One important thing I forgot...
I would be extremely careful in trying to deduce anything from what people did NOT say or did NOT do.
These people lived 350 years ago, and we may not have a good idea about their thoughts and motivations.
As an example, people have argued that, since Barschius in his letter to Kircher did not mention the nude
nymphs, he was not talking about the Voynich MS but another MS. This is not a valid deduction, because there
could be any number of reasons why he did not mention them.
Marci did not mention that Tepenec owned the MS. I can think of several good reasons why he did not.
The two most obvious are the he either did not think it important or he did not know.
We certainly cannot deduce that he did not know.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Follow-on: a timeline I have been composing over the years, with all sorts of details, many of which are quite possibly irrelevant.
Latest update of this file was in 2014. I put sources (books, articles) in [brackets]. They are occasionally conflicting.
This is just a copy and past from my MS-Word document without any changes (even several typos I noted when I quickly scanned it).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1595
Martinus Santinus studies in the Jesuit college at Cesky Krumlov.
1595
13 June: J.Marcus Marci born in Lanskroun (Litomisl)
1598
Jacobus Horcicky enters the Clementinum to follow courses [Wrany].
1600
Jacobus Horcicky becomes administrator of the Jesuit school in Jindrichuv Hradec [Wrany]. [Wikipedia says of the botanical garden in J.Hradec]. Note that Marci enters this school in 1608 [Trebon archive in J.Hradec]
1602
Jessenius becomes private physician to Rudolf II [Evans]
1602
Dr. Raphael Mnishowsky in Prague publishes a Czech translation of a book by Paproczky (from Polish). [Pelzel]
1602
Jacobus Horcicky signs his name (Jacobus Sinapius) in the book: ‘Opus ruralium commodorum von Petrus de Crescentiis. His 18th book.
1602
9 May: Barschius receives his Baccalaureate in the Clementinum. [Truc]
1603
14 May: Barschius receives his Magistrate in the Clementinum. [Truc]
1605
Shortly before 1606, through the intermediation of Vilem Slavata, Jacobus Horcicky become ‘capitaneus’ and administrator of the properties of the St.George monastery in the Prague castle. [Wrany]
1607
Rudolf II supposedly names Jacobus Horcicky imperial chemist. [Wrany]
1608
Jacobus Horcicky supposedly cures Rudolf II from a disease [Wrany]
1608
June: Jacobus Horcicky on Rudolf II’s payroll as a “servant (Hofdiener) with two horses”, for 20 florins monthly. [Staudinger]
1608
13 July: birth of the later emperor Ferdinand III of Habsburg.
1608
20 October: nobilitatio of Jacobus Horcicky, signed by Rudolf. He receives the title ‘de Tepenec’. According to Staudinger, this is the lowest possible nobility (only valid for Bohemia), and a prerequisite for becoming a ‘Hofdiener’.
1609
Rudolf II issues a decree of religious freedom.
1609
First issue of Jacobus de Tepenec’s book titled "The Catholic Confession, or Description of the Right Common Christian Confession, About Hope, Credence and Love" (with the help of some doctor from the Clementinum, dedicated to chancellor Lobkowitz) which went through several editions. [Source??]
1611
Rudolf II appoints Dr.Raphael Mnishowsky as secretary to Melchior Klesl [Pelzel]
1612
Marci enters the Jesuit college in Olomouc [Smolka/Acta…, in Garber]
1612
20 January: death of Rudolf II. Matthias becomes emperor.
1612
February: Jacobus de Tepenec’s monthly salary of 20 fl. confirmed.[Staudinger]
1616:
Jacobus de Tepenec becomes Hauptmann (hejtman / capitaneus) of Melnik. According to Pelzel, it was because Jacobus de Tepenec lent Rudolf a large sum of money.
1616
Dr.Raphael teaches the Bohemian language to the young archduke (and later emperor) Ferdinand III. [Pelzel]
1616
(See also 1618) Marci graduates as bachelor of arts and Magister Philosphiae [Smolka/Acta…, in Garber]
1617
Jessenius elected rector of Prague University
1617
18 November: Jacobus de Tepenec signs a document in Melnik, calling himself hejtman. [Slajsna]
1618
(See also 1616) Marci completes his studies in Olomouc. [Svobodny]
1618
Marci begins his medical training at the Charles university [Garber, no other source]
1618
23 May: Prager Fenstersturz. The imperial ‘Stadthalter’ Martiniz and Slavata (and a scribe), thrown out by protestant revolters. All three survive.
24 May: protestants elect a ‘directorate’.
1618
3 July: Jessenius arrested in Pressburg (Bratislava) and transported to Vienna. [Skala & J.Hurych]
1618
17 September: Jacobus de Tepenec, calling himself his Majesty the emperor’s Hauptman of Melnik, prisoner in the ‘Weisser Turm’ in Prague writes to the empress (still kept in the ‘gräflichen Trautmannsdorfschen Archiv’ X.1. Nr.12) that he has been captured by the ‘Directors’ and placed in the ‘Weisser Turm’. He calls for her protection. He had refused to bail himself out for 4000 “Schock” (which was meant to be a loan). A copy of this is kept in the Prager Landesarchiv. [Pick]. [Wrany says he was imprisoned in Melnik].
1618
24 October: Jacobus de Tepenec, still prisoner, writes to the empress again, to urgently help him, but of no avail. [Pick].
1618
Early December: Adam of Waldstein calls for an armistice of two months, and as a gesture calls for the release of Ponzon and Tepenece, in which case he would release Dr. Jesenius. [Pick l].
1618
5 December: Jessenius receives notification that he will be allowed to leave prison, after 22 weeks (fits exactly with capture on 3 July). He is released on 19 December. In exchange, two other prisoners are ‘released’ (Tepenec and Dr.Ponzon). [Pick]. [Wrany has January 1620 for the exchange with Jesenius].
1618-1620
Dr. Raphael Mnishowsky employed by Ferdinand II for state affairs. [Dr.Klicman to W.Voynich, 1921].
1619
11 January: Jessenius returns to Prague as rector of Unviersity, but is mostly politically active. [Skala & J.Hurych]
1619?
Before death of Matthias [Skala]: a large group of catholics and imperial sympathisers are exiled. Ponzon and Tepenece are among them. Whether the exile was really enforced is not that clear. (Ottov Slovnik Naucny says exiled to Germany).
1619
20 March: emperor Matthias of Habsburg dies.
1619
28 August: Ferdinand II crowned as next emperor (in Frankfurt)
1620
Jessenius travels internationally with Frederic Palatinate [Skala & J.Hurych]
1620
8 November: battle of white mountain. Protestants defeated by catholics and imperialists.
1621?
(Probable year.) As the Jesuits get control over the Clementinum again, Jacobus de Tepenec donates them 100 Taler [Schmidl]
1621
1 January: Dr. Raphael Mnishowsky obtains the title: ‘de Sebuzin’. [Pelzel].
1621
21 June: Jessenius executed with public humiliation.
1621
16 October: Jacobus de Tepenec’s ownership of Melnik is reconfirmed for 6 years, by Carl v. Liechtenstein in the name of the emperor. [document kept in the Trebon archive in Jindrichov Hradec – Stejskal].
1622
Medical faculty opens in Prague University. Marci becomes one of its first students. [Svobodny]
1622
2 May: Dr. Raphael Mishowsky installed as counsel in the royal appeals court of Prague "on the doctors' bench". [Dr.Klicman to W.Voynich, 1921].
1622
25 September [Schmidl] or August [Wrany, probably wrong], death of Jacobus de Tepenec from consequences of a fall from a horse. As his health was declining, he travelled from Melnik to Prague, and died in the Clementinum in the arms of the Jesuit Adam Krawarz. In his testament he left all his possessions to the Jesuits. His grave is in St.Salvator church at the Clementinum in Prague, near the altar of Maria's annunciation. The Jesuit Georgius Ferus delivered his obituary. [Schmidl, Pelzel]
1624
Barschius formally becomes a citizen of Prague [Liva / R.Prinke]
1625
17 April: Marci graduates with outstanding defense of thesis [Svobodny]
1626
Fr. Martinus Santinus S.J. becomes rector of the Prague University.
1626?
(Year to be confirmed). Dr. Rapael Mishowsky publishes his code book in Trithemian style.
1628
Dr. Raphael Mnishowsky named secretary to the aulic chancellery (Hofkanzlei).[Klicman]
1629
Fr. Martinus Santinus S.J. stops being rector of the Prague University.
1630
May(?) Dr. Raphael Mnisowsky writes to Vilem Slavata, recommending(?) Sendivogius [Rafal Prinke, p.c.]
1630
22 September: Dr. Raphael Mnisowsky (aged 50) writes to emperor Ferdinand II, asking for support to Michael Sendivogius. In this letter, Raphael writes that he has studied alchemy for 30 years, and used to consult emperor Rudolf’s manuscripts (plaintext and cipher). [HHStA, Fam.Kor.A, Kart. 8, fol.278-284]
1634
After a short stay in Olomouc, Th.Moretus SJ is teaching mathematics in the Clementinum [Schuppener]
1635
Dr. Raphael Mnisowsky becomes royal procurator [Klicman]
1637
15 February: death of emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg.
1637
Second half: Barschius owns the Voynich MS and, prompted by Kircher’s publication of Prodromus Coptus, writes a letter to Athanasius Kircher, which is sent to Rome on his behalf by Th.Moretus SJ.
1638
25 December: Moretus writes to Kircher, mentioning the Prodromus Coptus. [APUG 567 f.7r]
1639
This year, Th.Moretus SJ leaves Prague, to return only in 1646. {Schuppener]
1639
Probably this year, Marci travels to Rome to see Athanasius Kircher, together with Baron Franciscus Sternberg and Father Ignatius Roio, [Garber, p.58-59] and possibly also with Daisinger [Smolka, priv.comm.]
1639
12 March, Kircher writes to Theodor Moretus SJ, responding to an earlier letter (actually two) sent by him, indicating that he cannot interpret the mysterious writing, but it reminds him of Illyrian writing. This is most probably a response to the 1637 Barschius letter, which Moretus sent on Barschius’ behalf.
1639
27 April, Barschius writes his second letter to Athanasius Kircher, reminding him of the Voynich MS and again asking for advice on it.
1640
3 June, Athanasius Kircher probably sends something to Martinus Santinus (according to Santinus’ letter of 20 July)
1640
20 July, Martinus Santinus writes to Kircher, mentioning that Marci and Roio are not yet back in Prague.
1640
3 August, Marci writes to Kircher, from Regensburg, supposedly on his way back to Prague from Rome.
1640
12 September, Marci writes to Kircher, recommending Barschius.
1641
Balbín attends a mathematics course by Th.Moretus, and is very impressed by it [Schuppener] (Contradicts an entry for 1639 above)
1641
12 January, Marci writes to Kircher, sending greetings from Barschius and Santinus.
1644
Death of Dr. Raphael, aged 64. Balbín, close friend of Marci, writes that he personally knew him.[Pelzel]
References
[Evans]: R.J.W. Evans: Rudolf II and his world.
[Garber]: Optics and Alchemy in the philosophical writings of Marcus Marci in post-Rudolfine Prague, 1612-1670, Margaret D. Garber, 2002
[HHStA]: Wien, Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv
[Liva]: Václav Líva: Seznamy pražských novoměšťanů za léta 1618–1653,
Praha 1937 (first published as a series of articles
in "Časopis Rodopisné společnosti československé v Praze"
VII-VIII, 1935-1936)
[Pelzel]: Franz Martin Pelzel: Abbildungen Böhmischer und Mährischer Gelehrten und Künstler nebst kurzen Nachrichten von ihrem Leben und Wirken, Prague, 1773-1782
[Pick]: Fridel Pick: Johann Jessenius, Leipzig 1916
[Schmidl:]
[Skala]:
[Smolka/Acta]:
[Svobodny]: Petr Svobodný (ed): Joannes Marcus Marci, a 17th century Bohemian polymath, Prague, Charles University Press, 1998
[Truc]: Vydání Pripravil, K. and Miroslav Truc: Album Academiae Pragensis Societatis Iesu 1573-1617 (1565-1624), Universita Karlova, Praha, 1968
[Wrany]: Adalbert Wraný: Geschichte der Chemie und der auf Chemischer Grundlage beruhenden Betriebe in Böhmen, bis zur Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts, Prag, 1902
I would be extremely careful in trying to deduce anything from what people did NOT say or did NOT do.
These people lived 350 years ago, and we may not have a good idea about their thoughts and motivations.
As an example, people have argued that, since Barschius in his letter to Kircher did not mention the nude
nymphs, he was not talking about the Voynich MS but another MS. This is not a valid deduction, because there
could be any number of reasons why he did not mention them.
Marci did not mention that Tepenec owned the MS. I can think of several good reasons why he did not.
The two most obvious are the he either did not think it important or he did not know.
We certainly cannot deduce that he did not know.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Follow-on: a timeline I have been composing over the years, with all sorts of details, many of which are quite possibly irrelevant.
Latest update of this file was in 2014. I put sources (books, articles) in [brackets]. They are occasionally conflicting.
This is just a copy and past from my MS-Word document without any changes (even several typos I noted when I quickly scanned it).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1595
Martinus Santinus studies in the Jesuit college at Cesky Krumlov.
1595
13 June: J.Marcus Marci born in Lanskroun (Litomisl)
1598
Jacobus Horcicky enters the Clementinum to follow courses [Wrany].
1600
Jacobus Horcicky becomes administrator of the Jesuit school in Jindrichuv Hradec [Wrany]. [Wikipedia says of the botanical garden in J.Hradec]. Note that Marci enters this school in 1608 [Trebon archive in J.Hradec]
1602
Jessenius becomes private physician to Rudolf II [Evans]
1602
Dr. Raphael Mnishowsky in Prague publishes a Czech translation of a book by Paproczky (from Polish). [Pelzel]
1602
Jacobus Horcicky signs his name (Jacobus Sinapius) in the book: ‘Opus ruralium commodorum von Petrus de Crescentiis. His 18th book.
1602
9 May: Barschius receives his Baccalaureate in the Clementinum. [Truc]
1603
14 May: Barschius receives his Magistrate in the Clementinum. [Truc]
1605
Shortly before 1606, through the intermediation of Vilem Slavata, Jacobus Horcicky become ‘capitaneus’ and administrator of the properties of the St.George monastery in the Prague castle. [Wrany]
1607
Rudolf II supposedly names Jacobus Horcicky imperial chemist. [Wrany]
1608
Jacobus Horcicky supposedly cures Rudolf II from a disease [Wrany]
1608
June: Jacobus Horcicky on Rudolf II’s payroll as a “servant (Hofdiener) with two horses”, for 20 florins monthly. [Staudinger]
1608
13 July: birth of the later emperor Ferdinand III of Habsburg.
1608
20 October: nobilitatio of Jacobus Horcicky, signed by Rudolf. He receives the title ‘de Tepenec’. According to Staudinger, this is the lowest possible nobility (only valid for Bohemia), and a prerequisite for becoming a ‘Hofdiener’.
1609
Rudolf II issues a decree of religious freedom.
1609
First issue of Jacobus de Tepenec’s book titled "The Catholic Confession, or Description of the Right Common Christian Confession, About Hope, Credence and Love" (with the help of some doctor from the Clementinum, dedicated to chancellor Lobkowitz) which went through several editions. [Source??]
1611
Rudolf II appoints Dr.Raphael Mnishowsky as secretary to Melchior Klesl [Pelzel]
1612
Marci enters the Jesuit college in Olomouc [Smolka/Acta…, in Garber]
1612
20 January: death of Rudolf II. Matthias becomes emperor.
1612
February: Jacobus de Tepenec’s monthly salary of 20 fl. confirmed.[Staudinger]
1616:
Jacobus de Tepenec becomes Hauptmann (hejtman / capitaneus) of Melnik. According to Pelzel, it was because Jacobus de Tepenec lent Rudolf a large sum of money.
1616
Dr.Raphael teaches the Bohemian language to the young archduke (and later emperor) Ferdinand III. [Pelzel]
1616
(See also 1618) Marci graduates as bachelor of arts and Magister Philosphiae [Smolka/Acta…, in Garber]
1617
Jessenius elected rector of Prague University
1617
18 November: Jacobus de Tepenec signs a document in Melnik, calling himself hejtman. [Slajsna]
1618
(See also 1616) Marci completes his studies in Olomouc. [Svobodny]
1618
Marci begins his medical training at the Charles university [Garber, no other source]
1618
23 May: Prager Fenstersturz. The imperial ‘Stadthalter’ Martiniz and Slavata (and a scribe), thrown out by protestant revolters. All three survive.
24 May: protestants elect a ‘directorate’.
1618
3 July: Jessenius arrested in Pressburg (Bratislava) and transported to Vienna. [Skala & J.Hurych]
1618
17 September: Jacobus de Tepenec, calling himself his Majesty the emperor’s Hauptman of Melnik, prisoner in the ‘Weisser Turm’ in Prague writes to the empress (still kept in the ‘gräflichen Trautmannsdorfschen Archiv’ X.1. Nr.12) that he has been captured by the ‘Directors’ and placed in the ‘Weisser Turm’. He calls for her protection. He had refused to bail himself out for 4000 “Schock” (which was meant to be a loan). A copy of this is kept in the Prager Landesarchiv. [Pick]. [Wrany says he was imprisoned in Melnik].
1618
24 October: Jacobus de Tepenec, still prisoner, writes to the empress again, to urgently help him, but of no avail. [Pick].
1618
Early December: Adam of Waldstein calls for an armistice of two months, and as a gesture calls for the release of Ponzon and Tepenece, in which case he would release Dr. Jesenius. [Pick l].
1618
5 December: Jessenius receives notification that he will be allowed to leave prison, after 22 weeks (fits exactly with capture on 3 July). He is released on 19 December. In exchange, two other prisoners are ‘released’ (Tepenec and Dr.Ponzon). [Pick]. [Wrany has January 1620 for the exchange with Jesenius].
1618-1620
Dr. Raphael Mnishowsky employed by Ferdinand II for state affairs. [Dr.Klicman to W.Voynich, 1921].
1619
11 January: Jessenius returns to Prague as rector of Unviersity, but is mostly politically active. [Skala & J.Hurych]
1619?
Before death of Matthias [Skala]: a large group of catholics and imperial sympathisers are exiled. Ponzon and Tepenece are among them. Whether the exile was really enforced is not that clear. (Ottov Slovnik Naucny says exiled to Germany).
1619
20 March: emperor Matthias of Habsburg dies.
1619
28 August: Ferdinand II crowned as next emperor (in Frankfurt)
1620
Jessenius travels internationally with Frederic Palatinate [Skala & J.Hurych]
1620
8 November: battle of white mountain. Protestants defeated by catholics and imperialists.
1621?
(Probable year.) As the Jesuits get control over the Clementinum again, Jacobus de Tepenec donates them 100 Taler [Schmidl]
1621
1 January: Dr. Raphael Mnishowsky obtains the title: ‘de Sebuzin’. [Pelzel].
1621
21 June: Jessenius executed with public humiliation.
1621
16 October: Jacobus de Tepenec’s ownership of Melnik is reconfirmed for 6 years, by Carl v. Liechtenstein in the name of the emperor. [document kept in the Trebon archive in Jindrichov Hradec – Stejskal].
1622
Medical faculty opens in Prague University. Marci becomes one of its first students. [Svobodny]
1622
2 May: Dr. Raphael Mishowsky installed as counsel in the royal appeals court of Prague "on the doctors' bench". [Dr.Klicman to W.Voynich, 1921].
1622
25 September [Schmidl] or August [Wrany, probably wrong], death of Jacobus de Tepenec from consequences of a fall from a horse. As his health was declining, he travelled from Melnik to Prague, and died in the Clementinum in the arms of the Jesuit Adam Krawarz. In his testament he left all his possessions to the Jesuits. His grave is in St.Salvator church at the Clementinum in Prague, near the altar of Maria's annunciation. The Jesuit Georgius Ferus delivered his obituary. [Schmidl, Pelzel]
1624
Barschius formally becomes a citizen of Prague [Liva / R.Prinke]
1625
17 April: Marci graduates with outstanding defense of thesis [Svobodny]
1626
Fr. Martinus Santinus S.J. becomes rector of the Prague University.
1626?
(Year to be confirmed). Dr. Rapael Mishowsky publishes his code book in Trithemian style.
1628
Dr. Raphael Mnishowsky named secretary to the aulic chancellery (Hofkanzlei).[Klicman]
1629
Fr. Martinus Santinus S.J. stops being rector of the Prague University.
1630
May(?) Dr. Raphael Mnisowsky writes to Vilem Slavata, recommending(?) Sendivogius [Rafal Prinke, p.c.]
1630
22 September: Dr. Raphael Mnisowsky (aged 50) writes to emperor Ferdinand II, asking for support to Michael Sendivogius. In this letter, Raphael writes that he has studied alchemy for 30 years, and used to consult emperor Rudolf’s manuscripts (plaintext and cipher). [HHStA, Fam.Kor.A, Kart. 8, fol.278-284]
1634
After a short stay in Olomouc, Th.Moretus SJ is teaching mathematics in the Clementinum [Schuppener]
1635
Dr. Raphael Mnisowsky becomes royal procurator [Klicman]
1637
15 February: death of emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg.
1637
Second half: Barschius owns the Voynich MS and, prompted by Kircher’s publication of Prodromus Coptus, writes a letter to Athanasius Kircher, which is sent to Rome on his behalf by Th.Moretus SJ.
1638
25 December: Moretus writes to Kircher, mentioning the Prodromus Coptus. [APUG 567 f.7r]
1639
This year, Th.Moretus SJ leaves Prague, to return only in 1646. {Schuppener]
1639
Probably this year, Marci travels to Rome to see Athanasius Kircher, together with Baron Franciscus Sternberg and Father Ignatius Roio, [Garber, p.58-59] and possibly also with Daisinger [Smolka, priv.comm.]
1639
12 March, Kircher writes to Theodor Moretus SJ, responding to an earlier letter (actually two) sent by him, indicating that he cannot interpret the mysterious writing, but it reminds him of Illyrian writing. This is most probably a response to the 1637 Barschius letter, which Moretus sent on Barschius’ behalf.
1639
27 April, Barschius writes his second letter to Athanasius Kircher, reminding him of the Voynich MS and again asking for advice on it.
1640
3 June, Athanasius Kircher probably sends something to Martinus Santinus (according to Santinus’ letter of 20 July)
1640
20 July, Martinus Santinus writes to Kircher, mentioning that Marci and Roio are not yet back in Prague.
1640
3 August, Marci writes to Kircher, from Regensburg, supposedly on his way back to Prague from Rome.
1640
12 September, Marci writes to Kircher, recommending Barschius.
1641
Balbín attends a mathematics course by Th.Moretus, and is very impressed by it [Schuppener] (Contradicts an entry for 1639 above)
1641
12 January, Marci writes to Kircher, sending greetings from Barschius and Santinus.
1644
Death of Dr. Raphael, aged 64. Balbín, close friend of Marci, writes that he personally knew him.[Pelzel]
References
[Evans]: R.J.W. Evans: Rudolf II and his world.
[Garber]: Optics and Alchemy in the philosophical writings of Marcus Marci in post-Rudolfine Prague, 1612-1670, Margaret D. Garber, 2002
[HHStA]: Wien, Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv
[Liva]: Václav Líva: Seznamy pražských novoměšťanů za léta 1618–1653,
Praha 1937 (first published as a series of articles
in "Časopis Rodopisné společnosti československé v Praze"
VII-VIII, 1935-1936)
[Pelzel]: Franz Martin Pelzel: Abbildungen Böhmischer und Mährischer Gelehrten und Künstler nebst kurzen Nachrichten von ihrem Leben und Wirken, Prague, 1773-1782
[Pick]: Fridel Pick: Johann Jessenius, Leipzig 1916
[Schmidl:]
[Skala]:
[Smolka/Acta]:
[Svobodny]: Petr Svobodný (ed): Joannes Marcus Marci, a 17th century Bohemian polymath, Prague, Charles University Press, 1998
[Truc]: Vydání Pripravil, K. and Miroslav Truc: Album Academiae Pragensis Societatis Iesu 1573-1617 (1565-1624), Universita Karlova, Praha, 1968
[Wrany]: Adalbert Wraný: Geschichte der Chemie und der auf Chemischer Grundlage beruhenden Betriebe in Böhmen, bis zur Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts, Prag, 1902
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