Letter #2169
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESEHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1539-06-24
English register:
On the previous day, Dantiscus received from the Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig) [Achatius von Zehmen (Cema)] an open letter to the King [Sigismund I Jagiellon] furnished with the signatures and seals of Giese, the Voivodes of Kulm (Chełmno) [Johann von Lusian (Jan Luzjański)], Marienburg (Malbork) [Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński)] and Pomerania [Jerzy Konopacki (Georg von Konopat)] and Zehmen himself, and also, in the same form, a second memo regarding the division of offices.
The Elbing (Elbląg) Town Council have notified Dantiscus that together with the Gdańsk Town Council they have drawn up a letter [to the King] in the same tone, and sent it to Thorn (Toruń). That is where Dantiscus’ messenger [Mauritius] is to collect it, and he has to go 20 miles out of his way because of it. Dantiscus sends Giese a copy of the burghers’ letter to the King, pointing out the semi-literateness of the scribe who wrote it.
On the way to the court, Dantiscus’ envoy will visit Giese. Dantiscus encourages Giese to dispatch his own letters by him, and especially to inform the Vice-Chancellor [Samuel Maciejowski] of the injustices he has suffered. Dantiscus emphasises that he also mentioned them in his own letter to the Vice-Chancellor. Later, after they confer, they can write about it together.
In Dantiscus’ view, nothing can be done about the fact that [Mikołaj Działyński, Castellan of Kulm] is breaking rank from the group [of Prussian councillors]. Since he has not been active in Prussian affairs so far, doubtless he will not get involved in future.
| received 1539-06-25 Manuscript sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Tidemanno Dei gratia episcopo Culmensi, fratri et amico carissimo et honorando
Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, frater et amice carissime ac honorande.
Salutem et fraterni amoris commendationem.
Post eas, quas ad me Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima XVII huius dedit, missae sunt ad me per dominum castellanum Gdanensem litterae patentes ad maiestatem regiam, manu Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae, dominorum palatinorum Culmensis, Marienburgensis et Pomeraniae castellanique Gdanensis subscriptae et sigillatae. Quas heri accepi, eodem modo et illas ad dignitatum distributionem pertinentes.
Ceterum hodie domini Elbingenses mihi scripserunt, quod eiusdem tenoris litteras suas, per dominos Gdanenses sigillatas, Thoroniam miserint, ubi illas nuntius meus accipere debet, quem igitur extra rectum iter eo circiter XX milliaria mittere cogor. Ita semper nostri suis consulunt commoditatibus. Quomodo autem scripserint, ex adiunctis exemplis leget, si litterae copiis respondent — scriba male fuit litteratus etc.
Lenivit tamen hunc nuntii mei circuitum profectio ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam. Quae fortassis, si etiam ad aulam scribere quippiam voluerit, habebit integrum. Non videretur mihi abs re, quod Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima domino vicecancellario de suis iniuriis significationem daret aliquam iterque negotiis instrueret, paulopost inter nos communicato consilio coniuncti scripturi. Attigi et ego quadam ex parte eam rem domino scribens vicecancellario. Non ambigat Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima, quin res atque ea, quae adversa suffert, aeque ac Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae mihi sint cordi, quod effectus, non verba praestabunt.
Quod ille, qui numquam nobiscum subscribit, extra nostrum declinat consortium, susque deque ferendum est. Neque certe velim eum cum aliis dominis subscripsisse, cum essem in Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae loco. Si sic ferebat, ut ad praese<n>s, casus, inconsulto illo reipublicae nostrae negotia, quibus semper reluctatur, agebantur, idipsum ut deinceps fiat, Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima observabit.
Quam felicissime in Pylia diuturnitate valere cupio ex animo.
Datae in multa scriptione festinanter ex Heilsberg, XXIIII Iunii MDXXXIX.
Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae {Reverendissimae} frater integerrimus Ioannes episcopus Varmiensis etc. scripsit