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assistance from the town council, which even paid one of the teachers, Benedictus Salmuth, to
act as his tutor. In 1583 Salmuth sent a letter addressed to Martinus Wentzell, the town judge,
in which he described the pupil’s progress and expressed his recognition and gratitude to the
town council for supporting both the young student and himself. In addition to that, he mentioned
the great interest of the pupil’s father in the studies of his son, displayed, as we learn
from Salmuth’s letter, by his intensive correspondence with the tutors and by his promotion of
his son’s interests before the town council, of which he was himself a member. 11
In 1586, Buntzler matriculated at the University of Wittenberg. Six other letters from him,
preserved in the Košice town archives, were sent in the course of two years: 1589 and 1590,
while he was still student at this institution. 12 The fi rst letter, dated January 30, 1589 was a
request for fi nancial support. The next letter, sent in May 1589, was an expression of gratitude
for some fi nancial support provided in the meantime and included a number of further interesting
details of fi nancial character. The student mentioned some of the expenses he had to face
(and of which he was sure the town council was aware) – books, private tutors, and so forth,
– and asked to be sent an additional thirty fl orins, this time out of his own inheritance, which
was, apparently, controlled by the town council, as a deposit for something: 13
Here I add that I never thought that the study of arts would require so many things […],
which are money, books, private tutors and many others which I am forced and need to use
[…] and of the many of which, I have no doubts, your dignities are well informed […]. Therefore
I ask your lordships to weigh all these things carefully and to that money that you invested
lately in my studies add thirty fl orins out of my inheritance (which you have as a pledge) and
send them at the next possible occasion. […] Without this I will not be able to stay for a long
time in Wittenberg. 14
The third letter sent by Buntzler follows from Wittenberg in August 1589. In it he expressed
his hope that the town council fully understood the benefi t of continuing his studies
and that it would not cease to support his endeavours. Its content suggests that the previously
demanded stipend plus the additional thirty fl orins had not yet been sent. The fourth letter was
sent on the same day together with the third one although this one was written in German and
was also addressed to the town council. Buntzler explained that he had decided to write this
additional letter in his native language so that all members of the council would understand
and feel the student’s good intentions towards his fatherland:
[…] in addition to my other letter I wrote this one in my native language, which was not
done because I would have been afraid to bring up such things in greater detail, but rather so
that all and everyone will understand and deeply feel and sense my entire feeling for my homeland
and, at the same time, all my problems and impediments in the process of study, you,
those whom I honour in place of my parents and the help and support of whom I fully enjoyed
until know, and I hope to enjoy in the future […] 15
11
AMK, H I, no. 3772/119
12
AMK H I, no. 4121/101; no. 4121/2; no. 4121/118; no. 4121/119; no. 4121/43; no. 4226/145.
13
His father probably died shortly after 1585.
14
Hoc addo me nunquam credidisse, tanta requiri ad literarum studia […] quae sunt pecuniae, libri, privati preceptores,
et si quae sunt alia, quorum usum habere et cogor et debeo […] ut non dubito plerosque[] vestris
amplitudinibus nec quibus haec sunt notissima. Est profecto summa rerum diffi cultas et non levis annonae
caritas, ideoque vestrae amplitudines haec omnia perpendant et eam quam in studia mea nuper collocarunt
peccuniam triginta fl orenis ex patrimonio meo (quam pignoris loco habent) promptis adaugeant et proxime
qua potest fi eri occasione mittant. […] Sin minus multum temporis Vitebergae fi eri mihi non erit potestas.
15
[…]neben meinem andern schreiben dies in geborner sprach verfertiget, welches nicht darumb gesehen, als
hette ich mich furtet waitlaufftiger solches darinnen furzuebringen, sondern, auff das alle und iede verstehen,
unnd gründlich mein ganzigtes gemuet gegen dem vatterland spuren und erfasen mogen, unnd darbey auch
mein aufl iegen unnd hinderniβ in stuedieren weitlauffi g vernehmen dieselbigen die ich ahn stat meiner Eltern
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