Kasza Péter (szerk.): Stephanus Brodericus - Epistulae (Bibliotheca Scriptorum Medii Recentisque Aevorum, Series Nova XIV., Argumentum Kiadó - Magyar Országos Levéltár, Budapest, 2012)

1538

302

Memorandum by István Brodarics [Boroszló], [early June 1538]1

Manuscript used: HHStA, Ung. Akt. Fasc. 35. Konv C, fol. 185-186.2

1. King John offers true friendship and alliance to Ferdinand for the sake of protecting Christianity.

— 2. Offers twenty thousand soldiers if Ferdinand presents the same number with the appropriate sloop units.

— 3. Warns the Emperor to consider only coordinated attacks with experienced commanders and strong cavalry, because Turkish tactics differs greatly from European. Hungarians are excellent in this due to the experience gained through the years. — 4. In a military campaign it needs to be ensured that he opposing cavalry does not cut off supplies; moreover, one should prepare for a war tasting several years, which requires experienced cavalry and infantry. - 5. Lists the suggestions and questions of King John regarding military and financial issues. - 6. New captains need to be appointed to Huszt and Munkács, who do not loot; commissioners should be sent to Esztergom and Gönc to settle controversial issues. — 7. Other proposals regarding the release of prisoners, abuses of power, returning of estates, and confirmation of four bishops. — 8. Ferdinand should find a way to keep Katzianer in his service because if the latter was alienated it could cause great harm to Christianity. If he acts differently, he should act swiftly.

[1.] Optat rex oblivionem omnium iniuriarum praeteritarum ex corde. Offert amicitiam et fraternitatem sinceram. Exigit a Vestra Maiestate mutuum amorem, paratum se offert ad ponendas non solum omnes facultates suas et suorum, sed etiam personam propriam pro defensione reipublicae Christianae et regnorum communium.

5 [2.] Paratum se offert ad ea, de quibus clarius per reverendissimum dominum Lundensem nuntiavit, ad praestanda videlicet viginti milia hominum in defensionem regni, si hostis veniat, ita, quod totidem det et Maiestas Vestra unacum bono navali exercitu et competenti.

[3.] Admonet Vestram Maiestatem, ut ipsa caesaream maiestatem admoneat, ne io hostem particulariter aggrediantur, sed iunctis viribus, quanto maioribus haberi possit, et ne sine valido equitatu, quo hostis multum abundat, et ne sine peritis belli cum eo gerendi, aliam enim esse et longe diversam belli gerendi rationem cum illo, quam cum hoste Christiano, et in hac parte rex plus tribuit Hungaris et similis nationis hominibus, qui tot annis contra eum bellarunt, quam ullis aliis propter experientiam.3

5 post ea dei quae 13 post Hungaris dei qui tot an

1 The memorandum is undated, but it seems to be a written summary of Brodarics’ legate's instruction, which he probably presented to Ferdinand during the negotiations in Boroszló in the first half of June. Although the legate told the ideas outlined here in front of Ferdinand, notes needed to be taken because those were the basis for the written response to John (see: HHStA, Ung. Akt. Fasc. 35. Konv. C, fol. 188r— 191 r.), in which sentences of the text by Brodarics recur again and again.

2 Autograph.

3 Ferdinand, in his response to John, promised that he will count on the participation and experience of Hungarian troops in the planned campaign against the Turks. See HHStA, Ung. Akt. Fasc. 35. Konv. C, fol. 188v.

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