Privilege of King Sigismund II Augustus for Lwów regarding the incorporation of the villages of Zubrza and Sichów

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AMEN. Since that which is to be lasting is wont to be snatched from oblivion and transmitted to posterity by the benefit of writing. Therefore, We, SIGISMUND AUGUSTUS, by the grace of God King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, etc., lord and heir, make it known and certify by this our letter to all whom it may concern: Whereas, with the consent of all the estates of our Kingdom, and by our prior will, it was brought about and decreed that people of every estate, inhabitants of our Kingdom, should show before us and the advisors of our Kingdom in the Senate, in the presence of the land envoys, all rights and privileges to the possession of our table estates after the death, or rather after the statute of King Alexander, our uncle […], established regarding the donation of table estates, which they might possess, as well as those which might seem contrary to the common law and the liberties of the Kingdom, at the general sejm of the Kingdom in Warsaw held in the Year of Our Lord 1563. For in this way we thought that the execution of the statutes could easily be reached. A letter of the late Lord Sigismund the First, King, our most beloved parent, was also presented to us by envoys sent to the aforementioned sejm of the Kingdom on behalf of the mayor, councilors, and the entire community of the city of Lwów, in which was contained the incorporation of the villages of Zubrza and Sichów into the same city of Lwów, as well as the transfer of these villages from land law to the municipal Magdeburg law. And although by certain of our advisors, to whom we entrusted the examination of such privileges, the incorporation of these villages into the city of Lwów, made by our late Most Serene parent, was deemed invalid and ineffective, as it seemed to the detriment of the Commonwealth, yet – although we hesitated [?] to approve the judgment of our advisors – we, moved by many and just considerations, after canceling the previous incorporation for the reason that the very incorporation of the aforementioned villages made before the statute of our parent of holy memory, King Sigismund, in the Year of Our Lord 1538, could not stand, therefore by the power and authority of the same sejm, with the consent of our advisors and senators of the lands of the Kingdom, we recognized and decreed that now, anew after the aforementioned statute, this is permitted and can be allowed by law, and we postponed the execution of this to the future sejm of the Kingdom, which was to be the first held in the Kingdom after the Warsaw one [?]. Since, therefore, the current Piotrków sejm is the first held after the Warsaw one, having regard to the manifold services and merits of the illustrious mayor and councilors of our city of Lwów, through which they have zealously commended themselves to us and our predecessors and the Commonwealth of our Kingdom with due fidelity and submission in times of peace and war, and strive to commend themselves even more day by day, and considering that the said mayor and councilors of the same city of Lwów have suffered great loss in their estates, both privately and publicly, and bear numerous municipal burdens due to the fortification, defense, and preservation of the said city. Wishing to come to their aid in bearing such great burdens with our royal grace and to make them more capable and zealous for future services to us and the Commonwealth. By the power of the current Piotrków sejm and by that authority which we reserved for ourselves for this sejm, the aforementioned villages called Zubrza and Sichów, lying in the Lwów district, and established in land law at their first location, in the use and possession of which the mayor and councilors of the city of Lwów have been for many years, and which were transferred from land law to municipal Magdeburg law, we now transfer and transpose anew, and we perpetually annex, assign, and incorporate them into the same municipal Magdeburg law and the jurisdiction of the said mayor and councilors of the city of Lwów, present and currently serving. Exempting and releasing the aforementioned mayor and councilors and the inhabitants of the same villages of Zubrza and Sichów from all jurisdiction and authority of all, together and each separately, voivodes, castellans, starosts, judges, and sub-judges, and any other land and castle officials, as well as their court servants, and from summonses and land and castle courts, so that from now on they shall be obliged to answer not before them, but before the mayor and councilors of Lwów themselves, present and currently serving, in any matters, both great and small, as well as offenses however heavy and monstrous. Furthermore, we exempt and make free and released by the power of this letter the aforementioned mayor and councilors of Lwów, present and currently serving, by reason of the aforementioned villages of Zubrza and Sichów, from all general and particular military expeditions, from public taxes established and to be established for our need and that of the Commonwealth, and from all other service and land burdens, to the performance of which other possessors of land estates are obliged by the law and custom of our Kingdom by reason of such estates. So that from now on the same villages, that is, the estates of Zubrza and Sichów, shall not be considered as land, but as purely municipal, and let them hold, enjoy, and use such freedom and immunity as other estates of our said city of Lwów hold and enjoy. And no military expedition is to be performed from them, but only the [municipal] levy, commonly called 'szos', as often as it shall be necessary to establish it for the need of the Commonwealth, shall be paid together with the same city of Lwów, for all time forever. In testimony whereof our seal has been appended to these presents. Done and given at the general sejm of the Kingdom in Piotrków, on the third day of the month of March in the Year of Our Lord one thousand five hundred and sixty-five, and in the thirty-sixth year of our reign. In the presence of the most reverend, reverend, magnificent, and noble: Jakub Uchański, Archbishop of Gniezno, born legate and Primate of our Kingdom; Filip Padniewski of Kraków, Mikołaj Wolski of Kujawy and Pomerania, Adam Konarski of Poznań, Albert Staroszczelski of Chełm, Dionizy Secygniowski of Kamieniec – bishops; Spytek Jordan of Zakliczyn, starost of Kraków and Przemyśl; Stanisław of Tarnów, voivode of Sandomierz and starost of Sandomierz; Mikołaj Sokołowski of Wrząca, voivode of Łęczyca; Jan of Służewo, voivode of Brześć and starost of Konin; Jan of Krotoszyn, voivode of Inowrocław; Jan of Dąbrowica, voivode of Lublin and Marshal of our Kingdom, as well as starost of Rohatyn and Kazimierz; Arnold Uchański, voivode of Płock; Andrzej Sierpski of Goleszyn, voivode of Rawa and Płock – voivodes and starosts; Piotr Zborowski, castellan of Poznań; Baltazar Stanisław Myszkowski, castellan of Sandomierz and Kraków – starosts; Jerzy Konarski, castellan of Kalisz; Jan Tomicki, castellan of Gniezno; Jan Lutomirski, castellan of Sieradz and Radom, Łęczyca; Florian Zebrzydowski, castellan of Lublin and Sącz; Tyburcy Mikołaj Jazłowiecki, castellan of Kamieniec, Nowogródek; Stanisław Wolski, castellan of Rawa and Marshal of our court, starost of Krzepice; Stanisław Sobek of Sulejów, castellan of Sącz and Treasurer of our Kingdom; Jan Sierakowski, castellan of Ląd, referendary of our court and starost of Przedecz; Jan Tęczyński [?], castellan of Małogoszcz and Pilzno; Stanisław Spławski, castellan of Krzywiń; Paweł Szczawiński, castellan of Sochaczew – castellans and starosts; Walenty Dembiński, Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland and starost of Luboml; Piotr Myszkowski, Vice-Chancellor of our same Kingdom and Dean of Kraków, provost of Gniezno, Płock, Łęczyca, Warsaw; Stanisław Karnkowski, referendary of our court, cantor of Gniezno and scholastic of Łęczyca; Ścibor Krykowski, canon of Kraków – our secretaries, and many other secretaries and courtiers of ours as witnesses to the above. [Bottom right:] By the report of the magnificent Walenty Dembiński of Dębian, Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland and starost of Luboml. [Bottom left, chancery signatures:] Stanisław Dembiński [Seal:] [Great Crown Seal of Sigismund Augustus in red wax in a natural wax bowl, suspended on a multi-colored silk cord] [Verso:] Privilege of the new incorporation of the estates of Zubrza and Sichów to the city of Lwów. 1565. Privilege of the new incorporation of the villages of Zubrza and Sichów. From the Year of Our Lord 1565. Sigismund Augustus 1565. March 3. No. 501. [and other old signatures and chancery marks: Kk 48, 501, small eagle – archival stamp].

IN NOMINE DOMINI AMEN. Quia diuturna esse debent, literarum beneficio ab oblivione vindicata posteritati commendari solent. Proinde nos SIGISMUNDUS AUGUSTUS Dei gratia Rex Poloniae, Magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiaeque etc. Dominus et haeres. Notum testatumque esse volumus praesentibus literis nostris universis ad quos pertinet. Cum omnium Regni nostri ordinum consensu, praemissa nostra voluntate, eo ventum et adductum esset, ut omnis conditionis homines Regni nostri incolae, iura et privilegia quaecunque ad possidenda bona mensae nostrae post mortem vel potius statutum Alexandri Regis patrui nostri desideratis[?] de donationibus bonorum mensae nostrae condito, haberent: Tum et ea quae in ei[s] communi et libertatibus regni contraria esse viderentur, in Conventione regni generali Varsaviae in Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Sexagesimo Tertio celebrata, coram nobis et Consiliariis regni nostri in Senatu, praesentibus ibidem Nuntiis Terrarum, exhiberent. Eo enim modo ad executionem Statutorum facile perveniri posse arbitrabamur. Oblata etiam fuerint coram nobis Sigismundi olim domini Sigismundi Primi Regis parentis nostri optatissimi literae, per Nuntios nomine Praeconsulis, Consulum totiusque Communitatis Civitatis Leopoliensis ad praedicta Comitia Regni missos, quibus Incorporatio villarum Zubrza et Siechow ipsi civitati Leopoliensi facta, tum et translatio earundem Villarum, de iure Terrestri in ius Civile Magdeburgense continebatur. Et quamvis per certos Consiliarios nostros, quibus examinatio eiusmodi privilegiorum a nobis demandata fuerat, Incorporatio earum villarum Civitati Leopoliensi per Serenissimum quondam parentem nostrum facta, nulla et irrita esse pronuntiata, quod detrimento esse Reipublicae videretur, veruntamen sententiam Consiliariorum nostrorum comprobasse[?] dubitemus, tamen nos multis et legitimis rationibus adducti, priore Incorporatione cassata, ex eo quia ipsa Incorporatio praedictarum Villarum ante statutum divae memoriae parentis nostri Sigismundi Regis Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Trigesimo Octavo facta subsistere non potuit, ideo vigore et autoritate ipsorum Comitiorum, de consensu Consiliariorum nostrorum et Senatores Terrarum Regni admovimus et decrevimus, nunc denuo post statutum praedictum, licere et de iure concedi posse, idque faciendum ad futura Regni Comitia, quae prima post Varsaviensia in Regno celebrerentur[?], distuleramus. Proinde cum Comitia Petricoviensia moderna post Varsaviensia prima celebrentur, Habentes in conspectu plurima obsequia et benemerita Famatorum Praeconsulis et Consulum Civitatis nostrae Leopoliensis, quibus se nobis et nostris praedecessoribus, ac Reipublicae Regni nostri, tempore pacis et bellorum, debita fide et subiectione officiose commendatos reddiderunt, et magis etiamnum in dies reddere student, considerantesque dictos Praeconsulem et Consules eiusdem civitatis Leopoliensis, magnam suarum facultatum, tam privatim quam publice, iacturam fecisse, eosque multa onera civilia, propter dicta Civitatis munitionem, defensionem ac conservationem sustinere. Volentes illis, in ferendis tantis oneribus gratia nostra regia succurrere, ac eos ad nostra et reipublicae futura servitia aptiores promptioresque reddere. Vigore moderni Conventus Petricoviensis, atque ea facultate, quam nobis ad hunc Conventum reservaveramus, villas praedictas Zubrza et Siechow appellatas, in districtu Leopoliense consistentes, in iureque terrestri in prima sui locatione fundatas, in quarum usu et possessione a plurimis annis Praeconsul et Consules civitatis Leopoliensis existunt, quaeque ex Iure Terrestri in ius Civile Magdeburgense translatae sunt. Nunc denuo transferimus et transponimus, easdemque ipsi iuri civili Magdeburgensi et iurisdictioni dictorum Praeconsulis et Consulum Civitatis Leopoliensis modernorum et pro tempore existentium, perpetuo annectimus, ascribimus et incorporamus. Eximentes et liberantes praedictos Praeconsulem ac Consules, atque incolas earundem Villarum Zubrza et Siechow ab omni iurisdictione et superioritate omnium et singulorum Regni nostri Palatinorum, Castellanorum, Capitaneorum, Iudicum et Subiudicum ac aliorum quorumvis Officialium Terrestrium et Castrensium Ministerialium eorundem, et a citationibus ac Iudiciis Terrestribus et Castrensibus, ut deinceps non coram illis, sed coram ipso Praeconsule, Consulibus Leopoliensibus modernis et pro tempore existentibus, pro quibuscunque, ut causis sive magnis seu parvis, ita excessibus quantumcunque gravibus et enormibus, respondere teneantur. Insuper, praedictos Praeconsulem et Consules Leopolienses modernos et pro tempore existentes, eximimus et liberos atque absolutos facimus, harum serie literarum, ratione praedictarum Villarum Zubrza et Siechow, ab omni expeditione bellica generali et particulari, a contributionibus publicis, pro nostra et Reipublicae necessitate institutis et instituendis, et ab omni alia servitute et oneribus Terrestribus, ad quae alii bonorum Terrestrium possessores, de Iure et Consuetudine Regni nostri, ratione huiusmodi bonorum, obeunda sunt astricti. Ita, quod deinceps eadem villa, seu bona Zubrza et Siechow, non Terrestria, sed mere civilia esse censeantur, ac ea libertate et immunitate potiantur, gaudeant et fruantur, qua alia bona praenominata civitatis nostrae Leopoliensis potiuntur et gaudent. Ex illisve nullum amplius bellum feriatur, sed duntaxat exactio caulis vulgo Schos mincupata, quotiescunque illam pro necessitate Reipublicae institui contigerit, simul cum eadem Civitate Leopoliensi pendatur, perpetuis temporibus in aevum. In cuius rei fidem, sigillum nostrum praesentibus est appensum. Actum et Datum in Conventu Regni generali Petricoviensi, die tertia mensis Martii Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Sexagesimo Quinto, Regni vero nostri Trigesimo sexto. Praesentibus: Reverendissimo, Reverendis, Magnificis et Generosis: Iacobo Uchański Archiepiscopo Gnesnensi Legato Nato et Regni nostri Primate, Philippo Padniewski Cracoviensi, Nicolao Wolski Cuiaviensi ac Pomeraniae, Adamo Konarski Posnaniensi, Alberto Starosczelski Chelmensi, Dionysio Seczygniowsky Camenecensi Episcopis; Szithkone Iordan de Zakliczin Cracoviensi, ac Premisliensi Capitaneo, Stanislao a Tarnow Sandomiriensi, ac Sandomiriensi Praefecto, Nicolao Sokolowski de Wrząca Lanciciensi, Ioanne de Sluschewo Brestensi, et Coninensi Praefecto, Ioanne de Krotoszyn Iunivladislaviensi, Ioanne de Dambrowicza Lublinensi et Regni nostri Marsalco ac Robatczensi, Casimiriensi, Arnoldo Uchański Plocensi, Andrea Sieprski de Goleszino Rawensi ac Plocensi Palatinis et Capitaneis; Petro Zborowski Posnaniensi, Balthesare Stanislao Myszkowski Sandomiriensi ac Cracoviensi Capitaneis; Georgio Konarski Calisiensi, Ioanne Thomeski Gnesnensi, Ioanne Luthomirski Siradiensi ac Radomiensi Lanciciensi, Floriano Zebrzydowski Lublinensi, ac Sandecensi, Thyburtio Nicolao Iaslowieczki Camenecensi Nowogrodensi, Stanislao Wolski Ravensi ac Curiae nostrae Mareschalco Krzepicensi, Stanislao Sobek a Suleyow Sandecensi, ac Regni nostri Thesaurario, Ioanne Szyrakowski Landensi Curiae nostrae Referendario ac Przedecensi, Ioanne Tartho Malogostensi ac Pilsnensi, Stanislao Spławski Krzywinensi, Paulo Szczawinski Sochaczoviensi Castellanis et Capitaneis; Valentino Dambinski Regni Poloniae Cancellario ac Lubomliensi Capitaneo, Petro Myszkowski Regni eiusdem nostri Vicecancellario, ac Decano Cracoviensi, Gnesnensi, Plocensi, Lanciciensi, Varsaviensi Praeposito, Stanislao Karnkowsky Curiae nostrae Referendario, Cantore Gnesnensi et Scholastico Lanciciensi, Sliborio Kryykowski Canonico Cracoviensi Secretariis nostris, et aliis quamplurimis Secretariis et Aulicis nostris circa praemissa testibus. [Po prawej u dołu:] Ad relationem Magnifici Valentini Dambinski a Dambiany Regni Poloniae Cancellarii et Capitanei Lubomliensis. [Po lewej u dołu podpisy kancelaryjne:] Stanislaus Dambieski [Pieczęć:] [Pieczęć wielka koronna Zygmunta Augusta z czerwonego wosku w misce z wosku naturalnego, zawieszona na jedwabnym, wielobarwnym sznurze] [Verso:] Privilegium novae incorporationis bonorum Zubrza et Siechow civitati Leopoliensi. 1565. Privilegium novae incorporationis villarum Zubrza et Sziechow. De anno Domini 1565. Sigismundus Augustus 1565. 3 Martii. N 501. [oraz inne dawne sygnatury i znaki kancelaryjne: Kk 48, 501, orzełek - pieczątka archiwalna].