» 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 #5379

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1542-11-09

English register:

A valet returning from the Duke of Prussia [Albrecht I von Hohenzollern] delivered a letter from him to Dantiscus. The duke informed him that he had learned from the king [Sigismund I Jagiellon] that the king of the Romans [Ferdinand I of Habsburg] had approached the Polish monarch with a request to appoint commissioners to resolve a dispute concerning those Prussian lands which are subject to the Polish crown and the grand master of the Teutonic Order [Walther von Cronberg], in accordance with the resolutions adopted at the Imperial Diet in Regensburg. The Duke requested that Dantiscus share his opinion on the matter with both him and the addressee.

Dantiscus has considered the conduct of the grand master, as described to the king by the duke, during the most recent Imperial Diet in Nuremberg. He advises that, once the commissioners have been appointed, the king should approach the king of the Romans with a request to present such terms for resolving the dispute as would be acceptable to the grand master. In Dantiscus’ view, the responsibility for formulating such terms lies with the grand master, since he is the party lodging the complaint.

If the request to present such terms is rejected, as the grand master had already done during the Imperial Diet in Nuremberg, then incurring expenses for commissioners and organising a meeting will be pointless. However, if the request is complied with, it will be possible to consider the substance of the proposed terms, which will give some extra time.

Dantiscus presented his opinion in order to comply with the duke’s request. Owing to the weakness of his hand, he did not write the letter himself but dictated it to his secretary, as he had already explained in the letter sent to the king by the valet the day before yesterday.




Manuscript sources:
1copy in Latin, 16th-century, GStA PK, XX. HA Hist. StA Königsberg, HBA, C 1, No. 861, enclosure No. 6
2copy in Latin, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8244 (TK 6), a.1542, f. 29

Prints:
1HARTMANN 1525-1550 No. 861, p. 453 (German register)

 

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

 

Rediens envoy of Sigismund I Jagiellon ⌊cubiculariusenvoy of Sigismund I Jagiellon ⌋ Heilsberg (Lidzbark, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland, today Lidzbark Warmiński⌊hicHeilsberg (Lidzbark, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland, today Lidzbark Warmiński⌋ ab illustrissimo domino Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)⌊duce in PrussiaAlbrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)⌋, vicino meo, reddidit mihi ab eo cf. Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach to Ioannes DANTISCUS Königsberg, 1542-11-07, CIDTC IDL 5065⌊litterascf. Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach to Ioannes DANTISCUS Königsberg, 1542-11-07, CIDTC IDL 5065⌋. cf. Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach to Ioannes DANTISCUS Königsberg, 1542-11-07, CIDTC IDL 5065⌊Quibuscf. Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach to Ioannes DANTISCUS Königsberg, 1542-11-07, CIDTC IDL 5065⌋ scribit se a Serenissima Maiestate Vestra accepisse, quod serenissimus Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌊Romanorum rexFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌋ Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram rogaverit, ut, quos posset ferre, in causa terrarum Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae Prussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525, the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌊PrussiaePrussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525, the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌋ cum Walther von Cronberg (*1479 – †1543), 1526 German Master of the Teutonic Order; 1527 - Grand Master (as a successor of Albrecht von Hohenzollern)⌊magistroWalther von Cronberg (*1479 – †1543), 1526 German Master of the Teutonic Order; 1527 - Grand Master (as a successor of Albrecht von Hohenzollern)⌋ Teutonic Order (Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum), military order founded at the end of the 12th century⌊ordinis TeutoniciTeutonic Order (Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum), military order founded at the end of the 12th century⌋ commissarios indicaret, quemadmodum in Imperial Diet (Reichstag) ⌊conventu imperiiImperial Diet (Reichstag) ⌋ Ratisbonensi pro conciliatione illius causae constitutum habetur, postulans a me, ut si quid mihi in ea re esset consilii, id Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae et sibi notum facerem.

Cuius licet pro hebetatione mea nihil, vel admodum parum, mihi inesse agnoscam, ut tamen eiusmodi postulationi vel aliqua ex parte satisfiat, perpendens ea, quae ipse illustrissimus dominus Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)⌊duxAlbrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)⌋ Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae nuper in Imperial Diet (Reichstag) ⌊conventu imperiiImperial Diet (Reichstag) ⌋ Nurnbergensi a Walther von Cronberg (*1479 – †1543), 1526 German Master of the Teutonic Order; 1527 - Grand Master (as a successor of Albrecht von Hohenzollern)⌊magistroWalther von Cronberg (*1479 – †1543), 1526 German Master of the Teutonic Order; 1527 - Grand Master (as a successor of Albrecht von Hohenzollern)⌋ Teutonic Order (Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum), military order founded at the end of the 12th century⌊ordinisTeutonic Order (Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum), military order founded at the end of the 12th century⌋ facta et ducta esse descripsit, non abs re esse putarem post designationem commissariorum, quos Serenissima Maiestas Vestra ad eam causam adhiberi velit, ut a serenissimo Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌊Romanorum regeFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌋ posceret modos et articulos, quibus Walther von Cronberg (*1479 – †1543), 1526 German Master of the Teutonic Order; 1527 - Grand Master (as a successor of Albrecht von Hohenzollern)⌊magisterWalther von Cronberg (*1479 – †1543), 1526 German Master of the Teutonic Order; 1527 - Grand Master (as a successor of Albrecht von Hohenzollern)⌋ Teutonic Order (Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum), military order founded at the end of the 12th century⌊ordinisTeutonic Order (Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum), military order founded at the end of the 12th century⌋ per placabilem tractationem sibi satisfactum iri petat. Ad illum enim pertinet, cum actor sit, proponere, quibus de rebus commissarii inter se deliberare et transigere debeant.

Iis propositionibus habitis, consilium inire suaeque partis commissarios, quid facto sit opus, exacte instruere Serenissima Maiestas Vestra posset. Quae, inquam, propositiones si negabuntur, ut iam in Imperial Diet (Reichstag) ⌊conventuImperial Diet (Reichstag) ⌋ Nurmbergensi Walther von Cronberg (*1479 – †1543), 1526 German Master of the Teutonic Order; 1527 - Grand Master (as a successor of Albrecht von Hohenzollern)⌊magisterWalther von Cronberg (*1479 – †1543), 1526 German Master of the Teutonic Order; 1527 - Grand Master (as a successor of Albrecht von Hohenzollern)⌋ Teutonic Order (Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum), military order founded at the end of the 12th century⌊ordinisTeutonic Order (Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum), military order founded at the end of the 12th century⌋ declaravit, ignorabitur, quid agendum tranctandumve sit, supervacaneaeque expensae et commissariorum inutiles conventus fierent; sin vero Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae dabuntur, tum primum consultandum erit, quid per commissarios partis Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae per eiusdemque nuntios opponi responderique oporteat; in eoque cum temporis decursu non parum temporis causa lucrabitur.

Quod pro mea simplicitate ad postulationem illustrissimi domini Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)⌊ducisAlbrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)⌋, cui morem gero libenter et obsequor, non praescribendo, quod manus mea praestare nequit, veluti ex cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon [Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński)], 1542-11-06 or 1542-11-07, CIDTC IDL 6989, letter lost⌊meiscf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigismund I Jagiellon [Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński)], 1542-11-06 or 1542-11-07, CIDTC IDL 6989, letter lost⌋, quas per meum messenger of Ioannes DANTISCUS ⌊tabellariummessenger of Ioannes DANTISCUS ⌋ 1542-11-06 or 1542-11-07⌊nudius tertius1542-11-06 or 1542-11-07⌋ a<d> Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram dedi, intellexit, sed dictando fideliter et sincere in notitiam eiusdem Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae deducendum existimavi.

Cui me supplicissime commendo et a Domino Deo aetatem valetudinemque prosperam atque omnium felicium successuum perpetuam precor accessionem intime atque animo cupidissimo.