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Letter #3897

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to UNKNOWN [Ermland (Warmia) Canon?]
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1542-08-11

English register:

Dantiscus replied in writing to the addressee’s request the day before yesterday [9 August].

He admonishes the addressee to give thanks to God for the abundant rains and to submit to God’s will, and also reproves him for transferring without his knowledge the celebration of the feast of St. Lawrence [10 August]. He considers it quite scandalous that a feast observed by the bishop’s subjects is not observed by those of the cathedral chapter. Such decisions ought to be made for the entire diocese. Dantiscus fears that neglecting the feast will result in further heavy rains in place of the heat which is needed during the harvest season.

The letter from Tomasz Konopnicki in Rome was dated thirteen days earlier than the letter referenced by the addressee. It will soon become clear whether any changes have occurred in the meantime. Dantiscus expresses hope for the lasting repentance of his adversary [Alexander Sculteti].




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 7, f. 4r (b.p.)

 

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

 

Ioannes etc.

Venerabilis Domine, frater sincere dilecte.

Ex nostris, quas nudiustertius hinc dedimus, iam Fraternitas Vestra de iis, quae petit, facta est certior.

De continuis pluviis Deo habendae sunt gratiae, quandoquidem pluit super iustos et iniustos et solem suum oriri facit super bonos et malos, et in manu eius sunt omnes fines terrae. Cui fructus suos aufert et reddit, non tam peccatorum nostrorum, quam immensae suae misericordiae habita ratione. Non igitur oportuit solemne hoc Divi Laurentii festum transponi, quod item sine assensu nostro fieri non debuit, scandalosum enim futurum est festum, quod a nostris celebratur, a vestris contemptui haberi. Eiusmodi translatio ut toti nostrae dioecesi communis esset, statui, decorum fuisset. Verendum est itaque, ne craticula sic tractata pro aestu, quem fruges exigunt, copiosiores fundat imbres. Placandus et orandus est igitur Deus, ut concessa serenitate pro sua misericordia ad finem usque messis nobis uti clementer permittat.

Litterae Thomae Conopniczki ex Urbe eas, de quibus Fraternitas Vestra scribit, XIII diebus praecesserunt. Si quid interim sit mutatum, paulo post experiemur. [Si] Deus quidem non vult mortem peccatoris, multo minus nos optare licet. Utinam ab omni errore et impietate adversarius conversus (quemadmodum pro illo sedulo oramus) resipiscat et in nullius molestiam pro ecclesiae ornamento vivat. Potens Deus est ex lapidibus facere filios Abrahae, verum non omnia, quae potest, facit.

Fraternitas Vestra feliciter valeat.

Ex Heilsberg, XI Augusti MDXLII.