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Frankfurt Members to Simon Sulzer

DATE: 1555 June 6
LOCATION OF ORIGIN: Frankfurt
DESTINATION: Basel
SOURCE: Denbighshire Record Office, Plas Power MSS, DD/PP/839 p. 48


A copy of a Latin letter to Sulcerus, minister at Basle.

We received through the indication of our most beloved pastor a report of the singular zeal towards us and admirable piety of your most distinguished and venerable Senate in granting to us a little accommodation for the church.1InformationThat this does not mean ‘a little hospitality of the church’ (which would also be grammatically and semantically possible) is strongly suggested by the beginning of the next document (‘Supplication’), 4 lines up from the bottom of this page. In regard to this benefaction so divine and incomparable we owe so much – first to the divine beneficence of him who alone moves the wills of all people wherever he pleases; then to the most illustrious Senate; finally also to you, most learned Sulcherus, for these services to us – so that we must necessarily render thanks, yet it is by no means clear how we could worthily and sufficiently render them. – But now, in order that we might most especially do what belongs to our present purpose, we ask in greater measure, most beloved patron, that in accordance with the piety with which you began, you go further and place a more beautiful seal on these services of yours. We have been going to write to you now for a long time, but a month or two ago we sent there one Whittingham, who belongs to us, expecting up till now to be informed by letter from him. But when still no reply comes from him, it seemed good at last, after the long wait, to send these men to you, sound both in doctrine and in faith, to instruct you more fully about the things that have been settled or are to be settled.

You can certainly trust them safely in everything. May the Lord Jesus, who most surely repays a debt of gratitude, preserve your most flourishing Republic, flourishing the more day by day in all good things, and may he magnify it with every happiness. In Frankfort. 6 June 1555.

Deservedly most attached in Christ to your piety.


1 That this does not mean ‘a little hospitality of the church’ (which would also be grammatically and semantically possible) is strongly suggested by the beginning of the next document (‘Supplication’), 4 lines up from the bottom of this page.

A coppie of a latten lre to Sulcerus minister at Basill /  / Amicissimi pastoris nostri significatione ad nos perlatum est de singulari in / nos studio ac admirabili pietate Amplissimi Gravissimique senatus vestri in conceden-/do ecclesiae nobis hospitiolo. Quo in beneficio tam divino ac incomparabili tantum / a nobis debetur; primum divinae beneficentiae illius qui solus omnium hominum / voluntates impellit quocunque libet; deinde Senatui illustrissimo; postremo et tibi / Sulchere doctissime pro his in nos officiis, ut quum gratiae necessario nobis agen-/dae sint, eas tamen qua ratione proque dignitate satis agamus minime profecto / liquet. – Nunc vero, ut quod praesentis est instituti potissimum agamus, ma-/iorem in modum rogamus Patrone charissime pro pietate qua coepisti, pergas / porro pulcherrimis hisce officiis tuis colophonem pulchriorem imponere. Jamdudum / eramus ad te scripturi, sed ante mensem unum atque alterum, misimus istac – / Whitingamum quendam nostrum, hucusque expectantes literis illius certiores / fieri. Verum quando ab illo nihil fertur adhuc responsi, visum est tandem / post diutinam expectationem istos ad vos mittere viros, tum doctrina, tum / fide integros, qui de rebus constitutis et constituendis certius vos edoceant. / quibusque demum fidem tuto in omnibus licet vobis adhibere. Dominus Jesus certis- /simus gratitudinis remunerator florentissimam Remp[ublicam] vestram in dies omnibus / bonis florentiorem tueatur, omnique faelicitate amplificet. Francfordiae. 6° Junii / 1555. / Pietati vestrae merito devinctissimi in Christo.