Letter #788
Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUSBruges, 1532-05-14
English register:
De Schepper explains his long silence: he had planned to leave for the imperial court immediately after Easter, but his departure was postponed due to health problems and family matters. Moreover he saw no reason to hasten his departure, because there are no developments at court, and the Emperor [Charles V] is hesitating to make any decisions. A third reason for the postponement of his departure is that he is still trying to get some compensation for the considerable expenses he faced last winter in securing the Duchy of Luxembourg for the Emperor. While pursuing fair compensation demands great efforts, omitting to ask for it will seem arrogant, and is against all reason. Now, however, he is planning to leave within a week, and join his closest friends at court. The Baronet of Montfalconnet [Philibert de la Baume] has already left this same day.
There is no news; the negotiations with the English have not yet led to results and the ambassador Thomas Elyot has left. He conveys his greetings to Dantiscus. De Schepper's wife [Elisabeth Donche] recommend herself to Dantiscus.
| received Regensburg, 1532-05-27 Manuscript sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Ioanni Dantisco episcopo Culmensi, serenissmi Poloniae regis oratori etc., domino meo honorandissimo
Salutem plurimam.
Diuturni silentii mei haec causa est. Semper credidi me post prima Festa Paschalia abiturum Brugis venturumque in Germaniam. Ab eo tempore laboravi apostemate partim, partim negotiis familiaribus, durum enim visum est meis tam cito me excedere domo, praesertim cum id hactenus fecerim aliquanto meo cum incommodo, et destituere interim res privatas, ad quas videri posset tutissimum esse refugium. Auxit hanc opinionem, quod, cum in aulam nostram venissem, ibi offenderim omnia imparata neque etiam visae sunt occasiones, ob quas properarem caesare languente et rebus non apparentibus, ut componerentur. Tertium accessit, quod, cum hieme superiore summo meo cum periculo neque levibus expensis meis reduxerim ducatum Lucemburgi ad voluntatem caesaris ex ipsius maiestatis praescripto et ab aerariis nostris exiguum quiddam esset decretum, neque tamen illud persolutum hactenus, vidi duo incommoda mihi instare: aut, si non peterem, arrogantiae crimen aut ostentationis, aut certe incuriae, si peterem, laborem summum et iniquos sudores. Ut tamen non peterem rem mihi debitam, obstitit ratio, quod non impetrarim, modus agendi noster [s]ive nostrum potius.
Nunc tamen omnino redeo ad vos, non enim possum diutius abesse ab amantissimis mei et cumprimis observandis. Dominus baro a Monfalconnet hodie hinc abiit, cum quo vel ante quem has scribo subsecuturus ante sex dies, nam hic curia est, cui simul et affectui oportet me non nihil indulgere.
Omnia sunt in eodem statu. Cum Anglis nihildum transactum. Dominus Thomas Heliota nudiustertius hinc abiit teque salutavit. Facit id ipsum uxor mea et familia, quae prospera omnia tibi apprecatur.
Et bene vale, Reverendissime Domine.
Ex Brugis XIIII-a die Maii anno XV-c XXXII.
Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae humilis inservitor Cornelius Duplicius Scepperus