Translation / modern text
Sigismund, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Lord and Heir of Rus, Prussia, Masovia, etc. We announce by the tenor of this [document] to all and each individually whom it concerns, both present and future, who are to have eternal memory.
Whereas for a long time a dispute and disagreement took place between the noble Mikołaj Sieniawski of Gwoździec, Castellan of Przemyśl and Starosta of our city of Lwów, and Jan Dziadek, Mayor, and the councilors of this our city of Lwów regarding the election of a councilor to replace a deceased one. The Starosta claimed that he himself and no one else had the power to elect councilors in any way. They, however, citing the accepted custom of [other] cities of the Kingdom or the province, agreed to the election of one councilor to replace a voivode or starosta, also trying to attribute this power to themselves. [...] The Lwów councilors, on the other hand, relied on the ancient custom and usage of their city, that it was always observed that one of the jurors was appointed by the councilors to replace a deceased councilor; as was once testified to us by the late magnificent Otto of Chodcz, then Voivode of Sandomierz and Starosta of Lwów, whose document drawn up on parchment with an attached seal they presented before us, where it was clearly stated by him in these very words:
“When the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter is to be celebrated, on which day with the onset of each year the election used to take place, the council office itself used to send to me or the starosta, or my predecessors, according to ancient custom, two or three colleagues, asking only [...] that in my absence I would allow [them to act], asking that in accordance with the ancient custom I proceed to the election of council officials. And when this request is made by them in person, the said councilors, after summoning the city officials, the reeve and jurors, and the entire community of the commoners, in my presence or that of the starosta, conduct this election in such a way:
First, those who were acting councilors in the previous year, for the coming year become the seniors [old councilors], and those who were seniors [become] the acting councilors of that office, and so every year alternately from acting they become seniors, and conversely – from seniors they become acting.
And when the places of any councilors after the death of one or more of them, or in any other way become vacant, then those old and acting councilors designate councilors from the jurors or from the juror's bench to this vacant place in such a way that if one councilor is needed, then these councilors choose from their midst one from the bench, and two from the common people to the council and from them themselves they propose, so that from these three designated in writing, the one whom the hand of His Serene Majesty [...] shall choose [...], just as my predecessors similarly chose, and finally I announce his election to the commoners.
After which the commoners have the custom of going out separately, to which commoners these councilors, through one or two from their midst, announce by name two other summoned councilors and ask which of those two designated on the card the commoners would choose as their councilor; there the commoners announce whom they have chosen by name to the council, and the councilors themselves accept him from among those designated into their midst, so that the council election is divided: they accept one from the hand of the Royal Majesty by right from me, the starosta, the second from the commoners, and the rest from the council.
Where six councilor places become vacant, then they take two from the bench, and the third from the acting councilors, whom they similarly propose in writing. In which the same procedure is followed in the election itself as above, and the same for a larger number. If, however, two councilors remain alive [...], nevertheless they propose to the starosta in writing from among the acting councilors by name three from among those same acting councilors, of whom I am accustomed to appoint one, the commoners the second, and the council the third; to them are added from the old councilors three others, from the senior council, and thus the number of acting councilors is completed.
When these councilors are thus elected and take their seats, then in my presence and that of the old council, the reeve, the jurors, and the entire commoners, these elected councilors take their office for six months [and] swear an oath on the laws of the Republic of the city according to the provision of the German Magdeburg law. And when they take the oath, from then on these acting councilors together with the old council unanimously deliberate on all matters of the city and settle the remaining municipal affairs, and thus they finish this council election. Finally, I depart from them from the town hall. They, the councilors, carry out the election of other municipal officials and city servants and receive oaths from the guilds”.
When they presented this document of testimony before us, from which we extracted these words literally, having recognized this privilege, we decided to preserve it [...], especially since in the privilege of the reeve's office, which they also showed before us, and about which we announced that we confirm it, this clause was read before us: “We want that when the above-mentioned Lwów burghers elect their councilors [...]”. From which it clearly follows that it was an ancient custom for the burghers themselves from among themselves, and not the starosta, to elect councilors to replace the deceased or to vacant places. And since this privilege of the reeve's office was granted to the councilors of our city of Lwów by Władysław, Duke of Opole, Wieluń and Rus, in the year of the birth of Christ one thousand three hundred and seventy-eight, so that in the very power of electing councilors they show on the basis of a clear document that they have always observed this custom for one hundred and sixty-six years [...], it seemed right to us to leave them with the same custom. And whatever power they have had for centuries to elect councilors and jurors, we not only do not take it away from them, but also confirm, approve, and establish it for all time by our royal authority.
So that no one dares to oppose this preserved and glorious custom [...] nor interfere with them in this election; with the only exception that from the number of not three, but six councilors they should elect the acting ones according to the provision made by us three years ago, so that our current Lwów starosta and the one serving at the given time, arriving at the town hall – or the one to whom he entrusts this task in his name – from the number of six councilors to serve in the current year, first one councilor from among them, whom he wishes, shall choose and appoint on our behalf. Then those same councilors shall choose the second, and the commoners shall choose the third councilor.
However, we want to have it clearly and specifically expressed here: whenever one or more councilors die, or for any other reason a vacancy occurs, the election of new councilors to replace the deceased or to a vacant place is to take place only from among the jurors by the current and respective councilors. In which neither the current nor any future starosta [...] will be allowed to interfere. For besides the fact that it was ordered to observe the ancient and glorious custom, we also see that it is very much in the interest of the said municipal law that those elected as councilors should not be from the commoners, but rather those who have held the office of juror, and finally worthy [men] [...] by the power of this provision we want and establish to be binding.
In testimony of which our seal has been attached.
Given in Vilnius, on Saturday, on the very day of the feast of the Visitation of the Most Glorious Virgin Mary, in the Year of the Lord one thousand five hundred and forty-one, and the thirty-fifth year of our reign.
Sigismund King, signed.
[Chancery note next to the fold:] [...]
[Verso:]
[Archival note at the top:] A. 31.
[Archival note:] Arca 7ma No 11
[Archival note from the 18th century:] Fasc. 167. o: a: / No 32
[Archival title from the 16th/17th century:] Privilegium super electione Consulatus 1541. a Sigismundo 1mo Rege Polonie Nicolao Szeniawski palatino et capitaneo data.
[Scribal mark/paraph on the fold verso]
[Seal:]
[On scan 2 and 3: Smaller royal seal of King Sigismund I the Old in a bowl of natural wax, impression in red wax, depicting a four-field shield with the Eagle and the Vytis, topped with a crown, suspended on a silk/woolen cord braided in green, red, and white colors].
Original wording — transcription
Sigismundus Dei gratia Rex Polonie, Magnus Dux Lithuanie, Russie, Prussie, Mazovie etc. Dominus et heres. Significamus tenore presencium vniuersis et singulis, quorum interest, tam presentibus quam posteris, perpetuam habituris. Quod cum longo tempore agitata fuisset controversia ac differentia inter Generosum Nicolaum Szenawski de Gwozdzecz, Castellanum Premisliensem et Capitaneum civitatis nostre Leopolien[sis] et Joannem Dzyadek, proconsulem, et consules eiusdem civitatis nostre Leopolien[sis] de consule in demortui locum eligendo. Capitaneus se solum, et nullum alium, quocunque eligendi consules habere potestatem dicebat. Ipsi recepto more duorum civitatum Regni vel palatinatus aut capitanei loco vnum consulem eligere consentiebant, quia sibi quoque potestatem vendicare nitebantur. Visiaque Leopolien[si] privilegium esse aliquod, mediante tamen quo per quando cibi potis licere docerent, quottiescunque Regni in civitatibus non secus contra vero consules Leopolien[ses] veteri more et consuetudini civitatis sue innitebantur, quod semper ita observatum esset, vt vnus ex scabinis per consules in demortui consulis locum sufficeretur, quousque etiam modum testatum nobis fieri fecerat quondam Magnificus olim Otto de Chodecz, prothunc Palatinus Sandomirien[sis] et Capitaneus Leopolien[sis], quas coram nobis in pergamento scripturas sub eiusdem signo appenso protulerunt, vbi clare perspectum ab eo est, hisce ipsis verbis: Dum festum sancti Petri ad Cathedram pro quo die electio fieri consuevit annis singulis celebrari debeat, ipse consulatus solet ad me vel ad Capitaneum vel predecessores meos et antiqua consuetudine duos vel tres collegas destinare hunc dumtaxat l[itter]as postulare, vt me absente licet perscribere postulam ut iuxta consuetudinem antiquitus observatam ad electionem consularem magistratuum condescenderem, et dum ista postulacio per eos in personis venio, prefati consules officialibus civitatis, advocato et scabinis ac tota communitate populi ibidem convocata me vel Capitaneo presente taliter ipsam celebrant electionem. Inprimis ipsi, qui fuerint consules residentes anno preterito ad annum futurum efficiuntur seniores, et am[pli]us presenti seniores consules officiorum eiusdem, et ita quotannis alternatim de residentibus fiunt seniores, et econtra de senioribus fiunt residentes. Et dum loca aliquorum consulum post mortem vnius vel plurium, vte[cum]que poteritque modum alium vacaverint, tunc ipsi consules antiqui et sedentes scabinos vel sede scabinali in illum locum vacantem designati consules taliter, vt si vnus consule opus fuerit, extunc ipsi consules vnum de loco scabinali in suum numerum et duos de mediocri populo ad consulatum eligunt, et ex his ipsis porrigunt, vt ex illis tribus putatis vnum et medula porrectis, quem ex manu Sereniss[ime] M[aiesta]tis vtre elegerit, illi designarent vbi illam quintam tres viri inscripto porrectos videbitur ad locum sacre M[aiesta]tis Regie vir digne eligendus elige, prout et mei predecessores similiter eligebant, et tandem ipsi et communitati electum publico. Quo facto, communitas seorsum egredi consuevit, cui communitati ipsi consules alios duos consules concolatose per aliquem vel duos de suo medio ex nomine publicant, et querunt, quem illa communitas ex illis duobus in cedula designatis sibi pro consule eligerent, vbi communitas quem elegit ex nomine consulatum indicit, et ipsi soli consules tecum ex consignatis in suum medium accipiunt, ita quod electionem consularem cessariam dimidiat, vnus de manu Regie M[aiesta]tis iure a me Capitaneo, alterum a Communitate, et residui a consulatu suscipiant. Vbi vero sex virorum consulum sedes vacaverit, extunc accipint de scabinali duos, tercium vero de residentibus consulibus, quos simili modo in scripto porrigunt. In quo pariter prout supra in ipsa electione proceditur, et sic de pluribus, si vero sex viri Rex duos consules superstites fuerint, et neque aliquis liceret ex eis vacantem nisi nihilominus tamen ipsi de medio residentium consulum Capitaneo tres in scripto ex eisdem residentibus consulibus ex nomine porrigunt, ex quibus ego vnum, Communitas alium, consulatus tercium consuivimus nominare, quibus adiunguntur de antiquis consulibus alii tres, ex seniori consulatu, et ita completur numerus consulum residentium, qui consules dum ita electi fuerint resident, extunc coram mea presentia et antiqui consulatus, advocati, scabinorum et totag[e] communitatis ipsi consules electi resident ad officium suum sex menses iura et Reipublice civitatis iuxta disposicionem iuris Civitatis Magdeburgensis Theutonici iurant, et dum iuraverint, exime ipsi consules resident, vna cum antiquo consulatu de omnibus negociis civitatis vnanimiter consulunt, et cetera negocia civilia dispensant, et sic ipsam consularem electionem perficiunt. Tandem ego ab illis ex pretorio recedo. Ipsi vero consules aliorum officialium civium et famulorum civium electionem faciunt, operumque suscipiunt iuramenta. Quas cum litteras testimoniales coram nobis produxissent, ex quibus ad verbum hec desumpta missimus, privilegium visa eas habere decrevimus, quia et vt putibus decernimus, cum presertim in privilegio, quod etiam coram nobis protulerunt, advocacie quod nos confirmari significavimus, hec clausula sit coram nobis lecta. Volumus quod cum supradicti civis Leopolien[ses] consules ipsorum de sexu tamen modo eligant, et per nos supradicti consules conterranei fuerint, et cetera. Ex quo facile liquet, veterem hunc morem fuisse, vt cives ipsi de seitu suo et non Capitaneus consules in demortuorum locum seu vacantem deligerent. Cum autem primlegium hoc advocacie datum sit consulibus civitatis nostre Leopolien[sis] a Vladislao Duce Opolien[si], Wielunien[si] et Russie, Anno a Christo nato Millesimo trecentesimo septuagesimo octavo, vt in potestate ipsa eligendi consules prescriptis iam videantur cum clara docimenti affulsione se centum sexaginta sex annos morem hunc semper observasse, quemnam iniuriet a la consuetudo avis etiam firmita tem obtinet, visum est nobis in eadem consuetudine eos relinquere, ac quamvis aut amplius vel pocius seculis habuerunt eligendi consules et scabinos potestatem, cum illis non modo non adimimus, verum etiam authoritate nostra Regia confirmamus approbamus et perpetuis temporibus decernimus. Ne quispiam hunc retinere et laudandi mori superesse a nobis desumpto contravenerit audeat, neque eos in ipsa electione impediat, hoc tantum excepto, quod de trium sed de sex consulum numero residentes elige debeant, iuxta ordinacionem ante triennium a nobis facta, vt Capitaneus noster Leopolien[sis] modernus et pro tempore existens ad pretorium descendendo vel ille, cui id negocii nomine suo dederit, de numero sex consulum iam in annum currentem presistere deberet, Inprimis vnus consulem ex illis, quem voluerit ex parte nostra eligere et nominare debebit. Deinde idem consules alterum, tercium vero consulem communitas eligat. Illud autem clare et specialiter expressum hic fieri volumus, quociescunque moritur consul vnus aut plures, aut quacunque alia ratione vacacio contingat, non nisi de scabinis per consules modernos et pro tempore existentes in demortuorum locum vel sedem vacantium novorum consulum fiat electio. In quam neque moderno, neque pro tempore existenti Capitaneo, nisi emptam alteri se intromittere fas erit. Nam preterquam quod veterem et laudatam consuetudinem observare iussum est, hoc quoque civitatis iure prefate interesse plurimum videmus, vt ne de communitate sed de potius consules per eos eligantur, fuerint scabiorum officio functi, ac tandem decorum [...] ad quemque tantis manibus robur per [...] volumus vigore presentis composicionis valiturum haberi volumus et decernimus. In cuius rei testimonium sigillum nostrum appensum est. Datum Vilne, sabbato ipso die festo Visitationis gloriosissime Virginis Marie, Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo quadragesimo primo, Regni vero nostri anno trigesimo quinto.
Sigismundus Rex s[ub]s[crip]t[us].
[Nota kancelaryjna obok pliki/podpis:] [...]
[Verso:]
[Nota archiwalna u góry:] A. 31.
[Nota archiwalna:] Arca 7ma No 11
[Nota archiwalna z XVIII w.:] Fasc. 167. o: a: / No 32
[Tytuł archiwalny z XVI/XVII w.:] Privilegium super electione Consulatus 1541. a Sigismundo 1mo Rege Polonie Nicolao Szeniawski palatino et capitaneo data.
[Znak pisarski/parafa na plice verso]
[Pieczęć:]
[Na skanie 2 i 3: Pieczęć koronna mniejsza króla Zygmunta I Starego w misce z naturalnego wosku, odcisk w czerwonym wosku, przedstawiający tarczę czteropolową z Orłem i Pogonią, zwieńczoną koroną, zawieszona na jedwabnym/włóczkowym sznurze plecionym w barwach zielonej, czerwonej i białej].
