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Letter #3451

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Tiedemann GIESE]
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1548-10-18

English register:

Dantiscus has learned about the outcome of the recent diet of Royal Prussia in Graudenz (Grudziądz) from his envoys to the proceedings, namely, that the fundamental matters ought to be settled between the king and the Prussian councillors at the diet in Piotrków. This pleases Dantiscus and accords with his own view of the matter. He has nothing to add, especially since the addressee has already personally presented to both the late king and to his successor the compiled and written list of issues concerning the preservation of Prussian privileges and laws, thereby initiating the process of their ratification. There is still a considerable amount of time available before St Catherine’s Day [25 November], so Dantiscus will let the addressee know if anything new comes to mind, even if his current state of health does not permit much reflection on public Prussian affairs.

Dantiscus wishes a prospicious journey to the addressee and the other members of the council of Royal Prussia. Should any needs arise in connection with the mission, he will not hold back his support. If a fire has indeed afflicted Piotrków and the local manors of the councillors, this raises suspicions. It is to be feared that some undesirable events might occur, or attempts might be made to conduct the proceedings in an open field after the Hungarian fashion. It would perhaps be better to move the diet to a different time and place. The matter will soon be cleared up. On the ninth day of the current month, Dantiscus dispatched a messenger to Radom, who will bring more reliable information. Once he receives it, he will pass it on to the addressee.

Dantiscus has no other news to share except for the information that the king’s new spouse [Barbara Radziwiłłówna] must be escorted from Radom to Nowe Miasto Korczyn, situated 10 miles from Cracow, in the company of a large retinue of courtiers. He leaves it to the addressee’s own judgment to conclude where this situation is heading.

He thanks the addressee for the concern shown for his health. He places his hope for an improvement in God’s mercy.




Manuscript sources:
1office copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, AAWO, AB, D. 70, f. 391v (b.p.)

Auxiliary sources:
1register in Polish, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8250 (TK 12), f. 582

 

Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus Excerpts concerning Dantiscus' travels

 

AAWO, AB, D.70, f. 391v

Reverendissime etc.

Ea, quae nuper in Graudenz (Grudziądz, Graudentium), city in Poland, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the right bank of the Vistula, alternating with Marienburg (Malbork), it was the venue of the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌊GraudentzGraudenz (Grudziądz, Graudentium), city in Poland, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the right bank of the Vistula, alternating with Marienburg (Malbork), it was the venue of the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌋ acta et tractata sunt, a meis, quos eo misi, satis abunde accepi: potiorem videlicet earum rerum partem ad Diet of Poland ⌊comitiaDiet of Poland ⌋ Petricoviensia per Council of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌊dominos consiliariosCouncil of Royal Prussia the principal local authority in Royal Prussia. It consisted of two bishops: of Ermland (Warmia), who served as president of the Council, and of Kulm (Chełmno); three voivodes: of Kulm, Marienburg (Malbork), and Pomerania; three castellans: of Kulm, Elbing (Elbląg), and Gdańsk (Danzig); three chamberlains: of Kulm, Marienburg, and Pomerania; and representatives of the three Great Prussian Cities: Gdańsk, Thorn (Toruń), and Elbing (ACHREMCZYK 2016, p. 17-18)⌋ cum 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⌊maiestate regiaSigismund 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⌋ esse transigendam. Quod quidem mihi non parum placuit atque satisfecit. Cum 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⌊maiestate enim regiaSigismund 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⌋ multa, quae hic agi nequeunt, concludi et ab ea resciri possunt. Ubi postquam Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima cum aliis suis collegis sospes feliciter constituetur, nihil praetermittet, quae ad tuendas Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌊harum terrarumRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ libertates et privilegia pertinebunt, neque est, quod ad eam instruendam a me addi possit, cum Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima prius illa omnia et coram 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⌊superstiteSigismund 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 divo defuncto 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⌊regeSigismund 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⌋ a se congesta et conscripta facunde et commode pro his terris peroraverit et iam his negotiis bonum ingressum et exordium dederit. Si tamen mihi in ea valetudine, quae non permittit de rebus nostris publicis multa praemeditari, in mentem venerit, tempore satis largo adhuc usque ad 1548-11-25⌊festum Sanctae Catharinae1548-11-25⌋ existente Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam non celabo.

Ad eam porro profectionem illi et aliis dominis consiliariis, qui cum Dominatione Vestra Reverendissima ituri sunt, faustos precor ms. precos(!) ⌈precorprecor ms. precos(!) ⌉ eventus et reditus. Quae a me ad eam necessaria postulabit, non negabuntur. Verum, si sic res habet de incensis dominorum curiis et Piotrków (Petricovia), city in central Poland, in the 15th-16th century the location of the assemblies of the Diet (Sejm) of the Kingdom of Poland, today Piotrków Trybunalski⌊oppido PetricoviensiPiotrków (Petricovia), city in central Poland, in the 15th-16th century the location of the assemblies of the Diet (Sejm) of the Kingdom of Poland, today Piotrków Trybunalski⌋, non potest carere haec conflagratio suspicione verendumque est, ne quid deterius subsequatur et quod more The Hungarians ⌊HungarorumThe Hungarians ⌋ in stativis agere conentur suas deliberationes, vel potius oportebit prorogari in aliud tempus et alium locum transponi Diet of Poland ⌊comitiaDiet of Poland ⌋. Quicquid erit, brevi audiemus. Misi IX huius nuntium Radom (Radomia), town in east-central Poland, Masovia, 100 km S of Warsaw⌊RadomiamRadom (Radomia), town in east-central Poland, Masovia, 100 km S of Warsaw⌋. Ille adferet certiora. Quicquid per illum accepero, ut Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima sciat, cumprimis curabo.

De rebus novis nihil ad praesens apud me est, quam quod Barbara Radziwiłłówna (*1520 – †1551), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1550-1551); from 1547 the second wife of Sigismund II Augustus; daughter of Jerzy Radziwiłł Vilnius castellan and Barbara Kola (PSB 14, p. 356)⌊nova nuptaBarbara Radziwiłłówna (*1520 – †1551), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1550-1551); from 1547 the second wife of Sigismund II Augustus; daughter of Jerzy Radziwiłł Vilnius castellan and Barbara Kola (PSB 14, p. 356)⌋ nostra ex Radom (Radomia), town in east-central Poland, Masovia, 100 km S of Warsaw⌊RadomiaRadom (Radomia), town in east-central Poland, Masovia, 100 km S of Warsaw⌋ ad Nowe Miasto Korczyn (Nova Civitas Korczin), town in south-central Poland, 36 km NW of Tarnów, 67 km S of Kielce, place of the assemblies of the nobility of Małopolska; today village Nowy Korczyn⌊Corczin Novam CivitatemNowe Miasto Korczyn (Nova Civitas Korczin), town in south-central Poland, 36 km NW of Tarnów, 67 km S of Kielce, place of the assemblies of the nobility of Małopolska; today village Nowy Korczyn⌋ decem miliaria a Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊CracoviaCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ distantem sub magna aulicorum et copiosa custodia deduci debet. Quorsum ista tendunt, facile Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima intelligit.

Cui me amantissime atque studiosissime commendo gratiasque habeo, quod adeo dolenter meam fert invalentiam, quam Dominus Deus, ut in eius misericordiam confido, aliquando reddet firmiorem. Eumque precor, ut Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam diutissime servet incolumem et ex hac in ea aetate profectione sanam et salvam reducat.