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Letter #690

Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Luxembourg, 1531-09-29

English register:

De Schepper thanks Dantiscus for his letter, which comforts him in his isolation. He gives more details on the plague epidemic that struck the city of Luxembourg and the surrounding area. Thanks to the healthier air around the castle, they were spared from infection. According to him poverty is a major cause of the epidemic. After three failed harvests this year there was again a rich harvest. The common people are incapable of dealing with this abundance; for De Schepper and his companions it means they are now well supplied with food and drink. They rarely leave the castle.

De Schepper finds consolation in reading, but he does not manage to write. The letters of the Emperor [Charles V] and of the Lord of Hoogstraten [Antoine de Lalaing] were full of praise for his work, and led him to expect to be recalled at short notice.

De Schepper hopes Dantiscus has transmitted his apologies to his Polish friends for not writing to them. He encloses a letter for his wife [Elisabeth Donche]. There is a shortage of paper. He ends his letter with an anecdote about a strange form of relic worship in the Benedictine abbey of Luxembourg. He interprets this as a symptom of religious decline.


            received Brussels, [1531]-10-03

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 67, f. 82
2register with excerpt in Latin, English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 31, No. 406

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8246 (TK 8), f. 411

Prints:
1DE VOCHT 1961 No. DE, 164, p. 98 (English register; excerpt)
2CEID 2/2 (Letter No. 34) p. 160-163 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

AAWO, AB, D. 67, f. 82v

Reverendissimo in C paper damaged⌈[in C]in C paper damaged⌉hristo Patri et 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⌊domino Io paper damaged⌈[omino Io]omino Io paper damaged⌉anni 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⌋ episcopo Cu paper damaged⌈[Cu]Cu paper damaged⌉lmensi, 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⌊Poloniae regi paper damaged⌈[regi]regi paper damaged⌉sSigismund 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⌋ ad 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⌊caesaream 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⌋ oratori etc. paper damaged⌈[etc.]etc. paper damaged⌉, domino et patri honorandissimo[1]

AAWO, AB, D. 67, f. 82r

Salutem plurimam.

cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Cornelis DE SCHEPPER Brussels, 1531-09-23, CIDTC IDL 6807, letter lost⌊Quascf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Cornelis DE SCHEPPER Brussels, 1531-09-23, CIDTC IDL 6807, letter lost⌋ ad me dedisti XXIII-a huius, eas hac hora accepi. Gratissimae written over um⌈umaeae written over um⌉ vero fuere in hac solitudine, quod ad nos rerum novarum nihil perferatur ob mestum contagionis,[2] quae in Luxembourg (Luxemburg), castle and city in the Duchy of Luxembourg⌊urbeLuxembourg (Luxemburg), castle and city in the Duchy of Luxembourg⌋ hac grassata est hactenus, nunc vero sensim flante Aquilone diminuitur. Proinde longe maximas gratias habeo isti humanitati tuae.

Quod ad nos attinet, in Luxembourg (Luxemburg), castle and city in the Duchy of Luxembourg⌊arceLuxembourg (Luxemburg), castle and city in the Duchy of Luxembourg⌋ sumus eamque tuemur hoc securiores, quod toto tempore, quo multi mortales in urbe et agris interiere, nemo ex iis, qui in arce fuere, aliquod pestis sensit incommodum. Iacet enim in rupe undique exposita ventis, non illam paludes aut lacus circumiacent, sed montes et plana quaedam. Accedit et illud, quod longe maxima contagionis causa a paupertate initium habuit, superiori orig. superiore⌈superiorisuperiori orig. superiore⌉ enim triennio in Duchy of Luxembourg, duchy in the Low Countries, part of the Habsburg Netherlands⌊hoc ducatuDuchy of Luxembourg, duchy in the Low Countries, part of the Habsburg Netherlands⌋ rarissimae sementes factae fuere. Nunc vero damnum id resarcitum est abunde orig. habunde⌈abundeabunde orig. habunde⌉, quo fit, ut vulgus sine iudicio a summa inopia ad rerum abundantiam orig. habundantiam⌈abundantiamabundantiam orig. habundantiam⌉ perveniens rationem in victu non servet. Nos vero huic rei peropportunum remedium nacti sumus, bonis enim cibis vinoque munimur adversus caeli orig. celi⌈caelicaeli orig. celi⌉ inclementiam, si qua est, quod minime arbitramur. Cernere est enim hic volantes milvios et haliaetos orig. halietos⌈haliaetoshaliaetos orig. halietos⌉, quod signum negant contagio affecti aeris esse. Quicquid id est, non egredimur, nisi rarissime, et ego interim cf. Gel. 14.2.1; Adagia 465 Mutos magistros libros prouerbialiter olim nominabant. Docere enim possunt, loqui non possunt. Et qui legendis modo eloquentium scriptis eloquentiam sunt consequuti, ii gloriari possunt se a mutis praeceptoribus dicendi artem didicisse. Aulus Gellius lib. xiiii. ca. ii.: Quoniam vocis (ut dicitur) viuae poenuria erat, ex mutis (quod aiunt) magistris cognoscerem, nimirum libros innuens ⌊solatium ex mutis, quod aiunt, magistriscf. Gel. 14.2.1; Adagia 465 Mutos magistros libros prouerbialiter olim nominabant. Docere enim possunt, loqui non possunt. Et qui legendis modo eloquentium scriptis eloquentiam sunt consequuti, ii gloriari possunt se a mutis praeceptoribus dicendi artem didicisse. Aulus Gellius lib. xiiii. ca. ii.: Quoniam vocis (ut dicitur) viuae poenuria erat, ex mutis (quod aiunt) magistris cognoscerem, nimirum libros innuens ⌋ capio et voluptatem non mediocrem, nam versus scribere vix possum amplius, nescio qua ratione. Volui tamen in gratiam cum Muses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts⌊MusisMuses Greek goddesses of literature and the arts⌋ redire, sed invita Minerva Roman goddess identified with Greek Athena, the goddess of wisdom, law and justice, the arts and war⌊MinervaMinerva Roman goddess identified with Greek Athena, the goddess of wisdom, law and justice, the arts and war⌋.

Exspecto orig. Expecto⌈ExspectoExspecto orig. Expecto⌉ indies revocationem, cuius rei permagnam spem fecere mihi litterae caesarianae et domini Antoine I de Lalaing (*1480 – †1540), second son of Josse de Lalaing, Lord of Montigny; knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1516), one of the most trusted and influential advisors at the court of Margaret of Austria. As the chamberlain of Philip the Handsome, Lalaing accompanied him on his two journeys to Spain (1501, 1506); count of Hoogstraten and Culemborg, 1496 member of the household of Philip the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy, 1501 - his chamberlain, 1513 second chamberlain at the court of Prince Charles (later Emperor Charles V), and a member of his Privy Council, 1515 head of the council of finance, 1522 Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and Frisia and chamberlain at the court of Margaret of Austria, 1530 Stadtholder of the new province of Utrecht (CE, vol. 2, p. 280-282)⌊ab HoochstrateAntoine I de Lalaing (*1480 – †1540), second son of Josse de Lalaing, Lord of Montigny; knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1516), one of the most trusted and influential advisors at the court of Margaret of Austria. As the chamberlain of Philip the Handsome, Lalaing accompanied him on his two journeys to Spain (1501, 1506); count of Hoogstraten and Culemborg, 1496 member of the household of Philip the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy, 1501 - his chamberlain, 1513 second chamberlain at the court of Prince Charles (later Emperor Charles V), and a member of his Privy Council, 1515 head of the council of finance, 1522 Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and Frisia and chamberlain at the court of Margaret of Austria, 1530 Stadtholder of the new province of Utrecht (CE, vol. 2, p. 280-282)⌋, quae fuere perquam benignae, laudantes prudentiam et dexteritatem et si quae alia dici possunt. At praestat orig. prestat⌈praestatpraestat orig. prestat⌉ interim aliquod specimen industriae exhibere, quam in media plebe delitescere, utcumque non sit cum permagno commodo coniuncta provincia. Non dubito, quin litteris tuis apud amicos in Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌊PoloniaPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌋ me excusaveris, quo minus etiam rescripserim, indicaveris. Has autem ad Elisabeth Donche (Anna Isabella Donche, Isabeau) (†1549), from 1528 wife of Cornelis De Schepper, mother of Cornelis Jr and Anne, sister of Joanna Donche (AT 16/1, p. 215)⌊uxoremElisabeth Donche (Anna Isabella Donche, Isabeau) (†1549), from 1528 wife of Cornelis De Schepper, mother of Cornelis Jr and Anne, sister of Joanna Donche (AT 16/1, p. 215)⌋ meam Michiel De Vriendt (Michael Vrindius), oeconomus of Ioannes Dantiscus during his stay at the imperial court in the Netherlands; nephew of Arendt Sturm (CIDTC, IDL 690, IDL 708, IDL 760, IDL 763, IDL 1356, IDL 597, IDL 2989, IDT 176)⌊MichaëliMichiel De Vriendt (Michael Vrindius), oeconomus of Ioannes Dantiscus during his stay at the imperial court in the Netherlands; nephew of Arendt Sturm (CIDTC, IDL 690, IDL 708, IDL 760, IDL 763, IDL 1356, IDL 597, IDL 2989, IDT 176)⌋ tuo tradas, precor[3] et, s written over b⌈bss written over b⌉iquid AAWO, AB, D. 67, f. 82v sit, quod occurrat, scribere non graveris.

Laboramus hic penuria chartae, quo fit, ut brevior esse cogar. Glandium enim feracior est regio haec quam rerum aliarum. Unum vidi, quod referre non pigebit. Est monasterium sub arce Benedictinorum.[4] In templi huius pariete lupatum pendet ferreum et magnum, ad quod osculandum rustici promiscue conveniunt figuntque magna cum veneratione. Monachi lupatum aiunt asini illius esse, cui insedit Virgin Mary mother of Jesus of Nazareth⌊virgo materVirgin Mary mother of Jesus of Nazareth⌋, dum in Egypt (Aegyptus)⌊EgyptumEgypt (Aegyptus)⌋[5] proficisceretur, aut certe illius, qui Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌊Deum written over us⌈usumum written over us⌉Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), in Christianity the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament⌋ Jerusalem (Hierosolyma), city in ancient Palestine, Judean Mountains, 1517-1917 under the rule of Ottoman Empire, today the capital of Israel⌊HierosolymamJerusalem (Hierosolyma), city in ancient Palestine, Judean Mountains, 1517-1917 under the rule of Ottoman Empire, today the capital of Israel⌋ portavit. Feruntur et huius miracula nonnulla. Contra dolores dentium sane aiunt peropportunum esse remedium.[6] Eo res Christiana deducta est paper damaged⌈[t]t paper damaged⌉.

Tu interim rectissime vale et me tibi commendatum habe. Salutat te collega meus.[7]

Eiusdem Reverendissimae Dominationis Tuae humilis inservitor 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)⌊Cornelius Duplicius Scepperus paper damaged⌈[rus]rus paper damaged⌉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)⌋

[1] Missing parts of the address supplied by the editor were written on a lost piece of paper through which the seal was impressed

[2] Outbreak of plague in the duchy and city of Luxembourg, cf. De Schepper’s former letters of September 1531: cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Wallendorf, 1531-09-11, CIDTC IDL 682⌊IDL 682cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Wallendorf, 1531-09-11, CIDTC IDL 682⌋, cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Luxembourg, 1531-09-18, CIDTC IDL 684⌊IDL 684cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Luxembourg, 1531-09-18, CIDTC IDL 684⌋.

[3] Enclosure (not preserved): letter from De Schepper to Elisabeth Donche.

[4] Benedictine abbey of Our Lady (from 1123), known as the Altmünster, founded in 1083 as St. Peter’s Abbey by Count Conrad I of Luxembourg, and destroyed in 1542-1543.

[5] Cf. Mt 2:13-14.

[6] In templi … remedium :note about this strange relic when I find some information!.

[7] Cf. cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Wallendorf, 1531-09-11, CIDTC IDL 682⌊IDL 682cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Wallendorf, 1531-09-11, CIDTC IDL 682⌋, mentioned as dominus vicecomes collega meus; also mentioned in cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Luxembourg, 1531-09-18, CIDTC IDL 684⌊IDL 684cf. Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUS Luxembourg, 1531-09-18, CIDTC IDL 684⌋.