Letter #1487
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Matthias, Abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Koronowo]Löbau (Lubawa), 1536-06-16
English register:
Dantiscus expresses amazement at the content of Abbot Matthias’s written statement on the circumstances of the death of Matthias, guardian [of the Franciscans] from Kulm, and at the fact that he agreed to a jury court (bannitum iudicium) reviewing the matter; the new statement contradicts both Abbot Matthias’s earlier oral testimony and his two previous letters, which Dantiscus has kept.
To defend the truth and his own good name against accusations of injustice in passing judgments, Dantiscus will be forced to file a lawsuit against the addressee in Rome and to turn to the King and all the Bishops of the Crown for help. Before he does so, he asks for a letter explaining what made Abbot Matthias issue a false statement.
Manuscript sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
BCz, 244, p. 116Reverende Pater et amice in Christo carissime.
Salutem in Domino et omnem felicitatem.
Certo edocti sumus, quod Dominatio Vestra litteras testimoniales contra seipsam et ea, quae nobis ore proprio de morte olim fratris Mathiae guardiani civitatis nostrae Culmensis coram libere recensuit, et per binas litteras suas, quas incorruptas servamus, si, ut non opinamur, verbis suis stare noluerit on the margin⌈suas, quas incorruptas servamus, si, ut non opinamur, verbis suis stare nolueritsuas, quas incorruptas servamus, si, ut non opinamur, verbis suis stare noluerit on the margin⌉, aperte et claris verbis nobis scripsit sub sigillo suo superinscribed in place of crossed-out s...⌈s... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉suosuo superinscribed in place of crossed-out s...⌉, contrarium testimonium dederit eaque de re bannitum iudicium apud se superinscribed in place of crossed-out vos⌈vos se se superinscribed in place of crossed-out vos⌉ fieri permiserit. Quae si sic se haberent, quemadmodum adhuc non credimus, satis mirari non possemus cogeremurque adscribed⌈queque adscribed⌉ pro veritatis defensione contra Dominationem Vestram apud Sanctam Apostolicam Sedem, quod inviti faciemus, iuridice agere litemque intendere, honoremque nostrum et bonam famam on the margin⌈et bonam famamet bonam famam on the margin⌉, qui ad id ab adversariis nostris male perstringitur et sugillatur, quasi inique processus nostros emiserimus, tueri atque etiam ad serenissimam maiestatem regiam et ad superinscribed⌈et adet ad superinscribed⌉ omnesque regni praelatos pro munimine conservationeque veritatis contra Dominationem Vestram on the margin⌈contra Dominationem Vestramcontra Dominationem Vestram on the margin⌉ confugere. Quae omnia priusquam faciamus, cupimus a Dominatione Vestra certiores fieri, quibus modis inducta huiusmodi testimoniales litteras contra nos et contra seipsam, immo et contra veritatem, quae Deus est, dederit. Quod tamen adhuc a Dominatione Vestra, quam constantioris fidei et animi esse nobis confidimus, factum adhuc esse adhuc superinscribed⌈adhucadhuc superinscribed⌉ non speramus superinscribed in place of crossed-out credimus⌈credimus speramus speramus superinscribed in place of crossed-out credimus⌉, ut igitur litteris suis per hunc nuntium nostrum on the margin⌈per hunc nuntium nostrumper hunc nuntium nostrum on the margin⌉ de iis omnibus nobis responderit a Dominatione Vestra amice petimus et postulamus eandemque bene valere optamus.
Ex castro nostro Lubaviensi, XV Iunii MDXXXVI.