Letter #1586
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Mauritius FERBER]Löbau (Lubawa), 1537-03-10
English register: Dantiscus is replying to two letters from Ferber. He thinks Ferber is rightly worried about the interpretation of the concept of indigenousness at the Diet in Cracow, but he hopes that together they can find a solution to this problem. Dantiscus is considering where to convene the approaching springtime Prussian assembly. He would be willing to hold it in Malbork, as long as Ferber (despite his health problems) takes part in the assembly and undertakes the effort of chairing the sessions. Dantiscus also thinks that the Polish lords (i.e. the commissioners delegated to the Prussian assembly by the king) will travel via Toruń, and that the king’s will should be followed as to the choice of the assembly’s location. Dantiscus thinks it will be sufficient if the gentry and the cities read the king’s letter on the eve of the assembly. The time and place of the assembly, on the other hand, should be announced publicly as soon as possible as well as the issues that are to be discussed which were specified by the king and queen during the Diet in Cracow. Dantiscus has not received a letter from Ioannes Tymmermann. If he does, he will arrive at the time specified. As for the election capitulations, he will act in accordance with Ferber’s advice and his will. Dantiscus cannot send Ferber a copy of the reply given on behalf of the king by the Płock bishop (Jan Chojeński) to the Prussian gentry’s envoys, because the royal court is not in the habit of presenting such replies in writing. Ferber knows its content from Dantiscus’ earlier letters. He explains that the (memorandum) which Ferber received from the Malbork voivode (Jerzy Bażyński) was sent to him through Bażyński by Johann von Werden, in accordance with what had been decided among the Prussian Council’s legation. The news as to the General Council, promised by the papal nuncio, has not arrived yet. Dantiscus fears that the Council will not come about because of the imminent war between the Empire and France. France has forged an alliance with Turkey against the Christians. It is said that a large part of the Turkish army is in Hungary and is due to move towards Germany. Dantiscus is returning to Ferber the horses he borrowed for his journey. He complains about the expenses he had in Cracow, and the pain that the gossip about this matter is causing him. Dantiscus informs Ferber that the Płock bishop (Jan Chojeński) became Grand Chancellor on February 16, while the post of Vice-Chancellor went to Jakub the Gostynin castellan (in fact: Gostynin starosta Paweł Wolski). He encloses a copy of the letter from the voivode of Pomerania (Jerzy Konopacki) concerning the swearing-in. In the postscript: Dantiscus replies to Ferber’s reproach that he complains too much about the expenses and hardships he has suffered in connection with his mission. He writes that he expected nothing more from Ferber than a friendly ear for his confidences, which brought him relief after the distress he suffered. He had been particularly pained at the accusations thrown by his ungrateful compatriots that he had not financed the mission from his own funds. Nevertheless, he thanks Ferber for his fatherly reprimand.
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, Domine et Amice carissime ac plurimum observande.
Post cf.
In cf.
De litteris a
A domino
cf.
De
Equos Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae
Sigillum maius datum est feria sexta ante Invocavit[12]
Postscript:
Reverendissime mi Domine. In scheda prioribus litteris, quas nuper nuntius meus attulit, inclusa scribit me lamentari et in cunctis meis litteris conqueri de impensis et molestia. Quae lamenta, si imprudens emisi, et querelae ne Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae animum offendant, oro. Non parum in rebus duris ferre solet leniminis, ubi tuto in sinus amici id, quod grave et onerosum est, effundere licet, etiam si ab amico nil speretur levaminis. Quantum
patriae debeam, non me praeterit, ad cuius commodum et honorem si quas feci graviores, quam forte oportebat, expensas, non ducor paenitudine, verum nostratium ingratitudine moveor, quod id honoris mihi non tribuant, quod de meis impenderim, sed, quasi ab aliis stipendio conductus, tam splendide et honeste cum principibus viris in aula regia convixerim. Neque me secus atque
cf. Ov. Tr. 3. (7) 42 Irus et est subito, qui modo Croesus erat; Prop. 3. 5. 17 Lydus Dulichio non distat Croesus ab Iro; Mart. 5. 39. 8-9 Croeso divitior licet fuissem, / Iro pauperior forem; Adagia 1526 No. 574, 576 ⌊cf.
[1 ] The “principle of indigenousness” (i.e. native citizenship of a given land) ensured exclusive rights to hold offices and posts in Royal Prussia for its residents. The meaning of the concept of indigenousness was the subject of a long-lasting dispute between the Prussian gentry, which aimed for systemic unification with the Crown, and the Prussian Council, which represented the interests of great landowners and wealthy burghers. The key issue in the dispute was the possibility of acquiring citizenship by settling in Prussia. This conflict, fueled by the Polish gentry, which strove to obtain starosties within Royal Prussia, was one of the topics of the charges against the Prussian Council presented to the king at the 1536/37 Diet by the Prussian gentry’s legation. The Royal Prussian gentry’s legation to the 1536/37 Diet included: Chełmno district judge
[2 ] During the Diet in Cracow, Jan Chojeński proposed that the springtime Prussian assembly be held not in Malbork, as planned, but in Toruń, for the convenience of the royal commissioners who were to take part in the assembly (cf. also cf.
[3 ] The demand that royal commissioners take part in the Prussian springtime assembly in 1537, to help resolve disputes, was contained both in the gravamina submitted at the 1536/37 Diet and in the opinion about them issued by the Prussian Council. The commissioners were
[4 ] From the mid-15th century the Warmia Chapter presented every bishop elect with election capitulations (the articuli iurati) for him to sign. These obligated the bishop to defend the rights and privileges of the Church in Warmia and to recognize that the Chapter and the bishop were partners in managing the diocese. The capitulations also concerned more detailed issues of finances and jurisdiction. (cf. cf. BORAWSKA 1984 p. 75, 76, 209 ⌊Borawska, 1984, p. 75, 76, 209cf. BORAWSKA 1984 p. 75, 76, 209 ⌋ (also further references there), and also Articuli iurati Episcopi Ioannis Dantisci (copy from the 16th/17th century AAWO, Dok.Kap.A4/36))
[5 ] The Royal Prussian gentry’s legation to the 1536/37 Diet included: Chełmno district judge
[6 ] For more about the written opinion of the Prussian Council legation on the gravamina, presented to the king - see cf.
[7 ] Georg von Baysen was to be in the Prussian Council’s legation to the 1536/37 Diet, but did not go because of illness (cf.cf. MAŁŁEK 1976 p. 134 ⌊ Małłek, 1976, p. 134cf. MAŁŁEK 1976 p. 134 ⌋)
[8 ] Pamphilus de Strassoldo as the papal nuntio was present at the Cracow Diet from November 18 to ca. December 15, 1536. One of his main tasks was to give the bishops the papal bullae and brevia convening a General Church Council (see also cf.
[9 ] Just as Dantiscus expected, the General Council called by Pope Paul III in 1536 in Mantua and in 1537 inVicenza did not take place due to the political situation. The Council was ultimately held in 1545 (the Council of Trent)
[10 ] One of Dantiscus’ brothers –
[12 ] feria sexta ante Invocavit – February 16, 1537
[13 ] In fact, Paweł Wolski was appointed Vice-Chancellor; he was the Gostynin starosta and Sochaczew castellan; the name Iacob probably found its way into the text by mistake; acc. to printed lists of officials based on entriesin the books of the Crown Register, Wolski was nominated for the post of Vice-Chancellor on January 3, 1537, and not, as Dantiscus states, February 16 (cf. cf. Urzędnicy 10 No. 635 ⌊UrzCentrPol No.635cf. Urzędnicy 10 No. 635 ⌋)
[14 ] vas du kanst, dos thu – Old German: Was du kannst, das tu, (Eng.: Do what you can)