Privilege of King John II Casimir for the Armenians of Lviv regarding free trade and the sale of alcoholic beverages

JOHN II CASIMIR by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, Smolensk, and Chernihiv, and also hereditary King of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals. We hereby announce by this Our letter to all and each one whom it may concern. In granting Our favors, We are always guided by the principle that just as Our goods and those of the Commonwealth, and in particular the cities which, as the foremost, are subject to royal rule and protection, constitute the ornament of peace and support and aid in time of war, so it is also a just thing to unite their inhabitants and fellow citizens, so that what flows from Our generosity to some does not make strangers of others who equal them in loyalty, subjection, and obedience. Since, therefore, the honorable Krzysztof Awedyk Bernatowicz, Krzysztof Iwaszko Liskowic, and Krzysztof Jan Bernatowicz have submitted a humble request to Us, on behalf of themselves and the entire nation of Lviv Armenians – who, having obtained the right of residence in this Our city of Lviv many years ago, have continuously maintained the most faithful submission and subjection to Our Predecessors, and recently during the siege of Lviv by rebellious Tatars and Cossacks gave testimony to this loyalty and steadfastness of mind toward Us and the Commonwealth, and there not only sacrificed their goods, estates, and properties, but also their dear children and their very lives for the salvation of the city along with other townspeople, and furthermore paid a large sum for ransom; and since in the current war turmoil, due to the domestic conflagration which the incited rebellion has plagued Our Kingdom until now, the aforementioned Lviv Armenians, through massacres, looting, and plunder, and other various hardships of travel to which they and their goods and property are exposed – and many of their number, as has come to Our attention, were not only robbed of their goods but also murdered – having lost profits, income, and property, have fallen into extreme misery and want; so that, just as they experience hardships and bear common burdens, they may draw benefits and income on equal terms with other Lviv townspeople, and not succumb to want and destruction, to the detriment and ruin of the Commonwealth. We, for this reason, graciously acceding to their request brought to Us, by Our royal grace, and also through the intercession of certain of Our advisors sitting by Our side, desiring to assist the aforementioned Armenians as Our subjects and to take care of their affairs, having above all in mind that their situation should not deteriorate and that they should enjoy equal freedom and immunities with other inhabitants of this Our city of Lviv – especially since We know that the distinguished Lviv magistrate has allowed merchants of various status to offer for sale and distribute all kinds of goods in houses and on the streets, such as Italians, Ruthenians, and above all Jews, who interfere in all trade to the greatest detriment of them and the entire city, on the public market [selling] all kinds of silk goods and gold brocades, as well as precious cloths, the supply and importation of which for public use and need the aforementioned Armenians were hitherto accustomed to handle alone; also apothecaries, contrary to ancient custom and law, now sell spices, which they were supposed to sell only crushed and in smaller quantities, at their pleasure by weight, whereby it seems that the aforementioned Armenians lack almost all means of livelihood. Therefore, We have deemed it just to graciously and kindly permit them and admit them to all kinds of trade, as We hereby permit and admit them by this Our letter: so that by the power of this Our letter, the same Lviv Armenians may and have the right to sell cloth by the bolt [tzrena] or by the ell, both on the public market and on their own streets, to open stalls and shops [iustinas], to brew all spirits in general, namely beer, mead, vodka [vinum adustum] in their homes, and also to sell by the barrel, pot [ola], and measure according to anyone's need, as well as to sell Cretan, Hungarian, and Moldavian wine by the same barrel, pot, and measure in need and upon demand in their own and rented cellars and houses, and furthermore to sell and distribute all other goods serving for public use and need. We wish that the aforementioned Armenians enjoy and without hindrance for all time use this opportunity and favor, granted to them graciously by Us for the uplifting of their livelihood, without any obstacles and difficulties on the part of anyone, and especially the Lviv magistrate, under penalty of losing Our royal grace. In testimony of which, We have ordered this document, signed by Our own hand, to be strengthened with the royal seal. Given in Warsaw, on the 14th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1651, the second year of Our reign in Poland, and the third in Sweden. John II Casimir, King [Chancery note on the right:] Wojciech Radliński, Secretary of His Royal Majesty, signed. [Side note:] Preservation of the ancient rights and liberties of the Lviv Armenians. [On the reverse:] Under the chancellorship of the most reverend father in Christ, Lord Andrzej of Leszno Leszczyński, Bishop of Chełmno and Pomesania, provost of the cathedral churches of Płock and the collegiate church of St. Michael at the Wawel Castle in Kraków, Crown Chancellor. Michał Luprewic, Secretary of His Royal Majesty. [Oblata note:] In [...] the nearest after the feast of St. Michael the Archangel in the year of our Lord 1654 in the office [...] submitted by the venerable [...] of the Armenians, registered... [Signatures and archival notes:] No. 45 No. 99 Litt. T / 1651.

IOANNES CASIMIRVS Dei gratia Rex Poloniæ, Magnus Dux Lithuaniæ, Rufsiæ, Prufsiæ, Masouiæ, Samogitiæ, Liuon[iæ], Smolen[scensis], Czernihouiæq[ue], necn[on] Suec[orum], Gott[orum], Vandal[orum]q[ue] hær[editarius] Rex. Significamus præsentibus l[itte]ris Nostris quorum interest uniuersis & singulis. In capessendo beneficioru[m] Nostroru[m] usu, eam Nos semper ducere rationem, ut quemadmodum bona Nostra & Reipublicæ, potissimùm verò Ciuitates quæ primariæ regimini, protectioniq[ue] subsunt Regiæ, pacis ornamenta, atq[ue] belli fulcra & subsidia existunt, ita Incolas et Conciues earundem æquum est coadunari, ut ab eo quod ex Nostra liberalitate in vnos deriuatur, alteros fide, subiectione & obsequio consimiles non reddamus alienos. Parè cum Nobis supplicatu[m] esset, p[e]r Famatos Christophorum Awedyk Bernatowic, Christophorum Iwaszko Liskowic & Christophorum Ioannem Bernatowic suo, et uniuersæ nationis Armenor[um] Leopolien[sium] nomine, qui a compluribus annis Incolatu in eadem Ciuitate Nostra Leopoliensi adepto, continuâ serie integerrimam fidem, et subiectionem Prædecessoribus Nostris seruauerunt, nuperrimè verò tempore obsidionis Leopoliens[is] per Tartaros et Kosacos rebelles, eandem fidem, et constantem animum Nobis & Reipublicæ testati sunt, ibidemq[ue] non tantum bona, fortunas, & facultates suas, verùm chara pignora, vitamq[ue] ipsam in victimam pro incolumitate Ciuitatis, vnà cum alijs Ciuibus consecrauêre, necnon magnam summam pro exoluendo lytro erogauêre, dumq[ue] hac temporum tempestate, ex incendio intestino, quo Regnum Nostrum suscitatâ rebellione hucusq[ue] exagitatur, memorati Armeni Leopolienfes, per cædes, prædas, et spolia, aliaq[ue] varia itineris incommoda, quibus cum mercibus rebusq[ue] suis sunt obnoxij, multiq[ue] prout Nobis innotuit ex collegio eoru[m], non tantum mercibus spoliati, verumetiam ipsi trucidati sunt, vnde commodis, emolumentis, et fortunis amissis, ad vltimam egestatem et inopiam redacti, vt quemadmodum sentiunt incommoda, communiaq[ue] sufferunt onera, pariter quoq[ue] cum alijs Ciuibus Leopolienfibus sentiant commoda et emolumenta, neuè inopia ac desolationi succumbant, ac in maius detrimentum Reipublicæ deteriorêntur, et intereant. Nos eam ob causam supplicationi eorum apud Nos factæ benignè annuentes, ex clementia Nostra Regia, necnon ad intercessionem certorum Consiliarior[um] Nostrorum lateri Nostro assidentium, memoratos Armenos vti Subditos Nostros subleuare ipsorumq[ue] rationibus prospicere cupientes, eo vel maximè præ oculis habito, ne conditio eorum deterior fiat, vtq[ue] pari libertate et immunitatibus cum alijs in eadem Ciuitate N[ost]ra Leopoliensi inhabitantibus gaudeant, præsertim dum variæ conditionis mercatoribus, a Spectabili Magistratu Leopolienfi in domibus et plateis, omnis generis merces, venum exponere, et distribuere concessum esse scimus, vt potè Italis, Ruthenis, potissimùm verò Iudæis, cum se in omnia mercimonia, non sine summo eorum totiusq[ue] Ciuitatis præiudicio ingêrant, in foro publico omnes merces sericeas, auroq[ue] textas, necnon pannos pretiosos, quos antehac memorati Armeni tantum pro vsu et necessitate publica subministrare, et acquirere consueuerant, Apothecarijs quoq[ue] contra vsum et legem antiquam, aromata, quæ nonnisi concusa, minori quantitate diuendere tenebantur, nunc pro libitu pondo distribuunt, vnde omnes ferè viuendi rationes, memoratis Armenis deesse videntur. Vapropter illis omnis generis negotiationes benignè et clementer concedendas et permittendas esse duximus, prout concedimus et permittimus præsentibus l[itt]ris N[ost]ris Ita ut harum l[itte]raru[m] N[ost]rarum vigore, iidem Armeni Leopolienfes possint et valeant pannos tzrena, seu vlna, tam in foro publico, quam in plateis suis diuendere, fornices et iustinas aperire, liquores omnes in genere, videlicet Cereuisiam, mulsum, vinum adustum in domibus suis coquere, tum et dolio seu ola & mensura pro exigentia cuiusuis propinare, necnon vinum Creticum, Hungaricum, Moldauicum eidem dolio, seu ola et mensura, pro necessitate et exigentia in Celarijs, domibusq[ue] proprijs et conductitiis propinare, ac insuper alias quasuis merces, ad vsum & necessitatem publicam spectantes diuendere et distribuere, hacq[ue] facultate et beneficio, ad subleuandas eorum rationes, benignè et Clementer a Nobis concesso, memoratos Armenos, absq[ue] quorumuis præcipue Magistratus Leopolienf[is] præpeditione, et impedimento gaudere, et vtifrui volumus perpetuò, et in æuum. Pro gratia N[ost]ra Regia. In cuius rei fidem præsentes manu N[ost]ra subscrip[tas] sigillo Regni communiri iufsimus. Dat[um] Varsauiæ die XIV Mensis Januarii Anno D[omi]ni MDCLI Regnorum N[ost]rorum Poloniæ II, Sueciæ III Anno. Ioannes Casimirus Rex [Nota kancelaryjna po prawej:] Alb[ertu]s Radliński Secr[eta]r[iu]s Reg[iae] M[ies]tis s[ubscripsit] [Nota z boku:] Conservatio circa iura et libertates antiqua[s] Armenoru[m] Leopoliensiu[m] [Verso:] Cancellariatu R[everen]d[issi]mi in Chr[ist]o Patris D[omi]ni Andreæ de Leszno Leszczyński, Episcopi Culmen[sis] et Pomesan[iensis], Ecclesiarum Cat[h]edral[is] Plocen[sis] et Collegiatæ S[an]cti Michaelis Præpositi in Arce Cracovien[si] Reg[ni] Canc[ellarii] Mich[ael] Luprewic Secr[eta]r[iu]s Reg[iae] M[ies]tis [Nota oblaty:] Feria [...] proxima post festum Sancti Michaelis Archangeli Anno D[omi]ni Mill[esim]o Sexcen[tesim]o Quinquagesimo Quarto in Officio [...] p[rese]ntat[um] per Honorabilem [...] Armenor[um] Oblat[um]... [Sygnatury i zapiski archiwalne:] N° 45 N° 99 Litt. T / 1651.