 The number of Jews in Poland kept increasing throughout the Middle Ages; the population had reached about 30,000 toward the end of the 15th century, and, as refugees escaping further persecution elsewhere kept streaming in, 150,000 in the 16th century.A royal privilege issued in 1532 granted the Jews freedom to trade anywhere within the kingdom.Massacres and expulsions from many German states continued until 1552–1553.