Stanisław Kussewicz to Maciej Hayder regarding defamation and false sentences

[P. 5] As God knows and it is not hidden from people, driven by their pure malice, audacity, and recklessness. I congratulate myself that I was previously mentioned badly and wickedly; those who, knowing both my birth and my conduct, reported to me about a sentence of flogging in the marshal's court in Warsaw and a Toruń sentence for the cutting off of a hand. It went in vain, I will go quietly, and I will obtain these sentences. The Warsaw one is a dark matter, before an extract taken from old records could be issued to me, but out of shame they do not want to send it from [...] and by no means at this time issue it. A way will be found. I will have the one from Toruń soon. Before my brother, who is a Toruń secretary, I was mentioned badly – and he, having as a secretary the criminal records (then it is one thing with them, as it is with us a secretary), ordered them to be searched as thoroughly as possible. I hope by the grace of God to achieve my goal, that I, although I am a new man in Lwów, will not yield and will not want to equate myself with those who belittle me with such slander beyond my merits. I will never renounce my house and my family, but rather I myself would show the origin and customs of the parents to the offspring of my slanderers. Let them forgive me, for a just pain deserves justification. I pass over the rest in silence for now. I write to Your Grace, My Gracious Lord, that I am greatly moved, and this is because the syndicature for my desired brother is also po[...], and to avenge my wrongs privately, because I am not allowed to speak when someone insults and dishonors me without any cause or offense – there is no such tyranny under the sun. This is for the ear of Your Grace, My Gracious Lord. The rest and more in person. I have the affairs of Your Grace, My Gracious Lord and Benefactor, in [...] care without many words. Without ceremony, Your Grace, My Gracious Lord, po[...]: simplicity and zeal are signs of sincerity. I give my bow to Mr. Kręgiewski. I regret that I cannot write, and this is also due to public affairs that have fallen upon us. I am and with[...] Your Grace, My Gracious Lord. Your Grace, My Gracious Lord's obedient servant S. Kussewicz [in his own hand] May 24, 1641 [P. 6, address:] To my greatly gracious lord and kind lord Maciej Hayder, Lwów councilor, into the hands of Your Grace in Lwów.

[S. 5] O czym wie Bog y ludziom nietayno, ex sua mera malitia, temeritate, levitate, insti- gati. Gratulor mihi, że mię przed tym źle y niecnotliwie wspomniano, kto- rzy wiedząc y urodzenie y zachowanie moie, informowali mię, de decreto fustigationis w sądzie? marszałkowskim w Warszawie: y de decreto Thorunensi ratione manus amputationis. Pusto to poszło, poydę za cicho: a te dekreta mieć będę. O warszawskim ciemna sprawa, niźli mi miał być dany extract, antiquitas wyięty, ale go dosłać z [...]ce ze wstydu y żadnym sposobem na ten czas wydać niechcą. Znaydzie się sposob. Z Thorunia będę miał prope diem. Przed bratem mo- im, ktory iest sekretarzem thorunskim, źle mię wspomniano – a ten maiąc Acta Criminalia iako sekretarz (potym iedno unich co apud nos secretarius) wielu, niźli kazał accuratissime szukać. Spodzie- wam się ia za łaską Bożą mego, że ia, lubom w Lwowie novus homo, nie ustąpię y nie będę się chciał rownać z temi, ktorzy mię tak calumniatio nad zasługi moie sobie ważą. Nie puszczę się ia nigdy domu y Rodziny swoiey: a niźli też sam y potomstwu ich moich calumniatorow pokazałbym genus et mores parentum. Niechay mi od- puszczą: bo iustus dolor meretur excusationem. Caetera puszczam te[m]- pus silentio. Do W[aszej] M[iłości] M[ego] M[iłościwego] P[ana] piszę, że valde commoveor, atoli dlatego, że też bratu pożądnemu syndykatura po[...], et meas iniurias vindicare privatim, ponieważ mi nie wolno ozwać się kiedy mi kto sine ulla causa et offensione zelży y znieważy – pod słońcem niemasz talem tyrannidem. Haec in aurem WMMP. Caetera et plura coram. Sprawy W[aszej] M[iłości] M[ego] M[iłościwego] P[ana] z Dobrodzieia mam sine multis verbis na [...]ney pieczy. Bez ceremonyi WM MMP po[...]: simplicitas et strenuitas signa candoris. WM M[ego] P[ana] P[anu] Kregiewskiemu? ukłoni moy ukłon oddaię. Żałuię że pisać niemogę et quidem et propter publica, kto- re na nas napadły. Zestem y z[...] W[aszej] M[iłości] M[ego] M[iłościwego] P[ana] W[aszej] M[iłości] M[ego] M[iłościwego] P[ana] Powolnym Sługą S Kussewicz [mp.] 24 May 1641 [S. 6, adres:] Memu wielce m[ci]wemu panu y łaska- wemu Im[ci] panu Macieiowi Hay- derowi Raycy Lwowskiemu do rąk W[aszej] M[iłości] w Lwowie.