» 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 #543

Bona Sforza to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Cracow (Kraków), 1530-09-08
            received Augsburg, [1530]-10-05

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, author's signature, BCz, 3465, p. 41-46
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 284, No. 42, p. 130-134

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8242 (TK 4), a.1530, f. 66

Prints:
1AT 12 No. 277, p. 255-257 (in extenso)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

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 AragonBonaBona 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 Dei gratia regina Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)PoloniaePoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), magna dux LithuaniaLituaniaeLithuania, Rus (Russia)RussiaeRus (Russia) totiusque 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 ac 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. domina

Reverende in Christo Pater, sincere nobis dilecte.

Profectus est hinc ultima mensis praeteriti in Italy (Italia)ItaliamItaly (Italia) et ad Bari (Barium, Status Barensis), duchy in southern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, Bari was a hereditary country of Queen Bona of PolandDucatum nostrum BarensemBari (Barium, Status Barensis), duchy in southern Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, Bari was a hereditary country of Queen Bona of Poland magnificus et spectabilis Lodovico Alifio (*1499 – †1543), chancellor of Queen Bona Sforza; 1523-1537 Cracow burgrave; from 1523 royal secretary; governor of Bari and Rossano (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 246; Urzędnicy 4/2, p. 210)Ludovicus AliphiusLodovico Alifio (*1499 – †1543), chancellor of Queen Bona Sforza; 1523-1537 Cracow burgrave; from 1523 royal secretary; governor of Bari and Rossano (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 246; Urzędnicy 4/2, p. 210), burgrabius Cracoviensis, serenissimi 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 AustriaregisSigismund 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 domini et coniugis nostri colendissimi atque noster orator, in certis negotiis illic per eum obeundis. Volumus itaque, ut Strenuitas Tua apud sacram Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castilecaesaream et catholicam maiestatemCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile litteras expediat ad illustrem viceregem Naepolitanum et concilium collaterale, quatenus in omnibus negotiis, quae regio et nostro nomine proposuerit, cum iusta et honesta sint, omnem favorem et benevolentiam exhibeant et illi assistant, alias quo meliori forma litterae expediri possint, expediantur, rem nobis factura Strenuitas pergratam, quam illius discretioni committimus.

Ceterum nuper allatae sunt nobis litterae ex Italia ab agentibus et officialibus nostris Neapolitanis, quibus inter alia scribunt illustrem marchionem Delgvasto obtinuisse a sacra caesarea et catholica maiestate dominium illustris marchionis de Monte Sarchio, illustrem vero ducem Malphe obtinuisse relaxationem solutionis fiscalis ad sacram caesaream maiestatem ex illius bonis pertinentis, ac etiam officium, quod vulgo dicitur iusticier, durante vita sua et unius heredis sui, et plerique alii pro officiis et servitiis suis remunerationem acceperunt. Nos vero, quae et antea et istis perturbatis temporibus multa servitia illius sacrae maiestati impendimus, nempe a mense Maii usque ad festum Nativitatis Domini [anni] praeteriti viginti quinque milia ducatorum ex ducatu nostro Barensi expendimus praeter alia exposita anni istius, de quibus nobis thesaurarius noster calculum adhuc non misit, ad haec permisimus magnificum Scipionem de Summa aliosque officiales et gentem nostram versari in exercitu caesareae maiestatis sumptibus nostris, unde officiales suae maiestatis, imprimis memoratus illustris marchio Delgvasto, illustris Alarcon, et comes Borelli, aliique milites in civitatem nostram Barensem fuerant suscepti et expensis nostris provisi, ac muneribus expleti, civesque nostri et milites, immo omnes civitates nostrae peste ab illis fuerant infectae, nam in civitate nostra Barensi tantummodo ad mensem Maii praeteriti octo milia hominum peste absumpti sunt, exceptis hominibus aliarum civitatum nostrarum, de quorum numero mortuorum nondum redditae sumus certiores. Nemo igitur non intellig[it, nos] maximam non pati iacturam tam in hominibus annuisque proventibus n[ostris quam]que in expositis huiusmodi, tamen a sacra caesarea maiestate pro meritis nostris ac [damnis] nedum gratiam aut aliquam remunerationem consequi, sed et nostris p[ropriis] libere et pacifice perfrui non possumus. Multo maiorem felicis recorda[tionis] avus suae maiestatis habuit rationem bonae memoriae illustrissimae matris nostrae servi[tiorum], nempe sacra illius maiestas pro servitio tempore belli, quod parvo tempore [duravit], exhibito, duo castra illustritati suae concesserat, nostrorum vero meritorum, qu[ae maior]a sunt, et damnorum nulla fere habetur ratio. Proinde curet Strenuitas Tua [ea omnia] sacrae illius maiestati caesareae deducere et in nostris negotiis, quae ad plenum iam cog[novit], votivam expeditionem obtinere.

Praeterea venturus est ad curiam sacrae caesareae maiestatis magnificus Scipio de Summa, [sicut] ex Tuae Strenuitatis et aliorum officialium nostrorum litteris cognovimus, ut notam illi in[ustam] deleret et innocentiam suam declararet, qui asserit a Tua Strenuitate se fuisse accu[satum]. Licet autem sciamus Strenuitatem Tuam ab ea culpa immunem esse, ut ex litteris Strenuitatis[ Tuae appa]ret, vellemus tamen, ut se illi iustificet et officiales caesareae maiestatis verum [fate]antur, ut enim nos illi id inferre numquam cogitavimus, ita et Strenuitatem Tuam ha... fecisse certo nobis persuademus et Strenuitas Tua claro vultu cum illo loquat[ur, ne] tam ipse quamque suus frater magnificus Sigismundus de Lofredo, vir auctorita[te sua] in Neapoli regno valens, aliquam de nobis aut de Tua Strenuitate haberent [suspi]cionem, neve ob hoc quippiam sinistri adversus dominia et negotia nostra [moli]rentur, nam et in illa adoha dimissa, pro qua Strenuitas Tua litteras sacrae caesareae m[aiestatis ad] concilium collaterale misit, habemus difficultatem. Vult enim concilium co[llaterale] illa gratia suis quibusdam inventionibus nos privare et adoham [omnino] exigere.

Audimus nonnullos ambire nominationem nostram apud Strenuitatem Tuam ad ecc[lesiam] Cracoviensem. Hortamur Strenuitatem Tuam, ut de hac nominatione nemini cedat, [sed] ad reditum suum ad nos differat rem ipsam, ubi de illa latius confe[remus], quandoquidem illam favere alicui etiam non posset sine scientia [et vo]luntate nostra.

Reliqua omnia committimus fidei, prudentiae et diligentiae Strenuitatis Tuae, quam bene valere optamus.

Bona regina subscripsit

Postscript:

Cum iam istas obsignari fecimus, supervenerunt nobis cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Bona Sforza Augsburg, 1530-08-12, CIDTC IDL 6741, letter lostlitteraecf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Bona Sforza Augsburg, 1530-08-12, CIDTC IDL 6741, letter lost Strenuitatis Tuae ex Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, BavariaAugustaAugsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria, 1530-08-1212 mensis Augusti1530-08-12, quae nobis pergratae fuere, partim quod ea, quae apud curiam caesaris acta sunt, intelleximus, partim quod Strenuitatem Tuam nullam ad nos scribendi opportunitatem intermittere cognovimus. Curabimus hoc studium Strenuitatis Tuae cumulatiore gratia nostra referre.

Quid agere debeat Strenuitas Tua cum Scipione de Summa, ex litteris istis intelliget, nos et Strenuitas Tua accusationis et delationis suae non sumus causa, sed opera ipsius illum manifestum facient. Quomodo in curia acceptus sit, dum venerit, et quorsum haec tragoedia procedet, per primum nuntium reddat nos certiores Strenuitas Tua litteris suis, tametsi iam nonnihil speremus secutum iri, ut ex litteris istis Strenuitatis Tuae ultimis et verbis domini Valdesii licet intelligere. Faciunt id nonnulli inimici sui, illis imputet.

Dabit operam Strenuitas Tua, ut indultum in meliori forma expediat magnifico Ludovico Aliphio, cancellario nostro et oratori, illudque quamprimum Venetias in manus Ioannis Iacobi de Dugnao transmittat, sicut idem magnificus Ludovicus Aliphius antea Strenuitatis Tuae scripsit.

Jan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)Ioannes LeviciusJan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97) forsan iam non veniet ad curiam Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of CastilecaesarisCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, nam si illum magnificus Lodovico Alifio (*1499 – †1543), chancellor of Queen Bona Sforza; 1523-1537 Cracow burgrave; from 1523 royal secretary; governor of Bari and Rossano (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 246; Urzędnicy 4/2, p. 210)Ludovicus AliphiusLodovico Alifio (*1499 – †1543), chancellor of Queen Bona Sforza; 1523-1537 Cracow burgrave; from 1523 royal secretary; governor of Bari and Rossano (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 246; Urzędnicy 4/2, p. 210) Venice (Venezia, Venetiae), city in northeastern Italy, capital of the Republic of VeniceVenetiisVenice (Venezia, Venetiae), city in northeastern Italy, capital of the Republic of Venice invenerit, faciet eum recta ad nos redire, quem iam pro solutione debiti et pro viatico providimus, itaque litteras remissionis adohae, et quicquid erit expeditionum nostrarum, non per illum, sed per aliquem Bernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau

Georg von Höfen (Georg Flachsbinder, Georgius de Curiis) (†after 1550-02-07), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother; Starosta of Rössel (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 584, 586, 588; AGAD, MK, 77, f. 385-386v)
fratremBernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau

Georg von Höfen (Georg Flachsbinder, Georgius de Curiis) (†after 1550-02-07), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother; Starosta of Rössel (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 584, 586, 588; AGAD, MK, 77, f. 385-386v)
suum nobis Strenuitas Tua transmittat, et pergratum nobis esset, si expeditionem Montis Sericoi per eundem fratrem suum nobis miserit.

Contulimus cum sacra 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 Austriamaiestate 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 de stipendio Strenuitatis Tuae, quod omnino extradetur, cumprimum redierit huc magnificus regni nostri probably Krzysztof Szydłowiecki (*1466 – †1532), one of the most trusted advisors of the King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1497-1507 Marshal of the court of prince Sigismund Jagiellon, Cracow master of pantry; 1507-1510 court treasurer; 1509 castellan of Sandomierz; 1511 Vice-Chancellor of the Crown; 1515 - grand chancellor; 1515-1527 Voivode of Cracow; 1515 - Starost; 1527-1532 - Castellanthesaurariusprobably Krzysztof Szydłowiecki (*1466 – †1532), one of the most trusted advisors of the King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1497-1507 Marshal of the court of prince Sigismund Jagiellon, Cracow master of pantry; 1507-1510 court treasurer; 1509 castellan of Sandomierz; 1511 Vice-Chancellor of the Crown; 1515 - grand chancellor; 1515-1527 Voivode of Cracow; 1515 - Starost; 1527-1532 - Castellan, et de expeditione litterarum regiae maiestatis in urbem Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy SeeRomamRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the Tiber river, seat of the Holy See super taxa Kulm diocese (Chełmno diocese)episcopatus CulmensisKulm diocese (Chełmno diocese)Kulm diocese (Chełmno diocese)Kulm diocese (Chełmno diocese) agere non praetermittemus.

De omnibus rebus, quae in curia caesaris emerserint et quid de novo vicerege statutum sit, reddat nos certiores Strenuitas Tua per omnem occurrentem.

Cumprimum ex Prussia rediit ad nos Fabianus, aulicus noster, dedimus illi litteras Strenuitatis Tuae, quem iterum illuc remittere non opus erat. Causam huius et omnia negotia sua ex litteris ipsius intelliget Strenuitas Tua.

Bona regina subscripsit