Decree of King Sigismund I the Old regarding the procedure for electing city councilors of Lviv

Sigismund, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, and Lord and Heir of all Prussia and Masovia, etc., we make known by the tenor of this [document] to all whom it concerns and to whose knowledge this shall come: Whereas a dispute has arisen before us between the noble Mikołaj Odnowski of Felsztyn, Castellan of Przemyśl and Starosta of Lviv, on the one hand, and the illustrious burgomaster and councilors of our city of Lviv, on the other, regarding the election of one councilor, whom the current Starosta of Lviv, in our name, from the number and from among the six councilors who were to serve for the then-current year, ought to have chosen, as was stated at length by his envoy here on behalf of said Starosta; while the envoys of said city, sent here, standing before us, argued and maintained that the election of said councilor in our name was accustomed to take place from a number of three, and not six, and that this custom had been observed for a long time and was and is respected by the Starostas of Lviv; we, therefore, having heard the arguments, motions, and responses of said parties, and having considered and weighed these matters among ourselves, desiring that no difficulties or doubts regarding this election should arise in the future, which would breed discord and hatred between the aforementioned parties, have deemed it appropriate to decide and decree, and we do hereby decide and decree, that it shall be observed forever, namely that when such an election of Lviv councilors occurs according to custom, our current and future Starosta of Lviv, going to the town hall, or the person to whom he entrusts this matter in his name, shall first choose and nominate one councilor from among the six councilors who are to serve for the current year, on our behalf. Next, those same councilors shall choose the second, and the commonalty shall choose the third councilor; after such an election has been made, our current Starosta shall receive and hear the oaths usually taken by these newly elected councilors, which regulation we decree and proclaim as eternally binding by the tenor of this letter. In witness whereof, our seal has been affixed. Given in Kraków on the Thursday before the upcoming Sunday of Judica, in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and thirty-eight, in the thirty-second year of our reign. [Chancery note on the left side of the fold:] Paweł of Wola, Vice-Chancellor signed [Chancery note on the right side of the fold:] Report of the magnificent Paweł of Wola, Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland, Burggrave of Kraków and Starosta of Gostynin [Verso:] [Annotation at the top:] to bundle 169 [Annotation:] Chest 7. No. 10 [Round ink seal:] ARCHIVE OF ANCIENT RECORDS OF THE CITY OF LVIV [Annotation:] H. Ser: 2 / C. [Annotation:] 1538 / On the election / of councilors [Chancery registration formula:] Entered / registration made [Annotation in red lacquer paint:] Third rubric / Letter C. No. 22. [Annotations in pencil and ink:] 3. C 22. / No. 2. [Seal:] [On a parchment strip threaded through the fold, a preserved wax royal seal (smaller/signet) of Sigismund I in a wax bowl, with a quartered shield featuring the Eagle and the Vytis, topped with a crown].

Sigismundus dei gracia Rex Polonie magnus dux Lithuanie Russie tociusq[ue] Prussie ac Mazouie etc dominus et heres, Significamus tenore presencium quibus expedit vniuersis harum noticiam habituris Quia cum hic orta fuisset differencia coram nobis inter Generosum Nicolaum Odnowski de Felstin Castellanum Premislien[sem] et Capi- taneum Leopolien[sem], ex vna, et Famatos Proconsulem et Consules eiusdem Ciuitatis n[ost]re Leopolien[sis] ex altera partibus, occasione e- lectionis vnius Consulis, quem Capit[aneus] Leopolien[sis] pro tempore existens, ex parte n[ost]ra, de numero ac medio sex Consulum qui pro anno tunc temporis currente presidere deberet, eligere debuisset, prout de hoc nomine eiusdem Capitanei hic apud nos Nuncius suus pluribus verbis declarauit, Vbi eciam Nuncii eiusdem Ciuitatis huc missi ex aduerso hic coram nobis astans, narrabant id deducen[tes] ipsam electionem Consulis prefati ex parte n[ost]ra de numero trium et non sex fieri solere, eamq[ue] consuetudinem a multis temporibus tentam, et a Capitaneis Leopolien[sibus] fuisse et esse obseruatam, Nos itaq[ue] auditis dictarum parcium allega- cionibus, propositis ac responsis, hiisq[ue] rebus apud nos estimatis, ac perpensis, Volentes ne qua in posterum difficultates vel am- biguitas super hac electione oriatur, que simultates ac odia inter prefatas partes pareret, Statuen[dum] ac decernen[dum] duximus Sta- tuimusq[ue] ac decernimus presentibus, perpetuo obseruan[dum], ita videlicet, quod occurrente de more huiusmodi electione Consulu[m] Leopolien[sium] Capitaneus noster Leopolien[sis] modernus et pro tempore existens descendens ad pretorium, vel ille cui id negocii nomine suo dederit, de numero sex Consulum, qui iam in annum currentem presidere deberet, imprimis vnum Consulem ex illis quem voluerit, ex parte nostra eligere et nominare debebit. Deinde iidem Consules Alterum, Tercium vero Con- sulem communitas eligent, Qua electione ita facta idem Capitane[us] n[oste]r modernus existens ab eisdem Consulibus ita electis iu- ramenta per eos prestari solita recipere audireq[ue] debebit, Quam ordinacionem nos perpetuo valituram decernimus ac pro- nunciamus harum serie literarum. In cuius rei testimonium Sigillum n[ost]rum est subappensum. Dat[um] Cracouie feria quinta ante dominicam Iudica proxima Anno domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Tricesimo Octauo Regni n[ost]ri Tricesimo Secundo. [Nota kancelaryjna z lewej strony pliki:] paulus de volia vicecancell[arius] s[ub]s[cripsit] [Nota kancelaryjna z prawej strony pliki:] R[elatio] Mag[nifi]ci Pauli de volia Regni Polonie vice- cancellarii Burgrabii Crac[oviensis] et Capit[anei] Gostinens[is] [Verso:] [Adnotacja u góry:] ad Fas 169 [Adnotacja:] Arca 7. Nro 10 [Pieczęć tuszowa okrągła:] ARCHIWUM AKT DAWNYCH MIASTA LWOWA [Adnotacja:] H. Ser: 2 / C. [Adnotacja:] 1538 / Super electione / Consulari [Formuła rejestracji kancelaryjnej:] R[egistrata] fa[cta] [Adnotacja czerwoną lakurową farbą:] Rubrica tertia / Litt. C. N-o 22. [Adnotacje ołówkiem i atramentem:] 3. C 22. / No 2. [Pieczęć:] [Na pasku pergaminowym przewleczonym przez plisę zachowana woskowa pieczęć koronna (mniejsza/syget) Zygmunta I w misce woskowej, z tarczą czwórdzielną z Orłem i Pogonią, zwieńczoną koroną].