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
BCz, 244, p. 193Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, Domine et Amice carissime ac plurimum observande.
Post novissimas meas satis prolixas, quas, utcumque fessus adhuc ex itinere male pinxi, accepi a meo unas et alteras a nuntio Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae, ms 2 3 4 qui,
ms 1 q[ui] paper damaged⌈quims 2 3 4 qui,
ms 1 q[ui] paper damaged⌉ heri applicuit,
ex quibus mentem Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae, quemadmodum mihi visum est, plane intellexi. Quod in primis scribit se non parum
perplexam
moleste ferre interpretationem de indigenis nostris Cracoviae factam, iure quidem id ms 2 3 4 facit,
ms 1 fac[it] paper damaged⌈facitms 2 3 4 facit,
ms 1 fac[it] paper damaged⌉ Dominatio vestra Reverendissima, nollem tamen, ut hoc ipsum gravius, quam ms 2 3 4 oportet,
ms 1 oporte[t] paper damaged⌈oportetms 2 3 4 oportet,
ms 1 oporte[t] paper damaged⌉, in animum admitteret, quandoquidem communi ea in re habito consilio, quid responderi expediet et oporteat, Deo intellectum praestantes inveniemus.
In alteris quod scribit Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima consultius fore, ut conventus futurus propter temporis angusti intercapedinem in Marienburgo loco solito relinquatur, minime reluctarer, si Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima certo posset adesse, cuius praesentia tum ms 2 3 4 maximopere,
ms 1 maxim[o]pere paper damaged⌈maximoperems 2 3 4 maximopere,
ms 1 maxim[o]pere paper damaged⌉ respublica nostra opus habitura est. Si vero res, ut nuper in Elbingo, non succederet, nollem ego eam molem, quae nobis incumbit, in Marienburgo solus ms 2 3 4 ferre,
ms 1 fer[re] paper damaged⌈ferrems 2 3 4 ferre,
ms 1 fer[re] paper damaged⌉ – solus, inquam, sine Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima, cum multa eaque ms 2 3 4 ardua,
ms 1 a[r]dua paper damaged⌈arduams 2 3 4 ardua,
ms 1 a[r]dua paper damaged⌉ in rebus nostris publicis se offerent. Neque opinor dominos Polonos ad nos venturos Thoroniam praetergressuros. Quicquid ea in re maiestas regia statuerit, ferendum est.
De litteris a maiestate regia ms 4 praemittendis,
ms 1 praemittendi[s] paper damaged,
ms 2 3 permittendis⌈praemittendisms 4 praemittendis,
ms 1 praemittendi[s] paper damaged,
ms 2 3 permittendis⌉, etiam si uno die, priusquam conventus celebretur, ms 2 3 4 nobilitati,
ms 1 nobili[ta]ti paper damaged⌈nobilitatims 2 3 4 nobilitati,
ms 1 nobili[ta]ti paper damaged⌉ et civibus reddantur, satisfactum putabo, cum prius sciant tempus futuri conventus et causas a ma(iesta)tibus paper damaged⌈[ibus]ibus paper damaged⌉ r(egiis) utrisque Cracoviae designatas. Ceterum, ut ms 2 3 4 locus,
ms 1 locu[s] paper damaged⌈locusms 2 3 4 locus,
ms 1 locu[s] paper damaged⌉ sciatur, necessarium esse arbitror. Ego me ms 2 3 4 velim,
ms 1 veli[m] paper damaged⌈velimms 2 3 4 velim,
ms 1 veli[m] paper damaged⌉ et a tempore et loco esse liberum, cum in nullum magis quam in me unum ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉, si superinscribed⌈sisi superinscribed⌉ sine Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima praesum, omne odium et malorum hominum iniqua calumnia on the margin⌈omne odium et malorum hominum iniqua calumniaomne odium et malorum hominum iniqua calumnia on the margin⌉ conici soleat. Unde et me velim aegritudine ms 2 3 4 quapiam,
ms 1 quapia[m] paper damaged⌈quapiamms 2 3 4 quapiam,
ms 1 quapia[m] paper damaged⌉ praepediri, ut sine iis turbis ms 2 3 4 quoquomodo,
ms 1 quoquomo[do] paper damaged⌈quoquomodoms 2 3 4 quoquomodo,
ms 1 quoquomo[do] paper damaged⌉, quod vitae reliquum est mihi, transigere superinscribed in place of crossed-out vivere⌈viveretransigeretransigere superinscribed in place of crossed-out vivere⌉ liceret, utpote ms 2 3 4 non,
ms 1 n[on] paper damaged⌈nonms 2 3 4 non,
ms 1 n[on] paper damaged⌉ admodum vitae, cuius me saepe cepit taedium, avido ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ etc.
A domino Ioanne Czimmerman nullas accepi, quae si oblatae on the margin⌈oblataeoblatae on the margin⌉ ms 2 3 4 tempus,
ms 1 t[empus] paper damaged⌈tempusms 2 3 4 tempus,
ms 1 t[empus] paper damaged⌉, quo adiri debeam, a me postulaverint, non ms 2 3 4 gravate,
ms 1 grava[te] paper damaged⌈gravatems 2 3 4 gravate,
ms 1 grava[te] paper damaged⌉ praestabo. In articulis sic me geram, ut Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima consuluit superinscribed in place of crossed-out erit⌈erititit superinscribed in place of crossed-out erit⌉ atque voluit written over erit⌈erititit written over erit⌉.
Poscit a me Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima exemplum responsi nobilitati a maiestate regia dati. Quod ex superinscribed⌈exex superinscribed⌉ ms 2 3 4 scripto,
ms 1 script[o] paper damaged⌈scriptoms 2 3 4 scripto,
ms 1 script[o] paper damaged⌉ non fuit prolatum, sed reverendissimus dominus Plocensis ex quibusdam annotatiunculis in margine nostrae consultationis, cuius Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae misi copiam superinscribed in place of crossed-out exemplum⌈exemplumcopiamcopiam superinscribed in place of crossed-out exemplum⌉, additis verbo dumtaxat a maiestate regia respondit, neque usu in aula regia receptum est, ut istiusmodi responsa scripto firmentur. Quae Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae scripsi ita, ut omnes audivimus, sic ea superinscribed⌈sic easic ea superinscribed⌉ in notitiam Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae deduxi. Ea, quae magnificus dominus palatinus Marienburgensis Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae misit, ad eum a domino Ioanne a Werden ex nostra omnino mente, ut ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam perferrentur on the margin⌈ut ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam perferrenturut ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam perferrentur on the margin⌉, fuerunt missa.
De concilio nihil est quod boni sperare debeam. Fuit, ut prius scripsi, Cracoviae nuntius quidam pontificis, qui ad minimum tribus mensibus, priusquam certo concilium Mantuae constitui debuit, pollicitus est pontificem id Regni praelatis denuntiaturum. Quod hucusque neque successit, neque quando succedere debeat, sciri potest superinscribed⌈sciri potestsciri potest superinscribed⌉ stantibus his inter caesarem et Gallum bellis, qui in Christianos omnem Turcarum vim induxit, cuius ad praesens non parva pars esse written over t⌈tsese written over t⌉ in Hungaria fertur, maxime autem in Germaniam on the margin⌈maxime autem in Germaniammaxime autem in Germaniam on the margin⌉ inducere conatur.
Equos Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae hinc integros ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam mitto cum summa, qua possum, gratiarum actione, atque utinam istiusmodi profectio numquam mihi ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ deinceps sit necessaria, a qua, quantum possum, cum damno factus cautior, me continebo in posterum. Hoc unum laudis a nostris nobilibus obtinui, quod dicor impensis Gdanensium hanc totam meam profectionem, in qua supra trium mensium spatium absumpsi et on the margin⌈in qua supra trium mensium superinscribed in place of crossed-out super tres menses⌈super tres mensesin qua supra trium mensiumin qua supra trium mensium superinscribed in place of crossed-out super tres menses⌉ spatium absumpsi etin qua supra trium mensium spatium absumpsi et on the margin⌉ in qua praeter decem equites (erant enim plures) superinscribed in place of crossed-out quinquaginta⌈quinquaginta(erant enim plures)(erant enim plures) superinscribed in place of crossed-out quinquaginta⌉ quadraginta equos alui, transegisse. Nihilominus tamen nulli quam Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae debeo, cui immensas ago gratias, quod adhuc pacientiam mecum habeat ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉. Si eam pecuniam a fratre meo Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima superinscribed⌈Dominatio Vestra ReverendissimaDominatio Vestra Reverendissima superinscribed⌉ accepisset, iam illam Fuggaris, quibus ea satisfeci, deberem, neque illos frustrarer superinscribed in place of crossed-out essent brevi frustratos⌈essent brevi frustratosfrustrarerfrustrarer superinscribed in place of crossed-out essent brevi frustratos⌉, licet per duos annos sese subsequentes graves impensas fecerim. Nihilo secius tamen on the margin in place of crossed-out Et Deo gratia⌈Et Deo gratia[...] hidden by binding⌈[...][...] hidden by binding⌉ licet per duos annos sese subsequentes graves impensas fecerim. Nihilo secius tamen licet per duos annos sese subsequentes graves impensas fecerim. Nihilo secius tamen on the margin in place of crossed-out Et Deo gratia⌉, modo domi manere liceret superinscribed in place of crossed-out possem⌈possemliceretliceret superinscribed in place of crossed-out possem⌉, nihil mihi in gratia Dei deesset vel deesse posset. Dominus providebit on the margin⌈ms 2 3 4 Dominus,
ms 1 [Do](mi)nus⌈Dominusms 2 3 4 Dominus,
ms 1 [Do](mi)nus⌉ providebitDominus providebit on the margin⌉ etc.
Sigillum maius datum est feria sexta ante Invocavit reverendissimo domino Plocensi, minus domino Iacob castellano Gostinensi. Copiam superinscribed in place of crossed-out s⌈smm superinscribed in place of crossed-out s⌉ litterarum ratione iuramenti, quas dominus palatinus Pomeraniae attulit, his ms 2 3 4 adiunctas,
ms 1 adiunctam⌈adiunctasms 2 3 4 adiunctas,
ms 1 adiunctam⌉ mitto. Quod reliquum est, me paterno Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae amori ex corde commendo Deumque precor, ut illam quam
diutissime sospitet prosperetque in omnibus.
Lubaviae, X Martii MDXXXVII
Postscript:
BCz, 244, p. 194Reverendissime mi Domine. In scheda prioribus litteris, quas nuper nuntius meus attulit, inclusa ms. inclusis(!) ⌈inclusainclusa ms. inclusis(!) ⌉ 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 Irum quempiam existimant ac {ac} aestimant, cum in Dei gratia omnia mihi suppetant, et me Croesum esse arbitror, non excedens, quod ioco mihi Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima scripsit pro paroemia “vas du kanst, dos thu”, hunc modum hucusque in magnis rebus et expensis satis longo tempore versatus in debito servavi tenore servaturusque, porro pro paterna admonitione gratias habeo immensas, illamque et consilium Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae secutus sum in omnibus. Cui me iterum iterumque commendo.