The General Confederation of Warsaw

1573

We the secular and ecclesiastical Counselors of the Crown [Rady Koronne, duchowne i swieckie], the entire gentry [rycerstwo], and the other estates of the one and indivisible Commonwealth [Rzeczpospolita], from Great and Little Poland, from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Kiev, Wolyn, Podlasie, from Ruthenia, Prussia, Pomerania, Samogitia, Inflanty and the crown citie. We announce to all to whom this pertains that this matter may be eternally remembered [ad perpetuam rei memoriam], that at this dangerous time, lacking the authority of a reigning monarch [bez krola pana zwierzchniego mieszkajac], we have all sedulously attempted at the Warsaw meeting, as an example to our descendants to maintain and observe among ourselves peace, justice, order and the defense of the Commonwealth. Therefore, we swear and commit ourselves, according to our faith, our good will [poczciwosc], and our conscience.

First, that there shall be no disruptions made among us, nor shall any divisions [dysmembracyjej zadnej] be allowed in the one and indivisible Commonwealth, nor shall a part be allowed to choose a master without all, nor shall private groupings be allowed to act. Rather, obedient to the place and time herein appointed there shall come together a crown assembly and, jointly and peacefully bring the election [act electionis] to a fair conclusion according to God's will. No sovereign otherwise chosen will be allowed, and consonant with such a clear and determined compact [umowa]: that, first, all our rights, privileges and freedoms, which exist or are submitted to him after the election are sworn to. That, specifically, it is sworn to maintain civil peace among people who are differentiated by faith or religious practice [w wierze i w nabozenstwie], and that without a declaration of the sejm we never be forced across the borders of the realm by any royal action or request, not forced to pay five grzywna per shaft [solutione quinque marcarum super hastem], nor shall there be a general levy [pospolite ruszenie] called. Therefore we swear to rise up against anyone who would constitute or allow himself to be elected at a time or place other than that indicated, or who would desire to create tumult at the election, or who would accept bonded serving people, or who would dare to oppose an election concluded with complete assent.

And whereas in our Commonwealth there are considerable differences in the Christian religion [jest dissidium niemale in cause religionis christianae], these have not caused disorders [sedycyja] among people, as detrimental as have begun in other kingdoms that we have clearly seen, we promise to one another, for ourselves and for our descendants, for all time, pledging our faith, honor and conscience, we swear [pro nobis et successionibus nostris in perpetuum, sub vinculo iuramenti, fide, honore et consientiis nostris], that we who are divided by faith [dissidentes de religione], will keep peace among ourselves, and not shed blood on account of differences in faith or church [dla roznej wiary i odmiany w Koscielech], nor will we allow punishment [penowac] by the confiscation of goods, deprivation of honor, imprisonment or exile, nor will we in any fashion aid any sovereign or agency [urzedowi] in such undertakings. And certainly, should someone desire to spill blood on such account [ex ista causa] we all shall be obliged to prevent it, even if the person uses some decree as pretext or cites some legal decision.

Certainly this our confederation does not abridge the authority over those subject to it, be it the authority of the ecclesiastical or secular lords, nor do we weaken [psujemy] any obedience owed the lords by their subject. Of course, should such license be taken under pretext of religious difference [sub prxtextu religionis] then, as has always been the case, a lord will be free to punish his disobedient subject, whether the disobedience be in spiritual or secular matters [tam in spiritualibus, quam in sxculavibus] according to his judgment [rozumienia].

All ecclesiastical officials who enjoy royal benefits, such as archbishops, bishops, and all others similar, will be granted these prerogatives equally: to clergy of the Roman church and to those of the Greek church as both are by law Polish citizens [obywatelom polskim wedlug statutu].

And so that peace may be broadly shared [a ii to do pokojow wiele
naleiy], and so that differences among the estates [dyferencyje inter status] would be checked, and so that the differences in matters of temporal politics between the secular and ecclesiastical estates be small, we promise to coordinate [componere] all these matters at the next electoral sejm.

We will preserve in effect this just order which has been determined jointly by the provinces, or which shall be mutually agreed, and it will also apply to border fortresses used for defense.

Whosoever becomes indebted to someone and freely by the force of a bequest obliges himself to the magistrates [do grodu], either before the death or even after the death of the king, he shall act in accord with his devise according to the usual course of the law [progressum iuris usitaturn]. And the lords starostas [panowie starostowie] will be required to judge according to this general confederation without any sort of delay based on usual custom [vigore huius generalis confoederationis, sine omni delatione iuxta usitate formam] in discharging and executing such matters, this does not include those provinces [wojewódtzw] which have created a special form of justice and execution before the interregnum or which will yet do so.

All manner of devise and dispositions of permanent property publicly done or which will be done during the interregnum [inscriptiones wszelakie et resignationes bonorum perpetuas coram authenticis actis factas et fiendas sub interregno] we hereby empower by the general approbation of this confederation, so that, during the interregnum, having begun with the day of the king's death, no one in litigation shall be denied subsequent justice.

And, those who had a deadline set at Christmastime or New Year, of for some other time now passed, all these should bring their money to the first court, by the Grace of God [da-li Pan Bog], after the selection of the new king, or at the first opening of the books [na pierwsze lezenie ksiag].

We also promise that while traveling to the designated election, or while at that place, or while dispersing and returning home, no force will be used on people nor shall we work among them.

All these things we solemnly swear to uphold and maintain for ourselves and our descendants, by our faith, honor and consciences [sub fide, honore et conscientis nostris]. And whosoever should wish to oppose this and damage the peace and order of the people [pospolita] we shall all rise up in condemnation against such action [contra talem omnes consurgemus in eius destructionem].

And for greater surety all those signing this document offer their seals and sign in their own hands.

Done in Warsaw in the General Assembly of the Realm [Actum Varschoviae in conventione Regni Generali] the twenty-eighth of January, the year of Our Lord 1573.

Translated from the Polish by M. B. Biskupski.

Reference

M.B. Biskupski & James I. Pula. Polish Democratic Though from the Renaissance to the Great Emigration. Columbia University Press, 1990.