51 1
Miklós Oláh to the College of Canons in Chapter of Brașov Esztergom, 9 February 1523
Manuscript used: AHG, I. A. 37, fol. 2.
Photo copy: MNL OL, DF 286675
1. Since he promised to inform the Dean when his master has decided when the synod is going to take place, he now informs him that it will take place on the Feast of St. Adalbert, as it is also clear from the attached letter. They should send someone to participate in it. 2. As far as he is concerned, he is willing to do anything in their service, the Dean can also attest to that.
Venerabiles Domini mihi semper Honorandissimi!
[1.] Post mei commendationem, fueram pollicitus domino decano, dum aestate praeterita in rebus Dominorum Vestratium apud hunc dominum meum1 reverendissi-mum et gratiosissireverendissi-mum Budae constituebatur, ut si dominus is meus reverendissimus synodum celebrandam indiceret, id Dominis Vestris mox significarem. Sciant igitur 5
Dominationes Vestrae eam celebrari ad festum Beati Adalberti2 proxime venturum, quemadmodum latius id ex litteris ipsius domini mei, quas ad Dominationes Vestras cum praesentibus misi, intelligent. Quare mittant Dominationes Vestrae aliquem more consueto, qui illi intersit.
[2.] Quod autem ad me attinet: ego nihil aut laboris, curae, sollicitudinis aut dili- 10
gentiae praetermittam, in quo Dominationibus Vestris inservire potero, et quod ad iura et libertatem earundem curandam pertinere arbitrabor. Quam meam inserviendi Dominationibus Vestris promptitudinem potuit eisdem dominus decanus declarare.
Haec volui Dominationibus Vestris significare, ut scirent, quantum possem valerem-que me eisdem libenter cupere vellevalerem-que inservire. Easdem cum his bene et feliciter 15
valere cupio. Quibus me iterum commendo.
Ex Strigonio in festo Beatae Apolloniae Virginis et Martyris in anno 1523.
Nicolaus Olah secretarius reverendissimi domini Strigoniensis On the back side: Venerabilibus Dominis Decano et capitulo districtus Brassoviensis, Dominis meis mihi semper Honorandissimis.
1 1 György Szatmári (1457–1524) was the Archbishop of Esztergom between 1522–1524. Oláh was his secretary since the time Szatmári was Bishop of Pécs (1505–1522). After Szatmári’s death, he became Royal Secretary. For more on the secretaries of King Louis II, see KUBINYI 2006. | 2 23 April.
52
2
Imre Kálnai to Miklós Oláh Radava, 13 November 1527
Manuscript used: MNL OL, P 108, Rep. 71, Fasc. 23, p. 177–178.
Published: IPOLYI 1875, 1–2.
1. Kálnai is asking for Oláh’s intervention so that he does not have to seek an audience with King Ferdi-nand I and salute him. Miklós Gerendi, Tamás Nádasdy, and László Macedóniai will also help him in this.
2. He thanks Oláh for his help in connection with the Esztergom estate. His servant, Literatus Mihály will tell the rest. 3. Furthermore, he asks that he should not have to travel anywhere before he has been to Częstochowa and the Holy Land, he is namely absolutely determined to accomplish that as a good Chris-tian.
Emericus a Calna1 archidiaconus Transsilvaniensis Nicolao Olaho thesaurario Albensi, secretario et consiliario regio. Post mei commendationem, Carissime Do-mine Nicolae!2
[1.] Quoniam sic fuit fortunae visum, ut nos prosterneret, ac penitus solo illideret, vos autem elevaret, et in summo collocaret, quid dicam, nostrum est manus tendere,
5
et ad alios recurrere si quid est, in quo aliorum opera et auxilio indigeamus. Itaque cum his diebus Albae3 constitutum sit, ut omnes, qui partes adversas secuti fuerant, coram rege Ferdinando spatio quindecim dierum a festo Sancti Martini4 sub nota perpetuae infidelitatis comparere debeant, mihi ad te hominem amicissimum est confugiendum, ut me ab hac constitutione seu edicto publico liberes, ne ego nunc ad
10
vos ire tenear. Quod tu facile certe poteris efficere, si volueris. Cuius tanta, scio, est auctoritas apud curiae primores, dominum videlicet palatinum5 et dominum episco-pum,6 vel etiam ipsum principem, ut nihil non sis ab eis impetraturus. Et, ut efficias, etiam summopere peto. Quod ego si vivam, et si qua in re potero, curabo profecto omni studio rependere. Est autem haec res, quam a te peto, levis et minima et
impet-15
ratu facilis, modo te pro amico verbum facere non pigeat. Ego autem, si quid forte sinistri de me cogitares, quamvis nihil possum, sed si etiam aliquid possem, polliceor me adversum vos nihil moliturum. Nec puto hanc constitutionem ob alios factam esse, quam ob eos, qui adhuc quiescere non possunt, sintque in proposito aliquid moliendi.
20
2 1 Imre Kálnai (ca. 1490–1544) humanist, member of Jacob Piso’s humanist circle. Kálnai studied to-gether with Oláh between 1505–1510 in Oradea, then he earned a Magister’s degree in Bologna. He was Royal Secretary between 1525–1526, and after Mohács remained loyal to King John I. See LAKATOS 2009, LAKATOS 2010 and V. KOVÁCS 1970. | 2 About this letter see V. KOVÁCS 1970, 664. | 3 Székesfe-hérvár. | 4 The Feast of St. Martin is on 11 November, so they had to take an oath until 25 November.
5 István Báthori. | 6 Tamás Szalaházy.
53 Poteris autem hanc rem etiam cum aliis dominis et amicis nostris, domino videli-cet Gerendy7 et domino Nadasdy8 communicare, et eos meo nomine rogare, velint veteris amicitiae nostrae memores esse, et tibi in hoc negotio levi certe, ut dixi et minimo adiumento esse, qua de re scripsi et ad dominum Maczedoniay,9 qui et ipse credo pro sua humanitate mutuoque amore, quo invicem coniuncti fuimus, non gra- 25
vabitur id facere, quod ego fecissem pro eo proque omnibus vobis facturus, si forte ita fortuna tulisset, ut mea opera indiguissetis.
[2.] De beneficio Strigoniensi, de quo frater meus10 tibi Albae locutus fuerat, habeo tibi summas gratias, quod te obtulisti, nihil te facturum de eo sine scitu meo.
Nec ego credidi, te pro amicitia nostra secus facturum. Equum tuum, quem mihi 30
alendum commiseras, remittam tibi, cum volueris, significis modo, quando vis, ut tibi eum remittam. Est autem talis, qualem nunquam sperassem fore, ut talis fieret. Est-que pro tali homine militari, qualis iam es ipse factus in Germanos belli studiosos.
Alia dicet is servitor meus Michael litteratus,11 cui in his, quae nomine meo retulerit,
velis fidem praestare. 35
[3.] Et vale ac me per amicitiam nostram ab onere eundi Budam, vel ubi futuri estis, liberes, hoc te iterum atque iterum peto, habeo autem ex voto, quod paene praetermiseram, et ad Chezthako12 proficisci, ut certe sive damnetis, sive non, ego nunc istuc ire non possum. Et promisi me non ante alio iturum, quam hoc, quod feci, votum exsolvero, quod Lutheriani quamvis irrideant, ego tamen talia pro vera duco 40
2,40 quod] O del. ex quod vos | irrideant] O corr. ex irrideatis
7 Miklós Gerendi (†1542) was Custos of the Cathedral Chapter of Székesfehérvár between 1525–1527 and Royal Secretary under King Louis II. After Mohács, he remained loyal to the Habsburgs. King Ferdinand I appointed him to Bishop of Transylvania in 1527. Although the Pope never confirmed it, he used this title until his death and became a key figure in the Habsburg party in Transylvania. Between 1527 and 1529, he was also Royal Treasurer. | 8 Tamás Nádasdy (1498–1562), Hungarian statesman. At the time of the battle of Mohács, he was away on a mission, although in the beginning he had remained loyal to the Habsburgs. Between 1530–1533 we find him in the Szapolyai party, but after his return he remained in the Habsburg party till the end. From 1537 he became King Ferdinand I's secret but most influential counsel-lor. In 1540 he was appointed Chief Justice of Hungary (iudex curiae regiae), and in 1554 he was elected Palatine. For more see SÖPTEI 1999. | 9 László Macedóniai (ca. 1479–1536). From the 1510s he was at the court of György Szatmári, Bishop of Pécs. In 1520 he was appointed Bishop of Szerém, but in 1526 he resigned and became Provost of Pécs. He participated in important legations and held successful orations.
For more on his life, see K. OBERMAYER–HORVÁTH 1959. | 10 Probably Ferenc Kálnai because his brothers, István Kálnai and János Kálnai, died at the battle of Mohács, see V. KOVÁCS 1970, 661. | 11 We do not know him more closely. | 12 Częstochowa, known for the famous Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra, which is the home of the Black Madonna painting. Since the 14th century, thousands of pilgrims have visited this shrine because healing power has been attributed to it.
54
pietate et religione, brevi etiam in Terram Sanctam iturus, ut totus bonus Christianus evadam.13 Iterum vale et peto rursum, sis meae petitionis memor.
Ex possessione nostra Rendwe XIII. Novembris 1527.
Servitor Emericus Kalnay
3
Tamás Szalaházy to Miklós Oláh Buda, 25 March 1528
Manuscript used: MNL OL, P 108, Rep. 71, Fasc. 23, p. 367.
Published: IPOLYI 1875, 2–3.
1. Szalaházy has written to Queen Mary, asking to allow Oláh and his company into the Royal Court. They could be of great use there, Queen Mary can also easily see that. 2. Szalaházy will help getting money for their travel expenses from the treasury, but he is also happy to provide a loan and urges his friend that he should respond by return of post.
Thomas episcopus Agriensis1 Nicolao Olaho secretario, et consiliario reginae Mariae.
[1.] Scripsi ad maiestatem reginalem, ut cum eius bona gratia liceat vos sequi regis curiam, nec dubito, quin possim impetrare, sunt enim rationes non leves, pro quibus vel ipsa maiestas reginalis sua sponte vos mittere ad hoc effici deberet. Rogo,
5
ne quid difficultatis aut morae interponatis. Experiemini magno id vobis et commodo et honori futurum, dabo operam, ut thesaurarius aliquid viatici aut mittat aut deputet.
[2.] Ego quoque de meo, ut primum aliquam nactus ero pecuniam, in sumptus vestros summam aliquam suppeditabo. Non pigeat tamen vos interim ab amicis mu-tuum capere: ego me vobis et sponsorem et fideiussorem facio. Quod debitum, hoc
10
quantumcunque in hos usus contraxeritis, solvetur. Nemo nostratium apud regem est, qui expedire quidquam possit, quod non mihi tantum id est cancellario, sed toti regno maximum detrimentum afferre poterit. Rescribas mihi per primam postam te esse paratum, ut acceptis a me litteris ad maiestatem regiam, et aliqua instructione, sine mora voles celerrime.
15
13 About these pilgrimages, see PETNEKI 1998, II, 551. 3 1 Tamás Szalaházy (ca. 1480–1535), Bishop of Veszprém; after Mohács, Bishop of Eger, and Chancellor nominated by King Ferdinand I. He was one of the most important counsellors of King Ferdinand I and remained loyal to the Habsburg party till the end.
At this time he was acting as Governor on behalf of King Ferdinand I while he was participating in the Imperial Diet, see FAZEKAS 2007.
55 Salutes meo nomine matronas ac puellas. Negotium dominae Likercae2 cum thesaurario confici per me nondum potuit. Nihil est ei nominatim a rege commissum, curabo tamen, quantum in me erit, serius, ocius, ut bonum habeat effectum.
Budae in festo Annuntiationis Mariae anno Domini 1528.
4
Tamás Szalaházy to Miklós Oláh Buda, 27 March 1528
Manuscript used: MNL OL, P 108, Rep. 71, Fasc. 23, p. 366–367.
Published: IPOLYI 1875, 3.
At the moment it is not possible to request money from the treasury, but still they should somehow scrape the travel expenses together, or they should travel with András, the Serbian interpreter, whom the King misses anyway. Oláh should write back as to which day they want to leave, so he can organize the trip.
Thomas episcopus Agriensis Nicolao Olaho secretario, et consiliario serenissimae Mariae reginae Hungariae.
Carissime Frater! Impetrari nunc a thesaurario et camera nihil potest. Dicunt in tanta regii sumptus magnitudine, et mediocritate proventuum posse vos esse conten-tos illis trecentis florenis, qui de bonis custodiae sunt deputati. Egi diligentius, quam 5
si mea res privata ageretur. Rogo Vos, ne detrectetis illam, quam scitis provinciam, undecumque corradite viaticum. Ego interim curabo vel de meo vobis suppeditare aliquid pecuniae, simul atque locari decimae poterunt, ducatis vobiscum Andream interpretem litterarum Rascianarum,1 quo item se egere maiestas regia scribit. Non erit vobis hic oneri, habebit enim expensas, vestro tamen curru vehetur, nam nec 10
equum, nec currum habet. Rogo, faciatis me certiorem, quo die vultis proficisci, quod velim, fiat citissime.
Bene valete, commendetis me matronis ac puellis reginae.
Budae feria sexta ante Dominicam Iudica 1528.
4,13 reginae] O add. sup. l.
2 Johanna Likerka or Likerke. Queen Mary of Hungary’s maid of honor, later she married Gáspár Horváth of Vingárd, see RÉTHELYI 2007, 1207, and KERKHOFF 2008, 280. 4 1 According to the account book of King Louis II, we have know two Rascian (Serbian) translators, Andreas and Tade, see TÓTH 1934, 169;
FRAKNÓI 1877, 120, 142, and 206.
56
5
Tamás Szalaházy to Miklós Oláh Buda, 11 January 1529
Manuscript used: MNL OL, P 108, Rep. 71, Fasc. 23, p. 367–368.
Published: IPOLYI 1875, 4.
1. Szalaházy reports about the plague ravaging Buda and Pest and expresses his hope that the queen can nonetheless enjoy her passion for hunting. 2. He informs Oláh that János Habardanecz has returned, while Gáspár Serédy has been marauding around Wiener Neustadt and has captured many people. At the town of Forró Bebek fought Kállay and László Nagy, the outcome of the fight is unknown.
Thomas episcopus Agriensis Nicolao Olao secretario.
[1.] Gaudeo, Carissime Frater, serenissimae dominae meae reginae ac vobis nibus bene esse. Hic praeter molestissimas animi curas ac incredibilem rerum om-nium caritatem ac penuriam, etiam a pestis contagione periculum est. Fratres nescio quot minores ad Sanctum Ioannem1 et in utraque civitate nonnulli hoc morbi genere
5
perierunt. Cupio, ne maiestati reginali desint istic aves aut ferae, quas animi et volup-tatis causa sectetur, donec rex in Hungariam fuerit reversus. At ubi maiestas regia Posonium aut Owar2 attigerit, nolim in Moravia anas aut lepusculus maneat, qui maiestatem reginalem punctum temporis istic remoretur.
[2.] Novi nihil, quam quod exercitus reginalis in factionem Ioannis atque adeo in
10
ipsum Ioannem progreditur. Habardanecz3 rediit. Ferunt Gasparum Seredi4 nostrum in festo Natalis Domini fecisse ad Wyhel5 excursionem, cepisse multos, sed praeci-puos Michaelem Farnay6 et Laurentium Barber.7 Mei equites et Bebeck8 cum Callay9
5,12 Natalis] O add. sup. l.
5 1 The Minorite monks of the former St. John monastery of Buda. | 2 Magyaróvár. | 3 János Habar-danecz was an agent of King Ferdinand I, from 1527 he worked as an intermediary between King Ferdi-nand I and Jovan Nenad, the “Black Man”. About this conflict see KASZA 2012, 165, note 5. In 1528 Habardanecz went to the Porta as a member of the legation, trying to offer peace, but Suleiman I rejected it. About his report see BARTA–FODOR–KUN 1996. | 4 Gáspár Serédy (†1550) was Custos of the Cathe-dral Chapter of Vác in 1522, later Secretary of the Queen between 1525–1526, and one of the most influ-ential counsellors of King Ferdinand I in the early 1530s. He was also Commander in Chief of Upper Hungary between 1527–1550. | 5 Wiener Neustadt. | 6 Mihály Farnay. János Szapolyai summoned him in 1524 because Farnay, László Nagy and Mihály Várdai were abusing their power in the Chapter of Transylvania, see BEKE 1891, 119. | 7 We do not know him more closely. | 8 Ferenc Bebek (†1558) was Bailiff of Gömör county and Captain of Upper Hungary. | 9 János Vitéz of Kiskálló (Kállay) was the Ban of Severin in 1522. After Mohács, he was loyal to King John I, see KASZA 2012, 159.
57 et Ladislao Magno10 hoc triduo manus conseruisse dicuntur ad oppidum Forro; qui
fuerit eventus pugnae, nondum intelligo. 15
Bene vale et me tui esse amantissimum nihil dubites. Negotia tua, quae ad me referentur perinde, atque mea curabo diligenter.
Bene vale. Budae XI. Ianuarii anno 1529.
6
Miklós Oláh to a friend Znojmo, 14 May 1529
Manuscript used: MNL OL, P 108, Rep. 71, Fasc. 23, p. 1.
Published: IPOLYI 1875, 4–5.
In Hungarian: V. KOVÁCS 1971, 599.
In Romanian: ALBU–FIRU 1963, 193–194.
1. He complains that his friend has not been in contact, and his silence and pride is hurting his friends at home. 2. Even if he does not return home, at least he should let them know where he is, how he is living.
Nicolaus Olaus amico diu absenti salutem.
[1.] Quibus in terris agas, neminem adhuc audire potui, qui me certe edoceret.
Tua absentia multum licet, ut ego arbitror, commodi tibi sit paritura, tamen non pa-rum certe damni his omnibus tuis, qui a te pendent, patrocinium, auxilium et opem exspect<ant> tuam, potest afferre. Nam tametsi laude sit dignum aliquando a patria 5
procul vitam agere, laudatissimum tamen est suis domi prodesse, et eos, qui inopem agunt vitam, nutrire. Sed sis procul licet, modo aliquid a te certi habeamus. Ubi gen-tium agas, quae te tamdiu detineant loca vel sua amoenitate, vel aliis suis illecebris, vel quid tibi commodi afferat diuturna haec tua absentia.
[2.] Alii hac de re nihil nobis referre potuerunt. Tu vero tam taciturnus vel (si id 10
concedis) animi elati esse videris, ut de te tuaque conditione ac habitatione ne mini-mum quidem nobis hactenus significaris. Sunt multi, qui domi magno tui teneantur desiderio, propter iucundissimam illam familiaritatem et sodalitatem, quam ab in-eunte aetate tecum una suavissime peregerunt, sunt item non pauci, qui te perpetuo abesse velint propter simultatem cum eis multos annos habitam. Tamen hos te com- 15
temnere, et eorum in te malevolentiam virtute tua superare, illis te satisfacere si
sa-6,15 habitam] O mut. ex ortam | comtemnere] O del. ex contemnere convenit
10 He can be identified as Ladislaus Nagh or Nagy, who occurs in Brodarics’ correspondence, see KASZA 2012, 390. Six month later, a document shows that Ferenc Nádasdy, László Nagy, and Gothárd Kun bore arms against Upper Hungarian captains Gáspár Serédy and Ferenc Bebek while besieging Boldogkő. See ÖStA HHStA UA AA Fasc. 15. Konv. B. fol. 23.
58
pias convenit: et scito ubi sis, te reverti oportere, ut veterem illam vitae consuetudi-nem ac familiaritatem iucundissimam renovare possis, cum maxima omnium tuorum laetitia, oro igitur te et obtestor, ut quibuscumque habites in terris et quaecumque te detineant deliciae, quodcumque te habeat oblectamentum, fac, ut cito redeas, vel si
20
redire nequaquam poteris, litteris saltem nos tuis fac certiores, ubi sis et in quem locum nostrae ad te li<tterae> dari possint.
Znoymae oppido Moraviae 14. Maii anno 1<5>29.
7
Miklós Oláh to Johann Arnold Znojmo, 23 May 1529
Manuscript used: MNL OL, P 108, Rep. 71, Fasc. 23, p. 2.
Published: IPOLYI 1875, 5–6.
1. Oláh reminds his friend that human matters are precarious, and he should be unmoved even in the face of big misfortunes. He is happy that Arnold has gotten rid of his problems, he has really deserved it through his virtues. 2. He is sorry that the people from Basel who had favored him before have now turned their backs on him; but he is certain that with his wisdom he is above his enemies: he should resist the intrigues, and he will see that everything can be defeated with tolerance and patience.
Ad Ioannem Arnoldum.1
[1.] Non moveare te tantis affectum esse calamitatibus, quandoquidem ea semper fuit conditio humanae naturae, ut variis subiecti simus, dum vivimus, periculis, et nullum temporis momentum tutum nobis sit relictum a molestiis, turbationibus et persecutionibus. Recreatus sum mirum in modum novissimis tuis litteris, quibus
5
scribebas te omni iam Deo volente molestia esse liberatum, homines in te factos esse benevolentiores, omnes miris affici erga te studiis, favoribus et beneficiis. Auram etiam eam, qua nunc frueris, mirifice cepisse, esse iam tuae incolumitati faventem.
Cupio haec diuturna tibi fore, gratulorque tibi ac tuis virtutibus, te tua patientia, humanitate, et ingenio omnes adversos malevolorum tuorum animos superasse. Id
10
factum fuisse minime arbitrarer, ni singulari tua prudentia, omnibus rebus obviam ire scivisses.
17 convenit] O mut. ex oportet | ubi] del. ex ubi ubi | te] O add. sup. l. | oportere] O add. sup. l.
oportere 7,2 moveare] O corr. ex movere
7 1 Johann Arnold, probably Arnoldus Bergellanus, who was a German typographer and poet. In 1522 he
7 1 Johann Arnold, probably Arnoldus Bergellanus, who was a German typographer and poet. In 1522 he