Prohibition by King Sigismund I the Old against opening the gates of the city of Lviv at night

Sigismund, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, etc., Lord and Heir. We hereby notify all and each individual that, having learned that the illustrious mayor and councilors of our city of Lviv, at the request of the magnates and nobility, are accustomed to opening said city—situated on the border and the foremost in our Ruthenian lands—very often at night; this could not but greatly displease us, especially in these times when great dangers from various enemies constantly threaten these regions from all sides. Therefore, wishing to ensure that our city of Lviv does not suffer any danger or harm through such nocturnal opening—which may the Lord God avert as far as possible—we have commanded and most strictly ordered the councilors of our same city of Lviv that henceforth, at anyone's request or insistence, they shall not open it at night to anyone at all, nor allow it to be opened, unless in some supreme necessity of ours and the Republic, under our severe penalty. We wish to bring this to the notice of all and each individual, ordering that no one, of whatever authority, dignity, rank, status, or condition they may be, shall dare to pester or approach these councilors again regarding this unusual and dangerous nocturnal opening of the city, nor oppose this our regulation and order, under threat of our great indignation, proceeding in no other way. Given in Vilnius on the Thursday before the feast of the Visitation of the Most Glorious Virgin Mary, in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and forty-one, the thirty-fifth year of our reign. [Chancery signature on the right:] By the personal order of His Royal Majesty [Seal:] [Royal signet seal impressed in red wax under a rhomboidal paper cover] [Verso:] [Oval ink stamp:] ARCHIVE OF ANCIENT RECORDS OF THE CITY OF LVIV [Regest note 16th/17th c.:] On not opening the gate at night / Year 1541 / G. [Other old archival notes and signatures:] 1541 / D / Bundle 252 [...]

Sigismundus dei gratia Rex Poloniæ, magnus Dux Lithuaniæ, Russiæ, Prussiæ, Masoviæ etc. dominus et Heres. Significamus tenore presentium universis, quia nos edocti q[uod] famati Proconsul et Consules civitatis nostræ Leopolien[sis] ad postulationem procerum et Nobilium eandem civitatem in finibus sitam ac in terris nostris Russiæ precipuam, sepius aperire tempore nocturno soleant; non potuit id nobis non vehementer displicere, presertim his temporibus quibus undiq[ue] in illis oris magna pericula assidue a diversis hostibus nostris impendent. Proinde prospicere volens, ne ipsa Civitas nostra Leopolien[sis] per h[u]i[us]mo[d]i suas nocturnas aperciones, aliquod discrimen et dispendium accipiat, quod ome[n] dominus Deus procul avertat, Commisimus et mandavimus districtissime eiusdem Civitatis n[ost]ræ Leopolien[sis] consulibus, vt deinceps illam ad cuiuscumq[ue] postulationem vel instanciam nulli prors[us] noctu aperiant, nec aperire permittant, nisi in summa aliqua n[ost]ra et Reipublicæ necessitate, sub gravi pœna n[ost]ra. Id quod ad vniuersorum et singulorum noticiam deduci volumus presentib[us] mandans, vt nemo cuiuscumq[ue] authoritatis, dignitatis, preeminentiæ, status, vel conditionis existat, amplius eosdem consules, pro ipsa apercione nocturna ciuitatis insolita et periculosa requirere aut impetere, et huic ordinationi et mandato n[ost]ro contravenire audeat. Sub gravi indignatione n[ost]ra non aliter factur[i]. Dat[um] Vilnæ feria quinta ante festum visitacionis gloriosissimę Virginis Mariæ Anno domini millesimo quingentesimo quadragesimo primo, Regni nostri anno Trigesimo qvinto. [Podpis kancelaryjny po prawej:] Ad mandatum M[ajes]tatis Regiæ proprium [Pieczęć:] [Pod romboidalną papierową osłoną odciśnięta w czerwonym wosku pieczęć sygnetowa królewska] [Verso:] [Pieczątka tuszowa owalna:] ARCHIWUM AKT DAWNYCH MIASTA LWOWA [Nota regestowa XVI/XVII w.:] De non aperitione Portę tempore nocturno / A[nn]o 1541 / G. [Inne dawne noty i sygnatury archiwalne:] 1541 / D / Fasc. 252 [...]