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Letter #2000

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Bona Sforza]
Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1538-11-26

English register:

Dantiscus is countering the slander being spread about him in connection with the tax, by sending the Queen a letter from the Council of Royal Prussia to the King [Sigismund I Jagiellon] that was sent from the Graudenz (Grudziądz) Diet. He underlines he has only one vote on the Council, and therefore he cannot be held responsible for collegial decisions. The King’s authority is extremely important to him, but in the face of the Queen’s disfavour he offers his readiness to withdraw from political life and occupy himself solely with diocesan affairs.




Manuscript sources:
1office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 245, p. 107-108
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BNF, Lat.11095, p. 85 (b.p.)
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 120
4copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 113r
5copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 56 (TN), No. 40, p. 277-278

Prints:
1STARNAWSKI 1995 O listach p. 28-29 (in extenso)
2CEID 1/2 No. 35, p. 154-155 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Serenissima.

Quod iterum Bona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of Aragon⌊Serenissima Maiestas VestraBona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of Aragon⌋ contra me inducta delatoribus et certe iniquissimis credidit, fero patienter.[1] Ut autem Serenissima Maiestas Vestra, quomodo res contributionis hic institutae omni ex parte habeat, certam habere possit scientiam, mitto exemplum litterarum iis additum ad 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⌊serenissimam maiestatem regiamSigismund 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⌋ ex Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventu GraudentinoProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ a Council of Royal Prussia the most important local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops (of Ermland (Warmia), who served as the Council’s president, and of Kulm (Chełmno)), three voivodes (of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania), three castellans (of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig)), three chamberlains (of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania), and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities – Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊dominis consiliariisCouncil of Royal Prussia the most important local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops (of Ermland (Warmia), who served as the Council’s president, and of Kulm (Chełmno)), three voivodes (of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania), three castellans (of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig)), three chamberlains (of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania), and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities – Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ terrarum et civitatum Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊PrussiaeRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ datarum,[2] inter quos non amplius quam unam, ut vocant, vocem habeo, quemadmodum ali[us] quispiam illorum. Quomodo ergo mihi potest impingi, quod ego omnia hic regam et ex mea auctoritate disp[onam] solus?

Ex qua revera, si pro non male factis m[alus] audire debeo, ex hoc hic consilio exauctoratus [esse] velim distractusque a prophanis (quod omnes episcopi iurant) res curare ecclesiae[3] mihi commissae. Quod si Serenissima Maiestas Vestra efficiet, rem mihi faciet apprime commodam et saluti animae meae necessariam careb[itque] ea molestia, qua ab adversariis meis toties t[ur]batur, et tum mihi omnis ansa in rebus publicis ad aulam scribendi adimetur. Qua in re non q[uam] speravi gratiam, verum indignationem et malam de me opinionem assequor. Velim hic adder[e] quanti serenissimi et clementissimi 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⌊regisSigismund 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⌋ et domini mei dig[ni]tatem ac auctoritatem facio, maxime autem eius serenissimae maiestatis salutem, contineo tamen me, ne forte vel verbulo animum in me Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae exasperatum exasperem gravius, candoremque et innocentiam meam optima fide firmatam Deo meo committo.

Quem intime oro, ut Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram quam diutissime sospitet prosperetque in omnibus.

Cui me humil[li]me commendo.

[1 ] See cf. Bona Sforza to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1538-11-04, CIDTC IDL 6222⌊IDL 6222cf. Bona Sforza to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1538-11-04, CIDTC IDL 6222⌋

[2 ] There were at least two letters (of October 7, PSGPK 4, No. 4 [69], p. 216-217; cf. other letter Council of Royal Prussia Sigismund I Jagiellon Graudenz (Grudziądz) 1537-10-07, CIDTC IDT 665⌊IDT 665cf. other letter Council of Royal Prussia Sigismund I Jagiellon Graudenz (Grudziądz) 1537-10-07, CIDTC IDT 665⌋; and of October 9, PSGPK 4, No. 4 [65], p. 212-215; cf. other letter [Council of Royal Prussia] Sigismund I Jagiellon Graudenz (Grudziądz) 1537-10-09, CIDTC IDT 666⌊IDT 666cf. other letter [Council of Royal Prussia] Sigismund I Jagiellon Graudenz (Grudziądz) 1537-10-09, CIDTC IDT 666⌋) from the Council of Royal Prussia the most important local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops (of Ermland (Warmia), who served as the Council’s president, and of Kulm (Chełmno)), three voivodes (of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania), three castellans (of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig)), three chamberlains (of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania), and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities – Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊Council of Royal PrussiaCouncil of Royal Prussia the most important local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops (of Ermland (Warmia), who served as the Council’s president, and of Kulm (Chełmno)), three voivodes (of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania), three castellans (of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig)), three chamberlains (of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania), and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities – Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ to King 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⌊Sigismund I JagiellonSigismund 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⌋ sent from the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊Royal Prussian Provincial DietProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ in 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)⌊GraudenzGraudenz (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)⌋ in 1537. The one mentioned here was dated October 9 (see also cf. , CIDTC IDT 2001⌊IDL 2001cf. , CIDTC IDT 2001⌋): Idipsum quam verum sit, litterae consiliariorum sub harum terrarum sigillo ex conventu Graudentino IX Octobris anni Domini MDXXXVII ad Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram datae declararunt

[3 ] ecclesia here refers to Ermland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌊Ermland dioceseErmland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌋