Source catalogue

Maintaining friendship and diplomatic contacts through envoys.

Order to hand over 3,000 florins or the maximum possible sum to Stanisław Orlik for the upcoming payment of wages to mercenaries serving in Podolia. The King promises repayment before Easter or earlier.

Order to issue four royal cannons stored in Lviv to Jan Mielecki to strengthen the Chmielnik castle against enemy attacks. The magistrate is released from liability for these cannons.

The King recalls two previous orders to protect the liberties and exemptions granted to Jews from Turkey through the intercession of the Turkish ruler. He demands their execution again, threatens a severe reaction, and requires the removal of the causes of complaints or a written explanation via the bearer.

Pope Boniface IX, at the request of the Archbishop of Halych, confirms the testamentary bequest of the late Anna, known as Komica, which grants a mill in Zboiska to the parish church of St. Mary in Lviv. The income from the annual lease of the mill, managed by the Lviv city councilors, is to be used for the maintenance and restoration of the church.

King Sigismund III Vasa informs the authorities of Lviv that the date of his wedding with Archduchess Constance of Austria has been set for October 30, 1605. The monarch calls upon the proconsul and councilors to send a municipal delegation to the wedding ceremonies in Kraków.

The King requests Cardinal Virginio Orsini to obtain a judicial commission from the Pope in a dispute between the Mayor of Lviv and the Franciscans. The dispute arises from the detention of a perpetrator of a fatal wounding and the challenging of secular jurisdiction on the grounds of alleged violation of ecclesiastical immunity.

Following raids by Tatars and Cossacks, the King entrusts the defense of Lwów to Jan Berens, lieutenant colonel of the Ruthenian Voivode's regiment. He orders the city to receive him with his soldiers, administer an oath, provide assistance in defense, and issue funds from the 'czopowe' (excise tax) for the garrison's needs. Expenses are to be settled against city taxes.

The Dominicans complain to the King about the cramped conditions of their church and monastery and the lack of a proper cemetery, which forces them to conduct burials by a public street. They request permission to purchase tenement houses adjacent to the church. The King orders a commission to be sent to resolve the disputed legal issues and demands the city's assistance without hindering the religious undertaking.

The King rebukes the neglect of guardianship over orphans and orders the appointment of guardians for Teresa, daughter of Bartłomiej Zimorowic, the preparation of an inventory, the auditing of accounts, the repayment of proven debts, and the preservation of the estate to ensure the girl's maintenance and upbringing.

August II praises Lviv's steadfast loyalty in the face of the enemy, announces the readiness of his troops, and orders appropriate sanctions against a physician named Altenberk, who for unknown reasons traveled to the King of Sweden under the guise of a diplomatic mission.

King Augustus II recommends to the authorities of Lviv Wojciech Urbański, a former mayor of Jarosław and a royal servitor who distinguished himself in the defense against enemy troops. The monarch urges the magistracy to appoint him to the vacant office of Lviv city councillor after Urbański has been granted city rights.

The Emperor congratulates the Polish cavalry on their victory over the Turks and Tatars on the Dniester and on the spoils taken. He gives thanks to God and expresses hope that the success will be completed by the recovery of Kamianets.

The Council of Basel confirms the grant and incorporation of the cathedral parish in Lviv, along with a water mill and a hide of land under the High Castle, to the Lviv Cathedral Chapter, previously made by Archbishop Jan Rzeszowski. The document confirms the Chapter's rights in the face of a dispute caused by the unlawful seizure of these goods by the subsequent archbishop, Jan Odrowąż.

The Duke of Courland, Ferdinand Kettler, addresses the Voivode of Ruthenia, Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski, requesting his support for a letter directed to the nobility and senators of the Ruthenian Voivodeship during the pre-sejmik assemblies. He appeals for the use of the Voivode's authority to save and liberate the Duchies of Courland and Semigallia and the Piltene District from Swedish occupation.

The document abolishes the newly introduced, unlawful customs duty in Kolomyia for Lviv burghers and other merchants, while simultaneously regulating and confirming the traditional customs rates collected in Sniatyn. Jan of Czyżów orders the Starosta of Kolomyia and Sniatyn, Michał Myszło, to strictly observe these provisions.

The authorities of Old Warsaw request verification of rumors regarding a plague in the vicinity of Kamianets-Podilskyi. They do not consider the reports confirmed, despite information from several sources. They seek reliable news to ensure the health safety of their city in time.

King Władysław of Varna grants the authorities and commonalty of the city of Lwów permission to erect a new school within the city walls at the Holy Spirit Church hospital. Furthermore, he grants the councilors the exclusive right to appoint and dismiss teachers and to manage the school.

The authorities of Old Warsaw declare solidarity with other magistrates in defense of rights and justice. They inform that the Warsaw land sejmik concluded at the stage of electing the marshal. They assure of their attempt to gain the support of other lands and voivodeships for the addressees' postulates.

Warsaw is engaged in a dispute before the Radom Tribunal against the Warsaw land regarding the 'szelężne' and 'czopowe' taxes imposed on foreign wines. It asks Lviv for official confirmation of whether it pays these taxes and at what rates per barrel of Hungarian wine, hogshead of French wine, and other beverages.

A response to a letter dated March 23, 1763, regarding currency exchange rates. The Magistrate of Warsaw explains that the conversion table issued by the Grand Treasurer of the Crown, which has been promulgated in all castles and cities, is binding. Municipal authorities are not authorized to independently determine the differences between types of coins.

The Magistrate of Warsaw encourages Lwów to send delegates to the upcoming extraordinary Sejm. It proposes a joint agreement on postulates and the defense of municipal rights, citing the expected assistance of the King and the greater effectiveness of concerted action by all cities.

In response to a request for information regarding the joint glazier and tinsmith guild, the magistrate of Old Warsaw informs about the issuance of an authenticated copy of its articles. It states that the statute was granted by the magistrate, subsequently approved by Polish kings, and the copy was compared with the original.

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.

Land Judge Jan Gołąbek and Deputy Judge Ścibor of Wisznia certify the testimony of Dorota, wife of Szymek of Bóbrka, who acknowledged that her father, Jan of Zubrza, had satisfied her claims regarding her paternal and maternal inheritance. In exchange for the compensation received, Dorota renounced, on behalf of herself and her successors, all further property claims.

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.

Pope Eugene IV instructs the Bishop of Chełm to investigate the matter and authorize the authorities and citizens of Lviv to build and maintain a school for boys at the Church of the Holy Spirit, as well as to appoint and dismiss its rector, in accordance with a previous privilege granted by King Władysław. The document confirms the city's rights regarding the municipal educational institution.

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 councilors of Dolyna confirm the receipt of the royal universal and the protestation of the Lviv magistrate concerning the collection of the enacted parliamentary donation. They declare that they have informed the commoners about the imposition of a sum of two hundred zlotys on the town and have set the deadline for its transfer for May 15.

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 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 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.

Following a reduction in the value of currency, the Podolian Voivodeship established a commission to set prices for goods and equipment. Merchants requested a postponement for submitting their registers and closed their shops. The commission ordered sales at half the previous price. The magistrates of Kamieniec requested information from Lwów regarding a similar tariff; the final resolution remains open.

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 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.

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.