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Letter #421

Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Toledo, 1529-01-16

English register:

Valdés remarks that Dantiscus has no reason to make excuses for leaving without saying goodbye because people of their standing shouldn’t worry about empty ceremony. He is glad Dantiscus is counting on his help; he loves him no less than his own father. Not just Valdés but also all his friends liked Dantiscus’ epigram about Lalemand. At Dantiscus’ request, Valdés recounts the Lalemand affair: he was accused of betraying state secrets to the French, willfully making substantial changes in a document of imperial privilege and committing a few other deeds worthy of the highest punishment. At first he denied everything, then, in the face of Ronquillo’s testimony, he admitted to some of the charges but not to treason. It’s not clear yet what his punishment will be. He has many friends who are trying to secure his release, but also many enemies, so most likely he won’t avoid punishment. Valdés puts Lalemand in the same class as the crooks from the lives of Roman emperors – Turinus from the life of Alexander Severus and Zoticus from the life of Heliogabalus, also described by Erasmus in his Adagia. He encourages Dantiscus to write an epitaph for Lalemand if he would find it appropriate to honor a living person in this way. Valdés informs him that the chancellor [Mercurino Gattinara] returned before the Feast of Epiphany [January 6]. There has been no news from Italy or other regions. The emperor is sticking to his plan of traveling to Italy in spring even though almost everyone around him is against it. Valdés trusts the matter to Divine Providence. He sends Dantiscus new prints concerning the French. He has stopped the printing of his own text because he awaits the emperor’s opinion. He hasn’t finished the dialogue yet, maybe Dantiscus will receive it before he leaves Spain. Valdés is impatient to know when Dantiscus will send him Pasquillus and other texts of his. He sends regards from his friends who were exceptionally amused by Dantiscus’ letter, in particular from the Regent [Sigismondo Loffredo?], Longus, Valdés’ brother Diego, and also Suares. He asks him to give his regards to Isabel [Delgada] and the children [Juana Dantisca and Juan Dantisco], he will gladly fulfill any requests Dantiscus may have regarding them. Valdés sends Dantiscus the document confirming the rank [eques auratus] the emperor has granted him. He realizes that Dantiscus has no such ambition. If there’s anything missing from the document, he asks to have it back for correction.




Manuscript sources:
1copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 222, No. 50, p. 192-194
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 43 (TN), No. 2, p. 3-6

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8241 (TK 3), a.1529, f. 1 (t.p.)

Prints:
1AT 11 No. 9, p. 15-16 (in extenso)
2VALDÉS 1996 Cartas y documentos, No. 52, p. 127-128 (in extenso)
3CEID 2/3 (Letter No. 28) p. 191-195 (in extenso; English register; Polish register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BK 222, No. 50, p. 192

Salutem plurimam.

Quasi quisquam me magis a caeremoniis abhorreat, ita te apud me purgare voluisti, quod insalutato hospite abieris, immo eo in genere (ut ingenue fatear) nihil mihi gratius facere potuisti, quare absint omnino a nobis hae vulgares caeremoniae, cum nihil minus professioni nostrae correspondeat, quam vulgus ms. vulgum(!) ⌈vulgusvulgus ms. vulgum(!) ⌉ sequi. Quod tantum de me tibi polliceris BK 222, No. 50, p. 193 quodque hunc animum exploratum habes, vehementer gaudeo atque ita gaudeo, ut huic laetitiae nihil addi posse videatur. De te tantum mihi persuasi, ut non minus a te, quam ab ipso, qui me genuit, patre, me amari sciam; verum de his satis.

cf. [Ad Lalemantum epigramma] 1528-12-26 — 1529-01-16, CIDTC IDP 175, poem lost⌊Epigrammacf. [Ad Lalemantum epigramma] 1528-12-26 — 1529-01-16, CIDTC IDP 175, poem lost⌋, quod ad Jean Lalemand (Ioannes Alemanus) (*1470 – †1560), friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, adherent of Charles de Lannoy, Viceroy of Naples, personal enemy of Alfonso de Valdés, whom he charged with Lutheranism on the basis of his work "Dialogo de las cosas ocurridas en Roma"; secretary to Charles V, in December 1528 accused of betrayal and imprisoned, never regained the Emperor's favour⌊LalemantumJean Lalemand (Ioannes Alemanus) (*1470 – †1560), friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, adherent of Charles de Lannoy, Viceroy of Naples, personal enemy of Alfonso de Valdés, whom he charged with Lutheranism on the basis of his work "Dialogo de las cosas ocurridas en Roma"; secretary to Charles V, in December 1528 accused of betrayal and imprisoned, never regained the Emperor's favour⌋ mihi misisti, non mihi solum, sed amicis omnibus placuit. Utque tibi, quemadmodum iubes, historiam narrem: accusatus est hic bonus vir, primum quod secreta 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⌊caesarisCharles 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⌋ The French ⌊GallisThe French ⌋ prodiderit, deinde quod privilegium caesaris vitiaverit nonnullis verbis mutatis, atque huiusmodi alia ultimo supplicio digna patravit. Ille prius constantissime negabat fere omnia, deinde vero, postquam accessit praetor Rodrigo Ronquillo (*1471 – †1552), became notorious for his severity in repressing the Revolt of the Communeros in Castile in 1520; alcalde of Zamora (WRIGHT, p. VI)⌊Ronquiglus ms. Ponguiglus(!) ⌈RonquiglusRonquiglus ms. Ponguiglus(!) ⌉Rodrigo Ronquillo (*1471 – †1552), became notorious for his severity in repressing the Revolt of the Communeros in Castile in 1520; alcalde of Zamora (WRIGHT, p. VI)⌋, aliqua fatetur, alia negat, veluti proditionem, quae vix probari poterit; iam in hoc ms 2 res pendet,
ms 1 respondet⌈res pendetms 2 res pendet,
ms 1 respondet⌉, an omissa proditione ob alia flagitia debeat poenas dare et quas. Non desunt illi fautores et amici, qui hominem quo iure quaque iniuria liberare student, non quod illi bene velint, sed multos diversa trahunt studia. Attamen vix credo hominem evasurum. Legebam nuper vitam Alexander Severus (Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander) (*208 – †235), Roman Emperor (222-235)⌊Alexandri SeveriAlexander Severus (Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander) (*208 – †235), Roman Emperor (222-235)⌋ imperatoris in eaque inveni Turinus (Verconius Turinus), condemned for deception to suffocation by smoke; member of entourage of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; Historia Augusta, Vita Alexandri Severi, 2, 35-36)⌊TurinumTurinus (Verconius Turinus), condemned for deception to suffocation by smoke; member of entourage of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; Historia Augusta, Vita Alexandri Severi, 2, 35-36)⌋ quendam fumi venditorem fumo necatum. Cuius Turinus (Verconius Turinus), condemned for deception to suffocation by smoke; member of entourage of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; Historia Augusta, Vita Alexandri Severi, 2, 35-36)⌊TuriniTurinus (Verconius Turinus), condemned for deception to suffocation by smoke; member of entourage of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; Historia Augusta, Vita Alexandri Severi, 2, 35-36)⌋ vitia si sceleribus Jean Lalemand (Ioannes Alemanus) (*1470 – †1560), friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, adherent of Charles de Lannoy, Viceroy of Naples, personal enemy of Alfonso de Valdés, whom he charged with Lutheranism on the basis of his work "Dialogo de las cosas ocurridas en Roma"; secretary to Charles V, in December 1528 accused of betrayal and imprisoned, never regained the Emperor's favour⌊LalemantiJean Lalemand (Ioannes Alemanus) (*1470 – †1560), friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, adherent of Charles de Lannoy, Viceroy of Naples, personal enemy of Alfonso de Valdés, whom he charged with Lutheranism on the basis of his work "Dialogo de las cosas ocurridas en Roma"; secretary to Charles V, in December 1528 accused of betrayal and imprisoned, never regained the Emperor's favour⌋ conferas, nihil vidisti similius, nisi quod hic noster aliis pessimis artibus Turinum superavit atque etiam Zoticus lover of the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; SHA, Antoninus Heliogabalus, 10)⌊Zoticum ms. Zolirum(!) ⌈ZoticumZoticum ms. Zolirum(!) ⌉Zoticus lover of the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; SHA, Antoninus Heliogabalus, 10)⌋, fumi venditorem apud Heliogabalus (Varius Avitus Bassianus, Elagabalus) (*ca. 203 – †222)⌊HeliogabalumHeliogabalus (Varius Avitus Bassianus, Elagabalus) (*ca. 203 – †222)⌋ imperatorem. Hos Turinus (Verconius Turinus), condemned for deception to suffocation by smoke; member of entourage of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; Historia Augusta, Vita Alexandri Severi, 2, 35-36)⌊TurinumTurinus (Verconius Turinus), condemned for deception to suffocation by smoke; member of entourage of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; Historia Augusta, Vita Alexandri Severi, 2, 35-36)⌋ et Zoticus lover of the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; SHA, Antoninus Heliogabalus, 10)⌊Zoticum ms. Zolirum(!) ⌈ZoticumZoticum ms. Zolirum(!) ⌉Zoticus lover of the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus (Adagia 241 Fumos vendere; SHA, Antoninus Heliogabalus, 10)⌋ Erasmus of Rotterdam (Gerrit Gerritszoon, Geert Geerts, Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus) (*1466/1469 – †1536), Dutch humanist and theologian, distinguished philologist, the most famous and influential humanist of the Northern Renaissance; his works had a profound impact upon Christian theology during the first half of the sixteenth century⌊ErasmusErasmus of Rotterdam (Gerrit Gerritszoon, Geert Geerts, Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus) (*1466/1469 – †1536), Dutch humanist and theologian, distinguished philologist, the most famous and influential humanist of the Northern Renaissance; his works had a profound impact upon Christian theology during the first half of the sixteenth century⌋ in cf. Adagia 241 ⌊adagiiscf. Adagia 241 ⌋ celebravit, quibus ego Jean Lalemand (Ioannes Alemanus) (*1470 – †1560), friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, adherent of Charles de Lannoy, Viceroy of Naples, personal enemy of Alfonso de Valdés, whom he charged with Lutheranism on the basis of his work "Dialogo de las cosas ocurridas en Roma"; secretary to Charles V, in December 1528 accused of betrayal and imprisoned, never regained the Emperor's favour⌊ms 1 Lalamantum,
ms 2 Lalemantum⌈Lalamantumms 1 Lalamantum,
ms 2 Lalemantum⌉Jean Lalemand (Ioannes Alemanus) (*1470 – †1560), friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, adherent of Charles de Lannoy, Viceroy of Naples, personal enemy of Alfonso de Valdés, whom he charged with Lutheranism on the basis of his work "Dialogo de las cosas ocurridas en Roma"; secretary to Charles V, in December 1528 accused of betrayal and imprisoned, never regained the Emperor's favour⌋ addidi, ut haberemus tantae pestis triumviratum, et quemadmodum Turinus fumo ms 1 necatus,
ms 2 necatus necatus⌈necatusms 1 necatus,
ms 2 necatus necatus⌉ est, quod ms 1 fumos,
ms 2 mos⌈fumosms 1 fumos,
ms 2 mos⌉ vendiderit, ita noster Lalemantus proditionis fumo traduci meruit, etiamsi nihil ms 1 prodiderit,
ms 2 proderit⌈prodideritms 1 prodiderit,
ms 2 proderit⌉. De hac peste plura scribam. Nunc scribendum erit cf. Ad Lalemantum [epicedium et epitaphium] Jean LALEMAND 1529-01-16 — 1529-02-01, CIDTC IDP 161⌊epitaphiumcf. Ad Lalemantum [epicedium et epitaphium] Jean LALEMAND 1529-01-16 — 1529-02-01, CIDTC IDP 161⌋, ni tu etiam viventem eo honore dignum iudicaveris.

Mercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌊CancellariusMercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌋ rediit ante festum Epiphaniae. Italy (Italia)⌊ItaliaItaly (Italia)⌋ silet, hoc est nihil ab ea parte habemus novi neque ab alia 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⌊CaesarCharles 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⌋ in ea sententia perstat, ut proximo vere ad Italy (Italia)⌊ItaliamItaly (Italia)⌋ transeat, idque refragantibus ac repugnantibus suis fere omnibus. Ego autem quid dicam, nescio, nisi quod cf. Vulg. Prv 28 1 sicut divisiones aquarum ita cor regis in manu Domini quocumque voluerit inclinabit illud ⌊cor regis in manu Deicf. Vulg. Prv 28 1 sicut divisiones aquarum ita cor regis in manu Domini quocumque voluerit inclinabit illud ⌋ est. Fata viam invenient nosque interea veluti e speculo rerum exitum, si tamen umquam BK 222, No. 50, p. 194 futurus ms. futurum(!) ⌈futurusfuturus ms. futurum(!) ⌉ est, spectabimus, utpote quibus animus datus est ab his fluctibus liber.

Quod de The French ⌊GallisThe French ⌋ excussum est, en tibi mitto. Quod vero ego scripsi, neque excussum neque typographo adhuc commissum est, voluit enim caesar rem videre neque adhuc, quid sibi decretum sit, aperuit. Ego autem sileo, nihil hinc praeter invidiam venaturus. Meus dialogus dormit neque in lucem prodire audet, neque supremam illi manum imposui. Habebis eum fortassis, antequam discedas. Exspecto avidissime a te Pasquillum et alia, quae scribis, non enim, ni tua sint, mihi poterunt non esse gratissima. Salutat te totum collegium amicorum, quod tuis cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Alfonso de VALDÉS [1528-12-26 — 1529-01-15], CIDTC IDL 6775, letter lost⌊litteriscf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Alfonso de VALDÉS [1528-12-26 — 1529-01-15], CIDTC IDL 6775, letter lost⌋ mirum in modum exhilarasti, et praesertim dominus probably Sigismondo Loffredo (*ca. 1480 – †1539), Charles V's secretary for Italian affairs (POCIECHA 2; POCIECHA 4)⌊regensprobably Sigismondo Loffredo (*ca. 1480 – †1539), Charles V's secretary for Italian affairs (POCIECHA 2; POCIECHA 4)⌋[1], Antonius Longus ⌊A(ntonius) LongusAntonius Longus ⌋, frater meus Diego de Valdés (†1533), the older brother of Alfonso nad Juan; at least 1519-1528 a contino (royal guard) at the Spanish court of emperor Charles V von Habsburg; arguably in 1529 chaplain of Charles V; before 1530 canon of Cartagena; 1530 parish priest in Zaragoza, Cuenca, Salamanca and Segovia (CREWS, p. 9-12, 60)⌊IacobusDiego de Valdés (†1533), the older brother of Alfonso nad Juan; at least 1519-1528 a contino (royal guard) at the Spanish court of emperor Charles V von Habsburg; arguably in 1529 chaplain of Charles V; before 1530 canon of Cartagena; 1530 parish priest in Zaragoza, Cuenca, Salamanca and Segovia (CREWS, p. 9-12, 60)⌋, quos per me salvere voluisti, nec non probably Suárez, physician of Madrid (Xuárez), Erasmianist (CE, vol. 3, p. 296)⌊Suaresprobably Suárez, physician of Madrid (Xuárez), Erasmianist (CE, vol. 3, p. 296)⌋ noster, qui tot tibi mittit salutes, quot ipse prae manibus habet aegrotos. Tu vicissim Isabel Delgada (†after 1546-06-15), Dantiscus' paramour during his stay in Spain, mother of his two children, Juana and Juan (Juan died in childhood)⌊dominae Isabellae ms. dominam Isabellam(!) ⌈dominae Isabellaedominae Isabellae ms. dominam Isabellam(!) ⌉Isabel Delgada (†after 1546-06-15), Dantiscus' paramour during his stay in Spain, mother of his two children, Juana and Juan (Juan died in childhood)⌋ plurimum ms. plurimam(!) ⌈plurimumplurimum ms. plurimam(!) ⌉ meis verbis salutem ms 2 imperti,
ms 1 impeti⌈impertims 2 imperti,
ms 1 impeti⌉ una cum Juana Dantisca (*1527 – †1601), daughter of Ioannes Dantiscus and Isabel Delgada; wife of Diego Gracián de Alderete (SKOLIMOWSKA 2004, p. 52; LLAMAS 1995; LLAMAS 1999; LLAMAS 2001; LLAMAS, SKOLIMOWSKA; MELGAR, 37, ...)

Juan Dantisco (*1528 – †1530), son of Ioannes Dantiscus and Isabel Delgada⌊proleJuana Dantisca (*1527 – †1601), daughter of Ioannes Dantiscus and Isabel Delgada; wife of Diego Gracián de Alderete (SKOLIMOWSKA 2004, p. 52; LLAMAS 1995; LLAMAS 1999; LLAMAS 2001; LLAMAS, SKOLIMOWSKA; MELGAR, 37, ...)

Juan Dantisco (*1528 – †1530), son of Ioannes Dantiscus and Isabel Delgada⌋, quibus si quid mea opera opus est, facilius impetrabis, quam petes. Dignitatis tibi a 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⌊caesareCharles 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⌋ commissae testimonium ad te mitto. Scio te huiusmodi ambitionis insignia non morari, sed quid facias? Quando inter caecos videndum est, oportet interdum caecitatem simulare. Si quid in eo desiderabis, remittito et fiet ms. faciet(!) ⌈fietfiet ms. faciet(!) ⌉ ms 2 statim,
ms 1 statem⌈statimms 2 statim,
ms 1 statem⌉, quod petes.

Vale.