Letter #3237
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Samuel MACIEJOWSKIHeilsberg (Lidzbark), 1547-10-25
English register:
Peter Schissenteuber, a burgher from Elbing (Elbląg), has obtained a lawsuit summons for the city 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 city 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.
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Domino episcopo Cracoviensi
Reverendissime in Christo etc.
Obtinuit contra spectabilem magistratum civitatis Elbingensis Petrus Schissenteuber, 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 haec causa coram dominis harum terrarum consiliariis superiori anno in comitiis Graudentinis et ibidem etiam per sententiam diffinitivam pro magistratu Elbingensi latam, decisa. A qua dictus Schissenteuber etiam admonitus, appellare noluit, sed dominorum consiliariorum 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 maiestatem regiam d[i]citur. Quam appellationem nec dominis consiliariis, nec parti adversae magistratu <i> Elbingensi umquam insinuavit et tamen sub eius praetextu dictam citationem contra magistratum Elbingensem impetravit.
Qui ne contumaces reputarentur, secretarium eorum in ea causa ad tribunal serenissimae maiestatis regiae allegarunt et a me, cum mihi de processu causae constaret, has ad Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram pro illis commendatitias rogarunt, quo illa per me melius informata iustitiae eorum non deesset , sed tandem adminiculo Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae a diuturnis litibus et illius importuni hominis molesta et nullis suffulta documentis et probationibus impetitione auctoritate regia liberarentur. Rem igitur ita, quemadmodum exposui, et non aliter actam esse Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra sibi persuadeat.
Et cum hoc novum sit inventum eorum hominum, qui contra constitutiones regias his terris concessas , ne sportulas appellationum iudiciis deponere sint obligati, talia effugia confingunt, plurimum rogo Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram, velit id efficere, quo huiusmodi extraordinariae appellationes, quae frivole et nullis ex causis per partes coram notario et testibus, cum tamen coram ordinariis appellare non sint prohibitae, fiunt , in aula serenissimae maiestatis regiae non recipiantur, nisi prius ostensum fuerit appellationem a dominis consiliariis illis denegatam fuisse. Multum hac novitate constitutionibus regiis, iudiciis hic nostris et auctoritati eorum detrahitur et lites iam semel compositae et sopitae renovant[ur], partes item in faciendis expensis plurimum aggravantu[r]. Rem itaque omnibus hic gratam est factura Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra, si hoc a serenissima maiestate regia impetrare poterit.
Cui me una cum dicto magistratu Elbingensi intime commendo atque ut Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram Deus Omnipotens diu felicem sospitet et conservet, precor ex animo.
Datae Heilsberg, XXV Octobris MDXLVII.