Multis praeclaris artibus virtutibusque ornatissimo Domino, domino Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌊Iohanni DantiscoIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌋, episcopo Culmensi religiosissimo, patrono meo observandissimo

Gratiam et pacem in Christo etc. Reverende Domine Praesul.

Quam magna laetitia affectus sim et quam voluptatem ex litteris vestris acceperim, nullo modo eloqui aut scribere possum. Primum enim certior factus sum de vestra incolumitate, Reverende Praesul, quae ex animo mihi est cara atque grata, ac vehementer optarim, ut huiusmodi nuntius vel tales litteras a Dignitate Vestra quam saepissime accipere mihi contingeret.

Quemadmodum etiam ego, cum ex amore meo erga Vestram Dignitatem, tum etiam ex Christiana pietate et pro sanguinis nostri necessitudine semper pro Vestra Humanitate soleo precibus meis Deum sollicitare, ut ipse pro sua immensa misericordia velit Dignitati Vestrae ea praestare, quae conducant ad gloriam Nominis Divini immortalem et utilia corpori et animae vestrae esse possint. Praeterea me etiam maxime hilarem reddidit, quod a Dignitate Vestra cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Johann LEHMANN soon after June 7, 1536, CIDTC IDL 7062, letter lost⌊responsumcf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Johann LEHMANN soon after June 7, 1536, CIDTC IDL 7062, letter lost⌋ tam amicum et benignum receperim, ex quo facile animadverto, quod etiamsi Vestra Dignitas super communem hominum sortem adaucta sit, tamen propinquos non solum non contemnitis, ut saepe fieri solet, sed etiam (ita, ut Vestram Humanitatem decet) bene de illis sentitis et utilitatem ipsorum maxime cupitis promovere atque augere, quod etiam tota vestra ad me data epistula ostendit, quia Humanitas Vestra in exordio epistulae suae ex mero Christiano amore erga me precatur mihi gratiam, misericordiam et pacem domini nostri Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌊Ihesu ChristiJesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌋, et ex animo admonet me, ut maxime fugiam omnes malam habentes opinionem de Deo, omnes heriticos, omnes Suermerios, omnes denique sectas, quae multos perdunt, multosque a Deo et ecclesia eius sancta abducunt, et adhortatur me, ut potius amplectar et servem puram et claram doctrinam Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌊ChristiJesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌋, ut multa mala effugere possim, et habeam posthac vitam aeternam.

Quae vestra adhortatio, ut maxime est Christiana et a meo fautore summo et amico maximo profecto quam lubentissime et maxime grato animo eam suscepi , ut decet meam aetatem, habeoque Vestrae Humanitati gratias ingentes ac velim, ut Vestra Humanitas id sibi persuadeat et penitus credat. Etiamsi hic in his regionibus passim sint Suermeri (ut vocantur) et alii pseudoprophetae, me tamen adhuc (laus sit Deo) iam habere eum animum, ut nullos phanaticos spiritus amem aut magnifice de illis sentiam. Persuasique mihi hoc et induxi animum meum me numquam de vera doctrina sanctae et catholicae ecclesiae decessurum aut declinaturum ad opiniones, quae cum vera religione pugnare videntur. Oro et Deum, ut ipse secundum magnam suam misericordiam me retineat in vera Christiana doctrina et in Christiana vita conservet. Nullum quidem adhuc de his rebus habeo intellectum magnum in hac iuvenili aetate. Quare neque me immisceo tam magnis controversiis theologicis, sed permitto istarum tantarum rerum curam tractationem doctoribus theologiae. Verum in illud unum diligenter incumbo, ut omnes malas opiniones de Deo et omnes hereticos fugiam (ut Christianum decet), et a natura illis sum inimicus, qui haereses spargunt et seminant in ecclesia. Ac vellem (quemadmodum spero futurum in consilio), ut in ecclesia esset unus pastor et unum ovile. Id quod ut fiat, Deus misericors implorandus est, ut in concilio adsit sua divina potentia et pacem ecclesiae restituat. Porro quod sapientia vestra, sicuti ego petieram, mihi fidele et sapiens consilium dat et me adhortatur et incitat ad studium bonarum artium et philosophiae, id quoque animo meo acceptissimum est, non solum ea de causa, quod mihi utile sententia tale consilium, verum etiam ea de re, quod cum studiis meis quadrat et convenit, quia ego me hoc anno (ita a praeceptore meo institutus) totum et penitus dedidi artibus dicendi perdiscendis et methodum moralis philosophiae a magistro Philipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌊Philippo MelanchtonePhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌋ audire soleo. Et postea, his artium dicendi praeceptis cognitis, me applicabo ad aliquam facultatem, quae tum Prudentiae Vestrae et parentibus amicisque meis quam maxime placebit. Quare maximas ago Vestrae Humanitati gratias: primo pro Christiana vestra precatione, quod mihi precata est Vestra Pietas gratiam Dei et pacem; deinde pro Vestra sancta admonitione ad vitandum sectas et hereticos; tertio, pro vestro sapienti et utili consilio ad dan[dum] operam philosophiae et aliis artibus. Nihil praeterea magis quoque cupio, quam ut possim eo pervenire, ut ego meam gratitudinem et benevolentiam non solum verbis, sed etiam re ipsa possim vobis declarare, quod, vero Humanitas Vestra cum tanta modestia de officio suo scribit et se tam humilem ostendit, ex eo accipio et intelligo Christianam Vestram mentem et vehementer mihi gratum est, quod se Vestra Pietas non extollit neque superbit, quemadmodum plerumque accedere solet in rebus prosperis, ut experientia testatur.

Praeterea quod scribitis Vos velle, si commode fieri possit, scholam erigere et reformare, quae cum sit utilis et necessaria propter doctorum virorum penuriam, lubens viderem, ut cum summa diligentia in hanc rem incumberetis tum propter honorem Dei, tum propter utilitatem totius provinciae Prussiae, ut bona schola erigeretur. Cum probably Mathias Lang ⌊Mathiaprobably Mathias Lang ⌋ vero sic se res habet: quamquam ex animo vellet, ut Vestra Humanitas cupit, reverti ad vos, tamen id ante festum Paschae fieri non potest. Prima causa haec est: librum apud se habet, qui spectat ad dominum Valentinum, id quod et vobis (ut credo) non est ignotum, quem debet curare hic excudi, verum propter peregrinationem domini magistri Philipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌊PhilippiPhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌋ id impeditur, quia dominus Philippus iussit, ut servaret librum et ne cui daret eum excudendum ante reditum suum, nam ipse istum librum primum praelegere vult. Qua de causa non statim reverti potest ad Vos, sed cogitur reditum magistri Philipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌊PhilippiPhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌋ expectare. Altera causa est, quia veniam ab amicis suis impetravit, ut possit proficisci in Bohemia (Čechy, Kingdom of Bohemia), country in central Europe⌊BohemiamBohemia (Čechy, Kingdom of Bohemia), country in central Europe⌋ ad avunculum suum, qua de causa, nescio. Praeterea, sicut Vestra Humanitas scribit de duobus adulescentibus, qui istic praelegerent, sciat Vestra Humanitas me una cum ipso quam diligentissime exquisivisse, utrum duos possimus habere, sed nullum adhuc adepti sumus, quia docti viri iam in magno pretio sunt, et stipendia nimis parva istis esse videntur, quae se istic accepturos esse arbitrantur, quia hic habere possunt condiciones 60 et 70 florenorum. Huc accedit, quod nemo neque mihi neque probably Mathias Lang ⌊Mathiaeprobably Mathias Lang ⌋ vult eam fidem praestare, ut nostris pollicitationibus credat, et istuc proficiscatur. Quare mea et probably Mathias Lang ⌊Mathiaeprobably Mathias Lang ⌋ sententia est, ut Vestra Humanitas hac hieme circa festum Nativitatis velit litteras ad dominum Philipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌊PhilippumPhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌋ dare ea de causa, ut ipse velit Dignitati Vestrae hoc officium praestare et procurare duos adulescentes eosque ad Vos mittere, ne hoc tam honestum et necessarium propositum vestrum impediatur. Haec omnia volebam breviter Dignitati Vestrae significare rogoque etiam atque etiam vehementer, ut haec qualiacumque mea scripta Humanitas Vestra boni consulat. Postremo cupitis, ut vestro nomine dominum Philipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌊PhilippumPhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌋ salutem, sed dominus Philipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌊PhilippusPhilipp Melanchthon (Philipp Schwartzerd) (*1497 – †1560), Lutheran theologian, humanist, Martin Luther's collaborator and friend, author of the Augsburg Confession. He was strongly influenced by Luther, whom he called his spiritual father. In 1519 he was present as a spectator at the disputation of Leipzig between Martin Luther and Johann Eck. He was also in attendance at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and at the religious colloquy of Worms (1557)⌋ ante octiduum in patriam suam est profectus et forsan ante festum Martini[1] non revertetur Wittenberg (Vittemberga), city in east-central Germany, Saxony, on the Elbe river, 70 km NE of Leipzig⌊WittenbergamWittenberg (Vittemberga), city in east-central Germany, Saxony, on the Elbe river, 70 km NE of Leipzig⌋.

His iam scribendo finem facere cogor ac unum tantum adhuc addam, quod mihi necessarium, ut scribam, esse videtur. Gratias habeo humanitati vestrae pro litteris ad me datis et pro fideli adhortatione, et pro vestro consilio. Commendoque me praeterea dignitati et benevolentiae vestrae, Reverende Praesul, ac oro obnixe, ut dignetur vestra humanitas mihi optima quaeque consulere. Si ego rursum aliquando omnibus meis viribus efficere potero, quod vestrae prudentiae placeret, id me sedulo et ex animo facturum promitto. Bene valeat Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio, cui m[e] totum dico dedicoque, et Deus Optimus Maximus conservet vestram incolumitatem diu[tur]nam.

Tuus Johann Lehmann (Jan Leoman) (*1520 – †1582), Dantiscus' nephew (son of his sister Ursula and Zacharias Lehmann); studied in Wittenberg and in Rome; 1545 secretary of Ioannes Dantiscus as Ermland bishop; 1546 vicar in Heilsberg; 1550 chancellor of Ermland bishop Tiedemann Giese and then of his successor Stanisław Hozjusz; 1554 Ermland canon; 1561-1566 general administrator (oeconomus) on the bishop's estates in Ermland diocese; 1571 Ermland custos (KOPICZKO 2, p. 193)⌊Iohannes LhemannusJohann Lehmann (Jan Leoman) (*1520 – †1582), Dantiscus' nephew (son of his sister Ursula and Zacharias Lehmann); studied in Wittenberg and in Rome; 1545 secretary of Ioannes Dantiscus as Ermland bishop; 1546 vicar in Heilsberg; 1550 chancellor of Ermland bishop Tiedemann Giese and then of his successor Stanisław Hozjusz; 1554 Ermland canon; 1561-1566 general administrator (oeconomus) on the bishop's estates in Ermland diocese; 1571 Ermland custos (KOPICZKO 2, p. 193)⌋

[1 ] November, 11