Letter #717
Karel UUTENHOVE to Ioannes DANTISCUSs.l., 1531-11-28
English register:
It is impossible for Uutenhove to reciprocate Dantiscus' kindness and humanity. Dantiscus not only deigned to include such a worthless fellow as Uutenhove in his circle of friends, but he even took the trouble of sending him his greetings and also a copy of his Victoria Serenissimi Poloniae Regis. This is for Uutenhove the most precious gift, as he has an enormous sympathy for the Poles and feels drawn to them.
The interests of the Christian religion should be a priority, but the way the Christian princes neglect these interests makes him fear the Turks will take advantage of this carelessness to conquer and oppress their countries, and they will only become aware of their negligence when it is too late. He does not elaborate further on this theme because it is not safe to express one's opinion.
Of the copies Dantiscus sent him, he gave one to Willem De Waele, one to the Lord Secretary [Omaar van Edingen] and one to the high-bailiff [Frans van der Gracht]. He kept the fourth copy for himself. Everybody was extremely pleased with this gift. He has conveyed Dantiscus' greetings to the high-bailiff and the bailiff [Arendt Sturm] and to Iodoca, Livina, and to his own sister; they all greet him back. Their buffoon Robbius, who carries this letter, wants to be recommended. Being versed in both languages, endowed with a remarkable modesty and a close friend of Uutenhove, he will be a pleasant guest.
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendo in Christo Patri ac Domino, domino Ioanni Dantisco episcopo Culmensi, regis Polonorum apud caesarem oratori etc.
Tornaci
Salutem plurimam.
Tuam benevolentiam atque humanitatem erga me talem ac tantam, ornatissime Praesul, experior, ut existimem nullis aut officiis, aut obsequiis me satisfacere posse. Quantum enim illud est, quod me, nugonem talem, tuo diario ac tuorum numero asscribere haud dedignatus es et (quod inter tot negotia tua tibi rarum ac difficile esse arbitror) litteris etiam salutare subinde non es gravatus, ac iampridem misisti ad me cum litteris epistulam quandam tuam typis excusam de victoria regis Polonorum adversus Turcas(!), mihi quidem gratissimis tuis litteris multo gratiorem, vel hac potissimum de causa, quod impense faveam Polonis quodque semper horum fuerim studiosissimus ac, nescio quo pacto, iis coniunctior.
Certe potior causa esse debeat Christianae religionis utilitas, et esset sane, si cernerem hac occasione aliquid generosioris animi principibus Christianis accrescere. Verum cum video nostros adeo desides ac segnes, ut his nihil moveantur sintque in adversis ac prosperis aeque negligentes, vehementer vereor, ne Turca nostram hanc perpendens socordiam, animos suscipiat atque ita nos invadat copiosissimaque sua manu s<tr>ingat, ut tandem et sero, misere nos nobis defuisse perpendamus. At nolo iam hoc in argumento diutius persistere, scio enim, quam nihil hodie sit tutum proloqui, quamque omni sub lapide (ut in proverbio est) dormiat scorpio, sed haec fortassis apud te licuerunt.
Ex libellis, quos ad me misisti, unum misi ad dominum Gulielmum a Wale, alterum ad dominum scribam, tertium ad praetorem summum, quartum mihi servavi. Fuit omnibus istis mea haec donatio, quinimo tua, multo gratissima, utrumque praetorem salutavi diligenter tuis verbis, nec minus nymphas nostras Iodocam ac Livinam cum sorore nostra, quae omnes multipliciter auctam salutem tibi reddunt.
Commendat se tibi quam officiosissime satyrus noster Robbius, qui has tibi reddet. Iuvenis est utraque li<n>gua doctus ac mira modestia praeditus, mihique summa familiaritate coniunctus, quare hunc gratissimum tibi hospitem fore nihil dubito.
Ex tempore, ut vides, quarto Calend{i}as Decembres anno M D XXXI.
Tuus, si suus, Carolus Utenhoveus