Let a special remembrance be made for my soul… Testament of Walenty Bartoszewski († 1638), Rector of the Parish School of the Vilnius St. John the Baptist Church

Abstract

The testament of one of the most famous authors of religious poetry in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 17th century, the rector of the parish school of the Vilnius Church of St. John the Baptist, Walenty Bartoszewski († 1638), is being published. The introduction to the publication discusses the historiography dedicated to this creator, with information about the parish school of the Vilnius Church of St. John the Baptist. The publication discusses the works of Bartoszewski and is believed to allow the assertion that the author was a layman from Vilnius. Based on the published testament of Walenty Bartoszewski, written in Vilnius on March 11, 1638, the characteristics of his religiosity, relatives (he was single) and close circle – clergy, lawyers, craftsmen and others, and his financial situation are analyzed. It is said that before his death, Bartoszewski was seriously ill. Based on the testamentary will of 1,000 florins, the great Catholic religiosity of the teacher and rector is emphasized, Bartoszewski’s involvement in the financial business (money lending) is noted, and separate fragments of his household life are recorded.