To the most reverend father in Christ and Lord, Lord Francisco

Jiménez, Cardinal of Spain and Archbishop of Toledo, Grand Chancellor of Castile, and

General Inquisitor and most deserving Primate of the Spains: An Epistle

from Alfonso de Proaza of Asturias.

Most eminent Cardinal, we believe that all men who have shone with the splendor of faith, if they perhaps discovered any truths after long labors, reached them as if by a kind of glimmer. But after the light of the world, Jesus Christ, arose and shone forth following the earlier prophets, human blindness began to be more clearly illuminated. Then came the blessed apostles; then came the most famous doctors, who, like earthly stars, flashed brilliantly across the whole world. They filled the schools and libraries with almost infinite volumes of writings, yet not even through these could the river of their wisdom be fully exhausted or made public. But even if it could have been, it perhaps did not please them for this reason: that the most precious pearls should not be scattered upon paper pages as if to be disparaged, but rather should be entrusted to the sanctuaries of purified minds.

Therefore, given the condition of the human race, Christ, the teacher of teachers, knew that the obstacle of our incapacity could be removed if he himself infused into some mortal a "General Art" for all things that can be known—one that is locked away from unworthy minds but open to the good. And that is precisely the art which Ramon Llull original: "Raymundus lullus." A Majorcan philosopher and lay Franciscan (c. 1232–1316) who developed a complex system of logic intended to prove Christian truths through reason., a gilded knight, received divinely from the wisdom of Christ herself. Arranged in various forms from that same material of principles and rules, he left it behind, called at times the "Inventive Art," at others the "General," "Demonstrative," or "Great Art." And because it was too laborious and nearly impossible to carry a whole equipment of books with us, he made an "abbreviated word" A reference to Romans 9:28, "a short word shall the Lord make upon the earth." upon the earth, imparting it to us like a kind of manna of the sciences; by carrying this single thing, we might carry with us everything knowable and all the libraries of the world.

I know I speak of something astounding, but it is not therefore impossible; rather, it shows God to be magnificent and lovable. For if our wounds of ignorance are as many as the truths we do not know, and if this Art (as we said before) were the remedy for this unworthiness of ours, there is no doubt that Christ gave it as a skilled physician. He could have done nothing for his vineyard—that is, the world—that he has not done. O, what a marvelous thing, if envy is set aside! O, what a singular gift of God, if weighed soundly! From the beginning of the age, it has not been heard that one who had been quite worldly and most unlearned, divinely inspired late in life, handed down a formula for finding all truths that is no less useful than it is necessary.

And if there are perhaps those who, under the pretext of praising other doctors (whom we venerate most highly and rightly so), restrict God's generosity as if He could not bestow more than He gave in earlier centuries, why, I ask, are they troublesome to this provider of public utility? He always worked a good work in the Church of God, for which he deserves to be most acceptable to all. Unless, perhaps, they think he should be stoned because he utterly eliminated the impious errors of the pagan philosophers, or because he supplied the faithful with weapons against the infidels Llull’s primary goal was the conversion of Muslims and Jews through rational argument rather than force., ensuring that the schools of the followers of Christ need no books from the pagans for any tradition of the sciences.

But if anyone should ask why Ramon’s doctrine, so excellent and distinguished, does not yet circulate and flourish through all the academies of the world, I believe it can be answered aptly enough: partly because very few lovers of good things are found in this world, and partly because the secret of this rare and most high faculty has not wished to be made common until now, awaiting a worthy patron. Since you excel in the widest religious devotion and brilliant learning, you stand as another Maecenas A Roman counselor and famous patron of the arts; Proaza is calling the Cardinal a great sponsor of scholars. to all good arts and authors—or rather their greatest author and enlarger. Moved by a certain divine zeal to cultivate both your homeland and the Christian religion with good disciplines, and performing the duty of a most excellent Bishop under your own auspices, you have transferred those most famous schools of Athens and Paris—one with letters, the other with arts—into the Spains.

The evidence for this is that wondrous building of colleges at Alcalá original: "Alcalēse mirabile collegioz edífícíū." Referencing the University of Alcalá de Henares, founded by Cisneros in 1499.. It is truly an immortal work that will perpetually preserve your amazing praises and the growth of learning. It is constructed not only with the most solid and magnificent architecture, but you do not cease to distinguish it with the most famous doctors of all sciences and faculties, sought out from nearly all of Asia and Europe at no small expense. And since it is the way of few men not so much to desire dignities as to deserve them, you deserved them before you received those noble honors with which the Catholic Sovereigns of the Spains decorated you: namely, the Cardinalate, the Archbishopric, the Inquisitorship, the Chancellorship, and the most ample dignities of the Primacy. In you alone (if I may say so without offending others), sobriety, prudence, sanctity, continence, sound doctrine, and all other things are seen which the Apostle Paul requires in a most perfect bishop.

Thus you truly act as a Prelate, and one who is most absolute in every part. Ramon himself has long been waiting for such a patron and defender of his doctrine. Therefore, it will be your concern, most wise Prelate, to embrace, cherish, and protect this "Enlightened Doctor"—or rather (as you yourself are accustomed to call him), the "Most Enlightened"—not a pagan, not a man of mere opinions, not a talker of trifles, not one dwelling on scraps or contradicting himself, but a most Christian, grave, meaningful, simple, and succinct man. You see him most closely joined to you by nation, by habit, and by a zeal for the faith and the public utility of learning.

This, most excellent Bishop, was the great reason for me to dedicate specifically to you these three books of Ramon, gathered into one volume and revised by my own sweat, and committed to metal type original: "metallicis formis demādatos." A reference to the relatively new technology of the printing press. for the common good. I do this because of the observance and wonderful devotion with which I follow both Your Reverend Lordship and Ramon himself. It remains, then, for you to receive this little gift of ours, whatever it may be, with a cheerful face. And when you are free from your serious occupations, read and correct it, and I pray again and again that you enroll me among the number of your most devoted servants. Farewell, glory of our time, crown of Prelates, and exceptional example...