Confirmation by Sigismund II Augustus of the prohibition on the acquisition of real estate in Lviv by the nobility and clergy

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AMEN. For the eternal memory of the matter. We, SIGISMUND AUGUST, by the grace of God King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and also lord and heir of the lands of Kraków, Sandomierz, Sieradz, Kuyavia, Łęczyca, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Chełmno, Elbląg, and Pomerania, etc. We hereby announce by this our letter to all and each individually, both present and future, who shall come to know of this. That there has been presented to us by certain of our advisors, on behalf of the illustrious mayor and councilors of our city of Lviv, an intact and suspicion-free parchment letter of the most serene King Władysław regarding the freedom [from the prohibition] of not acquiring real estate in the city of Lviv by the nobility, landowners, or clergy after someone's death and departure from this world, with a request directed to us that we deign to confirm it with our royal authority. The words of this letter are as follows: “In the name of the Lord, amen. For the eternal memory of the matter. We, WŁADYSŁAW, by the grace of God King of Hungary, Poland, Dalmatia, Croatia, Rascia, etc., and also lord and heir of the lands of Kraków, Sandomierz, Sieradz, Łęczyca, Kuyavia, supreme Duke of Lithuania, Pomerania, and Ruthenia. We announce by this wording to those whom it concerns, to all present and future who shall come to know of this. That, directing the eyes of our royal grace toward our city of Lviv, which more than others borders on pagan enemies, we have decided to surround it with such care that it may not suffer oppression in any of its parts, through which it could fall into ruin. And since it happens very often that through the death and departure of the city's inhabitants, inheritances, houses, and other such real estate fall and pass by right of proximity or any other inheritance to the benefit of the nobility, landowners, or clergy, therefore in such cases we absolutely wish that the nobility, landowners, and clergy be obliged and in every way compelled to sell such inheritances, houses, and other real estate established under city law, which have fallen or may fall to them by any inheritance, whether by reason of succession from relatives or by testamentary legacy, within one year under city law, so that such inheritances or real estate, situated in the city or under city law, do not suffer decay, destruction, or any greater decline, through which the city would become deserted and lose its perfection. However, it shall be permitted for those nobility, landowners, or clergy to dispose of the payment for such real estate, sold or to be sold by them, according to their own discretion, as they find most useful; and this custom we wish and hereby preserve for the burghers and our city of Lviv for all time, and we command our successors to observe it firmly and inviolably. In witness of this letter, to which one seal is attached. Done in Buda, on the nearest Saturday after the feast of the Dispersion of the Apostles, in the Year of the Lord one thousand four hundred and forty-four. In the presence there of the magnificent, venerable, and well-born: Lawrence of Hedervár, Palatine of the Kingdom of Hungary, Mikołaj Lasocki, Canon of Kraków, Łukasz of Górka, Voivode [of Poznań], Jan Gruszczyński, Canon, Bieniak Bandlewski, Standard-bearer of Poznań, Piotr of Szamotuły, and many others. Given by the hands of the venerable Jan Rzeszowski, Provost of St. Michael at the Kraków Castle, our future protonotary and keeper of the seal, dear to us. Relation of the venerable Jan Rzeszowski, the said Provost of St. Michael at the Kraków Castle.” We, King SIGISMUND AUGUST, approve, ratify, and confirm the above-included letter of King Władysław in all its conditions, clauses, and articles. Deciding that no one from the nobility, landowners, and clergy may possess or hold houses or any movable goods [!] in our city of Lviv and under the jurisdiction of this city, wherever situated, but ought and is obliged to sell them to none other than the people of the jurisdiction of the city of Lviv within one year from taking possession of such real estate, for all time. And in [...] And since it is not uncommon in practice that some of the Lviv burghers fall into extreme poverty and become entangled in debts, and their creditors [...] that right of theirs, seek payment of their debts, and frequently the debts exceed the value of such real estate; and some increase such debts on the proper[...] fourfold in relation to the value of the goods, so that under this pretext the goods cannot be redeemed by relatives or the Lviv burghers themselves; and in this way, people of foreign jurisdiction intrude into the possession of the city's goods and real estate [...] inside Lviv. Therefore, we have decided, which from now on for all time is to be observed, that no Lviv burgher or inhabitant of their jurisdiction is permitted from now on to encumber with a mortgage or in any way record the value of their real estate for a higher sum of money. If, however, any nobleman, landowner, or clergyman, or a person of foreign jurisdiction should ever acquire the real estate of any Lviv burgher – whether by way of succession or inheritance, by right of mortgage or record, or by any other means – they shall be obliged to sell it within a year to a person of the Lviv jurisdiction, and this for the reason that before these goods are encumbered with a mortgage or debt, the magistrate of the city of Lviv ought, under an oath taken to the office, to truly, justly, and legally [by laws?] tax and estimate these goods. And according to such an estimate, they shall be obliged to sell them within a year either to relatives or to other people of the Lviv jurisdiction. If, however, neither a relative nor anyone from the Lviv jurisdiction buys these goods within a year, then only will the possessor – nobleman, landowner, or clergyman – be permitted to possess them peacefully, yet not for a greater sum than that for which they were taxed, and to use them for as long as either a relative or a burgher of the Lviv jurisdiction redeems them for the same sum of money. In witness of this letter, to which our seal is attached. Given in Lublin at the general assembly, on the Monday after Jubilate Sunday, in the Year of the Lord one thousand five hundred and fifty-four, and in the fifteenth year of our reign. In the presence of the fathers in Christ, the magnificent, well-born, and venerable: Andrzej Zebrzydowski of Kraków, Jan Dziaduski of Włocławek, Jakub Uchański of Chełm, bishops of the churches; Stanisław, Count in Lublin [Tęczyński], of Sandomierz, Lublin, Bełz; Mikołaj Tarło of Chorzelów, of Kalisz, Szydłowiec, Opatowiec; Andrzej of Kościelec, of Łęczyca, Bydgoszcz; Andrzej, Count of Tęczyn, of Lublin, voivodes, and of Rohatyn, Szamotuły; Władysław Maciejowski of Sandomierz, Marshal of our Kingdom, and of Luboml, Zawichost; Erazm of Kretków, of Gniezno and Ląd; Florian Zebrzydowski of Lublin; Filip of Brzeziny, of Rawa; Spytek Jordan of Zakliczyn, of Sandomierz, Treasurer of our Kingdom, [...] of Kamieniec; Sebastian of Mielec, of Wiślica; Marcin Dembiński, of Biecz; Jan Lutosławski, of Brzeziny, Treasurer of our court, Burggrave of Kraków; Jan of Przedbórz, of Radom, Łęczyca; Jan of Ocieszyce, Grand Chancellor of our Kingdom, Starosta of Kraków, Sącz, and Olsztyn, Chamberlain and Burggrave of Kraków; Jan Przerębski, Vice-Chancellor of our Kingdom, Provost of Kraków, Gniezno, and St. Florian outside the walls of Kraków; Jerzy Podosowski, Canon of Kraków, Chancellor of the most serene Lady Catherine, Queen, our dearest spouse; Jan Strokowski, Courtier of Sieradz, referendaries of our court, and many other dignitaries and our officials, witnesses to the above. Given by the hands of the same magnificent Jan of Ocieszyce, Grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland, Starosta of Kraków, Sącz, and Olsztyn, Chamberlain and Burggrave of Kraków. [Chancery note on the left:] Jan Ocieski, Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland, signed with his own hand. [Chancery note on the right:] Relation of the magnificent Jan of Ocieszyce, Grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland, Starosta of Kraków, Sącz, and Olsztyn, Chamberlain and Burggrave of Kraków. [Verso:] [Note 1:] Of Władysław of Varna and Sigismund Augustus on the taxing of hereditary houses... 1444 and 1554 [Note 2:] Third rubric, letter C, no. 72. Chest 1, no. 25. [Ownership mark / monogram:] CH [Other old signatures:] 197 f. 7., Nro 66., 8. C. 12.

IN NOMINE DOMINI AMEN Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Nos SIGISMVNDVS AVGVSTVS Dei gratia Rex Poloniae, magnus Dux Lithuaniae, necnon terrarum Cracoviae, Sandomiriae, Siradiae, Cuiaviae, Lanciciae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Culmensis, Elbingensis, Pomeraniaeq[ue] etc. Dominus et Haeres. Significamus praesentibus literis nostris vniversis et singulis tam praesentibus quam futuris harum notitiam habituris. Exhibitas esse nobis per certos Consiliarios nostros, nomine famosorum proconsulis et Consulum Civitatis n[ost]rae Leopolien[sis] literas pergamineas serenissimi Wladislai Regis super immunitatem non obtinendorum bonorum immobilium in Civitate Leopoliensi per nobiles, terrigenas vel spirituales personas, post mortem et decessum alienitus, integras omniq[ue] prorsus suspitionis nota carentes. Supplicatumq[ue] nobis fuisse, vt eas authoritate n[ost]ra Regia confirmare dignaremur. Quarum quidem literarum verba sunt haec: In nomine Domini amen. Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Nos VLADISLAVS Dei gratia Hungariae, Poloniae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Rasciae etc. Rex, necnon terrarum Cracoviae, Sandomiriae, Siradiae, Lanciciae, Cuiaviae, Lithuaniae Princeps Supremus, Pomeraniae, Russiaeq[ue] Dominus et Haeres. Significamus praesentibus tenore quibus expedit vniversis praesentibus et futuris harum notitiam habituris. Quomodo oculis nostrae Regiae benignitatis intendentes super nostram Civitatem Leopoliensem, qua hostium paganorum alijs vicinior est, taliter de eadem curam gerere instituimus, vt in nulla sui parte aliquam patiatur pressuram, per quam desertaretur. Et quam saepius occurrit, vt per mortem et decessum Civitatis incolarum, haereditates, domus et alia huiusmodi bona immobilia, propinquitatis iure, vel quavis successione alia, Nobilibus, terrigenis, vel etiam Spiritualibus personis cedunt, et in vsum veniunt, vnde talibus in casibus omnino volumus, vt Nobiles, terrigenae, et spirituales personae, tales haereditates, domus, et alia bona immobilia, sub iure Civitatis constituta, ne ipsos quacunq[ue] successione devoluta vel devolvenda, siue pro propinquitatis successione, siue per testamentariam legationem, illa infra vnius anni cursum sub iuris Civitatis vendere teneantur, et omnino sint astricti, ne haereditates huiusmodi, vel bona immobilia ad Nobiles terrigenas vel spirituales personas devoluta, in Civitate, vel sub iure Civili constituta, corrumpentur, annihilarentur, vel aliquam maiorem destructionem, per quam Civitas desertaretur, et immutaretur in sua perfectione. Erectum tamen talibus Nobilibus, terrigenis, vel spiritualibus personis licebit pro huiusmodi bonis immobilibus, per eos venditis vel vendendis, iuxta ipsorum arbitrium convertere, prout ipsis melius videbitur expedire, et hanc observantiam volumus et praesentibus ipsis Civibus et Civitati n[ost]rae Leopoliensi perpetuis temporibus tenere, et per nostros Successores observare firmiter et illibate. Harum quibus sigillum vnum est subappensum testimonio literarum. Actum Buda sabbato proximo post festum Divisionis Apostolorum, Anno Domini Millesimo Quadringentesimo Quadragesimo quarto. Praesentibus ibidem Magnificis, Venerabilibus et Generosis Laurentio de Haderwara Regni Hungariae Palatino, Nicolao Laszoczki Cracovien[si] Canonico, Luca de Gorka Palatino, Ioanne Gruszczinski Canonico, Bieniak Bandlewski Vexillifero Posnanien[si], Petro de Szamotuli et alijs pluribus. Dat[um] per manus Venerabilis Ioannis Retszuczski Michaelis in Castro Cracovien[si] Praepositi, pro[notarii] futuri nostri sigilligeri nobis syncere dilecti. R[elatio] Venerabilis Ioannis Retszusch Michaelis in Castro Cracovien[si] Praepositi praefati. Nos vero SIGISMVNDVS AVGVSTVS Rex praeinsertas literas Vladislai Regis in omnibus conditionibus, clausulis et articulis, approbamus, ratificamus et confirmamus. Decernentes, neminem ex Nobilibus, terrigenis, et spiritualibus, domos, siue quaecunq[ue] bona mobilia in Civitate n[ost]ra Leopoliensi, sub iurisdictioneq[ue] Civitatis illius, vbiuis locorum consistentia possidere et obtinere, sed illa diuendere, non alijs, quam iurisdictioni Civitatis Leopoliensis hominibus, intra spacium vnius anni post adeptionem eiusmodi bonorum immobilium debere et astringi, hisse perpetuis temporibus. Et in acum[...] Quoniam vero plerunq[ue] vsu venire solet, quosdam Civium Leopolien[sium] ad extremam egestatem redigi, ac are alieno implicari, Creditoresque eorundem [...] illud ius illorum, solutionem debitorum suorum repetere, atq[ue] saepius debita valorem bonorum illorum immobilium excedere. Quosdam autem huiusmodi debitorum in bo[...] bonorum quadruplo augere, ne eo praetextu bona a propinquoribus, vel ab ipsis Civibus Leopoliensibus redimi possint. Itaq[ue] ratione alienae iurisditionis homines sese in possessiones bonorum et immobilium Civitatis [...] intra Leopoliensem ingereret. Quare statuimus deinceps perpetuis temporibus observandum, et nemini Civium Leopoliensium seu incolis iurisditionis illorum, deinceps liceat valorem i[...]rum suorum immobilium in maiori summa pecuniarum obligare, seu quocunq[ue] modo inscribere. Quod si aliquando alicuius Civis Leopoliensis bona immobilia, quispiam Nobilis, terrigena, vel spiritualis, seu extraneae iurisditionis, siue per successionem, aut devolutionem, siue iure obligationis, aut inscriptionis, siue etiam quocunq[ue] alio modo adeptus fuerit, ea infra anni spacium vendere homini iurisditionis Leopolien[sis] tenebitur, idq[ue] ea ratione, quod priusq[ue] bona illa obligata fuerint seu onerata, debuerit Magistratus Civitatis Leopolien[sis] sub iuramento ad officia praestitis vera, iusta, legitimaq[ue] [iura?] eadem taxare et estimare debet. Ac secundum eiusmodi taxationem, vel propinquioribus, vel alijs iurisditionis Leopolien[sis] vendere infra anni spacium illa tenebuntur, Si vero neq[ue] propinquus neq[ue] quisquam iurisditionis Leopolien[sis], haec ipsa bona infra anni spacium emerit, tum demum possessori eorum Nobili, terrigenae, siue spirituali, quiete possidere eadem licebit, non tamen in maiori summa q[uam] qua ea taxa fuerint, tantisperq[ue] illis vtifrui, donec vel propinquior, vel iurisditionis Leopoliensis Civis, illa eadem summa pecuniarum emerit. Harum testimonio literarum quibus sigillum nostrum subappensum est. Dat[ae] Lyblini in Conventione generali feria secunda post Dominicam Iubilate, Anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo quinquagesimo quarto, Regni vero nostri anno decimo quinto. Praesentibus In Christo patribus, Magnificis, Generosis et Venerabilibus Andrea Zebrzidowski Cracovien[si], Ioanne Dziaduski Vladislauien[si], Jacobo Vchanski Chelmensi Ecclesiarum Episcopis, Stanislao Comite in Lyblin, Sandomirien[si], Lyblien[si], Belzen[si], Nicolao Thartho Chorowski Calissiensi, Schidlowiecz, Opathowiecz, Andrea de Koscielecz Lanciciensi, Bydgostiensi, Andrea Comite a Thenczin Lybliensi Palatinis, ac Rogatinen[si], Szamutulen[si], Wlad[islao] Maczieiowski Sandomiriensi Regni nostri Marschalco, ac Lyboulensi, Zawichost[ensi], Erasmo de Kretzkow Gneznen[si] ac Ladensi, Floriano Zebrzidowski Lublinen[si], Philippo de Brezina Rawen[si], Spitcone Jordan de Zakliczim Sandomirien[si] Regni n[ost]ri Thesaurario, [...] Camionacen[si], Sebastiano a Mielecz Vislicien[si], Martino Dembienski Biecen[si], Joanne Lutoszarski Bzezinensi Curiae n[ost]rae Thesaurario, Burgrabio Cracoviensi, Joanne de Przedborz Radomien[si], Lanciciensi, Joanne de Oczieszino Regni n[ost]ri Cancellario generali Cracovien[si], Sandeczen[si], Olsztinensiq[ue] Capitaneo, Succamerario et Burgrabio Cracoviensi, Joanne de Przebanth Regni nri Vicecancellario, Cracovien[si], Gneznen[si] et Sanch[?] Florian[ensi] extra muros Cracoviae Praeposito, Georgio Podosowski Canonico Cracovien[si] Serenissimae Dominae Catherinae Reginae Coniugis n[ost]rae charissimae Canc[ellario], Joanne Strakowski Tribuno Siradiensi Curiae n[ost]rae Referendarijs, ac alijs q[uam] plurimis Dignitarijs et Officialibus nostris testibus circa praemissa. Dat[ae] per manus eiusdem Magnifici Joannis de Oczieszino, Regni Poloniae Cancellarij generalis Cracovien[sis], Sandecen[sis], Olsztinensisq[ue] Capitanei, Succamerarii et Burgrabij Cracoviensis. [Nota kancelaryjna z lewej:] Joannes ocieszki R[egni] P[oloniae] Canc[ellarius] ss [Nota kancelaryjna z prawej:] Relatio Magnifici Joannis de Oczieszino Regni Poloniae Cancellarij generalis Cracovien[sis], Sandecen[sis], Olstinensisq[ue] Capitanei, Succamerarij et Burgrabij Cracoviensis. [Verso:] [Nota 1:] Vladislai Varn[ensis] et Sigism[undi] Augusti De Taxandis domis haeredit[ariis]... 1444 et 1554 [Nota 2:] Rubrica Tertia Litt. C. Nro 72. Arca Ima N. 25. [Znak własnościowy / monogram:] CH [Inne dawne sygnatury:] 197 f. 7., Nro 66., 8. C. 12.