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Letter #2628

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Stanisław HOZJUSZ (HOSIUS)]
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1543-01-29

English register:

Dantiscus dispatched the royal envoy Krzysztof Konarski on the orders of the Bishop of Płock [Samuel Maciejowski]. He gave the envoy a gelding received from the addressee, as well as letters to the city council and his friends in Gdańsk (Danzig), so that he could obtain a length of Lund cloth and fifty Prussian marks.

Dantiscus assures the addressee that he will not doubt his integrity, regardless of what the syndic [Konrad Lagus] may declare, despite the significant promises made by Lagus to the Gdańsk City Council and to the defendants [Tiedemann Giese Jr and Barthel Brandt]. Dantiscus affirms that he has done everything in his power and duty, and was always guided by loyalty to religion and the king, not by personal preferences. Nevertheless, he awaits with concern what position the royal court may adopt. He asks to be informed both about this matter and about the reaction to the reply from the Council [of Royal Prussia] given at the most recent [Royal Prussian] Diet. He assumes that the addressee has already received the witness testimonies, delivered by the messenger who set out on 9 January.

The previous day, Mikołaj Loka was installed as canon of Ermland (Warmia), despite the obstacles posed by his opponents. Dantiscus managed to overcome these by sending the administrator of Allenstein (Olsztyn) [Achatius Trenck] to the chapter. Meanwhile, a rumour is circulating in the diocese that the patrons of the proscribed individual [Alexander Sculteti] are slandering Dantiscus’ nephew [Kaspar Hannau] in Rome. Dantiscus asks the addressee for any news on the matter, as well as for a copy of the king’s [Sigismund I Jagiellon’s] letter to the four cardinals [Gian Pietro Carafa, Juan Álvarez y Alva de Toledo, Pietro Paolo Parisi, and Bartolomeo Guidiccioni]. If he learns anything new, he will dictate another letter as soon as his messenger returns from court. He apologizes for pestering the recipient with his frequent correspondence.




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, in secretary's hand, corrections in author's hand, AAWO, AB, D.101, f. 28v (b.p.)

 

Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus

 

Venerabilis Domine, frater carissime.

Salutem et felicitatem.

Nobilem dominum Krzysztof Konarski (*before 1526 – †ca. 1574), 1543 scribe in the royal chancery, later royal secretary; as such, undertook several diplomatic missions in 1557–1565; 1551–1565 royal courtier; before 1568 starost of Jurborg; 1568 member of the Maritime Commission (KOROLKO, p. 210; FERENC 2014, p. 216)⌊Cr[is]tophorum ConarskyKrzysztof Konarski (*before 1526 – †ca. 1574), 1543 scribe in the royal chancery, later royal secretary; as such, undertook several diplomatic missions in 1557–1565; 1551–1565 royal courtier; before 1568 starost of Jurborg; 1568 member of the Maritime Commission (KOROLKO, p. 210; FERENC 2014, p. 216)⌋ nuntium regium ad eum modum, ut voluit Reverendissim[us] Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊dominus PlocensisSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋, a me dimisi dedique illi equum canhterium, quem a Dominatione Vestra habui, litterasque ad Gdańsk City Council ⌊magistratumGdańsk City Council ⌋ et amicos 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⌊Gedanu[m]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⌋ eunti, ut stamen panni Lundensis et marcas 50 nostras ad reverendissimi Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊domini PlocensisSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋ et meam commendationem assequi possit etc.

De animi Dominationis Vestrae integritate non est, quod dubitem, quicquid etiam Konrad Lagus (*ca. 1500 – †1546), doctor of both laws (University of Wittenberg, 1540); from 1540 syndic of Gdańsk (Danzig)⌊syndicusKonrad Lagus (*ca. 1500 – †1546), doctor of both laws (University of Wittenberg, 1540); from 1540 syndic of Gdańsk (Danzig)⌋ attulerit, qui de se Gdańsk City Council ⌊magistratuiGdańsk City Council ⌋ et Barthel Brand (*ca. 1490 – †1549), 1520 Gdańsk (Danzig) alderman; 1523 consenior; 1526 senior; 1527 town councillor; 1538–1549 mayor

Tiedemann Giese Jr (*1491 – †1556), 1525, 1526, 1531 alderman of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1533 consenior; 1536 senior; 1539 councillor; 1540–1556 mayor; 1547, 1555 burgrave; nephew of Tiedemann Giese, bishop of Ermland (Warmia) (ZDRENKA 2, p. 114)⌊citatisBarthel Brand (*ca. 1490 – †1549), 1520 Gdańsk (Danzig) alderman; 1523 consenior; 1526 senior; 1527 town councillor; 1538–1549 mayor

Tiedemann Giese Jr (*1491 – †1556), 1525, 1526, 1531 alderman of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1533 consenior; 1536 senior; 1539 councillor; 1540–1556 mayor; 1547, 1555 burgrave; nephew of Tiedemann Giese, bishop of Ermland (Warmia) (ZDRENKA 2, p. 114)⌋ plurima prolixe pollicitus est. Ego, quod in me fuit quodque religioni et serenissimae Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌊maiestati regiaeSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌋ debui, praestiti. Ad id me certe nulla affectio, sed nuda induxit fides, quam ad hunc modum habens, exonerata non est, quod me angit, ut quodcumque etiam fieri aula voluerit, exspecto, tamen cum messenger of Ioannes DANTISCUS ⌊nuntio meomessenger of Ioannes DANTISCUS ⌋, quid ea in re sit actum et quomodo Council of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊dominorum consiliariorumCouncil of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ responsum hinc ex Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventuProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ novissimo placuerit, de his ut me Dominatio Vestra non gravate certiorem reddat, oro. Dicta testium Dominatio Vestra a nuntio meo, qui 9 huius hinc exivit, iam, ut reor, accepit.

Possessio domino Mikołaj Loka (Mikołaj Lok) (†1569), served under Stanisław Hozjusz, royal secretary; in Rome in 1545–1547; canon of Ermland (Warmia), nominated in 1540 and confirmed in 1542; canon of Poznań from 1547; royal envoy to the Prussian Diet in 1550; abbot of Oliwa from 1560 (SZORC 1990, p. 331; KOPICZKO 2, p. 201)⌊Nicolao LoccaMikołaj Loka (Mikołaj Lok) (†1569), served under Stanisław Hozjusz, royal secretary; in Rome in 1545–1547; canon of Ermland (Warmia), nominated in 1540 and confirmed in 1542; canon of Poznań from 1547; royal envoy to the Prussian Diet in 1550; abbot of Oliwa from 1560 (SZORC 1990, p. 331; KOPICZKO 2, p. 201)⌋ superiori die apud ecclesiam data est, quam adversarii in Ermland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌊capituloErmland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌋ praeposteris ac odiosis rationibus nixi suspenderant, eam suspensionem misso ad Ermland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌊capitulumErmland Chapter cathedral chapter based in Frauenburg (Frombork, Varmia)⌋ domino Achatius Trenck (†1551), in the 1530s one of Dantiscus’ friends and a supporter of his efforts to obtain the Ermland bishopric after the death of Mauritius Ferber; canon of Ermland (Warmia) from 1523; 1544–1545 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; its Dean from 1545; 1533–1546 administrator of the Chapter’s estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn); capitular administrator of the Ermland bishopric in 1548 and 1550, appointed by the cathedral chapter after the deaths of Ioannes Dantiscus and Tiedemann Giese (KOPICZKO 2, p. 332; SBKW, p. 255-256)⌊administratore AllensteinensiAchatius Trenck (†1551), in the 1530s one of Dantiscus’ friends and a supporter of his efforts to obtain the Ermland bishopric after the death of Mauritius Ferber; canon of Ermland (Warmia) from 1523; 1544–1545 Chancellor of the Ermland Chapter; its Dean from 1545; 1533–1546 administrator of the Chapter’s estates in Allenstein (Olsztyn); capitular administrator of the Ermland bishopric in 1548 and 1550, appointed by the cathedral chapter after the deaths of Ioannes Dantiscus and Tiedemann Giese (KOPICZKO 2, p. 332; SBKW, p. 255-256)⌋ solvi, dataque est iam integra possessio. Commenti sunt fotores 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)⌊proscri[p]tiAlexander 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)⌋ (quod hic apud ecclesiam iactatur) contra Kaspar Hannau (Gasparus Hannovius, Kacper Hannow) (*1519 – †1571), Dantiscus’ nephew, son of Anna; doctor of both laws; friend of Marcin Kromer, later Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); his studies in Cracow (1536–1538) and Rome (1539–1548) were financed by his uncle; from 1545 Canon of Ermland and Dean of the Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto) Collegiate Chapter; from 1547 Canon of Włocławek (ORACKI 1984, p. 84; KOPICZKO 2, p. 108-109)⌊nepotem meumKaspar Hannau (Gasparus Hannovius, Kacper Hannow) (*1519 – †1571), Dantiscus’ nephew, son of Anna; doctor of both laws; friend of Marcin Kromer, later Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); his studies in Cracow (1536–1538) and Rome (1539–1548) were financed by his uncle; from 1545 Canon of Ermland and Dean of the Guttstadt (Dobre Miasto) Collegiate Chapter; from 1547 Canon of Włocławek (ORACKI 1984, p. 84; KOPICZKO 2, p. 108-109)⌋ in Rome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the River Tiber, seat of the Holy See⌊UrbeRome (Roma), city in central Italy, on the River Tiber, seat of the Holy See⌋ nescio quod crimen falsi. De eo si quid Dominatio Vestra ac[ce]perit, significet, exemplumque regiarum litterarum[1] ad quattuor illos cardinales[2] ad me, quaeso, mittat. Si quid postea se obtulerit, quamprimum nuntius meus ex aula redierit iterum dictabo. Quodque illi toties tot scriptionibus molestus sim, patienter, quaes[o], ferat.

Forte se aliquando occasio accommodabit, qua Dominatio Vestra b[ene]volentiam et gratitudinem meam erga se pro tot susceptis laboribus non aulice, sed re ipsa agnoscet.

Quam felicissime valere cupio.

Datae ut supra.

[1 ] BCz ms 281, f. 390

[2 ] Four cardinals that have been assigned by Pope to recognize a case of Alexander Sculteti: Gian Pietro Carafa (Ioannes Petrus Carafa, Paulus IV) (*1476 – †1559), 1506–1537 Bishop of Chieti; 1518–1524 Archbishop of Brindisi; 1536 elevated to cardinal; 1537–1549 Archbishop of Chieti; 1549 Archbishop of Naples; elected pope as Paul IV in 1555⌊Gian Pietro CarafaGian Pietro Carafa (Ioannes Petrus Carafa, Paulus IV) (*1476 – †1559), 1506–1537 Bishop of Chieti; 1518–1524 Archbishop of Brindisi; 1536 elevated to cardinal; 1537–1549 Archbishop of Chieti; 1549 Archbishop of Naples; elected pope as Paul IV in 1555⌋, Juan Álvarez y Alva de Toledo (*1488 – †1557), Dominican; 1523 Bishop of Córdoba; 1537 Bishop of Burgos; 1537 elevated to cardinal; 1550 Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela; 1553 Bishop of Albano; 1555 Bishop of Frascati (HE 1, p. 131, letter no. 122, note no. 3)⌊Juan Álvarez y Alva de ToledoJuan Álvarez y Alva de Toledo (*1488 – †1557), Dominican; 1523 Bishop of Córdoba; 1537 Bishop of Burgos; 1537 elevated to cardinal; 1550 Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela; 1553 Bishop of Albano; 1555 Bishop of Frascati (HE 1, p. 131, letter no. 122, note no. 3)⌋, Pierpaolo Parisio (Pietro Paolo Parisi, Petrus Paulus Parisius) (*1473 – †1545), 1528–1538 Bishop of Anglona and Tursi; 1537 auditor of the Apostolic Chamber; 1538–1545 Bishop of Nusco; 1539 elevated to cardinal (HE 1, p. 131, letter no. 122, note no. 3)⌊Pietro Paolo ParisiPierpaolo Parisio (Pietro Paolo Parisi, Petrus Paulus Parisius) (*1473 – †1545), 1528–1538 Bishop of Anglona and Tursi; 1537 auditor of the Apostolic Chamber; 1538–1545 Bishop of Nusco; 1539 elevated to cardinal (HE 1, p. 131, letter no. 122, note no. 3)⌋ and Bartolomeo Guidiccioni (Bartholomeo Guidiccionus) (*1469 – †1549), 1539 elevated to cardinal; 1540–1543 Cardinal-Priest of S. Cesareo in Palatio; 1546 Bishop of Lucca (HE 1, p. 131, letter no. 122, note no. 3)⌊Bartolomaeo GuidiccioniBartolomeo Guidiccioni (Bartholomeo Guidiccionus) (*1469 – †1549), 1539 elevated to cardinal; 1540–1543 Cardinal-Priest of S. Cesareo in Palatio; 1546 Bishop of Lucca (HE 1, p. 131, letter no. 122, note no. 3)⌋, cf. HE 1, f. 131, letter no. 122, note no. 3; see also cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Kaspar HANNAU] s.l., [1542, end of December], CIDTC IDL 2690⌊letter of Dantiscus to Hannau, 1542 end of Decembercf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Kaspar HANNAU] s.l., [1542, end of December], CIDTC IDL 2690⌋