Source catalogue

Maintaining friendship and diplomatic contacts through envoys.

A letter to the magistrate and residents of Lwów. Khmelnytsky declares that he did not desire the shedding of Christian blood, mentions the defeat of the Crown forces at Gródek, and demands a swift response and submission. The exact wording of several sentences requires further reading.

Postponement of the response until the following day after a night council with all the military elders; summons for the city delegation to return as early as possible in the morning.

News about the capture of Kraków by the Swedes; assurance of an alliance between the Cossacks, Muscovy, and the Swedes, and information regarding the dispatch of Mikołaj Grodzicki for negotiations.

Letter of recommendation for Pavlo Teteria, scribe of the Zaporozhian Host, traveling to the King; a request for kindness and assistance from the Mayor.

Duke Władysław Opolczyk promises the inhabitants and cities of Ruthenia compensation for any losses in the event of an armed invasion by Queen Jadwiga and guarantees that he will not appoint a Hungarian as governor of these lands. He also establishes a procedure for the amicable settlement of the Polish Queen's rights to Ruthenia by selected dukes and lords of the Empire.

Order to issue three cannons to Jan Tarnowski to supply the royal castle in Stryi. One of the cannons is described as weighing two centners.

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.

Following news of a Tatar invasion of the lands of Ruthenia and Podolia, the King dispatches Jan Tarnowski and orders the magistrate to provide him with smaller cannons, weapons, and gunpowder. He announces that he himself will soon follow.

Order to issue three royal cannons to Jan Tarnowski for the castles in Lubaczów and Stryj. They were previously entrusted to the city by Sigismund I during the expedition against the Moldavian voivode named Bogdan.

Sigismund III instructs the authorities of Lwów to hand over the quarter money collected at the town hall to Jakub Pretfic, Starosta of Trembowla, for the pay of the Lower Cossacks. He demands assistance in the rapid dispatch and the provision of horses for transporting the money to Trembowla.

King Sigismund III Vasa thanks the authorities of Lwów for transferring the 'kwarta' funds to the Starosta of Trembowla, Jakub Pretwicz, for the pay of the Nizhyn Cossacks. He also informs them of an order issued to the royal chancellery to prepare a security document guaranteeing the city's legal safety.

Renewed intervention against individuals usurping the status of soldiers and attacking noble and royal estates. The King orders the addressee to cooperate with Jerzy Mniszech; a previous demand to redress grievances and disperse the group was not fulfilled.

King Sigismund III Vasa orders the authorities and the commonalty of Lwów to urgently fortify the city and stockpile ammunition and food in the face of impending danger. He also instructs them to coordinate all defensive actions with the Hetman and the Starosta in view of the monarch's imminent arrival.

King Sigismund III Vasa calls upon the authorities and residents of Lwów to prepare for defense against the approaching threat from pagan forces. At the same time, he informs them that he has entrusted the supreme command and authority over the defense to the Starosta of Lwów, ordering the magistrate to cooperate closely with him.

The Starosta of Lwów, Florian of Korytnica, certifies the sale of half of the Zubrza estate by Stanisław to Jan of Zubrza for the sum of eighty kop of groschen. The possession of these goods entails the obligation to provide a foot archer for military expeditions.

The King reprimands Lwów for failing to send representatives to the parliamentary commission tasked with setting prices. Arguments sent in writing should have been presented by delegates. Separately, he assures the supervision of commissioners over the conduct of soldiers and orders the authorities to ensure the safety of the city.

The King authorizes the use of cash from the deposit of the Voivode of Kiev to cover the shortfall in military funding. The release requires security provided by the commissioners and the consent of the Crown Subchamberlain as tutor; jewels and other items are to remain in the deposit.

The Prince orders the release of two cannons entrusted to the city to Stanisław Kazanowski, requests a short-term loan of 200 cannonballs and the necessary amount of gunpowder, and asks for assistance with transport.

The King orders the starosta to provide timber from the starostwo forests for palisades and wooden defensive obstacles. He demands effective assistance to the magistrate in collecting fortification contributions from the residents of noble and ecclesiastical houses as well.

In view of the threat from enemies, the King is sending artillery and equipment to Lviv. He requests the temporary storage of gunpowder, cannonballs, and equipment in the city arsenal, as well as a plot of land for a royal arsenal according to the plan of Paweł Grodziecki.

King John Casimir instructs Voivode Stanisław Lanckoroński to chair a commission receiving accounts from the burghers of Lwów regarding the 'czopowe' tax funds intended for fortifications. At the same time, the monarch exempts the residents of Lwów and the estates under his jurisdiction from the duty of sending infantry to the 'pospolite ruszenie' (levy in mass), ordering the men to be kept on-site as a city garrison.

King John Casimir thanks the authorities of Lwów for their loyalty to the Crown and promises compensation for the war losses incurred. He also orders the organization, together with the governor, of winter clothing for the stationed soldiers, assuring them of the reimbursement of the funds spent from the state treasury.

The King thanks Lviv for its resistance against the troops of the Voivode of Transylvania and requests a loan of 100,000 zlotys. The security for the loan is to be the customs revenues collected via lease; the Treasurer will provide the details.

King John Casimir calls upon the mayor and councilors of Lwów to immediately organize carts for the artillery equipment left in the city and to send it to the royal troops, guaranteeing payment for the drivers by the General of Artillery. The monarch warns the magistrate of severe consequences and responsibility before the Commonwealth in the event of delays that could jeopardize the expedition.

The King again orders the authorities of Lviv to provide the necessary number of carters to transport the ammunition remaining in the city. The captain of artillery is to pay in cash. The King threatens that any further delay will be considered as the city's obstinacy and will result in execution against the persons and property of the authorities.

King John Casimir informs the authorities of Lwów of the appointment of the Lwów 'wojski' Olewiński to the command of the city and the castle in order to ensure public safety. He orders the magistrate to cooperate closely with the new commander and to unconditionally submit to his orders.

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.

King Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki orders the Grand Crown Hetman Jan Sobieski to urgently appoint a suitable commander and garrison for the defense of Lwów against the enemy. He also obliges him to ensure that the city's revenues from the 'czopowe' tax are fully transferred to the fortifications and defensive supplies of the city.

The King assures the city of his knowledge of Lwów's loyalty and his efforts against the enemy. He informs that he has ordered the Hetman to immediately assign an appropriate garrison and commander to the city and to ensure that the 'czopowe' tax is used for fortifications. He announces his own arrival, which depends on the assembly of the pospolite ruszenie (levy in mass).

King Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki orders the Ruthenian Voivode Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski to stop the looting and lawlessness of two district expedition banners that are burdensome to the residents of the suburbs of Lwów. The monarch notes that the soldiers are already receiving pay and should be supplied from the surrounding estates in accordance with the laws of war, without oppressing the poor population.

The King orders both commissions to cooperate in recovering the silver of the Zhovkva church, which was taken from the deposit in the Lviv Cathedral during the Turkish siege. The items or their fair equivalent must be recovered, and those guilty of illegal trade in them must be judged.

Peter, custodian and administrator sede vacante of the Archdiocese of Lviv, transsumes a letter from the Council of Basel and orders the clergy of the diocese to announce the indulgences contained therein and to collect funds for the union with the Greeks.

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 appeals to the senators, dignitaries, and nobility of the Ruthenian Voivodeship for the immediate abolition of the 'szelężne' tax in Lwów. The monarch motivates his request by the extreme impoverishment of the city caused by enemy invasions, contributions, and the plague epidemic.

King Augustus II recommends Wojciech Urbański, former mayor of Jarosław and a royal servitor distinguished in the defense against enemy troops, to the authorities of Lwów. The ruler calls upon the magistrate to appoint him to the vacant office of Lwów councilor once Urbański has been granted city rights.

The Magistrate of Brody complains about the detention of goods and the collection of tolls by the people of Lwów. According to the complaint, several dozen armed men detained merchants' cattle in Toporów, demanding 1,300 PLN; later, in Lwów, 300 PLN was taken for detained goods. A request to the Crown Standard-Bearer for the protection of the city's privileges.

Pope Nicholas V, acceding to the request of King Casimir Jagiellon, issues instructions to the Archbishop of Lviv and other Polish hierarchs in the face of the threat from the Tatars. The document concerns the granting of indulgences and ecclesiastical ordinances in connection with the struggle against the invaders.

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.

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 Magistrate asks its envoys for intervention and advice regarding municipal forests, labor duties, Ruthenians operating taverns, confiscated fish, real estate, pastures, transport services, an investigation into debts owed to Gdańsk merchants, and rumors about Tatars. The second part reports on a dispute over the execution of a court ruling concerning a mill, the deposit of a sum of 1500, and the objections of the Hinek family and Sieradzki. The authors complain about the conduct of the deputy starosta and the lack of permanent legal assistance; they announce further documents and send a copy of a letter from the Wisznia sejmik.

The councilors and commonalty of Lwów submit a declaration to the Hetman concerning the college. The preserved paragraph mentions a royal consent/decision and contains a request regarding a school or schoolmaster (reading uncertain), but not all conditions of the city's position can be read with certainty. A note on the reverse side provides the date November 16, 1607, and states that the Hetman was not satisfied and returned the letter with anger.

The city councilors send Wachlowicz a letter from the Crown Instigator and instruct him to follow his advice in the dispute with the Starosta of Łomża. They also ask him to learn the Instigator's opinion on the Tatar sum and to ensure the lawsuit is filed. Postscripts mention the delivery of documents and messenger costs; parts of them remain unread.

King Casimir IV Jagiellon grants the nobleman Albert Borowski the sum of 200 Polish marks on the royal villages of Kozłów, Kropiwna, Grodzisko, Olszanka, and Taurów in the Trembowla district as a reward for his services and exposure to danger during the threat of a Tatar invasion. These estates are to remain in the possession of Borowski and his successors until the sum is fully redeemed by the monarch.

In view of the enemy approaching the city, the councilors of Lwów ask the Starosta of Grabowiec, Marek Matczyński, for his support with the Grand Crown Hetman. They desire the dispatch of soldiers with prepared means for their maintenance, a capable commander, and assistance in purchasing ammunition and food, including from the city's excise taxes on beer and spirits. They also request letters to the land officials to immediately release tax funds for the city's urgent needs.

The councilors of Lviv request the Hetman to protect the municipal villages of Zubra and Sichiv and to exempt their subjects from the forced transport of oak timber. They argue that the villages have already been devastated by the military and that the remaining inhabitants may flee. They suggest employing artillery carters, who possess the necessary horses and wagons.

The authorities of Przemyśl request transcripts from the Lwów books concerning royal rulings in the dispute between the magistrate and the commonalty: exemption from all contributions and the assessment of the community's charges against the magistrate. They are interested in records pertaining to the authority of the municipal office. They promise gratitude and future payment to the scribe for his work.

The mayors and council of Świecie complain about almost daily marches of soldiers and the announced arrival of a unit of 90 horses of dragoons, coming from Hungary for winter quartering by order of the Voivode of Inowrocław. They refer to information from the leaseholder and a previous provision, the verb for which remains unread. They ask Jan Jabłonowski for help in the face of the city's impending ruin and the destitution of its inhabitants.

The town of Świecie renews its complaint against soldiers, reporting losses of five hundred zlotys for the town and 58 zlotys and 20 groszy for the mayor in confiscated goods. It asks Jan Jabłonowski to ensure these losses are considered and deducted during the payment of soldiers' wages at the general commission in Lviv. Separately, it requests a permit to obtain timber from the Świecie starosty forest for a bridge threatened by ice after a harsh winter; the leaseholder refuses to accept previous permits.