Ioannes Dei gratia episcopus Varmiensis honorabili domino Iacobus Hermitz (Jakub Hermicz) (†1551)⌊Iacobo HermiczIacobus Hermitz (Jakub Hermicz) (†1551)⌋ archipresbytero et parocho in Braunsberg (Braniewo), town in Ermland (Warmia), 19 km NE of Elbing (Elbląg), port on the Vistula Lagoon, a member of the Hanseatic League⌊BraunsbergBraunsberg (Braniewo), town in Ermland (Warmia), 19 km NE of Elbing (Elbląg), port on the Vistula Lagoon, a member of the Hanseatic League⌋ et universis presbyteris curatis sub eadem sede constitutis[1]

Salutem in Domino.

Quoniam nos Divina Scriptura docuit et ecclesiae consuetudo confirmavit, quod cf. Vulg. Mc 2:13:1 sancta ergo et salubris cogitatio pro defunctis exorare ut a peccato solverentur ⌊sancta et salutaris sit oratio, quae pro defunctis Domino offertur, ut a peccatis solvantur cf. Vulg. Mc 2:13:1 sancta ergo et salubris cogitatio pro defunctis exorare ut a peccato solverentur ⌋ propitiumque iudicem inveniant, debemus indifferenter orare pro spiritibus fidelium defunctorum, ut sit illis salus aeterna ac perpetua sanitas, gaudium et refrigerium sempiternum. Imprimis tamen maxime rogare oportet pro regibus et iis, qui in eminentiore loco constituti fuerunt.

Cum itaque serenissima princeps Elisabeth of Austria (Elizabeth von Habsburg) (*1526 – †1545), Queen of Poland, Grand Duchess of Lithuania; first wife of Sigismund II August Jagiellon (1543-1545), daughter of Ferdinand I of Habsburg, and Anna Jagiellon⌊ElizabetaElisabeth of Austria (Elizabeth von Habsburg) (*1526 – †1545), Queen of Poland, Grand Duchess of Lithuania; first wife of Sigismund II August Jagiellon (1543-1545), daughter of Ferdinand I of Habsburg, and Anna Jagiellon⌋, 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⌊Ferdinandi Romanorum regisFerdinand 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⌋ filia, serenissimi domini, domini nostri Sigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌊Sigismundi iunioris Poloniae regisSigismund II Augustus Jagiellon (Zygmunt II August) (*1520 – †1572), 1529-1572 Grand Duke of Lithuania (ruled from 1544); 1530-1572 King of Poland (crowned vivente rege (ruled from 1548, after the death of his father); son of Sigismund I Jagiellon and Bona Sforza⌋ carissima coniunx, superioribus diebus in flore aetatis ante tempus rapta, naturae debitum solvit atque, de hac lacrimarum valle sublata, in alteram vitam transiit, hortamur vos in Domino et in virtute sanctae oboedientiae mandamus vobis, ut postquam nostras litteras acceperitis, primum id populo denuntietis, deinde sequente Dominica publice in ecclesiis vestris vigilias et missas defunctorum pro eius anima sollemniter instituatis, magistratus populumque, ut huiusmodi officiis , quando pro dormitione eius sacrificium celebrabitur, intersit atque oblationes, eleemosinas, orationes, deprecationes aliaque pietatis officia pro anima defunctae cum devotione debita ut faciat diligenter, hortemini, pulsatis campanis, collocatis fraternitatum candelis et aliis istiusmodi regalibus sollemnibusque exsequiis exhiberi solitis et consuetis, sub oboedientia non secus facturi.

Volumus autem hanc nostram requisitionem de vicino ad vicinum plebanum cum subscriptionis nota transmitti et postremo ad cancellariam nostram more solito referri.

Datae in arce Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland⌊HelspergHeilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Heilsberga), town in Ermland (Warmia), the main seat of the bishops of Ermland⌋, III Iulii 1545, sub sigillo nostro.