Confirmation by King Stefan Batory of the statutes of the surgeons' guild in the city of Lwów

In the name of the Lord, amen. In eternal memory of the matter. We, Stefan, by the grace of God King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Kiev, Volhynia, Podlachia, Chełmno, Elbląg, Pomerania and Livonia etc., Prince of Transylvania etc. We make known by this our letter to all and each one individually, whom it concerns and who shall receive knowledge of this, both present and future: That there has been presented to us by certain of our councilors, in the name of the illustrious elders and the entire brotherhood of the guild of surgeons or barbers, our citizens of Lwów, the parchment letter written below under the title and with the attached seal of the illustrious councilors of our city of Lwów, intact, whole and complete, free from all suspicion, containing within itself the statute of the guild and brotherhood of the surgical art described point by point, and relating to the good management and order maintained in said surgical art. And we were requested to deign to approve, ratify and confirm this [letter] for them and for the brotherhood and guild of surgeons themselves with our royal authority. The content of which follows and is as follows: We, the Councilors of the city of Lwów, make known by the wording of this [letter] to all, both present and future: That there appeared before us, sitting in the council, the illustrious and honest Florian Gortz, Dominik Hebener, Jan Szonembergk and Wojciech Dzierzkowicz, master surgeons, elders, citizens of Lwów, [submitting] that for their good standing and the activities and performance of their craft in this city, it is highly disadvantageous that against the unlearned and numerous [people] who do not possess approval, who appropriate the surgical art too freely and audaciously, and against a certain dissolute wantonness of journeymen arriving in this city from elsewhere, they have hitherto had nothing decided and ordered among themselves; and for this reason, they asked us for certain brotherhood laws, consistent with custom and carefully observed in glorious crafts, by the custom and pattern of other cities, both foreign and the more prominent ones in this Kingdom, primarily for the glory of God the Best and Highest, and then for the common benefit of all and for the special honor, defense and adornment of this city. There, also, for the masters of the barbers for the time being, certain orders were designated. The first of which articles, approved by us, is as follows: A journeyman who would like to become a master, arriving here from elsewhere, provided he has previously worked for at least some time for one of the masters of this guild, should present evidence that he learned this craft in a righteous and honest manner, or as a sworn citizen before the magistrate of this city, deposit one mark of money into the common guild treasury for his first entry. Next, specifically for the benefit of said guild, for the provision of common armament, let him pay ten florins, counting thirty groschen each. Finally, let him perform tests or masterpieces of his craft in the presence of the masters of this entire guild and let him present them according to how the types of medicaments are described here, of which: the first is called Dialthea; the second: Emplastrum Galmeien; the third: Unguentum fuscum; the fourth: Balsis cerium; the fifth: Emplastrum Coeperium; the sixth, seventh and eighth: Reopoculam, resins, bloodletting [...] It is necessary to prepare and sharpen tools suitable for good incision [...]. For the execution and preparation of this, a day is appointed [...], and all material will be provided by the brotherhood. And if under such established [conditions] said candidate satisfies the requirements either in parts or in another part of their exercise, [...] finally if he wishes to go elsewhere for a half-year, that is, half a year for better learning, after the passage of such time, if he then returns, this time he shall again perform the tests of his craft, as is fitting; and also if he should wish to go on a journey [...] he shall pay five Polish florins to the guild. Finally, after the candidate has performed [...] after offering [...] for the benefit of said guild [...]. Article two: If any master arriving from elsewhere to this city would like to join their guild, let him not deposit money before the authorities until he has reached an understanding in this matter with the masters of the guild. Article three: Let no one dare to perform their craft unless he first fully fulfills what their orders and customs require. Article four: Neither servants nor anyone touched by any infamy [...] unworthy of the craft shall any of the guild companions keep with them. For if anyone possessed such a person, let him not dare to hang a basin in front of his house until then, and furthermore, let him be obliged to pay a monetary fine. Article five: As for the guild assembly, whenever it takes place, whoever among the masters or journeymen does not appear or does not notify through a messenger of some legal obstacle of his, let him be punished with one pound of wax. Article six: Every apprentice shall learn and practice in this craft for three consecutive years, and to the guild, by reason of presentation, let him pay fifteen [groszy]. Whatever money the master receives from this apprentice, let him always give half of that money to the guild; and yet, that apprentice, after completing the years of his learning, shall not leave [his master] [...] until he has worked for half a year as a junior journeyman in the workshop of that same master. Article seven: After the death of any master, the remaining widow shall have the right to run the workshop with one journeyman, as long as she behaves decently in her widowhood. Otherwise, if she lived less decently and succumbed to the persuasions of another husband, she shall be deprived of such craft. When, however, a journeyman and that widow, behaving decently, enter into an honest marriage with each other, and similarly if any journeyman takes as his wife the daughter of some master or of that [widow], or the son of a master trained in this art desires to become a master, every such person, by reason of a special privilege, shall be obliged to perform only four tests of the craft designated by the guild, and shall be free from performing the others. Article eight: No master shall remove the dressing of another master during treatment until, after reaching an agreement, the person being treated pays the full payment to the first master, under the penalty of one stone of wax for the benefit of the guild. Article nine: If ever during treatment some severe and fatal injury happens to someone, the one who is treating shall bring one or two elder masters and reveal to them his method of treatment. Article ten: That because of the defense, adornment and guard of said city of Lwów, in any urgent need from public burdens, when the mayor notifies them through a servant, they should provide under the town hall one well-equipped armament from their brotherhood, and this as their brotherhood becomes more numerous and wealthier. Similarly, to the servants of the guard and city watchmen, if ever they or any of them are wounded in the public service of the city, these same guild masters shall diligently provide treatment and will always provide it free of charge for the sake of the common good. We, therefore, the aforementioned councilors, considering that the above-inserted recommendation and request of the aforementioned surgeons submitted to the council office – whose proficiency in the art in this city has served us and many other persons until now – flowed from a just and righteous cause and nothing is found in it that would not connect with the public and common benefit and honor of this city, and desiring that by virtue of such righteous provisions, by the custom of other crafts and guilds, the masters and apprentices themselves in this surgical art behave and govern themselves in all righteousness, good customs and due duty, for these reasons, having invoked the name of Almighty God, by the power of laws and privileges we have founded the guild and brotherhood, as we also hereby found, and all the articles mentioned above and each one individually we have approved and ratified, and hereby approve and ratify. With the reservation, however, that according to the later need of things and times, there shall belong to us and our successors the free power of adding, subtracting, correcting, moderating or changing. In testimony of this letter, to which the seal of our council office has been attached. Done and given in Lwów, on the twentieth day of the month of August in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight. We, therefore, the above-mentioned King Stefan, recognizing such a request as just and reasonable, have deemed the above-inserted letter in all its conditions, clauses and articles, duly and honorably to be held and observed by the brotherhood and guild of surgeons for eternal times in this our city of Lwów, insofar as it is consistent with the law, worthy of approval and confirmation, as we also hereby approve, ratify and confirm by this our letter. Determining that everything written above should obtain the force of due permanence; of which, giving notice to all and each one individually, of whatever dignity, state and condition they may be, and especially the well-born Mikołaj Herburt of Fulsztyn, our starosta of Lwów, and the illustrious councilors, the forty men and the entire city of Lwów, present and in future times, we command that they observe and take care of the observance of the aforementioned master surgeons of the brotherhood of the said guild, as well as each of them, according to the regulations of this confirmation letter with all its provisions, and neither do nor allow that anything ever be done against the content of this, under our disfavor and a penalty of one hundred gold marks, payable half to our royal treasury and to the said guild. In faith and testimony of which our seal has been attached to this. Given in Lwów, on the eighth day of the month of September in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, and of our reign the third year. In the presence of the reverend, magnificent and well-born: Jan Sienieński of Sienna, Archbishop of Lwów, Wojciech Starozrebski of Przemyśl, [...] Piotr of Poręba, Chancellor of Sandomierz and Kraków, [...] Andrzej of Tęczyn, Castellan of Kraków, Eustachy Wołłowicz, Castellan of Trakai, Deputy Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Starosta of Brześć and Radom, Hieronim Sieniawski of Granów, [Starosta] of Ruthenia and Podolia, [...] Jan of Tęczyn, [Starosta] of Bełz and Lublin, Jerzy Jazłowiecki, [Starosta] of Podolia and Kuyavia [...], Stanisław Herburt of Fulsztyn, [Starosta] of Lwów and Sambor, Stanisław Dąbrowski of Dąbrowa, [Starosta] of Chełm, Mikołaj Firlej of Dąbrowica, [Starosta] of Biecz and Kazimierz and our castle [starostas], Jan Sienieński of Sienna, [Starosta] of Żarnów, Andrzej Opaliński, our court [official] of the Kingdom and [Starosta] of Śrem, Stanisław Stadnicki of Żmigród, Castellan and Starosta of Sanok, Jan Zamoyski of Zamość, Chancellor of our Kingdom and Starosta of Ostrzeszów, Kamieniec, Knyszyn, Jan of Dembowica, Deputy Chancellor of our Kingdom, Andrzej of Tęczyn, Marshal of our court and Starosta of Radom, Stanisław Czarnocki, Chancellor of our court and Provost of Sandomierz, Hieronim Gostomski of Gostomin, [Starosta] of Rawa, Andrzej of Bóbrka, [Starosta] of Drohobycz, Jan Gostomski [...] [starostas], Stanisław Reszka, Great Secretary, Jan Dymitr Solikowski, Scholastic of Łęczyca, Maciej Kłodziński, Archdeacon of Poznań, Canon of Kraków, Wojciech Baranowski, Canon of Gniezno, Canon of Kraków, Piotr Ciekliński, Secretary, and very many other secretaries, dignitaries, officials and notables of our court, faithful and sincerely dear to us, credible witnesses of the above. Given by the hands of the aforementioned magnificent Jan Zamoyski of Zamość, Supreme Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland and Starosta of Knyszyn, Tykocin etc., sincerely dear to us. Stefan King [m.p.] [File, chancery note below:] Confirmation of the Lwów surgeons' brotherhood [Verso:] [Archival note:] Privilege of King Stefan, year 1578 [Later signatures:] 131/1 - 589; 1578; Nro 850; 922

In Nomine Domini Amen Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Nos Stephanus Dei gratia Rex Poloniae, magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Kiioviae, Volhiniae, Podlachiae, Culmensis, Elbingensis, Pomeraniae, Livoniaeque etc. Princeps Transylvaniae etc. Significamus praesentibus literis nostris, quorum interest universis et singulis harum notitiam habituris, tam praesentibus quam futuris. Exhibitas esse nobis per certos Consiliarios nostros nomine Famatorum Seniorum totiusque Fraternitatis Contubernii Chirurgorum seu Cirulicorum Civium nostrorum Leopoliensium, Literas infrascriptas pergamineas sub titulo et sigillo subappenso Famatorum Consulum Civitatis nostrae Leopoliensis sanas, salvas, et integras nullaque suspitione notabiles, se habentes, continentes in se constitutionem Contubernii et Fraternitatis artis Chirurgicae articulatim descriptam, ad bonumque regimen et ordinem in eadem arte Chirurgica observandum pertinentes. Supplicatumque nobis ut easdem ipsis ipsamque Fraternitatem et Contubernium Chirurgorum authoritate nostra Regia approbare, ratificare, et confirmare dignaremur. Quarum tenor sequitur et est eiusmodi: Consules Civitatis Leopoliensis, notum facimus tenore praesentium universis tam praesentibus quam futuris. Exorvisse coram nobis in senatu Consulari residentibus Famatos et Honestos Florianum Gortz, Dominicum Hebener, Joannem Szonembergk, et Albertum Dzierzkowicz, Chirurgos Magistros Seniores Cives Leopolienses, bono ipsorum statui ac Artificii eorum operationibus et exercitationibus in ea Civitate ex decedere plurimum, citod contra indoctos et improbatos plerosque artem chirurgicam liberius et proterve sibi vendicantes, atque contra sociorum aliunde in eam Civitatem venientium solutam quandam licentiam, nihil adeo apud se constituti et ordinati hucusque haberent, eamque ob rem postulasse a nobis certas leges fraternitatis, ceffarum artium consuetudinarium et observantissimam curam laudabilium, more et exemplo aliarum tam exterarum quam etiam Regni huius praecipuarum Civitatum ad Dei Optimi Maximi cum primis gloriam, deinde ad communem omnium utilitatem, atque ad Civitatis huius singulare decus, praesidium et ornamentum. Ibi ac pro tempore existentibus Magistris ordinati Cirulicorum certo circumscripti. Quorum Articulorum per nos nobis pervectorum Primus talis est: Socius qui Magistrum creari voluerit, aliunde hic veniens, dum prius apud aliquem ex Magistris huius Contubernii saltem altero tempore laboraverit, suas cum probationes actu sui legitimi ac honesti artificium hoc didicisse opus est ut exhibeat, seu Civis apud Magistratum eius Civitatis iuratus, et ad commune Contubernii aequiterium pro primo ingressu marcam unam pecuniae reponat. Deinde specialiter illam eidem Contubernio pro comparanda communi armatura florenos decem ovetis triginta similibus computari impendat. Jam demum experimenta seu specimina eius artificii in praesentia Magistrorum totius eiusdem Contubernii conficiat, atque commen[da]ret per eas ut hic descriptae sunt rerum species, quarum Prima vocatur Dialthea. Secunda, Emplastrum Galmeien. Tertia, Unguentum fuscum. Quarta, Balsis cerium. Quinta, Emplastrum Coeperium. Sexta vero, Septima et Octava, Reopoculam, resinulas, Phlebotomiam illas quidem criminibus. Est autem remis bene incidendis apta, castigata omnia producere et acwere. Quibus conficiendis et exequendis data est dies [...], ubi materia omnis ex Fraternitate suppeditabitur. Et hic quidem ita constitutis probans ille vel vel membra vel in alterius eorum exercituelue parte satisfecerit, [...] tandem discipulum melioris notam placet quopiam pro semestris seu dimidia parte anni se se conferre debet, exspiratoque tali tempore si postea redierit, hac vice artis sua experimenta denuo prout par est elaborabit, atetiam si ad itineri dare se se forte voluerit [...] quinis Florenos polonicales ad Contubernium persolvet. Facta demum postquam ab eo probante [...] promittit per eorum satisfactionem ipsum iam suum [...] volens post oblationem vacari more et consuetudine ritui pro eiusdem Contubernij [...] commoda. Secundus articulus. Si quis ex Magistris aliunde in eam Civitatem veniens Contubernium istorum voluerit, is pecuniam ante maiestates non prius exponat donec ea nomine cum Magistris Contubernij composuerit. Tertius Articulus. Nullus artificio eorum operando se se ingerat, nisi prius ea qua ipsorum ordinationes et consuetudines exigunt, in toto suppleant. Quartus Articulus. Servum vel reclinatum aliquem infamia quacunque [...] artificioso indignum nemo Contubernalium apud se foveat. Talem enim quempiam quis habuerit, tamdiu peltim exponere ipsibus suis non praesumat, imo etiam expensam deponere teneatur. Quintus Articulus. Ad convocationem autem Contubernalem quoties evenerit, quisquis Magistrorum vel sociorum se non stiterit vel per nuncium suum de suo legati aliquo impedimento non denunciaverit, libram una cerae puniatur. Sextus Articulus. Discipulus quisque hoc artificium discat ac exerceat annis tribus continuis, et ad Contubernium praesentationis causa quindecim offerat. Quicquid vero pecuniae ab eodem exercitante, Magister suus percipiet eius pecunia partem dimidiam in Contubernium semper tradat, neque tamen discipulus ille post emeritos institutionis suae annos ab eodem Magistro suo risqua discedat, donec per anni dimidium vice modici socii in eadem sui Magistri sui officina laboraverit. Septimus Articulus. Mortuo aliquorum Magistro uxor eius vidua superstes, unum artificii cum uno socio librum habeat, quoad usque decenter se se in viduitate gesserit. Secus enim si minus decenter vixerit, et facti alterius mariti subdela fuerit, tali artificio privabitur. Quando vero socius et eadem vidua decenter se se gerentegerentes, matrimonium honestum secum contraxerint, ac similiter ubi aliquis sociorum filiam alicuius Magistri aut eiusdem in uxorem acceperit, vel illam Magistri filius in eadem arte exercitatus, creari in Magistrum affectaverit, talis quisque ex singulari praerogativa quatuor tantum per contubernium assignanda artis specimina efficere et a caeteris reliquis efficiendi liber esse debebit. Octavus Articulus. Nemo Magistrorum alterius Magistri ligaticnem in curatione solvat, donec post pactum ille priori Magistro et curatus suo mercedem suam perposolverit, sub poena unius lapidis cerae ad Contubernium succumbenda. Nonus Articulus. Si quando in curatione accidat gravis aliqua et leathis cuiquam ligatio, ad eam ille qui curat, adducet unum aut duos ex Senioribus Magistris, eisque medelam suam curationis manifestet. Decimus Articulus. Quod propter defensam, ornamentum, et praesidium eiusdem Civitatis Leopoliensis, oneribus de publico aliqua ingruenti necessitate, Proconsul per famulum eos certiores reddiderit, Armaturam unum bene instructam ex fraternitate sua ad Praetorium statuere debent, et hoc quocadvis eadem ipsorum fraternitas fiat auctior ac locupletior. Famulatum item custodum et vigilium Civitatis, si quando eis vel alteri eorum vulnus in obsequio publico Civitatis inflicta fuerint, Magistri idem Contubernales curationem diligentem facient, eue ordina ae eam gratis semper causa Reipublicae praestabunt. Nos itaque praefati Consules considerantes praeinsertam commendationem memoratorum Chirurgorum petitum Magistratum, de quo in ea Civitate artis peritia nobis atque multis aliis personis hucusque consuluit, a iusta et legittima ratione esse profecta, nec in ea reperiri quicquam, quod non cum publica et communi eiusdem Civitatis utilitate ac honestate coniunctum esse videatur, volentesque eorundem, ut talibus legitimis institutis more aliarum Artificium et Contuberniorum, quoad in arte ista chirurgica Magistri ipsi et discipuli in omni probitate alios in moribus honestis et in officio debito se se retineant et gubernent, ob causasque invocato Dei omnipotentis nomine, vigore Jurium et Privilegiorum morum Contubernium et Fraternitatem dit fundavimus, sicut quidem praesentibus fundamus, articulosque praemissos omnes et singulos approbavimus et ratificavimus, approbamusque et ratificamus per praesentes. Ita tamen quod iuxta rerum et temporum postea exigentiam arrogandi, minuendi, corrigendi, moderandi, aut immutandi nobis et successoribus nostris, libera dederi esse facultas. Harum testimonio literarum quibus Sigillum officii nostri Consularis est appensum. Actum et datum Leopoli die vigesima Mensis Augusti Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Septuagesimo Octavo. Nos itaque Stephanus Rex praenominatus, supplicationem eiusmodi uti iustam et rationabilem esse animadvertentes, literas praeinsertas in omnibus eorum conditionibus, clausulis et articulis, rite atque probe Fraternitati et Contubernio Chirurgorum perpetuis temporibus in eadem Civitate nostra Leopoliensi tenendum et observandum, quantum de iure est approbandum et confirmandum duximus, uti quidem approbamus, ratificamus, et confirmamus praesentibus literis nostris. Decernentes omnia suprascripta robur debitae firmitatis obtinere debere, quod ad universorum et singulorum cuiuscunque Dignitatis, Status et Conditionis existentium, praesertim vero Generosi Nicolai Herborth de Fulstin, Capitanei nostri Leopoliensis, ac Famatorum Consulum, Quadraginta virorum, ac totiusque Civitatis nostrae Leopoliensis praesentium et deinceps futuri temporibus existentium, notitiam deducentes mandamus, ut memoratos Magistros Chirurgos Fraternitatis Contubernii memorati, nec non singulos eorum iuxta praescripta praesentium literarum modum confirmatoriarum omnibus eorum contentis conservent et conservari curent, nec eis aliquid ullo unquam tempore contra praesentium tenorem inferri faciant vel fieri permittant, sub indignatione nostra et poena centum marcharum auri pro parte Camerae nostrae Regiae et memorati Contubernii personarum mediatim solvenda. In cuius rei fidem ac testimonium Sigillum nostrum praesentibus est appensum. Datum Leopoli, die octava mensis Septembris, Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Septuagesimo Octavo, Regni vero nostri anno tertio. Praesentibus Reverendis, Magnificis et Generosis Joanne Sienieński de Sienno Archiepiscopo Leopoliensi, Alberto Starozrebski Premisliensi, [...] Petro a Poremba Sandomiriensi et Cracoviensi Cancellario, [...] Andrea a Thanczin Castellano Cracoviensi, Eustachio Wollowicz Castellano Trocensi Vicecancellario Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae ac Brestensi Radominensi Capitaneo, Hieronymo Sieniawski a Granow Russiae Podoliaeque, [...] Joanne a Thanczin Belzensi et Lublinensi, Georgio Jazlowiecki Podoliae Cuiaviaeque [...] Capitaneis, Stanislao Herborth de Fulstin Leopoliensi ac Samboriensi, Stanislao Dambrowski a Dambrowo Chelmensi, Nicolao Firley de Dambrowicza Biecensi et Casimiriensi ac Castrensensibus nostris, Joanne Sienieński a Sienno Zarnoviensi, Andrea Opalinio Curiae nostrae Regni ac Sremensi, Stanislao Stadnicki de Zmigrod Sanocensi Castellanis et Capitaneis, Joanne Zamoyski de Zamoscie Regni nostri Cancellario ac Ostrzensi Kaminiecz Knyszynensi Capitaneo, Joanne a Dembovica de Dembowicz Regni nostri Vicecancellario, Andrea a Thanczin Mareschalco Curiae nostrae ac Radomiensi Capitaneo, Stanislao Czarnocki Curiae nostrae Cancellario et Praeposito Sandomiriensi, Hieronymo Gostomski de Gostomin Ravensi, Andrea a Bobrka Drohobiciensi, Joanne Gostomski [...] Capitaneis, Stanislao Reszka Secretario maiore, Joanne Demetrio Solikowski Scholastico Lanciciensi, Mathia Kłodzinski Archidiacono Posnaniensi Canonico Cracoviensi, Alberto Baranowski Canonico Gnesnensi Canonico Cracoviensi, Petro Ciekliński Secretario, ac aliis quam plurimis Secretariis, Dignitariis, Officialibus et Aulae nostrae Proceribus fidis et fidelibus nostris dilectis ad praemissa fide dignis. Datum per manus praefati Magnifici Joannis Zamoyski de Zamoscie Regni Poloniae Supremi Cancellarii ac Cestrensis, Knyszynensis, Tyczyensis etc. Capitanei nobis sincere dilecti. Stephanus Rex [m.p.] [Plika, nota kancelaryjna pod spodem:] Confirmatio Fraternitatis Chirurgorum Leopoliensium [Verso:] [Nota archiwalna:] Privileg[ium] Regis Stephani Anno 1578 [Sygnatury późniejsze:] 131/1 - 589; 1578; Nro 850; 922