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Letter #3125

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1545-03-02

English register:

The councillors [of Royal Prussia] consulted by letter on the matter of a reply to the king’s letter, which had been delivered after the conclusion of the Diet [of Royal Prussia] which was devoted to legal cases, held recently in Elbing (Elbląg). They unanimously declared that they had been unable to do so earlier for want of time. They entrusted Dantiscus with conveying to the king [Sigismund I], with due delicacy, that he should not deal harshly with them for having failed, contrary to his instruction, to delegate anyone to adjudicate the matter of Puck with him in accordance with their privileges. They justify their conduct on the grounds that they were not permitted to assemble at short notice without a royal command, and that even had the king appointed an assembly at a suitable time, they would still have been unable to attend on account of the variable water levels in the Vistula river and weirs.

In the matter of Puck, which is of considerable importance, they ask the king to proceed in such a way as not to infringe upon their privileges, specifically the article which requires the more important affairs of Royal Prussia to be deliberated upon together with the local councillors, and not with members of the Crown Council. They make the same request with regard to future matters. They wish him to exercise his authority over them not with full severity, but with clemency. Dantiscus seconds their request, which has the support of most of the councillors.



Auxiliary sources:
1register with excerpt in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 212

 

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

 

B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 212r

Hactenus 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)domini consiliariiCouncil 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) inter se scriptu tractarunt (they exchanged letters)[1], ut Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae ad cf. Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1545-01-17, CIDTC IDL 6614, letter lostlitterascf. Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1545-01-17, CIDTC IDL 6614, letter lost, quas post dissolutum iudiciarium Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia conventumProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia nuper Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities (beside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń)) which had representatives in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic LeagueElbingiElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities (beside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń)) which had representatives in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League habitum, servant (cubicularius) of Sigismund I Jagiellon cubiculariusservant (cubicularius) of Sigismund I Jagiellon attulerat, unanimi deliberatione responderent, quod prius ob temporis angustiam praestare non potuerunt. A me ut itaque postularunt, ut sententiam eorum humilibus precibus additis per meum messenger of Ioannes DANTISCUS nuntiummessenger of Ioannes DANTISCUS Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae describerem, in quam concorditer de consensimus. Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae ... gap left by scribe...... gap left by scribe supplicamus, ne inclementer velle written over iiee written over it ferre, quod ex medio nostrum, quemadmodum fieri mandaverat, nuntios ad diiudicandam causam Pucensem cum Serenissima Maiestate Vestra iuxta privilegiorum nostrorum continentiam non miserimus, quandoquidem tam brevi tempore ad consultandum ea in re sine Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae iussu convenire nobis non licuit (a poor(?) excuse)[2] neque etiamsi ad praescriptum tempus Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia conventumProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia nobis a Serenissima Maiestas written over ateateasas written over ate Vestra indixisset, ob Vistula (Wisła), river in PolandVistulaeVistula (Wisła), river in Poland B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 212v inconstantiam et obstacula convenire potuissemus. Quo factum est, quod vocationi Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae satisfacere nequiverimus supplicissime rogantes ob hoc legale impedimentum sic in hac Pucen(si) causa, quae non parum notabilis est, procedere dignetur, ne quid privilegiis nostris, quantum ad hunc articulum derogetur, qui in se habet, quod notabiles Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thornharum 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 causas non cum Royal Council of Poland RegniRoyal Council of Poland , sed cum 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)harum terrarum consiliariisCouncil 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) Serenissima Maiestas Vestra audire, cognoscere et decidere debeat et ne in posterum, si quid in ea causa absentibus harum terrarum consiliariis actum est, huiusmodi actio privilegiis nostris praeiudicet et incommodet his we earnestly request. I beg that the king treat the Gdańsk Town Council Gdańsk town councilGdańsk Town Council in this matter not according to[3] summo iure but in accordance with his innate mildness. Such is the advice of the councillors, to whom I too have adhered,[4] ut potiori parti accessi.

[1] (they exchanged letters) ms (znosili się pisemnie) translated into English by editors

[2] (a poor(?) excuse) ms (głupia(?) wymówka) translated into English by editors

[3] his — — according to ms o co bardzo prosimy. Proszę, aby król Gdańsk Town Council GdańszczanGdańsk Town Council traktował w tej sprawie superinscribedw tej sprawiew tej sprawie superinscribed nie wedle translated into English by editors

[4] but in — — adhered ms lecz wedle swej wrodzonej łagodności. Tak w tej sprawie radzą 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)konsyliarzeCouncil 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), do których i ja, translated into English by editors