Letter #1770
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Diego GRACIÁN de AldereteLöbau (Lubawa), 1537-11-16
English register: IN LETTER: Dantiscus is replying to Gracián’s letter. He explains that his reply comes late because he was waiting in vain for a reaction to his proposals, presented to a few friends and Isabel (Delgada), concerning the future of his daughter (Juana Dantisca). Dantiscus writes that he presumes Gracián knows about his letter to Isabel on this matter. He accuses Isabel of wanting to sell his own child to him, which is why he considers her to be mentally deranged. He notes that Isabel’s offer can be understood as questioning his fatherhood (“after all, who would buy something they knew was their own?”). Dantiscus writes that he wishes Gracián well, so he will not oppose his marriage (to Juana Dantisca), even though it was agreed upon without asking his consent. He promises that after the sacrament is fulfilled, he will also offer his material support. He reminds Gracián that in view of the bride’s young age he should take care of her upbringing and education. To Gracián’s request that he obtain, from the Polish king, the function of representative of the Kingdom of Poland at the imperial court for him, Dantiscus replies that this function is currently filled by Dantiscus’ aide from the times of his diplomatic service, Fabian (Wojanowski), whom Isabel knows and Gracián surely does too. Dantiscus promises to write to him to contact Gracián on the matter of helping him with his duties. Dantiscus refuses to pay Isabel an annual salary because she did not accept his terms. However, he asks Gracián to pay her 20 ducats that he will reimburse him for when the opportunity arises. He declares that if Isabel were to abandon her current licentious lifestyle, she can expect annual support from him, but he doubts if such a change of nature is possible. Dantiscus states that he has no time to write a longer letter because he is currently arranging to send money to Rome to pay for the confirmation of his election to Warmia bishop. He notes that the Warmia diocese to which he is transferring is three times wealthier than the Chełmno diocese. IN POSTSCRIPT: Dantiscus refuses to pay his daughter a dowry. He argues that he would incur a double loss – her marriage to Gracián means he will be separated forever from his child. Dantiscus claims that if Isabel had agreed to send his daughter to him without demanding money for this, he would have supported her financially so that she wouldn’t be forced to continue to make a living from prostitution, and would have remembered her in his testament as well, and found a worthy husband for his aughter. However, he declares that he will offer as much support as he can to Gracián and Juana once the marriage is consummated. In very bitter words, he supposes that despite the bride’s young age this has probably already happened. He promises that he will soon send his daughter a gift that will serve as a memento of her father.
Manuscript sources:
Prints:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
BCz, 244, p. 309Ioannes de Curiis Dantiscus, episcopus Culmensis etc. et ad ecclesiam Varmiensem postulatus etc. Domino Iacobo Graciano salutem.
Quod litteris tuis, quas, si recte meminimus, trinis exemplis accepimus on the margin⌈quas, si recte meminimus, trinis exemplis accepimusquas, si recte meminimus, trinis exemplis accepimus on the margin⌉, hucusque non rescripserimus, in causa fuit expectatio responsi ad nostras written over meas⌈measnostrasnostras written over meas⌉,
quas ad quosdam amicos nostros et ad ipsam Isabellam, matrem sponsae tuae, dederamus, quandoquidem iis mentem nostram de illa et filia declaravimus – quod neque te porro, ut arbitramur, latere potuit – persuadentes nobis litteras manu nostra scriptas et a domino Ehingero matri superinscribed⌈matrimatri superinscribed⌉ redditas te legisse. Ad eas
ne iota quidem illa rescribi nobis curavit, neque in praesens cum iis, quas cum tuis misit superinscribed in place of crossed-out accepimus⌈accepimusmisitmisit superinscribed in place of crossed-out accepimus⌉, respondit, non secus atque si numquam recepisset, connivens nimirum supina aure ad ea, quae nos, ut serio sciremus, tum ex nostra, tum etiam ex re illius esse putavimus, quasi vero multam Circeam bibisset mandragoram. Atqui longe fuisset illi utilius superinscribed in place of crossed-out expressius⌈expressiusutiliusutilius superinscribed in place of crossed-out expressius⌉ commodiusque, si poto elleboro nostris admonitionibus paruisset, verum imprudens mulier id ut nobis ut alienum venum ire et praesenti pecunia voluit, quod prius nostrum esse confirmabat. Quis autem adeo
stupidus et bardus est(?), ut id, quod suum est, sciens emat? Eoque nobis, qui alias in malum minime suspicaces esse solemus, quiddam gravioris opinionis, et fortassis non incertae nec, non sine pungente scrupulo iniecit. Quam quidem opinionem per tuas litteras initumque coniugium, quod tibi et novae nuptae felix faustumque esse optamus, adimi nobis non gravate sustinemus, utpote pro tuis virtutibus eruditioneque non vulgari atque pro veteri nostra in te propensione tibi volentes optime, hancque amicam in te nostram cogitationem et voluntatem consum{m}ato modis legitimis matrimonio non obscure agnosces, reque ipsa experieris. Tu modo, quod facis interim, cura, ut tibi honestis moribus pro paterno tuoque decore coniunx in ea qua est aetate educetur ac instituatur. Ceterum, quod hinc petis stipendium pro negotiis nostris in aula vestra obeundis, non tibi deesset opera adminiculumque nostrum, verum hoc tempore nobilis quidam ex nostratibus Fabianus, qui nobis, cum oratorio fungeremur munere in Hispaniis, aliquot annis inservivit, Isabellae non incognitus et tibi fortasse notus, hanc gerit provinciam. Illi scribemus, ut tecum super iis cum ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ faciet conferat tecumque dispiciat, quod ex tuo negociorumque superinscribed⌈queque superinscribed⌉ tractandorum usu esse possit. Aureus De annua pensione non est q(uo)d quod Isabellae debemus, cum oblatam toties superinscribed⌈totiestoties superinscribed⌉ condicionem non susceperit. Si nostris obsecuta fuisset me(?) non iniquis monitis ex pacto secundum pactum, quod inire cum illa voluimus, admisisset, iam quod quereretur et de quo
sera ducitur paenitudine, non haberet. Nihilo secius tamen, licet spes non sit, ut
licentioris
centioris
institutum
institutum
vitae on the margin in place of crossed-out vitae genus⌈vitae genusms 2 3 4 licentioris,
ms 1 [...]centioris paper damaged⌈licentiorisms 2 3 4 licentioris,
ms 1 [...]centioris paper damaged⌉ ms 2 3 4 institutum,
ms 1 institu[t]um paper damaged⌈institutumms 2 3 4 institutum,
ms 1 institu[t]um paper damaged⌉ vitae
licentioris
centioris
institutum
institutum
vitae on the margin in place of crossed-out vitae genus⌉ turpi consuetudine, cuius maxima est written over ...⌈... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉estest written over ...⌉ vis, conflatum superinscribed in place of crossed-out conquisitum⌈conquisitumconflatumconflatum superinscribed in place of crossed-out conquisitum⌉ relinquere possit, poteris tamen superinscribed⌈tamentamen superinscribed⌉ illi nostro nomine superinscribed⌈nostro nominenostro nomine superinscribed⌉ viginti numerare aureos, quos tibi per oportunitatem reddi faciemus, quibus si
intra pelliculam redierit rediens
hones
BCz, 244, p. 310
tati iniciari ceperit, quottannis subsidii aliquid a nobis ms 2 3 4 tuto,
ms 1 tut[o] paper damaged⌈tutoms 2 3 4 tuto,
ms 1 tut[o] paper damaged⌉ expectabit. At veremur quod superinscribed⌈quodquod superinscribed⌉, quemadmodum
vulpes quod superinscribed⌈quodquod superinscribed⌉ pilos quidem accedente aetate on the margin⌈accedente aetateaccedente aetate on the margin⌉ sit mutatura, sarta tecta atque integra manente natura. Non est aliud, quod conquisite in praesentia ad te ms 2 3 4 scribamus,
ms 1 scrib[amus] paper damaged⌈scribamusms 2 3 4 scribamus,
ms 1 scrib[amus] paper damaged⌉ occupati auro ad urbem mittendo, quo confirmationem ms 2 3 4 postulationis,
ms 1 post[u]lationis paper damaged⌈postulationisms 2 3 4 postulationis,
ms 1 post[u]lationis paper damaged⌉ seu superinscribed in place of crossed-out ac⌈acseuseu superinscribed in place of crossed-out ac⌉ translationis hinc nostrae ad ecclesiam Varmiensem, quae est on the margin⌈quae estquae est on the margin⌉ pinguioris in triplo fortunae, quam haec nostra est, emere cogimur. Bene vale, et amicis, qui written over ae⌈aeii written over ae⌉ te suis litteris nobis ms 2 3 4 commendarunt,
ms 1 comm[en]darunt paper damaged⌈commendaruntms 2 3 4 commendarunt,
ms 1 comm[en]darunt paper damaged⌉ plurima nostro nomine salute impartire.
Ex castro nostro Lubaviensi, XVI Novembris anno Domini ms. Anodomini(!) ⌈anno Dominianno Domini ms. Anodomini(!) ⌉ MDXXXVII.
Postscript:
BCz, 244, p. 294
Non abs re et hoc, mi Graciane, in tuam notitiam deducendum existimavi, ne de me in posterum ms 2 3 4 quoquo,
ms 1 qu[o]quo paper damaged⌈quoquoms 2 3 4 quoquo,
ms 1 qu[o]quo paper damaged⌉ modo conqueri possis, quod ratione dotis, ms 2 3 4 quam,
ms 1 qu[am] paper damaged⌈quamms 2 3 4 quam,
ms 1 qu[am] paper damaged⌉ tibi fortassis amplam de me, nihil debebo, matris potissimum on the margin⌈potissimumpotissimum on the margin⌉ causa imprimis, quae puellam bonis et ms 2 3 4 commodis,
ms 1 comm[o]dis paper damaged⌈commodisms 2 3 4 commodis,
ms 1 comm[o]dis paper damaged⌉ invitata condicionibus ad me mittere semper est reluctata, nisi prius ducentos praesenti pecunia a me haberet ducatos. Hanc cum illa exercere mercaturam indignissimum iudicavi, eaque animum meum longe a se
et filia abdicavit. Si illa minime ms 2 3 4 fucato,
ms 1 fucat[o] paper damaged⌈fucatoms 2 3 4 fucato,
ms 1 fucat[o] paper damaged⌉ candori meo, quem olim sine omni labe cognovit et integrum superinscribed in place of crossed-out ulla labe ... semper fuit experta⌈ulla labe ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ semper fuit expertaomni labe cognovit et integrumomni labe cognovit et integrum superinscribed in place of crossed-out ulla labe ... semper fuit experta⌉, credidisset, iampridem vel per dominum Albertum Kuon, aut per compatrem meum dominum Ulricum Ehinger on the margin⌈vel per dominum Albertum Kuon, aut per superinscribed⌈perper superinscribed⌉ compatrem meum dominum Ulricum Ehingervel per dominum Albertum Kuon, aut per compatrem meum dominum Ulricum Ehinger on the margin⌉ ad me dedisset filiam, contemplatione cuius matris non fuissem oblitus, curassemque vita mea durante et hinc superinscribed⌈hinchinc superinscribed⌉ ex testamento, si on the margin in place of crossed-out quod illi⌈quod illisisi on the margin in place of crossed-out quod illi⌉ Deo inservire voluisset superinscribed in place of crossed-out inserviendo⌈inserviendoinservire voluissetinservire voluisset superinscribed in place of crossed-out inserviendo⌉, ad quod eni(m)(?) servitium atque ad honestatem
amplectendam ms. amplectandam(!)
⌈amplectendam or amplexandam⌈amplectendamamplectendam or amplexandam⌉amplectendam ms. amplectandam(!)
⌉
hortatus sum eam superinscribed⌈eameam superinscribed⌉ semper, quod illi superinscribed⌈quod illiquod illi superinscribed⌉ omnia ad victum
sine corporis questu, quo abusa est turpiter,
3.7.45-46Credo etiam magnos, quo sum tam turpiter usus, muneris oblati paenituisse deos
39.72deliciae, quibus es turpiter usa satis
on the margin⌈
sine superinscribed in place of crossed-out relicto⌈relictosinesine superinscribed in place of crossed-out relicto⌉ corporis questu, quo abusa est turpiter,
sine corporis questu, quo abusa est turpiter,
3.7.45-46Credo etiam magnos, quo sum tam turpiter usus, muneris oblati paenituisse deos
39.72deliciae, quibus es turpiter usa satis
on the margin⌉ suffecissent necessaria. Neque sponsae tuae hic sponsus
defuisset. Atqui nunc illam, cum ms 2 3 4 tanto,
ms 1 tant[o] paper damaged⌈tantoms 2 3 4 tanto,
ms 1 tant[o] paper damaged⌉ a me intervallo dissideat, neque spes est videndi eam umquam, non secus atque si in vivis non esset mihi venit existimanda.
Quicquid ex ea voluptatis paternae mihi debebatur, tu praeripuisti, et, cum
sic superis visum est, iam me non invito on the margin⌈iam me non invitoiam me non invito on the margin⌉ tibi eam habe. Quod si adhuc dos esset mittenda, duplici afficerer damno, et tu commodo duplici. Satis sit igitur tibi in uno, cum mihi ex illa cedit nullum. Nihilo tamen secius, postquam consumaveris matrimonium superinscribed⌈matrimoniummatrimonium superinscribed⌉, quod fortassis, ut estis ad libidinem procliviores on the margin⌈ut estis ad libidinem superinscribed in place of crossed-out ...⌈... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉libidinemlibidinem superinscribed in place of crossed-out ...⌉ proclivioresut estis ad libidinem procliviores on the margin⌉ supra aetatem written over ...⌈... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉aetatemaetatem written over ...⌉, iam superinscribed⌈iamiam superinscribed⌉ factum est matrimonium, non deerit tibi et illi, ubi possum superinscribed⌈ubi possumubi possum superinscribed⌉, beneficentia mea ubi possum atque, adeoque superinscribed⌈queque superinscribed⌉ et per oportunitatem on the margin⌈per oportunitatemper oportunitatem on the margin⌉ munificentia. Haec ideo liberius et superinscribed⌈liberius etliberius et superinscribed⌉ apertius tecum ago, ne ms 2 3 4 suspicari,
ms 1 s[uspicari] paper damaged⌈suspicarims 2 3 4 suspicari,
ms 1 s[uspicari] paper damaged⌉ de me ad aliud atque aliud causari possis, rebus et fortunis tuis alias libenter commodaturus. Iterum bene vale sponsaque tua, quam meo nomine salutabis inque superinscribed⌈queque superinscribed⌉ Dei timore et amore fruere. Paulo post illi mittam sponsa tua, quam meo nomine salutabis, fruere. Mittam illi paulo post, quo se et oblectare, meique memoriam ms 2 3 4 habere,
ms 1 [...] paper damaged⌈haberems 2 3 4 habere,
ms 1 [...] paper damaged⌉ possit[5]. Datum ut in litteris.
[5 ] Probably the gift in question is a medallion with Dantiscus’ likeness, sent to Juana (cf.Johan Weze’s letter to Dantiscus, Vienna, December 17, 1539: Auream effigiem Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae dedi Ioannae, ut quodammodo semper eum praesentem haberet, quem absentem tantopere amat et veneratur. Quo munere nihil potuit illi esse gratius et ob id Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae immortales agit gratias (orig. UUB, H.155, f. 25-27; print Españoles, I.41; cf. also Testamento, p. 129-130).