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Letter #1441

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Ioannes MAGNUS]
Althausen (Starogród), 1536-04-23


Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, autograph, BCz, 244, p. 93-94
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 174-176
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 136v-137r
4copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 54 (TN), No. 66, p. 189-192
5register with excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8243 (TK 5), a.1536, f. 47
6register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 32, No. 598

Prints:
1KOLBERG 1915 No. 3, p. 34-37 (in extenso)
2DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 321, p. 409 (English register)
3JASIŃSKA-ZDUN 2010 p. 360-361 (excerpt)
4SKOLIMOWSKA 2012 Dantiscus p. 204-207 (excerpt in English translation; excerpt)
5SKOLIMOWSKA 2021 Ex Saulo p. 218-221 (excerpt; excerpt in Polish translation)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, amice ac frater carissime et honorande.

cf. Ioannes MAGNUS to Ioannes DANTISCUS Gdańsk (Danzig), 1536-04-05, CIDTC IDL 1434⌊Litterascf. Ioannes MAGNUS to Ioannes DANTISCUS Gdańsk (Danzig), 1536-04-05, CIDTC IDL 1434⌋ Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae quinta Aprilis Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊GdaniGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ datas paulo ante hic gratissimas accepimus, quibus nos humanissime commonet de Chronicis Goticis et Sueticis Albert Kranz (Albert Krantz) (*ca. 1450 – †1517), historian, author of a number of historical works f.ex. "Chronica regnorum aquilonarium Daniae, Sueciae, et Noruagiae" (Strassburg, 1546), "Metropolis, sive Historia de ecclesiis sub Carolo Magno in Saxonia"; 1482 rector of the University in Rostock⌊Alberti CranciiAlbert Kranz (Albert Krantz) (*ca. 1450 – †1517), historian, author of a number of historical works f.ex. "Chronica regnorum aquilonarium Daniae, Sueciae, et Noruagiae" (Strassburg, 1546), "Metropolis, sive Historia de ecclesiis sub Carolo Magno in Saxonia"; 1482 rector of the University in Rostock⌋[1], quae post mortem sororii nostri eximii olim Johann Reyneck (†1535), the second husband of Dantiscus' sister Anna; doctor of both canon and civil law; councillor to Duke Albrecht von Hohenzollern (BORAWSKA 1984, p. 179-180, 203; GÜNTHER 1907, p. 365)⌊doctoris ReineciiJohann Reyneck (†1535), the second husband of Dantiscus' sister Anna; doctor of both canon and civil law; councillor to Duke Albrecht von Hohenzollern (BORAWSKA 1984, p. 179-180, 203; GÜNTHER 1907, p. 365)⌋ ad nos cum aliis quibusdam reculis ab illo relictis pervenerunt eademque chronica generosus et nobilis dominus 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)⌊Ioannes a WerdenJohann 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)⌋ praefectus Neuenburg (Nowe), town in northern Poland, Pomerania, on the Vistula river, 19 km N of Graudenz⌊castri NovensisNeuenburg (Nowe), town in northern Poland, Pomerania, on the Vistula river, 19 km N of Graudenz⌋ etc. in bibliotheca nostra et vidit, et quaedam etiam in illis legit, estque nobis non vulgariter gratum, quod Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima non gravate fert, ut illarum usuram aliquandiu, quousque a nostris amanuensibus transcribi possint, habeamus . Ceterum non agnoscimus, quae pro sua humanitate atque erga nos benevolentia Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima nobis tribuit, ut pote in bonis litteris minus quam mediocriter versati, quod chronicorum illorum phrasis vel dictio tersior emendatiorve a nobis ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam redire possit, redibunt autem, postquam illarum usus nobis satisfecerit, si non cum actuario, tamen ad eum modum, quo accepimus, integra. De statu suo, quem nobis Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima describit se recte et feliciter valere in negotiis praesertim suis privatis fuit nobis iucundissimum precamurque, ut ea animi tranquillitas ac prospera, qua ad praesens fruitur, valetudo Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae duret quam diutissime, porro quod afficitur molesteque fert has in religione nostra turbas, in quibus periculosis iis temporibus res nostrae ecclesiasticae [i]n tantis discrimini bus fluctuant, quodque in causa, ut scribit, religionis restituendae adeo sollicita est Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima, quomodo in tanta rerum perturbatione certum consilium et idoneum invenire possit, summopere probamus, utque in eo pergat, etiam atque etiam rogamus; verum in negotiis suis privatis susque deque immo et patienter, quae pro peccatis nostris iuste affliguntur, sustinenda ferendaque esse nobis existimo, quae Deus contra nos, ut fierent, permisit .

cf. [De haeresi] Ioannes MAGNUS 1534-04-23, CIDTC IDP 169⌊Quandoquidem, volumus saltem si vera fateri,cf. [De haeresi] Ioannes MAGNUS 1534-04-23, CIDTC IDP 169⌋
haec merito patimur, res facit ipsa fidem.
Non frustra penitus Germany (Germania, Niemcy)⌊Germanis crevit in orisGermany (Germania, Niemcy)⌋
haeresis haec, quae iam virus ubique vomit,
nec causas opus est afferre scientibus illas:
ex capite hic fluxum noxius humor habet
inficit et reliquos corrupti corporis artus,
unde subit rediens haec pituita caput,
quod modo sic tremula vertigine iure laborat
inque vicem capit hoc, quod dedit ante, malum.
Pharmaca ni vitiis superi curantia pulsis
praestiterint, actum (quod procul absit) erit:
Sweden (Suecia)⌊SveticaSweden (Suecia)⌋ non solum vel Denmark (Dania)⌊DanicaDenmark (Dania)⌋ sive Brittany (Armorica, Bretogne), region in northwestern France⌊BritannaBrittany (Armorica, Bretogne), region in northwestern France⌋
regna, sed in bellum cuncta sub orbe ruunt.
Ultima non procul esse potest iam iudicis hora,
praemia qui cunctis, ut meruere, dabit.
Gens contra gentem surgit, Mars saevit ubique,
integritas, virtus et pudor omnis abest.
In summum vix ulla fides pietasve Tonantem,
rarus et est nostrae religionis honor,
spernuntur pia dicta patrum, stata tempora, leges
atque sacri ritus, qui viguere prius.
Concita sese effert nebulonum daemonis oestro
turba ingens, sibi quae cuncta licere putat.

Est odio verum simul exulat aequum et honestum,
cum luxu, fast[u] regnat et aeris amor,
omnia confuso volvuntur turbinis aest[u],
impietas dum sic vi sacra nostra quatit.
Haec qui restit[uet] vel qui reparabit, ut ordo,
qui fuerat, redeat, laude colendus erit.
Res haec sed nostris est longe viribus imp[ar],
proderit ingenium consiliumve parum.
In primis ponenda forent tot crimina nobis,
sumenda et melior vita relicta alia,
linquenda ambitio mundique amor, ardor habend[i]
quaeque referre pudet plurima nota satis.
Imploranda Dei clementia, saepe precanda
suppliciter multis cum lacrimis venia.
Cum patribus nostris graviter peccavimus omnes,
hinc mala, quae ferimus, iusta dat ira Dei.
Haec no[s] per saevos castigat saepe tyrannos
et subdit duro coll[a] superba iugo.
Quod si non Deus hic iustis plerumque pepercit,
quid faceret, numquam qui sine labe sumus?
Exspectat t[amen], ut doleamus, seque benignum
offert, si volumus linquere iniqua, patrem.
Hactenus haec, ne sus forsan docuisse Minervam
dicatur. Sapiens non monitoris eget.

Quomodo ista excid[e]rint calamo, nescimus, nisi quod tempora ista et ea, quae nobis in illis est constans sententia, obiter impulerint. Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima fraternae propensioni sinceraeque simplicitati nostrae dabit veniam. De novis, quae Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima a nobis postulat, nihil est, quod impraesentiarum ex Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌊RomanaRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌋ aut 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⌊caesarisCharles 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⌋ curia habeamus, in exspectatione illarum rerum non secus atque Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima haeremus. Misimus et nuper 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 nostro 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)⌋ unum de familiaribus nostris ad aulam 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 nostriSigismund 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⌋ in Lithuania⌊LituaniamLithuania⌋. Quicquid ille retulerit et si interim ex Italy (Italia)⌊ItaliaItaly (Italia)⌋ et aliis ad nos regionibus quippiam scientia dignum Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae perferetur, cum primis eandem participem ac certiorem faciemus. Quam et faustissime valere et, ut nos, quo amore coepit, prosequi non desinat, ex animo desideramus.