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Letter #1796

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Jan CHOJEŃSKI]
Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-21

English register: Dantiscus is replying to Chojeński’s letter. He is pleased with the good news Chojeński sent him (about the victory of the Polish unit in a skirmish with the Wallachians), as he had feared that the conflict between the king and the gentry would embolden the enemy. He agrees with Chojeński that it would be best to set aside internal disputes and finally defeat “the Wallachian” (i.e. Moldavian hospodar Petru Raresh) before the end of this winter. Dantiscus points to the disastrous effects of discord in the country in the past and at present, giving as an example – known to him from Chojeński’s letter – the recent defeat of the Roman king (Ferdinand I Habsburg) in the war with the Turks. He concludes that for lack of mutual love, people are giving power over the world to the devil. He interprets the conduct of the kings of England and France as a visible effect of this: Henry VIII has introduced a new marital law making the duration of a marriage dependent on the gender of the progeny, and he is increasingly cruel towards his own subjects; Francis I, in his greed for power, gold and blood, is building alliances with the infidels against Christians. These events, Dantiscus thinks, portend the approaching fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies of the end of the world. Dantiscus is pleased that Chojeński’s planned diplomatic mission has been postponed, because Chojeński’s presence in Cracow will greatly facilitate the dispatching of Dantiscus’ and Giese’s documents to Rome. Chojeński will receive detailed information regarding this from Dantiscus’ brother Bernard (von Höfen), who will have arrived in Cracow before Chojeński receives the present letter. Dantiscus informs Chojeński that since he has already received the breve allowing him to take over in the Warmia diocese before obtaining the provision bulla, he intends to accept the Warmia Chapter’s invitation and plans to be in Lidzbark on December 6.


Manuscript sources:
1office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 244, p. 306-305(!)
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 234-237
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 170v-171v
4copy, 18th-century, BCz, 55 (TN), No. 78, p. 489-493

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8248 (TK 10), f. 653

Prints:
1CEID 1/1 No. 84, p. 349-353 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine mi colendissime. Salutem et obsequiorum meorum plurimam commendationem.

Quantum me Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima litteris suis IIII-ta huius datis exhilaravit, exprimere nequeo. Solvit enim me ex non parvo metu, nedum solicitudine, quam intra me tacitus de rebus nostris in oris Valachiae non abs re conceperam, formidans ac reputans hoc, quod vulgato adagio dici solet “nulla calamitas sola”, ne forte post hanc turbationem et nostrorum tumultum, qui inibi serenissima maiestate regia praesente excitatus fuerat, gravius aliquid, ut in eiusmodi casibus contingere consuevit, suboriretur. Nulla siquidem res sic hostium animos etiam meticulosos reficere, immo et firmare potest, quam cum eos, quos timent, inter se dissidentes comperiunt, infectaque re, qua formidine tremoreque correpti erant, discordia agitatos subito abire ac coepta relinquere. Atqui Deus Omnipotens, cui laus, honor, omnis gratiarum actio, longe felicius, quam ego futurum verebar, res serenissimae maiestatis regiae omniumque nostrorum tractavit, prosperioremque dedit exitum et successum. Qui revera hoc tempore, ut scribit Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima, prosecutionem postulat, interea, quo adhuc ex recenti clade trepidatio est in hostibus. Quod si nostri vel hac unica Dei benignitate, quae pro nobis pugnavit, promoveri et induci possent, ut ad cor et in se redirent animosque pristinos et se dignos reciperent, nulla umquam prius occasio et oportunitas fuit commodior, quam praesenti hieme Valachum et invadendi, et de sede penitus deturbandi. Quod haud dubie subsequeretur, modo eam nostris Deus mentem, saepe prius concessam, iterum imprimeret, qua relictis intestinis odiis ac dissidiis potius in hostes quam in se ipsos saevirent. Quid effecerit discordia, multa praeteriti et non pauca nostri temporis acta declarant, quae quidem discordia nimirum et serenissimi Romanorum regis, dum inter se duces mutuis odiis iampridem conceptis decertant, exercitui novissime stragem hanc tormentorumque amissionem edidit, superioresque Turcas fecit. “Ubi caritas et amor, ibi Deus est.” Ubi Deus est, ibi adsunt bona omnia. Quibus hii carent, qui in sese exulcerati per cacadaemones exagitantur. Sumus profecto in posteriore hoc saeculo, in quo princeps mundi huius imperiose suos exercet, quot iam a fide, religione et pietate deiecit. Alius, qui protector dicebatur, nunc totus adversatur fidei turpi ductus in tot stupra et adulteria libidine. Cuius concubinae, quam vocant reginam, in dies expectatur partus. Si masculum pepererit (sic stant pacta matrimonii), vera est coniunx; si feminam, solutum est coniugium: tamquam <tam> diu stupris uti liberum erit, quousque ex aliqua nascatur filius. Pulchrum, si diis placet, ius matrimonii, omni exsecratione iraque ac castigatione Dei dignum, quam non ob id solum, sed ob innumeras caedes novasque crudelitates, quibus in suos in dies fit truculentior, iure optimo meruit atque iusto Dei iudicio experietur brevi.

Alter, qui cum suis progenitoribus Christianissimus vocabatur, nonne inChristianissimus impiissimusque factus Christique eiusque fidei hostibus perfidissimis impurissimisque Turcis aperto foedere contra Christianos est coniunctus, nulla re nisi immodica ambitione imperandique cupidine sitique auri et Christiani sanguinis insatiabili illectus at protractus a principe mundi huius undique clandestinis simultatibus, factionibus, inimiciciis, bellisque perniciosissimis occupati adeo, ut evangelium hoc Mathei XXIIII “ Cum videritis abhominacionem desolationis etc.” aptissime huic nostro saeculo conveniat. Orandus est Deus sancte et pie vivendo, ne fugam hanc hieme aut sabbato quam minatur, sed suam nobis det in diebus nostris gratiam et pacem, amen.

Gratum mihi fuit plurimum, quod profectio Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae ad serenissimum Romanorum regem comperendinationem acceperit, eo quod id, quod ad meam et reverendissimi domini electi successoris mei expeditionem adhuc ad curiam Romanam reliquum est, facilius opera et intercessione Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae a serenissima maiestate regia obtinebimus. Misi igitur superiori die hinc ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam fratrem meum Bernardum, qui, priusquam istae perferentur, aderit, ab eoque Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima habebit omnia. Ceterum, cum iam breve apostolicum receperim, quo mihi licet postulatione nondum confirmata bona episcopatus Varmiensis administrare, simque ad hoc a venerabili capitulo, ut eo me conferam, rogatus, destinavi hinc reculis meis praemissis relictisque hic officialibus meis ipso die sanctae Barbarae proficisci, cum Deoque et sancto Nicolao Heilsbergum ingredi. Futurusque perpetuo pro tot in me collatis beneficiis non ingratus debitor Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae, cui me summopere commendo, Deumque precor, ut eandem quam diutissime prosperrime valentem ac felicissimam conservet.

Lubaviae, XXI Novembris anno 1537.