Confirmation of the rights and privileges of the Shooting Brotherhood in Lwów by King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki

MICHAŁ, by the grace of God, KING of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, Volhynia, Kiev, Smolensk, Severia, and Chernihiv. We hereby announce by this letter of Ours to all and each one whom it may concern, that the entered letters, five in number, on parchment, have been presented before Us and shown intact in their originals. The first, indeed, included here in its entirety, signed by the hand of the Most Serene John Casimir, Our Predecessor, and sealed with the Crown Seal of the Greater Chancellery contained in a tin box, the meaning of which is as follows: JOHN 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 letter of Ours to all and each one whom it may concern: that Sigismund III of holy memory, Our Dearest Parent, granted the Shooting Brotherhood of Our City of Lwów, most usefully established in the same city for the purpose of averting and repelling threatening enemy attacks, the power and consent to collect for the benefit of the same brotherhood a fee commonly called 'spaszne' [Spaszne] from all merchants driving and herding oxen and other heads of cattle and livestock from Wallachia and elsewhere, both into the Kingdom and outside the Kingdom, and detaining them in the Lwów territory or beyond it for several days or a certain time on pastures, one grosz from each ox, and from smaller cattle from the herd half a grosz, which is to last for eternal times. However, because in that permit the distance or boundary of the place within which the said collection should apply was not clearly described, therefore, to remove any doubt that might arise from this, by this Our ordinance we have declared and added that the said permit extends and reaches to twelve miles, so that the mentioned Shooting Brotherhood could and had the right to collect the same fee from the said cattle and livestock, but exclusively from all merchants, without anyone's opposition and hindrance, for the mentioned distance of twelve miles. And so that the same brotherhood, for its merits [...] and the rebellious Cossacks, who not long before had persistently besieged the same city for several weeks with a great army, repelling them from the walls with equal skill in shooting and driving them away with their significant defeat, abundantly attested, might recognize the increase of Our benevolence and royal generosity towards it, to the same Shooting Brotherhood, for the multiplication and preservation of its inviolability and the cultivation of the practice of the art of shooting, [we grant] the right and full power to collect from all foreign and visiting merchants arriving at the same city from any lands and nations, both for regular fairs and at other times for storage, or returning from there, for every hundred florins which they brought in ready money for the purpose of trade, or in their goods, of whatever kind and species they might be, the valuation of which [is to be] shown by the said merchants under oath [...] making it known to all and each one whom it may concern, especially to the Lwów castle and city offices and all others, we order them [...] to preserve the mentioned Shooting Brotherhood in this Our grant [...] serving free of charge [...]. In witness whereof, we have ordered this letter signed by Our hand to be strengthened with the Crown seal. Given in Lwów, on the 11th day of August in the year of our Lord 1651, of Our reign in Poland the 3rd year, in Sweden the 5th. John Casimir King. Place of the greater seal of the Crown Chancellery, hanging in a tin box, impressed in red wax. Wojciech Radziejowski, Secretary of His Royal Majesty, by his own hand. The second parchment letter, signed by the hand of the same Most Serene John Casimir and strengthened with the greater seal of the Crown Chancellery hanging, containing the payment of a donation of a certain sum, namely fifty Polish florins from the tower called Samostrzelnicza [z Baszty Samostzelniczey] falling due annually, to be received by the Lwów Shooting Brotherhood, from the act in Lwów on the Tuesday after the nearest Cross Sunday of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and fifty-three [1653], and the donation of a certain plot or field in the Halicki Suburb of the same city of Lwów, lying on the field called Zalbornicie, accepted by the Lwów magistrate or the estates of the same city for the same brotherhood for shooting practice from the act in Lwów on the Wednesday after the nearest Exaudi Sunday of the same year, by the same Most Serene John Casimir dated in Lwów on the very calends of the month of August of the year aforementioned [...]. Third, likewise a parchment letter, signed by the hand of the Most Serene King John Casimir [...] and with the seal of the Greater Crown Chancellery hanging in a wax box [...] dated in Warsaw on the thirtieth day of the month of August of the year one thousand six hundred and sixty-eight [1668], containing the 'spaszne' fee [...] the power to collect from merchants of cattle and other animals and herds from Wallachia [...] detaining them for a certain time on pastures, one grosz from each ox, and from smaller cattle half a grosz [...] collected for the benefit of the Lwów Shooting Brotherhood for eternal times. Fourth, also [...] with the seal of the Greater Crown Chancellery hanging in a wax box, clearly strengthened in red wax [...] in the presence of [...] the donation of the same Most Serene King [...] on the day of the month of May of the year one thousand six hundred and sixty-four [1664], confirmation of the privilege [...] of shooters by the Most Serene King of holy memory [...] if someone were to destroy and take away that crossbow or [...] made of wood for shooting purposes for himself in the forest under the shooters' hill, from all levies, both royal and those enacted and to be enacted by the Republic [...] they were free, as in themselves and other shooters of a similar art it was not customary, indeed [...] and were considered from the payment of levies; and a broader prerogative by the same Most Serene Henry for shooters and gunsmiths [?], so that the same shooter of city law [...] better hitting with any war machine, was free from contributions or city levies under any name; furthermore, the duty of the mayor and councilors of the city of Lwów to pay the shooters and gunsmiths [?] fifty Polish florins for a jewel [...] every year from the city treasury and to pay one thousand Polish marks from year to year, containing the obtained [privileges]. Fifth, finally and lastly, a letter signed by the hand of the Most Serene King Sigismund III, sealed with a similarly hanging seal of the Lesser Chancellery [...] in wax, containing the confirmation of the above-written privilege of the Most Serene Henry, or the prerogatives expressed in that privilege, dated in Warsaw on the fifteenth day of the month of April of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred [1600]. All these five letters of privileges, whole, sound, intact, and free from any suspicion. And it was requested of Us by our born envoys, currently residing at Our side, in the name and on behalf of the elders, juniors, and the entire Shooting Brotherhood founded in Our city of Lwów, the metropolis of Ruthenia, that We might deign to approve and confirm the five letters of privileges included above with Our royal authority. WE, considering that the shooting practice for averting and repelling threatening enemy attacks has been praised and maintained from the most ancient times with the most magnificent intent and public benefit, and is most necessary, kindly acceding to the intercession of Our advisors to the submitted request, the letters included above, both namely the first written here in its entirety, and the others only specified by act and date (which, however, we wish to have here as included and entered), or rather the rights and privileges expressed above and all other diplomas, graciously granted and confirmed to the mentioned Lwów Shooting Brotherhood by the Most Serene Kings of Poland, Our Predecessors, as well as customs, habits, freedoms, immunities, and prerogatives connected with the good and benefit of the Kingdom and the same city, shining and known, in all their points, clauses, articles, conditions, and [...] just as if all and each one of them were included word for word here, we have deemed worthy of approval and confirmation; as we also approve, confirm, and ratify with Our royal authority; and we preserve and maintain the mentioned Lwów Shooting Brotherhood in these same rights, privileges, prerogatives, rescripts, letters, freedoms, immunities, and entitlements serving from of old, from the fullness of Our royal power. All the said five letters of privileges and everything contained in them should have due force and strength and unshakable durability (in which their law and custom do not stand in the way). In witness whereof, we have ordered this letter signed by Our hand to be strengthened with the Crown seal. Given in Lwów on the 30th day of the month of October of the year of our Lord 1671, of Our reign the third year [...]. 1671 [King's signature:] Michał King [Below on the right:] Piotr Barburski, Regent of the Crown Chancellery of His Royal Majesty [On the fold on the right:] Confirmation of the confirmation of rights and privileges serving the Lwów Shooting Brotherhood. [Verso:] [Chancellery note:] Entered into the acts of the Crown Chancellery Metric, no. 6. [Secretary's signature:] Stefan Hankiewicz, Secretary of His Royal Majesty, by his own hand. [German note from the 18th/19th century:] King Michał of Poland [...] confirmation of earlier privileges of previous kings, especially John Casimir [...]

MICHAEL Dei Gratia REX Poloniae, Magn[us] Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniae, Volhyniae, Kioviae, Smolens[ciae], Severiae, Czerniechoviaeq[ue]. Significamus praesentibus Literis Nostris quorum interest Universis et Singulis. Reproductas et in suis Originalibus illaesas commonstratas fuisse coram Nobis Literas inscriptas, quinq[ue], Pergamineas. Primas quidem h[a]ec de toto suo Tenore insertas, manu Serenissimi Joannis Casimiri Antecessoris Nostri subscriptas et Sigillo Regni Cancellariae Maioris pensili in pyxide laminea contento obsignatas. Quarum Primarum datum Tenor sequitur eiusmodi: JOANNES CASIMIRUS DEI gratia REX Poloniae, Magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniae, Smolensciae, Czerniechoviaeque, Necnon Suecorum, Gotthorum, Vandalorumq[ue] Haereditarius REX. Significamus praesentibus Literis Nostris quorum interest Universis et Singulis. Concessisse Divum Sigismundum III Progenitorem Nostrum desideratissimum Fraternitati Iaculatorum Civitatis Nostrae Leopoliensis ad avertendos et propulsandos ingruentes Hostium insultus in eadem Civitate apprime utiliter institutae facultatem et Consensum pro usu eiusdem Confraternitatis Pavidionem vulgariter Spaszne dictum ab omnibus Mercatoribus boves aliasque pecudes spectei pecudes ac greges ex Valachia et aliunde tam in Regnum quam extra Regnum agentibus et pellentibus, eosq[ue] intra et extra Territorium Leopoliense per aliquot dies vel aliquod tempus in pascuis detinentibus pro unum grossum a quolibet bove, a minoribus vero grege pecudibus per medium grossum temporibus perpetuis duraturis exigendi. Caeterum cum in eadem Concessione intercapedo sive interstitium loci intra quod nimirum praefata Exactio competere deberet, specifice non sit exarata. Proinde ad tollendam omnem quae inde oriri posset ambiguitatem, eandem Concessionem ad duodecim Milliaria porrigi et extendi de bene praesenti Descripto Nostro declaravimus et adiecimus: Ita ut eandem Pansionem, praenominata Iaculatorum Confraternitas a memoratis pecoribus et pecudibus: sed ab omnibus Mercatoribus tantum sine cuiusvis contradictione et impedimento ad praefatam duodecim Milliarium distantiam libere exigere possit et valeat. Quo vero ea ipsa Confraternitas pro meritis suis [...] et rebelles Cosacos Oppugnationem eiusdem Civitatis non ita pridem per aliquot Septimanas pertinaciter ingenti agmine tentantes pari cum dexteritate iaculandi a Moenibus eum insigni illorum clade retrudendo ac reiiciendo abunde contestatis propensa Nostra in ipsam pietatis liberalitateque Regia agnoscat augmentum, eidem ipsi Iaculatorum Confraternitati pro augenda conservandaq[ue] ipsius integritate ac promovendo Artis Iaculatoriae Exercitio Ius et facultatem omnimodam exigendi ab omnibus Mercatoribus externis et peregrinis ex quibuscunq[ue] Oris et Nationibus in eandem Civitatem tam ad Nundinas solitas, quam alias alio tempore ad repositorium Venientibus vel inde redeuntibus a quibuslibet Centum florenis quos in parata pecunia Mercandi gratia illata et importata, sive in Mercibus illorum cuiuscunq[ue] sint sortis et Speciei fuerint aestimationem eorundem per dictos Mercatores iuramento liquidaverint [...] omnibus et Singulis quorum interest praesertim vero Castren[si] et Civili Leopoldien[si] alijsq[ue] quibusvis Officiis ad notitiam deducentes eisdem mandamus [...] praenominatam Confraternitatem Iaculatorum circa eandem Concessionem Nostram tueri [...] servientibus gratis [...] In cuius rei fidem praesentes manu N[ost]ra Subscriptas Sigillo Regni communiri iussimus. Datum Leopoli Die 11 Augusti Anno Domini MDCLI Regnorum Nostrorum Poloniae III, Sueciae V Anno. Joannes Casimirus Rex. Locus Sigilli Maioris Cancellariae Regni pensilis in pixide laminea conspecti in cera vero rubra expressi. Albertus Radzieiowski Secret[arius] Reg[iae] M[aiesta]tis mp. Secundas vero itidem Pergamineas, manu eiusdem Serenissimi Joannis Casimiri Subscriptas et Sigillo itidem Maioris Cancellariae Regni pensili communitas, Exsolutionem Donationis Summae certi Scilicet Quinquaginta Florenorum Polonicalium ex Turri alias z Baszty Samostzelniczey dicta quotannis provenientis per Confraternitatem Iaculatorum Leopoliensium recipiendae, de Actu Leopoli Feria Tertia post Dominicam Rogationum proxima Anno D[omi]ni Millesimo Sexcentesimo Quinquagesimo Tertio, Et Donationis Fundi seu Agri certi in Suburbio eiusdem Civitatis Leopoldiensis Haliciensi dicto in Laneo Zalbornicie nuncupato existentis, eidem Confraternitati propter exercitium Iaculatorium de Actu Leopoli Feria Quarta post Dominicam Exaudi proxima Anno eodem per Magistratum Leopoliensem seu Ordines Civitatis eiusdem receptae, A seu eundem Serenissimum Joannem Casimirum de Data Leopoli ipsis Kalendis Mensis Augusti Anno quo supra confectae [...] in se continentes. Tertias similiter Pergamineas manu Serenissimi Joannis Casimiri Regis [...] Subscriptas et Sigillo Regni Cancellariae Maioris pensili in pixide cerea contento [...] de Data Varsaviae Die Trigesima Mensis Augusti Anno Millesimo Sexcentesimo Sexagesimo Octavo, continentes in se Pensionem Spaszne [...] numerum facultatem exigendi a Mercatoribus boves aliasq[ue] pecudes ac greges ex Valachia [...] per quod tempus in pascuis detinentibus per Unum grossum a quolibet bove, a Menoribus vero pecude per medium grossum [...] perpetuis temporibus pro Confraternitatem Iaculatorum Leopoliensium recipiendi. Quartas itidem [...] Sigillo Regni Cancellariae Maioris pensili in pixide cerea contento cera vero rubra expresse roboratas [...] Saecunda in praesentia [...] Donationis eiusdem Serenissimi Regis [...] die Mensis Maii Anno Millesimo Sexcentesimo Sexagesimo Quarto, Confirmationem Privilegij [...] Iaculatorum per Serenissimum D[ivi]n[a]e memoriae Regem [...] aliquis eandem Arcum seu [...] ex Ligno fabricatum pro Scopo Iaculatorio sibi Silva montem s[u]b[i]t Sagittariorum positum detruxerit et derecepit, ab Exactionibus quibusvis tam Regijs quam Reipublicae laudatis et laudandis [...] immunes sint, prout in se et aliis Iaculatorum Similis Artis assueta non fuerit, quinimo [...] et exsolutionis exactionum censeant. Atq[ue] Uberiorem Praerogativam per eundem Serenissimum Henricum, Iaculatoribus et Lixidarijs, Ut idem Deiaculator Iuris fabricati [...] Civitatis, de quavis machina bellica melius attingens, immunis sit a Contri-butionibus seu Exactione Civili quocunq[ue] nomine nuncupata; Insuper Onus Proconsulis et Consulibus Civitatis Leopoldiensis, Ut Iaculatoribus et Lixadarijs Pensionem Quinquaginta Florenorum Polon[icalium] pro Clenodio [...] annis, ex Aerario Civili quolibet anno expendant et de anno in annum Mille Marcarum Polonicalium, extradant, impetratum complectentes. Quintas deniq[ue] et Ultimas Literas, manu Serenissimi Sigismundi Tertij Regis Subscriptas, Sigillo similiter pensili Minoris Cancellariae [...] in praxi itidem cerea contento obpsillatas, supra Scripti Privilegij Serenissimi Henrici seu Praerogativarum in Privilegio eodem expressarum Confirmationem complectentes, de Data Varsaviae Die Decimaquinta Mensis Aprilis Anno D[omi]ni Millesimo Sexcentesimo. Omnes easdem Literas Privilegiorum quinq[ue], Sanas, Salubres, illaesas, et omni suspicione carentes. Supplicatumq[ue] Nobis esse per Generosos Legatos Nostros huc nunc ad latus Nostrum residentes, nomine et pro parte Seniorum, Juniorum ac totius Confraternitatis Iaculatorum Civitatis Nostrae Metropoli Russiae Leopoliensis fundatae, quatenus praeinseratas Literas quinq[ue] Privilegiorum Authoritate Nostra Regia approbare et confirmare dignaremur. NOS, Exercitium Iaculatorium ad avertendos et propulsandos ingruentes Hostium insultus ab antiquissimis temporibus optime inventione, et cum publico commodo laudatum et hucusq[ue] observatum, ipsum maxime necessarium esse advertentes, ad intercessionem Consiliariorum Nostrorum, Supplicationi praedictae benigne annuentes, supra insertas Literas tam scilicet Primas de toto suo Tenore hic inscriptas, quam alias duntaxat de Actu et Data specificatas (quas tamen hic pro insertis et insertis haberi Volumus) seu potius Jura et Privilegia Superius expressa, et alia quaecunq[ue] Diplomata, Confraternitati praememoratae Iaculatorum Leopoliensium a Serenissimis Regibus Poloniae Antecessoribus Nostris benigne collata et confirmata. Necnon Usus, Consuetudines, Libertates, Immunitates et praerogativas cum Bono ac Utili Regni ac Civitatis eiusdem inclusas, clarescentes et perso-natas, in omnibus eorum punctis clausulis articulis conditionibus et [...] ac si hic omnia et Singula de Verbo ad Verbum inserta essent, approbandum et confirmandum esse duximus; prout Authoritate N[ost]ra Regia approbamus, confirmamus et ratificamus; memoratamq[ue] Confraternitatem Iaculatorum Leopolien-sium, eadem Jura, Privilegia, Praerogativas, Rescripta, Literas, Libertates, Immunitates et praerogativas tam antiquitus servientes, de plenitudine potestatis Nostrae Regiae conservamus et manuteneramus. Universas praefatas Literas Privilegiorum quinq[ue], et omnia in eis contenta Viro et robore debito ac inviolabiliter duraturas (in quantum Juri et Usui eorum non obstant) ostendere debere. In cuius rei fidem praesentes manu N[ost]ra Subscriptas Sigillo Regni communiri iussimus. Datum Leopoli Die XXX Mensis Octobris Anno D[omi]ni MDCLXXI Regni vero Nostri Tertio et P. N. O. 1671 [Podpis króla:] Michael Rex [Poniżej po prawej:] Petrus Barburski S.R.M. Regni Cancellar[iae] Regens [Na plice po prawej:] Confirmatio Confirmationis Jurium et Privilegiorum Fraternitati Iaculatorum Leopoliensium servientium. [Verso:] [Nota kancelaryjna:] Resignator in Actis Metrice Regni Cancell[ariae] Kor[onnej] Nro 6ta [Podpis sekretarza:] Stephanus Hankiewicz Reg[iae] M[aiesta]tis Secret[arius] mpp. [Nota niemiecka z XVIII/XIX w.:] Des Königs Michael von Polen [...] Bestättigung der vorhin mit Privilegien der Vorgängern Königen vorzüglich Johann Casimir [...]