Letter #3326
[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Samuel MACIEJOWSKIHeilsberg (Lidzbark), 1548-01-17
English register:
Dantiscus expresses his satisfaction that, in accordance with the addressee’s written account, the king [Sigismund I] has kindly received the letter from the councillors of the recent diet in Wormditt (Orneta), drawn up on behalf of all the estates. The matters raised therein will be discussed in greater detail by the envoys sent to the king [Tiedemann Giese, Johann von Baysen (Jan Bażyński), Johann von Werden, Achatius von Zehmen (Achacy Cema), Fabian von Zehmen (Cema)].
Dantiscus is grateful for the assurance that the addressee is looking after the case of the widow [Katarina Schewecken] of Georg Schewecke, and requests further support should she arrive at court. The heirs have abandoned both the appeal lodged before a notary and witnesses and the implementation of the settlement mediated by Johann von Werden, which Dantiscus mentioned in a previous letter. As Werden has departed from home, the heirs are attempting to transfer the case to the municipal court in Gdańsk (Danzig), where they have sued the widow. She hopes that the court will excuse her from the proceedings in the absence of her protector. In the event of failure and the referral of the case to the king by way of appeal, Dantiscus expects a favourable position from the addressee.
Adrianus Fridewalt has not yet delivered the letter to the members of the council of Royal Prussia regarding the matter of the appeals. Most likely, as the addressee wrote, he was attending to affairs with his stepsons [Johann and Michael Kranich] and for that reason withheld the letter.
Dantiscus awaits the results of the diplomatic mission [to Emperor Charles V at the Imperial Diet]. Should it prove successful, it will bring benefits both to the province and to the kingdom.
Dantiscus is receiving no news. He asks the addressee to convey any reports to him, should any reach him.
Manuscript sources:
Auxiliary sources:
| ||||||
Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus
Reverendissimo domino Cracoviensi
Reverendissime etc.
Quae hinc domini consiliarii ex superiori harum terrarum Vormditensi conventu nomine omnium statuum scripserunt, serenissimam maiestatem regiam approbasse, libenter ex Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae litteris intellexi. Ea omnia nostri oratores, qui ad serenissimam maiestatem regiam allegati sunt, exponent et referent diligentius.
Quod Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra scribit sibi cordi futuram causam relictae viduae domini Georgii Scheveke, illi ago gratias et ne huius oblivisci velit, si quando ad aulam pervenerit, plurimum rogo. Reliquerunt nunc heredes appellationem coram notario et testibus factam una cum amicabili illa transactione, de qua in superioribus meis litteris mentionem feci, in quam auctor<itat>e nobilis domini Ioannis a Werden ab utraque parte consenserunt. Qui cum nunc domi non sit, ad iudicium civile Gedanense causam trahere nituntur utque ibi vidua respondeat, eam citarunt. Hoc ne facere cogatur in absentia tutoris sui, sperat se a iudicio obtinere posse. [Ho]c si fieri nequeat et [n]egotium ad serenissimam maiestatem regiam appellatum fuerit, Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra velit promissae benevolentiae esse memor.
De appellationibus nullas hactenus Adrianus Fridewalt litteras dominis hic consiliariis reddidit. Fieri potest, ut Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra scribit, quod cum privignis suis transegerit, et litteras eas ita detineat.
In magna sum exspectatione, quid de nostra legatione futurum sit. Ea si feliciter succederet, de quo dubitare nolo, expediret hoc Regno et rebus hic nostris, quae iam non parum perturbata iacent.
De rebus novis hic nihil circumfertur. Silent nunc omnia. Si quid habuerit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra, plurimum rogo, velit ea mecum communicare.
Cui me intime commendo atque eandem diu felicissime valere opto.
Datae Heilsberg, XVII Ianuarii MDXLVIII.