Letter from the Emperor Rudolf, from Prague, to Queen Elizabeth Acknowledges Queen’s letter of 20 December of preceding year 'by which complaint is made about our Mandate recently promulgated in the Empire' against the Merchant Adventurers (qui Auenturerij vulgo appellantur). 'The Mandate was determined upon by us in response to the numerous pleas of the Hanseatic cities redoubled by the unanimous votes of all orders of the Empire'. They had been confirmed at the recent Diet at Ratisbon and he could not ignore them. He will, however, listen to any proposals by which further harm might be avoided. [Abstract by James D. George] Signed Rudolphus Address in different hand at the bottom of the second sheet: 'Serenissimae Principi D[omin]ae Elsabethae Reginae Angliae Franciae & Hiberniae Sorori et co[n]sanguineae nostrae char[issi]mae ' Countersigned by Johann Barnitius. Endorsed: 'A letter from the Emperor Rudolphis excuseing himself to Queen Elizabeth for prohibiting the English Merchants to trade at Antwerp & the Hanse Towns'. 24 April 1598