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Letter #177

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Piotr TOMICKI
Valladolid, 1523-02-25


Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, BNW, BOZ, 2053, TG 4, No. 404, f. 168-169
2copy in Latin, 16th-century, BJ, 6557, f. 84v-85r
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 35 (TN), No. 123, p. 463-468
4copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 274, No. 80, p. 99-101

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8241 (TK 3), a.1523, f. 5

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Reverendissimo in Christo patri et domino, domino Piotr Tomicki (*1464 – †1535), humanist, statesman, diplomat, one of the most trusted collaborators of King Sigismund I of Poland; 1500-1503 Chancellor of Cardinal Fryderyk Jagiellon, 1502 Gniezno Cantor, Archdeacon of Cracow, 1503-1505 servant of Jan Lubrański, Bishop of Poznań, 1504-1510 Canon of Poznań, 1506 royal scribe, 1507-1519 Grand(?) Secretary, 1509 Canon of Włocławek, 1510-1514 - of Gniezno, 1511 Custos in Kielce and Sandomierz, 1514 Bishop of Przemyśl; 1515 Crown Vice-Chancellor, 1520 Bishop of Poznań, 1523 - of Cracow; from 1524 (at least) General Collector of świętopietrze (Peter's pence), 1509 royal envoy to the Dukes of Pomerania and to Mecklenburg, 1510 - to Wallachia, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513 - to Hungary (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 268)⌊Petro dei gratia episcopo [Posn]aniensi et regni Poloniae [vicecanc]ellarioPiotr Tomicki (*1464 – †1535), humanist, statesman, diplomat, one of the most trusted collaborators of King Sigismund I of Poland; 1500-1503 Chancellor of Cardinal Fryderyk Jagiellon, 1502 Gniezno Cantor, Archdeacon of Cracow, 1503-1505 servant of Jan Lubrański, Bishop of Poznań, 1504-1510 Canon of Poznań, 1506 royal scribe, 1507-1519 Grand(?) Secretary, 1509 Canon of Włocławek, 1510-1514 - of Gniezno, 1511 Custos in Kielce and Sandomierz, 1514 Bishop of Przemyśl; 1515 Crown Vice-Chancellor, 1520 Bishop of Poznań, 1523 - of Cracow; from 1524 (at least) General Collector of świętopietrze (Peter's pence), 1509 royal envoy to the Dukes of Pomerania and to Mecklenburg, 1510 - to Wallachia, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513 - to Hungary (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 268)⌋, domino meo gratiosissimo

Reverendissime in Christo pater et domine, domine gratiosissime, Post humillimam servitiorum meorum commendationem.

Accepi una cum 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⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund 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⌋ cf. Piotr TOMICKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS [Vilnius], [1522-09-20], CIDTC IDL 153⌊litterascf. Piotr TOMICKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS [Vilnius], [1522-09-20], CIDTC IDL 153⌋ Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae Vilnius (Wilno, Vilna), city in Lithuania, on the Vilnia river, capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania⌊VilnaeVilnius (Wilno, Vilna), city in Lithuania, on the Vilnia river, capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania⌋ 1522-09-20⌊XX Semptembris1522-09-20⌋ datas, ex quibus intellexi cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon Wiener Neustadt, 1522-07-04, CIDTC IDL 154, probably⌊meascf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon Wiener Neustadt, 1522-07-04, CIDTC IDL 154, probably⌋ ex Wiener Neustadt (Nova Civitas Austriae), city in eastern Austria, ca. 50 km S of Vienna⌊Nova Civitate AustriaeWiener Neustadt (Nova Civitas Austriae), city in eastern Austria, ca. 50 km S of Vienna⌋ et cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Piotr TOMICKI Nuremberg, ca. 1522-07-28, CIDTC IDL 7032, letter lost, probably⌊alterascf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Piotr TOMICKI Nuremberg, ca. 1522-07-28, CIDTC IDL 7032, letter lost, probably⌋ ex Nuremberg (Nürnberg, Norimberga), city in Germany, Bavaria⌊NurnbergaNuremberg (Nürnberg, Norimberga), city in Germany, Bavaria⌋ missas tempestive fuisse redditas et quod ea, quae apud serenissimum Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌊archiducem AustriaeFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌋ et reverendissimum dominum Matthäus Lang (*1469 – †1540), statesman, trusted counsellor to Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg; 1505-1522 Bishop of Gurk; 1510-1540 Bishop of Cartagena; 1512 elevated to Cardinal (from 1511 in pectore); 1512-1519 Coadjutor of the archbishopric of Salzburg; 1519-1540 Archbishop of Salzburg⌊cardinalem SalczburgensemMatthäus Lang (*1469 – †1540), statesman, trusted counsellor to Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg; 1505-1522 Bishop of Gurk; 1510-1540 Bishop of Cartagena; 1512 elevated to Cardinal (from 1511 in pectore); 1512-1519 Coadjutor of the archbishopric of Salzburg; 1519-1540 Archbishop of Salzburg⌋ egerim, serenissimae maiestati regiae et Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae accepta fuerint. Quanto me hoc gaudio affecerit, scribi nequit. Praeterea quod Tartari, de quorum adventu adhuc ante meam a maiestate regia expeditionem rumor fuit, non audebant progredi, sed in suis stationibus se continere cogebantur et nullas in terras nostras incursiones fecerint, quemadmodum hic fabulabatur, mirum in modum me exhilaravit. Timebam enim, cum magis non habeam, ne in sacello mihi a Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima impetrato damnum fieret, neque abs re, hoc namque mihi et regnum et imperium est. Summe mihi etiam placuit, quod indutiae, quae prius caesar divae memoriae multis legationibus et labore cum Moscis facere non potuit, ad quinquennium nullo externo principe interveniente sint confectae. Contulique me subinde ad maiestatem caesaream et in primis maiestatis regiae litteras, de quibus ne iota quidem mihi scriptum fuerat, reddidi, hasque novitates, modis quibus in rem nostram potui commodioribus, exposui.

Refricui etiam omnes difficultates priores et operas divi olim Maximiliani caesaris ad bellum cum Moscis reponendum frustra habitas et quod tandem metu adducti per exercitum, quem maiestatem regiam in Lituania habuisse hic gloriabar, indutias ultro quaesiverint. Fuit haec novitas maiestati caesareae et omnibus grata fecique inter alia iterum pro concordia Christiana ineunda quandam adhortationem, nam per speculum (confiteor industriam non convenit, ut dicatur falsitas) ex alio latere hoc maiestatem regiam in suis litteris flagitare cognoveram fuitque id multum expeditioni meae opportunum, utpote, cum legatione mea conveniens, sicut in responso ad illas, quod mecum est, liquido apparebit. Recensui etiam omnia, quae ab infidelibus et praesertim Tartaris, cum praeter spem terras nostras ingrediuntur, fieri solent, quid desuper responsum et quid hinc sperandum, abunde ex meis ad maiestatem regiam intellegit, cui ne amplius litteras, sed sicut mihi Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima iniungit, ingens volumen scripsi, timeoque, ne Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima tam longas meas ineptias legendo taedio afficiatur; feci quod mandatum est. Et ut serenissima maiestas regia omnes meas actiones hic habitas, etiam, quod Deus avertat, me perdito scire posset, congessi cuncta, quae hic tractavi et quae mihi responsa sunt, non secus ac si coram de singulis relationem facerem. Cum autem interdum, dum pauca scribuntur, omnia placere nequeant, vereor, ne cum tam multa, etiam de rebus minimis, exaraverim, multa inveniantur, quae displiceant. Ea tamen omnia singulari gratiae erga me et incomparabili prudentiae Dominationis Vestrae Reverendissimae commisi. Hoc quod potui, fortassis non quod debui, feci, videor mihi nihilominus, si quicquam est, quod in tam longis logis non satisfaciat, non indignus venia, cum id quod rudi hac mea ratione comprehendere potui, egerim. Nunc nihil restat aliud, quam quod has cum primis sequar, sollicito reliquam expeditionis meae continue et cum quadam aliquando importunitate, nescio tamen, quando adhuc ex hoc labyrintho absolvar. Non est hic ea, quae apud nos consuetudo, quod orator dicta legatione et accepto responso statim abeat. Si quis hic vult habere responsum sine responso, hoc modo agere possit. Responsa mihi hic data non omnia placuerunt neque rebus, in quibus missus sum, conveniebant. Fuerunt etiam in tractatibus non semel variata, donec mihi rectam metam attingere videbantur. Egi igitur Valladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌊hicValladolid (Vallisoletum, Oleti vallis), city in central Spain, Castile and León, on the Pisuerga river⌋ non oratorem, sed potius rabulam vel alicuius litigiosi fori procuratorem. Quod vero ego expeditionem hic meam non ultro protraxerim, potest testari viaticum, quod huc mecum advexi. Quale id fuerit, ex novissimis accepit, quare hinc non nisi graviter obaeratus discedere possum, cum nullam in litteris regiis ulterioris provisionis spem invenerim et in futuris sperem et desperem. Sic mihi est in fatis. Quapropter Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae humiliter supplico, dignetur huius mei exilii rationem habere et apud 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⌋ efficere, ut fides mea a The Fuggers German family of merchants and bankers that dominated European business during the 15th and 16th centuries⌊FuggarisThe Fuggers German family of merchants and bankers that dominated European business during the 15th and 16th centuries⌋ redimatur. Nisi mihi vetus cum illis fuisset notitia, qualis hic fuissem arator et quid expedivissem, facile poterit coniectari. Quam etiam libenter hic in iis sordibus tam diu immoraverim et quas hic voluptates habuerim, Deo meo notum est. Qui si mihi, ut spero, dederit hanc gratiam, ut aliquando redire possim, paucis contentus deinceps, si possibile est, me continebo, gaudebo minus et minus dolebo. Quaeso Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima non gravate hoc, quod conqueror, ferat, cum ego id, quod gravius est, patientia vinco, ea patientia, si non puderet, qua interdum et nunc vix mihi a lacrimis tempero. Non est leve negotium, quod octingentis miliariis nostris a domino meo desertus porto et sic ulterius portabo Deo Optimo Maximo favente, quod neque serenissimo domino meo neque mihi futurum sit, nisi honestum, si etiam domi Arnaeus (Irus, Iros), a beggar from Ithaca, secondary character of the The Odyssey⌊IrusArnaeus (Irus, Iros), a beggar from Ithaca, secondary character of the The Odyssey⌋ vel Job the central character of the Book of Job in the Bible⌊JobJob the central character of the Book of Job in the Bible⌋ aliquis reputari et irrideri debeam. Sed de iis iterum satis.

Quae hic aguntur satis, ut aestimo, copiose serenissimae maiestati regiae descripsi. Hoc tamen obiter addam, nihil hic esse, quod certam aliquam spem rebus Christianis sic inclinatis ferre possit, cum omnia istis bellis sic sint perplexa et omnia, quibus contra infideles aliquid agi debent, huiusmodi intestinis turbis usque ad ossa sic absumantur, quod vix umquam vel adminiculum aliquod, si etiam nunc pereundum esset, sit sperandum. Admisit hoc regnum caesari visa tanta egestate, qua premitur, quod possit terras et bona a regno perpetuo vendere, quae de reditibus annuis XXV milia ducatorum habere feruntur, ut ambitioni satisfieret.

Quae se postea offerent antequam hinc vadam, ut serenissima maiestas regia de omnibus certior reddatur, iterum scribam et curabo, quod post meum abitum cum primis postis mittantur. Commendo me humillime Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae illique suppliciter supplico, ut in ista apud nos statuum permutatione, si quid meritis meis conveniens videbitur, mei non obliviscatur, habitura me servum perpetuum et mancipium. Deus omnipotens efficiat, ut Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam in eo statu brevi videam, quem illi sedulo ex corde precari soleo.