THE EMPEROR'S PRIVILEGES ad 



1555' 

 of them hereafter following, expressed and declared. 

 Videlicet : 



i First, we for us, our heires and successors, do by 

 these presents give and graunt free licence, facultie, 

 authority and power unto the said Governour, Consuls, 

 Assistants, and communalty of the said fellowship, and 

 to their successors for ever, that all and singular the 

 marchants of the same company, their Agents, factours, 

 doers of their businesse, atturneys, servants, and 

 ministers, and every of them may at all times hereafter 

 for ever more surely, freely and safely with their 

 shippes, merchandizes, goods and things whatsoever 

 saile, come and enter into all and singular our lands, 

 countreis, dominions, cities, townes, villages, castles, 

 portes, jurisdictions and destraicts by sea, land or fresh 

 waters, and there tary, abide and sojourne, and buy, 

 sell, barter and change all kind of merchandizes with 

 al maner of marchants and people, of whatsoever nation, 

 rite, condition, state or degrees they be, and with the 

 same or other ships, wares, marchandizes, goods & 

 things whatsoever they be, unto other empires, king- 

 domes, dukedomes, parts, and to any other place or 

 places at their pleasure and liberty by sea, land or fresh 

 waters may depart, and exercise all kinde of merchan- 

 dizes in our empire and dominions, and every part 

 thereof freely and quietly without any restraint, im- 

 peachment, price, exaction, prest, straight custome, toll, 

 imposition, or subsidie to be demanded, taxed or paid, 

 or at any time hereafter to be demanded, taxed, set, 

 levied or inferred upon them or any of them, or upon 

 their goods, ships, wares, marchandizes and things, of, 

 for or upon any part or parcell thereof, or upon the 

 goods, ships, wares, merchandizes, and things of any 

 of them, so that they shall not need any other safe 

 conduct or licence generall, ne speciall of us, our heires 

 or successours, neither shall be bound to aske any safe 

 conduct or licence in any of the aforesaid places subject 



unto us. 



299 



