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Letter #3065

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI]
s.l., 1547-03-18

English register:

Dantiscus’ friends have recommended to him the case of the Gdańsk (Danzig) citizen Hans Keting, who is litigating over his mother’s inheritance with his half-sisters. On their suggestion, he referred the matter to arbitrators, yet after eight years he has obtained nothing, having incurred considerable costs to the detriment of his younger brother’s sons. Dantiscus deplores the fact that legal proceedings in his native city get protracted to an extent where one of the parties becomes worn down financially despite having just cause.

The friends mentioned above have asked Dantiscus to ask the addressee to intercede before the king on Keting’s behalf. The protracted dispute can only be brought to a conclusion if, by the monarch’s decision, the matter is referred to the councillors of Royal Prussia for resolution.

Keting is carrying with him the draft documents concerning this referral, which he would want to be issued under the [royal] seal. Dantiscus asks the addressee to make any appropriate amendments.

The documents should be issued sufficiently in advance for the matter to be considered by the councillors of Royal Prussia at the next Diet [of Royal Prussia], convened for the feast of Saint Stanislaus [8 May 1547]. Dantiscus assures him that he and Keting will not fail to show their gratitude.




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 260r (t.p.)

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 369

 

Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus

 

Reverendissime etc.

Commendarunt mihi amici mei huius boni viri Hans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌊Ioannis KetingsHans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌋ civis Gedanensis causam, qui varie et iniquissime a sororibus suis uterinis et compromissariis, in quos, earum persuasione inductus, compromisit, exagitatur, ita ut iam per integrum octennium, quo tempore non parvas expensas fecit, nihil de hereditate et portione materna consequi potuerit, in maximum eius liberorum suorum et nepotis ex fratre minorennis detrimentum et praeiudicium. Et certe miserandum est, quod in ea Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Vistula on the Bay of Gdańsk, the largest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing (Elbląg); represented in the Council of Royal Prussia and a member of the Hanseatic League⌊civitate patria meaGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Vistula on the Bay of Gdańsk, the largest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing (Elbląg); represented in the Council of Royal Prussia and a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ eousque lites protrahantur, donec altera partium penitus exhauriatur et ob contractam ex diuturnis litibus paupertatem a iustissimis actionibus et causis plerumque desistere multi cogantur.

Qua re praenominati amici mei moti plurimum me rogarunt, ut eundem apud Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram ita promoverem, quo illa Hans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌊eiusHans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌋ patrocinium apud serenissimam 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⌊regiam maiestatemSigismund 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⌋ susciperet atque eum iuvaret, ut tandem a diuturnis litibus liberari et earum finem consequi possit. Quod nulla alia ratione fieri posse persuasum habet, nisi auctoritate regia, causa inter ipsum et eius sorores, tum etiam compromissi, Council of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊dominis harum terrarum consiliariisCouncil of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ decidenda committatur.

Ad quam rem iam exempla commissionis et quorundam mandatorum, quae sub sigillo sibi extradi petit, secum adfert. Ea ut ita obtineat descripta et pro arbitrio Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae immutata, et ut Hans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌊eumHans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌋ tum meo, tum iustitiae nomine, quam solam sibi administrari cupit, commendatum habeat, plurimum oro.

Nec dubito Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram id sponte facturam esse, cum Hans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌊eiusHans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌋ causae semper benevoluerit et libenter oppressis operam suam impartiat, hic autem, omnium ope destitutus, ad solam Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram ut ad sacram anchoram confugit. Quae Hans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌊eumHans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌋ etiam maturius expedire dignetur, quo eius causa coram Council of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊dominis consiliariis harum terrarumCouncil of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ in proximo Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventuProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ pro 1547-05-08⌊divi Stanislai festo1547-05-08⌋ celebrando proponatur. Quod ego una cum Hans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌊illoHans Keting burgher of Gdańsk⌋ semper omni studio et diligentia promereri nitemur erga Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram.

Quam longo tempore cum omnium rerum felici successu prosperrime valere opto ex animo.

Datae 18 Martii 1547.