Confirmation by King Sigismund I the Old of the right of the Lviv authorities to elect city interpreters

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AMEN. For the eternal memory of the matter. 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, Chełmno, Elbląg, and Pomerania, etc. To all and each one individually, who are now and will be in the future, we make it known openly and attest: That since it has been reported and declared to us that the illustrious mayor and councilors of our city of Lviv, by long-observed custom, have the free power and ability to elect and appoint in this our city of Lviv intermediaries or interpreters, commonly called 'mejlerze' or interpreters. And since a request has been brought to us on behalf of these councilors that we might deign to consider their benefit and that of their successors in this matter, and that in the future – as is wont to happen with the passage of time – no difficulties be caused to them and their descendants in this power of appointing and electing intermediaries or interpreters, and that we might remedy this with our authority and benevolence, and provide them with our royal privilege given in this regard. We, therefore, graciously acceding to such a request brought to us in the name of the aforementioned Lviv councilors, as just and reasonable, and also out of regard for the grace and benevolence which we hold toward that city of ours and its burghers, wishing to care for their interests and those of their successors, and also so that in this matter of electing and appointing intermediaries or interpreters – which has been exercised and managed peacefully and without any hindrance by their predecessors, and is currently exercised by them, and which, it seems, does not belong more fittingly to any jurisdiction than to their municipal law – no difficulty, burden, or obstacle be caused or placed before them or their descendants in the future by our officials, dignitaries, or any other people of ours, wishing to satisfy and remedy this by our royal authority: We have deemed it right to preserve and leave, as we do hereby preserve and leave, the said mayor and councilors of Lviv, present and future, and their successors in this matter of electing and appointing interpreters or intermediaries, just as their predecessors and they themselves have hitherto continued. Whereby, establishing and declaring for all time and forever that they and other future Lviv councilors, and no one else, are to prudently appoint and elect intermediaries and auctioneers or interpreters by ancient custom and usage, and to maintain, exercise, and perform [this right] forever without any hindrance or opposition from officials and dignitaries, as well as any people and subjects of ours of any status, condition, and dignity whatsoever. By the mayor and councilors of Lviv themselves, present and future, that power and authority to elect and appoint intermediaries or interpreters, according to ancient custom, usage, and practice, is to be held, possessed, exercised, administered, used, owned, and peacefully enjoyed for all time and forever. In faith and testimony of all and each of which, we have ordered this document to be drawn up and strengthened with our seal. Given in Vilnius on the eve of the Purification of the Most Glorious Virgin Mary, in the Year of the Lord one thousand five hundred and forty-second, the thirty-sixth year of our reign. In the presence of the venerable fathers in Christ, Lord Samuel Maciejowski, Bishop of Płock, Vice-Chancellor of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, and the magnificent, honorable, and well-born: Mikołaj Wolski, Castellan of Sandomierz, Master of the Household of the Most Serene spouse of ours most dear, and Starosta of Sanok, Lanckorona, Wizna, and Łomża; Stanisław Hozjusz, Doctor of Both Laws, Canon of Kraków and our secretary; Marcin Wolski, Treasurer of our court and Prefect of our bedchamber, Wojski of Kraków and Starosta of Zakroczym and Błonie; Tomasz Sobocki, Wojski of Łęczyca and our cupbearer; Mikołaj Mniszech, Chamberlain of our Most Serene son, and Starosta of Łuków and Sokal; Augustyn Kotwicz, Standard-bearer of our court and our master of the horse, and many other dignitaries, officials, and courtiers of ours, sincerely and faithfully beloved by us. Given by the hands of the aforementioned venerable father in Christ, Lord Samuel Maciejowski, Bishop of Płock and Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland, sincerely dear to us. [Plica, on the left:] Samuel, Bishop of Płock and Vice-Chancellor, signed [Plica, on the right, chancery note:] Report of the venerable father in Christ, Lord Samuel Maciejowski, Bishop of Płock and Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland [Seal: on a yellow-blue silk cord hangs a wax bowl with an impression of the royal seal of Sigismund I in red wax] [Verso:] [In red ink:] [...] S On the election of interpreters in the year 1542 N. Bundle 4. Area G N. 4. [Oval archival seal]

IN NOMINE DOMINI AMEN. Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Nos Sigismundus dei gratia Rex Poloniae, magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Necnon terrarum Cracoviae, Sandomiriae, Siradiae, Lanciciae, Cuiaviae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Culmen[sis], Elbingen[sis], Pomeraniaeque etc. dominus et heres. Vniversis et singulis qui nunc quique post futuri sunt, planum testatumque facimus. Quod cum renunciatum nobis fuisset et decla:ratum, Famatos Proconsulem et Consules Civitatis n[ost]rae Leopoliensis, prosenetas seu interpretes vulgo Mailerze aut Thlumacze in Civitate n[ost]ra ipsa Leopoli[ensi] eligendi et constituendi ex antiquitus ob:servata consuetudine habere liberam potestatem et facultatem. Atque pro parte eorundem consulum nobis esset supplicatum, Vt hac in re et illorum et successorum eorum commodis consulere, et ne in posterum, quod successu temporis fieri consuevit, in hac prosenetas seu interpretes constituendi et eligendi potestate, illis et eorum posteris negotium facesset, authoritate et clementia n[ost]ra prospicere, pri:vilegioque n[ost]ro Regio ea in re illis dato providere dignaremur. Nos itaque supplicationi eiusmodi pro parte dictorum consulum leopolien[sium] apud nos factae, vt pote iustae et rationabili benigne annuens, atque vna pro ea qua sumus erga Civitatem illam n[ost]ram et eius ciues gratia et clementia, rationibus illorum et successorum eorum consulere, et ne ea in parte eligendorum et constituendorum prosene:tarum seu interpretum, qua et per predecessores eorum quiete et absque omni impedimento exercebatur et administrabatur, ac etiamnum per eos exercetur, queque ad nullum iudicium magis aptius quam ad eorum civile pertinere videtur: Illis vel eorum posteris aliqua difficultas, negotium, aut impedimentum per officiales, dignatarios, aut quosvis alios homines n[ost]ros in futurum facesseretur aut exhibe:atur, providere et prospicere pro authoritate n[ost]ra regia cupiens. Eosdem Proconsulem et consules Leopolien[ses], presentes et pro tempore existentes, ac eorum successores hac in parte eligendorum et constituen:dorum Interpretum seu prosenetarum, ita quemadmodum et predecessores eorum, ac etiam ipsi eos hactenus fuere, conservandos duximus et relinquendos, conservamusque et relinquimus praesentibus. Quibus perpe[t]uo et in evum decernens et declarans illos et alios pro tempore existentes consules Leopolien[ses], et neminem alium caute constituendi et eligendi prosenetas et licitatores seu interpretes more et consuetudine antiqua vti debere, ac iam perpetuo manutenere, administrare et exercere, absque omni impedimento et contradictione tam officialium et dignatariorum, quam etiam quorum:cunque et cuiuscunque status conditionis et preeminentiae hominum et subditorum n[ost]rorum. Per ipsos Proconsulem et consules Leopolien[ses] praesentes et futuros, eiusmodi facultatem et p[otes]tatem eli:gendorum et constituendorum prosenetarum seu interpretum, secundum morem vsum et consuetudinem antiquam, tenendi habendi exercendi administrandi vsurpandi possidendi et pacifice fruen:dendum perpetuo et in ewvum. In quorum omnium et singulorum fidem et testimonium h[a]ec scribi sigilloq[ue] n[ost]ro communiri fecimus. Dat[um] Vilnae pridie purificationis gloriosissime virginis ma:riae, Anno domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Quadragesimo secundo, Regni n[ost]ri Anno trigesimo sexto. Praesentibus Reverendis in Christo patribus domino Samuele Maczieiowski E[piscolpo Plocensi Co[ronae] Regni Poloniae vicecancellario ac Mag[nific]o Venerabili et g[e]n[er]osis Nicolao Volski Castellano Sandomiriensi Serenissime coniugis n[ost]rae charissimae curiae magistro, ac Sanocensi Lanczkorunensi Visnensi et Lomzensi capitaneo, Stanislao Hozio vriusque iuris doctore Canonico cracovien[si] et Secretario n[ost]ro, Martino Volski Thesaurario curiae n[ost]rae et cubiculi n[ost]ri praefecto, tribuno cracovien[si] ac Zaczroczmien[si] et blonen[si] capitaneo, Thoma Soboczki Tribuno Lanciciensi et postillatore n[ost]ro, Nicolao Mnisschch Serenissimi filii n[ost]ri succamerario, et Lukowien[si] ac sokaliensi capitaneo, Augu:stino Cothwicz Vexillifero curiae n[ost]rae et stabuli mei praefecto, et aliis quamplurimis dignatariis officialibus et aulicis n[ost]ris sincere et fidelibus dilectis. Dat[um] per manus praefati Reverendi in christo patris domini Samuelis Maczieiowski Ep[iscop]i Plocensis et Regni Poloniae Vicecancellarii sincere nobis dilecti. [Plica, po lewej:] Samuel Ep[iscop]us Plocen[sis] et Vicecanc[ellarius] s[u]b[scripsit] [Plica, po prawej nota kancelaryjna:] Relatio Reverendi in Christo patris domini Samuelis Maczieiowski Episcopi Plocensis et Regni Poloniae Vicecancellarii [Pieczęć: na jedwabnym żółto-niebieskim sznurze zawieszona woskowa miska z odciskiem pieczęci koronnej Zygmunta I w czerwonym wosku] [Verso:] [Czerwonym inkaustem:] [...] S Super electione interpretum A[nn]o 1542 N. Fasc. 4. Area G N. 4. [Owalna pieczęć archiwalna]