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Letter #2413

Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Binche, 1541-04-12

English register:

Dantiscus' letter of 10 September 1540 was handed to De Schepper by Eustathius Knobelsdorf. De Schepper defends himself against Dantiscus' complaint about the lack of letters.

His last letter from Vienna was first entrusted to Wolfgang Prantner, and then to Sigmund von Herberstein, who, after Prantner had an accident, replaced him as envoy to the King of Poland. Since the letter was repeatedly sent without success, De Schepper asks Dantiscus to acknowledge receipt of it.

After his letter from Vienna [IDL 2334], De Schepper was unable to write again, because of his departure for Transylvania in April, of which he thought Dantiscus was aware. Anyway, no rumour of Danticus' death has circulated recently. In August De Schepper returned from Vienna to the imperial court in Brussels. When [Nicolas Perrenot de] Granvelle and the Emperor left for the Diet in Worms, De Schepper was instructed to stay with the Governess of the Netherlands Mary [of Hungary].

He welcomes this development, because he wants to withdraw from the court. To this end he bought the lordship of Eeke. He wants to move the manor there from Brugge, where all old friends have passed away. He gives an enthusiastic description of his new domain. For the time being his obligations at court prevent him from settling in Eeke but he is preparing for his departure.

With some bitterness he notes that there are plenty of talented and successful persons who can step into his place. He wants to follow the example of Carondelet, who has retired from his functions. Although he is still physically and mentally fit enough to undertake difficult assignments he feels so disappointed that he longs to dedicate his time to the reading of the Holy Scriptures (litterae sacrae).

Godschalck [Ericksen] has been sent to Hungary to watch over the interests of Queen Mary. He himself will always put the interest of the state above his personal interests but he doubts his ability to deal with the current international situation. However, he is convinced that any success met with by Łaski's Turkish embassy will be partially due to him, and to the fact that he achieved good results in the Hungarian affairs.

Dantiscus’ response to the “Venetian epigram” was appreciated in De Schepper’s circle; he also showed it to Queen Mary. De Schepper had already read the epigram itself in June in Eger – it was sent to the local Bishop [Franjo Frankopan] by Seweryn Boner.

De Schepper relays the news: there is a truce between the Emperor and the King of France, but no harmony. The way things develop depends on what the Imperial Diet decides, and thus on peace in Germany. The Turks are almost at the border. There are no imperial troops in France. As a result of the conflict between the Constable [Anne de Montmorency] and the Admiral [Philippe de Chabot], in February [1541] the Admiral was sentenced to life in prison, stripped of his offices, his estate confiscated, but thanks to some female intervention [by the King’s mistress Anne de Pisseleu d’Heilly] he has been restored to the King of France’s favour. There is peace in England, not counting minor skirmishes with the French near Calais and a raising of arms against Scotland, where the expelled English clergy have taken refuge. England has introduced restrictions on trade and navigation against the Low Countries. Anne of Cleves is living freely in England after having been sent away by King [Henry VIII]. A Danish mission is to come to the Diet of Regensburg. The Duchy of Guelders refuses to expel the Duke of Jülich [Wilhelm V der Reiche] even though the Emperor sent his herald Lieven Algoet there. Dispersed soldiers from Guelders are hiding in Westphalia and Hesse. The deceased Lord Beveren [Adolf of Burgundy] has been succeeded as admiral by his son [Maximiliaan of Burgundy]. He is to marry the Duke of Aarschot’s [Philippe II de Croÿ] Crodaughter [Louise de Croÿ]. The son of Count Hendrik [van Nassau], the Duke of Orléans [René de Châlon], has married the Duke of Lorraine’s [Antoine le Bon] daughter [Anne de Lorraine], who is pregnant. From among Dantiscus’ acquaintances, still serving the Emperor are [Nicolas Perrenot] de Granvelle and the Lord of Praet.

De Schepper thanks Dantiscus for the beer he sent him. He reports on his care of the young man recommended to him by Dantiscus [Eustathius Knobelsdorf]: he is studying law and is a gifted poet. Inspired by Sigmund von Herberstein, De Schepper discusses the situation of the Kingdom of Poland’s eastern borderland. He does not expect to be sent on a mission to Poland for the wedding of the young King [Sigismund II Augustus], for he is usually given more dangerous missions. Neither does he feel like contacting anyone in Poland besides Dantiscus after the latter was unfairly treated by the ruler. He assures Dantiscus of his devotion and sends greetings to his siblings.


            received Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1541-07-08

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, UUB, H. 155, f. 37-40
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, LSB, BR 19, No. 53
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, LSB, BR 58
4excerpt in Latin, Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8244 (TK 6), a. 1541, f. 32r-33v
5register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 30, No. 129

Prints:
1DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 421bis, p. 335-336 (English register)
2CEID 2/2 (Letter No. 76) p. 442-455 (in extenso; English register)
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