Source catalogue

After the reduction of the coin's value, the Podolian Voivodeship established a commission to set prices for goods and equipment. Merchants asked for a postponement of the submission of registers and closed their shops. The commission ordered sales at half the previous price. The magistrates of Kamieniec ask Lwów for information about a similar tariff; further resolution remains open.

The mayor and councilors of Kołomyja certify the receipt on April 9 of the royal universal, delivered by the councilors of Lwów, regarding the donative for the rescue of the Republic. The certificate is intended to confirm the fulfillment of the duty by the authorities of Lwów.

The magistrate of Kraków thanks the magistrate of Lwów for maintaining friendly relations and conveying news. It asks for new information via a specially sent messenger and declares readiness to reciprocate the favor.

Kraków asks for the release of its burgher Ciamer from a re-collection of the donative in Lwów and for the unsealing of his goods. It argues that the merchant has already paid in Kraków, and the universals exclude collecting the same tribute again in another city. It also cites the merchant's account of the current practice and his trade losses.

Kraków claims that Scottish merchants use royal rescripts and protective letters to violate municipal trade laws, evade burdens, and avoid jurisdiction. It describes the case of the merchant Rijdt [?] and the goods taken from him. It asks Lwów for joint actions and the transmission of similar court rulings.

Kraków thanks Lwów for suspending the execution of the ruling regarding competing claims to the estate of the late Jan Nyżek [?], a shop servant of Mrs. Węgrzynowiczowa. It informs about her sending an attorney and asks for a fair examination of her claims.

Kraków presents the efforts of the Kraków Academy to recognize Jan Kanty as the patron of the Polish Kingdom, to move the celebration, and to establish a solemn octave. It asks Lwów for its own petition to the Pope and to send a copy to Kraków, attaching its own submission as a model for the content.

In response to Lwów's complaint regarding the exclusion of the magistrate from setting prices, Kraków describes its own practice: two meetings per year with the participation of the voivodeship office, the castle office, and the city council. It explains the order of votes, the maintenance of the price book, the preparation of copies, and the public announcement of the tariff. In a postscript, it speaks about punishing violations, the weight of bread, and testing beer.

The magistrate of Kraków asks whether in Lwów beer can be brewed only by members of the guild, or also by other burghers for their own needs and for sale. It asks for the rules of collecting the excise tax and copies of laws or decrees granting the freedom of brewing and retail to citizens, not the guild. It also asks about the possibility of importing beer from other places for household needs.

The magistrate of Kraków received news by mail that in Kamieniec, 27 people died in three houses within two weeks. It asks the magistrate of Lwów for confirmation and closer information about a possible plague. It intends to look for ways to stop its spread and encourages the addressees to exercise similar caution.

Kraków confirms receipt of an earlier letter from Lwów regarding another, partially unread matter. Then it asks about a rumor of two sudden deaths in the Lwów suburb and symptoms of the plague in other people. It demands honest information and protection against newcomers to preserve the health of the inhabitants, the credibility of municipal certificates, and trade with Silesia.

The magistrate of Kraków notifies about news from Hungary regarding a severe plague beyond the Tisza and Miskolc [?]. It asks Lwów to send letters to border towns, check passports and certificates of newcomers, and recommend guards and barriers on the roads.

Kraków warns that the plague in Hungary is approaching the Polish border and, according to fresh news, has appeared in the towns of Orava. Concern is raised by the movement of Hungarians, Polish workers from vineyards, craftsmen, and deserters. The magistrate also states that in Biały Dunajec, eight people died in two houses after the arrival of a digger, but no further deaths have been recorded there for five weeks. It recommends caution to Lwów and warning the border towns.

Kraków refers to a rumor about the appearance of the plague on the Turkish border, in a town with an uncertainly read name. It asks Lwów for reliable information. It announces, for safety, the control of people arriving or passing from that side and requiring an authentic passport confirming origin from a healthy area.

Kraków thanks for the Christmas and New Year wishes and responds regarding the Wrocław tymfs. It informs about the application of the universal of the Grand Crown Treasurer, according to which a tymf has the exchange rate of two Polish six-groschen coins, approved by a decree of the Crown Tribunal. It announces the attachment of a copy of the relevant point.

Kraków thanks the magistrate of Lwów for the letter of August 8, conveying news about contagious diseases in Podolia, Ukraine, Kamieniec Podolski, and Żółkiew, as well as the precautionary measures taken. It requests further news and declares the reimbursement of transport costs for the letters.

The magistrate of Kraków sends its citizen for detailed news about contagious diseases spreading in Ruthenia, Ukraine, and Podolia. It asks Lwów to inform the envoy, detain travelers and merchants from the affected areas, check passports, and verify certificates of healthy origin for travelers and goods. It demands the authentication of the documents' good origin with an official signature and the city seal before allowing further passage.

Kraków learned that Lwów sent two surgeons to the vicinity of Tarnopol to check reports of contagious diseases. It asks for their report in order to take precautionary measures in time. The sender expresses hope that the rumor will not be confirmed.

Krosno explains that daily oppression by military banners made it impossible to quickly collect and send the donative. It mentions the received news about extending the deadline for payment to November 20 and asks Lwów for the greatest possible relief in its difficult situation.

Leżajsk confirms receipt from the Lwów authorities of the royal universal regarding the donative of one hundred thousand zlotys, passed at the last Sejm, with reference to the Ruthenian Voivodeship. In the clause concerning the town's share, 60 zlotys are mentioned. The letter certifies the delivery of the universal, not the completion of the payment.

Responding to Lwów's inquiry, Lublin provides the fees: one zloty per barrel of wine for the voivode and three groschen for the deputy voivode. It does not indicate a similar burden for other goods. It mentions the levy on food brought from the countryside and contributions from merchants and guilds when setting prices twice a year. It asks that the response remain confidential.

The magistrate of Lublin complains that the butchers' guild refuses to pay the poll tax, citing residence outside the city jurisdiction, and has issued summons against the city before the kaptur courts. It asks the magistrate of Lwów for an authentic document confirming whether local guilds pay the burdens of the Republic and the city even when their members live under other jurisdictions. In a postscript, it asks about the organization of the Lwów court, the role of clerical judges, and the venue for court sessions.

The president and councilors of Lublin announce that they have elected delegates from among themselves to Warsaw for September 1, 1738, in accordance with the written order of the Grand Crown Treasurer. The delegates are to participate in the preparation of the Crown treasury instruction. The authors express hope that the Lwów magistrate will also fulfill the treasurer's will.

Lublin, having received no response to the previous letter, again asks Lwów to provide the decree of the Radom Tribunal, by virtue of which Lwów was to be exempted from the exchange of red zlotys. It promises mutual assistance in similar matters.

The magistrate of Lublin refers to news about a royal commission examining the case between the Lwów authorities and the Jews trading in the city. It wants to imitate Lwów's actions and asks for an authenticated copy of the decree, exclusively regarding the point on the removal of Jews, to serve as a precedent. It declares it will cover the chancery fees.

The magistrate of Lublin thanks for the interest in an unusual unfortunate event and for the letters of intercession. It asks for the case, which is to be examined by the Tribunal, to be recommended to the Archbishop of Lwów, and for the attached letter to be delivered. It does not describe the event itself nor name the parties to the dispute.

The magistrate asks its envoys for intervention and advice regarding city forests, duties, Ruthenians conducting retail sales, confiscated fish, real estate, pastures, transport services, the investigation into debts owed to Gdańsk citizens, and Tatar rumors. The second part reports on the dispute over the execution of the ruling regarding the mill, the deposit of the sum of 1500, and the objections of the Hinks and Sieradzki. The authors complain about the conduct of the deputy starosta and the lack of constant legal aid; they announce further documents and send a copy of the letter from the Wisznia sejmik.

The councilors respond to the letter from the envoys dated in Warsaw on January 4. They ask for the matter with Mr. Paczek to be brought to an end, send documents, and 70 zlotys via the city scribe's servant Marcin. They urge the envoys to remain and prevent damage to city interests.

Lwów seeks the voivode's support before the royal court in a dispute with Stanisław Szembek. According to the councilors, the city bought the land for several thousand zlotys from the Crown cupbearer, while Szembek claims rights to it through his wife's predecessor (as defined in the letter). This is the argumentation of one of the parties, not a court verdict.

The councilors thank the marshal for his care of the Lwów envoys and ask him for support before the king in the dispute with Stanisław Szembek over land purchased by the city. They mention the previous rights of Szembek's wife's parents and the payment of several thousand zlotys. This is a parallel submission to letter 190 addressed to the voivode.

The councilors and commonalty of Lwów submit a declaration to the hetman regarding the college. The preserved paragraph mentions royal consent/decision and contains a request regarding the school or schoolmaster (reading uncertain), but not all conditions of the city's position can be read with certainty. A note on the reverse side gives November 16, 1607, and states that the hetman was not satisfied and returned the letter with anger.

Stanisław Kasperinus thanks the addressee for help in city matters. He mentions the death of the city syndic and his successor, support from the royal secretary, and the sending of document files for court disputes. He discusses the dispute against the butchers, in which a widow and Jesuit fathers appear, the appeal related to the Armenians and Kamieniec, and the need to support city matters. Uncertain names and surnames have been left with gaps.

The councilors of Lwów accuse the burgrave of sending castle haiduks, robberies, extorting services in the suburb, and violating city jurisdiction. They ask the starosta to reprimand him, provide satisfaction to the city, and stop these actions.

The councilors of Lwów describe the securing of Wyrzykowski's movable property, efforts regarding the escheat in the absence of proven relatives, and the return of the items after his return from the camp. They recommend using the receipt in defense against a later claim. They also send files for the case with the chapter, concerning the road and the object behind the Halicz Gate, asking for active defense and the return of the documents.

The councilors refer to royal privileges allowing them to present candidates for clergy to churches on city land. They ask the Bishop of Chełm for a pious priest, a supporter of the union, who will take over one of these churches. They want his quick arrival, preferably within two weeks, and promise protection and assistance.

The councilors send Wachlowicz the letter of the Crown instigator and instruct him to follow his advice in the dispute with the starosta of Łomża. They also ask to learn the instigator's opinion on the Tatar sum and to follow up on the lawsuit. Notes mention the delivery of documents and the messenger's costs; part of them remains unread.

The councilors maintain their readiness to provide the king with one hundred thousand zlotys in connection with the contract regarding the lease of the Lwów excise and Ruthenian customs. They explain that the departure of the Wąchock abbot and the enemy's actions delayed the negotiations. They ask the treasury administrator to allocate provisions for the Lwów garrison from this sum, as its lack threatens the city's security.

The councilors ask the royal secretary Jerzy Januszewicz for help at the court. They maintain their offer of one hundred thousand zlotys for the needs of the Republic, provided that the sum is settled by reducing the dues from the lease of the Lwów excise and Ruthenian customs. The dispatch of delegates was delayed by the danger of war. The city awaits a safe route and news about the king's whereabouts.

The author regrets that he must remain away from the town hall and is not participating in public affairs. His presence is required by the case with Mr. Podgórski. He asks his colleagues to keep the trial materials in case it is heard before the royal court and to protect the rights related to the late Mr. Żydkiewicz [?].

In view of the enemy approaching the city, the Lwów councilors ask the Grabowiec starosta Marek Matczyński for his support with the Grand Crown Hetman. They desire the arrival of soldiers with prepared means for their maintenance, a good commander, and help in purchasing ammunition and food, including from the city's beer and spirits tax. They also ask for letters to land officials so that they immediately issue taxes for the city's urgent needs.

The Lwów councilors ask the hetman to protect the municipal villages of Zubrza and Sichów and to exempt their subjects from the forced transport of oaks. They claim that the villages have already been devastated by the army and the rest of the inhabitants may leave. They propose using artillery carters who have horses and wagons.

The delegates confirm receipt of the letter from the Lwów magistrate with Sejm projects. They declare their respect for its will but do not understand the reasons for the decision provided in the letter. They announce their further journey. A dense postscript contains additional instructions, largely unreadable.

The presidents of the Lwów council assure sub-judge Łoś that in the case of the Osmulska tenement house initiated by the Kaniów starosta, they will not allow any prejudice to his rights. They promise treatment in accordance with justice and the dignity of the addressee; the letter does not contain a resolution of the dispute.

The authors write from Zamość to the Lwów magistrate about the difficulties of the journey. Before departure, the axle of the luggage wagon broke; reloading items and obtaining parts for the carriage delayed the trip. They set off in the evening for Janów, leaving the driver with the belongings, and the next day they waited for him until noon. Further on, the carriage kept breaking down. The final part of the report is missing.

The councilors of Przemyśl postpone all lawsuits with Lwów before the royal relational and assessor courts until March 6, 1595, in the hope of a settlement and with the preservation of the parties' rights. They mention a similar commitment from the people of Lwów.

The councilors of Przemyśl declare the suspension of municipal, private, and guild cases against the people of Lwów until three weeks have passed since the start of the next Sejm. The goal is to enable a settlement; Lwów was to make a similar commitment.

The councilors describe the decline of cities, the killing of one mayor and the dragging of another to the castle, the reduction of jurisdiction and lands, and trade difficulties. They call on Lwów to act together before the Sejm and announce a meeting on December 29. The allegations are presented as the authors' claims.

The councilors send back to Lwów correspondence received from the treasurer, intended for the municipal authorities and two officials. They explain that the mayor accidentally took out and opened one of the letters. They ask not to treat this as an intentional breach of secrecy.