Letter #831
Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUSPassau, 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:
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Ioanni Dantisco, episcopo Culmensi, serenissimi regis Poloniae consiliario, [domino] suo observandissimo, etc.
Cracoviae
Salutem plurimam.
Cum his, qui ex parte illustrissimi domini comitis de Tournau equos ad caesarem attuleri<n>t, diffusius ad te scripsi 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. Caesar discessit ex Ratispona die primo huius mensis et heri huc venit eo animo, ut extemplo in campum prodiret, omnes enim copiae ante decem dies erunt congregatae. Hic autem rumor ad nos perlatus est Turcas 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 caesar ea in re tua opera uti, quemadmodum ex ipsius litteris intelliges. Ego vero, ne tuis in suspicionem venires, aut quid mali tibi evenire propterea posset, curavi, ut ne tabellarius quidem ipse litteras se caesaris habere intelligeret, sed meas tantum. Quod si tibi visum fuerit serenissimo regi 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, intelligat, modo ita caesaris 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 caesarem 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 regno Neapolitano ad Epirum usque pervenisse et cum ibi intelligeret classem nostram in Sicilia esse atque inde statim solvere velle, extemplo retrocessisse, ut sperent, iam Constantinopolim usque pervenisse. Quod si idem fecerunt Turcae, poterimus nos iter nostrum in Italiam et inde in Hispaniam prosequi, in qua utinam te videre valeamus. Dominus Granvella te plurimum valere iubet. Orator ille Levicianus maximum sui specimen dedit in ea responsione, quam caesari exhibuit, cum ex Ratispona proficisceren[tur], ad ea, quae a rege suo caesar adversus Turcas 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.
Patavii, die XI Septembris 1532.
Tuus, quicquid est, Valdesius