O znaczeniu lokalnego sądownictwa dla szlachty na przykładzie województwa płockiego w epoce Wazów

ENThe present article attempts to answer the question about the significance of local judicature for the nobility of the province of Plock in the times of King Sigimund III (1587-1632) and Vladislaus IV (1632-1648). The basis of the noble judicial system in the province of Plock was made of land courts, grodzki courts (courts affiliated with a gród), podkomorski courts (courts of stewards) and palatinal courts. Their operations had an impact on private lives of the nobility both through cases settled by these courts and through registrations of various legal actions in court registers. We should also remember about the career possibilities offered by local courts. At the same time, the nobility was quite interested in proper functioning of the local jurisdiction. Sporadically, some sessions were held not quite in accordance with the law, but they were always consistent with social expectations. It could be presumed that the court negotiations enjoyed considerable popularity, since several hundred people in attendance was not unusual. This had a great influence on the part played by the judicature in public life. Court matters were often debated at the local sejmik sessions, both in the form of postulates included in the so-called deputation instructions, and of the sejmik decrees passed in order to make it more efficient. The considerable significance of the local judicature is attested also by the attitude of the court officials themselves who - when there were no court negotiations - made an effort to present a written excuse for such occurrence.