Letter #3866
Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI]Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-04
English register:
Dantiscus is embarrassed at the effusiveness of [Samuel] Maciejowski’s thanks for his modest New Year’s gift, as he continues to consider himself his debtor. He thanks him heartily for his efforts and intercession with the King [Sigismund I Jagiellon] and Queen [Bona Sforza]. Maciejowski will learn of his continued problems from the letter of the Bishop of Kulm [Tiedemann Giese]. Dantiscus extols Giese’s virtues and asks for support in matters on which he is turning in writing to the King on behalf of the [Royal] Prussian Estates.
The Queen has charged Fabian Wojanowski (Damerau) with reminding Dantiscus of his obligation of loyalty to the King and listing all the kindnesses he has received, as if he had forgotten. Dantiscus is sending a reply but leaves it up to the addressee whether it is delivered to the Queen or destroyed. He has also written to the King, thanking him for the benevolence shown to his subjects. Regarding the same matter, he also extends his thanks to the addressee and the Vice-Chancellor [Paweł Dunin-Wolski]. He has also mentioned certain maritime matters in his letter to the King. He leaves it up to Maciejowski to decide whether the letter is delivered to the King.
Not knowing by what means his letters reach the King, Dantiscus asks Maciejowski to pass on a piece of confidential information to the King in person, namely that the city of Gdańsk (Danzig) together with the Duke [Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach] and the city of Elbing (Elbląg), going against royal decrees and acting to the detriment of both the Kingdom [of Poland] and Prussia, have not stopped minting coins; this has resulted in the value of gold increasing and the rare appearance of gold money in Prussia.
Dantiscus asks to be sent information on the replies concerning all these matters, including from the Queen, through Giese’s messenger [Michel Wicherski].
Regarding [Stanisław] Hozjusz (Hosius), Dantiscus holds the official conveyance of all the rights of his opponent [Alexander von Suchten]. The delay in concluding the matter is due to Hozjusz having failed to provide power of attorney.
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
BCz, 245, p. 147Reverende Domine, frater et amice carissime ac honoran(de) or honoran(dissime)⌈honoran(de)honoran(de) or honoran(dissime)⌉.
Salutem et omnem felicitatem.
Scripsit mihi reverendissimus dominus Culmensis, quod iis diebus proprium suum nuntium ad aulam sit missurus, copiam mihi faciens, si quid velim scribere. Non potui igitur committere, quin his, more apud nos recepto, bonam Dominationis Vestrae Reverendae valetudinem inviserem, quam illi diutissime precor felicem et incolumem.
Quod vero in novissimis, quas ad me dedit, Dominatio Vestra Reverenda pro strenula adeo exigua tam magnas habuerit gratias, opus fuit minime, cum longe maiora debeam, quin potius meum est Dominationi Vestrae Reverendae habere et agere, immo et si possem, referre gratias, quod amicissime et strenue res meas apud principes meos, et maxime meam, curaverit bonique me atque infracti animi esse iusserit, idipsum innocentia et candore meo fultus egregieque cordatus praesto.
Quomodo negotium hoc contra me indignationis successerit et quid quibusve modis hinc scripserim, non ambigo, quin Dominatio Vestra Reverenda ex litteris ad se reverendissimi domini Culmensis intelliget. Quem non minus a Dominatione Vestra Reverenda amari illique commendatum esse, quam meipsum, summopere cupio et oro, est enim pro suis innumeris bonis dotibus, eruditione praestabilique doctrina, qua pollet plurimum, omnium bonorum magnorumque virorum benevolentia et favore dignus. Quicquid illi beneficentiae et adminiculi in rebus, quibus omnium statuum terrarum Prussiae nomine ad s(erenissimam) or s(acram)⌈s(erenissimam)s(erenissimam) or s(acram)⌉ maiestatem regiam scribit, impenderit, hoc omne mihi impensum suscipiam et ad cumulum debitorum, quibus Dominationi Vestrae Reverendae devincior, aggregabo.
Quam felicissime valere ex animo aveo.
Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌈Dat(ae)Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌉ Heilsberg, IIII Martii MDXXXIX.
Dominationis Vestrae Reverendae deditissimus Ioannes episcopus Varmiensis etc. scripsit
Postscript:
AAWO, AB, D. 7, f. 106rCommiserat s(erenissima) or s(acra)⌈s(erenissima)s(erenissima) or s(acra)⌉ reginalis maiestas domino Fabiano Woynowski, ut me de fide erga s(erenissimam) or s(acram)⌈s(erenissimam)s(erenissimam) or s(acram)⌉ maiestatem regiam et commoneret, et superinscribed in place of crossed-out de⌈de commoneret, et commoneret, et superinscribed in place of crossed-out de⌉ beneficiorum in me collatorum commemorationem mihi superinscribed⌈mihimihi superinscribed⌉ inculcaret paper damaged⌈[et]et paper damaged⌉, non secus ac si penitus deficere in animo destinassem. Quid responderim, Dominatio Vestra text damaged⌈[Vestra]Vestra text damaged⌉ Reverenda ex scheda cognoscet. Si videbitur, reddantur litterae, sin vero, Vulcano tradantur.
Scripsi item et s(erenissimae) or s(acrae)⌈s(erenissimae)s(erenissimae) or s(acrae)⌉ maiestati regiae, habens pro munificentia in meos subditos gratiam. Quam et Dominationi Vestrae Reverendae et magnifico domino vicecancellario habeo non, cui ad praesens scribere non potui, habeo non vulgarem. Attigi etiam quaedam de rebus nostris maritimis. Et eas reddet Dominatio Vestra Reverenda, si commodum putaverit.
Unum tamen, quod maxime scribi oportuit, data opera omisi, de meis utpote gentilibus Gdanensibus, qui cum
ill(ustrissimo) or ill(ustri)⌈ill(ustrissimo)ill(ustrissimo) or ill(ustri)⌉ duce vicino meo atque cum Elbingensibus cudere monetam non desinunt, quod in magnum tum Regni, tum harum fit terrarum detrimentum superinscribed in place of crossed-out iacturam⌈iacturam detrimentum detrimentum superinscribed in place of crossed-out iacturam⌉. Destitit s(erenissima) or s(acra)⌈s(erenissima)s(erenissima) or s(acra)⌉ maiestas regia iampridem. Indignum certe est, quod illi temere contra mandata regia non pauca a cussione non desistunt superinscribed in place of crossed-out desinant⌈desinant desistunt desistunt superinscribed in place of crossed-out desinant⌉. Hinc valor crescit auri et fit pretiosius adeoque adscribed⌈queque adscribed⌉ increvit moneta, quod apud nos rare videtur aureus.
AAWO, AB, D. 7, f. 106v
Haec igitur Dominationi Vestrae Reverendae scribo in aurem, cum scripta mea ad maiestatem regiam superinscribed⌈ad maiestatem regiamad maiestatem regiam superinscribed⌉ nescio, quibus modis, accipiuntur, ut eam indignitatem publicumque reipublicae damnum Dominatio Vestra Reverenda designare s(erenissimae) or s(acrae)⌈s(erenissimae)s(erenissimae) or s(acrae)⌉ maiestati regiae non velit gravari mihique cum hoc reverendissimi domini Culmensis nuntio, quid de omnibus et a s(erenissima) or s(acra)⌈s(erenissima)s(erenissima) or s(acra)⌉ reginali maiestate responsum sit, describere etc.
Ad superinscribed⌈AdAd superinscribed⌉ d(ominum) doctorem written over i⌈iemem written over i⌉ Hosium written over o⌈oumum written over o⌉ in hac celeritate litteras dare non potui. Quem totum reddidi securum estque omnis iuris adversarii apud me cessio. In eo dumtaxat videtur adhuc haerere negotium, quod non adinstar scriptae meae pro se promissionis litteris suis patentibus responderit, quemadmodum per proprium nuntium, quamprimum iste redierit, latius scribam et omnia mittam.
Iterum atque iterum Dominatio Vestra Reverenda valeat et me, q(uanto) va stain⌈[va]va stain⌉let, amet.