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Letter #1592

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Cornelis [DE SCHEPPER]
Friedeck (Wąbrzeźno), 1537, shortly before March [16]

English register:

Dantiscus is replying to De Schepper’s letter of September 13 (1536), but cannot offer an opinion concerning the details of the talks with Albrecht, Duke in Prussia and Margrave of Brandenburg, as De Schepper encouraged him to, because he does not have the letter with him. He informs De Schepper about his time at the Diet in Cracow. During the Diet, the King of Poland offered Count Ottheinrich [von Wittelsbach], who was also in Cracow, his services as mediator in dowry negotiations between Count Friedrich and the King of Denmark [Christian III].

Dantiscus hopes he will see De Schepper someday, maybe at the General Council, if it comes about, but he also does not preclude a diplomatic mission or simply a visit to his friend. He assures him that he always remembers him. He believes that their friendship will survive even the greatest political conflicts. Dantiscus informs De Schepper that he has obtained the Ermland coadjutorship. He describes the Ermland bishopric as being four times wealthier than that of Kulm. He sends greetings to De Schepper’s wife and son and his household.




Manuscript sources:
1office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, place and date of sending in Dantiscus' own hand, BCz, 244, p. 199-200
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 208-210
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 155r-v
4copy, 18th-century, BCz, 55 (TN), No. 19, p. 75-78
5register with excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8243 (TK 5), a. 1537, f. 21r-v
6register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 32, No. 578

Prints:
1DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 347, p. 288 (English register)
2CEID 1/1 No. 12, p. 171-174 (in extenso; English register)
3CEID 2/2 (Letter No. 68) p. 386-389 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BCz, 244, p. 199

Magnifice Domine et mihi carissime Frater Corneli.

Salutem tibi et omnia precor felicissima.

Post litteras vel potius volumen, quod anno praeterito XXIIII Februarii ad te dederam, accepi quidem copiosas a te litteras Bruxellis XIII Septembris ad me datas, verum meis in paucis respondentes, causabaris enim te eas Brugis reliquisse. Quod idem ad praesens mihi accidit, cum tuas etiam ad manum non habeam. Hanc ob rem de negotiis inter nos scribi inceptis parum me occupabo, ad quae hic tractanda cum duce ms. ducae(!) duceduce ms. ducae(!) in Prussia ill(ustrissimo) or ill(ustri)ill(ustrissimo)ill(ustrissimo) or ill(ustri) domino Alberto marchione Brandenburgensi tu me induxeras. Hoc tamen obiter addendum censui, quod, cum nuper a serenissimo domino meo ad comitia Regni Cracoviam vocatus essem, venit eo et illustrissimus dominus Otto Henricus comes palatinus Rheni, qui humanissime exceptus et habitus pro votis etiam absolutus hanc oblationem a serenissimo rege meo accepit, quod si illustrissimus comes palatinus Fredericus vellet, ut serenissimus rex meus ratione dotis inter eum et ducem Holsaciae electum Daniae regem amicis modis tractaret, idipsum serenissimum dominum meum pro ea propensione, qua inclute domui comitum palatinorum afficitur, non gravate suscepturum. Quod dux Otto Henricus ad deferendum fratri suo Frederico recepit. Sed de iis hactenus.

Memini, quod scripseras in litteris tuis te fortassis me numquam amplius in hac vita visurum. Ego tamen in eo non despero, insperata enim, ut ille ait, saepius, quam quae speramus, eveniunt. Quod si concilium successisset, te et me inibi futurum forsan per occasionem se obtulisset. Posset et alias hoc fieri neque diffido, quin, antequam ex hac vita decedamus, nos mutuo visuri si written over uuii written over umus. Solent se offerre multae causae, quibus de oratores hinc inde mitti solent: offerunt se tractandae concordiae, matrimonia et id genus non pauca, interdum et graviora, immo et leviora. Quid, si ego aliquando animi causa vos convenirem? Quicquid tamen eveniat, si te non iis, quibus scribo, animi tamen oculis te mihi praesentem video crebrius, quam tu fortassis opinaris. Itaque tibi de me, mi carissime frater Corneli, persuade, sive te oculis, sive mente videro, eundem me tibi esse, qui fui semper, amicum, neque ulla negotia nationum vel principum, vel causae quantumvis arduae passionesve aut affectus eo me sunt perducturi, ut in amicitia tecum a tot annis multa iocundissima consuetudine mutuoque amore firmata vacillare vel velim, vel possim. Tenacior sum, quam ut id, quod semel, maxime autem per mutuam benevolentiam, animo meo impressi, remittere valeam. Quod quidem et de te superinscribedtete superinscribed mihi candorem integritatemque tuam cognitam habens certo, inquam, mihi polliceor. Non sint igitur tanti stultorum regum et populorum contentiones, ut inter nos de iis digladiari debeamus. Quin potius, quantum per nos fieri potest, ad hoc spectemus, ut istiusmodi diffidentes amicitia nostra salva manente ad concordiam, quae publicae tranquillitatis mater est, revocare possimus etc.

Quod reliquum est, cum te de rebus meis sciam esse soll stain[ll]ll stainicitum omniaque mihi fausta favere, latere te nolui, quod, Deo gratia, iis, qui mihi sine causa hostes fuerant, superatis coadiutor reverendissimi domini episcopi BCz, 244, p. 200 Varmiensis, qui in quadruplo pinguiorem meo habet episcopatum, factus sum. Pater est et bonus, et pius aetateque et valetudine continua confectus. Quem de nobis duobus Deus prius vocare voluerit, in divina eius est potestate. Ille te cum honestissima tua coniuge filioque atque tuis omnibus, ms 2 3 4 quos,
ms 1 quo[s] paper damaged
quosms 2 3 4 quos,
ms 1 quo[s] paper damaged
omnes salvere iubeo, quam diutissime sospitem et felicem conservet.