Confirmation by King Władysław IV of the decree of Sigismund III regarding the labor services in Zamarstynów

WŁADYSŁAW The Fourth, 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, elected Grand Duke of Muscovy etc. We hereby announce to all and each person concerned, that a paper document has been presented to Us, signed by the hand of the once Reverend in Christ Father, Lord Maciej Pstrokoński, Bishop of Przemyśl, Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom, and strengthened with the royal seal, containing a decree issued in the Royal Court [...] by the Most Serene, of blessed memory Sigismund III, King, Our Most Beloved Parent, between the inhabitants of the villages of Zamarstynów, Wólka and Porzecze, plaintiffs, and the most honorable and famous mayor and councilors of Lwów, defendants, on account of forcing the plaintiffs to extraordinary works, whole and intact, and free from any suspicion. And a request was brought to Us that We might deign to approve and confirm it with Our authority. The tenor of this document is as follows: Sigismund III, by the grace of God King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia etc., and also hereditary King of the Swedes, Goths and Vandals. We hereby announce to all and each person concerned: That just as by our previous decrees, issued in the matter and complaint brought between the honest Walenty Folta, deputy reeve in Zamarstynów, Hryczko Zawalidroga, Aleksy Kozica, Hryń Misiek, Włoszle and the entire community of the said village of Zamarstynów, Wólka and Porzecze, plaintiffs, and the most honorable and famous mayor and councilors of our city of Lwów, defendants, on account of forcing the plaintiffs to extraordinary works and other burdens, we appointed once and again certain of our commissioners to conduct an investigation, namely in the matter of the original location of the said villages of Zamarstynów, Wólka and Porzecze, as well as in the matter of the ancient custom of the works of the said inhabitants, and to the said parties after the completion of such investigation we reserved the term for appearing again before Us and hearing the final verdict – as those Decrees of Ours more broadly contain. Therefore, on the present proper term of Our Relational Court, resulting from that reservation of the term, as well as from the appeal from the verdict of the assessors of our court brought to us by the plaintiffs and continued until now: when the said parties [had their term], the plaintiffs through the noble Jan Hortensjusz, and the defendant party through the noble Jan Sikorski, their proxies, appear before Us and proceed to this term. And the plaintiffs again argue from their lawsuit against the defendants, proving with many documents various ancient regulations of those estates, and furthermore [claiming] that by the decree of the Most Serene King Stefan it was proven that the works of the suburbanites were adjudged to the city itself, and not to the Zamarstynów manor (for the benefit of which the magistrate diverted these works). The defendants, also holding to the same decree and proving that such works were imposed on the suburbanites as were ordered to them by the magistrate, and that no harm is done to the plaintiffs by the fact that the works which they should have performed in the city, they perform on the spot, at the manor of that village. We, sitting with our advisors at our side, considering that although it follows from ancient regulations that the city of Lwów once granted the usufruct of these estates to Jan Zamarstyn according to law, so that the peasants would not usurp city rights for themselves, nevertheless from later decrees and investigations conducted in this matter it follows that the plaintiffs, the Zamarstynów inhabitants, are not obliged to any other works, except those commonly called corvée (szarwarki), for the benefit of the city. Therefore, we have now ruled that those peasants are not obliged to any other works than those called corvée. However, since the city in later time also became the usufructuary possessor of these same estates, and in the decree of the Most Serene King Stefan it was reserved that the suburbanites are obliged to bear all burdens for the benefit of the city, and the magistrate converts the works commonly called corvée into farm works of that same village, we have therefore considered that the plaintiffs, the said peasants, cannot oppose this conversion and we have decided, as we do decide, that the said peasants are bound and obliged to perform the said works at the manor. In such a way, however, that on the said converted days they do not perform greater works at the manor than they would have been obliged to perform in the city. And as long as they work at the manor, they are to perform no work in the city by virtue of this Our decree. In testimony of which the seal of our Kingdom has been pressed to this. Given in Kraków, on the Tuesday before the feast of Saint Agnes next, in the Year of Our Lord one thousand six hundred and seventh, of our reign in Poland the twentieth, in Sweden the fourteenth year. Relation of the Reverend in Christ Father, Lord Maciej Pstrokoński, Crown Chancellor, Bishop of Przemyśl, Supreme Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom. Maciej, Bishop of Przemyśl, Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom. I sign with my own hand. To which request We, graciously acceding, have considered that the above-included document should be approved and confirmed in all its points, clauses, articles and conditions, as We do approve and confirm by this Our [document], establishing that this document should retain the power and authority of perpetual durability (insofar as it is consistent with the law, its practice exists, and our decrees and those of our referendaries, if issued in this regard, allow it). In testimony of which this [document], signed by Our hand, we ordered to be strengthened with the seal of the Kingdom. Given in Lwów, on the 3rd day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1634, of Our reign in Poland the second, and in Sweden the third year. Władysław King [with own hand] [Plica – signature:] Piotr Gembicki, Secretary of the Kingdom, with own hand [Plica – chancellery note under the fold / on the right:] Confirmation of the decree of the Most Serene King Sigismund III issued between the village of Zamarstynów and the Lwów councilors on account of labor services. [Verso:] [Note 1:] Monday after Jubilate Sunday next Year of Our Lord 1637 To the acts etc. [...] [Note 2:] 1636 Between the city and the Zamarstynów suburbanites 1607 and 1634 issued [Note 3:] F [Various old signatures and notes, among others:] to bundle 74 / no. 38 / no. 98 / round ink seal: ARCHIWUM AKT DAWNYCH MIASTA LWOWA

VLADISLAVS Quartus Dei gratia Rex Poloniae, Magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniaeque, necnon Suecorum, Gothorum, Vandalorumque haereditarius Rex, Electus Magnus Dux Moschoviae etc. Significamus praesentibus literis Nostris quorum interest universis et singulis. Exhibitas nobis esse literas papyraceas manu R[everen]di olim in Christo Patris Domini Matthiae Pstrokoński Episcopi Premisliensis Regni Poloniae Cancellarii subscriptas, Sigilloque Regni communitas, continere in se Decretum in Iudicio Regio Latiscorum per Serenissimum Divoe memoriae Sigismundum III Regem Parentem Nostrum desideratissimum inter Incolas Villarum Zamerstynow, Wolka et Porzewcze actores, et Spectabiles ac Famatos Proconsulem et Consules Leopolienses citatos latum ratione coactionis actorum ad labores insuetos, sanas, et illisas, omnique suspicione carentes. Supplicatumque Nobis ut easdem authoritate Nostra approbare et confirmare dignaremur. Quarum literarum tenor is est qui sequitur. Sigismundus III Dei gratia Rex Poloniae, Magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniaeque etc. necnon Suecorum, Gotho- rum, Vandalorumque haereditarius Rex. Significamus praesentibus hisce nostris quorum interest universis et singulis. Quod quemadmodum prioribus Decretis nostris in causa et actione inter Honestum Valentinum Folta Viceadvocatum in Zamerstynow, Hryczko Zawalidroga, Alexium Kozica, Hryn Misko, Włoszlo to- tamque communitatem praedictae Villae Zamerstynow, Wolka et Porzewcze actores, et Spectabiles ac Famatos Proconsulem ac Consules Civitatis nostrae Leopoliensis citatos, ratione coactionis actorum ad labores insuetos, aliorumque gravaminum instituta latis, certos inquisitores nostros semel atque iterum designaveramus ad inquirendum videlicet de primaeva locacione Villarum praefatarum Zamerstynow, Wolka et Porzewcze, tum et de usu antiquo laborum Incolarum praefatorum partibusque praefatis post peractam eiusmodi inquisitionem terminum iterum coram Nobis comparendi, sententiamque definitivam audiendi con- servaveramus. Prout eadem decreta Nostra latius praemissa in se continent. In termino itaque hodierno Judicii Relationum nostrarum proprium ex eadem conservatione termini, tum et appellatione a sententia Assessorum Judicii nostri per actores ad nos interposita incedenti et hucusque continuato: Partibus prae- fatis actores per Nobilem Ioannem Hortensium, Citata vero per Nobilem Ioannem Sikorski Plenipotentes suos coram Nobis comparent, eamque terminum attentari. Et Actores ex sua Citatione denuo contra citatos proponent, dispositionesque antiquas varias eorum bonorum multis documentis deducendi, decre- to insuper Serenissimi Regis Stephani probari labores Suburbanos Civitati ipsi non autem Curiae Zamerstynoviensi (ad quam Magistratus labores eiusmodi avertit) adiudicatos esse. Citatis quoque eidem decreto inhaerentibus, deducentibusque labores tales Suburbanis impositos, quales illi per Magistratum iniuncti fuerint, neque ullam iniuriam actoribus fieri, quod labores quos in Civitate praestare eos oporteret, domi ad Curiam Villae illius praestarent. Nos cum Consiliariis nostris lateri nostro assidentibus, eo attento, quod quamvis ex dispositionibus antiquis constat Civitatem Leopoliensem utilem dominium eorum bonorum quondam Ioanni Zamerstyn ex lege concessisse, ne Coloni ius Civitatis sibi usurpent, tamen ex decretis subsequentibus et inquisitionibus eo nomine factis apparet, actores Incolas Zamerstynovienses non ad alios, quam ad eos qui Szarwarki vulgo dicuntur Civitati obligari. Ideo ad praesens quoad eos colonos non alios labores quam eosdem Szarwarki dictos praestare teneri adinvenimus. Quoniam autem Civitas subsequenti tempore factorum etiam utilis possessor eorundem bonorum, et decreto Serenissimi Regis Stephani cautum est Subur- banos ad praestanda omnia onera Civitati teneri. Magistratus vero labores vulgo Szarwarki dictos in labores Praediales eiusdem Villae comutat. Ideo actores colonos praefatos non posse ei comutationi contravenire adinvenimus, decrevimusque prout et decernimus, debere ac teneri eosdem co- lonos labores praefatos ad Curiam praestare. Ita tamen ut diebus praefatis commutatis non maiores labores ad Curiam praestent, quam in Civitate praestare debuissent. Et quamdiu ad Curiam laborabunt ad Civitatem nihil laborent praesentis decreti Nostri vigore. In cuius rei fidem Sigil- lum Regni nostri praesentibus est appressum. Dat[um] Cracoviae feria tertia ante festum S. Agnetis proxima Anno Domini Millesimo Sexcentesimo Septimo Regnorum nostrorum Poloniae Vigesimo, Sueciae Decimo Quarto Anno. Relatio R[everen]di in Christo Patris Domini Matthiae Pstrokoński R[egni] C[ancellarii] Episcopi Premisliensis R. P. Supremi Cancellarii. Mathias Episcopus Praemisliensis R. P. Cancellarius. [manu propria] Subscribo. Cui supplicationi Nos benigne annuentes, praeinsertas literas in omnibus earum punctis, clausulis, articulis et conditionibus approbandas et confirmandas esse duximus, prout approbamus et confirmamus praesentibus hisce Nostris, decernentes easdem vim et robur perpetuae firmitatis (in quantum de iure sunt, et usus earum habetur, Decretaque nostra et Referendariorum Nostrorum, si quae eo in passu lata sunt, permittunt) obtinere debere. In cuius rei fidem praesentes manu Nostra subscriptas Sigillo Re- gni communiri iussimus. Dat[um] Leopoli die III. Mensis Octobris Anno Domini M. DC. XXXIV. Regnorum Nostrorum Poloniae Secundo, Sueciae vero Tertio Anno. Vladislaus Rex [manu propria] [Plica - podpis:] Petrus Gembicki Secr[etarius] R[egni] m[anu] p[ropria] [Plica - nota kancelaryjna pod zgięciem/z prawej:] Confirmatio Decreti Serenissimi Sigismundi III Regis in Villa Zamerstynow et Consules Leopol[ienses] lati ratione laborum. [Verso:] [Nota 1:] Feria Secunda post Dominicam Jubilate proxima Anno Domini 1637 Ad actum etc. [...] [Nota 2:] 1636 Inter Civitatem et Suburbitas Zamerstynovienses 1607 et 1634 lata [Nota 3:] F [Różne dawne sygnatury i noty, m.in.:] ad Fas[ciculum] 74 / No 38 / No 98 / pieczęć tuszowa okrągła: ARCHIWUM AKT DAWNYCH MIASTA LWOWA