Text.Alchemica.1600-01.A2r
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Source: Nicolaus Solea, Ein Büchlein von dem Bergwergk, ed. Elias Montanus, Zerbst, no printer [Johann Schleer], 1600, sig. A2r–A4v [BP.Alchemica.1600-01]
Summary: Elias Montanus expresses his gratitude towards his high-born patrons for their gracious support during his wedding, acknowledging his inability to fully repay their kindness. To show his modest appreciation, Montanus dedicates a small mining book to them, highlighting their recent acquisitions of the noble gold mine at Reichstein and the precious silver mine at Silberberg. He commends their interest in mining, which aligns with the noble pursuits of high and princely persons and serves the common good by promoting industries that the common man, due to poverty, cannot sustain.
Montanus emphasizes the historical and beneficial legacy of mining in their territories, particularly the gold mines of Goldberg and Liegnitz, which were once prolific but have since fallen into disuse due to wars and internal conflicts. He invokes the memory of Saint Hedwig, the Silesian Sibyl, who revealed many secrets for the benefit of the land and its princely descendants, including the opening of these mines. Montanus suggests that the revival or improvement of these mines could bring significant benefits to their lands.
Furthermore, Montanus praises the book and its author for their extensive experience in mining and high knowledge in chemistry, drawing a notable connection to Paracelsus whose unpublished works the author has studied and from whom he has drawn considerable inspiration. Montanus implies that the teachings and methodologies of Paracelsus, if correctly understood and applied, could greatly aid in the advancement of mining operations in their territories. (generated by ChatGPT)
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Dvrchlauchte/ Hochgeborne Fürsten vnd Herren/ Auch gnedige Fürstin/ Alldieweil sich E[uer] F[ürstlich] GGn[aden] alle drey Personen/ in auszrichtung meiner Hochzeit/ vnuerschuldeter sach/ so mildiglich vnd gantz gnedig gegen mir vnd den [sig. A2v] meinigen/ erzeiget haben/ vnd wir solches widerumb zuuerschulden/ zu gering sein: Hab ich vor mich genommen/ zum wenigsten mein gering danckbarkeit zu erzeigen/ diss heimliche Bergbüchlein E[uer] F[ürstlich] Gn[aden] dreyen Personen sämbtlichen zuuerehren vnd dediciren: Auch in ansehen/ das E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] newlich das Edle Goldbergwergk den Reichstein/ vnd das köstliche Silberbergwerck den Flecken Silberwergk an sich gebracht/ lust vnd liebe zum Bergwergk tragen/ wie dann Hohen vnnd Fürstlichen Personen wol anstehet/ vnnd hochlöblich vnd rhümlich ist/ solche ding zu fördern/ Weils gemeiner Mann/ wegen Armuts nit fördern/ als es not thut in allen Landen/ noch in esse standhafftig erhalten kan. Weil nun E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] von Gottes Gnaden vnd reichlichen Segen vber die zwey Fürstenthümer Liegnitz vnd Brieg/ auch ob- [sig. A3r] bemelte zwo herrliche Bergstädte zu besitzen mildiglich verliehen ist: Hat er E[euer] F[ürstlich] Gn[aden] darzu/ vnd vber das auch mit sonderlichem hertzen/ das da grosz lust vnd liebe zum Bergwergken hat/ begnadet/ hat es auch gewisz aus angeborner art seiner löblichen Vorfahren: Sonderlich aber der H[eiligen] Hedwigis Schlässischer Sibyllæ, (wie dann fast jegliches Land jhre eigene Sibyllas gehabt hat) die gar grosse heimligkeiten bey jhren tagen herfür bracht hat/ diesem Lande vnnd jhrem Fürstlichen Geschlechts-Nachkommen zu mechtigem Nutz vnd frommen/ vnter andern das wenige auch/ das sie nemlichen die Goldbergischen vnd Liegnitzschen Goldbergwergke eröffnet hat. Da das Liegnitzsche/ wie die Annales anzeigen/ zum mindesten in CXX. Marckgolds wöchentlich vberschusz geben hat/ welches Acht jahr gewehret/ das dann in [sig. A3v] die 49920. Marck Goldes machet/ ja viel mal auch wöchentlich CLX. Marck getragen: Aber mit den Tattrischen Krigen vor vierthalbhundert Jahren/ vnd Hussarischen/ auch bellis intestinis, das hoch zubeklagen/ auffgehöret hat/ auch so gar das man auff heut die Handstein nicht kennet geschweig die art der Nützmachung/ welche beyde doch sampt aller notwendigkeit gemelte heilige Hertzogin/ auch one zweiffel/ als ein getrewe Mutter jhrer Vnterthanen vnd Landes auch zu ewigen zeiten vnuergessenlich/ nicht mit Schrifften noch Worten/ sondern mit Wercken vnd thaten (die vnuergenglich sein) wer sie verstehen könte/ gelehret hat. Denn also habens von anfang der Welt diese art der Lehre der aller wichtigsten Secreten die Sophi vnd Sibyllæ im brauch gehabt/ Were also wol zu wüntschen/ vnd Gott darumb zu bitten/ [sig. A4r] das diese kostbarlichsten Bergwergk noch in jhrem Esse weren/ würden E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] vnd Landen nicht geringen Nutz tragen/ oder zum wenigsten/ das sie etwas wider auff kommen möchten/ so wol die Reichsteinischen vnd Silberbergischen in ein bessern reichlichern zustand/ zu welchem dann gegenwertiges Bergbüchlein/ meinem erachten[c1] nach/ nicht die geringste beförderung (so es recht verstanden) sein würde: vnd ist diss Büchlein/ vnd dessen Autor/ nicht allein seiner grossen vielfaltigen erfahrung der Bergwergke/ auch Chimischer Hoher Lehr vnd Experientz halber hoch zu halten/ sondern auch das er Theophrasti Paracelsi des Hocherleuchten/ vnd von Gott begabten Mannes Bücher/ dauon/ die noch nit am tage/ noch in wissenschafft sein/ gelesen hat/ vnd anzeucht/ deren meinung er auch gentzlichen ist/ vnd sonders zweiffels aus [sig. A4v] jme alle anleytung geschöpfft mag haben: Dann auch des Originals hand gar nahet des Theophrasti Handschrifft ware/ gleich als er es selbst geschrieben hette.
Wollen derohalben dasselbe E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] alle drey Personen/ von mir in vnterthenigkeit zur geringen danckbarkeit/ in Gnaden annehmen: Die ich sämptlichen nebenst dem gantzen Fürstlichen Hause in Gottes gnedigen Schutz/ Mich aber in jhre Gnaden/ fernere gunst vnd beförderung befehlen thue. Datum Brieg in Schlesien den 14. Augusti, Anno Christianæ Salutis 1600.
E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] Vntertheniger Diener Elias Montanus.
Modern English Raw Translation
Illustrious, High-Born Princes and Lords, and Gracious Princess, Since Your Princely Graces, all three persons, have shown yourselves so kindly and entirely gracious towards me and mine in the arrangement of my wedding, for which we are undeservedly indebted, and are too modest to repay: I have taken it upon myself, to at least show my modest gratitude, by dedicating and honoring this humble little book of mining to Your Princely Graces, all three persons. Also, considering that Your Princely Graces have recently acquired the noble gold mine at Reichstein, and the precious silver mine at Silberberg, and have a taste and love for mining, as befits High and Princely Persons, and it is highly commendable and glorious to promote such things, since the common man, due to poverty, cannot promote it as necessary in all lands, nor maintain it in a steady state. Since by God's grace and abundant blessing, the two principalities of Liegnitz and Brieg, as well as the aforementioned two magnificent mining towns, have been graciously bestowed upon Your Princely Graces to possess: He has also endowed Your Princely Graces with a special heart, which has a great taste and love for mining, surely inherited from the noble nature of your ancestors: Especially from Saint Hedwig, Silesian Sibyl, (as almost every land has had its own Sibyls) who brought forth many great secrets in her days, for the mighty benefit and good of this land and her Princely descendants, among other things, she also opened the gold mines of Goldberg and Liegnitz. The Liegnitz mine, as the annals show, provided at least 120 marks of gold weekly in surplus, which lasted eight years, amounting to 49,920 marks of gold, and often even carried 160 marks weekly: But with the Tartar wars four hundred and fifty years ago, and the Hussite wars, as well as internal conflicts, regrettably ceased, to the extent that today the lode stone is not recognized, let alone the method of exploitation, which, however, the said holy Duchess, undoubtedly, as a faithful mother of her subjects and country, has taught for all eternity, not with writings or words, but with works and deeds (which are imperishable) to those who could understand. For from the beginning of the world, this method of teaching the most important secrets has been practiced by the Sophi and Sibyls. It would therefore be desirable, and God should be prayed to, that these most precious mines were still in operation, they would bring no small benefit to Your Princely Graces and the lands, or at least, that they might come back to some extent, as well as the Reichstein and Silberberg mines to a better and more abundant state, to which this present little book of mining, in my opinion, would not be the least promotion (if rightly understood): and this book, and its author, are not only to be highly regarded for his great and varied experience in mining, and for his high learning and experience in chemistry, but also because he has read and draws upon the books of Theophrastus Paracelsus, the highly enlightened and divinely gifted man, of which are not yet in the light of day or known, and he fully agrees with his views, and without doubt, may have drawn all guidance from him: Then also the handwriting of the original is very close to Theophrastus's handwriting, as if he had written it himself.
Therefore, may the same be graciously accepted by Your Princely Graces, all three persons, from me in humility as a modest token of gratitude: Whom I, along with the entire Princely House, commend to God's gracious protection, and myself to their Graces, further favor, and promotion. Given at Brieg in Silesia on the 14th of August, in the Year of Christian Salvation 1600.
Your Princely Graces' Humble Servant, Elias Montanus.