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132/1/88 · 88-02

Prohibition of assisting in customs evasion and obstructing the work of the Lviv customs office

Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki Mayor, councilors, and the entire magistracy of the city of Lviv
January 20, 1670 · Warsaw

The King accuses the authorities of Lviv of supporting individuals who harm customs revenues, driving away guards, and allowing goods to pass without clearance. He orders the prevention of such abuses and the punishment of merchants acting under the protection of lords. He threatens proceedings by the Crown Instigator before the royal court.

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Translation / modern text

Michael, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, Kiev, Smolensk, Podolia, Podlachia, and Chernihiv. Nobly born, our faithful and beloved! It has recently been reported to us from the Lviv customs office that, instead of punishing arbitrary individuals who harm our treasury in customs matters upon the report of customs officials, you assist them through municipal subordinates against our servants and order the use of force. This happened recently when you assigned municipal servants from the town hall to a certain Tołosko [surname uncertain] and ordered him to be brought into the city with goods by force without paying customs duties or reporting to our Lviv customs office, dispersing our guards from the places they have a right to occupy. In this way, you have violated the laws of the Crown and provoked our great indignation. Furthermore, you often hinder the collection of customs duties. You take merchants of various nationalities under your protection, order the gates to be opened for them contrary to custom, and let them in with goods not declared at the office, to the detriment of the treasury. If this is found to happen again, and you do not prevent these abuses and do not punish those who, under the protection of various lords, sell goods openly or secretly to the detriment of customs revenues, we will take further steps. If you do not treat our officials and customs servants better and do not administer justice, we will order the Crown Instigator to proceed against you as violators of public laws before our court. We wish you good health from the Lord God. Given in Warsaw, January 20, 1670, in the first year of our reign. Michael, King. Address: To the nobly born and distinguished mayor, councilors, and the entire magistracy of our city of Lviv, our faithful and beloved.

Original wording — transcription

Michał z Bożey łaski Krol Polski, Wielkie Xiąże Litewskie, Ruskie, Pruskie, Mazowieckie, Żmudzkie, Inflantskie, Kiiowskie, Smolenskie, Podolskie, Podlaskie y Czerniechowskie. Szlachetni Wiernie Nam mili. Doniesiono to niedawno do Uszu Naszych z Komory Celney Lwowskiey, że Wier[ności] Wasze, cobyście mieli z ludzi Swawolnych y Skarb Nasz w Interessach Celnych szkodzących ex delatione Officialistow Celnych karać, to ieszcze Wier[ności] Wasze per familiam Civilem naprzeciw Sługom Naszym pomocy dodaiecie y gwałt czynić rozkazui[e]cie. Jako się to niedawnego czasu stało, gdy nieiakiemu Tołoskowi [nazwisko niepewne] z Ratusza Czeladzi Mieyskiey przydawszy, gwałtem do Miasta z Towarem iego bez zapłacenia Cła y nieopowiedzi na Komorze Naszey Celney Lwowskiey wprowadzić rozkazaliście, rozegnawszy Strażnikow Cełł Naszych z mieysc ich Uprzywileiowanych. W czym iako nietylko Prawa Koronne zgwałciliście, ale y Nas do Wielkiey Urazy naprzeciw sobie pobudzili. A że oprocz tego często się y to trafia, co Wier[ności] Wasze rożne przeszkody w Exactiach Celnych czynicie y pod protektię ludzi Kupieckich Nacyi rożnych bierzecie, onym bramy nad zwyczay otwierać każecie y na szkodę Skarbową nieopowiedzianych na Komorze z Towarami wpuszczać rozkazui[e]cie. Więc ieżeli to ieszcze na Wier[nościach] W[aszych] pokaże się y temu wszystkiemu niezabieżycie y tych karać między sobą niebędziecie, ktorzy też pod Protektię Panow rożnych z Towarami swemi podpadszy, na szkodę Celną one publice y clandestine przedawaią; nadto ieżeli Officialistow y Sług Naszych Celnych w lepszey obserwatiey mieć Wier[ności] W[asze] niebędą y z tego z Iedynka [grafia niepewna; w odpisie z Iedynka] sprawiedliwości nieuczynią, tedy naprzeciw Wier[nościom] W[aszym], iako contra Violatores Legum publicarum, Urodzonemu Instigatorowi Koronnemu in foro Nostro czynić rozkażemy. Przytym zdrowia dobrego Wier[nościom] W[aszym] od Pana Boga życzemy. Dan w Warszawie Dnia XX M[iesią]ca Stycznia Roku Pańskiego M.D.C.LXX, Panowania Krolestwa Naszego Pierwszego Roku. [Podpis:] Michał Krol. [Adres:] Nobilibus et Spectabilibus Proconsuli, Consulibus totiq[ue] Magistratui Civitatis N[ost]rae Leopoliensis, Fidelibus Nobis dilectis. [Adnotacja:] Michał Krol. Warszawa 20/1 1670. [Odpis s.4–5 powtarza treść i adres; podpis m.p.]

Reading notes

All five pages reviewed; a full later copy was compared with the original. Date stamp and annotation consistent. The surname of the person brought in without clearance appears to be Tołosko, but the reading remains tentative. The uncertainty of the phrase before »justice is not done« has been preserved, without adding the guilty party. Ex delatione — upon report, per familiam civilem — through municipal service, exactiae celne — customs collection, publice et clandestine — openly and secretly, contra violatores legum publicarum — against violators of public laws, in foro nostro — before our royal court. The complaints and allegations are the author's account, not an independent finding by the translator. The type or value of the goods was not added. Transcription partially organized.

Location in scan: 132/1/88, PDF p.2: letter; p.3: address and seal; pp.4–5: later copy; p.1: cover.

Notes on translation (transferred from text): one phrase before »justice« is locally uncertain.

Scope of the edition: modernization of the entire letter and address; local uncertainty of a surname

ekstrakcja: 2026-10-13

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