Letter #728
Mark LAURIJN to Ioannes DANTISCUSBruges, 1531-12-17
English register:
Laurijn thanks Dantiscus for his many gifts. He has distributed among his friends the copies of the Victoria Serenissimi Poloniae regis which Dantiscus had sent with an earlier letter, and conveyed Dantiscus’ greetings to them. With another letter that De Schepper’s wife Elisabeth Donche gave to him, he received more copies and, to his great pleasure, a portrait of Dantiscus as well.
In his letter Dantiscus congratulated Laurijn for his safe return from France, where he himself had had an unpleasant experience some 24 years ago, and he advised Laurijn to remain on the side of the Emperor [Charles V], as he had done since that time. Now Laurijn can understand why Dantiscus does not know more French. He extensively refers to years of French attempts to induce him into disloyalty to the Emperor. Although the French used all possible means to persuade him to choose their side, he has always remained faithful to the Emperor. He describes this metaphorically as a heroic combat from which he has emerged victorious.
He expresses his gratitude to Dantiscus and offers him his services. He conveys greetings from Antoon van Schoonhoven, Frans Cosijn and Dantiscus' other Brugge acquaintances.
Manuscript sources:
Auxiliary sources:
Prints:
| ||||||||||||||
Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Bcz 243, p. 156Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino, domino Io stain⌈[Io]Io stain⌉anni Dantisco, episcopo Culmensi, regis Poloniae oratori etc., patrono observandissimo
In aula caesaris adscribed, in the hand of other⌈In aula caesarisIn aula caesaris adscribed, in the hand of other⌉
Bcz 243, p. 155Humillime me Tuae gratiae commendo, Praesul dignissime, cuius Reverendissimae Paternitati gratias ago immensas, quod tantis munusculis me dignata sit donare.
Accepi priores tuas litteras cum libellis de victoria omnibus auditu iucundissima serenissimi regis Polloniae contra Muldaviae ducem. Quos libellos inter amicos hic tibi sincerissimos, simul atque illos tuo iussu salutassem, distribui. Accesserunt aliae tuae litterae, per coniugem domini Cornelii Scepperi allatae, aliis libellis de eadem victoria concomitatae, et, quod omnium optatissimum erat, tua ad vivum expressa imagine.
Praeter haec mihi congratularis plurimum, quod sospes ex Gallia redierim, in qua ante annos 24 misere fuisti afflictus, ab eo tempore semper secutus caesarem partes caesaris, quod ut et ego faciam, et hortaris, et consulis. Desino nunc mirari, Praesul dignissime, quod tibi sermo exciderit Gallicus, cum ab illorum oris annis 24 abstinueris. Existimas, quantum videre possum militasse me in illorum castris stipemque meruisse. Steti profecto firmus hucusque a parte caesaris, a qua descivi numquam, etsi Gallus, ut in suas partes me pertraheret, pluribus modis molitus sit, clam missis insidiatoribus, qui vi agerent, quod benigno Marte frustra conati tentarunt. Ipse nihilominus parum commotus, non dedi terga aversa, vulnera vitavi, viriliter frontem illis exposui. In quem, quod cognitum tibi est, impegerunt fortiter, sinciput tantum contuderunt satis acriter, in superinscribed in place of crossed-out ...⌈... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉inin superinscribed in place of crossed-out ...⌉ reliquas corporis partes inutilem facientes insultum, quod ne maneret inultum. Principiis animo prompto occurrere statui obiecique me totum pugnae, ut cum adversario illo unico et strenuo, nocte dieque vigilantissimo, omni excluso metu monomachiam clauso cubili, ne forte adiutorium sibi accersisset constanter inire manusque conserere non formidavi, quem et vici, et depuli. At succubuissem vere, nisi athletarum pugilumque more membra curassem inungi ceromate. Quo factum est, ut adversus illatam vim sim redditus validior atque robustior, adversarius vero infirmior imbecilliorque coactus tandem remeare ad suos. Quod, quemadmodum intelligo, per Christianissimi Galliae regis oratorem ornatissimum et humanissimum, testem oculatum, liquere posset manifestiss(ime) vide hostis ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ crudelitatem immo perfidiam, qui, cum me afflixerit, etiam suis non pepercit, ita sollicite circuit superinscribed⌈circuitcircuit superinscribed⌉, quaerens, quem devoret. Qua fronte, qua laetitia, quave exsultatione, Patrone observandissime, tuas, putas, excepi litteras, quibus iusta causa gratularis mihi sospiti redeunti e pugna cum tam potente, perfido et crudeli adversario, apud te sileo or salvo⌈sileosileo or salvo⌉, qui expertus in illo iudicare potes.
Optime verum gratias, quas primis verbis egi maximas, repetere cogor, qui omnia fecisti, quibus ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ declarares singularem quendam et peculiarem erga me nullo meo merito favorem, affectum et amorem. Donas, congratularis, consulis, non possum reddere vices, desunt vires. Hoc solum possum me totum praebere tibi quo, uti poteris tuo arbitratu: iube, impera, manda. In manibus tuis sunt opera mea, quae semper habebis tuo nutu paratissima.
Vale, Patrone observandissime, quem salutari a me petierunt domini Anthonius superinscribed⌈AnthoniusAnthonius superinscribed⌉ Scoonhovia, Franciscus Cousinus sanguineo vultu nasoque Amborgensi decoratus – confratres mihi amantissimi, totumque tibi cognitum Brugis sodalicium se tuae gratiae plurimum commendam[us] ms. commandamus(!) ⌈commendamus stain⌈[us]us stain⌉commendam[us] ms. commandamus(!) ⌉.
Iterum vale.
Brugis, XVII-a Decembris, anno XVC XXXI-o.
Tuae Reverendissimae Paternitati obsequentissimus clientulus, Marcus Laurinus p(res)b(yte)r