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Letter #2657

Ioannes DANTISCUS, Tiedemann GIESE, Georg von BAYSEN (BAŻYŃSKI), Jerzy KONOPACKI (von KONOPAT) sr, Mikołaj DZIAŁYŃSKI (von DZIALIN) & Achatius von ZEHMEN (CEMA) to Sigismund I Jagiellon
s.l., 1543-08-[20]

English register:

At the joint request of the members of the Royal Prussian Council, during the recent wedding of his son [Sigismund Augustus], the king promised to address the matter of repairing of dikes on the river in the Vistula Lowlands. They now remind him of the promise, in response to a request made by the Gdańsk (Danzig) town council, which had been addressed to each of them separately.

[The councillors of] Gdańsk also complain about a certain Englishman who is seeking for himself privileges that are contrary to the rights of the town, and who has not hesitated to trouble the king in this matter. They have asked the senders to intercede with the king so that the privilege granted to Gdańsk by Casimir Jagiellon and confirmed by the present king may be upheld. According to this privilege, the town has the right to determine whether or not to grant citizenship to individuals from outside the community.

Wishing to spare the king the trouble of reading separate letters from each of them, the authors have resolved to write jointly concerning the request addressed to them.




Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 284, No. 135, p. 307-310
2office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 202r-v
3copy in Latin, 18th-century, BCz, 60 (TN), No. 40, p. 147-149

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 53

 

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

 

BCZ, 284, No. 135, p. 309

Serenissime Potentissimeque Rex et Domine, domine clementissime.

Post devotissimorum servitiorum nostrorum in gratiam Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae humillimam commendationem.

Quod Serenissima Maiestas Vestra nuper in nuptiis serenissimi Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌊filii suiSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌋, regis et domini nostri clementissimi, de constituenda ratione reparationis et conservationis aggerum Vistula Lowlands (Żuławy, Insula), area in the central part of the Gdańsk coastal region, corresponding to the Vistula delta, at that time Vistula Lowlands included several dozen villages⌊utriusque insulaeVistula Lowlands (Żuławy, Insula), area in the central part of the Gdańsk coastal region, corresponding to the Vistula delta, at that time Vistula Lowlands included several dozen villages⌋ subsidioque in id opus praestando ad communes dominorum Council of Royal Prussia the most important local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops (of Ermland (Warmia), who served as the Council’s president, 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)⌊consiliariorum harum terrarumCouncil of Royal Prussia the most important local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops (of Ermland (Warmia), who served as the Council’s president, 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)⌋ preces clementer est pollicita, id ei ut ad memoriam revocaremus, spectatus Gdańsk Town Council ⌊senatus GedanensisGdańsk Town Council ⌋, cuius praecipue interest maturius consultum his rebus esse, suis litteris nos singulos rogaverunt. Quod ne Gdańsk Town Council ⌊eisGdańsk Town Council ⌋ negaremus, non solum illius Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊civitatisGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋, sed etiam communis Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊harum terrarumRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ et ipsius Maiestatis Vestrae ac totius Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), the kingdom⌊regniPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), the kingdom⌋ necessitas written over t⌈tss written over t⌉es nos commonuit. Rogamus igitur supplices Maiestatem Vestram, dignetur ad eas res exsequendas, quae iam olim urgere et periculum minitari videntur, regium animum apponere ac nos omnes spei de benignitate regia conceptae reddere compotes, quo et illa Vestrae Maiestatis Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊civitasGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ mole istarum curarum pressa consolationem aliquam a Maiestate Vestra accipiat.

Queruntur iidem Gdańsk Town Council ⌊civesGdańsk Town Council ⌋ molestari se a quodam The English (Angli) ⌊Anglicanae nationis viroThe English (Angli) ⌋, quem aiunt apud ipsos Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊civitatisGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ ius adversantibus privilegiis ea importunitate petere, ut etiam Maiestatem Vestram propterea concitare non vereatur. Cum autem Gdańsk Town Council ⌊illiGdańsk Town Council ⌋ iura sua ita defensa cupiant, ut ne tamen impingant in animum Vestrae Maiestatis confidantque nostra intercessione utrumque se consequi posse, nostrum hoc fraternum officium imploraverunt, quod eis privilegio scripto intentibus visi sumus honeste negare non posse dolentes praesertim ab homine exotico subditorum Maiestatis Vestrae fratrum nostrorum iura infestante hoc incendium excitari. Rogamus autem humillime eandem Maiestatem Vestram dignetur ob honorem serenissimi divae memoriae Kazimierz IV Jagiellon (*1427 – †1492), 1447-1492 King of Poland, 1440–1492 Grand Duke of Lithuania; son of Władysław II Jagiełło and Zofia Holszańska⌊Casimiri regisKazimierz IV Jagiellon (*1427 – †1492), 1447-1492 King of Poland, 1440–1492 Grand Duke of Lithuania; son of Władysław II Jagiełło and Zofia Holszańska⌋, patris sui, qui huius privilegii auctor esse dicitur, illius Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊civitatisGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ suae eiusque privilegiorum a se etiam confirmatorum clementem rationem habere, ac ita aestimare casum illum, ut si peregrinis hominibus haec fenestra aperta fuerit ac facultas data irrumpendi in privilegia civilia subditorum Maiestatis Vestrae, hoc exemplo fore, ut plurimae eiusmodi interpellationes iurium nostrorum et dissensiones non parvae nascantur, praesertim quando isto, quod nunc in controversia est, privilegio universae communitati concesso, non solum aut admittendi ad civitatem aut refutandi advenas potestas plena data, sed etiam admittendorum delectus permissus esse dicatur, quo iure se privari Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌊communitas illaGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Bay of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula, on the Baltic, the biggest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities (Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (Elbląg)) with representation in the Council of Royal Prussia; a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ non posset non aegerrime ferre. Sperandum autem est Maiestatem Vestram plus subditorum suorum rationibus, quam exoticorum ambitioni consulturam esse.

Ne vero nostris singulorum litteris legendis Maiestati Vestrae molestiam conflaremus, visum est communi scripto a nobis, qui in hac precatione convenimus, sigillato rem agere apud Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram.

Cuius gratiae nos subditissime commendamus, precantes illi a Divina clementia diuturnam prosperamque valetudinem et felices rerum omnium successus.

Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌈Dat(ae)Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌉ mense Augusto anno Domini MDXLIII.

Eiusdem Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae BCZ, 284, No. 135, p. 308 subditissimi servitores

Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Hans Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌊Ioannes episcopus VarmiensisIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Hans Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌋ has praeter morem ab aliis prius subscriptas postremo subscripsit

Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌊Tidemannus episcopus CulmensisTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌋ manu propria subscripsit

Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński) (*1469 – †1546), 1503-1512 Chamberlain of Marienburg (Malbork); 1512-1546 Voivode of Marienburg (PSB 1, p. 377)⌊Georgius a BaisenGeorg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński) (*1469 – †1546), 1503-1512 Chamberlain of Marienburg (Malbork); 1512-1546 Voivode of Marienburg (PSB 1, p. 377)⌋ palatinus Marieburgensis etc. manu propria subscripsit

Jerzy Konopacki Sr (Georg von Konopat) (*ca. 1480 – †1543), brother of Jan Konopacki, Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1512-1516 Chamberlain of Pomerania; 1516-1518 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1518-1543 Voivode of Pomerania (PSB 13, p. 547-548)⌊Georgius a ConopatJerzy Konopacki Sr (Georg von Konopat) (*ca. 1480 – †1543), brother of Jan Konopacki, Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1512-1516 Chamberlain of Pomerania; 1516-1518 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1518-1543 Voivode of Pomerania (PSB 13, p. 547-548)⌋ palatinus Pomeraniensis manu propria subscripsit

Mikołaj Działyński (Nikolaus von Dzialin) (†1545), from 1507 royal courtier; 1510-1528 Chamberlain of Dobrzyń; 1528-1544 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1544-1545 Voivode of Pomerania; Starosta of Bratian, Strasburg in Preussen (Brodnica), and Dobrzyń (PSB 6, p. 92-94; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 204)⌊Nicolaus a DzyalinMikołaj Działyński (Nikolaus von Dzialin) (†1545), from 1507 royal courtier; 1510-1528 Chamberlain of Dobrzyń; 1528-1544 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1544-1545 Voivode of Pomerania; Starosta of Bratian, Strasburg in Preussen (Brodnica), and Dobrzyń (PSB 6, p. 92-94; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 204)⌋ castellanus ms. castalaus(!) ⌈castellanuscastellanus ms. castalaus(!) ⌉ Culmensis manu propria subscripsit

Achatius von Zehmen (Achacy Cema) (*ca. 1485 – †1565), 1517-1531 Chamberlain of Pomerania, 1531-1546 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig), 1545-1546 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno), 1546-1565 Voivode of Marienburg (Malbork) (SBPN 1, p. 194-195; ORACKI 1984, p. 38-39; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 198; PSB 4, p. 325-326)⌊Achacius CzemeAchatius von Zehmen (Achacy Cema) (*ca. 1485 – †1565), 1517-1531 Chamberlain of Pomerania, 1531-1546 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig), 1545-1546 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno), 1546-1565 Voivode of Marienburg (Malbork) (SBPN 1, p. 194-195; ORACKI 1984, p. 38-39; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 198; PSB 4, p. 325-326)⌋ castellanus Gedanensis manu propria subscripsit