Letter #2161
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESEHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-06-06, postscript 1539-06-09
English register:
Dantiscus thanks Giese for his words of comfort [after his mother’s death].
He shares his opinion on the matter of the [Royal Prussian] Diet.
At the request of the Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig) [Achatius von Zehmen (Cema)], Dantiscus wrote the King [Sigismund I Jagiellon] a letter of recommendation regarding Lake Drużno (Drausen), taking the opportunity to ask that the Diet be moved to St. Michael’s Day [September 29].
He has recounted the matter more extensively to the Vice-Chancellor [Samuel Maciejowski]. He has also advised the Castellan of Gdańsk to write, together with Voivode [of Marienburg (Malbork) Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński)] and the other lords, to the King in the same spirit. Dantiscus would like the letter to be sent open and with affixed seals of the more important lords – he will send it by his messenger with his own letter.
As has been the case with Giese, to whom only the Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno) [Mikołaj Działyński] has replied, none of the lords has sent Dantiscus a reply [on the matter of moving the time of the Diet], but he has received one from the Elbing (Elbląg) Town Council, fearfully writing that they want to stay with the date of June 15, if the others agree. Dantiscus will inform Giese of any further replies.
Dantiscus did not send to Giese the letter written on June 6, having been mistaken about the messenger’s plans. In the meantime, he received another letter from the Gdańsk Town Council. They agree with the letter of the Voivode of Pomerania [Jerzy Konopacki (Georg von Konopat)] addressed to Giese. Dantiscus does not doubt that their opinion will also be shared by the Voivode of Marienburg and the Castellan of Gdańsk, but he does not care about the views of the Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno) [Johann von Lusian (Jan Luzjański)], who does not usually take part in Diets. He is also convinced that the Castellan of Elbing [Ludwig von Mortangen (Ludwik Mortęski)], instructed by the others, will also provide his signature.
In this conviction, Dantiscus has prepared the core of a letter from Giese, the voivodes and castellans to the King. He asks Giese to refine the letter according to his own judgement and to send the finished document, signed and with seal affixed, to the other lords, whereas he will make sure it finds its way to the King together with his own letter on the same matter.
He has advised the Gdańsk Town Council that together with the councils of Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing they should do the same, but he has not sent them a sample of the memo. He asks Giese to do so. He suggests the King should be asked at this point to leave the lords freedom to choose a location for the Diet if the plague should appear in Graudenz (Graudenz) by St. Michael’s Day.
He is glad Giese’s health has improved.
| received 1539-06-10 Manuscript sources:
Auxiliary sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino
Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, frater et amice carissime ac honorande.
Salutem et fraternam commendationem.
Ex cf.
Ceterum quae ad
Eamque rem latius reverendo domino
Utque in hanc sententiam dominus
Quod cf.
Quod reliquum est, Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam restitui prosperrimae valetudini fraternoque amori commendatum me esse opto summopere.
Ex
Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae {Reverendissimae} frater integerrimus
Postscript:
Postquam VI-a huius has absolvissem, ratus eum, qui mihi reddidit litteras, Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae
Concepi igitur, quibus modis a Dominatione Vestra Reverendisima et aliis dominis palatinis et castellanis serenissimae
cf.
A qua non vulgariter gaudio sum affectus, quod sic se in prospera valetudine confirmatam sentiat, ut quovis tempore ad
Datae IX Iunii etc.
[1 ]
In his cf.
[2 ]
[3 ] The cf.
[4 ] The result was a cf.