CIDT&C Corpus of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence

Letter #1015

Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Vienna, 1533-10-08

English register: Shortly after his return to Vienna, De Schepper sends to Dantiscus an account of his embassy to Constantinople.

He is pleased with the letter from Dantiscus which the Archbishop of Lund [Johan Weze] handed to him. Although he is satisfied with what he currently has, he wishes that his princes would show more appreciation for him. He has always tried to achieve results not by flattery or intrigue, but through loyal dedication and zeal, and to bear fortune and misfortune with equanimity. He longs to meet Dantiscus but his duty forces him to travel to Spain, with only a stopover of three days at home in Flanders. Indeed, his current mission is of crucial international importance.

There follows a brief account of the facts.

After the retreat of the Sultan [Suleiman the Magnificent] from Hungary last year, the King of the Romans [Ferdinand I] sent Hieronymus of Zadar as an envoy to the Sultan. The envoy reported that the Sultan was willing to negotiate a peace treaty with King Ferdinand, and intended to involve the Emperor [Charles V] in it. Subsequently the Sultan sent an envoy to King Ferdinand to verify the statements of the King's envoy. At that time De Schepper and Weze were staying in Vienna as ambassadors of the Emperor. De Schepper was commissioned to travel to Constantinople as an ambassador on behalf of King Ferdinand. There he was confronted with a troubled situation, caused by the rebellion of wicked Christians. Meanwhile the envoys had frequent conversations with Ibrahim Pasha and Alvise Gritti, who hold all the power.

On July 23, the peace treaty was signed in the presence of the Sultan and three of the pashas. De Schepper and Hieronymus of Zadar acted for King Ferdinand. Unlike the treaty with Poland, this one involves an everlasting peace (pax in perpetuum). King Ferdinand retains his present territories, without paying any tribute, and he has good hope of expanding his rule over the entire Kingdom of Hungary. Of this, only four people have been informed, including De Schepper himself.

The Sultan promised his support to King Ferdinand against possible enemies, and called him his son. This unexpected success is entirely due to God's will, as neither rhetorical nor diplomatic skills can influence the decision of an autocrat. Emperor Charles could have been involved in this peace, but he wished not to be mentioned. De Schepper explains the Sultan's desire for peace by pointing out the failure of his military expedition of the previous year, the great losses he has suffered thereby, the smouldering revolt among the Greeks and his Christian subjects, the threat from the Persians in the East, and the defection of many janissaries to the Shah [Tahmāsp I].

Admiral Andrea Doria managed to break the naval blockade of the city of Corona by the Turks, and the siege on the landside was also lifted, so that the town could be secured for the Emperor.

For some reason yet unknown, the Pope [Clement VII] will not travel to Nice, but will go to Marseille for a meeting with the King of France [Francis I].

De Schepper wishes Dantiscus and his family the best, and sends greetings by Johan Weze.

received 1534-02-02

Manuscript sources:

1	fair copy in Latin, autograph, UUB, H. 154, f. 120-121
2	copy in Latin, 18th-century, LSB, BR 19, No. 21
3	copy in Latin, 18th-century, SUB, Sup. Ep. 4-o 41, No. 13, f. 11v-13r
4	copy in Latin, 18th-century, SBB, MS Lat. Quart. 101, No. 12, f. 33v-37v
5	copy in Latin, 18th-century, SLUB, C 110, f. 45v-51r
6	copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 1366, p. 98-106
7	copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 14r-16r
8	copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 49 (TN), No. 244, p. 689-694
9	register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 30, No. 81

Auxiliary sources:

1	register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8247 (TK 9), f. 378

Early printed source materials:

1	Monumenta inedita p. 429-432 (in extenso)

Prints:

1	AT 15 No. 485, p. 678-681 (in extenso; Polish register)
2	DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 262, p. 185 (English register; excerpt)
3	Españoles part II, No. 74, p. 244-246 (excerpt in Spanish translation)
4	CEID 2/2 (Letter No. 56) p. 259-266 (in extenso; English register)