Early edition of the Latin oration delivered by Petrus Mosellanus (or Peter Schade, 1493-1524) at the opening of the Leipzig Disputation, 27 June 1519, commissioned by George, Duke of Saxony (1471-1539). This work offers a contemporary witness to one of the defining theological events of the early Reformation: the public disputation between Martin Luther (1483-1546), Andreas Karlstadt (1486-1541), and Johann Eck (1486-1543). Trained in Cologne and later professor and twice rector at the University of Leipzig, Mosellanus was a prominent humanist, philologist, and Catholic theologian. In his oration, he advocated moderation and the use of classical philosophical reasoning in theological discourse.
Although his address made little immediate impact on the disputants, it reflected Erasmusian ideals and marked the apex of Mosellanus' academic career. In the book are two important letters by Erasmus, both written from Louvain in 1519: one to Mosellanus (22 April), encouraging him in his humanist efforts, and another to Luther (30 May), reflecting Erasmus growing concern over the escalating theological tensions. A second oration, delivered by Johannes Langius Lambergius (1485-1565) at the conclusion of the disputation on 16 July 1519, further frames the historic event. It concludes with a laudatory poem praising the intellectual exchange between the three principal disputants.
With a small manuscript annotation on the title page ("N. 19"). The title page is somewhat (dust) soiled and shows an ink stain (slightly affecting the text), the head margin is very slightly browned. Otherwise in very good condition. USTC: 631219; Vander Haeghen III 53; VD16 S 2171; not in Adams; BM STC German; Jackson; Knaake; Kossmann; Kuczynski.