PREFACE. THE name of Calixtus is almost strange to our ears. The man who, in his day, was of foremost mark; living amidst the excitements of the Thirty Years' War, and personally interested in its saddest scenes; associated with the chiefest, both in power and intellect: with Casaubon and De Thou; with Vossius and Grotius; with Augustus of Brunswick and the "Great Elector;" with Oxenstierna and Christina of Sweden;is now as little known to us in his own personality, as in the influence which he exerted over the mind of his age. How this has come enquire; and as the to pass, it avails little to present account of him will speak for itself, it is here only necessary to name those persons whose kindness has aided me whilst engaged in preparing it. In this regard, I would mention,-with profound respect, the favour of his Majesty the King of Hanover. Not only have I had access to the Public Library of his capital, but also, (by his Majesty's special permission,) to his complete and most valuable private collection. Admission, also, was granted me, by Royal com mand, to the magnificent Library of the University of Göttingen; and I have reason to believe that the same high intervention befriended me with his Highness the Duke of Brunswick, in respect to the Calixtine autographs at Wolfenbüttel. My thanks are, also, due to Professor Hoeck at Göttingen; to Herr Nolte and Herr Siemse, the King's Librarians at Hanover; to Dr. Bethmann, Librarian to the Duke of Brunswick; to my friend the Professor Nicolovius of Bonn; to the Regierung's-Rath von Warnstedt, for a notice as to the birthplace of his illustrious countryman; to Herr Dieckmann, Stifts-Prediger at Königslutter, for matters connected with the Abbey Church; to Herr Culemann of Hanover, for kindly communicating a drawing of it; and to the Burgomeister at Helmstadt for permission to inspect the Archives, as well as to copy the original portrait of Calixtus which hangs in the Hall of the University Building. I regret being unable to present this picture to my readers. Professor Henke of Marburg claims yet fuller mention. Occupied, himself, with a Life of Calixtus, the editor, also, of his extensive correspondence, he most kindly admitted me to his literary confidence; and entrusted me with many very valuable papers. On this point, it is impossible to overstate my obligations. It remains but to express a strong conviction |
