Gentry’s disputes over tithes and jurisdiction of clergy at the 1562–65 “execution-of-the-law” Seyms

The research conducted by me, concerning the conflict between gentry and clergy during the 1562–65 “execution-of-the-law” Seyms shows that this dispute pertains to several social, religious, economic and legal issues. This broad scope of spheres, in which the point of view of gentry differed dramatically form the one of clergy, resulted in a complicated confrontation and little chance to reach a compromise. The situation was even more difficult, as in their opinions on many issues the sides were internally divided – so, neither gentry nor clergy were capable of working out a common stand. The fact that it was not possible to reach a compromise made both sides behave in a more adamant way and demand that all their postulates should be fulfilled. Yet, it was gentry that, through taxes, could influence Sigismund Augustus, and thus, cause that points of their “execution-of-the-law” program, were enacted at the 1562–65 Seyms, without clergy’s consent.Uniwersytet w Białymstoku. Wydział Historyczno-Socjologiczn