» 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 #1788

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Jan CHOJEŃSKI]
Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16

English register: Dantiscus is replying to two letters from Chojeński. He thanks him for the congratulations. He is very grateful for the king’s letters to the pope and the Cardinal Protector, drawn up in accordance with the previously sent forms. He informs Chojeński that he has received the letters together with copies and is sending them, and the gold as well, through his brother Bernard (von Höfen) and the Fuggers’ bank to the addressees in Rome. Dantiscus asks Chojeński to obtain from the king letters to the pope and the Cardinal Protector on the reduction of his and Giese’s annates. He points out the incompatibility of the amounts, set at the Council of Constance, in relation to the present financial situation of the Chełmno bishop, whose diocese is much poorer than previously as a result of ruinous wars. Dantiscus indicates that when he was taking office as Chełmno bishop, he tried to get the fee reduced, to no avail. He doesn’t want his successor to be treated equally unjustly. He encloses the appropriate sample letters. They will also be delivered with his brother’s help, through Georg Hegel. Bernard has also received instructions on further action with respect to the canonry depending on Chojeński’s decision. Therefore Dantiscus asks him to let him know of that decision. Dantiscus suggests it is time that Prussia was sent the royal mandates concerning taxes. He fears that without these mandates, it will be impossible to start collecting taxes.


Manuscript sources:
1office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 244, p. 291
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 228-230
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 167v-168v
4copy, 18th-century, BCz, 55 (TN), No. 73, p. 467-468
5register with excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8243 (TK 5), a.1537, f. 64r-v

Prints:
1CEID 1/1 No. 64, p. 303-304 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BCz, 244, p. 291

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine mihi colendissime. Salutem obsequiorumque meorum commendationem plurimam.

cf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-10-11, CIDTC IDL 3607;
Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-10-23, CIDTC IDL 5629⌊Accepi iis diebus a Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima binascf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-10-11, CIDTC IDL 3607;
Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-10-23, CIDTC IDL 5629⌋, quarum cf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-10-11, CIDTC IDL 3607⌊priores datae sunt Cracoviae XI Octobriscf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-10-11, CIDTC IDL 3607⌋. Quibus mihi scribit dedisse se, secundum exemplum a me missum, litteras ad Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope⌊pontificemPaul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope⌋ et 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 Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌊RegniPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌋ protectoremAntonio 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)⌋, duplicatasque, ut vocant, earundem, quas accepi, ad me misisse. Precatur mihi felicitatem translationi meae congratulando, pro qua in me benevolentissima propensione, quas debeo, non possum, sed, quantum vires meae valent, Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae iterum atque iterum gratias habeo, remittoque in next line⌈queque in next line⌉ easdem duplicatas cum Bernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau⌊hoc fratre meoBernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau⌋ Georg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336)⌊Georgio HegelGeorg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336)⌋, ut ille eas certus de auro, quod 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)⌊dominus electusTiedemann 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 ego Thorn (Toruń, Thorunium), city in northern Poland, on the Vistula river in its lower reaches, main residence of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno); one of the three Great Prussian Cities (along with Gdańsk and Elbing) which had representatives in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊ThoroniaeThorn (Toruń, Thorunium), city in northern Poland, on the Vistula river in its lower reaches, main residence of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno); one of the three Great Prussian Cities (along with Gdańsk and Elbing) which had representatives in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ deposuimus[1], unacum cambii litteris Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌊RomamRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌋ mittat, quo tandem semel istius comoediae finem habere possimus. Ceterum, Reverendissime mi Domine, quod questus sum aliquoties, quibus modis in mea prima expeditione Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌊RomaeRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌋ tractatus sum, refricare cogor iterum. Extorta fuit a me iniquissimis modis antiqua, ut vocant, taxa, qua episcopatus hic Culmensis septingentis ducatis est oneratus tempore concilii Constanciensis[2], cum in Prussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525, the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌊PrussiaPrussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525, the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌋ florerent omnia, episcopatus vero Varmiensis duntaxat ad quadringentos ducatos fuit astrictus. Hinc certa est coniectura in proventibus episcopatum Culmensem tum longe fuisse ditiorem Varmiensi. Quod post bella praeterita[3] quantum mutatum sit, ipsa res testatur – in pecuniis paratis, quae ex reditibus dantur, ecclesia Culmensis, quod sancte affirmare ausim, non habet tantum, ut taxae veteri septingentorum ducatorum respondeat – a me tamen et taxa illa integra, ac paene tantundem pro bullarum expeditione contra tum Citizens of Florence ⌊FlorentinosCitizens of Florence ⌋, in quos Clement VII (Giulio de' Medici) (*1478 – †1534), 1523-1534 Pope⌊pontifexClement VII (Giulio de' Medici) (*1478 – †1534), 1523-1534 Pope⌋ saeviebat[4], fuit rapta, nedum extorta. Quod ne 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)⌊successori meoTiedemann 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)⌋ fiat, a Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima quantum possum oro impensius, ut 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⌊maiestate regiaSigismund 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⌋ eius tenoris litteras, ut scheda habet inclusa, et ad pontificem, atque ad cardinalem protectorem obtineat, quas frater hic meus medio ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ Georg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336)⌊Georgii HegelGeorg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336)⌋ Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌊RomamRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See⌋ mittet. Quae sive profecerint, sive infecerint, nihilominus tamen 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)⌊dominus electusTiedemann 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 ego quoad eius fieri poterit, gratissimi semper Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae sumus futuri. In cf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-10-23, CIDTC IDL 5629⌊posterioribus litteris Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima meminit de canonicatu meocf. Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1537-10-23, CIDTC IDL 5629⌋, in quo se ita acturam pollicetur, quod satis desiderio meo fieri debeat. Si itaque resignationem meam, quam misi, Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima retinuit, ne prodeat in effectum, velit hoc fratri meo indicare, cui commisi habita voluntate Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae, quid illum facere oporteat. De nostra hic contributione iam tempus exposcit, ut mandata regia mitterentur, sine quibus nescio si quid incipi possit. cf. Adagia 1526 No. 1092 Battologia, Laconismus; Cic. Fam. 5.3.2 ne vobis multitudine litterarum molestior essem; Cic. Att. 10.5.2 tamen nihil praetermittam. atque utinam tu, sed molestior non ero; Cic. Fam. 4.5.6 finem faciam scribendi; Cic. Att. 10.8.1 finem inter nos scribendi fieri tempus esse ⌊Et ne battologiis meis, ut soleo, in praesentia sim molestior, finem facio ms. battalogiis(!) ⌈Et ne battologiis meis, ut soleo, in praesentia sim molestior, finem facioEt ne battologiis meis, ut soleo, in praesentia sim molestior, finem facio ms. battalogiis(!) ⌉cf. Adagia 1526 No. 1092 Battologia, Laconismus; Cic. Fam. 5.3.2 ne vobis multitudine litterarum molestior essem; Cic. Att. 10.5.2 tamen nihil praetermittam. atque utinam tu, sed molestior non ero; Cic. Fam. 4.5.6 finem faciam scribendi; Cic. Att. 10.8.1 finem inter nos scribendi fieri tempus esse ⌋, et me benevolentiae Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae summopere commendo. Quam dominus Deus sospitet ac prosperet in omnibus.

[1] The money Dantiscus is writing about was deposited with the Fuggers’ local factor, Iacobus Ludovicus Decius (cf. letters cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-03, CIDTC IDL 1762⌊CEID 1.1, No. 58, p. 288-291cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-03, CIDTC IDL 1762⌋, cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Iustus Lodvicus DECIUS (DECJUSZ, DIETZ)] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1779⌊CEID 1.1, No. 76, p. 332-333cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Iustus Lodvicus DECIUS (DECJUSZ, DIETZ)] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1779⌋, cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-17, CIDTC IDL 1793⌊CEID 1.1, No. 81, p. 341-345cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-17, CIDTC IDL 1793⌋).

[] Dantiscus is writing about his and Giese’s money for paying the annates. Fees for church benefices – annates – were introduced in 1316 by Pope John XXII. The eneficiary’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 letters cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-09-24, CIDTC IDL 1721⌊CEID 1.1, No. 35, p. 232-234cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-09-24, CIDTC IDL 1721⌋, cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-09-28, CIDTC IDL 1728⌊CEID 1.1, No. 41, p. 244-247cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-09-28, CIDTC IDL 1728⌋, cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Johann TYMMERMANN] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-10-19, CIDTC IDL 1749⌊CEID 1.1, No. 54, p. 281cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Johann TYMMERMANN] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-10-19, CIDTC IDL 1749⌋, cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-03, CIDTC IDL 1762⌊CEID 1.1, No. 58, p. 288-291cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Tiedemann GIESE] Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-03, CIDTC IDL 1762⌋, cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Dietrich von RHEDEN Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1775⌊CEID 1.1, No. 63, p. 298-301cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Dietrich von RHEDEN Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1775⌋, cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Antonio PUCCI Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1778⌊CEID 1.1, No. 72, p. 322-325cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Antonio PUCCI Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1778⌋.

[2] The Council of Constance 1414-1418.

[3] Doubtless Dantiscus is referring to the Polish-Teutonic war – the Thirteen Years’ War (1454-66), and – primarily – to the still quite recent Polish-Teutonic war of 1519-1521, which was ruinous for Prussia (see also cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Antonio PUCCI Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1778⌊letter CEID 1.1, No. 72, p. 322-325cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Antonio PUCCI Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16, CIDTC IDL 1778⌋).

[4] After Emperor Charles V took and plundered Rome in 1527 the people of Florence ousted the Medicis from power in their city, but on the basis of the treaty of June 29,1529 the emeror pledged to help the Medicis regain power. In the autumn of 1529 Pope Clement VII began a siege of Florence with the help of an army composed mainly of Spaniards under the command of the prince of Orange. The siege lasted 10 months and ended on August 10, 1530 with the city’s capitulation on the terms offered by the emperor and the pope. Power in the ruined and deserted Florence was taken by Alessandro de Medici (cf. Hibbert,p. 241-243). These events coincided with Dantiscus’ appointment to the office of Chełmno bishop. Dantiscus’ predecessor Jan Konopacki died on April 23,1530, Dantiscus received the papal preconization on August 3, 1530. His ordination (September 14, 1533) was delayed for more than three years because of the diplomatic mission he was on at the time.