» CORPUS of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence
Copyright © Laboratory for Source Editing and Digital Humanities AL UW

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Letter #3909

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to Sigismund I Jagiellon
Braunsberg (Braniewo), 1545-01-29

English register:

After the conclusion of the Diet [of Royal Prussia] at Elbing (Elbląg), which was devoted to legal cases, a messenger of the king [Sigismund I] reached Dantiscus with a letter dated 17 January. In it, the king summoned Dantiscus to come to court in order to take part in deliberations concerning the affairs of Royal Prussia. Dantiscus mentions that we will arrive several days before Laetare Sunday [14 March]. In the meantime, the inflamed tempers of the defendants [the city council of Gdańsk (Danzig)] will have cooled somewhat, and Dantiscus will gather such intelligence as he considers useful to the king. It would be advisable for the castellan of Elbing and the treasurer of Prussia [Stanisław Kostka] to accompany him to court.

Dantiscus considers it unnecessary to describe the course of the Diet [of Royal Prussia], devoted as it was to legal cases, at which almost all matters were resolved, with the exception of those which by law needed to be adjourned.

The councillors [of Royal Prussia] appealed to Dantiscus to ask the king to indulge their failure to reply to the king’s letter concerning the tax, as well as to the letter in which he expressed his displeasure at the letter of recommendation [issued for the citizens of Gdańsk in the matter of the king’s efforts to recover Putzig (Puck)] sent from the last Diet [of Royal Prussia] in Graudenz (Grudziądz). The councillors point out that the assembly was not attended by any of the voivodes [Mikołaj Działyński, Voivode of Pomerania; Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński), Voivode of Marienburg (Malbork); Johann von Lusian (Jan Luzjański), Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno)] or by the castellan of Kulm [Jan Sokołowski]. Deliberations on the drafting of a reply were deferred to the spring Diet [of Royal Prussia]. [The remaining text of this paragraph is damaged.] Those who remained at the place of deliberations were the bishop of Kulm [Tiedemann Giese], the envoy of the city of Thorn (Toruń) [Adrianus Fridewalt (Adrian Fredewald)], and the representatives of the city authorities of Elbing, who submitted a request [this most likely concerns the circulation of copies of the royal letter to the absent members of the council of Royal Prussia, and the written consultations regarding a petition to the king to defer the matter of Putzig to the spring Diet of Royal Prussia; cf. Dantiscus’s letter to Samuel Maciejowski, IDL 3853].

Dantiscus makes mention of the bishop of Płock [Samuel Maciejowski]. [The text of this paragraph is damaged; Dantiscus may have been informing the king that he had described the current situation in Royal Prussia at greater length in his letter to Maciejowski].




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 7, f. 44v

 

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

 

Reddidit mihi Elbingi, iam iudiciario conventu dissoluto superinscribed⌈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⌊ElbingiElbing (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⌋, iam iudiciario Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventuProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ dissolutoElbingi, iam iudiciario conventu dissoluto superinscribed⌉, is servant (cubicularius) of Sigismund I Jagiellon ⌊cubiculariusservant (cubicularius) of Sigismund I Jagiellon ⌋ Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae cf. Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1545-01-17, CIDTC IDL 6614, letter lost⌊litterascf. Sigismund I Jagiellon to Ioannes DANTISCUS Cracow, 1545-01-17, CIDTC IDL 6614, letter lost⌋ 1545-01-17⌊XVII huius mensis1545-01-17⌋ scriptas, quas summa observantia dignitatis Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae legens, non potui intimo gaudio non affici quod ex iis. Singularem enim superinscribed⌈enimenim superinscribed⌉ in me regiam clementiae propensionem liquidissime agnovimus. Quae ferebant, eo quod me, qui longe opinioni de me conceptae sim inferior, clementer ad se vocavit adscribed in place of crossed-out vocare⌈vocare vocavit vocavit adscribed in place of crossed-out vocare⌉ ut ... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉, ut illi in negotiis 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⌋ Serenissimae Maiestati Regiae inservirem. Quamvis me ipsum ineptum ac minus habilem ob desuetudinem atque alias affectiones sentiam huiusmodi servitio, quod, quia tamen a primis iuventutis meisae annis longao usu assuetudine ductus iam habitum induerim illiusmodi servitutis induerim on the margin in place of crossed-out in eo servitio and then crossed-out⌈in eo servitio Quam paper damaged⌈[Quam]Quam paper damaged⌉vis me ipsum(?) ineptum ac minus ha paper damaged⌈[tum ac minus ha]tum ac minus ha paper damaged⌉bilem ob desuetudinem atque paper damaged⌈[tudinem atque]tudinem atque paper damaged⌉ alias affectiones paper damaged⌈[tiones]tiones paper damaged⌉ sentiam huiusmodi servitio, qu paper damaged⌈[qu]qu paper damaged⌉od, quia tamen superinscribed⌈tamentamen superinscribed⌉ a primis iuventutis meae written over is⌈isaeae written over is⌉ annis longo written over a⌈aoo written over a⌉ usu superinscribed⌈usuusu superinscribed⌉ assuetudine ductus iam habitum induerim illiusmodi servitutis induerim Quamvis me ipsum ineptum ac minus habilem ob desuetudinem atque alias affectiones sentiam huiusmodi servitio, quod, quia tamen a primis iuventutis meisae annis longao usu assuetudine ductus iam habitum induerim illiusmodi servitutis induerim on the margin in place of crossed-out in eo servitio and then crossed-out⌉, adeo benignae in me superinscribed in place of crossed-out ut me⌈ut me in me in me superinscribed in place of crossed-out ut me⌉ voluntati regiae cum videam prorsus mihi esse non esse superinscribed⌈esseesse superinscribed⌉ reluctandum, sed hidden by binding⌈[ed]ed hidden by binding⌉ libenter obsequendum duxi, sollicitudinem superinscribed in place of crossed-out fiduciam⌈fiduciamsollicitudinemsollicitudinem superinscribed in place of crossed-out fiduciam⌉ omnem te written over i⌈iee written over i⌉nuitatis meae, quam Wrocław (Breslau, Vratislavia), city in Silesia, on the Oder river, from 1526 ruled by the Habsburgs, today in southwestern Poland⌊VratislaviensisWrocław (Breslau, Vratislavia), city in Silesia, on the Oder river, from 1526 ruled by the Habsburgs, today in southwestern Poland⌋ et novissime Cracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌊Cr written over ...i⌈... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉iCrCr written over ...i⌉acoviensisCracow (Kraków, Cracovia), city in southern Poland, Małopolska, on the Vistula river, from 1038 capital of the Kingdom of Poland⌋ profectio mihi intulit, in gratia hidden by binding⌈[ia]ia hidden by binding⌉m Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae reponens, quae me prius numquam destituit. Venturus sum itaque pa written over an⌈an pa pa written over an⌉ucos dies ante 1544-03-15⌊Dominicam Laetare1544-03-15⌋, ut interim superinscribed in place of crossed-out ... interim⌈... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ interim ut interim ut interim superinscribed in place of crossed-out ... interim⌉ citato written over i⌈ioo written over i⌉rum animi inflammati hidden by binding⌈[mati]mati hidden by binding⌉ aliqua ex parte tepescant, et ego hic, quae putavero rebus Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae accommoda, undecumque superinscribed in place of crossed-out quaque⌈quaquecumquecumque superinscribed in place of crossed-out quaque⌉ exquirere et mecum afferre possim. Expediretque plurimum, ut generosus dominus Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), leader of the so-called nobles’ party, active in Royal Prussia from 1536, and opponent of most members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who sought to preserve the province’s autonomy and a balance of power in its governance. Tensions between Kostka, Prussian Treasurer, and the Council had been growing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Sent there as the King’s deputy, Kostka, contrary to custom, took part in the proceedings, prompting the Council to suspend the meeting. He accused its members of hostility towards the Poles and appealed to the royal court. In the absence of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland, the Diet was chaired by Dantiscus, and the incident seriously damaged his later relations with Kostka; 1531–1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544–1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg); 1545–1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546–1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546–1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551–1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌊castellanus ElbingensisStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), leader of the so-called nobles’ party, active in Royal Prussia from 1536, and opponent of most members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who sought to preserve the province’s autonomy and a balance of power in its governance. Tensions between Kostka, Prussian Treasurer, and the Council had been growing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Sent there as the King’s deputy, Kostka, contrary to custom, took part in the proceedings, prompting the Council to suspend the meeting. He accused its members of hostility towards the Poles and appealed to the royal court. In the absence of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland, the Diet was chaired by Dantiscus, and the incident seriously damaged his later relations with Kostka; 1531–1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544–1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg); 1545–1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546–1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546–1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551–1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌋ Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae in 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⌊iis terrisRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ thesaurarius superinscribed in place of crossed-out consiliarius⌈consiliarius thesaurarius thesaurarius superinscribed in place of crossed-out consiliarius⌉ mecum adesset, quod non abs re scribo etc.

Ceterum, quae in transacto iudiciario Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventuProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ acta sunt, ubi causae fere hidden by binding⌈[e]e hidden by binding⌉ omnes litigantium ceperunt determinationem on the margin⌈ceperunt determinationemceperunt determinationem on the margin⌉, praeter eas, quae de iure superinscribed⌈de iurede iure superinscribed⌉ dilationes exigebant superinscribed in place of crossed-out postulabant⌈postulabant exigebant exigebant superinscribed in place of crossed-out postulabant⌉, non opere pretium est scribere.

Hoc tamen existimavi addendum, dominos consiliarios a me rogasse hidden by binding⌈[e]e hidden by binding⌉ Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram submisse deprecari, ne inclementer ferre velit, quod litteris Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae de contributione et illis, quibus propter commendaticias hidden by binding⌈[s]s hidden by binding⌉ in negotio Pucensi ex proximis written over o⌈oisis written over o⌉ Graudentinis Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊comitiisProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ datis non immerito expostulat, non responderint, quandoquidem nemo Mikołaj Działyński (Nikolaus von Dzialin) (†1545), from 1507 royal courtier; 1510–1528 Chamberlain of Dobrzyń; 1528–1544 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1544–1545 Voivode of Pomerania; Starost of Bratian, Strasburg in Preussen (Brodnica), and Dobrzyń. (PSB 6, p. 92-94; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 204)

Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński) (*1469 – †1546), 1503–1512 Chamberlain of Marienburg (Malbork); 1512–1546 Voivode of Marienburg (PSB 1, p. 377)

Johann von Lusian (Jan Luzjański) (*before 1470 – †1551), brother of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1514–1551 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno); 1520–1525 Burgrave of Rössel (Reszel) (PSB 18, p. 166-167)⌊palatinorumMikołaj Działyński (Nikolaus von Dzialin) (†1545), from 1507 royal courtier; 1510–1528 Chamberlain of Dobrzyń; 1528–1544 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1544–1545 Voivode of Pomerania; Starost of Bratian, Strasburg in Preussen (Brodnica), and Dobrzyń. (PSB 6, p. 92-94; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 204)

Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński) (*1469 – †1546), 1503–1512 Chamberlain of Marienburg (Malbork); 1512–1546 Voivode of Marienburg (PSB 1, p. 377)

Johann von Lusian (Jan Luzjański) (*before 1470 – †1551), brother of Fabian von Lusian (Luzjański), Bishop of Ermland (Warmia); 1514–1551 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno); 1520–1525 Burgrave of Rössel (Reszel) (PSB 18, p. 166-167)⌋ ob valetudines affectas p... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉t... illegible⌈...... illegible⌉ interfuit, similiter neque superinscribed in place of crossed-out et⌈et similiter neque similiter neque superinscribed in place of crossed-out et⌉ dominus item Jan Sokołowski (Jan of Wrząca) (†1546), in 1533 accused by Ioannes Dantiscus, Bishop of Kulm, of favouring heresy; 1539–1544 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg); 1544–1545 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1545–1546 Voivode of Pomerania (PSB 40/1, p. 131-133)⌊castellanus Culmensis hidden by binding⌈[nsis]nsis hidden by binding⌉Jan Sokołowski (Jan of Wrząca) (†1546), in 1533 accused by Ioannes Dantiscus, Bishop of Kulm, of favouring heresy; 1539–1544 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg); 1544–1545 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1545–1546 Voivode of Pomerania (PSB 40/1, p. 131-133)⌋ interesse non potuit, sine quibus in eo quicquam statuere commodum non videbatur. Reiecta est igitur haec respondendi consultatio ad vernum Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊conventumProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋. Petiverunt superinscribed in place of crossed-out Rogarunt⌈Rogarunt Petiverunt Petiverunt superinscribed in place of crossed-out Rogarunt⌉ [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), ennobled by King Sigismund I in 1519; 1504–1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516–1527 and 1533–1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523–1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537–1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549–1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984)⌊reverendissi paper damaged⌈[reverendissi]reverendissi paper damaged⌉mus dominus paper damaged⌈[dominus]dominus paper damaged⌉ CulmensisTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), ennobled by King Sigismund I in 1519; 1504–1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516–1527 and 1533–1537 Judicial Vicar and Vicar General of Ermland; 1523–1538 Custos of Ermland; 1537–1549 Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1549–1550 Bishop of Ermland (BORAWSKA 1984)⌋ et superinscribed⌈etet superinscribed⌉ Adrianus Fridewalt (Adrian Fredewald) (†after 1550), 1517–1530 alderman of Thorn; 1530–1551 councillor of Thorn (MIKULSKI 2001, p. 191)⌊nuntius Thorn City Council ⌊Thorunensium hidden by binding⌈[m]m hidden by binding⌉Thorn City Council ⌋Adrianus Fridewalt (Adrian Fredewald) (†after 1550), 1517–1530 alderman of Thorn; 1530–1551 councillor of Thorn (MIKULSKI 2001, p. 191)⌋, qui nondum abierant on the margin⌈nondum abierantnondum abierant on the margin⌉, cum Elbing City Council ⌊magistratu ElbingensiElbing City Council ⌋ [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉, quas cubicularius iste [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ quod per mutuas inte superinscribed⌈inteinte superinscribed⌉r paper damaged⌈[r]r paper damaged⌉ [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉.

Quae hinc alia paper damaged⌈[ia]ia paper damaged⌉ [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ reverendissimus dominus 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)⌊episcopus Plocensis paper damaged⌈[locensis]locensis paper damaged⌉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)⌋ [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ a me impense roga[...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ scire(?) [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉.

[...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ commendo et ut eandem Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram paper damaged⌈[m Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram]m Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram paper damaged⌉ Dominus Deus a[...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉ incolumem atque felicissimam paper damaged⌈[am]am paper damaged⌉ [...] paper damaged⌈[...][...] paper damaged⌉us conservet studiosissimo superinscribed in place of crossed-out omnibus(?)⌈omnibus(?) studiosissimo paper damaged⌈[mo]mo paper damaged⌉ studiosissimo superinscribed in place of crossed-out omnibus(?)⌉ atque paper damaged⌈[atque]atque paper damaged⌉ assiduo paper damaged⌈[o]o paper damaged⌉ a(n)i(m) paper damaged⌈[a(n)i(m)]a(n)i(m) paper damaged⌉o precor paper damaged⌈[r]r paper damaged⌉.