On the Source Reliability of the Crown Metrica. A Contribution to the Problem of Documents Obtained in Bad Faith

Abstract

The article demonstrates, through several examples, that even the Crown Metrica, a product of the Polish royal chancery, may contain entries whose authenticity raises doubts. When verifying and assessing their reliability, caution and proper source criticism are essential. Erroneous entries and other inaccuracies found in the Crown Metrica are incidental cases, as it is generally regarded as one of the most reliable sources for the history of the Polish state (the Commonwealth). The few entries whose credibility may be questioned can be divided into three groups: documents legalizing falsified charters allegedly drawn up earlier; entries containing evident scribal errors; and acts obtained through deliberate deception, based on false testimonies used to secure a document in bad faith. The examples provided show that the Crown Metrica – like any other source – requires caution when citing. Assessing the reliability of each entry relies on source criticism, which remains a fundamental tool in the historian’s and archivist’s craft.