THE KING

WHEREAS, a report has been made to us on your behalf, Joseph de Acosta of the Society of Jesus, stating that you have composed a book titled Natural and Moral History of the Indies in the Castilian language, into which you have put much labor and care, and you asked and petitioned us to grant you a license to be able to print it in these our Kingdoms with a privilege for ten years, or for such time as we might be served, or as our mercy might decree. This having been seen by those of our Council, and as by their command the due processes were carried out regarding the said book, as required by the Pragmatic A royal ordinance or decree. most recently enacted by us concerning the printing of said books, it was agreed that we should order this our decree to be issued to that effect, and I have found it good. By this, we grant you the license and authority to print and sell the aforementioned book, mentioned above, in these our Kingdoms for the full term of ten years, which shall run and be counted from the date of this letter, according to the original that was examined in our Council, the pages of which are initialed, and signed at the end by Christoual de Leon, our Clerk of the Chamber of those who reside in our Council; and provided that, before it is sold, you bring it before them together with the original you presented to them, so that it may be seen if the said printing is in conformity with it, or provide a Certificate in public form confirming that a Corrector appointed by our command has examined and corrected the said printing according to the said original, and that the errata noted by him are likewise printed for each book of those thus printed, and that the price which you are to have and charge for each volume is fixed for you. And we command that during the said time, no person may print it without your license, under penalty that he who shall print or sell it shall lose and forfeit all and any molds and equipment he may have for it, and the books that he shall sell in these our Kingdoms, and shall furthermore incur a penalty of five-