Letter #3447
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Andrzej ZEBRZYDOWSKIHeilsberg (Lidzbark), 1548-10-16
English register:
Dantiscus has received two letters from the addressee, dated 24 September and 7 October. He refers to the earlier one first. He believes that the purchase by the addressee of a house in Thorn (Toruń) from his relative, Georg Schultz, raises no legal doubts. He is surprised that the City Council is taking action to obstruct the transaction, and reassures him that efforts will be made to counteract this. However, he was unable to intervene at the previous diet of Royal Prussia in Graudenz (Grudziądz) due to his absence caused by ill health. Since the matter was not placed on the agenda at the time, he promises to take action at a future assembly, provided that the addressee takes the appropriate steps.
In the later letter, the addressee raised the matter of the Włocławek canonry, which, following the death of Stanisław Rzeczyca, was conferred in Rome upon Dantiscus’ nephew, Kaspar Hannau. He does not consent to exchanging the canonry for the parish priestship at St Mary’s Church in Gdańsk (Danzig) along with the officialship proposed by the addressee, both of which entail numerous duties and dangers, especially given the attitudes towards the Church in the populace of Prussia. During his nine-year stay in Rome, he had numerous opportunities to obtain parish priestships in Poland, which, however, he did not accept.
If the addressee proposes some other form of compensation for the canonry which does not entail additional burdens, Hannau and Dantiscus will consider it. Hannau would prefer, however, to retain the canonry, as it is his native diocese and this benefice suits him.
Dantiscus asks the addressee not to obstruct Hannau, who holds a valid papal privilege, from assuming the canonry, regardless of the legal mechanism, whether he does that as a doctor (his predecessor, Rzeczyca, was likewise not of noble birth), or on any other basis. He emphasises that he is keen to have a relative among the members of the chapter of the addressee’s diocese.
He assures the addressee that he will not regret Hannau’s assumption of the canonry. The latter will proceed to Włocławek in order to take possession of the benefice after an answer to this letter is received, once he and Dantiscus learn the addressee’s attitude and find out whether the recommendation has proved effective.
In a postscript, Dantiscus states that he will reward the favour shown to his relative.
Manuscript sources:
Auxiliary sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus Excerpts concerning Dantiscus' travels
AAWO, AB, D.70, f. 386rReverendissime in Christo Pater {etc.} et Domine, domine amice carissime et plurimum observande. superinscribed, in the hand of other⌈et Domine, domine amice carissime et plurimum observande.et Domine, domine amice carissime et plurimum observande. superinscribed, in the hand of other⌉
Salutem diuturnissimam cum omnis felicitatis auctibus Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae precor ex animo. superinscribed⌈Salutem diuturnissimam cum omnis felicitatis auctibus Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae precor ex animo.Salutem diuturnissimam cum omnis felicitatis auctibus Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae precor ex animo. superinscribed⌉
Binas his diebus a Reverendissima Dominatione Vestra litteras accepi, quarum cf.
De canonicatu
Quam hac in re sententiam 
AAWO, AB, D.70, f. 386v audissem, non potui non probare. Est enim certe animarum sollicitudo et iudicis provincia superinscribed in place of crossed-out officium⌈officium provincia provincia superinscribed in place of crossed-out officium⌉ onus summum ac multis written over orum⌈orumisis written over orum⌉que adscribed⌈queque adscribed⌉ periculis written over orum⌈orumisis written over orum⌉ plenum. At si quid aliud fuisset, quod huiusmodi onere vacuum, aequam etiam haberet opimi huius sacerdotii compensationem, melius et nepos superinscribed⌈et
Peto itaque a Reverendissima Dominatione Vestra maiorem in modum, ut cum idem
De ipso
Dominus Iesus incolumem florentemque perpetuo servet Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram. Cui me
Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌈Dat(ae)Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌉
Postscript:
AAWO, AB, D.70, f. 391rReverendissime et Observandissime mi Domine.
Ut in iis, quae pro
Cui me iterum atque iterum cum
AAWO, AB, D.70, f. 385r
[1]
Causa domus, quam ab affini meo,
Quare persuadeat sibi Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra me superinscribed in place of crossed-out nos⌈nos me me superinscribed in place of crossed-out nos⌉ in illa causa ei non defuturum, sed omnem adhib stain⌈[] stain⌉eam adhibiturus sum diligentiam, ne hic contractus inter Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram et affinem meum imped irritus fiat irritus, idque fortassis iam partim in superiori Graudentino 
AAWO, AB, D.70, f. 385vrassem, si illi ob adversam valetudinem mihi interesse licuisset. Verum, cum sciam illam necdum ibi superinscribed⌈ibiibi superinscribed⌉ coram dominis
Cui cupio esse commendatissimus atque eandem felicissime cum omnium rerum successu valere opto.
Dat(ae) or Dat(um) ⌈Dat(ae) Dat(ae) or Dat(um) ⌉