HIERONYMUS WOLF

...to pursue [the school's restoration], after that pestilential plague Likely the plague of 1553-54, which caused many to flee Augsburg and disrupted the school's operations. had somewhat weakened it. Desiring to restore it, they had given the task of recruiting learned men from all over to the most illustrious man, Master Lorenz Tuppy, a Pomeranian and legal expert original: "I. C." (Jurisconsultus)—my old and most pleasant friend—as they perhaps had to others. As he, in his sincerity and kindness, attributed more to me than I can modestly acknowledge, he immediately wrote to me about the matter. I thought an opportunity was being offered to me both to relieve the commonwealth of an unnecessary expense Wolf likely felt his salary was a burden if he wasn't being fully utilized. and to look after my own interests; all the more so because the constant letters of my brother Henry [Wolf], a physician in Nuremberg, were urging me in the same direction. For we did not think that I would not be most eagerly released, especially to a place where there could be some use for my learning, however small it may be.

Therefore, after communicating with Master Hans Jakob Hainzel, Johann Baptist (Hans Jakob) Hainzel (1527–1581), a prominent Augsburg patrician, senator, and major patron of Wolf's scholarship. a most distinguished man, then consul and now a member of the secret council—without whose authority, advice, and help I undertake nothing of great weight—and having lamented the miseries of our school, I noticed that he was more moved in spirit than ever before. He was irritated and angry with both of us: with me, for judging our labors more peevishly than was right; and with him [Tuppy], for attempting to intercept another man's ministers.

And what he did regarding me in the Senate, I truly do not know. He only replied after several days that I was neither a burdensome nor useless minister to the commonwealth, and that Augsburg could support Wolf just as well as Strasbourg original: "Argentina" could; and therefore, I would not be released. Whether I grieved more or rejoiced at this response, I could not easily say. For it held (as is easily understood) both something for me to be happy about and something to be desired.

Then, finally, having cast aside every thought of moving, I judged that since I could not benefit many through the living voice Meaning through direct teaching of a large student body., I should do all the more to instruct even those who are absent through my writings. Accordingly, I decided that my commentaries on Isocrates, Cicero, and Demosthenes should be corrected, enlarged, and prepared for the press—especially since booksellers and printers indicated that these were expected and demanded by studious men.

While I was engaged in this labor, you, most distinguished men—Master Stamler, Master Peutinger, and Master Tenne—were joined as most welcome colleagues to Master Hartlieb (who for several years had sustained the burden of the entire school almost alone and solo, while others were either absent or occupied). At the suggestion and urging (as I believe) of the same Hainzel, you have acted as true school-overseers original: "scholarchas" until now, undertaking the care of both the scholarly youth and the schoolmasters, as if the former were your sons and the latter your clients. In which number I, especially, owe a great deal to your kindness. For what I had often sought in previous years but could never obtain, was finally accomplished by your authority: that, being freed from the troublesome and useless inspection of classes, I might teach even at the noon hour, and make greater progress in Greek and Latin lectures, with some benefit (as I hope) to the learners. These same men also [selected for me]...