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Letter #3324

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Stanisław KOSTKA
Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1548-01-17


Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in German, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 365r-v

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 346

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

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)Palatino PomeraniaeStanisław 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)

{Unsernn} [Un]sern freuntlichen grus mit aller wolfart wunschung zu...... her gunstiger freundt und freuntlicher, lieber gefatter.

Wir haben zuvor den erhaften Ludwig Wersfelt Ludowicum WersfeltLudwig Wersfelt , Ewer Herlichkeit secretarienn, durch unser cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Ludwig WERSFELT [Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński)], 1547-12-22, CIDTC IDL 3301schreibenncf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Ludwig WERSFELT [Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński)], 1547-12-22, CIDTC IDL 3301 noch Ewer Herlichkeit auszuge von Marienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)MarienburgMarienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia) ersucht, / und ihm etzliche dinge Ewer Herlichkeit von unsernt wegen zuzuschreiben auferlegt. / Czweifelen nicht, / dem szei also von ihm nachgekomen. / Bitten derwegen freuntlich, Ewer Herlichkeit wolte uns also inn dem bovolenn haben, / und das fleisig vortstellen, / sunderlich aber nicht vorgessen unser im besten kegen die 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 AustriaalteSigismund 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 und Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforzajunge koningliche majestetSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza, / unser genedige fraw die Bona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of AragonkoningeBona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of Aragon, / und allen Royal Council of Poland hern in der ChronnRoyal Council of Poland zugedencken [un]d uns denen aufs fleisigste zu bovelen. Worin wir Ewer Herlichkeit bei diesen boten zuerinneren nicht haben lassen mugen, der wir viel {gluch} glucks von Got dem almechtigenn ihre geschefte alda wol auszurichtenn wunschenn. Uns vorlang[t] auch fast zuerfharen, / wie die hern botschafter a... seinde ankomen, / und entfangen / welcher gestalt man ihnen audientz geben hat, / und was sunst von abrichtung dersu[l]ben zuhoffen sei. Von welchem allem bittenn wir freu[nt]lich Ewer Herlichkeit uns vortraulicher weise, / auch da was von newen zeitungen were, bei diesem boten berichten wolte. Alhie ist nichts newes, / ist ganz stille, / wie fleisig wir auch dornoch gefraget, / haben wir dennoch nichts, das wir Ewer [Herlichkeit] hetten schreiben mugen erfharen kunnen, / allein das Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)furstliche durchlauchtAlbrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544) fast damit umbgeth widderum ein new stedt in seinem lande aufzurichtenn, / deshalben ehr den ... sein Nobility of Royal Prussia underthan vom adelNobility of Royal Prussia und stedten etzliche wochenn zu Königsberg (Królewiec, Mons Regius, Regiomontium), city in Ducal Prussia, on the mouth of the Pregel (Pregoła) river, capital city of Ducal Prussia; today Kaliningrad in RussiaKoningsbergKönigsberg (Królewiec, Mons Regius, Regiomontium), city in Ducal Prussia, on the mouth of the Pregel (Pregoła) river, capital city of Ducal Prussia; today Kaliningrad in Russia vorsamlet hat / un[d] sagt, das sie swer darzu seindt, und nicht gering[e] in erkein stewer vorwilligen werden. Bovelen hiemit Ewer Herlichkeit gotlichen genaden mit langweriger gesuntheit.