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Letter #1846

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Tiedemann GIESE
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1538-04-15

English register:

Dantiscus is recovering; advice, pleasant company and conversation provided by the Doctor [Nicolaus Copernicus] have been his medicine. Through the Doctor, Dantiscus is sending Giese news about the lawsuit against Paweł [Snopek].

Dantiscus has heard that his own rights to a prebend and the rights of the Provost [Paweł Płotowski] are being questioned; he intends in the future to punish those responsible.

He asks Giese to support Paweł [Snopek] and on this matter to trust the information provided to the Doctor [Nicolaus Copernicus].


            received [1538]-04-16

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, address in secretary's hand, BCz, 245, p. 30-31

Prints:
1BERG p. 196 (excerpt)
2Kopernik na Warmii No. 440, p. 495 (Polish register)
3RC No. 391, p. 169-170 (English register)
4NCG 6/1 No. 115, p. 226-227 (in extenso; German translation)
5CEID 1/2 No. 8, p. 81-82 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus Excerpts concerning Dantiscus' travels

 

BCz, 245, p. 30

Reverendissimo Domino Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), ennobled by King Sigismund I in 1519; 1504–1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516–1527 and 1533–1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523–1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537–1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549–1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984)⌊Tidemanno GiseTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), ennobled by King Sigismund I in 1519; 1504–1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516–1527 and 1533–1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523–1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537–1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549–1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984)⌋, electo et confirmato Culmensi et custodi Warmiensi, fratri et amico carissimo et honoran(do) or honoran(dissimo)⌈honoran(do)honoran(do) or honoran(dissimo)⌉

BCz, 245, p. 31

Reverendissime Domine, frater et amice carissime et honoran(de) or honoran(dissime)⌈honoran(de)honoran(de) or honoran(dissime)⌉.

Salutem et fraterni amoris commendationem.

Deo gratia rectius valeo, quemadmodum frater et communis amicus noster dominus Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician, and astronomer; doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1497–1543 Canon of Ermland; 1511–1513, 1520, 1524–1525, and 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 capitular administrator of the Ermland bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Łuzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)⌊doctorNicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician, and astronomer; doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1497–1543 Canon of Ermland; 1511–1513, 1520, 1524–1525, and 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 capitular administrator of the Ermland bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Łuzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)⌋ latius referet. Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician, and astronomer; doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1497–1543 Canon of Ermland; 1511–1513, 1520, 1524–1525, and 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 capitular administrator of the Ermland bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Łuzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)⌊CuiusNicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician, and astronomer; doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1497–1543 Canon of Ermland; 1511–1513, 1520, 1524–1525, and 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 capitular administrator of the Ermland bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Łuzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)⌋ dulcis consuetudo et colloquium consiliaque, quae inde cepi, mihi fuerunt pro pharmaco. Ab eo obtinui, ut quaedam meo nomine Dominationi Vestrae Reverendissimae dicat, maxime in eo, quod citationem contra dominum Paweł Snopek (*after 1480 – †1554), close collaborator of Dantiscus; steward of the Dominium of Ermland (Warmia); in 1524 first mentioned as Canon of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto); 1528-1554 Provost of Guttstadt; 1536-1538 Canon of Ermland, forced in December 1538 to resign in favour of Alexander von Suchten; in 1543 he regained this prebend, but two years later had to step aside for Kaspar Hannau (KOPICZKO 2, p. 308; SBKKDM, p. 103; SBKW, p. 227; PSB 39/3, p. 405-406)⌊Paulum dispensatoremPaweł Snopek (*after 1480 – †1554), close collaborator of Dantiscus; steward of the Dominium of Ermland (Warmia); in 1524 first mentioned as Canon of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto); 1528-1554 Provost of Guttstadt; 1536-1538 Canon of Ermland, forced in December 1538 to resign in favour of Alexander von Suchten; in 1543 he regained this prebend, but two years later had to step aside for Kaspar Hannau (KOPICZKO 2, p. 308; SBKKDM, p. 103; SBKW, p. 227; PSB 39/3, p. 405-406)⌋ contingit. Quam non puto a bonis viris technis non fraternis Romanensibus rabulis ingestam.

Audio et meam praebendam revocari sub incudem, quasi illam falso titulo possederim.[1] Accedit et, q(uo)d domino Paweł Płotowski (*ca. 1485 – †1547), from 1520 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and from 1523 Provost of the Ermland Chapter; in 1523, after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), one of the King’s four candidates for the bishopric of Ermland; in 1530, after the death of Jan Konopacki (Johann von Konopat) Sr, and in 1537, after Dantiscus’ translation to the bishopric of Ermland, he sought the bishopric of Kulm (Chełmno); secretary to Chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, and from 1533 royal secretary and courtier; in the 1530s and 1540s several times royal envoy to the Estates of Royal Prussia (SBKW, p. 191; KOPICZKO 2, p. 249-250)⌊praepositoPaweł Płotowski (*ca. 1485 – †1547), from 1520 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and from 1523 Provost of the Ermland Chapter; in 1523, after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), one of the King’s four candidates for the bishopric of Ermland; in 1530, after the death of Jan Konopacki (Johann von Konopat) Sr, and in 1537, after Dantiscus’ translation to the bishopric of Ermland, he sought the bishopric of Kulm (Chełmno); secretary to Chancellor Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, and from 1533 royal secretary and courtier; in the 1530s and 1540s several times royal envoy to the Estates of Royal Prussia (SBKW, p. 191; KOPICZKO 2, p. 249-250)⌋ ingeritur. Quae nequaquam mihi placere possunt. Daturus aliquando operam, ut eiusmodi turbationum auctores, quod merentur, pendant. Non deerunt mihi modi et ad eam rem commodi.

Si quid Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima pro domino Paweł Snopek (*after 1480 – †1554), close collaborator of Dantiscus; steward of the Dominium of Ermland (Warmia); in 1524 first mentioned as Canon of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto); 1528-1554 Provost of Guttstadt; 1536-1538 Canon of Ermland, forced in December 1538 to resign in favour of Alexander von Suchten; in 1543 he regained this prebend, but two years later had to step aside for Kaspar Hannau (KOPICZKO 2, p. 308; SBKKDM, p. 103; SBKW, p. 227; PSB 39/3, p. 405-406)⌊PauloPaweł Snopek (*after 1480 – †1554), close collaborator of Dantiscus; steward of the Dominium of Ermland (Warmia); in 1524 first mentioned as Canon of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto); 1528-1554 Provost of Guttstadt; 1536-1538 Canon of Ermland, forced in December 1538 to resign in favour of Alexander von Suchten; in 1543 he regained this prebend, but two years later had to step aside for Kaspar Hannau (KOPICZKO 2, p. 308; SBKKDM, p. 103; SBKW, p. 227; PSB 39/3, p. 405-406)⌋ potest, oro ei non desit, ne mali homines potiantur voluptate sua, quae illis aliquando in magnum possit verti dolorem. Diffusius super iis cum domino Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician, and astronomer; doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1497–1543 Canon of Ermland; 1511–1513, 1520, 1524–1525, and 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 capitular administrator of the Ermland bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Łuzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)⌊doctoreNicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) (*1473 – †1543), humanist, physician, and astronomer; doctor of canon law; nephew of Łukasz Watzenrode, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1497–1543 Canon of Ermland; 1511–1513, 1520, 1524–1525, and 1529 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1523 capitular administrator of the Ermland bishopric after the death of Fabian von Lusian (Łuzjański) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 161; SBKW, p. 123-124)⌋ sum collocutus. Cui, quaeso, Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima fidem habeat.

Et quam diutissime feliciter valeat.

[1] There is no doubt that Alexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian, and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy and banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon in 1540; imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome in 1541; after his release in 1544, he remained in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509–1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519–1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1529–1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536–1540 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, now Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220; BORAWSKA 2023, p. 537-538)⌊Alexander ScultetiAlexander Sculteti (Scholtcze) (*ca. 1485 – †1570), doctor of canon law, cartographer, historian, and friend of Copernicus; accused by Dantiscus and Stanisław Hozjusz (Hosius) of Sacramentarian heresy and banished by King Sigismund I Jagiellon in 1540; imprisoned by the Inquisition in Rome in 1541; after his release in 1544, he remained in Rome for the rest of his life; 1509–1516 notary at the Roman Curia; 1519–1541 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1529–1539 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; 1536–1540 administrator of the komornictwo of Mehlsack (Melzak, now Pieniężno) (KOPICZKO 2, p. 299; SBKW, p. 219-220; BORAWSKA 2023, p. 537-538)⌋ was involved in the actions aimed against Paweł Snopek (*after 1480 – †1554), close collaborator of Dantiscus; steward of the Dominium of Ermland (Warmia); in 1524 first mentioned as Canon of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto); 1528-1554 Provost of Guttstadt; 1536-1538 Canon of Ermland, forced in December 1538 to resign in favour of Alexander von Suchten; in 1543 he regained this prebend, but two years later had to step aside for Kaspar Hannau (KOPICZKO 2, p. 308; SBKKDM, p. 103; SBKW, p. 227; PSB 39/3, p. 405-406)⌊SnopekPaweł Snopek (*after 1480 – †1554), close collaborator of Dantiscus; steward of the Dominium of Ermland (Warmia); in 1524 first mentioned as Canon of Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto); 1528-1554 Provost of Guttstadt; 1536-1538 Canon of Ermland, forced in December 1538 to resign in favour of Alexander von Suchten; in 1543 he regained this prebend, but two years later had to step aside for Kaspar Hannau (KOPICZKO 2, p. 308; SBKKDM, p. 103; SBKW, p. 227; PSB 39/3, p. 405-406)⌋ and Dantiscus. In December 1538, he was responsible for Snopek’s canonry being given to Alexander von Suchten (*ca. 1520 – †1576-1590), doctor of medicine, alchemist, poet; studied in Leuven, Ferrara, Rome, Bologna and Padua; as a nephew of Alexander Sculteti, accused of heresy and sentenced in 1545 to lose a canonry and hereditary property; 1538-1545 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1549 court physician and librarian of Ottheinrich of Palatinate-Neuburg; 1557 court physician of Sigismund Augustus in Vilnius (PSB 45/3, p. 337-338)⌊Alexander von SuchtenAlexander von Suchten (*ca. 1520 – †1576-1590), doctor of medicine, alchemist, poet; studied in Leuven, Ferrara, Rome, Bologna and Padua; as a nephew of Alexander Sculteti, accused of heresy and sentenced in 1545 to lose a canonry and hereditary property; 1538-1545 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1549 court physician and librarian of Ottheinrich of Palatinate-Neuburg; 1557 court physician of Sigismund Augustus in Vilnius (PSB 45/3, p. 337-338)⌋, Sculteti’s nephew (cf. Słownik Biograficzny Kapituły Warmińskiej, ed. by Jan Guzowski, Olsztyn, WSDMW "Hosianum", 1996 ⌊SBKWcf. Słownik Biograficzny Kapituły Warmińskiej, ed. by Jan Guzowski, Olsztyn, WSDMW "Hosianum", 1996 ⌋, p. 227, 240). Earlier, in 1532, he questioned Dantiscus' right to the canonry of Ermland, trying to prevent him from obtaining the Ermland coadjutorship (cf. Teresa Borawska, Tiedemann Giese (1480-1550) w życiu wewnętrznym Warmii i Prus Królewskich, Olsztyn, 1984 ⌊BORAWSKA 1984cf. Teresa Borawska, Tiedemann Giese (1480-1550) w życiu wewnętrznym Warmii i Prus Królewskich, Olsztyn, 1984 ⌋, p. 199-200).