Privilege of King Stephen Báthory confirming the statute of the guild of turners and comb-makers of the city of Lwów

STEPHEN BY THE GRACE OF GOD King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Kiev, Volhynia, Podlachia, Livonia etc., Prince of Transylvania. We hereby announce by this our letter to all and each one whom it may concern, that there have been submitted to us by certain of our advisors on behalf of our Lwów burghers and the brotherhood of the craftsmen turners and comb-makers, masters, burghers and our Lwów subjects, the laws or customs formerly maintained and observed among them. And a request was brought to us that we should approve, confirm, renew and unite these same articles and customs in all their clauses, articles and conditions, both in part and in whole. The tenor of these articles follows word for word and is as follows: First of all: everyone who wishes to join this united guild must first accept the municipal law and prove legitimate birth from virtues [...], as well as prove and demonstrate his proficiency and the work of his own hands through tests called masterpieces. If he is a turner, then he must make one vial in which rainwater can be stored and kept separately without any mixing [...], and then a work [...] called a lamp made of turned wood, or Sedlharzija, shaped in the manner of a box, as well as one vessel or goblet in the likeness of a chalice subjected to evaluation as a test. When the turner completes these tests, he shall show them to the masters of this craft, and if they deem them proven, only then is he to be accepted as a master. In the second year after arriving in the city, he shall be obliged to prepare a feast for the brothers, paying half a florin into the box, until he fully masters the craft. If, however, that craftsman fails in his work during this time, he may be accepted into the guild and brotherhood, provided that due to the unfinished [...] of his craft, he pays one florin [...] to the fraternal community. If he is a comb-maker, he must first choose to make a clear and transparent priest's lantern from walnut and horn and make a comb from only one piece of horn with three divisions. Namely, the lantern in that comb should have dense teeth, and the third row small teeth [...]. Finally, he shall also make a comb from horn with teeth of various shapes, so crafted that all the teeth of this comb wrap around a finger and return to their place by themselves, that is, they spring back. When he completes or does not complete these tests, it shall be proceeded as defined above for the turners. After the announcement of each one's test, both turners and comb-makers should and are obliged to be counted among the masters. And each one shall solemnly give bread for one grosz. When a new master accepts the guild and brotherhood, then above all he shall pay into the guild half a florin of the entry fee along with one bezman of wax and a feast [...] a banquet for the brothers, and finally, a settled master shall pay five florins into the box; if he could not possess them at that time, certain reasonable terms shall be set for him in which he will be able to pay off such an amount successively. It is different for the sons of burghers and companions who marry the daughters of masters. All of them [...] will be obliged to contribute and pay freely from this and no more. Only Catholics of the Roman Church are to be elected as senior masters of this guild: one turner and the other a comb-maker. If they were not available in both of these crafts, then from one and the same craft, namely from the turners or comb-makers. These senior masters should summon other masters to a guild meeting every week and send the guild [sign] according to the custom prevailing among them; and if someone rejects or refuses [to accept the sign] from the nearest master, he shall pay a fine of one grosz. And if any of the masters of both crafts, out of necessity, without a just cause, does not arrive at the guild at the proper time or does not excuse himself before the senior masters, then he shall be punished with a fine of one [...]. The senior masters, having taken to their table four masters – two of the Roman rite and two of the Greek rite – should manage the guild according to custom [...], announce and conduct the guild meeting [...]; they shall gather and light one quarter of the aforementioned candle; as long as it burns, if any of the masters does not arrive out of negligence, he shall pay a fine of half a grosz. If, however, a senior master or any of the masters sitting at the table, having been summoned and [...], does not arrive while the candle is burning, then he shall be obliged to pay the amount under a penalty of one grosz. And when the senior masters themselves are summoned here [...], those having needs in the guild are obliged to contribute half to the box. Regarding excluded masters who are not obliged to such a session by order. If any of the senior masters or those sitting around the table in a place not their own [...] burdens under the announced guild, such one shall be punished with a fine of one grosz [...]. Next, if any of them under the announced guild were to throw dishonest, insulting and hurtful words and insulted the guild, then he shall be obliged to give one pound of wax as a penalty to the brotherhood. If any of the masters were to recognize another outside of office as guilty and wished to maliciously scold or correct him verbally, then becoming guilty himself, he shall be obliged to deposit [...] of wax to the guild. Also, one master should not poach a journeyman or anyone else from another master under a penalty of one bezman of wax. An apprentice who wishes to learn one of the aforementioned crafts, accepted by his master, should first give the brotherhood half [...] of wax and a half-quarter of beer; a newcomer, being a legitimate son, a Lithuanian, shall be obliged to learn turning or comb-making for three years continuously. An apprentice who offends against his [...] shall have his master pay two marks of money or, according to how he agreed with his master, he shall be released from the craft. And when the apprentice fully learns the craft and satisfies the craft according to custom, then that master should [...] beyond the payment for his hands or remuneration, designate and give him a Wrocław gown, a cap, a shirt and [...] or shoes; and he himself shall be obliged to work for his master after his liberation for pay for half a year, and then, where [...] he wishes, it shall remain at his will and discretion. All Catholic and Ruthenian masters shall be obliged to take part in the feast of the Most Holy Body of Christ armed and with honor, according to the custom of other guilds, under a penalty of one hundred shillings. And if any of the masters and companions of that guild during the banquet customarily held for this feast of Corpus Christi not only by deed but also by improper words disturbs the peace and causes scandal or a quarrel, such one shall be obliged to pay for the entire banquet all by himself. Nevertheless, no guild member should or will be able to work in these crafts here in our city of Lwów if he is not previously accepted into the brotherhood, under a penalty of two [...] and then [...] more than two. For the master of turners should work only wood [...] and no more than four pairs of bone at most, and one office shall light and extinguish these candles [...], which can be supplemented by another, so that on no office under the announced penalty. Also, no master, as expressed above, should accept journeymen or married men, unless of both rites, under a penalty of two [...]. Masters of Roman obedience for the funeral [...] of a master of that same religion, his wife, children or servants should arrive with candles and accompany his body [...], with light and similarly at funeral rites and weddings for the dead among you, under a penalty of one grosz. Masters of the Greek rite [...] shall similarly accompany their wives, children and deceased servants to their church, under a penalty of one grosz. Also, let the masters of the aforementioned craft accept and qualify other persons suitable for their craft, and let them treat and teach journeymen from boyhood [...] of the merchants of the city of Lwów, and then they may and have the right to promote them to mastership. And so that only through them elsewhere they could be recognized as suitable to practice the craft, no differently than if they were subject to any jurisdiction. Also, whoever among the brothers would disdain coming to the guild shall be obliged to pay one grosz. Similarly, it is given to those aforementioned masters by virtue of this privilege what belongs to their craft, to the inexperienced: the bungler, whom they commonly call a spy, and those who do not belong to the assembly of this city. Also, whoever among the masters of the turning, comb-making or rope-making craft keeps an apprentice and allows him to work, and this apprentice [...] of this craft [...], such one shall pay a fine of five marks [...]; or rather whoever would [...] work for a master who is called a bungler or a spoiler, each time, after this is revealed, he shall deposit up to five marks to the guild. Furthermore, for two full weeks he is to soak and [...]; if, however, anyone dared to [...] make arrangements with them, bring from elsewhere or sell, under penalty of confiscation of goods, half of which shall fall to the office, and the other half to the one pursuing. Similarly, a master, if he accepts some apprentice for training, shall first report it to the knowledge of the brotherhood [...] within two weeks, and if he keeps him beyond this time, such one shall deposit two pounds of wax to the guild. Similarly, if some apprentice after completing the aforementioned craft [...] in our city of Lwów [...] to the box of comb-makers, comb-making, as well as [...] shall be obliged to the guild. Also, so that no master keeps the guild [sign] with him, but returns it [...]; when it is proven, [he shall pay] half a grosz to that box [...]. Such order should be maintained among the masters: when someone undertakes work for someone up to the amount of fifteen florins, he should complete it. If, however, beyond this sum written above he dares and from the craft [...] nor that work [...] damage, which from any [...], from then on he shall be subject to a double penalty in cloth. WE THEREFORE, STEPHEN, King, having considered [...] the privileges, laws, liberties, immunities belonging to our royal coronation [...] by our [...] through [...], together with those subjects of the guilds of turners, comb-makers [...] asking us through our advisors, most humbly asked for a special confirmation [...] of that same guild or brotherhood described above in the [...] points, clauses, articles, conditions, sentences in whole and in part approved, confirmed, strengthened, unanimously ratified [...] decreeing that the provisions contained therein should obtain the force of due and legal durability. In testimony of which we have signed this letter with our own hand and ordered it to be affixed with the seal of our Kingdom. Given in Lwów, on the first day of the month of July in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, and in the third year of our reign. [Note, on the left:] Stephen King, signed [Seal: on a silk cord, the preserved royal seal of Stephen Báthory in a wax bowl] [Verso:] [19th/20th-century paper label with a blue border:] Ch. 812 / D. II 132 [Pencil note in the bottom right corner:] from the Museum pr... [illegible] [Round ink stamp in the upper part of the verso: archive / library seal]

STEPHANVS DEI GRATIA Rex Poloniae, magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Kiioviae, Volhyniae, Podlachiae, Livoniaeq[ue] etc. Princeps Transsylvaniae. Significamus praesentibus litteris nostris quorum interest vniversis et singulis. Reproductas esse nobis p[er] certos Consiliarios nostros nomine Ciuium n[ost]rorum Leopolien[sium] e[t] Fraternitatis Artificum Tornatorum et Pectinarii Magistrorum Ciuium et Subditorum nostrorum Leopoliensiu[m] leges siue consuetudines inter ipsos ab antiquo ten[u]tas et obseruatos. Supplicatu[m]q[ue] est nobis vt eosdem articulos et consuetudines in omnibus eoru[m] clausulis, articulis et conditionibus tam in parte quam in toto approbaremus, confirmaremus, innouaremus atq[ue] vniremus. Quorumquidem articuloru[m] tenor de verbo ad verbum sequitur et est talis. Imprimis. Omnis qui se in laepsiu[m?] Contubernium vnitatu[m] incorporare voluerit, primum debet Jus ciuile suscipere et sue legitime genitop[...] virtuosam ostendere, ac su[a]e peritiam et manu[u]m suaru[m] laborum per probas quas sthulci vocat docere et demonstrare. Si fuerit Tornator ex tunc debet laborare vnam phialam in qua vna pluuialis absq[ue] commixtione distinctim possit seruari et contineri fabrione [et] demum op[us?] baeccis cantari dictam Lampa cum producta ligea alias Sedlharzija ad modum pixidis redacta, et etia[m] facturam vnam sei eiffum ad instar crateris flatili laborari debet p[er] experimentu[m] relata. Quas probas dum ipse Tornator perfecerit, ipsas Magistris eiusdem artificij ostendet et si eas probatas esse iudicauerint, tunc demum pro Magistro suscipi debet. Altero vero anno postquam ad ciuitatem venerit conuiuiu[m] fratribus parare tenebitur p[er] solue[n]do ad pyxidem mediu[m] floren[um] donec plenarie artificium didicerit. Verum si circa laborem talis artifex medio tempore deficiat, poterit in contubernium et fraternitatem admitti dum prius ratione non perfe[...] artificij sui in communitatem fraternitatis ad sexiniu[m] flor[enum] vnum piecar reponet. Si ve[ro] fuerit pectinarius eleget primum laternam sacerdotealem nuceam ex cornu Lucidam et perspicuitam elaborare ac de solo vno cornu pecten facere cum tribus distinct[ionibus?]. Itaq[ue] Lucerna in ipso pectine debet esse cum strictis dentibus, tertius vero ordo cu[m] denticulis varicibus. Deniq[ue] etiam faciet pectende cornu cum dentibus varieformatis taliter elaboratam, vtpote omnes illius pectinis denticuli circum digitum obducentur, et rursus ad locum proprium per se reuertant seu reluctentur. Vbi talis ipsas probas perfecerit vel non perfecerit prout cura Tornatoribus supra expressu[m] est procedetur. Cuique omnium probatum publicationem tam Tornatores quam Pectinifices debent ac tenentur pro Magistris aggregari. Vnusquisque et asseueratum productus panis vero pro vno grossis dare. Cvm itaq[ue] Nouus Mag[iste]r contubernium et fraternitatem susceperit, tunc ante omnia medium florenu[m] introitalium contubernio reponet cum vno Bezmian cerae et conuiuiu[m] v[...] epula pro fratribus, et tandem fundatus ad cistellam flor[enos] quinq[ue] reponere quem si habere ptunc non potuerit, extunc sibi certe rationabiles constituere pro quibus succesiue poterit huiusmodi peccul[am?] persoluere. Secus fuerit de filiis ciuiu[m] et Socioru[m] qui Magistrorum filias sibi matrimonio copulabunt. Vniuersi me[m]bratim dati huius et non magis tenebuntur reponere et persoluere libere. Vterque ipsius contubernium Seniores Mag[ist]ri elegi solum Catholici de Romana Ecclesia vnus Tornator alter vero pectinista. Qui si in vtroq[ue] artificio non haberentur, ex tunc de vno eode[m]q[ue] artificio vt puta a Tornatoribus vel Pectinarijs. Quiquidem seniores Mag[ist]ri debent alios Mag[ist]ros ad contuberniu[m] conuocare de septimana conuocare, et signum pro consuetudine inter eos mittere quod si quis vnus ad alimnisib[us] proximiorem Mag[ist]rum elegerit vel abnegauerit reportabit sub pena vnius gr[ossi]. Et si quis Magistroru[m] vtriusq[ue] artificij ex necessitate absq[ue] legitima causa ad contubernium opportune non venerit vel se a pud [...] miores Mag[ist]ros non excusauerit, ex tunc propera vnius [...] con[te]mnetur. Seniores Mag[ist]ri adiunctis sibi ad mensam suam quatuor Magistros duos Romanos et alios duobus Ritus Graeci debet vti consuetudinem aberri contu[berniu]m. berniorum Contuberniu[m] bannire et componere a nullo [...] conuenient et vnum quartale dicte candele attendet qua latente si quis Mag[ist]roru[m] non venerit negligenter penam medij grossi componat. Vbi vero Magister senior, vel aliquis Magistrorum comefalium qui colens et [...] non venerit donec ipsa candela arserit ex tunc tenebitur propter p[enam] vnius grossi num[er]o reponere. Et dum iam ipsi [...] seniores Mag[ist]ros huc conuocati fuerit includuus sephinams in contubernio necessitatem habentia tenentur per medientem ad cistellam componere. De expulsis Magistris qui ad sessionem talem p[rae]cept[ione] non tenentur. Si vero aliquis Magistrorum Seniorum vel circa mensam sedencium non locato lom eius [... et] fatus aggrauauerit sub bannito contubernio talis pro pena vnius gr[ossi] et demyebitur et junior solutura. Posthaec autem si quis eorundem sub bannito contubernio verba inhonesta conuicialia et iniuriosa p[ro]ferret et contubernium inhonestum p[ro]pugnaret, ex tunc vna libra cera pro pena fraternitatis dari tenebitur. Quod alter[uter?] si quis Magistrorum quem extra Magistratum vti culpatabilem cognoscat et illum ore demerito pensare aut corrigere vellet, tunc vero reus debet existere p[er] tot talis p[ro]prius [...] cerae ad contubernium tenebitur reponere. Non debet etiam vnus Mag[iste]r alteri Mag[ist]ro famulum vel alium adducere sub pena vnius Bezmian cerae. Discipulus qui alterius artificij eorum p[ro]fatorum informari voluerit tunc per Mag[ist]rum suum suscipi ex tunc inprimis mediam [...] niam cerae fraternitati et Scapellam ceruisiae dare debet, aduena vero et non nisi legitimus filius Lithuanus et talis per tres annos continue sit tornatilis vel pectinariu[m] informari tenebitur. Qui vero discipulus pro[...] suo peceat ordinatur. Ex tunc Magister eius duas Marcas pecc[uni]ae profluet vel prout cu[m] Magistro suo condixerat se priuatus vi artificio eliberari. Et dum discipulus artificium plenarie didicerit et artificio iux[ta] consuetudinem satisfecerit, extunc ille Mag[iste]r ipsius [...] vltra manus suae preciu[m] aut mercedis constituere debet dareq[ue] sibi tunicam Wratislauien[sem] mitram camisia et [...] coru[m] sub suciuom aut sotulares et ipse tenebitur apud suum Magistrum post elaborationem pro scio mediu[m] annum laborare et tandem vbi [...] se voluerit stabit in eius arbitrio et voluntate. Tenebuntur posthaec omnes Mag[ist]ri catholici et Rutheni officium ipso festo Sacratissimi corporis Christi interesse armati et honorifice actum de iux[ta] consuetudinem aliorum contuberniorum sub pena centu[m] solidorum. Et si quis Magistrorum et Consodalium eiusdem contubernij tempore collationis pro eodem festo corporis Christi peragi solite aliquam non solum verum etiam verbi inhonesstis interturbauerit et ad molestum vel litigiosum concitauerit, talis tenebitur ipsam collationem per se solus persoluere. Nilominus autem contubernialiu[m] Nullus eciam debet vel poterit in artificia hic laborare in ciuitate nostra Leopoliensi nisi prius fuerit receptus in fraternitatem habuerit sub pena duorum ce[...] et tunc [...] vltra duorum. Debet namq[ue] Magi[ste]r Tornatorum tantum laborare lignea [...] et non amplius nisi ex ossibus tantummodo quatuor paria et vna officia illas candelas succedet et extinguet illas [...] designare quod tu ipsi poterit per aliu[m] suplere ne quo officio nestem mediante pena bannitu[m]. Nullusque eciam Mag[iste]r postquam superius expressu[m] est debet alios recipere famulos vel coniugales nisi ritu vtriusque non copula sub pena duorum Mag[ist]ri Romane obedientia ad sepulturam [...] per Mag[ist]ri eiusdem religionis vxoris liberoru[m] seu familiae debet cum candelis venire et funus illius militare. Hac vsq[ue] cum lucere et similiter circa obsequia funebria et nuptias pro defunctis inter vos sub pena vnius grossi. Mag[ist]ri vero ritus Graeci p[er] [...] vos conuentire vxores liberos et familiam mortuos similiter ad Ecclesiam suam conducet sub pena vnius grossi. Eciam Mag[ist]ri p[rae]dicti artificij alias personas idoneos ad eoru[m] Artificiu[m] assumant et recipiant et tracte ac doceat socios puericiae cauare coquouit[...] mercatorum Ciuitat[is] Leopolien[sis] ac deinde ad Magistratu[m] promouere valeat et possit. Vtq[ue] solis p[er] eorum alibi pro idoneis admissi artem exercere possint non secus ac si eracuique dition[is] fuerint. Item quicumq[ue] frater ad contuberniu[m] venire co[n]temp[...] vol[ue]rit de per modum grossu[m] soluere tenebitur. Item traditio eisdem Magistris supradictis vigore huius Privilegij quod ad artificiu[m] ipsorum pertinet imperito: Plagio cuius vulgo tulam vltra [...] brege vocantur, et illorum qui sunt impediti ex Ciuitatis e[...] collegio. Item quicu[n]q[ue] Mag[iste]r artis Tornare, Pectinarij aut etia[m] Funarij discipulu[m] apud se detinuerit laborare permiserit, ille vero discipulus cognomini artificiu[m] illius vadato [...] bis p[er]emptaliu[m] Carnerij talis fiat penam quinq[ue] Marcaru[m] [...] vel potius quicunq[ue] apud vel oderit Mag[ist]rum qui partae; siue stulay dicitur laborauerit, omni tempore p[er]miss[is] expositis contubernio reponet vsq[ue] quinq[ue] Marcas. Nec no[n] per duas integras septimanas macerare et duxeri debet, si vero quispiam nemo audeat [...] cu[m] eis conueniat alimade aduehere aut vendere sub priuone Mercimonioru[m] Ciuius medietas officij illi, altera vero parti conquirenti. Item Mag[iste]r si susceperit aliquem discipulu[m] ad informandum prius ad noticiam fraternitatis [...] duabus septimanis quod si supra id tempus eum detinuerit talis duas libras Cerae contubernio reponet. Ita eciam si aliquis discipulus exspirato artificio supra nominat[o] ad [...] [...] ciuitate nostra Leopoliensi franconio p[ro] [...] caritate retinere cistellis i[...] contubernio cistellam Pectinariorum, Pectinariae ac etia[m] [...] [...] poena Contuberniu[m] portire tenebitur. Item vt nullus Magi[ste]r signu[m] ad eundem detineat sed reponat [...] vnius venditionis ad edicarent et comprobatus fuerit mediu[m] grossu[m] huiusmodi cistella [...] ordo debet mode obseruari inter Mag[ist]ros [...] d[...] a laborem ab aliquo pro summa quindecim florenorum eum debet perficere. Si vero sup[ra] illam summan sup[ra]scriptam tentaueritque ex arte Magne nunciauit ac illi nec labo[rem?] [...] damnum q[uod?] ex aliqua [...] vellet deinceps dupla panni pena. NOS itaq[ue] STEPHANVS Rex, prouidere [...] Coronationem n[ost]ram Regiam deu[ota?] Privilegia Jura libertates immu[nitates] [...] nostris per [...] vna cum iisdem Subditisq[ue] artis Contubernioru[m] vsq[ue] Tornatoru[m], Pectinariorum [...] a nobis petentes Consiliarios n[ost]ros humilime petier[un]t speciali con[firmatione?] [...] eorundem Contubernij seu fraternitatis superius descript[os] in [...] momentis punctis clausulis Articulis Condicionibus Sententijs in toto et in parte approbari, Confirmari, Corroborari, vnan[imiter] ratificari, [...] fuisse decernentes a commina in eis contenta robur debitae ac legitimae firmitat[is] obtinere debere. Haru[m] quas manu nostra subscripsimus et Sigillo Regni n[ost]ri muniri mandauimus testimonio litterarum. Datum Leopoli die Prima Mensis Julii Anno Domini Millesimo quingentesimo Septuagesimo octavo Regni vero n[ost]ri Anno Tertio. [Plika, po lewej:] Stephanus Rex s[ubscripsit] [Pieczęć: na sznurze jedwabnym zachowana pieczęć koronna Stefana Batorego w woskowej misce] [Verso:] [XIX/XX-wieczna nalepka papierowa z niebieską ramką:] Ch. 812 / D. II 132 [Zapiska ołówkiem w prawym dolnym rogu:] z Muzeum pr... [nieczytelne] [Okrągła pieczątka tuszowa w górnej części verso: pieczęć archiwum / biblioteki]