Continental and Illuminations
De Philippi Melanchthoni ortu, totius vitae curriculo et morte, implicata rerum memorabilium temporis illius. Leipzig, E. Voegelin, (1566.)
4to, [10]ff. "423" [i.e. 424]pp. [10]ff.(last leaf blank). Contemporary vellum (contents a little out of shape).
First edition of this very important and influential biography of Philipp Melanchthon, written by one of his closest colleagues and friends who had known Melanchthon since he moved to the University of Wittenberg in 1521. Both men were part of the network of younger humanists whose support of Luther in the early 1520's was vital to the success of Protestantism. Camerarius (1500-74) had a highy succesful career in Nuremberg, Tübingen and finally in Leipzig where he was rector and dean from 1541 until his death in 1574. He was a prolific author over 150 works, mostly editions and translations of classical works, but this work and his biography of Eobanus Hessus were his most influential.His humanist inclinations and close association with Melanchthon made him an important representative of those German intellectuals who sought religious compromise between 1530 and 1555. He was Melanchthon's advisor at the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, helped write the Augsburg Confession, took part in the peace negotiations at Augsburg in 1555, and participated in discussions between Catholic and Protestant theologians at Vienna in 1568. In all cases he supported Melanchthon's view that flexibility and doctrine and willingness to compromise on adiaphora (matters indifferent) might bring religious peace.Although he outlived Melanchthon by 14 years, he was at odds with the theologians whom he saw as responsible for the political disintegration and moral decline of Germany. Hartfelder speaks of two different issues, but no mention of this appears in VD16.Small hole at foot of folio A7 (introduction) affecting three letters on either side of the page.Adams C420. VD16 C502. Hartfelder 624.43.
Stock Code: CO19309
