» CORPUS of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence
Copyright © Laboratory for Source Editing and Digital Humanities AL UW

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Letter #53

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Bona Sforza
Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1543-02-27


Manuscript sources:
1copy in Latin, 16th-century, BJ, 6557, f. 394v-396r
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 60 (TN), No. 6, p. 15-18
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 274, No. 250, p. 499-501
4register with excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8244 (TK 6), a.1543, f. 20

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of ErmlandIoannes Dantiscus episcopus VarmiensisIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland 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 AragonBonae Reginae PoloniaeBona 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

Serenissima Reginalis Maiestas et Domina domina clementissima. Humillimam servitiorum orationumque mearum commendationem.

Quod me Serenissima Maiestas Vestra novissimis suis cf. Bona Sforza to Ioannes DANTISCUS before 1543-02-27, CIDTC IDL 7451, letter lostlitteriscf. Bona Sforza to Ioannes DANTISCUS before 1543-02-27, CIDTC IDL 7451, letter lost de nuptiis[1] certo futuris serenissimae Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforzamaiestatis regiae iuniorisSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza certiorem reddiderit et quod eam sollicitudinem, quam varius mihi hic rumor ingessit, maxime quod nescio, quid ex France (Gallia, Francia), the kingdomGalliaFrance (Gallia, Francia), the kingdom de alio coniugio tractari ferebatur[2], ex animo meo excusserit, quas possum, gratias habeo factusque hinc alacrior, atque etiam Deo gratia in valetudine firmior, ad profectionem et ad ducendum choros sum paratior, quamvis nondum humeri et scapulae, unde adhuc manus praepedita me dictatura uti cogit, noxiis humoribus graventur, quos tamen sole redeunte calentiore dissolvi spero, neque adhuc desunt vomicae pedibus, quibus sine pedibus cyathi (ut clementer iocatur Serenissima Maiestas Vestra) superiori tempore causam fortassis dederunt, quos quidem humores iam incenis et abstemius a reditu ex Wrocław (Breslau, Vratislavia), city in southwestern Poland, on the Oder river, historical capital of Silesia, from 1526 ruled by the HabsburgsWratislaviaWrocław (Breslau, Vratislavia), city in southwestern Poland, on the Oder river, historical capital of Silesia, from 1526 ruled by the Habsburgs victu leviore relictis acepodibus diluo mutatoque more pristino alium me induere pro status et aetatis condicione proque salutis ratione non adeo necessitas, quantum voluntas adegit. Longe alia mens hominibus in domestica atque aulica vita innascitur, cuius iam prorsus pertaesus extra privatos parietes me exserere, si fieri possit, minime cupio, ut tamen priusquam e vivis cessero, Serenissimas Maiestates Vestras vel semel adhuc videre reverenterque coram venerari mihi detur (modo non gravior morbus itineris patiens intercedat) Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of PolandCracoviamCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland, Deo benevolente, quibuscumque possim modis, me duci, curabo. Quid medici praestare valeant, incognitum mihi non est, eorumque itaque opera utor rarius et iam fere ab annis triginta usus non sum. Languores quidam non mortiferos curare doloresque sedare possunt, non item terminum prorogare, qui nulli cedit. Cumque haud dubie moriendum sit, absque cruciatu, quem illi suis pharmacis morituro addunt, hinc evolaturus sum, quando Deus iusserit liberius. Quod cardinalatum aliumve statum ampliorem ad accumulandos honores honoribus divitiisque divitias, quemadmodum Serenissima Maiestas Vestra scribit, praeter aliorum ecclesiasticorum morem videor non ambire, sic revera habet, et si Serenissima Maiestas Vestra recte meminit, me numquam abitiosum fuisse agnoscet. Quod Dominus Deus per Serenissimas Maiestates Vestras, quarum corda in manu eius sunt, mihi dedit, suscepi non invitus, ignorans tum quid susceperim et quam gravem provinciam, de qua seria reddenda est ratio, mihi imponi permiserim, sed non potest dicere figmentum figulo cur me sic fecisti. Ambitio, cupiditas, fastus, luxus atque religionis observantia tenuis admodum ac modica, quibus ecclesiastici passim vitiis laboramus, turbulenta haec dederunt tempora, utinam resipisceremus, ne id nobis Romanis, quod Graecis accidit, eveniat. Sed de hiis hactenus. Quod Serenissima Maiestas Vestra clementem propensionem suam domino Georg Schewecke (Georg Scheffke) (*1491 – †1547), 1522 Gdańsk alderman; 1525 - town councillor; 1528 - judge; 1531 - mayor; 1536-1537, 1540, 1542-1545 - burgrave; 1534 Gdańsk envoy to convention in Lüneburg in affairs of seafaring and conflicts with Lübeck (AT 15, p. 501, 510; AT 16/1, p. 42, 44; ZDRENKA 2, p. 275)Georgio SchefkeGeorg Schewecke (Georg Scheffke) (*1491 – †1547), 1522 Gdańsk alderman; 1525 - town councillor; 1528 - judge; 1531 - mayor; 1536-1537, 1540, 1542-1545 - burgrave; 1534 Gdańsk envoy to convention in Lüneburg in affairs of seafaring and conflicts with Lübeck (AT 15, p. 501, 510; AT 16/1, p. 42, 44; ZDRENKA 2, p. 275) burgrabio et praeconsuli Gedanensi ad humilem meam commendationem pollicetur, ut in officio regio hoc anno maneat, immensas gratias ago. Qua in re paucis nudius tertius Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Bona Sforza 1543-02-24 or 1543-02-25, CIDTC IDL 7452, letter lostscripsicf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Bona Sforza 1543-02-24 or 1543-02-25, CIDTC IDL 7452, letter lost, cumque eiusmodi officii postulationem Gdańsk Town Council magistratus GedanensisGdańsk Town Council apud Serenissimam Maiestatem Regiam faciet, iterum de eo Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae suggeram mentionem ipsumque dominum Georgium Schefke Serenissima Maiestas Vestra sibi ingratum non agnoscet. Utque iussis Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae satisfiat, nova, quae his diebus accepi, perstringam brevibus. Scripseram prius conflictum magnum inter Anglos et Scotos commissum fuisse, de victoria tamen, ad quam tum partem inclinaverit, non constitisse.

Nunc primum allatum est, excedentes e ScotlandScotiaScotland The English (Angli) AnglosThe English (Angli) subsecutos fuisse Scotos cum James V Stuart (*1512 – †1542), 1513-1542 King of Scotland; son of King James IV of Scotland James IV and Margaret TudorregeJames V Stuart (*1512 – †1542), 1513-1542 King of Scotland; son of King James IV of Scotland James IV and Margaret Tudor et copiis omnibus, quod postquam Angli compertum habuissent, in duas se partes divisisse, persequentesque ScotlandScotosScotland in medium sui recipientes fortiter invasisse, vertisseque in fugam, in qua rex graviter saucius fertur occubuisse, cum eoque multitudinem ingentem, captos esse duces quattuor et comites viginti quattuor, qui perducti in EnglandAngliamEngland a Henry VIII Tudor (*1491 – †1547), 1509-1547 King of England; son of Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of YorkregeHenry VIII Tudor (*1491 – †1547), 1509-1547 King of England; son of Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of York inibi novis vestibus induti ac sigillatim quisque eorum viro cuipiam in Anglia principi in custodiam datos baculos candidos in manibus pro spectaculo publice circumferre. Quicquid in his postea adferetur, Sernissimam Maiestatem Vestram latere non sinam. Ex Sweden (Suecia)SueciaSweden (Suecia) dicitur Gustav I Vasa (Gustav Ericsson) (*1496 – †1560), 1523-1560 King of Sweden; son of Erik Johansson and Cecilia Månsdotter illumGustav I Vasa (Gustav Ericsson) (*1496 – †1560), 1523-1560 King of Sweden; son of Erik Johansson and Cecilia Månsdotter , qui se pro rege gerit, cum subditis tumultuantibus quasi concordiam et reconciliationem peteret, conventum instituisse dissimulataque fraude primores viros et gentis huius ductores in profectione ad conventum occidi curavisse, fuisseque quosdam occisos, qui praecesserant, non magni momenti viros, quod cum potiores, qui subsequebantur, intellexissent, omnibus viribus et copiis suis collectis Stokhelmum castrum et Stockholm (Holmia), city in southcentral-east Sweden, on the mouth of the Mälaren lakecivitatemStockholm (Holmia), city in southcentral-east Sweden, on the mouth of the Mälaren lake eius regni praecipuam, in qua rex ille se continet, acriter in praesens obsidere. Qui sit futurus exitus, tempus docebit. Wilhelm V Der Reiche (Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, William I of Cleves, William V of Jülich-Berg) (*1516 – †1592), 1538-1543 Duke of Guelders and Zutphen, 1539-1592 Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. During the 3rd Guelderian War that followed, France he was an ally to Guelders against Charles V. His predecessor, Duke Charles of Guelders, also concluded an alliance with France (MÜLLER)Ducem IuliacensemWilhelm V Der Reiche (Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, William I of Cleves, William V of Jülich-Berg) (*1516 – †1592), 1538-1543 Duke of Guelders and Zutphen, 1539-1592 Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. During the 3rd Guelderian War that followed, France he was an ally to Guelders against Charles V. His predecessor, Duke Charles of Guelders, also concluded an alliance with France (MÜLLER) opera confoederatorum numerosum conscribere militem ferunt contra ditiones caesareas Belgicas verum sine nervo militemque ab illo confugere eo, ubi stipendia solvuntur, quae apud Caesareos quam apud Saxonem Hessum et ipsum Iuliacensem sunt paratiora et in copia feliciore. Sic adhuc totus fere orbis noster Christianus turbulentis fluctibus exagitatur magnamque in se irruendi infidelibus praebet oportunitatem. A quorum vi efferataque ferocia, quod nos Dominus Deus pro nobis pugnans (quia nulla salus in homine) defendere ac tueri velit, summis precibus est contendendum. Qui ut eandem Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram diutissime prosperrimeque valentem atque florentem conservet, intime precor meque eiusdem Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae gratiae quantum diligentius demissiusque possum, humiliter commendo.

[1 ] I.e. Elisabeth von Habsburg’s marriage to Sigismund II Augustus

[2 ] Dantyszek probably means the plans for the marriage of Sigismund Augustus to Małgorzata, daughter of king Francios I de Valois, pushed by Queen Bona, cf. cf. , CIDTC IDL SUCHENI-GRABOWSKA 1996cf. , CIDTC IDL , p. 49