Letter #2851
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Stanisław HOZJUSZ (HOSIUS)Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1545-[08]
English register:
Dantiscus has recently received a work of great benefit to those who are wavering in the faith, sent from Rome by the author [Filippo Archinto]. Unlike the contemporary fanatics who heap abuse in their numerous publications, this author writes in a concise and agreeable style, and in correct Latin besides. Dantiscus has resolved to disseminate the work throughout his diocese [of Ermland (Warmia)] in the manner of an edict. He believes that it should also be published in the addressee’s territory [in the Kingdom of Poland], so as to strengthen those who are uncertain in their faith. He has passed the text for publication to the printer [Hieronymus] Vietor, who visited him recently. He asks the addressee to ensure that it is published.
The work addresses in a clear and concise manner all the questions that the enemies of the Church are currently calling into doubt. Dantiscus came to know the author more closely in Spain at the court of the emperor [Charles V of Habsburg], when the author was serving as envoy of the city of Milan and Dantiscus was the envoy of the King of Poland [Sigismund I Jagiellon]. The author’s learned style makes the writing so distinctive that Dantiscus would recognise his authorship even if the work were anonymous. Were there more such men in Rome, and especially in those places where the most important decisions are made, the organisation of a general council of the Church, of which there is increasing talk, would proceed more favourably. And all the divisions within the Church might be overcome once and for all.
Dantiscus is heartened in this matter by the edict of Emperor Charles, which has just been delivered to him, and which the emperor has ordered to be proclaimed throughout his dominions. Its contents are in full agreement with those of the work. Dantiscus wishes the edict to be placed at the end of this edition of the work, so that his countrymen may understand that only a small part of Christendom has fallen into heresy, and that the foremost monarchs of the world far surpass the apostates from the Church in terms of power, wealth, wisdom, and piety.
Should the addressee be unable to oversee the printing himself on account of his duties at court, Dantiscus asks him to appoint someone in his stead to ensure that this most necessary publication is as accurate as possible.
Early printed source materials:
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Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus
Ioannes Dantiscus episcopus Varmiensis venerabili et eximio domino Stanislao Hosio utriusque iuris doctori, Cracoviensi et Varmiensi canonico ac praelato, serenissimi Poloniae regis secretario intimo, fratri sincere carissimo
Salutem.
Pervenit nuper ab ipso auctore ad me ex Urbe missus libellus iste, hac tempestate in fide languentibus
Crotone, ut est in adagio, salubrior: qui non lapides more fanaticorum, hoc aevo nostro exsecrandis tot evulgatis scriptis insanientium, sed meras loquitur rosas, quemadmodum hoc ex iis, quae continet grata purioris Latini sermonis condita brachylogia, non abrupte accipies. Libellum proinde hunc per omnem meam dioecesim eodem edicti modo, quo editus est, publicandum
Aiiv
duxi, qui item ut apud Vos in lucem exeat ad firmandos quorundam animos, qui parvo momento huc vel illuc impelluntur, operae pretium Tu mecum haud dubie esse censebis. Dedi igitur Vietori calcographo, cum novissime huc ad me divertisset, negotium, ut eundem libellum typis excuderet; in eo, ut Te monitore fiat diligentior, ad communem Christianismi utilitatem, pro Tua in religionem pietate propensius curabis.
Complectitur enim compendio singula, quae in praesens apud Ecclesiae nostrae hostes in controversiam vocantur, quae, inquam, clare et concinne in eo discutiuntur. Cum auctore eius olim in Hispaniis apud caesarem, cum ille rei publicae Mediolanensium et ego regio nomine oratorem agerem, mihi summa fuit familiaritas; in ea tum, hanc professionem nondum assecuti, qua modo fungimur, coniunctissime conviximus: unde si etiam nomen libello ascriptum non
Aiiir
fuisset, ex unguibus leonem facile deprehendisse<m> ob praeclaram eius mihi liquido cognitam eruditionem; siquidem inter nos, quoties de bonis litteris colloquium incidisset, polyhistor plane videbatur, ita ut numquam non doctior ab eo evaderem. Utinam urbs Roma, maxime eo loci, ubi rerum cardo versatur, tales haberet plurimos: tractatio consilii, de quo iam rumor est fortior, cederet felicius et pro salute fidelium omnia, quae in contentione fuerunt hactenus, Herculeo quodam nodo ad Ecclesiae coniunctionem integra reducerentur.
Hoc brevi futurum Caroli caesaris edictum, interim quo haec scribo ad me perlatum, quod ms. t(!)
⌈dd ms. t(!)
⌉ in omnibus dicionibus suis novissime promulgari mandavit, me bene sperare iubet, admodum huic libello conveniens et aptum. Velim itaque, ut in calce locum habeat, quo nostrates aperte agnoscant minimam Christianae rei publicae partem in exse ms. a(!)
⌈ee ms. a(!)
⌉Aiiivcrandam nostri temporis haeresim incidisse longeque superesse maiorem, in qua primi orbis monarchae auctoritate, potentia, opibus, sapientia et pura in Deum pietate longe reliquos Ecclesiae Catholicae desertores superant et antecellunt.
Dabis itaque operam, cum ipse multis regiis negotiis districtus commode intendere non possis, ut quispiam tuorum apud prelum excusioni assistat, quo haec saluberrima et necessaria ad hanc tempestatem scripta emendatiora in lucem exeant.
Vale, mi Carissime Domine Doctor, et provinciam huius libelli non gravate suscipe commendatam.
Ex Heylsberg.