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Letter #91

[Ioannes DANTISCUS] to [Sigismund I Jagiellon]
Heilsberg (Lidzbark), 1543-02-27

English register:

The members of the Royal Prussian Council received the king’s letter dated 31 January concerning the two indicted mayors of Gdańsk (Danzig) [Barthel Brand and Tiedemann Giese Jr]. This letter was a response to one they had recently sent from the [Royal Prussian] Diet in Marienburg (Malbork), in which they pleaded on behalf of the defendants. After reviewing its contents, the bishop of Kulm (Chełmno) [Tiedemann Giese], the voivodes of Pomerania [Jerzy Konopacki (Georg von Konopat)] and Marienburg (Malbork) [Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński)], and the castellans of Kulm (Chełmno) [Mikołaj Działyński (Nikolaus von Dzialin)], Elbing (Elbląg) [Jan Sokołowski], and Gdańsk [Achatius von Zehmen (Cema)], who are not allowed to hold meetings outside of [Royal Prussian] diets, turned to Dantyszek by virtue of his office to present their will to the king.

They are interceding with the king on behalf of the indicted mayors, asking that he forgive their failure to appear before the royal court on the appointed date. Although a new date has been set for March 25, it was never specified (either the first time or now) that they were expected to appear in person, and given that they are unable to travel such a long distance in so short a time, they have sent their legal representative instead.

They are interceding with the king on behalf of the indicted mayors, asking that he forgive their failure to appear before the royal court on the appointed date. Although a new date has been set for March 25, it was never specified (either the first time or now) that they were expected to appear in person, and given that they are unable to travel such a long distance in so short a time, they have sent their legal representative instead.

If, however, the king does not agree and wishes the defendant mayors to appear in person, they ask that the deadline be extended until May.

Dantiscus relays the opinion of the members of the council as requested, in accordance with his office.




Manuscript sources:
1copy in Latin, 16th-century, APG, 300, 53, 268, p. 127-128

 

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

 

APG, 300, 53, 268, p127

Serenissime etc.

Acceperunt hic Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae consiliarii litteras, quas ultima Ianuarii ad eos in negotio duorum 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)⌊praeconsulumBarthel 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)⌋ ex 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⌊GedanoGdańsk (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⌋ citatorum dari iussit, quibus respondit iis, quas nuper ex Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊Marienburgensi conventuProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ ad Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram pro duobus illis praeconsulibus dederunt. Lectis itaque eisdem potior pars dominorum consiliariorum, reverendissimus utpote dominus 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)⌊episcopus 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)⌋, magnifici domini Jerzy Konopacki Sr (Georg von Konopat) (*ca. 1480 – †1543), brother of Jan Konopacki, Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1512-1516 Chamberlain of Pomerania; 1516-1518 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1518-1543 Voivode of Pomerania (PSB 13, p. 547-548)⌊PomeraniaeJerzy Konopacki Sr (Georg von Konopat) (*ca. 1480 – †1543), brother of Jan Konopacki, Bishop of Kulm (Chełmno); 1512-1516 Chamberlain of Pomerania; 1516-1518 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1518-1543 Voivode of Pomerania (PSB 13, p. 547-548)⌋ et Georg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński) (*1469 – †1546), 1503–1512 Chamberlain of Marienburg (Malbork); 1512–1546 Voivode of Marienburg (PSB 1, p. 377)⌊MarienburgensisGeorg von Baysen (Jerzy Bażyński) (*1469 – †1546), 1503–1512 Chamberlain of Marienburg (Malbork); 1512–1546 Voivode of Marienburg (PSB 1, p. 377)⌋ palatini generosique 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)⌊CulmensisMikołaj 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)⌋, 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)⌊ElbingensisJan 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)⌋ atque Achatius von Zehmen (Achacy Cema) (*ca. 1485 – †1565), 1517–1531 Chamberlain of Pomerania; 1531–1546 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1545–1546 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546–1565 Voivode of Marienburg (Malbork) (SBPN 1, p. 194-195; ORACKI 1984, p. 38-39; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 198; PSB 4, p. 325-326)⌊GedanensisAchatius von Zehmen (Achacy Cema) (*ca. 1485 – †1565), 1517–1531 Chamberlain of Pomerania; 1531–1546 Castellan of Gdańsk (Danzig); 1545–1546 Voivode of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546–1565 Voivode of Marienburg (Malbork) (SBPN 1, p. 194-195; ORACKI 1984, p. 38-39; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 198; PSB 4, p. 325-326)⌋ castellani, cum ipsis convenire nisi in Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊comitiisProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ liceat, hoc quod Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae respondendum sunt arbitrati, ad me ratione officii perscripserunt orantes, ut ego de eorum votis ac desideriis Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae significationem facerem, quod cum ex debito negare non potui, Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae humillime supplico ea a me cum gratia accipiat.

Agunt in primis una mecum Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae, quantum possunt demissius, domini consiliarii immensas gratias pro ea benignitate, quam ad eorum diligentem commendationem duobus istis 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)⌊citatisBarthel 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)⌋ praeconsulibus in remissione noxae, quod ad dictum eis diem per se non comparuerunt, clementer praestiterit. Ceterum, cum illis alium terminum pro 1543-03-25⌊feria secunda post dominicam Laetare1543-03-25⌋ instantem ad comparendum designaverit ipsisque neque in priore citatione neque in hac novissima, ut se personaliter tribunali Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae statuant, mandatum sit, procuratoremque suum igitur cum plena facultate missum in curia Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae habeant per seque in tam angusto ad tribunal Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae tempore accedere commode non potuerint.

Rogant ipsi domini consiliarii Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram quam humillime, ne quid gravius in secundo praefixo termino, eo quod se adeo celeriter Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae statuere nequiverint, contra 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)⌊eosBarthel 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)⌋ praesente eorum procuratore decerni permittere velit, quin potius hanc causam 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⌊has terrasRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ pro futuris Provincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌊comitiisProvincial Diet of Royal Prussia ⌋ discutiendam vel certis hic commissariis, quos cum iis terris deligendos putaverit, committere dignetur. Qui haud dubie pro fide et observantia sua erga Serenissimam Maiestatem Vestram causam hanc sine ullo voluntatis auctoritatisque Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae offendiculo tractabunt et transigent.

Quod si (ut non sperant) hoc ipsum a Serenissima Maiestate Vestra impetrare non valeant illaque omnino sic habere velit, ut se hi duo 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)⌊praeconsulesBarthel 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)⌋ in personis propriis Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae offerant, ipsi domini consiliarii Serenissimae Maiestati Vestrae humillime supplicant, ut illis citatis usque ad aliquem diem mensis Maii proximum termini eiusmodi prorogatione gratiose concedat. Qua in re gratissimam hanc illis fieri gratiam humillime a Serenissima Maiestate Vestra petunt ad haec tempora pro quiete tranquillitateque publica conservanda, convenientissimam atque plurimum accommodam.

Haec, quemadmodum a me postulatum est, in notitiam Serenissimae Maiestatis Vestrae diligenter suppliciterque pro debito officii mei deducenda existimavi, utque ea aequi bonique Serenissima Maiestas Vestra clementer consulat, oro humillimeque me illi commendo.

Quam ut dominus Deus diutissime sospitet prosperetque in omnibus, precor ex animo.