AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 29v

Spectabili et magnifico 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⌊Ioanni DantiscoIoannes 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⌋, 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⌊serenissimi regis 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⌋ oratori apud 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⌊caesaream maiestatemCharles 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⌋ in Spain (Hispania)⌊HispaniisSpain (Hispania)⌋ etc., domino tamquam fratri honorando

AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 29r

Spectabilis et Magnifice Domine tamquam frater honorande. Salutem et sui commendationem.

Cum Bernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau⌊germanus tuusBernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau⌋[1] ex Vilnius (Wilno, Vilna), city in Lithuania, on the Vilnia river, capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania⌊VilnaVilnius (Wilno, Vilna), city in Lithuania, on the Vilnia river, capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania⌋ rediens quasdam litteras mihi obtulit et declaravit se ad Te iturum[2], non potui me continere, quin litteras meas illi ad Te darem ob veterem inter nos consuetudinem, quae apud me adhuc integra est, et ut in occidente, quae pars Tibi sorte cessit[3], ut mihi septemtrio, intelligeres, quid rerum apud nos agatur. De The Muscovites (Moscovians, Mosci) ⌊MoscisThe Muscovites (Moscovians, Mosci) ⌋[4], The Tatars ⌊TartariThe Tatars ⌋s[5], The Prussians ⌊PrutenisThe Prussians ⌋[6] et Citizens of Livonia ⌊LivoniensibusCitizens of Livonia ⌋ ex aliis plus quam ex me habere poteris, quamvis et ego nunc regnante 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⌊FerdinandoFerdinand 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⌋ in Germaniis orientalibus[7] denuo Muscovy (Grand Duchy of Muscovy, Moscovia)⌊MoscoviamMuscovy (Grand Duchy of Muscovy, Moscovia)⌋ sum ingressus[8] hoc idem, quod tempore Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊Maximiliani imperatorisMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋ tractans[9]. Demum et Piotrków (Petricovia), city in central Poland, in the 15th-16th century the location of the assemblies of the Diet (Sejm) of the Kingdom of Poland, today Piotrków Trybunalski⌊PetercoviaePiotrków (Petricovia), city in central Poland, in the 15th-16th century the location of the assemblies of the Diet (Sejm) of the Kingdom of Poland, today Piotrków Trybunalski⌋ anno praeterito[10], hoc vero Vilnius (Wilno, Vilna), city in Lithuania, on the Vilnia river, capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania⌊VilnaeVilnius (Wilno, Vilna), city in Lithuania, on the Vilnia river, capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania⌋ 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⌊regem SarmatiaeSigismund 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⌋[11], dominum Tuum adivi[12] et nunc Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CraccoviaeCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ sum[13], medio domini Krzysztof Szydłowiecki (*1466 – †1532), one of the most trusted advisors of the King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1497-1507 Marshal of the court of prince Sigismund Jagiellon, Cracow master of pantry; 1507-1510 court treasurer; 1509 castellan of Sandomierz; 1511 Vice-Chancellor of the Crown; 1515 - grand chancellor; 1515-1527 Voivode of Cracow; 1515 - Starost; 1527-1532 - Castellan⌊Christophori de SchidowetzKrzysztof Szydłowiecki (*1466 – †1532), one of the most trusted advisors of the King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1497-1507 Marshal of the court of prince Sigismund Jagiellon, Cracow master of pantry; 1507-1510 court treasurer; 1509 castellan of Sandomierz; 1511 Vice-Chancellor of the Crown; 1515 - grand chancellor; 1515-1527 Voivode of Cracow; 1515 - Starost; 1527-1532 - Castellan⌋ etc. castellani Cracoviensis etc. negotia 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⌊serenissimi regis meiFerdinand 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⌋ ago[14], multa in dies audio. Cum tamen tanta Tibi copia amicorum in his partibus, qui Te nihil celant, superfluum mihi visum plura de eisdem describere, nisi cum iam Suleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire⌊Suleymanus Turcarum rexSuleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire⌋ cum ingenti apparatu bellico tendat contra 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⌊serenissimum regem meumFerdinand 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⌋ et eius Hungary (Kingdom of Hungary)⌊regnum HungariaeHungary (Kingdom of Hungary)⌋ et forte, si fortuna faveret, usque Austria⌊AustriamAustria⌋ et Bohemia (Čechy, Kingdom of Bohemia), country in central Europe⌊BohemiamBohemia (Čechy, Kingdom of Bohemia), country in central Europe⌋ progrederetur. Nunc tyrannum aiunt ad confluentem Sava (Save, Száva), river originating from the Julian Alps, running through Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, right-bank tributary of the Danube River, which it joins near Belgrade⌊SaviSava (Save, Száva), river originating from the Julian Alps, running through Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, right-bank tributary of the Danube River, which it joins near Belgrade⌋ venisse[15]. Audiuntur gaudia et tripudia per Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CraccoviamCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ et Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌊PoloniamPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌋, ac si Redemptor illis aut Iudeis Messias venisset, at dicant plures ex illis. Non omnes gaudent, at ego dico plures. Sunt, qui forte eventum praevident. Nescio tamen, quae furia populum cruciat et in odium The Germans ⌊GermanorumThe Germans ⌋[16] tam acriter impellit, ut 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⌊serenissimum regem meumFerdinand 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⌋, qui cum The Germans ⌊GermanisThe Germans ⌋, Citizens of Bohemia ⌊BohemisCitizens of Bohemia ⌋, The Hungarians ⌊HungarisThe Hungarians ⌋ atque Slavis[17] imperet, Germanum dicunt et illum potius, quam Suleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire⌊TurcumSuleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire⌋ perire expetunt. Non equidem de omnibus Polonis dico. Attamen et illis cum ceteris, si nobis flendum illis, non diu ridendum erit. Fiat voluntas illius, qui est in caelis[18]. Ioannes Sambocius[19] in hospitio meo Vilnae me praesente obiit. Dominus Nikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌊Nicolaus NypschitzNikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌋ Tui amantissimus mirum in modum de illius obitu contristatus. Timeo, ne et illi ex tali dolore quid mali eveniat, et nisi Te expectaret, sine dubio pessime haberet. Inquit enim alium non habere, cui aliquando confidenter possit communicare. Omnes profecto magno desiderio Te expectant, quare redi et veni felix et prosper, ut aliquando te pontificem liceat intueri. Et bene vale meque, ut aliquando coepisti, ama.

Ex Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CraccoviaCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋, 24 Iulii anno Domini 1529.

Tuus Sigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court)⌊Sigismundus ab HerberstainSigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court)⌋, orator etc.

[1] Bernard von Höfen stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission’s retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526 (cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 8, ed. by Tytus Działyński, Poznań, [Biblioteka Kórnicka], [1860] ⌊AT 8cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 8, ed. by Tytus Działyński, Poznań, [Biblioteka Kórnicka], [1860] ⌋, No. 259-260, p. 375 and 378; cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 9, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1876, 2nd edition ⌊AT 9 (2nd ed.)cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 9, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1876, 2nd edition ⌋, No. 148, p. 153-154; cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 10, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1899 ⌊AT 10cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 10, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1899 ⌋, No. 48, p. 45-49, cf. cf. Inge Brigitte Müller-Blessing, "Johannes Dantiscus von Höfen. Ein Diplomat und Bischof zwischen Humanismus und Reformation (1485-1548)", in: Zeitschrift für die Geschichte und Altertumskunde Ermlands (ZGAE) 31/32 (1967/1968), Osnabrück, 1968, p. 59-238 ⌊MÜLLER BLESSINGcf. Inge Brigitte Müller-Blessing, "Johannes Dantiscus von Höfen. Ein Diplomat und Bischof zwischen Humanismus und Reformation (1485-1548)", in: Zeitschrift für die Geschichte und Altertumskunde Ermlands (ZGAE) 31/32 (1967/1968), Osnabrück, 1968, p. 59-238 ⌋, p. 69).

[2] On July 12, 1529 at the latest, Bernard von Höfen came from Spain to Vilnius, where Sigismund I was staying at the time, to obtain new instructions for Dantiscus in connection with extending his stay at the imperial court (see cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 9, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1876, 2nd edition ⌊AT 9 (2nd ed.)cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 9, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1876, 2nd edition ⌋, No. 277-278, p. 215; cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌊POCIECHA 4cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌋, p. 229-231, 316-320 (No. 12), 399, footnote 172, cf. cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 12, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1906 ⌊AT 12cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 12, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1906 ⌋, No. 39, p. 43-44; cf. Elementa ad fontium editiones 46. Res Polonicae ex Archivo Regiomontano, XVI pars (AD. 1525-1535), vol. 46, ed. by Karolina Lanckorońska, Roma, 1979 ⌊EFE 46cf. Elementa ad fontium editiones 46. Res Polonicae ex Archivo Regiomontano, XVI pars (AD. 1525-1535), vol. 46, ed. by Karolina Lanckorońska, Roma, 1979 ⌋, No. 21, p. 39; cf. Inge Brigitte Müller-Blessing, "Johannes Dantiscus von Höfen. Ein Diplomat und Bischof zwischen Humanismus und Reformation (1485-1548)", in: Zeitschrift für die Geschichte und Altertumskunde Ermlands (ZGAE) 31/32 (1967/1968), Osnabrück, 1968, p. 59-238 ⌊MÜLLER BLESSINGcf. Inge Brigitte Müller-Blessing, "Johannes Dantiscus von Höfen. Ein Diplomat und Bischof zwischen Humanismus und Reformation (1485-1548)", in: Zeitschrift für die Geschichte und Altertumskunde Ermlands (ZGAE) 31/32 (1967/1968), Osnabrück, 1968, p. 59-238 ⌋, p. 131-138). Bernard soon left Vilnius for Italy via Cracow. He took with him some letters that he delivered to Dantiscus in Genoa on September 1, 1529 (see cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 11, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1901 ⌊AT 11cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 11, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1901 ⌋, No. 289, p. 224, footnote 1).

[3] Between 1524 and 1532 Dantiscus stayed almost uninterruptedly at the court of Emperor Charles V as a resident representative of the king and queen of Poland (cf. cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN] Sitzendorf an der Schmida, 1532-07-16, CIDTC IDL 6253⌊IDL 6253cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN] Sitzendorf an der Schmida, 1532-07-16, CIDTC IDL 6253⌋, footnote 2!!!).

[4] See cf. Maciej of Miechów , Descriptio Sarmatiarum Asianae et Europianae et eorum, quae eis continentur, Cracovia, Ioannes Haller, 1521 ⌊Maciej of Miechów 1521cf. Maciej of Miechów , Descriptio Sarmatiarum Asianae et Europianae et eorum, quae eis continentur, Cracovia, Ioannes Haller, 1521 ⌋, f. G4v, cf. cf. Petrus Dasypodius, Dictionarium latinogermanicum, Mit einer Einführung von Gilbert de Smet, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York, 1995, series: Documenta Linguistica. Quellen zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 20. Jahrhunderts, Wörterbücher des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, series ed.(s): L. E. Schmitt, G. de Smet ⌊Dasypodiuscf. Petrus Dasypodius, Dictionarium latinogermanicum, Mit einer Einführung von Gilbert de Smet, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York, 1995, series: Documenta Linguistica. Quellen zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 20. Jahrhunderts, Wörterbücher des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, series ed.(s): L. E. Schmitt, G. de Smet ⌋, f. 263r: Moscovitae, “die Mocowiter”, qui olim Hamaxobitae in extrema Sarmatia versus Septentrionem, ubi montes Hyperboreos esse veteres putaverunt).

[5] A reference to the Crimean Tatars inhabiting the Khanate of Crimea, which was established in 1427 after the Golden Horde’s downfall and in 1475 came under the Turkish sultan’s authority. Under the Sublime Porte’s protectorate the Tatars often launched ravaging attacks on the borderlands, and even on territories deeper within Poland, Lithuania and the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, and were considered a constant threat, which in the Polish Kingdom’s case was supposed to be regulated by the 1533 treaty between Sigismund I and Suleiman I. The Khanate of Crimea was also an object of interest for Muscovy’s diplomacy which often tried to use it as a tool of political and military pressure in relations with Lithuania.

[6] In the present letter Herberstein undoubtedly uses the term Prutheni as referring to Duke Albrecht together with his political circle, who were trying to play a certain independent political role in the Baltic Sea Basin while maneuvering politically between loyalty to the Polish suzerain and to the Reich which did not recognize the secularization of Teutonic Prussia and its surrender to Poland (cf. cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN] Braunsberg (Braniewo), 1541-05-26, CIDTC IDL 2427⌊IDL 2427cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN] Braunsberg (Braniewo), 1541-05-26, CIDTC IDL 2427⌋, footnote 22).

[7] Probably an allusion to Ferdinand I becoming King of Bohemia and Hungary (with Silesia and Lusatia) and of Croatia in 1526-1527 (see cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Klamm, 1522-07-06, CIDTC IDL 155⌊IDL 155cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Klamm, 1522-07-06, CIDTC IDL 155⌋ footnote 1), and to establishing separate administration centers in 1527: for Bohemia – in Prague, for Hungary – in Pressburg and for Silesia – in Wrocław (Breslau).

[8] Herberstein went on his second mission to Muscovy, to Vasily III, in 1527 (see cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌊HERBERSTEIN 1855cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌋, p. 265-275; cf. Gratae posteritati Sigismundus liber baro in Herberstein Neyperg et Guettenhag, primarius ducatus Carinthiae hereditariusque et camerarius … actiones suas a puero ad annum usque aetatis suae septuagesimum quartum brevi commentariolo notatas reliquit, Vienna, Raphael Hofhalter, 1560 ⌊HERBERSTEIN 1560cf. Gratae posteritati Sigismundus liber baro in Herberstein Neyperg et Guettenhag, primarius ducatus Carinthiae hereditariusque et camerarius … actiones suas a puero ad annum usque aetatis suae septuagesimum quartum brevi commentariolo notatas reliquit, Vienna, Raphael Hofhalter, 1560 ⌋, f. C4r-D1r; cf. cf. Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN to Ioannes DANTISCUS Pressburg (Bratislava), 1520-08-13, CIDTC IDL 150⌊IDL 150cf. Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN to Ioannes DANTISCUS Pressburg (Bratislava), 1520-08-13, CIDTC IDL 150⌋, footnote 8).

[9] Herberstein went on his first mission to Muscovy in 1517 (see cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN [Augsburg], [1516-10-21 — 1516-10-28], CIDTC IDL 122⌊IDL 122cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN [Augsburg], [1516-10-21 — 1516-10-28], CIDTC IDL 122⌋, footnote 7).

[10] In 1528 Herberstein was in Piotrków in January and February, during the general diet of the Kingdom of Poland. With Georg von Logschau, he tried to neutralize the actions of the envoys of János I Zápolya, who sought Polish support for Zápolya in the dispute with Ferdinand I over the Hungarian Crown. At the same time, Herberstein was to persuade Sigismund I to declare he would not further support Zápolya in Hungary, in exchange offering Ferdinand I’s help in regulating relations with Muscovy and the hand of Ferdinand I’s daughter for Sigismund II Augustus. He also conducted intensive espionage activities (intercepting correspondence and documents), and a partially effective campaign among Polish senators aimed at forcing the king to issue an edict recalling Polish soldiers from Hungary. Sigismund I issued such an edict invoking the alleged constitution, but nobody obeyed it as it had no legal foundation. Dismissing Ferdinand’s envoys on February 20, 1528, Sigismund I announced he would not support either side, but would like to effect peace between them, saying prophetically that Turkey could take advantage of the dispute over Hungary and seize all of it (cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌊HERBERSTEIN 1855cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌋, p. 282-283; cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 2, Poznań, PWN, 1949 ⌊Pociecha 2cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 2, Poznań, PWN, 1949 ⌋, 366-374; see cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 10, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1899 ⌊AT 10cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 10, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1899 ⌋, No. 87-88, p. 94-98, No. 115-116, p.123-124, cf. No. 332, p. 320).

[11] Sarmatia – a term taken in the Middle Ages from ancient geographers to denote lands lying east of the Vistula River, linked to the ethnonym of the nomadic and warlike people called Sarmatae. In the Middle Ages and the early-modern period, the term Sarmatia was often used as a broader term for what today is called Eastern Europe. Sarmatia was divided into: European Sarmatia (Sarmatia Europea vel Europiana) – most often identified, as is the case in this letter, with the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ruled by the king of Poland, and also the Grand Duchy of Muscovy (Moscovia) and Asian Sarmatia (Sarmatia Asiana) stretching east of the Don river, inhabited by the Tatars among other peoples. According to cf. Petrus Dasypodius, Dictionarium latinogermanicum, Mit einer Einführung von Gilbert de Smet, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York, 1995, series: Documenta Linguistica. Quellen zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 20. Jahrhunderts, Wörterbücher des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, series ed.(s): L. E. Schmitt, G. de Smet ⌊Petrus Dasypodiuscf. Petrus Dasypodius, Dictionarium latinogermanicum, Mit einer Einführung von Gilbert de Smet, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York, 1995, series: Documenta Linguistica. Quellen zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 20. Jahrhunderts, Wörterbücher des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, series ed.(s): L. E. Schmitt, G. de Smet ⌋ (1536): “Sarmatia Europea”, Das ganz Künigreich Polen mit Preussen, Reussen, Lifland, Lituanien und zum Teil Moschoviten. ”Sarmatia Asiatica”, Die gross Tartarey in Asia an dem fluss Tanai unnd Meotidi Paludi, “Sarmatae”, Die alten einwoner Polen und Preussen, etc. and Polonia, Polen, quae prius Sarmatia Europaea. Poloni, die Polecken, Sclavinorum pars (see cf. Maciej of Miechów , Tractatus de duabus Sarmatiis Asiana et Europiana et de contentis in eis, Cracovia, Ioannes Haller, 1517 ⌊Maciej of Miechów 1517cf. Maciej of Miechów , Tractatus de duabus Sarmatiis Asiana et Europiana et de contentis in eis, Cracovia, Ioannes Haller, 1517 ⌋, f. A1v; cf. Maciej of Miechów , Descriptio Sarmatiarum Asianae et Europianae et eorum, quae eis continentur, Cracovia, Ioannes Haller, 1521 ⌊Maciej of Miechów 1521cf. Maciej of Miechów , Descriptio Sarmatiarum Asianae et Europianae et eorum, quae eis continentur, Cracovia, Ioannes Haller, 1521 ⌋, f. A4r, cf. Maciej of Miechów 1972, p. !!!; cf. Petrus Dasypodius, Dictionarium latinogermanicum, Mit einer Einführung von Gilbert de Smet, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York, 1995, series: Documenta Linguistica. Quellen zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 20. Jahrhunderts, Wörterbücher des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, series ed.(s): L. E. Schmitt, G. de Smet ⌊Dasypodiuscf. Petrus Dasypodius, Dictionarium latinogermanicum, Mit einer Einführung von Gilbert de Smet, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York, 1995, series: Documenta Linguistica. Quellen zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 20. Jahrhunderts, Wörterbücher des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, series ed.(s): L. E. Schmitt, G. de Smet ⌋, f. 264r, 263v, cf. footnote 29). In the 16th-17th centuries the ethnonym Sarmatae was used as a synonym of Poles and specially in Poland as an autonym for the Polish gentry (see e.g. cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 5, ed. by Tytus Działyński, Poznań, [Biblioteka Kórnicka], 1855 ⌊AT 5cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 5, ed. by Tytus Działyński, Poznań, [Biblioteka Kórnicka], 1855 ⌋, No. 31, p. 29: Oratio Ioannis Dantisci oratoris Sigismundi regis Poloniae ad Carolum regem Hispaniarum).

[12] Herberstein stayed in Vilnius from March 20 to April 7, 1529 (cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌊HERBERSTEIN 1855cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌋, p. 287). The aim of his mission to Sigismund I was to persuade him to actively assist Ferdinand I in the face of the danger to Hungary and the Austrian lands posed by Suleiman I’s campaign. In his reply given to Herberstein c. April 7, Sigismund I stated he could not offer help to Ferdinand I because of the recently signed truce with Turkey aimed at safeguarding the borders of the Kingdom of Poland. He emphasized that divine and human laws obliged him to keep faith even with an enemy. The truce had been signed because Sigismund had not received any support from the Christian rulers. Despite his initiative, they had still not formed an anti-Turkish coalition (cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌊HERBERSTEIN 1855cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌋, p. 287; cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 10, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1899 ⌊AT 10cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 10, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1899 ⌋, No. 333, p. 321-322 (document dated between 1 and 7 April 1529, erroneously included in vol. 10 of AT); cf. cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌊POCIECHA 4cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌋, p. 65-70).

[13] Herberstein was in Cracow from July 10 to the end of August, 1529 (cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌊HERBERSTEIN 1855cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌋, p. 289-290; cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌊POCIECHA 4cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌋, p. 73-75).

[14] According to Ferdinand I’s instructions, in Cracow (without going to Vilnius where Sigismund I and Bona Sforza were at the time) Herberstein was to try to prevent the dispute between Ferdinand I and János I Zápolya over the Hungarian Crown, and to dissuade Zápolya from seeking support from the Turks. Moreover, he was to seek the Polish king’s mediation in the truce between Turkey and Hungary and the Austrian lands. On these matters, Herberstein was to negotiate exclusively with chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki. With vice-chancellor Piotr Tomicki, meanwhile, he was to hold negotiations on Sigismund I granting Ferdinand I a loan for organizing an army against Turkey. In a letter from Vilnius dated July 24, Sigismund I refused the loan, quoting the recently signed truce with Turkey and emphasizing that even the infidels kept their word with respect to signed pacts. On the matter of peace negotiations, Sigismund I stalled for time, promising to send a messenger to Constantinople for a letter of safe conduct for the future mission (see cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 11, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1901 ⌊AT 11cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 11, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1901 ⌋, No. 288, p. 221; cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌊POCIECHA 4cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌋, p. 73-74; cf. Andrzej Dziubiński, Stosunki dyplomatyczne polsko-tureckie w latach 1500-1572 w kontekście międzynarodowym, Wrocław, Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, 2005 ⌊DZIUBIŃSKIcf. Andrzej Dziubiński, Stosunki dyplomatyczne polsko-tureckie w latach 1500-1572 w kontekście międzynarodowym, Wrocław, Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, 2005 ⌋, p. 75).

[15] Having set off for Vienna from Constantinople on May 10, the Turkish army moved slowly because of rains and flooding of the rivers. After the vanguard reached Belgrade at the end of June, the sultan was expected there in mid-July (see cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌊POCIECHA 4cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌋, p. 75).

[16] Strong anti-German feeling prevailed in Poland at least from 1527, when it came to the fore during the Piotrków diet (see footnote 18). This feeling was most probably fueled by news of the Germans’ cruel treatment of the Hungarians, of which queen Mary of Hungary informed Ferdinand I. On October 25, 1529 Herberstein was almost hit by a brick, while returning from the negotiations held at the Wawel royal castle in Cracow (see cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 2, Poznań, PWN, 1949 ⌊POCIECHA 2cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 2, Poznań, PWN, 1949 ⌋, p. 207, 366-367; cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌊POCIECHA 4cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 ⌋, p. 70, 72, 77-78, 87-88; cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌊HERBERSTEIN 1855cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Sigmunds von Herberstein Selbstbiographie, ed. by Th. G. von Karajan, Wien, 1855, series: Fontes Rerum Austriacarum I Abteilung, Scriptores Band 1 ⌋, p. 283, 290; cf. cf. Zygmunt Wojciechowski, Zygmunt Stary (1506-1548), Warszawa, 1979(2) ⌊WOJCIECHOWSKIcf. Zygmunt Wojciechowski, Zygmunt Stary (1506-1548), Warszawa, 1979(2) ⌋, p. 225).

[17] Slavi (Sclavi, Sclabi, Sclavones, Sclaveni) – an ethnonym that may have already been used by Claudius Ptolemeus in the distorted form Stavani, to denote one of the peoples of European Sarmatia (see footnote 16), beside the term used by Plinius and Tacitus, Venedi; Veneti, which (in the form Venedae) Ptolemeus used to describe the people inhabiting the Vistula river basin. From the 6th century (Jordanes, Gethica, V, 34-35), the term Sclaveni (and its variants) was used and consolidated as a synonym ofVenedi (Veneti; Venedae) – a term for all the Slavs, but particularly used to describe southern Slavdom (up to the Vistula and the Dnester in the north) (cf. cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Rerum Moscoviticarum commentarii Sigismundi liberi baronis in Herberstein, Neyperg et Guttenhag Russiae et quaevnunc eius metropolis est Moscoviae brevissima descriptio, chorographia denique totius imperii Moscici et vicinorum quorundam mentio; de religione quoque varia inserta sunt et quae nostra cum religione non conveniunt; quis denique modus excipiendi et tractandi oratores, disseritur; itineraria quoque duo in Moscoviam sunt adiuncta; ad haec non solum novae aliquot tabulae, sed multa etiam alia nunc demum ab ipso autore adiecta sunt; quae, si cui cum prima editione conferre libeat, facile deprehenderet., Basilea, 1556 ⌊HERBERSTEIN 1556cf. Sigmund Herberstein, Rerum Moscoviticarum commentarii Sigismundi liberi baronis in Herberstein, Neyperg et Guttenhag Russiae et quaevnunc eius metropolis est Moscoviae brevissima descriptio, chorographia denique totius imperii Moscici et vicinorum quorundam mentio; de religione quoque varia inserta sunt et quae nostra cum religione non conveniunt; quis denique modus excipiendi et tractandi oratores, disseritur; itineraria quoque duo in Moscoviam sunt adiuncta; ad haec non solum novae aliquot tabulae, sed multa etiam alia nunc demum ab ipso autore adiecta sunt; quae, si cui cum prima editione conferre libeat, facile deprehenderet., Basilea, 1556 ⌋, p. 1). This is the meaning in which it is used here, referring to the royal titles held by Ferdinand I since 1526 and linked to the Hungarian Crown, mainly the title of king of Slavonia, and also including king “of Dalmatia, Croatia, — — Serbia, Galicia, Lodomeria” (cf. footnote 11-12, cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Klamm, 1522-07-06, CIDTC IDL 155⌊IDL 155cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Klamm, 1522-07-06, CIDTC IDL 155⌋, footnote 1; cf. Petrus Dasypodius, Dictionarium latinogermanicum, Mit einer Einführung von Gilbert de Smet, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York, 1995, series: Documenta Linguistica. Quellen zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 20. Jahrhunderts, Wörterbücher des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, series ed.(s): L. E. Schmitt, G. de Smet ⌊Dasypodiuscf. Petrus Dasypodius, Dictionarium latinogermanicum, Mit einer Einführung von Gilbert de Smet, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York, 1995, series: Documenta Linguistica. Quellen zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache des 15. bis 20. Jahrhunderts, Wörterbücher des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, series ed.(s): L. E. Schmitt, G. de Smet ⌋, f. 264r).

[18] Fiat voluntas illius, qui est in coelis a paraphrase of an excerpt from The Lord’s Prayer, see cf. Vulg. Mt 6:9-10 Pater noster, qui in coelis es — — fiat voluntas tua ⌊Mt 6:9-10cf. Vulg. Mt 6:9-10 Pater noster, qui in coelis es — — fiat voluntas tua ⌋.

[19] Jan Zambocki maintained contacts with the court in Brandenburg and went on missions to the Prussian Duke Albrecht von Hohenzollern. In 1527, persuaded by Mikołaj Nipszyc, he became a paid informer of duke Albrecht, at the same time serving as a mediator between him and Sigismund I. Zambocki was know at the court as an eccentric. He was among the closest and oldest friends of Dantiscus and Nipszyc. Three friends constituted a “triumvirate” leading the group of courtiers known as the bibones et comedones. Herberstein had known him at least since 1518 (cf. Kazimierz Morawski, Czasy Zygmuntowskie na tle prądów Odrodzenia, Warszawa, PIW (2), 1965 ⌊MORAWSKIcf. Kazimierz Morawski, Czasy Zygmuntowskie na tle prądów Odrodzenia, Warszawa, PIW (2), 1965 ⌋, p. 65; cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 2, Poznań, PWN, 1949 ⌊POCIECHA 2cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, vol. 2, Poznań, PWN, 1949 ⌋, p. 24-25; cf. Wiktor Szymaniak, Organizacja dyplomacji Prus Książęcych na dworze Zygmunta Starego, Bydgoszcz, 1992 ⌊SZYMANIAKcf. Wiktor Szymaniak, Organizacja dyplomacji Prus Książęcych na dworze Zygmunta Starego, Bydgoszcz, 1992 ⌋, p. 76-78; cf. Andrzej Wyczański, Między kulturą a polityką - sekretarze królewscy Zygmunta Starego (1506 - 1548 ), Warszawa, 1990 ⌊WYCZAŃSKI 1990cf. Andrzej Wyczański, Między kulturą a polityką - sekretarze królewscy Zygmunta Starego (1506 - 1548 ), Warszawa, 1990 ⌋, p. 271, see also cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 9, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1876, 2nd edition ⌊AT 9 (2nd ed.)cf. Acta Tomiciana, vol. 9, ed. by Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1876, 2nd edition ⌋, No. 90, p. 98-99, cf. Elementa ad fontium editiones 41. Documenta ex Archivo Regiomontano ad Poloniam spectantia XI pars H B A, B 2, 1560-66, ed. by Karolina Lanckorońska, Roma, 1977 ⌊EFE 41cf. Elementa ad fontium editiones 41. Documenta ex Archivo Regiomontano ad Poloniam spectantia XI pars H B A, B 2, 1560-66, ed. by Karolina Lanckorońska, Roma, 1977 ⌋, No. 133, p. 98-99; cf. cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS & Nikolaus NIBSCHITZ (NIPSZYC) to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Cracow, 1518-[02]-21, CIDTC IDL 126⌊IDL 126cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS & Nikolaus NIBSCHITZ (NIPSZYC) to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Cracow, 1518-[02]-21, CIDTC IDL 126⌋, footnote 1, Introduction, p. 26).