Letter #1996
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESEHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1538-11-23
English register:
Dantiscus informs Giese that, on re-reading the royal decree sent by [Stanisław] Kostka, he realised that the [latest] letter he had received from the King [Sigismund I Jagiellon] (and informed Giese about), commanding that the tax money be delivered and accounted for during the spring [Royal Prussian] Diet, is dated a few days later than the decree. Therefore the content of the royal letter to Dantiscus is most likely exactly the same as that of the letters to Giese and the other [Royal Prussian] lords, but he asks Giese to confirm this. He encloses a copy of the reply he gave Kostka.
Dantiscus is extremely concerned about the situation in the Kingdom [of Poland], the King’s health and the Queen’s [Bona Sforza's] conduct. But he is not worried about her disfavour as long as he feels innocent before God.
Dantiscus asks Giese for his opinion on the enclosed epigram, which he sent in response to Poliander’s poem, the latest in their poetic dispute that was initiated by epitaphs for Johann Reyneck. Perhaps he acted too hastily, but he could not refrain from responding.
Manuscript sources:
Prints:
| ||||||||
Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Tidemanno Dei gratia episcopo Culmensi, fratri et amico carissimo et honorando
Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, frater et amice carissime et honorande.
Salutem et soliti amoris commendationem.
Cum heri ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam absolvissem litteras, iterum mandatum hoc generale, quod dominus Costka ad me misit, relegi repperique litteras regias iis iunctas recentiores esse mandato aliquot diebus, et – ni fallor – in se continere, quod contributa pecunia ad conventum vernum deferri inibique calculus de illa fieri debeat. Inveniet enim Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima in illis ad me regiis, quod ad dominos palatinos et fortassis ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam sic scriptum sit, quemadmodum ego maiestati regiae scripseram. Quomodo haec habeant, reddat me – quaeso – Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima certiorem. Respondi domino Costka, ut in scheda leget.
De re nostra publica, si ad eum modum ad omnia nobis erit connivendum, nihil boni sperare possum. In Regno quae iterum turbae fiant et qua salute serenissima maiestas regia nititur, in litteris ad me et ex scheda Polonice scripta, quam cancellarius Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae interpretabitur, abunde cognoscet. Vereor, ne illa etc. grande aliquod malum in se et nos excitabit. Plaga Dei est. Videntes non videntes facit. Ego certe parum admodum afficior de iis, quae scripsit et quae per Fabianum mihi significavit. Domino Deo me commisi, cui utinam placere possim, displicere aliis liberum relinquo etc.
Addidi quosdam versus, quorum historia sic habet. Ediderat Monteregius ille Poliander epitaphium olim doctoris Reynecii, cui et meum subscripsi sine meo nomine. Ob illud, ut videri voluit, amice mecum missis litteris et versibus expostulavit in iis nuptiis, ex quibus non potui mihi temperare, quin in scheda subscriptis versiculis responderem, quod priusquam fecissem, consilium erat petendum. Cum autem factum sit, nihilominus a Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima exspecto iudicium. Scio quidem satius abstinendum fuisse, non tamen potui vel piscem, vel stipitem imitari.
Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam iterum iterumque sospitem esse et felicem annis plurimis precor cupioque summopere.
Ex Heilsberg, XXIII Novembris MDXXXVIII.
Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae deditissimus frater Ioannes episcopus Varmiensis scripsit