Translation / modern text
Honorable and illustrious Lords, our dearest friends and neighbors, worthy of all honor! We send greetings and a friendly recommendation of our services [part of the formula uncertain].
As you have deigned to inform us in your letters, [uncertain clause] the caravan or the transported goods are to be directed to the city and the Lviv staple [further phrasing uncertain]. It concerns the maintenance of the caravan passage and our goods. The men sent in this matter have sought it from His Royal Majesty, our most gracious lord. This was to correspond to our will and yours.
For these actions, we shall be more grateful and are very pleased with them. Regarding the transit, however, you write about [uncertain] for our goods and about a free and wide transit after passing through the Lviv staple [exact verb uncertain].
Since we allow these caravans in accordance with the proper law and our customs [exact formula uncertain], we wish to ensure you a free transit for a longer time, while maintaining the connection with the Lviv staple [detail of execution uncertain]. The matter was also presented before the most venerable Lord Branyczki [name read tentatively], the then Bishop of Kamianets and Referendary of His Royal Majesty. You also promised us a specific passage in a short time [further clause uncertain].
Again, you have petitioned His Royal Majesty in this matter. We therefore ask that you deign to keep your promise.
We also wish to act in this matter towards you according to the letters of His Royal Majesty, taking into account the rights belonging to the city of Lviv and the royal order conveyed to us by you.
With such a royal order, you should have men who will stay in Kamianets and diligently guard the merchants during this passage. We will convey the details of this matter to you [uncertain clause].
The letter of His Royal Majesty arrived here earlier, from the side of Her Majesty the Queen. We send you a copy of it under our own seal, word for word. We trust that you will consider its content [further phrasing uncertain].
We wish to keep what we have promised you. Similarly [part of the clause uncertain], you will deign to keep what you have promised us, and not change [uncertain definition of agreements].
With all our hearts, we wish you health, prosperity, and a happy life. We humbly commend ourselves and our affairs to your kindness [final formula uncertain].
From Kamianets-Podilskyi, on Tuesday, the feast of Saint Nicholas, in the year of our Lord 1541, that is, December 6 according to the date of the feast.
The Councilors of the city of Kamianets.
Address: To the honorable and illustrious lords, the mayor and councilors of the royal city of Lviv, our always dearest friends and neighbors, worthy of all respect [end of formula uncertain].
On the reverse, later notes: Kamianets-Podilskyi; 1541;.
Original wording — transcription
Spectabiles et famati domini amici et vicini nostri charissimi atque plenius digne honorandi. Post salutem atque [wyraz niepewny] singularem et amicabilem commendationem.
Prout nobis fraternitates vestrae scriptis suis significare dignati sunt, [klauzula niepewna] ut ad Civitatem et Emporium Leopoliense diverteretur [dalsza część niepewna], quod [nieczytelne] de conservatione Karovanae ac mercibus nostris. Vobis [wyraz niepewny] missi [składnia niepewna] diligentius curam apud Maiestatem Regiam dominum nostrum clementissimum adhibuerunt; et hoc iuxta voluntatem nostram [wyraz niepewny] fraternitatum vestrarum.
Et cum litteris nostris [klauzula niepewna] a Maiestate Regia, et mercibus fraternitatum vestrarum [wyraz niepewny] des[...], de quibus plenius grati erimus et ipsis valde complacuimus. Nonnihil vero fraternitates vestrae [wyraz niepewny] transitus illo [niepewny wyraz] scribunt mercibus nostris, liberum et largum transitum post Emporium Leopoliense expedire [odczyt czasownika roboczy].
Cum nos in bona sancta lege has conservationes Karovanas ad consuetudines nostras feliciter permittamus, volumus vobis ad diuturna tempora praestare liberum transitum post Emporium Leopoliense expedire [odczyt czasownika roboczy]. Et hoc etiam in persona Reverendissimi domini Branyczki [nazwisko robocze] Episcopi pro tunc Camenecensis et referendarii Sacrae Maiestatis Regiae, et ita nobis fraternitates vestrae transitum quendam promiserunt brevi in tempore [klauzula niepewna].
Quousque mercibus nostris denuo in [zapis miejsca niepewny, prawdopodobnie Kamieniec] [dalszy związek składniowy niepewny], fraternitates vestrae iterum in eo negotio coram Maiestate Serenissima Regia supplicaverunt. Ideo fraternitates vestrae promissum suum [wyraz niepewny] satisfacere dignentur.
Nos etiam volumus fraternitates vestras [czasownik niepewny] et agere in eo negotio iuxta litteras Maiestatis Regiae, quas in Karovana [wyraz niepewny] expendimus, pro iuribus ad Civitatem Leopolim provenientibus, ac etiam iuxta litteras [słowo niepewne] mandatum Maiestatis Regiae nobis a fraternitatibus vestris porrectum. Solum cum tali mandato Regali fraternitates vestrae habeant homines talem [odczyt roboczy], qui resideant in Camyenyecz et studiose custodiant negotiatores ad hoc tempus quousque ad bona et [wyraz niepewny] Constantinopolim [klauzula niepewna] illarum fraternitatibus vestris manifestum faciemus [czasownik niepewny].
Quia litteras Maiestatis Regiae in [zapis miejsca niepewny] iam superioribus temporibus sunt allatae ex parte Reginalis Maiestatis; harum transsumptum de verbo ad verbum fraternitatibus vestris sub sigillo nostro mittimus, super quas confidimus fraternitates vestras habere deliberationem [wyraz niepewny].
Firmati [odczyt niepewny] sumus de quod nos fraternitatibus vestris promisimus, hoc tenere volumus. Similiter [składnia niepewna] fraternitates vestrae id quod nobis promittere dignati sunt, [klauzula niepewna] ad [niepewne słowa] fraternitates vestrae non permutabunt. Quas fraternitates vestras sanas ac feliciter valetudinissimasque vivere ex animis fideliter desideramus, quibus [wyraz niepewny] nos semper humili et commendamus.
Ex Cameniec Podolie feria tertia in festo Sancti Nicolai Anno Domini 1541.
Consules Civitatis Camenecensis [dalsza formuła niepewna].
[Adres:] Spectabilibus et famatis dominis Proconsuli et Consulibus Civitatis Regiae Leopoliensis, Amicis et Vicinis nostris semper Charissimis atque plenius et merito digne [końcowa formuła niepewna].
[Późniejszy zapisek na odwrocie:] Kamieniec podolski. 1541. Nota quibus [dalszy ciąg o prawie składu niepewny].
Reading notes
All four pages were viewed, including enlargements of both sides of the text. The handwriting and numerous abbreviations leave greater uncertainties than in neighboring attestations. This is not a full diplomatic reading; illegible clauses have been left as explicit gaps. 'Emporium Leopoliense' is rendered as the Lviv trade staple; free transit after the staple has not been equated with an unconditional right to bypass it or with free sale of all goods. The uncertain verbs after 'post Emporium' do not allow for a certain reconstruction of all conditions. The request for men to guard the merchants, the mention of Constantinople, and the copy of the royal letter sent under seal are legible; the attachment itself was not identified in this PDF. 'Branyczki' is a tentative reading of the bishop's name, without identification of the person. The date stamp provides 'feria tertia in festo Sancti Nicolai, Anno Domini 1541'; the day 6 XII results from the date of the feast, without conversion to a later calendar. The influence of the Queen's letter is cited as the senders' claim, without identifying her by name. The later note about the staple right was not included in the body of the letter. Additional inspection of the enlargements supplemented 'liberum et largum transitum' (free and wide transit), 'porrectum' (royal order conveyed by the addressees), and the entry 'Camyenyecz' at the location of the merchant guards. The verb after 'post Emporium' was read tentatively as 'expedire', however, this does not remove the uncertainty of the entire executive clauses; partial status has been maintained.
Location in scan: 132/1/157, PDF p. 1: cover; pp. 2–3: letter; p. 4: address and later notes
Translation notes (transferred from text): part of the syntactic connection uncertain. Uncertain details of correspondence and actions taken. Uncertain clause regarding letters and royal resolution. Uncertain limitation or condition. Uncertain clause referring to our goods and their arrival again. Uncertain clause about the caravan. Remaining syntax of the clause uncertain. Uncertain definition of time and further route; legible mention of Constantinople. Final signature formula uncertain. Further note about the staple right not read with certainty.
Location in scan: 132/1/157, PDF p. 1: cover; pp. 2–3: letter; p. 4: address and later notes
Translation notes (transferred from text): part of the syntactic connection uncertain. Uncertain details of correspondence and actions taken. Uncertain clause regarding letters and royal resolution. Uncertain limitation or condition. Uncertain clause referring to our goods and their arrival again. Uncertain clause about the caravan. Remaining syntax of the clause uncertain. Uncertain definition of time and further route; legible mention of Constantinople. Final signature formula uncertain. Further note about the staple right not read with certainty.