Privilege of King Sigismund I the Old for Lviv confirming the coat of arms and the right to seal with red wax

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AMEN. In eternal memory of the matter. Since that which is granted by rulers to their subjects for their glory and honor ought to be strengthened by the defense and authority of a document, so that it may remain lasting and inviolate and not fall into the danger of renewed dispute. Therefore, we, Sigismund, by the grace of God King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and also lord and heir of the lands of Kraków, Sandomierz, Sieradz, Łęczyca, Kuyavia, Ruthenia, Prussia, and Pomerania, etc., make known by the content of this document to all and singular, present and future, who shall receive knowledge of this. That we, who are accustomed to bestow our gratitude upon those whom we perceive to surpass others in loyalty or respect toward us or in the pursuit of virtues, for this reason, considering the special loyalty and submissive will of obedience and attachment in times of peace and war toward us, our predecessors, and the Commonwealth of our Kingdom on the part of the famous burgomaster and councilors and the entire community of our city of Lviv, so that they not without justice deserve to receive a fitting ornament for their virtues and merits; and also taking into account that very numerous merchants and traders and other people from various provinces and nations gather in this same city of Lviv, situated on the borders of our Kingdom, and there, before its councilors and their municipal office, conduct numerous affairs and legal transactions with our subjects, and usually take away what has been written down by the office under the seal of the same city; wishing to ensure that those Lviv councilors, who from the first founding of that city derive in an uninterrupted succession, as it were, the beginning of the virtue and good government of that city from their predecessors, may exercise their councilor office all the more worthily for the benefit of all, the more they surpass other cities lying in the lands of Ruthenia in a more magnificent way of life, hospitality, and humanity – of our own will (motu proprio) and by our royal authority, and with certain knowledge and deliberation, by the advice and consent of all our advisors and land envoys of our Kingdom gathered at this general sejm, confirming and approving, as we do by this document confirm and approve, the coat of arms of this same city of ours of Lviv, namely a gate or great open door, above which rise three towers, in which gate appears a free and standing lion, not bound by any grate or chain – which coat of arms that same city of Lviv has hitherto used of its own will from time immemorial – to the same [city] we have newly given, granted, and bestowed the said coat of arms of our own will and by the said authority, as we do give, grant, and bestow by this [document]. Wishing and by our said royal authority decreeing that those contemporary and future councilors of the same city of Lviv, which our predecessors made famous by the name of the Lion, may freely use, bear, and employ the said coat of arms in all honest matters, documents, privileges, expeditions, and also on their banners, paintings, and monuments, and henceforth for all time, when impressing this same coat of arms and sealing all their documents, they may use red wax, without anyone's opposition, slander, or obstacle, so that from the novelty of this thing some glory may flow onto their affairs, and they themselves, remembering that they are placed in a higher position as if on towers and a watchtower, may strive to manfully imitate the virtue of the watchful lion in spirit, constancy, vigilance, and courage against enemies lurking on all sides, exerting efforts with daily greater zeal and fervor, which the red wax itself signifies, toward the preservation and proper direction of the state of the Commonwealth of that city. Wishing to make all these and individual things above known to all, we have ordered this document to be drawn up and strengthened with our royal seal. Done and given in Piotrków at the general sejm on the Friday next after the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and twenty-sixth, and the twentieth year of our reign. In the presence of the most reverend and reverend fathers in Christ, the lords: Jan Łaski, Archbishop of Gniezno, legate born and primate; Piotr Tomicki, of Kraków and Vice-Chancellor of our Kingdom; Maciej Drzewicki of Włocławek; Jan Latalski of Poznań; Andrzej Krzycki of Przemyśl; and Wawrzyniec Międzyleski of Kamieniec – bishops; and also the magnificent, venerable, and noble: Krzysztof of Szydłowiec, Voivode and Starosta of Kraków and Chancellor of our Kingdom; Andrzej of Tęczyn of Sandomierz; Mikołaj of Kościelec of Kalisz; Jan Jarand of Brudzew of Łęczyca; Jarosław of Łask of Sieradz – voivodes; Mikołaj of Szydłowiec of Sandomierz and Treasurer of our Kingdom; Wacław of Ostroróg of Kalisz; Jan of Tęczyn of Lublin; Jan Wietrzychowski of Płock; Adam of Drzewica of Radom; Janusz Latalski of Ląd and Starosta of Inowrocław; Mikołaj Rusocki of Biechów and Starosta of Łęczyca and Przedecz – castellans; Stanisław of Chodecz, Marshal of our Kingdom and Starosta of Lviv; Jan Karnkowski of Skarbimierz and Mikołaj Zamoyski of Tarnów, provosts, canons of Kraków, our secretaries; Sylwester Ożarowski, our chamberlain and Starosta of Zawichost; Szymon Chlewicki, master of the kitchen; Jan Tarło of Szczekarzewice, cupbearer of our Kingdom, and other dignitaries, officials, and our courtiers, credible witnesses to the above, sincerely and faithfully dear to us. Given through the hands of the said reverend father in Christ, the lord Piotr, Bishop of Kraków and Vice-Chancellor of our Kingdom, sincerely dear to us. [Signature on the left below the text:] Piotr, Bishop and Vice-Chancellor, signed with his own hand [Chancery note on the right on the plica:] Relation of the same reverend father in Christ, the lord Piotr Tomicki, Bishop of Kraków and Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland [Seal:] Royal seal of Sigismund I the Old in a bowl of natural wax, impression in red wax (damaged at the edges), suspended on a yellow-blue silk cord. [Verso:] [18th-century and later archival notes:] J / circa 1730 / N 1 / J. On the coat of arms of the Lion and the royal (?) of King Sigismund I / Red / 1526 [Large mark/monogram under the seal cord:] R S [Round ink stamp of the CPAHU archive]

IN NOMINE DOMINI AMEN. Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Cum ea que per Principes Subditis eorum, ad decus et honorem ipsorum conceduntur, vt firma illibataque persistant, et ne in recidue contencionis scrupulum relabantur, expediat literarum presidio et officio communiri. Proinde nos Sigismundus dei gratia Rex Polonie Magnus Dux Lithuanie, necnon terrarum Cracouie, Sandomirie, Siradie, Lancicie, Cuiauie, Russie, Prussie, pomeranieque etc. dominus et heres. Manifestum facimus tenore presentium vniuersis et singulis presentibus et futuris, harum noticiam habi- turis. Quia nos qui gratitudinis nostre vices, in eos partiri solemus, quos vel fidei vel observancia erga nos, aut virtutum studio, ceteris prestare animaduertimus, hac racione mouentes singularem fidem, ac promptam obsequendi voluntatem et affectionem erga nos, ac predecessores nostros, et rem publicam Regni nostri, pace et bello, Famosorum Proconsulis et Consulum, totiusque Communitatis Ciuitatis nostre Leopolien[sis], ita vt non immerito virtutum et meritorum suorum ornamentum conueniens accipere mereantur ac etiam considerantes, frequentes plerumque mercatores et negociatores, aliosque homines, ex diuersis prouincijs et nationibus, ad ipsam Ciuitatem Leopoliensem, in finibus Regni nostri sitam, conuenire, et illic coram eius Consulibus, ipsorumque officio Ciuili, plurima negocia et actiones suas, cum subditis nostris agere, illasque in compendium scripture officio literarum redactas, sub sigillo eiusdem Ciuitatis reportare solere. Prospicere volentes, ut ipsi Consules Leopolienses, qui a primeva illius Ciuitatis fundacione, virtutis et boni regiminis eiusdem Ciuitatis, de suis predecessoribus, perpetua quadam successione, originem trahunt, munus suum Consulare, eo dignius, in usum omnibus deducant, quo ornatiore vivendi ritu ac hospitalitate atque humanitate alias Ciuitates in terris Russie existentes, longe antecedunt, motu proprio, auctoritateque nostra regia, et ex certa scientia, ac animo deliberato, de consilio et assensu vniuersorum Consiliariorum nostrorum et Nuntiorum terrarum Regni nostri, in hoc Conuentu generali congregatorum, ratifi- cantes et approbantes, prout ratificamus et approbamus harum serie literarum, Insigne ipsius Ciuitatis nostre Leopolien[sis], Valuam videlicet seu portam magnam patentem, cui tres Turres supereminent, in qua quidem valua Leo liber, et stans, nulla Crathe vel Cathena mancipatus cernitur, quo Insigni ab immemorabili tempore eadem ciuitas Leopolien[sis] hactenus suapte sponte vtebatur, ipsi denuo huiusmodi insigne motu et auctoritate predicta dedimus, concessimus, et elargiti sumus, damusque, concedimus et elargimur per presentes. Volentes ac dicta authoritate nostra regia decernentes, quod ipsi Consules moderni, et pro tempore existentes, eiusdem Ciuitatis Leopolien[sis], quam nomine Leonis nostri predecessores celebrem reddidere, in omnibus actibus honestis, literis, priuilegijs, expedicionibus, et etiam vexillis, picturisque et monumentis suis, predicto Insigni libere ferendi, idque deferre ac gestare, et exnunc futuris perpetuis temporibus, in expressione eiusdem Insignis, et literarum suarum quarumlibet sigillacione, Cera rubea vti possint, absque alicuius contradictione, ob- trectacione et impedimento, quo et rei nouitate, aliqua eorum actorum [et?] rebus illis gloria manaret, et ipsi, memores, sese in eminenciori loco tanquam in turribus et specula, positos esse, virtutem Leonis vigilanti[s], animo, constancia, excubijs, et robore, aduersus immi- nentes undiqueque hostes, viriliter imitari, maiori quotidie studio et feruore, quam ipsa Cera rubea designat, ad conservandum, et bene dirigendum, rei publice illius Ciuitatis statum, operam suam navare contenderent. Que omnia et singula premissa nos testata vniuersis reddere volentes, presentes literas fieri, sigilloque nostro regio iussimus communiri. Actum et datum Pyotrkouie in Conuentu generali feria sexta proxima post festum Conuersionis Sancti pauli apostoli, Anno domini millesimo quingen- tesimo vigesimo sexto, Regni vero nostri anno vigesimo. Presentibus Reverendissimo ac Reuerendo in Christo patribus dominis Joanne Lasski Archiepiscopo Gnesnensi, Legato nato et Primate, Petro Thomijczki Cracouien[si] et Regni nostri Vicecancellario, Mathia Drzewiczki Wladislauien[si], Joanne Latalski Posnanien[si], Andrea Crziczki Premislien[si], et Laurencio Mijedzilefski Camenecensi, Episcopis, necnon Magnificis, Venerabilibus et Generosis, Christophoro de Schidlowyecz Palatino et Capitaneo Cracouien[si], et Regni nostri Cancellario, Andrea de Thanczin Sandomirien[si], Nicolao de Cosczyelecz Califfiensi, Joanne Jarandth de Brudzewo Lanciciensi, Jaroslao de Lassko Siradiensi, palatinis, Nicolao de Schidlowyecz Sandomiriensi, et Regni nostri Thesaurario, Wenceslao de Ostrorog Califfiensi, Joanne de Thanczin Lublinensi, Joanne Wijetrzwijenski plocensi, Adam de drzewicza Radomiensi, Jannussio Latallsky Landen[si], et Capitaneo Inowladislauien[si], Nicolao Russoczki Byechouiensi, ac Lanciciensi et predeccen[si] Capitaneo, Castellanis, Stanislao de Chodecz Marschalco Regni nostri, ac Leopolien[si] Capitaneo, Joanne Carnkowski Scarbimiriensi, et Nicolao Zamoczki Tarnouiensi prepositis, Canonicis Cracouien[sibus], Secretarijs nostris, Siluestro Ozarowski Succamerario nostro, ac Zawichosten[si] Capitaneo, Simone Chlewicki Magistro Coquine, Joanne Tharlo de Sczeczarzewicze Incisore Regni nostri, Ceterisque dignitarys, officialibus, et aulicis nostris, testibus circa premissa fide dignis, sincere nobis et fidelibus dilectis. Datum per manus prefati Reuerendi in Christo patris domini Petri, Episcopi Cracouiensis, et Regni nostri vicecancellarij, sincere nobis dilecti. [Podpis z lewej pod tekstem:] petrus Ep[iscop]us et vicecancell[arius] ss[ubscripsit] [Nota kancelaryjna z prawej na plice:] Relatio Eiusdem Reverendi in Christo patris Domini Petri Thomyczky Episcopi Cracoviensis, et Regni Polonie Vicecancellarij [Pieczęć:] Pieczęć koronna Zygmunta I Starego w misce z naturalnego wosku, odcisk w czerwonym wosku (uszkodzona na krawędziach), zawieszona na jedwabnym żółto-niebieskim sznurze. [Verso:] [XVIII-wieczne i późniejsze noty archiwalne:] J / circa 1730 / N 1 / J. Super insigne Leonis et regium (?) SS. Sigismundi I-mi Regis / Rubrum / 1526 [Wielki znak/monogram pod sznurem pieczętnym:] R S [Pieczęć tuszowa okrągła archiwum CPAHU]