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Letter #3237

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Samuel MACIEJOWSKI
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1547-10-25

English register:

Peter Schissenteuber, a burgher from Elbing (Elbląg), has obtained a lawsuit summons for the city council of Elbing to appear before a royal court. In Dantiscus’ opinion, the matter must have been misrepresented, for otherwise the addressee would have easily dismissed it. Last year at the diet of Royal Prussia in Graudenz (Grudziądz), the Prussian councillors examined the case and delivered a verdict in favour of the city council of Elbing. Schissenteuber agreed to accept the case as being duly adjudicated and expressed no desire to appeal, despite being advised of such a possibility. Reportedly, it was only later, in the presence of a notary and witnesses, that he appealed to the king. He notified neither the councillors nor the opposing party in the lawsuit of the appeal. Nevertheless, under the pretext of this appeal, he obtained the said royal summons.

To avoid being judged in absentia, the city council has sent a secretary to the royal court. Furthermore, they have requested that Dantiscus, who is familiar with the course of the case, send this letter, so that the addressee, being better informed, might support them in their efforts to be released from the legal proceedings by the king.

He requests, therefore, that the addressee obtain the king’s consent that such appeals as are contrary to royal statutes and brought outside the regular procedure in order to avoid the due fees, should not be permitted. Appeals lodged solely before a notary and witnesses should only be admissible if councillors prevent an appeal from being filed. Otherwise, this undermines the dignity of the judiciary and exposes the parties to costs in matters which have already been adjudicated.




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 317r-v

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 477

 

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

 

Domino Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊episcopo CracoviensiSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋

Reverendissime in Christo etc.

Obtinuit contra spectabilem Elbing City Council ⌊magistratum civitatis ElbingensisElbing City Council ⌋ Peter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌊Petrus SchissenteuberPeter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌋, concivis eorum, citationem regiam, quam sub mala facta relatione causae impetratam esse non dubito, nam nisi hoc ita factum fuisset, Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra eum facile repulisset. Acta fuit haec causa coram dominis Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊harum terrarumRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ Council of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊consiliariisCouncil of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ superiori anno in Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊comitiisProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ Graudentinis et ibidem etiam per sententiam diffinitivam pro Elbing City Council ⌊magistratu ElbingensiElbing City Council ⌋ latam, decisa. A qua dictus Peter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌊SchissenteuberPeter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌋ etiam admonitus, appellare noluit, sed dominorum Council of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊consiliariorumCouncil of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ decretum in rem iudicatam transire permisit. Postmodum vero, non metu nec quavis alia causa in iure expressa prohibitus, coram notario et testibus appellasse ad serenissimam 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⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund 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⌋ d[i]citur. Quam appellationem nec dominis Council of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊consiliariisCouncil of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋, nec parti adversae Elbing City Council ⌊magistratu <i> ElbingensiElbing City Council ⌋ umquam insinuavit et tamen sub eius praetextu dictam citationem contra Elbing City Council ⌊magistratum ElbingensemElbing City Council ⌋ impetravit.

Elbing City Council ⌊QuiElbing City Council ⌋ ne contumaces reputarentur, secretarium eorum in ea causa ad Royal Tribunal (Sąd Królewski, Tribunal Regium) ⌊tribunalRoyal Tribunal (Sąd Królewski, Tribunal Regium) ⌋ serenissimae 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⌋ allegarunt et a me, cum mihi de processu causae constaret, has ad Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram pro illis commendatitias rogarunt, quo illa per me melius informata iustitiae eorum non deesset , sed tandem adminiculo Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae a diuturnis litibus et illius importuni Peter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌊hominisPeter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌋ molesta et nullis suffulta documentis et probationibus impetitione auctoritate regia liberarentur. Rem igitur ita, quemadmodum exposui, et non aliter actam esse Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra sibi persuadeat.

Et cum hoc novum sit inventum eorum hominum, qui contra constitutiones regias Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊his terrisRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ concessas , ne sportulas appellationum iudiciis deponere sint obligati, talia effugia confingunt, plurimum rogo Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram, velit id efficere, quo huiusmodi extraordinariae appellationes, quae frivole et nullis ex causis per partes coram notario et testibus, cum tamen coram ordinariis appellare non sint prohibitae, fiunt , in aula serenissimae 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⌋ non recipiantur, nisi prius ostensum fuerit appellationem a dominis Council of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊consiliariisCouncil of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ illis denegatam fuisse. Multum hac novitate constitutionibus regiis, iudiciis hic nostris et auctoritati eorum detrahitur et lites iam semel compositae et sopitae renovant[ur], partes item in faciendis expensis plurimum aggravantu[r]. Rem itaque omnibus hic gratam est factura Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra, si hoc a serenissima 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⌊maiestate regiaSigismund 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⌋ impetrare poterit.

Cui me una cum dicto Elbing City Council ⌊magistratu ElbingensiElbing City Council ⌋ intime commendo atque ut Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram Deus Omnipotens diu felicem sospitet et conservet, precor ex animo.