GROTIUS, Hugo (1583-1645)]. Two letters addressed to Grotius as Swedish ambassador in Paris, the first by SLUPECKI, Jerzy (1615-1661). Autograph letter signed ('Georg[ius] Slupecki Cap[itan] Pilsn[ensis]') to Hugo Grotius Lublin, 19 September 1636, in Latin , referring to the libellous charges frequently made against the Jews in Poland of ritual slaughter of Christian children, whose blood was allegedly taken for use in their ceremonies, 'Frequenter admodum hic in nostra Polonia accusari solent Judaei atrocissimi et si probari posset, nullo umquam, ut ego existimo, supplicio expiandi criminis. Dicuntur enim Infantes Christianos, sive etiam Adolescentes, sed qui feminam numquam attigissent, mactare et postea eorum sanguinem ad multi sibi necessaria adhibere'; giving his own opinion that this is a fabrication and not based in truth, and describing a recent incident in Lublin when candles were inexplicably extinguished while a Jew was about to be tortured by the authorities, which Slupecki sees as a divine indication of the innocence of the accused although it did not save him from torture and death, 'Quid tamen ipsis non profuit, nam postea ignitis ferris ita excruciati sunt, ut parum abesset quin animas exhalarent'. Slupecki asks Grotius to inform him if similar charges have been made elsewhere, and if there is any reference to the alleged practices in the Talmud, declaring that Grotius by his great learning is uniquely in a position to give him guidance in this matter, 1½ page, folio (288 x 200 mm) , integral address panel ('A Monsieur Grotius l'Ambassadeur de la Royne de Suède Paris au Faulxbourg S. Germain'), (strip cut away from blank inner margin, traces of seal, slightly worn at margins). The second by ANDERSSON, Samuel (fl. 1638). Autograph letter signed ('Samuel Andreae') to Hugo Grotius Stockholm, 6 October 1638, in Latin , reporting the celebrations at the Swedish court on receiving news of the birth of the French Dauphin [the future Louis XIV], including a 26 gun salute; referring to the negotiations between various parties following the Treaty of Hamburg, and to the arrival of the representative of the Elector Palatine, 1½ pages, 8vo , endorsed in a different hand at the foot (fragment torn from inner margin with part loss of 4 words). Jerzy Slupecki of Konary had spent some time in the West of Poland, where Protestant influence was not crushed by the Counter Reformation, and is known to have been acquainted with a leading protestant doctor from Geneva. Slupecki's letter (which is unpublished) provoked a lengthy reply from Grotius, on 12 December 1636 ( Briefwisseling , VII, 576-580, 1969), in which he cites the Theodosian Codex, numerous scriptural, patristic and historical authorities, concluding that where a case is not clear it is better to absolve the guilty than to condemn the innocent. The popular myths known as 'blood libel' or 'ritual murder' were first circulated by the Greek church, and by the 11th century had spread throughout Europe, provoking violent emotions and encouraging harshly repressive and discriminatory measures against the Jews. There were savage attacks on Jews in Poland intermittently throughout the 17th century. Grotius himself was sometimes accused of Judaism. Samuel Andersson, author of the second letter, and chancellor in Stockholm, writes shortly after the conclusion of the three year alliance, the Treaty of Hamburg, between France and Sweden, by which France guaranteed a considerable subsidy to Sweden in return for the latter withdrawing her claims on territory in the Rhineland. (2)
GROTIUS, Hugo (1583-1645)]. Two letters addressed to Grotius as Swedish ambassador in Paris, the first by SLUPECKI, Jerzy (1615-1661). Autograph letter signed ('Georg[ius] Slupecki Cap[itan] Pilsn[ensis]') to Hugo Grotius Lublin, 19 September 1636, in Latin , referring to the libellous charges frequently made against the Jews in Poland of ritual slaughter of Christian children, whose blood was allegedly taken for use in their ceremonies, 'Frequenter admodum hic in nostra Polonia accusari solent Judaei atrocissimi et si probari posset, nullo umquam, ut ego existimo, supplicio expiandi criminis. Dicuntur enim Infantes Christianos, sive etiam Adolescentes, sed qui feminam numquam attigissent, mactare et postea eorum sanguinem ad multi sibi necessaria adhibere'; giving his own opinion that this is a fabrication and not based in truth, and describing a recent incident in Lublin when candles were inexplicably extinguished while a Jew was about to be tortured by the authorities, which Slupecki sees as a divine indication of the innocence of the accused although it did not save him from torture and death, 'Quid tamen ipsis non profuit, nam postea ignitis ferris ita excruciati sunt, ut parum abesset quin animas exhalarent'. Slupecki asks Grotius to inform him if similar charges have been made elsewhere, and if there is any reference to the alleged practices in the Talmud, declaring that Grotius by his great learning is uniquely in a position to give him guidance in this matter, 1½ page, folio (288 x 200 mm) , integral address panel ('A Monsieur Grotius l'Ambassadeur de la Royne de Suède Paris au Faulxbourg S. Germain'), (strip cut away from blank inner margin, traces of seal, slightly worn at margins). The second by ANDERSSON, Samuel (fl. 1638). Autograph letter signed ('Samuel Andreae') to Hugo Grotius Stockholm, 6 October 1638, in Latin , reporting the celebrations at the Swedish court on receiving news of the birth of the French Dauphin [the future Louis XIV], including a 26 gun salute; referring to the negotiations between various parties following the Treaty of Hamburg, and to the arrival of the representative of the Elector Palatine, 1½ pages, 8vo , endorsed in a different hand at the foot (fragment torn from inner margin with part loss of 4 words). Jerzy Slupecki of Konary had spent some time in the West of Poland, where Protestant influence was not crushed by the Counter Reformation, and is known to have been acquainted with a leading protestant doctor from Geneva. Slupecki's letter (which is unpublished) provoked a lengthy reply from Grotius, on 12 December 1636 ( Briefwisseling , VII, 576-580, 1969), in which he cites the Theodosian Codex, numerous scriptural, patristic and historical authorities, concluding that where a case is not clear it is better to absolve the guilty than to condemn the innocent. The popular myths known as 'blood libel' or 'ritual murder' were first circulated by the Greek church, and by the 11th century had spread throughout Europe, provoking violent emotions and encouraging harshly repressive and discriminatory measures against the Jews. There were savage attacks on Jews in Poland intermittently throughout the 17th century. Grotius himself was sometimes accused of Judaism. Samuel Andersson, author of the second letter, and chancellor in Stockholm, writes shortly after the conclusion of the three year alliance, the Treaty of Hamburg, between France and Sweden, by which France guaranteed a considerable subsidy to Sweden in return for the latter withdrawing her claims on territory in the Rhineland. (2)
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Suchauftrag anlegen![GROTIUS, Hugo (1583-1645)]. Two letters addressed to Grotius as Swedish...](http://www.christies.com/images/no-image-340.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
