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Letter #1089

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Cornelis DE SCHEPPER]
Löbau (Lubawa), 1534-01-11

English register:

Dantiscus is concerned that he has not yet received De Schepper’s letter which was sent to him before De Schepper left for Spain, as was reported to him by the Archbishop of Lund [Johan Weze]. He has seen the copy of De Schepper’s letter to Count [Jan Tarnowski], so he fears that the letter addressed to him was intercepted.

As he wrote in a former letter, Dantiscus is pleased by the safe return of De Schepper from his embassy, and by the generous remuneration he has received from the King of the Romans [Ferdinand I], the news of which reached him via the Archbishop of Lund.

Dantiscus asks De Schepper to supervise the commission he gave to the Welsers for bringing his daughter Juana [Dantisca] from Spain to Antwerp, and to advance any costs. He promises to repay them through the Welsers.

Dantiscus transmits to De Schepper news from the Baltic Sea. The burghers of Lübeck are willing to make peace, because of the news that a storm almost completely destroyed the Netherlandish fleet off the coast of Norway. The peace negotiations that will soon take place in Bremen or Hamburg will be attended by the burghers of Bremen, Hamburg and Lüneburg. Gdańsk will arbitrate; its envoys have already set out. To give them a higher profile Dantiscus convinced the King of Poland [Sigismund I] to send one of his courtiers [Mikołaj Spiegel] to Hamburg with a letter. Dantiscus hopes that peace will restore free navigation, and better access to Gdańsk for the Dutch merchants, and thus, lead to a regular delivery of Gdańsk beer to De Schepper.

Dantiscus is thriving in the role of Bishop of Kulm. He longs for his friend and is willing to travel to Cracow, if De Schepper is sent there on an embassy. He asks De Schepper to entrust his letters to more trustworthy messengers and forwards greetings to comendador [Francisco] de los Cobos and [Nicolas Perrenot] de Granvelle, and the lords and his friends at court, especially the Count of Nassau [Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda]. In Austria and Bohemia, depending on where he receives the letter, De Schepper knows to whom he should convey Dantiscus’ greetings.


            received [Prague], [1535-02-05]

Manuscript sources:
1office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 244, p. 10-12
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 132-133
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 115v-116v
4copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 50 (TN), No. 9, p. 31-35
5register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 32, No. 575

Prints:
1AT 16/1 No. 32, p. 55-58 (in extenso; Polish register)
2DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 266, p. 191-192, 286 (English register; excerpt)
3CEID 2/2 (Letter No. 57) p. 267-270 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BCz, 244, p. 10

Magnifice Domine, frater ex animo carissime.

Salutem tibi et omnis felicitatis precor accessum.

Superiori die accepi Johan Weze (*1490 – †1548), secretary to King Christian II of Denmark; in 1522 nominated Archbishop of Lund; in 1527 was banished from Denmark as Christian II's secretary, and joined the service of Emperor Charles V as his diplomat, 1537-1548 Bishop of Constance (WHALEY, p. 314)⌊reverendissimi domini LundensisJohan Weze (*1490 – †1548), secretary to King Christian II of Denmark; in 1522 nominated Archbishop of Lund; in 1527 was banished from Denmark as Christian II's secretary, and joined the service of Emperor Charles V as his diplomat, 1537-1548 Bishop of Constance (WHALEY, p. 314)⌋ cf. Johan WEZE to Ioannes DANTISCUS Vienna, 1533-11-15, CIDTC IDL 1043⌊litterascf. Johan WEZE to Ioannes DANTISCUS Vienna, 1533-11-15, CIDTC IDL 1043⌋ XV Novembris Vienna (Wien, Vienna), city in eastern Austria, on the Danube river⌊ViennaeVienna (Wien, Vienna), city in eastern Austria, on the Danube river⌋ scriptas, quibus mihi significavit te mihi ad longum ante tuum ad Spain (Hispania)⌊HispaniamSpain (Hispania)⌋ exitum manu tua cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Vienna, 1533-10-08, CIDTC IDL 1015⌊scripsissecf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Vienna, 1533-10-08, CIDTC IDL 1015⌋, quas hucusque non vidi, quod quam male me habeat, scribi nequit.[1] Vidi tamen tuarum ad ill(ustrissimum) or ill(ustrem)⌈ill(ustrissimum)ill(ustrissimum) or ill(ustrem)⌉ dominum Jan Tarnowski (*1488 – †1561), Count of the Holy Roman Empire; one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund August Jagiellon at the beginning of his rule; 1522-1527 Castellan of Wojnicz, 1525-1552 Starost of Sandomierz, 1527-1559 Grand Crown Hetman (commander-in-chief), 1527-1535 voivode of Ruthenia, 1528 Starost of Żydaczów, 1535-1536 Voivode of Cracow; 1536-1561 - Castellan (Urzędnicy 10, p. 209)⌊comitem TarnoviensemJan Tarnowski (*1488 – †1561), Count of the Holy Roman Empire; one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund August Jagiellon at the beginning of his rule; 1522-1527 Castellan of Wojnicz, 1525-1552 Starost of Sandomierz, 1527-1559 Grand Crown Hetman (commander-in-chief), 1527-1535 voivode of Ruthenia, 1528 Starost of Żydaczów, 1535-1536 Voivode of Cracow; 1536-1561 - Castellan (Urzędnicy 10, p. 209)⌋ cf. other letter Cornelis DE SCHEPPER [Jan TARNOWSKI?] 1533-10-08, CIDTC IDT 537⌊exemplumcf. other letter Cornelis DE SCHEPPER [Jan TARNOWSKI?] 1533-10-08, CIDTC IDT 537⌋ et suspicor paper damaged⌈[r]r paper damaged⌉ tuas ad me cum illis fuisse missas, sed talia nunc sunt BCz, 244, p. 11 tempora, ut pauci fidi et integri reperiantur neque amplius dedecus est retinere aut etiam aperire alienas litteras. Valeant!

Quod prius scripsi, gratum mihi plurimum est, quod ex tam periculosa legatione redieris, neque minus gratum, quod te serenissimus Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌊Romanorum rexFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌋, ut Johan Weze (*1490 – †1548), secretary to King Christian II of Denmark; in 1522 nominated Archbishop of Lund; in 1527 was banished from Denmark as Christian II's secretary, and joined the service of Emperor Charles V as his diplomat, 1537-1548 Bishop of Constance (WHALEY, p. 314)⌊dominus LundensisJohan Weze (*1490 – †1548), secretary to King Christian II of Denmark; in 1522 nominated Archbishop of Lund; in 1527 was banished from Denmark as Christian II's secretary, and joined the service of Emperor Charles V as his diplomat, 1537-1548 Bishop of Constance (WHALEY, p. 314)⌋ mihi scripsit, adeo liberaliter tractaverit et munificus in te fuerit, unde me non fallit opinio, quin Deo bene favente cresces et res tuae melius habebunt, quod tibi non secus atque mihi ipsi opto et faveo ex corde. Et utinam mihi tam diu vivere detur, ut te pro tuis virtutibus et meritis talem videam, qualem te amor meus esse velit etc.

Si es in Spain (Hispania)⌊HispaniaSpain (Hispania)⌋, plurimum te rogo, cura, ut Isabel Delgada (†after 1546-06-15), Dantiscus' paramour during his stay in Spain, mother of his two children, Juana and Juan (Juan died in childhood)⌊IsipeIsabel Delgada (†after 1546-06-15), Dantiscus' paramour during his stay in Spain, mother of his two children, Juana and Juan (Juan died in childhood)⌋ sic provideatur, quemadmodum Albrecht Cuon (Kohn) (†after 1559), a German merchant from Nuremberg, and the Welsers' factor in Spain (Oberdeutsche Kaufleute, p. 36, footnote 122)⌊Alberto KuonAlbrecht Cuon (Kohn) (†after 1559), a German merchant from Nuremberg, and the Welsers' factor in Spain (Oberdeutsche Kaufleute, p. 36, footnote 122)⌋ The Welsers merchant and banking family from Augsburg with close ties to Emperor Charles V⌊VelserorumThe Welsers merchant and banking family from Augsburg with close ties to Emperor Charles V⌋ factori scripsi, et quod 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, ...)⌊IoannicaJuana 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, ...)⌋ cum primo vere Antwerp (Antwerpen, Antverpia), city in the Low Countries, from 1315 a Hanseatic port, in the 16th century the centre of Brabant’s artistic life and the wealthiest trade city in Europe, today in northern Belgium⌊AntverpiamAntwerp (Antwerpen, Antverpia), city in the Low Countries, from 1315 a Hanseatic port, in the 16th century the centre of Brabant’s artistic life and the wealthiest trade city in Europe, today in northern Belgium⌋ ad Franz Werner Merchant from Antwerp, Dantiscus' friend⌊Franciscum VernerFranz Werner Merchant from Antwerp, Dantiscus' friend⌋ mittatur, spondeque pro me, si opus erit, quicquid et pro Isipe hoc anno a Martio incipiendo, et pro Ioannica mittenda exponetur, me illud magna cum gratitudine et, si oportuerit, etiam cum fenore domino Bartholomäus Welser (*1488 – †1561), German merchant and banker, head of the Augsburg based Welser merchant company, which granted large loans to Emperor Charles V, who ennobled Welser in 1532. In 1528 he received from the Spanish Crown the rights of supremacy in Venezuela. In the following years his company monopolised the import and export trade of this country. The property right to Venezuela was taken from the Welsers in 1556 and went to the Spanish Crown (ADB, Bd. 41, 684-686)⌊Bartolomeo WelserBartholomäus Welser (*1488 – †1561), German merchant and banker, head of the Augsburg based Welser merchant company, which granted large loans to Emperor Charles V, who ennobled Welser in 1532. In 1528 he received from the Spanish Crown the rights of supremacy in Venezuela. In the following years his company monopolised the import and export trade of this country. The property right to Venezuela was taken from the Welsers in 1556 and went to the Spanish Crown (ADB, Bd. 41, 684-686)⌋ redditurum neque te, ut me nosti, neque illos promissum meum fallet. Ea in re sic intende, ut te fratrem et amicum, qui fuisti, semper esse intelligam.

Nova, quae ex Baltic Sea⌊mariBaltic Sea⌋ nostro ad nos feruntur, sic habent. Citizens of Lübeck ⌊LubecensesCitizens of Lübeck ⌋ pertaesi bellum facti sunt ad pacem propensiores et hoc propter classem vestram Belgicam, quae praeter duas naves vi tempestatis sub litoribus Norway⌊NorvegiaeNorway⌋ naufragium ab his, qui interfuerunt, fecisse fertur. His diebus et hoc mense tractaturi sunt hanc pacem conterranei mei Citizens of Gdańsk ⌊GdanensesCitizens of Gdańsk ⌋ cum Citizens of Bremen ⌊BremensibusCitizens of Bremen ⌋, Citizens of Hamburg ⌊Hamburgen<si>busCitizens of Hamburg ⌋ et Citizens of Lüneburg ⌊LunenburgensibusCitizens of Lüneburg ⌋, iudices ad utramque partem et arbitri deputati. Locus tractatuum esse debet vel in Bremen (Brema), city in northern Germany on the Weser river, member of the Hanseatic League⌊BremensiBremen (Brema), city in northern Germany on the Weser river, member of the Hanseatic League⌋ aut Hamburg (Hamburgum), city in northern Germany on the mouth of the Elbe river, member of the Hanseatic League⌊Hamburgensi civitateHamburg (Hamburgum), city in northern Germany on the mouth of the Elbe river, member of the Hanseatic League⌋ iamque reor Johann von Werden (Constellatus, cf. HE, No. 148, p. 150, footnote No. 12) (*1495 – †1554), 1526 Mayor of Gdańsk (Danzig), from 1527 Starost of Neuenburg (Nowe), 1532-1535, 1538, 1539, 1546, 1551 Burgrave of Gdańsk, from 1535 Starost of Preußisch Mark (Przezmark) (1535-1540 together with Achatius von Zehmen (Cema)), 1536/1537 envoy of the Council of Royal Prussia to the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland held in Cracow (SBPN 4, p. 433-435; ZDRENKA 2, p. 368-369; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 93, 161)

Hermann Bremer (*ca. 1490 – †1548-1549), 1526, 1535 Gdańsk town councillor; 1531 town judge (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 412; ZDRENKA 2, p. 55-56)⌊nuntiosJohann von Werden (Constellatus, cf. HE, No. 148, p. 150, footnote No. 12) (*1495 – †1554), 1526 Mayor of Gdańsk (Danzig), from 1527 Starost of Neuenburg (Nowe), 1532-1535, 1538, 1539, 1546, 1551 Burgrave of Gdańsk, from 1535 Starost of Preußisch Mark (Przezmark) (1535-1540 together with Achatius von Zehmen (Cema)), 1536/1537 envoy of the Council of Royal Prussia to the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland held in Cracow (SBPN 4, p. 433-435; ZDRENKA 2, p. 368-369; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 93, 161)

Hermann Bremer (*ca. 1490 – †1548-1549), 1526, 1535 Gdańsk town councillor; 1531 town judge (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 412; ZDRENKA 2, p. 55-56)⌋ graves et spectabiles Citizens of Gdańsk ⌊conterraneorum meorumCitizens of Gdańsk ⌋ ad eum conventum exivisse et, quo haec compositio apud eos homines maioris esset auctoritatis, effeci, quod serenissimus 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⌊rexSigismund 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⌋ meus Mikołaj Spiegel ⌊cubiculariumMikołaj Spiegel ⌋ quendam suum cum litteris etiam illac mitteret, speramusque iam utraque parte fatigata BCz, 244, p. 12 omnino pacem futuram, sicque cum rursus navigatio fiet libera et The Dutch ⌊HollandiThe Dutch ⌋ vestri ad nos tuto ire poterint, praestabo commodius, quam nuper a me petivisti, domui tuae Dantiscanam cervisiam et alia etc.

Ego in hoc angulo pauper episcopus, qui tamen cum summo pontifice sortem meam commutare nolim, hic ago non feriatus paper damaged⌈[s]s paper damaged⌉ a curis domesticis neque adversitates a pessimis hominibus paper damaged⌈[s]s paper damaged⌉ mihi desunt, quos Deus ad exercendum patientiam meam contra me excitavit. Deo gratia, quandoquidem Ille fideles suos numquam deserit.

Aliud, quod hinc scribam, non habeo, quam quod te numquam ardentius videre desideravi, quam hoc tempore. Utinam sic se casus offerret, ut Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CracoviamCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ ad 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⌊serenissimum regem meumSigismund 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⌋ venires, quamvis hinc sint 80 miliar(ia) et ego de tuo adventu tempestive certior factus essem, non temperarem mihi, quin ad te convolarem. Interea, mi carissime et animo meo perpetuo insite Cornelii(!), optime vale et, cum scribis, certioribus tabellariis litteras tuas ad me committe. In Spain (Hispania)⌊HispaniaSpain (Hispania)⌋ me magnifico domino Francisco de los Cobos y Molina (*ca. 1477 – †1547), Andalucian nobleman born into the disadvantaged family of Diego de los Cobos, regent of Úbeda, and Catalina de Molina; 1503 scribe at the chancellery of Queen Isabella I of Castile; 1507 Treasurer of Granada; 1508 Regent for Úbeda, 1516 secretary to Charles I of Spain (later Emperor Charles V), Comendador for the Kingdom of Castile (KENISTON)⌊commendatori maiori ms. commendatore maiore(!) ⌈commendatori maioricommendatori maiori ms. commendatore maiore(!) ⌉ CovosFrancisco de los Cobos y Molina (*ca. 1477 – †1547), Andalucian nobleman born into the disadvantaged family of Diego de los Cobos, regent of Úbeda, and Catalina de Molina; 1503 scribe at the chancellery of Queen Isabella I of Castile; 1507 Treasurer of Granada; 1508 Regent for Úbeda, 1516 secretary to Charles I of Spain (later Emperor Charles V), Comendador for the Kingdom of Castile (KENISTON)⌋ et Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle (*1484 – †1550), doctor of both canon and civil law, one of the most trusted advisors of Emperor Charles V, in 1519 entered the service of Charles V, in 1521 took part in the Habsburg-French negotiations in Calais, in 1529 in peace negotiations with the Roman Curia and the Italian states, and later, in 1538, in the conference of Nice between Charles V and Francis I; prominent official and advisor of Charles V and of Margaret of Austria in the administration of the County of Burgundy and of the Habsburg Netherlands, collaborator of Chancellor Gattinara, 1530 secretary of State for German and Netherlandish affairs and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Sicily and Naples (he replaced Gattinara after his death in the position of Grand Chancellor, although not using the title); imperial envoy to France (several times up to 1528) (CE, vol. 3, p. 68-70; DURME 1964; ANTONY 2006)⌊domino de GranvelaNicolas Perrenot de Granvelle (*1484 – †1550), doctor of both canon and civil law, one of the most trusted advisors of Emperor Charles V, in 1519 entered the service of Charles V, in 1521 took part in the Habsburg-French negotiations in Calais, in 1529 in peace negotiations with the Roman Curia and the Italian states, and later, in 1538, in the conference of Nice between Charles V and Francis I; prominent official and advisor of Charles V and of Margaret of Austria in the administration of the County of Burgundy and of the Habsburg Netherlands, collaborator of Chancellor Gattinara, 1530 secretary of State for German and Netherlandish affairs and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Sicily and Naples (he replaced Gattinara after his death in the position of Grand Chancellor, although not using the title); imperial envoy to France (several times up to 1528) (CE, vol. 3, p. 68-70; DURME 1964; ANTONY 2006)⌋, omnibusque aliis dominis, praesertim Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda (*1483 – †1538), son of Count Johann V of Nassau-Dillenburg and Elisabeth of Hessen, married to Mencia de Mendoza, Marquess of Zenete, daughter and heiress of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar y Mendoza, first Marquis of Zenete; Count of Nassau; from 1499 in the service of Archduke Philip of Habsburg as his advisor and military commander in the wars against France and Gueders (1507, 1514), 1515-1522 Stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland; 1521 Grand Chamberlain of Charles V of Habsburg (from 1522 to 1529 at the Spanish court), in 1530 followed Charles V to the coronation in Bologna, and attended the Diet of Augsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 5)⌊comiti de NassauHendrik III of Nassau-Breda (*1483 – †1538), son of Count Johann V of Nassau-Dillenburg and Elisabeth of Hessen, married to Mencia de Mendoza, Marquess of Zenete, daughter and heiress of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar y Mendoza, first Marquis of Zenete; Count of Nassau; from 1499 in the service of Archduke Philip of Habsburg as his advisor and military commander in the wars against France and Gueders (1507, 1514), 1515-1522 Stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland; 1521 Grand Chamberlain of Charles V of Habsburg (from 1522 to 1529 at the Spanish court), in 1530 followed Charles V to the coronation in Bologna, and attended the Diet of Augsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 5)⌋ et amicis nostris aulicis, atque etiam contubernalibus commenda, omnibus meo nomine omnia fausta precare ms. precari(!) ⌈precareprecare ms. precari(!) ⌉. Quod si te istae in Austria⌊AustriaAustria⌋ et Bohemia (Čechy, Kingdom of Bohemia), country in central Europe⌊BoemiaBohemia (Čechy, Kingdom of Bohemia), country in central Europe⌋ offendent, scies, quibus me commendare debebis. Iterum quam diutissime vale, vale, vale.

[1] Dantiscus received this letter on February 13, 1534.