Reverendissimo 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⌊Iohanni, Dei gratia episcopo CulmensiIoannes 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⌋ et administratori Pomesaniensi, domino semper colendissimo

Reverendissime Domine, domine semper colendissime.

Post obsequiorum meorum indefessam promptitudinem.

Optaverat prioribus litteris Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio animi mei in ipsam declarationem, tum trigintarum marcarum, per dominos exactores retentarum, meam sententiam enodarem. Unum nempe scrupulum trigintarum marcarum ea ex re hucusque distulerim, cum notarius Ludwig Wersfelt ⌊LudovicusLudwig Wersfelt ⌋, qui regestis praeest, eo tempore 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 Austria⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund 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⌋, dominum meum clementissimum, missus, domi non fuerat, apud quem et regestum exactionum occlusum, ad amussim doceri non potuerim, quid mihi ab illis datum aut reddendum. Nunc vero, cum rediit, regestis inveni omnium exactionum summam a subditis Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis, clero, monialibus earumque subditis exactam iuxta eorum oblata regesta, quingentas triginta sex marcas, decem grossos cum medio non excedere. Quam summam, Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationi offerendam, illis reddidi integre. Si vero Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio ab eius subditis, clero et aliis, quorum contributio eidem a 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 Austria⌊maiestate sua 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 Austria⌋ donata est, plus exactum computaverit, id meo iudicio non vendico, qui id, quod accepi, reddidi, ut litteris dominorum exactorum recognitionis et quitantiae mihi precavi. Aliud vero, nempe animi mei in Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam enucleationem, propterea distuli, ne variis uno tempore optatis diversis litteris responderem, quod nunc facio.

Animus meus semper [in] Reverendissimam Vestram Dominationem candidus et ad obsequend[um pro]pensus, quod ingenue fateri licet. Quod vero aut fato, aut osorum persuasu a Reverendissima Vestra Dominatione spernitur, nihil est, quod ego inculpar, cum et quiqui boni, quibus ego conversor, non aliter testabuntur, quam me resque meas votis Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationi subiectas, tantum abest, quod insignes illi susurrones, quiqui sint, non verentur me ad Reverendissimam Vestram Dominationem deferre in illam in descensu ex praetorio Graudenz (Grudziądz, Graudentium), city in Poland, Voivodeship of Pomerania, on the upper east bank of the Vistula, Graudenz (taking turns with Marienburg (Malbork)) was the venue for the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌊GraudentinoGraudenz (Grudziądz, Graudentium), city in Poland, Voivodeship of Pomerania, on the upper east bank of the Vistula, Graudenz (taking turns with Marienburg (Malbork)) was the venue for the Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌋ gladium vibrasse a[ut] manibus arripuisse, cum nec fas est dicer[e] se eo tempore me in plateis vidisse, cum Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio praetorium descendit et quamvis illata iniuria mordet nec tamen ita torquet, quin honoris mei et Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae amicitiae, quam semper magni facio, rationem habeam.

Et nec diffido, si id a Reverendissima Vestra Dominatione impetravero, ut s[i] quando osores fucatis eorum stratagematibus me ad Reverendissimam Vestram Dominationem deferre laboraverint, expurgandi facultas concederetur, salvam semper Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis gratiam mihi futuram. Quod et nunc peto, ut illos resciam, qui me Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationi famae aut honori oblatrasse aut iurisdictionem ecclesiasticam episcopique auctoritatem vendicass[e] aiunt, quantum par erit, me expurgabo.

Quamvis et id animum addit, ut illis Reverendissima Vestra Dominatio nec sinceram fidem praebere, quin prius a me investigari dignata, quod ut in posterum fia[t], sedulo oro. Nuper cum in Golubensi capitaneatu fueram, a burgrabio inquisivi de decem marcis a plebano in Kurkocin, village in Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the historic Kulm Land, ca. 15 km N of Golub⌊KurkoczinKurkocin, village in Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the historic Kulm Land, ca. 15 km N of Golub⌋ acceptis. Nega[t] [se] ullum accepisse denarium sicque si pleba[nu]s institerit, faciam quid iuris, tum omnibus rebus pro votis Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationis adero, ut nec conquerendi adversum ipsum habeat ullus aliquam occasionem.

Quibus me Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationi commendo. Quam diu bene valere opto.

Ex Marienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌊MarienburgkMarienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌋, 8 Ianuarii anno 1534.

Eiusdem Reverendissimae Vestrae Dominationi obsequentissimus Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌊Stanislaus KostkaStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544-1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg), 1545-1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546-1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546-1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551-1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌋ de Stangenberg (Sztembark), village Ermland, ca. 17 km SE of Sthum, estate of Kostka family; today Stążki in northern Poland⌊StangenbergkStangenberg (Sztembark), village Ermland, ca. 17 km SE of Sthum, estate of Kostka family; today Stążki in northern Poland⌋ terrarum Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊PrussiaeRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ thesaurarius etc.