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Letter #3909

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Sigismund I Jagiellon
Braunsberg (Braniewo), 1545-01-29

English register:

After the conclusion of the Diet [of Royal Prussia] at Elbing (Elbląg), which was devoted to legal cases, a messenger of the king [Sigismund I] reached Dantiscus with a letter dated 17 January. In it, the king summoned Dantiscus to come to court in order to take part in deliberations concerning the affairs of Royal Prussia. Dantiscus mentions that we will arrive several days before Laetare Sunday [14 March]. In the meantime, the inflamed tempers of the defendants [the city council of Gdańsk (Danzig)] will have cooled somewhat, and Dantiscus will gather such intelligence as he considers useful to the king. It would be advisable for the castellan of Elbing and the treasurer of Prussia [Stanisław Kostka] to accompany him to court.

Dantiscus considers it unnecessary to describe the course of the Diet [of Royal Prussia], devoted as it was to legal cases, at which almost all matters were resolved, with the exception of those which by law needed to be adjourned.

The councillors [of Royal Prussia] appealed to Dantiscus to ask the king to indulge their failure to reply to the king’s letter concerning the tax, as well as to the letter in which he expressed his displeasure at the letter of recommendation [issued for the citizens of Gdańsk in the matter of the king’s efforts to recover Putzig (Puck)] sent from the last Diet [of Royal Prussia] in Graudenz (Grudziądz). The councillors point out that the assembly was not attended by any of the voivodes [Mikołaj Działyński, Voivode of Pomerania; Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński), Voivode of Marienburg (Malbork); Johann von Lusian (Jan Luzjański), Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno)] or by the castellan of Kulm [Jan Sokołowski]. Deliberations on the drafting of a reply were deferred to the spring Diet [of Royal Prussia]. [The remaining text of this paragraph is damaged.] Those who remained at the place of deliberations were the bishop of Kulm [Tiedemann Giese], the envoy of the city of Thorn (Toruń) [Adrianus Fridewalt (Adrian Fredewald)], and the representatives of the city authorities of Elbing, who submitted a request [this most likely concerns the circulation of copies of the royal letter to the absent members of the council of Royal Prussia, and the written consultations regarding a petition to the king to defer the matter of Putzig to the spring Diet of Royal Prussia; cf. Dantiscus’s letter to Samuel Maciejowski, IDL 3853].

Dantiscus makes mention of the bishop of Płock [Samuel Maciejowski]. [The text of this paragraph is damaged; Dantiscus may have been informing the king that he had described the current situation in Royal Prussia at greater length in his letter to Maciejowski].




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 7, f. 44v

 

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

 

Reddidit mihi Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌊ElbingiElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌋, iam iudiciario Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventuProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ dissoluto, is servant (cubicularius) of Sigismund I Jagiellon ⌊cubiculariusservant (cubicularius) of Sigismund I Jagiellon ⌋ Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae cf. Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1545-01-17, CIDTC IDL 6614, letter lost⌊litterascf. Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1545-01-17, CIDTC IDL 6614, letter lost⌋ 1545-01-17⌊XVII huius mensis1545-01-17⌋ scriptas, quas summa observantia legens, non potui intimo gaudio non affici . Singularem enim in me regiam clementiae propensionem liquidissime ferebant, eo quod me, qui longe opinioni de me conceptae sim inferior, clementer ad se vocavit , ut in negotiis Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊harum terrarumRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ Serenissimae Maiestati Regiae inservirem. [Quam]vis me inep[tum ac minus ha]bilem ob desue[tudinem atque] alias affec[tiones] sentiam , quia tamen a primis iuventutis meae annis longo usu iam habitum illiusmodi servitutis induerim, adeo benignae in me voluntati regiae non reluctandum, s[ed] libenter obsequendum duxi, sollicitudinem omnem tenuitatis meae, quam Wrocław (Breslau, Vratislavia), city in Silesia, on the Oder river, from 1526 ruled by the Habsburgs, today in southwestern Poland⌊VratislaviensisWrocław (Breslau, Vratislavia), city in Silesia, on the Oder river, from 1526 ruled by the Habsburgs, today in southwestern Poland⌋ et novissime Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CracoviensisCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ profectio mihi intulit, in grat[ia]m Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae reponens, quae me prius numquam destituit. Venturus sum itaque paucos dies ante 1544-03-15⌊Dominicam Laetare1544-03-15⌋, ut interim citatorum animi inflam[mati] aliqua ex parte tepescant, et ego hic, quae putavero rebus Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae accommoda, undecumque exquirere et mecum afferre possim. Expediretque plurimum, ut generosus dominus 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)⌊castellanus ElbingensisStanisław 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)⌋ Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae in Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊iis terrisRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ thesaurarius mecum adesset, quod non abs re scribo etc.

Ceterum, quae in transacto iudiciario Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventuProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ acta sunt, ubi causae fer[e] omnes litigantium ceperunt determinationem, praeter eas, quae de iure dilationes exigebant, non opere pretium est scribere.

Hoc tamen existimavi addendum, dominos consiliarios a me rogass[e] Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram submisse deprecari, ne inclementer ferre velit, quod litteris Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae de contributione et illis, quibus propter commendaticia[s] in negotio Pucensi ex proximis Graudentinis Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊comitiisProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ datis non immerito expostulat, non responderint, quandoquidem nemo Mikołaj Działyński (Nikolaus von Dzialin) (†1545), from 1507 royal courtier; 1510–1528 Chamberlain of Dobrzyń; 1528–1544 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1544–1545 Voivode of Pomerania; Starost of Bratian, Strasburg in Preussen (Brodnica), and Dobrzyń. (PSB 6, p. 92-94; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 204)

Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński) (*1469 – †1546), 1503–1512 Chamberlain of Marienburg (Malbork); 1512–1546 Voivode of Marienburg (PSB 1, p. 377)

Johann von Lusian (Jan Luzjański) (*before 1470 – †1551), brother of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1514–1551 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno); 1520–1525 Burgrave of Rössel (Reszel) (PSB 18, p. 166-167)⌊palatinorumMikołaj Działyński (Nikolaus von Dzialin) (†1545), from 1507 royal courtier; 1510–1528 Chamberlain of Dobrzyń; 1528–1544 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1544–1545 Voivode of Pomerania; Starost of Bratian, Strasburg in Preussen (Brodnica), and Dobrzyń. (PSB 6, p. 92-94; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 204)

Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński) (*1469 – †1546), 1503–1512 Chamberlain of Marienburg (Malbork); 1512–1546 Voivode of Marienburg (PSB 1, p. 377)

Johann von Lusian (Jan Luzjański) (*before 1470 – †1551), brother of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1514–1551 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno); 1520–1525 Burgrave of Rössel (Reszel) (PSB 18, p. 166-167)⌋ ob valetudines affectas , similiter neque dominus Jan Sokołowski (Jan of Wrząca) (†1546), in 1533 accused by Ioannes Dantiscus, Bishop of Kulm, of favouring heresy; 1539–1544 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg); 1544–1545 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1545–1546 Voivode of Pomerania (PSB 40/1, p. 131-133)⌊castellanus Culme[nsis]Jan Sokołowski (Jan of Wrząca) (†1546), in 1533 accused by Ioannes Dantiscus, Bishop of Kulm, of favouring heresy; 1539–1544 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg); 1544–1545 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1545–1546 Voivode of Pomerania (PSB 40/1, p. 131-133)⌋ interesse potuit, sine quibus in eo quicquam statuere commodum non videbatur. Reiecta est igitur haec respondendi consultatio ad vernum Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventumProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋. Petiverunt ... Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), ennobled by King Sigismund I in 1519; 1504–1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516–1527 and 1533–1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523–1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537–1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549–1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984)⌊[reverendissi]mus [dominus] CulmensisTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), ennobled by King Sigismund I in 1519; 1504–1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516–1527 and 1533–1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523–1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537–1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549–1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984)⌋ et Adrianus Fridewalt (Adrian Fredewald) (†after 1550), 1517–1530 alderman of Thorn; 1530–1551 councillor of Thorn (MIKULSKI 2001, p. 191)⌊nuntius Thorn City Council ⌊Thorunensiu[m]Thorn City Council ⌋Adrianus Fridewalt (Adrian Fredewald) (†after 1550), 1517–1530 alderman of Thorn; 1530–1551 councillor of Thorn (MIKULSKI 2001, p. 191)⌋, qui nondum abierant, cum Elbing City Council ⌊magistratu ElbingensiElbing City Council ⌋ ..., quas cubicularius iste ... quod per mutuas inte[r] ....

Quae hinc al[ia] ... reverendissimus dominus Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊episcopus P[locensis]Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋ ... a me impense roga... scire ....

... commendo et ut eande[m Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram] Dominus Deus a... incolumem atque felicissim[am] ...us conservet studiosissi[mo] [atque] assidu[o] [anim]o preco[r].