Letter #922
Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUSVienna, 1533-03-27
English register:
De Schepper has finally received a letter from Dantiscus. It took three months to reach him, although his whereabouts were well known. At that time Dantiscus had not yet received any letter from De Schepper; however, by now this problem should have been resolved.
He comments on the difficult time he went through, and summarises the news from his earlier letters: his wife's [Elisabeth Donche] childbirth, the losses [due to the floods] (which are less severe than feared), and the tempting job opportunities in France and elsewhere, of which he has informed the Emperor [Charles V].
He considers his current mission of little use, but he will loyally perform his duties and bear misfortunes with equanimity. The Bishop of Przemyśl [Jan Chojeński] as well as Jan Tarnowski offered him prospects in Poland, in case things go utterly wrong in his present career. He thanks Dantiscus for his support in this matter. Nevertheless, in Poland De Schepper would prefer to be with Dantiscus. He urges Dantiscus to enjoy above all the company of his family and friends, and to write to him.
He and the Archbishop of Lund [Johan Weze] are in Vienna for their current mission. They have conducted negotiations in Pressburg with the envoys of Count Janós [Thurzó], although Hieronymus Łaski, who was one of them, had already left.
The negotiations were suspended in anticipation of the arrival of the envoy of the Sultan [Suleiman the Magnificent], who comes to King Ferdinand with a peace proposal. The Sultan's desire for peace is undoubtedly inspired by fear after the recent military setbacks. De Schepper stresses that the Sultan is the one suing for peace, and is proposing an honourable and unconditional peace.
He denies the rumours that are circulating in Poland and Hungary, that the Emperor and the Pope [Clement VII] have agreed to a peace treaty in which King Ferdinand should cede territory of Sklavonia. Nor is it true that the pashas had to be bribed. The Sultan wishes to involve the Emperor in the peace, but that is not likely to happen any time soon.
They are expecting the response of the Emperor, to whom the Count of Salm [Niklas II Graf of Salm and Neuburg] was sent as an envoy. At the instance of the Sultan the Voivode [John Zápolya] has sent Alvise Gritti to defend his case. The partisans of the Voivode were wrong in their assumption that the Sultan was only willing to agree to peace when the Voivode could reign over all of Hungary. After the retreat of the Sultan from Pannonia, King Ferdinand discreetly inquired about his intentions, and it appeared that there was a great willingness to conclude a solid peace treaty.
De Schepper wishes Dantiscus all the best, and promises to send a short letter to Campensis. He sends special greetings to Dantiscus' brother-in-law [Johann Reyneck]. As his planned mission to Poland is not going to take place, he sends Dantiscus the greetings from his wife [Elisabeth Donche], his brother-in-law [Mark Laurijn] and other friends in writing.
He reports on the planned journey of the Emperor to Spain. The French pose no threat since a significant force, under the command dux of Thamyse [François Le Fèvre?], has been left behind in Italy. The interests of the Emperor are guaranteed by the alliance of Bologna, although the Venetians remain a risk factor.
The Archibishop of Bari [Esteban Gabriel Merino] has been made cardinal. Lord of Praet [Louis of Flanders] and all other acquaintances have left the court; only [Nicolas Perrenot] de Granvelle and [Francisco] de los Cobos remain. After his current assignment, De Schepper will return home and travel to Spain from there.
He regrets that by his frequent travelling he was unable to do more for the cause of the Queen of Poland [Bona Sforza], although he achieved some results. Godschalk [Ericksen] and he will remain committed to her interests.
He would write more but the sparse correspondence from Dantiscus makes him fear that his own letters are being intercepted. He emphasises at length the honourable character of the proposed peace with the Turks. He foresees a poor outcome for the Lutherans, and the Kings of England [Henry VIII] and France [Francis I].
| received [1533-04-12 — 1533-04-18] Manuscript sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Ioanni Dantisco episcopo Culmensi etc., domino tamquam patri honorandissimo
In Prussia
Salutem plurimam.
Deus meliorem mentem det istis tabellariis, quam habuere hactenus in perferendis litteris tuis et meis, vix enim quinque dies sunt, ex quo tuas accepi Viennae de data tricesimae, ni fallor, aut vicesimae nonae Decembris, neque tamen in obscuro esse potuit, ubi ego fuerim, quando Foccharis et Welzeris id omnino constitit, et imprimis vestratibus. Gaudeo itaque vehementer te vivere et valere, quantumvis nonnihil officiat dexteri pedis dolor, quem levius tolerare te scribis, quam nullum in externis curis, qua in re vehementer tecum assentior. Quod autem miraris me nihil scripsisse, omnino arbitror tibi satisfactum cum tempore esse, nam antea non vacabat in rerum omnium desperatione gravissimisque itinerum periculis, quibus demum ereptus sum, cum ex Mantua venissem Oenipontem. Tristissimam rerum, quam tibi depinxi, faciem talem omnino esse arbitrare, neque tamen desinimus caeci esse. Ego vero, ut bonum nuntium ad te scribam, ad has fortunas occallui neque curo amplius, sed spem posui in Deum.
Uxor feliciter peperit, prout scripsi. Non omnia perdita sunt. Adhuc domi est, quod me alat.
Offeruntur undique condiciones, tum ex Francia, prout aliquoties ad te scripsi, tum ab aliis, non sine scitu caesaris, cui ea exposui et expono per litteras. Praeterea nunc versor in hac legatione ut minime utili, quae tamen mihi pariat experientiam et cognitionem aliquantam istarum rerum. Id vero satis arbitror esse. In summa usque ad extremum sum permansurus in officio boni viri, quem si caesar alere vel ab ignominia meorum vindicare nolit, feram aequo animo et, postquam reipsa ostendero per me nihil omissum esse, respiciam vel postliminio ad res meas. Neque non possum maximas tibi gratias agere, quod talem te obtuleris futurum, qualis hactenus fuisti, neque parvae gloriae loco duco, quod in inclito vestro regno, si omnia apud nos pereant, offeruntur a clarissimis viris Pzremisliensi episcopo, illustri domino Ioanne comite a Tarnovia, qui me prior litteris suis amicissimis ad amicitiam provocavit, amicorum officia, quae eo sunt gratiora, quod ab integerrimis viris sincerissimoque affectu profecta sciam. Nolo tamen diffiteri ad neminem me libentius venturum esse, quam ad te, si casus aliquis acerbior ingrueret, secundum te ad eos. Sed haec Deus meliora faciet. Quare desine mea causa dolere et temet cum dulcissima matre, amicissimis sororibus, affinibus et amicis oblectare, quibus officiosissime cupio commendare, et ad me aliquando scribe. Sciet enim reverendissimus Pzremisliensis aut Karolus Coczer litteras ad me tuas, aut Focchari transmittere.
Reverendissimus dominus Lundensis et ego hic sumus Viennae in commissione nostra. Fuimus Posonii in Hungaria per aliquot dies ibi tractantes cum oratoribus illustris domini Ioannis comitis Scepusiensis, viris certe insigni eruditione et prudentia praeditis. Magnificum tamen dominum Hieronymum de Lasko, qui unus fuerat ex quattuor, non vidimus, abierat enim rediturus, nisi conventus interruptus fuisset. Cuius causa haec fuit, quod dum illic tractaremus, advenit nuntius caesaris Thurcarum ad Ferdinandum regem missus pacem ferens honestissimis immo nullis condicionibus aliis, nisi indicibus valde magni timoris. Qui unde emergat, non est obscurum divinare, ex damnis scilicet acceptis et ex offirmatione omnium in Styria Carinthiaque, et finitimis provinciis incolarum, apud quos multum perdidit aestimationis nomen Turcicum, aliquot modis tentatis, nulla re bene gesta. Quod affirmare nisi sciremus, reverendissimus dominus Lundensis et ego, non essemus adhuc tam affecti in eam, quam debemus, partem, in quam nos honestum est, ut simus affecti, quam nunc scribimus. Itaque certum habe a nobis pacem a Thurcarum caesare non tam offerri, quam peti, solidam illam et citra indignitatem cuiusquam, quod ideo dicimus, quia sparguntur et in Hungaria, et in Polonia rumores, quod pontifex et caesar in hanc consenserint pacem, quae esset, ut Ferdinandus regnum teneret Hungariae, daret Thurcis Sclavoniae, bassas sibi largissimis donationibus devinciret. Quod omne falsum est, nam ne unus quidem pes terrae in Hungaria, Sclavonia aut aliis provinciis datur Thurco neque quicquam bassis aut tributi nomine, aut largitionis, neque pro ipso quidem Hungariae regno tribuitur. Tantum manet aequalitas et amicitia, paxque vita ipsorum durante, prout moris esse Thurcarum tute nosti. Cum caesare nostro et ille pacem ambit, quam tamen in tempora dividit, sed ita longa, ut interim sit vel dominus, vel asinus moriturus.
Hoc tantum potuimus scripsisse. Exspectamus responsum a caesare, pro quo missus est illustris comes de Salm. Econtra vayvoda misit Ludovicum Griti ad instantiam caesaris Thurcarum pro re sua. Quid sit facturus, nescimus. Hoc scimus pacem firmam et solidam esse, cuius causa haec est. Cum semper vayvodani dixerint Thurcarum caesarem nihil, nisi totum Hungariae regnum daretur vayvodae, voluit experiri id serenissimus Rhomanorum rex atque ob id post fugam Thurcarum caesaris ex Pannonia aut, si mavis, fugae similem discessum, missus est quidam, qui animos invenit praeparatos praefati caesaris. Obtulitque illa, quae a tam magni habito principe nemo exspectasset, nisi qui sciret, quantum esset, quod nobis esset formidandum, quod plurimis videtur esse valde exiguum.
Nos ad haec pauca Dominationi Tuae Reverendissimae commendamus et felicissime valere eandem exoptamus. Campensi paucis scribo, quia non suppetit tempus in istis gravissimis negotiis. Deus te conservet incolumem cum tuis omnibus. Sororio tuo, tametsi amicorum et fratrum nomine eum prius comprehenderim, meo nomine plurimam salutem dicito, quia, quod et ille se mihi commendaret, scripsisti. Et bene vale, Domine et Amice, et Pater vere amate, et Deus te conservet. Si non tam brevi, semel tamen conveniemus, ubi Deus redditurus est unicuique secundum opera sua. Sacerdotium tuum gratum habeat, qui pro nobis passus est et in quem speramus. Aliquando memineris precibus tuis nostri. Uxor, frater et amici se tibi commendant, quia putabant me in Poloniam profecturum. Sed haec ego per litteras.
Caesar est Alexandriae traiecturus in Hispanias circa XIIII-m Aprilis diem. Ibi classis parata est. A Gallis nihil est periculi. Manent ad conservationem Italiae septem milia veteranorum militum Germanorum duce Thamyse conterraneo meo et totidem Hispanorum praeter lixas et calones, praeter equitum quattuor milia et levioris armaturae totidem equitum, in quibus sunt duces Ferdinandus Gonçaga, Sucre, Milort et alii. Si Gallus advenerit, est ordo prout in liga Bononiae facta, quam tu nosti, nisi quod a Venetis non satis est, quid boni sperandum, atque ideo exterorum est exercitus maior.
Reverendissimus dominus Barensis patriarcha Indiarum est cardinalis. Dominus Pratensis et omnes alii abeunt ex curia. Manet Grandtvella et commendator maior Legionis Cobos. Ego his rebus peractis sum reversurus ad meos, postmodum in Hispanias. Doleo, quod non potuerim apud serenissimam reginam Poloniae probare studium meum, tametsi enim quaedam acta sunt et eorum litterae sint sufficientes testes, qui rerum praesident, tamen non potuere hactenus ea fieri, quae voluissem, ob crebra itinera. Id optimum est quodque mihi est gratissimum, et a quo abhorrere me scivisti, ne quisquam meae negligentiae aut absentiae causa damnum pateretur, id enim accidit serenissimae reginae. Cui Godtscalcus et ego, ille meo nomine, ego ob insignem maiestatis ipsius erga me propensitatem, libentissime inservivimus et inserviemus nullis ipsius impensis.
Plura ad te scriberem, sed quia raro ad me scripsisti, vereor, ne non litterae meae ad te intercipiantur in via. Sed haec tibi habe persuasissima principibus istis honestissimam pacem cum Thurca esse et male successurum Lutheranis, Franco, Anglo et ceteris, si modo non omnino Deus nostri desierit misereri. Tu me Campensi commenda, quem tibi vicissim ego, et me tibi. Rursum vale, Pater plus quam genitor ex animo amate.
Ex Vienna, XXVII-o Martii Anno Domini M D XXX III-o.
Eiusdem Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae humilis filius Cornelius Duplicius Scepperus eques, consiliarius, commissarius et orator in inclito regno Hungariae