CIDT&C Corpus of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence

Letter #2128

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE
Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-29

English register: Dantiscus praises Giese’s reply to the letter from the King [Sigismund I Jagiellon]. He shares the addressee’s suspicions regarding the matters discussed in the King’s memorandum. He feels helpless in the face of the fact that fate has sent them [Stanisław Kostka], to whose influence he also attributes the admonitions of the Queen [Bona Sforza]. Meanwhile, he feels comforted by the King’s kind letter.

He would like to repay Giese by sending correspondence addressed to himself, but he has to reply to it first. He will send a messenger to the court with his own and Giese’s letters within three days.

It is unnecessary for the addressee to thank him for recommending him to the Vice-Chancellor [Samuel Maciejowski]. Dantiscus does not doubt they will find a friend and patron in him.

Dantiscus is grateful to Giese for reading his poem [Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum], but he would have prefered to receive more corrections. He would be glad if Giese were right in his opinion regarding [the unnecessary excuses contained in] the introduction (proclesis) to the piece, but he is aware of his own limitations. He also explains that the fragments which seem unnecessary to Giese are a response to works he was sent previously. He has decided to refrain from publishing the poem until its addressee and inspiration [Eustachy Knobelsdorf] replies from Wittenberg.

Dantiscus demands a more exhaustive reply from Giese to his last letter.

He promises to return the records from the Cracow Diet [of the Kingdom of Poland] to Giese soon.

received 1539-03-30

Manuscript sources:

1	fair copy in Latin, autograph, address in secretary's hand, BCz, 245, p. 155-158

Auxiliary sources:

1	register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8249 (TK 11), f. 36

Prints:

1	CEID 1/2 No. 52, p. 202-205 (in extenso; English register)

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

BCz, 245, p. 158

Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino 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)⌊Tidemanno Die gratia episcopo CulmensiTiedemann 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)⌋, fratri et amico carissimo et honoran(do) or honoran(dissimo)⌈honoran(do)honoran(do) or honoran(dissimo)⌉

BCz, 245, p. 155

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, frater et amice carissime et honoran(de) or honoran(dissime)⌈honoran(de)honoran(de) or honoran(dissime)⌉.

Salutem et fraternam commendationem.

Legi heri, quae Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima ad litteras regias respondit. Quae placent et pro rerum statu commodiora esse nequeunt. Sic etiam invenio rem habere in iis, quae scheda regia[1] continentur, quemadmodum Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima suspicatur, sed quid faciemus, cum Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌊eum hominemStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌋ nescio quae fata dederunt.

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⌊Reginalis maiestasBona 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⌋ cf. Bona Sforza to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, ca. 1539-03-18, CIDTC IDL 7187, letter lost⌊non desistitcf. Bona Sforza to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, ca. 1539-03-18, CIDTC IDL 7187, letter lost⌋ ad fidem servandam et ad honorem dignitatemque regiam non labefactandam me cohortari, quod similiter Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌊eoStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌋ ducit originem. Regiae vero cf. Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1539-03-18, CIDTC IDL 2113⌊litteraecf. Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1539-03-18, CIDTC IDL 2113⌋ clementissime me consolantur, in quibus totus conquiesco neque movebor amplius.

Quod gratias mihi agit Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima pro commendatione ad reverendum dominum Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊vicecancellariumSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋, minime opus fuit, cum ex debito et officio a natura mihi indito id libens fecerim, velim enim, ut iis, quibus bene volo, omnes vellent optime. Habituri sumus haud dubie in Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊eo viroSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋ non contemnendum amicum et, ubi necesse fuerit, patronum benevolum ac cordatum.

Nihil video in cf. Tiedemann GIESE to Ioannes DANTISCUS Löbau (Lubawa), 1539-03-27, CIDTC IDL 2125⌊epistulacf. Tiedemann GIESE to Ioannes DANTISCUS Löbau (Lubawa), 1539-03-27, CIDTC IDL 2125⌋ Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae reliquum, cui non responderim. Quod si ad cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-19, CIDTC IDL 2119⌊novissimas meascf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-19, CIDTC IDL 2119⌋ Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima fecisset, gratum fuisset plurimum.[3]

Quam diutissime valere et me commendatum haberi cupio ex animo.

Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌈Dat(ae)Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌉ Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland⌊HeilsbergHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland⌋, 29 Martii 1539.

Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae frater integerrimus 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⌊Ioannes episcopus VarmiensisIoannes 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⌋ scripsit

Postscript:

Retinui apud me acta Diet of Poland ⌊conventus CracoviensisDiet of Poland ⌋[4], quae paulopost remittam etc.

[1] Dantiscus means an unknown attachment to the cf. other letter Sigismund I Jagiellon Tiedemann GIESE Cracow 1539-03-18, CIDTC IDT 692⌊lettercf. other letter Sigismund I Jagiellon Tiedemann GIESE Cracow 1539-03-18, CIDTC IDT 692⌋ from 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⌊King Sigismund ISigismund 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⌋ to Tiedemann Giese.

[2] proclesis – perhaps cf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum. Pio lectori before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 53⌊Pio lectoricf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum. Pio lectori before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 53⌋, an introductory epigram to the cf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 54⌊Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagumcf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 54⌋, or the beginning of the main poem.

[3] There is no doubt that Dantiscus is referring here to his conflict with Alexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy, in 1540 banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon; in 1541 imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome; after release from prison in 1544 he stayed in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509-1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519-1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), 1530-1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536-1538 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, today Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220)⌊Alexander ScultetiAlexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy, in 1540 banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon; in 1541 imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome; after release from prison in 1544 he stayed in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509-1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519-1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), 1530-1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536-1538 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, today Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220)⌋.

[4] Diet of Poland ⌊Diet of the Kingdom of PolandDiet of Poland ⌋. Constitutions of the Cracow Diet of 1538-1539, cf. cf. Volumina Constitutionum, vol. 1/2 (1527-1549), ed. by Wacław Uruszczak, Warszawa, Wydawnictwo Sejmowe, 2000 ⌊VC 1/2cf. Volumina Constitutionum, vol. 1/2 (1527-1549), ed. by Wacław Uruszczak, Warszawa, Wydawnictwo Sejmowe, 2000 ⌋, p. 196-213.