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Letter #975

Stanisław KOSTKA to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Marienburg (Malbork), 1533-07-08
            received [1533]-07-09

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, BCz, 243, p. 307-312

Prints:
1AT 15 No. 344, p. 471-472 (in extenso; Polish register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BCz, 243, p.307

Reverendissime in Christo pater et domine, domine semper gratiosissime. Post obsequiorum meorum indefessam promptitudinem.

Ad informationem Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis et magnifici domini palatini Pomeraniae etc. atque meam de aedificatione templi Marienburgensis, qualis s(erenissimae) or s(acrae)s(erenissimae)s(erenissimae) or s(acrae) regiae maiestatis, domini mei clementissimi, animus sit, Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio ex inclusa hac scheda ex litteris regiis, quantum ad eum punctum attinet, excerpta, intelliget.

Ceterum cum proximis elapsis diebus villam Kulborn huc ad arcem Marienburgensem spectantem, ab ipso magnifico domino castellano Gdanensi, ne bonis hereditariis Kirspurgensibus incorporaretur, optaverim, Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio utriusque partis praesentato negotio errorem quendam per cancellariam in nomine commissum declaravit atque voluit, ut eundem errorem declarationi et determinationi s(erenissimae) or s(acrae)s(erenissimae)s(erenissimae) or s(acrae) regiae maiestatis, domini mei clementissimi, permitterem, quod ego pro iussis Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis quam lubentissime suscepi, tamen nec Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio huic declarationi aliquem iniunxit terminum et, ne in officio meo negligens suspicer Io, rogo Reverendissimam Vestram Dominationem iam tandem huic negotio prospicere dignetur, ut huic determinationi regiae dies sive terminus assignetur.

Accepi insuper, quamvis non certe, nonnullos harum terrarum dominos consiliarios me apud reverendissimum dominum episcopum Cracoviensem ac regni Poloniae cancellarium et dominum meum gratiosissimum detulisse, quod ego in contemptum et despectum dominorum consiliariorum eis ipsis nonnulla cognomina imposuissem et cum in BCz, 243, p. 308 {in} eo negotio cum Reverendissima Vestra Dominatione egerim, eampiam meam innocentiam et excusationem quam facillime admittere dignata, quod et apud omnes dominos consiliarios fecissem, si rescivissem tale quidquam in personam meam ab aliquo hominum apud eorum magnificentias et dominationes alere. Nihilominus tamen, cum Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis unicum patrocinium mihi imploro eamque primatem huius patriae mihi facile persuadeo, obsequentissime eam ipsam precor et obtestor, dignetur iam denique mihi consilii esse, quo modo me hac re expurgem, nam id faciam, si quis aperta fronte et rei veritate, quiscumque ille fuerit, id factum in faciem impingere audebit, pro votis Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis et omnium dominorum consiliariorum me expurgabo et, si tum denique per innocentiam meae expurgationi non dabitur locus, Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis correctioni subiacebo. Nam Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis praecipue et omnium dominorum consiliariorum gratiam mihi non aliter atque vitam ipsam observo, cui me omnibus obsequiis meis unice in patrocinium commendo, quam Deus Optimus Maximus diu sanam et incolumem conservare dignetur.

Ignem Lubaviae grassatum ut condoleam his scriptis, ipsa amicitia postulat, sed ne dolorem dolori aut flammae oleum addere videar, ut taceam, animus persuadet. Attamen ne Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio aliter de me sentiat, precor, quam de eo, qui ex animo et cum Reverendissima Vestra Dominatione et omnibus conflagratis condolet. Quibus me iterum gratiae Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis commendo.

Ex Marienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)MarienburgkMarienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia), 6 Iulii anno etc. XXXIII hidden by binding[II]II hidden by binding.

Eiusdem Reverendissimae Vestrae D(ominationi) or D(ominationis)D(ominationi)D(ominationi) or D(ominationis) deditissimus Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer 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)Stanislaus KostkaStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer 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) de Stangen hidden by binding[gen]gen hidden by bindingbergk, terrarum Prussiae thesaurarius hidden by binding[thesaurarius]thesaurarius hidden by binding

Enclosure:

BCz, 243, p. 309

Sumus[1] contenti, ut cives Marienburgenses aedificia ecclesiae suae continuent ea dumtaxat muri spissitudine, quae antiqua fundamenta non excedat, maiorem vero spissitudinem ipsius muri et murum alium novum in novo fundamento tu nequaquam fieri permittas propter securitatem castri nostri Marienburgensis, cuius moeniis ecclesia praedicta nimis adiecta est.

[1] Excerpt from the letter of the King Sigismund I Jagiellon to Stanisław Kostka.