Letter #349
Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUSMonaco, 1527-06-03
English register:
The departure from the port of Palamos was postponed to the next day, due to the arrival of a messenger. On the 28th of May they left at sunset in a brigantine (myoparo), trying in vain to reach the carrack that was anchored off the coast. At dawn they had to return to the harbour. After breakfast they succeeded in finding the great ship, and immediately set sail. Throughout the journey, which took 15 days, there was a moderate breeze and a calm sea. On the 1st of June, when they had sailed almost past the French Mediterranean coast, they decided to move to the two brigantines, leaving their luggage and their servants in the carrack, under protection of the galleon, and to make for Monaco. The rest of the Ligurian coast is not safe since the French took possession of Savona. Their navy infests that part of the Mediterranean Sea.
On the 1st of June the French ships that were chasing Moorish pirates detoured from their route to intercept three Genovese ships that were anchored in the port of Monaco. After the artillery of the fortress of Monaco killed a number of French marines, and sank one of their galleons, they sailed to Ventimiglia, and from there to Corsica or Savona.
The day before De Schepper's arrival in Monaco, a brigantine left from there carrying the news of the capture of Rome and the imprisonment of the Pope [Clement VII]. One can hardly rejoice about this victory, because of the loss of the commander [Charles de Bourbon]. It will be almost impossible to replace him as commander in chief of the imperial armies. Hence, De Schepper shares Dantiscus' concerns.
The Chancellor [Mercurino Gattinara] is in exceptionally good shape. De Schepper does not know the Chancellor's next destination yet, but he supposes it will be Vercelli or Genova. He could not speak to him, because the Chancellor was too occupied with his correspondence. The Chancellor is expecting instructions from the Emperor [Charles V]. There are rumours that the Pope will be transferred to Spain via Naples or Caieta. De Schepper is tired of his current inactivity. It is hard to bear the jealousy of the Chancellor's entourage, being alone and without his trusted friend. He will not abandon the Chancellor.
He cannot write about confidential matters, because his codebook is still in his trunk on the carrack. They intend to send smaller ships to collect the luggage and the servants that were left on the carrack at sea.
He complains about people in Spain who scoff at him, and blame him for the Chancellor's departure from court, while they themselves have abused his benevolence. Dantiscus knows the true facts: the Chancellor had planned this already three years ago, without any advice from De Schepper. In their letters, his detractors even suggest that the Emperor is displeased with him, which is obviously a mendacious allegation.
De Schepper wants to inform Dantiscus about this, so he knows how to respond. He asks for news about the King of Denmark [Christian II of Oldenburg]. He will keep Dantiscus informed of their experiences. He recommends himself to mutual acquaintances and sends his regards to Dantiscus' family.
The letter is dated the 3rd of June. In a postscript dated 7th June De Schepper explains that he intended to send his letter with a messenger who was retained by the Chancellor. Two days later the brigantine that was carrying the message about the capture of Rome returned to the port of Monaco, after being attacked by Moorish pirates. The messengers on this boat, Jean Durand, secretary to the viceroy of Naples [Charles de Lannoy], and the envoy of the Emperor to Genova, will carry De Schepper's letter to Dantiscus. He compares the great danger that these men have experienced with the prosperous journey of the Chancellor's company.
| received Valladolid, [1527]-06-24 Manuscript sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Clarissimo domino Ioanni Dantisco regiae maiestatis Poloniae etc. oratori, domino et amico tamquam patri plurimum observando
Salutem.
Scripsi ad te ex oppido Palamos in Celtiberis die XXVII-a Maii, quo etiam arbitrabar nos abituros esse, sed res secus accidit. Superveniens enim veredarius sive, si malis, posta nos unum diem impedivit. XXVIII-o die sub noctem conscenso myoparone statueramus navim onerariam, quae, ut solutior esset liberiorque ad velificandum, in altum se contulerat, assequi, sed res secus accidit, quandoquidem nocte tota frustra consumpta nec inventa navi ob tempestatem et tenebras, sub diluculum redimus in portum. Nec eo magis perterriti autem sumus, ientati enim refectis iam viribus rursus experimur fortunam tandemque non obstante pruina, quae visum impediebat, quaesitam navim attingimus eaque conscensa statim vela pandimus medio vere Aeolo, Neptuno autem ita placido, ut nu[m]quam meminerim vidisse minus procellarum toto tempore, quod fuit ad Kalendas usque Iunias, hoc est ad quintum usque diem, quem e portu solvimus. Tunc inito consilio, cum iam litora Massiliae et Galliae Narbonensis fere praeteriissemus, visum est operae pretium demissa navi magna, in myoparones, quos duos solum habebamus, nos conicere, relicta omni supellectile et familiaribus quoque et ad custodiam galeone uno, Monoecum Herculis portum petituri. Nam reliq[uum] omne litus infidum est, illud autem infidissimum, quod Ligus[ti]cum est, Gallis Savonam obtinentibus, quorum classis totum mare hoc infestat.
Et vide, per Christum, quam id bene ceciderit nobis! Pridie enim Kalendas Iunias, hoc est die Sabbato, septem biremes Maurorum totum litus pe[r]currerant, quas insecutae quattuordecim Gallicae triremes mutato consilio ad portum nostri Monoeci deflexere spe intercipiendarum trium triremium Genuensium, quae eo in portu anchoras iecerant. Sed male habiti t[u]tatique Galli a domino Monoeci amissis aliquot e classiariis nimbo globorum, qui ex muris huius arcis excutiebantur, amisso adhaec galeone uno, sub noctem m[e]liorem experturi alibi fortunam Vigintimilia oppidum et deinde aut in Corsicam aut Savonam contenderunt.
Pridie quam huc appullissemus, obscura iam nocte hinc solverat bergantinus ille, qui nuntium fert de capta urbe Roma deque pontifice in potestatem redacto, quae profecto victoria, mea sententia, parvam laetitiam nobis adferre iure debet, amisso fortissimo imperatore, cuius similem nescio, an hodie Hispania Galliave habeat - hoc illi praemium fortuna rependit – et profecto ego id mihi semper persuaseram, cuius rei puto esse te etiam testem. Sed pontifices quidem et alios capere poterimus, talem autem ducem haud facile, reor, recuperaturos esse. Quo fit, ut plurimum dubitem de reliquis mihique fere persuadeam futurum, quod et tu novissimis litteris tuis tetigisti. Sed haec talia sunt.
Enimvero illustris dominus cancellarius numquam melius valuit, nihil mali perpessus, immo ne nauseam quidem fere. Quorsum hinc sit abiturus, nescio adhuc, nam cum eo loqui hodie minime licuit tot negotiis occupato, quae illi faciunt litterae ad curiam scribendae. Reor autem aut Genuam concessurum esse, aut Vercellas, exspectaturumque responsum caesaris, quid sibi faciendum omittendumve sit.
Aiunt pontificem aut Caietam, aut Neapolim perductum esse in Hispanias navigaturum. Neque nos etiam, ut reor, deerimus adventui. Nescio tamen, quid adhuc facturus sit. Me sane taedet huius otii, quippe qui malim in negotio versari. Et solus ego citra gravem invidiam domesticorum et familiarium ita vivere non possum, praesertim cum desit Achates aliquis, in cuius sinum subinde mea infundam. Feram tamen aequo fortique animo omnia neque optimum senem et prudentissimum, donec is voluerit, deseram. Magna mihi spes est de omnibus, uti aliquando tibi dixi. Non potui ad te quicquam scribere, cum desint τα γραμματα, sunt enim in carissimis rerum mearum, quae in navi magna permansere. Ad quam myoparones aliquot mittimus et supellectilem, et relictos ibidem familiares exportaturos.
Homines aliquot inepte lepidi apud vos iocis scommatisque adversum me agunt, quos ne litteris quidem inserere verentur, ridiculi sane futuri, si me aequum pugilem, et quales ipsi sunt, invenirent. Omnis culpa est mea, quod abierit ex curia cancellarius supremus, cuius ipsi bonitate ad explendas privatas cupiditates suas hactenus abusi sunt. Tu vero testis es, quid ego qualiterque fecerim. Neque ille meo consilio indiguit, quippe senex et prudens et re determinata triennio, priusquam Cornelium novisset. Adiciunt litteris suis, quas ad consortes scribunt, et caesarem mihi indignari, quod ego purum putum mendacium esse scio, quippe quem non latet, qua in fossa cauterium sit. Haec ad te volui scribere, ut si quando ad te veniant. Venient autem aliqui per transennam illis meam excusationem, si tamen excusatio est, ubi culpa non fuit, neque a bonis etiam viris, nisi stolidi sint, etiam putatur, obtrudas.
Si quid de rege Dano audias, non dedignaberis ad me scribere. Ego vicissim nihil te celabo successuum nostrorum. Commenda me humiliter reverendo et excellenti domino vicecancellario et domino Alexandro, et domino Hallero offerque illi officium meum. Familiae etiam tuae fausta omnia et felicia apprecor. Deus optimus te diu conservet.
Ex Monoeco portu Herculis, III-o Nonas Iunias anno M D XXVII-o.
Tuus, quem nosti, Cornelius Duplicius Scepperus
Postscript:
Postquam has scripsissem ratus tabellarium confestim abiturum, illustris dominus cancellarius, cui plurimum, ut nosti, negotii est, eundem retardavit. Biduo post supervenit ille bergantinus, qui in Hispaniam navigare debuerat, cuius ego in praecede[nte] pagina memini. Rediit autem desperatis rebus omnibus fere, octo enim fustae Maurorum non solum ad conspectum, sed ad colloquium etiam venerant, iubebant, vela deiceret. Sed magna diligentia remigum et invocata Diva Virgine, quae in Monte Serrato colitur, nuncupatis ad haec votis nulli non sanctorum, aut Dei voluntate, aut propitio iam numine, aut sua industria rediere in hunc portum nudiustertius, qui fuit quintus Iunii. Erant in eo hi, qui nuntium captae urbis, ut ad te scripsi, ferebant, Ioannes Durandus secretarius viceregis Neapolitani et alter secretarius oratoris caesarei ad Genuenses, qui has litteras ad vos ferunt. Arbitror te satis intellecturum, quantum periculi perpessi sint ex eoque aestimaturum, num Deus nobis affuerit, qui sine vento et aura fere somniantes huc advenimus.
Iterum vale.
VII-o Iunii.