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Letter #3210

Iustus Lodvicus DECIUS (DECJUSZ, DIETZ) to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Cracow (Kraków), 1541-04-30
            received Marienburg (Malbork), 1541-05-12

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AK, Ab 2, f. 3-4
2excerpt in Latin, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8249 (TK 11), f. 317

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine gratiose et plurimum colende in Christo.

Salutem et officiorum humilem commendationem.

29 Aprilis reddita est mihi Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Iustus Lodvicus DECIUS (DECJUSZ, DIETZ) 1541-04-04, CIDTC IDL 7064, letter lostepistulacf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Iustus Lodvicus DECIUS (DECJUSZ, DIETZ) 1541-04-04, CIDTC IDL 7064, letter lost 4 eiusdem mensis scripta. Cui additum fuit exemplum eius cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Iustus Lodvicus DECIUS (DECJUSZ, DIETZ)] Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1541-01-10, CIDTC IDL 2379epistulaecf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Iustus Lodvicus DECIUS (DECJUSZ, DIETZ)] Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1541-01-10, CIDTC IDL 2379, quam 10 adhuc Ianuarii ad me perscribere est dignata. Absque eo certe crediturus fueram Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram, et fuit tamen pergratum videre, clientulorum suorum fuisse non immemorem.

Nos quidem incolumes domum pervenimus, licet structae fuerint nobis insidiae in nemore eo, quod est inter Thorn (Toruń, Thorunium), city in northern Poland, on the Vistula river in its lower reaches, main residence of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno); one of the three Great Prussian Cities (along with Gdańsk and Elbing) which had representatives in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic LeagueThoruniumThorn (Toruń, Thorunium), city in northern Poland, on the Vistula river in its lower reaches, main residence of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno); one of the three Great Prussian Cities (along with Gdańsk and Elbing) which had representatives in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League et Służewo, town in Kujawy (Cuiavia), 20 km S of Thorn, today villageSlusoviamSłużewo, town in Kujawy (Cuiavia), 20 km S of Thorn, today village. Nos tamen transivimus nocte, Domino protegente, tute. Has insidias mihi struxisse retulerunt in tortura, qui in his capti laqueo perierunt, Gdanensem hostem, de quo male meritus sum numquam, sed debet mihi, quod illi credidi mutuum.

Quod vero in itinere perierit epistula cum multis aliis, cum fratris Iacobus Ludovicus Decius (Jakob Ludwig Dietz, Jakub Ludwik Decjusz) (†after 1557)IacobiIacobus Ludovicus Decius (Jakob Ludwig Dietz, Jakub Ludwik Decjusz) (†after 1557), tum aliorum ad me litteris Jan Morstein (Jan Morsztyn) (*1481 – †1541), 1514-1515 Cracow alderman; 1516 - councillor; 1524, 1531, 1533 Cracow deputy to the Crown diet; 1531 - to the Cracow Voivodeship assembly in Proszowice; 1519 collector of taxes from burghers; provisor of the mansioners of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cracow (NOGA, p. 325-326)Ioannis MornsteinJan Morstein (Jan Morsztyn) (*1481 – †1541), 1514-1515 Cracow alderman; 1516 - councillor; 1524, 1531, 1533 Cracow deputy to the Crown diet; 1531 - to the Cracow Voivodeship assembly in Proszowice; 1519 collector of taxes from burghers; provisor of the mansioners of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cracow (NOGA, p. 325-326) incuria, hoc vehementer me anxium reddidit, misique toto ferme itinere inquirendum frustra laborans. Mirumque fuit Jan Morstein (Jan Morsztyn) (*1481 – †1541), 1514-1515 Cracow alderman; 1516 - councillor; 1524, 1531, 1533 Cracow deputy to the Crown diet; 1531 - to the Cracow Voivodeship assembly in Proszowice; 1519 collector of taxes from burghers; provisor of the mansioners of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cracow (NOGA, p. 325-326)illumJan Morstein (Jan Morsztyn) (*1481 – †1541), 1514-1515 Cracow alderman; 1516 - councillor; 1524, 1531, 1533 Cracow deputy to the Crown diet; 1531 - to the Cracow Voivodeship assembly in Proszowice; 1519 collector of taxes from burghers; provisor of the mansioners of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cracow (NOGA, p. 325-326) rerum suarum nihil omnino perdidisse.

Sub illud ipsum tempus nebulo ille veredarius, cui Iacobus Ludovicus Decius (Jakob Ludwig Dietz, Jakub Ludwik Decjusz) (†after 1557)Iacobus DyetzIacobus Ludovicus Decius (Jakob Ludwig Dietz, Jakub Ludwik Decjusz) (†after 1557) res ad nepotes Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae reditas in itinere diripuit ac divendidit. Quod Iacobus Ludovicus Decius (Jakob Ludwig Dietz, Jakub Ludwik Decjusz) (†after 1557)fraterIacobus Ludovicus Decius (Jakob Ludwig Dietz, Jakub Ludwik Decjusz) (†after 1557) meus paulo antea non sine suo dolore ab aliis didicit, et mihi proximis indicavit, singula recensens. Ego illuc missurus sum nuntium, qui haec investigaret.

Magnificus dominus Sigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court)Sigismundus ab HerbersteinSigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court) non semel mecum expostulavit, quod tam longo tempore prorsus nullas a Reverendissima Dominatione Vestra habeat litteras putans, quod neque ipsius, neque domini Cornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)CorneliiCornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24) litterae Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae sint redditae. Heri ab Sigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court)illoSigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court) epistulam accepi, in qua eadem vehementius repetit. Ego vero hodie illi respondeo, quod res habet, in itinere intercidisse, optarim tamen, si liceret, ut utrique Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra denuo scribere non gravaretur.

De pecuniis, quas olim dominus Nikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of LivoniaNipsitzNikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae debuit, cum domino Georg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336)Georgio HegelGeorg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336) collocutus sum, in cuius manus sua omnia dominus Nipczitz crediderat. Comperi hic metum esse. Uterque frater ultro solutionem permittit et est in manu domini Georg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336)GeorgiiGeorg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336) solutionis nervus. Non est itaque, quo Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra curam hic sit amplius sollicit[a], neque arrestum aliquem facere necesse fuit, nam tametsi dominus Georg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336)GeorgiusGeorg Hegel (†1547), the Thurzons' and later the Fuggers' factor in Cracow (worked for the Fuggers at least from 1521); supplier to the royal court in Cracow (PSB 9, p. 336) curam test[a]menti in se suscipere non audebat, scit tamen non alienum fore a domini probably Anton Fugger (*1493 – †1560), German banker, since 1525 directed Fuggers' family enterprise (NDB, Bd. 5, p. 714-719; PIRNTKE, p. 30-31)Anthoniiprobably Anton Fugger (*1493 – †1560), German banker, since 1525 directed Fuggers' family enterprise (NDB, Bd. 5, p. 714-719; PIRNTKE, p. 30-31) voluntate, quod hac in re Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae serviat, praesertim heredibus non invitis.

Quae apud nos hoc tempore nova habentur, hisce paucis adscribere volui. Heri ex Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy Seeurbe RomanaRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See rediit nuntius, quem illuc cum regiis litteris dominus Seweryn Boner (*1486 – †1549), merchant and financial agent of King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1520-1542 Burgrave of Cracow, 1524-1549 Governor and salt mine supervisor in Cracow, 1532 Castellan of Żarnów, 1535-1546 Castellan of Biecz, 1546-1549 Castellan of Sącz (PSB 2, p. 300-301; NOGA, p. 299)castellanus BiecensisSeweryn Boner (*1486 – †1549), merchant and financial agent of King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1520-1542 Burgrave of Cracow, 1524-1549 Governor and salt mine supervisor in Cracow, 1532 Castellan of Żarnów, 1535-1546 Castellan of Biecz, 1546-1549 Castellan of Sącz (PSB 2, p. 300-301; NOGA, p. 299) miserat. Per eundem mihi rescripsit magnificus dominus Stanisław Tęczyński (*1484 – †1549)Stanislaus a Thanczyn comesStanisław Tęczyński (*1484 – †1549), succamerarius Sandomiriensis, Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Popesummum pontificemPaul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope conscripsisse militum aliquot milia, quibus depugnare pergeret Ascanio Colonna Ascanium ColumnaAscanio Colonna , magni nominis virum, patricium Romanum, atque iam tum, dum ea scriberet, intentum fuisse expugnationi arcis Grotte del Papa nuncupatae, cui Ascanius, commeatum ac praesidia mittens pontifici, capitaneum unum (ita vocat) comitem Placentinum interfecit, alterum Scopeta graviter in capite vulneravit, triginta circiter pedites interfecit. Ex suis tamen praefectum unum desiderat captis aliquot militibus et commeatu intercepto. Scribit rem serio agi atque tumultuanter fieri, Ascanio Colonna AscaniusAscanio Colonna tamen bono esse animo, quod aliquorum exspectat auxilia, ut plane metuendum sit, hanc scintillam in iustam eru{m}pturam flammam, quae si vere exarserit, ab urbis direptioni vix abstineri posse.

Quae quove consilio res in Hungaria geruntur, reverendissima Dominatio Vestra ex aliis iam intellexit, fortassis ad illud tempus, quo Betsthensis civitas obsidione cincta fuit a Thurcis ac male Christianis. Vocatae sunt Thurcarum copiae ex omnibus finibus Hungariae Machmet beck et Oros bassis seu potius sanczacis ducibus, facta solutionis commeatus atque Hungarorum a Ferdinando defectionis spe ampla, modo iustus adesset exercitus, fore ut praesiduum(!) demigaret ex Bestha nullam quoque aliam adesse defensionem. Haec Petrus Petrovicius olim Ioannis regis necessarius sollicitationibus effecit. Et antevertit quidem exercitum Thurcarum celerior fama advenire octuaginta Thurcarum milia. Ea postea remisit fama in 40 aliquibus, aliquibus in 38 milibus desinens, ut res et numerus habet. Certum est ingentem venisse exercitum suprascriptis ac Petrovicio ducibus, eumque a Budensibus et qui Ioannis sequuntur partes magno applausu acceptum. Cincta est civitas Bestha tribus in locis ad 20 Marcii deiectis in magna parte muris facti sunt impetus aliquot omnibus in locis. Vehementior omnium impetus 24 horis, hoc est tota die totaque nocte, duravit, strenue repugnantibus, qui in praesidio fuerunt. Thurcarum impetum non solum ferebant, sed ipsos oppugnantes fortiter omnes reiecerunt et profligarunt caesis, ut creditur, circiter sex milibus.

Thurcae, cum haberent commeatus inopiam, nemo ex Hungaris, qui Ferdinando adhaerent, illis se iungeret, quod praesidia virilia cernerent, quodque iam auxilia Germanica terra ac aqua adventarent, magna cum clade obsidione soluta, Petrovicium secum recipientes abierunt. Scribunt ita equos illorum ob pabulorum inopiam fuisse destitutos, ut pedites abire et ante se agere equos fuerint coacti. Hos praesidiarii Besthenses et ob paucitatem, et quod equitibus carerent et insidias metuerent, insecuti non sunt.

Postquam Ferdinandi copiae venerunt, referunt ad 12 circiter Aprilis Budam cinctam esse obsidione, de quo nondum certam habemus famam, res tamen fidem faciunt Ferdinandum non velle amplius in otio militem tam numerosum, cum subinde militem scribit Carolus caesar, ipsemet ante Spiritus Sancti ferias Wiennam venturus. Rex ipse Ferdinandus ad exercitum iturus est (ut narratur). Certe multorum exacerbati sunt animi, quod interea, dum oppugnarent Bestham Thurcae, ex Budensi arce in praesidianorum terga tam frequentes globi demissi sint, cupiuntque talionem reddere Budensibus.

Qualitercumque se habeant res, hoc certum est, a 17 Martii ab illa reginali maiestate litterae venerunt nullae. Hinc coniectura cognoscere licet sacram suam maiestatem neque sui iuris esse, ut scribere possit, propter obsidionem viarum.

Fama habet bonis initiis conventum Ratisponensem inchoatum, spem concordiae esse in manu, caesarem confectis hic rebus ingenti cum exercitu in Hungariam descensurum. Haec nunc habui, quae pro meo officio Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae scribere volui. Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra hanc prolixitatem boni consulere dignabitur.

Abest nunc rure degens uxorcula mea cum liberis nostris, sine dubio Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae et servicia sua, et salutem a Domino optatura. Illic quoque daughter of Iustus Ludovicus DECIUS Episcopadaughter of Iustus Ludovicus DECIUS agit. Mirum, quam gloriatur quamque superbit hoc nomine, nihil certius credens, quam rem serio agi, se iam tam insigni matri <mo> nio destinatam. Discit nunc scribere, ut solamet futurum suum maritum salutare possit. Est plane nobis cum daughter of Iustus Ludovicus DECIUS illadaughter of Iustus Ludovicus DECIUS comoedia, quod facili negotio omnibus confirmantibus negotium in fide retineatur. Nunc annulo suo, nunc peplo ornata incedit, reliquas sorores prae se contemnit, quod humilioribus sunt nupturae.

Deus Optimus Maximus Reverendissmam Dominationem Vestram ad longissima tempora incolumem servare dign[etur].

Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae deditissimus servitor Iustus Ludovicus Decius (Justus Ludwik Decjusz, Jost Ludwig Dietz, Iodocus Decius) (*ca. 1485 – †1545), merchant, historian, reformer of the Polish monetary system; ennobled in 1519; 1520-1524 royal secretary; 1528 Cracow town councillor; 1528 alderman in Piotrków; 1526-1535 administrator of the royal mint in Königsberg; 1528-1535 administrator of the royal mint in Thorn; 1530-1540 administrator of the royal mint in Cracow; 1519, 1520, 1522, 1523-1524 - royal envoy to Italy (PSB 5, p. 42-45; WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 250-251; NOGA, p. 304)IostusIustus Ludovicus Decius (Justus Ludwik Decjusz, Jost Ludwig Dietz, Iodocus Decius) (*ca. 1485 – †1545), merchant, historian, reformer of the Polish monetary system; ennobled in 1519; 1520-1524 royal secretary; 1528 Cracow town councillor; 1528 alderman in Piotrków; 1526-1535 administrator of the royal mint in Königsberg; 1528-1535 administrator of the royal mint in Thorn; 1530-1540 administrator of the royal mint in Cracow; 1519, 1520, 1522, 1523-1524 - royal envoy to Italy (PSB 5, p. 42-45; WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 250-251; NOGA, p. 304) scripsit.