German. The first and most important German edition of De Veer’s
narrative was an abridgement, published at Nuremberg by Levinus
Hulsius, the dedication of which bears date the 10th of August, 1598,
being little more than three months after that of the original Dutch
work. Its title runs thus:—
Warhafftige Relation der dreyen newen vnerhörten seltzamen
Schiffart, so die Holländischen vnd Seeländischen Schiff gegen
Mitternacht, drey Jar nach einander, als Anno 1594, 1595 vnd 1596
verricht. Wie sie Nortwegen, Lappiam, Biarmiam, vnd Russiam, oder
Moscoviam (vorhabens ins Königreich Cathay vnd China zukommen)
vmbsegelt haben. Als auch wie sie das Fretum Nassoviæ, Waygats,
Novam Semblam, vnd das Land vnter dem 80. Gradu latitud. so man
vermeint das Groenland sey, gefunden: vnd was für gefahr, wegen der
erschröcklichen Bern, Meerwunder, vnd dem Eyss, sie aussgestanden.
Erstlich in Niderländischer sprach beschrieben, durch Gerhart de
Ver, so selbsten die lezten zwo Reysen hat helffen verrichten, jezt
aber ins Hochteutsch gebracht, Durch Levinum Hulsium. Noribergæ,
Impensis L. Hulsij. Anno 1598. 4to.
Translator’s dedication two pages. Preface twelve pages. An address to
the reader, headed and subscribed “Gerardus de Veer,” four pages. Text
one hundred and forty-six numbered pages. Thirty-five plates and maps.
The colophon reads:—
Gedruckt zu Nürnberg, durch Christoff Lochner, In verlegung Levini
Hulsii, anno 1598.
It was re-issued in the year 1602, as the “Dritter Theil” of Hulsius’s
celebrated collection of voyages. This is, however, merely a duplicate
of the edition of 1598, excepting the first sheet, which has been
reprinted, apparently with the view of affording Hulsius an opportunity
of alluding, on the fourth page of his Preface, to the publication of
the beautiful book (“schones Buch”) of Linschoten the year before. The
dedication is dated Nuremberg, 6th February.
A “secunda editio,” considerably abridged, appeared from the same press
in the same year (1602), with the dedication dated Frankfort, 1st
August: the text of this extends only to one hundred and twenty-one
pages, and the address to the reader and colophon are omitted. In his
dedication, Hulsius informs us, as a reason for this rapidity of
republication, that upwards of 1,500 copies of the former edition had
already been disposed of, and that the demand for the work was still
very great.
A third and fourth edition, yet further abridged, and similarly forming
the “Dritter Theil” of Hulsius’s collection, appeared respectively in
the years 1612 and 1660.
Copies of all these editions are in the Grenville Library in the
British Museum.
This work of Hulsius enjoys a degree of credit among bibliographers, to
which intrinsically it would hardly seem to be entitled. On the
title-page, and also in the publisher’s dedication, it professes to be
a translation from the Dutch of Gerrit de Veer. But it is neither this,
nor is it a true and genuine abridgement. On the contrary, copious
omissions are made throughout, while at the same time passages are
frequently introduced, which are not to be found in the original. It
would be an almost endless task, and one quite out of place here, to
attempt a collation of the two works. Still it is expedient that a
specimen should be adduced of the liberties which Hulsius has taken
with his author; and for this purpose the commencement of his narrative
of the second expedition (pages 16–18) shall be given verbatim.
Im Jar nach unserer Erlösung 1595, sein von den Unirten Ständen in
Holl und Seeland, &c., und dem Duchleuchtigen Hochgebornen Fürsten
und Herren, Herren Mauritz, Grafen zu Nassaw, &c., siben Schiff
vorhabens, damit den Weg durch Waygats, und das Fretum Nassoviæ,
nach Cathay und China zufinden, zugerüstet worden: zwey zu
Amsterdam, zwey in Seeland, zwey zu Enckhausen, und einss zu
Roterdam. Deren sechs mit allerley Kauffmanns Wahren, unnd mit Geld
beladen gewest, das sibende aber, war ein Pinasse, welche befehl
hatte, wann die andern sechs Schiffe, umb den Capo oder
Promontorium Tabin (so dass eusserste Eck der Tartarey gegen
Mitternacht ist) gefahren weren, dass er als dann also bald wider
nach Holland um̄wenden und von den andern Schiffen zeittung bringen
solte.
Das Admiral Schiff war ein Boyer, von Middelburg, genandt der
Greiff, vermöchte 80 Last, das ist 3200 Centner ein zu laden, hatte
22 Stuck Eysern Geschütz, so Kügel 5 oder mehr pfunden geschossen,
auch zehen Mörser oder Pöler, und sein auff disem Schiff 64 Mann
gewesen.
Sein Jacht Schiff war ein Flieboot von Armuien in Seeland von 25
Last, oder 1000 Centner, darauff waren 8 stück, so 2 oder 3 Pfund
Eysen schossen, 4 Mörser, und 18 Mann.
Das Vice Admiral Schiff war von Enckhausen auss Holland, 96 last
gross, das man mit 3840 Centnern belagen können, und Spes oder die
Hoffnung genannt, darauff 24 stück Eysern Geschütz, so ungefehrlich
5 pfund Eysen geschossen, zween Mörser, und 58 Mann.
Sein Jacht Schiff war von Enckhausen von 28 Last, genandt die Jacht
von Glück unnd unglück, darauff waren sechs Eysene stück, 4 Mörser,
und 15 Mann.
Das Schiff von Amsterdam war ein Pinasse, auff 160 Last, oder 6400
Centner, genennet der Gülden Windhund, dar auff vier metallene
Stück, deren jedes 45 pfund Eysen schoss, 32 Eyserne Stück, zu 5
und 6 pfunden, am vordersten theil dess Schiffs waren zwo
Schlangen, die 38 pfund schossen, und 12 Mörser, auch 6 Trommeter,
und andere Spiel: etliche Diamant schneider, Goldarbeyter, auch
andere mehr Ambtleut, oder abgesandte der Stände, uñ 80
Schiffknecht, und also in allem 108 Mann. In disem Schiff war der
wolerfahren Wilhelm Barentz Oberster Pilot oder Stewrmann, und
Jacob Hembsskirch Oberster Commisari. Auff disem bin ich Gerhart de
Veer auch gewesen.
Sein Jacht Schiff war auch von Amsterdam, genandt S. Moritz, auff
27 Last gross, darauff 6 Eysene stück, 5 Mörser, und 13 Mann.
Das Schiff Roterdam war ein Pinasse, auf 39 Last, oder 1560
Centner, genandt S. Peters Nachen, darauff 6 Eysene Stück, und 8
Mörser gewesen.
Dise Schiff alle waren versehen mit allerley Proviant und Kriegs
munition auff zwey Jar, aussgenommen Roterdam, so allein auff 6
Monat Proviantirt, auss ursach dass es widerumb solte zu Ruck
kommen, wie gesagt.
Anno 1595 den 12 Junij, sein wir von Amsterdam nach Texel, da alle
Schiff solten zusamman-kom̄en, gesegelt.
Den 2 Julij nach Mittag, da der Wind Sudost, und gut für uns war,
namen wir unsern Cours in dem Namen Gottes gegen Nordwest zum Nord.
Den 5 dito, dess Morgens sahen wir Engelland.
Den 6 dito, war gross ungewitter auss N.O.
Den 12 hatten wir guten Wind, nach Mittag sahen wir viel Walfisch,
unnd theils unserm Schiff so nahe, das man auff sie hette springen
können, die am Stewrruder stunden, hetten zu thun genug das Schiff
von den Walfischen hinweg zu steuren.
Den 15 dito sahen wir das Land Nordwegen.
A comparison of the foregoing with Phillip’s translation in pages 42–44
of the present volume, will at once show how widely Hulsius’s version
differs from the original text of Gerrit de Veer.
From the use made of De Veer’s name in the “Address to the Reader,” it
might at first sight be imagined that Hulsius was in communication with
the author, and had his authority for the interpolated passages;
though, seeing that Latin and French versions, corresponding strictly
with the original Dutch text, were being simultaneously published at
Amsterdam, it would certainly be difficult to conceive that De Veer
should have lent himself to a work so different in character as this
German version. However, on a closer examination, it is apparent that
this “Address,” notwithstanding that it is made to bear De Veer’s
signature, with the date “Penult. Aprilis Anno 1598,”—which is that of
the author’s original Dedication to the States General and other
authorities of the United Provinces, of which a translation has been
given in pages cxix–cxxii,—is merely made up from that dedication and
from the introductory portion of the author’s narrative of the first
voyage. And, indeed, Hulsius himself does not pretend to do more than
give a translation into German from the original Dutch work; his words
being, “Hab ich auch dise drey letzte Schiffarten gegen Mitnacht, so
bald sie mir in Niderlandischer sprach zukommĕ, ins hochteutsch
versetzt;” so that his use of the author’s name in the way adverted to
is manifestly unjustifiable, and in fact nothing better than a fraud on
the public.
The foregoing specimen of the differences between the two works has
purposely been taken from the commencement of the narrative of the
second expedition, because we have the independent authority of
Linschoten to fall back upon; in whose work nothing is found to warrant
the interpolations on the 5th and 12th of July, and whose official
description of the vessels composing that expedition—which forms the
basis of the statement made in previous pages of the present
Introduction,—differs materially from that given by Hulsius.
It is scarcely to be doubted that the latter had an authority of some
sort for these important variations; though had that authority been at
all of an authentic nature, there is no conceivable reason why he
should not have referred to it. On a consideration of the whole case,
we are inclined to believe that he was desirous of imparting to his
production the character of an original work; and hence these
variations in the text, and also the fact that most of his
illustrations are not copies, but free imitations of the plates in the
original Amsterdam editions.
Before quitting this subject, which is perhaps not undeserving of a
closer investigation, we may adduce a curious instance of erroneous
translation on the part of Hulsius. In the introduction to the
narrative of the second voyage (page 40 of the present work), De Veer
speaks of Linschoten as having been on the first voyage the commissary
or supercargo of the two ships of Zeeland and Enkhuysen—“daer Jan
Huyghen van Linschoten comis op was.” This is rendered by Hulsius (p.
14): “darauff der Hocherfahrne in Schiffsachē Johan̄ Huyghen von
Linschott, Comes oder Oberster gewesen war,” as if Linschoten had
actually been the commander of those two vessels!
Another German abridgement of De Veer’s narrative was made by the
brothers De Bry, in 1599, and is given as the third article in the
third part of their India Orientalis (or that portion of their
collection commonly known as the Petits Voyages), on the collective
title of which it is described as follows:—
Drey Schiffahrten der Holländer nach obermeldten Indien durch das
Mittnächtigsche oder Eissmeer darinnen viel vnerhörte Ebentewer.
Sampt Vielen schönen künstlichen figurn vnd Landtafeln in Kupffer
gestochen vnd an Tag geben durch Jo. Theodor vnd Jo. Israel de Bry,
Gebrüder. Gedruckt zu Franckfurt am Mayn durch Mattheum Becker.
M.D.XCIX. folio.
It is from this German edition that the plates which accompany the
present volume have been taken. They are copies from those of the
original Amsterdam editions, reversed and more artistically finished.
De Bry, doubtless having Hulsius’s work in his mind, says of them that
they are: “Alles zierlich und nach dem aechten original fürgetragen.”
This abridgement was reprinted in the German editions of De Bry in 1628
and 1629.
Latin. The same abridgement was also given in Latin by De Bry, in the
edition of the India Orientalis of 1601, on the collective title of the
third part of which it is thus described:—
Tres nauigationes Hollandorum in modò dictam Indiam per
Septentrionalem seu glacialem Oceanum, vbi mira quædam et stupenda
denarrantur.