Source catalogue

Gliniany confirms that Grzegorz brought letters from Lwów described as Muscovite. The mayor immediately handed them over via a messenger to Biały Kamień. The senders ask to give credence to Grzegorz Jurkiewicz.

The mayor and councilors of Gródek certify that a royal universal imposing a donation on the city was delivered to their hands. They do not state the amount or confirm payment. The document was authenticated with an official seal.

The mayor of Drohobycz and his colleagues ask for permission to send the Lwów master of justice in the case of an imprisoned woman. They are sending two townspeople who are to return with the executioner, and they promise to send them back after the task is performed. The letter does not state the charge or the type of punishment and does not confirm the execution was carried out.

Elbląg declares solidarity with the Lwów magistrate and support for the protection of municipal authorities. Since the provincial assemblies ended unsuccessfully and no deputies to the Sejm were elected, it cannot fulfill the request in that way. It announces that the secretary, who is soon to leave for Warsaw, will receive instructions to lobby the Grand Chancellor and other protectors for a favorable resolution of Lwów's case.

The councilors describe the return of a patrol from near Włodawa and announce the transmission of testimonies from captured spies. They report the rumor about the Lithuanian Hetman's success as unconfirmed. They ask Lwów to keep its promise to respect Zamość's rights when collecting fees and regarding the deposits of its residents.

The councilors convey a report from an envoy returning from the Lithuanian hetman: news of the loss of Obuchowicz, commander of a reconnaissance unit composed of five banners, his retreat, and his movement towards the Ruthenian voivode in the vicinity of Lublin. They inform about sending a copy of the correspondence, which is not present in the preserved unit.

The authorities of Zamość convey reports about the plague in Niemirów, the areas of Pików, and deep within Ukraine. They describe the ban on admitting people without verification, announced to the sound of a trumpet, and the requirement of a passport for visitors. They ask Lwów for similar protective measures.

The authorities of Kalisz certify the delivery of the royal universal regarding the collection of one hundred thousand zlotys for the needs of the King and the Republic, as well as the accompanying letter from the authorities of Lwów. The document does not confirm the payment made nor does it state the share of Kalisz.

The councilors of Kamieniec return to the correspondence and the royal decision regarding the passage of caravans, merchants' goods, and the staple rights of Lwów. They ask for compliance with the agreements and the presence of people guarding the merchants and goods. They mention an attached copy of the royal letter under their own seal; detailed transit clauses remain partially illegible.

The magistrate of Kamieniec Podolski declares cooperation in searching for the people described in the letter submitted in connection with the directive of the Grand Crown Chancellor. He has notified the fortress commander. He promises to convey information about these persons or to detain them if they appear in the city.

The magistrate of Kamieniec certifies that Szymon Łaminoty [?], a municipal servant of Lwów, brought on wagons packages related to the Lithuanian chamberlain Mniszek, an envoy of the Republic to the Porte. It confirms their receipt and authenticates the document with a seal; an uncertain part of the list was left with gaps.

The mayor and councilors of Kołomyja certify the receipt on April 9 of the royal universal, delivered by the councilors of Lwów, regarding the donative for the rescue of the Republic. The certificate is intended to confirm the fulfillment of the duty by the authorities of Lwów.

The magistrate of Kraków thanks the magistrate of Lwów for maintaining friendly relations and conveying news. It asks for new information via a specially sent messenger and declares readiness to reciprocate the favor.

Kraków asks for the release of its burgher Ciamer from a re-collection of the donative in Lwów and for the unsealing of his goods. It argues that the merchant has already paid in Kraków, and the universals exclude collecting the same tribute again in another city. It also cites the merchant's account of the current practice and his trade losses.

Kraków claims that Scottish merchants use royal rescripts and protective letters to violate municipal trade laws, evade burdens, and avoid jurisdiction. It describes the case of the merchant Rijdt [?] and the goods taken from him. It asks Lwów for joint actions and the transmission of similar court rulings.

Kraków thanks Lwów for suspending the execution of the ruling regarding competing claims to the estate of the late Jan Nyżek [?], a shop servant of Mrs. Węgrzynowiczowa. It informs about her sending an attorney and asks for a fair examination of her claims.

Kraków presents the efforts of the Kraków Academy to recognize Jan Kanty as the patron of the Polish Kingdom, to move the celebration, and to establish a solemn octave. It asks Lwów for its own petition to the Pope and to send a copy to Kraków, attaching its own submission as a model for the content.

In response to Lwów's complaint regarding the exclusion of the magistrate from setting prices, Kraków describes its own practice: two meetings per year with the participation of the voivodeship office, the castle office, and the city council. It explains the order of votes, the maintenance of the price book, the preparation of copies, and the public announcement of the tariff. In a postscript, it speaks about punishing violations, the weight of bread, and testing beer.

The magistrate of Kraków asks whether in Lwów beer can be brewed only by members of the guild, or also by other burghers for their own needs and for sale. It asks for the rules of collecting the excise tax and copies of laws or decrees granting the freedom of brewing and retail to citizens, not the guild. It also asks about the possibility of importing beer from other places for household needs.

The magistrate of Kraków received news by mail that in Kamieniec, 27 people died in three houses within two weeks. It asks the magistrate of Lwów for confirmation and closer information about a possible plague. It intends to look for ways to stop its spread and encourages the addressees to exercise similar caution.

Kraków confirms receipt of an earlier letter from Lwów regarding another, partially unread matter. Then it asks about a rumor of two sudden deaths in the Lwów suburb and symptoms of the plague in other people. It demands honest information and protection against newcomers to preserve the health of the inhabitants, the credibility of municipal certificates, and trade with Silesia.

The magistrate of Kraków notifies about news from Hungary regarding a severe plague beyond the Tisza and Miskolc [?]. It asks Lwów to send letters to border towns, check passports and certificates of newcomers, and recommend guards and barriers on the roads.

Kraków warns that the plague in Hungary is approaching the Polish border and, according to fresh news, has appeared in the towns of Orava. Concern is raised by the movement of Hungarians, Polish workers from vineyards, craftsmen, and deserters. The magistrate also states that in Biały Dunajec, eight people died in two houses after the arrival of a digger, but no further deaths have been recorded there for five weeks. It recommends caution to Lwów and warning the border towns.

Kraków refers to a rumor about the appearance of the plague on the Turkish border, in a town with an uncertainly read name. It asks Lwów for reliable information. It announces, for safety, the control of people arriving or passing from that side and requiring an authentic passport confirming origin from a healthy area.

Kraków received Lwów's letter of August 5 along with the interrogation of Szewelier. The creditors do not demand his transport, as there is nothing to pay off the debts with. They are ready to reimburse the costs of food and the work of officials, but they do not intend to pay his Lwów debts.

The magistrate of Kraków asks for the search and imprisonment in Lwów of a Frenchman called Szewele, also appearing as Rytter. It attributes to him fraud against creditors, escape with over seven hundred red zlotys, and leaving a pregnant wife. It presents the news about two earlier wives as a rumor.

The creditors did not find the expected money on the detainee. Kraków leaves the recognition of debts and charges to the local court, asks for an interrogation according to the attached questions, and an authenticated record. The creditors promise to cover the office fees and modest sustenance from the beginning of the imprisonment.

After receiving the letter from the 26th of the previous month, the magistrate persuaded Szewelier's creditors to cover the costs of his food and the work of officials. It informs about sending 282 tymfs via Stobkowski [?] and thanks Lwów for the effort and expenses.

Kraków thanks for finding and imprisoning Szewele alias Rytter. It suspends sending a man for the detainee because Lwów demanded the arrival of a commissioner and the coverage of local debts and costs. It asks for their itemization so that the messenger can arrive with the appropriate money.

Kraków thanks for the Christmas and New Year wishes and responds regarding the Wrocław tymfs. It informs about the application of the universal of the Grand Crown Treasurer, according to which a tymf has the exchange rate of two Polish six-groschen coins, approved by a decree of the Crown Tribunal. It announces the attachment of a copy of the relevant point.

Kraków thanks the magistrate of Lwów for the letter of August 8, conveying news about contagious diseases in Podolia, Ukraine, Kamieniec Podolski, and Żółkiew, as well as the precautionary measures taken. It requests further news and declares the reimbursement of transport costs for the letters.

The magistrate of Kraków sends its citizen for detailed news about contagious diseases spreading in Ruthenia, Ukraine, and Podolia. It asks Lwów to inform the envoy, detain travelers and merchants from the affected areas, check passports, and verify certificates of healthy origin for travelers and goods. It demands the authentication of the documents' good origin with an official signature and the city seal before allowing further passage.

Kraków learned that Lwów sent two surgeons to the vicinity of Tarnopol to check reports of contagious diseases. It asks for their report in order to take precautionary measures in time. The sender expresses hope that the rumor will not be confirmed.

Krosno explains that daily oppression by military banners made it impossible to quickly collect and send the donative. It mentions the received news about extending the deadline for payment to November 20 and asks Lwów for the greatest possible relief in its difficult situation.

Leżajsk confirms receipt from the Lwów authorities of the royal universal regarding the donative of one hundred thousand zlotys, passed at the last Sejm, with reference to the Ruthenian Voivodeship. In the clause concerning the town's share, 60 zlotys are mentioned. The letter certifies the delivery of the universal, not the completion of the payment.

Responding to Lwów's inquiry, Lublin provides the fees: one zloty per barrel of wine for the voivode and three groschen for the deputy voivode. It does not indicate a similar burden for other goods. It mentions the levy on food brought from the countryside and contributions from merchants and guilds when setting prices twice a year. It asks that the response remain confidential.

The magistrate of Lublin complains that the butchers' guild refuses to pay the poll tax, citing residence outside the city jurisdiction, and has issued summons against the city before the kaptur courts. It asks the magistrate of Lwów for an authentic document confirming whether local guilds pay the burdens of the Republic and the city even when their members live under other jurisdictions. In a postscript, it asks about the organization of the Lwów court, the role of clerical judges, and the venue for court sessions.

The president and councilors of Lublin announce that they have elected delegates from among themselves to Warsaw for September 1, 1738, in accordance with the written order of the Grand Crown Treasurer. The delegates are to participate in the preparation of the Crown treasury instruction. The authors express hope that the Lwów magistrate will also fulfill the treasurer's will.

Lublin, having received no response to the previous letter, again asks Lwów to provide the decree of the Radom Tribunal, by virtue of which Lwów was to be exempted from the exchange of red zlotys. It promises mutual assistance in similar matters.

The magistrate of Lublin refers to news about a royal commission examining the case between the Lwów authorities and the Jews trading in the city. It wants to imitate Lwów's actions and asks for an authenticated copy of the decree, exclusively regarding the point on the removal of Jews, to serve as a precedent. It declares it will cover the chancery fees.

The magistrate of Lublin thanks for the interest in an unusual unfortunate event and for the letters of intercession. It asks for the case, which is to be examined by the Tribunal, to be recommended to the Archbishop of Lwów, and for the attached letter to be delivered. It does not describe the event itself nor name the parties to the dispute.

Stanisław Kasperinus thanks the addressee for help in city matters. He mentions the death of the city syndic and his successor, support from the royal secretary, and the sending of document files for court disputes. He discusses the dispute against the butchers, in which a widow and Jesuit fathers appear, the appeal related to the Armenians and Kamieniec, and the need to support city matters. Uncertain names and surnames have been left with gaps.

The author regrets that he must remain away from the town hall and is not participating in public affairs. His presence is required by the case with Mr. Podgórski. He asks his colleagues to keep the trial materials in case it is heard before the royal court and to protect the rights related to the late Mr. Żydkiewicz [?].

The delegates confirm receipt of the letter from the Lwów magistrate with Sejm projects. They declare their respect for its will but do not understand the reasons for the decision provided in the letter. They announce their further journey. A dense postscript contains additional instructions, largely unreadable.

The authors write from Zamość to the Lwów magistrate about the difficulties of the journey. Before departure, the axle of the luggage wagon broke; reloading items and obtaining parts for the carriage delayed the trip. They set off in the evening for Janów, leaving the driver with the belongings, and the next day they waited for him until noon. Further on, the carriage kept breaking down. The final part of the report is missing.

The councilors describe the decline of cities, the killing of one mayor and the dragging of another to the castle, the reduction of jurisdiction and lands, and trade difficulties. They call on Lwów to act together before the Sejm and announce a meeting on December 29. The allegations are presented as the authors' claims.

The councilors send back to Lwów correspondence received from the treasurer, intended for the municipal authorities and two officials. They explain that the mayor accidentally took out and opened one of the letters. They ask not to treat this as an intentional breach of secrecy.

The authorities of Przemyśl ask for transcripts from the Lwów books regarding royal resolutions in the dispute between the magistrate and the commoners: exemption from all contributions and an assessment of the community's charges against the magistrate. They are interested in records relating to the authority of the municipal office. They promise gratitude and later payment to the scribe for his work.

Poznań responds to the news received by mail from Lwów about Becal, whom the senders accuse of oppressing Christian merchants under the pretext of a new constitution. The letter expresses fear that similar actions will also affect Poznań. It announces the presentation of the matter to persons inclined to intervene so that it reaches the king and the Crown Treasurer.

Poznań expresses sympathy for the injury of the president and the entire Lwów magistrate, suffered according to the letter on January 5, 1738. It declares a joint defense of municipal rights and the sending of news to the chancellor and the royal court, asks for further information, and wishes the president a recovery. The original does not mention the perpetrators or the exact course of the event.