Translation / modern text
Noble and Honorable Gentlemen, Venerable Friends!
It was difficult for us not to be alarmed by the sad news received in the current post from you, our most esteemed Gentlemen, regarding the Jew Becal, who, under the pretext of a new constitution [parliamentary act], is inflicting new oppressions upon Christian merchants.
We humbly thank you for this information, and at the same time, we inform you that [although? — uncertain conjunction] this evil has not yet reached us, there is a fear that it will begin to oppress us as well. We shall not fail, therefore, by forwarding your letter to various dignitaries whom we believe will be opposed to this conduct, to earnestly request that news of this may reach both His Royal Majesty, our gracious Lord, and the Most Illustrious Lord Crown Treasurer.
For both you and we should remedy a common evil. Expressing our gratitude to you and most earnestly commending ourselves to your friendship and kindness, we remain
Your most benevolent friends, ready to serve,
the Mayor and Councilors of the Royal City of Poznań.
Poznań, August 12, 1690.
[Address:]
To the Noble and Honorable Gentlemen, the Mayor and Councilors of the Royal City of Lviv, our most venerable friends. In Lviv.
Original wording — transcription
Nobiles ac Spectabiles Domini, Domini Amici Honorandi.
Trudno się było y Nam nie Zalterować, odebrawszy teraźnieyszą Pocztą tristem Nuntium od WMciow Naszych Wielce Mciwych Panow in Materia Becala Żyda, ktory pod praetextem Constitutionis Novellae Novas na Kupcow Chrześcian procurat oppressiones. Za ktorą wiadomość iako Uniżenie Dziękuiemy, tak też communicuiemy WM N.W.M.PP., że [iacze / acz?] Nas to malum nie dośięgło, verendum iednak żeby premere niechciało, czemu że Sera medicina paranda, nieomieszkamy u rożnych Ichmciow przy Communicatiey Listu WMciow Naszych Mci PP. /o ktorych baczyć możemy iż temu procederowi Contrarii będą/ suppliciter instare, aby się to tak Krola Jmci Pana Pana Naszego Miłościwego, iako też y Jaśnie Wielmożnego Jmci Pana Podskarbiego Koronnego donieść mogło. Należy bowiem Communi Malo iako WM N.WM.PP., tak y Nam subvenire. Ktorą [gratitudinem?] WM Naszym Mci PP. oświadczając, Onych się przyjaźni y łasce iako Naypilniey Zalecając zostawamy
Nobilium ac Spectabilium DD. VV. Amici Benevolentissimi et ad Obsequia parati.
Proconsul et Consules Civitatis S.R.M. Posnaniae.
Poznań 12 Augusti 1690.
[Adres:]
Nobilibus ac Spectabilibus Dominis Proconsuli Consulibus Civitatis S.R.Mttis Leopoliensis, Dominis Amicis Observandissimis. Leopoli.
Reading notes
All three pages and close-ups of the text and date were examined. Date stamp: 12 Augusti 1690. The report of oppression is an account received from Lviv and an allegation repeated by the senders, not an independently proven fact. The original refers to Becal as a Jew, but this letter does not provide his office, first name, or details of the alleged actions; these were not added from the inventory. Constitutionis Novellae means a new constitution/act, without its date or title. After the words 'nie dośięgło' (has not reached), 'verendum' (it is to be feared) was read, not 'ferendum'; the letter does not state that Poznań has already been affected by the same oppression. The initial conjunction of this clause remains uncertain. The formula 'czemu że Sera medicina paranda' was left with explicit uncertainty regarding syntax, without expanding it into a proverb not present in the text. Intervention is announced; there is no response from the King or the Treasurer. No names are provided in the official signature.
Location in scan: 132/1/212, PDF p. 2: letter with date and official signature; p. 3: address; p. 1: archival cover.
Translation notes (transferred from text): A brief Latin formula follows regarding the preparation of a late remedy; the syntactic connection is unclear. The reading of the Latin noun is uncertain.
Location in scan: 132/1/212, PDF p. 2: letter with date and official signature; p. 3: address; p. 1: archival cover.
Translation notes (transferred from text): A brief Latin formula follows regarding the preparation of a late remedy; the syntactic connection is unclear. The reading of the Latin noun is uncertain.