» 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 #6189

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI]
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1543-01-09

English register:

On 1 January, Dantiscus sent a letter. An envoy of the Gdańsk (Danzig) city council, the royal burgrave and mayor [Johann von Werden] arrived to see him. Dantiscus encloses a copy of his reply to the municipality regarding the matters presented by the envoy. The council explains that, based on an agreement with Denmark, Gdańsk merchants are permitted to conduct maritime trade via the Danish strait [the Sound], but with the exception of transporting grain and war materials to Denmark’s enemies [The text of this paragraph is damaged in many places].

Dantiscus replied that the aforementioned agreements do not apply to the Kingdom of Poland and to other dominions of the king [Sigismund I Jagiellon]. The grain and other goods brought to Gdańsk are going bad, causing significant harm to the inhabitants of the Kingdom. In Dantiscus’ opinion, if the king does not wish to send an envoy concerning this matter to the king of Denmark [Christian III of Oldenburg], whom he had helped to gain the throne, he should at least make a formal protest in writing to demand the lifting of the blockade. This blockade is causing substantial losses to the Polish nobility and stirring their discontent. Dantiscus recalls that he had already pointed out in a previous letter to the addressee how severe the consequences of keeping the straits closed in spring would be for the king’s subjects.

The second part of the diplomatic mission was prompted by the king’s letter to Dantiscus, which he forwarded to the city council of Gdańsk. In the letter, the king requested advice concerning the unrest caused by two defendants [Tiedemann Giese Jr, Barthel Brandt] in connection with the administration of communion under both kinds. Relying only on the council’s written statement, the burgrave responded by making assurances that, as far as is known, communion under both kinds is not being administered to anyone. The council wishes for Dantiscus to intercede with the king in order to clear their fellow citizens of suspicion [The text of this paragraph is damaged in many places].

The justification presented regarding the public administration of communion under both kinds in Gdańsk can easily be rejected by the king, for those who receive communion in this manner usually travel to the Pomesanian diocese. The council permitted the common people to demand such communion for the laity in defiance of royal decrees, a fact which they did not even mention, since it is wholly unjustifiable. Dantiscus had already written earlier to identify the persons responsible for stirring up unrest in this matter. In his view, if the actions of these individuals are curtailed, the situation will calm down, and the unrest and unreasonable demands being instilled in the people to undermine royal authority or the validity of the court summons will not happen again.

In his previous letter, Dantiscus outlined the potential consequences of the king’s failure to respond to such audacity by allowing a person to remain at court and unpunished after being sent to defend it. In doing this, he believes that he has satisfied his conscience and remained loyal to the monarch. It is now up to the ruler to decide what course of action he deems appropriate.

If he has written anything too bold or imprudent, Dantiscus asks the addressee to kindly intercede on his behalf and to instruct him in what way he may have caused offence so that he may act with greater caution in the future.




Manuscript sources:
1rough draft in Latin, autograph, in secretary's hand, corrections in author's hand, AAWO, AB, D.110, f. 36r-v

 

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

 

Reverendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, ... [obser]vande.

Salutem et fratern[am commendationem].

Prima die huius cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] s.l., [ca. 1543-01-01], CIDTC IDL 3892, probably⌊scripsicf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] s.l., [ca. 1543-01-01], CIDTC IDL 3892, probably⌋ ... haud ... [ve]nit ad me missus a Gdańsk City Council ⌊magistratu GdanensiGdańsk City Council ⌋ S... Johann von Werden (Constellatus, cf. HE, No. 148, p. 150, footnote No. 12) (*1495 – †1554), 1526 Mayor of Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1527 Starost of Neuenburg (Nowe); 1532–1535, 1538, 1539, 1546, and 1551 Burgrave of Gdańsk; from 1535 Starost of Preußisch Mark (Przezmark), in 1535–1540 together with Achatius von Zehmen (Cema); 1536/1537 envoy of the Council of Royal Prussia to the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland held in Cracow. (SBPN 4, p. 433-435; ZDRENKA 2, p. 368-369; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 93, 161)⌊[bur]grabius et praeconsulJohann von Werden (Constellatus, cf. HE, No. 148, p. 150, footnote No. 12) (*1495 – †1554), 1526 Mayor of Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1527 Starost of Neuenburg (Nowe); 1532–1535, 1538, 1539, 1546, and 1551 Burgrave of Gdańsk; from 1535 Starost of Preußisch Mark (Przezmark), in 1535–1540 together with Achatius von Zehmen (Cema); 1536/1537 envoy of the Council of Royal Prussia to the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland held in Cracow. (SBPN 4, p. 433-435; ZDRENKA 2, p. 368-369; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 93, 161)⌋... habuit in pri[mo]... in quo ad Gdańsk City Council ⌊illius magistratusGdańsk City Council ⌋ ... iunctis litteris scripsi, quarum ipse ... [ex]emplum pro litterisque scriptis gratiam ... me commonefaciens, quod cum Denmark (Dania), the kingdom⌊Regno D[aniae]Denmark (Dania), the kingdom⌋ ... sibi intercederent, ut tempore belli, si quod illi reg[no] ... Citizens of Gdańsk ⌊civibus GedanensibusCitizens of Gdańsk ⌋ cum navibus merc... per angustias Danish straits (Fretum Danicum)⌊freti DaniciDanish straits (Fretum Danicum)⌋, qu... [quor]sum vellent, navigatio permitteretur praeterquam, ne ad hostium es frumenta et haec, quae ad bellicum apparatum sunt necessaria , inferrent, unde Gdańsk City Council ⌊magistratusGdańsk City Council ⌋ causabatur, quod ea in re cum Christian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534–1559 King of Denmark and Norway; 1523–1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌊rege DaniaeChristian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534–1559 King of Denmark and Norway; 1523–1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌋, secus quam pacta essent confecta, agi non posset.

Respondi, quod ea pacta Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), the kingdom⌊Regnum PoloniaePoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), the kingdom⌋ aliasque serenissimae 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 maiestatisSigismund 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⌋ diciones non obligarent, neque ob id frumenta cum aliis rebus, quae inde advehuntur Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Vistula on the Bay of Gdańsk, the largest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing (Elbląg); represented in the Council of Royal Prussia and a member of the Hanseatic League⌊GedanumGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Vistula on the Bay of Gdańsk, the largest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing (Elbląg); represented in the Council of Royal Prussia and a member of the Hanseatic League⌋, in loco vilescere et cum magno Inhabitants of Poland ⌊regnicolarumInhabitants of Poland ⌋ detrimento sic perdi oportere. Quapropter censeo et ex re omnium serenissimae 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⌊maiestatis regiaeSigismund 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⌋ Inhabitants of Poland ⌊subditorumInhabitants of Poland ⌋ esse puto, quod serenissima maiestas regia, si ob id ad Christian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534–1559 King of Denmark and Norway; 1523–1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌊regem DaniaeChristian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534–1559 King of Denmark and Norway; 1523–1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌋ nuntium mittere nolit , saltem serio litteris cum eo rege , qui recens a serenissima 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⌊maiestate regiaSigismund 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⌋ beneficio in regni acquisitione fuit adiutus, expostularet, ne frumentis et aliis ex Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), the kingdom⌊RegnoPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), the kingdom⌋ rebus Danish straits (Fretum Danicum)⌊angustiasDanish straits (Fretum Danicum)⌋ illas Baltic Sea⌊marisBaltic Sea⌋ Inhabitants of Poland ⌊subditis regiisInhabitants of Poland ⌋ clauderet, esset enim eiusmodi occlusio senatui, equestri ordini, toti nobilitati omnibusque serenissimae maiestatis regiae subditis intolerabilis nullisque modis ferenda, hincque sibi implacabile odium gravissimasque inimicitias conciliaret, sicut huius rei in cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] s.l., [ca. 1543-01-01], CIDTC IDL 3892⌊novissimiscf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] s.l., [ca. 1543-01-01], CIDTC IDL 3892⌋ ad Dominationem Vestram Reverendissimam memini, quod si cum Christian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534–1559 King of Denmark and Norway; 1523–1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌊rege illoChristian III of Oldenburg (*1503 – †1559), 1534–1559 King of Denmark and Norway; 1523–1559 Duke of Holstein and Schleswig; son of Frederick I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark, and his first consort, Anna of Brandenburg⌋ sic non tractabitur, angustiaeque illae pro instante verno tempore occlusae manserint, non obscurum est, quantis damnis regnicolae ceteriquae subditi serenissimae maiestatis omnes afficientur.

Secundam legationis partem cf. , CIDTC IDL 7497⌊litteraecf. , CIDTC IDL 7497⌋ ad me regiae extorserunt, quas magistratui miseram, in quibus super commotionem ratione communionis sub utraque per duos istos Barthel Brand (*ca. 1490 – †1549), 1520 Gdańsk (Danzig) alderman; 1523 consenior; 1526 senior; 1527 town councillor; 1538–1549 mayor

Tiedemann Giese Jr (*1491 – †1556), 1525, 1526, 1531 alderman of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1533 consenior; 1536 senior; 1539 councillor; 1540–1556 mayor; 1547, 1555 burgrave; nephew of Tiedemann Giese, bishop of Ermland (Warmia) (ZDRENKA 2, p. 114)⌊citatosBarthel Brand (*ca. 1490 – †1549), 1520 Gdańsk (Danzig) alderman; 1523 consenior; 1526 senior; 1527 town councillor; 1538–1549 mayor

Tiedemann Giese Jr (*1491 – †1556), 1525, 1526, 1531 alderman of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1533 consenior; 1536 senior; 1539 councillor; 1540–1556 mayor; 1547, 1555 burgrave; nephew of Tiedemann Giese, bishop of Ermland (Warmia) (ZDRENKA 2, p. 114)⌋ excitato consilium a me requirebatur. Ad quas quidem cf. , CIDTC IDL 7497⌊litterascf. , CIDTC IDL 7497⌋, ut esset, quod excusaret m <a> g <ist> ratus per Johann von Werden (Constellatus, cf. HE, No. 148, p. 150, footnote No. 12) (*1495 – †1554), 1526 Mayor of Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1527 Starost of Neuenburg (Nowe); 1532–1535, 1538, 1539, 1546, and 1551 Burgrave of Gdańsk; from 1535 Starost of Preußisch Mark (Przezmark), in 1535–1540 together with Achatius von Zehmen (Cema); 1536/1537 envoy of the Council of Royal Prussia to the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland held in Cracow. (SBPN 4, p. 433-435; ZDRENKA 2, p. 368-369; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 93, 161)⌊dominum burggrabiumJohann von Werden (Constellatus, cf. HE, No. 148, p. 150, footnote No. 12) (*1495 – †1554), 1526 Mayor of Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1527 Starost of Neuenburg (Nowe); 1532–1535, 1538, 1539, 1546, and 1551 Burgrave of Gdańsk; from 1535 Starost of Preußisch Mark (Przezmark), in 1535–1540 together with Achatius von Zehmen (Cema); 1536/1537 envoy of the Council of Royal Prussia to the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland held in Cracow. (SBPN 4, p. 433-435; ZDRENKA 2, p. 368-369; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 93, 161)⌋, qui tamen hoc ad me nonnisi scripto a Gdańsk City Council ⌊magistratuGdańsk City Council ⌋ referre voluit, respondit, quod scilicet communio sub utraque specie ... nemini, quod sciretur, concedatur ... maiestati ...visse edoctam, verum in illlis litteris maiesta... [q]uod communio istiusmodi Gedan[i] ... [po]stulatum esse ... [q]uod contra receptum morem sacrosanctae ... [orthodo]xae ecclesiae, ut eiusmodi communio sub utraque det[ur] .... Hoc frivolo lem <m> ate Konrad Lagus (*ca. 1500 – †1546), doctor of both laws (University of Wittenberg, 1540); from 1540 syndic of Gdańsk (Danzig)⌊syndicusKonrad Lagus (*ca. 1500 – †1546), doctor of both laws (University of Wittenberg, 1540); from 1540 syndic of Gdańsk (Danzig)⌋ ... eo, in quo non fuerat accusatio inducturum se putavit ...que a me magistratus domino Johann von Werden (Constellatus, cf. HE, No. 148, p. 150, footnote No. 12) (*1495 – †1554), 1526 Mayor of Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1527 Starost of Neuenburg (Nowe); 1532–1535, 1538, 1539, 1546, and 1551 Burgrave of Gdańsk; from 1535 Starost of Preußisch Mark (Przezmark), in 1535–1540 together with Achatius von Zehmen (Cema); 1536/1537 envoy of the Council of Royal Prussia to the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland held in Cracow. (SBPN 4, p. 433-435; ZDRENKA 2, p. 368-369; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 93, 161)⌊burgrabioJohann von Werden (Constellatus, cf. HE, No. 148, p. 150, footnote No. 12) (*1495 – †1554), 1526 Mayor of Gdańsk (Danzig); from 1527 Starost of Neuenburg (Nowe); 1532–1535, 1538, 1539, 1546, and 1551 Burgrave of Gdańsk; from 1535 Starost of Preußisch Mark (Przezmark), in 1535–1540 together with Achatius von Zehmen (Cema); 1536/1537 envoy of the Council of Royal Prussia to the Diet of the Kingdom of Poland held in Cracow. (SBPN 4, p. 433-435; ZDRENKA 2, p. 368-369; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 93, 161)⌋ redd...... motus nulli ob hoc negotium audiantur, quod se ... conterraneos meos ex ea suspici[one] apud maiestatem regiam levarem.

Quam de illis, quia serenissima 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⌊maiest[as] regiaSigismund 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⌋ non habeat, quandoquidem usus illiusmodi sub utraque communi[onis] publice Gdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Vistula on the Bay of Gdańsk, the largest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing (Elbląg); represented in the Council of Royal Prussia and a member of the Hanseatic League⌊GdaniGdańsk (Danzig, Dantiscum), city in northern Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Vistula on the Bay of Gdańsk, the largest and wealthiest of the three Great Prussian Cities, alongside Thorn (Toruń) and Elbing (Elbląg); represented in the Council of Royal Prussia and a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ nondum conceditur facile serenissima 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⌊maiestas regiaSigismund 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⌋ remitt..., nam ad Pomesania diocese (dioecesis Pomesaniensis)⌊dioecesim PomesaniensemPomesania diocese (dioecesis Pomesaniensis)⌋, qui illa communione utuntur, proficisci solent, quod vero magistratus plebi contra regias constitutiones tal[em] prohibitam laicis communionem postulare permiserit, de eo verbum nullum, excusari enim nequit. Ceterum a quibus postu[la]tio et motus illi exstimulati sint, prius cf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] s.l., [ca. 1543-01-01], CIDTC IDL 3892⌊scripsicf. [Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Samuel MACIEJOWSKI] s.l., [ca. 1543-01-01], CIDTC IDL 3892⌋, qui si coerciti fuerint, reliquum vulgus quiescet nullique deinceps motus aut postulationes adeo temerariae concitabunt <ur> , quae id temporis non nisi in terrorem, quo auctoritas citatioque regia evanesceret, plebi suggestae sunt.

Eam audaci[am] si 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⌊maiestas regiaSigismund 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⌋ illumque, qui ad defendendam eandem missus est, ad aulam impune relinquerit, quid sit subsecutur[um], in prioribus meis annotavi. Ego equidem conscientiam et fide[m] meam erga serenissimam 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⌊maiestatem regiamSigismund 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⌋ exoneravi. Quae faciat, quod in oculis suis bonum esse expedireque putaverit.

Apud quam, si quid liberius planiusve a me scriptum consultumque esse incons[i]deratius existimabitur, ut id omne fidei meae imputet, Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima intercessione sua efficere velit, summopere oro, meque edocere, in quo forsan offendi, ut hinc cautior esse possim. Qua in re supra id, quod iam pridem debeo, me Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima sibi devictissimum atque auctoratum perpetuo constringet.

Meque illi commendatissimum esse cupio et precor omnia faustissima.