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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 City 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 city 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 city’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 city 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 city.

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 city 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 City 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

 

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.

Cum iuxta 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 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⌋ 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.

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 aliam causam quam privatum odium malevolunt et interitum 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 maiestati 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 eorum nuntii sufficienter Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae explicabunt. Illis 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 plurimorum iniuria defendatur, qui nihil quam seditionem in populo excitare et eum 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 ibi falsis eorum narrationibus Reverendissimae Dominationi Vestrae imponunt, eo modo mandata et salvos conductos obtinent, quibus non parum negotii Elbing City Council ⌊magistratuiElbing City Council ⌋ facescunt et omnem civilem ordinem perturbant.

Haec non scriberem, nisi ea ita se habere certo scirem. Quare credat mihi Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra et tanto alacriori 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 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 Reverendissimam Dominationem Vestram effectum fuerit, multum tranquillitatem 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 animos perpetua gratitudine sibi obstringet .

Quod si hi nuntii tardius forsan, quam ut diem exsequiarum attingere possint, advenerint, non illis hanc moram imputabit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra. Non enim eorum culpa hoc accidit, sed quod omnibus 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⌋ exspectaverit, eam moram non tamen volentes commiserunt. Quare rogo, ut Elbing City Council ⌊eorumElbing City Council ⌋ nuntios ob hanc causam 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 et eos illi commendare velit Reverendissima Dominatio Vestra etc.

Quam in multos annos feliciter valere et vivere opto.