At first, Stanislovas the brother of Merkelis was vice-prefect of Telšiai, after that he became the governor of Pajūris. Eventually, he occupied the office of the GDL as a kuchmistr (lat. magister coquine). Merkelis Vaitiekaitis Šemeta was the marszalek (lat. marshalkus) of the king and the governor of Dirvėnai. He inherited the latter office from his father Vaitiekus Jonaitis Šemeta.

Merkelis Stanislovaitis Šemeta was the most famous from this kin in political sphere. He was the member of the Liege Lords Council (rada panow). He was trustworthy because nobles confided him to defend various interests against the sovereign. Moreover, the monarch appreciated Merkelis as a person and he was appointed to edit the Second Lithuanian Statute. In 1569 M. Šemeta together with other famous representatives of the GDL elite – the Lithuanian liege lords – were participants in the Parliament (Seym) of Lublin when the project of the union was discussed.

The middle of the 16th century was the biggest culmination of Reformation. Most noblemen of the GDL including Šemetas corresponded very intensively with the duke Albrecht who was a resident of Prussia. The duke Albrecht advised urgently to send their children to foreign countries for studies (mostly to Germany which was the cradle of the Protestantism). Therefore, when the new religion spread it was needed to support at first Lutheran and later Calvinistic community and churches. In the region of Samogitia Šemetas distinguished themselves as diligent protectors and supporters of Reformation.

It is certainly true that brothers Jonas and Vaclovas Šemetas belonged to the local elite of the GDL and took an active part in the movement of Reformation. It is supposed that in 1567 Merkelis (succeeded by his son Jonas) was the person who took care and supported the Lithuanian Lutheran School in Tauragė. Jonas and Vaclovas had got good education in Leipzig University. They were interested in accumulation of books in their private libraries and communicated with highbrows of that time. It is possible that they were associated with a well known intellectual, historian and annalist Maciej Stryjkowski.

Įteikta 2004 05 12

Priimta spaudai 2004 12 06