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Letter #2258

Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN]
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1540-02-23

English register:

Dantiscus received Herberstein’s letter, brought by Nikolaus Nibschitz, on 16 September 1539. He asks Herberstein to give his regards to Baron [Wilhelm] von Rogendorf. He doubts whether the Spanish-type house Rogendorf is building can survive in the German climate, as the clay walls are sure to collapse easily when exposed to winter cold and washed with rain, like the rock between Bolzano and Merano that Herberstein is familiar with. Dantiscus did not reply to Herberstein’s letter at the time because Nibschitz left suddenly. This letter is sent to Nibschitz.




Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, OSK, Fol Lat. 258, f. 359

Prints:
1CEID 2/1 No. 30, p. 152-153 (in extenso; English register)

 

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

 

OSK, Fol Lat. 258, f. 359r

Magnifice et Praestabilis Domine, amice a multis annis intime, carissime et honorande.

Salutem et omnem Magnificentiae Vestrae felicitatem precor ex animo.

Ex eo, inquam, animo, quem erga se semper ab eo tempore, quo in aula laudatissimi illius atque excellentissimi Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊Maximiliani caesarisMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋ commilitones eramus[1], integerrimum Magnificentia Vestra agnovit semper, et quem nulla rerum aut temporum vicissitudo hucusque immutavit. Quod item et Magnificentiae Vestrae accidisse, ex eius cf. Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow?, 1539-08-15 — 1539-09-15?, CIDTC IDL 6483, letter lost⌊litteriscf. Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow?, 1539-08-15 — 1539-09-15?, CIDTC IDL 6483, letter lost⌋, quas mihi Heilsberg (Lidzbark, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland, now Lidzbark Warmiński⌊hicHeilsberg (Lidzbark, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland, now Lidzbark Warmiński⌋ nobilis dominus Nikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌊Nicolaus NibschiczNikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌋ 1540-09-16⌊XVI Septembris1540-09-16⌋ proxime reddidit, intellexi, erantque mihi gratissimae, tum quod illam in me veterem spirabant benevolentiam, tum etiam quod me de multis, quae in aula serenissimi Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria; from 1526 King of Bohemia and of Hungary, Croatia, and Slavonia as Ferdinand I; 1531–1558 King of the Romans; from 1558 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna of Castile, and younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌊regis RomanorumFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria; from 1526 King of Bohemia and of Hungary, Croatia, and Slavonia as Ferdinand I; 1531–1558 King of the Romans; from 1558 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna of Castile, and younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌋ etc. gerebantur, reddebant certiorem.

Ceterum, quod Magnificentia Vestra necessitudinis et convinctionis nostrae et magnifici domini Wilhelm von Rogendorf (*1481 – †1541), military commander and diplomat in the service of the Habsburgs, especially for Hungarian affairs; after 1506 military commander in Italy, 1517 Stadtholder of Frisia, 1524 Commander-in-chief of the drabants (yeomen) of the royal guard, Governor of Catalonia, Roussillon and Cerdanya, 1527 chief steward at the court of Ferdinand I, 1534 President of his Privy Council, 1541 commander in Hungary for the purpose of capturing Buda, 1515 imperial envoy (together with Johan Cuspinian and Lorenz Saurer), at the First Congress of Vienna, in 1517 conducted negotiations in the Habsburg Netherlands regarding the consideration by Maximilian I of the new marriage between Sigismund I and Eleanor of Austria (CEID 2/1, p. 110-111, footnote 12)⌊baronis a RogendorffWilhelm von Rogendorf (*1481 – †1541), military commander and diplomat in the service of the Habsburgs, especially for Hungarian affairs; after 1506 military commander in Italy, 1517 Stadtholder of Frisia, 1524 Commander-in-chief of the drabants (yeomen) of the royal guard, Governor of Catalonia, Roussillon and Cerdanya, 1527 chief steward at the court of Ferdinand I, 1534 President of his Privy Council, 1541 commander in Hungary for the purpose of capturing Buda, 1515 imperial envoy (together with Johan Cuspinian and Lorenz Saurer), at the First Congress of Vienna, in 1517 conducted negotiations in the Habsburg Netherlands regarding the consideration by Maximilian I of the new marriage between Sigismund I and Eleanor of Austria (CEID 2/1, p. 110-111, footnote 12)⌋, singularissimi et observandi amici mei, ab aula decessionis structuraeque eius Hispanae, quam molitur, adeo amanter meminit, gratiam habeo non vulgarem. Rogoque me ipsi Wilhelm von Rogendorf (*1481 – †1541), military commander and diplomat in the service of the Habsburgs, especially for Hungarian affairs; after 1506 military commander in Italy, 1517 Stadtholder of Frisia, 1524 Commander-in-chief of the drabants (yeomen) of the royal guard, Governor of Catalonia, Roussillon and Cerdanya, 1527 chief steward at the court of Ferdinand I, 1534 President of his Privy Council, 1541 commander in Hungary for the purpose of capturing Buda, 1515 imperial envoy (together with Johan Cuspinian and Lorenz Saurer), at the First Congress of Vienna, in 1517 conducted negotiations in the Habsburg Netherlands regarding the consideration by Maximilian I of the new marriage between Sigismund I and Eleanor of Austria (CEID 2/1, p. 110-111, footnote 12)⌊domino baroniWilhelm von Rogendorf (*1481 – †1541), military commander and diplomat in the service of the Habsburgs, especially for Hungarian affairs; after 1506 military commander in Italy, 1517 Stadtholder of Frisia, 1524 Commander-in-chief of the drabants (yeomen) of the royal guard, Governor of Catalonia, Roussillon and Cerdanya, 1527 chief steward at the court of Ferdinand I, 1534 President of his Privy Council, 1541 commander in Hungary for the purpose of capturing Buda, 1515 imperial envoy (together with Johan Cuspinian and Lorenz Saurer), at the First Congress of Vienna, in 1517 conducted negotiations in the Habsburg Netherlands regarding the consideration by Maximilian I of the new marriage between Sigismund I and Eleanor of Austria (CEID 2/1, p. 110-111, footnote 12)⌋ a Magnificentia Vestra impense commendari, illique referre Magnificentia Vestra meo nomine non velit gravari, quod si luteos, ut in Spain (Hispania)⌊HispaniaSpain (Hispania)⌋, muros in Germany (Germania, Niemcy)⌊GermaniaGermany (Germania, Niemcy)⌋ erigit, quod written over ut⌈ut quod quod written over ut⌉ etiam Hispanam auram et fere perpetuam serenitatem cum aestu addat, alioqui paulo post ex crebris imbribus et pluviis longaque nostra hieme illorum detrimentum inclinationemque sentiet. Nihilo tamen secius cf. Pl. Mer. 150 Opera licet experiri, qui me rupi causa currendo tua; Cic. Orat. 232.1; Quint. Inst. 11.2.34 ⌊experiri licetcf. Pl. Mer. 150 Opera licet experiri, qui me rupi causa currendo tua; Cic. Orat. 232.1; Quint. Inst. 11.2.34 ⌋, quamvis interdum cum damno experientia acquiratur. Meminit Magnificentia Vestra inter Bolzano (Bozen), town located where the river Isarco (Ger. Eisack) flows into the Adige, in the historical South Tyrol on the borderland of the former German Reich, on the historical route between Augsburg and Venice, today in northern Italy, the Trentino-Alto Adige region⌊BolzanumBolzano (Bozen), town located where the river Isarco (Ger. Eisack) flows into the Adige, in the historical South Tyrol on the borderland of the former German Reich, on the historical route between Augsburg and Venice, today in northern Italy, the Trentino-Alto Adige region⌋ et Merano (Maranium, Meran), town in South Tyrol, in the upper reaches of the Adige river, NW of Bolzano, today in northern Italy⌊MaraniumMerano (Maranium, Meran), town in South Tyrol, in the upper reaches of the Adige river, NW of Bolzano, today in northern Italy⌋ ad Adige (Etsch, Athesium), river in Italy, flowing from the Alps in the Trentino-South Tyrol region, the second-largest river in Italy⌊AthesiumAdige (Etsch, Athesium), river in Italy, flowing from the Alps in the Trentino-South Tyrol region, the second-largest river in Italy⌋ solidum saxeum montem vi nivium et pluviarum emollitum concidisse[2]. Sed haec ioco hactenus.

Quod cum communi amico domino Nikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌊NibschiczNikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌋ non rescripserim, illius culpa accidit, qui a me insalutato hospite abiit[3]. In praesens has ad Nikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌊illumNikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌋ dedi, ut eas Magnificentiae Vestrae reddi curaret, quo saltem videat me veteris nostrae amicitiae et dulcissimae olim consuetudinis non esse oblitum sibique de me, quod prius, semper Magnificentia Vestra persuadeat.

Quam diutissime feliciter valere cupio summopere.

[1] Dantiscus is probably referring to the early period of his acquaintance with Herberstein at the court of Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊Maximilian IMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋ in 1515-1516.

[2] One can guess that Dantiscus is referring to events of 1515-1516.

[3] Nikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌊Nikolaus NibschitzNikolaus Nibschitz (Mikołaj Nipszyc) (*ca. 1483 – †1541), royal courtier, diplomat in the service of Sigismund I and Albrecht von Hohenzollern-Ansbach, Dantiscus' friend; from 1525 until his death an official representative of Duke Albrecht at the Cracow royal court; from 1532 royal secretary; 1519 royal envoy to Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, 1525, 1526 envoy to Hungary, 1527 envoy to the Congress in Wrocław, 1531-1533, 1537 envoy to Ferdinand I of Habsburg, 1535-1537, 1540 envoy to Brandenburg, 1536 envoy to the estates of Livonia⌋’ hasty departure from Heilsberg (Lidzbark, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland, now Lidzbark Warmiński⌊HeilsbergHeilsberg (Lidzbark, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland, now Lidzbark Warmiński⌋ (today Lidzbark Warmiński) to Königsberg (Królewiec, Mons Regius, Regiomontium), city in Ducal Prussia, on the mouth of the Pregel (Pregoła) river, capital city of Ducal Prussia; today Kaliningrad in Russia⌊KönigsbergKönigsberg (Królewiec, Mons Regius, Regiomontium), city in Ducal Prussia, on the mouth of the Pregel (Pregoła) river, capital city of Ducal Prussia; today Kaliningrad in Russia⌋ – the capital of Ducal Prussia⌊Ducal PrussiaDucal Prussia⌋ – is confirmed by his cf. Nikolaus NIBSCHITZ (NIPSZYC) to Ioannes DANTISCUS Königsberg, 1539-09-19, CIDTC IDL 2226⌊lettercf. Nikolaus NIBSCHITZ (NIPSZYC) to Ioannes DANTISCUS Königsberg, 1539-09-19, CIDTC IDL 2226⌋ to Dantiscus written from there on the day of his arrival: September 19, 1539 (BCz, 1597, p. 829-830).