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Letter #357

Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Genoa, 1527-07-17

English register:

De Schepper complains that he has not received any letters from Dantiscus, and he refers to his own from Genoa and Northern Spain. They [Chancellor Mercurino Gattinara's company] are stuck in Genoa, surrounded by French and Venetian forces. The imperial army in Italy is completely out of control. Antonio de Leyva holds Milan, while Swiss mercenaries, paid by the French, are advancing on the city. Hence there is no possibility of continuing the journey to the Chancellor's domains [in Piedmont].

It is not known where the Pope [Clement VII] is detained. A confrontation between the Venetian army and the imperial troops under Antonio de Leyva and the Count of Lodron is imminent. De Schepper mistrusts the self-confidence of De Leyva and his soldiers. He scorns the cruel looting of Milan by the Spanish and German troops. The Chancellor's company is still waiting for instructions from the Emperor [Charles V].

The King of Bohemia [Ferdinand Habsburg] aspires to the Hungarian throne. Lots of rumours circulate concerning the situation in Hungary. The appearance of John [Zápolya] with his sizable army as second pretender to the Hungarian throne is mockingly compared to the mythological stories about people rising from the earth after the sowing of dragon's teeth or stones. De Schepper does not think much of John [Zápolya]'s intellectual capacities. He refers to John [Zápolya]'s letter to the Hungarian nobility of which a copy was sent to Valdés.

He points Dantiscus towards Paolo Giovio's new publication on Muscovy, which he considers much more reliable than the one published by Johannes Faber. He asks Dantiscus to send him the Faber's work, because he wants to show it to the regent of Monaco, Archbishop Agostino Grimaldi.

The Chancellor has changed his way of life and is saving everything for his heirs. He is increasingly surrounded by friends from his home country and is becoming isolated from his collaborators. He is hesitating, although without reason. De Schepper is in doubt concerning his own position, and will, if necessary, seek his fortune elsewhere. Even though he does not want to let the Chancellor down, he asks Dantiscus and the Vice-Chancellor [Balthasar Merklin von Waldkirch] to explore the opportunities for a career change. If he does not succeed, he will have to turn to a last resort.

There is no news about the Bari question. De Schepper has drawn Gattinara's birth horoscope, but he could not finish it because of the travel conditions. Tomorrow it will be done, and then he will use the method recommended by Dantiscus.

He asks for news about the King of Denmark [Christian II] and Melchior Colditz. He is worried by rumours of riots in the Netherlands. Both the Duke of Ferrara and the Prince of Orange aspire to the succession of Charles de Bourbon in Italy, and both have sent envoys to the Emperor. He reports on the misfortunes encountered by the envoys of the prince of Orange? (princeps Oraycae) [Philibert de Châlon] on their journey; one of them will deliver De Schepper's letter to Dantiscus. He inquires about their mutual friends, the Count of Montfort-Rothenfels and the Counts Palatine, and asks to be recommended to their friends and to Dantiscus’ paramour [Isabel Delgada].


            received Valladolid, [1527]-08-06

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 14-15
2copy in Latin, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8241 (TK 3), a.1527, f. 38-40

Auxiliary sources:
1register in English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 31, No. 211

Prints:
1DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 37, p. 31 (excerpt; English register)
2CEID 2/2 (Letter No. 12) p. 90-96 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 15v

Clarissimo domino Ioanni Dantisco, regiae maiestatis Poloniae oratori ad sacram caesaream maiestatem, domino tamquam orig. tanquamtamquamtamquam orig. tanquam patri meo honorando

Miror, quod per novisimum cursorem nihil ad me scripseris, cum orig. quumcumcum orig. quum ego ex Monoeco et prius ex Celtiberis abunde orig. habundeabundeabunde orig. habunde omnia scripserim, quae nos concernunt. Interea nihil dignum scriptu occurrit, namque agimus hic in angulo Liguriae, unde vix licet pedem explicare ob Gallorum Venetorumque vires, quae terra marique nunc dominantur. Exercitus noster aut Romae orig. RhomaeRomaeRomae orig. Rhomae agit, aut adhuc in Campanicis deliciis sine duce, sine stipendio, eo insolentior, quo ditior et onustior praeda orig. predapraedapraeda orig. preda, addam etiam, et segnior. Antonius de Leyva Insubriam tuetur, in quam Helvetii Gallico stipendio conducti iam, ut fama est, aut descendere, aut sane, ut descendant, vicini sunt, praemissis orig. premissispraemissispraemissis orig. premissis impedimentis Vercellas in patriam magni cancellarii nostri. Quae res nobis adimit omnem potestatem eo contendendi. Ideoque pendemus animi, exspectantes iussum mandatumque caesaris. Pontifex Romanus orig. RhomanusRomanusRomanus orig. Rhomanus iam capite diminutus, incertum, an Romae orig. RhomaeRomaeRomae orig. Rhomae, an Caietae servetur. Nam in hac regionum vicinia plena omnia sunt mendaciorum. Copiae nostrae, quae partim sub ductu auspiciisque Anthonii, partim sub signis comitis Lodroni militant, tam propinquae sunt Venetis, ut vix ad duo milia orig. milliamiliamilia orig. millia passuum intercedere putent, quominus manus conserant. Magno animo nostri Venetos contemnunt, quod nescio, quam faciant prudenter, saepe orig. Sepesaepesaepe orig. Sepe enim contemptus hostis nocuit. Sed Anthonius nihil diff remorari victoriam de his ait, quam quod pecunia in stipendium militi desit, adeo non habet rationem tantarum expilationum, quae a crudelissima gente in misera Insubria perpetratae sunt. Et haec quidem sunt, quae pro tempore scribenda occurrunt. Namque aliud nihil habemus, postquam a sacra caesarea maiestate certiores facti fuerimus, quid nobis agendum o written over ...... illegible...... illegibleoo written over ...mittendumve sit, facile ex me rationem vivendi nostram rescies. Interea me omnibus commenda.

Rex Bohemiae encrypted Rex BohemiaeRex Bohemiae encrypted [3] omnem penitus Hungariam encrypted HungariamHungariam encrypted spe vocat. Multa hic narrantur de rebus Hungaricis. Aiunt nescio quem terrae filium, qui se Ioannem Caesarem a Deo missum vocat, istic orig. isthicisticistic orig. isthic prodiisse cumque eo ex terra subito erupisse dena milia armatorum. Ego, cum orig. quumcumcum orig. quum haec audio, incipio dubitare, an falsa sit dentium draconis ab Iasone facta seminatio, paulatimque accidet Deucalion et Cadmu written over oouu written over os. Namque haec si in Hungaris fiant, an dubitare possumus illa superinscribedillailla superinscribed in Graecia orig. GreciaGraeciaGraecia orig. Grecia accidisse? Oro te per amicitiam nostram, ut, si quid habeas comperti, ad me scribas. Nam multi, quid de hac re sentiam, perconctantur. Neque deest fortassis mihi et mea quoque opinio, neque iudicii adhuc sum tam hebetis et obtusi, ut quicquam existimem tale evenire potuisse, cum minime iam opus sit homines ex lapidibus nasci, cum tantum ubique sit mulierum. Circumferuntur ipsius litterae ad proceres regni Hungarici scriptae ingenio sane nullo adeo, ut nisi armis plus Briareus iste quam litteris valeat, non admodum mihi videatur cuiquam formidandus. Harum exemplar facile tibi Valdesius communicabit, namque idipsum ad eum misimus.

Hic incidi in AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 14v libellum cuiusdam Pauli Iovii Novocomensis de rebus Moschovitarum. Nescio, an illum videris. Mea sententia plus veritatis orig. vaeritatisveritatisveritatis orig. vaeritatis habet quam alter ille, qui ex Ioannis Fabri incude prodiit. Ego illum ad te transmisissem, sed is, cuius est, maioris aestimat orig. estimataestimataestimat orig. estimat, quam ut pretio orig. preciopretiopretio orig. precio vendere aut donare velit. Tu vero, si commode potes, libellum Ioannis hidden by binding[is]is hidden by binding Fabri ad me mitte. Plurimum enim videre illum desiderat orig. desyderatdesideratdesiderat orig. desyderat amplissimus hidden by binding[imus]imus hidden by binding praesul orig. presulpraesulpraesul orig. presul dominus Augustinus Grimaldus archiepiscopus Oristani superinscribedOristaniOristani superinscribed etc., dominus oppidi hidden by binding[i]i hidden by binding Monoeci, vir humanus, nobilis et doctus, quodque mirere, pius hidden by binding[s]s hidden by binding et ingenii liberi.

Cancellarius consilio monitu encrypted Cancellarius con superinscribednn superinscribedsilio monituCancellarius consilio monitu encrypted que magistri curiaecurie suaesue encrypted magistri curiae orig. curiecuriaecuriae orig. curie suae orig. suesuaesuae orig. suemagistri curiaecurie suaesue encrypted omnem rationem vivendi mutavit. Nullum splendorem servat encrypted vivendi[7] mutavit. Nullum splendorem servatvivendi mutavit. Nullum splendorem servat encrypted , omnia pro heredibus cumulat encrypted heredibus cumulatheredibus cumulat encrypted . Sed nosti, quid talibus soleat usuvenire. Illustris dominus cancellarius hic vide hidden by binding[de]de hidden by bindingtur circumsaeptus orig. circumseptuscircumsaeptuscircumsaeptus orig. circumseptus turba amicorum, qui ad eum confluunt adeo mul hidden by binding[l]l hidden by bindingti, ut locus adeundi illum more solito nobis fere omnis interceptus sit. Ve hidden by binding[e]e hidden by bindingnirentque etiam plures, nisi bellum hoc itinera omnia periculosa faceret hidden by binding[t]t hidden by binding. Pendet animi ne encrypted Pendet animi nePendet animi ne encrypted que, quid sibi agendum sit, novit encrypted quid sibi agendum sit, novitquid sibi agendum sit, novit encrypted . Sine causa tamen. Ego nihil habeo apud me decretum facere. Nam ne hidden by binding[e]e hidden by bindingque vivo ut extraneus, neque omnino ut domesticus. Fortassis experiar alibi fortunam. Vereor enim, ne illi gravis sim, et si non illi, saltem amicis et propinquis, qui totum id sibi existimant deperire, quod in alterum confertur. Si caesar aliqua in parte Italiae opera mea uti vellet, esset mihi id gratum neque parcerem periculis. Nam regredi rebus stantibus ut nunc in Hispanias mihi liberum non est neque ego optimum et clementissimum senem deseram, donec id iusserit aut me necessitas coegerit. Vide, si tu cum domino vicecancellario indirecte agere posses, ut quid tale mihi contingeret. Ille enim pro sua erga me humanitate fortassis inventurus est aliquantam rationem. Si non successerit, superest adhuc ultimum refugium, in quod concedere desperati solent, nam cancellarius nimpium deditus est affinibus encrypted nam cancellarius nim ms. p(!) mm ms. p(!) ium deditus est affinibusnam cancellarius nimpium deditus est affinibus encrypted .

De castro causa Barensi encrypted castro or causacastrocastro or causa Barensi castro causa Barensi encrypted [9] nihil audio, namque ab vicerege encrypted viceregevicerege encrypted [10] nihil suscepimus litterarum. Digessi genituram cancellarii encrypted Digessi genituram cancellariiDigessi genituram cancellarii encrypted invenioque certissima ratione maxima quaeque anno sequenti illi portendi encrypted anno sequenti illi portendianno sequenti illi portendi encrypted . Tanto tempore ob multas interruptiones incommoditatesque itinerum hospitiorumque nihil aliud facere potui neque adhuc manum ul hidden by binding[ul]ul hidden by bindingtimam apposui. Cras tamen id fiet. Deinde exordiar eam telam, quam mihi tute commendasti.

Si quid de illustrissimo rege Daniae audieris aut de Melchiore, oro, ad me scribas, nam hic nescio quid intel hidden by binding[l]l hidden by bindinglexi ex mercatoribus Genuensibus. Audio in Belgis tumultum nescio quid obortum esse, malo sane indicio rerum nostratium. Quem hic hidden by binding[ic]ic hidden by binding simus ducem in Italia habituri, adhuc in ambiguo est. Illustris dux Ferrariae novum oratorem ad caesarem mittit. Mittit et ill(ustris) or ill(ustrissimus)ill(ustris)ill(ustris) or ill(ustrissimus) princeps AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 15r Oraycae suos. Sed his male cessit praeda orig. predapraedapraeda orig. preda Romae orig. RhomaeRomaeRomae orig. Rhomae parta. In itinere enim, dum ex Caieta solverent, oborta tempestate in litus orig. littuslituslitus orig. littus incognitum provecti sunt ibique spoliati rebus omnibus et nudati a gregariis aliquot militibus, dubium, amicisne ms. amicis ne(!) amicisneamicisne ms. amicis ne(!) , an inimicis, pedites coacti sunt sine pecunia et vestibus terra Genuam usque iter facere, subinde et carcere, et fame aliquot diebus macerati. Illorum alter, Burgundus vir nobilis et circumspectus, has litteras fert, alter hic subsistit litteras exspectans ab eodem principe. Si quid de ill(ustri) or ill(ustrissimo)ill(ustri)ill(ustri) or ill(ustrissimo) domino comite ab Monteforti et aliis confratribus nostris comitibus palatinis audieris, fac me, quaeso, certiorem. Et subinde omnibus me amicis commenda et tuae.

Vale.

Genuae, XVII-o die mensis Iulii anno MDXXVII-o.

Tuus, quem nosti, Cornelius Duplicius Scepperus

[3 ] Rex Bohemiae (symbol N): solution of the cipher based on Dantiscus’ solution of De Schepper’s use of this symbol preserved together with the fair copies of IDL 355 and IDL 427

[6 8 11 ] Cancellarius (symbol R): solution of the cipher based on Dantiscus’ solution of De Schepper’s use of this symbol preserved together with the fair copies of IDL 355 and IDL 427

[7 ] vivendi: solution of the cipher written above the line in Eric Benzelius’ hand

[9 ] Castro or causa Barensi (symbol F): solution of the cipher based on Dantiscus’ solution of De Schepper’s use of this symbol preserved together with the fair copies of IDL 355 and IDL 427

[10 ] Vicerege (symbol S): solution of the cipher based on Dantiscus’ solution of De Schepper’s use of this symbol preserved together with the fair copies of IDL 355 and IDL 427