Chapter Suprising topics in „Sonderliche polnisch-deutsche Missiven” by Johannes Ernesti

Overview & Synopsis

The text deals with five letters from Sonderliche Polnisch-Deutsche Missiven und Zuschrifften… by Johannes Ernesti, published in Leszno at the beginning of the 18th century (1705). Interest in them was caused by their subject, unusual for letters used in teaching foreigners Polish correspondence. These are topics about marital infidelity, torturing witches, asking for a speedy death of a criminal, certificates of virtuous birth and ordering a new carriage. These texts are an interesting information about a Baroque customs and mentality, but they differ from typical merchant letters.