1101 ??? Introduction Author, Source and Purpose of this Work Panegyris lyrica (PLyr) is a poetic piece of praise written in honor of the Bishop of Płock, John Gembicki1. The full Latin title reads: Panegyris Lyrica Illustrissimo et Reverendissimo Domino D. Joanni Gembicki Dei et Sedis Apostolicae Gratia Episcopo Plocensi decantata Per P. Stanislaum a Iesu Maria Clericorum Pauperum Matris Dei Scholarum Piarum. Father Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczyński, who was mentioned on the title page of the work as a member of the Institute of the Poor Clerics of Mother of God of the Pious Schools, is without doubt the author of PLyr. PLyr is an ornate, skillful work of acclaim that came from under the pen of a person fluent in poetic art. Being a famous teacher of rhetoric, Fr. Papczyński was capable of writing such a piece thanks to his training and good knowledge of ancient poets. Neither in this work nor in his other works did the PLyr author mention the reasons for composing this Panegiric in honor of Bishop Gembicki. No such information could be discovered in the letters of the Bishop himself or in other authors. Nothing is known 1 John Gembicki (1602–1675), coat of arms Nałęcz; Canon of Gniezno from 1621, and Canon of Krakow from 1626; then Regent of the municipal royal office, Royal Secretary, and Canon of Warsaw from 1636. In 1640, he became the Great Secretary of the Crown, and the Dean of Krakow in 1642. With the arrival of Louise-Marie in the Republic of Poland in 1646, he became the Queen’s Court Chancellor; in 1652 he was named respectively the Bishop of Chełmno, in 1655 of Płock, and in 1674 of Kujawy. In 1657, he participated in the Polish-Brandenburg negotiations, playing a significant role. Faithful to King John Casimir, he hid from the Swedes in Spisz. After the election of Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki as King, he supported him with the Austrian party, although he had previously supported the French candidate. He participated actively, though not notably in many political events of his time. In his church activities, he showed care for the dioceses entrusted to him, where he took care of many matters: he eased disputes, took care of the seminaries (he founded a seminary in Chełmża), recovered churches seized by other denominations, and rebuilt the ones destroyed during the war. In his time, he generally was viewed positively. See J. Bazydło, Gembiccy, in: EK vol. V, Lublin 1989, col. 934-936; A. Przyboś, Gembicki Jan, in: PSB vol. VII, Kraków 1948–1958, pp. 376-378 (editor’s note).
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