Confirmation of the rights and privileges of the craft guilds of Lwów by King Sigismund I the Old

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AMEN. For an eternal record of the matter. Human deeds, however worthy of memory, easily fade from memory if they are not preserved by the power of writing. 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, Kujawy, Ruthenia, all of Prussia, Masovia, Chełmno, Elbląg, Pomerania, etc., announce by the tenor of this letter to all and each one individually, present and future, whom this concerns, that they shall take notice of this. That when in past years we ordered all and individual cities and towns of our kingdom, by the unanimous will, consent, and decree of our Senate, that they should submit all rights and privileges of freedom of any guilds or brotherhoods in their originals before us at the general Piotrków sejm recently held, among our other cities, our city of Lwów also submitted and presented its privileges before us, asking that they be preserved by us. We, however, for certain requests [?] and just causes, postponed the signing and granting of this request of theirs, and have hitherto deferred the matter of re-submitting such privileges. Therefore, at the present general sejm, when the aforementioned citizens of Lwów again turned to us with a request, we, sitting with our advisors at our side, considering that the city of Lwów is located in those border regions and lands and is exposed to the attacks of our enemies, and requires urgent and careful attention of good government, so that it may more easily repel the impetuous enemy in times of need; and that in this our city, associations or brotherhoods of craftsmen, which are commonly called guilds, bear and diligently perform no small burdens and duties of defending the walls of this city; although in other cities and towns of our kingdom we have suspended, invalidated, and dissolved such guilds, yet having regard to the necessary need and benefit of our Commonwealth, we have deemed it appropriate to leave and preserve our city of Lwów itself and all guilds of craftsmen existing in it now or in the future in their former management, order, government, and administration with regard to all their rights, privileges, and freedoms, graciously and kindly granted and given to them both by us and by our predecessors. By our royal authority and by the advice and consent of our entire Senate gathered at the present general assembly, we have deemed it right to leave and preserve, and also to confirm all the privileges of the aforementioned guilds of our city of Lwów, just as we hereby leave, preserve, and by the power of this letter confirm for all time. Wishing and decreeing that all rights, privileges, freedoms, and immunities of both our said city and its guilds shall remain forever lasting, inviolate, and intact, and that none of our subjects, of whatever status, position, rank, and dignity they may be, shall dare to violate them. In testimony and faith of which our seal has been affixed. Given in Kraków on the nearest Friday before the Sunday of Oculi [February 27], in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and forty, and the thirty-fourth year of our reign. In the presence of the most reverend and venerable fathers in Christ, the lords: Jan Latalski, Archbishop of Gniezno, born legate and primate; Piotr Gamrat of Kraków, Łukasz Górka of Kujawy, Sebastian Branicki of Poznań, Jakub Buczacki of Płock, Samuel Maciejowski of Chełm and Deputy Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom, bishops. And the magnificent and noble: Jan of Tarnów, Castellan of Kraków, Grand Hetman of the armies of our Kingdom, and Starosta of Sandomierz, Stryj, and Lubaczów; Janusz Latalski, [Voivode] of Poznań and Starosta of Inowrocław [?]; Jan of Tarnów, [Voivode] of Sandomierz and Starosta of Chełm, Krasnystaw, and Bełz; Piotr of Służewo, [Voivode] of Kalisz and Starosta of Nieszawa [?]; Jan Kościelecki, [Voivode] of Inowrocław and Starosta of Tuchola, Człuchów, Nakło, and Bydgoszcz; Piotr of Dąbrowica, [Voivode] of Lublin and Starosta of Radom and Kazimierz; Feliks Szreński, [Voivode] of Płock and Starosta of Malbork and Płock; Mikołaj of Niszczyce, [Voivode] of Bełz; Piotr of Goryń, [Voivode] of Masovia and Starosta of Ciechanów; Andrzej Górka, [Castellan] of Poznań and General Starosta of Greater Poland; Mikołaj Wolski, [Castellan] of Sandomierz and Master of the Household of our Most Serene and dearest wife, and Starosta of Sanok, Łęczyca, Łomża, and Wiszna; Jan Zaremba, [Castellan] of Kalisz; Piotr Opaliński, [Castellan] of Gniezno and Master of the Household of our most serene and dearest son, and Starosta of Olsztyn and Kościan; Jan of Tęczyn, [Castellan] of Wojnicz and Marshal of our court, and Starosta of Lublin and Lelów; Jarand of Brudzewo of Łęczyca, Wawrzyniec Myszkowski of Sącz, Jan of Mechcice of Wiślica and Starosta of Chmielnik, Spytek of Tarnów of Radom and Treasurer of our Kingdom and Starosta of Sieradz, Krzepice, and Krzeszów, Bernard Maciejowski of Lublin and Starosta of Zawichost, Jerzy Latalski of Ląd, Seweryn Boner of Biecz, Saltworks Administrator of Wieliczka and Kraków and our Kraków Governor, as well as Starosta of Biecz, Oświęcim, Zator, Czorsztyn [?], and Ojców, Stanisław Laski of Przemyśl, Jan Tęczyński of Kamieniec, castellans; Paweł of Wołuckie [?], Chancellor of our Kingdom, Jan Gasztold [?], Dean of Kraków and Provost of Poznań, Jan Drzewicki, Scholastic of Łęczyca, our secretaries; Marcin of [...] Vojski of Kraków and our Chamberlain, Hieronim Szaszkowski, Master of our court, and many other credible witnesses, dignitaries, officials, and courtiers of ours, sincerely and faithfully beloved by us. Given by the hands of the said venerable father in Christ, the lord Samuel Maciejowski, Bishop of Chełm and Deputy Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom, sincerely beloved by us. Samuel, Bishop of Chełm and Deputy Chancellor, signed. [Relator's note:] On the report of the venerable father in Christ, the lord Samuel Maciejowski, Bishop of Chełm and Deputy Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom. [On the reverse:] [Note from the era / 17th century:] Confirmation of guilds by Sigismund I, year 1540. [Other archival notes:] Arca Xem... / 191 ser. 8 / N[ro] 8. / 1/410 / [paraph/monogram]

IN NOMINE DOMINI AMEN Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Facta humana quantumuis memoria digna facile labi solent e memoria nisi literarum officio perhennentur. Proinde nos Sigismundus Dei gratia Rex Poloniae, magnus Dux Lithuaniae, necnon terrarum Cracouiae, Sandomiriae, Siradiae, Lanciciae, Cuiauiae, Russiae, totius Prussiae, Masouiae, Culmen[sis], Elbingen[sis], Pomeraniaeq[ue] etc. dominus et heres. Significamus tenore praesentium quoruncunq[ue] interest vniuersis et singulis praesentibus et futuris harum noticiam habituris. Quia cum retroactis annis omnibus et singulis ciuitatibus, oppidisq[ue] regni nostri de vnanimi uoto, assensu et decreto Senatus nostri mandaueramus vniuersa jura, priuilegia libertatum contuberniorum seu fraternitatum quarumcunque coram nobis pro conuentu generali Piotrkouien[si] proxime habito coram nobis originaliter reponere, inter ceteras quoque ciuitates nostras, Leopoldien[sis] ciuitas nostra reproduxisset et coram nobis priuilegia sua supplican[do] fecit circa illa per nos conseruari. Nos vero certis petitioti[bus?] et rationabilibus causis distulimus dicte eorum supplicationi subscribere et annuere, causamq[ue] iam reponendorum rursus priuilegiorum huiusmodi hactenus prorogauimus. In praesenti itaque conuentu generali iterum supplicantibus nobis predictis nostris ciuibus Leopoldien[sibus], Nos cum consiliariis n[ost]ris lateri nostro assidentibus considerans ciuitatem illam Leopoldien[sem] in illis oris et terris finitimis sub hostiumq[ue] nostrorum impetibus expositam esse, que diligenti et sedula cura boni regiminis eget, quo tanto facilius impetum hostium necessitatis ingruentem pulsare possit. Quodque in ea ipsa ciuitate n[ost]ra contubernia seu fraternitates Artificum, que vulgo Czechi uocantur, non modica onera et officia tuendorum menium illius vrbis ferunt et obeunt diligenter. Licet in aliis n[ost]ris ciuitatibus et oppidis regni nostri huiusmodi contubernia suspensimus, abrogauimus et cassauimus, exigente tamen necessitate et commodo Reipublicae nostrae, ipsam ciuitatem nostram Leopoldien[sem] et quecunque in illa ad presens vel in futurum existentia contubernia Mechanicorum in antiquo regimine, ordine, gubernatione et administratione circa que omnia iura, priuilegia et libertates eorum tam per nos, quam per nostros predecessores illis gratiose et benigne concessas et largitas. Authoritate nostra regia ac de consilio et assensu totius Senatus nostri in praesenti conuentione generali congregati, relinquendum et conseruandum. Necnon priuilegia dictorum contuberniorum vniuersa illius ciuitatis nostre Leopoldien[sis] confirmanda duximus, prout relinquimus, conseruamus et confirmamus temporibus perpetuis harum serie firmitatem. Volentes et decernentes quatinus tam prefate ciuitatis nostre, quam etiam contuberniorum eiusdem vniuersa iura priuilegia libertates et immunitates firme et immote intacteque semper permaneant, et a nemine subditorum nostrorum cuiuscunque conditionis, status, ordinis et preeminentie fuerint violari presumantur. In cuius rei fidem et testimonium sigillum nostrum est appensum. Dat[um] Cracouie feria sexta proxima ante dominicam Oculi, Anno domini millesimo quingentesimo quadragesimo, Regni vero n[ost]ri Anno trigesimo quarto. Presentibus R[euerendissi]mis et R[eueren]dis in Christo patribus dominis Joanne Liatholsky Archiep[iscop]o Gnesnen[si], legato nato ac primate, Petro de Gamrati Cracouien[si], Luca de Gorca Cuiauien[si], Sebastiano Braniczki Posnanien[si], Jacobo de Buczaz Plocen[si], Samuele Maczieiowsski Chelmen[si] et Regni Poloniae vicecancellario, Ep[iscop]is. Necnon Magnificis et generosis, Joanne de Tharnow castellano Cracouien[si], Exercituum Regni n[ost]ri magno ac Sandomirien[si], Striien[si] et Lubaczouien[si] capitaneo, Janussio Liatholsky Posnanien[si] et capitaneo Jaminuladielanicen[?], Joanne de Tharn[ow] Sandomirien[si] et Chełmen[si], Crasnostauien[si], Belzen[si] capitaneo, Petro de Gleszow Callissien[si] et capitaneo Nieschonien[si?], Joanne de Coscieliecz Juniuuladislauien[si] ac Tucholien[si], Slochouien[si], Naklen[si] et Bidgostien[si] capitaneo, Petro de Damprowicza Lublinen[si] ac Radomien[si] et Cazimirien[si] capitaneo, Felice Srzenssky Plocen[si] ac Mariemburgen[si] et Plocen[si] capitaneo, Nicolao de Nissczicze Belzen[si], Petro de Gornino Masonie ac Cziechonouien[si] capitaneo, Andrea de Gorca Posnanien[si] et capitaneo maioris Polonie generali, Nicolao Volski Sandomirien[si] et Serene coniugis n[ost]re charissime curie magistro ac Sanocen[si], Lanczicien[si] et Lomzen[si] ac Visnen[si] capitaneo, Joanne Zaremba Callissien[si], Petro Opalienski Gnesnen[si] et ser[enissi]mi filii n[ost]ri charissimi curie magistro ac Olsthinen[si] cosczen[si] capitaneo, Joanne de Thanrzin Voinicen[si] et curie n[ost]re Mareschalco ac Lublinen[si], Leleouien[si] capitaneo, Jarando de Brudzew Lanticiensi, Laurentio Misconyski Sandecen[si], Joanne de Miechicz viglicien[si] et capitaneo Chmielnicens[i], Spithcone de Tharnow Radomien[si] ac Regni n[ost]ri Thezaurario ac Siradien[si], Krzepicen[si], Krzessecen[si] capitaneo, Bernardo Maczieiowski Lublinen[si] et capitaneo Zauichosten[si], Georgio Lathalski Landen[si], Seuerino Boner Biczen[si], zuppario Viczicen[si] Cracouien[si] et magno procuratore n[ost]ro Cracouien[si] ac Biczen[si], Ossuiaczimen[si], Zathoricen[si] Kapsztin[en]ci et in Otziecz capitaneo, Stanislao Laski Przemislien[si], Joanne Thanczowszki Camenecen[si] castellanis, Paulo de Volita Regni n[ost]ri cancellario, Joanne Ghaszri decano Cracouien[si] et preposito Posnanien[si], Joanne Drzewicki Lancicien[si] Scholastico Secretariis n[ost]ris, Martino de [...] tribuno Cracouien[si] et succamerario n[ost]ro, Hieronymo Slaszkowszki curie n[ost]re magistro, et aliis quampluribus testibus, fidedignis, dignatariis, officialibus et aulicis n[ost]ris sincere et fidelibus dilectis. Dat[um] per manus prefati R[eueren]di in Ch[rist]o p[at]ris domini Samuelis Maczieiowszki Episcopi Chelmen[sis] et Regni Poloniae vicecancellarii sincere nobis dilecti. Samuel Ep[iscop]us Chelmen[sis] et Vicecancell[arius] ss[cripsit] [Nota kancelaryjna po prawej stronie pliki:] R[elatio] R[eueren]di in cr[ist]o p[at]ris domini Samuelis Maczieiowszki Episcopi Chelmen[sis] et Regni Polonia vicecancellarii [Verso:] [Nota z epoki / XVII w.:] Sigismundi I-mi confirmatio Contuberniorum 1540. R. [Inne noty archiwalne:] Arca Xem... / 191 ser. 8 / N[ro] 8. / 1/410 / [parafa/monogram]