Pirmasis Baltramiejaus Vilento Enchiridiono leidimas: terminus ad quem – 1572-ieji

In 2008 in the National Secret Archives of Prussian Cultural Heritage in Berlin (Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz) 4 previously unknown letters of Baltramiejus Vilentas (Bartolomaeus Willentus, ca 1525−1587) were found. They are Vilentas’s longest surviving autographs. Two of his letters were written in Latin and addressed to Duke Albrecht, two were written in German and addressed to Duke Georg Friedrich. They are all preserved in the file Pfarrer bei der litthauſchen Kirche auf dem Sackheim 1556−1709, in the folder Barthol. Wilentus 1556−1582 (GStA PK: XX EM 72 f No 51. Bl. 3r–12v); the file also has a document referring to payment made to Vilentas. One of the letters has no date (1556?), others were written in 1556, 1572 and 1581 respectively. The National Secret Archives of Prussian Cultural Heritage have also preserved Vilentas’s widow Ona Vilentienė’s (Anna Wilentin, Wiland) letter addressed to Duke Georg Friedrich. It is kept in the file Littauſche Pfarrer=Wittiben 1587−1755 (GStA PK: XX EM 72 f No 2. Bl. 1r−3v); on a separate sheet there is a decree on providing support to Vilentienė. The letters and related documents give more details about some facts of Vilentas’s biography. They provide data on his previously unknown period of service in Karaliaučius (Königsberg), his financial situation and literary activities.