Рукописна та книжкова спадщина України (Jan 2024)
Lviv copy of "Declaration of Indulgence" of James II dated February 12, 1687: context of document creation and its analysis
Abstract
The goal of the research. Introducing of an unpublished document - a copy of the "Declaration of Indulgence" by the English King James II, which was found in the correspondence of Lviv merchant of the Scottish origin Arthur Forbes (Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv - Fond 132, Inventory 1, File 261), into scientific circulation. Analysis of the political and religious situation that made this document relevant for the Lviv Scottish merchants, finding out the impact of the copy of the Declaration of Indulgence " on them. Methodology. Comparative and deductive methods were used to compare and analyze the original "Declaration of Indulgence" text and its copy in the letter to Arthur Forbes. The systemic method was applied to explain the context of the creation of the original and the "Declaration…" copy. Scientific novelty. For the first time, a document was introduced into scientific circulation - a copy of the "Declaration…" from the correspondence of the Scottish merchant Arthur Forbes, who had his own trading network centered in Lviv. The letter was considered in the context of Scottish migration to the territory of the Ruthenian Voivodeship. The significance of English religious policy for Scottish merchants in Lviv was analyzed. Conclusions. One of the reasons for the emigration of Scots to the European countries in the 15th-17th centuries could be internal religious conflicts. Due to them, a significant part of Scottish Catholics left the country, and some of them settled in the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in particular, the Ruthenian Voivodeship and the city of Lviv. Most often, they were engaged in trade, which became not only a source of income, but also provided a stable connection with their homeland. An example of such a connection is the correspondence of the Scottish merchant Arthur Forbes with his friend and trading partner. In it, we can find a copy of the "Declaration…" by the English King James II. This document declared religious equality and tolerance in the territory of the English Kingdom, and therefore was extremely important for those Scots who left their country due to the possibility of religious persecution. Unfortunately, they could not use it since the "Declaration…" was annulled during the Glorious Revolution in 1688.
