De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georg Agricola
1550. This was probably an error for either the 1546 or the 1558
2070 words | Chapter 34
editions. Watt refers to an edition of 1561 combined with _De Medicatis
Fontibus_. We find no trace of such edition, nor even that the latter
work was ever actually printed. He also refers to an edition of 1614 and
one of 1621, this probably being an error for the 1612 edition of the
subsidiary works and the _De Re Metallica_ of 1621. Leupold also refers
to an edition of 1622, this probably being an error for 1612.
_De Ortu et Causis._ Albinus, Hofmann, Jacobi, Schmid, Richter, and
Reuss mention an edition of 1544. This we believe to be an error in
giving the date of the dedication instead of that of the publication
(1546). Albinus and Ferguson give an edition of 1555, which date is, we
believe, an error for 1558. Ferguson gives an edition of the Italian
translation as 1559; we believe this should be 1550. Draud gives an
edition of 1621; probably this should be 1612.
_Bermannus._ Albinus, Schmid, Reuss, Richter, and Weinart give the first
edition as 1528. We have been unable to learn of any actual copy of that
date, and it is our belief that the date is taken from the dedication
instead of from the publication, and should be 1530. Leupold, Schmid,
and Reuss give an edition by Froben in 1549; we have been unable to
confirm this. Leupold also gives an edition of 1550 (folio), and Joecher
gives an edition of Geneva 1561 (folio); we have also been unable to
find this, and believe the latter to be a confusion with the _De Re
Metallica_ of 1561, as it is unlikely that _Bermannus_ would be
published by itself in folio. The catalogue of the library at Siena
(Vol. III., p. 78) gives _Il Bermanno, Vinegia_, 1550, 8vo. We have
found no trace of this edition elsewhere.
_De Mensuris et Ponderibus._ Albinus and Schmid mention an edition of
1539, and one of 1550. The Biographie Universelle, Paris, gives one of
1553, and Leupold one of 1714, all of which we have been unable to find.
An epitome of this work was published at various times, sometimes in
connection with editions of Vitruvius; so far as we are aware on the
following dates, 1552, 1585, 1586, 1829. There also appear extracts in
relation to liquid measures in works entitled _Vocabula rei numariae
ponderum et mensurarum_, etc. Paul Eber and Caspar Peucer, _Lipsiae_,
1549, and in same Wittenberg, 1552.
_De Veteribus et Novis Metallis._ Watt gives an edition, Basel, 1530,
and Paris, 1541; we believe this is incorrect and refers to _Bermannus_.
Reuss mentions a folio print of Basel, 1550. We consider this very
unlikely.
_De Natura eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra._ Albinus, Hofmann, Schmid,
Jacobi, Richter, Reuss, and Weinart give an edition of 1545. We believe
this is again the dedication instead of the publication date (1546).
_De Animantibus Subterraneis._ Van der Linden gives an edition at
Schweinfurt, 8vo, 1607. Although we have been unable to find a copy,
this slightly confirms the possibility of an octavo edition of _De Re
Metallica_ of this date, as they were usually published together.
Leupold gives assurance that he handled an octavo edition of Wittenberg,
1612, _cum notis Johann Sigfridi_. We think he confused this with
_Bermannus sive de re metallica_ of that date and place. Schmid,
Richter, and Draud all refer to an edition similarly annotated, Leipzig,
1613, 8vo. We have no trace of it otherwise.
UNPUBLISHED WORKS ON SUBJECTS RELATED TO MINING.
Agricola apparently projected a complete series of works covering the
whole range of subjects relating to minerals: geology, mineralogy,
mining, metallurgy, history of metals, their uses, laws, etc. In a
letter[5] from Fabricius to Meurer (March, 1553), the former states that
Agricola intended writing about 30 books (chapters) in addition to those
already published, and to the twelve books _De Re Metallica_ which he
was about to publish. Apparently a number of these works were either
unfinished or unpublished at Agricola's death, for his friend George
Fabricius seems to have made some effort to secure their publication,
but did not succeed, through lack of sympathy on the part of Agricola's
family. Hofmann[6] states on this matter: "His intentions were
frustrated mainly through the lack of support with which he was met by
the heirs of the Mineralogist. These, as he complains to a Councillor of
the Electorate, Christopher von Carlovitz, in 1556, and to Paul Eber in
another letter, adopted a grudging and ungracious tone with regard to
his proposal to collect all Agricola's works left behind, and they only
consented to communicate to him as much as they were obliged by express
command of the Prince. At the Prince's command they showed him a little,
but he supposed that there was much more that they had suppressed or not
preserved. The attempt to purchase some of the works--the Elector had
given Fabricius money for the purpose (30 nummos unciales)--proved
unavailing, owing to the disagreeableness of Agricola's heirs. It is no
doubt due to these regrettable circumstances that all the works of the
industrious scholar did not come down to us." The "disagreeableness" was
probably due to the refusal of the Protestant townsfolk to allow the
burial of Agricola in the Cathedral at Chemnitz. So far as we know the
following are the unpublished or lost works.
_De Jure et Legibus Metallicis._ This work on mining law is mentioned at
the end of Book IV. of _De Re Metallica_, and it is referred to by
others apparently from that source. We have been unable to find any
evidence that it was ever published.
_De Varia temperie sive Constitutione Aeris._ In a letter[7] to Johann
Naevius, Agricola refers to having a work in hand of this title.
_De Metallis et Machinis._ Hofmann[8] states that a work of this title
by Agricola, dated Basel 1543, was sold to someone in America by a
Frankfort-on-Main bookseller in 1896. This is apparently the only
reference to it that we know of, and it is possibly a confusion of
titles or a "separate" of some chapters from _De Re Metallica_.
_De Ortu Metallorum Defensio ad Jacobum Scheckium._ Referred to by
Fabricius in a letter[9] to Meurer. If published was probably only a
tract.
_De Terrae Motu._ In a letter[10] from Agricola to Meurer (Jan. 1, 1544)
is some reference which might indicate that he was formulating a work on
earthquakes under this title, or perhaps may be only incidental to the
portions of _De Ortu et Causis_ dealing with this subject.
_Commentariorum in quibus utriusque linguae scriptorum locos difficiles
de rebus subterraneis explicat, Libri VI._ Agricola apparently partially
completed a work under some such title as this, which was to embrace
chapters entitled _De Methodis_ and _De Demonstratione_. The main object
seems to have been a commentary on the terms and passages in the
classics relating to mining, mineralogy, etc. It is mentioned in the
Preface of _De Veteribus et Novis Metallis_, and in a letter[11] from
one of Froben's firm to Agricola in 1548, where it is suggested that
Agricola should defer sending his new commentaries until the following
spring. The work is mentioned by Albinus[12], and in a letter from Georg
Fabricius to Meurer on the 2nd Jan. 1548,[13] in another from G.
Fabricius, to his brother Andreas on Oct. 28, 1555,[14] and in a third
from Fabricius to Melanchthon on December 8th, 1555[15], in which regret
is expressed that the work was not completed by Agricola.
WRITINGS NOT RELATED TO MINING, INCLUDING LOST OR UNPUBLISHED WORKS.
_Latin Grammar._ This was probably the first of Agricola's publications,
the full title to which is _Georgii Agricolae Glaucii Libellus de prima
ac simplici institutione grammatica. Excusum Lipsiae in Officina
Melchioris Lottheri. Anno MDXX._ (4to), 24 folios.[16] There is some
reason to believe that Agricola also published a Greek grammar, for
there is a letter[17] from Agricola dated March 18th, 1522, in which
Henicus Camitianus is requested to send a copy to Stephan Roth.
_Theological Tracts._ There are preserved in the Zwickau Rathsschul
Library[18] copies by Stephan Roth of two tracts, the one entitled,
_Deum non esse auctorem Peccati_, the other, _Religioso patri Petri
Fontano, sacre theologie Doctori eximio Georgius Agricola salutem dicit
in Christo_. The former was written from Leipzig in 1522, and the
latter, although not dated, is assigned to the same period. Both are
printed in _Zwei theologische Abhandlungen des Georg Agricola_, an
article by Otto Clemen, _Neuen Archiv fur Saechsische Geschichte_, etc.,
Dresden, 1900. There is some reason (from a letter of Fabricius to
Melanchthon, Dec. 8th, 1555) to believe that Agricola had completed a
work on the unwritten traditions concerning the Church. There is no
further trace of it.
_Galen._ Agricola appears to have been joint author with Andreas
Asulanus and J. B. Opizo of a revision of this well-known Greek work. It
was published at Venice in 1525, under the title of _Galeni Librorum_,
etc., etc. Agricola's name is mentioned in a prefatory letter to Opizo
by Asulanus.
_De Bello adversus Turcam._ This political tract, directed against the
Turks, was written in Latin and first printed by Froben, Basel, 1528. It
was translated into German apparently by Agricola's friend Laurenz
Berman, and published under the title _Oration Anrede Und Vormanunge ...
widder den Tuercken_ by Frederich Peypus, Nuremberg, in 1531 (8vo), and
either in 1530 or 1531 by Wolfgang Stoeckel, Dresden, 4to. It was again
printed in Latin by Froben, Basel, 1538, 4to; by H. Grosius, Leipzig,
1594, 8vo; it was included among other works published on the same
subject by Nicholas Reusnerus, Leipzig, 1595; by Michael Lantzenberger,
Frankfurt-am-Main, 1597, 4to. Further, there is reference by Watt to an
edition at Eisleben, 1603, of which we have no confirmation. There is
another work on the subject, or a revision by the author mentioned by
Albinus[19] as having been, after Agricola's death, sent to Froben by
George Fabricius to be printed; nothing further appears in this matter
however.
_De Peste._ This work on the Plague appears to have been first printed
by Froben, Basel, 1554, 8vo. The work was republished at Schweinfurt,
1607, and at Augsburg in 1614, under various editors. It would appear
from Albinus[20] that the work was revised by Agricola and in Froben's
hands for publication after the author's death.
_De Medicatis Fontibus._ This work is referred to by Agricola himself in
_De Natura Eorum_,[21] in the prefatory letter in _De Veteribus et Novis
Metallis_; and Albinus[22] quotes a letter of Agricola to Sebastian
Munster on the subject. Albinus states (_Bergchronik_, p. 193) that to
his knowledge it had not yet been published. Conrad Gesner, in his work
_Excerptorum et observationum de Thermis_, which is reprinted in _De
Balneis_, Venice, 1553, after Agricola's _De Natura Eorum_, states[23]
concerning Agricola _in libris quos de medicatis fontibus instituerit
copiosus se dicturum pollicetur_. Watt mentions it as having been
published in 1549, 1561, 1614, and 1621. He, however, apparently
confuses it with _De Natura Eorum_. We are unable to state whether it
was ever printed or not. A note of inquiry to the principal libraries in
Germany gave a negative result.
_De Putredine solidas partes humani corporis corrumpente._ This work,
according to Albinus was received by Fabricius a year after Agricola's
death, but whether it was published or not is uncertain.[24]
_Castigationes in Hippocratem et Galenum._ This work is referred to by
Agricola in the preface of _Bermannus_, and Albinus[25] mentions several
letters referring to the preparation of the work. There is no evidence
of publication.
_Typographia Mysnae et Toringiae._ It seems from Agricola's letter[26]
to Munster that Agricola prepared some sort of a work on the history of
Saxony and of the Royal Family thereof at the command of the Elector
and sent it to him when finished, but it was never published as written
by Agricola. Albinus, Hofmann, and Struve give some details of letters
in reference to it. Fabricius in a letter[27] dated Nov. 11, 1536 asks
Meurer to send Agricola some material for it; in a letter from Fabricius
to Meurer dated Oct. 30, 1554, it appears that the Elector had granted
Agricola 200 thalers to assist in the work. After Agricola's death the
material seems to have been handed over to Fabricius, who made use of it
(as he states in the preface) in preparing the work he was commissioned
by the Elector to write, the title of which was, _Originum
illustrissimae stirpis Saxonicae Libri_, and was published in Leipzig,
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