» CORPUS of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence
Copyright © Laboratory for Source Editing and Digital Humanities AL UW

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Letter #318

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon
Granada, 1526-12-06


Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 6, No. 647, f. 184-187
2office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 242, p. 1-6
3copy in Latin, 16th-century, BJ, 6557, f. 190v-193r
4copy in Latin, 16th-century, BCz, 257, p. 626-634
5copy in Latin, 16th-century, BNW, 12547, f. 253v-256v
6copy in Latin, 18th-century, BNF, Lat.11095, p. 1-4
7copy in Latin, 18th-century, BK, 232, p. 1-4
8copy in Latin, 18th-century, B. Ossol., 151/II, f. 47r-50r
9copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 39 (TN), No. 46, p. 285-294
10copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 274, No. 153, p. 237-240

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8241 (TK 3), a.1526, f. 54-55

Prints:
1AT 8 No. 258, p. 372-375 (in extenso)
2PAZ Y MELIA 1924, 1925 p. 443-444 (Spanish translation)
3STARNAWSKI 1992 p. 44 (excerpt)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 6, No. 647, p. 184r

Serenissima Maiestas Regia et Domine, Domine clementissime. Humillimam perpetuae servitutis meae commendationem.

In hoc nostro exitu Granada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌊hincGranada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌋, cum iterum breve scribendi tempus mihi restet, cogor esse compendiosior, quam velim, quod item feci in cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon 1526-11-26, CIDTC IDL 6870, letter lost⌊novissimis 1526-11-26⌊26 mensis novissimi1526-11-26⌋ datiscf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon 1526-11-26, CIDTC IDL 6870, letter lost⌋, longiorem aliquando omnium rerum historiam scripturus, cum in Valladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌊Vallem OletiValladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌋, centum ab hinc miliarium sospites applicuerimus. Dabit itaque Maiestas Vestra Serenissima cum gratia sua ad praesens veniam.

Quae usque ad 1526-09-01⌊primum diem Septembris praeteriti1526-09-01⌋ Granada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌊hicGranada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌋ acta sunt, abunde, ut reor, Maiestas Vestra Serenissima a familiari meo Fabian Wojanowski (Fabian of Dąbrówka, Fabian Damerau) (†1540), courtier of King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Queen Bona Sforza, German tutor to their son Sigismund II Augustus. In 1531 he went back to his family name Damerau; Dantiscus' companion on his mission to Emperor Charles V and his successor as a royal envoy at the Imperial court; 1539-1540 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) (from 1538 coadiutor of Henryk von Snellenberg by Dantiscus' patronage) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 49; SBKW, p. 37)⌊FabianoFabian Wojanowski (Fabian of Dąbrówka, Fabian Damerau) (†1540), courtier of King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Queen Bona Sforza, German tutor to their son Sigismund II Augustus. In 1531 he went back to his family name Damerau; Dantiscus' companion on his mission to Emperor Charles V and his successor as a royal envoy at the Imperial court; 1539-1540 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) (from 1538 coadiutor of Henryk von Snellenberg by Dantiscus' patronage) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 49; SBKW, p. 37)⌋, qui id temporis Granada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌊hincGranada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌋ solvit accepit, paulo post 1526-10-12⌊12 Octobris1526-10-12⌋ cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon Granada, 1526-10-12, CIDTC IDL 305⌊scripsicf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon Granada, 1526-10-12, CIDTC IDL 305⌋ iterum omnium rerum ingens volumen, unde etiam de omnibus, quae hic se obtulerunt, copiose edocebitur. Interea pauca evenerunt digna scientia Maiestatis Vestrae Serenissimae, quaedam tamen de his praesentibus annotare non omnino absonum censui.

Memini in paenultimis apologiae Francis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy⌊regis ChristianissimiFrancis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy⌋, qua se ad pacta non astringi tuebatur et responsi ad eam domini magni cancellarii, invectivae praeterea pontificis in caesarem et illius longae refutationis, qua caesar concilium generale appellavit. Quarum omnium exempla — excudi enim debuerant — Maiestati Vestrae Serenissimae mittere pollicebar. Cum autem hoc infaustum novum de interitu serenissimi praeclarissimae memoriae Hungariae regis et Turcarum victoria huc fuit allatum, decidit ab his ineptiis animus nihilque istorum in publicum iri permittitur, quo futurum spero, quod forsan, relicto hoc tam turpi certandi genere, ad instans malum reprimendum omnium animi erigentur.

Scripserat huc caesari serenissimus Hungariae rex per proprium nuntium duobus diebus antequam cum Turcis tam infeliciter congressus fuisset, quod bene sperasset per hanc cum rege christianissimo concordiam certas suppetias, BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 6, No. 647, p. 184v verum cum illa parum durasset et non successisset, spem se ulteriorem non habere, destitutus itaque ab omnibus, cum hostem in penetralibus sentiret, Deo et fortunae se committere caputque et regnum suum se post biduum hostibus obiecturum. Hinc ab istis hic nationibus varia feruntur, alii ut fit, factum probant, alii nimiam vehementiam improbant. Dicitur etiam, huc scriptum esse — et hoc cancellarius mihi rettulit — quod ipse {ipse} rex pridie quam conflixisset, in verba et sectam Luteranorum iurasset. Id mihi longe a veritate alienum esse videtur. Confingunt, ut certo credo, isti hic diaboli istas calumnias, quo caesaris bonam propensionem immutarent et se forsan a pecuniis contribuendis, de quibus iam tractatur, redimerent. Scripsit huc quandoquidem dominus archidux caesari, omnibus modis subsidium implorans, non solum ut frater, verum etiam ut infans Hispaniarum: quod si propediem sibi non mitteretur, fore, ut paulo post de se nuntium magis triste, quam de rege Hungariae audiret. Haec scriptio permovit hic plurimos et maximopere caesaris animum perculit. Qua de re imprimis archiepiscopus Toletanus omnes suos et ecclesiae proventus, qui ducentena milia ducatorum excedere perhibentur, ultro in hoc subsidium et profectionem contra Turcas obtulit, modo sibi et suis sacerdotibus victus relinqueretur. Idem de aliis dicitur. Progreditur ergo hinc caesar post quinque aut sex dies in Castiliam, ut illic desuper „curtas” hoc est conventiones habeat. Utinam bonos et solidos effectus pariant.

In Valladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌊Valle OletiValladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌋ 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⌊caesarCharles 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⌋ celebraturus est Louis II Jagiellon (*1506 – †1526), 1516-1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary; son of Ladislaus II Jagiellon King of Bohemia and Hungary, killed in the battle of Mohács, and his third wife, Anne de Foix⌊regi HungariaeLouis II Jagiellon (*1506 – †1526), 1516-1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary; son of Ladislaus II Jagiellon King of Bohemia and Hungary, killed in the battle of Mohács, and his third wife, Anne de Foix⌋ exsequias; ad illas, ut scripsi in novissimis, cum mihi de stipendio meo menstruo non suppeteret, accepi 200 ducatos a The Fuggers German family of merchants and bankers that dominated European business during the 15th and 16th centuries⌊FuccarisThe Fuggers German family of merchants and bankers that dominated European business during the 15th and 16th centuries⌋, ex hisque mihi et familiae vestes confeci lugubres, pro quibus 51 ducatos impendi, et pro expensis, quas Granada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌊hucGranada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌋ ad me Bernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau⌊frater meusBernhard von Höfen (Bernhard Flachsbinder) (†after 1548), Ioannes Dantiscus' brother, stayed with Dantiscus in Spain, as a member of his mission's retinue, and was used as a trusted courier to Poland at least from 1526; after 1530 Starost of Löbau⌋ cum litteris Maiestatis Vestrae Serenissimae fecerat, alios quinquaginta; quandoquidem illi ne assis quidem cum huc ad me mitteretur a Maiestate Vestra Serenissima datus fuerat. Reliquos centum ducatos, ne sim expensis Maiestatis Vestrae Serenissimae gravior, in alios meos usus converti, et peto illos pro servitio 4 equorum meorum in stipendio meo defalcari. Nihil est, quod habeam amplius.

BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 6, No. 647, p. 185r

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⌊CaesarCharles 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⌋ Granada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌊hicGranada (Granata), city in southern Spain, Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains⌋ fecit exsequias avo, aviae et patri suo, neminem tamen oratorum vocavit. Erant etiam non nimis sumptuosae, quemadmodum alia omnia sunt, quae agit; pecuniam enim modis omnibus conquirit ac conservat. Mittit nihilominus hinc domino archiduci, fratri suo, cum oratore suo, fratre marchionis de Granata, centum mille ducatos. Ille ad instructionem domini archiducis iturus est ad corrumpendum fortassis Boemos, ut archiducem in regem accipiant. Nemo hic alius, qui illi obesse possit, quam Maiestas Vestra Serenissima timetur. Auditum tamen est a quodam de consilio caesaris, qui fertur dixisse: melius futurum, si Maiestas Vestra ad ista regna in his turbinibus susciperetur, cum sit et aetate perfecta et prudens et quod tandem post decessum Maiestatis Vestrae a caesare recuperari possent; cui tamen ab astrorum peritis parum vitae promittitur. Sic varii varia dicunt. Suspicor tamen certo, quod non solum contra Turcas, sed etiam pro regnis istis coemendis archiduci pecuniae mittuntur, timeoque plurimum, quod haec ambitio rebus christianis plus nocebit, quam proderit; nisi Deus nobis propitius aderit, nihil est, quod solidae spei nobis sit reliquum.

Dominus Mercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌊magnus cancellariusMercurino Arborio di Gattinara (*1465 – †1530), humanist, jurist, trusted and influential advisor to Charles V; 1501 entered the service of the Habsburgs as legal counsel to Duchess Margaret of Austria, 1504 advisor and President of the Privy Council of Margaret of Austria, after the governoship of the Netherlands was entrusted to her, 1518 Grand Chancellor of Castile and later of Charles V as Roman Emperor, 1529 Cardinal of St. Giovanni a Porta Latina (after the death of his wife, Andreetta Avogadro) (DE VOCHT 1961, p. 12; CE, vol. 2, p. 76-80)⌋ 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⌊caesaremCharles 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⌋ in Valladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌊Vallem OletiValladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌋ praecedit meque in societatem suam accepit. Intellexi ex eo, quod caesar ex re consilium ibidem capiet, et quod omnino apud se statuerit et in ea sententia perseverat, quod quam primum possit in Italiam proficiscetur, commissisque omnibus negotiis huius belli contra Turcas ipsi domino archiduci. Alias hic rumor passim sparsus est, quod certo in Germaniam traicere debeat contra Turcas, quo ad contribuendum suos hic subditos proniores efficiat. Dixit etiam mihi cancellarius, quod iam a caesare sit dimissus, ut eum pro futuro vere in Italiam praecedat; habent nescio quas cum pontifice novas practicas. Rex Angliae hic etiam per oratorem suum tractat; misit huc nobilem hunc rursus, qui Fabianum meum hinc per Gallias tuto traduxerat. Ille mihi rettulit, quod rex Galliae conditiones proponit pro liberandis obsidibus, cum Burgundia nequaquam potest restitui, ut pecuniis redimantur. Et credo, quod rebus sic ut nunc stantibus succedet habitis pecuniis, quae non levem summam ascendent. Caesar procul dubio ad Italiam se conferet, modo vita sufficiat.

BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 6, No. 647, p. 185v De adventu huc in Hispaniam pontificis, ut passim ferebatur, nihil amplius dicitur; exspectabit caesarem in Italia. Tractabitur, ut scripsi, de pecuniis et pace inter caesarem et regem christianissimum, quae, ut spero, cum ultima necessitas id exposcit, conficietur. Nihilominus Maiestati Vestrae Serenissimae humillime supplico, cum me revocare dignabitur, ut mihi ad regem christianissimum mittat litteras, quibus liberum et securum transitum per Gallias habere possim, ne, ut me mari committam, quod fugio maxime, sit necessarium.

Illustrissimus dominus Ioannes Albertus, marchio Brandenburgensis, nepos Maiestatis Vestrae Serenissimae, qui hic mecum fere in cotidiano fuit commercio, Maiestati Vestrae Serenissimae se maximopere commendari petiit. Scripsit etiam has annexas, ex quibus illius erga Maiestatem Vestram animum liquido cognoscet. Est profecto humanissimus princeps et Maiestatis Vestrae observantissimus. Is mihi nuper dixit se intellexisse quendam novum electum ordinis magistrum huc venturum et multas querelas contra dominum marchionem Albertum, fratrem suum, propositurum. Et quamvis, inquit, suspecta sit causa de Luteranismo, nihilominus, inquam, fratrem meum deserere non possum. Cui ego respondi, quod etiam accepissem ex litteris Fabiani, familiaris mei, datis in Lusiniano, oppidulo Galliae, in itinere esse quendam virum senem istius ordinis ex Livonia, qui similiter questum huc venit contra dominum ducem Prussiae et contra Maiestatem Vestram Serenissimam, quod contra iura imperii illum ducem in Prussia creaverit, cum id non sit facultatis Maiestatis Vestrae, sed caesareae; et quod idem senex in aliis contra Luteranos actis Maiestatem Vestram vocasset christianissimam, sed quod dominum magistrum ducem fecerit, summopere reprehendisse. Ad haec dominus marchio: si, inquit, novus iste magister vel senex iste huc appulerint, mutuis inter nos consiliis illorum conatus reprimemus. Quicquid erit, praeter commissionem Maiestatis Vestrae Serenissimae obiter ex me ipso, quid illis et caesari sit respondendum, si ad hoc deventum fuerit, in prompto ex priore desuper instructione, ad me superiore anno missa, habeo. Hactenus de magistro et hoc ordine nihil hic fuit temptatum, neque adhuc quicquam auditur, licet iam pridem hic compertum sit, quod regis Daniae filiam in coniugem duxerit. Neque etiam intellego negotium hoc curae hic haberi, quasi res Prutenae BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 6, No. 647, p. 186r numquam fuissent in rerum natura, cum tamen de illis prius hic personabant omnia, sic videntur in oblivionem devenisse. Quod igitur in notitiam Maiestatis Vestrae Serenissimae deduco, ne quicquam gravius ea in re hic agi suspicari possit. Hic quisquam se et suas res cordi habet, nemo in commune consulit; quo fit, quod non miror, Deum tempora nostra corripere, cum nemo ad id, ad quod suffectus est, intendat.

Scripsi in paenultimis, quemadmodum hic dicebatur: viceregem Neapolitanum classem 70 velorum habuisse et hoc pro re verissima praedicabatur. Multum tamen iste rumor a scopo veritatis aberravit. Compertum habemus cum magnis et parvis non fuisse ultra 30 navigia. Sic incertissima hic pro veris narrantur, unde quae huc semivera feruntur ad partes nostras per famam falsissimam transvolant; adeo in hominibus abundavit iniquitas et mendacium, credoque hoc Davidis nusquam verius esse, quam hic: cf. Vulg. Ps (G) 115.11.1 ego dixi in excessu meo: omnis homo mendax; Vulg. Rm 3.4.1 est autem Deus verax, omnis autem homo mendax ⌊omnis homo mendaxcf. Vulg. Ps (G) 115.11.1 ego dixi in excessu meo: omnis homo mendax; Vulg. Rm 3.4.1 est autem Deus verax, omnis autem homo mendax ⌋. Qua de re si interdum aliter se res habuerit, atque ego scribo, veniam mihi dari quaeso. Non libenter scribo fabulas, nisi certos habuerim auctores, contineo me; attamen et cum certis auctoribus me lapsum aliquando invenio, adeo hic inversa sunt omnia.

De vicerege adhuc non accepimus, si Italiae applicuerit, necne. Exivit hinc 24 Septembris et ex portu Carthaginis Novae 24 Octobris sequentis solvit, ter rursus tempestatibus adactus rediit et paene unam magnam carracam incendio amisit. Iam longo tempore nihil de eo auditur nemoque scit, quo divertit, aut ubi agat.

De negotio castri Barensis misi duplicatas commissiones caesareae maiestatis 12 Octobris versus Antverpiam per Fuccaros et 22 eiusdem mensis per Velzeros Romam, quas reor ad reginalem maiestatem pervenisse. Ex his intelleget Maiestas Vestra Serenissima, qualis expeditio fuerit. Rem ulterius promovere non potui. Licebit reginali maiestati deputare castellanum fidum et gratum caesari, qui iurare tenebitur id, quod in remotione sequestri expressum est, hoc solummodo addito, quod etiam iuret se castrum in manus hostium caesareae maiestatis non traditurum, quemadmodum ex meis paenultimis BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 6, No. 647, p. 186v latius patebit. Spero quod semel istius rei finem simus habituri; satisfactum enim est viceregi principatu Sulmonensi, ut prius scripsi, et duobus comitatibus, brevique experiemur, quam exsecutionem commissiones istae caesaris sortientur; quod si observabuntur et maiestas reginalis castellanum suum castro praefecerit, non erit amplius causa, cur hic ulterius in tam gravibus expensis immorer, meque, quod summopere cupio, Maiestas Vestra Serenissima revocare tandem post tertium annum dignabitur. Idque quo fiet citius, eo mihi erit magis gratum. Quod voluntati Maiestatis Vestrae Serenissimae una mecum humillime commendo.