Judgment of King Sigismund I the Old in the jurisdictional dispute between the magistrate and the Armenians of Lwów

Sigismund, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, etc., lord and heir. We make known by the tenor of this [document] to all, that although we have previously settled the dispute that arose between the councilors and citizens and our Armenians of Lwów regarding their Armenian reeve and their laws, and those very laws, translated from the Armenian language, known only to the Armenians, by our order into the Latin language – so that they might be more easily accessible for reading and understanding by others as well – were corrected and defined by appropriate explanation and moderation, yet ultimately, from these laws translated into Latin or regarding some of their articles, a new matter of disputes and controversies emerged between the aforementioned parties, which was presented by these same parties to us and our advisors, and they humbly asked us for our judgment and ruling in these matters, so as not to leave room for any evasions and ambiguities, and so that the parties themselves would not be subjected to further unnecessary and variable expenses, worries, and hardships, but rather preserved in good friendship and harmony. We, having heard the aforementioned articles and disputes, objections, statements, and responses of the parties themselves in these matters, after mature consideration with one another, have decided, ordered, and commanded to be proclaimed as follows: Firstly, therefore, since the councilors and citizens of Lwów themselves complained that the Armenians, in their Armenian law, in cases that sometimes occur to other subjects of ours of the Catholic or Roman rite, as well as the Ruthenian rite, with them [themselves], did not accept or admit the testimonies of people of a rite other than Armenian, we have decided and we will that Christians of the Catholic and Ruthenian rites be admitted to give testimony in the Armenian law itself, and that Armenians may also give testimony in the municipal law, and their testimonies on both sides should carry weight if they come from credible men; if, however, witnesses were called in the Armenian law, and the party against whom they are called did not wish to trust their integrity, but demanded that they take an oath, they are absolutely obliged to take it, since it is fitting to observe this in the municipal Magdeburg law. As for the dispute that arose regarding the resignations of Armenian houses, we will, decide, and order that their resignations, whenever they occur, are not to take place anywhere else but in the municipal law; if, however, a division of hereditary inheritance, that is, real estate, ever occurs among Armenians, that division should also be testified before the municipal law and entered into the municipal records. Intromissions into the real estate of Armenians should be carried out by the municipal reeve and two Armenian jurors, who will finally go to the councilors and testify to this matter, which is then to be entered into the municipal records. Also, our royal plenipotentiaries should have their power in the Armenian law, as is fitting and proper; furthermore, a lord and any other inhabitant of this our city of Lwów, as well as a foreigner of any nation, will be able to appoint as a proxy a person of their own gender [?] or one of their friends or anyone else, or send them with letters of sufficient plenipotency, legally issued by any authentic office, by virtue of which they will conduct the case in their court, but they shall not appoint as a proxy an advocate or any defender who speaks for monetary compensation. Also, all criminal offenses, such as violence and those that concern the deprivation of life, honor, and good reputation, or complaints filed through criminal channels because of them, should be referred or transferred to the municipal law, so that they may be judged there and brought to a proper conclusion. Also, if an Armenian commits some nocturnal disturbance, he should be taken by the guards and bailiffs to the municipal prison. In the morning, the Armenians should ask the councilors, if they wish, for him to be released from prison; if, however, the detained Armenian caused any harm to anyone, he should be released from bonds upon bail and brought before the Armenian law, where justice should be meted out to the injured party. Monetary penalties, under penalties [?], if any fall due for such harm or disturbance by the Armenian detained at night, should accrue to the Armenian law. Also, let it be permitted for Armenians to put other Armenians, their menservants and maidservants, into the municipal prison and to punish and whip them according to their offenses and misdemeanors, except for capital cases, which are reserved for the municipal court. Also, if any Armenian behaves insolently and stubbornly toward the mayor or the municipal reeve or throws any insults, that mayor or reeve should summon the Armenian elders to his house and together with them examine the misdemeanor of that stubborn, insolent, and insulting Armenian and commit him to the municipal prison. All other articles, which each party possesses in its privileges, not described or limited here, should remain in their full force, which we do not infringe upon in any way, nor do we wish for them to be infringed upon by anyone. And so that all this and each part of it may be attested and lasting, we have ordered this document to be sealed [?] with our royal seal. Given and done in Kraków, at the general assembly, on the Saturday next before the Sunday of the Conduct of Easter, in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and twenty-three, the seventeenth year of our reign. [Bottom left:] Peter, Bishop and Vice-Chancellor, signed. [Bottom right:] By the relation of the reverend father in Christ, Lord Peter, Bishop of Poznań and Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland. [Left margin:] Armenian Elders [Right margin, notes and regests from the period:] 1. On testimony 2. 3. 4. 5. [Verso:] [On the fold and reverse, chancellery and archival notes from the 16th–19th centuries:] Of Sigismund the First Limitation of certain articles of Armenian law 1523. f. 170. H. No. 8. Cad. fasc. 39b. Nro Ser. 19 1523: 1. Witnesses admitted in municipal law should not be removed in the Armenian court from municipal law. 2. Resignations of houses and divisions of real estate should take place in municipal law. Intromissions with jurors and the reeve. 3. Criminal cases of Armenians are subject to the municipal court. 4. Armenians caught at night, staying in municipal custody, should be sent to the Armenian law upon bail. 5. Mayor by the hand [?] of Armenians after judgment to madness [...]. [Trace of a seal on a cord, blue-green silk cord preserved, seal missing].

Sigismundus Dei gratia rex Polonie, magnus dux Lithuanie, Russie, Prussieque etc. dominus et heres. Significamus tenore presentium universis, q[uod] licet iam pridem composuerimus controversiam, que inter consules et cives, armenosque n[ost]ros Leopolien[ses] de advocato eorum armeno et iuribus illorum fuerat suborta, ipsaq[ue] iura ex lingua armenica, solis armenis cognita, iussu nostro in sermonem latinum conversa, quo facilius alijs etiam legenda et intelligenda preberentur, decenti interpretatione et moderatione correxerimus ac diffiniverimus, quia tamen demum ex eisdem iuribus in latinum traductis, seu super quibusdam eorum articulis nova materia questionum et controversiarum inter predictas partes emersit, que in nos et consiliarios nostros est relata per easdem partes, decretum et sententiam nostram super illis a nobis humiliter petentes, ne locus ullis cavillationibus et ambiguitatibus relinqui possit, ipseq[ue] partes ad sumptus, curas et labores, amplius non deducantur supervacaneos et motiles in bonam amicitia et concordia conserventur. Nos auditis prefatis articulis ac disceptationibus, allegationibusq[ue] dictis, et responsis ipsarum partium super illis, mature nobiscum expensis, decrevimus, ordinavimus et pronunctiari fecimus in hunc qui sequitur modum. In primis igitur, quia questi sunt consules et cives ipsi Leopolien[ses], q[uod] Armeni non acceptarent nec admitterent in Iure eorum armenico in causis, que alijs subditis nostris ritus catholici seu romani et etiam rutheni cum ipsis aliquando eveniunt, testimonia hominum alterius ritus quam armenici, decrevimus et volumus q[uod] christiani ritus catholici et ruthenici debent admitti ad testificandum in ipso Iure Armenico et quod etiam armeni possint ferre testimonium in Iure civili et eorum attestationes utrinq[ue] pondus habere debent, si a viris fidedignis proficiscantur, q[uod] siq[uis] testibus in Iure armenorum inductis si pars contra quam inducuntur, ipsorum legalitati deferre nollet, sed postularet ab illis sacramentum prestari, id omnino prestare teneantur, quandoquidem ita in Iure civili Maydeburgen[si] observari convenit. Quod vero controversiam super resignationibus domorum armenicarum exortam attinet, volumus, decernimus et ordinamus, q[uod] illarum resignationes quotiescunq[ue] contingant, non alibi fieri debent quam in Iure civili; si vero aliquando inter armenos contingat divisio successionis hereditarie, bonorumq[ue] scilicet immobilium, etiam ea ipsa divisio debet coram Iure civili fateri, et actis civilibus inscribi. Intromissiones autem in bona immobilia armenorum fieri debent per advocatum civilem et duos scabinos armenicos, q[ui] demum consules accedant, et eam rem fateantur, que postmodum debet in acta civilia scribi. Regie quoq[ue] nostre procurationes debent in Iure armenico uti par est et decet vim suam habere, preterea dominus et alius quicunq[ue] incola illius civitatis nostre Leopoliensis et externus cuiuscunq[ue] nationis poterit sexum suum aut ex amicis aliquem, vel quempiam alium plenipotentem facere, aut cum literis sufficientis plenipotentie a quocunq[ue] officio autentico legittime emanatis mittere vigore quarum in eorum Iure causam aget, non autem constituet in plenipotentem causidicum seu procuratorem aliquem qui propter mercedem pecuniariam loquitur. Item omnia delicta criminalia, ut pote violentie, et que vite privationem, honoremq[ue] ac bonam famam concernunt, seu actiones pro illis criminaliter intentate debent in Ius civile relegari seu remitti, illic iudicande et fine debito terminande. Item si armenus quempiam nocturnum aliquem excessum commiserit debet a custodibus et lictoribus in carcerem civilem tradi. Mane vero debent Armeni rogare consules si voluerint ut e carcere liberaretur, si vero cuspiam aliquis iniurie ipse armenus detentus fecerit, debet sub fideiussione e vinculis dimitti, et in Ius Armenicus trahi, ubi parti iniuriam passe debet iusticia administrari. Mulcte quoq[ue] sub pene si alique provenerint pro tali iniuria vel excessu, armeni illius nocte detenti debent Iuri armenico cedere. Item Armenis liberum sit Armenos ceteros, servos ac servas eorum in carcerem civilem coniicere, eosq[ue] punire et castigare, iuxta commissa et excessus illorum, demptis nobis capitalibus que Iudicio civili reservantur. Item si quispiam Armenus coram proconsule vel advocato civili proterve et contumaciter se gesserit, aut aliqua convicia protulerit, debebit ipse proconsul vel advocatus seniores Armenorum in domum suam advocare, et cum illis pariter de excessu illius armeni contumacis sive protervi et conviciantis cognoscere, illumq[ue] ad carcerem civitatis tradere. Reliqui vero omnes articuli quos utraq[ue] pars in suis privilegijs habet, hic non descripti nec limitati, debent in pleno suo vigore permanere, quibus in nullo derogamus, nec derogari per aliquem volumus. Ut autem premissa omnia et singula testata sint et firma, presentes literas sigilli mandavimus sigillo nostro regio muniri. Dat[um] et act[um] Cracovie in conventione generali sabato proximo ante dominicam conductus pasche. Anno dominij Millesimo quingentesimo vigesimo tercio, Regni nostri anno decimo septimo. [Po lewej u dołu:] Petrus ep[iscopus] et vicecancell[arius] sub[scripsit] [Po prawej u dołu:] Ad relationem reverendi in Christo patris domini Petri episcopi posnaniensis et regni Polonie vicecancellarii. [W lewym marginesie:] Seniores Armeni [W prawym marginesie notki i regesty z epoki:] 1mo De Testimonio 2do 3tio 4to 5to [Verso:] [Na zgięciu i odwrocie noty kancelaryjne i archiwalne z XVI–XIX w.:] Sigismundi Primi Limitatio nonnullorum Articulorum Juris Armenicalis 1523. fol. 170. H. N. 8. Cad. fasc. 39b. Nro Ser. 19 1523: 1. Adhibiti iure civili testes ne a Iudicio Armenor[um] amoveantur in Iure civili. 2. Resignationes domus et divisiones Immob[ilium] fieri deb[ent] in Iure civili. Intromissiones cum Scabinis et Advocato. 3. Criminales Causas Armenor[um] iudicalis Iudicio civili. 4. Nox Armeni captivatis custodia civili degentes ad Ius Armenoru[m] remitti debent sub fideiussione. 5. Proconsul manu Armenor[um] iudicato ad dementiam [...]. [Ślad po pieczęci na sznurze, sznur jedwabny niebiesko-zielony zachowany, pieczęci brak].