Letter #1823
Cornelis DE SCHEPPER to Ioannes DANTISCUSBrussels, 1537-12-21
English register:
As far as his duties allow him, De Schepper is replacing with this letter his previous one [IDL 6918], undelivered due to the death of [the Fuggers’ factor] Pompeius Occo.
De Schepper informs Dantiscus that he has just been called to take part in the Emperor’s [Charles' V] peace negotiations with the King of France [Francis I] in Perpignan and Narbonne. He is to travel there using relay horses. Following him is the Duke of Aarschot, and a lawyer from the Council [of the habsbur Netherlands]. The meeting is due to begin on 17 December. De Schepper expects positive results from the negotiations.
De Schepper reports on the rebellion of several towns against the Duke of Guelders [Charles II of Guelders]. A truce has been concluded but a few fortresses and castles are to be demolished and duties and contributions lessened. In De Schepper’s view, Guelders is moving towards democracy under the influence of Luther’s doctrine.
De Schepper thinks Dantiscus fully deserves the office of coadjutor of Ermland which he received from the King [Sigismund I]. He himself is satisfied with his lot.
De Schepper informs Dantiscus of how his former acquaintances and friends from the court are doing: Petrus [Mirabilis de Monteregale], Dantiscus’ former servant, has been generously provided with benefices according to his needs by [Nicolas Perrenot de] Granvelle [i.e. in the County of Burgundy]. The Archbishop of Lund [Johan Weze] has won great respect in Hungary and Germany. He has received a major abbey from Prince Palatine Friedrich as well as a considerable income from the Emperor. Besides bishoprics he also has numerous lesser benefices. Godschalk [Ericksen] is well. Melchior [Colditz?] has died, leaving a surprisingly large estate; so has [Ulrich] Ehinger.
De Schepper promises that when he returns from his journey in three months or so, he will write to Dantiscus about his family affairs.
The only noteworthy news is the King of England’s [Henry's VIII] preparations for his fourth marriage.
De Schepper offers Dantiscus his help if he has any matters in need of being handled in the Low Countries. He can also trust Wolfgang Haller, who has become significantly richer through marriage, and Lazarus Tucher.
He reports that his sister-in-law Joanna [Donche] has married.
De Schepper, his wife [Elisabeth Donche] and her sister [Joanna Donche], and also Miklos Oláh commend themselves to Dantiscus.
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Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, domino Ioanni Dantisco episcopo Culmensi, administratori Pomesaniensi et coadiutori Varmiensi, domino amico et patri ex animo observandissimo
Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine honorandissime et observandissime.
Salutem.
Nescio, quo fato litterae, quas fasciculo incluseram, ad honestum virum Pompeium Occo destinatae eo sub id tempus defuncto ad te mitti non potuere. Supplebo itaque, quod in prioribus omissum est, quoad negotia mea patiuntur, et ut moram hanc legendis meis habeas minus molestam.
Imprimis mihi novum iter paratur ad caesarem, statuerunt enim duo illi magni principes serio convenire. Electa sunt loca, ubi delecti utrimque in ea intendent, quae sunt pacis, Perpigniacum et Narbona. In eo conventu, qui decimo septimo huius debuit incoepisse, vult me caesar adesse eoque intra dies paucissimos proficiscor. Vadit et eo illustrissimus marchio, nunc dux de Arschot, cum alio quodam iurisperito ex consilio nostro, sed ego, uti puto, reliquos praecessero, nam destinatum est, ut per equos dispositos proficiscar, quamquam equos meos aliquot, et eos bonos, praemisi in Gallias. De sucessu autem universae rei nihil dubito, nam videntur mihi principes isti omnino ad pacem intendere velle.
In Gheldria rebellio fuit oppidorum aliquot adversus ducem suum. Nunc tandem intervenientibus quibusdam res ad indutias redacta est. Arces autem castellaque huius ducis patris et avi tempore aedificatae diruentur ceteraque onera et impositiones alleviabuntur. Ut vere dicam iudicium meum, res ex Luteranismo, eo enim nomine intelligo mutationem, quae invecta est Lutheri dogmate, omnino tendit ad democratiam. Sed de his principes etc.
Augmentum, quod benignitate regis serenissimi tui tibi accessit per coadiutoriam Varmiensem, nolo tibi gratulari, neque enim accessit quicquam, quod non promerebare, itaque merito, non autem beneficio fortunae, tibi id obtigit. De privatis meis nihil queror sorte mea contentus et plus habens per Dei benignitatem, quam possum insumere, in rebus interim honestis arduisque honestum animum fidemque interponens.
Petrus tuus apud dominum a Grandvella est sacerdotiis pro necessitate abunde provisus.
Reverendissimus Lundensis noster apud Hungaros Germanosque magnam sibi peperit auctoritatem. Auctus est et abbatia insigni ab illustrissimo principe Friderico palatino, a caesare pensio illi numeratur et salarium sesquialtero maius, quam tuum fuit olim. Habet et praeter titulos episcopatuum magnam congeriem minorum sacerdotiorum, quae et ipsa sunt pro conservatione rei familiaris et domesticae, in qua olim et tu versatus et scis, quid velim etc.
Godtscalcus non habet, quod de Deo conqueratur, Melchior autem noster Papiae obiit mortem, dives et locuples, et non paucae pecuniae dominus, quam omnes amicos usque ad extremum celavit miram paupertatem prae se ferens. Cui pro exiguitate nostra succurrimus non semel, cum revera plus reliquerit, quam quisquam nostrum possideat. Sed eo gaudent extranei neque enim ulla pars ad notos demanavit. Deus illi det requiem. Unde hauserit, nescimus. Putant ex Danica expeditione, quae fuit sub Christophoro Oldeburgensi comite, locupletem factum. Rei iudicium penes alios esto.
Eodem fato obiit et Ehingerus in Hispaniis, apud usurarios gratiosus et idem multorum nummorum possessor, qui febrim hero avertere non potuerunt. Reliquit uxorem et filiam, memoria autem transiit cum sonitu.
Apud nos hic omnia adhuc sunt integra. Intra duos aut tres menses spero me fore in reditu. Tunc ad te subinde scribam de rebus familiaribus. Publicae sunt admodum paucae, nam ex Anglia Galliaque nihil movetur. Trigamus rex Insulae aspirat ad quartas nuptias ambitque non contemnendam sortem etc.
Si quid voles per amicos hic transactum esse, scribe. Est Wolfangus Haller, cui ex sorte uxoria ingentes fortunae advenerunt, est Lasarus Tucher, sunt alii, et ego imprimis, cuius omnium fidissima opera poteris uti.
Soror uxoris meae Ioanna virum habet nostratem, bona aetate, viribus integris, fortuna mediocri. Iuncta et vicina sunt omnia: patria, amici, hereditas, fundi, utriusque in summa optime utrique consultum est. Ego me Reverendissimae Dominationi Tuae ex animo commendo, idem faciunt et uxor et soror, et dominus Nicolaus Olahus, qui exilium hoc agit et patitur patienter, vir litteris et Dei timore apprime instructus. Godtscalcus abiit in Germaniam brevi rediturus, sed non ante meam in Hispanias abitionem.
Rursum vale.
Ex Bruxellis, die XXI-o Decembris anno Domini XV-c XXXVII-o.
Eiusdem Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae humilis inservitor Cornelius Scepperus