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Letter #1601

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Johan WEZE]
Friedeck (Wąbrzeźno), 1537, shortly before March [16]

English register: Dantiscus is replying to Weze’s August 2 letter from Oradea. He apologizes for the delay, his excuse being the huge amount of public tasks he had during the Diet in Cracow. Dantiscus is happy at the news received from Łaski in Cracow about Weze’s good fortune and health. He deeply sympathizes with Weze for being ignored by the emperor during the distribution of benefices. He is worried about the Danish king’s imprisoning of the bishops. He also fears that the complicated political situation and hostile people could make it impossible to convene the General Council. He hopes God will not let the king of France strike up alliances with the infidels against the Christians with impunity. Because navigation has not started yet, Dantiscus asks Weze to mediate in sending to Brabant the enclosed letter to Cornelis De Schepper (letter No. 12). Dantiscus informs Weze that he has been appointed coadjutor of the Warmia bishop (Maurycy Ferber). He asks to be informed whether the epitaph for Alfonso Valdes that he sent has been placed on his tomb in Vienna.


Manuscript sources:
1office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, place and date of sending in Dantiscus' own hand, BCz, 244, p. 197-198
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 204-205
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 152r-153r
4copy, 18th-century, BCz, 55 (TN), No. 12, p. 51-54
5excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8243 (TK 5), a.1537, f. 14r-v
6register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 32, No. 590

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8248 (TK 10), f. 412

Prints:
1DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 344, p. 285 (English register; excerpt)
2CEID 1/1 No. 10, p. 163-167 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime Domine et Domine Frater et Amice carissime, plurimumque honorande. Salutem atque omnis felicitatis Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae precor continuum accessum.

Cui quibus me verbis aut modis excusem, quod copiosis et humanissimis cf. Johan WEZE to Ioannes DANTISCUS Nagyvarad (Varadinum), 1536-08-02, CIDTC IDL 5505⌊Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae litteris II-a Augusti Nagyvarad (Varadinum), city in Hungary, Transylvania, on the Sebes-Körös (Crisul Repede) river, today Oradea in western Romania⌊VaradiniNagyvarad (Varadinum), city in Hungary, Transylvania, on the Sebes-Körös (Crisul Repede) river, today Oradea in western Romania⌋ datiscf. Johan WEZE to Ioannes DANTISCUS Nagyvarad (Varadinum), 1536-08-02, CIDTC IDL 5505⌋ hucusque non responderim, non invenio. Ceterum pro sua in me benevolentia hanc duntaxat ut unam admittat excusationem, summopere oro: statueram vocatus a 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⌊serenissimo domino meoSigismund 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⌋ ad Diet of Poland ⌊comitia RegniDiet of Poland ⌋ Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CracoviamCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ copiose de multis ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam scribere, utpote eo in loco factus Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae propinquior, verum hoc meum institutum innumerae occupationes, in quibus perpetuo fatigatus vix respirare licebat, {me} sine intermissione impediebant. Vidi quidem Hieronim Łaski (Jarosław Łaski, Hieronymus de Lasco) (*1496 – †1541), diplomat in the service of Sigismund I Jagiellon and John I Zápolya, representing them in diplomatic contacts with Ferdinand I of Habsburg and Sultan Suleiman I; 1520-1522 Crown Carver, 1522-1523 Voivode of Inowrocław, 1523-1541 Voivode of Sieradz, from 1528 Zupan of the Spiš district; from 1530 Voivode of Transylvania (PSB 18, p. 225-229)⌊magnificum dominum LascumHieronim Łaski (Jarosław Łaski, Hieronymus de Lasco) (*1496 – †1541), diplomat in the service of Sigismund I Jagiellon and John I Zápolya, representing them in diplomatic contacts with Ferdinand I of Habsburg and Sultan Suleiman I; 1520-1522 Crown Carver, 1522-1523 Voivode of Inowrocław, 1523-1541 Voivode of Sieradz, from 1528 Zupan of the Spiš district; from 1530 Voivode of Transylvania (PSB 18, p. 225-229)⌋[1] cum eoque congressus sum aliquoties, rogitans multa super Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima, qui mihi omnia et optima et honestissima narrabat, meque iis non parum exhilaravit, ut qui nemini cedo in favore et propensione erga Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam, quantoque aegrius ac molestius tulerim, quod adeo male Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima et ab adversa valetudine, et ab hominibus in Nagyvarad (Varadinum), city in Hungary, Transylvania, on the Sebes-Körös (Crisul Repede) river, today Oradea in western Romania⌊VaradinoNagyvarad (Varadinum), city in Hungary, Transylvania, on the Sebes-Körös (Crisul Repede) river, today Oradea in western Romania⌋ fuit tractata, tanto mihi erat gratius Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam recte valere et habere in omnibus felicius. De litteris equidem Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae, quas in praesentiarum ad manus non habeo, nihil est, quod tenacius memini, quam quod mihi scripsit de 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⌊maiestate caesareaCharles 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⌋, quae eo tempore, quo apud illam Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima fuerat, tot habebat dispensandi, ut vocant, mercedes, de quibus pro tot servitiis et benemeritis sibi nihil cessisse Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima querebatur. Non potui profecto summopere non condolere Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae tam diu fortunam cum Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima novercari, spes tamen me firma tenet et solatium, quod propediem tot animi dotibus innumerisque virtutibus Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae id exigentibus cf. Tac. Ann. 12. 2 novercalibus odiis; Adagia 1526 No. 1195 Odium novercale ⌊novercale odiumcf. Tac. Ann. 12. 2 novercalibus odiis; Adagia 1526 No. 1195 Odium novercale ⌋ deponens cf. Hor. S. 2. 6. 49 fortunae filius ⌊fors fortuna pia fiet matercf. Hor. S. 2. 6. 49 fortunae filius ⌋. In quo omnino nihil ambigo, omniaque fausta et felicissima Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae et faveo et precor ex animo. Quod hinc de rebus novis scribam, non habeo, quam quod Christian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534-1559 King of Denmark and Norway, 1523-1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌊dux Holstein, duchy in the Holy Roman Empire⌊HolsaciaeHolstein, duchy in the Holy Roman Empire⌋Christian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534-1559 King of Denmark and Norway, 1523-1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌋ Denmark (Dania)⌊Regno DaniaeDenmark (Dania)⌋ potitus saevire coepit in episcopos[2], quorum aliquot fertur tenere captivos. Quid adhuc ex ista nascetur tragoedia, cum concilium praepeditur[3] iis iniquis temporibus et hominibus adversantibus, in dubio est. Dominus Deus misereatur nostri, ecclesiamque suam a malorum hominum conatibus tueatur et defendat. Hoccine, hoc est esse Francis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy⌊ChristianissimumFrancis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy⌋[4] aperte sentire cum infidelibus, eosque in Christianos animare atque concitare? cf. Vulg. Ps CLI 7. 12 Deus iudex iustus et fortis et patiens; Vulg. Ps (H) 7. 12 Deus iudex iustus et fortis comminans tota die; Vulg. Ps CLI 73. 13-14 contribulasti capita draconum in aquis / tu confregisti capita draconis; Vulg. Ps (H) 73. 13-14 contrivisti capita draconum in aquis / tu confregisti capita Leviathan ⌊Deus nimirum cf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum Pio lectori before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 53⌊iustus futurus est vindex et iudexcf. Carmen paraeneticum ad Constantem Alliopagum Pio lectori before 1539-08-13, CIDTC IDP 53⌋, moliminaque gregi suo noxia et capita draconum confringetcf. Vulg. Ps CLI 7. 12 Deus iudex iustus et fortis et patiens; Vulg. Ps (H) 7. 12 Deus iudex iustus et fortis comminans tota die; Vulg. Ps CLI 73. 13-14 contribulasti capita draconum in aquis / tu confregisti capita draconis; Vulg. Ps (H) 73. 13-14 contrivisti capita draconum in aquis / tu confregisti capita Leviathan ⌋. Scripsi has adiunctas communi nostro amico magnifico domino Cornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌊Cornelio ScepperoCornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌋, et cum postae semper sint apud vos in Brabant (Brabantia), duchy in the Low Countries, under Habsburg rule from 1482. Its territory corresponds to the Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant, Antwerp and the Brussels Capital Region, and the province of North-Brabant in the Netherlands⌊BrabanciamBrabant (Brabantia), duchy in the Low Countries, under Habsburg rule from 1482. Its territory corresponds to the Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant, Antwerp and the Brussels Capital Region, and the province of North-Brabant in the Netherlands⌋, impense rogo, velit efficere, ut ad eum perferantur. Hinc tam facile, cum nondum navigari coeptum sit, eam mittendi <non> habemus commoditatem. Vix quicquam aliud, quam quod me adhuc in vivis esse sciat, scribo, notumque ei facio, similiter et Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae, me pauloante factum esse coadiutorem Varmiensem. In manu Dei est, quamvis aetate non modica adversaque valetudine Mauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)⌊pius et bonus pater episcopus VarmiensisMauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)⌋ semper afficiatur, quem prius divina Maiestas vocare dignabitur. Haec sic cum fraterna excusatione in notitiam Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae deducenda existimavi, quam plurimum oro me eo amore et benevolentia, quam ex me cognovit semper et quo me vicissim Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima prosecuta est, prosequi non desinat, meque de statu rebusque suis, quae mihi non secus atque Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae curae sunt, aliquando certiorem reddat. Miseram carissimo olim communi amico nostro cf. Epitaphium Alfonsi Valdesii 2 Ad Valdesium 1532-10-06 — 1536-08-13, CIDTC IDP 96;
Epitaphium Alfonsi Valdesii 1 1532-10-06 — 1536-08-13, CIDTC IDP 103⌊Alfonso de Valdés (Alphonsus Valdesius) (*1500-1504 – †1532), Spanish humanist, friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, brother of Juan and Diego; from 1520 in the service of the Imperial Chancellor Mercurino Gattinara; 1522 secretary of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg; 1526 Latin secretary (FERNÁNDEZ-SANTAMARÍA, p. 38-48; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 26)⌊Alphonso ValdesioAlfonso de Valdés (Alphonsus Valdesius) (*1500-1504 – †1532), Spanish humanist, friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, brother of Juan and Diego; from 1520 in the service of the Imperial Chancellor Mercurino Gattinara; 1522 secretary of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg; 1526 Latin secretary (FERNÁNDEZ-SANTAMARÍA, p. 38-48; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 26)⌋ epitaphiumcf. Epitaphium Alfonsi Valdesii 2 Ad Valdesium 1532-10-06 — 1536-08-13, CIDTC IDP 96;
Epitaphium Alfonsi Valdesii 1 1532-10-06 — 1536-08-13, CIDTC IDP 103⌋ supra eius sepulcrum Vienna (Wien, Vienna), city in eastern Austria, on the Danube river⌊ViennamVienna (Wien, Vienna), city in eastern Austria, on the Danube river⌋, quod si est appensum seu affixum nec ne, ut mihi significet, rogo. Dominus Deus eandem Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam quam diutissime sospitet et prosperet in omnibus.

[1 ] At the 1536/37 Diet Hieronim Łaski was an envoy of king of Rome Ferdinand Habsburg, so he doubtless had fresh news from Weze who was in Hungary

[2 ] In October 1536 king of Denmark Christian III imprisoned the Danish and Norwegian bishops (cf. cf. MAŁŁEK 1969 Przyczynek p.130-131 ⌊Małłek,1969, p.130-131cf. MAŁŁEK 1969 Przyczynek p.130-131 ⌋); Dantiscus was asked to plead for the imprisoned bishops with the Polish king by bishops Ioannes Magnus, Hans Brask and Magnus Haraldsson, who had been exiled from Sweden and were staying in Gdańsk (cf. cf. Ioannes MAGNUS, Hans BRASK & Magnus HARALDI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Gdańsk (Danzig), 1536-11-02, CIDTC IDL 1550⌊IDL 1550cf. Ioannes MAGNUS, Hans BRASK & Magnus HARALDI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Gdańsk (Danzig), 1536-11-02, CIDTC IDL 1550⌋)

[3 ] The General Council (of Trent (Tridentum), city in northern Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige (Südtirol)⌊TrentTrent (Tridentum), city in northern Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige (Südtirol)⌋) was ultimately convened in 1545

[4 ] French kings traditionally used the title “arch-Christian” (Christianissimus). This title was part of the formula pronounced during the monarch’s anointment, after which he became the Lord’s anointed. Next to the coronation, the anointment was the most important part of a new ruler’s investiture. From about the 9th century in France, it gained a very special meaning because French kings, apart from the usual chrism, were anointed with balm from the Holy Ampulla, which according to tradition had been brought to St. Remigius by a dove so that he could anoint Chlodvig during his baptism. The anointment ceremony involved pronouncing the formula “Blessed are you, hail who comes in the name of the Lord – to accept the holy anointment with the divine oil sent by the Creator to the arch-Christian king of France and no other.” This tradition gave rise to the belief in the special role of French kings in the Church. It formed the foundation for the development of Gallicanism (cf. e.g. Roux, p. 237-239). Here, Dantiscus emphasizes the conflict between Francis I’s alliance with the Turkish sultan against the empire, dictated by the existing political situation, and the idea of uniting Christian Europe to fight against the infidels which was deeply rooted in tradition