CIDT&C Corpus of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence

Letter #1796

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Jan CHOJEŃSKI]
Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-21

English register: Dantiscus is replying to Chojeński’s letter. He is pleased with the good news Chojeński sent him (about the victory of the Polish unit in a skirmish with the Wallachians), as he had feared that the conflict between the king and the gentry would embolden the enemy. He agrees with Chojeński that it would be best to set aside internal disputes and finally defeat “the Wallachian” (i.e. Moldavian hospodar Petru Raresh) before the end of this winter. Dantiscus points to the disastrous effects of discord in the country in the past and at present, giving as an example – known to him from Chojeński’s letter – the recent defeat of the Roman king (Ferdinand I Habsburg) in the war with the Turks. He concludes that for lack of mutual love, people are giving power over the world to the devil. He interprets the conduct of the kings of England and France as a visible effect of this: Henry VIII has introduced a new marital law making the duration of a marriage dependent on the gender of the progeny, and he is increasingly cruel towards his own subjects; Francis I, in his greed for power, gold and blood, is building alliances with the infidels against Christians. These events, Dantiscus thinks, portend the approaching fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies of the end of the world. Dantiscus is pleased that Chojeński’s planned diplomatic mission has been postponed, because Chojeński’s presence in Cracow will greatly facilitate the dispatching of Dantiscus’ and Giese’s documents to Rome. Chojeński will receive detailed information regarding this from Dantiscus’ brother Bernard (von Höfen), who will have arrived in Cracow before Chojeński receives the present letter. Dantiscus informs Chojeński that since he has already received the breve allowing him to take over in the Warmia diocese before obtaining the provision bulla, he intends to accept the Warmia Chapter’s invitation and plans to be in Lidzbark on December 6.

Manuscript sources:

1	office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 244, p. 306-305(!)
2	copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 234-237
3	copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 170v-171v
4	copy, 18th-century, BCz, 55 (TN), No. 78, p. 489-493

Auxiliary sources:

1	register in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8248 (TK 10), f. 653

Prints:

1	CEID 1/1 No. 84, p. 349-353 (in extenso; English register)

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

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine mi colendissime. Salutem et obsequiorum meorum plurimam commendationem.

Quantum me Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima cf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-11-04, CIDTC IDL 1764⌊litteriscf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-11-04, CIDTC IDL 1764⌋ suis IIII-ta huius datis exhilaravit, exprimere nequeo. Solvit enim me ex non parvo metu, nedum solicitudine, quam intra me tacitus de rebus nostris in oris Duchy of Moldavia (Valachia, Hospodarstwo Mołdawskie), country between the eastern Carpathians, the Dniester and the Danube delta, from 1456 a fiefdom of Turkey, where Polish and Turkish influences clashed in the 15th-16th centuries. The Latin name Valachia was widely used in Poland at the time to describe Moldavia, and not the Duchy of Wallachia, which was further south⌊ValachiaeDuchy of Moldavia (Valachia, Hospodarstwo Mołdawskie), country between the eastern Carpathians, the Dniester and the Danube delta, from 1456 a fiefdom of Turkey, where Polish and Turkish influences clashed in the 15th-16th centuries. The Latin name Valachia was widely used in Poland at the time to describe Moldavia, and not the Duchy of Wallachia, which was further south⌋ non abs re conceperam, formidans ac reputans hoc, quod vulgato adagio dici solet cf. WALTHER, Proverbia No. 18891a ⌊“nulla calamitas sola”cf. WALTHER, Proverbia No. 18891a ⌋, ne forte post hanc turbationem et nostrorum tumultum, qui inibi 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⌊serenissima maiestate regiaSigismund 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⌋ praesente excitatus fuerat, gravius aliquid, ut in eiusmodi casibus contingere consuevit, suboriretur[1]. Nulla siquidem res sic hostium animos etiam meticulosos reficere, immo et firmare potest, quam cum eos, quos timent, inter se dissidentes comperiunt, infectaque re, qua formidine tremoreque correpti erant, discordia agitatos subito abire ac coepta relinquere. Atqui Deus Omnipotens, cui laus, honor, omnis gratiarum actio, longe felicius, quam ego futurum verebar, res 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⌊serenissimae maiestatis regiaeSigismund 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⌋ omniumque nostrorum tractavit, prosperioremque dedit exitum et successum. Qui revera hoc tempore, ut cf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-11-04, CIDTC IDL 1764⌊scribitcf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-11-04, CIDTC IDL 1764⌋ Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima, prosecutionem postulat, interea, quo adhuc ex recenti clade trepidatio est in hostibus. Quod si nostri vel hac unica Dei benignitate, quae pro nobis pugnavit, promoveri et induci possent, ut ad cor et in se redirent animosque pristinos et se dignos reciperent, nulla umquam prius occasio et oportunitas fuit commodior, quam praesenti hieme Petru IV Raresh (Petrylo) (*ca. 1487 – †1546), 1527-1538 and 1541-1546 Hospodar of Moldavia⌊ValachumPetru IV Raresh (Petrylo) (*ca. 1487 – †1546), 1527-1538 and 1541-1546 Hospodar of Moldavia⌋ et invadendi, et cf. Pl. Mil. 334 deturbabo iam ego illum de pugnaculis ⌊de sede penitus deturbandicf. Pl. Mil. 334 deturbabo iam ego illum de pugnaculis ⌋. Quod haud dubie subsequeretur, modo eam nostris Deus mentem, saepe prius concessam, iterum imprimeret, qua relictis intestinis odiis ac dissidiis potius in hostes quam cf. Liv. 1.53.11 in se ipsum postremo saeviturum ⌊in se ipsos saevirentcf. Liv. 1.53.11 in se ipsum postremo saeviturum ⌋. Quid effecerit discordia, multa praeteriti et non pauca nostri temporis acta declarant, quae quidem discordia nimirum et 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 Habsburg⌊serenissimi Romanorum 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⌋, dum inter se duces mutuis odiis iampridem conceptis decertant, cf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-11-04, CIDTC IDL 1764⌊exercitui novissime stragem hanc tormentorumque amissionem edidit, superioresque The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌊TurcasThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌋ fecitcf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-11-04, CIDTC IDL 1764⌋. “cf. Missale f. 83v-84r Ubi charitas et amor, Deus ibi est ⌊Ubi caritas et amor, ibi Deus est.cf. Missale f. 83v-84r Ubi charitas et amor, Deus ibi est ⌋” cf. Aug. in Ioh. Evang. Tract. 83. col. 1846 Ubi caritas est, quid est quod possit deesse? Ubi caritas non est, quid est quod possit prodesse? ⌊Ubi Deus est, ibi adsunt bona omniacf. Aug. in Ioh. Evang. Tract. 83. col. 1846 Ubi caritas est, quid est quod possit deesse? Ubi caritas non est, quid est quod possit prodesse? ⌋. Quibus hii carent, qui in sese exulcerati per cacadaemones exagitantur. Sumus profecto in posteriore hoc saeculo, in quo cf. Vulg. Io 12.31 nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras; Vulg. Io 14.30 venit enim princeps mundi huius; Vulg. Io 16.11 quia princeps mundi huius iudicatus est ⌊princeps mundi huiuscf. Vulg. Io 12.31 nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras; Vulg. Io 14.30 venit enim princeps mundi huius; Vulg. Io 16.11 quia princeps mundi huius iudicatus est ⌋ imperiose suos exercet, quot iam cf. Vulg. Apc 20.7-10 solvetur Satanas de carcere suo et exibit et seducet gentes ⌊a fide, religione et pietate deiecitcf. Vulg. Apc 20.7-10 solvetur Satanas de carcere suo et exibit et seducet gentes ⌋. Alius, Henry VIII Tudor (*1491 – †1547), 1509-1547 King of England; son of Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of York⌊qui protector dicebaturHenry VIII Tudor (*1491 – †1547), 1509-1547 King of England; son of Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of York⌋[2], nunc totus adversatur fidei turpi ductus in tot stupra et adulteria libidine. Cuius Jane Seymour (*1508 – †1537), Queen consort of England, the third wife of Henry VIII Tudor (married in 1536), and mother of Edward VI⌊concubinae, quam vocant reginamJane Seymour (*1508 – †1537), Queen consort of England, the third wife of Henry VIII Tudor (married in 1536), and mother of Edward VI⌋, in dies expectatur partus. Si masculum pepererit (sic stant pacta matrimonii), vera est coniunx; si feminam, solutum est coniugium: tamquam <tam> diu stupris uti liberum erit, quousque ex aliqua nascatur filius. Pulchrum, si diis placet, ius matrimonii, omni exsecratione iraque ac castigatione Dei dignum, quam non ob id solum, sed ob innumeras caedes novasque crudelitates, quibus in suos in dies fit truculentior, iure optimo meruit atque iusto Dei iudicio experietur brevi.

Francis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy⌊AlterFrancis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy⌋, qui cum suis progenitoribus Christianissimus vocabatur, nonne inChristianissimus impiissimusque factus Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌊ChristiJesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌋que eiusque fidei hostibus perfidissimis impurissimisque The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌊TurcisThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌋ aperto foedere contra Christianos est coniunctus, nulla re nisi immodica ambitione imperandique cf. Verg. A. 3.57 auri sacra fames; Hor. Epist. 1.18.23 argenti sitis importuna famesque; Ov. Met. 1.131 amor sceleratus habendi ⌊cupidine sitique auricf. Verg. A. 3.57 auri sacra fames; Hor. Epist. 1.18.23 argenti sitis importuna famesque; Ov. Met. 1.131 amor sceleratus habendi ⌋ et Christiani sanguinis insatiabili illectus at protractus a principe mundi huius undique clandestinis simultatibus, factionibus, inimiciciis, bellisque perniciosissimis occupati adeo, ut evangelium hoc Mathei XXIIII “ cf. Vulg. Mt 24.15 cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis ⌊Cum videritis abhominacionem desolationiscf. Vulg. Mt 24.15 cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis ⌋ etc.” aptissime huic nostro saeculo conveniat. cf. Vulg. Mt 24.20 orate autem ut non fiat fuga vestra hieme vel sabbato ⌊Orandus est Deus sancte et pie vivendo, ne fugam hanc hieme aut sabbatocf. Vulg. Mt 24.20 orate autem ut non fiat fuga vestra hieme vel sabbato ⌋ quam minatur, sed suam nobis det in diebus nostris gratiam et pacem, amen.

Gratum mihi fuit plurimum, quod profectio Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae ad serenissimum 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 Habsburg⌊Romanorum regemFerdinand 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⌋ comperendinationem acceperit, eo quod id, quod ad meam et 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)⌊reverendissimi 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)⌋ successoris mei expeditionem adhuc ad Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌊curiam RomanamHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌋ reliquum est, facilius opera et intercessione Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae a serenissima 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⌊maiestate regiaSigismund 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⌋ obtinebimus. Misi igitur superiori die[3] hinc ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam 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 Löbau⌊fratrem meum BernardumBernhard 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⌋, qui, priusquam istae perferentur, aderit, ab eoque Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima habebit omnia. Ceterum, cum iam breve apostolicum receperim, quo mihi licet postulatione nondum confirmata bona Ermland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌊episcopatus VarmiensisErmland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌋ administrare, simque ad hoc a Ermland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌊venerabili capituloErmland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌋, ut eo me conferam, rogatus, destinavi 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)⌊hincLöbau (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)⌋ reculis meis praemissis relictisque hic officialibus meis ipso 1537-12-04⌊die sanctae Barbarae1537-12-04⌋ proficisci, cum Deoque et 1537-12-06⌊sancto Nicolao1537-12-06⌋ Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland⌊HeilsbergumHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland⌋ ingredi. Futurusque perpetuo pro tot in me collatis beneficiis non ingratus debitor Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae, cui me summopere commendo, Deumque precor, ut eandem quam diutissime prosperrime valentem ac felicissimam conservet.

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)⌊LubaviaeLöbau (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)⌋, XXI Novembris anno 1537.

[1 ] Dantiscus is referring to the “hens’ war” (“wojna kokosza”, summer 1537) – a rebellion (rokosz) of the gentry who had been called to arms for a retaliatory expedition against the Moldavian hospodar, Petru Raresh. The expedition, which turned into a demonstration against the king near Lvov, never got as far as the border of the Kingdom of Poland (cf. e.g. cf. KONOPCZYŃSKI 1 p. 113-115 ⌊Konopczyński, p. 113-115cf. KONOPCZYŃSKI 1 p. 113-115 ⌋; cf. BAZYLOW p. 338-339 ⌊Bazylow, p.338-339cf. BAZYLOW p. 338-339 ⌋).

[2 ] Dantiscus is referring here to the title Defensor fidei, granted to Henry VIII by the papal decree of October 11, 1521, in recognition of his writing a minor work against Luther’s views - Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (printed version of the decree: cf. Bullarium No. 51, p. 773-775 ⌊Bullariumcf. Bullarium No. 51, p. 773-775 ⌋)

[3 ] Dantiscus’ brother Bernard von Höfen set off for Cracow not on November 20 (superiori die) but on November 16 (cf. cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-17, CIDTC IDL 1793⌊Dantiscus to Giese, November 17, 1537cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-17, CIDTC IDL 1793⌋).