Text.Alchemica.1625-01.A3r
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Source: Dyas Chymica Tripartita, Das ist: Sechs Herrliche Teutsche Philosophische Tractätlein, ed. Hermannus Condeesyanus [Johannes Rhenanus], Frankfurt am Main: Lucas Jennis, 1625, sig. A3r–B1r = pag. 5–9 [BP.Alchemica.1625-01]
Summary: Rhenanus reflects on the historical perception of his homeland as described by ancient historians like Cornelius Tacitus. He contrasts the ancient view of the land as harsh and barbaric with its current state, highlighting its advancements in agriculture, governance, and intellectual achievements. Rhenanus argues that the German people have produced talents equal to or surpassing those of historically celebrated cultures such as Greece and Italy, in fields ranging from poetry and philosophy to science and technology. He specifically mentions the invention of printing and gunnery as significant contributions and defends the intellectual capacity of his contemporaries against the derogatory descriptions of ancient writers.
Rhenanus also discusses the contributions of German philosophers to mystical philosophy and their pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone, suggesting that Germany has more such learned individuals than any other nation. He cites notable figures and their works to support his claims about the rich intellectual and cultural heritage of his homeland.
The letter concludes with Rhenanus informing Prince Christian that he has received two treatises from contemporary German philosophers on the Philosopher's Stone, which he intends to publish under the prince's patronage. He expresses a desire to demonstrate the ongoing richness of God's gifts to humanity and to validate the true seekers and philosophers of their time. (generated by ChatGPT)
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Wir lesen bey dem Cornelio Tacito vnd andern Historicis/ Durchleuchtiger/ Hochgeborner/ Gnediger Fürst vnnd Herr/ daß für alten Jahren vnser vielgeliebtes Vatterland/ alß es denn erstmahls bekant worden/ wie auch lange Jahre hernacher ein sehr hartes/ rauhes vnd vntraghafftes Land/ darin ein rauher Lufft/ vnd grobe/ Barbarische Völcker gewohnet haben. Wann wir aber vnsere zeitten etliche Jahr hero für diesem jetzt elenden vnd betrübten Zustande/ da es frembde Nationes mit zthun vnnd hülffe vnserer eignen Landsleuten gerne wieder in den alten Stand bringen wolten/ gegen andern Völckern ohne præiudiz wol erwegen/ befinden wir gerade das wiederspiel/ sintemahl es nicht allein Griechenland vnnd Italiæ (welche beide Länder denn damahlen am mehristen floriret) sondern auch andern Ländern nicht alleine nichts beuor gibt/ sondern auch in vielen vbertrifft vnd [p. 6] vorgehet. Mann besehe den Ackerbaw vnnd Weinwachs& ist der nicht durch der Einwohner fleißige vorsorge vnd Arbeit dahin gebracht worden/ daß er aller hand herrliche früchte zur Leibes nahrung vnnd notthurfft herfür bringet? Mann betrachte die herrliche vnnd gesunde Weine/ die menge des schönen Obstes/ den vberfluß der Victualien. Will mann die Policey vnd Regiment bedencken/ so wird mann befinden/ daß der gemeine nutzen bißhero solcher gestalt administriret worden/ daß auch die Römische Monarchia biß annoch bey vns Teutschen verblieben. Die ingenia dieses Volcks belangende/ seind die auch nicht so grob vnd Barbarisch wie sie[c1] der Tacitus abmahlet/ haben wir nicht vnsere Poeten/ Philosophos, Oratores, Politicos, Iurisconsultos, Medicos, Theologos, Physicos, Astronomos, Mathematicos, &c. so wol vnnd so gut alß solche Nationaes die jemahlen gehabt? Jch vermeine ja sie sollen andern auch noch wol vorgezogen werden können: So ist auch die herrliche vnd durch die Welt nutzbare Inuention der Buchtruckerey/ wie auch der Büchsenmeisterey jhrer: vnd nicht allein dieses/ sondern es seind in vnsern Landen auch mehr Philosophi gefunden so in der Mysticæ Philosophiæ Sacrarium eingelassen worden/ vnd den Philosophischen Stein/ [p. 7] oder Vniuersal Medicin darin erlanget/ alß bey keiner andern Nation etwa sein möchten/ vnnd mögen vns wol rühmen/ daß wir zehen vnd mehr solcher Leute gegen einer anderer Nation haben. Ware nicht der Albertus, so wegen seiner hohen gaben/ damit er von dem Allerhöchsten begnadet gewesen/ Magnus oder der Große genennet worden/ ein herrlicher vnd fürtrefflicher Philosophus? Weiß nicht ein jeder dieser Kunst nachforscher was der Iohannes Isaacus Hollandus, wie auch sein Sohn Isaacus Hollandus für herrliche Monumenta jhrer Kunst vnd wissenschafft hinder lassen? Weme seind die schönen Schrifften des Philosophi Alani von Jsle auß Flandern/ des Iodoci Greueri Presbyteri, vnnd des Authoris deß grossen Rosarij vnbekandt? Jn Summa, Die vielfältigen kostbare Schrifften/ so von den Teutschen Philosophis so wol in jhrer Mutter sprache/ alß in dem Latein verfasset/ seind vnschätzlich. Mann sehe nur an des Bernardi Graffen von Tresne vnd Näygen/ (welches sein Vatterland gewesen/ vnd nicht Treuisa, wie etliche vnrecht vermeinen) herrliche Büchlein/ so er hinderlassen. Mann besehe die vortreffliche Schrifften Theophrasti Paracelsi: Mann vberlege die köstliche verlaßung Fr. Basilij Valentini Benedicter Mönchs. Findet mann nicht solche fundamenta, solche weißenschafften/ vnd solche geheim- [p. 8] nisse darin offenbaret/ alß jemahlen bey einiger Nation Scribenten die Natur erkläret worden? Jch vermeine ja/ sie legen den vermeinten Philosophis einen andern grund der Natürlichen Philosophie für/ alß sie bey jhren Præceptoribus gefunden. Vnnd ob sie schon mit jhren Sophistereyen/ deren jhre Philosophia aus vngewißen gründen voll ist/ dieser weysen Männer gebew vmbzustoßen/ sich vielfältig vndernommen/ sich auch nachmahlen vnderstehen möchten: so ist doch der Eckstein so fast vnnd wol geleget/ daß alle solche Sturmwinde dauon abweichen/ vnd den Bauw vnbeweglich stehen lassen müßen: Ja es scheinet jhnen auch das helle Mittagsliecht der erfahrenheit so klar vnder Augen vnnd vberzeuget sie/ daß sie endlich das non putaram suchen/ vnnd sich jhres nichtigen Tants schemen müßen.
Weil nun diesem allem also/ vnd mir vnlangst zwey schöne Tractätlein von zweyen Teutschen Philosophis, so an jetzo der großen Gottes gaben/ nemblich des Philosophischen Steins in Gottesfurcht vnd möglichster heimlichkeit genießen/ zuhanden kommen/ mit begehren/ daß ich solche in offenen Truck befordern wolte einmahl darumb/ daß die Feinde der warheit dennoch sehen vnd spüren möchten/ daß Gottes Vhren alle [p. 9] Stunden schlagen/ vnd seine milde Hand jetzo/ vnd biß an der Welt ende je noch so reiche vnd willig sey/ alß vor dieser Zeit: vnd denn auch/ daß die wahren nachforscher sich hierin ersehen/ vnd in jhren fundamentis vergwissert/ den wahren Philosophis aber/ daß sie jhres gleichen haben kundtbar werden mögen. Alß habe ich für gut geachtet auch zwene Mitler Alters Philosophos, alß nemblich des Basilij Valentini noch hinderstellige Schrifften/ vnd des Lambsprings Büchlein mit seinen Figuren/ wie denn auch zweyer höhern vnd mehrern Alters Philosophischen Tractätlein/ alles in Teutsch beschrieben hinbey zufügen/ vnd vnder E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] gnedigen schutze vnd patrocinio zusammen in Truck zuuerfertigen/ vnd E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] Hochuerstendigen Iudicio zucensuriren/ auch zu gleich dediciren vnd zuschreiben wöllen: Vnderthenig bittendt/ die mein Gnediger Fürst vnnd Herr seyn vnnd bleiben/ vnnd diese meine wolgemeinte Intention in Gnaden vernehmen/ vnd dero diese Tractätlein gnädig gefallen lassen. Womit ich die Göttlicher protection, vnd mich zu dero Gnaden vnderthenig empfehle. Geben zu Franckfurt am Mayn den 1. Maij/ Jahrs 1624.
E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] Vndertheniger stets Williger D[octor] Hermannus Condeesyanus.
Modern English Raw Translation
We read in Cornelius Tacitus and other historians, Illustrious, Noble-born, Gracious Prince and Lord, that in ancient times our beloved homeland, when it first became known, as well as for many years thereafter, was a very harsh, rugged, and inhospitable land, inhabited by rough air and crude, barbaric peoples. However, if we consider our times a few years ago before this current miserable and sorrowful state, when foreign nations with the help and support of our own countrymen gladly wanted to restore it to its former condition, we find quite the opposite. It was not only comparable to Greece and Italy (which were the most flourishing countries at the time) but also surpassed many other countries in various aspects. Look at the agriculture and viticulture; hasn't it been brought to a point through the diligent care and labor of the inhabitants to produce all kinds of splendid fruits for bodily nourishment and necessity? Consider the fine and healthy wines, the abundance of beautiful fruits, the surplus of provisions. If one were to think about the governance and administration, one would find that the common good has been managed in such a way that even the Roman Empire has remained with us Germans to this day. As for the talents of this people, they are not as crude and barbaric as Tacitus describes. Do we not have our poets, philosophers, orators, politicians, jurists, physicians, theologians, physicists, astronomers, mathematicians, etc., as well and as competently as any nation that ever existed? I believe they can even be considered superior to others. There is also the magnificent and globally beneficial invention of printing and gunnery, among others, and not only these, but our lands have also produced more philosophers who have been initiated into the mysteries of mystical philosophy and have obtained the Philosopher's Stone or Universal Medicine than perhaps any other nation, and we can proudly say that we have ten or more such individuals compared to any other nation. Was not Albertus, called the Great for his high gifts with which he was graced by the Almighty, a magnificent and excellent philosopher? Is not the work of Johannes Isaac Hollandus and his son Isaac Hollandus, and their remarkable contributions to their art and knowledge, known to every researcher in this field? Who is unfamiliar with the beautiful writings of the philosopher Alan of the Isle from Flanders, Jodocus Greverus the Priest, and the author of the great Rosary? In summary, the numerous precious writings by German philosophers, both in their mother tongue and in Latin, are invaluable. Just look at the wonderful little books left by Bernard, Count of Treviso (his homeland, not Treviso as some mistakenly believe). Consider the excellent writings of Theophrastus Paracelsus; ponder the valuable legacy of Friar Basil Valentine, a Benedictine monk. Do we not find in their works foundations, knowledge, and secrets revealed as never before by any nation's writers on nature? I believe they offer a different foundation for natural philosophy than what they found with their teachers. And even though they have often attempted to overturn the achievements of these wise men with their sophistries, which are full of uncertain foundations, the cornerstone is laid so firmly and well that all such storms must deflect, leaving the structure unshaken. Indeed, the bright light of experience shines so clearly before their eyes and convinces them that they eventually must seek the "I had not thought of that" and be ashamed of their folly.
Since all this is so, and I have recently received two beautiful treatises from two German philosophers, who currently enjoy God's great gift, namely the Philosopher's Stone, in godliness and utmost secrecy, with a request that I should publish them to show the enemies of truth that God's clock strikes every hour, and His generous hand is now, and until the end of the world, as rich and willing as before; and also that the true seekers may see themselves in this and be assured in their foundations, and the true philosophers may become known to their peers. Therefore, I have deemed it good to also include two Middle Ages philosophers, namely the remaining writings of Basil Valentine and the booklet of Lambspring with its figures, as well as two treatises of philosophers of higher and more ancient age, all written in German, to compile under Your Princely Grace's gracious protection and patronage, to prepare for printing, to submit to Your Princely Grace's most discerning judgment, and to dedicate and inscribe with all due respect. Humbly requesting that my Gracious Prince and Lord accept this well-intended effort in grace, and find these treatises to your gracious liking. With this, I commend myself to divine protection and humbly to Your Grace's favor. Given in Frankfurt am Main, the 1st of May, the year 1624.
Your Princely Grace's Humble and Ever Willing Servant, Doctor Hermannus Condeesyanus.