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Letter #3409

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Samuel MACIEJOWSKI
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1548-07-19

English register:

As commanded by the king [Sigismund Augustus], the town council of Elbing (Elbląg) has dispatched envoys to Cracow for the funeral of the late king [Sigismund I Jagiellon], where they are also to settle town business with the king. As usual, they have asked Dantiscus to recommend them to the addressee’s care.

It is their conviction that the only way to clear the town’s name of the accusations made before the king and the royal council by ill-disposed people is for the addressee to provide assurances of their innocence. The envoys will supply the addressee with adequate evidence in the matter. Dantiscus asks the addressee to lend them support.

The town deserves protection against the injustice inflicted by the numerous individuals who incite the burghers to defy the council. Under their influence, many inhabitants have refused to submit to the council’s jurisdiction or to appear before the court. Having obtained the appropriate writs, they proceed directly to the court, where they present false accounts to the addressee. In this manner, they procure royal mandates and letters of safe conduct, which causes difficulties for the council and leads to disruptions of order in the town.

Dantiscus would not write this if he were not convinced of it. He begs the addressee to give credence to his words, and all the more readily to undertake the defence of the council, and to win the king over if he has perhaps been alienated by the insults committed by many. This way the council may continue to govern the community entrusted to it by his predecessors, in accordance with long-standing custom. If the addressee helps to secure this outcome, this will reassure the town community and win their undying gratitude.

Should the envoys arrive late for the funeral, Dantiscus asks the addressee not to blame them for the fact. There had been an expectation in Royal Prussia that the king would convene a diet before the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland. The town council of Elbing was likewise awaiting it, which caused the delay. Dantiscus asks the addressee to excuse the envoys before the king in this matter and to vouch for them.




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 373v (b.p.)

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 562

 

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

 

AAWO, AB, D.70, f. 373v

Samuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌊Domino CracoviensiSamuel Maciejowski (*1499 – †1550), humanist and diplomat, one of the most trusted advisers of King Sigismund I and later of Sigismund II Augustus; canon of the collegiate chapters of Sandomierz from 1521 and Kielce from 1530; canon of Gniezno from 1531; royal secretary from 1532/1533 to 1537, previously a scribe in the royal chancery; 1537–1539 Grand Secretary; 1539–1547 Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; 1539–1541 Bishop of Chełm; 1541–1545 Bishop of Płock; 1545–1550 Bishop of Cracow; 1547–1550 Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland; royal envoy to Rome in 1532 and to local diets in 1534 and 1538 (WYCZAŃSKI 1990, p. 257-258; Urzędnicy 10, p. 184; PSB 19 Machowski - Maria Kazimiera, p. 64-69)⌋

Reverendissime etc.

Vocati ad sepulturam 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⌋ spectabilis Elbing City Council ⌊magistratus ElbingensisElbing City Council ⌋ nuti Cum iuxta superinscribed in place of crossed-out ad⌈ad iuxta iuxta superinscribed in place of crossed-out ad⌉ mandatum serenissimae Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌋ spectabilis Elbing City Council ⌊magistratus ElbingensisElbing City Council ⌋ nuntios suos ad regiae maiestatis exequias 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⌊regiae maiestatis seniorisSigismund 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⌋ ali Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CracoviamCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ versus designassent et ibidem alia quoque negotia Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌊rempublicam eorumElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌋ concernentia apud serenissimam Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌋ expedienda haberent, a me, quod semper facere consueverunt, rogarunt, ut eos patrocinio Reverendissimae Dominationis Vestrae commendarem. Habent autem infensos non minimos Sciunt enim

Norunt enim se ita per quosdam, qui Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌊civitatiElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌋ illi ob nullam ca aliam causam quam privatum quoddam odium malevolunt et interitum superinscribed in place of crossed-out perniciem⌈perniciem interitum interitum superinscribed in place of crossed-out perniciem⌉ eius meditantur, apud serenissimam Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌋ et dominos Royal Council of Poland ⌊Regni senatoresRoyal Council of Poland ⌋ delatos esse, ut non nisi diligenti facta et serenissimae maiestatis regiae, et dominis Regni per Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram de eorum innocentia relatione a concepta de illis suspicione liberari possint. Quam Elbing City Council ⌊eorumElbing City Council ⌋ innocentiam hi superinscribed in place of crossed-out his⌈his hi hi superinscribed in place of crossed-out his⌉ eorum nuntii sufficienter Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae explicabunt. Illis ne ne deesse velit consilio et patrocinio suo, plurimum rogo.

Digna enim est et meretur haec Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌊civitasElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌋, ut a superinscribed⌈aa superinscribed⌉ plurimorum iniuria defendatur, qui nihil a quam c s seditionem superinscribed in place of crossed-out s⌈smm superinscribed in place of crossed-out s⌉ in illa excitare et populum contra magistratum animare conantur in populo excitare et eum contra m ab oboedientia, quam Elbing City Council ⌊magistratuiElbing City Council ⌋ debent, deducere conantur. Unde iam multi de Citizens of Elbing ⌊civibusCitizens of Elbing ⌋ eorum instructi nec ius ibi dicere, nec iudicio eorum se sistere volunt, sed ilico, impetratis quorundam litteris, ad aulam se conferunt et ibi fi falsis eorum narrationibus Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae imponunt, eo modo superinscribed⌈eo modoeo modo superinscribed⌉ mandata et salvos conductos im obtinent, quibus non parum negotii written over a⌈aii written over a⌉ Elbing City Council ⌊magistratuiElbing City Council ⌋ facescunt et omnem civilem ordinem perturbant.

Haec non scriberem, nisi ea ita esse se habere certo scirem. Quare credat mihi Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra et tanto ala written over ie⌈ieaa written over ie⌉criori animo defensionem eorum suscipiat, quo alienatam fortassis serenissimae Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌋ mentem multorum iniquis superinscribed⌈iniquisiniquis superinscribed⌉ sugillationibus tandem benigniorem habere et commissam Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌊rempublicamElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌋ iuxta consuetum et per praedecessores Elbing City Council ⌊illisElbing City Council ⌋ traditum morem administrari possint. Hoc si per adscribed⌈perper adscribed⌉ Reverendissimam superinscribed⌈mm superinscribed⌉ Dominationem superinscribed⌈DominationemDominationem superinscribed⌉ Vestram adscribed⌈mm adscribed⌉ effecerit effectum fuerit, multum tranquillitatem huius Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌊reipublicae huius civitatisElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌋ confirmabit et omnium bonorum superinscribed⌈bonorumbonorum superinscribed⌉ animos perpetua gratitudine sibi superinscribed in place of crossed-out sibi devinciet⌈sibi devinciet sibi sibi superinscribed in place of crossed-out sibi devinciet⌉ obstringet superinscribed in place of crossed-out erga Reverendissimam Dominationem VestramReverendissima Dominatio Vestra⌈erga Reverendissimam Dominationem VestramReverendissima Dominatio Vestra superinscribed in place of crossed-out erga Reverendissimam Dominationem VestramReverendissima Dominatio Vestra⌉.

Quod si hi nuntii tardius forsan, quam ut diem exsequiarum attingere possint, advenerint, non illis hanc tu moram imputabit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra. accidit enim hoc quod omnes Non enim eorum culpa hoc accidit, sed quod omnibus nobis hic persuasum erat serenissimam maiestatem regiam publicum hic nobis ante comitia Regni indicturam conventum, quem cum magistratus Elbingensis etiam exspectaverit, eam moram commiseru non tamen volentes commiserunt. Quare rogo, ut eorum nuntios ob hanc causam apud serenissimam maiestatem regiam excusare velit et eos illi commendare velit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra etc. on the margin⌈Quod si hi nuntii tardius forsan, quam ut diem exsequiarum attingere possint, advenerint, non illis hanc tu moram imputabit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra. accidit enim hoc quod omnes Non enim eorum culpa hoc accidit, sed quod superinscribed⌈quodquod superinscribed⌉ omnibus written over es⌈esibusibus written over es⌉ nobis hic persuasum erat serenissimam Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌋ publicum hic nobis ante Diet of Poland ⌊comitia RegniDiet of Poland ⌋ indicturam Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventumProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋, quem cum Elbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌊magistratus ElbingensisElbing (Elbląg), city in northern Poland, in Pomerania, on the Vistula Lagoon, one of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Gdańsk (Danzig) and Thorn (Toruń), represented in the Prussian Council; member of the Hanseatic League⌋ etiam exspectaverit, eam moram commiseru non tamen volentes commiserunt. Quare rogo, ut Elbing City Council ⌊eorumElbing City Council ⌋ nuntios ob hanc causam superinscribed⌈causamcausam superinscribed⌉ apud serenissimam Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌋ excusare velit et eos illi commendare velit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra etc.Quod si hi nuntii tardius forsan, quam ut diem exsequiarum attingere possint, advenerint, non illis hanc tu moram imputabit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra. accidit enim hoc quod omnes Non enim eorum culpa hoc accidit, sed quod omnibus nobis hic persuasum erat serenissimam maiestatem regiam publicum hic nobis ante comitia Regni indicturam conventum, quem cum magistratus Elbingensis etiam exspectaverit, eam moram commiseru non tamen volentes commiserunt. Quare rogo, ut eorum nuntios ob hanc causam apud serenissimam maiestatem regiam excusare velit et eos illi commendare velit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra etc. on the margin⌉

Quam in multos annos feliciter valere et vivere opto.