BCz, 1597, p. 390

Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domi paper damaged⌈[Domi]Domi paper damaged⌉no, domino Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌊Ioanni, Dei paper damaged⌈[Dei]Dei paper damaged⌉ gr paper damaged⌈[gr]gr paper damaged⌉tia episcopo VarmiensiIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌋, domino et avunculo suo clementissimo[1]

BCz, 1597, p. 387

Salutem et sui humillimam commendationem.

Reverendissime atque Amplissime Praesul.

Scriba ille, cuius sponsionem in cf. Kaspar HANNAU to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1538-11-13, CIDTC IDL 1985⌊prioribuscf. Kaspar HANNAU to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1538-11-13, CIDTC IDL 1985⌋ Reverendissimae Amplitudini Tuae denuntiavi, uti promiserat, non invitus cum domino Fabian Wojanowski (Fabian of Dąbrówka, Fabian Damerau) (†1540), courtier of King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Queen Bona Sforza, German tutor to their son Sigismund II Augustus. In 1531 he went back to his family name Damerau; Dantiscus' companion on his mission to Emperor Charles V and his successor as a royal envoy at the Imperial court; 1539-1540 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) (from 1538 coadiutor of Henryk von Snellenberg by Dantiscus' patronage) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 49; SBKW, p. 37)⌊Fabiano de DamerawFabian Wojanowski (Fabian of Dąbrówka, Fabian Damerau) (†1540), courtier of King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Queen Bona Sforza, German tutor to their son Sigismund II Augustus. In 1531 he went back to his family name Damerau; Dantiscus' companion on his mission to Emperor Charles V and his successor as a royal envoy at the Imperial court; 1539-1540 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) (from 1538 coadiutor of Henryk von Snellenberg by Dantiscus' patronage) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 49; SBKW, p. 37)⌋ ad Reverendissimam Amplitudinem Tuam iter suscepit. Cuius, reor, nec mores minus, quam manus, placebit. Utinam et cancellarium ad eum modum, qui negotiis Reverendissimae Amplitudinis Tuae suffecisset, transmittere potuissem, nihil aeque fecissem libentius.

Quoniam vero nunc amplius nihil ad manum est, quod Reverendissimam Amplitudinem Tuam scire oporteret, pauca quaedam brevissimis verbis de huius temporis solemniis commemorare, quo litteras non schedulam Reverendissimae Amplitudini Tuae carissimus nuntius perferret, non alienum fore existimavi. Quibus non dubito, quae tua est humanitas, Praesul Amplissime, quin benignas sis aures adhibiturus. Nam, quam variis olim cum ludis, tum ceremoniis novi anni initium Calendis Ianuariis celebrari consueverit, haud quamquam ignorat Reverendissima Amplitudo Tua, quemadmodum id etiam in Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (*ca. 69 – †130), Roman historian, the author of "De Vita Caesarum"⌊Suetonio TranquillioGaius Suetonius Tranquillus (*ca. 69 – †130), Roman historian, the author of "De Vita Caesarum"⌋, Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus) (*23 AD – †79 AD), Roman stoic philosopher and naturalist⌊PlinioPliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus) (*23 AD – †79 AD), Roman stoic philosopher and naturalist⌋ et aliis auctoribus passim deprehendere licet, quorum et hoc solemne erat tam senatoribus, quam equitibus et plebeis mutuis certare munusculis, quae strenas appelarunt, boni ominis gratia.

Quam consuetudinem ab illis, ut alia<e> pler<a>eque, mutuantes, quoque ad haec nostra usque tempora in Republica Christiana perseverat, nec minus solemniter, quam curiose servatur. Hunc autem morem reprobem an laudem, non adeo certus sum, siquidem in sacris canonibus iam olim veritum esse et damnatum liquido constat. Porro cum hoc inibi legissem, animum meum non parva subiit commiratio, qui fiat, quod anniversarie in canonem hunc promiscue ab omnibus citra formidinem peccati ac poenae gravissimae eo in loco manifeste expressae, delinquatur, dubitabamque aliquamdiu esset nec ne in universum repudiandus et e medio religionis Christianae tollendus. Persuadere mihi id nullo modo potui nec volui quidem, a potentissimis enim videbam et magni nominis viris regibus ducibus praesulibus et iuresconsultissimis hunc iam sive morem, sive superstitionem non modo receptum esse (strenam enim omnes ab omnibus et suscipiunt gratanter, et offere non prohibent), verum etiam probatum, dum missitare strenas ipsi non d written over ve⌈vedd written over ve⌉ubitarent.

Quare sic eadem illa Augustine of Hippo, Saint (Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis, St. Augustine) (*354 – †430), saint and doctor of the Church; philosopher and theologian from the Roman province of Africa; Bishop of Hippo Regius⌊Divi AugustiniAugustine of Hippo, Saint (Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis, St. Augustine) (*354 – †430), saint and doctor of the Church; philosopher and theologian from the Roman province of Africa; Bishop of Hippo Regius⌋ et England⌊Zachariae pontificiEngland⌋ summi verba 26 quaest(ionis) 7 interpretanda esse cum illis censeo inhibuisse hoc fieri addita anathematis poena, BCz, 1597, p. 388 si in Janus Roman god of beginnings and transitions, gates, doors, doorways, endings and time⌊IaniJanus Roman god of beginnings and transitions, gates, doors, doorways, endings and time⌋ aut Saturn (Cronus), in Greek mythology the leader of the first generation of Titans, son of Uranos and Gaia; after overthrowing his father, he ruled during the mythological Golden Age⌊SaturniSaturn (Cronus), in Greek mythology the leader of the first generation of Titans, son of Uranos and Gaia; after overthrowing his father, he ruled during the mythological Golden Age⌋ honorem magis, quam veri aeternique Dei Christi Iesu gloriam strenae istae missitarentur, quod poterat equidem proclive videndum in istorum laudem primitus esset inventa haec munerum missitatio, aut etiam, quo prorsus tollerent errorem existimantium, tantam inesse vim hidden by binding⌈[m]m hidden by binding⌉ et virtutem xeniolo, quae vel fortunatum reddere annum, vel funesta propellere fata posset, quo sane errore circumventi, nemo infi{a}ciabitur haud parum multum Christi gloriae derogare, tali quoties conferunt aut accipiunt fide. Soli namque Deo haec est potestas relicta. Atqui illa ipsa consuetudo, cum in Christi laudem, honorem, gloriam, cuius tunc salutiferum natalem interna quadam et spirituali laetitia animique tripudiis celebramus, conversa sit, illis ipsis munusculis quasi certis hidden by binding⌈[is]is hidden by binding⌉ quibusdam externis symbolis exuberantem cordis voluptatem, quam Christicolis omnibus eius attulisset γενεθλιον ostendere volentes, dignum hidden by binding⌈[um]um hidden by binding⌉ etiam a Christianissimis observata esse videtur. Et manet (ut dixi) hidden by binding⌈[i)]i) hidden by binding⌉ consuetudo illa ubique strenae autem diversa est per personas oblatio, Italy (Italia)⌊Italiae hidden by binding⌈[aliae]aliae hidden by binding⌉Italy (Italia)⌋ enim (ut ferunt) summi viri dant infimis, in England⌊AngliaEngland⌋ vero inferiores deferunt strenam superioribus et regi cuncti principes. Sed hoc commune omnibus, dantibus aliquid contra redonare, quo liberalitas, ut boni ominis nuntia mutuo communicetur. Quod imitati quoque sunt hidden by binding⌈[unt]unt hidden by binding⌉ nostrates, at obliti decori et honestatis, instituti etiam fine et legum, quibus admissum, retinent consuetudinem non minus ceteris firmissime hidden by binding⌈[e]e hidden by binding⌉ ideo solum, ut accipiant et manus emendicata pecunia impleant. Sed nec petunt verum extorquent strenam, tanto tumultu simul et clamoribus, ut maiori compendio do ms. a(!) ⌈oo ms. a(!) ⌉nati a foribus, quam indonati ociissi hidden by binding⌈[i]i hidden by binding⌉me repellantur. Qui, quo iudicio hoc faciant, ipsi viderint, mea meher hidden by binding⌈[r]r hidden by binding⌉cle sententia in sacros gravissime canones admittunt.

Sed quorsum tot de strenis? Haud semel conatus sum et ego, Reverendissime Praesul, totis viribus magnum illud et ineffabile gaudium e servatoris nostri Christi Iesu natali conceptum, quo merito quilibet usque affici debet in Reverendissimae Amplitudinis Tuae sinum primitiis meae Muses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts⌊MusaeMuses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts⌋ effundere, atque strenam exiguam exiguus, patrono meo et avunculo clementissimo humillime et grate memor beneficiorum deferre. Restitit autem imbecillitas Musae semper, quo minus meis responderit conatibus, neque tale quicquam parere umquam potuit, quod doctissimis Reverendissim ae hidden by binding⌈[ae]ae hidden by binding⌉ Amplitudinis Tuae auribus obstrepere deberet. Quid faceret enim invita Minerva? Quare iam desperata re summis precibus adhuc paululum temporis ad id sibi ab Reverendissima Amplitudine Tua prorogatum iri cupio hidden by binding⌈[io]io hidden by binding⌉, BCz, 1597, p. 389 quo interim plus virium colligere, paulo maiori cura atque diligentia dapes, quibus acceptura est, convivam condire, adornare et palato ms. palatui(!) ⌈palatopalato ms. palatui(!) ⌉ denique Reverendissimae Amplitudinis Tuae accomodare queat.

Et, nisi me meum fallit iudicium, multo equidem satius fuit vel nihil plane apponere, quam crudis et minime assuetis eduliis palatum Reverendissimae Amplitudinis Tuae exacerbare. Interim quoque prototocus ille filius Mariae atque princeps noster Christus Iesus – oro – novum hunc annum Reverendissimae Amplitudini Tuae tamquam parenti, tutori et communi patrono nostro clementissimo omnibusque Reverendissimae Amplitudinis Tuae carissimis fortunare, incolumem iugiter servare, praeclaras dotes illas, quae in Reverendissima Amplitudine Tua summe relucent, novis successionibus augere, conatus promovere omniaque consilia prosperare quam maxime velit. Adhaec tantam largire gratiam, prudentiam, animi fortitudinem, quantam flagitare dignitatis magnificentia videtur, quo tuas oveculas Christo, cui, o Amplissime Praesul, strennue et indefesse militas, lucrifacere atque coronam aeternae beatitudinis cum illis suscipere possis. Amen.

Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CracoviaeCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋, 3 Ianuarii, anno Domini 1539.

Reverendissimae Amplitudinis Tuae infimus clientulus Kaspar Hannau (Gasparus Hannovius, Kacper Hannow) (*1519 – †1571), Dantiscus' nephew (son of Anna), doctor of both canon and civil law, friend of Marcin Kromer, Bishop of Ermland; his studies in Cracow (1536-1538), and later in Rome (1539-1548), were financed by his uncle; from 1545 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Dean of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto) Collegiate Chapter; from 1547 Canon of Włocławek (ORACKI 1984, p. 84; KOPICZKO 2, p. 108-109)⌊Casper HannowKaspar Hannau (Gasparus Hannovius, Kacper Hannow) (*1519 – †1571), Dantiscus' nephew (son of Anna), doctor of both canon and civil law, friend of Marcin Kromer, Bishop of Ermland; his studies in Cracow (1536-1538), and later in Rome (1539-1548), were financed by his uncle; from 1545 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Dean of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto) Collegiate Chapter; from 1547 Canon of Włocławek (ORACKI 1984, p. 84; KOPICZKO 2, p. 108-109)⌋

[1] Missing parts of address were written on lost piece of paper the seal was impressed through.