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Letter #831

Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Passau, 1532-09-11

English register:

Valdés informs Dantiscus that he has fulfilled his request and made sure that the messengers who brought the horses for the emperor on Count Tarnowski’s behalf were generously rewarded.

The emperor left Ratisbonne on September 1, arriving in Passau yesterday and immediately went to see the troupes. There are rumors that the Turks are retreating, having burned just a few villages. To ascertain if this is true, the emperor wants to use Dantiscus’ help. Dantiscus will learn the details from the emperor’s letter, which Valdés is placing inside his own so that Dantiscus’ correspondence with the emperor doesn’t raise suspicion. He leaves it up to Dantiscus whether to reveal the matter to the king [Sigismund I] and whether to write back directly to the emperor or through Valdés. Valdés expects understanding from the king [Sigismund I] and cooperation from Dantiscus in the face of the Turkish threat. He wouldn’t have dared ask for a similar favor if the conflict had been between Christians.

The Turkish fleet arrived from the Kingdom of Naples in Epirus and then withdrew at the news that the imperial fleet was near Sicily. It has allegedly reached Constantinople already. If this is true, the imperial court will be able to travel across Italy to Spain.

Granvelle sends his regards. Valdés complains about the [English] envoy, who has done stupid things rather like Lewicki – Valdés will send Dantiscus a copy of his reply to the emperor’s request addressed to the Polish king regarding assistance against Turkey.


            received 1532-09-24

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, UUB, H. 154, f. 95-96

Auxiliary sources:
1register in English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 30, No. 67

Prints:
1BOEHMER 1899 p. 410-412 (in extenso)
2AT 14 No. 428, p. 638-640 (in extenso; Polish register)
3DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 236, p. 159-160 (in extenso)
4VALDÉS 1996 Cartas y documentos, No. 106, p. 271-272 (in extenso)
5CEID 2/3 (Letter No. 72) p. 292-295 (in extenso; English register; Polish register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

UUB, H.154, f. 96v

Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino 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 Ermland⌊Ioanni DantiscoIoannes 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⌋, episcopo Culmensi, serenissimi 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⌊regis PoloniaeSigismund 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⌋ consiliario, domino paper damaged⌈[domino]domino paper damaged⌉[1] suo observandissimo, etc.

Cracoviae

UUB, H.154, f. 95r

Salutem plurimam.

Cum his, qui ex parte ill(ustrissimi) or ill(ustris)⌈ill(ustrissimi)ill(ustrissimi) or ill(ustris)⌉ domini Jan Tarnowski (*1488 – †1561), Count of the Holy Roman Empire; one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund August Jagiellon at the beginning of his rule; 1522-1527 Castellan of Wojnicz, 1525-1552 Starost of Sandomierz, 1527-1559 Grand Crown Hetman (commander-in-chief), 1527-1535 voivode of Ruthenia, 1528 Starost of Żydaczów, 1535-1536 Voivode of Cracow; 1536-1561 - Castellan (Urzędnicy 10, p. 209)⌊comitis de TournauJan Tarnowski (*1488 – †1561), Count of the Holy Roman Empire; one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund August Jagiellon at the beginning of his rule; 1522-1527 Castellan of Wojnicz, 1525-1552 Starost of Sandomierz, 1527-1559 Grand Crown Hetman (commander-in-chief), 1527-1535 voivode of Ruthenia, 1528 Starost of Żydaczów, 1535-1536 Voivode of Cracow; 1536-1561 - Castellan (Urzędnicy 10, p. 209)⌋ equos ad 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⌊caesaremCharles 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⌋ attuleri<n>t, diffusius ad te cf. Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS Regensburg, 1532-09-03, CIDTC IDL 824⌊scripsicf. Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS Regensburg, 1532-09-03, CIDTC IDL 824⌋ eosque donatos dimisi: primus eorum habuit ducenta scuta auri, alter centum et uterque nescio quot ulnas panni sericii, famuli sexaginta scuta. Haec dixi, non ut nostram tibi liberalitatem aperiam, sed ut scias me, quod imperasti, praestitisse. 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⌋ discessit ex Regensburg (Ratisbona), city in southeastern Germany, Bavaria, on the Danube river⌊RatisponaRegensburg (Ratisbona), city in southeastern Germany, Bavaria, on the Danube river⌋ die primo huius mensis et heri Passau (Batavia Bavariae), city in southern Germany, Bavaria, on the Danube river, 115 km SE of Regensburg⌊hucPassau (Batavia Bavariae), city in southern Germany, Bavaria, on the Danube river, 115 km SE of Regensburg⌋ venit eo animo, ut extemplo in campum prodiret, omnes enim copiae ante decem dies erunt congregatae. Hic autem rumor ad nos perlatus est The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌊TurcasThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌋ omisso castro, quod expugnare non potuerunt, incensisque nonnullis villis retrocedere, id tamen certum ne sit aut incertum, ignoramus. Et cum maxime rei veritatem habere expediat, voluit 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⌋ ea in re tua opera uti, quemadmodum ex ipsius cf. Charles V of Habsburg to Ioannes DANTISCUS ca. 1532-09-11, CIDTC IDL 6532, letter lost⌊litteriscf. Charles V of Habsburg to Ioannes DANTISCUS ca. 1532-09-11, CIDTC IDL 6532, letter lost⌋ intelliges. Ego vero, ne tuis in suspicionem venires, aut quid mali tibi evenire propterea posset, curavi, ut ne tabellarius quidem ipse cf. Charles V of Habsburg to Ioannes DANTISCUS ca. 1532-09-11, CIDTC IDL 6532, letter lost⌊litterascf. Charles V of Habsburg to Ioannes DANTISCUS ca. 1532-09-11, CIDTC IDL 6532, letter lost⌋ se 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⌋ habere intelligeret, sed meas tantum. Quod si tibi visum fuerit serenissimo 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⌊regiSigismund 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⌋ rem aperire, existimo suam serenitatem tamquam Christianum principem adeo non aegre laturam, ut pro reipublicae salute ea ad nos scribas, ut potius mihi persuadeam id ipsi gratissimum futurum. Si autem consultius existimabis ea ad nos aliter perscribere, omnia tuo arbitrio praestare poteris, cum nec nostrorum quisquam hoc sciat, nec tabellarius ipse, quidnam afferat or afferet⌈afferatafferat or afferet⌉, intelligat, modo ita 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⌋ erga te benevolentia<e> respondeas, ut non iniuria de te magna sibi promisisse agnoscat, quod ut facias, te etiam atque etiam rogo. Quod si ad ipsum 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⌊caesaremCharles 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⌋ ea scribere nolueris, ad me ea dirigere poteris, ut minori suspicione perferantur et a nostris legantur. Si cum Christianis principibus nobis contentio esset, nullo pacto hoc abs te peterem, sed cum haec pro reipublicae salute et adversus religionis hostes postulemus, sat scio ea te quam libentissime facturum.

De classe Turcica scribunt ad nos ex Naples (Napoli, Neapolis), city in Italy, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, capital of the region of Campania⌊regno NeapolitanoNaples (Napoli, Neapolis), city in Italy, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, capital of the region of Campania⌋ ad Epirus, region in northwestern Greece⌊EpirumEpirus, region in northwestern Greece⌋ usque pervenisse et cum ibi intelligeret classem nostram in Sicily, island in the Mediterranean Sea, Kingdom ruled by the Habsburgs⌊SiciliaSicily, island in the Mediterranean Sea, Kingdom ruled by the Habsburgs⌋ esse atque inde statim solvere velle, extemplo retrocessisse, ut sperent, iam Constantinople (Istanbul, Constantinopolis), city and capital of the Ottoman Empire, today in western Turkey⌊ConstantinopolimConstantinople (Istanbul, Constantinopolis), city and capital of the Ottoman Empire, today in western Turkey⌋ usque pervenisse. Quod si idem fecerunt The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌊TurcaeThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌋, poterimus nos iter nostrum in Italy (Italia)⌊ItaliamItaly (Italia)⌋ et inde in Spain (Hispania)⌊HispaniamSpain (Hispania)⌋ prosequi, in qua utinam te videre valeamus. Dominus Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle (*1484 – †1550), doctor of both canon and civil law, one of the most trusted advisors of Emperor Charles V, in 1519 entered the service of Charles V, in 1521 took part in the Habsburg-French negotiations in Calais, in 1529 in peace negotiations with the Roman Curia and the Italian states, and later, in 1538, in the conference of Nice between Charles V and Francis I; prominent official and advisor of Charles V and of Margaret of Austria in the administration of the County of Burgundy and of the Habsburg Netherlands, collaborator of Chancellor Gattinara, 1530 secretary of State for German and Netherlandish affairs and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Sicily and Naples (he replaced Gattinara after his death in the position of Grand Chancellor, although not using the title); imperial envoy to France (several times up to 1528) (CE, vol. 3, p. 68-70; DURME 1964; ANTONY 2006)⌊GranvellaNicolas Perrenot de Granvelle (*1484 – †1550), doctor of both canon and civil law, one of the most trusted advisors of Emperor Charles V, in 1519 entered the service of Charles V, in 1521 took part in the Habsburg-French negotiations in Calais, in 1529 in peace negotiations with the Roman Curia and the Italian states, and later, in 1538, in the conference of Nice between Charles V and Francis I; prominent official and advisor of Charles V and of Margaret of Austria in the administration of the County of Burgundy and of the Habsburg Netherlands, collaborator of Chancellor Gattinara, 1530 secretary of State for German and Netherlandish affairs and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Sicily and Naples (he replaced Gattinara after his death in the position of Grand Chancellor, although not using the title); imperial envoy to France (several times up to 1528) (CE, vol. 3, p. 68-70; DURME 1964; ANTONY 2006)⌋ te plurimum valere iubet. Orator ille Levicianus[2] maximum sui UUB, H.154, f. 95v specimen dedit in ea responsione, quam 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⌊caesariCharles 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⌋ exhibuit, cum ex Regensburg (Ratisbona), city in southeastern Germany, Bavaria, on the Danube river⌊RatisponaRegensburg (Ratisbona), city in southeastern Germany, Bavaria, on the Danube river⌋ proficiscerentur hidden by binding⌈[tur]tur hidden by binding⌉, ad ea, quae a Henry VIII Tudor (*1491 – †1547), 1509-1547 King of England; son of Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of York⌊regeHenry VIII Tudor (*1491 – †1547), 1509-1547 King of England; son of Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of York⌋ suo caesar adversus The Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌊TurcasThe Ottoman Turks (Turcae) ⌋ postulaverat. Quam responsionem una cum his, quae nos ad ea retulimus, per primum tabellarium ad te mittem, ut gentis imprudentiam vel impudentiam potius perspicias.

Vale.

[1] part of address was written on the lost piece of paper through which the seal was impressed

[2] Valdes describes an envoy of king of England Henry VIII as Levicianus comparing him with Jan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)⌊Jan LewickiJan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)⌋, who earned a bad reputation as an inefficient diplomat at the imperial court in 1529-1530; cf. cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon Löbau (Lubawa), 1532-12-03, CIDTC IDL 860⌊IDL 860cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon Löbau (Lubawa), 1532-12-03, CIDTC IDL 860⌋: Intellexi venerabilem dominum Iohannem Levicium in suspicionem ex litteris domini olim Valdesii ad me venisse, ubi scripsit de oratore Leviciano, quo nomine regis Angliae oratorem ob morum similitudinem vocare solebat. Cf. also Valdes’ opinion about Lewicki in cf. Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS [Mantua], [1530]-04-09, CIDTC IDL 5765⌊IDL 5765cf. Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS [Mantua], [1530]-04-09, CIDTC IDL 5765⌋, cf. Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS [Mantua or Augsburg], [shortly before 1530-04-18 or shortly before 1530-11-22], CIDTC IDL 5794⌊IDL 5794cf. Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS [Mantua or Augsburg], [shortly before 1530-04-18 or shortly before 1530-11-22], CIDTC IDL 5794⌋.