Czytelnicy "jadowitych skryptów" : z dziejów recepcji reformacyjnych prac polemicznych

Abstract

The article presents the examples of how the polemical religious works were received in the circle of Biržai Radziwiłł family. Jesuit Jakub Hasius recommended to prince Krzysztof, the laic protector of Lithuanian Calvinists, the book by Adrian Jungius Rozwiązanie pięćdziesiąt i dwu kwestij ministrów nowoewangelickich jezuitom zadanych. The criticism of the publication towards the Protestants was expressed not only in the main text, but also in the prologues and typographical configuration. Evangelists were publishing printings against Catholics as well. One of them was Zwierciadło nabożeństwa chrześcijańskiego by Bogumił Turnowski, the Bishop of the Unity of Bohemian Brothers. The work was published by Jan Siciński and dedicated to Janusz and Jerzy Radziwiłł. It praises the young magnates and encourages them to keep the Protestant faith. The publication provoked the Catholic response. In the year 1640 Jan Ostrowski commented on the polemical publications in his work Obrona niewinności ewanielickiej przeciw niesłusznej heretyctwa pomowie, która coraz to od PP katolików rzymskich potyka ewanielików. An interesting dedicational letter attached to the publication has been conserved. In that letter Ostrowski, who conversed from Catholicism to Calvinism, opposes to accuse Protestants of heresy. The remaining Radziwiłł book collection records also indicate an interest in the polemical works.