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Letter #2868

Jan LEWICKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Stare Olszyny, 1540-09-26

English register: Jan Lewicki recalls his and Dantiscus’ joint stay in Spain with gratitude. He asks for his intercession at the Prussian assembly (conventio generalis) in a dispute with a patrician from Gdańsk over grain — the patrician has filed an appeal with the assembly against a Gdańsk town council judgment that was favourable for Lewicki. Lewicki is sending Dantiscus some fish, he complains about the poor harvest, he fears there will be hunger.
            received Graudenz (Grudziądz), 1540-09-30

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, BCz, 1599, p. 591-594

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BCz, 1599, p. 594

Reverendissimo in Christo Patri, Domino, 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⌋, Dei gratia episcopo Varmiensi etc. [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ secretari paper damaged⌈[secretari]secretari paper damaged⌉o regio superinscribed⌈regioregio superinscribed⌉, primati terrarum Prussiae paper damaged⌈[ Prussiae] Prussiae paper damaged⌉ [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ et fautori [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ etc.

BCz, 1599, p. 591

Reverendissime in Christo Pater, domine fautor mi beneficentissime.

Post mei commendationem, salutem utramque et illam caelestam benedictionem.

Urget amor absentem ab oculis, sed pectori meo semper astantem, invisere dominum et amicorum integerrimum, et ob id mitto hunc istic nuntium meum, ut referat mihi hoc, quod maxime cupio, illam videlicet sanam iucundam et felicissimam pro summa mea et incomparabili laetitia.

Quid mihi dulcius, quam meminisse illa officia, immo beneficia, quae mihi impendere dignata fuit, homini peregrino et nulla ratione merito, dum eramus in Spain (Hispania)⌊HyspaniisSpain (Hispania)⌋. Quae quoties animo meo recenseo, toties suspiro et suspicio, essentne condignae aliquae apud Deum meae orationes, quae collatae cum suis erga me exhibitionibus praestare illi possent meritum et me servarent ab ingratitudinis vitio, hoc est praecipuum mentis meae studium, quod reputo sic(ut) debitum. Novit hoc Scrutator mentium omnium.

Accedit item negotium, licet vile et inutile, sed ne incommodet futuris successibus et aliis scandalum tribuat. Est mihi causa istic in Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventione generaliProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ cum certo Gedanensi cive et patricio, qui written over e⌈eii written over e⌉ mihi indebite impedivit pauca frumenta mea cum nuntio, quae pro paupere erant domo nostra illic vendenda, et damnis ac incommodis meis occasionem praestitit. Et licet Gdańsk Town Council ⌊senatusGdańsk Town Council ⌋ illli pro me sententiam iustam dixerit, ille tamen non contentus, me cupiens vanis litibus et expensis producere, et appellavit eam Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventionem generalemProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋, quae nunc accedit, nescio quid aliud causans, quam id, quod iustum et rectum foret.

Supplico Paternitati Vestrae Reverendissimae pro ea, quam semper coli written over e⌈eii written over e⌉t, iustitia, audito processu et negotii meritis, quae omnia dicet is nuntius et liquent ex actis prioribus, decernat, quod illi cum aliis consiliariis aequum visum fuerit. Quandoquidem, teste Paul of Tarsus, Saint (*5-10 AD – †64-67 AD), the most important missionary and theologian of early Christianity, known as the Apostle of Nations, author of Letters, the main figure of the Acts of the Apostles⌊PauloPaul of Tarsus, Saint (*5-10 AD – †64-67 AD), the most important missionary and theologian of early Christianity, known as the Apostle of Nations, author of Letters, the main figure of the Acts of the Apostles⌋, cf. Vulg. 2Tim 2:24:1 servum autem Domini non oportet litigare ⌊servos Ihesu Christi non licet litigarecf. Vulg. 2Tim 2:24:1 servum autem Domini non oportet litigare ⌋, neque ego facerem, nisi futurum scandalum caverem.

BCz, 1599, p. 592

Postremo. Mitto istic piscatum. Hic apud nos nedum pisces perierunt, sed et aquae, et flumina multum defecerunt, ut a Paschate usque hactenus saltem cum effectu non plueret. Olera omnia, fungi, boleti et universae radices funditus periere. Adhuc plurimum nobis metuimus de frumento, quod nunc l(ibe)re or h(abente)s⌈l(ibe)rel(ibe)re or h(abente)s⌉ mandamus. Cineres exustos seminamus, cf. Vulg. Is 49:13 consolatus est Dominus populum suum et pauperum suorum miserebitur ⌊Omnipotens Deus prospiciat indigentiae et egestati nostrae ac pauperum suorum extrae mendicitaticf. Vulg. Is 49:13 consolatus est Dominus populum suum et pauperum suorum miserebitur ⌋. Non est memoria hominum tantae inediae et calamitatis praesentis, quam iam experimur. Acervum frumenti unum flor(enis) 40 iam venundatum vidimus. Bestias ubique fame mori et alibi aquam uno m miliario portari. Feliciores sunt partes vestrae, quae his omnibus nunc abundant.

Rogo Paternitatem Vestram Reverendissimam, dare dignetur litteras suas ad dominum praepositum, ut pisces salitos inde assequamur pretio bono, et mitterem pro illis tempore suo. Si compensare non potero aliter, tamen iugi et continua deprecatione mea Paternitati Vestrae Reverendissimae et suis omnibus longam hic felicitatem utramque salutem et omnium bonorum accessionem supplex propitiari numquam cessabo. Cuius paternae gratiae me plurimum commendo.

Vestrae Dominationis Reverendissimae tamquam filius deditissimus Jan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)⌊Ioannes LeviciusJan Lewicki (†1555), before 1522 sollicitator for Primate Jan Łaski's affairs in Rome, 1522 Latin secretary to Queen Bona Sforza; ca. 1524 Cantor in Płock; 1535 superintendent of Płock cathedral; 1535 presented to the parish in Biała and to the canonry of St. Michael's collegiate church in Płock; 1538 Commendatory Abbot of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran in Czerwińsk; Queen's envoy to Charles V of Habsburg (POCIECHA 2, p. 96-97)⌋ D(ivina) P(rovidentia) abbas Czervensis