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Letter #5817

Marco de la TORRE, Francesco LISMANINO & Cracow Franciscan Convent Chapter to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Cracow (Kraków), 1539-12-04

English register:

Marco de la Torre, commissioner of the Order of Friars Minor in Poland, Bohemia and Austria, and Francis Lismanin, master (magister) of the same order, and members of the Franciscan chapter in Cracow, have found out from the father custodian of the reformers that Dantiscus has let himself be embroiled in an absurd conflict between the reformers and the Bernardine Observants. Namely, he has ordered the reformers to choose between leaving his diocese and submitting to Observant rule.

They present the relevant legal regulations (instituta nostra, bulla concordiae) on the coexistence of three branches of the Franciscan Order: conventual Franciscans, Bernardine monks, and reformers, and humbly ask that Dantiscus withdraw his directives.


            received 1540-01-29

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, BCz, 403, p. 627-628
2copy in Latin, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8243 (TK 5), a.1539, f. 47-48

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine observandissime.

Post nostrarum orationum devotum obsequium ac perpetuam felicitatem etc.

Cuperemus alacriorem de propulsando Vestram Reverendissimam Paternitatem nostris litteris nobis offerri occasionem, sed quia nostris iniqua fortuna adversante votis alio ducimur, quam vellemus, propterea desiderio nostro satisfacere nequivimus.

Quandoquidem relatum est nobis per venerabilem patrem custodem de familia reformatorum, praesentium exhibitorem, nomine suo et suorum fratrum Vestram Reverendissimam Paternitatem importuna quadam quorundam fratrum bernardinorum de observantia nuncupatorum instantia ad ea contra fratres reformatos agenda inductam et tractam, quae certe non tantum facto, sed auditu (cum contra omne fas et iustitiam divinam et humanam legem ac pietatem ex diametro videntur militare) absurda sunt. Nam adactos esse inquit praefatus custos fratres reformatos in ditione Paternitatis Vestrae Reverendissimae de duobus alterum eligere, aut ex propriis et nativis laribus migrare, aut sub moderatione et regimine praedictorum fratrum de observantia tamquam sub praelatis canonice institutis in suis monasteriis degendo militare, quae disiunctiva cum magnum gravamen praedictorum reformatorum procul dubio cedat, non est integrum eis nec ad unam, nec ad alteram partem animum flectere, praesertim cum institutis nostris et bullae concordiae inter ambas partes initae adversetur et contraveniat. Nec dubitandum est, quin in excommunicationis sententiam utraque pars incideret, cum statuti sunt termini per summos pontifices, quos transgredi non licet absque illaqueatione conscientiae dispensatione apostolica semota.

Qua enim conscientia, Reverendissime Domine, bernardinis intrusis in domos eis apostolica auctoritate prohibitas, tamquam nostri ordinis canonicis praelatis reformati degerent. Sunt enim conventualium bernardinorum et reformatorum, Reverendissime Domine, ut ad amusim et exacte Vestra Reverendissima Paternitas novit, sicut distincta loca, ita et distincti praelati, quorum iurisdictio suis finibus, quos transgredi nequeunt, est circumscripta. Cum igitur ita sit instantius, quo possumus, genibus cordis et corporis flexis Vestram Reverendissimam Paternitatem hortamur et obsecramus, nolit nobis iugum inconsuetum imponere, quod numquam patres nostri portaverunt, permittereque, ut hactenus in nostris conventibus pacifice et quiete vivere possimus nostramque iurisdictionem apostolica auctoritate exacte munitam distrahi et turbari, quia ecclesiasticus ordo confunditur, si sua unicuique iursidictio non servatur, pro eius innata pietate singularique virtute non sinat, factura rem Domino Deo omnium retributori bonorum gratam ac commendatione et maximo praeconio laudum penes principes et heroes, qui huius durae imminentis istic servitutis nobis compatiuntur, dignam.

Quam Dominus Deus Optimus Maximus cum fortunato omnium rerum suarum successu sua infinita pietate diutissime servare dignetur.

Eiusdem Vestrae Reverendissimae Paternitatis obsequentissimus frater Marco de la Torre (Marcus Venetus) (†1545), doctor of theology, professor at the Cracow University (1519), confessor of Queen Bona Sforza (since ca. 1521); since 1517 or 1518 till 1538 Provincial of the Franciscan Order in Poland; since 1517 or 1518 till 1545 - Commissar-General; probably since 1537 also in Silesia, Bohemia, Austria and Prussia (POCIECHA 2, p. 67-76; KANTAK 2016, p. 27-53)⌊Marcus a TurriMarco de la Torre (Marcus Venetus) (†1545), doctor of theology, professor at the Cracow University (1519), confessor of Queen Bona Sforza (since ca. 1521); since 1517 or 1518 till 1538 Provincial of the Franciscan Order in Poland; since 1517 or 1518 till 1545 - Commissar-General; probably since 1537 also in Silesia, Bohemia, Austria and Prussia (POCIECHA 2, p. 67-76; KANTAK 2016, p. 27-53)⌋ Venetus, provinciarum Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌊PoloniaePoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌋, Bohemia (Čechy, Kingdom of Bohemia), country in central Europe⌊BohemiaeBohemia (Čechy, Kingdom of Bohemia), country in central Europe⌋ ac Austria⌊AustriaeAustria⌋ The Franciscans (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) ⌊ordinis minorumThe Franciscans (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) ⌋ commissarius 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⌊sacrae reginalis maiestatisBona 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⌋ confessor, et frater Francesco Lismanino (*1504 – †1566), doctor of theology and professor at the Cracow University; studied in Cracow and Padua; in years 1553-1555 traveled across Europe; during his stay in Geneva he met John Calvin, and, on his suggestion, married French patrician Claudia; in 1556 came back to Poland where acted as a Protestant reformer; 1538-1554 provincial of the Franciscan Order in Poland; 1545-1555/1556 - Comissar-General in Poland, Lithuania and Bohemia; confessioner of Queen Bona Sforza (PSB 17, p. 465-470; KANTAK 2016, p. 55-72)⌊Franciscus LismaninusFrancesco Lismanino (*1504 – †1566), doctor of theology and professor at the Cracow University; studied in Cracow and Padua; in years 1553-1555 traveled across Europe; during his stay in Geneva he met John Calvin, and, on his suggestion, married French patrician Claudia; in 1556 came back to Poland where acted as a Protestant reformer; 1538-1554 provincial of the Franciscan Order in Poland; 1545-1555/1556 - Comissar-General in Poland, Lithuania and Bohemia; confessioner of Queen Bona Sforza (PSB 17, p. 465-470; KANTAK 2016, p. 55-72)⌋ Corcirius magister cum toto capitulo patrum et fratrum Cracoviensis conventus etc.