Confirmation by King Stephen Báthory of sixteen decrees in disputes between the city of Lwów and the Starosta

[f. 1r] STEPHEN by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, etc., Prince of Transylvania, etc. We hereby announce to all and each, whom it may concern, by this our letter. A petition was submitted to us on behalf of the Distinguished and Famous Mayor and Councilors of our City of Lwów, that we might deign to transcribe all the decrees written below, issued by us between them and the Noble Mikołaj Herburt of Fulsztyn, Castellan of Halicz, our Starosta of Lwów, as they are contained in the Books of our Chancellery, and to issue them all together in one book in an authenticated manner. These decrees are found in our Books in the following wording. Wording of the first decree regarding the election of councilors 1. Stephen, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, etc., Prince of Transylvania, etc. We hereby announce to all and each, whom it may concern, by this our letter. A case was brought to court before our tribunal and before the face of our advisors then residing with us in Lwów, between the Famous Mayor, Councilors, and the entire community of our City of Lwów, plaintiffs on one side, and the Noble Mikołaj Herburt of Fulsztyn, our Starosta of Lwów, defendant on the other side, regarding the election of councilors, which was – as the burghers themselves repeatedly complained to us – very often delayed by the said Starosta contrary to their ancient custom, and newly prolonged until today's date by virtue of our letters of adjournment and special restrictions. When both parties appeared before us in person, the burghers, explaining their submission and the ancient method of electing councilors, requested a resolution, again presenting before us the decrees: one issued long ago by King Sigismund I, our predecessor, in Vilnius in the year one thousand five hundred and forty-one, between the Noble Mikołaj Odnowski, Starosta, and the then councilors in the same matter; and the second issued judicially by us in Malbork last year, likewise between the commonalty and the current councilors. From these decrees, they argued that the method and custom of electing councilors in this our city of Lwów, prescribed by the ancient practice of King Sigismund's decree itself and maintained in continuous and uninterrupted use for the particular benefit and adornment of the said city until that day, cannot in any way be violated, invalidated, or delayed. They requested that we maintain them in these decrees and judicially order our Starosta not to fail them in any way in the future. For his part, our Starosta, also appearing in person, replied to such a submission by the plaintiffs that their type of election, which they wish to have exclusively in their own hands, and in which he himself only appoints the mayor from among them for four weeks and receives their oaths, cannot stand for these reasons, as the general custom of the Kingdom and the examples of other cities teach that it is the Starosta himself who is accustomed to choose those whom he deems more capable for the office of councilor – as one who is greatly concerned to know who and what kind of people are in the municipal office, since [f. 1v] by virtue of the public Constitution, he is obliged to preserve the castle and the city together safely for the Republic, for us, and for our successors, the crowned kings. As for the decrees submitted by the plaintiffs, he claimed that they conflict with their own Magdeburg municipal law, upon which they are founded, and that, having been issued between others and other persons, they do not concern him in any way; he therefore requested to be released from the case and from the claims of the plaintiffs, and at the same time for a ruling that the election of councilors itself should take place in the future according to the general practice of other cities of the Kingdom or according to the provisions of the Magdeburg municipal law. The plaintiffs, however, refuted his response, arguing that a matter so often judged before and the decrees themselves, tested by the longest practice to date, cannot be undermined or called into question by the example of others, and his oath adds nothing to this matter, since they also took their official oaths and at our coronation, nor did they ever give cause for a change of their laws by any abuse; furthermore, there is nothing explicit in the Magdeburg law about starostas, and it does not refer to the method of government, but only to the judicial forum in cities. For this reason, they insisted that, regardless of the arguments of our defendant Starosta, we should maintain them in the ancient custom and the aforementioned decrees. Nos itaque cum Consiliariis nostris lateri nostro tunc assidentibus, audita partium ea controversia, visisque et consideratis, tam Antecessoris nostri D. Sigismundi Regis quondam inter Capitaneum et Consules in hac eadem causa, quam etiam nostro Magdeburgensi simili inter communitatem Civitatis eiusdem, et modernos Consules, ex controversia partium latis, editisque decretis, quibus scilicet cautum et pronunciatum est, ipsos Consules ex Senatus electionem in locum demortui Consulis, alium eligere debere, eamque ipsam electionem, una cum aliis caeremoniis et iuramentis, veteri more, circa ipsum actum electionis observari solitis, atque adeo memorata decreta in eo negocio desuper habita, in toto confirmari, et approbanda duximus, uti quidem confirmamus et approbamus, decernentes robur illa perpetuum obtinere, et Actores circa eadem conservari, ad electionemque Consularem non alio modo, nec aliter quam prout in ipsis decretis Sigismundi Regis continetur, nunc et in posterum, absque ulla Capitanei nostri contradictione, seu protractione fieri celebrarique debere, decreto nostro praesente mediante. In witness and testimony of which our seal has been appended to this. Given in Lwów on the Monday after the octave of Corpus Christi, in the Year of Our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, and the third year of our reign. Relation of the venerable Jan Borukowski of Bielin, Provost of Łęczyca, Dean of Warsaw, and Deputy Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland. [f. 1v–2r: Wording of the second decree regarding the baker's mill; Given in Lwów on the nearest Monday after the octave of Corpus Christi, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 2r–2v: Wording of the third decree regarding jurisdiction over those settled around the Zimna Woda mill; Given in Lwów on the nearest Monday after the octave of Corpus Christi, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 2v–3v: Wording of the fourth decree regarding the imprisonment of burghers; Given in Lwów on the nearest Thursday after the octave of Corpus Christi, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 3v–4r: Wording of the fifth decree regarding the judging of newcomers; Given in Lwów on the nearest Thursday after the octave of Corpus Christi, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 4r–4v: Wording of the sixth decree regarding the defense of the captured, pits, and municipal bailiffs; Given in Lwów on the nearest Thursday after the octave of Corpus Christi, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 4v–5v: Wording of the seventh decree regarding the distribution of quarters; Given in Lwów on the nearest Friday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 5v–7r: Wording of the eighth decree regarding jurisdiction and keys to the gates; Given in Lwów on the Saturday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 7r–7v: Wording of the ninth decree regarding the rendering of accounts to the Starosta; Given in Lwów on the nearest Friday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 7v–8v: Wording of the tenth decree regarding the execution of taxes; Given in Lwów on the nearest Friday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 8v–9r: Wording of the eleventh decree regarding constitutions, customs, tolls, and the storage of goods; Given in Lwów on the nearest Friday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 9r–10r: Wording of the twelfth decree regarding transport services; Given in Lwów on the nearest Friday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 10r–10v: Wording of the thirteenth decree regarding stray horses; Given in Lwów on the nearest Friday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 10v–11r: Wording of the fourteenth decree regarding rotulas; Given in Lwów on the nearest Saturday before the feast of St. Margaret, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 11r–11v: Wording of the fifteenth decree regarding the judging of wounds according to Polish law; Given in Lwów on the nearest Saturday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 11v–12r: Wording of the sixteenth decree regarding the hospital village and sold houses; Given in Lwów on the nearest Saturday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, Year of Our Lord 1578] [f. 12r – final formula and dating of the transumpt:] We, therefore, acceding to this request, have ordered the above-mentioned decrees to be transcribed and issued as we were requested. In testimony of this letter, to which our seal has been appended. Given in Warsaw at the General Sejm of the Kingdom, on the nearest Monday after the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, in the Year of Our Lord one thousand five hundred and eighty-five, and the ninth year of our reign. [Relation:] Relation of the Venerable Wojciech Baranowski, appointed Bishop of Przemyśl and Deputy Chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland. [Secretary's signature:] Paweł Szczerbic, Secretary of His Royal Majesty, recorded. [Seal: a great royal seal of Stephen Báthory suspended on silk cords in a wax bowl, impression in red wax with the coats of arms of the Crown, Lithuania, and the Wolf's Teeth of the Báthory family]. [f. 12v / Verso – archival and chancellery notes:] [Note in reddish ink from the 17th/18th century:] Decrees in the number of 16 between the city and the Noble Starosta by mutual agreement before the Most Serene King Stephen. Year 1578 and 1585 [Archival notes with signatures:] Bundle 217 / No. S 27 / No. 27. [Round ink seal:] ARCHIVE OF ANCIENT ACTS OF THE CITY OF LWÓW

[f. 1r] STEPHANUS Dei gratia REX Poloniae, magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniae etc., Princeps Transylvaniae etc. Significamus praesentibus literis nostris quorum interest universis et singulis. Supplicatum nobis est nomine Spectabilium et Famosorum Proconsulis et Consulum Civitatis n[ost]rae Leopoliensis, ut decreta infrascripta, inter eosdem et G[enero]sum Nicolaum Herborth de Fulsztin Castellanum Halicien[sem], Capitaneum n[ost]rum Leopolien[sem], per nos prolata, ita ut in Actis Cancellariae nostrae continentur, omnia simul describi, et uno libello comprehensa, autentice extradi mandare dignaremur. Quae quidem decreta eo qui sequitur tenore in Actis n[ost]ris reperiunt[ur]. Tenor primi decreti occasione Electionis Consulum 1. Stephanus Dei gratia REX Poloniae, magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniae etc., Princeps Transylvaniae etc. Significamus praesentibus literis nostris quorum interest universis et singulis. Introductam fuisse iudicialiter causam in iudicium nostrum praesentiamque Consiliariorum nostrorum Leopoli pro tunc nobiscum existentium inter Famatos Proconsulem, Consules, totamque communitatem Civitatis nostrae Leopoliensis actores ab una, et Generosum Nicolaum Herborth a Fulsztin Capitaneum nostrum Leopolien[sem] conventum parte ab altera, occasione electionis Consularis, per Capitaneum eundem, prout ipsi Cives multoties apud nos querebantur contra eorum morem antiquum, saepius protractae, ac denuo ad terminum itaque hodierno, ex advocationis limitationumque nostrarum specialium literis legitime hucusque continuato. Postquam partes utraeque coram nobis personaliter comparuissent, elucidando propositionem suam Cives, modumque Consularis electionis antiquum, declarari petebant, rursum coram nobis decreta, unum diu olim Sigismundi primi Regis antecessoris nostri Vilnae anno Millesimo Quingentesimo Quadragesimo primo, inter G[ene]rosum Nicolaum Odnowski Capitaneum et illius temporis Consules, in hac eadem causa. Alterum vero per nos Mariemburgi anno superiori a simili inter communitatem, et praesentes Consules iudicialiter lata, quibus deducebant modum et morem eligendorum Consulum in ea Civitate n[ost]ra Leopoliensi ex antiqua observantia ipso decreto Sigismundi Regis praescriptum atque continuo et perpetuo usu disingulari etiam Civitatis eiusdem salute et ornamento in tum diem observatum, nullo modo infringi, annullari, aut protrahi posse. Petentes se circa decreta eadem a nobis conservari, atque Capitaneo nostro, in iis deinceps quoquo modo contraveniat, iudicialiter iniungi. Ex altera vero parte Capitaneus noster ipse quoque comparens ad eiusmodi Actorum propositionem respondit, talem eorum electionem, quam illi penes se tantum habere volunt, et in qua ipse Proconsulem tantum ad quatuor hebdomadas inter eos eligit, iuramentaque ab eis accipit, ex iis rationibus stare non posse, quod communis Regni observantia, et aliarum Civitatum exempla doceant, ipsum Capitaneum quos ille magis novit idoneos, ad munus Consulare eligere solere, ut pote cui multum expediat scire, qui et quales in officio Civili sint, quandoquidem [f. 1v] ex Constitutione publica Castrum et Civitatem simul salva, Reipub[licae] nobisque et Successoribus nostris Regibus coronatis asservare sit adstrictus. Quod vero decreta per Actores producta attinet, ea dicebat pugnare cum iure ipsorum Civili Maydeburgen[si], in quo fundati sunt, eademque, ut inter alios et alios lata, nihil se afficere, petens ideo a causa et ab impetitione actorum liberum se pronunciari, ac nihilominus ipsam Consulum electionem, iuxta aliarum Civitatum Regni communem observantiam vel ex praescripto iuris Civilis Magdeburgensis fieri debere in posterum, decerni. Actoribus e contra hanc eius responsionem ita diluentibus, quod res toties antea iudicata, ipsaque decreta usu hactenus longissimo tentata, per alioru[m] exempla damnari, seu in dubium vocari non possint, iuramen tumque illius nihil ad eam rem spectare, cum et ipsi quoque iuramenta sua, ad officia et in Coronatione n[ost]ra praestiterint, nec etha[m] immutandarum legum suarum causam aliquo unquam abusu dederint, sed neque in iure Magdeburgen[si] haberi quicquam expressum de Capitaneis, neque illud ad regiminis modum, sed ad forum tantum iudiciarium in Civitatibus observari. Quo instabant ut non obstantibus Citati Capitanei nostri allegationibus, eos circa morem antiquum et decreta praefata conservaremus. Nos itaque cum Consiliariis nostris lateri nostro tunc assidentibus, audita partium ea controversia, visisque et consideratis, tam Antecessoris nostri D[ivi] Sigismundi Regis quondam inter Capitaneum et Consules in hac eadem causa, quam etiam nostro Magdeburgensi simili inter communitatem Civitatis eiusdem, et modernos Consules, ex controversia partium latis, editisque decretis, quibus scilicet cautum et pronunciatum est, ipsos Consules ex Senatus electionem in locum demortui Consulis, alium eligere debere, eamque ipsam electionem, una cum aliis caeremoniis et iuramentis, veteri more, circa ipsum actum electionis observari solitis, atque adeo memorata decreta in eo negocio desuper habita, in toto confirmari, et approbanda duximus, uti quidem confirmamus et approbamus, decernentes robur illa perpetuum obtinere, et Actores circa eadem conservari, ad electionemque Consularem non alio modo, nec aliter quam prout in ipsis decretis Sigismundi Regis continetur, nunc et in posterum, absque ulla Capitanei nostri contradictione, seu protractione fieri celebrarique debere, decreto nostro praesente mediante. In cuius rei fidem et testimonium Sigillum nostrum praesentibus est subappensum. Datum Leopoli feria secunda post Octavas Corporis Christi proxima, Anno Domini Millesimo, Quingentesimo, Septuagesimo Octavo, Regni vero nostri anno Tertio. Relatio R[everen]di Joannis Borukowski de Bielino, Praepositi Lancicien[sis], Decani Warschovien[sis] et Regni Pol[oniae] Vicecancellarii. [f. 1v–2r: Tenor Secundi decreti de molendino Pistorali; Datum Leopoli feria secunda post Octavas Corporis Christi proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 2r–2v: Tenor tertii decreti de iurisdictione locator[um] circa molendinum Zimnowodzki; Datum Leopoli feria secunda post Octavas Corporis Christi proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 2v–3v: Tenor quarti decreti de incarceratione Civium; Datum Leopoli feria quinta post Octavas Corporis Christi proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 3v–4r: Tenor quinti decreti de iudicandis advenis; Datum Leopoli feria quinta post Octavas Corporis Christi proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 4r–4v: Tenor sexti Decreti de defensione Capti, inscrobus, & protonibus; Datum Leopoli feria quinta post Octavas Corporis Christi proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 4v–5v: Tenor Septimi decreti de hospitiis distribuend[is]; Datum Leopoli feria sexta ante festum Sancti Joannis Baptistae proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 5v–7r: Tenor decreti Octavi de iurisdictione & Clavibus Portarum; Datum Leopoli Sabbato, ante festum Sancti Joannis Baptistae, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 7r–7v: Tenor Noni decreti de ratione reddenda Capito; Datum Leopoli feria sexta ante festum Sancti Joannis Baptistae proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 7v–8v: Tenor decimi Decreti de exequutione Contribonis; Datum Leopoli feria sexta ante festum Sancti Joannis Baptistae proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 8v–9r: Tenor Undecimi decreti de Constitut[ioni]bus, Paltibus, theloneis, & emporio; Datum Leopoli feria sexta ante festum Sancti Joannis Baptistae proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 9r–10r: Tenor Decreti duodecimi de Podwodis; Datum Leopoli feria sexta ante festum Sancti Joannis Baptistae proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 10r–10v: Tenor decreti decimitertii de equis vagantibus; Datum Leopoli feria sexta ante festum Sancti Joannis Baptistae proxima, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 10v–11r: Tenor decimiquarti decreti de Rotulis; Datum Leopoli Sabbato ante festum S[anc]tae Margarethae proximo, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 11r–11v: Tenor decimoquinti decreti de vulneribus iudicandis iure Polonico; Datum Leopoli Sabbato ante festum S[anc]ti Joannis Baptistae proximo, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 11v–12r: Tenor decimisexti decreti de villa hospitalis & domibus venditis; Datum Leopoli Sabbato ante festum Joannis Baptistae proximo, Anno Domini 1578] [f. 12r – formuła końcowa i datacja transumptu:] Nos itaque supplicationi eiusmodi annuentes, decreta superius recensita, ita ut petitum a nobis est, describi et extradi mandavimus. Harum quibus Sigillum nostrum est appensum testimonio literarum. Datum Warschoviae in Conventione generali Regni feria secunda post Conversionis Sancti Pauli Apostoli proxima Anno Domini Millesimo, Quingentesimo, Octuagesimo Quinto, Regni vero nostri Nono. [Relatio:] Relatio Reverendi Alberti Baranowski nominati Episcopi Praemisliensis et Regni Poloniae Vicecancellarii. [Podpis sekretarza:] Paulus Szczerbic secretarius Sacrae Regiae Maiestatis notavit [Pieczęć: na sznurach jedwabnych podwieszona wielka pieczęć koronna Stefana Batorego w woskowej misie, odcisk w czerwonym wosku z herbami Korony, Litwy oraz Wilczymi Zębami Batorych]. [f. 12v / Verso – noty archiwalne i kancelaryjne:] [Nota czerwonawym atramentem z XVII/XVIII w.:] Decreta No 16 inter Civitatem, et Generosum Capitaneum ex mutuo consensu coram Ser[enissi]mo Stephano Rege. Anno 1578 et 1585 [Zapiski archiwalne z sygnaturami:] Fasc: 217 / No S 27 / No 27. [Pieczęć tuszowa okrągła:] ARCHIWUM AKT DAWNYCH MIASTA LWOWA