Preface, no date (1589), Anonymous (Giacomo Castelvetro) to the Reader (BP.Erastus.1589-01)

Author:	Anonymous [Giacomo Castelvetro]
Recipient:	Reader
Type:	Preface
Date:	1 January 1589
Place:	Poschiavo
Pages:	3
Language:	Latin

Quote as:

https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=3031

Editor:	Edited by Julian Paulus
Source:	Thomas Erastus, Explicatio Grauissimae Quaestionis, no place, no printer [London: John Wolfe] 1589, sig. A2r–A3r [BP.Erastus.1589-01]

Note:

The fictious printer's name “Baocius Sultaceterus” is an anagram of “Iacobus Casteluetrus”. The printer's preface is therefore likely to have been written by the (anonymous) editor Giacomo Castelvetro.

Translation:

Raw translation see below

Abstract:

The printer explains his efforts to publish a treatise by the renowned Thomas Erastus on Ecclesiastical Discipline and Excommunication. He was motivated by the high esteem in which theses on the topic were held by learned and pious individuals. After discovering the unpublished work among Erastus's papers, neglected by his heirs, he acquired and diligently printed it. He anticipates criticism from those more devoted to partisan interests than truth, suggesting they might accuse him of further disturbing the Church in tumultuous times. He defends his decision, highlighting the support of leading theologians and praise from other scholars. He urges readers to appreciate his diligence and defend him against detractors, hoping to be encouraged to print more beneficial works in the future. (generated by Chat-GPT)

Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Giacomo Castelvetro

[sig. A2r] Typographvs, veritatis stvdioso lectori, S[alvtem] D[icit].

Cvm iam multos annos, de Thomae Erasti Medici, ac Philosophi, nostra tempestate clarisssimi, Tractatu quodam à pluribus rogitarer; quem de Ecclesiastica Disciplina, déque Excommunicatione scripsisse illum dictitabant; cuius etiam in manibus multorum eiusdam argumenti Theses, nescio quas, manu-scriptas, vidisse sese affirmabant; quae quidem Theses à viris & doctis & pijs, atque partium studijs alienis, mirum in modum probarentur; Ego his cognitis, animum ad hanc rem adiungere coepi; ponereq́ue in perquirendo libro quantum poteram diligentiae, operae, atque industriae. Quem vbi nondum euulgatum, sed delitescentem inter alias huius viri schedas, tineis & blateis escam, comperissem; quòd autore vita functo, Haeredes eius non eam, quae par fuisset, rationem haberent: elaboraui, ac denique perfeci, vt pretio Haeredibus depenso, Liber cui extremam Auctor manum imposuerat, in meam deueniret potestatem. Hunc postea, vbi primum per tempus licuit, diligenter typis meis excudendum tradidi. Quod autem operaepretium fecerim, hactenùs animi pendeo. Illud quidem certè mihi minimè du- [sig. A2v] bium est, complures fore, qui studijs partium magis quàm veritati addicti, meum hoc institutum accusabunt, reprehendent, ac miris deniquè modis exagitabunt: quasi ego auaritia inductus & rerum nouarum studio, Ecclesiaestatum, his praesertim iniquis temporibus; tanta rerum omnium perturbatione, bellicis tumultibus, malorum colluuie, & doctrinarum labyrinthis; satis superq́ue iactatum; nouo dogmate nouísque contentionibus exagitandum adhuc magis proposuerim. Quae quidem res, magnum sanè mihi dolorem, grauémque sollicitudinem allatura fuisset; nisi me laborantem erexisset, atque consolata fuisset ipsa veritas; cui accedebat auctoritas praecipuorum nostri temporis Theologorum; quorum etiam Epistolas ad libri calcem adiecimus: ac deniquè quòd à quam plurimis etiam alijs eruditis viris, & veritatis amantibus, hoc scriptum, summis extolli laudibus viderem. Quamobrem, etiamsi mihi in odium offensionémque incidere cuiusquam, acerbum erat; tamen ne veritas per me diutiùs oppressa diceretur, neque tanto bono pios omnes defraudarem, quos multo iam tempore libri huius editionem vehementer expetisse intelligebam; nil moratus paucorum odiu, peruersámque imperandi cupidinem, qua maximè hoc genus hominum flagrat; operi me summo studio accinxi, praestitiq́ue quod videtis. Igitur vos, qui procul à liuore, & maleuoentia, rectum animi sensum in iudicando sequimini, nostram hanc diligentiam, & bonis omnibus gratifi- [sig. A3r] candi studium æqui boníque consulite: nostríque patrocinium defensionémque aduersus maleuolos, & obtrectatores libenter suscipite: quo nobis animum faciatis, alios deinceps, in vestrum commodum, libros bonos, typis nostris excudendi. Qua quidem in re dabimus operam, ne diligentiam officiúmque nostrum desideretis. Interim fruimini doctrina tanti viri; summas immortali Deo gratias agentes, quod is tales operatios in messem suam extruserit, qui in colligendis denique frugibus, non autem dissipandis, omnem curam, diligentiam, operam, ac studium collocant. Valete foelicissimè.

Ex officina nostra Pesclauiensi Cal[endis] Ian[uarii] Anno nouissimi temporis LXXXIX. suprà M. D.

English Raw Translation

Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 18 August 2023. Attention: This translation is a machine translation by artificial intelligence. The translation has not been checked and should not be cited without additional human verification.

The Printer, to the reader in pursuit of truth, sends greetings.

For many years now, I have been asked by many about a certain treatise of Thomas Erastus, a physician and philosopher of our time, most renowned. They said he wrote on Ecclesiastical Discipline and on Excommunication. Many claimed to have seen in his hands theses on the same topic, handwritten, whose exact nature I do not know. These theses were highly esteemed by learned and pious men, those free from partisan bias. Knowing this, I set my mind to this matter and applied as much diligence, effort, and industry as I could in searching for the book. When I found it, not yet published but hidden among this man's other papers, food for moths and beetles, because his heirs did not give it due consideration after his death, I endeavored and finally managed to acquire the book, for which the author had given his final touch, by paying a price to the heirs. Later, when time first permitted, I diligently committed it to be printed with my types. Whether this was worth the effort, I am still in suspense. I am certain, however, that many, more devoted to partisan interests than to truth, will criticize, rebuke, and vehemently oppose my endeavor. They might say that I, driven by greed and a love for novelty, aim to further disturb the Church, especially in these unjust times, already troubled by so much upheaval, wars, an influx of evils, and a maze of doctrines, with new teachings and fresh disputes. This would have caused me great distress and concern, had not the truth itself uplifted and comforted me. Added to this was the authority of the foremost theologians of our time, whose letters we have added to the end of the book. And finally, I saw this writing praised highly by many other learned men and lovers of truth. Therefore, even if it was painful for me to incur the dislike or offense of anyone, I did not hesitate, lest the truth be said to be suppressed by me any longer, and lest I deprive all the pious of such a great good, who I understood had long been eagerly awaiting the publication of this book. Disregarding the hatred of a few and their perverse desire to command, which most of this kind of people burn with, I devoted myself with great enthusiasm to the task and accomplished what you see. Therefore, you who judge with a clear mind, free from spite and malice, please regard our diligence and our desire to please all that is good with fairness and kindness. Willingly defend and support us against the malicious and detractors, so you encourage us to print other good books for your benefit with our types. In this, we will strive so that you do not miss our diligence and duty. In the meantime, enjoy the teachings of such a great man, giving the highest thanks to the immortal God, that He has sent such workers into His harvest, who place all their care, diligence, effort, and study in gathering the fruits, not in scattering them. Farewell most happily.

From our workshop in Poschiavo, on the first of January in the year 1589 AD.