Translation / modern text
GIAN FRANCESCO COMMENDONE, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See, Bishop of Zakynthos and Cephalonia, Nuncio of our Most Holy Lord and the same Holy See to the Most Serene SIGISMUND Augustus, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, etc., Lord and Heir, and to all his kingdoms and states, with the authority of a legate de latere, to the Venerable Men, the Canons and Chapter of the Metropolitan Church of Lviv, our beloved in Christ, eternal greeting in the Lord.
It has been an ancient custom of the Holy Roman See, in whose name we exercise the office of legation, that just as it cares for the governance of all Christians entrusted to it by God, so too should it always contribute to the increase of magnificent worship and the propagation of the faith, to the [establishment] of ecclesiastical dignities and spiritual adornment, and to their preservation, which it has called to share in its care. For there, the most holy religion will be able to be strengthened [...], to lead peoples in piety and [...] in virtue, against which opposition has been raised, and that which is sought, along with the remaining Christian doctrine provided to the people in the temples, will be presented, and that which is disordered or distorted will be repaired and restored to health by the vigilance of pastors.
A sincere complaint has been poured out before us by your brotherhood that in this Metropolitan Church of Lviv, besides the usual number of ten canons, there are no dignities or prelacies (personates) by whose adornment it could shine and by which it could be directed in ecclesiastical service. Both of them [once existed...]. But what touches us more painfully is that those who hold them, not residing currently in the church, have allowed all memory of them to fade. Since currently the Dean of Lviv, residing far from the exercise of [duties], is neither considered a prelate of your rank nor, besides a stall in your choir and a place in processions, seems to perform any other office in the administration and service of the church. To this you added that all revenues are so meager that they do not suffice for the maintenance of the Dean's care and the canons in accordance with the dignity of this church and the dignity of your persons; for which inconveniences the most serene kings, Sigismund I of holy memory and the now happily reigning Sigismund Augustus, deemed it necessary to provide for the dignity of this metropolitan church, as you have shown [...] with documents, asking that we, with the apostolic authority entrusted to us, deign to meet this and, in the manner that seems most appropriate to us, provide for you and your church forever.
We, therefore, having considered the above, recognizing it as just that dignities in churches, especially metropolitan ones, should be [...] increased for the sake of ecclesiastical discipline and the assistance of pastors in governing the Church, as well as for the adornment of the whole church, its order and character [...], especially in view of the present times, in which many impious heresies have arisen, miserably disturbing the churches of this most flourishing Kingdom, [having recognized] that it would be most useful to decree that religion be preserved through the defense of the churches, and that those be entrusted to the churches who would diligently guard the people against the fury of heretics; moved by your requests, as well as those of the most reverend father in Christ, our lord your archbishop, with the apostolic authority entrusted to us, we establish and order the dignity of the Dean in the Metropolitan Church of Lviv forever. [...] we confirm, direct, and restore to its true office, deciding and ordering that after the death of Jan Krupski, who currently poses as the Dean of Lviv, or in the future always, whenever the said deanery happens to be vacant, one of your college, by those to whom it belongs, shall be named and installed as Dean, who in age, customs, piety, and education will be worthy to be preferred over others.
Admonishing those who will happen to assume this dignity that in the service of the church, in deliberations on matters belonging to the chapter, in the defense of the Catholic faith and ecclesiastical rights, in their sure preservation, and in the remaining duties belonging to them, they should show such piety, care, and prudence that they become an example to their other brethren, no small help to the pastors, and a defense and adornment for religion and the Church. And to other persons [...] who are fitting and ought to belong to the office of deans according to canonical sanctions and the praiseworthy customs of other churches.
But so that the college [of the chapter] and the dignity of the Dean [...] increased or duly ordered, may be worthily maintained, following the authority and custom of the Holy Roman Church, as well as what the aforementioned Most Serene King of Poland and the kings to whom – as it is maintained – the right of patronage over the said deanery belongs, have best recognized, adhering to the decree of the Holy General Council of Trent, we join and incorporate the Church of St. John in Lviv outside the walls of the Lviv diocese, along with all and individual its revenues, profits, goods, and all rights – regardless of whether the said Church of St. John includes the Lviv deanery, or is joined to it, or suspended, or [...] – into the capitular table and its goods forever, so that they may collect and possess the intact goods of the same table, ordering [at the same time] that after the death of the said Jan Krupski or anyone else who might now hold it, or if in any other way this church [...] should happen to be vacant, the same Chapter [...] could take actual and real possession of the same Church of St. John and goods of this kind, and use them, possess them, preserve them, govern them, and administer them by perpetual right for all time. Recognizing from now on as invalid and vain if in these matters by anyone, by any authority, knowingly or out of ignorance anything contrary should be undertaken, regardless of [...], by any superiors, whether by the resignation of the aforementioned Jan Krupski, or otherwise the said church [should fall], or by presentation, nomination, election, institution, or obtaining [of the right] by anyone, even at the Apostolic See or its legates, however violating this matter.
We therefore decide and declare that [this provision] has been accepted. Whereby [...] we and your Chapter wish that you remain in full possession and collection of your rents and revenues, which you collect together from this metropolitan church and by right of name and accompanying daily distributions [...] and we by no means wish to depart from the praiseworthy provision, but we wish that the Dean himself, as decided by us above, enter into this your state, as befits by reason of his dignity; so also we [...] fines for the Dean, so that he may more appropriately maintain his rank [...], beyond the share which he is to collect along with the other canons, from the goods of the same capitular table we reserve, designate, and order to be paid each year.
If, however, the aforementioned Jan Krupski, called the Dean of Lviv, should wish to resign and hand over the possession and ownership of the said Church of St. John and all its goods and all others belonging to him by title of the said Church of St. John or the aforementioned deanery into our pious hands and those of your capitular table, we wish and order that he be accepted by us as Dean of your college with all the rights, authority, and dignity expressed above. You shall apply diligence to submit this our constitution to due execution in the prescribed manner, with due reason, and at the proper time. Regardless of apostolic constitutions and ordinances and all others contrary to them.
In faith and testimony of all this, we have ordered this [letter] to be issued and drawn up, strengthened by the signature of our hand and the affixing of our seal. Given in Lviv, on the sixteenth day of the month of November, in the Year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and sixty-four, and in the fifth year of the pontificate of our Most Holy Lord, Pope Pius IV.
Gian Francesco, Bishop of Zakynthos, Apostolic Nuncio
[On the fold:] pie protensae sunt.
[Inscription on the bottom sheet / fold:]
On Friday after the nearest Sunday of Laetare of Lent, that is, on the thirty-first day of the month of March in the Year of our Lord 1575.
This approval of the incorporation of the Lviv deanery belonging to the venerable Lviv chapter was submitted, accepted, and entered (engrossed) into the Lviv castle acts by [...].
[Seal:] [Wax seal of Gian Francesco Commendone in a wax bowl on a red silk cord with a coat of arms under a miter/hat and the legend:] IO[ANNES] FR[ANCISCVS] COMMENDON[VS] EP[ISCOPVS] ZACYNTHIEN[SIS] ET CEPHALON[IENSIS] NVNTIVS APOSTOLIC[VS]
[Verso:]
[Chancery / archival note from the 16th century:] [...] 1564 [...]
[Note from the 18th century:] O. C. Loc. 29. Vol. 3.
[Signature on the label:] L.E. / 4
[Signature in pencil:] 257/91 (?)
Original wording — transcription
IOANNES FRANCISCVS COMMENDON[VS] D[ei] et apostolicae sedis gra[tia] Ep[iscop]us Zacynthien[sis] et Cephalonien[sis], Sanctissimi Domini n[ost]ri et eiusdem sanctae Sedis ad Seren[issi]m[u]m SIGISMVNDVM Augustum Regem Poloniae, Magnum ducem Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masouiae, Samogitiae, &c. Dominum & haeredem, & ad o[mn]ia sua Regna et dominia Nuntius cum potestate Legati de latere, Venerabilibus viris Canonicis & Capitulo Metropolitanae Leopolien[sis] Ecclesiae nobis in Chr[ist]o dilectis Salutem in Domino Sempiternam. Sancta Romana Sedis pro qua legationis munere fungimur perpetua Consuetudine fuit ut quemadmodum Christianorum omnium regimini a Deo sibi commisso consulere, ita praecluis cultus augmento et fidei propagationi illarum dignitates et ornamento spirituali atq[ue] ad earundem conservationem, quem in partem suae sollicitudinis vocauit semper concurrere. Ibi enim Sacrosancta religio constitutio poterit [...] populos pietatis regere ac [...] in virtute in quas ruerunt, atque actum curantur caeteris Christiana doctrina et collationis Templis plebi impertita proponentur, quae vero mordinata sunt aut depravata Pastorum vigilantia corriguntur et Sanitati restituuntur. Sinc[erae] fraternitatis v[est]rae nobis est fusa conquestio in hac Leopolien[si] Metropolitana Ecclesia praeter simplicem decem Canonicorum numerum, nullas esse dignitates aut personatus, quorum ornamento insigniri et in Ecclesia Servitio dirigi possit. Vtrumq[ue] habetium curvisse. Sed quod noster est afflictius premit, sex quod ii, qui eas obtinentue, nunc in Ecclesia residentes, ut omnis illam memoria abolesceret comiserunt. Quum nunc Leopolien[sis] Decanus a peragendis non deggens, nec vestri ordinis praelatus existimatur, nec praeter stalla vestro Choro et locum in processionibus aliquo alio in Ecclesia administratione et Servitio officio fungi videtur. Adhaec nec tres omnes provenientis adio lemes esse addeditis, ut sustinendo decani canonicorum curam pro Ecclesiae huius dignitate et personarum vestrarum qualitate non sufficiant, quibus incommodis Serenissimus Reges felicis recordationis Sigismundus primus et qui nunc feliciter regnat Sigismundus Augustus pro huius Ecclesiae Metropolitanae dignitati consulendum esse censuisse [...] monumentis ostendistis, petentes ut Apostolica nobis commissa authoritate congruere et eo qui nobis opervimior videretur modo a perpetuo vobis et virae Ecclesiae consulere dignaremur. Nos itaq[ue] praeter praemissa attendentes dignitates in Ecclesiis praesertim Metropolitanis [...] augere congruere, ad disciplinam Ecclesiasticam et pastorum in regenda Ecclesia subsidium, et totius Ecclesiae sui ordinis necnon et forma [...] decorum esse, casu praesertim temporum ratione, in quibus impiae haereses plurimae exortae sunt, et huius florentissim[i] Regni Ecclesias misere turbant, maxime utile sanxisset, ut plures Ecclesiarum praesidio religionis conferuentur, Ecclesias fieriq[ue] traditio, qui ab haereticorum rabie populum retecte invigilent, neclum viris. Sed etiam R[everen]dum in Christo patrem Dominum nostrum Archiep[iscop]um vestri nobis et peticionibus moti Authoritate Apostolica nobis commissa Decanatus dignitatem perpetuo in Metropolitana Ecclesia Leopolien[si] instituimus et ordinamus. Sed signa institutionis erat confirmamus, et ad verium Suum officium dirigimus et revocamus, constituentes et mandantes ut post obitum Ioannis Krupski, qui nunc se pro Leopolien[si] Decano gerit vel in futurum Semper quotiescunq[ue] Decanatus praedictus vacare contigerit, vnus ex vestro Collegio per eos ad quos spectat in Decam nominetur et instituatur qui aetate moribus pietate et eruditione dignus sit, ut caeteris praeferatur. Monentes eos quos eam dignitatem assu[mere?] contigerit, ut in Ecclesia Servitio rem ad Capitulum pertinentium deliberatione, fidei Catholicae et defensione Ecclesiastica minime, certa Conservatione, et reliquis ad [eos?] spectantibus eam adhibeat pietatem, solicitudinem atq[ue] prudentiam, ut reliquis Confratribus suis exemplo pastoribus non mediocri auxilio, religioni vero et Ecclesiae praesidio atq[ue] ornamento existant. Caeteris personis pro fuisse, qua decanorum officio iuxta Canonicas Sanctiones et laudabiles aliarum Ecclesiarum consuetudines convenire et incumbere dignoscuntur. Verum ut Collegium decanatus [...] vel auctum vel ordinatum decenter gradu, sua subsidere possit authoritate Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae consuetudine secuti, necno[n] quaeq[ue] praefatus Serenissimus Rex Poloniae Reges ad quos in Saepedicto Decanatu ius patronatus pertinere praetenditur quo magis noverunt decreto Sacrosanctae Oecumenicae Tridentinae Synodi inhaerentes, Ecclesiam Sancti Ioannis in Lemberg extra muros Leopolien[ses] Dioecesis omniaq[ue] et singulos eius redditus proventus bona et iura quaecunq[ue] siue dicta Ecclesia Sancti Joannis Decanatum Leopolien[sem] amplexa aut unita, seu suspensa sit, sive [...] mensae Capitularis et eius bonis unnimis amectimus et incorporamus in perpetuum ut integras et bona eiusdem mensae perimere et habere possint, mandantes [ita?] quod post obitum praedicti Joannis Krupski vel alterius cuiuscunq[ue] qui nunc illa[m] obtineret, Sed quovis alio modo eandem Ecclesiam [...] vacare contingat iisdem Capitulo [...] actualem et realem eadem Ecclesia Sancti Joannis et bonorum huiusmodi possessionem ingredi, atq[ue] ex eis unum frui habere et retinere possit eaq[ue] regere et administrare posse iure perpetuis futuris temporibus, Decernentes ex nunc irritum et inane si secus super his a quoq[ue] quavis authoritate scienter vel ignoranter contigerit attentari, non obstantibus [...] qua per quoscuq[ue] superiores siue per resignationem praedicti Joannis Krupski vel alias dictam Ecclesiam [obvenire?] contigerit, seu per praesentat[i]onem nominationem electionem et institutionem aut impetrationem cuiuscunq[ue], etiam apud sanctam sedem apostolicam seu eius legatos, quanquamque causantis et dirimillantibus. Suscepti itaq[ue] esse decrevimus et declaramus. Quo [...] volumus nos et vestrum Capitulum integrali possessioni et extractioni vestris redditibus et proventibus quas ex Metropolitana ista Ecclesia percipitis in commune et iure nominis et comitem dierum commeatu[...] [...] habere absq[ue] laudabili instituto nequaquam recedere volumus, sed ipsum quasi Decanum ut praemittitur a nobis ordinatum eandem vestram conductionem inter subire volumus prout habitu dignitatis sua ex qua decet ratione, ita etia[m] nos decani marcis ut congruentius gradum suum tueri possit [...] ultra sortem quam cum reliquis Canonicis percepturus est, de bonis eiusdem mensae Capitularis singulis annis reservamus, assignamus et persolui mandamus. Quod si praedictus Joannes Krupski Decanus Leopoliensis nuncupatus praedicta Ecclesia Sancti Joannis et bonorum eius omnium et aliorum quorumcunq[ue] vel ratione dictae Ecclesiae Sancti Joannis, seu dicti Decanatus sibi competentium possessionem et dominium ad pias nobis et virae mensae Capitularis cedere et assignare voluerit, Nos eundem pro vri Collegii Decano cum omni supra expressa facultate, potestate et dignitate per nos recipi volumus et mandamus. Sit nimis hanc nostram constitutionem praesis modo ratione et tempore executioni debitae demandare curabitis. Non obstantibus Constitutionibus et ordinationibus Apostolicis caeterisq[ue] contrariis quibuscunq[ue]. In quorum omnium fidem et testimonium praesentes dari fieri iussimus, manus n[ost]rae Subscriptione et Sigilli nostri appensione munitas. Dat[um] Leopoli Die Sedecima Mensis Nouembris, Anno Domini Millesimo, Quingentesimo Sexagesimo Quarto, Pontificatus vero Sanctissimi Domini Nostri Pii Papae Quarti Anno Quinto.
Io[annes] Franc[is]cus Ep[iscop]us Zacynthien[sis] Nuntius Ap[ostoli]cus
[Platus:] pie protensae sunt.
[Inskrypcja na dolnej karcie / plice:]
Feria Sexta post Dominicam Laetare Quadragesimalem proxima videlicet Die Trigesima Prima Mensis Martij A[nn]o Domini 1575to.
Praesens Approbatio Incorporationis Decanatus Leopoliensis Venerabili Capitulo Leopoliensi pertinens ad Acta Castrensia Leopolien[sia] per [...] porrecta, suscepta et Ingrossata est.
[Pieczęć:] [Woskowa pieczęć Gian Francesca Commendone w misce woskowej na czerwonym sznurze jedwabnym z herbem pod mitrą/kapeluszem i legendą:] IO[ANNES] FR[ANCISCVS] COMMENDON[VS] EP[ISCOPVS] ZACYNTHIEN[SIS] ET CEPHALON[IENSIS] NVNTIVS APOSTOLIC[VS]
[Verso:]
[Nota kancelaryjna / archiwalna z XVI w.:] [...] 1564 [...]
[Nota z XVIII w.:] O. C. Loc. 29. Vol. 3.
[Sygnatura na nalepce:] L.E. / 4
[Sygnatura ołówkiem:] 257/91 (?)
