Source catalogue

King Władysław III of Varna permits the councilors and commonalty of the city of Lwów to present their city laws, immunities, and privileges exclusively before his royal presence. He thereby exempts the city from the obligation to present these documents to voivodes, castellans, starosts, or other officials of the Kingdom of Poland until his personal arrival in Lwów.

The authorities of Old Warsaw express sympathy to the citizens of Lwów regarding the burdens imposed by Becal. They inform them about successfully stopping the collection of a fee of 2 zlotys per every 100 zlotys, which the customs administrator demanded from merchants traveling to the Jarosław fair. They also describe their independent intervention against the increase of the hiberna tax, despite the lack of cooperation from the delegates of Lwów and Kraków.

The authorities of Wrocław wish to resume trade interrupted by the plague in Poland. They do not consider rumors of the epidemic's end to be sufficient: they ask Lwów for a reliable report on the state of the city and the province, as well as evidence of the cessation of infections and the purification of infected places and buildings. They announce their intention to restore trade, even if initially with restrictions.

The authorities of Gdańsk once again ask Lwów for assistance to Jan Guliński, associated with their gymnasium, in recovering his father's inheritance due to him. The majority of the estate is held by his brother-in-law, Jan Bulcz. They request the return of excessively seized shares without a trial and a prompt response to their previous intercession from nearly four months ago.

Gdańsk conveys complaints from its own merchants trading in Lwów: violation of ancient rights, fees, closing of warehouses, accusations of illicit agreements, and inspection of books despite a lack of evidence. It requests the removal of these abuses, reserving the right to appeal to the King. The veracity of the complaints is presented conditionally.

Gdańsk responds to Lwów's letter of February 13 regarding the incident of the gate closure. It expresses sympathy and hope for a settlement through the senators, provided that the city's rights and the magistrate's honor are preserved. It recommends consulting with the Crown Chancellor.

Gdańsk expresses sympathy to the Lwów magistrate for the injury inflicted upon the mayor. It doubts whether presenting the matter at the upcoming Sejm will yield the desired result, but leaves the choice to Lwów. It could not include the matter in the instructions for the Sejm because the regional diet (sejmik) in Starogard was broken off on August 27. It instructs its secretary in Warsaw to lobby dignitaries, especially the Crown Chancellor, for redress and the future security of the honor of magistrates.

The authorities of Gdańsk inform the Lwów magistrate about the introduction of a requirement for health certificates for all arriving persons and goods in connection with the spreading plague. They request that these regulations be announced among the citizens of Lwów and that joint steps be taken to prevent the epidemic.

Gdańsk recalls a previous warning regarding the plague in Hungary and Transylvania and conveys news about its onset in some nearby places in Poland. It demands reliable health certificates for travelers and goods, specifying the conditions for their issuance.

Following reports of a renewed plague outbreak in the Kingdom of Hungary, Gdańsk renews an ordinance issued approximately two years prior. The entry of persons and the admission of goods are made conditional upon the presentation of reliable documents proving origin from healthy places free from suspicion of infection.

Gdańsk reports on what it considers credible news regarding the onset of the plague in certain parts of Poland. It announces a requirement for documents of origin for persons and goods from healthy areas and requests Lwów to disseminate the ordinance and take preventive measures.

Gdańsk responds to the Lwów complaint of May 10th concerning the detention of the tailor Jan Koch after the expiration of his one-year contract. It cites a conflicting account from Princess Jabłonowska, Voivodess of Bracław: Koch is allegedly at liberty and free to return to Lwów at the beginning of September. The city does not adjudicate the matter, which is currently pending in royal courts.

The mayors of Gliniany confirm the receipt of Muscovite letters delivered from Lwów by the messenger Grzegorz Jurkiewicz and their dispatch to Biały Kamień. At the same time, they ask the Lwów authorities to grant the messenger full credibility.

The mayor and councilors of Gródek issue an official confirmation of the receipt of a royal mandate regarding a donation imposed on the city, delivered by a messenger of the Lwów councilors. The document was authenticated with a seal and the signature of the city notary.

The mayor and councilors of Drohobycz humbly request the authorities of Lwów to send the city executioner for an imprisoned criminal. They assure that the master of justice will be properly hosted, compensated, and sent back after the execution of the sentence.

Elbląg declares solidarity with the magistrate of Lwów 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 through that channel. It announces that the secretary, who is soon to depart for Warsaw, will be instructed to lobby the Grand Chancellor and other patrons for a favorable resolution of Lwów's case.

The town councilors describe the return of a reconnaissance unit from near Włodawa and announce the forwarding of testimonies from captured spies. They report a rumor of a success by the Lithuanian hetman as unconfirmed. They ask Lwów to keep its promise to respect the rights of Zamość regarding the collection of fees and the deposits of its inhabitants.

The town councilors convey a report from an envoy returning from the Lithuanian Hetman: news of the loss of Obuchowicz, commander of a reconnaissance unit consisting of five banners, his retreat, and his departure towards the Voivode of Ruthenia in the vicinity of Lublin. They inform about sending copies of correspondence, which is not present in the preserved unit.

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

The mayor and councilors of Kałusz confirm the receipt of a royal universal regarding a donation of one hundred thousand zlotys for the needs of the monarch and the state. They also confirm receipt of the attached letter from the municipal authorities of Lwów.

The councilors of Kamianets return to the correspondence and the royal resolution regarding the passage of caravans, merchants' goods, and the staple rights of Lviv. They request that the agreements be honored and that men be present to guard the merchants and goods. They mention an attached copy of a royal letter under their own seal; the detailed transit clauses remain partially illegible.

The magistrate of Kamieniec Podolski responds to a letter from the Lwów authorities regarding the runaway servants of the Grand Crown Chancellor. They assure that the commander of the local fortress has been informed and that they are ready to immediately apprehend the deserters should they appear in the city.

The Magistrate of Kamieniec certifies that Szymon Łaminoty [?], a municipal servant of Lviv, brought packages on carts 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; the uncertain part of the list was left with gaps.

The mayor and councilors of Kołomyja confirm the receipt of a royal universal regarding a donation to the Republic, delivered through the Lwów councilors. The issued certificate is to serve the Lwów authorities as proof of the proper fulfillment of duties toward the monarch and the state.

The Mayor and City Council of the Capital City of Kraków thank the Lwów authorities for the news sent and ask for more updates via the returning messenger. They declare their willingness to reciprocate the favor at the next opportunity.

Kraków requests the release of its burgher Ciamer from a second payment of the donativa in Lwów and the unsealing of his goods. It argues that the merchant has already paid in Kraków, and that the universal decrees exclude the collection of the same tribute again in another city. It also cites the merchant's account of established practice and his commercial losses.

Kraków claims that Scottish merchants are using royal rescripts and letters of protection to violate municipal trade laws, evade burdens, and avoid jurisdiction. It describes the case of the merchant Rijdt [?] and the seizure of his goods. It asks Lwów for joint action and the sharing of similar judicial rulings.

Kraków thanks Lwów for suspending the execution of the ruling regarding competing claims to the estate of the late Jan Nyżek [?], a shop assistant of Mrs. Węgrzynowiczowa. It informs about the dispatch of her legal representative and requests a fair examination of her claims.

Kraków presents the efforts of the Krakow Academy to have John Cantius recognized as a patron of the Kingdom of Poland, to move the date of his feast, and to establish a solemn octave. It asks Lwów to submit its own petition to the Pope and to send a copy to Krakow, enclosing its own submission as a model for the content.

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

The Magistrate of Kraków asks whether in Lwów beer may be brewed exclusively by members of the guild, or also by other burghers for their own needs and for sale. It requests the rules for collecting the tap tax and copies of laws or decrees granting the freedom of brewing and retail to citizens, rather than the guild. It also asks about the possibility of importing beer from other places for household needs.

King Casimir IV Jagiellon dismisses the renewed claims of Piotr Bączek and his son Jan against the Lviv councilors, ordering the plaintiffs to perpetual silence and releasing the councilors from the obligation to appear in this matter. The monarch simultaneously annuls any potential default judgments and forbids the harassment of the councilors or the seizure of their property.

The Magistrate of Kraków received news via post that 27 people died in three houses in Kamieniec within two weeks. They ask the Magistrate of Lwów for confirmation and more detailed information regarding the possible plague. They intend to seek ways to prevent its spread and encourage the recipients to exercise similar caution.

Kraków confirms receipt of an earlier letter from Lwów regarding a different, partially illegible matter. It then inquires about a rumor concerning two sudden deaths in the Lwów suburbs and symptoms of plague in other individuals. It demands honest information and protective measures against travelers to preserve the health of the inhabitants, the credibility of municipal certificates, and trade with Silesia.

The Magistrate of Kraków reports news from Hungary about a severe plague beyond the Tisza and Miskolc [?]. It requests Lwów to send letters to border towns, check passports and certificates of arrivals, and recommend guards and roadblocks on the roads.

Kraków warns that the plague in Hungary is approaching the Polish border and, according to recent reports, has appeared in the towns of Orava. There is concern regarding the movement of Hungarians, Polish vineyard workers, craftsmen, and deserters. The magistrate also reports that in Biały Dunajec, eight people died in two houses following the arrival of a digger, but no further deaths have been recorded there for five weeks. It advises Lwów to exercise caution and to warn the border towns.

Kraków refers to a rumor about the appearance of a plague on the Turkish border, in a town with an uncertain name. It asks Lwów for reliable information. For safety reasons, it announces the inspection of people arriving or passing through from that direction and the requirement of an authentic passport confirming their origin from a healthy area.

Kraków received Lviv's letter of August 5th along with the interrogation of Szewelier. The creditors do not demand his transfer, as he has no means to repay his debts. They are willing to reimburse the costs of his maintenance and the officials' work, but they do not intend to pay his Lviv debts.

The Magistrate of Kraków requests the search for and imprisonment of a Frenchman named Szewele, also known as Rytter, in Lwów. He is accused of defrauding creditors, fleeing with over seven hundred red zlotys, and abandoning his pregnant wife. Information regarding two previous wives is presented as a rumor.

The creditors did not find the expected money on the detainee. Kraków leaves the adjudication of debts and charges to the local court, requests an interrogation based on the attached questions, and asks for a certified record. The creditors promise to cover chancery fees and modest board from the beginning of the imprisonment.

Upon receiving the letter from the 26th of the previous month, the magistrate persuaded Chevalier's creditors to cover the costs of his board and the work of officials. It informs about the transfer of 282 tymfs via Stobkowski [?] and thanks Lwów for their efforts and expenses.

Kraków expresses gratitude for locating and imprisoning Szewela alias Rytter. It delays sending a man for the detainee because Lwów demanded the arrival of a commissioner and the coverage of local debts and costs. It requests an itemized list of these so that the messenger may arrive with the appropriate funds.

Kraków expresses gratitude for the Christmas and New Year wishes and responds regarding the Wrocław tymfs. It informs about the application of the universal of the Grand Treasurer of the Crown, according to which a tymf has an exchange rate of two Polish szóstaks, confirmed 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 reimbursement for the costs of transporting the letters.

The Magistrate of Kraków sends its citizen to obtain detailed information about contagious diseases spreading in Ruthenia, Ukraine, and Podolia. It asks Lwów to inform the envoy, detain travelers and merchants from plague-stricken areas, and verify passports and health certificates for travelers and goods. It demands that the authenticity of these documents be verified by an official signature and the city seal before allowing further passage.

Kraków has learned that Lviv sent two barber-surgeons to the vicinity of Tarnopol to verify reports of contagious diseases. They request a report on their findings in order to take precautionary measures in advance. The sender expresses hope that the rumor will not be confirmed.

Krosno explains that daily oppression by military companies made it impossible to quickly collect and send the donative. It mentions receiving news about the extension of the payment deadline to November 20 and asks Lwów for the greatest possible relief in their difficult situation.

The municipal authorities of Leżajsk acknowledge receipt of the royal universal delivered by the mayor and councilors of Lwów regarding a donation of one hundred thousand zlotys from the Ruthenian Voivodeship. They inform about the acceptance of the sixty-zloty quota imposed on the recently burned town.

The Moldavian Hospodar Stephen the Great guarantees the merchants of Lviv free entry and safe trade within the territory of Moldavia. He ensures the inviolability of their property and orders the collection of customs duties in accordance with the granted privileges.

Responding to an inquiry from Lviv, Lublin provides details on fees: one zloty for the voivode and three groszy for the deputy voivode per barrel of wine. No similar charges are indicated for other goods. It mentions levies on food brought from the countryside and contributions from merchants and guilds during the twice-yearly price-fixing process. It requests that the response remain confidential.