Great Scribe of Lithuania

Great Scribe of Lithuania was a central, though non-Senatorial, office in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Great Scribe served as an adviser to the Grand Duke of Lithuania and his chancellor. History of the office The office was created in 1504, in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania where there were three such positions, compared to only one in the Crown of Poland. The office was often staffed by Catholic clergy. In 1764, the Convocation sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth rearranged the number of positions, establishing two offices for the Grand Duchy and the Crown each, and restricted it to non-clergy. In 1775 the number of offices was doubled and it was decided that one of the four would be staffed by a secular person while the other three were filled once again by clergy. Responsibilities