CIDT&C Corpus of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence

Letter #1738

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Dietrich von RHEDEN]
Graudenz (Grudziądz), 1537-10-01

English register: Dantiscus is replying to Rheden’s letter. He thanks him for his efforts concerning the coadjutorship, but in connection with the death of Warmia bishop Maurycy (Ferber) he asks him to give up the matter and immediately start dealing with the formalities related to the papal provision for Dantiscus, postulated by the Chapter for the Warmia bishopric, and for Tiedemann Giese, postulated for the Chełmno bishopric. He encloses the Chapter’s resolution on the election and the required documents. He lists specific instructions and information concerning the sending of further documentation and funds to Rome. Dantiscus thanks Rheden for the news. He informs him about the prince of Holstein’s coronation as king of Denmark, which took place in Copenhagen. He points out the lack of a sacral aspect to the ceremony. He also mentions that the Danish bishops remain in prison. Given the customs and nature of the Danes, Dantiscus is doubtful whether the new king will retain the throne for long. Dantiscus is convinced that the spreading of Lutheranism in neighboring areas (the Duchy of Prussia) could only be stopped by the speedy convening of the General Council. Postscript: Dantiscus thanks Rheden for obtaining the privilege concerning the Roman canonical hours and promises to cover the costs involved. He informs Rheden that since serious difficulties have emerged, he will no longer try to obtain a dispensation from spiritual kinship. Dantiscus asks Rheden to sound the pope out on whether the decision in whose favor he will resign from the Warmia canonry and prebend could be left to him. If this can be arranged, he will be extremely grateful.

received [1537-11-12]

Manuscript sources:

1	office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 244, p. 268 (t.p.)
2	copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 224-226
3	copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 165v-166v
4	copy, 18th-century, BCz, 55 (TN), No. 52, p. 385-388
5	register with excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8243 (TK 5), a.1537, f. 51

Prints:

1	CEID 1/1 No. 49, p. 270-273 (in extenso; English register)

Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus

BCz, 244, p. 268

Venerabilis et Eximie Domine, Frater et Amice carissime. Salutem et omnis felicitatis accessum.

ms 2 3 4 Litteras,
ms 1 [Litteras] paper damaged⌈Litterasms 2 3 4 Litteras,
ms 1 [Litteras] paper damaged⌉ Dominationis Vestrae XXV Augusti Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌊RomaeRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌋ datas XXIII Septembris praeteriti 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 meo ms 2 3 4 Lubaviensi,
ms 1 Lub[a]viensi paper damaged⌈Lubaviensims 2 3 4 Lubaviensi,
ms 1 Lub[a]viensi paper damaged⌉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)⌋ satis commode accepi, et ea, quae de successu coadiutoriae in personam meam Varmiensis scripsit, sane intellexi, habeoque pro opere et labore, quem rebus meis impendit, Dominationi Vestrae ms 2 3 4 quas,
ms 1 qu[as] paper damaged⌈quasms 2 3 4 quas,
ms 1 qu[as] paper damaged⌉ possum gratias, aliquando per omnem occasionem, quoad eius a me fieri po(teri)t, relaturus. Ceterum, cum negotium hoc per mortem rMauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)⌊everendissimi domini olim Mauritii episcopi VarmiensisMauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)⌋ infectum mansit et ego concordibus votis Ermland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌊venerabilis capituliErmland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌋ ad eam ecclesiam ex Dei misericordia sum postulatus, ms 2 3 4 aliud,
ms 1 aliu[d] paper damaged⌈aliudms 2 3 4 aliud,
ms 1 aliu[d] paper damaged⌉ nobis agendum restat. Mitto igitur iis iunctum postulationis decretum cum instrumento procuratorio atque cum litteris regiis ad Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope⌊summum pontificemPaul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope⌋ et Antonio Pucci (*1484 – †1544), 1517-1521 papal nuncio in Switzerland; 1518-1541 Bishop of Pistoia; 1529-1541 Bishop of Vannes; 1529-1544 Penitentiary Major; 1531-1541 Cardinal of SS. IV Coronati; 1541-1542 Cardinal of Santa Maria in Trastevere; 1542-1543 Bishop of Albano; 1543-1544 Bishop of Sabina; 1532-1544 Cardinal Protector of the Kingdom of Poland and Portugal (WOJTYSKA 1977, p. 243; CE, p. 122-123)⌊Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌊RegniPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌋ protectorem cardinalemAntonio Pucci (*1484 – †1544), 1517-1521 papal nuncio in Switzerland; 1518-1541 Bishop of Pistoia; 1529-1541 Bishop of Vannes; 1529-1544 Penitentiary Major; 1531-1541 Cardinal of SS. IV Coronati; 1541-1542 Cardinal of Santa Maria in Trastevere; 1542-1543 Bishop of Albano; 1543-1544 Bishop of Sabina; 1532-1544 Cardinal Protector of the Kingdom of Poland and Portugal (WOJTYSKA 1977, p. 243; CE, p. 122-123)⌋, quae a Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌊serenissimo rege meoSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌋, ut certo existimo, scribentur, et ex Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CracoviaCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ cum iis ad Dominationem Vestram dabuntur, quo ante nuntii adventum duplicatas allaturi, quem unamecum reverendissimus dominus electus Culmensis Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)⌊ms 2 3 4 Tidemannus,
ms 1 Tideman[nus] paper damaged⌈Tidemannusms 2 3 4 Tidemannus,
ms 1 Tideman[nus] paper damaged⌉ GiseTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)⌋ missurus est, Dominatio Vestra curare possit sine mora negotium committi ac in praeambulis instrui, quemadmodum de iis ipse Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)⌊dominus electusTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)⌋ latius Dominationi Vestrae scribit. Nuntius a nobis mittendus feret aurum et alia necessaria. Iam Dominationis Vestrae erit tam meis, quam Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)⌊domini electiTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)⌋ sic intendere rebus, prout opinionem et fidem de Dominationis Vestrae amicitia et integritate concepimus. Ego, quod ex me erit, omnem daturus sum operam, ut Dominationis Vestrae iis in negotiis studium et diligentiam omni beneficentia ac gratitudine rependam, cf. Cic. Fam. 10.4.3 Qua re hoc unum tibi persuade; Cic. Fam. 16.1.2 Tu autem hoc tibi persuade ⌊hocque sibi de me certo persuadeatcf. Cic. Fam. 10.4.3 Qua re hoc unum tibi persuade; Cic. Fam. 16.1.2 Tu autem hoc tibi persuade ⌋ etc.

Pro novis, quae Dominatio Vestra scripsit, magnam habeo gratiam. Hic aliud non habemus, quam quod prope festum divi Bartholomei[1] in Copenhagen (København, Hafnia), city in Denmark, on the Zeeland and Amager islands⌊Haffnia alias CopenhagenCopenhagen (København, Hafnia), city in Denmark, on the Zeeland and Amager islands⌋ civitate Denmark (Dania)⌊Regni DaniaeDenmark (Dania)⌋ cf. Vulg. 1Sm 8.22.1-2 dixit autem Dominus ad Samuhel audi vocem eorum et constitue super eos regem; Vulg. 1Sm 16.13 tulit igitur Samuhel cornu olei et unxit eum ⌊Christian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534-1559 King of Denmark and Norway, 1523-1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌊ill(ustrissimus) or ill(ustris)⌈ill(ustrissimus)ill(ustrissimus) or ill(ustris)⌉ dominus dux Holstein, duchy in the Holy Roman Empire⌊HolsaciaeHolstein, duchy in the Holy Roman Empire⌋Christian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534-1559 King of Denmark and Norway, 1523-1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌋ in regem est coronatus, verum, cum episcopos[2] adhuc in vinculis habeat, non adfuit cornu Samuel biblical figure; the last of the Hebrew Judges, anointed the first two kings of the Kingdom of Israel: Saul and David⌊SamuelisSamuel biblical figure; the last of the Hebrew Judges, anointed the first two kings of the Kingdom of Israel: Saul and David⌋[3]cf. Vulg. 1Sm 8.22.1-2 dixit autem Dominus ad Samuhel audi vocem eorum et constitue super eos regem; Vulg. 1Sm 16.13 tulit igitur Samuhel cornu olei et unxit eum ⌋ inunctusque in solium positus est. In quo si diu residebit, continget praeter illorum hominum mores, naturam et ingenium, siquidem multos a se occisos, alios exules, paucos vero cf. Sen. Ep. 69.6 Illud inperitissimi cuiusque verbum falsum esse tibi ipse persuade: “bella res est mori sua morte” ⌊sua morte decedentescf. Sen. Ep. 69.6 Illud inperitissimi cuiusque verbum falsum esse tibi ipse persuade: “bella res est mori sua morte” ⌋ reges habuerunt. Apud nos omnia adhuc ex divina gratia tranquilla sunt, praeterquam, quod Luteranismus apud vicinos nostros mordicus tenetur, neque aliqua in re hucusque capit detrimentum. Si collectum fuisset concilium vel propediem colligeretur, aliquid boni sperare possemus, sin minus – vereor pestem ac luem istam vastius et amplius grassaturam. Sed de iis hactenus. Dominationi Vestrae omnia fausta precor, illamque diutissime bene valere summopere ...(?) cupio.

Ex Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventu terrarum PrussiaeProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ in oppido Graudenz (Grudziądz, Graudentium), city in Poland, Voivodeship of Pomerania, on the upper east bank of the Vistula, Graudenz (taking turns with Marienburg (Malbork)) was the venue for the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌊GraudenczGraudenz (Grudziądz, Graudentium), city in Poland, Voivodeship of Pomerania, on the upper east bank of the Vistula, Graudenz (taking turns with Marienburg (Malbork)) was the venue for the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌋, prima die Octobris anno 1537.

Postscript:

Pro indultu ad dicendum horas Romanas gratias habeo, quodcumque pro signatura Dominatio Vestra impendit, faciat, quod sciam – cum gratitudine ut Dominationi Vestrae satisfiat curabo. De dispensatione cognationis spiritualis non est, quod Dominatio Vestra agat.[4] Evanuit hic et quaedam vix magis ardua. Si canonicatus et praebenda mea Varmiensis sic mihi posset reservari a Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌊Sede ApostolicaHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌋, ut eam cui vellem resignarem, non fugerem modestam compositionem. Rogo itaque, quantum Dominatio Vestra potest, efficiat ea cf. Adagia 1526 No. 2755 in voti compotem ⌊in re voti me compotemcf. Adagia 1526 No. 2755 in voti compotem ⌋, plurimum mihi gratum, sibique me Dominatio Vestra obligatum factura. Quae iterum bene valeat.

[1] August 24.

[3] Commanded by God, the Biblical prophet Samuel anointed first Saul and then David as kings, so Dantiscus uses the name Samuel as the symbol of a person endowing royal power with a sacral character. (cf. KOPALIŃSKI 1990 p. 1033 ⌊Kopaliński, p. 1033cf. KOPALIŃSKI 1990 p. 1033 ⌋).

[2] In October 1536 king of Denmark Christian III imprisoned the Danish and Norwegian bishops (cf. cf. MAŁŁEK 1969 Przyczynek p. 130-131 ⌊Małłek,1969, p.130-131cf. MAŁŁEK 1969 Przyczynek p. 130-131 ⌋); Dantiscus was asked to plead for the imprisoned bishops with the Polish king by bishops Ioannes Magnus, Hans Brask and Magnus Haraldsson, who had been exiled from Sweden and were staying in Gdańsk (cf. the cf. Ioannes MAGNUS, Hans BRASK & Magnus HARALDI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Gdańsk (Danzig), 1536-11-02, CIDTC IDL 1550⌊letter from the same Swedish bishops to Dantiscus, Gdańsk, November 2, 1536, orig. BCz, 247, p.277, print: Magnus, No. 28cf. Ioannes MAGNUS, Hans BRASK & Magnus HARALDI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Gdańsk (Danzig), 1536-11-02, CIDTC IDL 1550⌋).