Daniel Sennert and the University of Padua: Circulation of Medical Knowledge and Scholars Across the Confessional Divide in the Seventeenth Century

Abstract

This paper analyses a set of correspondence between the representatives of the University of Padua and Daniel Sennert (1572–1637), the renowned professor of medicine at Wittenberg. Sennert was a great synthesizer, attempting not only to harmonize Galenism with the “new chymical” medicine of Paracelsus, but also to reconcile Aristotelianism with atomism, positing a corpuscular theory of animated “seeds” to account for the origin of life. The letters reveal frequent gifting of books as an expression of scholarly generositas, the accommodation and the inconsistency of confessional limitations at Padua, as well as tragic events such as the premature death of Sennert’s son of plague in 1630/1 whilst he was studying at the University and the subsequent disposal of his personal effects. The correspondence also brilliantly demonstrates the interplay between texts and to what Mordechai Feingold has called the “confabulatory life” of the scholar, the diffusion of scientific knowledge through informal discussion with colleagues.

Appendix

1.1 Document N. 1

Epistola in qua clarissimo et excellentisimo viro domino Danieli Sennerto philosophiae et medicinae doctori eiusdemque in celeberrima Wittebergensium Academia professori primario ac seniori, gratiae aguntur ob transmissum librum Institutionum.

Esse passim in Germania viros doctissimos, vir clarissime, qui honori commodis ac nationis Germanicae philosophiae, medicinae et theologiae studiis in celeberrimo Patavino Gymnasio operam dantis, consultum cupiant, uti non dubitamus, sic re ipsa saepius iam experti sumus, et Dei gratia quotidie adhuc non sine exiguo gaudio experimur, et nostrae nationi inclytae gratulamur. In quorum benemeritorum catalogum non immerito Tua quoque Excellentia consignamus. Qua enim benevolentia inclytam nationem nostram Tua Excellentia amplectatur, quove conamine studia illius promovere cupiat, satis luculentum testimonium nobis exhibuit in eo, quod cum forsitan ab aliis intellexisset, nos in thesauro nostro librario pretiosissimo, editionem primam suarum Institutionum doctissimarum asservare, imitari plurimos huius Gymnasii medicos excellentissimos voluit, ac pro sua erga nationem singulari benevolentia et humanitate facere non potuit, quin etiam secunda auctioreque editione Bibliotheca nostra augeretur. Pro quo dono, aliud quod reponamus iam non habemus, nisi gratudinem quam solam viri optimi a Collegio nostro obtinere exoptant, et ut suorum in illud collata beneficia, honorifica extet memoria. Quae ambo etiam Tua Excellentia obtinebit. Et ne ingratidunis, vitii omnium maximi (ingratum enim si dixeris, omne malum dixeris), nota nobis inuratur, Tuae Excellentiae ob transmissum librum, nomine inclytae nationis nostrae, gratias agimus immortales. Et ut liberalitas haec praeclara omnibus innotescat, non solum nationi, in congregatione omnium membrorum, publice celebrandam proponemus, verum etiam in Annales nostros consignabimus, satius librum omni studio salvum et integrum conservare conabimur, ut sic ubique locorum Tuae Excellentiae liberalitatis insigne monimentum, aliis quoque imitandum, et apud posteros extet. Interea nos id unice agemus, ut conceptam erga Collegium nostrum animi propensionem et favorem, officiis nostris, si quae esse possunt, alamus. Atque nomine inclytae nationis Excellentia Tua omne officii studiorumque genus, quod a nobis proficisci poterit, deferimus; humanitatemque, quam natio de Tua Excellentia sibi pollicitur, amplificare studebimus. Valeat Tua Excellentia ac conatibus studiisque nostris, uti facit, benigne favere pergat. Deus Optimus Maximus, maximo rei literariae bono, Tuam Excellentiam conservet sospitem quam diutissime. Dabantur Patavii nonis ian. anni 1621.

• Consiliarius et procuratores

• Fecit et scripsit Iustus Craff

1.2 Document N. 2

• Responsoriae excellentissimi domini doctoris Sennerti post filii obitum.

• Viro clarissimo domino Georgio Tschernigk, medicinae doctori in Universitate Patavina.

Salutem. Utinam, vir clarissime atque excellentissime, amice honorande, monitis imo mandatis meis paruisset meus filius Daniel et, quam primum contagium pestis in Italia serpere animadvertit, in Germaniam reditum maturasset: forsan adhuc viveret. Verum cum ipsum, nescio qua causa, mihi nunquam sufficientes habitae ipsum remoratae sint et inde peste ibi grassante diem suum obierit, quod factum est mutari non potest, et mihi in divina voluntate acquiescendum, modo sciam ipsum beate mortuum fuisse, quod spero cum ipsum inter ardentes preces et in fide in Salvatorem nostrum Christum obiisse scribas. Quia vero bene moritur qui bene vixit, luctum magis moderarer, si scirem eum etiam sanum sacra diligenter legisse et meditatum fuisse pietatemque coluisse et ad beatam mortem se mature praeparasse. De quo me certiorem facias velim, ut et de eo an moriturus aliquam mei, matris, fratrum ac sororis mentionem fecerit, ultimumque vale nobis dixerit. Tibi vero ut et caeteris popularibus gratias habeo, quod et aegro et morienti fideliter adfuisti ipsumque piis precibus Deo commendasti eiusque funus curasti, Deumque precor, ut te in periculo salvum et incolumem praestet. Si domum reverso cum Deo iterum aliquod officii praestare potero, in me nihil desiderari patiar.²⁸

Seine verlaßenschafftt betreffende, wolle der herr dieselbe verkauffen undt etwas mitt abzahlen, doch die bucher mugen der nation bleiben undt kan sein nahme in dieselbe geschrieben werden. Hoffe, liber²⁹ 3 Practicae soll von Augspurgk auch baldt ankomen, kan³⁰ gleichsfals der nation verehrett und sein nahme darein geschrieben werden. Wo brieffe vorhanden, wolle der herr solche verbrennen. Ist aber was von manuscripta, das mir nutze oder mich delectiren konne, sonderlichen observationes und singulares opiniones professorum Patavinorum, kan es der herr mittbringen. Sonsten hatt er etzliche ringe, auffs weinigste 5 gehabt, welche der herr anhero schicken oder bringen wolle, weill er sie meiststheills von seiner mutter seligen bekommen. Die schulden betreffendt, nimmett mich wunder, das er so viell hintter sich verlaßen hatt, weill ich dieße 7 viertheilljahr, ohne was auff die reiße gangen, uber 700 thaller ihme zugeschickett habe. Hette vermeinett, er sollte ein vierthelljahr mitt 100 thaller zukommen konnen. Weiß nichtt, wie er muß spendirt haben. Weill ich aber aus des herrn schreiben abnehmen kann, das die negst ubergeschickte 200 thaller mein sohn bey seinem leben nichtt empfahen, allß wolle mich er berichtten, was er mitt denselben an den 400 thaller schulden abgezahlett, mir die quittung uberschicken undtt was nichtt vor liquida undt legitime contracta debita vorhanden, berichtten und alle seine zettell fleißigk zusamenbringen undt mir uberschicken; auch berichtten, ob die 30 thaller, so herrn Hochaicher zuviell geschickett, meinem sohne abe-, dem hern zuzurechnen sein. Damitt aber etzliche nottigste schuldten balde mogen abgezahlett werden, habe ich bej hern Hochaichern anordnung gethan, das alßbaldt durch wechsell dem hern 100 thaller sollen ubergeschickett werden, welche er zur abzahlung der nottigsten schuldt anwenden magk. Den locum sepulturae betreffendt muß ich damitt zufrieden sein, weill von einem orthe so nahe zum himell ist alß vom anderen: modo pie sit mortuus. Das memorial, so auffgerichtett werden kontte, betreffendt, wolle mich der herr berichtten, auff wasmaßen es pfleget zu geschehen undt was es kostet. So will ich mich ferner erkleren. Unterdeßen, wen der herr wegkziehett, wolle der herr den locum signiren undt iemandt sagen. Sonsten werde ich berichttett, das ein ieder consiliarius sub finem studii seine insignia ins collegium setzen leßet.

Weill den mein sohn fast das gantze Jahr dießes officium getragen undt biß auff finem studii verwaltett hette, wen ihn nichtt Gott von dieser weltt abgefodert hette, alß wolle sich der herr bemuhen, das solche seine insignia, derer picturam ich ihme neulich zugeschicktt, mogen an gewohnlichen ohrtt gebrachtt werden. Wo er auch etwas bej abtretung seines officii in publica acta hette sollen referiren, das zu seiner gedechttniß dienett undt solches nichtt geschehen, wolle der herr daran sein, das solches auch muge verrichtet werden; auch mich endtlich berichtten, ob herr Rhodius noch zu Padova ist. Gott der allmechtiger aber wolle des hern behutten, das er frisch undt gesundt wieder nach hauße komme.

• Wittenbergk, 15. iulii 1631.

• Excellentiae tuae studiosissimus.

• Daniel Sennertus doctor.

1.3 Document N. 3

• Perillustri et excellentissimo viro domino N.N., inclytae nationis Germanicae facultatis artistarum in Academia Patavina consiliario dignissimo, domino et amico honorando.

  • Salutem et officia.

  • Perillustris et excellentissime vir, domine et amice honorande.

Anni superioris mense iulio literas Patavio a domino doctore Georgio Tchernig accepi, quibus inopinatum filii mei, quem propediem reducem me visurum sperabam, obitum mihi nunciabat. Quo nuncio etsi vehementer perturbatus sum, tamen in divina voluntate acquiescendum fuit. Respondi vero ipsi eo ipso mense et, ut de quibusdam filium meum piae memoriae spectantibus me porro certiorem faceret, rogavi. Cum vero, ut literae eius significabant, et ipse metueret, ne simile quid sibi utpote qui filio meo et aegro et morienti adfuerit, accideret, simul ad perillustrem, nobilissimum et excellentissimum dominum Caesarem Cremoninum, inclytae nationis Germanicae facultatis artistarum protectorem, literas dedi, atque ab eo petivi, ut si quod humani dominus Tzernigio accidisset, alicui e familiaribus qui filio meo familiaris fuerit, literas meas traderet, ut ille ad capita earum mihi responderet. Quia vero ab illo tempore nihil literarum Patavio accepi, simul etiam fama ad nos allata est et ipsum dominum Tzernigium peste obiisse, facere non potui quin ad Excellentiam tuam literas hasce darem eamque amice rogarem, ut mihi quam primum significet, an literae illae meae Patavium pervenerint et, si pervenerint, alicui ex popularibus hoc negotium committat qui ad eas mihi respondeat, simulque me certiorem faciat, an aliquis medicinae studiosus, qui Witebergae medicinam operam dedit, iam Patavii vivat. Misi etiam superiori anno filio meo librum tertium Practicae meae ut bibliothecae vestrae insereretur. Verum intelligo nunc hucusque Augustae apud dominum Iohannem Georgium Jochaicher mercatorem haesisse, qui tamen proximis nundinis Lipsiensibus promisit se operam daturum ut Venetias perferatur. Liber ergo hic, si ad vos pervenerit, ut eum boni consulatis eique in bibliotheca vestra locum detis, rogo. Liber quartus de morbis mulierum et quintus de morbis puerorum sequenti aestate, ut spero, etiam typis excudetur, quem, si vos expetere intellexero, et eum, ubi absolutus fuerit, mittam. Interim bene valete. Wittebergae calendis februarii 1632.

• Perillustris tuae Excellentiae studiosissimus.

• Daniel Sennertus doctor.

1.4 Document 1

A Letter in which thanks are given to the most outstanding and excellent doctor of philosophy and Medicine Daniel Sennert, senior professor of the same and principal at the most celebrated University of Wittenberg, on account of his donation of his book The Institutions [of Medicine].

Most honourable fellow, that there are such learned men all over Germany, who wish only good for the honour and benefit of the German Nation that diligently supports studies in philosophy, medicine, and theology at the most celebrated University of Padua, we are in no doubt, as we have repeatedly bore witness to it, and, by the grace of God, even now we bear witness to it each day not without a little joy, and we give thanks to our venerable nation. And into the register of such worthies we also place [you], Your Excellence. Indeed, with what goodwill Your Excellence embraces our venerable nation, or rather with what support Your Excellence wishes to promote its studies, ample enough evidence has been provided for us through the fact that, as he had perhaps gleaned from others, that we keep in the most treasured store of our library a first edition of his most learned Institutions, he wished that we emulate the many most excellent doctors of this University, and so by virtue of his particular goodwill and feelings towards our nation, he could not endure that our Library was also not augmented by his greatly increased second edition. In exchange for such a gift, we do not now possess anything that would repay it except our gratitude, which only the best fellows aspire to obtain from our college, and the privileges of our fellows to be conferred upon him, so that his honorable memory may be made known. Both of which things Your Excellence will obtain. And lest the mark of ingratitude, the worst blemish of all (indeed ‘if you call someone ungrateful, you call them every bad thing’) be branded upon us, in the name of our venerable college we offer eternal thanks to Your Excellence for the donation of your book. And so that your outstanding generosity may be clearly noted by all, not only shall we propose that it be celebrated publically by the nation in the assembly of all divisions, but also we shall record it into our Annals, better still we shall endevour to keep your book unspoiled and whole, so that it may live on everywhere as a distinguished monument to your Excellence's generosity, and be copied by others, even among future generations. Meanwhile, we will especially see to it to maintain the favour and goodwill directed towards our College in our duties, whatever they can be. And so in the name of our venerable nation, Your Excellence, we bestow every type of duty and devotion that we can offer; and the kindness, which the nation promises to itself from Your Excellence, we will endevour to enlarge upon. May Your Excellence be well and may he continue, as he does, to favour kindly our activities and studies. May God the Greatest and Best keep Your Excellence safe for the longest time possible for the greatest good of the republic of letters.

• Delivered at Padua on the 5th of January, 1621. The Councilor and Procurators [of the German Nation].

• Justus Craff made and wrote [this].

1.5 Document 2

Reply of the most excellent master, doctor Daniel Sennert, after the death of his son. To the most illustrious master George Tzschernick, doctor of medicine at the University of Padua. Salutations. If only, most illustrious and excellent honourable friend, my son Daniel had rather taken heed of my advice and, as soon as he noticed that the infection of the plague was spreading in Italy, he had expedited his return to Germany, perhaps he would still be alive. Indeed, although (I know not the cause) something never divulged to me delayed him and hence he died there with the plague spreading, what's done cannot be changed, and I must find solace in divine will, I shall now know that he died blessed, which I hope since you write that he died amid ardent prayers and in belief for our Saviour Christ. Since, indeed, he who lives well, dies well, I would temper my grief greatly, if I knew that he also very diligently read Scripture and was mindful of it, that he practiced piety and that he was duly prepared for a blessed death. I ask that you let me know whether before dying he made any mention of me, his mother, brothers and sisters, and said a final farewell to us. Truly, I give thanks to you and your other colleagues, because you were dutifully present when he was ill and dying; and you commended him to God with pious prayers and took care of his funeral rites, and I pray to God to keep you safe and sound during this danger. If after his return home with God I can offer any service in turn, I shall suffer that nothing will be wanting from me.

As far as his belongings are concerned, Sir, please sell them and keep some money for yourself. But the books may remain [as a donation] for the Nation, possibly with his [my son’s] name written inside. Furthermore, I hope that the third book of my Practica [Medicinae] will soon arrive from Augsburg, it can also be venerated to the Nation, and his name could be written inside, as well. If there are some letters left, Sir, please burn them. However, if there is some manuscript that could be of use or delight for me, especially observations and singular opinions of Paduan professors, please, bring them to me. Moreover, he owned several rings, at least five, which, Sir, send or bring them here because he received most of them from his blessed mother. As for the debts, I am surprised that he had so many, because I sent him more than 700 talers during the last seven trimesters, in addition to the travel [expenses]. I thought that he could manage with 100 talers for one trimester. I do not know, how he could spend so much. Since I understand from your letter, that my son did not receive the 200 talers that I more recently sent, when he was still alive, please, let me know how much of his 400-talers debt could be paid back. Send me the receipts, inform me about non-liquid and illegitimate debts, accurately collect all of his notes [of payment] and send them to me. Please, let me also know, whether the 30 talers, which Mr. Hocheicher sent too much, should be assigned to you) or to my son. In order to settle the most urgent debts soon, I requested Mr. Hocheicher to sent 100 talers to you through the exchange office as soon as possible, which you might use to pay the most urgent debts. Concerning the burial location, I have to be satisfied with it, since all places are equally distant from the heaven, if he only died in a pious manner. Concerning the tombstone that was arranged, tell me please about the dimensions, in which it could be realized, and the costs. So I will explain myself further. Meanwhile, when you will leave the place, please, mark the [burial] location and inform somebody about it. I have also been notified, that every councilor, at the end of his studies, has his emblem put in the college. Since my son occupied this office almost an entire year and would have occupied it until the completion of his studies, if God did not subtract him from this world, please, make all efforts to put his emblem, a picture of which I recently sent you, in the usual place. If he had to write a report in the public acts at the end of his office, in order to leave some memory of himself, and should this not yet have happened, please, Sir, be you the one who takes care of this. And let me finally know whether Mr. Rhodius is still in Padova. May God the Almighty protect you and may you come back home safe and healthy.

• Wittenberg, 15 July 1631

• Most devotedly to your Honoured Excellence,

• Doctor Daniel Sennert.

1.6 Document 3

To the most honoured and excellent senior fellow N.N., most worthy Councilor of the venerable German Nation in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Padua, an honourable friend and master, Salutations. Most honoured and excellent fellow, master and honourable friend, in the month of July last year, I received letters from a Paduan master and doctor, George Tzschernick, in which the unexpected death of my son, whom I was expecting to see shortly upon his return, was announced to me. Although I was quite violently shaken by this news, nevertheless I have had to take solace in divine will. Even so, I responded to him in the same month and asked that he inform me in turn about certain individuals who were looking after my son of sacred memory. Since, indeed, he was also fearing, as his letters revealed, that something similar would befall him as someone who was present with my son both during his illness and death, at the same time I sent letters to the most honoured and excellent master Cesare Cremonini, protector of the venerable German Nation in the Faculty of Arts, and I asked of him that, should anything befall master Tzschernick, to send my letters to anyone of the friends who was known to my son, so that he may respond to me in this regard. Since, indeed, from that time I have received no letters from Padua, and also at the same time news has reached us that master Tzschernick has died from the plague, I have not been able to abstain from sending these letters to Your Excellence and kindly asking him to let me know as soon as possible whether those letters of mine arrived at Padua and, if they did, may he commit this task to someone local who would reply to me in this regard, and at the same time let me know whether any medical student who practiced medicine at Wittenburg now lives in Padua. Also, last year I sent the third book of my practical medicine to my son to be put in your library. Yet I understand now that so far it has remained at the house of master John George Jochaicher the merchant in Augsburg, who nevertheless has promised that he himself will take pains to convey them to Venice. This book, therefore, should it come to you, I ask that you be good enough to look after it and allocate a place for it in your library. Book four on the sickness of women and book five on the sickness of boys shall, I hope, also be put to print in the following summer, which, if I learn that you want it, I shall also send to you after it has been completed.

• Meanwhile, farewell.

• From Wittenberg, 1st of February 1632.

• Most devotedly to your Honoured Excellence,Doctor Daniel Sennert