Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
begged to be excused. He would have nothing to do with Town Council or Court of Justice, and declared that he had said from the pulpit all that was needed ', the Council had only to act up to it, and banish the insolent heretic, so that the holy clerical dignity might no longer be offended, and that the town might escape the divine vengeance.
The magistrates, disturbed by these threats, anxious perhaps to avoid any possible popular excitement with its consequences, had the book Aurora brought to the town-hall and placed under lock and key. In the meantime, Boehme, who was under arrest, was served with an order to leave the town : even his wish to take leave of his family and set in order a few private matters was disregarded. Boehme only said: "Since this must be, dear sirs, I am content." And he left the town.
During the night, the Councillors seem to have come to their senses and regretted their haste; for they assembled again early hi the morning and resolved to bring back again the man they had banished the day before. After a great deal of searching, he was found in the neighbourhood and led home in triumph. This account of Wiesner is, he himself admits, by no means a first-hand one, and therefore probably much embellished. Certain it is that the fragments preserved out of the diary of Bartholomew Scultetus, then mayor of Gorlitz, shew nothing that refers to an actual banishment, but chronicle the following facts only (Ueberfeld's ed., 1730):— "That on Friday, 26th July 1613, Jacob " Boehme, a shoemaker, domiciled between the town-gates, " behind the hospital smithy, had been summoned to the " town-hall and questioned regarding his enthusiastic " beliefs, and thereupon placed under arrest, while the " book in quarto-folio which he had written was fetched " from his house : that later, he had been set at liberty " with a caution to leave such things alone.
" Also, that on Tuesday, 30th July, Jacob Boehme, a " shoemaker, had been summoned before the clergy of xlvi THE THREE PRINCIPLES
" Gb'rlitz, assembled in the house of the Primarius, in
" order to be carefully examined regarding his faith.
" Also, that two days previously, on Sunday, 28th July,
" the Primarius Gregorius Richter, preaching on false
" prophets, had in his sermon sharply rebuked the shoe--
" maker Jacob Boehme."
These notes probably state all the facts which form the basis of Wiesner's account. It is easy to detect in the story the elements of popular romance that joined into one three separate incidents, and exaggerated a mere threat into an actual banishment : yet, though the story is not actually correct, it furnishes a decidedly graphic representation of human character.
begged to be excused. He would have nothing to do with Town Council or Court of Justice, and declared that he had said from the pulpit all that was needed ', the Council had only to act up to it, and banish the insolent heretic, so that the holy clerical dignity might no longer be offended, and that the town might escape the divine vengeance.
The magistrates, disturbed by these threats, anxious perhaps to avoid any possible popular excitement with its consequences, had the book Aurora brought to the town-hall and placed under lock and key. In the meantime, Boehme, who was under arrest, was served with an order to leave the town : even his wish to take leave of his family and set in order a few private matters was disregarded. Boehme only said: "Since this must be, dear sirs, I am content." And he left the town.
During the night, the Councillors seem to have come to their senses and regretted their haste; for they assembled again early hi the morning and resolved to bring back again the man they had banished the day before. After a great deal of searching, he was found in the neighbourhood and led home in triumph. This account of Wiesner is, he himself admits, by no means a first-hand one, and therefore probably much embellished. Certain it is that the fragments preserved out of the diary of Bartholomew Scultetus, then mayor of Gorlitz, show nothing that refers to an actual banishment, but chronicle the following facts only (Ueberfeld's ed., 1730):— "That on Friday, 26th July 1613, Jacob " Boehme, a shoemaker, domiciled between the town-gates, " behind the hospital smithy, had been summoned to the " town-hall and questioned regarding his enthusiastic " beliefs, and thereupon placed under arrest, while the " book in quarto-folio which he had written was fetched " from his house : that later, he had been set at liberty " with a caution to leave such things alone.
" Also, that on Tuesday, 30th July, Jacob Boehme, a " shoemaker, had been summoned before the clergy of xlvi THE THREE PRINCIPLES
" Gb'rlitz, assembled in the house of the Primarius, in
" order to be carefully examined regarding his faith.
" Also, that two days previously, on Sunday, 28th July,
" the Primarius Gregorius Richter, preaching on false
" prophets, had in his sermon sharply rebuked the shoe--
" maker Jacob Boehme."
These notes probably state all the facts which form the basis of Wiesner's account. It is easy to detect in the story the elements of popular romance that joined into one three separate incidents, and exaggerated a mere threat into an actual banishment : yet, though the story is not actually correct, it furnishes a decidedly graphic representation of human character.