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132/1/247 · 247-106

Letter from J. C. de Baluze to the Voivode of Volhynia with political news

J. C. de Baluze Monseigneur Le Palatin de Volhynie [Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski]
26. Mars 1697 · Warsaw

J. C. de Baluze reports to the Voivode of Volhynia on current political and military events, including the collapse of the confederation and the successes of the French fleet. He also conveys news about the journey of the Elector of Brandenburg, diplomats in Delft, and the improvement in the health of the Castellan of Kraków.

AI-assisted edition. Readings must be checked against the original.

Translation / modern text

[P. 106] In Warsaw, March 26, 1697 My Lord, I thank Your Excellency most humbly for the letter with which you honored me by the last post. From general rumors, I have already learned of the lamentable end of the confederation. May God deign to remedy [...] [P. 107] this misfortune, which seems to raise fears of very unpleasant consequences. News confirms the capture of a Spanish warship by royal ships. It is reported that it contained six hundred thousand piastres in cash, as well as a significant quantity of cocoa, and that it was armed with 50 bronze cannons. It is also said that Mr. Jean Bart captured about thirty merchant ships off the Spanish coast [P. 108] Some claim that this happened independently of the capture of 22 vessels by privateers from Dunkirk, which were sailing from Ireland to Ostend or from Ostend to Ireland. The Elector of Brandenburg passed through Gdańsk on the 21st of this month incognito on his way to Königsberg, accompanied by his ministers and a company of guards. They say that this retinue was numerous and that His Electoral Highness requested the city authorities not to pay him any [P. 109] honors, which was complied with. [...] The French plenipotentiaries have already departed, and since that is so, they should have arrived in Delft by now. I learned with great joy that His Excellency the Castellan of Kraków feels strong enough to go out. This is a sign of good health, for which I praise God with all my heart. With respect, I remain, My Lord, Your Excellency's most humble and most obedient servant, J. C. de Baluze They say that this night the sheds were set on fire and that those who committed it were apprehended. [P. 110, address:] To His Excellency the Voivode of Volhynia, in Lwów.

Original wording — transcription

[S. 106] a Varsovie le 26. Mars 1697 Monseigneur Je remercie treshumblement V[ostre] E[xcellence] de la lettre dont elle m'a honnorée par la derniere poste, j'avois desja appris par le bruit public, la fin deplorable de la Confoedera- tion, Dieu veuille mettre ordre à v.[?] [S. 107] un Inconvenient, qui semble faire craindre des huïtes tres facheuses. Les nouvelles confirment la prise d'un vaisseau de guerre Espagnol, par ceux du Roy; Elles disent qu'il y avoit dedans six cent mille piastres contant, et outre cela une quantité de Cacao. Et qu'il estoit monté de 50. pie- ces de canon de fonte. On dit encore que m[onsieu]r Jean Barth a pris sur les costes Espagnolles une trientaine de vaisseaux [S. 108] marchands; il y en a qui soustien- nent que c'est outre la prise de 22. navires que les armateurs de Dunkerque ont faite, ils venoient d'Irlande ou Ostende, ou d'Ostende en Irlande. M[onsieu]r L'Electeur de Brandebourg passa par Dantzic le 21. de ce mois incognito pour Cönigsberg, Estant suivi de ses ministres, et d'une compagnie de ses gardes; on dit que cette suitte estoit nombreuse, et que S[on] A[ltesse] E[lectorale] a prié c[eux] de la ville de ne luy faire aucuns [S. 109] honneurs, elle a esté obëi. [En outre?] Les plenipotentiaires francois estoint desja partis, cela estant ils doivent estre arrivez a Delft à l'heure qu'il est. J'ay appris avec beaucoup de plaisir que S[on] E[xcellence] M[onsieu]gr Le Castellan de Cracovie se trouve en Estat de sortir, c'est une marque que la santé est bonne, j'en loüe Dieu de tout mon coeur. Je suis avec respect Monseigneur De vostre Excellence Le treshumble et tres obeïssant serviteur J. C. de Baluze [Dopisek obok podpisu:] On dit que l'on avoit mis cette nuit le feu au szopas, et qu'on a pris ceux qui ont fait ce coup la. [S. 110, adres:] A Son Excellence Monseigneur Le Pa- latin de Volhynie a Leopol.

Reading notes

On p. 106 archival/sequential numbering '63', on p. 108 '73 / 64', on p. 110 (envelope/address) '65'. In the postscript on p. 109, the word 'szopas' (from Polish 'szopy' - sheds). The recipient is Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski, then Voivode of Volhynia (his father, Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski, mentioned in the letter, was the Castellan of Kraków).

Scope of the edition: Automatic reading (October 15, 2026), not verified against the original by a human; illegible fragments marked [...].

ekstrakcja: 2026-10-15 · model: gemini-3.8-flash

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  9. Letter from J. G. de Baluze to Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski on the Savoyard peace · [Polish; translation pending] [Polish; translation pending] 25 juillet 1696
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  11. Letter from J. C. de Baluze to Janusz Jabłonowski on the Savoyard truce · [Polish; translation pending] [Polish; translation pending] 16. aoust 1696
  12. Letter from J. G. de Baluze to Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski on the situation in Italy · [Polish; translation pending] [Polish; translation pending] 25 października 1696
  13. Letter from J. G. de Baluze to the Volhynian Voivode with European news · [Polish; translation pending] [Polish; translation pending] 5 listopada 1696
  14. Intercepted letters of the Voivode of Vitebsk and conflicting reports on the fighting of the confederates · 1696-11-08
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  19. Excerpt from a Hamburg newspaper: armament of the de Pointis squadron and rumors regarding the expedition's destination · 1696-12-05 [year from the cover letter]
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