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Letter #2989

Karel UUTENHOVE to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Ghent (Gandavum), 1546-09-12

English register:

There has been a long silence between them, but Uutenhove has never ceased to remember Dantiscus and his excellent qualities. He has even often considered visiting Dantiscus in Poland.

One year ago it was rumoured that Dantiscus was deceased, but Dantiscus' inseparable companion, Cornelis De Schepper, Lord of Eke, removed their fears.

They were all delighted to hear that Dantiscus is alive and well and lives a quiet life, all the more since it is rare that someone can enjoy a well-deserved rest after a life of strenuous and successful activity. Uutenhove is doing well and has withdrawn from public life to devote himself to the Muses and sacred literature, in his estate of Markegem. Whenever requested, he will still fulfill his public duties. He also gives news of Dantiscus’ other acquaintances in Ghent: his host at the time, Arendt Sturm, is in his eighties and still in good health; he has resigned from his office.

His two daughters are happily married; Livina is the happier because she has numerous offspring. Uutenhove is even more fortunate, with six sons and one daughter alive, and the spouse that suits him. Dantiscus' former steward, Michiel De Vriendt, has married a rich, somewhat older woman. He lives a carefree life, without children. He misses no opportunity to praise Dantiscus, and asked Uutenhove to write in his name also. Robbius is living in Antwerp now; he married a second time and has many children. He remains himself and regularly sends witty letters. Lord Des Fosses sr., Willem De Waele and Lord Secretary [Omaar van Edingen] have died. About the courtiers Dantiscus will be informed by De Schepper or someone else from the court.

There is no further news worth mentioning except the incredible disaster that occurred in Mechelen on the night of 7 August 1546 during a heavy thunderstorm. One of the towers of the Sand Gate (Zandpoort), used as a storehouse for gunpowder, was struck by lightning. This caused a devastating explosion that destroyed the nearby Imperial Court, the recently built mansion of the Lord of Hoogstraten, the palace of Margaret of Austria, Saint Peters' church, and many other buildings, including the house of the Lord of Nassau, that of the treasurer, the house of the Lombards, the convent of the Augustines and most of the houses in the Voogdstraat. About 600 houses were destroyed, and not a single house in the town remained undamaged.

Flying pieces of stone sowed death and destruction everywhere. In the resulting consternation and distress, it was thought that the last judgment had come. There were only 200 deaths, but countless people were injured and mutilated.

It is said that the whole city trembled, and that shortly before the storm the howling of animals from the surrounding countryside was heard. The events were so gruesome that undoubtedly hordes of malevolent spirits were involved.

Stones were projected up to a mile outside the city, and fish flew up into the trees. A woman's head was cut off by a falling window. In a tavern that collapsed, card players were found dead, the cards still in their hands. Other people were rescued from the debris, terrified but unharmed. The reported events are amazing but true; others may even give Dantiscus a more extensive report.


            received Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1547-02-04

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, UUB, H. 155, f. 138-139
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, LSB, BR 19, No. 65
3register with excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8244 (TK 6), a. 1546, f. 57
4register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 30, No. 164

Prints:
1DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 475, p. 397 (English register)
2CEID 2/2 (Appendix No. 17) p. 632-637 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

UUB, H. 154, f. 138r

Salutem plurimam.

Tametsi, Reverende Praesul, altum omnino inter nos silentium iamdudum fuit, adeo tamen (Deum testor) non excidit menti nostrae Dantisci numquam satis laudata virtus, ut etiam non raro illius humanitas, comitas ac morum insignis decor (vel in summis) obversentur mihi. Et quod eo magis sic saepe benevolentiae ac tui desiderio oestro concitus fui, ut de petenda Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌊PoloniaPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌋ tui unius visendi gratia cogitarem. Haec tu aegre fortassis crediturus es, sed revera sic se res habet. Quinimo, si commoda sese obtulisset occasio, habuisses iamdudum pro litteris Utenhovium ipsum.

Iam alter agitur annus, ni fallor, quo hic rumor fuit te vita defunctum fuisse, sed ex hoc metu iam pridem nos liberavit dominus Cornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌊Cornelius ScepperusCornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌋, Eke (Eeke, Quercus), village in the Low Countries, County of Flanders, on the river Schelde (Scheldt), 12 km SW of Ghent, today in Belgium⌊Aequanae ditionisEke (Eeke, Quercus), village in the Low Countries, County of Flanders, on the river Schelde (Scheldt), 12 km SW of Ghent, today in Belgium⌋ dominus, tuus olim individuus comes, qui asserebat et vivere te, et valere, et summa in tranquillitate istic vitam agere. Quod quidem adeo nobis fuit iucundum, ut nihil potuisset narrari iucundius, hoc magis, quod perpaucis admodum contingere videmus, quod tibi contigisse audimus, ut videlicet post multos exanclatos labores, post ardua ac impedita (summa cum laude) peracta negotia, in tranquillissimum otium sese recipere detur. Verum nos istam tibi felicitatem vehementer gratulamur, haud ignorantes, quibus tu studiis id, quicquid otii est, impartias.

De me vero quid agatur, si forte rogas, scias. Imprimis valere me quidem atque ita instituisse vitam, ut a publicis negotiis, quantum potuerim, me subtraxerim, ac in Markegem, village in the Low Countries, County of Flanders, 29 km SW of Ghent, today in Belgium, West Flanders⌊rusculum quoddam meum MarchemianumMarkegem, village in the Low Countries, County of Flanders, 29 km SW of Ghent, today in Belgium, West Flanders⌋ recepisse meme Muses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts⌊MusisMuses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts⌋ ac literariis studiis sacris potissimum, quicquid otii est, impendens, vocatus tamen interdum, et rei publicae meam operam pro virili accomodo.

Reliqui Ghent (Gent, Gand, Gandavum), city in the Low Countries, the County of Flanders, today in Belgium⌊hicGhent (Gent, Gand, Gandavum), city in the Low Countries, the County of Flanders, today in Belgium⌋ tui, qui tibi aliquo consuetudinis iure coniuncti fuere, vivunt orig. viuunt⌈vivuntvivunt orig. viuunt⌉ fere et rem sic satis feliciter agunt. Arendt Sturm (*ca. 1466 – †after 1546), he belonged to a patrician family, of which several members held offices in the city magistrate; he was Dantiscus' host when he stayed in Ghent in 1531; under-bailiff in Ghent (L'ESPINOY, p. 190)⌊Arnoldus StormiusArendt Sturm (*ca. 1466 – †after 1546), he belonged to a patrician family, of which several members held offices in the city magistrate; he was Dantiscus' host when he stayed in Ghent in 1531; under-bailiff in Ghent (L'ESPINOY, p. 190)⌋, olim hospes tuus, homo ms. octuagenarius reg. octogenarius⌈octuagenariusms. octuagenarius reg. octogenarius⌉, et vivit, et valet perbelle. Praeturam deposuit et ea proxima sibi affinitate convictum induit. Lyncken, daughter of Arendt STURM

Joozijne, daughter of Arendt STURM (Iodoca), sister of Lyncken; married Philips van Overbeke, member of the Council of Flanders 1547-1551⌊Utraque illius filiaLyncken, daughter of Arendt STURM

Joozijne, daughter of Arendt STURM (Iodoca), sister of Lyncken; married Philips van Overbeke, member of the Council of Flanders 1547-1551⌋ iuncta viro est, felices utraque nacta nuptias, feliciores tamen Lyncken, daughter of Arendt STURM ⌊LynkiaLyncken, daughter of Arendt STURM ⌋, quae etiam et UUB, H. 154, f. 138v sobolem numerosiorem protulit. Ego tamen hac in parte utramque vinco, ut cui modo sex superstites sunt Sons of Karel UUTENHOVE ⌊filiiSons of Karel UUTENHOVE ⌋ cum unica Daughter of Karel UUTENHOVE ⌊filiaDaughter of Karel UUTENHOVE ⌋, verum hoc felix, quod Anna de Grutere wife of Karel Uutenhove⌊uxorAnna de Grutere wife of Karel Uutenhove⌋ contigit ex animi sententia. Michiel De Vriendt (Michael Vrindius), oeconomus of Ioannes Dantiscus during his stay at the imperial court in the Netherlands; nephew of Arendt Sturm (CIDTC, IDL 690, IDL 708, IDL 760, IDL 763, IDL 1356, IDL 597, IDL 2989, IDT 176)⌊Michael VryndiusMichiel De Vriendt (Michael Vrindius), oeconomus of Ioannes Dantiscus during his stay at the imperial court in the Netherlands; nephew of Arendt Sturm (CIDTC, IDL 690, IDL 708, IDL 760, IDL 763, IDL 1356, IDL 597, IDL 2989, IDT 176)⌋ sive Amicus, olim tuae oeconomiae praefectus hidden by binding⌈[us]us hidden by binding⌉, et ipse Wife of Michiel DE VRIENDT ⌊uxoremWife of Michiel DE VRIENDT ⌋ duxit bene dotatam, sed ann<i>s se graviorem, qua cum sine liberis vitam solutam curis peragit. Michiel De Vriendt (Michael Vrindius), oeconomus of Ioannes Dantiscus during his stay at the imperial court in the Netherlands; nephew of Arendt Sturm (CIDTC, IDL 690, IDL 708, IDL 760, IDL 763, IDL 1356, IDL 597, IDL 2989, IDT 176)⌊HicMichiel De Vriendt (Michael Vrindius), oeconomus of Ioannes Dantiscus during his stay at the imperial court in the Netherlands; nephew of Arendt Sturm (CIDTC, IDL 690, IDL 708, IDL 760, IDL 763, IDL 1356, IDL 597, IDL 2989, IDT 176)⌋ certe tuae virtutis unicus ac candidissimus est buccinator, nusquam hidden by binding⌈[am]am hidden by binding⌉ enim convenimus, ubi ille non statim de te amicam ac honorificam mentionem faciat ac tui nobis memoriam refricet. Nunc etiam apud me institit, ut non meo tantum, sed etiam Michiel De Vriendt (Michael Vrindius), oeconomus of Ioannes Dantiscus during his stay at the imperial court in the Netherlands; nephew of Arendt Sturm (CIDTC, IDL 690, IDL 708, IDL 760, IDL 763, IDL 1356, IDL 597, IDL 2989, IDT 176)⌊illiusMichiel De Vriendt (Michael Vrindius), oeconomus of Ioannes Dantiscus during his stay at the imperial court in the Netherlands; nephew of Arendt Sturm (CIDTC, IDL 690, IDL 708, IDL 760, IDL 763, IDL 1356, IDL 597, IDL 2989, IDT 176)⌋ nomine ad te scriberem. Iacobus Robbius Aldenardus a scribe, probably employed at the Council of Flanders, possibly also a secretary of Karel Uutenhove⌊RobbiusIacobus Robbius Aldenardus a scribe, probably employed at the Council of Flanders, possibly also a secretary of Karel Uutenhove⌋ noster iam Antwerp (Antwerpen, Antverpia), city in the Low Countries, from 1315 a Hanseatic port, in the 16th century the centre of Brabant’s artistic life and the wealthiest trade city in Europe, today in northern Belgium⌊AntwerpiaeAntwerp (Antwerpen, Antverpia), city in the Low Countries, from 1315 a Hanseatic port, in the 16th century the centre of Brabant’s artistic life and the wealthiest trade city in Europe, today in northern Belgium⌋ practicum agit, alteram duxit Second wife of Iacobus ROBBIUS Aldenardus ⌊uxoremSecond wife of Iacobus ROBBIUS Aldenardus ⌋ et magnam habet liberorum turbam, usque sui similis est, interdum facetus facetas ad nos litteras mittit. Dominus ille Frans van der Gracht (François des Fosses, a Fossis) ⌊a FossisFrans van der Gracht (François des Fosses, a Fossis) ⌋ senior, dominus Willem de Waele (Gulielmus à Wala), Lord of Hansbeke, a prominent citizen of Ghent (ALLEN, 2, p. 6)⌊Gulielmus a WalaWillem de Waele (Gulielmus à Wala), Lord of Hansbeke, a prominent citizen of Ghent (ALLEN, 2, p. 6)⌋, cuius Anna de Grutere wife of Karel Uutenhove⌊neptemAnna de Grutere wife of Karel Uutenhove⌋ uxorem duxi, item et dominus scriba Omaar van Edingen (Audomarus Edingus) (*ca. 1488 – †1540), clerk (griffarius) to the Council of Flanders (CE, vol. I, p. 420)⌊EdingusOmaar van Edingen (Audomarus Edingus) (*ca. 1488 – †1540), clerk (griffarius) to the Council of Flanders (CE, vol. I, p. 420)⌋ iamdudum ex hac vita migrarunt. De aulicis scribet dominus Cornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌊SchepperusCornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌋ vel alius quispiam ex aula.

Ego si quid habuissem, quod tibi gratum aut acceptum fore fuissem arbitratus, transcripsissem. Id, quicquid est sit, sit tibi veluti nostrae erga te benevolentiae pignus obsecro. Nam novarum hic rerum nihil est, quod scribi possit, praeter id unum memorab<i>le ac paene incredibile, quod paucis hidden by binding⌈[is]is hidden by binding⌉ ab hinc diebus accidit Mechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌊MachliniaeMechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌋, nempe septimo Idus August(i) or August(as)⌈August(i)August(i) or August(as)⌉ circa undecimam noctis horam. cf. Verg. A. 1.133-134 iam caelum terramque meo sine numine, venti, / miscere et tantas audetis tollere moles? ⌊Exorta est enim ingens tempestas contrariis ingruentibus ventis, coepit horendis hidden by binding⌈[is]is hidden by binding⌉ tonitruis mugire ac fulminibus ardere caelum sicque cuncta turbari, ut tam caelum terramque misceri dixisses.cf. Verg. A. 1.133-134 iam caelum terramque meo sine numine, venti, / miscere et tantas audetis tollere moles? ⌋ Iuxta caesaris hidden by binding⌈[is]is hidden by binding⌉ ibi palatium porta est, quam Arenosam vocant, ubi duae turres hidden by binding⌈[es]es hidden by binding⌉ praegrandes, quae refertae erant pulvere tormentario. Quarum altera icta fulmine tam triste edidit civibus spectaculum, ut admodum difficile explicare, difficilius hidden by binding⌈[s]s hidden by binding⌉ etiam quis credere possit. Primum impetu tota demolita est regia, turris autem ipsa, in qua erat pulvis, ita prorsus evulsa ac funditus eversa est, ut in ipso fundamento ne vel lapillus minimus remanserit. Domus Hochstratana vicina et ipsa eodem impetu solo strata est superinscribed⌈estest superinscribed⌉, quae hidden by binding⌈[ae]ae hidden by binding⌉ UUB, H. 154, f. 139r miris impensis ac sumptibus non ita pridem constructa fuerat. Deiecta est et huic non inferior domus[1] quondam divae Margaret of Austria (*1480 – †1530), 1501-1504 Duchess of Savoy, 1507-1515 and 1519-1530 Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands; daughter of Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg and Mary of Burgundy⌊Margaretae SabaudianaeMargaret of Austria (*1480 – †1530), 1501-1504 Duchess of Savoy, 1507-1515 and 1519-1530 Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands; daughter of Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg and Mary of Burgundy⌋ cum templo proximo Sancto Petro sacr(at)u(m), dirutae aedes domini a Nassau,[2] thesaurarii et ea, quae foeneratorum erat, quam Lombardam vocant, et nescio quae aliae, quae omnes insignes fuere. Concidit etiam monasterium The Augustinian Hermits (Ordo Sancti Augustini, Fratres Eremitae Sancti Augustini) ⌊Augustinentium(!)The Augustinian Hermits (Ordo Sancti Augustini, Fratres Eremitae Sancti Augustini) ⌋ et magna pars aedium vici illius, quem Tutorium[3] vocant.

Tota Mechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌊civitateMechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌋ dirutae sunt aedes fere 600 aut eo amplius et aiunt nullam fere fuisse domum, quae illaesa et sine ullo prorsus damno evaserit. Sic per totam volitabant Mechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌊urbemMechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌋ saxa, ut nusquam se esset tutatum ms. tututum(!) ⌈tutatumtutatum ms. tututum(!) ⌉ abdere, omnia praesentem hominibus intentabat mortem: foris saxa, tonitrua, fulgura, intus ruina. Luctus ubique ingens, ubique pavor et plurima mortis imago. Putabant omnes extremum adesse diem, tanta erat hominum perplexitas, ultra tamen ducentos hom<in>es non puto interiisse. Innumeri tamen fuere laesi et mutilati, sic ut sauciorum plena fuerint nosodochia postridie.

Aiunt totam tremuisse Mechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌊urbemMechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌋ et paulo ante tempestatem ululasse in agris feras ac in circumvicina loca armenta. Immissi fuerant dubio procul cohortes aut legiones aliquot malignorum spirituum, nam plane stupenda sunt, quae ibi tum contigerunt. Aiunt quidam lapides proiectos ad unum miliare extra Mechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌊urbemMechelen (Malines, Mechlinia), city in the Low Countries, 23 km S of Antwerp, today in Belgium⌋, pisces e lacubus ac stagnis excussos ac in summitate arborum inventos. Quaedam matrona nobilis et forma (ut aiunt) praestanti, dum fenestram cubiculi nititur occludere, illi amputatum est capud(!) spectante pedisequa, quae alteram fenestram clauserat. Quodam in oenopolio ludebant quidam chartis. Derepente concidit domus ac omnes perierunt excepta hospita, quae forte in penum promptura ms. pru(m)ptura(!) ⌈prompturapromptura ms. pru(m)ptura(!) ⌉ vinum descenderat. Postridie reperti mortui, manu chartas tenentes. Reperti sunt et alii, qui inter parietes trabesque succlusi fuerant, exanimes paene metu, illaesi tamen, qui dum UUB, H. 154, f. 139v extr<a>herentur, rogabant, num qui adhuc superstites essent.

Magna sunt, quae narramus, sed profecto maiora his hidden by binding⌈[s]s hidden by binding⌉ contigerunt, quae omnia persequi prolixum esset. Tu, quaeso, et fidem his habeas (nam res certa est et testium apud nos plus satis), et narrationem hanc parum comodam boni consulas. Audies ea fortassis luculentius narrata hidden by binding⌈[a]a hidden by binding⌉ ab aliis. Salutant te officiose tui hic omnes.

Bene vale, ornatissime praesul, et nos numero tuorum asscribe.