Protective decree of King John III Sobieski for Greek merchants against the Lviv interpreter Wartana Szymonowicz

JOHN III, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, KING OF POLAND, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Kiev, Podolia, Volhynia, Podlasie, Smolensk, Severia, and Chernihiv. [In the decorative initial 'S': White Eagle with a shield bearing the Janina coat of arms on its chest] We hereby announce by this Our letter to all and each person concerned. We have learned from the reports of certain of Our advisors, as well as from the decree of the commission court of the Most Serene Queen, Our dearest spouse, issued between the renowned merchants of the Greek nation as plaintiffs and the renowned Wartana Szymonowicz, Lviv interpreter, as defendant, on the 17th day of the month of October of the current year 1685 in Wysocko near Jarosław and submitted to Us before the royal [court], that the aforementioned Lviv interpreter and superior [...] under the pretext of a privilege obtained by misleading Our knowledge, unlawfully burdens Greek merchants in various places and at city trade fairs. Considering that this is contrary to the provisions of the laws and constitutions of the Kingdom, which prohibit extortion against merchants, We have deemed it right to deign to accept and take these Greek merchants, generally all and each of them, under Our royal patronage and protection, so that they may remain safer from any attacks and disturbances by the aforementioned Lviv interpreter and persons subordinate to him, and We hereby accept and take [them] along with their persons, properties, and all goods. And adhering to the content of the aforementioned commission court decree, by virtue of which, due to that fraudulently obtained privilege and the unlawful oppression and illegal extortion against these merchants, as well as the issue of the scraping [?] in the text of that same privilege, the Crown instigator and the person appointed by that same commission court were ordered to take legal steps against the aforementioned Lviv interpreter and bring a case against him before Our court – We strictly and under the penalties resulting from the laws of the Kingdom forbid and prohibit that the aforementioned Wartana Szymonowicz, Lviv interpreter, whether personally or through any persons subordinate to him, under the pretext of this same privilege of his obtained fraudulently, as above, dare not further, on the basis of claims [?], harass and in any way disturb the aforementioned merchants of the Greek nation and all others arriving in Our Kingdom with various goods, in any places and cities of Our Kingdom, especially during trade fairs; until he is ordered and commanded to completely refrain from all unlawfully claimed action and extortion prohibited by the laws of the Kingdom against these merchants, until the case to be brought before Our court by virtue of the commission court decree has a legal effect and is finally resolved. Strictly commanding all whom it concerns, especially the castle, land, and trade fair courts, cities, and all others before whom the case will be brought, that they keep the aforementioned merchants – regardless of contrary rescripts and secretly issued summonses to respond [?] – inviolably and strive to have them kept by others according to this letter of Our royal protection, under [threat of loss of] Our favor and according to the duties of their offices. For greater credibility, We have ordered this document, signed by Our own hand, to be strengthened with the Crown seal. Given in Żółkiew, on the XXI day of the month of November, in the year of our Lord MDCLXXXV, and the XII year of Our reign. [King's signature:] John, King [monogram] [Chancery note:] Protection for the renowned Greek merchants against the unlawful harassment of the Lviv interpreter. [Secretary's signature:] Stanisław Boglewski, Canon of Włocławek, Secretary to His Royal Majesty [Seal:] [Casing with a damaged wax seal suspended on a braided silk cord in white, red, and blue colors] [Verso:] [Stamp:] ARCHIVE OF ANCIENT ACTS OF THE CITY OF LVIV [Archival notes and regesta:] No. 15. 783 C[?] 18 [or 819] Protection of His Royal Majesty given to Greek merchants against Wartana, Lviv interpreter, 1685, November 21st. Chest q. N 48 Sb. [crossed out] 931 819. t. 31 z. 4 to fasc. 783.

IOANNES III DEI GRATIA REX POLONIAE, Magnus Dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masouiae, Samog[itiae], Kijou[iae], Podol[iae], Volhyn[iae], Podlach[iae], Smol[ensciae], Seuer[iae], Czernichou[iae]q[ue]. [W ozdobnym inicjale 'S': Orzeł Biały z tarczą z herbem Janina na piersi] Significamus praesentibus literis Nostris quorum interest uniuersis et singulis. Intelleximus ex relatione certorum Consiliariorum Nostrorum, tum Decreto Iudicij Commissorialis Serenissimae Reginae Consortis Nostrae Charissimae, inter Famatos Nationis Graecae Mercatores Actores, et Famatum Vartan Szymonowicz Interpretem Leopolien[sem] Citatum, die 17 Mensis 8bris Anno curren[ti] 1685 in Wysocko ad Jaroslauiam prolato et Nobis ad Regium reproductum, Celsitudinis Suae res Graecos varijs locis et Nundinis Ciuitatum sub praetextu Priuilegij per eundem Interpretem Leopolien[sem] ac Praefectum fonticellana [?] Nostra informationem obtenti indebitè grauare. Quod Nos contrà praescriptum legum & Constitutionum Regni, Mercatores depactari vetantium fieri animaduertentes, faciendum duximus, praeosdem Mercatores Graecos generaliter omnes et singulos in Patrocinium et Protectionem Nostram Regiam, quo securiores ab omni et quauis praenominati Interpretis Leopolien[sis] ac eidem Subordinatorum Personarum impetitione et inquietatione permanere possint, recipere et assumere dignaremur, prout quidem cum Personis et Bonis ac mercibus eorundem quibusuis recipimus & assumimus praesentibus literis nostris. Atq[ue] adhaerendo praenominati Decreti Iudicij Commissorialis contentis, quo mediante ratione dicti Priuilegij Subreptitiè obtenti, et eorundem Mercatorum indebitae aggrauationis ac illicitae depactationis, tum eiusdem Priuilegij certè in puncto corrasion[is?] per Instigatorem Regni et Personam a Iudicio eodem Commissoriali deputandam cum memorato Interprete Leopolien[si] iure agendi, & eidem in Iudicio Nostro actionem instituendi iniunctum est, ne praedictus Vartan Szymonowicz Interpres Leopolien[sis] tam perse, quam Subordinatas quasuis Personas suas sub praetextu eiusdem Priuilegij sui Subreptitiè obtenti, ita ut supra un ulterius praeten[sionibus?] memoratos Nationis Graecae Mercatores, & quoscunque alios ad Regnum Nostrum cum mercibus varijs aduenientes, in quibusuis locis & Ciuitatibus Regni Nostri, potissimum sub tempus Nundinarum impetere, & ullo modo interturbare praesumat, seriò & sub poenis legibus Regni desumptis inhibemus & interdicimus, quousque eidem, vt ab omni & quauis indebite praetensa actione ac eorundem Mercatorum legibus Regni vetita depactatione, quoad Causa in Iudicio Nostro ratione praemissorum vigore Decreti Iudicij Commissorialis instituenda legitimum non sortiatur effectum, finaliterq[ue] decisa non fuerit omninò supersedeat iungimus & mandamus. Quo omnibus quorum interest, praesertim verò Iudicijs Castrensibus, Terrestribus, Nundinalibus, Ciuitatibus & quibusuis alijs ad quos deducentur, strictè praecipientes, vt praenominatos Mercatores non obstantibus in Contrarium rescriptis, et citationibus ad responden[dum?] clam emanandis circa praesentes Protectionis Nostrae Regiae literas inuiolabiliter conseruent & ab alijs conseruari curent, pro Gratia Nostra Officiorumq[ue] Suorum debito. In quorum maiorem fidem praesentes manu propria Subscriptas Sigillo Regni communiri mandauimus. Datum Zolkieuiae die XXI Mensis Nouembris, Anno Domini MDCLXXXV Regni verò Nostri XII°. [Podpis króla:] Joannes Rex [monogram] [Nota kancelaryjna:] Protectio Famatis Mercatoribus Graecis ab indebitis aggrauationibus Interpretis Leopolien[si]s. [Podpis sekretarza:] Stanislaus Boglewski Can[onicus] Vlad[islaue]n[sis] S[acrae] R[egiae] M[tt]is S[e]cr[e]t[ar]ius [Pieczęć:] [Puszka z uszkodzoną pieczęcią woskową zawieszona na plecionym jedwabnym sznurze w barwach białej, czerwonej i niebieskiej] [Verso:] [Stempel:] ARCHIWUM AKT DAWNYCH MIASTA LWOWA [Noty archiwalne i regesty:] Nro 15. 783 C[?] 18 [lub 819] Protectio S. R. Mttis Mercatoribus Graecis a Vartane Interprete Leopol[iensi] data 1685 d[ie] 21 Nove[mbris] Arca q. N 48 Sb. [skreślone] 931 819. t. 31 z. 4 do fasc. 783.