Transumpt of King Stephen Báthory regarding the dispute between the commoners and the magistrate of Lwów

STEPHEN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF POLAND, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia etc., and also PRINCE of Transylvania. We hereby announce to all and each one whom it may concern that there has been presented to us by the envoys of the illustrious mayor and councilors of our city of Lwów a document of our edict written on paper, strengthened with our greater seal and signed by our hand. And that it was petitioned to us by the same councilors of the aforementioned city that we order the above-mentioned document of our edict to be transcribed on parchment and issued under our seal in the form of a vidimus. The content of which document follows in this manner: STEPHEN by the grace of God KING of Poland, Grand DUKE of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia etc., Prince of Transylvania. To all and each of the inhabitants of our city of Lwów, namely the mayor, councilors, reeve, jurors, guild elders and the entire commonalty, our faithful dear ones, our royal grace. Faithful dear ones! News reaches us that certain factions and disagreements are arising among you, so much so that some of you have already gone so far as to accuse their magistrate of oppression and improper exercise of office, having submitted a petition to us at the recently concluded Sejm in Toruń. Which indeed we heard not without displeasure. For since the prosperity of all commonwealths and cities depends above all on the harmony of the citizens, and this is only preserved if magistrates justly lead their subordinates, and on the other hand they show due respect to the magistrate and follow his authority in all things, therefore it cannot be without the greatest harm where there is sin on either side – that is, if either the magistrate departs from his duty, or those who should obey want to command and lead and insolently criticize the actions of the magistrate. Therefore, since it is our duty to guard the harmony in all estates, and especially to preserve and maintain discipline in our cities, we have decided that we must thoroughly investigate the state of this matter, so that the neglected spark of discord and strife does not ignite some greater fire, and that city, situated on enemy borders, weakened by the hatreds and cliques of citizens, does not fall into danger. Therefore, in accordance with our benevolence, when some of the commoners in the petition mentioned above, submitted to us in Toruń, asked us to appoint commissioners before whom they could summon the magistrate and accuse him, we used a milder measure and issued a letter with our order to the noble Mikołaj Herbort, the starosta of that place, to investigate and inquire whether this request was the will of all citizens or only some. But since nothing was achieved in this way, and indeed the city flared up even more with the zeal of factions and dispute – for when the deputy starosta arrived in place of the starosta by virtue of the commission letter, some indeed shouted with discordant voices that [the commission] was necessary, while others firmly denied it – we decided that we must resort to other means. For we believe that we should not use commissions in this matter, and furthermore: we invalidate, cancel, and repeal all of them, if any have issued from our chancellery. And we order all our subjects of any estate that no one dare to undertake and exercise judgment in this matter, even if our letters ever issued or to be issued were to order it, but we want this matter to belong exclusively to our court and cognizance, and therefore we want this our edict to be publicly announced in that city and brought to everyone's attention. In this our edict, we order the city magistrate, that is, the mayors and councilors, the reeve and jurors, to appear before our court and royal tribunal on the sixth day of the month of May next following, wherever our court may be staying at that time, and this through those appointed from among themselves, and in this way justify themselves before us against all those complaining against them and account for the exercise of their office if they are accused. As for those who would like to accuse the magistrate, we set the same deadline and order that those who have decided to sue the magistrate appear ready and prepared, preparing themselves in such a way that it could be recognized that they did not slander out of hatred, but accused the magistrate for legal reasons and in earnest. And so that everyone can better present their arguments, we order those who have a case against the magistrate to write down all and individual grievances, both public and private, supported by all evidence, testimonies, entries, and other legal means, to be explained and proven before us, and to hand them over for delivery to us by the plenipotentiaries appointed from among themselves, so that we may know how we can pass judgment and decide on each [issue]; in which they should not be hindered by the magistrate, nor should they be denied access to public records. Also, let the city magistrate defend all and individual matters by which it feels oppressed by the commoners, and the entire content of its privileges and prerogatives, as well as other documents, whether in defense of its case or to demonstrate its innocence, and also to prove the audacity and insolence of some [persons], if such are found, extracted from public books and account registers, and let it bring these [evidences] with it for the above-appointed deadline through its plenipotentiaries, so that both sides present their case without leaving room for doubts or evasions. Meanwhile, until this matter is examined, we order that everyone live in harmony, the magistrate remain in its authority and in its place, not disturb the people in matters currently in dispute, and do them no harm or prejudice, and let the people also treat the magistrate with respect, behave within the limits of their duties, and change nothing during the duration of this our edict, but let both sides refrain from all disputes and quarrels regarding these differences of opinion. We establish for all this, and also for the safety and peace of everyone, both public and private, if anyone should dare to undertake anything against anyone, a bail in the amount of fifteen thousand ducats in gold, half of which is to go to our treasury, and the other half to the injured party. Let no inhabitant of that city subject to this jurisdiction [?] know that a penalty has been announced, under the pretext of the right to hold the magistrate's authority accountable, dare to evade obedience and the jurisdiction of the same or resort to any other outside their jurisdiction, and also let them not conduct this matter with the magistrate anywhere else but before our tribunal – under penalty of fifteen thousand ducats. And let them know that those who would act otherwise, we will want to punish as disturbers of the peace and public tranquility. In witness of all of which we have signed this [document] with our own hand. Given in Bydgoszcz, on the twentieth day of the month of February, in the Year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-seventh, and the first year of our reign. Stephen King, signed. We, therefore, the aforementioned King, graciously acceding to the above-mentioned petition of our Lwów burghers as just, have ordered the above-written document to be issued in the form of a vidimus, and we certify that it itself and its entire content reads word for word as it has been written here, and we want it to be believed no differently than the original. In witness and more obvious testimony of which, our seal has been attached to this. Given in Malbork, on the twenty-ninth day of the month of May, in the Year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-seventh, and the second year of our reign. [Chancellery note on the right:] Relation of the venerable Piotr Dunin Wolski, nominee Bishop of Płock and Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland. [Signature on the left:] Piotr [...] notary [?] [Seal:] [Great Crown Seal of Stephen Báthory in a wax bowl on silk cords, with the White Eagle coat of arms in the center and regional coats of arms in the border] [Verso:] [Hand of 17th/18th c.:] Letter of edict or summons, by which the dispute [...] between the commoners and the magistrate [...] was abolished by commissions [...]; [other archival signatures:] L.us 218; Fasc. 5; Nro 15; V.

STEPHANVS DEI gratia REX POLONIAE, Magnus DVX Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masouiae, Samogitiae etc. necnon PRINCEPS Transylvaniae. Significamus hisce literis nostris quorum interest vniuersis et singulis. Reproductas esse coram nobis per Nuncios Famatorum Proconsulis et Consulum Ciuitatis nostrae Leopoliensis, literas edicti nostri in papyro scriptas, sigillo nostro maiori communitas, et manu nostra subscriptas. Supplicatumq[ue] nobis esse per eosdem Consules ciuitatis praedictae, vt praenominatas edicti nostri literas in pergameno describere, et sub sigillo nostro in forma vidimus extradere iuberemus. Quorum quidem literarum tenor sequitur eiusmodi. STEPHANVS Dei gratia REX Poloniae, Magnus DVX Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masouiae, Samogitiae, etc. Princeps Transyluaniae. Omnibus et vniuersum ciuitatis nostrae Leopolien[sis] incolis, Proconsuli videlicet Consulibus, Aduocato, Scabinis, Contuberniorum senioribus, totiq[ue] communitati, fidelibus nobis dilectis gratiam nostram Regiam. Fideles nob[is] dilecti. Perfertur ad nos, exoriri factiones et dissensiones quasdam inter vos, adeò, vt nonnulli vestrum eo progressi iam sunt, vt Magistratum suum oppressionis ac non recte administrati officij, exhibito supplico ad nos libello in proxime praeteritis Torunensibus Comitijs accusarint. Quod equidem non sine molestia audiuimus. Etenim cum omnium rerum publicarum atq[ue] ciuitatum foelicitas potissimùm in Ciuium concordia consistat, ea vero ita demum retineatur, si Magistratus recte praesint inferioribus: Contra vero illi debitam reuerentiam Magistratui exhibeant, atq[ue] eius in omnibus authoritatem sequantur, ne pot[est] non fine incommodo maximo esse, vbi quid in alterutra partem peccetur, hoc est si vel Magistratus ab officio discedat, vel si qui parere debent, imperare et praeesse ac M[a]g[ist]ratus acta temere improbare velint. Quare cum n[ost]ri sit muneris, ordini omnium concordiam tueri, maximè vero disciplinam in ciuitatibus n[ost]ris conseruare et retinere: Propterea serio negocy istius statum inspiciendum nobis esse decreuimus, ne scilicet neglecta haec dissensionum et factionum scintilla maius aliquod excitetur incendium. Ciuitasq[ue] illa in hostium finibus posita, odijs et factionibus Ciuium labefactata periculi adeat. Quod itaq[ue] clementiae n[ost]rae fuit, cum ex plebe aliquot in libello supplici, cuius ante mentionem fecimus, nobis Torunia exhibito, peterent a nobis designari Commissarios, coram quibus illi Magistratum conuenirent et accusarent. Nos leniori vsi fimus remedio dedimusq[ue] l[ite]ras ma[n]dati n[ost]ri ad G[e]n[er]osum Nicolaum Herbort loci illius Capitaneum, vt is inquireret ac percunctaretur, an petitio haec omnium esset Ciuium vel nonnulloru[m]. At vero cum ne ita quidem profectum quicqua[m] sit, imo Ciuitas studio partium contentionisq[ue] magis accensa, alij equidem dum in locu[m] Capitanei Vicecapitaneus per commissoriae hac venisset, necessaria esse dissonis vocibus acclamarint: aly vero constanter pernegarint, ad alia nobis consilia descendendum putauimus. Existimamus autem hac in causa non vtendu[m] nobis esse commissionibus, imo omnes, si quae ex Cancellaria n[ost]ra emanarint, antiquamus, abrogamus et cassamus: Mandamusq[ue] omnibus, cuiuscunq[ue] conditionis subditis nostris, ne causae huius iudiciu[m] quisquam sumere et exercere audeat, quamuis id literis n[ost]ris aliquando fortè emanatis vel emanandis facere iuberetur, sed volumus negociu[m] hoc ad n[ost]rum peculiariter pertinere iudiciu[m] et cognitionem, atq[ue] ob id edictum hoc n[ost]rum publicè in ciuitate illa proponi, et ad omnium noticiam deduci volumus. Quo quidem edicto n[ost]ro Magistratui ciuili, vt pote Proconsulibus Consulibusq[ue] Aduocato et Scabinis mandamus, vt se se ad iudiciu[m] et tribunal n[ost]rum Regium pro die Sexta Mensis Maij proximi sequenti, vbicunq[ue] tum Cu[ria] n[ost]ra constitut[a] fuerit, sistant, idq[ue] per aliquos è medio sui atq[ue] ita omnibus de se conquerentibus coram nobis se se iustificent, rationemq[ue] adm[inist]rati officij, si forte inculpati fuerint, reddant. His vero qui Magistratum accusare velint, illum eundem terminum praefigimus, mandamusq[ue], vt quibus constitutum sit Magistratum conuenire, parati et instructi adsint, atq[ue] ita sese comparent, vt non ex odio diffamasse, sed ex legitimis causis atq[ue] serio accusasse Magistratum iudicari possint. Iam vero vt causas suas quisq[ue] melius proponere valeat, mandamus illis, qui contra Magistratum causam habent, vt omnia et singula grauamina tam publica quàm priuata quibusuis documentis, testimonijs, inscriptionibus et alijs iuris remedijs coram nobis liquidanda et enucleanda describant, eaq[ue] plenipotenti[bus] aliquot ex numero sui assi[g]natis ad nos perferenda dent, vt sciamus, quomodo de singulis iudiciu[m] instituere ac decernere possimus, in quo à M[a]g[ist]ratu impediri non debent, neq[ue] illis aditus ad publica acta prohibeatur. Magistratus etia[m] ciuiles omnes et singulas res, quibus se grauatu[m] à populo sentit, contentaq[ue] omnia priuilegioru[m] et praerogatiuaru[m] suaru[m], tum et alia, siue ad defendendam suam causa[m], siue ad declaranda[m] innocentia[m] sua[m] adeo ad demonstrandam aliquoru[m], si fortè tales fuerint, temeritatem et insolentia[m], docum[en]ta etia[m] allatis ex ijs publicis et rege[st]ris rationu[m] defensat, et ijsdem pro termino superius assignato secu[m] per plenipotentes suos adferat, ac vtraq[ue] partes causam sua[m] ita proferant, vt locus dubitationi aut tergiuersationi nullus relinquatur. Interim autè[m] donec de causa hac cognoscatur, praecipimus, vt o[mn]es concordes viuant, M[a]g[ist]ratus in loco suo authoritate permaneat, populu[m] in causis, de quibus ad p[rae]se[n]s controuertitur, no[n] exagitet, nullaq[ue] ipsis iniuria[m] aut praeiudiciu[m] no[m]i[n]e faciat, populus etiá[m] M[a]g[ist]ratum reuerenter habeat, intra metas off[ici]ij sui se co[n]tineat, nil pendente hoc edicto n[ost]ro innouet, sed vtriq[ue] ab o[mn]ibus controuersijs et contentionib[us] seorsu[m] huiusmo[d]i differentiaru[m] tantu[m] su[per]sedeat. Interponimus aute[m] pro his o[mn]ibus rebus, tu[m] etia[m] pro securitate et tra[n]quillitate cuiusq[ue], tam publice q[uam] priuatim, qui aliq[ui]d co[ntra] aliquos attentare p[re]su[m]pserint, vadiu[m] quindecim milliu[m] Ducatoru[m] in auro, fisco n[ost]ro medietate, altera v[er]o parti in offenso continenti succumbendu[m]. Nemo etia[m] incolaru[m] ciuitatis illius, quicunq[ue] sunt iurisdictio[n]i eauli[?] subiecti, cum sciant p[ro]posita[m] sibi esse poenam iure co[n]ueniendi M[a]g[ist]ratus authoritat[em] ab obedientia et iurisdictio[n]e illius fu[n]gere sese aut alia quamcu[m]q[ue] praeter illoru[m] iurisdictionem sequi, negocio etia[m] hoc cu[m] M[a]g[ist]ratu ne alibi quam cora[m] n[ost]ro tribunali prosequatur: sub poena quindecim milliu[m] ducatoru[m]. Sciantq[ue] eos, qui secus fecerint, tanq[uam] pacis et tranquillitatis publicae turbatores punire nos velle. Atq[ue] in horu[m] o[mn]iu[m] fidem hasce manu n[ost]ra subscriptas. Datum Bydgostiae die vigesima mensis Februarij, Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Septuagesimo Septimo, Regni vero n[ost]ri anno primo. Stephanus Rex s[ubscripsit]. Nos itaq[ue] Rex memoratus supplicationi praefata[e] ciuium nostrorum Leopolien[sium] vti iustae benignè annuentes, literas superius descriptas in forma vidimus extradere iussimus, easdem et omnia earum contenta fuisse de verbo ad verbum habere, quemadmodum hic sunt descriptae testamur, et vt illis non secus ac originalibus fides habeatur volumus. In cuius rei fidem et euidentius testimonium sigillu[m] n[ost]rum praesentibus est appensum. Datum Mariemburgi die vigesima nona Mensis Maij Anno Domi[ni] Millesimo Quingentesimo Septuagesimo septimo, REGNI vero nostri Anno secundo. [Nota kancelaryjna po prawej:] Relatio R[eueren]di Petri Dunin Volski, Nominati Epi[scopi] Plocen[sis] et R[egni] P[oloniae] ViceCANCELL[arii] [Podpis z lewej:] Petrus [...] Not[arius?] [Pieczęć:] [Wielka pieczęć koronna Stefana Batorego w woskowej misce na jedwabnych sznurach, z herbem Orła Białego w centrum i herbami ziemskimi w otoku] [Verso:] [Ręką XVII/XVIII w.:] L[itte]rae Edicti seu Aduocationis, quibus sublata p[er] Commissiones [...] contentatio [...] inter communitatem et Magistratum [...]; [inne sygnatury archiwalne:] L.us 218; Fasc. 5; Nro 15; V.