NCT Archives Letters Written by Copernicus Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Sammlung Darmstaedter, sign. J 1530 

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Sammlung Darmstaedter, sign. J 1530 - translation

Frombork, 27 June 1541

To my lord, Most Reverend Father in Christ Johannes [Dantiscus], by the grace of God bishop of Varmia, my most gracious lord

My lord, Most Reverend Father in Christ, most gracious lord:

I have received your Most Reverend Lordship's very gracious and quite friendly letter. Together with it you did not disdain to transmit also a truly elegant and relevant epigram for the reader of my [Six] Books [on the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres], not because I deserve it, but because your Most Reverend Lordship is accustomed to honor scholars with your extraordinary friendliness. I shall therefore place your Most Reverend Lordship's epigram in the forefront of my work, provided that the work is worthy to deserve being so highly embellished by your Most Reverend Lordship. Yet people who know more than I do, and to whom I should listen, say over and over again that my work is not negligible. I really wish to merit, as far as I can, the extraordinary kindness and fatherly affection with which your Most Reverend Lordship does not cease to favor me, and to serve and obey you, as I should, in all matters within my power.

Frombork, 27 June 1541

Your Most Reverend Lordship's

Nicholas Copernicus