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Letter #5609

Felix REICH to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Frauenburg (Frombork), 1537-07-10
            received [1537]-07-15

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 68, f. 107 + f. [1] missed in numbering after f. 107

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8248 (TK 10), f. 498

Prints:
1BISKUP 1971 No. 22, p. 31-32, 62-64, 67, 76 (in extenso, p. 63-64; English register, p. 76; Polish register, p. 62, 67, 31-32)
2Kopernik na Warmii No. 410, p. 491 (Polish register)
3RC No. 368, p. 163 (English register)
4NCG 6/1 No. 106, p. 207-211 (in extenso; German translation)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine clementissime.

Ne aliis scribentibus aut Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram invisentibus ego solus videar mutus aut inofficiosus, etiam si nihil aliud fortassis, quam illi asseram, ea ipsa tamen repetere malui, quam prorsus silere, praesertim opportune oblato, qui litteras perferat. Nuntiata ad vesperam 1537-07-01Dominicae diei, quae fuit prima Iulii1537-07-01, morte beatae memoriae Mauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)pontificisMauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60) nostri mox Ermland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)capituloErmland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia) ita decernente Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of ErmlandHeilisbergumHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland, quo paulo ante dominus Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician and astronomer, doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland; 1497-1543 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1511-1513, 1520, 1524-1525, 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 General Administrator of the bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)Nicolaus CoppernicNicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician and astronomer, doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland; 1497-1543 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1511-1513, 1520, 1524-1525, 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 General Administrator of the bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124) medici nomine existimantibus nobis adhuc in humanis esse dominum me praecesserat, ad lustrandum et occludendum relicta, arcibus et civitatibus ut in bona custodia servarentur, providendum, ac ad cadaver deducendum profectus sum, et, cum tota nocte ob morae periculum iter agens eo venissem, cum praedicto Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician and astronomer, doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland; 1497-1543 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1511-1513, 1520, 1524-1525, 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 General Administrator of the bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)domino NicolaoNicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician and astronomer, doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland; 1497-1543 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1511-1513, 1520, 1524-1525, 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 General Administrator of the bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124) collega mihi deputato omnia pretiosiora ab officialibus arcis fideliter occlusa et obsignata comperi. Non enim potuimus non metuere nescio quid turbarum, memores tumultuum post decessum Fabian von Lusian (Fabian Luzjański, Fabian von Lossainen, Fabian of Łężany) (*ca. 1470 – †1523), doctor of canon law; 1490-1512 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1506-1507, 1510, 1514 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1512-1523 Bishop of Ermland (SBKW, p. 156)Fabiani episcopiFabian von Lusian (Fabian Luzjański, Fabian von Lossainen, Fabian of Łężany) (*ca. 1470 – †1523), doctor of canon law; 1490-1512 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1506-1507, 1510, 1514 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1512-1523 Bishop of Ermland (SBKW, p. 156) exortorum et erectionis satis indigne nuntiorum capitularium. Et quamvis male iam tum olens cadaver sepulturam posceret, conscripsimus tamen magna sedulitate inventarium ita, ut non antea, quam post tres dies illinc cum corpore defuncto discesserimus. Reperta est autem a nobis argenti, vestium etiam pretiosarum, necnon omnium aliarum rerum honesta provisio, ut facile testari possit providum et frugi patrem familias domum gubernasse. Pecuniarum tamen non minimam partem absumpserunt legata. Restant tamen in aerario pro successore supra quattuor marcarum millia, praeter eas, quae sunt apud oeconomum ad futuram rationem et censum anni currentis brevi proventurum, licet absolutioni familiae adhuc nonnihil erit impendendum, cui bene conficiendae datus est domino Johann Tymmermann (Johann Zimmermann) (*1492 – †1564), nephew of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland; studied in Cracow (1505) and in Rome (1517); 1519-1564 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1525-1528 administrator of the Chapter's estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn) and in 1538 in Frauenburg (Frombork); 1527-1539 Cantor of Ermland; 1537 General Administrator of the bishopric of Ermland (after Mauritius Ferber's death); 1539-1552 Custos of Ermland; 1547-1552 General Vicar of the diocese of Ermland (SBKW, p. 261; KOPICZKO 2, p. 336)Iohanni TymmermannJohann Tymmermann (Johann Zimmermann) (*1492 – †1564), nephew of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland; studied in Cracow (1505) and in Rome (1517); 1519-1564 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1525-1528 administrator of the Chapter's estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn) and in 1538 in Frauenburg (Frombork); 1527-1539 Cantor of Ermland; 1537 General Administrator of the bishopric of Ermland (after Mauritius Ferber's death); 1539-1552 Custos of Ermland; 1547-1552 General Vicar of the diocese of Ermland (SBKW, p. 261; KOPICZKO 2, p. 336) cantori administrationis muneri destinato collega dominus Achatius Trenck (†1551), in the thirties Trenck was one of Dantiscus’ friends and supported his efforts to obtain the Ermland bishopric after the death of Mauritius Ferber; from 1523 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1544-1545 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; from 1545 its Dean; 1533-1546 administrator of the Chapter’s estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn); in 1548 and 1550 General Administrator of the Ermland bishopric (after the deaths of Ioannes Dantiscus and Tiedemann Giese) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 332; SBKW, p. 255-256)Achacius a TrencaAchatius Trenck (†1551), in the thirties Trenck was one of Dantiscus’ friends and supported his efforts to obtain the Ermland bishopric after the death of Mauritius Ferber; from 1523 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1544-1545 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; from 1545 its Dean; 1533-1546 administrator of the Chapter’s estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn); in 1548 and 1550 General Administrator of the Ermland bishopric (after the deaths of Ioannes Dantiscus and Tiedemann Giese) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 332; SBKW, p. 255-256) Allensteinensis administrator.

Ceterum nuntius ad Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of AustriaregemSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria iuxta tenorem statutorum profecturus dominus Alexander designatus est, qui fortassis ex itinere ad Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram divertet.

Ceterum oeconomus, cancellarius, cubicularius, magister popinae Heilisbergensis, et si qui sunt alii, diutinae servitutis pertaesi et libertatis avidi ad sua domicilia iamtandem demigrabunt, quod dudum etiam libenter fecissent, si cum gratia Mauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)dominiMauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60) viventis abire licuisset. Mauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)CuiusMauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both canon and civil law; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512-1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Revel; 1523-1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60) morte, quam acerbe ferunt, se in libertatem assertos gaudent. Cur id admoneam, subolfacere potest Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra, videlicet ut, cum divina miseratio eam huc vocaverit, quod futurum nihil dubito, de officialibus huiusmodi, quibus minime in ea rerum administratione curare poterit, in tempore sibi provideat. Quamvis de cubiculario parum referret, quandoquidem alter capellanorum in id muneris surrogari poterit, quod et antea fere factum est, cancellarium vero non poterit Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima, meo quidem iuditio, consequi, quam nunc habet, meliorem, modo diutius servire velit.

Porro in his, quae a nobis nuntiis Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of ErmlandHeilisbergiHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland gesta sunt, summo studio curavi, ut Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae commodis, quoad fieri potuit, fideliter ac diligenter inservirem, ne umquam officium meum desiderari possit aut requiri sinceritas, adeo ut nihil prorsus compendii ad me inde redierit, quod tamen non idcirco scribo ut munerationes ac beneficentiam Reverendissime Dominationis Vestrae vener, sed ut eius mihi gratiam et benevolentiam conciliem, immo ut dudum assecutam excitem rursus ac alam. Imprimis autem beatum me putabo, si id saltem ab eius humanitate impetravero, ut me eatate iam gravi et multis laboribus attritum, ne dicam confectum, a publicarum rerum mihi molestissimis negotiis, praesertim prophanis, iamtandem aliquando eximere, et ut militem emeritum me, licet immeritum, vacatione donare dignabitur. Quod si, quod absit, non impetravero, aut condicio mea mutanda mihi est, aut certe brevi moriendum. Nondum enim plene restitutus sum membris aliquot casu currus ex Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia comitiis TorunensibusProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia revertentis luxatis et omnibus paene ossibus conquassatis.

Reliquum est, ut me in gratiam Reverendissime Dominationis Vestrae quam diligentissime commendem. Quam nobis Christus diu servet incolumem.

Postscript:

Cetera coram referet dominus Achatius Trenck (†1551), in the thirties Trenck was one of Dantiscus’ friends and supported his efforts to obtain the Ermland bishopric after the death of Mauritius Ferber; from 1523 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1544-1545 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; from 1545 its Dean; 1533-1546 administrator of the Chapter’s estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn); in 1548 and 1550 General Administrator of the Ermland bishopric (after the deaths of Ioannes Dantiscus and Tiedemann Giese) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 332; SBKW, p. 255-256)Achacius a TrencaAchatius Trenck (†1551), in the thirties Trenck was one of Dantiscus’ friends and supported his efforts to obtain the Ermland bishopric after the death of Mauritius Ferber; from 1523 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1544-1545 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; from 1545 its Dean; 1533-1546 administrator of the Chapter’s estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn); in 1548 and 1550 General Administrator of the Ermland bishopric (after the deaths of Ioannes Dantiscus and Tiedemann Giese) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 332; SBKW, p. 255-256).

Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae diligens servitor Felix Reich (*ca. 1475 – †1539), secretary to Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia), and his chaplain; from 1518 Chancellor to succeeding Bishops of Ermland: Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański) and Mauritius Ferber; 1518-1525 Provost of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto) Collegiate Chapter; 1526-1539 Canon of Ermland; 1528 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1529-1532 administrator of the Chapter's estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn), and in 1538 in Tolkemit (Tolkmicko); 1538-1539 Vicar General of the diocese of Ermland, and Custos of Ermland; 1528-1530 envoy of the Ermland Chapter to the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia (KOPICZKO 2, p. 265-266; BORAWSKA 1984, p. 176-177; SBKW, p. 200-201)Felix ReichFelix Reich (*ca. 1475 – †1539), secretary to Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia), and his chaplain; from 1518 Chancellor to succeeding Bishops of Ermland: Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański) and Mauritius Ferber; 1518-1525 Provost of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto) Collegiate Chapter; 1526-1539 Canon of Ermland; 1528 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1529-1532 administrator of the Chapter's estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn), and in 1538 in Tolkemit (Tolkmicko); 1538-1539 Vicar General of the diocese of Ermland, and Custos of Ermland; 1528-1530 envoy of the Ermland Chapter to the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia (KOPICZKO 2, p. 265-266; BORAWSKA 1984, p. 176-177; SBKW, p. 200-201)