Translation / modern text
In the name of the Lord, amen. In eternal memory of the matter. Since human deeds, however worthy of memory, easily fall into oblivion if they are not entrusted to memory through 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, Kuyavia, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, as well as Chełmno, Elbląg, and Pomerania. We make known by the tenor of this letter to all and each one individually, present and future, who ought to know this and who shall come to possess knowledge of it. That the illustrious mayor and councilors of Lviv have approached us through some of their number, [presenting] a letter of privilege for the wójtostwo, granted to the city by Władysław, Duke of Opole, Wieluń, and Ruthenia, whole, intact, and free from any suspicion, with the seal of the said Duke suspended, which word for word reads as follows:
In the name of the Lord, amen, in eternal memory of the matter. We, Władysław, by the grace of God, Duke of Opole, Wieluń, and Ruthenia. We make known by the tenor of this letter to all whom it behooves to know, that out of our customary grace and piety, having regard for the merits of loyalty and righteousness of our faithful burghers of Lviv, and so that they may become the more compliant to our services, with the advice also of our faithful and barons, we give, transfer, and donate the said greater wójtostwo of German law in Lviv and the judicial fines arising therefrom, handing it over in perpetual and irrevocable donation into possession and turning it to the benefits of our aforementioned city of Lviv. With this exception, however, that whenever a man is judged and condemned by their law for great causes, such that he ought to be deprived of his goods and life, or whenever he commits some murder, then whatever might fall to them, we grant them one part, while we retain the remaining two parts for ourselves. We also wish that when the said burghers choose their councilors, with our knowledge however, and the said councilors are confirmed by us, then these same elected councilors ought to choose a wójt from among themselves, whomsoever they wish, when and as often as it pleases their will. In testimony of which this letter has been provided with our seal. Done and given in Lviv, on the Sunday in the octave of All Saints, in the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred and seventy-eight, in the presence of these lords and our faithful: Waśko Złodziej of Czchów, Mikołaj of Bogurza in Zawichost – castellans, Czerwosz of Dalowice – Starosta of Ruthenia, Jan Degoff – marshal, Piotr Armineoze – customs officer of Lviv, and Lord Mikołaj, our chancellor, who had this entrusted to him.
Requesting in the presence of very many credible men, they humbly begged for the confirmation of this letter by us, and we, acceding to their just requests, have deemed them worthy of approval, praise, and ratification, so that we hereby approve, praise, and ratify them in all their points, clauses, conditions, and articles, wishing that it be recognized as valid and unshakable and strictly observed for all time. Decreeing that it shall have the force of perpetual durability. In testimony of which our seal has been appended to this. Given in Vilnius, on Saturday, on the very feast of the Visitation of the Most Glorious Virgin Mary, in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and forty-one, and the thirty-fifth year of our reign. In the presence of the reverend father in Christ, Lord Samuel Maciejowski, Bishop of Chełm, nominee of Płock and Vice-Chancellor of our Kingdom, as well as the magnificent, venerable, and well-born: Mikołaj of Wola, Castellan of Sandomierz, Berensson Koniuski, steward of my court, Starosta of Sanok, Lanckorona, Łomża, and Wizna, Jakub Uchański, Canon of Kraków, referendary of our court, Andrzej Czarnkowski, Scholastic of Kraków and Włocławek, Andrzej Zebrzydowski, Dean of Łęczyca, Canon of Kraków and Płock, Jan Tylicki, Canon of Płock and Warsaw – our secretaries, Marcin of Wola, steward of our chamberlains, treasurer of our court, Starosta of Zakroczym and Błonie, Augustyn Kościecki, standard-bearer of our court and master of the horse, Hieronim Staszkowski, our master of the kitchen, and very many other dignitaries, officials, and our courtiers, faithful beloved. Given by the hands of the said reverend father in Christ, Lord Samuel, Bishop of Chełm, nominee of Płock, Vice-Chancellor of our Kingdom, our beloved confidant.
Samuel, Bishop of Chełm, nominee of Płock and Vice-Chancellor, signed with his own hand.
Relation of the reverend father in Christ, Lord Samuel Maciejowski, Bishop of Chełm, nominee of Płock and Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland.
Original wording — transcription
[Inwokacja i motywacja z inicjałem dekoracyjnym:]
In nomine domini amen. Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Quoniam facta humana quantumvis memorabilia facile intercidunt, nisi literarum officio fuerint me/morie comendata. Proinde Nos Sigismundus dei gratia Rex Polonie, Magnus Dux Lithuanie, necnon terrarum Cracovie, Sandomirie, Siradie, Lancicie, Cuiavie, Russie, Prussie, Masovie ac Culmen[sis] et Elbingen[sis], Pomeranieq[ue]
ac dominus et heres. Significamus tenore presentium quibus expedit universis et singulis presentibus et futuris harum noticiam habituris. Quia institerunt ad nos per quosdam e suo medio Famati Proconsul et Consules Leopoldien[ses]
[liter]as privilegii Advocatie, a Ladislao Duce Opolien[si], Wielunen[si], Russieq[ue] Civitati datas, integras, incorruptas, et omni suspitionis nota carentes, cum sigillo eius Ducis appenso, que ad verbum ita se habent: In no/mine domini amen, ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Nos Ladislaus dei gratia Dux Opolien[sis], Wielunen[sis] et Russie. Notum facimus tenore præsentium universis quibus nosse fuerit opportunum. Quod de consueta me pietatis gratia me/ritis fidelitatis et probitatis fidelium nostrorum Civium Lembergen[sium] respicientes, et ut ad nostra servitia eo valeant reddere promptiores, de consilio etiam nostrorum fidelium et Baronum, ipsam Advoca/
ciam maiori Theutonicorum in Lemberga, et penas de eadem provenien[tes] damus, conferrimus, et donamus, donacione perpetua et irrevocabili tenore haben[dam], et in usus predicte Civitatis nostræ Lembergen[sis] converten[dam]. Hoc
tamen excepto, quod quociens hominum pro causis magnis ipsorum Jure sentenciatus, et condenatus fuerit, ita quod bonis et vita privari deberetur, vel quotiens homicidium aliquod perpetraverit, ex tunc quidquid ab eisdem
provenire poterit, unam partem ipsis conferimus, reliquas vero duas partes pro nobis reservamus. Volumus etiam, quod cum supradicti Cives, Consulibus eorum de deitu tamen nostro eligerent, et per nos supradicti Consu/
les confirmati fuerint, Extunc idem Consules electi, Advocatum de medio ipsorum quem voluerint, debent eligere, quando et quociens ipsorum placuerit voluntati. Harum quibus Sigillum nostrum appensum est testimonio li/
terarum. Act[um] et dat[um] Lemberge Die Dominico infra octavas festum Sanctorum, Sub Anno Domini Millesimo tricentesimo septuagesimo octavo, Presentibus his dominis et fidelibus nostris: Vascone Zlodzey in Czchow,
Nicolao de Wogurza Zawichost[ensi] Castellanis, Czerwasio de Dalomicz Capitaneo Russie, Joanne Degoff Marschalco, Petro Armineoze Theloniatore Lembergen[si] et domino Nicolao
Cancellario nostro qui presentes habuit in commissis. / Petentes qumplurimis viris fide dignis, has l[ite]ras a nobis confirmari supplicarunt, quorum nos iustis peticion[ibus] annuentes, eas confirmandas, approbandas, ratificandas duximus
ita ut presentibus confirmamus, approbamus, ratifficamus, in omnibus earum punctis, clausulis, conditionibus, et articulis, cass[is] ratis haberi et firmiter observari perpetuis temporibus volumus. Decernentes eas robur
perpetue firmitatis habere. In cuius rei testimonium sigillum nostrum presentibus est appensum. Dat[um] Vilne sabbato ipso die festo Visitationis gloriosissime Virginis Marie Anno Domini Millesimo Quinpen/
tesimo quadragesimo primo, Regni vero nostri anno tricesimo quinto. Presentibus Reverendo in Christo patre domino Samuele Maczyeiowsski Episcopo Chelmen[si], Nominato Plocen[si] et Regni nostri Vicecancellario, Necno[n]
Magnifico, Venerabilibus et Generosis: Nicolao de Wolia Castellano Sandomirien[si], Berenssone Coniuszki mee Curie Magistro, Sanocen[si], Lanczkorunen[si], Lomzen[si] et Visnen[si] Capitaneo, Jacobo Vchanski Canonico Cra/
covien[si], Curie nostre Referendario, Andrea Czarnkowski Cracovien[si] et Vladislavien[si], Scholastico, Andrea Zebrzydowski Decano Lancicien[si], Cracovien[si] et Plocen[si] Canonico, Joanne Tiliczy Plocen[si] et Warschevi[en]
si Canonico, Secretariis nostris, Martino de Wolia Cubiculari nostris prefecto, Curie nostre Thesaurario Zocrocimien[si] et Blonen[si] Capitaneo, Augustino Koisszski Vexillifero Curie nostre et stabuli prefecto, Hieronimo Staskowski
Magistro Coquine nostre, et alijs quam plurimis Dignitarijs, Officialibus, et Aulicis nostris fidelibus dilectis. Dat[um] per manus prefati Reverendi in Christo patris domini Samuelis Episcopi Chelmen[sis] nominati Plocen[sis] Regni nostri Vicecacellarij[!] secreti nobis dilecti.
[Podpis z lewej:]
Samuel Ep[iscop]us Chelmen[sis] Nomi/
natus Plo[censis] et Vicecanc[ellarius] ss[subscripsit]
[Formuła relacji z prawej:]
Rel[ati]o Veneran[di] in Christo patris domini Samuelis Maczyeiewski Episcopi Chel/
mensis Nominati Plocensis et Regni Polonie Vicecancellarij
[Pieczęć:]
[Na sznurze jedwabnym plecionym zielono-żółto-czerwonym zawieszona woskowa pieczęć koronna Zygmunta I w misie z naturalnego wosku]
[Verso:]
[XVIII-wieczna nota archiwalna:] Confirmatio Advocaciæ Leopolien[sis] Sigismundi Regis Vilnæ sabbato die Visitationis Mariæ Anno 1541.
[Sygnatury:] Arca Prima No 12; Fasc. 105; 79.D=
[Znak kancelaryjny / parafa:] P. ta.
