Zakres i efektywność uchwał konwokacji wileńskiej. Czasy Zygmunta III

ENIt seems justified to treat the principal gatherings (Vilnius convocations) as the institution that performed the role of a Lithuanian parliament. This is confirmed by the scope of laws approved by the king that ranged from tax laws through the drafts to the army, paid by the treasury of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (in 1614 and at the time of interregnum - in 1632), to sending Polish envoys abroad (1632). Simultaneously, both local parliaments (sejmiki) and the convocations themselves emphasized the superior role of the parliament of the Republic of Poland. This leads to an apparent paradox that the presence of the convocation in Lithuania, which was a violation of the union act, confirms the strength of Lithuanian approval for this union. The taxes did not suffice to provide even internal security. Laws other than those related to taxes were generally rejected or ignored by the king. Consequently, the convocations initially pointed to their being against the law, yet necessary at a time of danger which called for prompt counteraction. Then the convocations demanded that the king or the parliament either approve the laws in their entirety or not bother summoning the convocations at all. Finally, in 1624 the king was requested not to make further motions.