Epistolæ Obscurorum Virorum
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"Never were unconscious barbarism, self-glorious ignorance, intolerant stupidity, and sanctimonious immorality, so ludicrously delineated; never did delineation less betray the artifice of ridicule. The Epistolæ Obscurorum Virorum are at once the most cruel and the most natural of satires "--Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet |
{{Template}} The Epistolæ Obscurorum Virorum (i. e. Letters of Obscure Men) was a celebrated collection of satirical Latin letters which appeared in the 16th century in Germany. They support the German Humanist scholar Johann Reuchlin and they mock the doctrines and modes of living of the scholastics and monks, mainly by pretending to be letters from fanatic Christian theologians discussing whether all Jewish books should be burned as un-Christian or not. The modern term obscurantism derives from the title of this work. As the theologians in the book intended to burn "un-Christian" works, Enlightenment philosophers used the term for conservative, especially religious enemies of progressive Enlightenment and its concept of the liberal spread of knowledge.
Contents |
Background
The work was based upon the real-life public dispute between German humanist Johann Reuchlin and certain Dominican monks, especially the formerly Jewish convert Johannes Pfefferkorn who had obtained Imperial authority from Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I to burn all known copies of the Talmud in 1509. The title is an obvious reference to Reuchlin's 1511 Epistolae clarorum virorum ("Letters of famous/bright men") providing a collection of letters on scholarly and intellectual matters from eminent German humanists such as Ulrich von Hutten, Johann Crotus, Konrad Mutian, Helius Eobanus Hessus, and others. The Latin adjective obscurus ("dark, hidden, obscure") is the opposite of clarus ("bright, famous, obvious") used in the title of Reuchlin's book.
Structure and presumptive authors
Most of the letters found in Epistolæ Obscurorum Virorum are addressed to Hardwin von Grätz and contain mock accusations against him, such as allegation that he had been intimate with Johannes Pfefferkorn's wife (Letter XII) and that Gratius had defecated his pants in public (letter XL). It was written in large part by the humanists Crotus Rubeanus a.k.a. Johannes Jäger and Ulrich von Hutten, who contributed mainly to the second volume, although the collection was published anonymously. The work is credited with hastening the Protestant Reformation.
Bans and papal excommunication
The book was banned in many places, and in regard of the rise of Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation, Pope Leo X excommunicated the authors, readers, and disseminators of the Epistolæ Obscurorum Virorum in 1517, by citing the fact that the discussed matter of burning all Jewish books, especially the Talmud, had never been held as a majority view among Christian scholars.
Legacy
The modern term obscurantism derives from the title of this work. As the theologians in the book intended to burn "un-Christian" works, Enlightenment philosophers used the term for conservative, especially religious enemies of progressive Enlightenment and its concept of the liberal spread of knowledge.
See also
Full text in English[1]
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
-'l
a
Of this Edition of the EPISTOL/E
OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
Five Hundredand Twenty-Five Copies have been Printed^ of which only Five Hundred Copies are for Sale.
This is ^^.160
EPISTOL^ OBSCURORUM
VIRORUM:THE LATINTEXT
WITH AN ENGLISH RENDER-
ING, NOTES, AND AN HIS-
TORICAL INTRODUCTION BY
FRANCIS GRIFFIN STOKES
LONDON ^
CHATTO ^ WINDUS MCMIX
All riirhis reserved
CONTENTS
PREFACE vii
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE xiii
INTRODUCTION xv
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM (Volumen Primum) 1
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM (Volumen Alterum) 129
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN (Part I.) • • • • 287
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN (Part II.) 389
APPENDIX 1 539
APPENDIX II 543
GENERAL INDEX 545
ILLUSTRATIONS
ULRICH VON HUTTEN .... Frontispiece
From a Print in the British Museum.
TITLE-PAGE OF THE FIRST EDITION OF
THE SECOND PART .... Tofacep. 131
From the Cojpy in the British Museum.
VI
PREFACE
This volume presents for the first time to English readers an annotated edition — accompanied by a trans- lation — of a work that ranks not only as one of the most famous of Satires, but as an historical document of no little moment.
Of the Epistolae Ohscurorum Virorum it may be safely said that — at all events in England — no work less known is more often mentioned. Frequent allu- sions to the Epistolae are, indeed, inevitable. Their historical importance few can dispute. No writer on the general aspects of the later Renaissance, or on the German Reformation, can well disregard them.
The contemporary influence of the Satire itself in sapping the foundations of an already crumbhng schol- asticism, and laying bare ecclesiastical abuses, will be touched upon in the Introduction ; but for the student of modern history to-day, its value lies in the fact that it teems with references to the protagonists in the great controversy which raged round Reuchhn during the early years of the sixteenth century, " dividing Western Europe in two hostile camps," and that it is pregnant with presage of the mighty change soon to sweep over Teutonic Christendom. The side-hghts, moreover, that it throws upon the social hfe of the period — its manners and its morals — are of no small interest. The reader feels that the corner of a curtain has been Hfted, and that he is permitted actually to peep at a phase of the hfe of four centuries ago which if we had had to rely solely upon prim and formal history might have been lost to us for ever, but that history must take into account if it is to render intelhgible the remarkable phenomena that attended the dawn of the Renaissance north of the Alps.
It is, however, in their Hterary aspect that the Epis- tolae must claim their place among the immortals.
vii
PREFACE
Few critics have disputed the substantial justice of the conclusion arrived at by Sir William Hamilton some seventy-eight years ago : " Never," he wrote, " were unconscious barbarism, self-glorious ignorance, intol- erant stupidity, and sanctimonious immoraUty, so ludicrously deUneated ; never did dehneation less be- tray the artifice of ridicule. The Epistolae Ohscurorum Virorum are at once the most cruel and the most natural of satires." It is true that dissentient voices may here and there be heard amidst the chorus of applause, but one thing is certain : the historian of European Hterature — whether he deems the Epistolae, regarded as a piece of hterary art, worthy of a pedestal or not — cannot ignore them.
Nevertheless, the last edition of the Epistolae pub- Hshed in England was that issued by Henry Clements in 1742. This edition (which Ebert, for some unex- plained reason, beheved to have been really produced in Switzerland), was, moreover, a mere reprint of that issued by the same pubhsher in 1710. A very singular feature of this edition is the fact that both its editor and its chief reviewer were under a complete misconception as to the nature and object of the work !
The editor, Michael Maittaire, regards the Letters as the production of their ostensible authors, and plumes himself, in his preface, on having rescued from obhvion such antiquated specimens of literary folly ; while Steele, to whom, under his pseudonym of Isaac BickerstafF, the edition was dedicated, was, apparently, completely deceived. " It seems," he wrote in TJie Tatler (No. 197), " this is a collection of letters, which some profound blockheads, who lived before our times, have written in honour of each other, and for their mutual information in each others absurdities. . . . It is, methinks, wonderful that fellows could be awake, and utter such incoherent conceptions, and converse with great gravity hke learned men, without the least taste of knowledge or good sense." As the reading pubhc in those days was quite prepared to take Steele's word in such a matter, it is scarcely to be wondered at that the Obscure Men were henceforth left ahiiost un- molested in their obscurity. In fact, as Mr. Saintsbury
viii
PREFACE
puts it, "they have dropped out of the reading of the average educated man" — adding, suggestively, " he cannot too soon return to them."
The notes in the present volume are mainly intended for readers who have made no special study of the period involved. They are largely devoted to some account of men and matters that will be sought for in vain in ordinary English books of reference. A list of works consulted in their preparation would be lengthy, but is unnecessary — for where the search was fruitful the note in most cases records the fact.
One acknowledgment of indebtedness must, how- ever, exphcitly be made. The supplementary volumes of Bocking's monumental edition of Ulrich von Hutten's works (Leipsic, 18G3-9), form a vast quarry of sugges- tive information in which every labourer in this field perforce must delve. It is not too much to say that without such an aid the labour of which the present volume is the outcome would never have been under- taken. Certain inevitable contributions levied upon Bocking's stores have, however, been largely supple- mented by references to more recent and accessible sources — to Enghsh and French, as well as German authorities — and to discoveries that have considerably modified opinions justifiably held forty years ago. Every quoted authority has, with scarcely an exception, been directly consulted, and researches by the present writer among the incunahula of the British JMuseum have constituted not the least agreeable portion of his task.
A few words on the English rendering seem desir- able — an apology from the translator may even be expected — for it seems to be the ahnost invariable practice of modern writers, when mentioning the Epis- tolae, to add a remark to the efFect that " they are quite untranslatable." The phrase is not free from ambiguity, but in a certain sense the observation is doubtless just.
It is probably impossible to devise a dog-Enghsh that would suggest the delightful dog-Latin of the original, without at the same time modernising and vulgarising the whole atmosphere of the Satire : and
ix
PKEFACE
here no attempt to do anything of the kind has been made. A standard of translation, however, which insists on a reflection not only of the thoughts of the writer but of the vehicle in which he conveys them, is, to say the least, an exacting one, and has seldom been attained. As Charles Lamb has observed, " AVords involving notions, are hard enough to render : it is too much to expect us to translate a sound, and give an elegant version to a jingle." From the further impHcation, how- ever, that the humour and satiric force of the Epistolae Ohsciirorum Virorum depend mainly on the droll vile- ness of their Latinity, the present writer must emphatic- ally dissent. On the contrary, he is of opinion that the edge of the satire could not wholly be blunted even by the crudest translation. Yorick, we may be sure, did not doff his infinite jest and excellent fancy with his motley, and the comic ineptitudes of the " Obscure Men " are not solely involved in the verbal trappings of their Letters : their satiric foohshness is of their very essence — though we bray them in a mortar yet will it not depart from them.
There is, indeed, good reason to believe that the canine Latin in question is, after all, no very extrava- gant caricature of the " pseudo-vernacular " of the day, and that it appears far more ludicrous in our eyes than it did to contemporaries.
But the narrow bounds of a Preface are not suitable lists for a controversy. The translator will be content if his rendering is regarded as a mere device for re- lieving the notes of a good deal of exegetical matter : he has aimed at making it close rather than literal, for it is a curious fact — not, however, incapable of ex- planation — that a word-for-word translation would frequently have the effect of converting phrases of medieval naivete into quite modern vulgarisms.
It is, however, not impossible that, with some, " un- translatable " may mean " ill-suited for translation in any form." This is a point on which it is surely need- less to dwell at any length. The authors, to use Bishop Creighton's words, " Created their puppets and pulled their strings with all the heedlessness of roUicking and unchastened drollery ; " and it was the drollery of the
PREFACE
sixteenth century. No student of the lampoons of the Middle Ages expects to find them couched in terms of impeccable decorum. From Aristophanes to Swift, through that long hne which includes the authors of the Narreiischiff, the Encomiujn Moriae, and Panta- gimeU satirists have claimed, and exercised, the right of waging war on foUy, vice, ignorance, and hypocrisy, not only with barbed arrows but, upon occasion, with weapons more nearly aUied to the malodorous missiles of Eastern pirates.
In exhibiting this freedom, here and there, the Epistolae do but resemble their congeners ; but one thing is certain — coarseness is never introduced into them for its own sake, or as mere bufFoonery to please the groundhngs. Burke, in a well-known passage, speaks of an epoch in which " vice itself lost half its evil by losing all its grossness " ; perhaps our authors were moralists of sterner stuff', and did not beheve in the desirabihty of completely defecating vice ; so they preserved some of its grossness, the better to scofF at its stupidity.
After all, as for the Obscure Men themselves, it is impossible for us to be very angry with them : when we feel inchned to chastise one of the saucy simpletons, he puts on a look of such comic deprecation, and makes such frank confession, that we are disarmed : we can but turn aside, to hide a smile.
In the Introduction some account has been given of the singular sequence of events that led to the publication of the Satire ; the vexed question of its authorship is touched upon, and an attempt has been made to sketch in outline portraits of some of the personages concerned, who, though far from insignifi- cant, are to-day scarcely known even by name, except to historical speciaHsts.
The Epistolae, lying as they do between two great epochs of history, are inextricably entangled in the web of each, and the difficulty of compressing ahnost indispensable elucidations within w^hat are perforce narrow bounds has been acutely felt. The main stream of the narrative may seem to lie smoothly enough before us, but some tempting backwater pre-
xi
PREFACE
sents itself at every turn. Into sueh alluring pleas- ances the leisured reader will find his own way.
A text that contains intentional blunders, and in which the grammar is a law to itself, seems to call for exceptional treatment.
It is the Editors opinion that emendations in such a case should be resorted to very sparingly, if at all.
The text of the First Edition of each of the suc- cessively issued portions of the Kpistolae has, accord- ingly, been in all essentials closely adhered to. The precise reproduction of error, except by mechanical facsimile, involves, however, difficulties of its own, and in a few instances unwelcome " accuracies " may perhaps have passed unnoticed.
The numerous typographical ligatures have, as a rule, been resolved, except when ambiguous or distinc- tive of an edition ; but mere abbreviations, such as Sal. for Salutem, or M. for Magister, have been retained.
Eccentricities in the use of capitals and in punctua- tion have been preserved, but, as a concession to the modern reader, quotation marks are introduced, and each period begins with a capital letter.
Where e, with or without a subscript, stands in the original text for ae, the latter is everywhere employed. The usage of the early editions in this respect seems determined merely by caprice of the priiiters, or imper- fections of the type.
Variant readings in the early editions, that seem at all worthy of note, are given in Appendix I.
F. G. S.
LONDON, 1909.
Xll
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Thefollowing brii-f description ofthe various editiom ofthe Epistolae Ohscurorum Virorum will sujficefor their identification and discriinination.
1. Thejirst cdition of the First Part ; cited in this nw/c as [^4]. Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum ad Venerabilem virum Magistrum
Ortuinum Gratium Daventriensem Coloniae Agrippinae bonas litteras docentem : varijs & locis & temporibus missae : ac demum in volumen coactae. Colophon : Et sic est finis epistolarum obscurorum virorum Deo gratio ejusque sancte matri. In Venetia impressum in impressoria Aldi Minutii : Anno quo supra : etiam cavisatum est ut in aliis ne quis audeat post nos impressare per decennium per illus- trissimum principem Venetianorum. 4to, 18 fF. (Contains Epp. 1-41 of Part I.) Title in Roman, the text in Gothic type.
2. The second edition of the First Part ; cited in this ivork as \_B\ Title and colophon as in [A]. 4to, 2iJ ff". Title and text in Roman
type.
3. The third edition of the First Part ; cited as [C].
Epistole . . . coacte. Cum multis aHis epistolis in fine annexis quae in prima impressura non habentur. 4to, 20 flF. Colophon as before. Gothic type throughout. Contains Epp 1-48 of Part I.
4. Thejirst editioti of the Second Part ; cited as [Z)].
Gothic type throughout. Engraved title (reproduced in facsimile, p. 130). Colophon : Impressum Romanae Curiae. 4to, 24 ff. Con- tains Epp. 1-62 of Part II.
5. The second edition of the Second Part ; cited as [£],
Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum : nil preter Lusum continentes . . . meruerunt. . . . Cum Additionibus novo Privilegio ad septennium Sancitis. 4to, S(i ff. Gothic type throughout. Contains Epp. 1-70 of Part II.
6. The fourth edition of the First Part.
Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum, ad D. M. Ortuinum Gratium, Attico lepore refertae . . . salibus refertum. m.d.lvi. 8vo, 215 pp. (Roman type throughout, as in all succeeding edd.)
7. Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum . . . prae caeteris editionibus locupletatae & auctae. . . . 1556. Colophon : Romae stampato con privilegio del Papa, & confirmato in lugo, qui vulgo dicitur, Belvedere. Finis. 12mo. (Second Part only.)
8. Duo volumina Epistolarum Obscurorum Virorum . . . salibus refertum. m.d.lvi. 12mo. Colophon as in (7).
9. Duo Volumina Epistolarum Obscurorum Virorum. m.d.lvii. 12mo. [The Brit. Mus. copy has the autograph of Ben Jonson.]
xiii
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
isn^
a^
10. Duo Volumina . . . m.d.lxx.
11. Duo Volumina . . . Francoforti ad Moenum, 1581.
12. Epistolarum Obscurorum Virorum . . . Accesserunt hac editione multa magistralia interlocutoria, quae jam primum valde delectabiliter prodeunt. Francoforti ad Moenum. m.d.xcix. 8vo.
13. 8vo. Francofurti ad Moenum. m.dc.xxiv. ^'>^
14. 12mo. Francofui"ti Ad Moenum. Anno m d c xliii. 1'*^-'
15. 12mo. Obscurorum Virorum Epistolae . . . Utopiae, cum privilegio per decennium.
16. 12mo. Londini Apud Editorem Anno M dc Lxxxix.
17. l2mo. Tertio Volumine Auctae. Londini, Apud Editorem
(tvithotd date).
18. 12mo. Londini : Impensis Hen. Clements, ad insigne lunae , |D falcatae, in Coemeterio ^Edis Divi Pauli. m dcc x. ' .', . q^
19. As (18). MDCCXLII.
20. 8vo. Francofurti, Sumptibus Jo. August Raspe. cio 13 cc lvii.
21. 8vo. Herausgeben und erlautert durch Dr. Ernst Miinch. Leipzig, 1827.
22. 8vo. Recognita et praefatione a Diio H. W. Rotermundo . . . Hannovrae . . . mdcccxxvii.
23. Editio secunda . . . Hannoverae . . . mdcccxxx.
24. l6mo. Lipsiae : in ^Edibus B. G. Teubneri. a. mdccclviii. ""-'
25. l6mo. Lipsiae : in iEdibus B. G. Teubneri. a. mdccclxiiii. (?"
26. 8vo. Lipsiae. a. oidioccclxiiii. " Ulrichi Hutteni Equitis Operum Supplementum." . . . Collegit recensuit adnotavit Edvardus Bockinff.
TRANSLATIONS
i. Lettres des Hommes Obscurs, traduites du latin par Victor Develay. Paris, 1870. 24mo. [The First Series only.]
ii. Briefe von Dunkelmiinnern, Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum, an . . . O. G. aus Deventer . . . Zum erstenmal ins Deutsche iibersetzt von Dr. Wilhelm Binder. Stuttgart, 1876. 8vo.
Another edition, Kostritz, 1904 [1903], 8vo. Another edition, Gera, s.a., 8vo.
XIV
INTRODUCTION
It is a characteristic of great Satire that its savour can
seldom be appreciated, and its true inwardness grasped
without due study of the context — the context being the
history of the period to which it belongs. The satirist
may incidentally so lash the vices and follies of the natural
man that readers in every age wince as though the whip
cracked at their own ears, but many of the most famous
examples of this branch of literature must be regarded
— apart from their general appHcation — as veritable
historical documents, in view both of the causes that
begat them, and the efFects that they engendered.
The primary cause of the revival of Satire in Germany shortly before the epoch of the Reformation was, of course, the general intellectual ferment that heralded the great upheaval ; but the secondary causes which led to the pubHcation of the Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum and gave them their pecuHar form and hue are both numerous and complex. In order to weave an account of the genesis of the Letters into a coherent narrative, we must accordingly take up a thread here, and a thread there ; we must convey some notion of the characters of the protagonists in the strange tragi- comedy to which theyare related ; and we must supply some sketch, however slight, of the spacious stage on which the drama was enacted.
When the sixteenth century dawned the forces of the Renaissance in Italy had begun to wane, and Italy herself — torn by raging factions, and the quarry of competing dynasties — had already entered upon the most disastrous period of her poHtical history.
Art, it is true, still flourished in fuH vigour ; the Hfe-work of Michelangelo and Raphael was yet to be
XV
INTKODUCTION
accomplished, and Bramante was in his prime — but it was otherwise in the world of Letters. The Revival of Learning was from its very nature a transient phenomenon. The avvakening giory of sunrise afFects the imagination more forcibly than noontide's steadier glow, and scholars in Italy were ah'eady turning their attention from the reviv^al of an old Hterature to the creation of a new. Moreover, the growing possibihties of the vernacular were beginning once more to be borne in upon writers of genius, and the Itahan of IMachiavelli and Ariosto was destined soon to eclipse the Latinity of Filelfo and PoHtian. The day, indeed, was at hand when " Italy, after receiving the lamp of learning from the dying hands of Hellas, in the days of her own freedom," was to give it in the time of her adversity and ruin to the nations of the north.^
Even through the night of the Dark Ages a " phantom of false morning " had gleamed from time to time, and Humanism — in fact, if not in name — had found its way across the Alps long before the close of the fifteentli century. Greek scholars and teachers, who had for many years found an appreciative and lucrative field for their energies in Italy, tiocked thither in increasing numbers when the walls of Constantinople fell before the Moslems' cannon, and not a few of their pupils were to be met with scattered sporadically over western Europe. To instance Germany alone — Johann Wessel (1420-89), known as Luoc Mundi and Magister Contradictionum, had studied in both Greece and Italy, and was acquainted with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew — teaching these languages privately at Cologne, Heidelberg, and Basle : the mathematician Johann Mliller, of Konigsberg (1436-76), better known as Regiomontanus, spent seven or eight years in Italy studying Greek : Rudolph Agricola (1443-85) learnt Greek under Theodore Gaza at Ferrara, and afterwards lectured on the classics at Heidelberg.
But the voices of men such as these, crying in the wilderness of an arid scholasticism, fell for the most part on deaf ears. For the German universities had become the strongholds of bigotry and intolerance —
^ J. A. Symonds, Benaissance in Italy, 1897, p. 398.
xvi
INTRODUCTIOIS
and in them the Faculty of Theology was ever the dominating keep.
Any striving after pure Latinity was suspect. " For (saie they) it is not for the dignitee of hohe writte, our profession, that we should be compelled to folow any grammer rules : which," remarks Erasmus, " is a great majestee of these Duns doctours, if to theim onely it be lawfull to speak false latine, notwithstanding that many coblers and clowters can doe that as well as thei." ^ Was there not also on record that famous saying of Gregory the Great : '* The place of preposi- tions and the cases of nouns I utterly despise, since I deem it unfit to confine the words of the celestial oracles within the rules of Donatus " ? This, perhaps, mattered the less, since the celestial oracles seemed to many to have grown dumb.
Let us not be misunderstood. The sufficiently obvious extravagancies of jcholasticism_invite facile derisiori," but the system had a share, and no small share, in the evolution of humanity. Few who have acquired, at first hand, even a smattering of their writings, will be disposed to deny such men as Duns Scotus, Thomas Aquinas, and Albert the Great a place among the acutest intellects of all time. It is indeed difficult to stifle the reflection that had such keen minds as theirs but worked upon Astronomy, Pure Mathematics, or Physics, the discoveries of GaHleo, Newton, and Faraday might have been anticipated, and civiHsation might have already reached a stage of development not destined to be attained for two or three centuries.
The human brain in the ^NIiddle Ages was, in fact, an engine to the full as powerful and as subtle as it is to-day : but — the pity of it ! — its exquisite machinery was made to waste much of its available energy in vain endeavours to weave cats'-cradles out of moonshine, and in the fifteenth century it creaked at its task of re- clouting an already botched and darned cloak alleged to have belonged to one Aristotle. " What will the Turks think of us," asks Erasmus, " when they hear of our perplexed subtleties about Instants, Formalities, Quiddities and Relations ? " Such was the dreary wilder-
^ Erasmus, Encomium Moriae (Challoner^s trauslation).
xvii b
INTRODUCTION
ness of pedantry that then passed for knowledge. And " the scholastic philosophy was securely entrenched behind the scholastic theology." ^
Beyond their narrow horizon, wranghng Thomists and Scotists caught no ghmpse of
"... the glory that was Greece, And the grandeur that was Rome."
Yet even in the universities certain stirrings of the blood, " blind motions of the Spring," were manifest. " Some, indeed, of the restorers of pohte letters," writes Sir WiUiam Hamilton, "taught as salaried or extraordinary instructors in the universities of Germany ; but the influence they exerted was personal, and the toleration they obtained precarious. Depending always on the capricious patronage of the Prince, they were viewed as intruders by those bodies who constituted and governed these institutions. From them they encountered, not only discouragement, but oppression ; and the biography of the first scholars who attempted, by pubhc instruction, to disseminate a taste for classical hterature in the great schools of Germany, exhibits little else than a melancholy series of wanderings and persecutions — abandoning one university only, in general, to be ejected from another." ^
The fitful aid of princely patrons in spreading the new learning was indubitably of no small importance, but the vigorous growth they fostered sprang from a germ planted by quite other hands.
The remarkable semi-monastic body, variously known as Brethren of the Common Lot, Fratres Hieronymici, and Gregorians, instituted about 1375 by Geert Groete (Gerhardus Magnus) and Florentinus Radewins, was in fact a tangible protest against the growing corruption of monasticism.^ Its founders recognised that immorality was an inevitable con- comitant of sloth and ignorance. Gerhard had hstened to the famous priest and mystic Johann Ruysbroek as he inveighed in unmeasured terms against the
^ Sir R. C. Jebb, Erasnms, p. 44.
2 Edinhurgh Remew, Marcli 1831, p. 182.
' See Gieseler, Church History, New York^ 1868j vol. iii.
xviii
INTRODUCTION
gluttony and voluptuousness of monks and nuns alike, against the avarice of the holders of pluralities — nay, greatly daring, against the pomps and vanities of the lloman Curia itself — and Ruysbroek's fervid oratory found its first practical result in the estabhsh- ment of the fraterhnis at Deventer, near Zutphen — the forerunner of several similar fraternities. Here was gathered together a circle of young men — laymen for the most part — devoting their Hves to the exercise of piety and charity, and especially to the work of educa- tion. The Brethren were not consciously humanists ; their educational methods seem to have been charac- terised by no striking originality ; but, whether con- sciously or not, they were initiating a revolution. Learning was perishing of an^emia in the stagnant air of gloomy cloisters — Gerhard and his successors strove to drag it into the sunshine and beneficent breezes, amidst healthy human life.
The famous Latin school of Deventer had existed long before the fraterlmis was established, but although there was no ostensible connection between the two institutions, neither was there any spirit of jealous rivahy. On the contrary, the School and the Frater- nity worked hand in hand ; the brethren took the keenest interest in the welfare of the scholars ; under their wise patronage the school prospered greatly — eminent teachers were attracted to it, new text-books were introduced, hitherto neglected classics were read, and before the end of the fifteenth century there issued, either from Deventer or the aUied seminary near Zwolle, " nearly the whole band of those illustrious scholars, who, in defiance of every opposing circum- stance, succeeded in rapidly elevating Germany to a higher European rank in letters than (rebarbarised by polemical theology and religious wars) she was again able to reach for ahnost three centuries thereafter."
Conspicuous among the names of these pioneers of the New Learning at the end of the fifteenth century are three : Rudolf von Langen — who revived the fame of the school at Miinster, and heedless of the opposition of the friars of Cologne, revolutionised its teaching : Ludwig von Dringenberg — who at Schlett-
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INTKODUCTION
stadt had for his pupils the all-accompHshed Celtis ; WimpheUng, theologian, scholar, and educationist ; Beatus Rhenanus ; Pirckheimer, whose rugged features are famiUar to us from Durer's famous portrait ; and BebeHus: and, thirdly, Alexander Hegius — prince of pedagogues.
Hegius personally had but slender claims to scholar- ship — " small Latin and less Greek " would seem not unfairly to sum up his attainments — but it seems evident that he had, Hke Richard Hooker, " a most blessed and clear method of demonstrating what he knew, to the great advantage of his pupils," as well as that power, characteristic of all great schoolmasters, of arousing their enthusiasm, and communicating to them an intellectual impetus able to carry them far beyond the limitations of their teacher. After having for thirty-three years presided over the school at Deventer, Hegius died in 1498, leaving behind him not " only his books and his clothes," as tradition relates, but the enduring fame of having turned out such scholars as Buschius, Caesarius, MurmeUius, Mutianus, and the great Erasmus himself.
Nor should we omit from the list of the alumni of Deventer the name of Ortuinus Gratius — Ortwin von Graes — in scholarship respectable, but damned to everlasting fame as the butt of the keenest arrows ever launched by relentless wit against arrogant bigotry.
It will be seen, therefore, that the intellectual condition of Germany at the dawn of the sixteenth century was strikingly anomalous. Signs of awakening from long sleep were everywhere manifest — except in those seats of learning where they might have been expected to be first observable. Free-lances were in all directions " pricking on the plain," but they met with scant hospitality within the portcuUises of the grim castles where Bigotry and Ignorance held court, not without gross and sordid revelry. The barbarous Latinity of the Middle Ages still sufficed for aspirants for university degrees — the lectures and examinations of the various facvdties impHed no higher attainment than rote-knowledge of the dogmas
XX
INTKODUCTION
of an effete philosophy. The growing enthusiasm aroused by the teachings of the German humanists spread envy and even dismay among the patrons of scholasticism ; the degrees conferred by German universities were despised — it became a point of honour among young and ambitious scholars not to graduate ; this touched professorial purses, for the hostels, or boarding-houses, from which many dons of the day were wont to reap a rich harvest, began to be de- serted. It was said that examiners were afraid to " plough " candidates, lest they should frighten freshmen away.^ Finding both their influence and emoluments slipping from them, what wonder that obfuscated dominies over their cups would lament that the universities were " going to the dogs " — or, roused to passion, inveigh against the "preachers of perver- sion," and " winnowers of the deviPs chaff " ?
Leipsic expelled successively the humanists Celtis, Buschius, and Aesticampianus ; but it was the great University of Cologne which " stood proudly eminent in its hostihty to the new intelligence ; for improve- ment was there opposed by the united influence of the monks and masters." ^
It has been already mentioned that when von Langen began to introduce educational reforms at ]SIiinster, it was from Cologne that opposition, fortu- nately futile, proceeded. Foiled in this attempt, the obscurants of that venerable seminary resisted only the more strenuously every efFort at a reform in Cologne itself. Scholar after scholar they thwarted, bulUed, and drove from their gates. Caesarius, Joannes and Serratius AedicoUius, Murmellius, and Hermannus Buschius were in turn branded as corrupters of youth, and expelled with contumely — the last named, how- ever, returning thrice to the attack, and living to see the principles he had championed triumphant in the end.
All these skirmishes, however, were but preUminary, or accessory, to the great conflict. The issues of the
^ See E. O. V. ii. 46, aud 58.
- Sir W. Hamiltoii, Discussions in PMlosophy, Literature, and Education^
1855.
xxi
INTRODUCTION
battle between light and darkness were to be joined in a manner none could have foreseen. It is with this central struggle that we are here concerned.
II
In the summer of 1509^ while the Emperor Maxi- mihan was preparing the fruitless siege of Padua, a strange visitor reached his camp and craved an audience.
Johann Pfefferkorn (originally Joseph), a Jew by birth, had embraced Christianity some three years before, and with all a converfs zeal had immediately proceeded to prove his sincerity by attacking the fold that he had quitted. The man's personal character seems to have been shady. It has been alleged that to the honest caUing of a butcher he added the occa- sional avocation of burglary. Geiger has denied this, and deems him merely a fanatic, but a more recent discovery of documents at Amsterdam^ shows that Count von Gutenstein imprisoned him, and revives the old suspicion that he took " refuge in Christianity from the punishment which his crimes had merited from the hands of his countrymen." Erasmus, indeed, later on — under some provocation, it is true — expressed his opinion of PfefFerkorn by succinctly describing him as " Exscelerato Judaeo sceleratissimus Christianus." ^
Before a year had elapsed since his baptism there had appeared in PfefFerkorn's name a pamphlet entitled Der Joeden Spiegel, " The Mirror of the Jews," to be immediately followed by a Latin version of the same, Speculum adhortationis Judaicae. PfefFerkorn him- self was ahnost ilHterate, and the appearance of the Speculum is the first indication of the patronage ex- tended to the convert by the Dominicans of Cologne, and the collaboration of at least one of their alHes in his writings. The " Mirror " contained little that was noteworthy or new. Its arguments are minatory, rather than persuasive. The stubbornness of the
^ Graetz, Movatsschrijl filr Geschichtc . . . des Judenthums, Breslau, 1875, p. 289.
•"■ f:p. €0.(1700).
xxii
INTRODUCTION
Jews should be broken, the writer urges, by their being compelled to attend sermons and to rehnquish usury, but especially by the destruction of their books — those founts of heresy and blasphemy. Let them keep their l^ible, and nothing else.
Next year, 1508, there appeared " The Jews' Con- fession," ^ ostensibly by the same author, and of this no less than six editions, in Latin and High and Low German, were pubhshed in twelve months. The object of this tract was to ridicule various Jewish rites. On the Day of Atonement, we are told, the Jews whirl white cocks and hens round their heads, crying, " I am released from my sins ! Thou goest to thy death, and I to eternal Hfe ! " Whereupon they kill and eat these substitutes for the scapegoat. At other times they purge their offences by shaking their garments over running water in which there are fishes — or, failing this, they wait for a high wind to blow away their sins Hke dust.
At the beginning of 1509 two other pamphlets, each in German and Latin garb, issued from the same prohfic source. One deals with the Paschal Feast, and in the other, " The Jews' Enemy,"- it is pointed out that Jews become physicians merely to faciUtate the murder of Christians : the author is, however, liberal- minded enough to admit that their employment as scavengers might be unobjectionable.
It is worthy of note that the latter tract contained an anti-Semitic epigram by Ortuinus Gratius, who had become a prominent member of the Faculty of Arts at Cologne.
It was, therefore, soon after the pubHcation of " The Jews' Enemy " that PfefFerkorn sought an audience of the emperor. MaximiHan, though good-natured and impulsive, had just then much to occupy his thoughts, and it is improbable that the uncouth visitor would have gained access to the imperial presence, had he not been influentially backed. But PfefFerkorn's cre- dentials were unimpeachable.
The emperor's fair sister, the Princess Kunigunde,
^ Der joeden bicht ; Libellus de Judaica Confessione. - Der Juden Veindt ; Hostis Judueorum.
xxiii
INTRODUCTION
who had caused her father much grief by her clan- destine marriage with his foe, Duke Albert of Munich, lost her husband in 1508 ; and the disconsolate widow forthwith retired from a distasteful world — entering the Franciscan Convent of Santa Clara at Munich. Of this she became abbess, and mortified her flesh with fastings and scourgings. To this noble lady Pfefferkorn had secured an introduction.
No record exists of what must have been an inte- resting interview between the quondam butcher and the widowed princess : we can but form inferences from its results. The renegade was undoubtedly armed with commendatory letters from the Dominicans, and we may assume that his zeal, whether real or affected, soon fanned the glow of piety within the royal abbess's breast into a flame of fanaticism. At any rate a letter to her brother was soon forthcoming from Kunigunde : its purport was quite simple — the Jews ought to be gagged and robbed, and Pfefferkorn was the man to do it.
On August 19, 1509, MaximiHan — the natural liber- ahty of his disposition overcome either by the arguments of Pfefferkorn or the fervid entreaties of his sister — issued a mandate, Its tenor was all that the Dominicans could have desired. Jews in every town in Germany were required to deHver up to Pfefferkorn, for de- struction, in the presence of a parish priest and two municipal counciUors, all Hebrew books that caUed in question Christian tenets, or upheld Judaism. The net was a wide one. An ancient Hterature, in short, was to be swept away at the will of the ignorant agent of pedantic bigots who could not read a Hne of it.
Pfefferkorns next move was a bold one, though, as the event proved, it was injudicious. He selected Frankfort-on-Main as the scene of his first operations. In that flourishing city there were then many students of Talmudic Hterature, and to gather tlience a rich harvest for the flames would inspire everywhere a wholesome respect for the imperial mandate. It is possible that there was another motive that could not weU be avouched, Many Jews of considerable wealth then dwelt in the Juden-gasse of Frankfort, where the
xxiv
INTRODUCTION
ancestral house of the Rothschilds still stands, a monu- ment of "unhappy, far-off times." Hebrew manu- scripts were often aniong the most treasured possessions
rof such well-to-do men. Pfefferkorn's baptism had,
\ perchance, not obhterated the hereditary instinct, that, like an unerring divining - rod points to subterranean streams feeding " The Secret River of Gold " : why should not Israelites of substance keep their cherished books, after all — for a consideration ? Not only does one of the " Obscure Men " bluntly declare this to be
fat the root of the whole matter, but Melanchthon in a grave discourse delivered many years later, records, as an historical fact, that " the impostor knew very well
I that the .Tews would forthwith seek to redeem their
i books for large sums." ^
PfefFerkorn presented himself at Frankfort on the eve of the Feast of Tabernacles — Friday, Sept. 28 — and in the presence of more than the necessary quorum of clergy and civil officers — but he himself being the sole judge — confiscated all the prayer-books in the synagogue. Elated by this success, he then seems to have lost his head, for he had the audacity to forbid the Jews to attend the synagogue on the coming solemn feast-day. The clergy, however, felt that this was going too far, and they determined to postpone further action in the matter until the foUowing Mon- day. This gave the Jews a breathing-space of which they made good use. They communicated with the Kammergericht at Worms — they pointed out that liberty, within well - ascertained bounds, had been accorded to them in charters granted in times past by popes and emperors — they demanded a stay of further proceedings with a view to an appeal to INIaxi- mihan himself — and, best of all, they sent an urgent messenger to their lawful ecclesiastical authority, the Archbishop and Elector of Mainz.
Uriel von Gemmingen was a man of an independent spirit, and he could scarcely fail to be not a little piqued at Pfefferkorn's arrogant interference with the affairs of his diocese. He peremptorily ordered his clergy to take no further part in the matter ; and the Senate of
^ Bretschueider and Bindseil, Corpus Re/orm., xi. 1007. XXV
INTRODUCTION
Frankfort, glad of an excuse for withdrawing from a quarrel in which they could have taken but little interest, thereupon followed suit, and let the business drop. Archbishop Uriel, moreover, wrote to the emperor, pointing out, in courtly terms, that PfefFer- korn was a blundering ass, and that if it was really desirable to overhaul Jewish literature, it would be well to depute the investigation to men who knew something about the subject. Pfefferkorn himself he treated with great tact, inviting him to Aschaffenburg, and teUing him confidentially that there was a legal flaw in the mandate, which the Jews would have dis- covered sooner or later and turned to their advantage.
III
It is now necessary to interrupt the course of our narrative and introduce a new actor upon the scene.
" The origin of philology or sound scholarship," writes Dr. Donaldson, " is to be sought on this side of the Alps ; its beginner was John Reuchlin." ^ Be this as it may, Reuchlin was indisputably the most learned scholar in all Germany during the early years of the sixteenth century. By a singular combination of tastes and talents this remarkable man excelled at once as a humanist and a man of afFairs, as a jurist and a mystic, and, above all, as a pioneer among orientalists, so that it has been said of him, enthusiastically but not unjustly, that he was the "first who opened the gates of the East, unsealed the word of God, and unveiled the sanctuary of Hebrew wisdom."
In 1455^ when the Mazarin Bible was being printed by GutehSerg, ReuchUn, who sprang from a burgher stock, was born at Pforzheim, in the Black Forest, and throughout his life he took pleasure in recaUing the place of his birth and earHest education by dubbing himself Phorcensis. At the asfe of fifteen he entered the rising University of Freiburg-im-Breisgau, where he attained to such proficiency in Latin as its teachers could impart. In his eighteenth year, having entered the service of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach in the
^ J. W. Doualdson, Nev> Cratylus, § xxii., 1868.
xxvi
INTIIODUCTION
liurnble capacity of a singing-man, Ileuchlin found himself by a sudden turn of fortune appointed bear- leader to one of tlie Margrave's sons, and accompanied his charge to Paris, where, under the tuition of the eminent rector of the university, Johannes a Lapide (von Steyn), he commenced the study of Greek. This he continued at Basle, returning, however, to Paris in 1477, to sit at the feet of the famous George Hermony- mus, who had recently arrived there. Jurisprudence next chiimed Reuchlin's attention, and with his ac- customed ardour he devoted himself to its study at Orleans and Poictiers.
Returning to Germany in 1481, Reuchlin soon ■ attracted the attention of Eberhard, Count, and after- wards first Duke, of Wiirtemberg, and not many months had elapsed before the young scholar found himself on the way to Rome, holding a position of some dignity in the train of his noble patron. Sixtus IV. then occupied the papal throne. With all his faults, the builder of the Sistine Chapel was a liberal patron of art and Hterature, and among the many men of learning attracted to the court of Rome was the re- nowned John Argyropoulos, who for fifteen years had held the chair of Greek at Florence. Among scholars even of this cahbre Reuchlin held his own, and the story goes that Argyropoulos, sorely piqued at the young German's mastery of Thucydides, exclaimed testily, " Greece has flown over the Alps ! "
On his return to Germany honours and emoluments fell thickly upon Reuchlin. Now Doctor of Civil Law, he was appointed Procurator of the Dominican Order, and Assessor of the Supreme Court. To Eberhard he was ever a trusted counsellor.
For ten years Reuchlin, now a married man, was busily employed in afFairs of state and in the per- formance of various judicial duties, but in 1492 he paid another visit to Italy, which lasted for a year and had momentous consequences. FalHng under the personal influence of the dazzling but chaotic genius of Pico della Mirandola — ^who contemplated humanism and scholasticism with impartial eyes, and yearned for the reconciliation of irreconcilable ideas — the German
xxvii
INTllODUCTION
scholar was strangely attracted by Pico's belief that in the mysteries of the Jewish Cabbala lay the hidden clue by which Platonic philosophy and Christian doctrine might be shown to be but diverse aspects of one Truth. Pico's discourse concerning " Secrete misteryes of the hebrewes, caldyes and arabies," ^ as well as " ye olde obscure philosophye of Pythagoras, trimegistus, and orpheus " fired Reuchhn's imagination. Eut to grapple with the Cabbala without a competent knowledge of the Hebrew tongue was, of course, impossible. Reuchhn accordingly placed himself under the guidance of able Jewish teachers, and made astonishingly rapid progress in a language in which but few Gentiles had hitherto even dabbled. In ordinary circumstances it would be thought presumptuous in a student who had devoted himself to a difficult language for barely two years to pubHsh a work upon the subject. But Reuchhn was not an ordinary man, and, unhke many scholars, he was eager to instil into the minds of others a desire to follow in his own footsteps, and explore the almost unknown fields where he had shown the way. Ac- cordingly in 1494 there appeared from his pen, in the form of a treatise De Verbo 3Iirifico, a glowing panegyric on the Hebrew tongue. " In this divine language," he says, " God speaks with men, and men with angels, face to face, as one friend converses with another." For several years ReuchHn's name had been Grecised, after the custom of the times, as Capnio, or Capnion ^ (though Reuchhn himself was chary of using the " humanistic " form), and the framework of the book is a conversation between a rabbi — Baruchias, and a Christian — Capnio. It is shown that all the rehgious mysteries of pagan nations, even the details of their ritual, " are but travesties of Hebrew truths concealed in the words, and even in the shapes of the letters, of the Hebrew tongue." ^
In 1496, Duke Eberhard I. having died, Reuchhn, ill at ease in the dissolute court of his successor, migrated to Heidelberg, to be received with open arms
- Sir Thomas More, Lyfe qf John Fkits.
- Gk., Kanvbs ; Ger., Eanch.
^ Graetz, History ofthe Jews, 1892, iv. p. 4G3.
xxviii
INTRODUCTION
by the learned, while the Elector Phihp, at once recog-
nising his worth, made him a member of his council,
and sent him on a diplomatic mission to Rome. This
fgave Reuchhn an opportunity of making further pro-
/ gress in his favourite study under the guidance of
l^ Qbadyah Sforno of Cesena. On his return from Italy
Reuchhn betook himself once more to Stuttgart, where
the third duke, Ulrich, was still a minor, and in 1502
he attained his highest judicial rank as a Judge of the
Swabian League.
The year 1506 saw the pubhcation of Reuchlin's £>e Rudimentis Hebraicis, an elementary Hebrew grammar — largely derived from a work by the rabbi, David Kimchi, quoted by Boswell — but displaying wide reading, and destined to have a powerful efFect in attracting the attention of scholars to Semitic studies.
The necessary Hmitations of this Introduction do not permit of reference to Reuchlin's many other literary labours in the field of pure scholarship. If we have succeeded in suggesting the outline of his interest- ing personality, it must suffice. Geiger's admirable " Life," unfortunately, still awaits a translator.^
Somewhat close intercourse with learned Jews of the best type naturally aroused in Reuchlin's heart a kindly interest in the scattered and persecuted people whose sacred, philosophical, and mystic literature he had now grappled with for ten years, and towards the end of 1505 he was led to publish, at Pforzheim, a pamphlet of ten pages, entitled, Docfor lohanns Reuch- lins tutsch missiue : ivarumb die Judc so lang im ellend jsind. The author inquires into the causes of the Jews' long and miserable exile, attributes it to their obstinate denial of Christ, and ends by inviting any Israelite in search of instruction in the tenets of the true faith to come to him, not merely as a catechumen but as a guest. It is whispered that even at the present day creature comforts, as aids to faith, are not wholly neglected, but if the learned and hospitable doctor
^ L. Geiger, /. Renchlin, sein Leben und seine Werke, Leipsic, 187L For an interesting and suggestive sketch of Reuchlin's career — to which the present writer is glad to acknowledge his indebtedness for several useful hints — the reader may consult Mr. W, S. Lilly's Renaissance Types, London, 1901.
xxix
INTRODLCTION
made any converts, the fact has not been recorded. Perhaps Frau lleuchlin had a word to say upon the project, or the invitation met with no response. At any rate we hear no more of the matter, and Reuchhn's first Jewish visitor of whom we have any certain in- formation was none other than that " most scelerate Christian," Johann PfefFerkorn himself — eager to flesh his new-girt weapon upon the hapless rabbis of Frank- fort. Some historians, notably Graetz, have seen a subtle design in this visit — a device to entrap Reuchhn, and exhibit him in the ranks of the bigots. The sug- gestion seems unfounded. ReuchHn was known as a Hebraist ; he was the legal representative of the Domi- nican body in Germany, and he had publicly signified his desire to make Christian proselytes. What more natural, in the circumstances, than that he should be confidently appealed to ?
One thing is clear — Pfefferkorn gained Httle by his interview. ReuchHn's scholarly instincts rose in revolt against the suggestion that he should become an acces- sory in the murder of a venerable Hterature : moreover, he was not favourably impressed by the renegade him- self, whose Hterary quahfications he evidently doubted.
ReuchHn, indeed, has recorded that in his Hbrary he quietly tested PfefFerkorn by directing his attention to a Tahnudical work, whereupon his visitor shuffled, and explained that he had only studied the Bible. The learned jurist naturaUy found no difficulty in putting his finger upon the apparent informahty in the im- perial mandate, and poHtely sent his visitor empty away.
After the cold douche administered by Archbishop Uriel, the attack upon Hebrew Hterature for the mo- ment slackened, and the Jews took the opportunity of formaUy laying their Aaews before the emperor through their representatives Jonathan Levi Zion of Frankfort and Isaac Triest of Ratisbon. The JNIargrave of Baden, too, ventured to point out to the emperor that his Jewish subjects were protected by unimpeachable char- ters. Maximilian treated the emissaries with urbanity, and aU seemed going weU, until PfefFerkorn once more appeared upon the scene, not without a commendatory
XXX
INTRODUCTION
letter, for he had again visited the pious Kunigunde upon his way.
However low an opinion we may form of Pfefier- korn's moral character and literary abiUties, it is im- possible to deny him credit for perseverance and skilful audacity. The career of Titus Oates reminds us that it is by no means impossible for a man, infamous, but courageous after a fashion, and entirely unscrupulous, to bring about results utterly incommensurate with his personal worth ; and it must not be forgotten that in PfefFerkorn's case the vast but unobtrusive influence of the Order of Preachers was at his back.
The upshot of the wrangle was that a second im- perial mandate was issued,dated Roveredo,NovemberlO, 1509. Nominees of the Universities of Cologne, ^NIainz, Heidelberg and Erfurt were to sit in solemn conclave and examine all Hebrew books deaUng with reHgious subjects — a certain number of learned Jews being pre- sent. As, however, a conference thus constituted could have led to no results, save as an occasion of laughter to the assembled rabbis, certain assessors were also named, viz., Jakob van Hoogstraten — Inquisitor and Dominican, Victoj Yon Karben — a converted rabbi, and Johann Reuchhn. Pfeff^erkorn was to exercise a general supervision over their dehberations. For some reason this conference never met.
]Meanwhile unauthorised raids upon Hebrew htera- ture were renewed. INIany hundreds of manuscripts were impounded at Frankfort, Jewish booksellers were molested, and there was a rumour that the coming fair would be made the occasion of a wholesale confiscation. This contingency seriously alarmed the civic authori- ties. Among the merchants attracted from all parts of Western Europe to the great fairs were many vendors of books, and they, like their fellow-chapmen, were usually provided with some form of passport from their native princes. Confiscation of their wares would be hkely to lead to poHtical comphcations, and would cer- tainly diminish the popularity of an institution so lucra- tive to the city as was the Frankfurter Messe. The zeal of the Dominicans was accordingly checked. Not so the energy of the indefatigable PfefFerkorn. Early
xxxi
INTRODUCTION
in 1510 there appeared under his name, in German and Latin, a pamphlet,^ in which " Praise and Honour " of the emperor served as an introduction to a brief account of what had ah-eady been done in the way of suppress- ing Hebrew Hterature. The fifth chapter, it is true, contained a hst of the writings the Jews were still graciously permitted to possess, but as this consists merely of the names of the various books of the Bible, transcribed in very faulty Hebrew, the writer succeeded in displaying his ignorance rather than his tolerance.
Meanwhile it had been announced under an imperial rescript, that the Jews might, at least for the time being, keep their books, provided that they made no use of them for proselytising purposes, and the whole controversy seemed Hkely to be forgotten, when Maxi- mihan was moved, either by secret influence or mere vacillation, to issue yet another mandate, dated Flissen (Bavaria), July 26, 1.510. The purport of this was similar to that of the second rescript, with an important exception that throws some Hght upon the reason of the latter having proved abortive : the same universi- ties and eminent men were to be consulted, but there was to be no conference, and the opinions were to be collected by Archbishop Uriel. PfefFerkorn was to act as the emperor's " solHcitator," and to report progress from time to time. One of the advantages of a " Royal Commission" had evidently dawned upon the emperor.
With the reports of the universities we need not greatly concern ourselves. They were all more or less in accord upon the advisabihty of suppressing the Talmud,- and writings directly or indirectly subversive of Christianity. With regard to details there was a good deal of titubation, as was natural in view of the fact that the critics had to deal with books that were sealed to them. Reuchlin's carefuHy reasoned Opinio?i, sent by command to the prelate, was, however, of quite a difFerent character. He brought his cultured and judicial mind to bear on a subject with which it was peculiarly competent to deal. Jn Melanchthon's pithy phrase, discernit libros — he drew
^ Ze lob und eer dem . . . hem Maximilian. « Cf. E. O. V. i. 22.
xxxii
INTRODUCTION
distinctions, Certain Jewish writings that openly at- taeked Christianity might, he thought, with advantage be entirely suppressed, but this would leave the great bulk of Hebrew Hterature untouched. " Why," asks the scholar, in effect, " should we destroy books that enshrine the learning of the Ancients — that throw light on the philology of a venerable tongue, and supply an exegesis of writings held sacred by Jews and Christians alike ? If the Talmud contains errors, let us render them innocuous by studying to sift the chaff from the gi-ain." What was needed, he urged, was more Hght — not blindfolding. Translation of certain Cabbahstic writings had indeed formierly met with the approval of a pope. After hinting at the incompetence of men of PfefFerkorn's cahbre usefully to meddle with such a difficult matter, the writer went on to urge the estabhshment of chairs of the Hebrew language and literature at the universities : by thus encouraging its study they would in due time be enabled to grapple fairly with the subject,
Little could Reuchlin have foreseen that this tem- perate, and, it should be added, confidential, document would be treated as a gage of combat, and that presently he would find himself in the thick of the fiercest mellay yet waged between the two great forces which had but recently become definitely aware of each other's existence. Yet the sealed missive was, in effect, the challenge of the New Learning to Ecclesiastical Obscurantism, in Germany — and beyond its borders.
IV
Reuchlin's Opinioii was, as has just been observed, a confidential document. It was sent under seal to the archbishop, to be communicated to MaximiHan. Pfefferkorn, however, speedily became acquainted with its contents. Perhaps as the emperor's agent he had a right to such knowledge. At any rate he made no attempt to conceal the fact, and the son of Zippor was not more incensed against Balaam than was Pfefferkorn against the calm and judicial Reuchhn. Had he not reason to cry, " 1 took thee to curse
xxxiii c
INTRODUCTION
mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether ! " Worse still, ReuchHn had unmistakably expressed doubts as to Pfefferkorn's literary com- petence, and had gone far to " asperse his parts of speech ! " It was easy for the fiery pervert to instil in his Dominican patrons the like noble rage. Should a mere jurist, forsooth, be permitted to show inde- pendence upon a question on which the Faculties of Theology were in no doubt ? " Holy Mary ! " cries Pastor Peter Meyer, "a child knows more theology than Doctor ReuchHn ! " ^ It had not yet dawned upon the ecclesiastical mind that other than doctrinal principles were at stake.
In due time a counterblast was forthcoming. In the spring of the following year, 1511, there appeared, under PfefFerkorn's name, a pamphlet, in German, entitled Handt Spiegel — the Hand-glass, or Mirror — in which ReuchUn was virulently attacked. He was branded as a charlatan in learning and an apostate in religion ; he was accused of being the Jews' ad- vocate, and as such disseminating their blasphemies ; finally, his motive is declared to be a mere sordid love of gain — Judas-Hke, he had betrayed his JNlaster for a bribe.
The Handt Spiegel had a wide circulation, and attracted much attention. Its issue may, indeed, be regarded as the first instance in which the power of the Press was utiHsed to make a pubHc attack upon an individual. The great periodical fairs afibrded what was otherwise lacking — means of obtaining widespread dissemination for the attacks of the pamphleteer.
ReuchHn was stung to the quick. He might perhaps have smiled unmoved at the aUegation of apostacy, but the charges of plagiarism and incom- petency rankled in the scholar's heart. An appeal to MaximiHan cHcited kindly assurances from the emperor, but nothing more. The autumn fair at Frankfort was drawing near, and unless ReuchHn took prompt measures, his adversaries would have the field to themselves. He knew perfectly well by this time with whom he had to deal. Writing in 1514 to
1 E. o. V. i. 5. xxxiv
INTRODUCTION
Erasmus, he says : " It was by tlie emperors own command that I presented my Opiniou upon the pro- posed destruction of Hebrew writings. This Opinion was, however, assailed by certain TlieologiaiiH at Cologne in language most unbecoming to Divines ; they heaped upon me foul obloquy and vulgar abuse worthy of the vilest buffoons."^ " Accordingly," he adds, " I set forth, as I was bound to do, a defence of my character and my writings."
This Defence, which appeared early in September 1511, was entitled Augenspiegel — referred to in Latin as Speculuni Oculare, but the meaning of which was made quite clear by the representation of a massive pair of spectacles on the title-page.
In this vigorous counter-attack Reuchlin does not mince matters. Pfefferkorn acted as a thief in steahng the Opinion ; the imputation of bribery is an abomin- able lie, as ReuchHn's accusers are well aware ; he sets forth, on the other hand, more than thirty de- hberate falsehoods that he has detected in the Handt Spiegel — and he garnishes these sohd arguments with flowers of vituperation quite as gaudy as those of his enemies. In those days, however, an omission to provide such verbal decorations would have been regarded as implying a doubt, on the part of the writer, as to the righteousness of his own cause. So far the Augenspiegel was not unworthy of its author ; but it possesses other characteristics not so admirable. Reneath its outward bravery signs of timidity are not lacking. Reuchhn quotes the Opinion at full length, but takes the opportunity of explaining away, or modifying, some of its most hberal-minded passages. He allows that parts of the Talmud may be hurtful to Christianity, and while he reminds his readers that, as Christians, they are bound to love the Jews, who are their neighbours, he throws as a sop to his foes the comforting assurance that even if Jewish manu- scripts are saved from the fiames, their owners, at all events, are sure of hell-fire. The writer admits, however, that he cannot be reckoned among the Theologians, and must not trespass on their province.
^ Erasm., Ep. cclxxxv. (1700). XXXV
INTRODUCTION
This is not the voice of the true Reuchlin. We hear, rather, the accents of the student, getting on in years, and dreading lest he should be torn from his beloved studies, and hurled into a vortex of ecclesi- astical strife. But the die was cast. Never again would he with placid mind ponder a scholars dreams while he fed his pet peacocks at Stuttgart. He had been caught in a stream from which there was no escape. He may be forgiven if he cursed the day that saw PfefFerkorn's baptism !
The Jews bought the Augenspiegel eagerly. The Dominicans — who no longer sought to shelter behind their stalking-horse, Pfefferkorn — tried to suppress it, but heedlessly playing into their adversaries' hands, inveighed against it from their pulpits. In short, they fitted on the cap without hesitation, and declared that it was none other than their august Order which this mere jurist had dared to accuse of unchristian conduct !
On September 7, 1511, PfefFerkorn was permitted, apparently out of sheer bravado, to preach a sermon outside the church at Frankfort, and to conclude his discourse with a solemn benediction.^ This was a dangerous experiment, for unauthorised preachers had before then been condemned to the stake, and PfefFer- korn later on, in alluding to the matter, thought it prudent to assume a somewhat apologetic tone, and declared that he had not preached " pontificahter " concerning mysteries of the Church, but had merdy addressed his Christian audience on — usury ! - No one, surely, could object to a lecture on compound interest — a subject, he might have added, that the sensational arithmetical tables pubhshed in his Praise and Gloi^y of Maociwilian proved the lecturer to have made pecuharly his own.
The next few months were chieflly occupied in correspondence between ReuchHn and the Cologne theologians. The result was merely an exacerbation of the controversy. On March 22, 1512, ReuchUn issued another German pamphlet in his own defence.^
^ E. O. V. ii. 14. ^ Jodimis Pepericorni Defensio, O. iii. b.
' Ain clare verstentnns in tiitsch vffdoctor J. R.
xxxvi
INTKODUCTION
This blow was countered on August 12, by Arnold von Tongern, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at Cologne, in a book entitled Articuli sive Propositioiies de judaico favore nimis mspectae ex lihello theutonico Joannis Reuchlin — i.e. the Augenspiegel. This volume contained a Carmen by Ortwin Gratius, and, strangely enough, an Elogium. by Hermann Buschius — so soon to become an active foeman in the Reuchlinists' camp.
Of Arnold von Tongern we hear much in the ensuing pages. His friends regarded him as a man of high character and exceptionally pure Hfe. His foes painted him as sometliing less than a man. In- deed, ReuchHn himself, while still smarting under the Articuli, declared that on Chrisfs behalf he would gladly shed his blood so freely that "the timid, lily- livered, and effeminate Arnold would not so much as look upon it without turning pale as death and faUing in a swoon ! " ^
Before the end of the year another yet more scur- rilous pamphlet, under Pfefferkorn's name, appeared ; this was the Brantspiegell, or Burning-glass.
ReuchHn's reply to Arnold and his colleagues was pubhshed in the spring of 1513. This was entitled Defensio Joannis Reuchlin Phorcensis . . . contra Calumniatores suos Colonienses. In this the exasperated scholar turns to bay and slashes his assailants with every weapon of learning, sarcasm, and vituperation that he could lay his hands to.^ Some of his friends thought him unwise. But Reuchlin reahsed by this time the importance of the fray in which he was involved, and the true nature of the foe with whom he had to grapple. The Rabies Theologorum had broken out in a most virulent form. The Dominicans were in- furiated and in league against him. " No opposition," writes Sir W. Hamilton, "had hitherto prevailed against that powerful order, . . . while a contemporary pope em- phatically declared that he would rather provoke the enmity of the most formidable sovereign than offend even a single friar of those mendicant fraternities, who, under the mantle of humihty, reigned omnipotent over
1 H. von der Hardt, Hist. Lit. Ref. (1717), ii. 93. » Cf. E. O. V. i. 24.
xxxvii
INTRODUCTION
religious or philosophical views, \ve shall not be far wrong if we say that his sojourn in Italy had made him, in the Hteral sense of the word, a free-thinker — but a free-thinker who felt no impulse to impose his own faith, or want of faith, upon the world at large. A^^e need not be greatly surprised, therefore, to learn that on returning to the Fatherland in 1503, Mutian accepted, without hesitation, a canonry at Gotha. Here, inscribing " Beata TranquiUitas " above his study door, he resolved to spend the rest of his days in learned leisure. Other preferments were profFered the recluse from time to time, but were invariably dechned : his income sufficed to provide him with books, and he sought for nothing beyond them. Nevertheless, natural indolence, or a contempt for the opinion of the world, led Mutian to seek no Hterary renown. He has left no writings behind him, save his letters,^ and, to judge from internal evidence, we may well doubt whether these were intended for pubHcation.
Before long, however, the " blessed peace " of Gotha began to paU upon the gregarious Mutian. Society there was doubtless as duU as it was Hmited, and a scholar who does not write must converse. Fortunately his old university was scarce twenty miles away, and iSIutian began to betake himself thither, often for considerable periods.
At Erfurt he speedily made himself the centre of a congenial circle. A band of young and ardent humanists had thither congregated : their aspirations were lofty but vague, and needed but the guidance of a leader of riper years and experience to burst the last bonds of scholastic tradition, and take their places in the forefront of the army of Hght. The epigrammatist Euricius Cordus, whom Lessing eulogised and imitated — Georg Burckhard, better known as Spalatinus, after- wards the friend and correspondent of Luther — the briUiant but bibulous Eobanus Hessus, then in his early youth — Justus .Tonas, the brothers Eberbach, and Herebord von der Marthen, were aU numbered among the young disciples who from time to time sat round Mutian's easy-chair, and hung with mingled joy and
1 Ed. by C;. Krause : Cassel, 1885.
Iviii
INTKODUCTION
bewilderment upon their master's words — drinking in his reckless heterodoxy, his neo-Platonic phantasies, learnt from Pico, PoHtian, and MarsiHo Ficino — his eulogies of the Koran — his merry scoffs at the pedantry that passed for learning — and his biting sarcasms on the corruption of the Church and of cloistered Hfe, where :
" Round many a convent's blazing fire, Unhallowed threads of revelry are spun ; There Venus sits disguised like a nun ; While Bacchus, clothed in semblance of a friar, Pours out his choicest beverage high and higher ! "
According to one of the Obscure Men, indeed, Mutian was "the worst of all the ReuchHnists, and such a hater of Theologians that he will not sufter the Divines of Cologne to be even named in his presence."^
Not that the members of the Erfurt circle could themselves lay claim to a high standard of asceticism : the wine-cup would not long remain full on a board at which Eoban Hesse sat ! But, for aU that, the symposia of these " Poets dead and gone " were feasts of reason — high thinking there was, though the Hving was none too frugal. Our thoughts can scarcely fail to turn to a certain young monk then wearing away the best years of his Hfe in the dreary convent of Fontenay-le-Comte. How gladly would Fran^ois Rabelais have been welcomed within that joyous company ! Yet it were hard to say whether Pantagruel, Panurge, and Friar John would in that case have gladdened the hearts of the elect.
Making due allowance for the change of times and manners, we are reminded, too, of that Convivium pliilosophicuin described by Clarendon, which gathered a century later round Lord Falkland on the lawns and terraces of Great Tew. As at Erfurt, men of learning, wit, and above all of Hberal mind there for- gathered to discuss theology and letters, and dreamed young men's dreams of a still brighter future. As at Erfurt, they recked not of the approaching catas-
1 E. (). V. ii. 59.
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INTRODUCTION
I warded ofF the stroke by a legal process, and made my appeal to the ApostoHc See. His HoHness there- upon remitted the case to the Bishop of Speyer for consideration, and forbade any other person whatso- ever to take any steps with reference to the Oculum Speculare, under pain of excommunication. Upon the duly appointed judge opening the proceedings, the Dominicans sent their proctor, but not in legal form — thus acting in contempt of the court — and strove by dilatory devices to prejudice my cause. Further- niore, while the suit was yet undetermined, and not- withstanding the Pope's inhibition, they took upon themselves to commit the said book to the flames, at Cologne. Nevertheless the Apostolic Judge hath, with the aid and counsel of Jurists and Theologians, formed and issued his judgment, the tenor whereof I now send you by reason of the kindly interest that you ever feel in all those who have the love of learning and letters at heart. If, a twelvemonth back, I — a poor dweller in the far-ofF Hercynian Forest — was mahgned before my Enghsh friends, let me now by your support be rein- stated, in despite of these evil-hearted book-burners. KaiTVLov 6 o-oc, Frankfort ; at the April Fair, 1514."
The decision of the youthful Bishop of Speyer — or rather of the assessors whom he appointed — was whoUy in Reuchhns favour. The Augenspiegel was held not to be a heretical book ; Hoogstraten had therefore slandered Reuchhn, and must l3e mulcted in costs.
The fury of the Dominicans may be imagined. Hoogstraten, they decided, must promptly appeal to Rome, and at the Curia he should be backed by all the influence, and much of the wealth — of the Mendicants I If they could not win their suit, they had good reasons for beheving that they could protract it till Reuchhn was ruined — or dead, and then, as " Lyra Buntschuh- macher " in his enthusiasm puts it, " they would efFectually damn him ! " ^
In the summer of 1514 the main action of the drama is, accordingly, transferred to Rome. Leo X. had for more than a year occupied St. Peter's chair. The most thorough-paced admirers of that eminent
1 E. (). V. i. 35.
xl
INTEODUCTION
pontiff will not claim for him a deep interest in matters of theological controversy, yet he was destined to be entangled in the fiercest struggles that had ever been forced upon the Church.
When Hoogstraten's appeal reached him, Leo, naturally enough, was disincUned to meddle personally with the matter ; but he appointed a commission to investigate the case, presided over by Dominico Gri- mani — Cardinal of S. Marco, and Pietro Accolti — Cardinal of S. Eusebio. The former was a man of influence and enhghtenment — Erasmus mentions his library as one of the most splendid in Rome — and, being a Franciscan, he was by no means prejudiced in favour of the great rival Order.
The first step taken by the commission was, of course, to secure the attendance of the interested parties or their representatives. Hoogstraten was summoned to appear in person ; ReuchHn, " in consideration of his advanced years," was allowed to appear by proctor, though, as a matter of fact, he was not yet sixty, and of sound health. Nothing, however, could have suited the Dominicans better than this arrangement. The inquisitor arrived in Rome with a well-filled purse — or, to be more accurate, with liberal orders on the bankers — and was received with open arms by the upholders of the Dominican Order at the Curia. For some months all went smoothly. Hoogstraten was lavish with his gold. His feasts were crowded with " CuriaHsts " ^ — the satirist represents the hangers-on at court greedily sponging invitations to sup with
- ' the great Doctor from Germany, who hath come
hither to defend the Cause of the P^aith."
It need not, of course, be supposed that Hoogstraten had resorted to any such crude procedure as actual bribery of the princes of the Church, but civilisation was in an advanced state at Rome, and there were a hundred ways of delaying or expediting the pro- gress of a suit, known to the legal underhngs at the Curia.
Reuchhn, on the other hand, found great difficulty in even obtaining a proctor to represent him before the
^ Cf. E. O. V. ii. 6, ii. 26, n.
xli
INTRODUCTION
commission.^ The learned Jews at Rome prudently kept in the background, rightly supposing that their overt action on Reuchlin's behalf would prejudice his case. That ReuchHn was in correspondence with them seems, however, certain, and a letter from him, in Hebrew, to Bonet de Jjates, the pope's Hebrew body-physician, is extant. And so the case dragged slowly on. Little else could be expected. As a courtier remarked to one of the " Obscure Men," " If Reuchhn has any money, he had better send it : at the Curia money must be forthcoming or nothing can be done." ^
We must not here attempt to follow all the cross- currents of intrigue indicated by the somewhat volumi- nous correspondence of that day which yet survives, but we cannot omit mention of the fact that Maximilian himself appealed earnestly to the pope on Reuchlin's behalf.=^ Dating his letter " Inspruck, Oct. 23, 1514," the emperor comments with considerable warmth on the unfairness, not to say the illegality, of " this parcel of Professors at Cologne " in daring to ignore the decision of the Bishop of Speyer, " his well-beloved cousin," and continuing to harass a truly honourable, learned, pious, and orthodox man. He urges the pope to quash the proceedings, and thus " to free a wholly innocent man from these vindictive accusations, and permit him to spend the rest of his days in peace, and at liberty to devote his talents to matters of real im- portance to the Christian Commonwealth." Maxi- milian, it is true, partly explains his sudden interest in the matter by adding that " these captious Theo- logians have even dared to cast a slur upon ourselves, and others, our liege Princes."
While Hoogstratens money lasted he had, to all appearances, his own way ; but the day came when the bankers would no longer honour his drafts, and forth- with the sky lowered ; and so as time went on the Dominicans and their supporters in Germany became not a little alarmed at the threatened loss of their prestige. They probably never expected that the
^ Cf. E. O. V. ii. 53. - E. O. V. ii. 32.
- Maius, yit. Reuchlini, p. 462.
xlii
INTRODUCTION
defendant would persevere in his defence. They were prepared for a little preliminary expenditure, by way of lubricating the legal machinery of the Curia — but to regard an accusation brought by their omnipotent Order as seriously arguable was in itself an insult. If an inquisitor said a book was heretical, it was heretical — and there was an end.
It is not an uncommon thing for fear to manifest itself in the form of bluster and threats, and so it hap- pened in the case of the Predicants. To be flouted by a mere pope and emperor was more than they could endure ! VVhat did they care for the emperor ? He had no authority over the Church. Even the pope was not supreme ; a pope's decision could be over-ridden by a council. Nay, some of the more hot-headed even threatened a schism, and there were dark hints of join- ing forces with the Bohemian Brethren.^
All this was mere froth and fury — but the Order had still an important card to play, and they now played it for what it was worth.
Hitherto the Dominicans had sought for allies only among the universities of Germany. France — or, at all events, Paris — remained, and there they would not seek in vain. The College of the Sorbonne was at the height of its power, and it was practically identical with the theological faculty of the great university that then teemed with students. The Sorbonne, in fact, assumed, if it did not overtly claim, infaUibility, and it has been truly spoken of as being, not many years later, " the refuge and fortress of the spirit of the past — the stronghold where MedigevaHsm fought its last fight against the mighty men of the Renaissance." To Paris, accordingly, the anti-Reuchhnists appealed. All would be well if the Sorbonne did but condemn ReuchKn and his Augenspiegel. Powerful influence was at the same time exerted at the French court through the agency of Guillaume Haquinet Petit — confessor to Louis XII., as he also became to the suc- cessor of that monarch. The political rivalry existing between Louis and the emperor might reasonably be reckoned as a factor not to be disregarded. Upon
1 Cf. E. o. v. ii. 5". xliii
INTRODUCTION
the question being submitted to them, the doctors of the Sorbonne were quite in their element, and they lost no time in issuing their eondemnation, which appeared on December 5, 1514, under the title of Acta £)octo7'u?n Paj-rhisiemium de sacratissivia facultate theologica . . . contra Speculum oculare loannis reuchlin {etc).
This thunderbolt proved innocuous ; the death of Louis XII. three weeks later doubtless prevented its being followed up as had been intended. It should be mentioned that there appeared, almost simultaneously, another dull but vituperative pamphlet, in Pfefferkorn's name, entitled Sturm Glock (The Tocsin). For pub- Hshing this book and the Acta, Quentell, the printer, had legal proceedings instituted against him on the ground that he had acted in defiance of the emperor's edict, and PfefFerkorn was coupled with him as defendant.^
V
Meanwhile at llome little progress was made with the great suit, the most notable fact in connection with it being the translation of the Augenspiegel into Latin by Martinus Groning, by order of the court, and the consequent discovery of the fact that the translation hitherto relied upon, that, namely, provided by Hoog- straten, was grossly inaccurate. This put the whole case in a fresh light, and the arguments on both sides had to be beefun anew. But while interest in the case itself slackened, the conflict it typified grew fiercer. By this time what had been at the outset a personal squabble had become a widespread campaign from which no scholar in Germany, however peace-loving, could altogether hold aloof. One after another joined the forces on either side.
And so, with ever-growing fury, the bitter fray went on. Neither party could claim the victory — peace with honour was impossible. It seemed as though every weapon of controversial hatred had been used in vain — from the ponderous artillery of pedantry to the poisoned dagger of slander.
1 Cf. E. O. V. ii. 12.
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INTRODUCTION
Nevertheless one weapon, and that the most potent, remained negleeted — because in those days for the most part forgotten — the withering might of ridicule. But suddenly, at the close of 1515, "there was launched from an unknown hand, a pasquil against the persecutors of Reuchhn ; it fell among them like
a bomb, scattering dismay and ruin in its explo-
" 1 sion.
This, a thin quarto volume of less than forty pages, was entitled Epistolae Obscnroruvi Virorum ad vener- ahilem virum Magistrum Ortuinmn Gratium Daventri- ensem Cohniae Agrippinae bonas litteixis docentem : vaiijs ^ locis (§ temporibiis missae : ac demuvi in volumen coactae.
The point of the title was — or at least should have been — immediately obvious. In the spring of the preceding year Reuchhn had pubhshed a small coUec- tion of letters addressed to himself by sundry eminent scholars and distinguished men, naming the volume Clarorum Virorum EpistoJae latinae, graecae <§ hebraicae varijs temporibus missae ad loannem Reuchlin Phorcensevi LL. doctorem ; and Ortwin is supposed to publish the epistles of his "obscure" correspondents, just as Reuchhn had given to the world the select letters of his illustrious friends. It is, indeed, difficult to under- stand how, in the face of these patent facts, any doubt could have arisen as to the precise meaning of " Obscuri Viri " : the writers are obviously not intended to be " Obscurantists," or " Great Unknowns " — but simply, and in the hteral Enghsh sense, obscure men, as opposed to men of eminence. Why Ortwin should be represented as employing so humble an epithet, and whether he was not thereby made to cast some slur upon his correspondents, are questions discussed in the sequel, with abundant humour, by one of the Obscure Men themselves."
The plan of the satire is of the most simple, yet briUiantly original kind. The foes of the New Learning are made to display themselves — always without a trace of self-consciousness — in all their doltishness, pedantry,
' Hamiltoii, Biscus.nons.
- E. O. V. ii. 1.
xlv
INTRODUCTION
and, it miist be added, immorality. They are allowed, to use Bishop Creightons words, "to tell their own story, to wander round the narrow circle of antiquated prejudices which they mistook for ideas, display their grossness, their vulgarity, their absence of aim, their laborious indolence, their hves unrelieved by any touch of nobihty."^ Pascal in the foUowing century em- ployed this device of self-revelation, with exquisite wit, in the Provincial Letters — but we must go back perhaps to Aristophanes to find a parallel in previous literature. It is, in fact, evident that this method of satire is essentially dramatic — and the dramatic art evinced is of a high order. The Obscure Men hve before us upon the stage — they are made to unfold their characters as well as those of their correspondents through their own words. The fool exposes his folly in some artless request for information or guidance ; the dull sensuahst brags of a sordid amour — excusing himself because Magister Ortwin is similarly frank ; the vain ignoramus exults in the acuteness with which he has overthrown an opponent on some childish gram- matical point, while at the same time he is careful to tickle Ortwin's self-complacency by consulting him upon the subject.
The lover of true humour, in the sense in which we understand the word to-day — the humour of Fal- stafF, of PecksnifF, and even, in its daintiest form, of EUa — will find strange foretastes of this essentially modern Hterary gift in the rich and varied Comedy of the Obscure. When we compare the Epistolae with The Ship qf Fooh and the Praise qf FoUy we cannot help feehng that a gulf separates the first- named from the other two almost contemporary satires. The distinction, though irresistibly felt, may seem hard to define, until it flashes upon us that the works of Brandt and Erasmus, with all their enhghtenment, are essentially medieval in treatment, while the Epistolae are modern through and through. We seem, in fact, to have found a region upon the chart of Literature where we can draw a line, and say, " Here the Middle Ages end."
1 History ofthe Papacy, vi. 54 (1897).
xlvi
INTRODUCTION
Reasons for the selection of Ortwin Gratius as the chief target for the satiric shafts of the Humanists are not very far to seek.
Ortwin, only son of Federic von Graes, was born at Holtwick, in Westphaha. The Obscure Men, however, hail him as Dave?itrienm, for it was at the famous school of Deventer that he was educated, at the cost, as it appears, of his uncle Johann von Graes. In 1501 Ortwin matriculated at Cologne, becoming JVIagister in 150G, and at Cologne he resided till the day of his death.
Now it was the Dominican party and the Faculty of Theology at Cologne that the Epistolae were primarily designed to attack : a sound literary instinct pointed out the advantage of ensuring a certain unity amid diversity by addressing all, or nearly all, the Letters to the same person — and if to a real one it would add zest. Some prominent Colognese don was thus clearly indicated as the feigned recipient. Arnold von Tongern was no doubt thought of, but Ortwin was the better qualified, and, from the satirists' point of view, the more deserving of the two.
In the first place he was, from the very outset, implicated in the PfefFerkorn pamphlets. In fact there were strong grounds for suspicion that, in a very real sense, Ortwin was PfefFerkorn. It seemed not unlikely that the scholar iwho contributed Latin verses to the tracts, and translated four of them, was himself the instigator of the whole series. His pubHcation, in 1514, of the book usually cited as the Praenotamenta classed him among the most militant and vindictive opponents of Reuchhn : for this ofFence alone he could have expected but little mercy. Furthermore, Ortwin was hated and despised by the rising generation of humanists in Germany, not only as an anti- Reuchlinist pamphleteer, but as a renegade. Like Mutianus Rufus and many another, he had enjoyed the privilege of being a pupil of Alexander Hegius ; his scholarship was sound for the day, his Latinity was respectable — his Fasciculus Rerum Expetendarum, published twenty years later, was of value as a con- tribution to ecclesiastical history — yet was his crime
xlvii
INTRODUCTION
unforgivable. " Ortuinus, qui est poeta eorum " ^ — " Ortwin, that Poet of theirs " — such is the succinct indictment in the words of "loannes Holcot." It cannot be improved upon. The fact that Ortwin abased himself to become tlie kept humanist of the Cologne theologians suffices to explain all. The Hght of the new day had shone upon his face as upon the other " Poets," and yet — perhaps " for a handful of silver" — he had prostituted his scholarship in the defence of the barbarians !
But there is a much more important bond of unity between the various Letters of the Obscure JNIen than the mere fact that they are addressed to a single person. With all their diversity of aim, they scarcely ever fail to contain some allusion to one absorbing topic. Rum- bhngs of the Reuchlin controversy are heard, Hke the drone of a bagpipe, persistent amidst diverse airs. Letters from liome contain casual remarks to the efFect that things must be going ill for the Dominicans, since Hoogstraten's clothes are — worse than shabby! ^ Others are jubilant with the news that Reuchhn is growing bhnd, or that he is reduced to beggary. Ortwin is asked — Ortwin, of all men ! — why he does not write somewhat in defence of the Faith. In one way or another, too, we are never allowed to forget for long, through the mouths of their puppets, that the true authors of the Letters recognise the vast principles really at stake.
It is for such reasons that some shght acquaintance with the details we have endeavoured to explain — dry and comphcated though they perhaps may be — is abso- lutely necessary for due appreciation of the satire as a work of hterary art. Given this key, the reader will find no difficulty in gaining access to the treasures of its wit and humour, and to its gallery of inimitable portraits.
VI
The precise date of the pubhcation of the Kpistolae has not been determined. That it was late in 1515 or early in 1516 is practically certain ; it is equally certain
1 E. o. V. ii. 21. ^ ^* E. o. V. ii. G.
xlviii
INTRODUCTION
that copies of the Letters, or of some of them, had, like other productions of that day, been circulated privately for some time before their publication — as early, indeed, as 1514.^ In a letter to Erasmus, dated October 19 (1515), Wolfgang Angst, a learned reader in Anshelm's printing - office at Hagenau, refers to the " Obscure Men " and to certain writings of theirs which accompany his letter : he humorously declares that he cannot re- fuse the rascals' shameless request, for they have re- minded him how Erasmus used to recite passages from their productions when he was at Strasburg not long before, and that, after all, it was his own Praise of FoHy (1511), which set them an example. Angst declares that he was overcome by their malapert importunity, and therefore, " reliqui vela ventis ; superest ut dieculae hospitium non deneges iis, quos tui tam cupidos fuisse cognoscis."' ^
The first and second editions of the JEpistolae con- tained only forty-one letters, but after a few months a third appeared, with an Appendix of seven new letters, the last purporting to be sent from Rome by Hoog- straten. There were more to follow, but further men- tion of these may conveniently be deferred.
The book immediately gained a widespread popular success, but for diverse reasons. " It does one's heart good to see how delighted everybody is with the JEpis- tolae Ohscuroruvi Virorum" wrote Sir Thomas More to Erasmus, in 1516, " The learned are tickled by their humour, while the unlearned deem their teachings of serious worth. When we laugh, they think we do but deride the style ; this they do not defend, but they declare that all faults are compensated by the weight of the matter, and that the rough scabbard contains a brilliant blade ! Would that the book had appeared under another title ! I verily believe that in a hundred years the dolts would not perceive the nose turned up at them — though longer than the snout of a rhino- ceros ! " ^
That Erasmus's own appreciation of the work, when
^ Kampschulte, UniversitUt Erfurt, i. 186, n.
- Epp. Erasmi (Le Clerc), 1777 (389).
' Erasm. Epp. (1706), No. mdlxxiv.
xlix d
INTRODUCTION
it first appeared, was no less keen may be safely inferred : ^ there is a story, which may be traced back to Simler's \ Life of BulUnger, that when he first read a copy lent him by a friend, " he fell into such a fit of laughing that an abscess in his face burst, which else should have been laid open by order of his physician." " This ought to be reckoned for one of the benefits produced by reading," is Bayle's characteristic comment.
Assuming this tradition to have a foundation in fact, it seems likely that it was the first or second edition that fell into Erasmus's hands, for in the Ap- pendix to the third edition he is himself introduced by name, and, though the allusion is respectful enough, there is good reason to think that the sensitive scholar demurred to being depicted dans cette galere. We need not suppose that Erasmus had grown prim and prudish : but he had become a very notable man in the eyes of the world. He knew that great events were imminent, and he felt some doubt as to the part he would be found playing in them. It seemed scarcely prudent to commit himself unreservedly to a party who expressed their opinions with such heedless exuberance. We have touched lightly in the preface on the exaggerated accusation brought by a certain school of writers against the Epistolae, founded on the un- deniable fact that they are not seldom indecorous in expression. We do not propose to magnify the im- portance of the charge by dilating upon it. The occa- sional grossness is perfectly innocuous, and the manners of the times would furnish ample excuse for its pre- sence. After all, with respect to coarseness of situation and language, the authors of the JEpistolae, as Professor Saintsbury has remarked, " do not come near the com- mon indulgence of the fifteenth century in most coun- tries, or the recrudescence of the same thing in the niouths of the Reformers." ^ The question, of course, is merely one of taste and not of morality, but it may be observed that it is one thing to foist stupid indecencies into a great work in order to tickle the ears of the groundlings — as did Rabelais, probably, and the Eliza- bethan dramatists, certainly — and quite another thing,
1 G. Saiutsbury, The Earlier Renaissance, 1901, 1
INTEODUCTION
with pungent wit to show monkish dissoluteness its own sordid image.
And even so, the authors of the EpiHtolae apply the caustic of their contempt with gentleness and modera- tion. To quote again the words of a late eminent historian : " The Obscure INIen are not wicked or vicious : they have their frailties and they fall before their temptations ; but they do not rejoice in wrong- doing, and they feel remorse for their sins. They tell with brutal frankness the tales of their commonplace amours ; but they are not hypocrites, and do not con- ceal their weakness," ^
Xo, they were not hypocrites, as later generations learned to understand the word. AYe have but to compare the summer hghtning that plays about the head of " jMaster Conrad of Zwickau " with the thunder- bolt cast by Burns at " Holy Willie " to reahse the vast and susfffestive difFerence. Both are " fashed " with the same faiHng — but while Conrad prattles of his lawless amours, he seeks to palhate them by the example of better men than himself, Samson and Solomon, to wit ; and it is left to Holy WilHe to scale the subhme heights of more modern hypocrisy, and cry :
" Maybe thou lets this fleshly thorn Beset thy servant e'en and morn, Lest he owre high and proud should turn,
'Cause he's sae gifted ; If sae, thy han' maun e'en be borne Until thou lift it."
The charge we have commented on can at all events be appreciated, even by those who do not sympathise with it, but another accusation seems inexphcable — except as an illustration of the habihty of the edge of Satire's weapon to be turned when it is too keenly set : we mean the preposterous charge of blasphemy. " Pre- posterous " is surely not too strong a term to use when a writer w^ho dared to show how the mysteries of a venerable rehgion were being smirched by ignoble and ridiculous associations, and who sought to rescue them from the mire, is branded as a blasphemer.
No better instance of this Hne of criticism could
1 M. Creighton, History ofthe Papacy, vi. 54 (1897).
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perhajDS be found tluin that contained in the following extract from Jan.s.sen's learned and elaborate Historjj qffhe Qcrniuii Pcoplc.
" The similes in the Epistoldc, says this historian/ " are of tlie most offensive description. Our Lord Jesus Christ is conipared to Cadmus. . . . l^ecause Christ had two nativities, one before all time and another in his human form, he is compared to the twice-born Bacchus : Semele who brought up Bacchus signifies the ^^irgin Mary."
In sheer amazement, the student of the subject can but gasp, with Dominie Sampson, " Prodigious ! " Would not the animadversion just quoted lead us to suppose that the writer who had ventured to make the comparisons thus reprobated was the author, or one of the authors, of tlie Epistolae ? The reader, it is true, might be disposed to regard Janssen's indignation as being a Httle warmer than the case called for ; he might suggest that a simile may be in bad taste without being blasphemous — but he would not be prepared to hear that the comparisons in question are quoted from the w^ork of an orthodox Franciscan monk, written in the fourteenth century, and printed six years before the Kpistolac appeared.- Still less w^ould he be prepared to hear tliat the hctitious author of the IjCttcr in which tliese similes occur is at pains to point out their ortho- dox origin ! The ridicule poured out upoii the absurd monkish practice of finding allegories of Holy Writ in classical fables Avould, in fact, have lost much of its pungency if imaginary instead of real instances of these " similes of the most offensive description" had been given. But this is not all : a singuhir Hterary coin- cidence remains to be pointed oiit : Johann Pfeflferkorn, in his " Defence against the IJl)cllous and Calunmious Letters of Obscure Men," published in 1,516, makes a precisely similar accusation, quoting the instances of Cadmus, Eacchus, and Semele, amongst others, and repro])ati ng the " blasphemous " licence of a writer who dares to draw parallels between tlie sacred narrative and heathcn fa})les !
So it turns out, after all, that the zealous convert,
' Vol. iii. p. 7t) (Loiidon, liJOO). ^ See E. O. V. i. 28, n.
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INTRODUCTION
the orthodox historian, and the courageous satirist were of one mind after all, but whereas the first two merely deplored the licence referred to, the last boldly attacked it with the darts of ridicule and scorn.
It has been, in every age, the fate of satire to be misunderstood. It is a risk that every satirist must be prepared to run. When Swift suggested the addition of stewed babies to the gourmefs bill of fare, he probably foresaw that he would be stigmatised as a preacher of cannibalism, and when the authors of tlie Epis-toJac emptied the vials of their scorn on the ignorant, the greedy, and the impure, they well knew, as men of the world, that there would not be wanting those who would straightway accuse them of folly, gluttony, and profligacy.
On the other hand, to defend the authors of the Kpistolae from the charge of cruel unfairness in their attacks upon individuals would be a hard, if not an impossible, task. "Their victims are treated like vermin; hunted without law, and exterminated with- out mercy." In a spirit of remorseless mischief the writers snatch the cowl from Hoogstraten the in- quisitor, and, grinning, show us a crafty, cruel face beneath : they dare to foully smirch the vestal raiment of Arnold von Tongern ; they impishly clap a dunce's cap on the learned pate of Ortwin Gratius, and stick him in his niche, an object of everlasting derision. As for Pfefferkorn, the renegade, boastful descendant of Naphtali " the hind let loose " — they affix to his brows, in Heu of phylactery, a pair of shameful antlers, and drive him with gibes and threats to join the wittol herd. To reach their victims they thrust a pre- sumably chaste matron's reputation in the mire. No excuse is possible. Palliation there may be, in the manners of the time : the days of chivalry were over. Nevertheless, for us, the forms of maligned wife and slandered ascetic loom dim and unreal through the mists of four hundred years :
" Their bones are dust, Their souls are with the Saints, -vve trust."
But the critic of the Epistolae Ohscurorum Virorum
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regarded merely as a work of literary art is in no way concerned with such moral blots. Even the most atrocious Hbel may possess eminent graces of hterary form : how few readers who to-day take up the Letters of Junim to enjoy their vituperative eloquence care a straw about their truth and justice. And there is no lack of truth and justice here.
The Epistolae were not allowed to pass unanswered. In the summer of 1516 there appeared "Johann PfefFerkorn's Defence against the Slanderous and Calumnious Letters of Obscure Men." This pro- duction — interesting historically, but worthless from a literary point of view — professes to review the whole situation. Testimonials from universities alternate wath plaintive excuses or passionate recriminations, and the winged words of the satire are inefFectually thrown back in the face of the satirist.
The issue of this forcible-feeble rejoinder — of course by Ortwin — was most ill-judged. Had the theologians taken their first correction mildly they might have escaped further chastisement : as it turned out, they did but prepare a fresh scourge for their own backs.
Early in 1517 a new series of Letters from the Obscure JNIen, sixty-two in number, made their ap- pearance. In many of these " The Defence " is pounced upon as a foundation for fresh gibes : Ortwin's Latin phrases are for ever turning up in some ridiculous context — his earnest protestations are ludicrously mis- understood — his excuses meet with their usual fate of being twisted into confessions. In brilHancy of humour and keenness of satire the new Letters as a whole were not a whit behind their predecessors.
We have no record of Leo the Tenth's private opinion with regard to the Epistolae. His hterary taste was cultivated and comprehensive. In his official capacity, however, he deemed it advisable to issue a bull, dated INIarch 15, 1517, which is a very characteristic specimen of papal fulminations : " It hath come to our knowledge," Leo is made to say, " to the grievous distress of our mind, that certain children of iniquity, in whose eyes there is no fear of
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God or man, impelled by wicked, damnable, and reck- less loquacity, have published a certain scandalous Hbel entitled ' Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum (etc.),' and have dared to send it to the ends of the earth, the better to disseminate their wicked calumnies." The faithful are thereupon admonished to give up any copies they may possess, in order that they may be burned : the authors, whoever they may be, are declared excom- municate ; and the clergy are ordered to denounce the scandalous and heretical work from their pulpits — even in the vulgar tongue, if necessary. In this the advisers of his HoHness did not show their usual perspicacity. In the absence of newspapers there was no better advertising medium than the pulpit. Accordingly a few months later a second edition of the New Series appeared, containing an Appendix of eight more letters, some of which are as mahcious and briUiantly scumlous as any that had gone before.
The ReuchHn trial, though prologue to a drama of entrancing interest, came to a lame and impotent conclusion. The court — with the sole exception of Sylvester Prierias, Master of the Sacred Palace, and a Dominican — decided in ReuchHn's favour, but Leo, in the interests of peace, would not promulgate the sentence. On the contrary, he issued the mandate known as "De Supersedendo," and this meant that the whole matter was to be laid indefinitely on the shelf. In 1520, however, events took an unexpected turn. The pope promulgated the sentence, and, ignoring the judgment of the majority of the court, he sided with the minority of one, declared the Augenspiegel a dangerous book, and saddled ReuchHn with the costs of the trial.
The scholar was bent but not broken by the blow. Impoverished by the tedious Htigation, he bravely struggled on, earning sufficient for his smaH necessities by teaching and lecturing during the five years that were left to him of a blameless and honourable Hfe.
By his friends, and they were neither few nor powerless, he was upheld to the last as a champion of the New Learning and a martyr in its cause — the real victor, too, in the fight.
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INTRODUCTION
The issues of the Epistolae that appeared in 1517 were the last to be published for nearly forty years, but in 1556 both parts of the work appeared for the first time in a single volume/ In the eyes of the new generation which had arisen it belonged to an age already half forgotten. The Reformation in Germany had run its course. The dawn that the Epistolae welcomed seemed fair enough, but it had ushered in a long day of storm. The blind and bloody struggles that ensued had exhausted the nation. In the im- pressive words of a recent writer, " Intellectually, morally, and politically, Germany was a desert, and it was called Religious Peace." ^
VII
And now we are confronted by the thorny question — Who wrote the Epistolae Ohscurornm Virorum ?
An adequate discussion of this would altogether exceed our limits, and demands a volume to itself. Fortunately for the student who wishes to probe the matter deeply, such a volume has very recently been provided by Herr Walther Brecht:' in this work the methods of the " Higher Criticism " are appHed to the problem with great patience and ability, and it is somewhat consoling to find that Brechfs solution difFers but slightly from that arrived at by a similar method, some eighty years ago, at the hands of Sir William Hamilton.
For three centuries the authorship of the Epistolae was involved in an obscurity greater than that which enwrapped the Eetters of Junins. We can scarcely give a better idea of the chaotic welter of critical opinions upon the subject which formerly prevailed, than by briefly summarising the pre-Hamiltonian theories.
At least twenty-eight writers assigned the Epistolae to a single author, and made their choice from a list
^ Of the so-called Third Volume of the EpiMolac, which was first printed in 1689 (?), it miist here suffice to say, in the words of Professor De Morgan,
- It is a stupid catchpenny with which the authors of the first and second
probably had nothing to do."
2 A. F. Pollard, Camb. Mod. Hut, ii. 279.
2 Dle Verfasser der Epist. Obsc. Virorum, Strassburg, 1904.
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of eight persons, including Reiichlin himself, and Erasmus.
Eleven writers regarded them as the joint pro- duction of two or three pens — half-a-dozen possible conibinations being suggested. Eleven other critics contended that the satire was the work of from six to sixteen authors acting in collaboration. They allow us to make our choice from ten difFerent groups.
While giving a ghmpse of this critical chaos we have, however, no intention of involving the reader in its perplexities. It may be said at once that we are to-day practically certain that the Epistolae were the actual work of two men, but that they reflect the feehngs and ideas of a coterie, or — if that term be held to have too mean a connotation — let us say, a literary sodaUty.
In the early years of the sixteenth century the University of Erfurt, already estabhshed for more than a hundred years, was, in more than one sense, the most popular in Germany. It was remarkable as having been founded, not by a princely benefactor, but by the burghers of the town itself. The citizens took much pride in their creation, and made the academic graduation days civic festivals. The under- graduates were more than tolerated by the townsfolk. Such exceptional amenities could hardly fail to attract students from all parts of Germany, and among them, twenty years before the date reached in our narrative, there had arrived a very remarkable boy. This was Konrad JMuUv-better known as JNlutianus Rufus, born at Homburg in 1472. After receiving his early train- ing, as already mentioned, under Hegius at Deventer, iMutian became a student at Erfurt at the age of fourteen, and some six years later journeyed to Italy, where he stayed for no less than seven years, study- ing at both Bologna and Rome, and hving on terms of intimacy with some of the leading humanists of the day : it is a suggestive fact, too, that among the men of eminence with whom he was privileged to become acquainted, Pico della Mirandola, who liad so fired ReuchHn^s imagination, is to be especially in- cluded. Without attempting here to classify ]Mutian's
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religious or philo.sopliical views, mc shall not be fjir wrong if we say that his sojourn in Italy had made him, in the hteral sense of the word, a free-thinker — but a free-thinker who felt no impulse to impose his own faith, or want of faith, upon the world at large. A\"e need not be greatly surprised, therefore, to learn that on returning to the Fatherland in 1503, Mutian accepted, without hesitation, a canonry at Gotha. Here, inscribing " Beata Tranquilhtas " above his study door, he resolved to spend the rest of his days in learned leisure. Other preferments were profFered the rechise from time to time, but were invariably decKued : his income sufficed to provide him with books, and he sought for nothing beyond them. Nevertlieless, natural indolence, or a contempt for the opinion of the world, led Mutian to seek no Uterary renown. He has left no writings behind him, save his letters,^ and, to judge from internal evidence, we may well doubt wliether these were intended for publication.
Before long, however, the " blessed peace " of Gotha began to pall upon the gregarious jNIutian. Society there was doubtless as dull as it was limited, and a scholar who does not write must converse. Fortunately his old university was scarce twenty miles away, and ^Mutian began to betake himself thither, often for considerable periods.
At Erfurt Iie speedily made himself the centre of a congenial circle. A band of young and ardent humanists Iiad thither congregated : their aspirations were lofty but vague, and needed but the guidance of a leader of riper years and experience to burst the last bonds of schohistic tradition, and take their places in thc forefront of the army of hght. The epigrammatist Euricius Cordus, whom Lessing eulogised and imitated — Georg Burckhard, l)etter known as Spahitinus, after- wnrds the friend and correspondcnt of Ijuther — the brilHant but bibulous Eobanus Hessus, then in liis early youth — Justus Jonas, the brothers Eberbach, and Hercbord von der Martlicn, were all numbered among the young disciples who from time to time sat round ]VIutian's easy-chair, and hung with mingled joy and
1 K(l. l.y ('. Krause: Cassel, 18B.5.
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INTRODUCTION
bewilderinent upon their ma.ster's words — drinking m his reckless heterodoxy, his neo-Platonic phantasies, learnt from Pico, Pohtian, and INIarsiHo Ficino — his eulogies of the Koran — his merry scofFs at the pedantry that passed for learning — and his biting sarcasms on the corruption of the Church and of cloistered hfe, where :
" Round many a convent's blazing fire, Unhallowed threads of revelry are spun ; There Venus sits disguised like a nun ; While Bacchus, clothed in semblance of a friar, Pours out his choicest beverage high and higher ! "
According to one of the Obscure Men, indeed, JNIutian was "the worst of all the Reuchhnists, and such a hater of Theologians that he will not suffer the Divines of Coloirne to be even named in his presence."^
Xot that the members of the Erfurt circle could themselves lay claim to a high standard of asceticism : the wine-cup would not long remain full on a board at which Eoban Hesse sat ! But, for all that, the symposia of these *' Poets dead and gone " were feasts of reason — high thinking there was, though the Hving was none too frugal. Our thoughts can scarcely fail to turn to a certain young monk then wearing away the best years of his Hfe in the dreary convent of Fontenay-le-Comte. How gladly would Fran^ois Rabelais have been welcomed within that joyous company ! Yet it were hard to say whether Pantagruel, Panurge, and Friar John would in that case have gladdened the hearts of the elect.
Making due aUowance for the change of times and manners, we are reminded, too, of that Coiivrcmm pJiilosophicuin described by Clarendon, which gathered a century later round Lord Falkland on the lawns and terraces of CTreat Tew. As at Erfurt, men of learning, wit, and above all of Hberal mind there for- gathered to discuss theology and letters, and dreamed young men's dreams of a stiU brighter future. As at Erfurt, they recked not of the approaching catas-
1 E. (). V. ii. 59.
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trophe, soon to scatter them, and overwhehn not a few.
Among tlie members of Mutian's Circle, as it began to be called, was one to wliom we have as yet made no reference. This was Johann Jager, afterwards known to the world of letters as Crotus Rubianus (or, Rubeamis). This remarkable man was born at Dornheim, in 1480. He was of humble origin, and as a boy tended his father^s goats in the rugged Tliiiringerwald. In liis eigliteentli year, however, he matriculated at Erfurt, and graduated bachelor in 1.500. His Latinised name at first was, naturally, Joannes Venatoris, and " Crotus Rubianus " is decidedly enigmatical, until we remember that Dornheim is " thorn-home," and we are further given as a clue the fact that " Crotos " appears in tlie IJc Rc Rmtica ^ of Columelhi as a synonym of Sagit- tarius. A far-fetched cognomen was in those days an indication of sound scholarship.
Crotus was at first wholly ortliodox, and he was the warm friend of another orthodox young student — Martin Luther — all too soon to quit the university for an Augustinian convent. That Crotus, however, had early doubts of the advantages of a monastic life is evidenced by liis helping young Ulrich von Hutten, then a boy of seventeen, to escape from the abbey of Fulda, wliere he was mimured.
Crotus's orthodoxy was, liowever, in those days, of by no means robust growth, and by 1509 he had become one of the leading lights among the Erfurt humanists, and conspicuous for liis nimble wit and biting jests. " Omnia ridens," it was said of him, " sed seriis pariter aptus." His gaiety and common sense were ahke conspiciious.
For a year or two Crotus had supported himself by tlie tuition of a few " sprigs of nobihty," on Mutian's re- commendation, but in l.>09 one of those lovers' quarrels leading to a renewal of love — it was not tlie first — took place between the University and the municipahty of Erfurt. So sharp was this town and gown squab})le that many of tlie latter sought peace in fiight, among them being nearly all the members of the Mutianic
• ])c R. A'., V. 57.
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circle, who thus Ijecame involuntary missionaries of humanism. In 1510 Crotus actually entered the convent at Erfurt, and perhaps took holy orders.
But such a man could ill brook the confinement of the cloister. He never ceased to correspond with his friends outside the walls, and in a letter to Mutian he compiains that there is nothing to do save to kill time " by drinking, gaming, carnality or usury." To Hve away from his intellectual equals seemed to him " worse than to live as a beast in a herd." Accordingly, in 1512, when Mutian's Httle band — including Eoban Hesse and Hermann Buschius — had reassembled, Crotus was naturally from time to time once more found in their midst.
Among the diverse theories which, as we have mentioned, have at one time or another been mooted with reference to the authorship of the Episto/ac, Crotus's share is seldom in doubt.
There exists, indeed, direct proof of this, apart from the overwhelming internal evidence afifbrded by the satire itself. Let us, for a moment, pass on to the year 1531. During the sixteen years that had elapsed since the first pubHcation of the Epistolae, great events had happened, precursors of yet more significant ones which were shortly to follow. Most men of eminence had been compelled to declare themselves openly upon the side of Luther or of Rome. But there were a few who stiU faced both ways, and a few whose impetuous advocacy of the Reformation had not only been checked but foUowed by reaction. Among the latter w^as Crotus. He states his position quite candidly in a letter to Albrecht of Brandenburg (1531). After admitting that he had for several years been an ardent supporter of the reformers, the writer continues, " But when I perceived that they held not sacred even those things which had been handed down to us from Apos- tolic times, and that one sect did but engender another, it came to my mind that Satan might be using the Scriptures as a stalking-horse, and disseminating evil under the mask of goodness. I was therefore minded to abide in the Church in which I was baptized and nurtured. And notwithstanding that there be faults
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therein, they inay be the sooner repah*ed than that new Cliurch which luith already been rent asunder by schisms, tliough it hath stood but for a few years." In the same year Crotus made formal acknowledgment of this his backshding in An Apolog// privafel/j addres-scd hij J. Crotiis Riiheaitus- to a Friend. This feli into Luther's hands. T^uther promptly sent it to Justus INIenius, witli instructions to attack the apostate without mercy. Justus Menius, an old associate of Mutian and his circle, and now an ardent reformer, was nothing loath. In the spring of 1532 there accordingly appeared, anonymously, A Replij to the Apologij of Crotm Rnhe- anus. In this, Crotus is openly credited with the authorship of the Ej)istoIae — and his present cowardice is contrasted with the spirit with which in that immortal poem" he had attacked the very abuses against which the reformers were contending. Tlie writer makes it quite clear that he speaks from personal recollection, when he reminds Crotus of walks and talks which they had had together while the Ejjistolae were in process of incubation ; and finally he tries to arouse the pride of authorship in Crotus's craven heart by dechu-ing tliat it were better that the Ihad itself should perish than the work whose trenchant wit had done more mischief to the supremacy of Rome than all the grave treatises of the age !
To this flattering impeachment Crotus ne\'er rephed. Judgment goes by default.
In addition to its more permanent members, there flitted ever and anon across the Erfurt circle — keenly sympathising with their aspirations, but too eager and restless to remain for long — one of the strangest and most interesting figures of the day.
TJh-ich von llutten came of a noble Franconian faniily wlio liad for many generations hcld their lieads high among their turbulent and lawless compeers. As bishops, abbots, councillors, statesmen, and — to put it bhmtly — robbers, the Huttens had from time to time shown their abihty and resohition. It was chiefly in the hsts and in the fickl that thcy had won renown, but it must be remembered that in tlie fourteentli and flfteentli centuries " the field" oftcn meant some neigh-
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bouring baron's estate, where rewards more substantial than honour's " mere scutcheon " were to be gained.
Ulrich was born in 1488, at his fathers castle of Steckelberg in Hesse-Nassau, not far from Fulda with its famous Benedictine abbey. So puny and sickly did the child appear, that his father resolved to make a monk of him — although the first-born son — and sent him at the age of eleven to Fulda, to be educated under its stern abbot, and ultimately to take the monastic vows. Ulrich remained at Fulda for six years — a dihgent student, it seems, who made good use of the means of learning there available — and then, in the summer of 1505, almost on the day when Luther voluntarily entered the convent at Erfurt — he ran away. Crotus Rubianus, as we have mentioned, is credited with having planned the lad's escape, and before the year was out the two friends made their appearance as fellow-undergraduates at Cologne. It must be added that Ulrich's father, an austere man — whom to-day we may venture to call pig-headed — seems to have cast off his erring son without further inquiry, and left the sensitive, delicate, and brilliant boy to the far from tender mercies of a turbulent world. In less than a year the two friends tired of the uncongenial surroundings of friar-ridden Cologne, and betook themselves to Erfurt. There they found JNIutian and Eoban Hesse — a nucleus to which they were speedily attracted. But it was impossible for the adventurous Hutten to cast anchor for long, however pleasant the harbour ; " my home is everywhere," he said — " in Germany " he should have added ; for the key to much that is contradictory in Hutten's check- ered career is his lofty patriotism, his burning desire to see Germany a nation, his determination, in particular, to cast ofF the temporal power of Rome, even if this should involve the severance of not a few spiritual bonds.
Frankfort-on-Oder and Leipsic were next honoured by the young enthusiasfs presence, and in 1509, just as he had attained his majority, we find him — sick, desti- tute, but indomitable — seeking admission in foi-ma pauperis to the University of Greifswald. At Greifs-
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wald some wealthy townsfolk, Lotz by name, seem in more senses than one to have taken the stranger in. Old Lotz was a shrewd man of business, and he evi- dently thought that Hutten pei^e would repay with interest any advances made to his son. Pcrhaps the old knight disabused him somewhat brusquely of this idea— at any rate, in a season of bitter frost, Uh-ich fled from Greifswald, was pursued by L()tz's servants, stripped not only of his wallet and his few books, but even of his clothes, and by a miracle reached Rostock, more dead than ahve. L^npleasant though this adven- ture was, it might not have been worth recording had it not led to the pubHcation of Hutten's first important work. This work, the Que?-ele/i, consists of twenty elaborate elegies, describing his scurvy treatment by the Lotzes, and calhng down the vengeance of God and man upon his persecutors. Two of the elegies are dedicated to Crotus Rubianus and Eoban Hesse respec- tively, arid it is noteworthy that the author seems to recognise the bonds of sympathy that were beginning to be estabhshed between the young adherents of the New Learning, by imploring the aid of all German humanists against an attack made upon one of their number. And now we pass over in a few hnes several important years of Hutten's career. The IJfe of Ulricli vou Hntten by Strauss^ is avaihible to Enghsh readers — with some abridgment — in an excel- lent transhition.
We catch an interesting ghmpse of Hutten during this period in the Kpistolae ; for there is no reason to doubt the substantial accuracy of " Master Johann Krabacius' " account of liis brief sojourn among some congenial spirits at \'ienna in tlie summer of 1511, and of the cause of its abrupt termination."
Having become to some extent reconciled to liis father, through the instrumentahty of Crotus, Uh'ich, in the spring of the following year betook himself to Italy, ostensibly with the intention of studying hiw. In Italy he remained for about two years, contriving to be made prisoner by the French and Swiss alternately,
^ D. F. Strauss, Ulrieh von Ilntten, Loiulon, 1874. 2 ¥.. O. V. i. 14.
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INTKODUCTION
and finally joining the forces of the emperor. He found time, however, to write, among other poems, a noteworthy book of political epigrams which he dedi- cated to Maximilian.
On his return to Germany, Hutten, now to be ranked as an accomplished scholar, was honourably received at the court of Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz, and here an important event in his life occurred, his meeting, namely, with the already famous Erasmus, to their mutual satisfaction.
The treacherous murder of Ulrich's cousin Hans, by the Duke of Wiirtemberg, in 1515, almost led to a small war between the duke and the powerful clan of the Huttens ; Ulrich, who was expected by the family " to do something," contributed to the fray sundry Latin orations, with Cicero for his model, and in these he first displayed his powers of fiery and withering denunciation. In 1515 he returned to Italy, and a record of his journey thither assuredly exists in the guise of Wilhelm Lamp's narrative in the Epis- tohie Ohscurorum Virorum,. It may be noted, as a suggestive literary fact, that during a residence at Bologna, for the ostensible purpose of studying law, Hutten found, to his delight, a Greek teacher who initiated him in Lucian and Aristophanes, and opened up to his pupil wider views of satire, and the dazzling possibilities of its rapier thrusts as opposed to the swashing blows of mere invective.
It was during this second sojourn of Hutten in Italy that the first volume of the Epistolae appeared. A copy was sent to him at Bologna, and in a letter written thence (August 22, 1516) to Richard Croke at Leipsic, he exclaims, " Accepi obscuros viros : dii boni, quam non illiberales jocos ! " He goes on to say that he is suspected of being the author, and asks his friend to let him know more about the matter. Never- theless in the " Appendex " to the third edition of the Epistolae contributions by his hand indisputably appear.
In common with other members of the Erfurt sodality, Hutten had taken the keenest interest in the Reuchlin controversy. As early as 1514 he had shown
Ixv e
INTRODUCTION
Erasmus a poem entitled '* The Triumph of ReuchHn " — Triumphus Capnionis — and it appears that Erasmus had advised its being withheld for a time. A poem with the same title appeared in 1518, under the pseu- donym of " Eleutherius Byzenus " ; it may be briefly described as a savage onslaught upon all Reuchlin's foes, and of this it seems certain that Hutten was the author — or, at all events, an author. The Ust of verbal coincidences collected by Hamilton appears in itself sufficient to estabUsh this. It is true that a difficulty is introduced by the fact that Mutian-also saw in 1514 a " Triumph of Reuchlin " by *' Accius Neobius," and this he attributes to Hermann von dem Busche. There can be little doubt that the two documents were drafts of one and the same poem (the change of pseudonym is clearly unimportant), and it is of course by no means improbable that Buschius as well as Hutten had a hand in it. In the twenty-fifth letter of the first series of the Epistolae it is plainly stated that *' unus (poeta) jam composuit unum Ubrum qui vocatur Triumphus Capnionis, et continet multa scandala de vobis." It is to be observed that the poem is here merely spoken of as " composed," not printed or pub- hshed, and, as we have seen, it did not appear until three years later. The somewhat tangled chain of cir- cumstances connected with the Trimnphus at any rate tends to ilhistrate the fact that the German humanists of the day kept in touch with one another on the sub- ject of the great controversy which so keenly interested them, and that their manuscripts were freely handed about, whether for criticism or mutual admiration.
The actual authors of the Epistolae accordingly stand before us to-day in the persons of Crotus Rubianus and Ulrich von Hutten. These are the names tliat~--Hamilton made more than probable in 1831, and that Brecht in 1904 made, as far as cir- cumstances permit, a certainty.
The latter writer has spared no pains in dealing with the abundant materials at his disposal. He has critically dissected known writings of Crotus and Hutten and has laid them side by side with the Epis- tolae : in his enthusiasm he has never hesitated to
Ixvi
INTliODUCTION
vivisect a joke and illustrate its comparative anatomy — he has even laid hands on the Obscure Men them- selves, classifying and labelling them hke ghostly butter- flies. Herr Brechfs work has, in fact, been admirably done, and it need never be done again. We take the case as proved.
To Crotus belongs the origination of the design — if indeed its germ was not rather a spark struck from the casual coUision of many minds — and the first forty-one letters of the first series are probably from his pen alone. To Hutten belong the Appendix to the first series, and the whole of the second series — abounding as it does with Itahan allusions. Once the clue is in the reader's hands, he will have Uttle difiiculty in recognising the respective styles of the two writers. Crotus, as a satirist, is the more humorous and the kindher : if he impales his victims, he at the same time anticipates the gentle Angler's advice to *' treat them as though he loved them." Hutten's contributions breathe on the whole a fiercer spirit. His bitter wit at times stabs Hke a poisoned dagger. He seems in deadly earnest when he is attacking abuses. More than once he ascends the pulpit, and speaks plain words of eloquent remon- strance ; ^ his seriousness of purpose, in fact, peeps out, now and then, a little too obviously.
Nevertheless, we must not pass over in silence Erasmus's distinct assertion^ that the authors of the Epistolae were three in number, and that he knew who they were. This plain statement, which was made
- under circumstances in which it was no longer a point
of deUcacy to dissemble his knowledge," cannot be simply ignored. StiU, while two distinct styles are plainly manifest in the Epistolae, not more than two seem recognisable. This circumstance does not, how- ever, preclude the co-operation of a third person, or of several persons, in sketching ideas on which Letters might be based, or supplying jests and quips to be worked in by the actual authors. But if any confrere did more than this, and might therefore be regarded as completing Erasmus's trio, it was Hermann von dem
' For instance, in E. O. V. ii. 43, 50. ■ Erasmus, Spongia adr. asp. Hutteni.
Ixvii
INTRODUCTION
Busche. The general tenor of this scholar's writings is satirical — often bitterly so — and Ortwin Gratius, his former schoolfellow, had become his pet aversion. Buschius was moreover a keen ReuchHnist when the Epistolae were published, and was an intimate friend of both Hutten and Crotus. It is on such grounds as these, together with certain verbal coincidences, that Hamilton would allow to Buschius a larger share in the work tlian now seems probable.
VIII
A final problem confronts us — What is the actual position of the Episfolac among the factors that pro- duced the ecclesiastical cataclysm known as the Refor- mation ? Were they a factor in any sense ? Were they a cause or an effect ? Even with reference to the Reuclihn controversy, are they to be compared to the brilliant cavahy charge that wins the battle, or to a mere pa?an of victory when all is over ?
To these questions very diverse answers have been forthcoming — and will be forthcoming, until tliat dis- tant day when the distorting prejudices, the antipathies, the hatreds, aroused by religious controversy become as fieeting as the healing antagonisms of war.
Herder has remarked, in an oft-quoted passage, that the satire " eflected for Germany incomparably more than Hudibriis for Enghmd, or Garganfita for France, or the Knight of Ea JMancha for Spain." Before we give our assent to this proposition, or withhold it, it is necessary to inquire wliether any of the works mentioned effected aught for the countries of their origin beyond conferring undying fame upon their hterature. Hudi- hras was little else than a hearty kick bestowed upon a prostrate foe ; as for the Knight of La Mancha, a recent critic has pointed out that not until a century and a half liad passed after Cervantes' death, " did Spain recognise the worth of Don Q;uixofc as a book of anything more than passing entertainment." ' It is not easy to deal witli the influence of Rabehais in a sentence,
' H. E. Wixiis, Li/c o/ Mu/ue/ f/e < 'ervautcs, 1891, p. 167.
Ixviii
INTRODUCTION
but we may agree with M. INIillet that he was, for France, " le pere de la grande comedie," ^ and that but for him Moliere would not have been, without attributing to him any great share in the spread of the Renaissance in his country. But Herder was referring to political rather than to literary influence, and it is therefore possible to agree with him without placing the Epistolae upon a particularly high pedestah
An influence, however, of more definite extent and degree has been claimed for the satire by Hamilton. He roundly declares his opinion that it was European in its influence, and that " it gave the victory to Reuchlin over the Begging Friars, and to Luther over the Court of Rome."
Two quite difFerent things, be it remarked. In the case of Reuchhn versus the Dominicans the issue had been trembhng in the balance for some time ; king and emperor were puUing in difFerent directions, and the prestige of the pope did not at the time appear to be directly or indirectly at stake. A slight push would be sufficient to give victory — if a barren one — to Reuchhn. In our opinion the Epistolae gave the push, and the victory — though a barren one.
But the victory of Luther, if victory it was even in his case, was the issue of a bloodier fray. It was not till six months after the pubHcation of the second series of the Epistolae that Luther cast down the gage at Wittenberg : it was three or four years before the battle was joined.
But did the authors of the satire prepare the ground, and thus make the victory easier ? Luther himself on more than one occasion inferentially acknowledged that in his opinion this is what they had done. And if the fiery monk's strife had been with the Dominicans alone, and not with the whole might of Rome, he would have been right, without qualification. The satire had de- clared that the upholders of the musty methods of scholasticism — with which, be it always remembered, the Church in Germany had disastrously identified her- self — were not the repositories of all learning that they perhaps honestly thought themselves to be — but a pack
1 R. Millet, Rahelais, Paris, 1903.
Ixix
INTJRODUCTION
of egregious dolts : it declared, too, that many of the monks and friars who professed to be not as other men, but able to set at defiance primitive instincts of a healthy animal, were not only very human in their frailties, but, if the truth be said, a trifle swinish ! And the worst part of it was that people had come to believe that there was some truth in the indictment.
The temporal benefits that monasticism had con- ferred upon mankind were forgotten — or rather, to folk of those days were practically unknown. How monks and friars, heedless of discouragement and persecution, had kept alive the feeble sparks of literature and art when they seemed well-nigh perishing in the darkness of barbarism — how they had turned barren marshes into fertile tracts, and made devastated valleys once more laugh and sing with rustling corn — how they had fed the hungry and ministered to the sick — all these good works, and many more, of the pious men of old were forgotten. Can we wonder ? The sordid lives of their debased successors in the sixteenth century veiled the vision of a glorious past. Successors, but — let us always bear in mind — not descendants. In that dis- tinction Hes the key to the failure of monasticism. The stupendous folly of cehbacy had met with its inevitable doom. Year after year, generation after generation, century after century, the Church had lured thousands and tens of thousands of the keenest intellects, the most sympathetic — ay, and the bravest hearts into the cloister, and condemned them to sterile extinction. In ignorance, or defiance, of the laws of heredity, the devisers of monastic rules seem to have dehberately aimed at leaving to the unfittest of each generation obedience to the first recorded divine com- mand to man : " Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth." But Nature's laws cannot be abrogated even by a saintly veto. Slowly, but irresistibly, degeneracy in the classes from which the monasteries were chiefly recruited showed itself reflected within their walls, till drunken dullards reeled in cloisters that large-hearted enthusiasts had once paced. The place of ascetics ever struggling to keep the old Adam in check by fasting, flagellation, and phlebotomy, was taken by monkish
Ixx
INTRODUCTION
Jeshuruns who waxed fat in sloth, and kicked against these wise and salutary rules of their Orders — ever scheming to evade them. It was men such as these who were the objects of the satirists' scorn. But while the writers saw before them an Augean stable which it would task the energies of a reforming Hercules to cleanse, it had not entered into the head of any one of them that it would be better to pull it down.
That Crotus, Hutten, or indeed any of the Erfurt circle, had a definite notion whither the tendencies they were fostering would ultimately lead is altogether improbable. Eoban Hesse lived and died a genial humanist; Mutian retired early from the fray, and, deprived of his revenues during the Peasants' War, passed away orthodox, penniless, and weary of the world ; Crotus, as we have seen, recoiled in something like dismay when he came to the parting of the ways.
Hutten's case, it is true, was difFerent. He threw in his lot with Luther and the reformers heartily enough, and did not draw back — yet it is always clear that poUtical and patriotic, rather than doctrinal, motives actuated him. In his ironical Dedication to Leo X. of Lorenzo Valla's tractate on the Donation of Constantine (1517) Hutten nowhere touches on matters of faith and dogma : his attack is solely directed against the scandalous sale of indulgences, the compositions for frauds, the intolerable taxes, and the hundred and one other ways in which Rome extorted from the merchants and peasants of the Fatherland the wealth she required for the aggrandisement of an extravagant court and an ambitious pontiff.
We may, in fact, conveniently classify the reform- ing tendencies of the age under four heads, overlapping doubtless, but yet distinct in the main. First, a purely intellectual revolt against the bondage of scholasticism, due chiefly to the revival of classical learning : secondly, a moral reaction — by no means the earliest — against monkish profligacy and hypocrisy : thirdly, a political and economic rebellion against the temporal authority of Rome, and her consequent exactions ; lastly, the " Reformation " proper, which practically aimed at
Ixxi
INTRODUCTION
giving the emancipated intellect complete freedom — under the name of the right of private judgment — to deal even with tlie scriptures and the creeds, thus rendering a Church unnecessary.
That the Epistolac aided, directly and dehberately, the first three of these movements must be obvious to their readers : that they indirectly furthered the sub- versive aims of Luther, as well as those of his successors and rivals, is also indisputable — but tliat their authors took this hne of mahce aforethought is more than doubtfuh
Such considerations show us why it is so hard to assign to the Epistohie, with confidence, their true place and function in the German Renaissance. It is because in Germany the triumph of the revival of learning in winning intellectual freedom was, all too soon, ob- scured, if not neutrahsed, by one of its own indirect results. Protestantism, as we now see, was merely a by-product of a vast fermentation ; but the efFects pro- duced by the reformers in their chaotic endeavours, not only to modify the tenets and purify the abuses of an ancient Church, but to dispense with it altogether, no man foresaw. That Church had become — as is the fate of Churches — inextricably entangled in poHtical aflfairs, and the effects of the shattering blows it received are felt in a thousand forms, whether for good or ill, to the present day.
We need not wonder that our Satire is lost to view during forty years of bhnd and bitter strife. Wit and humour are swept out of sight,
"'Mid clouds enveloped of polemic dust, Which showers of blood seem rather to incite Than to allay. Aiiathemas are hurled From both sides ; veteran thundcrs (the brute test Of truth) ai e met by fuhiiinations ncw — Tartarcan flags are caught at, and unfurled — Friends strike at friends — the flying sliall pursue — And Victory sickens, ifrnoraiit where to rest ! "
But let us not confuse with mere hoarse and inco- herent battle-cries a work of hterary art which belongs, after all, to the fair morn, and not to tlie day of gloom and agony that it ushered in. Rather let us be content
Ixxii
INTRODUCTION
to regard the Epistolae as the mirthful trumpet-blast heard within the ramparts of Medievalism, that an- nounced, if it did not cause, their impending fall. As the throes of Gargantua's birth were heralded by revelry and glee, so the joyous spirit of the Renaissance in Germany was embodied amidst peals of inextinguish- able laughter.
Ixxiii
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
AD VENERABILEM VIRUM
MAGISTRUM ORTUINUM GRATIUM
DAVENTRIENSEM COLONIAE AGRIPPINAE BONAS LITTERAS DOCENTEM :
Variis ^ locis ^ Temporibus missae : ac demum in volumen coactae
[VOLUMEN PRIMUM]
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM
YIRORUM
•E TH03IAS LANGSCHNEYDERIUS, bacca-
laurius theologiae formatus quamvis indigiius Sal.
d. supereoccellenti necuon scientijicissimo viro domino
Ortvino Gratio Daventriensi poetae, oratori, et
philosoplio, necnon theologo, et plus si vellet 5
QUONI AM (iit dicit Aristoteles) dubitare de singulis non est inutile, et quia legitur in Eccrs: " proposui m animo meo quaerere et investigare de omnibus quae sunt sub sole : " igitur ego proposui mihi movere unam quaestionem in qua dubium habeo ad dominationem 10 vestram.
Sed prius protestor per deum sanctum, quod non volo tentare dominationem seu venerabihtatem vestram : sed
^ T. Langs. : Bocking lias devoted
much research and ingenuity to an
attempt to identify the Obscure Men
witli real personages. Plxcept in a
few instauces, however, his results
are inconclusive, and it is far from
certain that personal allusions are as
a rule iutended. See ii. .58.
- ' forniutus : one who had com- pleted the prescribed course on the "Sentences" (of Peter Lombard),
-and was awaiting his licence. This degree still survives at the Univer- sity of Coimbra. Rashdall, Univer- sities of Europe in the Middle Ages, 1895, ii. lOG. The statutes of the University of Erfurt ordained that a Bac. form. sliould remain in resi- dence for two years, " in opponendo et respoudendo," before obtaining his licence. J. C. H. Weissenborn, Acten der Erfurter Universitiit . Halle, 1881, Thl. ii. p. 57; and Thurot, De r organisation de f Enseignment dans PUniversite de Puris, au iwiyen agc, Paris, 1850, p. 149.
^ scient. : " Heliandus . . . vir
solers, scientificus, et disertus.
{Du Cange.) Cf. Forcellini, s.v.
^ et plus : a parallel may be found in the Timon of Luciau, c. 52, where Demeas declares Timon to be the greatest of orators, "/cat rd 6.Wa. irdvTa birbaa &v edeXoi."
^ Arist. : " Fortasse autem diffi- cile sit de ejusmodi rebus confidenter declarare : iiisi saepe pertractata siut : dubitare autem de singulis uon erit iuutile." A. M. S. Boetii, editio prima iu Categorias Aristo- telis, Venetiis, 1499, p. 50. (Categ. vii. adjin.)
^ EccL: Eccles. i. 13; "fiunt." y^tilg.
^ unam: merely "a"; very fre- quent in the E. (). V.
1' tentare : to examiue ; cf. '■' temptamen vel examen," Die Statutenbi/cher der Universitiit Leip- zig, 1861, 331. "He seide this thing, temptinge him." Johyi vi. 6. (WycL)
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
ego cupio cordialiter et afFectuose quod instruatis me
15 super dubium illud. Quia scriptum est in evangelio : " Noli tentare dominum deum tuum," quia, ut dicit Salomon : " a deo est omnis sapientia ; " sed vos dedistis mihi omnem scientiam quam ego habeo, et omnis scientia bona est origo sapientiae : ergo vos estis mihi quodam-
20 modo deus, quia dedistis mihi initium sapientiae, loquendo poetice.
Est autem illa quaestio sic introducta : Dudum fuit hic prandium Aristotelis, et doctores, hcentiati, necnon magistri fuerunt in magna laetitia, et ego fui etiani ibi ;
25 et bibimus pro primo ferculo tres haustus de malvatico, et pro prima vice imposuimus semellas recentes, et fecimus offam, et deinde habuimus sex fercula de carnibus, et galHnis, et caponibus, et unum de piscibus ; et procedendo de uno ferculo in ahud, semper bibimus vinum Kotz-
30 borgense, Rhenense, et cerevisiam Embeccensem, nec- non Thurgensem et Neuburgensem ; et magistri fuerunt bene contenti, et dixerunt quod d. Magistri novelU bene expediverunt se, et cum magno honore.
^^ Evang. : Matt. iv. 1 , " iion
temtabis." Vulg.
" Salo. : "omnis sap. a Domino Deo est." Vnlg.
^* praiidium Arist. : an Inception banquet given by the iiewly made Mastere t(j tlie other graduates. The Statutes of the University of Leipsic contain several refereiices to tliis festivity. For a sumptuary ordinaiice issued in 1496, regulating the quality and quantity of the viands and wines, see Die tStafufenhiicher der Univ. Leipzig, Leipsic, 18(51, p. 25. The juuior students seem to have beeii in the liabit of intercepting '^cibaria et potagia while being conveyed to the table ; and a warning to the undergraduates against interfering with the attendants was issued in 1534. md. p. 147.
^® seni. recent. : " hot rolls," .seinella being bread made of the fiiiest flour ; Lat. siuiila, fine flour. Cf. " Simnels " and "Simnel-cakes."
^' offain : a "sop" for the wine. Cf. " Thanne he taketh a sop in fine clarree." Chaucer, Merch. Tale, 699.
^* procedendo, &c. Cf. " Le tout
associe de breuvaige sempiternal."
Rabelais, Panfagruel, iv. 59.
^' Kot!:::borgense, of Kotzschenbroda, a village near Dresden.
^" Einheccenscin, of Eimbeck, or Einbeck, iii Hanover ; still noted for its beer.
^^ Thnrgenseni , of Torgau, in Prussian Saxony, on tlie Elbe.
^'^ Nenhurgenseni. Naumburg beer, however, seems to have had its de- fects. Naumburg beer is very good," wrote Luther to his wife in 154G, "though I fancy tlie pitch fills my chest with plilegni. The devil has s])oilt all the beer in tlie world with liis pitch, and the wiiie with his brimstone." Li/e qf Luther, by Julius Kdstlin, London, 1895, p. 487.
In the De Generihns Ehriosoriini {Francofurti ad Moen., 1(543, p. 454) we are warned that Naumburg beer injures the sight. A liiiit of tbc supposed cause may l)e gathered from (ierar(le's llerhall, " Dariiel hurteth the eies and maketli them dini, if it happen in corn either for bread or drink." Cf. Ovid, Fasti, i. 691.
1.1] THOMAS LANGSCHNEYDERIUS
Tunc magistri liilarificati inceperunt loqui artifici- aliterdemagnisquaestionibus. Et unus quaesivit, utrum 35 dicendum " magister nostrandus " vel " noster magis- trandus," pro persona apta nata ad fiendum doctor in theologia, sicut pronunc est in Coionia mellifluus pater frater Tiieodericus de Ganda, ordinis Carmelitarum venerandissimus legatus almae universitatis Coloniensis, 40 providentissimus artista, pliilosoplius, argumentator, et tlieologus supereminens. Et statim respondit magister Warmsemmel lansmannusmeiis, qui est Scotista subtil- issimus, et Magister XATTTannorum, et fuit tempore suo pro gradu magisterii bis reiicitus, et ter impeditus, 45 et tamen stetit ulterius quoad fuit promotus pro honore universitatis, et intelligit bene facta sua, et habet multos discipulos, parvos et magnos, senes cum iunioribus, et cum magna maturitate dixit, et tenuit quod dicendum est " nostermagistrandus," quod sit una dictio : quia 50 "magistrare" significat "magistrum facere," et " bac- calauriare" " baccalaurium facere," et "doctorare" " doctorem facere": et hinc veniunt isti termini "magis- trandus, baccalauriandus, et doctorandus." Sed quia
'* ////ort^ca^?; the only instance. tlie Tlieological Faculty only. H.
^* artificialiter : " Scholastically," Glareanus, in 3 514, assures Reuchlin
in accordance with the rules of art. that the University, as a whole, was
Cf. Recorde, 6'r. Arts: ^' You have not in opposition to him — " unless
answered the question very arti- the theolojjians constitute the Uni-
ficiallv ; and truly I conimend you." versity." lipp- IH- T'??*. ad lieuchl. (N. E'. l). i. 474.) ' " drtista: "master of the liberal
^* Theod. de G. : Theodoric of arts." Urquhart(7^«/ye/aeV, ii. 10) trans-
Gouda — not of Ghent (Gaude, Gan- lates the obsolete French " artiens "
davum) as niight be supposed — an as " Artists, or IMasters of Arts." ignorant Carmelite monk, of whom *^ Warmsemniel : \it. " Hot-cake."
H. Cornelius Agrippa wrote : "Of " laHsnianiuis: " my compatriot."
like clay they moukled another in- Cf. " Stand l)y me, countryman . . .
strument ; an untaught illiterate I am your own native landsman."
fellow — crafty and adroit withal, and (^uentin JHtrirard, chap. vi. therein tlie fitter for their machina- " Scotista : follower of Duns
tions — a certain C^armelite nionk', Scotus ; as opposed to follovver of
who, merely because he was useful in Thomas Aquinas. Scotists and
spreading those calumnies of theirs Thomists now in peace remain."
against ReuchlinthatallChristendom Pope, Ess. on Crit., 444. wots of, tlie Cologne Diviues rewarded *^ reiicitus: for reiectus"^\o\ig\\eA."
with a Theologian's crown (Theo- " »///)erf//j/* ; '^ Si autem negligens
logica sua aureola remunerarunt)." quis omnino fuerit . . . sit inipedi-
Ej)p. vii. 2(i. Not to be confused tus." Die Stat. der Univ. Leip. (ut
with tlie physician Tlieod. Gerardus, snpra), p. 443.
also of (iouda, and almost a contem- ^" una dictio : " one word," the
porary. numeral here being correctly used.
- " legatus : not of the Univ., but of ^^ termini : "technical terms."
EPISTOLAE OBSCUKORUM YIRORUM
55 doctores in sacra theologia non dicuntur doctores, sed
propter humilitatem et etiam sanctitatem, et propter
difFerentiam nominantur seu appellantur magistri nostri,
quia stant in fide cathoUca in loco domini nostri lesu
Christi qui est fons vitae ; sed Christus fuit nostrorum
60 omnium magister ; ergo ipsi appellantur magistri nostri, quia habent nos instruere in via veritatis, et deus est veritas, quapropter merito vocantur magistri nostri, quia omnes nos scilicet Christiani debemus et tenemur audire praedicationem eorum, et nulkis debet dicere
65 contra eos, ex quo sunt omnium nostrum magistri. Sed " nostro-tras-trare " non est in usu, et neque legitur in vocabulario Exquo, neque in CathoKcon, neque in Breviloquo, neque in Gemmagemmarum, qui tamen habet multos terminos : Ergo debemus dicere " noster
70 magistrandus," et non " magister nostrandus."
Tunc Magister Andreas Delitzsch, qui est multum
" mag. nnst. : " They take theni-
selves in a maiier for GofFs peres^
wheu they are saluted solemnly by
the name of niaister doctourSj or
Magister noster : . . . and therefore
they afFyrme it to be a muclie great
oifencej if one doe vvrite Magistkr
NosTKR otherwise than with great
letters, that and if ye tourne the
words, saiying noster Magi.ster, in
stecde of Magister noster, thjin all at
ones ye disorder the majestee of the
Tlieological name." Erasmus, Enc.
Moriae (CliaUoner^s transl.).
®' Vopahulario, &c. The work usually cited as the Vocafnilarius E,v Quo is a Latin-German vocabulary, <rompiled from the Catholicon (r. iiifra), and other works, and first printed in 1407-
" Catfiolicon. A Latin Grammar aud Dictionary, compiled by Joannes Balbus de Jainia (Giovauni da (ieuova) in five ])arts. It was based on tlie Magnae Deriratlones of Ilugutio, or Uguccione, of Pisa.
Uguccioue's book (which was uever printed, though MSS. are uumerous) was in its turu based on tHe Origines of Isidore of Scville, aud the Ele- mentariuni Doctrinae Nurliiiientniii of Papia (Papias) the Lombard. (P. J. Toyubee, Jiante.^ Ohligations to the Mag. Deriv. of Uguccione of Pisa, Romauia, October 1897.)
Tlie edition of the Cathol. pub.
at Mentz in 1460 is one of the earliest
of printed books. In an eloquent
colophon the printer draws atten-
tion to tlie novelty of the pro-
cess employed, iu whicli ueither
" reed, stile, nor peu " was made
use of.
- Breriloqao : this lexicon, for-
merly attributed to Guarinus of Veroua, was tlie work of Reuchlin. S. Berger {De Clossariis . . . qui- busdam Med. Aevi . . . Dissertatio Critica, Paris, 1879, p. 30) remarks that it wouUl have been scarcely credible that such a " preposterous lexicographer " could have been Reuchlin himself, had not Melan- clithon vouched for the fact. We must bear iu mind, liowever, that Reuchliu was only tvveuty years old when the Breciloquus was published, aud although many of its ety- mologies are sufficiently absurd, it is not merely a Scriptural, but a classical vocabulary.
®* The (icinma Gciiiiiiarum was a popular Latin - Gerinan lexicon, numerous editions of which had been publislied before 1515.
" Andr. Delitzsch. Andreas Epistates, or Delicianus, was rector of the University of Leipsic in 1513 aud 1519. (See note, 1. 87, inf.)
I ij THOMAS LANGSCHNEYDERIUS
subtilis et pro parte est poeta, et pro parte est artista, medicus et iurista, et iam legit ordinarie Ovidium in metam, et exponit omnes fabulas allegorice et litteraliter, et ego fui auditor eius, quia exponit multum fundament- 75 aliter, et etiam legit in domo sua Quintilianum et luven- cum, et ipse tenuit oppositum magistro warmsemel, et dixit quod debemus dicere "magisternostrandus. ' Quia sicut est difFerentia inter " magister noster," et " noster magister," ita etiam est difFerentia inter " magister so nostrandus," et " noster magistrandus " : Quia mgf nr dicitur doctor in theologia, et est una dictio, sed " noster magister " sunt duae dictiones, et sumitur pro unoquoque magistro in quacunque scientia liberali, seu mechanica manuali seu capitaH. Et non obstat quod 85 " nostro-tras-trare " non est in usu, q possumus fingere nova vocabula, et ipse allegavit super hoc Horatium.
Tunc magistri multum admiraverunt eius subtilita- tem, et unus portavit ei unum cantharum cerevisiae Neubergensis, et ipse dixit : " ego volo expectare, sed 90 parcatis mihi," et tetigit birretum, et risit hilariter, et portavit magistro warmsemel, et dixit : " Ecce domine magister, ne putetis quod sum inimicus vester," et bibit in uno anhehtu ; et magister warmsemel respondit ei fortiter pro honore Slesitarum. Et magistri omnes 95 fuerunt laeti, et postea fuit pulsatum ad vesperas.
- " Ordinarii lectures were delivered This quotation is attributed to De-
before nooii ; opposed to "extra- litscb with peculiar propriety. There
ordinary" and "cursory" lectures, is a copy iu the Brit. IVIus. of : Quiiiti
which were less formal, and given at Horatii Flacci Venusini Jnstitutiones
-various hours. Pa;taruni \sic~\ ad Fisones (s. l. et a).
"* allegorice, &c. See i. 28. This has, by way of preface, Dicolon
" (^iintilianum, &c. The Fe In- Distrophon .M. Andree Epistatis l>e-
stitutione Oratoria Libri XII. of litiani ad Lectorem, aud at the end
M. Fabius Quintilianus was several some verses headed M. Andreas
tinies printed before 1513, as well Epistates Delitianus in Antipoetas.
as the Declaniationes, now regarded
asspurious. Caius Vettius Aquilinus ^^ Admiraverunt : Act. for Dep.
Jnvencus, "the Christian Virgil," forms are common in the E. O. V.,
wrote a Gospel History in 3233 hexa- but uot consistently.
meters, under the title of C. V. A. J. »i u^y.etum : biretta, " college-
Ilispani Freshyteri Evangelicae His- >» toriae Lih. IV. (Migne, Patrol.
Cursus , iom. idyi.) ^^ S/esitarum. The four " nations "
" Horatium: " Et nova fictaque at Leipsic University were usually
habebunt verba fidem, si nuper known as the Bavarian, the Polish,
Graeco fonte cadent, parce the Saxon, and the Misnian. See
detoi-ta." Rashdall, Cniv. of Eur. in the Mid.
De Arte Poet., 52. Ages, ii. 256.
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIKORUM
Quapropter rogo excellentiam vestram quod velitis mihi exponere mentem vestram, quia vos estis multum profundus : et ego dixi protunc, " magister Ortvinus
100 debit mihi bene scribere veritatem, quia fuit praeceptor meus in Daventria, quando fui tertiarius."
Etiam debetis mihi certificare quomodo stat in guerra inter vos et doctorem loannem ReuchUn. Quia intellexi quod iste ribaldus (quamvis sit doctor et
105 iurista) nondum vult revocare verba sua. Et mittatis etiam adhuc semel mihi librum magistri nostri Arnoldi de Thungaris, quem articulatim composuit, quia est multum subtilis, et tractat de multis profunditatibus in theologia. Valete, et non habeatis pro malo, quod
110 scribo vobis ita socialiter, quia vos dixistis mihi olim quod amatis me sicut frater, et vultis me promovere in omnibus, etiam si debeatis mihi concedere magnam pecuniam.
Datum in Lyptzick.
II
•E MAGISTER lOANNES PELLIFEX S. D.
31. Oi^tvino Gratio
SALUTEM amicabilem et servitutem incredibilem. Venerabilis domine magister. 5 Quia, ut dicit Aristot' in praedicamentis, de singulis dubitare non est inutile : quapropter est una res quae
r ^"^ certificare : for certiorem facere, the Faculty of Arts at Cologne, aiui
T yoii miglit let me know." lield a prebend at the Cathedial,
^"^ (juerra, " dispute " ; common iu which he resigned on being presented
Med. Lat. to one at Liege by his patron, and
^*'* rihaldus : here a mere term of former pupil, the bishop of the
abuse, " blackguard." For a dis- latter see. The derisive attacks
cussion of this curious word, see T. made upon von Tongern in the
Wright, Political Songs of England, K. O. V. are bitter and unscrupulous.
188'J {Notes). He died at Liege^ L540, and was buried
^*'* Arnoldi: of Arnold von Ton- in the Cathedral, where his epitaph
gern, apart from his connection with may still be read.
the Reuchlin controversy, we know io7 articulatim : i.e. in the form of
but little. Variously known as " Articuli." See Introd.
Arnoldus Luydius, A. Tungris ,,, ,oncedere : i.e. by wav of bribes
(lungans, Thungaris), he was ^^ ^^^^,^^^
born at, or near, longres, m what i • •
is now the Belgian province of Lim- ' <^'"/^ •' currier.
bourg. In 1494 he became Dean of * Arist. Cf. i. 1.
8
1.2]
lOANNES PELLIFEX
facit mihi magnam conscientiam. Nuper fui in missa
Franckfurdensi. Tunc ivi cum uno baccalaurio per
plateam ad forum, et obviaverunt nobis duo viri qui
apparuerunt satis honesti, quantum ad aspectum, et lo
habuerunt nigras tunicas, et magna caputia cum liri-
pipiis. Et deus est testis meus quod putavi quod sint
duo magistri nostri : et feci ipsis reverentiam, de-
ponendo birretum ; tunc ille baccalaurius stimulavit
me, et dixit: "Amore dei quid facitis ? isti sunt i5
ludaei, et vos deponitis birretum vestrum ante eos : "
tunc ego ita fui perterritus, ut si vidissem unum
diabolum. Et dixi ; " domine baccalaurie, parcat mihi
dominus deus, quia feci ignoranter. Sed quid putatis,
utrum sit magnum peccatum ? " 20
Et primo dixit quod videtur sibi, quod est peccatum mortale, quia comprehenditur sub idolatria, et est contra primum praeceptum ex decem praeceptis, quod est "unum crede deum." Quia quando ahquis facit honorem ludaeo, vel pagano quasi esset Christianus, 25 tunc facit contra Christianitatem, et apparet esse met
' iiiissa : Germ. Messe ; fair, or
market-day : orig-iually used iii the
sense of " Mass," the vvord came to
meaii the festival of a saint on vvhicli
a solemn mass vvas celebrated (e.g.
Martinmas)^ and then a fair, fre-
quently held on festival days — vvit-
uess Bartholomew Fair^ famous in
Englaud for seveu huudred years.
Cf. Du Cange, s.v. : " Sed et iude
Germauis Missae nomen uundinis
publicis quae ad alicujus Sancti fes-
tum vel Ecclesiam celebrari soleut :
verbi gratia Francfurtermisse."
^^ liripipiis : they were " liripi- piouated," like Master Jauotus de Bragmardo (Rabelais, Garg., i. 18). The exact nature of tlie " liripipium " has beeu variously described by glossarists^ and varied at differeut epochs. Menage absurdly derived the vvord from cleri ephippiiuii (see N. E. D.). Du Cauge deiines it as epomis (i.e. eVcojutV, a shoukler-strap) — " uude Belgis Liire-Piipe, seu potius k)nga fascia, vel cauda caputii." It here means a long appendage of the hood, that hung dovvn vvhen the latter vvas throvvn back, but vvas used to secure it vvhen drawn over the
head. For au illustration, see W.
Fairholt, Costiiiue in England, 1840,
p. .532.
^^ peccatuni niortale. It vvas uot until the Xllth Cent. that a serious attempt vvas made to distiuguish mortal from veuial ,sius, but theuce- forvvard the Schoolmen exercised a vast amount of iugeuuity vvith refer- euce to the matter. Thomas of Wakleu, in response to AViclifs challeuge upou the subject, said, "Notliingis clearer than the diifer- ence betvveeu them, uothing more obscure than the line of demarca- tiou." While to those vvho held that "an iufiuity of veuial sins did not amount to a single morfcil sin," it vvas clearly of the utmost import- ance to distinguish them accurately, insuperable difficulties arose, uot only from diversities of classification on the part of autliorities, but also from the incalculable effects of exteuuatiug, or aggravatiug, circumstances iu re- moving a sin from oue category to the other. For an exhaustive his- torical account of the vvhole question, see H. C. Lea, Hist. of Aiiric. ConJ. and Indulgcnces, vol. i.
EPISTOLAE OBSCUflORUM yiRORUM
> ludaeus, vel paganus, et tunc ludaei et pagani dicunt :
y Ecce nos sumus de via meliori, quia Christiani faciunt
nobis reverentiam ; et nisi essemus de via meliori,
30 non facerent nobis reverentiam ; " et sic fortificantur )in sua fide, et despiciunt fidem Christianam, et non permittunt se baptizare.
Tunc ego respondi : " Est bene verum, quando aliquis facit scienter ; sed ego feci cum ignorantia ; et
35 ignorantia excusat peccatum. Quia si scivissem quod fuissent ludaei, et fecissem eis honorem, tunc fuissem dignus ad comburendum, quia esset haeresis. Sed neque verbo, neque opere, sicut scit deus, aliquid novi, quia putavi quod essent magistri nostri." Tunc ipse
40 dixit, quod tamen est adhuc peccatum, et dixit ; " Ego etiam semel ivi per ecclesiam, ubi stat unus ludaeus liofneus ante salvatorem, et habet malleum in manu ; et ego putavi quod est sanctus Petrus, et haberet clavem in manu, et flexi genua, et deposui birretum. Tiic vidi
45 quod est ludaeus, et etiam paenituit me : tamen in confessione cum confitebar in monasterio praedica- torum, dixit mihi confessor meus quod est peccatum mortale, quia debemus respicere ; et dixit quod non possit me absolvere, nisi haberet potestatem episcopalem,
50 quia esset casus episcopahs. Et dixit quod si Hbenter fecissem, et non ignoranter, tunc fuisset casus papalis. Et sic fui absolutus, quia habuit potestatem episco- palem. Et per deum ego credo, quod si vultis salvare conscientiam vestram, oportet facere confessionem
55 oflficiaH consistorii. Et ignorantia non potest excusare
^^ ignorantia exvnsat. Tlie diiFerent or the Holy See respectively. (Lea,
degrees and aspects of "ignorance" op. vit., i. 312.) St. Antouino,
are to be carefuUy distinguished : ('onfessionale (1450), gives a list of
Igywratio simjile.v, where no suspicion tliirty-six papal reserved cases and
existed of the existence of a law or fifty - seven ej^iscopal, thus leaving
precept ; ig. jirohabilis, resulting from very few for the priest.
vvrong information given toan honest ^ offiviali vonsist. : " Le nom vnn-
inquirer ; ig. rinvihilis, where due dili- sistoriuiu . . . dans rEglise on se
genceininquiryliasnotbeen used; i^. servit d'abord de cette expression
affevtata, where ignorance is deliber- pour designer le lieu ou les pretres
ately chosen with a sinful object ; and se reunissaient comme conseillers de
ig. (rassaaut.s'iipina,a\\udedtohe\ow, Teveque ; puis on rappli<|ua a La re-
L 59. See Lea, op. vit., ii. 25L iniion elle-meme dans laquelle un
" casns episvopalis. " Reserved Prince de rpjglise delibe'rait avec les
cases" were sins f(n- which the parisb dignitairesdeson eglisesurdesaffaires
priesthadnorigbttograntabsolution, importantes." Wetzer und VVelte,
and were ranked as "episcopal" or J)ivt. Encgvt. rle la Theologie Cath.,
"papal" when reserved to thebishop tom. v., Paris, 1859.
10
I. 2]
lOANNES PELLIFEX
illiid peccatuni, quia deberetis respicere ; et ludaei
habent semper unuui gilvum circulum ante in pallio,
quem deberetis vidisse, sicut et ego vidi : ergo est igno-
rantia crassa et non valet ad absolutionem peccati."
Sic pro tunc dixit mihi ille baccalaurius. 6o
Sed quia vos estis profundus theologus, rogo vos devote necnon humiliter, quatenus dignemini mihi solvere praedictam quaestionem, et scribere an est peccatum mortale an veniale, simplex casus an episco- palis an papalis. g5
Et etiam scribatis mihi an videtur vobis quod cives in Franckfordia recte faciunt, quod habent illam consue- tudinem, quod permittunt ludaeos incedere in habitu magistrorum nostrorum : mihi videtur quod non est rectum et est magnum scandalum, quod non est 7o difFerentia inter ludaeos et magistros nostros ; etiam est derisio sacrosanctae Theologiae. Et serenissimus dominus imperator nullo modo deberet [pati], quod unus ludaeus qui est sicut canis, et est inimicus Christi, debet incedere sicut doctor sacrae theologiae. 75
^' gilrnm circuiuw: n. circular yellow
patcli. The Jews liad been obliged,
tliroughout ^Vesteru Europe, to wear
a distinctive garb or badge since the
Xlllth Cent. See Du Cange, s.v.
Judnei. " llomae generale Concilium
(Lateran), a Papa Innocentio cele-
bratur . . . Judaeis indixit Signum
circulare in pectoribus bajulare^ ut
inter ipsos et C'hristianos discretio
seu divisio vestium haberetur."
Chron. Rothmagense , 1215. Some-
times the badge had to appear on
tlie back as well as the breast. In
a Synod held in Paris in 1269 it
was ordered that Jews, of both
sexes, should wear " unani rotam
de filtro [felt], seu panno croceo,
iu superiori veste consutam ante
pectus et retro ad eorundum
cognitionem." Stat. Si/n. Odoni.^i
Ep., Paris, 1260. In England the
patches were rectangular. In Rynier's
Foedera, ii. 83, there is a letter
from Edward I. (May 24, 1277) to
Hugo de Digneneton ordering all
Jews, from the age of seven, to bear
upon their outer garments a badge
- • ad modum duarum tabularum de
feltro croceo, longitudinis videlicet
sex pollicum et latitudinis trium
pollicum."
^* crussa. Ignorance is " crassa et supina" wheu one ^not deliberately, but tlirough mere negligence, is ignorant of that which he can and ought to know." Ant. Diana, Sumnia Diana, Antwerp, 1659, p. 3-33.
'" scandalum. The grievance tliat Jews were permitted to dress like Doctors of Divinity was an old one. In 1248 we are told that ^' the Jews of the diocese of Maguelonne [near Montpellier] and the surrounding districts aifect large round capes after the fashion of the priests, so that it often happens that travellers and strangers pay them the respect due to clerics." Reg. d'Inn. IV., ed. Berger, No. 4123. John Evelyn, Diarg, May 6, 1645, relates a closely parallel mischance that befell a dig- uitary of the Church : "Tlie Jewes in Ilome wore red hatts till the Car- dinal of Lions, being short-sighted, lately saluted one of them, thinking him to be a cardinal, as he passed by his coach ; on which an order was made that they should use only the yellow colour."
11
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YmOJRUM
Etiam mitto vobis unum dictamen magistri Bern. Plumilegi, vulgariter Federleser, quod misit mihi ex Wittenpurck. Vos enim novistis eum, quia fuit olim vester constans in Daventria ; et dixit mihi quod ^o fecistis ei bonam societatem, et ipse adhuc est bonus socius et commendat vos laudabihter : et sic valete in nomine domini.
Datum Lyptzick.
III
€[ M. BERNHARDUS PLUMILEGUS
Magistro Ortvino Gratio, S. D. P.
" 1\/rUS miser est antro qui sohim clauditur uno." jLyi. Sic etiam possum dicere de me cum suppor- 5 tatione, venerabihs vir, quia essem pauper si haberem tantum unum amicum, et quando ille unus superdaret me, tunc non haberem ahum, qui me tractaret amica- bihter.
Sicut nunc quidam poeta hic qui vocatur Georius Sibutus, et est unus ex poetis saecularibus, et legit pubhce in poetria, et est alias bonus socius. Sed sicut vos scitis, isti poetae quando non sunt etiam theologi
^ dictamen: i.e. tlie succeeding humauist and poet of Vienna. Seeii.
letter, i. 3, apparently. 51, n. He was a pupil of Conradus
^ Plumilegns. Cf. i. 2. B. P. Celtes. Sibutus styled himself Ihm-
vulgariter Federleser . . . ex VVit- pimis, which Bocking ingeniously in-
tenpurck." Feder leser, Wt. " ia&ihev- terprets as meaning " of Tannroda "
picker." Allusion unknown. (a village near AVeimar), Tannroda
' Mus, &c. Paulus Olearius, meaning " pine-clearing;' aiid Dari-
De fide conruhluarum in Sacerdotes, P!'ius being compounded of 5^P«v aiid
Francofurti ad Moenum, 1643 (p. 538). -?f ".'*• . ^ l"^ ^ybrid is paralleled by
Cf. "Est ist eine schlecte Maus die ^^'^'«';"'^ >-e. o/6m// + 6pos for Witten-
nur Ein Loch weiss." Zingerle, Der ^f\f \" ^^^^" Sibuti Lartpmi Poete
Deutschen Sprichworter im tlittelalter, "^ Oratorrs laureati: bilmda m Alhx-
I. V., Wien, 18G4 (p. 100). For many «^"" tUustratam ot wluch tl.ere is a
forms of this proverb, see Reinsberg- ««P^ '\^^'^ .^l'^' Museum. (By
Diiringsfeld, Sprichwiirter, Leipsic, ^7"V^ ^^",n^"1 for Danpmi in the
1872-5 vol i «192 Catal.) Ihe best known work ot
. ' ■ ■ ^\, ' . „ Sibutus is, perhaps, liis Ars Memora-
cum supp. : by your lavour, a a-
deprecatory phrase occurring several lo" ^ -^ , .. jectures publicly on."
times .11 the t. O V. (i. 46 ; u. 34, n i,onus socius: "a boon-com-
ctc), butnotfoundelsewheremthis pa„i„n." Cf. "As they call good
sense. Cf. Du C ange, s. v. fellowes now a daves, which are those
^ rT'eoraw, for Georgius : "Joris." that can drink"best." Meet. oj
^" G. Sibutus was a polemical Gallants at Ord., IQO^k Q^. ¥,.1).),
12
10
13] BERNHARDUS PLUMILEGUS
sicut vos, semper volunt reprehendere alios, et parvi- pendunt Theologos.
Et semel in una zeccha in domo sua, quando bibimus i5 cerevisiam Turgensem, et sedimus usque ad tertiam horam. Et ego fui modicum ebrius, quia illa cerevisia ascendit mihi in caput, tunc fuit ibi unus qui ahas non stetit bene mecum, et ego apportavi ei unum medium cantarum, et ipse accepit. Sed postea non vohiit mihi 20 simile facere.
Et ter cavisavi eum, et non voluit mihi respondere, et sedit cum silentio et nihil dixit : tunc ego cogitavi : " Ecce iste ahas spernit te, et est superbus, et semper vult te confundere." 25
Et fui commotus in ira mea, et accepi cantarum et percussi ei ad caput. Tunc ille poeta fuit iratus super me, et dixit quod fecissem rumorem in domo sua, et dixit quod deberem exire de domo sua in nomine diaboH. 30
Tunc ego respondi : " Quid tunc est, si estis inimi- cus meus. Ego bene habui ita malos inimicos sicut vos estis, et tamen mansi prae eis. Quid tunc est etiam si estis poeta. Ego habeo etiam poetas qui sunt amici mei et sunt bene ita boni sicut vos ; ego 35 bene merdarem in vestram poetriam. Quid creditis ? Putatis quod ego sum stultus, vel quod sum natus super arborem sicut poma ? "
Tunc vocavit me asinum, et dixit quod ego nunquam vidi unum poetam. Et ego dixi : " tu met es asinus in 40 cute tua ; ego vidi bene plures poetas quam tu ; " et dixi de vobis et de magistro nostro Sotphi in bursa Kneck,
-■ ^^ zecrha : " a driiiking - bout " ; Blasfemyiige aiid othes the pot
" Nullum membrum uuiversitatis about the pate."
in loco suspecto zechas teueat ; " — Barclay, The Ship of Fools,
Siat. Univ. Tuhingensis ; Urk. zur ii. 71 (187-1).
Gesch. der Unifersitiit Tiihingen, 55, ^' Natus, &c. C'f. ii. 19.
421. *^ Sotphi: Gerard of Zutphen,
Ttirgensem. See i. 1, n. ?««P^' «^ the University of Cologne,
-^ ' 1505. See i. 19.
• '^^ cavisavi : "challenged" hini, ^^- Kneck : or, rather, "Kuijk";
and thus drew his attention to the oneof thehostelsatCologne(in fornial
breach of good manners. (Peculiar documents, Bursa Cucana), named in
to the E. O. \.) honour of a former rector, Johann
^® canta.: Cuick. A " Bursa" was a house in-
" Anone begynneth brawlynge and habited by students^ under the super-
debate vision of a graduate ; a hostel.
13
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROKUM VIRORUM
qui composuit glosam notabilem, et de domino llutgero licentiato Theologiae in bursa Montis ; et sic exivi
45 domum suam, et adhuc sumus inimici. Quapropter rogo vos vahde cordialiter quatenus velletis mihi semel scribere unum dictamen, tunc ego volo huic poetae et ahis ostendere, et volo gloriari quod estis amicus meus, et estis bene mehor poeta quam ille.
50 Et praecipue scribite mihi quid faciat dominus loannes PfefFerkorn, an adhuc habet inimicitiam cum doctore Reuchhn, et an vos adhuc defenditis eum sicut fecistis, et mittite mihi unam novitatem. ^^alete in Christo.
IV
m: M. lOANNES CANTRIFUSORIS M. Ortvino Gratio
QJ ALUTEM cordialem. V^enerabihs domine magister, fO quoniamquidem saepe tractavimus tales levitates
5 ad invicem. Et quia non est cura vobis si ahquis dixerit vobis unam fantasiam sicut ego nunc intendo, propterea non timui quod toUatis in malam partem quod scribam vobis nunc unam cavillationem, quia vos etiam facitis tahter. Et vos ridebitis, ego scio,
10 quia est mirabile factum.
Fuit hic nuper quidam de ordine praedicatorum, et
- ' glosam notahilem: viz. upon the *' dictamen: here, siniply "acom-
firstandsecond partsofthe 7>orfW/ifl/e position." The art of IHctamen
of Alexander Gramniaticus. (Seei. 5, comprehended the whole art of
n.) This dreary treatise on Latin composition in prose and verse ;
grammar comprises 2645 lines of and an important hranch of it
doggerel verse (Pt. I., 1-1073 ; Pt. was concerned with rules for letter-
II., 1074-1549 ; Pt. III., 1550-2281 ; writing, private and official. As
Pt. IV., 22B2-2645). Its popularity Rashdall (i. 111) points out, i>ifte/;^c;i
was extraordinary. Karl Kehrbach, fornied a link between grammar and
Moniimenta Germaniae Paedayogica, law.
Bd. XII. (189-3), describes 295 printed ^ cantrifnsoris : quasi " canthari-
editions of the whole or part of the fusoris," pewterer. Tlie name occurs
7>oc<rma/e,orofcommentariesthereon. in the " Album " of the L'niv. of
llie first edition is that of Venice(.?), AVittenberg in 1.502, and as that of
f. 1470— the lastthatofBrescia, 1588 the author of two poems at the end
(until reprinted by Kehrbach). of a pamphlet entitled Oratioiies
- bursa Montis, or Montana (other- Doctoris Christophori Scheurli . . .
wise "Burs unter XVI. Hausern"), llahitaingymnasio Wittenbergensi . . .
named from Lambert de Monte. 1507 (*. /. et a.).
14
14] lOANNES CANTRIFUS01II8
fiiit satis profundus in Theologia, et fuit speculativus, et habuit etiam multos fautores. Ipse vocatur dominus Georgius. Et primum fuit HalHs, deinde venit huc, et praedicavit bene per dimidium annum, in sermone 15 suo reprehcndens omnes homines, etiam principem et suos vasallos. Sed in coUatione fuit socialis et laetae mcntis, et bibit cum sociis ad dimidios et ad totos. Sed semper quando de sero bibit nobiscum, tunc de mane praedicavit de nobis, dicens : " Ita sedent magistri 20 in hac universitate cum suis sociis per totam noctem bibentes, ludentes, et tractantes levitatem. Et ipsi deberent eos de tahbus emendare, tunc ipsi incipiunt." Et saepe fecit mihi verecundiam.
Et fui iratus super eum, et cogitavi quomodo possem 25 me vindicare. Et non potui imaginare quomodo facerem. Et semel dixit mihi unus, quomodo de nocte iret ille praedicator ad unam muHerem, et supponeret eam, et dormiret cum ea. Et ego audiens taiia, semel accepi aliquos socios qui stant in coUegio, et circa horam 30 decimam ivimus ad illam domum, et per vim intravimus ; tunc ille monaclius volens fugere, non habuit tempus ut tolleret vestimenta sua, et saltavit nudus ex fenestra, et ego risi ita quod statim perminxissem me, et clamavi : " Domine praedicator, tollatis pontificalia vestra," et 35
^^ speculatimis : foud of mooting An excelleut discussion of the whole~~]
and discussing knotty points. In matter, with copious illustrative |
ii. 6 Hochstratus is said to be quotations, will be found in the 1
" speculativus et argumentife.x siugu- " Xew Engl. Dict.," s.v. " colla-
laris." lu i. 42, "in spec. scient.," tion." It is there pointed out that
the word bears its more usual niean- the work from the public readiug
iug of "theoretical." of which the term probably origi-
^* Hallis. The Univ. of Wittenberg nated was the Collationes Patruni in
was iucorporated with that of Halle Scetica Eremo Coniniorantium, of John
in 1815 — the latter haviug beeu Cassian, a.d. 410-20; collatio"
fouuded iu 1694 by Frederick I. of first signifyiug the work itself — then
Prussia. the reading thereof — and theu, the
^* principem: i.e. Luther's friend, repast that followed. Other autho-
Frederick the Wise, Elector of rities, however, quoted by Du
Saxony. Cange, consider tliat '^collatio"
^' collatione : here, as in mauy origiually meaut a confereuce, or
other places in the E. O. V., iu the discussiou, held by the monks upon
seuse of the common evening meal the passage read. or potatiou. In i. 30, however, we ^® imaginare : peculiar to the
fiud collatio in the noteworthy sense of E. O. V.
a sermon or discourse — \\\ secunda ^' de nocte, ctc. Boccaccio relates
parte suae collationis iuduxit duas a similar tale.
couclusioues," ttc. The history of ^^ pontificalia : literally, the in-
the word is not free from obscurity. signia of a bislu)p ; here, derisively.
15
40
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
socii exterius proiecemnt eum in merdam et in aquam. Sed ego compescui eos, et dixi quod haberent discre- tionem ; veriitame adiuvi eos quod omnes supposuimus illam mulierem : et ita vindicavi me de illo monacho, et postea id non ampUus praedicavit de me. Sed non debetis aliis dicere, propterea quod fratres praedicatores nunc sunt pro vobis contra doctorem Reuchlin, et defendunt ecclesiam et fidem cathoHcam contra illos poetas saeculares : ego vellem quod iste monachus 45 fuisset de aho ordine, quia ille ordo est valde mirificus inter omnes.
Vos etiam debetis mihi ahquid risibile significare, et non irascimini mihi. Valete.
Ex WlTTENBERG,
•E lOANNES STRAUSSFEDERIUS
Ortvino Gratio
SALUTEM maximam et multas bonas noctes sicut sunt stellae in caelo, et pisces in mari. Et debetis 5 scire quod ego sum sanus, et etiam mater mea. Et vellem hbenter etiam tahter audire de vobis, quia ego cogito cottidie ad minus semel de vestra dominatione. Sed cum hcentia audite unum magnum miraculum, quod fecit hic unus nobiHsta : diabolus confundat eum 10 in aeternum : quia scandahzavit dominum magistrum nostrum Petrum Meyer in mensa, ubi fuerunt multi
^^ extcrius : "in the street." ' nobilista: i.e. Ulricli voii Hutten.
- " non dehetis, itc. : lest discredit " Meyer: Peter Meyer, or Mayer,
attach to the Doniinicans. was plehamis (parish priest) of St.
- 5 }»m^ra.5; witnessthe"niiracles" Bartholomew's, Frankfort-on-Main :
at Berne ! The Anrea Legenda a bitter opponent of Reuchlin and
of Jacobus de Vora^ine is largely the humanists. Ever at strife with
devoted to the wonders worked by his fellow-citizens, he seems to have
Dominicans. made Frankfort too hot to hold him,
1 Straussfederius. Probably merely and in 1.52.5 left it, never to return.
"fool and featherhead." Tennyson, In the Triumpfms Capnionis we read
q. Maru, V. 1. (w. 789-841) :—
^ Sn/uteni, &c. Cf. Epistole Karoli,
H. Quentell, Coloniae, 1498. (B.M.) " Sed quo te Mayre ponam
"^Salutes e(iuantcs maris arenas" (p. Petre loco . quove ore tuos pro tem-
v) ; "^Salutes stellis numerosiores " pore reque
(p. xxix). Exponam niores?
16
1.5] lOANNES STKAUSSFEDERIUS
domini et nobilistae, et non habuit unam guttam vere- cundiae, sed fuit ita praetensus quod ego miror.
Ipse dixit : " Ecce doctor loannes Reuchlin est doctior quam vos," et dedit ei unum knipp. Tunc is magister noster Petrus dixit : " Ego mitterem solvere coUum meum an hoc est verum. Sancta JNIaria, doctor ReuchHn est in theologia sicut unus puer, et unus puer plus scit in theologia quam doctor ReuchHn. Sancta Maria, credatis mihi, quia ego habeo experientiam. 20 Tamen ipse nihil scit in libris Sententiarum. Sancta JNlaria, ista materia est subtihs, et homines non possunt ita capere sicut grammaticam et poetriam. Ego vellem etiam bene poeta esse, et scirem etiam componere metra, quia audivi in Lyptzick Sulpitium de quanti- 25 tatibus syllabarum. Sed quid est ? Ipse deberet mihi proponere unam quaestionem in theologia, et deberet arguere pro et contra."
Et ipse probavit per multas rationes, quod nemo scit perfecte theologiam, nisi per spiritum sanctum. 30
Qua nuiic vanissime rumpes
Materia jecur lioc ? quove exercebis
amaram Ex odio linguam ? quo uunc ser-
mone placebis Huic populo? quem dente petes?
quemve ore maligno ?
Praeterea nemo est ex vulgo in-
doctior isto ; Audax nemo magis ..."
^^ gtittam : used in the sense of "a morsel" by Lucretius (iv. 1056) and Plautus {Ps. I. iv. 4), but here probably intended to be gro- tesque.
^* praetensus : \\eve, " presump- tuous." Du Cange gives only the meaning "suppositus^ Gall. pre- tendu."
/ ^' knipp : (Ger.) a derisive snap of the fingers.
^^ in lib Sent. : Peter the Lombard, one of the greatest of the Schoolmen, was born at Lumelogno, near Novara, iu Lombardy, about 1100 a.d. Tlie fanie of his Sententiaruni Libri IV. led to his being usually styled the Master of the Sentences. This " Book of Sentences" is a classified collection of opinions of the Fathers on vari- ous doctrinal points^ vvith objections
and replies from other authors also.
Innumerable commentaries on this
work appeared (more than 150 in
England alone) from the Xllth Cent.
down to the Reformation. Among
the commentators appear such great
names as Albertus Magnus, Alexander
of Hales^ Duns Scotus, William of
Occam, and Tliomas Aquinas. Peter
the Lombard became Bishop of Paris
A.D. 1159, and died in the following
year.
^^ Sulpit. : " If I am not mistaken, he was a native of Verulum (Veroli) in the Campania di Roma. . . . He fiourished towards the end of the XVth Cent. His commentary upon Lucan's rharsalia was pretty good for the tinie. La Croix du Maine . . . calls him John Sulpitius of S. Alban." Bayle, Hist. and Crit. iJirf., ed. Des Maizeaux, 1738, p. 269. One edition of the work referred to is Sulpitii Veriilani de rersuum scansione. De sjillabarum quantitate (&c.). Antonius Zarotus parmensis impressit Mediolani. MCCCCLXXXII. die. ii. Xorembris. (B. M.) S. attempts to formulate rules for the quantity of every pos- sible syllable formed by a vowel and a consonant. The number of excep- tions may be imagined.
17 B
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
Et spiritussanctus infundit illam artem. Et poetria est cibus diaboli, sicut dicit Hieronymus in suo epistolari.
Tunc ille bufo dixit quod non est verum, et quod doctor lleuchlin etiam habet spiritumsanctum, et quod
35 est sufficiens in theologia, quia composuit unum librum satis theologicalem, et nescio quomodo vocatur, et nominavit mag-istrum nostrum Petrum unam bestiam. Et dixit quod magister noster Hochstratus est frater casearius. Et commensales riserunt. Sed ego dixi
40 quod est scandalum, quod unus simplex socius debet esse ita irreverentiaHs coram uno magistro nostro. Et doctor Petrus fuit ita iratus, quod surrexit de mensa, et allegavit evangehum dicens : " Samaritanus es, et diabolum habes." Et ego dixi : " Capias tibi hoc."
45 Et fui valde gavisus, quod ita reahter expedivit illum trufatorem.
Vos debetis procedere in factis vestris, et debetis defendere theologiam, sicut fecistis antea, et non debetis ahquem respicere, sive sit nobihs sive rusticus,
50 quia vos estis sufficiens. Si scirem ita facere carmina sicut vos, ego non curarem unum principem, etiam si vellet me interficere. Sed ahas sum inimicus juris- tarum, quia vadunt in rubeis cahgis, et in mardaris schubis, et non faciunt debitam reverentiam magistris,
55 et magistris nostris.
^'^ Hieron. : " Daemonum cibus est to wliom the country-folk were wont
carmina Poetarum^ saecularis sapien- to ^ive cheeses as alms. Cf. ii. 27.
tia, Rhetoricorum pompa verborum." ^* diabolum : John viii. 48; but
Sanct. Hieron. Epist. ad Damasum de " (laemonium " in the Vulg.
duohus filii,9. Migne, Fatrol. Cursus ,,"' ^^ realiter : "to some purpose " ; a
Completus, tom. xxii. col. 385.
^' bufo: of frequent use in the E. O. V. for buffo. Cf. " Item prae-
favourite adverb in the E. O. V. Cf.
" Promittit auxilium suum realiter
cum eifectu" (i. 11)
cipimus, quod clerici non sint ^^ trufatorein : the glossarists are
joculatores, goliardi, seu bufones." not agreed upon the precise meaning
Thesaurtis Novus Anecdotorum, Mar- ofthisword. Cf Du Cange, Diefen-
tene et Durand, Paris, 1717, tom. iv. bach, and Diez, s.v. "Boaster" or
col. 727. See also i. 10 and i. 17. " wind-bag" seemsmostsuitablehere.
" BufFones, scurrae," Du Cange. "Trifler" is etymologically allied, as
^^ sufficiens. Reuchlin, in a letter is "truffle."
addressed to Arnold Aon Tongern, ^^ ruh. cal. : the clergy were pro-
Oct. 28, 1511, and quoted at length liibited from wearing red shoes. Cf.
in the Fepericorni De^ensio, writes : Du Cange, s.v. caliija.
" Fateor enim, in scholis theologiam ^^ mard. schuh. : (Ger.) Schauhe, " r
non didici, sed civiles leges." cloak " ; Marder, "a marten." Cf.
^^unumlihr.: ^ossihly the De Verbo " Biidge doctors of the stoic fur."
Mirifico ; the AugeJispieffel itself cau This passage is quoted by Du Cange,
scarcely be nieant. ^' Mardara .scuba: Toga pellibus mus-
casearius: i.e. a mendicant monk tellarum instructa."
18
1.6] NICOLAUS CAPRIMULGIU8
Ego etiam peto vos humiliter iiecnon afFectualiter, quatenus significaveritis milii quomodo stat in Parrhisia cum Speculo ocuhiri. Deus trihuat quod alma mater universitas Parrhisiensis veht tenere vobiscum, et com- burere illum haereticum Hbrum, quia habet multa 'Jo scandala, sicut scripsit magister noster Tungarus.
Ego audivi quod magister noster Sotphi, in bursa Kneck, qui composuit glosam notabilem super quattuor partes Alexandri, est mortuus. Sed spero quod non est verum, quia fuit excellens vir, et fuit profundus 65 grammaticus, et fuit bene mehor quam isti novi grammatici poetales. Sahitare etiam dignemini mihi magistrum nostrum Remigium, quia ohm fuit prae- ceptor meus singuhu'issimus, et saepe dedit mihi bonas vexas, quando dixit mihi : " Tu es sicut auca, et non 7o vis studere quod fias magnus argumentator." Et ego dixi : " Eximie domine magister noster, ego volo me emendare in posterum : " tunc aUquando dimisit me, ahquando dedit mihi bonam disciphnam. Et protunc ego fui ita discretus, quod hbenter accepi correctiones 75 pro neghgentiis meis. Sed nihil amphus habeo vos scribere, praeter quod vehtis vivere centum annos. Et valete in requie.
Datum MoGUNTiAE.
VI
•r NICOLAUS CAFRIMULGIUS Baccalaurius M. Ortvino Gra.
SAL. plurimam cum magna reverentia erga vestram dignitatem, sicut debeo scribens ad vestram magis- trahtatem. \^enerabihs domine magister, sciatis quod 5
- afferttmliter. Xot elsewhere foiind. ^^ singul. : the student's especial
- ^ Sotphi. Cf. i. 3, 11. tutor, or the head of the liostel in
- Ale.randi-i : Alexander Gallus, de which he lodged.
Villa Dei, or Grammaticus, was born °auca: a goose. " Lo sang e
at Villedieu, in France, at the end of la graissa prendetz d'un auca."
the Xllth or beginning of the Xlllth M. Raynouard, Lexique Roman, ii.
Cent. For his treatise on Latin 142. grammar, see i. 3, «. ^ Caprintukjius : for Caprimulgus,
®* Rcmig. : R. de Malmundario, " goatsucker." Rector of the Univ. of Cologne in * H/a^js^r..- theonly instance. Bacon
1498. Cf. Bianco, JJie alte Univer- {Advancementofl^arniug, ii.)nsesihe
sitiit Kiiln, i. p. 829. (For tlie text- form : " Those who seek truths, and
book known as Remigius, see i. 7, ".) not magistrality."
19
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROKUM VIRORUM
est una notabilis quaestio quam peto seu rogo deter- minari a vestra magistralitate. Est hic unus Graecus qui resumit grammaticam Urbani, et quando scribit Graecum, tunc semper ponit titellos superius. Qua-
10 propter ego dixi nuper : " tamen magister Ortvinus Daventriae etiam practicavit grammaticam graecam, et etiam est sufficiens ita bene sicut ille, et nunquam scripsit ita titellos ; et ego credo quod ita bene intelligit facta sua sicut ille, et adhuc posset corrigere istum
15 graecum " ; sed aUi non voluerunt credere, et socii mei ac constantes petiverunt quod vellem scribere ad domi- nationem vestram, quod notificaretis mihi quomodo est, an debemus ponere titellos, an non. Si non debemus ponere, tunc per deum reaUter volumus
20 vexare illum graecum, et vohniius facere quod debet paucos auditores habere. Ego bene vidi de vobis Coloniae in domo Henrici Quentel, quando fuistis corrector et debuistis corrigere graecum, tunc absci- distis omnes titellos qui fuerunt supra Ifis, et dixistis
25 " Quid debent illae stultitiae."
Et ita iam consideravi quod vos habetis ahquam rationem : ahas non fecissetis. Vos estis mirabihs homo, et deus dedit vobis magnam gratiam quod scitis ahquid in omni scibih. Quapropter debetis etiam
30 laudare dominum deum in vestris metris, et beatam virginem, et omnes sanctos dei. Sed non habueritis mihi pro molestia quod impedio vestram dominationem
' ^meras; probablyRichardCroke. Coloiiiam nititur, sicut et Ortuinus
See i. 35, n. discipulus nuper conabatur damnare
- Urbani: Urbauus Kellunensis (Ur- accentus, quos per ignorantiam voca-
banius Bolzanius), a Franciscan. His bat titellos graecos." treatise on Greek granniiar vvas first ^^ titellos : i.e. the accents.
published by Aldus at Veuice in 1497. " ^/- Qnentel: Heinrich Quentel, or
A funeral oration by Albertus Castri- Quentell, a native of Strasburg, set
francanus, one of his pupils, gives us up a printing-press at Cologne about
someaccountof hislife(Venice, 1.524; 1479, and upon liis deatli in 150.3 the
there is a copy in the Brit. Mus.). business was carried on by his lieirs,
Urhanus travelled througli Greece to where the Hotel du Dome nov\ stands.
Byzantium, and brought back with Ortwin Gratius acted as editor and
him to Venice a store of Greek MSS., corrector of the press to the firm for
including an ancient copy of the Iliad. several years. He died at the age of nearly 90. ^^ non hahueritis, &c. ^ We are re-
^" mmq. scrip. Cf. Manipiilnsflorum minded of llosa Dartle's " Now you
collectns e.v lihris R.P.F. Jarohi de must really bear with me, because I
Hochstraten . . . p. C Aa: " Grillus ask for information." David Copper-
. . . literas Graecas extirpare apud fetd, ch. xxix.
20
17] PETRUS HAFENMUSIUS
cum istis quaestionibus, quia facio talia causa informa- tionis. Valete.
Ex Lyptzick. 35
VII
€E 31. PETRUS HAFENMUSIUS
31. Ortvino Gi^atio
SALUTEM innumerabilem. Venerabilis domine magister, si haberem pecunias et substantiam maofnam, tunc vellem dare vobis unam notabilem s propinam, credatis mihi firmiter, quod solvatis mihi istam quaestionem quam propono.
Sed quia pronunc non habeo oves et boves, uni- versa insuper et pecora campi, sed sum pauper, prop- terea non possum vobis appreciare pro vestra doctrina ; lo sed promitto vobis, quod postquam sum beneficiatus, sicut iam insteti pro una Vicaria, tunc volo semel unum honorem specialem facere vobis.
Et scribatis mihi an est necessarium ad aeternam salutem, quod scholares discunt grammaticam ex poetis i5 saecularibus, sicut est Virgihus, Tullius, Phnius, et alii ? Videtur mihi quod non est bonus modus studendi. Quia, ut scribit Aristoteles primo methaphysicae : " M ulta mentiuntur Poetae ; " sed qui mentiuntur, peccant, et qui fundant studium suum super mendaciis, 20 fundant illud super peccatis. Et quicquid fundatum est super peccatis, non est bonum ; sed est contra deum, quia deus est inimicus peccatis.
Sed in poetria sunt mendacia ; et ergo qui incipiunt suam doctrinam in poetria, non possunt proficere in 25 bonitate ; quia mala radix habet super se malam her- bam, et mala arbor profert maluni fructum, secundum evangelium, ubi dicit salvator : " Non est arbor bona quae facit fructum malum." Etiam bene adhuc
^ Hafennmsius : perhaps Hafen, a ^ non habeo, &c. Cf. Psal. viii. 8:
pot, and mausen, to filcli : " oue who " Oves et boves uiiiversas, insuper et
takes furtive sips." (Bocking.) pecora campi." Vu/g.
- substantiant : as in the phrase "a ^^ Aristoteles : Metaph. i. 2. "IIoXXcl
man of substance." ^pevSovrai. aoiSol" (quoting an adage).
^ mtabitent propinani. Ct^aott, The "" ntala arbor : Luke vi. 43, " Non
Abbot, xxvii., "There was never sic a estenim arbor boua quae facit fructus
braw propine as this seut to a yerl." nialos." V^t/g.
21
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
30 memoro illam doctrinam, quam dedit mihi semel magister noster Valentinus de Geltersheim in bursa Montis, quando fui suus discipulus, et volui audire Salustium. Et dixit, " quare vis audire Salustium, tu dischole ? "
35 Tunc ego respondi, quod magister loannes de Vrati- slavia dixit, quod discimus bona dictamina facere ex talibus poetis. Tunc ipse dixit : " est fantasia, sed tu debes bene advertere in partibus Alexandri, et epistoHs Caroli, quae practicantur in aula grammatic-
40 orum ; ego nunquam audivi Salustium, et tamen scio dictamina facere metrice et prosaice." Et sic magister noster Valentinus fecit quod ego nunquam studui in poetria. Et isti humanistae nunc vexant me cum suo novo latino, et annihilant illos veteres
45 libros, Alexandrum, Remigium, loannem de Garlandia,
'^ Valentinus : Valeiitiu von Engel-
hard, of Gelderslieim (a village in
Franconia^ Bavaria, on the ^\'eni,
near VV^urtzburg), Canon of Cologne
and Rector of the Univ. iu 1508.
(See Ep. ii. 29.) He was nicknamed
the "^ fox-hunter," or " student-trap-
per," in consequence of the assiduity
with which he sought students for his
hostel. He died in 1.526. IJianco,
Die Alte CnirersitUt KHin, 18.).5, p. 2(;(;.
(Cited byBocking.) The tribulations
of one of von Geltersheim's touts are
amusingly described in ii. 29.
^* audire : to liear lectures upon. Cf. ii. 4G, " Volunt audire Virgilium et Plinium et alios novos autores."
^^ dischole : a somewhat difficult word. ^^ IHscolus, difficilis, morosus" (Du Cange). "Discors a schola ; diversas scholas visitans" (Diefen- bach). " A sham or froward student " (Rashdall, i. 432). C^f ii. (58. The word occurs in a letter from Mutian to Urban, July 1, 1510. " Adeo dv(TKo\oi^ irreverens, superbus." Krause, Die Briefwerhscl des Mut. LiuJ\ 1885, p. 179."
^'^ loamtcs. Bucking suggests that this is Joannes Borscus, of Breshiu, mentioned in a letter from Petrus Ravennas (see ii. 20, 50) to Ortwin Gratius, 1508.
'* AleA\ : i.e. Alexander Gramma- ticug.
^' Caroli: i.e. Karl Meunicken
(Carolus Virulus). He was author of
a very popular^ if inept, treatise on
letter- writing, " Epistolae Karoli "
(bitterly criticised by Bebelius).
Mennickeu was Kector of the Paeda-
gogiuTU Lilii, at Louvain, for fifty-six
years, and died in 1498, at tbe age of
eighty.
^* jyracticantur. Cf. i. (>.
- novo Latino : i.e. Classical, as
opposed to the Medieval Latin of the " veteres libri."
- ^ liemigiuni : Remigius the Gram-
marian wrote a commentary on the Ars Farra of Donatus. The best known work of Remigius is, however, usually cited as Doniimis que Pars. The earliest known edition has for its title : " Dominus ijue pars. (In preseuti libello continentur haec. Primo Remigius seu dominus que pars. Secundo ordo constructibilium. Tercio regimina. Quarto regule congruitatum. Quinto nietra con- structionum. Sexto comparationes.) Impressus in caesarea ci\'itate Lubi- censi. 1489." The Fundanientiun scotariuni of Remigius is merely an enlarged edition of tlie same work.
- '^ loannciii : John Garland, au Eng-
lishman. Bocking, following writers who were not acquainted with Gar- land's poem, De Triuniphis Eeclesiu', phices him in the Xlth Cent., but it is now established tbat he flourished
22
1.7]
PETRUS HAFENMUSIUS
Cornutum, Composita verborum, Epistolare magistri
Pauli Niavis, et dicunt ita magna mendacia quod ego
facio crucem pro me quando audio. Sicut nuper unus
dixit, quod est in quadam provincia una aqua, quae
habet arenam auream et vocatur Tagus ; et ego fistulavi 50
occulte, quia non est possibile.
Ego scio bene quod etiam estis poeta, sed non scio unde habetis illam artem. Ipsi dicunt quod quando vultis, tunc facitis plura metra in una hora ; sed credo quod intellectus vester est ita illuminatus per gratiam Spiritussancti desuper quod scitis illa et aHa, quia semper fuistis bonus Tlieologus, et reprehenditis illos gentiles.
Libenter vellem vobis scribere unam novitatem si scirem : sed noii audivi ahquid quam quod fratres ac domini de ordine praedicatorum habent hic magnas indulgentias, et absolvunt a pena et a culpa, quando
55
tuo himdred years later, and was a
teacher of Roger Bacoii at Paris.
Garland was a voluminous writer of
works on grammar, alcheniy, mathe-
maticSj and musiCj as well as of
poetry. (D. N. B.)
- ® Corniitum : one of Garland's
works, also known as Distigium, or Schokn-ium, consisting of a series of disticlis embodying advice to young scholars. In the introduction to the Cornutus Magistri Jounnis de Gar- landria (H. Gran, Hagenau, 1489) we are informed that it is called " Cor- nutus," because, "just as animals defend themselves with a pair of horns, so does tlie author express his meaning in couplets." The tirst four lines of this curious work will give an idea of its strange Graeco- Latin jargon : —
^' Caespitat in phaleris hyppus blac-
taque supinus Glossa velut themeto labat hemus
infatuato. Qui kalus impraxi simul et est
pisticus liemo IUius oda placet hic recte theo-
logisat."
- ^ Composita Verb. : thismay possibly
be the Libellus de Verborum Compo- sitis by the same author, or, more probably, the Composita Verhorum by Joannes Sinthen, a grammarian of Deventer, and teaclier of Erasmus.
60
(See ii. 40.) Cf. Camb. Mod. Hist., i.
436.
- Epistolare: PaulusNiavis — Latin-
ised from Schneevogel. "Qui fuit Magister Lypsensis." (Cf. ii. 31.) Amongst other works attributed to P. N. are Dialogus Mag. P. N. par- vulis scholaribus ad latinum idioma perutilissimus (Basle, 1489) ; Epis- tolae breres {longiores, mediocres), Mag. P. N. (1494) ; and Latina Ydeomata Mag. P. N. (1494).
^" Tagus : a classical commonplace. C'f. " Quodque suo Tagus amne vehit, fluit ignibns, aurum," Ov., Met., ii. 2.51. " Cedat et auriferi ripa beata Tagi," Ov., ^4?»., 1. XV. 34.
^' ^Vith regard to Ortwin as a versifier, cf. : —
"te uno carmine viucat Buschius, aut aliquis Musarum mactus
alumnus. Isque tuis similes, si quid certaveris,
uno Mille die versus faciet."
— Triumphus Capn ionis.
^^ a pena et a culpa : ciilpa, tlie guilt ; poena, tlie penalty still to be undergone when the guilt had been pardoned. The strictly orthodox view always had been that the guilt is pardoned by the Sacrament, while the indulgence remits only the temporal penalty. But for ages tbe popular belief was that plenary indulgences absolved a culpa et poena.
23
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
aliquis est confessus et contritus, et habent super hoc htteras papales. Etiam scribite mihi ahquid, quia ego sum vester tanquam famulus.
•JS Valete ex Nurexberga.
VIII
«r FRANCISCUS GENSELINUS
M. Ortvino Gratio
SALUTEJM quam mille talenta non possunt aequi- valere in sua gravitate. Venerabihs doniine magister,
5 scitote quod hic est magnus sermo de vobis. et theologi valde laudant vos quod non respexistis ahquem, et scripsistis pro defensione fidei contra doctorem lleuchhn. Sed ahqui socii qui non habent intelhgentiam, et etiam juristae qui non sunt illuminati in fide christiana, sper-
10 nunt vos, et loqiumtur multa contra vos, sed non possunt praevalere, quia facultas theologica tenet vobis- cum. Et nuper quando venerunt huc isti hbri, qui vocantur acta Parrhisiensium, tunc fere omnes magistri emerunt et gavisi sunt maxime : ego protunc etiam
15 emi, et misi ad Heidelbergam ut ibi viderent. Et credo cjuod ubi viderunt, tunc paenituit Heidelber- genses ([uod iion etiam conchiserunt cum ahna univer- sitate Coloniensi contra doctorem Reuchhn. Et
^- rouf. ct contr. Iii 'J"et/,ors in- ' scrip. Iii ]ol4 had beeii puli-
struotions to his siil^ordinates the lished Praeuotanienta Ortirini Orutii
necessity of "confession and repent- lilicraliuin disciplinarnni professoris
ance" is alluded to, but the infallihle citra onnieni nialavolcntiani cunctis
efficacy of the induljxence is asserted ('liristijiilclilnis dedicata — directed
absolutely. (See ii. 4."5 for a keen a^diuisi Rauchlm s Auyenspicgel.
controversv hetvveen Frater Jacobus , . . , r,,, jr ■ .. r- i- •
1 ,v . • ,, ,, . ,• . \ lurist. 1 hc Uuiversitv or brei-
and Uoctor Ji(!vss on tliis sur>]ect.) , /• i. • \ i- i i • nifr-
63 ,-. , ^ r,M , •^, ,i burt,'- (ni Jsreisirau), lounded \n 14.50,
"^ lit. paiial. I he panal Letters , ,*^/ ,. ^ ' .. -. ,1 \-
' ' , . 1 , ' ' . 1 ^ had neconie lainous lor its scliool ot
were personal induljj^ences y-ranted to . . , 1 ^i • x, r
. ,. .', , ,,,, V.,, ^ lurispnidence uiuier tiie iniluence ot
individuals. lliev uecauie reco};- •!, ' , , , , , • . i\ • \ r, •
, ,. , ,. . ■ cc •, ,, -, r tiie colebrated Jurist, rlnch Zasms.
nised articles 01 tranic oy the ( uria, v, •• «1
with a fixed tariif of fees." H. C.
Lea, llist. of Auric. Conf. and ^' Acta 1'arrh. 'J'he "■ Acta I)oc-
Indxihjenccs, iii. 191 (1896). toruni I'arrliisiensiuin de sacratis-
^ Thonias Murner liad lieen by an sinia faciiltate theoloijica . . . contra
oppoiient nicknauied " den Giinspre- Sjieculuni Ocularo .foannis lleuchlin
dig-er " ; the epistk», however, is not in 1'horceiisis . . ." was printed by
keeping vvith wliat we kiiow of IVIur- (^uentell at (ologne, and publislied
ner. (See ii. ^, ?i.) in 1.514.
24
20
25
18] FRANCISCUS GENSELINUS
propterea aiidio quod universitas Coloniensis fecit unum statutuni quod nunquam in aeterimm volunt pro- movere unum qui complevit pro gradu baccalaureatus vel magisterii in Heidelberga : et est bene factum, ({uia sic debent discere quid est universitas Coloniensis, et alia vice debent tenere cum ea. Ego vellem quod sic facerent aliis, sed credo quod aliae universitates non sciverunt. Et igitur parcitis eis propter ignorantiam. Etiam quidam socius dedit mihi pulchra carmina quae debetis intimasse in universitate Coloniensi, quae ostendi Magistris, et Magistris nostris, et fuerunt multum commendata. Et misi illa ad multas civitates ^w pro vestra gloria, quia faveo vobis. Et sunt ista, ut sciatis quid puto : —
Qui vult legere haereticas pravitates
Et eum hoc discere bonas latinitates,
Ille debet emere Parrhisiensium acta 35
Et scripta de Parrhisia nuper facta,
Quomodo ReuchHn in fide erravit,
Sicut magister noster Tungarus doctrinaUter probavit.
Illa vult magister Ortvinus legere
Gratis, in hac alma universitate, 40
Et cum hoc textum ubique glosare
Necnon quaedam notabilia in margine notare,
Et vult arguere pro et contra,
Sicut fecerunt Theologi in Parrhisia,
Quando specuhmi oculare examinaverunt 45
Et Reuchlin magistrahter damnaverunt,
Ut sciunt fratres Carmehtae
Et ahi qui vocantur lacobitae.
Ego miror quomodo potestis ita speculari talia: vos estis valde artificialis in compositionibus vestris, et 50 habetis magnam dulcedinem, ita quod semper ego rideo prae laetitia, quando lego aliquid quod vos com- posuistis, et opto semper quod veUtis diu vivere quod
1* audio, &c. lliis gossip of the cant Order of CarmeHtes was founded
worthy Gensehnus must uot be re- in 1209. Theodoric of Gouda (see
garded as founded on fact. i. 1) was a member.
- » Tungarus. Aruold von Tongern's *^ lucobitae : uot, of course, the
attack upon Reuchhn (briefly cited as Jacobites of the Eastern Church. Cf
the "Articuh"), witli introductory "Nam totum collegium tota cohors
elegiacs by Ortwin Gratius, had been profugorum Hennigno favet et Jaco-
published in 1512. bitas detestatur " ; i.e. " Anhiiuger
^' leg. grat.: to dehver pubhc des Dechanten von S. Severi Jacob
lectures upon. Dohator in Erfurt." Krause, Die
- ' Carmelitae: the existing mendi- Brie/wecAse/rfes i/ji^-/^?//, 1885, p. 339.
25
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
laus vestra crescat sicut fecit usque huc, quia vestra
55 scripta sunt valde utilia. Deus vos conservet et vivificet
vos, et non tradat vos in manus inimicorum vestrorum.
Et sicut dicit Psalmista : " Tribuat vobis dominus secun-
dum cor vestrum, et omne consilium vestrum confirmet."
Et vos etiam scribatis mihi de factis vestris, quia libenter
60 audio, et video quid facitis seu agitis : et sic Valete.
Ex Friburga.
IX
«: 31. CONRADUS DE ZUICCAVIA
S. D. M. Ortvino Gra.
QUIA legitur Ecces. XI. " Laetare juvenis in adole- scentia tua." Quapropter ego nunc sum laetae
5 mentis, et debetis scire quod bene succedit mihi in amore, et habeo multum supponere. Quia dicit Ezechiel : " Nunc fornicabitur in fornicatione sua." Et quare non deberem aliquando purgare renes ? tamen non sum angelus, sed homo, et omnis homo errat. Vos
10 etiam aliquando supponitis, quamvis estis Theologus, quia non potestis semper solus dormire, secundum illud Ecclesiastae IIII. : " Si dormierint duo simul, fovebuntur mutuo : unus autem quomodo calefiet ? " Quando scribitis mihi quid facit vestra amasia ? Nuper dixit
15 mihi unus quod quando ipse fuit Coloniae, tunc fuistis in rixa cum ipsa et percussistis eam, quia fortassis non fecit secundum opinionem vestram. Et ego miror quare potestis ita pulchram mulierem percutere : ego flerem si viderem : potius debetis dicere quod non faciat
20 amplius, tunc ipsa emendaret se, et de nocte esset vobis amicabihor. Tamen quando legistis nobis Ovidium, dixistis nobis quod nullo modo debemus percutere
^^ Deus, &c. : Psalm xli. 2. pliets of Zwickau. Ileiice originated
" Fml. : XX. 4. the vvorst follies and abominatioiis of
^ Zuiccavia: Zwickau, a city of Anabaptism, culminating in theestab-
Saxony, about 80 miles S\V. of lishment of the New Zion at Miinster,
Dresden. In 1520 Thomas Miinzer and the ruthless suppression of the
was appointed pastor there, and put mania })y armed force in 1.5;35.
himself at the head of a band of ' Ezcch. : Ezek. xxiii. 43.
frenzied fanatics known as the pro- ^^ Eccles. : Eccl. iv. 11.
26
19] CONRADUS DE ZUICCAVIA
miilieres, et allegastis ad hoc etiam sacram scripturam. Ego sum contentus quod amica mea est hilaris et non irascitur mecum ; quando venio ad eam, tunc etiam 25 facio talia, et sumus in hietitia, et bibimus cerevisiam et vinum, quia vinum laetificat cor hominis, sed tristitia exsiccat ossa. AHquando sum iratus super eam, tunc dat mihi osculum, et fit pax, et postea dicit : " domine magister, estote hietae mentis." 30
Nuper vohii ire ad eam, tunc vidi exire quendam iuvenem niercatorem qui habuit apertas caligas, et sudavit in fronte, et credidissem quod supposuisset eam, et fui quodammodo iratus ; sed ipsa iuravit quod non tetigisset eam ille mercator, sed voluisset ei vendere 35 hnteum ad faciendas camisias ; tunc ego dixi " est bonum, sed quando etiam datis mihi unam camisiam ? " Tunc rogavit me quod deberem ei concedere duos florenos quod posset solvere illum hnum, tunc etiam vellet mihi dare unam camisiam. Et protunc non 40 habui pecuniam, sed petii unum socium qui concessit mihi et dedi ei. Ego laudo quod ahquis semper est laetus. Et medici dicunt etiam quod sanum est quando ahquis est laetus. Quidam magister noster hic semper irascitur et nunquam est hietus, et propter semper 45 est infirmus. Ipse semper reprehendit me et dicit, quod non debeo amare muheres, quia sunt diaboh, et per- dificant homines, et sunt immundae, et nulla muher est pura ; et quando ahquis est cum muhere, tunc est sicut cum diabolo, quia permittunt nulh requiem. 50 Tunc ego dixi " parcatis mihi, domine magister noster, vestra mater etiam fuit muher," et abivi.
Ipse etiam nuper praedicavit, quod sacerdotes nuUo modo deberent liabere concubinas secum, et dixit quod episcopi peccant mortahter quaiido accipiunt decimam 55
^^ dec. lactis : vulg. Milchzelmt. eorum femiuas nulla pecuniae emen-
Under the nanie of rullagiuvi there datio exigatur." Gerard Groot,
is abundant evidence to show that taking for his text Is. lii. 11, preached
througliout the Middle Ages a tax a notable sermon y>f./om?7i.S' (Aurora,
was exacted from priests in return Dresden, 18.59, v. 42).
for permission to keep what was In a complaintlaid before tlie Pope
eupliemistically termed a foraria, or by the Imperial Diet at Nuremberg
fireside companion. Unavailing pro- in 1522, it is stated that " In many
tests against this practice were made parts of tlie country the Bishops and
from time to time. In the ^'tli tlieir emissaries not only condone the
Article of the Synod of Lillebonne, concubinage of priests, provided the
1080, it is decreed that " Propter tax demanded is paid, but thev com-
27
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
00
65
lactis et permittunt ancillas esse cum presbyteris, quia
deberent eas totaliter expellere. Sed sit a vel b, nos
debemus esse aliquando laeti, et etiam possumus dormire
cum mulieribus, quando nemo videt : postea tamen
facimus confessionem : et deus est misericors, et
debemus sperare veniam.
Ego mitto vobis hic quaedam scripta pro defensione Alexandri Galli grammatici antiqui et sufficientis, quam- vis poetae moderni volunt eum reprehendere ; sed non sciunt quid loquuntur, quia Alexander est optimus, ut olim dixistis mihi quando stetimus Daventriae. Quidam magister hic dedit mihi, sed nescio ubi accepit. Ego vellem quod faceretis imprimere, tunc maxime faceretis iratos illos poetas, quia ille auctor reahter vexat eos ; 0 sed est ita poetaUter compositum quod ego non intelHgo, quia ille qui composuit est etiam bonus poeta ; sed cum hoc est Theologus, et non tenet cum saecularibus poetis sicut est doctor ReuchUn, Buschius et ahi. Statim
pel those priests who live coiitiiiently
to pay the saiiie tax, declaring that
the Bisliop must liave his money, and
that wheu tlie fine was paid they
could please themselves whether they
lived u life of celibacy or not." Gol-
dast, flravainina Ord. Iinp. Cap. Ixx.
(i. 4(j4). Cf. also Bp. Creighton, Hist.
ofthe Papary, \. 20.
" Bnschias: Ilermannus Buschius — Hermann von dem Bussche — (1468- 1534) was born at Sassenberg in Westphalia, and is described in the Register of Cologne Univ. as '^ eques- tris ordinis." As a boy, he was a pupil of Hegius at Deventer, where he was a feUow-student of Ortwin Gratius. In 1486 B. proceeded to Italy, where he remained for five years, and enjoyed the friendship of the eminent scholar and antiquary, Pomponius Laetus. In some verses inscribed to the younger Filippo Beroaldo, he says : —
"Olim Romanas juveuis digressus
ad arces Perdomiti clarum quae caput orbis
erant. Pomponi Laeti primum ceu fonte
perenni Plurima de sacro sedulus ore bibi.
Post lustrum patriae capior revo-
cantis amore Et propriam Latia vertor ab urbe
domum."
In the Register of AVitteuberg Univ. for 1502 Buschius is first entitled " Pasiphilus " — rjiiasi Trao-t 4>lXos — a name ever after associated with him. The young scholar soon became known as one of tlie most ardent champions of the New Learning. Attacking with the utmost vivacity the errors and futilities of the .scholastic text-books, ever at logger- heads with the defenders of medieval- ism, Buscliius flitted restlessly from city to city throughout Germany and tlie Netherlands. He did not, however, at first throw in his lot with the Reuclilinists, and wrote an Eloginin for von Tongern's "Articuli." But in 1514 Mutianus writesgleefully, " Buschius has sung his palinode I " and henceforward the latter is to be found in tlie foremost ranks of Reuchlin's defenders. lu Oct. 1514 he writes to Keuclilin : —
" O I si videres nunc ora et vultus Theologistarum ; talis est furientis invidiae species, talis est insauiae delirantis viva effigies. luflatis buccis
28
I. 10]
lOANNES ARNOLDI
quando fuit mihi data illa materia, tunc dixi, quod
vellem vobis mittere quod legeretis. Si habetis ahquid 75
novum, tunc etiam mittatis mihi. Valete in charitate
non ficta.
Ex LlPTZICK.
X
€E lOANNES ARNOLBI S.
31. O7'tvino Gratio
IX P.
QUONIAM quoniamquidem igitur vos concupiscitis
semper habere unam novitatem, secundum quod
dicit Aristoteles : " Omnes homines natura scire 5
desiderant." Quare igitur ego loannes Arnoldi vester
discipulus, et humiUs subditus mitto dominationi seu
honorabilitati vestrae hic unum hbellum quem com-
posuit quidam ribaldus et scandahzavit dominum
loannem PfefFerkorn in Colonia, virum proculdubio 10
integerrimum, et ego fui valde iratus, sed non potui
prohibere, quod non imprimeret, quia iste socius habet
coutrahunt supercilia, caperant frou-
teni, lumina tragica quadam torvitate
horrificaut, pallent, rubent, stupent,
^emunt, stridentque dentibus." Ep}).
Clar. Viroriun, iii. 4.
In 1516 Buschius paid a visit to Englaud, and gaiued the frieudship of Bp. Fisher and Sir Thomas More, while to Dean Colet, then eugaged in establishing St. PauPs School, he seems to have rendered aid as oue of its first lectui-ers. lu 152(5 B., after furtlier wanderiugs, settled dowu at Marburg, and there, at the age of nearly three-score, took to himself a wife, Adelheida by name, and begat a sou, Hieronymus. But he was not destiued to eud his life iu domestic peace. In the autumn of 1533 the weary scholar jourueyed to Miinster aud attended a disputatiou agaiust the rising maduess of Anabaptism. Tliere the rapier of the brilliaut con- troversialist fouud itself for the first time pitted agaiust — uot the rusty arniour of scholasticism — but the bludgeons of a bliud fanaticism. The contest was uuequal — and Buschius, exhausted by the brutal strife, died at Diilmen iu the spriug of 1534.
J. Niesert, Historisch-geographische-
statistick - literarisches Jahrhuch filr
Westfalen und den Niederrhein, ii.
304-323, enumerates forty works
writteu, edited, or commeuted on by
Buschius. Among these are many
poems and epigrams, commentaries
on C'icero, Silius Italicus, Martial,
Claudian, Petronius, Juvenal, Plau-
tus — the VaUum Hunianitatis, an
Ars Memoratira, Spici/egium Philoso-
phorum, and the Oestrum. The best
account of his life is giveu in De
Hermanni Buschii vita et scriptis coni-
mentatio historica, H. J. Liesseni,
Bonnae, 1866.
^ Arnoldi. The personal allusion, if any, is unkuowu. This Ep., though uudated, is by implication to be regarded as writteu at Maiuz. Arnoldi is also the writer of ii. SQ, in which his style exhibits a mar- vellous preciosity, acquired by a short residence in Kome.
- Arist. : Metaph. "lldvT€s dvSpuTroi
Tov eiOeVat opeyovTai (pvcrei."
- /ibeiium : one of Ulrich von
Hutten's works, but it is not clear which is intended. Bocking suggests the " Exclamatio in Pepericornum."
^" virum, &c. : ()rtwin's owu words with reference to Pfeiferkoru.
29
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROKUM YIRORUM
hic multos fautores, etiam nobiles, et vadunt armati sicut bufones, cum longis gladiis in plateis. Sed tamen
15 ego dixi quod non est rectum, quia debetis notare quod iste poetae saeculares adhuc facient multas guerras, cum suis metris, si magistri nostri non habebunt adver- tentiam, et non citabunt eos per magistrum nostrum lacobum de Hochstraten ad curiam romanam. Et ego
20 timeo quod erit unum magnum disturbium in fide cathoHca.
Rogo igitur vos quod veUtis componere unum Hbrum contra istum scandahzatorem, et reahter vexare eum. Tunc postea non erit ita audax quod veht
25 stimulare magistros nostros, quia ipse est simplex
socius, et neque est promotus neque quahficatus in jure
vel in artibus, quamvis stetit in Bononia, ubi etiam sunt
multi poetae saeculares, non zelosi et in fide illuminati.
Ipse nuper sedit in mensa et dixit quod magistri
30 nostri in Colonia et Parrhisia faciunt iniuriam doctori Reuchhn, et ego tenui ei oppositum : tunc vexavit me multis mahs verbis et scandalosis, quod fui ita iratus quod surrexi de mensa, et protestavi coram omnes de iniuriis, et non potui comedere unam buccellam.
35 Vos debetis mihi dare consihum in supradicta causa, quia etiam pro parte estis jurista.
Ego compilavi ahqua metra quae mitto vobis hic. Clioiiamhicum, Hexametrum, Sapphicum, lamhicum, Asclepiadicum , Endecasyllabum, Elegiacum, Dicolon,
40 Distrophum.
Qui est bonus catholicus, debet sentire cum Parrhisiensibus, Quia illud gymnasium, est mater omnium universitatum. Deinde Colonia sancta, quae est in fide Christiana tanta, Quod nulkis debet contradicere, vel merito penam luere, 45 Sicut Reucldin doctor, qui est speculi ocularis auctor,
Quem magister noster Tungarus, probavit quod est haereticus, Necnon magister de Alta platea, qui fecit comburere eius dictamina.
" hw: i.e. at Mainz. The Uni- versity." Tliis is the only occurrence
versity was founded in 1477. Little of the word in the E. O. V. is recorded of its early history. See *" niater : in the next Ep., with
Rashdall, Uniii. of Enr., ii. 272. more modesty, "soror."
^^ iste. Sic, in A, B, C. *' de Alt. plat. : i.e. van Hoog-
^" flinturbiuni : the only instance. straten. Reuchhn's Augensjjiegel
"' Bononia: Bologna. Cf. ii. 59, was pubhcly bnrnt by H. aud the
" Uh-ichuin Huttenum qui studet Theologians at Cologne, on Feb. 10,
Bononiae." 1.514, as " offensive, and dangerous
^^ gymnasium : here simply " Uni- to rehgion."
30
I 11] CORNELIUS FENESTRIFICIS
Si haberem unum argumentum,egovellemcomponere unum librum contra istum trufatorem, et probare quod de facto est exconnnunicatus. Non habeo plus tempus »0 ad scribendum, (juia oportet me ire ad lectionem, quia unus magister legit replicationes super veteiem artem valde subtiliter compositas, et ego audio eas pro com- pletione. Valete super onmes socios et amicos meos qui sunt hic et ubique, et in omnibus locis et honestis. 55
XI
•E CORNELIUS FENESTRIFICIS S. D. P.
M. Ortvino Gratio
OALUTES tot quot habet caelum stellas et mare O arenas. Venerande domine magister, ego habeo hic multas rixas et guerras a malis viris qui praesumunt esse 5 docti, et tamen non didicerunt logicam, quae est scientia scientiarum. Ego legi nuper unam missam ad praedi- catores de Spiritusancto quod deus velit mihi dare suam gratiam, et bonam memoriam in syllogismis ad dis- putandum cum illis qui sciunt tantum latinisare, et 10 dictamina componere. Etiam composui unam coUec- tam in illa missa pro magistro nostro lacobo de Hoch- strat, et magistro nostro Arnoldo de Tungaris, summo regente in bursa Laurentii, quod possunt in disputa- tione Theologica ad metam redargutionis ducere 15 quendam doctorem in jure qui vocatur loannes Reuchlin, etiam est poeta saecularis et praesump- tuosus, et tenet oppositum contra quattuor universi- tates, pro ludaeis, et facit propositiones scandalosas et ofFensivas piarum aurium, ut probavit loannes PfefFer- 20
^^ repHcationes : lectures in wliich ^ Corn. Fenest. Allusion unknown.
the subjects dealt with were eluci- * hic : at Mainz, as it appears.
dated by copious arguments pro et ^ scientia scient. : also '^Ars
contra. Cf. — artium" ; see J. S. Mill, Logic
"Mvwillisthis,forplatconclusioun, ^^^^^^^^'^' ,, « . , VVithouten env repplicacioun." ^ fmoldo. feee i 1, n.
-Chauce'r, Knighfs Tale, 1)88. . J'71 ^"'; " ^' ^a^vrence hostel,
^ ^ ' ni the scnmerstrasse, Cologne.
" ;;roco??i;j. ; inorder to attend the ^^ quattuor : viz. Louvain, Erfurt,
prescribed number of lectures. Mainz, and Cologne.
31
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
korn, et magister noster Tungarus ; sed non est fun- datus in Theologia speculativa, nec qualificatus in Aristotele, aut Petro Hispano. Ideo magistri nostri in Parrhisia damnaverunt eum ad ignem vel reclama-
25 tionem.
Ego vidi litteram et sigillum domini Decani sacro- sanctae facultatis Theologicae Parrhisiensis. Unus magistrorum nostrorum valde profundus in sacra Theo- logia, et illuminatus in fide, qui est membrum quattuor
30 universitatum, et qui habet plus quam centum scribentes super Hbros sententiarum, in quibus se fundat, dixit manifeste quod praedictus doctor loannes Keuchhn non potest evadere. Et quod etiam Papa non audet dare sententiam contra talem solennissimam universi-
35 tatem, quia ipse non est Theologus, et beatum Thomam contra gentiles non intelligit, quamvis dicunt quod est doctus videlicet in poesi. Ostendit mihi magister noster qui est plebanus ad sanctum Martinum epis- tolam, in qua illa universitas sororij suae universitati
40 Coloniensi valde amicabihter promittit auxihum suum reahter cum efFectu. Et tamen isti latinisatores prae- sumunt tenere oppositum.
Ego sedi nuper Maguntiae in corona hospicio, ubi tribuhiverunt me valde indiscrete duo trufatores, et
45 vocaverunt magistros nostros in Parrhisia et Colonia fantasticos et stultos. Et dixerunt quod ipsorum hbri
^* Petr. Hisp. : Petrus Hispanus, ^^ contra gent. The Summa Contra
of Lisboii, a Dominican. With the Gentiles is divided into four books.
title of Johu XXI. he occupied the " Its principal practical aim, at
Papal throne for the last seveu tlie time it was written, was the
months of his life (1276-7). Amoug eulightenment of the Moors, the
his works are reckoued " Summulae Saracens, and the Jews of Spain ;
logicae," " Parva logicalia," and aud also to bring iuto promiuence
Thesaurus pauperum." Seei. \7,n. those arguments from reason for the
^^ Lihr. Sent. See i. 5, n. establishment of Christiauity which
^^ non est Theol. " Leo X.," says were beginuiug to be uudermiued by
Fra Paolo, " displayed a siuguhir the ratioualistic spirit of the age."
proficieucy in polite literature. . . . The Life and Lahours ofSaiut Thomas
fle wouhi, iudeed, have beeu a per- of Aquin, by Archbishop ^'aughau,
fect pontiff, if to these accomplish- London, 1875, p. 473.
ments lie had united some kuowledge '^ plehanus : parish priest : " Sacer-
in matters of religiou, and a greater dos (jui plebi praeest," I)u Cange ;
iuclination to piety." Erasmus, it is /Ve/vc*, meaiiiug " parish." Probably
true, lauds Leo's atteution to theo- the Bartholomew (Zehender) of ii.
logy, amongst his other studies. But 55.
Erasmus was uot free from obliga- ^^ S. Martinum : the cathedral at
tious to the pontiff. See T. Roscoe, Mainz.
Thc Life of Leo X., chap. xxiv. ** trufatores. See i. 6, n.
32
1 iij CORNELIUS FENESTRIFICIS
super sententias essent fantasiae ; similiter processus, copulata, reparationes omnium bursarum dixerunt quod essent vanitates. Tunc fui ita iratus quod non scivi respondere. Cum hoc etiam vexaverunt me, quod feci oo passagium ad Treverim ad videndum tunicam domini, quia dixerunt quod fortassis non esset tunica domini. Et probaverunt sic per Cornutum syllogismum: "Quic- quid est laceratum, non debet ostendi pro tunica domini: sed illa est talis : ergo etc." 55
Tunc ego concessi maiorem, sed negavi minorem. Tunc probaverunt sic : " 13eatus Hieronymus dicit : ' Vetusto oriens collisus errore tunicam domini incon- sutilem desuper contextam per totum minutatim dis- cerpsit per frusta.' " Et ego respondi, quod sanctus 00 Hieronymus non est de stilo evangelii, nec immodicite ex apostolis ; et sic surrexi de mensa et reliqui illos trufatores.
" processus : methodological treat-
ises compiled for the use of students
at the various hostels, according to
the views tliey severally affected.
- copulata : compilations from the
writings of various autliors upon a single subject. Novices, who had to study these, were hence called '^ copulatistae." See ii. 35.
- reparationes : the sume as " Sum-
mae." Panzer, i. p. 808 (228).
^^ Treverini. The venerable relic known as the Holy Coat of Treves is preserved in the Cathedral. Accord- ing to tradition it was deposited there by St. Helena (claimed by the Germans as a native of a village — Euren — near Treves), about A.n. 327- Trithemius, writing in 1512 (the date of the tirst recorded " exposition " of the relic), states that he had heard as a boy that the coat was deposited for safety under the High Altar by Pope John in 1196. But the relic has had many vvanderings. In 16-40 it was removed for safety to Cologne, in 1667 to Ehrenbreitstein, and in 1759 back to Treves. A\'e next hear of it successively at Ehrenbreitstein once more, AVurzburg, Bamberg, and Augsburg. In 1810, however, it was restored to Treves by Napoleon's orders. It was exhibited in 1844, and again ia 1891, on which last
occasion nearlj' 2,000,000 pilgrims
availed themselves of the opportunity
of seeing it.
^^ Corn. sylL: a cornute, or cera- tine, argument is a dilemma. The classical instance is that quoted in Diogenes Laertius, vii. 187 : "What you have not cast away, you have ; you have not cast your horus — there- fore you have horns."
^' Hieron. : St. Jerome's metaphor, humorously treated as literal by the " duo trufatores," is to be found in the Epp. ad Damasum, xv. : "Quoniam vetusto Oriens inter se populorum furore collisus, indiscissam domini tunicam, et desuper textam, minut- atim per frusta discerpit."
^* inconsutilem. This adjective is never used except in this connec- tion. Trithemius relates that witliin the chest containing the relic was found the inscription : " Haec est inconsutilis sacra Domini et Salva- toris nostri Jesu Christi (tunica)." And in the Breviary of Treves there is a hymn beginning : —
" O vestis iuconsutilis, Pro dulci nato Virginis — "
See A Pilgrimage to the Holy Coat of Treves, by R. F. Clarke, S.J., London, 1892.
33
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM yiRORUM
Vos debetis scire quod tam irreverentialiter loquuntur
65 de magistris nostris, et doctoribus illuminatis in fide,
quod certe de facto possunt esse excommunicati a papa
Si scirent curtisani, ipsi citarent eos ad curiam romanam,
et impetrarent eorum beneficia, vel saltem tribularent
eos cum expensis. Quis unquam audivit, quod sim-
70 plices socii, in nuUa facultate promoti vel qualificati,
deberent vexare tam eximios viros, in omni profecto
scibili profundissimos, ut sunt magistri nostri ? Sed ipsi
superbiunt propter sua metra. Ego etiam scio facere
metra et dictamina, quia legi etiam novum latinum
75 idioma magistri Laia'entii Corvini, et grannnaticam
Brassicani, et Valerium JMaximmn, et alios poetas.
Et compilavi nuper in via eundo unum dictamen metricum contra istos hoc modo : —
Sunt Maguntiae in publica Corona, 80 In (]ua nuper dorniivi in propria persona,
Duo indiscreti bufones
In magistros irreverentiales nebulones,
Qui audent repreliendere magistros in Theologia,
Quamvis ipsi non sunt promoti in Philosophia ; 85 Nec sciunt in scholis formaliter disputare,
Et ex una conchisione multa corollaria formare ;
Ut docet fundamentaliter doctor subtihs :
Qui contemnit eum est multum vilis :
'* Corinui: Luurentius C"orviuus, burger, of ('anstadt. (Not to be con-
1405-1527^ born at Neumarkt founded with his niore emiuent son,
(Silesia), and hence styled Nnvo- iloannes Alexander.) His liistitutiones
Jbremis. His " De Latiuo Y(Ho- (ilrarnntnticae was pub. at Strasburg
mate," to judge l)y the nunierous in L50H, ami often reprinted. He
edilions, was very popular as an lectured on grammar and pbilo-
eleincutary text-book. Tbis httle sopliy at Tiibingen, and died c. ^520.
book contains di.-dogues between Aniong sonie verses iutroductory to
various interlocutors — t irillus, rani- the "Gram. Instit." (ed. \b\2) this
pliilus, &c. A brief extract will give couplet occurs : — an idea of the vahie of tbe work for
the student who would fain inal\e In Osores.
" nietra ct dictamina" :— _^ .. Hrassica si nuibus ingrata est, Nas-
Cir. "Qu(. properas, lamphile. turcia rodant,
Pam. " Ad fonnn pergam." _ y^^ ^,,..,^- j^jg ^j,,,^^ Car(huisat(iue fihx."
Cir. "Quid in toro ."icturiis es r '
l'am. " Socer nieus liesterno ves- "'^ Va/. Max. Tbe "Factorum-
peri duos niihi dono dedit obulos. «lue Dictorunique Memoral)iHum
Uuuni pro paue albo ; alterum pro Libri IX. " of ^'aleriiis Maximus —
butyro ut dareni. . . ." a series of miscellaiieous bistorical
Cir. " \'aciius niibi venter vehe- anecdotes — seeiiis to have been very
menter crepitat. Uno m)n ero con- ])opular in the (Jerman universities.
tentus j)ane." Kditions were very immerous.
" /iras-.sic. : Joaunes Hrassicanus, "* poeta.s : here, Classics."
the Latinised form of Jobaun Kobl- " doct. snbt. : Duns Scotus.
34
I 11] CORNELIUS FENESTRIFICIS
Ut concludunt quotlibeta doctoris irrefragabilis,
Qui est in scientiis non expugnabilis : 90
Et non sciunt quid est doctor Seraphicus,
Sine quo nullus fit bonus phisicus :
Et qui veraciter scribit, doctor sanctus,
In Aristotele et Porphyrio tantus,
Quod sohis recte exponit quinque universalia, 95
Quae dicuntur etiam quinque praedicabiUa :
() quam breve continuat libros praedicamentales
Et summat Aristotelis sententias morales.
Quae omnia non intelligunt poetae :
Ideo loquuntur ita indiscrete, 100
Ut isti duo praesumptuosi trufatores,
Qui vocant magistros nostros osores ;
Sed magister noster de Hochstrat debet eos citare,
Tunc non amplius audebunt illuminatos vexare.
Valete et saliitate mihi cum magna reverentia 105 dominos meos magistrum nostrum Arnoldum de Tun- garis, et magistrum nostrum Remigium, et magistrum Valentinum de Gelterssheim, et dominum lacobum de Ganda ordinis praedicatorum poetam subtilissimum, et aUos. 110
- ' doct. irrefrag. : Alexauder of
Hales, a native of Gloucestershire, who hecame Professor of Philosophy and Theology in Paris, ultimately joining the Franciscan Order. He died A.n. 1245. His chief work is the " Summa Universa Tlieologiae." He was an uncompromising supporter of Papal supremacy, and consistently intolerant of all heretics.
'^ doct. Seraph. : GiovAnui diFidenza, better known as St. Bonaventura — the glory of the Franciscan Order, whose general he became in 1256. Tlie fervid writings of St. Bona- ventura are mainly concerned with mystical theology, appealing not at all to the " Bonus phisicus."
^^ doct. sunct. : Thomas Aquinas.
®* Porph.: Porphyry, originally Mnlchus, was one of the most eminent of the neo-Platonists. He was the pupil of Longinus and
Plotinus, and teacher of lamblichus.
His chief work, now lost, was directed
against Christianity, but among the
schoolmen his fame rested chiefly on
his Isagoge.
- ^ contirmat : " makes a running
commentary on." The "Contiuuum" of Thomas Aquinas was, however, on the Gospels.
°* summat: "epitomises." Aquinas wrote a commentarv on Aristotle's " Fthics."
- poetae: here, "humanists."
^"^ osores. See note, 1. 74, snpra.
10« Vai. de Gelt. See i. 7, n.
^°* Ganda: i.e. Gouda. Jacobus Gaudensis, a Dominican, was a man of sound learniug, mentioned eulogis- tically on one occasiou by UJrich von Hutten {querelar., ii. 10, 181-4). Among his writings are : Erarinm Aureum, Sticho/ogia Gaudensis, and Correctorium Bibliae.
35
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
XII
•E M, HILTBRANDUS MAMMACEUS S. D. 31. Ortvino
AMICISSIME domine Ortvine, non possum iam /\ scribere eleganter epistolam secundum praecepta
5 quae scribuntur in modo epistolandi, quia hoc tempus non permittit, sed oportet breviter et statim manifestare paucis verbis quid est, quia habeo expedire casum unum vobiscum, qui est mirabihs, et est tahs res. ^"os debetis intelhgere quod hic est terribihs fama, et omnes dicunt
10 quod in curia romana causa magistrorum nostrorum male stat, quia dicunt quod Papa vult autentizare sententiam quae ante annum lata est in Spira pro doctore Reuchhn. Quando audivi tunc ita timui quod non potui ahquod verbum dicere, et fui sicut mutus,
15 et per duas noctes non dormivi. Quia amici Reuchhn gaudent et vadunt ubique seminantes istam famam : et ego non crederem nisi vidissem unam htteram unius magistri nostri de ordine praedicatorum, in qua scripsit cum magna tristitia iham novitatem. Et cum hoc
20 scripsit quod Papa permisit quod Specuhim oculare debet in curia romana imprimi, et mercatores debent vendere, et omnis homo debet legere. Et magister noster Hochstratusvoluit exire curiam romanam etvoluit iurare paupertatem, tunc iudices non vohierunt eum
25 dimittere. Sed dixerunt quod debet expectare hnem, et quod non potest iurare paupertatem, quia intravit Urbem Romam cum tribus equis, et in curia romana
- in modo ejnst.: one of the For- that the Augensjiiegel was not her-
mularies, or " scientitic " treatises etical, ancl that Hoogstraten should
on the art of composing formal pay the costs of the appeah Cf. i. 18.
letters — a most elaborate proccss. " exire,&c. Hutten writes to Ger-
The parts of a letter were five : (1) bellius from Bologna, July 31, 1516,
Salutatio, (2) exordium, (3) nar- " Be of good cheer concerning
ratio, (4) petitio, (5) conclusio. See Reuchlin; liis deliverance is at hand;
Palacky, l^eher FormelbiJchcr, in Hoogstraten, drained of all the funds
Ahhdll. d. Biihm. Ges. der Wissensch., with which he had hoped to win the
V. 2, 5 ; and Kockinger, Ueber Brief- day, has achieved nothing — and,
steller iind Fonnclbiicher . . . des hungry wolf that he is — is on the
Mittclalters., 18G1. point of slinking off in dejection and
'* sentcntimi : i.e. the decision of poverty." Hutt. Ojip. (ed. Bocking),
the Bp. of Spires, March 2i), 1514, i. 106.
36
I 12] HILTBRANDUS MAMMACEU8
habuit commensales, et exposuit magnas pecunias, et propinavit Cardinalibus, et Episcopis, et auditoribus consistorii multa munera, et propterea non debet iurare 30 paupertatem. O sancta JMaria, quid volumus nunc facere, si Theologia ita spernitur, quod unus iurista debet praevalere omnes Theologos ? Ego credo quod Papa non est bonus christianus, qui si esset bonus christianus, tunc esset impossibile quod non teneret 35 cum Theologis. Sed etiam si Papa dat sententiam contra Theologos, tunc videtur mihi quod debet fieri appellatio ad concihum, quia concihum est supra Papam, et in conciho Theologi habent praevalentiam super ahas facultates : tunc spero quod dominus dabit benignitatem 40 et respiciet famulos suos Theologos, et non pmittit quod inimicus noster supergaudeat nos, et dabit nobis gratiam spiritussancti quod possumus superare falh- moniam istorum haereticorum. Quidam iurista nuper dixit hic quod est fatatum, quod ordo praedicatorum 45 debet perire, et quod ex illo ordine debent venire maxima scandala in fidem Christi, sicut non audita sunt prius : et dixit ubi legit illam prophetiam. Sed absit quod hoc sit verum. Quia ille ordo est utihs, et si ille ordo non esset, tunc nescio quomodo staret 50 theologia, quia semper praedicatores sunt profundiores in theologia, quam minores vel Augustinenses, et tenent viam doctoris sancti, qui tamen nunquam erravit. Et etiam ipsi habuerunt multos sanctos in suo ordine, et sunt audaces in disputatione contra haereticos. Ego 55 miror quare magister noster lacobus de Hochstraten non potest iurare paupertatem ; tamen est de ordine mendicantium qui manifeste sunt pauperes. Si non timerem excommunicationem, ego vellem dicere quod papa erraret ibi. Et non credo quod hoc est verum, eo quod ipse exposuit sic pecunias, et dedit propinas, quia
- supra. " Scarce a Couucil ever who as Scotists were opposed to the
met which did not leave the Pope Dominicans, who were Thoniists.
weaker than it found him." Julius ^^ August. Several religious orders
E.rclusus, Paris, 1513. Cf. C. Beard, were at different times called Augus-
Hibbert Lectures, 1883, p. 12. tinians. The Order here intended is
" gratiam, &c. : Acts x. 45. ^^^^ «{ ^^e Austin Friars (Begging
Hermits, or Hermits or ot. Augus- fallimmiiam. Xot elsewhere tine), one of tlie four Mendicant lound. Orders estahlished under a deiinite
'"• minores: i.e. the Franciscans, Rule iu tlie Xllltli Cent.
37
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
est vir valde zelosus ; et credo quod isti iuristae et alii fingunt talia, et doctor Reuchlin scit ipsis ita blandiri, quia etiam audivi quod multae civitates, et multi
C5 principes, ac domini scripserunt pro eo. Et est ratio, quia non sunt in theologia instructi, et non inteUigunt factum : alias permitterent istum haereticum habere diabolum, quia est contra fidem, etiam si totus mundus diceret contrarium. Vos debetis ista statim manifestare
70 magistris nostris in Colonia, quod sciunt capere con- sihum. Et scribatis mihi quid volunt facere. Et valete in Christo.
Datum in Tubinga.
XIII
€L 31. CONRADUS DE ZUICCAVIA
S. n. 31. Ortvino
SICUT scripsistis mihi quod non ampHus curatis illas levitates, et non amphus vultis amare mulieres, vel
5 supponere, nisi in mense semel, aut bis, ego miror quod taha scribitis. Tamen ego scio contrarium. Est hic unus socius qui nuper venit ex Colonia, et bene est vobis notus, et fuit etiam semper ibi vobiscum. Ipse dicit quod supponitis uxorem loannis Pfefferkorn : et
10 dixit mihi veraciter, et iuravit, et ego credo etiam. Quia vos estis valde amicabihs, et etiam scitis dare bona verba. Et cum hoc scitis perfecte artem amandi ex Ovidio. Etiam dixit mihi quidam mercator, quod dicunt Coloniae quod magister noster Arnoldus de
15 Tungaris etiam supponit eam ; sed hoc non verum, quia ego scio veraciter quod ipse adhuc est virgo, et
- audwi quod, itc. Ileuchlin hini- ^* virgo. In some verses appended
self, in a letter to Leo X., .Jiine V^, to the "Lamentationes Obscurorum
1515, mentions among his active Virorum " Joannes Murmellius
supporters the Kmperor Maximilian, (1479-1517) says of Arnold von
the Rishops of JStrasburg and Con- Tongern : —
stance, the Elector Frederick of ,, ,^ . . , ...
c r-i • 1, lA 1 cwT 4. u ii.xternas cu us longe pervenit m
baxony, L Inch, Duke of »v urtemburg , , •' ^ f
(Masterof theTeutonic()i"der), tifteen vt .. • • • c j-
•4. j ui 4. /• ^' / X i \ j Nomen, et insisins lama pudi-
mitred abbots (?/(/?//«»; (7e.v/«?//«.s), and .• .• "
fifty-three burgs {(•ivitate.s) in Swabia.
^' Ovidio. h\ i. 9 Conrad also twits Murmellius liad been a pupil of A.
Ortwin witli being an authority on von T., and in his " Scoparius,"
Ovid. written sliortly before his death, he
38
I 13] CONRADUS DE ZUICCAVIA
quod iiunciuam tetigit unam mulierem. Sed etiam si fecisset, vel faceret sicut non credo, tamen non esset propterea ita malus, quia humanum est errare. Vos multum scribitis mihi de isto peccato, quod non est 20 maius peccatum in mundo, et allegatis multas scripturas. Ego scio bene quod iion est bonum : sed tamen etiam in sacra scriptura reperitur, quod ahqui sic peccaverunt, et tamen fuerunt salvati. Sicut Samson qui dormivit cum una meretrice, et tamen postea spiritus domini 25 irruit in eum. Et possum contra vos arguere sic : " Quisquis non est malevolus, recipit spiritumsanctum : sed Samson non est malevolus : ergo recipit spiritum- sanctum." Maiorem probo, quia scriptum est : " In malevolam animam non introibit spiritus sapientiae ; " 30 sed spiritussanctus est spiritus sapientiae ; ergo. Minor patet, quia si illud peccatum fornicationis esset ita malum, tunc spiritus domini non irruisset in Samson, sicut patet in libro ludicum. Etiam legitur de Salo- mone, quod habuit trecentas reginas, et concubinarum 35 non fuit numerus ; et ipse fuit maximus fornicator usque ad mortem suam : et tamen doctores communiter concludunt quod est salvatus. Quid nunc videtur vobis ? Ego non sum fortior quam Samson, et non sum sapientior Salomone, et ergo oportet ahquando 40 habere unam laetitiam. Quia, ut dicunt medici, hoc valet contra melancoliam. Ah quid dicitis de istis seriosis patribus ? tamen dicit Ecclesiastes : " Et de- prehendi nihil esse mehus quam laetari hominem in opere suo." 45
Quapropter ego dico cum Salomone ad amicam meam : " Vulnerasti cor meum, soror mea, sponsa mea ; vulnerasti cor meum in uno oculorum tuorum, et in uno crine colli tui. Quam pulchrae sunt mammae
says : " Let us shun, as tliough they " Yet Sampson was so tempted ; and
were a pestilence, those execrahle he had an excellent strength : yet
and barharous ' Epistolae ' anathe- was Soloraon so seduced ; and he had
matised by the sovereign Pontiff." a very good wit." Loces Labours
D. Reichling, J)e Joan. Murm. Vit. et Lost, i. 2.
Script., Monast., 1870. ^* fortior, &c. A similar remark
-* Samson : Judges xvi. is attributed to Aeneas Sylvius ; viz.
^' scriptum est : VVisdom i. 4. " nec sanctior sum David rege^ uec
^* Salomone. Conrad underesti- Salomone sapientior."
mates the extent of the monarch's *' Eccles. : iii. 12, 22.
harem. See 1 Kings xi. 3. Cf. " Salomone: Cantic. iv. 9, 10.
39
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
50 tuae, soror mea, sponsa mea. Pulchriora sunt ubera tua vino," et cetera. Per deum, valde iucundum est amare mulieres, secundum illud carmen Samuelis poetae : —
Disce, bone clerice, virgines amare, 55 Quia sciunt dulcia oscula praestare,
luventutem floridam tuam conservare.
" Quia amor est charitas, et deus est charitas, ergo amor non mahi res : " solvatis mihi iUud argumentum. Etiam dicit Salomon : " Si dederit homo omnem sub-
00 stantiam domus suae pro dilectione, quasi nihil despiciet eam." Sed permittamus ista, et veniamus ad aha. Rogastis me quod deberem vobis nova significare : ergo sciatis quod iam in carnisprivio fuit hic magna laetitia. Et fuit hastihidium, et princeps met equitavit
65 in foro, et habuit pulchrum equinn, et pulchrum an- dallum desuper, in quo fuit picta una muher cum magno ornatu, et iuxta ipsam sedit quidam iuvenis in crispis crinibus, qui organizavit ei secundam psahiiistam : " luvenes et virgines, senes cum iunioribus laudent
70 nomen domini." Et quando princeps venit in civi- tatem, tunc universitas intronisavit eum cum magna processione, et cives braxaverunt multam cerevisiam, et popinauerut dulcia cibaria, et bene dapiverunt principem et omnes curiales. Et postea chorizave-
75 runt, et ego steti in uno conspicello quod potui videre. Non scio plura, quam quod opto vobis omnia bona : et Valete in nomine domini.
Ex LlPTZICK.
^^ Sa>iiue/is. These verses are to he aspiduni venenis." Tliere is a copy
found iu the he Fir/c ('(tnciiliinaruin in the Brit. Mus. of '■'■ Mon/c Rn/i/o,
of Paulus Olearius, with tlie addition Sainuc/ (/c, Sinonoitia partium inde-
of a fourth, vi/.^ — cliuabilinm. (. 14'J0)."
" Pulchram et amabilem j^rolem pro- '" Sa/onion : Cantic. viii. 7.
creare." "^^ jani : apparently in 1515.
,„ , ., I» i>> .1 ^" anda//nni : for an/c//uni, liouslner
Samuel the 1 oet anpears to ue ^ , .< lw . n i i. •
. , ,. , .T, c. 11 Ai i of a liorse. hst antflla (luod est m
identical with hamuel ue iMonte , , i .• jj i,n ,> .,
,' X ,. 1- I • 1 i. 1 • I' pectore (iiiadruTicdantis. hbr. lieth.,
Rutilo (/.c. ol liichtenberi^, ni In-an- ^..^^ • ' m
• \ li c 1 X i i> i T . (<raccis.,c. 1().
conia), tiius referred to by lielielnis; • •. ../^
"Vaptur ctiam hiuci.ide per Ger- '^ or,,(mizav, : Or^ano cantare.
maniani quidain Samuel ineptiarum orfrelen : i nd.
plemis niultos barbarismos seminans, '" l>ra.rarcrun/ : " Hra.va/or, ein
nihil docens, praeter incultos rhvth- ^'yer bruwer ; /ira.iinni, wurrz, new
mos ((juos dicimus) facere, et " re- liyer." (k-nnna (icinmaruni, Argent,
liquas I..atinae liiifruae calamitates, a lo05.
quibus precor caveas, tanquam ali "* dajnreriin/. Notelsewherefound.
40
XIV
€E 31. lOANNES KRABACIUS S. D. M. Oi^tvino Gratio
EXCELLENS vir, secundum quod fui ante duos annos vobiscum in Colonia, et vos dixistis mihi quod semper deberem vobis scribere ubicunque essem, 5 sic iam notifico vobis quod audivi de morte unius excel- lentissimi Theologi, qui vocatur magister noster Heck- man de Franconia, qui fuit unus principalis vir, et tempore meo fuit ibi rector, et fuit profundus argumen- tator in via Scoti, et fuit inimicus omnium poetarum lo saecularium, et fuit vir zelosus et libenter celebravit missas ; et quando tenuit rectoratum Viennae, tunc servavit supposita in magno rigore, et fuit laudabilis. Semel venit unus socius ex IVloravia, quando ego fui Viennae, qui debet esse poeta et scripsit etiam metra, is et voluit legere artem metrificandi, et non fuit intitu- latus. Tunc ipse magister noster Heckman prohibuit ei, et ipse fuit ita praetensus quod non voluit curare mandatum eius ; tunc rector prohibuit suppositis quod non deberent visitare eius lectionem ; tunc ille ribaldus 20 accessit rectorem et dixit ei multa superba dicta, et tibisavit eum : tunc ipse misit pro famuHs civitatis et
' Heckmaji: Johaun Heckmanii was state of destitution, journeyed by way
Rector of the Univ. of Vienna in of Bohemia and Mora\ ia to Vienna.
1507, 1510, and 1515. He is men- That city already heki many sup-
tioned in ii. 9 as havingsaved " Philip porters of the Nevv Learning. Va-
SchiaurafF" from incarceration. dianus (Joachim von U'att), Peter
» iln : at Vienna— as appears from Eberbach of Erfurt, and others lived
the context there in a contuherniiim, or com-
^» Scotu AtheologiantoldErasmus "^""'^y i^^^^^^^^ °^' Ij^ «cholars),
that " nine years of study would not ^'jf ^cCmlt h en"'b KraTaduT- ' enable me to uuderstand the preface u ui r f j :• i. u i.u- '
^fu^ 4. 4. ij 1. r u 1 >» /-. probablv rounded on lact ; be this as
or ocotusto Peter Lombard. Comm, V. ' tr ix jj i • l j
rp- .1 ■ ^ it may, Hutten suddenly vanished
' ■ from Vieuna in the autumn of 1511.
supposita : almost equivalent to i6 intitulatus: enrolled as a member
undergraduates," those under ^f the Uuiversitv, matriculated.
authonty, scholars. In i. 44, " sup- 22 tibisavit : Ger. duzen, ¥r. tutotfer,
Positi. f^to thee and thou." Cf. " If thou
" socius: i.e. Ulrich von Hutten. thou'st him some thrice, it shall not
In the summer of 1511 Hutteii, in a be amiss." Twelfth Xight, iii. 2.
41
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
voluit eum incarcerare quia fuit magnum scandalum quod simplex socius deberet tibisare unum rectorem
25 universitatis qui est magister noster ; et cum hoc ego audio quod ille socius neque est baccalaurius neque magister, nec est aliquo modo qualificatus seu graduatus, et incessit sicut bellator, vel qui vult ambulare ad bellum, et habuit pileum et longum cultrum in latere.
30 Sed per deum ipse fuisset incarceratus si non habuisset notos in civitate. Ego doleo maxime si est verum quod ille vir est defunctus, quia fecit mihi multa bona quando fui Viennae ; et propterea feci ei epitaphium tale : —
Qui iacet in tumulis, fuit inimicus poetiSj 35 Et voluit eos expellere, (juando voluerunt hic practicare,
Sicut nuper unus socius, qui non fuit intitulatus, Veniens ex Moravia, et docens facere metra : Quem voluit incarcerare, propter suum tibisare : Sed quia nunc est mortuus, in Vienna sepultus, 40 Dicatis bis vel ter, pro eo Pater noster.
Fuit hic nuncius qui portavit nova quae sunt mala si sunt vera, quod causa vestra non bene stat in curia romana ; sed ego non credo, quia isti nuncii dicunt etiam multa mendacia. Poetae bene murmurant hic
45 contra vos, et dicunt quod volunt defendere doctorem Reuchhn cum suis carminibus ; sed quia vos etiam estis poeta quando vultis, credo quod bene manebitis prae ipsis. Tamen debetis mihi scribere quomodo stat nego- cium. Si tunc possum adiuvare vos, tunc habebitis me
50 fidelem socium et adiutorem.
Valete ex Nurenberga.
^" ArtyTa/«/rr/».s. Tlie Ilumanistsdis- ^^ il/c rir : i.e. Heckniann.
dained acadeniical deffrees because si (^,,,-^ ^^^ 'j^jjg ^^yjg of tl,jg
they despised tlie Universities tliat ei^itapli seems imitate<l from that in
^ranted thein. .Johaini Linilliol/., /;^, (Umcrihm Ehriofiornm (ed. 1643,
Dean of the Kaculty of Philosophy p. 42»), hefriniuMfr : " Hic jacet ille,
at Fr;mkf(.rt-()ii-()der, dechired that ,jui f„it unus iiiter mille," and end-
lie conferred the detj-roe of Bachelor 1,,^^,. . ■< Dieentes humiliter tria lig-
on Ilutten : this tlie latter deiiicd. nea Pater noster."
See iitra.Uiis, Lifc of r, ron U., irnns. .. ^. , , ,
h,, Sturgc, p. 28". " imirfirarc: to lecture upon.
■'^ iiofo.s : i.c. \'adiaiuis, Ahhauser, *' inaiichifis prae: Ger. ficstehen
aiid others of the Coutuberiiium. vor, to excel, or overcome.
42
XV
€E GUILHELMUS SCHERSCLEIFFERIUS S. D. M. Ortvino
VALDE miror, venerabilis vir, qiiare mihi non scribitis, et tanien scribitis aliis qui non scribunt vobis ita saepe sicut ego scribo vobis. Si estis inimicus 5 meus quod non vultis mihi amplius scribere, tunc scri- batis mihi tamen quare non vultis mihi ampHus scribere, ut sciam quare mihi non scribitis, cum ego semper scribo vobis, sicut etiam nunc scribo vobis, quamvis scio quod non eritis mihi rescribere. Verumtamen oro vos prae- lo cordialiter quod velitis mihi tamen scribere, et quando semel scripsistis mihi, tunc ego volo vobis decies scribere, quia Hbenter scribo amicis meis, et volo me exercitare in scribendo, ita quod possum eleganter dictamina et epistolas scribere. Ego non possum cogitare quid est i5 in causa quod non scribitis mihi. Et conquestus sum nuper quando hic fuerunt ahqui Colonienses, et interro- gavi : " Quid facit tamen magister Ortvinus, quod non scribit mihi ? Ipse non scripsit mihi in duobus annis ; dicatis tamen ei quod scribat mihi, quia Hbentius vellem 20 suas litteras legere, quam mel comedere ; et ipse fuit olim amicus principaUs." Et interrogavi etiam quomodo transit vobis in ilhi hte cum doctore Reuchhn. Tunc dixerunt quod ille iurista scit vos circumducere cum sua arte. Tunc optavi quod dominus deus veht dare vobis 25 suam gratiam quod eritis victor. Si vultis mihi scribere, tunc etiam debetis mihi de illo scribere, quia vellem hbenter scire. Isti luristae vadunt hic et dicunt : " Doctor Reuchhn habet bonum negocium, et Theologi in Colonia fecerunt ei iniuriam." Et per deum ego timeo 30 quod ecclesia potest in scandalum venire, si ille hber Speculum oculare non comburitur, quia habet multas propositiones irreverentiales, et contra fidem cathohcam. Et si non cogitur ille iurista ad revocationem, tunc aUi etiam tentabunt sic scribere in Theologia, quamvis non 35
^" eritis . , . rescrihere. This mode paralleled by " ero invenire," ii. 70, of forming a future tense may be aiid " erit acquirere," ii. 67.
43
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
sciunt, et iieque studuerunt in via Thomae, neque in via Alberti neque Scoti ; et etiam non sunt illuminati in fide per gratiam spiritussancti. Quia luiusquis^iue debet manere in facultatc sua, et non debet mittere falcem in
40 messem alterius. Quia sutor est sutor et sartor est sartor, et faber est faber. Et non staret bene si unus sartor vellet faccre calceos vel stamulta. Vos debetis audacter defendere vos et sacram Theologiam, et etiam ego orabo deum pro vobis, quod velit vobis tribuere
45 gratiam suam, et iiluminare vcstrum intellectum, sicut fecit antiquis patribus, ne diabolus praevaleat cum suis servitoribus contra iustitiam. Sed scribitis mihi tamen propter deum quomodo statis : vos facitis mihi magnam angustiam et non indigetis. Sed pro nunc commendo
5u vos domino deo. \"alete in Christo.
Untum Fhanckkuroiae.
XVI
fE MATTHAEUS MELLILAMBIUS
S. n. 31. Orfvnto Gra.
QUONIAMQUIDEIM semper fui amicus vcstraedo- minationis ct procuravi vestrum bonum : ergo ctiam
5 nunc volo vos in vestris adversitatibus cavisare, et volo in vestra fortuna esse laetus, et in infortunio tristis : ([uia vos cstis amicus meus, et cum amicis debenms esse laeti quando laetantur, et contristari quando tristantur, ut scribit Tulhus, (piamvis est gentilis et poeta. Igitur
10 manifcsto vobis quod liic habetis unum inimicum valde maUtiosum, (jui dicit multa vituperia contra domina- tioncm vestram ; et praesupponit multa extollens se in superbia sua, ct dicit coram omnibus quod cstis spurius, et mater vestra est merctrix, et pater vester presbyter.
^^ liL ria ThoiiKir, S:c. The scliuol ■'•' lum drhrt, itc. It is notewtirthy
ot' tlic Alliertists (followers of AHier- that tliis proverb, of iiiicertiiiii orifjiii,
tus Ma^nuis) was aii oifshoot of tlic. occurs iii a lctter of (Votus lluliiaiius,
Thoniists, froin wliose doctriiies tlieir dated Jan. '2<), lal4 (? 1515).
own «liffeml liut little. The Alher- , Meiniamhius : " licker of honev ";
ti>ts an.l 1 homists were in tlieolo-y .^ ., ,i,..^,. ;. |,„t the allusion is
idcntitied witli the Doiniincans, anu ,,j,^(.iire th(i Scotists witli the Kranciscans.
See ii. 45. " TalHas: ratlier, Koni. xii. 15.
44
I 16] MATTHAEUS MELLILAMBIUS
'J'unc ego steti pro vobis, et dixi : " domine baccalaurie, i5 vel quaiiter estis qualificatus, vos estis adhuc juvenis et non deberetis vituperare magistros. Quia, ut scriptum habetur in evangelio : ' Non est discipulus super magis- trum.' S5 vos estis adhuc discipulus, et dominus Ortvinus est magister octo vel decem annorum ; et ergo 20 non estis sufficiens ad vituperandum unum magistrum vel virum in tali dignitate constitutum ; alias etiam invenietis aliquem qui vituperabit vos, etiam si essetis adhuc ita superbus. Vos debetis habere verecundiam, et non facere taha." Tunc ipse dixit : " Ego loquor 25 veritatem, et scio probare dicta mea et non volo vos respicere, quia Ortvinus est spurius, et quidam lans- mannus suus dixit mihi pro vero, quia novit ejus parentes, et etiam ego volo scribere hoc doctori Reuchlin, quia adhuc non scit. Sed quare velletis me vituperare ? 30 \'os nihil scitis de me." Tunc ego dixi : "Ecce, domini socii, iste praetendit se esse sanctum, quia dicit quod non potest vituperari et quod nihil mali fecit, sicut ille pharisaeus qui dixit quod ieiunaret bis in sabbato." Tunc ipse fuit iratus et dixit : " Ego non dico quod non 35 peccavi, quia hoc esset contra psalmistam qui dicit ' Omnis homo mendax,' et exponit glosa ' id est pecca- tor.' Sed dixi quod non debetis seu potestis me vitupe- rare quantum ad generationem de patre et matre. Sed Ortvinus est spurius et non est legitimus : ergo est 40 vituperabilis, et ego volo eum vituperare in aeternum." Tunc ego dixi : " non faciatis, quia dominus Ortvinus est excellens vir et potest se defendere." Ipse vero dixit adhuc plura scandala de matre vestra, quod sacer- dotes et monachi et equestres et rustici in campo et in 45 stabulo, et alibi supposuerunt eam. Et ego habui ita magnam verecundiam quod non creditis. Sed non possum vos defendere, quia non vidi patrem vestrum et matrem : quamvis credo firmiter quod sunt honesti et probi. Sed scribatis mihi quomodo est : tunc ego volo 50 seminare vestram laudem hic. Etiam dixi sibi : " vos non debetis talia dicere, quia ponamus casum quod magister Ortvinus sit spurius, tamen fortassis est legiti- matus ; et si legitimatus, tunc non est amplius spurius,
^* S'^ : A and B, " sed " C. ^' lansmannns. See i. 1, v.
^* pharisaens : Luke xviii, 12.
45
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
55 quia summus pontifex habet potestatem ligandi et sol- vendi, et potest unum spurium facere legitimum, et econtra. Sed ego volo probare ex evangelio, quod estis dignus vituperari. Quia scriptum est : ' qua mensura mensuraveritis, eadem mensurabitur et vobis.' Sed vos
60 mensuratis mensura vituperationis : ergo etiam sic debet mensurari vobis. Etiam probo per aliud : quia dicitur a domino nostro lesu Christo : ' Nohte iudicare ne iudi- cemini : ' sed vos iudicatis aUos et vituperatis eos : ergo etiam debetis iudicari et vituperari." Tunc ipse dixit quod
65 mea argumenta sunt frascariae et non habent efFectum. Et fuit ita contumax quod dixit, Etiam si papa fecisset unum fiHum extra matrimonium, et postea legitimaret eum, quod tamen coram deo non esset legitimus, sed ipse vellet eum tenere pro spurio. Ego credo quod
70 diabolus est in istis ribaldis quod ita vituperant vos. Quapropter scribatis mihi quod possum vestrum hono- rem defendere : quia esset scandalum quod doctor Reuchlin sciret de vobis quod essetis spurius. Sed dato quod sitis, tamen ille non potest sufficienter probare, et
75 si videtur vobis bonum, tunc volumus citare ipsum ad curiam romanam, et cogere quod debet facere revoca- tionem, sicut sciunt iuristae concludere ; et possumus eum facere irreguhirem, et per procuratorem possumus tribulare eum, et accipere eius beneficia si incurrerit
80 irregularitatem, quia habet unum canonicatum hic Maguntiae, et unam parrochiam ahbi. Et non habeatis mihi pro malo quod scribam quid audivi, quia puto optime. Et valete in domino deo qui custodiat omnes vias vestras.
85 Datum Maguntiae.
^" /egitiniuni: e.g.in 1513 Giulio de' vi. 37; V\i]g., "nolite judicare, ut iion
Medici was declared legitimate by jiidicemini (et iion judicabimini)."
Leo X in order that he miglit be es frascariae : It. frasea, pl. frasrhe ;
created Cardnial. See Roscoe, LtJeoJ .^ ^{ ^ nonsense, trifles ; frasclwria,
Leo A., cha\). X. wanton trick, jest (Baretti).
^^ scriptuniest: M-dti.vn. 2; Mark > .) v ^
iv. 24; but in the Vulg. " in qua '* /rm/M/«m« .• " irregularitas " was
mensura mensi fueritis remetietur a technical tei-m for a canonical im-
vobis." pediment hindering a person from
- 2 Nolite, &c. Matt. vii. 1 ; Luke taking orders. Cf Du Cange, s.v.
46
XVII
€L 31. lOANNES HIPP
S. D. M. Oi^tvino Gratio
'* T" AETAMINI in domino et exultate iusti, et gloria-
I 1 mini omnes recti corde," Psalm. xxxi. Sed ne
habeatis molestiam dicentes : " quid putat iste cum sua 5
allegatione ? " debetis legere unam novitatem cum lae-
titia, quia hilarabit vestram dominationem mirabihter ;
et volo scribere cum brevibus verbis. Fuit hic unus
poeta qui vocatur loannes Aesticampianus, et ipse fuit
satis praetensus, et parvipendit saepe magistros artium, 10
et annihilavit eos in sua lectione, et dixit quod non sunt
sufficientes, et quod unus poeta valet decem magistros,
et quod poetae in processione deberent praecedere
magistros et hcentiatos. Et ipse legit Phnium, et ahos
^ This undated Epistle is to be
regarded as sent from Leipsic.
Hipp : Ger. Hippe, " sickle " or " bill."
Bocking suggests that the writer is
intended for Joannes Hoppe, Pro-
fessor at Rostock. " Rev. pater
Joannes Hoppe, theologie niagister,
heretice pravitatis inquisitor, ordinis
predicatorii vicarius^ leget et eluci-
dabit diebus festis hora prima secun-
dam secunde beati Thomae Aquinatis,
summis festis dumtaxat exceptis."
Otto Krabbe, Die Universitiit Rostock
im fiinfzehnten und sechzehnten
Jahrhundert, 1854, p. 321.
- Psalm: Ps. xxxii. 2.
® Aesticampianus : Joannes Rhagius Aesticampianus (1460-1520), the Latinised name of Johann Rack, of Sommerfeld. Visiting Italy in his youtli, he entered the ranks of the Humanists, and on recrossing the Alps he proceeded to Paris. He is next lieard of successively at Frei- burg-im-Breisgau, Cologne, Cracow, andFrankfort-on-the-Oder — wherehe reckoned Ulrich vou Hutten among his pupils. For three years, 1507-10, he lectured publicly at Leipsic on Pliny, Plautus, and other classical authors. The barbarians of Leipsic,
however — as Fabricius puts it — could
not brook the Humanities, and
Rhagius was driven out, not without
a parting bolt in the shape of a fiery
oration : " You have overthrowu
Aesticampianus," he cried, " after
assailing him with every kind of
weapon. What Humanists will visit
you in the future .^ Not one, by
Hercules, not one ! You will live
out your sordid lives, uncivilised and
contemned — daninati omnes immorie-
niini ! "
After teaching the Classics for three years at Freiburg (see ii. 9), A. was attracted to Wittenberg by the offer of a handsome stipend from Frederick, Duke of Saxony, and there resided until his death.
" Virum doctrina et moribus in- signem," wroteH. Cornelius Agrippa of A. in 1533, and Luther addresses him as " virorum eruditissime et in- tegerrime." Among A.'s literary labours are an edition of the Pinax of Cebes, a Modus epistolandi, Epi- grams, and prefaces to, or com- mentaries on, sundry works of Pliny, Plautus, and Cicero (see J. A. Fabricius, Bibl. Lat. Med. etlnf. JEt, vi. 198).
47
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
15 poetas, et dixit quod magistri artium non sunt magistri in septem artil)us liberalibus, sed potius in septem peccatis mortalibus, et non habent bonum fundamen- tum, quia non didicerunt poetriam, sed tantum sciunt Petrum Hispanum, et parva loicalia ; et habuit multos
20 auditores et domicellos. Et dixit, quod nihil est cum Schotistis et Thomistis, et emisit bhisphemias contra doctorem sanctum. Tunc magistri expectaverunt suum tempus ut vindicarent se cum adiutorio dei. Et deus voluit quod ipse semel fecit unam orationem, et scanda-
25 lizavit magistros, doctores, et Hcentiatos, et baccalaurios, et huidavit suam facultatem, et vituperavit sacram Theologiam. Et fuit magna verecundia inter dominos
^^ scptein artllms. " The Seven
Liberal Arts" consisted of the Tri-
viiiin, viz. Grammar, Rhetoric, and
Dialectic, and the (^nadririuni, viz.
Music, Arithmetic, (ieometry, and
Astronomy. "Grammar" included
what we shouhl term chissical studies,
and " Rlietoric " included poetry.
During the Dark Ages tiie (^itail-
ririnni was almost lost sifjht of. tSee
H. Parker, Enij. llist. licriew, 1890,
pi». 417, and Rashdall, rnir. of Enr.
iii the Mid. A<ies, i. .34.
^* septeni /ier<-a/i.s :
" Sunt tumor, accidia, yuhi, luxuria, simul ira, liivor, avaricia, septem mortalia dira." — Fli>r<_'fiis.
i.e. Fride,Slotli,<iluttony, Lust, Anger, Knvy, and Avarice. See Spenser, 77/fc' Faerie (^neeiie, Rk. I. canto iv.
here, " tii
See i. 11, //., and ii.
There
' jxietriain :
nities."
1» l'etr. Hisp. 46 ?i.
^* parva loi. There \\ere scveral medieval treatises knovvn hy this name. One due to Marsilius of In^-hen, founder of the Tniversity of Heidelherg-, was in use at l^eipsic. I'arts of tlie Snniiniilaeof l'etrus His- panus were, liowever, also known by this title, witness : "Copulata onuiium tractatuum parvorum lofji- calium Petri liyspani trihus adjectis modcrnorum tractatihus in suis com- mentariis textui pulclierrime an- notatis. In argimieutis et replicis denuo diligentissime correcta juxta
iuviolatum processum magistrorum
Colonie itursam Montis regentium,
ac invictissimam (hictrinam sancti
Tliomae uberrime proi^ugnantium "
(H. Quentell, Coloirne, 1496). The
nature of the vvork is illustrated hy
the introduction : " It may be asked
liow many of the tractates of l'eter
of Spain on l'arva k)gicalia have been
lianded dovvn to us. Tlie answer is
tliat they are eiglit (.s/r) in number —
those lumiely, " Suppositionum,"
" Relativorum," " Ampliationum,"
" Restrictionum," " Distributionum,"
" Exponibilium," and " Syncathe-
gorematum " ; the authenticity of
the penultimate tractate is, liowever,
denied by many. There are, nmre-
over, tliree other tractates besides
tliose just enumerated, viz. "()l>li-
gatoriorum," " lusolul^ilium," and
" Conseciuentiarum," of wliich the
first two are rather curious than
necessary ; aml tlie last contains
errors whicli liave crept in out of
" the moderns." Rut it is to be
observed that in tiie Ihiiversity of
Cologne it liatli been formally decreed
])y the Ka(;ulty of Arts that only six
tractates are to be read. . . . "^Tlu^re-
fore, wlien caiulidates for a degree in
the Facultyof Arts in the aforesaid
l'niversity present themselves in the
Red Chaml)er (/'// riiliea raniera) let
them be careful, wlien asked the
number of tlie tractates, to reply
' tlu're are six.'" It is explained
that the " I'arva Logicalia " are so
called because " parva in quantitate,
sed magna in virtute."
48
I 17] lOANNES HIPP
de facultate. Et collegerunt magistri et doctores con- ciliuni et dixerunt : " Quid facimus ? quia hic homo multa mira facit : si dimittimus eum sic, omnes credent 30 quod est doctior nobis. Ne forte veniant moderni et dicant quod sunt de meHori via quam antiqui, et vihfi- cabitur nostra universitas, et fiet in scandalum." Et dixit magister Andreas Dehtzsch, qui est etiam ahas bonus poeta, quod videtur sibi, quod Aesticampianus 35 est in universitate tanquam quinta rota in curru, quia impedit ahas facultates, quod supposita non possunt bene in eis quahficari. Et ahi magistri iuraverunt quod est ita. Et summa summarum ipsi concluserunt quod vehent relegare vel excludere istum poetam, etiam si 40 deberent in perpetuum habere inimicitiam. Et citave- runt eum ad rectorem et monuerunt eum in valvis ecclesiae ; et ipse comparuit et habuit unum iuristam secum, et praetendit se defendere, et habuit etiam ahos socios qui steterunt cum eo. Et magistri dixerunt quod 45 deberent abire, quia ahas essent periuri, quia starent contra universitatem. Et magistri fuerunt fortes in beUo, et permanserunt constantes, et iuraverunt quod vellent nemini parcere propter iustitiam, et ahqui iuristae et curiales rogaverunt pro eo. Et domini magistri 50 dixerunt quod non est possibile, quia habent statuta, et secundum statuta debet relegari. Et quod est mirabile, etiam princeps petivit pro eo, et nihil iuvit, quia dixerunt ad ducem quod oportet servare statuta universitatis. Quia statuta in universitate sunt sicut hgatura in hbro. 55 Quia si hgatura non esset, tunc foha caderent hincinde. Et si statuta non essent, tunc non esset ordo in univer- sitate, et supposita starent in discordia, et fieret confusum chaos : ergo deberet procurare bonum universitatis, sicut fecisset pater suus. Tunc princeps permisit sibi persua- 60 dere, et dixit quod non potest facere contra universita- tem. Et quod expedit plus quod unus relegatur quam
^* Delitzsch. See i. 1, n. Duke iu 1520, assures hini that
mmma summarum. Cf. Plautus, uuder liis auspices and through his
Truc. I. i. 4 : — muniiicence, the university has risen
to the highest rauk, aud has become
" Quam penes amautum summa sum- a home " politiorisliteraturae." Epp.
marum redit." Era^mi, ed. Peter Vander Aa, 1706
(Ep.517).
- bello. Cf. Hebr. xi. 34. ^^ ligatura: " the binding."
^^ princeps : i.e. George, Duke of ^'^ pater: i.e. Duke Albrecht; ob.
Saxony. Erasmus, writing to the 1500.
49 D
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
quod totu iiniversitas patitur scandalum. Et domini magistri fuerunt optime contenti, et dixerunt : " Domine
C5 princeps, deo gratias de bona iustitia."
Et rector affixit unum mandatum in valvis ecclesiae, quod Aesticampianus est relegatus ad decem annos. Et auditores sui fecerunt multa verba, et dixerunt quod domini de consilio fecerunt iniuriam Aesticampiano.
70 Sed ipsi domini dixerunt quod non vellent dare unum obulum pro eo. Et aliqui domicelli dixerunt quod Aesticampianus vellet istam iniuriam vindicare, et vellet citare universitatem ad Curiam Romanam. Tunc magistri riserunt et dixerunt : " Ha quid vellet facere
75 iste ribaldus ? "
Et debetis scire quod nunc est magna concordia in universitate. Et magister Delitsch legit in arte humani- tatis. Et simiUter magister llothburgensis, qui com- posuit unum Hbrum bene in triplo ita magnum sicut est
80 VirgiHus in omnibus suis operibus. Et posuit multa bona in illo Kbro, etiam pro defensione sanctae matris ecclesiae, et de laudibus sanctorum. Et commendavit nostram universitatem principahter, et sacram theo- logiam, et facultatem artistarum, et reprehendit illos
85 poetas saeculares et gentiles.
Et domini magistri dicunt quod sua metra sunt ita bona sicut metra Virgihi, et non habent aUqua vitia, quia ipse perfecte scit artem metrificandi, et ante .XX. annos fuit l)onus metrista. Quapropter domini de
90 consiho permiserunt, quod ipse debet hbrum pubhce legere pro Terentio, quia est magis necessarius quam Terentius. Et liabct })onam christianitatem in se, et non tractat de meretricibus ct bufonibus, sicut Terentius. Vos debetis haec nova manifestare in vestra universitate ;
95 tunc fortassis etiam fiet sic IJuschio, sicut factum est Aesticampiano. Quando mittitis mihi vestrum hbruni contra lleuchhn ? Vos dicitis multa et nihil est. Et
" ohuhnii : " oiii lieller," (lenniia '■"' (■iin.silio : Utr conrUvi.
(lenmiaruin : lialf ;i farUiiiiij. 9i ;■ i- • i i xi
7H ,, .;, I T\/r tn • linschni: as, iiuleed, was the
,,, , . • ,.,, , . ■> ., case. " Uerni. Husclnuni diu ac
lyherinus (luliennus hrytliro- ,, , . . ,. „
•',., \ ■ I 1 M .ii e niiiltum ve.xatiiin e|e(;isti.S, ex-
politanus) ; i.c. .loliann Alattliias ot , . , . •• • • i- i
U ,, , ' . , ',. 1 ,1 cl.iinied Acstic-iniiiianus in lus speech
llothenbura: on the Jauher, the i i .• i j
,, c m ji- j /r i-i-i i alrcady rererrea to. author of Malliuus ae ( uclitrlms ct
sacris hii^toriis.,in Mnsas inrvcni diiiesta, "^ Hlirnni : i.c. ()rtvvin's l'rucnotu-
S^c, Lips., 1514. Panzer, vii. 18.3, lucnta, {luhlished early in 1514.
50
I 18] PETRUS NEGELINUS
scripsistis mihi quod vultis mihi veraciter mittere, et non facitis. Deus parcat vobis, quod non diligitis me, sicut et ego diligo vos, quia estis mihi sicut cor meum. Sed loo adhuc mittatis mihi, quia desiderio desideravi hoc pascha manducare vobiscum, id est istum hbrum legere. Et scribite mihi novitates. Et semel componite unum dictamen, vel ahqua metra de me si sum dignus. Et valete in Christo domino deo nostro, per omnia saecula 105 saeculorum Amen.
XVIII
iE M. PETRUS NEGELINUS
S. D. 31. Ortvino Gr.
QUAMVIS valde timeo esse ita audax, quod debeo ^ vobis ostendere unum dictamen a me compositum, quia vos estis valde artificiahs in compositione metrorum 5 et dictaminorum ; sed ego sum sicut pusillus, et sicut dicit Hieremias : " A, a, a, domine, nescio loqui, quia puer ego sum." Namque ego nondum habeo bonum fundamentum, et non sum perfecte instructus in arte poetria et Rhetorica. Attamen quia dixistis olim, quod 10 deberem vobis componere omni modo unum carmen et mittere ad vos, tunc velletis mihi illud emendare, et ostendere ubi sunt vitia. Tuc ego cogitavi nuper : " Ecce iste est praeceptor tuus, et bene putat tecum, et tu deberes ei obedire. Ipse etiam potest te promovere 15 in his, et in omnibus. Et tu poteris crescere in doctum virum, si vult dominus deus, et potest tibi bene succe- dere in tuis negociis. Quia legitur in .1. libro Regum : ' Plus valet obedientia quam victima.' " Quapropter mitto vobis hic unum poema per me compilatum in 20 laudem sancti Petri, et unus componista qui est bonus
"^ desiderio: Luke xxii 15. ^" poetria : an adj. coined by N. ;
^ Negel. : the name of "Mag. Nege- poetrius, — a, — um.
lin '• occurs in ii. 58, but he 'is there ,, ^. ^^^^ _. ^ ^^^ ^,. 22. Samuers
01 Leipsic. Ihe aliusion is unkuown. u 1 i c 1
6 .-t • X X- 111 j rebuke to saul.
dtctam.: an nitentional blunder
for " dictaminum." ^^ Componista. Not elsewhere fouud.
' Hierem.: Jer. i. 6; Reuchlin's An iustance of "componist" in the
Vocahularitts Breviloquus begins with sense of composer (1609) is cited in
this quotatiou. the N. E. D.
51
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
musicus in cantu chorali et figurali, composuit mihi quat- tuor voces super illud. Et ego feci magnam dihgentiam quod potui ita rigmizare, sicut est rigmizatum ; quia 25 illa carmina sonant meUus, sicut partes Alexandri sunt compilatae. Sed nescio an habent vitia. Vos debetis illa scandere secundum arteni metrificandi, et emendare.
Carmeii novum magistri Petri Negelini in lai(dem sancti Petri incipit. Sancte Petre domine nobis miserere,
30 Quia tibi dominus dedit cum istis clavibus
Potestatem maximam, necnon specialem yratiam Super omnes sanctos : quia tu es privilegiatus, Quod solvis est solutum, in terris et per caelum, Et quicquid hic ligaveris, ligatum est in caelis.
35 Ergo te oramus, necnon devote supplicamus,
Ut ores pro nostris peccatis, propter honorem universitatis.
Ipsi dicunt quod doctor Reuchhn, qui hebraice vocatur loannes Capnion, acquisivit unam sententiam pro se in Spira, sed magistri nostri de ordine praedicatorum
40 dicunt, quod non nocet, quia ille episcopus non habet intelligentiam in sacra theologia. Et magister noster Hochstratus est in Curia Romana, et est bene visus apud dominum apostohcum. Et etiam habet sufficien- tiam in pecuniis et in aUis. Ego velleni dare quattuor
45 grossos quod scirem veritatem : vos debetis mihi scri- bere. Sancte deus, quid est quod non mittitis mihi semel unam Htteram ? Tamen ego habeo Hbenter quando scribitis mihi. Valete, et dignemini mihi saki- tare magistrum nostrum Valentinum de Geltersheym, et
50 magistrum nostrimi Arnoldum de Tungaris in bursa Laurentii, et magistrum nostrum Remigium, et domi- num Rutgerum, in bursa montis Hcentiatum, et prope diem magistrum nostrandum, necnon dominum loannem Pfefferkorn virum zelosum, et ahos qui sunt bene quah-
"■* rigmizarc. Not elsewlicre found. Ceschictitc der /iiscfi('i/h zu S/iei/cr,
" A/ex. His Doctrina/e was in four Maiiiz, 18;)3, ii. 477.
parts and "i-if?mizatum" as well. *'- Hncfistr. Iloogstrateu immedi-
" ffchr. h\ allusion both to ately proceedod to Ilome to plead liis
Reu(diHn's Hebrew studies, aud tlie cause in persou.
writer's ignorauce of Greek. 49 |'^^ Soc i 7 u
'" seiitcnt. See i. 12, n. 5« , ' ,, ,.•','
40 ;' • /- *' 4. i) 1 i.- Arno/it. See 1. v.n.
- /!,pi.s-c. deorge, ( ount I alatine '
of tbe Rhiue, was appoiuted bisbop 'J /^'emiyium. Sce i. 5, n.
at the age of 28, iu Juup 1513. '•"- f/utgcrum. Pcrhaps Kotger
F. X. Ilemliiig, Urfmndenhucfi znr Sicaniber (Sycamber).
52
1.19] STEPHANUS CALVASTRIUS
ficati in theologia, et in artibus. Et valete in nomine 55 domini.
Datum in Treviris,
XIX
€E STEPHAXUS CALVASTRIUS
Baccalaurius 31. Ortvino Gr.
SALUTEJM cum humilitate erga vestram majorita- tem. VenerabiUs domine magister : venit huc unus socius qui portavit certa carmina, et dixit quod vos 5 composuistis illa, et intimastis in Colonia : tunc unus poeta hic qui habet magnam laudem, sed non est bene christianus, vidit illa et dixit quod non sunt bona, et quod habent multa vitia : et ego dixi : " si magister Ortvinus composuit, tunc non habent vitia, hoc est 10 certum " : et volui impignorare tunicam meam, quod si illa metra haberent vitia, tunc vos non composues- setis : sed si vos composuessetis, tunc non haberent vitia : et mitto vobis ista carmina quod videatis an vos finxistis illa, et scribatis mihi. Et est illud carmen 15 scriptum in morte magistri nostri Sotphi in bursa Kneck, qui olim composuit glosam notabilem, et nunc proh- dolor est mortuus. Requiescat in pace. Et est sic initiatum :
Hic obiit unuai solennissimum suppositum, 20
Per spiritumsanctum universitati natum,
Quod rexit in bursa Kneck,
Do macht er die copulat vo stuck zu stuck,
^ This Ep. was repriuted in the ^^ Sotphi. See i. 3, 7i. The Epio'
second ed. of tlie Second Seriesof the diiu7i really written by Ortwin in
E. O. V. (1517), with twoslightaltera- memorj' of Gerliard von Zutphen
tions, mentioued below. appears in the Lamentationes Obscu-
^ major. : here quaiutly used as a roritm Virorum, published in 1518.
title of honour ; technically, in the The author complains that his elegy,
Canon Law, "majoritas" refers to "iu epistolis Obscurorum Reuchlin-
the rank of a superior relatively to istarum nequiter est immutatum."
that of an inferior cleric. The succeeding verses, however, can-
- certa : for "quaedam " : precisely not be termed a parody of Ortwin's.
equivaleut to the English use of « re.nY; '^ was Regent of."
"certam" to qualifv that which is „ , . t. • n
known, but need not be further ' «^"/«^- ^^^ '■ ^^' «'
particularised. "^ von stnck zu stnck : mtYie^QconA
' poeta: probably Buschius himself Series this becomes "von kot zu
— to whom Bocking attributes this dreck " — " mud for mire " — to substi-
Ep. tute one worthless thing for another.
53
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
O si potuisset diutius vivere 25 Et plus in olosa notabili scribere :
Tunc adiuvasset hanc universitatem
Et docuisset scholares bonam latinitatem :
Sed nunc postquam decessit
Et Alexandrum nondum satis expressit, 30 Universitas luget suum membrum
Tanquam unam lucernam vel candelabrum,
Quod longe lateque luxit
Per doctrinam quae ab eo fluxit :
Nemo tani bene scripsit constructiones 35 Et confundebat poetas illos bufones,
Qui non recte discunt granmiaticam,
Per logicam scientiarum scientiam ;
Et in fide non sunt illuminati,
Ideo a sancta ecclesia alienati ; 40 Et si non volunt recte opinari,
Tunc debent per Hochstratum concremari,
Qui loannem Reuchbn iam citavit
Et in iudicio mirabiHter tractavit.
Sed tu audi, deus omnipotens, 45 Quod ego oro supplex ac flens :
Da mortuo membro favorem sempiternam
Et mitte poetas ad infernum.
Mihi videtur quod est optimum carmen, sed non scio quomodo debeo scandere, quia est mirabile genus, et 50 ego tantum scio scandere hexametra. Non debetis pati quod ahquis reprehendit vestra carmina : et igitur scri- batis mihi : tunc ego volo vos defendere usque ad duel- lum. Et valete ex Monasterio in Westphaha.
XX
•E lOANNES LUCIBULARIUS
M. Ortvino Gi^a.
SALUTES quas nemo potest numerare. Venera- bihs domine magister : secundum quod promisistis 5 mihi prius, quod velletis mihi esse adjutorium quando- cunque haberem necessitatem, et velletis me promovere
^ plus : the (Tlosa Notabilis dealt *' Et mittite poetas ad infernum, with ouly two out of the four parts Et valete ex mouasterio in west-
of the Dorfrinale. phalia."
The words mihi . . . duellum "
" In the Secoiid Series the Ep. being oniitted. ends thus : — ^ Lucib. : the allusiou is unknown.
54
120] lOANNES LUCIBULARIUS
prae omnibus aliis. Et dixistis quod audacter deberem vos invocare, tunc velletis mihi suppetiare sicut fratri, et non velletis me derelinquere in angustiis meis : sic nunc rogo vos pro ainore dei, quia est valde necesse, lo quod velletis mihi subvenire, quia potestis bene. Rec- tor hic Ucentiavit unum collaboratorem, et vult habere unum alium : quapropter velitis pro me scribere litteras promotoriales quod velit seu dignetur me acceptare. Quia iam non habeo ampHus de pecunia, quia exposui 15 omnia, et etiam emi libros et calceos. Vos bene no- vistis me quod sum sufficiens de gratia dei. Quia quando vos fuistis Daventriae, tunc ego fui secundarius; et postea in Colonia steti per annum, ita quod complevi pro gradu baccalauriatus ; et fuissem etiam promotus 20 circa festum Michaehs, si habuissem pecuniam. Etiam scio scholaribus resumere Exercitium puerorum, vel Opus minus secundae partis ; et scio artem scandendi ut vos docuistis me, et Petrum Hispanum in omnibus tractatibus, et Parvulum philosophiae naturahs. Etiam 25
- suppetiare : for suppetiari."
^* licent.: " dismissed " ; this meau- iiig is not wholly foreigu to the Euglish " licence " (v.). " Licence from thee that ueedlesse suspitiou." Southwell, M. Magd. Fiineral Leaves, p. 188 (1594). (N. E. D.)
^* collaboratorem : an assistant to the regular tutors.
^' de: of frequent use in tlie E. O. V. for the genitive case.
^^ ejcpomi : "have spent"; pro- bably iutended as a blunder for " expendi " ; " exponere " occurs, however, iu the seuse of " throw overboard " in the Digest {Marc. 39, 4, 16, § 8).
^* secundarius : Classical, but not elsewhere used in the E. O. V. ; here " in the second class " as a student.
" complevi : fultilled all the neces- sary conditious prelimiuary to taking his degree — (except paynieut of fees).
^* Ejcercitium. The Exercitium Puer- orum was a very popular text-book compiled by an unknown hand. Au example is : —
" Exercitium Puerorum Gramma- ticale in dietas distributum. Nuper per diligeutem in multis castiga- tionem de novo recognitum. Nou
sine plusculorum quae pueris profore
visa suut : additioue necessaria.
" Impressus Maguntiae per Johan- nen SchofFer Auuo iucaruationis Quingentesimo sexto. Idibus Aprilis tertio." (Without pagiuation. Sig. A-Z.)
After the colophon, "Informatio pulchra ac fide digua de Rosario gloriose virginis Marie." (A woodcut ou the last page.)
^^ opusniinus: t.e. the "opus minus primae et secundae partis " of Alexander Grammaticus.
2* Petr. Hisp. See i. 11, n.
^^ Parvulum : ouly once mentioned in the E. O. V.
" Parvulus Philosophie uaturalis cum utilissimo commentario ad studio- sorum profectum per magistrum Gre- gorium Bretykoph de Kouitz recol- lecto. lusigne JacobThauneri(1511). Fol." Panzer, Ann. Typ., vii. 173.
The date suggested is, however, erroueous. The Brit. Mus. copy has for coh>phon, ou the first uunumbered leaf : " Finitum est hoc opusculum in famigera Liptzensi academia Impres- sum per providum virum lacobum Thanner concivem Anno a nativitate domini nostri salvatoris Millesimo-
55
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROKUM YIRORUM
sum cantor et scio Musicam choralem et figuralem, et cum hoc habeo vocem bassam, et possum cantare unam notam infra gammaut. Sed non scribo vobis talia iactanter, et ideo parcatis mihi, et sic conmiendo vos 30 omnipotenti deo. Valete.
Ex SUOLLIS.
XXI
€E 31. CONRADUS DE ZUICCAVIA
S. D. 31. Ortviuo Gm.
SICUT enimvero scripsistis mihi nuper de vestra amasia quomodo amatis eam intime, et etiam ipsa
5 amat vos, et mittit vobis serta, et faciletas, et zonas, et taha, et non accipit pecuniam a vobis sicut meretrices. Et quando vir eius est extra dommn, tunc acceditis eam, et ipsa bene est contenta ; et nuper dixistis mihi quod pro una vice ter supposuistis eam, et semel
10 stando retro ianuam in introitu, postquam cantastis : " Attohte portas principes vestras." Et postea vir eius venit, et vos fugistis posterius per hortum. Sic etiam nunc volo vobis scribere quomodo succedit mihi cum mea amasia. Ipsa est valde excellens muher, et est dives,
15 et venit mirabihter quod ego acquisivi notitiam cum ea, quia quidam domicellus qui fuit notus pontifici, promovit me. Et ego statim incepi eam valde amare, ita (juod non scivi ahquid facere in die, et de nocte non potui dormire. Sed ([uando dormivi, tunc chunavi in lecto : " Dorothea, Dorothea, Dorothea," ita (uiod socii qui
20
(luiiifi^oiitesiiiK) dii()(lt»ciin() penultini.i iiiterprets r/i(i7'(i/i.s- as " ad choruin
(lie inensis .laiiuarii, 1512." i»ertiiiens"; "litfuralis" is not
The title is thus explained :— giyen.
(( iT. , • II- • 1 1 he i)laiii-.s()n^, can/ns cltorn/is,
" Ut crescuiit i)arvis sul)liiiiia rohora '. ,, ^' ,• ,. ■
1 .■ . ' spraiiff rrom tlie earlier (iregoriaii.
M^ '■' •■ ,. • ,•, A prick-soiiir «'as a discaiit or (livision.
aiiiiae sic artis estis origo liher ,.,.' ^. P ,, , ,,■ , . r
/^ 1 . A • . , 1 1 ,. riguratioii is tlie eniheliishnient or a
(Jue dat Aristoteles iireloiigo codice ■ i .i ».■ n yy ,,■ ,
- • , . I n smiple theme. bee 11. Kieiiiann, //j.v^
doctus : /• w ■ 1 1 / ^
II 1 i ■,. • ,1 ■.■..■!■ "/ ^/nxu-, Loiidon (s.a.).
llec, daoit exiaiiussui) hrevitate tihi, • ,, ,,, , ,, , ^ ■'..,.
Q. \ \ , -j K' i Atto/. : 1 ,sal. xxiv. <, \).
111(1 (loceat (lueies.'^ iSaturas eii ,6 ,-,• a ,.-c ■ , i. ^
tihi reriim /'ontij. : poiitifex, em byschoff
(\\. i i ]■ •, ik/cv ein hitrqcrnwr.^^tcr (lcnima <Teiii-
(M)trusas inoiistrat : disce : iieritiis ^ '
^ .■ , ,, ' iiKiriuii.
^ /'orot/iea: miethoAc/a Sauctoruiii,
^* C/iora/. c/ Ji;iiira/. Du (aiige Feh. 6.
5Q
1.21] CONKADUS DE ZUICCAVIA
stant in bursa audiverunt ; et surrexerunt et dixerunt mihi : " Domine magister, quid vultis quod sic clamatis ? Si vultis confessionem facere, tunc volumus afFerre sacerdotem ; " quia putaverunt quod essem in articulo mortis, et invocarem sanctam Dorotheam cum aliis 25 sanctis. Et ego erubescui valde. Sed quando veni ad illam amasiam, tunc semper fui ita perterritus, quod non potui eam aspicere, et fui rubicundus : tunc ipsa dixit : " Ah domine Magister, quare estis ita vere- cundus ? " Et saepe interrogavit me rationem. Et 30 ego dixi quod non audeo dicere : sed ipsa voluit scire, et non voluit me dimittere, nisi vellem dicere ei ; et dixit quod non vellet irasci super me, etiam si dicerem unam magnam nequitiam. Tunc semel fui audax, et revelavi ei secreta mea. Quia vos dixistis mihi olim, 35 quando legistis Ovidium de arte amandi, quod amatores debent esse valde audaces sicut bellatores, alias nihil est cum ipsis. Et dixi ei : " Domina mea reverenda, par- catis mihi propter deum, et propter honorem omnem vestrum, ego amo vos, et elegi vos prae fiUis hominum, 40 quia vos estis pulchra inter mulieres, et macula non est in vobis. Quia vos estis speciosissima sicut est una in toto mundo." Tunc ipsa risit et dixit : " Per deum, vos scitis amicahter ioqui, si ego vellem credere." Et postea saepe veni in domum eius et bibi cum ea. Et 45 quando fuit in ecclesia, tunc steti ita quod potui aspicere eam ; et ipsa etiam aspexit me quasi vellet me transvidere. Et nuper rogavi eam valde quod vellet me habere commendatum : tunc dixit quod non amarem eam. Et ego iuravi quod amarem eam sicut propriam 50 matrem, et vellem omnia facere ad servitium eius, etiam si solveret mihi vitam. Tunc respondit illa pulchra amasia mea : " Ego bene volo videre an est ita," et fecit unam crucem ad domum suam cum creta, et dixit : " Si amatis me, tunc semper de sero quando est tene- 55 brosum, debetis osculare illam crucem propter me." Et ego feci taUter per multos dies. Tunc semel venit unus, et permerdavit mihi crucem, et ego osculando maculavi os, et dentes, et nasum. Et fui valde iratus super eam. Sed ipsa iuravit ad sancta sanctorum quod eo
" stant: '^reside," common in E. O. V.
- ^ vos estis : Cautic. iv. 7-
57
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
non fecisset ; et ego credo, quia per deum alias est honesta. Et imaginavi mihi unum socium, qui debet fecisse. Et si possum perscrutare, dico vobis quod debet habere retributionem suam, Sed iam habet
65 amicabihores gestus erga me quam antea. Et spero quod supponam eam. Dudum ahquis dixit ei, quod sum poeta, et ipsa dixit : " Ego audivi quod estis bonus poeta : ergo debetis mihi semel scribere unum carmen : " et ego feci illud, et cantavi de sero in platea quod ipsa
70 audivit ; et postea exposui ei teutonice ; et est hoc :
O alma Venus, amoris inventrix et dominatrix,
Quare tuus filius est inimious meus ? O pulehra Dorothea, quam ego elegi amicam,
Fac mihi etiam sic qualiter ego tibi : 75 Pulchrior es tu inter omnes huius urbis puellas,
Et splendes sicut stella, et rides sicut rosa.
Ipsa dixit quod vult per suam vitam servare illud propter me. Vos debetis mihi dare consihum quomodo debeo me regere, et quomodo debeo facere quod amat 80 me. Et parcatis mihi quod fui ita grossus scribendo ad dominationem vestram. Quia est consuetudo mea quod sum sociahs cum amicis meis. Vale in nomine benedicti.
Ex Lyptzick.
XXII
fE GERHARDUS SCHIRRUGLIUS
31. Ortvino Gratio
Salutem dicit variam per domini nostri gloriam, Qui resurrexit a mortuis, et nunc sedet in caelis.
5 TTONORANDE vir, notifico vobis quod non sum
ri hbenter hic, et paenitet me quod non mansi
Coloniae apud vos, ubi potui mehus prohcere. Et vos
potuissetis me facere bonum loicum, et etiam pro
parte poetam. Et in Colonia sunt homines devoti,
10 et hbenter visitant ecclesias, et in dominica vadunt ad sermonem. Et non est tanta superbia sicut hic.
^ Schirr. AUusion unknown.
' /oinini : for logicuni ; not unusual in the XVth Cent.
58
1.22] GERHARDU8 SCHIRRUGLIUS
Supposita non faciunt reverentiam magistris. Et magistri non habent advertentiam ad supposita, et mittunt eos ire quomodo volunt ; et non portant caputia. Et quando sunt in zechis ad vinum, tunc 15 iurant per deum, et blasphemant et faciunt multa scandahi. Sicut nuper unus dixit quod non credit, quod tunica domini in Treveris esset tunica domini, sed una antiqua et pediculosa vestis : et non credit etiani quod crinis beatae virginis est adhuc in mundo. Et 20 unus alter dixit, quod possibile est, quod tres reges in Colonia sunt tres rustici ex Vestphaha. Et q' gladius et chpeus sancti Michaehs non sunt ad sanctum Michaelem. Etiam dixit quod vellet merdare super indulgentias fratrum praedicatorum, quia ipsi essent 25 bufones, et deciperent muheres et rusticos. Tunc ego dixi : " Ad ignem, ad ignem cum isto haeretico : " et ipse derisit me. Ego vero dixi : "tu ribalde, tu deberes taha dicere, quod magister noster Hochstratus in Colonia audiret, qui est inquisitor haereticae pra- 30 vitatis." Tunc dixit : " Hochstratus est una execrabihs et maledicta bestia ; " et maledixit ei et dixit : " loannes Reuchhn est probus vir, et theologi sunt diaboh, et iniuste iudicaverunt quando combusserunt suum hbrum qui vocatur Speculum oculare." Tunc ego respondi : 35 " Noh dicere hoc, quia scriptum habetur in Ecclesiastico capite VIII. : ' Non iudices contra iudicem, quia secun- dum quod iustum est iudicat.' Tu vides, quod uni- versitas Parrhisiensis, ubi sunt theologi profundissimi et zelosi, et qui non possunt errare, etiam iudicaverunt 40 ita sicut Colonienses ; quare ergo vis esse contra totam ecclesiam ? " Tunc ipse dixit quod Parrhisienses essent iniquissimi iudices, et quod acceperunt pecuniam a fratribus de ordine praedicatorum, quam portavit ipsis (ut ille nequam mentitur) zelosus vir et theologus scien- 45 tificissimus, dominus Theodericus de Ganda, legatus uni- versitatis Coloniensis. Et adhuc dixit quod ista non est
" tunicam. See i. 11, n. ETha.rdusW'mheim, Sacrariuni Agrip-
piuae, Cologne, 1607, p- 179.
^ crinis : a iiot uncommon relic. ^^ reges : the Magi — Kaspar, Mel-
A large quantity brought from Jer- chior, and Balthasar. For a good de-
usalem was deposited at Oviedo and scription of the famous shrine, see F.
Astorga ; also at the Abbey of Corbie. Bock, l>er Knnst- und Reliquienschatz
For an instauce at Cologne, see des Kiilner Donts, Cologiie, 1870.
59
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROEUM VmORUM
ecclesia dei, sed est illa de qua dicit ps : Odivi ecclesiani malignantium, et cuni impiis non sedebo." Et culpavit
50 magistros nostros in Parrhisia in onmibus actibus suis. Et dixit quod universitas Parrhiensis esset mater omnis stultitiae, quae haberet ibi originem, et venisset in Alemaniam et Itaham ; et quod illa schola semi- nasset undique superstitionem et vanitatem. Et fre-
55 quenter omnes qui student in Parrhisia, liabent mala capita, et sunt quasi fatui. Et dixit quod Thahnut non est ab ecclesia damnatus. Tunc sedit ibi magister noster Petrus Meyer plebanus in Franckfurdia, et dixit : " Ibi ego volo ostendere quod iste socius non
(jo est bonus christianus, et non sentit recte cum ecclesia. Sancta Maria, vos socii vultis multum loqui de theo- logia, et non scitis. Quia etiam ReuchHn ignorat, ubi scriptum est quod Thahnut est prolnbitus." Tunc ille socius quaesivit: " Ubi et scriptum?" Et
or. dixit magister noster Petrus quod legitur in Forta- htio fidei. llespondit ille trufator, quod FortaHtium fidei est merdosus liber, et non \ alet ; et quod nenio allegat istum hbruni nisi stultus et fatuus. Et ego fui perterritus, ([uia valde iratus fuit magister noster
70 Petrus, ita quod tremuerunt ei manus ; et ego timui quod noceret ei, et dixi ei : " Domine eximie, estote patiens, quia qui patiens est, nuilta gubernatur sapi- entia. Proverbiorum XIII. Permittatis istum, quod peribit sicut pulvis a facie venti. Ipse dicit multa,
75 et tamen niliil scit. Et sicut scribitur in Ecclesi- astico : ' Stultus verba nuiltiphcat,' ita ipse etiam facit." Tunc ipse prochdolor incepit nuilta dicere de ordine praedicatorum, quomodo isti probi fratres fece- runt imam nequitiam in Berna ; quod ego non credo
■*' 'riKtlmut. The IJniv. ol" Maiiiz "■' .rlU. : Prov. xiv. 29.
aiiil Coloffiu' had pronouiiccd, iu " Kcrl. : ICcclcs. x. 14.
1510, tlie opiuion that the '1'ahiuid "* licrna. For a good accoiiiit of
shoiild he dostroyed. See Il.Ch-aetz, tliisextraordinary case, see E. Belfort
llist. oftlie .lcirs, 1H92, iv. 475. Hax, (lcriudu Stiricfi/ nt tlic closcofthe
^^* Fortal. : the Fortaliciuui coutra Middlc A(/cs, I!U)4 (Ai)j).). See also
Fiflci < 'liristiaiiac liosfcs, by Alphon.sus 'l']\{i 'rrau;ical Ilistory of.Ietzer : or,
a S|)ina, Bp. of Oreuse. Tlie third a Faithful Narrative of the Feigned
of its five hooks is " l)e heHo .ludae- Visions, Counterfeit Uevehitions, and
orum." First puhlislied not later False Miracles of the Doniinican
than 1472, hy J. Mentelin, Stras- Fatliersof the Conveut of lierne . . .
hurg. See Copinger, Siipjjl. to Uain, to Propaiiatc tlieir Super.stitions.
872. l'"or \\'liich llorrid Iinpicties, tlie
co
I 23] lOANNES VICKELPHIIIS
per vitaiii meam ; et quomodo fuerunt combusti, et 8o (juod ipsi semel imposuerunt venenum in sacramento eucharistiae, et sic interfecerunt unum imperatorem. Et dixit quod oportet istum ordinem delere ; alias fient multa scandala in fide, quia omnis malitia est in illo ordine ; et alia multa dixit. Ergo debetis aperte 85 soire quod vellem libenter redire ad Coloniam, quia quid debeo facere cum talibus maledictis hominibus ? ^^eniat mors super illos, et descendant ad infernum viventes, ut inquit Psalmista, quia sunt fiHi diaboli. Si videtur vobis, tunc prius volo accipere gradum : si 9o non, tunc volo abire statim. Ergo debetis mihi cito scribere mentem vestram ; secundum illam volo me regere ; et cum hoc commendo vos domino deo. \'alete.
Ex MOGUNTIA. ^^
XXIII
€[ lOANNES VICKELPHIUS Iminilis sacrac Theologiae professor S. D. 31. Oi^tvino Gi^atio poetae et Theologo, etc.
QUONIAMQUIDEM olim fuistis discipulus meus in Daventria, et ego amavi pro tunc vos ante 5 omnes scholares, quia habuistis bonum ingenium et fuistis valde disciphnatus iuvenis, quapropter nunc etiam volo vobis dare consilium ubicunque possum. Sed vos debetis etiam bono animo accipere, quia deus est scrutator cordium et scit quod ego loquor vobis ex lo dilectione, et pro salute animae vestrae. Fuerunt hic
Frior, Sub-Prior, Lecturer, aiid honus Eedinvus, Marpurg^ 1616,
Keceiver of the said Convent vvere quotes tiie saying, " Calix vitae,
Burnt at a Stake . . . 1509. Col- calix mortis." For a curious Latin
lected froni tlie Records of the said poem, '^ De Imp. HeinriciVII. obitu :
City by the care of Sir William (juem F. Paulinus, ordinis Prae-
Waller, Knight. Translated from dicatorum, instinctu Florentinorum,
liis French Copy by an impartial in Eucharistia intoxicavit, Rhythmi
Pen . . . London, mdclxxix." in vetustissinio libro reperti," see
^^ Venenum : referring to tlie Marg. Freher, Geriitanirarnni Reruni
alleged poisoning of the Emp. Henry Scriptores, Frankfort, 1600 (tom. i.,
VII. in 1313. A long list of App.).
authorities is given by J. F. Meyer, *' Fsal. : Iv. 15 (a.v.).
IM Hostiis et Calice Venenatis, ^ Vickelphius : Ang/. John Jasey-
Grypiiiswald, 1703. C. Pezel, Casau- block."
61
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
aliqui Colonienses qui dixerunt quod habetis Coloniae unam mulierem quae est saepe apud vos, et vos apud ipsam, et dicunt veraciter quod habetis actum cum
15 ipsa. Et ego dolui valde cum magno terrore quando audivi, quia est magnum scandalum, si verum est, quia estis graduatus, et pro tempore ascendetis etiam ad altiora, sciKcet ad gradus in sacra Theologia : et quando talia audiuntur de vobis, tunc dant malum exemplum
20 iunioribus, qui peiorantur exinde. Vos tamen bene legistis in Ecclesiastico : " Propter speciem muUeris multi perierunt, et ex hac concupiscentia quasi ignis ardescit." Et in Ecclesiaste : " Averte faciam tuam a muliere compta, et ne circumspicias speciem aUenam."
25 Et ibidem : " Virginem ne conspicias, ne forte scan- dahzeris in decore ilhus." Vos scitis etiam quod maxi- mum peccatum est fornicatio. Sed cum hoc audio quod illa muher est legitima et habet virum. Propter deum dimittatis eam, et respiciatis famam vestram.
30 Est scandahim quod homines debent dicere quod Theo- logus est adulter. Quia ahas habetis satis bonam famam, et omnes dicunt quod estis bene quahficatus, sicut etiam ego scio. Vos deberetis quotidie semel habere unam devotam recordationem passionis domi-
35 nicae, quia illud est magnum remedium contra tenta- tiones diaboh, et stimulum carnis, et petere in orationi- bus vestris, quod dominus veUt vos custodire a mahs cogitationibus. Ego credo quod taha legistis in poetis saecularibus, et peioratis vos inde. Et ergo veUem quod dimitteretis iUos poetas, quia scitis quod sanctus Hieronymus fuit percussus ab angelo, quia legit in hbro poetarum. Et Daventriae saepe dixi etiam vobis quod non deberetis fieri poeta vel iurista, quia isti sunt male afFectionati in fide, et habent quasi omnes malam dis-
^^ Ecclus. : ix. 9. where thy treasure is there uill thy
'^^ ardescit : e.rnrdescit in Vulg. heart be also.' " He then seemed,
" Eccles.: really Ecclus. ix. 8. in his (Iream, to be chastised, and
-* Ibid. : Ecclus. ix. 5. awoke with bruises. A. I.ai-gent,
- ^ Hieron. " My soul was caught Saint Jerotuc, 1900, p. 22. See also
up from rae, and carried before the Migne, Patrol., vol. xxii. {Vit. 8t.
Tribunal of the Supreme Judge. . . . //fer., cap. ix.).
They asked me who I was^ and I ** affectionati. Not found else-
answered, 'A Christian.' ' Thou where.
liest,' said the Judge, 'thou art a ^* disposit. Not elsewhere fouad
Cicerouian and not a Christian, for in the sense of "mood."
62
40
124] PAULUS DAUBENGIGELIUS
positionem in moribus. Et dc illis loquitur Psalmista : 45 " Odisti omnes observantes vanitatem supervacue."
Etiam de alio volo scribere vobis. Ipsi dicunt quod vos scripsistis contra loannem Reuchlin causa fidei ; et est bonum, quia vultis lucrari super talentum ves- trum quod tradidit vobis deus. Sed dicitur hic quod 50 loannes PfefFerkorn, quem etiam defenditis vos, est malus nequam, et non est factus christianus amore fidei, sed propterea quod ludaei voluerunt eum sus- pendere propter suas nequitias, quia dicunt quod est fur et proditor, et sic fuit baptizatus ; et omnes dicunt 55 quod occulte est malus christianus, et non manebit in fide. Ergo debetis videre quid facitis. lam com- busserunt in Hallis unum baptizatum ludaeum qui etiam vocatur loannes PfefFerkorn, et fecit multa mala. Ego timeo quod ille faciet semel talia, tunc vos male eo staretis. Sed nihilominus debetis defendere Theo- logiam.
Et accipite in bonam partem quod fraterne consukii vobis : et Valete in bona prosperitate.
Datum Madepurck. 65
XXIV
fE PAULUS DAUBENGIGELIUS
S. D. P. M. Ortvino Gratio
ECCE si ego sum mendax sicut nuper dixistis, quod promitterem vobis semper quod vellem vobis scribere et tamen non scriberem vobis. lam volo 5 probare quod teneo vobis fidem, quia vir maturus et rectus nihil debet promittere quod non vult servare. Et esset magna inconstantia de me si non servarem vobis promissa, et essem fallax. Vos debetis simiHter scribere mihi ; tunc saepe volumus ad invicem mittere 10 seu dirigere epistolas. Et iam debetis scire quod doctor ReuchUn permisit imprimere unum librum qui
- ^ Pfejferkorn. Roasted before a a child for sacrificial purposeSj and
slow fire at Halle iii 1514. He had committed blasphemy aiid sacrilege.
coufessed, among other crimes, to Otherwise known as " Pfaff Rapp." having poisoned thirteen sick folk in ^ Daubengigelius : "Deafand dumb
the guise of a physician, kidnapped noodle."
63
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
intitulatus est " Defensio " : in quo scandalizat valde dedecorose, et vocat vos asinum. Et verecundatus sum
15 valde legere illum librum, quamvis non legi eum per totum, quia proieci ante parietem quando vidi quod est ita malignosus contra Theologos et Artistas. Vos potestis eum legere si vultis, quia mitto hic eum vobis. Mihi videtur quod autor ille cum suo hbro debet comburi,
20 quia est maxime scandalosum quod ahquis debet talem hbrum compilare. Nuper fui Equiritia et volui emere equum, in quo volo equitare ad Viennam ; tunc vidi iUum hbrum venalem. Et cogitavi mecum quod necesse est quod vos videbitis illum, ut possitis ei respondere
25 ad suam perversitatem ; quia si possem facere vobis maiora servitia, non vellem tardari, quia habetis me humilem servitorem et fautorem vestrum.
Sciatis quod adhuc habeo malos oculos ; sed venit huc quidam Alchimista qui dicit quod scit medicare
30 ocuhs, etiamsi homo esset totahter caecus in illa in- firmitate. Et ahas habet bonam experientiam, quia ambulavit per Itaham et Franciam, et multas pro- vincias. Et sicut scitis, omnis Alchimista est medicus aut saponista; quamvis iam est depauperatus ahquan-
35 tulum. Vos quaesivistis etiam quomodo succedit mihi ahas. Gratior vobis quod quaeritis ita. Sed debetis scire quod adhuc bene sto de gratia dei. Et in ista
" Defensio : the fuU title being, heresy (for having, in his verses,
Defensio Joannis Reuchlin Phorcensis termed the Virgin "alnia parens
LL. Doctoris contra Calumniatores snos Jovis "), Reuchlin goes on : " Si forte
Colonienses. {Tuhingae,apxidThomai)i dicere velles quoniani Juppiter
Anshelnnmi Badensem, Anno MDxui.). dicatur quasi 'juvans pater,' quod
See Introd. de deo possit intelligi, at etiam de
^* dedec. Reuchlin, in this work, asino intelligitur, quem fortasse pro
gave the reins to his vituperative deo adoras versifex — immo versuti-
powers, Ortwin being thus intro- fex." Defensio, ibid. p. 73. duced: Consideranda non minus " i/rt%/io*ws. Not found elsewhere.
jam venit semipagani conditio, cui g^^ Malignus was used, like Malus,
nomen Ortwinus, nomen barbarum, ^^ denote the Evil One. Cf. Du
quod ipsum hominem barbarum esse (Jana-e s.v.
designat, si nomina sint consona o,*^ ' . ' . , ^i
rebus. . . . Quid igitur tuba canat ^^ equiritia: here, apparently,
istebonarumartiumperversor,dicere " Horse-market. Du Cange ex-
volui professor Ortvvinus Coloniensis pl«i»« eqnaritia as equorum grex. versifex, metrifex, immo fex omnis ^* Sajionisfa. Not previously found.
sceleris et perfidiae." Defensio ; H. A seller of salves and unguents.
von der Hardt, Hist. Lit. Reforma- For Sapo, in tlie sense of a pomade,
tionis, Pt. II. p. 71. cf. Pliny, N.H., xxviii. 12, 51. Quoted
" voc. vos. asin. : not in so many as a proverb by H. C. Agrippa, De Inc.
words, but in accusing Ortwin of et Van. Sci., c. xc.
64
I 24] PAULUS DAUBENGIGELIUS
vindemia detorculavi multum vinum, et in frumentis habeo boiiu sufficientiam.
Sed de novitatibus scitote, quod serenissimus do- 40 minus imperator mittit magnum populum in Lom- bardiam contra Venetianos, et vult eos corrigere pro superbia sua. Ego vidi bene duo milia cum sex baniris, et habuerunt pro dimidio cuspides, et pro dimidio pixides seu bombardas, et fuerunt satis terri- 45 biles, et habuerunt scissas caligas. Et fecerunt multa damna rusticis et villanis. Et homines dixerunt quod vellent quod omnes interficerentur. Sed ego opto quod redibunt cum sanitate.
Mittatis mihi cum isto nuncio formalitates et dis- 50 tinctiones Scoti quas composuit Brulifer. Et etiam CHpeum Thomistarum in httera Aldi, si potestis reperire.
^* detorc. Xot found elsewhere ;
fnr torcu/ari, "pressed."
^" l)o»t. Iiiip. : i.e. Maximiliaii, wlio was preparing an expedition against the Venetians.
" baniris. Not found elsewhere ; probably for bunnis, " standards."
- ^ mspides: spears. " In his (Maxi-
milian's) early Burgundian wars, lie began the reorganisation of tlie Ger- man foot-soldier, wliich soon made the German Landsknecht a terror to all Europe. . . . For their equipment he discarded the useless and cumber- some shield, and gave them as tlieir chief weapon an ashen lance some eighteen feet long, thougli a certain proportion were armed with halberds, and others with firearms that were portable and efficient, at least as com- pared with earlier weapons of the same sort." T. F. Tout, Cainb. Mod. Ilist., i. 325.
^ pixides : "culverins" in the sense of hand-guns — the original nieaning of the English word, after- wards applied to cannon. Cf. " Hi praeter suorum caedem duas etiam pyxides, quas colubrinas vocant, perdiderant." Bilibaldus Pirck- heimerus, Lib. II. de Bello Ilelvetico.
- " honibardas : hereprobably equiva-
leiit to portativas, or " arquebuses." Tlie word had niany meanings. See Du Cange.
- ® scis. calig. : probably " slashed
shoes." For the arms and dress of
the Landsknechte, see The Triuniphs
of Maxiniilian, Holbein Society, Plate
104(119). Tlie Gemiiia Geinmaruni,
however, interprets caliga as "hose,"
and this may be its nieaning here.
^^ Brulifer : Stephanus Brulefer (the nanie is spelt in several ways), born at St. Malo, in Brittany, in the middle of the XVth Cent. He entered the Franciscan Order, be- came a pupil of Gulielmus Vorilon- gus, and obtained the Doctorate of the University of Paris. He was a " Scotist," and taught his master's scholastic theology at Mayence and Metz. "Clar. An. 1480. Ob. in conventu Bernonis provinciae Brit- anniae, postannum, utvidetur, 1500." H. Wharton, App. to G. Cave's Scrip. Eccles. Historia Literaria, Oxon., 1743, p. 137. The work alluded to is, doubt- less, " Doctissimi sacre theologie doctoris Stephani Brulefer formali- tatum Textus." " Les formalite's sont les divers notions, les divers points de vue que Tesprit peut dis- tinguer dans les choses." P. Nova, IHct. de Terinino/ogie Scolastique, 1885, p. 138.
^^ C/ipeum Thom. The work re- ferred to is supposed to be " Clypeus contra jacula adversus sacram ac immaculatam Virginis Mariae con- ceptionem volitantia per modum triuni sermouum, cum quadam
65 E
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YmORUM
Etiam vellem libenter videre modum metrificandi 55 quem vos composuistis. Et emite mihi Boecium in omnibus suis operibus, et praecipue de disciplina scholarium, et de consolatione philosophica cum com- mento Doctoris sancti. Et cum hoc Valete et habe- atis me commendatum.
60 Ex AUGUSTA.
XXV
•r M, PHILIPPUS SCULPTORIS
S. D. M. Ortvino Gratio
SICUT scripsi vobis saepe, ego habeo molestiam quod ista ribaldria, sciUcet facultas poetarum, fit
5 communis et augetur per omnes provincias et regiones. Tempore meo fuit tantum unus poeta qui vocatus fuit Samuel. Et nunc solum in ista civitate sunt bene viginti, et vexant nos omnes qui tenemus cum antiquis. Ego nuper realiter expedivi unum qui dixit quod
10 scholaris non significat personam q vadit ad scholas discendi causa, et dixi : " asine, vis tu corrigere doctorem sanctum qui ponit istam dictionem ? " Postea scripsit ipse unam invectivam ad me, et posuit multa opprobriosa dicta, et dixit quod non sum
15 grammaticus bonus, quia non recte exposui ista vocabula quando practicavi in prima parte Alexandri, et in hbro de Modis significandi. Et volo vobis
quaestione theologica ac disputatione of Boethius, butwas probably written
juridica in scholis juristarum almae by Thomas Cantimpratensis, author
universitatis Lipsiensis facta sub of a work entitled Bonurn universale
anno D. I. 1489." See Qiietif and de proprictatibus apum. Echard, Sc7-iptores ordinis praedica- The book Ortwin is asked for is
torum, Paris, 1719, vol. i. p. 884. some edition oi Boetius de consolatione
^^ in littera Aldi. Not necessarily philosophie necnon de disciplina schol-
printed by Ald. Manutius, but in the arium cum co)nmcnto Sancti Thome. style of type introduced by him in '" Angusta: for Augusta Tubinga,
1501. i.e. Tiibingen, where the Defensio was
- mod. metr. It does not appear iirst published.
that O. ever published such a work ; ' Samuel. See i. 13, n.
but the Obscure Men are never tired ^^ Doct. Sanct. : Aquinas.
of girding at his poetic ambitions. " De mod. sign. : otherwise Gram-
- ® de discip. schol. The treatise De matica Specu/ativa, by Duns Scotus ;
Disciplina Scholarium, though fre- " the first attempt to treat gramniar
quently printed with the De Con- in a wide and philosophic spirit. "
solationePhitoso]>hiae,ytnsnoX,i\\Q\v(n-\i See D. N. B.
66
1.25] PHILIPPUS SCULPTOEIS
scribere formaliter illos terminos, quod debetis videre qiiod recte exposui, secundum omnes vocabularios, et ad hoc possum allegare autenticos autores, etiam in 20 Theologia. Et prinio dixi : " Seria aUquando significat oUam, et tunc dicitur a Syria, quia in tah provincia primo facta est ; etiam potest dici a seriis, quia est utihs ct necessaria ; vel a serie, id est ordine fit. Item Patritii dicuntur patres senatorum. Item currus dicitur 25 a currendo, quia per eum currunt interiora ad extra. Item ius, iuris, significat iustitiam ; sed ius, iutis, signi- ficat prodium ; unde versus :
lus, iutis, mando ; ius, iuris, in agmine pando.
Item Lucar significat pecuniam quae colhgitur ex luco 30 vel ex sylva. Item mantellus significat palhum, et inde venit diminutivum manticulus. Mechanicus, id est adulterinus, hinc dicuntur artes mechanicae, id est adulterinae, respectu hberahum, quae sunt verae artes. Item mensorium est quicquid ad mensam pertinet. 35 Item Polyhistor dicitur qui scit multas historias ; inde venit Polyhistoria, id est pluralitas historiarum. Poly- senus dicitur qui habet plures sensus." Ista et simiha dicit non esse vera, et scandahzavit me coram scholari- bus meis, Tunc [ego] dixi quod sufhcit ad aeternam 40 salutem, quod aliquis est simplex grammaticus et saltem scit exprimere mentis conceptum. Tunc re- spondit, quod neque sum simplex neque duplex gram- maticus, et nihil scio. Tunc fui laetatus, quia iam volo citare eum ad privilegia universitatis Viennensis, ubi 45 debet respondere mihi, quia ibi sum promotus de gratia dei in magistrum ; et si fui sufficiens toti universitati, etiam volo sufhciens esse uni poetae, quia universitas est plus quam poeta. Et credatis mihi, ego non vellem
" omn. vocab. All the eusuing Cent. A.n., first printed c. 1473. See
etymologies, except that of " currus," "The excelleut aud pleasant vvork of
are to be fouud in the Catholicon. Julius Solinus, Po/i/hi.sfor. Contayn-
(See i. 1, 71.) ing the noble actions of humaiue
^® Int. ad ejct. : the point of this creatures, tlie secrets and provideuce
is obscure. of nature, the description of coun-
^° niensoriiim : " Meose, menso- tries. . . . Translated out of Latin
riu, quod est in mensa," Wright, into English by Arthur Golding,
Vocah.., i. 26, 61. Gent. London, 1.587." Cornelius
^* Polijhi.stor. Caius Julius Solinus Alexander (Suet., De III. Granim., 20)
compiled, chiefly from Pliuy's Xat. and C. J. Hyginus (Euseb., (^'Aro/i. 7/.
Ilint., a work entitled ('ol/ectanea 0/^/>//>., 193), were also dubbed Poly-
rerum memorabilium in the third histor.
67
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
50 istam iniuriam dare pro viginti florenis. Dicitur hic quod omnes poetae volunt stare cum doctore Reuchlin contra Theologos, et quod unus iam composuit unum Hbrum qui vocatur Triumphus Capnionis, et continet multa scandala etiam de vobis. Utinam omnes poetae
55 essent ibi ubi piper crescit, quod dimitterent nos in pace, quia timendum est quod Facultas artistica peribit propter illos poetas ; quia ipsi dicunt, quod artistae seducunt iuvenes, et accipiunt ab eis pecuniam et faciunt eos baccalaureos et magistros, etiam si nihil
60 sciunt. Et iam fecerunt quod scholares non amplius volunt promoveri in artibus, sed omnes volunt esse poetae. Ego habeo unum amicum qui est bonus iuvenis, et habet optimum ingenium, et parentes sui miserunt eum ad Ingelstad, et ego dedi ei Htteras promotoriales
65 ad quendam magistrum qui bene est qualificatus in artibus, et nunc tendit procedere ad gradum doctoratus in Theologia : tunc iste iuvenis recessit ab illo magistro et venit ad Philomusum poetam, et audit lectiones eius. Et si misereor ilhus iuvenis, secundum quod scriptum
70 est Proverbiorum XIX.: " Faeneratur domino qui miseratur pauperis " ; quia si mansit usque ad hoc tempus apud illum magistrum, tunc iam esset baccalaur- ius. Sed sic nihil est, etiam si studet decem annos in poetria. Ego scio quod etiam habetis multas vexas ab
75 istis poetis saecularibus. Quamvis enim vos estis etiam poeta, tamen non estis tahs poeta. Sed vos tenetis cum ecclesia, et cum hoc estis bene fundatus in Theologia. Et quando compilatis carmina, tunc non sunt de vanita- tibus, sed de laudibus sanctorum. Libentissime vellem
80 scire quomodo staret negocium illu cum doctore Reuchhn. Si possum in hoc utihs esse vobis, tunc signi- ficate mihi et simul scribatis mihi omnia. Et Valete.
- Triumphus : von Hutten's Tri. s.v., we learn that " piper " is derived
Cajm. was not actually published from "pyr," fire ; and that the
until 1517j under the ])seudonym pepper-tree, whicli grows on the
of " Eleutherius Byzenus " ; but a slopes of Caucasus, is guarded by ser-
copy had apparently been shown to pents that have to l)e driven away by
Erasmus as early as 1514. AV^hether fire ere the fruit cau be gathered.
tliis is identical with another Triunt- ** /'A//ow7i.sh.?.- i.e. Jacobus Locher,
phus, by " Accius Neobius," ascribed the translator into Latin (1497) of
by Mutian to Buschius, is uncertain. Sebastian Branfs Xarrenschiff, and
^* piper : " wo der Pfeffer wiichst," successor to Conrad Celtis in his pro-
is still a German equivalent of fessorial chair at Ingolstadt.
" .7ericho." Inthe Vocab. Brcinloquus, '" Prov. : xix. 17.
68
XXVI
€[ ANTONIUS RUBENSTADIUS
M. Ortvino G?'atio
O ALUTEM ex cordiali affectu amicabiliter optat. ►O ^^enerabilis domine magister, sciatis quod pronunc non habeo tempus ad scribendum de aliis rebus non 5 valde necessariis, sed tantum respondeatis mihi ad unam quaestionem quam sic propono : Utrum doctor in iure teneatur facere reverentiam magistro nostro qui non incedit in habitu. Est autem habitus magistrorian nostrorum, sicut scitis, caputium magnum cum liri- lo pipio. Est hic unus doctor qui est promotus in utroque iure et habet inimicitiam cum magistro nostro Petro Meier plebano. Et nuper obviavit sibi in platea, quando magister noster Petrus non ivit in habitu, tunc ille iurista non fecit ei reverentiam. Et postea fuit i5 dictum quod non bene fecisset, quia etiam si esset inimicus eius, tamen deberet ei facere reverentiam, propter honorem sacrae Theologiae. Quia deberet esse inimicus personae et non scientiae. Quia magistri sunt in loco apostolorum. De quibus scriptum est : 20 " Quam speciosi pedes evangehzantium bona, prae- dicantium pacem." Quapropter si speciosi sunt pedes eorum, quanto magis capita et manus debent esse speciosa. Et videtur quod omnis homo, etiam prin- cipes debent honorem et reverentiam facere Theologis 25 et magistris nostris. Tunc ille iurista respondit, et praecise in contrarium allegavit suas leges et multas scripturas, quia scriptum est : " Qualem te invenio, talem te iudico." Sed nemo tenetur facere ei reveren- tiam qui non incedit qualiter debet, etiam si esset 3o princeps. Et quando presbyter reperitur in aliquo indecenti opere et non est vestitus sicut sacerdos esse debet, sed habitu saeculari, tunc iudex saecularis potest eum habere et tractare pro homine saeculari, et afRcere
- ' Meier. See i. 5, n. ^" scriptum : Rom. x. 15.
^* (^alem : Ezek. xviii. 30.
69
EPISTOLAE OBSCUKORUM VIKORUM
35 eum pena corporali, iion obstantibus privilegiis eleri- corum. Sic dixit ille iurista ; sed vos debetis mihi significare mentem vestram, et si non scitis per vos- metipsum, tunc habetis consulere iuristas, et Theologos in universitate Coloniensi, quod sciam veritatem : quia
40 deus est veritas, et qui amat veritatem, amat etiam deum. Simihter debetis notificare mihi quomodo pro- cedit in vestra hte contra doctorem Reuchhn. Ego audio quod ipse est depauperatus, propter magnas expensas, et valde laetor. Quia spero quod Theologi
45 erunt victores et vos etiam. Valete in nomine domini.
Datum Franckfordiae.
XXVII
•E lOANNES STABLERIUS 3IILTEN-
PURGENSIS S. D. M. Ortvino Gratio
SICUT semper cupivistis a me habere novitates, iam est tempus quod debeo et possum vobis nova
5 scribere, quamvis doleo, quia non sunt bona. Sciatis quod fratres de ordine praedicatorum habuerunt hic indulgentias quas impetraverunt in curia romana mag- nis expensis, et colhgerunt etiam satis magnam pecu- niam. Tunc de nocte venit quidam fur in ecclesiam et
10 accepit plus quam trecentos florenos, et furatus est eos. Et isti fratres viri zelosi et in fide christiana valde bene afFectionati tristes fuerunt, et conqueruntur de illo fure. Sed cives miserunt undique et non possunt reperire eum, quia aufugit, et habet secum pecuniam. Et est
15 magna nequitia, quod hoc debet fieri in indulgentiis papahbus, et in loco sacro : ipse est excommunicatus, sit ubi sit. Homines qui sunt absoluti et dederunt
^^ ;>nt>. cler. : '^Qui in habitu et " /'Vrt7Z(;A-. ; ?'.c. Frankfort-on-Main.
tonsuraetceteris utlaici conversantur , ,,.,, . -.^.^. , .
j , .. ^ ji ■• !•■ AJiltenjmrqemis : Mutenbere:. A
deprehonsi ni malencns .se pro clericis „ n t -i. 4. j 4.i vf •
^ , ,. 1 .„ ,, , ,'., , ., small town situated on the Mani ;
non deiendunt. DecrctaL (hxq. lA., ., • 4. o t/ r 4.1 ui «. c
, ., .T .., ... o-r the ancient »Srrt/o6v>' or tlie Jiilectors of
Lib. V. tit. x.xxni. c. 27. m . . .•,, p •. • .
43 , , n • 1 4.4. 4. Mainz is still one or its prominent
dcpauperatus. K., ni a letter to n . ^
Mutianus (Aug. 22, 1513), laments his
half-filled purse ; and in 1519, writ- * praedic. Apparently not to be
ing to Pirckheimer, he says, " Sword taken in the usual sense of "Domini-
and pestilence I have escaped ; would cans," since the monastery at Milten-
that 1 could flee fomine as well ! " berg «as of Franciscans.
70
I 27] lOANNES STABLERIUS
pecuniam suam ad illam cistam, nunc putant quod non sunt absoluti : sed nihil est : ipsi sunt ita bene abso- luti ut sic fratres praedicatores haberent adhuc pecu- 20 niam suam. Etiam sciatis quod isti qui sunt ex parte Doctoris Reuchlin, vadunt hic et faciunt multos rumores, quia dicunt quod fratres praedicatores prop- terea impetrant illas indulgentias in curia romana, quod cum illa pecunia volunt vexare ipsum doctorem et 25 tribulare eum in causa fidei. Et quod homines non debent eis dare ahquid, in quocunque statu fuerint, sive alto sive basso, sive ecclesiastico sive mundano. Nuper fui Moguntiae in actu illo quem celebraverunt magistri nostri contra Reuchhn : tunc est ibi quidam 30 praedicator in summo qui est magister noster promotus in Heydelberga et vocatur Bartholomaeus Zehender, latine Decimarius : ille publicavit in ambone quod homines deberent convenire ad sequentem diem et videre quomodo Speculum oculare combureretur : quia 35 ipse putabat quod non esset possibile, quod doc. Reuchhn posset invenire unam fallaciam quod illud non fieret : tunc unus socius qui est ibi, et dicunt quod est poeta, circumivit et seminavit pessimos sermones contra praedictum magistrum nostrum, et quando 40 obviavit ei, tunc aspexit eum cum aspectu draconico et venenoso. Et dicit publice : " Iste praedicator non
^* ci.stam. Frequently used of the Arde suppliciis, nocturnuni ab-
strong-box into which the proceeds rumpe soporem
of the sale of indulgences were Ilia duc, tacitos gemitu testare
dropped : — dolores
Palle hac invidia, et quouiam cla-
" So wie das Geld im Kasten klingt, mare vetaris,
l)ie Seele in den Himmel springt." (Quae fuit una tui livoris, et una
09 . ■ r\ • e nocendi
inactuillo: Oct. 13, 1513 ; for a Insita vis animo) lento consumere
vivid description, by R. himself, of ^^jj^
this iiasco experienced by his oppo- ^d Capniona niliil clamor tuus, et
nents at Mainz (Oct. 13, 1513), see ^ujj praeceps
Introd. Pertinet illa nihil, et nihil hujus
- ^ Mtmmo; z.e. theCathedralChurch Palloris rabies."
of St. Martin at Maiuz. ' Triuniph. Capnionis.
'2 Zehender: 33 . . . j i- , 1
Anibone : a raised readnig-desk,
"Sta nunc Decimator in illa or pulpit, from which the epistle
Sublimis cathedra, diris clamoribus and gospel were read and sermons
aureis preached. There were often a pair
Nunc rudis infesta populi, atque iu of ambos just withiu tlie choir.
simplici turba ^^socius: not Hutten — who did
De Capuioue refer, vigila, cruciare, not return from Italy until the follow-
diuruis ing year.
71
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
est dignus quod debet sedere in mensa ubi sedent probi viri, quia possum probare quod est nequam et pultronus,
45 quia in ambone in ecclesia vestra coram omni populo mentitus est contra famam unius excellentis viri, et dixit illa quae non sunt facta." Et praetenditur dici : " ex invidia tribulant istum bonum doctorem " ; et appellavit eum bestiam et canem ; et dixit quod nullus
50 pharisaeus unquam fuisset ita nequitiosus et invidus. Et venit talis sermo ad praedictum magistrum, et ipse excusavit se sufficienter, ut mihi videtur, quia dixit quod quamvis non combustus est ille Hber, tamen fortassis comburetur in posterum. Et allegavit scrip-
55 turam sacram in multis passibus, quod non est men- dacium quando aliquis dicit aliquid pro fide catholica. Et dixit quod balini et officiales Episcopi Moguntinensis impediverunt illu factum contra omnem aequitatem. Sed homines deberent videre quid post hac contingeret.
60 Quia ipse vellet propheta quod ille Hber combureretur, etiam si imperator et rex Franciae, et omnes principes et duces starent pro doctore Reuchhn. Talia volui vobis significare, ut essetis cavisatus. Et rogo vos quod veHtis esse dihgens in negociis vestris, ne incurratis
65 scandalum. Et sic valete. Datum in Miltenpergk.
XXVIII
iE FRATER CONRADUS DOLLEN-
KOPFFIUS 31. Ortvino Gratio
SALUTEM et devotionem humillimam cum ora- tionibus quottidianis apud dominum nostrum lesum 5 christum. Venerabilis vir, non habeatis molestiam, quod
^* pultronus : (cf. ii. ix. aud ii. the applicatiou is obvious, as Reuchliii
26) a dastard. " A poltroou is a poiuted out iu his Vocabularius Hrevi-
bolster-mau, a lie-a-bed." Skeat, 6'o/t- /oi/jm*, s.v., " Phariseus . . . i. divisus
cise Etym. Dict., 1890, p. 361. ^ et dicitur a phares, quod est divisio.
- ' praetenditur dici : thus, iu all Kt hiuc quidam haeretici dicti suut
edd. Bockiugsuggests " praetenditur pharisei."
dixisse," or "praetendit vel dixit." " balini : *' balivi " in the ed. of
(The O.V. do not usually niake 1643; " batini " iu [B]. See Du
blunders that are iucomprehensible.) Cauge, s.v. Bajulus.
" eum: i.e. Decimarius. *** combur.: the book was, iu fact,
^" pharisaeus : "a heretic " ; siuce burnt at Cologne on Feb. 10, 1514.
"Pharisee" means "one separated," ^ Dollenko])ffius : " Duuderhead."
72
I 28] CONRADUS DOLLENKOPFFIUS
scribo vobis de negociis meis, cum vos bene habetis majora pro agendo. Sed dixistis mihi oHm quod deberem vobis semper scribere quomodo studerem et non deberem cessare in studendo, sed deberem procedere, quia haberem bonum ingenium, et possum cum adiutorio dei bene lo proficere, si met vellem.
Ergo debetis scire quod ego pro nunc contuli me ad studium Heydelbergense et studeo in Theologia; sed cum hoc audio quotidie unam lectionem in poetria, in qua incepi proficere notabihter de gratia dei ; et iam i5 scio mentetenus omnes fabulas Ovidii in metamor- phoseos, et scio eas exponere quadruphciter, sciHcet naturahter, litterahter, historiahter, et spiritualiter ; quod non sciunt isti poetae seculares.
Et nuper interrogavi unum ex ilhs : " unde dicitur 20 ]\Iavors " ? Tunc dixit mihi unam sententiam quae non fuit vera ; sed etiam correxi eum, et dixi, quod Mavors dicitur quasi mares vorans ; et ipse fuit confusus.
Tunc dixi[t] : " quid significatur per novem Musas allegorice " ? Tunc etiam ignoravit et ego dixi quod 25 .IX. Musae significant .VII. choros Angelorum.
Tertio dixi : " unde dicitur Mercurius " ? Sed quando non scivit, tunc dixi ei quod Mercurius dicitur quasi mercatorum curius, quia est deus mercatorum, et habet curam pro eis. Ita videtis quod iste poetae nunc student tantum in sua arte htterahter, et non intelligunt allegorias et expositiones spirituales, quia sunt homines carnales : et ut scribit Apostolus .1. ad Corinthios II. : " Animahs homo non percipit ea quae sunt spiritus dei."
" studium: " University." The word "■ Mavors: this etymology is given
studium, rather t\ia.n ' Universitas, by " Tliomas AVallensis" (see below).
was used to denote a University in ^® Septem rhoros. This^ however,
the sense of a locality: Studium is Dollenkopfs own blunder, for
ffe7ierate meaning a place" where stu- "Thomas Wallensis" (see below) in-
dents from all parts were received. terprets the nine Muses as "the nine
But by tlie XVth Cent, Universitas orders of Angels " {Met. Ov. Moral.,
gradually became a mere synonym Paris, 1509 ; fol. vii). ^Ve are re-
ioT Studium Generale. See a fuU dis- minded of the scholar, who, being
cussion in Rashdall, Univ. of Eur. in asked, " What are the twelve Signs
the Middle Ages, i. 7-19. of the Zodiac? " replied, "They are
17 j o 1 ►r^ L 1 seven in number, and are called East,
quadr. See 1. 50, below. ^y^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^„
^* Poet. sec. : The Humanists, who ** Merc. Another etymology to be
were not concerned to interpret the found in " Tho. \Vall."
Latin poets " in a four-fold man- ^* Anim., &c. In the Vu/g. " Ani-
ner." malis autem^" &c.
73
30
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
35 Sed possetis dicere ; " unde habetis istam subtilita- tem " ? Respondeo quod nuper acquisivi unum librum, quem scripsit quidam Magister noster Anglicus de ordine nostro, et habet nomen Thomas de Walleys et com- positus est ille Hber super Ubrum Metamorphoseos
40 Ovidii, exponens omnes fabulas allegorice et spiri- tuahter. Et est ita profundus in Theologia quod non creditis.
Certissimum est quod spiritussanctus infudit huic viro talem doctrinam. Quia scribit ibi concordantias
45 inter sacram scripturam, et fabulas poetales. Sicut potestis notare ex istis quae iam ponam. De Phitone serpente quem interfecit ApoUo, scribit Psalmista : " Draco iste quem formasti ad illudendum ei." Et iterum ; " Super aspidem et basiUscum ambulabis."
50 De Saturno qui supponitur homo senex, et pater
" de ord. nost. : i.e. a Domiuicaii.
^* Thomas de Walleis : the book here referred to is : Metamor- phosis Ovidiana moraliter a Magistro Thoma WaUeys Anglico de profes- sione Predicatorum suh sanr.tissimo patre Dominie.o explanata. The first editiou of this was printed iu 1509, aud witli the text of Ovid, at Lvous, in 1510.
'Fliomas de Walleis, or Walleusis {i.e. " the Welshmau "), has beeu cou- fused with Thomas Jorz^ or Joyce ("Thomas tlie Euglishmau "), Johu VValleusis, aud suudry other real and imagiuary persouages. Cf. D. N. B., Arts. " Wallensis " aud " Jorz."
^* Comp. est. It has beeu showu, however, by J. B. Ilaureau {Aradrniie des Insc7-iptions et Bellcs Letters, tom. XXX. pp. 45-55, 1883), that Thomas Wallensis had nothiug to do with the work printed iiuder his name. IVI. Haureau confideutly traces tlie work to Petrus Bercherius (or Bercharius), i.e. Pierre Bersuire (Bercheur, or Berchoire), a Franciscau mouk, who afterwards, like Rabelais, became a Beuedictiue.
Pierre Bersuire, ob. 1,362, was boru near the village of Bressuire (aucieutly Bersuire). He compiled an ehiborate Biblical Eucyclopaedia, aud translated Livy.
- ® de Phitone : Ovid, Metamorphoses,
i. 438-444.
- ' Psal: ciii. 26. Thomas Wal-
leusis" does uot quote this verse.
- ^ Super aspideni, &c. : Psal. xc.
13.
^° de Satwno. The " four-fold " mode of iuterpretiug the Metamor- phoses^ adopted by "Thom. Wall.," may be illustrated under this head : —
(JMeratiter) : " Saturu is said to devour his owu sous, because a person boru uuder the ' coustellation ' of Saturn rarely lives."
(Naturaliter) : " Saturn devours his owu sons, because he siguifies Time, aud whatsoever is born of Time is by Time wasted and consumed."
{Historialiter) : " Saturu was King of Crete, of whom his brother Titan predicted that one of his sons would drive him from the throue. Where- upon he determiued to devour his sons aud avert tlie evil fate." He swallowed Juuo, Neptune, and Pluto ; but .lupiter, his son by Cybele, drove him from liis kiugdom.
{Allcgorire) : " Au avaricious man, aruied with rapiue as with a scythe, devours liis chihlren, in the sense that by liis extortions he impoverishes them aud consumes their substauce." Then follows the quotatiou from Ez. V. 10, given iu the text. Met. Ov. Moral. Exp., Paris, 1509, fol. ii.
74
I 28] CONRADUS DOLLENKOPFFIUS
deoruni comedens filios suos, scribitur ab Ezechiele : " Comedent patres filios in medio tui."
Diana sig-nificat beatissimam virginem Mariam, am- bulans cum multis virginibus hincinde. Et ergo de ea scribitur in ps : " Adducentur virgines post eam." Et 55 aUbi : " Trahe me post te ; curremus in odore ungen- torum tuorum."
Item de love quando defloravit CalHstonem virginem, et reversus est ad coelum scribitur, Mat. xii. : "Re- vertar ad domum meam, unde exivi." eo
Item de Aglauro pedissequa, quam Mercurius vertit in lapidem ; illa lapidificatio tangitur lob. xlii. : " Cor eius indurabitur ut lapis."
Item quomodo luppiter supposuit Europamvirginem, etiam habetur in sacra scriptura, quod ego ignoravi prius, 65 quia sic dixit ad eam : " Audi, fiha, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam, quia concupivit rex speciem tuam." Item Cadmus quaerens sororem suam, gerit personam Christi, qui quaerit suam sororem, id est animam humanam ; et aedijdcat civitatem, id est ecclesiam. 70
De Actaeone vero qui vidit Dianam nudam, pro- phetizavit Ezechiel cap. XVI. dicens : " Eras nuda et confusione plena, et transivi per te et vidi te,"
Et non est frustra a poetis scriptum quod Bacchus est bis genitus, quia per hoc significatur Christus qui 75 etiam est bis genitus, uno modo ante saecula, et alia vice humaniter et carnaliter.
Et Semele quae nutrit Bacchum, significat beatam virginem, cui dicitur Exodi ii. : " Accipe puerum istum et nutri mihi, et ego dabo tibi mercedem tuam." 80
^^ Diana: *'Ecce, suo comitata " Corejusindurabiturtauquamlapis "
choro Dictynna per altum Maenalon (Vuhj.). in^redieus." Ovid, Met., ii. 441. '^^ Europam : Ov\A,Met., ii. 847 sqq.
^^ Fsal. .vlii\ 14: Vu/g. "Addu- '^'* .4wrfi,./i7m, &c. : Psal. xlv. 10, 11.
centur regi virgiues post eam." '" Audi filia, et vide, et inclina aurem
^* Alihi.: Cant. i. 3. "Trahe me : tuam, et obliviscere populum tuum,
po.st te," &c. in Vulg. et domum patris tui. Et ooncupiscet
'"^ DeJove: Ovid, Met., ii. 347. The rex decorem tuum " (Vulg.). ridiculous allegorical iuterpretatiou ** Cadnnis : 0\\A, Met.,V\\. \ sqq.
is quoted almost verbatim from ^ Actacone : Ovid, Met.,\\\. 111 sqq.
"Thomas Wallensis." But the correct readiug is " . . .
" Aglauro: Ovid, Met., ii. 830:— }>lena. Et . . ." (Vu/g.). Quotedfrom
" Saxum jam colla tenebat ; ,2 '^^g^.^ . chap xvi 7-8
Oraque duruerant signumque ex- ,, Barchus : Ovid, Met., iii. 317.
^ sangue sedebat. ,s Se,ne/e. But Semele did not
- ' Joh x/ii. Really chap. xli. 1.5. nurse Bacchus. When she had
75
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
Item fabula de Piramo et Thisbe sie exponitur alle- gorice et spiritualiter : Piramus significat filium dei, et Thisbe significat animam humanam quam amat Christus, et de qua scribitur in evangeho : " Tuam ipsius animam 85 pertransibit gladius " ; Lucae .ii. Sic Thisbe interfecit se gladio amasii sui.
Item de Vulcano qui eiicitur de coelo, et efficitur claudus, scribitur in ps. " Expulsi sunt nec potuerunt stare." 90 Haec et taha multa didici ex illo hbro. Vos videretis mirabiha si essetis mecum. Et ista est via qua debemus studere in poetria.
Sed parcatis mihi quod praetendo quasi docere vestram dominationem, quia vos scitis mehus quam 95 ego, sed feci in bona opinione.
Ego disposui hic, ahquis in Tubinga debet me certi- ficare quicquid agit doctor Reuchhn, ita quod possim vos cavisare. Sed iam nihil scio, ahas vehem nobis notificare.
Sed iam valete in charitate non ficta. 100 Datum Heidelbergae.
XXIX
€L M. TILMANNUS LUMPLIN S. D. 31. Ortvino G.
- ' O^TULTISSIINIUS sum virorum, et sapientia non
fO est mecum ; non didici sapientiam, et non novi
5 scientiam sanctorum." Proverbiorum XXX. Ergo
non debetis me spernere quod praetendo vobis dare
perished,aiid lier child was"reborii" " Lucae : chap. ii. v. 35 {Vulg.).
froni the thigh of Zeus :— s? Vulcauo. The myth of Vulcaii is
" Nj'sa's Nymphs received iiot meutioiied iu the Metanwrphoses,
The charge, aud iu their distant but Th. de \V. enlarges ou it.
caverns hid, »« Expulsi, S:c. : Psal. xxxvi. 12.
And with due nurture reared the »0 ^^ f^f-^^ j„uita. Ouly the first four
growingGod." books of Ovid Moralised are here
, — Ovid, Met, Bk. III. 313. quoted. These four are, however,
" Tliomas Walleusis " relates tliat he nearly eqiial in bulk to the remaining
was " in antris earum reconditus et eleveu.
nutritus." ^^ aliquis : a preceding " quod " is
- ^ Piranio: required.
" l^ixit ; et aptato pectus mucrone '* Tulmiya : uot far from Stutt-
suh imum S^^^> where R. was theii liviiig.
Incubuit ferro, quod adhuc a caede ' Ltinipliu : periiaps from Ger.
tepebat." — Ovid, Met., iv. 162. Lump, a ragamuffin.
76
I.29J TILMANNUS LUMPLIN
consilium in factis vestris, quia facio talia bono animo. Et volo cavisare vos secundum quod ego intelligo, et modicum volo corrigere vos, quia vexatio dat intel- lectum. Et scriptum est in Ecclesiastico cap. XIII. : lo " Qui tetigerit picem, inquinabitur ab ea." Sic etiam fit vobis, quia vultis habere quod sum amicus vester : propterea oportet etiam pro bono accipere vexationes a me. Ego percepi seu intellexi quod vos tacetis in causa loannis Reuchlin, et non respondetis ei contra 15 suas scandalizationes. Et iratus sum valde, quia amo vos, et scriptum est : " Quem dihgo, corrigo." Nam quare incepistis ei respondere, si non vultis continuare ? An non estis sufficiens ? Vos estis per deum et prae- sertim in facultate theologica estis ei melior : et ergo 20 debetis ei respondere, et defendere famam vestram, et praedicare fidem christianam, contra quam scribit ille haereticus.
Et non debetis ahquem respicere, quia dicit Salomon in Ecclesiastici XIII. : " NoH esse humihs in sapientia, 25 ne humihatus in stultitiam seducaris." Neque debetis timere potentiam iuristarum, quod faciant vobis peri- culum corporis, quia debetis taHa pati pro fide et veritate. Unde Christus dicit in evangelio Mat. XVI. : " Qui voluerit animam suam salvam facere, perdet 30 eum." Et si timetis quod non potestis eum vincere, tunc non creditis evangeho, quia ista est causa fidei. Et scriptum est in evangelio, quod nihil est impossibile homini qui credit : quia ponitur Mat. XVIII [XVII] : " Si habueritis fidem sicut granum sinapis, dicetis monti 35 huic ' transi hinc,' et transibit, et nihil erit impossibile vobis." Sed non est possibile quod doctor ReuchUn potest verum scribere, quia non habet fidem integre, quia defendit ludaeos qui sunt hostes fidei ; et est contra opiniones doctorum ; et cum hoc est peccator, 40 sicut scribit magister loannes PfefFerkorn in suo libro qui dicitur Sturmglock. Sed peccatores non debent aliquid habere agere in scriptura sacra, quia scribitur Psalmo XLIX. : " Peccatori autem dixit deus : ' Quare tu enarras iustitias meas, et assumis testamentum 45
® Vejcat. : Is. xxviii. 19. of Latin, aud not a graduate. The
^ Ecclus.: xiii. ; a part of v. 8; Stia-ing/ock, a violent attack on R.,
wanting iu the Greek and the A.V. osteusibly by P,, appeared tovpards
^' juag. : ironical ; P, was ignorant the end of 1514.
77
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
meum per os tuum ? ' " Quapropter ergo hortor vos, et rogo pectoraliter quatenus velitis audacter defendere vos, (juod homines possent laudabiHter dicere de vobis quod defendistis ecclesiam et famam vestram. Nec 50 debetis respicere ahquem, etiam si papa vellet prohibere, quia ecclesia est super papam. Et debetis me habere excusatum quod moneo vos, quia vos amo, et tu scis domine quia amo te. Valete in fortitudine corporis et ani.
XXX
€E Profujulissimo necnon iUuminatissinio magistro Ortvino Gratio theologo, poetae, et oratori in Co/onia, domino ac praeceptori suo observan- dissimo lOJNNES SCHNARHOLTZIUS 5 inooc licentiandus salutes exuherantissimas dicit,
cuin sui humilima commendatione ad mandata
CORDIALISSIME necnon profundissime INIagister Ortvine : ego loannes Schnarholtzius, niox licen- tiandus in theologia in alina universitate Tubingensi,
10 vellem Hbenter lo(|ui cum vestra dignitate ; sed timeo quod est irreverentiaUtas, quia vos estis ita doctus, et tam magnae reputationis in Colonia, (juod nullus debet ad vestram dignitatem accedere, qui prius non bene praevidit se, (juia scriptum est : " Amice, quomodo huc
15 intrasti, non habens vesteni nuptialem ?" Sed vos estis humihs, et scitis vos humiUare, secundum quod dicit scriptura : " Qui se humihat exaltabitur, et qui se exaltat humihabitur." Ideo volo depouere pudorem, et cum doniinatione vestra audacter loqui, sed tamen
20 cum qua decet reverentia. Ego audivi nuper praedi- care hic a (juodam magistro de Parrliisia in niagna audientia in festo ascensionis domini, (jiii praemisit tale thema : "Ascendit deus cum iubilatione," et fecit unum bonum sermonem, quem omnes laudaverunt
" pajin : Maxiiniliaii liad written * SrlDiarho/tzius- : perli. " creakiug
to I^eo X. (Oct. 23, 1514) askint," liini wood"; tlie allusion is obscure. to silence tlie hostile tlieologiaiis. ^* srriptiDn c.sf : 'Matt. \xu. 12.
Maius, 17/. 1'cuch., p. 462. ^' scripfuru : Matt. xxiii. 12; Luke
xiv. 11.
- ^ ccc/es: i't\ i. 12. -^ (iscc}i'/if : Psal. xlvii. 5.
1.30] lOANNES SCHNARHOLTZIUS
audientes, et fleverunt, meliorantes se ex illa prae- 25 dicatione. Ipse in secunda parte suae coUationis indixit duas conclusiones valde magistrales et subtiles. Prima fuit quando dominus ascendit in altum cum elevatis manibus. Tunc apostoli et beata virgo stete- runt et clamaverunt cum tanta iubilatione usque ad 30 raucitatem, ut impleretur prophetia quae dicit : " Clamaverunt et raucae factae sunt voces eorum." Et probavit quod iste clamor fuit laetitialis, et neces- sarius in fide catholica, teste domino dicente in evangelio : "Amen, amen, dico vobis, si isti tacebunt, 35 lapides clamabunt." Ipsi clamaverunt omnes chari- tative cum magno zelo. Praecipue tamen beatus Petrus qui habebat unam tubalem vocem, ut testatur 13avid : " Iste pauper clamavit." Ipsa beata virgo non clamavit, sed deum laudavit in corde suo, quia novit 40 bene quod ista omnia deberent fieri, sicut ei praedixit angelus. Et quando apostoli ita unanimiter cum iubilatione et devotione clamaverunt, venit unus an- gelus de caelo, et dixit eis : " Viri Galilaei, quid hic statis et clamatis, et aspicitis in caelum ? Hic lesus 45 qui assumptus est in caelum, sic veniet quemadmodum vidistis eum." Et hoc factum est, ut impleretur scriptura quae dicit : " Clamaverunt isti, et dominus exaudivit eos." Secunda conclusio extitit magistralior, et talis in sui forma : Filius hominis voluit habere suam 50 passionem, sepulturam, resurrectionem in Hierusalem, quae est in centro terrae, quod omnes regiones scirent de eius resurrectione, et quod nullus gentihs posset se excusare cum sua haeresi et dicere : " Ego nescivi quod dominus resurrexit a mortuis : " Qm ergo quod 55 est in medio, omnes videre possunt qui sunt circa medium, et quod nullus incredulus haberet unum parvum refugium excusationis, in illo loco ubi dominus
- collat. See i. 4, n. in niost medieval niaps. " Sunt
'* c/amav. : adapted from Psal. etiam et Tlieologi qui . . . Hiero-
Ixix. 3. solymam medium terrae esse volunt,
^' /aetit. Not found elsevvhere. quia scrii>tum sit per Propbetam
^" emng. : Luke xix. 40. ' Deus operatus est salutem in medio
'* Dai-id : Psal. xxxiv. 6. terrae.'" Corn. Agrip., De Vanit.
- riri Ga/.: adapted from Acts i. Scient., cap. 27.
11. ^* in i//o /oco : for i//e /ocus. "In
- .^rrtp^. .• Psal. xxxiv. 17. the vale of Josepliat, his doom he
^^ centro. C'f Ezek. v. 5. and Psal. will do." Lamentacio Animarnm (E.
Ixxiv. 12. Jerusalem is thus shown P]. T. S., ed. Furnivall, 1878, p. 73).
79
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROEUM YIROEUM
ascendit, est in centro et in medio terrae, ac ibi pendet 60 una campana quam omnis mundus audit, et quando ipsa pulsat, tunc dat horribilem sonum de extremo iudicio, et de ascensione domini. Et qfi pulsat, etiam surdi audiunt. Deduxitque multa corollaria ex illa conclusione, quam didicit in Parrhisia. Sed quando 65 cessavit praedicare, tunc quidam magisterde Erphordia voluit eum reprehendere, sed stetit cum confusione. Vos debetis mihi ostendere hbros ubi ista materia habetur, et volo emere. Datum ex Basilea apud Beatum Rhenanum, qui est vester amicus.
XXXI
€L Bartholomaeo Colpio baccalaurio theologiae for-
mato ordinis Carmelitarum WILLIBRORDUS
NICETI ordinis JVilhelmitarum cursor in theo-
logia autoritate reverendissimi generalis in ordine
5 sese commendat cum salute
Quot in mari sunt guttae, et q^iot in Colonia sancta beguttae, Quot pilos hahent asinorum cutes, tot et plures tihi mitto salutes.
YENERABILIS domine Carmehta Colpe, ego scio quod estis de optimo ordine, et habetis multas 10 indulgentias a sede apostohca, et quod nullus ordo
- ' Beat. Rhen. : Bild von Rheiuau \formato. See i. 1, 7i.
(Elsass) (1485-1547), "thau vvhom , ^, , o.- i r j i
T i,o,./ ..^ ^r^^^ V.-u e 1 f • j " car/He/.;anionasticoraerrouudea
1 have uo more raithrul rneud, ■ ^. . , ,i n j^, ■v-ttj.i /. ^
wrote Erasiuus. Studied at Paris i" tne middle of the Xllth Ceut.,
underGeorgeHierouymusSpartaims, ^"^ regular.sed ui 1209. Driven
aud theu, after vi.^itiug Strasburg fr«"> Mt. Carmel, they vveut to
attached himself to the famous priut- ^^P^^' and theuce spread to VVestern
iug-office of Johauu Frobeu at Basle f}'^^: j^' !f "&^J *° ^ f^«"d.cant
(see ii. 9, n.). He edited TertuUiau, 9^?' "'^^^^-^oJ^^ ^^ '
Tacitus, Livy, Pliuy, a..d Velleius ^^* ^^^«^- ^^^^'^•' ^^^^'
Paterculus. Ilis epitaph at Schlett- ^ Wilhelm. The Order of the
stadt commeniorates his " iunocentia, Guliehiiites was founded by St.
humauitas, frugalitas, pudicitia," as William of Maleval, ob. 1156 ;
well as his learniug. His library otherwise termed " Hermits of St.
still exists at Schlettstadt, A. Wilhelm " ; they passed under
Horawitz, Des Heatns Rhenanus Be.iedictiue Rule. Bollaud, Acta
Thiitigkeit, Vieuua, 1873 ; Die Hiblio- Sanctorum, Feb. 10.
thck und Corrcsp. des B. R., Vienna, 3 ^, u i i i i j i.
lo-j tr i TT if ij f. /> Ctirsor: a Bachelor who had to
18/4; Horaw.tz u. Hai-tfelder, /f. R. . c ^ . 1 4. j
n ■ J „ 1 , I • • looc R'^'e courses or lectures 011 selected
lirie/u-echsel, Leips.c, 1886. f , ^4.1, !>•! i d i,j n • if?e:
in fA • V 4. ij j books of the Bible. Rashdall, 1. 465.
- Oue or the s.x Epp. not addressed '
to O. G. * bcgnttac : Beguiues, a semi-
80
I.31J mLLIBIlORDUS NICETI
vestro ordini potest praevalere, quia potestis varios casus absolvere in confessione, quando videlicet con- fitentes sunt contriti et compuncti, et volunt com- municare. Ideo volo a dominatione vestra interrogare unam quaestionem theologicalem, quam vos bene 15 potestis determinare, quia estis unus bonus artista, et scitis bene praedicare, et habetis unum bonum zelum, et estis conscientiosus ; et cum hoc audio, quod habetis unam magnarn liberariam in vestro conventu, in qua sunt multi libri in sacra scriptura, in philosophia, etia 20 logica, etia Petro Hispano. Nec non quidam pro- cessus magistralis de Colonia de bursa Laurentii, ubi regit actu magister noster Thungarus, vir valde zelosus ac profundus in Theologia speculativa, et illuminatus in fide catholica. Quamvis quidam doctor in iure vult 25 eum vexare ; sed non est formalis in disputando, nec quahficatus in Hbris sententiarum ; ideo non curant euni magistri nostri. Nec non pcipue audio, quod in prae- dicta hberaria, ubi cursores in Theologia habent suum studitorium, est ligatus in ferrea catena unus liber valde 3o notabihs, qui dicitur Combibilationes, qui etiam con- tinet autoritates in Theologia, et prima principia sacrae scripturae, quem vobis legavit unus magister noster de Parrhisia in mortis articulo, quando fecit confessionem et revelavit quaedam secreta in Bonaventura, et man- 35 davit quod nemo deberet in eo legere qui non esset de vestro ordine, et in hoc papa dedit quasdam indulgentias et carenas ; apud quem librum iacet Henricus de Hassia et Verneus, et omnes alii doctores super libris senten-
nionastic sisterhood, formed in the the mythical library of St. Victor.
Xllth Cent. in the Netherlands. Rabelais, Pantagruel, ii. 7-
Bound by no vows, they devoted ^* carenas : a fast of forty days ;
themselves to works of charity, and hence a remission from such. " It
were at times persecuted as pietists may be your Quadrag^enes are not
by the Mendicant Orders. The Carenes." Jeremy Taylor, quoted in
Beguinage of St. Eliz. at Ghent N. E. D., s.v. "carene." Cf "Dix
is still famous. See Mosheim, De huit quarautaines despechesoublie's."
Beghardis et Beguinabus, Leipsic, 1790. Rabelais, Pantagruel, iv. 50.
^^ Hisp. See i. 11 n. ^* Hassia: Henricus de Hassia, ob.
21 c ■ -^-i 1397. A\xih.or of Secreta Sacerdotum,
processus. See i. 11, 7/. ^^^^ ^j^^ Speculum anime. See o!
studit. Not elsewhere found. Hartwig, Henricus de Langenstein dic-
^^ Combib. An imaginary book ; tus de Hassia, Marburg-, 18-59.
perhaps a comic perversion of ^' Verneus. Unknown, Bockingsug-
" Comestor." ^Vith this may be gests " Harveus." Harveius is called
compared Tarraballationes doctorum a pillar of the church in the Concilia-
Cohnie7isium adversus Beuchlin, in bulum Theologistarum (1643, p. 375).
81 F
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
40 tiarum, in quibus omnibus vos estis fundatus, et scitis defendere omnem viam in disputando antiquorum, modernorum, Scotistarum, Albertistarum, et etiam illorum qui sunt de secta de bursa Kneck in Colonia, ubi habent proprium processum. Ideo rogo vos cor-
45 dialiter et charitative quod non vehtis gravare in mea petitione, sed mihi dare unum bonum consilium in mea quaestione secundum vestrum posse. Et allegare quid domini doctores determinant disputative et con- clusive. Est autem quaestio ista talis in sui forma :
50 " Utrum Lolhardi et Beguttae in Colonia sunt saeculares vel spirituales personae ; utrum teneantur facere pro- fessionem. Et an possunt accipere mulieres et viros ? " Ego diu studui in sacra scriptura, in Discipulo et in Fasciculo temporum, necnon in aUis libris autenticis
55 sacrae scripturae, sed non potui invenire. Sicut etiam quidam sacerdos in Fulda, qui multum studuit in dictis libris, sed non invenit in registro vel in libris ; ipse est de genelogia domini pastoris ibidem, qui est poeta, quia scit bene latinisare, dictaminaque componere,
60 quia ego sum plebanus ratione monasterii ; et habeo nuiltos communicantes, et etiam tales personas de quibus iam facio quaestionem. Superintendens noster dicit manifeste quod ipse non potest conscientiam suam salvare in descissione taUs quaestionis, quamvis habeat
G5 disputata multorum doctorum de Parrhisia et Colonia, quia complevit usque ad Hcentiaturam, et respondit materiahter et formahter pro completione : si vos non potestis determinare illam materiam, debetis inter- rogare magistrum Ortvinum : ille docebit nos omnia.
70 Nam vocatur Gratius propter gratiam divinam in se q nihil ignorat. Compilavi unum carmen heroicum de praedicto hbro : vos debetis legere et corrigere, et facere unum punctum ubi sum superfluus vel diminutus ; et audite quomodo phicet magistro Ortvino : ego volo
75 mittere imprimere. Et sic incipit :
- " Lolhardi. A semi - inonastic qitortim cronicas complectens. (By W.
society, with cliaritable ainis, that Rohnvinckius, a (Jarthusian tnonk.)
arose in Brabant early iu the XlVth A Frendi ed. appeared in 1495. Cent. ; to be distinguished from the * /'(/A/a.- in Hesse-Nassau. Famous
Eiiglish " Lollards." for its Benedictine Abbey. For the
^* Disclj). See ii. 48, n. association of Crotus with this^ see
'•'*■ Fofscic. : Fasc. tcnip. onmes anti- Introd.
82
132] GINGOLFUS LIGNIPERCUSSORIS
Nemo debet esse tam stultus
Et in tanta praesumptuositate sepultus,
Quod velit fieri illuminatus in sacra scriptura
Et formaliter deducere coroUaria ex Bonaventura,
Qui non didicit mentetenus combibilationes, 80
Quas magistri nostri resumunt per omnes regiones,
Praesertim in Parrhisia quae est mater omnium universitatum,
Et in Colonia, ubi nuper magistraliter est probatum
Per magistros nostros in theologicali disputatione,
In qua determinaverunt omnia seraphica probatione,
Quod multo melius est scire istas combibilationes
Quae plurima tractant per irrefragabiles rationes,
Quam mentetenus scire Hieronymum et Augustinum,
Qui tantum sciunt scribere bonum latinum :
Quia combibilationes sunt optima materia, ^
Ceu disputant magistri nostri per omnia monasteria :
Ipsae concludunt per conclusiones magistrales,
Qui sunt in divinis ipsi termini essentiales ;
Et tractant etiam prima principia theologicalia
Et alia multa quae sunt valde magistralia.
85
95
XXXII
€E M. Ortvmo Gratio viro inenarrabilium doctri?i- arum Magister GINGOLFUS LIGNIPER- CUSSORIS mille millium salutes dicit in charitate nonjicta
GLORISSISSIME magister, ego amo vos pectora- 5 liter ex intimo zelo, quia vos me semper amavistis ex quo fuistis praeceptor meus singularissimus in Daventria ; et quicquid vos stimulat in conscientia vestra, hoc me magis stimulat, et quod me stimulat, scio quod vos etiam stimulat, et vester stimulus semper lo fuit etiam stimulus meus, et nemo vos unquam stimu- lavit, qui me non durius stimulavit, atque cor meum totiens patitur stimulos, quotiens aliquis vos stimulat : credatis mihi in bona fide, quando Hermannus Buschius stimulavit vos in suo proemio, amplius me stimulavit i5 quam vos, et cogitavi quomodo possum istum indis- cretum rixatorem restimulare, qui etiam tum prae-
^* proemio. It is not clear what the Prooemium of the Valliim Human- work of Buschius is referretl to ; uot itatis, which was not written till 1518.
83
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
sumptuosae supeibiae est quod audet stimulare magistros nostros de Parrhisia et Colonia ; et ipse
20 tamen non est promotus, quamvis socii eius dicunt quod ipse est promotus in baccalaurium iuris in Lypsi. Sed ego non credo, quia etiam stimulat magistros in Lypsi, videlicet magnum Canem et minorem Canem, et alios multos, qui eum possunt multo melius stimu-
25 lare quam ipse illos stimulat : verum ipsi neminem volunt stimulare propter suam moralitatem, et propter doctrinam apostoli dicentis : " Nolite calcitrare contra stimulos." Verumenimvero vos debetis eum resti- mulare, quia habetis unum bonum ingenium et estis
30 inventivus, et scitis in una hora multa metra facere stimulativa ; scitis etiam eum stimulare in omnibus suis factis et dictis. Ego compilavi unum dictamen contra eum, ipsumque magistraliter, poeticeque stimulo ; non potest evadere stimulum meum. Si vult restimu-
35 lare, tunc volo iterum fortius stimulare. Datum raptim ex Arge apud Mathiam Schurerium.
" non credo. But Gingolf was mis-
taken ; Buschius was admitted LL.B.
at Leipsic in 1503. H. L Liessem,
De H. Biisch. vita et scrip., 1866, p.
32.
" Canem : " Magnus Canis " was Magnus Hundt, of Magdeburg (hence Parthenopolitanus) (1449 - 1519), Rector of the Uuiv. of Leipsic in 1499. Among his works are Parvnlus Anti(iuoruni (a compendium of Logic), Expositio J)onati sevundmn viani doc- toris sancti, and a Parrmlus philoso- phiae naturalis, or introduction to Aristotle's Physics. "Minor Canis," also a Magnus Hundt of Magdeburg,
and probably a son of the precediug.
See J. J. Maderus, Scriptorum In-
siynium . . . Centuria, Helmstadt,
1660 [xi.viii].
- ' apost. : Acts ix. 5.
^" inventivus. Not met with else- where.
^® Schur.: Matthew Schiirer, of Schlettstadt, a printer of Strasburg, and a mau of letters. He was the author of Grammatica Nova, publ. in 1501, aud betweeu the years 1506 aud 1521 issued many works, in- cluding several by Erasmus and Wimpheliug.
84
XXXIII
€E MAM3IOTRECTUS BUNTEMAXTELLUS
in septem cwtlbus magister, Magistro Ortvino Gi^atio philosopho, OTritori, poetae, iuristae, theo- logo, et sic sine statu Salutem dicit cordialissimam
CONSCIENTIOSISSIME domine magister Ort- 5 vine, credatis mihi firmiter quod vos estis cor meum, ex quo audivi multa a dignitate vestra in poesi in Colonia, in qua vos excellitis onmes in illa arte, et estis multo melior poeta quam Buschius vel Caesarius et scitis etiam PHnium legere et grammaticam graecam. lo Ex illa confidentia volo reverentiae vestrae quaedam manifestare sub fide confessionis. VenerabiHs domine magister, ego amo hic unam virginem, fiham campana- toris, Margaretam cum nomine, quae sedet nuper in latere vestro, videhcet quando plebanus noster domina- 15 tionem vestram invitavit ad convivalitatem et tractavit vos reverentialiter, quando bibimus et fuimus laetae mentis, quando illa etiam propinavit vobis bonos haustus : ego amo eam in tanto amore quod non sum mecum credatis mihi firmiter quod neque comedo 20 neque dormio prae ea. Et homines dicunt ad me : '* Domine magister, quare ita pallescatis ? amore dei relinquite hbros vestros, vos nimium studetis : debetis aUquando solatium quaerere et zechare, vos estis adhuc unus iuvenis vir, bene potestis adhuc proficere 25 ad doctoratum et fieri magister noster ; estis etiam
^ Mammotrectus. The compilation ' Buschius. See i. 9, 7i.
known as Mamotrectus super Bihliani, • Caesarius: Joannes C. (1460-
attributed to Joannes Marchesinus, 1551), educated under Hegius at
was a very popular work in the Deventer. At Cologne he taught
XVth Cent. The vvord is verj'^ Greek, and, amoug other works,
variously spelt, aiid is found in edited Pliny's Nat. Hist. He was a
the form Mammothreptus, which St. warm supporter of Reuclilin, and
Augustine (in Psalm xxx. serra. 2) died iu great poverty at Cologne.
explains as " a child too loug un- See Bayle, Hist. and ('rit. Dict. {Des
weaned." Erasmus said that the M. Mai.zeaux), London, 1735, s.v.
had more faults than a leopard had ^* conmvalitas. Not elsewhere
spots. See S. Berger, De Glossariis et found.
Compend. Exeget. . . . Med. ^Jivi., -^ noster. He was but plaiu " Magis-
Paris, 1879, for a full discussion. ter."
85
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
fundamentalis et bonus scholaris et iam quasi valetis unum doctorem " : sed ego sum timidus et non possum dicere meam infirmitatem. Ego lego Ovidium de re-
30 medio amoris quem Coloniae glosavi a vestra dignitate
cum multis notabilibus et moralitatibus in margine :
verum non iuvat, quia iste amor quotidie fit maior.
^Nuper chorisavi cum ea ter in chorea serotinah in
domo sculteti, tunc fistulator fistulavit cantilenam de
35 pastore de nova civitate, et statim omnes chorisatores amplexatantur suas virgines sicut mos est. Et ego etiam meam valde amicabihter compressi ad pectus meum cum suis mamiUis. Nec non tetigi fortiter manus eius, tunc ipsa risit et dixit : " in anima mea,
40 domine magister, vos estis delectabihs vir, et habetis moUiores manus quam ahi, non debetis sacerdos fieri : sed uxorem accipere " : et inspexit me delectabiliter, quod ego credo quod me etiam occulte amat : verum ocuH eius cor meum sic laeserunt sicut una sagitta
45 pertransisset. Et etiam ivi ad domum cum famulo meo, et posui me ad lectum : tunc mater mea flevit, quia timuit quod haberem pestilentiam, ac cucurrit cum urina mea ad doctorem Brunellum clamans : " Domine doctor, rogo vos propter deum, iuvate filium meum,
50 volo vobis dare ad propinam unam bonam camisiam, quia promisi quod debet sacerdos fieri." Tunc medicus vidit urinam, et dixit : " ille patiens pro parte est cholericus et pro parte flegmaticus, ipse habet timere de magno tumore circa renes propter inflationes ac
55 tormenta ventricaha ex mala digestione, debet sumere medicinam extractivam : est una herba quae videhcet dicitur gyni, nascens in locis humidis, habens gravem odorem, sicut docet Herbarius ; iUius herbae partes inferiores debetis conterere, et cum suo succo facere
60 unum longum emplastrum, et ei ponere ad totum ventrem suum hora consueta, et debet iacere super ventrem suum bene ad unam horam multum sudando, sic sine dubio cessabunt illa tormenta ventricaha cum
'* scult. : praefectus, "Judex op- " (iyni : i.e. ywri.
pidi " ; Du Cange. ^* Herh. : an anonymous work,
pmtore : the air of an old ballad, «^«TJf « Aggregator ' practicus de " Die Schiifers von Neustadt." •'^vnphothns, to be distniguished from
Aggregator de viedxcuns sintpiiciiais oi
- ^ Brimellus. See Hain (16214-18). Jacobus de Dondis.
86
134] ORTVINUS GRATIUS
suis inflationibus, quia non est alia medicina tam efficax ad istam infirmitatem sicut illa, ut est probatum in 65 multis patientibus : Verii certe bonum est ut ipse prius accipiat unam purgationem de albo graeco cum succo raphani an .3 .iij. et bene erit." Tunc mater venit et dedit mihi talem purgationem contra voluntatem meam ; et habui in illa nocte quinque sedes magnas 7o atque nihil dormivi, semperque cogitavi quomodo illam in chorea compressi cum suis mamilHs ad pectus meum, ac quomodo illa me aspexit. Precor vos propter omnem bonitatem quam in vobis habetis, quod velitis mihi dare unum experimentinn de amore ex vestro 75 parvo libro, in quo stat scriptum "probatum est," quem mihi semel ostendistis et dixistis : " Ecce ex illo libro possum facere quod omnis muHer me amat " ; et nisi faciatis, domine magister, tunc ego moriar, et mater mea prae dolore etiam morietur. so
Ex Heydelbergo.
XXXIV
iE MAGISTER ORTVINUS GRATIUS Magis- tro Mammotrecto profundissimo amico in primo gradu amicitiarum S. D.
EX quo dicit scriptura : " Amat dominus gradientes simpliciter : " ideo laudo dominationem vestram, 5 subtilissime domine magister, quod scribitis mihi tam simphciter conceptum mentis vestrae, oratorie tamen, sicut estis bene stilatus in latinisando. Ego volo vobis etiam simpliciter scribere rhetoricaliter, et non poeti- caliter. Domine magister amicabihssime, vos manifes- 10 tatis mihi de amore vestro : ego miror quod non estis prudentior, quam quod vultis amare virgines, dico vobis quod male facitis, et habetis propositum peccaminosum, quod vos posset ducere ad infernum. Ego cogitavi quod estis discretus et non curatis istas levitates, quae semper 15 habent malum exitum. Ast dabo vobis consilium meum
" alb. graec. : a popular medieval '* ana : for a.va.^ in the sense of " so
remedy, made of the chalky excreta much of each," frequently used in old of hyenas and other carnivora. prescriptions.
87
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROKUM VIEORUM
quod petitis. Ex quo dicit scriptura : " Qui petit, accipit." Debetis primo relinquere illas vanas cogi- tationes de vestra Margareta, quas diabolus vobis sug-
20 gerit, qui est pater omnis peccati, teste Richardo super .IIII. Et quandocunque de ea cogitatis, facite crucem ante vos, nec non orate unum Pater noster cum illo versu in psalterio: " Stet diabolus a dextris eius." Etiam semper comedite sal benedictum in die dominico, et
25 spargite vos cum aqua sancta quod consecravit station- arius sancti Ruperti : et sic potestis efFugere illum diabolum qui vobis suggerit illum magnum amorem de vestra Margaretha, quae non est ita pulchra ut putatis : ipsa habet unam verrucam in fronte, ac magna rubeaque
30 crura, grossas nigrasque manus, sibique olet os suum propter malos dentes ; nec non etiam habet spissum culum secundum commune proverbium : " Ars Mar- garethae est mirabile rete." Sed vos estis caecus ex illo diabolico amore quod non videtis eius vitia. Ipsa
36 multum bibit et comedit, ac bis nuper bombisavit quando sedit apud me in mensa, et dixit quod fecit cum scamno. Ego habui in Colonia pulchriorem vestra INIargaretha, et tamen derehqui eam. Postquam accepit virum, saepe vocavit me per unam antiquam vetulam, quando vir
40 eius fuit absens : sed non veni praeter semel : sed tunc fui ebrius. Ego hortor quod bis ieiunatis in sabbato. et postea faciatis vestram confessionem uni magistro iiostro ordinis praedicatorum, qui posset vos bene instituere. Et quando fecistis confessionem, tunc debetis orare de
45 sancto Christoforo quod velit vos portare in humeris suis, ne iterum recidivetis ac mergatis vos in mare amplum et spaciosum, in quo sunt reptiHa quorum non est numerus, id est peccata infinita, sicut exponit Com- bibilator ; ac postea orate ne cadetis in tentationem.
- • Richardo: R. de Mediavilla ; ^^ Ars: " Ars Margarethae (Cor-
Richard Middleton, aii Englishman, tonensis), sanctae est ars in amore
oh. 1307. He is supposed to liave lasciviendi, et sanctae Margarethae
been a teacher of Duns Scotus, on Antiochenae formositas multum lau-
whose tomb in the Church of the datur in Legenda aurea. Sed iu
Minorites his name is inscribed. He hoc proverbio rs pronuntiandum est
wroteaCommentary outheSentences rsch." (Bocking.)
of Peter the Lombard. (See D. N. B.) " portare : referring to the legend
^ Psalt.: cviii. 6. of St. Christopher ; *' Christum
- sal hened. See J. Grimm, Tcu- ferens."
tonic Mythol, 1883, pp. 1040-9. " Comhib. See i. 31, n.
88
134] ORTVINUS GRATIUS
Surgite etiam mane, lavate manus vestras, ornate crines, 50 et nolite esse accidiosus : scriptura enim dicit : " Deus, deus meus, ad te de luce vigilo." Etiam vitate loca secreta: nos scimus quod loca et tempora saepe inducunt homines ad peccandum, et maxime ad luxuriandum. Verum quod vultis a me habere unum experimentum 55 probatum de amore, sciatis quod ego non possum salvare conscientiam meam. Quando glosavi vobis hic Ovidium de arte amandi, dixi vobis quod nemo deberet facere per artem nigromantiam quod mulieres se amant ; et quicunque contraiverit, ipse esset excommunicatus de eo facto, et exquisitores haereticae pravitatis possunt eum citare, atque ad ignem damnare. Ego dixi vobis etiam unum exemplum, quod debetis notare, videlicet hoc : Unus baccalaurius Lypsensis amavit unam virginem Katarinam Pistoris, et iectavit ipsam cum pomo nigro- 65 mantico, et ipse pomum accepit et posuit ad pectus suum inter mamillas : et statim incepit istum baccalaurium furialiter amare, sic : q. quando fuit in ecclesia, semper inspexit istum baccalaurium. Et quando debuit orare " Pater noster qui es in caelis," oravit : " Bacca- 70 laurie ubi es ? " Etiam in domo quando pater vel mater clamavit sibi, respondit : " Baccalaurie, quid vultis ? " Et ipsi non intellexerunt, donec quidam magister noster praetergrediens domum eius salutavit istam virginem dicens : " Domine Catarina, bonum sero : proficiat vobis, 75 vos habetis unum pulchrum crinale." Et respondit illa virgo Catarina : " Deo gratias, bone baccalaurie, vultis mecum bibere de optima cerevisia ? " porrigens sibi cantharum. Verum ille magister noster fuit iratus, et accusavit ipsam apud matrem suam sic : " Domina 80 Pistorissa, corrigite fiham vestram : ipsa est valde in- discreta ; scandalizavit nostram universitatem : nam vocavit me baccalaurium, et sum magister noster. Amen, amen, dico vobis quod perpetravit peccatum mortale : abstuHt mihi honorem meum, et peccatum 85 non dimittitur, nisi ablatum restituatur. Ahos magis- tros nostros nominavit etiam baccalaurios : ego credo quod amat unum baccalaurium ; habete advertentiam." Tunc mater eius accepit unum hgnum percutiens ipsam
" script. : Psal. Ixii. 2. *^ loc, sec. : lupanaria.
89
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
90 ad caput et dorsum suuni quod perminxit sese, in- clusit(iue ipsam in cubile per dimidium annum, et dedit ei panem et aquam comedere. Interea temporis bacca- laurius processit, et celebravit primitias, posteaque rexit unam parrochiam in Saxonia Padorauw. Quod cum ipsa
95 audivit, saltavit ex alta fenestra, et fregit quasi dextrum brachium, et fugit in Saxoniam ad istum baccalaurium, cum quo adhuc est hodierna die, et habet cum eo quatuor pueros. Vos vero bene scitis quod hoc est scandalum in ecclesia. Ergo igitur debetis cavere ab illa
100 arte nigromantica, ex qua veniunt multa mala. Verum potestis bene uti medicina quam vobis dominus doctor Brunellus docuit de gyni : est bona medicina : ergo probavi eam saepe contra tormenta ventricalia. Valete cum matre vestra. Ex Colonia e domo domini loannis
105 Pfefferkorn.
XXXV
miLVEA BUNTSCHUCH3IACHERIUS ordinis praedicatorjiin theologus Guillermo HacMneto qui est theologorum theoiogissimus S. dicit
YOS scripsistis mihi ex Angha de Londino unam longam Htteram pulchre latinisatam, in qua peti- vistis quod deberem vobis scribere unam novitatem sive bonam, sive malam, quia estis naturahter inchnatus ad audiendum nova : sicut faciunt omnes qui sunt de com- plexione sanguinea, et audiunt hbenter cantilenas musi- 1(1 cales, ac in mensa sunt laetae mentis. Ego fui valde laetatus, quando accepi vestram httcram, sicut qui in-
- ' rcl. prini.: colebnited mass ior XII. An emiiient tlieolof^iun, aud
the first time. "pride of thc Dominicans" as Bude
, ,, . ,p, I, , 1 , 1 calls liim, he liad earned the wrath of
^ fsniit. Ihe linndsrlnili, or roufrh ., ■>,,••. , , • .
, rxv. c I- \ \ tlic KcncJuiiiists, and his consequent
slioe 01 the JSwabian peasantry, norne ... .i /m. i»
,, • , . ' , , ,; ' . , inclusion amoiiij the Obscnre Men,
oii their banners in thc l'ea,saiit!s , , • , ■ a •i.i_ t •
,,r i , 1 1 1 j 1 • by his advcrse innuence with Louis.
\V ar, had been adontcd as a (levice ^ ,,,■,,' n • nin^i
' , 1 ,n.) t; /. / 1/ / '^ee liuilc to hrni^iii., I aris 1517.
as earlv as i-lvS. bee < ninli. Mod. ,,,... ' ^ ->
... . ..■' ,„„ l'.'I»P. cl.wiii.
Ilint., II. 1 /.J. '/ ,,., r u 1 • )»
' ' .saiKj. I he lour complexions,
- llarliin. : Guillaume Haquinet accordiii^ to (Jalen, were the meian-
Petit, Confessor and 1'reachcr to cholic, the phle^natic, the choleric,
Francis I., as hc iiad been to Louis aiid thc sanifuine.
1)0
I 35] LYRA BUNTSCHUCHMACHERIUS
venit unam preciosam margaritam, et ostendi eam dominis meis loanni Grocino et Linacro dicens : " Videte, domini mei, videte, nonne iste magister noster est formalis in latinisando et componendo dictamina, et i5 arte epistolandi ? " Et iuraverunt quod non possunt similes epistolas componere in arte latinitatis, quamvis sunt poetae, graeci, et latini. Et extulerunt vos super omnes qui sunt in Anglia, Frantia, Germania, et omni natione quae sub caelo est. Ideo non esset mirum quod 20 vos estis generalis in vestro ordine, et quod rex in Gallia diligit vos : non enim iiabetis similem in latinisando, disputando, et praedicando ; ac scitis regem cum regina optime informare in confessione. Etiam isti duo poetae laudaverunt vos quod habetis artem rhetoricalem : verum 25 fuit ibi unus iuvenis socius, qui intitulavit se Richardum Crocum ; ille praesumpsit contra vos, quod non scribatis secundum regulas artis rhetoricahs ; verum fuit valde confusus quando debuit probare. Ipse nunc stat in Lypsi et discit logicam Petri Hispani : credo quod 30 postea erit cautior.
Sed accedo ad novitates. Schwitzenses et Lanssk-
" lo. Groc. : William (not John), Marignano, mentioned below, did
Grocyn,c. 1446-1519, bornatColerne, not take place till Sept. 13 of that
Wilts, and educated at Winchester, year, it is clear that Francis I. and
and New College, Oxford. In 1488 Queen Claude are intended.
he visited Italy, and studied Greek " 6'roct«?i; Richard Croke, c. 1489-
under Chalcondylas. Returning to 1558 ; born in London ; graduated
Oxford, he was probably the first at Cambridge in 1506. He studied
publicly to lecture upon Greek in Greek under Grocyn at Oxford, and
that university. Among his pupils under Hieronymus Aleander at Paris,
were Sir Thomas More and Erasmus. and lectured successively at Louvain,
Though a firm upholder of the New Cologne, Leipsic, Dresden, and Cam-
Learning, Grocyn never swerved bridge. In 1529 he was sent by
froni the strictest religious ortho- Cranmer on a mission to Italy con-
doxy. cerning the king's divorce. It is
^^ Linacro: Thomas Linacre, c. known that he was at Leipsic in 1515.
1460-1524, born at Canterbury ; Mutianus writing to Reuchlin, in
Fellow of All-Souls College, Oxford, 1515, remarks that Croke calls him-
1488. Like Grocyn, he visited Italy self an Englishman, but that he
and studied Greek under Chalcon- should have judged him a Greek,
dylas, and moreover couuted More such was his graceful fluency iu that
and Erasmus among his pupils on his tongue. Croke was on verj^ frieudly
return to England. L. was King's terms with Reuchlin : " My Capnion,"
Physician under Henry VII. and he calls him in an extant letter.
Henry VIII., and may be regarded as ^^ Lanssknechti. The Landsknechte
the founder of the Royal College of were so called, not from the long
Physicians. He took priest's orders lauce with which they were armed,
about four years before his death. but from those German serfs who
^ Reg. cum regi. Since Louis XII. fought for their lords on foot. See
died Jan. 1, 1515, and the battle of i. 24, n.
91
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
nechti fecerunt unam magnam guerram inter se, inter- ficientes se ad multa milia : sed timendum quod nuUus
35 illorum venit in caelum, quia faciunt propter pecuniam, et unus christiamis non debet interficere aUum. Sed vos ista non curatis, sunt enim leves personae, et sequ- untur rixas ex proposito. Aha novitas est pejor, deus det quod non sit vera. Scribunt de Roma, quod specu-
40 lum loannis Reuchhn est de novo translatus de materna lingua in latinum ex mandato domini papae, et quod plusquam in ducentis locis aliter sonat in latinitate quam transtulerunt magistri nostri et dominus loannes Pfefferkorn in Colonia ; ac dicunt pro certo quod
45 Romae publice legitur et imprimatur cum ludaeorum Talmut.
Ex hoc inferunt quod magistri nostri sunt falsarii et infames, quia male transtulerunt ; etiam quod sunt asini, non inteUigentes latinum, vel teutonicum ; ac
50 sicut combusserunt istum librum apud sanctum Andream in Colonia, sic etiam debent comburere sententiam suam, et sentimentum Parisiense, vel ipsi met debent esse haeretici. Ego possem sanguinem flere, adeo doleo : quis vult ampUus in theologia studere, et
55 magistris nostris exhibere condebitam reverentiam qui taha audit ? Omnes credent quod doctor Reuchhn est profundior quam magistri nostri, quod est impossibile. Cum hoc etiam scribunt quod post tres menses debet venire finahs sententia contra magistros nostros ; necnon
60 quod papa mandabit sub pena latissimae censurae, quod fratres ordinis praedicatorum debent propter suam
^^ guerrani : at Marignano (now auother. . . . Who make up arniies ?
Melegiiauo), uear Milau, was fought^ C^ut-throats, adulterers, gamblers,
ou Sept. 13, 1515, the sanguiuary ravishers, mercenaries." Erasmus,
battle betweeu the Frencli army of Ep. 144.
Francis 1., aided by (iermau levies, *" de novo trmis. : Card. Grimani
and the Swiss. The struggle was ordered the Attgeiispiegel to be newly
fierce and protracted, and although translated iuto Latiu, and ou com-
it ended iu the decisive defeat of the paring the result with the transl.
Swiss, the losses of the victors were previously submitted by Hoogstraten
very heavy. General Trivulzio " de- it was found that the latter was
clared that the eighteeu battles he grossly garbled.
had previously witnessed were but ^^ iion intell. Reuchlin liad pointed
child's play to that of Marignano. " out, two years before, that Hoog-
Hug and Stead, Switzerland, p. 241. strateu was a Netherlauder and had
- " I often wonder how meu, and but a poor acquaiutance with High
especially Christian men, can be so German, {Reuch. Aet. Jndic., 1513.) mad as to go fighting with oue '" ( 'omhnss'. : Feb. 10,1514.
92
I 5GJ EITELNARRAB. DE PESSENECK
protervitatem portare unum album brillum sive per- spicillum in sua nigra cappa in dorso ad perpetuam memoriam et scandalum, quod fecerunt iniuriam speculo oculari domini loannis Reuchlin, sicut iam etiam 65 dicuntur pati unum scandalum in celebratione missali propter intoxicationem alicuius imperatoris. Ego non spero quod papa erit tam stultus quod faciet : Si faciet, volumus per univ^ersum nostrum ordinem contra ipsum legere istum psalmum : " Deus, laudem." Ceterum 70 patres et magistri nostri nunc cogitant quomodo possunt obviare isto malo. Ipsi volunt a sede apostolica im- petrare latissimas indulgentias, et maximam pecuniam coUigere in Germania et Gallia, per quam possunt resistere illi fautori ludaeorum donec moriatur : quia 75 est senex. Et tunc volunt eum omnino damnare. Valete, et date consilium vestrum secundum vestrum posse, et promovete bonum ordinis.
XXXVI
fE EITELNARRABIANUS DE PESSENECK
ordinis JVilhelmi cursor in Theologia Magistro Ortvino Gratio Salu. dicit numerosissimam
" A NATURA sumus proclivi ad malum," ut legimus rjL in autenticis. Ideo inter homines audimus semper 5 plura mala quam bona. Ego disputavi nuper in Wormatia cum duobus ludaeis et probavi quod ipsorum lex per Christum esset cassata, atque quod expectatio ipsorum de Messia esset una mera frasta et phantasia, ac super hoc allegavi domiimm loannem PfefFerkorn 10 in Colonia. lUi vero riserunt dixeruntque : '* Vester loannes PfefFerkorn in Colonia est unus pessimus
'^ brUluni: "spectacles." See Du or, as quoted iii Acts i. 20, "and his
Can^e, s.v. Berillus. bishoprick let another take."
" intoxicationem : referring to the '* Senex : Reuchlin was just si.xty.
alleged poisoning of the Emp. Hemy ^ Tliis is one of the Epp. which
VII. in 1313. See i. 22, n. have beeu attributed to Buschius.
""^ psalmum : i.e. Psal. cix., con- ^Antejit.: i.e. Peter Lombard's
taining the verse, " Let his days be '^Sentences."
few ; aiid let another take his office ; " ' Jrasta : frasca ; see i. 16, 7i.
93
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
trufator : nihil scit in hebraeo : ipse factus est christianus ut suam nequitiam occultaret. Quando fuit adhuc
15 ludaeus in Moravia, percussit unam mulierem in faciem quod non potuit videre in bancis, ubi mutantur floreni, et accepit plusquam .CC. florenos aufugiens. Et in aho loco propter suum furtum fuit sibi erectum patibulum, sed nescio quomodo fuit hberatus : nos vidimus pati-
20 bulum, et multi Christiani viderunt, etiam aliqui nobihstae quos possumus vobis nominare : propterea non debetis mihi allegare istum furem." Tunc ego fui iratus et respondi : " Mentimini in collum vestrum, vos pessimi ludaei : nisi haberetis privilegium, ego
25 vellem vos crinisare, et in stercus proiicere : vos dicitis taha ex odio in dominum loannem PfefFerkorn. Ipse est bonus et zelosus Christianus sicut est ahquis in Colonia : ego habeo ex experientia, quia multum con- fitetur ad praedicatores cum uxore sua ; audit hbenter
30 missas, et quando sacerdos elevat eucharistiam, tunc aspicit devotarie, et non videt in terram sicut sibi obiiciunt sui invidi, nisi quando expuit ; sed hoc facit pro eo, quia est multum flegmaticus, et mane comedit medicinam pectoralem. Putatis quos magistri nostri in
35 Colonia et burgimagistri sunt stulti, qui fecerunt eum hospitalarium maioris hospitahs, necnon mensuratorem sahs ? quod certe nequaquam fecissent, nisi esset bonus cathohcus. Dico vobis quod volo omnia taha sibi nunciare, quod potest defendere honorem suum, et vos
40 reahter vexare scribendo de vestra confessione. Verum dicitis, quod ipse est gratiabihs apud magistros nostros et burgimagistros propter suam formosam uxorem. Hoc non est verum : nam burgimagistri habent met pulchras uxores, et magistri nostri non curant muheres,
45 et nunquam est auditum quod ahquis magister noster fuisset adulter. Ipsa vero est ita honesta matrona sicut est una in Colonia : vellet hbentius unum oculum quam bonam famam perdere. Et ego saepe audivi ab ea,
" nihil nrit. P. alvvays iiulignantly ^ rrinisare. Not elsevvhere found,
denied this. except (sens. obsc.) in i. 41.
- priril.: Judcnschnt:z ; in the Xllth
Cent. the Jews had become " servi ^* ho.s-pital. : Spitalmeister of the
camerae," direct servants of the Hospital (tf St. Revilien in the Stolk-
emperor, aiid as such enjoyed im- gasse, Cologue. munity from attacks. H. Graetz,
Hist. ofthe Jews, iii. 365 ( 1892). ** mens. sal. : Salxmesser.
94
1.37] LUPOLDUS FEDERIUSIUS
quod aiidivit frequenter a sua niatre quod viri prae- putiati faciunt feminis maiorem voluptatem, quam non so praeputiati : eam ob causam dicit, quando suus maritus moritur, et ipsa alium accipiet, ille debet etiam nullam cutem habere in membro : ergo non est credendum quod amat burgimagistros, quia burgimagistri non fuerunt ludaei, nec sunt circumcisi sicut dominus 55 loannes PfefFerkorn : propterea relinquite ipsum in pace : alias scribet contra vos unum tractatum quem intitulabit 'die sturmglock,' ut fecit contra Reuchlin." Vos debetis istam Htteram ostendere domino loanni Pfefferkorn, ut se defendat realiter contra tales ludaeos, eo et Hermannum Buschium, quoniam ipse est amicus meus singularissimus, et mutuavit mihi .X. florenos quando fui promotus baccalaurius formatus in theologia. Datum ex Verona Agrippina, ubi Buschius et eius socius comederunt pingui de gallina. 65
XXXVII
C LUPOLBUS FEDERFUSIUS mox lice?itia?i- dus M. O7'tvino Gratio tot salutes dicit quot aucae comedunt gramina
DOMINE magister Ortvine, est in Erphordia in quodUbetis mota una quaestio multum subtilis in 5 duabus facultatibus, theologicali et physicaH. Quidam dicunt quando ludaeus fit Christianus, protunc renas- citur sibi praeputium, quae est cutis praecisa de membro viriH in nativitate per legem ludaeorum. Et ilH sunt de
•' praeputiati : i.e. circumcised ; ^^ ping. de gal. A locality in
not the reverse, as in TertuUian, Adv. Cologne is still named Unter Fetten-
Marc, V. 9. " Praeputiare .i. illam hennen, but as Bonn is here meaut
pellem praecidere." Gemma Gem- the allusion is obscure.
marwn. (Sir W. Hamilton, ^(im. i ^ /^. See Burgaud des Marets
> cy. p 208 seems to have mis- ^^^^ R^thery, Oeuires de Rabelais,
understood this.) , . 3-0
^* sturmglock : publ. at the end of • * I •
1514. ^ quodlih. : originally subtle and
- ' ist. lit. : " this letter of mine." elaborate theological arguments,
- Ver. Ag. Bonn, also kuown as they had degenerated into trifling,
Verona Rhenana. and often indecorous, discussious.
95
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
10 via theologorum, et habent prae se magistrales rationes, de quibus est una quod alias ludaei facti Christiani in extremo iudicio putarentur esse ludaei, si essent nudi in ipsorum membro viriH, et sic ipsis fieret iniuria. Sed deus nemini vult facere iniuriam : ergo etc. AUa
15 ratio tenet ex autoritate psahnistae qui dicit : " Et abscondit me in die malorum, et protexit me in abscondito : " dicit " in die malorum," id est in extremo iudicio in valle losephat, quando oportet reddere rationem omnium malorum. Ahas rationes rehnquo
20 propter brevitatem : ex quo in Erphordia sumus moderni, et moderni semper gaudent brevitate, ut scitis. Etiam pro eo quod ego habeo malam memoriam, non possum multa mentetenus scire aUegando, prout faciunt domini iuristae. Sed ahi volunt quod illa opinio non
25 potest subsistere, et habent pro se Plautum, qui dicit in sua poetria quod facta infecta heri nequeunt. Ex hoc dicto probant, si ahquam partem corporis ludaeus amisit in sua iudaitate, non recuperat iham in christiana rehgiositate. Et cu arguunt quod ipsorum argu-
30 menta non concludunt formahter : ahas ex prima ratione sequeretur quod ilh Christiani qui perdiderunt propter suam luxuriam partem unam e suo membro, ut saepe contingit in saecularibus et spirituahbus per- sonis, etiam crederentur in extremo iudicio esse ludaei :
35 sed hoc asserere est haereticum, et magistri nostri haereticae pravitatis inquisitores nequaquam concedunt, quia ipsi aliquando etiam sunt defectuosi in ista parte ; sed hoc non contingit ipsis ex meretricibus, sed quando in bahieis se non praevident. Iccirco precor domina-
40 tionem vestram humihter et devotarie quod vehtis vestra descisione determinare rei veritatem, et interro- gare uxorem d. lo. pfef. ex quo cum ea bene statis, et illa non verecundatur dicere coram vobis quaecunque vultis propter illam amicabilem conversationem quam
46 habetis cum viro suo. Et ego etiam audio quod estis eius confessor ; propterea potestis eam compellere sub pena sanctae obedientiae. Dicatis : " Domina mi, nohte verecundari, ego scio quod estis honesta persona, sicut est una in Colonia : non peto inhonestum a vobis,
^^ psnl. : xxvi. 5. " Joseph. See i. 30, n.
25 riavt. : Aniphitr. iii. 2.
96
I 38] PAD0RMANNU8 FORNACIFICIS
sed ut manifestetis mihi rei veritatem, utrum maritus 50 vester habet praeputium vel non ? dicatis audacter sine verecundia, amore dei, (juid tacetis ? " ^^erum ego nolo vos docere : vos melius scitis quomodo debetis vos habere cum muUeribus, quam ego. Datum raptim ex Erphurdia : ex Dracone. 55
XXXVIII
•E PABOmiAXNUS FORXACIFICIS Iken- tiatus Magistro Ortvino Gra. Salutem salutai^issi- mam dicit
I^TUPER scripsistis ad me de Colonia, et repre- Jl_M hendistis me quod ego non scriberem ad vos, ex 5 quo dixistis quod prae aliis libenter legitis meas litteras, quod habent bonum stilum, necnon procedunt recte secundum artem epistolandi, quam audivi a vestra praestantia in Colonia. Ego scriberem vobis : *' non habeo semper inventionem et materiam ut nunc habeo." 10 Vos debetis notare quod iam hic celebratur quodlibetum, et magistri doctoresque expediunt se artificialiter cum magna doctrina in determinandis, solvendis, proponendis quaestionibus, argumentis, probleumatibus in omni scibili. Et cum hoc poetae et oratores apparent valde 15 artificiosi ac scientiosi ; inter quos est unus notabilis et magistralis in illa arte prae ceteris, qui facit sibi mag- num titulum quando intimat lectiones suas. Et dicit quod est poeta poetarum, et quod praeter eum non est alius poeta. Ipse scripsit quendam tractatum metrice, 20 quem notabiliter intitulavit, ego sum oblitus nomen, credo quod est de ira et cholericis. In quo tractatu stimulat magistros multos, et alios poetas qui se im- pediverunt legere in universitate propter suam luxuri- osam artem : verum magistri dicunt sibi in faciem, quod 25 non est tam bonus poeta sicut gloriatur, et tenent sibi
" i>raco. There is still a Drachen- Wittenberg- University in 1510.
strasse in Erfurt, though the inn has Forst, Alh., 34. disappeared.
^ Fornac. Tlie name Kachelofen, ■'v,^* unus not. Apparently Sibutus.
- 'stove," occurs in the register of See i. 3, ?i.
97 G
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
in multis oppositum, et probant per vos, videlicet quod estis multo profundior in arte poeticali ; cum hoc etiam ostendunt quod non est bene fundatus in quantitate
30 syllabarum, prout determinat magister de ^^illa dei in tertia sui, quam iste videtur non sufficienter legisse; atque deducunt contra ipsum intentum suum multi- pliciter. Primo per nomen vestrum, et hoc dupHciter. Primo sic. " Ecce iste vult profundior esse poeta quam
35 magister Ortvinus, et tamen nomen suum non patitur. Profecto magister Ortvinus dicitur Gratius a supernali gratia, quae vocatur gratia gratis data, quia alias non poteritis scribere tam profunda dictamina poeticaha sine illa gratia gratis data vobis per spiritum sanctum,
40 qui ubi vult spirat ; et vos eam impetrastis per humi- htatem vestram : deus enim resistit superbis, et humi- Hbus dat gratiam." Qui vestram poetriam legunt, et intelhgunt negotium, fatentur in conscientia sua quod non habetis parem, et mirantur quod iste est sic insulsus
45 et inverecundus, quod vult esse super vos : quando unus puer posset inteUigere quod iUum excelhtis sicut Laborintus Cornutum excelHt. Ipsi volunt coHigere dictamina vestra, et curare imprimere quae in variis tractatibus hincinde scripsistis, videHcet in tractatu
50 magistri nostri de Tungaris, summi regentis in bursa Laurentii, in tractatu de scandalosis propositionibus loannis Reuchhn, in Sentimento Parrhisiensi, in multis tractatibus domini loannis PfefFerkorn, qui fuit oHm ludaeus, et nunc est optimus Christianus. Ipsi timent
55 quod ahas pereat vestra poetria, et dicunt quod esset unum maximum scandahmi iUius temporis et peccatum mortale, si periret per neghgentiam, et non imprimeretur. Orant etiam domini magistri quod dignemini sibi mittere apologiam vestram contra loannem Reuchhn, in qua
60 reaHter tribulatis ilhim praetensum doctorem, quod audet oppositum tenere contra quattuor universitates :
^' anpernali. Not elsewliere fouiul. " Lector condoleus Eberhardi car- ^i . , • a niinis ullam
deus : James iv. 6. gj cariem videas. Vigilet correctio
- ' Laborintus : the Labyrinthus, a Imiae.
poem "de miseriis rectorum Schol- A MS. of this at Wolfenbiittel makes
aruni," attributed to Ebrard de an author, " Laborintus," out of the
Bethune (Eberliardus Betliuniensis, title. See Polycarp Leyser, llist.
Xlllth Cent., called Graecista), from Poet. et Poem. Med. Aev., Halle (on
its conclusion — Saale), 1721.
98
I 38] PADORMANNUS FORNACIFICIS
volunt exsciibere, et vobis remittere. De isto modo probandi sunt magister loannes Kirchberg, amicus meus singularissimus, mecum promotus, magister loannes Hungen, amicus meus afFectualissimus, magister d.j lacobus de Nurmberga, magister lodocus AVynssheim, et ahi multi magistri, amici mei dignissimi et fautores vestri imperterriti. Verum enimvero ergo ahi opponunt se et dicunt quod iste modus probandi est quidem subtihs, et concludit magistrahter, sed non sit de mente vestra, 70 quia hoc sonaret multum superbe, si vos diceretis : " Ecce domini mei, ego vocor Gratius a supernah gratia, quam mihi dedit deus in poetria et in omni scibih." Et hoc idem repugnaret humihtati vestrae, per quam habetis illam gratiam, et esset oppositum in 75 adiecto. Nam gratia supernahs et superbia non pati- imtm- se in eodem subiecto : Porro gratia supernahs est virtus, et superbia vitium, quae se non compatiuntur propter hoc quod " unum contrariorum natum est expellere rehquum, ut cahditas expedit frigiditatem : " so magister noster poeta secundum Petrum Hispanum in praedicamentis, qui disputat quod vtus contrariatur vitio. Ergo est aha ratio multo mehor, propter quam vocatur Gratius videhcet a Graccis Romanis, deposita una httera propter malam sonantiam. De quibus legitur 8.5 in historiis Romanorum quod fuerunt valde notabiles poetae et oratores. Isti Gracci, et quod Roma illo tempore pares non habuit, qui fuerunt tam subtiles et profundi sicut iUi in poesi et in Rhetorica. Et legitur, quod fuerunt de molh et suavi voce, non tubah et 9!) grossa, sed dulci sicut una fistula, ad quam fistulam ipsi etiam ahquando inceperunt rhetorizare in principio sui dictaminis : propterea populus audivit eos cum magna affectuahtate, et dedit eis primam laudem prae ceteris in iUa arte. Ab istis igitur Gracchis nominatus 115 est Gratius magister Ortvinus. Porro nemo est sibi par in poesi, et in dulcore vocis. Et illos omnes sic praecehit, sicut ilh Gracchi Romanorum poetas omnes praecellebant. Ergo ideo igitur debet tacere,
- Kirchherg . . . Wjjiisshebn: tliese liave tlie keynote sounded for him
four friends of K.'s liave not been by a slave, " qui occulte eburnea
identified. (All are place-names.) listula pronuutiationis ejus modos
- ^ fist. Caius Gracclius used to formabat." Va/. Max., \iu. 10, 1.
99
EPISTOLAE OBSCUPvOrtUM VIRORUM
100 et se hiiniiliare ille poeta liic in AVitenburga ; alias
est profundus, sed respectu vestri est unus puer.
Illani viani probandi tenent amici niei cordialissinii
Eobanus Hessus, magister Henricus Urbanus, Ritius
Euritius, magister Georgius Spalatinus, rh-icus Hut-
105 enus. Et in primis doctor Ludovicus IMistotheus, dominus et amicus meus, et defensor vester. ^^os debetis mihi scribere qui sunt de via mehori, ac in- formare rei veritatem. Et volo unam missam pro vobis legere apud praedicatores, quod dcbetis vincere doctorem
110 Reuchhn fiui vocavit vos haereticum immerito, quod scripsistis in vestra poetria : " Flet lovis ahua parens." Valete in niaxima valitudine. Ex AVitenburgo, ex arce apud magistrum Spahitinum, qui vobis mittit tot salutes, quot cantantur Halleluia infra pascha et penthe-
115 costes. Iterum valete et ridete semper.
i^' /Ies.sm (1487-1O-10). A de-
tailed account of liis life, froin his
birtli under a tree in a corntield, vvill
he found in tlie Nurratio da II.
lu)!/. Ile.^.sii, l)_v Joacli. Canierariu.s,
Norimh., 1.553. Melchior Adani
{Lih. (le Vit. Phil. (leri)t.) conipares
liini to Honier, while Moreri drily
remarks tliat he was neither so hlind
nor so f^reat as II., hut couhl drink
the greatest topers in (lermany uniler
the tahle. Ile was a facile writer
of Latin verse, from transLations of
Homer and Theocritus, to a poem on
the gout. See Martin Ilertz, //. E.
Hesse, Berlin, 18()0.
^"^ i/'?-to;/«.v; amemherof tlie Krfurt circle, afterwards a ( istercian niorik. He has heen strangely confuscd with Kuricius Cordus hy .\Iehdiior ,\dam and many suhsequent writers. (See A. Chahners, <ien. Hkxj. I>iet., x. 2.)3,
and Catah)gues of IJrit. ,Mus. and
liodL Lih.)
1°^ Eitrit.: LuriciusCordus(148C,- 1.53.')), i)oet and pliysician. \'isited Italyin 1.521; studied medicine at Fer- rara, and afterwards resided at Mar- j)urg and Bremen. Besides poenis, iie wrote ('olt(i<jiiitiiii de llerljis, and otlier hotanical works. See Melchior Adam, /« \'it. (leriit. Medic, aud Moreri, Dirt. Hi.st., 1712, ii. 742.
'"' Spalat. (1484-1.545) : (ieorg Burkliardt, of Spalt. l>avai-ia. One of the humanists of the Krfurt circle ; later, chaplain and adviser of the Elector Frederick the Wise, and (dose friend of Lutlier. .\uthor of tlie Aititales l'eJhriiiatioiti.\- and other historical works.
'"^ Mi.stotli.: helie^ed hy Bucking to stand for " iNLartiu Luthei-."
100
XXXIX
€E XICOLAUS LUMINATORIS d. Magistro O?'tvi?io tot salutes ??iittit, quot in uiio ainio nas- cuntur culices et pulices
SCIENTIFICE praeceptor magister Ortvine : ego significo vobis plures grates, quani habeo crines in 5 corpore nieo, quod dedistis niihi consihum quod deberem ambulare ad Coloniam pro studio ad bursam Laurentii : pater meus fuit optime contentus, et dedit mihi .X. fiorenos, et emit mihi unam magnam cappam cum liripipio nigri coloris. In primo die quando veni ad 10 universitatem, et deposui beanium in praedicta bursa, tunc didici unum notabile, quod non vellem carere pro .X. albis. Quidam poeta Hermannus Buschius venit ad istam bin-sam cum suo negotio ad unum regentem collateralem. Tunc ille magister sibi manum suam, et 15 excepit eum reverentiaUter dicens : " Unde mihi hoc quod mater domini venit ad me ? " Et Buschius re- spondit : " Si dominus noster non habuit pulchiorem matrem quam ego sum, certe ipsa non fuit multum pulchra " ; et non intellexit illam subtilem retoricalem 20 allegoriam, quam ille regens bursalis praetendit in suo sermone.
I; Ego spero quod volo adhuc multa in hac ahua universitate discere tam utiha sicut hoc notabile est. Hodie emi processum bursae ; cras debeo arguere in 25 disputatione bursali, de ilhi materia, utrum materia prima sit ens in actu, vel potentia. CoLONiAE ex bursa Laurentii.
^ Lninin. : "^Tldituus"; but the see Rashtlall, rnii'. <>f Enrope, ii. earliest instance giveu by Du Cange 028-32.
is of 1537. ^^ nnde: the Magister clumsily
alludes to ]3uschius's poem, De
' Lanren, See i. 11, n. salnherrinio fructnosissinioqne divae
virginis psaltcrio Jlecatostichon, &c.
" </e/)04K/;forthebrutalhorse-play (Several edd. had appeared before accompanying the cereniony of " de- 1516.)
positio," /.e. the adniission of a fresh- " ^«*, ifcc. Cf. Prantl, T/e^c^. der
mau to the privileges of studentship, Lnyik., iii. p. 112.
101
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
XL
iE HERBORDVS MISTLABERIUS Magistro Ortvino incomparahili in doctrina praeceptori suo sulsissimo Salutem dicit quam nemo dimimerarc poterit
ILLUMINATISSIME magister, qiiando discessi a vestra dominatione ad SuoUis ante duo annos, pro- misistis mihi ad manum meam quod velitis milii fre- quenter scribere, et mihi modum dare dictandi in vestris dictaminibus : ast non facitis, et mihi non scribitis sive
10 vivitis, sive non vivitis ; sive vivitis sive non vivitis, non tamen scribitis ut scio quid est, quomodo vel qualiter est. Sancte deus, quomodo me sollicitatis : rogo vos propter deum et sanctum Geogium, liberate me ex mea cura, quia timeo quod caput vobis dolet, vel quod
15 habetis infirmitatem in ventre, et estis laxus, sicut ohm fuistis quando permerdastis cahgas vestras in plateis et non sensistis, donec una muher dixit : "Domine magister, ubi sedistis in merdis ? ecce tunica et pantofoh vestri sunt maculata " : tunc ivistis in domum domini loannis
20 Pfefferkorn, et muher eius dedit vobis aha vestimenta : vos debetis comedere ova dura, et castaneas in fornace assatas, necnon fabas coctas aspersas cum papavere, ut fit in Westvaha patria vestra. Mihi somniavit de vobis quod habetis gravem tussim, et multum de flegmate :
25 comedite zuccarum, et pisas contusas mixtas cum serpiho et alho contrito, ac ponite unum assatum caepe ad umbihcum vestrum, et per sex dies debetis abstinere a muheribus ; tegite caput et hniibos vestros bene, et sanabitis. ^'el sumite receptum quod uxor domini
30 loannis Pfefferkorn [saepe languentibus dederat,] quod est probatum saepe. Ex Suolhs.
This unsavoury Kp. gives peculiar " Geog. Sic, iii [A].
point to one of the mythical hooks *' serpil/o. The flowers of wild
iu the Library of St. Victor, viz. tliyme {T. serpifllnvi) are used iu
" Ars lioneste petandi in societate, medicine as a povverful stimulaut.
par M. Ortuinum." Ilabelais, ^" snepe : the words iu bracket»
Pantagrnel, ii. 7. were added in [B].
102
XLI
•E VILIPATIUS DE ANTWERPIA BACCA LAURIUS M. Ortvino Gi^a. amico mo singu- Uunssimo Salutem dicit maccimam
YENIT ad me unus religiosus ordinis praedicatorum, discipulus magistri nostri lacobi de Hochstrat, 5 haereticae pravitatis exquisitoris, et salutavit me. Et statim interrogavi : " Quid facit amicus meus singular- issimus magister Ortvinus Gratius, a quo multa didici in logica et poesi ? " Et respondit quod estis infirmis : tunc cecidi in terram ante pedes eius prae terrore. Ipse 10 me perfudit cum aqua frigida, et crinisavit me apud pudenda, et vix suscitavit : tunc dixi : " O quam me terruistis ! quae est eius infirmitas ? " et ait, quod dextra vestra mamilla est inflata, ac dolorosa infirmitate vos vexat et impedit a studio. Sic cepi iterum mentem 15 dicens : " Ha ! non est aHud : ego possum bene sanare istam infirmitatem : habeo artem per experientiam. Verum, domine magister, audite, primum, unde venit ista infirmitas ? " Tunc subiungavi remedium : Quando mulieres male pudorosae vident unum pulchrum virum 20 sicut vos estis, videHcet qui habet gilvos crines, brunellos oculos vel grauos, os rubeum, magnum nasum, et est bene corporatus, tunc volunt eum habere. Sed quando ille est bene moratus, quaHficatusque in mente sicut vos, et non curat ipsarum levitates et fallacias, tunc 25 fugiunt ad artes magicas, et in nocte sedent super unam scobem, equitantes super istam scobem ad pulchrum illum virum quem amant, facientes negotium suum cum eo quando dormit, et nihil sentit nisi somnium. AHquae fiunt cattae vel aves, et sugunt sanguinem eius per 30 mamiUas, et faciunt suum amicum aHquando sic in- firmum quod vix valet cum baculo ambulare. Ego
" ^rrflMO* ; Ger. ^raw ; not elsewhere solemn " cat-whipping " by twelve
found. priests, to expel the witch, see
" srohe»! : a broom. See Grimm, S. H. {i.e. Samuel Harsnet, Ahbp. of
Dentsche Mytho/., 1835, p. 589. York), .-1 Declaration of Popish Irn-
^ cattae, For an accouut of a postures, 1603.
103
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
credo quod diabolus docuit ipsas illam artem : verum- enimvero sic debemus ipsis obviare sicut legi in
35 libraria magistrorum in Rostochio in antiquissimo libro, et postea probavi, et est verum. Tn die dominico debemus sumere sal benedictum, et cum eo super linguam facere unam crucem, et comedere ex mandato scripturae : " Vos estis sal terrae," id est comeditis ;
40 postea facere unam crucem in pectore, et unam in dorso ; similiter ponere in utramque aurem semper cum cruce, cavendo ne cadat exinde. Ac postea orare talem orationem devotam :
Domine lesu Christe, et vos quattuor evangelistae, 45 custodite me a malis meretrieibus, et ab ipsis incantatricibus,
ne exsugant meum cruorem, et faciant gravem dolorem in meis mammillis ; quaeso resistite illis : dabo vobis offertorium, unum pulchrum aspersorium :
et eritis liberatus. Si iterum veniunt, tunc exsugunt
50 suum sanguinem et fiunt met infirmae. Ceterum
quomodo stat res cum doctore Reuchlin ? magistri
dicunt hic quod vos vicit ; ego non credo quod posset
vincere magistros nostros. Et multo magis miror quod
non scribitis unum dictamen contra ipsum. Valete
55 superaeternaliter. Et salutate dominum loannem
PfefFerkorn cum sua uxore : dicatis quod ego opto sibi
plures bonas noctes, quam Astronomi habent minutas.
Ex Fraxckfurdia apud Oderam.
^^ Rostoch.: tlie library in which *^ offert. Here, nierely au oblation.
the mythical " Combibilations" rest. " aspers. Here, au iustrument for
See i. 31. sprinkling holy water ; an aspergill.
="*«/. See Grimm, Deutsche * nonscrib.:ignov\ngO:sPraciiotii-
Mythol., l. c. and p. xc, n. 570. '"<^"^« (1514), , ,. . .
3g . *' ndnuta^. The subdivisions of
bcrip. : Matt. v. y6. ^|jg ^j.^. ^j.^ pi.obKbly meant ; seconds
- ^ ne cadat. Tliat ill-luck atteuds of arc were called " partes minutae
the spilling of salt is still a common secundae." A minute of time is
superstition. miniitum.
NOTE.
Epp. XLII.-XLVIII. appeared for the first time in [C]- the third edition of the first series.
104
APPENDEX EPI8T0LARUM
XLII
€E ANTONIUS N. Medldnae quasi docior, id est Licentiatjts, statim autem promotus Spectabili viro 3Iagistro Ortvino Gra. praeceptori suo multiim venerando S. dicit
PRAECEPTOll singiilarissime, secundum quod s scripsistis mihi nuper quod debeam vobis scribere novalia, sciatis quod ego nuperrime veni ex Heydelberga ad Strassburg volens emere quaedam materialia quibus utimur in nostris medicinalibus, ut scitis credo : quia etiam est consuetudo apud vestros medicos, ut si non lo habent in suis apotecis, tunc solent pergere in aHam civitatem ut possint emere ad practicationem suam : sed stent illa. Cum itaque venissem illuc, venit ad me unus bonus amicus qui est mihi multum favorabiHs, et quem vos bene cognoscitis, quia fuit diu etiam Coloniae is sub virga vestra ; ille mihi dixit tunc de uno qui erat dictus Erasmus Roterdamus, mihi prius incognitus, qui esset homo valde doctus in omni scibih omnique doctrinarum genere ; et dixit quod esset iam in Strass- burg : ego nohii credere et adhuc non credo, quia 20 videtur mihi impossibile quod unus homo parvus, ut ipse est, tam multa deberet scire. Rogavi ergo illum qui mihi taha dixit valde plurimum, iit vellet me tamen ducere ad eum ut possem eum videre. Habui etiam mecum tunc unum Rapiarium quod intitulavi " V^ade 25 mecum in medicina," ut soleo semper habere, quando ambulo transcampis ad visitandos pacientes vel ad materiaha emenda : in hoc habeo etiam varias quaes- tiones quae sunt valde subtiles in arte medicinah [.] ex illo rapiario enucleavi mihi unam quaestionem cum suis 30 notabihbus et argumentis pro et contra, cum quibus volui armatus venire contra illum quem dicebant tam scientiosum, ut possem tamen experientiam facere an
^^ practir. Xot elsewhere fouud. ^^ parnts. Erasmus, in a letter to
^* iani. Erasmus passed througli Jacobus, Vic. C^ameracensis Episc,
Strasburg ou his way to IJasle in speaks of himself as "homuncio."
1514, Ep. liv., Ludg. Bafav., 1706, col. 48.
105
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROIIUM YIRORUM
etiam aliquid sciat in medicina vel non. Cum igitur 35 dixissem hoc amico meo, instituit collationem optimam et invitavit Theologos speculativos, luristas splendi- dissimos. Et me quasi unum ex medicinarum practi- catoribus, licet indignus. Nempe cuni sedissent, tunc diu tacuerunt neque aliquis ex nobis voluit incipere 40 prae pudore [:] tunc ego stimulavi meum proximum consessorem, quod mihi ad salvos deos ex abrupto occurrit in memoria,
Conticuere omnes intentique ora tenebant ;
quem versum adhuc habeo in recenti consideratione,
45 quia vos cum exposuistis nobis Virgihum in Aeneidis tunc pinxi ad illum versum, ut facerem mihi locationem in libro meo secundum quod iussistis nos, unum virum qui habet claustrum in ore sic ergo iam optime venit ad propositum, cum ille scientificus etiam sit poeta ut ipsi
50 dicunt. Quippe cum sic taceremus invicem, ipsemet incepit magno praeludio sermonisare : ego vero non intellexi, vel non sum ex legittimo thoro natus, unicum verbum, quia habet tam parvam vocem : puto autem quod fuit ex theologia : et hoc fecit ut possit attrahere
55 illum magistrum nostrum, virum maxime profundum in theologia, qui nobiscum sedebat in coUatione. Quhiimo cum finivisset illud praeludium, tunc incepit magister noster disputare subtihssime de ente et essencia, quod non opus est iam repetere, quia bene pertractastis illam
60 materiam. Illo finito ipse respondit paucis verbis ; tunc iterum omnes tacuerunt. Tunc ergo hospes noster qui est bonus humanista, incepit quaedam dicere ex poetria, ubi hmdavit valde Caesarem luhum in suis scriptis et etiam factis. Profecto cum hoc audivissem, erat mihi
65 bene adiuvatum, quia multa legi et audivi in poesi a vobis dum fui in Colonia, et dixi : " Quoniamquideni igitur incepistis loqui de poetria, non potui me longius occultare, et dico simphciter, quod non credo Caesarem scripsisse illa commentaria, et volo dictum meum
70 roborare hoc argumento, quod sic sonat : ' Quicunque
- ^ Coiitic. : JKu. ii. 1. voyce or exclamacioii. So therfore
^* voreiii : " But they have learned, heginne theyr preambles so stilly as
I wotteneverofwhom, thattheentrie scarce they can here tlieyr owru
aud begiunyiif^of an oracion mnst be voyces." Erasm., Encoiii. Moriae
caulmly uttered without auy lowde (Challouer^s Trausl.).
10«
I 42] ANTONIUS N.
habet negociiim in armis et continuis laboribus, ille non potest latinuni discere. Sed sic est quod Caesar semper fuit in bellis et maximis laboribus : ergo non potuit esse doctus vel latinum discere. llevera puto igitur non aliter quani quod Suetonius scripsit illa commentaria, 75 quia nunquam vidi aliquem, qui magis haberet consi- miUorem stilum Caesari quam Suetonius.' " Postquam ita dixissem et multa aha verba quae hic causa brevi- tatis omitto, quia ut scitis ex antiquo dicterio : " Gaudent brevitate moderni," tunc risit Erasmus et so nihil respondit, quia eum tam subtiH argumentatione superavi. Et sic inposuimus finem coUationi et nolui quaestionem meam in medicina proponere, quia scivi quod ipse non sciret, cum non sciret mihi solvere illud argumentum in poesi, et ipse tamen esset poeta et dico 85 per deum quod non est tam multum ut dicunt de eo : non scit plus quam etiam ahus homo ; in poesi bene concedo quod scit pulchrum latinum dicere. Sed quid est [?] in anno multa possumus taha discere : sed in speculativis scientiis, ut est theologia et medicina, 90 multo aHter faciendum est si quis veht eas discere quamvis ipse etiam vult esse theologus. Sed, bone prae- ceptor, quahs theologus ? nempe simplex, quia laborat tantum circa verba, et non gustat res ipsas interiores. Sicuti (volo facere optimam comparationem) si ahquis 95 veht comedere nucem et comederet superiorem partem, et nucleum nunquam attingeret : sic etiam est cum illis secundum meum obtusum intellectum. Sed multo aUter intelhgitis quam ego, quia audio quod iam etiam vultis accipere ornamenta doctoraha in theologia : ad ido quod deus et sancta dei genitrix vehnt vos promovere. Sed tamen hoc dico pro me, ne fiani longior quam proposui, quod vehm plus acquirere mea arte (si saltem deus concederet mihi, ut haberem multos aegrotos) in una septimana quam Erasmus vel ahus poeta in uno anno. 105 Et hoc sufficiat pro nunc, et habeant sibi hoc : quia per deum iam maxime fui iratus : aha vice volo vobis plura novaha scribere. Vivite et valete quam diu unus fenix vivere potest : quod dent vobis omnes sancti dei, et me dihgite sicut adhuc semper fecistis. 110
Datum in Heydelberga.
101
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
XLIII-XLIV
•E GALLUS LINITEXTORIS GUNDEL-
EINGENSIS Cantor inter honos socios S. D. 31. Ortvino Gratio praeceptori suo plurifariam dilecto
REVEKENDE domine magister. Quia scripsistis mihi ad Eberburck valde solaciosam Ifam, in qua consolastis me quia audivistis me esse infirmum : prop- terea habeo vobis grates sempiternas. Sed in illa epistola scripsistis vobis fuisse mirum quare fuissem
10 factus infirmus, cum non habeam magnos labores, ut etiam nec alii habent qui dicuntur sine labore, id est dominorum servi. Ha ha ha ! oportet me ridere, vel sim spurius, quod quaeritis ex tam simphci mente : non scitis quod hoc est in dei voluntate quod potest unum
15 facere infirmum quando vult, et iterum sanare quando sibi placet : si semper debet venire infirmitas ex labore, tunc mihi non esset bonum : Rcet vos dicatis me non multum laborare. Quippe cum fui nuper in Heydel- berga apud bonos socios, tunc maxime semper cogebar
20 laborare cum collo, bibendo sciHcet vinum, quod non mirum fuisset quod traxissem coUum meum ab inde : et vos non putatis esse illum laborem ? Sed sufficiat haec responsio ad iUam partem : postea sequitur in vestra Ifa quod debeam vobis disponere unum libellum
25 in quo stet ahquid pulchrum pro iuvenibus quod possitis resumere. Cum igitur fuistis mihi semper amabilis propter disciplinas vestras varias quas scitis mentetenus, non potui me servare ut non mitterem vobis : vnfi epistolam ex pulchro Hbello qui inscriptus
30 est " Epistohu-e magistrorum hpsensium," quem dicta- verunt magistri dispositissimi in alma universitate Hpsensi ; et lioc propterea feci, si placet vobis illa prima Ifa, tunc volo mittere totum librum, quia non
^ Gnndel. : in Bavaria.
" sme lah.: J. Ilartlieb, I)e Fide Mcretnnim (1613), p. 495. " Sine labore, ein Pfaffenlaiecfit."
^^ tra.r. : the meaning is doubtful.
108
1.43-44] GALLU8 LINITEXTOPJS
libenter permitto a me : est ergo ista epistola talis iii principio : 35
^' MAGISTFAi CURIO Regens veter^imus in hursa Henrici lipsig S. D. Matthiae Falcken- bcrgensi cx antiqua familia Nohilistae ante Qui?iquagi?ita annos et adhuc suo socio inclivisihili 40
'• Quoniamquidem cum sit iam longum tempus et non fuimus simul apud invicem, bonum esse puto vobis semel velle scribere, ut antiqua amicitia iion destruatur : quia audivi a multis vos adhuc vivere et vos bene habere, atque sitis adhuc in 45 bona possibiHtate sicut fuistis adhuc iuvenis : quod ego per deum sanctum cum maxima hilaritate audivi : sed parcat mihi bonus deus quod tam robuste iuravi. Utinam deus et sancta ]Maria semel vehnt permittere ut huc possitis equitare, 50 quia audio vos iam non sic Hbenter equitare sicut fecistis quando fuistis mecum in Erphordia et in ceteris partibus Saxoniae ; quando ego saepius admiratus sum vestram hilaritatem, cuni equitastis in equo. Ego valde timui quando audivi AVorma- 55 cienses habere htigium cum quodam nobihsta, ne vos etiam essetis cum illo, quia una antiqua famiha, sicut vos estis, est Hbenter apud aham ; semper in iuventute cum iHis Hbenter fuistis zecchando et equitando, in quo ego vos saepe taxavi. Sed eo tamen cum adhuc omnia bona sunt, volumus referre Deo lesu meritas grates quod tam diu mansimus sani. Miror valde quod mihi nunquam scripsistis, cum tamen habetis multos nuncios ad Hpsig, et bene scivistis quod hic semper habitavi. g5 Ego non possum esse tam piger ut vos estis, quare etiam scribo vobis, et semper scribo Hbenter, et scio quod in iUis annis, quibus nos simul invicem non vidimus, scripsi plus quam viginti Iras ad
'* Curio: a herald ; but liere the " Worm.: Franz vou Sickiiigeu
equivalent of Hofmaim. vvarred with Wornis from 1515 to
^' flenrici. See Coiir. Wi7)ipina . . . 1518. Lipsiae Descriptio Foet., 1802, p. 29.
109
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM yiRORUM
70 doctos viros meos aequales. Sed transeat ille
error cum ceteris. Domine nobilista, ego velim quod nuper fuissetis hic, quando Serenissimus princeps Saxoniae habuit suas nupcias cum pul- cherrima corisatione, ubi fuerunt multi nobiUstae.
75 Ego fui in iUis nupciis missus cum Rectore nostro
lipsensi : ut solet fieri : ubi propinavimus magnam Crateram et multos florenos intra, et mansimus ibi per duos dies, et fuimus valde laeti et hilariter nos refecimus comedendo et bibendo. Ego habui
80 mecum unum famuhnn qui habuit duas ollas, et
ille bene scivit ubi ego sederem in mensa, et posuit illas ollas infra scamnum meum : tunc habuimus vinum de mehori : scitis bene quod est ilhid : est enim dulcissime dulce, quod ego tam libenter bibo
85 ut mihi fiat rotundum caput inde, et post prandium
soleo tunc chorisare : tunc accepi et implevi de meUori, et iterum posui infra mensam : hoc autem feci quod aUquid haberemus bibere in via : postea inter aUa multa fercula habuimus bonum Gahinum
90 cum nmltis gaUinis et bonis rebus : tunc accepi
aUam oUam et implevi cum tota gaUina : etiam hoc feci ut magnificus dominus Rector et ego haberemus aUquid comedere in via : iUo sic habito dixi ad unum nobiUstam : ' domine nobiUsta, vocate
95 mihi servum meum, habeo sibi aUquid dicere : '
cum iUe fecisset et servus venit, dixi : ' famule, veni, leva mihi culteUum quod cecidit mihi infra mensam ' (sed tamen ego Ubenter misi cadere), et sic repsit infra mensam et accepit culteUum et
100 oUas infra vestem, et sic distiUavit quod nuUus
unquam vidit. O sancta Dorothea, si tunc affuis- setis nobiscum in via, quando perreximus ad Upsig iterum, quam iucunditer voluissemus vitam ha- buisse : ego comedi etiam ad duos dies postea de
105 iUis reUquis, quia non potuimus totum comedere
in via : propterea autem vobis hoc scripsi, quia scio quod vos etiam Ubenter distiUatis per viltru et per
'^ nnpcias. The weilding of Henry, Leifzigisches Geschichtsbuch, 1714, p.
Duke of Saxony, with Catherine of 83.
Mecklenburg took place at Freiberg ** Galriniuu. Not elsewhere found,
on July 6, 1.512, and a deputation and of uncertain meaning.
from Leipsic was present. Vogel, "' rilL: i.c. Jiitrnnt.
110
1.43-44] GALLUS LINITEXTORrS
saccum : tunc enim fecistis cum fuistis adhuc mecum, ubi ego didici a vobis : et est in bona fide optima ars : ego non vellem carere centum aureis. iio Dixit mihi nuperrime unus quod habetis pulchrum liortum in vestra patria, in quo habetis multos fructus, et piras et pomas et botros ; et cum estis in hospicio vestro, ({uia non habetis propriam mensam in domo, tunc habetis magnum Carnirum, 115 in quem distillatis et simellas et assatas aves et carnes, et ita pulchre facitis distillacionem, ut nemo vidit, quod ego miror : sed credo hoc habetis ex longo usu : usus enim facit artem, ut dicit philo- sophus nono phisicorum. Audio etiam quod 120 habetis vobiscum unam amasiam quae non vidit bene cum uno oculo : ego miror profecto quod adhuc potestis esse in nocte unus vir et estis tam senex : et quod mihi maxime mirum est, audivi quod res vestra stetit ima statione ad sex hebdo- 125 madas, quod non potuistis flectere, et vos dixistis quod esset ex infirmitate. O dio, si etiam haberem talem infirmitatem, quam bonus socius tunc vehm esse. Sed credite mihi, non possum amplius sicut scivi in iuventute ; et percussi extra domum meam 130 cocam ante quattuor hebdomadas, tam diu est quod nihil magis potui. Est adhuc unum quod volo vos petere antequam faciam oclusionc si habetis ahquem puerum vel consanguinem, vel si scitis bonum amicum qui habet, et si debet studens 135 fieri, tunc mittite huc ad Lipsig ad me : nos habe- mus multos doctos magistros apud nos, et habemus bonum comedere in bursa nostra et cotidie septem fercula bis, mane et sero, sciHcet Primum dicitur ' Semper,' id est teutonice grutz, Seciaidum ' Con- 140 tinue,' id est sop, Tertium ' Cottidie,' id est muss, Quartum ' Frequenter,' id cst magerfleisch, Quin- tum ' Raro,' id est gebrottes, Sextum ' Nunquam,' id est kesse, Septimum ' AHquando,' aepfFel und birn. Et cum hoc habemus bonam potationem 145 quae dicitur Conventum. Ecce videte, non est satis : illum ordinem semper servamus per totum annum, et laudatur ab omnibus. Sed tamen in
^" Conrentuin: Knfcut is still used to denote small-beer. 111
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIROIIUM
habitationibus nostris extraordinarie non babemus 150 multa comedere, quod etiam non esset bonum,
alias enim suppositi nostri non studerent quare ego scripsi ad habitationes omnium illos duos versus :
Regula bursalis est omni tempore talis : 155 Prandia fer tecuni, si vis comedere mecum.
" Sed hoc sit satis, videtis quod etiam sum
poeta, ne videar superfluus. Datum raptim ex
Lipsig, sub blauio caelo, et valete cum amasia
vestra laetius quam apis in thymo vel piscis in
ico undis. \^alete adhuc semel."
Nunc videte, domine Magister Ortvine, si placet vobis illa epistola, tunc volo vobis niittere totum hbrum plenum, quia sunt valde bonae secundum meum debile ingenium : ahas nihil magis possum vobis iam 1G5 scribere. Valete in eo qui cuncta creavit. Datum in Eberburck, ubi vehm quod essetis mecum, vel diabolus confundat me. Sexta feria infra pasche et penthecoste.
XLV
C ARNOLDUS DE THUNGARIS magister noster in sacra pagina S. D. 3Iagistro Ortvino Gratio
YENERABILIS domine magister. Ego vexor iam supra vexationem : nunc intelhgo illud dicterium poetarum esse verum : "■ NuUum damnum solum," et hoc volo sic probare. Ego iam sum infirmus, et supra illam infirmitatem venit mihi aha vexatio maxima, quae est tahs. Currunt cotidie ad me homines et 10 etiam scribunt ad me ex diversis provinciis, ut notus sum in omnibus regionibus propter hbellum, quem
^^' apis: "Tu letius vale quam ^ (^//c/cr.; " Es kommt keiu Ungliick
apis in thymo, quam piscis iu uiulis." alleiu." Epiatole Karoli, Cologue ; Queutell,
1498. ^^ lihelliuu : " Articuli sive pro-
- sac, pag. : Theology. positioues de iudaico favore nimis
112
I 45] ARNOLDUS DE THUNGARIS
feci contra defensorium lohannis Reuchlin, ut scitis. IUi honiines dicunt et scribunt eos niirari quod per- niittinius lo. Pfefferkorn, tinctuni ludaeuni, accipere nostrorum causa iaborem scribendi, ut defendat se et 15 nos onmes contra Reuchhn, et defendat fidem nostram : sic quod ipse habeat nomen et nos tamen scripta onmia fecerimus (juae emisit suo nomine, ut tunc verum est : in confessione hoc dixi. Dixerunt etiam quod iam compilasset novum librum quem intitulavit in latino 20 " Defensorium lohannis Pfeiferkorn contra lohannem ReuchHn," in quo enarrat totum factum a principio usque ad fineni ; quem Hbenum theutonisavit etiam. Cum ego hoc audivissem, dixi quod non esset verum, simphciter quia ego nihil scirem de hac re ; et si fecit, 25 tunc per deum scandalum est, quod me non fecit certum, et tamen prius semper me consultavit. Credo quod ipse iam non recordatur mei, cum sum infirmus : si me interrogasset, tunc dixissem uno modo satis- fuisse, quia scio quod scribendo nihil acquiremus : nam 30 Reuchhn semper restimulat quod habet diabolum. Si ergo ita est, tunc peto dihgenter, ut non faciat, quia vos potestis impedire tanquam corrector suorum lib- rorum. Secundo audivi etiam, quod non tam vehe- menter dolui, vos lardasse ancillam : cum honestate dico : 35 Quentels impressoris et fecisse sibi unum puerum : atque ut verum sit : tunc ipse dedit sibi veniam et non vult pati amphus in domo, et iam est in propria domo, et facit antiquas tunicas novas. Peto vos propter maximam charitatem quam habuimus semper 40 alternatim, ut vehtis mihi hoc scribere an sit vel non, quia ego hbenter vellem eam diu supposuisse ; sed tamen non volui facere, quia timebam quod esset adhuc virgo. Si autem ita sit, quod vos fecistis, tunc si potestis pati, volumus ad unam dicam lardare, ego 45 hodie et vos cras, quia digniora sunt priora, ego doctor et vos magister : dico tamen hoc sine contemptione : sicque volumus hoc in secreto servare atque eam nutrire cum puero expensis mutuis : et scio quod ipsa hbenter
suspecte ex libello theutouico Dui. ^" defens. : the Augeiuspiegel.
loannis Reuchlin . . . extracte. Cum "^ Defens.: Pfefferkoni's Defenslo.
anuotationibus . . . Arnoldi de ^* Quenfels : Germ. gen.
Tungeri . . ." Cologne, Aug. 12, *^ dicani : a tally, or account. See
1512. Du Cange, s.v.
113 H
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROPiUM VIRORUM
50 erit contenta : atqiie etiam scio si diu lardassem eam, non esset mihi infirmitas illa : spero tamen quod volo renes purgare, ut fiam sanus. Et cum hoc valete ; si non fuissem debihs transicionis, tunc met ivissem ad vos et non scripsissem : sed tamen vos debetis mihi re-
55 scribere. Uatum raptim ex bursa nostra ^lontis.
XLVI
€E lOANNIS CURRIFICIS A3IBACHENSIS
Ortvino Gratio Daventriensi Salutis Plurimum
QUONIAMQUIDEM mihi nuper scripsistis quo-
- modo mihi succederet in Heidelberga et quod
5 etiam vobis rescriberem quomodo placerent mihi hic Doctores et magistri. Sciatis ergo primo quod quam- primum veni ad Heidelbergam, fiebam cocus in bursa, ubi habeo mensam gratis et etiam ahquas pecunias pro mercede, et possum proficere et complere ad gradum
10 magisterii. Sic etiani fecit pauper Henricus qui non habuit libros neque papirum, sed omnia scripsit ad pelUcium suum. Ita etiam nutrivit se Plautus qui portavit saccos ad molendinam sicut asinus, et tamen postea evasit in doctissimum autorem, quia postea scripsit
15 metra et prosas. Fraeterea ut sciatis qui sunt hic viri docti, volo vobis prius recitare de dignioribus, et deinde successive de aUis, quia, ut dicit philosophus primo phisicorum : " Oportet ex universalibus ad singularia procedere." Et Forphirius etiam descendit a genere
20 generahssimo ad speciem speciahssimam, ubi iubet Plato quiescere. Et a dignioribus debet fieri denominatio, ut dicit gentihs magister in secundo de anima. Inter
^^ (M>. trans. : a physiolojj^ical ap- related tlie vicissitudes of his owii
plicatioii of a gramniatical term. A lot in a poem, " De diversitate
verb "deb. traiisicionis " was one fortiinae et philosophiae consola-
followed by a case other than the tione." Soe also Aligne, Patrol.
accusative. Curn. Compl., tom. 204.
' lo. : for loanncft. '" Plaut. See Aulus Gellius,
^ CurrificAs. (!urrifex was the usual Noct. Att., Vu. 2.
Latin rendering of AVagner. " Porphir. : Porphyrii Tsagoge, c, 2,
^ Anihach. Ambaclns non-existent. §3-5.
" Ilenricus: H. Septimellensis, or '^ gent. mag. : i.e. Aristotle, Dc
Samariensis, who iu the Xllth Ceut. Aninia, ii. 4.
114
I 46] I0ANNE8 CURlllFICIS
omnes doctores Theologiae est unus hic qui est piae- dicator nobiscum, et habet tubalem vocem, Hcet parvus sit : illum audiunt homines Hbenter praedicare et tenent 25 aHquid de eo, quia per deum ipse est doctus, et doctus in superlativo, dico vobis, et multi homines intrant eius praedicationes, quia ipse est delectabihs et lacerat bonos possos in ambone sive cancelHs. Ego audivi semel ab eo ex Hbris Posteriorum de quaestione, quia est quid 30 est, si est, et propter quid est, et omnis scivit in theutonice dicere. Praeterea semel praedicavit de vir- gmitate, et dicit quod virgines qui amiserunt suam virginitatem, solent dicere quod sit eis per vim factum. Tunc ipse dixit : " Bene veneritis, per vim Ego quaero, 35 si unus haberet nudum gladium in una manu et vaginam in aha, et ipse semper moveret vaginam, nonne est ita quod ipse non posset gladium intra stimulare : sic etiam est in virginibus." Praeterea semel in novo anno quando unicuique statu dedit 40 novum annum, tunc dedit studentibus in Tribus Bursis (quia hic sunt moderni et antiqui), modernis dedit Saturnum, et ita exposuit : " Saturnus est frigidus planeta, et iUe bene convenit modernis, quia ipsi sunt frigidi artistae, quia non servant Sanctum Thomam et 45 Copulata et Reparationes secundum processum bursae montis in Colonia." Sed Thomistis dedit pro novo anno unum puerum qui dormivit apud lovem et voca- tur Ganimedes. IHe quadrat reaHstis, quia Ganimedes propinat lovi vinum et cerevisiam et dulcem potum oo de lacaritio, quam historiam pulcherrime interpretavit Torrentinus in primo Hbro Aeneidos. Sic etiam reales infundunt eis artes et scientias, et multa arguitur. Et multa aHa delectabiHa, ut unus posset mirare. Ego credo quod iacuit multas noctes, et non dormivit 55 quando illa ita subtiHter et pulcherrime speculavit. Sed sunt multi qui dicunt quod sit frascaria quod ipse praedicat, et vocant eum " Quacculator " et " loannes
- " ex lib. Post. : Arist., Analy. Pos- ^^ lacaritio : " licoricej" for nectar.
teriora, ii. 1. ^- Torrent. : Hermann van Beek,
^* per vitn : Saucho Pauza's of Zwoll, oue of the Brethreu of the
judgment uiay be recalled. Don Conimou Life ; a Conimeutator on
^/?.ro^e, Part II., chap. xlv. Virjjil — but not ou the ^Eueid ;
- ^ niod. et ant. : nomiualists and neither is Ganymede referred to iu
realists. his Elucidarinm Poeticuni.
115
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YmORUM
cum destructo capite " et " auca caput," ex illa ratione,
60 quia ipse stetit semel male in disputatione ; tunc ex- pediverunt eum ita realiter sicut unus in centum annis expeditus est. Et unus expectavit eum ante lectorium et detraxit suum baretum ab inde (sed non propter honorem, sed sicut fecerunt ludaei quando corona-
65 verunt Christum et flectebant genua) et dixit : " Do- mine doctor, cum supportatione, Deus benedicat vobis balneum." Tunc ipse dixit : " Deo gratias, Domine Baccalaurie," et non dixit amphus et abivit : unus dixit mihi, quod ocuH eius steterunt sibi plenum aqua, et
70 credidit quod ploravit postea. Et quando ego audivi tales vexationes, tunc dohiit mihi in ventre, et si ego scivissem quis ille leccator fuisset, ego percussissem me cum eo, et si deberent mihi caput cum una dila abinde trusisse. Sed ipse habet adhuc unum discipulum, ille
75 est mihi unus doctus vir, et quasi plus quam doctus, et etiam quasi plus doctus quam suus praeeeptor, nisi quod ipse est simplex baccalaureus in bibha : ipse iam paucuhs, immo paucissimis temporibus praeteritis in- timavit bene viginti quaestiones et sophismata, et
80 semper contra modernos, videHcet U. deus sit in prae- dicamento, U. essentia et existentia sint distinctae, U. rollationes a suo fundamento sint distinctae et U. decem praedicamenta sint reahter distincta. Hui quot res- pondentes ! ego non vidi in vita mea plus respondentes
85 in lectorio, et ipse etiam defendit sua dicta et imposuit honorem, quia unus simplex magister haberet cum uno sufficientiam : ego miravi quare Decanus admisit, ego credo quod fuit insanus propter Caniculares, quia est contra statuta. Et quando disputatio fuit, ex tunc ego
90 in laudem ipsius metrificavi illa carmina ex tempore, quia ego pro parte sum humanista :
Hic est uniis doctus magister, Qui intimavit bis vel ter, An esse essentiae 95 Distinguatur ab esse existentiae ;
'^ dila. Not elsewliere fouud. Categories ; ovala, voabv, ■n-ol.ov, irpo^ n,
^^ ro/lationes : a burlesque word of -rroLelv, 7rdcrx«»', toO, iroTe, Kuadai, ix^i-v.
uncertain ori^in. Cf. Rabelais, Pfl»!^., *' cont. .stat. : " Lectiones aliquae
ii. 7, " Tarraballationes doctorum pro gradu in canicularibus ad tempus
Coloniensium adversus lleuchlin." debent suspendi." Zarncke, Die
^^ praedic. : the ten Aristoteliau Statutenhucher der Univ. Lpz., p. 446.
116
1.46] lOANNES CURKIFICIS
Et de Rollationibus,
Et de praedicamentorum distinctionibus,
Et utrum deus in firmamento
Sit in aliquo praedicamento :
Quod nemo fecit ante eum 100
Per omnia saecula saeculorum,
Sed de hoc sufficienter nunc de poetis Volo aliquid dicere vel scribere, et sic : Est hic unus qui facit Valerium Maximum, sed ipse non placet mihi in media parte tam bene sicut vos mihi placuistis quando vos los fecistis Coloniae ^"alerium INIaximum, quia ille hic procedit simphciter, vos autem quando legistis ibi de neglecta rehgione, de Somniis, et de Auspitiis, tunc allegastis sacram scripturam, videhcet Cathenam auream quae vocatur Continuum beati Thomae, Durandum et iio aUos subhmatos in Theologia, et iussistis quod bene notaremus iha puncta ex sacra pagina et pingeremus ibi unam manum et disceremus mentetenus. Sciatis etiam quod hic non intrant tam multa supposita sicut Coloniae, quia Coloniae studentes possunt esse sicut hic 115 sunt scutones, et ibi ahqui studentes scutant etiam parthecas, quod non volunt hic concedere, quia oportet hic quod omnes habeant mensam in bursa et sint in matricula universitatis. Sed quamvis hic sunt pauci, tamen sunt audaces et bene tam audaces sicut iUi multi 120 in Coloniae, quia ipsi scalaverunt nuperrime unum re- gentem in bursa, qui stetit ante cameram et audivit quod luserunt interius : tunc unus voluit exire et invenit eum ibi et proiecit eum per gradus. Praeterea etiam sunt audaces, quia percutiunt se hic cum reuteris sicut 125 faciunt Coloniae cum Doleatoribus, et incedunt more reuterorum cum productis gladiis et Chordis et Spadis, etiam cum plumbatis, ubi habent cordulam, ut possunt iactare et iterum ad se trahere nuper semel reuteri secaverunt hic unum Domicellum per scabiem quod 130 cecidit ad terram ; sed cito surrexit et defendit se reahter et percussit et secavit eos omnes quod habuer- unt Sanctum Valentinum, et omnes currebant fugens.
^"^ f'at. Aur. In his dedication to by J. H. Newman, to Catena Atirea,
Urban IV. the author called his work Oxford, 1842.
" Expositio continua"; the name ^^^ Durand. : u. b2, n.
Catena was not applied to it till after ^^ ' Sarict. Val. : said of one subject
his death. Early edd. have Glossa to epilepsy.
Contintia, or Continuum. See Pref., ^^^fugens: used as an adverb.
117
EPLSTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
Adhuc imiim est quod debetis scire. Yos debetis in-
135 teiTogare Doctorem Arnoldum de Tungari, qui non est minimus in Theologia, An etiam sit peccatiuTi kidere in taxihs pro indulgentiis. Ego scio ahquos praetensos socios qui sunt ribakh, qui perkiserunt omnes indul- gentias quas dedit eis lacobus de alta platea, quando
140 ipse terminavit causam Reuchhns in Mag. quia tres fuerunt ibi, et etiam dixerunt quod illae indulgentiae non essent hominibus proficuae. Si est peccatum sicut credo, et non est possibile quod non sit peccatum, tunc ego nosco bene, tunc ego volo hoc praedicatoribus
14.-) dicere, qui erunt eos recte confundere, et ego etiam volo eis met in propria persona, ego sum bene tam audax, ad panem eorum ponere. Nihil est iam amphus ad scribendum, nisi sakitate mihi anciUam Quentels quae iam est in puerperio, et Valete Pancratice, Athle-
150 tice, Pugihce, ]^asihce, belle et magnifice, prout dicit Erasmus in parabohs. Datum heildelber.
XLVII
iE WENnELIXUS PANNITOXSORIS bacca- Idurcus ct Canto)- in Strafishcrgh' 3Iaf^istro Ortuio Gratio S. P.
YOS culpastis me in superiori httcra (juod atra- mentum esset mihi balsamus et cakunus bissinus et papirus aurea eo quod ego vobis ita raro scriberem. Ego volo nunc deinceps semper vobis scribere, et maxime quia vos fuistis praeceptor meus in Daventria in quinto loco, et quia etiam cstis vittrinus meus, quare 10 ego teneor vobis scribere. Sed quia iani nuUas novi- tates habeo, volo vobis aha scril)ere : sed ego scio quod ilki non delectabunt vos, quia vos estis bonus super kitere praedicatorum. Nuper semel sedimus in simposio.
"" M(U/. : Ala^niiti;!. ^ hi.ss: : tho .'*ilky filaiiuMits (l)yssus)
'■ pniirraf., &c. All tliese advorhs s(>crot(Ml ])y certaiii inolluscs : in the
occur iii tho lidcchhle.s aiul l'J/)idini.s (Moditorranoaii) /^/////rt ?/oA///.v so loiig'
of IMantus. as to he roadily woveii. Hiirhly valucd
'"'^ Iwild.: Iieid('li)ori;'. hy the anoioiits. Byssus cloth is still
" Sh-ii.s-.slirn/lf : " e " for " u " is used sold at Taranto. throughoiit tliis Ep. * vittr.: for /)«/?•///;/.*," ijod-father";
' Ort. Sir, in [C']. cf. rilrini.t, "stop-father."
118
I 47] WENDELINUS PANNITON80RI8
Tunc sedit ibi unus qui loquebatur tam mirabile lati- num, quod ego non omnia verba intellexi, sed aliqua 15 bene, et inter cetera dixit, quod vellet unum tractatum componere qui deberet exire ad proximam missam Franckfurdensem, qui deberet intitulari " Cathalogus praevaricatorum, hoc est praedicatorum : " quia vellet scribere omnes eorum nequitias quas fecerunt, quia iam 20 essent inter omnes ordines nequitiosissimi. In primis quomodo contigisset in Berna quod prior et superiores introduxerunt meretrices ad claustrum, et quomodo fecerunt novum Sanctum Franciscum, et quomodo Beata virgo et ceterae Sanctae apparuissent ilh Nol- 25 hardo, et etiam quomodo monachi voluerunt postea ilh Nohiardo venenum dare in Corpore Christi ; et quod haec omnia essent nequitiae et fantasiae quod ipsi monachi fecerunt, et quomodo deinde essent combusti. Deinde voluit componere quomodo semel unus praedi- 30 cator supposuit Maguntiae in ecclesia ante altare unam meretricem, et quando deinde ahae meretrices fuerunt iratae super illam, tunc nuncupabant eam " monachus meretrix," " ecclesia meretrix," et " altare meretrix " : et hoc audierunt homines, et cognoscunt etiam adhuc 35 illam meretricem. Et vult etiam componere quomodo unus praedicator voluit uno modo Maguntiae in hos- pitio ad Coronam ancillam lardare, quando praedica- tores de Augspurg habuerunt suas indulgentias ibi, quia iacuerunt in illo hospitio, et ancilla voluit lectum facere, 40 et unus monachus vidit eam et currit ei postea et proiecit eam ad terram et voluit ante : tunc ancilla clamavit, et homines venerunt ei in auxihum ; ahas oportuisset quod illa ancilla servasset ei unum ex. Et voluit componere quomodo hic in Strassberg in claustro 45 praedicatorum fuissent monachi qui duxissent muheres ad cellas eorum per ripam quae fluit apud claustrum eorum, et raserunt eis crines abinde, et illae muheres iverunt longe pro monachis, et iverunt ad forum et emebant pisces a viris suis qui erant piscatores, et postea 50 fuerunt traditae : et tahter praedicatores fecerunt semel nequitiam bachantibus : et quando semel unus praedi-
^^ Nolh. : for Lolhardus^ i.e. Jetzer. The Autobiogi-aphi/ of Thomm Platter,
See i. 22^ n. a schoolmaster of the XVIth Cent.
'^ bachant. For an account of the Traiisl. from the German (by E. A.
hacchanten, or begging students, see IVPCaul), London, 1839.
119
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
cator ivit spaciatum cum monacha, tunc iverunt apud Scholas, et scolares trahebant illos duos monachos ad
55 scholam et correxerunt eos audacter, et quando mona- cham correxerunt, viderunt quod habuit vulvam : tunc omnes riserunt et dimiserunt eos in pace, et tota civitas fiebat deinde plena de illa re. Tunc ego fui per deum valde iratus quando taha dixit, et dixi ad eum : " vos
60 non deberetis taha dicere ; posito casu quod essent vera, tamen adhuc non deberetis dicere, quia posset bene con- tingere quod omnes occiderentur in una hora sicut Tem- plarii, si homines illas nequitias omnes scirent." Tunc dixit : " ego scio adhuc tot quod non possem ad viginti
65 arcus papiri scribere." Tunc ego dixi : " quare vultis de omnibus praedicatoribus scribere : no tamen fecerunt omes. Si ilU in Maguntia et in Augspurgk et in Strass- berg sunt nequitiosi, tunc alii sunt forte probi." Tunc ille dixit : " quomodo confundis me ? ego credo quod
70 tu sis fihus praedicatoris, vel fuisti met praedicator ; nuncupa mihi unum claustrum, ubi sunt probi praedi- catores." Tunc ego dixi : " quid fecerunt iUi in Franck- furdia ? " Tunc dixi ille : " nescis hoc ? iUi habent principalem apud eos qui vocatur Wigandus : iUe est
75 caput omnium nequitiarum, et ipse incepit iUam haere- sem in Berna, et fecit unum UbeUum de WesaUo, et iUum postea in Heydelberga revocavit, cassavit, extir- pavit et annuUavit et fecit etiam deinde unum aUum librum qui vocatur ' Die sturmglock,' et ipse non fuit
80 ita audax quod scriberet suum nome Sed misit lohan. Pfefferkorn suum nomen scribere, ut daret sibi medium lucrum, tunc veUt esse contentus, quia bene scivit quod lo. PfefFerkorn esset taUs homo qui neminem curaret, etiam suam famam non curaret, quando nisi lucraret
85 pecunias, sicut faciunt omnes ludaei." Et quando ego vidi quod eorum erant plus quam meorum, tunc ego abivi ; sed fui valde iratus quod ipse non fuit solus : si fuissemus ego et ipse soUis, ego veUem diabolum posuisse.
- " Teiupl. Jacques de Molay and the Dominicans of suspicious inter-
the residue of tlie Templars were course with the Jews, and, through
seven years in prison before they met their influence, unjustly coudemned
their fate (1314). See H. ('. Lea, at Mainz for heresy in 1479 by the
Hist. o/the Infjiiisition, vol. iii., 1888. Colo^ne inquisitor. Sometimes con-
'* Wesalio : Johann Ruchrath of fused with the mucli more famous
Oberwesel, near Bingen, accused bv Johaun ^V^essel of Groningen.
120
1.48] lACOBUS DE ALTAPLATEA
Valete. Datum ex Strassberg Feria quarta post festum Sancti Bernhardi. Anno Millesimo quingentesimo do decimosexto.
XLVIII
•E lACOBUS DE ALTAPLATEJ septenarum et libei^alium necnon ingenuarum artium et Sacra- tissimae Theologiae prqfessor humillimus necnon in aliquibus partibus in Germania haereticoi^um magister id est corrector Oi^tvino Gi^a. Daven- 5 triensi in Colojiia vitam trahens Salutem in domino nostro lesu Christo
l^TUNQUAM fuit tam grata ruriculis dulcissima JLl pluvia tempore longae siccitatis, neque sol post longas nebulas, quam mihi fuit li^a vestra quam ad me lo huc ad Romam misistis. Quando ego eam legi, tunc fui ita gaudibundus quod Hbenter flevissem, quia mihi videbatur quod iam essem in Colonia in domo vestra, quando bibimus semper unam vel duas quartas vinum vel cerevisiae, et lusimus in assere, ita laetus fui. Sed i5 vos vultis quod ego iterum ita faciam sicut vos, hoc est quod ego etiam scriberem quid faciam hic in Roma tam longe, et quomodo mihi succedat : quod volo liben- tissime facere. Sciatis ergo quod ego adhuc sum sanus divina spiratione. Sed tamen quamvis sum sanus, 20 adhuc tamen non sum hbenter hic, quia illa causa, propter quam ego sum hic, est mihi nunc adversa : ego vellem quod nunquam incepissem eam : omnes derident me et vexant me, et noscunt hic Reuchlin meUus quam in Almania, et multi Cardinales et epis- 25 copi et praelati et Curtisani amant eum. Si non incepissem, tunc essem adhuc in Colonia, et comederem et biberem bene ; ego habeo hic ahquando vix siccum panem. Ego credo etiam quod male iam procedat in AhTiania, quia ego sum absens ; omnes iam scribunt 30 Ubros in theologia secundum suum Hbitum. Ipsi dicunt quod Erasmus Roterdamus composuit multos tractatus in theologia : ego non credo quod faciat omnia recte.
- ' Datum: i.e. Aug. 25, 1516. * trahens: for frahenti {?).
121
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIliORUM
Ipse etiam prius in imo parvo traetatu vexavit theo-
35 logos, et iam scribit theologice est mihi mirum. Si ego venio ad Almaniam et lego suos codiculos, et invenio unum parvissimum punctum ubi erravit vel ubi ego non inteUigo, ipse debet videre quod ego volo sibi super cutem. Ipse scripsit etiam graece, quod non
40 deberet facere : quia nos sumus latini et non graeci. Si vult scribere quod nemo inteUigat, quare non scribit etiam ItaKcum et Bohemicum et Hungaricum et sic nemo intelligeret eum : faciat se conformem nobis Theologis in nomine centum diabolorum, et scribat
45 per Utrum et Contra, et Arguitur, et RepHca, et per Conclusiones, sicut fecerunt omnes Theologi, sic etiam nos legeremus. Ego non possum vobis iam omnia scribere, neque meam paupertatem quam hic habeo dicere. Ilh Curtisani quando vident me, tunc nun-
50 cupant me Apostata et dicunt quod ego cucurri ex ordine ; et sic etiam faciunt Doctori Petro Meyer Plebano in Franckfurdia, quia vexant eum ita bene sicut me, quia ipse favet mihi. Sed tamen ipse habet mehus quam ego, quia ipse habet bonum officium, quia
55 est Capellanus super dei agro, quod est per deum bonum officium, hcet Curtisani dicunt quod sit vihssimum inter omnia officia quae in Roma possunt esse. Sed hoc nihil nocet, ipsi dicunt hoc ex inuidia Ipse tamen habet panem suum de hoc et nutrit se tahter quahter, donec ipse
00 suain causam contra Francfurdienses ad finem ducat. Omni die quasi ivimus ipse et ego spatiatum in Campo Horae, et expectamus Teutonicos : ita hbenter videmus Teutonicos. Tunc veniunt ilh Curtisani et monstrant cum digitis super nos, et rident et dicunt : " vidi, ibi
65 vadunt duo qiii vohint Reuchhn comedere ! Comedunt ipsi eum, tunc etiam merdunt eum iterum," et habemus tantas vexationes quod debert lapidem commovere. Tunc dicit plebanus : " Sancta INIaria, quid nocet ? nos volumus hoc propter deum pati, quia deus multa passus
70 est pro nobis, et nos etiam sumus Tlieologi, qui debent esse humiles et spreti in hoc mundo : " Et ita facit me iterum laetae mentis, et cogito : " dicant quid volunt, ipsi tamen non habent omnia quae vohmt." Si essemus
'* fiei (if/r.: "(ilod's acre." "*' Canipo. See ii. 2fi, ii.
^' dch. : for (leJ>eret.
122
1.48] lACOBUS DE ALTAPLATEA
in patria et unus faceret nobis ita, tunc sciremus etiam ei aliquid dicere vel facere : quia ego vellem levem 75 causam quaerere contra ipsum. Nuperrime etiam ivimus uno modo spaciatum, tunc duo vel tres iverunt ante nos et nos post eos, tunc ego inveni unam cedulam : ego credo quod unus eorum misit eam libenter cadere, ut nos inveniremus, et illa continet so illa metra : —
EPITHAPHIA HOCHSTRATI
Ira, furor, rabies, dolus, inclementia, livor, Dum cadit Hochstratus, non cecidere simul :
Haec ille insipido posuit plantaria vulgo, 85
Ingenii dotes et monumenta sui.
Alind.
Crescite ab hoc, taxi, crescant aconita sepulchro : Ausus erat sub eo qui iacet omne nephas.
Almd. 90
Flete, mali, gaudete, boni, mors una duorum In medium veniens abstulit his, dedit his.
Aliud.
Hic iacet Hochstratus, viventem ferre patique
Quem potuere mali, non potuere boni : 95
Ipse quoque excedens vita indignatus ab illa, Maestus ob hoc, quod non plus nocuisset, erat.
Ego et Plebanus quando invenimus illam cedulam, tunc ivimus ad domum et iacuimus plus quam octo aut quattuordecim dies supra, et non potuimus in- loo telligere : mihi videtur quod me attingant illa metra, quia stat Hochstratus interius ; sed ego etiam cogito quod non attingant me ante, quia ego non vocor ita in latino, sed vocor lacobus de altaplatea vel in teutonice lacobus Hochstraten. Quare ego mitto los illam htteram ad vos, quod vos velitis eam interpretare an velit me vel aUum. Si vult me (quod ego non credo, quia ego adhuc non sum mortuus), tunc volo
'^ cedula: ior schednla. poisonous, but iu Low Germ. Mon-
- aconita : not ouly as being nikskappen — our " monkshood."
123
EPI8T0LAE OB8CURORUM VIRORUM
inquisitionem facere, et quando ego habeo eum, tunc volo
110 sibi unum babieum praeparare, quod non debet ridere : ego bene possum. Ego habeo hic unum bonum fau- torem, qui est lansmannus meus, et ille est Stafirus Cardinahs Sancti Eusebii : ille debet bene praeparare quod veniat ad carcerem, et quod ibi comedat panem
115 et aquam, et habere pestilentiam. Quare facite dili- gentiam et scribite mihi mentem vestram, ut sim certioratus. Ego etiam audivi quod loannes Pfeffer- korn esset iterum ludaeus, quod ego non credo, quia etiam dixerunt ante duos vel tres annos, quod esset
120 combustus a margravio in HaUis ; sed etiam non fuit verum de eo, sed de aho qui etiam sic vocabatur fuit bene verum. Ego non credo quod fiat mammakica, quia ipse scribit contra ludaeos : et esset etiam omnibus Doctoribus Theologiae in Colonia et omnibus praedica-
125 toribus dedecus, quia ipse fuit cum eis bene ante : dicant quicquid vehnt, ego per deum non credo. Et sic valete. Datum llomae in hospitio ad Campanam in Campo florae X^^icesima prima Augusti.
[The succeeding Ep XLIX. was first added to the FAn. of 15')6.
It is quite unworthy of being included in the E. O. V., and is accor-
dingly here neither annotated nor translated. All errors in the text
of ]556 are reproduced.]
XLIX
€E JEpistohi cuiusddni devoti et iinperterriti fratris saiicti et iinpolluti ordiuis, hoc est, divi Augusti?ii, de malis novitatihus nuper in Cohnaria factisy divina ira super nos, proh hone Jleus
5 Humilis fratcr lOANNIS TOLLETANUS reverendo patri, frateri liihaj-do K((/bersfafcn.n, (loviino ve?'e devoto 'S. P. D.
NON possuni tihi non sine magno cruciatus aninio nieo dolore, clani habere, chan.ssin)e frater, de his quae nobis et nostris 10 sancti ordinis hic in civitate noviter successerunt, et asteterunt.
- .sfdfirus : n groom ; Ital. .stdffien:
'"* uiuiiniKilucd : Arab. maiiilnlx, a slave ; hcre^ aii apostate.
124
I 49j lOAN. TOLLETANUS
Quia est apud nos in Convento unus frater, queni tu niet novisti, spectabilis vir, utilis Monasterio et toto ordini honorabilis, quia habet tubaleni vocem in choro, et scit bene kidere in organis. Ipse nuper loquebatur et peroravit unam bonam fautricem ordinis formosam, olim quando fuit, sed nunc apostetavit a nobis et facta 15 est mala bestia. Et dixit tam multum, quod ipsa ad noctem venit ad illum ad Monasteriuni, et ad tres noctes ibi mansit. Et venerunt ad eani duo vel tres fratres, et fuerunt omnes lete mente, et leviter sensati cum ea, et fecerunt omnes, ut in festo Codri, fortiter viriliter rem, ita quod bene contenta fuit. Et 20 quando dies factus, quod ipsa debuit ad domum ire, tunc ipse dixit : " veni, ego volo te exterius mittere, iam videt te nemo." Ipsa dixit : " Da mihi antea meum solarium pro te et alios omnes." Et dixit ipse : " ego non possum pro alios dare." Et fuit hoc die plenum officium in choro, et ipse fuit officiator, tunc o])ortuit 25 euni ad chorum ire, ad incipiendum et conclaudendum horas, et statim ad eam revenit in dalmatica et in albis, et fuit ei amicabihs in pectore inter mamillas, et in gremio egregie lusit, et ita quod se nihil mali ad illam providit. Tunc custos pulsavit ad chorum, et ipse cucurrit in albis sine bracha ad interessendum 30 divinis. Et quando revenit, tunc illa mala bestia foras vias iverat, et portavit secum bonum superindusiam tunicam cum cucullo de bono nigro panno. Et quando ad domum venit, tunc statim perscidit in partes, et non timuit incurrere penam excom- municationis, quod vestimentum consecratum destruxit. Vere ibi 35 impletum est illud : " Diviserunt sibi vestimenta mea." Et sunt quidam zelosi fratres, qui dicunt, quod illa mala bestia debet invenisse in lyripipiolo cucullo quatuordecim coronatos, quod (heu proch dolor) semper damnosum esset, sed unus credit, et secundus non credit. Tunc quando ille bonus frater vidit, quod iniuriatus 40 et damnificatus fuit, ivit ad pedeUum cursorem civitatis (novi Latinistae vocant viatorem) et dixit ad eum : " chare, vade ad illani, et dic quod det mihi meam cucullam." Pedelhis dixit : " ego nolo ire, quando tu dicis, sed quando Magistratus dicit, ego volo ire." Tunc frater, non bene consideratus, ex bono zelo, quem 45 habuit, quod magistratus esset fautor ordinis, ivit ad magistratuni, et fecit suam querelam. Tunc magistratus fecit actionem, et misit pro ea : et quando venit, magistratus iuterrogauit eam : " quare huic suam cucuUam deportasti ? Tunc ipsa stetit et sine verecundia omnia manifeste dixit, et quomodo ad tres noctes 50 in monasterio fuit, et quomodo secum viriliter fecerunt, et non dederunt sibi solarium. Tunc niagistratus noluit boni fratri facere suam cucullam rehabere, sed dixit ad eum : " Vos multa incipitis, certe non semper vobis sic pertransibit, vade tu in nomine centorum diabolorum, et mane in tuo Monasterio," et 55 dedit ei refutatorios, et sic bonus frater verecundatus et confusus fuit. Et ilhidebant ei, et postquam illusissent ei, imposuerunt nobis crucem magnani, quod sub magna pena non debemus ex- terius Monasterium ire super plateas. Sed reverendus pater frater
125
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROEUM VIRORUM
60 Prior non fuit domi, quando haec pertransierunt : sed quando de via revenit, ipse misit oamem rem pertingere ad reverendum patrem Provincialem gratiosum dominum nostrum (ipse ille doctus vir illuminatus, lux mundi, qui super duas disputationes strenue se habuit contra haereticos, et superdisputavit eos omnes, sed
65 noluerunt ei credere ipsi infideles). Tunc reverendus pater Pro- vincialis statim venit in civitatem, et certe fuit, ipse et Prior male contentus super illum fratrem, quod sic inconsiderate ivit ad magistratum, melius fuisset quod sibi emissemus novam cucullara de optimo panno, sed fecit ex bono zelo. Et statim Pro-
70 vincialis ivit ad magistratum et senatores, et rogavit eos, ut nobis iterum licentiam darent, ut possumus de monasterio ire super plateas, sed nihil potuit impetrate, quia dixerunt omnes, totus consulatus : " hoc parvum est, quod non debemus ampHus exire : ipsi volunt nobis ad hoc unum factorem dare (ipsi vocaverunt
75 curatorem), qui debet monasterio omnia percipere et exponere, et nobis solummodo necessaria dare." Certe si hoc esse erit, tunc habet finem circa libertatem ecclesiasticam, nihil est amplius, diabolus maneat in monasterio, (o frater mi) vivi pervenimus illuc. Quis hunc aliquando potuit sperare dolorem, quod nostri optimi
80 fautores nobis sic derecedunt. Et certe reverendus pater frater prior este valde contristatus, et fuit aliquibus diebus prae tristitia infirmus, sed hodie est octava, quod de mane post tertiam diges- tionem, unum malum sudorem habuit, et postmodum surrexit, et ivit ad opus naturae, et cacavit valde male nimis, non spisse sed
85 tenuiter, et factum est mehus circa illum. Sed habet bonam expectantiam ab una fautrice ordinis, quae bene scit illi coquere bona iuscula, et moniales crepitus, et huiusmodi. charissime frater, si laici nostri domini erunt, omnes nos deridebunt : quia iam fecerunt unum proverbium de nobis, et acceperunt illi de
90 uno antiquo, quod dicitur de uno plebano, qui libenter comedit bonum caseum, et quando in sancta nocte fuit in ludo pascaH, tunc sua bona fautrix sibi bonum caseum furavit, et quando revenit de ludo, et non invenit caseum, clamavit: " per deos sanctos, meretrix furavit caseum." Sic iam quando nos de muris
95 exspicimus ad plateas, salatij gratia, ipsi convertunt proverbium, non simpliciter, sed per contrapositionem, et clamant: " Audite per deos sanctos, meretrix furavit cucullam." Pie frater, sic oportet nos habere multas et magnas vexationes et tribulationes sub istis laicis, propter ordinem nostrum. Et vere iam in nobis
100 implentur illae scripturae : " Servi dominati sunt nostri, non fuit qui redimeret de manu eorum. Senes defecerunt de portis, iuvenes de choro psallentium, defecit gaudium cordis nostri, versus est in-luctum chorus noster." Charissime frater, ora pro nobis deum, ut Hberet nos a maHs laicis. Sed quicquid feceris,
105 bone Frater, vide, & hanc Hteram iUi maH ribaldi poetae saecu- lares non sciant, et non inteHigant, quia aHas erunt scripturi de nobis. Vale pangratice, charissime, pie Frater. Datum monasterio nostro, in octava mensis Maius, in anno 1537.
126
1.49] lOAN. TOLLETANUS
Si quis vult hoc epistolium cum elegantiis meliorare, ille bene potest: sed debet textum historiae mittere integrum manere, (|uia iio est veritas, en non potest aliquis tam mala scribere, multum peius nobis transivit.
Haec litera missa fuit ex Brabantia, uno devoto Fratri in Moguntia, de aliquibus malis, et inchristianis novitatibus scripta.
127
EPISTOLARUM OBSCURORUM
VmORUM
VOLUMEN ALTERUM
£piftolc OhfaiYoinxiroinad ^^agillrii Omiinu
l5rmu Daucnrriciiran Coiomchnme Urrcr.is p:o
fifi-nrc no illg qdc vcferce er ptiuo vifr^rcd cf nou{ ef iUig ptioub? lClcaanna arbUf^s lepote jc vcnudafe lonije fuperio:c0.
"Bd SccToiem. ^^ V^
TRifum "n^eraf lif.t cll: valli rfdcrc par.irf ^^&5 Sndamufjrufpecfoja^foicidj: ^^^ 2?a milji rriltcm aninjutfcratef obficij lucfug^V^^-^ Oifpcream nifi inoic omnia "iRifuo crunf. ^ ^iccrccpulmonem.
■msi '^'M^
yg=innf ji!! a ii jj ii ii 11 ii y r jMi iM' n ^ n u -n-TrT~r
TITLE-PAGE OF THE FIRST EDITION OF TIIK SF.iONM) PAHT
€E lOHANNES LABIA dei gratia Prothonotarius
apostolicus Venej^abili viro M. Ortvino Gratio
IJaventrieiisi ut fratri cha?issimo Salutis centum
milia sestertia secundum novcun Grammaticam
ACCEPERIM nudiustertius, honorande vir, ununi 5 librum quem dominatio vestra miserit mihi ex Colonia. Et fuit vel est tahs Hber intitulatus "Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum." Sancte deus, quomodo laetatus sum in corde meo, quando vidi ilknn Hbrum, quia habet multa pulchra in se, metrice vel prosaice compilata. lo Et fuit mihi magnum gaudium in dulci iubilo, quod vidi quod habetis multos socios Poetas et Rethoricos et Theologos, qui scribunt vobis et sunt Amici vestri contra lohannem Reuchhn. Habuimus heri collationem, et fuerunt mecum ahqui Curtisani periti et habentes 15 bonam practicam, et ego posui illum hbrum ad mensam. Et postquam legerunt hincinde, tunc movi unum dubium dicens : "Domini mei, quid videtur vobis ? Quare tamen M. Ortvinus intitulavit istum hbrum Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum ? appellans aniicos 20 suos et cohaerentes Obscuros viros ? " Tunc respondit unus Sacerdos qui est Monasteriensis et est bonus lurista, quod obscuritas multiphciter capitur, ut in 1. Ita fidei .fF. de lur. Fisti, rn. i. in fine. Et dixit quod potest esse nomen proprium ahcuius progeniei. Quia 25 scribitu quod Diocletianus et ahi quidam reges fuerunt nati obscuris parentibus. Tunc ego tetigi eum et dixi : " Cum hcentia, domine, Nihil ad propositum." Et consequenter interrogavi unum Theologum notabilem, qui bibit nobiscum. Ipse est de ordine Carmehtarum, 30
" in dnl. juh. Cf. the Volkslied, "lu dulci jubilo, iiun singet und seid froh." VV. Scherer, Hht. (rerm. Lit., 1886, i. 248. '* Fisti : for Fisvi. •* rn : for resporiso.
131
EPLSTOLAE OB8CURORUM VIRORUM
et natus ex Brabantia, et dixit cum magna gravitate : " Eximie vir dns Prothonotarie, Quoniam, ut dieit Aristo., de singulis dubitare non est inutile : ergo Eximietas vestra assignavit mihi unam quaestionem :
35 quare Magister Ortvinus faciens imprimere novum Epistolare, intitulavit ilkid " Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum." Cum venia istorum Dominorum, dico opinionem meam, Quod Magister Ortuinus, qui est vir valde profundus et speculativus, mystice appellavit
40 Amicos suos Obscuros Viros : ({uia semel legi unam auctoritatem, quod veritas latet in Obscin'is. Et ergo dixit lob : " Qui revelat profunda de tenebris." Item JMecheae septimo legitur : " Cum sedero in tenebris, Dominus kix mea est." Et iterum lob. xxviii. :
45 " Trahitu autem Sapientia de Occultis." Quapropter Mrgihus dixit : " Obscuris vera in obscuris," sicut ego audivi ab aliis. Et datur intelhgi, quod jMagister Ortvinus, et sui ainici sunt tales, quod inquirunt secreta scripturarum, et veritatem et iusticiam [et] Sapientiam,
50 quae non potest inteUigi ab omnibus nisi ab his, qui sunt iUuminati a domino. Unde Re. cxxxviii. : " Quia tenebrae non obscurabuntur a te, et nox sicut dies iUuminabitiu'. Sicut tenebrae eius, ita et hmien eius." Postquam taha dixit praedictus rehgiosus, omnes res-
55 pexerunt me si essem contentus. Ego autem cogitavi desiiper. Tunc fuit ibi ]5ernhardus Gelff, jNIagister Parisiensis, qui est luvenis, sed audio quod habet bonum ingenium, et valde studet, et bene proficit in artibus, et etiam in Theologia habet bonum funda-
60 mentum. Ipse more soiito movens caput hincinde, et videns austeriter dixit : " Scitote, domini mei, quod est magna et rationabihs causa, quod JNIagister Ortvinus appeUat amicos suos Obscuros Viros : facit enim propter humihtatem. Quoniam sicut potestis scire, quamvis
65 etiam non potestis scire, sed praesumendum est, quod scitis, quomodo ante tres annos lohannes lleuchhn faciens Imprimere Epistolare Amicorum suorum, intitu-
^^ j)rothoii.: oiie of" a college of "Merh.: Micah vii. 8.
twelve ecclesiastics appointed to re- u /,./ „.,,„■•• . lo gister pontincal acts, recorus oi
canonisations, and the like. Sce *" Hr^. ; ^n. vi. 100. " Obscuris
Addis and Arnol.l, Cnth. Dict., 1903. ^'era mvolvens."
- • Job: xii. 22. ^' Ueynm : Psal. cxx.wiii. 12.
i;32
II 1] I0HANNE8 LABLA
lavit illud ' Epistolae Claronim V^irorum.' Quod con- syderans Magister Ortvinus, et multum desuper pensi- tans, dixit ad semetipsum : ' Ecce Reuchlin credit 70 quod nemo habet Amicos nisi ipse : Quid vult facere, si ego ostendo quod habeo etiam amicos, et bene digniores quam ipse, et scientes facere Carminfi et dictaminas meliore quam sui Amici ? ' Et ergo in despectum ipsius dedit ad imprimendum istas Epistolas, 75 intitulando eas : ' Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum ' : Sicut dicit Psahnista : ' JNIisit tenebras et obscuravit.' Sed ipse fecit hoc humihter, minorando et humihando Se, ut queat dicere cum Psahnista : ' Domine, non est exaltatum cor meum, neque elati sunt ocuU mei.' 80 Igitur dominus deus videns humihtatem suam, ohm dabit ei gratiam, quod faciet magna opera, et etiam intitulavit ea cum magnis tituhs. Unde lob : ' Et rursum post tenebras spero lucem.' Non intelhgendo, quod istud Epistolare Amicorum Magistri Ortvini non 85 est artificiahter compositum, quia amici lohannis Reuch- lin in vita sua nunquam componerent mehus, etiam si deberent perdere capita sua ; Sed propterea dixi, quia adhuc tamen excellentiora habent post se. Et favente deo spero quod videbimus magnaha. Quia 90 Magister Ortvinus non curat de pomposis tituhs, Et ergo sic dicit : ' Dominus illuminatio mea est, et salus mea, quem timebo.' Quia scit quod minorando se, maiorabitur ohm. Nam dicit scriptura : ' Qui se exaltat, huniihabitur.' Et legitur Ecclesiastici .xx. : 95 ' Est propter gloriam minoratio, et est qui ab humihtate levabit caput.' Haec prophetizata sunt per Prophetam Naimdicentem 'et inimicos eius persequentur tenebrae.' Tunc ego non volens quod deberent fieri inimici, vel quod unus eorum deberet mihi irasci, si dicerem ' tu vel tu 100 subtihor es,' allegavi Horatium in uno passu qui dicit : ' Et adhuc sub iudice hs est.' ' Scribens enim scribam Magistro Ortvino, quod dicat mihi rationem. Et ergo
- Epp. Clar. Vir. : publ. March «^ j,^,,^^ ^^(.. : Psal. xxvi. 1.
^•'^}^- '*Scrip.: Matt. xxiii. 12. Qui
• Carjn. et dict. Errors of this autem se exaltaverit/' &c. Viilg.
knul are foreign to the E. O. V. »5 „ , . ^ 1 1
'•' Psal: civ. 28. ^'^^'" *• ^^'
'* Psal. : cxxx. 1. ** Naim : Nahum i. 8.
" Job : xvii. 12. wi Hor. : Ars Poet., 78.
133
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
parcatis mihi, quod feci vobis molestiam.' Et sic non 105 contenderunt amplius, quamvis Magister Bernhardus diceret, quod vellet disputare ad ignem, quod haec est opinio vestra. Ergo, domine Ortvine, rogo vos ami- caHter, quatinus vehtis mihi respondere, quid tamen habuistis ante vos intitulando iUud Epistolare 'P^pistolae 110 Obscurorum Virorum ' ? Et sic valeatis sane et cum honore.
Datiini in Curia Romana.
II
«E lOHANNES GRAPP Magistro Ortvino
QJAI^UTEM Cordialem cum multa dilectione optat ►O semper, et commendat se tanquam humilem servitore frater et preceptor dilecte, Quia nuper scrip-
5 sistis mihi, c|uod debeo ^obis semel unum dictamen seu Epistolam vel Carmen metricum scribere, quod potestis videre quid didici a vobis Coloniae et Daventriae, in despectum lohannis Reuchhn, et Reuclihnistarum, qui sunt inimici vestri. Sciatis quod feci dihgentiam.
10 Et mitto vobis hic unam Epistolam Carminalem seu metrosam, sicut sunt Epistolae Ovidii, quia scio quod hbenter legitis metra quam prosaica. Sed debetis emendare : Quia non est discipulos super jNIagistrum. Et debetis scandere, Quia non sum adhuc bene usitatus
15 in tah arte.
Epistoi^a Ioiiaxnis Gkapp iiovclli poctae Carmiiialis ad prcccptorcin suii.iii M. Ortvixu.m Gua.
JMittit Epistoho sahitem Grappus in isto,
Necnon servitium Magistro Ortvino benignum, 20 Sicut decet iuvenem, qui amat suum praeceptorem ; Ergo, Ortvine, meos vehtis haud spernere versus.
' <>r(ii>p: callod ( rapp in ii. 40. It tn 18;J0 inclusive, tlie ensiiing lines
is probably nierel}' a coincidence that occur in so confused an order as to
MeIanclithon's wittMvas tlie daugliter he alniost unintellia^ihle.
of Hurgoniaster Craj)p. '° ('arinin. Du Canjfe ffives " Car-
" dixcip. : for fJi.sci/iu/nt,: niinalia instruinenta," but only in
^^ Kpint. In all Edd., froni l5."j(! the sense of "means of incantation."
134
II 2] lOHANNES GRAPP
Si non bene sonant, veliiti vestra quoqiie tonant
Carmina scripta quidem, quia non onmes valent idem, Nec sumus omnes pares magistri sive scholares :
Unus novit logicam, alius didicit poetriam, 25
Alius est Phisicus, alius medicusque peritus,
AHter habet gratiam in cunctis rebus mirandam, Sicut vos etiam, qui vix habebitis parem
In Colonia tota, et hic quoque Roma in rota, Ubi Curtisani vexant se sicut Beani 30
Unus alium citantes, pro beneficiis litigantes, Sicut nuper ahquis, cum quo est mihi magna Hs
Pro una vicaria, nec potest fieri concordia. Sed vos in studiis, caretis iUis fantasiis,
In sacra scriptura, ubi est vobis magna cura, 35
Ne isti scrares, qui sunt vestri tribulatores,
ReuchHn cum auxilio, necnon populo isto maligno, SciHcet Poetis, et legifluis luristis,
Qui ita vos tentant, sua nec dictamina probant, Contra vos faciant, et haeretica carmina scribant, 40
Ut facit et Tungarus et christicola Pepercornus, Et schola Francorum, que combussit iUum Hbrum
Speculum oculare dictum, et per vos fortiter victum. Sed volo dimittere ista scandala in sacra fide
Vobis et Hochstrato, qui est bene maior quam Plato, 45 Doctior philosophis, in subtiHtatibus istis.
Ergo vos valete, necnon bonam noctem habete. Deo Gratias. Parcatis mihi si sint vicia in istis Carminibus, quia humanum est errare secundum Philosophum, et debetis 50 etiam aHquid novum ad me scribere.
Datam in urbe Roma, ubi sunt mirabiHa poma,
Quae rustici ibi vendunt, et per Hbram bene pendunt,
Sicut ego vidi, et per experientiam didici.
Amen. 55
^ rota: a tribunal, of twelve mem- ^^ legifliiis, Not found elsewhere.
bers,institutediii 1.326 asthesupreme *^schola: i.e. the University of
courtof justiceand universalcourt of Paris. See Introd. appeal for the Church. W etzer aud We\t,lJiet.rath.,s.Y.CunaRomana." '" Philos. "Cujusvis hominis est
3° team .• freshmen : "bec jaune," errare." Cicero, PAi/., xn. 2-o. a callow bird. See "Bejan," N. E. U. ^^ ponia: perhaps oranges or citrons.
135
EPISTOLAE OBSCUEORUM VIRORUM
^I
€E M. STEPHANUS ROMEDELANriS
M. O?ivino Gratio Salutem
H/^ELERITER non facto praeambulo habeat domi- \J natio vestra scire, quomodo noviter venit huc unus
5 doctor Theologiae, qui vocatur Thomas Murner : ipse est de ordine sancti Francisci, Et est superiorista, et praesupponit ita multa quod non creditis. Dicunt quod facit Cartas, et qui ludunt in iUis cartis, discunt grammaticam et logicam. Et composuit unum hiduni
10 scaci, in quo trahuntur Quantitates Syllabarum. Et praetendit scire hebraicum, et componit versus in Teutonico. Et dixit mihi unus quod taUs doctor in omnibus artibus scit ahquid.i Tunc ego audiens dixi : " In omnibus ahquid, in toto nihih" Et steterunt ibi
15 ahqui qui riserunt. Est autem ille doctor magnus amicus lohannis Reuchhn. Diabolus confundat eum. Ego timeo quod faciet hic cum Canonicis et ahis Clericis, quod erunt pro Reuchhn. Dixit nuper multis audientibus, quod unus puer potest cognoscere stultitiam
20 et fantasias et mahtias Theologorum Coloniensium, et suorum Cohaerentium./ Et iuravit ad sancta Sanctorum, quod nisi papa habet advertentiam et corrigit eos, de illa perversitate, quod erit schisma in Ecclesia et fide
Mimier : Tlios. M., Franciscan knaves rather than fools. Cf. W,
(1475-15,S7) ; horn near Strashurg ; Scherer, lli.st. Gerni. LiL, i. 257, and
lie led the life of a wandering scholar Canih. J/od. Ilist., i. 075.
in France, (Jerniany, Hoheniia, and '^ .supcriorista: i.e. from the Ober-
Poland — studying theology at 1'aris land, or provincesof the fJpper Rhine.
and law at Freil^urf;-. In 1505 he re- ^* ('arta,y. 'l'here is a copy in the
ceivedai)oet'scro\vn frotn .Maxiinilian. Brit. Mus. of /jHjica Meiiwrativa,
Thougli hiter tlie ])itter ojijionent of ('liartiludium loyice ; sire totius dia-
Lutlier, none attacked tlie aiiuses of /(W/re w6v«oW«, A-c.,by Murner, Stras.,
the ('hurcli more violently tbau M. 150!). Tlie woodcuts of cards are
He is best known hy his rliymed extremely curious. See also W . A.
sermons, tlie Narrenhcse.hworung Chatto, l/ist. aud Or. o/' /'laying ('ards,
("Fxorcism of Fools") and the 1848, p. 102.
ScheJiiienz7inft (" llo2:ues' (iuihl"), ^'^ seafi. Tbere is a copy in the
1512, and bis satire, Von deui gro.<isen Hrit Mus. of .Miirner's Lndns studcn-
lAithcrisehcu J\'arren, 1522, against tu»i FrUrurgcnsiuui, Fraukfort, 1511,
tlie lleformation. M. resembles with curious diagrams of hackgam-
lirant, l)ut liis works are somewliat mon boards, iVrc, and the "Scacus
niore poetical in form, and lieattacks (juantitatis syllabaruni."
13()
11.3] 8TEPHANUS KOMEDELANTIS
Christiana. Quia si papa perinittit illos facere talia, nemo postea studebit et Nemo cogitabit fieri doctus. 25 Et super hoc dixit quod Reuchlin uno die plus potest prodesse EccFiae dei quam isti iniinici eius in centum annis. Et dixit : " si sunt boni aut recti viri, vel habent iustam causam contra Reuchhn, quare non agunt per se ? Quare per baptizatum ludaeu volunt expedire 30 negocia sua ? Et faciunt Hbros scandalizativos, contra illum bonum doctorem, et ascribunt eos huic trufatori ? Si esset peior et maledictior homo per totam Ahnaniam, ipsi etiam sociassent sibi eum. Sed non est mirum. Quia schhm schlem quaerit sibi similem." Tunc ego non 35 potui ampHus tacere, sed dixi : " Domine doctor, parcatis mihi, lohannes PfefFerkorn est vir honestus, et est fidehs solhcitator Caesareae Maiestatis, et est natus de tribu Neptahm. Et scitis quod est una antiqua progenies. Et ipse posset gloriari quod est nobiHs, quamvis non 40 facit propter humihtatem." Tunc respondit Doctor ille : " Accipiatis coclear et gustate quid dixistis." Tunc dixi : " Creditis quod non etiam vidi homines. Ego sum JNIagister Parhisiensis, et Coloniae studui in Theologia bene duos annos : domine doctor, non sitis sic 45 superbus antequam cognoscitis homines." Respondit doctor JMurner : Quod non scivit quod fui Magister, et dixit : " de honestate lohannis Pfefferkorn non multum audivi, sed quod de eo audivi, bene possum dicere, quod nisi ludaei voluissent eum mortificare propter so maleficia sua, Ipse nunquam fuisset factus Christianus." Et dixit quod quidam ludaeus dixit sibi " Ecce illud quod non valet apud ludaeos, bonum est apud Christianos, Nos voluimus ad mortem iudicare istum malefactorem, Vos Christiani habetis eum in honore 55 quasi esset homo probus et doctus, cum tamen videtis propter quid est factus Christianus." Ibi ego respondi : " Domine doctor, audiatis modicum. ludaei faciunt iniuriam lohanni Pfefferkorn, quia nunquam furavit ahquid, neque malefecit etiam quando fuit ludaeus, 60 sicut est pie credendum. Et quod hoc sit verum, debetis scire, quomodo duo ludaei semel voluerunt ei Imponere infamiam furti, sed ex Invidia duntaxat et
^^ schluti, &c. : perhapsfrom schelni, sire speculutti fatunriitti {Turba Irvii., a rogue. Cf. J. Geiler, Xaiicula Aa), Strasburg, 1510.
137
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
execrabili malicia, tunc ipse citavit eos ad Cameram
Co imperialem, et dederunt sibi .xxx. florenos pro expensis, quod fuit contentus. Etiam lohannes Pfefferkorn natus est bona progenie, Sed quando fuit ludaeus, fuit sicut alii ludaei. Quia, ut communiter dicitur. ' Qui est inter lupos, oportet ululare cuni lupis.' Nunc
70 autem comedit carnes de porca, et facit sicut bonus Christianus." Tunc respondit doctor Murner ; " Come- dit Pfefferkorn etiam farcimina ? " Respondit ego : " Non vidi eum comedere, Sed praesupponitur, si comedit porcas, quod etiam comedit illa quae fiunt de porcis."
75 Dixit ipse : " Bene excusastis loliannem Pfefferkorn," et interrogavit, si etiam adhuc habet ambas aures. Respondi quod quando ego adhuc fui Coloniae, habuit, et credo quod etiam iam habet et habebit in aeternum. Tunc dixit : " quid tenetis de lohanne Reuchhn."
80 Dixi quod non novi eum, sed scio bene quod Theologi et Ecclesia communiter habent eum pro liaeretico, quia criminavit lohannem Pfefterkorn et ahos praestantis- simos viros, nulhs eorum praecedentibus demeritis. Tunc risit et dixit : " Per deum, vos bene facitis, Quia
85 defenditis lohannem Pfefferkornet ahos praestantissimos viros." Tunc dixi : " Audiatis adhuc plus : llle Pfeffer- korn est valde utiiis in Ecclesia dei, quia obtuht deo .xii. Animas, ut ipsemet ingenue fatetur." Respondit doctor Murner : " Ubi obtuht deo illas animas ? In
90 silva Bohemica ? quia fortasse ibi cum aliis latronibus intcrfecit honiincs, (|uorum animae pervenerunt ad deum." Respondi : " Nullo niodo, sed convertendo eos ad fidem Christianam." 'l\mc ipsc dixit: " Quomodo tunc scitis (|uod tales animae pervenerunt ad deum ? "
95 Respondi, (|uod pie praesumendum est. Respondit jMurner : " Quid ergo nunc facit Pfefferkorn ? " Dixi quod fortasse vadit ad Ecclesiam audiendo missas et serniones Et defendciido se contra lohannen Reuchhn expectat dieni extrcmi iuchcii. Respondit illc : " Erit
100 tunc Pfefferkorn ita diu in vita? " Tunc dixi, cpiod sic ({uoad aniniam, sed non (juoad corpus. Dixit doctor Murner : " Bene est : Pfeiferkorn dignus est liabere talem defensorem," et dimisit mc : ct omnes cjui fuerunt
"^ dcdcrnnt. See i. 3G, n. ot" liavinj^ converted fourteen of his
" ,)'//. 1*. in his l)fJ'en.sio lioasted I^rotiier Jews.
188
11.4] lOHANNES PILEATORLS
ibi, riserunt dicentes : " Per deum, domine Stephane, vos audacter respondistis ei." Tunc dixi : " Ego volo 105 omnia verba scribere Magistro Ortvino," sicut videtis quod nunc facio ; et rescribite etiam. Ego sum vobis ad mandata.
Datum Treveris.
IV
€E MAGISTER lOHANNES PILEATORIS
Salutem dicit Magist7'0 Ortvino Gratio
QUIA scriptum est in evangelio : " qua mensura men- suraveritis, eadem mensurabitur et vobis." Igitur ego similiter non deberem vobis scribere, sicut et vos 5 non scribitis mihi. Et tamen scio quod magnam im- portantiam habetis, quod scribam vobis novalia ex urbe Roma, videHcet quomodo stat in Causa Magistri nostri lacobi de Hochstraten, viri proculdubio Zelosi : qui defendit fidem Cathohcam contra illos iuristas et 10 poetas saeculares, qui non habent deum prae oculis suis, sicut Theologi in Colonia et Parrhisia, qui com- busserunt Speculum Oculare lohannis ReuchHn ; sed ego deberem vobis facere sicut facitis mihi, et non deberem vobis scribire unam guttam : sed tamen non 15 faciam, et adhuc semel volo indulgere vobis, ita tamen quod scribatis mihi statim. Et debetis scire qualiter isti iuristae et adversarii cum adiutorio Diaboh, qui est hostis fidei Christianae, per suas blandicias, sicut pie creditur, acquisiverunt multos fautores, et praecipue 20 Curtisanos qui sunt de partibus superioribus, et non habent bonam Conscientiam ; et inferunt magnas iniurias praedicto Magistro nostro, vexantes eum sicut beanum, et dicentes quod ipsemet est haereticus, et quod Theologi in Colonia sunt Bufones. Sancte deus, 25 quid debemus dicere ? Non est magnum miracu- lum quod sacra Theologia debet ita scandalizari, et haberi pro una frascaria, et Theologi qui sunt sicut apostoli
^ Joh. Pileat. : the writer also of ^ Evang. : Matt. vii. 2 ; Mark iv. 24.
ii. 16. There was a contemporary ^^ scribire. Sic, in D.
named Huter at Erfurt. ^^ guttani. See i. 5, n.
139
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
dei, debent sperni quasi essent stulti. Credatis mihi 30 firmiter, quod fides Catholica habebit magnum malum exinde, et ego timeo, quod erit una confusio in ecclesia dei. Etiam dicunt, quod dominus apostohcus est pro parte lohannis Reuchhn, quia ipse etiam est poeta et favet iuristis. Sed tamen spero quod sua Sanctissi- 35 mitas illuminabitur per gratiam Spiritussancti, et non dabit malam sententiam,
quod veht dominus deus qui regnat in terris et
per caelos et sua mater virgo Maria, quae hberet nos ab 40 ista poetria.
Datum RoMAE.
V
€E FRATER lOHANNES DE WEBDEA
M. Ortvino G-ratio
HUMILES et devotes Orationes cum numerosa salute. Venerabihs vir, vos scribitis mihi quod
5 audivistis quod Causa vestra male stat et lohannes Reuchhn acquisivit unam inhibitionem apostohcam. Et scribitis mihi quod timetis valde, ne habebit vic- toriam contra Theologos et Sanctissimum ordinem nostrum, et postea scandahzabitur ecclesia dei. O
10 modicae fidei vultis esse ita perterritus, quod vultis statim desperare ? Tamen ohm quando fui vobiscum in Daventria, non fuistis ita timax, sed habuistis magnam audaciam. Quia scio adhuc bene, quomodo semel percussistis illos duos beanos, venientes ad vos
15 cum longis cultris, et vos non habuistis vmum armum seu defendicuhun. Et tamen percussistis eos cum adiutorio dei reahter cum efFectu, ita quod unus prae timore perminxit se. Et viderunt multi homines et
^* S(mcL See ii. 32 for tlie only ^ inhibit. apost. Jan. 19, 1515.
other instance. (Maius, Vit. Rcuch., -p. 467.)
^ I. de W. Believed by Bocking
to stand for Joliannes Fabri, alias ^'^ tiniax. Occurs also in ii. 58. Obermayr de VVerdea," Rector of
Leipsic Univ. in 148(5. ^Verdau is in " armnm. Evidently a sing. from
Saxony, near Zwickau. arma.
140
II 5] I0HA1SNE8 DE WERDEA
dixerunt : " Per deiim, iste Ortvinus habet magnum cor." Vos debetis scire quod hic in Curia Romana 20 non est sicut ahbi ; et sicut vos putatis. Sed unus una vice lucratur et aha vice perdit. Et licet aUquis habet aliquando duas vel tres sententias pro se, tamen adhuc potcst perdere htem. Sed potestis dicere : " Papa permisit quod Speculum Oculare debet vendi, legi, et 25 imprimi." Quid tunc est ? Si permisit, ergo non potest iterum prohibere ? Non sequitur. Quia sanctissimus habet potestatem ligandi et solvendi, et non debet corrigi. Quia habet pienariam potestatem, hic et ubique, sicut scitis ex evangeho : Quia mirabihter :^o estis soHdatus in sacra scriptura. Sed ego volo allegare lus canonicum. Primo quod Papa obtinet principa- tum totius Orbis, ix. q. IIII. c. " Cuncta per mundum." Et potest deponere Imperatorem sokis, etiam sine ConciHo, ut dicit glosa in Cap. " Ad Apostohcae." 35 De Sna et re lud. Et habetur. II. q. VI. "De cetero." Et Papa non est sub lege, sed ipse est lex animata in terris, ut habetur in glosa super capitu. .XI. de ofF. lud. del. Et si Papa est lex, potest facere quid vult et neminem respicere. Et quamvis 40 semel dixit " ita," tamen postea potest dicere " non." Et debetis habere bonam Confidetia. Quia nuper audivi hic ex uno auditore Rotae ; qui est vir notabilis, et habet magnam experientiam, quod non est possibile, quod Papa potest Sententiam dare contra vos. Quia 45 habetis optimam causam, et est causa fidei. Ergo estote fortes in bello : quia licet isti fantastae dicunt vobis de illa inhibitione, nihil debetis dare supra : quia non habet efFectum. Sed ego spero quod statim Volo vobis scribere bonas novitates. Quia dominus Magis- 50 ter noster iacobus de Hochstraten facit magnam dili- gentiam. Et nuper habuit convivium et invitavit multos Curtisanos antiquos bene experimentales, et unum scriptorem ApostoHcum, qui est bene visus apud Sanctissimum, et ahquos auditores Rotae. Et 55 dedit eis comedere perdices, et fasianos et lepores et
^^ Cuncta, Can. 17, Causaiv., qu. 3. *' /e.r anim. : gl. atl c. 11, iu VI",
^" ad Apost. : c. 2 in VI° de sent. et Dc Off., &c., i. 14. re jud., ii. 14. Papa Imperatorem ^^ aud. Rotae : one of the twelve
deponere potestex causis legitimis." members of the Rota.
^* de cet. This is irrelevant. " /antast. Not elsewhere found.
141
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
pisces recentes, et optimum vinum Cursicum necnon graecum, et dixerunt omnes quod tractavit eos cum summa reverentia, et dixerunt : " Per deum, iste est 60 notabilis Theologus. Volumus esse pro parte ipsius." Et sic habet bonam sperantiam. Sed oportet con- cludere, quia nuncius non vult expectare. Valeatis et salutetis mihi omnes Magistros Nostros et Magis- tros et iohannem Pfefferkorn.
65 Datum Romae
VI
€E 31. CORNELIUS STORATI M. Ortuino Salutem Plu.
8ECUNDUM postulata vestra quae misistis mihi _ in urbem, quando adhuc fui Curiae Romane, quod
5 debeo vobis articuhu-iter significare, quomodo stat ne- gocium iu causa fidei, inter vos et ahos Theologos et loannem Reuchhn. Advertatis Rogo. Ego ita cele- riter abivi quod non potuit scribere uninii verbum. Et proposui milii, quod ego volo vobis scribere ex
Kj poetria, et ego nunc facio. Ergo sciatis quod quando ego fui Romae, tunc non bene stetit, valde doleo. Nam Magister noster lacobus de hochstraten est in magna paupertate. Non habetis verecundiam vos Theologi, quod non mittitis ei pecuniam ? \'os vultis
15 expedire magnaha, et non vultis exponere pecuniam. Creditis quod sic est faciendum ? Quando ille magister noster intravit Romam cum duobus vel tribus Equis, habens pecuniam in banco, et dans propinas, tunc Cur- tisani valde honoraverunt ipsum. Et dixit unus ad
20 ahum : " Quis est iste ? " Respondit ahus : " Ipse est unus Doctor de Almania, ita notabihs sicut est possi- bile, et est speculativus et argumentifex singularis. quod non habet similem. Ipse habet hic Causam fidei contra unum luristam saecidarem." Tunc Curtisani lauda-
25 verunt eum et saepe dixerunt mihi : " Domine Corneh,
^'^ Citr.siciini : for ('or.sicnnnni. Cf. ^" porf. Hr)ckiiig suggests " p;itria."
Hiitt., Febris i. § 2," It^iliam clamaus, '" rfjiti.^t. See i. 12 and ii. 5.3.
et Cursicum invocaus." "* jirnjiijia.s. See i. 12.
- artic: peculiar to E. (). Y., Pt. II. "• ari/iuii. : a nonce-word.
142
II 7j ALBERTUS ACUFICIS
commendate me huic notabili Theologo." Protunc habuit fautores, et Causa sua bene stetit. Nunc autem derelinquitis eum non mittentes ei satis de pecunia. Ego semel fui in Camera ipsius, tunc vidi ibi iacere cappam suam, et vidi quod fuit plena pediculorum. Et 30 ipse videns quod ego vidi, allegavit scripturam dicens : " Animalia tua habitabunt in ea : parasti in dulcedine tua pauperi, deus." Et iterum dixit " Tabescere me fecit zelus meus." Ego autem ex commiseratione flevi. Debetis ergo esse pro eo, quod tamen fratres praedica- 35 tores mittant ei pecuniam. Si dicunt quod non habent, tunc dicatis quod accipiant de illa, quam collegerunt ex indulgentiis : quia est causa fidei, et quae impetrantur in illa causa, impetrantur pro fide Christiana. Valete.
Datum AuGusTAE. 40
VII
iE FRATER ALBERTUS ACUFICIS
M. Ortvino Gratio Salutem
HONORABILIS vir, nuper venit huc una littera, a dominatione vestra mihi destinata. Et cum laeticia aperui, quia cognovi sigillum vestrum, et legi 5 et inteUigo quod D. vestra cupit scire quomodo tamen homines loquuntur hic de causa fidei inter vos Theo- logos et lohannem ReuchHn. A^^olo vobis scribere, sed non debetis mihi habere pro malo, quia non sunt pro parte vestra. Omnes dicunt quod Theologi faciunt 10 Reuchhn sicut scribae et pharisaei fecerunt Christo, et quod ipse semper fuit probus vir, et fuit in ConciHo duorum Imperatorum. Et sua iuristria iuvavit multas civitates et Principes. Et omnes invenerunt eum probum et fidelem. Et quod Theologi invident gloriae i5 ipsius, et voluerunt eum declarare haereticum per devia et nullitates. Quando taha audio, tunc teneo oppo- situm : Sed scitis bene quod multi canes superlatrant
^^script.: Psal.lxvii.il. ^^ duor. Imp. Friedrich III. in
^' Tabesc: Psal. cxix. 139. 1^92 made a graiit of arms to R.
1 ■ ji 1 "imperialis consistorii comiti," and
Acu. : needlemaker. Maximilian frequently speaks of him
- 1).: Domiuatio. as cousiliarium nostrum."
143
EPI8T0LAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
unum. Dixerunt nuper duo Mafj-istri venientes ex
20 Colonia, et unus ex eis est nobilitaris, quod omnes qui agunt contra Reuchlin, sunt connnuniter Spurii, vel Infames, vel Bufones. Quod fuit mihi magna vere- cundia. Sed ipsorum unus audacter dixit quod omnes circumstantes audierunt : " Domini, ut intelhgatis quahs
25 sit ista causa contra lohannem Rcuchhn. Illa causa habuit principium a lohanne Pfefierkorn, qui est simihs re et nomine et omnibus modis huic lohanni Pfeffer- korn qui fuit hic cum forcipibus cahdis laceratus. Quia etiam est ludaeus baptizatus, et etiam propter nequitias
30 quas facit, derehquit fidem suam. Et si deberet hic sedere in turri, et spiculator deleret eum interrogare quid fecit, ipse deberet non minus confiteri quod ille ahus. Ipse instigavit Tlieologos Coh^niae, et ipse etiam instigaverunt eum, et vohierunt hbros ludaeorum per
35 totam Ahnaniam cdburrere. Et hoc fecerunt prop- terea quod ludaei deberent venire ad Theologos et praefatum PfefFerkorn cum magiia pecunia occulte, dicetes. ' Permittatis mihi hbros meos : ecce hic habetis quadraginta aureos.' Et ahqui ludaei dedissent
40 hbenter centum, ahqui mille. Tunc venit Reuchhn et impedivit iUud propositum, et irati sunt super eum, et scribunt hbros et scandahzare vohmt eum, et dicunt quod est haereticus. Etiam scribunt ahquos hbros in latino, et intituhuit eos nomine loliiines Pfefierkorn,
45 cum tamen ipse non scit alphabetum in latino. Sed igitur faciunt, quia sciunt quod nemo Rndebit ei. Quia nemo cum isto malefactore vult se permaculare. Ergo videtis, quod si essent veri Theologi, aut probi viri, ipsemet facerent facta sua, et non vehirent et occularent
50 se cum isto trufatore. Fecerunt etiam ahos hbros, quorum ahqui sunt intitulati nomine Arnoldi de Tun- gari, qui inventus est falsarius, Ita quod nunquam potest negare et nimquam potest se excusare, quod non est falsarius, quia manifestum est per totam Alma-
55 niam, quomodo falsificavit scripta lohannis Reuchhn. Ahus scriptor Theologormn est magister Ortvinus, qui
-*^ Pfetf. See i. 2;3, n. tliemeaiiin^ "executioner" was aftcr-
wards attributed.
^^ .sjiic. liy an error, the Vulg- '" dcleret. Sic [D], for deberet.
(Mark vi. 27) reiulered (TiTtKovXdTopa. '^^ qiind : t'oT qwwi.
(aguard)as "spiculatorem," to wliicli "' e<ih.: iov comhurere.
144
118] MATHAEUS FINCK
est filiiis presbiteri, qui etiam est concubinarius, et deprehensus in adulterio. Deinde habet ahum, de quo bene audivistis, doctorem Vigandum wirt ordinis prae- dicatorum, ({ui siniihter est infamis. Ipse composuit 6o hbrum, quod beata virgo est concepta in peccato Ori- ginah, et fecerat magnam seditionem cum praedica- tionibus suis. Et ergo fuit Coactus revocare verba et scripta sua pubhce Heydelbergae, quod ego met audivi et vidi. Sic potestis scire quales sunt inimici loha. G5 Reuchhn." Quando audivi taha, tunc dixi : " Domine mi, non debetis taha dicere coram populo, Etiii si essent vera. Quia scandahsatur per hoc totus Ordo, et homines accipiunt mahim exemplum." liespondit ihe : " Etiam vos non debetis ista fecisse contra Reuchhn, quem 70 etiam vohiistis scandahsare. Ergo ipse nunc non potest se purgare sine vestro scandalo." Per deum, Magister Ortvine, ego veUem quod haberet finem ista Causa, quia est nobis nmltum incommodosa : homines amphus non volunt nobis elemosinam dare ; ego ivi 75 septimana proxima pro Caseis, et per .x. dies non phires quam .xv. collegi. Quia dicunt omnes : " Vade ad I. R., et dic quod det tibi caseos." Dominus deus tribuat bonum hnem. Et sic valeatis in domino.
Datum Hallis in Saxonia. 80
VIII
iE MATHAEUS FINCK BACULARIUS M. Ortvmo G.
INENARRARILES salutes et amores inefFabiles. Honorabihs vir, quoniamquidem sufficienter scitis quomodo sto hic in Urbe Roma, et sum in Copistria 5 et de gratia dei habeo bonum servitium : ergo non est necesse quod scribo vobis de eo, quia etiam non hben- ter legitis productas Ifas. Sed secundum hoc quod promisi vobis scribere novitates ex urbe Roma, ad minus semel in mense, et quandocumque irent Cur
10
^' wirt. See i. 47, "• ^ Finck. See ii. 54, n.
- copistria. Not elsewhere found.
145 K
EPISTOLAE OBSCUKORUM YIRORUM
sores vel postae, tunc vellem certificare vos quomodo stat hic in bellis et in aliis et de rege Franciae et de imperatore, propterea potestis cogitare : " ecce iste est superbus, quia habet bonam stantiam Romae, et
1 propterea non curat mihi scribere, et est obHtus quod fui praeceptor suus, et docui eum in poesi et artibus et cum hoc etiam in frraecismo, ita quod pro parte est bonus graecus." Dico quod non, Et diabolus auferat nie si non habeo vos in memoria et etiam in
20 orationibus meis erga deum. Quia dicit Grego. quod ingratitudo est radix omnium vitiorum : Ergo qui peccat in Ingratitudine, peccat in omnibus peccatis. Sed si ego non scriberem vobis per superbiam, tunc essem vobis ingratus, qui fecistis mihi talia bona. Sed
25 habeo rationabiles causas, quod non direxi Hteras ad Do. vrm. Quia pro magna parte fui infirmus, et nescio quid fuit mihi. Medicus dicit quod habeo ahquid in stomacho et non scio bene digerere. Etiam nudius- tertius sumpsi unam purgationem, Et salva reverentia
30 coram dominatione vestra, ego merdavi unam merdam ita tenuem, quod ahquis posset sorbere cum cocleari. Et cum hoc exivit de me una petia alba bene ita magna sicut pirum. Et dixit JNledicus : " illa est materia indigesta et causat febrem." Sed pro nunc scio iterum
35 bene comedere, quia habeo bonum appetitum, laudetur deus. Et si maneo sanus, tunc seniper volo scribere vobis. Et pro ista vice debetis scire, quod Sanctissi- mus adhuc est Florentiae, et Curtisani hic maledicunt ei quod non venit, quia non possunt expedire negocia
40 sua. Sed ego dico quod debent habere patientiam, et non debent ei maledicere, ahas sunt excommunicati. Et allego eis lura supra hoc, quia vado hic ad Sapien- tiam et studeo ia feci magnum profectum in utroque lure, in uno ita bene sicut in aho. Sed dicunt aliqui
45 quod ocuh dolent Sanctissimo, ergo non potest ambu-
^^ postac: mouiited post-men as op- *^ SnpieiU. See ii. 'S'2, ii.
posed to "ruiiiiers" ; /w.s('« boiiig tlie *^ ocii/i. " His eyes were larjje,
place wliere horses are clianjj^ed. rouiid, aud j^roiuiiieiit, eveu to a
^* .^ffintiat}!. Not elsewliere fouud. defect ; iusonuich tliat he could uot
^ (irego. Allusiou uukuowu. disceru distaut ol)jects without the
^^ pctiti. See Du Cauge, s.v. aid of a glass, hy the assistauce of
■'" Snnrt. For au accouut of Leo's which it was observed that iu huutiug
luaguificeut reception at Florence, . . . lie saw to a greater distiince than
see W. Roscoe, Lije o/ Lco X. (187(5)? "}' of liis attendants." Roscoe, nt
vol. ii. pp. .33 ff, h-n/)., p. 377.
146
11.9] PHILIPPU8 8CHLAURAFF
lare per aerem. Debetis etiam scire quod Rex Franciae revertit in Franciam et vult portare magis populum ad bellandum contra Imperatorem. Et Hispani volunt auxiliare iniperatori, et habetis scire quod erit magna guerra. Quapropter debemus dicere in Orationibus so nostris : " Da pacem, domine, in diebus nostris." Quia non est bonuni quod est guerra in istis locis, pro Curti- sanis. Si esset pax, tunc semel deberetis mihi scribere de Vacantia unius beneficii, sive est curatum sive non curatuni, sive de iure patronatus sive ahter. Quia ego 55 pronunc habeo bonam Experientiam, et vellem bene impetrare ahquid. Et si habetis unam Htem, tunc ego volo solUcitare vobis hic. Etiam de causa cum lohanne Reuchhn debetis scire quod Magister Noster lacobus de Hochstraten collegit adhuc ahos articulos in speculo «50 oculari : et sunt ita bene haereticales sicut ahi. Et ipse iam est floretiae cum Curta, et dihgenter solhcitat. Non debetis dubitare quod non habebitis victoriam. Scribatis mihi simihter nova et Valeatis cum gloria.
Datum RoMAE.
G5
IX
iE MAGISTER PHILIPPUS SCHLAURAFF
M. Ortvlno Gratio
SALUTEM sesquipedalem. VenerabiUs JNIagister, sciatis quod accepi htteram vestram valde poetica- liter scriptam, sicut est Consuetudo vestra. Et scrip- 5 sistis :
" Datum in Colonia, quando habuimus bona convivia : et viximus in hilaritate, et non curavimus de gravitate."
Et sic consideravi quod fuistis bene vinificatus, id est vino repletus, dicendo poetahter. Et credo quod fuistis 10 ebrius quando scripsistis iUud dictamen. Et scribitis mihi quod debeo vobis mittere iUud Carmen quod compilavi de ambulatione mea hinc inde per Ahnaniam
^* curatum : i.e. "a cure of souls," " curta: for curia. See Du Cange,
as opposed to a benetice involving uo s.v. cortis. parocliial dnties. ' vinif. A nonce-word.
147
EPISTOLAE OBSCUPiORUM VIRORUM
quando visitavi universitates, liabens niandatum a 15 Theologis quod debui seniinare fa\'orein eoruni contra lohanneni Reuchlin, et quoniodo fui ibi tribulatus a poetis qui sunt hincinde. Faciani utique, sed vos [:] iterum debetis niihi ahquid mittere de vestris operibus. Et dedi huic nuncio quod portaret vobis. Etiam sciatis 20 quod composui rithmice non attendens quantitates et pedes : quia videtur mihiquod sonat mehus sic. Etiam ego non didici illam poetriam, nec curo. Valete ex Bruneck in Flandria.
«E Carnien Eifhmicalc wagistri PHILIPPI 25 SCIILAURAFF quod conipilavit ct coniporta-
vit, (puindo fuit Cursor in Tlicologia ct ambulavit per totam Almaniam superiorem :
Christe deus omnipotens, in quem sperat omne Ens, Qui es deus deorum per omnia saecuhi saeculorum,
30 Tu vehs mihi esse propitius, quando tribuhit me inimicus. Mitte unum diabohun, qui ducat ad patibuhmi Poetas et iuristas, qui dederunt milii vexas, Praesertim in Saxonia, ubi fui studens in loyca,
35 Quam docuit me Sibutus, qui est in medicina imbutus, Et liabet antiquam vetulam, quae vendit bonam
Cerevisiam. Tunc est i})i unus poeta, qui vocatur 15althasar de Facha,
40 Qui me tribulavit, quod mihi valde doloravit.
Tunc Phihjipus Engentinus, qui non est vexator minus, Incepit unam guerram ; tunc quaesivi aham terram, Et cogitavi bonam rem, ut ad Rostock irem, Ubi Hermannus Buschius mortificavit unum Car-
45 minibus.
Tunc audivi in via, cpiod viget ibi pestilentia. Et ivi ad Gripswaldiam, quae habet modicam Com- paniam.
" i/m«. ; possihly Hruges. ('f. liue K//i.sc(>]ii Trajeiicnni.-^ . . . r?7fi, IJasle,
166. 1.51!).
■'" /-'(ir/ia : ;i frieiid of Lutlier, .Mel- ■" (^rip,sw.: (Jreifswald, ineniorable
aiK-litlion, aiid Sj)alatinus. to Clr. v. Hutten for his ill-treat-
- ^ lCnijent. : IMiilipp EiigeHirecht nient hy tlie Lotzes, recorded in his
von KngeUj author of /)ici Lainherti (Inerclen.
148
II 9] PHILIPPUS SCHLAUPiAFF
Et sic abivi mox, quamvis fuit statim Nox.
Et veni ad Francfurdiam, quae iacet apud Oderam : 50
Ibi Hermannus Trebellius cum suis poematibus
JMultum me infamavit, et audacter blasphemavit ;
Necnon duo Osthenii, qui sunt iUius discipuli,
Qui multis cognominibus vexabant me in Civibus :
Do hiess mich die gantz statt " das Colnisch Copulat," 55
Ita quod ambulavi in Austriam, ad meam malam
fortunam : Quia Colhmitius (veniat ei sanctus Anthonius) Fuit ibi Rector, et meus inimicator, Vocans me traditorem, et volens ponere ad Carcerem, 00 Nisi fecisset Heckman. Sed loachimus Vadian, Novum infortunium, porpter Pepercornum Mecum ibi incepit, quia eum vihpendit In sua defensione, quamvis cum magna ratione. Tunc dixi quod sum innocens, et rogavi eum flens, 65 Quod vellet me dimittere ; tunc dixit ei tacite Rector bursae Hhi, quod retineret me cum vi. Et dixit Cuspinianus, quem aniat rex ^Maximihanus, Quod magistri in artibus sunt doctores in peccatis
mortahbus. 70
Tunc incepi inde transire, et ad Ingolstadt venire. Hic Philomusus habitat, et contra Theologos metri-
ficat. Tunc timens eius furiani transivi ad Nurmbergam, Ubi quidam Pirckheymer, qui non est Magister, 75
Fecit mihi instantiam : sed audivi ibi clam, Quod cum multis sociis in partibus diversis Magna in Coniuratione vellet stare pro Capnione, Et contra nos Theologos facere multos libros. Et fuit mihi dictum, quod noviter unum librum 80
Scripsit de usura, quam admittit Theologia, Sicut Bononiae est disputatum et per Magistros nos-
tros probatum. Sic ivi post unum mensem ad universitatem Lipsensem : Ubi Richardus Crocus, qui dicitur esse Anghcus, ss
Vidit me per viam, et dixit " illam bestiam
^^ Treh.: tutor of Ulrich von Hutteii.
^^ Osth.: Joannes and Alexander von der Osthen, to wliom Hutten dedicated his Ars Versificatoria.
'* S. Ant. : i.c. S. Anthony^s fire — erysipelas. *' ijorp. Sic, in [D].
149
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
Ego novi Coloniae." Respondi " noli dicere, Quia ego non sum." Tunc dixit ad suuni socium " Iste pro Theologis est proditor Capnionis,
90 Et est magnus pultronus." Quod dixi magistris in Artibus, Qui iuraverunt invicem accipere ei lectionem Ita quod in posterum non amplius haberet stipendium. Venit Mosellanus, dicens : " ille Beanus
05 Deberet ad patibulum suspendi per suum coUum." Et sic fui Hcentiatus et ad Erfordiam intentionatus, Ubi Aperbachius me incepit tribulare, Et Eobanus Hessus, qui nunquam fuit fessus Quaerere in plateis, ut percuterent me cum pugnis ;
100 Et multum terribiUter vexavit me bis vel ter, Et dixit ad studentes : " frangatis ei dentes, Quia Theologicus et Reuchlin est inimicus." Tunc dixit Crotus Rubianus : " unde venit iste Beanus ? Qui non est nobis notus." Dixi quod sum promotus.
105 Respondit : " eatis utique." Tunc volui revertere Statim ad Coloniam, vadens per Buchoniam : Sed dixit quidam socius, quod Mutianus RufFus Esset in itinere, et posset me percutere. Tunc ivi per Campaniam, et veni iterum in Misniam.
110 Quod fuit ibi subito dictimi Aesticampiano,
Qui misit suos discipulos, qui traxerunt me cum
crinibus. Et dixit Spalatinus, qui est eius vicinus, Quod etiam ex parte sua darent mihi verbera.
115 Ergo satis percussus veni ad quodam Nemus, Ibi quidam diabohis, vel certe mahis Angehis Sturnum ad me portavit, cjui ubi cognovit, Dedit mihi alapam : tunc ivi ad Franconiam Ubi est fluvius Menus. Ibi UHrichus Huttenus
120 luravit levatis digitis, quod vellet me percutere virgis, Si vellem ibi stare : tunc cogitavi meimi sahitare, Vadens hinc in Sueviam, ad civitatem Augustam : Ibi Conradus Beutinger, cui non placet Bruhfer, Nohiit me permittere, quod possem hic quiescere.
125 Tunc praeterivi Studgardiam, quia habet ibi stantiam ReuchHn iHe haereticus, qui fuit mihi suspectus. Tunc ad Tubingam abii : hic sedent multi socii
"^7?<o. ; for qiioMain. *'^ Xcnms: the Erzgebirge.
150
II 9] PHILIPPUS 8CHLAURAFF
Qui novos libros faciunt et Theologos vilipendunt : Quorum est vilissimus Philippus Melanchtonius, Sicut ego cognovi ; et igitur deo vovi, iso
Si viderem iUum mortuum, quod irem ad sanctum
lacobum. Fuit et Bebelius, et lohannes Brassicanus, Et Fauhis \>reander, die schworen alle mit ein ander, Quod vellent me percutere, si non vellem recedere. 135 Sed quidam hic Theologus, cum nomine Franciscus, Sua cavisatione portavit me ex illa regione. Tunc cogitavi ire, et ab istis poetis venire, Et ivi ad unam patriam, quam dicunt Argentinam. Ibi in media via facta est una rebaldria, 140
Quia Nicolaus Gerbellius cum suis disputationibus Confudit me in populo, quod steti in magno scandalo. A^enit Sebastianus Brant, der nam mich bei der hant, Dicens " mihi sequere : nos volumus navigare Ab hinc in Narragoniam propter tuam stulticiam." 145 Et fuit ibi Schurerius, qui est pinguis socius ; Ipse me derisit, et dixit " herr, ir mussent mit Biss ins SchlaurafFen landt : do seynt ir vast voll
bekandt." Collegi meam tunicam, et cepi inde fugam 150
Pergens ad Sletstadium : cum vidi Wimphelingum, Qui habet unum pelHcium, quod est bene impingu-
atum, Necnon lacobum Spigel, qui dixit : "wo her, du
daubengigel ? " 155
Respondi quod ex Suevia : tunc dixit quod sum bestia. Et ego fui Iratus : tunc dixit mihi Kirherus, Quod irem ad Athenas, et discerem graecas litteras. Et fuit etiam Sapidus cum multis suis scholaribus, Dans mihi disciphnam : tunc invocavi caelorum regi- 160
nam. Tunc exclamavit Storckius : " volvamus hunc de gradi-
bus." Respondit ei Phrygio : " parcamus sacerdotio." Venit Beatus Rhenanus, quaerens an sum Almanus. les
^^* Vereander : i.e. Paulus Gere- i^' A'?>/;er. / Johann Kierher, Canon
ander, of Salzburg, to whom Melanch- of Spires, a friend of Erasmus. thon dedicated his ed. of Terence.
"' Francis. : F. Stadianus, the "* Phryg. : Paulus Seidensticker, of
friend and teacher of Melanchthon. Schlettstadt.
151
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
Respondi " sum ex Flandria " ; tunc statim duo verbera Accepi super capite, quod vix potui audire. Et ivi liinc ad Haganaw : do wurden mir die augen blaw
170 Per te, Wolffgange Angst, Gott gib das du hangst, Quia me cum baculo percusseras in oculo. Accurrit autem Setzerius, qui est vix Baclarius, Cum uno magno volumine percutiens me in iatere, Quod non habui spiritum : tunc oravi iUum socium,
175 Quod facerem confessionem, quia haberem Contri- tionem ; Sed ego in noctis medio surrexi de cubiculo Et ivi ad Friburgiam, quaerens misericordiam : Sed ibi multi nobiles, armati et horribiles,
180 Reuchhn defenderunt, et mihi mortem minaverunt ; Necnon unus vetulus, qui vocatur Zasius, IUe antiquus iurista, quaesivit an sum Scotista ? Respondi " doctor sanctus est mihi autor summus " : Tunc fecit me risibilem, quod habui pudorem.
185 Et statim quidam Amorbach spricht " Ich wyl eyn anders machen, Und langent mir die brietschen her, so wil ich in eyn
newes lern." Sic fui hinc fugatus, quia sum ad miseriani natus,
190 Et veni Basileam, ubi vidi quendam
Qui Erasmus dicitur, et multum honoratur. Tum dixi " cuni hcentia, dicat vestra excellentia, Si estis Magister nostrandus, vel statim quahficandus." Respondit ipse "uti(|ue": tunc sivi eum stare.
195 Sed in domo Frobenii sunt multi pravi haeretici, Necnon Glarianus, (|ui imposuit mihi manus Percuticns in dorsum, et proiciens deorsum. Et dixi " per tuam huiream : Fac mecum misericor- diam."
200 Tunc ivi ad Naviculam abiens W^ormaciam, Ubi in hospicio cum Theobaldo medico Fuit mihi lis, quia de Thcologis Dicebat multa scandahi : tunc dixi cum modestia
" AiKj/it: corrcctor of tlie press at '"^ Frohcn. : '" Fre(|ueiis eruditoruni
tlie priiitiiig-oftice of Tli. Anshelni, so(lalitas<|u:ie tuin versabatur iu aedi-
at Hagenau. Itus Frohenii." Erasnuis, Sjioitc/ia.
^'^ »St'to;r. .• Joliann S., printer, of Hageuau. ="' Thro. : tho T. Fcttich of ii. 12.
152
11.9] PHILIPPU8 SCHLAURAFF
" Vos estis homo stolidiis " : Et statim unus Caseus
Stetit mihi in capite ; et sic recessi cum vulnere 205
Usque ad Moguntiam, ubi mihi gratiam
Fecit praedicator IJartholomaeus decimator,
Dans mihi hospitium et iurans per deum vivum,
Si ivissem ad Coronam, quod accepissem vexationem
bonam, 210
Quia ibi commensales sunt valde nequitiales, Nicolaus Carbachius qui legens pro scholaribus Exponit Titum Livium : tunc reperi Huttichium, Qui ex antiquo odio percussit me cum scamno, Quod feci unum bombum : tunc dedit mihi pugnum 215 Doctor Conrat Weydmann : ich sprach " wie sal ich das
vorstan ? " Tunc trusit me lo. konigsteyn, quod cecidi de gradi-
bus. Et sic post hoc periculum contuU me ad Rhenum, 220 Ubi cum ambulavi, visus est mihi in navi Doctor Thomas JMurner, ordinis minorum Frater, Qui dixit " nisi parcerem propter meam dignitatem, Statim coram omnibus iaceres hic in fluctibus." Respondi " quare hoc ? " Tunc dixit " Schweyg, du 225
holtzbock : Es leygt mir noch im sin, quod fecisti Doctor Reuch-
Hn." Sic ivi ad Coloniam, et inveni bonam companiam, Quamvis mihi Buschius cum suis auditoribus 230
Et lohannes Caesarius, qui legit ibi Phnius, Facerent instantias : quia non curavi has, Sed steti cum Theologis, et vixi in laetitiis, Und gab nit ein har aufF den grafen von newen Ar, Quamvis sit poeticus : quia Pepercornus 235
In suis dictaminibus dicit de nobihbus, Quod quamvis sunt clari, non possunt excusari, Et debent sibi solvere pro sua Obscuritate. Et sic est finis : propter honorem Universitatis.
[The majority of the personal names in ii. 9 occur in other Epp., and are there referred to in the notes. It has not been thought necessary to give cross-references for these, but the Index may be consulted.]
- "* Caseus : i.e. his liead swelled to the size of a cheese.
- ^* Konigs. : unkuown.
153
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
X
m: 31. NOSTER BARTHOLOMAEUS KUCKUK, M. O.
SALUTES innumerabiles cum summa veneratione a parte ante. Venerabilis Magister, non facto prae-
5 ambulo, aut multo circuitu verborum habetis scire sicut nuper scripsistis mihi quod deberem vobis notificare qualiter negocium in causa fidei stat hic. Sciatis quod bene stat, sed nudii exivit Sententia diffinitiva. Et est hic unus lurista qui vocatur Martinus Gronigen, Doctor
10 Senensis, ut ipse dicit, satis praetensus et superbus. Ipse debet latinisare Speculum oculare, et est valde prae- sumptuosus, quia cupit videri. Aliqui laudant eum, et quaesivi nuper ex eis : " Quid pkis scit quam alius ? " Tunc dixerunt, quod habet bonam notitiam in graeco.
15 Et sic videtis quod non est curandum de eo, Quia graecum non est de essentia Sacrae scripturae. Et credo quod non scit unum punctum in libris Sententi- arum. Nec ipse posset mihi formare unum Syllo- gismum in Baroco aut Celarent, quia non est logicus.
20 Ipse nuper vocavit me asinum : et dixi ei : '* si es ita audax, tunc disputa mecum " : et tibisavi eum audacter. Et tacuit. Tunc ulterius vexando eum dixi " Ego arguo quod tu sis asinus : Primo sic : Quicquid portat onera, est asinus : tu portas onera : ergo es asinus.
25 Minorem probo, quia tu portas istum hbrum. Et fuit verum, quia ipse portavit unum librum quem dedit lacobus de Questenberg ad studendum intus contra M. N : lacobum de Hochstraten. Tunc non fuit ita prudens quod negaret mihi Maiorem, quia non potuissem
' Gronigen: Martin Groning, a inteyre translatus, Tiibingen, 1515,
native of Bremen, and Doctor of was dedieated to Questenber^, and is
Laws of Sinigaglia, translated tlie probably the book alluded to.
Angensplegel \nioh;ith\, on behalf of ^'^ Quest.: Jacob Aurelius von Q.,
Reuclilin, and proved the version a native of Freiburg, in Saxony, the
presented by lloogstraten to the Pope's private secretary, liad been
Curia false in many passages. See, Reuchlin's firni friend ever since they
Caesarius to Erasmus, Cologne, July liad made acquaintance in Italy in
80,1517. [Ep. MDCXX.] 1492. See K. Gueldner, /«A-oi (^zes^en-
- ' librum, S. Athana.mts in lihrum f>erg, ein deutsrher Humanist in Kom.,
Psalmorum nuper a loanne Reuehlin Wernigorode, 1005. Seealsoii.28, n.
154
11.11] lODOCUS SARTORIS
probare : sed bene scivi quod nihil seit in logica. Dixi 30 ergo ad eum " Doniine doctor, Vos vultis vos intro- niittere in negocio Theologorum, quod non est in facultate vestra : Ego suaderem vobis quod dimitteretis, quia vos non intelligitis materiam istam : ahas potestis venire ad damnum, Quia Theologi non volunt quod 35 luristae debent tractare causas fidei." Et statim ille iratus dixit " Ego non solum intelligo istam materiam, Sed etiam video quod tu es una maledicta bestia." Tunc fui etiam connuotus et surrexi : et fuit inter nos magna rixa in die illa. Dixitque mihi M. N. Petrus 40 INIeyer plebanus Franckfordiensis " Eamus ad hospitium pro comedere, quia est tempus ad prandium ; permittatis stare istum bonum virum, quia non intelHgit fcta sua : ipse adhuc deberet ire ad scholas desuper " : sed debetis scire, JVI. Ortvine, quod volumus pulcherrime vindicare 45 istam iniuriam : ipse est studens Colo. et stetit in bursa montis, quod ego pro certo scio : ergo faciatis quod universitas citat eum : tunc volumus eum declarare periurum, quia est in matriculat^ in matricula univer- sitatis et fecit iuramentum quod vult procurare bonum 50 universitatis. Sed nunc stat cum I. R. contra universi- tatem. Et rogo quod veHtis hoc statim facere, et mittatis mihi librum I. P. qui intitulatur " Defensio I. P. contra famosas." Ego vidi nuper unum socium portare huc, et vellem ita libenter habere quod cor dolet 55 mihi inde, quia talis liber habet multas propositiones subtiles. Dominus deus [noster in aeterna gloria] det vobis salutem et pacem. Amen.
XI
•T lODOCUS SARTORIS 31. Ortvino Grafio
SALUTEM sempiternam et novum annum cum bona fortuna sicut est' in mundo, et plus si est possibile, opto vestrae dominationi, quae debet scire
" ^feyer. See i. 48.
" hoxpitiuiii : the"BeH" Iiin, in the Campodei Fiorl,frequented by Germans.
" A\'ords in brackets are omitted in U.
155
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIEORUM
5 quod adhuc bene succedit mihi de gratia dei, qui tribuit mihi misericordiam suam, et sicut dicit Psalmista, " Exaudivit dominus deprecationem mea dns orationem meam suscepit." Quia oro cotidie pro peccatis meis, et peto quod dominus noster lesus Christus velit mihi
10 custodire animam et corpus. Sed tamen magis animam Quia corpus est pulvis : et sicut dicit sacra scriptura, " Pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris " : etiii spero quod non male succedit vobis Quia quando unus habet istam gratiam a deo quod semper paenitet de peccatis suis, et
15 orat devote orationes suas, etiam si non saepe ieiunat, tunc dominus deus non vult quod male succedit ei. Ego scio quod habet is bonam Conscientiam, et semper estis in studio volens procurare bonum ecclesiae. Quia scio bene quomodo nuper scripsistis unum librum contra
20 quendam haereticum I. Reuchhn et fuit ita magistrahter compilatus quod habui admirationem exinde. Et dixi ad unum cursorem de ordine praedicatorum qui circum- portavit talem Hbrum : " Ego credo quod iste homo habet duo capita, quod potest ita scientifice practicare
25 unam rem." Sed intellexi etiam ab illo Cursore, quod scribitis commentum super Hbrum IVIagistri nostri Arnoldi de Tungari quem articulatim composuit de pro- positionibus haereticahbus SpecuH Ocularis. Mittatis mihi quando est perfectum tale Commentum. Quia
30 scio quod proculdubio erit mirabile, exponens omnia argumenta, et notabiha et propositiones Et Coclusioes et corohu'ia, quae pauci bene inteUigunt, quia ille Magister noster est nimis subtihs in scriptis suis, sicut communiter Albertistae in via sua. Sed non debetis
35 mihi pro malo habere quod laudo Albertistas, cum vos estis Thomista, quia non est magna difFerentia, Et multum concordant in ahquibus. Sed doctor sanctus est profundior, et hoc habet ex speciah inspiratione Spiritussancti : quapropter etiam dicitur Doctor sanctus,
40 quamvis Reuchhn non vocat eum sic in suis scripturis, et propterea est haereticus et maneat in nomine diaboh.
- Pfial.: vi. 10, ^'^ Anw/di: the ArtlntH sive Pro-
^^ ncript. : Gen. iii. 19. positiones . . . e.r Hhello . . . Jonnnis
^* lihruni: i.e. tlie book, publ. in Heuchlin , . . e.rtractae. Cnniannota-
1514, s. /., usually known as tlie tionihns , , , Arnoldi de Tunyari . . .
Praenotainenf a (Jrtimii (rratii, directed Au^. 28, 1.512, s. I.
agaiufiithe Augenspiegel, ^* Alhert.: i. 13, n.
156
11.12] WILHELMU8 LAMP
Ego nuper fui iratus super unum luristam qui defendit eum, Et scripsi unum carmen metricum contra eum. Etenim soleo poeticare etium, quando sum solus, ex Arte metrificandi Bebelii quae est multum subtilis. 45 Est autem hoc Carmen.
Astripotenti dei Mater venerabilis Christi,
Da precibus famuli aures benignas tui : Qiii te orat, Maria, pro sancta Tlieologia,
Contra quam scribit Reuchlin lurista malus, 50
Non clarificatus nec desu{)er illuminatus,
Qualiter esse debet qui vult placere tibi. Ergo tuum natum memento habere rogatum,
Ut subvenire veUt huic faculatati suae.
Et est Elegiacum et scanditur sicut primum metrum in 55 Boetio Incipies, " Carmina qui quondam [studio, etc.]." Sed nuncius non dixit mihi quod vult ita cito recedere, alias vokii vobis misisse plura metra : q scripsi pro defensione ecclesiae et fidei. Ergo cogitate quod mit- tatis mihi tale commentum a vobis practicatum. Tunc eo iterum volo ahquid novi mittere. Valete raptim faustim zelose Datum Olmuntz in Moravia.
XII
«E MAGISTER WILHEL3IUS LA3IP artium Magister M. Ortvino Gratio Salutevi
REVERENDE Vir, secundum quod dixistis et mandastis niihi quod statim quando venio ad Romam, debeo vobis scribere quomodo transivit mihi 5
- ^ Behel. : Heiiiricli Bebel, 1472- " Carmina qui quondani studio flo-
1516, humanist. Laureated by Maxi- rente peregi,
milian in 1501. Author of Ars FlebiUs, heu, maestos cogor inire
versificandi , Commentaria epistolarum modos."
conficiendaruni . . . contra Epistolandi se ^) omits vvords in brackets.
modos Pontii, Triumphus Veneris,&c. ^^ vogitate : "mind."
See G. W. Zapf, Heinrich Behel nach 62 oimuntz : Olmiitz, on the March,
seinem Leben und Schri^hn, Augsburg, ceased to be the capital of Moravia in
1802, and W. Scherer, Hist. Gerni. 1640.
Lit, i. 268 (1886). i ijag. .- L. was " Magister " par
e.tcellence, i.e. in theology, as well as
^^ Boetio. De Consol. Philosophiae : — M.A. Ep. ii. 35 is also his.
157
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROKUM YIRORUM
in via per omnia et quomodo sto qiioad sanitatem corporis Sciatis quod de gratia dei adhuc sum sanus, et vellem etiam de vobis libenter audire quod estis sanus. Sed spero, si vult dominus deus, quod estis
10 sanus. Et facio vobis notum qualiter statim quando veni ad Maguntiam in hospitium Coronae, tunc inveni ibi quosdam viros qui loquebantur de Causa fidei, et erant pro Doctore Reuchlin, et quando viderunt quod ego sum Coloniensis, adhuc magis loquebantur et
15 fecerunt mihi in despectum. Et laudaverunt lohannem Reuchhn et parvipenderunt Magistros nostros in Colonia et dixerunt quod essent vespertiUones qui nihil habent agere in luce, sed volant in tenebris, et tractant Ob- scuritates. Tunc ego dixi "Audiatur pars altera," et
20 alligaui Flores legum. Et ipsi inceperunt me irritare multis malis verbis, quod dixi : " Quod mihi cum Reuchlin ? Permitatis me comedere pro pecunia mea." Et potestis dicere "domine AVilhehne, vos debuissetis perseverasse et audacter respondisse ipsis." Sciatis
25 quod non est faciendum in isto loco. Et audivi quod nuper unus in isto hospitio fuit percussus cum uno scamno, quod defendit JNI. nostrum lacobum de Hoch- straten. Quia isti socii qui vadunt ibi ad mensam, sunt valde terribiles, et habent gladios et spados: et
30 unus ex eis est Comes et est longus vir et habet albos Crines. Ipsi dicunt quod accipit cum manibus suis unum virum armatum et iactat eum ad terram. Et habet gladium ita longum sicut gigas. Quando vidi eum, tunc tacui et permisi eos loqui. Sed cogitavi
35 quod vellem vobis scribere, sed protunc non statim habui nuncium. Sed quando veni ad AA^ormatiam, intravimus ad unum hospitium, ubi sunt nmlti doctores, qui sunt assessores in ludicio Camerae. Ibi dicebant
^'^ Flor. leg. : F/oren legum mit Con- ^^ Camerac. The /'eicLskaninier-
ycrie.s auctoritatum juris cini/is sernn- gericht, or iSuprenie Court of .Justice,
dutn ordineuL A/phalmti . . . Argen. consistiiig- of a president aiul sixteen
Anno MCCCCXCVI. assessors, was first set up in 1495, on
" scamno. Cf. ii. 9. *•?«. P'-«P«^^al of Berthold, Ahbp of
Maniz ; it soon ceased to meet, but
^'^spados: broad - swords ; Lat. was revived at the Diet of Constance,
spatha ; Gk. <r7Td0T] ; cogn. with 1507, and after many wanderings
" spade." finally settled down at \V^etzlar. See
^° Comes. TTiis gigantic and white- also J. Hryce, Jlo/g Roman Empire,
haired count has uot been identified. 1904, p. .3(!1.
158
II 12] WILHELMUS LAMP
mirabilia contra Theologos. Et audivi quod citaverunt lohannem Pfefferkorn propter Stormglock. Et dixit w unus : " vos videbitis quod adhuc in paucis annis aufe- runtur isti Magistri nostri et non erunt ampUus." Tunc dixi : " Quis tunc praedicabit vobis et docebit in fide CathoHca?" Respondit ille : " Hoc faciunt docti Theologi, qui intelhgunt scripturas, sicut Erasmus 45 Roterodamus, Paulus Ricius, lohannes Reuchhn et aHi." Tunc tacit et cogitavi niecuni " Stultus stulta loquitur." Et sedit unus in mensa nomine Theobaldus Fettich, qui pronunc est Doctor Medicinae, et cognovi eum, quia ohm stetit Coloniae in bursa montis : ipse 50 multo plura dixit quam ahi. Et dixi ei : " Vos debetis recordare quod fecistis luramentum Rectori et Uni- versitati Coloniensi." Respondit quod merdaret super nos omnes. Sed transeant illa. Postea quando exi- vimus Wormaciam, venerunt quidam viri terribiles 55 in equis, habentes bahsta cum tehs et volentes nos sagittare. Tiic socius meus clamavit " lesus, lesus." Et ego habens bonum cor dixi quod non debet ita clamare, et dixi ad illos viros " Domini gratiosi, nohte sagittare nos, quia non sunms induti cum armis, et t;o non sumus inimici vestri, sed sumus clerici, et tendimus Romam pro beneficiis." Tunc unus dixit : " Quid ego curo beneficia ? Detis mihi pecuniam et sociis meis quod habemus bibaha, vel diabolus debet vos con- fundere. ' Tunc si voluimus venire de ipsis, oportet 65 quod dedimus ipsis .II. florenos. Et ego dixi occulte : " Bibite quod diabohis benedicat vobis." Et postea socius meus dixit : " Quis vobis videtur, volumus illos citare ad Curiam Romanam ? " tunc dixi quod non est possibile, quia non scimus nomina ipsorum. Deinde 70 per multam merdam luim'^ ad Augustam, et valde
- ° Stormglock. See Iiitrod. Pico della Mirandola and Ileuchlin
- Ricius : Paulus Ricius, a coii- were indebted. See Gesner, Biblioth.
verted Jqw. He was acquainted witli Univ., f. 539 ; and Wolfius, Biblioth.
Latin, Greek, and Hebrew^ and Hehr., ii. p. 10.58.
Erasmus eulogises his learning^ zeal, " Fettich. Cf. Theobaldus medicus,
aiid modest bearing (Erasm., E}))). ii. 9.
L. B., 1700, col. 191). R. was ap- ^^ viri terr. : Franz von Sickingen's
pointed physician to the Emperor men ; liis " war" with Worms lasted
Maximilian in 1518 ; lectured on from 1515 to 1518.
philosophy at Pavia, and translated ^* biba/ia: for " bibiliaj" trink-gelt.
a work on the Cabbala {The Gates '^ --l?/^j;.^te.- A.Vindelicoruni(Augs-
of Light) into Latin : to this work burg).
159
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROEUM VIRORUM
pluit. Et etia ita ninxit quod non potuimus aperire oculos nostros. Tunc dixit socius meus " o diabole, quomodo friget me. Si essem adhuc Coloniae, ego non
75 vellem ire ad Curiam Romanam." Et ego risi. In hospitio autem erat una pulchra virgo ; et de nocte fece- runt choream, et socius meus chorisavit etiam : Et dixi ei quod non deberet facere : Quia iam est Magister, et non deberet exercere istas levitates. Sed ipse non
80 curavit. Et dixit mihi : " Si illa virgo vellet mecum dormire per unam noctem Ego vellem de merda eius comedere unam libram." Et non potui ampHus audire, sed allegavi Ecclesiastes .1. : " Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas," et ivi dormitum. De mane venimus
85 ad Lanszpergk, ubi socius meus supposuit anciUam hospitis per noctem. Et de mane quando exivimus hospitium, tunc equus suus claudicavit, et dixi : " sup- ponatis ampHus ancilhis ; " sed unus faber iuvavit ei. Et postea venimus ad Schangaw, ubi emimus pulchra
90 specula. Deinde ivimus versus Ispruck. Tunc fuit ita mala via quod Equi non potuerunt ire ; et fuit ita profunda merda quod transivit Equis ad ventres superius. Et sic post multas tribulationes venimus Isprucken, ubi fuit dominus Imperator et eius vasalli
95 et Curiales et satrapae et mihtes et armigeri, habentes vestes sericas et cathenas aureas in colhbus suis. Et aUqui fuerunt terribiles cum barbis et birretis scissis mihtariter. Et timui comedere in hospitio, quia audivi unum dicentem : Si esset Imperator, ipse vellet suspen-
100 dere omnes Curtisanos, quia vadunt Romam et discunt nequitias. " Ibi etiam decipiunt se invicem pro beneficiis, et vexant ahos beneficiatos in Almania, et faciunt quod pecunia venit ad Romam de Almania : " Et sic vidi quod isti Curiales non curant deum neque homines : et ergo
""^ ninjcit : Hutten's journey to kirclie, the splendid cenotaph of Rome, 1515, took place late in the Maximilian. autumn. *^ satrap. Cf. : —
- ^ Lans. : Landsberg, on the Lech. " Cum simul in regem nuper satrap-
«'c/a«rfic.; "sie hat ein Hufeisen , asque Britannos
verloren"— "she has cast a shoe"— Ausus es infandum, perfide lauxe,
is still said of a srirl vvlio has lost her ,,.,^ neras.
honour Milton, In Frodittonein Boinbardtcam.
89 c, / o 1 ii, T i ** collibus : for collis.
^chang. : Schongau, on the Lech. ,,, ^^^^,^ .^^ ^^^ Rabelais, Panta-
- Isp. : where stands, in the Hof- grnel, iv. 53.
160
11.12] WILHELMUS LAMP
peribunt sicut pulvis a facie venti. Postea transivimus los per unum montem qui fuit plenus nive et est ita altus, quod credo quod transit ad medium Caeli. Et fuit ita magnum frigus super illum montem, quod putavi habere febrem, et cogitavi de stufa mea Coloniae. Dixit autem socius meus ; " O si haberem peUicium iio meum." Tunc dixit ei : " V^os semper queritis de frigiditate quando estis in Campo ; Et quando venitis ad hospitium, [tunc] vultis supponere. Non scitis quod coitus etiam infrigidat ? " Respondit ipse quod non videtur sibi quod Infrigidat, sed calefacit. Et debetis iis scire, JNlagister Ortvine, quod in vita mea non vidi unum hominem Ita luxuriosum : Semper quando intra- vimus unum hospitium, tunc primum verbum fuit ad famuhim hospitis : " O famule, non habemus ahquid pro genibus ? [Datulus meus stat michi ita dure ; ego 120 scio quod vellem cum eo nuces supra percutere.]" Deinde venimus ad Tridentum. Et parcat mihi dominus, et vos etiam non habeatis mihi pro malo, quod scribo vobis veritatem. Quia ibi etiam semel purgavi renes vadens occulte ad prostibuhim. Sed 125 postea de nocte oravi horas de beata virgine pro peccato illo. Fuerunt ibi multae gentes, volentes ire ad Veronam, et facere ibi mirabiha. Et dicebantur nobis grandia, quomodo Imperator veht captivare Venetiam. Et vidimus bombardas et aha multa quaha 130 non vidi in diebus vitae meae. Et una Sabbatorum venimus ad Veronam. Illa est pulchra Civitas habens muros, castra et fortahtia. Et vidimus ibi domum Ditheri de Bern, ubi ipse habitavit. Et ibi superavit et mortiiicavit multos gigantes qui bellaverunt cum 135 ipso. Postea volentes procedere, diu non potuimus propter metum Venetianorum, quia dicebatur quod essent in campo. Et fuit verum. Quia postea apud Mantuam audivimus eos bombardare, quia iacebant ante Brixiam. Et dixit socius meus : " Hic natus fuit 140
^"* monteni : the Breuner Pass. cally, into many Middle High German
^^* Trid. : Trient (Trent). poems, including the Nibehmgenlied.
^""^inth.: Dietrich von Bern, i.e. See H. Bradley, The Goths, 1887,
Theoderic the Great, King of the chaps. xv.-xix.
Goths as represented in German m ^^,;^-^,» . firescia.
legend : von Bern= oi Verona.
The amphitheatre at V. has been "" hic : i.e. at Andes, near Mantua,
ascribed to him. He euters, mythi- b.c. 70.
161 L
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
Virgilius." Respondi : " Quid curo illum paganum ? Nos volumus ire ad Carmilitas et videre Bapstita Matuanu qui in duplo est melior quam Virgilius, sicut ego audivi bene decies ab Ortvino." Et dixi ei, Quomodo
145 semel reprehendistis Donatum, quando dicit : " Doctis- simus poetarum fuit Virgilius vel optimus plebis." Et dixistis *' Sed esset Donatus hic, ego vellem ei in faciem dicere quod mentitur : quia Baptista Mantuanus est super Virgilium." Et quando venimus ad claustrum
150 Carmehtarum, dicebatur nobis quod Baptista Man- tuanus est mortuus. Tunc dixi *' Requiescat in pace." Deinde venimus ad Bononiam, ubi fuit Sanctissimus et etiam rex Franciae. Ibi audivimus missam Papalem, et accepimus multas indulgentias pro omnibus peccatis,
155 tam venialibus quam mortalibus, et fecimus confes- sionem. Tunc fuit ibi Reverendus pater frater lacobus de Hochstraten Magister noster et inquisitor haereticae pravitatis. Et ego videns eum dixi : " O pater reverende, quid excellentia vestra facit hic ? Ego putavi quod
ico estis Romae." Tunc dedi ei Ifas vestras et Ifas INIagistri nostri Arnoldi de Tungari : Tunc respondit mihi quod vult impetrare per regem Franciae, quod ReuchHn debet declarari haereticus : Et speculum Oculare debet comburi. Interrogavi autem eum : " In-
165 telUgit tunc etiam Rex istam materiam ? " Respondit : " Licet ipse non inteUigit per se, tamen Theologi in Parrisia instruxerunt eum. Et confessor suus XVil- hehnus Parvi, qui est vir zelosus, dixit ei in con- fessione quod non vult eum absolvere nisi vult facere
170 cum Papa quod Reuchlin declarabitur haereticus." Et gavisus sum valde et dixi " det dominus deus quod fiat secundum verba vestra." Et inveni ibi multos Curtisanos mihi notos, et invitavi eos ad hospitium.
"* Baptistam Mantuaimm : loannes philosophus insiguis^ poeta et orator
BaptistaHispaniolus(Spagnoli),1488- celeberrimus . . . Latinae linguae
1516, a native of Mantua ; atau early decus, et Graecae clarus iuterpres,
agehejoined theOrderof Carnielites, metro excellens et prosa." His
and rose to be the head of that body. works were published at Paris in 1513.
Baptista, who is said to have left ^** Bononiam : Bologna.
55,000 verses, is extravagautly ^** Sanct. et rex. This meeting of
eulogised by Trithemius (Scr. EccL, Leo X. and F^ranc^ois I. took place,
p. 387): "Vir in divinis scripturis however, in Dec. 1515, aud before
eruditissimus et in secularium liter- the death of Bapt. Mant.
arum scientia riulli secundus ... ^*^ Wilh. Parc. : i. 35, n.
162
II 13] THOMAS KLORBIUS
Deinde iviinus ad Florentiam, q est ita pulchra Civitas sicut est in mundo. Et postea Senam, ubi est uni- 175 versitas, sed sunt pauci Theologi. Postea sunt parvae Civitates, et una vocatur Monteflascon : Ibi bibimus optimum vinum, quale non bibi in vita mea : et inter- roga\i hospitem quomodo vocatur illud vinum ? Re- spondit quod est lachryma Christi. Tunc dixit socius 180 meus : " utinam Christus vellet etiam flere in patria nostra." Et sic bibimus bonam positionem. Et post duos dies intravimus Romam. Laudetur deus qui liberavit nos de multis tribulationibus quae sunt in tota via, necnon in mala Scarparia. Sed nunc in Curia is5 non intellexi ahqua nova, nisi quod vidi hic unum Animal bene ita magnum sicut quatuor equi, et habet rostrum ita longum sicut ego, et est mirabilis cteatura : Quado vidi, tunc dixi : " INIirabihs deus in operibus suis." Ego vellem dare imum florenum quod videre loo deberetis illam bestiam. Sed credo per deum quod satis bene expedivi me scribendo. Vos simihter faciatis, AHas nunquam vobis scribam. Et valete saniter. Datum raptim Romanae Curiae.
XIII
«E THOMAS KLORBIUS humilis Theologiae docto7' M. O?'tvi?io Salute?n
QUIA scriptum est " vexatio dat intellectum " : Ergo non debetis mihi habere pro malo quod modi- cum teneo vobis oppositum, cum Ego facio in bonam partem. Vos nuper scripsistis in uno dictamine de uno Magistro nostro, quod est valde doctus, et est
"' Monteflasc. Moiitefiascone, hovv- ^** ctea. : for creatura.
ever, ])roduces Muscat wine, and not ^ Klorlrius. AUusion unknown.
Lac. Christ., which is a product of ^ Theol. doct. Aii unusual title,
the sh)pes of Vesuvius. only niet with here and in Ep. ii. 18.
1*- posit. : for (4er. Satz ; not an * re.iatio. The \'ulgate has " et
error for jjotioneui. tantummodo sola vexatio intellectum
^^'^ Aninial: ii. 48, n. For a full dabitauditui," rendered in the Douay
accouut of this fanious elephant, see version, " vexation alone shall make
L. Pastor, Hist. of the Popes, vol. vii. you understand what you hear." Is.
p. 75 (1908). xxviii. 19. Cf. A. V.
163
EPISTOLAE OBSCUEORUM \ IRORUM
Doctor multorum annorum, et est profundus Scotista, et est valde cursivus in libris Sententiarum. Etiu scit
10 mentetenus totum librum Doctoris sancti de Ente et Essentia. Et Fortalitium fidei est ei sicut Pater noster ; et per artem memorativam Impressit sibi formalitates Scoti sicut ceram. Et ultimo scribitis quod est membrum decem universitatum. Parcatis
15 mihi, vos estis incongruus. Quia unum menbru non potest habere plura corpora : sed per contrarium unum corpus bene habet plura membra. Quia corpus humanum habet Caput, pedes, manus, brachia, ven- trem, priapum, vel vulvam si est mulier. Et pes
20 est membrum hominis, et caput est membrum hominis etc. Et totum Corpus hominis habet sub se illa membra, et illa membra subsunt huic Corpori, sicut species suo generi. Sed nulhim istoruni membrorum habet sub se plura Corpora.
25 Sed si velitis dicere quod tahs Magister noster est Corpus decem universitatum, iterum ego vellem repre- hendere vos. Quia ibi putaret ahquis, quod decem Universitates essent membra ilHus magistri nostri, et quod ipse constaret ex decem universitatibus ; quo
30 posito fuerit scandalum iUis X universitatibus et ipe minorarentur exinde : cum unus homo (quia etiam magistri nostri, sicut scitis, sunt homines) diceretur esse dignior tot universitatibus : quod est Casus impos- sibihs, quia etiam Doctor sanctus non est plus quam X
35 Universitates.
Quomodo ergo volumus emendare, quod dicimus recte ? Advertatis, quia est quaestio multum difficihs, Et quamvis pertinet ad grammaticaha, tamen etiam plures Magistri nostri non sciunt.
- cursiuiis, Not in the vocabularies Saracenos, Aliosque christiane fidei
in this sense, but Du C'ange gives inimicos."
" Cursiva Italicana," s.v. "Scriptura." ^^ form. Scoti. Qiiestiones Miscell.
Cf. ii. 5o. rfe Formalitatitms , attributed to the
^ LiL Seni. See i. 11, «. "Subtle Doctor." See Wadding's
,0 ri . ^ . rn . . edn. of Duns Scotus, vol. iii., 1639.
^" iJoct. sanct. : t.e. Lhomns Aumnas. 13 .„^„ . . „„ '; ui,',i„„ e^^
TT rn A A j 17 j ^ Ti ,■ 1 1 ceram : an amusing blunuer ror
His Jractatus de Lnte et Lssentia liad cerae
been printed several times before i^ '^ecem n7iiv. Cf. i. 11, «.
"^ ^^ inco7igrnus. " Oratio . . . in-
" Fort. fid. See i. 22, n. By cougrua est quae non est conformis
Alphonsus a Spina, Bp. of Orense. est regulis nec figuris permissivis."
" Fortalicium fidei coutra iudeos, neg. cong. etfig. construct. (1505).
164
11.14] OTHO HEMERLIN
40
Ille ergo qiii est inmatriculatus in decem universita-
tibus, etiam ad tempus studuit in eis, audiens lectiones,
et servans statuta, facto etiam et servato juramento,
exhibens honorem JVIagistris et doctoribus, potest
•dicere : " Ego sum membra decem Universitatum," et
non " membrum." ^y
Et non est Oratio incongrua, quamvis sit ibi dis- conientia in numero. Quia fit ibi appositio, sicut in Virgiho :
" Formosum pastor Coridon ardebat Alexem, Delitias domini." 50
Quia ibi etiam Alexis, qui est solum unus rusticus, dicitur esse delitiae per Appositione.
Et credatis mihi quod est una subtilitas valde nota- bilis. Ego didici quando steti Leuoniae, et nondum fui bacularius, quando haec materia fuit disputata per quator '>^ dies. Non habeatis pro indignatione, quia ex bono scripsi vobis et Valete.
Datum CoNFLUENTIAE.
XIV
€C J/. OTHO HEMERLIN Magistro Ortvhio Gratlo
SALUTIS maximam Copiam. Venerabilis JNIagister, dominatio vestra magnam gratiam fecit mihi mit- tendo illum notabilem librum lohannis PfefFerkorn, 5 qui intitulatur " Defensio lohannis PfefFerkorn contra famosas." Ego non possum admirari satis, quod sic notabiliter et excellenter ille vir reprehendit lohannem Reuchlin. Et dixi quando legi : " Iste Reuchhn deberet libenter esse mortuus." Sed plabanus quidam existens bonus Reuchlinista, semper opponit mihi Arguens a maiori ad minus. Et heri ante vesperas quando ivi secum spaciatum, haec verba exiverunt ab ore suo : '* Si Tlieologi non obtinuerunt contra Reuchhn in Almania, multo minus obtinebunt in Curia Romana, quia in lo ItaHa sunt doctissimi viri, et statim intelligent stul-
- Vlrg.: Eclog. ii. 1. * Hemerlin. See ii. 70.
- l.cH. : for Loraniue. " plab. Sic, iu [D].
165
10
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
titiam et Vanitate Theologorum, Quia Romae non curantur tales frascariae." Et etiam dixit : " Quale signum est hoc ? quod Theologi non audent nominibus
20 propriis scribere contra lohannem Reuchlin et cohae- rentes, sed subordinant unum bufonem qui neque honorem neque bona habet perdere, et huic adscribunt libros ? " Tunc respondi ego : " Pfefferkorn quidem composuit materiam, sed M. Or. postea latinisavit."
25 Dixit plebanus : " Bene scio quod Ortvinus copusuit hoc latinum, quia statim cognovi stilum suum ; etiam scio quod ipse Ortvinus est de bona progenie, sciHcet sacerdotah. Sed dicatis mihi unum : A^os habetis fateri quod Pfefferkorn non scit Alphabetum latinum. Et si
30 non scit alphabetum, multo nimis [minus] scit legere. Et si non scit legere, multo minus scit intelligere. Et si non inteUigere, multo minus scit scribere et com- ponere. Et si non scit legere neque inteUigere neque scribere, multo minus scit disputare de istis quaestioni-
35 bus quas nemo potest sapere nisi sit profundissimus htteratus. Quomodo ergo est possibile quod ipse com- posuit hanc materiam vel latine vel teutonice vel hebraice ? Respondi quod videtur mihi quod Pfeffer- korn habet ita illuminatum Intellectu : et ita saepe
40 audivit istam materiam quod adiuvante deo et ex instinctu spiritussancti bene potest disputare desuper. Et causa illa est ita faciUs, quod Reuchhn posset vinci in ea etiam per uxorem Pfefferkorns." Dixit plebanus : " Verum est hoc. Quia credo quod uxorem lohannis
45 Pfefferkorn non vincerent quinque luvenes quadrati rustici ex Westphaha, multo minus lohannes Reuchhn, qui est senex et debiHs et per Consequens impotens, poterit eam vincere. Sed miror quod Sanctissimus dominus Papa et etiam Imperator noster permittunt
50 tanta scandala fieri per istum ludaicum bufonem, quod debet stare in loco sacro et praedicare populo et dare benedictionem. Et facere taha, quae si faceret unus laycus qui fuisset semper Christianus, tamen nihil boni deberemus suspicari de Eo : multo minus de ludaeo
^* materutitt : i.e. tlie Beschjirmung '^^ in loco mcr. 1'. in his Uefemxo
Johanneif Ffejferkorn, 1516. pleads that lie d'n\ iiot preach "poiiti-
^* co/tn. : for com]>omit. ficaliter," btit nierely cxhorted the
" per 7i.r. This boast occurs in the ./ews, at Fnuikfort, .«tanding outside
Vefemio. the church.
16G
II 14J OTHO HEMERLIN
baptizato, qui noii debet probari quod fuerit bonus ds Christianus, nisi post mortem. Et si non deberent hoc pati, multo minus deberent pati quod ipse intromit- teret se in disputationes Doctissimorum virorum : Et scandalizaret honestissimos viros. Ipsi deberet suspendi cum Ubris et scandalis suis, sicut diu meruit." Respondi 6o quod praedicatio lohannis Pfeffercorn non fuit ponti- ficaUs, sed fuit laycalis et simplex instructio. Sed de libris eius manifestum est quod ipse defendit se contra lohannem Reuchhn qui parvipendit eum. Et ipse in Speculo suo manuali corrigit iniustitiam lohannis 65 Reuchlin. Et quod sit bonus Christianus praesumitur ex hoc quod si non cogitaret semper manere Chris- tianus, ipse non esset ita iratus super ludaeos, et faceret eis tanta mala." Dixit plebanus " Scribere seu Com- ponere hbros est una magna res, et non competit nisi 70 magnis et Doctis Viris qui sunt altissime graduati, multo minus lohanni Pfefferkorn qui est Ideota: et Ergo Theologi Colonienses nunquam debuissent praeten- dere quod vellent hominibus persuadere quod Pfeffer- korn componit taha. Sed si ego essem Imperator, Ego 75 vellem Pfeflerkorn et Hochstrat suspendere ad unum patibulum." Respondi : " Quid fecit M. nr laco. de Hochstraten ? Tamen est bonus Imperialis, quod ego volo probare per Epistolam suam ad Imperatorem, in qua sic scribit : ' Valeat et in aeternum gaudeat Caesaria so Ma. quam deus optimus maximusque suae Ecclesiae conservare dignetur per miHa tempora felicem.' " Dixit plebanus : " ego vidi X malefactores mortificari, et nuUus fuit ita dignus mortis sicut Hochstrat, qui tam bonum et innocentem virum sic iniuste tribulat, et 85 adhuc petit etiam adiutorium a Rege Franciae qui est publicus inimicus Imperii, contra lohannem Reuchlin ; quod est crimen laesae maiestatis. Et super hoc Romae lamentavit." Respondi quod Hochstrat facit taha zelo fidei, ei fides maior est quam imperator, et Theologi 9o non curant superioritatem saecularem. Tunc plebanus abscessit dicens : " O Innocentissime Reuchlin, debes tu sic tractari a pessimis et nequitiosissimis tribula-
^* Ipsi: for ipse. " Epist. : Oct. 9, 1510. Quoted in
•* Spec. Man. : the Handt-Spiegel was the Defensio. published in Ap. 1611.
167
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
toribus ? Deus te conservet. Sed si uUa est iusticia,
95 tu non potes superari in ista causa. Ergo possum
dicere : ' zelabunt gentes et nihil adversum te pote-
runt.' " Respondi occulte : " Fiant dies eius pauci, et
Episcopatum eius accipiat alter." Per deum, domine
Ortvine, nos habemus multas tribulationes. Vellem
100 quod ista causa esset expedita : et ergo scribatis mihi
tamen quomodo stat in Curia Romana, et valeatis per
tot annos quot vixit Matusalem.
Datum Vratislavia.
XV
€E M. PETRUS STEYNHART 3fagistro
Ortvino Gi^atio Salutem
MULTUM vellem vobis scribere, domine Ortvine, de novitatibus hincinde et bellis et guerris et
5 etiam de Causa lohannis Reuchlin : Sed iam sum ita iratus quod non possum sedere prae ira : et ergo non possum scribere talia, quia Cor palpat mihi quasi unus percuteret cum pugno, quia est hic unus Ahnanus de partibus Misnensium, et ipse promisit mihi dare unum
10 vocabularium luris : et nunc non vult dare, et saepe
monui eum amicabihter, sed non iuvat. Et video quod
praetendit me vexare. Sed quia scitis quod omne
promissum cadit in debitum, propterea feci eum citare.
Tunc hodie scripsit mihi unam litteram vitupera-
15 tivam et scandaUsavit me quasi bufonem. Ergo sum ita iratus quod nescio quid debeo facere. Sed volo ire ad gubernatorem et impetrare unum mandatum de capiendo, quia iste socius est mihi suspectus de fuga. Et quando non mittit mihi statim Hbrum, tunc afFeram
20 famulos pariselli ad captivandum eum, et mittere in
^"^ fiant: Psal. cviii. 8. during tlie XVth aud XVItli Cents.
- hellis, &c. : i.e. Maximiliairs cam- It may be described as a glossary of
paign in Northern Italy. lejral technical terins.
^° Vocab.^&c. A work of uncertain ^* vifup. Not elsewhere met with,
authorship, usually cited as Vocahu- except in Ep. ii. 53.
laritis Jurifi utriusqne. Its popularity ^ pariselli. Not elsewhere met with.
may be estimated from the fact that Du (ange has: Bargellus, livtor ;
6ome forty editions were published liarigellus, apparitor.
168
II 15J PETliUS STEYNHART
praesuna: et si tunc habebit unam strapecordam vel duas, capiat sibi : Quia volo eum docere quomodo debet unum circumducere, et non tenere promissum. Et credatis mihi firmiter quod volo rectificare illum socium : vel est damnum quod vivo. Quia oportet me habere 25 talem librum, quia iam pono studium meum in ordine, et emi Ubros in lure et in ahis, vadens cotidie quattuor horas ad sapietia, audiendo instituta, et infortiatum, et etiam in iure Canonico, et Regulas cancellariae ; et inveni hic unum Hbrum multum Practicu : et est 30 excellens, et ex eo disco multa : ego credo quod in Ahnania non habetis eum : ipse est mirabilis et est valde declarativus, et intitulatur " Casus longi super institutis " et practicat pulcherrimas materias, et ita profunde declarat instituta : quod saepe dividit unum 35 Paragraphum in .X. partes, et procedit per modum dialogi, et est etiam quantum ad latinitatem valde elegans. Non possum vobis scribere quantum est utile habere talem Hbrum. Sed non debetis dicere luristis in Colonia qui sunt fautores lo. Reuchlin : quia si 40 haberent illum Hbrum, magis subtihter possent practi- care. Ego bene scio quod non habetis Hbenter quod studeo in lure, quia saepe dixistis mihi quod debeo studere in Theologia, quae beatificat et est de maiori merito, quam iUa lura q faciunt curvum rectum et rec- 45
'^^ proesiinam : " T^rison." L. Diefen- Tlie entire Digest consists of fifty
bachj Gloss. Lat.-Germ., gives " Pri- books. sona = prisiona = prigiona (Ital.)." ^* Reg. canc: a collectioii of papal
^^ strapec. : an adaptation of the mandates, regulations, ordinances,
Italian " strappata di corda " ; the itc. nxese were reissued and con-
punisliment of the strappado consist- lirmed by successive Popes, and
ing in raising the victim to a height, numerous editions had appeared be-
and letting liim fall suddenly so as fore 1517.
to suffer a violent jerk from the sus- " ^'«•s«*/onjrJ;perhapsby Wilhelm,
peuding rope. third son of Francesco Accorso
^^ saplent. See ii. 32, n. (Accursius). He was born in 124G,
^* Instit. : the Institutes ofJustinian. and ended his days as Professor of
The introductory part of tbe Corpus Jurisprudence at Bologna. Maurus
Juris Civilis, tlie other portions being Sartius, De clar. archigyvinasii Bon-
ihe lHgest^the Code,»\\i\.W\Q Xovellae. onicnsis pro/ess., Bonon., 17B9, I. i.
^* Infort. : a portion of tbe p. 188. Digest, comprising Books XXIV. (3)- ^^ profunde. Stintzing, Gesch. der
XXXX^^III., and coming betvveen the popii/iire7i Lit. des rihti. kanon. R.,
Digestuin Vetus and the Digestuin points out tbat in the Casus tlie
Xocuin. This division is quite arbit- treatment of the subject is so super-
rary, and seems due to tlie mere ficial (not to say silly) that the title
accident of an ancient copy having of this trivial production is quite
been split at the points indicated. misleading.
169
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROIiUM YIRORU^M
tiim ciiivum. Et allegastis mihi Richardum in uno passu. Attamen dico vobis quod oportet me facere. Quia scientia luris est de pane hicrando. Unde versus —
50 " Dat (ialienus opes et saiictio lustiniaiii :
Ex aliis paleas, ex istis collige grana."
Et scitis bene qiiod ahas sum pauper, et mater mea scripsit mihi quod debeo cogitare ad habendum victum et amictum. Quia amphus non vult mittere mihi sr. pecuniam : et sic est per deum. Sed iam iterum cogito de isto socio qui fecit nie iratum. \^alete cordiahter.
Datum KoMAK.
XVI
•E 31. lOHANNES PILEATORIS
31. Ortvino Qratio
10
8
1 ALUTES vobis plures
in Polonia
Quam sunt
fures, in Bohemia haeretici, Et.^ in terra Suitensium rustici, Et/ in ItaHa Scorpiones, in Hispania lenones, in Ungariji pediculi, in Parrisia articuh,
" Richurduin : Ricliardnsde Media-
villa, ij'. Hichard .Middletoii, fi. 1280,
a Franciscaii niDiik, sujiposed to liave
heeii borii either at Middleton Stoney
(Oxt'.) or at Middletou Clieyney
(Xorthants). Ile rose to emiuence
iu canon law and theolo^y, and
was perliaps tlie teacher of Duns
SScotus. Middleton's cliief work was
a Coinnientary on the Sentences of
Peter Loinhard, which appeared iu
niaiiy editions. (D. N. li.)
- r/c jxine, itc. " Theologia (juae
est aniiue pabuluni, leges quae sunt egenis reinedium." Vorali. Jnrix itfriutiqjie, s.v. Ars, whence also the succeeding verses. Cf. iT'n. Syl. Piccol., Oj>. Oniit., Ba.sel, 1.515, p. 6lJ).
jNIeretrices in Bam-
berga, artifices in Nurm-
berga, in Praga ludaei, Coloniae Pharisaei, Clerici in HerbipoH, naves in NeapoH, Busto ducis acufices, Franckfordiae pelH-
fices,
"Only Justinian and Ilippocrates fill the purse."
" (Idlifimx: for (liilfiiii.s. /'i/riif. : thc writer of ii. 4.
' hncret. 'i'he Hohemian Hretliren, or UuiUis Fratrum, with views anti- cipating those of tlie Quakers, had l»een detinitely orgaiiised in 1407, and by the begiiniing of the XVIth Cent. possessed iiearly 400 churclies. See C. K. -Maurice, Itohciiiia, 18!)t), chap. xiii.
- llcrhiji: ^\'urzburg.
'" lcwi. In [K] and later edd. '• leones."
" /y;/.v/. dnc: 's Ilertogenbosch (Bois-le-Duc), N. Hrabant.
'^ tirtir. : referriug to the"articuli" froin the Aiiijciis/iiriicl condemned i»y tiie Univ. of I'.
170
II. 16J
I0HANNE8 P1LEAT0RI8
/in Saxonia potatores,
in Venetia Mercatores,
Romae Curtisani,
in Almania Cappellani,
Et( in Frisia Caballi,
in terra Franciae vasalli, pisces in Marchia,
sues in Pomerania, oves in terra Angliae, Vboves in regno daciae.
Et/
^* FruHconia : Hutteu'.snativecouii-
try.
^* Florent. The evil reputation of F. is reflected in tlie wordsflorenfinare •AwAJiorenzer. See Grlmm, Deutsches Witrterhuch, Leipsic, 1861.
- ' Frisia : Friesland.
'* AuffUht. : Augsburg.
" Wettr,: thedistrict of Wetterau.
'^ Daciae : Hungary.
15
nobiles in Franconia,
nautae in Selandia, Sodamitici Florentiae, ex ordine praedica-
torum indulgentiae, textores Augustae. per Estatem locustae, 20 Columbae in AVet-
trania, caules in Bavaria, alleces in Flandria, sacci in Turingia, 25
Id est infinitas Salutes vobis opto, Venerabilis
INIagister, quia estis mihi ita charus sicut est possibile
in caritate non ficta. Sed possetis dicere quod fingo
illam dilectionem, quia non creditis quod est ita cor-
dialis : igitur non volo multum scribere de illa. Unde 30
versus " Laus proprio sordet in ore," Teutonice
" Eygen lob stinckt geren." Sed in signum dilec-
tionis mitto vobis hic duo munera, sciHcet unum Pater
noster factum de cornu bufli, et tetigit sepulchrum
Sanctorum Petri et Pauli et multas alias reliquias 35
Romae. Et cum hoc feci tres missas superius legi. Et
dicunt quod valet contra latrones et omnes inter-
fectoriales nequitias, quando aliquis orat Rosarium in
eo. Secundo mitto vobis unam rem q est ligata in
paniculo, et habet virtutes contra serpentes, quia vidi 40
experimentum ; et quandocunque (deus custodiat)
mordet vos unus serpens, tunc non nocet vobis : ego
dedi unum Carhnum pro. Fuit hic unus in Campo
florae qui facit mirabilia per virtutem sancti Pauli, et
habuit multum de serpentibus terribiliter formatis, 45
^* Fater no.st. : specirtcally one of
the larger beads in a rosary, dividing
decads of smaller ones. Here, the
whole rosary.
" bufli. Not elsewhere found.
" interfect. Not elsewhere found.
^^ Rosar. : the series of devotions iu which the "beads" are used.
" cnrl. See ii. 26, n.
171
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
ita quod est mirabile ad videndum. Ipse tangit eos et non nocet ei. Sed quando mordet unum alium, tunc ipse liberat eum per talem virtutem, dans homini iliam materiam sic ligatam ; et dicunt quod est de illa pro-
50 genie, cui sanctus Paulus concessit talem virtutem. Quia quando sanctus Paulus ambulavit in terris, tunc semel fuit hospitatus ab uno viro qui tractavit eum cum summa reverentia, et faciens ei bonani Companiam praebendo comedere et bibere et bona lectisternia, et
55 de mane quaesivit eum " O bone domine, non habeatis mihi pro malo : ego video quod estis unus magnus vir, et habetis specialem gratiam a deo. Et non dubito quod estis sanctus, quia heri vidi vos facere miracula. Rogo dicatis mihi quis estis ? " Respondit ei sanctus Paukis :
Go "ego sum Paulus Christi apostolus." Tunc ille vir cecidit in genua sua dicens : '* O sancte Paule, parcatis mihi, quia nescivi quis estis : et ergo rogo vos velitis deum orare pro peccatis meis, et velitis mihi dare pro valedictione unam specialem gratiam propter deum."
65 Dixit ei sanctus Paulus : " Fides tua salvum te fecit," et dedit ei talem gratiam, et omnibus successoribus suis, quod possunt sanare homines qui sunt veneficati a serpentibus. Et iste vir qui dedit mihi hoc, est de tali progenie, sicut multotiens probavit. Ergo accipiatis
70 pro bono. Et scribite mihi novaha de guerris ; et mittatis me scire an ille lurista lohannes Reuchhn composuit adhuc aha contra vos, quia possibile est quod fecit propter audatiam suam, quamvis nullis vestris praecedentibus demeritis. Sed spero quod etiam bene
75 confundetis eum. Quia hic dominus M. N. Hochstrat dixit mihi quod causa sua bene stat, et quod debeo hoc vobis scribere. Valete Romae datum.
- ' venef. Not elsewliere found.
172
XVII
C FRADERICUS GLANTZ
31. Oiivino Qratio
BALUTIS Ciimulum. Honorabilis vir, si non scitis prius, tunc volo vobis certificare nova, quod fui hic in guerra cum quodam Cantore, qui putat se esse 5 magnum dominum, sed est adhuc ita bene pauper socius sicut ego et ahi. Nos bibimus in simul, et ipse dixit quod portasset mihi unum totum cantarum Cerevisiae : et ego dixi quod non. Et ita me deus iuvet quod non vidi quod bibit. lo
Tunc dixi : " Domine Cantor, Ego non vidi quod bibistis ; si vidissem, tunc Hbenter vellem respondere vobis, Quia adhuc sum Imperterritus contra unum Cantarum Cerevisiae." Tunc iuravit quod portasset mihi, et dixit quod debeo bibere. Respondi : " Portate is mihi unum, et faciani vobis aequu." Tunc dixit quod portasset mihi et ergo essem ei satisfacere obstrictus. Respondi quod non vidi, et posito casu quod vidissem, tamen non tenerer ei, et de nullo iure potest me cogere ad bibendum, quando non volo dixit ille, *' Imo possum 20 vos cogere." Respondi : " Ubi hoc legistis ? " Dixit, " in l. Vinum .ff. Si certum petatur. Respondi, " Vos allegatis me lura, Ego non sum iurista, sed volo inter- rogare desuper." Et sic solvi zecham et recessi. Et dixit ipse quod nunquam in vita sua mihi portare 25 ahquid. Respondi : " dimittatis." Sic est factum, Magister Ortvine, Vos etiam per Contrarium scribite mihi novaha Et valete tam diu donec unus passer ponderat centum hbras.
Datum MoNASTERii. 30
^ Frad. : thus in [C] and [D], but " /. 17«., Scc. : L. 22, D. de rebus
perhaps a misprint. creditis si certum petatur xii. 1.
173
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
XVIII
•E F. SIMON WORST sacrae Theologiae doctor M. Oi^tvino Gr. Salu.
POSTQUA^l venit huc defensio lohannis PfefFer- korn eontra famosas quam composuit in latino,
5 semper omni die audimus hic nova : Unus dicit sic, aUus sic; Unus est pro eo, alius pro Reuchlin ; Unus defendit eum, ahus culpat. Et est magnum certamen, et volunt invicem percutere se. Si deberem vobis scribere Omnes guerras, q sunt de hoc libro, Olympiae me tempus sit
10 defecturum. Sed traseunte dicam pauca. Simphciter plures dicunt, et communiter saeculares Magistri et presbiteri et fratres de ordine minorum, quod non est possibile quod PfefFerkorn composuit istum hbrum ; Quia nunquam didicit unum verbum latinum. Re-
15 spondeo quod haec obiectio nihil valet, hcet magnos etiam viros in hunc usque diem perverterit, et male : quia lo. Pfef., q secum fert Calamare et atramentarium, ea potest annotare quae audit, vel in sermonibus pub- hcis, vel in conventicuhs, vel quando studentes et
20 fratres praedicatores veniunt in domum suam, vel quando ipse vadit ad balneum. Sancte deus, quot praedicationes intra .XII. annos audivit ? Quot ad- monitiones ? Quot sanctorum patrum autoritates ? Quas ipse vel per seipsum retinere aut uxori suae
25 dicere potuit, vel ad parietem scribere, vel ad tabulam suam ponere. Et dixi etiam nuper quod lo. PfefFer- korn de seipso profitetur (citra iactantiam tamen), quod omnia illa q in bibha vel in sacris Evangehis habentur, per seipsum aUegare potest ad omne propositum, sive
30 mahim sive bonum, sive ludaice sive Almanice. Et etiam scit mentetenus omnia Evangeha q per totum annum exponuntur, et potest ea recitare ad unguem, quod non possunt facere isti luristae et poetae. Etiam habet fihum nomine Laurentium, ingenuum profecto
- This Ep. is based almost eiitirely ^" trm. : for transeunter.
011 passages from Pfefferkorn's De- " dce nial. s. hon. P. does not add
fensio, these words.
174
11.19] CUNKADUS UNCKEBUNCK
adolescentem, qui studuit ita quod est pallidus. Sed 35 ego niiror quod permittit eum studere in illis diabolicis poetis : ipse recolligit patri suo sententias Oratorum et poetarum tum ex suo tum praeceptorum suorum ore, ad omnem materiam et omne propositum : et scit alle- gare Hugonem. Et ipse lo. PfefFerkorn intelligit ^o multa ex tam ingenuo adolescente. Ita ut quae ipse indoctus facere non potest, filius eius perficiet. Doleant igitur omnes qui faise circumtulerunt, quod ipse non composuit suos libros, sed doctores et INIagistri in Colonia componunt eos : Erubescat quoque et in 45 Aeternum ingemiscat lo. Reuchlin, qui etiam dicit quod lo. pfefFer. non composuit suum manuale spec- ulum, de quo saepe apud doctos fuit contentio, quia tres viri dederunt ei illas Autoritates quas ibi allegavit. Tunc unus dixit : " Qui sunt illi tres viri ? " Respondi 50 quod nescio. Sed credo quod sunt illi tres viri, qui apparuerunt Abraam, ut legitur in Genesi. Et quando dico talis, tunc subsannant me, vexantes sicut scutonem. Ego vellem quod diabolus percuteret eos plaga magna, sicut scribitur in libro lob, quem pronunc in monasterio 55 nostro legimus ad mensem. Dicatis I. p., quod habeat patientiam, quia spero quod semel dominus deus faciet miraculum, et salutate eum nomine meo. Etiam de- betis mihi salutare uxorem eius sicut bene scitis : sed occulte. Et Va. Da. raptu non valde speculative 60 Antuerpie.
XIX
•L CUNRADUS UNCKEBUNCK M. Ortvmo
MIRABILE est, venerabilis domine Magister, quod parentes mei non mittunt mihi pecuniam, et tamen sciunt quod non habeo unum obulum, et
^'^ Hngo. Hugode Folieto. P. says, furuislied him by tlie tliree members
" . . . allegavit H., quem dixisse of the commissiou appoiuted by Max.
affirmabatquod iuter abusiones hujus to report on the opiuions. See S, A.
saeculi sola major est senis obsti- Hirsch, A Book ofEssaifs, 1905, p. 101.
uatio." Migne, vol. clxxvi. c. 1064. The three named by him beiug
Angelus de Besutio, Pius Hieron.
" tres viri. P. declared that the Baldung, and Greg. Reisch.
quotations in the Handspiegel were *^ ftenesi: xviii 2.
175
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
5 scripsi eis bene viginti Ifas. Si non volunt mittere mihi pecuniam, tunc per deum ego volo aliter facere. Et credatis mihi quod nuper habui in voluntate, quod volui me obligare sub paenis Camere accomodando duos florenos Renenses aut tres, et redire in patriam,
10 et dicere eis opinionem meam, ita grosse quod deberent tangere. Diabole, credunt quod sum natus super arborem, vel debeo comedere fenum sicut animal ? diabolus auferat me si habui unum Carhnum in sex mensibus : et semper nihil comedo nisi salatum et
15 cepe et allium, et aHquando unum menestrum de fabis vel herbis vel spinaciam more ItaHco. Ego bene scio quod fratres mei in patria comedunt pisces et aves et bona fercula, et non cogitant super me ; sed ego non volo diutius pati, et debetis ipsis dicere :
20 tunc ego etiam volo diligenter hic instare apud domi- num meum, quod promovebit negocium vestrum sicut scripsistis mihi. Et rogo vos, quando parentes mei dabunt pecuniam, quod veHtis mihi mittere. Et cum hoc mittatis mihi unum frustru de Creta, quia in tota
25 Roma non habent bonam cretam, etiam si velHtis dare unum florenum pro ea : sed sicut scitis, oportet habere cretam, quia sum logicus : et quando volo facere syllogismum, tunc non habeo atramentum semper. Etiam est fastidiosum facere cum atramento : et
30 mittatis mihi Hgas teutonicas ad Hgandum caHgas, quia faciunt ita malas Hgas in ItaHa quod est mira- bile. Mitto vobis hic unam veronicam q tetigit capita sanctorum Pe. et pau. et multas aHas reHquias ; et mitto vobis uniim agnus dei ; et debetis mihi salutare
35 dominum Valentinum de Gelterszheim, magistrum nostrum colendissimum. Per deum ego nunquam ita potuissem dicere logicam si non stetissem in bursa sua ; quia ipse est valde declarativus, et supposita
® Caniere : perliaps for cavieriae of St. \'erouica, whicli bore a miracu-
{camiariae) or ('ainbiac. lous image of Chrisfs face. Cf. : —
^Uangere: not merely " verbera ct ^ vernicle had he sewed on his linguae." Hor., Od., lii. 12, 3. cappe."
^^arborem: sicut poma." See Chawcer, FroL Cant. Tales.
i. 3.
',-,,,,,..,„ ^* aqii. dei: a cake of wax, blessed
Carl. See n. 16, n. ,^y ^j^^ p^p^^^ ^^^^ stamped with a
" vell. : for velitis. figure of the Lamb.
^" reronic.: a copy of the kerchief '^ Valent. See i. 7, »•
176
II 20] MARQUARDU8 FOTZENHUT
cito capiunt quando ipse legit. Valete plurime cum sanitate mentis et corporis. 40
Datum RoMANAE CuurAE.
XX
iE M. MARQUARDUS FOTZENHUT
M. Ortvino Gi-atio
Qj^ALUTEM cum servitute amicabili. Venerabilis fO domine Magister. Sicut scribitis mihi quod debeo notilicare vobis de Magistro nostro lacobo de Hoch- 5 straten : Scitote quod luristae faciunt ei magnam instantiam. Sed sicut ego audivi, diabolus ofundt eos. Quia multi Cardinales sunt pro vobis, et prae- cipue Cardinahs s. Crucis, qui debet fieri papa quando ille Papa moritur. Et audivi quod dixit " Ego volo 10 defendere illum notabilem Theologum lacobum de alta platea contra ReuchHn, et si omnes luristae in toto mundo starent pro eo." Sicut etiam fecit, cum habuit semel articulos contra Petrum Ravennatem, qui etiam fuerunt multum haereticales. Et debetis i& pro certo habere, domine Ortvine, quod ille CardinaHs adhuc confundet omnes iuristas, quia est bonus pro Theologis. Et est etiam bonus pro rege Franciae et Universitate Parrhisiensi. Antiquus Rex Franciae voluit ipsum facere Papam. Etiam aHas habetis bonam 20 causam. Cum hoc M. N. lacobus dedit ante octo dies unam pinguem propinam uni referendario cuiusdam CardinaHs quem non volo nominare, qui debet eum promovere apud Reverendissimum sicut bene scit. Fuit hic rumor, quod Episcopus Colonien est mortuus, 25^ et Comes de nova Aquila est electus in novum epis- copum. Si est verum, tunc volo dicere quod Canonici
^ i^o^;re?i. ; cunui pileus. See Grimm, on ninemonicSj FoenLv Divini Petri
W/irterlnich, s.v. liavennatis menioriae niagistri, \'enet,
® *«m'<. CVmcis ; Bernardino Carava- 1491, and of a compeudium of the
jal, Bp. of Ostia. To him Hoog^straten civil law.
addressed his Defensio scholastka i^ Ant. Re.v : hom^^ll. pnncipuiii Atmamae . . . 1511. hee
Geiger, J. lieuchlin, p. 305, 1871. "' Episc. Col. : Philip von Dhauu-
^* Petr. Eav. : Fetrus Tommai, Eberstein, oh. 1515 ; succeeded by
Franciscan, author of a popular book Hermaun, Graf vou Wied.
177 M
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROEUM VIRORUM
Colonien sunt magni stulti, quia Poeta et Episcopus proprie sunt duo Contradictoria. Etiam non esset
30 bonum pro causa fidei, quia talis Comes est magnus fautor lohannis R. Quia dixit mihi quidam Curtis- anus, quod quando ex Colonia ivit ad Italiam, tunc ipse dedit ei unam Epistolam, quam portavit lo. ReuchHn ; et audivi ab aliis quod habet societatem
35 cum multis poetis et novis Theologis sicut est Erasmus Roterdamus. Quando ego fui in Herbipoli, tunc fuit unus poeta qui vocatur Ulricus Hutenus qui semper ridet et vexat Thologos et Magistros artium : ipse dixit in mensa in uno hospitio ad quendam alium
40 nobiUtarem, quod in illo die scripsit unam Iram ad illum Comitem. Tunc respondit ille nobiUtaris : " quid tamen scribitis, quando sic scribitis ad invicem ? " Re- spondit ille, quod scripsit ei, quod debet facere magnam diligentiam in causa fidei, et debet laborare pro Reuch-
45 lin contra Theologos, ne comburant Speculum oculare ; et quod multum commendavit ei lohannem Reuchhn, et dixit quod amat lo. R. tanquam patrem suum. Et ego tacui, ne notaret quod sum fautor vester. Et propterea dico vobis, quod non est bonum si iste debet
50 esse episcopus. Sed spero quod non est verum. Ergo scribatis mihi veritatem et Valete a planta pedis usque ad verticem capitis. Sicut dicit Esaias.
Datum in Urbe Roma.
XXI
«: lOHANNES HOLCOT M. Ortvino G.
\ JNIICAEILITATEM pro salute. Excellens vir, irJL accepi Iram vestram quam compilastis in Colo. et notetis quod tahs Ira fuit compilata in die s. Margerethae, 5 et ego accepi eam in die s. Bartholo. ; et quando accepi eam, tunc dixi " O diabole, ista Ifa diu est scripta, et dominus Ortvinus irascabitur mihi et potest dicere ' Quam iste est superbus, et non respondet mihi ! ' "
^^ Thol. Sir, iii [D]. English Dominican, ob. 1349 ; his
- ^ ne conih. But tlie Aiufennpiefjel commentary on Prov.^ Cant., &c.,
had been burnt P^eb. 10, 1514. appeared in many edd. (D. N. B.) " Esaias: Is. i. 0. * Marg.: July 20.
^ llolcot. Robert of II. was an '•' Harth. : Auja:. 24.
178
1122] I0D0CU8 KLYNGE
Ergo peto venerabilitatem vestram quod habeatis me excusatum : et non debetis dubitare quod non est ita. lo Quia vos putatis quod fui adhuc in Cassel, et hospes meus, quando accepit eam, misit mihi postea ad Marg- burck. Et sic transivit multum tempus, quia actu sum in Margburck et resumo duos juvenes domicellos : quando ergo vultis mihi Iras mittere, debetis eas desti- i5 nare huc : et intellexi a vobis, quod componitis seu practicatis unum notabilem librum quem vultis inti- tulare " Defensio lo. P. contra famosas," et vultis eum dare ad impressuram : et scribitis quod non vultis ponere nomen vestrum, et cogitatis quod est mehus inti- 20 tulare eum nomen I. P. quia PfefFerkorn non curat taUa et non timet lo. R. et suos cohaerentes, si vellent ahquid componere contra eum. Sed volo vobis unum aliud dicere : Quid si Reuchlin diceret ? " Ecce Pfe. non scit latinum, ergo non potest compilare taha ; sed 25 Theologi in Colonia et Ortvinus qui est poeta eorum componunt tahs scandahzatiois,et postea dicunt ' PfefFer- korn scripsit, nos non scripsimus.' " Ergo vellem quod considerabitis bene ante factum. : si velletis postea negare quod scripsistis,tunc Reuchhn posset cognoscerevestrum 30 stilum et probare quod vos composuistis, et sic incur- reretis scandalum. Et perdonate mihi quia scribo ex amore. V. D. margb.
XXII
€E lODOCUS KLYNGE BACLARIUS M. Ortvino G.
VENERABILIS vir, quamvis sum remotus a vobis corporaUter, tamen habetis scire quod quoad men- tem semper sum vobis propinquus cogitando de soda- 5 Utate nostra quam habuimus invicem cum stetimus Daventriae. Ergo nuper ille Beanus veniens huc et portans mihi illud vestrum dictamen dixit quod dixistis
" Cassel: on tlie Fulda, capital of " nmltuiii. The letter, in fact, had
Hesse-Nassau. travelled about 126 miles in 36 days.
^^ Margb. : Marburg, where there ^* resumo. See i. 6, n.
was a large Dominican monastery. " dare. The Defeiisio was actually
(The fniv. was not founded until published in July 1516. 1,527.) " talis scand. : sic, in [D] and [E].
179
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
ei " O ille lodocus pro nunc est in patria et habet bonos 10 dies et non curat pro me." Ego respondeo quod nihil est. Quia non sum de tahbus, et adhuc bene scio quo- modo semper Daventriae scripsistis ad parietem :
Qui procul est oculis, procul est a cordis lumine.
Et per deum, heri quando fuimus in Cena et habuimus
15 de ilhs piscibus de patria mea qui vocantur Amae, quia pater meus portavit mihi, tunc optavi vos et dixi : " O si M. Ortvinus deberet esse praesens et comedere de tahbus piscibus, tunc cor deberet mihi laetari." Re- spondit pater meus " Quis est iste Ortvinus ? " tunc dixi
20 ei quod estis socius meus antiquus, et fuistis mecum Daventriae, et quando ego fui secum domi, V^os fuistis primarius ; et postea in universitate Coloniensi fuistis depositor meus, quando deposui beanium, quia vos venistis unum annum ante nie ad Coloniam, et postea
25 steti vobiscum usque ad gradum baculaureatus : tunc vos accepistis magisterium. Sed ego promotus in bacu- larium de gratia dei recessi ad universitatem Witten- pergensem : tunc fui schohrega hincinde : et sic non vidi vos. Et dixi ei multa de vobis. Et dixi ei quomodo
30 semel feci vos ridere quando allegavi vobis illud metrum:
Veiii Spandaw aggere, tunc inspexeruut me Amae.
Et dixi vobis quomodo Beani in Spandaw composuerunt tale metrum de teutonico in latinum, quia teutonicum sic sonat :
35 Ick kam genn Spandaw opp den dam,
Dar segen mick de plotzgen ann.
Et pro tunc dixistis mihi quod prius nescivistis quod ille piscis, scihcet plotzken, latine vocatur Amae : et allegavi tale metium et vos risistis intime, et conse-
40 quenter dixi vobis quahter ille piscis est in magna copia apud nos : et unus qui est ita longus sicut brachium meum, vix solvit unum grossum. Et dixistis : " O deus, si essemus ibi ! " et ergo heri optavi quod essetis mecum. Dixit autem pater meus " Credis quod etiam
45 non habet pisces Coloniae ? " Dixi ei quomodo pisces
'^ Amae. There seenis to be inten- tunny. {Ainia, Liun., is a N. Ameri-
tional mystificatiou with reference to can ganoid.) But we are told below
the fish mentioned liere. Tbe chissi- that antae means plnt.zkcn, i.e. roach. cal amia (diiia) was a sea-fish, the " depos. See i. 39, n.
180
55
11.23] BEllTHOLDUS HACKSTRO
Coloniae sunt in caro foro. Sed scripsistis mihi quod negocium vestrum non bene stat et male procedit vobis in urbe lloma, et quod fautores lohannis Reuchlin faciunt vobis magnas instantias. Debetis mihi credere quod ita doleo de vobis sicut essetis mater mea. Sed 50 spero quod dominus deus dabit benignitatem et terra nostra dabit fructum suum. Idest vos Colonienses Theologi postquam combussistis libros haereticales, fructificabitis in ecclesia dei praedicando, argumentando, disputando, novas materias scribendo et talia faciendo. Sic faciat fiUus dei Christus, qui sit volens clemens et propitius. Amen.
Datum Perlin in Marchia, ubi sunt bona piscalia
XXIII
C 31. BERTHOLDUS HACKSTRO
3Iagister Or^tvino Gratio
ERATERNALEM dilectionem loco Salutis. Hon- orabilis vir, secundum quod reliqui vobiscum, quod volo vobis notificare singula et scribere quomodo 5 sto. Scire debetis quod nunc fui per duos menses in Urbe Roma, et non possum habere patronum. Unus auditor Rotae voluit me suscipere. Tunc fui laetus et dixi " Bene est, domine, sed magnificentia vestra velit mihi dicere quod debeo facere." Respondit quod debeo esse in stabulo et unum mulum servare in ordine, dando ei comedere et bibere, et strigilando et mundificando. Et quando ipse vult equitare, quod sit paratus. Et habeat frenum et sellum et omnia. Et postea debeo currere et cum eo ad audientiam et iterum ad domum. i5 Ego dixi quod non est pro me, quod sum et magister arciu Coloniensis et non possum talia facere. Re- spondit ipse: " Si non vis facere, tuum damnum." Et sic credo quod volo iterum ire ad patriam. Deberem strigilare mulum et purgare stabulum ego potius vel- 20
^^ ia cciroforo: expensive ; " dear iii the land the majority of canous
cheape " of tish. had been either hostlers in Rome or
^^ inuhiin. " As late as 1547 the traders iu benefices, who scarce knew
Primate Siliceo of Toledo asserted gramniarenoughto read their hours."
. , . that in every cathedral chapter Canih. iJod. Hist., i. 057.
181
10
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROEUM YIRORUM
lem quod diaboliis auferet illum mulum cum stabulo. Etiam credo quod esset contra statuta universitatis nostrae : quia Magister debet se tenere sicut magister. Et esset magnum scandalum universitatis, quod Magis-
25 ter Coloniensis deberet facere talia. Ergo volo redire in patriam propter honorem universitatis : etiam alias non placet mihi Romae : quia Copistae et Curtisani sunt ita superbi quod non creditis : unus heri dixit mihi quod veHt merdare super unum magistrum Colo-
30 niensem. Respondi quod deberet merdare ad pati- bulum. Tunc dixit quod ipse etiam est Magister, scihcet Curiae, et unus Magister Curiae pualet magis- trum artium de Ahxiania. Respondi quod non est possibile. Et dixi " tu velles esse ita bonus sicut ego,
35 cum tamen non stetistis in examine sicut ego, ubi quinque magistri rigorose examinaverunt me, et ergo es magister bullatus." Tunc incepit disputare mecum dicens " Quid est magister ? " Respondi : " est persona quahficata, promota et graduata in septem artibus
40 hberahbus praecedente examine magistrah, privilegiata quod potest portare annuhim aureum et sericum sub cappa, habens se ad suos discipulos sicut rex ad suum populum. Et Magister dicitur quatuor modis : uno modo a magis et ter, quia magister ter magis debet
45 scire quam simplex persona. Secundo dicitur a magis et terreo, quia Magister debet esse terribihs in con- spectu suorum discipulorum. Tertio a magis et theron, id est status, quia magister in suo statu debet esse maior quam sui discipuh. Quarto a magis et sedere,
50 quia magister debet esse maior in sua sede quam ahquis suorum discipidorum. Timc ille interrogavit " quis est autor ? " Respondi quod legi in vade mecum. Statim ipse voluit reprehendere ihum hbrum et dixit quod non est autenticus. Respondi " Tu vis reprehendere illos
55 antiquos, et tamen tu non scis mehus. Ego neminem vidi Coloniae reprehendere taleni hbrum. Non habes
^^ Mag. Citr.: one who liad heeii Sacro 1'alazzo Apostolico "). See A.
granted tlie degree of Alagister by \^acant, />ict. de Throl. Cath., vol. iii.
the Curiaj without examination, on c. 1954 (1908).
payment of a fee. The privilege of ^^' thertm: "Magister . . . a major
granting tlie degree of Doctor of et sterion . . . quasi major statione."
Theology was vested in the Master (iemiiia Ceiinnaruni. " Terion .i.
of the Sacred Palace (" Maestro del statio," Torrentiiius, Elucidariniii.
182
II 24] PH1L1PPU8 MESUE
verecundiam ? " Et cum indignatione magna recessi ab eo. Et ergo notetis quod volo redire in Almaniam, quia ibi magistri sunt domini, Et merito. Probo per Evangelium. Quia Christus etiam vocavit se Magis- 6o trum, et non doctorem, dicens : " Vos vocatis me magis- ter et dominus, et bene dicitis : sum etenim." Sed non possum plus scribere, quia pro nunc non habeo amplius papirinii : et est longum ad Campmn florae. V^ale Datum in Romana Curia. 65
XXIV
€E M. PHILIPPUS 3IESUE Magistro Oiivino Gratio
HUMILEM subiectionem loco Salutis. Venerabilis Magister : quoniamquidem promisi vobis omnia scribere quae audio et video in causa vestra, quae merito 5 vocatur Causa fidei, quia universaHter concernit fidem Cristiana. Ergo sciatis quod primo quando veni huc, tunc Magistri dixerunt mihi : " Quid novi, quid novi, magister Philippe ? Quid novi de Colonia ? " Respondi quod nihil novi scio nisi quod noviter Domini theologi lo et Inquisitor haereticae pravitatis de Ordine praedica- torum combusserunt unum hbrum haereticalem qui intitulatur " Speculum Oculare lohannis Reuchhn." Respondit Magister Ecbertus de Harlem, qui est vir doctus et probus. Et debetis mihi credere quod non est 15 partiahs. Ipse dixit : bene audivimus hic quod com- busserunt illum hbrum : sed etiam audivimus quod non debite et iusto modo processerunt in illa causa, et com- miserunt maximum scandalum, quia nos hic etiam vidimus talem hbrum, et non videtur nobis quod 20 haeretica pravitas inest. Sed quod est maius, Theologi dederunt Sententiam quando causa pendebat in Curia Romana, et Sanctissimus commisit illam duobus Cardin-
^ Mesue. The name would be fami- ^*' Echertus : Rector of the Uni-
liar, as the mediaeval transliteration versity of Rostock in 1517.
of Yuhanna ibn Masawaih, an Arab ^^ Cardm. : Cardinals Grimani and
writer on Medicine, many of whose Pietro Accolti. works were translated into Latin.
183
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
alibus et mandavit silentium ex utraque parte. IUo non
25 obstante Theologi Colonienses combusserunt librum." Tunc dixi quod fecerunt haec propter Parrhisienses, et alias quatuor universitates quae sunt contra ReuchHn. Respondit M. Ecbertus : " etiam si X universitates essent contra illum Doctorem, tamen debuerunt esse
30 obedientes summo Pontifici tanquam capiti Ecclesiae. Respondi quod praesumitur quod tot universitates non errant. Respondit ipse " quod praesumptio non valet. Et ergo credatis mihi quod istud negocium habebit mahmi finem." Tunc non volui amphus respondere,
35 sed dixi : " sit a vel b, ego non curo." Ergo, domine Ortvine, notifico vobis taha quod vehtis esse cautus, quia timeo quod Sententia erit contra vos, quia papa est iratus : et si etiam Romae perditis Htem, tunc diabolus tenebit candelam. Rostochienses sunt magni
40 inimici Parrhisiensium, quia Parrhisienses habent unum statutum quod non accipiunt ad facultatem suam Magistros Rostochienses, Et sic Rostochienses etiam non accipiunt Parrhisienses. Sed vos forte scitis quid debetis facere. Commendo me vobis.
45 Datum Rostock.
XXV
iE MAGISTEU ADOLFUS KLINGESOR
Magistro Ortvino Gh^atio
SALUTIS tantum sit Magistro Ortvino, quantum non potest in hac Ifa stare, et nuncius non potest
5 portare, et nenio potest dicere, et nemo potest scribere. Et cum hoc etiam vellem quod essetis laetus et non cruciaretis vos sic in causa fidei. Ego nunquam suadeo vobis quod debetis esse ita tristis, sed permittatis vobis requiem. Ipsi etiam multa dicunt mihi hic, quia sum
10 Coloniensis. Sed ego rideo quasi non curans. Aliqn etiam respondeo ipsis vexans eos iterum. Sicut nuper quando unus (qui etiam stetit Coloniae ante X annos)
^' quat. univ. : i.e. Louvain, Col- Lamcntatione.efensio, de-
preacher^ Berthold of Regeusbur^, nies that he was a " lauius/' but
was wont to introduce Jews iuto his adds that^ after all, Peter was a fisher-
discourses with the stock epithet of nian.
"stiuking. See W. Scherer, Hist. 37 „.,v,7,,„ . Prov xvii 22
Germ. Lit., 1886, i. 228. spiritm. 1 rov. xvii. ^z.
V
Ci
185
35
post aur. : i.e. lie was still a Jevv ^ Schaffsniulius : " Muttouhead " ;
at heart " II Pecorone."'
EPISTOLAE OB8CUKORUM YIRORUM
viiltis mihi eos solvere melius quam Curtisani Romae.
Ergo mmc quaero dominationem vestram quid tenetis
de eo, quando unus in die Veneris, id est feria sexta, vel
alias quando est ieiunium, comedit ovum et est pullus
10 intus : quia nuper in Campo liorae sedinms in uno hospitio et fecimus collationem, et comedimus ova : et ego aperiens ovum vidi quod iuvenis pulhis est in eo : et ostendi socio meo, tunc ipse dixit : " Comedatis cito antequaju hospes videt, quia quando videt, tunc oportet
15 ei dare unum Carhnum vel luhum pro galhna : " quia est hic consuetudo quod quando liospes ponit ahquid ad tabulam, tunc oportet solvere, quia non volunt recipere. Kt si videt quod iuvenis galhna est in ovo, ipse dicit : " Solvatis mihi etiam galhnam," quia com-
20 putat parvam, sicut niagnam. Et ego statim bibi ovum, et sinud iUum puUum intus : et postea cogitavi quod fuit dies Vcneris, et dixi socio meo : " V^os fecistis quod feci peccatum mortale comedendo carnes in feriis sextis." Et dixit ipse, quod non est peccatum mortale :
25 inimo non est peccatum \'eniale : quia ille puUaster non reputatur ahter quam ovum, doncc est natus. Et dixit
- Curtisani: anlici, Dii C";in^re.
C'urialists, or, in a general sense, persons in any way attached to the Pupal Coiirt,
"* ./erm .scxta: i.e. " the sixth day of the week." Feria is also usetl iu the special sense ot' any day that is not a festival. Cf. F. (i. Lee, Dircctoriiini AiKjlicauuni, p. 134.
- iciuuiiuu : a fast-day, wlien nieat
was to he abstained froni, at all events up to 3 r.M.
^" ('auijio florae : tlie piazza known as Campo dei Fiori, near tiie i'alaz/,o Farnese, now a niarket-place, was the scenc of " tlie rnost terrihle (»f the Autos da Fe, instituted l)y the Doniiiiicans, in which niany .lews and other heretics were hurut alive." A. J. C. Hare, Walks in Hoiue (IHHl), ii. 181. lu KiOO it was the place of execution of (Jiordaiu) iiruuo.
'J"lie inu tliere was a favonrite hauiit of Gernian pilgrinis. Cf. Kp. i. 48.
'^ collafiouciii. See i. 4, n.
^^ ('arliuiuu, &c. : " Carlin. A sniall silver coiu current in Naple^ and Sicily, e((uivalent to about four- pence Kuglish. Jnlio: a silver coiu
worth about sixpeuce, struck by Pope
Julius II., l.^>03-13." (N. E. D.)
" Nuinus ( arolinus ; Karlis Pfeuuing.
odcr Karlin." Vocahula Mcu.sarariuu,
ct Rci Xiuiiariac : Aut/iore Philijipo
Mclanfhone, Frauckfurti, l.")73.
^" l>il)i. The egg was evidently raw. Cf. uote on liue 2(5, below.
25 pullastcr: "cliickling." (N.E.D.) In a glossar}' for school-children, en- titled Niiiiicuclatura llcriuu (to which tlu' j)ani])hlet attril)uted to Melauch- thon, aud ineutioiied above (1. 15), is ap])eiided), Francofurti, 1573 (re- vised cdition), we find : " Pullastcr, Juiig(>rl)aii ; /'?///«.v/;y/, Juugshenlin." ScliaHsumlius uiight have beeu coni- fortcd liad lie kmiwii tlial soine tlieo- logiaus classed fowls witli tishes, be- caiisc they ])roceedcd fnun tlie waters. ((Jen. i. 20.)
2* itatu.s : quaestio siibtillissinia — " wheu is a chick boni } "
St. Augustiiie nientions a singular scru])le of the Mauichaeans, who vvould not eat a (ravv) egg lest they sliould chauce thus tocat a " cor})se": " Nec ova salteni suniunt, (juasi et ipsa cum frangiiutur exj)ireut, uec
186
11.26] HENKICUS 8CHAFFSMULIUS
mihi quod est sicut de Caseis in quibus aliquando sunt vermes, et in cerasis, et in pisis et fabis recentibus, sed tamen comeduntur in sextis feriis, et etiam in vigiliis Apostolorum. Hospites autem ita sunt pultroni quod 3o dicunt quod sunt carnes, ut habeant plus pecuniam.
Tunc ego abivi et cogitavi desuper. Et per deum, JM. Ortvine, ego sum nmltum turbatus et nescio quomodo debeo me regere. Si vellem libenter con- silium quaerere ab uno Curtisano, tunc scio quod non 35 habent bonas Conscientias. Videtur mihi quod istae iuvenes gallinae in ovis sunt carnes : quia materia est iam formata et figurata in membra et corpus animaUs, et habet animani vitalem. AHud est de vermibus in caseis et ahis : quia vermes reputantur pro piscibus, 40 sicut ego audivi ab uno medico qui est valde bonus Phisicus. Ergo rogo vos multum cordialiter quatenus vehtis mihi respondere ad propositam quaestionem. Quia si tenetis quod est peccatum mortale ; tunc volo hic acquirere unam absolutionem antequam vado ad 45 Almaniam. Etiam debetis scire quod M. N. lacobus de Hochstraten acquisivit mille florenos ex banco ; et credo quod lucrabit causam, et diabolus confundet illum lo. R. et ahos poetas et iuristas, quia volunt esse contra ecclesiam dei. Idest contra Theologos, in so quibus est fundata ecclesia, ut cristus dixit : " Tu est Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam." Et sic commendo vos domino deo. Valete.
Datum in Urbe Roma.
opporteat ullis mortuis corporibus have lately seut Jakob Hochstraten,
vesci." St. Aug., De Haeresihus ; through the bankers at Rome, tifteeu
Migne, PatroL, vol. xlii. p. 37. hundred crovvns — not for mainten-
- 9 vigil. Apost.: the days before «"ce, for monks should be frugal—
Apostolic Feasts. ' i^ot for necessary legal expenses, for
- » rep. pro pisc. : " Eadem ratione ^^^^^ ^ t^l"^^ ^^«"^J ^,T"f *^
limaces et ranae prohiberi debent, much smaller sum-but I strongly
. . ■• j X 1 suspect (bad luck to them !), tor
cum instar piscium edantur, quando ^ c \ ■■> x i,x • x-
esus carnium prohibetur." P. T. P. P'"-poses of bnbery ; to obtam for
Gury, Ca^us Conscientiae, i. 212. f ^^' ^'f «^ tj^* they could not hope
■ •" for in the interests ot justice.
hic acq.: if a mortal sin, ab- « ijanco: "Nonne cognoscitis,
solution could not be postponed quod sicontingat aliquem ire Romam
without risk ; perhaps, too, it is _ . niittant pecunias suas in banco
hmted that absolution could be more . . . ut Romae vel alibi cum literis
easily obtained at Rome. (jicti banci securas rehabeat." Tetzel
" mille flor. : Hermann von dem (H. von der Hardt, Rist. Literaria
Busche writes to Reuchlin, Sept. 30, Eefonnationis , iv. 15). 1514 : " I tind that the Theologians "^^ dixit : Matth. xvi, 18.
187
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
XXVII
•E M. WILHELMUS STORCH M. Ortvino
Gi^atio Salu. P. D.
QUID est quod multum scribitis mihi de vobis et tamen non repraesentatis mihi semel illum librum
5 quem scripsistis contra lohannem ReuchUn. Et scribitis mihi quod habuistis bonum ingenium quando com- posuistis illum librum ; et creditis quod talis erit multum notabilis, Ita quod unus impressor voluit vobis dare viginti florenos quod mitteretis eum imprimere.
10 Et scribitis mihi quod vultis mihi mittere copiam, quod debeo ostendere hic Curtisanis et copistis, et vexare eos. Quia non volunt credere quod in Almania sunt etiam ita bene poetae sicut in ItaUa. Et esset bene bonum quod mitteretis mihi eum. Sed non facitis : et tamen
15 semper scribitis quod vultis facere. Et rogo vos quod vehtis mihi mittere illud dictamen seu librum. Quia volo hic vexare ahquos copistas, qui credunt quod nemo scit aUquid quam ipsi. Etiam reprehendunt hic carmina mea quando aliqua scribo, dicentes quod sunt bene
20 compilata. Videatis tamen si est verum, quia hic mitto vobis unum quod composui nuper quando M. N. Hoch- strat advenit et posui ad pastquillu in honorem illius doctoris. Quia est vir singularis et defendit fidem CathoHcam contra multos haereticos. Et est tale
25 Carmen :
CARMEN MAGISTRI WILHELMI STORCH DAVENTRIENSIS
quod composidt ad Intronisationem lieverendi pris Fra. la. de Ho. ord. praedicatorum Magustri nostn et inqidsitoris haere. pra.
Notum sit hic omnibus parvis necnou senibus, 30 Qualiter unus Magister noster, qui est doctus excellenter,
Et vocatur lacobus de Hochstraten, quod est suum proprium nomen,
- ill. lib. : i.e. Pfeffei'korn's Defemio. wliich lampoous were affixed. See
- i»if)re.9sor: Quentel, though his I. Disraeli, (^'tir. of Lit., aud J. B.
uame did not appear on the title- Mary-Lafon, Fasquin et Marforio, page. Paris, 186L
- ^ pastr/ni/. : the Pasri)nHosii\iue,io ^' Intron.: ironically.
188
11.27] WILHELMU8 STORCH
Est in hac Civitate, et vadit cum magna gravitate :
Sed venit ex Almaniae partibus, ubi collegit multos caseos
In magna quantit^ite : et in una universitate
Tandem fuit graduatus, et in Theologia qualificatus ; 35
Quia ibi subtiliter disputavit, et multos sillogismos formavit
In Baroco et Celarent, ita ut omnes admirarent.
Quod videntes ibi Theologij qui sunt in fide zelosi,
Fecerunt eum inquisitorem, contra haereticam pravitatem.
Sed posset aliquis quaerere, " quid vult talis hic facere ? " 40
Advertatis diligenter : quia dico vobis libenter :
Est ibidem in Ahnania unus doctor in iuristria,
Qui lohannes Reuchhn vocatur : ille per hunc Magistrum nostrum
citatur Ad Romanam Curiam : quia scripsit unam materiam, 45
Quae non est TheologicaHs : sed videtur esse haereticalis : Quia habet multas propositiones in fide scandaUzativas. Et debet notum esse vobis, quod ille hber favet ludaeis, Et propterea est suspectus : Ergo nuper ad illo inquisitore perlectus, Fuit ad ignem damnatus, et autor ad re^ocationem vocatus. 50
Etiam sciatis istum Hbrum Speculum Oculare dictum. Sed ille magister noster iam venit ad Romanam curiam Ad perficiendum illud negocium, quia Theologi non permiserunt ei
ocium, Donec huc veniret, et faceret quod ille iurista periret, 55
Ergo debetis eum honorare, et reverenter salutare, Quando est vobis obvius : quia est valde disputativus, Et quantum ad primas intentiones paucos habet similes.
Ipsi dicunt quod non est recte compositum seu com- portatum in pedibus suis : Et ego dixi : Quid ego curo oo pedes ? Ego tamen non sum poeta saecularis, sed Theologicalis, et non curo nec habeo respectum ad ista puerilia, sed tantum curo sententias : Quapropter, domine Ortvine, debetis mihi omni modo respondere ad hoc dictamen, et debetis If as ponere in bancum. Etiam 65 volo vobis nova scribere, quod quidam homines qui vocantur Hispani, vadunt ad Lombardiam : et dicunt quod Imperator vult expellere regem Franciae, quod non esset bonum pro M. N. de Hochstraten, quia ipse per regem Franciae solHcitat negocium suum apud 70 Sanctissimum, et Christianissimus rex multum petit pro eo, propter honorem universitatis Parrhisiensis, quae scandalizaretur ex hoc, si Speculum Oculare non com- bureretur. Sed iam nihil magis scio. Valete in gaudio.
Datum RoMAE. 75
^^ caseos. See i. 5, 11. man, stone^ ctc." Hobbes. (Con-
^* prim. intent. " Of the first iu- cepts of geuus, diiFerence, ctc, are tention are the nanies of things, a of second intention.)
189
EPLSTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
XXVIII
€E 31. BERNHARDUS GELFF unus cx mhiimis M. Oi^tvino Gra. Salutem
HONORABILIS seu praestans vir, quamvis non habeo notitiam vestri quoad personam, tamen
5 quoad famam novi vos Et iamdudum est quod intellexi de Causa vestra que vocatur Causa fidei contra loannem Reuchlin, et habeo mecum totum processum. Et dis- puto cottidie cum Curtisanis et Copistis qui defendunt lohannem ReuchUn. Et quando iste Cursor praesentium
10 lator dixit mihi quod vult ire ad Almaniam et per Coloniam habet facere iter, dixi " Tunc per deum sanc- tum ego volo contrahere notitiam cum M. Ortvino et scribere ei unum dictamen." Tunc ille dixit " o per deum faciatis : ipse multum gaudebit. Et dixit mihi
15 quando exivi Coloniam, ' Dicatis omnibus Theologis et magistris et Artistis et poetis qui sunt Romae, quod scribant mihi. Quia libenter habeo quod docti viri et qui sunt bene quaUficati, scribunt mihi dictaminas. Et quando sic scribunt mihi, tunc ego colUgo illas Ifas, et
20 postea facio unum Ubrum ex iUis, et facio eas impri- mere.' Respondi ei : ' bene scio, quia vidi bene unum Ubrum qui intitulatur Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum, et multum delectat me quando lego, quia est notabiUter bonus, habens in se de multis materias hincinde.' "
25 Ergo, M. Ortvine, rogo Dominatio vestra veUt me habere commendatum, quia sum mirabiUs fautor vester, et amo vos incredibiUter. Etiani debetis me commen- dare lohanni PfefFerkorn quondam Iiidaeo, sed nunc feUciter in Christo baptizato. Liber suus qui intitulatur
30 " Defensio lohannis Pfefferkorn contra Famosas " est mihi portatus ex Ahiiania, et legi einn per totum, et signavi notabiUa et Continuationes in margine. Et mul-
^ (Te//f. See ii. 1, n. a course of lectures oii a portion of
' procesmm: seemiiigly, " niinutes tlie Bible. See Rashdall, Univ. of
of the case " ; Ger. Prozeszakteii. Eur. in the Mid. Ayes, i. 465, 467. ® Cursor : i.e. in theology ; the first '^^ notah. : indicated by " NB."
stage of bachelorship in the case of a '^ Contin. : brief marginal sum-
secular student, in which he delivered maries.
190
11.28] BEKNHARDUS GELFF
tum teneo de tali libro. Sed debetis ei dicere quod est h' unus Officialis curiae qui est singularissimus fautor lohannis ReuchHn. Ipse coUegit aliquos articulos ex 35 tali Ubro lohannis Pfefferkorn, et vult probare quod in taUbus articuhs partim est haeresis, partim Crimen laesae Maiestatis. Et dicit quod vult quod fiat inquisitio contra I. P. de haeresi et Crimine laesae Maiestatis. Mitto vobis hic unam schedulam in qua scribuntur ilH 40 articuh, et consequenter contra ipsos Sohitiones quas ego repUcavi : Quia disputavi cum illo OfficiaU et de- fendi I. P. pro posse meo. Et sic valete habens me pro noto et Amico vestro.
Datum in Curia Ro. 45
€E Articuli extracti de libro Io. Pfeff.
coNTRA Reuchlin et quosdam Reuchlinistas uui liber intitu- LATUR Defensio Io. Pfefe. contra Famosas. Et sunt tales Articuli a Reuchlinistis excerpti pro haereticis et haben- TiBus iN se Crimen laesae maiestatis quod fovente deo non 50 est nec fuit nec erit verum.
•E Primus Articulus
•L JDicit Reuchlinista, ciuod I. P. in libro suo qui intitulatm^ " Defensio lo. P. contrafamosas, in Epistola ad SCictiss. d. JD. Leonem. etc. Poti. Maoc. blaspheinat 55 et committit Crimen laesae maiestatis appellando Papam ministram domini, quasi sit femina, sicut legimus quod semel una femina fuit papa : Sic enim scripsit Aij.
^* Offic: almost certainly Jacobus is full of accusations of high treason
Aurelius von Questemberg. See ii. against Reuchlin. 10,71. Von Q., who was a liberal- ^"^ femina: in allusion, of course,
minded and learned man, proved to the legend of " Pope Joan," uni-
a valuable "friend at Court" for versally credited throughout the
Reuchlinduring the hearingof Hoog- XVth and XVIth Cents. The de-
straten's appeal, and, as one of velopment of this vague myth into an
Reuchlin's biographers puts it, " his accepted fact of history is a remark-
influence vvas of more service to ab]e phenomenon, resulting as it did
Reuchlin than all the letters com- in the accumulation of a vast evi-
mendatory of Kings and Princes." dential structure upon the flimsiest of
Maius, Vit. Reuchlin, p. 214. foundations. For an adequate dis-
^^ artic. : just as Arnold von Ton- cussion of the whole subject see
gern had published Articuli, culled Dollinger, Die Papstfabeln des Mittel-
from the Augenspiegel in \5i\2. alters, 1863 (Eng. tr. by Plummer,
" teesae Twcy.; Pfefferkorn's Z>e/ence 1871).
191
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
col. ij. : " Tuavi itaque sanctitatem, velut domini nostri 60 in teriis locuvi tenens ac ministi^avi.'" Etiavi habet in se haeresim iste articulus : quia vult ibi pfelferkorn innuere, licet non expresse, tamen iviplicite, quod tota ecclesia erraverit faciendo mulierevi in papam : quia ille error est maxivius. Sed qui ecclesiavi dicit errare, de facto est 65 haereticus : ergo.
€E Respondeo quod lo. P. qiii non est bonus gram- maticus et non intelligit latinum, putavit quod Papa est generis feminini, sicut Musa : quia ut ipse audivit ab aliis " Nomina in a sunt generis feminini exceptis excipiendis." Unde Alexander :
Sit tibi nomen in a muliebre, sed excipe plura.
Unde patet quod lo. P. in praesenti tractatu scribit sicut Theologus : sed theologi non curant grammaticam, quia non est de sua facultate.
70
75
€E Secundus Articulus
•E Reuchlinistae arguunt : lo. Pfef in viultis locis
sicut A j. et K iiij. quando vult iurare quod aliquid sit
verum, dicit " mediusfidius," quasi diceret per meuvi
deum fidiuvi. Nam mediusfidius interpretatur " meus
80 deus fidius " ; iinde manifestum est, quod ipse I. pf est idolotra et non habet cristu pro deo suo, sed Fidium qui fiiit idolum apud veteres paganos.
€E Respondeo quod pfe. iuravit ibi " mediusfidius " non respiciendo ad hunc Terminum " fidius," quod est
85 forsitan proprium nomen aUcuius Idoh : sed ipse utitur illo termino in quantum est Adverbium. Et sic ponit Donatus, qui est autenticus et legitur in schohs : et est dicere " mediusfidius " id est " certe " vel " seriose." Vel dic, ut prius, quod lohannes pfefFerkorn non curat gram-
90 maticam : vel dic, quod " mediusfidius " idem est quod " per meam fidem," et sic audivi ab uno Poeta.
- ' latimmi: tlie poiut of the gibe, ^^ mediusfidius. In the Catholicon
of course, being tliat it vvas well we are informed that tlie word sig-
known the Latin of the Defence was nities either " By iMercury," " qui
due to Ortwin Gratius hiinself. mediator est et tidus interpres," or
- ' Donatus: ii. 12, ii. that it is " quasi mediante fide."
192
11.28] BEKNHARDUS GELFF
€E Tektius Articulus
€E Dicit Reuchlinista : Qimquis dicit se sustentare Ecclesiam, est huereticus : Sed lohannes Pfefferkorn dicit se sustentare Ecclesiam : Krgo est haereticus. Maiorem 9i5 proho, quia qui dicit se sustentare Ecclesiam, praesumit quod tota ecclesia est in errore, et nisi ipse sustentaret eavi, caderet et destrueretur. Etiavi talis videtur esse Antipapa, id est volens esse papa contra illum papam quem elegit communis ecclesia. Qicia sustentare ecclesiam loo est offcium Papae : sed pfefferhor?i arrogat sibi hoc qfficium : ergo est Antipapa et haereticus innuens papam errare et non esse honum Pastorem. Minor patet ex verhis lohannis pfeff. qui scrihit in eodem lihro " se esse humile ecclesiae memhrum. Sed humile memhrum in lo» corpore est pes, quia pedes stant humi, id est in terra. Pedes autem sustentant corpus et amotis pedihus cadit corpus : Ergo Pfefferkorn praesumit quod Ecclesia stat in se, et ipse sustentat ecclesiam.
€E Respondeo quod PfefFerkorn non sumit terminos no sic stricte, et prout in sua prima impositione significant. Sed dicit se membrum, id est partem ecclesiae, sicut omnis homo Cliristianus dicitur esse pars Ecclesiae : vel etiam " membrum " largo [modo] utendo terminis. Et sumitur ibi " humilis " pro devoto et simplici : sicut iis- etiam in Epistola ad Papam idem lohannes Pfefferkorn dicit : " Quanquam minime dignus sum ut vel ad sacra- tiss. pedes tuos etc." Ergo non debet intelligi quod PfefFerkorn loquitur contra Papam.
•E QUARTUS ArTICULUS 120-
€E Dicit ReuchLinista : Pfefferkoi^n tenet quod fides Christiana est falsa, et hoc suismet verhis affirmat. Sic etiam scrihit se dixisse ad 3Ioguntinensem Episcopum in lihro praefato D. J. : " Si fides Christiana est vera, Reuchlin nullamperfidiam mihi facturus est. Sed postea 125- plus quam in ducentis locis et etiam in aliis suis lihris prius scriptis vocat lohannem Reuchlin perfidum ; Ergo
^^^ imjmit.: almost exactly equivalent to "application."
193 N
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
m.amfcHtimme dat intelligere qnod non credat fidem Christianam csse vc?'am.
130 iT Respoiideo quod illa verba siint limitanda. Quia quando dixit Pfefferkorn " si fides Christiana est vera," subintelligendum est : " et Ileuchlin est verus Christi- anus " : quia si Reuchhn fuisset verus Christianus, nun- quam fecisset tantam perfidiam : vel dico et mehus Qd
135 lohannes Ffefferkorn protunc ita sensit : Quia omnes sumus homines et humanum est errare : sed tunc statim fecit [fuit] ab Episcopo castigatus et patienter tuht illam Correctionem faciens paenitentiam. Quia scribit quomodo episcopus dedit ei alapam quando dixit illa
140 verba : et sic habuit illam correctionem pro peccato suo.
€E QuiNTUs Articulus
€E Dicit llcuchlinista : PJcfferkorn facit sc maiorcm Christo : quia iu hoc Uhro sic dicit F. J. " Sic me tra- didit Reuchlin sicut ludas Christum, et multo peiusT
145 Quasi diceret : 'Jieius est quod Pfefferkorn traditus cst quam. quod CJiristus.'" Vel " magis mcrito Christus cst traditus quam Pfcjfcrhorn. Vel " Christus digniorfuit jpassione quam Pfcjfcrk-orn.'" Sed talia dicere apcrtc cst Imercticum, (juod (diquis possct tangere cum digitis suis.
150 CE Respondco, quod quando Pfefferkorn ibi dicit, quod sit peius traditus quam Christus, vult inteUigere, quod Reuclihn tradicht eum Caesari : sed Christus tan- tum fuit traditus scribis et sacerdotibus qui sunt minores quam Caesar. Et sic videtur esse peius, id est terri-
156 bihus, quod ahquis traditur Caesari quam Sacerdotibus et scribis qui non habent ita magnam potestatem.
•L Sextus Akticulus
€E Dicit Rcuchliuista : Pfcffcrkorn committit iterum
Crimcn lacsac maicst(dis, et hoc mu/tiplicitcr. Dicit cnim
i()0 O i. : om/ics amicos et fautorcs lohannes Reuchlin, prin-
cipes ct (dios doctos ct indoctos pcccarc in hoc (juod.
'*' tmujere, &c. : Ger. iiian kann cs init Fingern yrei/en ; " it is clear as nooiiday."
194
11.28] BERNHAKDUS GELFF
lohanni Reuchlin favent : sed tales sunt in Ge?'mania bene X Princiipes et dominus Imperator met et multi Cardinales et Episcopi Romae, et ipse sanctissimus dominus Papa Leo, qui nuper quando legit epistolam les lohannis Reuchlin, multum laudavit talem virum Et dixit quod vult eum defendere contra omnes Fratres • et talia dixerunt etiam Reverendissimi Cardinales s. 3Iarci et s. Georgii et s. Chrissogo?ii et alii plures.
€E Respondeo quod Pfefferkorn fecit hoc Amore i70 veritatis que est maior quam Papa et Imperator et omnes Cardinales et Episcopi et Principes. Et ergo in protestatione sua finali, O iiij. sic excusat se : " Me ipsum duce veritate et sine alicuius defensioe defendi. Nam Hieremiae vaticinio Maledictus qui prohibet i75 gladium suum a sanguine : et mehus est incidere in manus hominum quam in manus omnipotentis dei." Et ergo putat quod mehus est ofFendere Papam et Imperatorem quam veritatem, id est deum. Quia deus est veritas. iso
iE Septimus Articulus
iE Dicit ReuchUnista : PJefferko?ii i?i eodem libro uno eodemque loco committit haeresim et C?ime?i laesae ?naiestatis. Quia dicit O j. columna ij. " N^on p?ig- natur hic gladio, no?i viribus, ?io?i hasta progreditur in iss camp?im {q?iod supe?'biae C?'ime?i est) cum regemiles, etc." Ibi eiiim dicit quod bellare et ire in camp?im s?fpe?'biae c?'itnen est : sed hocfaci?mt Papa et Imperator , et semper fece?'?mt, et etiam multi q?d s?mt in Cathalogo sanctorum. Si ergo ire in camp?im esset Cri?ne?i supe?'biae, timc illi i90 sancti et i?nperator ?node?'nus et etiam papa esse?it i?i
^" Card. RaflFaello Riario, Cardinal avoid the penalty fled from Rome. He
of S. Georgio, was degraded for con- was an accomplished scholar, and to
spiracy against Leo X. in 1517, but him Reuchlin dedicated one of his
was soon restored to favour. Domi- works on Hebrewgrammar. Adrian,
nico Grimani, Cardinal of S. Marco, who was in high favour with Henry
had been appointed by the Pope to VIIL, was Rector of St. Dunstan-in-
cite Reuchlin to appear, persoually the-East, and held successively the
or through an advocate, at Rome. sees of Hereford and Bath, which
AdriandiCastello,Cardinalof S.Chris- latter he farmed out to Wolsey. See
ogono (to be carefully distinguished Rymer, Foed., vi. 1, 141.
from Adrian of Utrecht, afterwards "^ Hier : Jer. xlviii. 10.
Pope Adrian VL), was also one of the ^'* melius, &c. : 2 Sam. xxiv. 14 ;
conspirators against Leo X., and to 1 Chron. xxi. 13.
195
200
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
peccato mortali, et pei^ consequens erraret Ecclesia quae habet pro sanctis. Ergo Pfefferkorn directe est contra ius Canonicum et Civile, contra Imperatorem et Papam, 195 contra Ecclesiam et Imperium.
€E Respondeo quod haec verba sunt limitanda, quo- rum talis erit intellectus quod bellantes cum armis et vadentes in campum committunt crimen superbiae in quantum sine iusta causa aliis faciunt iniuriam. Sed quando Imperator et Papa gerunt bellum, tunc prae- sumitur quod faciunt pro defensione Ecclesiae et Im- perii : et sic PfefFerkorn non reprehendit eos.
iE OcTAVus Articui.us
€E Dicit Reuchlinista : Pfefferkorn arguit Impera-
205 torem quod mentitur, quia sic sci^ibit O ij. columna J. contra Reuchlin : "■ Ego contra dico eum esse proditorejn dei et hominum et Caesareae maiestatis perjidum. consul- torem. In his verbis aperte tenet oppositum Imperatori et vocat eum mendacem. Quia dominus imperator in
210 Epistola sua ad Papam, et etiam in multis mandatis et commissionibus hincinde vocat lohannem Reuchlin suum fidelem consiliarium et consultorem. Quomodo ergo posset mniorem blasphemiam facere, quam vocare eum mendacem 1 JJnde irremissibiliter meruit penam
215 laesae Maiestatis.
€E Respondeo quod iste textus distinguendus est, et punctandus. Ita ut post hoc verbum " Maiestatis" ponantur duo puncta. Quia Reuchhn forte est fideUs consultor imperatoris in suis rebus : sed non fiiit fidelis
220 lohannis Pfefierkorn, ut ipse probat multis argumentis. Et ergo nemo debet putare quod lo. Pfe. loquitur con- tra imperatorem : quia ipse est bonus imperialis, ut apparet in suis libris hincinde, teutonici[s] et latinis.
"" Epist. sua ad Papam : i.e. of Oct. *^* duo pimcta : a semicolon (in the
23, 1514. See Introd. place of the more modern corama) ;
^^* irremis.^. : a technical term in but Gelff 's emendatiou scarcely
theology ; '^ unpardonably " in its mends matters. strictest sense.
196
1128] BERNHARDUS GELFF
€E NoNUs Articui.us
€E Dicit Reuchlinista : Qiiod ovinium maximum et 225 grandissiitium et tejTibilissirnmn et horribilissimum et diabolicissijnuvi et infe7'nalissimum est, lo. Pfefferhorn reprehendit Papavi et Curiam^ attribuendo eis C^imen falsi. Sic enim sc?ibit I. iiij. " Cete?'um omnia haec, id est ipsius ex urbe Roma commissionem, minus iuste, immo 230 iniustissime acquisitavi, hae?'etice pravitatis 3Iagister ?ion curavit, etc." Sed Papa dedit illam co?nmissione?n : ergo Papam vituperat lo. pfe. quod ?ion bene administrat iustitiam : q?tod est ita haereticum ut mereat?ir tres ignes.
€E Respondeo : PfefFerkorn non dieit ibi quod Papa 235 vel Curia Romana iniuste dedit commissionem : sed vult intelligere quod Reuchlin iniuste acquisivit eam. Et ergo lo. Reuchlin appellat iniustum, et non Papam.
€E Decimus Articulus
€E Dicit Reuchlinista : Pfefferko?'?i iterum committit 240 Cri?ne?i laesae maiestatis, quia ?nanifeste ?ne?itit?tr de Im- peratore et Episcopo Colonie?isi. Q?da dicit quod q?iidam inquisitor haereticae pravitatis ex co?n?nissio?ie Caes. Maiestatis cum appositione manus Episcopi Coloniensis combussit Speculu?n Oculare Coloniae. Quod estfalsis- ^^^s sim?im. Q?da ?ieq?ie Caes. Ma. co?nmisit hoc, ?ieque Episcopus u?iq?ia?n appos?dt ma?ium : q?da si iviperator co?nnnsisset hoc, ?ion iam laboraret pro Re?ichli?L scribendo ad papam, q?iod debet sibi Co?isilia?'ium defensu?n habere contra i?ividos et Captiosos Theologos. Ergo Pfefferho?'?i 250 ?na?dfeste est falsarius, quiafalsificat se?i ?ne?ititur commis- siones impeiiales.
€E Respondeo quod de Episcopo Coloniensi non curatur, quia est mortuus. Sed de Imperatore lo. pfe. loquitur intentionahter, et implicite quantum ad primam 255 imperatoris mentem. Quia primo quando lohannes Pfefferkorn incepit istud laudabile negocium in Causa fidei, ut faceret comburere libros ludaeorum, tunc im- perator fuit intentionatus, ut videbatur, quod vellet
^^* niortuus : ii. 2, n.
197
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
260 cobure omnes libros qiii sunt contra fidem Christianam. Sed liber lo. Reuchlin est taHs : ergo imperatori videbatur quod vellet etiam eum committere ad com- burendum. Igitur PfefFerkorn scribit quod imperator commisit, videlicet implicite, non exphcite vel expresse.
265 Et ipse putat quod satis fuit quod imperator commisit ei semel de hbris ludaeorum, sub quibus reprehendun- tur etiam libri haereticales. Quia audivi ego, quod si imperator mansisset in illo laudabih proposito, tunc Theologi voluerunt omnes hberarios per totam Al-
270 maniam visitare, et omnes malos hbros comburere, praesertim hbros istorum novorum Theologorum qui non habent fundamentum suum ex Doctore sancto, ex doctore subtih, et ex doctore Seraphico, et Alberto magno. Quod fuisset utique laudabile et valde pro-
275 ficuum : et credo quod adhuc erit : quod tribuat omni- potens qui regnat per omnia et omni tempore. Amen.
XXIX
«E ECBERTUS UNGENANT
31. Ortvino Gratio Salutem
YENERABILIS domine et amice singularissime. Diu est quod non habui nuncios, ut possem 5 dirigere htteras ad dominationem vestram : ahas diu scripsissem vobis. Parcatis ergo mihi, quia hbenter scripsissem vobis, si habuissem nuncium.
Sed sicut scripsistis mihi quod Mgr n.Valentinus de
Gelterstheim dixit vobis, quod debetis mihi scribere,
10 quod adhuc duos florenos debeo ei pro lectionibus
quando steti in bursa sua : Sciatis quod nihil volo ei
dare, Quia ipse etiam promisit mihi multa, et dixit
•^^ repreheiid. : for " conipreheu- ^* profic. : " profitable " (tlie word
duiitur." is u.sed by Martianus Capella).
^** /jterajms; equivalent to 'Miber- ^ Ungeiiant : (Jer. ungennant, " un-
arias" in i. 31, " Libraria, ein libery, named." locus libroruni," Gemnia Genmmnun. * Valentinns : i.e. Valentin Engel-
"'^ Doctore, &c. : i.e. Thomas liart von (leltersheim. See i. 7, n. Aquinas, Duns Scotns, and Bona- " ?'/< A?/mf ■s7m; z.e. in the De Monte
ventura, respectively. hostel at Cologne.
198
11.30] BALTHASAR SCLAUCH
quod vellet milii dare bonas propinas, quod irem omni die bis vel ter ad Rhenum videndo quando naves veniant ex partibus inferioribus vel superioribus : 15 et quando beani sunt intus, tunc deberem eis suadere quod visitarent in bursa sua. Et per deum ego bene portavi ei viginti beanos et perdidi multum tempus, currendo hincinde. Et fuisset mehus studere illo tem- pore. Sed ipse nunquam dedit mihi aliquid. Etiam 20 dedit nobis mala bursaha et macras carnes, et acerbum potum. Et potestis ei bene dicere quod debet ista recordare.
Sed vos valete in Caritate.
Datum Lo. 25
XXX
€E BALTHASAR SCLAUCH baccalarius Theologiae formatus M. Ortvino Gra. Sa.
GRATIARUM actiones vobis immensas, infinitas, inenarrabiles, innumerabiles, incomparabiles, in- effabiles, quod misistis mihi librum d. lohannis PfefFer- & korn, qui intitulatur " Defensio lohannis PfefFerkorn contra famosas." Ego fui ita laetus quando accepi illum librum, quod saltavi prae gaudio. Et certissime credo quod lo. Pfefferkorn est ille de quo prophetizatur Ezechielis IX. sic : " Et vocavit virum qui indutus lo erat lineis et atramentarium scriptoris habebat in lumbis suis." Quia lo. pfefF. semper habet atramen- tarium secum et scribit in praedicationibus vel con- venticuHs Auctoritates et notabiha, unde postea componit taha. Vos exhilaratis me valde quando i5 mittitis mihi Hbors suos : quia sunt ita artificiahter compositi quod miror. Ego etiam Viennae multum
^^ beani: Fr. bejatme (bec jaune), a bridge is mentioued as a favourite
novice, a freshman^ in allusion to the hunting ground.
yellow bill of a callow nestling. The 25 ^^ . probablv for Lovaniae, i.e.
equivalent bejan is stdl used m Louvain. Theuniversity wasfounded
more than one Scottish university. jjj 1426
^"^ visitarent. Tliis practice of tout-
ing for particular hostels was expressly f<clauch : for ^chlauch, a leathern
forbidden in the statutes of the Uni- bottle.
versity of Basle (1477), and the Rhine ^* lib. Sic, in [D].
199
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
glorior quod sum notus sibi : et quando nomino eum, dico " lohanis pfef., Amicus meus." Sed in illo
20 libro intellexi, quod Theologi sunt discordes super speculum oculare ; quia ahqui damnant eum ad ignem, sicut Pharrisien et Colonienses, Aliqui vero ad sus- pensionem, sicut M. N. Petrus Meyer, qui quando vidit Speculum Oculare, clamavit voce magna : " Ad
25 patibulum, ad patibulum cum tali libro ! " Vos de- beretis esse Cocordes, tunc possetis habere victoriam contra illum haereticuni. Ego fui multum perterritus quando legi ista. Et dixi : "Nunc diabohis tenebit candelam, si Theologi volunt esse discordes." Sed
30 spero quod eritis iterum concordes. Sed mihi videtur quod M. n. Petrus non est iustus ipse et sui Cohaer- entes, qui tenent quod Speculum oculare debet sus- pendi ad patibulum. Quia est ille Hber haereticus, et haeretici merentur penam ignis. Quia haeretici combur-
35 untur, sed fures suspenduntur. Quamvis ilH fortasse dicunt quod Speculum O etiam commisit furtum. Quia lo. Pfeff. dicit quod in hoc Hbro I. ReuchHn furavit ei honorem suum, quem non daret pro viginti florenis : quia duo ludaei qui simiHter furaverant ei honorem
40 suum, dederunt ei triginta florenos pro eo. Sit a vel b, ego vellem quod essetis concordes. Non habemus hic nova, nisi quod iUe poeta loachimus Vadianus, qui est unus ex ReuchHnistis, est factus Rector universi- tatis. Percutiat deus omnem societatem Poetarum et
45 luristarum et non derehnquat unum ex eis mingentem ad parietem. Ego cogitavi quod volo recedere : quid deberem in illa universitate facere, ubi poeta est rector : et sunt hic ita multi lleuchHnistae sicut in nuUa alia universitate. Sc' loch. Vadianus rector, et
50 Georgius CoUimitius Tanstetter, pronunc Medicus, oHm
^^ Phar. Sic, in [I)J ; perhaps an Gallen^ where the Bihliotheca Vadiana
intentional allusion to Pharisaei. still commeniorates his munificence.
'^ Meyer. See i. 5, ?i. ^■'iningent. Milton (Apo/. for
^* diah. See ii. 24, n. Smectynmuus., Prose Works, 1848, vol.
^^ Vadian. : Joachim von VVatt iii. p. 131) makes some curious com-
(1484-1551), Rector of Vienna Univ. nients on this Biblical naivete. in 1516, a mau of uide sympathies *^ Sc : scilicef.
and much energy. Later he joined ^" r'o//i. ; Georg Tannstetter, Rector
the partyof Zwingli. See Canth. Mod. of Vienna Univ. in 1512, called C.
Bist., vol. ii. p. 315. Fot many years from his native town of Rain (a
burgomaster of his native town, St. boundary).
200
11.31] ALBERTUS STRUNCK
Mathematiciis, et I. Cuspinianus, qui est servitor et consiliarius Caesaris. Et quidam qui vocatur Thomas Resch, et Simon I^asius, qui est compatriota lo. R. et ahi multi. Sed Magister noster Heckman est de via nostra ; et dixit quod tenebit cum Theologis usque ad 55 finem vitae suae. Ipse etiam multum salutat vos, et lo. PfefF. Valete. Datum in Menna. Iterum Valete tam diu donec PfefFerkorn manet Christianus.
XXXI
€E ALBERTUS STRUXCK
M. Ortvino Gh^atio Dauc
REVERENTIAI.EM obedientiam loco Salutis. VenerabiHs domine Magister. Rogo vos Cor- diaUt^ quatenus velitis mihi indulgere, quod non scribo 5 vobis saepe, quia est per deum ita magnus Calor in Roma, quod unus non potest ire in plateis vel sedere in domo : Et non possum scribere aliquid vel componere prae Calore. Sed vos scitis quod est magnus labor facere dictaminas, et dixistis mihi in Colonia, quod in septem diebus vix facitis unum bonum dictamen. Et allegastis mihi Horatium dicens, quod talis poeta docet quod novem annos debemus consumere faciendo unum bonum dictamen. Et credo quod sic est faciendum. Quia oportet esse cautum et videre quod est bona 15 congruitas. Et aliquando non est satis quod est bona congruitas : quia requiritur etiam Ornatus secundum viginti praecepta Elegantiarum et JNIodum epistolandi
10
"Chs/j.; 1473-1529. Rector of ^^ Horat.:
^'sT»^ ^l"; '"• ^-^^^- ^^.^ '/• ^' " nonumque prematur in aunum
'^Resch ; .Latmi.sed as \ elocianus ^j^^branis intus positis."
Rector or v lenna Lniv. in 1509 and ^ ^^^ Poet. 388.
1511.
" Lmius : or Lazius, father of the ^® Elegant. Seventeen editions of
historian, Wolfgaug L. Elegantiarum viginti praecepta are
" Heckm. See ii. 9. noted by Hain (6561-6577) ; twelve
^ Strunck: "stump," e.g. of a cab- are in the Brit. Mus. All are anony-
bage. mous, but the work is due to Aegidius
1° dict. See ii. 1, n. of Siichteln.
201
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
Pontii vel Pauli Niavis qui fuit magister Lipsensis.
20 Etiam isti poetae sunt nunc valde reprehensivi, et quando aliquis scribit aliquid, tunc dicunt : " Ecce ibi et ibi non e bona latinisatio : " et veniunt huc cum suis novis terminis et confundunt antiquam grammaticam. Ergo non possum scribere in istis Caloribus. Ergo
25 habeatis me excusatum. Et Valete.
Datum RoMAE.
XXXII
«E 31. HENRICHUS CRIBELINIONIACIUS
3Iagistro Ortvino Salutem
YENERABILIS Magister, primum et ante omnia sciatis, quod perdidi duas sententias, et si perdo
5 tertiam, tunc diabolus erit Abbas. Et timeo valde, quia Auditor dixit mihi : " Per deum, si essem sicut vos, ego non vellem appellare, quia non habetis lus : " ergo non scio quid debeo facere. Ego credo quod theologi hoc anno non debent fortunam habere. Quia
10 etiam eximius vir D. M. noster Petrus Meyer satis male stat in causa sua contra Canonicos Franckfordienses, quod vexant iUum bonum et devotum patrem. Sed credo quod isti Canonici faciunt hoc propter lo. Reuchhn quem diligunt propter suam poetriam. Et
15 propterea volentes ei placere tribulant illum bonum pastorem, quia ipse mirabihter inimicatur lo. R. : et merito, quia stat pro facultate sua. Quia lo. R. est inimicus Theologorum : sed M. noster Petrus est Theo- logus : ergo. Et est bene hcitum, quod unus defendit
20 facultatem suam. Etiam D. lacobus de Hochstraten M. nf et haeret. pra. Inquisitor non habet bonam for- tunam in causa fidei. Quia isti Curtisani nunc omnes volunt esse poetae, et sic parvipendunt Theologos et
^* Fontii. Probably a pseudonym. ^' antiquam : i.e. scholastic.
Bebelius, in his diatribe, " Contra ^ TWte/. ; sieve-maker (?). Allusion
Epistolandi modos Poutii et aliorum," unknovvn.
speaks of him as " one Pontius." * diahol. : the first recorded instance
^' Niavis. See i. 7, n. of this proverbial phrase: "thepowers
^ reprehensivi. Not elsewhere of darkness gain the mastery." See
found. Grimm, Worterbuch, s.v. Abt.
202
II 32J HENR CRIBELINIONIACIUS
sunt contra eos. Sed tamen spero quod parum lucra- bunt : quia dominus respiciet famulos suos et liberabit 25 eos. Epgo audivi nuper quod Imperator scripsit unam Ifam ad Papam pro lo. Reuchlin, et scripsit ita, quod si Sanctissimitas sua non vult finem facere in isto negocio et dare Sententiam, tunc ipse met vult videre quomodo potest defendere suum consiliarium. Sed 30 quid est ? Si papa est pro theologis, tunc non timeo. Etiam audivi ab uno notabili viro qui est Officialis Curiae qui dixit : " Quid nobis hic cum Ifis ? Si Reuchlin habet pecuniam, mittat huc. Quia in Curia oportet habere pecunias : ahas nihil potest expedire." 35 Et ahus occulte dixit mihi, quod jNI. n. la. iterum dedit certas propinas quibusdam referendariis. Et sic quando iam vadunt ante eum, tunc faciunt ei maiorem reverentiam et loquuntur amicabihter cum eo. Ergo nunc semper mehorem spem habemus. Si perdo illud 40 benehcium, tunc adhuc volo contendere pro illa vicaria in Nussia sicut scitis. Quia procurator meus informavit me quod habeo bonum lus. Sed iam recordor quod nuper venit unus hic qui dixit, quod universitas Erfor- diensis vult revocare sententiam suam seu determina- 45 tionem contra lo. Reuchhn. Et si facit, tunc volo dicere, quod omnes Theologi qui sunt ibi, sunt perfidi et mendaces, et volo semper de eis dicere hoc scandalum, quod non manent cum facultate sua et defendunt zelo- sissimum virum D. lacobum de Hochstraten qui est lux 50 Theologorum, et lucet sicut stella per suas doctrinas et Argumentationes pro fide CathoHca. Et credo quod si haeretici vel Turci venirent, ipse disputaret contra eos et confunderet eos cum subtihtate sua, et converteret eos ad fidem Christianam. Quia iile Theologus non 55 habet Aequale : Et nuper disputavit hic in Sapientia valde doctrinahter. Tunc dixit quidam Itahis "Ego non credidi prius, quod Almania habet tales Theologos." Sed quidam ahus dixit, quod non est bene profundatus in textibus bibhae, et non bene intelhgeret Hierony- 60
-' litterani : Oct. 23, 1514. Maius, logy aud grammar were added by
Vit. Reuch., p, 462. Boniface VIII. and Clement \. The
^ Sandiss. See ii. 5. preseut building, near the Pantheon,
^^ Sapientia: the Universita della dates from 1576. Above the entrance
Sapienza, founded, as a law school, by are the words : " luitium Sapientiae
Innocent IV'., 1244. Schools of theo- timor Domini."
203
EPI8TOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
mum et Augustinum. Respondi : " O bone deus, quid dicitis ? Ille doctor praesupponit talia, et iam ipse habet curare alia, et bene maiores subtilitates." Deus det quod recte eat, tunc volumus triumphare, et postea
65 ex tota Almania pellere illam poetriam. Et volumus facere quod isti luristae non audent dicere unum verbum, quando sunt cum Theologis. Quia timebunt ne mittant super eos Inquisitorem et comburant eos pro haereticis. Sicut nunc spero quod fiet lohanni
70 Reuchhn adiuvante deo, cuius nos sunnis iudices. Quia sicut mihtes saecuhxres defendunt lustitiam in terris : Ita nos defendimus Ecclesiam per disputationes et praedicationes. Sed parcatis mihi de longiloquio. Et Valete.
75 Datum Romanae Curiae.
XXXIII
fT PETRUS LAPP sacrac pai^inac Liccntiatus M. Ortvino Gratio Salu.
SECUNDUM quod semel scripsistis mihi, vir vene- rabilis, quod habetis valde maonum miracuhnn
5 abinde quod pro nunc sunt ita nuilti excellentes Doctores in Colonia, et etiam alii non adhuc promoti sed propediem JNI. N., et multi egregiissimi theologi, et nominastis mihi M. n. la. de Hoch., M. n. Arnoldum de Tungari, et M. n. Reniigium, et M. n. Vale. de
10 Gelterszlieim, et M. n. Pe. (jui tempore meo regebat in bursa Kiick, et d. Uutgerum I iicO. et multos ahos cjui actu sunt Coloniae, et etiam lo. V. qui quamvis est hiicus et indoctus in arti. hbcndibus, et numpiam visitavit schohis Christianorum et non didicit (irannnaticam aut logicam,
15 tanien ut scribitis habet profundum intellectum et Cor illuminatum. Etiam apostoh non fuerunt docti. et tanien sciverunt onmia. Et sic putatis, quod spiritus- sanctus potest predicto I. V. infundere omnem scien-
" Roiiiq. See i. .5, u. Kector of tlie V\\\\. of Cologue iu
'" (ielter.szh. Sec i. 7, n. 1518.
^" Pe. : Bcickiiifr sugfjfests P. Siils, '^ l\iit(]. See i. ;>, ii.
204
II 33J PETRUS LAPP
tiaiii sanctorum, sicut dicit scrip. Etiam nominastis mihi in Maguntia duos M. n., D. Bartholomaeum Zehe- 20 ner praedicatorem in summo, et D. Pe. bertra pleba- num. Et in Frankfordia d. Pe. nieyer qui est mirabilis in sermonibus suis Et quando vult ipse facit homines ridere, et quando vult facis eos jflere, et facit mirabilia praedicando. Secundum hoc vellem quod faceretis 25 omnes ad unum et excelleretis istos luristas et Poetas saecuhires, vel imponatis eis silentium quod non aude- rent ita scribere libros. Et quando vellent aliquid com- pilare, tunc deberent prius ostendere Magistris nostris ad videndum si debet imprimi. Et si non placet magistris 30 nostris, non debet imprimi vel debet comburi. Etiam deberent M. nostri facere mandatum quod nullus iurista vel poeta aUquid scriberet in Theologia, et ne introdu- cerent illam novam kitinitatem in sacrosanctam Theo- logiam, sicut fecerunt lo. Reuchhn et quidam ut audio 35 qui appellatur Proverbia Erasmi : quia non sunt funda- mentales in ea : et possibile est quod nunquam disputa- verunt publice vel tenuerunt conclusiones sicut est mos. Ipsi volunt mittere falcem in messem alterius, quod Theologi non debent pati. Ergo rogo vos quod vehtis 40 rogare illos doctissimos viros de quibus scribitis, quod disponant disputare contra illos novos latinisatores et scommatizare eos bene. Et si dicunt quod sciunt litteras graecas et hebraicas, habetis respondere, quod tales Htterae non curantur a Theologis. Quia sacra 45 scriptura sufficienter est translata et non indigemus aliis translationibus. Et potius non debemus discere tales Ifas propter despectum ludaeorum et Graecorum. Quia ludaei videntes quod discimus suas Ifas, dicunt : " Ecce Christiani discunt nostras scientias, et sine iUis 50 non possunt fidem suam defendere : " et fit magna verecundia Christianis, et ludaei fortificant se in sua fide. Sed Graeci recesserunt ab ecclesia : igitur etiam debent haberi pro inimicis et eorum scientiae non
^ Zehen. See i. 27, n. '* appell. " Smaragdus, a gram-
=1 Bertr. : « crassus rudisque sacer- "^^,"^"' mistook Ennuchus Comoedia
dos/' knowii oiily by allusions in the ^"^ ^'-^'^' Tragoedm, mentioned by
Trinmphus Reuchlini. Donatus, for the names of authors.
J. A. Symonds, Hevival of Learnmg
" ^leyer. See i. 5, n. {Renuissance in Raly), 1897.
-*facis. Sic, in [D] ; iorfacit. *^ scom. Not elsewhere fouiid.
205
EPLSTOLAE OBSCUEOIUTM VIRORUM
55 debent practicari a Christianis. Talia vellem libenter quod faceretis, et postea scriberetis mihi qiiid fieret. Valete.
Datum in Haluerstat.
XXXIV
€E MAGLSTER lOHAXXES SCHXERCKIUS
3Iagi.stro Ortviiio Gratio
SAI^UTEM simphciter annunciatam et non per pomposum ornatum verl)orum sicut consueverunt 5 poetales Magistri non ambuhuites in via simphci cum Theologis.
Sed salutem in Cliristo, qui liberet nos in die isto
Ab onini tribulatione, necnon a lohanne Capnione,
Qui est lurista saecularis, sed in Theologia vix scholaris,
10 Et si deberet disputare, cum Theol(>i!;is se exercitare,
Ita quod ahquid solveret : per deuni ipse perderet In sacra scriptura : quia ibi est magna cura Quod possit aUquis bene stare, vel unum ahum vexare, Ita quod cum conchidat, et conchidendo bene confundat,
15 Sicut nuper Hochstratus, qui est ad salutem ecclesiae natus,
Ut expellat istos socios, poetas et historicos, (Jui tenent malas opiniones, et non valent ad disputationes.
Sancte deus, ego non habui vohmtatem scribere vobis metra, et tamen scribo. Sed factum est ex im- proviso. Etiam iUa metra non simt de poetria saecu- lari et nova, scd de iUa antiqua (juam etiam admittunt Magistri nostri in Parrhisia et Colonia et ahbi. Et tempore meo quando steti Parrhisius, dicebatur quod unus antiquus Magister qui habitavit in CoUegio Montis,
20
^* ctun : in later edd. "eum,"' which l*raebeat ut cunctis noinina rebus
is clearly preferable. Adam,
^^ Parrli. Indecl. See ii. ;57, '"/./'"• Hebraice l(H|uens iiujMinit nDinina
"* (mt. M(i(/. Ajiparently a con- rebu.s
fused reference to I'etriis de Hi^a, Omnibus ille. 1'rior illa loquela
fragments of wliose .lu;-om are giveu fuit." — p. 22.
by'Migne(iWn>/. vol212);additions .^ ,■.//. M,.nt. Perliaps Montaisu
vvere made by J<.gidias Parisiensis. („11 . i{,„.king, however (citine
An example is appeuded :- (revier, ///.sV. dc PUniv. de rarls),
" Mox Deus adduxit animaiitia sin- favours tlie College "des Augustins
gula terrae : dans le (juartier Montmartre."
206
II 34] lOHANNES SCHNERCKIUS
componeret totam bibliam metrice, scilicet cum istis 25 metris. Debetis autem scire novitates quae sunt bene pro vobis : videlicet quod Reuchlin non potest amplius ita multum studere sicut prius, quia oculi volunt ei de- crescere, sicut dicit scriptura in Genesi : " Et caliga- verunt oculi eius, nec videre poterat." Quia nuper 30 venit unus bacularius de Stuckgardia qui fuit ibi in domo eius : et ego feci quasi non scirem de inimicitia vestra quam habetis invicem, dixi ad eum : " Bone domine bacularie, Non habeatis mihi pro malo quod interrogo vobis. Et cum supportatione pro primo lib- 35 enter vellem scire, An Reuchlin est adhuc sanus ? " Respondit, quod ita, sed tamen quod non potest bene videre sine brillo. Tunc dici " Ergo pro secundo dicatis mihi quomodo tamen habet se quoad Causam fidei. Ego audivi quod habet certas htes cum certis Theo- 40 logis : sed credo quod faciunt ei iniuriam (sed dixi tronice) : quomodo ergo habet se. Ego credo quod semper componat aliquid contra Theologos." Respondit ille : " Nescio, sed tamen volo dicere vobis quid ego vidi ab eo : quando veni in domum eius, dixit mihi : 45
- Bene veneritis domine bacularie, sedeatis.' Et ipse
habuit brillum in naso et Hbrum ante se qui fuit scriptus mirifice, Ita quod statim vidi quod non erat Ahnanice neque bohemice scriptus, neque etiam latine. Et dixi ei ' Egregie domine doctor, quomodo tamen 50 vocatur tahs Uber ? ' Respondit quod vocatur Plut- archus in graeco, et tractat de Philosophia. Tunc dixi, 'legatis in nomine domini.' Et sic credo quod scit artes mirabiles. Tunc vidi iacere unum parvum Hbrum noviter impressum sub scamno. Et dixi ei : ' Egregie 55 domine doctor, quid iacet hic ? ' Respondit : ' est unus hber scandaHzativus quem nuper quidam amicus meus misit mihi ex Colonia, et est scriptus contra me, et Theologi Colonienses composuerunt eum, dicentes nunc quod lohannes P. fecit talem Hbrum.' Tunc dixi : 60 ' Quid facitis ergo desuper ? Non vultis vindicare vos ? ' Respondit ' NuUo modo. Sed sum satis vindi- catus. Ego nunc non curo ampUus istam stulticiam, sed vix habeo satis oculos ad studendum ea quae sunt
-" Gen. : xxvii. 1. ^^ nov. iittp. : i.e. PfeflFerkorn's
- tron. : (sic) for ifonice. Defensio.
207
65
70
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
mihi utilia.' Fuit autem talis liber intitulatus 'De- fensio lohannis PfefFerkorn contra famosas.' Aliud non scio de doctore Reuchhn." Taha dixit praedictus bacularius. Ergo, domine Ortvine, habeatis bonam Conhdentiam. Quia si ille habet malos oculos quod non potest amphus multum legere aut scribere, suum damnum, Vos autem non debetis quiescere, sed debetis recenter scribere contra eum. \^alete.
Datura Ulmae.
XXXV
«r 31. WILHELMUS LAMP
M. Oi^tvino Gratio S.
EXIMIE et promotoriah reverentia celeberrime vir. Vos scripsistis mihi quahter htera mea quam
5 composui vobis de ambulatione mea ad Curiam, fuit vobis praesentata. Et scribitis quod potestis exinde notare quod dihgo vos valde. Et bene scribitis taha : sunt etenim vera. Quia vos estis mihi in corde et ego amo vos cordiahter. Sed etiam scribitis mihi quod
10 debeo vobis Intimare seu dechirare quomodo transit mihi pronunc. Sciatis quod suiu apud unum Xotarium Rotae et habeo parare mensam, et ire ad forum pro comparando herbas et ftibas et panes et Carnes et taha, et facere domum in ordine, quando dominus venit ex
15 audientia et commensales sui, quod omnia sunt parata. Et cum hoc etiam studeo. Et dominus meus nuper dixit mihi, quod per deum quando sto unum annum \el duos secum, ipse vult mihi iuvarc ad unum bene- hcium, sicut prius iuvavit multis. Et est bene creden-
20 dum, quia amat me multum. Et praecipue nuper quando vidit quod sum poeta, tunc dixit quod vult me semper Amatius habere. Et factum est ita : Est unus ex commensalibus qui est pocta in ista poetria nova, et semper in mensa loquitur de poesi, et multum repre-
1 LaDip: the wiiter of ii. 12. was tlie jfraduate wlio presented caii-
^ pronw. At [iolognn the promotoi- didates for de^rees. (Rashdall.)
208
11^5] WILHELMUS LAMP
hendit illos antiquos patres et grammaticos, Alexan- 25 drum Graecista, Verba deponentalia, Remigium et alios. Et nuper dixit quod aliquis volens discere bona Carmina facere, debet scire Diomedem : et dixit multa de tali Diomede. Respondi "ego Miror quomodo tamen venistis super illos novos grammaticos, et tamen 30 habetis omnia metrice in tertia parte Alexandri de pedibus et quantitatibus syllabarum, et artem scan- dendi et cetera. Et cum hoc iste Diomedes non fuit bonus Christianus. Quia legi semel quahter ipse habuit Equos qui comederunt homines, et ipse dedit 35 eis comedere homines." Tunc ille Curtisanus multum risit et subsanauit me. Et postea dixit, quod debeo ei dicere quomodo Abacuck habet primam syllabam. Respondi : *' ego distinguo. Quia prout est proprium, habet primam indifFerentem secundum Alexandrum : 40
" Ad placitum poni propriorum multa notavi."
Sed prout quaeritur quantam habet primam naturahter respiciendo ad naturas appellativorum, tunc habet primam brevem secundum Alexandrum dicentem quod a ante b in primis syllabis, exceptis excipiendis, est 45 brevis." Tunc ille adhuc magis derisit me et dixit " Vade tu Coloniensis Copulatista, cum tuo Alexandro, qui fuit asinus Parrhisiensis, sicut adhuc sunt plures." Et sic multum scandalizans illum bonum Alexandrum abivit. Et dixi ego : " Cras videbitis." Et de mane 50 portavi unum carmen quod compilavi per noctem in laudem Alexandri, et mitto vobis exemplum. Et quando dominus meus vidit illud Carmen, tunc lau- davit me et dixit " Iste socius est pro me." Et dixit
- • O Wilhelme, scis ita compilare metra ? Ego ignor- 55
avi. Et propterea plus volo te diligere in posterum." Et sic spero quod volo bene stare. Et quando vult dominus deus quod acquiro aliquid, tunc iterum volo
" Graec. : Eberhard Bethuiiiensis. vol. i., Lips., 1857), confused by
^* Verb. depon. : the Verba Deponen- Lamp with D., king of the Bistones,
talia of Johannes Synthen ; a pam- in Thrace, who fed his mares on the
phlet of 12 flF. flesh of his captives. See Diod. Sic,
- Remig. See i. 1 , n. Bibl. Hist., iv. 15.
^* Diom.: grammarian; ("Diomedis " subs. Sic, in [D] and [E].
Artis Grammaticae Libri 111." ; is in- ^® Aba. : i.e. Habakkuk.
cluded in Keirs Cframmatici Latini, *' Col. Cop. See ii. 9, n.
209 o
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
me conferre ad partes, fiendo presbiter. Valete iugiter. 60 Datum Romanae Curiae.
Metrum Epigrainmalicum confeclionatnm per Wilhelmum Lamp M. septem artium liberalitirn Coloniensem In laudem Alexandri Galli
Qui vult discere grammaticam, legat Alexandri materiam, Quae est divisa in quattuor partes, docens multas bonas Artes, 65 I*raebens lac et mel pueris, sicut docet Glosa notabilis
In Colonia facta : praecipue quoad metra CoUige partem tertiam : ipsa tollet tibi omnen inertiam, Sicut fecit mihi, qui multum ex hac didici.
XXXVI
€1 lOHANNES ARNOLDI M. Orfrino Gratio Salutem IJ. P.
CREDIDERIM utique quod audiveritis vel fuerit vobis pluscule dictum qualiter ex quadam afFectione
5 animali bona contulerim me nuperrime viatica ambula- tione ad urbanam Romae Curiam causa lucruli ad consar- cinandum unum beneficiohmi seu praebendiolam vel parrochiam ahquam missam, unde poterit mihi ex nunc usque ad finem vitae meae sufhcere ac suppetere
10 victus et amictus, si divina vohierit dei gratia. Quamo- brem, me hercule vel mediusfidius, debueritis mihi non rariuscule unam hterulam amiciose confiatam se com- pilatam ascribere, et in ea affectionahter significare quomodo steteritis in omni quahtate Corporah seu
lo animali, Et quomodo fueritis fortunatus fatahter ex praedestinatione divina quae fuit ante saecula, sicut dixerit I^actantius quem nuperrime audiverim studio intentionah, quando lectus fuerit formaliter hic in sapia praeterea Enimvero venerit unus sociolus ex
20 Colonia et gehdis Ahuaniae partibus, apportans epis- toha missiva hincinde sibi astipulata, A quo videhcet intehixerim quahter vos fecistis imprimere arte charac-
" (Jlosa. See i. V>, n. " nap.: see ii. 32, n.
^^' omnen. Sir,\i\[\)]. '^ .siln. It is useless to attenipt
' The fautastic style of this Ep, the disentiuiglement of A.'s account.
hears no resemhlance to that of i. (Hocking doubts whether we shouhl
lOj A. being now "aliter stilatus." deeni him crazy or merely tipsy !)
210
II 37] GE0RG1U8 BLECK
terali unum librulum, qui intelligitur esse vel fuisse intitulatus seu praenominatus " Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum ad M. Ortvinum Gratium," in quo utique codi- 25 culo seu libello,sicut talis dederit mihi intelligendum,con- tinentur omnes literulae ad vestram dignitatem hincinde destinatae charitative et fraternaliter a vestris amicis et notis : et etiam posueritis meum epistolium intus, et valde miratorie stupefactus fuerim, quod dignamini me 30 tantisper honore sesquipidali ; et facitis mihi aeternalem famam. Quapropter habueritis scire quatinus voluerim vobis gratiam referre in quantum potero. Etiam scive- ritis qualiter studuero hic per totum in poeseos artificiolo, et ergo fuerim aliter stilatus quam prius. Valete sesqui- 35 pedaliter. Datum Romae.
XXXVII
C FRATER GEORGIUS BLECK
M. Ortvino Gratio
HUMILE]M orationem meam cum ea qua decet subiectione, domine et M. Or. Vos misistis mihi huc librum I. P. qui est praetitulatus " Defensio lohan- 5 nis Pfefferkorn contra famosas." Quem utique, sicut petivistis, ostendi omnibus Magistris nostris per totam Parrhisiam, et similiter de nostro ordine Theologis, qui unanimiter dixerunt : " Ecce Almania habet notabiles Theologos. Si unus simplex scribit taUa, quid deberent 10 facere docti et promoti ? " Et unus interrogavit me, an etiam principes in Almania faciunt magnam reverentiam lo. P." Respondi quod pro parte sic et pro parte non. Et quahter ipse est verus et dilectus sollicitator Impera- toris ad procurandum negotium de libris ludaeorum is et augmentum fidei Christianae. Et quod episcopus Moguntinensis piae memoriae defunctus iam solebat eum valde amare et promisit ei auxilium in rebus omnibus quantum ei fuit possibile : et quando ambula- vit hincinde in negocio fidei, tunc dedit et magni precii
20
" scsq. Sk; iu [D] aiid [E].
^* cpisc. Mog.: Uriel voii Gemmingen, ob. 1514.
211
EPI8T0LAE OBSCUKORUM VIROKUM
nummiim pro viatico. Respondit imiis Theologus " facit tunc etiam magnam diligentiam ipse lo. P. in dicto negotio ? " Dixi velut scripsistis mihi, quod sic : quia sine molestia circumivit per totam Almaniam,
25 quamvis pro tunc fuit ei inconveniens, cum uxorem et libros suos educare et alere conveniret quos derehquit. Quamvis in absentia sua Theologi fecerunt multa bona uxori eius consolantes eam, quia vident quod vir eius est occupatus in causa fidei. Etiam ah(|uando Fratres
ao de Monasterio nostro accedunt eam dicentes : " Misere- mur vestri quod estis sic sohi :" et ipsa respondet : " Veniatis ahquando visitantes me, quia sum quasi vidua, et detis mihi consolationes vestras." Attamen modernus Episcopus Moguntinensis non favet lo. P.,
- ^5 et lioc propterea, quia liabet ahquos Consiharios qui
multum promovent lo. 11. et odiunt Theologos. Etiam dictus episcopus non vohiit admittere lohannem P., quando vohiit ei praesentare suain Defensionem contra famosas, sicut intellexi ex vestra htera. Taha dixi.
40 Tunc respondit unus " Quis est tamen ihe Pfefferkorn ? " Respondi quod ohm fuit ludaeus et nunc est fehciter in Christo baptizatus et est vir proculdubio integerri- mus et est de tribu Neptahm. Dixit iUe " Vere bene- dictio, quae data est Neptahm, completa est in lo. P.
45 Quia Tacob dixit fih*o suo Neptahm : ' Neptahm cervus Emissus dans eloquia pulchritudinis.' Genesis .XLIX." Postea multi Magistri nostri et hcentiati et ahi Theologi per totum legerunt istum librum de foho ad fohum, de verbo ad verbum, de Articulo ad articuhun. Sed est
50 unus superiorista qui studet in graeco : ipse vadit ubique et dicit, quod non est verum quod PfefFerkorn est soih- citator Cacsaris, et quod nunquam etiani fuit. Et quod imperator pro Reuchhn scripsit ad sanctissimum et simpliciter vult fjuod Tlieologi non debent sibi vexare
55 suum consihariiun hdelem et probum. Item lacobus Fabri Stapulensis, de (|uo andivistis multa, ipse aperte
"^ pro riaf. : a faot mentioiied by 1*. lloforinatioii. His ('n)>ii>iciit(tries on
iii tlie hcJhiiKio. S. l'auP.s Epistlc.s (1512) aiitioipated
^* viod, Kj)is(-.: Albert of Hraiuloii- soine of Luther'.s coiiolu.sions, but the
burjr. Sorbonne tr)ok no prooeedings against
- " (,'encft.: xlix. 21. him till 1521, when lie escaped by tlie
^^ /'WAW; Jacques Lefovred'Ktaple.s, aid of FraiK^-ois L See also liaylo,
of lowly birth, a forerunner of thc Dict. Hist., Loiid., 17'36, iii. 40.
212
II 38] DEMETRIUS PHALERIUS
favet lo. R., quamvis Theologi dixerunt ei ne deberet facere. Et dictum fuit quod scripsit in una Ifa ad Almaniam quod theologi Parrhisienses tractaverunt lo. R. non aUter quam ludaei Chrstu. Sed dicat quicquid co velit, tamen maior pars in Parrisia est pro nobis propter honorem universitatis et odium luristarum. Ergo debetis esse bono animo hietando et gaudendo. Valete aeternahter. Datum Parrhi.
XXXVIII
€E DEMETRIUS PHALERIUS M, Ortvino G. S.
OJCRIBITIS mihi interrogas a me quomodo tamen ^ universitas nostra habet se in Causa fidei : an est pro vobis an pro lo. R. Sciatis, hic et per totam terram 5 Suitensium fratres de ordine praedicatorum habent malam famam et sunt in magna disgratia propter illos Innocentes fratres qui fuerunt combusti in Bern, quia nunquam credo quod fecerunt talia quae dicuntur de eis. Igitur Monasteria eorum desolantur, et monasteria lo fratrum s. Francisci crescunt. Et quando unus homo dat Elemosinam predicatoribus, tunc viginti dant minoribus et Augustinensibus et aliis. Etiam dicitur quod est in prophetia, quod ille Ordo predicatorum debet totaliter deleri. Super hoc est hic unus 15 Theologus, ut ipse se nominat, sed mihi videtur quod magis est poeta, dictus Erasmus Roterodamus, qui a multis ita honoratur sicut si esset miraculum Mundi. Et est ille qui scripsit librum Proverbiorum, quem semel ostendistis mihi Coloniae, et dixistis : " Quid 20 nobis cum Proverbiis Erasmi, cum habemus proverbias Salamonis ? " ille Erasmus multum tenet de Reuchhn et semper laudat eum : et nuper fecit imprimere aliquas Epistolas quas misit ad Curiam Romanam
^ Deinetr. Wliy the name of the ® Bcm. See i. 22, n.
learned librarian of Alexandria, b.<;. " Erasm. Ti. visited Basle more
345-283, should be selected as that of than once in 1514-16, tnking up his
one of the Obsc. Viri is unexplained. residence there in 1.521.
213
EPI8TOLAE OBSCUROiaiM YIRORUM
2j ad Papam et aliquos Cardinales. In istis laudavit Reuchlin et scandalizavit theologos. Ego videns dixi " Si videbunt hoc M. nostri, diabohis confundet eum." Sic ergo universitas nostra quae facit magnam reverentiam Erasmo, inchnata est pro Reuchhn : Et
■M venit huc Glorianus poeta, qui est homo valde audax ut scitis : ipse mirabiha scandala loquitur de vobis et ahis theologis. Et dicit quod vult unum hbrum componere de nequitiis praedicatorum et vult totahter describere illa quae facta sunt in 15ern, Ego vellem
- ,-, hbenter amicaht'-^ dicere ad eum ne faciat
- Sed est
homo terribihs, et iracundiosus semper volens per- cutere, quapropter habeat sibi diabolum. Ego spero quod veniet Sententia ex urbe Roma pro Theologis : tunc omnia erunt bona. Si autem fuerit pro Reuchhn,
40 tunc diabohis tenebit candelam. Valete. D. Basileae.
XXXIX
•E CHUXRADUS SrRYLDRIOT M. Orhhio G.
T) E V^ERENTIA et servitio afifectuositatis meae prae- JLV; cedentibus erga virtuositatem vestram, venerabihs
^' M. Intimavi vobis saepe quahter non sum hic Ubenter : Sed credo quod diabohis portavit me huc : et non possum recedere quia non sunt hic bonae societates sicut in Ahnania. Et homines non sunt ita sociales : et habent pro malo quando ahquis semel in
10 die est ebrius, vocantes eum porcum. Etiam non habeo supponere. Quia meretrices vohmt multum pecuniae, et tamicn non sunt pulchrae, Et dico vobis in veritate quod in Itaha sunt ita distortae nuiheres sicut est possibile, quamvis habent pulcherrimas vestes
■"^ (tIot, : Ileinricli l^oriti, (ihirvduns shadow of Krasmus," he fax oured the
(of(ilariis), 1488-156H. Swiss huniaii- Ketbnnatioii at tirst, hut afteruards
ist. Laureated hy IMaximilian, 1512. lield aloof. Aniong^ his works is .i
Founded a school at Kreiburii;-iin- description of Switzerland iii verse,
lireisgau. Acoininentator upoii Livy, ^ee S. M. Jackson, Ihihlrcich Zwingli,
Caesar, Ilorace, Sallust, iVc. "The 1001, for niany reff.
2U
11.39] CHUNRADUS STRYLDRIOT
de serico et sameloto. Quia quando modieum sunt 15 senes, tunc statim habent curva dorsa et vadunt quasi vellent merdare. Etiam comedunt allium, et faetent maxime. Et sunt nigrae, nec sunt ita albae sicut in Almania. Item in facie sunt pallentes sicut mors. Et quanto aliquae sunt rubiae, certum est quod fecerunt 20 sibi Colore cum unguentis. Ergo non placent mihi mulieres hic. Etiam dicunt quod in aestate non est bonum supponere hic. Tunc dico ego : " ergo redire volo in Ahnaniam, ubi semper bonum est supponere. Et saepe recordavi quahter habuimus in Daventria 25 Amasias ego et vos : et ivimus in despectum istius domiceUi qui etiam amabat vestram amasiam : sed ipsa merdasset ei super os. Sed nunc audivi quaUter debetis supponere uxorem lo. Pf. causa honestatis : quia est secreta et quasi honesta. Et est bonum so quando aUquis habet propriam in secreto. Et dixit unus ad me, quod lo. Pfe. semel rixavit vobiscum dicens ad vos : " Domine Ortvine, Ego veUem quod comederetis ex vestra pateUa et permitteretis me comedere ex mea." Et vos diu non inteUexistis : quia 35 iUe vir est valde subtiUs et semper loquitur aenigmatice in proverbiis. Sed quidam amicus vester, sicut ego audivi ab aUis, exposuit vobis iUa archana verba dicens : " Ego veUem quod comederetis ex vestra pateUa, quod supponeretis vestram uxorem vel muUerem, et per- 40 mitteretis me comedere ex mea pateUa, id est non tangeretis uxorem meam, sed sineretis me eam tangere." Ego dixi hic ad quendam poetam quod quaereret iUam proverbiam in proverbiis Erasmi. Re- spondit mihi quod non potest Inuenire. Dixi ei : 45 " ergo iUe Autor non est sufficiens sed diminutus." Sed quando audivi haec de lo. pfe. dixi, quod est nimis invidiosus si facit hoc : Quia est una proverbia quod amicorum omnia sunt communia : quamvis aUqui dicunt quod uxores debent excipi. Ipse tamen non 50 deberet irasci super vos quia vos non habetis uxorem : et non habentibus debemus Impertire. Audivi etiam quod supponitis anciUam Impressoris Quentel, ita quod fecit puerum : hoc non deberetis facere, sciUcet forare nova foramina. Ego semper maneo cum antiquis q 55
" samelot. Not elsewhere found.
215
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
non faciunt pueros. Sed hic liabeo neque antiquas neque novas : ergo volo redire in Almaniam sicut spero. Valete tam diu donec una alauda ponderat C talenta. D. R.
XL
€E 31. lOHANNES CRAPP Magktro Ortviiio Gratio Salutcvi
OCRIBIT niihi dominatio vestra qualiter valde O gavisa est de Epistola mea Carminali nuper com-
5 pilata, et scrihitis quod vix vidistis similem : et sicut inteUigo vultis quod semper ita debeo vobis scribere. Sed dico vobis, sicut etiam ipse met scitis, quod non est possibile quod unus semper facit carmina. Vos bene scitis de vobis, quamvis estis valde facundus et scitis
10 facere pkira metra. Tfi " non semper oleum," sicut communiter dicunt : et aUquando estis luxuriosus ad metra, aliquando ad prosas. Et recordor quod semel dixi vobis Coloniae " D. Or., faciatis mihi tamen ahquod Carmen metricum," Respondistis mihi " non habeo
15 pronunc ApoUinem," Et dixistis mihi quod ahquando in X diebus vix potestis facere unum bonum metrum : quia Aer non patitur Et oportet expectare tempus, unde Ovidius
Tempora labuntur, tacitisque senescimus annis.
20 Ergo quando semel habeo bonum ApoUinem, tunc volo dictare unum et mittere vobis : etia scribitis mihi quod debeo vobis intimare ahquas novitates ; sed nihil scio nisi quod sunt hic tres excellentes Theologi qui habent magna nomina inter Ahnanos Et faciunt nobis bonam
25 famam et laudabilem per totam Curiam. Duos forte bene novistis, Reverendum patrem dominum Magistrum nostrum lacobum de Hochstraten, latine de Alta platea, et d. m. n. Petrum Meyer plebanum Franckfordiensem. Tertius est D. Caspar praedicator ex Kempten, sacrae
- Kpist. See ii. 2. A]><>ll. :—
" neque seniper arcum " Ovid.: Fast, vi. 771. Tendit Apollo." — Hor., Car., ii. 10.
216
II. 40] lOHANNES CRAPP
Theologiae Licentiatus propediem IMagistemostrandus. 30 Ipsi habent hic agere tres Causas notabiles. Unus scilicet Magister noster lacobus habet causam fidei contra lo. lleuchlin qui dicitur esse haereticus. Et bene. Est etenim. Secundus habet Causam com- petentiae, scilicet M. n. Petrus contra Canonicos 35 Franckfordienses qui non vohmt ei dare Competentiam suam : et ergo venit huc in Curiam tribulans eos terribihter. Tertius scilicet dominus Caspar habet causam sacri olei contra quosdam Monachos qui habi- tant extra muros Kempten, et habent sacrum oleum 40 in Monasterio : et quando homines debent oleari, tunc non habetur sacrum oleum. Et ergo praefatus Ucen- tiatus vult ipsos ISIonachos rectificare quod debent sacrum oleum in Civitate permittere pro communi sahite hominum. Aha nov-a non habeo. Sed vos 45 etiam nihil scribitis mihi. [Nescio profecto quomodo demerui de reverentia vestra.]
Commendo vos clomino deo, qui vos custodiat quod estis fortis sicut
Leo, Pulcher sicut Absolon, Prudens sicut Salomon, 50
Dives sicut Asuerus, Poeticalis sicut Homerus, Et sanctus sicut lohannes Baptista. Moriatur Reuchlin lurista, Nec non poetae saeculares, qui adhuc possent esse vestri scholares.
Ecce non volui facere Carmina et tamen feci, sed nescio
quahter venit quod feci. Laus deo. Valete. Et sic
est finis. Telos. Amen. Tetragrammaton. Datum Romanae Curiae.
^^ Casjjar. Bcicking quotes a letter written with four Hebrew letters :
from Adehnann to Pirckheinier, Dec, " Tetragrammaton id est quatuorht-
19, 1517, on this '* absurd and detest- terarum . . . Istae sunt litterae :
able brangle between monks and loth, he, vau, heth. loth, id est
burghers," in which more than 3000 principium, he et vau, iste, heth vita
guldens had been wasted. sive Christus." — Marnofrectus stiper
- Xescio. The words in brackets BibUain (Prol. super libr. Regum.),
were added in [E]. Metis, 1511.
'• Tctrag. : the name Jeliovah, as
55
217
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
XLI
€E M. SIMON POCOPOKIUS M. Ortvino Gratio Sa. P. D.
" 1% /riRABILIS facta est Scientia tua ex me, con- J3JL fortata est, et non potero ad eam." Psalmista.
5 Haec verba possunt appropriari mihi directe, quando considero Doctrinam dominationis vestrae quam per- spexi nuper ex libro vestro qui intitulatur " Orationes ^I. Ortvini." Sancte deus, quomodo crevistis ita in magnum virum, cum tamen olim fuistis [hebes] scholaris
10 meus, sed nunc estis super magistrum, quamvis dicit scriptura : " Non est discipulus super Magistrum." Et ergo quando vidi talem Hbrum, tunc clamavi aita voce : " O Ortvine, Mirabilis [facta est scientia tua ex me, confortata est, et non potero ad eam." Et bene
15 " mirabilis,"] quia nunquam credidi quod potestis sic facere dictamina excellenter et artificialiter ex me : quia de gratia dei fui resumptor et instructor vester : et multum glorior super vobis. " Confortata est," bene, quia olim non fuit ita efficax scientia vestra, sed
20 nunc confortata est per instinctum Spiritussancti qui illuminavit vos. Et olim (parcatis mihi) non voluistis studere : et saepe correxi vos quando non scivistis " mei " vel " sui " cuius Casus : et " legat, legant " cuius temporis. Et saepe dixi ad vos illud Metrum :
25 Durae cervicis es, haec cnim sapere non vales.
Sed nunc possetis me instruere : et ego non deberem verecundari quod essem vester discipulus. Et ergo dico : " non potero ad eam," sciHcet pervenire, quia, ut dicit Socrates, " quae supra nos, nihil ad nos " : sed 30 procedatis sic compilando dictamina et eritis notabiHs vir. Valete. Datum Lubeck.
^ Mirab., «&c. : Psal. cxxxviii. 6. ^^/ucta, <S:c. The words in brackets
were added iii [E]. ' Orat. : " Orationea quodlibeticae " Ihirac cerv. : " stiff-necked," but
perjucundae Ortwini Gratii . . ." liere rather in the sense of "block- Cologne, 1508. head."
- (S'orr. Eras., Adag. dlxix. ; Lac-
" scrip.: Matt. x. 24. tant, Inst. Div., iii. 20.
218
XLII
iE J/. ACHATIUS LA3IPIRIUS M, Ortvino Gratio S. P. D.
YALDE miror, vir honorabilis, quod scribitis omni- bus sociis et Amicis vestris Romam versus, et solum mihi non scribitis, cum dixistis tamen quod vultis semper 5 scribere mihi. Sed intellexi ab uno qui venit ex Colonia quod veHtis Hbenter habere illum artem de qua dixi vobis semel. Videhcet ut faciatis quod una muher maxime amat unum.
Quamvis jam non scripsistis mihi, tamen volo mittere 10 vobis, ut potestis videre quahter dihgo vos. Quia non volo ahquid in secreto habere prae vobis, sed volo vos docere,
" Quae veteres sociis nolebant pandere charis."
Est autem tahs ars iUa. Sed non debetis ahquem 15 docere : quia ita abscondo illam, quod non veUem docere fratrem meum : quia plus Amo vos quamFratrem meum. Ergo volo participare vobiscum. Et faciatis sic : Quando amatis unam muherem, tunc debetis quaerere quomodo vocatur ipsa et quomodo vocatur Mater eius. Et pona- 20 mus casus quod amatis unam que vocatur Barbara et mater eius vocatur Elsa. Tunc quaeratis unum Crinem de capite ipsius Barbarae et quando habetis iUum Crinem, debetis esse contritus et confessus vel ad minus dicere Confessionem generalem. Deinde faciatis unam Imagi- 25 nem de Cera virginea et faciatis legere tres missas de- super hgando illum Crinem circum collum ipsius. Postea uno mane audiatis prius missam, deinde accipiatis Ollam novam vitreatam cum aqua et faciatis Ignem in una Camera clausa undique et faciatis fumum de thure et 30 incendatis unam candelam de cera nova, in qua est
^* Qiiae ret., &c. : — in qiia, &c. : large wax candles
" Jamque le^ent pueri pro nugis »sed in churches at Eastertide.
Maximiani " Whx from the caudles consecrated
Quae veteres/' &c. at Easter " is an ingredient of a
This couplet occurs in the Doctrinafe T^^, P^*'«" '" '^ '"^•^f Pj „^"^ *** of Alexauder Grammaticus (v. 4). «"« ^l^rXyix, an organist of Botzen
==' iimus : i.e. " of the image." a famous conjurer The Tragu-al
^itt7r.;either"madeof|lass;'or f('*^^'*-5' of Jetzer, Lond., lG/9, p. merely "glazed."
219
EPISTOLAE OBSCUKORUM VIRORUM
modiciim de Candela pasehali. Deinde dicatis istam Coniurationem super Imaginem : " Coniuro te Cera per virtutem dei omnipotentis, per novem choros angelorum,
35 per virtutem Cosdriel : boldriach : tornab. Lissiel far- nach pitrax et Starnial, quod velis mihi repraesentare in omni substantia et Corporalitate Barbaram Elsae, ut obediat mihi in omnibus q volo." Postea scri- batis circum capiit imaginis haec nomina cum stilo
40 argenteo " Astrab + Arnod + Bildron + Sydra + " Et sic ponatis imaginem in ollam et aquam. Et ponite ad ignem. Et dicatis istam Coniurationem : " Coniuro te, Barbara Elsae, per virtutem dei omnipotentis, per novem choros angelorum, per virtutem Cosdriel bold-
45 riach tornac lissiel, fornach pitrax et starnial, et per virtutem istorum nominum Astrob Arnod Bildron Sj^dra, quod statim incipias amare me ita quod sine tardatione velis ad me venire. Quia amore langueo." Et tunc statim quando aqua incipiet fieri calida, satis est : quia
50 ita incipiet vos amare quod quando non videt vos, ipsa nescit ubi estis. Probatum est saepe et totiens quotiens. Et debetis mihi credere quod ista scientia est valde pre- ciosa. Et ego non darem vobis nisi amarem vos ita intentionaHter. Ergo vos etiam semel debetis mihi par-
55 ticipare unum secretum. Et sic Valete cum sanitate vestra. Da. Romanae Curiae.
XLIII
t: FRATER OTHO FLERSZKLIRDRIUS
M. Oiivvio Gratio
DEVOTAINI Orationem meam pro salute. Venera- bilis vir, ut scribitis mihi quod omnes nos Theologi 5 debemus agere gratias omnipotenti deo quod pronunc Theologia est ita in flore et sunt plures docti Theologi in omnibus partibus Almaniae : Et omnes homines, domini et servi, nobiles et rustici, faciunt eis magnum lionorem vocantes eos INIagistros nostros propter excel- 10 lentiam et depommt pileos et bareta ante eos dicentes :
'* Cosdriel, &c. Gibberish, with a suggestiou of Hebrew. 220
II 4SJ OTHO FLER8ZKL1KDRIUS
- • Commeiido me egregitudini vestrae, eximie domine
INIagister noster." Et quando unus M. noster transit per stratum, tunc omnes honorant eum sicut si venerit unus princeps. Et merito. Quia M. nostri sunt sicut Apostoli dei. Sic vos in Epistola vestra scribitis milii i5 magnalia. Sed ego tenebo vobis oppositum, dicendo, quod bene est hoc verum Coloniae, non autem ahbi. Et praecipue hic in patria mea Magistri nostri religiosi habent nuUum honorem, et Canonici et nobilitares multum parvipendunt eos. Sed seculares bene adhuc 20 habent honorem et sunt in respectu. Et hoc videtur mihi indignum, Quia religiosi deberent semper habere primum locum : quia sunt magis Clericales, et semper religiosus quoad caelestitatem est super secularem cleri- cum. Quia rehgiosi sunt apti nati ad personandum in 25 divinis laudibus ad gloriam dei et suae sanctae matris vir- ginis Mariae semper benedictae et ad gloriam omnium sanctorum et sanctarum ^lartyrum confessorum, et cetera. Ergo videtur mihi magnus error quod plus honorant homines seculares quam reHgiosos. Etiam 30 seculares Theologi in partibus superioribus incipiunt esse superbi, et sunt quasi contra rehgiosos, cum tamen ipsi sunt plus Mundiales et tanto phis remoti a regno Caelorum. Quia vos scitis quod Christus dixit " Vos qui secuti estis me, sedebitis super sedes, iudicantes XII 35 tribus Israel." Sed rehgiosi rehquerunt patrimonia sua et omnia bona, et sunt spreti in mundo, ergo sunt proximi ad regnum Caelorum. Et parcatis mihi quod scribo taha de Theologis secularibus, cum vos etiam estis unus. Sed est aliter Coloniae, ubi sunt humiles et 40 reverentiales erga rehgiosos. Et etiam vos quoad zelosi- tatem estis rehgiosus : quia dixistis mihi semel Coloniae : " domine Otho, ego credo quod adhuc volo fieri Mona- chus de vestro ordine : quia habeo bonam inchnationem." Et ergo scribo vobis sociaHter. Quia dispHcet mihi valde 45 quod nunc aHqui Theologi seculares sunt ita superbi, sicut hic Doctor lohannes Reysz, qui est praedicator in
" egreg. Not elsewhere fouiul. 1517. See J. J. Maderus, Scriptoriwi
^ cmlest. Not elsewhere found. \TT!T-:< ' J"'%, Helmstadt,
1660 (xlvm.), where K. s preachiug is " zelos. Not elsewhere found. eulogised, and he is charaeterised as
" Reyss: Johann Rays, Rhest, or '•'in dialecticis suhtilitatibus acerri- Res, a canon of Wiirzburg, ob. c. mus disputator."
221
EPLSTOLAE OBSCUROIIUM YIROKUM
liac Civitate in summo. Ipse est in magno honore et omnes Canonici et nobiles valde amant eum : quia scit
50 eis bona verba dare. Sed talis doctor videtur esse valde contra religiosos intentionatus. Unus dixit mihi qui saepe fuit cum eo in mensa, quod ipse omnino tenet unam propriam viam, Et neque est Albertista, neque Scotista, neque Occanista, neque Thomista. Sed quando ahquis
55 interrogat eum "Eximie domine doctor, de qua via estis." Rfidet " de via Christi." Et ipse ridet quando doctores theologiae appeUant se Magistros nostros. Etiam non multum tenet de rehgiosis dicens quod non oportet in- duere cappam, sed ahas etiam possumus salvari. Et dicit
fio quod deus non respicit vestes. Et in hoc videtur mihi esse haereticus, quia est irreverentiahs erga rehgiosos et sanctos patres. Ipse tenet etiam specialem modum pdicandi : et non facit sicut ahi. INIouedo subtiles ques- tiones et formando Argumenta contra, et solvendo postea
G5 et ehciendo CoroUaria ; sed simphciter procedit. Et ergo miror, quod hbenter audiant praedicutiones eius, cum tamen non est artificiahs praedicator : ego consyderavi in duobus passibus, (|uod non est benc intentionatus erga rehgiosos. Semel quando incepistis vos Colonienses una
70 cuni ordine nostro universahter istani huidabilem con- tentionem contra lohannem Reuchhn : tunc ego por- tavi ei unam schedulam, in qua Erat mandatum contra lohannem Reuchhn (juod hber suus deberet comburi et ipse debet cogi ad revocationem. Et dixi ei sicut
75 mihi commissum a provinciah nostro " Eximie domine Magister noster, hic habet eximietas vestra unum man- datum quod Reuclihn est haereticus et hber eius debet comburi. Ergo vehtis pubhcare super canceUis : et cum hoc rogamus vos (piod vehtis stare nobiscum contra pre-
80 dictum haereticum." Tunc ipse legit mandatum Et postea dixit : "ego non video nisi quod est mandatum (|uod Speculum Ocuhu-e non debet vendi pubhce, usque ad cognitionem et decisionem Causae. Ego non intehigo quod Reuchhn debet dici haereticus." Respondi, quod
s5 praesumitur ex (juo prohibitum est quod hber suus non
^^ A/hert. See i. 15, n. tlie papacy and revived Noininalisin.
^*(trr(ni.: William (^ckham or ( liief works : SuniDin Logire.s, Kx-
Occain (? Surrey), 1270-1;541> (?), /inKitui Aureu, Tr(irtutu.s dit Snrr'^"
Franciscan, " Doctor Invincibilis." A/tnris, (^uncMioneH in IV LUir. Scnt.
Uc opposcd tlie temporal claims of See Dirt. Xnt. liing.
222
II 43] OTHO FLERSZKLIKDlllUS
debet vendi, et rogavi eum quod vult causam nostram commendare in cancellis. Respondit : *' Permittatis me in pace : ego sum hic quod debeo seminare verbum dei, et non debeo scandalizare quenquam. Quia scriptum est : ' Qui scandalizaverit unum ex minimis istis, etc' " oo Et sic non potui Impetrare quod vellet adiuvare causam fidei. In alio passu notavi: Quando fuit hic frater lacobus de Ordine nostro et seminavit indulgentias quas impetravimus Romae pro IMonasterio Augustensi, tunc etiam rogavit pdictu Doctorem Reysz quod in ambone 95 velletlaudare illas Indulgentias ethortare mulieres et aHos quod daret pecuniam ad cistam, quia esset bene datum. Sed ipse permisit eum dicere quicquid voluit, et tamen non voluit dicere unum verbum de Indulgentiis. Et Frater lacobus semel dixit ad eum " Ecce vos invidetis 100 nobis quod debemus colligere pecuniam, et tamen coUi- gamus etiam si deberet vobis cor frangl." Et dixit etiam in Ambone : " ecce hic habetis indulgentias et Iras indul- gentiales, et quod scriptum est in illis, est ita verum et credendum sicut evangelium. Et quando accipitis illas 105 Indulgentias, tunc estis ita absoluti sicut si Christus met venisset et absolvisset vos." Tunc Doctor Reysz tenuit oppositum, dicens ; " Nihil est comparandum cum Evan- gelio : et qui bene facit, bene ibit. Et si aliquis centies acceperit istas indulgentias, et non bene vixerit, peribit : 110 nec adiuvabitur per istas Indulgentias. Sed econtra siquis bene vixerit, vel post peccata paenitentiam egerit et vitam Emedabit : ecce ego praedico ei quod erit habitator regni Caelorum, nec indigebit ullis aliis auxiUis." Et sic notavi quod iste doctor reisz est Ini- 115 micus rehgiosorum : et videtur etiam mihi quod favet lo. R. : quamvis nescio. Ergo videtis quid sit dicendum. Bene concedo quod Theologi Coloniae sint in magna veneratione, et quod Theologi seculares et mundani sunt in magna unione cum religiosis : sed hic non est ita. 120 Spero tamen quod quando Reuchhn erit superatus, tunc Theologi gaudebunt invicem, quod praestet nobis Sal- vator noster unigenitus. Amen. Datum Herbipoli.
«» seript. : Matt. xviii, 6. *' daret. Sie, in [D] and [E].
223
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
XLIV
t: PETRUS BE IFORMATIA M. Ortvino Gratio S. P. D.
YIR eximie, secundum quod estis mihi naturaliter inclinatus et multum favetis mihi : ergo etiam 5 volo vobis facere possibilia.
Dixistis mihi autem " O Petre, quando venitis Romam, videte an sunt novi Hbri et mittatis mihi aUquos." Ecce habetis unum novum Hbrum qui est hic impressum. 10 Et quia estis poeta, credo quod potestis vos multum ex illo meHorare.
Quia audivi hic in Audientia ab uno Notario, qui
debet esse pfect'^ in tali arte, quod iste Uber est fons
poetriae, et autor eius qui vocatur Homerus est pater
15 omnium poetarum : et dixit quod est adhuc ahus
Homerus in Graeco.
Tunc dixi : quid mihi cum graeco ? Ille Latinus est melior: quia volo eum in Almaniam mittere M. Ortvino, qui non curat illas graecas fantasias. 20 Et interrogavi eum " quid continetur in tali Hbro." Respondit quod tractat de quibusdam viris qui vocantur Graeci : qui beUaverunt cum aUis viris qui vocantur Troiani, ([uos etiam audivi prius nominare.
Et isti Troiani habuerunt unam magnam Civitatem, 25 et iUi Graeci posuerunt se ante Civitatem et iacuerunt
' no%i. libr., &c. Bocking considers is coiitaiued in these Books of the
that this is, " without douht, Jlomeri Iliad.
lliadis Ubri aliqui pcr Nicol. de Valle Tliere issonie reason, as willappear
latino earmine redditi . . . [nipressit.s- below, for believing tliat tlie Latin
est iste Liber Ronte in donio Jofianni.s- Homer " actually niade use of by the
Philippi . . . 1474" (Hain, Rep. Jiib- writer of the Ep. was the Jliadis
lioq. 11. 8780). Jlontericae J'Jpitome, of uncertain
This is, however, far from clear, autliorship, but attributed to J'in-
inasniucli as N. de Valle's rendering daru.s Thebauu.s, of whioh the first
of parts of the Iliad into Latin verse dated edition appeared in 1492
comprises only Books III.-V., XIV., (Hain, 8778 .SV77.). XVIIL, XIX. (20 1ines), XX., XXII.- '° m Gracro: c.g. t\\e Floreutine
XXIV. ; and it happens that not one edition of 1488, or the Yenetian
of the passages alluded to in this Ep. edition of 1504.
224
II 44] PETRUS DE WORMATIA
ibi bene X annos : tiinc Troiani aliquando exiverunt ad eos, et percusserunt se realiter cuni ipsis, et inter- fecerunt se mirabiliter ad invicem, ita quod totus Campus sanguinavit : et fuit i))i quaeda aqua, quae fuit coiorata per sanguinem et fuit per totum rubicata. Ita 3o quod fiuxit sicut si esset sanguis ; et clamor audiebatur in Caelo, et unus proiecit unuin lapidem quem XII viri non possent elevare, et unus equus incepit loqui et prophetizavit. Sed non credo talia, quia videntur mihi impossibilia : et tamen nescio an tahs liber est multum 35 autenticus.
Rogo scribatis mihi de eo, et faciatis me cognoscere quid tenetis. Et cum hoc Valete.
Datum RoMAE.
^ decemaniios: //., ii. 328. Cf. : —
" In decimo labor est, quem Calchas dicerat, aniio Quo caderet Danaum victricibus
llion armis." — Pind. Theb., //. llom. Epit., 151.
- ad invicem. Cf. : —
- 'Inque vicem Troiumque cadunt
Danaumque catervae." — Pind. Theb., II. Hom. Epit., 357.
^' sanguin., &c. II., iv. 451, and //., xxi. 326. Cf. :—
Sanguine Dardanii manabant un- dique campi Manabant amnes passim." — Pind. Theb., //. Hom. Epit., 384.
'^ clamor,&c.: //.,x.\ii.338. Cf.: —
" Ingens ad sidera clamor Tollitur, et vastis impletur vocibus aether." — Pind. Theb., //. Hom. Epit., 595.
" And Clamour flew so high Her wings struck heaven."
— Chapman'8 Transl.
^^ lapidem.: II., xxii. 447. i't : —
" Saxum ingens, medio quod forte
jacebat in agro Bis seni quod vix juvenes tellure
levabant, Sustulit ; " — Piud. Theb., //. Ilom. Epit., 460.
Where it is particularly to be observed that "Peter of VVorms " agrees with the writer of the Ejntome in giving " twelve " men instead of Homer's "two," following Virgil : —
Saxum antiquum, ingens, campo qui forte jacebat,
Vix illud lecti bis sex cervice
subirent Qualia nunc liominum producit
corpora tellus."
— Aen., xii. 897 sqq.
- equiis: Xauthus, one of the steeds
of Achilles (//., xix. 404). This incident is not referred to in the Epitome, but is mentioned by Servius in a Scholium on Virgil {Aen., Book xi. 90). " Quod autem equum dicit
- lacrymare ' non mirum est, cum
Homerus etiam divinantem indux- erit."
225
EPISTOLAE OBSCUliORUM VIRORUM
XLV
«E lOHANNES GERILAMBIUS
31. Ortvhio Gratio
SICL^T scribitur " Amicus in necessitate probatur," volo etiani videre an adliuc habetis menioriam
5 mei. Et possum videre tali medio : praesentium lator est consanguineus meus et habet l)onum ingenium et intendit studere in artibu' tuc pater suus voluit eum hic facere ad universitatem : et ego dissuasi, quia volo quod studet in via Antiquorum, sicut ego studui. Et
10 rogo quod mittatis eum vobis esse commendatum. Quamvis ego sum ^Vlbertista, non curo tamen quod faciatis eum ad bursam Montis, ubi student in via Thomae. Quia ille rector est superiorista, et etiam non est magna difFerentia inter Thomistas et Albertistas,
15 nisi quod Albertistae tenent quod adiectiva appeUant, et quod corpus mobile est subiectum in Phisica. Sed Thomistae tenent quod Adiectiva non appellant. et quod Ens mobile est subiectum in pliisica. Etiam Albertistae dicunt quod logica est de secundis in- tentionil)us in ordine ad primas, Thomistae vcro dicunt quod est de primis intentionibus in ordine ad secundas. Item Albertistae tenent quod Mobile positum in vacuo movetur successive, Thomistae dicunt quod INIobile positum in vacuo movetur in instanti. Etiam Alber-
3 Amims. Cf. " Amicus certus iii 1497 (Hrit. Mus., I.B. 4659). This is
re incerta ceriiitur." Kiiiiius, iu Cic., clearly tlie book at which this Ep. is
Lael.., 17, 64. aiiiied.
^^ rector : i.e. voii (Jeltersheini. ,„ , , a k ■ i- -i.
£, . r, ' (le .•ientna. : Avicenna dicit
bee \. 1, n. i i • . j t • j.
,1 ' i-jx- /-. 1 1 ivT i nuod loffica est de secundis inten-
^* ?»rtr/«« ^//m .• derardus de Alonte, }. ., '^ ,. ^. . . , .
r, ! Ji u 4. 1 1 tionil)us adiunctis nriinis, erffo loeica
after whoin the Hostel was iiamed, ^ . ,•' ,'. j • • »
, ,, ... 4,111- estmairis desecundis(iiiam depnmis.
. I I 1- ■ I ,■ ■ 'omilata conniieniurKi onimuni tracta-
atque luculenti,s',s-i)ue e.riilanatioue.^ iit ^ ^ ,, . ■ , ■ ,,- ^1 c
,.,' j /r ; s tt [ I 4.1 tuniit i'ctri Itiispani (ror the use ot
lihros de ( elo et vmnan and otlier . j , .1 aV ^ u 4. in
... r A • 4. n . 4.1 1 students at de Monte Hostel),
wntiiiKs or Ari,st. the sanie voluine ,, , ^tr^t^ /-1
1 !■ ii I. ;.' , I !■ ,■ (- oloflrne, i49b, rol. x.
mcluding the I 'c Mite aua h.s.sentia ° ' '
of 'l'iiomas A(iuiiias, aiid Jilso 7'mr/«/?<.v "^ .'iucce.ssi ce : " Motus est traiis-
Gerardi de Monte . . . ad Jiirorahilein mutatio successiva, noii mutatis in-
diriffcns concordiant, quacdain pro- staiitanea." A. M. a Vicetia and J.
blentata inter sanctain Tltontant et a lluhino, Lc.vicon lionaimiturianuni,
vcncrahileni Alhertunt maynunt . . . Venice, 1880.
22(3
20
11.46] CUNRADUS UNCKEBUNCK
tistae dicunt qiiod Galaxia est naturae caelestis ; Tho- 25 mistae dicunt quod Galaxia est naturae elementaris. Sed non multum refert sic vel sic tenere, dum modo sit aliquis Antiquus : et volo quod iste iuvenis comedat in bursa, et quod teneatis eum sub rigore, ne currat exterius quando sibi placet. Et quando facit aliquem 30 excessum, detis ei disciplinam. Quia scribitur Pro- verb' .XXI 11. " Noli subtrahere a puero disciplinam : si percusseris eum virga, non morietur. Tu virga per- cuties eum, et animam eius de Inferno liberabis." Et teneatis eum in consuetudine quod semper intrat 35 disputationes bursales, et quod non visitat lectiones Caesarii vel aliorum poetarum. Gaudeo quod scrip- sistis mihi quod Buschius non est amplius Coloniae : quia ipse fuit magnum impedimentum universitatis, seducens supposita cum sua poetria. Sunt hic etiam 40 duo poetae, Eobanus Hessus et Petreius Aperbachus, qui sunt inimici mei : sed ego non curo eos. Ubicunque vident me, loquimtur de causa lohanis Reuchhn, et dant ei rectum et obloqiumtur Theologis : ego autem taceo, quamvis nuper dixi : " lohannes Pfe. bene scit 45 ei dicere quaHs est : " et ostendi eis librum ipsius qui intitulatur " Defensio lohannis PfefFerkorn contra Famosas," et sic abivi. Det dominus deus, quod sen- tentia ^^adat pro vobis, alias isti poetae facerent nobis magna frivola. Sed habeatis vobis illum iuvenem 50 commendatum et Valeatis. Datum Erfordiae.
XLVI
€E 31. CUXRADUS UNCKEBUNCK
31. Ortvmo Gratio S. P. D.
"i^S habent et non loquentur ; oculos habent et
V^ non videbunt ; Aures habent et non audient."
Psalmista. Haec verba possunt sic introduci et the-
" Galaxia: Tractahi^, ut su])., fol. *^ Aperhach. : Peter Eberbacb, oh.
xii. 1532 ; oiie of the Erfurt circle.
^' Caesarii. See i. 33, )t. ^ Unck. See ii. 19.
3« Busch. See i. 9, n. ^ Psal. : cxiii. 5, 6.
- ^ Eobanus. See i. 38, n. * themat. Not elsewhere fouud.
227
EPI8T0LAE 0B8CUR0RUM yiRORUM
matisari ad propositiim meiim : Magister Or. habet os et non loquitur, ita ut semel diceret alicui Curti- sano qui tendit Romam : " salutetis milii d. Cunradum Unckebunck." Et liabet oculos et non videt : quia
10 scripsit ei multas litteras et non respondet mihi quasi non legens seu videns. Et tertio habet aures et non audit : quia commendavi multis sociis quando iverunt ad partes, ut sahitarent eum. Sed ipse non audivit sahitationes meas, quia non respondit ilhs. Ergo
15 peccatis valde, quia ego amo vos : et ergo debetis me iterum amare. Sed non facitis, quia non scribitis milii nihil. Et vellem hbenter quod saepissime scribe- ritis mihi : quia quando lego Iras vestras, laetificant me in corde intus. Attamen intellexi, quod habetis
20 paucos auditores, et est querehi vestra quod Buschius et Caesarius trahimt vobis schohires et supposita abinde : cum tamen ipsi non sciunt ita exponere poetas Allegorice sicut vos, et superallegare sacram scrip- turam. Credo quod diabolus est in ilhs poetis. Ipsi
25 destruunt omnes universitates. Et audivi ab imo An- tiquo JMagistro hpsensi qui fuit magister XXXVI annorum, et dixit mihi, quando ipse fuisset iuvenis, tunc illa universitas bene stetisset, quia in XX mili- aribus nulhis poeta fuisset. Et dixit etiam quod tunc
30 supposita dihgenter compleverunt lectiones suas for- maies et Materiales seu bursales : et fuit magnum scandahnn quod ahquis studens iret in platea et non haberet Petrum Hispanum aut Parva logicaha sub bracliio. Et si fuerunt Grammatici, tunc portabant
35 Partes Alexandri vel vade mecum vel Exercitium puerorum, aut Opus minus, aut dicta lohannis Sin- then. Et in schohs advertebant dihgenter : et habu- erunt in honore magistros Artium : et quando viderunt unum Magistrum, tunc fuerunt perteniti cpiasi vide-
40 rent imum diabohun. Et dixit etiam (juod protunc quater in anno promovebantur baculari et semper pro una vice sunt sexagnita aut (piinquaginta. Et illo
^" Jhrni. v,t mnt. : the foriuer dealiiig ■" Parv. log. : i. Vl, n.
Mith tlie text of the works studied, 3.-. Partes.: i.e. the Dodrinalc.
and tlie latter witii tiie conimeiitaries. •>- ,, ., „ . n^
3i li f II- •11 ,1 4.1, i. hxercit. feee i. iiU, ?*.
l'etr. Ihftj).: i. 11, ;/. (ohserve that '
his book is liere discriminated from ^^ l-^inthen. See i. 7, 7J.
the foUowing). *- sex. Sic, in [U].
228
II 4(ij CUNRADUS UNCKEBUNCK
tenipore universitas illa fuit multinii in flore. Et quando unus stetit per annuni cuni diniidio, fuit promotus in baculariinu, et per tres annos, aut duos 45 cum dimidio, in Magistrum : et si[c] parentes eorum fuerunt contenti, et libenter exposuerunt pecunias. Quia videbant quod filii sui venerunt ad honores. Sed nunc supposita volunt audire Virgilium et Plinium et alios noves autores : et licet audiunt per quinque 50 Aniios, tamen non promoventur : Et sic quando revei'- tunt in patriam, dicunt eis parentes " Quid es ? " Re- spondent quod sunt nihil, sed studuerimt in Poesi. Tunc parentes non sciunt quid est. Et quando vident quod non sunt Grammatici, tunc sunt male contenti 55 super illam universitatem, et paenitent de pecunia. Et dicunt postea ahis : " Non mittatis filios vestros ad universitatem, quia nihil student, trufantes in plateis per noctem. Et est inutilis pecunia quae datur ad studium." Et dixit mihi amplius taUs Magister quod eo tempore suo fuerunt bene duo milha studentes in Liptzicgk et Erfordiae totidem, et Viennae quatuor millia et Coloniae etiam tot. Et sic de ahis. Nunc autem in omnibus universitatibus non sunt tot sup- posita sicut tunc in una aut duabus. Et magistri 65 Lipsenses nunc valde conqueruntur de paucitate sup- positorum. Quia poetae faciunt eis damnum. Et quando parentes mittunt fihos suos in bursas et col- legia, non volunt ibi manere, sed vadunt ad poetas et student nequitias. Et dixit mihi quod ipse Liptzigk 70 ohm habuit quadraginta domicellos, et quando ivit in Ecclesiam vel ad forum vel spaciatum in Rubetum, tunc iverunt post eum. Et fuit tunc magnus ex- cessus studere in poetria. Et quando unus confite- batur in confessione quod occulte audivit Virgihum 75 ab uno baculario, tunc Sacerdos imponebat ei magnam paenitentiam. Videhcet ieiunare singuhs sextis feriis, vel orare cottidie septem psahnos paenitentiales. Et iuravit mihi in conscientia sua quod vidit quod unus magistrandus fuit reiectus, quia unus de examinatori- so bus semel in die festo vidit ipsum legere in Terentio : utinam adhuc staret ita in Universitatibus, tunc etia : ego non vellem ita servire hic in Curia : Quia quid
^" mves. Sic, iu [D] and [E]. ^^ 7nag. Lips. See ii. 58.
229
EPI8T0LAE 013SCURORUM yiRORUM
debemus facere in universitatibus ? Nos non habemus 85 proficuitatem. Quia socii non volunt amplius stare in bursis vel sub Magistris : et quando simt viginti studentes, vix unus intendit procedere ad gradus. Sed omnes alii volunt studere in himianitate. Et quando unus magister lcgit, timc non habet auditores : quia 90 poetae in resumptionibus suis habent tot auditores quod est miral)ile. Sic omnes Universitates per totam Al- maniam minorantur. Ergo debemus deum orare quod moriantur omnes poetae, quia " expedit vobis ut unus moriatur, etc." Id est, ut poetae ([uorum sunt pauci 95 in quahbet universitate, moriantur potius quam quod tot universitates pcreant. Yos autem scribite mihi posthac : vel faciam unam longam querehim de negh- gentiis vestris commissis. Valete. Datum Romae.
XLVII
•T FRATER BENEDICTIS BE SCOCIA M. Ortvino G.
FRATERNAI.,1 et affectuosa dilectione salutis loco praemissa : notum facio nobis sicut petitis, quod
5 epistohi vestra est mihi praesentata in festo s. IVlihaehs, et voh) respondere ad proximas \'estras articuhiriter. Primo quaeritis quare nos fratres })iaedicatores cantamus grossiori voce quam ahi rehgiosi. Dico quod non ob aham rationem puto nisi quod scribitiu' Esaiae .LIX.
10 " Rugiemus ([uasi ursi omnes, et quasi cohmibae geme- mus." Et propterea credo (|uod sanctus Dominicus voluit Implere istam prophetiam. Secundo (juaeritis quid teneo, an sanctus Thomas vel sanctus Dominicus
^■' cryjcrf. ; Johii xi. 50. ^' «;/. ,v. T/iodi.: Iii tlie anony-
^ gro.ssiori voce : " ['Vhe ])i>n\\iur;ij\\ inous " Maiuialc Sc-holarium cjui
Itarks at inidMiglit, witli a lioarse studentiuiii uiiiversitates aggredi, et
aiid iiiipleasaut voice." ./'<//// I'lii/.^i<>- postea proficere in eisdeni iiiten-
j)lnlns\- .Spar. of fhe Xat. Ilist. <>f dunt : " .v. /. vt a. [Hain, 10735 ff.],
Monks, Loiid., 1783, p. 20. tlie interlocutors similarly contciid
- Eh. IAX.: V. 11. The V^ulg. iii- (cli. iv.) coucerning S. Tlionias and
serts '^ meditantes " after coliiinbac. Alhertus Ahignus, upholding re-
" Wee shul roreii as heres alie, and spectively tlie sanctity of tlie former
as culiieres bethenkeiide we shul aiid the learning of the latter. weilen." A\'ickl.
230
II 47] BENEDICTUS DE SCOCIA
est sanctior. Dico quod sunt variae opiniones : et doctores ordinis nostri variis modis disputant. Aliqui 15 tenent quod s. Dominicus est sanctior merito vitae, sed non merito doctrinae : et per contrarium s. Thomas est sanctior merito doctrinae, non merito vitae. Alii putant quod simpliciter s. Dominicus est sanctior, et probant duabus rationibus. Prima est quia s. Dominicus est 20 sanctior [auctor] ordinis nostri, et sic s. Thomas, qui est de illo ordine, fuit eius discipulus. Sed non disci- pulus super magistrum. Ergo. Secunda est quia doctrina non habet prerogativam ad vitam et gesta : et ergo licet s. Thomas fuit doctior quam s. Dominicus, 25 tamen non propterea etiam est sanctior. Alii volunt quod simpliciter s. Thomas est sanctior, quia non est alius doctor inter omnes sanctos qui appellatur " doctor sanctus " praeterquam sanctus Thomas. Et ergo sicut Aristoteles appellatur " philosophus " et Paulus " Apos- 30 tolus," sic s. Thomas propter eminentiam vocatur " Sanctus." Et ergo non solum in doctrina, sed etiam in sanctitate est maior quam s. Dominicus. Respon- detur quod s. Thomas vocatur " sanctus " non quod est sanctior omnibus aliis sanctis simpHciter, sed tantum 35 inter sanctos doctores est sanctior. Et sic non est sanctior quam s. Dominicus. Etiam dixit mihi unus antiquus de ordine nostro, quod vult mihi ostendere in uno libro veterissimo, quod prohibitum est disputare de superioritate inter istos duos sanctos. Et ergo rehnquo 40 hanc quaestionem et non volo eam decidere. Tertio quaeritis an etiam puto quod loannes Pfefferkorn per- severabit in fede christiana ? Respondeo quod per deum nescio quid debeo dicere. Quia est valde periculosum. Vos bene scitis illud exemplum ad sanctum Andream ^^ Coloniae : qualiter unus Decanus eiusdem ecclesiae ludaeus baptisatus diutissime mansit in fide christiana, et vixit rectissime. Sed postea in articulo mortis iussit sibi portare unum leporem et canem, et misit eos cur- rere : tunc statim canis apprehendit leporem. Tunc ^ iterum iussit currere unum Catum et murem : et Catus
2' sanct.: Bocking proposes ^^ veterissimo. Not elsewhere
" auctor." found.
" nmi discip.: Mattli. x. 24. In ^^ fede. ^Vc, in [D].
the Vulg. "nonest ..." ^^ ad s. And. : where the Augen-
^i propter emin. : " par e.xcellence." spiegel wasburnt.
231
EPISTOLAE OBSCUEOEUM VIEOEUM
apprehendit murem. Et dixit multis circumstantibus " A^idetis quod ista animalia non dimittunt naturam suam ? Sic etiam ludaeus nunquam dimittit fidem
55 suam : ergo etiam hodie volo mori sicut bonus ludaeus : " et mortuus est. Tunc cives Colonienses in memoriam facti ilhus fecerunt has aereas imagines quae adhuc sunt super murum ante cimiterium. Item audivi de aho. Qui simihter in articulo mortis constitutus iussit sibi
60 portare unum lapidem magnum, et ponere eum in olla cum aqua et ponere ad ignem ad coquendum : et stetit bene tres dies apud ignem : tunc quaesivit an esset coctus. Responderunt quod non, quia non est possibile quod unus lapis deberet coqui. Tunc respondit ipse :
65 " Sicut iste lapis nunquam ht molhs apud ignem. Ita etiam nunquam ahquis ludaeus ht recte christianus. Sed faciunt hoc propter hicrum vel propter timorem vel proptetea quod possint facere unam proditionem. Et ego hodie volo mori sicut hdehs ludaeus." Ergo per
70 deum, M. Ortvine, timendum est valde de loanne Pfefferkorn, quamvis spero quod dominus deus dabit ei specialem gratiam et conservabit eum in hde ; et nos debemus utique semper dicere quod pro certo semper manebit christianus propter loannem Keuchhn et suos
75 adhaerentes. Quarto interrogatis quidteneo de propriis nominibus : an carent phirah numero sicut tenent an- tiqui gramatici, Alexander et ahi, an vero habent pluralem sicut opinantur moderni et novi, ut Diomedes et Priscianus. llespondeo, quod dicendum est, quod
80 propria careant plurah in quantum propria. Sed ah- quando tamen dechnantur in phirah, et tunc debent exponi per appeUativa, ut duo lacobi, id est duo apos- toh qui fuerunt nominati lacobus ; duo Catones, id est duo reges vel sapientes Senatores Romani vocati tahter.
85 Tres Mariae, id est tres muheres habentes tale nomen. Respondi vobis pro posse nieo. Si scirem mehus, etiam mehus responderem vobis. Et ergo accipiatis in bonam partem. Et sahitate mihi phn-imum M. nostrum Ar-
" imagines. No longer existing. [nomina] propria sunt etappellativa."
It .seems that the story was originated JHonicdis Grnmniatici Opera. Hage-
to account for them. nau, 1526, 20 (verso).
" grai)i. Sic, in [D]. ^® Diomedes. See ii. 35^ n.
' halicnt pluralem: " Quaedam
232
II 48] IOANNE8 KALP
noldiim de Tungari praeceptoreni singularissimum. Et Valete. D. Sundis. 90
XLVIII
€E lOANNES KALP
31. Ortvino Gh'atio.
OJALUTEM amieabilem. Honorabilis domine, Vene- ^ rabilis magister, Sciatis quod miror valde, quomodo sic potestis me tribulare scribendo mihi semper " Scri- 5 batis mihi tamen aliquid novi." Et semper vultis scire novalia, cum tamen ego habeo aha ad agendum. Et ergo non possiim multum curare de novitatibus, quia oportet me currere hincinde et solUcitare, si non volo perdere sententiam et venire de beneficio illo. Sed 10 tamen si vultis esse contentus, tunc semel volo scribere vobis, ita quod postea permittatis me in pace cum novitatibus. Vos bene audivistis quaUter papa habuit unum magnum animal quod vocatum fuit Elephas. Et habuit ipsum in magno honore, et valde amavit 15 iUud. Nunc igitur debetis scire quod tale animal est mortuum. Et quando fuit infirmum, tunc Papa fuit in magna tristitia. Et vocavit medicos plures, et dixit eis : " Si est possibile, sanate mihi Elephas." Tunc fecerunt magnam diUgentiam et viderunt ei urinam, et 20 dederunt ei unam purgationem quae constat quinque centum aureos : sed tamen non potuerunt Elephas facere merdare : et sic est mortuum. Et papa dolet multum super Elephas. Et dicunt quod daret miUe ducatos pro Elephas. Quia fuit mirabile animal habens longum 25
^" Sundis: in [E] nierely "S." proper iiame. "^ Portug-al . . . seiit
Perhaps au error for Suollis (Zwoll). an embassy to the Pope (Leo \ .), oue
, „ , • .1 j Ti- member of vvhich was Tristao da
Kalp : ni the seconcl edition t^ \ i j ■t.\ -lx^ A.„r,, t„,^;o
ccij- 11, n •j. 1-1 j. xi 1 1- Cunha, laden with fi-irts rrom India,
Kalb : suitable to the bucohc i i • • 4.„.„„ „i„^i,„,,4- „.,j
, . /• xi_ j. tj. 1 and brinaruiff a tame elephant aud
character ot the writer. It mav be .-, ^. -„,,10" \i' Ariii.^..
, j ,, . ., ^ ^ r other strauee anmials. \\ . Muier,
observed that the connnentary or i, j- / 7i„ „ „ o^q (<e v
,f T , , ,. „ j. A Mediaevul Honie, p. zb». Lr. r.
/! i\ n^' was one of those ^re^orovius, aeschichte der Stadt
studied by Gargantua under Master j.^J ^ggg jj^ ^iij jgO. Upon
Tubal Holofernes. Rabelais, r.„r^., this elephant Leo X. caused the
^^^' poetaster Boraballo to ride in mock
^* E/ephas: Indecl. throughout the triumph. P. Van Dyke, Age 0/ the
Ep., aud probably iutended as a Renascence, 1897, p. 322.
233
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
rostrum in magna quantitate. Et quando vidit Papam, tunc geniculavit ei et dixit cum terribili voce " bar, bar, bar." Et credo quod non est simile animal in mundo. Dicunt quod rex Franciae et rex Karolus fecerunt
30 pacem ad multos annos et iuraverunt invicem. Sed videtur alicjuibus quod talis pax est Cautelosa, et non durabit diu. Ego nescio quomodo est. Etiam non multum curo. Quia quando venio iterum ad Alma- niam, tunc ibo ad pastoriam meam et habebo bonos dies.
35 Quia habeo ibi multas aucas et galUnas et annetas, et possum habere in domo mea quinque vel sex vaccas, quae dabunt mihi lac quod facio caseos et butirum. Quia volo habere Cocam quae facit mihi taha. Et debet esse antiqua. Quia si esset iuvenis, tunc faceret
40 mihi tentationes carnis, ita quod possem peccare. Ipsa etiam debet mihi nere, quia emam ei hnum. Et volo habere duos vel tres porcos et volo eos impinguare quod faciunt mihi bonum lardum. Quia ante omnia volo in domo mea habere bona coquaha. Etiam volo semel mac-
45 tare unum taurum, et dimidium volo vendere rusticis, et dimidium volo suspendere in fumo. Et retro domum habeo hortum, ubi volo seminare alhum, cepes, petro- sihum, et volo liabere olera et rapas et aha. Et ego volo iii hieme sedere in stufia mea et studere quod
50 possim rusticis praedicare in sermonibus Parati vel Discipuh, vel etiam in Bibha, ita quod ero habituatus ad predicandum. Et in aestate volo ire piscatum vel
" hiir. Cf. Aii el('[>li;iiit. th;it out ^° ['ardtivel l>isripu/i. The Paratiis
of rcvereiice for the pope liis ni;ister is ;iii Jiuonyiiious vvork veiy popiihir
would barr ainl bend tlie knee." in its tiiue, eutitled Sernwnes parati
Urquhart, l\'ahe/ai.s, III. xiii. f/e /enipore et Sancti.s: Tliis contains
^" pareiii. This treaty hetueen 157 short sermons for the Sundays of
Francis I. ;iud ('harles V. was sif^rned the Christiaii year and 81 for festivals.
- it Noviodiiiium (Noyon), Auj;^. 13, There is a very early example of an
1516. liy it certain territories lost iiidex [Taiia/a) aj>peiided, " (lua bene
by \ eiiice were restored to her, aud intuit;v li:il>('iidus sermo celeriter iu-
(harles bec;uiie betrothed to the in- veiiiri jxiterit." There are seven
fant daiighter of the French kin^:. edd. iii tlio Brit. Mus. from I480(.).
II. Alartiu, lii.st. (/e l<'rance, vii. 4.')(). The l>iscipu/iis was the auonyinous
■•* ro/pia/ia. Not elsewhere fouud. work of .foluuin Herolt, a Domiuican,
'^re/ro: prepn. "behiiid." (f. who eutitled his compihition -S^'?v//«/iC.s-
retro j;iiiuam " (i. 21). f/i.\-cipu/i <le /eiiipore et </e .sancti.s, in
^^ cepe.s : ior ce]>Hs. allusion to their simple chanicter.
- ' s<?(//«.- (ier. .s/?</yf.', chamber, study. H. also wrote Lilier , 14'.)2, inimediately preceded tion. See Erasm., Ep. mdcxx. /.
the election of Rodrigo Borgia as ('aesarius to ICrasrn., Cologne, July
Alexander VI., by whom he was niade 30, 1.517-
Cardinal. See Martene et Uurand, 35 ^^^^^^ g^^ .. -^^ ^^
Thes. Noi->. Anecdoforuni, \l\l,\o\.\\. ' ' • > ■
^^ Wick: Johann von der Wick, ^ Clingesor. See ii. 25.
236
11.50] ADOLFUS CLINGESOR
bene memini, nobis Coloniensibus a lohanne Lichten- lo berger sive peregrino Ruth heremita (cuius prognostica Moguntiae tam hitine quam teutonice impressa sint), vaticinata fuisse." Sic enim scribit foUo .XV I. " Atten- dite, o vos Philosophi Colonienses, ne lupi rapaces introeant in ovile vestrum : Nam temporibus vestris 15 exurgent nova et inaudita in ecclesiis vestris quae almi- potens avertat." Cum ille legisset, stetit modicum, et pensavit. Deinde dixit : " Ego miror stultitiam Theo- logorum. Creditis quod omnes homines sunt pueri, quod possitis eis persuadere taha. Sed quia Theologi 20 Colonienses volunt ita subtiles videri, ego ostendam vobis unam prophetiam de lo. R. quae magis erit ad propositum. Et postea demonstrabo etiam illam pro- phetiam quam ilh ponunt, quod est pro Reuchhn et non contra eu videatis igitur Sophoniae primo, ubi 25 propheta sic dicit : ' Et erit in tempore illo, scrutabor Hierusalem in lucernis et visitabo super defixos in faeci- bus suis, qui dicunt in cordibus suis etc' Nunc quia vos Colonienses praetenditis scripturas trahere ad placi- tum vestrum : Audiatis quomodo etiam ego possum 30 exponere verba prophetae. Uicit ergo dominus per os prophetae : ' Et erit in die illa, scrutabor herusale,' id est visitabo ecclesiam meam, cogitans reformare eam, et tollere errores si sunt ahqui in ea ; et ' hos faciam in lucernis,' id est mediantibus doctissimis viris, sicut 35 sunt in Ahnania Erasmus Roterodamus et lohannes Reuchhn, et Mutianus RufFus et ahi : ' et visitabo super viros,' id est Theologos, ' defixos,' id est obsti- naciter induratos, ' in facib^ suis,' id est in quedam sordida et tenebricosa et inepta Theologia, quam 40 ante pauca saecula usurpaverunt sibi, rehnquentes
^" loh. Licht. A facsimile of the C'ologne holdiii^ a pastoral staflF,
Fronosticatio in Latino of tlie astro- which a bear and a wolf gnaw. loger J. L. has been edited for the -^ Soph: Zeph. i. 12.
Holbeiu Society by VV^ H. Rylands ^^ Muf. Ruf. : Conrad ]\Iuth, 1472-
(1890). The work was extremely 1526, pupil of Hegius at Deventer,
popular, and appeared in many forms. the leader and guide of the Erfurt
There is a copy in the Brit. Mus. of circle. " Pessimus omnium illorum
the " Ruth " (German), with coloured qui sunt pro Reuchlin" (ii. 59). See
woodcuts (1497). Copinger, II. i. Der Briefu-echftel des M. Rufns. (^esani-
3577. melt und bcarbeteit von L>r. ('. Krause,
^^ fol. xvi. The quot. is from chap. Kassel, 1885, and Introd. xiv. The woodcut on the preceding ^^ facib. Sic, in [D] aud [E].
page shows the Bps. of Trier and ^^ qiied. Sic, in [D] and [E].
237
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
illos antiquos et literatos Theologos qui in vera luee scripturamm ambulaverunt. Ipsi autem non sciunt neque latinas neque graecas neque hebraicas
45 literas, ut possint scripturas intelligere. Et ergo re- licta vera et origenaU Theologia, nihil amphus faciunt nisi quod disputant et argumentantur et movent inu- tiles quaestiones. Et ista faciendo dicunt se defendere fidem Cathohcam, cum tamen neminem apud se habeant
50 qui pugnat contra fidem. Et sic inutihter perdunt tem- pora et non conferunt ahquam utihtatem in ecclesia dei. Sed si disputationes eorum haberent ahquam utihtatem, tunc possunt illam vertere ad commodum ecclesiae fidei Cathohcae eundo per mundum et prae-
55 dicare verbum dei sicut Apostoli, et disputare contra Graecos quod redeant in unionem cum ecclesia Romana. Vel si non vellent longe abire, saltem irent in Boemia concludentes Illam gentem cum Argumentis et Syllo- gismis suis. Sed hoc non faciunt. Verum ibi dispu-
60 tant ubi non est opus : ' Ergo visitabit eos dominus ' et mittet quosdam ahos Doctores graece, latine et hebraice doctos, qui ' eiectis ilhs faecibus,' Idest ablatis ilhs ineptis Cavillationibus et adulterinis Theologiae et ob- scuris commentationibus, adducent lucernas suas et
65 ilhistrabunt scripturas, et restituent nobis antiquam et veram Theologiam, sicut nuper ille praenominatus Erasmus emendavit hbros sancti Hieronimi, et fecit eos Imprimi. Etiam emendavit novum testamentum, quod ego credo esse maiori utihtati quam si viginti
70 miha Scotistae vel Thomistae centum annos disputarent de Ente et essentia." Postquam dixit taha, Respondi ego : " Custodiat me dominus deus, quid audio ? Vos de facto estis excommunicatus " : et volui abire ab eo tunc tenuit me dicens " Audiatis tamen finem." Res-
75 pondi " Nolo audire finem." Tunc dixit " Audiatis ergo solum quomodo exponam vestram prophetiam." Et cogitavi mecum quod volo audire : quia niliil nocet audire unum excommunicatum, dummodo ahquis non bibit vel comedit secum. Tunc incepit sic : " ' Atten-
80 dite, o vos philosophi Colonienses : ' Non dixit ' Theo-
" Hieron : publ. by Froben in 1516. " St. Jerome is to appear complete at tbe next Frankfort Fair." Erasnnis to Fhher, Ep. cclv.
"* nov. test. : publ. in Feb. 1516 by Froben, with dedication to Leo X.
288
11.50] ADOLIUS CLINGESOR
logi,' sed ' philosophi ' : quia theologia Coloniensiuni potius est philosophia, ide Ars Sophistica, quam Theo- logia dicenda, quia nihil aHud est quain garruUtas dia- boUca et inanis loquacitas. ' Ne hipi rapaces,' sciHcet lacobus de Hochstraten, Arnoldus de Tungari et simi- 85 les, qui falsitate et fraudibus suis violenter et ferociter invadunt innocentes oves, quahs sunt et fuerunt Petrus Ravennas et lohannes Reuchlin, volentes eos declarare haereticos propter doctrinam et laudem suam cui ipsi invident. Et quia vident quod ipsi non possunt taha 9o efficere quaha isti doctissimi viri : ergo vellent Hbenter perdere eos. Hi sunt igitur lupi rapaces qui insidiantur famae ac vitae innocentum. Et sic per septem iam annos rapuerunt et tracraverut hincinde miserum senem lohannem ReuchHn : et nisi omnipotens deus avertisset 95 iUud mahim, omnino devorassent eum. Et non potest exponi, quod ReuchHn sit ille lupus rapax : quia in tota vita sua neminem rapuit, id est neminem falso accu- savit vel contra vitam aut famam eius dictis vel scriptis egit. Sed attendatis, quid sonant sequentia verba : 100 ' Introivit in ovile vestrum.' Quia iUe bonus Reuch- Hn nunquam intravit studium Coloniense. Immo nunquam habuit curam de Theologis Coloniensibus vel ecclesia Coloniensi, sed habuit aHa agere maioris utihtatis : Ergo ipse non potest dici unus ex ilHs kipis 105 rapacibus, de quibus Lichtenberger sentit, qui debet esse ex oviH Coloniensi. Consequenter : ' Nam tem- poribus vestris exurgent nova et inaudita : ' Bene ' nova et inaudita,' Quia neque ocukis vidit neque auris audivit, neque in cor hominis descendit, quod ita 110 doctus et probus vir, qui tam mukis profuit et nemini unquam nocuit, in summa senectute sua debet ita crude- Hter et perfide vexari et conturbari et persecutionem pati. Et ergo sequitur ' in ecclesiis ^estris ' : qua- propter non potest de ReuchHn aUegari, quia ipse 115 benignissime vivit extra ecclesiam Coloniensem, sciHcet in Episcopatu Constantiensi. ' Et sic spero quod venient Canes,' id est fideles Custodes ovium : que sine invidia et malevolentia humiliter et fideHter pascent
" ide. Sic, in [D] aiid [E] ; for »■' trac. Sic, in [D].
" id est " (?) "* que. Sic, in [D].
- " qua/. Sic, in [D] aud [E].
239
EPISTOLAE OBSCIJRORUM VIRORUM
120 oves Christi, id est populum Christianum, ' et delacera- bunt illos lupos qui vastaverunt ovile dei, et purgabunt Ecclesiam dei,' id est eiicient illos sordidas et faecu- lentos theologos qui nihil sciunt et omnia scire preten- dunt." Postquam talia dixit, recessi ab eo, et luravi
125 ad sancta sanctorum quod volo scribere ad Coloniam. Peto ergo humilter quod vehtis ista dicere Magistris Nostris et lohanni Pfefferkorn qui est quasi scriptor Coloniensium et scit mirabiliter componere, ut bene vexet eos scriptis suis. Ille qui dixit ista, est natus
130 ex Perlin. Si vultis nomen eius scire, tunc scribatis mihi, et dicam vobis. Ipse stetit Bononiae, ubi fuit bene castigatus : sed tamen adhuc loquitur contra Theologos et est male Christianus : et manet in pravi- tate sua, et ergo morietur in gehenna, a qua dominus
135 deus conservet vos et Theologos et fratres Praedicatores per omnia secula seculorum. Amen. Datum Franck- fordiae apud Oderam.
LI
C lOHANNES HELFERICH Latine lUPPITER 3L Ortvino
OJALUTEM cum humillima commendatione sui. ►O ^ enerabilis domine Magister, sicut scribitis mihi
5 quod habetis admirationem abinde quod voco me iuppiter, Sciatis quod quando steti Viennae, tunc audivi lectiones in poetria, et fuit ibi quidam iuvenis poeta qui fuit discipulus Cunradi Celtis et vocatur Georgius Sibutus. Ipse fuit socius meus et semper
10 fuimus una. Et dixit mihi "tu debes vocari luppiter, quia lupiter latine est idem quod Helferich teutonice." Kt sic vocant me nunc luppiter. Sed ille poeta nunc est Wittenbergk, et ibi accepit unam antiquam vetu- lam quae vixit annis septuaginta octo vel paulo plus.
'-" delac. Sic, in [D] and [E]. is «lerived from '^juvans pater " it is
'"" sord. Sic, in [D] and [E]. not necessary to refer to the Catho-
^-^ hnm. Sic, in[D]. licon. ('f. Cicero, De Nat. Deoriun,
"" Ferlin. See ii. 22. ii. 25. ^ iuppiter : for the notion tliat J. ^ Sibutus. See i. 3, ?/.
240
II 51] lOHANNES HELFERICH
Ego fui semel in domo eius, quando ambulavi ex 15 Prussia. Tunc IUa vetula sedit retro fornacem. Tunc dixi ei " Est ista Mater vestra ? " Respondit " Non, sed est Femina et Uxor mea." Et dixi ei : " Quare sumpsistis ita antiquam vetulam ? " Respondit quod est adhuc bona in fornicatione. Et etiam habet 20 multum pecuniae et scit facere bonam Cerevisiam, et postea vendit eam et colligit pecuniam." Tunc dixi : " bene fecistis." Et interrogavi " quomodo vocatur Femina vestra?" Respondit. "Et ego voco eam Carinna mea, Lesbia mea, et Cynthia mea." Sed transeant illa. 25 Scribitis quod videtur vobis quod statim erit extre- mum iudicium. Quia mundus ita nunc est peioratus quod non est possibile quod potest amplius peiorari, et homines habent sic malos gestus quod est mirabile. Quia iuvenes volunt se aequiparare senibus, et discipuli 30 magistris, et luristae Theologis : et est magna con- fusio, et surgunt multi haeretici et pseudo Christiani, lohannes Reuchlin, Erasmus Roterodamus, Bilibaldus nescio quis, et Uhichus Huttenus, Hermannus Buschius, lacobus winphehngus qui scripsit contra Augustinen- 35 ses, et Sebastianus Brant qui scripsit contra Praedica- tores (quod sit deo conquestum) et temerarie vituperat eos. Et sic multa scandala surgunt in fide, et bene credo vobis, quia legi quod talia debent immediate
^* Car. Sic, in [D] aud [E]. remarked that Augustine was not a
^^ Bilibaldiis: Wilibald Pirckheimer Regular, brought down on him the
(1470-1528), one of the most notable wrath of the Augustiniansjust as his
figures of the period, Boru at poem in honour of the Immaculate
Nuremberg, he spent seven years of Conception did that of the Domini-
his life in Italy. On his return to N. cans. W. was a friend and collabor-
he led the life of a wealthy scholar, ator of Sebastian Brant. The chiet
patrou of art and literature, and man educational works of ^V. are Isidonmis
of affairs. Not an extremist, lie Germanims (1496) and Adolescentia
lameuted the faults and e.xcesses of (1498). See P. V. Wiskowatoff, J. W.
both the defenders and assailants of sein Lehen nnd seine Schriften, Berlin,
the Church. The fatuous " nescio 1867 ; B. Schwartz, J. W., Gotha,
quis" is a quotation from Pfeffer- 1875.
korn's Defensio. See F. Roth, Wil. ^* Brant: Sebastian Brant (or
PiVA-A., Halle, 1887. Brandt) (1457-1521), a native of
- ' winpheling. : Jacob Wimpheling Strasburg, and the author of the
(1450-1528) was boru and died at famous Narrenschiff, which has
Schlettstadt, in Elsass. He was an passed into English literature in the
ardent educational reformer, of the form of Barclay's paraphrase, The
school of Gerson, but no supporter Shijp of Folys of the Worid, 1509.
of the Reformation. His treatise, ITie allusion in the text is to B.'s
De Integritate, in which he assailed association with Wlmpheling in the
monkish pretensions, and incidentally Immaculate Conceptiou controversy.
241 Q
EPI8T0LAE OBSCUROEUM YIRORUM
40 praecedere extremiini iudicium. Sed adhuc aliud volo significare vobis quod audivi et dictum est mihi vera- citer ab uno religioso patre, quod dicitur pro certo quod Anti-Christus est natus : sed est adhuc parvus. Etiam dixit quod facta est (j[uaedam revehitio cuidam
45 Ordinis Carthusiensium. Qui quando semel dormivit in ceUa sua, audivit unam vocem de caelo dicentem : " Peribit mundus, peribit mundus, peribit mundus." Tunc ille rehgiosus timuit et voluit ahquid dicere, sed occulte fecit Orationes suas contra tentationes
50 diaboh. Tunc incepit iterum clamare vox ilhi : et etiam tertio incepit. Tunc ipse intelligens in spiritu quod esset vox domini, respondit : " domine, quare ? " Respondit vox illa : " Propter peccata sua." Tunc iterum dixit religiosus ; " Domine, quando ? " Re-
55 spondit vox illa : " adhuc in .X. annis." Propterea timeo valde. Et quando ambulavi per Bononiam, audivi quod est ibi unus Civis qui habet spiritum, qui vocatur Rilla : et ille spiritus mirabilia dicit et de rege P^ranciae et Imperatore et Papa, et de fine mundi.
(jo Ego legi prophetias eius. Sic scripsi vobis quid ego scio. Cum hoc sitis commendatus doniino deo. D. R. C.
Lli
€E HEXRICHUS SCHLUXTZ
31. Ortvino Crratio
AMICITIAM et servitutem dominationi vestrae a parte ante semper, et (piiccpiid possum pro domina- tione vestra liic et ubique et in omnibus locis et honestis. N^enerabilis domine Mao-ister, mitto domina-
- ^ Anli-Chrisf. Iii 1190 tlio AI)!.ot ' Srhhuit-: : tlie iiame of a stroiig
Joacliim declared tliat " Aiiticlirist aiul lieavy Hrlurt beer ; " stingo." is already borii, yea born iii tbe city
of llome." See Jessopp, <'(>min<) inf " Ab pereat crassam praestat (inicun-
thc Friars. For tlie wbole subject, (|ue sodali
see Housset, l>cr Antichrist (Kng. Scbliiiitz Reydgern : nuii<iuam viiia
trans., 1896). meraca bibat."
^^ l\ill(i. Tbe allusiou remains in — I)c (icii. hjhrius., Fraiikft., 1G4.3,
obscurity. p. 453.
242
11.52] HENKICHUS SCHLUNTZ
tioni vestrae hic unum notabilem et multum proficualem librum. Et videtur mihi quod talis liber est composi- tus multum artificialiter, habens in se propositiones valde Magistrales : et vocatur " llationale divinorum " : lo ego emi hic quando fuit in nundina et dixi " iste Hber est pro ]Magistro Ortvino : laudetur deus quod inveni eum. Quia volo ei mittere, sicut ipse nuper misit mihi librum lohannis PfefFerkorn qui intitulatur " De- fensio lo. PfefFerkorn contra Famosas," quem talis 15 vir composuit intentionahter defensorium Sacrae fidei Catholicae contra lohannem Reuchhn et sequaces, dando eis bonas scommas. Sed possetis dicere : " Quare tahs mittit mihi talem librum? Credit quod non met habeo libros satis ? " Respondeo quod non facio prop- 20 terea. Et quando putatis quod misi vobis talem librum propterea, tunc facitis mihi iniuriam, quia feci cum bona opinione. Et non debetis credere quod parvi- pendo vos, quod habeatis paucos libros : quia scio quod habetis multos Hbros. Quia vidi bene quando fui in 25 stufFa vestra Coloniae, quod habuistis multos libros in magna et in parva forma. Et aliqui fuerunt ligati in asseribus, ahqui in bergamenibus. Et aliqui fuerunt per totum cum Coreo rubeo et viridi et nigro, aliqui pro dimidio supertracti. Et vos sedistis habens fla- 30 bellum in manu ad purgandum pulveres abinde. Tunc ego dixi " ]Magister Ortvine, Vos per deos habetis multos pulchros libros et tenetis eos in magno honore." Tunc dixistis mihi, quod ita debeo cognoscere quando aHquis est doctus vel non. Quia qui honorat Hbros, 35 honorat etiam scientias. Et contra qui non honorat Hbros, etiam non honorat scientias. Et tenui in corde
' pi-ofii-ualem. Not in Du Cauge, as a neuter in the title of the second
but " proficuus = utilis."' edition of vol. ii. of the E. O. V.
,n ,. . , n ,. . , .. . ^^ mult. lib.:—
'" Rationale: tiie luitionale divinoruin
o^r70TO»/ofGuillaumeDuraud(1237- " .Edibus in nostris librorum culta
i296), Bp, of Mende. It was one of suppellexj
the lirst printed books (Mainz, 1459), Eminet, et chartis vivo contentus
aud is a work of great importance in opertis
liturgical history. " Le dernier mot Quas video ignorans, juvat et me
du moyeu age sur la mvstique du copia sola."
culte divin." See Ul. Chevalier, Re- —Stultifera Navis.
pertoire den .sonrces hi.storiques du „ , ., x' 4. • -r»., r^ « .
^ ^ iQQo -^ berqamenthus. Not in Du Lange ;
moiien uqe, looJ. /-. / i \
• ^ ' Germ. (obs.) perganien.
^* scomnins : (crKWfi/uLa) correctly used -* Cor. : for corio.
243
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
meo tale dogma et tenebo per omnia seculorum secula Amen. Datum in Neumberga.
LIII
€L lOHANNES SCHLUNTZICK
M. Ortvino Crratio
SCRIPSISTIS mihi noviter unam Iram valde vitu- perativam et criminatis me quod non scribo vobis
5 quomodo stat in causa fidei cum lo. Reuchlin. Et quando legi illam litteram, fui valde iratus et dixi : " Quare scribit mihi talia, cum ego scripsi ei duas litteras et non est adhuc medius annus ? Sed nuncii non praesentaverunt sibi : quid ego possum facere ? "
10 Et debetis mihi firmiter credere quod scripsi vobis singulariter et articulatim quicquid scivi. Sed est bene possibile quod mmcii non presentant vobis. Et praecipue scripsi vobis quod quando equitavi ex Florentia versus Romam, tunc in via inveni reveren-
15 dum patrem F. lacobum de Hochstraten, INI. nostrum et her. pr. Inquis., venientem ex Florentia, ubi impe- travit ahquid in causa vestra per regem Franciae. Tunc detracto pileo meo dixi " Pater reverende, estis vel non estis ? " Tunc respondit " Ego sum qui sum." Tunc
20 dixi " Vos estis dominus meus Ma. no. lacobus de alta platea, Inquisitor her. pra." Respondit " Sum utique." Et dedi ei manum dicens : " O deus, quomodo venit quod inceditis per pedes ? Est scandalum quod tahs vir debet pedibus suis ambulare per merdam et per
25 lutum." Respondit ipse : " hi in curribus et hi in equis : nos autem in nomine domini venimus." Dixi ei : " Sed nunc est magna pluvia et frigus." Tunc levavit manus suas ad caelum dicens : " Rorate caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum." Et cogitavi mecum :
30 " O deus, non est magna miseria quod tahs Magister noster debet habere malam fortunam : ante duos annos
- Neumberga. Perhaps Nuremberg ** hi in cttrr. : Psal. xix. 8.
is meant. ** Rorate : Is. xlv. 8.
244
1153] lOHANNES SCHLUNTZICK
ego vidi eum venire Romam cum tribus equis, et nunc vadit per pedes." Et dixi ei : " Vultis equum meum ? " Respondit ipse metrice :
Qui dare vult aliis, non debet dicere " Vultis " ? 35
Tunc dixi : " Per deum, eximie domine, Ego habeo unam vacantiam, et propterea oportet me velociter ire : alias vellem vobis dare equum meum." Et sic dereliqui eum. Ecce nunc scitis quomodo stat. Et videtis quod ille magister noster est in magna miseria, propterea 40 procuretis ei pecuniam, vel Causa male stabit. Quia procurator lohannis Reuchlin loannes von der Wick facit maximam diligentiam, et currit et recurrit. Et nuper imposuit quaedam scripta contra M. nostrum lacobum, ita scandalosa quod ego miror quod deus non 45 aperte plagat eum. Ipse etiam nuper vituperavit praefatum JNl. nostrum in faciem, dicens : " Ego efficiam auxilio veritatis, quod tu morieris in scandalo et miseria et tristicia, et lo. ReuchHn triumphabit. Et omnes Theologi debent hoc videre, etiam si deberent rumpi." 50 Et sic video quod iste praedictus lohannes de Wick praetendit esse inimicus omnium Theologorum et est homo valde audax. Et est ita temerarius quantum est possibile. Ego audivi a Magistro nostro lacobo quod dixit : " Nisi fuisset iste, ego habuissem sententiam pro 55 me statim quando veni Romam." Et est verum, quia etiam ab ahis audivi, quod quando M. N. lacobus primum venit ad Romanam Curiam, tunc fuit ita terribihs quod omnes Curtisani timuerunt eum. Et nulhis procurator vohiit esse pro lohanne ReuchHn, 60 quia timuerunt talem magistrum nostrum, et lacobus de Questenbergk qui est etiam Amicus ReuchUn, quaesivit per totam Romam invenire unum procura- torem : et non potuit invenire, quia omnes dixerunt quod vellent ei in aUis complacere, sed in negocio fidei 65 timerent ne M. N. lacobus inquireret eos ad ignem. Istis sic stantibus venit ille doctor (si est dignus) lo. de Wick et dixit ad laco. de Questenberg : " Ego sum paratus ofFerre me contrra furorem illius monachi '
" Wick: ii. 49, n. •* Questen.: ii. 10, n.
" cont. Sic, in [D].
245
EPISTOLAE 0B8CUR0RUM YIRORUM
70 Tunc JNIa. no. lac. aperte minavit ei dicens : " Ego volo facere quod paenitebit te qiiod unquam dixisti unum verbum pro Reuchlin." Et audivi ab ore eius tunc temporis quod dixit, Quando haberet sententiam contra Reuchhn, tunc statim vellet ilhun doctorem de AVick
75 citare et dechu*are eum haereticum : quia ex verbis eius collegit ahquos articulos haereticales. Sed nunc est ahud. Et credatis mihi quod non bene stat negocium : quia nunc semper sunt X fautores lo. Reuclihn, ubi non est unus Theologorum. Et quando fuit post dis-
80 putatum a Theologis votatum, tunc fuerunt XVIII qui votaverunt pro lleuchhn et sohmi septem pro Theologis. Et ad huc ilh septem non dixerunt quod deberet comburi Speculum Ocuhue, sed hmi- taverunt verba sua. Ergo non habeo bonam speran-
85 tiam. Vos debetis omnia facere quae potestis quod moriatur ille lo. de Wick, quia ipse est causa quod Reuchhn bene stat et Theologi male. Et nisi ipse fuisset, tahs non fuissent perpetrata. Et sic credo quod bene expedivi me scribendo quod postea non
90 potestis mihi scribere taha vituperia. Ergo Valete. Datum Romanae Curiae.
LIV
€l iriLHELMUS BRICOT
M. Ortvino Gratio
QUIA semper petitis quod volo vobis nova scribere, et ego tamen saepe scribo vobis, sed non iuvat : ergo iterum scribcre vobis volo, et credo (juod sufficiet. Venit mihi in htera ex Romana Urbis Curia quod JNIatthaeus Finck singuhirissinuis fautor vester est mortuus, et ahqui Curtisani huismanni sui habuerunt
^^ rotdt 111)1. Nut olsewhere used iii ' /■Y/<r/,-; to ulioni ii. 8 isattributed.
tliis seuse. " iMatliias Fuiick, iiat. 'J'eut., patria
Ilayiiovieiisis . . . boiiaruni Art.
^ liricdt. Tliomas Hricot was u Mag., I*liil. or., et Poet. insij^nis." conimeiitator, inany of wliose works J. J. IVIaderus, Script. Insig . . . are extant. See llain, 39G6 s'/f). ('entnria., Helm.stadt, 1600 ; Ixxv.
246
11.54] WILHELMU8 BRICOT
me rogatum quod volo ei componere Epitaphium. Quod feci sic : lo
Hic iacet extinctus quondam venerabilis Finckus
In rubea toga : pro eo deum roga : Cuius olim venter bibit Cursica vina libenter :
In fide syncera et Charitate vera.
Unum rogo de vobis qiiod velitis me tamen instruere 13 quomodo debeo intelligere quod Parrhisienses quando sententita super Speculum oculare, ponunt ista verba " citra tamen autoris ipsius notani, quem ob humilem eius submissionem et aha eius laudabiha scripta pro Catholico habemus : " Quia non scio quid est, quod 20 Specuhnrj oculare debet comburi tanquam Hber haere- ticus sine infamia lohannis ReuchUn qui composuit et adhuc defendit eum. Quia videtur quod ahquis artifex, qui est causa efficiens, magis debet habere culpam quam res illa quam facit. Etiam vellem quod Louonieses in 25 Epistola ad papam non scripsissent, quod Sententia Parrhisiensium et Condemnatio specuh Ocularis attulit ipsis multum Spirituahs iocunditatis, quia Sanctissimus dominus Papa Cogitabit : " Ecce nunc video quod nihil est in Theologis nisi pura Invidia : Si enim essent 30 Theologi, Immo si essent Christiani, deberent potius compassionem habere de mahs alicuius Christiani quam gaudere et exultare." Et credatis mihi quod hoc multum promovebit causani lo. R. et omnes credent quod ex invidia tribulatur : quod tamen in rei veritate 35 nunquam compertum est. Quia ille adversarius noster seu potius in Christo amicus, et sui Philocapniones, id est FiHi lo. R. fecerrut iniuriam lo. Pfefferkorn, qui defendit se et scripsit veritatem. Et ipsemet petit quod moriatur si vel minimum medatiu scripsit. 40 Quamvis Psalmista dicit " Omnis homo mendax." Nec debet obstare quod lo. PfefF. in nequitiis et Criminib'^ a pueriU proch dolor Aetate (ut ipsemet scribit in defensione sua contra Famosas) exercitatus est. Quia hcet aHquis etiam per longum tempus sit malus 45 et nequitiosus, tamen bene iterum potest fieri probus :
" Cursica. See ii. 5. Philocap. : the ^vriter mistakes
ipCKoi foTfilius. ^' sent. : for sententiant ; later edd. ^* /ec Sic, in [D].
give "sententiam feruut." " Psal.: cxv. 11.
247
EPISTOLAE OBSCUEORUM YIRORUM
sic pie credendum est de lo. PfefF. qui regeneratus est per gratiam spiritussancti mediante baptismo : et ergo nunc est probus sicut non dubito. Et manebit Chris-
50 tianus usque ad finem seculi. Etiam intellexi quod quidarn valde infamavit vos ubique dicens quod estis filius presbiteri et non estis legittimus. JNIiror istos ribaldos quod non habent verecundiam et sunt ita audaces. Tamen habetis Iras legitimationis vestrae.
55 Ergo vellem eos citare qui dicunt talia. Et rogo vos quod in Causa fidei velitis habere magnam diligentiam, quod ille haereticus eat ad patibulum et sic Valete. Datum AVormaciae.
LV
•E 31. SYLVESTER GRICIUS
M. Ortvino Gratio
QUONIAMQUIDEM ego sum iuratus quod volo , defendere facultatem meam, et promovere eius
5 utiHtatem in omnibus : Ergo volo vobis articulariter scribere qui sunt hic qui favent theologis et qui favent loanni Reu., ut dicatis Theologis quod possent se dirigere secundum hoc. Primum sunt quidam Com- mensales in hospitio Coronaequi semper faciunt summas
10 nequitias Magistris nostris et fratribus de Ordine praedi- catorum, facientes quod nemo in isto hospitio dat Elemosynam praedicatoribus. Ego scio nomina ahquo- rum : unus vocatur Magister Phihppus Keilbach : Qui semper loquitur de Reuchhn commendans eum, et
15 semel M. nf Petrus Meyer plebanus in Franckfordia dedit ei bonam sconnnam ; imus Ulrichus de Hutten qui est valde bestiahs, qui semel dixit, si fratres praedi- catores facerent sibi illam Iniuriam quam faciunt lohanni Reuchhn, ipse vellet fieri inimicus eorum et
20 ubicunque reperiret unum monachum de hoc Ordine, tunc vellet ei amputare nasum et aures. Iste etiam habet multos amicos in Curia episcopi qui etiam bene
Kcilh. Oiie of Murner's treatises was «ledicated to"tliat learned man," P. K. (Panzer, xi. p. 415). " Meyer : i. 5, n.
248
11.55] 8YLVESTER GPJCIUS
favent lo. Reuchlin. Sed nunc abivit (deo gratias) ad fiendum doctor, et in uno anno non fuit hic. Diabolus auferat eum. Deinde sunt duo fratres Nobilitares Otho 25 et Phihppus de Bock, ipsi vexant omnes Theologos. Et semel in illo sacro actu quem magistri nostri cele- braverunt in Maguntia contra Speculum Oculare, tunc M. lacobus de Hochstraten ex officio suo dedit indul- gentias omnibus qui interfuerunt huic actui. Tunc isti 30 duo fratres cum aliis bufonibus sedendo in conspectu Theologorum qui fuerunt ibi in hospitio, luserunt cum talis pro illis indulgentiis. Adhuc est ibi unus qui vocatur loan. Huttichius qui etiam est inimicus vester. Et ahas est quidam noviter promotus in doctorem 35 in lure, nominatus Cunradus Weydman : ipse iuvat omnes qui faciunt aliquid contra vos. Et ahus doctor qui olim fuit Artista de via modernorum, et vocatur Eucharius. Et cum hoc Nicolaus Carbachius qui legit in poesi. Item Henrichus Brumannus qui est 40 vicarius in summo et est bonus Organista. Et dico semper ei : " Vos deberetis respicere organa vestra et dimittere Theologos in pace." Sed ante Cononici fere omnes sunt pro ReuchHn ; praeterea multi alii magistri qui amant poetriam, quorum 45 nomina non teneo. Nunc scribam vobis de Amicis et fautoribus. Vos habetis hic unum Amicum qui est vir multum excellens : et vocatur dominus Adularius Schwan : ipse est nobilis et habet unum Calicem in clypeo : pater eius fuit Campanifex, Et est subtiHs 50 disputator in via Scotistarum, et facit bona Argumenta : et dicit quod statim vellet concludere lo. Reuchlin, si deberet cum eo disputare. Alius est fautor vester singularissimus, dictus Henricus Han, aHas Glocken- heintz, quia Hbenter campanisat. Ille est homo valde 55 inventivus, et habet mirabilem inteUectum, et ita profundum ingenium quod non creditis, et Hbenter disputat : et quando disputat, tunc ridet : et ridendo concludit unum. TaHs quando vidit Articulos haere-
" de Bock. Nothing is knowii of '* Euchar. : perhaps Euch. Galliii-
these. arius, Canon of Spiers.
^* Huttich.: c. 1480-1544. Anti- ^^ Carbach. See ii. 9.
quarian ivriter. ** Con. : for vanonici.
^' Weyd. : friend and pupil of ** Schwan. Unknown.
Zazius. ** Han. Unknown.
249
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
f)0 ticales lo. Reuchlin, tunc dixit, quod propter unum ex istis articulis [lohannes] Reuchhn deberet coniburi. Postea habetis etiam de vestra camponia : unum nobilem domiceUum et armigerum qui dicitur Matthias de Falckenberg : et est vir multimi belhcosus et portat
«5 semper arma secum et est equestris : ipse semper in mensa sedet ante et nunquam retro : quia dicit quod ((uando sederet retro et fieret beUum, tunc non posset ita statim surgere et percutere inimicos suos. Et cum hoc est argumentator multum subtihs de via anti-
70 quorum : ipse dicit, si Ileuchlin non vult cessare, tunc vult venire cum centum equis ad auxihandum vobis. Adhuc est unus civis IMoguntinensis qui nominatur AVigandus de Solmsz. Ille est iuvenis, sed ita doctus, quod potest aequivalere unum magistrum nostrum :
75 ipse dicit quod vellet cum Ileuchhn disputare pro X florenis. Et nuper superdisputavit lohannem Hut- tichium ita quod fuit conchisus et nihil scivit re- spondere. Cum ille est etiam de via vestra dominus W^ernherus qui est mirabihter cursivus in Summa
80 Thomae contra gentiles, et scit mentetenus formahtates Scoti. Qui dicit, si jNI. noster [de] Hochstraten non esset in Curia, tunc ipse vellet intrare et concludere lo. Reuchhn. Isti socii vestri iam nominati singuhs septimanis seniel conveniunt in domo excellentis viri
85 domini JNIagistri nostri Ear. qui est caput omnium amicorum vestrorum : ibi [t]ractant materias multum subtiles. Et opponunt sibi invicem Et unus tenet opiniones Reuchlin et alii arguunt contra eum, et habent notabiles disputatioes de aliis qui sunt hic de
90 parte vestra, non scio, quia iion sunt mihi noti. Sed quando scio, tunc volo vobis scribere. Pronunc com- mendo vos deo. D[atum] ]Ma[guntiae].
'" ca)iij).: for c())))/)a7iia. oan Order at IJasle ; took part iii the
- Falck See i 44 controversy tliat (•uhiiiiiated iu the
Jetzer .scaudal. _ ^olmsz. Uiiknovvn. 85 /;,,^_ _. ,- ^._ ;^ehender. See i.
'* Wernhci'. Prior of the Doiuiui- 27, n.
250
I.VI
«E GILBERTUS PORRETONIUS artln
31. et utriusque iuris bacu. M. Ortv. G.
SALUS vobis et bona dies, venerabilis vir. I^egi lite- ram vestram qiiam misistis mihi ad Ingelstat. Et intellexi bene oppinione vestram. Vos dicitis quod 5 multum gaudetis quod ego sum prius Theologus, et nunc etiam studeo in iure : quia est valde bonum quod ahqui Theologi sunt experti in lure, ut possint disputare cum iuristis. Et scribitis mihi de quibusdam terminis volens scire quid significant : quia videtur vobis quod sunt lo iuristici. Et bene sunt etem. Et habetis hic exposi- tiones eorum ex glosis et Accursio. Et sic potestis videre quod habeo bonum fundamentum in iure. Latus clavus est nomen dignitatis : vel dic quod erat clava de metallo quam proiiciebat tribunus in confertissimos i5 hostes et sic ceteri omnes fortiter pugnabant ita, quod clavam illam recuperabant. Epistographum est tabula hgnea in qua erant scripta debita, ut hodie fit : et dicitur Epistographum ab opibus et graphia, quod est scriptura, quasi scriptura suarum opium. Abaces 20 dicuntur vasa preciosa. Corinthia dicuntur vasa de vili materia ut de palea vel herba palustri, quales ven- duntur Bononiae. Balnea est vas hicens, vel quasi baiulans hicem vel lancem. Prothyrum a thyros, quod est magister, et nescitur quid sit dicere. Vel dic quod 25 est iilud quod procul trahitur, ut aqua vel ahquid aliud, ut in domo Accursi Cyrella. Obsonatores sunt qui custodiunt dominum in lecto. Vel obsonatores qui resonant et cantant domino in mensa. Hypocaus-
^ GUh. Porr.: Gilbert Porretauus giveu in this Ep. are to be found
was a Bp. of Poictiers iu the Xllth verbatim iu the glosses. Ceut., author of a commeutary ou " Epiato. : for Opistographum.
Ari^totle. 20 jfjaces. See Forcelliui, s.v.
'" Arairsio: rraucesco Accorso, 21 ^, • ... c v n- •
c. 1180-1260, Professor at Bologna; Cm-inthia. See 1- orcellini, s v.
a famous Italiau jurist. His chief " halnea : au error, accidental or
work was a collectiou of glosses ou inteutional, tor haluca. the Roman Lavv, kuown as " The ^* prothyrnni : irpbdvpov. See For-
Great Gloss." All the derivations cell., s.v. diathyrum.
251
EPISTOLAE OBSCUEORUM YIRORUM
30 tum [est] locus ubi stant aegroti qui quandoque indigent igne. Gallus gallinacius dicitur Gallus cas- tratus et sic vilis, quem dicunt fortius pugnare cum serpente. ^^el dic Gallus gallinacius, quia amat galli- nas, ut vir uxorius qui feminas diligit. Ut in Odis
35 Horatii. Diaeta est locus in aulis, ubi domini stant ad ignem. Chorus est multitudo servorum cantantium cum quodam instrumento musico quod dicitur Chorus. Centumviri sunt Senatores qui centum numero erant. Patritius dicitur quasi principis pater. Unde Salustius
40 " O patres Conscripti." Nam scripta erant eorum nomina in aliquo loco, vel in Corona capitis eorum vel alias. Semper quando habetis aliqua dubia in utroque iure, tunc debetis significare mihi, et expo- nam vobis ita bene sicut lohannes Reuchlin vel aliquis
45 lurista qui sunt in mundo. Et cum hoc Valeatis. Datum Ingolstadt.
LVII
€E GALIENUS PADEBORNENSIS
M. Ortvino Gratio Sa.
YENERABILIS M., terribihs fuit mihi valde una loquela quae pervenit ad me faciens mihi surgere
5 Crines superius. Est autem taHs : Omnes fere studentes et clerici qui veniunt ex Colonia, dicunt quod est mur- mur, quod fratres praedicatores antequam volunt quod lo. Reuchhn debet eos vincere in causa fidei, ipsi volunt potius Praedicare unam aUam fidem. Et dixit quidam
10 quod est possibile quod quando Papa facit sententiam contra eos, quod ibunt in Bohemiam et hortabunt haereticos ad credendum contra Ecclesiam et Papam, et sic vindicabunt iniuriam. O bone domine Ortvine, consulatis eis quod non faciunt : quia esset magna
15 haeresis. Ego spero quod non est verum. Et cogi- tavi mecum : " Forte quod Praedicatores minantur sic papae, volentes eum terrere, quod debet cogitare * Ecce
^* /lorat : Car. i. 2, "^uxorius amnis."
^* chorus : " liistrunienti musici species." Du Cange.
^^ Bohem. See ii. 50.
252
II 58] IRUS PERLIRUS
si ego non dabo Sententiam pro ipsis, tunc ipsi erunt in maximo contemptu et despectu, Et totus mundus erit inimicus eorum, et nemo dabit eis Elemosynas, et 20 destruentur monasteria eorum : tunc ibunt in Bohemiam vel etiam in Turciam et praedicabunt, quod fides Chris- tiana non est vera : et erit magnum malum.' " Sit quidquid vult : Ego vellem quod haberetis patientiam et non faceretis contra papam vos Theologi, ne omnes 25 Christiani sint inimici vestri. Et valete in nomine unigeniti fihi dei. Datum Bremen.
LVIII
fE 31. IRUS PERLIRUS
31. Oiivino Cri-atio
SALUTIS copiam. Venerabilis vir. Venerunt huc scripta vestra ad Universitatem quae composuistis contra lohannem Reuchhn : quae antiqui Magistri hic 5 valde laudant, sed novi et iuvenes non tenent ahquid de eis, dicentes quod ex invidia vexatis bonum Reuch- lin. Et quando habuimus consiHum an etiam vellemus concludere contra Speculum Oculare, tunc iUi novelli qui non sunt adhuc satis experimentati, tenuerunt oppo- 10 situm antiquis iUis, dicentes quod Reuchhn est innocens et nunquam scripsit ahquid haereticum. Et sic usque adhuc impediverunt : nescio quod fiet postea. Ego Credo quod Universitas adhuc scribit [peribit] propter iUos poetas qui sunt ita multi quod est mirum. Et noviter 15 advenit unus huc qui vocatur Petrus MosseUanus qui est graecus. Et ahus est hic qui etiam legit in Graeco, vocatus Ricardus Crocus, et venit ex AngUa. Ego dixi nuper : " Diabole, venit iste ex AngUa ? Ego credo quod si esset unus poeta ibi ubi piper crescit, ipse 20 etiam veniret Liptzick." Et ergo JNIagistri habent ita
^ Ir. Perl.: Irus, the voracious or Pruttig^ on the Mosel (1493-1524):
beggar of the Odyssey ; perlirus, per- succeeded Richard Croke as teacher
haps Durchleierer, a hurdy-gurdy of Greek at Leipsic, 1517. See O. G.
player. Sclimidt, Petr. Mosellanus, Leip., 1867.
" scrib. Sic, in [D] and [E]. ** Crociis: i. 35, /2.
" it/(9**e//.;PeterSchade, ofBruttig, ^ piper: \.25,n.
253
EPLSTOLAE 0BSCUR0RU31 VIRORUM
paucos domicellos quod est scandalum. Et ego re- cordo adlmc, quod quando unus magister ivit olim ad balneum, ipse habuit plures domicellos retro se, quam
25 nunc in diebus festis quando vadunt ad ecclesiam. Supposita etiam tunc fuerunt ita discreti sicut angeli. Sed nunc currunt hincinde et non curant ali(|uid magis- tros : et volunt omnes stare in Civitate et comedere extra Collegium, et magistri liabent valde paucos com-
30 mensales. Item in proxima promotione fuerunt pro- moti tantum X bacularii. Et quando habuimus examen, tunc tractaverimt magistri quod vohlt ali- quos reiicere. Tunc ego dixi : " nullo modo : Quia si reiicitis unum, tunc postea nidhis intrabit amphus
35 examen, vel studebit pro gradu, sed ibunt ad poetas. Et sic dispensavimus cum ipsis. Fit autem dispensatio in tribus : Prinumi in Aetate, quia oportet (|uod unus qui vult promoveri in bacuLarium, sit et minus XVI annorum, in magistrum [autem] viginti. Si non sunt
40 autem satis senes, tunc dispensatur cum eis. Secundo fit dispensatio in moribus : Quia (piando supposita non exliibuerunt debitam reverentiam magistris et graduatis, tunc reiiciuntur, nisi mediante dispensatione admissi fuerunt. Et cum hoc (juaeretur de excessibus, scihcet
45 si querunt [fuerunt] in phiteis sine discretione, vel fuerunt apud meretrices, vel portaverunt arma, vel tibisaverunt imiun magistruin vel presbiterum, vel fecerunt tumultum in lectoriis vel collegiis. Tertio fit dispensatio in Artibus, quando non sunt bene habi-
50 tuati in scienciis, et non satis compleverunt. Nuper in examine (piaesivi unum : " Dic mihi (piomodo tamen venit (|uod tu niliil respondes ? Dixit ille, (piod esset ita timax. liespondi ego, (piod non crederem (juod esset ita timax, sed bene crederem (]uod esset ita
55 ignorax. Tunc dixit " per deum, non, domine Magis- ter : eao habeo mamiam scientiam intus, sed non vult exire." Et sic dispensavit cum eo. Ita videtis quod imiversitates valde minorentur. Ego habeo unum domicelhnn quem nupcr interrogavi super unum ex-
(;o cessum : tunc rebellavit milii et statim tibisavit me.
^° iiisp(;ii.s(ifi(/: for details of all tlic iniiversity rctiriilations referred to iii tliis Ep., see K Zarncke, IHe Sidtiilcnhitch d. i'niv. Lcipz., 18G1. " fli.sp. Sic, in [!)] and [E] ; evidently for di,spcni<ari.
254
II 59] I0HANNE8 C0CLEARILIGNEU8
Et dixi ei : " hoc ego volo servare usque ad promo- tionem," innuens quod deberet pati reiicionem. Re- spondit ipse : " ego merdarem vobis super vestros baciilaureatus, et ibo ad Italiam, ubi praeceptores non decipiunt sic suos discipulos, et non liabent in usu C5 istas fantasias facientes bacularios. Sed quando aliquis est doctus, tunc habet honorem : quando autem est indoctus, habetur sicut aUus asinus." Et dixi ei : " Tu ribalde, velles tu parvipendere gradum bacalariatus qui est magna dignitas ? " Tunc respondit, quod etiam 70 non curaret magisterium. Et dixit : " ego audivi ab amico meo quod quando stetit Bononiae, tunc vidit quod omnes magistri artium ex Ahiiania deponebantur tanquam beani, Et simpHcia supposita non : Quia in Itaha habetur pro vituperio quando ahquis est pro- 75 motus in Ahuania in magistrum vel bacularium." Ecce taha scandala fiunt. Ergo vellem quod omnes universitates facerent in simul et conchiderent simul omnes poetas et humanistas, quia destruunt universi- tates. JNIagister Langschneyder et magister Negehn so et M. Kachelofen et M. Arnoldus Wustenfelt et doctor Ochsenfart mttiut vos salutare. Valete. Da. Liptzick.
LIX
il lOHANNES COCLEARILIGNEUS
M. Ortvino Gratio Su.
COMMISISTIS mihi quod quando est hic missa, tunc debeo interrogare ab omnibus kauffmannis qui veniunt ex diversis partibus, de illa coniuratione, 5 de qua scriptum est vobis, quia debent esse ahqui poetae et iuristae qui fecerunt coniurationem, quod volunt lo. Reuchhn defendere et contra Theologos Colonienses et fratres praedicatores scribere, nisi statim dimittunt praedictum lo. Reuchhn : Sciatis quod feci 10
^° Langschmyder : i. 1. ^^ Wusten. : thrice Rector of Leips.
Univ. ^'^ Xegelin:i.\^. ^^ Ochsen.: Vice - Chancellor of
Leips. Univ. in 1508. " Kachelofen : i. 38. " ,„^^, _. f^^j. mittunt
255
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
magnam diligentiam quaerendo et interrogando et ultimo veni ad unum librivendum de partibus superiori- bus. Ipse dixit mihi mirabilia, Et nominavit mihi multos et dixit quod vidit seripta eorum quae mittunt
15 sibi ad invicem. Et dixit primo de doctore Murner qui est quasi caput illius societatis, quod scit perfecte quod ipse composuit unum librum de scandalis praedi- catorum et unum alium in defensionem ReuchHn. Postea nominavit Hermannum Buschium, dicens quod
20 vidit epistolam eius in qua promittit sociis suis, quod non vult esse minimus, et audacter vult stare pro Reuchlin. Item deinde dixit quod etiam est in illa Coniuratione Comes de nova Aquila Coloniensis Cano- nicus, et quod talis composuit mirabiha de Theologis
25 quae vult statim imprimere : Et ipse habet multos ahos amicos et nobiles quos ipse etiam instigat scriptis suis quod debent favere lohanni Reuchlin. Item Bilibaldus nescio quo [quis], qui debet esse in Nurmberga : ipse fecit multas minas dicens quod realiter vult expedire
30 Theologos scriptis suis. Tunc ego dixi : " Qui moritur minis, Ille compulsabitur bombis," teutonice ' Wer von trewen stirbt, den sol man mit furtzen zum grab leutten.' " Nominavit mihi postea unum poetam in Erfordia qui vocatur Eobanus Hessus et debet esse
35 iuvenis et expertissimus poeta : et tahs habet unum socium ibidem dictum Petreium Aperbachium : ipsi componunt iam libros quos volunt statim imprimere nisi Theologi faciunt concordiam cum Reuchlin. Cum hoc debet esse Liptzick unus AngHcus nescio quomodo
40 dictus. Sed credo quod est ille qui fuit ante duos annos Coloniae, qui est etiam unus. Et V^adianus Viennae, de quo dicunt quod est terribihs poeta. Item in Curia Cardinahs est quidam Caspar Ursinus qui scit
^* lihriv. : Froben of Basle (?). of the earlier critics he was believed
^* Murner : ii. 3, n. to have had a hand in the E. O. V.
" Busch. : i, 9, n. " Bilibald. : ii. 51, n.
^ Nov. Aq.: Hermann, Graf von '* Eohanus : i. 38, n.
Neuenar, c. 1491-1530; pupil ol '* J/Jcrft. ; ii. 45.
Caesarius, with wliomhevisited Italy. ^^ Angl. : ?.e. Croke. See i. 35, ?i.
Himself a man of letters, and Dean " Vadian.: ii. 30, n.
of the Canonical Cliapter at Cologne, *' Card. : Matth. Lang, Ahbp. of
he was a liberal patron of the Salzburg.
humanists of his day, and a strenu- *' Ursinus : Caspar Ursinus Velius,
ous upholder of Reuchlin. By many 1493-1538, a precocious scholar who
256
11.59] lOHANNES COCLEARILIGNEUS
facere graeca Carmina et promisit Reuchlin auxilium suum, et vult esse inter socios. Item ipse dixit quod 45 audivit quod Philippus Melauchton et lacobus winphel- ingus et Beatus llhenanus et Nicolaus Grebelhus sunt etiam tales. Et dixit ipse quod scriberent Hteras ad Uhnchum Huttenum qui studet Bononiae, quod etiam debet esse unus ex eis. De ahis [autem] ipse non 50 audivit. Tunc quaesivi ab ahis, an etiam Erasmus Roterodamus esset cum eis. Respondit mihi quidam kaufFmannus dicens : " Erasmus est homo pro se : Sed certum est quod nunquam erit Amicus illorum Theo- logorum et fratrum, et quod ipse manifeste in dictis et 55 scriptis suis defendit et excusat lohannem Reuchhn, etiam scribens ad papam." Et ab ahis audivi quod Pauhis Ritius est etiam de hoc immero. Et dicunt quidam quod lohannes Cuspinianus et Cunradus Beu- tinger qui sunt in magna gratia Imperatoris, ipsi 60 copulant istos socios et faciunt omnia quae possunt contra Theologos Colonienses in honorem lohannis Reuchhn. Et quidam studens Erfordiensis qui est mihi notus, dixit quod Cunradus Mutianus est pessimus omnium illorum qui sunt pro Reuchhn, et est ita 65 inimicus Theologis quod non potest audire quod ahquis nominat Theologos Colonienses. Et tahs studens dixit quod vidit bene viginti Epistolas ilhus, in quibus ipse rogat quosdam socios quod volunt esse Reuchhnistae. Taha audivi pro nunc, sed quando scio plura, tunc volo 70 vobis scribere. Valete in Christo. Datum Franck- fordiae.
wrote Latin aud Greek verse flueutly " vinph. : ii. 55, n.
iu his boyhood. There are frequeut *' Beatus : i. 30, n.
refereuces to his accomplishments in *' Gre. : for GerhelHns.
the letters of Erasmus, and he was ^^ homo, &c. : these five words
laureated by Maximilian. He was probe E.'s character to the core.
author of a biographical work, Chro- See Edin. Bev., vol. liii. 202, 7i.
nicoruni mundi epitonie, 1534 ; and ^* Ritius : ii. 12, n.
('. U. V. Poematum libri quinqiie, 1522. ^* Cusp. : ii. 30, n.
V.'s life came straugely to au end ; ^' Beutinger : Conrad Peutinger,
he was missing one moruiug, aud was 1465-1547, antiquary aud scholar :
never seen again. Eder, Catal. Rect. citizen of Augsburg aud Keeper of its
Vienn., p. 74. Archives ; his name is perpetuated in
- Melauch. Sic, in [D]. See ii. 9. the Tabiila Peutingeriana, a Roman
It was ou Reuchlin's recommenda- military map of the Illrd Cent. a.d.,
tion that M. was appointed Prof. of now in the Imp. Library at Vienna.
Greek at Wittenberg. ®* Mutian : ii. 50, n.
257 R
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
LX
•T 31. WERNHERUS STOMPFF
M. Ortvhio Gratio Salu.
SCIATIS, magnifice vir, quod quando accepi ves- tram literam, ego fui ita perterritus quantum est
5 possibile et fui rubeus in facie, et crines surrexerunt mihi. Et credo quod vix tantum fui in timore quando fui in rubea Camera Coloniae, intendens fieri bacularius et subiiciens me examini : Quia tunc etiam valde timui, quod reiicerent me domini examinatores. Scribitis
10 mihi quod causa fidei male stat Romae. Sancte deus, quid debemus dicere. Isti iuristae et poetae volunt destruere totam facultatem Artistarum et Theologorum : Quia etiam hic in nostra universitate ipsi praetendunt multa contra Magistros et Theologos. Et quidam nuper
15 dixit quod unus bacularius luris deberet in processione ire super unum magistrum in Artibus. Dixi " hoc non est possibile. Quia volo probare quod Magistri in artibus sunt super doctores in iure. Quia doctores in iure sciunt tantum unam Artem, sciHcet artem luris,
20 Sed magistri sunt Magistri in septem artibus liberahbus : et sic sciunt plus." Tunc ille dixit : " \^ade in Itaham, et dic quod es JNIagister Lipsensis, et videbis quomodo vexabunt te ibi." Tunc dixi, quod possem adhuc ita bene defendere magisterium meum sicut unus ex Itaha.
25 Et abivi ob [ab] eo cogitans mecum quod facultas nostra multum parvipenditur, et est mahnn : quia magistri in artibus deberent regere universitates, nunc luristae praetendunt eas gubernare, quod est valde indecenter. Et volo vos consolare quod non debetis disputare in
30 causa fidei. Quia spero quod deus bene providebit vos. Et cum hoc Valete tam diu donec Pfefferkorn manet Christianus. Datum Liptzick in CoUegio Principis.
' camcra: the exainination-room. "* disputare: Bocking proposes
See i. 17, «. desperare.
258
LXI
€E FETRUS CHARITATIS Cursor in Gramatia et professor i?i loyca S. D. M. Ortvino
REVERENDISSIME domine Magister. Quia hic ante picem sive Harzonem est Consuetudo Quod in die habent semper duas zechas, Una vocatur Civium 5 zecha Et incipit hora duodecimo, et manet usque ad horam quartam sive quintam ; Altera vocatur nocturn- alis et post zecha,q a quinta hora incipit et duratlnterdum ad octavam, nonam, et etiam decimam horam, interdum etiam durat usque ad duodecimam et ad primam horam : lo Et divites cives, et etiam consules, et JMaffistri civium quando in prima zecha sederunt et satis biberunt, tunc solvunt et vadunt ad domum. Sed iuvenis bursa et ilh socii qui non multum curant quid solvit tritticu. Isti manent sedere in illa postzecha et bibunt ac si 15 corpus et animam solveret. Nuper ergo cum sic etiam sederemus in una post zecha, ego et dominus Petrus monachus ordinis praedicatorum qui vobis multum favet propter lacobum Hochstraten haereticorum magistrum in Colonia : tunc erat infra decimam et undecimam in 20 nocte : tunc multa disputavimus de ratione nominis vestri. Et ego tenui istam opinionem de Grachis Romanis vos esse nominatum. Sed dominus Petrus qui etiam est ahquahter in arte humanitatis bene tentus, dixit non convenire, sed quod a gratia supernaH nomi- 25 naremini Gratius. Tunc fuit ibi unus trufat qui fecit valde crispum latinum, quod ego non omnia bene in- tellexi : ille dixit quod neque a grachys neque a gratia essetis dictus Gratius ; et fecit tam multa inutiha verba quod ego dixi : " Unde ergo dicitur Gratius tamen ahi ;3o viri valde profundi habuerunt desuper latam examina- tionem et concluserunt Quod vel grachys vel a gratia est dictus Gratius." Tunc ipse dixit " Isti qui hoc disputaverunt, fuerunt amici M. Ortvini Gratii, Et
^ Grum. Sic, iu [D]. * /)ice»i : liere " resin " ; Ger. Harz.
^ hir : in tlie district of the Vor- ^* qni non mnlt.: " who live from
harz.' hand to mouth."
259
EPI8T0LAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
35 interpretati sunt illud nomen quilibet secundum suam opinionem in meliorem partem : Sed tamen iste opini- ones non praeiudicant veritati. " Tunc dominus Petrus interrogavit " (juid est veritas ? et putabat quod ipse deberet tacere, sicut fecit dominus noster quando Pilatus
40 eum interrogavit. Sed ipse non tacuit et dixit " Est in Halberstat unus suspensor qui vocatur magister Gratius, et ille est Ortvini avunculus maternus et ab illo Gratio suspensore vocatur Gratius." Tunc ego non potui me servare et dixi " Ohe socie, illa est una
45 magna iniuria et ego protestor : M. Ortvinus non debet sic mittere transire : ego scio vos dicitis haec ex invidia, Qufi habetis adversus dominum Ortvinum. Quia omnis progenies accepit nomen et cognomen a patre et non a matre : quare crgo deberet ille bonus magister ab matre
50 et ab avunculo materno nominari, et non a patre sicut alii Tunc ipse respondit et dixit adacter quod omnes audirent : " Est bene verum et deberet sic esse ut dicitis : sed ipse non audet patreni suum cum honore nominare : Quia pater suus est prespiter : si ergo se
55 nominaret a patre, tunc omnes intelhgerent quod ipse esset sacerdotis et meretricis fihus, qui proprie vocantur spurii." Tunc ego iterum vakle adacter chimavi et dixi " Quomodo potest hoc vcrum esse ? Tamen ipse est magister Coloniensis : Sed alma universitas habet
fio unum statutum ([uod neminem promovent nisi sit legit- timus : Et ergo," etc, Tunc respondit " sive promovet legittimos sive illegittimos, tamen M. Ortvinus est spurius et manebit spurius in aeternum." Tunc ego iterum dixi " Quid tunc si forte Papa dispensasset
05 secum tunc ipse tamen esset legittimus, et tu graviter peccares dicendo contra Romanam ecclesiam." Tunc ille dixit "etiam si milhes esset secum dispensatum, tamen non esset legittimus." Et dixit umnii exem- phun : Quemadmodum esset cum Tudaeo qui baptizare-
70 tur ex a(jua sive baptismatc, si ibi tamen non esset spiritus sanctus, tunc illa aqua niliil proficeret, sed esset adhuc ludacus : " Sic etiani est cum istis spuriis qui sunt sacerdotum et meretricum fihi : Quia isti sacerdotes non possunt in iure meretrices matrimoni-
- Susjiensor : tlie writer of ii. 62. ^ adac : for audarter.
* pres. Sio, iu [!)].
2G0
1162] MAGISTER GRATIUS
aliter habere, et ergo non potest dispensatio filiis eorum 75 proficere." Tiinc ego iterum interrogavi " Quid ergo servas de Domino lohanne Pfefferkorn." Tunc re- spo[n]dendo dixit " Ego firmiter teneo quod adhuc est ludaeus," et llephcando allegationes supra tactas allegavit etiam evangehum Mathaei .iij. ubi stat ' Nisi so quis renatus fuerit ex aqua et spiritu, non intrabit In vitam aeternam.' Sed quia Ffefferkorn nunquam fuit renatus ex spiritu, Ergo illa aqua nihil profecit, sed ipse manebit ludaeus in aeternum." Tunc ego non potui ei ultra respondere, et surreximus, Ego et dominus 85 Petrus, et ivimus dormitum. Nunc autem audio quo- modo iste nequam gloriatur quod nos disputando vicit, et quod sit doctior quam ego et dominus Petrus. Quare oro vestram dominationem ut vehtis mihi rescribere quomodo ego debeam illa argumenta de 9o dispensatione, simihter de baptismate domini lohannis pfeff. solvere, et ilH leccatori ad suum rostrum adhgare. Quod volo per omnem vitam promerere. Valete.
LXII
iE 31AGISTER GRATIUS ZisaniaeExtirpatorhoc est fiiriim szispensor proditorum quadruplicator falsariorum et calumniatorum virgator haereti- corum combustor et imdta cdia Magistro Ortvino avuncido materno sahde U. P. 5
CHARISSIME avuncule nec non reverendissime domine Magister. Quia iam sunt multi anni elapsi et non vidimus nos invicem, Cogitavi quod bonum esset, quod vobis unam htteram scribere. Audio enim multa mirabiha de vobis, quomodo sitis 10 magnae famae, Et dicunt quod iam estis omnibus etiam mediocriter doctis notus, non solum in Colonia, sed etiam ultra Albim et Rhenum, et etiam in tota
- ° Mathaei : Jolni iii. 5. " Nisi . . . spiritu saucto, nou potest iutroire iu
regnum Dei." Vu/g. ' avunculo : nephew.
261
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
Italia et Francia. Colonienses tamen praecipue colunt
15 vos propter egregiam doctrinam, quam scribitis in fide catholica contra quendam doctorem et poetam saecu- larem lohannem ReuchUn Et ita vos inspiciunt et admirantur Quod quocunque eatis in platea, tunc monstrant cum digitis super vos, dicendo " hic est M.
20 Ortvinus qui ita vexat poetas." Credo si scirent quod essetis avunculus meus, tunc magis hoc facerent. Nam ego hic sum etiam magnae famositatis, Et exer- ceo artem meam in maxima popuh frequentia, et homines faciunt mihi eundem honorem, et quando eo
25 in plateis, etiam monstrant cum digitis super me, sicut faciunt in Colonia super vos. Quare ego valde laetor, quod homines servant aliquid de vobis et me. Audio etiam ahos viros esse in Colonia qui sunt vestri amici, et etiam vobiscum scribunt contra Doctorem Reuchhn :
30 videhcet lacobum de alta platea haereticorum magis- trum, et magistrum Arnoldum de Tungari regentem in bursa sancti Laurentii. Et omnes homines credunt quod vos tres estis vere illuminati in fide cathoHca, Et servant vos tanquam tria magna candelabra sive hicernas.
35 Et ahqui addunt quartum velut unam lampadem sive pendens lumen quod non tam clare splendet, scihcet dominum lohannem PfefFerkorn. Ego credo si vos qtuor cum vestra scientia, mediante forti palo in ahquo excelso loco aridorum hgnorum congerie exaedificato,
40 essetis cohigati, posset statim unum magnum lux mundi fieri, Et etiam clarius quam fuit ilhid in Berna. Sed haec, charissime avuncule, vobiscum pro nunc iocor. Spero tamen Extra iocum futurum quod vos quattuor eritis lux mundi fieri : Nam non est possibile
45 ut illa magna scientia que est in vobis, deberet sic in merdro manere iacere. Est mihi etiam dictum quod nuper voluistis unam antiquam vetulam, quae vendit multa vitra circa fontem Coloniae, in nocte supponere, et ipsa clamavit et homines viderunt cum luminibus
50 extra domum et viderunt vos : per deum, ego valde laudo tam bona facta vestra quae pertinent omnia ad meum artificium : et hoc decet etiam vos Theologos. Venit nuper huc fama quod esset unus poeta in Colonia, Ille solus teneret vos pro stulto et vocaret
- "■ Berna : the four heresiarclis, in 1509.
262
55
60
11.63] lOANNES DE SCHWINFORDIA
vos Porquinum, hoc est porcis et hara dignum. Per
deum, si ego scirem quis esset iste poeta, Ego vellem
eum gratantersuspendere[-] sed finaliter vos, chanssime
avuncule, valde Orarem ut omnia cum magna dili-
gentia faceretis, quod fama vestra per totum orbem
terrarum fiat nota, Nisi scirem non opus esse ut vos
admonerem : Vos enim per vos pulchre scitis, ab avis,
abavis, attavis et trittavis habetis, Praecipue tamen
didicistis a matre vestra charissima meaque sorore,
que audiens quod spurii semper habent mehorem for-
tunam quam legittimi. Iccirco ad sacerdotem cucur- 65
rit et permisit se lardare, ut vos talem virum generaret,
Quem totus mundus aUquando cognosceret. Valete ex
Halberstat.
Quinta luna Obscuros viros edidit. Lector
Solue nodum (^SS^S^ et ridebis amplius. 70
C Impressum Romanae Curiae.
[The first ed. of the second part (D) ends here. In (E) Ep. i. 19 is reprinted before No. 63.']
LXIII
€E lOAXNES DE SCHWINFORDIA septen- arum artium liberalium Magister scientijico et mirahiliter docto atque illuminato viro Ortvino Gratio in Daventria graecam et latinam linguam magistraliter docenti mille salutes et paulo plus. 5
EVERENTI ALI honore et obedientia praehbatis, j_ ^ Praeceptor in pluribus scibihbus experte. Scrip- sistis mihi nuper de victoria vestra obtenta in Roma contra istum ReuchUn qui audacter fuit contra yos, et virum noviter deificae illuminatum in fide Christiana loannem Pfeffer., Et quomodo Papa imposuit sibi silentium, ita quod nihil deberet magis scribere, "ne
"Por^MmMm.-thenearestapproach * Dareiit. But O. had been at
to this is " Portuinum," coined by Cologue for teu years. Glareanus (Hutt., Opp., i. p. 127).
^* Quinta : unlucky. Cf. lo deif. ^ir, in [E].
" Ipsa dies alios alio dedit ordine Luna , r. • • j
Felicis operum. Quintam fuge." ^' silentium : the Pope enjonied
— Virg., Georg., i. 276. silence on both sides.
263
R
10
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VIRORUM
deterius sibi aliquid eontingat," ut dieit dominus noster in evangelio. Prius enim in Speculo Oculari sic scrip-
15 sit mirabiliter quod magistri nostri non potuerunt intelligere : et tamen dixerunt quod est haereticus : ideo quia non habent sic in hbris suis, sicut ille scrip- sit, neque novus eorum theologus quem deus suscitavit ex lapidibus, ut esset semen Abrahae, sicut scriptura
20 dicit, videhcet loannes Pfefferkorn habet sic ex deifica visione seu manifestione. Vel ex hde digna relatione uxoris suae : quam audivi etiam habere spiritum pro- phetiae. De quo vos mehus scitis quam ego : quia saepe cum ea fuistis quando loannes PfefFerkorn non fuit in
25 domo. Sed nescio per deum, quomodo Reuchhn sit per vos coiifusus aut per papam. Quia iam fecerunt novam facultatem ultra ahas quattuor facultates, quas iam habuimus : et omnes illi laudant Reuchhn et dicunt quod sunt eius discipuh : et non curant amphus
30 facultatem Artisticam, eo quod artistae sunt ita magni et superbi asini : quia non sciant tria aut quattuor verba latine loqui, et vah illae bestiae seducunt phires innocentes iuvenes qui postquam longam aetatem con- trivere et quasi immersi in hac omnis barbariei nequam
35 sentina, redeuntes in paternas aedes nihil praeter
- ' Arguitur, Respondetur, Quaeritur " didicere, quo-
rum dii Tateretus, Versor, Perversor, Buridanus, Brux- ellensis, et id genus similes turbae obscurae sunt. Est tamen mirum quod unus simplex studens aut cornutus
40 vult phis scire iam in Aristotele quam baccalaureandus aut magistrandus qui audivit cursum et est bene quah- ficatus. Ipsi etiam non sunt reverentiales magistris, et quando ante unum vadunt, non tangunt birretum (sicut moris est) et semper volunt frequentare domum
^^ miraJ>.: i.e. in " Middle High ^' Hurid. : Jean Huridau, oh. c.
German." 1358. Pupil of William of Ockham,
^' Tater. : Petrus Tartaretus, a llector of tlie Univ. of Paris. 1327 ;
contemporary theologian of Paris, a vvriter on philosophy, best known
autlior of many commentaries on from liis association witli the sophism
Aristotle and his commentators. of " Buridan's Ass " (thoutfh a sirai-
- ' Versor : another Parisian theo- lar "case" is mooted by Dante, Pai'.
logian of the XVtli Cent. (Tour- IV.).
neur.) " Brux.: Georgius B., a XVth
" Fervermr : lleuchlin in his De- Cent. nominalist. See Foppens, fljW.
femio, 1513, called Ortwin, " Artium Belg., p. 332.
perversor, volui ])rofessor." ** dom. : i.e. hijianui:
264
II 63J lOANNES DE 8CHWINF0RDIA
scis bene. Etiam non audiunt Consequentias ^NIarsilii 45 neque Suppositiones aut praua [Parva] logicalia : ideo non est possibile quod possunt esse formales et apparere in disputationibus. Sed dimittamus ista : scribo vobis pro novitatibus quod lacobus AVimphelingius qui etiam est medius Reuchlinista, reahter est expeditus per 50 quendam monachum Pauhmi Langium, qui reaUter scivit sibi dicere quod non recte scripsit in uno Ubro qui vocatur " De integritate " : videhcet quod scientia non tantum esset in cuculla. Nam ille monachus composuit ahum hbrum contra, qui est apprpbatus in 55 Capitulo sive sinodo Reinhartzbornensi ordinis sancti Benedicti, Anno domini .1509. et est bonum latinum: quia unus dixit quod esset ferme ita bonum sicut Doctrinale Alexandri : et ego multum gaudeo quod tanta latinitas etiam invenitur in monachis : et ipsi 60 etiam dicunt quod superexcellescat stilum Ciceronis : sed ego hoc non credidi, quod est una nota altius. Sed procedit doctrinahter multum contra Wimphel- ingium metrice, prosaice et rigmatice : et sicut ego puto, recte habet, quod omnis scientia est in cuculla, 65 id est in monachis : quia transeundo de inferiori ad superius monachi scripserunt commenta in regulas grammaticales, in Donatum, in Petrum Hispanum, in Phisicorum, INIetaphisicorum et Ethicorum, et sic commentis suis commerdaverunt, et in omnibus sci- 70 bihbus facti sunt magistrales. Sed cum supportatione sua ego distinguerem : primo de cucullatis : quia est terminus aequivocus ad multa. Primo ad Bohemos qui habent cucuUas ita longas ut vadunt ultra cingu- lum abinde : et in ilhs non est scientia, sed potius 75 haeresis. Secundo ad ludaeos qui etiam sunt cucul- lati : et tamen non scientifici, quia extra ecclesiam.
- J/crs?7. ; M. ab Inghen, o/^. 1396. ^^ Donatus : ^Elius Donatus, a
A pupil of William of Ockhani, first grammarian of the IVth Cent.,whose
Rector of Heidelberg Univ. For the Ars Grainntatica was used as a school
" Consequentiae," see i. 17, n. text-book in tlie Mid. Ages so uidely
- ^ Suppos. : apparently by Peter tliat " Donat" became a synonym for
Hisp., but no separate work of his is " grammar," or the elements of auy
thus named. science. The early Donatus was the
- Fari\ log. See ii. 17, n. only block-book without illustratious.
" Wimphel. See ii. 51, //., and «» PA/a., <tc. : of Aristotle.
the Camb. Mod. Hist., vol. i. p. 634. '" conunerd. : a comic perversion of
^^ appr. Sic. in [E]. " commentaverunt."
265
EPISTOLAE 0B8CUR0RU:M YIRORUM
Tertio ad magistros nostros qui sunt bene illuminati, sed non in superlativo. Quarto ad monachos : et illi
80 superexcellenter habent scientiam sicut vos habetis. Igitur rogo vos, iuvate illi monacho : quia etiam vos estis ex parte, id est. Tertio modo cucullatus, ut possit scripta sua defendere contra AVimphehngum. Quia iit audio quod Wimphelingus habet multos
85 discipulos, (|uos miciii unus nuper nominavit, qui sunt in Argentina: Unus vocatur lacobus Stvn'mius nobihs, et [est] ut dicunt bonus latinista. AHus Otto- marus I^uscinius qui etiam scit graecum sicut Reuch- hn, et scit multum allegare Extra et Digestis, etiam
90 ex BibUa, quae non sunt mirabiha, quia studuit in Parrhisia. Item Lucas Batodius et loannes liuserus, loannes Sapidus et multi ahi, qui omnes vohmt AVim- phehngio iuvare contra cucullatos et eos reahter ex- pedire in scriptis suis. Et dicunt omnes quod ille
95 Paulus non est bene fundatus in dictis suis, et bene novem modis apostatavit ab ordine et est inquietus et trufator maximus, sicut ipsemet Tritemius scripsit in una Ifa ad Hieronynunn Tungerszheim ex Ochsen- furt : et magnum dannunn est quod ahquis sic debet
100 perdere papyrum et incaustum, et etiam tempus, sicut ipse fecit. Ipsi etiani dicunt, (|uod sanctus Hie- ronymus scribit ad unum monachinn sic : " Nun- quam de manu tua vel ocuhs tuis Hber Psalterii (liscedat : " (|uod si esset veruni, tunc obhgaret rnon-
105 achus semper et pro semper, quia est negativum. Et sic monachi nihil ahud deberent facere quam Psalterium
^*" Stiinti. : 1489-1553 ; friend aiid 1561 ; iiephew of \\'implieliii^. See
jHipil of \\'iniplieliii^, who dodicated Antohioi]. iifT. Platter, Loud., 1839.
his work, lUi Intcij., to liiiii. Seo *^ 1'nnliix. See liayle, s.v. Liinge.
Erasm., Ejip. L.IL, 1706, col. 407. He liad takeii uj) tlie cudjjels oii be-
^^ Lh.scui.: Othniar Xachtigall, half orhis teaclier, Trithemius, whose
1487- } IVipil of Wimphelinfr. writiii-s Wimpheling liad attacked.
See C. C. ani Knde, ,sy/-o/W. J//.vry'//., ' Triteni.: Johannes Tnthemius
j\r g (von Trittenheim), Ahhot of SpoQ-
"«» A>/m.- tlie Kxtra-Decretals of l','^""' .l^^.^-J-^l^-., His Catalogue of
n..^^^..., IV hcclesiastical W riters is historicallv Cireerorv lA. i i i "^
91 i,\ r I II 1 c ^ I,- valuahle.
Jiatodins: Lucas Hackfurt. ( f. ,, j . ,, i)„„y.e,sl,cini, 1465-
Lrasm., hpp. L.U. 1706, cccxli. 3a4. 154^ ,i^.^^,,j. ^,j. ^^^^ y^ j^jq
" nnxi-rnx: aiiother of Wimphel- See ,1. .1. .Maderus, Nm>/. ImUi. . . .
inj^s circle. See Krasm., Epi>. L.Ii. Ccnturia., Helmstadt, 1660; xciii. 1706, ccxvii. c<d. 1625. wi //i>;rou. : Ad llust. moii. Ep.
'^ lSapidu.s : Johaiin \\'itz, 1490- cxxv. 11.
260
11.63] lOANNES DE SCHWINFORDIA
legere : sed ego credo esse mentitum. Qiiia sanctus Hieronymus met fuit monachus : et ideo non scripsit contra eos. Audivi etiam unam trufam et magnam ribaldriam de uno discipulo Wimphelingii qui nuper no quando sibi audacter ad os dixi : " \^ester praeceptor Wimphehngius errat valde, quia scripsit contra do- minum Abbatem Tritemium contra monachos : quia in doctrina sua et sanctitate sunt notabiles te multum utiles : et ecclesia iam non habet aHas columnas nisi 115 monachos." Tunc ille dixit : " ego distinguo de mon- achis : quia accipiuntur tribus modis. Primo pro sanctis et utihbus ; sed ilh sunt in caelo. Secundo pro nec utihbus nec inutihbus, et ihi sunt picti in ecclesia. Tertio modo pro ilhs qui adhuc vivunt, et 120 ilh multis nocent, etiam non sunt sancti : quia ita superbi sunt sicut unus saecularium : Et ita libenter habent pecunias et pulchras muheres : quia veni nuper ex Heidelberga, Ubi prope Heidelbergenses est unus magnus abbas, pinguis discolus : et iste abigavit 125 omnes monachos de Collegio s. lacobi : et ipse dixit, quod vult eis recte bonum pulmentum praeparare : et postea cessavit ultra dicere. Sed ipsi dicunt, quod bene volunt credere quod fecerit ideo (Der gut bruder). Quia Palatinus vult unam aham viam instituere quod 130 veniat unus Poeta ad Heidelbergam qui faciat mon- achos istos et ahos studentes nunc latine loqui. Tunc ille pinguis abbas cito intellexit quomodo iocus vult hnem accipere, et dixit ' monachi mei non debent discere latinum novum, quia postea erunt superbi 135 quod sciunt plus quam ego : tunc ego pulchre ven- irem inter eos ut pinguis asinus inter simias.' " Sed revera illa distinctio non est multum formahs : quia non est bimembris, et sic non potest conchidere. Ego mitto vobis hunc hbrum, quem debetis facere im- i40 pressare, quia multa bona sunt intra contra istum Wimphehngium qui scripsit contra monachos. Quia statim erit in meta quando leget dominum nostrum Christum fuisse monachum, videhcet abbatem, et sanctum Petrum priorem, et ludam Schariotis cele- 145
^'^ Colleg. : in 1516 the Cistercians deserted the College of St. Jacob at Schonau, near Heidelberg. ^** cel. : for cellerariuin.
267
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM VmORUM
rariu : et Philippum portarium et sic de aliis secundum sub et supra, quae omnia iste illuminatus et valde scientiticus monachus Paukis Langius sic magistra- liter probat, ut WimpheHngus et sui discipuU non
150 debent unum verbum contra rebellare sed resistit michi unus Wimphehngianus in faciem et dixit quod monachi mentiantur sicut sceleratissimi caupones, qui volunt Christum fuisse ita portentosum animal et cucuUatam bestiam, et super me protestavit nomine
155 Christi. Tunc fui ita perterritus quod perminxi et per- merdavi me, quod omnes nasinn praetenebant : sed sit quomodo sit, ego hoc firmiter credo, quod omnes tandem erunt stare confuse tm cum sua scientia, et dicere " dia- bolus portavit ilhim monachum ad nos qs fecit eum in
160 omnibus scibihbus ita formalem et quahficatum. Quo potest hoc esse nisi per scientiam infusam : quia non stetit in ahqua universitate, et est adhuc unus purus beanus : et tamen bene valet magistrandum vel etiam plus, cum venia eximiorum magistrorum nostrorum."
165 Ipse etiam Thomas Murner monachus et doctor mul- tum subtihs et semel solenniter praedicavit in ambone quod Christus dominus noster fuit monachus : et scivit etiam reahter defendere. Sed unus discipulus Wimphehngii noluit credere in Christum si esset
170 monachus et fecit illos versus desuper : —
Non ego fallaci tecto : Tibi Christe ciiculo Crediderim : veste hac fraus tegiturque dolus.
Atque probat novus e Berna quaesitus, habenda, Franciscus, monachis quanta sit, ipse, fides.
175 Sed quid ad hoc quod non vult creder. tunc erit hae- reticus, sicut ahi qui condemnati sunt cum Reuchhn in Parrhisia et Colonia et in ahis Universitatibus. Oro etiam vos ut vehtis etiam hbrum ponere illos versus quos ego in hiudem hbri et authoris, videhcet Pauh
180 Langii monachi, cum magna dihgentia compositi et pro maiori parte quando de nocte iacui in lecto et sic speculavi, tunc quasi in somnis factus sum versi- ficator ut sequitur.
"^ Murner. See ii. 3, n. liaiids of tlie heresiarchs of Berne.
See i. 22, n. "* Francis. : i.e. Jetzer at the '^" coiitj). : for coinjmui.
268
II 64] YOLWINIUS DE MONTEFLASCON
Hic liber indignum : Uexat lacobum Wimphelintrum
Langius quem Paulus fecerat mirifice, 185
Metrice qui scripsit, etiam quoque rhetoricavit,
Quot omnes Artes sunt in Cucullatulis. Sic quoque Tritemius dixit, sic et Eberhardus
De CampiSj Volzius Paulus, et Schuterius, lohannes Piemont, Siberti lacobus, Rotger 190
Sicamber, docti cuculatique viri. lam erit confusus lacobus, et omnino detrusus
Wimphelinoius, Bebelius, atque ille Gerbelius, Sturmius et Spiegel, Luscinius atque Rhenanus,
Ruserus, Sapidus, Guidaque, Bathodius : 195
Omnes hi victi iacent, non audent dicere Gukuck,
Sic in sacco conclusi Wimphelingiani erunt, Non valent in Graecis invenire neque Poetis
Quod Lango respondeant viro scientifico.
Valete, vir illuminatissime et praeceptor valde doc- 200 trinalis, et me vice versa habeatis dilectum, quod ita bene promoveo vos per omnia saecula saeculorum. Datum in Oppido Imperiali Suerszheim in longa platea, ubi iuvenes Rustici semper in Dominica die corrisant : quod cor eis crepet. Anno a mundo 205 condito Primo.
LXIV
fE DOMINUS rOLWINIUS DE MONTE- FLASCON Reverendo Magistro Domino Ort- vino Gratiano Aeternam Salutem
QUANQUAM vos nichil sciatis, Reverende magister, in latinitate seculari (ut unus michi dixit), propter 5 quod multum diligo vos, et non curatis Pomposa verba
i«* Eberh.: E. de Campis, a Bene- "^ y^g^g^^ ggg jj n^ ,^
dictine ; prior of the Monasterj^ of 193 Qerbel. : Micli. G., of Pforzheim,
St. Mathias, near Trier. 06. 1560. An ardent humanist aud
"* Volzius : P. Volzius, 1480-1544. Reuchlinist.
A Benedictine ; later an ardent ,„^ , x , , ^ t •
Lutherau. Spiegel : Jakob S., Junst, of
^^* Schuter. See i. 32 n. Schlettstadt ; ^Vimpheling-'s nephew.
^^^ Piemont: Johanu Butzbach "^ G«iV/rt ; auotlier of \V.'s circle.
(1478-1526) ofMilteuberg. Prior of 203 ,s',/f r^-.- / Schnersheim, a small
the Benedictine monastery at Laach. i^y^^^ ^f Elsass, another Gotham.
^*" Sibert. : a monk of the same , ,. , . ,^,^ n . ~
mouastery. ^ ) otiv. : ^^quasi, "luUowme of
19» liotger: Rutgerus Sicamber. Bottleberg."
See i. 3, n. ^ Gratiano. Also in ii. 65.
269
EPLSTOLAE OJISCUROIUTM YIRORUM
sicut faciunt poetae; tamen alias scitis ubi debetis denocte iacere (sicut dicit Sapiens in proverbiis) Et non est nobis magna cura i[uid faciant illi novatores latinitatis, scilicet
10 Erasmus Roterodamus et loannes Reuclilin : Nec ego curo eos, quia non est de essentia sacrae scripturae, licet ipse et etiam alii semper volunt Theologos antiquos plagare cum ista literatura, et nescio quomodo ipsi sup- ponunt cum novo testamento et operibus sancti Hier-
15 onymi quod semper volunt illam haereticam literaturam immiscere, cum tamen dicat Pauhis quod Graeci semper sint mendaces : et ergo videtur cum supportatione exi- miorum magistrorum nostrorum, quod illa Hteratura nichil sit quam mendatium : nunc subsumo : Sed qui-
20 cunque vult confundere sacram scripturam mendaciis, ille est haereticus: ergo. Nunc ipsimet sciu quid sequitur, quia esset credo ipsis scandalum quando ego palam con- cluderem eos esse haereticos. C) si scirent istam sub- tiUtatem in me esse, ipsi non venirent michi ante faciem.
25 Tacete tamen usque ad finem, tunc bene videbitur cuius toni. Sed pro novitatibus non possum dimittere qum vobis scribam. Scdi enim nuper nescio quando in uno convivio, et ibi etiam fuerunt multi praetensi iuvenes socii, et venerunt quihbet ex aha regione in unum
- ^o symbohim : unus ex Angha, ahus ex Argentina, ahus
ex Wienna, ahus erat Wimpinus qui vocatur Angel- inus, ahus Romanus qui fuit bene medius Curtisanus, et multi imilta dixerunt ut ipse scitis. Et venimus in Collo(|uia de causa Reuchliu. Tunc unus surrexit erga
- ',5 me, ubi audivit (jucxi ego non fui bonus Reuchlinista,
et dixit " nc veniat michi o])vius Coloniensis copulatista theologus, alias volo eum cito emasculare, Et praesertim magistrum Ortvinum : " tunc cgo traxi fistulam meam in meum saccum. Et alius dixit (pii non erat (hves et
■10 perdidit plura l)enehcia iu curia Romania, et cum hoc male habet cum <)mnil)us Curtisanis, et dixit mirabilia, ut se^juitur " supcr anima nica ego sacpe niiravi (juod isti in magnis caputiis (|ui vocantur Theologi et sunt in illa civitate ubi impressitae sunt (piaestiones super
"' raii/: Tit. i. 12. ^b ,.„^,„/ _. ij 9^ ,,
•^" .si/) nl >()/.: .\i/))il)o/(!, a coiitrihution ,,...,
to a c-omnwm meal : " ut dc syml.olis ' tra.n, Ac. Ct. ()tl,c//o 111. 1.
es.semus" (Ter., /'^iin., 111. 'iv. 2. " ' "t "p your p.pes 111 your l.atr.
Ilerej the meal itself.
270
11 64] VOLWINIUS DE MONTEFLASCON
Donatum secundum viam sancti Thomae et regulae 45 grammaticales secundum viam antiquorum cum isto carmine :
Accipias tanti doctoris dogmata sancti,
inter ipsos monachi, qui volunt alios semper facere haere- ticos. Quareetiamnonstimulantsuperillos,etproducunt 50 inquisitionem super eos super haeretica pravitate, qui habent tot multa beneficia, unus sex, alter decem, alius viginti et magis et congregant tam multam pecuniam, et tantam credentiam ex flasculis et poculis pecheriis, sicut si essent filii principum vel comitum, et in domo 55 nutriuit putanas sive concubinas preciose cum cathenis in collo, cum annulis in manibus, cum schubis veluti si essent uxores militum. Et interdum unus illorum habet tres Canonias simul et semel, et imbusat de omnibus illis tribus giltas, quod inde potest habere multas zechas, eo Et potest solum stare et esse in uno choro, et in aliis non. Et sic in aliis choris nuUus et nemo stat pro eis, qui laudat deum et rogat pro vivis et pro defunctis : estne hoc recte ? Quare non inquiruntur super eos et interrogant coram multis notariis et multis testibus (sicut 65 olim in Mentz fecerunt) et dicunt ' quid creditis ? ita vel non? creditis vel non creditis? quid creditis de sacramentis in ecclesia dei ? Dicatis nobis quot sunt sacramenta, et quam fidem in corde vestro portatis de sacramento eucharistiae : estne ibi corpus et sanguis Christi ? Si 70 creditis, quando ergo postquam missam legistis (si saltem in anno semel legistis), statim quando ad domum iterum vaditis, concubina vestra habens mores et inspectum acsi esset una meretrix, vobiscum in domo vel in mensa vel in camera [est hilaris, ludit, iocatur, et taliter qualiter 75 facit etc.] ? dicatis nobis si creditis adeo magnum esse fructum : Et qui deo placet, ex missa, sicut in decre- talibus et in tractatibus Theologorum stat : Quare ergo vos habetis tot beneficia, quae possent quinque aut sex devotos sacerdotes sustentarequi libenter legerent missas, 80 qui libenti animo facerent praedicationes ad populum et ad clerum, qui possent dare consilia pro honore dei, pro
- ° non : perhaps for nos. '* Mentz : referriiig to the case of
64 . n t ., Rucherath. See i. 47^, n.
nut :for nutnunt. ,, ^^^ ^./ r^^^ ^^.^^.^^ j^^ ^^^^^^^^^^
" imb. : for imbursat, were inserted iu the edn. of 1599.
271
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
salvatione animarum, pro libertate ecclesiastica, corri- gere vitia. Et vellent rogare deum pro domino Papa,
85 pro Rege, pro Episcopis et pro aliis Christicolis, pro pace et sanitate, sicut stat in tranquilla et silenti missa post Sanctus et post Te igitur clementissime pf. Si creditis tantum bonum venire ex missa pro vivis atque defunctis, quare non supra datis illa quae habetis in
90 superfluo, Et dimittitis aliis bonis devotis et doctis viris, ut deus exinde praecomisceretur et animae eorum qui mortuerunt citius ex purganti igne redimerentur, et deus nobis amicabihter placatus non sic immitteret nobis deorsum pustulas, et non sic percuteret nobis
95 vinum et plada per grandinem et pruinam, et non esset sic magna fames in terra. Si autem non creditis tot bona venire ex missa, tunc estis per deum sanctum suspecti de haeresi. Imo estis reahter haeretici plus quam Wessaha et doctor Tieuchhn.' " A^idete, reve-
100 rende magister Ortvine, has novitates volui vobis etiam scribere, quomodo ipsi communiter omnes tenent contra vos cum Reuchhn. Per conscientiam meam, ego credo denique quod diabolus etiam favet ipsi Reuchhn : tunc bene permerdavimus nos. Et sic commendo me vobis
105 Ex Spira, ubi de nobis dicuntur mirabiha, Quia omnes Reuchhnistae dicunt quod Colonienses nil sunt quam copulatistae : Sed multum gaudeo de vobis, quod patiens estis sicut ovis, Et potestis pati illa, sicut essetis simplex sacerdos in villa.
LXV
€E Perdocto artium 'proMbitarum M. Ortvino Gra- tiano Coloniensi Theologo M. BARTHOLUS KUTZ
SAIX^TEM accipite quando vultis, perdocte domine magister Ortvine. Dixit michi quidam quondam quodam in loco de vobis quod estis valde infirmus, et quando estis intirmus, tunc semper facitis quasi essetis
^^ prae. : for j>raecomscereUir. *^ ijUvta : for blada.
^ Gratiano. See ii. 64.
272
II 65] BARTHOLUS KUTZ
insanus : quod laudo in vobis, quia proprium est illis qui sciunt scientias prohibitas, hoc est diabolum in vitrum vel quocumque banniare, quia isti ut in pluri- lo mum sunt ita insani quandoque. Et oportet etiam quod sint spurii, sicut vos (ut michi ab singulari amico dictum est) etiam estis : quia illi semper sunt meliores diabolo ad ahquid efficiendum. Quia diabolus non ita libenter committit se legittimis ut sicut spuriis, [qui] la sunt singuhu'iter apti diabolo. Et si solum essetis monachus. Tunc omnia dona haberetis ad hanc artem, et tunc essetis egregium instrumentum diaboh. [Ubi enim diabolus pervenire, vel aUquid efficere non potest, ibi semper mittit unam malam antiquam vetulam, vel 20 unum monachum.] Sed ego nescio tamen an sitis monachus. Quia si essetis, tunc essem bcne contentus : Quia monachi prae ahis habent illam gratiam quod sunt protervi multum et quicquid conantur, hoc facere audent. Sicut nuper audivi de ahquo qui vocatur Paulus 25 Langius et scripsit unum excellentissimum tractatum cum versibus contra lacobum Wimphehngium et bene scompisat eum. Et etiam dicunt de illo Paulo quod novem modis cucurrit (Salva reverentia) ex claustro. Et quicquid nemo conatur facere, hoc ipse facit. Et 30 credo quod etiam ahquando sit insanus ; et quod sit spurius. Tertium ex se habet. Et ego phirimum laudo quod etiam est nobis simihs, qui rem habetis cum diabolo : sed transeat hoc cum reverentia. Ego habeo hic unum notabile punctum Nigromanticum quod 35 vobis hbenter manifeste scriberem. Sed ego timeo, quod quando estis ita insanus, tunc famuhis vester posset illam epistolam invenire et si legeret, tunc diabolus confunderet me et eum ; et ergo volo secundum con- suetudinem meam facere, quia quando habeo sic ahquid 40 secretum, tunc scribo super papirum sine atramento, et tunc nemo scit legere nisi sit illegittimus. Et ergo eo casu in praesentiarum vobis etiam decrevi facere. Et est illud punctum ut sequitur :
Credo quod bene intellexistis me, et haec est veritas : et 45
'* iihl . . . monarhiuii. First in- ** nobis. Bocking suggests vobis.
serted in the ed. of 1599. ** nt seq. : being written with magic
-® Laiigius. See ii. 63j passim. ink, is invisible !
273 s
EPISTOLAE OBSCUROKUM VmORUM
prohibeo vobis et coniuro vos per virtutem omnium scientiarum prohibitarum quod neminem doceatis. Et sic Valete ex Ruprechtsow : in brevi plura expectabitis a me et maiora si illa placuerint vobis.
LXVI
iE 3IA GISTER ABRAAM ISAA C DE STIRPE AMINADAB M. Ortv. Gra. S.
MALARUJNI bonarumque artium altissime magis- ter : sciat dominatio vestra quod ego volo iam
5 satisfacere promissis meis, quia promisi super vestram petitionem quando a vobis recessi ex Colonia, quod volo vobis continue novitates scribere. Et ante omnia libenter haberetis quod notificarem vobis de ille astuto lurista loanne Reuchhn, cum quo M. noster lacob. de
10 Hochstrat multum habet in Curia propter fidem tractan- dum. Hoc ego volo facere ex singulari dilectione. Tunc sciatis primo (quia ego ab origine mundi vobis omnia pandam). Quando ego recessi in diebus Canicularibus versus Romam, ut bene scitis, tunc nuUam maiorem
15 passionem habui super totam viam, nisi quod maxime sitivit me, Qfi ascendi altos montes in Algoia cum meis sociis. Et quando veni ad Curiam, factus sum servus corporaUs unius Cardinahs prope Campum florae : et fui servitor suus octo mensibus cum magna dihgentia
20 pro uno beneficio curato in Kelbertzhausen, quod iacet in Vollenbergensi diocesi. Et impetravi super hoc unam bullam cum duodecim sigilhs de omnibus Cardi- nahbus. Et sanctissimus noster fecit suum sigillum etiam ante, ad maiorem cautelam. Tunc cum laetitia
25 exivi et volui possessionem accipere, tunc iUe prior plebanus non est mortuus : tunc ego in magna ira dixi : " Percutiant mille diaboh ad hoc : debeo pecuniam meam sic perdere ? " Etiam fuit parvum beneficium : si in Curia scivissem, ego non exivissem propterea.
" Ruprecht. : Rupreclitsau, near Strasburg.
" Ahjoia: tlie Algiiuer Alps, round the base of the IUer basin.
- • Kelb. in Voll. Of course, fictitious names.
274
1166] ABRAAM ISAAC
Ego putavi qiiod posset portare in omnibus annis .XX. 30 florenos in reservato. Vos etiam bene scitis quod ego non maneo personaliter in illis partibus. Ego vellem libentius habere beneficium in Daventria prope patriani nostram cum centum florenis, et cum una simplici puella duodecim annorum, quam in iUa superiore parte 35 unum cum triginta florenis, et cum callida matrona sexaginta annorum. Sed illa reservata bene facerent uni. Secundo sciatis, M. Ortvine, quod deinde non potui ita statim venire ad Curiam propter bella in Italia : quia currunt hincinde nudi Ribaldi. Et si unus 40 acciperet mihi vestimenta, tunc perdidissem pauper- tatem meam totaUter, Sicut dixit semel una vetula quando fregit ova super pontem in Helpruna. Et sic permansi duobus mensibus in valle ad \\'impinam, etiam cum quibusdam bonis Curtisanis. Et ibi didici 45 unum ludum a loanne Greyferio, qui est valde Uberalis, quia dedit semel sex sociis, quorum ego fui unus, ad comedendum septem ova et non minus. Et ille ludus dicitur in Hngua Itahca Trent uno. Hoc ego nunquam vidi in Romana curia. Etiam non est mirabile, quia 50 oportuit me semper habere advertentiam ad mulum in stabulo inferius. Et audiatis quomodo semper fecimus. Nos iuinus [ivimus] aliquando in Wimpina super scho- lam, ubi semper convenerunt super extra boni socii. Et fuit unus inter eos qui dicitur Gregorius SpicuH : 55 ille est valde declarativus de modo supponendi. Ipse declarat hanc materiam ita clare sicut vos nobis ohm Tertiam partem Alexandri de arte versificandi. Quan- docunque audio eum sicut grosse loqui de illa luxuriosa re, tunc acquiro delectationem ad supponendum. Ego 60 multum didici ab eo (parcatis mihi, quia est opus naturale) : ego vellem, sicut deus mihi iuvat, unum Carhnum dare quod vos sciretis ita amicabihter lardare, nisi propter uxorem loannis PfefFer. Tunc ego scio quod amaret vos super omnes alios theologos qui sunt in 65 Colonia. Per deum illa ars non iuvat quam mihi semel ostendistis in libello parvo qui fuit retro scriptus. Nunc
" Wimpimi. There was a famous ^' sicut : for sic.
Domiuicau mouastery at AVimpfeu- . , . . i a. i-i
am-Berge. " ^'^^^'^ •' f'"*"" ^'^?^^ ^^ ^^^* "^^
- ' Trent uno : a game of cards. Hebrew.
275
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
audiatis quid post illa factum est. Ipsi una vice apud vinum quaesiverunt me (quia fui Curtisanus) quomodo
70 res staret in causa fidei cum loanne Reuchlin et Coloni- ensibus. Ilespondi : " Per deum, ego timeo multum de illo bono viro loaniie Reucliiin quod est nimis pauper ad finem perducendum illam causam. Quia praedicatorcs monachi remotius veniunt cum eorum
75 cascorum saccis quam una unica pcrsona cum pecunia." Tunc unus dixit : " O sancte deus, quam magni ne- quam sunt isti monachi quando colhgunt caseos. Xuper fuit Frater .N. huius monasterii hic in villa mea et voluit mihi meam sororem cum potestate hu'dasse.
80 Ipse fugavit eam per gradum supra in domum, et cucurrit ei post, et iecit ad lectum, et vohiit levare cucuUam et cum Datulo inferius ad. Tunc soror clama- vit : ' Her N., Her N., cessate : ego clamo quod omnis homo audit et tunc diabohis vos permerdabit.' 'l\mc
85 ipse dixit ' Per corpus tuum noh chunare : Ego volo tibi pro Dcdicatione ahquid cmere quod debet medium florenum valere.' Deinde venit mater : tunc ipse de- scendit et Datuhis ei adhuc stetit, quod levavit sibi cucuUam quasi liaberet dentem llastri inferius." Tunc
90 unus ahus socius dixit : " Si iste nequam hoc fecisset sorori meae, Ego vehem ei testiculos excindere et ahis monachis mittere ad comedendum in aceto, quando habcrent festum lovis." Tunc ille itcrum dicit : " Per deum, ego non habeo sibi pro malo, quia sempcr sunt
95 inchisi. Ego credo quando asinus haberet pephun supra, ((uod non esset securus prae ipsis. Et quare una fcminahs imago non dcbcret eis tenere?" Tunc unus iuravit et dixit ([uod loannes Ileuchhn vult in unum hb- rum cohigere omnes nccpiitias monachorum in Ahuania 100 per unum vagantem liincindc, Et vult illas Sanctissimo oflfcrre et vuit dicere " Cur ille Hochstrat non extir- pat iUam hixuriam inter fratres suos ? " Et dixit iUe quod monaclii foctent sicut Hirci (juando sudant, et in sua patria venehcaverunt omnes meretrices, et 105 quando ipse vult semel in nccessitate purgare rencs, tunc ipsc putat (juod lardat monachum propter iUum foctorcm (picm conceperunt ex monachis. Ergo, M. Ortui. vos estis eorum fautor : Ideo sitis ante, quod
^^ Datulus: ior ducttjlus [mentula). ^^ festuin loi-is. (>f dubious meaiiing.
276'
11.67] NOLLERIUS STECH
habebiint etiam inquisitorem Luxuriae salacitatis ad illum Hochstrat qui est inquisitor haereticae pravitatis : iio tunc res bene stabit cum ipsis. Vel si saltem facerent occulte sicut ipsorum priores qui vocant eas Ad cellas, ibi nemo potest videre : Et sic bene transiret hinc : Manifeste autem sic super eas cadere, est scandahmi toti ordini. Ideo faciatis mehus ad hoc. Post haec ns omnia traxi iterum ad Curiam, Et adhuc ibi expecto gratias dei. Valete. Datum Romae in Refectorio CapitoH.
EXVII
«E FRA TER NOLLERIUS STECH BE CALABRIA J/. Ortvino
DEVOTAS meas orationes opto vobis loco sahitis. Excellentia vestra theologicaHs scit quod ego iam veni quasi peregrinus ex monte Synai. Nescitis tamen 5 quam multa sum passus in hoc tempore, quando a vobis a Colonia recessi : longum esset vobis illa omnia scri- bere, quia nulhis ahus amicus mihi superest cui necessi- tatem meam conquererer praeter vos : qiiando ahquid dico in monasterio, tunc statim respondent mihi : " O 10 tu non es ideo claustrahs quod velles habere bonam vitam." Non sic impii, non sic. Ego non possum excogitare unde veniat, nisi ex illa mala fortuna quod M. noster lacobus de Hochstrat consumit ita magnam summam pecuniae in curia Ro. propter fidem Chris- 15 tianam quam ille nequam loan. Reuch. destruxit in suo Speculo Oculari : ego credo quod omnia monasteria nostra debent ei mittere pecuniam : quia oportet eum esse hberalem dando hincinde Cardinalibus propinas, ut iudicant pro se et non pro loan. Reuch. Ideo priores 20 nostri abbreviant nobis vinum, quamvis Salomon dicat
- ' Musica, muher et vinum laetihcant cor hominis." pri.
proverb. .XII. Et ego me semper exerceo in musica, Fsahnos in choro lyrando et ululando : et hoc non est
1 r/e Cah: perh. of tlie Order of ^^nonsic: Psal. i. 4.
Berthold of Cahvbria. -* })rov. xii. : Ecclus. xl. 20,
277
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
25 raruni. Ideo non charum. De mulieribus est mihi grave loquendum : quia nullam video, nisi quando vado ad forum cum procuratore nostro quando emit ova. Etiam quando vado ad villas ad colhgendum rapas et olera, et si caro me superaret quando essem
30 apud unam feminam, tunc ipsa non teneret mihi. Ergo quando nunc nobis vinum abbreviatur, quale gaudium habebimus ? Si medium haberemus ita bonum sicut ahi ordines, ut sacerdotes nobiscum apud Spiritusan. professionati. Credo quod bene sciatis
35 quid sit pro ordine : ipsi habent duphces albas cruces in tunica, et non sunt alte rasi sicut nos : et quando ihis unum gaudium tolhtur, scihcet quando eis vinum abbreviatur propter unam supergressionem, tunc habent ahud gaudium : Nam possunt disponere
41) meretrices per chiudicantem loannem qui hgna secat. Etiam graditur super manibus et genubus. Possetis di- cere " haec vita meretricea non hcet Sanctispirituahbus." Respondeo, quod audivi pro certo, quod eorum dominus magister (quamvis senex, claudus, griseus, et hpposus,
45 est tamen avidus ad illam rem, non autem semper potens) solet habere propriam in sua stuffa : et quando excavavit iham totahter, tunc disponit sibi imum virum et dat sibi bonam dotem ex Gazoplnhicio Spiritussancti, quod nunquam minoratur, quia est ibi mera gratia
50 spirituss. Deinde sibi aham ancillam procurat, et facit sibi etiam sicut iam scripsi. Et sic ille ordo in multis hominibus occulte crescit : nuc volo inferre proverbi- ahter, quia communiter dicitiu' : " Quandocunque abbas, id est pater supremus, apponit tesseras, tunc possunt
55 fratres ludere : " hoc est quando praelati nostri antiqui sunt ita hixuriosi, et ducunt ita miserabilem vitam, Ergo nos subditi hcite possumus sequere. Haec est bona consequentia, quia perspexi in tractata de sup-
^'^ .sarc.rd. Tlie Onler of the Iloly ■^^ snjHTgrcss. Not elsewliere fouud.
(ihost, establislied iii 1178,was di\ ided '"^ ahhas- : —
iiito Kniglits Hospitallersand Canoiis t: ^;,j,| ^-enn der aht die wiirfel levdt,
KegiiLir, the former heing aholished Sq sint die niiinch zum spiel hereit."
'" ^"^^^- — Hrant, Narremrhif, c. 49. Kor
^* profe.s.s: Not elsewliere found. ,„;iiiy fornis of tliis proverh, see
^^duplice.s: tlie patriarchal cross, Heinsl)erg-I)iiringsfeUl, Ny>?vV7/»v';?-/t'r,
with two horizontal bars. ISee vol. i. p. 4.
I\rt'lintock and Strong, '"'v'^'/- «/'^^"'^- ^^ .suppo.sit. : a manifest doi/h/c cH'
lAf., New York, 1872, vol." iv. i>. 310. tenilrc.
278
11 68] lOHANNES TEXTOHIS
positionibus : quia ibi ly " praelatus supponit person- aliter." Sed secundum Marsilium supponit inferius co materialiter. Nune ad propositum : ego vellem quod quando magister noster laco. Hochstrat in Roma nihil sciret loanni reuch. abinde lucrare, quod impe- trare nobis laxiorem ordinem, sicut ille praenominatus. Caro tamen nos quandoque etiam stimulat : ego scio 65 quod ero brevissimae vitae quando non debeo quan- doque expurgare vetus fermentum, quod contraxi ex illis caseis ; parcatis mihi, quia loquor vobiscum cordiaUter, id est quae mihi sunt circa cor ego semper timeo quod illa causa erit malum finem acquirere, sicut causa Ber- 70 nensis. Vos satis intellexistis me diis M. noster loannes Amphoraticius optavit vobis multas salutes : ipse evasit in solemnem virum : Est enim praedicator noster : omnis homo eum laudat. Est ita bonus in exemplari demonstratione. Anno domini .1416. prae- 75 dicavit passionem : tunc accepit secum unum baculum super Ambonem : et quando recitavit sententiam Pilati, tunc traxit eum de cuculla extra et fregit illum baculum in medio in duas partes, quasi sceptrum : Quod fuit miserabihter ad videndum : Vetulae muHeres flebant so ita amare, sicut Petrus quando audivit gallum prope ignem cantare. A"alete et commendate me magistro nostro quando venerit ex Roma.
LXVIII
•T 31. lOHAN, TEXTORIS Petro Schwinlwicio suo tot dicit salutes quot sunt guttae in mari et athomi in sole
SCIATIS, Charissime amice, quod ego Hteram vestram accepi, in qua mihi scribitis de Erasmo 5 Rotherodamo, et vultis scire quid ego teneam de eo. Debetis scire et michi credere, quia etiam, quando fui adhuc iuvenis, multa legi in Hteris humanis et Ste-
- ' ly : perhaps for A/. ^ Aniphorat. Unknown.
«» Marsil. See ii. 63, n. " I4I6 : altered to 1.516 in ed. of
^\ferment.: 1 Cor. v. 7. 1599.
279
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
20
phanum Fliscum et Graecistam et Synthis, Facetum,
10 Floretum, et illos antiquos poetas quasi super unum
unguem scivi mentetenus : et quod verum sit, tunc
scripsi unum librum qui dicitur Florista, in quo bene
videtis scientiam meam et pkira aha, si ego vellem me
iactare. Sed dico pro tanto, quod non putetis, quod
15 ego vobis mentior : Quia ego possum bene valde iudi-
care de illo Erasmo. Ego etiam examinavi specuhnn
lleuchhn et eius Gabalam, sicut bene scitis. Et ut non
faciam multa verba : Et ego nihil teneo de Erasmo,
Quia ipse est inimicus monachorum : Et dicit multa
mahi de eis : et dicit quod sunt grossi asini, et odiunt
literas Pohtiores : Et nichil sciant nisi Comedere et
Bibere et psahiios hrare. Quod jpse mentitur in Colhnn
suum quando hoc dicit. Immo ipse est imus asinus :
ipse est bonus latinista, et scit bene L^tinizare, ahas
nichil scit. Ipse fecit multos hbros, praesertim imam
Navem stultiferam et commentum super Hieronimum.
In quibus ipse nichil facit quam quod stimulat rehgiosos:
per deum ego dico sibi, si non vult cessare ab iUis, tunc
volumus sibi facere sicut Reuciihn, etiam si centum
modis esset acceptus apud Papam et Regem Karolum :
Sed nos vidimus bene tam superl)os sicut ipse est, et
tamen suppressimus eos. Ego dicam vobis ahquid, sed
25
30
' riiscuDi : Stejiliaiius Fliscus de
SontiiK), autlioi- of f^^ijitoni/iua \'crh(i,
l^hra. FJeijantiae Latitiae, itc.
' ^iraccist. See i. 38, /;.
- Si/iilliis. Sce i. 1, n.
- Facetnni : Lihcr Farefi morosi,
doccns niorcH lioininuin, included in the Anctorcs octo ni<n-alcs, asci-il)ed to John (Jarland, Keinerus Ah-mannus, and otliers. A sul)ject of CJargantua's carly studies (fiar;/., i. 14). Three specimens of its ([iiaint niaxims may be given : —
(1) " Dum cihus extatin ore tuo])otare
caveto, In vasis offare decet non ore repleto."
(2) " Irritare canem noli dormire
volentem, Ncc moveas iram post tempoi'a lon<ra latentem.
(3) " Pocula si sumas tu mergas lahra
modeste
C,)ui projte fert nasum non potum
sumit lioneste."
'" Florctns: also included in the
Anct, octo ntor. ; attrii)uted to Joh.
(Jarland: a didactic poem on f;iitli,
morality, and conduct. Its leonine
verscs may he thus exemj)litied : —
" Stringe tuum guatum iiui vult con-
sumere niultum
Plurima gustare vult vontrem sepe
gravare.'"
" Florctus mille cciitum versus hahet iste ;
Kt ter viginti (lui sunt mctrice redimiti."
^' (iahalaiit : i.c. Joannis Ueuchlin . . . I>c Artc ('aliali.stica Liltri Trcs Lcinii A'. Dicati, Hagenau, 1517.
'" Xarciii : confusing Erasmus with lirandt.
-* llicron. See ii. 50, 7/.
280
11.68] lOHANNES TEXTORIS
non debetis michi hoc post dicere, alias diabolus me confunderet : JMagister noster lacobus Hochstrat et omnes magistri nostri in Colonia et in Cantabria illi 35 examinant iam commentum super Hieronymum, et sicut ego audio, tunc ipse pessime stabit ; ego non acciperem centum florenos quod haberem hoc inloco suo : quia dicunt quod ipse ibi niultam seminavit ziza- niam ; et putat quod nemo debeat hoc notare. Sed 40 magistri nostri non sunt tam stulti, Sed ipsi bene sciunt ubi iacet Anguis in herba (ut Alexander ait). Ego non potui omnis retinere : sed ahqua adhuc scio, quia dicit quod sanctus Hieronimus non fuit Cardinalis, quod utique est crimen laesae maiestatis, et male sentit de 45 sancto Georgio et Christofero, et reliquiis sanctorum et candehs, et de confessione Sacramentali : et[iam] in multia locis blasphemat, quia loquitur contra doctorem sanctum et contra doctorem subtilem. Et dicit quod Theologia ipsorum nichil sit : quae omnia magistri nostri 50 scripserunt in unum v^okimen, et volunt eum confundere sicut haereticum, sicut fecerunt loanni Wessaha in INIaguntia. Et si vult multum relatrare et invectivas scribere contra eos, tunc volunt expectare usque post mortem eius, Et tunc volunt condemnare omnes Ubros 55 eius. Illa est iam practica apud magistros nostros. Et quia etiam Hbenter auditis novitates, debetis scire, quod Fratres minores debent iam habere generalern de Obser- vantia, quod impetraverunt ipsi in Curia pro .16. Mille ducatis. Et INIoniales ad sanctam Claram de ordine co Minorem valde timent ne reformentur, et quicquid habent, hoc fugant in Civitatem et iacent miserabihter in scaminibus. AHqui dicunt, quod doctor ^lurner habet rem cum ipsis : sed hoc non est verum : quia ipse est Enuchus castratus. Sed de aUis rehgiosis ego 05 non bene credo, quando sic currunt ad eas. Est mortuus in civitate unus Curtisanus qui habuit .22. beneficia
^^ Cantahria: possibly for Canta- Yet this blyiule fole isnottherwith
brigia, or Cantiiaria. content
- '■ angiiis: Virg., EcL, iii. 93. (Not But labowreth for mo, and always
in Alex.). dotli devyse
" 22 henef. : — Fals meanes to come therto by
" But though one prebende were to couetyse. hym suffycient
Or one benyfyce his lyvyng might — Barclay, The Ship of Fools, i. 157
suffyse (1874).
281
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM YIRORUM
pinguia, et poetae qui sunt ibi, faciunt multa metra contra illum. Alias nichil scio nisi quod dominus tam 70 diu teneat vos sanum quam diu unus supercurrit unum Canem. Valete ex Argentina.
LXIX
«E MARCOLPHUS SCULTETI loanni Bimperlenhumpun ex Rorbach
SALUTES infinitas et immortales. Dilecte loannes, vos scripsistis mihi nuper ahquas novitates, quas non libenter audivi, videlicet de loanne Reuchhn quod com- paravit sibi magnam gloriam apud suos poetas, quia fecit unum hbrum qui intitulatur " Gabellistica vel Gabala," et est iam in gratia Papae. Vellem tamen libenter scire quid est Gabala : ego quaesivi diu in meo Catholicon et Gemma gemmarum et in Briton : sed non possum reperire quid significat. Misi etiam unam literam ad magistrum nostrum Ortvinum : sed ipse etiam nihil rescribit. Sed magistri nostri fecerunt unum consiUum et examinaverunt ilkim Hbrum : et sicut ego audivi ab
15 ipsis de nocte in convivio ubi zechavimus ita liberaHter, quod oportuit unum dare pro zecha tres obulos, quod ego non habeo ultra pecunia, quod ipse male stabit : quia posuit ibi aHqua contra doctorem sanctum et modernos doctores : et dicit quod fihus dei est factus
20 de patre. Item multa aHa, et pervertit terminos theo- logiae " generare " et " facere," et sic de aHis : et nihil curat de argumentis et quaestionibus et sophismata doctoris sancti : et ideo vokmt iUum Hbrum comburere : quia dicunt quod [non] intelHgunt eum : et quicquid ipsi
25 non intelHgunt, hoc comburunt : Ergo. Quia omnis magister noster est rabi et kix mundi. Etiarn ille Hber habet multa dicta Pithagorae, qui fuit Nigromanticus :
10
'" quam, &c. The ouly reading : Bretou), see the Dict. Nat. Biog.; or,
Bocking suggests lepiis for iimis. for a fuller accouut, S. Berger, De
- Gabala. See ii. 68^ n. Glossariis, itc, Paris, 1879, pp. 18-25.
- ° Cathol. See i. 1, ii. *^ modcrnos: the Thomists.
^" Gemmn. See i. 1, ?j. ^^ Fithag.: truer than the writer
^" Briton: for William Britou (or supposed, for the doctrines of the
282
1169] MARCOLPHUS 8CULTETI
sed nigromantia est scientia prohibita, sicut patet .60 q. io. capi. nullo, et in Canone " O vos azini " : et con- cordat doctor sanctus et Arestoteles in nono Phisicorum 3o de ignorantiis. Est enim in hoc etiam libro multum hebraeum, quod magistri nostri non possunt legere, et multum graecum : et quia ipsi non curant haec vana, sed maiora, et ideo disposuerunt loannem PfefFerkorn christianum et dimidium ludaeum, qui est bonus ebrius : 35 et ille iam examinat ne forte ibi latet venenum sub melle. Sed volo illa iam dimittere, quia videbimus bene in nundinis Francfurdiensibus, et tunc volumus plura loquere de illis cum magistro nostro Ortvino, qui est missus a magistris nostris quod debet emere novi- 40 tates quae ibi venduntur : et tunc volunt etiam exami- nare. De ahis novitatibus non possum vobis plura scribere nisi quod etiam unus magister noster de ordine praedicatorum in Argentina, qui semper vocatus est doctor lesus, exivit ex claustro : et multa mala dicunt 45 de eo : quod ego non audeo dicere : et multi ribaldi carministae faciunt sibi versus in vituperium eius ; et mittunt cadere in foro, et ecclesia : quod male me habet : ego vellem quod non facerent, ne venirent ex gratia illorum praedicatorum : inter aha tamen ego 5o reperi unum carmen et est tale :
Detractor cleri, fur, profugus atque cinaedus
Igne aut perpetuo carcere dignus erat. Plebanorum osor, gestus imitans muliebres,
Formidans flammas more latronis abit. 55
Cuius ope ex claustro seducta est magna sacerdos.
Omnia per monachum pessima daemon agit.
Ecce videte quid illi mali furciferi faciunt, ipsi neminem curant, sed per deum sanctum non facit hoc aUud (ut verissime dixit Alexander) quia semper est de mala eo consuetudine eorum, quod quicquid fit sic Argentinae, tunc ipsi tractant de eo et faciunt sic carmina de eo.
Cabbalists were doubtless inspired *■' /e^»*' .• oue Johanu Burkhardt;, a
iu part by the dreanis of the Neo- Dominican, Dean of Strasburg, whose
pythagoreans. See Ginsbur^, The scandalous proceedings are suffi-
Kahhala, 1865. ciently explained in the text.
^* nigromantia : a corruption of *' carministae. Not elsewhere
nerromantia, hence " the black art." found.
^^nono: the Physics contain only ^^ Alex. " Ille refert monstrat : non
eight books. facit hoc aliud." Alex., Doctrinale.
283
EPISTOLAE OBSCURORUM yiRORUM
Proxime vobis plura scribam de ea re. Valete ex Schletstat.
LXX
C MAGISTER MALEOLUS m Paradiso, Omni verhoruvi ornatii
reciso, Famosissimo Magistro Ortvino : Qui clamat more asinino Contra poetas et latinos, Nec non Graecos peregrinos, 5 Omnium. Barbarorum defe7isori, Et Coleniensium praeconi famosiori.
MIRABILES trufas et egregias nequitias audio de vobis praedicare, magister Ortvine, quas unquam in vita mea nunquam per deum sanctum audivi, quas vos et alii Colonienses magistri nostri (cum supporta-
10 tione) fecistis honestissimo et doctissimo viro domino loanni Reuchhn. Et tamen cum audivi, non scivi in tantum mirare, quia cum estis bicipites asini et naturales Philosophi (Vulgo "naturhch narren, zwenzig zentner vber ein dollen fantasten"), Intenditis etiam misere et
15 nebulonice vexare ita pios et doctos viros. Tamen super hoc incidit michi una singularis miratio quis vos docuit ita subtihter pervertere et falsificare ita pias opiniones probissimi hominis. Sed ego finahter cogitavi quod non facit hoc ahud hominum genus [quam hoc] quod ludas
20 de testicuhs scalpsit, quia patrem sequitur sua proles, ut est loannes PfefFerkorn. Et vos omnes estis amici huius, quia " schhm schlem simihs quaerit sibi similem." Et ergo ad furcas cum ^"obis omnibus, ad quas perducat vos hctor cum sociis suis, vobis dicentibus " Orate pro
25 nobis " ! Sed quamquam quoniamquidem illa omnia vera sint et ideo vobis singulariter ad manus proprias illa scribo, possitis etiam ahis dicere qui vobiscum sedent in hac Cathedra pestilentiae, ut dicit Psahnus. Et ne illa veniant in pubhcum, Q' omnis homo sciat quid retro
- In tliis Ep. the satiiic mask is efiistola, lectorem admonuisset rem
torn off, and open scorn and derision non esse seriam." In the edd. from
of Reuchlin's opponents are niade 1599 to 1858 this ¥j\>. is ascrihed to
manifest. Erasmus, referrini? to the " llupertus Cucuhis."
beliefofmany monksthattheE. (). V. ^MnlcohLs: Feli.v Hammerlein,
- were written in good faith and in 1389-1456. See B. Reber, Felix
I their defence, says : " Nec hodie Hcmnicrlin von Zin-icli, Zuricli, 1846.
deprehendissent, ni (luidani, addita "' schlini, <tc. See Ep. ii. 3.
284
II 70] MAGISTER MALEOLUS
vis est: sed ad omnes sanctos michi inciditunascrupulatio, 30 et timeo quod Impressor furavit michi unam copiam de epistola, et si sic est, tunc iuvat vobis deus : tunc ego non possum resistere ; sed tamen ego volo vobis bonum consilium dare : Orate solum Octo dies continue flexis genubus et invocate ieiunus sanctam Helenam quae in- 35 venit Crucem Domini nostri Ihesu christi. Tunc iterum ero invenire illam epistolam. Tunc vos iterum bene stabitis. Ecce videte quod illa facio vobis ex charitate Fraterna, sicut omnes sumus fratres, et omnia facio vobis quod etiam homines tenent ahquid de vobis. Valete ex 40 Heydelberga apud Claudicantem Lipsium qui sinit unum sibi cum naso in cuhim currere. O utinam vos etiam essetis cum illo. Tunc non opus esset vobis disponere unum brilhim, Quia ipsi dicunt quod gratis accomdat imi. 45
Hoc opus est Impressum Beniae Ubi quatuor praedieatorum Lucernae : lUuminaverunt totam Suitensium regionem Anteq3 Hochstat vexauit loanne Capnionem.
[Romae Stampato con priuilegio del Pa- 50
pa, & confirmato in lugo, qui Vulgo dicitur, Bel vedere.]
- ^ naso. "Spurcius quam clarius/' than the second [E.] the four lines of
as Biicking vvell remarks. verse are omitted, and iu their place
- hoc ojnis, &c. In all edd. later is the colophon in brackets.
285
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
TO
MAGISTER ORTWIN GRATIUS
OF DEVENTER
For the Jirst time done into English
PART I
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
€E THOMAS LANGSCHNEIDER, dulij quali-
Jied, albeit unworthy, Bachelor' in Theology,
sendeth greeting to the suyereminent aiid high-
sdentijical Herr Ortwin Gratius of Deventer,
Poet, Orator, and Philosoplier — Theologian too, j^-
and whatsoever else he listeth
SINCE, as Aristotle hath it, " To enquire concerning all and singular is not unprofitable " ; and, as we read in The Preaclier, " I purposed in my soul to seek and ensearch wisely of all things that are made under the sun," so I, therefore, am purposed to propound to your worship a question about which I have a doubt.
But first I call the Lord to witness that I seek not to craftily entangle your excellence or your reverence ; I do but heartily and sincerely crave of you that you will instruct me on this perplexful matter. For it is written in the Evangel, " Thou shalt not tempt the '; Lord thy God," and Solomon saith, " All wisdom is of i God."
Now, it was you who imparted to me all the learn- ing that is mine — and all right learning is the beginning of wisdom — therefore, to speak as a Poet, you stand to me, as it were, in the place of a god, because it was you who imparted to me this beginning of wisdom.
Now, the aforesaid question arose after this manner : — The other day a Feast of Aristotle was celebrated here — the Doctors, the Licentiates, and the Magisters were in high feather, and 1 too was present. To begin with, by way of a whet, we drank three bumpers of Mahiisey, and for the first course we had fresh wastel-bread and made sops ; and then we had six dishes of meat, and chickens, and capons — and one of
291
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
fish ; and between the courses we ceased not to drink Kotzberger and Rhine wine, and beer of Eimbeck, and Torgau, and Naumburg ; and the Magisters were full pleased, and vowed that the new-fledged graduates had acquitted themselves right well, and greatly to their credit.
Then began the Doctors over their cups to argue canonically concerning profundities. And the question arose, whether '* magister nostrandus " or " noster magistrandus " is the fitter to denote a candidate ehgible for the degree of Doctor in Divinity. (As is now, for example, the melhfluous Father Theodoric of Gouda, friar of the Order of Carmehtes, most reverend legate of the benign University of Cologne — most sagacious Artsman, Philosopher, and syllogiser — and withal Theologian pre-eminent. )
Forthwith made answer Magister Warmsemmel, my compatriot — a right subtle Scotist, and a Master of eighteen years' standing. (He was, in his time, twice rejected and thrice impedited, for the Master's degree, and yet he resided until, for the honour of the Univer- sity, he was graduated. )
He knoweth his business right well, and hath many pupils, high and low, young and old ; and, speaking with ripeness of knowledge, he held that we should say " nostermagistrandus " — in one word — because "magis- trare" signifies to make Master, and " baccalauriare " to make Bachelor, and " doctorare " to make Doctor ( whence come the technical terms " magistrand," " bacca- lauriand," and "doctorand"). Now Doctors in Divinity are not styled " Doctors," but on account of their humihty and sanctity, and by way of distinction, are named and styled " Magistri Nostri," because in the CathoUc Faith they stand in the room of our I^ord Jcms Christ, who is the fount of hfe, and the " Magister " of us all : wherefore are they styled " Magistri Nostri " because it is for them to instruct us in the way of truth — and God is truth.
Rightly, he argued, are they called " our masters," for it is the bounden duty of us all, as Christians, to hearken to their preachments, and no man may say them nay — wherefore are they the masters of us all.
292
1.1] THOMAS LANGSCHNEIDEK
But " nostro-tras-trare " is not in use, and is found neither in the \'ocabulary Ex Quo, nor in the Catholicon, nor in the Breviloquus, nor even in the Gemma gemmarum, not- withstanding that this containeth many terms of art.
Thereupon uprose Magister Jl?idreas Delitzsch,si very subtle schohir — on the one hand a Poet, and on the other, an Artsman, Physician, and Jurist — who lectureth in ordinary upon Ovid in his Metamorphoses, and explaineth all the fables allegorically and Uterally (I myself have attended his lectures, by reason that his exposition is mightily fundamental), and he lectureth privately on QiLintilian and Juroencus — and he held, in opposition to Magister Warmsemviel, tliat we should say " magister- nostrandus " ; for, as there is a difFerence between " magisternoster " and " noster magister," so there is a Hke difference between " magisternostrandus " and '^ nos- termagistrandus." Because " magisternoster " signitieth a Doctor of Divinity, and is one word, but " noster magister" consisteth of two words, and is used for a INIaster in any I.iberal Science, whether it concern handi- craft or braincraft. And it booteth not that " nostro- tras-trare " is not in use, for we may devise new words — and on this point he quoted Horace.
Then the company marvelled greatly at his subtilty, and a tankard of Naumburg beer was handed to him. Quoth he, " Now I wait awhile — but, with your leave ! " and, laughing heartily, he touched his cap and pledged Master Warmsemmel, saying, " INIarry, Herr Magister, think not that T am out with you ! " He made but one draught of it, and bravely did Master Warmsemmel^ respond thereto, for the honour of the Silesian " Nation."
Then all the INIagisters waxed merry, till at last the bell rang to \^espers.
I beseech your excellence, therefore, to set forth your opinion, seeing that you are mightily profound, and, as I said at the time, " Magister Ortwin will easily unfold the truth of the matter, for he was my teacher at Deventer, when I was in the third class."
Let me know, too, how standeth the strife between Doctor Johann Reuchlin and yourself. I have heard, indeed, that the scoundrel, albeit a Doctor and a Jurist, will not yet recant.
293
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Send me also, I prithee, Mag. N. Aimold von Ton- gern's book of " Articles, which he hath drawn up ; for it is vengeance subtle, and treateth of many theo- logical profundities.
Farewell — and take it not amiss that I write to you thus famiharly, for you told me once on a time that you loved me as a brother, and desired to advance me in all things, even if it should cost you a pretty penny.
Leipsic.
II
€E MAGISTER JOHANNES PELZER, to
Magister Ortwin GhYitius, Greeting
CORDIAL greeting, and homage„bey.ond_belief. Reverend Herr Magister, since, as saith AHstotle in his Categories, to doubt concerning all and sundry is not unprofitable, know then that there is a matter that giveth me great searchings of heart.
I was lately at Erankfort fair, and as I walked along the street with a certain Bachelor, two men met us, who, to all outward appearance, were reputable, and they wore black cassocks and great hoods with lappets. Now, heaven be my witness, I took them for two Doctors of Divinity, and I saluted them, taking ofF my cap. Thereupon the Bachelor nudged me, and said, " God-a-mercy ! what doest thou ? Those fellows are Jews, and thou uncoveredst to them ! "
Then was I aghast, as though 1 had seen a devil ! And I said, " Herr Bachelor, may the Lord forgive me, for in ignorance I did it ! But how think you, is it a heinous sin ? " And at first he said that it seemed to him that the sin was mortal, inasmuch as it fell under the head of idolatry, and broke the first commandment of the Ten — " Thou shalt beheve in one God." "Because, when any one payeth respect to a Jew or to a heathen, as though he were a Christian, then he withstandeth Christianity, and seemeth to be a Jew or a Pagan himself: the Jews, too, and the Pagans, say, *Lo, ours is the better way, for the Christians do
294
1.2] JOHANNES PELZER
11 s reverence— and unless we were of the better way they would not do us reverence.' And thus they are confirmed in their own creed, and despise the Chris- tian faith, and will not be baptized." Then I rephed, " l'hat is true enough, when the deed is done wittingly ; but I did it in ignorance, and ignorance excuseth sin. For if I had known them to be Jews, and had never- theless done them reverence, then I should have been deserving of the stake, for it would have been heresy. But, heaven knoweth, neither from word or gesture did I gather that they were Jews, but I thought that they were Doctors." .
Still he declared that it was, nevertheless, a sm, and he added, "I myself was once walking in a church where there was placed a Jew, of wood, before the Saviour, grasping a hammer ; and I took it for St. Pete?^ with a key in his hand, and I made a genuflexion, and took off my biretta. Then I saw that it was meant for a Jew, and immediately I repented ; nevertheless at my confession, when I made it at the monastery of the Predicants, my confessor told me that the sm was mortal, because we must ever be heedful ; and he told me that he could not have shriven me unless he had had episcopal powers, because it was a reserved case. And he said that if I had erred wilfully, and not through ignorance, it would have been a papal case. Nevertheless I received absolution, because he had episcopal powers. And, by the Lord, I think that if you desire to salve your conscience you ought to make confession to an Official of the Consistory. Ignorance cannot excuse that sin, because you ought to have been vigilant, and the Jews always wear a round yeUow patch on their cloaks in front, which you could have seen as well as I ; wherefore your ignorance is crass, and of no avail towards absolution of your sm."
All this the Bachelor told me. i • t
Now, seeing that you are a profound theologiari, 1 beg of you, earnestly and humbly, that you will deign to resolve this my question, and tell me whether this sm is mortal or venial, and mine an ordinary, or an episco- pal, or a papal case ? Tell me, too, whether it seemeth to you that the citizens of Frankfort do well m havmg
295
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
such a custom as to allow Jews to walk abroad in the garb of Doctors of Divinity. It seemeth to me that it is not right, but a great scandal, that no distinction should be made between Jews and the Doctors ; it is mockery of holy Theology. And his Serene Highness the Empe7^07^ ought in no way to countenance it, that a Jew, who is a dog, and an enemy of Christ, should strut about hke a Doctor of holy Theology.
I send you herewith a missivefromMagister-Sm^Aar^ Plumile^us, commonly called Federleser, that he sent me from Wittenburg. You know him, for he was your crony at Deventer, and he told me that you were right good company. He is still a boon-companion, and sings your praises ; and so, farewell, in the name of the Lord.
Leipsic.
III
€E MAGISTER BERNHARD FEBERLESER
sendeth many greetings to Magister Ortwifi Gratius
WRETCHED is the mouse that hath but one hole ; " and this saw, by your favour, I can apply to myself, Reverend Sir, for I should be undone if I had but one friend, and when he betrayed me there was none other to play a friend's part.
You must know that there is a certain Poet here, G-eorg Sibutus by name, who is reckoned among the Secular Poets, and lectureth pubhcly on the Humani- ties, and is withal a boon-companion. However, as you know, these Poets, wlien they are not theologers too, as you are, are ever carping at others, and vihfying the Theologians. Now it fell out at a junketing at his house, when we sat drinking Torgau beer till the third hour, that I was half-seas-over because that same beer had L/' risen into my head. '
Now there was a fellow there who was at loggerheads with me, but I pledged him in a modest cup, and he took the greeting, but, after, he would not do me right. Thrice I challenged him, and he would not respond, but sat mute and mumchance. Then think I to myself, " See now,
206
1.4] JOHANN KANNEGIESZER
this fcllow smoketh yoii, he giveth himself airs, and is always seeking to put you down ! " And I was so moved with wrath that I took up the tankard and smote him (^ on the pate.
Then the Poet flew into a rage, and said that I made a tumult in his house ; and he bade me begone in the DeviFs name.
Then quoth I, " ^hat care I tho' you are my enemy ? I have had enemies to the full as curst as you, and yet Tve worsted them. And what tho' you are a Poet ? I have Poets who are friends of mine. and they are just as good as you. To the jakes with your poetry ! AVhat do you take me for ? Thinkest thou I'm agowk, orthat I grew on a tree, hke an apple ? "
Thereupon he called me an ass, and said that 1 had never seen a Poet.
Then cried I, " There's an ass in your own hide 1 I've seen a sight more Poets than you ! "
Then I held forth about you, and about Doctor von Zutphen of Kuijh Hostel, who compiled the Commen- tary, and about Domine Roger the Licentiate in Divinity at De Monte Hostel — and with that I flung out of the house, and we are at feud to this day.
Now, therefore, I beg most earnestly that you will send me but an exemplar of your art, and I will flourish it before that Poet and the rest, and I will make boast that you are my friend, and a sight better Poet than he.
Be sure you tell me what Domine Joliann Pfefferkorii is doing ; whether he still maintaineth his quarrel with Doctor ReucliUn, and whether you still take up the cudgels on liis behalf, and send me some news. Fare- well in Christ.
IV
€E MAGISTER JOHANN KANNEGIESZER
to Magister Ortwin Gratius hearty greetings
REVEREND HERR MAGISTER— seeing that we have oftentimes played the fool in company, and that it irketh you not a whit to hear tell of a
297
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
pleasantry siich as that I have in store for you, I have no fear that you will take it amiss if I relate a merry jest — for you send the Hke to me.
You will laugh, ^Htdtwt for it is a mighty fine afFair. There was here of late one of the Preaching Friars — he was not ill-versed in Theology, a cunning syllogiser, and he had many patrons.
This Predicant, Herr Georg by name, was formerly at Halle, and then he came hither and held forth for full half a year, upbraiding in his preachments men of all sorts and conditions, even the Prince himself and his courtiers. He was, nevertheless, at the board a hail-fellow and of good cheer, who tossed ofF his drams and bumpers with the rest ; but whenever of an evening he drank deep with us, he failed not the next morning to preach about us, saying, " Thus do the Magisters in this University sit swilHng the hve-long night, fleer- ing and foohng with their boon-companions, whose ways they ought to mend, whereas they do but entice them to evil : " and before now he hath put me to very shame.
At the last I waxed wroth with him, and cast about in my mind how I might be even with him — but I could not devise a means.
One day it was told me how that Predicant was wont to go by night to a certain woman, and abuse her, and, after, sleep with her. Hearing this, I straight- way collected a band of collegers, and at about ten of the clock we went to the house, and brake into it ; whereupon the monk, desiring to escape, found no time to bear away his garments, but leapt stark from the window ; and I laughed till I had well-nigh pickled myself, and cried out, " Herr Predicant, take thy ponti- ficals with thee ! "
Then my comrades without rolled him in the mire and in the water, till I stayed them and told them to use moderation. Nevertheless I lent them my aid ; and l^ we all had knowledge of the wench. '
And thus was I even with that monk, and never again hath he preached about me !
But you must not blab this forth to others, for the Preaching Friai^s are now your alhes against Doctor
298
1.5] JOHANNES STRAUSZFEDER
ReuchUn, and they are the defenders of the Church and the Cathohc Faith against those secular poets.
1 could wish that the monk had been of some other Order, seeing that of all the Orders 'tis the one that worketh the greatest marvels.
Now must you, in turn, indite a merry tale, and be not angered with me. Fare thee well.
WlTTENBERG.
€1 JOHANNES SrRAUSZFEDER to
Ortidn Gratius
ABUNDANT greetings— and gooddens as many as j j\_ there are stars in heaven and fishes in the sea. '^
I would have you know that I am hearty, and my mother too. Right glad should I be to hear the Hke concerning you, for at least once in every day do I think of your worship.
And now you shall learn, an it please you, of the incredible carryings-on of a certain nobleman here. INIay the devil confound him world without end — for he vihfied Herr Magister Peter 3Ieyer, at table, before many gentlemen and noblemen; and not one drop of deference did he manifest, but he was that haughty that I marvelled. " Go to ! " said he, " Doctor ReuchUn hath deeper learning than thou ! " and he snapped his fingers at him.
Then Magister Peter repHed : " I'll be hanged if that is true ! Hol^Jtlary ! Doctor Reuchlin is a mere child in theology— a child knows more theology than Doctor ReuchUn. HQljLiJary ! mark my words, for I have experience, and he knows not a whit of the Book of Sentences. HoiyJV.Iary ! there's subtle stuff for you ! Thou canst not pick that up like grammar and poetry ! ^ I could easily become a poet if I would, and I should | knbw Well enough how to turn a verse, because at \ Leipsic I heard read Sulpitius on the^.quantities of | sjItaHes. But what is that to the purpose ? Let him | propound me a thesis in theology, and argue pro et
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
co7itra" Then he shewed by a multitude of proofs that no man could attain a perfect knowledge of theology save through the holy spirit, and that the holy spirit was the well-spring of that art, and that poetry is the food «f the devil, as saith Jerome in his Epistles.
Then the zany declared that to be a lie, and that Doctor Reuchlin had the holy spirit too, and was duly quaUfied in theology, seeing that he had written a right theological book (1 Jmow.JiQt whiat its naine ^;iay be), and thereafter he called Magister Feter a beast. And then he swore that Magister Hoogstraten was naught but a mumping, cheese-begging friar, and so set the table on a roar ; but I cried that it was a shameful thing that a mere student should behave so irreverently towards a Doctor of Divinity.
Thereupon Doctor Peter was so wrath that he rose from the table, and, quoting the Evangel, said : " Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil ! " And I cried : " Swallow that ! " and was overjoyed because he had so roundly trounced that braggart.
You must persevere in your undertaking, and must defend theoloffv as vou were wont — and you must have no respect for any man, for are you not qualmed ?
If 1 knew how to write verses as thou dost, 1 wouldl not heed even the prince if he went about to slay me. |
I hate those Jurists, too, who strut up and down in red boots and marten-fur cloaks, and make not the obeisance, that would be fitting, to the Magisters and Doctors.
Now I entreat you, humbly but affectionately, that you will explain to me how the matter standeth at Paris concerning tlie AugenspiegeL God grant that the University of Paris, that ahna viater, will hold with you, and will burn that heretical book — for it containeth many heretical things, as Magister von Tongern hath declared.
I have heard that Magister von Zutphen, of Kneck Hostel, who compiled the notable commentary on the four parts of AleLvander, is dead. I trust, however, that this is not true, for he was an eminent man and a pro- found grammarian, and was far more skilled than these new poetising grammaticasters.
300
1.6] NIKOLAUS ZIEGENMEJ.KER
Be pleased to salute, on my behalf, Magister Remi-
gius, for he was formerly my class-master, and ofttimes
would chide me roundly, saying: "You are a goose,
and will not study how to become a good disputant."
And 1 would say : " Most excellent Herr Magister, I
will do better in future." And then he would some-
times send me away, and sometimes give me sound
chastisement : in those days I was so submissive that I
would wiUingly endure correction for my faults.
i And now 1 have no more to write, save that I hope
j you will live for a hundred years. Fare thee well in
' peace.
Mainz.
VI
€E NIKOLA US ZIEGENMELKER, Bachelor, to Magister Ortwin Gratius
ABUNDANT greetings, with mighty respect to youri J\_ worthiness, as is but meet in addressing yourj magistrality.
Reverend Herr INIagister, you must know that there is a notable question that I desire, or entreat, to be by you magistrally determined.
There is a certain Grecian here who readeth in Urbans Grammar, and whenever he writeth Greek he always putteth tittles atop.
Thereupon I said, a little while ago, " INIagister Ortivin of Deventer also handleth Greek Grammar, and he is as well quahfied therein as that fellow, and yet he never maketh tittles so : and I trow he knoweth his business as well as that Grecian— ay, and can put him to rights." Nevertheless some distrusted me in this matter, wherefore my friends and fellow-students besought me to write to your worthiness so that you might make it known to me whether we ought to put tittles or no. And if we ought not to put them, then, by the Lord, we will roundly harry that Grecian, and bring it to pass that his hearers shall be but few !
Of a truth 1 took note of you at Cologne, in Hein- rich Quenteirs house, when you were reader. and had to correct Greek, that you would strike out all the tittles
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
' that were above the letters and say, " Of what use are these fiddle-faddles ? " And it hath just come into my mind that you must have had some ground for this, or you would not have done it.
You are a marvellous man, and God hath given you a large measure of grace, so that you know somewhat of all things knowable. You must praise God, there- fore, in your metrification, and the Blessed Virgin, and all the Saints.
Prithee, take it not amiss if I weary your mighti- ness with such questions as these, seeing that it is for edification that 1 propound them. Farewell.
Leipsic.
VII
•E 31. PETRUS HAFENMUSIUS sendeth Greet- ings innumei^able to M. Or^tuinus Crratius
REVEREND HERR MAGISTER, an I had pelf and great substance, I would give you, beheve me in good earnest, no small guerdon to resolve for me the question that I am going to propose. I Nevertheless, since, at present, I possess not " sheep ' and oxen and all the beasts of the field," but have not a doit, I cannot recompense you for your exposition. Yet I pledge my word that when I am beneficed — and I am even now a candidate for a vicarship — I will do you signal honour.
Tell me, then, whether it be necessary to eternal salvation, for scholars to learn their grammar out of the profane poets, such as Virgll, Tully, Plinij, and the rest ?
Methinks that to study in this wise is blameworthy, i for, as saith Aristotle in the First of Tlie Metaphysics, \ " Many are the feignings of the poets." But those who feign, sin ; and those who base their learning upon false- hoods, base it upon sin ; and whatsoever is based upon sin, resisteth God, because God is the enemy of sin.
Now poetry containeth falsehoods, and therefore those who commence their studies with poetry cannot advance in virtue, for from an evil root springeth an
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17] PETRUS HAFENMUSIUS
evil plant, and a corrupt tree bringeth forth corrupt fruit, according to the Evangel, wherein the Saviour saith, " A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit."
I well remember the monition that Doctor Valentin von Geltersheim, of De Monte Hostel, gave me when I was his pupil, and desired to attend lectures on Sallust. " Wherefore art thou fain to read Sallust, thou rebel ? " he asked. And I told him that Magister Johann of Bi-eslau said that one could learn to write correct theses out of such like poets.
Then said he, " A fiddlestick ! You must needs be well drilledin Aleccande7'\s ' Parts,' and the Epistles of Carolus, which are taught in the Grammar School. I never read Salhist, SiJxd yet I can write theses in verse and prose."
And so Doctor Valentin brought it about that I never read the Poets. And now these humanists pester me with their new-fangled Latin, and laugh to scorn the good old books — Alexander, and Reinigius, and Joannes de Garlandia, and the Cornutus, and the Com- posita Verborum, and INIaster Paul Schneevogel his Complete Letter-writer. They tell such thumping , lies, too, that I cross myself when I hear them. Just now one of these fellows said that in some country there is a river called the Tagus, which hath golden sands ! But 1 whistled to myself, for that could not be.
Now I well know you to be a poet, but I cannot tell whence you learned that art. I have heard say that when you are so minded you can turn out a screed of verses in an hour. But_I^iippose tliat your iatellect is illuminated by the gra.ce of ,the Holy Spirit fxom above, sq^that youknow this art and all else, for you have e\'er been a steadfast theoToger and haye trounced those heathens.
Gladly would I send you some news if I knew any, but T have heard none, save that the Dominican friars and priests here can give absolution, apoena et a culpa, to any one who hath confessed and is contrite ; and they hold papal letters as well.
Write to me, for T am thy humble servant. Farewell.
NUREMBERG.
303
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Vlll
«E FRANZ GANSEPREBIGER to 3Iagister Ortwin Gratius
l/~^ REETING, of ponderosity to make a thousand / \ I VjT talents kick the beam. / *
Reverend Herr Magister, you must know that there is a mighty buzz here concerning you, and the theo- logers applaud you hugely because you pay no heed to any man, and have written in defence of the faith against Doctor Reuchliii.
Howbeit certain doltish fellows here — and those jurists too who are not enhghtened in the Christian faith — scofF at you and say all manner of things against you ; but they are of small account, for the Faculty of Theology upholdeth you. And lately, when those books found their way here which are intituled " Acta Paiisienslum,'" straightway ahnost all the Magisters bought them and were mightily pleased. Thereupon I myself bought the books and sent them to Heidelberg, that they may be read there.
And I trow that when the Heidelbergers see them they will rue that they did not join hands with the benign University of Cologne against Doctor Reuchlin.
Moreover I learn that the University of Cologne hath made a statute ordaining that never, world with- out end, will it grant a degree to any man who has quaUfied as Bachelor or Master at Heidelberg. And a good thing too ; for this will learn them what the University of Cologne is, and to take part with her another time. Would tliat you had dealt so with the rest, but I ween the other Universities knew naught of the matter, and you spared them on the score of ignorance.
A friend has given me some mighty pretty verses which you must liave pubUshed in the University of Cologne. 1 have shewn them to the Magisters and Doc- tors, and they were highly lauded. And to your glory I have sent them to many parts, for am I not on your side ?
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1.9] CONRAD OF ZWICKAU
And here they foUow, that you may know what I mean : —
" Pravities heretical — fain are you to learn 'em ? Phrases Latinistical — vultis you to turn 'em ? Then by you buyeuda the Parisians' Acta, And the scripta newly in Lutetia facta ! Telling how Herr lieuchlin from the Faith erravit, As Magister noster Arnold well probavit : And Magister Ortwin soon will lecture, gratis, On them, to the members Universitatis. Et cum on the textum he hath done enlarging, Tum the pretty postils jotting in the margin. Pro he first will argufy — contra then, profoundly, Sicut the theologers who in Paris roundly Swore Doctorem Renchlin and his dissertation, Oculare Specuium, worthy of damnation ! This the brethren understand — fratres Carmelitae — Sciunt too the others — clept the Jacobitae."
I marvel how you can conceive such things. You are wondrously skilful in your craft, and there is in your compositions such a dulcitude that I snicker for very joy when I read aught that you have written. I ever hope that your hfe may be long and that your fame may continue to wax as it hath to this day, inas- much as your writings are of much profit.
May God keep you and quicken you, and not deUver you into the hands of your enemies, as saith the Psalmist : " Grant thee thy hearfs desire, and fulfil all thy mind."
Write also to me concerning your doings, for joy- fully do I hear and regard all your deeds and actions. And so, farewell.
Freiburg.
IX
€E MAGISTER CONRAD OF ZWICKAU to
Magister Ortwln Gratius
GREETING. Seeing that it is written in Ecclesi- astes XI. : " Rejoice, O young man, be giad in thy youth," I therefore am of jocund heart ; and you must know that I have prospered in love afFairs,
305 u
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
and have had much daUianc.e^ Doth not Ezekiel say : " Nunc fornicabitur in fornicatione sua " ? And wherefore may I not sometimes purge my reins ? I am no angel, but a man — and to err is human. Even you go a-wenching now and then, albeit you are a Theologer, for you cannot always He alone ; as saith Ecclesiastes III. : " If two He together, then they have [ heat, but how can one be warm ? " «
Give me tidings of your doxy, how she doth. A fellow told me lately that when he was at Cologne you were at odds with her, and beat her because she, by ill hap, was not of your opinion. I marvel, indeed, that you could thus smite a comely woman : I should have wept to see it. You ought rather to have told her to do so no more, and she would have turned over a new leaf and been all the more buxom at even-tide. When you ex- pounded Ovid to us you told us that we should never strike women, and you cited the Scriptures concerning this matter.
I am well content if my wench is blithe and not grudging to me ; and when I visit her I am the hke, and we make good cheer, and drink beer and wine — for wine maketh glad the heart of man, but grief drieth up the bones. Now and then I am angered with her — but she giveth me a buss, and straightway we are at one, and she crieth, " Be of good cheer, Herr Magister ! "
Not long ago it had come into my mind to pay her a visit, when I met a young chapman quitting her house — his points untrussed, and beads on his brow — and me- thought he had had deahngs with her. This, in some measure, irked me, but she swore that the chapman had not laid hands on her, and had but desired to sell her some linen to make shifts. " Good," said I, " and when are you going to give me a shirt ? " Thereupon she asked me to give her two florins, wherewith to pay for the linen, and then she would give me a shirt. Just then I had no money, but I sought out a friend who lent it to me, and I gave it to her.
Let a man ever be merry, say I. The physicians say it is wholesome for a man to be merry without ceasing. There is a certain Magister here who is always crabbed and never merry,and hence it falleth out that he is
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1.9] CONRAD OF ZWICKAU
always sick. He is for ever chiding me, and telling me that I ought not to set my affections on women, for that they are devils, and bring men to destruction, and are abominable, and that no woman is chaste, and that to consort with a woman is as bad as consorting with a devil, and that they allow a man no peace. Then said I, " Cry you mercy, Herr jNIagister, but your mother was a woman ! " And with that I left him. '
He hath been preaching too,of late,that priests should in no wise maintain concubines, and he declared that bishops are guilty of mortal sin when they take milk- tithes, and wink at priests consorting with their hand- maidens, whereas they ought to drive them forth one and all.
Be this as it may, we must sometimes be merry and have to do with a wench, when nobody is the wiser ; after, we can make confession ; and the Lord is merciful, wherefore we hope for forgiveness.
Herewith I send you a certain writing in defence of Aleojcinder Gallus — that grammarian time-honoured and trusty, notwithstanding that the " Poets " of to-day scofF at him : but they know not what they say, for Alexander is the best of all, as you were wont to tell me when we were at Deventer. A certain Magister here gave me the tractate, but I wot not where he obtained it. Would that you might have it printed, and then would you make the " Poets " rage furiously, for the author trounces them roundly. And it is so poetically composed that it passeth ! He that wrote it was a pretty poet and Theo- loger withal, and he holdeth not with the secular poets — such as Doctor Beuc/ilin, BjiscJiius, and the rest.
No sooner had that document been put into my hands than I promised myself to send it to you, that you might read it. If you have any news give me know- ledge of it. Farewell, in love unfeigned.
Leipsic.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
X
•E JOHANN ARNOLDI sendeth viany greetings to Magister Ortwin Gratius
FORASMUCH as, and seeing that, you at all times would fain learn the news, according to that dict of Aristotle : " All men by nature crave after know- ledge"; wherefore I, thereiore, Joha?m Arnoldi, yom disciple and humble servant, send herewith to your mightiness, or your honour, a Hbel that a certain cuUion here hath clouted up to mahgn Herr Johann Pfefferkorn of Cologne — a man beyond all doubt of properest probity.
I was mightily wrath, but could not hinder him so that he should not print it, because the rascal hath here many patrons, even nobles, who strut about the streets like mountebanks, girt with long swords. Nevertheless I averred that this thing was not seemly, because, mark my words, these same secular poets will stir up brang- Ungs without end with their metrifications, if our Magisters do not take heed, and do not straightway cite them before the Roman Court, by the hand of Magister Jakob van Hoogstraten. I fear, moreover, that there will arise a mighty pudder among the faithful.
I entreat you, therefore, to write a book against this scandahnonger, and put him to confusion : and another time he will not be so foolhardy as to molest the Magisters.
The fellow is a mere student, neither graduated nor quahfied in Jurisprudence or Arts — but he hath kept residence at Bologna, where there are herds of these same secular poets, neither enhghtened in the faith nor de- fenders thereof. A httle while ago he sat at the board and averred that the Magisters at Cologne and Paris were persecuting Doctor Reucldin. Then 1 argued in the contrary sense, whereupon he turned upon me with many objurgations and raihngs, so that I rose from the table and called all the company to witness how I was shent — and I had no stomach for a morsel of victuals.
308
I 11] CORNELIUS FENSTERMACHER
Now, prithee, give me eounsel in the niatter afore- said, for yoii are even, in some sort, a jurist. w
I have made up some verses, and I send them to ^
you herewith. A Choriavibi - lieccametii - sapphiambic- 1 1 1 I asclepiadic-eJidecafiijllabic-elegiac-dicolic Z)istrophe : — »111
" He who a perfect Catholic would be, Must aye Avith the Parisians agree — Because Of every other Their University is mother ; Cologne the sacred, ranks as second, And bulwark of the Faith is reckoned — To this If any man say ' Nay,' He the penalty must pay ; Doctor Reuchlin, to wit, Augenspiegel who writ ; Whom Arnold of Tongern, magisternoster, Unmasked as an heretical impostor — As did Master Hoogstraten, not least though the last, Who into the fire The Eyeglass did cast ! "
Had I but materials, I would compose a tome against that windbag, and prove that he is de facto excom- municate.
I have no further leisure for writing, for I must needs hie to lecture, where a Magister handleth pi^o et con very subtle opinions on ancient philosophy, and I listen — to finish my course.
Fare ye well, above all my comrades and friends here and everywhere and in all places of honest report.
XI
€E CORNELIUS FENSTERMACHER to
Magister Ortwin Gratius, maiiy greetiiigs
GREETINGS as many as are the stars of heaven and the sands of the sea. Reverend Herr INIagister, I encounter here much strife and branghng with certain lewd fellows who boast that they are lettered, and yet have read not Logic, the Science of Sciences.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
And I have lately said mass with the brethren, " De Spiritu Sanctor that God might give me his grace and a good memory for syllogisms in disputing with these fellows that only know Latinizing and how to com- pose themes. And into that mass was foisted a collect for Magister van Hoogstraten, and Magister Arnold von Tongern, Regent of St. Lawrence Hostel, that they may conduct to the goal of refutation a certain Doctor of Laws hight Johann Reuchlin, a secular poet and an arrogant man withal, who putteth himself, in opposition to four Universities, on the side of the Jews, and frameth propositions most scandalous and offensive to pious ears — as Johann Pfefferkorn hath demonstrated, and Magister Arnold. And all the while he is not grounded in speculative Theology, nor versed in Aris- totle, nor in Petrus Hispaiius. And on this account the Doctors of the Sorhonne have condemned him to the stake — faihng recantation. I have seen the missive and the seal of the Dean of the Holy Faculty of Theology at Paris.
One of the Magisters, deeply versed in Sacred Theology and enlightened in the faith, who is member of four universities, and who hath more than a hundred treatises on " The Sentences," in the which he groundeth himself, hath openly declared that Doctor Johann Reuchlin cannot escape, and that the Pope him- self dareth not give a decision adverse to so pious a University, seeing that his HoHness is no theologian, and doth not understand the " Contra Gentiles" of the blessed Thomas — albeit it is rumoured that he is versed in poetics. A Magister who is a priest at St. Martin's showed me a letter in which that University promiseth in most friendly fashion real and earnest help to her sister of Cologne. And yet these Latinists presume to run counter to them.
A Uttle while ago I sojourned at 3Iainz, at the sign of " The Crown," where two braggarts annoyed me greatly, caUing the Doctors of Paris and Cologne idiots and fools ! And they said that the books written on The Sentences were mere mooiishine, and in like manner they declared that the " Processus " and the " Copulata," and the " Reparationes " were aU balderdash ! There-
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1. 111 CORNELIUS FENSTERMACHER
upon I was so wroth that I knew not how to reply. Moreover they twitted me with having made pilgrimage to Treves to see the holy coat, which they averred was perchance not the Lord's garment. This they would fain prove by a dilemmatic syllogism, thus : "That which is torn should not be shown as the Holy Coat, but this is torn, therefore, &:c." Thereupon I con- ceded the major but denied the minor premiss. Then they argued thus : " Saint Jerome saith, ' By its ancient schism the Eastern Church hath rent in pieces the Lord's coat, woven without seam throughout.' " But I retorted that JeroJiies style difFers from that of the EvangeHst, and is not idiomatically apostohc. And, so saying, I arose from the table and left those windbags.
You must know that so irreverently do these fellows talk concerning the Magisters, that certainly and with- out doubt they can be excommunicated therefor by the Pope. If the authorities at Rome but heard of it they would summon them to the Court, and confiscate their benefices — or, at the least, saddle them with costs. Who ever heard of such a thing as that mere students, neither graduated nor quaUfied in a single Faculty, should dare to calumniate men so exalted, so profoundly immersed in all knowledge, as our Magisters !
I too have learned how to fashion theses and verses, for I have been studying the " Novwn Latinum Idioma " of Magister Lorenz Rabe, and Kohlburgers Grammar, and Valerius Maximus, and other poets. And as I went along I just now constructed a metrical composi- tion against those rascals. It followeth : —
In Mayence town there standeth
a hostel cleped Corona, And there I lay, the other day,
in propria persona, But two buffoons, irreverent loons,
'gainst Doctors of Theology Began to bray, though graduates they
not even ia Philosophy ! Unknown to them the solemn disputation, And multifold coroUary formation From one small "ergo " : as Duris Scotus taught — (VVho scorns him to confusion will be brought) — Unknown the Quodlibets of Alexander, Of all the foes of learning a withstander ; 311
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Unknown to them the Seraph Doctor — he Without whose lore none can Physieian be ; The Holy Doctor is to them unknown, Who Porphyry and the Stagirite alone Expoundeth with a comment ever true — Predicaments and predicables too, The Universals five, and Moral Rules Of Aristotle fitting for the Schools.
Such things new-fangled Poets all ignore, And hence inanely jabber all the more ; As did these windbags, braggart and loquacious, Against our Masters, with words contumacious : Let but Hoogstraten nab them, and 'tis plain The faithful they will never plague again !
Fare ye well, and salute for me with all reverence the worshipful Magisternosters Aimold von Tongern, Remigms, Valentin von Geltersheim, Herr Jakoh von Grouda, of the order of Preachers — most subtle poet — and the rest.
XII
•E MAGISTER HILDEBRAND MAM- MACEUS to Magister Ortioin Gratius, Gi^eeting
DE ARLY beloved Herr Ortwin ! I cannot indite to you an epistle curiously composed according to the precepts of " The Art of Letter-writing," for time doth not allow of this ; wherefore I am constrained briefly, and in a few words, to make manifest the nature of the matter in hand — for I desire with your aid to dis- entangle a prodigious difficulty. The afFair standeth thus : — You must know that there is a terrifying rumour afoot here, and it is in all men's mouths, that at the Roman Court the cause of the Theologers is in evil case. For they say that the Pope is minded to confirm the sentence pronounced a year agone at Spires in favour of Doctor Reuchlin !
When this came to my ears I had such a fright that I could not utter a word, but became like a dumb man, and I slept not for two whole nights. 13ut Reuchliiis friends make merry, and strut hither and thither, bruiting this report. As for me, I should not have given heed to
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I 12] HILDEBRAND MAMMACEUS
the thing without I had seen a letter from one of the Order of Preachers — a Magister — in which he related the tidings in sore anguish. He wrote withal that the Pope hath allowed the Augenspiegel to be printed at Court, and the booksellers to vend it, and every man to read it ! Thereupon Magister Hoogstraten made peti- tion to leave Bome, and would fain plead poverty. But the Judges would not let him go, declaring that he must await the issue, and, moreover, that he could not plead poverty, seeing that he arrived at Rome with three horses, and while at the Court had guests at his table, and dispensed much money, and had bestowed many gifts upon the Cardinals and Bishops and Assessors of the Consistory — wherefore itwas not possible for him to plead destitution.
Holy Mary ! what are we to do next, if Theology is thus insulted, so that a single Jurist is able to prevail against all the Theologers ? 1 verily fear me that the Pope is no good Christian- — for if he were a good Christian it would be impossible for him not to uphold the Theo- logers. If, moreover, the Pope pronounceth judgment against the Theologers, it seemeth to me that an appeal to a Council might be made ; for a Council is above a Pope, and, in a Council, Theology hath a precedence over the other faculties. And then I trust the Lord will show his loving-kindness, and look upon his servants the Theologers, and not permit their foes to triumph over them, and will give us the grace of his holy spirit to enable us to surpass the fallacies of these heretics.
A certain Jurist lately declared that it hath been prophesied that the Order of Preachers would perish, and that out of that Order would proceed grievous ofFences against the Christian Faith — such as never were heard of before. But grant that this may be far from the truth ! For that Order is right profitable, and if it were not for that Order I know not how Theology would endure — for the Dominicans are more deeply immersed in Theology than the 3Iinorites or the Augustinians, and foUow the way of the Holy Doctor, who never erred. They have, too, many saints of their Order, and are bold in disputation against heretics.
I marvel how it cometh about that Magister Jakob
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
van Iloogstraten cannot plead poverty, seeing that he is one of a mendicant Order, who are all manifestly poor. If it were not that I fear excommunication, I would say that the Pope erred on this point. Moreover I do not beUeve it to be true that Magister Jakob dispensed money in that fashion, or bestowed gifts, because he is a mighty zealous man ; and it is my behef that those Jurists and the rest concoct this gossip, and that Doctor Reuchlin knoweth how to wheedle them, for I have heard that many burgs, and princes, and persons of quaUty have written letters on his behalf.
Now the reason of this is that they are not grounded in Theology,and do not understand howthe case standeth — otherwise they would bid the devil take that heretic — for a heretic he is, though the whole world should hold the contrary. You must forthwith explain matters to the Magisters at Cologne, that they may take counsel. Write and tell me what they intend to do. Farewell in Christ.
TtJBINGEN.
XIII
«E MAGISTER CONRAD OF ZWICKAU to
Maglster Oi^tivin, Greeting
Y
OU have sent me word that you no longer have any
mind to wantonness, nor to consort with woman-
kind — save once in a month, or, maybe, twice — yet I
marvel that you can write such things. FuU well do I
know to the contrary. There is a student here who hath
iiist arrived from Cologne — you know him right well, he vas ever in your company — and he saith that you are ntimate with Joliann Pfefferkorns wife. He declared
- his to be true, and made oath, and I beheve him. For
you are a squire. of dames, aud know how to wheedle them — besides, you have Ovid'^ " Art of Love" by £: rote 1. A certain merchant did tell me, too, that Magister A^mold von Tungern was in the lady's good graces as well. But this is false, for I know of a truth that he is a virgin, and hath never bussed a wench. But even if he had done, or were to do, what I cannot believe of
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I 13] CONRAD OF ZWICKAU
him, that would not make him a bad man, for to err is human. You send me whole screeds about that sin — which is not the worst sin in the world — and you quote texts without end. I very well know that it is not a virtue, and yet it is recorded in Holy Writ that certain men thus erred, and yet were saved. ScuuHon, to wit, had deahngs with a bona-roba, and nevertheless the spirit of the Lord afterwards came upon him. I can syl- logize against you thus: — " AV^hosoever is not unrighteous receiveth the holyspirit; but Scwisoiiwas not unrighteous, ergo, he received the holy spirit." T can prove the major premiss — for it is written, "Into an unrighteous soul the spirit of wisdom shall not enter ; but the holy spirit is the spirit of wisdom,ergo,&:c." The minor premiss is manifest, for if that sin of incontinence is so grave, then the spirit of the Lord would not have come upon Scimson, as it is told us in the Book ofJudges. We read, too, oiSolomon, how he had three hundred queens, and concubines with- out number — and he was prince of gallants to his dying day. Nevertheless, the Doctors, with one accord, de- clare that he found salvation. What then ? I am not stronger than Samson, nor wiser than Solomon, and so I must needs be wanton, once and again, Moreover the ■ pliysicians say it is sovran^a^ainst^mela^^^^ Fie ! ' what booteth it that you cite those dumpish fathers ! What saith 21ie Precicher 1 "I know that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his .
own works." Wherefore, with Solomon, I say to my ^
doxy : " Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse : thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse. Thy bosom is fairer than wine — " and so forth.
By the Lord, courting the lasses is merry sport ! As that Ode of Scimuel the poet saith : —
" Fail not, jolly cleric, merry maids amare, Flattering busses knowing how to you praestare — So contriving, many a day, youth's flower conservare ! "
" Amor is love, and God is love — therefore Amor is not a bad thing ! " Answer me that argument. And Solomon saith : " If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned."
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But enough of this ; let us turn to other matters.
You bid me send you some news — so you must know that there were high jinks here in Lent. There were joustings, and the Prince himself rode in the Plafz, and he had a fine horse, and a fine saddle-cloth too, upon which was painted a woman in brave attire, and near her sitting a youth, with curly locks, who played an organ to her, as saith the Psalmist : '* Young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the name of the Lord." And when the Prince had entered the town, the Univer- sity enthroned him with great pomp, and the burghers brewed lashings of beer, and set forth toothsome fare, and royally feasted the Prince and all his train. And afterwards they fell to dancing, and I stood on a scafFold to look on. I can call to remembrance nothing else, save that I wish you all good wishes. So fare ye well, in the name of the Lord.
Leipsic.
XIV
€E MAGISTER JOHANN KRABACIUS sendeth
greeting to Magister Ortttin Gratius
SEEING that I was formerly for two years with your Excellency at Cologne, and that you bade me always write to you, wheresoever I might be, I therefore now make bold to announce to you that I have heard of the death of a most illustrious Theologian — denominated Magister Heckman of Franconia. He was a topping
] Divine, and in my time was Rector there [at Vienna].
{ He was a profound dialectician after the school of the Scotists, and was the foe of all the secular poets ; he was a man of zeal withal, and right wilhngly would celebrate a mass. Moreover, when he held the Rector- ship at Vienna he ruled the undergraduates with a rod of iron, and therein was most laudable. A certain fellow once came from Moravia when I was at Vietina, who was by way of being a poet, for he wrote verses, and he must needs teach the art of metrification — but he was not matriculate. Thereupon Magister Hcckman in- hibited him ; but the rascal was so impudent that he paid
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I 14] JOHANN KRABACIU8
no heed to the mandate. Then the Rector inhibited the undergraduates that they should not attend his lectures ; and then the fellow forced his way to the Rector and said many insolent words to him, and thou'd him ! Then the Rector sent for the University beadles, and essayed to imprison him, because it was mightily scandalous that a mere student should " thou " the Rector of a Univer- sity and a Doctor of Divinity : besides I hear that the fellow is neither Bachelor nor Master, and is in no way either qualified or graduated, though he strutted about Hke a warrior who was going to march to war, and he wore a hehiiet, and a long knife by his side. Neverthe- less, by the Lord, he would have been clapped in gaol if he had not had friends in the city. I greatly grieve if it be true that such a man as Magister Heckman is dead, for he did me many a good turn when I was at Vienna, and so I have written an epitaph on him, as followeth : —
He who in this tomb doth lie
Was the Poets' eneniy,
Minded aye to send them flying,
When their craft they would be plying !
One from out Moravia came,
Who could no precedence claim,
Metre-spinning fain to teach,
And, his lawless end to reach,
Tlwud the Rector to his face —
Jail for him the proper place !
Now that the good Rector's dead,
And in Wien is buri-ed,
Grudge not, of your charity,
Paternosters two or three.
A messenger hath brought us tidings which, if true, are ill indeed — to wit, that your cause goeth amiss at the Roman court. This I cannot believe, for these messengers tell a pack of Ues.
The Poets murmur sorely against you, and say that they will defend Doctor lleuchlin with their verses. But since you are hkewise a poet — when you are so minded — I think you will easily get the better of them. Nevertheless, prithee let me know how the business goeth ; and then, if I can aid you, you will find in me a faithful helpmate. Farewell.
NUREMBERG.
317
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
XV
€1 WILHELM SCHEREXSCHLEIFER
sendetk greetlng to Master Ortwin Gratius
IMAllVEL greatly, Reverend Sir, why you write not to me, and nevertheless write to others who write not to you as often as I write to you. |
If you are in dudgeon witli nie, and will not write to me again, at the least write and tell me why you will not write to me again, that I might know why you write not, although I am ever writing to you — as I am writing to you now, although I know you will not write back.
But I beseech you from my heart's core that you will yet write to me ; and when you have written to me once then I will write ten times to you, because I ghidly write to my friends, and I love to exercise myself in writing, so as to be able to finely indite tractates and letters.
I cannot think wliat is the reason why you write not to me. I^ately, when tliere were some folk here from Cohi^nc, 1 groped tliem and askcd them, " AVhat is Master Orticin about, that he doth not write to me ? He hath not written for two years ; but bid him write to me, for I would rather read his letters than eat honey. And on a time he was my chiefest friend."
I asked them, too, how you sped in that contro- versy with Doctor RcKchlin. And tlie}^ rephed that that' Jurist wcll knew how to circumvent you with his craft. And then I wished that the Lord would give you his grace that you might triumph.
If you do write to me, you might write to me about that affiiir, for I would gladly know more concerning it. The .lurists strut about licre and say, " Doctor ReuchHn doeth well, and tlie '1'lieologians at Cologne have used him iU."
And, by tlie I^ord, I fcar me that a great scandal will befall the Church if tliat book, The Eijcglass;' be not burnt.
318
1.16] MATTHAUS HONIGLECKER
For it containeth many irreverent propositions in opposition to the CathoHc faith. And if that Jurist is not compeiled to recant them, then others will try to write after the same fashion about questions of Theo- logy, although they know naught of the matter, and follow neither Thoinas, nor Albertus, nor Scotus, and are not enUghtened in the faith by the Holy Spirit.
For every one should cleave to his own business, and none should put his sickle into another man's corn. Because a cobbler is a cobbler, and a tailor is a tailor, and a smith is a smith ; and it would go ill with a tailor who tried to make shoes and slippers.
You must stoutly defend both yourself and sacred Theology, and I will pray on your behalf tliat God will grant you his grace, and will enhghten your mind, as he did that of the Fathers of old, lest the Devil and his meiny should prevail against justice.
Nevertheless for God's sake write to me, and tell me how you speed. You cause me great anguish, albeit there is no need. And now I commend you to the Lord. Farewell, in Christ.
Frankfort-on-Main.
XVI
•E MATTHAUS HONIGLECKER to
Magister Oi^twin Gratius, Greeting
INASMUCH as I have ever been your worship's adherent, and have ever wrought on your behoof, I now take upon myself to premonish you in a time of trouble — for in your prosperity will I rejoice, and in your adversity will I lament. Are you not my friend ? And it beseemeth us to exult when our friends prosper, and to sorrow when they mourn — as saith Tully, notwithstanding that he is a pagan and a poet.
I must tell you, therefore, that you have here a most malicious enemy, who uttereth many slanders against your worship, and he noiseth abroad many matters, exalting himself in his pride. And he averreth
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
to all and sundry that you are a bastard — that your mother is a drab, and your father a priest. 13ut I stood up for you and said : Herr Eachelor — or what- ever your degree niay be — you are still a young man, and you ouglit not to shinder the INIagisters. For what saith the scripture ? ' The disciple is not above the master,' and you are yet a disciple, while Herr Ortwhi is a Master of eight or ten years' standing. You are therefore not competent to slander one who is a jNIagister and in such an exalted position ; but you will tind some one to shmder you, notwithstanding that you are so high and mighty. You should use more modesty, and not be of such behaviour." Then quoth he : " I am speaking sootli, and I can prove my words, and I heed you not a wliit ; I say that Ortwin is a bastard, and a fellow-countryman of his told me so of a truth, because he knew his parents ; and I am resolved to write and unfold the matter to Doctor ReudiUn, who is not yet apprized of it. But on what grounds could you censure me, a man imknown to you ? " Then quotli I: " See. gentlemen, this fellow boasteth himself a saint, and saith that he is above censure, and tliat he hath done no evil, hke that Pharisee wlio boasted that he fasted twice in the week." Tlien tlie fcllow waxed wratii, and cried : " I said not that I liad never sinned, because that would be contrary to the words of the Psahiiist, ' All men are hars,' which the gloss expounds as ' sinners.' What 1 said was tliat you have no riglit, nor are you able, to censure me as touching my parentagc. liut Ortivin is a bastard, and not truc-born — therefore lie is reprobate, and reproach him I will for everand a day ! " Then said I : " You cannot, for Herr Orfxci/i is an eminent man, and can protect himself." Thereupon the fellow reeled off many scandalous talcs concerning your mother — how she liad l)een in the company of pricsts, and monks, and sokhers, and rustics, in the meadow and in tlie byie. You would not credit liow great was my shamefaccdncss.
Notwithstandi ng, I cainiot be active in your de- fence, for I ne^ cr saw your father and motlier : how- ever, I firmly beheve theni to be worthy and decent
- }2()
I 16] MATTHAUS HONIGLECKER
folk. But write and tell me how this matter standeth, and any glad tidings I will scatter broadcast.
I said furthermore to your calumniator : " You ought not to say such things, for even if Herr 0?'twi?i be base-born, he may have been legitimised ; and if he is legitimised thcn he is no longer a bastard, seeing that the sovereign pontiff hath power to bind and to loose, and can make a bastard legitimate — and con- trariwise. Moreover, I can prove from scripture that you are blameworthy ; for it is written, ' With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again ; ' but you mete with the measure of abuse, therefore abuse shall be nieted to you. Or I can prove it thus : the Lord said : ' Judge not, that ye be not judged,' but thou judgest others, and slanderest them, therefore shalt thou be judged and slandered." Then he rephed that my arguments were all flapdoodle and led nowhither ; and he was so stubborn as to declare that if the pope himself begat a son out of wedlock, and afterwards legitimised him, the child would nevertheless in the sight of heaven be a bastard and not true-born.
I trow the devil must be in these vagabonds, that they slander you thus. I beseech you, therefore, write to me, so that I may defend your good name ; of a truth it would be scandalous for Doctor Reiichlin to be apprized that you were a bastard. But even if you are, the fellow cannot certainly prove it, and if it seem good to you, we will hale him before the Court at Rome, and we will compel him to recant — the Jurists know the way ; and we will harry him at law, and we will seize his benefices when he incurs depri- vation — for he holds a canonry here at Mai?iz, and a living elsewhere. Take it not amiss that I write to tell you what I have heard. My intent is of the best. Farewell in the Lord, who shall keep thee in all thy ways.
Mainz.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
XVII
€E 31AGISTER JOHANN HIPP to
3Iag. Ortwin Gratius, greeting
BE glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord : and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart." — Psalni ocxxi.
Now, take this not amiss, saying within yourself, "What aileth this fellow with his texts?" But hearken rather, with glee, to a piece of news that will mightily tickle your lordship.
You shall have it in a nut-shell. There was a poet here, calUng hmisQM Joannes AesticampiamLS — a bump- tious fellow, ever girding at the Masters of Arts, and decrying them in his lectures. He would dub them dunces, and aver that one Poet was worth ten ^lasters, and that Poets should always take precedence of Masters and Licentiates in processions. He lectured on Pliny and other poets, and declared that the ^Magis- ters were not Masters of the Seven I^iberal Arts, but of the Seven Deadly Sins, and that they were not grounded in their rudiments, and knew naught save Peter of Spain and his Logical Primer. The rantipole was much run after, even by the gentleman-commoners. He used to say that the Scotists and Thomists were piddlers alike, and he uttered blasphemies against the AngeUc Doctor himself !
But the Magisters bided their time, to avenge themselves by the help of the Lord. And by the Lord's wiU, at last he made a speech, and railed at the Magisters, and the Doctors, and the Licentiates and the Bachelors, and extoUed his own Faculty, and reviled sacred Theology.
Thereupon mighty indignation arose among the heads of the Faculty. And the Masters and Doctors took counsel together, saying, " What shaU we do ? For this man hath done many notable things ; and if we send him away, aU men will beUeve that he is more learned than we. And mayhap the Moderns wiU come
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I 17J JOHANN HIPP
and say tliat their way is better than that of the Ancients, and our University will be defamed, and will become a laughing-stock."
Then Magister Aiidrew JJelifzsch, who is a fine poet himself, said that Aesticawpianus at the University was Hke a fifth wheel to a coach — for he thwarted the other Faculties, so that the students could not graduate therein. And the other Masters were of the same mind, so the long and the short of it was that they determined to either expel or inhibit that poet, at the risk of his everlasting dudgeon. Thereupon they cited him before the Rector, and nailed the citation on the doors of the church.
Then the fellow put in an appearance — an advocate with him — and made as though he would defend him- self, nor was he without friends to support him, but the IVIasters told them to stand aside, if they would not commit perjury in opposing the University. And the Masters waxed valiant in fight, and stuck to their guns, and swore they would spare nobody — for justice' sake.
Nevertheless certain jurists and courtiers pleaded for the fellow. But the Magisters said that this was out of the question, for they had statutes, and by the statutes he ouglit to be expelled. Then the marvel was that even the Duke put in a word for him ; but to no efFect, because they replied that he himself ought to observe the statutes of the University, inasmuch as its statutes are to a University as is the binding to a book. If there be no binding, the leaves fall hither and thither ; and if there were no statutes order would cease in the University, and the students would be at sixes and sevens, and Chaos would come again — therefore should the Duke work for the good of the University, as did his father before him.
Then the Duke was persuaded, and avouched that he might not oppose the University, and that it was expedient that one man should be expelled, rather than that the whole University should suffer disgrace. The INIagisters then were fully content, and cried : " Heaven be thanked, Lord Duke, for this thy righteous judg- ment ! " Then the Rector fastened a decree to the
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
church doors, that Aesficainpkimis should be banished for ten years.
But his disciples murinured much, and dechired that the Lords of the Council had done grievous wrono- to Acsticampianus. But the Doctors swore that they cared not a doit for that.
Some gentlemen-commoners, indeed, have spread
it abroad that Aesficaj/ipianus will avenge the injury,
and cite tlie University before the Roman Curia. But
the IMagisters laughed, and said : " Fish ! what can that
vagabond do ? "
- And now great pcace reigneth in the University.
/ Mag. De/ifzsc/i lectureth on the humanities, and so doth
a Magister from IxotJienburg, who hath compiled a book
1 fuU three times as large as all the works of Jl7'gil ; and
I in that book he hath put many mighty fine things, both
ji in defence of holy JNlother Church and in praise of the
I saints. And he most of all hath praised our University,
I and sacred Theology, and the Faculty of Arts — and
I he hath reproved the secular and heatlien poets. 'i'he
! Masters say that his verses are as good as VirgiFs, and
I have no faults at all, because he knoweth quite perfectly
I the Art of Metrification, and hath been a good metrist
I these twenty years. Therefore tlie Lords of the
I Council have allowed him to lecture on that book
I instead of on Tcrence, because it is more necessary
I than Terence, and is not all about drabs and clowns, as
I Terence is.
\ You must spread abroad these tidings in your Uni-
versity, and then peradventure BuscJiiiis will be served in hke manner as was Aesticajnpianns. When will you send me your book about Iteuc/i/in ? You say miich, and nothing cometh of it. You promised faithfully that you wouki send it, but you have sent it not. The I^ord forgive you in that you do not love me as I love you, for you are my hearfs core. Nevertheless fail not to send it, for with desire have I dcsired to eat this passover with you — I mean, to read that book. Send me some news — and, just for once, write a little treatise, or some verses, about me, if I am worthy thereof.
And now farewell, in C/rr. D. D. nost., world without end. Amen.
324
XVIII
€E MAGISTER PETER NEGELIN to
Magistei' Oi-twin Gratius^ gi^eeting
"^OTWITHSTANDING that I am mightilyafeared _LM to be so bold as to show you a composition of my own devising — seeing that you have great cunning in the making of metres and lyricisms, while I am but a dabbler (as saith Jereiny, " Ah, ah, Lord ! Behold I cannot speak : for I am a child"), for I am not yet fully grounded in my fundaments, nor am I perfectly skilled in poetistica] art and Rhetorick.
Nevertheless, since you once said that I should by all means construct a poem and send it to you, that you might botch it up, and show forth its faults — a little while ago quoth I to myself, " See now, Ortivin was your teacher, and he meaneth well by you, and you should do what he biddeth you. He can advance you in this matter, and in all else besides. And you will grow up to be a learned clerk, an it please God, and will prosper in all your afFairs. Is it not written in the Eii-st Book ofKings : " To obey is better than sacrifice" ?
And thus it hath fallen out that I send you a poem fashioned by myself in praise of Saint Peter, and a composer who excels in plainsong and descants hath set it to music in four parts. Indeed I took great pains to rhyme it in the way it is rhymed — because songs sound best to four parts, just as Alexanders Grammar is in four parts.
I know not whether the poem hath any faults. Scan it, I pray you, according to the Rules of INIetrification, and mend it if you wilh
Here heginneth Pefer NegeUns new dittij bi praise of Saint Peter
Good Saint Peter, pity me ! Since the Lord hath given thee Power — and, by peculiar grace, 'Midst the saints the topmost place ; 325
LETTERS OF 0B8CURE MEN
By prepollence of the keys, Tying, loosing, as thoii please, Things on earth and things on high : Hear nie, as to thee I cry ! For my sins entreat — for the Sake of th' Universitie !
They suy that Dr. licucfilin (vvho is named iii the Hebrew tongue Joauiics Capuion) hatli obtained a judgment in his favour at Spircs — but the JNIagisters of the Friar.s PrcacJicrs say that tliis irketh them not, for the Bisliop there hath no comprehension of sacred Theology. Dr. Hoogstratoi is at the Roman Court, and is in high favour vvith the Apostohc Chair. He hath plenty of money and other necessaries. I would give a groat to learn the truth of the matter. You must write to me. Good T^ord ! what is the reason that you will not now send me one single syllable? And yet when you do write to me I am full fain.
Farewell, and deign to sahite for me Dr. Valcntiuus von Gcltcrshcim, and Dr. Arnold von To)igcrn of Laivrcncc Hostcl, and Dr. Rcmigius, and Herr Rogcr the Hcentiate of Dc Moutc Hostcl, and first of all, Herr Doctor Johann Pfcfferkoru, that man of zeal, and all others who are learned in Theology and the Arts.
Farewell, once more, in the name of the I^ord.
Triek.
XIX
C STEPHAX GI.ATZKOPF, IJccutiatc, to Mag. Oj-tici/i Gratius
Gi REETING, with all liumihty, to your loftiness. r Reverend Herr JNIagister, a fellow hath come hither bringing witli him certain verses, which he averred you had written and pubhshed at Colognc. Thereupon, a Poet of this phice, who is held in liigh esteem, but is no good Christian, read them and declared that they were poor stuff, and full of })lunders. Then quoth I, If JMaster Orticin composed them they have no faults — be sure of that." And I offered
326
I 19] STEPHAN GLATZKOPF
to wager my coat that if those verses eontained any faiilts you had not composed them, and that if you had composed them they contained no faults. Accordingly I send you the Hnes, that you may judge whether you contrived them, or not, and let me know. The poem is written concerning the death of Doctor Gerhard von ZutpJien of Kneck Hostel, who composed the commen- tary but now, alas, is dead and gone. May he rest in peace. Thus it beginneth : —
A famous scholar here doth lie lamented,
To th' University by heaven presented ;
He o'er K^ieck Hostel erst did Regent sit,
And pieced the Copnlata bit by bit.
Oh ! that he might upon the hither shore
Have lingered, and of comments v^^ritten more !
To adjuvate the University,
And teach her students fair Latinity !
But now, his life by death untimely lost,
With half the Alcxamler still unglossed,
The University deplores her limb,
Who, like a shining lantern, or the glim
Of candle in a candle-stick a-burning,
Lit far and wide the darkness with his learning.
What man than his could better periods round ?
He joyed the upstart Poets to confound,
Who in their foolish grammars scorn reliance
On Logic — of all Sciences the Science. So, in the Faith being unillumined, they From Mother Church aye wander, all astray, But if to think aright they are not willing, Soon will Hoogstraten set them all a-grilling ! Who Doctor Johann Reuchlin lately cited, Before the Court, and grievously indicted. Almighty, to thy suppliant lend an ear, Who humbly thee invokes, with many a tear, To grant our member dead thy grace eternal, And pack the Poets off to realms infernal !
This seemeth to me an excellent poem, though I know not how to scan it, because it is of an unwonted kind, and I have only skill to scan hexameters. You must sufFer no man to spurn your verses ; so write to me, and I will defend you even at the risk of single combat. Fare ye well.
MCnster in Westphalia.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
XX
€1 JOHANNES LUCIBLLARIUS to
Mdgister 0?iii:i?i G?'atii/s'
GREETINGS tliat no man can number. Reverend Herr Magister, inasmiich as you for- merly promised me that you would be my help in time of need, and that you would fain advance me before all others ; and inasmuch as you told me boldly to seek your aid, and that you would tlien stretcli out a helping hand to me as to a brother, and would not desert me in adversity — I therefore now entreat you, for the love of God, to succour me, as you are well able.
The Rector here hath dismissed an assistant teacher, and desireth to appoint another — will you therefore on my behalf write a letter of recommendation, praying him to be pleased, or to deign, to appoint me ? 1 have no more money, since I have spent it all, for I have even bouglit me some books and some shoes.
You are well aware tliat, by God's grace, I am compe- tent ; for when you were at Dcvc??tcT 1 was in the second class, and I afterwards stayed in residence at Colo^iic for a year, so that I quahfied for thc Hachelor's degree, and I should liave graduated at jNIichaehnas if I had had the money. I know how to expound the Boys' Exer- cise-})ook to learners, and the Opiis 3Ii?i?/s {Part II.), and I know tlie art of Scansion as you taught it me, and Pcfcr of Spai?i m all his works, and the Parviihis of Natural Philosophy. I am a singer too, and am skilled in phiin-song and prick-song, and I have a bass voice withal, and can siug one note below contra-C.
I call these things to your mind in no vainglorious spirit ; pardon me, tlierefore — and so I commend you to God Ahnighty.
ZWOLLE.
.<^
i/
328
XXI
•E MAGISTER CONRAB OF ZWICKAU
sendeth greeting to Magister Ortidn Gratius
INASMUCH as you have written to apprize me of all things concerning your mistress — how dearly you dote upon her, and how she cherisheth you, and sendeth you posies and kerchiefs and girdles and the like, and taketh no guerdon from you, as is the wont of venal hussies — and how, when her spouse goeth abroad, you visit her to her great content — and how you thrice embraced her in succession, and once on the threshold behind the door, chanting '•' AttoUte portas! — and how when her husband returned you fled privily by way of the garden — I therefore will in turn now relate how I liave fared with my hidy-love.
She is a topping dame, and a wealthy, and I scraped acquaintance with her by a strange chance, for a certain gentleman-commoner, a friend of the Bishop's, was our go-between. Straightway I fell over head and ears in love with her, till by day I knew not what I did, and at night I could not sleep. But wlien I would have slumbered I cried aloud from my bed, Dorothea! Dorotliea ! Dorotliea ! " so that the students in the hostel heard me, and ran to me, saying, " Herr Magister, what would you, that you thus cry aloud ? If you would fain make confession, we will fetch you a priest " — for they thought I was at the point of death and cried upon ^S'. T)orothea with other saints. Thereupon I was mightily abashed. Nevertheless when I visited my beloved I was always so terrified that I durst not regard her, but grew red from head to foot. Then quoth she, " Prithee, Herr Magister, why so shy ? " Then I said that I was afeared to tell her. But she must needs have an answer, and would not let me go until I told her — she said, moreover, that she would not be out with me, tho' my words were downright roguish- ness. Then at last I grew bold and opened my heart to her. Can you call to mind how that you explained long ago, when you expounded Ovid in his " Art of
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Love," that lovers ought to be as bold as warriors, else it availed them not ?
Then said I to her, " Reverend mistress mine, for- give me for God's love, and for your honours sake — but I love you, and I have chosen you from among all the children of men ; for you are fair among women, and there is no spot in you. You are the goodliest that there is in the whole world." Then she laughed, and said, " Pardy ! you talk full loverly — if I could but trust you ! " And after that I often visited her at her house, and drank with her. And when I was in the church 1 always stood where I could see her, and in turn she looked me through and through. At last I earnestly asked her to keep me in her thoughts — where- upon she declared that I loved her not. But I swore that I loved her as my own mother, and that I would dare all things in her service, though it should cost me my Hfe. Then answered the lady fair : " I would fain learn if that be so," and she made a cross with chalk
j upon the door of her house, and said : " If you love me, you will kiss that cross, for my sake, every evening after dark." This I did for many days, but at last came some one and smeared the cross with filth, and when I kissed it I defiled my hps and teeth and nose. Then was I full of wrath against the lady ; but she swore by
} the Holy of Holies that she had no hand in the matter.
' And I beUeve her, for she is in all else an honourable woman.
I have suspicion of a student here, that the deed was his. Can I but bring it home to him — verily I say unto you, he shall have his reward ! But she useth me in more friendly wise than formerly, and 1 trust I shall yet gain her favours. She heard of late that I was a poet. Then quoth she : " I have been told that you are a jolly rhymer — so you must write me a ballad ! " This I did, and I sang it in the street at even-tide that she might hear ; and afterwards I rendered it for her into German. It runneth thus : —
Venus benigii ! of love the fountain and the queen ! Why frownest thou on me with such a hostile mien ? Oh, Dorothea mine ! whom I for mistress choose, Me for thy leman true, in turn, do not refuse ! 330
122] GERHARD SCHIRRUGEL
Fairest of maidens all that in this city are, Thy smile is like a rose, thy twinkle like a star !
She said tliat she would keep this as long as she lived, for my sake. I pray you give me counsel how to comport myself, and how to make her love me. Forgive me for havmg so grossly written to your worthiness. It is my wont to unbosom myself to my friends. Farewell, in the name of the Blessed.
From Leipsic.
XXH
€1 GERHARD SCHIRRUGEL to
Magister Ortivin Gratius
Manifold greeting to thee, in thc glorious name of our Master, Who from the dead arose, and now is enihroned in heaven.
HONOURED Sir, I would have you know that I abide here rehictantly, and it irketh me that I remained not at Cologne with you, where I should have made fairer progress. You, indeed, would have been able to make me a good syllogiser, and even in some sort a poet. In Cologne folk are devout, and gladly visit the churches, and on Sundays they flock to the sermon. The arrogance of this place is not to be seen there. Here the students show no deference to the magisters, and the magisters pay no heed to the students, but let them go wheresoeer they will ; and they wear no hoods. AVhen they are in their cups they take God's name in vain, and blaspheme, and do many unseemly things. A httle while ago, for instance, a fellow said that he did not beheve the Holy Coat of Treves to be our Lord's Coat, but a lousy old rag ; and he said that he did not beheve that a single hair of the Blessed Virgin remained in the world. Another further said that hke enough the Three Kings at Cologne were three boors from WestphaUa, and that the sword and shield of St. Michael were not St. Michaels. He swore, too, that the indulgences of the Preaching Friars were
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LETTEKS OF OBSCURE MEN
only fit for the jakes, and that the Friars themselves were a pack of jack-puddings, who deceived women and churls, Then cried I, " To the stake, to the stake with such a heretic ! "
But he laughed in my face. Then said I, " Thou rascal, if thou shouldest but say such things in the ears of Doctor Hoogstraten of Cologne, the Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity ! " Quoth he, " Hoogstraten is a vile and damnable beast," and thereupon he railed against hiin, and said Johann Heuehlin is an upright man, but the theologians are devils, and unjustly have they given sentence that his book, the Augenspiegel should be burned."
Then I answered, " Say not so, for it is written in the eighth chapter of Ecclesiasticus : ' Deem thou not against the judge, for after tliat is righteous he deemeth.' Knowest thou not that the University of Paris, where the theologians are learned and zealous and cannot err, hath decided as Cologne hath ? Wherefore wilt thou fight against the universal Church ? " Then he averred that the theologians of Faris were unjust judges, and that they took from the Predicant Friars a bribe which — so the lying rascal said — was conveyed to them by that most zealous and learned man Herr Theodoric von Gouda, legate of the University of Cologne. JNIoreover he swore that the church I spake of was not God's Church, but that of which the Psalmist spake, " I have hated the congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked." And he reviled the Doctors of Paris for all that they did ; saying that the University of Paris was the mother of all foohshness, which, taking there its rise, spread into Germany and Italy, and that that University sowed broadcast superstition and folly. He said too that, as a rule, all students of Paris were wrong-headed and in a manner numskulls. In conclu- sion he declared the Talmud not to be under the ban of the Church. Then Doctor Peter 3Ieyer, parish priest of Franfxfort, who was seated hard by, said, " I will prove to you that this fellow is no good Christian and lioldeth not with tlie opinion of the Church. ^ lJ^I^ ' Y^^ fellows talk much about theology, and know notliing.
332
122] GERHARD SCIIIRRUGEL
Rencldin even doth not know where it is written that the Tahniid is a forbidden book."
" And where is it written ? " asked the fellow.
Then Doctor 1'eter told him that it was written in
- ' 71ic FortrcsH of FaltJi.^' Then the braggart made
answer that " Thc Fortrc.ss of Faith " was a dung-hill book, and of no account, and that none save a ninny or a dunce cited that book. Then I was overcome with fear, for Doctor Pctcr was so wroth that his hands trembled, and I feared lest he should do the fellow an injury, but I said to him, " Good Sir, prithee have patience, for ' AVho is patient is governed with much wisdom.' — Proverbs ociii. Let him alone and he will perish like the dust before the wind. He speaketh much, yet knoweth nothing. As it is written in Eccle- siasticus, ' A fool multipUeth words/ so doth he." And then, oh shame ! the fellow began to say many things against the Ordcr of Preachcrs — how that those pious friars did a deed of wickedness at Bernc that I would not credit to save my Hfe — how that they were burned at the stake — and how that the Preachers once mingled poison in the Eucharistic Sacrament and thus murdered an Emperor. He declared that the whole Order should be blotted out — for otherwise great scandals would be caused in the Church, since from that Order proceedeth all mahce — and many other such like things he said. Know then of a truth that I earnestly desire to return to Cologne, for what can I do among such accursed men as these ? " May death come upon them, and may they go down ahve into the pit," as saith the Psalmist, for they are sons of Belial. If it seemeth good to you, I will first of all take my degree — but if not, I will depart immediately. Speedily therefore send me your opinion : therewith will I be governed. And now I commend you to the Lord. Farewell.
Mainz.
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LETTERS OF OBSCUKE MEN
XXIIT
fl JOHANN WICKEI/rRAGER, Humhle Pro- fcmtr of sacrcd T/tco/og/j, scudet/i grcciing to ' Magister Orticin, Gratius, Foct, Hivine, and wliat not
IN ASjNIIJCH as yoii were once my pupil at Hcventer, where I loved yoii before all my scholars, in that you were a youth of good parts and very towardly, I therefore am ever mindful to give you good counsel whensoever it heth in my power.
Eut you must take it in good part, for (^od who seeeth the heart knoweth that I speak but for love of you, and for the saving of your soul.
There were here of late certain folk, haihng from Cologne, and they declared that there is a woman in that city wlio is oft at your house, and that you are oft at hers, and have commerce with lier. Now when I heard these sayings I was smitten with great dread, for if this be true,it is a grievous scandakseeing tliat you arc a graduate and will in due time rise to higher things, to wit, a degree in sacred Tlieology. Moreover, when such doings of yours are noised abroad, a bad example is set to the young, who are tliereby corrupted. You know how that the son of Sirac/i saith : " For many have perished by the beauty of a woman ; for hereby hist is enkindled as a fire ; " T/ie Preac/icr, too, toucheth the matter : " Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and look not upon anotlier's bcauty ; " and again : " Gaze not upon a maiden, lest her beauty be a stumbhng-block to thee." Full well you know that incontinence is a grievous sin. Moreover, what is worse, I hear that this woman hveth in lawful wedlock with her husband. For the I.ord^s sake send lier packing, and liave regard to your own good name. It is a disgrace tliat men should say of a theologian that he is an avoutcrer ; and yet in other matters your repute is fair enough, and all deem you a competent schohir — as I well know you to be. Once every day you must devoutly call to remembrance the Lord's Passion, for that is a powerful remedy against
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the wiles of the Devil and the thorn in the flesh ; seek, too, in your prayers that you may be preserved from all evil thoughts. It is my behef that you have been read- ing about such things in the heathen poets, and are corrupted thereby. AVould that you might cast away all their works, for you know that St. Jerome himself was smitten by an angel for reading a book of poetry. At Deventer I often urged you not to become a Poet or a Jurist, for such men are evil-afFectioned towards the Faith, and ahnost ali are loose livers. Concerning them the Psalniist saith : " Thou hast hated them that regard vanities to no purpose."
There is another matter on which I have a mind to counsel you. The rumour goeth that you have written, in defence of the Faith, against Johann ReucliUn. This is well enough, if you would use to your profit the talent that God hath given you. But it is reported here that Johann Pfefferkorn, the man whom you buttress, is a worthless knave, and became not a Christian for love of the Faith, but, because the Jews would ha^e fain have hanged him for his wrong doings — for they say he is a thief and a traitor — he was baptized to save himself And all aver that at heart he is a sorry Christian, and will not abide in the Faith. Therefore take heed what you do. Already they have burnt at Halle another baptized Jew, also named Johann Pfefferkorn, for his many evil deeds. I fear me that this fellow will tread in his steps, and then you will be in a quandary.
Nevertheless, continue to defend Theology, and take in good part my brotherly counsel. Fare ye well, in all prosperity.
Magdeburg.
XXIV
€1 PAUL DAUBENGIGEL sendeth goodly greeting to Mag. Ortwin Gratins
SEE now whether I am a Har, as you lately said I was, in that I was always promising to write to you and yet wrote not.
Hereby I will prove that I keep faith with you — for
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
a discreet and upright man should make no promise that he doth not keep. It would be the height of fickleness in me not to keep my promises to you, and I should be a deceiver.
You must write back to me, and then we will often send, or address, letters in turn to each other.
Now you must know that Doctor Reucfilin hath pub- lished a book entitled A Dcfencer in which he is scandalously abusive, and calleth you an ass. And I felt greatly ashamed as I read that book — not that I read it all, for I threw it against the wall when I found that it was fuU of malice against the Theologians and Artsmen.
You may read it, an you will, because I am sending it to you herewith. It seemeth to me that the author and the book ought to be burned together, for it is a monstrous scandal that anybody should compile such a volume.
I was lately at the horse-market, for I wanted to buy
a horse to take me to Kienna, and it was then that I saw
the book exposed for sale, and I thought to myself that
you ought to see it, so that you might write a rejoinder
to its falsehoods — and if I could do you some greater
service I would not delay, for in me you have a humble
servant and adherent.
I You may know that hitherto I have had weak eyes,
' but a certain Alchemist came here who said he knew
I how to lieal eyes — even if a man were stark blind with
l that malady. In other leechcraft too he had much ex-
\ perience, for he had roved through Italij and France^
and many provinces. Every Alchemist, as you know, is
either a leech or a quack-salver — but this fellow was
l something out at elbows. You ask me how I thrive in
I general. I thank you for asking, and you must know that,
I by God's grace, I am doing well. At the last vintage I
\ pressed much wine, and of crops I have an abundance.
By way of news I may tell you that our most serene
Lord, the Emperor, is sending a great force into Lom-
bardij, against the Venetians, and intendeth to chastise
them for their insolence. I saw fuU two thousand men
with six standards ; half had spears, and half, culverins or
arquebuses ; they were indeed right formidable, and had
336
I 25] PHILIPP STEINMETZ
slashed hose, and they wrought much scathe to the country-folk and villagers. Folk said that they hoped they would all be slain, but I trust they will all return safe and sound. Send me, I pray you, by the carrier, what Brulifer has written concerning Scotus, his Forma- litates et Jbistinctiones ; and also " The Shiekr' of the Thomists in the Aldine character, if you can come by it.
I greatly desire also to see your tractate on the Method of Ve7'sifying.
Buy for me, too, Boethius in all his works, but especially his De Disciplina Scholaiium, and his De Consolatione Philosophica with the Commentary of the Holy Doctor.
And now, farewell, and hold me not in disesteem.
AUGSBURG,
XXV
«r MAGISTER PHILIPP STEIN3IETZ to
Mag. Ortwin Gratius, gi^eeting
A S I have ofttimes told you, I chafe bitterly because » x\. that vile rafF, to wit the Faculty of Poets, groweth | and extendeth throughout every province and region. \ In my time there was only one poet — and his name was Samuel—hut now in a single burg a good score may be found, to harass us who chng to the ancients. Just now I sharply snibbed one who said that " scholaris " did not mean a person who went to school to learn, for, quoth I, " Thou ass ! \Vouldst thou correct the Holy Doctor who useth that word?" But forthwith he wrote a lampoon against me, with many scurrihties therein, and vowed that I was no sound grammarian, in that 1 had not rightly expounded certain words when I treated of AJeojander, his First Part, and of the book De modis sigiiificandi.
Now therefore I will set down in due form those words, that you may see that I have rightly expounded them according to all the vocabularies, and I can more- over cite canonical writers, even in Theology. First, I
337 Y
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
maintained that " seria " sometimes meaneth a pot, and in that case is derived from Syiia as being first made in that country; or from "serius," because useful and neces- sary ; or from " series," because pots stand in a row. Again, " patricians " were so called as being the fathers of senators. " Currus " is derived from " currendo " be- cause therewith things within run out. " Jus, juris " signifies justice, but "jus, jutis," broth, as the verse runneth : —
" Jus, jutis, mando : jus, juris, in agmine pando."
Again, "Lucar" signifies money culled from a grove or forest. " Mantellus " means a cloak, and hence pro- ceedeth the diminutive " manticulus." "Mechanicus" means adulterous, and hence the " mechanical arts " are named, as being adulterine, when compared with the liberal arts, which are true-born. " Mensorium " means that which appertains to a table, " mensa." Again, Polyhistor^ signifies one who knows many histories, whence cometh Polyhistoria — that is a multitude of histories. Polysenus means " possessing many senses."
These, and such-like teachings the fellow declared to be false, and he put me to shame before my pupils. Then I alleged that it sufBced for a man's eternal sal- vation that he should be a simple grammarian, and at least know how to express his thoughts. But he replied that I was neither a simple nor a duplex grammarian, and knew nothing at all. Thereat I rejoiced, for now I shall cite him for breach of the privileges of the Univer- sity of Vienna, where he will have to answer me — for there by God's grace I have graduated JNIagister : and if I proved learned enough in the eyes of a whole uni- versity, I am learned enough for a single poet. Is not a university greater than a poet ? BeHeve me I would not forego that slander for twenty fiorins.
The rumour goes that all the Poets here will take Doctor RencJilins pa.rt against the Theologians, and that oneof them hathcomposed a book entitled " T^he Triumph of Capiuon " which contains many libels upon you. Would that all the poets were where the pepper groweth, and would let us rest in peace, for it is to be feared that the Faculty of Arts will perish through these same
338
1^6] ANTON RUBENSTADT
poets ! For they say that the Artsmen decoy youths, and take their money, and make Bachelors and Doctors of them thoiigh they know nothing. And they have brought it about that students no longer desire to gradu- ate even in Arts, but all wish to became Poets. I have a friend who is a worthy youth, and talented withal ; and his parents sent him to Ingolstadt, and I gave him a letter of introduction to a INIagister there who is duly quahfied in Arts and intendeth to graduate Doctor of Divinity — but the youngster must needs quit the JNlagister and attend the lectures oi Philomusus the poet. Of a truth I am woundily grieved for that young man, as it is written, Prov. aij\, " He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord " ; for if he had but stayed with the JNIagister he would have been Bachelor by this time. And now his labour is in vain — if he were to study Poetry for ten years.
I know that these profane poets harass you greatly, notwithstanding that you are a poet yourself — but not of that kind : for you hold with the Church and are ■moreover well-grounded in Theology. When you in- jdite verses they deal not with vanities, but with the jpraises of the Saints. JNIost earnestly do I desire to know how that affair of Doctor ReuchUns standeth. If I can be of any service to you therein prithee let me know, and tell me all things concerning it. Farewell.
XXVI
€E ANTOJV RUBENSTADT amicahhj and with hearty ajfection -ucisheth weal to Magister Ortwin Gratius
YENERABLE Herr JMagister, I would have you know that at this present I have not the leisure for writing to you concerning matters that press not urgently, but solely that you may reply to a single ques- tion that I will propound forthwith : whether, namely, a Doctor of Laws is bound to make obeisance to a Magister-noster who weareth not his rightful habit. The garb of a Doctor of Divinity, as you know, con-
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LETTEliS OF OBSCURE MEN
sisteth of a large cope with a hripoop. Now there is a Doctor here, a graduate in Canon and Civil Law, wlio hath a grudge against JNIagister-noster Peter JSLeiier the parish priest. Lately the Jurist met in the street INlagis- ter Peter, who was not gar})ed in his canonicals, and he made him no oheisance. Then it was said that he had not done well, for even if he were out with hini, yet he should have done him reverence for the honour of sacred Theok)gy. We may be at odds with a person without insulting his Faculty, and the Magisters stand in the Apostles' place, of whom it is written, " How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things." If, therefore, theh- feet are beautiful, how much fairer are their heads and their hands. It is meet, therefore, for every man, even a prince, to do reverence and honour to the Theologians and Magisters. But the Jurist niade reply, and cited in a precisely opposite sense the Laws, and many passages in Scripture, where it is written, "' I will judge you ac- cording to your ways " ; and he argued that we need do reverence to no man who doth not go about in his proper habit, even if he were a prince. " When a priest," quoth he, " is detected in some disgraceful act, while he is not garbed as a priest should be, but is in lay attire, then the secular judge can hale him and treat him as a layman, and sentence him to corporal punisliment, lienefit of clergy notwithstanding." This is what the Jurist said, but, I pray you, unfold your opinion, and if of yourself you cannot tell, there are jurists and theo- logians in the University of Cologne with whom to take counsel. I would fjiin know the truth, for God is truth, and whoso lovetii trutli loveth God also.
You miglit hlvcwise send me word how matters stand in tliat suit of yours against Doctor lieucJtUn. I hear tliat he is beggared by reason of the great hiw costs, and right glad of it 1 am. Hut I trust tliat with the Thcologians aiid you will rest the victory. Farewell, in the l.,ord's nanie.
FUANKFORT.
340
XXVII
C JOHANN STABLER qf MILTENBERG
sendeth greeting to Magister Ortwin Gi^atius
YOU have ever been niinded to learn the news froni me, and just now I can, and will, send you tidings, though I grieve that they are ill.
You must know, then, that the Friars of the Order qf Preachers here held eertain indulgences which they procured from the Roman Court at a great price, and that therefrom they derived no small gain. And then by night some thief broke into the Church, filched more than three hundred florins, and made ofF with them. Thereupon the Friars, men full of zeal, and warmly afFectioned in the Christian Faith, were sad at heart, and bewailed concerning that thief And the citizens sent hither and thither and could not find him, for he had escaped and taken the money with him. Great is the wickedness of such a crime, committed against the papal indulgences and in a holy place, and the robber is ex- communicate wherever he may be. The folk who had been absolved, and had paid their fees into the chest, now beheve that they are unshriven : but this fear is groundless — they are just as truly shriven as if the Pre- dicants still possessed the money.
You must know, too, that certain fellows who sup- port Doctor Reuchlin have come hither, and spread abroad many rumours, and aver that the Friars obtained those indulgences from Rome that with their price they might harry the Doctor, and in the cause of the Faith trouble him ; and that folk should give them not a doit, whatever their condition — high or low, rich or poor, rehgious or secular. Not long ago I was present at the proceedings at Mainz that the Magisters instituted against Reuchlin ; now there is a certain preacher there, in the Cathedral, who graduated Doctor of Divinity at Heidelberg, Bartholoffiezv Zehender by name — or, in the Latin, Decimarius — and from the pulpit he enjoined all men to come on the morrow to see the " AugenspiegeV
341
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
burnt, inasmuch as he deemed it impossible that Doctor Reuchlin could devise any quibble to prevent that being done. But a fellow here, a Poet by repute, went about uttering foul words against the aforesaid Doctor of Divinity, and when he met him glared at him with snaky and venomous eyes : and he cried openly, " That preacher is not worthy to sit at the same table with honest men ; and I can prove that he is a vile poltroon, for in the pulpit of your church, before all the congregation, he Hed against the good report of an illustrious man, and said that which is not." Then he cried, " Out of envy do they torment the good Doctor ! " And he called Uecimarius a beast and a dog, and swore that no heretic was ever so mahcious and envious. Now this saying came to the ears of the preacher, and he excused himself — sufficiently as it seemeth to me — saying that although the book had not been burnt, perhaps nevertheless it would be burnt later on ; moreover he quoted Scripture in many places to prove that nothing any one may say in defence of the CathoHc Faith is a he. He declared, moreover, that the baihfFs and officers of the Bishop of Mainz had hindered the execution of the sentence, contrary to all justice, but that folk would see what would happen yet, for he would venture a prophecy that the book would be burnt, though the Emperor, and the King ofFrance^ and every Prince and Duke maintained Doctor Reuchlins cause. I deem it well to inform you of these things, that you may be forewarned — and I beg of you to walk warily in all your ways, lest you incur reproach. And so, farewell.
MlLTENBERG.
XXVIII
€E FRIAR CONRAD DOLLEXKOPF to Mag. Orttvin Gratius, greeting, with the humblest devotion, and daily intercessions to our Lord Jesus Christ
TAKE it not amiss, Reverend Sir, if I write to you concerning affairs of my own, albeit you have weightier matters to give heed to.
But you told me erstwhile to keep you acquainted
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1.28] CONRAD DOLLENKOPF
with my studies, and never to weary of learning, but to press forward, seeing that I had rare capacities, and might, by God's help, excel if I were fain.
You must know, then, that for the present I have betaken myself to the University of Hcidclberg, where 1 am studying Theology. But I attend Hkewise a daily lecture on Poetics, and in this art I am making, by God's grace, notable progress.
I ah-eady know by rote all the fables of Ovid in his Metcuiiorphoscs, and these I can expound quadruply — to wit, naturally, Hterally, historically, and spiritually — and this is more than the secular poets can do.
Just now I asked one of those fellows whence " IVIavors " is derived. Whereupon he put forth a conjecture, but it was false.
Then I set him right, and told him that 3Iavo?^s was !so named as being, so to speak, " mares vorans," a man- eater — and he was put to confusion.
I next demanded of him what is signified allegori- cally by the Nine Muses. And again he was at fault. Then I told him that the Nine Muses signify the Seven Quires of Angels.
Thirdly, I asked him whence *' Mercurius " is de- rived. But he did not know, and I showed him that Me?'curiiis WSLS so named as being " mercatorum curius" — for he is the god of merchants, and curious concern- ing them.
You will hence understand that nowadays these ' Poets do but study their art literally, and do not com- prehend allegorizing and spiritual expositions : as saith the Apostle, " The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God."
Now you may ask whence I have obtained this subtle skill. I reply that I lately bought a book composed by a certain English Doctor, of our Order, Thomas of Wales by name ; and this book is all writ concerning Ovid's Metamorphoses, explaining each story allegorically and spiritually, and its profundity in Theology passeth belief.
Most assuredly hath the Holy Spirit inspired this man with so great learning, for in his book he setteth forth the harmonies between the Holy Scriptures and
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LETTEKS OF OBSCURE MEN
the fables of the Poet, and of these you may judge from the instances subjoined :
Of the Python that Apollo slew, the Psalmist saith, " This dragon which thou hast formed to play therein." And, again, " Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basihsk."
Concerning Saturn — who is always feigned an old man, and the father of the gods — devouring his own children, Ezeldel saith : " The fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee."
Diana signifieth the Blessed Vii^gin Mary, going hither and thither with a virgin company. And there- fore it is written in the Psalms, " The virgins that be her fellows " ; and, elsewhere, " Draw me, we will run after thee in the savour of thine ointments."
Concerning Jupiter, who after the defloration of Callisto retumed to heaven, it is written, 3Iatt. xii., " I will return to my house from whence I came out."
Of the lapidification of the maiden Aglauros, whom Mercury turned into a stone, Joh hinteth, " Whose heart is as firm as a stone."
Also, it is related in Holy Writ how Jupiter had commerce with the virgin Europa, though formerly I knew it not, for he spake to her thus, " Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and inchne thine ear, because the King hath pleasure in thy beauty."
Cadmus, too, seeking for his sister, is a figure of Christ who seeketh for his sister, to wit, the soul of man ; and he buildeth a city, that is, the Church.
Concerning Actaeon, who beheld Diana naked, Ezekiel prophesied, saying, " Thou wast bare and fuU of confusion, and I passed by thee and saw thee."
Not without cause is it written in the Poets that Bacchus was twice born, for by him is denoted Christ, who was twice born, once before the worlds, and a second time humanly and carnally.
Semele also, who nursed Bacchus, is an image of the Blessed Virgiii, of whom it is written in Exodus, " Take this child away and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages."
Furthermore the story of Pyramus and Thisbe is to be allegorically and spiritually expounded thus :
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1.29] TILMANN LUMPLIN
Pyramus signifieth the Son of God, and Tlmbe, the soul of man, which ChriHt loveth, and concerning which it is written in the Gospel, "A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also." And in like manner Tliisbe slew herself with her lover's sword.
Concerning Vulcan, who was thrown down from heaven and was made lame, it is written in the Psalms : " They were cast down and could not stand."
AU this, and much more, I have learnt out of that book. If you were but with me you should behold marvellous things.
And this is the way in which we ought to study l-^' Poetry.
Nevertheless you will forgive me if I seem, as it were, to be instructing your worthiness (for your learn- ing is greater than mine), but it is in good faith that 1 have written.
I have arranged that one of the folk at Tubingen should keep me informed of Doctor Reuchlins doings, so that I might warn you. But I have learnt nothing, or I would let you know.
And now, farewell, in love unfeigned.
Heidelberg.
XXIX
m: MAGISTER TILMANN LUMPLIN to
Magister Ortwin Gratius, greeting
'* T AM more brutish than any man, and have no X understanding ; I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy" {Pi^ov. xococ.). Yet scorn me not if I make bold to give you counsel in your affairs, for I do this with good intent. I desire, more- over, to monish you according to my knowledge, and modestly to chide you, for " vexation giveth under- standing." Now it is written in the Wisdom of the Son of Sirach, " He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith." And thus it falleth out in your case, since you are fain to have me for a friend ; wherefore you must take my chastenings in good part.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
I have perceived, or understood, that you hold your peace in the matter of Johcuin Reuchlin, and make no rejoinder to his attacks. Therefore I have great wrath, for I love you, and it is written, " Whom I love, I chasten." Wherefore did you begin to retort to him ii^ you meant not to persevere ? Are you not man enoughf for him ? By the Lord you are, and especially do youj excel him in Theology, wherefore you should reply toj^ him, and defend your reputation, and preach the Chris-| tian Faith, against which that heretic writeth. Youi should have respect unto no man, as saith Solomon m \ Ecclus. ociii. l
Fear not the power of the .Turists — lest they should do you carnal hurt — for you must sufFer such things for the faith and the truth. As saith Chiist, in St. Matthevos Gospel, " If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be im- possible unto you." But it is impossible for Doctor Reuchlin to write what is true, for he hath not wholly kept the faith, since he defendeth the Jews, who are foes of the faith ; and he holdeth not with the opinions of the Doctors ; moreover he is a sinner, as Dr. Johann Pfefferkoini setteth forth in his book entitled " The Tocsin.'" Now sinners should not meddle with Holy Writ, as it is written in the xliocth Psalm, " But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth ? " Wherefore I exhort you, and I beseech you from my very midrifF, to boldly defend yourself, that men may say, to your praise, that you have been a bulwark to the Church and to your own good name. Have respect unto no man — even though the Pope should inhibit you — for the Church is above the Pope.
I pray thee have me excused for counselHng you, for I love thee — lord, thou knowest that I love thee.
Fare thee well, in all stoutness of body and of soul.
346
XXX
€E JOHANN SCHNARRHOLTZ, licentiate, in posse, sendeth exuberant gi^eetings, together with his humblest duty, to the jfiost erudite and enligh' tened Magister Ortwin Gratius, Theologian, Poet and Orator, of Cologne, his most venei^ated master and preceptor
MOST cordial and profound Herr Magister Oiiwin: I, Johann Schnarrholtz, ere long licentiate in Thieology in the CTniversity of Tubingen, greatly desire to seek counsel of your worthiness ; but I fear lest this may savour of irreverence, seeing that you are of such learning, and of such high repute in Cologne, that no man dareth to draw near your worthiness without due forethought — as it is written, " Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment ? "
Nevertheless you are lowly-minded, and can bemean yourself, as saith the Scripture, " AVhoso humbleth him- self shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased." Therefore will I put ofF diffidence, and confer boldly with your worthiness — yet so as with reverence meet.
I lately heard a certain Magister of Paris deliver a sermon here, before a great congregation on the Feast of the Ascension. He took for his text, " God is gone up with a shout " ; and he preached a notable sermon, so that all who heard lauded it, and, with tears, were edified. The preacher in the second part of his dis- course deduced two masterly and subtle inferences. First, that when the Lord ascended on high with up- lifted hands, then the apostles with the Blessed Virgin stood and shouted until they were hoarse, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, " I am weary of crying, and my throat is dry." He proved, moreover, that this outcry was a shout of joy, and furthermore necessary for the CathoHc faith, as saith the Lord in the Evangel, " Verily, verily I say unto you, if these should hold their peace, the stones would cry out."
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They all shouted with rapture and great zeal — especially St. Peter, who had a voice Hke a sackbut — as Daiid witnesseth, " This poor man cried." The Blessed Virgin shouted not, but praised God in her heart, because she knew that all these things should come to pass as the Angel had foreshewn. And while the Apostles thus shouted together with jubilation and devotion, an angel came from lieaven and said unto them, " Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye here shouting, and gazing into heaven ? This same Jesns who is taken from you into heaven, shall so come in hke manner as you have seen," and this was done that the Scripture might be fulfilled which saith, " They cried, and the Lord heard them."
The second conclusion was yet more profound, as foUoweth : The Son of Man had his passion, his burial, and his resurrection at JerusaJein, which is the centre of the earth, that his resurrection should be manifest in all regions, and that no heathen might make excuse for his heresy, and say, " I knew not that the Lord was risen from the dead." Now whatsoever is at the centre, all men round about the centre can behold, but in order that no unbehever should find the least excuse for eva- sion, in that place where the Lord ascended, in the very core and centre of the earth, there hangeth a bell that all tlie world can hear, and when it toUeth it giveth forth dreadful voices concerning Doomsday and the ascension of the Lord ; and its tolUng even the deaf attend. And from this conclusion lie deduced many corollaries which he had learnt in Paris. And when he had ended, a certain JNIagister from Erfurt would fain cavil at tlie discourse, but he was discomfited. If you will tell me of the books that deal with these matters I will buy them.
Basle (at the house of the Bcafus Rhenmins, ^our friend).
348
XXXI
«E WILLIBRORD NICETI, ofthe Orderof Wilhel mites, Cursor iii Theology, by authority of the viost reverend the General of his Order, comviendeth himselfto Bartholomew Colp, qualified Bachelor in Theology, of the Order of Carmelites
As manxj a.s clrops in the midst of the sea, Or Beguins in ho/y Cologne that there be — As many as hairs on a Jackass's hide ; So many my greetings — and many beside.
VENERABLE Herr Carmelite Colp, your Order, I trow, is of the highest, and many the indulgences that you hold from the Apostolic See : no other Order may take precedence of your Order, and many are the cases you can absolve in confession when penitents are contrite and humble and would fain communicate.
I therefore desire to propound to your worship a theological question. This you are well quaHfied to determine, since you are an Artsman of parts, and can ably preach, and are full of zeal and of a good con- science ; moreover I have heard that you have a fine library in your Convent, in which are many books con- cerning Holy Scripture, and Philosophy, and Logic, and Petrus Hispanus ; the magistral syllabus, too, of the Lawrence Hostel, Cologne, where resideth acting regent Doctor von Tongern — a man right zealous, profoundly versed in speculative Theology, and enHghtened in the CathoHc Faith. Him a certain Doctor of Laws sought to vex, but — this fellow having no craft in formal dis- putation nor in the Book of Sentences — the Magisters heeded him not.
Now, above aH, I hear that in the Hbrary aforesaid, where the Cursors in Theology study, there is confined by a chain of iron a most notable book, named The Cotnbibilations, which containeth authoritative opinions in Theology, and the first principles of Holy Scripture. This Book, I hear, a certain Divine of Paris bequeathed to you upon his death-bed — when he made confession
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
and revealed certain secrets out of JBonaventura — and he ordained that no man should read therein save members of your Order, but to them so doing the Pope granteth certain indulgences and remissions.
Near this book lie Henricus de Hassia, and Verneus, and all the other commentators on the Book of Sen- tences, in the which you are versed, and are therefore a tower of strength in every disputation, whether of ancients or moderns, Scotists or Albertists, or even of those who are of the sect of Kuick Hostel in Cologne, and have a syllabus all their own.
Therefore I beseech you, heartily and in all charity, that you will take not amiss my petition, but will give me good counsel in my perplexity in so far as in you hes, and will quote to this end what the Doctors lay down thereon in repHcation and conclusion. Now the afore- said question is as followeth : " Are the Lollards and Beguins in Cologne seculars or rehgious ? Have they taken the vows ? Can they wed ? "
For a long while have I searched the Discipuhis and the Fasciculus Tempoimm and other authorities in Holy Writ, but naught have I found thereon. 'Twas the same with a priest at Fulda, deeply read in the afore- said writings, who hath found naught thereon in the Catalogue or in the books themselves : he is kinsman of the Pastor there, who is a poet — for he is a good latiniser and he can indite theses withal. Moreover, I am my- self vicar at the monastery here and have the cure of many communicants — persons from whom I can make quest. Our Superior himself hath openly declared that he cannot resolve this question, with ease to his con- science, notwithstanding that he hath attended the disputations of many Doctors at Paris and Cologne — • for he is a quahfied hcentiate, and hath responded in due form and manner to that end.
If you are unable to decide this matter, I beg you to make enquiry of Magister Ortwin, and he will make all things clear — Gratius is he called by virtue of that divine grace within him which knoweth all things. I have put together an heroic ode concerning the book aforesaid ; prithee read it and correct it, and make a mark where I have a foot too much or too httle : learn,
350
1.32] GINGOLF HOLZHACKER
too, what Magister Ortivin thinketh of it ; and then I will send it to the printer. FoUoweth :—
In pride presumptuous, who but a fool
From Bonaventure pregnant truths by rule
Would try to draw, or out of Holy Writ
Would seek enlightenment, while not a whit
He knoweth of the great Combibilations,
By learned Doetors taught to all the nations ?
In every University professed,
But first in Paris — dam of all the rest.
Cologne divines, hamm'ring the question out,
By proof seraphic shewed, without a doubt,
Combibilations better 'tis to quote
Than Jerome and Ai/giisline eon by rote —
(Although they scribbled Latin well enough.)
Combibilations are the primest stufF!
When Doctors in each Monast'ry contend,
With word divine Combibilations end
The brabble — and they rummage to the root
Theology : some other things they moot.
XXXII
€E To Magister O^^twin G-ratius, that man of un- utterable learning, MAGISTER GINGOLF HOLZHACKER ojfereth a thousand thousand greetings in love unfeigned
GLORIOUSEST of Magisters: I have loved thee
in my very midrifF, with an innermost affeetion,
from the time when thou wert my very own teacher at
Deventer : and whatsoever goadeth thee in thy heart,
that goadeth me more, and whatsoever goadeth me,
that, I know, goadeth thee, and thy goad hath always
been my goad, and no man ever goaded thee who did
! not goad me the more sharply, and my heart feeleth
the goad whensoever any one goadeth thee : beUeve
me faithfully that when Hermann Bicschius goadeth thee
in that " Prooemium " of his he goadetli me more than
thee, and I have taken thought how I could goad in
I turn that impudent brangler, who is of such presumptu-
I ous arrogance as to dare to goad the Doctors of Divinity
\ of Paiis and Cologne ! Yet he is himself not graduated
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?r-*-
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
— though his comrades avow that he proceeded Bachelor of Laws at Leipsic. But this I credit not, for he even goadeth Magisters in Leipsic, to wit, Hundt senior and Hundt junior, and many others, who are much the apter to goad him than he is to goad them ; but they desire to goad no man, on moral grounds, and according to the precept of the Apostle, " Kick not against the goads." Nevertheless it is meet for thee to goad him in return, for thou hast a fine intellect and art a cunning deviser, and in a single hour thou canst contrive metrical goads, and canst goad him concerning all his words and deeds. I have put together a tractate against him wherein I magistrally and poetically goad him ; he can by no means evade my goad. And if he ventureth to goad me in return, I will goad him again the more sharply.
In haste, from Strasburg, at the house of Matthew Schurer.
XXXIII
•E MAMMOTRECT BUNTE3IANTEL, Mag- ister in the Seven Liberal Arts, sendeth right heai^ty greeting to 3Iagister Ortwin Gratius, Phil- osopher, Orator, Poet, Jurist, and Theologian, of discretionary Faculty
RIGHT conscionable Herr Magister Ortwin, beheve me in good sooth, you have been mine own dear heart from the days wherein I heard much discourse on Poetry from your worthiness at Cologne, where you overtop all others in that art, for you are a Poet much more excellent than Buschius or Ca^sarius — and can moreover expound Pliny and Greek Grammar.
In all confidence, therefore, I desire to disclose some- what to your reverence under seal of confession.
Reverend Herr Magister, I have become enamoured
of a damsel Iiere, Margaret by name, the daughter of a
i bell-ringer. No long while ago she sat by your own
^ side, to wit when the parson invited your worship to
the feast, and treated you witli deference due ; when
352
kM l,^l|^*^&^' ^^^' '
1.33] MAMMOTRECT BUNTEMANTEL
we drank and were merry, she too pledged you in great bumpers.
Her I love with such passion that I am beside myself. Beheve me, beeause of her I can neither eat nor sleep. Folk say to me, " Herr Magister, why so pale ? For the love of God quit your books; you study over much ; you should now and again seek some diversion, and drink deep ; you are yet in your youth, and are well able to proceed Doctor and become Magister Noster. You are a profound and able scholar, and are almost the equal of a Doctor."
But I am bashful, and cannot unfold my disorder. I have studied Ovid, " Of the Remedy of Love," which I annotated at Cologne under your worthiness, with many notabiha and morahsations in the margin — but it availeth not, for this love of mine waxeth from day to day.
Lately I danced with her thrice, at an evening junketing at the Mayors house. The piper struck up the tune of "The Shepherds of Neustadt," and straight- way all the dancers clasped their partners, as is the wont — so I also hugged mine right lovingly, with her bosom next my heart, and tightly did I squeeze her hand. Then she simpered, and said, " By my soul, Herr Magister, you are a sweet man, and you have softer hands than the others ; you must not be a priest, you must take a wife ! " Then she eyed me so amorously that 1 beheve she loveth me — secretly. Her glance, in sooth, wounded my heart as though an arrow had pierced it, and straightway I went home with my servant, and flung myself upon my bed.
Then my mother fell a-weeping, because she thought I was sick of the plague, and she ran with my water to Dr. Brunell, crying out, " Herr Doctor, I beseech you by the Lord to heal my son ; I will give you a fine shirt for a fee, because I made a vow that he should becorne a priest ! " Then the leech cast the water, and ^ said, " The patient is partly cholerical, and partly phleg- matical; there is danger of great intumescence in his reins, with tympanies and abdominal cohcs from ill concoctions. He must needs have recourse to a purga- tive. There is a simple named Gyni, which groweth in
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LETTEES OF OBSCURE MEN
moist places and hath a rank odour, as the Herhariiis teacheth : the roots of this herb you must triturate with the juice thereof, and therewith you must make a great cataplasm, and cover his paunch with it at the accus- tomed time, and he must lie upon his belly a full hour, sweating profusely. And thus without a doubt his colicky pains and tympanies will abate, for there is no other medicament so effectual as this for his distemper, as has been proved in the case of many patients. But it will assuredly be proper for him first to take a cathartic of Album Grcecum and radish juice — four drachms of each — and all will be well."
Then came my mother, and gave me that concoc- tion, sorely against my will, and I was purged five times ere dawn, and I slept not at all, but all the while I ceased not to think of how I had embraced the damsel at the dance, with her breast to mine, and how she looked at me.
Now I beseech you, by all your bowels of mercy, give me a remedy for Love out of that Httle book of yours wherein is written " I have tried this." You once showed it to me, saying, " See, with this book I can make any woman love me ! "
And unless you do this, Herr Magister, I shall die, and for grief my mother will die too.
Heidelberg.
XXXIV
€E MAGISTER ORTWIN GRATIUS to his
most learned friendy in friendship^s loftiest rank^ Magister Ma??wiotrcctus, sendeth salutations
INASMUCH as the Scripture saith, " The Lord shall defend them who go simply," I greatly com- mend your worthiness, most argute Herr Magister, in that you have opened your inmost heart to me so frankly, and yet with a nice concinnity and a pretty trick in Latinising. I, in Hke manner, will write to you con- gruously with the canons of Rhetoric, and not as a poet.
354
I 34] ORTWIN GliATIUS
JMost amicable Herr INIagister, you have unfolded to me your amours, but I marvel that you are not too prudent to hanker after maidens ; I warn you that in this you do ill, and that you have a sinful end in view, that may bring you to hell-fire. I deemed you prudent, and one that had no mind for such foUies, for they ever have an ill event.
Nevertheless I will give you the counsel that you seek — as saith the Scripture, " Ask ye, and ye shall take." First, you must cast aside those vain imagin- ings concerning that JSIargaret of yours, for they are suggested to you by the Devil, who is the father of all sin — as Rlchard allegeth, in his comment on the Fourth Book. Whensoever thoughts of her assail you, fail not to cross yourself and say a paternoster, with that verse of the Psahns, " The Devil stand at his right side." Neglect not to eat consecrated salt on the Lord's Day, and sprinkle yourself with holy water that the priest of St. Rupert hath blessed. Thus may you escape from that devil who hath instilled in you so great fervour for this Margaret — who, after all, is not so comely as you think her ; she hath a wart on her forehead, long red shanks, and clumsy brown hands, and her breath savoureth because of her foul teeth ; moreover she hath a heavy stern, in accordance with the common saying that '^ Ars Margciretoe is a wonderful snare." But you are so bKnded by that devil-begotten passion that you perceive not her faults. She eateth and drinketh over much, and when she sat by me at table she made a bounce and said it was the foot-stool. A fairer wench than your Margaret was mine at Cologne, nevertheless I sent her packing. After she was wedded she often used to send for me through an old crone — yet I visited her but once, and then I was fuddled. I counsel you to fast twice on the Sabbath, and after- wards to make confession to a Doctor of the Order of Preachers, who will set you on your legs again. And when you have made confession you must pray to St. Christopher to bear you on his shoulders, that you backsHde not, nor be soused in that great and wide sea wherein are creeping things innumerable — that is, numberless sins, as saith the Covibibilator — and, finally,
355
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
pray that you enter not into temptation. Arise be- times, wash your hands, comb your hair and be not slothful ; for the Scripture saith, " God my God, to thee from hght I wake." Avoid too, houses of ill-fame, for we well know that places and op- portunities oft lead men into sin, and especially into lechery.
In that you desire to learn from me an experience in fascination, I must tell you that my conscience forbiddeth. When I expounded to you here Ovid in his " Art of Love," I warned you that no man ought to compass the love of women by the Elack Art ; and whoso gainsayeth this is in sooth excommunicate, and the Inquisitors of Heretical Pravity may hale him and co|idemn him to the stake.
This former ensample, I pray you, bear in thy mindTl A certain Bachelor of Leipsic became enamoured of a j maiden — Katlierine by name — the daughter of a miller, / and he tossed her a magical apple, which she caught and placed in her bosom, between her breasts. There- upon on a sudden she began to love that Bachelor hke a fury, so that when she was in church she could not refrain her eyes from him, and when she should have said, " Pater noster qui es in cjulo," she cried, " Oh, Bachelor, where art thou ? " Even at home, when her father or mother called to her, she would answer, " Yes, Bachelor ! Wliat is your will ? " Now the old folk comprehended not the matter, until a certain Doctor of Divinity, passing by the house, greeted the maiden, saying, " Goodden, Mistress KatJierine! Save you ! you have a fine comb ! " Thereupon Katherine made answer, " God be praised, dear Bachelor ! AYiit join with me in a draught of good ale ? " And she held out a tankard to him. Then was that divine mightily wrath, and he made his complaint to her mother, and said, " Mistress MiiUer, correct your daughter, for she behaveth herself frowardly, and hath insulted our University, in that slie called me ' Baclielor,' wliereas I am Magister Noster ! Verily, verily, I say unto you that she hath committed a deadly sin ; she hatli robbed me of my good fame ; and this sin is not remitted until she hath restored that which she hath filched.
356
I 35] LYRA BUNTSCHUHMACHER
Other Doctors, too, she hath called * Bachelor '— take
heed therefore." i • -i •
Thereupon her mother took a cudgel, and laid it about her head and back till she beshamed herself; and then she shut her up in her chamber for half a year, and fed her on bread and water. In the mean- while the Bachelor gained preferment, and celebrated his first mass, and then received a cure of souls at Pardau in Saxony. But when the maiden heard thereof she leaped from a lofty window and came nigh to breaking her arm, and fled to Sajcony, to the afore- said Bachelor. She dwelleth with him unto this day, and hath borne him four sons. You know right well that this is a grievous scandal in the Church. Take heed, therefore, and shun that Black Art from which so many evils flow. But by all means use that recipe of Gyni that Dr. Brunell hath prescribed. 'Tis a sovran remedy, and I have ofttimes tried it against such colicky spasms. i
Fare ye well — you ind_jour mother.^ --^^,,^
From CoLOGNE ; at Johann Pfefferkoms house.
XXXV
€E LYRA BUNTSCHUHMACHER, Theologian, of the Order of Preachers, to Wilhelm Hackinet, Most Theological qf Theologians, greeting
YOU have written me, from London in England, a long letter excellently well Latinised, and in it you adjure me to send you some tidings, whether good or bad, since you are by nature inchned ever to be hearkening to news— as are all men of a sanguine com- plexion, who delight to hear the concords of sweet music, and are of joyful heart at the board. i;^' il was greatly gladdened when I received your letter, and was as one who findeth a precious pearl ; and I shewed it to Herren John Grocyn and Linacre, saymg : " See, my lords, see ; is not this Doctor a paragon in latinity, and composition, and the epistolary art?"
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
And they vowed that they could not themselves write such a letter in the Latin tongue, though poets, and possessed both of Greek and Latin.
They extolled you, indeed, above all writers in England, France and Germany, and in every other nation under heaven.
Small wonder then that you are General of your Order, and that in France the king loveth you ; for you have no peer in Latinising, nor in disputation, nor in preaching ; and right well do you know how to instruct the King and the Queen in the confessional.
The two poets aforesaid also lauded you, in that you were skilled in the art rhetorical ; but there was a certain young man, Richard Crohe by name, who alleged against you that you did not write according to the Canons of the Art of Rhetoric : but when he made shift to prove his words he was put to confusion.
He is now at Leijjsic, studying the I^ogic of Peter qf Spain : I trow in future he will be more heedful.
But, to come to the news : The Swissers and the
iLandsknechts have been mightily waging war, and
Jslaying one another in thousands ; and it is to be feared
that none of them will go to heaven, because they hght
for pelf, and one Christian ought not to slay another.
But these are matters that you heed not; the soldiers
lare but lewd folk, and they fight because they Hst.
Another piece of news is graver — God grant that it ?be not true — it is reported from Rome that Johann iReuchlins Augcnspiegel hath been newly translated from the mother-tongue into Latin by the command of my lord the Pope, and that in more than two hundred passages it differeth in the Latin from the rendering made by the Doctors and Herr Johann Pfefferkorn at Cologue ; they say too, for certain, that it is openly read in Romc, and is printed with the Tahnud of the Jews. And they conclude from this that the Doctors are infamous falsifiers, because they have transhited ill ; also that they are asses, ignorant of both Latin and German ; and that as they burnt that book at St. Andrews in Colognc, so ought they to burn tlieir own Verdict, and the Verdict of Paris, or be themselves held as heretics.
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I 36] EITELNARRAB. VON PESSENECK
I could weep tears of blood, so greatly do I grieve ! i Who that hears such things will study Theology any I /v more, or show the Doctors of Divinity condign reverence ? ^> All folk will beheve that Doctor Reiichlin hath more learning than the Divines : though this is impossible.
It is reported too, that after three months a final decree against the Doctors will issue ; and that the Pope will command, under pain of the severest censure, that the friars of the Order of Preachers, shall on account of / their insolence, wear, in white, upon the back of their ! black mantles, a pair of spectacles, or barnacles, in perpetual memorial, to their shame, of their having wrought ill to the Eyeglass of Herr Johann Reuchlin, as they are also held to be disgraced on aecount of the poisoning of sorne Emp^rQj:^. OX. other during the cele- bration of mass.
But I hope the Pope will not be such a noddy as to do this ; if he doth, we must everywhere throughout our Order, recite against him the Psalm JDeus, laudemy
The Fathers and Doctors are pondering how to stave ofF this calamity. They purpose to seek from the Apostohc See plenary indulgences, and to collect great store of money in Germany and France, and by I this means to hold out against that abettor of the Jews, • until he die — for he is an old man. And then they wdll totally damn him.
Farewell, give counsel to the extent of your abihty, and labour for the good of our Order.
XXXVI
•E EirELNARRABIANUS VON PESSE-
NECK, Cursor in Theology, qf the Order of St. Wilhelm, sendeth innumerahle salutations to 3Iag. Ortwiji Gh^atius
" ~\TTE are by nature prone to sin," as w^e read in the
VV Authentica. Hence it followeth that among
men we hear more evil than good report. I lately held
disputation at Worms w4th two Jews, and proved that
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their Law was made by Cliri.st of none effect, and that their expectation of a Me.mdli was mere moonshine ; and on this matter I quoted Herr Johann Pfefferkorn of Colo^ne. Then they laughed, and said, " That Joliann Pfefferkorn of yours is a vile braggart ; he knoweth no Hebrew, and he became a Christian to hide his naughti- ness. When he was yet a Jew, in Moravia, seeing a woman standing at a money-changer's counter, he smote her in the face, so that she was bhnded, and seizing more than two hundred florins, he made ofF with them. Elsewhere a gallows was set up that he might be hanged thereon for theft, but by some means or other he escaped scot-free ; we have seen the gallows ourselves, and so have many Christians, and some noblemen, whom we can name. Call not to witness, therefore, a thief hke him." Then was I wrath, and made answer, " You he in your throats, vile Jews ! W^ere you not privileged, I would seize you by the weasand and roll you in the mire ! You speak thus out of hatred to Herr Johann Pfefferkorn ; he is as good and zealous a Christian as any in Cologne : this I know from observation, for he confesseth reguhirly to the Dominican.s, together with his wife ; he rejoiceth to hear mass, and when the priest elevateth the Host he regardeth it devoutly, and casteth not his eyes down to the ground, as his revilers aver- — save when he hawketli, and this he doth because he is rheumy and taketh pectorals of a morning. Think you that the Doctors and l^urgomasters of Cologne are fools, who have set him over the Revilien Ho.spifa/, and made him surveyor of salt ? Assuredly they would not have this done if he had not been a good Cathohc. I warn you that I sliall relate all your words to him, for he can well defend his honour, and trounce you to sonie pur- pose by writing about your own Confession. You say, forsooth, that he is cockered by the ]\Iagisternostcrs and Burgomasters because he hath a fair wife. 15ut this is not sooth, for tlic IJurgomasters havc fair wives them- sclves, and the Magisternosters pay no heed to woman- kind ; none ever heard tell of a ^lagisternoster who was a gahant ! The dame is as lionest a matron as any in Co/ogne ; she would rather lose an eye than her good fame. JMoreover 1 have often lieard that her mother
3G0
137] LUPOLD FEDERFUCHSER
used to say that the circumcised are dearer to a woman's heart than the uncircumcised ; wherefore she declareth that when her husband dieth, and she taketh another spouse, he niust be one who hath been fitly trimmed. It is unbehevable, therefore, that she hankereth after Burgomasters, who have never been Jews, and are not circumcised as is Herr Johann Pfeffcrkorn. Where- fore leave him in peace, else he will launch against you a tractate which he will call The Tocsin, as he did against ReuchUn.'" It would be well for you to show this letter of mine to Herr Johann Pfefferk'orn,t\\^t he may stoutly defend himself against such Jews as these, and against Hcrmann Busch, for Pfefferkorn is mine own famiHar friend, and lent me ten florins when I was admitted quahfied Bachelor in Theology.
From BoNN ; where Buschius and his crony board together at "The Fatted Hen."
XXXVII
iE LUPOLD FEDERFUCHSEE, Licentiate—in a little while — sendeth to Mag. Giritius greetings as many as ai^e the hlades qf grass in a gooses supper
HERR MAGISTER ORTWIN, amongthe quod- hbets at Ei-furt a vengeance subtle question hath been mooted in the two Faculties of Theology and Katural Philosophy.
The one part hold that when a Jew becometh a Christian there ensueth a preputial regeneration, or re- trieval of the virile deprivation inflicted in childhood under the Judaic law.
These disputants are of the Theological Faculty, and they allege for their part sundry weighty reasons, one whereof is that were it not so, Jews who had become Christians might be regarded as being yet Jews at the last Judgment — their virile deficiency being made mani- fest — and hence an injury would be done to them ; but the Lord doth injury to no man. — Q.E.D. fl^ And they find another argument in the words of the Psabnist, who saith : " He covereth me in the day of evils, in the secret place he covereth me " : but " the day
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
of evils " meaneth the Day of Doom in the VaUeij of J Jekoshap/iat, when aceount of all sins must be rendered. Other arguments I omit for brevity's sake, for \ve at Erfurt are moderns, and the moderns ever dehght in brevity, as you know. Moreover, in that my memory is weak, I cannot learn by rote a multitude of citations, as do the .Turists.
But there are others who contend that this argument holdeth not, and they quote Plautus on their side, who saith : " AVhat is done cannot be undone." From this they prove that if a Jew in the days of his Judaism hath lost any portion of his corporahty he will by no means recover it in Christian baptism. They argue, too, that their opponents' proof concludeth illogically ; for, from their major premiss it would follow that Christians who had, through loose hving, sufFered some carnal de- ficiency — as happeneth many a time to both secular and spiritual persons — would also be held to be Jews at the Last Judgment.
But this is an heretical conclusion,and ourMasters the
Inquisitors of Heretical Pravity will by no means grant
it, seeing that they themselves are now and then a trifle
[ lacking thereabouts — a mishap which occurreth to them
I by no means from consorting with wantons, but from
■ lack of care at the baths. Most humbly and devotedly
I pray your worship, therefore, to determine the truth
of this matter once for all by your decision, and to make
enquiries of Herr Pfefferlwrns wife, seeing that you
stand in her good graces, and she will not be backward
in telhng you whatsoever you ask in the name of the
close friendship you have with her husband. Moreover,
I hear that you are her confessor, and therefore you may
compel her to due obedience under pain of penance.
Say to her : *' Madam, be not bashful ! I know you
for as honest a lady as any in Cologne : and nothing dis-
honest do I ask from you. I do but seek to learn the
truth from you : is your husband of the circumcision,
or not ? Speak boldly, without shame ! Od's hfe ! have
.you lost your tongue?" But I must not presume to
linstruct you, for you know much better than I how to
/ deal with women. I write in haste.
From Erfurt : at the sign of the Dragon.
362
XXXVIII
iE PETERMANN KACHELOFEN, Licentiate, to Magister Ortwin Qratius most salutiferous salutations
YOU wrote to me of late from Cologne, and chided me for iiot writing to you, since, you averred, you read my letters with more relish than any others, inasmuch as their style is good, and they are artificially composed according to the Epistolary Rules that I learnt from your worthiness in Colognc. But I may tell you that I have not always inspiration, and matter withal, such as is now mine.
You must know that a pubhc Disputation is being held here, and the Magisters and Doctors exhibit their craft and profundity in deciding, solving, and propound- ing questions, arguments, and problems concerning all things knowable. The Poets and Orators, too, prove themselves highly skilled and learned, and amongst them there standeth fortli one who is woundily magistral in that art above all the rest, and he assumes a brave title in announcing his lectures — for he alleges that he is the Poet of poets, and that besides him there is none other poet.
He hath written a treatise all in verse, with a mighty fine name — what it is called I have forgot, but I trow it handleth wrath and choler — and in that treatise he vexeth many of the Magisters, and the other poets who hindered him from lecturing in tlie University, on account of his Hcentious art. The Magisters, more- over, tell him to his face that he is not so fine a poet as he boasteth himself to be, and they oppose him stoutly, and prove their case by citing you, seeing that you are more deeply immersed in the art poetical. They prove too that he is not well grounded in the quantities of syllables, as the Master of ViUedieu determines them in his Third Book (which the fellow seemetli not to have duly studied), and they prov^e their
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
case by many arguments. Imjjrimis, by means of your name — and this in twofold fashion. First : this fellow would fain be a deeper poet than JNlagister Ortidn, and yet his very name will not sutfer it.
Magister Ortivifi manifestly hath the name Gratiiis from the grace given him from on high (which is called grace because it is given gratis), for you could not compose those profound poems without that gratuitous grace given you by the divine spirit that breatheth where it listeth. It is through your humihty that you have obtained tliis, for " God withstandeth proud men, but to meek men he giveth grace." They who read your poetry, and understand such matters, vow that you have no peer, and marvel that this fellow can be so doltish and irreverent as to wish to excel you, when a child may see that you surpass him as doth the LahjirintJius the Cornutus.
The INIagisters desire to collect your writings, and to print those that are scattered about in sundry tractates — as, for instance, in that book of Doctor von Tongern, High-master of Laxcrcnce Hostcl, against JoJiann Rcuchliiis scandalous theses — in the " Soiti- ment/um Parisicnse — and in many a treatise of Herr Johann Pfcjfcrkorn, once a Jew but now best of Christians. They fear that otherwise your poetry will be lost, and they dechu'e that it w^ould be a disgrace to the age — nay, a mortal sin — if through neglect it should perish and not be printed. The INIagisters pray that you will deign to send them your Viudication in reply to Johann RcucJiIin, in whicli you soundly trounce that swaggering doctor who dares to contend with four universities : thcy would fain transcribe your work and restore it to you.
Among those who rely on tlic aforesaid arguments are Magister Johann Kirchhcrg, mine own particuhir friend and fellow-graduate — Magister Johann Hungen, my most loving friend — Magister Jahoh von \yirnherg, INIagister Jodok Windslwim, and many othcr Magisters, my own right worthy friends, and your imdaunted well-wishers.
Some there are, nevertheless, who object, and say that albeit this mode of proof is indeed subtle, and the
364
1.38] PETERMANN KACHELOFEN
conclusion regular, it accords not with your intention ; for it would sound vainglorious to say, " Sirs, I am named Grafius after that grace from on high which God hath given me in Poetry and all things knowable." For this would seem to fit but ill with that lowhness through which you received that grace, and argueth a certain inconcinnity ; for supernal grace and pride cannot coexist, since grace is a virtue, and pride is a vice, and these are incompatible ; for " one of two countraries expelleth the other, as heat drives out cold " : as saith the poet, according to Petrus Hispcnms in the " Prccdiccunenta, who showeth that virtue is the opposite of vice.
Another solution is therefore nmch to be preferred, to wit, that Gratius is so named after the Roman Qracchi, a letter being dropped for euphony's sake. Now concerning these Gracchi we read in Roman History that they were very famous poets and orators, and that in Pome in those days their equals were not to be found, subtle and skilled as they in Poetry and Rhetoric. It is related, too, that their voices were soft ■ and sweet, not strident and harsh, but dulcet as a flute. And sometimes it was to the sound of a flute that they ' opened their discourses, wherefore the people hstened to them with the liveHest dehght, and lauded them : above all others in that art. Now it was from these \ Gracchi that Magister Orttdn was surnamed Gratius. \ For, in turn, no man is his equal in poetry, or in ' dulcitude of voice. He surpasseth all, just as the G?Yicchi overtopped all the poets of Rome. Therefore \ the aforesaid poet of Wittenberg should keep silent and I humble himself : he is learned after a fashion, but com- .' pared to you he is a child.
This second proof is adopted by my famihar friends Eoban Hessus, Magister Heinrich Urbanus, Ritius Euiitius, Magister Georg Spalatin, Ulrich Hutten, and especially Doctor Ludrvig 3fistotheus, my honoured friend and protector. Prithee, write and tell me which are on the right track, and what is the truth of the matter. And a mass shall be read for you that you may get the better of Doctor Reuchlin, who un- deservedly dubbed you a heretic in that you wrote
365
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
|/|in your verse, " Jove's holy mother wept." Fare ye well, in all holiness.
From WiTTENBERG, at the Castle, with Magister Spalatiii, who sends you greetings as many as the Hallelujahs sung between Easter and Whitsuntide. Farewell, once more, and be of joyous countenance.
XXXIX
•E NIKOLA US LU3IINA TORIS sendeth to Herr Magister Ortwin as many greetings as there be fleas and inidges begotten in a year
MAGISTER ORTWIN, most learned preceptor, I render you more thanks than I have hairs on my body, for that you counselled me to trudge to Cologne and study at Laivrence Hostel. My father was well pleased thereat, and gave me ten florins ; furthermore he bought me a long gown with a black hood. On the very day when I arrived at the Univer- sity, and underwent initiation at the aforesaid hostel, I learned a most noteworthy thing that I would not have missed for ten silver pieces. A certain poet, one Hermann Buschius, came to the hostel to confer with the vice-regent on business. Thereupon the vice- regent took him by the hand, and greeted him deferen- tially, saying, " Whereof is this thing to me, that the mother of the Lord cometh to me ? " But Buschins made answer, " If the Lord had a mother no fairer than I am, of a truth she was not very comely ! " Thus he failed to comprehend the subtle rhetorical allegory that the vice-regent had intended by his greeting !
I trust that I shall yet learn in this benign Univer- sity many things as profitable as this notable topic. To-day I bought the Statutes of the Hostel ; to-morrow I mustargue in an academical disputation on this theme: " Whether prime matter is an actual or potential entity."
Lawrence Hostel, Cologne.
366
XL
€E HERBORD MISTLADER offereth to Mag- istei' 07~tivin GratiiLS of learmng incoiwparahle^ his own most sapient preceptor, salutations that 710 man may number
ALL-ENLIGHTENED Magister ! Wlien 1 parted . from yoiir worthiness at Zicolle, two years agone, you plighted your troth that you would write oft to me, and would provide for me in your writings patterns of fair diction. But, alas, you have gone from your word, and write not to tell me if you be quick or dead — and, whether you be ahve or dead, you tell me not which, or what hath happed, or how the matter standeth. Dear Lord ! how you rack me ! I beseech you, by the Lord and *SY. George, free me from my soHcitude ; for I am in great dread lest you have a headache, or some infir- mity in your bowels, with a flux such as you once had when you berayed your garments in the pubhc street and perceived it not until a woman cried out, " Herr JNIagister ! hast thou been sitting on a mixen ? See ! even thy skirts and shoes are slubbered ! " And then you turned in to Johann Pfejferkorns house, and his wife gave you a change of raiment. It behoveth you to eat hard-boiled eggs, and roasted chestnuts, and cooked beans sprinkled with poppy-seed, as is the wont in your country of IVestpJialia. I have dreamed a dream concerning you — that you have a grievous cough and much rheume withal ; eat therefore sugar-plums, and peas mashed with thyme and pounded garhc ; lay a roasted onion on your navel, and be continent for six days ; wrap up your head and your loins, and you will be cured.
Or you may try the remedy that Johann Pfeffer- kor?is wife hath often given to the infirm, and the virtue whereof hath oft been proved.
From ZwoLLE.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
XLI
€E FILIPPAZZO OF ANTWERP, Bachelor, sen- deth gixetings numberless to his own particular friend, Magister Ortivi?i Gratius
THER.E was a certain religious of the Order of Preachers, a disciple of Doctor Jakoh von Hoog- straten, who came to me and saluted me. Straightway I asked him, " How doth my own particular friend, Magister Ortxdn Gratius, from whom I have learnt much lore in Logic and Poetry ? " Thereupon he replied that you were in ill-health, and immediately I fell upon the earth at his feet in dismay. Then that rehgious drenched me with cold water, and twitched my hairs, and with much ado revived me ; then I cried, " Ah ! how grievously you have terrified me : what is his malady ? " And he told me that your right pap was swollen, and that you were galled, and hindered in your \ studies, by the anguish of that distemper. Then I came | to my senses and cried, "Ha ! is it no more than that ?| I can cure that ailment ; 1 know the heahng thereof by; experience. But Herr Magister, learn first whence that infirmity proceedeth." And therewith I set forth the remedy : When wanton wenches see a proper man, Hke yourself, with auburn locks, to wit, and brown or hazel eyes, and ruddy Ups, and a fine nose, and portly withal, straightway they hanker after him. But when he is virtuous, and a man of learning, like yourself, who pays no heed to their foUies and wiles, then they resort to magic arts, and at night, mounted on besoms, they ride thereon to the comely man of their heart, and visit him in his sleep — but to him all is naught but a dream. And some assume the shapes of cats and birds, and suck the blood from their good man's breast, and at times make hiin so weak that he can scarce hobble with a- staff. I
It is, I trow, the devil who teacheth them these tricks. » Nevertheless, this is the way to frustrate them, as I read in the Doctors' Library at Rostock, out of a very
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1.42] ANTON N.
ancient book ; and afterwards I made trial of it, and it proved true.
Upon a Sunday take some consecrated salt, and with it make the sign of the cross upon the tongue, and eat it, as saith the Scripture, " Vos estis sal terrae," which ; 7 is by interpretation, " Eat ye the salt of the earth." Afterwards make the sign of the cross upon the breast, and again on the back ; in Hke manner put some salt in each ear, not omitting the sign of the cross, and taking heed that none fall out. Finally recite the foUowing devout prayer : —
"Jesu Christe Domiiie, And Evangels four, do ye Fend me from ev'ry harlot's harm, And from the sorceress's charm — Lest she my blood shall suck, and wring My paps with anguish : I will bring If ye preserve me, as oblation, A pretty asperge for lustration."
And thus you will be dehvered. And if the blood- suckers come again and gorge, they will fall sick themselves.
And, now, how standeth it with Doctor Reiichlin ? The Magisters here say that he is too much for you ; but I cannot beheve that he can overcome Magister- nosters. All the more do I worider that you do not write somewhat against him.
Fare ye well, more than eternally. Greet for me Herr Johann Pfefferkorn and his wife: tell them that I wish them more good nights than the minutes that the astronomers reckon.
Frankfort-on-Oder.
XLII
•E ANTON N., qf fhe Art of Medicine almost Doctor — Licentiate, to tvit, but shortly to he graduated — sendeth greeting to the inestimable Mag. Ortidn G^iritius, his venerated teacher
PRECEPTOR unparalleled ! Seeing that a httle while ago you requested me to tell you the news, you riiust know that I have bnt now attained jSt?ris-
369 2 A
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
hm^g, journeying from Heidelberg, to purchase certain drugs that, as 1 beUeve you know, we use in our medicaments. For it is the custom amongst your physicians, if aught be lacking in their stores, to pro- ceed elsewhither to procure it for the practice of their Art. But let this pass. As soon as I arrived hither, there came to me a good friend, and one very well- disposed towards me ; you know him well, for he was for a long while under your ferule at Cologne — and he told me of a man named Erasmus of Rottcrdam, of whom I had never lieard, but who is profoundly skilled in all knowledge and in every branch of learning. This man, he told me, was even then at Strasburg. (I could not beheve, and I yet cannot bring myself to beheve, that a man so small as he is could know so much.) Thereupon I earnestly begged my friend to bring me to Erasmus that I might see him. I had with me a note-book that I call my medical Vade-mecum — for I always carry it with me when I walk abroad to visit patients, or to buy simples — and in this are jotted down sundry very subtle questions concerning the medical art. Out of this notebook, therefore, I cuUed me a question with all the comments thereon, and the argu- ments /?ro and con, and armed with these I purposed to beset this man whom they deem so learned, and make trial whether he knew somewhat of Medicine, or not. Now when I told my friend my intent, he made a great feast, and bade to it speculative Theologians, and Jurists of high renown, and myself as a representative, all unworthy, of the Art Medicinal.
Now, when we were set, for a long while there was a silence, and from modesty no man would break it ; then I nudged my neighbour, for of a sudden — heaven knoweth how — there rushed into my mind : —
" Conticuere omnes, intentique ora tenebant."
This verse I still have fresh in my memory, for when you expounded to us Virgil in his Eneid, 1 hmned beside it a man with a bolt on his mouth, to mark the passage, as you bade us.
At the last it was fairly brought to the proof, whether that wiseacre was indeed a poet, as the report
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1.42] ANTON N.
went. For as we all sat in silence, he began to hold forth in a mighty long preamble.
15ut of this — else am I no true-born man — I under- stood not a single word, by reason that he had such a wee Httle voice ; I think lie did in some sort handle theology, and this to engage a certain Magister Noster, a man of vast profundity in matters theological, who sat with us at board.
Thereupon, when Erasmus had concluded that pre- lude, the Magister Noster began to argue with great subtlety concerning entity and essence — but it skilleth not that I should recall his words, for you are well versed in such matters. When he had finished, Erasmus rephed, but briefly, and once more we all sat silent. Our host, therefore, who is a humanist of parts, fell to some discourse on Poetry, and greatly belauded Julius Caesar, as touching both his writings and his valorous deeds. So soon as I heard this, I perceived my opportunity, for I had studied much, and learned much under you in the matter of Poetry, when I was at Cologne, and I said, " Forasmuch as you have begun to speak concerning Poetry, 1 can therefore no longer hide my light under a bushel, and I roundly aver that I beheve not that Caesar wrote those Commentaries, and I will prove my position with argument following, which runneth thus ; Whosoever hath business with arms and is occupied in labour unceasing cannot learn Latin ; but Caesar was ever at War and in labours manifold ; therefore he could not become lettered and get Latin. In truth, therefore, I beheve that it was | none other than Suetonius who wrote those Commen- ■' taiies, for I have met with none who hath a style liker to Caesars than Sueto?iius.'"
After I had this spoken, and much else which here, for brevity's sake, I set not down — since, as you know from the ancient saw, " The moderns dehght in brevity" — Erasmus laughed, but said nothing, for I had overthrown him by the subtilty of my argument. And so we made an end of the feast, and I propounded not my question in the Art of Medicine, for I well knew that he could not resolve it, since he could not answer me that argument in Poetrv. He, a poet ! Pardy, 1
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declare that there is not so much in him as they say. In the way of Poetry I admit that he can speak fair Latin. But what of that ? We can learn many such things as that in a year. But in respect of the philo- sophic sciences, such as Theology and Medicine, much more hath to be done if one would fain learn them. And yet would he be held a Theologian. But, my good Master, what kind of Theologian ? A novice, forsooth, who dealeth with words alone, and tasteth not the inner meanings of things ; as though — to make a fair comparison — one should desire to eat a nut, and yet only eat the outer husk, and come not at the kernel within. Thus it standeth with such triflers, according to my own duU understanding. But of this you know much more than I, for I hear that even now you are minded to assume the robes of the Doctorate of Theology — to which may God and the Holy Mother exalt you. Nevertheless, I will say this on my own behalf — that I be not more tedious than I had pur- posed — that I would gain more by my art — if God but grant that sick folk be multipHed — in a week, than Erasmus or any other Poet in a year. Let this, then, suffice for the present. Good luck to you ! I have been greatly perturbed. Another time I will send you more news. May you hve and prosper as long as doth a phcenix — this may all the Saints grant — and have affisction for me as of yore.
From Heidelberg.
XLIII-XLIV
«: GALLUS LEINEWEBER, of Chmdclfingen, Singei' among Good Eellows, sendeih greeting to Magister Ortxvin Gratins, his well-beloved teacher
KEVEREND Herr Magister: seeing that you sent me a letter full of solace at Ehcrhurg, in the which you consoled me, inasmuch as you had heard that I was sick, I render you sempiternal thanks. Nevertheless you wrote in that letter that you mar- velled at my being sick, since I had no more labour to
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I 43-44J GALLUS LEINEWEBEK
perform than the other do - nothings — the quahty's lackeys, to wit. Ha, ha, ha ! 1 must needs laugh — else I am no true-born man — that you can ask so fooHsh a question ! Know you not that it is God's will to niake a man sick when he pleaseth, and to cure him when he Usteth ? If sickness came by toil 'twould be a bad thing for me ; although you say I have httle to do. When of late I was at Heidelberg among boon- companions, I was compelled to labour so mightily with my throat, in the drinking of wine, that it would have been no marvel had I stretched my gullet thereby — and think you that no hibour ? ]3ut concerning that matter let this suffice. There followeth in your letter a request that I should procure for you a little book in which is set forth somewhat useful for the young, that you may use it for a primer. Since, therefore, I have ever held you in esteem by reason of the various branches of learning that you know by rote, I cannot refrain from sending you a letter culled from a fair volume intituled " The Leipsic Magisters Chaplet of Letters which the most accomphshed JNIagisters in the benign University of Leipsic have devised. This I have done that, if this first letter please you, I may send you the whole book — but I do not wilhngly let it pass from my hands.
Here beginneth the aforesaid letter : —
MAGISTER HOFMAN, Senior Regent in
Heinrich Hostel at Leipsic, sendeth greeting to
Matthias Falkenberg, qf noble familii , for jifty
years, and more, hisfriend inseparahle
OJINCE we have not met for a long while, it lO seemeth good to me to send you a letter, that our ancient friendship may not decay ; I have heard from many that you still Hve, and are of good health, and are all the man you were in your youth : and this, by the Lord, I heard with vast pleasure — God, who is good, will pardon me for so round an oath. Would to God and Holy Mary
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that you might once in a way ride hither ! But I hear that you take not the same joy in riding as was your wont when you were with me at Erfurt and in other parts of Saxony, and when I often marvelled at your ease on horseback. I had great fear, when I heard that the folk at Worms were at strife with a certain nobleman, lest you should be involved therein, for an ancient family, such as yours, readily joineth hands with its equals ; and in your youth you ever rejoiced to drink and ride with such, of which I have oft- times taxed you. But since all still goeth well, let us render thanks to Christ that we have so long remained in good health.
I marvel greatly that you have never written to me, notwithstanding that you have at your ser- vice many messengers to Lcipsic, and you know well enough that I am ever to be found there. But I cannot be so slothful, wherefore I willingly write to you ; I trow, forsooth, that in all those years in which we have never met I must have written as many as twenty letters to learned men, my contemporaries. I was mistaken in you ; but let this pass with the rest.
Noble Sir, would that you had been here of late, when his Serenity the Prince of Sciocony cele- brated his nuptials with a splendid mask, at which many nobles were present. I was sent thither with our Rector, according to custom, to present a large bowl filled with florins, and there we abode two days, and were right well entertained and refreshed ourselves mightily with victuals and drink. My servant brought with him two jars, and learning where I should sit at table, he placed these under my stool : then we had wine of the best — you know what that is like, 'tis the sweetest of the sweet ! and such I drink till my head goes round, and after supper I want to dance. Then I took and filled one jar with the Hquor, and put it back under the table. This I did that we might have somewhat to drink by the way. Later on, among other dishes, we had a mighty fine ragout
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full of chickens and other good things ; thereupon I took the other jar and popped a whole puUet into it : this I did that his Magnificence the Rector and I might have somewhat to eat by the way. This done, 1 said to a nobleman near, " My Lord, prithee summon my servant, I have an order for him." This he did, and when my servant came, I said, " Fellow, pick up my knife that I have let fall beneath the board " (but I had dropped it on purpose). Then he crept under the table, and picked up the knife, and hid the jars beneath his coat, and shpped away, so that no one saw him.
Saint Dorothij ! if you had but fared with us to Leipsicl With what joUity would we have spent the time ! I lived for two days on the orts, for we could not eat the whole by the way.
I tell you all this, since I know that you also gladly filch with sack and sieve, at least you did — when you abode with me, and by my faith 'tis a noble art ! I would not lose it for a hundred guldens. I learnt the other day that you have a fair garden at your home, where you grow much fi^uit— pears and apples and grapes ; and when you are at your Inn — for you keep no table at home — you are wont to have a great satchel into which you shp cakes, and roast chickens, and meat, and so craftily do you make the pass, that no man perceiveth it ; whereat I marvel. This skill I j trow cometh from long use — for " practise maketh 1 perfect," as saith the Philosopher in the Ninth of the Physics.
'Tis told me you have a doxy who is sand- bhnd of one eye. I marvel that you are such a man anights, being fuU of years. More wondrous still, I have heard of that stubborn phght of yours that persisted for six sennights. This you spake of as your infirmity. Dio ! if such an infirmity were mine, what a good fellow I ! But, beheve me, I am not the man I was. A month agone I packed my cook out of the house. For many a day I have been out of pocket.
There is one more thing I would fain say to 375
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you before I make an end. If you have a son, or other kinsman — or a dear friend of yours hath one — who is destined to be a student, send him hither to me at Leipsic. We have many learned doctors amongst us, and rare good victuals in our hostels — seven courses twice every day, at noon and evening ; the first is called Ever — that is, porridge ; the second, Always — that is, Soup ; the third, Daily — that is, greens ; the fourth, Again andagain — that is, meat ; the fifth, Sometimes — that is, roast ; the sixth, Never — that is, cheese ; the seventh, Now and then — that is, apples and pears. We have good liquor withal, called Conventmn. Behold now, and see ! Is not this enough ? We keep this order throughout the year, to the great content of all. Nevertheless in our chambers we keep not overmuch victuals to eat between whiles, for this would not be healthful, and would hinder the students in their work ; wlierefore I have sent round to all the scholars these verses : —
" Within these walls let all observe The standing regulations : Be siire that he who sups with me Provides his projier rations."
You perceive that I too am a poet. — But enough, lest I should prove long-winded. Written at Leipsic, hastily, beneath the blue sky ; and may you fare more joyfully than a bee among the thyme, or a fish in the waves. Once again, farewell.
See now, Herr Magister Ortivin, if this letter pleaseth you, and I will send you a whole book full of the like ; and right excellent they are, according to my poor judgment. I have naught else to write to you.
Farewell, in Him who created all things.
Dated from Eberburg, where I would that you were with me. Friday, between Easter and Pentecost. Jr i
376
XLV
€E ARNOLD VON TONGERN, Magister Noster of Holy Scripture, sendeth greeting to Magister Ortivin Qratius
KEVEREND Herr Magister ! I am vexed beyond all vexation ! FuU well do I perceive that saying of the poets to be true : " Misfortunes never come singly"; and this I can prove as followeth : I am in poor health, and besides my distemper there falleth on me another heavy burden, namely this : Men flock to me daily, and write to me from varicus provinces, since I am known everywhere by reason of that tractate you wot of, which I wrote against Johann Reuchlins " Vindication." These men declare that they marvel at our allowing Johann Pfejferkorn, a baptised Jew, to undertake the work of writing in our cause, to defend himself and all of us against Reuchlin, so that the fame is his, although we have written all the works pubHshed under his name — and all this, forsooth, is true enough. I tell you this under seal of confession. They say also that he hath now compiled a new book, the which in Latin is intituled, " Defensorium Johannis Pfeffcrhorn contra Johamieni Reuchlin, in which he setteth forth the whole case from beginning to end — and this book he hath also translated into German. When I heard of this I swore that it was a He — simply because I knew naught about the matter ; but if he hath acted thus, then, pardy ! it is disgraceful for him not to have informed me thereof, tho' previously he hath always consulted me. I trow that now he thinketli not of me because I am in ill health. If he had consulted me I should have told him that once was enough ; for I am sure we shall gain nothing by writing, for Reuchlin is a devil incarnate, and ever hitteth back. If, however, the matter standeth thus, I desire earnestly that he refrain. You can hinder him as the corrector of his books.
Secondly, I have heard somewhat over which I do
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not so greatly grieve ; namely, that you have consorted with a handmaid of Quc//fcts- the printer — I speak not as reproving you — and that by her you have had issue ; I hear, too, that her master sent her packing, and would not sufFer her to remain in his house — so she now liveth in her own home and maintaineth herself by tailoring.
I beseech you by the mutual friendship we have
ever had, tell me whether this be sooth. For a long
while have I had hankerings after her, but was afeared
. by reason of her maidenhood. If, however, you have
I done this, then, with your permission, we will maintain
I her in common : I to-day and you to-morrow — the
i worthiest first; I a Doctor, you a Magister. (I put
it thus bluntly without intending any shght.) And
thus, in secrecy, will we maintain her and the child
at our common charge. She, I know, will be well
content, and I trow that if I consorted with her for a
while, I should be healed. I desire to purge my reins,
and to become whole.
And now, farewell. If I had not been plagued with this flux I would have come to you, instead of writing. In haste, from our Hostel.
XLVI
il JOHANN JVAGNER rON AMBACH
ficiidcth nmni) grcctings to Mag. Ortxciii Gratius
CiEEING that you lately wrote to me, asking how j^ it fareth with me at Hcidclhcrg, and what I think of the Doctors and Magisters here, I must tell you tliat so soon as I arrived at Hcidclbcrg I was appointed cook at a hostel, where I receive niy victuals and certain monies by way of guerdon, and am thus enabled to proceed Magister, in due course. Harrij thc Poor did the hke, who, having neither books nor paper, wrote all on his leathern jerkin. In hke manner Plautiis maintained himself, who carried sacks to the mill hke an ass, and nevertheless bccame a very learned author, who wrote both verse and prose.
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That you may know who are the learned here, I will speak first of the most worthy, and then of the rest in turn, since, as the Philosopher saith in the First Book of the P/iijsics; "We must proceed from universais to particulars. Poiyhirms too descends from the most general genus to the most special species, where Phtto calls a halt. Moreover, appellation should be based on the worthiest examples, as saith the heathen philosopher in his Second Eook of Thc Soul. Among all the Doctors of Theology there is one here who is our Preacher, and he hath a mighty voice, albeit he is a little man. Folk hear his preaching right gladly, and think much of him — for, pardy, he is learned, nay, superlatively learned I can tell you, and folk throng to his sermons, for he is a delectable man and cracketh good jokes in the pulpit. I once heard him treat of that question out of the Postcrior Analijtics: Why? Wherefore? What ? When ? And he could discuss it all in German. Once too he preached concerning virginity, and said that virgins who had lost their virginity were wont to aver they had lost it by force. " ' By force' is good," quoth he ; "I ask you if one, having a drawn sword in one hand and its scabbard in the other, jounceth the scabbard — is it to impede the sword ? And so it is with virgins."
Moreover, once when he was offering New Year's wishes to men of different ranks he turned to the students of the three Hostels — who here comprise both Nominahsts and Reahsts — and to the former he allotted Saturn, reasoning thus : " Saturn is a cold planet, and he consorteth well with the moderns, for they are cold Artsmen, who follow not after the way of St. Thomas^ and his Copulata and Rcparationcs according to the syllabus of Dc Monte Hostel at Cologne." But to the Thomists he allotted in the New Year the boy Gany- mede who piggeth with Jupiter. Ganijmedc suiteth well with the Realists, for he poureth out wine and beer for Jove, and the sweet juice of liquorice — which story Torrentius hath fairly expounded in the First Book of the ^ncid — and in like manner do the Realists pour forth their Arts and Science ; and thereon he argued much. And many other pleasant things said he,
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whereat I marvelled. I trow he Heth sleepless for many nights when he thinketh out these high and subtle matters. Howbeit there are many who say that he preacheth flapdoodle — and they call him Quacku- lafor, and Johnnij JoltJiead, and Goosecap, for the reason that once he was found wanting in disputation, and he was sent packing with greater ignominy than had befallen a man for a hundred years : and a fellow waited for him near the chair, and doffed his cap — not by way of honour, but as those Jews did when they crowned Christ — and he bent the knee before him, and said, " Herr Doctor, by your fav^our, may God bless your bath ! " Then quoth he, " Deo Gratias, Herr Bachelor," but he said no more, and went away — and I heard that the tears stood in his eyes, and that it was beheved that he afterwards wept. And when I heard of these insults my bowels of compassion were moved, and had I but known who that rascal was, I would have fallen upon him tho' I had lost my head with a deal plank. He hath one pupil who is, beUeve me, a learned man — more than learned, as it were ; more learned than his teacher, perchance, albeit he is but a Bible Bachelor; he has already, a little while — a very little while— ago, put forward fully twenty questions and arguments, all against the reahsts ; for instance, " AVhether God is predicamental"; " Whether essence and existence are distinct"; " Whether Rollations are fundamentally distinct," and " AVhether the ten predicaments are actually distinct."
jNlercy on us ! what a crowd of respondents ! I never in my life saw more disputants in a lecture- room ; yet he honourably defended his theses. A magister hath but to contend with one opponent. I wonder that the Dean admitted them — I beheve he was mad by reason of the dog-days, for it is contrary to the statutes.
And when the disputation was over I straightway metrified these verses in his lionour : —
Liveth here a learned scholar,
Who debated, twice or thrice, If the Being of Essentia
Can be, by distinctions nice, 380
I 46] JOHANN WAGNER V. AMBACH
Sifted from its Existentia ?
And about Rollations he Argued, till the Categories
Stood as stark as they could be. Whether God within his heaven
The Predicaments enfold, He discusseth : none before him
Matched him through the days of old !
But enoiigh of this : I woiild fain say — or write — some- what eoncerning the poets,
Thcre is one here who lectures on Valei^ius Maximus, but he pleaseth me not half as well as you pleased me when you lectured on Valerim Maiimus at Cologne, for he merely expoundeth the text — but when you treated of " The Neglect of Rehgion," or " Dreams," or " Auspices," you quoted Holy Scripture, that is to say, the Catena Aurea of St. T/iomas which is called the Continuum, and Durandus, and other shining Hghts of Theology, and you bade us note down these passages from holy writ, and draw a hand beside them, and learn them by rote. You must know that not so many students matriculate here as at Cologne, for at Cologne the students can be as the beggars here — and there some students even steal their victuals, but this is not allowed here, where all must have their commons in a hostel, and be matriculated in the University.
But although they be few here, yet are they saucy — to the full as saucy as the many at Cologne. Lately they " staircased " a regent of the Hostel ; he was standing without a chamber, and listening to the merrymaking within, when one of those within came out, and finding him there threw him downstairs. They are, moreover, so bold here that they fight with the horse-patrol as they at Cologne do with the dray- men, and tliey go about hke patrols themselves with drawn swords, and ropes, and sabres, and pieces of lead attached to a cord, which they can throw and draw back again. A Httle while ago the patrol smote a student on the head so that he fell to the ground — but he jumped up and thwacked and belaboured them so that St. Valentine seized them and they all ran away.
There is still one other thing that you ought to know.
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'ou must ask JNIagister Arnold von Tongern — who is lo trifiing Theologian — whether it is a sin to cast fdice for indulgences. 1 know some overweening 'fellows — scoundrels that tliey are — who have played away all the indulgences that Jakoh van Hoogstraten gave them when he had ended the business of Reuchlin at Mainz — the same three were there, and they declared that those indulgences were of none effect for men.
If it is a sin, as I think — for it is impossible for it not to be a sin — I know the fellows well enough, and I will inform the Dominicans, who will soon confound them ; and I myself — for I am quite brave enough — will put a spoke in their wheel as well. I have no more to write, save that you may salute for me Quentels handmaid, and fare ye well pancratically, athletically, pugiHstically, regally, and magnificently, as ^ saith Erasmus in his Adages. *
From Heidelberg.
XLVII
•E WENDELIN TUCHSCHERER, Bachelor, a?id Quirister at Strasbuig, sendeth many greetings to Magister Ortwin Gi^atius
YOU laid blame on me in a former letter, in that my ink seemed precious balm — and my pen, byssus — — and my paper, leaf of gold — so seldom did I write to you.
Henceforth, therefore, I will write to you oft — the more readily seeing that since you were my teacher in the fifth class at Deveiiter, and are, moreover, my god- father, I am in honour bound to write to you. But, inasmuch as I have at present no news to tell you, I must write to you on certain other matters, though I am sure they will please you not, seeing that you stand firmly on the side of the preachers. Lately we sat drinking together, and there was one there who spake such uncouth Latin, that I understood not all he said — yet a part I comprehended well enough, and amongst other things he declared that he would compile a book, to be brought out at next Fi^ankfort fair, and to be
882
147] WENDELIN TUCH8CHERER
intituled "A Catalogue of Prevaricators," that is, of Predicants — and that he would lay bare all their mis- deeds, inasmuch as of all Orders they were the most iniquitous. In the first place he would relate how that at liei^nc the Prior and the Superiors introduced harlots into the Convent, and how they produced a new St. Fraiicis, and how the Blessed Virgin and other Saints appeared to one NoUhcu^dcn, and how afterwards the monks would fain have given the said NoWiardcn poison in Chrisfs body, and how that for all the follies and crimes that the monks had committed they went as they deserved to the stake.
Next, he would relate how that at Mainz a Domi- nican had knowledge of a trollop in the Cathedral, anear the altar — whence it came to pass that the other drabs had a spite against her, and called her " monk- mort," and " quire-quean," and " altar-piece " — so that it came to folks' ears, and she is thus named unto this day.
He would relate, too, how that once at 3Iainz, at the sign of IVie Crown, when the Predicants from Augsburg lodged at that inn to sell their indulgences, one of their number would fain have forced a serving- maid who prepared his bed, and he pursued her and threw her to the ground, but she cried out, and men ran to her rescue, else would she have served his turn.
And, finally, he would relate how that here at St?Yisbu?g there were monks in the Monastery of the Preachers who brought women-folk to their cells by way of the river beneath their walls ; and they trimmed their hair, so that for a long while they passed for monks, and went to market, and bought fish from their husbands the fishermen, but at the last they were unmasked. For in like manner the Predicants wrought evil among the vagrant scholars — and once when a Predicant went a-walking with a monkess, they came nigh unto the schools, and the scholars dragged them both into the school and set to work to chastise them soundly ; but when they would have drubbed the monkess they un- covered her shame, and with laughter let them both depart in peace ; but the whole town rang with tidings of these things.
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Now when he had finished speaking, my wrath was greatly inflamed, and I cried, " You ought not to utter such words as these. Put case that they be true — nevertheless they should not be uttered, for it might well happen that destruction might come upon them in a single hour — as it did upon the Templars — if men should learn of their iniquities ! "
Then quoth he, " I know further of matters that I could not write of on twenty sheets of paper."
Then said I, " Why would you write against all the Predicants ? All of them have not done such deeds : if those in Mainz, and Avgshurg, and StrasbiLig are wicked, nevertheless others are upright." Said he, " Why darest thou to contradict me ? I verily beUeve that thou art the son of a Predicant, or hast been a Predicant thyself! Show me a Monastery wherein there are upright Dominicans ! " Then said I, " AVhat have those at Frankfort done ? " Said he, " Knowest thou not ? It is their Principal who is named Wigand, and he is the head and front of all their iniquities. He it was who started that heresy at Berne, and who wrote a book against voii Wesel, which he afterwards at Heidel- berg recanted, annulled, and blotted out ; and he it was who afterwards wrote another book intituled ' The Tocsin,' and he was not courageous enough to issue it under his own name, but suborned Johann Pfeffh^koi^n to set it forth under his name, for half of the profit — which would well content him, for he knew that Pfejferkorn was a reckless man, and, hke all Jews, regarded not his own good fame so long as he could make money."
Now when I perceived that the more part were against me, I went my way, but I was sorely vexed that the fellow was not alone. for if he and I had been by ourselves, I would have played the devil with him. Farewell.
From Strasburg : on Wednesday, after the Feast of St. Bernard, in the year one thousand five hundred and sixteen.
384
XLVIII
•T JAKOB VANHOOGSTRAETEK,mosthuinhle Prqfessor ofthe Seveii Free and Liberal Arts and ofAll-lioly Theology ; in simdry parts qf Gerjuany Master, that is Corrector, qf Heretics, sendeth greeting in the name qf our Lord Jesus Christ, to 0?iwi?i Ghritius qf JJeventer, tvho draggeth out his life at Cologne
"]^rE\^ER was refreshing rain so grateful to the hus- 1 1 bandman after long drought, nor sunshine after clouds, as vvas the letter you sent me hither at Rome. AVhen I read it I could have wept for very joy, for I seemed to be back again at your house in Cologne — where we were wont to drink a quart or two of wine or beer, over a game at draughts — so glad was I.
But you desire me to do the like — to write to you, namely, and tell you what I have for so long a time been doing at Ronie, and how I fare — and this will I do right gladly. First, I must tell you that, by divine inspiration, I am in good health. Yet although I am well, I abide here against my will, for that Cause on account of which I am here now goeth against me. Would that 1 had never begun it ! All men deride nie and plague me, and Reuchlin hath more friends here than in Germany, and many Cardinals, and bishops, and prelates and Curialists love him. Had I not entered upon this business I should now be at Cologne enjoying my victuals and drink, whereas here I have scarce a crust. I trow that things go ill in Germany, too, now that I am away ; everybody is scribbling books about Theology as he listeth. It is said that Erasmus of Rotterdam hath composed many treatises on Theology ; I cannot beUeve he hath avoided error. He beginneth by writing a tract to vex the theologians, and now he writeth theologically himself — so that it passeth ! If I come back to Germany and read his scribblements, and find in them the very smallest jot on which he hath gone astray — or which I do not understand — let him
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take heed to his skin ! He hath also written in Greek ; this is not well, for we are Latins and not Greeks. If he would fain write what no man can understand, why doth he not use ItaUan, or Bohemian, or Hungarian ? For then none could understand him. In the name of a hundred devils let him conform to us Theologians, and dispute in his writings with Utrum, and Coutra, and Argidtur, and Replica, and reach formal conclu- sions, as all Theoiogians are wont to do, and then we could read them.
I cannot tell you all now, nor describe the poverty into which I have fallen. When the Curiahsts see me they call me Apostate, and declare that I have deserted my Order, and they do the hke to Doctor Peter Meyer, the Pastor, of Frankfort, whom they harass as greatly as myself, since he is of my part. Nevertheless he is better ofFthan I, for he hath a good post, being Chap- lain of the cemetery — and this, pardy, is a good post, though the Curiahsts aver that 'tis the meanest office in Rome. But this booteth not ; they do but say it out of envy ; at the least he earneth his bread and main- taineth himself by hook and by crook until he shall bring that case of his against the Frankfurdians to an end. Ahiiost every day he and I go to take the air in the Campo dei Fiori, and look out for Germans, whom we would fain meet. But the Curiahsts come and point at us with their fingers, and laugh, and say : " There go the two who want to eat up Reuchlin ! They eat him and then void him again ! " And we have such tribulations as might move a stone. Then said the pastor : " Holy Mary ! What doth it signify ? We must endure this for God's sake. He sufFered many things for us, and we are Theologians who needs must be lowly and despised in this world." And thus he maketh me of joyful heart once more, and, think I to myself, " Let them say what they will ; yet they fail of their desire." If we were but back in the fatherland and a fellow did such things, we should know what to say and do to liim, and I should have an easy task in proceeding against him. Just now we happened to be abroad together, behind two or three fellows who walked in front, and I hghted upon a paper that, I
386
I 48J JAKOB VAN HOOGSTIIAETEN
trow, one of them had dropped on purpose that we might find it ; and it contained these verses : —
EPITAPH ON HOCHSTRATUS.
Hochstratus dead — Craft, Fury, Spite, and Rage With him die not, but still, with poison rife, Infeet the witless herd ; his monument, Sprung from the helHsh seed he sowed in life.
Another.
From out his bones let yew and henilock grow ; No crime he shrank from who lies here below.
Another,
Rejoice, ye righteous ! while the base complain — For kindly Death hath made their loss your gain.
Another.
Here Virtue's bane, Hochstratus, carrion lies, In life the cynosure of scoundrels' eyes ; Indignant fled his soul that she had run Her earthly course — with evil left undone !
Now when the Pastor and I had found this paper, we went home and laid our heads together over it for a week or a fortnight but could not interpret it. It seems hkely that the verses point at me, because the word " Hochstratus " occurreth in them. And yet mayhap the verses do not point at me, seeing that such is not my name in Latin, but Jacobus de Alta- platea, which is in German Jakoh Hoogstraeteu. And so I send you the paper that you may decide whether it pointeth at me or another. If it mean me — which I cannot beheve, for I am not yet dead — I will hold an inquiry, and when I have caught the fellow I will make ready a bath for him that will be no laughing matter : that is easy. I have a good friend here, a countryman of mine, who is one of the grooms of the Cardinal of S. Eusebius ; and he can easily get the fellow sent to prison on bread and water — to die there of the pestil- ence. AVherefore I pray you use all dihgence to write to me, that I may be certified of the matter.
I have heard that Johanii Pfefferkorn hath once
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more become a Jew — but I believe it iiot, for they said two or three years ago that he had beeii burned by the Margrave at Halle — ^though this was not true concerning him, but was true enough of another man of the same name. I cannot beheve he hatli become a rene- gade, for he hath written against the Jews ; and it would be a disgrace to all the Doctors of Theoh)gy in Cologne, and all the Dominicans, for he hath been in high favour with them. Let them say what they will, 1 beUeve it not. And now farewell.
From RoME, at the sign ot' the Bell, in the Campo dei Fiori, Auffust 21.
388
PART II
TO THE READER
Time xvas when Heraclitus smiled, and moved To laughter, een grim Stoics shooJc their sides :
Art stmJc in doleful dumps ? Approach, and read- Laughter is loi-d! and naiight but Mirth abides.
I
•E JOHANN LABIA, bij the grace qf God Apos- tolic Prothonotarij, to tJte Reverend Herr Magister Ortivin Gratiii,s of Deventer, as to a vcell-beloved brother, of Salutations a hundred thonsand Ses- terces, as the New Gra?nma7ians huve it
IRECEIVED the day before yesterday, honoured Sir, a book that your worship will have sent me from Gerniany. This work was — or is — entitled " Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum.^' Sonty ! How re- joiced was I in mine heart when my eyes fell on that book — for it hath goodly contents, in prose and eke in verse. And I had great joy with dulcet jubilation when I perceived that you have many aUies — Poets, and Rhetoricians and Theologians, who write to you and are your friends in opposition to Johann Reuchlin.
Yesterday there was a feast toward — and certain Curiahsts were present, — scholars and men of afFairs — and I laid that book before them on the board. And after that they had dipped into it here and there, I mooted a logomachy, saying, " JNIasters, how think ye ? Wherefore hath iNlagister Ortwin named tliis book of his, ' Kpistolae Obscurorum Virorum ' — seeming thereby to call his friends and alhes ' Obscure men ' ? "
Then answxred a priest from Miuister, a learned Jurist, and he declared that " Obscure " was a word of many meanings, as, following "■L.cx Ita fidei sqq. de Jure Fisci, the first Solution hath it. He said, too, that it might be some family name. For it is recorded that the parents of Diocletian and some other kings were *' Obscuri."
Then I nudged him, and said, " By your favour, Sir, this is bcside the point." And next I put the question to a famous Theologian who drank with us. He is of the Carmehte Order and a native of Hrabant. FuU
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solemnly spake he his reasons : " INlost eximious Herr Prothonotary, since, as AriHtotle saith, it is profitable to make enquiry concerning each and all ; therefore hath lyour Eximiousness proposed to me a question, to wit, for what cause did JMagister Ortwin, in publishing a new Collection of Letters, entitled them ' Epistolae Ohscurorum Virorum.' By favour of these gentlemen, I pronounce my opinion that Magister Ortwin, who is
(a learned man and a philosopher, cognominated his friends ' Obscure Men ' in a mystical sense : for I once read in an authority that truth heth in obscurity. AVherefore also saith Joh, ' He discovereth deep things out of darkness.' Also in the Sevcnth of Micali we read, ' When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.' And, again, Joh ocxviii. : ' Trahitur autem Sapientia de Occultis.' Whence also, as I have heard tell, Virgil hath it : ' Truth is wrapped in ob- scurity.' And it may be presumed that Magister Ortwin and his friends are men who seek out the secrets of the Scriptures, and truth, and justice, and , wisdom — which things are not to be understood of all I men, but by those who are illuminated of the Lord. f " As it is written in Kings cxxxviii. : ' Yea, the dark-
ness hideth not from thee, the night shineth as the day : the darkness and the Hght are both ahke to thee.'" And after the aforesaid Theologian had made an end of speaking, all regarded me, to mark whether I was persuaded. But I pondered over these words.
There was present BernJiard Gelff\ a Magister of Paiis, a youth indeed, but, as I hear, of good parts, and one who studieth much, and maketh fair progress in the Arts, and moreover hath good grounding in Theology. And he, after his manner, shaking his head this way and that, spake thus with a grave counte- nance : " Learn, Gentlemen, the weighty and reason- able cause wherefore Magister Ortwin calleth his friends ' Obscure Men.' He doeth it for humihty's sake. For, you may know, and even if you know not it may be presumed that you do know, how that three years ago Johann Reuchlin, when he pubhshed a Collection of Letters from his friends, entitled it ' Epistolae Clarorum Viroriivi' And Magister Ortwin chewing upon this,
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n ij JOHANN LABIA
and perpending much thereon, said within himself: ' IjO, RcucMin beHeveth that none save he himself hath any friends : what will he do if I prove that I too have many friends — worthier far, and able to write better metrifications and compositions than his friends ? ' And so, to put him to shame he sent to the press those Letters, and entitled tliem ' Epistolac Obsciworum J^^ir- orunu As saith the Psalmist, ' He sent darkness and made it dark.' But this he did in lowHness, behtthng and humbhng himself, that he might say with the Psalmist, ' Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty.' Wherefore the Lord, beholding his humihty, will in due time give him grace to send abroad mighty works and name them with exalted titles. As saith Job : ' And again after darkness I hope for the day.' But it must not be supposed that that letter-book of the friends of iNIagister Ortwin is not artistically composed — for Johann Reuchlins friends never in their hves could compose anything better ; no, not to save their necks — but, as I have declared, more excellent conceits will ensue ; and, by God's help, I hope we may see great things.
" Magister Ortivin layeth no store by swelhng titles. Wherefore he saith, ' The Lord is my Hght and my salvation, whom then shall I fear ? ' For he knoweth that in behtthng himself he will hereafter be magnified. As saith the Scripture, " Whoso exalteth himself will be brought low.' And, as we read in the twentieth of Ecclcsiasticus, ' There is an abasement because of glory, and there is that hfteth up his head from a low estate.' These things the Prophet Nakum prophesied when he said, ' And darkness shall pursue his enemies.' "
Then, desiring that the disputants should not be out with one another, and that neither of them should fall foul of me for saying, " this or that is the subtler reasoning," I quoted that hne of Horace in which he saith, " The case is still before the judge." " When next I write to Magister Orticin," I added, " I will ask him to tell me his motive. Forgive me, therefore, if I have in any wise perplexed you."
So then they disputed no longer, though Magister JBernhard muttered that he would contend to the stake
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that he had rightly apprehended your motive. There- fore, Ilerr Ortidn, I adjure you in friendly wise that you reveal to me what you had in your mind when 5^ou entitled that fardel of Letters " Epistolae Obscurorum Virorumr
And now farewell, in all health and honour.
The COURT, AT ROME.
II
€E JOHANN GRAFP to Magistcr Ortidn Gratius
EVER cordially wisheth welfare, with lo\'e unending, and commendeth himself as his humble servant. Brother and beloved preceptor, since you lately desired me to send you (that you might gather therefrom what I had learnt from you at Cologne and Deventer), a treatise, or an Epistle, or a poem in verse, in mockery of Johann Rcuchlin, and the Reuchhnists who are your foes — behold, and see how that I have done dihgence ! Herewith I send you an odistic or metrified Epistle, like unto Ovid in his Epistokc ; for well I know that you would fain read verse rather than prose. Mend it, an you will; for the disciple is not above his master. Scan it, too, for I am not yet well-skilled in this art.
A Letter frovi Johann Grapp, metrifying poetical tyro, to his teacher, Magister Oiitwin Gratius
Grapp his greeting doth send, jn this poetic Epistle, Humble duty as well, to ^lagister Ortzvin the kindly — As is but meet for a youth who dearly loveth his master ; Therefore contemn not, I pray, my Oi^tidn, the metri-
fication, If it should harshly sound ; for though thy resonant
verses Sweetly thunder indeed — yet all are not on a level, Neither are all ahke, wliether teachers or diligent
scholars ;
39G
11.2] JOHANN GRAPP
One in logic is versed, another in poetry skilleth, Natural Philosophy one acquireth, leechcraft another, W^hile yet another, through grace, hath competent learn-
ing in all things ; Thou the exemplar of such, who a peer doth hardly
acknowledge At Colognc — or at Roine, in all the ranks of the Rotu — Rome, where folk at the Court contend like so many
freshmen, Branghng and wrangling at law, with an eye to possible
livings ; (I myself am embroiled, for lately in sliarp htigation I for a vicarage strove — nor yet hath peace been
attained to.) 13ut, in deep studies immersed, such vanities Httle thou
wottest, AU thy heart and mind intent on the pages of Scrip-
ture, Heed not thou heathen men, of tliee the bitter tor-
mentors— Renchlin with all his crew, and that maleficent junto Secular Poets y-clept, and the crowd of jabbering Jurists Who, with their quillets and quirks and screeds of fiimsy
averments, Seek to trip thee up, and scribble heretical verses. Arnold vofi Tongern is with you, and Pepericornus the
Christian, And that College in France that burnt the infamous
libel, Augenspiegel to wit, by you triumphantly coped with. Fain would I leave to you the defence of faith and
rehgion — To you and Hoogstraeten — by far superior to Plato, Who the philosophers tops in craft of subtle dis-
tinctions ; Therefore I bid you good-night — be all untroubled
your pillow,
Deo Gratias.
Forgive me if there are faults in these verses, for, as saith the Philosopher, " To err is human." Prithee, send me some news.
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This is written at Rome, where grow miraculous apples, And in the hucksters' stalls it is by the pound that they
sell them — This I have seen with mine eyes, and I by experience
know it.
Amen.
III
€E MAGISTER STEPHAN RUMELANT
to Mag. Ortwin Gratius greeting
FORTHWITH, and without preface, I would have your worthiness to know that a Doctor of Theo- logy hath just come hither, Thoinas Murner by name. He is of the Order of ^S'. Erancis, an Oberlander, and he is vainglorious beyond behef. It is said that he maketh certain cards, and whosoever playeth with these cards learneth grammar and logic. He hath contrived a game of checkers, too, which dealeth with the quanti- ties of syllables. He boasteth that he knoweth Hebrew, and he composeth verses in German. And the report goeth that this Doctor wotteth somewhat of every art. I5ut when I heard this, I said, " Jack-of-all-trades, and master of none ! " and some that stood by laughed. Now this Doctor is a great crony of Johann Reuchli?is — devil take him ! I fear that here he will so work upon the Canons and other Clerks that they will side with Reuchlin. He declared, before many who heard, that a child could discern the folly, and the stupidity, and the malice of the Theologians of Cologne and their adherents. And he swore by the Holy of HoHes that unless the Pope took heed, and corrected them in their perversity, a schism would spring up in the Church and the Christian Faith ; for if the Pope permitted them to act thus, it would come to pass that no man would study, nor desire to gain knowledge. INloreover he said that Reuchlin could in one day be of more profit to the Church of God than could his enemies in a hundred years. " And if," he went on, " they are upright men,
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II 3] STEPHAN RUMELANT
and have any just cause against Reuchlhi, wherefore do they not act for theinselves ? VVhy do they need a baptized Jew to do their work for them, and why do they write scandalous books against the worthy doctor, and father them on that renegade ? If they could have lighted upon a viler or more mahcious man in all Qei^- inany they would have joined themselves to him ! Yet this is nothing strange. ' Like draws to Hke.' " There- upon I could no longer hold my peace, but said, " Herr Doctor, by your favour, Johann Pfefferlxorn is an honourable man ; he is the trusty counsellor of his Imperial Majesty, and he cometh of the tribe of Naph- tali. That, be well assured, is a most ancient stock. He might, an he would, boast himself to be of noble birth — but doth not, for humiHty's sake." Then said the Doctor, "' Take a spoon and bib your words ! " Then said I, " Think you that I know naught of men ? I am a JNIagister of Paris, and I have studied Theology at Cologne for two years. Be not so arrogant, Herr Doctor, ere you know to whom you speak." Doctor Murner made answer that he knew not that I was a Magister, and he added, " Of Johann Pfejferkorns honour I have heard but little, but from what I have heard of him I can safely say that unless the Jews had sought to put him to death by reason of his crimes, he would never have become a Christian."
Said I, " Herr Doctor, hear me yet a Httle : the Jews do Johann Pfefferkorn an injury, for he never stole aught, nor did he commit any crime, even when he was a Jew — as is piously to be beheved. And to prove that this is true, I may tell you that two Jews once sought to saddle him with the shame of theft — merely out of envy and execrable mahce — whereupon he cited them before the Imperial Chamber, and they handed him thirty florins for costs, wherewith he was content. Johann Pfefferkorji was indeed born of a good stock, but when he was a Jew he did as other Jews. For, as the proverb runs, ' He who is among wolves, must howl with the wolves.' But now he eateth swine's flesh, and behaveth hke a good Chris- tian." Then answered Doctor Murner, " Doth Pfeffer- korn also eat sausages ? "
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I answered, " I have not with mine eyes beheld him eating them, biit it may be piously presumed that if he eateth pork, he also eateth such things as are made of pork." Quoth he, " You have made good apologies for Johann Pfefferkoim : hath he still two ears ? "
I answered that he had them both when I was at Cologne, and that I beheved he still had them, and will have them for ever. Then said he, " What opinion do you hold concerning JoJtaiin ReuchUn? 1 repUed that I knew him not, but that I was well aware that the Theologians and the Church for the most part re- garded him as a heretic, because he hath assailed with undeserved calumnies Johann Pfeffbrkorm and other very eminent men. Then quoth he, " By the Lord, you do right well in defending Johann Pfefferkorn and the other very eminent men."
Then said I, " Hear yet more : this Pfeff^erkorn is very useful to the Church, for he hath won twelve souls for God, as he hath himself candidly confessed."
Quoth Doctor Murner, " Where gave he those souls to God ? In the Bohmer IFald ? Maybe he, with other robbers, slew sundry folk whose souls passed to God."
I repHed, " Not at all ; but by converting them to the Christian Faith."
Said he, " And how do you know that these souls were added to God ? "
I answered that this might be piously presumed. Then asked Mnrner, " And what doeth Pfefferkorn now f
I answered that he perchance visiteth the church, and attendeth Masses and Sermons, and, while defend- ing himself against Johann Reuchlin, awaiteth the Day of Judgment.
" Think you," saith he, " that Pfeffl^erkoi-n will live so long ? "
" Ay," said I, " with respect to his soul, but not with respect to his body.'
Doctor Murner made answer, " Good ! Pfeffer' korn deserveth to have such a champion ! " There- upon he dismissed me, and all who stood around laughed, and said,
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II H JOHANN HUTER
" Pardy, Herr Stephdii, you have answered him stoutly ! "
Then said I, " I will write every word of this to Magister Oiiwin'" — and this, as you see, I am now doing. Write to mein reply; I am yours to command.
From Trier.
•r MAGISTER JOHANN HUTER sendeth
greeting to Magister Ortivin Gratius\
SINCE it is written in the Evangel : " In what measure ye meten it shall be meten again to you," it becometh me not, therefore, to write to you, seeing that you write not to me. Nevertheless I know of what moment it is that I should send you tidings from Rojue, to wit, how it fareth with Doctor Jakob van Hoogstraten — that man of zeal unimpeachable, who defendeth the Catholic faith against those Jurists and secular Poets who have not the fear of God before their eyes, as have the Theologians in Cologne and Paris who burnt Johann Reuchlins AugenspiegeL Though it would be but meet that I should do unto you even as you do unto me — and not write you a single drop ; nevertheless this I will not do, but will yet this once favour you, on condition that you forthwith send me a reply.
You must know, then, that those Jurists and adver- saries, with the help of the Devil, the enemy of the Christian Faith, have by their wiles — as is piously believed — suborned a swarm of alhes, more especially curiahsts of high rank — who have no scruples of con- science ; and they inflict grievous injuries on the aforesaid Doctor, baiting him hke a very bejan, and declaring that he is himself a lieretic, and the Theo- logians of Cologne mere jack-puddings. Sonty ! What is to be said ? Is it not marvellous that Sacred Theology should be thus vihfied, and held as trash, and that the Theologians who are, as it were, the Lord's Apostles should be despised as so many fools ? Mark my words ! There will hence be much scathe to the Cathohc Faith,
401 2 c
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
and, I fear me, confusion in the Church of God. The rumour goeth that the PontifF holdeth with Reuchlin, being himself a poet and a favourer of the Jurists. Yet I trust that liis Hohness will be enhghtened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and will not pronounce an unrighteous judgment — through the Lord who reigneth in heaven and on earth, and His Mother the Virgin Mary, and may she from all Poetry dehver us.
ROME.
V
iE BROTHER JOHANN VON WERDAU
to 3Iag. Ortwin G7'atius
SUPPLICATIONS humble and devout, with greet- ings manifold.
You say, reverend Sir, that you have heard that your Cause goeth amiss, and that Johann Reuchlin hath obtained an apostohcal Inhibition ; you say, too, that you fear greatly lest he gain the victory against the Theologians and our most holy Order, and that thereafter scandal will befall the Church of God. Why are ye so fearful, O ye of little faith, that ye are in- continently dumpish ? And yet when I abode with you at Deventer you were not thus timorous, but were of good courage. For I well remember how you smote those freshmen who fell upon you with swords, though you had neither weapon nor shield ; yet by God's help you thwacked them so soundly and roundly that one of them beshamed himself for very anguish. This was seen of many folk, and they cried, " By the Lord, this Magister Ortwin is a doughty man ! " You must know that here at the Court of Rome things are not as they are elsewhere, and accord not with expecta- tions ; one day a man prospereth, and the next he foundereth. It may hap that a man obtaineth two or three decrees in his favour and nevertheless loseth nis case. Perchance you will say " The Pope hath per- mitted the Augenspiegel to be sold, read, and printed." But this skilleth not. What he hath permitted cannot
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II 5] JOHANN VON WERDAU
he in turn forbid ? Yea, of a truth — for his HoHness hath power to loose and to bind, and is not on that account blameworthy. Hath he not plenary powers, here and everywhere, as you know from the Evangel, for you are wondrously versed in Holy Scripture ? Furthermore 1 can cite thereon the Canon Law : First, the Pope hath sway over the whole world, Qicest. IX. Chap. 4, "Cuncta per mundum," ho.. He can depose the Emperor, alone, without a Council, as saith the gloss on the Chapter, " Ad apostoHcae, de sententia et re judicata." Compare also Qiiest. VI. Cliap. 100,
- ' De cetero." Moreover the Pope is not subject to the
Law, but is himself the Hving Law upon the Earth ; as saith the gloss on Chap. XI., " De officio Judic. delegati." And since the Pope is the Law, he can do whatsoever he Hsteth, and heedeth no man. If, there- fore, he saith at one time " Yea," nevertheless he can afterwards say " Nay." Be then of good courage, for I lately heard from one of the judges of the B^ota — a notable man, and of wide experience — that it is not possible that the Pope will pronounce sentence against you, for yours is the best of Causes, the Cause of the Faith.
Be ye therefore vaHant in battle; and whatever those noddies may say to you about the Inhibition, credit it not, for it goeth for naught. I trust that I may soon be able to send you good tidings, for Herr Doctor Jakob van Hoogstraten is doing his utter- most. Lately he gave a banquet, and invited many courtiers of years and experience, and an ApostoHcal Secretary who is in high favour with his HoHness, and sundry judges of the Rota. He pHed them with par- tridges, and pheasants, and hares, and fresh fish, and the best Corsican and Greek wines. They aU declared that he had dealt with them most honourably, and said among themselves, " By the Lord, we have here a Theologian of consequence : We wiH be on his side."
Now therefore he taketh heart of grace. But I must stay my hand, for the messeoger wiU no longer wait,
FareweH, and salute for me aU the Doctors and Magisters, and Johanii Pfefferkorn.
ROME.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
VI
€E MAGISTER CORNELIUS STORATI
sendeth ahundant greetings to Magister Ortwin
CONFORMABLY to the request which you sent me when 1 was at Rome, that I should let you know to a tittle how matters stood in the Cause of the Faith between you and the other Theologians, on the one hand, and Johann Reuchlin on the other hand — I would have you take note that I departed thence in such haste that I was not able to write a singie word. I resolved, however, that I would write to you as soon as I reached the fatherland, and this I now do.
Know then, though I deeply lament it, that when I left Rome matters were in a parlous state. Doctor Jakoh van Hoogstraten is in great poverty. Have you Theologians no sense of shame, that you make him no provision ? You would fain accomplish great results, and yet you will not loose the purse-strings ! Think you that this is the way to bring about your ends ? When the Doctor arrived at Rome with his two or three horses, and gold in the bank, and when he kept open house, then the courtiers rendered him high honour. Quoth one to another, " Who is this ? " and the answer would come, " He is a Doctor from Germany, none is more renowned : he is a philosopher, and so excelleth in disputations that he hath no peer. He is here to maintain the Cause of the Faith against some secular Jurist." Then would the courtiers sing his praises, and many a time has one said to me, " Herr Cornclius, commend me to this renowned Doctor ! " Then his patrons abounded and his cause flourished. But now you desert him, and stint his supphes. Not long ago I was in his chamber, and casting my eyes on his mantle that lay there, I saw that it was full of vermin. And he, observing that 1 saw this, cited the Scripture which saith, " Thy congregation shall dwell therein, for thou, O God,
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II 7] ALBEKT NADLER
hast of thy goodness prepared for the poor ; " and again, " My zeal hath even consumed me." And I for bitter ruth shed tears.
It behoves you to succour him, and see that the Friars Predicant send him money. If they plead that they have none, bid them take what is needed from the store they have amassed out of Indulgences : it is in the Cause of the Faith, and whatsoever is de- voted to that cause is devoted to the Christian Faith. Farewell.
AUGSBURG.
VII
•E FRIAR ALBERT NABLER to
3Iagister Ortwhi G-rathis
HONOURED Sir, a letter hath lately come hither, addressed from your worship to myself. AVith joy I opened it, for I recognised your seal. I have read it, and find that your worship desireth to know what folks say here of the Cause of the Faith between you Theologians and Johann Reitchlin. I will tell you — but you must not think scorn of me when you learn that they espouse not your cause. AU men here say that the Theologians are treating Reuchlin as the scribes treated Christ, and that he hath ever been an upright man, and hath been the Counsellor of two Emperors. His skill in Jurisprudence, too, hath been of service to many burghers and princes, and all men have found him trusty and true. Yet because the Theologians have become envious of his fame, they seek to brand him as a heretic, by crooked devices and niggHng quirks.
When 1 hear such things said, I raise my voice against them — but, as you well know, " many dogs can outbark one."
Two Magisters who have lately arrived from Cologne — one of them is a noble — declare that those who assail Reuchlin are for the most part bastards, cuUions, and braggarts. And this saying seemeth to me very shame- ful. One of them even made an harangue, so that all
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
who stood near could hear, saying, " Gentlemen, that you may understand the true nature of this suit against Johann Reuchlin, let me tell you that the root of it all is Johann Pfefferkorn, who resembleth in name, and in all else, that Johann Pfefferkorn who was in this very place torn with red-hot pincers, and who in hke manner had become a pervert from his faith, by reason of the wickedness that he had committed. If Pfefferkorn were safe here in gaol, and the execu- tioners were to put the question to him as to what he had committed, he would make confession of not a whit less than his namesake. He hath egged on the Theologians at Cologne, and they have egged him on in turn, and they would fain have burned all the books of the Jews throughout Germany. And this, that the Jews might come privily to the Theologians and the aforesaid Pfefferkoi^n with large sums of money, beseeching them, and saying, * Leave us, we pray you, our books — and lo, here are forty pieces of gold ! ' Some Jews, indeed, would have freely given a hundred, and some, a thousand pieces. Then came ReuchUn and baulked their scheme, and they were wrath with him. Hence they write books, and try to defame him, and declare him to be a heretic. Some books they write in Latin, and they publish them under Pfejferkorn's name, whereas he is ignorant even of the alphabet in I^atin. This they do, since they know full well that no man will reply, for none will defile himself by touching such a scoundrel. It is plain that if they were true Theologians — or even honest men — they would do their own work, and not shield and hide themselves behind that braggart. Other books also they have pubHshed — some in the name of Arnold von Tongern, who hath been detected in forgery — this no man can deny, nor can he himself declare in his own defence that he is not a forger — it is known throughout Germanij how he falsified the writings of Johann Reuchlin. Another writer on behalf of the Theologians is Magister Ortivin Gratins — the son of a priest, and one who keepeth concubines and hath been taken in advoutry. Then there is another scribe, of whom you have heard much, Doctor Weigand Wirth
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11 8J MATTHAUS FINK
of the Order of Preachers, who is just as great a scoundrel. He wrote a book to prove that the Blessed Virgin was conceived in original sin, and he stirred up much sedition with his preaching. He was therefore compelled to recant and publicly to adjure his own preachments and writings at Heidelberg — as I myself heard and saw. And now you may judge what manner of men the foes of Reuchlin are."
Now when I heard these things I said, " Sir, it is not meet that you should utter such words as these before the people, even though they be true, for the whole Order hence cometh into ill odour, and folk are set a bad example thereby."
" Even you," he replied, " ought not to have acted as you have against Reuchlin, for you also have desired to defame him. And he now cannot clear himself without some hurt to you."
By the Lord, Herr Ortivin, I would that this Cause had come to an end, for it is mightily discom- modious to us : folk will no longer give us alms. Last week I set out on a tramp for cheeses, and during ten days I collected no more than fifteen, for everybody said, " Get thee to Johann Reuchlin, and ask him for cheeses ! " May God grant a favourable issue ; and now farewell in the Lord.
From Halle, in Saxony.
vni
iE MATTHAUS FINK, Bachelor, to Mag. 0?iwin G-?ritius
GREETINGS indescribable, and love inefFable ! Honoured Sir, inasmuch as you know right well how it standeth with me here in Rome, how that I am of the Chancery, and, by God's mercy, am in good case ; there is no need to tell you of such matters, for you sufFer not tedious letters gladly. Nevertheless, seeing that I promised to send you news from Rome at least once a montli, and, when- ever the running or riding postmen set out, to avize
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you how matters stand with regard to the war and so forth, and concerning the King of France and the Emperor, perchance you will say within yourself, " See, how haughty this fellow hath become ! He hath a fine post in Rome, and therefore he taketh not the trouble to write to me, forgetting that I was erst- while his Teacher, and implanted in him Poetry, and the Arts, and a sUce of Greek too, whence it cometh that he is no small Grecian." But I swear that it is not so, and may the Devil take me if I have you not ever in my thoughts and in my prayers to God. Saith not Gregorij that ingratitude is the root of all evil ? Wherefore he who committeth the sin of Ingratitude sinneth the sin of sins ; and if through pride I fail to write to you, then am I ungrateful to you my benefactor.
Howbeit I can show reasonable cause wherefore I have not sent letters to your worship, for I have been for a long while queasy, and I knew not what ailed me. The leech averred that I had certain ill-concocted baggage in my stomach. But the day before yesterday I took a cathartic, and, saving your honour's reverence, the peccant drafF was as it were spoon-meat, and there- with passed a white gobbet of the size of a pear : " Lo ! " quoth the leech, " the crudity that caused the fever." And now I can eat heartily again, and have a good appetite, God be praised. If I abide in good health I will write to you oft. For the nonce it must suffice to say that His Holiness is at Florence, and the CuriaHsts here are cursing him because he doth not come back, and their business is hindered. They should have patience, say I, and should by no means curse His Holiness, lest they should be excommunicated.
I quote the Law to them anent this matter — for I frequent the Sapieiiza, and study there, so that I am beconie an expert in both branches of the Law, in the one as much as in the other. It is said that His Holiness aileth in his eyes, and cannot walk in the open air. You must know too that the King of France hath returned to his country, and is about to lead a greater host in array against the Emperor. Thc Spaniards will help the Emperor, and so you maj^ be
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11.9] PHILIPP SCHLAURAFF
assured there will be a mighty war. We must not omit, therefore, to say in our prayers, " Give peace in j our time, O Lord ! " For war in those parts ad- JL^ vantageth not the Curiahsts. If peace is maintained, prithee send me word concerning any vacant benefice — whether it be a cure of souls or not, and whether in a patron's gift or not.
I am now of ripe experience, and would fain be beneficed. If you have any suit toward, I will use my interest here on your behalf. AVith regard to Johann Reuchliiis case I may tell you that Doctor Jakob van Hoogstraten hath culled certain other paragraphs out of the Augenspiegel, and they are to the full as heretical as the rest. He is now at Florence with the Court, and worketh diligently. Doubt not that the victory will be yours. Send me the news in turn, and farewell, with glory.
From RoME.
IX
€L MAGISTER PHILIPP SCHLAURAFF to
3Iag. Ortviin Gratius sesquipedal greetings
YENERATED Magister! you must know that I have received your letter, written in mighty pretty poesy, as is your wont : and you date it " From Cologne,
" VVhere we have good company — Living all in joUity ! So, a fig for gravity ! "
Whereby it hath come into my mind that you are well vinified — that is (to speak poetically) over-flowing with wine : and I trow that you were mellow when you penned those verses.
You bid me send you the poem that I composed concerning my peregrination throughout Germany — wherein I visited the Universities on behalf of the Theologians, to infliuence them, in their favour, against Johann Reuchlin — and concerning the tribula- tions I sufFered at the hands of the Poets, who every-
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where abound. I gladly comply, but you must send me in return an account of your own doings. I send my poeni by the messenger who conveys this : You must know that I have composed it rhythmically, and not with observance of quantities and feet, for me- thinks it soundeth better so : besides, I have never learned the other kind of Poetry — but this irks me not. Farewell.
From Bruneck, in Flanders.
•E MAGISTER PHILIPP SCHLAVRAFFS
Rhijthmical Poeiii that he composed and compiled when he was Cui^sor in Theology, and 'peramhu- lated the whole qf Upper Crermany
OHRIST omnipotent, the hope of every creature 'neath the sun, God of gods to everlasting, while the endless ages
run — Show thou me thy loving-kindness when, with bufFet-
ings, the foe Unrelenting fall upon me : send a fiend from realms
below Charged all Poets — ay, and Jurists — to the gallows-
tree to hale, Who have wrought on me — all blameless — without
ceasing, scathe and bale. First in Saxony, a student of the dialectic art 1 resided ; 'twas Sibutus that its mystery did impart — He of leech-craft was Professor, and was wedded to a
crone, But the beer she brewed and vended for all blemish
might atone ! There a Poet, one Balthasar, with his raihng drove me
mad, And one Philipp Kngentinus, who was every whit as
bad! So I deemed it was but prudent, to escape another
broil, To direct my steps to Rostock, and to seek a distant
soil.
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II 9] PHILIPP SCHLAURAFF
Hcrmann Buschim there resideth, who to death a man
be-rhymes— But that there the plague was raging, luckily I heard
betimes. Fain at Grcifiivald Fd have sojourned, but it meagre
cheer supplied, So by night I tramped to Franhfort — Franhfort on
the Odcrs tide : There TrcbclUns, with his verses blasphemous, reviled
me sore, And his pupils, the van Osthcns, at his bidding 'gan to
pour Bitter ridicule upon me with their fleers and jeers so
pat, Till folk cried whene'er they saw me, " Scht das Koln-
isch Kopulat ! " To Vicnna then I hied me — sure beneath a planet dire I was born, for ColUmitius there was Rector — may the
fire Of St. Antony consume him ! For he proved a bitter
foe, Calling me a recreant rascal, vowing I to jail should gol Hcckmann timely me dehvered : straightway Vadian
a new Quarrel fastened on me, guiltless of his hurt, (altho'
'twas true Pfcffcrko7m had soundly lashed him, rightly, in his
own defence), Shedding bitter tears of anguish, I proclaimed my
innocence, Praying that upon my journey I might scatheless go
and free, But the Lilij HosteFs Rector whispered, " Let him
prisoner be ! " Then outspake Cuspinianus, who the Emperor's friend-
ship wins, " Masters," quoth he, " of the Arts are Doctors of the
Deadly Sins ! " Then t'wards Ingoldstadt 1 turned me, but one
Philomusus there Fulminates 'gainst Theologians — him to brave T did
not dare ;
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
So resolved, for peace and safety, on to Nuremherg to
fare. There a wight named Bilibaldus Pircklieimer fell foul
of me, Though no Master he of Arts is — it was told me privily That, in league with many comrades, sojourners in
divers lands, He the foes of Johann Reuchlin with his voice and pen
withstands, And against us Theologians many a carping book
hath he Written ; and 'tis whispered, newly hath he censured
Usury — Tho' the Doctors at Bologna, where the question late
was moved, Have declared that Compound Interest may be by the
Church approved. In a month I went to Leipsic — to the University — There I met one Richard Crocus (Englishman he's said
to be), When he met me straight he shouted, " Thafs the
beast I at Cologne Lighted on ! " But I the honour of his friendship would
not own. Then he cried to his companion, " Lo, the ninny-
hammer ! he Johanii Reuchlin fain would harass with his vain
Theology." This to the Magister Nosters I reported, and they
swore That for lectures Richard Crocus stipend should receive
no more. Then spake Mosellanus — taking up his parable, Quoth
he, " Straightway seize this meddling greenhorn — hang him
on the gallows-tree ! " So from thence they sent me packing, and I set my
face to go On to Erfurt, where arriving, soon I found another foe ! EherbacJi began to vex me — Eohanus Hcssus too, Ceased not to contrive my drubbing, egging on a
ribald crew
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II 91 PHILIPP 8CHLAURAFF
In the streets to basely swinge me, " Dash to bits the
runnion's jowl ! Is he not the bane oi Reuchli?i, and a Theologian foul ? " " Whence doth come this callow bejan ? " Crotus
cried, " He is unknown ! " " I'm a graduate ! " " Get thee gone then ! " I was
minded to Cologiie, Through the Buchenwald to journey, but a comrade
cried, " Beware ! " VVarning me of Mutiunus, with his bludgeon, lurking
there ! Through Ccunpanien I evaded,and again to Meissen came, But to Aesticampianm all too quickly spread the fame — Straight he sent forth his disciples, and they dragged
me by the hair, And his neighbour Spalatinus came and threatened
then and there For a private grudge to swinge me — but my bruised
and battered hide Hardly saving, I escaped me to a forest dark and wide ; Did the Devil, or an angel of the Pit my footsteps
lead Then to Sturnus ? When he saw me parlous was my
pHght indeed ! Mercy ! How my lugs he basted ! So I fled in evil
case To Franconias river valley — and met Hutten face to
face ! Solemn oath, with upraised fingers, made he that a
scourging sore He would give me if I lingered — so to save my skin,
once more On I hurried into Swabia, and to Augshurg won my
way— Peutinger, the foe of Brulfer, would not sufFer me to
stay There in peace, so passing Stuttgart, knowing Reuchlin
there did dwell, Heretic bv me suspected — ay ! and dreaded, sooth to
tell— Thence to Tubingen I journeyed — many ribald fellows
there
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Write new-fangled nonsense, and they never Theo-
logians spare ; Of them Schwarzerd was the vilest — might his corse
rejoice mine eyne, Gladly would I tramp, a footsore Pilgrim, to St.
Jaiiiess shrine ! Bebel, Johami J^rassicanm, with Paul Vereander, swore That, to save my back from bruises, I must go, and
come no more ! But by help of one Franciscus — blessed be his saintly
name ! I, his prudent counsel heeding, safely from that
country came. Eager then to leave those Poets far behind me, straight
I hied me On to Strasburg, where Gei^bellius with distracting
quibbles pUed me : Tangled in sophistic meshes, I was held to open scorn, In the street before the vulgar — would that I had ne'er
been born ! Then Sebastian Brandt cried " FoUow me ! " and
took me by the neif, " You're the man for Karragonia — welcome to the
Narrenschiff ! " Schurer too, gor-belUed glutton ! grinning, wheezed " I
understand You're the kind of lubbard losel that they want in
Lazyland ! " Girding up my loins, I scampered, and to Schlettstadt
took my flight — In a greasy gown of leather, straightway JVimpheling
hove in sight ; Jakob Spiegd, too, who shouted, " AVhence ? thou
ninny-hammer, whence ? " Murmuring I came from Swabia, " Beast ! " I got for
recompence ! Wrath was I, and one Ki7'herus bade me ofFto Atliens
pack, Greek to learn — and Johann Witz, with all his scholars
at his back, Thwacked me, till the Queen of Heaven I invoked ;
then, " Down the stairs
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II 9] PHILIPP SCHLAURAFF
Pitch him ! " Storckius cried, but Phrygio, softened
maybe by my prayers, Saved iiie : then RhenaniLS asked me if from Germany
I hailed, " Ay, from Flanders ! " but the answer, humbly spoken,
naught availed ! Thumps upon my pate descended, Whack ! and Whack!
on either ear, And my staggered cerebellum buzzed till I could
scarcely hear. Then to Hagenau I hied me ; out upon thee, Wolfgang
Angst ! For mine eyes thou foully smotest — but Gott gebe dass
du hangst ! Comes a youth, one Jolmnn Letzer, with a foHo thick
and wide, Knocks my breath from out my body, hurUng it against
my side ! '* Hear, oh hear my last confession ! " gaspingly the
words I said, " Shrive me in my deep contrition ! " But at midnight
from my bed Soft arising, ofF to Frihurg I departed, seeking ruth — There were nobles, clad in armour ! Reuchliiis fautors,
and in truth Terrible to see ! Their aspect threatened me with
instant death ! But an old juristic gafFer, Zazius hight, with husky
breath, Coughed out "■' Art thou then a Scotist ? " With
disdain I straight rephed,
- ' Nay, but Thomas, Holy Doctor, of Aqicino is my
pride." Up to scorn he held me, shamefaced, while Amorhach
shouted " Thick Tho' his pate be, something novel 111 implant there ;
fetch a stick ! " Born to sorrow, Basle I fled to, where Erasmus famed
doth dwell, I addressed him : " By your favour, will your ex-
cellency tell One who humbly asketh, are you candidate for a degree,
415
LETTER8 OF OBSCURE MEN
Or a postulant for licence ? " " Oh, assuredly ! " quoth
he. There, within the house of Frohen, many heretics abide, Notably one Grlareanus, who niy aching back and side BufFeted with thumps resounding, then to finish,
knocked me down, Though I cried aloud for pity, " Mercy ! by thy laurel
crown ! " Taking boat, to Worim I drifted ; there I met within
an inn TJieobaldus, a physician — quickly did our strife begin ! How he raved 'gainst Theologians ! " Thourt a
gowk ! " I mildly said, Scarcely had the words been uttered when a cheese
replaced my head ! Wounded, I to Mainz betook me, where with kindness,
in my need, Good Baiiholomaeus Zehner took me in, and gave me
rede : '* Go ye not to the Corona ! Pardy ! 'tis a dangerous
inn ! Certes, there the guests will shend you ! Men of
violence and sin ! " Carbach there on Livy lectures : Woe is me ! an
ancient foe, One Utittichius, with a joint-stool, felled me at a singie
blow ! For a bounce that all unwitting, shpped me, Weydmanny
standing there, Smote me — while I vengeance threatened for the insult,
down the stair Konigstein propelled me headlong; but — the danger
'scaped, by flight — As beside the Rhine I wandered, Doctor Murner niet
my sight ! In a boat upon the river — Thomas Murner, Minorite ! " 'Tis my dignity that saves tliee ! " cried he, " or thou
straight should'st He, Underneath the rolhng waters ! " Shivering, I made
reply : "Wherefore?" " Knave and fool ! " he shouted,
" Reuchlins wrongs will tell you why ! "
416
II 10] BARTHEL GOWK
But, at last, to Kohi I drifted, where I found good
company, And I heeded not though Biischius and Caesarius
flouted me, With their I.ivy-reading pupils jeering ; for with open
arms The Theologers received me faint from dangers and
alarms. There I dwelt in happy leisure, and I heeded not a hair Tho' he boasts himself a Poet, Hermann, Graf von
Neuenar. Pfefferkorn hath somewhere written, that their rank
doth not excuse Nobles, who to duly answer for their deeds may not
refuse : Writing as Obscuri Viri, they must pay the penalty— Ends my story : for the honour of the University.
X
•E DOCTOR BARTHEL GOWK to
Magister Ortwin Gratius
GREETINGS innumerable, with the utmost respect, reverend Magister !
Without tedious preamble or ambagious circumlocu- tion,— seeing that you lately sent me word that you desired me to let you know how matters stand here with regard to the Cause of the Faith, I would have you know that it prospereth, but that the definitive judgment hath not yet been promulgated.
There is a Jurist here, one 3Iartin Groning, a Doctor of Sinigaglia—so he saith— and vengeance proud and arrogant. He must needs translate the " Augen- spiegel, and is mighty boastful, for he would cut a figure. Some men praise him, and of such I lately de- manded, " What more does this fellow know than another ? " They made answer that he had competent knowledge of Greek. You see therefore that you need not pay any regard to him, for Greek is not material to Holy Scripture. I believe that he knows not a jot of the " Book of Sentences." Neither can he frame me a
417 2d
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
syllogism in Baroco or Celarent, for he is no logician. Not long ago he called me an ass, and I said, " Come now, if thou art so bold, dispute with me ! " for I made free to *' thou " him. But he was silent. Then pressing my attack, I said " I will prove that thou art an ass. Thus : whatever bears a burden is an ass — thou bearest a burden — therefore thou art an ass. The minor premiss is evident, since thou bearest that book." Now this was true, for he was carrying a book, that Jakob von Questenherg had given him to read, against Doctor Jahoh van Hoogstraten ; and he was not shrewd enough to deny my major, although I could not have proved that — but I knew full well that he was unversed in logic. Then quoth I, " Herr Doctor, you wish to thrust your nose in Theologians' afFairs, which pertain not to your Faculty; I counsel you to hold aloof, seeing that you have no knowledge of the matter ; else you will surely come to grief, for the Theologians are not minded that Jurists should meddle with questions of Faith." Forthw^ith, fuming he cried, " I not only understand these things, but I can see that thou art a damned beast ! " Then I was enraged, and started up, and that day the strife was hot between us ! But Doctor Peter Meyer^ parish priest of Frankfort, said to me, " Come now, let us go to the inn, and seek some victuals, for it is dinner-time ; and let this w^orthy gentleman be, for he doth not yet know his rudiments ; he must go to school and learn."
But, mark you, Magister Ortwin, we will roundly avenge that insult ; the fellow is a student of Cologne, and I know for certain that he resided at De Monte hostel ; if therefore you will prevail on the University to cite him, we will convict him of perjury ; for when he matriculated he made oath that he would work for the good of the University, whereas now he sideth with Joliann Reuchlin, against it. Prithee, do this forth- with — and send me that treatise of Joliann Pfejfer- korns entitled, *' The Defence of J. P. against slanders." A student lately brought it hither, and my heart acheth to possess the book, for it containeth many subtle pro- positions. The Lord grant you welfare and peace.
A?fie?i. 418
XI
•r JODOCIS SCHNEIBER to
Mag. Ortwin Gratius
SALUTATIONS unending, and a New Year full of as good fortune as there is to be found on earth — nay, more if possible — I wish your worship. You must know that I am prospering, by the grace of God who hath granted me His mercy, and, as the Psalmist saith, " The Lord hath heard my petition ; the Lord hath received my prayers." Daily do 1 pray for my sins and beseech our Lord to keep me in body and soul. Especially the soul, for the body is but dust, and, as Holy Scripture saith, " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." I hope, moreover, that it goeth not ill with you, for he who by the grace of God always repenteth of his sins, and devoutly telleth his beads, even if he fasteth not oft — with him the Lord willeth not that it should go ill.
I know that your conscience is good, and you are ever studying how to forward the good of the Church. I well know how that lately you wrote a book against a certain heretic, Johaiin Reuchlin by name, and it was composed so masterly that I was held in admiration thereby. I said to a Cursor of the Order qf Preacliers who was carrying that book, " I think the man must have a pair of heads to handle a matter so canoni- cally as that." Then the Cursor told me that you were writing a commentary on that book of Doctor Arnold von Tonge^nis that he composed, in the title of " Ai-ticles,'" against the heretical propositions of the Augenspiegef Prithee, send me this Commentary when it is completed. I trow that, without doubt, it will be a miracle of art — expounding all the arguments, and notabiUa, and propositions, and conclusions, and corollaries which few fully comprehend ; for the Doctor is exceeding subtle in his writings, as is the wont of the School of the Albertists. You must not take it ill if I praise the Albertists — you yourself being a
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Thomist — for their diversity is not great, and on cer- tain points they closely agree. Nevertheless the Holy Doctor is the more profound, and this by the special inspiration of the Holy Spirit ; hence it is that he is called the Holy Doctor, although Renchlin nameth him not thus in his writings — wherefore is he a heretic, and, in the deviFs name, let him so abide. I was lately wrath against a Jurist who defended him, and I wrote an ode in verse against him. For I, too, am wont to poetise when I am alone, by aid of Bebelius " Art of Versifying," which is very subtle. The Ode runneth thus : —
" Turn not away thine ear from tlie humble prayer of thy servant ! Hearken, O Mother revered of the astripotent god ! 'Tis for Theology's sake, O Mary, thy servant beseecheth ; Reuchlin the wicked Jurist, holy Theology's foe Hath no light from above nor mental clarification, As there needeth to be in him who wisheth to please thee. To recite to your son our prayers therefore remember, That he may come to the aid of his own Faculty."
These are elegiacs, and they are scanned after the manner of the first metre in Boethius, beginning " Carmina qui quondam studio," &c.
If the messenger had not told me that he must make haste and be ofF, I would have sent you a pile of verses that I have written in defence of the Church and the Faith. Do not forget, then, to send me the commentary you have constructed, and I will send you further news in return.
Farewell — hurriedly, happily, fervidly.
From Olmutz, in Moravia.
XII
iE WILHELM LAMP, Master of Arts, seiideth greeting to Mag. Ortwin Qratius
REVEREND Sir, inasmuch as you bade me, and commanded me to write to you as soon as I reached Rome, and to tell you all that befell me on the way, and how I stood with regard to bodily health — you must know that by God's grace I am quite well, and I should
420
11.12] WILHELM LAMP
rejoice to hear that you aie quite well too. I hope that, please God, you are in good case.
Now you must know how that as soon as I arrived at the " Crovcn " at Muinz, I found certain folk there who were talking about the Cause of the Faith, and were of Doctor KevchUns part ; and when they saw me to be of Cologne, they but talked the more, and treated me with disdain. They praised Joliann Reuchlin, and disparaged the Magisternosters at Cologne, and called them bats that could d^o nothing in the hght of day, but fiew by night and busied themselves in the darkness. Then quoth I, " Hear the other side ! " and I quoted to them the Flores Legumr Then theybegan to assail mewith many words, till I said, " What have I to do with Reuch/in? Let me eat my money's worth." Perhaps you will say, " Herr Wilhelm, you ought to have maintained your ground and answered them boldly." But that was out of the question in such a place. I heard that in that Inn a man had just been basted with a joint-stool because he had said a word for TioQ.tov Jahob van Hoogstraten. The men who come there for their victuals are very terrible rutflers, who wear swords and cutlasses, and one of them is a Count, who is a tall man and hath white hair. They say that he can take an armed man up in his hands and dash him to the ground. His sword is as long as a gianfs. And when I set eyes on him, I held my peace and let them talk on. I intended to write to you forthwith, but there was no messenger at
hand.
\Mien I reached Worms we lodged at an Inn where there were many Doctors, assessors at the Supreme Court. They said dreadful things about the Theo- logians, and I heard that they had indicted Johann Pfefferkorn on account of the " Tocsin." One of them said, " Mark my words ; in a few years these JNIagister- nosters will be swept away, and will be heard of no more." Then said I, " Who then will preach to you, and instruct you in the Cathohc faith?" He rephed, - That will be the work of learned Theologians who understand the Scriptures, such as Erasmus oiRotter- dajfi, Paul Ricius, Johann Reuchlin, and the hke. Ihen I held my peace, and thought within myself, " Fools
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
talk foolishness." There was one sitting at the board, Theobald Fettidi by name, who is now Doctor of JNIedi- cine, and him I recognised, for he formerly resided at Cologne at De Monte Hostel ; and he talked more than all the rest together. Then said I to him, " You ought to bear in mind the oath that you took to the Rector and University of Cologne.'"
" To the jakes with the pack of you," quoth he. But let this pass.
Afterwards, when we had taken our departure from Wo7^7ns, certain fearful men on horseback met us, with cross-bows in their hands, and made as though they would shoot us. Then my companion cried out " Jesus ! Jesus ! " but I, being of good courage, bade him cry not out thus, and I said to the men, " Most noble Sirs, shoot us not ! We are not armed — we are no foes of yours — we are clerks who are on our way to Rome to seek bene- fices." Then cried one of them, " What are benefices to us ? Give us money that we may drink withal — or the Devil take you ! " And so, to get out of their clutches, we had to give them two fiorins. And I whispered privily, " Drink ! and may the Devil give you his bless- ing ! " After a while my companion asked, saying," What think ye ? Shall we cite them before the Curia ? " But I told him that this could not be, inasmuch as we knew not their names.
Thereafter, through deep mire, we reached Augsburg, and meanwhile it rained and snowed so hard that we could scarce open our eyes. Then said my companion, " Good lack ! how cold I am ! If I were back at Cologne, I should never set out for Ro7ne ! " But I laughed. Now at the Inn there was a comely damsel, and in the even- ing there was a dance, and my companion joined the dancers. But I chided him for this, in that he was a Magister and ought not to partake of such frivoHties, But he cared not a whit, and swore that he would eat a peck of dirt if only that damsel would join him for the night. But I would hearken to no more,and quoting from the P7^eacher^' Vanity of vanities, all is vanity ! " I went to bed. Next morning we reached Landsberg, and my comrade must needs He with the serving-maid that night. In the morning when we quitted the Inn his horse fell
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11.12] WILHELM LAMP
lame. " More damsels abused ? " quoth I. But a smith came to the rescue.
Aftei-wards we came to Schongau, where we bought some fine glasses. Then we set forth for IjuiHbruck. But the ways were so foul that the horses could not make way, and sank up to their girths in the mud. And so after much tribulation we attained to Inmhruck, and there we found his Majesty the Emperor,v;\ih. his vassals, and his courtiers, and his knights, and soldiers, and men- at-arms — having silken cloaks, and gold chains round their necks. And there were some who looked very fierce, with beards, and caps slashed soldier-wise ; and I feared to sit at meat in the Inn, for I heard one of them say, '* If I were Emperor, I would hang every one of these blood-suckers at the Court who come to Rome and learn wickedness. They cog and cozen one another for benefices, and seek to oust country parsons in Germany, and cause much money to flow from Germany to Bome:' Hence I perceived that the Curialists heed neither God nor man, and there- fore they will perish hke dust before the wind.
Afterwards we passed over a mountain all covered with snow, and so high that I trow it reached half-way to heaven. And so bitter was the cold on the summit thereof that I feared lest it should give me a fever ; and 1 thought of my stove at Cologne. And my comrade said to me, " Oh, if I but had my cloak ! " Then said I to him, " You are for ever complaining of chills when you are abroad, and when you get to an Inn you desire revelry. Know you not that venery cooleth the blood ? " But he repHed that it seemed to him not to cool it, but warm it. I must tell you, Master Ortwin, that never in my Hfe have I seen a man so given to lechery. Whenever we entered an Inn the first thing he did was to ask the drawer, " Is there aught within for
my lap ? "
Next we reached Trient ; and your worthmess wiU forgive me, and take it not ill that I tell you the truth, that there for once I purged my reins in the stews by stealth. Nevertheless at night I read my Hours to the Blessed Virgin for my sin. At Trient were many soldiers preparing to advance against Verona and work
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LETTEES OF OBSCURE MEN
wonders there ! And they made boast to us how that the Emperor was going to capture Venice. We saw bombards there, and many other engines that I had never set eyes on in my Hfe.
On a Sunday we reached Ve7'ona. This is a fair city, with walls, and forts and bastions. We saw there the house of JDietrich von Bern, where he lived, and where he overthrew and slew the many giants who fought with him.
Afterwards, when we would fain have proceeded on our way, for a long while we could not, for fear of the Venetians, who, it was said, had taken the field. And this was true, for afterwards at Mantua we heard the sound of their bombards as they kiid siege to Brescia. At Mantua I said to my companion, " Here Virgil was born." But said he, '* What care I for that heathen ? Let us go to the CarmeHtes and see Baptista Mantu- anus, who is twice as good a poet as Kirgil, so Ortwin\ hath ten times told me," And 1 reminded him howj that you had once censured IDonatus for saying that Virgil was the most learned of poets and the greatest of men. You said, " Would that Donatus were here, that I might tell him to his face that he Hed; for Baptista the Mantuan is above VirgiV But when we came to the Monastery of the CarmeHtes, it was told us that Baptista was dead. " May he rest in peace ! " quoth I.
Thence we came to Bologna, where was his Holi- ness, and also the King of France. There we heard a Papal Mass, and gained many indulgences for aU our sins, both venial and mortal, and made confession. The reverend Father Jakob van Hoogstraten, Magister- noster, and Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity was there too ; and when I saw him, 1 said, " Reverend Father, what doeth your Excellency here ? 1 thought you had been at Rome. Then I deHvered to him your letter and that of Doctor Arnohl von Tongern, and he told me that he was seeking by the help of the King oj France to bring it about that ReucJdin should be declared a heretic, andthat the Augenspiegel" should be burned. I asked hun, saying, '* Doth the King, then, understand this matter ? " He repHed, " Of himself
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II 13J THOMAS KL0K131US
doubtless, he doth not, but the Theologians of Paris have instructed him, and his Confessor Gruillaume Pefit, a very zealous nian, hath told \\\\\\, in confession, that he will not shrive him, unless he bring it about, through the Pope, that Reuchlin shall be declared a heretic." Then I rejoiced greatly, and cried, " May the I^ord grant that it shall be according to your words ! " I met many courtiers there who were known to me, and I invited theni to the Inn.
Thence we proceeded to Florence, which is as fair a city as any upon earth.
Afterwards we came to Sienna, where there is a University, but the Theologians are few. Then we came to sundry small towns. One of these is called Montejiasconc. There we drank of the best wine that I had ever tasted in my hfe, and I asked the taverner how it was named. " Lacrima Christi," said he. Then said my companion, " AVould that Christ slied tears in the Fatherland ! " And there we had a roaring bowse.
Three days later we reached Rome. The Lord be praised, who hath deUvered us from so many dangers by the way — not to speak of botched shoes. I have as yet heard no news at Court, except that I have seen a beast as big as four horses, and which hath a snout as long as I, and is a wondrous creature. When I saw it, I said, " God is wonderful in his works." I would give a florin for you to see that beast. And now, pardy, I trow I have acquitted myself well in writing. Do the like, or I will never write to you again. Farewell soundly.
From RoME ; in haste.
XIII
•I THOMAS KLORBIUS, of Theohgij a humble Doctor, sendeth grceting to Magister Ortuinus
8INCE, as it is written, " affliction giveth under- standing," take it not amiss if, in some measure, I censure you, seeing that I do it with all good wilh I^ately, in a tractate, you described a certain theo-
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logian as being well-lettered, and a Doctor of long standing, and a profound Scotist, and deeply versed in the Book of the Sentences.
You also averred that he had conned by rote the whole book of the Holy Doctor " Of Entity and Essence," and that he knew " The Fortress of Faith " like his paternoster, and that by memorative art he had impressed the Formalities of Scotus upon his mind Hke so much wax ; and, finally, you alleged that he was " a member of ten universities."
You commit — pardon me — a solecism. One member cannot have many bodies ; but, on the other hand, one body may rightly possess many members. ,
Thus, the human body hath a head, feet, hands, arms, belly, parts male and female ; and a foot is a member of a man, and the head is a member of a man, and so forth.
Now, the whole body of a man consists of these members, and these members are comprised in the body, as species are oomprised in a genus.
But none of these members consists of many bodies. On the other hand, if you were to aver that a certain Doctor was a bod)^ of ten Universities, I should still censure you. For any one might hence conclude that the ten Universities were members of that Doctor, and tliat he consisted of ten Universities. But if this were granted, it would be a scandal to those ten Univer- sities, and they would be viHfied if a single man — for even Doctors of Divinity, as you know, are men — was declared to be more worthy than so many Universities. It is an inipossible case. For even the Holy Doctor himself is not greater than ten Universities.
How then shall we mend the matter ? What should we rightly say ?
Perpend ; for the question is mightily intricate, and although it appertaineth to Grammar, yet many a Doctor knoweth not how to resolve it: —
A man who has been matriculated at ten Univer- sities, who has studied therein for the appointed time — attending lectures and observing the statutes — when he has taken and kept the oaths, and has rendered honour to the Masters and Doctors, is entitled to
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say — " I ani members of ten Universities " — not " a member."
This phrase is not solecistic, notwithstanding a certain lack of concord in the numbers.
It is a case of Apposition, as in Virgil : —
" Fonnosum pastor Corydon ardebat Alexim, Delicias domini,"
For here Alexis, who is but a single swain, is yet called " delights " — by Apposition.
Believe me, this is a most subtle and notable resolution. I learned it when I was at Louvain, j and was not yet Bachelor : the question was debated ^L»^ for four days.
Take not this in dudgeon. 1 write to you with good intent. Farewell.
COBLENZ.
XIV
€E MAGISTER OrTO HAMMERLIN to
Mag. Ortivin Gratius
VAST store of salutations ! Reverend Magister, your worship hath done me a great favour in sending me that notable book of Johann Pfefferhoriis intituled, " Johann PfefFerkorn's Defence." I cannot sufficiently admire how notably and excellently he reprehendeth Joliann ReuchUn. When I read it I cried, " Would that that fellow Reuchlin were dead ! " But a certain parish priest, who is a stifF Reuchhnist, always resisteth me — and favoureth the argument a fortiori. Yesterday, when before \^espers I walked with him, these wwds proceeded from his mouth, " If the Theologians have not overcome Reuchlin in Germany, much less will they overcome him in Rome ; for in Italy there are very learned men, and they instantly recognise the stupidity and emptiness of the Theologians — for they pay no heed to such nonsense at Rome. AVhat a testimony it is," quoth he, " against the Theologians that they do not dare to write against Reuchlin and his aUies in their own names, but foist in a jack-pudding, who hath neither honour nor goods to lose, and ascribe their books to him." Then I made
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answer, " Pfefferko7'n of a truth compiled the work, but INIagister Ortvcin afterwards Latinised it." Said the priest, " 1 know well enough that Oiizdii com- posed the Latin, for I recognised his style at once. I know too that Ortxmi is of a good stock — a priestly one, to wit. But tell me one thing : you must confess that Pfefferkorn knoweth not the Latin alphabet, much less can he read. And if he cannot read, much less can he understand. And if he cannot understand, much less can he write and compose. And if he can neither read, nor understand, nor write — niuch less can he discuss questions that none but a deeply learned man can deal with. Therefore, how is it possible that he put together that material, eitlier in Latin, or German, or Hebrew ? " I repHed that I supposed that Pfefferhorn had such an enlightened intellect, and had heard so much of the subject- matter that, by God's help and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he was well able to dispute concerning it. " The matter is such an easy one that Reucldin could j be vanquished therein by Pfefferkorns wife." Then 1 said the priest, " That is very sooth. I trow that five 1 sturdy young Westphahan boors could not vanquish j Johann Pfefferkorns wife, and much less could Johann \ Reuchlin, who is an old man and feeble, and impotent \ withal. But I marvel that his Hohness the Pope, and the Emperor as well, can allow such scandals to be perpetrated by that Jewish bufFoon, and permit him to stand in a holy place, and preach to the people, and pronounce benediction, and do such things that if a layman who had always been a Christian were to do them, nevertheless we should have no good opinion of him — much less is it seemly in the case of a baptized Jew, who cannot be shewn to be a true Christian until he be dead. And such things as this ought not to be suffered, much less should he be permittcd to thrust himself into the disputations of learned men and thus be an offence to all honest folk. He ought to be hanged — with his books and his scandals — as he hath long deserved."
I made answer that his preaching was not pontifical, and was but simple instruction sucli as a layman might
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II 14] OTTO HAMMERLIN
give. And as for his books, it is evident that he doth but defend himself against Jokann ReiichUn, who dis- paraged him. And in his Hand-Hpiegcl lie chideth the injustice of Johanii Reuchlin. And that he is a good Christian may be presumed from the fact that if he did not intend always to remain a Christian he would not be so wrathful against the Jews, and do them so much hurt. The priest said, " To write, or compose, a book is no small matter, and only great and learned men who have taken high degrees are competent for this, not a lewd fellow Uke Johanii Pfefferkomi : and therefore the Theologians of Cologne ought never to have thought that they could persuade folk that Pfefferkorn wrote the like. If I were Emperor, I would hang Pfeffer- korn and Hoogstraten on the same gallows."
Quoth I, " What hath Doctor Jakob van Hoog- straten done ? He is a good Imperiahst, as I can prove by his Letter to the Emperor, in the which he saith ' May his Imperial Majesty prosper and rejoice for ever ; and may God preserve him for a thousand years.' " Quoth the priest, " I have seen ten malefactors sufFer death, and none of them was so worthy of death as Hoogsti-aten, who persecuteth so unjustly a good and innocent man ; moreover he hath sought the aid of the King of France, who is the Emperor's open foe, against Johann Reuchlin. And this is the crime of High Treason, over which he lamented at Rome."
I repUed that Hoogstraten had done this through zeal for the faith ; for the faith is greater than an Emperor, and theologians pay no heed to secular rank. Then departed the priest, crying, *' Oh most innocent Reuchlin I Why should you be harassed by these vile and wicked persecutors ? May God preserve you ! If there is any justice on Earth, you cannot be overthrown in such a cause ! Therefore can I say, ' the heathen have raged, and have imagined a vain thing.' " I answered, in my sleeve, " Let his days be few, and his bishoprick may another take." Pardy, Master Ortzviji, our troubles are many. I would that our cause made way. Write to me how matters stand at Rome. Farewell — for as long as lived Methusela.
From Breslau.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
XV
fE MAGISTER PETER STEINHART
to Magister Ortwin Gratius greeting
IWAS minded, Domine Ortwin, to write to you at large concerning all manner of news — about wars and battles, and about Johann Reuchlins affair, and now I am so beflustered that I cannot sit me down for wrath ; and I cannot write about such things when my heart is a-thumping me hke a fist — because there is a German here from Meissen or thereabouts, and he promised to give me a Juristical Vocabulary, and now he denieth it to me ; I have often exhorted him friendly, but it is of no avail. It is manifest that he meaneth to insult me. And since, as you know, every promise createth a debt, I thereupon summonsed him. Then, to-day he sends me an abusive letter and gibeth at me as if I were a dotterel. And so I am choleric to such a degree that I know not what to be at. But I shall to the magistrate, and apply for a warrant of arrest, inasmuch as that fellow is by me suspect of absconding himself. And if he sendeth me not that book incontinent I shall set on the catchpoles to attach him and put him in gaol — and then if he getteth a turn or two of the strappado he must e'en put up with it, for I will learn him to fail a man, and not keep his promises. Mark my word, I will set that fellow to rights — my hfe else ! Because I must have that book, since I am setting in order my studies, and I have bought books about law and other things, going every day for four hours to the Sapienza to hear the Insti- tutes, and the Infortiatum, and the Canon Law too, and the Precepts of the Chancellery. And I have found here a right useful book — it exceedeth ! I have learnt many things from it — I doubt that you have it in Germany — it is marvellous and mightily exphcatory, and it is intituled " Casus longi super Institutis," and it treateth of the prettiest matters, and expoundeth the Institutes so deeply that it often divideth one para-
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graph into ten parts, and it runneth after the fashion of a dialogue — and as for its latinity, it is hugely elegant. I cannot tell you how useful it is to have a book like that.
But you must not blab to those Jurists in Cologne who are on Johann ReuchUns side, for if they had that book they could practise the more subtilly.
I know very well that you commend not my study- ing Law, because you have often told me that I ought the rather to study Theology, which giveth a blessing, and is of higher desert than the Jurisprudence which maketh the crooked straight and the straight crooked — and you cited a passage in Richardus. Nevertheless I say unto you that it is my duty, inasmuch as the science of Jurisprudence toucheth the earning of our bread, as it is written : —
" Con well Justiuian's code, if pelf you'ld gain, And Galen : chaff all else, but they the grain."
Moreover you know right well that I am a poor man ; and my mother has written to tell me that 1 must bestir myself to get cheer and gear, because she will not send me another stiver — and, by the Lord, that's how it standeth.
And now again I bethink myself of that fellow who hath so mightily stirred my choler. From my heart, fare ye well.
ROME,
XVI
•E MAGISTER JOHANN HUTER to
3Iag. Ortidn Gi^atms
ISEND you more salutations than there are thieves in Poland — heretics in Bohemia — boors in Switzer- land — scorpions in Italij — pimps in Spain — vermin in Hungary — Articles in Paris — topers in Saxonij — chap- men in Venice — courtiers at Rome — chaplains in Ger- many — nags in Friesland — vassals in France — fishes in the Jlarches — swine in Pomerania — sheep in England
cattle in Dacia — harlots in Bamberg — artisans in
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Nuremherg — Jews in Prague — Pharisees in Cologne — priests in Wurzburg — ships at Naples — needle-makers at Herzogenhusch — furriers at Franlxfort — nobles in Franconia — sailors in Zealand — children of Soclom at Florence — indulgences among the Dominicans — weavers at Augshurg — locusts in the summer — pigeons in WeU terau — cabbages in Bavaria — herrings in Flanders — sacks in Thuringia !
In a word, greetings infinite I ofFer you, reverend Magister, for you are beloved by me to the verge of possibiUty — with love unfeigned. But you may say that I pretend this affection, and that you do not ibelieve it to be so heartfelt, therefore I will say but llittle about it. The saying goes, " Self-praise defileth the lips," or vulgarly, " Eigenlob stinkt." Never- theless in token of my love I send you herewith two gifts ; the first is a rosary made out of ox-horn, which hath touched the tomb of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and many other rehcs at Rome. And over this I have read three masses. They say that it is sovran against robbers and all murderous assaults, if one telleth his beads with it. The second gift I send is something wrapped up in a piece of cloth which hath a virtue against serpents, and I have seen trial made thereof. And if ever a serpent bite you — which heaven for- fend — it will do you no hurt. This I gave a Carhn for. There was a man here in the Ccnwpo dei Fiori who worked miracles by virtue of St. Paul, and he had a mort of serpents of terrible shapes, so that it was a marvel to behold. He touched them and they did him no hurt — but when they bit any one else, then he cured him by this tahsman, giving him this kickshaw tied up ; and they say that he is of that stock on which St. Paul conferred heahng power. For when St. Paul walked the earth he was once enter- tained by a man who treated him with the greatest reverence, and played the good fellow, giving him victuals and drink and good lodging, and in the morn- ing he asked him, saying, " Sir, take it not amiss — I see that you are a great man, and have especial grace from God, and I doubt not tliat you are a saint, for but yesterday I saw you work a miracle. Tell me,
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I pray you, who you aie." Then answered Saint Paul, " I am Paid, an apostle of Christ." Then the man fell on his knees, saying, " Forgive me, Saint Paul, in that I knew not who you were ; I ask you to pray for my sins, and to give me by way of valedietion a special grace from on high." Then said Saint Paul, " Thy faith hath preserv^ed thee ; " and he gave to him and all his posterity, the gift of heahng men who had been stung by serpents. And the man who gave me this remedy is of his posterity, as hath been proved many a time. Accept it therefore with all good will. Write and send me tidings concerning the war ; and tell me whether that Jurist Johanu Reuchlin still composeth treatises against you — which mayhap he still doth out of mere hardihood and from no demerits in yourself. But I trust that you will fairly set him at nought, for Herr Doctor Hochstrat telleth me that his cause prospereth, and that I should avize you thereof. Farewell.
From RoME.
XVII
€E FRIEDRICH GLANTZ to
Magister Ortwin Gratius
ACONGLOMERATION of greetings. In case, Reverend Sir, you know it not already, let me forthwith tell you that I have been at odds with a certain quirister here who thinketh himself to be some- body, and yet is merely a poor student, hke myself and the rest.
We were bowsing together, and he declared that he had pledged me in a fuU tankard of beer. I averred that he had not — for, by the Lord, I never saw him drink it. Then said I, " Master quirister, I did not see you drink ; an I had seen you, right gladly would I have pledged you again, for I am not the man to be scared at a tankard of beer." Thereupon the fellow swore that he had in sooth pledged me, and argued that therefore I must needs drink to him. "Nay," quoth I, "drink to me, and I will hob and nob with
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
you." Again he declared that he had pledged me, and that it behoved me to do my duty. I made answer that there was no statute to compel me to drink against my will. Said he, " Nay, but I can compel you." Said I, " Where find you that ? " Said he, " In the Code : ' Vinum, etc, si certum putatur.'" Said I, " You cite the Code to me, but I am no Jurist ; I will enquire further on this matter." Thereupon I paid my shot, and took myself ofF. The fellow cried that never, so long as he Uved, would he drink with me again. " So be it ! " said I. And thus the matter standeth, Herr Ortwin.
Send me now some news in return : and fare thee well, till a sparrow weigh a quintal.
MiJNSTER.
XVIII
€E BROTHER SIMON WURST, Doctor of Sacred Theology, to 3Iag. Ortzvhi Gratius greeting
EVER since Johann Pfefferkorris " Defence," which he composed in Latin, reached us here, daily there have been fresh rumours. One man saith this, another saith that. One man is on Pfefferhorn s side, another on Reuchlins ; whom one man upholdeth, another blameth. There is sore branghng, and folk would fain be at fisticufFs. If I were to relate all the squabbles that have arisen over that book, a whole Olympiad would fail me.
Briefly, however, I will glance at one or two matters. Many folk — especially the lay Magisters, and the priests and friars of the Franciscan Order — roundly declare it to be a thing impossible that Pfefferkorn composed that book, seeing that he never learned a word of Latin. I reply that this objection is futile, though it hath been for the undoing of great men even to this day, but with injustice — for Johann Pfejferkorn, who beareth with him a pen and an ink-horn, can jot down that which he heareth at pubhc preachments, or at
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11 18] SIMON WURST
assemblies, or when students and Dominicans come to his house, or when he goeth to the baths. Sonty ! how many sermons hath he not lieard in twelve years ! How many exhortations ! How many opinions of the holy fathers ! And these he could either lay up in his own mind, or dictate to his wife, or scratch upon the walls, or enter in his notebook. I added, moreover, that Johann Pfcfferkorn avoweth of himself — without boasting — that he can apply, without help, everything contained in the l^ible or in the Holy Gospel, to any purpose, good or evil, and that in German or in Hebrew. He knoweth too, by rote, all the gospels that are read throughout the year, and he can recite them to the letter — and this is more than the Jurists and Poets can do. He hath, moreover, a son named Lorenz — a right towardly youth — who studieth until he hath grown pale ; I marvel however, that he is allowed to study those diaboHcal poets. He gathereth for his father saws from the Orators and poets — both personally and from the lips of his teachers — to be appHed to any subject and any argument ; moreover he can quote Hugo. Johann Pfefferkoim, forsooth, hath profited much from this sagacious youth, inasmuch as what he for lack of learning cannot attain to, his son despatcheth.
Let them therefore be put to shame who have falsely spread it abroad that Johann Pfeffe7'ko7'n hath not composed his own books, but that they have been written by the Doctors and Magisters at Cologne : let Johann ReicchUn, too, blush, and groan to all eternity, in that he declared that PfefFerkorn composed not the Uandspiegel himself — concerning which there hath been before now much discussion amongst the learned — since three men furnished him with the authorities he citeth therein. One asked me, saying, " What three men be they ? " And I repUed that I knew not, but that I deemed them to be the same three men who appeared unto Abram, of whom we read in the Book of Genesis. But when I said this they all made mouths at me, and mocked me as if I was a greenhorn. Would that the devil would smite them with heavy blows, as it is written in the book of Job, which just now in our
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monastery we are reading in the refectory. Exhort Johami Pfefferkorn to have patience, for I trust that the Lord will sooner or later work a miracle. Greet him, too, in my name. Prithee salute also his wife for me — you well know how : but privily. And now,fare- well.
Antwerp : written in hot haste, and without deUberation.
XIX
•E KONRAD UNCKEBUNCK to
Mag. Ortwin Gratius
IMARVEL greatly, reverend Herr Magister, that my parents have sent me no money, though they know that I have not a doit, and I have sent them twenty letters at the least. If they will send me no money, then, by the Lord, I have another plan in my head. Mark my word, I have been minded of late to bind myself under a bond to the Chamber and borrow two or three llhenish florins, and come home and expound to them my opinion — in form thick enough for them to feel. The devil ! Think they that I grow upon a tree — or that I can eat hay Hke a beast ? Devil take me if I have had a Carlin these six months ! and I never have any victuals save salad, and onions, and garHc, and once in a way a dish of beans or kail, or some spinach in Itahan fashion. But well I know how my brethren at home guzzle fish and fowl and all manner of dainty dishes, and never give me a thought. But I will endure it no longer. Prithee tell them so, and then I will urge my master here to press forward your suit as you would have me do.
Moreover, I pray you, when my parents hand over the money, send it to me, and with it send me a piece of chalk, for there is no good chalk in Rome, if you were to give a florin for it. And, as you know, one must have chalk — for I am a logician, and when I want to make syllogisms there is not always ink at hand. Besides, it is irksome to make them with ink ; send
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II 20] MARQUARD FOTZENHUT
me, too, some German laces for my boots, for it is wonderful what bad laces they make in Italij.
Herewith I send you a vernicle that hath touched the heads of St. Fctcr and ^Sy. Paul and many other reHcs — also I send an Agnus Dei. Greet for me the reverend Doctor Herr P^alentin von GelterHheim. By the Lord, 1 could never have learnt logic so well had I not resided in his hostel, for he is mightily expUcit, and his pupils gulch their facts when he lectureth.
Fare ye well — in all health of mind and body,
The CoURT OF RoME.
XX
€E MAGISTER MARQUARD FOTZENHUT
to Magister Ortxicin Gratius tendei^eth greeting and friendly ojfices
YOU ask me, Reverend Herr Magister, to tell you how it fareth with Doctor Jakob van Hoogstraten. You must know, then, that the Jurists withstand him sorely. Yet, as I hear, the devil will undo them ; for many Cardinals are on your side, especially the Cardinal of Santa Croce, who will be pope when the Pope dieth. I hear that he said, " I will defend that worthy Theologian Jakob van Hoogstraten against Reuchlin, though all the Jurists in the world should back him : " so he stood up formerly against Peter of Ravenna in the matter of those theses, which were mightily heretical.
And you may take it for certain, Herr Ortwin, that the Cardinal will overthrow the Jurists, for he is on good terms with the Theologians. He is in the good graces, moreover, of the King of France and the Uni- versity of Paris, and the old King of France would fain have made him Pope. Matters prosper, too, in other quarters. To that end Doctor Jakob a week ago gave a thumping bribe to the referendary of a certain Cardinal (whom here I name not), that he might work upon his Eminence as he well knoweth how to do. A rumour goes here that the Bishop of Cologne is dead,
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
and that the Count vo7i Neuenar has been elected the new Bishop. If this be true I must say that the Canons of Cologne are great fools, since Poet and Bishop are a pair of opposites. It is ill, too, for the cause of the Faith, for the Count is a stubborn ally of Reuchlin. A certain Curiahst told me that when he left Cologne for Italy the Count gave him a letter ito take to Reuchlin ; and I have heard from others ^ that he consorteth with many poets, and new-fangled C Theologians hke Erasmus of Rotterdam. When I was ~'~m JViirzburg, there was a poet there, JJlrich Hutten by name, who was ever deriding and girding at the Theologians and Masters of Arts ; and sitting at table in an Inn, he told another person of quahty that he had that very day sent the Count a letter. Then quoth the noble, *' AVhat do you write about, when you write thus to one another ? " And he made answer that he wrote to urge the Count to do good dihgence in the Cause of the Faith, and to work for Reuchlin against the Theologians, so that they should not commit the Augenspiegel to the flames ; and that he heartily com- mended Reuchlin to him ; and he averred that he loved Reuchlin as his own father : but I held my peace, lest he should suspect that I was on your side. And for this reason it is not good for that man to be made Bishop. But I hope the rumour Heth. Tell me, then, the whole truth, and fare ye well from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head, as saith Esaias.
The CiTY OF RoME.
XXI
€E JOHANN HOLKOT to Magister Oi^twin Gratius
GREETING, in all amity. Excellent Sir, I have received the letter which you drew up at Cologne. The said letter was dated on *SY. Margaref s Day, but it reached me on St. BartJioJomexvs Day ; and when I received it I cried, " The devil ! that letter was written a long time ago, and Herr Ortwi?i will be nettled with
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11.22] JODOCUS KLYNGE
me, and will say, ' How haughty the fellow is ! he deigns not to send me a reply.'"
Wherefore 1 beseech your Reverence to hold me bhimeless, and to know of a certainty that the matter standeth not thus.
You thought, forsooth, that I abode still at Cassel, but mine host there, when he received the letter, forwarded it to me at MarbiLj^g, and thus much time was spent. For I am at present at Marburg, and am grounding two young men of quahty. AVhen, therefore, you send me a letter, prithee address it hither. I gather that you are busy composing a notable treatise, and that you intend to send it to the printers, but deem it better to entitle it "Johann PfefFerkorn's Defence against Calumnies." You tell me that you shall not put your name to this, but shall attribute it to ./. P., inasmuch as Pfefferkorn, since he heeds not such things, has no fear of Joliann Reuchlin and his compHces, should they take it into their heads to concoct a rejoinder. But I would fain put this question to you : What an if Reuchlin should say, *' Marry ! Pfeffe7'korn hath no Latin, so he could not have written this : it is the Theologians of Cologne and that poet of theirs, Ortwin, who compose these lampoons, and then say ' Pfeffer- korn wrote them, not we ! ' "
1 trust therefore that you will take much thought before you do this. If you were afterwards to deny the authorship, Reuchlin might recognize your style and prove that you wrote the book, and then you would be drawn into a scandal.
Forgive me, for I write but out of affection. Fare- well.
Marburg.
XXII
miJODOCUS KLYXGE, Bachelor of Arts, to Magister 07'twin Gratius
REVEREND Sir, albeit in the flesh I am far from I you, nevertheless I would have you know that in the spirit I am ever near you when I call to mind our
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
mutual amity when we abode at Deventer. But when the freshman came hither, bearing with him your treatise, he told me that you had said to him, " Jodocus now dwelleth at home, and he leadeth a merry Kfe, and thinketh no more of me." 1 answer that this is not true. I am not a man of that kidney, but I well re- member how you used to scribble on the wall at JDeventer, " Out of sight, out of mind."
Yesterday, pardy, when we were at supper, and were discussing some of those fish of my native country, called Amae, that my father had brought me, I yearned for you to be there, and I cried " Oh, if Magister Ortwin were only here to guttle fish hke these, how my heart would rejoice ! " Then said my father, " Who is this Magister Ortwin ? " Thereupon I told him that you were an old crony of mine, my comrade at Deventer, and when I abode with you, you were in the tirst class, and afterwards at the University of Cologne you were my inductor when I was initiated as freshman, because you came to Cologne a year before me ; and then we kept terms together, till I took my Bachelors degree, and you proceeded Magister. But I, when by God's grace, I had become Bachelor, migrated to the Univer- sity of JVittenberg ; and then I was a schoolmaster in one place and another — and thus I lost sight of you. The things I told him about you ! And I described how that once I made you laugh by quoting to you this verse : —
" Veni Spandaw a^i^gere, tunc inspexerunt me Amae ! "
and teUing you how the freshmen at Spandau had done this verse into Latin out of German — for in the vulffar tongue it runneth thus : —
" Ich kam gen Spandau auf den Damm, Da schauten mich die plotzen an."
And then you told me that you never knew before that that sort of fish, roach to wit, went by the name of amae in Latin ; and when I quoted the verse you laughed consumedly — and 1 went on to tell you that fish Hke that were very plentiful with us, and that one as long as my arm scarcely costs a groschen. Then you cried, " By Cocke, if we were but there ! " And
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II 23] BEliTHOLD HACKERLING
this is why I longed for you to he with us yesterday. But my tather said, " Thinkest thou that there are no fish at CologneV' " Yea," said I, " but they are plaguy dear ! "
You tell me that things go ill with you, and that your cause prospereth not at Rome, and that Johann Reuehlins aUies vex you sorely. Beheve me, I grieve for you as though you were my mother. Yet I trust that the Lord will " give that which is good ; and our land shall yield her increase " — that is to say that you Theologians at Cologne, now that you have burnt the heretical books, will yield your increase, by preaching, arguing, disputing, writing treatises on new subjects, and so forth. And may Christ, the Son of God, iDring this to pass, and show you loving kindness. Amen.
The Market-place, Berlin — where there are prime fish.
XXIII
iE MAGISTER BERTHOLD HACKER-
LING to Magistei' Ortvcin Gratius
BROTHERLY love, by way of salutation. Honoured Sir, having in remembrance the pro- mise I made you on parting, that I would tell you all the news, and how I fared, I would have you know that I have now been two months at Rome, but as yet have found no patron. An assessor of the Rota would fain have bespoken me, and I was well pleased, and said, " I am nothing loth, Sir ; but I pray your magni- ficence to apprize me what my charge will be." He replied, that my lodgment would be in the stable, to minister unto a mule, serve it with victuals and drink, curry-comb it, and keep it clean ; and that I must have a care that he was ready to carry his master, with bridle and saddle and so forth. And then it would be my office to run by his side to the court, and home again.
Thereupon 1 made answer that it was not meet for me, who am a Master of Arts of Cologne, to drudge thus. Quoth he, " If not, the loss is yours." I am
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resolved, therefore, to return to the fatherland. I, to curry-comb a mule and mundify a stable ! The Devil run away with the stable and the mule ! I verily beheve it would be flying in the face of the Statutes of the University ! For a Magister must needs comport himself as a Magister. It would be a scandalous thing for a Master of Arts of Cologne to do such drudgery. Nay, for the honour of the University I will return to the fatherland.
Rome moreover pleaseth me not in other ways. You would not beheve how arrogant are the Clerks and Curiahsts. One of them said but yesterday that he would besquatter a Cologne Magister. " Besquatter the gallows ! " quoth I. Then he made answer that he, too, was a Magister, to wit of the Curia, and that a Magister of the Curia took precedence of a Master of Arts of Germany. " That," said I, " is impossible. Would you fain make yourself out my equal, seeing that you have never ofFered yourself for examination, as did I when five Magisters sifted me witli rigour? You are naught but a Magister by diploma."
Then began he to dispute with me, saying, " And what is a Magister ? " / " A Magister," I answered, " is a person duly quah- 1 fied, promoted, and graduated in tlie Seven Liberal Arts, having first undergone a magistral examination ; j he is privileged to wear a gold ring, and a silken hningi to his cope, and he comporteth himself towards his| pupils as doth a king towards his subjects. The name 'Magister' hath a fourfold derivation. First, from magis and ter, for a Magister knoweth three times as much as a lewd person. Secondly, from magis and terreo, for a Magister is terrible in the sight of his disciples. Thirdly, from magis and theron (that is, rank), for a Magister is of higher rank than his disciples. Fourthly, from Magis and sedere, for a magister ever sitteth in a higher room than any of his disciples."
Then quoth he, " What is your authority ? " I answered that I had read all this in the Vademecum. Forthwith he began to carp at that book, and declared that it was in no way authentic. Then said I, " You find fault with the Ancients, because you know no
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II 24] PHILIPP MESUE
better. But I never heard of any man at Cologne making light of that book. Have you no sense of shame ? " And in high dudgeon I departed from him.
So, be well assured, I shall hie me back to Ger- manij ; for there Magisters are paramount ; and rightly. I can prove it by the Gospel : Christ called himself Magister, and not Doctor, saying, " Ye call me Master and I^ord, and ye say well, for so I am."
But I can now write no more, for paper faileth me, and it is a great way to the Campo dei Fioi^i. Fare- well.
From the Court of Rome
XXIV
fE MAGISTER PHILIFP 3IESUE to
Mag. Ortivin Ghxititis
HUMBLE duty by way of greeting. Reverend Herr Magister, inasmuch as I pro- mised to impart to you all that I hear and see touching that cause of yours, — rightly called " The Cause of the Faith," seeing that it pertaineth to the Christian Faith universally — 1 must tell you that when I first came hither the JNIagisters all cried, " What news, what news, JNIagister Fhilipp ? AVhat news from Cologne 1 " Then I made answer that all the news I had knowledge of was, that lately my lords the Theologians, and the Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity, had burned an heret- ical book entitled " Johann Reuchhn's AugenspiegeV Thereupon Magister Egbert von Harlem, a learned and upright man, and, believe me, indifFerent withal, replied, " We know full well that they have burned that book, but we have also learned that they acted not well in that matter, but committed a scandalous deed, for we have read that book and have found naught that is heretical therein. \^'hat is worse — the Theo- logians have passed sentence while the cause is still pending before the Roman Curia, and his Hohness hath committed it to two Cardinals, and hath imposed silence on both parties to the suit. Yet in despite of this
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the Theologians have burned the book." Thereupon I answered that they acted thus at the instigation of the University of Paris and the four other Universities that withstood Reuchlin. Quoth Magister Egbert, " Though ten Universities opposed that Doctor, yet should they obey the supreme PontifF, who is the head of the Churcli." I repHed that it was taken for granted that so many universities could not err. " That pos- tulate is baseless," he rephed. " Mark my words, this business Mdll have a bad ending." I was fain to make no further answer, but said, "'Tis all one to me, whether it turn out A or B."
Now I tell you these things, Herr Orttvin, that you may be forewarned, for I fear me the decision will go against you, since the Pope is wrath ; and if you lose your case at Rome, the Devil will hold the candle ! The men of Rostock are bitter foes of the Parisians, for the Parisians have a statute by which they forbid the admission of the Magisters of Rostock to their Faculties. And in turn the Rostockians will not admit the men of Paiis. But now you will know right well what you ought to do. I commend myself to you.
ROSTOCK.
XXV
•E 3IAGISTER ABOLE KLINGESOR to
Magister Ortivin Gratins
SALUTATIONS, Magister Ortzdn, so abundant that this letter cannot contain them, nor messen- ger bear them, nor can any man utter them nor pen them.
I trust, to boot, that you are of jocund heart, and are not in a taking concerning that Cause of the Faith. I counsel you never to be dumpish, but to give yourself repose.
Folk here often rail at me because I am of Cologne. But I snicker as though 1 heeded not ; yet now and again I make retort and give them a whirret in turn. For example, the other day a fellow who had resided
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11.26] HEINRICH SCHAFMAUL
at Cologne ten years agone, told me that he beheved not that Pfejferkorn was yet a good Christian : for he declared that he met him a year back and that he still stank Hke any other Jew — and yet it is common proof that when Jews are baptised they smell rank no longer. He beUeves, therefore, that l]feff'erkorn is still a knave at the back of his head, and when the Theologians think him the best of Christians he will turn Jew again : " A¥e should put no trust in him," quoth he, " for all men have misgivings concerning baptised Jews. "
Then said I, " Sonty ! Will you syllogise on a suspicion ? ' Men suspect baptised Jews to be botched Christians — therefore Pfejfcrkorn is a botched Cliristian ! ' It followeth not. I might be apt to suspect Doctor Aniold von Tongern to be of the brood of SodovL — yet would it not therefore be sooth, for all the Colognese hold him to be an unspotted virgin. Moreover, I will resolve that other objection of yours : you say that Pfefferkorn savoureth : put case that he doth — though I beheve it not, neither have T ever perceived it — then I maintain that there is another cause of this emanation ; for Johann Pfefferkorn when he was a Jew was a flesher by trade, and fleshers are commonly rank."
Then all they who stood near vowed that my reasoning was just. So I conjure you that you dis- quiet not yourself overmuch in this matter, for a broken spirit drieth the bones. Farewell.
Frankfort-on-Oder,
XXVI
€E HEINRICH SCHAFMA UL to Magister Ortuinus Gh^atius many greetings
INASMUCH as before I journeyed to Court you charged me to write to you oft, and propose from time to time knotty points in Theology, wliich you would straightway resolve better than the Courticians at Rome : therefore, I now write to ask your reverence
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what opinion you liold concerning one who on a Friday, that is on the sixth day of the week — or on any other fast-day — should eat an egg with a chicken in it ?
For you must know that we were lately sitting in an inn in the Campo dei Fiori, having our supper, and were eating eggs, when on opening one I saw that there was a young cliicken within.
This I showed to a comrade ; whereupon quoth he to me, " Eat it up speedily, before the taverner sees it, for if he mark it, you will have to pay a Carhne or a JuUus for a fowl. For it is the rule of the house that once the landlord has put anything on the table you must pay for it — he won't take it back. And if he sees that there is a young fowl in that ^gg^ he will say ' Pay me for that fowl ! ' Little or big, 'tis all one."
In a trice I gulped down the egg, chicken and all.
And tlien I remembered that it was Friday !
Whereupon I said to my crony, " You have made me commit a mortal sin, in eating fiesh on the sixth day of the week ! "
But he averred that it was not a mortal sin — nor even a venial one, seeing that such a chickhng is accounted merely as an egg, until it is born.
He told me, too, that it is just the sanie in the case of cheese, in which tliere are sometimes grubs, as there are in cherries, peas, and new beans : yet all these may be eaten on Fridays, and even on Apostohc A^igils. But taverners are sucli rascals that tliey call them flesh, to get the more money.
Then I departed, and thouglit the matter over.
And by the Lord, Master Orfivin, I am in a mighty quandary, and know not what to do.
I would wiUingly seek counsel of one of the Cour- ticians, but tiiey are not devout men.
It seemeth to me that these young fowls in eggs are flesli, l)e('ause their substaiice is formed and fashioned into the hmbs and body of an animal, and possesseth a vital principle.
It is different in the case of grubs in cheese, and sucli-hke, because grubs are accounted fish, as I learnt from a physician wlio is also skilled in Natural Philosophy.
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II i7] WILHELM STORCH
]Most earnestly do I entreat you to resolve the question that I have propounded. For if you hold that the sin is mortal, then, I would fain get shrift here, ere I return to Germany.
You must know, too, that Doctor Jakoh von Hocli- straten hath received a thousand florins through the bankers, and I trow he will gain the day, and that the devil will overthrow Johann Reuchlin and the rest of the Poets and Jurists, because they would fain with- stand the Church of God — that is, the Theologians, on whom the Church is founded, according to Christ's words — " Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church."
And so I commend you to the Lord. Farewell.
ROME.
XXVII
•E MAGISTER WILHELM STORCH sendeth many salutations to Mag. Ortwin Gratius
HOW cometh it that you write much to me con- cerning yourself, and nevertheless send me not the book that you have indited against Johann Reuchlin '{
You tell me that you were full of inspiration when you wrote that book, and that you beheve it will be a notable work, and that a pubhsher ofFered you twenty florins to entrust it to him. You tell me moreover that you will send me a copy to show to the Curiahsts and scribes here, and vex them thereby, since they will not beheve that there are in Germany poets as good as there are in Italy. It is indeed most desirable that you should send it to me. And yet you send it not — although you are for ever promising it. I entreat you to send me that book, or tractate, for I would fain plague some clerks here who think that nobody else understandeth aught. They scofF at my odes, too, when I write them, declaring them to be faulty. You shall see for yourself whether this be true, for I send herewith a poem that I composed of late when Doctor
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HoogHiraten arrived here, and I posted it on Pasquins statue in his honour — for he is an eminent man, and defendeth the CathoUc Faith against many a heretic. The ode runneth thus : —
AN ODE,
t/pow the solemn entry of the Revercnd Father Jakob van Hoogstraten, of the Order qf Preachers, Magistemoster and Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity : By Magister Wilhelm Storch qf Dcventer.
IBe it known to all — both young and old, by these presents, That a grave Divine, imniersed in learning profoundly, Hath to the city come, and with great solemnity stalketh, Jakob van Hoogstraten y-clept : this also his name is. He from Germany came, where he abounded in cheeses Which he coUected in heaps — until at last at a Uni- Versity he a degree Theological haply attained to ; Craftily could he dispute, syllogisms subtly devising In Baroco and Celarent, till all the world wondered. This Theologians marked, and they in the Faith being zealous, Made him Inquisitor 'gainst Heretical Pravity. If you Ask, saying, " What doeth here this man so mighty in learning ? " Lend me your ears awhile, and I will shew you the reason. There is in Germany now another Doctor — a Jurist, Johann IleuchUn his name, aiid him the Inquisitor cited Here at Rome to appear, because he lately indited A book of Theology void, but crammed with heresy hurtful ; 'Gainst the Faith it hath a heap of scandalous theses, And — be it known to all — it likewise cockers the Hebrews ; Therefore suspect it was, and, by th' Inquisitor tested, It to the fire was doomed — to recautation, its author. (Would you know its name . The Augenspiegel its title.) Now the Inquisitor grave hath hither come on the matter — No delay nor rest would the Theologians allow him. Swift to Rome must he fare, and rend that Jurist to tatters. Therefore is honour his due, and reverent low salutations When he walked abroad — for he is a disputant stalwart, And in Logic few are worthy his latchet to loosen.
They say that this is not composed according to rule, and Hmpeth upon its feet. " What have I to do with feet ? " say I. T am not a heathen poet, but a Theological, and I care not for such childishness ; 'tis the sense I heed. AVherefore, Herr Oriivin, it be- hoveth you to answer this my composition, and deUver your letter at the bank.
But I have some news for you. Some men called
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11 28] BERNHAKD GELFF
Spaniards have invaded Lombardij ; and it is said that the Emperor would fain drive out the King of France, and this would be a bad thing for Doctor vaii Hoog- straten, for it is through the King of France that he advanceth his cause before his Holiness, and the King of France doeth his utmost for him, for the honour of the University of Paiis, which would be disgraced if the Augenspiegelweve not burned. I know no more. Fare- well, in all happiness.
From RoME.
XXVIII
•E MAGISTER BERNHARD GELFF, one of
the lowliest, to Mag. Ortwiji Gratius greeting
HONOURABLE, or excellent Sir ; notwithstand- ing that I have not personal acquaintance of you, I nevertheless know you by reputation, and for many a day I have had cognisance of that Cause of yours which is known as *'The Cause of the Faith against Johann Reuchlin," and I have the whole process in my possession.
Daily do I dispute with the Courtiers and the scribes who defend Johann Reuchlin, and when the Cursor who bears these presents told me that he was starting for Germany and would make his way through Cologne, I said, '•' Then will I, by the Lord, make acquaintance of Magister Ortwin and write somewhat to him." Then said he, " Ay, by the Lord, do so, and he will be right glad. When I left Cologne he charged me, saying, ' Bid all the Theologians, and Doctors, and Artsmen and Poets who are in Rome to write to me ; for gladly do I receive the missives that learned and well-skilled men send me, and then I coUect the letters that they have written to me, and afterwards make a volume of them, and have them printed.' "
Thereupon I replied, " I know that full weli, foi-^^ I have seen a book entitled Epistolae Ohscurorum Virorum, and it greatly dehghted me when I read it, for it is mightily fine and containeth notable matters collected from all quarters ! " ^^J
^—■—■- - ^ 449 ^— - •• '-^'f ■"^
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And therefore, Herr Ortidii, I beg tliat you will look upon me graciously, for I am an astonishing ally of yours and love you incredibly. Commend me also, I pray you, to JoJiaini Pfeffcrlxorn, once a Jew, but now fiappily baptized in Christ. His treatise entitled " The Defence of Johann Pfefferkorn against Cahnnnies " hath l)een brought to me from Gcrmamj, and T have read it through and have jotted down notabiha and summaries in the margin. I think very highly of the said book. But you must tell Pfcjfcrkorji that one of the officers of the Curia is a mighty upholder of Johann RciichHn. He has coUected sundry paragraphs out of PfcffcrkornH book, and seeks to prove that in these passages both Heresy and the crime of High Treason are to be found ; and he declares that he wishes pro- ceedings might be taken against JoIudhi Pfcffcrkorn on the grounds of Heresy and High Treason. I send you herewith a schedule in which these passages are copied out, and subjoined are the refutations which I have composed — for I held a disputation with that officer, and defended Johann Pfcffcrkorn to the utmost of my abihty. And so, farewell, and look upon me as an acquaintance as well as a friend.
The COURT OF RoME.
(Enclosure.)
Passages Extracted from a 15ook by Johann Pfefferkorn against Reuchlin and the Reuchijnists : the which Book is entiteed
"JOHANN PfEFFERKORN's DeFENCE AGAINST
Calumnies."
Following are the passages alleged by the Reucli- Hnists to be heretical, and to involve the crime of high treason — which, by God's help, is not, and hath not been, and never will be true.
^Vrticle I.
Thc PcncJiIinist allci^rs, that Johann Pfeffisrkorn, in that book of liis that is entitled " Johann Pfefferkorn's Defence against Cahimnies," in his Letter to His
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Sovereign Holiness Pope Leo, etc, utters blasphemy, and commits the crime of High Treason, in that he calls the Pope " the hand-maid of the Lord," as though he were a woman — as, indeed, we read that a woman was once Pope — for he saith (A. ii. 1), " And thus your hohness as the Vicar of Christ on earth, and ' ministram.' " There is also heresy contained in this passage, for PfefFerkorn herein hints, not expHcitly but nevertheless imphcitly, that the universal church hath erred in making a woman a pope, which is the greatest of errors. But whosoever saith that the Church errs is necessarily a heretic. Q. E. D.
/ repli), that Johann Pfefferkorn, who is not a good grammarian, and doth not understand Latin, thought that " Papa " was of the feminine gender, hke " JNIusa " : for he had heard from others that " nouns in a are of the feminine gender, with exceptions ; " as Alexander puts it :
" Sit tibi nomen in a muliebre, sed excipe plura."
Whence it is manifest that Johann PfefFerkorn in the i^^present tractate writeth hke a Theologian, and Theo- logians pay no heed to grammar, for they belong to another Faculty.
Article II.
The Reuchlinists argue : Johann PfefFerkorn in many places, as for instance (A. i.) and (K. iv.), when he wishes to swear that something is true, says " medius- fidius," as though he should say " by my god Fidius." For " mediusfidius " is by interpretation " meus deus fidius : " whence it is manifest that Johann PfefFerkorn himself is an idolater, and hath for his Lord, not Christ, but Fidius, which was an idol among the pagans of old.
/ rephj, that PfefFerkorn in making oath " medius- fidius " did not think of this word " fidius " — which may be the name of some idol or other — but he used the term adverbially. And Donatus puts it thus, who is autho- ritative and is read in the schools, that " mediusfidius " means " assuredly " or " truly." Again, we may allege, as before, that Johann PfefFerkorn pays no heed to grammar : or again, that " mediusfidius " means " by my faith," as I heard from a Humanist.
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LETTER8 OF OBSCURE MEN
Article III.
Tlie RejicJiIinisf objecfs : " Wlioso declares that he supports the Chiirch is a heretic : but Johaun Pfeffer- korn declares tliat he supports the Cliurch : ergo, he is a heretic. The niajor premiss is manifest, since he who boasteth that he supports the Church assumes that the whole Church is in error, and that unless he supported it, it would fall and be destroyed. Such an one would also appear to be Anti-Pope, that is, desirous of being Pope in opposition to that pope who has been chosen by the CathoHc Church. For to support the Church is the duty of the Pope ; but PfefFerkorn arrogates this duty to himself — therefore he is Anti-Pope, and a heretic who imphes that the Pope erreth and is not a good shepherd. The minor premiss is manifest from the words of Johann Pfefierkorn, who alleges in the aforesaid book that he is " a lowly member of the Church." Now in the body a lowly niember is the foot, because the feet stand on the ground, that is upon the earth ; and if the feet were removed the body would fall : ergo, l^feffcrkorn pretends that the Church stands on him, and that he supports the Church.
/ reply, that PfefFerkorn does not use the words in such strictness, nor as in accordance with their primary signification. J>ut he calls himself a member, that is a part, of the Churcli, in the sense that every good Christian man is a part of the Church — or even a mem- ber, to use tlie terni in a wide meaning. " Lowly,'" too, is to be taken as signifying devout and simple ; as the same Joliann Pfefferkorn saith in his Epistle to tlie Pope : "■ All unworthy though I be at thy most holy feet, etc." Therefore it must not be inferred that Pfefferkorn speaketh against the Pope.
Article IV.
The Reuclilhiisf ohjects : Pfefferkorn again commits the crime of High Treason, not once but many times. I*'or he saith, (O. i.) that all the friends and upholders of Johann lleuchhn, both nobles and other learned and
4.52
II 28] BERNHARD GELFF
iinleamed men, sin in that they show favour to Johann Reuchlin : but among these are to be numbered in Germany full ten Princes, and his Highness the Emperor himself, and at Rome many Cardinals and Bishops, and his Holiness Pope Leo in person, who lately, when he had read Johann Reuchlin's letter, highly praised the writer, and said he would defend him against all the Friars ; and so said the YeYy Reverend Cardinals of S. INIarco, and S. Georgio, and S. Chrysogono, and many more.
/ i-ejyly, that Pfefferkorn did this from the love of truth, which is greater than Pope, and Emperor, and all the Cardinals, and Bishops, and Princes. And for this cause in his final protest (O. 4) he excuseth himself, saying, " I have defended myself, truth alone being my guide, and without offence of any man. For Jeremy the prophet saith, " Cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood : and, it is better to fall into the hands of man, than into the hands of Almighty God." And therefore he deems it better to offend Pope and Emperor rather than Truth — that is God. For God is Truth.
Article VII.
The Reuchlinist objccts : Pfeiferkorn in that book commits heresy and High Treason in one and the same passage. For he saith (O. i. col. ii.), " I fight not with the sword, nor with violence, I march not into the field with a spear like a soldier of the king, (for that would be sinful pride), etc." Here then he saith that it is sinful pride to make war and take the field : but the Pope and the Emperor do this, and always have done so, and so have many who are in the Calendar of Saints. If, therefore, to take the field is sinful pride, then the saints, and the reigning Emperor, and even the Pope have committed deadly sin, and consequently the Church, which regards them as holy, is in error. Hence Pfefferkorn is in direct confiict with the Canon and Civil Law, with the Emperor and the Pope, with the Church and the Empire.
/ reply, that these words are to be understood with a reservation, namely that those who make war and
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take the field are guilty of the sin of Pride only in so far that they do these things unjustly to the injury of others. But when the Emperor and the Pope wage war, it is to be assumed that they do so in defence of the Church and the Empire, and therefore Pfefferkorn's censure doth not apply to them.
Article VIII.
The ReucJdinist objects : PfefFerkorn accuseth the Emperor of falsehood, for he uses these words, (O. ii. col. i.), against Reuchlin, "I accuse him of being a betrayer of God and man and of his Imperial Majesty a faithless Counsellor." In these words he fiatly con- tradicts the Emperor, and calls him a liar. For his Majesty the Emperor, in his Letter to the Pope, and in many mandates and commissions calls Johann Reuchlin his faithful counsellor and adviser. What greater slander can he utter than to call him a liar ? Hence he is irremissibly deserving of the penalty of High Treason.
/ replij, that this passage distinguishes, and should be punctuated with a comma after the word " Majesty." For Reuchlin is perchance a faithful counsellor of the Emperor in his afFairs, but not faithful to Johann Pfefferkorn, as he has shewn by many proofs. And hence no man can suppose that Johann Pfefferkorn speaks against the Emperor, seeing that he is a good imperialist, as his writings everywhere show, whether German or Latin.
Article IX.
The Reuchlinist ohjects : that the chiefest and greatest, and most terrible, and most horrible, and most diabolical, and infernal charge of all is that Johann Pfefferkorn blames both the Pope and the Curia by accusing them of the sin of deceit. For he writes, (I. iv,), " But all these matters, his commission obtained, not justly, but with the greatest injustice, from Rome, the Master of Heretical Pravity heeded not, etc." Now it was the Pope who gave that com- mission ; therefore Johann Pfefferkorn accuses the Pope
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11 28] BERNHARD GELFF
of not rightly administering justice, and deserves to go thrice to the stake as a heretic.
/ reply : Pfefferkorn does not say that the Pope or tlie Curia issued that Commission unjustly, but means that lleuchHn obtained it unjustly. Therefore it is Johann ReuchHn and not the Pope whom he calleth unjust.
Article X.
JVie Reuchlhmt objects : Pfefferkorn once again com- mits the crime of High Treason, in that he hes mani- festly concerning the Emperor and the Bishop of Cologne. For he alleges that a certain Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity, by the authority of His Majesty, and with the approval of the Bishop of Cologne, burnt the Augenspicgcl at Cologne. This is utterly false. For neither did his Majesty authorise this, nor did the Bishop of Cologne approve of it : for if the Emperor had authorized this, he would not have laboured in Reuch- lin's behalf by writing to the Pope, and desiring him to defend his Counsellor against the envy and craft of the Theologians. Therefore PfefFerkorn is plainly a forger, for he forges, or contrives, Imperial Commissions.
/ replij, that it matters not about the Bishop of Cologne, for he is dead. But, as to the Emperor, Johann PfefFerkorn speaks dehberately with regard to what was impHcitly the Emperors intention. For at the first, when Pfefferkorn took up this laudable work in the Cause of the Faith, to wit, the condemnation of all Jewish books to the flames, the Emperor was minded, as it seemed, to burn all books that are con- trary to the Christian faith. But Johann ReuchHn's book is one of these : therefore the Emperor was minded to burn that also. Hence Pfefferkorn declares what the Emperor intended — but impHcitly, not ex- pHcitly and expressly. And he deems it to suffice that the Emperor once for aU gave him authorization to deal with Jewish books, with which heretical books may be also included. For I have heard that if the Emperor had adhered to that laudable proposal, the Theologians would have made a visitation of all the Hbraries throughout Germany, and would have burnt
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all wicked books, and especially those works of the New Theologians which are not founded upon the Angehc Doctor, the Subtle Doctor, the Seraphic Doctor, or St. Thomas Aquinas. This would without doubt have been praiseworthy and highly profitable ; and I believe the time will yet come — which may the Onmipotent grant who reigneth through all, and above all, and for ever. Amen.
XXIX
€: EGBERT THE NAMELESS to 3Iagister Ortwin Gratius greeting
YENERABLE Sir, who art mine own famihar friend ! for a long while I have found no convenient messenger by whom I could transmit letters to your worship, or long ago I would have written to you.
Grant me forgiveness therefore, for gladly would I have written to you if I could but have found a messenger.
But since you have written to inform me that Doctor Valentin von GeltersJieim asked you to let me know that I still owe him two florins, for lectures when I resided in his hostel, you may tell him I will not pay him a penny. For he promised me all manner of things, and told me he would give me a bouncing gratuity if I would go twice or thrice a day to the Rhine wharf, and scan the boats coming up or down the stream, see if any freshmen were in them, and persuade them to come and lodge at his hostel. And, by the Lord, I netted for him twenty yellow-beaks at the least, and I lost no end of time in running hither and thither, when I ought to have been studying.
But the Doctor never gave me anything, except what he gave us all — sorry commons, meagre meat, and sour drink. Bid him bear that in mind.
But fare ye well, in all afFection.
Lo[uvain].
456
XXX
€E BALTHASAR SCHLAUCH to Mag. 07'twin Gratius greeting
TyNTO you thanks be rendered — immeasurable, in- LJ finite, indescribable, incomparable, inefFable thanks — in that you have sent me Herr JoJiann Pfcfferkorns book which is intituled "Johann Pfefferkorn's Defence against Calumnies." I was so gladdened when I received that book that I skipped for very joy. I verily believe that Johann Pfejlferkoiii is he of whom Ezehiel pro- phesied, Chap. ix., saying, " And he called a man clothed in linen, with a writer's ink-horn by his side ; " for Johann Pfefferkorn ever hath a writer's ink-horn with him, and jotteth down citations and postils at Sermons or in assembhes, and afterwards constructeth his trac- tates. You rejoice me greatly when you send me his books, for they are so craftily fabricated that I marvel thereat. I plume myself not a little at Vienna in that I am of his acquaintance ; and when I mention him, I say, " Johann Pfefferkorn, my friend."
Nevertheless I have gathered from that book that the Theologians are at variance concerning the Augen- spiegel — for some condemn it to the flames — for instance, the Parisians and Colognese ; and others, to the rope — as did Doctor Peter Meyer, who when he set eyes on the Augenspiegel, cried w ith a loud voice, " To the gallows, to the gallows with such a book as this I " But you ought to be of one mind, and then would you gain the day against that heretic. I was greatly alarmed when I read of these things, and I said, *' Now the Devil will hold the candle, if the Theologians fall out ! " But I trust you will once more agree together. Nevertheless it seemetli to me that Doctor Peter and his friends are not judicious in holding that the Augen- spiegel should be hung on a gallows. For the book is heretical, and being heretical, deserveth the stake. Heretics are burned — it is thieves that are hanged. Howbeit they may perchance contend that the Augen-
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spiegel hath committed a theft, since Johann Pfefferkor^i avers that through that book Johann Reuchlin hath stolen away his honour — which he would not part with /^/ for twenty florins; two Jews, forsooth, who in like manner robbed him of his good name, gave him thirty florins for it. However this may be, I would that you were all of a mind.
There is no news here to tell, save that the Poet Joachim Vadianus, who is one of the ReuchHnist faction, hath become Rector of the University. May the Lord smite the whole crew of Poets and Jurists, and leave not one of them of man's estate ! 1 am minded to return home. What place is there for me in a University that hath a Poet for its Rector ? There are here a host of ReuchHnists, such as are in no other University. There is Joachim Vadianus the Rector; Georgius ColUmitius Tanstetter — now a Physician, formerly Mathematician ; Joannes Cuspinianus, servant and counseUor of the Emperor ; one Thomas Resch ; Simon Lasius, a feUow-countryman of Johann Reuchlin, and many more. Yet Magister Noster Heckmann is with us, and he hath declared that he wiH cleave to the Theologians so long as he Hveth. He saluteth heartily you and Johami Pfefferkorn. FareweU. From ViENNA.
Once more, fareweU — so long as Pfeffe7'korn abideth a Christian.
XXXI
€E ALBERT STRUNCK to Magister Ortwin Gratius qf Deventer
MY humble duty, by way of greeting, reverend Herr Magister ! I earnestly crave your in- dulgence, in that I write not to you oft, because, pardy, the weather in Rome is so sultry that one can neither walk in the streets, nor sit at home : in sooth I can neither write nor compose a scantHng, by reason of the fervid heat. And well you know what heavy
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II 32] HEINRICH 8IEBMACHER
labour it is to frame theses, for you told me at Cologne that you could scarce put together a seemly exercise in a seniiight. You cited Horace to me — how that poet hath laid it down that we ought to spend nine years in the inditing a fair treatise. And that, I trow, is the manner fit. For it behoves us to be wary, and to take heed that there are no false concords. Sometimes congruity sufficeth not, for embeUishments are needed — according to the twenty precepts of the Elegantiae, and the Art of Letter-writing of Pontius, or of Paulm Schncevogel, who was Magister of Leipsic. Those Poets too, now-a-days, are vengeance captious, and when one writes anything they straightway cry, " See, in this place and that, there is sorry latinity ! " and they come here with their new-fangled whim-whams, and subvert the good old grammar. And so I cannot write amidst such heat as this. Therefore I pray thee hold me excused. Farewell.
ROME.
XXXII
€E MAGISTER HEINRICH SIEBMACHER
with greetings to Mag. Ortwin Gratius
VENERABLE Master! First, and before all, be it known to you that two judgments have gone against me, and if I lose a third, the devil will be Abbot ! I am in great fear, for an Assessor just now said to me, " If I were you, I would not appeal, for you are in the wrong : " and therefore I know not what to be at. I trow that this year is an ill-starred one for Theologians ; for even that eminent man, Herr Magister-noster Peter Meyer prospereth not in his cause against the Canons of Frankfhri, and they harry that pious and devoted father. It seemeth to me that the Canons act thus on Johann Reuchlins behalf, whom they love for his poetry's sake. And therefore, being minded to do him a pleasure, they bait the good pastor, who is mightily at loggerheads with Johann Reuchlin—SLnd rightly, for he representeth his
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Faculty. Johann Reuchlin is a foe to the Theologians ; Magister-noster Peter is a Theologian ; therefore — etc. And for a man to defend his Faculty is a thing most permissible. Even Herr Jakoh van Hoogstraten, Magister-noster and Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity, has met with no good fortune in the Cause of the Faith, The Curiahsts now all desire to be thought Poets, and hence they behttle the Theologians and withstand them. And yet I trust it will profit them but httle ; for the I^ord will look upon his servants and dehver them.
I lately heard that the Emperor hath sent a letter to the Pope on Johann Reuchlins behalf, and that he wrote in the sense that if his Hohness doth not speedily make an end of the business, and pronounce judgment, he will himself take steps to defend his Counsellor. But what boots it ? If the Pope is on the side of the Theologians, I have no fear. A man of weight, an officer of the Curia, said to me, " What care we for these lettei-s ? If ReuchVm hath any nioney, let him send it hither. In the Curia one must ha^ e money, or naught goeth forward."
Another officer hath told me privily that INIagister- noster Jakoh hath again given donatives to certain referendaries. Hence it cometh to pass that when they meet him they greet hini with respect, and con- verse with him in friendly wise. Now therefore we are the more hopeful. If I miss the benefice, then I shall aim at the vicarage in Nciiss that you wot of. My proctor hath told me that my claini is good. I have heard that news hath lately come hither that the University of Erfurt intendeth to withdraw its judg- ment, or decision, against Johann ReuchUn. If this be sooth, I declare all the Theologians there to be hars and traitors, and I shall ever liold it a scandal that they abide not by their own Faculty, and defend not that most zealous man Herr Jakoh XKin Hoogstraten, who is the hght of Theology, and shineth hke a star by reason of his doctrines and arguments on behalf of the Cathohc Faith. As a Theologian he hath no peer. Lately he disputed here, very learnedly, in the Sapienza. Whereupon a certain Itahan said, " I knew not that
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II 33] PETER LAPP
Germany possessed such Theologians ; " but another averred that he was not well versed in the language of the Bible, and understood not Jevome and Augustine. Then said I, " O guter Gott ! what sayest thou ? The Doctor taketh such things for granted ; he himself hath other things to attend to, and much more subtle matters."
May the I^ord grant that all turn out well ; then ^ cometh our triumph ; we will drive out Poetry from \ the whole of Germany, and we will bring it about that \ the Jurists shall not dare to utter a word when they ■ are in the presence of Theologians ; for they shall ifear lest the Inquisitor be set upon them, and they be iburned for heretics — as I hope wdll yet happen to Joliann EeuchUn, by God's aid, whose judges we are : Ifor as soldiers defend Justice upon Earth, so do we jdefend the Church by our disputations and sermons. Pardon my verbosity. Farewell. From the Roman Curia.
XXXIII
€E PETER LAPP, Licentiate qf the sacred page, to Mag. Ortidu Qi^atius greeting
INASMUCH as you once told me, Reverend Sir, how great a marvel you hold it that there is now at Cologne a host of illustrious Doctors — not to speak of others not yet graduated but almost Magister-nosters — and super-excellent Theologians in swarms, amongst whom you name to me INIagister-noster Jakoh van Hoogstraten, Magister-nosters Arnold von Tongern, Remigius, and Valentin von Geltersheim, Magister- noster Peter, who in my time presided over Kuick Hostel, Herr Roger the Licentiate, and many others now dwelling in Cologne ; Johann Pfejferkorn too, who, although he is a layman, and unlearned in the I^iberal Arts, and hath never attended Christian schools nor learnt Grammar or Logic, nevertheless hath, as you say, a profound intellect and an enhghtened heart. (Even the Apostles were not men of learning, and
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
yet they knew all things ; and so we may suppose that the Holy Spirit can instil into the aforesaid Johanii Pfejfh^korn all the knowledge of the Saints, as saith the Scripture.) Vou also name two Magister-nosters in 3Iainz — Herr Bartholomeiv Zehender, preacher in the Cathedral, and Herr Peter Bertram the pastor ; as well as, in Franhfort, Herr Peter Meyer, who excelleth in his sermons, and maketh folk laugh or weep as he willeth, and by his preaching worketh miracles.
Now therefore, having due regard to all these, I would that you all put your shoulders to the wheel to prevail over those Jurists and profane Poets — or impose silence upon them, so that they should no longer ven- ture to write books : or, at least, if they would fain be at botching something together, let them first submit it to the Magister-nosters to decide if it may be printed. And if it meeteth not with the approval of the ^lagister- nosters let it not be printed — or let it be burnt. The Magister-nosters ought also to issue a mandate that no jurist or poet should write anything concerning Theo- logy, nor drag this new Latin of theirs into holy Theo- logy — as hath Johann ReucJiIin, and, I am told, another fellow, Proverbia Erasmi by name — for they are not grounded in that Science, and 'tis Hkely that they have never debated pubhckly, nor held syllogistic disputation thereon, according to precedent. They would ever be putting their sickles into other men's corn — and this the Theologians should by no means sufFer.
I beseech you, therefore, to urge these mightily learned men of whom you speak, to dispute against these new-fangled Latinisers and dust their doublets soundly. If they make boast that they know Greek and Hebrew, tell them that Theologians have naught to do with such tongues. Holy Scripture hath been sufficiently translated, and we have no need of any other renderings. Furthermore, it is not meet that we should learn such tongues, lest we bring upon us the contempt of Jews and Greeks. When the Jews see that we learn their tongue, they say, " Lo, the Chris- tians study our sciences, and without them they cannot defend their own faith ; " and thereby Christians are deeply humihated, and the Jews are strengthened in
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11 34] JOHANN 8CHNECK
their creed. The Greeks, moreover, have seceded from the Church ; they sliould, therefore, be regarded as our enemies, and their learning should not be studied by Christians.
Such is the course I earnestly counsel you to follow. Write to me after a while, and tell me what cometh of it. Farewell.
From Halberstadt.
XXXIV
C 3IAGISTER JOHANN SCHNECK to
Mag. Ortwin Gratius
QALUTATION— pronounced with all simplicity, y^ lO and not with bombastic pomposity as is the wont of the poetising Magisters who ambulate not in the way of simplicity with the Theologians.
Greeting in Christ — and in that Dreadful Day
May He deliver us, we humbly pray,
From all our tribulations — may He, too,
Preserve us from the Jurist Capnion, who
Is yet an infant in Theology ;
No skilled and subtle disputant is he —
If with Theologers he should dispute,
A word of Holy Writ would strike him mute :
For Scripture is the weapon and the stay
Of all who fain would hold the higher way,
Or, like Hoogstraten, to condign confusion
Condemn their foes, with logical conclusion —
Hoogstraten, born to be the Faith's salvation,
Dealing to poets and their crew damnation,
Those erring souls, debile in disputation !
Zooks ! I had no mind to send you poetry, and yet I am sending it. All unawares I wrote it. The metre foUoweth not the new-fangled secular poetry, but is of that ancient kind that the Doctors at Paris, and Cologne and elsewhere allow. In my time, when I was a student at Paris, it was said that an old JNIagister who dwelt at Montmartre Hostel turned the whole Bible into verse after that metrification.
But I must tell you the news — for all goeth in our favour. Reuchlin can no longer study as of yore, since his eyes have become bleared ; as saith the
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Scripture in Genesis, "Their eyes were blinded, and they coiild not see."
A bachelor lately came hither from Stuttgart, who had been in his house, and I made as though I knew not of the strife you had with each other, and asked him, saying, " Prithee, Herr Bachelor, take it not amiss that I question you. In the first place, by your favour, I would inquire whether ReucliUn is in good health." " Yea," repHed he, " but he cannot see very well with- out spectacles." Then said I, "And will you next tell me what he is now doing in the business of the Cause of the Faith ? I have heard that he had some dispute with certain Theologians, and I trow they did him some injury ; " (but I spake in irony), " what doeth he ? I take it he is for ever composing some- what against the Theologians." " I know not," he answered, "but I will tell you what I saw myself, When I entered his house, he said, 'Welcome, Herr Bachelor! Be seated!' He had spectacles upon his nose, and a book lay before him in strange characters, so that I could see at once that it was written neither in German nor in Bohemian, nor in Latin. And I said to him, ' Most excellent Herr Doctor, how name you this book ? ' He rephed that it was called Plutarch in Greek, and dealt with Philosophy. Then said I, ' Read on, in the Lord's name.' And I verily believe he is skilled in magical arts. Then I espied a httle book, newly imprinted, lying beneath his seat. And I said to him, ' Most excellent Herr Doctor, what is this book that lieth here ? ' He rephed, ' It is a scurrilous work that a friend of mine lately sent me from Colognc ; it is aimed at me, and the Theologians of Cologne compiled it, declaring it at the same tirne to be the work of Johann Pfefferhorn' Then said I, 'What will you do concerning it ? Will you not vindicate yourself ? ' ' By no means,' he rephed, ' I am already vindicated. I pay no further heed to such folly, and my eyes scarcely suffice me for study- ing matters of use to me.' The book was intituled ' Johann PfefFerkorns Defence against Calumnies, &c.' That is all I know of Doctor Reuchliny And this is all that the aforesaid Bachelor told me. Therefore
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II 35] WILHELM LAMP
Herr Ortwin, be of good cheer ; for if his eyes grow / ^^ so weak that he can neither read nor write, so much / the worse for him. But you must not stay your hand, but assail him again and again. Farewell. From Ulm.
XXXV
«r 3IAG1STER WILHEL3I LJMP to
Mag. Ortidn Gratius gi^eeting
nr) IGHT distinguished and high-renowned Man, with X\i the reverence meet to you my promoter !
You tell me that the letter in which I described my journey to Rome hath reached you — you tell me, too, that you thence learn of a surety that I love you dearly. These words are well said — for they are true. 1 love you verily in my heart of hearts. You bid me moreover to make known to you, or to apprize you, how it fareth with me now. You must know, then, that I reside with a Notary of the Rota, and it is my duty to prepare the board, and to go to market to procure pot-herbs, and beans, and bread, and meat and such hke ; and to put the house in order, that when my lord returneth from Court with his fellows, all things may be ready. Withal, I study. My lord told me lately that, God wilHng, if I abide with him for a year or two he will procure a benefice for me, as he hath for many others. This is easy of behef; for he hath much love for me.
To crown all — when of late he discovered me to be a poet, he declared that he would love me more and more. It thus fell out : One of those who sat at meat is a poet, after the new fashion, and he is ever talking at the board about Poetry, and he findeth much fault with the ancient fathers — Ale.rander, and the Graecist, and Vei^ba Deponentalia, and Remigius, and the others. And not long ago he averred that any one who desired to write good verses must study Diomedes ; and of Diomedes he spake much. Then quoth I, " It sur- priseth me that you pay such heed to these new-fangied
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
grammarians, when you may find all things concerning feet, and the quantities of syllables, set forth metrically in the third part of Alexander^ not to speak of the Art of Scansion and the rest. Moreover that same Diomedes was no good Christian, for I once read that he kept horses that fed upon men, and he himself gave them men to eat."
Then the Curialist laughed loudly, jeering me, and asked me what I made the first syllable of " Abacuck ? "
I repHed, '* We must distinguish. For, in so far as it is a proper name, the first syllable is indifferent, according to Alexander : —
' Ad placitum poni propriorum multa notavi ; '
but in so far as it is asked what quantity the first hath conformably to the quiddity of common nouns, then it hath the first short ; according to Alexander, who saith that in first syllables a before h is short — exceptions excepted."
Then he laughed me to scorn yet again, and said, " Get thee gone, thou Cologne abecedarian, with thine Alexander, who was but a Parisian ass — and there are plenty more." And thus, shamefully revihng the good ALexander, he went his way. " Ha ! " quoth I, "to- morrow you shall see ! " And in the morning I drew forth a poem that I had concocted in the night-time in praise of Alexander, and I send you a copy thereof. So soon as my lord set eyes on that poem, he applauded me, and cried,
" Oh JVilhebn, can you compose such verses as these ? And I never knew it ! In future I shall love you more than ever!" Therefore I trust I shall get good preferment, and when it pleases Heaven that I achieve somewhat, then shall I betake myself, as a priest, to mine own country once more.
From the Roman Curia.
466
n 36] JOHANN ARNOLDI
FOLLOWETH,
An Epigrammatic Ode, coiifeclionate hy Wilhehn Lamp, Magister of the Seven Liberal Arts at Cologne, in prai.se of Alexander Gallits.
I Who would of Grammar be an understander, I Must con with care the work of Alexander ;
Parcelled it is into four diverse parts,
And diseiphneth many useful Arts :
With milk and honey for the young it floweth,
As the Colognian Commentary sheweth.
W^ould you to metrifying skill attain ?
Read Part the third — 'twill make the pathway plain :
All ignorance 'twill purge away from you,
As well I know, who thereout wisdom drew !
XXXVI
€E JOHANN ARNOLDI sendeth mamj gi^eetings to M. Ortwin Grratius
ISHOULD forsooth have been persuaded that at any rate you might have heard, or that it might promiscuously have reaehed your ears, how that I, in- stigated by a certain righteous afFection of the soul, have very lately betaken myself, by ambulatory jour- neying, to the Urban Court of Rome, in contemplation of remunerative emolument flowing from the acquisi- tion of a trifling fooHsh benefice, or prebendicule, or other cure of souls, whence, from time present to the ultimate determination of my vital spark, sufficing ahment and raiment be mine, by the divine grace of God. Wherefore, by Hercules and 3IediusJidius, it would have been meet and right for you to have addressed to me, and that not rarely, an epistolet amicably concocted, or compacted, and therein to have afFectionately signified how you are situated with respect to every corporeal and mental condition. And how you have been fortuned by the fates, through that divme predestination which was before the worlds, as saith Lactantius — whom I have of late been earnestly
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
studying, since he hath been lectured upon in the Sapienza conformably with the regulations. Besides and furthermore, a juvenal hath come hither out of Cologne and the hyperborean regions of Germany^ bearing epistolary missives to him addressed from all parts of the world, from which, forsooth, I have learned how that you have procured to be impressed by the typographical art an opuscule which is understood to be — or to have been intituled, or cognominated, " The Letters of Obscure Men to Magister Ortwin Gratius," in which booklet, or tractate, are comprehended — so I have been given to understand — all the letters ad- dressed to your worthiness, lovingly and fraternally, by your friends and acquaintances throughout the world ; and I have moreover heard that you have therein included my own epistolet, and thereby I have been very marvellously stupefied — to think that you should have glorified me with such sesquipedaMan honour and promoted me to everlasting renown ! And for this, beheve me, I render you all the thanks in my power. I must tell you that I have been studying here to acquire incomparable virtuosity in the Poetic Art, and that consequently my diction difFereth from its com- plexion of yore.
1 bid thee a sesquipedal farewell.
From RoME.
XXXVII
•E FRIAR GEORG BLECK to
Magister Ortwin G-ratius
IN humihty and with homage due, Herr Magister ! You have sent me hither a book entitled " Johann Pfefferkorn's Defence." This I failed not, in accordance with your desire, to lay before the Divines throughout Paris, as well as before the 'J'heologians of our Order, and they all cried with one voice, " See ! what notable Theologians Germany possesseth ! If an unlettered man can write thus, what cannot learned men and graduates put forth ? " Then it was asked of me
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11 s7] GEORG BLECK
wliether the princes of Gerinany paid great honour to Johaiui Pfefferkorn. I repHed that some did, and some did not ; but that nevertheless he was the trusty and well-beloved Counsellor of the Emperor in all that con- cerned Hebrew books and the increase of the Christian Faith. I told him, moreover, how that the late Bishop of Mainz, of pious memory, loved him dearly, and pro- mised him aid in all things to the extent of his power — and when Pfefferkorn journeyed hither and thither on the business of the Faith he was wont to provide him with large sums of money for his expenses. A Theologian present said, " This Johann Pfefferkorn doth great diHgence, then, in the aforesaid business ? "
I told him, as you had informed me, that he had indefatigably circumambulated the whole of Germany, notwithstanding that it was discommodious for him at that time to neglect his wife and children, whom it was
- T befitting for him to educate and maintain. Never-
theless during his absence, the Theologians ministered not a Uttle to his wife, afFording her consolation, in- asmuch as they knew that her husband was occupied in the cause of the P^aith. Sometimes, moreover, the Friars from our IVIonastery come to her and say, " We pity you in that you are so lonely." And she repHeth " Come then sometimes and visit me, for I am as it were a widow, and afFord me consolation." Howbeit the new Bishop of Mainz favoureth not Johann Pfejfer- korn, and the reason is that he hath other Counsellors who strongly support Joltann Reuchlin and hate the Theologians.
This bishop, indeed, would not give audience to Pfejferkorn when he desired to present him with his
- ' Defence," — as I learnt from your letter. All this I
related. Then one asked, " And who is this Pfeffer- korn ? " I repHed that he was formerly a Jew — but is now happily baptised into the Church — and that he is without doubt a very upright man, and of the tribe of Naphtali. And he said, " Of a truth the blessing con- ferred upon Naphtali is fulfilled in Johann Pfefferkoim. For Jacob said to his son Naphtali, ' Naphtalym shall be a hart sent out, and giving speeches of fairness,' Gen. xHx." Thereafter many Divines, and Licentiates
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
and other Theologians read that book from beginning to end, page by page, word by word, paragraph by paragraph. But there is here a certain Oberlander who studieth Greek, and he everywhere bruiteth it about that it is not true either that Pfefferkorn is an Iniperial Counselior, or that he ever was — and he de- clareth that the Emperor hath written on ReuehUns behalf to his HoHness, and desireth, without more ado, that the Theologians will henceforth let his upright and trusty counsellor alone. JaJxob Fabri von Estaples, too, of whom you have heard much, openly favoureth Johann lieuehlin, although the Theologians have told him that he ought to refrain. It is even said that in a letter he sent to Germany he declared that the Theo- logians of Paris have treated Reuehlin just as the .Tews treated Christ. But let him say what he will, the fact remaineth that the more part in Paris are on our side, for the honour of the University and in despite of the Jurists. Be therefore, of good heart, and rejoice and be glad. Fare ye well for ever and ever.
Paris.
XXXVIII
€E DEMETRIUS PHALERIUS to Ma^ister Ortivin Gratius greeting
YOII write to me asking how our University com- porteth itself with regard to the Cause of the Faith — whether it taketh your part, or that of Johann Reuehlifi. Vou must know, therefore, that throughout the whole of Sxdtzerlatid the Brethren of the Order of Preachers are in ill odour and deep disgrace by reason of those innoccnt Friars who were burned at Rerne — for 1 shall never l)eheve that they did the deeds imputed to them. Therefore are their Monasteries deserted, while thc Monasteries of the Franciscans flourish ; and where one man giveth ahiis to a Dominican, twenty give to Minorites, Augustinians and tlie rest. It is said that it hath been prophesicd that thc Order of Preachers will be wholly blottcd out.
470
11.391 KONRAD STRILDRIOT
Moreover there is here a Theologian — as he calleth himself, but I should rather call hini a Poet — Era^smufi of Rotterdam by name, who is reverenced by many as if he were one of the wonders of the world. He it is who wrote the Book of Proverbs that you once shewed me at Cologne, saying, " What do we want with the Proverbs of Erasmus when we have the Proverbs of Solomofi?" This Erasmus holdeth firmly by Reuchlin, and is for ever praising him ; and lately he printed certain Letters which he sent to the Court of Rome, addressed to the Pope and some of the Cardinals. In these he lauded Reuchlin and slandered the theo- logians. When I saw them I cried, " If the Magister- nosters do but cast their eyes on this, the Devil will nab him ! "
It happeneth therefore that our University, which highly regardeth Erasmus, leaneth towards Reuchlin. The Poet Glareanus, moreover, hath come hither — a very headstrong man, as you know — and he uttereth outrageous calumnies against you and other Theologians. He declareth that he is going to write a book about the iniquities of the Dominicans, and will relate from be- ginning to end all the doings that took place at Berne. I would gladly beg him, in friendly wise, to refrain from this, but he is a terrible man, and a choleric, for ever threatening bufFets — and he must be possessed of a devil. I trust that judgment in favour of the Theo- logians will soon issue from Rome — and then all will go well. But, if it should prove in favour of Reuchlin^ then the Devil will hold the candle ! Farewell.
From Basle.
XXXIX
€E KONRAD STRILDRIOT to Mag. Ortwin offereth salutations ; homage, and my affectuous duty toward your virtuousness, preventing
IHAVE ofttimes told you that I abide not here of mine own free will. The Devil, I trow, carried me hither, and now I cannot get back. There is no good-
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
fellowship here as there is in Germany ; folk are not convivial, and if a man be but mellow once in a day, they take it amiss, and call him a swine. There is no wenching for me, either, for the bona-robas are woundily extortionate, and uncomely withal. I tell you of a truth that in Italy the women are as ill-made as is possible, notwithstanding their fine gowns of silks and velvets. For when they are scarce middle-aged they all grow crook-backed, and walk about as if they had the gripes. They eat garlic, moreover, and savour rankly. They are swarthy, too, and not fair Uke German lasses. Their cheeks are paUid as death — and though some be blowsy, it is plain that they have ruddled themselves with salves. Wherefore the women of Rome please me not. They have a saying that it is not physical to go a-wenching here in the dog-days. So, say I, let me get home to Germany again, where one can wench the year round.
Ofttimes I call to mind how we both had our doxies — you and I ; and how we held in contempt that young tuft who had a design on yours — but she would have beslubbered his visnomy !
I have lately heard that you must needs consort with Joliann Pfefferhorn s wife for honesty's sake — for she is close-tongued, and — so to say — an honest woman. It is, forsooth, but seemly to possess your leman privily : but it hath been told me that Pfefferkorn once fell out with you, and said, " Herr Ortxmn ! would that you would eat from your own plate, and let me eat from mine ! " But you for a long time understood him not, for he is a very subtle man, and given to speaking mysti- cally by tropes. But a friend of yours, as I have heard tell, expounded these riddhng words, and interpreted them thus : " Would that you would eat from your own plate " — that is, he with your own wife or mistress — " and let me eat from mine " — that is, lay not your hands on my wife, but leave her to me.
I asked a certain poet, here, to seek out this aphorism in the Adages of Erasmus ; but he told me that he could not find it therein. " Then," quoth I, " by the same token that Author is not complete but ftiulty ! "
Nevertheless, when I heard these things concerning
472
11.40] JOHANX KIIAPP
Joliann Pfefferkorn, I declared hiin to be over-jealoiis if he acts thus. For there is a saying that friends have all things in common — though some hold that wives are to be excepted. Nevertheless, with thee lie should not be angry, seeing that you have no wife of your own, and we ought to give to those who have not. I havel heard, moreover, that you have lain with a maid-servant \ of Quentel the printer's, and that she hath borne you a }y child. It is not well that you should till fallow ground. ' I hold ever by the outworn, that beareth no crop. \ Howbeit, young or old, there are none here for me. l Oh, that I were back, therefore, in Germany, where I \ fain would be !
Fare ye well, until that day when a laverock shall weigh a hundred talents.
From RoME.
XL
•E MAGISTER JOHANN KRAPP to
Magister Orttdn Gratius greeting
YOU tell me how mightily pleased your worship was with that my JMetrical Epistle, of late composed ; you say indeed that you have scarce seen the like ; and I take it that you would fain have me ever write to you after that fashion. Yet I must warn you — though you know it well — that one cannot at all times be poetising. You well know in your own case, though you are vastly facund and can write verses in plenty, that neverthe- less " oil sometimes lacketh " as the saying goes ; some- times you are hckerish for verse, and sometimes for prose. I remember how that I once said to you at Cologne, " Herr Ortzvin, devise me, I pray you, a metrical Ode ; " and you made answer, " ApoUo is afar from me for the nonce." And you said that sometimes in ten whole days you would not make one good verse ; for the weather suffered it not, and you must needs wait the occasion, as saith Ovid: —
"Tempora labuntur tacitisque senescimus annis."
As soon, therefore, as Apollo is gracious to me, I will
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LETTEES OF OBSCURE MEN
indite somewhat and send it to you. You desire me likewise to send you some news ; all I know is that there are here three eminent Theologians who are of high renown among the Germans, and cause us to be of good and laudable report throughout the Curia. Two of these you know well — the Reverend Father Herr Magister-noster Jakob vcm Hoogstraten, (in the Latin tongue, de Alta platea), and Herr Magister-noster P^/^?- Meyer, of Franhfort, Pastor. The third is Herr Kaspar, Preacher at Kempten, Licentiate in Sacred Theology, and ere long to become Magister-noster.
They are here occupied with three notable Causes.
The first, Magister-noster Jakob, maintaineth the Cause of the Faith against Johann Reuchlin, who they say is a heretic ; and they say well, for so he is. The second, Magister-noster Peter, instituteth a suit con- cerning competence against the Canons of Frankfort, inasmuch as they will not yield him his competence, and therefore he hath come hither to Court, and harrieth them woundily. The third, Herr Kaspar, maintaineth a suit concerning certain sacred oil, against certain monks who dwell without the walls of Kempteri, and hoard this sacred oil ; and when folk should be aneled the sacred oil is not forthcoming. Wherefore the afore- said Licentiate desireth to correct those monks and compel them to yield the oil to the Burg for the common good of the inhabitants. I have no other news to relate ; and from you I have heard naught. [I know not indeed the cause wherefore I have merited your reverence's neglect.] And now I commend you to the Lord —
May he you in peril save, Make you as a lion brave, Wise as prudent Solomon, Fair of face as Absolon, Holy as the Baptist, John, Wealthy as Ahasuerus, And poetie as Homerus. Perish Reuchlin ! and the crew Of ungodly poets, too — Humbly they might learn of you !
Lo ! while I was not minded to write poetry, neverthe- less I have dropped into verse. How this came to pass
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11.41] SIMON POCOPORIUS
1 know not. Glory be to God ! Farewell ! Finis ! / ^, Telos ! Tetragramniaton ! 6---^
From the Court of Rome.
XLI
€E MAGISTER SIMOJV POCOPORIUS to
Magister Ortwin Gratius greeting
" QJUCH knowledge is too wonderful for me ; it is ►O high, I cannot attain unto it," saith the Psalmist. These words T can apply directly to myself when I consider your lordship's learning, which I lately became aware of through that book of yours entitled *' The Orations of Magister Ortiviny Sonty ! What a great man you have become, though in days gone by you were but a bungUng pupil of mine ? And now you overtop your teacher, notwithstanding that Scripture : " The disciple is not above his master." So then, as I read that book, I cried in a loud voice, " Oh, Oi^twin, thy knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain unto it ! " " Wonderful " of a truth it is, for I should never have beheved that from my teaching you could have indited compositions so fairly and artificially ; I glory greatly when I call to remem- brance that by God's grace I was once your master and teacher. " High " indeed it is, for though in days gone by your knowledge was none of the loftiest, it hath been heightened by the inspiration of the spirit from above that hath enhghtened you. Formerly — pardon me — you had no mind to study : ofttimes I have corrected you for knowing not the case of " mei " or " sui," or the tense of " legat, legant," and I would say to you this rime : —
You must be a ninny-hammer
If you eannot learn your grammar !
But now you can teach me, and I should feel it no disgrace to learn of you. Nevertheless, I add, " I can- not attain unto it," since, as Soc7rites saith, " What is
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above us toucheth us not." Persevere in compiling essays and you will beconie a notable man. Farewell.
LuBECK.
XLIT
€E MAGISTER ACHATIUS LAMPIRIUS to
Magiste?' Ortwiims Gratius with many greetings
IMARVEL greatly, honoured Sir, that you write to all your friends and adherents at Rome, and yet to me alone you write not, although you said that you would write to me oft.
I learn however, of a pilgrim from Cologne, that you would fain have knowledge of that art concerning which I once hinted to you — to wit, how a man may compass that a woman shall mightily love him. Now, albeit you have not written to me, yet will I impart this to you, that you may see how dearly I cherish you ; for I will keep nothing secret from you, but will disclose matters
" Which the filosofes of olde, Would not to their feres unfolde ; "
of such a kind is this subtle device. But you must reveal it to no man, for I keep it so covered that I would not whisper it to my brother — but you I love more than a brother. Therefore I am nothing loth to communicate the secret to you.
You must go about in this wise : —
When you are enamoured of a woman, you must first discover what her name is, and what her mothers name is.
Put the case that you are in love with a damsel named Rarhara, whose mothers name is Elsa.
You must first procure a hair from Barharas own head, and must thereupon be shriven as a penitent, or at the least make general confession.
Next, you must make an image of virgin wax, and over this Mass must thrice be read, the hair meanwhile being bound around its neck.
Afterwards, on a morning, having first heard Mass,
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II 43] OTTO FLASCHENKLIRRER
you must take a new glazed pot full of water, and having kindled a fire in a room elosed in all parts, you must muke fumigation with incense, and hght a candle made of new wax with which a morsel of a Paschal candle has been mingled. Then you must pronounce this incantation over the image : " I conjure you, by the virtue of the Ahnighty, by the Nine Choirs of Angels, by the virtue of Cosdriel, Boldriach, Tornach, Lissiel, Farnach, Pitrax, and Starniel, that you set before me, in her proper substance and corporeahty, Barbara daugliter of Elsa, to submit herself to me in all things in accordance with my will."
Then you must write these names around the head of the image with a silver style : Astrob + Arnod + Bildron + Sydra + , and forthwith place it in the pot of water, and set it by the fire, uttering this conjura- tion : " I charge thee, Barhara daughter of Eha, by the power of the Ahnighty, by the nine Choirs of the Angels, by the power of Cosdriel, Boldriach, Tornach, Lissiel, Farnach, Pitrax, and Starniel, and by the power of those names, Astrob, Arnod, Bildron, Sydra, that thou instantly conceive such love for nie, that without tarrying thou wilt come to me, because I languish in love." Thereupon, so soon as the water beconieth hot, all is accompHshed, for she will begin to love you to such a degree, that when she sees you not — she knows not where you are.
This has been proved oftentimes, and never fails. BeUeve me, this is very precious lore. I woukl not unfold it to you were it not that I love you so fervently ; and, for once, you might in turn communicate a secret to me.
May you abide sound in health.
The COURT OF RoME.
XLIII
€E BROTHER OTTO FLJSCHENKLIRRER
to Mag. Ortwiu Gratius
MY pious prayers by way of greeting. Reverend Sir ! You tell me that all we Theo- logians should render thanks to Almighty God for that
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LETTERS OF OBSCUEE MEN
Theology is now in blossom, and that there is a cloud of learned Divines in all parts of Grermanij. Moreover all men, masters or servants, nobles or churls, do them high honour, calHng them Magisternosters by reason of their pre-eminence, and doffing their hats and caps when they meet one, saying, " Commend me to your egre- giousness, eximious Herr Magisternoster ! " And when a Magisternoster passeth along the street all folk salute him as though a prince passed by. And this is well — for Magisternosters are as the Apostles of God. So then in your letter you tell me great things. Nevertheless must I hold myself opposed, and say that this doubtless is true enough for Cologne, but not elsewhere. Here, especially, in my own country, Magisternosters who are Regulars are paid no honours, but the Canons and nobles shamefuUy beUttle them. Yet the secular priests are accorded honour, and held in respect Now this seemeth to me unbecoming, for Regulars should ever take the first place, inasmuch as they are the more spiritual, and a Regular with respect to celestiaUty standeth above a Secular. For Regulars are naturally fitted for chanting lauds to the glory of God, and of his Holy Mother, the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, and of all the Saints and Martyrs, and Confessors, and the rest. Therefore it seemeth to me a great error for men to honour Seculars rather than Regulars. More- over the secuhir Theologians in high places begin to wax proud, and are, as it were, opposed to the Regulars, while they themselves grow more worldly, and further removed from the Kingdom of Heaven. You know how that Christ hath said, " Ye who foUow me shall sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Now Regulars have left their goods and chattels, and are despised in this world, therefore are they nighest to the Kingdom of Heaven. Forgive me in that I write such things concerning secular Theologians, seeing that you are one. But it is otherwise at Cologne, for there folk are humble and reverent towards Regulars. Nay, even you may be yourself deemed a Regular, as far as zeal goeth, and you once said to me at Cologne, " Herr Otto, I trow that one day I shall
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11.43] OTTO FLASCHENKLIRRER
become a monk of your Order, for I have a strong hankering thereafter." Hence I write to you from my heart. But it irketh me mightily that Secular Theologians should now-a-days be so over-weening — • as is Doctor Johann Reiss, who is a preacher at the Cathedral in this Burg. He is held in high esteem, and all the Canons and nobles make much of him ; for he knoweth how to gloze them with fair words. Yet this Doctor seemeth to be mightily prejudiced against the Regulars. One told me, who often sat with him at board, that he altogether holdeth a way of his own, and is neither an Albertist, nor a Scotist, nor an Occamist, nor a Thomist. And if any one asketh him, " Most excellent Herr Doctor, of what way are you?" he answereth, " The way of Christ." He laugheth when the Doctors of Theology call them- selves Magisternosters.
Moreover he holdeth not greatly with the Regulars, saying that it is not needful for us to put on a cowl, but that we can be saved by other means. He declareth that God hath no respect for vesture. In this he seemeth to me to be heretical, for he lacketh reverence towards the Regulars and the Holy Father. He useth moreover an uncouth method of preaching — for he doth not, as do others, propound subtle questions and con- struct arguments conh^a, and afterwards solve them and deduce Corollaries, but he proceedeth without art or rule. I marvel, therefore, that folks listen his sermons gladly, for he preacheth not canonically. I have by two instances been convinced that he is ill- disposed towards Regulars. Once when you at Cologne instituted, with the aid of our Order universally, that laudable strife against Johann Reuchlin, I brought him a paper containing the decree concerning Johann Heuchlin, that his book should be burned and he himself be forced to recant. I said to him, as I had been instructed by our Provincial, " Excellent Herr Magisternoster, your excellence here hath a decree that Reuchlin is a heretic and that his book is to be burned. Be pleased, therefore, to pubhsh it from the pulpit ; and at the same time we request you to join us in withstanding the aforesaid heretic."
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Thereupon he read the mandate, and said ;
" I cannot see that aught is decreed herein save that the Augenspiegel is not to be sold pubUcly until the charge is heard and decided. It doth not appear that Reuchlin is pronounced a heretic." I answered that this might be piously presumed from the fact that the sale of his book was banned, and I asked him to espouse our Cause from the pulpit. He made answer, " I pray thee leave me in peace : I am here to spread the word of God, and to ofFend no man. For it is written, ' But whoso slandereth one of these small,' etc. ; " and so I could not bring it about that he should aid the Cause of the Faith.
On another occasion I observed that when Brother Jakob of our Order was here, and distributed the in- dulgences that we had procured at Rome for the Monastery at Augsburg, he also asked the aforesaid Doctor Reiss to extol the Indulgences in the pulpit, and exhort women, and others, so that money might flow into the chest, for it would be weli spent. But he neglected to say what was required, and would not even utter a single word concerning Indulgences. Thereupon Brother Jakoh said to him, "Lo, you grudge our coUecting money ; yet collect it we will, if it should break your heart ; " and from the pulpit he cried, " Lo, here you have indulgences, and letters of indulgence, and that which is written in them is as true and credible as the Gospel ; and Avhen you receive these indulgences, you are as surely shriven as though Christ had come hither and shriven you himself." Then Doctor Reiss argued to the contrary, and said :
" Naught can be evened with the Gospel ; and it will go well with him who doeth well. If a man receiveth those indulgences a hundred times over, and yet liveth not uprightly, he shall perish ; nor shall the Indulgence profit him. But, on the other hand, if a man liveth righteously, or, after sinning repenteth and amendeth his ways, I tell you that he will be an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven, and will need no other helper." And hence it hath entered my mind that this Doctor Reiss is an enemy of the Regulars :
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II 44j PETER OF WORMS
and it seemeth to me that he favoureth Johann Reuchlin ; but I cannot tell. You will perceive there- fore how matters stand. I allow that the Theologians in Cologne are held in high reverence, and that the Secular Theologians and lay folk are in close bonds with the Regulars — but here it is not so. Yet I trust that when Reuchlin is overthrown, then the Tlieologians will rejoice in their turn ; which may our only-begotten Saviour grant. Amen.
From WuRZBURG. '
XLIV
€[ PETER OF WOR3IS to 3Iag. Ortwinus Gratius sendeth many greetings
EXIMIOUS Sir; Inasmuch as you are by nature well-disposed towards me, and have shewn me much favour, I too will do on your behoof what Heth in my power.
Now you said to me, " O Peter, when you attain to Rome, mark whether there be any new b'ooks, and send me some." Receive, then, with this, a new book that has been printed hei'e.
I trow, indeed, seeing that you are a Poet, you will learn from it for the perfecting of your art.
For I heard, at a session of the Court here, from a Notary, who was doubtless proficient in that mystery, that this book is the well-spring of Poesy, and that its author, one Homer, is the father of all the Poets.
He told me moreover, that there is another Homer^ in Greek.
" Nay," quoth I, " what care I about Greek ? The Latin one is better, for I want it to send to Germany, to Magister Ortxvin, who pays no heed to those Greek fant asticahties. "
Then I sounded him concerning the theme of this book. And he told me that it treated of certain folk called Greeks, who made war on some other folk called Trojans, whom I had heard tell of before. These same Trojans had a great city, and the Greeks pitched before it and lay there for more than ten years. And anon
481 2h
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
the Trojans sallied forth and laid about them mightily, and they slew one another so wondrously that all the ground was bloodied, and there was a certain river there, and that was all dyed with blood and made quite red, so that it flowed like so much gore — and the noise was heard in heaven ; and a wight threw a stone that twelve men could not lift, and a horse began to speak, and prophesied.
But I do not beUeve such things as these, for they seem to me impossible, and yet I suppose that this book may be very authentic. Write to me, I beg you, concerning it, and let me know your opinion. And now, farewell.
ROME.
XLV
€E JOHANN GERLA3IB to Magister Ortivin Gratius
AS the saying goes, " A friend in need is a friend XJl indeed," and I desire to make proof whether you still hold me in remembrance, and this I shall put to the test in manner following : The bearer of this letter is my kinsman, he is a youth of good parts, and desireth to study the hberal Arts ; his father was minded to send him hither to this University, but I dissuaded him, because I would fain have him study after the methods of the Ancients, as I myself had been taught. I pray you, therefore, receive him as your charge. Although I am an Albertist, I should disapprove not of your sending him to De Monte Hostel, where they cleave to the methods of Thomas. The Rector there is an Oberlander, and, after all, there is no great difference between Thomists and Albertists — except that the Albertists hold that adjectives are appellative, and that the mobile body is in nature the object, while the Thomists hold that adjectives are not appellative, and that the mobile Ens is in nature the object. The Albertists assert, too, that logic proceedeth from terms of the second intentions to first intentions, while the Thomists assert that it proceedeth from first to second
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11.45] JOHANN GEKLAMB
intentions. Again, the Albertists hold that a mobile body in vacuo moveth continuously, but the Thomists hold that a mobile body in vacuo moveth instantly. Again, the Albertists say that the Milky Way is celestial in its nature, but the Thomists say that it is elemental. Yet it matters not much with v^hich side a man holdeth, so long as he followeth the ancient ways. I desire that this young man should have his commons in the hostel, and that he should be kept under strict control and not permitted to run wild wheresoever he willeth. And when he transgresseth, chastise him. For it is written in the Book of Pro- verbs, Chap. xxii. : " Withhold not correction from the child ; for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod and deHver his soul from hell." Induce in him the habit of joining in the disputations of the hostel, and take heed that he attendeth not the lectures of Caesarius, or other poets. I rejoiced when you told me that Buschius no longer abideth at Cologne, for he was a stumbhng-block to the University, enticing students away with that poetry of his. There are two Poets here — Eoban Hesse and Peter A^perbach, who are enemies of mine, but I pay no heed to them. Whenever they see me they fall to talking about Johann Heuchlins case, making him out to be in the right, and defaming the Theologians. But I hold my tongue — though a Uttle while ago I did say, '■^ Johann Pfefferkorn knows right well what to call him," and I shewed them that book of his called "J. P.'s Defence against Slanders," and with that I took myself ofF. God grant that the judgment may go in your favour, or else these poets will laugh us to scorn. And now I commend the young man to your charge. Farewell. Erfurt.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
XLVl
iE MAGISTER KONRAD UNCKEBUNCK
sendeth to Magister Ortwiii G-ratvm ahundant greetings
" n% /rOUTHS have they and they speak not ; eyes IVI have they and they see not ; ears have they and they hear not," saith the Psahnist : and these words will serve as preamble and text of my discourse : —
Magister Ortwin hath a mouth and speaketh not — else would he have said to some CuriaHst setting out for Rome, " Salute Herr Konrad Unckehunck for me : " Eyes hath he and he seeth not — for I have written him many letters and he repheth not, as though he could neither read nor see them : and, in the third place, ears hath he and he heareth not — for I have commissioned many a comrade departing hence for the provinces to greet him, but he cannot have heard my salutations, inasmuch as he recipro- cateth them not.
In this you sorely err, for I love you, and you therefore ought to love me in return. Howbeit you do not — for you write naught to me. It would gladden me exceedingly were you to write to me very oft, for when I read your letters they inwardly rejoice the cockles of my heart.
Nevertheless I have learnt that you have of pupils but a few, and complain that Buschins and Caesarius lure the students from you — notwithstanding that they lack your skill to expound the poets allegori- cally and to cite thereanent the Scriptures. The Devil, I trow, is in those Poets. They are the bane of the universities.
An old JNIagister of Leipsic, who hath been Master for these thirty years, told me that when he was a lad, then did the University greatly prosper : those were the days when there was not a Poet within twenty miles. He told me, too, how that the students then dihgently attended lectures — whether pubHc or bur-
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11.46] KONRAD UNCKEBUNCK
sarial ; it was deemed a great scandal that a student should walk in the street without having Peter of Spain or the Parva Logicalia under his arm ; or, if they were grammarians, then they would carry with them Alexander's Doctiinale, or his Opus Minus, or the Pade Mecum, or the Exercitiuin Puerorum, or Johann Sinthen's Dicta. Then were there zealous students in the Schools, who held the Masters of Arts in honour, and if they spied a Magister they fell to trembhng as if they had seen a devil. He told me that in those days there were four promo- tions of bachelors each year, and many a time fifty or sixty graduated at once. In those days the Uni- versity was in fuU bloom ; and when a student had resided for a year and a half he was made Bachelor, and after three years, or two and a half years, in all, a ^lagister. Thus it came to pass that his parents were well pleased, and freely sent him money when they saw that their son had attained a place of honour. But now-a-days all the students must needs attend lectures on Virgil and Pliny and the rest of the new- fangled authors — what is more, they may Hsten to them for five years and yet get no degree : and so, when they return home, their parents ask them, saying,
- ' What art thou ? " And they reply that they are
naught, but that they have been reading Poetry ! And then the parents are perplexed — but they see that their sons are not grammarians, and therefore they are disgruntled at the University, and begrudge sorely the money they have spent. Then they say to others, " Send not your sons to the University — they'll learn naught, but go trapesing in the streets anights ; money given for such a bringing-up is but thrown away."
The old Magister furthermore told me that in his time there were full two thousand students at Leipsic, and a like number at Erfurt ; four thousand at Vienna and as many at Cologne — and so with the rest. Now- a-days there are not as many students at all the Uni- versities put together as there were then in one or two. The Magisters at Leipsic bitterly lament the scarcity of scholars. It is the Poets that do them
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LETTEKS OF OBSCURE MEN
this hurt. Even when students are sent by their parents to hostels and colleges they will not stay there, but are ofF to the Poets to learn stufF and nonsense. He told me that at Leipsic he used to have two score pupils, and when he went to the Church, or to the market, or to stroll in the Rosen- garten, they would all follow after him. In those days it was a grave ofFence to study poetry. If a penitent admitted in the confessional that he had privily hstened to a Bachelor lecturing upon Virgil, the priest would impose upon him a thumping pen- ance — to wit, to fast every Friday, or to rehearse daily the seven penitential Psalms. He swore to me, on his conscience, that he saw a candidate re- jected because he had once been detected by one of the Examiners reading Terence on a feast-day. Would that it were thus in the Universities now ; then I should not have to drudge here at the Curia. For what work is there for us at the Universities ? We cannot make a hving. Students no longer will dwell in Hostels under Magisters. Among twenty students you will scarce find one with a mind to graduate. Yet all of them are eager to study the Humanities. When a Magister lectureth he findeth no audience ; but, as for the Poets, when they dis- course it is a marvel to behold the crowd of hsteners. And thus the Universities throughout all Germany are minished and brought low. Let us pray God, then, that all the Poets may perish, for " it is ex- pedient that one man should die — " that is that the Poets, of whom there are but a handful in any one University, should perish, rather than so many Uni- versities should come to naught.
And now you will surely send me a letter — or long will be my lamentations over your neglect. Farewell.
From RoME.
486
XLVII
€E FRIAR BENEDICT the SCOT to
Magister Ortwin Gratius
SENDETH brotherly and heartfelt love by way of salutation.
Let me tell you, in reply to your question, that your letter reached me on Michaehnas Day, and I will now answer it categorically.
First, you ask why we Predicant Friars chant with a louder voice than any others. I answer that I trow it is for no other reason save that it is written in Isaiah Hx., " We shall roar all of us Uke bears, and shall lament as mournful doves;" and that I beheve St. Dominic desired to fulfil this prophecy.
Secondly, you ask whether I hold St. Thomas or St. Dominic to be the holier ? I answer that it is a moot point, and that Doctors of our Order dispute with one another concerning the matter. Some hold St. Dominic to be the hoHer as touching his Hfe, but not as touching his doctrine ; and, on the other hand, St. Thomas to be the hoHer as touching his doctrine, but not as touching his Hfe. Others contend that St. Dominic is absolutely the hoHer, and this they main- tain for two reasons : The first is that St. Dominic was the founder of our Order, and therefore that St. Thomas, who was a member of the Order, was his disciple : and the disciple is not above his master : Q.E.D. The second is that learning hath no pre- eminence over Hfe and conduct, and that therefore, perchance, St. Thomas was more learned than St. Dominic and yet not necessarily hoHer. Others again wiH have it that St. Thomas is absolutely the hoHer, inasmuch as no other Doctor among aU the saints is caUed the Holy Doctor except St. Thomas. Hence, just as Aristotle is caUed " The Philosopher," and PauU "The Apostle," so St. Thomas is caUed par exceUence " The Saint " ; therefore, not only in learn- ing but also in sanctity doth he excel St. Dominic.
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To this it is objected that St. Thomas is called " Holy," not as being absolutely hoHer than all other saints, but merely as being the hohest of the canonized Doctors. Hence he is not hoHer than St. Dominic. But an aged member of our Order hath told me that he will show me a very ancient book in which disputation con- cerning the relative sanctity of these two saints is prohibited. Wherefore I dismiss this question, and pronounce not my judgment thereon.
You ask me, in the third place, whether I think Joliann Pfefferkwn will persevere in the Christian Faith. I answer that, by the Lord, I know not what to say. It is a mighty tickHsh point. Vou will call to mind that precedent at St. Andrew's in Cologne — how a Dean of that Church, who was a baptized Jew, abided long in the Christian Faith, and hved an up- right Ufe. But upon his death-bed he ordered a hare and a hound to be brought to him and enlarged, whereupon the hound in a trice seized the hare. Then he ordered a cat and a mouse to be brought — and the cat pounced on the mouse. Then said he to many who were standing around, " You see how that these animals cannot cast ofF their natures ; and a Jew can never cast ofF his faith. Wherefore to-day I would fain die a true Israehte," and so speaking he died. Thereupon the citizens of Cologne in memory of this event set up the brazen images which still stand on the wall before the cemetery. I have heard, too, of another Jew who in like manner upon his death-bed commanded a large stone to be brought, and to be placed in a pot full of water beside the fire. After it had stood there quite three days he asked whether it was yet cooked. They answered, " Nay," for it was not possible that a stone should be cooked. Then said he, " As that stone can never be sodden by the heat, so can Jews never be turned into true Christians. But they are baptized for gain's sake, or through fear, or to work some treachery. And to-day I will die a faithful Jew." And therefore, by the Lord, there is much to be feared concerning Johann Pfefferkorn^ though I trust that God will grant him especial grace and keep him in the faith, and at any rate it behoves us — on account
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1148] JOHANN KALB
of Johann Reuchlin and his allies — always to main- tain that for a certainty he will continue a Christian.
In the fourth place you ask me my opinion about Proper Nouns ; whether they are wanting in a plural, as the ancient grammarians, Alexander and the rest, hold — or, have a plural, as the modern and new-fangled writers, such as Diomedes and Priscian, contend. I answer that we should say that Proper Nouns, in so far as they are proper, have no plural. Nevertheless sometimes they are decHned in the plural, and can then be classed with common nouns : as " two Jameses," that is, the two Apostles named James — "two Catos," that is, two Kings or wise Roman Senators so named — " three IVIaries," that is, three women named Mary.
I have now answered you to the best of my abihty ; if I knew more I would answer you better. Take, then, my words in good part. Greet for me with right good will Dr. Aimold von Tongern, mine own esteemed preceptor. Farewell.
ZwOLLE (?)
XLVIII
€E JOHANN KALB to Magister Ortwin Gratius amicable greeting
HONOURABLE and Reverend Herr JMagister, I would have you know that I marvel greatly how it cometh that you importune me in continually bidding me to send you " some news." You are end- lessly craving for news, notwithstanding that I have other business to attend to, and therefore cannot occupy myself with gossip ; for I must needs run hither and thither in canvassing, lest I miscarry in my candidature, and come not at the benefice.
Nevertheless, I will write to j^ou this once, to satisfy you, so that, after, you may leave me in peace with your " news ! "
You have doubtless heard that the Pope had a huge great beast called Elephant, and held it in great
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
honour, and mightily loved it. And now I would have you know that this beast is dead. When it was ill the Pope fell into great grief, and he summoned a host of physicians, and said, " If it be possible, cure Elephant for me." Thereupon they bestirred themselves, and cast its water, and gave it a cathartic that cost five hundred golden crowns — yet were not the bowels of Elephant moved thereby, and so it died. Sorely doth the Pope grieve for Elephant, for whom, they say, he gave a thousand ducats.
In sooth it was a marvellous brute, and it had a great abundance of long snout ; and when it saw the Pope it would kneel to him, and cry in a terrible voice, " Bar, bar, bar ! " There is, I trow, not the Hke beast in the whole world.
The rumour goes that the King of France and King Charles have made a treaty of peace for many years, and have exchanged oaths. But some think this peace is but poUtic, and will not long endure. I know not if this be so — nor do I greatly care. For when I come home to Germany, then I shall betake me to my parsonage, and spend happy days. There shall I keep flocks of geese and hens and ducks, and I shall have in my byre five or six cows to yield me milk for the making of cheese and butter. And I shall keep a cook who can turn her hand to such work. She must be of ripe years, for if she were young she might sorely tempt me, and I might fall into sin. She will spin for me, and I will buy the flax for her. I shall keep two or three pigs, and fatten them to furnish me with good bacon. Before all things I shall keep in my house great store of victuals. Once a year I shall kill an ox and sell half to the country-folk, and cure the rest in the reek. And behind the house there is a garden where I shall sow garhc, and onions and parsley — with pot-herbs, turnips, and the Hke. Then in the winter I shall sit in my chamber and study how to hold forth to my flock, out of the Paratus, or the Simple Sermons, or even out of the Bible, so that I may become practised in preaching. But in the summer I shall go a-fishing, or dig in my garden ; and I shall take no heed of wars, for I shall Hve my own Hfe, and preach sermons
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11.49] PHILIPP SCHNEIDER
and read mass, heeding not those worldly concerns that bring damnation to the soul. Farewell.
The CoURT OF RoME.
XLIX
€E PHILIPP SCHNEIDER VON ERFURT
to Magister Oi^twin Ghxitius
REVERENTIAL Salutations to your Reverence. Venerated Herr Magister, you lately wrote to inform me that a certain Poet in Geinnany, Erasmus by name, of Rotterdam, inditeth many books, and that in particular he hath drawn up a letter to the Pope in the which he commendeth Johann ReuchUn. I must tell you that I have read that letter. I have moreover seen another book of his, a big one, intituled " The New Testament," which he hath sent to the Pope, and I understand that he would fain obtain the Pope's approval of it. I tnist that he will not get it. For the INIaster of the Sacred Palace, a man of consequence and of high repute, declared that he could manifestly prove Erasmus to be heretic, inasmuch as in certain passages he reprehendeth the Holy Doctor, and maketh light of the Theologians. Besides this he hath written a treatise called " jMoria Erasmi," which containeth many scandalous and irreverent passages, and, here and there, open blasphemies. Wherefore the Parisians are desirous to burn that vohime. I trow, therefore, that the Pope will not grant his approval to the big book. The hopes of Doctor Jakob van Hoogstraten run high. Yesterday he invited me to his board and told me of a truth that a Cardinal had assured him that judgment would go in his favour. But Johann Wick\ who is Johann ReuchlinLS Proctor, withstandeth him sorely : Doctor Jakob once said to him, in my presence, *' You, forsooth, are now my adversary, but, mark my words, if I gain the day, I will harass you so that you will not find a place of safety in the whole of Germany.'" And another time he said to him, " I know that Reiichlin hath no money to give you, and are you so foolhardy
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as to wish to make enemies of the whole Order ? " And then there is another man, Dr. Martin Groning by name, who must needs translate the Augenspiegel. I hear that Doctor Jakob will privily give him a hundred ducats if he will falsify that book— and if this be done, the victory is yours. I trust Dr. Martin will consent. Write, and tell me all the news you hear. Farewell.
ROME.
iE 3IAGISTER ADOLFUS CLINGESOR
sendeth miLch greeting to Magister Ortwin Gratius
n^rOT long ago I sent you word that folk here were J^ wont to dispute with me concerning Johann Reuchlin and the Cause of the Faith. I would have you know, therefore, that after you sent me that book oiJohann Pfefferkorns intituled " J. P.'s defence against Slanders, &c.j" I took it to a certain man who held an opposite opinion, and shewed him how that it was written in that book, at the end of O. ii. : " Twenty years ago, if I remember right, this was prophesied to us at Cologne by Johann Lichtenberger, otherwise Ruth the outlandish eremite (whose prophecies have been printed at Mainz in Latin and German). In them it is written, fol. 16, ' Take heed, O ye Philosophers of Cologne, lest ravening wolves break into your sheep- fold ! For in your days strange and unheard of things shall arise in your churches, which may the AU-bountiful avert.'" Now when he had read this, he stood for a while in thought. Then quoth he, " I marvel at the folly of the Theologians ! Think you all men to be children, that you practise upon them with such fustian ? But since the Theologians of Cologne thus desire to appear subtle, I will show you a prophecy concerning Johann Reuchlin which will be much more to the point : and afterwards I will prove that the pro- phecy which they have cited tendeth in Reuchlins favour and not against him. Turn, therefore, to the first
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11.50] ADOLFUS CLINGESOR
Chapter of the Book of Zephaniah, where saith the pro- phet, ' And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, (Scc' Now since you men of Cologne make bold to wrest the scriptures after your own good pleasure, hearken how I interpret those words of the prophet, The Lord saith, by the mouth of the prophet, ' And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem,' that is to say, I will visit my Church, to the end that I may reform her, and remove whatsoever errors may be within her ; and I will do this ' with candles ' — that is, by the mediation of enhghtened men, such as are Krasmus of Hotterdam, Joliann ReucliUn, and Mutianus Rufus, and others in Qermany ; and ' I will punish the men ' — that is, the Theologians ; ' settled ' — that is, obstinately bigoted ; ' on their lees ' — that is in a sorry, misty, and bootless Theology, which a few centuries ago they took to their bosoms, deserting the ancient and learned Theologians who walked in the true Hght of the Holy Writ. Knowing neither the Latin, the Greek, nor the Hebrew tongue, they cannot understand the Scriptures. Therefore, casting aside the veracious and primitive Theology, they do naught but dispute, and wrangle, and moot unprofitable questions. And in so doing they declare that they are defending the CathoHc Faith, not- withstanding that there are none among the disputants who attack the Faith. And thus to no purpose do they spend their days, and do not advantage the Church of God. If, indeed, their disputations were of any profit, they could turn them to account in the service of the faith of the CathoHc Church, by journeying throughout the world and preaching God's Word, as did the Apostles, and convincing the Greeks that they should come again into union with the Church of Rome. Or, if they wish not to wander far from home, at least let them go amongst the Bohemians and put that folk to silence with their Arguments and Syllogisms. Never- theless they do none of these things, but wrangle con- cerning unprofitable matters. Therefore will the Lord punish them, and will send among them Doctors learned in Greek, and in I^atin, and in Hebrew, who, purging
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
those ' lees ' — that is, sweeping away the sophistries,
and the false and darkening commentaries of Theology,
shall bring their ' candles ' and cast Ught upon the
Scriptures, and give us once more the primitive and
true Theology ; in hke manner as the aforesaid Ej-asimcs,
for example, hath lately emended the works of St. Jerome
and caused them to be imprinted. He hath emended
the New Testament also, and this, I take it, is of more
profit than if twenty thousand Scotists and Thomists
were to wrangle for a hundred years concerning Entity
and Essence." Now, when he had made an end of
speaking, I cried, " God preserve me ! What do I
hear ? You are de facto excommunicate ! " and I
would fain have left him. But he detained me, saying,
" Hear yet the conclusion of the matter." " I will not
hear the conclusion," said I. " At least hsten while I
expound your prophecy," said he. Then I thought
within myself that I would hsten, for it is not a sin to
listen to excommunicates so long as we do not eat or
drink with them. Straightway he began, " Hearken,
oh ye Philosophers of Cologne — the prophet saith not
' Theologians ' but ' Philosophers,' inasmuch as the
theology of the men of Cologne is rather to be termed
philosophy, that is, the Art of Sophistry, tlian truly
Theology, for it consisteth of naught but diabohcal
garruhty and fatuous loquacity. ' Lest ravening wolves,'
namely Jacob von Hoogstraten^ Arnold von Tongern,
and the hke, who, by their lying and frauds, with rage
and violence ravish the innocent sheep — such as are
Peter of Ravenna and Johann Reuchlin — desiring to
brand them as heretics by reason of their learning and
their renown which they envy. And since they perceive
that they cannot do such mighty works as those most
learned men, they would fain destroy them. These
then are the ' ravening wolves ' who he in wait against
the repute and the very Hves of the innocent. And
now for seven years have they on all sides harassed and
maltreated Johann Reuchlin, that poor old man, and
unless the Almighty had averted their wickedness, they
would have altogether destroyed him. It cannot be
alleged that Reuchlin himself is a ravening wolf, for in
all his hfe he hath ravaged no one, that is he hath
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II 50] ADOLFUS CLINGESOR
accused no man falsely, nor has he attacked the life or reputation of any man by word or deed. Hearken once more — what mean the Avords that follow, ' Break into your sheepfold ' ? ReiLchlin, good man, never entered the University of Cologne — never, indeed, did he pay any heed to the Theologians or the Church at Cologne, for he was occupied with more useful matters. Therefore it is impossible to reckon him as one of the ravening wolves of whom Ijk-htenhcrger speaketh ; for such must be found in the Colognese sheepfold. Then foUoweth, ' For in your days strange and unheard of things shall arise.' ' Strange and unheard of is good. For neither hath eye seen nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man, that so learned and up- right a man, who hath profited so many and done hurt to none, should, in his old age, be so cruelly and so treacherously harassed and tormented and persecuted. Then, too, the words that foUow, ' in your churches ' cannot by any possibiHty be appHed to Reuchlin, for, most fortunately, he hath Hved outside the jurisdiction of the Church of Cologne — namely, within the diocese of Constance. ' And so I hope that the dogs wiH come,' that is, the faithful warders of the flock, who, without envy and maHce, will humbly and faithfuHy feed Chrisfs sheep — that is, all Christian folk — ' and wiU tear those wolves that lay waste God's fold, and will purge the Church of God ' — that is, drive out those base and lewd theologians who know nothing and boast to know aU things." Now when he had done speaking I departed from him, and swore by all that is holy that I would write to Cologne. I therefore humbly entreat you to report these things to the JNIagisternosters, and to Johcinn Pfejferhorn, who is, as it were, the mouth- piece of the Colognese, and wondrously skiUed in com- position — and let him trounce the feUow soundly with his pen. The man who said these things is a native of Berlin. If you wish to learn his name, send me word, and I wiU teU you. He once resided at Bonn, where he was strictly discipHned, nevertheless he continues to speak against the Theologians and is no good Christian — he abideth in wickedness, and wiU therefore perish in heU — from which may God preserve you, and the Theo-
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
logians and the Friars Predicant, world without end. Amen.
Frankfort-on-Odkr.
LI
iE JOHANN HELFERICH {latine Juppiter) to Magiste?' Ortwin sendeth greeting and hiimbly commendeth himself
REVEREND Herr Magister, you tell me that you marvel how it cometh to pass that I dub myself Juppiter. You must know, then, that when I resided at Vienna I attended lectures on poetry, and there was a certain young poet there — George Sibutus by name — who had been a pupil of Conrad Celtis. He was my companion, and we were ever together, and he said, " You ought to be named Juppiter, for Juppiter hath in Latin the same meaning as Helferich in German." So Juppiter is my cognomen. Sibutus now dwells at Wittenberg, and he has taken to himself an old trot seventy-eight years old and more. I visited his house a while ago when I was making my way out of Prussia — and there sat the crone behind the stove. "Is that your mother?" I asked. " No," said he,
- 'that is my spouse and wedded wife." " Why did
you marry such an old woman ? " quoth I. He made answer that she was still not so over-ripe as to have lost all sapor, and had good store of pelf ; moreover she could brew rare stingo, which she sold and turned to profit. Then said I, " Thou hast done well ; and how call you your wife ? "
"My Coriima," he replied, "my Lesbia, and my Cyiithia" But let this pass.
You tell me that it seemeth to you that the Day of Judgment is at hand : for the world hath become so depraved that it cannot by any means grow worse, and men walk in such evil ways that the times are por- tentous. The young are fain to put themselves on a level with their elders, scholars with their teachers, and Jurists with Theologians. All things are out of joint, and heretics and mock Christians are springing
496
II oLj HEINRICH 8CHLUNTZ
up — Johann Reucklin, Erasmus of Rotterdam, one WUibald — something or other — with Ulrich Hutten, Herinann Rusch, and Jakob WinipJieling, who wrote against the Augustinians, and Sebastian lirant, who wrote against the Dominicans — the pity of it ! and wantonly rails at them. Thereby many scandals arise within the Faith, and I can well share your behef, for I have read that such happenings will immediately precede the Last Judgment. ^NIoreover I will dechire to you somewhat else, to wit that I have heard (it was told me as truth by a Father Superior) that Anti- Christ hath been born, but is as yet a child. He told me, too, that a revelation had been made to a certain Carthusian Monk, who, as he was sleeping in his cell, heard a voice from heaven crying, " The world shall perish ! The world shall perish ! Tlie world shall perish ! " Then the monk feared, and would fain have spoken, but silently made supplication against the wiles of the Devil. Then once more began the voice to cry out — and yet again a third time. Then perceiving in his heart that it was the voice of the Lord, he cried, " AVhy, Lord ? " and the voice answered, " By reason of its sins." Then cried the iMonk, " AVhen, Lord ? " and the voice answered, " There are yet ten years."
Wherefore I go in great dread. When I passed through Bologna I heard that there was a citizen there who had a famihar Spirit called Rilla : and that wondrous spirit speaketh to him concerning the King of France, and the Emperor, and the Pope, and the end of the world. I have read his prophecies. And now, I have told you what I know, and commend you to the Lord.
The RoMAN CuRiA.
LII
«E HEINRICH SCHLUNTZ to
Magister Ortivin Gratius
A LL amity and humble duty to your excellence, first Jr\_ and foremost, with my uttermost service to your excellence, here and everywhere — in all honest p]aces.
497 2 I
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Reverend Herr Magister, herewith I send your excellence a notable and right profitable book. It seemeth to me that this book is most skilfully com- posed ; it containeth very masterly propositions, and is named " Rationale Divinorum." I bought it here, at the fair, for I said to myself, "That is the book for Magister Ortwin ! The Lord be praised that I have hghted upon it ! Now will I send it to him, just as he lately sent me Johann Pfejferkorns work entitled ' Johann PfefFerkorn's Defence against Cahniinies,' which he compiled in the intent that it should be a bulwark of the Holy Catholic Faith against Johann Reuchlin and his followers, and wherein he flouted them with many a shrewd gibe." But you may say, " Why doth this fellow send the book to me ? Doth he think that I have not plenty of books myself?" I answer that such was far from my mind. If indeed you think that I was for this reason moved to send you this book, you do me an injustice, for I do but send it with fair intent. You must not beUeve that I disparage you in that you possess but few books, for I know that you have many. Indeed, when I was in your study at Cologne I could see well enough that you had a multitude of volumes, both great and small. Some were clad in wooden boards, and some in parch- ment bindings, — some were covered all over with leather, red and green and black, while some were half-bound. And there you sat, with a whisk in your hand, to flap away the dust from the bindings. " Pardy ! " said I, " Magister Ortwin, you have fuU many a fair volume, and you hold them in high esteem." Then you rephed that in this we might know whether a man were learned or not ; for he that honoureth books, honoureth knowledge ; and he that honoureth not books, honoureth not knowledge. And that saying I have laid up in my heart, and I will keep it there world without end. Amen. Naumburg.
498
LIII
tE JOHAXX SCHLUXTZIG to
Mag. Oiiiiin Gratius
YOU have lately sent nie a inost vituperative letter, and you lay it to niy charge that I tell you not how standeth the controversy, concerning the Faith, with Johaiin RcuchUii. When I read the letter I was xQvy wrath, and said, *' AVherefore writcth he to nie in this fashion ? Have I not sent hini two letters in less than half a year ! Is it niy fault that the messengers have not dehvered them ? "
Believe steadfastly that I have related to you, pre- cisely and word for word, all that hath come to my knowledge. But peradventure the messengers have not given you my letters. In particular did I inform you that when I was riding from Florcncc to Rome I overtook upon the road the reverend Father Jakob van Hoogstratcn, ISIagister-noster, and Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity, coming from Floixnce, where he had been on business concerning your cause to the King of France. Thereupon taking ofF my hat, I said,
- ' Reverend Father — are you, or are you not ? " and he
replied, " I am that I am." Then said I, " You are Herr Doctor Jakoh van Hoogstraten, Inquisitor of Heretical Pravity." Quoth he, " Of the truth, I am." Thereupon I gave him my hand, saying, " ^lein Gott ! how cometh it that you walk afoot 1 It is a shame that such a man as you should walk on his feet through the mire and clay ! " He made answer, " Some with chariots, and some with horses ; but "sve coine in the name of the Lord." Quoth I, " Yea, but now it raineth sorely, and it is bitter cold." Then Ufted he up his hands towards heaven, saying, " Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness ! "
Then thought I within myself, " Pardy, is it not right pitiful that such a INIagister-noster should be in these parlous straits ? Two years ago I saw him enter
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Rovie with three horses, and now he goeth afoot." Then said 1 to him, " AVould yoii fain have my horse 1 " And he answered, riming : —
" ' Willest thou have ? ' he need not say Who fain would freely give away."
Then said I, " Pardy ! Excellent Sir, there is a vacant benefice awaiting me, and I must needs make haste — else would I yield thee my steed," and there- upon I left him. So now you see how matters stand. It is manifest that the Doctor is in great straits : pro- cure money for him, therefore, or it will go ill with the Cause.
Reuchlins proctor — Johami von der Wick — worketli zealously for him, and runneth hither and thither. Lately lie laid before the Court certain Hbels against Magister-noster Jakoh, so scandalous that I marvel the Lord did not then and there smite him with plagues ; moreover, he abused the aforesaid Magister-noster to his face, saying, " I will bring it about, by the help of the truth, that thou shalt perish in infamy, misery, and sorrow, and Johann lleuchlin shall triumph : and this all the Theologians shall behold, even though they burst." It is manifest, therefore, that the aforesaid Johann von der Wick putteth himself forward as the enemy of all Theologians ; he is a woundily daring man — and foolhardy beyond behef. I have heard that Master Jakoh said, " If it had not been for that fellow I should have obtained judgment in my favour as soon as I arrived at Rome.
And this is sooth ; for I have heard from others that when Doctor Jakoh first came to Court he was so overbearing that all the Curiahsts were in dread of him ; and none of the proctors would act for Johann ReuchUn, for they all feared the Doctor; and Jakoh von Questenher^- sought in vain for a proctor tlirough- out all Rome, and could find none — for they said that in all else they would gladly serve him, but in a matter of Faith they feared lest the Inquisitor Jakoh might inquisite them to the stake. In these circumstances this Doctor — if he deserve such a title — Johann von der Wick, came to Jakoh von Questenherg and said,
500
II 54] WILHELM BRIKOT
" I am ready to oppose inyself to this monk's fury." Then Doctor van Hoogstraten openly threatened him, saying, " I will make you repent ever having said one word on Reuchlin\s behalf." And I heard him declare, with his own hps, at the time, that when he had obtained judgment against Reuchlin he would instantly proceed against Doctor von der JVick, and denounce him as a heretic, inasmuch as he had collected certain heretical propositions out of his words. But now all is changed ! Believe me, the business fareth but ill — and you may now find anywhere ten upholders of Reuchlin and not one of the Theologians.
JNIoreover upon a division after a disputation by Theologians, eighteen were found to vote for Reiichlin, and only seven for his accusers : nay, even those seven did not declare that the Augenspiegel ought to be burned, but spake with limitations.
Therefore I can hold out but httle hope. You must do all in your power to bring about Johann von der Wick^s death, for he it is that is the cause of Reuchlins ascendency, and the Theologians' decline. Had it not been for him such things would never have happened.
And now I trow I have acquitted myself so well in letter-writing, that never again will you have grounds for vituperating me. And so, farewell.
From the Court of Rome,
LIV
•T WILHELM BRIKOT to
Jlag. Ortwin Gratius
YOU entreat me for news without ceasing, and albeit I write to you oft it availeth not : I will therefore write to you yet once again, and pray that this may suffice.
I have received a letter from the Roman Court wherein it is related that your especial supporter, Jlatthetv Finck, is dead ; and certain CuriaUsts, his
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
compatriots, have desired me to write his epitaph. This I have done in manner following : —
" Old Finck is dead — His cloak was red For him be said — A prayer, for he Full joyously — Right Corsic swilled,
His belly filled — and piously
Lived in true faith and charity."
There is one thing concerning which I would fain
seek instruction from you, and that is in what manner
I am to understand the Parisians in setting forth their
opinion concerning the Ai(ge?2Spiegel to use these
words, " Without reproach, however, to the writer
himself, whom, by reason of his humble submission,
and his other laudable writings, we regard as a true
Catholic." I know not how this might be — that the
Augemjnegel can be burned as a heretical work with-
out shame to Johann Reuehlin who composed it, and
still defendeth it. It is manifest that the workman,
as the efficient cause, is more blameworthy than the
work that he produceth. INIoreover 1 would that
the Doctors of Louvain had not boasted, in their
letter to the Pope, that the opinion of the Parisians,
and their condemnation of the Augenspiegel, brought
them much spiritual dehght ; for his Hohness the
Pope may think to himself; '* Lo, I now perceive
that all this is mere envy on the part of these Theo-
logians ; if they were true Theologians, nay, if they
were Christians, they would have compassion over
the misdeeds of a fellow-Christian rather than rejoice
and exult over them." Mark me, this will greatly
further Johann ReuchJifi's cause, and folk will believe
that out of envy he is persecuted : which however
admitteth of no proof. For that adversary of ours —
friend, I should say, in Christ — and the Philocapnions,
that is " Sons of .Johann Ueuchhn," have done much
hurt to Johann Pfefferkorn, who defendeth himself,
and liath written but the truth ; he dcsireth indeed,
that he may die if he hath hed in the smallest par-
ticular. Nevertheless, as the Psahnist saith, " All
men are liars." Nor should it be objected that Johann
PJefferkorn was habituated to villainy and crime from
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II 551 SYLVESTER GRICIUS
his yoiith — alas ! — as he himself adinitteth in his
- ' Defence." For even though for a long time a
man may be wicked and abandoned, nevertheless he may full well be rendered righteous again ; and this is piously to be beheved in the case of Johann Pfeffcr- korn who was regenerate by the grace of the Holy Spirit, by the mediation of baptism, and therefore now is upright — as I doubt not, and he will remain a Christian till the end of the world. It has hkewise come to my knowledge that an infamous rumour everywhere spreadeth abroad concerning you ; to wit, that you are the son of a priest, and are illegitimate. I marvel that those ribalds have no sense of shame, and are so bold. Have you not letters of legitimis- ation ? I should cite the fellows who say such things. I pray you to have great dihgence in the Cause of the Faith, so that that heretic may go to the gallows ; and so farewell. From WoRMS.
LV
•E MAGISTER SYLVESTER GRICIUS to Mag. Ortwin Gratius
INASMUCH as I have sworn an oath to defend my Faculty, and by all means to further its in- terests, I will therefore set down for you, in order, the names of all those who here stand by the Theo- logians and by Johann Reuchlin, respectively ; so that you may lay them before the Theologians, and they may act accordingly.
First, there are certain fellows who sojourn at the sign of " The Crown," and who are ever deriding the INIagister-nosters and brethren of the Order of Preachers, and have thus brought it about that no one at that inn giveth alms to a Dominican. I know the names of some of them. There is Magister PhiUpp Keil- bach, who is continually singing Reuchlins praises — and once Pastor Peter Meyer of Franhfort put him down finely ; then there is one Ulrich von Hutten, an arrant brute, who once declared that if the Preach-
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ing Friars insulted him as they have Johann Reuchlin he would be their foe to some tune, and wherever he came across a monk of that order he would lop off his nose and his ears. The fellow hath many friends at the Bishop's Court, who also take Johann Reuch- liiis part. But now he hath departed for a year — God be thanked^ — ^to be made Doctor. The Devil fly away with him !
Then there are two brothers — sprigs of nobihty — Otto and Philipp von Bock — who gird at all the Theologians. Once, during the solemn Act which the Magister-nosters celebrated against the Ange?i- spiegel, ^lagister Jakob van Hoogstraten by virtue of his office granted indulgences to all those who were present at the rite ; and these same brothers with other scoffers, in the presence of the Theologians who were sitting in the Inn, cast dice for the in- dulgences.
Then there is a fellow, Johann Huttich by name, who also is your enemy ; and another, lately made Doctor of Law, one Conrad Weydmann, who always sideth with those who withstand you. There is a Doctor, too, who was once an Artist — in the way of the Moderns — who calleth himself Eucharius. Then there are Nikolaus Carbach, who lectureth on Poetry ; and Heinrich Rrumann who is Vicar at the Cathedral, and a good organist : I am ever telHng him to mind his organ, and leave the Theologians in peace. But, worst of all, the Canons are almost to a man on Reuchlins side — as well as many other JNIagisters who hanker after Poetry but whose names 1 have forgot.
And now 1 will tell you of your own friends and supporters. You have here an ally who is a very eminent man — Herr Adular Schimnn by name ; he is of noble birth, and beareth a cup on his scutcheon : his father was a bell-founder. He is a very subtle disputant, after the school of the Scotists, and he argueth profoundly, and averreth that he would put down Johann Reuchlin in a crack if he might but dispute with him. There is another very pecuHar prop of yours, named Heinrich Han — otherwise Glock-
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11.55] 8YLVE8TER GRICIU8
enheintz, since he taketh great pleasure in bell-ringing. He is a most skilful nian, and hath a marvellous in- tellect ; you would scarcely credit the profundity of his genius. He is ever ready for a disputation, and wlien lie argueth, he laugheth ; and by his laughter he putteth down his adversary. VVhen he saw Johann Reuchlins lieretical theses he dechu-ed that on the score of a single one of them Reuchlin ought to be burned.
Next you can reckon amongst your company a young nobleman and soldier, Matthias von FaUxcnberg by name : he is a very warhke man, and goeth ever armed as becometh a knight ; he always sitteth on the hither side of the board, and never behind it — for, as he saith, it is not possible for one sitting behind the table to leap up on a sudden and smite one's foes if war should break out. He is moreover a very subtle disputant after the school of the ancients, and he de- clareth that if Reuclilin doth not yield, he will come to your aid with a hundred horse. Then there is a burgher of 3Iainz: named IFigand von Solms. He is but a youth, yet so learned that he is the equal of a Magister-noster, and he saith that he would fain dis- pute with Reuchlin for ten florins. A httle while ago he out-argued Johann Huttich so that he was undone and could answer nothing.
Besides these there is also on your side Uerr Wernher, who is prodigiously well up in the " Summa Thomae contra Gentiles " and knoweth the " Formahtates " of Uuns Scotus by rote — and he saith that if JVIagister va?i Hoogstraten were not already at the Curia he would go there himself and settle Johann Reuchlin. These alHes of yours that I have named, meet together once a week at the house of the eminent Herr IVIagister-noster liartho- lonieti\ who is chiefest of all your friends, and there they discuss matters of mighty abstruseness. They oppose one another in turn, and one holdeth the opinion of Johann Reuchlin while the rest argue against him, and their disputes are very notable.
Of the others here who are on your side I have no knowledge, for they are not of my acquaintance.
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When I have knowledge, I will let you know. And now I commend you to God.
From Mainz.
LVI
•E GILBERT PORRETONIUS, Master of Arta and Bachelor of Latvs, to Magister Ortwin Gratins
GREETING, and good-day to you, Reverend Sir. I have read the letter which you have sent me here at Ingoldstadt, and I wholly understand your meaning. You tell me that you rejoice that I, though a Theologian to begin with, now study the Law, for it is meet that some Theologians should be learned in the Law, that they may be able to dispute with the Jurists. Furthermore, you consult me concerning certain technical terms — as desiring to know what they signify, and you suspect that they appertain to matters juridical. You are right : they do.
I subjoin their significations, gathered from the glosses, and from Accuisius. You will hence perceive that I have laid a firm foundation in the study of Law. A laticlave is a title of dignity: or, it is a wand of metal that the tribune used to throw into the thickest of the enemy, and then all the other soldiers would fight furiously to recover the said wand. Episto- graphum is a wooden tablet on which debts are in- scribed, as is done unto this day : it is so named from opibus and gi^aphia — that is writing — as being a record of wealth. Abaces meaneth precious vessels. CoHnthia meaneth vessels of common material, such as straw or reeds, which are sold at Bologna. Balnea is a shining vessel, or — so to say — "bajulans lucem, vel lancem." Prothyrum cometh from tJiyros — that is, master — but what it meaneth I know not: or, it is "quod procul trahitur," that which is brought from afar — as water to wit, or anything else, as the hydrauUc engine in Accu?'sius' own liouse. Obsonatores are they who guard their master when he is abed ; or, those who are sonorous, and sing to their master at table. Hypo-
506
11.57] GALEN OF PADERBORN
cavstiim is a place where sick folk stand when they need the fire. Qalh/s ^al/inaceus is a caponed cock, impotent, yet the more courageous in combat with the serpent. Or, he is nanied Gallu.s gallhiacens as being a lover of hens — as we call a man uxorious who is a lover of wives, witness Horace in his Odes. Uiefa is a place at Court where the gentlemen stand by the fire. A CJioiiifi is a multitude of slaves, singing to a certain instrument of music named a chorus.
Centumviri are senators, one hundred in number.
Patritius signifieth pater principis, the father of a prince : witness that place of Sallust, " O patres con- scripti," for their names were inscribed either on their headgear, or elsewhere. Whenever you entertain a doubt in matters pertaining to Canon or Civil Law unfold them to me, and I will resolve them as fairly as Johann Reuchlin, or any other Jurist that is in the world.
And now — farewell.
Ingol«tadt.
LVII
iE GALEN OF FADERBORN to Mag. Ortwin Gi^atius gTeeting
REVEREND Sir, a direful rumour hath reached me, and hath made the hairs of my head to stand upright. It is this : Almost all the clerics and students who have come hither from Cologne declare that there is a report that the Preaching Friars, rather than suffer Johann Reuchlin to get the better of them in the Cause of the Faith, will preach another rehgion. And it hath even been said that it is quite possible that if the Pope giveth judgment against them, they will hie them to Bohemia and stir up the heretics to disbeHef in the Church and the Pope, and will thus be avenged of their wrongs. Oh, my good Herr Ortxdn, counsel them that they act not thus, for it would be a dreadful heresy ! Yet I trust 'tis a lying rumour. Nevertheless I have thought within myself, " Peradventure the Preachers utter these threats against the Pope, seeking to intimidate him, that he might say to himself, ' Lo, if
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
I proiiounce iiot judgment in their favour, tliey will be held in sore contempt and hiughed to scorn, and the whole world will be their eneniy, and no man will give them ahns, and tiieir monasteries will be razed ; and then they will depart to lioltcmia, or even to Tiirkcy, and preach, saying that Christianity is not the true faith — and this would l)e a great evil.' "
Be this as it may, I trust that you Theologians will liave patience, and fiy not in the face of the Pope, lest ye make all Christians your foes. Fare ye well, in the name of the only-begotten son of God.
Bhemen.
LVIII
«E MAGISTER IRUS PERLIRUS to
Mcif!;. Orlxcin Gratius
GREETINGS in plenty, Reverend Sir. Vour writings against Johann ReucliHn have reached our University. The Senior JMagisters praise them highly, but the greenhorn Juniors make hght of them, saying tliat you do but assail Rcuclilin out of envy. And wlien we took counsel as to whether we, too, sliould resolve somewhat against the Aiii^cnspicircl — these Juniors, who are still void of experience, held themselves opposed to the Seniors, and dechired tliat RciicJilin is bUuneless, and that he liath never written auglit that is hereticaL And thus far they continue to withstand us, and I know not wliat the upsliot will be. I believe the University will ere long perish because of thesc poets who abound marvellously.
I^ately one hath come here calling himself Pctcr of the Moscl, and he is a (Trecian. Tliere is also another who lectureth on Greek, Richard Crokc by name, and lie cometh from Enojand ; and just now I said, " Cometh he from Ene;land ? The devil he doth ! 1 bclieve that if there dwelt a Poet where the pepper groweth, he would straightway come to Ijcij)sic / "
Hcnce it happeneth that the INIagisters have so few students that it is pitiful. I rcmcmber that in days
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gone by when a Magister went to the baths more pupils would follow him than now go to the Church on a Festival. Moreover, students then were as decorous as so many angels ; but now they run wild, and pay no heed to the Magisters ; and they are all minded to dwell in the Town. and to have their meals without the Hostels, and the Magisters have very few boarders. On the last degree-day only ten bachelors graduated ; and when we held the cxamination the Magisters had some talk of rejecting certain candidates. Then cried I, " Heaven forbid ! for if we reject a single student, hereafter not a soul will come forward for examina- tion, or even study for the degree — they will all be offto the poets." And so we made shift to let them pass. We found grounds of dispensation under three heads. First, with regard to age : for it is ordained that a graduating bachelor must be at least sixteen years of age, and Magisters, twenty. Yet, if they be not of full age, a dispensation may be granted.
Secondly, there is dispensatory power in the matter of conduct. For if undergraduates have not shown sufHcient respect to Magisters and graduates, they must be rejected — unless admitted by dispensation. And Avith this view inquiry is made concerning their tres- passes ; whether they have been uncivil in the streets, or have consorted with harlots, or have borne arms, or have thou'd a Magister or a priest, or have made a dis- turbance at lecture, or in a hostel. Thirdly, there is a dispensation in Liberal Arts, when candidates are ill- conversant with their subjects, and have not fulfilled the prescribed conditions. A Httle while ago, during an examination, I asked such an one, " Tell me, how cometh it that you answer nothing ? " He repHed that it was because he was " so fearsome." " Nay," said I, " I trow that it is not so fearsome, but so dulsome, that you are." Then he cried, " Nay, by the Lord, Herr JNIagister — I have store of knowledge within me, but it won't come out ! " Thereupon I gave him dispensation.
It is manifest, then, that the Universities will be sore losers. The other day I questioned a student about some transgi-ession — straightway he turned upon me and thou'd me ! Then said I, " I wiH store that up
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
for degree-day," hinting tiiat lie might siifFer rejection. But he snapped back, " To the jakes with you and your baccalauriate ; I shall go to Italy, where teachers do not clieat their pupils, and have no such mummery when they make their bachelors. If a man is learned the honour is conferred on him — if unlearned, he is treated hke any other ass."
Then said I, " Thou rascal ! Wilt thou behttle the degree of Bachelor, that high dignity ? " He answered that he thought but httle even of Magisters — " And," quoth Iie, " a friend told me that when he was resident at Bologna he observed that all the INIasters of Arts from Gervianij were inducted like freshmen ; not so the mere students. For in Italy it is deemed a dis- grace to hold the degree of Bachelor or JNIagister of a German University."
See to what a height tliese scandals grow ! Would that all the Universities might join hands and make an end of all these poets and humanists who are their bane. Mag. Langschneyder, Mag. Negelin, I\Iag. Kachelhofeii, Mag. Arnold Wiistenfeldt, and Dr. Ochsenjurt salute you. Farewell.
Leipsic.
LIX
€E JOHANN LOFFELHOLZ sendeth greeting to Magister Ortwin Gratius
YOU desired me to inquire of the merchants who flock hither from all parts during the fair, con- cerning that complot you have heard of; to wit, the conspiracy entered into by sundry poets and jurists to defend Johann Reucldin, and write against the Theologians of Cologne and the Dominicans, unless they forthwith leave the aforesaid Johann Reuchlin in peace.
You must know, therefore, that I made great dili- gence in inquiring and searching out, and at last I lighted upon a bookseller from the Oberland who told me many astonishing tliings. He named me sundry of
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the conspirators, and said that he had seen the writings that they send to one another.
In the first phice he declared Doctor Murner to be the head of thc junto, and he assured me that this fellow was the author of a book concerning the mis- deeds of the Friars Preachers, and of another in defence of ReuchUn. Then he mentioned Hermann Bufichy and said that he had seen a letter of his, in which he promises his companions that he will not be backward, but will stand up boldly for Reuchlin. Next he speci- fied the Graf von Neuenar, Canon of Cologne, as being of the plot ; this man hath concocted wondrous accu- sations against the Theologians, and they are shortly to be pubHshed.
Then there is WiUbald — something or other — who, I suppose, hves at Nuremherg ; he hath uttered many threats ; declaring that he will send all the Theologers packing with his writings. Then quoth I : —
" Qui moritur minis, Ille compulsabitur bombis ; "
that is to say : —
" Wer vom Drohen stirbt, dem soll man mit Fiirzen zu Grabe lauten."
" He who by empty threats is felled, With airy bounces shall be knelled."
Then he named to me one Koban Hesse, of Erfurt — a young man, it seemeth, and a poet of great skill. He hath a comrade, Petreius Aperbach by name, and the twain are now composing certain books that they will forthwith pubhsh unless the Theologians make peace with Reuchlin.
Then there is at Leipsic an EngHshman — I know not what his name may be, but I trow that it is he who two years ago dwelt at Cologne — and he also is one of them. Besides these, there is fadianus at Vienna, who is said to be a woundy great poet. At the Cardinars Court, too, there is one Caspar Ursinus, who knoweth how to make Greek verses, and hath promised Reuchlin his aid : he is among the band.
The bookseller moreover told me that he had heard
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
that PhUipp Melanchthon, and Jakob IVimpheling, and Beatus Rhenanus, and Nicolas GerbelUus, were all of the plot. He averred, moreover, that they write letters to Ulrich Hutten, who studietli at Bologna, seeking that he should join them. Besides these he had heard of none. Then I enquired in other quarters whether Erasmus of Eotterdam taketh their part ? And a certain merchant answered, saying, " Eixismus taketh his own part ; but, be assured he will never be the friend of those Theologians and Friars ; and he hath evidently, in his words and writings, defended and vindicated Joliann Reuchlin and hatli addressed letters to the Pope on his behalf."
From others I learnt that Baul Ricius is also of the number. Some say that Johann Speisshamvier and Konrad Feutinger — who are in high favour witli the Emperor — also consort with this crew, and do all in their power against the Theologians of Cologne, and in honour of Johann Reuchlin. A certain student of Erfurt, a friend of mine, tells me that Konrad Mutianus is the bitterest of all, and that Theologians are so hate- ful to him that he cannot endure to hear those of Cologne as much as named ; he saith, too, that he hath seen full twenty letters of his, in which he urgeth certain students to join the Reuchhnists.
This is all the information I have gathered so far ; when I learn more, I will impart it to you. Farewell in Christ.
Frankfort-on-Main.
LX
€E MAG. WERNHER ST03IPFF to
Mag. Ortvcin Gratius gixeting
Cj IR, I would have your magnificence to know, that fO when I received your letter I was affrighted beyond measure, my face mantled and the hair of niy head stood up. And 1 doubt whether I stood in greater dread in the lled lloom at Cologne when I sought to be made Bachelor, and offered myself for examination ; for then 1 had grievous fears lest the Examiners should reject
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11.61] PETER LIEB
me. You tell nie that the Cause of the Faith fareth ill at Rome. Gadzookers ! what can we say ? Those Jurists and Poets will overthrow the whole faculty of the Artists and Theologians ; for even here, in our Uni- versity, they would fain brow-beat the Magisters and the Divines. A fellow here claimed of late that a Bachelor of Law should take precedence of a Master of Arts. Then quoth 1, " That is impossible. I can prove that Masters of Arts rank higher than Doctors of Law. Doctors of Law are learned in one science only — namely Jurisprudence ; but Magisters are Masters of the Seven Liberal Arts, and therefore are the more learned. " Go to Italy" said he, " and tell them that you are a Magister of Leipsic, and see how they will bait you ! " But I made answer that I could defend my Mastership as well as any that cometh out of Ifaly. And so I departed, thinking within myself that our faculty is sorely mahgned, and this is a crying shame. For it is the Masters of Arts who should rule the Universities, and now the Jurists claim to govern them, which is a thing most indecent. But I bid you be of good cheer, and call not in question the victory of the Cause of the Faith. May the Lord provide for you. And now, fare ye well — so long as Pfe^Mvrn abideth a Christian.
Prince's College, Leipsic.
LXI
•E PETER LIEB, Cursor in Graminar, and Pro- fessor of Logic, sendeth gi^eeting to Magister Ortwin Gratius
REVEREND Herr Magister — two drinking-bouts a day are the custom here at Koipech, or Vorharz. The first is called the Burgher-bout, which beginneth at noon and is kept a-going till four or five of the clock : the second is the Night- or After-bout ; this beginneth at five, and lasteth until eight, nine, or even ten of the clock — nay, it is sometimes kept up till midnight or one of the clock in the morning. Well-to-do folk, and the burgomasters and the guildmasters, when they have sat drinking long enough at the first bout, pay their scores
513 2 K
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
and go home ; but the younger folk, and good fellows who care not much what the corn costs, sit long at the After-bout, and drink for dear Hfe.
Now it happened that we were of late thus making merry, and there was with us Herr Peter, a friar of the Order of Preachers, who is mightily well disposed towards you by reason of Jakob vaii Hoogstraten the Inquisitor at Cologne ; and between ten and eleven at night a warm dispute arose concerning the derivation of your name. I held the opinion that you were named after the Roman Gracchi. But Herr Peter, who is pretty well versed in humane letters, declared that this was unapt, and that you were named Gratim after the grace that cometh from on high.
Now there was a braggart there who spake very crinkly Latin, so that I could not understand half he said, and he declared that you were called G-rcLtius neither from Grace nor Gracchi ; and he spake such a deal of superfluous nothing that I asked him, saying, " Whence then cometh Gratius? Very learned men have held high dispute over the matter, and have de- termined that the name proceedeth either from gratia or Gracchi. Quoth he, " They who discussed the matter were friends of INIagister Ortiviii Gratius, and they therefore interpreted his name in a favourable sense, but their opinions do not affect the naked truth." Then said Herr Peter, " What is truth ? " and he thought that the fellow would hold his peace, as our Lord did when Pilate put this question to him. Yet he did not hold his peace, but continued, " There is a hangman in Halberstadt, Herr Gratius by name, and he is 0?izvi?i\s maternal uncle, so it is after him that Oiiiciii was named Gimtius. Then I could not contain myself, and cried, " Fellow ! that is a vile outrage, and I protest against it ! Herr Ortivin must not let that pass : I know you say this out of envy, since you are at enmity with him. A child receiveth his name and siu'name from his father and not from his mother. Wherefore then hath this worthy Magister been named after his mother and his maternal uncle, and not after his father hke other folk ? " Then he rephed, speaking loudly so that all sliould hear, " AVhat you say is true enough, but
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he cannot, in honour, mention his father, because his father is a priest, and if he were named after his father all folk would know that he was the son of a priest and a whore — and a bastard if ever there were one ! " Then again I cried aloud, saying, " How can this thing be ? Is he not a Magister of Cologne ? Hath not the Uni- versity a statute which declareth that no man may graduate unless he be legitimate ? Therefore — " Then saith he, " Whether graduates must be legitimate or illegitimate, the fact remaineth that jNIagister Ortid?i is a bastard, and a bastard he will remain world without end ! " Then said I, " But what if the Pope hath per- chance given him dispensation ? Then he would be legitimate after all, and you would be in grievous error, speaking against the Church of Rome ! " Then said he, " It matters not if he had a thousand dispensations — he would not be legitimate for all that."
Then he cited a case in point, " Take the case of a Jew baptised with the water of baptism : if the Holy Spirit be absent, the water profiteth nothing, and he is still a Jew. So it is with those bastards who are the sons of priests and whores — for priests cannot lawfuUy enter into wedlock with whores, and therefore a dispensation profiteth their children nothing." Then I asked him, saying, " What opinion holdest thou concerning Herr Jofiann Pfejferhorn ? " And he answering said, " I firmly beheve that he is still a Jew." And in reply to the cita- tions made he further quoted Matthew iii., where it is written, " Unless a man be born again of water and of the spirit he shall not enter into eternal Hfe." " And since," saith he, "' Pfefferkorn was not born again of the Spirit, the water profiteth him nothing, and he will abide a Jew for ever." Then I could no longer answer him, and we arose, Herr Peter and I, and went home to bed. And now I hear that this reprobate boasteth himself that he liath overcome us in disputation, and is more learned than Herr Peter or myself. Wherefore I pray your worthiness to write and tell me how those argu- ments about dispensations and Herr Johann Pfejfer- korns baptism may best be met, and how this rascal may be hoist with his own petard.
May I deserve your favour all my life long. Farewell.
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LETTER8 OF OBSCURE MEX
LXII
m: 31AGlSrER GRATIUS, Uprooter qf Tares, tJidt is, Quartcrer of Traitors, Scou?'ger qf Foi-gers aiid Slanderers, lncinerator qf Heretics, and much besides, sendeth vianij salutations to 31agister OrtxLin, his sisters son
DEARLY-BELO VED nepliew, and most Reverend Herr Magister, inasmuch as many years have now passed by since we set eyes on one another, it hath come into my mind that it woidd be a good thing to send you a letter. I hear marvellous tidings concerning you — how that you are of high repute, and are known to all who have even a scanthng of learning, not only in Cologne, but beyond Klbe and RJiine, and even through- out Italj) and ¥rance.
It is the Colognese, however, who honour you most for that singular learning displayed in your writings in defence of the Catholic Faith against one Johann ReucJdin, Doctor and secular poet, and they set such store by you that when you walk in the streets they point at you witli thcir hngers and say, " There goeth Magister Oiiwin who troimces the poets ! "
Methinks that if they but knew that you were my nephew they would respect you yet more. For here I too am of high renown, and I exercise my art amidst great crowds of people ; and folk honour me in hke maimer, and when I walk in the streets they point at me, as tliey do at you at Cologne. And I exult greatly that folk thus think not a httle of both you and me.
I hear, too, that there are othcrs in Cologne who are friendly to you, and also write in opposition to Doctor ReucJdin — to wit, JaJiol) van Iloogstraten, and Magister Arnold von Tongern, Regent of St. Laii:reticc Hostel. All men deem you three to be the true Hghts of the Cathohc Faith, and they look upon you as three great candlesticks, or hmterns. There are some, indeed, who add a fourth hght, or, as it wTre, a hanging-lamp, which
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doth not shine quite so brightly, to wit, Herr Johann Pfefferkorn.
And 1 verily believe that if yoii four, with all your knowledge, were bound together to a stout stake, in an exalted position, on a pile of dry wood, there might straightway be kindled a light of the world, brighter even than that which blazed at Berne. But, dearest nephew, all this is naught save a merry jest of mine, and — quips apart — 1 hope you four will become a true light of the world : it is impossible that such learning as yours can long remain sunk in the mire.
It hath come to my ears that not long ago you would fain have bussed, after dark, an old trot who selleth pots hard by the fountain at Cologne, but she Hfted up her voice, and folk came around the house with lanterns, and discovered you. Pardy ! I highly esteem such fine pranks of yours, for they smell of my art, which pointeth too in some sort at Theologians also.
There hath of late been a rumour here that a poet hath appeared in Cologne. He alone holdeth you for a fool, and calleth you Porkwinus — that is, meet dweller in a pig-sty. Pardy ! if I could only scrape acquaint- ance with that same poet, right gladly would I hang him without fee !
And now, in conclusion, beloved nephew, I would earnestly beseech you to strive with great dihgence to spread your renown throughout the whole earth, were it not that I well know such counsel to be needless. For this you well know of yourself, and have received it from your grandparents — ay, and from your great- and great-great- and great-great-great-grand-parents ; and especially from your mother, my dearly-beloved sister, who had no sooner heard that bastards are ever more the favourites of fortune than the true-born, than she straightway betook herself to a priest, and let him work his will, that there might be begotten such a man as you, whom some day all the world shall hear of! Farewell.
From Halberstadt.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
LXIII
•E JOHANN VON SCHWEINFURTH, Master ofthe Seven LiberalArts, sendeth a thousand gi^eet- ings, and afexv more, to the scientijical, learned, and enlightened Oi^twin Gratins, who masterhj teacheth the Greek and Latin tongues at Deventer
PKEMISING all honourand submissive respect due to a teacher skilled in sundry branches of knowledge. You wrote to me of late concerning your victory gained at Rome over Reuchlin, who so temerariously opposed you and Johaiin Pfefferhorn not long divinely enlightened in the Christian Faith. You told me, too, how that the Pope hath imposed silence upon him, for- bidding him to write more, " lest a worse thing happen to him," as saith our Lord in the Evangel. For formerly in the Augeiispiegel he wrote in a fashion so uncouth that the Doctors could not understand him. Neverthe- less they declared him a heretic — since it standeth not in their books as he hath written, nor hath that new theologian whom God raised from the stones to be the child of Ahraham, (as saith the scripture), Johann Pfefferkorn to wit, knowledge thereof by divine vision or revelation, or from the authentic intelhgence of his wife ; and she, I have heard, hath also the spirit of pro- phecy. But of this you know much better than do I, for you have ofttimes consorted with her when Johann Pfejferkorn was not at home. I know not in what manner RcncJdin Avas put down by you or by the Pope. For now they have instituted a new faculty, besides the four faculties we used to have; and they all praise Reuchlin and call themselves his disciples; and they pay no regard to the Faculty of Arts, for they say that the Artsmen are so many conceited asses — and that they can scarce speak three or four Latin words — and that, shame to them ! these beasts seduce many inno- cent youths, who after they have wasted a long time, and are, as it were, immersed in this vile sink of bar- barism, return to their homes, having learned nothing
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11.63] JOHANN VON SCHWEINFURTH
save " Arguitur," " Respondetur," and " Quaeritur," and having for their Gods Tartaretus, and Versor, and Per- versor, and Buridan and Bruxellensis and the like, differ not from the vulgar herd.
Nevertheless it is a strange thing for a mere student — a greenhorn — to know more of Aiistotle than a can- didate for a Bachelor's or Master's degree, who hath attended the courses, and is fully quahfied. Moreover they are not respectful to the Magisters, and when they meet one they fail to touch their caps, as would be seemly, and they are perpetually to be found at that house you well wot of. Moreover they never hsten to the '* Consequentias " of Marsilius, nor the " Supposi- tiones," nor the " Parva Logicaha " ; so that it is not pos- sible that they should be duly trained to take part in disputations. But let this pass. I must now tell you some news : Jacob WimpJieling, who is half a Reuch- hnist, hath been roundly taken to task by a certain Monk, Paiil Laiig by name, who hath told him plainly that he hath not written the truth in a book of his intituled " De Integritate " — to wit, in saying that learning is not only to be found beneath a cowl. For Paul the Monk wrote another book to refute this, which was approved by the Chapter, or Synod, of the Order of St. Beuedict at Peinhardtshronn, in the year of our Lord 1509. It is fine Latin, withal — ahnost as good as Alexanders Doctrinale, it hath been said ; and I re- joice greatly that such Latin is to be found among monks. They say themselves that it superlatively ex- celleth the style of Cicero — but this I scarcely believe, for that striketh a high note. Nevertheless it argueth learnedly against Wimpheliug in verse, and in prose, and in rime ; and it holdeth, rightly as I think, that all learning lieth under a cowl — that is, with the monks. For, to proceed from things small to great, the monks have written commentaries on grammatical rules, on Donatus, on Peter of Spaiu, upon the Physics and the Metaphysics and the Ethics, and have thus submerged them in their comments, and have become masters of all knowledge.
Yet, by your favour, I would fain distinguish. First, with regard to the word " cowled," for that is an equi-
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vocal term. First, as applied to the Bohemians, who go about with long hoods down to their middles, and yet have no learning, but, rather, heresy. Secondly, as appKed to the Jews, who also are cowled, and yet are ignorant, for they are without the pale of the Church. Thirdly, as applied to JVIagister-nosters, who are illuminated — but not in the highest degree. Fourthly, as applied to monks ; and they have know- ledge supereminent, as you have.
I beseech you, therefore, aid that monk — for you also are of his party, being cowled after the third fashion — that he may defend his writings against Wimplieling. For I hear that Wimplieling hath many followers, and those at Strasburg were lately named to me. There is one Jakob Sturm, a noble, who is said to be a good Latinist ; and there is Ottomar Nachtigall, who knoweth Greek as well as Reuchlin, and can quote from the Exti^a Decretuvi and the Digests and hke- wise from the Bible — which is not to be wondered at, seeing that he studied at Paiis. Then there are Lucas Hackfurt and Johann Ruse?^us and Johann Witz and many others, all of whom desire to aid IFimpheling against the monks and to trounce them with their writings. They all declare that Paul is unsound in his views, and hath deviated from the Rules of his Order in nine particulars, and that he is a mischievous wind- bag, as Trithemius himself hath averred in a letter to Hieronymus Tungersheim of Ochsenfurt — and that it is a great shame for anybody to waste paper and ink, and time too, as he hath done. They also declare that St. Jerome once wrote to a monk as followeth : " Never let the Psalter depart from your hand or from before your eyes ; " yet if this were true the prohibition would be binding continually and for ever. And it would foUow that monks ought to do nothing save read the Psalter. This I am sure is untrue, for St. Jerome him- self was a monk, and would not write against them. I lately heard a woundy long rigmarole from a disciple of Wiiwpheling. I said boldly to his face, " Your master, Wimpheling, erreth greatly, who hath written in opposition to the Abbot Trithemius, and against the monks, who are notable both for their learning and
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11.63] JOHANN VON SCHWEINFUKTH
their sanctity, and mightily useful : the Church's onl}'" pillars are the monks/' Then quoth he, " I divide monks into three classes. The first are holy and useful, but they are in heaven. The second are neither pro- fitable nor wholly useless — you will see them painted in the churches. The third are still ahve, and they are mightily noxious and are by no means saints. They are as vain-glorious as any laymen. They take dehght in storing up wealth and having fair ladies around them. Not long ago I was at HeideJbcrg ; now there Hveth near Heidelberg a great Abbot — a fat, surly rascal — and he drove out all the monks from St. Jacob's College, saying that he would brew fine broth for them, and naught beside. But they said that they beheved that he acted thus — the good brother ! — because the Count Palatine was about to introduce new methods, and that a Poet was coming to Heidel- herg who would make the monks and other students talk the new-fangled Latin. And so the fat Abbot quickly perceived what the event of the jest would be ; and, quoth he, * My monks must not learn the new Latin, for then they would grow proud of knowing more than I, and I should cut a fine figure among them — hke an overfed jackass in a rout of monkeys ! ' "
But of a truth this argument seemeth irregular, for it lacketh a pair of premises and therefore reacheth no conclusion.
I send you PaiWs book, which you ought to have printed, for it containeth a store of good things in opposition to Wivipkeling who assaileth the monks ; but he will change his tune when he readeth that Christ was a monk — an Abbot, to wit — and *SY. Peter sl prior, and Judas Iscarlot a cellarer, and PJiilip a porter, and so of the rest according to sub et supra ; all of which this illuminated and learned monk Paid Laiig so masterly proveth, that Wimpheling and his dis- ciples cannot open their Hps against him. Yet a fautor of WimpJieling^s withstood me to my face, and swore that the monks lied Hke so many scurvy tapsters who would fain make out that Christ was therefore a portentous animal — a cowled beast ! And they cried out against me in His name. Then was I sore afraid,
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
and fell into such a pickle that I savoured ill in the nostrils of those who stood by. But, be this as it may, I firmly beUeve that sooner or later they will all stand dismayed by Pfu/F.s learning, and will say, " Of a truth the Devil hath brought this monk against us : who else can have instructed him thus canonically in all know- ledge ? How can this be save by inspiration ? He hath resided in no University, and is naught but a mere bejan ; and nevertheless he is fit and more than fit to graduate jNIaster — ^by the leave of our ilhistrious JMagisters." Thomas M/irner, himself a monk, and a right subtle Doctor, once solemnly declared in the pulpit that Christ our I^ord was a monk — and power- fully argued thereon. But one of JFiuiplieUngs dis- ciples declared that he would not beheve in Christ if he were a monk, and made the following verses : —
" \i\ Christ hiniself beneath a cowl —
That cloak of tjuile — Td not believe : Let the S. Francis feigned at Berne Show all how monkish wiles deceive ! "
What skills it if he beheve not ? Then he will be a heretic hke the rest of them who were condemned, with Beuelilhi, by Paris and Cologne and the other Universities.
Now I beseech you to imprint in the book the verses that follow, which I have made in praise of the book and its author Paiil La/ig the JNIonk. With great hibour have I composed them, for the most part in the night-time when I lay in meditation on my bed, for then in my dreams I ])ecame, so to say, a poet, as you will now perceive : —
" This book, which worthless Winipheliiii^ boldly baits, I lath been by Paiil miraculously wrought — Langius, we mean, wlio with poetic art And craft rhetorical hatli soothly proved That every Science hn-keth 'neath a cowl : Tritliemius said the like, and Eberhard De Campis, Volzius (Paul), and Schurer too ; Johann von Miltenberg, and Jacob Si — Berti, and lloger who Sicamber hight — All learned men, and hooded monks withaL Now Jacob is o'erthrown, and crushed to earth With Wimpheling, Gerbehus, and Bebel,
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11.64] HERR YOLLWEIN
Sturmius and Spiegel, Nachtigall, and he
Of Rhenus named ; Ruserus, Sapidus,
And Johann Guida, with Bathodius ;
All bite the dust, and dare not ' Cuckoo ! ' cry.
And weltering thus, they have no leg to stand
Upon ; no Greek or Poet can they find
Who dares to learned Langius answer make ! "
Farewell, O man most illustrious, and mine own right learned teacher ! Hold me, in return, within your heart, in that I thus perpetuate your fame world without end.
From the Imperial City of Sclinersheim, in the High Street, where the swains make merry on a Sunday, when their hearts o'erflow. In the Year of the World one.
LXIV
•E HERR rOLLWEIX VON GROSSFLA-
SCHENBERG to the Reverend Magister Herr Ortwin Gratiamis endless gi^eetings
REVEREND Sir, although, as it hath been told me, you know naught of secular Latin — for the which I highly esteem you — and you pay no heed to those high-sounding words that the poets dehght in, nevertheless you know well enough where to he a-night, as the Wise Man saith in his Proverbs.
And it is no great matter to us what those inno- vators in Latin do, such as Erasmus of Rotterdam and Johann Reuchlin, neither heed I them. It concerneth not the essence of Holy Scripture— even if they and the rest are ever ready to attack the old Theologians with that Literature of theirs. I know not how they presume to ever be minghng that heretical Hterature with the New Testament and the works of St. Jerome ; notwithstanding that Paul saith that the Greeks are always Hars, and hence it seems to me — saving our exalted Magisternosters' presence — that their hterature is nothing else than a He. Hearken now to my syl- logism : whosoever desireth to overturn Holy Scripture with Hes is a heretic ; therefore — but they know weU
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
enough what foUoweth, and it would be uncivil for me to openly prove them to be heretics. Oh, if they but knew the subtlety that I possess they would not shew themselves before my face. But keep silence till the end, and then it will be perceived in what key the tune goeth.
No longer can I put off telHng you the news. Lately, I know not when, I sat at a feast, and there were many vain-glorious youths present ; and certain folk from other parts joined in the symposium — one from England, another from Strashurg, another from Vienna, another {AngeUnus by name) from Wimpfen, another from Rome, who was well nigh half a Curialist ; and there was that mighty chatter of many mouths, that you well wot of. At last we fell to discourse upon that business of Eeuchlins. And one fellow set him- self in opposition to me when he heard I was no good Reuchhnist. Quoth he : " Let no Abecedarian Theo- logian from Cologne come across my path, else will I geld him — Magister Ortwin in particular."
Thereupon, I held my peace. Then spake one who was out at elbows, and who had failed in many an attempt at the Curia to gain a benefice, and was at loggerheads with most of the Curiahsts ; and many a strange thing he said, as followeth :
" By my soul, 1 have ofttimes marvelled that those fellows in great hoods who call themselves Theologians, and who abound in that city where are printed Questions on Donatus according to the use of St. Tliomas, and Grammatical Rules according to the use of the ancients, with this verse :
"'Accipias tariti doctoris dogmata sancti,'
why the monks, I say, who ever yearn to declare others heretics, and stir us up against them, and hold an inquisition concerning heretical pravity on them — yet hoki so many benefices, one, six ; another, ten ; another, twenty or more ; and heap up so much money, and sideboards with bottles and goblets — as though they were the sons of counts or princes — and keep harlots or concubines within their doors at a great cost, with chains on their necks, and rings on their fingers,
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11.64] HERK YOLLWEIN
and mantles fit for the wives of knights. Sometimes one of them holdeth three Canonries at one and the same time, and putteth dues in his purse from all three ; whence he is able to enjoy many a drinking bout. And yet he can stand in but one choir and not in the others. So in some choirs there is no canon, and no substitute to praise God and pray for the quick and the dead. Can this be right ? Wherefore are they not in- quisitioned, and asked before a cloud of notaries and witnesses — as of yore at Mainz — ' What do you be- Heve ? Yes, or no ? Do you believe, or do you not believe ? What is your behef concerning the sacra- ments in the Church of God ? Tell us, how many are the Sacraments ? What do you beheve in your heart concerning the Sacrament of the Eucharist ? Are the body and blood of Christ present in it ? If you beheve this, why then after you have read mass — if, forsooth, you read it once in the year — do you go home, and consort with a concubine who hath the manners and aspect of a harlot, at the table or in your chamber ? Tell us if you beHeve the fruit of the mass to be so great and so pleasing to God as that which abideth in the Decretals and the Tractates of the Theologians. Wherefore do ye hold so many benefices, enough to maintain five or six devout priests, who would joyfully read masses, and who with a wilhng heart would preach to the people and the clergy, and are able to give good counsel for the glory of God, the salvation of souls, and the hberty of the Church — who would chide evil-doers, and beseech God for our Lord the Pope, for the King, for the Bishops and other Christian folk — and ofFer that prayer for Peace and Prosperity that in the Low Mass standeth after the Sanctus and the Te igitur clementissime Paterl If you beheve that so much good proceedeth from the Mass both to quick and dead, wherefore do you not give to others of your superfluities, and hand them over to other good, devout, and learned men — that God might hence be exalted and the souls of the dead might be the more speedily redeemed from the fires of Purgatory ; and that the wrath of God against us might be stayed, so that he might no longer afflict us
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from on high with sore blains, nor smite our vines and oiir corn with hail and frost, so that the times of so great famine in the world should cease ? If, on the other hand, ye do not beheve these great benefits to flow from the JNIass, then are ye, by the Lord, suspect of heresy ; yea, ye are more assuredly heretics than Jf^^essd/id and Doctor Beuchli)!. "
Lo, Reverend JMagister Oiiicin, I have thought it well to tell you all this — that you may see how that all men hold tliemselves on Beia'/i/i?is side against you. By my conscience I beheve the Devil himself favoureth this Reuc/i/in, and we are finely bemired. And now I commend myself to you.
From Speier — where strange scandals are spread abroad concerning us ; for all the Reuchhnists declare that the Colognese are naught but raw tyros. Nevertheless : —
Of pride in you I have a heap, For you are patient as a sheep ; And all revilings you endure Like simple priest in country cure.
LXV
€E MAGISTER BARTHEL KUTZ to t/ie /earned Master of un/axcfut A^is, Ortwin Gra- tianus, T/ieo/ogian of Co/ogne
I>ECEIVE my salutations, if you will, most learned \j Herr Magister Ortivin. Somebody, once on a time, told me, in some place or other, that you were very sick, and that when you are sick you always demean yourself as though you were crazy. This I commend in you, for it suiteth well with one who hath skill in unhiwful arts — to wit how to conjure the devil into a glass, or elsewhere — for such are, ahnost without excep- tion, ofttimes crazy. It is meet too that all sucli should likewise be bastards — and that you are one was told me by a dear friend — for they are the better tools where- with the devil can work for his ends.
The devil, forsooth, doth not yield himself so readily
52G
II ()5] BARTHEL KUTZ
to the legitimate as to bastards, who are pecuUarly fitted for him. And if only you were a monk you would possess every qualification for this art, and you would be an egregious instrument of the devil — but I know not whether you are a monk. If such you be, then I should be right glad. Monks above all men have this gift — that they are very obstinate, and what- ever they take in hand that they carry through — as I lately heard from one Paul Lcmg who has written a most excellent treatise, with verses, against Jacob Wimpheling and has flouted him finely. They say of that same Paul — saving your reverence — that he has run out of the cloister in nine diverse ways.
And what none else attempteth to do, he doeth. I beheve too that he is crazy at times, and is base-born. The third condition abideth in him. I rejoice greatly that he also resembleth you who have deahngs with the devil — but, let this pass, with all respect. I have here a notable necromantic formula that I would gladly communicate to you openly — but I am afraid lest when you are crazy your servant may find this letter and read it, and then the devil would fetch both him and me. Therefore I will proceed according to my wont, for when I deal with secret matters I write upon paper without ink, and then none save a bastard can read it, and this I have determined to do in the present case. The formula runneth thus : —
You, I know, will understand this, and it is the very
truth, but I warn you, and conjure you by the virtue
of all the forbidden Sciences not to impart it to a single
soul. And now farewell; from Ruprechtsaic : in a
httle while you may expect somewhat more, and
weightier, from me if you reUsh these presents.
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LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
LXVI
€E MAGISTER ABRAM ISAAK, of the stem of Ajuinadab, sendeth gi^eeting to Magister Ortwin Gh'atius
EXxlLTED Master of Arts good and evil ; may it please your worship to know that I will now fulfil the promise that I promised at your instance, when I departed from Cologne — namely, that I would fail not to send you all the news.
Before all things you were desirous that I should notify you concerning that crafty Jurist, Johann Renchlin, with whom Doctor Jakoh van Hoogstraten hath sharp contention concerning the Faith at the Roman Court. All these matters will I unfold, out of the love that I bear you.
In the first place, then — to relate all things from the foundation of the world — you must know that having set out for Rome in the dog-days, as you will remember, I met with no great misadventure on the way, save exceeding great thirst when I traversed the lofty mountains oi Allgliu with my comrades.
When I reached Rome I engaged myself as varlet to a Cardinal, hard by the Campo dei Fiori ; him I served with great dihgence for eight months, to gain a cure of souls at Kelbertzhausen in the diocese of Vollenberg. Now, with this object, I obtained a brief with the seals of twelve Cardinals, and his HoH- ness prefixed his own seal for the firmer security. Thereupon with great joy I set forth to take possession — when, lo ! the Incumbent was not dead after all ! Then cried I in great wrath, " A thousand devils fly away with him ! Am I to lose my money ? " 'Twas a mighty poor prebend, too. An I had known this, I would never have left Rome. I reckoned that it might bring me in good twenty gulden every year. You well know that I should not think of residing in such a place. I would far rather have a prebend near home at Deventer of a hundred gulden, with a simple handmaid of twelve, than one of thirty gulden up
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II 66] ABRAM ISAAK
the country with a shrewish gammer of sixty. But it is a sinecure benefice that wouid suit me best of all.
Now I must tell you in the next place, Herr Ortwin, that I could not get back immediately to Rome by reason of the war in Italy : naked scoundrels were running about in every direction ; and if one of them had taken my clothes, tlien should I have lost all my poverty, as the old woman said when she broke her eggs on Heilbronn bridge. So it came to pass that I abode for two months at IVimpfen-am-TJial with some joUy feilows from Rome. And tliere I learned a game of Johann Grayfer — who is mighty hberal, for he once gave six comrades, whereof I was one, seven eggs to eat, and no fewer. This game is named in the Itahan tongue Trent uno. I never saw it at Rome, but this is in no wise strange, for I had always to be dancing attendance on the mule in the stables.
You shall hear how we spent our time : We often went to Wimpfen-am-Berge, where the best of good fellows foregather. There was one among them, Gregory Spiegel by name, who is a great authority de modo supponendi. He expoundeth this as clearly as you were wont to unfold Alexander's Third Part, concerning \^ersification.
So Uberally spake he concerning that matter that carnal stings assailed me. Much did I learn from him — saving your presence, 'tis but Nature's province. I would give, pardy ! a carHn for you to master sucli amicabiUties, if it were but on account of Frau Pfejfer- Jcorn, since I well know she afFecteth you above all the Theologians of Cologne. In good sooth, that Art which you once showed me in a little book written backwards is of no avail.
But to proceed ; they once asked me over the wine — seeing that I was from the Curia — how matters stood in the Cause of the Faith between JoJiann ReucJdin and the Colognese. Quoth I, " I fear me greatly that JoJiann ReucJdin, good man, is too poor to bring the case to an end. The Preachers can go further with their sacks of cheese than a lone man with his money." Then said one : " Sonty ! What villains are those
529 2l
LETTER8 OF 0B8CUKE MEN
same cheese-collecting monks ! Xot long ago Brother X., of the monastery here, canie to my cottage, and would fain have forced my sister. He pursued her up the steps into the house, and threw her down, and would liave worked his will, but my sister cried ' Herr N. ! Herr X. ! desist, or I will scream that all the world shall hear, and tlien will the Devil shend you.' ' Body o' me ! ' cried he, ' Cry not out, and I will give you handsel, if it cost me half a gulden ! ' Then came her mother, and he stinted. (His foiled fury ! dangerous as a harrow-tine imder a clout !)." Then said another who sat near, " If the culHon had treated my sister thus, I would ha\'e stoned him, and sent the other monks pickled cod for feast-day." Then rephed the other : " Pardy ! I can forgive them, for they are ever cloistered. 1 trow an ass with a kirtle on would scarce find security^ — -how then a wench ? " Another straightway sware that Joliimn Rcncldiii was minded to put down in a book all the evil deeds of the monks throughout C^crmaiuj. Tliis he will present to his Hohness with these words : " VVherefore doth not Hoogstratcii cast out this hcentiousness from among his brethren ? " The fellow would have it, too, that nionks savour hke sweating he-goats, and that in his country they have tainted all the truUs, so that upon occasion lie might beheve a cowl was at hand, by reason of that odour of sanctity.
Now you, Magister Oi^twin, are their fautor : Take heed lest, to mend matters, there be added to the Inquisitor of Ileretical Pravity, an Inquisitor of Libi- dinous Depravity. Let them at all events work their iniquities privily in their cells, hke tlieir betters, where uone can see ; all might then go well, but open vice is a scandal to the whole Order. Beware lest evil come upon you.
After all, I havc again betaken myself to the Court, and await Heaven's favour. FarewelL
From Rome: in the 1'efectory of the Chapter-House.
.;3;)
LXVII
€E BROTHER NOLLERIUS STECH of
Calabria to Maghter Ortwin Gratius
MY devout prayers I desire you, by way of greeting. Your Theological Excellency knowetli that I am as it were a pilgrim from Mount Siiiai — but you know not of the ills that I have suffered since I departed from you at Cologne. Though it would be tedious to tell you all, yet have I no other friend remaining to me to whom I may pour forth my woes, save you.
When I open my Hps in the monastery they forth-
with cry, " A pretty monk art thou, who desirest to
lead an easy life ! " As for the ungodly, it is not so
with them, I cannot guess what may be the root of it
all, unless it be the ill-fortune of JJoctor Jakoh van
Hoogstraten in consuming so large a sum of money in
the Roman Curia on behalf of the Christian Faith that
Johann Reuchlin the worthless hath overthrown in his
Augenspiegel. All our monasteries, I trow, ought to
send him money, for he must needs be liberal and give
bribes at large to the Cardinals, that they may give
judgment in his favour, and not for Johann Reuchlin.
Hence it cometh that the Superiors abate our wine,
notwithstanding that Solomon saith in Proverbs xii. 1,
" Song, woman, and wine rejoice the heart of man ! "
As for song, I am for ever at it — chanting and howHng
Psahns in the Choir, so that it hath neither grown rare
nor precious. Concerning women, it is a grief for me
to speak, for I never see any, save when I go to market
with our steward to buy eggs. Even when I go to the
villages round about to collect turnips and greens, and
the flesh assaileth me with a wench hard by, she will
have naught to do with me. Now therefore tliat our
wine is minished, what solace is left us ? Would that
we had but one half of the comforts of Hfe enjoyed by
other orders — or by the priests with us who are vowed
to the Holy Ghost. With this order, I think, you are
well acquainted ; they wear a double white cross on
531
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
their habit, and are not all shaven and shorn as we are; and when any relaxation is taken away from them — for instance, if their wine be docked for some transgression — then have they other solace, for they can procure doxies by the aid of lame Johanii the wood-cutter who crawleth on his hands and knees. You may say, " Such a dissolute life is not permitted to the Sanctispirituales." But I tell you that I have heard for sooth that their Superior — who, though old, lame, grey, and blear-eyed, is nevertheless avid in that matter, but not always the man he was — is wont to keep a laced-mutton in his study ; and when he casteth her aside he provideth her with a husband, and giveth her a good dowry out of the treasury of the Holy Spirit, which never runneth low, for it abideth by the mere grace of the Spirit. Then he getteth another wench and doeth as I have said, and thus the order increaseth and multipHeth in secret. And now will I cite a proverb : " Whensoever the Abbot — that is the Father Superior — throweth the dice, the friars can play." That is, since our old prelates are so licentious, and lead such loose lives, it followeth that we underUngs may imitate them. This is a sound conclusion, for I have seen in a tractate " De Suppositionibus" that " Prelatus supponit personaliter," but, according to 3Iarsilius, " Supponit inferius materi- ahter." And now to the main point : I would that if Doctor Jakob van Hoogstraten cannot win his cause against Johami Reiichlin, he would obtain for us a milder Rule, such as that aforesaid. For the flesh will be served, and 1 know full well that my days will be short in the land if I may not at some time or other cast out the old leaven that I have derived from those cheeses. Pardon me in that I speak to you cordially, that is out of my inmost heart. I am ever in dread lest that Cause should have a bad end — as did the Cause at Berne. You well know what I mean.
Herr Magister-noster Johann Eimerich desireth you many greetings. He hath become a very holy man. He is now our preacher, and everybody praiseth him. He is mighty fine at signs and symbols : in the year of Our Lord 1516 he preached on the Passion, and he took with him a stafF into the pulpit, and when he read
532
II 68] JOHANN TEXTORIS
Pilate^s sentence he drew forth the stafT from his cowl, and brake it in halves, as though it were a judges wand. It was a dreadful sight to behold, and the old women wept as bitterly as did Petcr when he heard the cock crow near the fire. Farewell, and commend me to the Doctor when he returneth from Ronie.
LXVIII
€E JOHANN TEXTORIS sendeth his own Peter Schwinkoncius as many greetings as there are drops in the sea, and atorns in the suji
IMUST tell you, dearly beloved friend, that I have received a letter in the which you write to me concerning Erasmus of Rotterdam, desiring to learn what I think of him.
Now, you must know of a truth that in the days of my youth I read many works in humane letters — and as for Stephanus Fliscus, and the Graecist, and Sinthen, and the Facetus, and the Floretus, and those ancient poets — I knew them all by rote, at my fingers' ends — and in proof thereof I compiled a book styled " Florista," in the which you may discern my learning and much else — if I desired to make boast thereof. I tell you this merely that you may not think I He, and to show you that I am well able to judge concerning this Erasmus I have also examined Reuchlin^s Augenspiegel, and his Gabala, as you are aware.
Now, not to be tedious, I avouch that I have no good opinion of Ei-asmus. He is an enemy of the monks : he speaketh much ill of them ; he saith they are clumsy jackasses, who hate polite letters, and they | /^ can do naught save guzzle, and swill, and mumble psahiis.
Yet he lieth in his throat when he saith these things. He himself is the jackass. He is a sound Latinist, and writeth fair Latin — but he knoweth naught else. He hath written many books — notably the Ship of Fools and a commentary on Jerome — and in these he doeth
533
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
naught but belabour the Regulars. I warn him, pardy, that if he refrain not his hands from them we will do to him as to ReuchUn, though he were in a hundred ways favoured by the Pope and King Charles. AVe have seen many men as arrogant as he, and yet we have suppressed them.
I will tell you somewhat — but blab not thereof, or the devil may confound me. Doctor Jacob van Hoog- straten and all the Doctors in Cologne and Cambridge are now examining his commentary on Jerome, and 1 hear it will go woundily hard with him. I would not stand in his shoes for a hundred florins, for they say that he hath sowed many tares there, thinking that no one would mark it. But the Divines are not such fools as that — they know well enough where the snake lurks in the grass, as Alexander hath it. I cannot call to mind all that they found, but I remember somewhat ; he declareth that Saint Jerome was not a Cardinal — and this is high treason ; he is heterodox concerning St. George and St. Christopher, and reHcs of Saints, and candies, and the Sacraments of Confession ; more- over in many passages he speaketh blasphemy, inas- much as he speaketh against the Holy Doctor and the Subtle Doctor. He declareth that their Theology is nothing worth. Now all these things the Magisters have collected into a volume, and they will undo him as they did Johann Jf^^essalia in Mainz. And if he barketh at them, and writeth invectives against them, they will wait till he is dead, and then they will con- demn all his works ; this, forsooth, is the Magisters' design.
As you ever joy in hearing the news, I must tell you that the Minorites now have a General of Observ- ance, a privilege that they purchased from Rome for sixteen thousand ducats. The nuns of St. Clara, of the Minorite Order, are in parlous fear lest they should be reformed, and tliey have fled into the country and lie miserably on bare boards. Some say that Dr. Murner hath had to do with them — but this cannot be true, for he is an emasculate capon. But of other Regulars I have my doubts, since they thus pursue them. A curiahst hath just died in the country who
534
11.69] MARKULPH SCHULZ
held twenty-two fat livings, and the Poets thereabouts have composed many verses concerning him. This is all I know — except that may the Lord preserve you until a man can outrun a hound. Farewell. From Strasburg.
LXIX
€E MARKULPH SCHULZ to Joliann Bimpe7'lebumpu7n of Rorbach
SALUTATIONS infinite and eternal. Beloved Johann, you lately sent me news that was but ill hearing — to wit that Johann ReuchUn hath gained for himself great renown among those Poets of his by writing a book intituled '* Gabelhstica," or " Gabala," and that he is in high favour with the Pope. I would fain know what " Gabala " may mean, but though I have long sought for it in my CathoUcon and G-emma Gemmarum, as well as in Biiton, I cannot discover its signification. I addressed a letter thereon to Magister Ortwin, but he hath sent no reply. Nevertheless the Divines have held a great council, and have examined that book, and — as I heard from them at a rouse one night, when we drank so deep that each had to pay three groschen for his shot, and I had no more money in my fob — it will of a surety go ill with him : for in that book he hath set down certain passages in opposi- tion to the Holy Doctor and his disciples, and he saith that the son of God is made of the Father. It con- taineth much else, and perverteth the Theological terms " beget " and " make," and others Hkewise ; and it payeth no heed to the arguments and questions and sophisms of the Holy Doctor. Therefore are they re- solved to burn that book — because they declare they cannot understand it, and what they do not understand, that they burn. Q.E.D.
For every Doctor of Theology is a rabbi and a light of the World.
The book moreover containeth many sayings of Pythagoras, who was a necromancer ; but necromancy
535
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
is an unlawful art — as saith LXVI, Quest. X, Chap. O, and in the Canon beginning " O ye asses ! " and the Holy Doctor agreeth therewith — as well as Aiistotle ^ in the Ninth of his Physics, " Of Ignorance." There - is moreover in the book much Hebrew, which the Divines cannot read, and much Greek ; but inasmuch as they pay no heed to vanities such as these, but medi- tate on higher things, they have appointed Johann Pfefferkoiii — Christian, yet half Hebrew, for he is oft ebrious — to examine it, lest mayhap poison should lurk beneath the honey.
But of this anon, for we shall know all about it come Franlxfort fair, and then we can discuss these matters with Doctor Ortvoin^ who goeth thither, as the emissary of the Divines, to buy any new books exposed for sale there, that they may examine them.
I have none other news to tell you, save that a Doctor of the Order of Preachers in Strasburg, who was always called Doctor Jesus, hath fled from the Convent, and many evil things are said concerning him of which I dare not speak, and many scurrilous scrib- blers write verses to viHfy him, and drop them in the market-place and in the church. This disquieteth me ; would that they would refrain themselves, lest they fall into disfavour with the Preachers. Amongst others, I picked up the lampoon foUowing; —
" Thief, slanderer, sink of crimes unspeakable — Worthy of life-long fetters, or the stake — Hater of pious priests, efFeminate, Thy covvard soul doth e'en in exile quake. A holy abbess victim of thy snares — Satan's best tool a monk doth ever make ! "
See, now, what these gallows-birds are doing ! They have respect for no man, and by the Lord, the cause of this is none other — "non facit hoc ahud," as Alexander very truly putteth it — than that evil habit of theirs of writing and making verses concerning everything that happeneth at Strasburg. Anon I will write to you more fully concerning this matter.
From SCHLETTSTADT.
536
LXX
t: MAGISTER HAMMERLEIN, in Paradise, withouf flowers of Rhetoric, to the world-renowned Mag. Oiiwin Gratius, Champion of Barbarisrn and 3Iouthpiece of Colognc, who bi^ayeth after the manner of a jackass agaimt Poets and Scholai^s, and Greeks ivhose tongue he knoweth not
SUCH wondrous boasts and such soaring scurrilities, Herr Oi-twin, have I never heard in my whole hfe as those put forth by yourself and the Doctors of Cologne — saving your presence — against that most honourable and learned of men, Herr Johann Reuchlin. Nevertheless when I heard thereof great wonder pos- sessed me — seeing that you are all double-headed asses, and natural philosophers, to wit born fools, "zwanzig zentner iiber einen tollen Fantasten " — that you strive so meanly and so scurvily to assail men so pious and learned. Moreover I marvelled greatly who taught you so craftily to pervert and falsify the pious opinions of such an upright man. At last I concluded in my mind that it could be none other than one sprung from the seed of Judas — hke father hke son — and of such is Johann Pfejfh^korn. Small wonder that ye are all friends of this man, for " birds of a feather flock together."
To the gallows then with you all, to a man, whither the hangman and his men will hale you, while you howl " Pray for us ! " Now inasmuch as all these my words are very sooth, I address them to you privately and especially, and you may impart them to the rest who sit with you in the seat of the scornful, as saith the Psalmist. But let not these matters be pubhshed abroad, lest all the righteous discern what manner of men ye are.
Nevertheless, by all the saints ! a great dread falleth upon me ; a fear lest the printer hath stolen a copy of my letter— for, if this be so, God help you ! Then I can in no wise hinder it. Yet will I give you good
537
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
counsel. Down on your marrow-bones, and pray with- out ceasing for eight days, and invoke, fasting, St, Helena who recovered the true cross. In hke manner may I recover that letter. Then once more will you abide in security.
Lo, all these things have I done out of brotherly love toward you — for we are brothers all. Farewell.
From Heidelberg ; at the house of the Lame Man at Leipsic, who heedeth not though a man's nose be shut in the postern. Would that you were with him. You would hive no need of spectacles, for 'tis said he supplieth them without charge.
.538
APPENDICES
The morc important vanants of the text are given below. The^five editions
prior to that of 1556 are denoted by [A] [H] [C] [D] and [E] respec-
tively. Readings to which no letters are appended are those of the
Leipsic text of 1 864 (Bocking).
VOLUMEN PRIMUM
I. 32, (d.) domini ; 39, Theodoricus [C] ; 74, metamor-
phosi ; 86, qui. II. 22, (quia) quid [13]; 73, [A, B, C] omit pati; 76, Bernardi.
III. 18, (ibi) hic [B] ; 50, D ; /o;- dominus [A, B, C].
IV. 38, verumtamen. VIII. 49, [C] omits ita.
IX. 58, aliquando esse [B].
XI. 39, sorori ; 59, disciipsit per frustra [C] ; 89, quod- libeta ; 94, Prophyrio [C]. XII. 38, consilium, quia concilium [A, B, C] ; 41, permittit.
XIII. 73, propinaverunt.
XIV. 9, notus/or profundus [B] ; 36, [C] oyjiits non. XVI. 19, sed.
XVII. 64, [B] omits optime.
XX. 1, Lucibulauius [B], lucibulairus [C]. XXII. 48, Psahnista; 71, dixit [B]. XXIV. 39, bonam. XXV. 10, qui; 69, Et sic; miserior [B] ; 80, illum. XXVIII. 30, iste [A, B, C],perh.for isti or istae; 55, Psalmis; 88, Psahnis. XXIX. 54, animi [C], animae.
XXX. 6, humiHma, stc ; 55, Quoniam ; 62, quando. XXXI. 20-21, et in, et in ; 28, praecipue; 64, (desc. ) /or decisione, hut sic in all edd. ; 70, quae. XXXII. 36, Argentina.
XXXIII. 14, sedit; 20, mecum : credatis; 68, ana drachmas
.iiij.
XXXIV. 65, Catarinam, jactavit; 68, sic quod quando. XXXV. 19, Francia.
XXXVI. 9, frasca.
539
APPEND1CE8
XXXVII. 29, Bdcking suggests et simul, o?- etiam ; 42, domini loannis Pfefferkorn.
XXXVIII. 82, virtus ; 87, oratores isti.
XLI. 58, In [A], a7id, zoith vaTiations of piinctication and capitals only, in [B], there folloivs :
" Et sic est flnis epistolaruni obscurorum virorum Deo gratia eiusque sancte niatri. In Venetia im- pressum in impressoria Aldi Minutii : Anno quo supra : etiam cauisatum est vt in aliis, ne quis audeat post nos impressare per decennium per illustrissimum principem Venetianorum."
APPENDEX EPISTOLARUM
XLII. 29, medicinali. Ex; 36, splendidissimos, et; 48, ore. Sic ; 57, finivisset. XLIII.-IV. 13, queris [C] ; 29, vobis unam ; 37, 65, 102, Lipsig; 151, studerent : quare. XLVI. 1, loannes; 33, quae; 35, vim : ego; 80-83, Utrum ; 102, sufficienter. Nunc; 129, trahere. Nuper. XLVIII. 58, invidia : ipse.
VOLUMEN ALTERUM
I. 24, responso primo in fine ; 26, scribitur ; 43, Micheae ;
51, Regum ; 73, Carminam [E]. II. 36, saeculares. In the Edd. from 1556 to 1830 the order of these lines is changed from (abcdefg . . .) to (aceg . . . bdf . . .). Lines 52-54 are printed as prose in [D] and [E]. IV. 15, scribere.
V. 21, [E] omits alibi ; et sicut; 36, De Sententia et Re judicata; 39, de ofiicio ludicis delegati. VII. 46, respondebit ; 49, for occultarent, or occulerent {Boclcing) ; 78, lohannem Reuchlin. VIII. 20, Gregorius ; 22, peccat in grat. [E] ; 26, domina- tionem vestram ; 43, studeo; jam; 62, Florentiae. IX. 9, [E] omits sic ; 17, vos iterum ; 20, [E] omits et . . . quia; 61, BiJching snggests fuisset for fecisset; 115, quoddam ; 119, Ulrichus; 186, pritschen [E]. X. 8, nondum ; 46, Coloniensis ; 49, inmatriculatus. XI. 7, meam ; Dominus ; 54, facultati ; 58, quae. XII. 22, Permittatis; 38, [E] ot/iits assessores; 71, ivimus ; 90, Inspruck ; 94, Insprucken ; 113, [D] omits tunc ; 120, [D] 07nits wo?-ds in brackets ,• 142, Carmelitas, Baptistam Mantuanum ; 174, quae ; 189, Quando. 540
APPENDICES
XIII. 15, membrum ; 30, ipsae ; 46, disconvenientia ; 55,
quatuor.
XIV. 10, plebanus; 30, minus; 81, majestas. XV. 21, presunam ; 28, Sapientiam ; 45, quae.
XVI. 24, Haleces [E] ; 39, quae. XVII. 1, Fredericus; 20, volo. Dixit. XVIII. 9, 17, 28, 31, quae ; 60, Valeatis. Datum raptim. XIX. 1, Ortvino Gratio ; 8, penis Camerae; 15, caepe ; 32, quae,- 33, Petri et Pauli. XX. 7, confundet ; 38, Theologos ; 52, capitis, sicut. XXI. 4, Margarethae ; 27, tales scandalizationes. XXII. 36, plontzgen ; 52, suuni, id est.
XXIII. 8, Rhome/>;- Rotae [E] ; 17, Artium ; 32, praevalet.
XXIV. 7, Christianam : ; 15, probus, et. XXV. 10, aliquando; 38, Oderani.
XXVI. 6, eas; 50, dei, id est ; 51,Christus; 54, Rhomana [E]. XXVII. 22, Pasquillum; 27, Patris Fratris lacobi de Hoch-
strat; 28, haereticae pravitatis. XXVIII. 3, Venerabilis [E] ; 34, hic; 59, col. i.; 81, Christum 83, Pfefterkorn ; 114, [D] ornits modo; 137, [D] ahne has fecit; 169, Chrisogoni; 230, nimis [D] [E],ybr minus ; 260, comburere. XXIX. 9, Gelterszheim. XXX. 16, libros; 22, Parrhisienses ; 36, Oculare; 49, scilicet
loachimus; 51, loannes. XXXI. 2, Daventriensi ; 4, cordialiter ; 22, est. XXXII. 10, Dominus Magister.
XXXIII. 9, Valentinum; 10, Petrum ; 11, Licentiatum ; 21,
Bertram.
XXXIV. 60, Pfefferkorn.
XXXV. 22, amantius ; 25, Alexandrum, ; 37, subsannavit ; 63, Legat prius [E] ; 67, omnem. XXXVI. 19, Sapientia. Praeterea; 31, sesquipedali. XXXVII. 4, M. Quia [E] ; 6, [E] omits sicut; 35, [E] omits habet ; 47, [E] omits nostri et ; 60, Christum ; 64, PaiThisius. XXXVIII. 3, interrogans; 13, Minoribus; 22, Salomonis; 35, amicabiliter [E]. XXXIX. l,Conradus Strildriot [E] ; 2, Gratio Salutem ; 20, rubrae ; 39, BocMng proposes id est hefore quod ; 55, quae; 59, Datum Romae. XL. 10, tamen ; 28, dominum magistrum nostrum. XLI. 9, hebes added in [E] ; 23, casus, . XLII. 20, Sed ponamus [E] ; 38, quae; 51, sepe et: [D]. XLIII. 56, respondet; 63, praedicandi : ib, , movendo; 74,
tE [D] ; 95, praedictum ; 97, darent. XLIV. 13, perfectus, (Bocking suggests provectus); 30, rubi- cata, ita.
541
APPENDICES
XLV. 7, artibus; tunc; 27, [E] omits vel sic ; 31, Pro-
verbiorum. XLVI. 1, Unckenbunck [E] ; 41, bacularii; 42, sexaginta; 46, si, for sic in [D] [E] ; 50, novos ; 82, etiani ego ; 96, pareant [E]. XLVII. 5, Michaelis ; 43, fide ; 65, igneni, ita ; 77, grammatici ;
90, Val. D. S. [E]. XLVIII. 47, Cepas [E]. XLIX. 21, comburere; 22, autenticabit ; 32, [D] omits quod. L. 6, lohannis ; 12, sunt; 25, euni. Videatis; 32, Hieru- salem ; 39, fecibus : ih. quadam; 46, originali ; 57, Bohemiam ; 62, id est; 73, eo. Tunc; 87, quales; 94, tractaverunt ; 118, qui ; 120, dilacerabunt ; 122, sordidos ; 126, humiliter. LI. 24, Corinna; 35, Wimphelingus. LII. 1, Henricus [E] ; 29, corio. LIII. 12, Bdcking suggests praesentaverunt ; 15, Fratrem ;
21, haereticae pravitatis; 69, contra. LIV. 1, Guilhehnus [E] ; 25, Lovanienses; 38, fecerunt;
40, mendaciuni ; 43, criniinibus. LV. 44, Canonici ; 61, [D] omits lohannes; 81, [D] omits de ; 86, tractant ; 89, disputationes . De . ; 92, [E] omUs D. Ma. LVI. 2, [E] has Gratio Salutem Pkn-imfi. Dicit. Ma., taking the last zcords from the end of Ep. L V. ; 5, opinionem ; 11, etenim ; 30, [D] omits est; 46, Ingelstat [E]. LVIII. 14, scribit [D] [E] ; 32, Bocking siiggests voluerunt ; 39, [D] omits autem ; 45, querunt [D] [E] ; 82, mittunt. LIX. 2, Salutem ; 28, quo [D] [E] ; 46, Melanchthon ; 47,
Gerbellius; 50, [D] ow?7,s' autem. LX. 25, ob [D].
LXI. 8, quae ; 14, triticum, isti ; 26, trufator ; 28, 32, Grachis; 54, presbiter; 57, audacter; 78, respo- dendo [D]. LXII. 38, quatuor; 52, docet [E]. LXIII. 46, prava [E] ; 55, approbatus; 87, Bocking snggests et est; 101, sauctus [E] ; 132, novum ybr nunc; 158, tantum ; 159, quis ; 175, credere ; 189, Schurerius. LXIV. 21, sciunt; 87, pater. LXVI. 16, quando; 53, iuinus [E]. LXVII. 22, primo Proverbiorum ; 71, dominus. LXVIII. 38, in loco. LXIX. 24, [E] omits non ; 29, asini. LXX. 19, quam hoc, frst inserted in ed. o/^lS^^; 29, quod ; 44, acconmiodat.
542
II
The following non-i-lassical words, occurring in the Epistolae Obscurorum
Virorum, are not included in Du ('ange^s Glossarium ad Scriptores
Mediae et Infimae Latinitatis {Niort, 1883-87).
Affectionatus, i. 23.
Affectualissimi, i. 38.
Affectualitate, i. 38.
Amae, ii. 22.
Amiciose, ii, SQ.
Argumentifex, ii. 6.
Baniris, i. 24. Bergamenibus, ii. 52. Bibalia, ii. 12.
Carminista, ii. 6Q. Carnirum, i. 44. Cavisare, i. 3, l6. Chorisavi, i. 3S. Coelestitatem, ii. 43. Combibilationes, i. 31. Combibilator, i. 34. Commerdaverunt, ii. 6S. Componista, i. 18. Condebitam, i. 35. Confectionatum, ii. 35. Conspicello, i. 13. Convivalitas, i. 33. Copistria, ii. 8. Coqualia, ii. 48. Corisatione, i. 44. Crinisare, i. 36, 41
(Crinisatus, l)n C). CucuUatulis, ii. 63.
Dapiverunt, i. 13
(Dapere, dapare, Du C). Descisione, i. 37. Descissione, i. 31. Detorculare, i. 24. Devotarie, i. 36, 37. Dictaminas, ii. 1, 28, 31. Dictaminorum, i. 18. Doctrinaliter, i. 8 ; ii. 32, 63.
Egregitudine, ii. 43.
Extractivam, i. 33.
Faciletas, i. 21. Fallimoniam, i. 12. Fantastae, ii. 5. Figuralis, i. 20. Fugens, i. 46".
Galrinum, i. 44. Genelogia, i. 33. Gratiabilis, i. 36. Grosse, ii. 19, 66.
Idolatra, ii. 28. Ignorax, ii. 58. Immodicite, i. 11. Impressitae, ii. 64. Incommodosa, ii. 7. Intentionaliter, ii. 28. Intei*fectoriales, ii. 17. Intronisationem, ii. 27
(Inthronisatio, Du C). Inventivus, i, 32.
Jucunditer, i. 44. Juristria, ii. 7, 27.
Lacaritio, i. 46. Lansmannus, i. 1. Liberariam, i. 31. Liberarios, ii. 28.
Magistralitas, i. 6. MagistraUter, i. 8, &c. Mammaluca, i. 48
(Mammaluci, Du C). Menestrum, ii. 19. Metrosam, ii. 2. Mortuerunt, ii. 64.
543
APPENDICES
Nostrare, i. 1 .
Occularent, ii. 7.
Pallescare, i. 33. Pantofoli, i. 40. Pariselli, ii. 15. Parthecas, i. 46. Patritius, ii. 56. Pectoraliter, i. 32. Piras, i. 44. Poetaliter, i. 9 ; ii. 9- Poeticare, ii. 11. Poetrius, i. 17. Possos, i. 46. Practicatoribus, i. 42. Praebendiolam, ii. 36. Praeconisceretur, ii. 64. Praesumptuositas, i. 31. Professionati, ii. 67. Proficualem, ii. 52. Promotoriales, i. 20.
Quacculator, i. 46.
Rariuscule, ii. 36. Rebaldria, ii. 9- Reprehensivi (adj.), ii. 31. Rhetoricaliter, i. 34. Rigmizare, i. 18. Rithmice, ii. 29. RoUationes, i. 46.
Salatum, ii. 19
( for Salictum, Du C). Sameloto, ii. 39. Sanctissimitas, ii. 4 ; ii. 32. Saponista, i. 24. Scarparia, ii. 12. Scholirega, ii. 22.
Scientiosi, i. 38, 42
(Scientiose, Du C).
Scommatizare, ii. 33.
Scompizat, ii. 65.
Scrupulatio, ii. 70.
Scutant, i. 46.
Sermonisare, i. 42
(Sermonizare, Dii C).
Solaciosam, i. 43.
Sperantiam, ii. 5, 49.
Stafirus, i. 48.
Studitorium, i. 31.
Sulsissimo, i. 40.
Superaeternaliter, i. 41.
Superexcellescat, ii. 63.
Supergressionem, ii. 67.
Superiorista, ii. 3, &c.
Superlatrant, ii. 7.
Supernali, i. 38, &c.
Suppetiare, i. 20.
Supradatis, ii. 64.
Taxilis, i. 46. Thematisari, ii. 46. Theutonice, i. 46. Tibisare, i. 14, &c.
(Tibizare, Dv C). Timax, ii. 5, 58. Transvidere, i. 21.
Veneficati, ii. 17. Ventricalia, i. 33. Veterissimo, ii. 47. Vinificatus, ii. 12. Vitreatam, ii. 42. Vitrinus, i. 47. Vituperativam, ii. 15, 53.
Zeccha, i. 3, &c. Zelositatem, ii. 43.
544
GENERAL INDEX
With verij fcio exceptions, the Introduction, Notcs, and Latin Text are alone referred
to in the Index : the Letters heing numbered, the correspoTuling passages in the
Translation can be readily idcntijied. 0. V. — Obscurus Vir ; q. = quoted; an asterisk appended to a refcrence indicates that
some account of, and not a mere allusion to, the person or matter named will
be found in the note thus charactensed.
A
" Abaces," raeaning of, 251.
Abraam, Isaac de stirpe Aminadab
(O. V.), 274-77. Accents, Greek, useless, 20. Accius Neobius (pseiid.), Ixvi, 68 n. Accolti, Pietro, Card., xli, 183 n. Accorso, Francesco, 251 n.* Accursius, 169 n. See also Accorso. "Aconita," 123 n.* Actaeon, alluded to by Ezekiel, 75. Acta Parrhisiensium, xliv, 24.* Acuficis, Albertus (O. V.), 143-45. Adam, Melchior, 100 n. Adolescentia, 241 n. Adrian di Castello, Card., 195 n.* Aedicollius, Joan. and Serr., at Co-
logne, xxi. Aegidius, of Stichteln, 201 n. Aegidius Parisiensis, 206 n. Aeneas Sylvius, remark of, 39 n. ; q.,
170 n. Aeneid, 106, 115. Aesticampianus, Joannes Rhagius,
expelled from Leipsic, xxi, 47 n.*,
50, 150. Aglauros, alluded to in Job, 75. Agnus Dei, sent from Rome, 176 n.* Agricola, Rudolph, xvi. Agrippa, H. C, q., 5 n., 64 n. Albert, of Brandenburg, 212 n. Albertists, their doctrines, 44 n.*,
156 ; peculiar tenets of, 226. Albrecht, Duke of Saxony, 49 n. Album Graecum, 87 n.* Alchemists, proverb concerning, 64 n. Aldus Manutius, 66 n. Alexander Grammaticus (Gallus), his
Doctrinale, 14 n.* ; birth of, 19 n. ;
et saepe.
Algiiuer Alps, 274 n.
Alphonsus a Spina, 60 n.*
Altaplatea, lacobus de (i.e. Hoog-
straten) (0. V.), 121-24. "Amae," 180 n.* Ambach, 114 n. "Ambo,"71 n.* Amorbach (Bonifacius), 152. Amphoraticius, loan., 279 n. "Ana,"87n.* Anabaptists, 26 n., 29 n. "Andallum," 40 n.* Andes, 161 n.
Angelinus (Wimpinus), 270. Anglia. See England. Anglicus, 74. 149, 256. Angst, Wolfgang, his letter to Eras-
mus, xlix ; 152 n.* Annales Reformationis, 100 n. Antichrist, birth of, 242. Aperbach, Petreius, 150, 227, 256. Apposition, instance of, 165. Aquinas, Thomas, 32, 35, 115, 117 ;
compared with St. Dominic, 231 ;
250. Argyropoulos, John, xxvii. Aristotle, 3, 8, 21, 29, 114 n., 115 n.
Feast of, 4 n.*
Arnod, 220.
Arnold von Tongern. See Tongern.
Arnoldi, lohannes (0. V.), 29-31,
210-11. Ars Margarethae, 88 n.* Articuli, publ. by A. von Tongern,.
xxxvii, 8, 25, 112 n., 156 n., 170. " Artista," meaning of, 5 n. Arts, The Seven Liberal, 48 n.* Ascension, notable sermon on the,
Astorga, 59 n.
Astrob, 220.
545
2 M
LETTER8 OF OBSCURE MEN
Asuerus, 217.
Athens, 151.
Audores octo Morales, 280 n.
Augenspiegel, publ., xxxv ; heretical, 19, 43, 147, 156 ; burnt, 30, 135, 183, 197 ; favoured by Leo X., 36, 141 ; defended, 59, 178 ; trans- lated, 92, 154 ; to be hanged, 200 ; debated, 246 ; condemned by the Sorbonne, 247. See also 71, 162, 222, 249, 253.
Augsburg, 150 ; weavers at, 171.
Augustine, St., q., 186 n.
Augustinians, diflferent Orders so named, 37 n.
Aulus Gellius, q., 114 n.
Aurea Legenda, 16 n.
Aurora, q., 27 n.*
Autentica, 93 n.
Avicenna, q., 226 n.
" Baccalaurius formatus," 3 n.*
"Bacchantes," 119n.
Bacchus, compared to Christ, 75 ;
nursed by nymphs, 75 n. Bacon, Francis, q., 19 n. Balbus, Joannes, 6 n. Baldung, Pius Hieron., 175 n. " Balini," 72 n. "Balnea," meaning of, 251 n. Bamberg, harlots in, 170. Baptista Mantuanus, 162 n.* Barbara, 219. Barclay, Alex., Ship ofFools, q., 13 n.,
281 n. Bartholomew Fair, 9 n. Basle, 80, 152, 214. Batodius, Lucas, 266 n. Bavaria, cabbages in, 171. Bax, E. Belfort, q., 60 n. Bayne, Peter, Martin Luther, 235. "Beanus," 135 n., 199 n.* Beard, C, Hibbert Lectures, q., 37 n. Beatus Rhenanus, xx, 80 n.*, 151,
257, 269. Bebelius, Henricus, xx, 151, 157 n.*,
202 n. Beek, Hermann van. See Torren-
tinus. " Beguttae," 80 n.* Bell, at centre of the earth, 80. Benedictus de Scocia (O. V.), 230-
33. Bercherius, Petrus, 74 n.* Berger, S., De Glossariis, q., 6 n. ; 85 n.,
282 n. Berlin. See Perlin.
Berne, 60, 119, 214, 268, 285.
the Heresiarchs of, 60 n.
Bersuire, Pierre. See Bercherius. Berthold, Ahbp. of Mainz, 158 n. Berthold of Regensburg, on Jews,
185 n.* Bertram, Petrus, 205 n.* Besutio, Angelus de, 175 n. Beutinger. See Peutinger. Bianco, Die alte Univ. Koln, q., 19 n.,
22 n. Bild von Rheinau. See Beatus Rhe-
nanus. Bildron, 220.
Bleck, Georgius (0. V.) 211-13. Boccaccio, 15 n. Bock, F., 59 n.
Otho and Philipp de, 249.
Bocking, Eduard, his ed. of the
E. 0. V., ix. Boethius, De Consol. Phil., 66 n.,
157 n. Bohemia, 170, 238, 252. Bohemian Brethren. See Unitas
Fratrum. Bohnier Wald, robbers in, 138. Bois-le-Duc, 170 n. Boldriach, 220. Bologna, 30, 149, 162, 240, 242, 251,
25i5, 257. Bonaventura, St., 35 n.*, 81, 83. Bonet de Lates, xlii. Bonn, names of, 95 n.* Bootlaces, bad in Italy, 176. Borscus, loannes, 22 n. Bousset, M., Der Antichrist, 242 n. Brabantia, 127, 132. Bradley, H., The Goths, q., 161 n. Brant, Sebastiun, 68 n., 151, 241 n.* Brantspiegell, pubL, xxxvii. Brassicanus, Joannes, 34 n.*, 151. Brecht, Walther, on the authorship
of the E. 0. V., Ivi, Ixvii. Bremen, 253. Brenner Pass, 161. Breslau. See Vratislavia.
Johann of, 22.
Brethren of the Common Lot, xviii. Breviloquus, Vocahularius, 6 n.*,51 n. Bricot, Thomas, 246 n.*
Wilhelmus (O. V.), 246-48.
Briton, WiUiam, 282 n. Brixia, 161.
Brulefer, Stephanus, 65 n.* Brumannus, Henr., 249. Bruneck, 148. Brunellus, Dr., 86, 90. Bruno, Giordano, 186 n. Bryce, J., q., 158 n. Buchenwald, 150.
546
\
GENERAL INDEX
Buchonia, 150.
"Bund8chuh,"90n.*
Burchardus, loan., 283.
Buridan, Jean, 264 n.*
Burkhardt, Georg, 100 n.* See also Spalatinus.
Johann, 283 n.
Burns, Robt., his satire compared with that of the E. 0. V., li.
"Bursa," explained, 13 n.
Buschius, Hermannus, xx, xxi ; Elo- gium by, xxxvii ; his share in the £. 0. V., Ixvii, 28 n.*, 50, 83, 84 n., 85, 95, 101, 148, 153, 227,228, 241, 256.
Busto ducis, 170.
Butzbach, Johann, 269 n.*
"Byssus," 118 n.*
C
Cabbala, mysteries of the, xxviii, 280,
282. See also Gabbala. Cadmus, compared to Christ, Ui, 75. Caesar, Julius, 106. Caesarius, Joannes^ xx, xxi, 85 n.*,
153. Calabria, 277. Callisto, 75. Cah-astriuSj Stephanus (O. V.), 53-
54. Campanien, 150.
Campo dei Fiori, 122, 155 n., 186 n.* Canis, Magnus and Minor, 84 n.* Cantabria, 281.
Cantimpratensis, Thomas, 66 n. Cantrifusoris, loannes (O. V.), 14-
16, 14 n. Capnio, meaning of the name, xxviii. Caprimulgius, Nicolaus (O. V.), 19-
21. Caravajal, Bernardino de, Card.,
177 n.*, 236 n.* Carbachius, Nich., 153, 249. " Carenas," 81 n.* Carinna. See Corinna. " CarUn," 186 n.* Carmehtes, 5, 25, 80 n.*, 131, 162. Carolus Manneken, Epistolae, q., 16
n., 22 n.*, 112 n. Carthusians, 242. " Casearius," meaning of, 18 n. Cases,Reserved,Episcopal and Papal,
10 n. Caspar (praedicator), of Kempten,
217 n. Cassel, 179 n.* Cassian, John, 15 n. Castrifrancanus, Albertus, 20 n.
Cusus lonyi, 169 n.
Categories, Aristotle'8, 116.
Catena Anrea, 117 n.*
Catherine, of Mecklenburg, her wed-
ding, 110. Catholicon, 6 n.* ; q., 67 n. Catones, 232. Cat-whipping, 103 n. "Cavisavi," meaning of, 13 n. Celibacy, folly of monastic, Ixx. Celtis, Conr., xx, xxi, 12 n., 240. " Centumviri," meaning of, 252. Chalk, scarcity of, at Rome, 176. Charitatis, Petrus (0. V.), 259-61. Chartiludium Logice (T. Murner),
136 n. Chatto, W. A., Hist. of PlayinQ Cards,
q., 136 n. Chaucer, q., 4 n., 31 n., 176 n. Cheese, scruples coucerning grubs in,
187. " Chorus," meaning of, 252. Chrisogono, St., Card. of, 195. Christopher, St., 88 n., 281. Cicero, 21, 44, 265 ; de Xat. Deorurn, 240 n.
Circumcision, debate upon, 95-97.
" Cista," 71 n.*
Clara, St., nuns of, 281.
Clarke, R. F., Pilgrimage to . . , Treves, 33 n.
Clements, Henry, his edd. of the E. 0. V., viii.
Clipeum Thomistarum, 65 n.*
Coblentz, 165.
Cochleariligneus, lohannes (0. V.), 255-57.
Colet, .John, xxxviii, 29 n.
" Collatio," meaning of, 15 n.
Collectanea reruni memorabiiium, 67 n.
Collimitius, 149, 200 n.*
CoUoquium de Herhis, 100 n.
Cologne, saepe; piety of folk at, 58 ; shrine of Magi at, 59 n.
Colpius, Bartholomaeus (0. V.), 80.
Comhihilationes, 81, 83.
Complexions, the four, 90 n.*
"Componist," 51 n.
Coraposita Verhorura, 23 n,
Concubinage, clerical, 27 n.
" Consistorium," 10 n.*
Constance, diocese of, 239.
Continuum, 117 n.
" Copulata," explained, 33 n.
Corbie, Abbey of, 59 n.
Coridon, 165.
Corinna, 241.
" Corinthia," meaning of, 251.
Cornelius, Alexander, 67 n.
Cornutus, 23 n.*, 98.
547
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Corona. See Crown.
Corsica, wine of, 142, 247.
Corvinus, Laurentius, his De Latino
Ydiomate, 34 n. Cosdriel, 220. Council, above a pope, 37. Crapp, lohannes (O. V.), 216-17. Creighton, M., Hist. of Papacy, q., x,
li, 28 n. Cribelinioniacius, Henrichus (0. V.),
202-4. Croke, Richard, Ixv, 20 n., 91 n.*
149, 253. Cross, Patriarchal, 278 n.* Crotus Rubianus, account of, Ix-lxi ;
his share in the E. 0. V., Ixi, 150. "Crown, The," at Mainz, 34, 119. Cuick, Johann, 13 n. " Cullagium," 27 n. " Curatum," 147 n.* Curio, Mag. (writer of i. 44), 109. Currificis, Joannes (0. V.), 114-18. " Currus," derived, 67. "Cursor," 80 n.*, 190 n.* "Curtisani," 186 n.* Cuspinianus, loh., 149, 201 n.*, 257. Cynthia, 241. Cyrella, 251.
D
Dacia, cattle in, 171.
" Daripinus," meaning of, 12 n.
Daubengigelius,Paulus (O. V. ),63-66.
Daventria, saepe. See also Deventer.
David, 79.
David Copperjield, q., 20 n.
De Arte Cabalistica (Reuchlin), 280 n.
" Debilis transicio," 114.
Decimarius, 71. See also Zehender.
Declaration of Popisli Impostures,
103 n. Decretal. Greg. IX., q., 70 n. De Discijdina Scliolarium., 66 n.* Defensio (Reuchlin's), 64 n.* De Generibus Ebriosorum, 42 n. ; q.,
242 n. Degrees, Academical, despised by
the Humanists, 42 n. De Integritute, 241 n. Delitzsch, Andreas, 6 n. ; on Aesti-
campianus, 49. Demetrius Phalerius (0. V.), 213-14. De Modis Signijicandi, 66 n. De Monte Hostel, 14. "Depositio," 101 n. De Rudimentis Ilebraicis, xxix. Deventer, Latin school and frater-
huis at, xix. De Verbo Mirifico, xxviii. Dhaun-Eberstein, Philipp von, 177 n.
5
" Diabolus erit Abbas," 202 n.
" Diaeta," meaning of, 252.
Diana, alluded to in Psalms, 75.
Diana, Ant., q., 11 n.
" Dictamen," meaning of, 14 n.
Dietrich von Bern, 161 n.*
Digest, The, 169 n.
Diocletian, parentage of, 131.
Diomedes, grammarian, 209 n. ; q.,
232 n.
King of Thrace, 209 n.
" Discholus," meaning of, 22 n.
Discipulus, 234 n.*
Disraeli, Isaac, Cur. of Lit., 188 n.
Distinctiones Scoti, 65.
Doctrinale, q., 219 n. ; q., 283 n. Sce
also Alexander. Dollenkopffius, Conradua (O. V.),
72-76. Dullinger, J. J. I. von, Die Papst-
fabeln, l9l n. Dominic, St., 230 sq. Dominicans, miracles of, 16 ; in ill
odour, 213, et saepe. Dominus q^ie Pars, 22 n. Donaldson, J. W., q., xxvi. Donatus, Ars Parva of, 22 n., 162,
192, 265 n.*, 271. Dondis, Jacobus de, 86 n, Don Quixote, Ixviii, 115 n. Doomsday, 80. Dorothea, Conrad of Zwickau's praise
of, 58. Drinking customs, 7, 173. Du Cange, q., 9 n., 11 n., et saepe. Dungersheim, Hieron., 266 n.* Duns Scotus, 41 n., 44, 65, 66 n., 164,
250. Durande, Guil., 117, 243 n,*
E
" Easter candles," in magic, 219 n,
Eberbach, Peter, 41 n,, 150, 227 n.
Eberburck, 108, 112.
Eberhard, Duke of Wiirtemberg,
xxvii, Eberhardus Bethuniensis, 98 n.*
See also Graecista.
de Campis, 269 n.*
Ecbertus de Harlem, 183 n.*
Ungenant (O. V.), 198-99.
Eggs, permissible on fast-daj^, 186, Eimbeck, its beer, 4, Eitelnarrabianus de Pesseneck (0,
V.), 93-95, Elegantiarum viginti praecepta, 201 n. Elephant (white), given to Leo X,,
163, 233 n,*
48
GENERAL INDEX
Eleutherius Byzenus (pseud.), Ixvi,
68 n.
Elsa, 220.
Encomium Moriae, q., 106 n.
Engelhard, Valentin von, account of , 22 n.
Engentinus, Philippus, 148 n.*
England, 90 ; sheep in, 171 ; 253, 270.
Eobanus Hessus, Iviii-ix, 100 n.*, 150, 227, 256.
Epistates, And. See Delitzsch.
" Epistographum," meaning of, 251.
Ejiistolae Clarorurn Viroruvi, xlv ; q., 29 n., 133.
Obscurorum Virorum, their im-
portance, vii ; Sir W. Hamilton on, viii ; editions of, xiii ; language of, x ; coarseness of , xi, 1 ; first appearance of, xlv ; meaning of title, ib. ; their modernity, xlvi ; plan of, xlv-vi ; date of, xlviii ; blasphemies of, li; unfairness of, liii ; second series of, liv ; author- ship of, Ivi, sqq. ; their influence, Ixviii, sqq.; why so named, 131- 3-4.
" Equiritia," 64 n.
Erasmus, q., xvii, xxii ; xlvi, 1, 41 n., 49 n. ; his stature, 105 n. ; at Strasburg, ib., 121 ; at Basle, 152 n. ; "doctus theologus," 159, 178; highly honoured, 213; 215; q., 235 n., 237 ; his Nov. Test., 235 n., 238 n., 241; "homo pro se," 257 ; 270, 279.
Erfurt, Univ. of, 203, 229.
Erzgebirge, 150 n.
Eucharist, Emperor poisoned at, 61.
Euchurius, 249 n.
Euricius Cordus, Iviii, 100 n.*
Euritius, Ritius, 100.
Europa, scriptural allusion to, 75.
Eusebius, St., Card. of, 124.
Evelyn, John, his Diary, q., 11 n.
Exercitium Fuerorum, 55 n.*, 228.
Ex Quo, Vocahularius, 6 n.
F
Faber, .Jacobus, 212.
Fabri, lohannes, 140 n.
Fabricius, J. A., 47 n.
Facetus, 280 n.*
Facha, Balthasar de, 148 n.
Faerie Queene, The, q., 48 n.
Fairholt, W., ref. to, 9 n.
Falckenberg, Matt. de, 109, 250.
Falkland, Lord, his " Convivium
Philosophicum," lix. Farnach, 220. Fasciculus Temporum, 82 n. Federleser, Bernhard (O. V.), 296.
See also Pluniilegus. Fenestrificis, Cornelius (O.V.), 31-35. Fenstermacher, Corn. (O. V.), 309. Fettich, Theobaldus, 152, 159. Fidenza, Giovanni di. See Bonaven-
tura. Finck, Mathaeus (O. V.), 145-47 ;
epitaph on, 246-47. Fire, St. Anthony's, 149 n. Fish, dear at Cologne, 181.
maggots regarded as, 187.
Fisher, John (Bp.), xxxviii, 29 n. Flandria, 148, 152, 171. Flaschenklirrer, Otto (0. V.), 477. Flerszklirdrius, Otho (O. V.), 220-23. Fliscus, Stephanus, 280 n.* Florence, Leo X. at, 146, 163 ; ill-
repute of, 171 n., 244. Flores legum, 158 n. Floretus, 280 n.* Florista, 280. "Focaria," 27 n. Formalitates Scoti, 164 n. Formularies, 36 n.* Fornaficis, Padormannus (0. V.), 97-
100, 97 n. Fortalitium Fidei, 60 n.*, 164. Fotzenhut, Marquardus (0. V.), 177-
78. France, 64, 91, 93, 147 ; vassals in,
171 ; 262. Franciscans, 37 n., 136, 213. Franciscus (theologian), 151. FranQois L, his meeting with Leo X,,
162. Franconia, 41, 150; nobles in, 171. Frankfort Fair, importance of , xxxi. Frankfort-on-Main, xxiv-xxvi, etc. Frankfort-on-Oder, 149. " Frascariae," meaning of, 46 n.* Fratres Hieronymici, xviii. Frederick I., of Prussia, 15 n. Freher, Marg., q., 61 n. Freiburg (Breisgau), Univ. of, 24. Friburga (-ia), 26, 152. Frisia, nags in, 171. Frobenius, loh., 80 n. ; his house at
Basle, 152 n., 256 n. Froude, J. A., q., 235. Fulda, Abbey of , Ixiii ; learned priest
at, 82 n.* Funck, Mathias, 246 n.* Fundahientum ScJiolarium, 22 n. Future tense, dog-Latin form of,
43 n.
549
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
G
Gahbala, Reuchlin's, 280, 282.
Galen, 170.
Galienus Padebornensis (0. V.)» 252-
53. "Gallus gallinaceus," meaning of,
252. "Galrinum," 110 n. Ganda, lacobus de, 35.
Theod. de, 5, 59.
Ganseprediger, Franz (O. V.), 304. Ganymede,suiteth with the Realists,
115. Garland, John, 22 n.* Garlandia, Joannes de. See Garland. Gates of Light, The, 159 n. Geert Groete, xviii. Geiger, L., xxix, 177 n. Geiler, J., Navicula Fatuorum, 137 n. Gelfl", Bernhard (0. V.),on the name
"Gratius," 132, 190-98. Geltersheim, Valent. de, 22 n.*, 35,
52, 176, 198 n., 204. Gemma Gemmaruvi, 6n.*, 198 n., 282. Gemmingen, Uriel von, xxv, 211 n. Genselinus, Franciscus (0. V.), 24-26. Georg, Herr (Predicant), his hypo-
crisy, 15-16. George, Duke of Saxony, Erasmus
to, 49 n.
St., 102.
Georgius Bruxellensis, 264 n. Georius, for Georgius, 12. Gerarde's Herball, q., 4 n. Gerard Groot, his sermon De focariis,
27 n.
of Zutphen, 13 ; death of, 19 ;
elegy on, 53. Gerardus de Monte, 226 n. Gerbelius (Gerbellius), Nico., 151,
257, 269 n.* Gereander, Paulus, 151 n.* Gerhardus, Magnus, xviii. See also
Gerard Groot. Ghent, Beguinage at, 81 n. Ginsburg, Dr., The Cahbala, 283 n. Giovanni da Genova, 6 n. Glantz, Fradericus (0. V.), 173. Glareanus, H., 152, 214 n.* Glatzkopf, Stephan (0. V.), 326. Glockenheintz, 249. Glorianus. See Glareanus. Glosa notahilis, 54. Goldast, Melchior, Gravamina, q.,
28 n.
Golding, Arthur, translator of Col-
lectanea, 67 n. Gouda, Jakob von, 35. Theodoric of, 5 n.*, 59.
Gowk, Dr. Barthel (0. V.), 417.
" Gracchi," Gratius derived from,259.
Gracchus, Caius, oratorical device of,
99. Graecista, 209. See also Eberhardus. Graetz, H., Hist. of the Jexfs, q., 60 n.,
94 n. Grammatica Sjpeculativa, 66 n. Grapp, lohannes (0. V.), 1.34-35. Gratius, Magister (O. V.), 261-63.
Ortwin. [All the Epp. are
addressed to O. G. with the ex- ception of i. 31, 34, 35, 44, 49 ; ii. 68, 69. He is the supposed writer of i. 34.] Ortuinus Gratius, pupil of Hegius, XX ; xxiii ; Carmen by, xxxvii ; why selected as the butt of the humanists, xlvii ; on Greek accents, 20 ; his poetic gifts, 23, 25, 53 ; beats his doxy, 26 ; a squire of dames, 38 ; accused of being a bastard, 45, 248 ; alleged heresy of, 64 n.* ; why named Gratius, 82, 98-99; his book of love - charms, 87 ; strong drink causes his backsliding, 88 ; his intimacy with Frau Pfefterkorn, 96, 215 ; his illness, 102, 103 ; be- comes a father, 113 ; his valour, 140; his immorality, 145 ; his Praenotamenta, 156 n. ; commits a solecism, 164 ; his Latin style, 166 ; the theologians' " Poet," 179 ; Klynge's reminiscences of, 180 ; slow in composition, 201 ; his great learning, 218; his con- tempt for Greek, 224 ; his love of books, 243 ; dispute concerning his name, 259-60; his lineage, 263; his skill in magic, 273; at Frankfort fair, 283 ; brayeth like a jackass, 284. Greferius, loan., 275. Grego[rius], 146. Gregorovius,F., Gesch. der Stadt Eom.,
233 n. Gregory the Great, saying of, xvii. Greifswald, 148 n.* Gricius, Sylvester (0. V.), 248-50. Grimani, Dominico, Card., xli, 92,
183, 195. Grocyn, William, xxxviii, 91 n.* Groning, Martinus, translates the
Aiigenspiegel, xliv, 154 n.*, 236. Guarinus of Verona, 6 n. Guida, 269 n. Guillermus Hackinetus, letter to,
90. Gulielmites, Order of, 80 n.*, 93. Gundelfingen, 108 n.
550
GENERAL INDEX
Gury, P. T. P., Cams Consc, q.,
187 n. Gutenstein, Graf von, xxii. Gyni, virtues of, 86, 90.
Hackfurt, Lucas. See Batodius.
Hackinet, Wilh. See Haquinet.
Hackstro, Bertholdus (0. V.), 181-
82. Hafenmusius, Petrus (0. V.), 21-24 ;
his name, 21 n. Hagenau, 152. Halberstadt, 206, 260, 263. Hales, Alexander of, 35 n.* Halle, Univ. of, 15 ; execution at,
63, 124. Hamilton, Sir William, q., viii, xviii,
xxxvii, Ixix. Hiimmerlein, Felix. See Maleolus. Han, Henricus, 249 n. Hayult-Spiegel, xxxiv, 167 n. Haquinet Petit, Guil., 90 n.* Hare, A. J. C, q., 186 n. Hartlieb, J., De Fide Merelricum, q.,
108 n. Hartwig, 0., 81 n. Harveus. See Verneus. Harz, 259.
Hassia, Henricus de, 81 n.* Haureau, J. B., on Thomas Wal-
lensis, 74 n.* Hausern, Burs unter xvi, 14 n. Heckmann, Johann, 41 n.*, 149,
201. Hegius, Alexander, xx. Heidelberg, letters dated from, i. 28,
i. 33, i. 42, i. 46, ii. 70 ; Univ. of,
24, 73, 145. Helena, St., 285. Helyot, q., 80 n. Hemerlin, Otho (0. V.), 165-68. Henricus de Hassia. See Hassia. Pauper, or Septimellensis, 114
n.* Henry, Duke of Saxony, his wedding,
110. Henry VII., Emp., poisoning of, 61,
93 n. Herharius, 86 n.* Herbipolis. See Wiirzburg. Herder, J. G. von, on the influence
of the E. 0. V., Ixviii. Hermann, Graf von Wied, 177 n. Hermonymus, George, xxvii. Herolt, Johann. See Discipulus. Hertz, Martin, Life of Eohan Hesse,
100 n.
Herzogenbusch, needle-makers at,
170.
Hiltbrandus Mammaceus (O. V.), 36-38.
Hipp, loannes (0. V.), 47-51.
Hirsch, S. A., A Book of Essays, q., 175 n.
Hobbes, Thos., q., 189 n.
Hofman, Mag., 373.
Holcot, Johannes (O. V.), 178-79.
Robert of, 178 n.*
Holy Ghost, Order of the, 278 n.*
Homer, 217 ; Latin transl. of, 224 n. ; Iliad, q., 225 n.
Honiglecker, MatthJius (0. V.), 319.
Hoogstraten, Jakob van, xxxi ; char- acter.of , xxxviii-ix ; at Rome, xli ; a mumping friar, 18 ; at Rome, 36, 52 ; " a vile beast," 59 ; ignorant of High German, 92 n. ; his letter to O. G., 121 ; epitaphs on, 123 ; sorely beset, 139 ; gives a feast, 141; in dire want, 142; his zeal, 167; money sent to, 187; ode upon, 188; "lucet sicut stella," 203 ; withstands Wick, 236 ; leaves Rome on foot, 244 ; et saepe.
Hoppe, lohannes, 47 n.*
Horace, 7, 133, 201, 216 n., 252.
Horawitz, A., 80 n.
Hostis Judaeorum, xxiii.
Hudibras, Ixviii.
Hugo de Digneneton, 11 n.
de Folieto, 175 n.
Hugutio of Pisa, his Magnae Deriva- tiones, 6 n.
Hundt, Magnus and Minor. See Canis.
Hungary, vermin in, 170.
Hungen, Johann, 99.
Huter, Johann, 139 n. ; (O. V.), 401, 431.
Hutten, Ulrich von, Ixii-lxvi, 16-18, 100, 150, 178, 241, 248, 257.
Huttichius, loannes, 153, 249 n,
Hyginus, C. J., 67 n.
" Hypocaustum," meaning of, 251.
Ignorance, degrees of, classified,
10 n., 11 n. lliad, ancient MS. of, 20 n. " Incongruus," 164 n.* Indulgences, 23 n.*, 93. Infortiatum, 169 n.* Ingolstadt, 68, 149, 252. Innsbruck, Maximilian at, 160. Instituta, 169 n.*
oo
LETTERS OF OBSCUKE MEX
Institutiones Grammaticae. See Brassi-
canus.
"Intention, First," 189 n.*
" Irregularitas," 46 n.*
Irus Perlirus (0. V.). 253-55, 253 n.*
Isidoneus Germanicus, 241 n.
Isidore of Seville, his Origines, 6 n.
Italy, scorpions in, 170 ; diet, chalk, and bootlaces in, 176; poets in, 188 ; women in, 215 ; German uni- versities scorned in, 255, 258 ; war in, 275 ; referred to, 60, 64, 165, 262.
Jackson, S. M., Huldreich Zioingli,
214 n. Jacob, patriarch, 212, " Jacobitae," 25 n.* Jacobus Gaudensis, 35 n.* Jager, Johann. See Crotus. Janssen, J., on the similes of the
E. 0. V., lii. Jebb, Sir R. C, q., xviii. Jehosaphat, Valley of, 79 n., 96. " Jejunium," 186 n.* Jerome, St., his opinion of poetry,
18 ; on the Eastern schism, 33 ;
scourged by an angel, 62 n.* Jerusalem.centreof the earth,79n.*;
237. "Jesus, Doctor,"283. Jetzer, Tragical History of, 60 n.* Jews, sin of sahiting, 9 ; badges of ,
11 ; compared to dogs, ib. ; ill-
savoured, 185. Joan, Pope, 191 n.* Job, 75, 132, 175. Joeden Bicht, Der, xxiii.
Spiegel, Der, xxii.
Johannes a Lapide, xxvii.
John the Baptist, 217.
Jonathan Levi Zion, xxx.
Jorz, Thomas, 74 n.
Josephat, Valley of, 96.
Judas Iscariot, 194 ; a cellarer, 267,
284. " Judenschutz," 94 n.* Juden Veindt, Der, xxiii. •'JuHo," 186 n.* Julius Caesar, not the author of the
Commentaries, 107. Julius Exclusus, q., 37 n. Ju7iius, The Letters of, liv. Jupiter, alluded to in the Gospels,
75, 100, 115 ; deriv. of, 240 n. Jurisprudence, advantage of study-
ing, 170. Jurists, dress of, 18.
55
Justus Jonas, Iviii.
Juvencus, C. V. A., 7.
K
Kachelofen, Mag., 255.
Petermann (0. V.), 363.
Kalb, lo. See Kalp. Kalp, loannes (O. V.), 233-35. Kannegieszer, Johann (0. V.), 297. Kehrbach, K., Mon. Germ. Paed,
q., 14 n. Keilbach, Philippus, 248 n. Kelbertzhausen, 274. Kempten, sacred oil at, 217. Kierher, Johann, 151 n.* Kimchi, Rabbi David, xxix. Kirchberg, Johann, 99. Kirherus, 151.
Klingesor, Adolfus (0. V.), 184-85. Klorbius, Thomas (O. V.), 163-65. Klynge, lodocus (O. V.), 179-81. Kneck Hostel (Cologne), 13 n., 19,
204. "Kofent," 111 n. Kohlburger, Johann. See Brassi-
canus. Konigsteyn, loh., 153. Koziitz, B. de. See Parvulus. Kustlin, J., Life of Lidher, q., 4 n. Kutzschenbroda, its wine, 4. Krabacius, loannes (O. V.), 41-42. Krabbe, O., Die Univ. Rostock, ctr.,
47 n. Krause, C, Briefioechsel desM. Rufus,
237 n. Kuckuk, Bartholomaeus (0. V.), 154-
55. Kuijk, or Kiick Hostel. See Kneck. Kutz, Bartholus (O. V.), 272-74.
Labia, lohannes (O. V.), 131-34.
Laboriiitus. See Labyrinthus.
Lahyrinthus, 98 n.*
Lacrima Christi, 163.
Lactantius, 210.
Lambert de Monte, 14 n.
Lamentationes Obscurorum Virorum,
53 n., 184 n. Lamp, Wilhelmus (0. V.), 208-10. Lampirius, Achatius (O. V.), 219-20. Landsberg, 160 n. Landsknechte, equipment of, 65 n.*,
91 n. Lang, Matth., Ahbp., 256 n. Langius, Pauhis, 265, 266 n.*, 273.
GENERAL INDEX
Langscheyderius, Thomas (0. V.),
3-8. Largent, A., 62 n. Lasius, Simon, 201 n.* Last Judgment, the, scene of, 79. Latimer, Hugh, xxxviii. " Latus clavus," meaning of, 251. Lawrence Hostel (Cologne), 31. Lea, H. C, his Hist. of Auric. Con-
fess., d-c, q., 9 n., 10 n., 24 n. ; Hist.
of Inquisition, 120 n. Lectures, various kinds of, 7 n. Lefevre d'£taples, Jacques, 212 n.* Leineweber, Gallus (O. V.), 372. Leipsic, Univ. of, xxi ; Statutes, q.,
3, 4, 5; "Nations" at, 7 n., 8, 12,
17, 21, 29, 58, 84, 91, 110-11, 229,
255-56, 258 ; jousting at, 40. Leo X., Pope, xli ; anathematises the
E. O. y., liv. ; his character, 32 n. ;
at Florence, 146; his eyesight,
146 n.*, 191, 195. Lesbia, 241. Leyser, Polycarp, 98 n. Libellus de Judaica Cunfessione, xxiii. Lichtenberger, Johannes, Prognosti-
catio, 237 n,* Lieb, Peter (O. V.), 513. Liessem, H. J., his Life of Buschius,
29 n., 84 n. Lignipercussoris, Gingolfus (0. V.),
83-84. Lillebonne, Synod of, 27 n. Linacre [Thos.], xxxviii, 91 n.* Lindholz, Johann, 42 n. Linitextoris, Gallus (O. V.), 108-12. Lipsius, 285. " Liripipium," 9 n.* Lissiel, 218. Livy, lectures on, 153. Locher, Jacobus. See Philomusus. Lolhardi, 82 n.* Lombardia, 65, 189. Loriti, Heinrich. See Glareanus. LiJtz, family of, Ixiv, 148 n. Lovania, 165, [199], 247. Love-charm, recipe for, 219. Love's Labour's Lost, q., 39. Lubeck, 218. " Lucar," derived, 67. Lucian, q., 3 n.
Lucibularius, loannes (0. V.), 54-56. Ludus studenturii Friburgensium, J,
Murner, 136 n. Ludwig von Dringenberg, xix. Luke, St., 76.
Lurainatoris, Nicolaus (0. V.), 101. Lumplin, Tilmannus (O. V.), 76-78. Lupoldus Federfusius (O. V.), 95-97. Maii., 95 n.
Luscinius, Ottomarus, 266 n.*, 269.
Luther, Martin. See Mistotheus.
Lyons, Card. of, salutes a Jew, 11 n.
Lyra Buntschumacherius (0. V.),
90-93.
M
Madepurck, 63.
Maderus, J. J., q., 84 n., 221 n., 246
n., 266 n. Magi, Shrine of the, 59. " Magister, derivation of, 182.
Curiae," 182 n.*
Noster," Erasmus on the phrase,
6n. " Magisternostrandus," use of the
word defended, 7. Main, R., 150. Mainz, 34, 46, 61, 118, 119, 153, 158,
205 ; Bp. of, 212, 237, [250], 271,
281 ; Cath.of, 71 ; Univ: of , 30, 32. Maittaire, Michael, on the E. 0. V.,
viii. Maius, Vit. lieuchlin., q., 191 n.,
203 n. " Majoritas," 53 n. Maleolus, Mag. (O. V.), 284-85. Mammotrectus Buntemantellus (O.
V.), 85-87; letter addressed to,
87. Mamotrectus su])er Bibliam, 85 n.* ;
q., 217 n. Manicheans, scruple of, concerning
eggs, 186 n.* " Mantellus," derived, 67. Mantua, 161.
Manuale Scholarium, 230 n. Marburg, 179 n.* Marchesinus, Joannes, 85 n. Marchia, 171. Marcolphus Sculteti (O. V.), 282-
84. Margaretha, bell-ringer's daughter,
85, 88. Maria (B. V. M.), 17, 37, 59, 75,
109, 122, 140, 157, 221. Marignano, Battle of, 92 n.* Marsilius ab Inghen, 265 n.*, 279. Martene et Durand, Thes. Nov. Anec,
236 n. Marthen, Herebord von der, Iviii. Mary-Lafon, J. B., Pasquin et Mar-
gorio, 188 n. Matthias Falckenbergensis, letter
to, 109.
Joan. See Tyberinus.
Matusalem, 168.
Maurice, C. E., Bohemia, q., 170 n.
" Mavors," deriv. of, 73.
553
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Maximilian, Emperor, at Padua,
xxii ; first mandate, xxiv ; second
mandate, xxxi ; third mandate,
xxxii, 149. MaximUian, Triiinifhs of, 65 n. " Mechanicus," derived, 67. Mediavilla, Rich. de. ^'ec Middleton. Medici, Giulio de', legitimised by
Leo X., 4G n. " Medius fidius," 192 n.* Meissen, 150, 168.
Melanchthon, Philipp, 151, 186, 257. Mellilambius, Matthaeus (O. V.),
44-46. Mennicken, Karl. See Carolus. " Mensorium," derived, 67. Mensururiim Vucuhida, 186 n. " Mercurius," deriv. of, 73. Mercury, 75.
Mesue, Philippus (0. V.), 183-84. iVt'<(Ufto?7*/(o.st'.y,Ovid's,interpreted,74. Meyer, J. F., q., 61 n. . Petrus, 16, 60, 69, 122, 155,
200, 202, 205, 217, 248. Michael, St., shield of, 59. Michaelmas, 55, 230. Middleton, Richard, 88 n.*, 170 n.* Mifjne, J. P., Patrol, q., saepe. " Milchzehnt," 27 n. Miller, W., Medieval Rome, q., 233 n. Miltenberg, 70 n.*, 72. Milton, John, q., 160 n. ; Ajjol. for
Smectymnuns, 200 n. Minorites, 37. "Missa," 9 n.*
Mistladerius, Herbordus (0. V.), 102. Mistothous, Dr. Ludov., 100. " Moderni et Antiqui," 115 n. Molay, Jaques de, 120 n. Montefiascone, 163. Monte Rutilo, Samuel de, 40 n.*,66. Montis, Bursa, 14. Moravia, 41, 94, 157. More, Sir Thos., q., xxviii ; xxxviii,
xlix, 29 n. Moreri, L., Dict. Hist., 100. Moria Erustni, a scandalous book,
235. Mossellanus, Petrus, 150, 253. Miinsterj school at, xix ; 54, 173. Miinzor, Tiiomas, 26 n. Murmollius, Joannes, xx, xxi,
38 n.* Murner, Thomas, nickname of, 24 n.,
136 n.*, 137, ir)3, 256, 268, 281. Muses, The Nine, allegorical mean-
ing of, 73. Muth, Conr. See Mutianus. Mutianus Rufus, Conradus, xx,
Ivii-lix, 150, 237 n.*, 257.
N
N., Antonius (0. V.), 105-7.
Nachtigall, O. See Luscinius.
Nahum, 133.
Naphtali, tribe of, 137, 212. Naples, ships at, 170. Narragonia, 151. Narrenbeschworung, 136 n. Narrenschiff , Das, 68 n. ; q., 278 n. Naumburg, its beer, 4 ; Luther's
opinion of, 4 n.* Negelinus, Petrus (0. V.), 51-53,
255. Neptalim, 137, 212. Neuenar, Hermann, Graf von, 153 ;
corresponds with Reuchlin, 178,
256 n.* Neumburga, 244. Neuss, 203.
Newman, J. H., q., 117 n. Niavis, Paulus, 23, 202. Niceti, Willibrordus (O. V.), 80-83. Nollerius Stech (O. V.), 277-79. Nova, P., q., 65 n. Noyon, Treaty of, 234 n.* Niirnberg, 24, 42, 99, 149, 170,
256.
Jakob von, 99.
Nussia, 203.
0
Oates, Titus, xxxi.
" Obsonatores," meaning of, 251.
Ochsenfart, Dr., 255 n.*
Ockham, William, 222 n.*
Olearius, Paulus, q., 12 n.
Olmiitz, 157 n.*
Oranges, at Rome, 135.
Osthen, Joannes and Alex. von der,
149 n.* Othello, q., 270 n. Ovid, 4 n., 26; Ars Amandi, 38, 57,
89; Bemedia Amoris,86; Metamor-
2)hoses, 7, 73 ; Fusti, 216; Einstolae,
134. Orid Morulised, 74 n.*, 75, 76 n. Oviedo, 59 n.
Padorauw, 90.
Palacky, on Formularies, 36 n.
Pannitonsoris, Wendehnus (O. V.),
118-21. Paolo, Fra, on Leo X., 32 n. " Papa," gender of, 192. " Papal letters," 24 n.*
»54
GENERAL INDEX
Papias the Lombard, his Elem. Dor.
Eud., 6 n. Paratus, 234.* Pardau, 90. Paris, its theologians infallible, 59.
University of, its pre-emin-
ence, 30.
"Pariselli," 168 n.* Parker, H., q., 48 n. Parva Locjicalia. See Petrus His-
panus. Parvulus, 55 n.* Pascal, B., imitates style of the
E. O. V., xlvi. Pasquino (statue), 188 n. " Paternoster," 171 n.* "Patritii," derived, 67, 252. Paulus Niavis, works of, 23 n., 202.
Olearius, his De Fide Concub.,
40 n.
Paul, St., 171, 231.
Pellifex, loannes (O. V.), 8-12.
Pelzer Johannes (O. V.), 294.
Perlin, 181, 240.
Perversor, 264.
Peter Lombard, 17 n.*
St., 10, 52; his voice, 79, 171,
176; aprior, 267. Petit, Guil. Haquinet, xliii, 162. Petrus de Wormatia (O. V.), 224-25.
Hispanus, 32 n.*, 48 n.*, 55,
81, 91, 99, 228, 265.
Mossellanus. See Schade.
Kavennas. See Tommai.
Peutinger, Conrad, 150, 257 n.*
Pezel, 0., q., 61 n.
"Pfaff Rapp." See Pfefferkorn,
Johann (priest). Pfefferkorn, Johann (priest), burned
at Halle, 63 n.*, 144.
Johann, his attack on Jews,
xxii-xxvi ; visits Reuchlin, xxx ; preaches at Frankfort, xxxvi ; his probity, 29 ; Ortwin's inti- macy with his wife Anna, 38, 96, 102, 215; his zeal, 52; a knave, 63 ; his behaviour at Mass, 94 ; a stalking-horse, 113, 120; doubts concerning, 124, 185 ; hischaracter discussed, 137, 167 ; his " Defence," 155, 179, 199, 208, 227, 243 ; his " Tocsin," 159 ; his ignorance, 174 ; his " Defence " examined, ii. 28 ; of tribe of Naphtali, 212; his un- regenerate youth, 247 ; no true Christian, 261 ; Mag. Gratius on, 262 ; of the seed of Judas, 284.
Lorenz, 174.
Pforzheim, xxvi. " Pharisaeus," 72 n.
Philip, St., a door-keeper, 268.
" Philocapniones," 247 n.
Philomusus, 68 n.*, 149.
Phito. See Python.
Phrygio, 151.
Physiophilus, John, Sjkc. of Nat.
Hist. ofiMonk.% q., 230 n. Pico della Mirandola, xxvii, Ivii. Piemont, loh. See Butzbach. Pilate, 260, 279. Pileatoris, lohannes (O. V.), 139-40,
170-72. Pindarus Thebanus, 224 n., 225 n. " Piper," deriv. of, 68 n.* Piramus, 76. Pirckheinier, Bilibald, xx, 65 n., 149,
241 n.* Pistoris, Cath., 89. Pitrax, 220. " Pixides," 65 n. Plato, 114, 135. Platter, Thomas, his Autohiography,
119 n., 266 n. Plautus, 49 n,; q., 96 ; poverty of, 114,
118 n. Pliny, a poet, 21, 47 ; 85, 153, 229. Plumilegus, Bernhardus (0. Y.),
12-14. Plutarcli, Reuchlin studies, 207. Pocoporius, Simon (0. V.), 218. Poetry, food of devils, 18 ; falsehoods
in, 21. Poland, thieves in, 170. " Polyhistor," 67 n.* Polysenus, 67. Pomerania, swine in, 171. Pomponius Laetus, 28 n. Pontius (author of Modus Episto-
landi), 202 n.* Pope, Alex., q., 5 n. Porphyry, 35 n.* ; Isagoge, q., 114 n. " Porquinum," 263 n. Porretanus, Gilb., 251 n. Porretonius, Gilbertus (0. V.), 251-
52. Postmen, mounted and running, 146. Praenotamenta, by Ortwin Gratius,
xlvii, 50 n. "Praeputiati," 95 n.* "Praesuna," 169 n. Prague, Jews in, 170. Prandium Aristotelis. See Aristotle,
Feast of. Prantl, K. von, Gesch. de Logih, 101 n. Predicants, evil deeds of, at Stras-
burg and Mainz, 119. Prierio, Silvestro Mazzolini da, Iv,
235 n.* Priests, when amenable to secular
law, 69.
DOO
LETTERS OF 0B8CURE MEX
Priscian, a modern writer, 232.
" Processus," explained, 33 n.
" Promotor," 208 n.*
" Prothonotarius," 132 n.*
" Prothyrum," meaning of, 251.
Proverbia Erasmi, a meddling writer,
205. Prussia, 241. "Pullaster," 186 n.* " Pultronus," 72 n.* Pyramus and Thisbe, allegory of, 7G. Pythagoras, a necromancer, 282. Python, alluded to in Psalms, 74.
Q
Quadrivium, the, 48 n.*
Quentel, Heinrich, xhv, 20 n.*,
188 n. Qiurelcn, Ixiv. Questenberg, Jacob Aurelius von,
154 n.*, 191 n.*, 245. Quintilianus, M. F., 7. Quodhbets, 95 n.*
E
Rabelais, Fran^ois, lix, Ixviii, 4 n.,
5 n., 9 n., 81 n., 102 n., 116 n.,
160 n., 233 n., 234 n. Rack, Johann. *SV/' Aesticampianus. Radewins, Florentinus, xviii. Rashdall, H., Univ. of Enr. in Mid.
Aqes, q., 3, 7, 14 n., 22 n., 48 n.,
73 n., 80 n., 101 n., 190 n., 208 n. Raticmale diviuoram Officiorum,
243 n.* Ravennas, Petrus, 177, 239. Ravnouard, M., Lcjriijue lioman, q.,
19 n. Raj^s, Johann, 221 n.* Reber, B., 284 n. Recorde, R., q., 5 n. Regiomontanus, xvi. Reichhng, D., J.ife of MurmelliuK,
39 n. '^ Reichskammergericht, 158 n.* Reinhardtsbronn, 265. Reinsberg-Diiringsfeld, Sprichicdrter,
12 n., 278 n. Reisch, Gtreg., 175 n. ReUcs, 59 n.
Remigius, Mag., 19, 35, 52, 204. liemigius, 22, 209. Renaissance, its dawn in (Jermany,
xvi. " RepHcatio," explained, 31 n. Resch, Thomas, 201.
Reuchlin, Johann,his life and labours,
xxvi-xxix ; his Upinion, xxxii; pub-
lishes the iJefensio, xxxvii ; letter
to Erasmus, xxxix ; last days of, Iv.
[J. R. is referred to in the great
majority of the Epp. ; the follow-
ing are the most important refer-
ences :] his ignorance of theologj%
17 ; his craftiness, 43 ; liis name
in Hebrew, 52 ; cited by Hoog-
straten, 54 ; discussion concerning,
59 ; calls 0. G. an ass, 64 ; beggared
by law-costs, 70 ; attacked and
defended, 71 ; wronged by Domi-
nicans, 93; his " Defence," 113;
his many friends, 121 ; attacked
and defended, 143 ; persecuted,
167 ; withstands the Chnrch, 187 ;
his failing eyesight, 207 ; a heretic,
222 ; persecuted, 239 ; ascendency
at Rome, 245 ; his poverty, 276 ;
his " Gabala,-' 280.
Revilien Hospital, 94.
Reysz, lohan., 221.
Rhest, J. See Rays.
Riario, Rafiaello, Card., 195 n.*
" Ribaldus," meaning of, 8 n.
Richardus Kalberstatensis, letter to, 124.
Ricius, Paulus, 159 n.*, 257.
Riemann, H., Hixt. of Music, q., 56 n.
Riga, Petrus de, his Aurora, q., 206 n.
Rilla, a familiar spirit, 242.
Ritius Euritius, 100.
Rockinger, on Formularies, 36 n.
Roger, Domine, 14.
Rolewinckius, W., 82 n.*
" RoIIationes," 116 n.
Rome: the followiuglettersare dated from R. : i. 48 ; li. 1, 2. 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 1.5, 16, 19, 20, 2.3, 26-28, 31, 32, 35, 36, 39, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 49, 51, 53, 06.
Romedelantis, Stcphanus (0. V.), 136-39.
Rorbach, 282.
" Rosarium," 171 n.*
Rosary, a safeguard against i-obbers, 171.
Roscoe, William, Lco X., q., 32 n., 46 n., 235 n.
Rostock, library at, 104, 148, 184.
"Rota," 135 n.*, 141 n.
Rotger Sicamber, 269.
Roth, F., Wil. rirkheiwcr, 241 n.
Rothenburg, Mag. from, 50.
Rubenstadius, Antonius (O. V.), 69- 70.
Rubino. J. A., q., 226 n.
Ruchrath, Johann, 120 n.*
55Q
GENERAL INDEX
Rudolf von Langen, xix.
Rumelant, Stephan (O. V.), 398.
Rupert, St., priest of, 88.
Rupertus Cuculus, 284 n.
Ruprechtsau, 274 n.
Ruserus, loannes, 266 n.*, 269.
Rutgerus, Dominus, 14, 52, 204.
Eutli ereinita, 237 n.
Ruysbroek, Johann, xix.
Rymer, Thos., Foedera^ q., 195 n.
S
St. Paul's School, 29 n.
Saintsbury, George, q., ix, 1.
Sallust, 22, 252.
Salt, consecrated, 104.
Samson, not unrighteous, 39.
" Samuel the Poet." See Monte
Rutilo. Sapidus, loannes, 151, 266 n.* Sapienza, Univ. della, 203 n.* " Saponista, 64 n.* Sartius, Muurus, q., 169 n. Saturn, myth of, fourfo]d interpreta-
tion of, 74 n.* ; planet, 115. Saxony, 90. 145, 148 ; topers in, 171. Dukes of. i^ee Albrecht and
George.
nuptials of Prince of, 109.
Schade, Peter, 253 n.*
Schafers von Xeustadt, Die, 86 n.
Schaffsmulius, Henricus (0. V.),
185-87, Schangaw, 160. Schelmenzv/rtft , 136 n. Scherenschleifer, Wilhelm (0. V.),
318. Scherer, W., Hist. Gerrn. Lit., 131 n.,
136 n., 185 n. Scherscleifferius, Guilhelmus (0. V.),
43-44. Schirruglius, Gerhardus (0. V.), 58-
61. Schlauraff, Phihppus (0. V.), 147-53. Schlettstadt, xix, 151, 284. Schluntz, Henrichus (O. V.), 242-44. Schluntzick, lohannes (0. V.), 244-
46. Schmidt, O. G., 253 n. Schnarholtzius, loannes (O. V.),
78-80. Schneevogel. See Paulus Niavis. Schneider, Jodocus (0. V.), 419.
Philipp (O. V.), 491.
Schnerckius, lohannes (0. V.),
206-8. Schnersheim, 269 n. Schonau, Coll. of St. Jacob at, 267 n.
Schongau. See Schangaw.
Schooimen, the great, xvii.
Schulz, Markulph (O. V.), 535
Schurerius, Matth., 84 n., 151, 269
(Schuterius). Schwan, Adularius, 249 n. Schwartz, B., Jakob JVimplieling,
241 n. Schwarzerd, P. See Melanchthon. Schwinfordia, loannes de (0. V.),
263-69. Schwinkoncius, Petrus, Ep. ad-
dressed to, 279. Sclauch, Balthasar (0. V.), 199-201. Scotists, 5 n. Scott, SirW., q., 5, 21 n. Sculptoris, Philippus (0. V.), 66-
68. " Secundarius," 55 n.* Seidensticker, P., 151 n.' Semele, alluded to in Exodus, 75. Sena, 154, 163. " Seria," derived, 67. Sermones parati. See Paratus. Serpents, a charm against, 171. Servius (Schohast), q., 225 n. Setzer, Johann, 152 n.* Sforno, Obadyah, xxix. " Shepherds of Neustadt, The," 86. Shield, The, of the Thomists, 65. Shij} of Fools, q., 281 n. Shoes, red, use of, 18. Siberti, lacobus, 269 n.* Sibutus, Georg, brawl at his house,
12 ; 148, 240. Sicamber, Rotger, 52, 269. Sickingen, Franz von, his war with
Worms, 109 n.*, 159 n. Siebmacher, Heinrich (0. V.), 459. Siliceo, Bp. of Toledo, q., 181 n. Simnels, 4 n. Sinigaglia. See Sena. Sins, mortal and venial, distin-
guished, 9 n. ; seven deadly,
48 n.* Sinthen, loh., 23 n., 209, 228, 280. Sixtus IV., xxvii. Smaragdus, error of, 205 n.* Socrates, 218.
Solinus, Caius Julius, 67 n. Solmsz, Wigandus de, 250 n. Solomon, 4, 40, 77, 213, 217, 277. Sorbonne, infiuence of the, xliii ;
condemns Reuchlin, 32. Sotphi. See Gerard of Zutphen. Southwell, Robt., q., 55 n. " Spados," 158 n.* Spain, 170. Spalatinus, Georgius, Iviii, 100 n.*,
150.
557
LETTERS OF OBSCURE MEN
Spandau, 180.
" Speculativus," meaning of, 15. Speculajii adhortationis Judairae, xxii. apeculum Oculure, xxxv. 8ee Augcn-
sjnegel. Speyer, Bp. of, xl, xlii, 52. See also
Spira. " Spiculator," 144 n.* Spiculi, Gregorius, 275. Spiegel, Jakob, 151, 269 n.* Spira, 3G, 272.
Stadianus, Franciscus, 151 n.* Starnial, 220. Steckelberg, Ixiii. Steele, Sir Richard, on the E. 0. V.,
viii. Steinmetz, Philipp (O. V.), 337. Steynhart, Petrus (O. V.), 168-70. Stompff, Wernherus (O. V.), 258. Storati, Cornelius (O. V.), 142-43. Storch, Wilhehnus (O. V.), 188-
89. Storckius, 151. Strappado, 169 n.* Strassburg, 105, 118, 151. Strauss, D. F., his Lifc of Hutten,
Ixiv, 42 n. Strauszfeder, Johannes (O. V.),
299. Straussfederius, Joannes (0. V.),
lG-19, 16 n. Strunck, Albertus (O. V.), 201-2. Stryldriot, Chunradus (O. V.), 214-
16. " Studium Generale," 73 n.* Stultiftra Nuvis, q., 243 n. Sturm Glock, publ., xliv ; 77 n.* Sturmius, Jacobus, 2()() n.* Sturnus, Johannes, friend of Bus-
chius and Celtis, 150. Stuttgart, 150, 207. Suotonius, author of Caesar's Coni-
mentaries, 107. Suevia, 151. Sulpitius, 17 n.* Siils, Peter, 204 n. Sinitma contra Gentilcs, 32. " Superiorista," 136 n. " Supposita," explained, 41 n. Swabia, 150. Swift, Dean, his satire misunder-
stood, liii. Switzerland, 170, 213, 285. Sydra, 220.
Syllogism, Cornute, 33. " Symbohi," 270 n.* Symonds, J. A., q., xvi, 205 n. Synai, Mt., 277. Syntlien, Joh. See Sinthen. Syria, 67.
T
Tagus, its golden sands, 23.
Taliiiud, Reuchlin on the, xxxiii,
XXXV ; Univ. of Mainz on, 60 n.,
92. Tartaretus, Petrus, 264 n.* Taylor, Jeremy, q., 81 n. Templars, the, 120. Terence, nature of his writings, 50;
sin of reading, 229. TertuUian, q., 95 n. Tetragrammaton, 217 n.* Tetzel, J., on indulgences, 24 n. ; q.,
187 n. Textoris, lohannes (O. V.). 279-82. Theoderic the Great. See Dietrich. Theodoric of Gouda, the character of ,
5 n. Thisbe, 76. Thomas of Walden. See Walden.
of Wales, 74.
St., compared witli St. Dominic,
231. Thomists, 5 n. ; contrasted with
Albertists, 226. Tliungaris, Arnoldus de. Sec Ton-
gern. Thuringia, 171.
Thyme, wild, as medicine, 102 n. Tocsin. See Sturm Glocl-. Tolletanus, loannes (O. V.), 124-27. Tommai, Petrus, 177 n.* Tongern, Arnoki von, his " Articuli,"
8, 19 ; his chastity, 38 ; Reuchlin
on, xxxvii, 8 n.*; ct sae^^e. See
also Articuli. Torgau, its beer, 4, 13. Tornab, 220. Torrentinus, Hermannus, 115 n.*,
182 n. Tout, T. F., q., 65 n. Toynbee, P. J., q., 6 n. Trebellius, Hermannus, 149 n.* Trent uno, game of, 275. Treves, 53, 139.
Holy Coat of, 33, 59.
Trient, 161. Trier. See Treves. Triest, Isaac, xxx. Tristao de Cunha, 233 n. Trithomius, Johannes, q., 162 n.,
2GG n.*, 267, 269. Triumphus Capiiiunis, Ixvi, 16 n.,
23 n., 68 n.* ; q., 71 n. Trivium, the, 48 n.* Trivulzio, Genl., 92 n. Trojans, how they fought, 225. " Trufator," meaning of, 18 n. Tiibingen, 38 ; called Augusta, 66 ;
558
GENERAL INDEX
76, 78, 150; Stat. of Univ., q.,
13 n. Tuchscherer, Wendelin (O. V.), 382. Tullius. See Cicero. Tungersheira. See Dungersheim. Tunstall, Cuthbert, xxxviii. Turcia, 253. Turks, 203. Twelfth Night, q., 41 n. Tyberinus, Joannes Matthias, 50 n.*
U
Uguccione. See Hugutio.
Ulm, 208.
Ulrich, Duke of Wurtemburg, 38 n.
Unckebunck, Cunradus (O. V.), 175-
77, 227-30.^ Ungenant. See Ecbertus. Unitas Fratrum, 170 n.* " Unter Fettenhennen," 95 n. Urbanus Bellunensis (Bolzanius),
20 n.*
Henricus, 100 n.*
Uriel von Gemmingen, xxv, 211. Ursinus. See Velius.
Vacant, A., Did. de Tlieol, Cath.,
182 n. Vade Mecum, 105, 182, 228. Vadianus, loachimus, 41 n., 149,
200 n.*, 256. Valentin von Geltersheim, touts for
bejans, 199. Valentinus, S., 117. Valerius Maximus, 34, 117. Valla, Lorenzo, his Donation of Con-
stantine, Ixxi. Valle, Nicol. de, 224 n. Vallum Hmnanitatis, 83 n. Van Dyke, P., Age of Renascence,
233 n. Vaughan, Card., his S. Thomas of
Aquin, q., 32 n. Veau, Jehan le, 233 n. Vegetarian diet at Rome, 176. Velius, Caspar Ursinus, 256 n.* Venetians, Maximilian attacks the,
65. Venice, 161, 171. Verha Defonentalia, 209 n. Vereander. See Gereander. Verneus, 81 n.
Vernicle, sent from Rome, 176. Verona, 161. Rhenana, 95 n.
Veronica, 176 n.*
Versor, 264 n.
Vicetia, A. M. a., q., 226 n.
Vickelphius, loaiines (O. V.), 61-63.
Victor, St., Library of, 81 n., 102 n.
von Karben, xxxi.
Vienna, 42, 64, 67, 149, 199; many
students at, 229 ; 240, 256, 270. Vilipatius de Antwerpia (0. V.),
103-4. Virgil, 21, 50; q., 106, 132; inferior
to Bap. Mantuanus, 162 ; 165, 229,
263, 281. Virulus, Carolus. See Carolus Man-
neken. "Vittrinus," 118 n. Vocahularius Juris utriusque, 168 n.* ;
q., 170 n. Vollenberg, 274. Volwinius de Monteflascon (O. V.)
269-72. Volzius, Paulus, 269 n.* Von dem grossen Lutherischen Narren,
136 n. Voragine, Jacobus de, 16 n. Vorilongus, Guil., 65 n. Vratislavia, 22, 168. Vulcan, alluded to in Psalms, 76.
W
Wagner, Johann (0. V.), 378.
Walden, Thomas of, on classification
of sins, 9 n. Walleis, Thomas de, 74 n.* Waller, Sir W., 61 n. War, Erasmus on, 92 n.* Warmsemmel, Mag., 5-7. Watt, Joachim von. See Vadianus. Weissenborn, J. C. H., q., 3. Werdau, Johann von (0. V.), 402. Werdea, lohannes de (O. V.), 140-42. Wernherus, Dom., 250 n. Wesalius. See Ruchrath. Wessalia, 272, 281. Wessel, Johann, xvi, 120 n. Westphalia, 54, 59, 102, 166. Wettrania, doves in, 171. Wetzer and Welte, Dict. de la TheoL,
q., 10 n. Weydman, Conr., 153, 249 n.* Wharton, H., q., 65 n. Wick, Johann, proctor for Reuchlin,
236 n.*, 246. Wickeltriiger, Johann (0. V.), 334. Wilhelmites. See Gulielmites. Wimpfen-am-Berge, 275 n. Wimpheling, lakob, xx, 151, 241 n.*,
257, 265-69, 273.
559
LETTEES OF OBSCURE MEN
Wimpina, 275.
Wimpinus, 270.
Winheim, E., q., 59 n.
Wirt, Wigand, 120, 145.
WiskowatofF, P. V., Jakoh Wim-
phelmg, 241 n. Witches, counter charm against, 104. Wittenberg, 12, 16, 100, 180, 240 ;
university of, 15 n.* Witz, Johann, 151. See Sapidus. Women, compared to devils, 27. Wordsworth, W., q., lix, Ixxii. Worms, 93, 109, 152, 159, 248. Worst, Simon (0. V.), 174-75. Wright, Thos., q., 8 n., 67 n. Wurst, S. (O. V.). See Worst. Wiirzburg, 170, 178, 223. Wustenfelt, Arnoldus, 255 n.* Wynssheim, Jodocus^ 99.
X
Xanthus, steed of Achilles, 225 n.
Yiihanna ibn Masawaih, Arab writer,
183 n.
Z
Zapf, G. W., 157 n.
Zarncke, F., q., 3, 4, 5, 254.
Zasius, Ulricus, 24 n., 152.
Zealand, sailors in, 171.
" Zeccha," meaning of, 13 n.
Zehender, Barth., 71 n., 153, 205.
Zephaniah, Book of, 237.
Ziegenmelker, Nich. (O. V.), 301.
Zingerle, H., Spriclmdrter, q., 12 n.
Zodiac, twelve signs of, 73 n.
Zuiccavia, Conradus de (0. V.), 26-
29, 38-40, 56-58. Zutphen, Gerhard von. See Gerard. Zwickau, 26 n.* Zwolle, xix, 56, 102.
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