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.
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Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine mihi colendissime. Salutem obsequiorumque meorum commendationem plurimam.
Accepi iis diebus a Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima binas, quarum priores datae sunt Cracoviae XI Octobris. Quibus mihi scribit dedisse se, secundum exemplum a me missum, litteras ad pontificem et ad cardinalem Regni protectorem, 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 easdem duplicatas cum hoc fratre meo Georgio Hegel, ut ille eas certus de auro, quod dominus electus et ego Thoroniae deposuimus, unacum cambii litteris Romam mittat, quo tandem semel istius comoediae finem habere possimus. Ceterum, Reverendissime mi Domine, quod questus sum aliquoties, quibus modis in mea prima expeditione Romae 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, cum in Prussia 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 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 Florentinos, in quos pontifex saeviebat, fuit rapta, nedum extorta. Quod ne successori meo fiat, a Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima quantum possum oro impensius, ut a maiestate regia eius tenoris litteras, ut scheda habet inclusa, et ad pontificem, atque ad cardinalem protectorem obtineat, quas frater hic meus medio Georgii Hegel Romam mittet. Quae sive profecerint, sive infecerint, nihilominus tamen dominus electus et ego quoad eius fieri poterit, gratissimi semper Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae sumus futuri. In posterioribus litteris Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima meminit de canonicatu meo, 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. Et ne battologiis meis, ut soleo, in praesentia sim molestior, finem facio, et me benevolentiae Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae summopere commendo. Quam dominus Deus sospitet ac prosperet in omnibus.
Lubaviae, XVI Novembris anno 1537.