Skaryna in Vilnius, Königsberg, and Poznań in 1520–1535

Such were the circumstances in which Skaryna moved from Prague to Vilnius in 1520. Here, at the home of the senior city mayor of Vilnius, Jokūbas Babičius, he established the first printing house in the Grand Duchy.  Around 1522, he issued the “Little Traveller’s Book”, the publication that marks the emergence of printing in Lithuania. It consists of a hymnal with other liturgical texts (some specialists view the 22 parts of this book as separate publications).  In 1525, Skaryna printed the “Acts and Epistles of the Apostles”, i. e. a part of the New Testament. Almost at the same time, he started a family, having married the widow of Vilnius city councilor and mayor Jurgis Odvernikas. After marrying Francysk, she became financially involved into trade activities of Skaryna’s brother Ivan.  When the latter died in Poznań in 1529, Francysk had to travel there to recover the funds invested by his wife.  This later brought him many problems.
In 1530, Skaryna visited Königsberg and for a few months entered the service of the Duke of Prussia, Albert of Brandenburg. However, soon he went back to Vilnius for some, probably serious,  reason. The return was tumultuous – after Skaryna’s departure, the duke complained to the Vilnius Voivode Albertas Goštautas that Skaryna had secretly taken away two of his subordinates, a Jewish physician and a printer, and demanded that they be returned to Prussia.
Back in Vilnius, Francysk returned to the service of the Vilnius Bishop John. In 1532, Ivan’s former creditors, Moses and Lazarus of Warsaw and Jacob of Poznań, lodged a complaint to King Sigismund the Old that Skaryna was liable for the debt of his late brother, but refused to pay up and was in hiding.  Soon after Francysk was arrested and put to jail in Poznań for a few months. Ivan’s son Roman came from Gdańsk to testify that his uncle was not responsible for Ivan’s debts. In the same year, King Sigismund the Old confirmed this in his charter.
It is unknown how Skaryna’s life went after that. He took both his sons and left for Prague in about 1535. There he served as gardener to Ferdinand I Gabsburg, King of Bohemia and Hungary, and raised his children.

Letter of the Vilnius bishop John of the Lithuanian Dukes regarding the material provision for the tenure of cathedral cantor. “The physician Francysk” is listed first in the list of the witnesses.

Letter of the Vilnius bishop John of the Lithuanian Dukes, in which he grants a land plot with a workshop in Vilnius to the glassworker Jan Palecki, obliging him to supply the bishop with a specified quantity of glass and glassware.

Letter of Pope Clement X to the Vilnius bishop John of the Lithuanian Dukes, in which he permits to hold a Chant Mass at the St. Trinity altar of the Vilnius Cathedral also at night.

This letter contains a request to assist Francysk Skaryna in all the matters of the Vilnius Voivodeship.

This letter contains a complaint against Francysk Skaryna to the Vilnius Voivode. End of the transcript.

King Sigismund’s letter recorded in the Poznań magistrate’s book regarding the arrest of Francysk Skaryna for his brother’s debts.

This entry in the Poznań magistrate’s book concerns Roman Skaryna’s, Ivan’s son and heir’s, demands to acknowledge him as defender of his uncle Francysk, and release Francysk from jail.

This entry in the Poznań magistrate’s book records that Francysk Skaryna submitted to the Poznań magistrate a letter from King Sigismund regarding his release.