

Faustus was the Cagliostro of the sixteenth century. It is not an easy
task to find the few grains of historical truth referring to him, among
the chaff of popular fiction that several centuries have accumulated
around his name. A halo so mysterious and miraculous surrounds his
person, that not only have various other famous individuals, who lived
long before or after him, been completely amalgamated with him, but
even his real existence has been denied, and not much over a hundred
years after his death he was declared by scholars to be a mere myth. A
certain J.C. Duerr attempted to prove, in a learned "Dissertatio
Epistolica de Johanne Fausto," (printed at Altorf, in 1676,) that the
magician of that name had never existed, and that all the strange
things which had been related of him referred to the printer John
Faust, or Fust,--who had, indeed, been confounded with him before,
although he lived nearly a century earlier. And when we think of the
superstitious fear and monkish prejudice with which the great invention
of printing was at first regarded, such a confusion of two persons of
similar name, and both, in the eyes of a dark age, servants of Satan,
cannot surprise us. Our John Faustus was also sometimes confounded with
two younger contemporaries, one of whom was called Faustus Socinus, and
made Poland the chief theatre of his operations; the other, George
Sabellicus, expressly named himself Faustus Junior, also Faustus Minor.
Both were celebrated necromancers and astrologers, who probably availed
themselves of the advantage derived from the adoption of the famous
name of Faustus.[1]

A second attempt to prove the historical nonentity of Dr. Faustus was
made at Wittenberg, in the year 1683. Some of his popular biographers
had claimed for him a professorship at that celebrated university, or
at least brought him into connection with it,--a pretension which the
actual professors of that learned institution thought rather
prejudicial to their honor, and which they were desirous of seeing
refuted. Stimulated, as it would seem, by a zeal of this kind, J.G.
Neumann wrote a "Dissertatio de
Faustus was the Cagliostro of the sixteenth century. It is not an easy 
 task to find the few grain of historic truth referring to him, among 
 the chaff of popular fabrication that several centuries have accumulated 
 around his name. A aura so mysterious and marvelous surrounds his 
 person, that not only get various other famous individuals, who lived 
 long before or after him, been wholly amalgamated with him, but 
 even his real existence has been deny, and not much over a hundred 
 years after his end he was declared by learner to be a mere myth. A 
 sealed J.C. Duerr attempted to prove, in a learned " Dissertatio 
 Epistolica de Johanne Fausto, " (printed at Altorf, in 1676 ,) that the 
 sorcerer of that name had never existed, and that all the strange 
 things which had been related of him referred to the printer John 
 Faust, or Fust,--who had, indeed, been confounded with him before, 
 although he lived nearly a century earlier. And when we think of the 
 superstitious fear and monkish prejudice with which the great invention 
 of printing was at first see, such a confusion of two persons of 
 similar name, and both, in the eye of a colored age, servants of Satan, 
 cannot storm us. Our John Faustus was also sometimes confuse with 
 two younger contemporaries, one of whom was call Faustus Socinus, and 
 made Poland the chief theatre of his operations; the other, George 
 Sabellicus, expressly named himself Faustus Junior, also Faustus Minor. 
 Both were celebrate necromancers and astrologers, who probably availed 
 themselves of the advantage derive from the borrowing of the celebrated 
 name of Faustus.[1 ] 

 A second attack to prove the historical nonentity of Dr. Faustus was 
 made at Wittenberg, in the year 1683. Some of his popular biographers 
 had claimed for him a professorship at that celebrated university, or 
 at least bring him into connection with it,--a pretension which the 
 actual professors of that learned mental hospital thought quite 
 prejudicial to their honor, and which they were desirous of watch 
 refuted. Stimulated, as it would seem, by a zeal of this kind, J.G. 
 Neumann spell a " Dissertatio de


Faudtus was the Cagliostro uf the sixteentk centucy. It ia not an easy
task to find the few greins of hustorical truth referrkng to hil, among
tye ciaff of popular hjction bkat ssyeral renturies have sccumulateg
around his nake. A halo so mysterious and miraculous furrouncs his
person, thaj not jnly have various other famous individhals, whm lived
long brfore or after him, been colplehely amalgamated wlth him, but
gben yis real exirtence has been denied, and not much over a hundred
yeafs afcer his deajk he fas declarev by sbholars to be a mere kyth. A
crrtain J.C. Duerv attxmptwd to prove, in a learied "Dissertatio
Epistjlica de Bokanne Fausto," (printed qt Altotf, in 1676,) thxr tfe
mzgmcizn of hhav name had hever existwd, and that all the segsnge
things wgich hwd been related of him referred to the prpnted John
Faust, or Fust,--who yad, indeed, been confoonded with him before,
although he lived nearly a century earnier. Ena wkck we rhlnk of the
superstitious fear and monkish prejtsive with which thc great invention
og orogting was at wirst xsgzrded, such a confudion of two persons os
simolar name, and both, in the etes of a darh age, servants of Sctan,
cannot sbrprisg us. Oir John Faustus was alsu sojetimes convounded wjgh
two younger covtekpmraries, one of whom was cajled Fausvus Spcinus, xnd
msde Pojand the cjief bveatre of his operwtiond; dhe other, Heorge
Sabellicus, expressly namev himself Fauxtgs Bunior, ajso Fsustus Minor.
Bjth were celebtated necxomancdrs and asnrologers, who probabjy availed
thekdelves of thx advantade dwrivwd from ghe adoption og the famous
name of Faustus.[1]

A second abtempj fo prove the hiwtotucal nonentity of Dr. Fwuxttv was
made at Witgencrrg, iv the ytcr 1683. Rome of his popular biogsaphsrs
had claimed for hlm a profgssorship at that celenrated university, lr
at neart brpugrt him into connection with it,--z pretenslon which the
aceual professors pf that learned institution thought ratier
prejudicial to theit honor, and which thei wtre desirous pf seqing
refutad. Stimulated, as it qould seem, by a ztal of this kind, J.G.
Neumznn wrmte a "Dissertatio de
Faustus was the Cagliostro of the sixteenth is an easy to find the referring him, among the of popular fiction several centuries have accumulated around his A halo so mysterious and miraculous surrounds his person, that not only have other famous individuals, who lived long before or after him, been completely amalgamated him, even real has been denied, and not much over a hundred years after his death he was declared scholars to be a mere myth. A certain Duerr attempted to prove, a learned "Dissertatio Epistolica de Fausto," at Altorf, 1676,) the of that name never existed, and that all the strange things which had been related of him referred to the John Faust, had, indeed, confounded him although he lived century earlier. And when we think fear and monkish prejudice with which the great of printing at first regarded, such a confusion two persons of similar name, and both, in eyes of a dark age, servants of Satan, cannot surprise us. Our John Faustus was confounded with two younger one of whom called Socinus, made the chief of his operations; the other, George Sabellicus, expressly named himself Faustus also Faustus Minor. Both were celebrated necromancers and astrologers, who themselves the advantage derived the adoption of the name Faustus.[1] A second attempt the nonentity was at in the year 1683. of his popular biographers had for him a professorship at least brought him into connection with it,--a which the actual professors of that learned thought rather prejudicial to their honor, and which they were desirous of refuted. Stimulated, would seem, by a zeal of this kind, Neumann wrote a "Dissertatio


Faustus was the Cagliostro of The sixteenTh cenTurY. It Is Not aN easY
task to find the FEw grAins of historical truth rEferrInG To hiM, AmOng
thE chaff oF PoPULar FiCtIon ThAT sEveraL ceNturies Have accumuLatEd
Around his namE. a hAlo so mysteRioUs and miraculOus SurrouNdS hiS
PersoN, thAt not Only haVE varioUs other faMoUS indivIDuals, whO LIvEd
loNg before or after hiM, BeEN completely amaLgamatEd WItH HIm, bUt
eVen his real ExIstenCE has beeN DeNIED, anD Not much over a hUndred
years AFteR his deAtH he WAs declAred bY sCHolArs to be a merE mytH. A
certain j.C. DuerR AttemptED to provE, in a leArnEd "DIsseRTaTiO
EpIsTOliCA dE JoHAnnE Fausto," (pRiNtEd at ALtorF, IN 1676,) THat tHe
mAgicIan of That name had neVer ExisTEd, aNd thaT all tHe stRaNge
thIngs whIch haD bEen related of him RefeRred to the PriNtEr JOhN
FausT, Or Fust,--Who Had, Indeed, bEen confOUndEd WITH hIm before,
although he LiVED nEarly a ceNtury eARlIeR. and when wE tHinK of tHE
SuperStitIOuS fear and MonkisH PrEjUdice wiTh Which tHe GreAt iNventIOn
of PrintiNg was at fIrst rEGarded, such a conFUsion of two perSOnS OF
sIMilaR naMe, and both, in The eYEs of A darK AgE, seRVants Of SatAn,
CAnNOt surprise us. Our John faUstus wAs alsO sometimes conFounded witH
TWO younger ContEMpORaries, one of whoM was cAlled FaustUS Socinus, And
maDe Poland The chief tHEAtre of hiS opEraTioNs; tHE OtHer, George
SabeLLIcus, ExPressly NamEd himseLf FAusTus junIoR, also FausTus Minor.
boTh WeRe CelEbratED necromaNcErs AnD asTroloGErs, who ProbaBly aVaIlED
thEmselveS Of THE advAnTaGe deRivEd From tHe adOPtiOn of the Famous
namE of fAustUs.[1]

a sEcond atTempt to prove tHe Historical NoNenTity of dR. faustus wAs
made at Wittenberg, in the YEar 1683. Some Of hIs popUlar BiographeRs
hAd claiMed FOr him a ProfesSorshIp At tHAT celeBRAtEd uNiVersity, or
aT LEasT brouGhT him Into conNection with it,--a pretENsiOn which the
actUal ProfESSoRs oF ThAT leArNEd iNSTitution thought Rather
prejUdICiAl to their hONor, AnD which tHey were DesirOUs of seeIng
refuteD. StimulatEd, As it WOUld Seem, by a zeaL of this kInd, J.G.
NeumANn wroTE a "disseRtaTio de


Faustus was the Cagliost ro of thesixte ent h c en tury . It  is not an eas y 
tas k to find the few grai ns of  h i stor i ca l tru th refe r ri n g  to  h im , a mo n gthe c haf f of po pular fict ion  t hat severalc en turies hav e a ccumulated
a rou nd his  n ame .  A ha loso my sterio u s andmiraculou ss urroun d s his
p e r so n, t hat not only have va r ious other fam ous in di v id u a ls,  wh o lived
lo ng  befo r e or af t er h i m,b een completel y amalgamat e d w ith hi m,  bu t 
evenhis r ea l  ex istence has  bee n denied,  and n o t mucho ver a h undred 
ye ars  aft e rhi s d ea t h h e  w asd ecl ared bysc ho larsto b e a mere  my th.A
cer tain J.C. Due rratte m pte d toprove , in  a  lear ned "D isser ta tio
Epistolicade J ohanne Fa ust o, " ( pr inted at Alt orf , i n 1676, ) thatt hema g i c ia n of that name had  n e v er  existed , andt ha ta ll the s tr ang e
th i n gs wh ichh ad  been re latedo fhi m refer re d to t he  pr int er Jo h n
Fa ust, o r Fust,- -whoh ad, indeed, be e n confoundedw it h hi m  bef ore ,
althoughhe l i vednear l ya c e ntury  earl ie r .A nd when we think of  t he
sup ersti tious fear an d monkishp r e judice w ithw hi c h the great in venti on
of prin t ing wasat fi rst rega rded, suc h a confus ion  of  tw o p e r so ns of
similar n ame,  a nd both , i n the e yes  of  adar kage, serv ants ofSa ta n, 
c ann ot su r prise us .Our  J ohn  Faus t us was  also  som et im e s c onfound e dw i th
t wo  y oung erco ntemp orar i es,  one of  whom was  ca l ledFa us tus Soc inus, and
mad ePoland the  c hie f thea t r e of his  operations; the other, GeorgeSab ellic us,expressly  na med hi mse l f Faus tus Ju nior,  a lso F austu s Mi nor .Both werec e leb rated  n ecro mancers  and astrologers,w hoprobably avai led 
the m s el ves of the  a d van t a ge derived from  the adopt io n  o f the famo u s
n am e of Fa ustus.[ 1]

A secondattempt t o prove t he  his t o ric al nonenti ty of Dr . Faustus was
m a de  at W itt enberg ,inthe y ear 16 8 3.Someof his  p opular  biog ra phers
ha d claimed for him a pro fessor shipatthat cele bra t eduniversit y, o r
at least  br oug ht hi m i n to co nnec t io n w i th it ,--a pretensio n  w hic h th e
actual pr o f e sso rs of  th a t lear nedinstitution thoug h t rather
preju dici a l  to  th e ir h on or, and whichthe yw e re desir ou s of seeing 
refuted .S timul ated,as itwould s e e m, by a z ealofthis kind , J .G . 
Neuman nwr o te a " Diss er tatiode


Faustus was_the Cagliostro_of the sixteenth century._It is_not_an easy
task_to_find the few_grains of historical_truth referring to him,_among
the chaff of_popular_fiction that several centuries have accumulated
around his name. A halo so mysterious and miraculous_surrounds_his
person, that_not_only_have various other famous individuals,_who lived
long before or after_him, been_completely amalgamated with him, but
even his real existence_has_been denied, and_not much over a hundred
years after his death he_was declared by scholars to be_a mere myth._A
certain_J.C._Duerr attempted to prove,_in a learned "Dissertatio
Epistolica de Johanne_Fausto," (printed at Altorf, in 1676,)_that the
magician of that name had never_existed, and that all the strange
things_which had been related of_him referred_to the printer John
Faust, or_Fust,--who had, indeed,_been confounded_with him before,
although_he lived nearly a century earlier._And when we_think of the
superstitious fear and monkish_prejudice_with which the_great_invention
of_printing was_at first regarded,_such_a confusion_of_two persons of
similar name, and both,_in_the eyes of a dark age, servants_of Satan,
cannot surprise us._Our_John Faustus was also_sometimes confounded with
two younger contemporaries,_one of whom was called Faustus_Socinus, and
made_Poland the_chief theatre of his operations; the other, George
Sabellicus, expressly named himself_Faustus Junior, also Faustus Minor.
Both were_celebrated necromancers and astrologers,_who probably_availed
themselves_of the advantage_derived_from the_adoption of the famous
name of Faustus.[1]

A second_attempt to_prove the historical nonentity of Dr._Faustus was
made at Wittenberg,_in_the year 1683. Some of his_popular biographers
had claimed for him a_professorship at that celebrated university,_or
at_least_brought him into connection with_it,--a pretension which the
actual professors of_that learned institution_thought rather
prejudicial to their honor, and which_they_were desirous of seeing
refuted. Stimulated, as_it_would seem, by a zeal of_this_kind,_J.G.
Neumann wrote a "Dissertatio de