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Letter #674

Karel UUTENHOVE to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Ghent (Gandavum), 1531-08-25

English register:

Since Uutenhove can no longer meet Dantiscus in person, he is communicating with him by letter, although he is far more hesitant to write to him than to speak with him. They have had many pleasant conversations, but he fears that his writing lacks refinement and erudition. He trusts that Dantiscus, in his benevolence, will overlook this.

Furthermore, it is his great affection for Dantiscus which has incited him to write a letter.

He does not want Dantiscus to forget him, now that they no longer meet. His familiarity with Dantiscus is most precious to him, and he is hopeful that Dantiscus will perpetuate this pleasure.

He and Robbius lead a pleasant life, with frequent drinking, songs and jokes, not unlike Penelope's suitors. They often visit Jooozijne and Lynken, the daughters of the bailiff, who do not cease to reminisce about Dantiscus. Their parents also are attached to him, and they all convey their greetings. Willem De Waele, Nicolaus Uutenhove and the buffoon Robbius also recommend themselves to Dantiscus. Uutenhove’s sister sends him her respectful greetings. He asks for one more favour: whenever Dantiscus happens to meet someone who is being sent to the court of the Turkish Sultan [Suleiman the Magnificent], he should inform him and help him to join this embassy.

Uutenhove will perform any service for Dantiscus with the greatest pleasure. In a postscript he asks Dantiscus to convey his greetings to De Schepper and Gemma Frisius, and to reward the bearer of his letter with a drink.




Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 50 + f. [1] missed in numbering after f. 50
2copy in Latin, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8242 (TK 4), a. 1531, f. 76
3register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 31, No. 241

Prints:
1DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 156, p. 95 (English register; excerpt)
2CEID 2/2 (Appendix No. 7) p. 606-609 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissimo in Christo Patri, 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⌋, regis [P]oloniae apud 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⌊caesaremCharles 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⌋ [ora]tori, episcopo [Culm]ensi etc.

Brussels (Bruxellae), city in the Low Countries, Duchy of Brabant, since the regency of Mary of Hungary the capital of the Habsburg Netherlands, today the capital of Belgium⌊BruxellisBrussels (Bruxellae), city in the Low Countries, Duchy of Brabant, since the regency of Mary of Hungary the capital of the Habsburg Netherlands, today the capital of Belgium⌋

Salutem plurimam.

Quandoquidem tecum coram agendi mihi potestas non integra fuit, 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⌊DantisceIoannes 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⌋ clarissime, id (etsi verecundius paulo) litteris tamen agere constitui. Et quamquam, veluti in proverbio est, cf. Cic. Fam. 5.12.1 epistula enim non erubescit ⌊epistulam non erubescerecf. Cic. Fam. 5.12.1 epistula enim non erubescit ⌋, puduit me tamen longe magis litteris nunc tecum agere, quam coram fecisset(!) verbis. Primum, quod illud mihi insolitum erat et antehac numquam tentatum, praesens vero, quae tua benignitas fuit, tecum persaepe locutus sum et suavitas atque amoenitas illa tui vultus nonnihil mihi animi addere solet. Tum verebar quoque, num satis ex urbanitate esset talem nugonem ad tam dignum atque cf. V. Max. 2.10.8.13-14 omnibus numeris perfecta virtus; V. Max. 8.15.2.5-6 omnibus numeris virtutis divitem magisque suo merito quam fortunae beneficio magnum ⌊omnibus numeris absolutum virumcf. V. Max. 2.10.8.13-14 omnibus numeris perfecta virtus; V. Max. 8.15.2.5-6 omnibus numeris virtutis divitem magisque suo merito quam fortunae beneficio magnum ⌋ litteras dare, praesertim barbaras ac nihil fere aulicae civilitatis redolentes. Tuae tamen humanitati ac facilitati, optime Praesul, tantum tribuo, ut non dubitem, quin haec, qualiaqualia sint, ab amico homine amice sis accepturus.

Porro, quod incredibilis ille meus in te animus tibi nunc voluit, breve est et fortassis non magni momenti, certe parvi momenti, si haec: amicitia, observant[ia], caritas parva existimanda sunt. Verebar etenim, ne haec corporis disiunctio ac muta absentia profundam tui Caroli tibi oblivionem induceret. Huic itaque malo ocius litteris succurrendum putavi, nam tantum sane huic tribuo notitiae, quam tecum contraxi, ut nullius umquam magis exsultarim aut mihi placuerim et, quae mea simplicitas est, non prorsus me a te contemni mihi persuadeo. Quo suavissimo deliramento ut diutius mihi frui liceat, tu fac ac serio annitere, nam hac re plurimum felicitatis addideris mihi et tibi nihil incommodaveris.

De iis rebus, quae apud nos aguntur, nescio, quod scribere debeam. Omnes recte valemus. Iacobus Robbius Aldenardus a scribe, probably employed at the Council of Flanders, possibly also a secretary of Karel Uutenhove⌊RobbiusIacobus Robbius Aldenardus a scribe, probably employed at the Council of Flanders, possibly also a secretary of Karel Uutenhove⌋ noster atque ego suavissimam hic vitam agimus, pe <r> petui sumus in compotatiunculis, in cantionibus, in lusibus, iocis ac strenuae Penelope wife of Odysseus, famous for conjugal faithfulness⌊PenelopisPenelope wife of Odysseus, famous for conjugal faithfulness⌋ sponsos agimus. Subinde invisimus filias illas Arendt Sturm (*ca. 1466 – †after 1546), he belonged to a patrician family, of which several members held offices in the city magistrate; he was Dantiscus' host when he stayed in Ghent in 1531; under-bailiff in Ghent (L'ESPINOY, p. 190)⌊praetorisArendt Sturm (*ca. 1466 – †after 1546), he belonged to a patrician family, of which several members held offices in the city magistrate; he was Dantiscus' host when he stayed in Ghent in 1531; under-bailiff in Ghent (L'ESPINOY, p. 190)⌋ Joozijne, daughter of Arendt STURM (Iodoca), sister of Lyncken; married Philips van Overbeke, member of the Council of Flanders 1547-1551⌊IodocamJoozijne, daughter of Arendt STURM (Iodoca), sister of Lyncken; married Philips van Overbeke, member of the Council of Flanders 1547-1551⌋ ac Lyncken, daughter of Arendt STURM ⌊LinkinLyncken, daughter of Arendt STURM ⌋, quae numquam cessant tui mentionem facere, cuius parentes quoque tui sane amantissimi sunt, qui omnes tibi plurimam salutem imprecantur. Cupiverant etiam vehementer tibi commendari dominus Willem de Waele (Gulielmus à Wala), Lord of Hansbeke, a prominent citizen of Ghent (ALLEN, 2, p. 6)⌊Gulielmus a WaleWillem de Waele (Gulielmus à Wala), Lord of Hansbeke, a prominent citizen of Ghent (ALLEN, 2, p. 6)⌋ dominus scriba, cognatus meus Nicolaas Uutenhove (Utenhove) (*1499? – †1549), first cousin of Karel Uutenhove; from 1529 Councillor of the Council of Flanders, from 1547 Councillor of the Grand Council of Mechelen (CE, vol. 3, 363-364)⌊Nicolaus UtenhoviusNicolaas Uutenhove (Utenhove) (*1499? – †1549), first cousin of Karel Uutenhove; from 1529 Councillor of the Council of Flanders, from 1547 Councillor of the Grand Council of Mechelen (CE, vol. 3, 363-364)⌋ et noster infacete facetus Iacobus Robbius Aldenardus a scribe, probably employed at the Council of Flanders, possibly also a secretary of Karel Uutenhove⌊RobbiusIacobus Robbius Aldenardus a scribe, probably employed at the Council of Flanders, possibly also a secretary of Karel Uutenhove⌋. Ad{d}erat quoque mihi tum forte, cum haec scriberem, Iodoca, sister of Karel UUTENHOVE ⌊sororIodoca, sister of Karel UUTENHOVE ⌋ mea, quae me interpellavit, ut tibi, quam possim officiosissime, suis verbis salutem adscriberem.

Quod reliquum est, hoc unum vehementer a te contendo, ut, si forte aliquando istic reperiatur, qui in aulam Suleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire⌊imperatoris TurcarumSuleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire⌋ proficiscatur, id mihi indicare velis ac manum (quod aiunt) praebere iuvareque, ut una proficisci liceat, nam animus meus hoc avidissime cupit. Hoc enim officio gratificaveris mihi, ut qui maxime. Quod autem ad me attinet, si quid esset obsequii, quod Tuae Dignitati exhiberi possim, id non libenter modo, sed summo etiam cum gaudio fecero, hic enim Carolus, quantus est, in tuo officio ac potestate est.

Bene vale, clarissime ac doctissime Praesul.

Postscript:

Non gravaberis, si istic sit, salutare meis verbis et diligenter, et ex animo, dominum Cornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌊Duplicium ScepperumCornelis De Schepper (Cornelius Scepperus, Cornelis De Dobbele, Cornelius Duplicius) (*1503 – †1555), erudite, diplomat in the Habsburgs' service; close friend of Ioannes Dantiscus; initially in the service of Christian II of Oldenburg, King of Denmark; 1526 secretary and councillor to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (CE, vol. 3, p. 218-220; DE VOCHT 1961, p. 15-24)⌋. Gemma Frisius (Jemme Reinerszoon) (*1508 – †1555), Netherlandish leading theoretical mathematician and practicing physician in Louvain, scholar, and tutor of Gerardus Mercator, studied medicine, mathematics and astronomy at the University in Louvain (1526), where he became a professor of medicine and mathematics, he applied his mathematical expertise to geography, astronomy and map making (HALLYN; VAN ORTROY)⌊GemmamGemma Frisius (Jemme Reinerszoon) (*1508 – †1555), Netherlandish leading theoretical mathematician and practicing physician in Louvain, scholar, and tutor of Gerardus Mercator, studied medicine, mathematics and astronomy at the University in Louvain (1526), where he became a professor of medicine and mathematics, he applied his mathematical expertise to geography, astronomy and map making (HALLYN; VAN ORTROY)⌋ quoque vehementer optarim meis verbis salutatum. Hunc, qui has ad te fert, ut uno atque altero cyathulo suaviter excipias, peto, est enim mihi summa familiaritate coniunctus, quare illi bene volo.