BAV, Vat. Lat., I, f. 52r

Reverende Pater et Domine Colendissime.

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⌊ea parteRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ regionis 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⌋, quae Serenissimo 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⌊Regi PoloniaeSigismund 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⌋ subiecta est (Ducal Prussia⌊alteram enim partemDucal Prussia⌋ 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)⌊Albertus dux BrandenburgensisAlbrecht 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)⌋ cum omnibus sui subditis Lutheranus existens possidet), duae sunt cathedrales ecclesiae, altera Ermland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌊VarmiensisErmland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌋, altera Kulm diocese (Chełmno diocese)⌊CulmensisKulm diocese (Chełmno diocese)⌋ nuncupata. In quibus, et maxime in Ermland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌊VarmiensiErmland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌋ tamquam maiori, tanta est penuria et paucitas sacerdotum propter undequaque vicinos illos haereticos Lutheranos, ut plurimae parrochiales ecclesiae, super quibus ob earum amplos annuos reditus olim in Romana curia magna fuit concertatio, nunc autem omnino vacuae sint et pastoribus destitutae, adeo ut presbyter nullus reperiatur, qui eas petat vel desideret, quamvis in hodiernum usque diem eosdem integros proventus retinent, quos ante habuerunt. Quod ideo potissimum Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), diplomat, neo-Latin poet and traveller; 1504 royal scribe; 1507 referendary for Prussian affairs at the court of Sigismund Jagiellon; 1508-1513 royal envoy to Prussian towns and to the Prussian assemblies; 1515 secretary of the Polish legation at the imperial court; in 1516-1532 envoy in the service of the king of Poland Sigismund Jagiellon and emperors Maximilian and Charles V of Habsburg; 1529 Kulm canon; 1530-1537 bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 bishop of Ermland⌊Varmiensis episcopusIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), diplomat, neo-Latin poet and traveller; 1504 royal scribe; 1507 referendary for Prussian affairs at the court of Sigismund Jagiellon; 1508-1513 royal envoy to Prussian towns and to the Prussian assemblies; 1515 secretary of the Polish legation at the imperial court; in 1516-1532 envoy in the service of the king of Poland Sigismund Jagiellon and emperors Maximilian and Charles V of Habsburg; 1529 Kulm canon; 1530-1537 bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 bishop of Ermland⌋ vehementer dolet, quia cum maximo fit eius ovium animarum periculo, vereturque plurimum, ne ista eius Ermland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌊diocesisErmland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌋ imperita plebs ita pastoribus et contionatoribus orbata seducatur a dictis circumquaque vicinis haereticis et valde maliciosis Lutheranis. Consueverant ante Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), diplomat, neo-Latin poet and traveller; 1504 royal scribe; 1507 referendary for Prussian affairs at the court of Sigismund Jagiellon; 1508-1513 royal envoy to Prussian towns and to the Prussian assemblies; 1515 secretary of the Polish legation at the imperial court; in 1516-1532 envoy in the service of the king of Poland Sigismund Jagiellon and emperors Maximilian and Charles V of Habsburg; 1529 Kulm canon; 1530-1537 bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 bishop of Ermland⌊moderni episcopi VarmiensisIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), diplomat, neo-Latin poet and traveller; 1504 royal scribe; 1507 referendary for Prussian affairs at the court of Sigismund Jagiellon; 1508-1513 royal envoy to Prussian towns and to the Prussian assemblies; 1515 secretary of the Polish legation at the imperial court; in 1516-1532 envoy in the service of the king of Poland Sigismund Jagiellon and emperors Maximilian and Charles V of Habsburg; 1529 Kulm canon; 1530-1537 bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 bishop of Ermland⌋ praedecessores, imo coacti erant ob puerorum(?) cupientium ad sacros ordines multitudinem suffraganeum servare. Hodie vero episcopus suffraganeo nullo opus habet et tum ipsemet suffraganei laborem perlibenter subire vellet, tamen nemo est, qui ordinari in sacerdotem postularet.

Quapropter idem Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), diplomat, neo-Latin poet and traveller; 1504 royal scribe; 1507 referendary for Prussian affairs at the court of Sigismund Jagiellon; 1508-1513 royal envoy to Prussian towns and to the Prussian assemblies; 1515 secretary of the Polish legation at the imperial court; in 1516-1532 envoy in the service of the king of Poland Sigismund Jagiellon and emperors Maximilian and Charles V of Habsburg; 1529 Kulm canon; 1530-1537 bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 bishop of Ermland⌊Varmiensis episcopusIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), diplomat, neo-Latin poet and traveller; 1504 royal scribe; 1507 referendary for Prussian affairs at the court of Sigismund Jagiellon; 1508-1513 royal envoy to Prussian towns and to the Prussian assemblies; 1515 secretary of the Polish legation at the imperial court; in 1516-1532 envoy in the service of the king of Poland Sigismund Jagiellon and emperors Maximilian and Charles V of Habsburg; 1529 Kulm canon; 1530-1537 bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 bishop of Ermland⌋, cupiens syncere affectu necessario et oportuno remedio suis ovibus tempestive succurrere, ne, dum pastoribus privatae sunt, a totidemque crudelibus lupis, haereticis scilicet Lutheranis, in quorum medio et quasi faucibus habitant, devorentur, vel ex ignorantia verbi Dei et praeceptorum eius pereant, ad Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌊Sedem ApostolicamHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌋ confugit, supplicans, quatenus sibi per breve huiusmodi concedatur facultas, ut, electis aliquot eruditis et ad contionandum aptis fratribus ex quibuscumque monasteriis quarumvis ordinum, eos saecularium BAV, Vat. Lat., I, f. 52v sacerdotum habitu induere et vacuis illis parrochialibus ecclesiis praeficere possit, non modo ad docendum populum et ecclesiastica administrandum sacramenta, sed etiam ad resistendum pariter et sese opponendum commemoratis vicinis haereticis Lutheranis, ne haec Ermland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌊Varmiensis ecclesiaErmland (Warmia, Varmia), diocese and ecclesiastical principality in northeastern Poland, 1466-1772 within the Kingdom of Poland, Royal Prussia⌋ totaliter quoque (quod absit) tam pestiferis erroribus inficiatur et pessumeat.

Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌊Reverendus autem dominus CulmensisTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌋ episcopus in sua Kulm diocese (Chełmno diocese)⌊diocesiKulm diocese (Chełmno diocese)⌋ magna quoque sacerdotum et contionatorum paenuria laborans, habet quendam in Kulm (Chełmno, Culma, Culmen), town in northern Poland, on the Vistula river, 40 km N of Thorn (Toruń)⌊civitate CulmensiKulm (Chełmno, Culma, Culmen), town in northern Poland, on the Vistula river, 40 km N of Thorn (Toruń)⌋ praesbyterum eiusdem diocesis Franciscus Illigener ⌊Franciscum IlligenerFranciscus Illigener ⌋ nominatum, quem, quia non indoctus est et contionator optimus et populo gratus, magnopere cuperet in eadem civitate ad plebis animarum salutem retinere. Sed, quoniam idem Franciscus Illigener ⌊FranciscusFranciscus Illigener ⌋ in monasterio Kulm (Chełmno, Culma, Culmen), town in northern Poland, on the Vistula river, 40 km N of Thorn (Toruń)⌊civitatis CulmensisKulm (Chełmno, Culma, Culmen), town in northern Poland, on the Vistula river, 40 km N of Thorn (Toruń)⌋ ordinis minorum guardianus existens religionemque professus, propria auctoritate abiecto habitu ad saecularem conversationem rediit (in fide autem catholica semper perseverans), non potest dictus dominus Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌊episcopus CulmensisTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌋ eum in hiusmodi eius apostasia et gravi animae periculo diutius tollerare. Supplicat igitur Holy See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌊Sedi ApostolicaeHoly See (Sedes Apostolica) ⌋ tam dictus dominus Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌊episcopusTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌋, quam Franciscus Illigener ⌊FranciscusFranciscus Illigener ⌋, quatenus eundem Franciscum ab habitu, pro fessione atque apostasia huiusmodi per breve absolvere dignetur, vel ipsi domino episcopo Culmensi hunc Franciscum absolvendi facultatem concedat, tum quia in quartodecimo suae aetatis anno religionem ingressus est ac decimoquinto vixdum expleto professionem fecit, tum quod timendum est, ne, si recusata fuerit a Sede Apostolica dispensatio et apostasia dicti Francisci ab episcopo longius non tollerata, tandem ad Lutheranismum transfugere compellatur. Unde populus catholico optimo et grato sacerdote contionatoreque privaretur, quorum iam ante 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⌊illa regione PrussiaeRoyal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), region, part of Prussia annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1466 under the provisions of the Second Peace of Thorn⌋ (ut dictum supra) incredibilis est paucitas nec, quantumvis magnis praemiis aliunde invitati, haberi ibidem possunt propter imminendam finitimorum haereticorum turbam, quibus cum perpetuo verbis digladiari multaque incommoda et vituperia sustinere ab illis coguntur.

BAV, Vat. Lat., I, f. 53r

Proinde a Reverenda Paternitate Vestra subnixe petitur, ut antequam in eam sententiam brevia conscribantur, si hae res forsan difficiliores sibi ad concedendum videbuntur, cum Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope⌊sanctissimo domino nostroPaul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope⌋ verbum facere dignetur, quo sine magnis sumptibus utrique ordinario, Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), diplomat, neo-Latin poet and traveller; 1504 royal scribe; 1507 referendary for Prussian affairs at the court of Sigismund Jagiellon; 1508-1513 royal envoy to Prussian towns and to the Prussian assemblies; 1515 secretary of the Polish legation at the imperial court; in 1516-1532 envoy in the service of the king of Poland Sigismund Jagiellon and emperors Maximilian and Charles V of Habsburg; 1529 Kulm canon; 1530-1537 bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 bishop of Ermland⌊VarmiensiIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), diplomat, neo-Latin poet and traveller; 1504 royal scribe; 1507 referendary for Prussian affairs at the court of Sigismund Jagiellon; 1508-1513 royal envoy to Prussian towns and to the Prussian assemblies; 1515 secretary of the Polish legation at the imperial court; in 1516-1532 envoy in the service of the king of Poland Sigismund Jagiellon and emperors Maximilian and Charles V of Habsburg; 1529 Kulm canon; 1530-1537 bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 bishop of Ermland⌋ scilicet et Tiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌊CulmensiTiedemann Giese (Tidemannus Gisius) (*1480 – †1550), in 1519 ennobled by King Sigismund I; 1504-1538 Canon of Ermland (Warmia); 1516-1527, 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, passim)⌋, in tam longinquis et periculosis regionibus his necessariis et salutaribus auxiliis in tempore subveniatur.