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Polski (PL) 
Copernicus to Bishop Mauritius Ferber, Frombork, 27 July 1531
18th century copy: Czartoryski Library, Kraków, manuscript 284, p. 169.
Nicholas Copernicus (Nicolaus Copernicus) explains to Maurice Ferber, Bishop of Varmia, in connection with the received rebuke, that this woman was not, due to his advice, married, but she only served in the house of her husband; he, thus, led to this that she could live together with her husband. However, because she complained of the violence of her husband, the matter was examined in court before the late Dean, the nephew of the Bishop [i.e., John Ferber, d. 1530], next before the Custodian, Tiedemann Giese; it is not known with whose understanding the couple were divorced. Not long ago, while returning from the Koenigsberg fair with her housekeeper from Elbląg (Elbing), she remained in Copernicus' house until the next day. Because this has caused a bad opinion about him, he will try to avoid similar suspicions in the future.
Further reading
- Biskup Marian, Regesta Copernicana, Warszawa 1973.
- Kopernik Mikołaj, Pisma pomniejsze, Warszawa 2007.
Frombork, 27 July 1531
To his lordship, Most Reverend Father in Christ, Maurice [Ferber], by the grace of God bishop of Varmia, my gracious and most honorable lord
My lord, Most Reverend Father in Christ, my noble lord:
With due expression of respect and deference, I have received your Most Reverend Lordship's letter. Again you have deigned to write to me with your own hand, conveying an admonition at the outset. In this regard I most humbly ask your Most Reverend Lordship not to overlook the fact that the woman about whom your Most Reverend Lordship writes to me was given in marriage through no plan or action of mine. But this is what happened. Considering that she had once been my faithful servant, with all my energy and zeal I endeavored to persuade them to remain with each other as respectable spouses. I would venture to call on God as my witness in this matter, and they would both admit it if they were interrogated. But she complained that her husband was impotent, a condition which he acknowledged in court as well as outside. Hence my efforts were in vain. For they argued the case before his Lordship the Dean [of the Chapter], your Very Reverend Lordship's nephew, of blessed memory, and then before the Venerable Lord Custodian [of the Chapter]. Hence I cannot say whether their separation came about through him or her or both by mutual consent.
However, with reference to the [present] matter, I will admit to your Lordship that when she was recently passing through here from the Koenigsberg fair with the woman from Elbląg who employs her, she remained in my house until the next day. But since I realize the bad opinion of me arising therefrom, I shall so order my affairs that nobody will have any proper pretext to suspect evil of me hereafter, especially on account of your Most Reverend Lordship's admonition and exhortation. I want to obey you gladly in all matters, and I should obey you, out of a desire that my services may always be acceptable.
Frombork, 27 July 1531
Your Most Reverend Lordship's
most devoted
Nicholas Copernicus
Translation by Edward Rosen
Frombork, 27 July 1531
Reuerendissimo in Christo Patri et Domino, Domino Mauritio, Dei gratia Episcopo Varmiensi Domino suo Gratioso atque plurimum colendo
Reuerendissime in Christo Pater et Domine, Domine Gratiose. Post debitam obseruantiae et reuerentiae exhibitionem. Recepi litteras Reuerendissimae Dominationis Vestrae, quas denuo manu propria ad me scribere dignata est, primum admonitionem continentes. Super quibus rogo humillime Reuerendissimam Dominationem Vestram non latere, quod mulier illa de qua Reuerendissima Dominatio Vestra scribit ad me, nullo meo consilio vel facto nuptui data est, sed cum ita euenisset, attento quod illa quondam apud me fideliter seruijsset, ego omni studio et conatu inducere illos nitebar, uti tamquam honesti coniuges in vicem manerent. De quo ausim testari Deum, atque illi, si inquirentur, vtrinque faterentur. Sed cum illa maritum impotentem lamentaretur, quod et ille in iudicio et extra fassus est, frustra laborabam, nam coram domino decano, bonae memoriae nepote Reuerendissimae Dominationis Vestrae, deinde coram venerabili domino custode causam agebam; an igitur hic vel illa, vel mutuo consensu recesserint, non habeo dicere. Sed, quod ad rem pertinet, fatebor Dominationi Vestrae, quod nuper a nundinis Konigsbergensibus hac transiens cum hospita sua ex Elbing mansit in domo mea in alterum diem. Sed cum intelligam malam exinde de me opinionem, ita rem meam ordinabo, ne quis iustam habeat occasionem, qua deinceps, malum de me suspicaretur, praesertim admonente et adhortante Reuerendissima Dominatione Vastra, cui libenter in omnibus obtemperare volo et debeo, cupiens seruitia mea semper esse commendata. Ex Fraumburk XXVII Julij 1531.
Eidem Reuerendissimae Dominationis Vestrae deuotissimus
Nicolaus Copernicus
Czartoryski Library, Cracow, rkps 284, pp. 169, latin; (18th century copy)
