On St. Barbara's Eve I traveled from Antwerp to Bergen-op-
Zoom; I paid 2 stivers for the horse, and I spent 1 florin 6
stivers here. At Bergen I bought my wife a thin
Netherlandish head cloth, which cost 1 florin, 7 stivers,
besides 6 stivers for three pairs of shoes, 1 stiver for
eyeglasses, and 6 stivers for an ivory button; gave 2
stivers for a tip. I have drawn the portraits in charcoal of
Jan de Has, his wife, and two daughters; and the maid and
the old woman in silverpoint, in my sketch-book. I saw the
Van Bergen house, which is a very large and beautiful
building. Bergen is a pleasant place in summer, and two
great fairs are held there yearly.
On Our Lady's Eve I started with my companions for Zeeland,
and Sebastian Imhof lent me five florins; and the first
night we lay at anchor in the sea; it was very cold and we
had neither food nor drink. On Saturday we came to Goes, and
there I drew a girl in the costume of the place. Thence we
traveled to Arnemuiden, and I paid 15 stivers for expenses.
We went by a sunken place, where we saw the tops of the
roofs standing up above the water, and we went by the island
of Wolfersdyk, and passed the little town Kortgene on
another island lying near. Zeeland has seven islands, and
Arnemuiden, where I lay the night, is the biggest. From
there I traveled to Middelburg. There in the abbey Jan de
Mabuse has made a great picture, not so good in the drawing
as in the colouring. From there I went to the Veere, where
ships from all lands lie. It is a very fine little town.
But at Arnemuiden, where I landed, there happened to me a
great misfortune. As we were coming to land and getting out
our rope, just as we were getting on shore, a great ship ran
into us so hard that in the crush I let everyone get out
before me, so that no one but myself, George Kotzler, two
old women, the sailor, and a little boy were left in the
ship. When now the other ship knocked against us and I with
those mentioned was on the ship and could not get out, the
strong rope broke, and at the same moment a violent storm of
wind arose which forcibly drove back our ship. So we all
called for help, but no one would risk himself, and the wind
carried us back out to sea. Then the skipper tore his hair
and cried aloud, for all his men had landed and the ship was
unmanned. It was a matter of fear and danger, for there was
a great wind and no more than six persons in the ship, so I
spoke to the skipper that he should take heart and have hope
in God, and should take thought for what was to be done. He
said that if he could pull up the small sail, he would try
if we could come again to land. So we all helped one another
and pulled it half-way up with difficulty, and went on again
towards the land. And when those on the land who had already
given us up saw how we helped ourselves, they too came to
our aid, and we got to land.
Middelburg is a good town; it has a very beautiful town hall
with a fine tower. There is much art shown in all things
here. There are very rich and beautiful stalls in the abbey,
and a splendid gallery of stone and a beautiful parish
church. The town is excellent for sketching. Zeeland is
beautiful and wonderful to see on account of the water, for
it stands higher than the land.
I have made a portrait of my host at Arnemuiden. Master
Hugo, Alexander Imhof, and the Hirschvogel's servant
Frederick gave me each of them an Indian nut that they had
won at play, and the host gave me a sprouting bulb.
Early on Monday morning we went back to the ship and set out
for the Veere and for Zierikzee; I wanted to get sight of
the great fish, but the tide had carried it off again. I
paid 2 florins for fare and expenses and 2 florins for a
rug, 4 stivers for a fig-cheese and 3 stivers for carriage,
and I lost 6 stivers at play. When we came back to Bergen I
gave 10 stivers for an ivory comb.
I have taken Schnabhan's portrait, and I have also taken the
portrait of my host's son-in-law, Klautz. Gave 2 florins
less 5 stivers for a piece of tin; also 2 florins for a bad
piece of tin. I have also taken the portrait of little
Bernard of Brussels, George Kotzler, and the Frenchman from
Kamrick; each of them gave me 1 florin at Bergen. Jan de
Has' son-in-law gave me 1 Horn florin for his portrait, and
Kerpen of Cologne also gave me a florin, and besides this I
bought two bed-covers for 4 florins less 10 stivers. I have
made the portrait of Nicolas, the jeweler. These are the
number of times that I have dined at Bergen since I came
from Zeeland: IIIIIIIII and once for 4 stivers. I paid the
driver 3 stivers and spent 8 stivers, and came back to
Antwerp, to Jobst Planckfelt's, on Friday after St. Lucy's,
1520, and I have dined this number of times with him: IIII.
It is paid, and my wife: IIII, and that is paid.