» CORPUS of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence
Copyright © Laboratory for Source Editing and Digital Humanities AL UW

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Letter #2086

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE
Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-04

English register:

Dantiscus is pleased with what is said in the letter Giese intends to send the King [Sigismund I Jagiellon] on [Royal Prussia’s] common cause. He also thanks the addressee for informing him of the messenger’s planned expedition to the [royal] court. He is passing on his own letters, among them one to the Dean of Cracow [Samuel Maciejowski] (with a copy for Giese) and one to the Queen [Bona Sforza], to whom he is replying on matters relayed to him by Fabian Damerau [Wojanowski]. He reports that the [Ermland (Warmia)] Chapter is voting on accepting Fabian to replace the deceased Henrich [Snellenberg].

Dantiscus is not surprised by what the addressee wrote about “Bone” (Os) [Stanisław Kostka], but he thinks that persuasion from others is at the source of Kostka’s drive to take absolute power.

On the matter of the Kos family, Dantiscus advises that, according to royal orders, after the arguments of both parties are heard at the upcoming [Royal Prussian] Diet, they should be passed on to the King. Dantiscus together with Giese will support the case at the court. He is hopeful about its resolution.




Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, address in secretary's hand, BCz, 245, p. 135-138

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8249 (TK 11), f. 18

Prints:
1CEID 1/2 No. 46, p. 185-187 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BCz, 245, p. 138

Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)⌊Tidemanno Dei gratia episcopo CulmensiTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)⌋, fratri et amico carissimo et honoran(do) or honoran(dissimo)⌈honoran(do)honoran(do) or honoran(dissimo)⌉

BCz, 245, p. 135

Reverendissime in Christo Pater superinscribed⌈in Christo Paterin Christo Pater superinscribed⌉ et Domine, frater et amice carissime et honoran(de) or honoran(dissime)⌈honoran(de)honoran(de) or honoran(dissime)⌉.

Salutem et fraternam commendationem.

Quod Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima cum cf. other letter Tiedemann GIESE Sigismund I Jagiellon ca. 1539-03-04, CIDTC IDT 687⌊litteriscf. other letter Tiedemann GIESE Sigismund I Jagiellon ca. 1539-03-04, CIDTC IDT 687⌋ conceptis Michel Wicherski ⌊nuntiumMichel Wicherski ⌋ suum ad serenissimam 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⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund 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⌋ mittere destinaverit, ex re hic omnium nostrum facit placetque mihi in omnibus argumentum, habeo et gratias non vulgares, quod me de hac missione certiorem reddidit. cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-04, CIDTC IDL 3866⌊Scripsicf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-04, CIDTC IDL 3866⌋ itaque reverendo domino Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊decano CracoviensiSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋, prout videbit in exemplo addito, cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Bona Sforza Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-03, CIDTC IDL 3865⌊rescripsicf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Bona Sforza Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-03, CIDTC IDL 3865⌋ et Bona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of Aragon⌊reginali maiestatiBona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of Aragon⌋ in eodem fasciculo ad ea, quae mihi per dominum Fabian Wojanowski (Fabian of Dąbrówka, Fabian Damerau) (†1540), courtier of King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Queen Bona Sforza, German tutor to their son Sigismund II Augustus. In 1531 he went back to his family name Damerau; Dantiscus' companion on his mission to Emperor Charles V and his successor as a royal envoy at the Imperial court; 1539-1540 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) (from 1538 coadiutor of Henryk von Snellenberg by Dantiscus' patronage) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 49; SBKW, p. 37)⌊Fabianum a DamarowFabian Wojanowski (Fabian of Dąbrówka, Fabian Damerau) (†1540), courtier of King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Queen Bona Sforza, German tutor to their son Sigismund II Augustus. In 1531 he went back to his family name Damerau; Dantiscus' companion on his mission to Emperor Charles V and his successor as a royal envoy at the Imperial court; 1539-1540 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) (from 1538 coadiutor of Henryk von Snellenberg by Dantiscus' patronage) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 49; SBKW, p. 37)⌋, de quo hodie, post m written over ...⌈... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉mm written over ...⌉ortem domini Henrich Snellenberg (†1539), son of a Thorn (Toruń) merchant; studied in Cracow, Cologne, Ingolstadt, and Frankfurt an der Oder; from 1499 to his death Canon of Ermland (Warmia) (took the canonry in 1501) (SBKW, p. 226-227; ZINS 1959, p. 431-432)⌊HenriciHenrich Snellenberg (†1539), son of a Thorn (Toruń) merchant; studied in Cracow, Cologne, Ingolstadt, and Frankfurt an der Oder; from 1499 to his death Canon of Ermland (Warmia) (took the canonry in 1501) (SBKW, p. 226-227; ZINS 1959, p. 431-432)⌋, a Ermland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌊capituloErmland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌋ meo fit electio, dici iussit etc. Ut cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Bona Sforza Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-03, CIDTC IDL 3865;
Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-04, CIDTC IDL 3866⌊eascf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Bona Sforza Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-03, CIDTC IDL 3865;
Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-04, CIDTC IDL 3866⌋ et cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Sigismund I Jagiellon Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-03, CIDTC IDL 3864;
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Georg HEGEL 1539-03-04, CIDTC IDL 7274, letter lost⌊alias litterascf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Sigismund I Jagiellon Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-03-03, CIDTC IDL 3864;
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Georg HEGEL 1539-03-04, CIDTC IDL 7274, letter lost⌋ distribuendas nuntio suo serio committat, et quod responsum referat, oro plurimum, quamprimum ille redierit. Meum etiam mittam, cum quo vicissim Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima scribere poterit.

Quae de 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)⌊OsseStanisław 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)⌋ Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima scribit, mira mihi non sunt, quandoquidem imperium in nos merum habere nititur, et hoc non tam illius, quam aliorum culpa accidit, qui eos homini faciunt animos etc.

In The Kos (Koss, Cossi) ⌊CossorumThe Kos (Koss, Cossi) ⌋ negotio quid aliud consulere debeam, non habeo, quam ut in Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventu nostroProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ futuro commisioni serenissimae 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⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund 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⌋ innitamur, quae iubet, ut utriusque partis proposita et responsa 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⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund 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⌋ mittere debeamus, ex quibus illamet decretum pronuntiare sibi reservavit.[1] Erit igitur Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊dominorum consiliariorumProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ a partibus illa audire, etiam si quidam sunt, qui huic rei interesse nolunt. Quibus auditis omnia sub sigillo terrarum 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⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund 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⌋ mitti oportebit. Quod postquam fiet, non deerunt ad aulam commendationes et consilia nostra. Aliud quod huic rei expediret, non habeo. Ego quod possum, quemadmodum et Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam facturam existimo, iustitiae favebo ac patrocinabor. Aula The Kos (Koss, Cossi) ⌊CossorumThe Kos (Koss, Cossi) ⌋ causae non male est affecta, quod non leve victoriae signum est etc.

Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam diutissime feliciter valere written over i⌈iee written over i⌉ meque illi fraterno amore commendatum esse summopere cupio.

[1] Dantiscus probably refers here to the dispute between the Koss family and Stanisław Kostka about the destroyed mill; cf. cf. Tiedemann GIESE to Ioannes DANTISCUS Löbau (Lubawa), 1539-03-01, CIDTC IDL 2082⌊IDL 2082cf. Tiedemann GIESE to Ioannes DANTISCUS Löbau (Lubawa), 1539-03-01, CIDTC IDL 2082⌋.