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Letter #6281

Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to [Ioannes DANTISCUS?]
Prague, 1534-08-09

English register:

The original of this letter is not preserved. Only an excerpt, viz. the second part of the letter with the novitates, has been preserved in a contemporary copy in the 'Herzogliches Briefarchief' in the Königsberg archives, along with a German translation.

De Schepper gives a lengthy justification for the surrender to the Turks of the city of Corone, which had only recently been conquered by Andrea Doria for the Emperor [Charles V]. He himself had long been aware of this decision, but he had kept it secret so as not to endanger the Spanish garrison there. The fortress has an unsafe anchorage, exposing the ships of the defence to enemy attacks. Moreover, the Turkish fleet has grown so well equipped that even in the high seas it is a dangerous adversary. Meanwhile, wicked Christians proved at least as great a danger as the Turks, luring the French King [Francis I] into alliances against the Emperor, and provoking severe uprisings.

Due to its location, Corone is difficult to supply. Jeopardising the Spanish garrison there would have discouraged the troops in other enterprises of the Emperor. Finally, negotiations with the Sultan [Suleiman the Magnificent] were appropriate because of the difficulties in supplying and defending the numerous cities captured by the Emperor. To all these arguments to give up Corone may be added that for reasons undisclosed here, King Ferdinand insisted on rendering a service to the Sultan. He sent De Schepper to obtain this from the Emperor.

As a result the Spanish garrison and the Greek inhabitants were able to leave the city unharmed, taking with them all their possessions, equipment and supplies. The Spanish soldiers have safely arrived in Sicily. Upon these considerations everyone should acclaim the decision to surrender Corone.

The Emperor will soon be confronted with a major war with the Turks. After their unfortunate sea expeditions they have appointed the corsair Khair al-Din Pasha as chief commander of their navy. He is a major threat to all Christians, save for the French. On the imperial side the Mediterranean coasts are well defended, and a considerable navy is on stand-by.

In Germany all is peaceful now. The instigators of the unrest have wasted their effort. The Emperor desires to engage in a serious campaign against the enemies of the faith, but he is impeded by many internal difficulties.

Dantiscus should know that De Schepper will soon leave for Spain, and be aware that he is as always willing to render him a service.




Manuscript sources:
1excerpt in Latin, 16th-century, GStA PK, XX. HA Hist. StA Königsberg, HBA, H, K. 763, No. VI.11. 44, p. 5-6
2excerpt in German, translation, 16th-century, GStA PK, XX. HA Hist. StA Königsberg, HBA, H, K. 763, No. VI.11.44, p. 1-2

Prints:
1CEID 2/2 (Letter No. 59) p. 283-286 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

GStA, PK, HBA, H, K 763, p. 5 unnumbered

Ex litteris domini Cornelii etc.

Scio non defuturos apud vos, qui admirantur de quibusdam, qui hoc anno advenere interque alia de Corona (Corone, Koróni), town in Greece, on the Messenian GulfCoronis urbisCorona (Corone, Koróni), town in Greece, on the Messenian Gulf in Peloponnese (Morea), peninsula in southern GreecePoloponnesoPeloponnese (Morea), peninsula in southern Greece dimissione. Qui omnes ubi intellexerint, quo consilio illa facta sint, desinent admirari. Equidem haec ita fieri sciveram longe prius, neque enim huius rei consilium clam me fuit, neque tamen ex me quisquam rescivit, ne male his cederet, qui ibi erant in praesidio Corona (Corone, Koróni), town in Greece, on the Messenian GulfCoronisCorona (Corone, Koróni), town in Greece, on the Messenian Gulf. Itaque dimissio ob plurimas causas fuit, Corona (Corone, Koróni), town in Greece, on the Messenian GulfurbsCorona (Corone, Koróni), town in Greece, on the Messenian Gulf enim illa tametsi forti loco sita, portu tamen caret, stationem tantum malefidam habet. Quae res quam sit periculosa, ubi de succurrendo agitur, eodem tempore, quo anno superiori novum eo importavit praesidium Andrea Doria (Andrea Auria, Andrea D' Oria) (*1466 – †1560), Italian condottiere and a famous seaman in the service of Genoa; 1512-1522 commander of the Genoan fleet, in 1522 he entered the service of Francis I of Valois, King of France, as a captain-general at sea; in 1526 (after the Battle of Pavia) he became commander of the League of Cognac's fleet; from 1528 imperial Chief Admiral on the Mediterranean, from 1531 Duke of Melfi, and from 1555 Censor of Genoa (actually a Genoan administrator) (JURIEN de la GRAVIÈRE, p. 203-205; CURREY, p. 87-98)Andreas de AuriaAndrea Doria (Andrea Auria, Andrea D' Oria) (*1466 – †1560), Italian condottiere and a famous seaman in the service of Genoa; 1512-1522 commander of the Genoan fleet, in 1522 he entered the service of Francis I of Valois, King of France, as a captain-general at sea; in 1526 (after the Battle of Pavia) he became commander of the League of Cognac's fleet; from 1528 imperial Chief Admiral on the Mediterranean, from 1531 Duke of Melfi, and from 1555 Censor of Genoa (actually a Genoan administrator) (JURIEN de la GRAVIÈRE, p. 203-205; CURREY, p. 87-98), didicimus ms. didittimus(!) didicimusdidicimus ms. didittimus(!) , neque enim, maritimo proelio decertare si nolit ms. nollit(!) nolitnolit ms. nollit(!) hostis, cogi potest, adactis enim in terram pup written over bbpp written over b<p>ibus e proris triremium iaculetur et quantumvis instructa navis classis hoc modo periclitabitur.

Nunc taceo, quod certissimi fuimus de summo apparatu classis, quem faciebant The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) TurcaeThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) , quae etiam classis aequo mari posset nostrae negotium facessere. Nihil dico, quod et a malis Christianis tantum nobis imminebat periculi tamquam ab ipsis The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) TurcisThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) , qui non pro nomine ms. pronomine(!) pro nominepro nomine ms. pronomine(!) et titulis maiorum.[1] Nam et Francis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoyregem GalliaeFrancis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy, crudelem illum hostem, impulere importunis sollicitationibus et confoederationibus, adversus Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of CastileKarolumCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile ut terra marique contenderet. Ne quid dicam de perma(xim)is tumultibus, qui ex eodem lacu promanarunt. Loci itaque qualitas et quod non sine summo et manifesto periculo commeatus inferri posset, et quod in ea urbe erat flos Hispaniae militiae, qui si ms. se(!) sisi ms. se(!) periclitatus fuisset, quis tandem pro Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of CastileKarolo caesareCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile in alienis regionibus praesidiarius esse voluisset, quod denique cum Suleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman EmpireTurcaSuleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in occupationibus oppidorum, quae plurima ille habet, quibus muniendis quam subiugandis maior inest difficultas, sed alia quadam ratione, quae nobis cognita perspectaque est, agendum, in causa fuere dimissionis Corona (Corone, Koróni), town in Greece, on the Messenian GulfCoronisCorona (Corone, Koróni), town in Greece, on the Messenian Gulf accedente denique praesertim requisitione Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of HabsburgFerdinandi regisFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg, qui ut Suleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empirecaesari TurcarumSuleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire gratificaretur, me transmisit ad Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of CastileKarolumCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile hanc rem impetraturum. Egressus est itaque miles Hispanus nullo damno illato in muros, ne cum lapidibus illis bellum fuisse videretur, exportatis tamen Graecis incolis omnibus cum omni ipsorum supellectile et machinis, commeatu, provisionibus, quae inerant, invitisque The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) TurcisThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) post multas res praeclare gestas praebitaque indicia virtutis et magnanimitatis prospera usque navigatione pervenit in Sicily, island in the Mediterranean Sea, Kingdom ruled by the HabsburgsSiciliamSicily, island in the Mediterranean Sea, Kingdom ruled by the Habsburgs. Haec quisquis perpenderit, expertus praesertim[2] rerum maximarum, non poterit non summo opere extollere consilium istud.

Quod ad alia attinet, Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of CastileCarolo caesariCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile magnum bellum a The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) TurcisThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) est in foribus. Qui The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) TurcaeThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) post infelices aliquot ms. aliquod(!) aliquotaliquot ms. aliquod(!) expeditiones maritimas praefecere toti classi virum piratam, quem ipsi Hayreddin Barbarossa (Khair al-Din) (*ca. 1478 – †1546), famous pirate, from 1518 the service of the Ottomans; conqueror of Algiers (1519) and Tunis (1534); in 1535, after the attack of the imperial fleet under the command of Andrea Doria, he lost control of Tunis; in 1538 he occupied a number of Venetian islands in the Aegean and plundered Crete; in the same year the Ottoman fleet under his command defeated the Holy League fleet at the Battle of Preveza ; 1532 grand admiral of the Ottoman fleet (CE, vol. 2, p. 259-260)Cheyradinum BassamHayreddin Barbarossa (Khair al-Din) (*ca. 1478 – †1546), famous pirate, from 1518 the service of the Ottomans; conqueror of Algiers (1519) and Tunis (1534); in 1535, after the attack of the imperial fleet under the command of Andrea Doria, he lost control of Tunis; in 1538 he occupied a number of Venetian islands in the Aegean and plundered Crete; in the same year the Ottoman fleet under his command defeated the Holy League fleet at the Battle of Preveza ; 1532 grand admiral of the Ottoman fleet (CE, vol. 2, p. 259-260), nos Barbarossam vocamus. Hayreddin Barbarossa (Khair al-Din) (*ca. 1478 – †1546), famous pirate, from 1518 the service of the Ottomans; conqueror of Algiers (1519) and Tunis (1534); in 1535, after the attack of the imperial fleet under the command of Andrea Doria, he lost control of Tunis; in 1538 he occupied a number of Venetian islands in the Aegean and plundered Crete; in the same year the Ottoman fleet under his command defeated the Holy League fleet at the Battle of Preveza ; 1532 grand admiral of the Ottoman fleet (CE, vol. 2, p. 259-260)IsHayreddin Barbarossa (Khair al-Din) (*ca. 1478 – †1546), famous pirate, from 1518 the service of the Ottomans; conqueror of Algiers (1519) and Tunis (1534); in 1535, after the attack of the imperial fleet under the command of Andrea Doria, he lost control of Tunis; in 1538 he occupied a number of Venetian islands in the Aegean and plundered Crete; in the same year the Ottoman fleet under his command defeated the Holy League fleet at the Battle of Preveza ; 1532 grand admiral of the Ottoman fleet (CE, vol. 2, p. 259-260) Christianis omnibus praeterquam Francis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoyregis FrancorumFrancis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy subditis, quo cum rege fraternitas est Suleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empirecaesari TurcarumSuleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, gravia minatur. Classem habet magnam et instructam. Neque nos animo deficimus, qui et litora omnia Italy (Italia)ItaliaeItaly (Italia), Sicily, island in the Mediterranean Sea, Kingdom ruled by the HabsburgsSiciliaeSicily, island in the Mediterranean Sea, Kingdom ruled by the Habsburgs, Sardinia, island in the Mediterranean SeaSardiniaeSardinia, island in the Mediterranean Sea, Spain (Hispania)HispaniaeSpain (Hispania) insularumque firmo praesidio munivimus, et non contemnendam classem GStA, PK, HBA, H, K 763, p. 6 unnumbered intentam in omnem occasionem. Brevi resciemus, quid attentaverint.

In Germany (Germania, Niemcy)GermaniaGermany (Germania, Niemcy) nunc omnia pacata sunt. Excitatus hic fuit ignis in quibusdam, qui tam cito extinctum illum iri non crediderant quique ms. quisque(!) quiquequique ms. quisque(!) nunc pecunias, cf. Adagia 362 oleum et operam perdidi oleum et operam luseruntcf. Adagia 362 oleum et operam perdidi . Taliter solent nunc humana consilia succedere, quae praesertim adversus dominum et adversus Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old TestamentChristumJesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament eius ineuntur. Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of CastileCarolo caesariCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile in votis nil magis est, quam in hostes fidei seriam expeditionem facere. At impeditur multis difficultatibus, quae illi domi fere struuntur. Quas omnes, spero, dissipabit angelus cf. Vulg. Sap 1.6.3-4 renum illius testis est Deus et cordis eius scrutator est verus Domini, qui scrutator est cordiumcf. Vulg. Sap 1.6.3-4 renum illius testis est Deus et cordis eius scrutator est verus . Ego brevi hinc in Spain (Hispania)HispaniasSpain (Hispania) volabo, id quod Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram haud ignorare volui. Quae de me potest sibi persuadere, ubicumque futurus sim locorum, adesse ibi hominem, qui ingratissimus esset, ni mentem animumque, et propensitatem suam erga Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram aliquo genere officii testari vellet, id quod novit Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old TestamentSalvator ChristusJesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, qui eandem Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram diu conservet.

Eiusdem Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae ex animo inservitor Cornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)Cornelius Duplicius ScepperusCornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24) eques, consiliarius et orator caesareus

[1] perhaps the scribe omitted a verb, such as agunt or faciunt

[2] in the ending of praesertim one abundant stick crossed-out