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Letter #2389

Samuel MACIEJOWSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Vilnius, 1541-02-17
            received Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1541-02-21

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, author's signature, BCz, 1597, p. 1181-1184

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BCz, 1597, p. 1181

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine honoratissime.

Officiosissimam obsequiorum meorum commendationem.

De 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)NiderhoffLeonard 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) nihil est eiusmodi, quod verebatur Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra. Nam, quod quidem ego sciam, de 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)AlexandroAlexander 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) hic nihil egit. Litteras, quas postulavit, ad dominum Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)thesaurariumStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123), illi mitto. Quod vero interminaturam se scribit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra Anna von Höfen (Anna Reyneck, Anna Flachsbinder), sister of Ioannes Dantiscus, wife of Johann Hannau Sr and, after his death, of Johann ReynecksororisAnna von Höfen (Anna Reyneck, Anna Flachsbinder), sister of Ioannes Dantiscus, wife of Johann Hannau Sr and, after his death, of Johann Reyneck suae Kaspar Hannau (Gasparus Hannovius, Kacper Hannow) (*1519 – †1571), Dantiscus' nephew (son of Anna), doctor of both canon and civil law, friend of Marcin Kromer, Bishop of Ermland; his studies in Cracow (1536-1538), and later in Rome (1539-1548), were financed by his uncle; from 1545 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Dean of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto) Collegiate Chapter; from 1547 Canon of Włocławek (ORACKI 1984, p. 84; KOPICZKO 2, p. 108-109)filioKaspar Hannau (Gasparus Hannovius, Kacper Hannow) (*1519 – †1571), Dantiscus' nephew (son of Anna), doctor of both canon and civil law, friend of Marcin Kromer, Bishop of Ermland; his studies in Cracow (1536-1538), and later in Rome (1539-1548), were financed by his uncle; from 1545 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Dean of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto) Collegiate Chapter; from 1547 Canon of Włocławek (ORACKI 1984, p. 84; KOPICZKO 2, p. 108-109), ne quid agat contra Mikołaj Loka (Mikołaj Lok) (†1569), collaborator of Stanisław Hozjusz as royal secretary; in 1545-1547 he stayed in Rome; in 1540 nominated as a canon of Ermland, and confirmed in 1542; 1547 - Poznań; 1560 abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Oliwa; 1550 envoy to the Prussian diet on behalf of King Sigismund II August (SZORC 1990, p. 331; KOPICZKO 2, p. 201)LocamMikołaj Loka (Mikołaj Lok) (†1569), collaborator of Stanisław Hozjusz as royal secretary; in 1545-1547 he stayed in Rome; in 1540 nominated as a canon of Ermland, and confirmed in 1542; 1547 - Poznań; 1560 abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Oliwa; 1550 envoy to the Prussian diet on behalf of King Sigismund II August (SZORC 1990, p. 331; KOPICZKO 2, p. 201) servitorem meum, ago Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae gratias. Salvum conductum pro Nicolaus Holsten HolsteinNicolaus Holsten per puerum illius misi. Instructionem, quae data est domino 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)praeposito VarmiensiPaweł 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), vellem a Reverendissima Dominatione Vestra legi ac, si quid illi secus erit visum, me per cubicularium hunc admoneri.

Audivit ex ore s(acrae) or s(erenissimae)s(acrae)s(acrae) or s(erenissimae) Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austriamaiestatis regiaeSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria dominus Achatius von Zehmen (Achacy Cema) (*ca. 1485 – †1565), 1517-1531 Chamberlain of Pomerania, 1531-1546 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig), 1545-1546 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno), 1546-1565 Voivode of Marienburg (Malbork) (SBPN 1, p. 194-195; ORACKI 1984, p. 38-39; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 198; PSB 4, p. 325-326)Gedanensis castellanusAchatius von Zehmen (Achacy Cema) (*ca. 1485 – †1565), 1517-1531 Chamberlain of Pomerania, 1531-1546 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig), 1545-1546 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno), 1546-1565 Voivode of Marienburg (Malbork) (SBPN 1, p. 194-195; ORACKI 1984, p. 38-39; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 198; PSB 4, p. 325-326), quae causa sit, cur in hunc modum instructiones scribantur. Praeterea si quid putaverit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra addendum, quod quidem ex usu sit terrarum Prussiae, hoc quoque mihi perscribat.

Ex Hungary (Kingdom of Hungary)HungariaHungary (Kingdom of Hungary) nihil huc prorsus adfertur neque satis mirari potest s(acra) or s(erenissima)s(acra)s(acra) or s(erenissima) Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austriamaiestas regiaSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria tam diuturnum silentium. Est Andrzej Czarnkowski (*1507 – †1562), 1531 Gniezno canon; 1537-1541 papal chamberlain; 1540 Poznań and Cracow canon; 1541 scholastic in Włocławek; 1541 royal secretary; 1543 scholastic in Cracow; 1545 prelate-custos in Płock; 1545 administrator of Cracow archbishopric (after the death of Piotr Gamrat); 1553 bishop of Poznań; 1540-1541 King Sigismund I's envoy to the Roman King Ferdinand von Habsburg and Hungary; 1541 - to Imperial Diet; 1550 - to Emperor Charles V (PSB 4, p. 216-217)oratorAndrzej Czarnkowski (*1507 – †1562), 1531 Gniezno canon; 1537-1541 papal chamberlain; 1540 Poznań and Cracow canon; 1541 scholastic in Włocławek; 1541 royal secretary; 1543 scholastic in Cracow; 1545 prelate-custos in Płock; 1545 administrator of Cracow archbishopric (after the death of Piotr Gamrat); 1553 bishop of Poznań; 1540-1541 King Sigismund I's envoy to the Roman King Ferdinand von Habsburg and Hungary; 1541 - to Imperial Diet; 1550 - to Emperor Charles V (PSB 4, p. 216-217) Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of AustriaeiusSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria apud serenissimum dominum Hungary (Kingdom of Hungary)Romanorum regemHungary (Kingdom of Hungary), rediturum ante Quadragesimam[1] inde cubicularium exspectamus. Missus etiam est ad Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castilecaesaream maiestatemCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile regiis cum litteris cubicularius. Nova, ut non adiungerentur litteris, factum est errore quodam, BCz, 1597, p. 1182 sed ea tamen aliis postea litteris sunt annexa.

Quod reliquum est, cupio Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram quam diutissime esse incolumem et felicem, cuius gratiae et favori me commendo.

Eiusdem Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae servitor Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)Samuel episcopus Chelmensis et vice hidden by binding[e]e hidden by bindingcancellariusSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)

[1] ante Quadragesimam i.e. before March 2, 1541.