Letter #3261
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Maciej KALECKI of MąkolinHeilsberg (Lidzbark), 1547-11-03
English register:
Dantiscus expresses satisfaction with the dwarf sent by the addressee via a messenger. He thanks him for finding the dwarf and promises to reciprocate. He praises his facial features, height, and body proportions, which meet his expectations. If the dwarf does not grow any further, he will consider him suitable for the individuals to whom he intends to gift him. Regardless of whether he grows or not, he will always make him think kind thoughts of the addressee.
The negligence of the city council of Gdańsk (Danzig), Dantiscus’ fellow citizens, in failing to send the cloth for the addressee and the court chamberlain [Piotr Zborowski], is causing his displeasure. Upon receiving the last letter from the addressee, he instructed his chancellor [Johann Lehmann] – sent to the diet of Royal Prussia in Graudenz (Grudziądz) because Dantiscus himself had turned back from the journey due to illness – to rebuke the citizens of Gdańsk and present the matter to the members of the Council of Royal Prussia. The councillors disliked the conduct of the citizens of Gdańsk as much as Dantiscus did, and they expressed their firm displeasure during their deliberations. The representatives of Danzig placed the blame for this negligence on one of their colleagues, and made assurances that the shipment had already been dispatched.
Dantiscus’s fellow citizens have turned to him with a request to justify their conduct to the addressee and to the court chamberlain [Piotr Zborowski]. Therefore, he asks the addressee to harbour no resentment toward either them or the councillors of Royal Prussia on this account. He assures the addressee of his unwavering devotion.
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Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus Excerpts concerning Dantiscus' travels
Domino Mocolin, secretario regis iunioris
Reverende Domine {etc.} etc.
Nanus, quem dono mihi nuper Dominatio Vestra per nuntium meum misit, fuit mihi acceptissimus. Cui summas pro habito in conquirenda re labore ago gratias, relaturus Dominationi Vestrae per omnem occasionem. Placet mihi et facies, et statura homuncionis, quae in eo non excedit longitudinem, sed eam proportionem continet, qualem ego semper optabam. Quod si posthac illi nihil in statura accresceret, commodissimus foret ad eos usus et illis hominibus, quibus ego eum dare destinavi. Verum crescat sive non, semper mihi erit gratissimus, et quoties eum intueor, refricat mihi memoriam Dominationis Vestrae et amorem meum erga eandem auget.
Gedanensium meorum gentilium in mittendis pannis pro Dominatione Vestra et domino curiae magistro negligentia me admodum male habuit, ita ut etiam post acceptas novissimas Dominationis Vestrae litteras, per cancellarium meum, quem ad conventum harum terrarum Graudentinum, ipse ex itinere ob adversam valetudinem, quae me corrip <u> erat, re{c}tractus, ablegaveram, acriter cum illis expostulaverim et illi negotium hoc ad omnes dominos consiliarios deferendum commiserim. Quod aeque male omnes habuit atque me et per illos itidem, cum illis in frequenti senatu expostulatum fuit. Qui in quendam ex collegis eorum culpam reiecerunt, cuius negligentia factum fuisse sancte affirmabant, ne citius stamina illa panni ad Dominationem Vestram et dominum curiae magistrum esse<n>t ablegati et ea eo tempore certo missa esse dixerunt.
Rogarunt etiam dicti gentiles mei , ut eos apud Dominationem Vestram et dominum curiae magistrum excusarem. Quam plurimum rogo, si quicquam vel in dominos hic consiliarios, vel gentiles meos ob hanc moram odii contraxerit, velit illud deponere, culpam remittere et nos hic omnes solita propensione et benevolentia una cum domino curiae magistro prosequi. Quod ad me spectabit, experietur Dominatio Vestra me semper erga illam studiosissimum fore.
Commendo me Dominationi Vestrae et, ut eandem Dominus Omnipotens sospitem et incolumem diu conservet, precor ex animo.
Datae Heilsberg, 3 Novembris MDXLVII.