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Letter #997

Stanisław KOŚCIELECKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Człuchów, 1533-08-21
            received [1533]-09-07

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, author's signature, AAWO, AB, D. 67, f. 218-219

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8247 (TK 9), f. 347

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine amice et fautor plurimum honorande.

Salutem et omnis prosperitatis continuum incrementum.

Accepimus cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Stanisław KOŚCIELECKI before 1533-08-21, CIDTC IDL 7435, letter lost⌊litterascf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Stanisław KOŚCIELECKI before 1533-08-21, CIDTC IDL 7435, letter lost⌋ Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae, ex quibus satis liquido intelleximus negotium, de quo paucis exactis diebus versatum est in causa cuiusdam citharoedi in adulterio, prout fertur, deprehensi. Quomodo Marienburg Town Council ⌊consules civitatis MerienburgensisMarienburg Town Council ⌋ ob excommunicationis contemptum ex officio eorum de eodem sumpserunt supplicium et secundum iuris rigorem lictori poena afficiendum commiserunt, quod quidem Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra secundum strepitum iuris et legum factum esse suis scriptis allegare dignata est. Memini enim dubium nobisque constant huiusmodi legum persuasiones, tamen meo iudicio iura et statuta apud nostrates disponunt, quod si aliquis excommunicationem levipendendo excommunicatione aggravatus fuerit et admonitionibus ecclesiasticis parere et obtemperare recusaverit, in malo suo proposito ultra unum annum perseverando, extunc talis in vincula praesertim impossessionatus et carceres coniici debet. Et tamdiu in illis detineri, quovisque per fidedignos fideiussoria cautione se obliget satisfacere pro eo, quod accusatus fuerit, bonaque fide promittant eundem numquam proterve quicquam contra canonum dispositionem attentaturum, sed iuribus et mandatis omnibus, quomodocumque de ipso disposuerint, semper obsequi et oboedire.

Cum itaque nullum facinus impunitum esse oportet, prout nos in hac re sentimus, consultius nobis visum fuisset, quatenus praefati Marienburg Town Council ⌊consulesMarienburg Town Council ⌋ parum quidam lentius in causa huismodi festinassent et de hac scelerum perpetratione prius illos, qui arci praesunt, quibus etiam maior facultas est credita et commissa, certiores reddidissent, consilium ab illis expostulando, ubi tandem habita et accepta matura deliberatione ac diligenti informatione secundum demer[i]tam culpam nulla facti suspitione neque alicuius reprehensione obstante ad executionem supplicii sine aliqua contradictione procedere potuissent. Manifestum enim est non omnia semper feliciter seu prospere evenire. Quae inconsulte saltem secundum iuris severitatem et arduum rigorem peraguntur summum enim ius summae malitiae quandoque ascribitur. Legum etiam severitas benigna quadam clementia venit temperanda.

Significavimus etiam scriptis nostris generoso domino Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌊Stanislao KostkaStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌋ et cetera vicesgerenti ac partes nostras tuenti, quatenus praefatum citharoedum in arc[e] nequaquam fovere permittat et quid praesertim in negotio hoc erit agendum, illi diligenter commisimus. Praetere[a] nos quomodocumque negotium praesens per Marienburg Town Council ⌊consulesMarienburg Town Council ⌋ p[rae]fatos coram iudicio eorum actum sit, intuitu Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae et propter mutuam benevolentiam, quae inter n[os] hucusque semper fuit, hanc ignoscimus illis culpam et condonamus admissum neque illis quicquam succensere volu[mus]. Ita tamen, ubi aliquando simile vel ardioris curae se neg[otium] obtulerit, prius arcis praefectos consulant, quorum insti[tuto] et persuasione negotium suscipiant et ulteriori executioni demandet. Nos enim illos semper benigno favore proseq[ui] volumus et ne quid damni vel dispendii in illos comp[e]tere possit, sollicitare sum{m}us propensi.

Et cum hiis Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra prospera ac incolumi valetudine val[eat]. Nos, donec superstitem sinant esse superi, Reverendissimam Paternitatem Vestram perpetuo amare et eidem inservire non desinemus. Nos etiam eodem, prout sedulo facere dignata est, amore prosequi non praetermittat.