Krytyka polskich biskupów w łacińskich pismach Marcina Kromera (1542-1568)
Criticism of Polish Bishops in the Latin Writings of Marcin Kromer (1542-1568)

Summary/Abstract: The article is devoted to the words of criticism towards Polish bishops, which were included in four Latin texts of Marcin Kromer written between 1542 and 1568. The first two are synod speeches, which he delivered at the assembly of Polish clergy in Piotrków and Cracow in 1542 and 1549 before they were printed. Both speeches, full of sharp criticism of customs, education and care for the Christian people subordinated to the hierarchy, were delivered by Kromer upon the recommendation of his superiors (Sermo de tuenda dignitate sacerdotii of 1542 - on Piotr Gamrat's and the oration of 1549 addressed to priests from the diocese of Lesser Poland - on Samuel Maciejowski's). Another work criticising Polish bishops is De origine et rebus gestis Polonorum libri XXX, the chronicle published in 1555. The last is polemical religious dialogue: Monachus, sive de religione libri quattuor, binis distincti dialogis. The analysis of the relevant passages from the above-mentioned texts made it possible to deduce that although the admonishment of the bishops in these works bears the hallmarks of sharp and harsh vituperation, it has the character of a topic. Repeated accusations against the hierarchs presented in a carefully selected rhetorical setting, precisely because of their repetition, cannot convince about Kromer's genuine involvement in criticism.

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