following year for fear of the soldiers at the gates of Cologne63. Communications on which trade depended were constantly threatened. For the Lutheran, Calvinist and Catholic merchants travelling incessantly between the Southern and Northern Netherlands and the Rhineland, trading in areas dominated by Protestants and areas dominated by Catholics, the works of Barrefelt, which they carried with them, distributing them as they went, were messages of religious peace and reconciliation. Through the ‘business’, the furtherance of Barrefelt's ideas in which they participated and in which they invested, they formed an association at once spiritual and commercial.

5

Plantin's death in 1589 was a blow for Barrefelt. He was not only deprived of a close friend to whom, he told Moretus, he wrote nearly every week64, but he was deprived of an enthusiastic promoter. This was all the more unfortunate since, at the time of Plantin's death, many of Barrefelt's works still remained unpublished. The main problem Barrefelt faced between 1590 and 1594, therefore, was how to get his numerous manuscripts into print.

When Plantin was corresponding with Arias Montano in Spain his elliptic references to Barrefelt as poeta may have been intended to thwart the curiosity of a censor, but between Cologne and Antwerp there was no such problem. Barrefelt signed himself openly; mutual friends - Frans Raphelengius the Younger, Dresseler, Mylius, Margrieta von Honthum - referred to him by name in their letters to Moretus; and we find him mentioned in Moretus' account books65. Nevertheless Plantin was so discreet in printing his books that the precise date of publication is frequently difficult to establish. It is consequently not always clear to which of his works Barrefelt is referring in his letters. Ever since 158966 he had been sending his friends in Antwerp monsteren or specimen sheets - most probably a ploy to persuade his backers to pay for the completion of the work in question. Sometimes - in Letters III, VI, IX and X - we are given the title of a work, but on other occasions we are left guessing. Furthermore Barrefelt often used a jargon consisting of words taken from the cloth trade in discussing the production of his writings. The ‘business’, de komenschop, denotes the concerted endeavour to produce and promote his works, while the ‘merchants’ (de koopluden) or the ‘company’ (de kompengij) are those participating financially in the endeavour. For ‘printer’ Barrefelt uses the word varuwer, ‘dyer’. He refers

to his works as ‘the goods’ (dat goet); to their spiritual quality as the ‘fineness of the wool’ (de fijnnicheit van de wol); and in one instance (Letter VIII) he gives the length in ells. The ambiguity of Barrefelt's terminology and the loss of Moretus' replies contribute to the difficulty in editing his letters. We can, however, come to certain conclusions.

None of Plantin's heirs iherited their father-in-law's eagerness to publish Barrefelt's writings. Jan Moretus dutifully sent Barrefelt financial gifts, he contributed to Barrefelt's expenses in publishing his works, but, already displaying the caution which characterised his press in the seventeenth century, he refused to print the works himself. Frans Raphelengius in Leiden shared his brother-in-law's hesitations, but seems ultimately to have overcome them - perhaps under the influence of his son Christoffel - and to have produced at least one edition of Biblical images with engravings by Pieter van der Borcht and commentaries (but only in Dutch) by Barrefelt67. In order to have his other works printed Barrefelt made use of an old friend of his and Plantin's - Augustijn van Hasselt68 who, like Barrefelt, had entered Hendrik Niclaes' service in Emden in the 1540s and who, like Plantin, had embarked on a career as a printer with the heresiarch's backing. But Barrefelt was disappointed in the reactions of his followers in the last years of his life. Suffering from increasing ill-health, he was offended by Moretus' long silences, by his and Raphelengius' seeming indifference, by the dilatoriness and incompetence of Arnold 'tKint's children in retrieving his money from Kasper de Wedyger.

On the face of it Barrefelt's last letters from Cologne to Jan Moretus tell the same story of failure which we find in Porret's letters to Plantin from Paris. Yet we should be cautious in judging this failure. A sense of persecution was a rhetorical commonplace amongst many spiritual writers in the sixteenth century, a proof

that they were consistent and assiduous in their imitation of Christ. We find it in Niclaes' writings at the very time when his sect was most successful, and a querulous note can often be detected in Barrefelt's letters to Plantin. Besides, even if Moretus was reluctant to print Barrefelt he appears to have remained remarkably loyal to him, and we know that Barrefelt's closest friends, Jan Dresseler and Arnold Mylius, did as much as they could to help him.

Let us, finally, look at the results. Barrefelt's last letter to Moretus is dated 3 April 1594 and he probably died shortly after, aged over seventy. But the Low Countries, particularly the freer Northern Provinces, remained curiously receptive to his works. The Biblical images were reprinted in the Northern Netherlands in the seventeenth century on at least four occasions (notably in Amsterdam by Michel Collin in 1613, Tymon Houthaak in 1654, Gerrit Jansz. in 1662 and Jacob van Royen in 1671). The commentary on the Book of Revelation was reissued in Amsterdam in 1639. Between 1687 and 1690 Barrefelt's entire opus was printed in a High German translation in Amsterdam by Jacob Clausen69. If we except the Familist works reprinted by Izaak Enschedé in the early eighteenth century no such success awaited Hendrik Niclaes on the European Continent70.

6

The Plantin-Moretus Museum (Arch. 76) contains twenty-four letters from Barrefelt. The first seven (two of which, dated 17 November 1580 and 10 June 1589, are to Plantin and the others to Jan Moretus) have been published by Denucé71. In transcribing and presenting the remaining seventeen letters, I have followed

Denucé's system of preceding each letter by a synopsis. In contriving to give a more detailed synopsis than Denucé, however, I have committed myself to interpretations of a number of passages whose significance still remains highly ambiguous. I have endeavoured to follow the spelling and punctuation of the original throughout, although I have modernised the v and u, and have divided most of the letters into paragraphs. When possible, I have reconstructed, between brackets, passages or words rendered illegible by holes or blots in the manuscript. I have succeeded in identifying a certain amount of the works and individuals mentioned in the letters, but there are occasions on which I have had to admit defeat. I hope that others will succeed where I have failed. In the notes I have included most of the material on Barrefelt I have come across in the Plantinian archives and, in Appendix A and Appendix B, I have added two letters from Margrieta von Honthum to Jan Moretus as evidence that Barrefelt was lodging in her house in Cologne and that it is to her and her son Hans that he refers so frequently in his letters72.

Letter I

(Barrfelt is in reasonably good health. He has received Moretus' last letter after a long silence which made him fear that Christ had again disappeared and that men had returned to their evil ways. Anyone tempted by disbelief should fight against it since Barrefelt has assured mankind that Christ has resurrected and will complete the task of His heavenly Father. Those wishing to obtain such assurance and to see Christ Himself must follow the path He took after His resurrection.

Barrefelt is relieved that Plantin's debts should have been paid and that his heirs should have reached a satisfactory agreement, thereby preserving the printer's good name. How sad that the same cannot be said about the late Arnold 'tKint who is now being cursed by his own kin. Barrefelt is expecting Dresseler but fears the worst after hearing that fourteen citizens of Antwerp have been taken prisoner near Trier. He has been unable to find out whether Dresseler is among them and asks Moretus for news.

He is delighted to hear that the Portugese may be prepared to accept the security offered and would be grateful for any assistance his friends could provide. From Kasper de Wedyger he gets nothing but insults when he asks for his money. De Wedyger sent him a small sum in April but still owes him 112 Reichstalers. De Wedyger says he has managed things in such a way that he cannot be taken to court. Barrefelt has done all he can to retrieve his money and is infuriated by De Wedyger's arrogant indifference.

Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus' family, to Spierinck and Dresseler and their families, and to other mutual friends in Antwerp. He has not written himself because the silence of his friends makes him feel that what he has to say is of no interest to them. Were Plantin still alive he would be more successful. He is particularly eager to hear from Elebo about the ‘business’. He has received no news of the Biblical images which, he thinks, Frans Raphelengius is reluctant to print in Leiden. He would like to have the commentaries back. Although Raphelengius would be performing a pious work if he printed the images Barrefelt is prepared to put up with his refusal patiently.)

 

Anno 1590, den 16 meijus1.

 

Na alle vruntelicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick noch na den tijt mijns olderdoms in redelicken doen ben godt sij lof, unde ben seer verblijt dat ick sulickus uth u l brijf verstae, um dat ick van u l unde oick van andere in lange gen schriven ontfangen en

hebbe, denckende eins deels dat christus verdwenen is gelick voer maels geschiet is, ofte dat hij inden grave leijt, unde dat einijder weder na sijn olde neringe gaet, denckende daer en sal niet van komen, unde ofte daer eijmant were de van sulicken ongelove an gevoechten worde de mach daer wel tegen strijden um dat ongelove to over winnen, want ick heb seckere getugen gesprocken dat hij waerachtich uth den grave up gestaen is, um idt werck sijns hemelschen vaders to volbrengen. dus mach einijder wel to sien ofte hij hem nargent up den wech en siet. so daer dan eijmant weer de hem begerden to sien de moet up den wech na gaelijkeener gaen, daer is hij van seckere getugen gesien, went de eerste reijse de hij an nemet als hij up gestaen is uth den grave, de is na gaelijkeener, unde daer mot men hem volgen de hem sien wil.

Nu dat over geslangen up dese tijt so benn ick verblijt dat gij in u starfhuis in vruntschop verackordeert2, unde dat de schulden betaelt worden, up dat u salige vader sijnen goeden nam voer godt unde den menschen mach beholden, t welcke unsen saligen vrunt a tk3 niet gebueren mach, mer moet van sijn eijgen bloet genoeten de hij alle goet gedaen heeft gelastert unde gescholden werden, t welcke mijn woe in mijn hert doet. u l schrift dat dreseler4 hijr solde doer komen, t welcke niet geschiet en is. so hebben wij hijr tijdinge hoe dat daer 14 borgers van antwerpen up den wech int lant van trijer gevangen sijnt, godt beetert daer in dat ick grootlick besorget ben geweest ofte dreseler daer bij mochte geweest sijn, unde hebbe hijr unde daer gevraget, mer en kan niet vernemen dat hij daer bij is geweest, unde verhope dat hij met lieve to huis is, ofte to huis sal komen, daer mijn wel na verlanget um to weeten.

U l schrift mijn dat de poortegijsen5 de panden mogelick sulen an veerden. so sulickx geschiet, unde dat dan eijmant wat goets van mijnent wegen daer in kan doen, ick salt in grooten danck nemen, went hijr en

crijge ick niet dan buese worden als ick um mijn gelt sprecke. toch hij sonde mijn den 17 aprijl 5 duckten met 2 hoofden, daer tegen is hij mijn nu 2 jaer verloops schuldich dat is hondert unde 12 rijckx daelers. voert so heeft hij sijn saeck hijr so beleijt so hij seijt dat men hem met den rechte niet doen en kan. dus moet ick idt voer dese tijt godt up geven. Ick hebber so vel to gedaen als ick maech. unde hij levet so vrijmodich ofte hem niet en wer. hoe lange datet duren sal dat sal de tijt leeren.

Daer oick over geslagen, up dese tijt, unde wil u l met u l huisfrouw6, unde beijde u l moders7 met spijrinck8 unde sijn huisfrouwe9, met dreseler unde de kinderkens altosamen hertlick unde vruntlick groeten. unde dan bidde ick u l dat gij mijn de vrunden elck besonder wilt groeten, went mijn lust unde wunsche is datet er altosamen in godt mach wel gaen, unde dat ick niet mer en schrive dat komt eins deels daer doer dat ick van nijmant in lange tijt geen schriven entfangen en hebben, daer doer dat ick mach dencken dat mijn schriven niet van noode en is. Ick dencke alto met wer der thert van u salige vader, ick solde merder versoeckx met schriven hebben. nu ick moet dat godt bevelen. Ick meinden unsen vrunt elebo10 solde mijn eins ge(schreven)11 hebben hoe idt al met de komenschop gaet mer ick en hebben niet vernomen, van de fijguren12 en hoore ick oick niet mer, dan ick dencke datse Mr F13 niet en begert to volmaecken. Ick wolde dat wij de intarpentaetien14 weder hadden, de wijle dat hijse niet en begert to maecken. hadde hij idt willen doen idt hadde wel ein goet werck geweest mer als hij idt niet doen en wil so moet men gedult hebben, unde laeten hem bij sijn opijnne blijven. hijr mede godt den almachtijgen bevoelen, unde u l wert hertlicke unde vruntlick van u onbekende vrunt in de stede van u salige vader gegroetet.

Bij mij barrefelt u l komper unde vrunt wat ick vermach.

Letter II

(Barrefelt is in reasonably good health and hopes that the same can be said of Moretus and his family, although he has not heard from him for some time. He thanks Moretus for the 25 books he received from Mylius on 31 January and which he distributed amongst his acquaintances so that they could take them to church. Although he himself stands in no particular need of their content he approves of it.

In his last letter he enclosed a note for Frans Raphelengius about the commentaries and engravings of the Biblical images. Has Raphelengius received it? Barrefelt fears that the commentaries may have been lost and is particularly eager to retrieve them since Plantin was responsible for translating them into French. Raphelengius is reluctant to print them, but they should be published for the edification of humanity. Barrefelt is not after his own interest but that of God and of others. This alone is the foundation on which the godly should build their house, as Plantin had done. So long as Moretus dwells in the material house bequeathed him by Plantin he must pray to be able to build on the same spiritual foundation. The body makes a great effort to better its transitory conditions on earth, but the soul should exert itself still more to improve the conditions in which it will rest for all eternity. Moretus must set the same example to his own children as Plantin set to his children and to others. Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus' family and enquires about Madeleine Plantin.

Barrefelt wants to know whether Moretus can take Hans von Honthum into his service. The boy, who is about eighteen years old, will give no trouble and can pay for his own upkeep from his inheritance. Barrefelt asks for news of the trade.)

 

Anno 1591, den 17 februarijs1.

 

Na alle hertlicke vruntelicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick noch in redelicken doen ben godt lof, so ick in godt verhope dat u l met idt geheele famijlij oick sijnt, hoe wel dat ick in einen tijt lanck geen tijdinge van u l gehadt en hebbe so hope ick nochtans altijt up u l wel vart an lijf unde siel. wijder sal u l weeten dat ick den 31 januarijs 25 boecxkens2 van mijlijus3 ontfangen hebbe, unde hebse

ijtelicke bekende mede gedeelt om mede in de kerck to gaen, unde bedancke voer eerste u l daer seer van hoe wel dat ick se voer mijn niet seer van doen en hebbe, so mach ick seer wel lijden ja siet voer goet in dat alsulicken matterij verhandelt wort, went begost men sulicken matterij to bekennen, ick so hopen daer solde noch wijder na desgelickes gesoecht worden.

Ick hadde u l in mijnen lesten brijf, ein brijfken an raffelinge gesonden4, um de intarpentatie van de fijguren to senden, unde dan van de plaeten5 mer ick en hebbe niet gehoort ofte u l dat brijfken gesonden heeft, dan ick dencke dat de interpentatien voerlooren sijnt. Ick hadde wel gewilt dat wijse gehadt hadden, meest om datse van u l salige vader int franscoijs gedaen weren. haddet willen gedaen wesen idt hadde wel goet geweest, dat de fijguren gedaen hadden geweest, om bij de anderen to hebben, idt solde voer vele wel ein goede anwijsinge wesen, unde dat daer toch de costen an de plaeten gedaen weren. nu Mr franscoijs en heeft uns daer in niet behulpelick wilen wesen, so moet ick idt oick godt bevelen, went al wat ick daer in doe unde dan noch in mer ander dingen dat en doe ick in mijn eijgenschop voer mijn sulven niet, mer idt is voer godt unde mijn negeste, t welcke idt fondament is daer ein godtlicke siel er huis (om datet ewich vast staen sal) op bouwet, op welcke fondament

dat u salige vader oick sijn huis der sielen gebouwet heeft, dat nijmant so wel bekent is als mijn, unde godt. de wijle dan mijn lieve komper dat gij idt lichamelicke fondament van u l vader bewoennet, met u l licham, so biddet godt (ick sal met u bidden) dat gij sijn geestelick fondament oick met u siel moget holpen bouwen unde bewonen, went dat is idt premcepael daer de beholdinge ewich vast in staet. is dan idt licham nerstich unde vlijtich om sijn woninge toe onderholden unde toe vermerderen, t welcke toch al vergaen moet, hoe veel to mer behoort de siel vlijtich toe wesen om er woninge to vermerderen, om daer ewich in to rusten. gelick dan u l verstorven vader sijne kinderen unde veel ander menschen ein ecsempel der duechden na gelaeten heeft, so behooren de kinderen, er na gelaeten kinder oick ein ecsempel der duechden na to laeten als ick hope dat mijn lieve komper oick doen sal, unde hope dat mijn komper dit schriven mijn niet qualick af nemen en sal. unde wil hem met sijn lieve huisfrouwe unde kinderen met u l 2 moderen unde idt heele famijlij hertelick unde vruntlick groeten, unde voert alle goede vrunden daer u l bij komt. de vrouwe6 unde idt huis gesin al hijr doen u l oick vruntelicken groeten. mijn verlanget wel to weeten ofte de suster7 van u l huisfrouw, de toe parijs wonden oick daer bij u gekomen is.

Ick hadde u l eins van ein knecht8 ofte jongen geschreven de ick u l wel voer trouw wilde to seggen. komet u l to pase so schrift mijn u l gelegentheit daer van. so idt u l gelegen wer, so en dencket niet dat u l daer schade van hebben solde, t welcke de moder noch ick geensins begeren solde, went de moder is veel toe voldoende, unde oick so kan de jongen van sijn vaderlick arf sijn ancosten wel betaelen. hij is om trijnt 18 jaer olt. schrift mijn oick eins hoe idt met den handel unde huis holdinge al to gaet. godt den almachtijgen bevoelen.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l vrunt unde komper wat ick vermach.

Letter III

(Barrefelt is sending Moretus Een klaer Onderscheidt and hopes that his soul will profit from it. The memory must surrender its satisfaction to the inner being, while the soul must abandon all earthly properties and obey Christ. Nothing can surpass the free essence of the divine nature, and the soul must always retain this as its greatest treasure.

From spiritual questions Barrefelt turns to material ones. He tells Moretus of the necessity of secrecy in treating of business matters. To Barrefelt and Moretus God has opened His heavenly gates and revealed His divine treasures. Those who have not been initiated, however, can only understand material things and material things must be used when dealing with them. A mutual friend (Margrieta von Honthum) has put aside, unknown to her children, some money which she wants to invest in the best possible manner so as to ensure a steady income for herself. She wishes the money to remain for ever in the hands of those serving ‘the highest good’. The sum amounts to 1,600 Brabantine guilders. She wants to remove it secretly from Cologne and entrust it to Moretus. Barrefelt assures him that the transaction will not be attended by the problems which were entailed by a previous transaction of a similar nature.

Margrieta has two sons, both devoted to Barrefelt's works. The youngest is apprenticed to a merchant and the eldest (Hans), who is seventeen, is a competent Latinist, is still studying and serves Barrefelt as a copyist. It is he who has copied out all the works Barrefelt has sent to Moretus. The boy hopes that one day he will be employed in the book trade and Barrefelt and his mother would like him to print Barrefelt's works. This plan, for which the money mentioned earlier could be used, raises Barrefelt's hopes for the future. He, in his humility, has received such great inspirations that it is his duty to record them clearly.

The money to which he referred is administered by Ferdinand Real. It is up to Moretus to instruct him as to what to do with it. Can Moretus let him know about Hans von Honthum who, he hopes, will enter Moretus' service. He sends greetings to Moretus' family and to ‘our dear friend in Spain’ (Arias Montano?). He encloses a letter to Elebo and sends greetings to Moretus' son and F (Raphelengius?)).

 

Anno 1591, den 21 mart1.

 

Mijn lieve vrunt ick sende u l hijr na u begerten ein claer anderscheit2, verhopende in godt dat u siel daer in (so vel als dat onderscheit belanget) vernoget sal wesen. toch de eerste vernoginge ontfanget de memorij,

mer sij moetse idt inwendijge wesen, so hemels unde erdisch, geestelick unde natuirlicken over geven, up datet wesen geestelick unde natuirlick einijder in sijn leven vernoget mochte werden. unde daer to moet de inwendijge siel de gehoorsamheit christi in de versaeckinge van er erdische eijgenschop in gaen, also dat altijt (gelick u l oick schrivet) dat beste dat liefste is, dewijle dan dat daer niet beeters inden hemel noch op der erden is dan dat vrije ongeeijgende wesen der godtlicker natuiren. so behoort de inwendijge siel dat sulve altijt in de lust eres levens tot eren besten schat to ontfangen, unde in alle er sinnen, lust unde wille to bewaren, daer to dat de heer uns sijn genade wil geven. amen.

Dewijle dat ick mijn heer unde vrunt van de geestelicke verclaringe voer de siel geschreven hebbe, so moet ick hijr noch einwenich van de utherlicke ooffeninge unde handel schriven, unde dat int secret tuschen u l unde mijn, dat is de wijle dat godt uns sijn hemelsche deur open gedaen heeft unde sijn godtlicke schaten tot salicheit der menschen daer uth verclaret. so en kan men de sulven voer den onbekenden mensche niet wel bekent maecken, ofte men moet daer uthwendijgen dingen bij hebben ofte gebrucken, so schreften unde creatuirlicke dingen, unde die sulve en kan men niet bekomen ofte men moetse met gelt van de menschen koopen. unde um daer toe voer de nakomelinge unde oick voer de tegenwordijge daer wat gelts to te hebben so heeft u l gevaderse3 ein hijmmelick penincxken dat sij van er lijftocht besparet unde versamelt heeft, daer er kinderen noch niet van en weeten. dit sulvede gelt solde sij wel begeren daer to te gebrucken, to weeten in dese wijse dat sij idt mochte up ein secker fondamen bestelen dat sij bij eren leven daer ein gratselicke rent ofte pentsijen van hadde tegen 6 en 1 oort, t welck van de 16 ein is, voert na er af lijficheit so solde idt capetael ewich bij de genne blijven de den dienst van idt hoochste goet deden ofte bedienden met oick idt verloop. unde de soma van dit gelt solde wesen 16 hondert brabantse gulden. unde om dat u l gevaderse dit gelt lijver in stilheit uth dese stadt hadde, so were in vrijheit an u l ere vragcost u l niet gelegen en solde wesen (um des goeden wil) dat gelt an to nemen, went sij en weet anders nijmant de sij idt mach betrouwen. unde u l en darf niet dencken datet met dit gelt sal gaen als idt met dat ander gelt (dat men weder uth keeren most) ginck. o neen idt sal blijven daer toe idt eins to over gegeven is.

U l gevaderse heeft 2 na kinderen de beijde jongers sijnt daer den oldsten4 om trijnt 17 jaer van olt is, unde den jongesten is bij ein koopman. dese jongers scheecken er seer wel unde lesen dagelickx de getugenise5, unde den oldesten de stutdeert noch, unde is in de latijnse sprack temelicke wel gefondeert, unde is onderwijlen oick mijn schriver, unde al de schreften de ick u l sende de heeft hij uth geschreven unde heeft na sijn jonckheit goet verstant in de schreften. desen jongen heeft groote lust in den boeck handel. so meint u l gevaderse unde ick oick dat hij opwasende in dit verstaent, unde dat hij den boeckhandel leerden so in drucken unde verkoopen, dat hij dan onder den handel unse schreften mede druckten unde ander den man bracht unde daer toe solde dit gelt dienen, toch niet um den dienst dat af handich to maecken mer dat hij daer mede onder sijnen handel verdienden al wederom tot den sulven dienst to gebrucken unde ick hope dat godt daer noch godt vruchtijge manen bij voegen sal na mijn verstarven int creatuir, de daer up sicht in sulen hebben. hijr solde ick wel geren wat begins van sien al eer ick sterve. naden mael dat uns clijnen unde verachten voer de wijsen van deser werlt sulicken grooten genade geschiet is, also datet rijcke godts tot uns gekomen is dat so veeren buten den mensche gesocht is, unde tot noch to onder der menschelicker vernuften verborgen unde bedeckt is gewest, so idt dan uth genade verclaert is so behooren wij idt oick in de sulve claerheit toe bewaren, ofte godt salt uns swarelick af eijschen.

Dit gelt boven vermelt staet onder vernandus rijael6 so idt u l gelegen were, so solde hij idt tot u beliefte beschecken ofte gebrucken, daer idt u l begerden, unde men solden hem de gront ofte meininge daer niet van seggen. wij solden wel geren sien dat desen jonckman7 sijn handel bij unsen vrunt morenturf leerden. ick hebber hem af geschreven mer hij heeft uns noch geen antwordt gegeven. hijr mede hertlick unde vruntlick gegroetet, unde den almachtijgen godt bevoelen, unde groet altijt unsen lieven vrunt in spanijen8. u l gevaderse doet u l oick hertlicken unde vruntlick groeten.

Bij mijn u l vrunt unde diener wat ick in godt vermach.

Als9 idt u l gelegen is so schrijft uns ein weinich antwordts, groet mijn

toch u l schoon soen10 unde unsen vrunt unde heer f11. wilt toch desen ingeslooten brijf an unsen vrunt roigijr12 in sijn eijgen hant bestelen.

Letter IV

(Barrefelt is in reasonably good health. Mylius has given him Moretus' letter of 23 March about taking Hans von Honthum into his service. Barrefelt assures Moretus that he will be satisfied with Hans. Hans' mother is particularly pleased about Moretus' decision since she would otherwise have had to send her son to the watch. As it is she can get out of it by paying the watch a sum of money. Hans would be able to come to Antwerp in the summer. Till then he will be staying with his mother and continuing to study French, writing and arithmetic. If Moretus needed him earlier other arrangements could be made. Hans' mother is reluctant to send him to the watch since he would pick up a number of bad habits there. On the other hand she and Barrefelt know that he will be in good hands working for Moretus and will one day be able to earn his own living and do some good to the ‘business’. Can Moretus let Barrefelt know what he thinks?

Dresseler and Christoffel Raphelengius have just been to Cologne. Barrefelt hoped they would dine with him on Sunday, but they had already left. He is all the sorrier since he would have liked to talk to Christoffel at greater length. He had the impression that Christoffel would be ready to print the Biblical images and wishes that he had had time to tell him to arrange for some copies of his books stored by Chrétien Porret to be taken to Frankfurt by Anthonius Müller. Could Moretus talk to his nephew about the matter? If he really is willing Barrefelt will write to him further, sending more details. He is prepared to meet all the expenses himself. He hopes Christoffel will follow in the footsteps of his grandfather. They must win some more people to the virtuous cause, for that is why God created them.

Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus' family, to Christoffel and Dresseler who left Cologne on 21 April. One must work hard at the ‘business’ to make a profit.)

 

Anno 1591, den 24 aprijl1.

 

Na alle hertelicke unde vruntlicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick noch godt sij ewich lof in redelicken doen ben

naden tijt, als ick verhope dat u l metet geheele famijlij oick is. wijder so sal u l weeten dat ick u l brijf den 23 mert geschreven2 rechts voer paeschen van franckevoert duer mijlijus ontfangen hebbe, daer ick mijn seer in verblijt hebbe um dat ick u l gesontheit met idt famijlij daer uth verstae, metet bescheit vanden jonck man3. so is den jongen unde sijn moder wel vernoget, unde wil altijt doen wat bilick unde recht is, dat ick wel weet dat gij unde sij met malkanderen wel to vreden solt wesen als gij den jongen bij u haddet, dan sij solde node hebben dat hij up de wacht solde gaen, twelcke oick des jongens aert ofte natuir niet en is, dan weret met ein stuck gelts tot de wacht to geven dat wolde sij lijver doen, unde dan solde sij wel begeren, so idt u l gelegen weer dat hij hijr noch bij er blef tot den toe komenden sommer, um sij franscoijs, unde reckenen to degen ofte parfeckt to leeren. toch wen idt u l niet gelegen en were so lange toe wachten so en solde sij daer so vel in ( )4 na vragen, als hem u l voer den wijnter most hebben, mer sij meinet so u l dat ge(legen en)5 wer so solde sij idt wel begeren, um dat den jongen, in sijn leeringe, to weeten franscoijs, schriven unde reckenen wel gefondeert weer. wat u l gelech hijr van is dat wilt uns schriven. hoe idt dan u l gelegen is dat begert de vrouwe wel to doen uthgenomen de wacht, daer is te groote verwoestheit in gelegen, daer duer dat sij dat niet geren en solde hebben. nu mijn lieve komper dat wij dit met den jongen an u l versocht hebben dat is geschiet duer idt groote betrouwe dat wij op u l hebben, dat den jongen geen woestheit van leven bij u l sien en solde, unde voerts van allens wat to leeren daer hij sijn cost mede konde verdienen, unde dan noch in ein hope dat hij thans ofte mogen enigen dienst in unse komenschop mochte doen so idt godt so voegede, went den jongen voeget hem naden sijner jonckheit daer wel toe. dan mijn lieve komper so idt u l niet wel gelegen en wer om enige orsaecken so is u l daer vrij in to doen ofte laeten, went ick en solde u l niet wilen beswaren, als idt u l niet wel gelegen en wer, mer als idt gedaen wil wesen solden wij den jongen wel geren bij u l hebben, unde daer up begere ick dat u l in vrijheit u sin unde meninge daer van wilt an uns schriven als ick u l in allens betrouwe.

Nu dat over geslagen so is dreseler, met u l cosijn christophel6 de soen van Mr franscoijs hijr bij mijn geweest, unde ick meinden dat sij des sonendages bij mijn solden komen eeten, so weren sij verreijst eer

icket wuste daer ick drovich um was, meest um dat ick geren met christophel wat gesprocken hadde van als, gelick ick idt up de buerse ein wienich begonen hadde, daer uth dat mijn doechte dat hij hem wel in belickheit tot duechde solde laeten vinden. ick sprack met hem wat van de fijguren daer op dat hij mijn antwordt gaf hij hopten dat hij se noch uthbrengen solde, unde meinde oick met hem wat to sprecken van dat goet7 dat bij paret8 staet, ofte hij dat niet tot gelegener tijt up cullen an tunis muler9 en solde kunen bestelen in manijre ofte idt na franckevoert solde gaen, unde dat dan ein ander van hem kommisij ofte bevel hadde daer van daen toe haelen, gelick of dat an hem solde schriven were daer is ein vat so ick versta, unde dan idt ander in de kas, idt welicke men in ein ton mosten doen. nu schrive ick dit an u l om met hem to sprecken ofte hij idt solde wilen unde kunen doen, unde als ick dat wuste so wolde ick hem tot gelegener tijt breder daer van schriven, an gaende de vracht unde ancosten de sal ick hem tot ein halder toe weder geven. weest wat vruntlick met hem ick hope dat hij sijn groote vaders geest noch volgen sal, unde laet uns malkanderen in de godtlicke duechde winen so vele als idt uns mogelicken is, went daer toe sijnt wij alle van godt geschaeppen unde worden nu up idt nije van godt daer toe geroopen, wel hem de die roope in sijn hert wer nemet.

Hijr mede wil ick mijn lieve komper hertlick unde vruntlick groeten, met u l huisfrouwe, unde idt geheele famijlij, met alle de vrunden daer u l bij komet. dit in gelechte brijfken hebbe ick um kennenis toe maecken an christophel u l neve geschreven. wilt hem unde dreseler van mijn seer groeten ick hope dat sij met lijve to huis sulen gekomen sijn. sij reijsede den 21 aprijl hijr van daen, godt den almachtijgen bevoelen. lieve komper weest toch wat nerstich unde vlijtich is de komenschop, um wat to verdienen, went daer mocht wel ein dijeren tijt in de beste spijse komen.

Bij mijn u vrunt unde komper wat ick vermach tot u l dienst.

Letter V

(Barrefelt is in reasonably good health and has received Moretus' letter of 4 June. Moretus has discussed the publication of Barrefelt's works with other members of the ‘business’ and is prepared to participate. Barrefelt informs him that he is not going to have more than 300 copies printed. He will tell him about the printer on another occasion. His main object in having the works printed is to have specimens composed while the printer is still alive: otherwise he will have worked in vain. It will be a slow process, however. He thanks Moretus for his readiness to participate and hopes that he will not pay out more than he can afford. If needs be he can always ask advice from their ‘friend at the old Bourse’.

Barrefelt asks Moretus about Christoffel Raphelengius. Might he be of some use to the ‘business’? It is as well to start young in a ‘business’ such as this and to bring up the young in the right spirit. Had Arnold 'tKint done so his wife and children would not now be quarrelling so fiercely over their heritage. Nothing is better than unity in God, the Oneness introduced by God into the soul. This should be the aim of all Christians, but most men spend their time quarrelling, killing and robbing. May God help us to relinquish earthly strife and return to the Oneness of God.

Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus' family and wants to know Moretus' views on Hans von Honthum who is coming along well. Barrefelt will write to him about the printing press. Margrieta and Hans send greetings.)

 

Anno 1591, den 27 juni1.

 

Na alle vruntelicke grotenise an u mijn lieve komper, so sal u l weeten dat ick noch in redelicken doen ben naden tijt godt sij lof als ick verhope dat u l oick is na lut van u l brijf den 4 van juni geschreven, uth welcke brijf ick versta dat u l met de kompengij van dat goet gesprocken hebt dat men in de varuw2 solt brengen so is mijn seer lief dat u l raet daer over gaet, unde dat gij daer mede ein part in begeret. so sal u l weeten datter niet mer als 3 hondert gevaruwet sulen werden, t welcke up dese tijt genoch is, unde idt komt oick met den varuwer3 so to pas doer orsaecke, de ick u l eins up ein ander tijt sal schriven ofte mondelinck seggen so idt godt toe laet unde dat men nu doet varuwen dat geschit meest om ein

paeteroon4 to hebben, sorgende so idt bij de varuwers tijt de wijle dat hij noch int leven is niet gevaruwet en wordt datet verloren solde sijn, unde dat den arbeijt to vergeves solde sijn ofte datet niet toe degen gevaruwet solde worden. idt sal oick bij desen varuwer lantsom voert gaen um datet bij ontijden gedaen moet worden. Ick versta dat u l behulpelickheit totet idt bereijden begert to doen, t welcke mijn wel lief is unde bedanck u l daer seer van dan ick sorge ofte gij idt in u kasse gebreck mocht hebben, so begere ick dat u l daer niet mer in leggen en sal dan u kasse verdrgen mach, unde idt sulve dat u l dan begert to doen, daer heeft unsen vrunt5 up de olde buerse bescheit van waer ment bestelen sal.

Dat over geslagen. Ick solde wel eins wilen weeten ofte u l neve6 van leijen daer noch is, unde wat u l van hem duncket ofte hij uns wel wat behulpelick int genne solde wesen dat ick met hem af gesprocken hebbe, unde ofte hij niet wat lust en heeft in de komenschop daer de man in handelden daer hij na genomet is. wen idt so wer hij conde de kompengij wel wat goet doen. Och idt is voer de jonckheit so goet dat men se van jonckheit in de komenschop op voedet unde toe wennet. hadde unsen verstorven vrunt7 dat gedaen hij hadde sijn wijf unde kinderen in enicheit bij malkanderen geholden met sijn goet daer sij nu verstroijt in onenicheit loopen, daer om en is daer geen beeter goet dan de enicheit in godt. Ick en menn geen enicheit in dit ofte in dat, t welcke menschen maecken, unde breecken, mer ick menne de ennicheit de godt inden geest maecket. Ick segge na dese einnicheit hooren alle christen menschen to trachten. mer meest alle menschen hebben er herten tot twijst unde oneinnicheit gekeert godt wilet beeteren, unde sijnt genegen malkanderen in oneinnicheit to dooden unde beroven. dewijle dan mijn lieve komper dat wij dit voer oogen sien, unde dat godt uns nu de middel gevet um tot sijn einnicheit to komen so laet uns de tijt daer toe waernemen, um uth den erdschen twijst in de einnicheit godts to komen op dat wij van de oneinnicheit, niet in verdeeltheit en verstroijen an siel, unde lijf.

Hijr mede groet ick mijn lieve komper met sijn geheel famijlij, unde alle goede vrunden daer de groet an genam is. an gande den jongen8 daer wij malkanderen van geschreven hebben, de leeret al cloock. u l mach metter tijt u gelech daer van schriven, unde van idt gelech van de

varuwerij sal ick u l oick al to met schriven, godt den almachtijgen bevoelen, margrijta met eren soen daer van geschreven is um bij u l to wonen doen u l ser groeten.

Bij mijn barrefelt komper, vrunt unde diener altijt.

Letter VI

(Barrefelt is pleased to have received Moretus' letter of 24 September (although it took almost twelve days) and to hear that he and his friends are in good health. Health of the body and soul is man's greatest treasure since friendship is now so scarce. Christoffel Raphelengius has been in Cologne and has spoken to him. He seems to be warming to Barrefelt's cause and says that his father is ready to print the Biblical images in Leiden since they might be commercially successful. Barrefelt has given him some more commentaries and Raphelengius hopes to send them to the next Frankfurt fair. Barrefelt has also discussed business matters with Dresseler and has given him a specimen sheet of his most recently printed work. He hopes he will appreciate it. Barrefelt is surprised at what Christoffel Raphelengius has told him about Justus Lipsius who appears to have behaved so deceitfully to him and to Plantin, thinking of his own good and not of God. He warns Moretus and Luis Pérez to beware of him.

Barrefelt is at his wits' end over the Portuguese. Kasper de Wedyger is being uncooperative and wants him to cancel a sum which would be tantamount to cancelling the entire debt. Hendrik 'tKint has been of no assistance; and Barrefelt can but put his trust in God. May God forgive De Wedyger his behaviour, offensive not only to Barrefelt but also to God.

Next week, with Mylius' help, Barrefelt will be dispatching 24 specimen sheets, 12 ‘packed’ (bound?) and 12 ‘unpacked’ (unbound?), in a consignment of shirts addressed to François van Bylant in Antwerp for distribution amongst the merchants. Each one may have as many as he likes, and Barrefelt is prepared to send more if necessary. Short though the work is it is of excellent quality. The work being printed is an answer to the merchants' letters, as long, if not longer, than an earlier one, while the next one, which will be still longer, is his Grond-stuck, a work of very fine quality. He hopes that the two works will soon be completed and that some profit will be made from them - the costs, at least, should be covered. The printing is slow but he would like to send them to the next Frankfurt fair.

Margrieta von Honthum hopes that her son Hans will not be a burden to Moretus, who must be frank about whether he needs him. If he does need him he must know that Margrieta would rather he were working for Moretus than for anybody else. He could join him at the time of the next Frankfurt fair. Can Moretus let them know whether he agrees? If he does not want the boy his mother will look for another solution. Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus' family and his other friends. He

wishes Elebo to know that he has received his letter but has not heard from Cornelis Jansz. Can Moretus pass some of the goods addressed to Bylant on to him? Margrieta sends greetings to their common friends. They are glad to know that Bylant's wife is better.)

 

Anno 1591, den 14 ocktober1.

 

Na alle hertlicke unde vruntlicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick u l brijf de den 24 septembrus2 geschreven was ontfange hebbe mer hij was wel 11 ofte 12 dagen olt, in welcke brijf ick mijn verblijt hebbe dat ick u l gesontheit unde welvart hoore, met de goede vrunden de daer bij u sijnt. wij moeten nu de gesontheit an lijf unde siel voerden besten schat holden, went de wel vart unde vruntschap de nu den einen mensche met denanderen heeft, is ser clienn godt bettert. Ick heb u l neve van leijen3 hijr gehadt unde dus van allens met hem gesprocken so schijndet dat hij ein lust begint toe crijgen tot de komenschop, unde seijt dat sijnen vader nu contsenteert um de fijguren op to maecken, unde dat alleen om de proffijten wil went daer wort dickwijl na gevraget seijt hij mijn. so hebbe ick hem noch intarpentatien mede gegeven unde hij meijnt sij tegen de to komende mis to franckevoert to senden gelick als dreseler u l wel seggen sal. oick heb ick met dreseler van de komenschop gesprocken, unde hem ein monsterken4 gegeven van de nijen dat nu gedaen is unde hij laet hem doncken datet goet was. men mach sien wat vrucht datet doen sal unde dewijl dat hij weet datter goet is so heb ick lijver hem dat sulve to laeten sien dan voer hem to verbarijgen. Ick meinne voer mijn. lieve komper ick ben verwondert van heer l5. de nu toe luck wonnet so ick hoor. u l neve heeft mijn so

vele van hem vertelet dat ick bevinde dat hij met enckel gevenstheit met u salige vader unde met mijn om gegaen heeft, unde hevet sijn eijgen gesocht unde niet godt, godt wilt hem vergeven. u l mach daer wel op dencken als gij met hem handelt. Ick denck wel dat hij geen goet doen sal an l.p.6 unde mer anderen. nu ick moet dat godt bevelen. dit schrive ick u l int scret.

An gaende mijn saeck met de poortegijsen en weet ick stert noch hooft. sij en willen mijn niet helpen. kasper en weet mijn niet to wil dan de saecke met de poortegijsen in toe gaen unde hem, dan de 2 hondert, unde 9 pont to quijtteeren, unde dan noch van 3 ofte 4 jaren verloops. dat donckt mijn wer even so vele ofte icket hem quijt scholde, t welcke ick lijver mochte doen, so en hadde ick daer geen om sien mer na. h. tkint7 en wil mijn oick niet helpen, so en sie ick voer de hant geen beeter raet, dan godt de saecke over to geven, unde laeten hem mijn rechter wesen. Ick weet daer niet mer to te doen. hij en benemet mijn parsoen niet alleen, mer hij benemet oick godt unde den sijnen, godt wilt hem vergeven als hij berouw heeft.

Wijder mijn lieve komper so sal ick dese toe komende weeck met mijlijus wat goets in packen so ick anders niet en weet, ijtelicke hemden de franscoijs van bijlant8 to komen, unde in de sulve hemden sulen 24 monsteren wesen, 12 gepackt, unde 12 ongepackt, unde ick beger dat u l so wel doet unde deelen de kooplude mede. dese niet fraij genoch gepackt en sijnt, de mach van de ongepackten nemen, unde laeten se daer so fraij packen als hij wil. gevet elck van de so vele als hij begert, unde als men mer begert, so sal men mer senden. al is dit sulve cleen so is idt nochtans van fijnne wol gemaeckt unde heeft vele in. dat nu begonen wort dat sal ein stuck wesen tot antwordt up de koopluden brijven9, unde sal wel so groot wesen als idt gene dat in voertijden gemaeckt is, unde noch grooter so mijn donckt, mer ten ( )10lve niet unde dan idt leste sal noch

grooter valen, unde sal heeten idt grontstuck11, um datet van fijnne wol sal gemaeckt worden. so wij den dach leven dat dese 2 stucken gedaen sijnt so sul wij sien wat proffijt dat daer mede gedaen sal worden. Ick hope dat den ancost betalt sal werden, mer de varuwerij gaet so lantsem voert, dat ick wilde datet tegen de toe komende mis mocht gedaen wesen, um to sien ofte daer in de franckevoerder mis wat up toe verdienen wer. nu wij sulen sien wat godt uns verleenen sal.

Wijder mijn lieve koemper so begeret unse vrouw vruntlick up u l, van so veel als den jongen12 aen gaet dat u l daer niet mede besaert sijt, komet niet wel toe pase ofte dat u l hem niet sonders van doen en hebt, so laetet er weeten de vruntschop en sal daer um niet toe mur wesen, mer so u l ein knecht van doen hebt, unde hem begert so solde de vrouwe hem lijver bij u l hebben dan bij vele andere, als u l hem dan begerden, unde datet u l so to pase quam so solde hij tegen de toe komende franckevoerts mis mogen komen so idt u l goet dochte. als u l gelegen is13 so schrift u gelech daer van. so idt dan bij u l niet gelogen wer so wolde de moder na wat anders voer den jongen om sien. lieve komper ick wil mijn schriven voer dese tijt op holden, unde u l met u l husfrouw unde alle goede vrunden hertlick unde vruntlick groeten, unde segget unsen vrunt elebo dat ick sijn brijf ontfangen hebben, unde heb van cornilus janz14 in lange geen schriven gehadt also dat ick niet en weet hoe sij idt met de cronick gemaeckt hebben, unde als de hemden van franscoijs komen so mach u l hem de ter handen stelen. margrijta unse vrouwe doet met u l husfrouwe unde als de vrunden seer groeten. wij sijnt blij dat bijlants

hussfrouw wederom an de beeter handt is, godt lof, godt den almachtijgen bevoelen.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l vrunt unde diener wat ick vermach.

Letter VII

(Barrefelt's health is improving after an illness lasting three weeks, attended by coughing and catarrh, and he may have some time longer to live so that he can serve God and assist mankind.

He has heard from Bylant's son that the specimen sheets mentioned in his last letter have arrived. He is relieved since he feared they had been stolen. He dispatched some to Amsterdam which have also arrived safely. François van Bylant has written to him asking what he should do with the sheets. Barrefelt wishes them to be distributed principally amongst the people subsidising them. They must not fall into the wrong hands. He hopes that specimen sheets of two still finer works will be produced in the new year and will appeal to the merchants. He hopes they will be out in time for the Frankfurt fair. The printer, he confides to Moretus, is their very first printer, Augustijn van Hasselt, who has set up a small press. Van Hasselt has asked him to find out whether he could do some work for Moretus which he could then send to Frankfurt. Barrefelt hopes that Moretus does have something for him and begs him to let him know as soon as possible.

He also enquires about the ‘business’ and the interest in his writings. He thanks Moretus for the offer made to Margrieta von Honthum. He sends greetings to Moretus' family and to his friends, to whom he is dispatching some specimen sheets which he hopes will please them.

Margrieta and her children send greetings. Hans is studying hard and is prepared to join Moretus whenever he needs him.)

 

Anno 1591, den 2 desembrus1.

 

Na alle hertlicke unde vruntlicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper morenturf so sal u l weeten dat wij al hijr in tamelicken doen sijnt godt sij lof. Ick hebbe inden tijt van 3 weecken einen harden stoot2 gehadt, daer mede idt creatuir al vrij verswackt is. Ick hebbet meest in de borst met einen swaeren hoest gehadt, dan idt is nu godt sij lof an de beeter sijde, unde laet sich an sien ofte godt idt creatuir noch ein wienich tijts

wil sparen, um noch tot godts prijs unde der menschen salicheit enigen dienst toe doen, t welcke mijn lust is.

Bijlants soen de schrift mijn dat u l goet gekomen is daer de monsterkens in waren daer ick seer blij um ben, went ick ben al bevreest geweest datet gerovet was. op amsterdam is van de sulve monsterkens oick gesonden, de oick al over gekomen sijnt godt lof. franscoijs de schrift mijn dat ick hem sal schriven wat ick met de monsterkens beger gedaen to hebben. daer op dat ick u l antwordt geve, dat ick daer niet anders in begere gedaen to hebben dan dat men de vreinden elck daer van sal mede deelen so veele als einijder begert in sonderheit den geenen de die varuwe hulpen becostijgen. loop daer dan wat over dat sal men bewaren voer den geenen de sij noch gebreck solden mogen hebben, dan altijt en begere ick niet dat mense eijmant tor handen doet de sij niet met ein lust begert, went sij en sijnt voer de sulve niet. Ick hope umtrijnt idt nije jaer datter dan ein grooter monster gedaen sal wesen, de seer schoon van varuwe sal wesen, also dat ick wel weet dat de sulve monster van verstandijge koopluden wel gelievet sal worden, unde dan daer na noch ein de ick hope so godt de tijt daer to verlaennet dat om trijnt de franckevoerder mis sal gedaen wesen, unde dan mach men sien wat den tijt leeren. nu int secret tegen u l geseijt so is den varuwer de dese monsterckens varuwet unsen alder eersten varuwer geweest de u l seer wel kent augustijn3 genamt de dus in stilheit ein cleinne varuwerij heeft van ein kup. desen sulve laet u l vragen ofte u l dus niet wat to varuwen en hadt voer hem dat gij toch in de mis tot franckevoert sendet, idt were dan (watet)4 were, hij meintet u l to maecken, wen u l dus ijts wat voer hem hadde dat gij daer wel mede vernoget sult wesen. Ick segge so u l wat voer hem to varuwen hadde idt solde voer uns niet quaet wesen. wij soldender altomet van idt unse wat onder varuwen. augustijn de meint idt solde u l beeter koop wesen int geenne dat gij up franckevoert wilt senden, ofte gij idt bij u laet varuwen. nu is de begerten an u l dat gij u l sin ofte meininge van dese saecke met den eersten wilt schriven.

Wijders so solde ick oick wel begeren dat u l mijn alto met einwienich van unse komenschop schreft, ofte sij voert gaet ofte steel staet ofte int vergeeten verloren gaet, so mochte ick mijn daer oick wat na schecken. lieve komper ick bedancke u l seer van de presentaetie5 de u l an vrouw

hontoms over mijn geschreven heeft. trouwicheit sal trouwicheit te loonn crijgen. hijr mede will ick u l met u l huisfrouw, met u l beide moders hertlick unde vruntlick doen groen, unde doet wel unde groet de vrunden elck bij sonder, unde dat ick sij elck ein monsterken tot ein groet sende, verhopende dat idt goet er wel behagen sal. unde soldet anders wesen dat wer godt unde mijn leet.

Margrijta met er kinderen doet u l met u l huisfrouw soe hertelicke groeten unde den soen6 leert seer vlijtich, unde als u l hem van doen heeft so sal hij gerede wesen. godt den almachtijgen bevoelen.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l komper wat ick kan an u l vermach.

Letter VIII

(Barrefelt has received Moretus' letter of 11 January telling him about the quarrel with Egidius Beys. How horrified Plantin and Arnolt 'tKint would be if they returned to life! As it is we must let God be our judge. Kasper de Wedyger not only refuses to give Barrefelt his money but grows angry when Barrefelt so much as mentions it to him. He insists on Barrefelt's cancelling his debt. We must place our trust in God, however, and thank Him that the evil is done not by us but to us. The pious, who wish no harm to anyone, must suffer the wrongs done to them by others and not seek revenge. He hopes that God will give him patience. It would be possible to proceed legally but that would be of little consolation. Never has Barrefelt seen such evil in the world as now. God has undoubtedly allowed it to come about for a time to punish the godless. If God permits the wicked to exist we must follow Him patiently and leave all revenge to Him.

Barrefelt is in better health after an accident. The printing press has almost come to a standstill. He hopes to have one more very fine work, about 40 pages long, printed by Candlemas and another soon after, but he will not send them for the time being since he feels that there is less and less chance of selling them. He thought there was little danger in the ‘business’ if it was understood correctly. Even if the elements are subdued, the spirit serving God is free, but many of the merchants do not understand this. He can but put his trust in time.

Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus and his friends. Mylius is getting better and Barrefelt is thinking of sending Hans von Honthum to work with him on account of the dangerous situation, but no decision has yet been taken. He asks for news of Luis Pérez who, he hears, has been ill.

In a post-script Barrefelt describes his meeting on the previous evening with Kasper de Wedyger at the Bourse. De Wedyger told him to go back

to Antwerp and get his money from Arnold 'tKint. He, De Wedyger, has used none of it. All De Wedyger can now do is to insult the memory of the late Arnold 'tKint. Can Hendrik 'tKint not do something about it? Barrefelt sees no reason why he should lose his money on account of somebody else's quarrel and feels he has behaved ingenuously. He apologises for burdening Moretus with his problems and enquires about Egidius Beys.)

 

Anno 1592, den 19 januarijus1.

 

Na alle hertlicke unde vruntlicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick u brijf van den 11 januarijus ontfangen hebbe daer ick in verblijt unde in bedrovet ben. Ick ben verblijt van u l gesontheit, unde ick ben bedroft dat u l gequelt moet wesen, van de godtlose boesheit de u l weder vaert van u swager2. Ick dencke altomet mochten de 2 verstorven vrunden als u l salige vader unde arnont tk. nu er hooft eins up beuren, unde sien eins hoe dat ere aen gewonen nu regijren idt solde er weld verwonderen, mer de wijle dat sulickx niet geschiden kan so moeten wij den almachtijgen godt in sijn rechtvierdijge wesen rechter over idt onrecht dat uns weder vaert laeten wesen, went dat onrecht dat mijn oick van kasper an gedaen wort dat en is niet alleen dat hij mijn, mijn gelt ontholt mer hij wort gram als hij daer van an gesprocken wort, unde so vel als ick met de poortgijsen ontfangen solde, daer en wil hij mijn niet in toe laeten ofte ick sal hem quijtteeren van 2 hondert pont, unde 9. Ick crijgen dan ijt ofte niet daer en wil hij niet mede toe doen hebben. nu dat voer desen tijt over geslagen so moeten wij noch ein moet in godt nemen unde dancken godt dat wij liever hebben dat sij idt uns doen dan dat wij idt er doen, went idt sal er noch vele mer smarten als uns unde idt schijnt alle vromen de nijmant geen onrecht en begeren to doen ein duvel moeten hebben daer sij doer beprovet worden. laetet er dan godt einen tijt lanck toe, so hope ick dat hij uns gedult sal geven,

dat wij idt sonder wraeck mogen verdragen. toch men mach de poeletickse rechten wel to hulp nemen, als men daer duer gehulpen kan worden, dan daer is alto met clienen troost an. Ick hebbe ein tijt van jaren gelevet, mer heb de boesheit noijt in alsulicken cracht gesien als nu. mer mijn doncket gantselick dat godt dese boesheit voer einen tijt toe laet, op dat den godtlosen doer er crijgen quaet sal gepijnicht worden, op hope ofte hij daer ein onlust in crech. duldet dan godt den boesen, unde vergunnet hun eren tijt so moeten wij godt unse salichmaecker daer in na volgen, met gedult so sveele wij vermogen, unde geven godt de wraeck over, unde laetent hem vergelden als den tijt daer to vervult is, unde daer doer sal unse siel in de vruntschop godts blijven, unde unse leet sal gewrocken worden.

Nu dit voer dese tijt godt bevoelen, so sal u l weeten dat ick voer desen tijt in redelicken doen ben naden tijt mijns olderdoms, mijn borst is nu redelick, dan ick hebbe noch ein accedent twelcke ick niet wel schriven kan, um datet van binen in mijn fondament is, dan idt is nu oick wat beetter dan idt gewest is, mijn donckt datet van vel sitten is. toch idt creatuir dat gaet met mijn af, godt lof. unse varuwerij en gaet niet seer voert. Ick meinne dat om trijnt licht mis noch ein stuck3 sal gedaen wesen, dat wel in de 40 elen sal groot wesen, unde is van seer fijnne wol, unde dan solde ick noch geren ein stuck4 rede maecken al eer de varwerij stel staet mer dat en sal so groot niet wesen, mer ick en dencke u l voer dese tijt niet to senden ofte ick most ander bescheit hebben, um dat ick hoor dat men daer in de koomenschop wienich handels kan doen. mijn dochte als men de komenschop recht verstonden so en wer daer so grooten prijckel niet in gelegen, went al worden de elementen bedwongen so is den geest de godt dienen wil vrij. mer vele koopluden en verstaen dat niet, so moet ick sij daer oick in laeten geworden, unde laeten er den tijt uth stelen so lange idt er believet ofte goet doncket.

Hijr mede wil ick mijn lieve komper hetlick unde vruntlick groeten, met alle de vrunden. mijlijus is an beeter handt godt lof, unde ick dencke ofte de soen van margrijta bij hem wonen sal om der prijckelen wil5 mer daer en is noch niet van beslooten. margrijt doet u l ser groeten. ick hadde verstaen dat unse vrunt l.p.6 cranck is mijn verlanget wel om to weeten hoe idt met hem is. den almachtijgen godt wil unse altosamen bewaren amen.

Bij mijn u komper unde vrunt wat ick vermach.

Lieve7 komper ick en kan niet laeten u l int corte to schriven hoe dat ick gister avent kasper de wedijger up de boerse an sprack, unde idt eerste dat hij seijde dat was: loopt heen na antwerpen bij uwen vrunt aert kint unde haelt daer u gelt. ick en heb u gelt niet genooten. de wedu baeron heeft mijn obbelegaetie noch. in soma hij leydet altoesamen dat hij niet betaelen kan up den goeden arnont tkint. hij en wil nijmant wat geven, unde wil in al sijn godtlosicheit noch recht hebben, unde leijdet altosamen op den saligen arnont unde op idt starfhuis. als eins toe pase komt so wildet henrijk tkint vertelen, dat hij siet ofte hij desen kasper niet anders onder richten kan en idt is ijvener ein onbilicke saecke dat ick um er geschiel mijn gelt solde verlijsen. Ick hebbe daer sempel, slecht unde recht in gestaen. lieve komper nemet mijn niet qualick af dat ick u l hijr mede bemoije, gij hebbet toch des dinges genoech up den haels. godt spare u l in ein godtsalige gesontheit amen. schrift mijn toch hoe de saecke van u swager8 staen.

Letter IX

(Barrefelt is in reasonably good health, despite his age. His daughter has just died. It is a long time since he has heard from Moretus. His works are coming along slowly. Apart from the specimen sheet he sent Moretus some time ago two more works have been printed: a second volume of epistles which is 46½ sheets long and Van de verborghen Eewicheit Christi which is 18 sheets long. His commentary on the Book of Revelation has gone to press and he will let Moretus know when it is completed. Once it is ready all the works he intended to have printed will have appeared, except for one. Barrefelt is glad to have been able to publish as much as he has - not for his own sake but for that of others - for he feels that not many people will be able to produce such works.

He enquires about whether his deceased brother-in-law Bernardt Lamrinck owed Plantin money for goods he purchased from him. He encloses a letter from his sister, Lamrinck's widow, and says that he wishes all her debts to be cleared. He has heard from Delft that Christoffel Raphelengius has printed the Biblical images and is prepared to sell other of his works, but he has not heard from him directly and asks for further information. He hopes the Biblical images will still have an appeal in his lifetime since he knows that they will be in demand after his death. He will die in the body, but the authorship of the work will survive, for he has delivered it to God.

Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus, his family and their friends, and asks for news of Egidius Beys.)

Anno 1592, den 5 aprijlus1.

 

Na alle vruntlicke groetenise aen u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick nu redelick to pase ben naden tijt unde geen sonderlinge sijcten en heb, mer den olderdom is vast alderleij pasijen int creatuir onder worpen, t welcke den tijt met mijn medebrenget. wij hebben hijr unse dochter2 seer haestich verlooren godt wil er genadich wesen, unde uns oick als de siel uth den licham moet scheiden. Ick en hebbe in lange geen tijdinge van u l gehadt ick hope ijummer datet al goet met u l is. angaende van unse werck dat en gaet niet seer voert, daer sijnt 2 stucken gedaen behalven t montster dat ick u l over ein tijt gesonden hebbe. idt eine stuck is 46 bogen unde ein halve, unde is idt ander de deel van sent brijven3, unde idt ander is 18 bogen groot, unde is van de borgentheit christi4, unde dan is den apoca5 onder handen. als de gedaen is so sal ick

u l alle bescheit schriven gelick voersprocken is. unde als dan is idt gen gedaen op ein stuck6 na datter voer handen was, und dat einer stuck moet blijven leggen tot ein ander tijt, went ten kan nu niet gedaen worden, unde ick ben blij datter so vel gedaen is, unde dat om anderen wil unde niet voer mijn sulven, went ick bevinde wel datter niet vele komen en sulen de sulicken werck sulen voert brengen. mijn doncket oick dat den geest um sulcken werck voert to brengen bij velen seer flau wort, nu ick moet dat godt beveelen.

Lieve komper u l dencke ick dat wel weet ofte in u boecken bevindet dat berrent lammerinck7 enich goet van u salige vader unsen vrunt gecocht heeft daer hij noch van schuldig is daer ick dick wijls an sijn na gelaeten huisfrouwe (twelicke mijn suster is) om geschreven hebbe dat sij toch de schulden betaelen solde als idt reden is, daer op dat sij ein brijfken gesonden heeft daer sij er meninge in geschreven heeft, welcke brijfken ick u l hijr in beslooten mede sende, um u l advis daer van to hebben, unde dan dat sulve weder an er to schriven. ist u l gelegen so schrift mijn u l sin daer van. Ick wilde wel dat alle saecken recht gingen, unde dat nijmant vercort en worde. lieve komper mijn is van delft geschreven8

dat u neve9 de fijguren solde gedaen hebben, unde dat hij uns ander goet wel begerden to venten, mer ick en hebbe van hem daer geen schriven af. wennet u l gelegen were dat gij toch an hem schreven so mochte ick wel lijden dat u l daer ein wienich an hem van schreft, hoe idt daer mede wer. Ick wilde wel dat de fijguren unde andersins bij mijnen leven in eren afecksij weren, went ick weet wel datet sulve goet na mijnen leven noch gesocht sal worden. toch al starft mijn creatuir so en sal den meister van dat werck niet starven daer duer dat ick idt godt unde sijnen geest over geven, went mijner meister en sal mijn niet mer af eijschen dan idt geene dat hij mijn gegeven heeft.

Hijr mede wil ick voer dese tijt mijn lieve komper met al sijn famijlij hertlick unde vruntlick groeten, unde den almachtijgen godt beveelen, unde wilt mijn alle goede vrunden hertlick unde vruntlick groeten. schrift mijn eins ein wienich hoe gij nu met u swager10 staet, unde voert hoe alle dingen in er werck gaen. mijn hert wuschet u l unde alle goede vrunden alle godtsalige welvaert.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l komper unde vrunt wat ick vermach.

Letter X

(Barrefelt is in reasonably good health but regrets that he has received no answer to his last letter. He has given Dresseler a packet of twenty specimen sheets, 8 large ones and 12 small, to be distributed amongst the merchants participating in the printing expenses. In a couple of days time specimen sheets will be ready of his commentary on the Book of Revelation. If Elebo or anyone else wants them he will send them. Elebo has asked him for some in the past, but Barrefelt wishes to know something definite before dispatching any. With a single exception, which he is prepared to leave for the time being, all the writings of which he has had specimen sheets are ready-printed.

He warns Moretus not to attach too much importance to the matters of this world. This only leads to unrest. Life is brief and we should not spend so much time thinking about earthly things and so little thinking about God and our soul. The body is fragile and the soul is weakened by excessive concentration on worldly matters. Moretus should, rather, prepare himself to survive the difficulties of life.

Dresseler left that same day. Barrefelt sends greetings and asks Moretus to tell Elebo how surprised he is that he has not written to him giving him news of the ‘business’. He has not heard from Arnold 'tKint the Younger either.)

Anno 1592, den 22 aprijlus1.

 

Na alle hertlicke unde vruntlicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick noch in tamelicken doen ben, godt lof als ick hope datet met u l unde met u l famijlij oick is. nochtans ben ick wat in bedencken, dat ick an u l geschreven hebbe unde geen antwordt daer op gehadt, dan ick denck weder dat gij alto met geen tijt en hebt. wijder sal u l weeten dat ick dreseler ein clein pacxken gegeven hebbe um mede in sijn goet to packen t welcke hij gedaen heeft, unde is al op de reijse, in welcke pacxken, 8 groote monsteren unde 12 cleine sijnt2. dese monsteren mach u l ofte eijmandt anders in handen van de koopluden bestelen, to weeten anden geenen de koompgij in de varuwerij hebben. unde daer is noch ein monsterken dat in ein dach ofte 3 gedaen sal wesen (unde is den apo)3 gelick u l mijn daer wel in kunt verstaen, so unsen vrunt elebo ofte eijmant anders den sulven begerden so mocht men sien dat men wat sonden als men middel daer to hadden. elebo heeft mijn eins geschreven dat hij der ijtlicken begerden. u l ofte eijmant anders mach mijn daer eins bescheit van schriven, want sonder bescheit en sal ick niet senden. nu sijnt de monsteren de ick bij mijn hadde op ein stuck4 na gevaruwet, unde dat sulve stuck sal ick noch wat leggen laeten, um dat mijn doncket dat daer nu ter tijt wienich treckx int goet is.

Lieve komper ick vermarckt wel dat u l groote ser(f)etuten van deser werlt, ofte uthwendijge dingen onderworpen sijnt, t welcke tot groote onrust des levens is. Och den tijt de wij hijr to leven hebben is so cort datet groot jamer voer godt unde voer unse siel is dat wij den sulven tijt so geheel tot de erdische dingen over brengen dat wij nauwelick in ein heele weeck ein half ure tijts over en hebbe um godt unde unse siele salicheit to dienen, dan ick weet wel datet u l uth noot moet doen. mer dese noot moet men ein na sien geven, um voer to komen so vele als men kan, um 2 derley oorsaecken, toe weeten u l creatuir mach sijct ofte cranck

werden, ten anderden u siel mach met de groote servetuten vercort worden. doer dese oorsaecken segge ick behooret u l metter tijt om enige hulp ofte bijstant toe sien dat gij inden tijt der noot enige ontset unde to verlaet haddet, de u den last wat hulp dragen, idt sij dan doer wat middel datet sij went als gij den last u sulven so swar maecket dat gij hem niet dragen kunt, so moet gij unde u heele famijlij int verdrijt komen. mijn lieve koomper nemt mijn dat ten besten af ick schrive u l dit uth ein vaderlick hert om dat u l daer wat up dencken sult.

Nu dat over geslagen dreseler is den 22 aprijlus hijr verreijset den rijn af, godt geve hem ein goede reijse. lieve komper ick hadde noch wel vele an u l to schriven, mer de tijt en brenget niet mede, unde wil u l hijr mede hertlick unde vruntlick groeten, unde groet mijn u l huisfrouw unde alle goede vrunden, unde segget elebo dat mijn verwondert dat hij mijn niet altomet ein brijfken en schrivet hoe idt al met de komenschop gaet, noch den jongen a tk5 oick niet, dan ick moet dat godt bevelen, den almachtijgen godt bevoelen.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l vrunt diener unde komper wat ick vermach.

Letter XI

(A post-script to the previous letter. Barrefelt has dispatched twenty specimen sheets with Dresseler and sends Moretus instructions as to how to bind them. Having bound them Moretus must read them carefully to appreciate their quality. He must follow Plantin as a model of practical and spiritual behaviour. Had Plantin not been so pious and so assiduous in the pursuit of virtue he would not have been so successful. Barrefelt exhorts Moretus to follow this example and to build on the foundation laid by Plantin which he must learn to know humbly, from the Spirit of God. He must pray that God reveal Himself to us all, for whoever needs Him must pray to Him. Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus and his friends. If any of them wish for specimen sheets of his commentary on the Book of Revelation he will send them.)

 

Anno 1592, den 26 aprijlus1.

 

De wijsheit godts wunsche ick mijn lieve komper tot ein vruntlicke groete unde laet u l daer mede weeten, gelick ick in mijn voerijgen brijf geschreven hebbe (de ick hope dat u l ontfangen heeft) dat ick met dreseler

ijtelicke monsteren in gepackt hebben, 8 grooten unde 12 cleinen. dese monsteren moet men al eer mense bijndet doet allun waeter trecken um dat de varuwe noch vars is, unde oick niet seer clopen anders cladet de varuwe. Ick hebt vergeeten in mijn lesten brijf to schriven, unde als sij gebonden sijnt so over siet sij met vlijt um de fijnnicheit van de wol to kennen, unde nemet daer toe de vlijticheit van u salige vader tot ein voerboet, up dat u l hem in allens mach volgen, went ick segge u l voer de warheit, hadde hij in de kentenise van idt beste goet niet so vlijtich geweest hij en solde sijn saecken voer godt unde voer den menschen niet so heerlick unde godtsalich uth gevoert hebben als hij se nu godt sij gelovet uth gevoert heeft. daer om mach u l wel acht op u salige vaders fondament hebben, om daer op toe bouwen. unde dat sulve fondament moet men vanden godtlicken geest in de ootmodicheit leeren unde ontfangen. daer wil u, unde uns allen den genadijgen godt sijnen geest to verclaren, als wij hem to rechte in sijnen geest daer om bidden. went de godt van doen heeft de moet hem bidden. hijr mede groet ick mijn lieve komper hertlick unde groet mijn alle goede vrunden. unde so daer eijmant van de vrunden wer de van tleste monster de nu gedaen is (twelcke de openb)2 is wat begerden, so solde men na de beste middel sien om wat to senden. godt den almachtijgen bevoelen.

Bij mijn u l komper u l diener wat ick vermach.

Letter XII

(Barrefelt has had an accident but is recovering with the help of a physician. He hopes that all is well with his friends, particularly as far as their spiritual welfare is concerned. The world is full of evil and Barrefelt laments the death of various friends, including Bylant. Yet, grieve though we might, all our friends belong to God who releases them from their earthly body and incorporates their soul in His immortal being. For this we must thank Him, since the longer we remain on earth the more we are subject to earthly misery.

Barrefelt sends Moretus the accounts of the ‘business’ and tells him to show them to the other partners and return them to him in his own good time. He wants all the partners to see exactly how matters stand. He complains about not having heard from Hendrik 'tKint about the Portuguese. Can Moretus have a word with him? Some lawyers have advised him to sue Kasper de Wedyger. What does Moretus think?

Barrefelt enquires about whether the specimen sheets he dispatched have arrived. He could also send some specimen sheets of his commentary on the Book of Revelation. They can easily be conveyed to Holland and

he could arrange for Elebo to pick them up in Dordrecht or Rotterdam. Could Moretus let him know? Christoffel Raphelengius in Leiden has received some of Barrefelt's works which he is to sell and also says that he will print the Biblical images. Barrefelt hears that Christoffel is writing to him but he has not received anything. Could Moretus write to him? He is eager for the production to proceed. He sends greetings to all his friends. The accounts have been copied out by B.B.)

 

Anno 1592, den 4 in juni1.

 

Na alle hertlicke unde vruntelicke groetenise a u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick nu godt lof redelicke wel to pase ben. Ick hadde ein accedent de mijn lichamelick seer hijnderlick was daer heeft ein meester over gegaen, unde heeftet so varde gebracht datet nu beeter is godt sij lof. Ick hope datet met u l unde met alle goede vrunden oick goet is. Ick meinne princepael datet goet is tuschen godt unde de siel idt creatuir is haest verandert gelick wij alle dagen voer oogen sien so wij daer op leten. de werlt is vol gepeupels mer einijder moest de sijnen, daer ick wel van mach sprecken dat ick vele goede vrunden mese, so bij u l2, unde op ander plaetsen, gelick wij nu oick unsen getrouwen vrunt bijlant3 so haestich verloren hebben godt wil hem unde uns allen genadich sijn. dat schrive ofte sprecke ick menschelicker wijse mer voer godt en verlijsen wij niet, went alle unse gerechte trouwen vrunden de behooren godt toe, unde hij verlosetse van idt starffelicke licham unde nemet die siel tot hem in ein onstarfelick wesen, daer wij godt van behooren to dancken unde to loven, went hoe wij langer int erdische wesen leven hoe wij merder verdrijts onderworpen sijnt.

Nu dat over geslagen so sende ick hijr u l de reckeninge van unsen handel, gelick ick voerheen geseijt hebbe to doen4 op dat u l sal sien hoe daer in gehandelt is, went u l verstaet de saecke beeter als vele anderen daer om sende ick de reckeninge an u l, unde begere daer mede an u l dat gij de kompengij de sulve reckeninge wilt laeten sien op sij weeten hoe daer in gehandelt is. unde als idt dan eins to pase komt so sent mijn

de reckeninge weder, mer daer en is geen haest mede, unde nemet ten besten dat ick dit doe, went ick meinne daer niet dan goet in, om in allens to beeter gerust to wesen, als ick u l unde de kompengij dat wel breder verclaren solde were ick bij u l. dat oick over geslagen so heeft u l mijn op verscheijden tijden geschreven ofte henrijck tkint niet an mijn geschreven en heeft, so sal u l weeten dat hij noijt an mijn van de poortegijsen um met haer to handelen geschreven en heeft. Ick wilde wel dat u l eins met hem in de sprack conde komen om to hooren wat hij begert an mijn to schriven, op dat ick mijn daer na wust to regulleren. hijr sijnt rechts geleerden de mijn seer raden dat ick kasper voer recht sal nemen, unde daer en kemme ick niet geren an. kan u l daer wat vernemen, ick bidde u schriftet mijn toch.

Mijn verlanget seer um to weeten ofte u l goet daer de monsteren in waren oick ontfangen is, unde so de monsteren ontfangen wern, unde dat daer van de openb5 begert worden so mocht men sien ofte men middel conden vinden um wat to senden. om in holant to senden is middels genoech. weret dat unsen vrunt elebo weder ein reijse in holant toe doen hadde so wolde ick se wel toe dordt ofte to rotterdam bestelen dat hij sij daer vinden solde. u l mach daer van met hem sprecken unde wat u met malkanderen beste doncket daer van to doen dat schrift mijn. u l neve6 tot leijen de heeft van unse goet ontfangen om to venten, unde hij heeft oick geseijt de fijguren op to maecken, unde mijn is geschreven dat hij geseijt hadde mijn alle bescheit to schriven, mer ick en hoor daer van niet ofte u l an hem schref, so verhalet in u brijf dat ick wel begere dat hij mijn schrive hoe idt met de saecke is. ick mocht wel lijden dat de dingen ein voertganck hadden, so vele als de salicheit en gaet. hijr mede mijn lieve komper groeten wij u l met alle goede vrunden ser hertelick. dese reckeninge heeft b.b7 geschreven, unde is uns nu ser behulpelick.

Bij mijn u komper.

Letter XIII

(Barrefelt has received word from Mylius that he is to get 30 guilders, but he does not want them before he has written to Moretus at greater length about the accounts. He has been unable to do this, however, for he has been ill ever since he accompanied Dresseler to the Bourse. He

has not heard from Moretus for some time. Dresseler told him that Elebo was dead: is this true? If it is he is surprised that nobody else should have told him about it. He himself is now in better health. Has Dresseler arrived safely in Antwerp? He sends greetings.)

 

(10 October 1592)1

 

Lieve komper ick hebbe een boodschap van Sr Mylius ontfangen, dat hy my 30 gulden geven solde, die ick niet en beger toe entfanghen voer dat ick u l breeder van unse reckeninghe geschreven hebbe2, twelcke ick nu niet wel doen en kan, um dat ick al siecklick ben gewest, sendt dat ick van unsen vrundt Dresseler3 an die buerse gienck. Ick en hebbe lange geen schryven van u gehadt. schryfft mij toch eins oft Rogier Ellebo, uns vrundt, dese werlt overleden is, ende hoe idt met all goede bekenden is. Dresseler hefft mij geseidt dat Rogier bij den Herr is, unde ick en heb dar noijt van gehoert. Ist so so wil im Godt und uns allen genaedich wesen, mer ick ben daer in verwundert, dat ick daer niet van gehoert en hebbe. Idt is, Godt loff, nu weder wat beter met mijn, dant gewest is. Unde wilt uns doch mit idt naest schrijven oft Dresseler gelucklich overgekomen is. hijr mede hertlick van mijn gegroetet.

Bij mij Henrick Barrefelt.

Letter XIV

(Barrefelt is better in spite of the remnants of a cough and catarrh. He was pleased to receive Moretus' letter. He had been worried by his silence, thinking that all was not well with him and that, the ‘business’ having come to a standstill, his friends no longer needed it. Again he thanks Moretus for the thirty guilders offered him through Mylius. He does not need them for his personal use but intends to have a new work printed, of very fine quality. Those interested in the ‘business’ should make a profit out of it, but those who have lost interest will never make a profit out of anything. If anyone else wants to participate in the production of the work they will let Moretus know.

Barrefelt is delighted to hear that Elebo is still alive and sends greetings to him. He hopes he will promote the ‘business’ further, but he is distressed about the few letters he has received from Elebo or anybody else. They say they no longer need him. They complain about lack of time, but there is no such thing as lack of time in a business such as theirs, so different from other kinds of business. It can be carried on in silence, without attracting brigands, but men, dominated by their earthly nature, are for ever seeking excuses. This is not in the interests of their own welfare, however, for it is in times of difficulty that one must work particularly hard in order to earn money. Plantin was a man who did participate in the ‘business’ and made a profit out of it. He should be an example to others.

Barrefelt wants to know whether Moretus has spoken to Hendrik 'tKint about the Portuguese. Kasper de Wedyger is not paying him anything and he does not know what to do about it. He intends to donate the money De Wedyger owes him to a poor house, an institution which might be more successful in retrieving the money than he has been. Can Moretus give him news of the Portuguese?

He sends greetings to Moretus' family and friends and hopes that they will promote the ‘business’. He asks whether Dresseler has arrived safely in Antwerp. He is sorry to hear about Moretus' griefs but they must be borne with patience. Margrieta von Honthum sends greetings to Moretus and his wife.)

 

Anno 1592, den 14 novmberus1.

 

Na alle vruntlicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten dat ick nu godt lof wat beeter toe pase ben dan ick geweest hebbe. de meest sijckte de ick gehadt hebbe, unde noch eins deels hebbe, de hebbe ick meest in de borst, met einen hoest daer bij daer ick veel tijts gebreck van hebbe, mer idt is nu lijdelick godt lof. lieve komper ick hebbe ein brijf van u l ontfangen daer ick seer in verblijt ben, um dat ick u alder gesontheit daer uth versta godt lof. Ick was in groot bedencken datet niet wel met u luden en was, over mets dat ick in so langen tijt geen schriven van nijmant gecregen en hadde daer in ick verwondert ben, dan ick dencke nu de komenschop stil staet unde dat de meeste lust daer van gepasseert is dat men de dienstbarheit tot de komenschop nu niet seer van doen en heeft, godt beetert. nu dat over geslagen, so sal u l weeten dat sr mijlijs doer bevel van u l mijn heeft wilen geven 30 brabantse guldens, daer ick godt unde u l ser voer bedancke, dan op dese tijt en begere ick sij

voer mijnen parsoen niet, went so veel als den creatuirlicken nootdorft angaet en hebbe ick als noch gen gebreck godt lof, dan idt solde mogen komen dat ick noch ein stuck2 solde laeten varuwen, dat seer fijn van wol is, unde solde idt sulve wel geren in afeckti hebben de wijl ick noch inden creatuir leve, went den koopman de een lust tot de komenschop heeft de solde daer wel proffijt mede doen, unde sonder lust tot de komenschop en kan nijmant met dat goet proffijt doen. so idt nu den tijt toe laet dat idt sulve stuck gevaruwet sal worden, so dan u l ofte eijmant anders daer noch wat behulps to doen wilt, dat sal men dan u l wel laeten weeten.

Ick ben seer, ja ser verblijt dat unsen vrunt elebo noch inden creatuir levendich is verhopende dat hij noch wat porffijts in de komenschop doen sal. wilt hem van mijn seer groeten als u l bij hem komt. hij en heeft mijn niet geschreven, daer ick in verwondert ben naden mal dat hij idt geseijt hadde, dan daer en heeft in langen tijt nijmant geschreven, unde dat doer orsaeck so gemelt is dat sij mijner niet seer van doen en hebben. elick claget over den benauwede tijt, nu en is in dese komenschop genen benauweden tijt ofte wij maecken sij sulvest, went ten is geen komenschop gelick men plech to doen. ick segge men kan dese komenschop in stilheit doen sonder gerucht voer de rovers to maecken, mer idt is gelicket voer heen geweest is dat de menschen naden adamschen wesen altijt in sulicke komenschopen ein ontschuldinge over hem sulven wil maecken, unde dat tegen sijn eijgen welvart, went inden tijt der benauwtheit behoort men alder meest nersticheit toe doen om ein stuver to verdienen. nu dat over geslagen. Och u l salige vader was ein man de acht op de komenschop hadde. daer om dede hij oick goede winst unde proffijt daer in, t welcke wel voer ein ander ein ecxsempel behoorden to wesen.

Lieve3 komper ick hadde u l vruntlick so idt toe pase komt dat u l henrijck tk eins wilt an sprecken om to vernemen hoe de portegijsen met de panden handelen ofte daer wat van komen sal ofte niet kasper en gevet mijn niet einen halder. ick en weet niet hoe ick daer mede doen sal. Ick dencke altomet dat icket ein arm spijtael wil geven4, de mochten hem met recht voernemen went sij solden eer recht crijgen dan ick. komtet u l to pase so schrift mijn eins hoe de portegijsen daer in doen.

Hijr mede wil ick mijn lieve komper, met sijn lieve huisfrouwe unde kinder hertlicken unde vruntelicken groeten, unde bidde u l wilt wel

doen unde groeten mijn de vrunden elck bijsonder, unde datet er alto samen wel gaet dat is mijn van herten lief, unde wunsche dat sij goet proffijt in de komenschop mogen doen. mijn verlanget seer om to weeten ofte unsen vrunt dreseler met lieve to huis gekomen is. u l schade is mijn van herten leet mer gelick u l schrift moet ment in gedult opnemen, went de nu in deser verwoeste werlt moet handelen de is sulickus verwachtende. margrijta unse vruntinne doet u l met u l huisfrouw hertlick unde vruntlick groeten. godt den almachtijgen bevoelen.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l komper unde vrunt wat ick vermach.

Letter XV

(Barrefelt is in reasonably good health and is sorry to hear about the insanity of Moretus' son Melchior. Moretus must regard it as being sent by God; he must bear it patiently and offer it up to the Almighty.

On 5 May Dresseler left for Holland. Barrefelt did not receive from him all he was supposed to receive, but is prepared to wait until he really needs it. Hans von Honthum is apprenticed to Mylius for six years, one of which is almost over. He had so wanted to work with Moretus, but that was not possible. Barrefelt would like to live with Moretus and collaborate with him more closely, but the world has become so wicked that a good man cannot get by. How quickly men have turned to evil and how much better were the days of Plantin, with whom he corresponded once a week. How fortunate Plantin was to die before witnessing the wickedness which Barrefelt sees and which is growing worse day by day. All one can do is to be patient. Barrefelt is not sending Moretus any more specimen sheets because he sees that the ‘business’ must be left alone. He wishes for news of Elebo and of whether his leg is better. He had no idea that the ‘business’ would ever be so slack, but is prepared to put up with it patiently in the short time he has left to live He has done as much for the ‘business’ as possible. What he has not had time to do he leaves to God and to posterity.

Barrefelt thanks God and Moretus for the gift and will let Moretus know if he needs it for personal use or for the ‘business’. He sends greetings to Moretus' family and his friends - Spierinck, 'tKint, Elebo and Luis Pérez. Can Moretus give the enclosed note to Bylant's widow?)

 

Anno 1593, den 6 meij1.

 

Na alle hertlicke unde vruntlicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper, so sal u l weeten dat ick noch in redelicken doen ben godt lof als ick

hope dat u l oick met u famijlij sijnt, uth genomen dat ick versta dat u l soen2 noch in sijn sempelheit is, t welcke mijn van herten leet is, went ick hebbe besoecht wat alsulicken siecke in heeft dan mijn lieve komper wie weet waer om dat godt alsulckx laet geschien, om ein quader daer mede to mien, went ten is geen duvels werck, mer idt is werck der sempelheit. dus weest daer gedultich in, unde doet idt best met den jongen, unde gevet godt, de idt gegeven heeft de saecke over. hij salt wel maecken so idt tot salicheit best is.

Den 5 van meij is dreseler van hijr na holant gereijst de heer geve hem ein geluckijge reijse, so vele als u l schrift dat ick van hem ontfangen solde dat hebbe ick niet genoch mer laet dat blijven tot ein ander tijt als icket van doen hebbe. an gaende van unsen hans den soen van desen huise de is bij mijlus 6 jaer verseijt, unde van de 6 ijser ein in desen verleden vasten om, also datet noch 5 jaer is eer sijn tijt om is3. de jongen hadde so geren bij u l geweest, mer ten wolde niet sijn, dan toch hij heeft nu einen goeden heere. nu mach men sien wat den tijt hijr na sal leeren, wennet de tijt mede bracht so weret mijn ein groote lust dat wij met den creatuiren bij malkanderen mochten leven, om malkanderen in allen dingen tot ein godtsalich leven dienstelick to wesen. mer eijlatie de boese menschen hebben den erdbodem so beset dat daer niet ein goet mensch vorbij kan komen. Och hoe sijnt de menschen in corten tijt tot den boesen verandert, wat ein saligen tijt waset noch bij u salige vaders tijden. wij haden meest alle weecken brijven van markanderen. Och als ick noch om den olden tijt dencke, so dencke ick o godtsaligen tijt hoe sijnt gij dus van de boesheit onder gebracht, godt heeft u salige vader lief gehadt dat hij hem inden saligen tijt vander erden wech nam op dat hij de groote boesheit niet en solde sien de nu in ere cracht staet, unde noch alle dagen boesser wordt, also dat hem geen godtlicke duechde en mach laeten sien, daer voermijn niet toe te doen is dan lijdsamheit to bewijsen. Ick en sende u l geen monsteren om dat ick sie dat men de komenschop moet stil laeten staen. Ick en hoor niet hoe idt met unsen vrunt elebo is ofte sijn beenn genesen is, ofte hoe idt met hem is. Ick en hadde niet gemeint dat unse komenschop so slap geworden solde hebben, t welcke ick godt bevelen moet, unde besiten mijn siel met lijdsamheit om den corten tijt

de ick int creatuir to beleven hebbe. Ick hebbe de komenschop so veere gedreven als mijn mogelick is geweest, unde wat mijn den tijt niet to en laet dat bevele ick godt, unde de nakommelinge.

Ick bedancke godt unde u l van de preesentatie de u l mijn doet, unde leve ick den tijt dat icket van doen hebbe idt sij voer mijn creatuir ofte in ander saecken angande de komenschop so sal ick u l schriven. hijr mede mijn herts lieve komper wil ick u l met u l huisfrouw, unde kinderen, met de goede olde vrouw u l moder4 de mijn eertijts goedet gedaen heeft, met spijrinck unde sijn huisfrouw, alto samen hertlick unde vruntelick doen groeten, unde voert alle goede vrunde als tk5 unde elebo, unde als u l bij unsen getrouwen vrunt l.p.6 komt, so groet hem oick hertelick van mijn. unde datet u altesamen in godt wel gaet dat is mijn ein groote vruwde dat kenne godt. wilt dit in gelechte brijfken in handen van salige bijlants weduwe. godt den almachtijgen in sijn hilige wijsheit bevoelen.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l vrunt unde komper wat ick vermach.

Letter XVI

(Barrefelt is well in his soul but complains of pains in his limbs and chest, of weakness and fits of dizziness. His body is declining in old age. He has not heard from Moretus for some time and wonders whether he has forgotten about the ‘business’ altogether. He would be ill-advised to do so for, if he fails to exploit Plantin's best acquisitions, he will never gather riches. He should therefore stock as many books as possible which, even if they are not sold today, will be sold tomorrow. Plantin left Moretus as his heir. Moretus must consequently carry on the trade so that he too can have something to leave his own heirs. It would be sad if the house that Plantin founded should collapse.

Barrefelt asks for news of Moretus' family. He is pleased to hear that Melchior Moretus is better. He reminds Moretus of the patience needed to deal with diseases of the mind and of the patience with which he, Barrefelt, awaits the revival of the ‘business’. He has a new specimen sheet ready but does not know whether to dispatch it since he hears so little about the ‘business’. Frans Raphelengius the Younger has told him that he would be sending some specimen sheets to Moretus on Barrefelt's orders. 'tKint had written to him about them, but he has not heard whether they have arrived. Again Barrefelt cites Plantin's example. He hopes that Moretus will prove to be a worthy son.

He gathers that Justus Lipsius is staying with Moretus. Lipsius too

had once participated in the ‘business’, but since Plantin's death he has lost interest in it. Barrefelt wishes to know what Lipsius now thinks of the ‘business’, whether he has a high or a low opinion of it. He would like to write to him himself but will not do so before having heard from Moretus.

He sends greetings to Moretus' family, to Elebo, 'tKint and the Bylant family. He has received Elebo's letter and hopes that he will expand the activities of the business. Barrefelt is doing his best and hopes that others will do their best too.)

 

Anno 1593, den 18 november1.

 

Na alle hertelicke unde vruntlicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper so sal u l weeten datet met mijn inder sielen godt lof wel is, mer idt licham verswackt seer so met pijn in mijn lenden so in de borst, unde dan alto met swijmelinge int hooft, also datet creantuir doer den olderdom dinclenert ofte vergaet, t welcke sijn natuirlicke ganck moet hebben. nu dat godt bevoelen so ben ick verwondert dat ick in so langen tijt ein brijfken van u l gehadt en hebbe. Ick solde balde dencken ofte unse komenschop bij u l int vergeeten gestelt wer, t welcke mijn leet wer, unde u l oick niet goet en wer, went ick weet wel so gij van dat goet daer u salige vader sijn beste goet mede gewonen heeft in u wijnckel niet en hebt, so sult gij geen rijckdom vergaderen, daerom mijn lieve komper sijnt gij wel verorsaecket u wijnckel to stofferen met al sulicken goet, wordet dan huden niet vercocht so wordet morgen vercocht. daer is altijt winst op to verwachten. de wijle dan dat u l salige vader u l in sijn plaetse tot ein arfgenam gesetet heeft, so is idt oick behoortlick dat u l den sulven handel voert drijft unde in eren voert ganck holt, so veel u mogelick is, op dat u l oick na uwen tijt arfgenamen moget in u plaetse hebben, went idt wer jammer datet huis dat u saligen gebouwet heeft, vervalen solde.

Nu dat over geslagen unde godt bevoelen, so wer mijn verlangen wel om to weeten hoe met u l unde met u famijlij is. Ick heb gehoort dat u l soenn2 wat an de beeter hant is, daer ick blij om ben, went weet ick wat ein verdrijt datet is met crancksinnige menschen om toe gaen. mer als idt den mensche op geleijt wordt so moet ment met gedult uth voeren

so men best kan, went naden verganckelicken sin der menschen en sal nijmant sijnen volen wil hebben, daer om is uns alto samen gedult van noode. Ick wilde oick wel dat unse komenschop merder voert ganck hadde, mer ick moetet in gedult an sien. Ick hadde wel ein monster3 gereet de welcke ick u al daer wel seer gunden, mer ick en weetet nu op dese tijt niet to senden, oick en weet ick niet ofte idt seer begert wordt, om dat ick so wienich van unse komenschop hoor. u l neve franscoijs van raffelinge4 heeft mijn geseijt dat hij doer mijn begeren enige monsteren an u l gesonden heeft, daer mijn tkint om geschreven hadde, mer ick en hebbe noijt van ijmant schriven gehadt dat de sulve monster bij u l ontfangen sijnt. Och och hoe dickwijl komt mijn de getrouwicheit van u salige vader voer. Ick hope ijmmers dat u l ein soenn uth sijnen sade sijnt. nu ick moet dat (godt)5 beveelen.

Ick hebbe verstaen dat daer ein van loven bij u l is de eertijts met (u salige)6 unde met mijn in de komenschop handelden, daerom hij van u salige bemint was (mer)7 na dat u salige vader over leden was niet veel op de komenschop en pasten. nu wer mijn vruntlicke begeren wel an u l dat gij mijn ein wienich schreft ofte hij geen gewach van unse komenschop bij u l en heeft, idt sij ten goeden ofte ten quaden. Ick hadde wel wat an hem to schriven, mer ick en darf dat niet doen voer dat ick dat bescheit van u l hebbe. is idt u l gelegen so schrift mijn daer van so u l bekent is. idt is h.l8 de ick meinne.

Hijr mede mijn lieve komper wil ick u l met u l huisfrouw unde kinderen hertlick unde vruntlick groeten, unde wilt so wel doen unde groeten van mijnent wegen de bekende als elebo, tkint unde de bijlantse, unde segget elebo dat ick sijnen brijf ontfangen hebbe daer ick sijn gesontheit uth verstae daer ick blij om ben, unde verhope dat hij de komenschop noch wat verbreijden sal. wij doen hijr unse beste, ick hope dat ein ander oick so doen sal. sijt hijr mede den almachtijgen godt in sijn genade bevoelen.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l vrunt unde komper.

Letter XVII

(Barrefelt is in relatively good health and hopes that the same is true of Moretus and his family. He has heard little from Moretus and his other acquaintances and wants to know how they are. The body enjoys the health of the limbs. He has sent 'tKint some specimen sheets which, he hopes, have been distributed amongst the ‘company’. He does not know whether anyone has received them, although they have definitely reached 'tKint. If Moretus or the Bylant family want them they should ask 'tKint for them. If Moretus considers the works of commercial interest he should let Barrefelt know: Plantin, after all, made a profit out of them and Barrefelt guarantees that Moretus too will make money. If he has time he should consult the rest of the ‘company’ about the possibility of acquiring them while they are still available. Were the prospect to appeal to them they could advance some of the money towards completing the printing of the works and pay the rest later. Can Moretus let him know?

Barrefelt enquires about Moretus' activities in Frankfurt and whether Dresseler or any other of his agents is there. He begs Moretus to send him news of himself and his son Melchior. He wants to know whether Moretus' efforts have borne fruit. Moretus has many problems and it is a dangerous time for business, but Barrefelt trusts that God will help him. He frequently saw Plantin in difficulty, but the Lord assisted him to brave adversity with honour and piety. May the same happen to Moretus.

Barrefelt sends greetings to Moretus' family and thanks him for the gift. They should write to each other for life is short. Barrefelt greets his friends and urges Moretus and the others to promote the ‘business’ and sell his works at a profit while they are still available. They may not be so for much longer.)

 

Anno 1594, den 3 aprijl1.

 

Met ein vruntelicke groetenise an u mijn lieve komper laet ick u l weeten dat ick nu redelicke wel (naden tijt) toe passe ben godt sij lof als ick hope dat u l met u l huisfrouw unde famijlij oick sijnt. Ick crijge nu selden brijven van u l unde oick van uns ander bekenden, daer duer dat ick wienich weet hoe idt u allen gaet. toch als idt u alle wel gaet so ben ick wel to vreden. nochtans so hoor ick geren hoe idt met u allen is. idt licham gevoelet de gesontheit der leden geren. Ick hebbe over ein tijt ijtelicke monsteren2 an unsen vrunt tkint gesonden, de hij de kompengij

mede deelen solde unde ick en hoor van nijmant dat sijse ontfangen hebben. nochtans so heeft mijn tkint geschreven dat hijse ontfangen heeft, unde so u l geen ontfangen en heeft soe eijschetse hem af so sij u l anders begert. hij mach mogelick so veel to doen hebben dat hij daer geen tijt toe en heeft, unde laet u l gevadersche bijlants oick ein eijschen. unde als u l den monster gesien heeft, so schrift mijn ofte u l idt prinschepael goet oick begeret to koopen unde to gebrucken, unde om dat u salige vader daer goet proffijt mede gedaen heeft, so is u l so veel verseckert dat gij daer oick wel winst mede solden doen. so varde als u l in ander koomenschop ofte handel niet to veel verbonden sijnt, u l mach sich beraden met ander goede koopluden af men alsulicken goet niet vlijtich en behoort to gelden, de wijle datet noch to bekomen is. als u l unde de kompengij de monsteren over sien hebt so beradet u met malkanderen, ofte gij idt prinsepael goet daer dit ein monster van is oick begeret to koopen. so gij dan daer van begert to hebben, so mochten wij to samen handelen dat gij ein stuck gelts op de handt gavet unde de rest metter tijt betaelden. hijr mogen gij u met malkanderen in beraden unde laeten mijn bescheit weeten, op dat ick mijn daer na reguleren mach om wat mer to crijgen.

Ick en weet niet hoe u l handel nu tot franckevoert staet ofte dreseler daer is ofte niet. Ick dencke wel dat u l daer eijmant heeft. kommet u l to pase so schrift mijn eins ein wienich hoe idt al met u l unde u l soen3 is ofte hij wat verandert als ick hope ja. schrift mijn ofte de neringe oick wat in brenget dat gij daer mede doer kunt went gij hebt ein groote last op den haels, unde de tijt om den handel to drijven is prijckelos toch ick hope dat u de heer daer doer helpen sal. Ick hebbe u l salige vader dickwijl in benautheit gesien unde de heer de holp hem dat hij met eeren unde vromicheit daer doer quam so hope ick dat godt u l oick helpen sal, gelick hij den sijnen altijt gedaen heeft.

Hijr mede wil ick mijn lieve komper met u l huisfrouw unde kinderen vruntlicken groeten unde ick bedancke u l ser van de pressentatie4 de u

l mijn doet, unde waer ick u l ofte uwen in dienen kan daer ben ick van herten to bereijt, unde laet uns malkanderen alto met ein brijfken gedencken idt is hijr ein corte tijt voer mijn unde voer uns allen, groet mijn alle goede vrunden vrunden elck bij sonder, unde handelt toch met ein lust tosamen in de komenschop de wijle dat daer noch wat mede verdienen is. de tijt kan haest komen datet goet niet toe bekomen is, den almachtijgen godt bevoelen.

Bij mijn barrefelt u l komper unde vrunt wat ick vermach.

Appendix A

(Margrieta von Honthum greets Moretus in the single spirit of God. She does not know Moretus by sight but hopes that they will be spiritual friends since she has heard so much good of him from Barrefelt. She knows that Barrefelt has told Moretus about her son Hans who is about eighteen and has studied Latin, French and arithmetic, making progress day by day. But she has not understood from Moretus' last letter whether Moretus is prepared to take Hans into his service or not. Can he let her know something definite? If he does not want Hans she will not pester him any longer. She is unwilling to let Hans go to the watch since he is not suited for it. He wants to study and spends most of his time reading. He attaches little importance to food, will be wholly obedient to Moretus, and will go to church or stay at home as he commands. Can Moretus reply either through his wife or through Dresseler? Margrieta von Honthum cannot read Moretus' handwriting since she is not used to it, and Barrefelt has been so ill for twelve days and has had such pains in his chest that he is unlikely to be able to read it either. Had he not been ill he would have written himself. He wants Moretus to confirm the arrival of his works packed with the linen.

Margrieta von Honthum sends greetings to Moretus' wife, their friends and Luis Pérez and his household. She again begs Moretus to let her know something about Hans as soon as possible: if he does not accept him she will make other arrangements in Cologne. Hans is particularly eager to work for Moretus after all that Barrefelt has told him about him. She sends greetings and adds that Hans drinks no wine. His masters, moreover, would like to have promoted him but Hans does not wish for promotion amongst such worldly people.)

 

(11 November 1591)1.

 

Den ein wesichen geist gottes wil unser aller regierer sein nae sein gotliche genaedt und barmherzicheit uns gunstige lieffe frundt morendorff

wie wol u l mir na dem ansien unbekandt is. so hoffen ich doch dat wir in dem geist frundten sein sollen, durch vil goiz dat ich van u l gehoirdt haffen durch unser aller frundt Sr barrefelt. wie dan u l moegen verstanden haffen ein mael oder mer durch Sr barrefelt, van mijnnen sonn hans van huntthum, der nu ein jung van 18 jaeren ungefer is, und sein latein zemlich kan, und nu van paeschen hie her, up die franzesche schol gangen ist, und mit rechenen gelerdt, so vil die zeit mit brengt, und noch alle dag besser lerdt2. so en haffen ich noch gein claer bescheidt van u l nie verstanden, off u l den jungen begerdt off niet, dan lest mael hat u l uns geschriffen gegen paeschen3, und auch so kan ich nit recht u l meining verstaen, off u l auch darzu gesint is, den jungen an zo nemen off niet, wan u l ein lust dar zu hat, so schriffen u l mir recht uss jae off nein, dan wan u l gein lust dar zu en hat, so en beger ich u l ganz niedt dae mit zu beschwaeren auch en beger ich ganz niedt, dat der jung soll mussen wachen4, off brachen, um die grose wildicheit willen, zu leren, want hij auch van naturen nit dar zu gesint en is, noch gewant en is, sunder stil und alle zeit in den boicheren zu sizen, und from van hend(en)5 dae wil ich burgen genoich fur stelle, nit lecker van essen, und sal u l sier gehorsam sein in aller billicheit, zu kirchen gaen, off zu hauss bliffen, wie u l dat beliefft, got loff und danck, dit is so waerhafftich. wan it nu u l nit gelegen en is so bitten ich fruntlick, u l willen it mir frey uss schriffen6, u l goide meinung, durch u l huisfrouw, off dreseler, dan u l sal it mir fur goit aff nemen ich en kan u l schrifft ganz nit lessen, um die ungewonheit willen, und Sr barrefelt is sier kranck in sein borst7, also dat mich gruwelt off hij it auch nit sal kunnen lessen, van pinnen, dan hij ein dag off xii sier kranck gewest is. ich en weiss noch nit wat got mit hem thun sall, sunst sol he u l selver geschriffen haffen, und hij begerdt fruntlich als dat goit over kommen is, mit dat alde lijwaedt8,

dat u l im doch dat over schriffen willen, mit dem ersten, wae na hij herzlich verlangt.

Und hij und wir alsamen thun u l mit u l huisfrouw, und alle gode frunden herzlich sier grussen. u l willen uns den herren l p9 auch sier grussen, mit s l geselschaft. ich bitten u l fruntlich, u l willen mich mit dem aller ersten doch bescheidt schriffen, want so it u l nit gelegen en wer, den jungen an zu nemen, so wil ich hie um horen want ich mocht villicht hie ein ordt wissen, aver der jung wer lieffer by u l, um dat hij so vil guiz van u l hat horren sagen, van Sr barrefelt. hie mit dem almechtige herren befollen in seinnen genadigen schuz und schirm datum collen den ii november by u l diennerschen in allen goden wat ich vermach na min klein vermoegen. der jung drinckt van naturen geinnen winn sal sich numer mir drunck en drincken got loff und danck.

Margrieta t'senheufft, wittwe huntthums.

Die10 meister in der borschen hatten lang gern gehat dat hij promefierdt hat, aver hij en is dar zu nit gesint um dat dese folcks vil in der welt is und weinich nuz fur got thun u l halt mir dit zo goidt.

Appendix B

(Margrieta von Honthum greets Moretus and his family. She had asked Moretus about Hans and he has now told her to send him to him and that he will try to use him at the (Frankfurt) fair and make sure that he is not sent to the watch. Margrieta thanks Moretus. In the last week, however, bands of soldiers have been marauding in the outskirts of Cologne. The situation has come to such a pass that it is dangerous to venture outside the city gates and it is particularly unwise to travel. Consequently Margrieta von Honthum does not dare dispatch her son for fear of his being taken prisoner. She has decided, instead, to apprentice him to Mylius. Hans had set his heart on working for Moretus because of all the good things Barrefelt had said about him. Margrieta apologises for this sudden change of plan and repeats her fears that Hans be taken prisoner if he leaves Cologne. She hopes Moretus will forgive her and assures him that she and her family are at his service.

Margrieta von Honthum sends greetings to Luis Pérez and François van Bylant and their households, as well as to other friends and to Moretus and his family. She asks Moretus for a brief reply and repeats that Hans will do anything he can for him and that he remains in Cologne against his will.)

(18 December 1591)1

 

Mijnen fruntlichen gruss zuvoeren und alles goden wat ich vermach nae mijn klein vermoegen gunstige goden her und frundt Sr morendorff u l gesuntheit und wolfardt sampt u l lieffe hausfrouw und kindergen is mir van herzen lieff um horen dat weijss der almachtige got, weider is dit min schriffen an u l um dat ich am lesten an u l geschriffen hat dat u l mir freij uss schriffen sollen off u l auch den jungen begertten off nit dar up dan u l mir geschriffen hat, dat ich den jungen senden sol, up die mess u l wollen dat besten dae mit thun, und die weijl ich ganz nit begeren dat der jung wachen sol, so wollen u l besien dat hij nit en sol wachen it welche auch mochlich vil kosten sal als u l in van der wacht halten sollen, war van ich mich sier fruntlich bedancken van u l sier goidt bescheidt und fruntliche antwordt2 it wilche uns allen wol gefiel. nu kan ich u l niet verhalten, wie dat nu bijnnen 8 dagen hie fur der stadt an etlichen ortten, solchen grosen rormor van allerleij kriechsth folck gewest is mit roven und slaen dat man naulich dat haufft fur die porz stechen mach und einijeder sagt van groser gefaer dese reijsans, also dat mir solchen grosen schrecken an is kommen dat ich den jungen nit darff senden sorgente dat hij mocht gefangen worden van dem kriesch folck hie und dae wan nu u l nit durch uns verkurzdt off verhindert en wordt so wolt ich besien off der jung sein sijnn daer zu begeffen wolt dat hij hie bliff by min gevader milijus in der vetter henne3. der sal ijn wol an willen nemen um dat hij iezt wol einnen jungen darff und min sonn hat sein sijn so sier na u l gesaizt dat hij it qwaelich thun kan um dat hij so vil goiz alle zeit van u l gehordt hat van unser aller gode frundt barrefelt. wan it nu u l irgens in sol verkurzen off verhinderen und dat it u l qwaelich sal nemen, dat ich so lang hat an u l an gehalten und auch selver darum an u l geschriffen dat u l den jungen sol an nemen, und nu so balt ander sin hat kregen, so sollen wir dat nit gern thun, und noch gern darijn dat selve thun wat uns moiglich wehr, und it en is mir nirgens um zu thun dan dat mich so sier grauwelt dat der jung moicht kommen

in einniger bossen handen dat hij gevangen off gespannen werden mocht. geliche wol dit geschie off geschie nit wir sollen darum frunt bliffen in got bis in der4 ewicheit off got wilt, und wae ich off min kinder u l kunnen diennen bij dag off nacht in allen goden dae sollen u l uns alle zeit van herzen willich und bereit in finden.

Ich bit fruntlich kompt it u l eins zu pas so grust uns den herren l p5 min her gevader sier mit sein lieffe geselschafft und franzoss van bijlandt mit alle sein lieffe geselschafft fordt alle gode frunt hiemit wil ich u l und u l lieffe hausfrouw und lieffe kindergen dem almechtige ewigen got befellen in sijnnen genedigen schuiz und schirm datum collen 18 december by mir u l dienst willige diennerschen in allem goden wat ich vermach nae min kranck vermoegen.

Margrietta huntthums wittwe.

Ich bitten u l fruntlich um ein klein antwort, und off it qwaem dat min sonn u l irgens in diennen kunt, in zu kommenten zeiden, nae sinn klein vermogen dat sall hij alle zeit so herzlich gern thun, off dit nu schein nit so sein en wolt, doch bausen sijnnen willen sol it geschien wan hij hie bliff um dat hij u l so goden herz na dracht.


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