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Letter #2314

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Bona Sforza
Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1540-05-05

English register:

Dantiscus thanks Queen Bona for standing for him and the Ermland Chapter before the King [Sigismund I Jagiellon] in the conflict with Alexander Sculteti. The Queen’s intercession/support resulted in the royal/King’s order for Sculteti to appear in person before instigator/Prosecutor of the Crown on May 24. Dantiscus asks for further support so that the instigator/Prosecutor of the Crown can start proceedings against [Sculteti] regardless of the defendant’s presence and based on testimony of the witnesses. He emphasises the harmfulness of Sculteti’s actions to both the diocese and relations in the Cathedral Chapter.

Dantiscus denies information that he has usurped power/authority – not belonging to the bishop – over monasteries in his subordinate towns. Monasteries are depopulated; in Wartenburg, there are only two Franciscans [Conventual], in addition - of poor health, so it is not like the denouncers claim there are fourteen or fifteen monks, including eight allegedly imposed by Dantiscus.

Dantiscus explains that he added to these two not fugitives and apostates but good and devout followers of the rule of Saint Francis / Francis of Assisi [Observants], exiled from the Land of Meissen by the Lutherans. He did it because of the scarcity of priests in his domain and spaciousness of the monastery buildings, which remained unused. He carried it out so that both could live according to their own rules and were subject to their own superiors, sharing only alms and table.

In order to free himself from false accusations, Dantiscus strenuously asks the Queen to order – for instance Stanisław Kostka, Prussian Treasurer – a visitation of the Franciscan monasteries in Braunsberg (Braniewo) and Wartenburg.




Manuscript sources:
1copy in Latin, 16th-century, BJ, 6557, f. 388r-389v
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 57 (TN), No. 83, p. 281-285
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 274, No. 244, p. 490-492
4register with excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8243 (TK 5), a.1540, f. 14r-v
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