Letter #3378
Ioannes DANTISCUS to Piotr KMITA SobieńskiHeilsberg (Lidzbark), 1548-06-14
English register:
Dantiscus is troubled by the death of the king [Sigismund I Jagiellon] and the widespread rumours which require no explanation [concerning the marriage of Sigismund Augustus and Barbara Radziwiłłówna]. His health does not allow him to travel to the court to participate in the king’s funeral, neither by carriage nor on horseback. Because he cannot meet with the addressee in person, he sends the letter. He wishes that the addressee might enjoy better health in his advanced age than he does at present.
In his illness, Dantiscus places his trust in Divine Providence. He calmly awaits the fast-approaching end of his life, especially in light of the unfavourable state of public affairs. He points out that some individuals prefer private interest over the common good, something that the addressee can see even more clearly from close proximity.
A variety of news reaches Dantiscus, which he mentions only briefly, as not everything can be safely committed to writing. Numerous guests are arriving at the court of the neighbour [Duke Albrecht I Hohenzollern]. Recent arrivals include Count [Vollrad] von Mansfeld and Count [Georg] von Hohenlohe, as well as Lodovico Monti of Modena, an Italian brought over by a courtier of Margrave Albrecht [Alcibiades]. On his way from Königsberg, he stopped at Dantiscus’ residence, where he stayed for barely an hour. He stated that his intention was to proceed directly from the king [Sigismund Augustus] to the King of the Romans [Ferdinand I of Habsburg], but he never revealed the purpose of his mission. Dantiscus’ men were only able to glean from him that some advantageous arrangements might be reached between the two rulers, to be mediated by Dantiscus. Dantiscus does not know what to make of this but suspects that something sinister might lie behind it.
Hope mingles with fear. News has reached Dantiscus that the agreement concluded by the voivode of Sieradz [Stanisław Łaski] with the emperor [Charles V of Habsburg] might not come into effect as a result of the king’s [Sigismund I’s] death. At the same time, rumours are circulating that an agreement had been reached with the emperor to maintain the status quo in Ducal Prussia until the duke’s death. Subsequently, the [Teutonic] Order would be restored there, and the emperor would provide a dowry for the duke’s daughter [Anna Sophia] if still unmarried in his lifetime. In a situation with no way out, it is impossible to know what to believe.
For the sake of their long-standing goodwill, Dantiscus beseeches the addressee to relay to him any news concerning the information brought by the voivode of Sieradz, as well as any expectations concerning developments relating to Ducal Prussia, about which such convoluted reports are flooding in, both from the Kingdom and from other countries. He reassures him that he will maintain complete secrecy, and requests the same regarding this letter.
Manuscript sources:
Auxiliary sources:
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Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus Excerpts concerning Dantiscus' travels
UUB, H. 155, f. 212v
Illustri et Magnifico Domino
UUB, H. 155, f. 211rIllustris et Magnifice Domine Comes, amice carissime et plurimum honorande. Salutem et omnis felicitates continuos auctus Ill(ustri) or Ill(ustrissimae)⌈Ill(ustri)Ill(ustri) or Ill(ustrissimae)⌉ Magnificentiae Vestrae precor ex animo.
Dici nequit, quam dolenter cum multis hic duplici sim affectus maerore, cum ob
In hac afflictione me totum divinae voluntati subdidi, cuius dispositionem minime diuturnioris vitae avidus patienter expectabo, cum videam multa agi praepostere et mundum in maligno versari atque plerosque his rebus adminiculari, quibus se ponere deberent obicem, qui privatis commodis pro se et suis intenti omnem de re publica curam abiecerunt, non considerantes, cum hoc negligunt, quod commune habent cum omnibus, sibi ipsis paulo post detrimentum illaturos. Sed de iis ad Ill(ustrem) or Ill(ustrissimam)⌈Ill(ustrem)Ill(ustrem) or Ill(ustrissimam)⌉ Magnificentiam Vestram, quae haec singula propius perspicit, confidenter hactenus.
Nos hic etiam varia, quae circumferuntur, perturbant, de quibus pauca attingam, eo quod non satis tutum
sit omnia credere calamo. Huc ad
Nos inter spem et metum volvimur. Perfertur ad nos compromisso per dominum
Ab Illustri igitur Magnificentia Vestra impense oro pro veteri in me illa sua benevolentia me celare non velit, si quid in iis certi habuerit, et hoc potissimum, quicquid hoc sit, quod dominus
Cui cupio esse commendatissimus atque omnia exopto faustissima.
Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌈Dat(ae)Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌉
Magnificentiae Vestrae observantissimus