» CORPUS of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence
Copyright © Laboratory for Source Editing and Digital Humanities AL UW

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Letter #1778

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Antonio PUCCI
Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16

English register: Dantiscus is asking the cardinal protector for his help in arranging for a reduction in the amount of annates for himself and Tiedemann Giese. He argues that the bishops’ income has decreased substantially as a result of the last two wars and the development of Lutheranism in the territories neighboring upon the Chełmno and Warmia dioceses. Dantiscus points out that though he paid the required 700 ducats for the provision for the Chełmno bishopric, his predecessors took advantage of substantial reductions due to the devastation of the bishopric estate. He also notes that the Warmia bishop, who is in a much better financial situation than the Chełmno bishop, pays just 400 ducats for his confirmation. The amount of the fee for the Chełmno bishopric seems all the more unjust to Dantiscus when the annual income of the Chełmno bishop barely reaches the required fee of 700 ducats. Dantiscus asks for support for the activity of his plenipotentiary in Rome, Dietrich von Rheden. He recalls the great kindness shown to himself by the cardinal protector during the coronation of the emperor (Charles V) in Bologna, and is counting on his continued kindness.


Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, autograph, BCz, 244, p. 299-300
2office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 244, p. 297-298

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8248 (TK 10), f. 648

Prints:
1Starożytności p. 71 (excerpt in Polish translation)
2CEID 1/1 No. 72, p. 322-325 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BCz 144, p. 297

Ad Antonio Pucci (*1484 – †1544), 1517-1521 papal nuncio in Switzerland; 1518-1541 Bishop of Pistoia; 1529-1541 Bishop of Vannes; 1529-1544 Penitentiary Major; 1531-1541 Cardinal of SS. IV Coronati; 1541-1542 Cardinal of Santa Maria in Trastevere; 1542-1543 Bishop of Albano; 1543-1544 Bishop of Sabina; 1532-1544 Cardinal Protector of the Kingdom of Poland and Portugal (WOJTYSKA 1977, p. 243; CE, p. 122-123)cardinalem PistoriensemAntonio Pucci (*1484 – †1544), 1517-1521 papal nuncio in Switzerland; 1518-1541 Bishop of Pistoia; 1529-1541 Bishop of Vannes; 1529-1544 Penitentiary Major; 1531-1541 Cardinal of SS. IV Coronati; 1541-1542 Cardinal of Santa Maria in Trastevere; 1542-1543 Bishop of Albano; 1543-1544 Bishop of Sabina; 1532-1544 Cardinal Protector of the Kingdom of Poland and Portugal (WOJTYSKA 1977, p. 243; CE, p. 122-123) protectorem etc.

BCz, 244, p. 299

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine modis omnibus colendissime.

Tametsi verear cum nulla in re de Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima sum benemeritus hanc meam scriptionem non nihil molestiae Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae allaturam, cogit me tamen rei cf. Adagia 1526 No. 1240 ingens telum necessitas – – de reinevitabili; Adagia 1526 No. 1241 adversum necessitatem ne dii quidem resistunt necessitas, quae ingens telum est et cui, ut proverbium written over ooumum written over o habet superinscribed in place of crossed-out estesthabethabet superinscribed in place of crossed-out est, ne dii quidem resistuntcf. Adagia 1526 No. 1240 ingens telum necessitas – – de reinevitabili; Adagia 1526 No. 1241 adversum necessitatem ne dii quidem resistunt , ea in notitiam Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae deducere, quae cum meis tum etiam reverendissimi Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim)domini Tidemanni electi CulmensisTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 1533-1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523-1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537-1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549-1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984, passim) et successoris mei rebus sunt apprime necessaria, quandoquidem on the marginquandoquidemquandoquidem on the margin non arbitror Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam latere, quo pacto abhinc annis septem cum 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 Austriaserenissimo rege meo 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, cuius tum 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 Castilecaesaream 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 eram orator, ad hanc meam Culmensem ecclesiam Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) Sedi ApostolicaeHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) essem praesentatus, nescio quo iniquo fato integram taxam[1], ut vocant, septingentorum aureorum, [a]d quo<d> se vix totus ecclesiae reditus extendit on the marginseptingentorum aureorum, ms 1 [a]d,
ms 2 omitted
a hidden by binding[a]a hidden by bindingdms 1 [a]d,
ms 2 omitted
quo<d> se vix totus ecclesiae reditus extendit in next line in place of crossed-out ...... illegible...... illegibleditdit in next line in place of crossed-out ...
septingentorum aureorum, [a]d quo<d> se vix totus ecclesiae reditus extendit on the margin, soluere pro confirmatione in officiorum libris constitutam adactus fuerim, quod quidem superinscribedquidemquidem superinscribed vel adverso casu ac fortuito on the margin in place of crossed-out meo infortuniomeo infortunioadverso casu ac fortuitoadverso casu ac fortuito on the margin in place of crossed-out meo infortunio, vel potius quorundam avaritia aut superinscribedpotius quorundam avaritia autpotius quorundam avaritia aut superinscribed procuratorum[2] meorum ignorantiae inscitiave superinscribed in place of crossed-out suae inscitiaeque imputosuae inscitiaeque imputoinscitiaveinscitiave superinscribed in place of crossed-out suae inscitiaeque imputo commissum esse oportuit. Ecclesia enim Culmensis Quam taxam si successor meus onerari deberet, nihil fieri posset iniquius magis ab aequitate alienum, praedecessores enim mei post bellum ... superinscribed... illegible...... illegible... superinscribed Prutenum ante novissimum on the marginante novissimumante novissimum on the margin, quod quattuordecim hic annis perduravit[3] et ecclesiam Culmensem superinscribedCulmensemCulmensem superinscribed bonaque eius adeo extenuavit, quod vix sustinere poterant superinscribed in place of crossed-out possentpossentpoterantpoterant superinscribed in place of crossed-out possent episcopum, gratuito fere et parvo dispendio confirmationes suas a Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) Sede ApostolicaHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) obtinebant, a superinscribed in place of crossed-out cuiuscuiusaa superinscribed in place of crossed-out cuius ha written over eeaa written over ec certissima est ratione, quod ecclesia superinscribed in place of crossed-out episcopatusepiscopatusecclesiaecclesia superinscribed in place of crossed-out episcopatus Varmiensis[4], ad qua superinscribed in place of crossed-out eeaa superinscribed in place of crossed-out em postulatus sum, longe in fortunis pinguior on the marginlonge in fortunis pinguiorlonge in fortunis pinguior on the margin, in libris officiorum ad quadringentos dumtaxat aureos sit astricta. Accedit item et hoc tempore, quod on the margin in place of crossed-out quod utraquequod utraqueitem et hoc tempore, quoditem et hoc tempore, quod on the margin in place of crossed-out quod utraque V written over EEVV written over Earmiensis et Culmensis ecclesiae in superinscribed in place of crossed-out ... superinscribed in place of crossed-out ...... illegible...... illegible... illegible...... illegible superinscribed in place of crossed-out ...inin superinscribed in place of crossed-out ... cf. Lucr. 1.29-30 effice, ut interea fera moenera militiai / per maria ac terras omnis sopita quiescant bellis item hic nuperrime sopitiscf. Lucr. 1.29-30 effice, ut interea fera moenera militiai / per maria ac terras omnis sopita quiescant [5] non parum sint afflictae superinscribednon parum sint afflictaenon parum sint afflictae superinscribed et per vicinum Luteranismi malum non parvo detrimento on the margin in place of crossed-out non parum sunt ...non parum sunt ... illegible...... illegiblenon parvo detrimentonon parvo detrimento on the margin in place of crossed-out non parum sunt ... affectae. Hinc porro on the margin in place of crossed-out Quo and ... proQuo and ... illegible...... illegible proHinc porroHinc porro on the margin in place of crossed-out Quo and ... pro iure et pro mera pietate fieret, si quid indulgentiae in annatarum moderatione superinscribed in place of crossed-out remissioneremissionemoderationemoderatione superinscribed in place of crossed-out remissione utrisque impenderetur. Quae written over ododaeae written over od ideo fusius Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae descripsi, ut pro sua ms 1 incomparabili,
ms 2 incomperabili
incomparabilims 1 incomparabili,
ms 2 incomperabili
prudentia aequitateque in omnes dispiceret ac reputaret apud se. Quam gratiam ob has adductas causas istae duae ecclesiae, maxime autem Culmensis, quae, ut scripsi, vix septingentos aureos in annuis habet reditibus censibus, a Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) Sede ApostolicaHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) merito impetrare deberent. Cumque ea in re ad neminem alium ego et electus successor meus, quam ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam, quae Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)Regnum PoloniaePoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia) in suam suscepit protectionem, confugere debeamus, quantum possumus impensius supplicamus, ut nobis benignitatem beneficentiamque suam non gravate in iis et aliis quibuscumque, quae nostro nomine venerabilis dominus Dietrich von Rheden (Teodoryk Reden) (*1492 – †1556), doctor of both canon and civil law. Rheden spent most of his life in Rome where he was dealing with, among other things, the affairs of the Ermland Chapter; 1532-1551 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); Canon of Mainz and Lübeck; in 1551 he was appointed Bishop of Lübeck, but he did not accept the dignity (KOPICZKO 2, p. 263; SBKW, p. 200)ms 1 Theodericus,
ms 2 Theodoricus
Theodericusms 1 Theodericus,
ms 2 Theodoricus
de Rheden
Dietrich von Rheden (Teodoryk Reden) (*1492 – †1556), doctor of both canon and civil law. Rheden spent most of his life in Rome where he was dealing with, among other things, the affairs of the Ermland Chapter; 1532-1551 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); Canon of Mainz and Lübeck; in 1551 he was appointed Bishop of Lübeck, but he did not accept the dignity (KOPICZKO 2, p. 263; SBKW, p. 200) procurator noster referet, impartiri velit, memor illius gratiae et benevolentiae, qua me olim in Spain (Hispania)HispaniisSpain (Hispania) agentem oratorem 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 CastilecaesaremCharles 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 et inde(?) in eius coronatione[6] Bologna (Bononia), city in Italy at the southern end of the plain of the Po valley, between 1506 and 1860 it belonged to the Papal StateBononiaeBologna (Bononia), city in Italy at the southern end of the plain of the Po valley, between 1506 and 1860 it belonged to the Papal State prosecuta est. BCz, 244, p. 300 Qua fretus has prolixiores ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam dedi, quae si quid amplius in me beneficii contulerit, omni gratitudine, cum melius res meae habere ceperint, atque adeo re ipsa Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae respondebo. Cui me summopere ut domino et patrono meo plusquam colendissimo commendo.

[1] Fees for church benefices – annates – were introduced in 1316 by Pope John XXII. The beneficiary’s formal pledge to pay the annates was the necessary condition of receiving a provision bulla for the new office. Starting from the Council of Constance (1414-1418), annates from higher-ranking benefices were to be paid in two annual installments at the Apostolic Camera in Rome. The amount of annates was specified for every benefice, though information was also gathered about the actual situation of each beneficiary and analyzed at the consistory during which the provision was to be settled, and this is doubtless where Dantiscus saw a chance for reducing the fee (cf. Dudziak; further references there). Applications for a reduction to the fee seem to have been widespread at the time, as shown, for example, by the Polish episcopate’s letters to the pope in 1537 (cf. VMPL, No. DLXXX, DLXXXI, p. 520-523). See also cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-09-24, CIDTC IDL 1721;
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-09-28, CIDTC IDL 1728;
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Johann TYMMERMANN] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-10-19, CIDTC IDL 1749;
Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-03, CIDTC IDL 1762;
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Dietrich von RHEDEN Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1775;
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Jan CHOJEŃSKI] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1788
letterscf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-09-24, CIDTC IDL 1721;
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-09-28, CIDTC IDL 1728;
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Johann TYMMERMANN] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-10-19, CIDTC IDL 1749;
Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-03, CIDTC IDL 1762;
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Dietrich von RHEDEN Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1775;
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Jan CHOJEŃSKI] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1788
.

[2] Dantiscus’ plenipotentiaries in the Holy See in 1530 were Stanisław Rzeczyca, Polish penitentiary in Rome, and Ioannes Colardus, papal scriba. Their efforts on behalf of Dantiscus have been discussed on the basis of the correspondence published in cf. AT 12 AT (vol.XII)cf. AT 12 , in the doctoral dissertation by Hieronim Fokciński Procedura nadawania godności biskupich w XVI w. (Fokciński).

[3] The Polish-Teutonic war of 1454-1466, called the Thirteen Years’ War and not – as Dantiscus writes – the Fourteen Years’ War.

[4] After Varmiensis – proofreading mark superinscribed and then crossed out

[5] The Polish-Teutonic war of 1519-1521.

[6] For more about Dantiscus’ participation in the ceremony during which Charles was crowned as emperor (February 24, 1530) cf. e.g. cf. AT 12 No. 65, p. 77-79 AT, XII, No. 65, p.77-79cf. AT 12 No. 65, p. 77-79 .

[7] XVI Novembris added later in the same hand in a specially left space.