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To the most serene and excellent Lord D. Emanuel, King of Portugal, and of both Algarves, on this side and beyond the sea in Africa, of Guinea and the navigation of Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India, our most gracious Lord.
The Senate of Nuremberg most humbly commends itself to the most Serene and Excellent Prince D. Emanuel, the most worthy King of Portugal.
Most excellent King! We learn from our fellow-senator Michael Behaim, as also from other members and honourable relatives of that family, how Martin Behaim, the legitimate son of the late Martin Behaim of Lisbon, himself the son of our above fellow-senator, is being kept in prison at Lisbon, because, compelled by necessity, he met violence with violence, as he can clearly prove and show, and killed a man who, without cause, attempted to assassinate him. They therefore most humbly asked us to intercede on their behalf by letter and prayers with your highness.
Wherefore, and in order that they as well as the aforesaid prisoner may know of our intercession, we inform your Majesty that the family of the Behaims has resided in our city of Nuremberg during over two hundred years, in much honour and opulence; and that the ancestors of the above prisoner were ever among our most honoured citizens, respected, of influence and reputation, that they constantly served in civil offices and on the Senate, and used a coat of arms as your Highness may see from the enclosed painting.
We likewise know that Martin Behaim, the father of the aforesaid prisoner, after the death of his father, went to the famous kingdom of Portugal, where he settled, and married Johanna de Macedo, the daughter of Captain Jodocus de Hurter, lord of Habruck, who bore him, in the year 89, the said Martin Behaim, now a prisoner, as the relatives of the same proved to us, from documents.
Wherefore we feel inclined to intercede with your serene Highness on behalf of the aforesaid honourable family, for setting free the prisoner Martin. Your Highness is no doubt aware in what manner Martin Behaim, the father of the prisoner, was for many years in the service of your Highness and of your most serene predecessors, in the Kingdom of Portugal as well as in other places, and up to his death. We therefore hope the more confidently that your Serene Highness may feel inclined to set free the prisoners; and we pray your most Serene Majesty most earnestly, to deign, in consideration of the reasons given, as also because of the lustre of his family and the innocence of the prisoner, to accede to our supplication, take off his chains and grant him the shelter of your clemency, considering likewise the long and faithful services of his father, and that which would be worthy of your most serene Majesty, would be more pleasing to us. And we shall at all times endeavour to oblige your Majesty.
Nuremberg, June 7, 1518.
To Don Emanuel, King of Portugal.
Most Serene and excellent King! We offer our most ready services, etc., most gracious Prince.
Martin Behaim, the bearer of this letter, is the legitimate son of the late Martin Behaim, Knight (eques auratus), of Lisbon.
Michael Behaim, his uncle, our colleague, and other members of this honourable family, have explained to us that aforesaid Martin Behaim left Lisbon by sea for Germany and came to Nuremberg last year on a visit of friendship to his Family and relations.
As now he proposes to return to Lisbon and intends to reside in the kingdom of the Lusitanians, he and his relations ask us to commend him strongly to your Royal Highness; on which ground we most respectfully point out to your Majesty, that the family of Behaim has lived for over two hundred years in our city of Nuremberg, eminent, honourable and opulent; that the relations and ancestors of said Martin at all times conducted themselves as excellent and pre-eminent citizens; served constantly in a commendable manner in public offices and as Senators; lived on their feudal rents, and, as we know from authentic deeds, possess estates outside the city where they exercise jurisdiction, and which they manage, always using the coat of arms the design of which Your Highness may perceive from the enclosed painting.
It is known, besides, that D. Martin Behaim, after the death of his father, went to Portugal and resided there, and, as asserted by the relations and the writings in their possession, he there married Joanna de Macedo, the daughter of the knight and captain D. Jodocus de Hurter, Lord of Habruck; and she bore him the above Martin.
On these grounds we feel the more inclined to recommend to your Royal Excellency this illustrious family in all things which may profit them and their relation Martin. Moreover we do not doubt that Your Highness is aware how said D. Martin Behaim, the father, during many years, rendered services to the Kingdom, both in Portugal and abroad, and died there.
And as it is his wish to serve your Excellency, when an opportunity shall offer, we most obediently pray your Majesty to deign to consider our prayer and what we say of their illustrious lineage. He fully under- stands how much our letter and his father's services may be of advantage to him.
On our part we shall be permitted to merit your clemency by offering our most willing services.
Nuremberg, May 12, 1520. (2)
(1) The original letters, in
Latin, have been published by Murr, p. 139; Ghillany, p. 119, and
L. Cordeiro, `Boletim Soc. geogr. de Lisboa,' xvi., 1897,
pp. 685-691. See pp.54, 56.
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(2) This is the date given by
Murr, Ghillany, and on a copy in the Archive of the Behaim
Family. L. Cordeiro's copy was dated Saturday (Sabbato) after the
Invention of the Cross, viz., May 5th. back
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