» CORPUS of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence
Copyright © Laboratory for Source Editing and Digital Humanities AL UW

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Letter #4531

Jan CHOJEŃSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Vilnius, 1534-01-04
            received [1534]-01-12

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 5, f. 88-89

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8247 (TK 9), f. 449-450

Prints:
1AT 16/1 No. 7, p. 15-17 (in extenso; Polish register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

AAWO, AB, D. 5, f. 88r

Reverendissime mi Domine, domine observandissime.

Cum iam fasciculum litterarum ad Vestram Reverendissimam Dominationem obsignassem, accersivit me 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 Aragon⌊reginalis maiestasBona 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⌋, scire volens causam, propter quam non interfuisset Vestra Reverendissima Dominatio Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventui MarienburgensiProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ proxime praeterito, quod Vestra Dominatio Reverendissima suam maiestatem, ad eam scribens, remiserit ad litteras, quas 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 Austria⌊regiae maiestatiSigismund 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⌋ scripsit in excusationem sui, tum ego non ausus sum aliquid occultare, nam praemonitus eram, quod mecum easdem litteras afferrem ad suam maiestatem. Quas et exhibui, dixique utramque rationem absentiae Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationis non secus atque descripsit illas. Tum 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 Aragon⌊maiestas reginalisBona 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⌋ coepit enumerare mihi omnia ferme, quae ego ab aliis vel dicta audivi, vel scripta legi, de quibus abunde satis prioribus certiorem reddo Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam, et d in fine dixit: „Ego, inquit, propter duos homines frequenter audio a 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 Austria⌊maiestate regiaSigismund 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⌋: ’Ecce quam bene procedunt isti, quos tu promovisti’”, et nominavit Vestram Reverendissimam Dominationem, de qua se habuisse spem hidden by binding⌈[spem]spem hidden by binding⌉ firmam asseruit, dum eam ad episcopatum promovit, quod scilicet hidden by binding⌈[cilicet]cilicet hidden by binding⌉ in Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊illis terrisRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ debuisset fieri dux omnis boni et promotor, atque fautor orig. fotor⌈fautorfautor orig. fotor⌉ earum rerum, quae vergant ad commodum non solum 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 Austria⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund 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⌋, sed Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌊regniPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌋ etiam. Nunc autem contrarium experitur, quod ab eo tempore, quo Vestra Reverendissima Dominatio AAWO, AB, D. 5, f. 88v appulit Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊PrussiamRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋, exortae sint illic superinscribed⌈illicillic superinscribed⌉ discordiae iamque consilia ineunt, quibus possent Inhabitants of Poland ⌊Polonae nationis hominesInhabitants of Poland ⌋ ex Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊PrussiaRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ eicere, et nemo tam infensum se superinscribed in place of crossed-out na⌈na se se superinscribed in place of crossed-out na⌉ Polonis exhibet quam 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⌊dominus episcopus CulmensisIoannes 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⌋. „Iam ipse vult totam Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊PrussiamRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ gubernare written over t⌈trere written over t⌉, ipse cum al duobus aliis vult summam rei Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊illarum terrarumRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ sibi vendicare”. Et alia huiusmodi multa dixit 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 Aragon⌊maiestas suaBona 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⌋, quae vix unus liber caperet.

Ego deinde, quando refrixit calor ille in 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 Aragon⌊maiestate suaBona 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⌋, excusavi non paucis et dixi, quicquid concipere potui in re non sperata ad honorem et excusationem Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationis, rogavique, ne fidem daret maiestas sua delatoribus, verum si certior fieri cupit, quod haec describat Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationi, quod illa nihil non esset factura, quicquid maiestas sua praescripserit. Pollicitaque quidem est se superinscribed⌈sese superinscribed⌉ scripturam, sed mallet ipsa in faciem dicere, quod nemo tam copiose describeret et neque forsan conveniret, quam verbis exprimere ipsa posset. Conturbavit me hoc vehementer, video enim, quid incommodi afferre poterit, etiam si vera non sint, quae iam persuasa h(ab)et 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 Aragon⌊maiestas suaBona 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⌋. Nullum tamen consilium salubrius, quam quod scripsi, ut reconciliatio cum 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)⌊KostkaStanisław 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)⌋ fiat et in conventibus pietas in dandis responsis. Nam isti, qui habent AAWO, AB, D. 5, f. 89r causas in iudicio consiliariorum, solent spargere de Vestra Reverendissima Dominatione, quasi contemptim pusillos habeat et duriter cum illis agat. Nam hoc est vitium hominum, quod eos putant facere et decernere, qui pronuntiant. Fero ego quoque eius molestiae meam sortem, impingitur enim mihi, quicquid nomine et iussu 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 Austria⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund 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⌋ dico.

Alia non vacat scribere avocantibus aliis multis negotiis. Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima sit sui similis, scilicet constans et prudens. Facile sedabit ista, cum prudentiam adhibebit in consilium. Sed imprudens ego, qui peritiori et prudentiori leges impono, sed verum fraternus amor, quo Vestram <Dominationem> Reverendissimam complector, non sinit, ut sileam, proinde boni consulat et feliciter valeat, me amans.