Letter #3900
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Bona Sforzas.l., 1543-01-01
English register:
Dantiscus expresses gratitude for the queen’s concern for his health, as conveyed in her letter, and prays that she may be spared from all illnesses for as long as possible.
Dantiscus assures the queen that he is ready to attend the wedding of the younger king [Sigismund II Augustus], his health permitting. He prays that God may bless this union with happiness despite the ill will of its opponents. In light of various rumours reaching Royal Prussia about the forthcoming marriage, some of which also affect him personally, he requests that the queen conceal nothing from him that, as a faithful servant bound by oath, he ought to know.
The German envoys who visit the king inquire about Dantiscus solely because of their former friendship. All who know him are aware that his absence from the court does not stem from any disfavour by the rulers he has faithfully served for many years.
He cannot hide from the queen that some time ago, when he returned from Wrocław (Breslau), the chancellor and trusted advisor to the emperor [Charles V], [Antoine Perrenot] de Granvelle, as well as certain former friends, wrote to him on the emperor’s behalf to probe his thoughts about accepting the cardinal’s hat. Dantiscus probably states that this dignity is too high for him and that he is content with his current status as bishop [text damaged].
By order of the addressee, Dantiscus sends fresh news, although it is uncertain. The Scots have dealt a great defeat to the English, but details are lacking.
In Sweden, the inhabitants are fiercely persecuting the tyrant [Gustav I Vasa], who has apparently been abandoned by all his allies. One of them, the king of Denmark [Christian III Oldenburg], reportedly sent 400 horsemen and 800 foot soldiers but later withdrew, justifying this by the soldiers’ opposition. Some claim he is trying to install in Sweden his own brother [Johann], summoned from here [Prussia] from his brother-in-law [Albrecht I von Hohenzollern]. The citizens of Lübeck and Hamburg intend to install Albrecht [VII] (Duke of Mecklenburg, who in recent years has also aspired to rule Denmark) by sending support to the rebelling Swedes.
William the Rich, Duke of Jülich, after losing Jülich which is occupied by the forces of the emperor [Charles V], intends to set out with a military force together with his allies against the Burgundian house [the Habsburgs] and the Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau [René de Châlon]. The emperor and the king of France [Francis I] have forbidden, on pain of death, the transmission of any news from their territories. Presumably for this reason, no news is coming from there.
Dantiscus promises to convey further news if it arises, but cautions that these are usually mere rumours repeated by merchants.
He explains that the letter was written by another’s hand because, due to pain in his arms, his own hand is impaired, and this ailment has weakened his entire body.
In a postscript, he informs that he has promptly delivered the addressee’s letter to the Prussian treasurer [Stanisław Kostka]. He thanks her for her intercession on behalf of Georg Schewecke, who is applying, under his recommendation, for the position of burgrave of Gdańsk (Danzig). [Further text damaged].
Manuscript sources:
| ||||
Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus Excerpts concerning Dantiscus' travels
Serenissima Reginalis Maiestas et Domina, domina clementissima.
Humillimam servitiorum meorum et orationum commendationem.
Non sine singulari consolatione Serenissimae Reginalis Maiestatis Vestrae benignissimas legi litteras, quibus se affectae meae valetudinis clementem commiserationem habere indicat. Pro qua propensa in me gratia Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae, quantum possum, demissius atque diligentius gratias habeo immortales, Dominum Deum intime orans, ut eandem Serenissimam Maiestatem quam diutissime ab omni aegrotatione doloreque incolumem conservet.
Ceterum, quod Serenissima Maiestas Vestra me clementer commonet, ut si interim convaluero, felicibus nuptiis serenissimae maiestatis regiae iunioris, domini mei clementissimi, cum id tempus postulabit, inservire non detrectem, in quo quidem, si Deus salubrius corpus et ea, quae ad tam splendidas nuptias honestandas ex misericordia sua concesserit, dummodo temporius de mente serenissimae maiestatis regiae edoctus fuero, quoad eius per valetudinem a me fieri poterit, obsequentem me praestabo.
Atque utinam hoc clarissimum coniugium Deus fortunet, prosperet faustissimumque faciat, ne malorum hominum, qui de eo perperam praepostereque ominantur, malevolentia, quam contra hoc Dei institutum et voluntatem conceperunt, quae maxime in matrimoniis suam ostendit potentiam, succedat. Huc ad nos in eo varia perferuntur meque interdum afficiunt, suppliciter itaque rogo, si quid est, quod me scire liceat, Serenissima Maiestas Vestra pro iurata mea fide me latere non velit.
Quod vero oratores Germani, qui ad serenissimam maiestatem regiam mittuntur, adeo diligenter de me inquirunt, non nisi veteris societatis fortassis fit ratione, neque qui me penitius norunt, suspicari possunt, quod ob id in aula non sim, ut qui in ea Serenissimarum Maiestatum Vestrarum gratiam non habeam, cum me sciant illis tam longo tempore fideliter inservivisse.
Non possum celare Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram, quod superiori tempore, cum ex Vratislavia rediissem, dominus de Granvela procancellarius et intimus caesareae maiestatis consiliarius, praeterea et quidam alii de veteribus amicis, ad me nomine caesareae maiestatis scripserunt, ut ex me [expis]carentur, si mihi mens esset rubri suscipiendi galeri. ... mihi seriam operam esse pollicitam . Quibus re... [maiestati caesa]reae summas gratias habui meque eam tam in me ... et longe minus istiusmodi excelsum fastigium pro... eius maiestas caesarea pro sua in me ... [cle]mentia gratissimam gratiam facere vel[let] ... [apud] Poloniae regem efficeret, ut me eius ...geret, ne umquam extra episcopatus m[ei fines] ... tantum abesse, quod ego id amb[iam] ... dignitate maiores sumptus ... ob id scribo, cum iam omni ..., dum parum me attingit ... Maiestatum Vestrarum gratiam habeam ....
Nova, quae ad praesens apud nos narrantur, licet non admodum sint certa, ut tamen iussis Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae satisfiat, sic habent: Rumor huc perl[a]tus est Scotos superiores fuisse Anglis magna caede edita. Quando ver[o] et quibus modis facta sit et quomodo cuncta successerint, nondum compertum habetur.
Ex Suecia fertur quod incolae illi strennue suum persequuntur tyrannum, quem confoederati deseruisse omnes dicuntur, quorum unus Danorum rex, cum illi nuper quadringentos equites et pedites octingentos per speciem, ut aiunt, mittere statuisset, causabatur milites eo proficisci reluctatos esse . Quidam autumant, quod fratrem suum hinc a sororio suo evocatum Suecis praeficere conetur. Lubecenses item et Hamburgenses ducem Magnipolensem vulgo Mekelburgensem Albertum, qui etiam superioribus annis ad Daniae regnum aspiraverat, ipsis Suecis tumultuantibus, suppetiis missis, regem statuere intendunt, sicque lis est de paupere regno.
Dux Iuliacensis cum adhaerentibus, Iuliaco amisso, quod oppidum caesareani adhuc occupant, contra domum Burgundiae et principem Arangiae de Nassaw comitem exercitum ducere perhibetur. De caesare et Gallo scribitur, quod uterque suis sub capitali poena interdixerit, ne quis ex eorum dicionibus de his, quae in illis aguntur, quicquam scribere audeat. Quo fortassis fit, quod ex illis regionibus nihil ad nos perfertur.
Si quid postea se offeret, perscribam non gravate, modo Serenissima Maiestas Vestra ea in eiusmodi aestimatione a me suscipiat, qua ad me perveniunt, raro enim aliud, quam quae a mercatoribus narrantur, a quibus vani rumores saepe prodeunt , scribere soleo.
Quod garriendo per alienum calamum prolixior et Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae molestior sum, veniam mihi dari oro, qu[a]ndoquidem manu mea uti adhuc nequeo, quae a scapulis usque, utroque humero dolore ex humoribus praepedito, impotentiam contraxit, qua et totum fere corpus est aggravatum. Dominus Deus faciat mecum secundum magnam misericordiam suam.
Qui ut Sacram Maiestatem Vestram in porrectissima tempora florentem, sospitem atque felicissimam conservet, intime precor, meque eiusdem Serenissimae Maiestatis clementiae suppliciter commendo.
Datae etc., prima Ianuarii 1543.
Postscript:
Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae litteras ... Domino thesaurario harum terrarum e vestigio [tra]nsmisi. Pro benigna benevolaque intercessione, quam Serenissima Maiestas Vestra ... burgrabiatus spectato domino Georgio Scheffke ad meam [commendatio]nem pollicetur, gratias quas possum habeo. Interim ... Cathedrae Sancti Petri adveniat Serenissima Maiestas Vestra ...s negotii oblivisci, ego item non intermittam ... [Serenissimam Maiestatem] Vestram suo tempore humiliter commonefacere etc.