Text.Crollius.1609-01.!2r/Translation

Privilege of Exclusivity.

Rudolph II, by the divine favor of elected mercy, Emperor of the Romans, always August, and King of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, etc., Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Württemberg, etc., Count of Tyrol, etc., acknowledge and hereby make known to all and singular that, whereas our faithful and beloved Oswald Croll, the ordinary physician of the illustrious Christian Prince of Anhalt, Count of Ascania, and Lord in Bernburg, a cousin and dear prince to us, has humbly set forth to us that after long study, labor, and immense expense for the public good, he has decided to publish a Chemical Basilica, filled with the most excellent formulas of chemical remedies, partly from the works of Paracelsus and conversations with learned men, and partly from his own experience, compiled and organized in a systematic manner. However, he fears that, as is often the case, others eager for profit might publish this Chemical Basilica for themselves or their printers fraudulently, and therefore has asked us to grant our privilege to protect his indemnity. Indeed, out of our benign inclination towards the said Oswald Croll, whose services we have used, and our affection for the pursuit of good arts and disciplines, we did not wish to deny his humble requests. Therefore, by our Imperial authority, we strictly forbid and prohibit all printers, booksellers, and anyone else engaged in the book trade from reprinting or causing to be reprinted, selling, or distributing, whether openly or secretly, without the will and consent of the said Oswald Croll and his heirs, the aforementioned Chemical Basilica of Oswald Croll, as well as any other chemical-medical books he may publish in the future, within the borders of the Holy Roman Empire and our hereditary kingdoms and domains, in the same or any other type or form, whether in whole or in part, for a period of ten years from the day of each edition's publication. Should anyone dare to disregard, neglect, or transgress this our Imperial privilege and prohibition, they will not only be deprived of such improperly reprinted and introduced books (which the said Oswald Croll, his heirs, and agents can claim for themselves either by their own authority or with the help of the local magistrate wherever found) but will also be fined ten marks of pure gold, to be equally divided between our Imperial treasury as a penalty for fraud and the uses of the said Oswald Croll or his heirs, with no hope of pardon. Provided, however, that such books contain nothing scandalous to the Orthodox Catholic Religion, contrary to the constitutions of the Holy Roman Empire, or against good morals, whether in the preface or in the text. And the said Oswald Croll is to send at his own expense at least three copies of each work to our Imperial Chancellery as soon as possible. We therefore command all and singular our subjects and faithful of the Holy Empire and our hereditary kingdoms and domains, of whatever status, rank, order, condition, dignity, or preeminence they may be, both ecclesiastical and secular, especially those who administer law and justice in their own name or in the name of their superiors, not to allow anyone to transgress, violate, or disregard this our Imperial privilege with impunity, but rather to ensure that the stubborn, if found, are punished with the prescribed penalty and restrained by other suitable means, lest they themselves wish to avoid the same fine and incur our most grave indignation. In testimony whereof, our hand has written these letters, fortified with the impression of our Imperial seal. Given at our Royal Castle in Prague on the second day of May in the year of our Lord 1608, in the thirty-third year of our Roman reign, the thirty-sixth of our Hungarian, and likewise the thirty-third of our Bohemian reign, etc.

Rudolph.

By the command of His Sacred Imperial Majesty

Johannes Baruitius

Leopoldus à Stralendorff.