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Letter #2122

Paweł PŁOTOWSKI to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Frauenburg (Frombork), 1539-03-23, postscript 1539-03-25
            received [1539]-03-27

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, BCz, 1597, p. 643-646

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8249 (TK 11), f. 33

Prints:
1BIRKENMAJER 1900 p. 393-394 (excerpt)
2SIKORSKI 1968 No. 437, p. 110-111 (Polish register)
3Kopernik na Warmii No. 471, p. 501 (Polish register)
4RC No. 414, p. 179 (English register)
5NCG 6/1 No. 134, p. 262-264 (in extenso, PS omitted; German translation, PS omitted)
6KOESTLER 2002 p. 179 (excerpt in Polish translation)

 

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

 

BCz, 1597, p. 645

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, domine mi colendissime. Praemissa sui in gratiam Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae diligenti commendatione.

Scripsi non pridem Reverendissime Paternitati Vestrae de mulierculis Warmiensibus, una 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)⌊AlexandriAlexander 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)⌋ occultabat se in domo per aliquot dies timendo secundas censuras, quam dixi unico puero accepto discessuram, quod non fuit factum. Dominus 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)⌊AlexanderAlexander 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)⌋ rediit ex Löbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌊LubawiaLöbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌋ laeto fronte. Quid attulit, nescio. Manet cum domino Leonard Niederhoff (*ca. 1485 – †1545), doctor of both canon and civil law, friend of Nicolaus Copernicus and executor of his will; studied in Cracow, Leipzig and Rome, where he obtained a doctoral degree; from 1511 parish priest of St. Bartholomew's Church in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1515 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), and from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1532 Dean of the Ermland Chapter; he also had a canonry in Kulm from which he resigned in 1533 (KOPICZKO 2, p. 231; SBKW, p. 175; PSB 22 Naumański - Niemirycz, p. 59)⌊NideroffLeonard Niederhoff (*ca. 1485 – †1545), doctor of both canon and civil law, friend of Nicolaus Copernicus and executor of his will; studied in Cracow, Leipzig and Rome, where he obtained a doctoral degree; from 1511 parish priest of St. Bartholomew's Church in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1515 Canon of Ermland (Warmia), and from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1532 Dean of the Ermland Chapter; he also had a canonry in Kulm from which he resigned in 1533 (KOPICZKO 2, p. 231; SBKW, p. 175; PSB 22 Naumański - Niemirycz, p. 59)⌋ et focaria in curia tamquam domina, braxat cerivisiam oblita omnium malorum. Doctoris 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)⌊NicolaiNicolaus 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)⌋ praemisit res suas Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Vistula on the Bay of Gdańsk, the largest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing (Elbląg); represented in the Council of Royal Prussia and a member of the Hanseatic League⌊GdanumGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Vistula on the Bay of Gdańsk, the largest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing (Elbląg); represented in the Council of Royal Prussia and a member of the Hanseatic League⌋, sola tamen adhuc Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiaeFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋ manet.

Bonum esset, quod Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra committeret officium vicariatus et offici{li}<al>atus in spiritualibus venerabili domino custodi, domino Tider Johann Tymmermann (Johann Zimmermann) (*1492 – †1564), nephew of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); studied in Cracow (1505) and Rome (1517); 1519–1564 Canon of Ermland; 1525–1528 administrator of the Chapter’s estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn), and in 1538 in Frauenburg (Frombork); 1527–1539 Cantor of Ermland; 1537 capitular administrator of the bishopric of Ermland after Mauritius Ferber’s death; 1539–1552 Custos of Ermland; 1547–1552 Vicar General of the diocese of Ermland (SBKW, p. 261; KOPICZKO 2, p. 336)⌊TimermanJohann Tymmermann (Johann Zimmermann) (*1492 – †1564), nephew of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); studied in Cracow (1505) and Rome (1517); 1519–1564 Canon of Ermland; 1525–1528 administrator of the Chapter’s estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn), and in 1538 in Frauenburg (Frombork); 1527–1539 Cantor of Ermland; 1537 capitular administrator of the bishopric of Ermland after Mauritius Ferber’s death; 1539–1552 Custos of Ermland; 1547–1552 Vicar General of the diocese of Ermland (SBKW, p. 261; KOPICZKO 2, p. 336)⌋, quod officium ferebat aliquot annis tempore reverendissimi Mauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both laws; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512–1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Reval; 1523–1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)⌊domini defunctiMauritius Ferber (*1471 – †1537), doctor of both laws; from 1507 Canon of Ermland (Warmia) and Lübeck; from 1514 Canon of Trier; 1512–1515 parish priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1516 Custos of Ermland and parish priest of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gdańsk; from 1519 Canon of Dorpat; from 1523 Canon of Reval; 1523–1537 Bishop of Ermland (KOPICZKO 2, p. 71-72; SBKW, p. 59-60)⌋, nam nescio nec intelligo eo potiorem, verum quidem quod Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra habet doctores apud ecclesiam suam, sed quorsum studia sua divertunt, melius novit Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra, quam ego scribere possum.

Ego propter maximum dolorem capitis continui me domi 12 diebus, nunc exeo iterum, nondum tamen sum restitutus ad pristinam salutem.

Valeat diu et feliciter Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra et me, suum servitorem, clementi gratia prosequi nostra(?) non cesset, enixe precor.

Eiusdem Reverendissimae P(aternitati) or P(aternitatis)⌈P(aternitati)P(aternitati) or P(aternitatis)⌉ Vestrae addictissimus servitor 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)⌊Paulus PlothowskiPaweł 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)⌋ praepositus et canonicus Warmiensis

Postscript:

BCz, 1597, p. 644

Sola legat Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra.

Oeconomus Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae superinscribed⌈VestraeVestrae superinscribed⌉ hesterno die ivit per Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiamFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋ Marienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat, a branch of the Vistula in its delta, the seat of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309–1457) and a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, within the Kingdom of Poland (1466–1772). Alternating with Graudenz (Grudziądz), Marienburg was the venue of the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌊MarienburgumMarienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat, a branch of the Vistula in its delta, the seat of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309–1457) and a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, within the Kingdom of Poland (1466–1772). Alternating with Graudenz (Grudziądz), Marienburg was the venue of the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌋, hoc est in vigilia annuntiationis Dominae Nostrae.

BCz, 1597, p. 643

Mulierculae illae dominorum adhuc nobiscum manent Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiaeFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋, quae dicebant se velle discedere superinscribed in place of crossed-out discessisse⌈discessisse discedere discedere superinscribed in place of crossed-out discessisse⌉, quod non fecerunt. Fuit sparsa fama etiam certo, quod 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)⌊AlexandriAlexander 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)⌋ accepto unico puero discessisset, quod non fuit factum, occultabat se in domo et curia, quousque dominus Alexander rediit ex Löbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌊LubaviaLöbau (Lubawa, Lubavia), town in northern Poland, Kulm Land (Ziemia Chełmińska), ca. 67 km E of Graudenz (Grudziądz), the main seat of the bishops of Kulm (Chełmno)⌋ et dies Dominicas praeteriit, quo timebat secundas censuras etc. Nisi sinceriter procedat Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra et, ut dicam, nec pulvis earundem maneat Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiaeFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋ et ne perpetuo ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ redeant Warmiam etc. eiecto hoc pessimo fermento veteri mulierum, Reverendissima Paternitas Vestra superinscribed⌈Paternitas VestraPaternitas Vestra superinscribed⌉ cogitabit tamquam prudentissimus princeps et praesul, quam plures nostrum essent sacerdotes et ne viduata ecclesia permanea superinscribed in place of crossed-out ...⌈... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉aa superinscribed in place of crossed-out ...⌉t Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae, quod si effecerit, apud Deum sine dubio mercedem et apud homines perpetuam laudem et gloriam habebit superinscribed⌈habebithabebit superinscribed⌉.

Mitto responsum Reverendissimae Paternitati Vestrae, quod tangit mandata etc. et si infirmus fui, tamen voto meo scrip written over s⌈spp written over s⌉si et significavi statim superinscribed⌈statimstatim superinscribed⌉ Ermland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌊venerabili capituloErmland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌋, quod tamen non fuit factum, nisi cum exivi etc. quod absque omni protractione responderetur Reverendissimae Paternitati Vestrae. Parcat Reverendissima <Paternitas> Vestra, quod ita audacter consulo et scribo Reverendissimae Paternitati Vestrae, quae facio, facio propter honorem Dei et Reverendissimae Paternitatis Vestrae et nostrorum omnium.

Raptissime. Datum Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌊WarmiaeFrauenburg (Frombork, Varmia, Warmia), town in Ermland, on the Vistula Lagoon, Ermland bishopric see⌋ feria tertia die annuntiationis Dominae Nostrae.

Litteras scripsi 23 Martii.

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)⌊IdemPaweł 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)⌋ qui supra servitor perpetuus.