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Letter #5746

Alfonso de VALDÉS to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Palencia, [1527]-09-24

English register:

Valdés is happy that Dantiscus has recovered. Despite his expectations, Alexander [von Schweiß?] has not gained anything from the master of Nassau. Valdés encourages Dantiscus, if he comes to Palencia, not to stay at an inn, inviting him to his own quarters instead. Even the exceptionally foresighted envoy from Portugal [...] was unable to get lodgings with the emperor. Valdés assures Dantiscus that he had no problems after the last time Dantiscus stayed with him. He hasn’t had a letter from the chancellor [Mercurino Gattinara]. The chancellor was supposed to reach Saragossa last Monday [September 23], so he cannot be expected sooner than in 8-10 days. Valdés has decided to stay in Palencia until the following Sunday or Monday in anticipation of news from the chancellor. He will let Dantiscus know what should be done. Not very reliable news has come from Hungary that the voivod [János Szapolyai] has been defeated and Buda captured by the [Archduke] Ferdinand. Everyone is expecting a peace treaty [between the empire and France], but Valdés doesn’t expect it to happen quickly. He sends greetings from the host [himself?] and John.


            received Paredes de Nava, [1527]-09-24

Manuscript sources:
1copy, 18th-century, BK, 222, No. 55, p. 202-203
2copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 40 (TN), No. 141, p. 589-590
3register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 31, No. 302.42
4lost fair copy in Latin, AAWO, AB, D.130, No. 42

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8245 (TK 7), f. 470

Prints:
1BOEHMER 1899 p. 392-393 (in extenso)
2VALDÉS 1996 Cartas y documentos, No. 31, p. 94-95 (in extenso)
3CEID 2/3 (Letter No. 9) p. 149-152 (in extenso; English register; Polish register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Clarissimo viro, 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⌊Ioanni 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⌋, 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 Austria⌊regis PoloniaeSigismund 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⌋ oratori etc.

Salutem plurimam.

Vir clarissime.

Pristinae valetudini te restitutum gaudeo. Sperabam probably Alexander von Schweiß (†1533-1536), In 1522 he accompanied duke Henry III of Nassau-Breda to the Imperial court in Spain where, in 1523, he was raised to the nobility by Emperor Charles V of Habsburg, in 1529 and 1530 he followed the Imperial court to Italy and to the Diet of Augsburg, where he was appointed to translate the Augsburg Confession into French and to read before the assembly the Catholic "Confutatio" in reply to the confession; in the summer of 1529 he played a prominent role in the litigation between Hesse and Nassau concerning the succession in the county of Katzenelbogen; at least from 1511 secretary to the council of the Landgraviate of Hesse, by 1516 at the latest secretary of duke Henry III of Nassau-Breda, 1524-1533 Imperial secretary (CE, vol. 3, p. 235)⌊Alexandrumprobably Alexander von Schweiß (†1533-1536), In 1522 he accompanied duke Henry III of Nassau-Breda to the Imperial court in Spain where, in 1523, he was raised to the nobility by Emperor Charles V of Habsburg, in 1529 and 1530 he followed the Imperial court to Italy and to the Diet of Augsburg, where he was appointed to translate the Augsburg Confession into French and to read before the assembly the Catholic "Confutatio" in reply to the confession; in the summer of 1529 he played a prominent role in the litigation between Hesse and Nassau concerning the succession in the county of Katzenelbogen; at least from 1511 secretary to the council of the Landgraviate of Hesse, by 1516 at the latest secretary of duke Henry III of Nassau-Breda, 1524-1533 Imperial secretary (CE, vol. 3, p. 235)⌋ aliquid a domino probably Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda (*1483 – †1538), son of Count Johann V of Nassau-Dillenburg and Elisabeth of Hessen, married to Mencia de Mendoza, Marquess of Zenete, daughter and heiress of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar y Mendoza, first Marquis of Zenete; Count of Nassau; from 1499 in the service of Archduke Philip of Habsburg as his advisor and military commander in the wars against France and Gueders (1507, 1514), 1515-1522 Stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland; 1521 Grand Chamberlain of Charles V of Habsburg (from 1522 to 1529 at the Spanish court), in 1530 followed Charles V to the coronation in Bologna, and attended the Diet of Augsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 5)⌊de Nassouprobably Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda (*1483 – †1538), son of Count Johann V of Nassau-Dillenburg and Elisabeth of Hessen, married to Mencia de Mendoza, Marquess of Zenete, daughter and heiress of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar y Mendoza, first Marquis of Zenete; Count of Nassau; from 1499 in the service of Archduke Philip of Habsburg as his advisor and military commander in the wars against France and Gueders (1507, 1514), 1515-1522 Stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland; 1521 Grand Chamberlain of Charles V of Habsburg (from 1522 to 1529 at the Spanish court), in 1530 followed Charles V to the coronation in Bologna, and attended the Diet of Augsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 5)⌋ impetraturum, tamen, ut audio, nihil hactenus factum est. Nosti 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 Castile⌊caesarisCharles 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⌋ naturam. Si decreveris Palencia, city in central Spain, Castile and León, 22 km N of Valladolid, from the 11th century the seat of a bishopric, it flourished economically in the 14th-16th centuries⌊hucPalencia, city in central Spain, Castile and León, 22 km N of Valladolid, from the 11th century the seat of a bishopric, it flourished economically in the 14th-16th centuries⌋ venire, non habita diversorio, vide, ne antiquo hospiti[2] iniuriam facias. Nam si in primo cubiculo lectum tuum collocare nolueris, erit non incommodus locus in secundo, ubi nullus dormit, nec alicui incommodo esse poteris. De impetrando a 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 Castile⌊caesareCharles 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⌋ hospitio, nisi post adventum Mercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌊cancellariiMercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌋, est certe quam minima spes, nam António de Azevedo Coutinho 1525-1529, ambassador of the King of Portugal at the court of the Emperor Charles V (HDE 5, p. 489; http://digitarq.dgarq.gov.pt/details?id=3771920 )⌊orator LusitanusAntónio de Azevedo Coutinho 1525-1529, ambassador of the King of Portugal at the court of the Emperor Charles V (HDE 5, p. 489; http://digitarq.dgarq.gov.pt/details?id=3771920 )⌋, numquam non obtundens caesarem, nihil hactenus impetrare valuit manetque extra oppidum.

A Mercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌊cancellarioMercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌋ nihil habeo litterarum, fertur tamen illum sperasse probably Juan de Aragón (*1492 – †1530), 1520-1530 archbishop of Zaragoza⌊Caesaraugustanusprobably Juan de Aragón (*1492 – †1530), 1520-1530 archbishop of Zaragoza⌋ ad diem Lunae proxime praeteritam, ita ut credam illum ante octo vel decem dies non venturum, ideoque, ni deinceps aliud audiero, decrevi hic manere usque ad diem Dominicum vel Lunae. Quod faciendum erit, in tempore ex me faxo, ut habeas.

Nihil est, quod verearis mihi incommodi futurum, quod tibi hospitium communicaverim. Non tam insaniunt alcaldi nostri. Ego quidem nec verbum ullum de hac re audivi; quodsi ob eam rem aliquid ferendum esset, ferrem equidem animo iucundissimo.

De rebus Ungaricis audivi 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 Habsburg⌊FerdinandumFerdinand 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⌋ nostrum John Zápolya (János Szapolyai) (*1487 – †1540), 1526-1540 King of Hungary; son of István Szapolyai and Jadwiga of Cieszyn in 1540 married Isabella, dauther of of King Sigismund Jagiellon of Poland. He fought against Ferdinand of Habsburg for the right to the title of King of Hungary⌊vayvodamJohn Zápolya (János Szapolyai) (*1487 – †1540), 1526-1540 King of Hungary; son of István Szapolyai and Jadwiga of Cieszyn in 1540 married Isabella, dauther of of King Sigismund Jagiellon of Poland. He fought against Ferdinand of Habsburg for the right to the title of King of Hungary⌋ superasse Buda (Ofen), city in Hungary, on the right bank of the Danube river, which divides Buda from Pest, capital of the Kingdom of Hungary; in 1873 Buda, Pest and Óbuda were unified to become Budapest⌊BudamqueBuda (Ofen), city in Hungary, on the right bank of the Danube river, which divides Buda from Pest, capital of the Kingdom of Hungary; in 1873 Buda, Pest and Óbuda were unified to become Budapest⌋ expugnasse, sed adeo tepide ac frigide mihi relatum est, ut nullam apud me fidem habuerit, aliud certe audivi nihil. Nihil praeterea rerum novarum apud nos est. Omnes avide pacem sperant illamque factam esse multi existimant, ego vero, qui meorum The French ⌊GallorumThe French ⌋ ingenia dolos insidias artesque novi, tantum abest, ut illam factam esse credam, ut quam longissime illam exulantem videam. Sed de his alias verbo tenus latius. probably Alfonso de Valdés (Alphonsus Valdesius) (*1500-1504 – †1532), Spanish humanist, friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, brother of Juan and Diego; from 1520 in the service of the Imperial Chancellor Mercurino Gattinara; 1522 secretary of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg; 1526 Latin secretary (FERNÁNDEZ-SANTAMARÍA, p. 38-48; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 26)⌊Hospes tuusprobably Alfonso de Valdés (Alphonsus Valdesius) (*1500-1504 – †1532), Spanish humanist, friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, brother of Juan and Diego; from 1520 in the service of the Imperial Chancellor Mercurino Gattinara; 1522 secretary of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg; 1526 Latin secretary (FERNÁNDEZ-SANTAMARÍA, p. 38-48; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 26)⌋ una cum tuo probably Juan Saganta till 1532 scribe of Alfonso de Valdés; 1532-1550 secretary of Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle; after 1550 secretary of his son Antoine; served in the imperial chancellery of Charles V and than in the chancellery of the Spanish king Philipp II more than 60 years; mentor of Juan Vicente Peliger, who was an author of Primera y segunda parte del estilo y metodo de escriuir cartas (Madrid 1599) (VALDÉS 1996, No. 107, p. 274-275; PELIGER, Prologo a los aficionados Lectores en esta profesion; BERTOMEU, p. 26, note no. 19)⌊Ioanneprobably Juan Saganta till 1532 scribe of Alfonso de Valdés; 1532-1550 secretary of Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle; after 1550 secretary of his son Antoine; served in the imperial chancellery of Charles V and than in the chancellery of the Spanish king Philipp II more than 60 years; mentor of Juan Vicente Peliger, who was an author of Primera y segunda parte del estilo y metodo de escriuir cartas (Madrid 1599) (VALDÉS 1996, No. 107, p. 274-275; PELIGER, Prologo a los aficionados Lectores en esta profesion; BERTOMEU, p. 26, note no. 19)⌋[3] plurimam tibi salutem mittunt. Vale.

Postscript:

Scribe, an tuis globulis aureis aliquid expiscaveris.

[2 ] Probably Alfonso de Valdés (Alphonsus Valdesius) (*1500-1504 – †1532), Spanish humanist, friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, brother of Juan and Diego; from 1520 in the service of the Imperial Chancellor Mercurino Gattinara; 1522 secretary of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg; 1526 Latin secretary (FERNÁNDEZ-SANTAMARÍA, p. 38-48; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 26)⌊Alfonso de ValdésAlfonso de Valdés (Alphonsus Valdesius) (*1500-1504 – †1532), Spanish humanist, friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam, brother of Juan and Diego; from 1520 in the service of the Imperial Chancellor Mercurino Gattinara; 1522 secretary of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg; 1526 Latin secretary (FERNÁNDEZ-SANTAMARÍA, p. 38-48; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 26)⌋ writes here about himself

[3 ] Alcala has no doubts, that Valdes describes here Isabel Delgada (†after 1546-06-15), Dantiscus' paramour during his stay in Spain, mother of his two children, Juana and Juan (Juan died in childhood)⌊Isabel DelgadaIsabel Delgada (†after 1546-06-15), Dantiscus' paramour during his stay in Spain, mother of his two children, Juana and Juan (Juan died in childhood)⌋ and her and Dantiscusʼ common daughter Juana Dantisca (*1527 – †1601), daughter of Ioannes Dantiscus and Isabel Delgada; wife of Diego Gracián de Alderete (SKOLIMOWSKA 2004, p. 52; LLAMAS 1995; LLAMAS 1999; LLAMAS 2001; LLAMAS, SKOLIMOWSKA; MELGAR, 37, ...)⌊Juana DantiscaJuana Dantisca (*1527 – †1601), daughter of Ioannes Dantiscus and Isabel Delgada; wife of Diego Gracián de Alderete (SKOLIMOWSKA 2004, p. 52; LLAMAS 1995; LLAMAS 1999; LLAMAS 2001; LLAMAS, SKOLIMOWSKA; MELGAR, 37, ...)⌋ as hospes tuus and tuus Ioannes changing the gender from feminine to masculine because of discretion (cf. cf. Alfonso de Valdés, Obra completa, ed. by Ángel Alcalá Galve, Madrid, Biblioteca Castro, 1996 ⌊VALDÉS 1996cf. Alfonso de Valdés, Obra completa, ed. by Ángel Alcalá Galve, Madrid, Biblioteca Castro, 1996 ⌋, p. XXV). Such a constatation however doesnʼt look probable. It seems that Dantiscus didnʼt keep his daughterʼs existence secret. Besides, Isabel didnʼt live in Palencia, city in central Spain, Castile and León, 22 km N of Valladolid, from the 11th century the seat of a bishopric, it flourished economically in the 14th-16th centuries⌊PalenciaPalencia, city in central Spain, Castile and León, 22 km N of Valladolid, from the 11th century the seat of a bishopric, it flourished economically in the 14th-16th centuries⌋, where Valdes stayed, but in Valladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌊ValladolidValladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌋. Taking into account that Valdes invited Dantiscus to stay in his own mansion, one can rather suspect, that Valdes writes jokingly about himself as a hospes of Dantiscus. In such a case tuus Ioannes could be also identified with Juan de Valdés (Ioannes Valdesius) (*1500-1504 – †1541), Spanish humanist and reformer, Erasmus of Rotterdam's correspondent, younger brother of Alfonso and Diego; 1532 papal chamberlain (CREWS, passim)⌊Juan de ValdesJuan de Valdés (Ioannes Valdesius) (*1500-1504 – †1541), Spanish humanist and reformer, Erasmus of Rotterdam's correspondent, younger brother of Alfonso and Diego; 1532 papal chamberlain (CREWS, passim)⌋, a twin brother of Alfonso