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Letter #3237

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Samuel MACIEJOWSKI
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1547-10-25

English register:

Peter Schissenteuber, a burgher from Elbing (Elbląg), has obtained a lawsuit summons for the town council of Elbing to appear before a royal court. In Dantiscus’ opinion, the matter must have been misrepresented, for otherwise the addressee would have easily dismissed it. Last year at the diet of Royal Prussia in Graudenz (Grudziądz), the Prussian councillors examined the case and delivered a verdict in favour of the town council of Elbing. Schissenteuber agreed to accept the case as being duly adjudicated and expressed no desire to appeal, despite being advised of such a possibility. Reportedly, it was only later, in the presence of a notary and witnesses, that he appealed to the king. He notified neither the councillors nor the opposing party in the lawsuit of the appeal. Nevertheless, under the pretext of this appeal, he obtained the said royal summons.

To avoid being judged in absentia, the city council has sent a secretary to the royal court. Furthermore, they have requested that Dantiscus, who is familiar with the course of the case, send this letter, so that the addressee, being better informed, might support them in their efforts to be released from the legal proceedings by the king.

He requests, therefore, that the addressee obtain the king’s consent that such appeals as are contrary to royal statutes and brought outside the regular procedure in order to avoid the due fees, should not be permitted. Appeals lodged solely before a notary and witnesses should only be admissible if councillors prevent an appeal from being filed. Otherwise, this undermines the dignity of the judiciary and exposes the parties to costs in matters which have already been adjudicated.




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 317r-v

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 477

 

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

 

AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 317r

Domino Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊episcopo CracoviensiSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisors to King Sigismund I and then to his son Sigismund II Augustus; from 1521 Canon of the Collegiate Chapter in Sandomierz, and from 1530 in Kielce; from 1531 Canon of Gniezno; from 1532 or 1533 to 1537 royal secretary (previously scribe at the royal chancellery); 1537-1539 Grand Secretary; 1539-1547 Crown Vice-Chancellor; 1539-1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541-1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545-1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547-1550 Crown Grand Chancellor; in 1532 royal envoy to Rome; in 1534 and 1538 royal envoy to the local diets (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋

Reverendissime in Christo etc.

Obtinuit contra spectabilem Elbing Town Council ⌊magistratum civitatis ElbingensisElbing Town Council ⌋ Peter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌊Petrus SchissenteuberPeter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌋, concivis eorum, citationem regiam, quam sub mala facta relatione causae impetratam esse non dubito, nam nisi hoc ita factum fuisset, Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra eum facile repulisset. Acta fuit AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 317v et decisa haec caus haec causa coram dominis 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⌋ 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)⌊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)⌋ superiori anno in Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊comitiisProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ Graudentinis et ibidem etiam per sententiam ms. diffinitivam reg. definitivam⌈diffinitivamms. diffinitivam reg. definitivam⌉ decis pro D Elbing Town Council ⌊magistratu ElbingensiElbing Town Council ⌋ latam, decisa. A qua dictus Peter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌊SchissenteuberPeter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌋ etiam superinscribed in place of crossed-out per me⌈per me etiam etiam superinscribed in place of crossed-out per me⌉ admonitus, appellare noluit, sed 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)⌊consiliariorumCouncil 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)⌋ decretum in rem iudicatam transire permisit. Postmodum vero, non metu nec quavis alia causa in iure expressa prohibitus, coram notario et testibus appellasse ad serenissimam 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⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund 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⌋ di paper damaged⌈[i]i paper damaged⌉citur. Quam ta appellationem nec dominis 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)⌊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)⌋, nec parti adversae Elbing Town Council ⌊magistratu<i> ElbingensiElbing Town Council ⌋ umquam insinuavit et tamen superinscribed⌈tamentamen superinscribed⌉ sub eius praetextu dictam superinscribed⌈dictamdictam superinscribed⌉ citationem contra magistratum Elbingensem on the margin⌈contra Elbing Town Council ⌊magistratum superinscribed⌈magistratummagistratum superinscribed⌉ ElbingensemElbing Town Council ⌋contra magistratum Elbingensem on the margin⌉ impetravit.

Ne itaque contumaces reputarentur Elbing Town Council ⌊Magistratus Ged ElbingensisElbing Town Council ⌋ Elbing Town Council ⌊QuiElbing Town Council ⌋ ne contumaces reputarentur, secretarium eorum praesentium latorem in ea causa ad 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⌊Serenissimam MaiestatemSigismund 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⌋ Royal Tribunal (Sąd Królewski, Tribunal Regium) ⌊tribunalRoyal Tribunal (Sąd Królewski, Tribunal Regium) ⌋ 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⌊maiestatis 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⌋ allegarunt et a me, cum superinscribed in place of crossed-out Quumque⌈Quumque et a me, cum et a me, cum superinscribed in place of crossed-out Quumque⌉ mihi de processu eius causae superinscribed in place of crossed-out huius causae and then crossed-out⌈huius causae eius causae eius causae superinscribed in place of crossed-out huius causae and then crossed-out⌉ constaret, has ad Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram pro illis commendatitias a me rogarunt, quo illa per me melius superinscribed⌈meliusmelius superinscribed⌉ informata iustitiae eorum non deesset iustitiae eorum non deesset sed ut, sed tandem adminiculo Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae a diuturnis litibus et illius superinscribed⌈illiusillius superinscribed⌉ importuni Peter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌊hominisPeter Schissenteuber (†1561), 1531 wójt of Elbing (TOEPPEN 1881, p. 173, footnote 1)⌋ molesta[1] et nullis suffulta do written over u⌈uoo written over u⌉cumentis sen et superinscribed in place of crossed-out et and then crossed-out⌈et sen et sen et superinscribed in place of crossed-out et and then crossed-out⌉ probationibus impetitione auctoritate regia abs liberarentur. Rem igitur superinscribed in place of crossed-out itaque⌈itaque igitur igitur superinscribed in place of crossed-out itaque⌉ ita, et non quemadmodum exposuit, et non aliter actam esse Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra sibi persuadeat.

Nunc hoc est inventum. Et cum hoc novum sit invent inventum eorum hominum, qui contra constitutiones regias a S 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⌊his terrisRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ concessa written over i⌈iaa written over i⌉s ut sportulas, ne sportulas de iudicio deponere appellationum written over is⌈isumum written over is⌉ iudiciis deponere sint obligati, talia re effugia confingunt, plurimum rogo Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram, velit id efficere, ne quo huiusmodi extraordinariae appellationes, quae frivole et nullis ex ca causis per partes coram notario et testibus, cum tamen coram ordinariis appellare non sint prohibitae, fiunt in a, in aula 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⌊maiestatis 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⌋ non recipiantur, nisi prius ostensum fuerit appellationem a dominis 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)⌊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)⌋ illis de superinscribed⌈dede superinscribed⌉negatam fuisse. Multum hac novitate constitutionibus regiis superinscribed⌈constitutionibus regiisconstitutionibus regiis superinscribed⌉, iudiciis hic nostris et auctoritati eorum detrahitur et lites iam semel superinscribed⌈semelsemel superinscribed⌉ compositae et sopitae renovant ms. revonant(!) ⌈renovantrenovant ms. revonant(!) ⌉ur hidden by binding⌈[ur]ur hidden by binding⌉, partes item superinscribed in place of crossed-out etiam⌈etiam item item superinscribed in place of crossed-out etiam⌉ maxi i written over a⌈aii written over a⌉n faciendis ex expensis plurimum aggravantur hidden by binding⌈[r]r hidden by binding⌉. Quod si per Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram effectum fuerit Rem itaque omnibus hic gratam est factura Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra, si hoc a serenissima 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⌊maiestate regiaSigismund 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⌋ impetrare poterit.

Cui me una cum dicto Elbing Town Council ⌊magistratu ElbingensiElbing Town Council ⌋ intime commendo atque ut eandem Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram Deus Omnipotens diu felicem superinscribed in place of crossed-out feliciter⌈feliciter felicem felicem superinscribed in place of crossed-out feliciter⌉ sospitet written over m⌈mtt written over m⌉ et conservet, precor ex animo.

[1] molesta one extra stick deleted at the beginning