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Letter #2122

Paweł PŁOTOWSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Frauenburg (Frombork), 1539-03-23, postscript 1539-03-25
            received [1539]-03-27

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, BCz, 1597, p. 643-646

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8249 (TK 11), f. 33

Prints:
1BIRKENMAJER 1900 p. 393-394 (excerpt)
2SIKORSKI 1968 No. 437, p. 110-111 (Polish register)
3Kopernik na Warmii No. 471, p. 501 (Polish register)
4RC No. 414, p. 179 (English register)
5NCG 6/1 No. 134, p. 262-264 (in extenso, PS omitted; German translation, PS omitted)
6KOESTLER 2002 p. 179 (excerpt in Polish translation)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine mi colendissime. Praemissa sui in gratiam Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae diligenti commendatione.

Scripsi non pridem Reverendissime Paternitati Vestrae de mulierculis Warmiensibus, una Alexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy, in 1540 banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon; in 1541 imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome; after release from prison in 1544 he stayed in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509-1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519-1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), 1530-1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536-1538 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, today Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220)⌊AlexandriAlexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy, in 1540 banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon; in 1541 imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome; after release from prison in 1544 he stayed in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509-1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519-1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), 1530-1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536-1538 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, today Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220)⌋ occultabat se in domo per aliquot dies timendo secundas censuras, quam dixi unico puero accepto discessuram, quod non fuit factum. Dominus Alexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy, in 1540 banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon; in 1541 imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome; after release from prison in 1544 he stayed in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509-1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519-1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), 1530-1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536-1538 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, today Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220)⌊AlexanderAlexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy, in 1540 banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon; in 1541 imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome; after release from prison in 1544 he stayed in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509-1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519-1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), 1530-1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536-1538 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, today Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220)⌋ rediit ex Löbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌊LubawiaLöbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌋ laeto fronte. Quid attulit, nescio. Manet cum domino Leonard Niederhoff (*ca. 1485 – †1545), doctor of both canon and civil law, friend of Nicolaus Copernicus and executor of his will; studied in Cracow, Leipzig and Rome, where he obtained a doctoral degree; from 1511 parish priest of St. Bartholomew's Church in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1515 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), and from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1532 Dean of the Ermland Chapter; he also had a canonry in Kulm from which he resigned in 1533. In 1530, after Dantiscus' resignation, became a parish priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Gdańsk (KOPICZKO 2, p. 231; SBKW, p. 175)⌊NideroffLeonard Niederhoff (*ca. 1485 – †1545), doctor of both canon and civil law, friend of Nicolaus Copernicus and executor of his will; studied in Cracow, Leipzig and Rome, where he obtained a doctoral degree; from 1511 parish priest of St. Bartholomew's Church in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1515 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), and from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1532 Dean of the Ermland Chapter; he also had a canonry in Kulm from which he resigned in 1533. In 1530, after Dantiscus' resignation, became a parish priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Gdańsk (KOPICZKO 2, p. 231; SBKW, p. 175)⌋ et focaria in curia tamquam domina, braxat cerivisiam oblita omnium malorum. Doctoris Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician and astronomer, doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland; 1497-1543 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1511-1513, 1520, 1524-1525, 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 General Administrator of the bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)⌊NicolaiNicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician and astronomer, doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland; 1497-1543 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1511-1513, 1520, 1524-1525, 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 General Administrator of the bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)⌋ praemisit res suas Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊GdanumGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋, sola tamen adhuc Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiaeFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋ manet.

Bonum esset, quod Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra committeret officium vicariatus et offici{li}<al>atus in spiritualibus venerabili domino custodi, domino Johann Tymmermann (Johann Zimmermann) (*1492 – †1564), nephew of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland; studied in Cracow (1505) and in Rome (1517); 1519-1564 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1525-1528 administrator of the Chapter's estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn) and in 1538 in Frauenburg (Frombork); 1527-1539 Cantor of Ermland; 1537 General Administrator of the bishopric of Ermland (after Mauritius Ferber's death); 1539-1552 Custos of Ermland; 1547-1552 General Vicar of the diocese of Ermland (SBKW, p. 261; KOPICZKO 2, p. 336)⌊TimermanJohann Tymmermann (Johann Zimmermann) (*1492 – †1564), nephew of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland; studied in Cracow (1505) and in Rome (1517); 1519-1564 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1525-1528 administrator of the Chapter's estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn) and in 1538 in Frauenburg (Frombork); 1527-1539 Cantor of Ermland; 1537 General Administrator of the bishopric of Ermland (after Mauritius Ferber's death); 1539-1552 Custos of Ermland; 1547-1552 General Vicar of the diocese of Ermland (SBKW, p. 261; KOPICZKO 2, p. 336)⌋, quod officium ferebat aliquot annis tempore reverendissimi 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)⌊domini defunctiMauritius 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)⌋, nam nescio nec intelligo eo potiorem, verum quidem quod Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra habet doctores apud ecclesiam suam, sed quorsum studia sua divertunt, melius novit Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra, quam ego scribere possum.

Ego propter maximum dolorem capitis continui me domi 12 diebus, nunc exeo iterum, nondum tamen sum restitutus ad pristinam salutem.

Valeat diu et feliciter Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra et me, suum servitorem, clementi gratia prosequi non cesset, enixe precor.

Eiusdem Reverendissimae Paternitati Vestrae addictissimus servitor Paweł Płotowski (*ca. 1485 – †1547), in 1523, after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), Płotowski was one of the King's four candidates for the post of the bishop of Ermland; in 1530 and 1537, after the death of Jan Konopacki (Johann von Konopat) Sr and Dantiscus' transfer to the bishopric of Ermland, he made an effort to obtain the dignity of bishop of Kulm; from 1522 Provost of the Ermland (Warmia) Chapter, and from 1523 Canon of Ermland; secretary to Crown Grand Chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, and from 1533 royal secretary and courtier; in the thirties and forties several times royal envoy to the Royal Prussian Estates (SBKW, p. 191; KOPICZKO 2, p. 249-250)⌊Paulus PlothowskiPaweł Płotowski (*ca. 1485 – †1547), in 1523, after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), Płotowski was one of the King's four candidates for the post of the bishop of Ermland; in 1530 and 1537, after the death of Jan Konopacki (Johann von Konopat) Sr and Dantiscus' transfer to the bishopric of Ermland, he made an effort to obtain the dignity of bishop of Kulm; from 1522 Provost of the Ermland (Warmia) Chapter, and from 1523 Canon of Ermland; secretary to Crown Grand Chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, and from 1533 royal secretary and courtier; in the thirties and forties several times royal envoy to the Royal Prussian Estates (SBKW, p. 191; KOPICZKO 2, p. 249-250)⌋ praepositus et canonicus Warmiensis

Postscript:

Sola legat Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra.

Oeconomus Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae hesterno die ivit per Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiamFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋ Marienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌊MarienburgumMarienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌋, hoc est in vigilia annuntiationis Dominae Nostrae.

Mulierculae illae dominorum adhuc nobiscum manent Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiaeFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋, quae dicebant se velle discedere, quod non fecerunt. Fuit sparsa fama etiam certo, quod Alexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy, in 1540 banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon; in 1541 imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome; after release from prison in 1544 he stayed in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509-1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519-1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), 1530-1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536-1538 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, today Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220)⌊AlexandriAlexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy, in 1540 banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon; in 1541 imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome; after release from prison in 1544 he stayed in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509-1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519-1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), 1530-1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536-1538 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, today Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220)⌋ accepto unico puero discessisset, quod non fuit factum, occultabat se in domo et curia, quousque dominus Alexander rediit ex Löbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌊LubaviaLöbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌋ et dies Dominicas praeteriit, quo timebat secundas censuras etc. Nisi sinceriter procedat Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra et, ut dicam, nec pulvis earundem maneat Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiaeFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋ et ne perpetuo redeant Warmiam etc. eiecto hoc pessimo fermento veteri mulierum, Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra cogitabit tamquam prudentissimus princeps et praesul, quam plures nostrum essent sacerdotes et ne viduata ecclesia permaneat Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae, quod si effecerit, apud Deum sine dubio mercedem et apud homines perpetuam laudem et gloriam habebit.

Mitto responsum Reverendissimae Paternitati Vestrae, quod tangit mandata etc. et si infirmus fui, tamen voto meo scripsi et significavi statim Ermland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌊venerabili capituloErmland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌋, quod tamen non fuit factum, nisi cum exivi etc. quod absque omni protractione responderetur Reverendissimae Paternitati Vestrae. Parcat Reverendissima <Paternitas> Vestra, quod ita audacter consulo et scribo Reverendissimae Paternitati Vestrae, quae facio, facio propter honorem Dei et Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae et nostrorum omnium.

Raptissime. Datum Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiaeFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋ feria tertia die annuntiationis Dominae Nostrae.

Litteras scripsi 23 Martii.

Paweł Płotowski (*ca. 1485 – †1547), in 1523, after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), Płotowski was one of the King's four candidates for the post of the bishop of Ermland; in 1530 and 1537, after the death of Jan Konopacki (Johann von Konopat) Sr and Dantiscus' transfer to the bishopric of Ermland, he made an effort to obtain the dignity of bishop of Kulm; from 1522 Provost of the Ermland (Warmia) Chapter, and from 1523 Canon of Ermland; secretary to Crown Grand Chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, and from 1533 royal secretary and courtier; in the thirties and forties several times royal envoy to the Royal Prussian Estates (SBKW, p. 191; KOPICZKO 2, p. 249-250)⌊IdemPaweł Płotowski (*ca. 1485 – †1547), in 1523, after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), Płotowski was one of the King's four candidates for the post of the bishop of Ermland; in 1530 and 1537, after the death of Jan Konopacki (Johann von Konopat) Sr and Dantiscus' transfer to the bishopric of Ermland, he made an effort to obtain the dignity of bishop of Kulm; from 1522 Provost of the Ermland (Warmia) Chapter, and from 1523 Canon of Ermland; secretary to Crown Grand Chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, and from 1533 royal secretary and courtier; in the thirties and forties several times royal envoy to the Royal Prussian Estates (SBKW, p. 191; KOPICZKO 2, p. 249-250)⌋ qui supra servitor perpetuus.