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Letter #245

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Piotr TOMICKI
Toledo, 1525-05-05


Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 6, No. 567, f. 31-32
2copy in Latin, 16th-century, AGAD, LL, 23, p. 288-290
3copy in Latin, 16th-century, BJ, 6557, f. 148r-149r
4copy in Latin, 16th-century, B. Ossol., 177/II, f. 221r-222v
5copy in Latin, 16th-century, BK, 213, a.1525, No. 24, p. 353-355
6copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 37 (TN), No. 48, p. 243-247
7copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 274, No. 122, p. 183-185
8copy in Latin, 19th-century, MHMT, former BJ, Przyb. 15/52, f. 196r-197v
9register with excerpt in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8241 (TK 3), a.1525, f. 14r-v

Prints:
1AT 7 a.1525, p. 243-245 (in extenso)
2Españoles III.B, No. 3, p. 322-323 (excerpt in Spanish translation)
3Sumariusz No. 1044, p. 123 (Polish register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Piotr Tomicki (*1464 – †1535), humanist, statesman, diplomat, one of the most trusted collaborators of King Sigismund I of Poland; 1500-1503 Chancellor of Cardinal Fryderyk Jagiellon, 1502 Gniezno Cantor, Archdeacon of Cracow, 1503-1505 servant of Jan Lubrański, Bishop of Poznań, 1504-1510 Canon of Poznań, 1506 royal scribe, 1507-1519 Grand(?) Secretary, 1509 Canon of Włocławek, 1510-1514 - of Gniezno, 1511 Custos in Kielce and Sandomierz, 1514 Bishop of Przemyśl; 1515 Crown Vice-Chancellor, 1520 Bishop of Poznań, 1523 - of Cracow; from 1524 (at least) General Collector of świętopietrze (Peter's pence), 1509 royal envoy to the Dukes of Pomerania and to Mecklenburg, 1510 - to Wallachia, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513 - to Hungary (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 268)⌊[Reverendissi]mo in Christo Patri et Domino [Dom]ino Petro dei gratia Cracoviensi [et] [Posna]niensi episcopo Regnique Polo[niae] [viceca]ncellarioPiotr Tomicki (*1464 – †1535), humanist, statesman, diplomat, one of the most trusted collaborators of King Sigismund I of Poland; 1500-1503 Chancellor of Cardinal Fryderyk Jagiellon, 1502 Gniezno Cantor, Archdeacon of Cracow, 1503-1505 servant of Jan Lubrański, Bishop of Poznań, 1504-1510 Canon of Poznań, 1506 royal scribe, 1507-1519 Grand(?) Secretary, 1509 Canon of Włocławek, 1510-1514 - of Gniezno, 1511 Custos in Kielce and Sandomierz, 1514 Bishop of Przemyśl; 1515 Crown Vice-Chancellor, 1520 Bishop of Poznań, 1523 - of Cracow; from 1524 (at least) General Collector of świętopietrze (Peter's pence), 1509 royal envoy to the Dukes of Pomerania and to Mecklenburg, 1510 - to Wallachia, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513 - to Hungary (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 268)⌋, domino meo gratiosissimo

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine gratiosissime. Humillimam commendationem.

Quam me beatum et felicem litteris suis effecit Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima, prae nimio gaudio, quo adhuc aestuo, scribere non possum. Deus Optimus Maximus referat et rependat Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae; non opis est nostrae, ille faciat, quod Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima numquam turbetur, sed perpetua felicitate fruatur. Alia, quae in praesens scribi potuerunt, ex litteris ad maiestatem regiam intelleget; hoc tamen, quin scriberem, omittere non potui. Non esse necesse, scribit Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima meo calculo, et ego summe necessarium aestimo; nollem enim cuiuscumque suspicioni fidei meae non convenienti esse obnoxius, hocque aliquando, Deo bene favente, cum rediero, non erit obscurum. Heri cum mihi regiae cum litteris Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae sunt redditae, de omnibus pecuniis et meis et regiis, per Deum sancte iuro, non restabant mihi nisi 18 ducati, unde a The Fuggers German family of merchants and bankers that dominated European business during the 15th and 16th centuries⌊FuccarisThe Fuggers German family of merchants and bankers that dominated European business during the 15th and 16th centuries⌋, ut chirographus meus docebit, accepi in mutuum ducatos trecentos, de quibus subinde, ut me aliis oratoribus conformem facerem, pro una mula 50 exposui, pro vestibus aestivalibus etiam 50 dari oportet, statim centum evanuerunt. Accedunt praeterea cotidie multa pro rebus domesticis, equis, servitoribus, quae licet frustatim exponantur, tamen non exiguam summam conficiunt. Utor ea, qua possum, parsimonia, ut cum dignitate 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⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund 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⌋ ceteris oratoribus non inferior hic agere possim, habeturque a me ratio, ut inter me, oratorem serenissimi regis nostri, et inter The Muscovites (Moscovians, Mosci) ⌊MoscorumThe Muscovites (Moscovians, Mosci) ⌋ nuntios certa sit differentia et utriusque principis respectus, et certe dinoscimur. Sed haec aliquando ab aliis referentur. Cumque voluntas regia est, quod hic maneam, manebo libenter ac pro debito et fide mea solita agam ea omnia, quantum se meus intellectus extendit, quae fideli subdito et servo 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⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund 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⌋ conveniunt. Hoc sibi Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima et 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

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⌊principibusSigismund 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

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⌋ nostris de me certo persuadere et polliceri poterit, in quo, si qua fides est homini, Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima non seducetur, neque illam, Deo duce, de me umquam fallet opinio. Scripsi in pluribus litteris vehementius fortassis quam convenit Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae, quae, ut spero, post domini doctoris Stanisław Borek (*1474 – †1556), doctor of both laws; 1505 canon of Włocławek; 1508 - Poznań; 1520 - Gniezno; 1523 - Cracow; 1524 royal secretary; 1538 cantor at the Gniezno chapter; 1540 - at the Cracow chapter; 1542 dean at the Cracow chapter; 1523 royal envoy to Rome; 1524 - to emperor Charles V; 1526 - to Bari (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 248; PSB 2, p. 320-322)⌊BorkStanisław Borek (*1474 – †1556), doctor of both laws; 1505 canon of Włocławek; 1508 - Poznań; 1520 - Gniezno; 1523 - Cracow; 1524 royal secretary; 1538 cantor at the Gniezno chapter; 1540 - at the Cracow chapter; 1542 dean at the Cracow chapter; 1523 royal envoy to Rome; 1524 - to emperor Charles V; 1526 - to Bari (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 248; PSB 2, p. 320-322)⌋ adventum perferentur. Rogo atque obsecro per gratiam suam in me, ignoscat et animo tot procellis agitato det veniam ac clementer indulgeat. Quae Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima scribit de meis popularibus, illos nihil moror in malam maximam crucem, plaga Dei est, qua sine dubio paulo post gravissime corripientur. Velim meos procul ab illis agere. Exhibeat mihi Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima eam gratiam, cum hoc tempore non vacat, quod scriberem, committat alicui de suis, vel domino et fratri meo Nikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌊NibscziczNikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌋, ut parentibus meis scribatur me hic recte valere; scio enim illos de mea salute esse plurimum sollicitos. Alia non restant. Nunc mihi relatum est, inter pontificem, caesarem, regem Angliae et archiducem Austriae firmissimum foedus novum esse percussum, ut vocant, defensivum et offensivum. Relictus est locus intrare volentibus sub condicione, quam pontifex et caesar est praescripturus. Fertur etiam, pontifex decimam partem omnium redituum et proventuum suorum caesari contra infideles promisisse, et cum proficiscetur, se velle efficere, quod caesar pro nervo bellico septem milliones auri, qui faciunt septuaginta centena milia ducatorum, habere debet. Caesar ad hoc iter omnino est propensus, modo firmam cum Gallis pacem habere posset. Istas condiciones Gallis proposuit, ut imprimis restituerent ea omnia, quae Carolus, dux Burgundiae, ante 60 annos possidebat, et quod pro interea perceptis se omni superioritati de ducatu Burgundiae abdicarent, quod etiam provinciam redderent, in quo est Marsilia et domino duci Borbonensi, quem caesar pro fratre habet et illi sororem suam Leonoram despondit, bona sua in Gallia restituerent, vultque caesar ex duce Borbonensi regem Burgundiae facere, cum Burgundia prius etiam regnum fuerit. Dominus de Benhein, quem his de rebus caesar ad Gallos misit, nondum rediit; quale reportabit responsum, cum primis postis ac de rebus aliis latius scribam.

Inventae sunt etiam Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊caesariCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋ novae insulae copiose habitatae, ad quos etiam nemo nostrum prius pervenit aromatibus variis et auro refertissimae, acciditque illic miraculum prius in orbe Christiano numquam auditum, quod uno die fidem Christi susceperunt trecentena et septuaginta milia hominum utriusque sexus. Ea de re cum ibidem esset prae nimio calore extrema sterilitas, persuasum fuit illis ab The Spaniards ⌊HispanisThe Spaniards ⌋, quod in processionem irent, crucem prae se ferentes illumque, qui in ea passus fuisset, ut nos redimeret, adorantes, relictis idolis. Quod cum fecissent, subito copiosam Deus dedit pluviam et omnem terram irrigavit, ut fructus produceret. Unde in ista ignota mundi parte Christianismus fit et apud nos, id peccatis nostris merentibus, deficit. Quis novit sensum Domini, aut quis consiliarius eius fuit? Homines in illis insulis non sunt nigri ut The Ethiopians (Aethiopes) ⌊AethiopesThe Ethiopians (Aethiopes) ⌋, sed fusci coloris, humaniores aliis inventis, estque propinquior via ad illos, quam ad eos, quos rex Portugaliae repperit. Sed processi longius, cogor vela contrahere, ne hanc postam neglegam, alio tempore de omnibus diffusius scripturus. Commendo me humillime Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae, et reverendissimo domino meo Premisliensi, cui in praesentia non licet scribere, faustissima omnia precor.