Solemn Orations in Praise of the Divine Elector Princes of Saxony, Maurice and Christian I

ORATION I.

would we have schools, how much greater would be the stipends of teachers, how much more frequent the gatherings of students, youth adorned with good talents would not treat their studies so remissly if they felt greater rewards were proposed, and not so many teaching in temples and Schools would fade away from near hunger. I will recite to you, auditors, a history concerning Christopher, Duke of Württemberg, not unlike the Maurician piety and munificence toward schools. When the generous Count Ludwig in Oetingen requested the work of Lutheran Theologians to reform and purge the Churches of his dominion from Idolatry and papal filth, he was not lacking the benevolence and counsel of the Most Illustrious Princes Otho Henry, Count Palatine by the Rhine, George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg, and Christopher of Württemberg. Each sent some of their own Theologians: Christopher of Württemberg, a most pious prince, sent Dr. Jacob Andreae: he gave this in mandates written on a special Schedule, that if Count Ludwig was doing this because he wanted to seize the ecclesiastical goods of the Monasteries primarily for himself and convert them to his own use, Doctor Jacob should participate in no further deliberation, but immediately return home: for God does not leave those unpunished who pollute their hands with the profanation of ecclesiastical goods. This laudable example of Duke Christopher of Württemberg, and of Maurice of Saxony, should today be proposed to all who offer such meager stipends to Ministers of the word, Professors, and teachers that they can with difficulty sustain themselves and theirs. Once, under the more than Cimmerian darkness of the papists and scholastic barbarism, not only Magistrates, but even private men with the highest will generously contributed not only ordinary revenues, but also their own goods for the preservation of Monasteries, colleges, and schools.