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Letter #1487

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Matthias, Abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Koronowo]
Löbau (Lubawa), 1536-06-16

English register:

Dantiscus expresses amazement at the content of Abbot Matthias’s written statement on the circumstances of the death of Matthias, guardian [of the Franciscans] from Kulm, and at the fact that he agreed to a jury court (bannitum iudicium) reviewing the matter; the new statement contradicts both Abbot Matthias’s earlier oral testimony and his two previous letters, which Dantiscus has kept.

To defend the truth and his own good name against accusations of injustice in passing judgments, Dantiscus will be forced to file a lawsuit against the addressee in Rome and to turn to the King and all the Bishops of the Crown for help. Before he does so, he asks for a letter explaining what made Abbot Matthias issue a false statement.




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, autograph, BCz, 244, p. 116 (t.p.)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverende Pater et amice in Christo carissime.

Salutem in Domino et omnem felicitatem.

Certo edocti sumus, quod Dominatio Vestra contra seipsam et ea, quae nobis ore proprio de morte Matthias (Maciej) (†1536), Guardian of the Franciscan Monastery in Kulm⌊olim fratris Mathiae guardianiMatthias (Maciej) (†1536), Guardian of the Franciscan Monastery in Kulm⌋ Kulm (Chełmno, Culma, Culmen), town in northern Poland, on the Vistula river, 40 km N of Thorn (Toruń)⌊civitatis nostrae CulmensisKulm (Chełmno, Culma, Culmen), town in northern Poland, on the Vistula river, 40 km N of Thorn (Toruń)⌋ coram libere recensuit, et per binas litteras suas, quas incorruptas servamus, si, ut non opinamur, verbis suis stare noluerit, aperte et claris verbis nobis cf. Matthias, Abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Koronowo to Ioannes DANTISCUS Koronowo, 1536-05-05, CIDTC IDL 1447⌊scripsitcf. Matthias, Abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Koronowo to Ioannes DANTISCUS Koronowo, 1536-05-05, CIDTC IDL 1447⌋ sub sigillo suo, contrarium testimonium dederit eaque de re bannitum iudicium apud se fieri permiserit. Quae si sic se haberent, quemadmodum adhuc non credimus, satis mirari non possemus cogeremurque pro veritatis defensione contra Dominationem Vestram apud Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌊Sanctam Apostolicam SedemHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌋, quod inviti faciemus, iuridice agere litemque intendere, honoremque nostrum et bonam famam, qui ad id ab adversariis nostris male perstringitur et sugillatur, quasi inique processus nostros emiserimus, tueri atque etiam ad 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⌊serenissimam maiestatem regiamBona 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⌋ et ad omnes regni praelatos pro munimine conservationeque veritatis contra Dominationem Vestram confugere. Quae omnia priusquam faciamus, cupimus a Dominatione Vestra certiores fieri, quibus modis inducta huiusmodi testimoniales litteras contra nos et contra seipsam, immo et contra cf. Vulg. Io 14:6 dicit ei Iesus ego sum via et veritas et vita ⌊veritatem, quae Deus estcf. Vulg. Io 14:6 dicit ei Iesus ego sum via et veritas et vita ⌋, dederit. Quod tamen a Dominatione Vestra, quam constantioris fidei et animi esse confidimus, factum esse adhuc non speramus, ut igitur litteris suis per hunc nuntium nostrum de iis omnibus nobis responderit a Dominatione Vestra amice petimus et postulamus eandemque bene valere optamus.