Letter #2240
Cornelis DE SCHEPPER & Godschalk ERICKSEN (SASSENKERLE) to Ioannes DANTISCUSBrussels, 1539-11-15
English register:
De Schepper expresses joy at the arrival of Jakob von Barthen with news about Dantiscus’ health. He excuses himself for having written seldom over the past three years due to constant travelling. During this time he has received just one letter from Dantiscus.
De Schepper suggests that Dantiscus is the best candidate for an envoy from Poland who could take part in the talks on the [Turkish] threat, planned to take place soon in the Low Countries between Emperor Charles and [Roman] King Ferdinand. This would be an excellent opportunity for the friends to meet.
De Schepper informs Dantiscus of the death of the Cardinal of Liège [Erard de la Marck] and Counts Hendrik of Nassau and Floris van Egmond-Buren. He sends greetings from the governor of Frisia and Overijssel, Georg Schenck. He reports that Godschalk Ericksen’s journey to Hungary keeps being delayed, and that Dantiscus’ Brussels host (who has sold his canonship), the Lord of Beveren [Adolf of Burgundy], Marcus Creticus, Frédéric de Melun and Margrave [Antoon] van Bergen assure him of their readiness to show Dantiscus hospitality. De Schepper asks that Dantiscus do his best to come, because he would very much like to discuss how to find a remedy for the religious and political problems facing them.
De Schepper suggests that the Poles should assess the Turks’ intentions based on the example of what befell the people of Podolia. In his view, any positive developments depend primarily on harmony between rulers. Dantiscus could contribute greatly to its achievement as a representative of the King [Sigismund I].
De Schepper intercedes for Dantiscus’ daughter [Juana Dantisca] and his son-in-law Gracian [de Alderete]. He encourages Dantiscus to accept their marriage and to show his daughter some paternal feelings.
He informs Dantiscus of the Emperor’s journey to Bayonne, planned at the end of month. The sons of the French King, the Constable [Anne de Montmorency] and the French nobility are travelling to meet him.
He informs Dantiscus that Jakob [von Barthen], De Schepper’s wife [Elisabeth Donche] and her daughter [Catharina Laurijn] commend themselves to him. His wife’s sister [Joanna Donche] has left since her marriage.
Godschalk Ericksen adds in his own hand on the margin of De Schepper’s letter that Queen Mary has appointed him her envoy for her private affairs in Hungary. He is worried by the prospect of travelling to unknown parts, but expects that the mission will be made easier by Dantiscus’ fame; he intends to invoke their friendship. His departure is delayed until the Emperor’s arrival. He recommends his services.
| received 1540-01-06 Manuscript sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo et illustrissimo Domino, domino Ioanni Dantisco episcopo Varmiensi etc., domino tamquam patri honorandissimo
I was very pleased withe the arrival of your countryman Jacob Warten (it means Barten), who informed me about your health.
In the last three years he rarely wrote to Dantiscus because he was permanently on a journey – Dantiscus answered him only once, in repsonse to the letter which Fabian brought him from Lyon.
Maybe we meet soon, because the Emperor Charles comes to us in 1 ½. I am going to meet him halfway. May be the King of Poland send here his envoy to the Emperor, because the King Ferdinand is also going to come here – he is going to confer, quibus modis praesenti periculo (against the Ottoman Turcs or protestants?,) quod per opiniones istas irrepsit, occurri posset, and nobody would nicer than you (as an envoy of the Polish King) to remedy present matters. But you would see how the state of province changed – since you have left it – died baron cardinal Leodiensis, Henryk a Nassaw, Florentius ab Egmonda de Buren et Iselstein comites.
Baron George Schenek a Tautenburg governor of Friesland et Regionum Transsulanorum(!). would give you a warm welcome Godtscalcus Ericus Saxo Carolus is alive – he was to go to Hungary – sed mirabili Dei iudicio dilata est eius profectio ad adventum usque caesareae maiestatis. Hospes tuus Bruxellensis, qui iam vendidit canonicatum suum, illustris dominus de Beueris, Marcus Creticus sive Ereticus, Fridericus de Melun, illustris dominus marchio de Berghen et innumerabiles would give you a warm welcome, as they assure me: So try to come to us. Tum (and then) de reipublicae commodis et incommodis, et modis, quibus mederi poterimus morbo huic animorum, transigemus feliciter, ut spero, et fructuose pretiumque, ut nullum aliud, ita istud referes dignum vocatione tua et, quae de te concepta est passim, devotione erga rem Christianam, neque petendae sunt vobis Polonis exempla aliunde, quam {quam} e domo cuique sua. Quid enim moliatur Thurca, petite <a> finitimis Podolicis. Quantum porro malorum obortum
sit somnolentia nostra, pleraeque regiones praeter Hungariam testabuntur. Neque vero spes est melius successura omnia, nisi communis principum accedat consensus, eorum praesertim, quibus incumbit ex officio et vires sunt, ut non se modo provinciasque suas, verum et vicinos tueantur. Quare, si hanc curam ex parte regni vestri susceperis in te, cum existimationem de te habeamus talem, qualem meretur vita tua, summo cum honore regis tui et regni, tui autem cum celebritate nominis transacta, facile nihil non persuadebis redundaturum ad commoda reipublicae et conterraneis tuis pariturum salutem. Da igitur operam, ut venias, abunde tunc erit, quo de colloquamur.
Gratianus Hispanus gener tuus luctatur cum valetudine et puella, vir alioqui doctus et non male gratiosus. Scio, quid reverendissimus dominus archiepiscopus Lundensis et Constantiensis, orator caesareus generalis, tecum de eius negotio privatim egerit. Facies tamen paterne, si filiam, quamvis iniussu tuo nuptam, prosequaris paterno amore memor necessitate magis quam voluntate ipsius connubium contractum esse. Qua etiam de re volui ad te scribere.
Caesar noster in fine huius mensis futurus est Baionae in Gallia. Cui progressi sunt obvii filii duo regis Christianissimi una cum conestabili et nobilitate universa Gallica.
Iacobum hunc commendatum habe. Et feliciter vale, Domine et Pater, vere et ex animo pater.
Bruxellis, die XIIIII-a mensis Novembris anno Domini MDXXXIX.
Eiusdem Reverendissimae Dominationis Tuae humilis inservitor Cornelius Scepperus
Postscript:
Uxor mea una cum filia commendant se Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae, nam soror ad nuptias convolavit.
Letter of Godschalk Ericksen (added on the margin):
Reverendissimo Domino et Patrono optimo Godscalcus Saxocarlus se ex animo commendat.
Designata mihi erat iampridem legatio in Hungariam ad curandas res privatas serenissimae reginae nostrae Mariae etc. Molestum mihi sane videbatur ad gentem mihi ignotam nullaque familiaritate aut amicitia devinctam proficisci, nisi me magnopere in spem meliorem revocasset Reverendissimae Tuae Dominationis propinquitas. A qua non solum in ea peregrino, non solum litteris confirmari amicum, sed et auctoritatem maiorem apud eos homines, quibus Tuae Reverendissimae Dominationis nomen, ut in toto terrarum orbe, celebre satis est, consecuturum me sperarem. Dilata est mea profectio haec in adventum caesareae maiestatis. Ubicumque futurus sum, Tuae Reverendissimae Dominationis Saxokarlus et servitor futurus sum ex animo et viribus.
De ceteris, quae apud <nos>, dominus Cornelius Scepperus communis amicus copiose scripsit.
Reverendissimae Tuae Dominationi diuturnam opto vitam et felicitatem perpetuam etc.
Saxokarlus