1by 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 pro
bably 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 So far as we know the following are the unpublished or lost works.
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 pro
bably 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 So far as we know the following are the unpublished or lost works.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.
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 letter7 to Johann Naevius,
Agricola
refers to having a work in hand of this title.
refers to having a work in hand of this title.
De Metallis et Machinis.
Hofmann8 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.
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
letter9 to Meurer. If published was probably only a tract.
letter9 to Meurer. If published was probably only a tract.
De Terrae Motu.
In a letter10 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.
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 letter11 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 Albinus12, 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, 155515, in which regret is expressed
that the work was not completed by Agricola.
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 letter11 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 Albinus12, 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, 155515, in which regret is expressed
that the work was not completed by Agricola.