Reverendissimo in Christo patri et domino, domino Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌊IoanniIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌋ Dei gratia episcopo Culmensi [fratri] et amico carissimo ac plurimum honorando

Reverendissime in Christo pater et domine, domine frater et amice carissime ac plurimum honorande.

Litteras Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae ex ipsius nuntio accepi causasque istas omnes non sine dolore animi ad cor revocavi, quae non minus me quam ipsam Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram urgent. Et a gravioribus atque adeo ipso domino Stanislao Costka exordium faciens, visum est mihi (salvo saniore Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae iudicio) ita contra ipsum procedendum esse, quemadmodum in exemplari a me congesto et ex maiori parte ex litteris Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae recepto videbit.

Quod autem in eo exemplari nulla de capulo ensis attacto fit mentio, haec causa est, quod nemo, quantum ego scio, praeter Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram et me hoc vidit. Et domini forsan de hoc gravatim testimonium praebebunt. Tamen scribam hoc ipsum reverendissimo domino episcopo Premislie[nsi]. Similibus est usus gestibus erga me, cum seorsim illi loquerer, unam manum in altum elevatam, alteram super capulum gladii habens. Et hunc superbum morem eum habere [eoque] contra magnificum dominum Georgium a Baysen palatinum Marienburgensem etc. atque etiam Ludowicum de Mortangen castellanum Elbigensem ipsum uti vidi.

Quod magnificus dominus capitaneus Marienburgensis Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae suam opem et operam offert, libenter audio, nihil dubitans, quin et plures alios tales habeat fautores et amicos, ita se offerentes. Ceterum rogandus est Dominus Deus, ne illorum ope et opera nobis opus sit. Nam expertus sum, quid mecum in transactione inter sacram regiam maiestatem et ducem Prussiae actum sit, ubi tunc amici mei ostentatione sola causa fuerunt et consilium dederunt, quod contra pacta pacis retenta mihi fuerunt oppida Braunsberg et Tolkemit et anno praeterito subditos meos, vilissimos homines, contra me concitaverunt, ubi et eorum servitores adiuncto sibi subdito meo, plebano meo in Wormedit, insidias tetenderunt. Ita expertus sum, quod nobis ecclesiasticis non bene volunt, unum ore loquentes et aliud corde tenentes. Idcirco summe consulo Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae, ut bonam rationem habeat malignitatis horum temporum et hanc causam cum Costka sinat transigi per sacram regiam maiestatem, apud quam sicut ex litteris reverendissimi domini Premisliensis intellexi, iam iecit bonum fundamentum ac quantum suo alto consilio, salvo tamen honore, fieri potest, pacem sibi quaerat.

De causa Jacob Kampe(n) (Jacob Campe(n), Iacobus Campensis), a merchant from Gdańsk⌊Iacobi CampeJacob Kampe(n) (Jacob Campe(n), Iacobus Campensis), a merchant from Gdańsk⌋ profecto est dominis consiliariis universis magna illata iniuria. Confeci informationem, ut ex nunc proxime Marienburgensi conventu ad maiestatem regiam specialibus litteris scriberetur eo, quod domino Zcema, qui est adversarius Jacob Kampe(n) (Jacob Campe(n), Iacobus Campensis), a merchant from Gdańsk⌊CampeJacob Kampe(n) (Jacob Campe(n), Iacobus Campensis), a merchant from Gdańsk⌋ et 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)⌊CostkaStanisław 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)⌋, sine suspicione non sit referenda, potest tamen postulare responsum, id quod dominationi eius iniungendum est et potest etiam adicere aliquid ex his, quae in Grudnicensi conventu in commissis accepit. Maximopere mihi necessarium videtur, quod Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima ipsum dominum Zcema diligenter adhortetur, ut omnia et fideliter et sinceriter agat expediatque.

Si dominus Zcema vel Citizens of Gdańsk ⌊GedanensesCitizens of Gdańsk ⌋ aliquo modo vacillarent et conceptum et iniunctum iter (quod non spero) prosequi postponerent, in aliquo loco et, si placeret propter debilitatem meam, Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities (beside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń)) which had representatives in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌊ElbingiElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities (beside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń)) which had representatives in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌋ conveniendum nobis erit, si modo 1534-05-08⌊festum Stanislai1534-05-08⌋ foret nobis in mora periculosum.

De causa Holste praestolari me op[ortet] rei eventum. Doleo autem vehementer, quod cum tam vili hom[ine de] honore meo contendere debeo, timens, ne mihi soli ia[m c]um Holste, quod omnibus nobis cum Campe actum est, conting[at]. Scio enim stilum istius curiae.

In his et praemissis omnibus habeat Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra pro sua censura corrigendi, addendi ac minuendi etc. facultatem. Et rogo Eandem, quo velit deliberare et mentem suam cum hoc meo proprio nuntio rescribere, quem propterea mitto, ne Vestra Reverendissima Dominatio nimium in nuntiis sit gravata.

Est etiam pro foribus festum divae Luciae, quod moram non patitur. Igitur etc.

Quod Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra ad Diet of Poland ⌊conventumDiet of Poland ⌋, quia non vocata, venire neque vult, neque potest, assentior sententiae Eiusdem. Ego autem vocatus scripsi me illuc venturum, consulens autem medicos ac directores corporis et sanitatis meae, non solum non suadent, verum etiam prohibent, praesertim hoc brumali tempore, nisi me ipsum velim morti obicere. Vexant enim me etiam praeter solitas aegritudines aliae quaedam, de quibus nudius tertius in litteris meis mentionem feci. Itaque quod mecum statui, mortis terrore absterritus, adimplere nequeo. Nam habeo adhuc prae oculis, quod hoc tempore, praesertim in Natalis Christiani diebus, bis ad mortem usque aegrotavi. Spero itaque, quod in hac inevitabili necessitate Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra et alii domini me habebunt excusatum. Nam etiam si ambo in eo Diet of Poland ⌊conventuDiet of Poland ⌋ praesentes essemus, nescio, an aliquid plus, quam in his litteris scriptum est, conficere possemus, nisi haberemus primum a 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 Austria⌊regia maiestateSigismund 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⌋ responsum. Et quantum credo et coniecto, legatio regia in hunc conventum non erit magni ponderis.

Quod civitates reddunt se ad iurandum in consilium difficiles, nihil aliud de hoc scio, nisi quod in prioribus conventibus in se ad proponendum maioribus suis susceperunt.

Praeterea non esset conveniens, ut ex hoc ita subito a gubernio patriae desisteremus. Nam (ut aiunt) uno ictu non cadit arbor. Oporte[t i]taque rationes eorum primum audire. Quod r[o]gat Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra, ut has res gestas sacrae regiae maiestati ac reverendissimo domino [episcopo] Premisliensi describerem, de Campe et Holste ad longum [scripsi] binis litteris, unas dedi Marienburgi Kostka, alteras ..., qui hinc celeri cursu in Wilnam concessit. De Costka ... non feci mentionem et puto secundum datam litterarum ipsius C[a]mpe, quod tunc litterae meae erant in manibus ipsius domini episcopi Premisliensis. Vestra Reverendissima Dominatio deliberavit in hospitio meo in Graudenz (Grudziądz, Graudentium), city in Poland, Voivodeship of Pomerania, on the upper east bank of the Vistula, Graudenz (taking turns with Marienburg (Malbork)) was the venue for the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌊GraudentzGraudenz (Grudziądz, Graudentium), city in Poland, Voivodeship of Pomerania, on the upper east bank of the Vistula, Graudenz (taking turns with Marienburg (Malbork)) was the venue for the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌋, illico cum veniret in Althausen (Starogród, Antiquum Castrum), town on the Vistula river, ca. 1.5 km S of Kulm, initial location of Kulm; given to the Kulm cathedral by Alexander Jagiellon, it was the summer residence of the Kulm bishops⌊Antiquum CastrumAlthausen (Starogród, Antiquum Castrum), town on the Vistula river, ca. 1.5 km S of Kulm, initial location of Kulm; given to the Kulm cathedral by Alexander Jagiellon, it was the summer residence of the Kulm bishops⌋, nuntium ad Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊regemGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ mittere velle. Utinam id factum fuisset. Nunc autem satisfaciendo desiderio Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae etiam scribo domino Premisliensi, prout in exemplari videbit.

Ex quo autem dominus Zcema nuntius ad regem vadit et seorsum consiliarii scribent, non est mihi visum, ut ultra eorum scripta alias exarem litteras et mihi plus aliquid arrogem, quam ceteri faciunt, quod mihi magis ad insipientiam quam sapientiam imputari posset et spero, quod erit Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima in hoc pro nunc contenta. De domino de Woynow, qui inservit reginali maiestati, nullum comperio mihi a Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima ad reginalem maiestatem scribendi modum datum. Si utique voluerit, ut scribam, det mihi argumentum. Sed arbitror conveniens, ut hoc negotium usque ad reditum domini Czema, cum quo reginalis maiestas desiderat loqui, quiescat. De litteris illustris domini ducis in causa Fincke et Sperling nihil est, quod moveat. Viderit ipse. Scio ipsum talem, quod non facile a concepto suo declinari possit.

Tandem Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram rogo, velit haec mea omnia tam bono et grato animo suscipere, legere et interpretari, quam sunt a me candido quidem animo, sed non sine labore et anxietate scripta. Et si quid eidem Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationi adversi accideret, pro posse meo ipsam non destituam. Nam scio nihil eam vel petituram vel desideraturam, nisi quod fert et possibilitas et honestas. Quam et Dominus Deus pro mutua nostra amicitia diutissime salvam et incolumem conservet, precor.

Ex Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland⌊HeilsbergHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland⌋, III Decembris anno MDXXXIII.

Eiusdem Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae totus bonus frater Mauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)⌊Mauritius episcopus WarmiensisMauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)⌋