Oration on the mathematician Johannes Regiomontanus, given by Erasmus Reinhold, of Saalfeld, professor of mathematics, at the proclamation of the degree of Master of Philosophy

To begin with, I give thanks to the eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Maker of Heaven and Earth and of His angelic and human Church, together with His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit, for not allowing studies of this subject to perish. And I pray to Him with all my heart that He may guide us and sustain our studies, and assemble among us a following for His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified for us and was resurrected; a following which may delight in His goodness for all eternity and worship Him. It is proper for you all to beg for this with fervent prayers – for in these scholarly assemblies, too, prayers should be mingled with admonitions about knowledge.

But it is the custom occasionally to declaim here the stories of famous men, especially of learned ones, because these stories teach us much about the arts which they rendered illustrious, and because the commemoration of such men is agreeable to worthy minds. Therefore I have now put together an account of Johannes Regiomontanus, partly from his own writings, partly from the oration of that most learned man, Johannes Schöner. Although it is rather short and will not fulfil your expectations, it nevertheless needs to be handed on to the young, so that they may come to know and admire this great man, and may strive after these arts whose seeds he sowed.