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Letter #1526

Gemma Frisius to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Leuven (Lovanium), 1536-08-01
            received [1537]-02-22

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, UUB, H. 154, f. 150-151
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, LSB, BR 19, No. 28
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, SUB, Sup. Ep. 4-o 41, No. 21, f. 19v- 20r
4copy in Latin, 18th-century, SBB, MS Lat. Quart. 101, No. 18, f. 65v-67r
5copy in Latin, 18th-century, SLUB, C 110, f. 92r-94v
6copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 1366, p. 166-169
7copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 27r-v
8copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 54 (TN), No. 132, p. 433-436
9copy in Latin, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8243 (TK 5), a.1536, f. 81-94
10register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 30, No. 96
11register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 32, No. 600

Prints:
1CURTZE 1874 No. 2, p. 315-316 (in extenso)
2VAN ORTROY App. A, No. 2, p. 404-406 (in extenso)
3DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 331, p. 271-272 (in extenso)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

UUB, H. 154, f. 151v

Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino, domino Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of ErmlandIoanni DantiscoIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland episcopo Culmensi etc., domino suo ac maecenati colendissimo.

In Löbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)castro LubaviensiLöbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)

UUB, H. 154, f. 150r

Reverendissime in Christo Pater ac Domine. Salutem ac officiorum meorum commendationem.

Iam dudum est, quod Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra mihi mandaverit, ut frequentius scribam, praecipue vero de statu meo, anne ego unus sim futurus, quem matrimonii paenitudo non ceperit aliquando; cui sane quod respondeam, non habeo aliud, quam quod cecinit Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (*68 BC – †8 BC), Roman lyric poet during the time of AugustusilleHorace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (*68 BC – †8 BC), Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus:

cf. Hor. S. 1.1.1-3 Qui fit, Maecenas, ut nemo, quam sibi sortem / seu ratio dederit seu fors obiecerit, illa / contentus vivat? Laudet diversa sequentes?

Qui fit, Maecenas (Gaius Cilnius Maecenas) (*70 BC – †8 BC)MaecenasMaecenas (Gaius Cilnius Maecenas) (*70 BC – †8 BC), ut nemo, quam sibi sortem

seu ratio dederit seu sors obiecerit, illa

contentus vivat? Laudet diversa sequentes?

cf. Hor. S. 1.1.1-3 Qui fit, Maecenas, ut nemo, quam sibi sortem / seu ratio dederit seu fors obiecerit, illa / contentus vivat? Laudet diversa sequentes?

Nam, ut olim solutus vincula haec summopere et cupivi, et sectatus sum, ita nunc contra solvi sensus quidem appetunt, verum ratio aliud dictat. Video enim eam esse nostram imperfectionem, ut nusquam animus acquiescat, quam diu hoc in corpore detinetur. Quam ob causam? oro, nisi, quod nihil in rerum natura est, quod ante finis sui adeptionem conquiescat. Cum ergo animus noster numquam, dum hoc carcere clauditur, finem suum consequi queat, non mirum est, eu written over aauu written over am tam varia appetere, quaerentem written over sstemtem written over s scilicet quem non invenit finem et requiem. His consideratis satius videtur taedium hoc vitae aut fluctuationem potius quacumque data condicione aequo ferre animo, quam in dies mutatis sortibus novos sentire cruciatus. Quid igitur sentiam, quaeris. Sane contentus sum mea sorte, quia nusquam tranquillitatem inveniri sciam. Taedet rursus ex communi et omnibus innata imperfectione. Habet Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra meam de statu meo sententiam, quam pro suo candore interpretari velit.

Gemma Margaritam genuit, quae iam parentem tatat, istud quidem Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae non fore ingratum arbitratus significare non dubitavi.

De bello, cuius hic maximus apparatus est et maxima fama, nisi existimarem Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae per claros viros significatum esse, scriberem, sed rumores etiam ad nos incerti sunt, quare uno atque altero verbo haec percurram. 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 CastileCaesarCharles 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 tribus ex partibus France (Gallia, Francia), the kingdomGalliamFrance (Gallia, Francia), the kingdom aggreditur. Ipse circa Gallia Narbonensis (Narbonese Gaul, Transalpine Gaul, Gallia Transalpina, Provincia), province Roman province in southern France, covering the current regions of Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and Rhône-AlpesGalliam NarbonensemGallia Narbonensis (Narbonese Gaul, Transalpine Gaul, Gallia Transalpina, Provincia), province Roman province in southern France, covering the current regions of Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and Rhône-Alpes, quam Delphinatum vocant, maximo exercitu Alps (Alpes), mountain range stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east; through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany; to France in the westAlpesAlps (Alpes), mountain range stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east; through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany; to France in the west aut transgressus est aut conatur in dies transgredi. Cepit duo triave oppidula. Isabella of Portugal (*1503 – †1539), Holy Roman Empress, Queen of Aragon and Castile; wife of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg, daughter of Manuel I of Portugal and Maria of AragonConiunxIsabella of Portugal (*1503 – †1539), Holy Roman Empress, Queen of Aragon and Castile; wife of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg, daughter of Manuel I of Portugal and Maria of Aragon a Pyrenees (Pyrenaei montes), mountain range in southwest Europe that form a natural border between France and Spain. They separate the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of continental Europe, and extend for about 491 km (305 mi) from the Bay of Biscay (Cap Higuer) to the Mediterranean Sea (Cap de Creus)Pyreneis montibusPyrenees (Pyrenaei montes), mountain range in southwest Europe that form a natural border between France and Spain. They separate the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of continental Europe, and extend for about 491 km (305 mi) from the Bay of Biscay (Cap Higuer) to the Mediterranean Sea (Cap de Creus) instat, de hac nihil ad nos pervenire potest. Nostri circa Hainaut (Hannonia, County of Hainaut), county in the Low Countries, from 1482 under Habsburg rule. Its territory corresponds with the Belgian province of Hainaut, and part of the French Département du NordHannoniamHainaut (Hannonia, County of Hainaut), county in the Low Countries, from 1482 under Habsburg rule. Its territory corresponds with the Belgian province of Hainaut, and part of the French Département du Nord oppidum obsederunt dictum Guise, town in northern France, province of Picardy, department of the AisneGuiseGuise, town in northern France, province of Picardy, department of the Aisne. Dux est dominus de Nassau.

UUB, H. 154, f. 150v

Nihil t written over ...... illegible...... illegiblett written over ...um factum adhuc est per nostros, nam in dies eorum numerus crescit. Henry VIII Tudor (*1491 – †1547), 1509-1547 King of England; son of Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of YorkAnglusHenry VIII Tudor (*1491 – †1547), 1509-1547 King of England; son of Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of York pro suo arbitrio omnia administrat. Anne Boleyn (*1507 – †1536), Queen of England (1533-1536) as a second wife of Henry VIII Tudor; in 1536 charged with treason and beheadedUxorem secundamAnne Boleyn (*1507 – †1536), Queen of England (1533-1536) as a second wife of Henry VIII Tudor; in 1536 charged with treason and beheaded gladio interemit cum fratre ac aliis nobilibus; ferunt omnes innoxios illos fuisse et crimine vacasse. Vix elapsis 24 horis aliam duxit.

Haec sunt, quae mihi scribenda visa sunt, ut omni ex parte Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra meam sentiat oboedientiam.Velim oratam Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam, ut mihi mittere dignaretur et suam et regis genituram vel saltem tempus, quod mihi sat est. Iuvat enim his rebus nonnumquam tempus fallere. Nam reliquum tempus medicinae impartior, in qua iam gradum adeptus sum a stain[a]a staintque deinceps arcem peto.

Dominus noster, Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old TestamentIesus ChristusJesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam quam diutissime incolumem et prosperum conservet, cui me quam plurimum commendo eiusque fratribus, domino Georg von Höfen (Georg Flachsbinder, Georgius de Curiis) (†after 1550-02-07), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother; Starosta of Rössel (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 584, 586, 588; AGAD, MK, 77, f. 385-386v)GeorgioGeorg von Höfen (Georg Flachsbinder, Georgius de Curiis) (†after 1550-02-07), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother; Starosta of Rössel (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 584, 586, 588; AGAD, MK, 77, f. 385-386v) ac domino Bernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of LöbauBerhardoBernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau, totique familiae.

Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae deditissimus famulus Gemma Frisius (Jemme Reinerszoon) (*1508 – †1555), Netherlandish leading theoretical mathematician and practicing physician in Louvain, scholar, and tutor of Gerardus Mercator, studied medicine, mathematics and astronomy at the University in Louvain (1526), where he became a professor of medicine and mathematics, he applied his mathematical expertise to geography, astronomy and map making (HALLYN; VAN ORTROY)Gemma FrisiusGemma Frisius (Jemme Reinerszoon) (*1508 – †1555), Netherlandish leading theoretical mathematician and practicing physician in Louvain, scholar, and tutor of Gerardus Mercator, studied medicine, mathematics and astronomy at the University in Louvain (1526), where he became a professor of medicine and mathematics, he applied his mathematical expertise to geography, astronomy and map making (HALLYN; VAN ORTROY)