9 - Little Book on the Sacrifices and Idolatry of the Old Prussians, Livonians, and Other Neighbouring Peoples

Summary

A little book on the sacrifices and idolatry of the Old Prussians, Livonians and other neighbouring peoples, to the most famous man, Dr. George Sabinus, counsellor to the most illustrious Prince of Prussia; written by Jan Malecki

This picture has the image of an ancient priest

sacrificing a horned goat;

with his left hand he grasped the horns, and with his right a dish;

he was deprived of sight, or was lame in his foot;

wreaths of corn adorn his hanging hair;

does this one not summon up deaf gods in his offerings?

To the reader

The ancient people of the Prussians were renowned in war,

but they worshipped many gods in impiety;

and among them, as this little book shows,

the greatest rite is accustomed to be the sacrifice of a goat.

When an end was made, the auspices were complete,

And the cups were full, what good does this drunken people do?

The brothers who have the name of the Holy Cross

eradicated this to the root with longlasting arms;

they install new rites in the sanctuaries, no longer to please the Thunderer

in their ferment but to pour them forth for the pope.

Having been driven off by the word, light returns from heaven,

for which hearts ought to return thanks to God.

To the most famous and most learned man, Dr. David Voit, foremost professor of sacred theology in the University of Königsberg, etc. Hieronim Malecki, Polish interpreter to the most illustrious prince of Prussia, etc., sends many greetings.

Among the remaining benefits which the eternal God, out of his immense mercy, has heaped up for Prussia and its neighbouring regions, this is the highest and foremost

Inter reliqua beneficia quibus aeternus Deus ex immensa misericordia sua Borussiam et finitimas regiones cumulavit, hoc summum ac praecipuum est, quod etiam ibi lumen verae cognitionis Dei exortum sit. Nam ante haec tempora non tantum tristissimis tenebris impiorum cultuum, quos veteres Borussi, Livones et Sudini suis numinibus exhibuerunt: Verum etiam horrendis Pontificiorum furoribus immersa fuit, quibus homines in tantam confusionem opinionum prolapsi sunt, ut existimarent Deum his qualibuscunque sacrificiis et cultibus audacia rationis humanae introductis propitium et placatum fore. Cum ipsi tamen interea nihil neque de Essentia neque de voluntate Dei tenerent.