Letter #2463
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Stanisław HOZJUSZ (HOSIUS)]H[eilsberg] (Lidzbark Warmiński), 1541-[07-19] or shortly after
English register:
Dantiscus expresses his satisfaction with the appointment of the Bishop of Chełm [Samuel Maciejowski] to be Bishop of Płock, as well as with his resignation from the parish of Gołąb in favour of the addressee. He has thanked Maciejowski for that gesture and asked him to continue extending his goodwill toward the addressee.
Given his age and fatigue from previous journeys, Dantiscus excuses himself from joining the recipient on the suggested voyage to Rome. He has entrusted the handling of both his own affairs and those of the addressee to his nephew Kaspar [Hannau], who is currently residing there.
From Hannau’s letter dated 10 April, Dantiscus has learned that the case against Alexander [Sculteti] has been suspended pending the king’s [Sigismund I Jagiellon] response to the cardinal [Antonio Pucci]. According to Dantiscus, this response, along with the book, has already been delivered by [Bartłomiej] Gądkowski, so he expects to know the outcome soon.
Kaspar [Hannau] has filed a suit in the Roman Curia against Sculteti’s nephew, Alexander von Suchten, who resides in Leuven. A letter from Dietrich von Rheden, found among Sculteti’s papers, reveals that his other nephew, Georg von Suchten, currently in Rome with him, received instructions regarding actions against the addressee.
Rheden arrived in Königsberg to ask Duke [Albrecht von Hohenzollern] for help in restoring Sculteti to the favor [of King Sigismund I Jagiellon]. He also intended to visit Dantiscus but was deterred by rumours of a royal edict. Following the advice of Achatius [Trenck], he was supposed to send Dantiscus a letter regarding a meeting, but so far he has not done so. Dantiscus requests that the recipient, together with the Bishop of Chełm, do what they can to oppose the duke’s intercession and prevent [the king] from issuing a safe-conduct for Rheden. He expects that Rheden plans to work toward restoring Sculteti as a canon in Ermland (Warmia).
From the addressee’s letter dated 16 June, Dantiscus learned that he sent to the bishop of Kulm (Chełmno) [Tiedemann Giese] the probate of the will and the grant of probate. The probate of the will is known to Dantiscus; however, he asks to have the confirmation document (granting of probate) sent to him discreetly. He notes that Giese is sympathetic to Sculteti.
Dantiscus inquires about progress in the case of Wolfgang Folder, in which he had previously intervened.
He explains that he has forbidden his nephew, Simon [Hannau], from visiting addressee, fearing a repeat of a situation in which his envoy might cause trouble for the addressee. He also reports that he has dismissed that unruly young man.
He asks the addressee to deliver to the Bishop of Chełm a sealed purse with money, which Hans Holsten will bring to him.
In a postscript, Dantiscus informs the addressee that upon sealing the letter, the Allenstein (Olsztyn) administrator [Achatius Trenck] delivered to him a letter from Dietrich von Rheden dated 11 July, containing a request for a meeting to clear himself of accusations. Knowing Rheden’s true intentions, Dantiscus decided to stall. He replied that he is not allowed to receive him without the permission of the king, who is currently holding the letters found in Sculteti’s chest (which is untrue). In this situation, Rheden should obtain a safe-conduct. Therefore, Dantiscus ultimately asks the addressee to arrange for its issuance, but with a suitably short period of validity, so that Dantiscus has time to investigate Rheden, yet Rheden does not have enough time to do much harm. He also asks for news.
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Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus Excerpts concerning Dantiscus' travels
Venerabilis Domine, f[rater] carissime.
Salutem et felicitatem.
[Ex litteris Dominationis] Vestrae tertio Nonas Iunii datis summa cum voluptate acce[pi] [reverendissimu]m dominum Chelmensem a serenissima maiestate regia, invitis etiam illis, qui [vi]ros bonos inexpiabili odio prosequuntur, ad sedem Plocensem nominat[um esse] et Dominationi Vestrae Columbam olim meam cessisse. Egique ob id reverendissimo domino Chelmensi gratias orans, ut in dies Dominationem Vestram, quae amplioribus beneficiis digna est, cumulatiore benevolentia complectatur.
Mihi certe non potest esse nisi gratissimum, quod Columba haec ex amici manibus in amicas manus sic continenter transvolat. Quam Dominationi Vestrae faustam et felicem esse precor non secus atque mihi fuit, ductu enim eius hucusque perveni, unde ad Urbem longa est distantia. Mihi porro peregrinari in hac, multis laboribus et diutinis profectio<n>ibus confecta, aetate difficillimum est. Non abs r[e] sapiens inquit: vita hominis nequam hospitandi de domo in domu[m]. Quo fit, quod frustra Dominatio Vestra mecum Romam ire parat, lic[et] ego a Scorto et Dominatio Vestra a Lenone sit vocata.
Scripsi igitur nepoti meo Gasparo, ut pro utrisque nobis rem agat, quo[d] si seorsum illi Dominatio Vestra quippiam iniunxerit, iussi etiam ac mi ut obsequatur, et Dominationis Vestrae negotiis tamquam meis inserviat.
Habui ab eo nuper litteras X Aprilis datas, quibus scribit actionem omnem contra Alexandrum suspensam esse , quousque serenissima maiestas regia cardinali Sanctorum 4 respondeat. Quod responsum iampridem per dominum Gantkowski ad Urbem una cum libello perlatum exis[ti]mo. Paulo post, quid actum sit, accepturi. Quod si prius quid[em] Dominatio Vestra habuerit, faciat me participem. Item et a me exspectet.
Nepotem Alexandri, qui Lovanii agit, Alexandrum Suchten, nepos meus ad Urbem citavit, nihil omissu[rus], quod res postulabit. Alter nepos , Georgius Suchten, de quo Theodericus de Rheden in litteris, quas Dominatio Vestra ex arca legit, meminit, contra Dominationem Vestram instructus est. Is cum proscripto Romae agit.
Theodericus i<i>s diebus in Monte Regio visus est, ubi quaerit, s[i] per dominum ducem reditum in gratiam Alexandro obtinere possit, et non alia de causa eo divertit. Statuerat et me invisere, sed rumor edicti regii, quod hic divulgatum est , hominem deterruit. Convenerat in cuiusdam nobilis domo sub dicione domini ducis cum venerabili domino Achacio administratore Alenstei[nensi], captans consilium, si me commode convenire posset. Qui consuluit, u[t] ea de <re> ad me daret litteras. Quas se missurum promisit ad dominum administratorem, qui eas hucusque non accepit. Si iis de reb[us] dominus dux quippiam ad aulam scripserit aut fortassis Theoderico salvum conductum impetrare contenderit, quantum potest Dominatio Vestra opera reverendissimi domini Chelmensis, cui ob id scripsi, reluctetur ac imped[iat], ne vel proscripto gratia, aut Theoderico salvus conductus c[on]cedatur. Qui non ob aliud venit, quam ut proscripti rebus opitu[le]tur et Romanis technis aliquid expiscetur, quod illum ecclesiae nostrae contra nos restituat. Studiosissime itaque Dominatio Vestra obse[r]vet , ne quid eiusmodi fiat etc.
Scripsit Dominatio Vestra in novissimis die Corporis Christi datis, quod reverendissimo domino Culmensi (qui, si posset, r[ebus] proscripti non deesset) declarationem et testamenti confirmatio[nem] misisset. Declaratio, inquam, haec ignota mihi non est. Quid sibi v[e]lit testamenti confirmatio, scire aveo, proinde rogo, quale hoc fuerit testamentum, sub fraterna inter nos fide et silentio ad me mittat, quo plurimum mihi gratificabitur.
De Wolfgango Folder scripsi reverendissimo domino Chelmensi. Existim[o, prout tam] diu ad me nihil refertur, quod res in compositione haer[et]. ... habeo, quod ad meam interpellationem tantum laboris ... par... ....
Quod nepos me[us] Simon ad Dominationem Vestram non divertit, meo iussu fecit, nol[ui] [en]im, ut molestiam Dominationi Vestrae adferret, quemadmodum nuper malus puer meus, quem ob eius intemperiem a me a[mandav]i.
Hunc vero Ioannem Holsten Dominationi Vestrae impense commendo, qui in sacculo consignato septuag[inta] ... [f]lorenos et 20 grossos Dominationi Vestrae reddet. Quae pecunia priori summae accessit pro [domino] ...Chelmensi . Quam seorsum dabit dominationi eius [Dominatio Vestra].
[Cui m]e diligentissime peto commendari et Dominationes Vestras diutissime bene valere [cupio ex] animo.
Datae H[eilsberg], ... [Iulii MD]XLI.
Postscript:
Mi carissime Domine Doctor.
Post has obsignatas applicuit venerabilis dominus administrator Allensteinensis reddiditque mihi litteras a Theoderico de Reden datas Konigsberg XI huius transposito tempore etc. Quibus petit, ut me convenire possit et sibi tempus designari poscit. Cum autem stratagemma, quo utitur, ignotum mihi non sit, et Dominatio Vestra ex litteris meis intelliget, ut hominem diutius bono modo detineamus, ne ad ecclesiam ... perveniat et suis technis atque suorum adiutus consilio aliq[uod] moliatur, rescripsi illi, cum se purgare cupiat, me illum ... Nec admissurum, quod tamen sine regia voluntate mihi integrum non est ... me operam daturum et a maiestate regia, apud quam sunt (licet apud me sint) ... litterae in arcula repertae, salvum conductum habere possit, quo durante ... veniat.
Rogo igitur, Dominatio Vestra efficiet, ut illi salvus conductus ad de... post illius datam unius mensis duraturus obtineatur. Antequam ... tot dies transibunt, reliqui restabunt pauci, in quibus parum cum su... operari. Si me convenerit, hoc ipsum, quod ex me expiscari ... [ex] eo sum expiscaturus. Det igitur Dominatio Vestra operam, ut per nu[ntium] ... eum salvum conductum et quae apud vos aguntur etc. ha[beam.] ... [rem] faciet [mihi] gratissimam et fratribus meis omnibus commodissimam.
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