The name CHARLES is printed in large decorative capital letters, flanked by two woodcut ornaments featuring fleur-de-lis motifs.

CHARLES

By Divine clemency elected Emperor of the Romans, ever august: King of Germany, of Castile, of Leon, of Aragon, of Navarre, of Naples, of Sicily, of Majorca, of Sardinia, of the Indian Islands and the Oceanic sea; Archduke of Austria; Duke of Burgundy, of Lorraine, of Brabant, of Limburg, of Luxembourg, etc.; Count of Flanders, of Artois, of Burgundy Palatine, of Hainaut, of Holland, of Zeeland, of Ferrette, of Haguenau, of Namur, etc.; Prince of Swabia; Marquis of the Holy Empire; Lord of Frisia, of Salins, of Malines, of the lands of Utrecht, and ruler in Asia and Africa. This long list of titles identifies Charles V (1500–1558), one of the most powerful rulers in history, who presided over the Holy Roman Empire and the Spanish Empire.

To all those who shall see these present letters, greetings. On behalf of our beloved and faithful judicial counselor and historiographer, Master Henry Cornelius Agrippa, Doctor of both laws original: "Docteur es deux droitz." This refers to "Uterque Juris," meaning he was a doctor of both Civil Law and Canon (church) Law. and knight, it has been set before us: That the said petitioner has lately produced and composed four books, works, and volumes titled in Latin:

On Occult Philosophy, Declaration on the Vanity of the Sciences, Commentaries on the Brief Art of Ramon Lull, and the Abbreviated Table, Orations & Letters. original titles: "De occulta Philosophia, De Vanitate scientiarum Declamatio, In artem breuem Raimundi Lullij commentaria: Et Tabula abbreuiata. Orationes & Epistolæ." Agrippa is securing protection for his most famous works simultaneously. These books and volumes the said petitioner would willingly have printed in our countries and lordships; but he fears that certain printers in our said countries, having recovered a copy of each of his volumes, will counterfeit them, which would turn to his great regret and damage, unless we provide him with a privilege. A "privilege" was a legal monopoly granted by a monarch to an author or printer, preventing others from copying a book for a specific number of years.

He very humbly supplicates us that, in view of what has been said, it may please us to grant and accord to him that he may have the said four books and volumes printed by such a printer in our said countries as he sees fit, without others being able to print them within the term of the next six years; and to this end, to dispatch our letters patent Letters patent are public legal documents issued by a monarch to grant a right or status. relevant to this matter. For this reason, we, having considered these things, and after our beloved and faithful masters George de Themseke, Provost of Cassel, and Herman Sunderhuifen, counselors and Masters of Ordinary Requests of our household, have by our ordinance thoroughly seen, visited, and signed the said books:

Inclining favorably toward the petitioner’s said supplication and request, we have, by good advice and deliberation of our council, granted, consented, and accorded—and do grant, consent, and accord by these presents—giving him leave and license of special grace so that he may and shall be able to have the said four books and volumes printed in such number and quantity, and by such a printer of our said countries, as he sees fit.

And so that the said printer does not lose the pains, costs, and expenses he must incur and bear for the said new printing and all that depends upon it, we have forbidden and do forbid by these presents all other printers and others that, within the time and term of the next six years, they do not print or cause to be printed the said books or any of them without the consent of the said printer, upon pain of confiscation of the books and volumes they may have so printed, and furthermore, being punished and corrected at our discretion.

Thus, we command our beloved and faithful the Chief Presidents and members of our Private and Great Councils, the Chancellor and members of our Council in Brabant, the President and members of our Chamber of Counsel in Flanders, and all our other justices, officers, and subjects whom this may or shall concern, and each of them in his own place as it shall pertain to him: that of our present grace, grant, leave, and license, during the time and in the manner stated, they allow the said petitioner together with the said printer to fully and peacefully enjoy and use these rights, without causing or suffering to be caused any disturbance or hindrance to the contrary. For such is our pleasure. In witness whereof, we have caused our seal to be set to these presents.

Given in our city of Mechelen, the 12th day of January, the year of grace 1529. And of our reigns: of the Romans the 11th, and of Castile and others the 14th. Signed on the fold by the Emperor in his council.

her status ... ex ...? Faded administrative notation, likely regarding the registry of the document.