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Letter #1774

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Luis NÚÑEZ CABEZA DE VACA
Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16

English register: Dantiscus is replying to Vaca’s letter, which brought back memories of the times of their friendship in Spain in the service of (imperial) Chancellor Mercurino Gattinara. Dantiscus congratulates Vaca on his transfer from the Canary Islands to the wealthier bishopric of Palencia, and informs him of his own transfer to the Warmia bishopric. He asks him to let the emperor know that he is ready to serve him. With respect to Vaca’s recommendation of Diego Gracián de Alderete as a son-in-law, he replies that he will show Gracián his favor at the proper moment, although the marriage was agreed upon against the will of the father, who wanted to bring his daughter to live with him and find a husband for her here.


Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, autograph, BCz, 244, p. 300 (b.p.)

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8248 (TK 10), f. 644

Prints:
1CEID 1/1 No. 73, p. 326-328 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater, Illustris Domine, frater et amice carissime et honorande. Salutem omnisque accessionem felicitatis Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae precor ex animo

et quas possum gratias habeo, quod post tot curricula intervallaque temporum et locorum familiaritatis inter nos apud vere magnum illum olim cancellarium Mercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌊[Mercurinum] GattinariumMercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌋, cuius animae Deus misereatur, amicissime contra[c]tae in cf. Luis NÚÑEZ CABEZA DE VACA to Ioannes DANTISCUS Valladolid, 1537-07-22, CIDTC IDL 1676⌊suis ad me litteris ex Valladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌊Valle OletiValladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌋ 1537-07-22⌊XXII Iulii praeteriti1537-07-22⌋ datiscf. Luis NÚÑEZ CABEZA DE VACA to Ioannes DANTISCUS Valladolid, 1537-07-22, CIDTC IDL 1676⌋ amantissime meminerit. Quibus me totum fere mente rursus in Spain (Hispania)⌊HispaniasSpain (Hispania)⌋ rapuit atque quam iucunde suaviterque inibi tot annis cum Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima cumque aliis plurimis meis amicis vixerim, refricuit ac in memoriam mihi reduxit. Fuitque mihi apprime gratum, quod ex cf. Plin. Nat. 6.203-205 Iuba de Fortunatis ita inquisivit: Proximam ei Canariam vocari a multitudine canum ingentis magnitudinis ⌊Canaria illa fortunata insula[1], quae a canibus nomen habetcf. Plin. Nat. 6.203-205 Iuba de Fortunatis ita inquisivit: Proximam ei Canariam vocari a multitudine canum ingentis magnitudinis ⌋, ad homines feliciores pinguioremque episcopatum Palencia, city in central Spain, Castile and León, 22 km N of Valladolid, from the 11th century the seat of a bishopric, it flourished economically in the 14th-16th centuries⌊PalenciamPalencia, city in central Spain, Castile and León, 22 km N of Valladolid, from the 11th century the seat of a bishopric, it flourished economically in the 14th-16th centuries⌋ meritis et virtutibus promoventibus a Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊sacratissima caesarea et catholica maiestateCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋ Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima sit translata. Qua in re quantum possum impensius Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae congratulor et Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊sacratissimae caesareae et catholicae maiestatiCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋, quod meritorum multarumque bonarum animi corporisque dotium Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae dignam rationem habuerit, gratias quoad eius a me fieri potest, habeo immortales, Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊eiusque maiestatiCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋ per oportunitatem aliquando, quantuscumque hic s[um] cum facultatibus meis et inserviendi propensatione, a Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima commendari peto. Debeo enim non parum Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊eius maiestatiCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋ gratiarum ob summam clementiam, q[ua] me per ea tempora 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⌊serenissimo rege meo PoloniaeSigismund 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⌋ oratorem est prosecuta, tum etiam, quod auspicia felicitatis meae in aula Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊eius maiestatisCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋ mihi creverint. Unde iis diebus factum est, quod ex hoc meo Culmensi episcopatu ad digniorem longeque abundantiorem, quemadmodum Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima, sim postulatus, in proximoque habita Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌊Sedis ApostolicaeHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌋ confirmatione, pro qua Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌊RomaeRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌋ nunc tractatur, ad Varmiensem, inquam, episcopatum sum transferendus. Ceterum, quomodo ad commendationem Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae Diego Gracián de Alderete (*ca. 1494 – †1586), humanist, translator from Greek and Latin into Castilian, became engaged to Dantiscus' daughter Juana on 1537-06-30, and married her in 1538; scribe and secretary to Emperor Charles V, later secretary to King Philip II of Spain (SKOLIMOWSKA 2000; CE, vol. 2, p. 122)⌊Graciano nostroDiego Gracián de Alderete (*ca. 1494 – †1586), humanist, translator from Greek and Latin into Castilian, became engaged to Dantiscus' daughter Juana on 1537-06-30, and married her in 1538; scribe and secretary to Emperor Charles V, later secretary to King Philip II of Spain (SKOLIMOWSKA 2000; CE, vol. 2, p. 122)⌋ afficiar, licet praeter voluntatem meam matrimonium hoc confectum sit, quandoquidem et hic vidissem Juana Dantisca (*1527 – †1601), daughter of Ioannes Dantiscus and Isabel Delgada; wife of Diego Gracián de Alderete (SKOLIMOWSKA 2004, p. 52; LLAMAS 1995; LLAMAS 1999; LLAMAS 2001; LLAMAS, SKOLIMOWSKA; MELGAR, 37, ...)⌊illamJuana Dantisca (*1527 – †1601), daughter of Ioannes Dantiscus and Isabel Delgada; wife of Diego Gracián de Alderete (SKOLIMOWSKA 2004, p. 52; LLAMAS 1995; LLAMAS 1999; LLAMAS 2001; LLAMAS, SKOLIMOWSKA; MELGAR, 37, ...)⌋ libenter, neque sponsus defuisset, ipse Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae declarabit. cf. Adagia 1526 No. 1272 Quod factum est, infectum fieri non potest, quod semel est factum, fieri infectum haud queat unquam (Ps. Phocyl. 56 in Erasmus’ translation) ⌊Cumque iam infectum esse nequeatcf. Adagia 1526 No. 1272 Quod factum est, infectum fieri non potest, quod semel est factum, fieri infectum haud queat unquam (Ps. Phocyl. 56 in Erasmus’ translation) ⌋, utcumque res habet, benevolentiam tamen meam suo tempore experiet[ur], cognoscetque et ponderis et momenti habuisse apud me plurimum intercessionem Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae, quam Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌊Christus Iesus dominus nosterJesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌋ quam diutissime sospitet prosperetque in omnibus.

Datae in Prussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525, the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌊Pruss[iae] DucatuPrussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525, the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌋ 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⌊serenissimo Poloniae regiSigismund 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⌋ subiecto, ex Löbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌊castro meo LubaviensiLöbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌋, XVI Novembris MDXXXVII.

[1 ] Vaca was the Canarian bishop of Grand canaria in the years 1523-1530, and then (as Dantiscus seems not to know) was transferred to Salamanca, and in 1536 – to Palencia