Currently on display: Letters from Queen Anna of Bohemia and Hungary and Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (1534) 

A letter from Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor dated 1534 documents the practical workings of the royal administration as well as the trust the monarch placed in his associates. In it, Ferdinand instructs Oldřich of Hardek and Ladislav Popel of Lobkowicz to negotiate the procurement of gunpowder for the kingdom’s urgent needs. The letter is addressed to Hans Pflug of Rabštejn, the Grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Bohemia, and provides insight into the political and military affairs of the first half of the 16th century. 

Queen Anna of Bohemia and Hungary (1543) 

A letter from Queen Anna of Bohemia and Hungary dated 1543 is addressed to the burghers of Kutná Hora. In it, the queen responds to their decision to reduce the fine imposed on the townsman Wolf Kuzlen and expresses her appreciation that they took her intercession into account in their decision. This brief correspondence offers insight into the queen’s role in the day-to-day affairs of the kingdom and highlights the importance of personal interventions and pardons in early modern society. 

You can read the translation of the original texts below: 

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Anna, by the Grace of God Queen of the Romans, Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria, etc.  

Honourable, wise, faithful and dear (burghers),  

From your letter we have been informed of your explanation concerning your fellow citizen Wolf Kuzlen (Kuezlen?), and have likewise learned in what manner you took our intercession into consideration and showed him clemency by remitting part of the monetary fine imposed upon him.  

For the present, therefore, we shall let the matter rest upon your representation. We accept in good part your assurance of obedience in this matter.  

Given at our royal castle in Prague on the twenty-fifth day of October in the year one thousand five hundred and forty-three.  

Anna 

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Ferdinand, by the Grace of God King of Hungary and Bohemia, Infante of Spain, Archduke of Austria and Margrave of Moravia, etc.  

Noble, faithful and dear [Hanuš Pfflug of Rabštejn],  

We have instructed the noble Ulrich, Count of Hardegg and of Machland, Lord on Homole, and Ladislav Popel of Lobkowicz, Lord on Zbiroh, our faithful and dear (Lords), to speak and negotiate with you concerning gunpowder for artillery pieces, required for an urgent and important need of ours, as you will be able to learn more fully concerning all this from them.  

We therefore earnestly request you that, whatever the above-mentioned Ulrich and Ladislav, either both together or one of them, may speak and negotiate with you concerning this matter, you give them credence and show yourself willing and ready to accommodate us in this need, no less than if We ourselves were present and spoke with you concerning it in person.  

We do not doubt that you will do so, for by doing this you will render us a welcome service.  

Given at Augsburg on the Feast of Saint Peter in Chains [1 August], in the year [15]34, the fourth year of our reign.  

Ferdinand

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Letter from Princess Caroline Lobkowicz, née Schwarzenberg

In 1792, Caroline married Franz Joseph Maximilian, 7th Prince Lobkowicz, a music lover and generous patron of the arts. This letter, addressed to her elder brother Joseph, Prince Schwarzenberg and 11th Duke of Krumlov, is written on elegant embossed writing paper that undoubtedly ranks among the most luxurious examples preserved in the Lobkowicz Archives.

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Prague, 3 November 1802

Since I shall not have the pleasure of visiting you at your home, dear Joseph, I am sending you a box of candied fruit as a keepsake, on the condition that, whenever you

eat it, you will think of me; since they are nothing but sweets, your remembrance will be sweet as well. The new stewardess at Neudorf (Nové Sedlo) gave me this idea. I had already foreseen this summer that complications would arise in the autumn; it is therefore with genuine sorrow that I picture you all gathered together without my being among you. My husband, however, is already looking forward to joining you. We expect Kotek here on the fifth; it is said that he will not remain here for long. You hear enough of my news from Lorie, so I shall not detain you any longer, and I ask that you continue to favor me with your friendship.

I embrace you with all my heart, as well as Pauline.

Your devoted sister Caroline

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Letter by Antonio Salieri of 21 July 1814 (autograph)

The file entitled Theater Correspondence, containing letters exchanged by Franz Joseph Maximilian, 7th Prince Lobkowicz, and later by his son Ferdinand Joseph, 8th Prince Lobkowicz with a wide range of musical and theatrical artists from across Europe, conceals many treasures. One of them is this letter from the Imperial Kapellmeister Salieri addressed to the above-mentioned Prince. Following Napoleon’s abdication in April 1814, the restoration of the Bourbons to the French throne, and the victory of the so-called Sixth Coalition, Europe was entering a period of peace and preparations for a new political order that would culminate in the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815). The composer aptly expressed the general joy at the return of peace in this letter, at the end of which he added a simple musical setting of the words Pacem, Alleluia, Pacem! (“Peace, Alleluia!”) together with the then almost obligatory Laus Deo (“Praise be to God”).

Salieri thanks the Prince for a letter of recommendation for the baritone Leoni, whom he met in Vienna, sang with, and discussed music with before the singer departed for Italy to visit his ill uncle. He also describes the uncertainty surrounding the planned peace celebrations for the visiting foreign monarchs and enthusiastically reports on the founding of a society of musical amateurs with a planned conservatory, intended to elevate the standard of musical art in Vienna (as had already occurred several years earlier in Prague). He emphasizes the importance of high-quality musical education and the crucial role of talented teachers, while also proposing a strategy for establishing a collection of musical scores from which students might perform. 

You can read the translation of the original text below:

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Letter by Antonio Salieri of 21 July 1814 (autograph)

Your Highness!
Vienna, 21 July 1814

Mr Leoni delivered to me the letter which Your Highness graciously deigned to send to me through him. Personal acquaintance with this truly excellent baritone is as dear to me as he himself loves music and performs it admirably; this I had occasion to discover immediately after reading the above-mentioned precious letter, after which we spoke and sang Gluck and other composers for more than two hours. He told me — as I see from the date of Your Highness’s letter — that he has already been in Vienna for more than a month; however, he added that he had been unable to visit me earlier because he had been ill, and that he is now preparing to depart for Italy, where he has been summoned on account of a gravely ill uncle. Had he remained in Vienna, there would certainly have been interest in him, both because of the most powerful recommendation of Your Highness and because he would have fully deserved it.Everything here is still uncertain with regard to the festivities for the foreign sovereigns [the rulers of the countries of the Sixth Coalition]. Many among the public believe that 
they will not come at all; many others that they will most certainly arrive. Within a short time everything will be decided. His Majesty, our most gracious sovereign, has approved the establishment of a society of musical amateurs in Vienna! I am immensely delighted by this, for I foresee that through this means the noble art will this year be brought to true perfection. Above all, it will serve for the more dignified and magnificent singing of the praises of God, as well as for the delight of us all in moments of repose in a manner far better than is generally customary here — both among amateurs and professionals — for competition will enter into the whole matter. Through this the art can only gain. Several sites have already been selected for the construction of a hall with a conservatory, for which a very beautiful plan has likewise been proposed, and in this matter too the sovereign’s approval is hoped for. The beginning will certainly proceed somewhat slowly and with difficulty; however, if the masters possess the discernment to distinguish true gold from false and persist in making good choices, we shall see among the pupils remarkable progress without extraordinary effort and with a saving of time, which is among the most important matters. Two persons, for example, play or sing the same correctly guided musical piece; one sweats during the performance and presents it only moderately, while the other performs it excellently and without effort. What is the reason? The first had poor foundations, the second excellent ones. It may be said that nature (and this is entirely true) does not grant everyone the same measure of ability in every field; nevertheless, it will always be the fault of the masters if they fail to recognize for which discipline the young pupil has talent and for which he does not. I have proposed everywhere that the generosity of the public should be encouraged, so that they might donate to the conservatory all the musical works they can spare. How many precious things it would thereby acquire! Otherwise those scores would merely remain food for worms!

Now it is time for me to end my prattling. A thousand thanks for the gracious expressions with which Your Highness honours me; and, respectfully kissing your hand, I have the honour to call myself

Your Highness’s
Most grateful and most devoted servant
Ant[onio]. Salieri

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Johann Wolfgang Goethe: Words of Thanks from Poets

The generous patron and music lover Franz Joseph Maximilian, 7th Prince Lobkowicz significantly expanded the family music collection. Current research shows that the parts and scores preserved in it were not used only for private performances at the Lobkowicz court; the prince also actively lent them to other private and public musical ensembles. One of these was the ensemble of Duke Karl August of Saxe-Weimar, with the loan arranged by the famous poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe. The materials concerned the opera Achille by Ferdinando Paër (1771–1839), who was at the time perhaps the most popular opera composer. The opera was first performed at the Court Theatre in Vienna in 1801 and shortly afterwards in the private theatre of the Lobkowicz Palace in Vienna. In this letter, Goethe reports that the performance was exceptional and delighted the entire court. He only regrets that the prince himself could not have been in Weimar to witness this remarkable event. The musical materials were sent back indirectly and safely returned to Bohemia, as they remain part of the Lobkowicz Collection to this day. 

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Letter by Johann Wolfgang Goethe from 29 November 1810 (autograph)

Most Serene Prince, Gracious Lord, 

After the opera Achille was performed yesterday with universal applause, I consider it my duty to inform Your Serene Highness of this most respectfully. Mr. Brizzi [a prominent tenor singer] both sang and acted splendidly, and our musicians [those of the Duke of Saxe-Weimar] accompanied him most admirably. The noble company, the court, and the audience all enjoyed a delightful evening; and since Your Serene Highness so graciously supported this difficult undertaking, we owe you our warmest gratitude, which I hereby do not fail to express and convey on behalf of everyone, and especially in the name of His Serene Highness the Duke. If there was anything that could have disturbed this excellent entertainment, it was the vain hope of seeing Your Serene Highness here; y et we took comfort in the thought that we were able to prepare something here that might in the future afford Your Serene Highness a pleasant diversion. The musical materials entrusted to us will, after their use, be sent to Dresden to Captain von Verlohren, who will certainly see that they are delivered wherever Your Serene Highness may graciously command. As for myself, I have no more earnest wish for the coming year than to pay my respects to Your Serene Highness and to Your most noble relatives, and to express my devotion in person. I therefore hope that this letter will arrive at a fitting hour and be graciously received. 

Weimar
29 November 1810

Your Serene Highness’s most humble servant. J. W. v. Goethe

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Rudolf II: The Quest for the Philosopher's Stone

The exhibited letter is dated October 27, though the year is not specified. It must, however, have been written between 1586 and 1589, when the English alchemist Edward Kelley was residing in Třeboň, one of the towns of the Rosenberg South-Bohemian domain. After the customary greetings and polite formalities, Emperor Rudolf II addresses Rosenberg in a friendly tone, requesting that “Eduardus be temporarily released from his service and allowed to come to Prague, to the imperial court, to supervise the great [alchemical] work then in progress.“ The Emperor further assures Rosenberg that Kelley “will not be detained longer than he himself wishes,” yet at the same time emphasizes the difficulty of the operation, for which a crucial ingredient, mercurius solis, without which the work cannot be completed, is lacking. This tincture (the “Mercury of the Sun”) is an alchemical substance associated with prima materia, the primordial substance. It symbolizes not only the union of gold (the Sun) and mercury, but also the highest stage of transformation, and thus a key element in the quest for the lapis philosophorum (Philosopher’s Stone). Edward Kelley was famed among his European contemporaries for his alleged ability to extract this substance in record time.

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Louis XIV: Sorrow at Versailles

In this letter, dated November 5, 1672, from Versailles, King Louis XIV of France sorrowfully informs his cousin and brother-in-law, Emperor Leopold I, of the sudden death of his son, Louis François, Duke of Anjou (June 14 – November 4, 1672). 

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Letter of Louis XIV (autograph)

„My dear brother and beloved cousin, As it was not God‘s will to leave us with my son, the Duke of Anjou, any longer, he passed away yesterday evening at around eight o‘clock, after suffering from a persistent fever. And in accordance with our mutual family duties and perfect correspondence, I am informing you both of this, assuring you that you will be no less affected by this great cause for grief for my entire household than I am sensitive to the things that happen to those in pain, whom I pray God will shower with His blessings.“

At Versailles on 5 November 1672

Most affectionately, Brother and Cousin of his Majesty
LOUIS

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