ONB, Cod. 13.597, f. 15v

Generoso Domino Sigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court)⌊Sigismundo de HerbstainSigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court)⌋, consiliario ac oratori Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊caesareae maiestatisMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋, domino et amico observandissimo.

ONB, Cod. 13.597, f. f. 15r

Generose Domine, plurimam commendationem.

De meis calamitatibus, quas post vestrum hinc discessum passus sum, multa essent scribenda. Sed quia timeo, ne plus affectus et dolor ipse, qui nunc me occupat, plura, quam epistola desiderat, ferat, paucis me expediam. Vesperi, dum Generositas Vestra mecum erat in symposio ms. simposio(!) ⌈symposiosymposio ms. simposio(!) ⌉, ut scitum, exorta erat quaedam controversia inter famulum meum et Laurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌊LaurentiumLaurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌋ quendam istius Georg von Eltz (Georg von Elss) (†1532)⌊de ElssGeorg von Eltz (Georg von Elss) (†1532)⌋ 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⌊CruciferorumTeutonic 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⌋ famulum, quae utcumque fuit sopita. Postero die conveni dictum Laurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌊LaurentiumLaurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌋, ut me certiorem redderet, quamobrem omnia essent acta. Respondit, quod propter quaedam verba, quae hospita mea se a meo servitore retulisset audivisse. Discessum est inter nos in fine, quod idem Laurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌊LaurentiusLaurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌋ nihil vel contra me aut meum famulum praetenderet agere, immo ubi mihi possit obsequi, obtulit se libenter facturum. Quod etiam Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊caesareae maiestatisMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋ aulico domino Elsenhemer[1], qui ista semper fatebitur, paulo post exposuit. Hodie accidit, dum essem in ecclesia sacris intentus, quod Laurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌊LaurentiusLaurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌋ famulum meum vidit exeuntem de hospitio, quod prope vestrum conduxi, propter pacem et maiorem commoditatem, et exiliens a tergo contra eum inflixit ei duo letifera vulnera, antequam ad ensem famulus meus pervenisset. Quo exempto non sine difficultate cum acceptis a tergo vulneribus abscidit Laurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌊hostiLaurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌋ suo aliquos articulos et nisi fuisset abstractus, occidisset eum. Laurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌊LaurentiusLaurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌋ fuit armatus testam habens in capite ferream, quam ei famulus meus una cum pileo sine tamen damno de capite desecavit. Nunc autem famulus meus cum vulneribus in potestate est Divina, si vivet nec ne, et cogor cum eo habere patientiam. Quia hic illata sunt vulnera, fere in aula Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊caesareae maiestatisMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋, cum hic adhuc fere omnes et equi suae maiestatis maneant, dominus Georg von Eltz (Georg von Elss) (†1532)⌊Georgius de ElssGeorg von Eltz (Georg von Elss) (†1532)⌋ hinc abiit hoc Laurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌊interfectoreLaurentius servant of Georg von Eltz⌋ relicto. Quid in hoc aliud considerem, quam vetus odium, nescio. Si etiam factum est ex instinctu eiusdem, plane me latet. Credo, quod famulus eius non ausus fuisset manere hic absque consensu domini sui, cuius, ut mihi persuasi, iussu haec fortassis acta sunt. Et ut opinor debuerant haec in me redundasse, quia 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⌊serenissimi domini mei regis 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⌋ servus sum et quod videor suspectus, quoniam multa contra 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⌊OrdinemTeutonic 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⌋ sollicitem apud Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊caesaream maiestatemMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋. Quomodocumque se res habet, famulus meus patitur et de vita dubium est. Confugio itaque ad Generositatem Vestram summa cum fiducia, neminem enim, cum ignotus et exoticus sum in aula caesaris, quam Generositatem Vestram habeo, cui has querelas gravissimas et ignominiam illatam deferre possim. Rogo igitur suo tempore has meas iniurias Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊caesareae maiestatiMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋ ex animo exponat eandemque deprecetur, ut clementer in me, qui Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊suae maiestatiMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋ fideliter servivi et ulterius servire decrevi, respectum habeat committatque magistro curiae[2] suae, ut cf. Liv. 3, 46, 6 in eo verti puellae salutem, si postero die vindex iniuriae ad tempus praesto esset ⌊vindex sit iniuriaecf. Liv. 3, 46, 6 in eo verti puellae salutem, si postero die vindex iniuriae ad tempus praesto esset ⌋ meae[3], nam occisor iste adhuc hic est, ne videatur frustra probum et bonum hominem, fidelem meum servum offendisse. Confido summe Generositatem Vestram pro summo meo in eandem amore acmeum observantia aliter non facturam.

Quid de reliquis rebus meis scribere debeam, per se potest Generositas Vestra intelligere, dum sic perplexe negotia mea aguntur. Nescio, quibus fatis in has turbas impellor. Offendo neminem, immo velim omnibus prodesse, nec etiam sum ab insitu naturali tam durus vel potius ferus, quod cum hominibus convenire nesciam. Tamen undique hac tempestate premor. Non solum hoc infortunium contra me, verum etiam in equos meos grassatur. Unus de equis meis, quem meliorem et cariorem habui, luxatus est, hoc est claudicat et nusquam potest[4], famulus ad mortem vulneratus. Alter Polonus meus apostema quoddam nactus est. cf. ⌊Mecum adhuc Deo Optimo Maximo bene volente salubriter agitur.cf. ⌋ De XXX Renensibus, quos nuper ex commissione Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊caesareae maiestatisMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋ accepi[5], solutis solvendis 4 restant. Quam diu hic cum his vivere possum, potest Generositas Vestra considerare. Proinde iterum iterumque Generositatem Vestram rogo, conferat cum Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊caesarea maiestateMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋ de provisione mea ulteriori, rogetque suam maiestatem, ut permittat me hic manere, donec famulus meus, si possibile est, convalescat, tamen perinde est Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊suae maiestatiMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋, si opera mea non indiget, ubi maneo, feratque mihi certitudinem de omnibus rebus meis, prout rogavi, et fideliter mihi patrocinetur. Quod, quantum eniti possum, omni studio, industria, labore mereri erga Generositatem Vestram conabor. Cui me ac saucium famulum meum commendo.

Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌈Dat(ae)Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌉ Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌊AugustaeAugsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌋, XXIX Octobris anno MDXVI.

Generositatis Vestrae deditissimus Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Hans Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌊Ioannes DantiscusIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Hans Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌋, doctor, serenissimi Polonie regis etc. nuntius et secretarius.

[1] Wolfgang Elsenheimer member of a merchant family from Salzburg; mentioned in 1510-1512 as finance writer (Zeugzahlschreiber or Zeugschreiber) on the court of the emperor Maximilian I⌊WolfgangWolfgang Elsenheimer member of a merchant family from Salzburg; mentioned in 1510-1512 as finance writer (Zeugzahlschreiber or Zeugschreiber) on the court of the emperor Maximilian I⌋ or Heinrich Elsenheimer mentioned in 1515 as foddermaster (Futtermeister) on the court of the emperor Maximilian I⌊Heinrich ElsenheimerHeinrich Elsenheimer mentioned in 1515 as foddermaster (Futtermeister) on the court of the emperor Maximilian I⌋.

[2] Most likely Wilhelm II von Rappoltstein, baron of Rappoltstein (*1468 – †1547), 1512-1515 court steward (Hofmeister) of the Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg (Hollegger 1983, p. 136, 269 ff.)⌊Wilhelm II Freiherr von RappoltsteinWilhelm II von Rappoltstein, baron of Rappoltstein (*1468 – †1547), 1512-1515 court steward (Hofmeister) of the Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg (Hollegger 1983, p. 136, 269 ff.)⌋, although in this context one could expect rather a majordomo who oversaw courtiers and who was in that time Leonhard Rauber zu Plankenstein baron of Plankenstein, majordomo (Hofmarschall) of the Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg (Hollegger 1983, p. 136 ff.)⌊Leonhard RauberLeonhard Rauber zu Plankenstein baron of Plankenstein, majordomo (Hofmarschall) of the Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg (Hollegger 1983, p. 136 ff.)⌋.

[3] Dantiscus most probably means the emperor’s mandate to the court steward, to make sure that the attacker of Dantiscus’ servant was punished. This mandate is discussed in CEID 2/1, letters No. 3 and 5.

[4] Unus de equis meis — — nusquam potest – this is probably a German borrowing. In German, the verb “Kann” – ‘be able to’ sometimes means ‘can go somewhere’. Then, this would be a calque from the German: “das Pferd kann nirgends hin”.

[5] This amount is not recorded in preserved imperial accounts for October 1516. Neither are any other payments to Dantiscus recorded at the end of 1516; we know he received 20 Rhine guldens on September 11, for the journey from Innsbruck (Oenipons), city in western Austria, Tyrol, on the Inn river⌊InnsbruckInnsbruck (Oenipons), city in western Austria, Tyrol, on the Inn river⌋ to Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌊AugsburgAugsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌋, see TLA, Oberösterreichische Kammerraitbücher, Bd 64 (Raitbuch des Tiroler Kammermeisters Ulrich Möringer für den Zeitraum 1515 Dezember 25 – 1516 Dezember 24), fol. 197, cf. also CEID 2/1, letter No. 6, footnote 4.