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Letter #3324

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Stanisław KOSTKA
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1548-01-17


Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in German, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 365r-v

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 346

 

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

 

Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), leader of the so-called nobles’ party, active in Royal Prussia from 1536, and opponent of most members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who sought to preserve the province’s autonomy and a balance of power in its governance. Tensions between Kostka, Prussian Treasurer, and the Council had been growing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Sent there as the King’s deputy, Kostka, contrary to custom, took part in the proceedings, prompting the Council to suspend the meeting. He accused its members of hostility towards the Poles and appealed to the royal court. In the absence of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland, the Diet was chaired by Dantiscus, and the incident seriously damaged his later relations with Kostka; 1531–1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and 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)Palatino PomeraniaeStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), leader of the so-called nobles’ party, active in Royal Prussia from 1536, and opponent of most members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who sought to preserve the province’s autonomy and a balance of power in its governance. Tensions between Kostka, Prussian Treasurer, and the Council had been growing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Sent there as the King’s deputy, Kostka, contrary to custom, took part in the proceedings, prompting the Council to suspend the meeting. He accused its members of hostility towards the Poles and appealed to the royal court. In the absence of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland, the Diet was chaired by Dantiscus, and the incident seriously damaged his later relations with Kostka; 1531–1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and 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)

{Unsernn} [Un]sern freuntlichen grus mit aller wolfart wunschung zu...... her gunstiger freundt und freuntlicher, lieber gefatter.

Wir haben zuvor den erhaften Ludwig Wersfelt Ludowicum WersfeltLudwig Wersfelt , Ewer Herlichkeit secretarienn, durch unser cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Ludwig WERSFELT [Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński)], 1547-12-22, CIDTC IDL 3301schreibenncf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Ludwig WERSFELT [Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński)], 1547-12-22, CIDTC IDL 3301 noch Ewer Herlichkeit auszuge von Marienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat, a branch of the Vistula in its delta, the seat of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309–1457) and a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, within the Kingdom of Poland (1466–1772). Alternating with Graudenz (Grudziądz), Marienburg was the venue of the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)MarienburgMarienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat, a branch of the Vistula in its delta, the seat of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309–1457) and a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, within the Kingdom of Poland (1466–1772). Alternating with Graudenz (Grudziądz), Marienburg was the venue of the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia) ersucht, / und ihm etzliche dinge Ewer Herlichkeit von unsernt wegen zuzuschreiben auferlegt. / Czweifelen nicht, / dem szei also von ihm nachgekomen. / Bitten derwegen freuntlich, Ewer Herlichkeit wolte uns also inn dem bovolenn haben, / und das fleisig vortstellen, / sunderlich aber nicht vorgessen unser im besten kegen die 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 AustriaalteSigismund 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 und Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforzajunge koningliche majestetSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza, / unser genedige fraw die Bona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of AragonkoningeBona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of Aragon, / und allen Royal Council of Poland hern in der ChronnRoyal Council of Poland zugedencken [un]d uns denen aufs fleisigste zu bovelen. Worin wir Ewer Herlichkeit bei diesen boten zuerinneren nicht haben lassen mugen, der wir viel {gluch} glucks von Got dem almechtigenn ihre geschefte alda wol auszurichtenn wunschenn. Uns vorlang[t] auch fast zuerfharen, / wie die hern botschafter a... seinde ankomen, / und entfangen / welcher gestalt man ihnen audientz geben hat, / und was sunst von abrichtung dersu[l]ben zuhoffen sei. Von welchem allem bittenn wir freu[nt]lich Ewer Herlichkeit uns vortraulicher weise, / auch da was von newen zeitungen were, bei diesem boten berichten wolte. Alhie ist nichts newes, / ist ganz stille, / wie fleisig wir auch dornoch gefraget, / haben wir dennoch nichts, das wir Ewer [Herlichkeit] hetten schreiben mugen erfharen kunnen, / allein das Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 until his death Duke in Prussia as a vassal of the Polish king; son of Frederick V of Brandenburg-Ansbach the Elder and Sophia Jagiellon, daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon; nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the University of Königsberg, 1544furstliche durchlauchtAlbrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 until his death Duke in Prussia as a vassal of the Polish king; son of Frederick V of Brandenburg-Ansbach the Elder and Sophia Jagiellon, daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon; nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the University of Königsberg, 1544 fast damit umbgeth widderum ein new stedt in seinem lande aufzurichtenn, / deshalben ehr den ... sein Nobility of Royal Prussia underthan vom adelNobility of Royal Prussia und stedten etzliche wochenn zu Königsberg (Królewiec, Mons Regius, Regiomontium), city in Ducal Prussia, on the mouth of the Pregel (Pregoła) river, capital city of Ducal Prussia; today Kaliningrad in RussiaKoningsbergKönigsberg (Królewiec, Mons Regius, Regiomontium), city in Ducal Prussia, on the mouth of the Pregel (Pregoła) river, capital city of Ducal Prussia; today Kaliningrad in Russia vorsamlet hat / un[d] sagt, das sie swer darzu seindt, und nicht gering[e] in erkein stewer vorwilligen werden. Bovelen hiemit Ewer Herlichkeit gotlichen genaden mit langweriger gesuntheit.