16 July 1687

Woyt, Burgomaster, Councilors, Jurors, and the Magistracy of the city of His Tsarist Majesty, Nizhyn.

We announce hereby to all who need to know this, that Mazerde Besard, Inductor (official responsible for customs duties), and Dioka Kiryłowicz, who was at that time the acting administrator, as well as Siemion Jasinko, the Inductor’s servant, and Mikołay Jakowicz, our Nizhyn burgher, have appeared personally, orally, and publicly before our office and testified that, in the past year of one thousand six hundred and eighty-six, at the time of the fair in Chernihiv, on the feast of Saint Procopius, and later in other Seversk/Siewiersk cities, there was a Jew from Slutsk named Havrylo Wolfowicz who had silver for sale, and at that time there was not among his silver any church or ecclesiastical piece whatsoever. When the named witnesses were cleared by such documentation, the witness Siemion Jakow, fulfilling his duty, met the Jew Havrylo [while he was] traveling from Chernihiv toward Kyiv, several miles away, and searched his belongings; he sealed all of Havrylo's goods and his entire merchandise and brought him to Chernihiv, where, when the Most Illustrious Lord Begoß, Hetman of the army of His Tsarist Majesty, for his own purposes, needed to see whether he could choose any special item to buy, the servant Siemion unsealed [the goods] and, taking seven pieces from the chest of silver-gilt, he allowed [them] to be presented to the Most Illustrious Lord, and there were five rostrudany (a type of vessel), the sixth was a pitcher, and the seventh was a belt, from which silver no piece pleased the Most Illustrious Lord Colonel of Chernihiv. Siemion then sealed them again and led Havrylo with his silver to Nizhyn, and here, Siemion and Havrylo unsealed [them].

They presented them to Lord Dumitraszek, the Inductor at that time, who bought two rostrudany and a pitcher, and gifted one to the Inductor. And then Mikołay Zerde, as a scribe, recorded it at the time, and Piesko, who saw it, and Siemion, as a primary witness, acknowledged this under oath before us in the City Hall. And Mikołay Jakowicz, our burgher, acknowledged together with the aforementioned that when Havrylo was conducting a contract to sell his silver to a Muscovite in Bilyi, he, as a host in his house, saw that silver, and there was not a single ecclesiastical or church piece there. Only the rostrudany and the belt. When Havrylo brought his silver to the house of the late Taras, our Burgomaster, to sell it, there were then present highly significant, noble, and trustworthy persons, both ecclesiastical and secular; these saw that silver and [confirmed] that there was no church or ecclesiastical silver there. And Mikołay, being there, saw that silver twice and confirmed that there was no church or ecclesiastical silver there. We, therefore, the Nizhyn Magistracy, since noble and trustworthy persons have confirmed under oath before us that during the aforementioned time there was not the smallest piece of church or ecclesiastical silver among the belongings of Havrylo Volfovych—only a pitcher, a belt, and five rostrudany, and those were all not smooth as church and ecclesiastical vessels are, but rather embossed and in the shape of a grape cluster—following the testimony of the aforementioned witnesses, and after our own certification that Havrylo, for several dozen years, has not missed our Nizhyn fairs and has never been involved in anything bad, nor is he suspected [of any wrongdoing], for the sake of greater faith and certainty, we have issued this, our official [document] with the city seal, to the party in need, Havrylo Volfovych, and have indicated that an attestation from the Nizhyn City Hall be given.

Year 1687, month of July, the 16th day.

(Copy of the letter and the seal)

By the permission of the Lord Woyt and the Lady Burgomaster and all the councilors.

Andrzey Filipowicz Waszutinsky, City Clerk of Nizhyn, by my hand.

March 13, 1678

In the Short Beresteckko Court, before me, Stanisław Kwiatkowski Małkinian, acting deputy starosta (royal administrator) of Berestechko, it is testified in the office in the Courthouse of Berestechko, on behalf of the authority and the antiquity, that at the request and from the past, it was commanded by the Berestechko office that, in the present office, the confirmatory names of the government be recorded, as the authentic royal privileges of the illustrious kings were presented by the writers.

John III, by the Grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Samogitia, Masovia, Livonia, Smolensk, Volhynia, Podolia, Kiev, Podlachia, Severia, and Chernihiv, we make known by this our Letter and Privilege, to whomsoever it should be known, that a confirmatory privilege of the rights of the Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was presented before us, written in parchment, complete, whole, undisturbed, and containing no doubt within itself, with the signature of the most illustrious King His Majesty Michael of holy memory, as well as the signature of the hand of the Reverend Walerian Stanisław Judycki, Archdeacon of Vilnius, Writer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, dated in Krakow on the sixth day of March, the year 1669, brought to us by certain lords of our Council and Court officials then being at our side on behalf of the Jews of our cities of Brest, Grodno, Pinsk, Vilnius, and other cities and towns of ours existing in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, so that we, confirming such a confirmatory privilege with our special royal power and authority, hereby strengthen, reinforce, and approve it, and have ordered it to be inscribed, word for word, into this our confirmatory letter, which in the writing is thus:

Michael, by the Grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Samogitia, Masovia, Livonia, Smolensk, Volhynia, Podolia, Kiev, Podlachia, Severia, and Chernihiv, etc. We make known by this our Letter and Privilege, to whomsoever it should be known, that a privilege of the most illustrious King His Majesty John Casimir, our predecessor, signed and sealed with the seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, serving the Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, was presented before us, and a petition was brought to us in the name of the Jews of our cities of Brest, Grodno, Pinsk, Vilnius, and other cities and towns of ours existing in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, that we, with our royal power and authority, strengthen, confirm, and ratify such a privilege in all its points, clauses, and articles, which is inscribed word for word as follows:

John Casimir, by the Grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Livonia, Smolensk, Chernihiv, and hereditary King of Sweden, Gothia, and Vandalia. We make known by this our Letter, to whomsoever it should properly be known, that following the successful, favorable, and unanimous votes of the free nations of both the Polish Crown and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, for the inauguration of the state of this noble Commonwealth and subsequently at our holy coronation, we confirmed with our royal oath all the rights, privileges, liberties, freedoms, customs, and prerogatives given, permitted, and preserved by our ancestors to all estates and citizens of the Crown and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and we pledged ourselves to observe them whole in all respects. Doing justice to this obligation of ours, and being ready to act according to the praiseworthy decision and custom of our ancestors regarding whatever concerns the fortification of the particular rights, privileges, liberties, and freedoms of which the subjects of our states boast and enjoy, and their adjustment according to the times, necessity, and justice by legal order, we willingly incline our will to all this. Thus, an urgent petition was brought to us by Jonas Moyżeszowicz, a Vilnius Jew, as well as Samuel Salomonowicz, Icko Faizeuricz, and Boruch Nachmanowicz, on behalf of themselves and all Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, namely those living in the capital city of Vilnius, Brest, Mogilev, Minsk, Grodno, Pinsk, Orsha, and many other cities and towns of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, that we, through our special privilege, with royal power and authority, approve, reassume, and confirm all rights, privileges, rescripts, and liberties of old, given, approved, and confirmed to them by our most illustrious ancestors, the Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania, which were in their common usage, and among other privileges, they placed before us the parchment privilege of the King His Majesty Władysław IV, our brother, with the signature of His Majesty’s hand and the Great Seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which is as follows:

Władysław IV, by the Grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Samogitia, Masovia, Livonia, Smolensk, Severia, Chernihiv, and hereditary King of Sweden, Gothia, and Vandalia, elected Grand Tsar of Muscovy. We make known by this our Letter, to whom it should be known, that having been elected by the unanimous and free vote of the free nations of the Polish Crown and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the state and throne of our late father, the King His Majesty, at the time of our coronation we swore to all rights and liberties, both general and special, public and private; guarding our oath in all respects, we are ready to preserve all liberties, rights, and privileges in their entirety. Thus, Samuel and Zarach Moyżeszowicz, Vilnius Jews, Morduchay Wotofowicz and Samoyło Salomonowicz, Nachman Jakubowicz, Jews of Brest, those of Grodno, Pinsk, Novogrudok, Ick Srym, and all Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania residing in cities and towns, petitioned us that we strengthen and confirm with our royal power and authority the privileges and liberties given by our most illustrious ancestors. Among other privileges, they placed before us the privilege of the King His Majesty Sigismund III, our father, written in Polish and, by our permission, translated into Polish, which is as follows:

Sigismund III, by the Grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Samogitia, Masovia, Livonia, also by God’s mercy, hereditary King of Sweden, Gothia, and Vandalia, Grand Duke of Finland, and others. We make known by this our Letter to all present and to each one individually to whom it should be known, now and in the future, that we were petitioned by all the Jews of the communities of Brest, Trakai, Grodno, Pinsk, and other cities and towns of ours—royal, ducal, seigniorial, and land-owning, spiritual and secular—in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the lands belonging to it, that we confirm together their rights, privileges, and letters of liberty given and confirmed by our ancestors, the Kings and Grand Dukes of Lithuania, as well as their agreements and certain resolutions made through settlements with some cities. And we, confirming with our letter and privilege these same privileges, letters, grants, and liberties, justly and legally given to the Polish Crown and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and to all lands belonging to them, to the entire community and to each member of any estate and nation of Jews of these states and of our ancestors, the Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania, especially King Casimir the Great, called Zogis, Władysław Jagiełło, his brother Witold, and Sigismund, Grand Dukes of Lithuania, and Władysław and Casimir, sons of Jagiello, John Olbracht, Alexander, Sigismund Augustus, Henry, and Stephen, Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania, ensure and warrant them under the condition and confirmation which encompasses all these points, privileges, rights, and liberties given to the Jews of the Jewish nation by our ancestors.

However, we, by our royal grace, at the petition of all Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the lands belonging to it, by this special Letter and Privilege, approve, warrant for all future and eternal times, all rights, privileges, decrees, deeds, and liberties justly given to them by our ancestors, as well as decent statutes and agreements made with cities and towns, and their ancient customs, both in mercantile trade and in other matters which this Jewish nation has long enjoyed under the reign of our ancestors, the Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania, in all points, articles, and conditions, as if they were specifically written and expressed in this our letter. We desire that everywhere in all offices and jurisdictions, they be firmly and inviolably held and preserved according to the privileges of our ancestors and according to their usage and custom. These Jews are to be under no authority and offices other than those of the Grand Treasurer of the Crown, the voivodes, and our starostas, and judges where they are to live, with the weight of rights, just as their articles and privileges express, and as they are described in the Statute, which they and their descendants have used and by which they were governed and judged. For this, we gave to all Jews living in our state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, this our letter with the signature of our royal hand, to which we ordered our seal to be affixed. Written in Krakow, in the year from the birth of the Son of God 1578, the first day of June. Subsequently, they presented the admonitory letter of the same King His Majesty Stephen, in which he admonished the Senate and the Tribunal Courts not to order nor allow Jews to be sued before them or their courts. They also presented, among other privileges, points of the King His Majesty Sigismund III, our father, dated in Warsaw on the 26th day of March, the year of our Lord 1629, in which, having exempted Jews from the Tribunal, Land, Castle, and City courts, he subjects them to the Castle court (jurisdiction), with the right of appeal reserved to us and our court. By mandate, they are not to have a forum before our court until they have first been heard at our proper Castle court, and from there, an appeal may be made to our court. Regarding the houses which they have in cities, they are obligated to pay taxes as other burghers, not being subject to other unusual city obligations such as darativum, given that they pay the poll tax; or where they have a party [of citizens], they must pay according to them the sum for persons. In all matters, they are to belong only to the Castle jurisdiction. If a Jew had a dispute with a Jew, their elders are to judge and punish him according to their law. Likewise, when they happen to take an oath before any court, if one were to dispute a large sum, they must use the Kodale (covenant), that is, swear by the Ten Commandments of God, and if it is a small one, then having sworn, they take the divine oath according to the privileges given to them by our ancestors. If a Jew were to die and leave behind a widowed wife, the portion assigned to her according to the Jewish record is to be paid in full, and whatever was left beyond that portion is to be given to his heirs. For artisans who are among the Jews, whatever craft they know, they are free to practice without any obstacle and are not required to belong to guilds. Likewise, they are not to be called to courts or judged on the Sabbath and other feast days.

They presented, fourthly, various letters at various dates of the King His Majesty Sigismund III, our father, regarding the practice of crafts by those not belonging to guilds, and free trade given to the Jews. Therefore, these mentioned points and articles, with all their original privileges, inquantum vim pomienionym Communi non repugnant (insofar as they do not conflict with the common law), we, Władysław IV, King, confirm for eternal times, and we preserve and leave them with the required power. With this grant and sufficient declaration, the Land Judges of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania should conduct all cases of Jews seeking justice against any persons whatsoever, and should perform immediate justice according to the Common Law and the privileges given to the Jews, so that a Jew does not answer to anyone for a Jew without the duty given to us, nor should any repress saliorum (repressions of others) seek justice against Jews, nor dare to rob and stop them on the way or in a place, nor cause any other difficulties. Rather, one should require this from whoever shows himself to be the principal legitime or the participant in this dispute, understanding in total that a son of adult years is not to answer or satisfy for debts of the father regarding possession, nor the father for the son, the husband for the wife, nor the wife for the husband without a just record and obligation. The father and mother having adult children cannot distance themselves from them, nor can anyone summon them sub nullitate (under pain of nullity). And whoever dares to act against this our declaration intergo partis (between the parties), whoever does so, then violentium saperema (the violence upon the oath). When Jews are to do this in causis magni momenti (cases of great importance), they are to do so on the given Kodale, that is, the Ten Commandments of God, in the Jewish school, without any circumstance, simpliciter (simply) according to the Jewish law, and in that, they are to be held and preserved according to the privileges given to them. We warn the Jews, citizens of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, residing in our secular and spiritual cities and towns, that they are allowed to enjoy in peace the synagogues and worship in them which they have used until now, and in the future; likewise, they are free to acquire grounds for burying the bodies of the dead and to enjoy those long acquired peacefully according to ancient customs. And because these same Jews in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania petitioned us that we preserve them in the chancellery and judicial incomes described by law, and protect them from unfair apportionment, and in this, show them our royal mercy:

We graciously declare, wishing to have the starostas, deputy starostas, judges, land and castle writers, and municipal magistrates collect incomes described by the Common Law from the Jews, without imposing any depactucy (deduction/exaction) beyond custom and justice. If also a Jew be assigned by decree to prison for a debt or any other excesses, then he is to sit nowhere else but in the Castle. After a year and six weeks, having officially assessed the pledge, it will be permitted for the Jews to sell it without hindrance. Whatever is described by law and privileges is to be given to every Jew. Confirming all this and bringing it to the knowledge of all, we wish that all Jews in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania be held steady and undisturbed in these liberties and prerogatives, and under our protection, endure no obstacles or violence. The Castle and city offices should observe their duties, for which, for better faith, having signed with our hand, we ordered the seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to be affixed. Given in Warsaw at the General Sejm of our successful coronation, the 15th day of March, the year 1633, of our Polish and Swedish reign the first year. Władysław, King. Maryan Tryzna, Referendary and Writer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

A second privilege was presented with the signature of the hand of the King His Majesty of holy memory, our brother, with the lesser seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, whose tenor after the title of the King His Majesty is: Władysław IV, we make known by this our Letter to all present and to each one individually to whom it should be known, that complaints were brought before us six times by the Jews in our Vilnius and in other cities and towns of ours in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, living in privileged streets singled out and marked by Christians, that some persons, having debts owed to them by Jews, upon the non-payment of them, took their houses and tenements into their possession and, contrary to old custom, lived in them, through which injustices, fear, robbery, and damages are done to the Jews in their streets, so that the Jews can never be safe from them. A petition was therefore brought to us by certain lords of our Council and our Court officials that we, in this regard, protect them from disturbance and injustice and fortify them. We, therefore, KING, acting so that all people of every estate and condition, being our subjects, be kept in the common national peace, and leaning toward the privilege of King Sigismund Augustus of holy memory, our predecessor, conferred upon the royal Jews on the 7th day of August in the year 1564, and given by us at our successful coronation in the year 1633, on the 20th day of March, to the Poznań Jews, which was inscribed by oblata into the Castle books of Lublin, and issued as an authentic extract in the year 1611 on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, was presented before us. Of our royal grace and kindness, we thought to give and confer upon the aforementioned Jews:

Jews of Vilnius and in other cities and towns of ours existing in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in which certain privileged streets are separated and partitioned from the Christians, the prerogatives and liberties. We hereby give and confer by this our Letter that whenever it happens that the aforementioned Jews owe debts to Christians of any estate and condition, whether by bond or by paper, and by any means, and they could not satisfy these debts with ready money, then the creditors, not sooner than having proven the debts owed to them by law, will be able to take their houses and tenements into their lawful possession. After the taking, Christians themselves will not dwell in such houses and tenements of Jews in the streets which are privileged, assigned, and excluded to them from Christians, and they are not to sell them to anyone else except only to Jews, whomsoever they lead to hold and use through arenda, pledge, or other contract. And if no Jew wants to take or buy such a house or tenement, then the local Jewish community leader should be able to deduct and pay such sum of money as is just, if under the judgment of the Magdeburg Law the house or tenement is valued by two persons of the municipal magistrate with two Jewish elders; and if under the Castle or Court Law, it is to be done by the deputy starosta and one Christian with him and two Jews, and the price will be recognized and determined. By this our special grace, through this our Letter, we declare and warrant that when a Christian obtains a house of a Jew or Jewess who have their own house in the Jewish school in the city, let them first be subject to their school place, and when other good lying and movable property suffices, after receiving the payment, such a place is to be released and sold to another Jew or Jewess for a fair price. And if the Jew or Jewess do not want to buy and pay for such a place, the Jewish elders should pay, through the oath taken by the neighbor on what the place is worth, and the Christian should accept this payment, renounce his right serving him on that place, and transfer it to the Jewish community according to legal order. Confirming all this, we gave to the Jews in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania this our Letter of Privilege with the signature of our hand and the seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Written in Warsaw on the thirty-first day of the month of December of the year of our Lord 1646, of our Polish reign the fourteenth, and Swedish the fifteenth year. Władysław, King. Franciszek Inkouski, Referendary and Writer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Thirdly, they presented a rescript with the signature of the hand of the King His Majesty Sigismund III of holy memory, our father, with the Great Seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, whose words translated from Ruthenian writing to Polish by our permission are: Sigismund III, by the Grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Samogitia, and Masovia, Livonia, nearest heir of the Polish Kingdom, and accepted King, to the Voyt, Burmisters, Councilors, Aldermen, and the entire public of our city:

Our city of Brest. King, our servant, the Jew of our city of Brest, Szaul Judicz, complained to us, on his own behalf and in the name of all the Jews of their Brest community, that when it happens for them to have a case before you, both or whichever it is, you do not behave toward them according to the privileges given to them, neither by Magdeburg nor by Land Law, bringing them to great injustice and damage contrary to the Common Law; and they petitioned us, the King, that in this office we order them to be judged not by you, and order our letter written to you. We, the King, from our Christian duty, ought to see that no injustice and damage is done to anyone contrary to the law. Therefore, we wish and order you that from this time, whenever it happens in the future for a Jew to have a case with a burgher at your Magdeburg court, then you should not judge or conduct them by Magdeburg, but by Land Law, necessarily behaving therein according to the Common Law and the Land Statute. Written in Warsaw in the year 1692, on the ninth day of the month of October. Sigismund, King. Maciej Wojna, Writer.

We, therefore, the mentioned John Casimir, King, at the request of our lords of the Council and our Court officials, have intended to approve and confirm these privileges and rescripts inscribed above, whole, complete, undisturbed, and containing no doubt with themselves, as well as the rights, liberties, freedoms, conditions, and customs expressed therein, granted, permitted, and confirmed to the Jews living in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in cities and towns by the most illustrious Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania of holy memory, in accordance with justice and Common Law, approved in all contents, points, conditions, clauses, and paragraphs. And by this our Letter of Privilege, autoritate Nostra Regia (by our Royal Authority), we approve, reassume, confirm, and strengthen them, and we wish to have them accepted as valid and legal by every court and law and preserved in full power for all future times; and for this, we gave this our Letter of Privilege signed by our hand and the seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Given in Krakow at the Coronation Sejm on the 17th day of the month of February, the year of our Lord 1649, of our Polish and Swedish reign the first year. John Casimir, King. Franciszek Szaykowski, Referendary and Writer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

We, therefore, King Michael, having graciously inclined toward such a petition brought to us in the name of Dawid Samuelowicz, Izra Fayiszewicz, Boruch Nachmanowicz, Zaraz Dawidowicz, and other elders and younger Jews as just, and leaning toward the letters, privileges, and decrees of Their Majesties, our ancestors, and also toward the commission cognition and decision and the ancient customs and human statutes serving the Jewish citizens of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, all liberties in genere et specie (in general and in particular) given to them, such as free trade, places, lands long acquired and in their use, both municipal, castle, and clerical, houses and stalls built and laid with masonry from ancient times, and restored and newly built after the devastation of the enemy, houses and stalls on their streets, courts, as well as schools, wooden synagogues, and those set with masonry, larnicach (warehouses), and kopishach (burial grounds) in all of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in our noble, clerical, and secular cities and towns, long serving the Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania—in all points, positions, and conditions, we confirm, strengthen, ratify, and leave in the promised power and due authority. Bringing this to the knowledge of the Reverend in God, the Most Illustrious, Generous, Well-born Bishops, Voivodes, Marshals, and High Tribunal Judges, Starostas, or deputy starostas, and substitute Land and Castle officials and others in our clerical and secular cities and towns in charge, we demand and wish that you do not cause the least damage and lawlessness to the Jews, our subjects living in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in their rights, liberties, and freedoms specified above, and that they be preserved in everything according to ancient customs. For better faith, we sign with our hand and ordered the seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to be affixed. Given in Krakow at the General Sejm of our successful coronation, the 6th day of the month of November, the year of our Lord 1669, of our reign the first year. Michael, King. Walenty Stanisław Judycki, Archdeacon of Vilnius, Writer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

We, therefore, John III, King, graciously inclined toward such a petition brought to us in the name of Dawid Samuelowicz, Icko Juupowicz, Bayrech Mojiewiez, Salomon Jakubowicz, and other elders and younger Jews as just, and in herendo (in adhering) to certain points of the confirmatory privilege of the most illustrious King His Majesty Sigismund I of holy memory, written in Polish, an extract from the Castle books of the Trakai Voivodeship, dated in the year 1529, on the 22nd day of the month of August, that no Jew should swear by the small Kodale of the Ten Commandments of God, that is, on the Mosaic books, only in a great and significant matter, which would be 50 grzywna (half-kilo weight) of cast silver and which would amount to it, or it will be confessed before our royal presence; and he is to swear before the Jewish school, standing in the doors of the synagogue. Likewise, we exempt and exclude all the aforementioned Jews in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from all courts and jurisdictions, and incorporate them only to the Castle and Court courts, and subsequently to certain appeals to our Chancellery Assessor courts in all excessive, criminal, common, and private cases, and we appoint a forum for them accordingly. By this, it is permitted for the Jews to take any things in pledge and to buy them, excluding church, bloody, and wet ones, conforming to the letter of the privilege of the most illustrious Alexander and Witold. The Jew should swear super ignorantiam (upon ignorance) if the things used by violence or stolen; and after the oath, the debtor himself must take the due remainder. Regarding the testimony, for which there is to be against Jews, it is to be such that two Christians and one Jew are to witness. Finally, wishing that during our successful reign:

Our subjects, all Jews living in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, enjoy their rights, freedoms, and liberties in the aforementioned Confirmation Privilege of the King His Majesty of holy memory, with our special royal grace and authority, in all its points, paragraphs, contents, articles, additions, conditions, and clauses, we confirm, strengthen, and ratify, and we leave and preserve eternally the aforementioned Jews, being and living in cities and towns in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in the full power and peaceful enjoyment of the described rights, freedom, and liberty, undisturbed and whole. Bringing this to the knowledge of the Reverend in God, the Most Illustrious, Generous, Well-born Bishops, Voivodes, Marshals, and High Tribunal Judges, Starostas, deputy starostas, and substitute Land and Castle officials, and others in our clerical and secular cities and towns in charge, we demand and wish that you do not cause any and the least obstacle and lawlessness to the Jews, our subjects living in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in their rights, liberties, and freedoms specified above, and that they be preserved in everything according to ancient customs. For which, for better knowledge, having signed with our hand, we ordered the seal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to be affixed. Given in Krakow at the General Sejm of our successful coronation, the third day of the month of April, the year of our Lord 1676, of our reign the second year.

[Signatures/Seals]

John, King
Michael, Druiki Sokoliński, Writer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Locus Sigilli (Place of the Seal)

Jan Małaub...
... Writer

Michał Kazimierz Pac
Voivode of Vilnius

Summary of royal privileges and rights given to the Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

22 January 1677

Stanisław Niezabitowski, Oeconomus (steward) of the Słuck Estate, commands all Jews, and especially the Rabbi and Elders of the Łuck synagogue, as well as the leaseholders of the Łuck toll-house, that you appear before me in the Castle on the twenty-fifth day of January, on the coming Monday, at the ninth hour, and justify yourselves against the complaint of the Assessors of the Łuck City session who are suing you regarding various claims and grievances caused by you to the city of Łuck. You are to appear and effectively justify yourselves against their complaint as will be presented to you at the time of the legal proceedings.

Stanisław Niezabitowski, as Oeconomus, m.p.

18

January 22, 1627

In the year 1627, on the 22nd day of January, personally appeared Krzysztof Dankiewicz, Janowski chorąży (standard-bearer), who testified that having returned such security to the individuals of the year and day written above, he received seventeen zloty and handed them over in the Doń service.
Andruch Szan

January 22, 1627.
The Noble (Ur.) Panisław Żabikowski, economist of the Duchy for His Grace Pabianiec, is obligated, and [likewise] also the son of Jan, along with Iwanowski and the Stucki officials, it is issued that he must appear to the Rotmans regarding the damage to the Jesionakists of the city of Stuck.

His total 150 Stuck

Excerpt from the Books of Official Affairs of the Slutsk Castle

In the year one thousand six hundred and eighty-fourth, on the twenty-third day of the month of August

At the office of the Slutsk Castle, before us, Stanisław Kosmiszewicz, deputy starosta, and Alexander Krukowski, scribe, being in the judicial seat, appeared Hirsz and Izrael Józefowicz, local Jews of Slutsk, regarding Hirsz Szawlewicz, a Jew, for the reason that this day, while the excerpt was being written at the office, he called out with insults, saying: "I order the executioner from the city to lead you out of the kahał (Jewish community board), and as many of the kahał will be led out with you by the executioner." Wishing to proceed against him by law, they submitted this testimony of theirs to be recorded in the books, which has been recorded, and from which an excerpt has been issued to the Jews Hirsz and Izrael Józefowicz. Scribe of the Slutsk Castle.

Alexander Krukowski
Scribe

19a 1581

AGAD
WARSZAWA

September 15, 1654

Regarding the case of Israel and Hersz Józefowicz, Jews from Starzec, plaintiffs against the Jews of Stuchy, by way of appeal from the decree of the Stuck Office regarding the [house] questioned by the Tuczyn Office concerning the son of his, the Jew Hirszek, and [regarding] the matter of the Jew Israel, at the request of the instance for an amendment to the further proceeding, in which the burning of the house of the Jew Hirszek was [involved], the court ordered the hearing to be postponed. In which matter, [the parties] were heard. Regarding further evidence and testimony, so that Israel and Hersz Józefowicz, Jews, would not be blamed for the burning of the house of the Jew Hirszek by the aforementioned Borys, [called] the Starzec, the court ruled that Israel and Hersz Józefowicz, Jews, [be examined] with good men and Jews of credible faith, residents [of the area]. By the decree of the Targowice Office, each of them, together with another, provided formal sworn testimony. Concerning how he accused the Jew Hirszek of the destruction of the house—plucking off the shingles—[and not of arson], they did not take the oath on this; nevertheless, regarding the oath [about] those who saw the house of the Jew Hirszek burning and [witnessed who] ignited that house, they did not see the fire; they so declared. And as the parties recognized on our date, [we] grant freedom to Israel and Hersz Józefowicz, Jews, from that charge of arson, maintaining the decree of the Stuck Office in its entirety. And concerning the request for an oath of two years in the city, [we order] that the same Stuck Office [ensure] that Hirszek be safe in his home from the aforementioned Jews Israel and Hersz Józefowicz, who promised to [swear] the oath with two resident Jews. And their accusation [was dropped] as they failed to appear in court. And this transpired [according to] the excerpt of the Decree from Stuck, which was submitted by Hersz in the Starzec [case], by which he had been in Sanok; he withdrew against the Stuck [parties], and they did not press them, so that they might improve themselves, so that each [case be returned] to the previous punishment, [and they were ordered] to submit and give [the report].

Horzec

21
1684

& $N^{o}$ 13 Fasc 115 Słubice

6 February 1686.

Słuck. Jews.

Because a complaint has reached me, right at the signing of the Act, from the Jew Nachim Aronowicz Puchacewicz, stating that the Jewish Elders of the Słuck Kahał (Jewish communal board) are persecuting him for having confessed certain information regarding the local arenda (lease) for the service of his Lady, as is sufficiently recorded and added to the Protest at the local Słuck Office against the Jewish Elders, and especially against Hercyk Izraelewicz, [who had been] appointed by them [and reported] by Nachim Puchacewicz; Therefore, while protecting in this securitatem (security), both the interest of my Lady herself regarding the unjustly obtained desalla (shortfall), and no less [the safety of] this Nachim Puchacewicz, so that he may suffer no praeiudicium (prejudice) from the Jewish Elders and Kahał for the goodwill shown to his Lady as his Lady; In the name of my Lady, I command the Elders of the Słuck Kahał, under the penalty of two hundred Red Złotys (gold coins) payable immediately, that they dare not persecute Nachim Puchacewicz in any way, nor exclude himself or his wife and children from the Kahał, nor take away from him the least Jewish liberty enjoyed by others, nor even judge this matter among themselves until the return of us Commissioners, under the penalty also for each person opposing this Commissioner’s prohibition of the aforementioned [amount]. To which I sign in the name of my Lord, my colleague who is now not present, and my own.

Jan Preger, Commissioner, m.p.

N 26 Fasc: 143. Słuckich

1686 – 6 Feb. 22a

Done in Grodno at the General Crown Sejm, the sixth day of the month of February, in the Year of Our Lord 1686.

Present and in the presence of Us, John Casimir, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, Smolensk, Chernihiv, and hereditary King of Sweden, the Goths, and the Vandals.

We declare by this Our Letter to whomsoever it may concern, that We, wishing to multiply and extend the Glory of God, as well as devotion in the Roman Catholic Church, and having regard for the pious and praiseworthy undertaking of the Well-born Jan of Konary Konarski, Ensign (Chorąży) of Our Armies, who, by the gift of God and of his own hereditary wealth, has raised and built a masonry Church in Our Town of Konary, situated in the Sandomierz District, and has inscribed and donated in perpetuity certain funds and legacy sums for said Church, as is written and expressed more broadly in the Instrument of Foundation made by the same Well-born Jan Konarski, and acknowledged before the Sandomierz Castle Acts (Akta Grodzkie), and dated the twenty-eighth day of the month of January of this current year 1686.

Which Foundation and donation made to the aforementioned structure and Church of Konary, We the King, at the request and instance of the aforementioned Well-born Jan Konarski, in all its points, clauses, and articles, by Our Royal favor approve, ratify, and confirm, and bringing it to eternal effect, wish it to be free and safe from all obstacles and difficulties.

For which reason, We grant to the said Church and the local Parish Priest, as well as his successors, all Rights, Liberties, and Freedoms serving Churches and Clergy, and we promise to preserve them inviolate.

Done in Grodno, the Day and Year as above.

John Casimir, King.

Excerpt from the Official Case Records
of the Castle and Duchy of Slutsk

Year 1789, January 25th.

In the Castle Office of the Duchy of Slutsk, before me, Andrzej Kurwatowski, Clerk of the Duchy of Slutsk, being present on-site, personally appeared Elkon Chaimowicz, Leybach Morduchowicz, and Józef Dobruszewicz, Jews of Starobin, alongside Efroim Celelowicz and Leyba Józefowicz, likewise Jews of Starobin, who declared upon the records—having provided their promissory notes as a good-hand guarantee—that they vouch for Abram Abramowicz and Trzyma Tronicz, Jews of Starobin, in such a manner that we shall produce them when the Court requires it for the investigation concerning the hanging of Je. Prokopowicz. Furthermore, we stipulate that if the entire Starobin Kahał (communal board) were charged with an offense, the Starobin Kahał must also appear at once, and if we fail to produce them, we ourselves shall be subject to the same penalty to which they would have been liable. This statement is entered into the records, from which an excerpt under seal is issued.

Andrzej Kurwatowski, Clerk, m.p.

January 25, 1789

Excerpt from the Books of Official Affairs of the Castle and Principality of Słuck. At the Castle Office of the Principality of Słuck, before me, Andrzej Zbysznia Kurnatowski, Scribe of the Principality of Słuck, being in the place of judgment, there appeared in person Elkon Chaimowicz, Leyzach Morduchaiewicz, and Jozef Dobruszewicz, Jews of Starobin, along with Efroim Calelowicz and Leyba Jozefowicz, also Jews of Starobin, inscribed according to the register. Having taken an oath, they testified to the Books that they stand surety for Abram Jabowicz and thirteen other Jews of Starobin in such a manner that we shall produce them in the matter of their accusation, as for the surety, when the Court shall require them. To this, we also grant that if blame were to be cast upon the entire Kahal (Jewish communal governing body) of Starobin, then the Kahal of Starobin must be produced at the same time, and if we do not produce them, we shall ourselves be subject to the same penalty that they would have incurred. Which testimony is inscribed in the books, from which this document is, which is issued to those requiring it. Scribe of Słuck.

Andrzej Zb. Kurnatowski
Scribe mp.

WARSAW
AGAD
24

Castle inventory
for the Municipal Courts
1689
N. 11 Jan. 1598 Pack

Year one thousand six hundred eighty-nine, the eighteenth day of the month of January.

Entry in the official record books of the Castle and Duchy of Słuck.

At the Castle Office of the Duchy of Słuck, before me, Andrzej of Bunin Kurnatowski, Scribe of the Duchy of Słuck, sitting in judgment, appeared in person Iwan Baykowski, Stefan Szymanowicz, and Szczepan Omielianowicz, as well as Efroim Calelowicz and Leyba Jozefowicz, being townspeople and Jews of the town of Starobin, and Oles Prokopowicz, Anszczey Antonowicz, and Onisko Olesiukowicz, subjects belonging to the Miecziszewo Manor from the village of Ponarcia. They testified to the record that the townspeople of Starobin stand for the townspeople, and the Jews stand for the Jews of the town of Starobin, and the subjects belonging to the Miecziszewo Manor stand for all the village of Ponarcia, as well as for the principals themselves, who, in respect of the execution performed against Jesig Prokopowicz, have been detained — namely Abram Jakubowicz and Szymszon Jowsiewicz, Jews of Starobin, as well as Miron and Roman Prokopowicz and Kondrat Jakimowicz, subjects from the village of Ponarcia belonging to the Miecziszewo Manor, who are locked up in the prison of the Słuck Castle. They are bound in such a way that we, the townspeople of Starobin, for all the Starobin townspeople, and we, the Jews, for all the Starobin Jews, and we, the subjects from the village of Ponarcia belonging to the Miecziszewo Manor, for the entire village of Ponarcia, shall produce them for the matter and for the payment of the penalty decreed whenever there is need to do so. And if we do not produce them, then we ourselves shall be subject to the same penalties to which the principals themselves were subject. Which formal testimony has been entered into the books, and of which an extract [...] has been issued. Written in Słuck.

Andrzey of B. Kurnatowski, Scribe, m.p.

18 January 1689

Entry from the Official Books of the Castle and Duchy of Słuck.

In the year one thousand six hundred eighty-nine on the eighteenth day of the month of January.

At the Castle Office of the Duchy of Słuck, before me, Andrzej z Kutyna Kurnatowski, Clerk of the Duchy of Słuck, being in the judicial seat, appeared in person Iwan Baykowski, Stefan Szymanowicz, and Szczepan Omelianowicz, Efroim Calelowicz and Leyba Jozefowicz from the town of Starobin, burghers and Jews of that place, and Ołeś Prokopowicz, Jewsey Antonowicz, and Onisko Oleszkowicz from the village of Ponarzyce belonging to the Miecziszewo Court, who pledged to the books that we, that is, we burghers of Starobin for all Starobin burghers, and we the Jews for all the Jews of the town of Starobin, and we the subjects belonging to the Miecziszewo Court for the whole village of Ponarzyce and for the principals themselves who, with respect to the execution carried out against Jesip Prokopowicz, have rendered [into custody] Abram Jakubowicz and Szymon Jowsiewicz, Starobin Jews, as well as Miron and Roman Prokopowicz and Kondrat Sotykowicz, subjects of the village of Ponarzyce belonging to the Miecziszewo Court, who are lodged in the prison of the Słuck Castle, [we pledge] in such a way that we, the Starobin burghers, [pledge] for all Starobin burghers, and we the Jews [pledge] for all the Jews of Starobin, and we the subjects of the village of Ponarzyce belonging to the Miecziszewo Court [pledge] for the whole village of Ponarzyce, that we shall produce [them] for trial and for the payment of the fine that has been set when there is a need to show them. And should we not produce them, we ourselves shall be bound to fall under the same penalty that the principals themselves would be subject to. This clear testimony has been recorded into the books, and an extract from this has been issued to the party in need. Written in Słuck.

Andrzej z K. Kurnatowski
Clerk, m.p.

AGAD
WARSAW

26

Confirmation of the privilege

to the Municipal Court
1689

Aio. Jaa. 15.9 Płock

Copy of the Decree of His Royal Majesty Serving the Luck Mieszczaństwo (Townspeople).

His Serene Highness, Prince Karol Filip, Count Palatine of the Rhine, etc., our Gracious Lord, upon the petition forwarded on the 26th of June, 1703, by the clergy of the Luck Chapter, as well as by the Vogt and the Appealants of the City of Luck, and various Luck guild masters, presented through Samuel Wyszyński and Leon Błażowicz to His Royal Majesty, having graciously decided to follow the resolution, and especially as His Royal Majesty deigned to graciously grace the City of Luck, remaining in undisturbed prerogatives and due devotion, with various and almost paternal benefits and privileges in both municipal and spiritual matters previously, preserving them in their value and entirety, so that in the future the ornament and augmentation of the said City, through the grace of the Almighty Lord, might be duly provided for and applied in prosperous times, ordered His commissions and mandates to be issued. As in the meantime a declaration of His Royal Majesty arrived, which He deigned to grant through the deputies presented by the Luck Kahał (Jewish communal organization), the Luck Session will understand this from the extract joined herewith, and shall follow the rule and measure of those matters that in part concern the Christian townspeople of Luck. And as regards the administration of the lease and the license (licencia - here referring to the liquor trade tax/privilege), His Royal Majesty deigned to permit and divide them in such a way that the license belongs to the Christians and the lease to the Kahał, for as the Christians were awaited longer than two weeks, and arrived only after the completion of the matter and the departure of His Royal Majesty to Wrocław, this is set forth in the particular decree for information also written herein, to which His Royal Majesty adds nothing more, only that He strictly and truthfully commands that, for the consolation of the current Christian leaseholders, they themselves shall hold and administer the license in the future as they have been permitted, without any obstacle, and this for three years beginning from the first day of January of the following year, 1704, to the same first day of January of the year 1707. Should, however, the Jewish leaseholders, contrary to the constitutions and instructions, begin to wrong the Christian townspeople and fellow citizens or others through harsh, unjust, and unfair exactions and other crafty tricks under the pretext of industry, as well as through imaginary searches of houses during solemn Christian holidays, weddings, and funerals, daring to disturb the Christians without cause, and being convinced and reported of this to His Royal Majesty, then they shall not only fall under the penalty of paying the common fine to the Ducal Treasury, but shall also be entirely removed from the lease contract. Finally, His Royal Majesty will not cease to preserve the clergy and the Luck Chapter, and the Town Session, as well as all guild masters and the entire city of Luck in His unchangeable Lordly grace and clemency, and ordered this present decree to be corroborated by His own hand and seal. Written and sealed in Brześć Litewski on the 20th of August, 1703.

Extract of the Declaration of His Royal Majesty on the desires of the deputies of the Luck Kahał presented in Wrocław on the 2nd of August, 1703.

1. Regarding the observance of court proceedings with Jews, the first ordinances and constitutions granted to the City of Luck remain in undisturbed integrity, and only this is added now by decree, that since actor forum rei sequi tenetur (the plaintiff is bound to follow the forum of the defendant), the Christian townspeople are to litigate against the Jews in the Municipal Court, and the Jews against the Christian townspeople by summons to the Luck Castle, from which both courts there shall be free appeals for the parties to the recognized and to the Aulic Court of His Royal Majesty himself, and this under pain of a due fine which is to be taken from the disobedient.

2. It is demanded that the Lord Oeconomist establish a just and fair proportion in public contributions between the Christian townspeople and the Jews according to the Luck Inventory.

3. It is permitted: If a Jewish house on the Jewish street is adjudicated to a nobleman for debt, the Luck Kahał shall have the priority in the due amount of the debt, so that the jurisdiction and municipal loss, which the nobility refuses to pay or be subject to, is not diminished by the multiplication of noble houses. If, however, such Jewish houses fall to Christian townspeople through adjudication, then it is permitted for the Christians to take and possess them or release them to the Kahał.

4. It is permitted that there be a bailiff who shall be liable only to the Jews for the parish, and through this, shall make no obstacle to the Christian parishioners nor do any injury to their rights.

5. If there is no merchant among the Christian townspeople for a noble house, to whom the prerogative is to belong for these reasons, it is permitted and appeased that in such an occasion the Jews may acquire the noble house and be subject to the municipal taxes from the same.

6. His Royal Majesty refers to His rescript of the 26th of March, 1699, written to the Lord Oeconomist, in which the written requests from Jewish leaseholders, specifically under No. 5, 6, and 7 regarding the matter of Jewish assessments and collections, the laying of a table and fonticulus (small source/fund), the will of His Royal Majesty is expressed abundantly and extensively.

7. It is permitted that it be permitted for the Jewish community (Żydowszczyzna) that when they go away to buy cattle, their own people are allowed to sell meat in the slaughterhouses, provided that this is not in any way an obstacle or prejudice to the rights of the Christians.

Copy of the Decree of His Royal Majesty regarding the lease and excise given to the Luck Kahał in Wrocław on the 2nd of August, 1703.

Since His Royal Majesty entrusted the Luck customs house to the Luck Kahał not only for the reasons and conditions that they added one thousand Polish Złotys to the lease sum permitted to the Christians, and thus obligated themselves to pay the sum of twenty-eight thousand Polish Złotys annually without moderation of any deduction and to pay the said sum in two anticipatory installments to the Treasury of His Royal Majesty punctually each year, but also regarding other respects and considerations in the present tax loss, for this reason, His Royal Majesty by the power of this decree entrusts the Lord Oeconomist Stanisław Nieczbytowski of Nieczbyt, Cupbearer (Podczaszy) of Kalisz, that he might establish, conclude, and send back with a due reversal for the satisfaction of His Royal Majesty, a three-year lease contract with the said Luck Kahał, beginning from the first day of January of the following year, 1704, and until the first day of January of the next year, 1707. As for the license, for which the Luck municipal Session petitioned most, His Royal Majesty wills that it remain in the sphere of the municipal Christian leaseholders in the future, yet under the warning that the entire Luck Session, which petitioned for such, and which His Royal Majesty permitted according to the decree issued on the 17th of November, 1702, should administer the lease of the license. And if the Session itself did not wish to hold this license in future years, for a surer condition of the aforementioned particular current Christian leaseholders, a full security (kaucja) should be made and a certain just and fair determination established for the use of disputes and grievances with the Jews regarding the drink tax. For greater faith and weight of which, His Royal Majesty deigned to sign this present decree with His own hand, and ordered the usual smaller chancellery seal to be impressed. Written and sealed in Warsaw on the 2nd of August, 1702.

H. 31 Fas 196 Archid

17 November 1708

Most Serene

His Serenity our most Clement Lord desires it to be known to the honest, beloved, faithful Praetor and Sessionalists of Puck by these presents that, insofar as he was moved by various most clement reflections, on the occasion of certain citizens of Puck who by chance arrived here at this place, he has ordered that a most benign response be given to the suppliant booklet previously transmitted and that the petition expressed therein be most graciously indulged, as the aforementioned Praetor and Sessionalists will understand more fully from the particular document issued regarding this. And since meanwhile His Serenity has heard, not without displeasure, that the bridges of the city are by no means found to be in a good state and that most of the wealthier Sessionalists, as citizens, contribute little or nothing from their means to the civil collections, therefore, by virtue of these presents, he seriously enjoins the Praetor and Sessionalists that they not only take care that the aforementioned bridges are restored without delay, but also that they themselves, without any respect of persons, for the sake of Justice and Equity, according to the proportion of their fortunes, should undertake Civil Burdens and in no way exempt themselves from them. For His Serenity did not wish, when he granted and confirmed those rights and privileges, that they should abuse them and arrogate to themselves anything more beyond the benefits granted serving them. But rather, regarding the introduction and maintenance of wholesome orders convenient for the common good of the citizens and regarding the administration of justice, which is primarily a care and a concern to His Serenity—as that in which the only Christian and true Political reason consists, and where, if one departs from this even by a thumb's breadth, everything in Kingdoms, Republics, and Cities begins to be unstable and fragile, and all force of Empire weakens—that the Magistrate should conscientiously expend and place vigilant effort and study, and not, through connivance, make the wealthy wealthier and the poor poorer, and accumulate their complaints crying to Heaven, indeed likely to provoke the divine wrath and incur Our severe censure by this very thing. As His Serenity wishes this to be intimated again and again to the Praetor and Sessionalists, so for the rest, if they conduct themselves as it is proper, he declares and confirms his further grace and Clemency to them. Given at Wrocław, Silesia, the 17th day of November, year 1708.

Carolus Philippus Comes Palatinus Rheni

L. S.

Most Serene.

His Serenity, our Most Clement Lord, wishes it to be known to the honest, beloved faithful, the Praetor and Sessionalists of Słuck, that in consequence of various of His Most Clement reflections, on the occasion of certain citizens of Słuck who by chance arrived here, he has most benignly commanded that a reply be made to the petition formerly submitted, and that the request expressed therein be most graciously granted, as the aforementioned Praetor and Sessionalists will understand more fully from the particular document issued regarding this matter. And whereas in the meantime His Serenity has heard not without displeasure that the bridges of the city are by no means found in good condition and that most Sessionalists and wealthier citizens contribute little or nothing from their means to civil levies, therefore, by the force of these presents, it seriously enjoins the Praetor and Sessionalists that they not only see to the restoration of the aforementioned bridges without delay, but also that they themselves, without any respect of persons, in accordance with justice and equity, and keeping in mind the proportion of their fortunes, shoulder civil burdens and in no way exempt themselves from the same. For His Serenity did not wish for the rights and privileges granted and confirmed to be considered in such a way that they might abuse them and arrogate to themselves anything further beyond the benefits allowed to serve them. But rather, regarding the introduction and maintenance of salutary orders convenient for the common good of the citizens, and regarding the administration of justice—which is primarily a care and concern of His Serenity, as it is that in which the unique method of Christian and true politics consists, and where, if one departs from this even by a hair's breadth, everything in realms, republics, and cities begins to be fluid and fragile, and all strength of rule wanes—they should conscientiously expend and apply magisterial and vigilant effort and study, neither making the wealthy wealthier and the poor poorer through connivance, nor accumulating their complaints calling out to Heaven, which would surely provoke divine wrath and invite Our severe censure. As His Serenity wishes this to be insinuated again and again to the Praetor and Sessionalists, so, for the rest, if they conduct themselves as is right, he declares and confirms further grace and clemency to them.

Given at Wrocław of the Silesians, the 17th day of November, year 1702.

Carolus Philippus Comes Palat. Rheni (L.S.)

Most Serene.

His Serenity, our Most Clement Lord, desires it to be known to the honest, beloved, faithful Praetor and Councilors of Słuck; that, being moved by various most clement reflections, on the occasion of certain Słuck events which occurred here, He has most benignly responded to the humble petition formerly transmitted, and has most graciously granted the request expressed therein, as the aforementioned Praetor and Councilors will understand more fully from the particular document issued regarding this. And since, meanwhile, His Serenity has learned with no small displeasure that the bridges of the City are found not to be in good condition, and that most of the Councilors and wealthier Citizens contribute little or nothing from their means to civic collections, for this reason, by the vigor of these presents, He seriously enjoins the Praetor and the Councilors not only to see to it that the aforementioned Bridges are restored without delay, but also that they themselves, without any respect of persons, for the sake of Justice and equity, considering the proportion of fortunes, undertake civic burdens and in no way exempt themselves from them; for His Serenity did not wish the Rights and Privileges to be granted and confirmed to that end, that they should abuse them and demand anything beyond what is allowed for their benefit, but rather that regarding the introduction and maintenance of salutary orders convenient for the common good of the Citizens, and regarding the administration of Justice—which is primarily for His Serenity a matter of care and heart, as that in which the sole Christian and true ratio of Polity consists, and where, if one departs from this even a hair's breadth, all things in Kingdoms, Republics, and Cities begin to become fluid and fragile, and every power of the Empire declines—they should conscientiously expend and dedicate their magisterial and watchful effort and study, and not through connivance render the wealthy wealthier and the poor poorer, nor accumulate their complaints crying out to Heaven, which would indeed provoke Divine wrath and invite Our severe censure. As His Serenity wishes this to be intimated again and again to the Praetor and Councilors, so for the rest, if they conduct themselves as is right, He declares and confirms to the same His further grace and Clemency.

Given at Wrocław in Silesia on the 17th of November, 1702.

Charles Philip, Count Palatine of the Rhine (L.S.)

Original of this document handed to our dear Priest into my hands and to the Messrs. Councilors on February 15, 1703.

Marcin Zapicky m.p.

14 September 1690 / 14 Elul 5450

We, the elders of the Slutsk kahał (Jewish communal board), Icko Lipmanowicz, Moszka Jozefowicz, Nachim Leybowicz, Szyman Arulowicz, Izrael Hercylowicz, Chaim Naiernowicz, Boruch Litmanowicz and Oszer Jakubowicz, make known by this attestatia of ours that the Jew Michał Ickowicz, arrendator (lessee) and goldsmith of Slutsk, never wrote to us, nor submitted any account, nor spoke of it orally, that he had given any gifts to the Most Illustrious Lord Baron Voget von Elspe, Marshal of the Court of the Most Serene Principality of Their Graces our Gracious Lords, concerning the Slutsk lease when he was sent by us to obtain said lease, and that he who reported this to His Illustrious Lord, our Marshal, our Gracious Lord and Benefactor, spoke or wrote falsely and wickedly; to which, for the confirmation of the truth, we all sign our names, and for better certainty, our shkolnik (synagogue beadle), according to our custom, has added his name to this same truthful attestatia. Done in Slutsk on the fourteenth day of September, in the year one thousand six hundred and ninety.

We, the undersigned, elders and parnasim (leaders) of our holy community of Slutsk, testify with complete testimony in this our letter with our signatures that the honorable R' Mychl son of the late R' Yitzhak, never told us, neither in writing nor orally, and we did not hear from him that he gave any bribe or gift to our master, the Baron (may his light shine), when he was sent by us on the business of the community lease in Königsberg, and anyone who slandered him in this matter before our master, the aforementioned Baron, speaks falsely, and all the above is true and established. Thus are the words of those who speak justly, today, Wednesday, the 14th of Elul, 5450, here in Slutsk.

Yitzhak son of the late R' Lipman
Moshe son of the late R' Yosef
Nachum son of the late R' Leib
Shimon son of the late R' Aaron
Yisrael son of the late R' Hershel
Chaim son of the late R' Meir
Baruch son of the late R' Lipman
Asher son of the late R' Yaakov
So are the words of Yehuda Yudel, shamosh (beadle) of our aforementioned community.

36

1690

AGAD
WARSAW

ad M 35 Fasc: 2. Leninskich

Most Serene

19 September 1709.

His Most Serene Highness the Prince, Charles Philip, Elector Palatine, etc., etc., Our Gracious Lord, by the power of the present writing, orders the Jewish Synagogue of Slutsk, commanding that the Jew Morduch Aaronowicz, according to the designated resolution made under the date of 12 June of the present year 1709, be admitted not only to the Szeresć, that is, to the forests and all ducal matters, necessities, interests, and signatures, but is also to be recognized, respected, and upheld as an official, that is, as a monthly clerk until the end of his life, all under subjection to His Highness the Prince, upon penalty and admonition to the aforementioned Jewish Synagogue of Slutsk. Therefore, for better faith and respect, the Prince issued such an intimation and his order, having signed it with his own hand and confirmed and upheld it with his own Princely seal and his Lesser Chancellery seal. Given in Innsbruck on the 19th of September, the year 1709.

Carolus Philippus Comes Palatinus Rheni

88

1709. 19 September.

Copy of the Rescript of His Most Serene Highness Charles, Elector Palatine, regarding Morduch Abramowicz, a Jew of Slutsk, in the preservation of his safety.

Copy of the Decree of His Most Serene Highness: On the 18th of September 1709, [he] ordered that the Jew Morduch Abramowic be subject to the Slutsk ducal matters, but because they were muffled by unjust complaints, [he] also [granted] hearing to [him for] the duration of his life.

The year 1709. September 19th.

39

Isor Ickowicz, Jankiel Chaimowich, Hirsz Mowszowich, Jankiel Ickowich, Mejer Hirszowich Murowicki, Ola Schanowich, Wulf Leybowich, Ola Hirszowich, Mannes Mejerowich, Newoch Mowszowich, Azik Michelowich, Aron Morduchowich, and Icho Jankielowich, Elders of the Synagogue Kahal of Słuck, [being] thirteen persons, one for all and all for thirteen, guaranteeing, obliging, and recording [this] by our present voluntary assurance document to the Most Illustrious Lord Daniel Szyszka, Castellan of the Nowogródek Voivodeship; we make it known and declare clearly that, as we—through our inability and various misfortunes—have not yet paid up the five years of interest on the sum belonging to His Illustrious Lordship our benefactor, which is in our Słuck Kahal, which interest sum is calculated up to the date of Saint Stanislaus… the twenty-fifth of July in the year 1252.

50. I say Two thousand five hundred… as ex nunc and by one term… having entreated His Illustrious Lordship, the… of the Smolensk Voivodeship and His Illustrious… [the] Lord’s… at the eleventh… rate… of the aforementioned sum of 2500 Polish Złotys and year… always… we oblige ourselves to pay… this our… His Illustrious Lordship’s, and with assurance for every… our assurance and obligation document having in our possession. The first installment of one thousand Złotys to be paid on the day of Saint Philip and James, the first day of May in the current year 1252. The second installment of one thousand Złotys to be paid on Saint James, the 25th of July, in the same year. And those 500 Złotys with the accessory 500 Złotys, one thousand in total, to be paid for the second year… on Saint James, the 25th of July, in the year 1253, God willing, and further annually, as long as…

[Marginal notes on the left side of both fragments:]

...the year 1752. [February 4]… given by [the] Słuck [Kahal] to His Illustrious Lord the Castellan Daniel Szyszka… specifically that of the unpaid interest debt… in all points approved, [whether]…

...is eight hundred Złotys... the year 1752, the 4th day of February... given by us thirteen Elders of the Kahal of the Słuck Synagogue, [meaning] that we, with the assurance of His Illustrious Lord the Castellan of Nowogródek... the installment for three years... not knowing how to write, I sign with my own hand... Jozef Ickowicz...

…will be this sum in our Kahal, we must pay five hundred [Złotys] to His Illustrious Lordship, our benefactor, annually, keeping this our present voluntary assurance document as well as the obligation document, by every right and with no [other] person possessing it. But if, after receiving these above-expressed three interest installments, His Illustrious Lordship the Castellan of the Nowogródek Voivodeship, or anyone having [authority] from His Illustrious Lordship, should not want or should not agree to be satisfied by this annual interest, then we submit ourselves to pay the capital sum upon first demand and to count it out in full under the penalty of validity [to which we] commit ourselves, giving such an Assurance Document with the approval of official authority, signed by our own hands in Hebrew. Written in Słuck in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty-two, on the twenty-second day.

We, the overseers, officers, and leaders of the community (Kahal) of the Holy Community of Słuck, acknowledge a full and absolute acknowledgement, etc., that we remain indebted to the illustrious lord, the Castellan of Słuck, the sum of five thousand Polish Złotys, clean, excellent, and good, which came into our hands in cash for the benefit of the community, etc. And for the aforementioned sum, we placed for him a pledge, etc., to pay him interest of ten złotys per hundred per year, etc. And we are obligated to pay him the said interest every year at its time, etc. And if we do not pay him the said interest at its time, the authority is in his hand to extract from us the whole aforementioned sum together, etc. And all this was done with complete mind and total will, etc. As explained in this document in the Polish language on the other side of the page, etc. Today is Tuesday, the 22nd of the month of Adar II, 5512 [1752], here in Słuck.

Signed, David bar Yaakov of blessed memory, of the Holy Community of Słuck
Signed, Naftali Hertz bar Eliezer of blessed memory, of the Holy Community of Słuck
Signed, Yosef bar Shmuel of blessed memory, of the Holy Community of Słuck

1709, March 20th

Before us, Piotr Polubiński, Nominee of Samogitia, Parish Priest, Prelate of Vilnius, and Karol Pancernzyński, Canon of Vilnius, designated as Commissioners by the Most Illustrious Lord Kazimierz Sapieha, Voivode of Vilnius, as Guardian of the Estates of the Most Enlightened Princess Elżbieta Augusta, Palatine of the Rhine, after establishing our Commissioner Jurisdiction on this day, the seventh of the month of March, in the year 1709: A case was contested against the Jewish Elders of the Slutsk kahał (Jewish communal council), who were allegedly in common counsel and conspiracy with all the goldsmiths residing in the city of Slutsk and engaged in and earning by their goldsmithing craft, namely: Ephraim Moysewicz, Polakowicz, Faybisz, Abraham, and Moszko Ickowicz, Nachim Aaronowicz, and Zacharia Chaimowicz, accused by the delators, pursuant to a summons brought by said delators ad instanciam instigatoris (at the instance of the prosecutor) for this reason, alleging that in many places, counterfeit copecks, purportedly made in Slutsk by the Slutsk kahał and the goldsmiths, have multiplied, and in many places they are publicly circulating them and calling them "Slutsk copecks," through which the delators had to suffer great damage in purchasing goods and exchanging currency. And thus, such overt conduct, the counterfeiting of currency, and the defrauding of Christians, the accused elders and those named, and others unnamed but well known and visible by name and surname to the senior Jews, are summoned before our Commissioner Court for the indication of severe punishments and for the compensation of the damages and legal expenses of the delators. On the seventh day of March, upon the calling of the parties to the Law by the General, the complaining delators themselves appeared, and for the unbelieving Jewish Elders of the Slutsk kahał, Chadim Ischerowicz, the szkolnik (synagogue beadle), appeared. And thus, the delators formulated the meritum actionis (merits of the action) in this manner: That the accused unbelieving Jews, being in common counsel and conspiracy, without regard for the severity of the Common Law,

the Sovereign Law, were minting new coins and using such counterfeits, namely brass, copper, bronze, and tin, for the detriment of the poor Christians, and for themselves finding such gain. Issuing thalers of lesser value: in short, being overt counterfeiters of currency. As great proof of them, they presented before the Court a szepel (die/stamp) found at Ephraim Moysewicz’s, and broken and destroyed, and in addition, presented several unszlaks (ingots) of material already prepared for the striking of copecks, and several struck copecks, so that, therefore, according to the Law, the Lord's exemplaria (examples) strictly punished them, and they argued that they should not be dismissed from the Court, but rather committed to prison. In contrarium (to the contrary), Chaim Ickowicz and Szlomko, replicating on behalf of all the Elders of the kahał to the relatio (report) of the plaintiff party, brought forth that the senior Jews and the kahał were never in any conspiracy and common council with the local goldsmiths, nor did they know if they ever had any copecks to make, or if they were preparing to make them. But rather, as soon as they found out about the new copecks, they immediately warned the goldsmiths with suspicion and gave word to the proper Castle Office. Upon the immediate audit made from that, they found this szepel at Ephraim Moysewicz’s and one hundred and fifty złoty of wrought new copecks, and confiscated them for the Office. They also apprehended him and others involved with him, and cursed them in their synagogue according to their rites. Those who are not guilty in the accusation of the delators they offered to the oath for the Senior Jews: Ephraim, however, as the principal and cursed in his synagogue, they cast out from the szepel, and they pleaded the case for the other mentioned goldsmiths, and handed them over to the Court. We, the Commissioners, having heard the relationes (reports) of both sides in such a burning matter, through an inquisitio (inquiry) until the twelfth day of the same month and year, postponed further proceedings. The accused Jews, for further deliberation, we committed to prison, salvis de jure salvandis (reserving rights to be saved). Regarding the parte de damnis e litis expensis (share of damages and litigation expenses), at the stated term when this case reached adjudication, through the summoning of the parties to the Law, when the plaintiff party, the Lord, strongly demanded [justice] against the accused kahał elders and the mentioned goldsmiths according to the Law.

Furthermore, the defendant kahał side, standing through their Szmielik, wanting to clear themselves by oath, handed over the local goldsmiths to the szepował (stamp) and to the court. Therefore, we examined each of them semotus arbitris (in the absence of judges): first, Ephraim Moysewicz Polakowicz confessed that in the year 1708, when the Muscovites were in the city at that time, he was forced by a Muscovite who was boarding at his house, by request and threat, fearing that he might one day wipe him off the face of the earth, to help the Muscovite strike copecks, who brought this finished stempel (die) with him. Which stempel, when the Muscovites were retreating, remained in his house in an invisible manner. Consequently, seduced by the desire for gain, he made with this aforementioned stempel of the Muscovites only one hundred złoty of copecks, and no more, and later surrendered these at the audit along with the stempel to the Castle Office. About which neither the kahał, nor his wife, nor his children, nor any person from the household, let alone a stranger, knew, and he did not summon anyone. Which, as he stated as true and certain, on all this he swore an oath, being alone. Secondly, all the goldsmiths called one by one did not confirm any matter, any work, or any knowledge; but they all stood negativè (negatively), identifying themselves to the oath, some manumet tertia (by the third hand), others manumet quarta (by the fourth hand). Regarding the prevalence of such coin, they all unanimously admitted that it was [inflicted] by various people, both of the noble and knightly status, and the common folk arriving from various places, also by soldiers, and it was forced upon them for various goods, and especially in taverns, where they were forced to take it by violence. And on this they swore their oaths. The same was testified by various Christians and Jews summoned by us for the inquisitio. And when we read this examen (examination) publice (publicly) before the parties, the delators replied, stating that through such an examen, the Jews themselves admit their guilt when they acknowledge the stempel and their own work. Therefore, nihil restat ex confesso (nothing remains from the confession), only executio (execution), that they demanded for the strict Lords in the Treasury, because by striking false coins they caused great loss to the Treasury of the Republic. Which station, by saving, Szmielik, at the first justification of his accused elders, affirmavit (affirmed) that his principals were never suspected of such an act of counterfeiting copecks, nor can anyone prove against them any instrument fit for such an act or the place, in which, while further procedendo (proceeding), clearing them from such an accusation, and for further proof to the oath on all this, as he submitted in contrarium (to the contrary), he swore for the accused kahał elders; the accused goldsmiths, however, as craftsmen, he handed over to the court and cleared them, claiming that they cannot know what a neighbor does in his own home. In contrarium, the delators, to the accused elders, as being in common counsel and conspiracy, and especially Ephraim, at whose place it was found, and [the others] following the metal counterfeiting of coin, in overt лице (face/presence), they denied the oath, stating that these copecks, in which such a state multiplied, were made by none other than these same Jews here in Slutsk. However, we, the Commissioners, having well heard the controversies of this case to its conclusion from both sides, adhering to the common law and the justice itself, order the lead Jewish kahał elders, four in number—that is, Herc and Hirsz Izraelowicz, furthermore Moisesowicz and Chaim Ichielewicz, the szkolnik—to swear on the Rodal (Torah): On the fact that the senior Jews of the Slutsk kahał had no counsel or common council with any goldsmith, not only a local one but also a foreigner, for the making of copecks and other currency, nor did they know whether the Slutsk goldsmiths or others made or are making copecks or other counterfeit currency. On the fact that as soon as the new copecks appeared in the city, they immediately notified the Castle Office of their suspicion toward their goldsmiths and renounced them, and cursed them in their synagogue according to their rite. On the fact that never before, nor now, did they import false copecks or other currency into the city of Slutsk from anywhere, nor did they engage in such trade. On the fact that they did not cause any detriment or damage to the Treasury of the Republic through such a procedure. And as for Ephraim Moisesowicz Polakowicz, although he should have been physically hammered on the wall, due to the fact that the stempel for making copecks was found at his place,

and in addition that he made one hundred and fifty złoty of copecks, albeit of twelfth-degree pure silver, which he surrendered to the Castle Office in Slutsk, nevertheless, moderando rigorem justitiae (moderating the rigor of justice), more inclined toward clementiae (clemency), since he was forced by a Muscovite staying in his house, through heavy beating and threats of death, overcome by human nature's frailty, as much as metus etiam in virum constantem cadere zwykł (fear is wont to fall even upon a constant man), we release him from corporal punishment, and order him [to take] an oath with his wife, being second, upon the Rodal: On the fact that he had no counsel or conspiracy with the kahał elders regarding the making of copecks, and the kahał had not the slightest knowledge of his doing so. On the fact that the Muscovite forced him to make copecks and threatened him with heavy beating and death. On the fact that the Muscovite brought the stempel with him, and he did not make it himself. On the fact that the Muscovite bought no more than fifty złoty in true copecks from him. And later he only made one hundred złoty in silver copecks, and surrendered all of them to the Castle Office in Slutsk. On the fact that neither his wife nor any household person, let alone a stranger, knew of this work of his. On the fact that he never made any other counterfeit coin. His wife, furthermore, on the fact that she did not know about this work of her husband and assisted her husband in nothing. All other goldsmiths, laid out above, namely Fayf Dawidowicz, Abraham Morside, Schonikow, Nachim Aronowicz, Zachar Chaimowicz, Dawid Jakubowicz, since they are neither [illegible] nor convicted, we deem them closer to the oath on the Rodal manumet secunda (by the second hand). On the fact that they had no common counsel or conspiracy regarding the making of copecks and counterfeiting of currency with the kahał elders, and in fact, the kahał had no knowledge of any counterfeit currency made in Slutsk. On the fact that they themselves are not the cause of importing counterfeit currency, but roaming people, soldiers,

vagabonds, and guests brought it here. On the fact that they themselves did not make such currency and knew absolutely nothing about such things. Which oath the kahał senior Jews, as well as Ephraim Moyżeszowicz Polakowicz and all other Jewish goldsmiths specified above, are to perform on the Rodal on the fourteenth day of the month of March in the aforementioned year. And upon the completion of this oath, now, immediately, we release from the claims, imprecations, and all other accusations of the complaining delators, and any of the delators' relatives and other persons quocunque titulo (under any title), of whatever opinion regarding the counterfeiting of currency, the aforementioned senior Jews and goldsmiths, not only in their persons but also their entire house and the entire kahał, from all injustice semper (always) for eternal times. And moreover, we preserve all Jews belonging to this kahał in their rights and credits in full and untouched, and we enjoin eternal silence in this matter. Severely, we warn and by this our decree we command that no Jew from this time in futurum (in the future) dare to strike or make false copecks, or import or publish such false currency among the people, under the penalty of gold, and to the damage of the people and the detriment of the Treasury of the Republic and the deception of the poor people. Et in casu contraventionis (And in case of contravention) to our decree, we establish the Lord's peculatus (embezzlement penalty). And when the fourteenth day of March arrived, in the same year mentioned above, the unbelieving Jewish kahał elders and goldsmiths, making restitution, performed their oath on the Rodal in their synagogue according to our decree. Which case, how it was conducted, so for better power and value, we, the Siedlce [Commissioners], sign with our own hands. Written in Slutsk, A.D. as above.

Piotr Holubiński, Commissioner
Nominee of Samogitia, Parish Priest, Prelate of Vilnius, Commissioner

Karol Panczerzynski
Canon of Vilnius, Commissioner m.p. (manual propria/with own hand)

Jan Mechiewicz, Scribe

January 29, 1712

In the Economic Courts, the case of the Entire Słuck Kahal was agitated, inhabited [represented] and clarified by letters of the City of Słuck, concerning the matter expressed below. Doctors of the [legal] dicta used by the burghers, and the attorneys sent by the Słuck Kahal appearing, brought forth and petitioned that a third representative, a Jew, should sit at the Municipal Treasury alongside two Christians, and possess knowledge of all receipts and expenditures, since the greatest importance [revenue] from the Jews enters into it. In proof of this, they laid down two rescripts of His Grace the Most Illustrious Prince Bogusław Radziwiłł, the one dated the fifteenth day of December in the year 1657, the second dated the second day of February in the year 1661, in which he writes expressly and clearly that, since the greatest income from both alcohol [sales] and other guest-merchandise enters the city from the Jews, they secondly produced the Decree of the Evident Economic Controversy between the Jews and the Słuck Christians on the tenth day of November in the year 1700. Finally, they laid down the Decree confirming [the will of] His Highness the Prince of Neuburg, our Gracious Lord, upon the agreement of the points from the burghers, and likewise from the Jews.

[Fragment of p. 48]: Replies from the Jews, dated the sixteenth day of September in the year 1707, in which [the court] was pleased to approve both the aforementioned rescript, the Economic Decree, and the [instruction] commanding under penalty that a Jew sit at the Municipal Treasury and have knowledge of receipts and expenditures, and that the city dwelling [owners] perform an accounting for past years; in quantum they do not do so, they are to pay the Jews twenty-several thousand. Since the burghers served all their expenses, taking [money], and the Jews, taking on great expenses and acquisitions and borrowing, must—as they have terribly indebted themselves during these unfortunate times of the movements [invasions] of the Muscovites and Swedes, of which local citizens are aware, given such great and unbearable expenses and contributions—it would be proper for them in given rescripts and decrees that the Jews be kept as our economists [administrators/managers]. The burghers, appearing personally, contradicting the Jewish reply, said that although the Jews received the confirmation of the Economic Decree from His Most Serene Majesty the King, our Gracious Lord, that was ad rem narrata [narrated for the sake of the matter]; they requested instead that at the Municipal Treasury, alongside two burghers, a third representative—a Jew—should be present. This was at the time when the excise was enacted by the Sejm on the people of the Commonwealth during the first Muscovite occupation; and when the excise ceased, people of the Commonwealth were brought in; at that time the Jews did not interest themselves in the municipal treasury, to which they also swore. Wishing to take up their oath, that...

...in accordance with the older custom, they were neither intended nor released by the Kahal of the excise [Akcyzowej]. The Kahal, replying to this through its schoolmen, said that the confirmation of His Most Serene Majesty the King, our Gracious Lord, was not ad rem narrata as the burghers claim, but rather was arrived at after an evident controversy before other Lords Responding, and after the agreement on the points by the City Council as well as by the Kahal of the same city. His Most Serene Majesty the King, our Gracious Lord, as in many other things, so too in this point, issued His Royal Decree, as may be seen more extensively in the third point of the same decree. Yet the burghers say that only during the first Muscovite period [Słoniewszczyzna], when the excise was enacted by the Sejm on the people of the Commonwealth, did we Jews have [the right] to sit at the treasury; to this we reply that, although the Jews were pushed away, they still accounted with them—both the burghers and the Jews—with a Municipal Treasury, Cenzary Kwigata. However, it has been empty only since the death of the Mayor Marcin Zapiecki, and we Jews have been pushed away from serving, [we ask] that we be maintained under the Decree of His Most Serene Majesty the King. We petition further, with the testimony of a worthy senior, Trochim Piersiewiczow, who, standing before us and knowing well, having known for twenty years about the Municipal Treasury, knew well that all municipal expenditures, both from the burghers and from the Jews, were always tallied and accounted for with the rządami [governance], all old ones adding to the matters, as previously a Jew sat at the municipal treasury...

(portion illegible)

...and after the presentation of measures [miary], all the receipts, both of the city and of the Jews, were issued under the supervision of Marcin Zapiecki, the Mayor, and in this, as for the excise, all market taxes as well as all Arasach [tax types] and here the hunters, taking up those orders, and swearing to them, and the Decree of His Most Serene Majesty the King, our Gracious Lord, the Jews petition to be kept as our economists [administrators]. And so we, the Economists, having listened to this matter well and accepted it, to which both sides were preparing themselves, leaving the matter only to a Final Decision of His Grace the Count Żeleński, our Gracious Lord, Ex moderamine indicii [by the moderation of the judges]. Although, according to the decree of His Most Serene Majesty, the Jews were to be admitted to the measures [miary], yet so that the burghers do not consider the Scripta Brandiow [letters/warrants] as a loss to themselves; we format such a decision for them, leaving in our hands the Decree of His Most Serene Majesty, so that in such a way, since the Sessionaliści [tax-holding burghers] are opposing the Decree of His Most Serene Majesty, and the Jews, when admitted along with two burghers to the third seat, do not wish to be accepted—until the Final Decision in this matter of His Most Serene Majesty is brought forth—the Jews are to have a separate treasury box, to which will be added an overseer ex brachio economico [from the economic authority], who will oversee all Jewish revenues, both from arrivals and from local [Jews] who purchase within the city to this day, which [box] they should be required to receive, not excluding any thing, as in old times, so also now, holding the fresh quarter-grosz [tax], which box is not to last long with the added...

...until the final decision of His Most Serene Majesty, the Lord’s Decision, is to continue [as] present, until the sides [appear] before His Most Serene Majesty. The burghers, who formerly served, are not to fear collecting revenue from the Christians, [but are] tenetur [bound/to be held] to the Jews, which we remit as our decision ad dimissionem [for dismissal] to His Most Serene Majesty, our Gracious Lord, and we sign Datt ut Supra [given as above].

1712. Januarii 29.
Economic Decree in the matter of the Entire Słuck Kahal with the burghers and Słuck Sessionalists

N. 43 Fasc: 159 of Słuck
to the Economic Courts

25 March 1712

Such Summons and Proclamation dated 24 February in the year 1712, having been received by the Słuck Jews for the Sessionalists and Christian Citizens of Słuck regarding the matters expressed therein, and not absenting themselves from the City anywhere, it was only today, the 5th of March, on the 4th Sunday [of Lent], as the Jews themselves were setting out on their journey to His Most Serene Highness the Beneficial Prince, that they presented it through the official of the Słuck Castle Office, about which the Christian Gentlemen, protesting before me, stated that in instanti [immediately], due to the belatedly submitted proclamation (having no readiness for this) and because of the soon-to-follow spring resolutions, they cannot travel; in the presence of the rest of those departing Jews, they declared this and protested against them and against the entire Słuck Kahał (Jewish self-governing council), registering their complaint, to which I affix my signature. Dated in Słuck, 25 March, the Year 1712.

Stanisław Niezabitowski
P. Z. Z.

4 February 1712

I, Stanisław Niezabitowski of Niezabitów, Cupbearer of Kalisz, General Administrator of the Estates of His Serene Highness the Prince of Neuburg, Count Palatine of the Rhine, inform the honorable gentlemen, the Session-holders (Sessionaliści) of the town of Słuck, by virtue of my administrative authority, that the Jewish Elders of the Słuck Kahał (Jewish communal board) are announcing that they are, in this instance, sending to His Serene Highness the Prince, our gracious benefactor, regarding various grievances they have against you, namely regarding the opposition to old laws and the recently received rescripts from His Serene Highness the Prince on the sixteenth day of February in the year seventeen hundred and ten. By this announcement, I warn you that you must ex nunc (from now) send from among you [representatives] and there steadfastly conduct your case, under penalty of law as described in the common law.

Written in Słuck, 4 February 1712.

Economic Announcement

Stanisław Niezabitowski
Administrator

55 85 23

14 April 1713

When, with unanimous consent, without any contradictions, through election, according to the ancient customs maintained in the Jewish community, there were elected in the present year one thousand seven hundred and thirteen, on the fourteenth day of the month of April, to be Kahał (Jewish communal board) elders for an entire year. And the named persons are: Zestassda, Paweł Hirszowicz, Lewek Dawidowicz, Icko Symszon, Icko Calelewicz, Morduch Aronowicz, Szyryk Gierszowicz, Beniamin Mowszowicz, Leyba Nachmanowicz, Jakub Mowszowicz, Ajay Abramowicz, and Boruch Smiechowicz—eleven persons. Therefore, conforming to their obligations, I approve these elected Jews for the Kahał seniority with annual economic authority; and I desire that all Jews of the Lutsk Kahał, in genere (in general), be obedient, both in paying the dues designated long ago according to the Kahał's constitution, and in all other rightful matters, making no opposition to them: who are to judge and punish those who oppose them, according to their own laws and customs. For which I give this my document with my autograph signature. Given in Lutsk, 14 April 1713.

36 56

Election of the Elders of the Puc Kahał, Year 1713
April 14
Economic Approval of G. Leszczyn for the Seniority of the Jews

No 35. Fasc: 115. Puc (Puckiej)

57

24/13 August 1713

Copy of the issued document to the Sluck Kahał of 24/13 August, A.D. 1713.

To the Jewish elders of the Sluck Kahał and to the entire community there, I communicate notice: That my treasurer, Mr. Herwat, Podstoli of Czernichów, being now with me, reported regarding your Kahał—the significant debt incurred by your Kahał—that regarding the dead-line for the repayment and payment of the same, in view of the non-punctual demand for this debt from you and the non-payment of the same to him; since he was preparing to proceed against you by law in the present Vilnius Tribunal regarding this, from which I have restrained him by my persuasion. My economic authority strictly commands you, the Jewish Kahał elders of Sluck, so that by not incurring legal costs and losses (which are better turned toward debts to creditors) you pay the debt owed to Mr. Herwat without further trouble and delay, and in such an effective manner that you satisfy him so that they do not proceed further with a complaint to me; for since this sum is for certain and urgent interests of Her Highness the Princess, my Lady, it is to be applied to those same ends by him. Upon failure to satisfy him in this debt, I allow and request the Commandant of the Sluck Fortress to take all you Kahał elders into the Fortress tower, and that during this detention, he order you not to be fed with provisions, but to be set to earthwork or other castle labor without any relief, and in addition to this work, for the faster payment of said debt to him, I have allowed your Sluck synagogue to be sealed, declaring that it will not be unsealed until you have paid this debt to him in toto [in full] and satisfied him. About you, and again by this my economic admonishing letter, I strictly command—awaiting no further warning—that a copy of this document be given to you from the Sluck Castle with the signature of the Chamber Clerk, since the original is to remain with him as proof so that you may not have the strength to claim that you did not receive such a warning and admonishment from me. Given in Vilnius, 24/13 August, A.D. 1713.

Copy recorded for the Jewry of the Minsk Kahał regarding Father Pawłowski […] A.D. 1713.

No. 24
AGAD
WARSAW
Aozh. Fasc: 115. Minsk

May 29, 1731

In the pending appeal of Izuak Michulewicz and Hizik Abramowicz, citizens of Słuck, from the Compromissorial Court of the Słuck Rabbi to my disposition: since the clearing up of the Compromissorial Decree rendered between these same Jews and the Słuck Kahał (Jewish community board) cannot occur here without all the parties and witnesses, I therefore postpone the general appeal case for discussion with his Excellency the Słuck Governor and for verification on the ground in Słuck. Just as I admitted Izuak Michulewicz and Hizik Abramowicz to the lots for the election of Jewish elders through my ordinance issued here in Mir on March 27 of the present year, so too now, having examined this point alone, I admit those same Jews, Izuak and Hizik, as well as all others among them who pay the fenig (tax) in full, to the lots and election for the eldership with equal justice for each, ensuring, however, that there is no cheating in the lots, which election of elders I allow the Jews to perform in Słuck. Given in Mir, May 29, 1731. The case regarding the general appeal shall be finally judged by his Excellency the Słuck Governor through verification, subject however to the superior decision and disposition of his Excellency the Governor.

A. K. Radziwiłłowa
mp

(Locus Sigilli)

No 46 Fasc. 104 Słuckich

60 -26

Pisan w Slucku Roku Tysiąc Siedm Setnego Pietnastego Dnia Trzeciego Marca

Whereas the Słuck Kahal (Jewish community administration) is indebted by a legally drafted bond for a certain sum to Leon Pawluhyc, a citizen of the city of Słuck, from which one thousand złoty (currency of account) in current money—namely, Leon Pawluhyc has specifically excluded this for his two blood sisters, namely Her Graces Mrs. Jadwiga Pawluhycowna, wife of Kazimierz Krasnodebski, and also Maryjanna, wife of Alexander Niemiera, via a security voucher (wewcel)—with my economic notice to the Słuck Kahal in the names of their husbands and my brothers-in-law, so that they [the Kahal] pay and deliver the found sum and the thousand złoty belonging to these people on the Kahal, which are due to the wife of Kazimierz Krasnodebski and to Mr. Alexander Niemiera. But the Jews of the Słuck Kahal, having requested a respite in the repayment of the thousand złoty belonging to both, for which February has passed, have not fulfilled the aforementioned [commitment] of their graces. Merely treating [it with] obstinacy and further attempting to delay by means of dilatory tactics, they do not wish to surrender the aforementioned thousand złoty.

Therefore, I, the Oeconom (Estate Administrator), authorize, by the power entrusted to me by the Republic, for Mr. Kazimierz Krasnodebski and Mr. Alexander Niemiera, that in our city of Słuck and the land outside Słuck and the town, they may hold and arrest the goods of the butcher stalls (Jatki Kotwickie) belonging to the Słuck Kahal until the Słuck Kahal pays and delivers the one thousand złoty of the security voucher of Leon Pawluhyc to Mr. Kazimierz Krasnodebski and Mr. Alexander Niemiera, and retrieves the security voucher from them, to which authorization I affix my own economic seal and sign with my own hand.

4 61

Margravine of Brandenburg... Copy made in haste […]. Of which they acknowledge 1000 złoty. Of the account for the year 1714 Maryi No 3

No 25

323
37.6
36
252

Aº 28. Fasc. 115. Analysis [?] To [illegible]

AGAD WARSZAWA

Year One Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty-Third
Month of September Day Fourth

By the express will and Rescript of the Most Serene Prince, Mr. Radziwiłł, Master of the Kitchen of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, our Benefactor, issued to us, the undersigned, upon the petition of the Słuck Kahał (Jewish municipal council), the case of the Jews of said Słuck Kahał with the Magistrate of the Słuck Magistracy was situated. Therefore, the undersigned, proceeding to this case, the Jews of the Słuck Kahał presented a document, that is, their petition (punctation) submitted to the Commission in the year 1717, on the 25th of October, in which petition they primarily requested that the Christian city of Słuck pay the 150 Thalers which, by the will and assignment of Mr. Niezabytowski, Master of the Kitchen of Kalisz, at that time Treasurer of the Słuck estates, for the supplement for the impoverished and ruined Christians to the passing Muscovite troops in the year 1709, they had paid as a pro-rata share, and they demanded repayment of this sum from the city. Regarding which point, they received a resolution in the aforementioned Commission that the city should pay these 150 Thalers to the Kahał in the space of four days. Secondly, they also petitioned, requesting the Commission that the Christians pay them 95 Red Złotys which Mr. Niezabytowski, having claimed them as an offering for the Muscovites, had advanced for them. Claiming furthermore that the Słuck Kahał had paid this sum, for which petition they received a resolution that the city should also pay these 95 Red Złotys to the Kahał within the space of four weeks. Thirdly, they also petitioned in this matter that twenty-one Thalers which were intentionally overdue should be returned to them, to which a reply was also made there that this should also be reached by the city for the Kahał. During the production of which points of restitution...

(Vertical margin text, left side):
Concluded, suspending the judicial verdict between the parties for four days due to the oaths to be taken tomorrow. Staying the execution of the oath within the space of those four days, if the parties do not settle, to be continued. J. S. Kastrowat.
Point.
Given in Słuck, 4th of September 1743.

...seeking the aforementioned sum. Standing, therefore, the Magistrate of the City of Słuck, against the first claim of the Słuck Kahał for these 150 Thalers, placed a cassation (annulment) given by said Mr. Niezabytowski, Master of the Kitchen of Kalisz, dated June 14, expressing within itself: That although he had given the Kahał an assignment to pay 150 Thalers as their share for the guests, and promised to reimburse them later, but seeing the entire city impoverished and ruined, he annulled that assignment, declaring to the city that he would obtain from His Excellency the Prince that henceforth the Jews should pay all taxes half-and-half with the Christians. Secondly, against the claim of the Słuck Kahał regarding the 95 Red Złotys, they presented a copy of the commissioner's assignment signed by the hand of Mr. Niezabytowski, in which the commission designated that the city, jointly with the Kahał, should pay only the 95 Red Złotys demanded by Mr. Niezabytowski, having made an equal 1500 Złoty division for payment with the Kahał at 650 Złotys each, which assignment the city fulfilled by paying its share of 650 Złotys to Mr. Niezabytowski, having received a receipt for this on March 25, 1715, which they have now presented to us. Thirdly, regarding the 21 Thalers overdue to the city, the Magistrate, knowing nothing of this, considered it an unjustified attack, excusing themselves by saying that since Mr. Niezabytowski was the General Manager of the local estates, just as he had the authority to give the Kahał an assignment for 150 Thalers, so too did he have the power, seeing the misery of the Christians, to issue a cassation and removal of the same. And as for the points the Jews bring regarding the Commission, the latest date signed above the cassation, they acknowledged these points of the Kahał as false and entirely deceitful, declaring that they received them into the Commission without any knowledge or obvious controversy with the city, proving by the assignment of these Commissioners that these 95 Red Złotys were not set by the Jews, but by Mr. Niezabytowski himself, and in no other way did the Commission make a grievance; the 1715 disposition was that the city, jointly with the Kahał, should pay 650 Złotys to Mr. Niezabytowski, and not to the Kahał. Here, however, in the Kahał's points, dated until the year 1717, it is stated that the city should give all these 95 Red Złotys to the Kahał. This, the Magistrate considers an intentional and unique attack, requesting release from this unjust burden and opting for an oath that this is a false matter and is owed not to the Kahał, but to the city. AND SO WE, the Commissioners assigned to this case, having weighed all the controversies, having extracted them strictly from both sides, and having duly understood the documents, we decide as follows: Regarding the sum of 150 Thalers, which was established in the year 1709 by the Kahał via assignment and order of Mr. Niezabytowski for the supplement for the Muscovites for the Christians, for which the city produced the opposing cassation of said Mr. Niezabytowski dated the year 1713, considering that Mr. Niezabytowski, being the General Manager of the local estates, ordered the Kahał to give 150 Thalers, assuring that the city would pay, but later, seeing the impoverished Christians, he freed them by his cassation document, declaring also that he would bring a request to His Excellency the Prince so that henceforth the Jews would pay all proportional taxes; and as for the second claim of the Kahał regarding the 95 Red Złotys, which the Kahał supposedly paid to the city for the needy Muscovites, having considered their claim perfectly, we make the following decision: Because this sum of 95 Red Złotys, as it is shown by the documents of the Christians and the clear testimony of the Kahał, was not paid to the Muscovites by the Słuck Kahał, but Mr. Niezabytowski advanced this sum with the help of the whole city in the year 1710 with his own money, and, not being able to recover it from the Słuck burghers and Jews for five years, he filed a complaint with the pre-written order of the Commissioners, which the commission designated in its assignment issued on August 22, 1715, so that both Christians and Jews should pay 650 Złotys each to Mr. Niezabytowski for these 95 Red Złotys, and distribute the rest among the estate, from the payment of which designated part, both the city and the Kahał received receipts from Mr. Niezabytowski and Mr. Bekkers, at that time.

65

Governor of the Słuck Principality, under date of the year 1731, producing proofs and making the discharge of the city, the proofs of the Kahał are requested. But because the Jews, beyond all these aforementioned dates, produced a later reply of those same Commissioners to the tax of their petition made in the year 1717, that the city should pay the Jews 150 Thalers in the space of four days, and the 95 Red Złotys which the Kahał had paid. To acknowledge the Jewish demands in that aforementioned sum, as well as the overdue 21 Thalers to be completely unjust according to the statutes, and to verify it by oath. Furthermore, having considered that the Commissioners first assigned by their document to Mr. Niezabytowski for 95 Red Złotys, of which 650 were paid according to the disposition made to Mr. Niezabytowski, and later they return the same sum to the Kahał, and the Kahał having the Commissioner’s rescript, that for 26 years they remained silent and did not pursue it until now, and therefore it entered into limitation; whence, seeing the documents and proofs weighed by both sides, and finding no other way of documenting for both sides, according to the Statute Law of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Article 33, Chapter 11, admitting the closer Christians with the documents, both those of the Commission and the cassation of Mr. Niezabytowski, we acknowledge and designate the ledger of the decimate of Mr. Jakub Sapieha, Jakub Wołkowicz, and Demian Faydzyka for the oath. On this, regarding the payment of one hundred and fifty Thalers established by the Jews, Mr. Niezabytowski worked out the cassation of the Christians, and in this matter, the five Red Złotys were not [paid by] the Kahał but Mr. Niezabytowski advanced them for the whole city with his own money, and the Christians, according to the disposition and assignment of the Commission, paid their share of Six Hundred and Fifty Złotys to Mr. Niezabytowski. And because the Kahał has a reply from the Commissioners to their petitions, those petitions were made behind their backs, deceitful and unjust, and regarding the twenty-one Thalers which supposedly are overdue to the city, and the city having and knowing about this, the Day of such oath we designate for the 21st of October of the current year.

66

We designate. After the performance of which oath, we cassate and annihilate all claims of the Słuck Kahał, and release the Magistrate and the entire Christian city of Słuck from paying the aforementioned sum. To which Decree the elders of the Słuck Jewish Kahał, not desisting and not recognizing their oath, appealed to the Most Serene Prince, the Benefactor, which we allowed, and which case, as it shall appear, we refer for confirmation or overturning to the Most Serene Prince, the Benefactor. Written in the Słuck castle, as above.

Maciey Szloma Patowski
Treasurer of Sączyclew
Governor of the Principality
of Kopyl

Treasurer, Commandant
of the Offices of the Principality of Słuck and Kopyl

57
64

Commission
Decree between the Magistrate
and the Butcher's Guild
1743, September 4
No. 98
167

No. 20 Fas 216 Sheet
Photograph 5.

31
34

1 June 1745

I, Mowsha Nochimowicz, and I, Mejer [illegible], Goldsmiths, Citizens of Slutsk, residing in the Treasury house [illegible] in Slutsk, being there by the special grace of His Illustrious [illegible] Prince, our Most Gracious Benefactor 68, make [it] known to everyone who is concerned now and hereafter. That we, the aforementioned, for a very long time now, having been colleagues and living together in that same Treasury house, have done all the work of our goldsmith craft up to the present date. Not harming one another in anything, without any jealousy, whatever earnings anyone took, they always divided by half; for the firewood of this dwelling, we took shared care. We held and respected one another like Brother to Brother and Colleague, with our entire shared household. Without causing the slightest error to anyone in anything, nor slandering, we lived sincerely with one another. And now, in the same manner, without any change, we ought to and shall live and reside together, do all our work, divide the money by half, and apply shared care to the firewood. And not parting from one another, but living together for six years as Brothers and Colleagues, peacefully and without any dispute on either side, which we must mutually fulfill under penalty [for our] Most Gracious Benefactor the Prince, [to pay] ten minted thalers and further punishment according to the Court and the judgment passed, and as further proof of all this, this our voluntary record, serving both sides, we admit before the office of the Slutsk Authorities, [and] sign with our own hands in Hebrew. Done at the castle office of the Duchy of Slutsk, in the year 1745, on the first day of the month of June.

Alexander son of R' Joseph, of blessed memory
Meir son of Joseph, of blessed memory

1745 June 1.
Description of the Slutsk Goldsmiths' shared residence and annual earnings.

72 48 69

No. 12. Fascicle: 15. Addenda: Registers
of the Slutsk Municipal [office]

3 October 1747.

In the year 1747, on the 3rd day of the month of October. Appearing again in person, Theodor Ambrożewicz and Jan Dziemkowicz, Official Servants, testified for entry into the books that they were summoned on this present day by Szender Jakubowicz Rogowy, Boruch Szymonowicz, and Jankiel Izikowicz, Jewish citizens of the town of Słuck, in the absence of Erowna Chaimowicz and Fawisz Zymelowicz, to the house of Mowszu Rabinowicz Brzeski, Monthly [Member] of the Słuck Kahal, for the following reason: that in this year 1747, in the month of March, they gave surety for Dawid Izikowicz, Rabbi of Słuck, that they would ensure he remained to stand trial with the Słuck Kahal and was obliged to appear for said trial; therefore, on this present day, these same people—Szender Jakubowicz, Boruch Szymonowicz, and Jankiel Izikowicz—having gone again to the house of the aforementioned Mowszu Rabinowicz Brzeski, as the current Monthly [Member], appeared before him and asked what transpired the day before, that is the 2nd day of October in this same year 1747, in the Słuck Synagogue, and what resolution was reached between the Kahal and the entire Synagogue concerning the Rabbi of Słuck and the surety given for him, and also if the Słuck Kahal or the entire Synagogue has any claim against the said Rabbi of Słuck, [stating]: "We are coming for a decision, and we no longer wish to have such surety upon our persons, and we are surrendering said surety in the presence of the Official Servants."

To this question, Parnas Mowszu Rabinowicz Brzeski, Monthly [Member] of the Słuck Kahal, on behalf of all of his colleagues and the entire Słuck Jewish Synagogue, made the resolution that the Słuck Kahal and the entire Słuck Jewish Synagogue have no claims against Dawid Izikowicz, Rabbi of Słuck, and declare him free of them, keeping no reservation (salwa) regarding him, except for [a claim against] his father, Izik Abramowicz, regarding some old decree, which does not pertain to the Rabbi of Słuck, and he is free from the Synagogue until the further will and grace of His Serene Highness the Prince, our Lord and Benevolent Benefactor. All that transpired and that they heard from the Monthly [Member], they have testified to the books; which [is] their, the Official Servants’, public testimony entered into the books, as the Kahal members themselves testified that the entire Synagogue has no claim against the Rabbi of Słuck and declares him free.

Note from the Court Protocol 51 41
Office of the Castle of the Principality of Słuck 34

January 30, 1747, in the matter of the Jewish butchers of Słuck with the entire Kahal (Jewish community council) of the Słuck Synagogue.

Whereas the same Słuck Kahal voluntarily agreed with those Jewish butchers of Słuck in the past year 1746 that they secured for themselves the payment of 400 złoty in ready cash per year. Although they had a security given to them, therefore now by the power of the Rescript of the Most Illustrious Prince, His Grace the Lord Benefactor, issued on the 27th day of January of the present year, following the example of a previous resolution, it is ordered to give the butchers not those 400, but 600 złoty, and to take the trefne (non-kosher) skins for themselves. Those butchers, however, who belonged to the church shall provide to the church without change, and they are forbidden from providing kosher meat to the Kahal, for the reason that the butchers, both acquired and other dependents of the Lord, always paid, are paying, and shall be required to pay. The tenant of the butcher’s crown [tax right] is to give them money according to their need for the sufficiency of the buying people, who also are to pay Him punctually; and the security having passed to the butchers, about which they complain, the butchers will pay no more provision to the butcher tenant, except for the remittance of interest. The Słuck Kahal appealed against this Decree to the Most Illustrious Prince, His Grace the Benefactor, and a term of two weeks was granted. Dated at the Commandery, as above.

Jozef Sypowicz
Scribe of the District and Copyist

72, 52

Jewish Butchers of Słuck

AGAD
WARSAW

October 4, 1753

Most Serene Gracious Prince,
Lord and our Gracious Hereditary Lord,

Since, following the passing from this world of the sessionists, there is not a complete set of sessionist persons who have the right according to the laws and privileges granted by the Most Serene late Princes and corroborated by Your Most Serene Highness, our Gracious Lord. Therefore, having chosen several persons suitable for this function, namely Andrzej Sapieński, Theodor Suchozaniec, Grzegor Ladyka, Job Borysznikowicz, and Michał Metłowicz, as sessionists, we recommend these persons to the Magistrate as our [officials] of the town of Gródek, and we most humbly beseech the Most Serene Highness, our Gracious Hereditary Lord, for their approval. Dated October 4, in the year 1753.

Alexander Kuzanek, Reeve of the Magistrate of the Town of Horo...
Jakub Łazunsky mpp
Jakub Obuchowicz
Jan Flysciniak
Leon Sapieński mpp

54 74

October 4, 1753. – Presentation for the approval of the Hereditary Prince of the selected sessionists

Mierzwice Stuckie

No. 2. Fasc. 17. Addenda: Register

12 April 1756

We, the Kahał (Jewish community council) of the Słuck Synagogue, by order of the Most Illustrious Lord Starosta (District Governor) and the Most Illustrious Lord Commandant, our masters and benefactors, have conducted an inquiry by reason of the rumors regarding Elia Hirszowicz, who is suspected with the Jewish girl Esterka, servant of the widow Morduszkowa. We ordered, by decree, that it be called out in the School (Synagogue) under anathema that whoever knows anything about this should report it. Hearing that the boy Dawid Litmanowicz knows something about it, we ordered him to appear, and having commanded him under oath to tell the truth, he spoke in these words: that on Friday (which is the 2nd of April) I came to the cellar for vinegar for the horseradish; this girl was also there. Hearing some thud in the cellar, I asked her what it was. The girl answered me: "go see for yourself and you will know." I went, but I saw nothing. This girl told me that it was the aforementioned Elia who jumped over the fence, and she asked me not to mention anything before her mistress.

Then we ordered this girl to stand, whom we examined much about the truth, and as she was ashamed, we commanded her under a heavy anathema; she confessed, then, in these words: that on Saturday evening (which is the 27th of March), I took back borrowed bread troughs to Elia. When I came out of his room, he was standing in his vestibule, and he said to me: "come to me at eight or eleven o’clock, I will give you money." I answered him that I have no time. Later, when he would attend services with us, every day he told me to come to him. It happened then on Friday (which is the 2nd of April) that I was in his courtyard, and he committed an obscene act with me, standing by the fence from behind, and gave me one tynf (coin). On that same day he came to me again when I was in the cellar, and as the aforementioned boy Dawid was there with me for vinegar, Elia jumped back over the fence to his side, and that boy heard that thud. Later Elia was at Josiel Prochownik's; I spoke to Elia’s face before Prochownik and his wife, that he gave me a tynf (which Prochownik, under oath in the synagogue, also testified that the girl spoke thus in Elia’s eyes). Later on Sunday (which is the 4th of April) the same Elia came to me in the cellar to drink wine, but then a little girl arrived and so he went away. Afterwards we ordered the girl to stand, whom we examined a second time before the kahal beadles (shamashim); she persisted in the same words described above, all of which we have written down word for word. Done at the kahal chamber in Słuck, 12th of April, 1756.

(Hebrew signature)

14 April 1756

Elia Hirszowicz was brought from arrest after the conducted inquiry (inquisicyi) to a confrontation in the presence of his grace Adjutant Gapracki and official clerk Szembel, as well as before the entire Kahał (Jewish communal council) and the Rabbi, where the mentioned girl was also, who face to face told Elia under great Cherym (excommunication) as is described in the inquiry itself, and Elia, not admitting it, [and] having proceeded to corporal proof, and he himself prepares for a greater punishment; we sign ourselves in Słuck I. et A (as above).

Signed, Shlomo Zalman son of our teacher and master R. Uri
Signed, Yitzchak Isaac son of the Rabbi our teacher and master R. Shaul of blessed memory
Signed, Shmuel Shmelke son of our teacher and master R. Avraham Yitzchak of blessed memory
Signed, Elia son of our teacher and master R. Zeev Wolf
Signed, Zvi Hirsch son of the Rabbi our teacher and master R. David
Signed, Shlomo son of our teacher and master R. Dov Ber of blessed memory
Signed, Uri Feivush son of our teacher and master R. Israel of blessed memory
Signed, Chaim son of Shalom of blessed memory

77 564

1756

Extract from the Starostship Books of the Duchy of Słuck

57
78
78

September 22, 1760

In the matter of the entire Słuck Kahał (Jewish communal council) with the Romanów Kahał and Rachela Mowszyna and her offspring. Since it has been demonstrated that the Słuck Kahał, in the course of the execution of the three Jews under the Magdeburg Decree, is the evidential party that is the conviction of Rachela Mowszyna, head of the murdered Mowsza, her husband, the claimant disbursed in summary to the hangman and for other expenses thirty-five (35) struck thalers, one (1) tynf (Polish coin), two (2) szóstaks (6-grosz coins), and eight (8) grosze, and although the Słuck Kahał sent to Romanów, both to the testatrix Mowszynea herself and to the Romanów Kahał, so that at the time of the execution they would arrive and take this expense upon themselves,

having received no reply, that same Słuck Kahał had to pay with its own money. And although such a process should justly fall upon one Mowszyna as the convicting actress, yet I, Starosta, granting relief to Mowszyna and her offspring, award expenses. Such a process shall come out thus: for the Słuck Kahał, fifteen (15) struck thalers; upon Mowszyna as the convicting actress and her offspring, fifteen (15) struck thalers; and upon the Romanów Kahał, five (5) struck thalers, one (1) tynf, two (2) szóstaks, and eight (8) grosze, and it is ordered that Rachela Mowszyna, for the fifteen (15) struck thalers, and the Romanów Kahał, for the five (5) struck thalers, one (1) tynf, two (2) szóstaks, and eight (8) grosze, shall pay the Słuck Kahał by the eighth (8) day of October. After the promulgation of the decree, because Mowszyna, not being content—

Not being content with this concession, she appealed to the own courts of the Most Illustrious Lord. Whereupon I, Starosta, allow the appeal.

Łukasz Kamiński
Starosta of the Duchy of Słuck and Kopyl

It is in the Records
Jan Czeczottowski

Decree

September 22, 1769
Extract from the Starosty Books of the Duchy of Słuck of the Decree in the matter of the entire Słuck Kahał with the Romanów Kahał and Rachela Mowszyna and her offspring

50 81

15. Fascicle: No. Add: Registry of decrees of the Castle of Słuck: Or the Słuck Treasury and Municipal Records

40 82

Year one thousand seven hundred seventy third, month of October, day nineteenth.

By the Ordinance issued by the Illustrious Lord Chernyshov, Colonel of the Russian Army, to me, the Starosta [district governor] of the Principality of Slutsk, for the hearing of Azik Wigdarovicz, Rabbi of Kopyl, brought against the Kahal [Jewish commune council] of the entire Slutsk Synagogue, concerning the Great Butcher’s Box (Korobka — a monopoly/tax on slaughtering facilities), leased and confirmed by a Kahal contract, on the first day of November, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five; which contract testifies to a sum of one thousand minted talers, anticipatedly paid out to the Kahal. A second contract for the same Butcher’s Box leased from the Kahal by the same Rabbi of Kopyl certifies a full sum of six hundred fifty Red Złotys. To inspect the matter and to resolve it decisively, both parties appeared, and the appearing parties caused no small amount of confusion to the Court.

For the sake of getting to the truth, I ordered each party to submit their claims in scriptis punctatim (in writing, point by point) to the Court. First, the points of Azik, Rabbi of Kopyl. He presented before the Court two contracts for the Great Butcher’s Box under the seal of the Kahal magistrates: the first for the sum of one thousand minted talers paid. The second contract for the sum of six hundred fifty Red Złotys; and as for the aforementioned sums given to the Kahal, the Rabbi kept the Great Butcher’s Box for two years; [he claims] that in those same years a significant death of cattle occurred and no small increase in the price of grain, due to which citizens were leaving the town; from whom the propinacja (liquor-selling rights) ceased, as did the reduction of currency; 4th: in the contract given by the Kahal, a condition was left [stating] that if, God forbid, an unexpected and sudden case occurred, the Kahal must compensate for the loss upon showing just proof; 5th: at the time of such a great cattle death, currency reduction and high prices in the city, the said Rabbi summoned the Kahal to the Court titulo (under the title) of the Jewish clergy to provide for the loss of him who held the Box; upon which the Kahal, having appointed a Rabbi with the addition of judges, issued a decree that they should designate a compromise within three weeks for the liquidation of his loss; which decree did not come to fruition. 6th: Regarding the replicated supplication by the Illustrious Lord Colonel Chernyshov; to Azik Wigdarovicz, so that the Jewish Slutsk spiritual court could judge this matter; the decision of which decree followed: that the Rabbi of Kopyl, formerly holding the Box, should produce two witnesses worthy of belief [regarding] the great loss he had in the Box, and upon proving it, [the Kahal] must compensate for all losses. To which I could not present witnesses, but I presented the registers of the Box, upon which I take an oath, and [it] also caused his own juris (rights) previously... having losses and defesa (defenses) in these years of more than one thousand four hundred seventy-eight. Ecom verso! The Kahal of Slutsk replied to the above-described and submitted points in the claims of Azik Wigdarovicz; as to the first point, for the sum of one thousand minted talers by the first contract, and for the second, six hundred fifty Red Złotys, he received [them] from the hands of the aforementioned Rabbi.

[The Kahal] acknowledges that for two years he held the Great Butcher’s Box in the aforementioned sum, to which the second point of the Rabbi of Kopyl’s claim agrees; and as to the 3rd, that the death of cattle was significant, and high prices and reduction of currency—this they recognize as real. However, the entire Jewish Butcher’s Guild stands by the claim that when the death of cattle was occurring, the cost of an animal to be slaughtered was at its lowest—fifteen, twenty head per day—and because of that, how could he have such a great loss, since the cheapness of the cattle and hides [benefited him]? As to the 4th point: even if the contract expressed a condition of 'great and significant' [loss], it does not follow that he had a loss through the death of cattle, but on the contrary, as the Butcher’s Guild testifies, he had great profit from the hides; as to the 5th: that he summoned the Kahal to the Court, and that is true, decrees were issued for a compromise to be sent, for the verification of the loss, and the decision could not be concluded because our spiritual court testified with its opinion that he did not have losses from the death of cattle; on the contrary, the hides remained at a high price; just as we citizens occupied in trade in former times gained not a little profit from the dead ones by buying hides; as to the 6th point: when the ordinance of the Illustrious Lord Colonel Chernyshov arrived, it directed the taking of this matter into our Jewish spiritual courts, and a decree was reached: that Azik Wigdarovicz produce two witnesses worthy of faith regarding his damage, and since he did not produce them, but rather offered to take an oath on his own registers, toward which we are closer to the execution of an oath as our religious decree testifies; the Jewish Butcher’s Guild confirms and puts forward the points that the aforementioned Azik Wigdarovicz had no losses on the Great Butcher’s Box. After having heard the controversies of both parties and the points submitted, this court decides so: that the current Kahal of Slutsk, in the persons of the Tribunal, [to be] taken as the nearest [entities] with the entire Jewish Butcher’s Guild as obvious witnesses who take an oath in the Kahal at the Jewish school before the opening of the Holy Ark, on this: that the aforementioned Azik Wigdarovicz, Rabbi of Kopyl, during the term of holding the Great Butcher’s Box, had no loss, but on the contrary, [had] a profit on the hides; on this: that at the time of the death of cattle and currency reduction, he did not lose a thing on the Box, but rather had a greater profit for himself. The day of the oath is set for the twelfth of the month of November of the year aforementioned, both to the party of the Kahal and to the witnesses of the Butcher’s Guild; and as the aforementioned Rabbi, seeking justice in so many courts, could not wait for a final decision—now in the Kahal, now in the Jewish courts titulo spiritual—led by delays, not making a final [decision], through which the aforementioned contractor came to significant poverty, incurring expenses along the roads and in the courts.

I adjudge by this decree that, after the executed decree and oath, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay for the expenses, the costs, and the expenses of pursuing his grievance to the aforementioned Azik Wigdarovicz, one hundred thirty Złotys without any further delay, as by law for one seeking justice for eight years, and pay this sum into his hands; having designated perpetuum silentium (perpetual silence) for both parties, I sign with my own hand. Dated in Slutsk, as above.

Bartłomiej Niepokoyczycki
Starosta of the Principality of Slutsk and Kopyl

From the Castle books of the Principality of Slutsk on the nineteenth day of the month of February of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, this decree is issued as an extract to the parti requirenti (requiring party). Dated in Slutsk.

(L.S.)

Concordat cum Originali (Agrees with the original).

Year one thousand seven hundred seventy-fourth, month of March, day third. Having stood personally at the Castle and Starosta Office of the Principality of Slutsk, the entire Kahal of the Slutsk Synagogue [appeared] in the case with Azik Wigdarovicz, Rabbi of Kopyl, regarding the decree issued. The same aforementioned Kahal appealed from that decree to the courts of the Most Illustrious Prince, the Lord Benefactor, to whom the appeal was admitted. Dated in Slutsk, I sign in faith.

Bartłomiej Niepokoyczycki
Starosta of the Principality of Slutsk and Kopyl

Such a decree, copied de verbo ad verbum (word for word) at the Office of the Principality of Kopyl, I sign in faith.

Jozef Kevlen
Clerk of Kopyl, mpp

Decree of Lord Alex. Rochli, in the interest of the Butchers. 1760.

1773. R. x. 19. 8bris.

Decrees of the Slutsk Castle, No. 410

June 10, 1765

Copy of a Decree issued by the Słuck Kahal against Leybi Meierowicz

Since it is known and announced to all that Leyb Meierowicz for some years stood before us as a lessee to the detriment of the whole city through his malice and lack of honesty, whose unjust deeds and the malice we suffered from him we cannot express in full, for paper would not suffice, and it is known that through him the whole city has perished, nor have we been burdened with taxes due to the Kahal, and because of him we have perished more and more for some years, he stood for our destruction through his quarrels, and we could never be wary of him. Since with his mouth he speaks kindness, but in his heart he harbors all malice, and from the time he sat in our city to live, he has forcefully ruled over all, and over the subjects who belong to us, and he is always quarreling, and with his tongue he stirs up fire between lords and between others, and he does not observe the Jewish religion and our statutes, and he judged unjustly as much as he pleased, as all has been manifested and shown before our Kahal. And what is greater, he dared to falsely assert under the Treasury provisions of His Serene Highness the Prince and Benefactor, during the time he held the Słuck lease, that he had decezu (losses) in the lease during the time the city was closed, during the inturszey (impositions/interrogations), through which he claimed damage of three thousand złotys. And it was shown by worthy witnesses that the sub-lessees who leased from him paid him in full according to the contract to the last grosz, although he had great decez (loss) because the city was closed, yet they had to pay him in full; and in the tavern, through the closure of the city, there could have been profit for him, since they could not leave nor could they dwell there, and the soldiers also drank in the tavern, so that even the sub-lessees paid him the lease in full according to the contracts. In addition to this, he unjustly robbed the subjects more than was due from them. As the sub-lessees brought their complaint with great wailing to our Dispatchers, and in addition to this, he had new inventions and great extortions from city householders and the poor who wailed before our Kahal, therefore, since he had to claim damage for the lease, we, seven Kahal members without colleagues, and with thirteen men, and with our Rabbi, and with the former Kahal members, sat down, thinking about the way in which one could clean the garden, that is, to judge the admonished Leybi according to his dishonest deeds, as it is right to punish him. And it is our decision to call this out against him and to announce it to all our gentry during the service, to curse him with a great Chayrem (excommunication) and to call him unclean, as expressed in the document—all the points as it was ordered to be proclaimed. And he is separated from the Jews, and indeed from all the eldership and the elections of our city, and under a great Chayrem, so that no one should dare to trade with him or hold any Kahal taxes jointly with him, as expressed in the document which they ordered to be proclaimed with all the points. And if the admonished Leyb does not yet repent and begins to quarrel again, or [threatens] any one of us who sat in this court, and because of him there will be an expense or any damage, then the Kahal must return to him all his expenses and costs, and we must all help to support this in all courts, whether in the Lord's court or in the Jewish court. And for the fact that he formulated unjust news and extorted our city householders and subjects, we were afraid to judge him until now and could not figure out how we could prevail over him, therefore we depart.

In another time we will seek from him everything that stood among our seven Kahal members and with thirteen men and with the former Kahal members and with our Rabbi, and to all our power we sign ourselves.

Ber, Rabbi of Słuck
Leyb Idelowicz
Ierko Jankielowicz
Hirsz Meierowicz
Jankiel Ierhowicz

Extract from the Castle Records
of the Vilnius Voivodeship.

November 27th, 1775

In the records of the Vilnius Castle Court: appeared personally the unfaithful Elkona Wolfowicz and Eliasz Hirszowicz, citizens of Slutsk and Elders of the Kahal (Jewish community council) of the same, who, with a specification of the sums owed by their Kahal to various monasteries of the dissolved Order of the Society of Jesus and now belonging to the Most Reverend Ignacy Massalski, Bishop of Vilnius, for payment, appeared before me, Krzysztof Koziełł, Regent of the Land and Castle of the Vilnius Voivodeship, and in their own name and on behalf of the entire Slutsk Synagogue ex persona sua (in their own person) they acknowledged, and having acknowledged, they ratified with their own manual signatures in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution of the Coronation Sejm of the year 1764, the tenor of which Talis (is such).

Specification of the sums owed by the Slutsk Kahal to various monasteries of the dissolved Order of the Society of Jesus and now belonging to the Most Reverend Ignacy Massalski, Bishop of Vilnius, for payment. To the Jesuits of the Slutsk Collegium, eleven thousand eight hundred sixty-eight zlotys. To the same for the Slutsk Seminary, twenty thousand zlotys. To the Jesuits of the Nesvizh Collegium, twelve thousand four hundred seventy-four zlotys. Also from Nesvizh, after Michael’s, one thousand four hundred sixty-four zlotys. Interest accrued to this date, one thousand three hundred sixty-eight zlotys. In total, according to the liquidation decree issued on July 21st, 1766, all sums belong to the present date, that is, November 23rd, 1775, calculated with interest at forty-seven thousand one hundred seventy-four.

Distribution of this sum over twelve years, beginning the payment of the first installment on St. Michael the Archangel’s Day in the following year, 1776, in the following manner: the total sum, that is, forty-seven thousand one hundred seventy-four zlotys, divided into twelve parts, results in one payment to be made by the Slutsk Kahal of three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy; specifically, interest at three percent of one thousand three hundred seventy-four zlotys. In total, in the year 1776, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay five thousand three hundred five zlotys, twenty groszy. For the year 1777, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for forty-three thousand two hundred forty-eight zlotys, ten groszy; in that year, it shall pay from this capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on this capital of one thousand two hundred ninety-seven zlotys, thirteen groszy; in total, in the year 1777, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay five thousand two hundred twenty-nine zlotys, three and a half groszy. For the year 1778, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for thirty-nine thousand three hundred seventeen zlotys, twenty groszy; in that year, it shall pay from this capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on this capital of one thousand one hundred seventy-nine zlotys, sixteen groszy; in total, in the year 1778, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay five thousand one hundred ten zlotys, twenty-six groszy; for the year 1779, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for thirty-five thousand three hundred eighty-five zlotys, ten groszy; in that

in that year, the Kahal shall pay from the capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on the same capital of five hundred fifty-one zlotys; in total, in the year 1780, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay four thousand nine hundred ninety-two zlotys, twenty groszy; for the year 1780, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for thirty-one thousand four hundred fifty-four zlotys; in that year, the Kahal shall pay from the capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on the same capital of nine hundred forty-three zlotys, fifteen groszy; in total, in the year 1780, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay four thousand eight hundred seventy-five zlotys, five groszy; for the year 1781, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for twenty-seven thousand five hundred two zlotys, twenty groszy; in that year, the Kahal shall pay from the capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on the same capital of eight hundred twelve zlotys; in total, in the year 1781, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay four thousand seven hundred forty-three zlotys, twenty groszy; for the year 1782, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for twenty-three thousand five hundred seventy-one zlotys, ten groszy; in this year, the Kahal shall pay from the capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on the same capital of seven hundred eight zlotys; in total, in the year 1782, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay four thousand six hundred thirty-three zlotys, twenty groszy; for the year 1783, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for nineteen thousand six hundred sixty zlotys; in this year, the Kahal shall pay from the capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on the same capital of five hundred eighty-nine zlotys, ten groszy; in total, in the year 1783, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay four thousand five hundred twenty-one zlotys; for the year 1784, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for fifteen thousand seven hundred twenty-eight zlotys, twenty groszy; in that year, the Kahal shall pay from the capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on the same capital of four hundred seventy-two zlotys; in total, in the year 1784, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay four thousand four hundred three zlotys, twenty groszy; for the year 1785, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for eleven thousand seven hundred ninety-seven zlotys, ten groszy; in that year, the Kahal shall pay from the capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on the same capital of three hundred fifty-four zlotys; in total, in the year 1785, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay four thousand seven hundred eighty-five zlotys, two groszy; for the year 1786, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for seven thousand eight hundred sixty-six zlotys; in that year, the Kahal shall pay from the capital three thousand nine hundred thirty-one zlotys, twenty groszy, specifically, interest on the same capital, two hundred thirty-five zlotys, fifteen groszy; in total, in the year 1786, on St. Michael’s Day, the Slutsk Kahal shall pay four thousand one hundred sixty-seven zlotys, five groszy; for the year 1787, the Slutsk Kahal will remain indebted for three thousand nine hundred thirty-four zlotys, ten groszy; this capital it shall pay in that year with interest, in total four thousand forty-four zlotys, twenty groszy.

Specification and notation with Jewish signatures in Hebrew, below the signatures of the Judges and Writers with these words: We, the Jews expressed below, for this register, for which we have power of attorney from our Slutsk Kahal for the completion for His Excellency the Bishop of Vilnius of the debts which belonged to the Jesuit College, we have therefore just agreed about this debt with His Excellency the Bishop of Vilnius for installments as expressed in this letter, and our Slutsk Kahal shall fulfill every installment as expressed in this letter, which for better faith we ourselves have signed with our hands in Vilnius. Elkona Wolfowicz, Eliasz Hirszowicz, Elders of the Slutsk Consultations, and personally... of the Jews Elkona Wolfowicz and Eliasz Hirszowicz of the Slutsk Consultations to this department of the sum of forty-seven thousand one hundred seventy-four Polish zlotys for twelve years to His Excellency Andrzej Ignacy Massalski, Bishop of Vilnius, given according to the law we have signed: Ignacy Gierałt Towiański, Sword-bearer of Brześć, Clerk to this specification of debts according to the law, Joseph Giedroyć Juraha, Prince of Oshmyany, which specification was acknowledged by the above-expressed persons and accepted and inscribed in the Castle Books of the Vilnius Voivodeship, from which this copy is issued under the official Castle Seal of the Vilnius Voivodeship to the party of the debtor.

L.S.

Corrected, Krzysztof Koziełł, Regent of the Land and Castle of the Vilnius Voivodeship.

Acknowledgment of the Specification of Debts owed by the Slutsk Kahal before the mentioned party.

November 27th, 1775

Copy of the extract from the Castle Books of the Vilnius Voivodeship = Specification of the Slutsk Kahal Elders, Elkona Wolfowicz and Eliasz Hirszowicz: securing themselves for 12 years - to pay the sum owed to Bishop Massalski - from the estates - after the Jesuits -

Elkon Wolin
Eliasz Hirszowicz

No. 25. bundle 18.

Register of what was spent in the matter with His Grace the Wojski concerning the interest with the Słuck Kahal, on various expenses from the beginning to the very end, for which my money was spent.

1. Whatever was lost on victuals, the carriage, and the horses during the Tribunal and on the way, I do not list here. Whatever I paid for myself and for Szmerko as well, besides this:

2. During the Inquisition taking place in Mir for one and a half weeks, I gave Szmerko one and a half minted Talers, which makes 12 złotys.

3. After the Inquisition, in a few weeks, we went with Szmerko to Nowogródek, where we stayed for five weeks at my own expense for food. For this, I gave the host for our victuals and for housing two Red Złotys and 20 Tynfs. There, they received a contumacious decree, with which decree we went to the Słuck Kahal, from which Kahal through the hands of my father, 5 minted Talers were given to Szmerko. Makes 40 złotys.

4. From there we went with the same decree to the Tribunal in Minsk, where we stayed in Minsk for seven weeks. There, to the host for the victuals of both of us and for lodging, I gave 9 minted Talers. Besides this, I paid Szmerko 1 minted Taler for every week. Which makes 7 minted Talers. For subvention 56 złotys.

5. After everything regarding the interest was finished, Szmerko asked me if I could give 10 minted Talers for his work and put them into the Słuck Register as if I had already given them. And the Kahal accepted this, which 10 minted Talers, being owed to me for silk and other things, I deducted, which makes 80 złotys.

This makes in ready cash given to Szmerko alone, besides the leasing for the year, 188 złotys.

Finally, when Szmerko supplicated to His Most Serene Highness the Prince, our benefactor, with a letter from the same Prince he went to His Grace the Castellan of Nowogródek, upon which letter, through execution, the Słuck gentlemen settled with Szmerko, and Szmerko provided them with a receipt at the office. What Szmerko took, I do not know, as I was not present at that time.

77 98

Słuck Kahal

Copy of the proclamation of the Cherem upon Leyb Meirowicz

48 47 99

The Kahal, with the Rabbi and the thirteen men and the past elders, makes it known that because Leyb Meirowicz of Nieśwież is tireless and has ruined whole towns, as is known and proclaimed to all, and he does not observe the Jewish religion, and furthermore his acts are such that they offend our Kahal, which we cannot express and announce publicly—as much as was confessed in the Kahal through testimony—therefore, Leyb Meirowicz is admonished in a curse and separated from the people of Israel; and further, he is separated from all positions of authority and from the community in our city. And every Jew among us must keep away from him and not stand close to him; he must keep a distance of four cubits from him. For the first three days, and if anyone stands close to him in these three days, then he [too is] in the same curse as he [Leyb] is himself. So that it is not permitted to any Jew to farm any Kahal tax together with this Leyb, and it is not permitted to farm any part [of the taxes] or any portion of a lease from him, nor is it permitted to any person to appoint Leyb as a bailiff [wurnik] in any lease, nor is it permitted to any person to be a guarantor [wiernik] for him in any deposit. And whoever should transgress any point of these points expressed above, as unfairly [or: according to the] policy, then he shall be in that same curse, separated from the Jews just as Leyb himself is, and all the curses that were expressed in our Bible and all the curses that holy Moses decreed shall fall upon the one who transgresses any of the points expressed above. Nor is it permitted to anyone to trade together with Leyb, and whoever would dare to give this Leyb any counsel toward legality, he too [shall be] in that same Cherem and curse. By the Cherem, we command every community official who shall be an official at any time and shall know of any person that he transgressed in the slightest point, that he must sit in the Kahal and punish that offender, and all the curses shall fall upon that transgressor, or [it shall fall] on any relative of his. And this Cherem with all its points must be recorded in the Kahal books. And those who wish to represent the Kahal or those who sat in judgment of this, when a copy of this Cherem is issued, the Kahal must provide a copy. And it was decided in our court that no one from the Kahal, or from those thirteen men, or from those past elders who sat in that court, shall defend anyone who would wish to violate or [illegible] in the slightest point expressed above, and this Cherem [shall be] upon such an offender or [upon those who were] not in the city at the time of the announcement… [the] Cherem in the synagogues [schools], and if it becomes known that anyone [is] acting against [it] in any slightest point, then [they] must… announce to all who sat in that court.

100

79

And that all are to gather together at the Kahal house, and [they are to] punish such a worthless person with all the [appropriate] measures; he who listens to our court shall be blessed.

That the proclamation of this Cherem was announced in the synagogues [schools] [Pr...] and the candles were extinguished on the tenth day of June in the year

Lu[r...]

48 80

Copy of the Attestation from the Słuck Kahał given to Leybko Mejerowicz regarding the Arenda.

101

The complainant Leybko Mejerowicz Levita [against] the August Kahał, just as they declared, for his fidelity and good service and more so for gratitude, before Us, the current Kahał elders and the Rabbi undersigned below, that they were to give him Thirty Red Złotys, just as the Spiritual Court knew about this and the Judges declared to Us with this Decree. We, the current Kahał, seeing him holding the Arenda (lease) of our City, honestly, steadily, not oppressing people, neither doing harm to anyone nor burdening [them], considering this [work] of his for Us as a reward [for] what should belong to Us, the whole Kahał, [in the form of] Taxes, various resolutions according to old custom, or [those] newly introduced hereafter, we release the same Leybko Mejerowicz Levita for Five Years, exempting [him] from all Taxes from the krobla (levy) and other Taxes that might arise, whether [imposed] with an oath under Cherem (anathema), or any artifice regarding the setting of Taxes, we release [him] from all this for Five Years, and these Five years, apart from the Arenda, are to be invariably exempted. Under this Condition, that the same Leybko discharge our Kahał from the mentioned Thirty Red Złotys, [so that he] would not demand or pursue it in any Court or Law, and no inferior court would judge it; therefore the same Leybko is to remain in observance and esteem as the highest and wealthiest according to our Statutes and Taxes. Which as we have resolved...

81 102

[They] resolved [and] acknowledged not only themselves, but also the Rabbi [was] accepted by Us for better confirmation, for which, for better faith and certainty, we sign ourselves.

4 February, Sunday, Year 5524.

Izrael Szewłowicz Rabinowicz.
Berko Leybowicz Ra…
Izak Iankielowicz Szewel Michelewi…
Aron Nachmanowicz
Izak Josefowicz
Hisen Leybowicz
Szloma Chaymowicz

December 2, 1699

Excerpt from the Main Tribunal Books of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania held in Nowogródek, in the year sixteen hundred and ninety-nine, on the second day of the month of December.

Before Us, the Chief Judges elected for the current year sixteen hundred and ninety-nine to the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the Voivodeships, Lands, and Districts, when the case of His Lordship Jakub Kazimierz Kijanowski, Cupbearer of Oszmiana, Rotmistrz of the Tribunal Infantry of His Royal Majesty of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, against the infidel Jews of the Kahals (Jewish community councils), cities, and towns of Wilno, Brześć, Grodno, Pińsk, and Słuck, being in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, came by order of the register for judgment, in whose name, on behalf of all the aforementioned Jewish Synagogues, His Lordship Stanisław Rudziewicz, Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, was called by a summons from the Plaintiff, asserting that whereas the Respondents, being coerced by the General Laudo (decree of the local nobility) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Constitution of the Sejm (parliament) of the near-past year, the currently concluded sixteen hundred and ninety-nine, by which it was established that the Respondents immediately pay the sum for the Tribunal Infantry of twenty-five thousand [złoty] per the assignment of the Illustrious Lord Marshal of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania quotannis (every year), and opposing this provision and the victorious authority of His Royal Majesty, they issued a letter to the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania contra legem positivam (against positive law) so that this sum would be paid to the District Collectors and not to the Illustrious Lord Marshal of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the Jewish poll tax, to which also the Respondent, His Lordship the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, aids these Jews in convulsionem constitutionis (in violation of the constitution) and forbids them from paying, with which the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania cannot sustain the infantry soldiers of the assistance, and thereby violating Sanctum property, recommending that, as the object and giving of this rescript in the Main Tribunal Court to the payment of the aforementioned sum by the assignment of the Illustrious Lord Marshal of the Tribunal as the fastest term, to be proven against the Respondents, the infidel Jews, regarding the alleged excesses.

And he entered into the testimony and the law, where the Plaintiff Zygmunt, upon the calling of the parties to the law by the General, accused [the defendants] by the power of law duly given to him for this case, and ratified, in the presence of the Plaintiff himself, as well as His Lordship Jan Jerzy Figehawicz, Advisor of the Poznań District. The Jews of Wilno, Brześć, Grodno, Pińsk, and Łuck, as well as His Lordship Stanisław Radzewicz, Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as they did not appear before us for the law, nor did they provide any notification to us, the Court, or to their opposing party. Consequently, this aforementioned patron of the Plaintiff submitted the written documents to the party of the Respondents—the first to the Wilno, second to the Brześć, third to the Grodno, fourth to the Pińsk, and fifth to the Łuck Kahals and Jewish Synagogues—through the General Piotr Synze, proving his statement was evident, before the Illustrious Lord Scribe of our Jewish and Tribunal matters, duly proven in the filed summons, and after the voice of triple calling of his party stated in the summons, having read it, as well as reading the complaint of his Plaintiff named to them, presented such a matter and cites before us, the Court, the assignatio of the Illustrious Lord Marshal of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with the date inserted therein, given to the Plaintiff. Upon the production of which, the issued summoned persons, Tokiewicz, not appearing for the law as legally disobedient, in the closed-off year, by the act of the aforementioned assignatio of the Illustrious Lord Marshal of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, consistent with the new Constitutions, as just and legally confirmed, and to be kept forever in force, the documents from the aforementioned ad male to the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania contra legem positivam by the Respondents, legally regarding the cancelling and annihilating. Meanwhile, for the insult and violation of the Constitution of the year [sixteen hundred] and twelve, renewed in the current ninth year, three hundred thousand Lithuanian kop (units of account), and of the sum belonging to the debt, twenty-five thousand złoty, as well as the damages and legal costs incurred in this matter, and regarding the failure to pay this sum and the interest accrued on it, three thousand three hundred twenty-five Polish złoty, against the summoned persons and all their property lying [there], tenements, stalls, trades, rafts, goods, vineyards, schools, things, [and] to not imprison them, but to [seize them] at markets, fairs, and wherever they shall be encountered, seizing their spiritual financial sums from whomever and wherever they may be, both them and in the military and treasury matter, [the Plaintiff] asked for their judgment, and for the indication of the same to the Plaintiff according to the Law of arbitration (compensation), and ex nunc for the infamis (infamous persons) and knowledge and evidence to publish and proclaim the issuance of the same judicial General, and as for the change regarding all the aforementioned property of the summoned persons of the aforementioned effective and immediate payment of the sum, as well as over the Respondents themselves by the Executioner, to all land or castle offices of those districts and voivodeships under which the property of the Respondents lies and the persons can be caught and detained, [the execution] of which he effectively requested, with the imposition of further legal penalties for us opposing this decree, speaking that His Royal Majesty and the Court in this case of His Lordship Jakub Kazimierz Kijanowski, Treasurer of Oszmiana, Rotmistrz of His Royal Majesty and the Infantry of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, assisting, taking into account that the elders of the Wilno, Brześć, Grodno, Pińsk, and Łuck Kahals, the cities of His Royal Majesty being in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and other Jews of all the aforementioned Synagogues, also His Lordship Stanisław Radzewicz, Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, being summoned before our Court by the summons declaratively expressed above by the Plaintiff, did not appear for the law. WE, the Court, declared them as disobedient to the law in the closed-off year. According to the law, such a subpoena and the identification of the Plaintiff’s patron, the assignatio of the Illustrious Lord Marshal of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, consistent with its new Constitutions, as just and legal, we confirm and forever keep under eternal duration of force. And the letter sent by the aforementioned gentlemen to the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, contra legem positivam, by the Respondents, we cancel and annihilate. Furthermore, for the violation of the Constitution of the year sixteen hundred [and] ninety-nine, the now happily finished Sejm, we [cancel]. Of the sum belonging to the assignment, twenty-five thousand Polish złoty, as well as the pledges for the non-payment of this sum, and for legal expenses newly incurred in this matter, the fee, to His Lordship the Rotmistrz, from every złoty, the interest coming to him, that is one thousand three hundred twenty-five Polish złoty, we assign, that namely given to us, and paid with interest, in total the sum of twenty-three thousand eight hundred thirty-five Polish złoty, on the summoned persons and all their property lying [there], movable, financial sums, wherever and with whomever they might be, tenements, stalls, rafts, carriages, trades, goods, [demanding] the aforementioned [to be captured], school sealing, and bailiffs, grabbing them at markets or fairs, or wherever encountered, the scarcity of them, and on the persons themselves, who as in the treasury and military matter, [we order] arrest to be established for coercion. Therefore, we give to the Plaintiff, His Lordship Kijanowski, Rotmistrz, having recognized them according to the law of co-equalization and now as infamously [guilty of infamy], we order to publish and proclaim the publication of this infamy of the Judicial General. And as for the change regarding all the aforementioned property of the Respondents and persons, for the just retaliation, we judge by this decree the sum, both for the infantry of horses remaining at the tribunal, as well as to His Lordship the Rotmistrz regarding the non-payment of this sum, the fee for the damages suffered thereby, namely for the thirty thousand seven hundred thirty-five Polish złoty of effective and inevitable execution, as well as over the persons themselves of the Respondents, by the Master of Execution to all Castles, Land, or Castle [offices] of those Voivodeships and Districts under which the property of the Respondents could be drawn and seized, of which the party has reserved for itself for this execution a new Clerk, to be fulfilled at the rest terms to our decree, [to pay] the asylum, and in the case of bringing in any office, that not His Lordship the Rotmistrz, but they themselves should be the [ones] and provide all expense to their Lordships the Officials, and pay, we order. Which condemnation, on the same day, that the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, His Lordship Rudziewicz, was arrested by His Lordship Jan Brzezowski, and after the cessation [of the case], when on the fourth day of the same month of December, the day passed, the General of our Court initiating [the process], Piotr Zywie, for the publishing of the infamy, doing the law and our decree, in the presence of many people of various conditions, infidel Jews of Wilno, Brześć, Grodno, Pińsk, and many Kahals, cities and towns of Districts and Districts settled, standing, and others [from] all the mentioned Synagogues of Jews, except [those] of the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, accused as infamously standing on a guard, and the outlaws he denounced and published and proclaimed, and in the Protocol of the Judicial Publication, the term and from the arrest register, as above mentioned on the fifth day of the month of December, recorded by the same His Lordship the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and on the ninth day of the month of December in the start of the process, when this community on the twelfth day of the month of December sat down with His Lordship Rudziewicz, Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, when by the calling through the General [of the] parties to the law, by His Lordship Kijanowski the Rotmistrz, his patron, His Lordship Jan Turof, [given] to him for this case, the third, appeared in it evidently, who stated the evident submission to the Respondent, His Lordship Rudziewicz, the letter of Piotr Żywie of the summons, the evidence of which was evident, before the Illustrious Lord Scribe of our Tribunal Courts, justly and legally proven, and having shown the content of the will of his party written on this summons, so that His Lordship Rudziewicz, Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, from this being that he wants to justly protect the Jews, [the Plaintiff] asked of us, the Court, for punishment, and [the Prosecutor] argued. The patron of His Lordship Rudziewicz, Pan Samuel Koreywo, provided to him for this case, standing personally, [argued] that they did not receive the rescript of His Lordship the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and do not have it, and are not ready to protect the Jews, whereupon he asked of us, the Court, for the acquittal of His Lordship the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from this action and complaint, and argued. The patron of His Lordship Kijanowski, Rotmistrz of His Royal Majesty, Pan Jan Jurak, from hand to hand argued that because the patron of His Lordship the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania does not lay down the rescript of protecting the Jews, therefore, the decree ferried the day before yesterday, that is the second of the month of December, already proclaimed by the General of our Courts, he asked of us, the Court, [for] confirmation and argued. In which matter, in the controversy between His Lordship Kijanowski, Rotmistrz of His Royal Majesty, and His Lordship Rudewicz, Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; because the patron of His Lordship the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania does not lay down the rescript ad mala narrata obtained, and does not have [the order] to protect the Jews, WHEREFORE WE, the COURT, having acquitted His Lordship Rudewicz, Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, from this attempted complaint brought by His Lordship Kijanowski, Rotmistrz of His Royal Majesty, and having canceled the condemnation obtained from the person of His Lordship Rudewicz on the day before yesterday, [but] having confirmed [the judgment] on the persons, all property of the Respondents, the Jews, [and] we warn that His Lordship the Prosecutor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania should not protect the Jews, and should not make any obstacles to the lawful execution on Jewish property, and this our decree ferried on the second day of the month of December, having confirmed it only on the persons of the Respondents, the Jews, we leave [it] to the execution on the property and persons of the Respondents, the Jews, except for the Nowogródek Jews [whom we leave out of] the privilege of freedom, and we allow, which case is recorded in the Main Tribunal Books, of which this excerpt under the Tribunal seal.

To His Lordship Jan Kazimierz Kijanowski, Treasurer of Oszmiana, Rotmistrz of His Royal Majesty, was issued in the year in Nowogródek.

Jan Tyszkiewicz, Scribe of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Marshal of the Lithuanian Tribunal m.p.
Thomas Fantoni and Company and Deputy of Troki m.p.
Jan Krzysztof Gaba, Cupbearer of Starodub, Deputy of the Wilno Voivodeship m.p.
Melchior Alexander Słomiej, Deputy of the Komiersk District m.p.
Stefan Jan Jurewicz, Land Scribe and Deputy of Oszmiana m.p.
Hieronim A. Gaba, Scribe of the Tribunal of Nowogródek, Grand Duchy of Lithuania m.p.
Andrey Kazimierz Wilbit, Deputy Judge and Deputy of the Lida District m.p.
Stanisław Michał Potrowski, Steward of Mozyr, Deputy of the Oszmiana District m.p.
Samuel Kazimierz Brzosłowa Kisiel, Steward and Deputy Voivode of Witebsk, Deputy of the same Voivodeship m.p.
W. Piotr Wołowicz, Chamberlin and Deputy of Pińsk m.p.
Samuel Jan Wojna Jasieniecki, Steward, Deputy of the Rzeczyca District m.p.
Bohdan Drucki, Deputy of the Pińsk District m.p.

Copy of the Tribunal Decree of Nowogródek issued with the Kahal Jews. Year 1699. December 2d.

Count: 12 pieces.

Content of the process regarding the non-payment of the Czopowe (drink tax) and Szelężne taxes for the Tribunal Banners of the GDL, and upon payment, the receipt of the same register of His Lordship Kijanowski. Ordinance of this infantry and payment from the Bar room and officials. Sum of Royal privileges of all Kahals of the GDL granted. And other Jewish documents.

His Lordship Fascicle 229: To Public Taxes

20 December 1697

Most Gracious Sir, Cup-bearer of Kalisz, my Much Respected Lord, Brother, and Benefactor.

Since it has been decided by the whole Council, being near us at this time, that the Tribunal Infantry should take the supplement from nowhere else but the Jewish poll tax, and adapting to Common Law, the Tribunal Decrees must be executed by forced means; but, possessing the great favor of Your Grace, [I] understand that it will take effect in this matter without delay. Relying upon which is Your Grace's humble servant.

Jakub Kazimierz Kijanowski, Podmistrz and Scribe.

I implore Your Grace so as not to trouble your favor, for which reason I am sending a copy of the mandate in as much as it is necessary for Your Grace's favor to have been retrieved from your treasury. Soldier.

AGAD
WARSZAWA

To His Grace, the Lord and Benefactor, His Grace the Lord Stanisław Niezabitowski, Cup-bearer of Kalisz, Governor of Puck.

May 10, 1699

We, the Tax Collectors of the Nowogrodzkie Voivodeship, named below and elected at the Candlemas Dietine in loco solito (in the usual place) by all citizens of the Nowogrodzkie Voivodeship gathered for this dietine and place, in this year one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine for the choosing of the Hiberna (winter quarters tax) from the Jewish and Tatar poll tax; we declare that, fulfilling the Common Law of Co-equalization of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the Polish Crown during the election and subsequent reign of the Most Serene August II, crowned King; as well as our function imposed upon us by the laudum (decree of a dietine) of the Nowogrodzkie dietine, by bringing to us the sum belonging to the Treasury for the payment of the army, the Jewish poll tax according to the receipt of the previous tax collectors and the oath taken by the Jews both of the city of Słuck as well as Starobin and Romanów according to the inventory made for one thousand heads, – that is to say having added to this the City of Słuck, Starobin, Romanów and various Keys: Pohostki (parishes), Seremicki, Micuaiemski, Starzycki, Wyzminski, Iwanski, Baskański, Orzechi, Nowodworski, Skawoszynski, Doroshli and what may belong to the Principality, and especially Hrozow and Koniuchy lying in the Nowogrodzkie Voivodeship as everything is expressed reliably in the past list of the Tax Collectors, stating the sum of one thousand Polish Złotych, excepto (except for) the heads of poor Jews living on alms and those not yet ten years of age, and exempted by the Constitution of the year 1676, we have received in full the one thousand Złotych, of which tax brought to us we issue a receipt, signing with our hands, for the same, both from the city of Słuck and from all the mentioned Keys.

9k Copy of the receipt for Jewish poll tax [from] the entire Moczadź [region] except Kopyła, given in the year 1699, May 10.

Thomarz Minkouski, Tax Collector of the Nowogrodzkie Voivodeship
Stanisław Połonski, Tax Collector of the Nowogrodzkie Voivodeship
Symon Michał Zubouski, Tax Collector of the Nowogrodzkie Voivodeship
Iukasz Minkouski, Tax Collector of the Nowogrodzkie Voivodeship

9 April 1699

We issue this our attestation to the City of Słuck, that we, having a commission from the Nowogródek Voivodeship for the audit of the inspection of the czopowe (excise tax on alcohol), szelężne (a minor tax), and losowe (a specific levy), as well as the Jewish and Tatar poll tax and other taxes of the Republic, did conduct an audit in that same City with its suburbs: Mynki, Kotły, Słodownia (malt house), and Sosi, as well as the Jewish poll tax, the receipt for which, bearing the signatures and seals of their Graces the Collectors elected for the past year of one thousand six hundred and ninety-eight, we have seen, and having inspected according to it, we found nothing more. Now we give this our attestation, that they shall have no difficulties from anyone regarding the audit this year concerning the czopowe, szelężne, and losowe taxes, as well as the Jewish poll tax; and to this we sign our names. Done in Słuck on the ninth day of the month of April in the year 1699.

Adam Michał Korsak
Podstoli (Sub-steward) of Rzeczyca, mpp

Jan Woll Leniewski
mpp

86
Copy of the Attestation of their Graces the Inspectors of the czopowe, szelężne, and losowe taxes, and also the Jewish poll tax, made in April 1699.

117

N 2 Fasc. 229 Duplo

Copy of the Decree offered in the Brest Kahal in the current year 1696, 10 September.

Since it has been shown that the summonses issued came out from the Brest Synagogue against those two men who served as elders, that is, one of those ancient ones who made elders, and the second from the current elders who are appointed, and these parties involved in the dispute chose before Our court to appear in their own person here before Us, sending no other, we give [this] without any tergiversation. Then these disputants, that is, Nochim Salmonowicz and Pinkas Michałowicz, were chosen. And now those disputing men arrived before Us, in whom they were chosen, therefore they did not stand and went into controversy, the Disputing Men against Eliasz Meierowicz who is one Elder of the Bielsk Kahal, for this: "For what did you issue a decree against Pinkas Michałowicz? Since he did not reside in the Bielsk Kahal, and there is no law as he arrived at Bielsk. And therewith he allowed himself much, that he had the will to make elders, and furthermore that he made himself a well-fed elder. And that they made three of those five Kahal officials according to kinship in the Sejm, and [about] other things not expressing that which was in controversy among them." Eliasz Meierowicz appeared, saying: "I do not have legal power from the Kahal to litigate with you, and not for that did I arrive, only now I ask for a register for the proceedings." And We, the Brest Kahal, give such a decision of ours: that Pinkas should not be an Elder, and that he should be removed from the eldership in the current year. And of those three who are from one lineage, that one of them should be removed from his eldership. And in the place of those two who were degraded, other two should be chosen, and this such that lots should be drawn according to custom.

And according to the custom of the Kahals, others should be chosen to the eldership. And two Jews who give a larger contribution, they are to belong also to the eldership; to all contributions, whoever will be decided among them, and they are to calculate among themselves in all contributions; not five elders, but seven should be elders. And if anyone were to interfere with our government, he ought to pay for the excess from his own treasury fifty minted thalers, and these monies are to be turned over to the Bielińsk Hospital. The opposite side is to indeed, through sending, through force and looting in our cities, threaten where it belongs, so that no blessing is given to them anywhere. And during the feast of Trumpets, that no one should be allowed to blow the horn, and that we command those who are settled in the Kahal that this excess must necessarily be extracted. And if those who belong to the Kahal do not extract it, then from their treasury they ought to pay, and through the curse upon the Hazan (cantor) and Szkolnik (synagogue beadle), that they should listen to those disputants according to our Decree, that those disputants shall command according to discretion and payment of damages, as also damages and costs, so that the penalty they do not change according to this Decree. And as quickly as those disputants arrive at the House of Gathering, the disputing side should make a deliberation there, those who belong to the choosing of the eldership, and that no one should dare to oppose. And for the reason that those two interfered before our court, they ought to pay those disputants twenty for the current expenses. Those disputants then have the power to select by all means, for this we warn from the current date, if any disputant transgressed against the Kahal, and the Kahal wishes to judge him.

And he surely, that I take before the Court of Governance, then he should deposit a certain pledge (blankiet) with the Szkolnik, therefore he should make no confusion, and so that there would be no damage. And this pledge which is deposited, the Szkolnik under our governance should return after having punished, that is, having cancelled, fearing no one the power of this our Decree.

Semoyła Hirszewicz
Zelman Ickowicz
Wulff Abramowicz
Marko Dawidowicz
Mates Jakubowicz

This Decree I delivered to the hands of the Bielsk Kahal, that is, on the sixteenth day of September in the year 1625, and I announced to them that immediately on the morrow they should act according to this Decree, and that for all damages and expenses they should pay as is expressed in the Decree. The next day the Kahal refused, that is, on the seventeenth day of September. We announce that they should immediately present all the decrees which they initially received, for we sent immediately after the Kahal to the Elders of the Brest Synagogue against this violence which is done to us according to our Decree, therefore we command you and announce that whichever decrees you have with you, you should submit to us, and if you do not return those decrees to us, then know that afterwards we will not give choice to those decrees, as we will act with God's help. And we give you [time] for deliberation: if you wish to act according to this our previous designated term, that is, on the Holy Day of November, we are ready to settle the obvious controversy. To be ready to deposit a pledge and the sermons according to the Synagogue Decree.

And for damages and expenses [the sum of] twenty Złotys for the proceedings. And if you do not give us everything and wish that it be a vain confusion from our side, then we must travel to the Synagogue for the proceedings on the Sabbath. We give a pledge to the Szkolnik for the excess and expenses according to the Synagogue Decree, and we announce to you that you should travel together with us, acknowledging a second and a third time. And that you should give us a copy of both the decrees and the proceedings according to which we might be able to clear ourselves. We announce to you two, that is, Szmoylo and Mordus, that you should immediately in your own person clearly [appear] for the inquiry, and if you do not stand for the inquiry, then the inquiry will be in absentia. And the Kahal submits one pledge for twenty-five Złotys, another for twenty–something Złotys, and for this, it announced to them. They gave an excuse to this, that is, Szmoyla, Mordus, and Szolom: "Let them give ready money to the mixture, and if not, then we order them to be cursed." That happened toward evening when they came to the school; on Saturday toward evening Mordus arrived in the conspiracies and brought a curse upon the Kahal, and Szmoyla stood where the service is held, which he did not allow to be held. Immediately a flurry happened in the school, and they quarreled among themselves, and the Kahal did not allow itself to be cursed. It only gave an excuse that we gave pledges that we are ready after the Sabbath to travel to the synagogue for the proceedings. And this all happened on Friday. And now on Sunday the eleventh day of September, Szmoyla and Mordus gave an excuse: "If the Kahal gives us ready money, that is, twenty Złotys for damages and expenses, and for the excess we give a pledge, and for the expenses, it came [to] that you give us twenty-five Złotys ready, then we are ready to travel together with you, and if not, then we will govern ourselves according to our decree, which we have." And the Kahal gave an excuse: "That we are traveling to the synagogue, and as they proclaim from the obvious controversy, so are we ready to fulfill." For which, for better testimony, I give my letter signed with my own hand.

Isaia Sodmowicz, Hazan and Wozny (Beadle/Court Usher)
Overseer of his Bielsk Kahal

402 123

Jewish Decree
from Brześć

N. 3 Fasc: 229 Suchich

103 124 59

21 November 1696

Gracious Benefactor,

As I have investigated that not only one Jew, Szmoyło Dowłoszyi, is accused by reason of a matter with the Bielicki Lakat, but several of them, as will be revealed from the Brześć Decree which they obtained against the Bielicki Lakat. For better documentation, I send [these] to Your Grace, as I suppose that even more might yet appear. Therefore, conforming to the will of Your Grace, which I was always ready to execute, and which now remains unchanged, I only await an order from Your Grace on how I am to proceed with them. With this, sending my deepest bow, I remain Your Grace’s Sir and Benefactor’s most humble servant.

Hrehor Jan Turzyn

N° 4 Fasc. 229 Suchod.

May, 1700

I, Jakub Kazimierz Pijanowski, Treasurer of Oszmiana, Captain of His Royal Majesty’s Selected Infantry in the Vilnius Voivodeship, make it known regarding the tax of the Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, belonging to the army payment designated and separated by the constitution at the recent past Sejm in the year 1699. But also by the decree of the Nowogródek Tribunal in the past year 1699, and by the complaint of the Great Kahał (Jewish community council) of the Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania occurring, they are to yield 25,000 złoty for the Tribunal infantry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which remains under my Captaincy. Thus, the Jews of the Słuck kahał, fulfilling of their own accord the Sejm law and the aforementioned Tribunal decrees regarding their tax payable by the Jews of the city and Principality of Słuck, accruing according to the assessment (abwirat) of the past 1698 Nowogródek year, and belonging to the payment for the current year 1700, gave ad rationem (on account) one thousand złoty and counted out in full to the owed Tribunal Infantry two hundred fifty złoty in coin. For the aforementioned Jews of the kahał of the city and Principality of Słuck, for now I issue a receipt by this right of mine, and when they provide the remainder of one thousand seven hundred fifty złoty in coin, I hereby declare that I shall give them a general receipt for the Słuck poll tax for the current year 1700, accruing according to their assessment, and at present I subscribe to this with my own hand in Nowogródek, May 1700.

I received this general receipt upon paying one thousand one hundred fifty złoty from Mr. Pijanowski, Captain of the Selected Infantry.
Stanisław Kiełbitowski

I also gave another two hundred fifty złoty for this poll tax coming from the Słuck Jews for the year 1700, and I received a receipt from the Captain for five hundred złoty, having cancelled the first receipt given for one thousand one hundred fifty złoty.
Stanisław Kiełbitowski

January 27, 1700

Copy of the sum of the Honorable Mr. Baranowski, Treasurer of the Tribunal of the Commonwealth, for 500 florins of the debt of the main Mielich given as instruction.

AGAD
WARSAW

No. 5 Fascicle: 229 Mielich

106 64 127

In the year one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine, on the nineteenth day of the month of December.

Extract from the Main Tribunal Books of Perpetual Cases conducted in Nowogródek.

Before Us, the Main Judges elected for the Tribunal in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the Voivodeships, Lands, and Districts for the present year one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine. Having personally appeared in the Court, the Honorable Alexander Hordzieiewski, Sword-bearer (Mieczny) of Ashmyany (Oszmiana), presented and submitted for registration the Ordinance of the Tribunal Infantry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, written and established by us, the Court, for the Honorable Jakub Kijanowski, Captain (Rotmistrz) of this Infantry, privileged by His Royal Majesty, our gracious Lord, the tenor of which Ordinance sequitur talis (follows as such). The Ordinance of the Tribunal Infantry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, following the resolution of the Constitution of the year one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine, that every year twenty-five thousand [units of currency] of the Poll Tax (Pogłówne) from the Jews of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania should go to the hands of the Honorable Tribunal Captain, made in Nowogródek during the Tribunal Sessions in Nowogródek, so that the present Captain, the Honorable Jakub Kijanowski, may know how he is to proceed with this sum and the Tribunal Infantry Anno Millesimo Sexcentesimo Nonagesimo Nono (in the year one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine), on the thirtieth day of November. First, according to the will of the resolution of the Commonwealth, we decree that, apart from the person of the Honorable Kijanowski himself, the Tribunal Captain, and the Honorable Lieutenant and the Banner-bearer (Chorąży), for whom one hundred infantrymen were effectively intended, for whom we make such disposition of funds (barwa — here meaning uniform/livery et caeterorum dispositio — and other arrangements) from said sum permitted by the Commonwealth: For every infantryman (Pacholtek) for a coat (żupan), six ells of cloth, for a jacket (katanka), five ells, for trousers (szarawany), three ells; there should be fourteen ells of cloth for each, calculating the cloth at three and a half złoty (the Honorable Captain is to strive for a good quality of the same), makes forty-nine złoty per infantryman, makes for one hundred men, four thousand nine hundred złoty. Linen under the jacket for each, eight ells at twenty grosz each, makes five złoty and ten grosz per person, and for one hundred, five hundred thirty-three złoty and ten grosz. For linen below the żupan for each, at two złoty, two hundred złoty. For one hundred belts of noise (Hałas), half an ell twice over, makes for one hundred belts…

…ten for himself, gaiters (Sołtice) at half a taler each, three hundred złoty, one hundred magierech (traditional headgear) at two złoty each, two hundred złoty. For service fees (pohołdry) for each barwa, five złoty, five hundred złoty; for each infantryman's retainer (dawca), three złoty, three hundred złoty. We order the pay (lenung) [to be] thus: for ten decurions (Dziesiątnik) and two signalmen (zawieracz), who should only be distinguished by the color of their barwa and should be with spears, not muskets, we increase the higher pay to two złoty and seven and a half grosz per person each week; this makes twenty-seven złoty for twelve [men] per week, and for the whole year of fifty-two weeks, makes one thousand three hundred and four złoty. For eighty-eight simple infantrymen at two złoty each, it makes one hundred seventy-six złoty of pay per week, and for the whole year of fifty-two weeks, makes nine thousand one hundred and fifty-two złoty. Facit (makes) seventeen thousand four hundred eighty-nine złoty and ten grosz. For boots for each, every quarter of a year, three złoty, makes twelve złoty per year, and for one hundred infantrymen, one thousand two hundred złoty. Having thus arranged the men, we proceed to the officials. The Honorable Jakub Kijanowski, Tribunal Captain, and his successors are to see to it that these men are always under the authority of the Tribunal and its Marshal, so that (God forbid) for any offense, the Tribunal has authority over him as a Hetman has over a soldier, for which reason he should not be dependent on anyone but the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Tribunal Marshal, and when the Tribunal finishes, he is to remain under the command of the Marshal until the new Tribunal Mace comes into office. Having thus assigned the said Honorable Jakub Kijanowski, Tribunal Captain of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, five hundred portions of barwa, conforming to the Tariff of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, [and having] given twelve portions as the military custom dictates, we decree that for each portion, calculating according to the Tariff at two hundred złoty, it makes two thousand four hundred złoty per year. He is to choose a Lieutenant according to his own will and pleasure, conforming to old customs, the Honorable Captain, provided he is a well-settled nobleman. Qualitimus (that quality be established) so that in the absence of the Honorable Captain, he may occasionally condignè (fittingly) represent the honor of the Tribunal, and so that from his person and appearance there is someone to call a Lieutenant. In this, we command the Honorable Captain to also look for steadiness and resolution in whom he will confer this station. Thus, for the Lieutenant, we designate six portions, making one thousand two hundred złoty per year. To the Banner-bearer, having given him a barwa of a different and better quality than the simple infantrymen, to be measured so that it amounts to two portions from both the barwa and the pay. If the Banner-bearer is dependable, even if he gives [it] to him grazem (altogether), provided he sees to the barwa first; if he is not dependable, then distribute it for pay; yet he must be measured so as not to exceed two portions, for whom we assign four hundred złoty per year. For a drummer and a little drummer, we also assign two portions, four hundred złoty. The total expense of the thus-ordained sum is twenty-three thousand sixty-nine złoty and ten grosz. There will still remain a remainder from the twenty-five thousand with the Honorable Captain of one thousand nine hundred and ten złoty and twenty grosz; this remnant the Honorable Captain should account every year before the liquidation of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on the [appropriate] day and month, as to whether there is a need for the restoration of equipment, matchlocks, sabers, cartridge pouches, axes, drums, etc., and also for powder, as is needed now, to immediately lay costs for the purchase of matchlocks, cartridge pouches, axes, and sabers, because there are only eighty muskets, and he says he borrowed forty from the Master of the Kitchen (Kuchmistrz). He should demand [the return of] those standing, it is enough if there is all equipment for one hundred infantry, because for everything he has spent, he should show the accountants [the receipt] proven by records and receive a receipt. And if there is money left, then at the disposition of the Tribunal, either for the satisfaction of good, sober infantrymen and those wishing to keep the service steadily, or as the will of the Tribunal shall be, the Honorable Captain and the Captains succeeding the Honorable Kijanowski shall be obliged to use it. We promise to this same Honorable Captain, with kind admonition, that he shall diligently watch over and recommend the same to his own Lieutenant, so that by these men under his command, no soldiering, bullying in the markets, by the gates, in the suburbs, may occur, as well as theft, taking things from passersby and peasants, because they have their own sufficientia (subsistence) established by the Commonwealth, for which [they are] to punish the infantrymen with rods heavily, and if he does not correct [it], then [he is to] report to the Tribunal Court or the Honorable Marshal, that they will be punished with criminal punishment. And if this were proven against the Honorable Captain himself or his Lieutenant, that it happens by their will and ordinance, then they lose their rank and pay with their noble honor. And the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania shall appoint another Captain. At the beginning of each Tribunal, on the twelfth day of May, if a Sunday or holiday does not hinder, a review shall be conducted in Vilnius before the Honorable Deputies appointed from the Circle, and the second review in Nowogródek or Minsk, also on the twelfth of November, where it will be or all will be managed for the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by the Honorable Captain, as well as a faithful home.

If any soldier has been wronged in any way and if he has received everything according to this ordinance of the Commonwealth, the Honorable Captain must strive for the infantry to be complete, because such is the will of the Commonwealth, and in addition, that he will certainly have to compensate for this; if there is a defect in men, it will not be accepted from the Honorable [Captain]. Also, if the clothing was not discharged according to this ordinance, or if inferior cloth was purchased, he will have to return it all, since he took responsibility for it at the review, for it is free for the infantrymen to [complain] and when the infantrymen prove it, the Honorable Captain will have to compensate or return [the excess]. The flight of infantrymen should not be accepted as an excuse for the Honorable Captain, because he must have them known, not only by [the list of] men, but also [must maintain] the usual military severity in their [deeds], that is, publicly. However, this is for Baskrałongowa Service. Having returned all equipment with the earned barwa, it is free to thank. If he has only done his duty according to the ordinance, he will have no obligations. No infantryman is to resign from service to the Honorable Captain, except after the Tribunal conducted in Minsk or Nowogródek. And the year of service is to begin always on New Year's, meaning that the Honorable Captain will have enough time to enlist new infantrymen before the new Tribunal. If the Honorable Captain has an obstacle from the Jews regarding the handing over of the sum, he should, upon notification to the Honorable Tribunal Marshal, take action so that they are summoned by the Instigator's instance and execution be made by the Office during those same days. If, however, after the Tribunal, the Jews oppose the will of the Commonwealth, then the Honorable Marshal, until he gives order, authoritatem suam interponet (will interpose his authority) for the deposit of this sum. When they are sewing the barwa, [it should be done] such that the cloth is neither stolen nor reduced, as much as becomes of the cloth, [it is] to be done according to the proportion of the person of each, so that the infantryman may be found in his garments and not be disappointed while standing on watch and while conducting the Tribunal's [duties]. If the Honorable Captain is to observe anything of this sort, so that his own conscience may be admonished that when [the infantry] goes to the inn for any excess, the watch shall go, [that] there be no robbing of the innkeeper, but having taken what one owes for [the damage] if it is proven from his own innocence, and when [an individual] is running away from the guard, so that everything is returned to him intact without demanding an excess beyond the law under penalty of paying from his own salary; the Honorable Captain must observe this. Immediately upon a complaint reported to the circle [the soldier] released from the arrest, the court is to be without any excessive delay, only by a verbal ban made, and the return of what was taken is ordered cum pœna arbitraria contra delinquentes (with arbitrary punishment against the offenders). We also observe in the Honorable Captain that he, too, shall reach the courts.

The Tribunal must swear in our circle that from the beginning of the Tribunal until the end, he always had the Banner for the service of the Tribunal in complete [strength] and that in everything he satisfied this Tribunal Ordinance. We sign this, our Ordinance, with our own hands, having given it [for entry] into the Tribunal Acts immediately; we declare that extracts from the power given to this deputy in need for giving information in the District should be given. And the Honorable Deputy of Vitebsk and Minsk should activate their extracts in their Tribunal books, God willing, when the Tribunal opens, so that in every place following these acts, the Tribunal may have knowledge and information as to how they are always to proceed with the Honorable Captains and this Tribunal Banner, so that the expectations of the Commonwealth do not perish, and so that the Tribunal in these fully equipped men would not be disappointed. To which Ordinance we sign with our hands. Done in Nowogródek, in the Year of the Lord one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine, in the month of November, on the seventeenth day. The signatures in this Ordinance are as follows. Of the Illustrious Honorable Marshal, as well as the Illustrious Honorable Main Judges of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Jan Tyzenhauz, Scribe of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Marshal of the Lithuanian Tribunal. Stefan Jan Pizien, Land Scribe and Deputy of the Oszmiana District, as delegated from the Circle, I sign to this Ordinance; Andrzej Kazimierz Wołłowicz, Deputy Judge and Deputy of the Lida District. Jan de Campo Scipion, Grod Scribe and Deputy of Lida, manu propria (by his own hand). Jakub Bennet, Deputy Court Starosta and Deputy of Braslaw. Krzysztof Butler, Deputy Starosta of the Duchy of Inflanty, Grod Judge and Deputy of the Braslaw District. Tomasz Pawłowicz, Master of the Hunt and Deputy of the Trakai Voivodeship. Zygmunt Alexy Buchowiecki, Deputy of the Grodno District. Medeksta Alexander, Mayor of the Palace and Deputy of the Łowiczyński District. Antoni Trzywłowski, Mayor of the Palace of Płock, Deputy of the Łowicz District. Hieronim Zołkiełła Putyna, Starosta and Deputy of the Minsk District. Kazimierz Rutkowski, Vice-Steward, Deputy of the Mazyr District. Franciszek Laudański, Deputy of the Duchy…

…of Samogitia. Karol Stanisław Lewelski, Mayor of the Palace and Deputy of the Smolensk Voivodeship. Alexander Lettow, Marshal of the Starodub District and Deputy of that District. Michał Leon Pereswiet Sołtan, Chamberlain and Deputy of Starodub. Hieronim A. Żaba, Mayor of the Palace of Mstislavl, Tribunal Scribe of Nowogródek of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Andrzej Michał Mirski, Cupbearer of Braslaw, Deputy of the Nowogródek Voivodeship. Kazimierz Przecławski, Vice-Steward and Deputy of Slonim, Starosta of Biała. Jan Krzysztof Bielański, Commissioner and Deputy of the Vawkavysk District. Samuel Kazimierz of Brzustów Kisiel, Starosta of Wyżegród, Mayor of the Palace and Deputy Voivode of Vitebsk, Deputy of the same Voivodeship. Stanisław Michał Piotrowski, Mayor of the Palace of Mazyr, Deputy of the Orsha District. M. Piotr Wołłowicz, Chamberlain and Deputy of the Mstislavl Voivodeship, manu propria. Alexander Józef Uniechowski, Land Judge and Deputy of the Minsk Voivodeship. Franciszek Wołodkowicz, Deputy of the Minsk Voivodeship. Jan Judycki, Deputy Judge and Deputy of the Rechytsa District. Samuel Jan Woyna Jasieniecki, Mayor of the Palace, Deputy of the Rechytsa District. Which Ordinance, having been submitted to the Main Tribunal Books of Perpetual Cases, is accepted. From which this extract is issued.

Under the Seal of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, of the Nowogródek term, to the Honorable Stanisław from Niezabytów Niezabytowski, Cupbearer of Kalisz, it is issued in Nowogródek.

Hieronim A. Żaba
Scribe of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Nowogródek

Horbowski

Ordinance of the Tribunal Infantry of the G.D.L.

[The text repeats the list of Deputies and the Scribe's signature from the previous page]

Hieronim A. Żaba m. p.
Scribe of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Under the seal of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, of the Nowogródek term, to the Honorable Stanisław from Niezabytów Niezabytowski, Cupbearer of Kalisz, it is issued. Written in Nowogródek.

Ordinance of the Tribunal Infantry of the G.D.L.

Tribunal Extract from Nowogródek of the Ordinance of the Tribunal Infantry issued from the officials thereof in the year 1699, December 19th.

Main Archives of Old Acts

No 6. Fasc. 229 Rudnik

Augustus the Second by the grace of God King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Samogitia, Masovia, Livonia, Podolia, Podlachia, Volhynia, Hereditary Duke of Saxony, etc., etc., Elector.

135

To the noble Stanisław Protasowicz, Michał Osieyta, and Ludwik Małuszycki, collectors of the Nowogródek Voivodeship Jewish and Tatar poll-taxes. Jakub Kazimierz Kijanowski, our Captain of the Tribunal Infantry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, has complained to us at His Main Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. That while in the current year 1709, on the 20th day of the month of March, the above-mentioned collectors of the Nowogródek Voivodeship arrived in the city of Slutsk of the Most Illustrious Princess of Neuburg, Countess Palatine of the Rhine, and took the poll-tax for the year 1708, that is, sixty thousand and seven hundred, from the Slutsk Jews according to the Law. From which thousands they have brought under assurance to the treasury of our Tribunal Infantry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania five hundred złoty, and received a receipt for this money under the signature of the hand of the complainant. Which receipt the complained-against collectors of the Nowogródek Voivodeship possess, having received the five hundred złoty and having taken a second five hundred złoty in cash from the same Slutsk Jews, and gave a receipt for the collection to the same Slutsk Jews, having promised in that same receipt of yours that the aforementioned five hundred Polish złoty taken by you from the Slutsk Jews would not be given to anyone else, but only to the complainant, as Captain of the Tribunal Infantry, or to one sent by him according to the laudum (resolution) of the Nowogródek Voivodeship. And later, violating this receipt-document of yours, you did not pay the aforementioned five hundred złoty into the hands of the complainant; on the contrary, you used the money for your own benefit and personal use, giving nothing to the complainant, bringing about significant losses and damages, through which you have fallen into legal punishments and the guarantees described in your receipt. Therefore, to pay these five hundred złoty unjustly withheld by you, to pay the summons to reward for the legal damages and losses, the complainant Kijanowski, our Captain of the Tribunal Infantry, summons you, the Nowogródek collectors of the Jewish and Tatar poll-tax. Therefore, we order you to appear in person before our Main Tribunal court in Vilnius, in the current year, upon the service of this terrestrial summons and the expiration of the legal term for it, when the case falls from the Judicial Register, as if on a peremptory day, to justify yourselves against the complaint of the complainant, the plaintiff, which will be proven at the time of the Law as being just. Written in Vilnius, Year 1709, on the 20th day of the month of December.

Membran Napoczęs
Ziemski Wilenski

115. 136

I, the General, His Grace, expressed below by the signature of my hand, testify by this my writing that in the present year 1700, on the [blank] day of the month of May, in the presence of the noble lords aforementioned, I manifestly delivered into their hands one copy of a summons of the parties, three in agreement and joined, to His Grace Pan Stanisław Protasevicz, the second copy of this same summons to His Grace Pan Michał Oskierka, and the third copy of the same summons to His Grace Pan Ludwik Makowiecki, collectors of the Nowogródek Voivodeship Jewish and Tatar capitation tax, being at that time in Nowogródek, and they were delivered into their own hands, serving the summons to the very persons expressed in the lines, now described in the content of this summons, justifying to you His Grace Pan Kazimierz Kirianowski, Rotmistrz [Captain] of the Pinsk Gentry, of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The term for the trial for both parties before the illustrious lords of the Tribunal sitting in assembly in Vilnius in the present year, after the delivery of this summons and after the legal term has been assigned to it, when the case from the Court Register falls due and shall be called for both parties, which I have brought to acquaintance.

In the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-Five, on the first day of the month of February.

Upon the complaint of the citizens, merchants, craftsmen, and residents of the City of Her Serene Highness of Słuck, as well as various guests and merchants, both Christian and Jewish, arriving from foreign towns and townlets, it has been brought to me that various inconveniences are being presented by the Jewish Elders of the Słuck Kahał (communal board), and that through this, they discourage them from frequenting the City of Słuck and from trading with Christian merchants and craftsmen of Słuck. Upon the evident testimony of the Christians, citizens, merchants, craftsmen, and residents of Słuck, as well as the arriving Jews themselves complaining, and having heard the counter-arguments and grievances of the Jewish Elders of the Słuck Kahał who justify themselves in this accusation, I recognize and decree by the authority in the name of Her Serene Highness, that henceforth the Jewish Elders of the Słuck Kahał shall not dare to take into their own treasury from the money of the Jews arriving in Słuck from foreign towns, for which they will be acquiring and buying goods from Christians in Słuck, any amount exceeding fifteen grosz per one hundred złotys for the Kahał contribution. All visiting merchant Jews shall be free to purchase any goods they wish from Christians and Jews according to their own preference, and in this purchasing, the Jewish Elders and no member of the Słuck Kahał shall hinder them, or disturb them by any pretext or contrived means from the free trade of all goods from Christians and from trading with Christians. And if they were to take more than fifteen grosz per one hundred złotys for the contribution, or forbid visiting foreign Jewish merchants from frequenting Słuck, or prohibit them from buying goods from Christians, or—

should they, concerning these mentioned matters, harass them, summon them to their court, excommunicate them, or forbid social contact with those Jews, then for every such change and transgression of this our will, the Słuck Kahał shall pay, as often as they are found in this and are forewarned, Six Thousand minted Talers to our Treasury. And so that they may pay what they are required to pay in Lipsk [Leipzig] and wherever else in foreign cities at a rate of three złotys per one hundred złoty to the Jewish Treasury, they are required to pay the same to them because they belong to an equal burden; and standing negatively in other charges, they brought their case to the jurisdiction for resolution. Therefore, we order the foreign Jews that, in the course of fifteen weeks from today’s date, they must bring official attestations from their towns, that is from Lwów, from Łuck, from Brody, and from other Jewish Kahałs, that they indeed pay that same rate of fifteen grosz per one hundred złotys to their Jewish treasuries, just as others pay. And they are permitted to buy from Christians as well as from Jews without any hindrance or annoyance. And if they should not produce such attestations by the intended deadline, then for the purpose of releasing the Słuck Jews from these objections, and regarding the Kahał, [I provide] past determinations, of which so that the city of Słuck as well as the neighboring merchants may know, we issue this decree with our signatures, under our seals. Dated: in Słuck, as above.

Stanisław Nieczuy Locus
Podstoli of Podlasie, Kasztelan of the Seal
Concordat Cum Originali

In the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred

Month of May, the Seventh Day

Before Us, the Chief Judges elected for the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the Voivodeships, Lands, and Districts for the present year 1700. When, by the order of the Register, the case fell for adjudication between His Grace Jakub Kazimierz Mianowski, Treasurer of Oszmiana, Rotmistrz (Captain of Cavalry) of His Majesty’s Infantry assisting the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the infidel Jews of the Vilnius, Brześć, Grodno, Pinsk, and Słuck Kahals, being of His Royal Majesty’s Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as well as all other Jewish Synagogues, based on the summons brought forth by the Plaintiff, promising to fulfill to the Decree of the Chief Tribunal Court handed down in the past year 1699, on the 2nd day of the month of December in Nowogródek against the accused Jews, to fulfill this Decree, to surrender and pay the sum of 30,835 Polish zlotys, upon the Vilnius, Brześć, Grodno, Pinsk, and Słuck Kahals, upon their persons, and upon all property both lying and movable, sums due, wherever and with whomever they might be, adjudged to the Plaintiff by this Decree, and to subject them to the approbation of this Decree and the infamy expressed therein together with everything described therein, and to accuse them of repeated infamy, upon seizure and confiscation: likewise, to bind through the Decree of Our Court, the infidel Lithuanian Jews to pay the poll tax per the Constitution, according to the repartitions made among themselves from the five Kahals in posterum (in the future) to His Grace the Rotmistrz, who claimed damages, expenses, and other legal costs.

At the term specifically appointed, and earlier by General Summons of the parties to Law, the Attorney for the Plaintiff, His Grace Mr. Zamoyski, submitted the legal matter given to him and orally presented by Mr. Bonifacy Milewski, summoning one and all. And the summoned infidel Jews did not appear, nor did they provide any notification to the Chief Court regarding their non-appearance from their side. Consequently, the aforementioned Attorney for the Plaintiff presented an execution against the accused infidel Jews, the elders of the Vilnius, Brześć, Grodno, Pinsk, and Słuck Kahals, to the General Seym here in the city of Vilnius, jointly departing from the Register through General Piotr Zonka, with the testimony of the summons of the five parties having been made before His Grace the Land [official] of Vilnius and entered into our Court records, proving it honestly and lawfully, and accusing them by diligent pursuit, adding the complaint of his principal expressed in the written narrative into the Register and submitting it as not having been written too late, and for proof of the same, they produced and read before Us, the Court, the Decree of the Chief Tribunal Court handed down in the past year 1699, on the 2nd day of the month of December, for the Plaintiff against the accused infidel Jews of all the Vilnius, Brześć, Grodno, Pinsk, and Słuck Kahals and all other Israelites in the G. D. L., in Nowogródek. Which Decree, due to the non-appearance of the summoned infidel Jews, condemned them to infamy, ordered their seizure as in causa fieri (as in a cause being performed), and adjudged the entire sum of 30,835 Polish zlotys against the sued infidel Jews of the Vilnius, Brześć, Grodno, Pinsk, and Słuck Kahals and against all their goods and properties, lying and movable, tenements, houses, stalls, trades, goods, shipping, leases, sums due, wherever and with whomever they might be, to the Plaintiff, and for the satisfaction of this sum, submitted it to all Land and Castle Offices, as the Chief Tribunal Court Decree expresses more broadly and sufficiently; upon the production of which Decree, and noting the default of the summoned infidel Jews who were disobedient to the law in the past year.

Therefore, we confirm this Decree of the Chief Tribunal Court from the past year 1699, dated the 2nd day of December, handed down in Nowogródek between the Plaintiff and the accused infidel Jews as justly and lawfully rendered, with all the content and matters expressed therein, confirming all the infamy accused by this Decree, and confirming for the complainant the sum of 30,835 Polish zlotys, [plus] the interest for losses incurred through the failure to pay this sum, and a second payment of thousands...

...zlotys: as justly and conscientiously given against the accused persons and upon all their property, lying and movable, tenements, houses, stalls, trades, goods, shipping, [illegible], wherever and with whomever they might be, freeing their goods, and by seizing the persons themselves wherever found, for imprisonment, at markets, fairs, and wherever encountered, and by pillaging the goods of the very same accused infidel Jews deemed infamis (infamous), for a second infamy, for life, and for seizure, provided that on the day they are acknowledged according to the Law of Cæquationis Jurium Comuni (Equality of Common Rights) and the publication of this infamy, by the General Court’s issuance and ordering, henceforth on all the above-mentioned properties of said Jews, for the sum described by the Tribunal Decree, the accused, and now newly incurred costs, effectively enforcing this without regard for any defense, protection, or shield from anyone, preserving the maintenance [of this] against the persons of the accused themselves by the executioner on their cards, to all Land or Castle Offices of those Voivodeships and Districts under which the goods of the accused are situated, and where they can be pursued and caught, and which the party will choose to use, with a mandate to the officials to respect the decrees, and [nothing] shall be given to protect their further legal efforts, importat iurim (it imports the laws), so that all Jews, according to the repartitions made among themselves, under the Połmistrz (Commander) designated by the Constitution, the sum for the benefit of the Tribunal School of Vilnius shall be paid, [illegible].

Thus, We, the Judges, in this case of the honorable Jakub Kazimierz Mianowski, Treasurer of Pinsk, Commander of the Jewish Seym of the G.D.L., assisting against the infidel Jews of Vilnius, Brześć, Grodno, Pinsk, and the Starost Kahals and Synagogues in the cities of His Royal Majesty and the G.D.L., and the seniors of the aforementioned Synagogues, for the aforementioned reasons, as the accused infidel Jews summoned before us did not appear for Law, We, the Judges, deeming them disobedient to the Law, [and referring to] the Decree of the Chief Tribunal Court from the past year 1699, December 2nd, formed in Nowogródek with the accused persons, which act considered and confirmed the legal sum with all effectiveness, decreed the infamy for the crime without violating the form of power, and we hereby unseal, and condemn by this Decree to the sum of 31,835 Polish zlotys, and for each for legal expenses newly incurred in this case 1,500 zlotys, and with the entered sum and there given to us cum lucris (along with profits), having paid this entire sum of 31,832 Polish zlotys upon the named accused and upon all their property and goods, lying and movable, houses, tenements, stalls, trades, goods, shipping, and rivers, with whomever they might be, by seizing the persons themselves for imprisonment, and by pillaging their houses, there at markets, fairs, and wherever encountered, by pillaging the goods [and] the persons themselves of the accused infidel Jews of Vilnius, Brześć, Grodno, Pinsk, and all Kahals, as infamis for a second time, and henceforth we accuse them, having recognized them as infamis for the second time according to the Law of Cæquationis Jurium Comuni, we order the publication of this infamy to be issued and published by the General Court, and as upon all and over the goods of the summoned persons, we have stood by the sum indicated by the Decree of the Chief Tribunal Court, [with] the power of this [being] irrevocable, without regard for any defense or protection from anyone, [ordering] the execution both by pursuit and seizure of the persons of the infidel Jews themselves to the Castle and Land Offices of the Voivodeships and Districts under which the goods of the summoned persons are situated, and where they may be pursued and caught, and we issue this act of office concerning the Commander, should he wish to use it. In the event that any such Jews of His Royal Majesty, or Starosts of the G.D.L. having Jews under them, should protect such reachable infamis (infamous persons) in their protection and have in their protection the impediment of the execution of the Poll Tax, upon every such person we impose the penalty of infamy, and in posterum (in the future) that the infidel Jews, according to the repartitions made among themselves, under the penalty of strict talio (retaliation), must pay. The Poll Tax, designated by the Constitution, the entire sum, to the Commander of His Grace, by the Decree, the Tribunal shall express hereafter in installments, to be paid at the beginning of the Vilnius Tribunal, under the penalty of these same infamies and sub pœnis inremisibiliter extendendis (under penalties to be extended and never to be remitted), we secure and order, and when this day and judgment arrives for the publishing of this infamy, the General Court of Our Courts, Piotr Gozda, obeying the Common Law and Our Decree in Our Act, in foro publico (in the public forum), declared the infidel Jews of Vilnius, Brześć, Grodno, Pinsk, and other Kahals and all synagogues of Vilnius as guilty infamis, and published and iudicialiter (judicially) testified to this publication. Which Law is the present [Law], so written, and this extract under the seal of the Land of the Voivodeship of Vilnius, issued to His Grace Mr. Jakub Kazimierz Mianowski, Treasurer of Pinsk, Commander of the Seym of the Republic, for the Tribunal of the G. D. L., in Vilnius.

Concordat Faustow Słyrosz Mackiewicz, Treasurer and Deputy of the Minsk Voivodeship.
Continuatio for His Grace Mr. Stanowski, Commander of the Tribunal Infantry, against the infidel Jews of Brześć, Grodno, and other Kahals. Dozbieddowski.

121 / 142 / 68

1700, May 7

We, the Chief Judges for the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (WXL) in Grodno and the Powiat [district] for the current year 1700. Selected by the Most Illustrious Land or Grodno [offices] of all those Voivodeships and Powiats under which the estates and persons of the below-expressed non-believing Jews of the Miewierny [infidel/non-believing] defendants are located, [which] the complaining party shall choose to use for execution. We announce that in the current year 1700, on the 7th day of the month of May, the authorized office of our Courts of Law of His Majesty Jakub Kazimierz Stanowski, Treasurer of Pinsk, Vice-Starosta of the Sejm of the Republic, of the Tribunal mentioned above, with the non-believing Jews of Vilnius, Brest, Grodno, Pinsk, and their Kahals [Jewish communal boards] of the cities of His Royal Majesty and all other synagogues of the mentioned Jews, [as] expressed in that decree of our Court. In which matter, due to the non-appearance of the infidel Jews for the law last year, according to the ancient decree of the Chief Tribunal Court obtained on the 2nd day of the month of December in the previous year of 1699 by way of the district court against the sued infidel Jews, with infamia [outlawry/loss of honor] incurred upon them and published, and…

And having confirmed and maintained in power, against all indications and without violation, the requirement for them regarding the sum, with legal expenses newly incurred in this matter, as well as with fees, registration and memorial dues cum lucris [with profits], amounting in total to the sum of 31843 Polish zlotys, upon the defendants—the infidel Jews—and on all their properties and estates, both movable and stationary, houses, tenements, breweries, wine houses, shops, goods, ponds, leases, and debt sums wherever and with whomever they may be, with the liberty of arresting the individuals themselves to prison, the sealing [of property], [their] seizure at markets, fairs, wherever there is usage of goods, [and] the looting of the persons themselves; and having sentenced those most illustrious defendants, the Jews of Vilnius, Grodno, Pinsk, and Brest [communities], as infames [outlaws] to be seized and imprisoned, and for a second infamia to be sentenced to death, for the sake of executing the law on the properties of the said persons, for all the sum adjudged, strong and sufficient, not looking at any protection or defense from anyone, so that in the use and seizure of the persons of the infidel Jews themselves, they may be delivered to the prescribed offices. Imposterum [In the future], however, so that the infidel Jews, according to the Repartitio [partition/distribution] made among themselves, may pay the head tax and the two hundred [zlotys] designated by the Constitution, the whole sum, to His Honor the Vice-Starosta [mentioned] in the decree of the Chief Tribunal of the previous year at the beginning of the Vilnius Tribunal, under pain of the same infamia et sub pænis irremissibiliter extendentis [and under penalties irredeemably extending], we have ordered, which decree and infamia is legally published, as our Court's decree expresses more broadly. At which, knowing, Your Grace, we entreat that you make a strong and confident execution on the properties and persons of the infidel Jews, not looking at [their] defense, for the adjudged sum, and for eternal [restraint] upon them, being mindful not to be contrary to the legal [provisions] described in the common law.

Pisan w Wilnie ut supra (L.S.)

Karol Stanisław Książe Pan
Kunat Kanclerz Wielki
WXL Marszałek Trybunału

March 20, 1700

We, the Tax Collectors of the Nowogródek Voivodeship, lower expressed by the signatures of our hands, elected at the Candlemas Sejmik (Gromniczny) on the day following in this present year one thousand seven hundred, by Their Worships the Gentlemen Citizens of the Nowogródek Voivodeship, duly convened at the place for the election of the Jewish and Tatar poll tax, notify by this our receipt that, fulfilling the General Law of Coaequationis Iurium (equalization of rights) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the Polish Crown, and the Laudum (decree) of our Voivodeship, the Jews of the famous town of Słuck with its suburbs, as well as Starobina, Romanów, and Różna of the district in the estates of Słuck, Teremice, Miecziaiew, Starzyca, Wyżmysze, Iwanie, Bakław, Wieck, Nowodwór, Powyżaysk, and Dorosk, belonging to Słuck, and especially those residing in Hrozów and Kopycie, situated in the Nowogródek Voivodeship, having settled according to the conducted audit and their sworn oath and the land [taxations] from two years past, paying out to Their Worships the Gentlemen Tax Collectors, the Słuck Jews have already brought and delivered this poll tax for the third year, that is, the present one thousand seven hundred, in advance to the hands of the Gentleman Jakub Kazimierz Kitanowski, Captain (Rotmistrz) of His Royal Majesty’s Tribunal Infantry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in the amount of five hundred złoty, and have received a receipt for this money under the signature of the Gentlemen's hands. We, therefore, accepting this receipt—since all this tax ought to be paid in the banner installments pro polluto—in the amount of five hundred złoty, have received the remaining five hundred in ready money into our hands, which we are bound to deliver to no one else but the hands of His Worship the Captain of the same Tribunal Infantry, or to one sent by His Worship according to the Laudum of our Voivodeship. From the receipt of which into our hands, as well as to His Worship the Captain for the amount paid out per his receipt, which we have taken for ourselves, we grant this our receipt with seals and the signatures of our hands, discharging the Jews of all one thousand złoty for this year one thousand seven hundred from the entirety of their poll tax.

Given in Słuck, in the year one thousand seven hundred, on the twentieth day of the month of March.

Protasewicz Heronim mpp.
Wiąż Stanisław, Tax Collector
of the Nowogródek Voivodeship mpp.

Locus Sigilli

Ludwik Leopold Małuszycki
Tax Collector of the Nowogródek Voivodeship mpp.

Michał Greczowicz Atreyko
Tax Collector of the Jewish and Tatar Poll Tax
of the Nowogródek Voivodeship mpp.

This copy of the receipt of Their Worships the Gentlemen Tax Collectors of the Nowogródek Voivodeship is consistent, word for word, with the original itself.

Michał Bierniewicz
Scribe

Nro. Fasc. 229 v Piekieł

1700, March 25th

A distribution from a certain calculation has been made according to the given customs regarding the Jewish poll tax in the entire Grand Duchy of Lithuania among the Kehillot and cities and towns, [amounting to a] sum of 25,000 florins, which sum is to be paid in such a manner for the Ewald banner assisting the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, [at the request of] the Honorable Jakub Kazimierz Chonowski, Captain of said banner; among us Jews it has been decreed to pay each year specifically 610 zlotys to that executor who will process the records of the Captaincy according to the issued Tribunal decrees.

126 147

N 11 Fasc. 229 Suchich