| In the name of the Lord, amen. For the permanent record. Because we are aware of
having encountered many troublesome mistakes and uncertainties when we were preserving the
historical accounts of our time by means of the texts of documents and the accounts of
witnesses, therefore we Wladislaus, by grace of God King of Poland and supreme prince of
Lithuania and heir of Russia etc., do give notice by these presents, by which it is explained
to all present and to come who shall have notice of these presents, that, weighing with the
attentiveness of a careful mind the eager services of gratifying loyalty, by which lury, Zany
and Dimetrius cousins on (our) fathers side, our servants from Ulucz, with their brothers,
have very much pleased our Majesty and will be able in future to please quite exceedingly with
increased zeal for loyalty, wishing by attending to whom that they anticipate the marks of
special gratitude and to render them better disposed to our services, do give, freely convey
and grant to them with every right of ownership our estate commonly called Dobre to be
possessed, held, enjoyed and occupied for all time through the same lury, Zanikonis and
Dimetrius and their brothers and children and their legitimate heirs, with all appurtenances
and perquisites attached to it, [which estate is] situated in our territory at Sanocensis, in
those farmlands namely from the top of a (boundary) stone to the ford called Brud Chlumcense
with all its benefits, proceeds, produce, properties, revenues, fields, meadows, pastures,
forests, orchards, groves, broom thickets, oak-forests, copses, game, fowl, honey production,
fish ponds, yields of fish, lakes, swamps, mill-houses, streams, rivers and their watersheds
and tributaries. By reason of which aforesaid grant Iury, Zaniko and Dimetrius and the rest
of their brothers or their children and legitimate heirs will be obliged to serve us and our
successors for all eternity with three good archers for any campaign whatever, at our castle
at Sanocensis, however, they shall be obliged to provide service in the same with three horses
as often as it shall be useful and they shall be required. Our seal is appended to which in
witness of these letters. Done at New City, on Wednesday, the vigil of the holy apostles
Peter and Paul, A.D. 1402, in the presence of these excellent noblemen: the courtiers John de
Tanczyn, castellan of Krakow; John de Tarnow, of Krakow; Peter Kmitha of Sandomiriens; John
Liganza of Lanciciens; Jacob de Koniecpole of Siradiens; and Cristinus de Ostrow, castellan
of Sandomiriens; and many others of our trustworthy followers. Given through the hands of
Lord Nicholas de Curow, Archbishop of the holy metropolitan church of Gnesnen, [who is]
dearly beloved to us.
The Lord King for himself. The document is published
in: Akta Grodzkie i Ziemskie, VII, 22. Translated into English by the
students of Mr. Stan Bird at Pius High School in Atlanta |
| Brief Description of the above document
This was a very important document signed by King Wladyslaw Jagiello, dated June 28, 1402,
giving the privileges of knighthood to the men of Dobra in return for service in the war with
the Teutonic Knights. This privilege required them to send four mounted men for every war.
Since that date, the men of Dobra were free men, independent landowners, and members of the
noble estate. Because, with the passage of time, this document had deteriorated, in
1634 the men of Dobra traveled to Lwow to see the King of Poland, Wladyslaw IV who
re-confirmed their privileges. The document was rewritten, and signed by the King and also by
the Prelate of Poland, the Cardinal-Archbishop of Gniessen. The original was framed on March
23, 1876. |
