Request for details of source-text re Rudolf's library

[ReneZ]

Coming back to the statement by Zdenek Servit on Marci's memory, on page 57 of the book quoted in my previous post he writes (approximate English translation):

Even in 1665 - or perhaps 1666 - he sent Kircher a Roger Bacon manuscript with a cover letter that did not show any disturbances of intellect.

and:

It was not until the end of 1666 that Marci's health began to get worse, and he wrote down a will he could not sign for the weakness of his eyesight.

It is worth going through the chronology:

August 1665

Marci sends a letter to Kircher which Servit judges not to show any deterioration of his mind. This is easy to establish. Following are points from this letter that have been verified to be accurate (Philip Neal translation):

- "This book was left to me by a close friend in his will".
Demonstrated by reference to Marci's 1662 book "Philosophia Vetus Restituta", where he writes that Barschius left him his library.

- "The then possessor of the book once sent you letters seeking your judgment about a part of it which he wrote down and sent to you"
Demonstrated by the Barschius letter of 1639 that has been preserved, and two references to an earlier letter of 1637 that has been lost.

- "Doctor Raphael, the Czech language tutor of King Ferdinand III as they both then were"
Dr. Raphael has been identified as Raphael Mnisowsky. His tutelage of Ferdinand III is confirmed by Pelzel (1773-1782).

This already settles the matter completely, but there is still more.

January 1666

Kinner asks on Marci's behalf if Kircher has made any progress with the book that he sent the year before. This is an accurate memory. Furthermore, Kinner says no word about any mental problem of Marci.

December 1666

Marci draws up his last will and testament. While his eyesight is gone, it is witnessed by several University professors and doctors. It seems extremely unlikely that he would have been allowed to do this if he had really lost his memory.

January 1667

Kinner again asks on Marci's behalf on progress about the MS. Here, Kinner writes that Marci has lost memory of almost everything. However, this statement is immediately followed by: "but still remembers you. He very officially bids me salute you in his name and he wishes to know through me whether you have yet proved an Oedipus in solving that book which he sent via the Father Provincial last year and what mysteries you think it may contain. It will be a great solace to him if you are able to satisfy his curiosity on this point."
So, there are plenty of things that Marci remembers very well, including the agent who sent the book in 1665. If there is anything at all that could be described as an "off-hand remark" it is only the statement: "Dominus Marcus has lost his memory of nearly everything".

April 1667

Marci dies.