Letter #1367
Cornelis DE SCHEPPER & Godschalk ERICKSEN (SASSENKERLE) to Ioannes DANTISCUSLüneburg, 1535-10-27
English register:
Because he had to travel to the meeting of the Wendish towns, De Schepper decided not to send his last letter from Bruges, but to take it with him and send it from Bremen or Lüneburg to Gdańsk. He describes his journey by ship from Sluis to Harlingen in Frisia. In Dordrecht he was joined by Godtschalk Ericksen, who was still weak after his illness. From Harlingen they travelled to Eastern Frisia, and they reached Emden after an arduous journey, due to heavy storms. They were hospitably received by the counts Enno and Johann of East Frisia, both old friends of Dantiscus and De Schepper. Exhausted by the war with Balthasar Oomkens von Esens, the counts have allied themselves with the Duke of Guelders [Charles II]. They were pleased to learn that Dantiscus was in good health and they frequently recalled their friendship. De Schepper should convey their greetings to him. Upon their arrival in Bremen they met Wolfgang von Affenstein, envoy for Elector Palatine Ludwig V to the Wendish towns, in order to urge them to peace. He also welcomed the news about Dantiscus, and wanted to be recommended to him. Dantiscus must realise that he still has many friends.
With Affenstein they travelled to Lüneburg where the meeting of the Wendish towns had been summoned. No delegates from Gdańsk were present. They had an interview with the mayor of Lübeck, Nicolaus Brömse, and with Anton von Stiten, a member of the Lübeck town council, in which they declared that they had a mandate to settle the disputes, and mentioned that the city of Gdańsk supports the Dutch and that the other subjects of the Emperor [Charles V] have the support of Gdańsk, in accordance with the navigation agreement between the Netherlands and Gdańsk. They have informed the citizens of Gdańsk of these proposals and requested them to send delegates to Brabant and Flanders, and to offer possible suggestions for a solution to the conflict, which is the express will of the Queen [Mary of Hungary]. De Schepper will also entrust this present letter to the messenger to Gdańsk.
They urged the representatives of the Wendish towns to seek ways to a lasting peace in Denmark. They informed them that Count Palatine Fridrich II has married the Emperor's niece [Dorothea], rightful heir of King Christian II of Denmark, and stressed that he will stand on his rights to the Danish throne. He has the support of the Emperor, who prefers nonetheless that Fridrich should enforce his rights in a peaceful manner. Wolfgang von Affenstein confirmed the stance of his prince. The Wendish towns took no position, leaving the decision to Lübeck. The Lübeck delegates postponed any decision until after the conference on the pacification of Denmark, which is to be held in Hamburg within two weeks, in the presence of the Elector of Saxony [Georg von Wettin], the Duke of Holstein [Christian III], the Duke of Lüneburg [Ernst of Brauschweig-Lüneburg], Duke Albrecht [of Mecklenburg-Schwerin] and his brother Heinrich. De Schepper will convey this information to his employers. He regrets the rejection of a negotiated solution and fears the consequences for those who prefer war to peace. He emphasises the talents and merits of Fridrich. The Emperor will not tolerate his authority being thus scorned; as a result the future could prove much worse than the past.
In Münster the captured king of the Anabaptists, Jan van Leyden, will soon be locked alive in an iron cage and exposed to birds of prey and cold. His fellow instigators of the rebellion, Bernthard Knipperdollinck and Bernhard Krechting, will accompany him to hell.
The King of England [Henry VIII] had several innocent men executed, including the Cardinal of Rochester [John Fisher] and Thomas More, because they refused to recognise him as the head of the Anglican church and to approve his incestuous marriage. De Schepper was informed of these executions by Eustache Chapuys, the imperial ambassador in England. The rumoured attempts at an agreement between the Kings of England and France are confounded by the good fortune of the Emperor. Heinrich Treusch von Buttlar, who was sent together with De Schepper and Ericksen to the Wendish towns as envoy of King [Ferdinand I], became ill and had to stay behind in Braunschweig.
Postscript 1: De Schepper will spend the winter at the court of Queen Mary, unless he is summoned by the Emperor in Naples. Godtschalck Ericksen will probably return to the Emperor.
Postscript 2: He sends Dantiscus a report on the African expedition.
Addition by Godtschalck Ericksen: He has nothing to add to the detailed report given by De Schepper on behalf of both of them. He recommends himself to Dantiscus, and assures him of his willingness to render him any possible service.
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Ioanni Dantisco episcopo Culmensi, administratori Pomesaniensi etc., domino tamquam patri honorandissimo
Reverendissime in Christo Pater, domine honorandissime.
Post ultimas istas meas perscriptas Brugis affuit tempus, quo adesse me decuit itineri ad civitates Vandalicas ob res in illis ipsis satis copiose narratas. Ratus igitur fore, ut invenirem conterraneos tuos Gedanenses Luneburgi, distuli easdem litteras meas alicui alteri quam mihimet credere, quod arbitrarer commodius illas et citius Brema aut Luneburgo quam Brugis deferri Gedanum posse. Itaque ex Sclusa navigio solvens nulla re memorabili in itinere occurente veni Dordracum Hollandiae inventoque ibi domino Godtscalco Eryco Saxocarolo nostro adhuc languente et debili iter fecimus Gawdam. Inde ad Ambsterdamum contendimus navigiis usi parvis, quae res nos paene et proximo proximius in conspectu urbis submersit. Inde solventes in Frisiam validis adacti tempestatibus coacti sumus subsistere in oppido ignobili ad dies aliquot, quod non idoneae ad navigandum tempestates negarent ulteriorem nobis progressum, donec post triduum tranquillo magis mari venimus ad Herlingam oppidum continentis Frisiae. Inde, cum vellemus partim terra, qua patebat iter, partim mari venire in Orientalem Frisiam, magnas pertulimus incommoditates tempestatum, quibus evictis ven <i> mus Emedam ad flumen Amasum ad comites Ennonem et Ioannem, quorum alter Bononiae frequens apud te hospes fuit, alterum novisti Bruxellae. Eos iam diutino bello cum Balthasare quodam exhaustos dux Ghelriae in partes traxit suas. Ab his humanissime pro veteri notitia suscepti sumus et habiti atque inter recordationem praeteritarum familiaritatum, quod scirent te nobis amicissimum fuisse, quaesiverunt, num superesses. Et cum intelligerent rectissime valere, plurimum sunt gavisi rogaveruntque, ut tibi ipsorum nomine plurimam salutem apprecarer, si quando scripturus essem. Quod et facturum esse me recepi, et facio, ne putes amicos omnes tuos, quos plures habes, quam scire possis, sine tui memoria vivere.
Quin et cum Bremam advenissemus, affuit ibi magnificus dominus Wolfangus ab Affenstain eques, magister et praefectus domus illustrissimi domini Ludovici palatini principis electoris ex parte dominorum suorum missus, ut ad bona media et ad ea, quae sunt pacis, adhortaretur civitates Vandalicas, ut animum intenderent. Is quanto gaudio audierit de tua incolumitate, nolo litteris percensere. Familiaritatem tecum habitam neque destitit, neque desistit commendare, seque iussit, ut tibi de meliore nota commendatum facerem et ex animo salutarem. Adeo tibi ex amicis suboriuntur amici, quos falleris, si vulgares putes.
Cum hoc profecti sumus Luneburgum, ubi conventus quidem fuit praefatarum civitatum indictus in duodecimum Octobris, eoque appulimus XVI-a. Ceterum ex parte Gedanensium tuorum nullus. Proinde locuti sumus cum domino Nicolao Bromse restituto burgimagistro Lubicensium equite aurato etc. et domino Anthonio de Styten uno ex consiliariis praefatae civitatis Lubicae eisque significavimus nos ibi adesse cum mandato de finiendo controversias et differentias et easdem componendo, quas vestri Gedanenses sibi adesse dicerent cum Hollandis et aliis subditis caesareae maiestatis, secundum quod continet articulus compromissi inter nos et illos facti super negotio navigationum. Quibus visum est esse expediens, idem significaremus per litteras praefatis Gedanensibus. Prout facimus eosdem requirentes, ut suos cum pleno mandato mittant in Brabantiam aut Flandriam, aut, si quid aliud norint, quod ad eam rem facere possit, non graventur reginalem maiestatem desuper facere certiorem, esse enim illius mentem, ut velit sublata esse seminaria omnia dissensionum. Per illum erg[o] nuntium, per quem haec Gedanensibus tuis significamus, mittimus praesentes etiam litteras ad te non dubitantes, quin bona fide sint perferendae.
De reliquo negotio hoc habe. Admonuimus civitates, ut cogitarent de talibus mediis, quae concernunt pacificationem regni Daniae, ut per illa media possit solidum aliquid fieri, ne accidat, quod aliquando solet, ut, dum credunt egregie cautum esse negotiis suis, tum demum primum periclitentur, neque enim ignotum illis esse voluimus ducem Fridericum palatinum duxisse neptem caesaris ex sorore, filiam Christierni regis Danorum veram heredem futuram. Qui quidem dux Fridericus non esset permissurus aliquid de iure suo decedere et ad id interpellasset maiestatem caesaream, quae, ut caesar non posset omittere, quin administraret iustitiam petentibus, adhortaretur tamen eundem ducem, ut amicitia potius quam vi experiretur, si ad ius suum pervenire posset. Eadem haec a praefato domino Wolfango de Affenstain nomine principis sui proposita. Ad quae post multa verba utrimque data solidi nihil est a civitatibus responsum reicientibus rem omnem in solam Lubicam. Cuius urbis commissarii post transactos aliquot dies, quibus nos in suspenso tenuerunt, responderunt se pro mediis facientibus ad pacificationem regnorum praefatorum Daniae inveniendis iussos esse comparere Hamburgi, quo in loco personaliter futuri essent illustres principes: dux elector Saxoniae, dux Holsatiae, dux Luneburgi, dux Albertus cum fratre Henrico Mechelburgenses intra dies quattuordecim. Ibi transactum iri super hac re. Prius se nihil posse nobis respondere. Adesse si vellemus, id nobis liberum fore. Quod responsum ab illis accepimus nuntiabimusque dominis nostris, quorum ea est prudentia, ut sciant, quid ab illis spectare debeant. Dolemus tamen nos, qui avidi sumus pacis inter Christianos introducendae, quod ea est hominum caecitas quorundam, ut adversus Deum, ius et aequum putent se posse sua tueri neque ad bona media descendere velint, quasi aliquid violentum diu possit esse perpetuum. Quin et non tam stupidi sumus, quin intelligamus, quorsum haec vergant. Sane si caesarea maiestas tot indignitatibus excitata aliquando expergefiat, id quod video fieri necessum esse, experientur nonnulli suo cum malo, quam sinistro consilio ea, quae pacis sunt, bello postposuerint. Sunt in Friderico duce magnae dotes, genus et opes in Germania in ea familia primae, de Rhomano imperio de multis particulariter bene meritus est. Ludicra sunt praeterita, si conferantur cum iis, quae imminent. Atque adeo ipsa maiestas caesarea non aequo feret animo ita vilem haberi auctoritatem suam, ut in re iustissima contemnatur. Qua de re illos sollicitos esse iubemus, quorum interest. Nobis nihil seritur, nihil aratur, quibus abunde gratia Dei est, tantum nolebam omittere, quin ad te scriberem.
Rerum novarum neque apud nos neque hic quicquam est aliud, nisi quod Ioannes de Leydis rex anababtistarum in Monasterio urbe captus adhuc vivit et in signum trophei paratur illi cavea ferrea, cui includetur capite tenus, et ita ab altissima turre vivus exponetur corvis et volucribus esca in hoc ingente frigore. Quod si anni tempus pateretur, melle delibutus expositus fuisset apibus et muscis. Ne vero solus et incomitatus vadat ad inferos, adiungentur illi sceleratissimi nebulones, scilicet Bernardus Clippelduninck et Bernhardt Krechtingk, infamis illius seditionis primipili. In tempore aderimus Monasterii, ut simus spectatores.
Rex Angliae defensor ecclesiae viros innocentes multos foedo mortis genere affici fecit, et in his Ioannem cardinalem Roffensem et Thomam Morum. Quorum capita perticis affixa maestum populo in ponte Londoniensi spectaculum prebuere. Causa mortis, quod nollent eum fateri caput esse ecclesiae Anglicanae et pontificem maximum regni illius, simul quod incestas ipsius nuptias detestarentur. Agit ibidem adhuc Eustachius noster, quam(!) Vulpeculam nosti dictam(!) esse, oratorem nomine caesaris magna cum gratia ordinum omnium et summa cum prudentia. Ex cuius ad me litteris de morte Roffensis et Mori, et aliorum factus sum certior. Plurima de conventu principum Angliae et Franciae publicata fuere, sed sine fructu, superat enim omnium conatus Caroli caesaris fortuna. Heri ad nos venerunt litterae a domino Henricho Treusch de Butler equite, qui vulgo vocatur Langhess, oratore regis Rhomanorum penes nos ordinato ad civitates Vandalicas, quod subsisteret Brunswici aegrotus. Illius praesentia quia pro responso, quod a Vandalicis accepimus civitatibus, haudquaquam est necessaria, permittetur ibidem quiescere. Nos autem die crastino, qui est Symonis et Iudae, hinc discedemus, quod tibi noluimus esse ignotum, ad quem per opportunitatem scribemus.
Et bene vale, Domine et amice honorandissime.
Datae Luneburgi, die XXVII-a Octobris anno Domini XV-c XXXV-o.
Ex animo Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae inservitor et filius Cornelius Duplicius Scepperus scripsit
Postscript No. 1:
Hanc hiemem spero me transacturum in aula reginae Mariae, nisi vocer Neapolim ad caesarem. Godtscalcus noster haud dubie rediturus est ad eundem caesarem. Salutamus vos omnes.
Postscript No. 2:
Mitto ad Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram aliquot quaterniones de expeditione Aphricana, quamquam satis puto eadem illa Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae sat nota esse, in omnem tamen eventum.
Reverendissime in Christo Pater, domine observandissime.
Cum dominus Cornelius Scepperus omnia, quae nunc occurrunt, ad Vestram Reverendissimam Dominationem abunde utriusque nomine scripserit, superfluum videtur eadem diversis litteris repetere. Commendo tamen me ex toto pectore Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationi, cui omnia felicissima apprecor, et si quid umquam fuerit, in quo Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationi inservire possim, comperiet omnia defuisse potius, quam bonam voluntatem.
Datum Luneburgi, 27 Octobris.
Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationis deditissimus inservitor Sassenkerle Gotschalcus