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Letter #4840

Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Cracow (Kraków), 1543-01-29
            received Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1543-02-12

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, GStA PK, XX. HA Hist. StA Königsberg, HBA, C 1a, K. 497
2copy in Latin, 16th-century, BCz, 1601, p. 383-386

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

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 ErmlandSigismundusIoannes 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 Dei gratia rex Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)PoloniaePoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), magnu[s] dux LithuaniaLituaniaeLithuania, Rus (Russia)RussiaeRus (Russia), Prussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525, the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of PolandPrussiaePrussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525, the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland, Mazowsze (Masovia) historic region in Central Poland, before 1526 an autonomous duchy and feud of the Kingdom of Poland, from 1526 included in the KingdomMasoviaeMazowsze (Masovia) historic region in Central Poland, before 1526 an autonomous duchy and feud of the Kingdom of Poland, from 1526 included in the Kingdom etc. domi[nu]s et heres

Reverende in Christo Pater et Domine, sincere nobis dilecte.

Binas Paternitatis Vestrae litteras accepimus, quarum cf. , CIDTC IDL 7482uniscf. , CIDTC IDL 7482, quid sibi de eo videatur, quod multum instante atque urgente equestri ordine Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)RegniPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia) nostri per nuntium nostrum in Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia comitiisProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia proximis Marienburgensibus postulavimus, cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon [ca. 1543-01-01], CIDTC IDL 7472, letter lostalteriscf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon [ca. 1543-01-01], CIDTC IDL 7472, letter lost de causa navigationis consilium nobis suum perscripsit. Ac quod posteriores attinet, nihil praetermissum a nobis videtur, quod ad rationes subditorum nostrorum constituendas pertineret. Nam et ad Christian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534-1559 King of Denmark and Norway, 1523-1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of BrandenburgDaniae regemChristian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534-1559 King of Denmark and Norway, 1523-1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg et ad Isabella Jagiellon (*1519 – †1559), 1539-1559 Queen of Hungary; from 1539 wife of John Zápolya, King of Hungary, mother of John II Sigismund Zápolya; daughter of Sigismund Jagiellon, King of Poland, and Bona Sforzareginam HungariaeIsabella Jagiellon (*1519 – †1559), 1539-1559 Queen of Hungary; from 1539 wife of John Zápolya, King of Hungary, mother of John II Sigismund Zápolya; daughter of Sigismund Jagiellon, King of Poland, and Bona Sforza nuntios nostros misimus, et serenissimo Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of HabsburgRomanorum regiFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg ea in causa scripsimus; responsum exspectamus.

Quod vero suadet nobis Paternitas Vestra, ut ne cf. Verg. A. 3.700-701 et fatis numquam concessa moveri/ apparet Camarina procul moveri deinceps Camarinamcf. Verg. A. 3.700-701 et fatis numquam concessa moveri/ apparet Camarina procul istam permittamus, nobis dubium non est, quin fidele sit consilium hoc Paternitatis Vestrae et ex summa in nos fide atque observantia profectum. Sed hoc tamen et ipsa persuasum habeat et aliis persuadeat voluimus nihil postulare equestrem ordinem Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)regni nostriPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), quod non ipse prior facere sit paratus. Videtur enim is non recusare, quominus de iuribus suis et libertatibus nonnihil decedat, dummodo et alii populi nobis subiecti idem facere animum inducant. Quod si abhorrere ab ea ratione viderint et ipsi futuri sunt, ab eo, quod illis facere propositum erat, alieniores. Nova vero haec est defendendorum iurium et libertatum ratio, sedendo et quiescendo tueri eas velle, si praesertim non quiescat interim hostis atque omnia faciat, ut cum iuribus et libertatibus et fortunas et vitam etiam ipsam eripiat. Qui vere sunt libertatis amatores, iis non modo facultates, sed semper etiam spiritus ipse vilis est, dum eam tueantur et conservent. Nunc servitus existimatur admovere manus, ut ne quis praedae sit hostibus et non illud interim metuitur, ne sedendo et quiescendo in perpetuam servitutem homines abducantur. Quasi vero in eo sit servitus, si quis et suam et legitimi domini sui vitam, incolumitatem et fortunas tueatur et non in hoc potius, si cum parentibus liberi capiantur et in perpetuam servitutem abducantur.

Quod ne fiat, periculum est, nisi coniunctis viribus hostium vi atque potentiae resistere conati fuerimus. Dissipatos enim et dispersos quam in unum collectos superare facilius est. Atque haec fuit maxime causa, quamobrem equestri ordini regni nostri assensi sumus, ut comitia extra ordinem ediceremus et nuntium ad ea nostrum mitteremus. Porro vim adhibere cuiquam, ut se fortunasque suas salvas esse velit neque moris nostri est neque praesentis instituti, officio nostro functi videmur, cum rationem ostendimus hominibus nostris, qua iura, privilegia, libertates, fortunas etiam et incolumitatem tueri possint, quam si illis amplecti visum non est, ipsi viderint. Haec nos ideo Paternitati Vestrae scripsimus, ut quibuscum visum esset, ea communicaret, ac ostendere voluimus non privatum nos nostrum, sed commune omnium, qui sunt dicionis nostrae populorum commodum secutos, dum nuntium ad haec comitia mitteremus.

Bene valeat Paternitas Vestra.

Ex commissione propria regiae maiestatis