Decree of King Sigismund III Vasa settling the dispute between the burghers and the Armenians of Lwów

SIGISMUND THE THIRD, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, and also hereditary King of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals. We hereby announce by this letter of ours to all and each one whom it may concern: That when they were summoned before us and our court by these summonses on the part of the honorable seniors and the entire nation of Armenians of our city of Lwów, at the insistence of the distinguished and honorable mayor, councilors, reeve, jurors, and the entire community of our city of Lwów, because of the trade in all kinds of goods, both foreign and domestic, which trade these defendants were commonly accustomed to practice in our kingdom. And subsequently, for the purpose of resubmitting and clarifying a certain decree of the once most serene King Stefan, by which the right to cut cloth, retail beverages of all kinds, and practice crafts was granted to the same Armenians, as the said summonses testify more extensively. [S. R.] On the present date of our Relational Court, falling from the same summons and the assumption of the case before us by the assessors of our court and continued until today, when the parties themselves – the plaintiffs through the noble Andrzej Zambrowski, syndic, and the distinguished Stanisław Anserin, councilors, as well as the honest Adam Śmieszek, juror, Piotr Zygmuntowicz, Wolfgang Scholcz Wolfowicz, citizens of Lwów; and the defendant party through the honest Mikołaj Sierpkowicz, Gabriel Kaprus, Iwaszek Torosowicz, and Toros Bernatowicz, seniors of the Armenians of Lwów, their envoys and proxies – appeared before us, standing for this term. And the plaintiffs, claiming that as Catholics they are too oppressed and impoverished because of such broad powers granted to the defendants by the decree of the most serene King Stefan, requested that the same decree be either repealed due to newly discovered privileges which were not submitted at that time, or more strictly clarified. The defendants, showing that decree before us, argued that it was passed in the Relational Court of our once most serene [predecessor] after hearing the dispute of the parties and was strengthened by more than twenty years of prescription, and therefore it can neither be abolished nor changed. [R. C. S.] We, sitting with our advisors at our side, having considered the dispute of the parties and having weighed that although the decree of the most serene King Stefan, our predecessor, which is currently the subject of the case, issued in the Relational Court from the dispute of the parties, cannot be repealed by way of a complaint of being unlawfully obtained, as we do not repeal it, yet because this decree was phrased in such a way that since then it has been understood differently by both parties. Therefore, we deemed it necessary to proceed to its clarification, as we also clarify it hereby as follows: Firstly, regarding trade, we decree that both Catholic burghers and Armenians should have equal freedom to trade in all goods, both inside and outside the Kingdom, by land and by sea, and it shall be permitted for both Catholics and Armenians to distribute and resell these goods both in Lwów and everywhere in the cities and towns of our kingdom, while maintaining the order specified in the articles written below. Next, regarding the measuring and using of cloth and the privilege of cutting windows, i.e., shearing shops, called by the word [word], because it was long ago established that there should be no more than twenty windows and there cannot be more, which was reserved even in the decree of King Stefan himself. Therefore, we allow the Armenians to use only two windows in such a way that if ever due to war or another just and probable cause trade with Turkey and Wallachia were to be closed and actually ceased, or if any commercial contacts with these countries were prohibited, it shall be permitted for the Armenians to use two windows, i.e., two cutting stalls in houses and on streets designated by the Armenian seniors, after having previously purchased from the Catholics [the right to] windows, otherwise «słowo katolicka narawszy» [?], and to cut cloth of all kinds only as long as the Turkish and Wallachian trade is not opened again. However, more valuable cloths, called scarlets, folszondysz, garnets, and half-garnets, may be sold by the ell in the stalls of the wealthy by both parties; from the measuring by the ell of other common and ordinary cloths, the mentioned Armenians are explicitly [excluded]; furthermore, the trade in common cloth in pieces and bales, commonly called postawy and bales, shall be equally free for both parties. Cloth called szelendysz may be sold by both parties according to the cord, otherwise the yardstick, according to merchant custom. However, it shall not be permitted for the Armenians at any other time than during the mentioned [closure] of Turkish and Wallachian trade to cut fałdysz or other cloths of any kind; Catholics, on the other hand, may sell the same fałdysz cloth by the cord or by the ell at any time according to their will. Furthermore, regarding the retailing of beverages, we clarify that decree as follows: it shall be permitted for the Armenians to sell and retail malmsey, Hungarian, Wallachian, and other wines of all kinds only in two houses, which the Armenian seniors themselves shall designate. However, the trade in wine and the purchasing of it in whole vessels, i.e., kapa, shall be equally free for both parties. Further, it shall be permitted for the Armenians to brew and retail mead in three houses, also designated by the Armenian seniors. Armenians shall retail Lwów beer in four houses, also designated by the Armenian seniors, but they shall not brew it, but should purchase it from the Lwów burghers in whole vessels. Regarding crafts, it shall be permitted for the Armenians to have two master tailors, two shoemakers, two furriers, and one painter, who may be of their nation and rite; who, however, should belong to the guilds together with the remaining master burghers of these crafts and be subject to the laws and regulations of these guilds, and should be accepted by these guilds without any difficulties. All this both parties should observe between themselves in perpetuity under the penalty of ten grzywnas, as often as this decree is violated by either party, payable to the party observing it, with the force of our judgment in case of non-fulfillment. In witness and testimony of which our seal has been appended to this. Given in Warsaw, on the Monday after the nearest Sunday of Misericordias Domini, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred, the thirteenth year of our reign in Poland, and the seventh in Sweden. Relation of the reverend father in Christ, Lord Piotr Tylicki, Bishop of Chełmno and Vice-Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom. [Signature on the left side of the fold:] P. Tylicki, Bishop of Chełmno, Vice-Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom, by his own hand. [Signature on the right under the fold:] P. Szczerbic [?] [Signature on the right on the fold:] E. Gomoliński [?] [Note on the fold on the right:] Between the burghers and the Armenians of Lwów. [Seal:] [Crown seal of Sigismund III Vasa in a wax bowl on a silk, multicolored cord] [Verso:] Decree of the most serene Sigismund the Third, King of Poland, between the Armenians and the Catholics, regarding the cutting of cloth, the retailing of beverages, and a specific number of craftsmen. 1600. to bundle 396. Series number six. [Various old signatures and chancery notes:] N. 10. / Arc. M. / N.

SIGISMVNDVS Tertius Dei gratia Rex Poloniae, Magnus Dux Lituaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniaeq[ue] necnon Suecor[um], Gott[orum], Vandalorumq[ue] haereditarius Rex. Significamus praesentibus hisce n[ost]ris quorum interest universis et singulis. Q[uo]d cum vocati essent ad nos et Iudicium n[ost]r[u]m hisce citerat[i]oni[bus] urartim adversus famati Seniores totaq[ue] natio Armenorum civitatis nostrae Leopolien[sis], ad instam Spectabilium ac Famator[um] Procons[ulis], Consulum, Advocati, Scabinor[um] totiusq[ue] Communitatis civitatis n[ost]rae Leopoliensis occasione mercantiar[um] omnis generis mercium, tam exoticar[um], quam do-mesticarum, quas ijsdem Citati in Regno n[ost]ro passim exercere consueverunt. Deinde ad reponen[dum] et declaran[dum] certum decretum Ser[enissi]mi olim Stephani Regis, quo eisdem Armenis panno[rum] scissuras incidere, liquores omnis generis propinare et artificia exercendi facultas con-cessa fuit, prout citationes praefatae latius de praemissis testantur. S. R. termino itaq[ue] hodierno Iudicij Relatorum nostrorum propriae ex eadem citatione necnon receptione causae ad nos per Assessores Iudicij n[ost]ri facta inciden[te] et hucusq[ue] continuato, partibus ipsis, Actoribus per Nobilem Andream Zambrowsky, Sanitor[em] et Spectabilem Stanislaum Anserinum Consules, necnon Honoratos Adamum Smieszek Scabinum, Petrum Zigmuntowicz, Wolfgangum Scholcz Wolffowicz cives Leopolien[ses], Citata vero per Honoratos Nicolaum Sierpkowicz, Gabrielem Kaprus, Iwaszkonem Torossowicz et Toross Bernatowicz Seniores Armenos Leopolien[ses] internuncios et plenipotentes suos coram nobis comparen[tibus], eumq[ue] terminum agentem. Actoriq[ue] se quasi Catholicos nimis atenuatam tam ampla facultate citatis per Decretum Ser[enissi]mi Regis Stephani concessa premi et depauperari asseren[tibus], ideoq[ue] idem Decretum aut propter nova reperta Privilegia, quae tunc non producebantur, abrogari, aut acutius declarari peten[tibus]. Citata vero se eidem decretum coram nobis producen[tibus], atq[ue] illud in Relatoribus Ser[enissi]mi an[te]tuncq[ue] nostri ex partium contra latum, praescriptoq[ue] plus quam viginti annorum firmatum esse, ideoq[ue] neq[ue] tolli neq[ue] declarari posse ruden[tibus]. R. C. S. Cum Consiliarijs n[ost]ris lateri n[ost]ro assisten[tibus] ex ea partium contra, re considerato, quod quamvis decretum Ser[enissi]mi Regis Stephani antecessoris n[ost]ri de quo actuus agitur in Relatoribus ex partium controversia latum per actionem male obtenti tolli non potest, quemadmodum nos quoq[ue] illud non tollimus, tamen quia per eidem decretum ita conceptum est, ut ab illo ipso tempore varie per partem utramq[ue] intellectu fuerit. Ideo ad eius declarationem descenden[dum] nobis esse censuimus, prout illud iam exnunc ita declaramus. Primum quidem Negociationes quod attinet, Decernimus integrum esse debere tam Catolicis Civibus, quam Armenis eandem negociationem quarumlibet mercium, tam intra, quam extra Regnum, tam terra, quam mari, liceatq[ue] easdem merces tam Catolicis quam Armenis, tam Leopoli quam ubiq[ue] in Civitatibus et oppidis Regni nostri distribuere et divendere, servato tamen ordine in articulis infrascriptis specificando. Deinde quod attinet pannorum mensionem et usum ac rogativam fenestrar[um], seu pannicidias, słowo d[i]c[t]os, quandocquidem antiquitus non nisi viginti fenestrae firmatio sunt, neq[ue] plures esse posse, vel ipso Regis Stephani decreto cautum est. Ideo Armenos ad usum duarum tantum fenestrarum ita admittimus, ut si quando ex belli aut quacunq[ue] alia iusta et probabili causa negociationes in Turciam et Valachiam intercluderentur, ac de facto cessarent, aut quavis terrentia cum ijs terris fuerint interdicta, liceat Armenis duabus fenestris sive duobus pannicidijs in domibus plateisq[ue] suis per Seniores Armenos designandis uti, vendenda tamen prius aqve [!] Catolicis fenestris alias słowo katolicka narawszy [?], panno eumis generis incidere, tantum donec rursus negociationes Turcicae et Valachicae patuerint. Pannos tamen pretiosiores Szkarlaty, fulszonlarsie, granaty, pulgranatue dictos, licebit in institis opulentis utriq[ue] partium parte, vlnatim vendere, ab aliorum vero communium et vulgarium pannorum vlnatim mensiono expresse praedicti Armeni porro negociatio panni vulgar[is] pelys et ligamentis vulgo postawami y bellami utriq[ue] parti itidem libera esse debet. Pannum quod d[i]c[t]um szeylindisz licebit secundum funiculum alias strychem utriq[ue] parti more mercatorum vendere. Non licebit tamen Armenis alio praeterquam praedictis negociationis Turcicae et Valachicae tempore fałdenczsz [!], et alios omnis generis pannos incidere, Catolici aut quolibet tempore eundem pannum fałdenczsz, sive ad funiculum sive vlnatim vendent prout voluerint. Praeterea quod attinet propinationem liquorum, de ea decretum illud sic declaramus, ut integrum sit Armenis vinum malvaticum, vinagarium, valachum, aliaq[ue] omnis generis vina in duabus duntaxat domibus, quas ipsi Seniores Armeni designaverint, vendere et propinare. Negociatio tamen vini emundiq[ue] integris vasis seu cappis utriq[ue] parti pariter integra esse debet. Porro medonem seu mulsam licebit Armenis in tribus domibus itidem per seniores Armenos designandis conficere et propinare. Cervisiam aut Leopolien[sem] in quatuor domibus itidem per seniores Armenos designandis Armeni propinabant, non tamen eam conficient, sed eam a Leopolien[sibus] civibus integris vasis emere debent. Artificia quod attinet, integrum esse debet Armenis uti duobus Magistris Sartoribus, duobus Sutoribus, duobus pellionibus et uno pictore, qui suae nationis et ritus esse poterint, qui tamen contubernia cum reliquis Magistris civibus eorundem artificio[rum], susexpex [!] iuribusq[ue] et ordinationibus eorundem contubernior[um], subesse debent, a quibus etiam citra quamcunque difficultatem suscipi debent. Quae omnia utrinq[ue] partes inter se perpetuo observare debent, sub poena decem marcar[um], toties quoties per aliquam partium praesenti decreto contraventum fuerit, parti illud servanti succumbenda prius defecti nostri vigore. In cuius rei fidem et testimonium sigillum nostrum praesentibus est subappensum. Datum Varsoviae, feria secunda post Dominicam Misericordias proxima, Anno Domini Millesimo sexcentesimo, Regnorum nostrorum Poloniae tredecimo, Suetici septimo. Relatio Reverendi in Christo Patris Domini Petri Tylicki, Episcopi Culmensis et Regni Poloniae Vicecancellarij. [Podpis z lewej strony pliki:] P. Tylicki Ep[iscop]us Cul[mensis] R[egni] P[oloniae] Vicecanc[ellarius] mp. [Podpis z prawej strony pod pliką:] P. Szerbic [?] / P. Szczerbicz [Podpis po prawej na plice:] E. Gomolinski [?] [Dopisek na plice po prawej:] Inter Cives et Armenos Leopolienses. [Pieczęć:] [Pieczęć koronna Zygmunta III Wazy w woskowej misce na jedwabnym, wielobarwnym sznurze] [Verso:] Decretum Ser[enissi]mi Sigismundi Tertij, Reg[is] Pol[oniae] Inter Armenos et Catholicos, de pannicidijs, de propinatione liquorum, et de certo numero artificum. 1600. ad f[asci]c[u]l[um] 396. Nro. Ser[ie]y Sextae. [Różne dawne sygnatury i noty kancelaryjne:] N. 10. / Arc. M. / N.