and some other spices The saide shippe called the Holy Crosse was so shaken in this voyage and so weakened that she was layd vp in the docke and neuer made voyage after Another voyage to the Iles of Candia and Chio made by the shippe the Mathew Gonson about the yeere 1535 according to the relation of Iohn Williamson then Cooper in the same ship made to M. Richard Hackluit in the yeere 1592. THe good shippe called the Mathew Gonson of burden 300 tunnes whereof was owner old M. William Gonson pay-master of the kings Nauie made her voyage in the yere 1535. In this ship went as Captaine Richard Gray who long after died in Russia Master William Holftocke afterward Controuller of the Queenes Nauie went then as purser in the same voyage The Master was one Iohn Pichet seruant to old M. William Gonson Iames Rumnie was Masters mate The master cooper was Iohn Williamson citizen of London liuing in the yeere 1592 and dwelling in Sant Dunstons parish in the East The M. Gunner was Iohn Godfrey of Bristoll In this ship were 6 gunners and 4 trumpetters all which foure trumpetters at our returne homewards went on land at Messina in the Iland of Sicilia as our ship road there at anker gat them into the Gallies that lay neere vnto vs in them went to Rome The whole number of our companie in this ship were about 100. men we were also furnished with a great bote which was able to cary 10 tunnes of water which at our returne homewards we towed all the way from Chio vntill we came through the straight of Gibaltar into the maine Ocean We had also a great long boat and a skiff We were out vpon this voyage eleuen moneths yet in all this time there died of sicknesse but one man whose name was George Forrest being seruant to our Carpenter called Thomas Plummer In a great lygier booke of one William Eyms seruant vnto Sir William Bowyerâ— Alderman of London bearing date the 15 of Nouember 1533 and continued vntill the 4 of Iuly 1544. I find that he the said William Eyms was factor in Chio not only for his Master but also for the duke of Norfolkes grace for many other worshipful marchants of London among whom I find the accompts of these especially to wit of his said Master sir William Bowyer of William Nicholas Wilford Marchant-taylors of London of Thomas Curtis pewterer of Iohn Starky Merter of William Ostrige Marchant of Richard Field Draper And further I find in the said ligier booke a note of the said Eyms of all such goods as he left in the hands of Robert Bye in Chio who became his Masters factor in his roome and another like note of particulers of goods that he left in the hands of Oliuer Lesson seruant to William and Nicholas Wilford And for proofe of the continuance of this trade vntill the end of the yeere 1552. I found annexed vnto the former note of the goods left with Robert Bye in Chio a letter being dated the 27 of Nouember 1552 in London The Epitaph of the valiant Esquire M. Peter Read in the south I le of Saint Peters Church in the citie of Norwich which was knighted by Charles the fift at the winning of Tunis in the yeere of our Lord 1538. HEre vnder lyeth the corpes of Peter Reade Esquire who hath worthily serued not onely his Prince and Countrey but also the Emperour Charles the fift both at his conquest of Bâ—rbarie and at his siege at Tunis as also in other places Who had giuen him by the sayd Emperour for his valiant deedes the order of Barbary Who dyed the 29 day of December in the yeere of our Lord God 1566. The voyage of Sir Thomas Chaloner to Alger with Charles the fift 1541 drawen out of his booke De Republica Anglorum instauranda THomas Chalonerus patria Londinensis studio Cantabrigensis educatione aulicus religione pius veréque Christianus fuit Itaque cum inuenilem aetatemâ— mentemque suam humanioribus studijs roborasset Domino Henrico Kneuetto à potentissimo rege Henrico eius nominis octauo ad Carolum quintum imperatorem transmisâ—o legato vnà cum illo profectus est tanquam familiaris amicus veleidem à confilijs Quo quidem tempore Carolo quinto nauali certamine à Genua Corsica in Algyram in Africa contra Turcas classem soluente ac hostiliter proficiscente ornatissimo illo Kneuetto legato regis Thoma Chalonero Henrico Knolleo Henrico Isamo illustribus viris eundem in illa expeditione suapte sponte sequentibus pariterque militantibus mirifice vitam suam Chalonerus tutatus est Nam triremi illa in qua fuerat vel scopulis allisa vel grauissimis procellis conquassata naufragus cum se diù natatu defendisset deficientibus viribus brachijs manibusque languidis ac quasi eneruatis prehensa dentibus cum maxima difficultate rudenti quae ex altera triremi iam propinqua tum fuerat eiecta non sine dentium aliquorum iactura ac fractura sese tandem recuperauit ac domum integer relapsus est The same in English THomas Chaloner was by birth a Londiner by studie a Cantabrigian by education a Courtier by religion a deuout and true Christian. Therfore after he had confirmed his youth and minde in the studies of good learning when Sir Henry Kneuet was sent ambassadour from the mighty Prince Henry the 8. to the Emperour Charles the fift he went with him as his familiar friend or as one of his Councell At which time the said Charles the 5. passing ouer from Genoa and Corsica to Alger in Africa in warlike sort with a mighty army by sea that honorable Kneuet the kings ambassadour Thomas Chaloner Henry Knolles and Henry Isham right worthy persons of their owne accord accompanied him in that expedition serued him in that warre wherin Thomas Chaloner escaped most wonderfully with his life For the gally wherein he was being either dashed against the rockes or shaken with mighty stormes and so cast away after he had saued himselfe a long while by swimming when his strength failed him his armes hands being faint and weary with great difficulty laying hold with his teeth on a cable which was cast out of the next gally not without breaking and losse of certaine of his teeth at length recouered himselfe and returned home into his countrey in safety The voyage of M. Roger Bodenham with the great Barke Aucher to Candia and Chio in the yeere 1550. IN the yeere 1550. the 13 of Nouember I Roger Bodenham Captaine of the Barke Aucher entered the said ship at Grauesend for my voiage to the Ilands of Candia and Chio in the Leuant The master of my ship was one William Sherwood From thence we departed to â—ilbery hope and there remained with contrarie windes vntill the 6. of Ianuary 1551. The 6 of Ianuarie the M. came to Tilbery and I had prouided a skilfull pylot to
other people as well within this our Realme of England as else where vnder our obeysance iurisdiction or otherwise vnto whom these our letters shall be seene shewed or read greeting Where our welbeloued Subiects Edward Osborne Alderman of our Citie of London and Richard Staper of our sayde City Marchant haue by great aduenture and industrie with their great costes and charges by the space of sundry late yeeres trauailed and caused trauaile to bee taken as well by secret and good meanes as by dangerous wayes and passages both by lande and Sea to finde out and set open a trade of Marchandize and trafique into the Lands Islands dominions and territories of the great Turke commonly called the Grand Signior not heretofore in the memory of any man nowe liuing knowen to be commonly vsed and frequented by way of marchandise by anâ— the Marchants or any Subiects of vs or our progenitours and also haue by their like good meanes and industrie and great charges procured of the sayde Grand Signior in our name amitie safetie and freedome for trade and trafique of Marchandise to bee vsed and continued by our Subiects within his sayde Dominions whereby there is good and apparant hope and likelyhoode both that many good offices may bee done for the peace of Christendome and reliefe of many Christians that bee or may happen to bee in thraldome or necessitie vnder the sayde Grand Signior his vassals or Subiects and also good and profitable vent and vtterance may be had of the commodities of our Realme and sundry other great benefites to the aduancement of our honour and dignitie Royall the increase of the reuenues of our Crowne and generall wealth of our Realme Knowe ye that hereupon wee greatly tendering the wealth of our people and the incouragement of our Subiects in their good enterprises for the aduauncement of the Common weale haue of our speciall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion giuen and graunted and by these presents for vs our heires and successours doe giue and graunt vnto our sayd trustie and welbeloued Subiects Edward Osborne and vnto Thomas Smith of London Esquier Richard Staper and William Garret of London Marchants their executors and administrators and to the executours and administratours of them and of euery of them that they and euery of them and such other person and persons Englishmen borne not exceeding the number of twelue as they the sayde Edward and Richard shall appoint nominate or admit to be parteners aduenturers or doers with them the sayde Edward Thomas Richard and William in their societie by themselues their seruants Factours or deputies and to such others as shall bee nominated according to the tenour of these our letters Patents shall and may during the terme of seuen yeeres from the date of these Patents freely trade trafique and vse feates of Marchandise into and from the dominions of the sayde Grand Signior and euery of them in such order and maner forme liberties and condition to all intents and purposes as shal be betweene them limitted and agreed and not otherwise without any molestation impeachment or disturbance any Lawe statute vsage diuersitie of religion or faith or other cause or matter whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding And that it shal be lawful to the said Edward and Richard their executors and administrators during the said terme to appoint or admit to be parteners and aduenturers with them the sayde Edward Thomas Richard and William such persons not exceeding the number of twelue as afore is said to trafique and vse the said trade feate of marchandise according to our saide graunt And that all and euery such person and persons as shall hereafter fortune to bee appointed or admitted as parteners in the said trade or trafique according to these our letters patents shall and may from the time of such appointment or admittance haue and enioy the freedome and libertie of the said trade and trafique during the residue of the said terme of seuen yeeres accordâ—ng to such limitation and agreement as is aforesaide and that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the saide Edward Thomas Richard and William their executours and administratours seruants factours and deputies and all such as shall be so appointed nominated or admitted to bee parteners or aduenturers in the saide trade or so many of them as can and will to assemble themselues for or about any the matters causes affaires or businesse of the saide trade in any place or places for the same conuenient from time to time during the said terme of 7. yeres within our dominions or elsewhere and to make ordeine and constitute reasonable lawes and ordinances for the good gouernment of the said Company and for the better aduancement and continuance of the said trade and trafique not being contrary or repugnant to the lawes estatutes or customes of our Realme and the same lawes or ordinances so made to put in vse and execute accordingly and at their pleasures to reuoke the same lawes and ordinances or any of them as occasion shall require And in consideration that the said Edward Osborne hath bene the principall setter foorth and doer in the opening putting in vre of the said trade we do therfore especially ordeine constitute and prouide by these patents that the saide Edward Osborne shall be gouernour of all such as by vertue of these our letters patents shall be parteners aduenturers or trafiquers in the said trade during the said terme of seuen yeeres if hee so long liue And that if the said Edward shall happen to decease during the saide terme the saide Richard Staper then liuing then the sayd Richard Staper shall likewise be gouernour during the residue of the said terme if he so long liue and that if the said Edward and Richard shall both happen to decease during the said terme then the partners or aduenturers for the time being or the greatest part of them shall from time to time as necessitie shall require choose and elect a gouernour of the said Company Prouided alwayes that if there shall happen any great or vrgent occasion to remooue or displace any person that shall be gouernour of the saide fellowship that then it shall and may be lawfull for vs our heires and successours to remooue and displace euery such gouernour and to place another of the said fellowship in the same office during such time as such person should haue enioyed the same according to this our graunt if there had bene no cause to the contrary And we further for vs our heires and successors of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion do graunt to the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret their executors and administrators that nothing shall bee done to be of force or validitie touching the sayde trade or trafique or the exercise thereof without or against the consent of the said Edward during such time as hee shall bee Goâ—ernour as afore is saide And after that
time without the consent of the Gouernour for the time being and the more part of the said Company And further wee of our more ample and abundant grace meere motion and certaine knowledge haue graunted and by these patenâ—s for vs our heires and successors doe graunt to the saide Edward Thomas Richard and William their executors and administrators that they the saide Edward Thomas Richard and Willam their executors and administrators and the said person and persons by them the said Edward and Richard to be nominated or appointed as afore is said together with such two other persons as wee our heires or successors from time to time during the sayd terme shall nominate shall haue the whole trade and trafique and the whole entire onely libertie vse and priuilege of trading and trafiquing and vsing feate of marchandise into and from the said dominions of the said Grand Signior and euery of them And when there shall be no such persons so nominated or appointed by vs our heires or successors that then the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret their executors and administrators and such persons by them so to be appointed shall haue the saide whole trade and trafique and the whole entire and onely libertie vse and priuilege of trading and trafiquing aforesaid And that they the said Edward Thomas Richard and William their executors administrators and also al such as shal so be nominated or appointed to be partners or aduenturers in the said trade according to such agreement as is abouesaid and euery of them their seruants factors and deputies shal haue ful and free authoritie libertie facultie licence and power to trade and trafique into and from all and euery the saide dominions of the saide Grand Signior and into and from all places where by occasion of the said trade they shall happen to arriue or come whether they be Christians Turkes Gentiles or other and into and from all Seas riuers ports regions territories dominions coastes and places with their ships barks pinâ—esses and other vessels and with such mariners and men as they will lead with them or send for the said trade as they shall thinke good at their owne proper cost and expenses any law statute vsage or matter whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding And that it shal be lawful for the said Edward Thomas Richard and William and to the persons aforesaid and to and for the mariners and seamen to bee vsed and employed in the said trade and voyage to set and place in the tops of their ships and others vessels the armes of England with the red crosse ouer the same as heretofore they haue vsed the red crosse any matter or thing to the contrary notwithstanding And we of our further royal fauor and of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion haue graunted and by these presents doe graunt to the said Edward Osbâ—rne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret their executors and administrators by these presents that the said lands territories and dominions of the said Grand Signior or any of them shall not be visited frequented nor haunted by way of marchandise by any other our subiects during the said terme contrary to the true meaning of these patents And by vertue of our high prerogatiue royall which wee will not haue argued or brought in question we straightly charge and commaund and prohibite for vs our heires and successours all our subiects of what degree or qualitie soeuer they be that none of them directly or indirectlâ— do visite haunt frequent or trade trafique or aduenture by way of marchandise into or from any of the Dominions of the sayde Grand Signior or other places abouesayde by water or by lande other then the said Edward Thomas Richard and William their executours or administrators or such as shal be admitted and nominated as is aforesaide without expresse licence agreement and consent of the said Gouernour and company or the more part of them whereof the said Gouernour alwayes to be one vpon paine of our high indignation and of forfeiâ—nre and losse as well of the ship and shippes with the furniture thereof as also of the goods marchandizes and things whatsoeuer they be of those our Subiects which shall attempt or presume to saile trafique or aduenture to or from any the dominions or places abouesaid contrary to the prohibition aforesaid the one halfe of the same forfeiture to be to the vse of vs our heires successors and the other halfe to the vse of the said Edward Thomas Richard and William and the said companie and further to suffer imprisonment during our pleasure and such other punishment as to vs for so high contempt shal seeme meete and conuenient And further of our grace speciall certaine knowledge and meere motion we haue condescended and graunted and by these patents for vs our heires and successors doe condescend and grant to the said Edward Thomas Richard William their executors and administrators that we our heires successors during the said terme will not grant liberty licence or power to any person or persons whatsoeuer contrary to the tenor of these our letters patents to saile passe trade or trafique into or from the said dominions of the said Grand Signior or any of them without the coÌ„sent of the said Edward Thomas Richard William and such as shal be named or appointed as afore is said or the most of them And that if at any time hereafter during the said terme y e said Edward Thomas Richard and William or the suruiuors of them shal admit or nominate any of our subiects to be partners aduenturers in the said trade to the number of 12. or vnder as afore is said that then we our heires and successors at the instance and petition of the said Edward Thomas Richard and William or the suruiuors of them in our Chauncerie to be made and vpon the sight of these presents will grant and make to the said Edward Thomas Richard and William or to the suruiuors of them and to such persons as so shall be nominated or appointed by their speciall names surnames additions as is aforesaid new letters patents vnder the great seale of England in due forme of law with like agreement clauses prohibitions prouisoes and articles mutatis mutandis as in these our letters patents are conteined for and during the residue of the said terme of seuen yeres then remaining vnexpired And that the sight of these presents shal be sufficient warrant to the Lord Chancellour or Lord keeper of the great seale for the time being for the making sealing and passing of such new letters patents without further writ or warrant for the same to be required had or obtained And the said Edward Osburne Thomas Smith and Richard Staper and William Garret and such others as shal be so nominated and appointed as is aforesaid to be of their trade or companie shall yeerely during 6. of the last yeres of
the said 7. yeres lade out of this our Realme and bring home yâ—erely for and in the feare and trade of marchandizing aforesaid so much goods and marchandizes as the custome and subsidie inwards and outwards shall amount in the whole to the summe of 500. li. yeerely So that the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret and the said persons so to be nominated as is aforesaid or any of them or their ship or shippes be not barred slayed restrained or let by any reasonable occasion from the sayde trade or trafique and so that the said ship or ships do not perish by any misfortune or bee spoyled by the way in their voyage And further the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret and such others as shall be appointed as aforesaide to be of their saide trade or Company shall giue notice vnto the Lord Admirall of England or to some of the principall officers of the Admiraltie for the time being of such ship or shippes as they shall set foorth in the same voyage and of the number of Mariners appointed to goe in the same ship or shippes by the space of fifteene dayes before the setting or going foorth of the same ship or shippes And also the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret and such other as shall be by them the saide Edward and Richard nominated to be of the said trade shall and will at the setting foorth of their ship or shippes for the same voyage permit and suffer the Master of the Ordinance of vs our heires and successors or some others our or their principall officers of the Ordinance to take a view of the number and quantitie of such Ordinance powder and munition as shall be caried in the said ship or shippes and shall also at the returne of the same ship or shippes suffer a view to be taken and vpon request made make an accompt to the saide officers of our Ordinance of the expenses and wastes of the said Ordinance powder and munition so to bee caried in the same ship or shippes Prouided alwayes that if any of the said trade or Company or their seruants factors or sailers in any ship by them laden shall commit any piracie or outrage vpon the seas and that if the said Company or societie shall not or do not within reasonable time after complaint made or notice giuen to the said Company or to any of them either satisfie or recompense the parties that so shall fortune to be robbed or spoiled by any of the said Company or sailers in the said ships or els shall not do their endeuour to the vttermost of their reasonable power to haue the parties so offending punished for the same their offences that then and from thencefoorth these present letters patents shall be vtterly voyd cease and determine Prouided likewise that if it shall hereafter appeare vnto vs our heires or successors that this grant or the continuance thereof in the whole or in any part thereof shall not be profitable to vs our heires our successors or to this our Realme that then and fromthencefoorth vpon and after one full yeeres warning to be giuen vnto the said Company or to the Gouernour thereof by vs our heires or successors this present grant shall cease be voyd and determine to all intents constructions and purposes Prouided also that we our heires and successors from time to time during the said 7. yeeres may lawfully nominate appoint and authorise two persons being fit men to be of the saide company and for want or lacke of them two others to be aduenturers in the said trade for such stocke and summe of money as they shall put in so that the said persons to bee nominated or authorised shall be contributorie to all charges of the said trade aduenture indifferently according to their stockes and as other aduenturers of the said trade shall doe for their stockes and so that likewise they doe obserue the orders of the said Company allowable by this our graunt and that such persons so to be appointed by vs our heires or successors shall and may with the saide Company and fellowship vse the trade and feate of marchandise aforesaide and all the liberties and priuileges herein before granted according to the meaning of these our letters patents any thing in these our letters patents contained to the contrary notwithstanding And further of our speciall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion we haue condescended and granted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe condescend and grant to the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret their executors and administrators that if at the ende of the said terme of seuen yeeres it shall seeme meete and conuenient vnto the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret or the suruiuer of them that this present grant shall be continued and if that also it shall appeare vnto vs our heires or successors that the continuance thereof shall not be preiudiciall or hurtfull to this our Realme that then we our heires or successors at the instance and petition of the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret or the suruiuer of them to be made to vs our heires or successors wil grant and make to the said Edward Thomas Richard and William or the suruiuer of them and to such other persons as so shal be by the said Edward and Richard nominated and appointed new letters patents vnder the great seale of England in due forme of lawe with like couenants grants clauses and articles as in these presents are contained or with addiâ—ion of other necessary articles or change of these in some part for and during the full terme of seuen yeeres then next following Willing and sâ—raightly commanding and charging all and singuler our Admirals Uiceadmirals Iustices Maiors Sheriffes Escheaters Constables Bailiffes and all and singuler our other officers ministers liege men and subiects whatsoeuer to be aiding fauouring helping and assisâ—ing vnto the said Gouernour and company and their successors and to their Deputies officers seruants assignes and ministers and euery of them in executing and enioying the premisses as well on land as on sea from time to time and at all times when you or any of you shall be thereunto required any statute act ordinance prouiso proclamation or restraint heretofore had made set forth ordained or prouided or any other matter cause or thing to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our letters to be made patents witnesse our selfe at Westminster the 1â— day of September in the 23. yeere of our raigne The first voyage or iourney made by Master Laurence Aldersey Marchant of London to the Cities of Ierusalem and Tripolis c. In the yeere 1581. Penned and set downe by himselfe I Departed from London the first day of April in the yeere of our Lord 1581
they saw it was in vaine for them to stay and therefore set vp sayles and by Gods prouidence auoyded all danger brought home the rest of their goods and came thence with all expedition and God be thanked arriued safely in England neere London on Wednesday being the 8 day of Iune 1585. In which their returne to England the Spaniards that they brought with them offered fiue hundred crownes to be set on shore in any place which seeing the Maister would not doe they were coutent to be ruled by him and his companie and craued mercie at their hands And after Master Foster demaunded why they came in such sort to betray and destroy them the Corrigidor answered that it was not done onely of themselues but by the commandement of the king himselfe and calling for his hose which were wet did plucke foorth the kings Commission by which he was authorized to doe all that he did The Copie whereof followeth being translated out of Spanish The Spanish kings commission for the generall imbargment or arrest of the English c. LIcentiat de Escober my Corigidor of my Signorie of Biskay I haue caused a great fleete to be put in readinesse in the hauen of Lisbone and the riuer of Sâ—uill There is required for the Souldiers armour victuals and munition that are to bee imployed in the same great store of shipping of all sortes against the time of seruice and to the end there may be choise made of the best vpon knowledge of their burden and goodnesse I doe therefore require you that presently vpon the arriuall of this carrier and with as much dissimulation as may be that the matter may not be knowen vntill it be put in execution you take order for the staying and arresting with great foresight of all the shipping that may be found vpon the coast and in the portes of the sayd Signorie excepting none of Holand Zeland Easterland Germanie England and other Prouinces that are in rebellion against mee sauing those of France which being litle and of small burden and weake are thought vnfit to serue the turne And the stay being thus made you shall haue a speciall care that such marchandize as the sayd shippes or huâ—kes haue brought whether they be all or part vnladen may bee taken out and that the armour munition tackels sayles and victuals may be safely bestowed as also that it may be well foreseene that none of the shippes or men may escape away Which things being thus executed you shall aduertise me by an expresse messenger of your proceeding therein And send me a plaine and diâ—tinct declaration of the number of ships that you shall haue so stayed in that coast and partes whence euery one of them is which belong to my Rebels what burthen goods there are and what number of men is in euery of them and what quantitie they haue of armour ordinance munition victuals tacklings and other necessaries to the end that vpon sight hereof hauing made choise of such as shall be fit for the seruice we may further direct you what ye shall do In the meane time you shall presently see this my commandement put in execution and if there come thither any more ships you shall also cause them to be stayed and arrested after the same order vsing therein such care and diligence as may answere the trust that I repose in you wherein you shall doe me great seruice Dated at Barcelona the 29 of May. 1585. And thus haue you heard the trueth and manner thereof wherein is to be noted the great courage of the maister and the louing hearts of the seruants to saue their master from the daunger of death yea and the care which the master had to saue so much of the owners goods as hee might although by the same the greatest is his owne losse in that he may neuer trauell to those parts any more without the losse of his owne life nor yet any of his seruantes for if hereafter they should being knowen they are like to taste of the sharpe torments which are there accustomed in their Holy-house And as for their terming English shippes to be in rebellion against them it is sufficiently knowen by themselues and their owne consciences can not denie it but that with loue vnitie and concord our shippes haue euer beene fauourable vnto them and as willing to pleasure their King as his subiectes any way willing to pleasure English passengers The Letters patents or priuiledges granted by her Maiestie to certaine Noble men and Marchants of London for a trade to Barbarie in the yeere 1585. ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. to the Treasurer Barons of our Eschequer and to al Maiors shirifs constables customers collectors of our customes and subsidies controllers searchers and keepers of our hauens and creekes ports and passages within this our realme of England and the dominions of the same and to al our officers ministers and subiects and to all other whosoeuer to whom it shall or may appertaine and to euery of them greeting Whereas it is made euidently and apparantly knowen vnto vs that of late yeeres our right trustie and right welbeloued councellors Ambrose Erle of Warwike and Robert Erle of Leicester and also our louing and naturall subiects Thomas Starkie of our citie of London Alderman Ierard Gore the elder and all his sonnes Thomas Gore the elder Arthur Atie gentleman Alexander Auenon Richard Staper William Iennings Arthur Dawbeney William Sherington Thomas Bramlie Anthony Garrard Robert How Henry Colthirst Edward Holmden Iohn Swinnerton Robert Walkaden Simon Lawrence Nicholas Stile Oliuer Stile William Bond Henrie Farrington Iohn Tedcastle Walter Williams William Brune Iohn Suzan Iohn Newton Thomas Owen Roger Afield Robert Washborne Reinold Guy Thomas Hitchcocke George Lydiat Iohn Cartwright Henry Paiton Iohn Boldroe Robert Bowyer Anthonie Dassell Augustine Lane Robert Lion and Thomas Dod all of London Marchants now trading into the Countrey of Barbary in the parts of Africa vnder the gouernment of Muly Hammet Sheriffe Emperor of Marocco and king of Fesse and Sus haue sustained great and grieuous losses and are like to sustaine greater if it should not be preuented In tender coÌ„sideration whereof and for that diuers Marchandize of the same Countries are very necessary and conuenient for the vse and defence of this our Realme of England and for diuers other causes vs specially mouing minding the reliefe and benefite of our said subiects and the quiet trafique and good gouernment to be had and vsed among them in their said trade of our speciall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion haue giuen and granted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe giue and grant vnto the saide Earles of Warwike and Leicester Thomas Starkie Ierard Gore the elder Arthur Atie gentleman Alexander Auenon Richard Staper William Iennings Arthur Dawbenie William Sherington Thomas Bramlie Anthonie Gerrard Robert Howe Henry
prouince of Tlapa to the riuer of Tlacolula For they may as I haue sayd carâ—â—e the timber in lighters or rafts downe the riuers and may vse the Indians in the townes thereabout to fell and draw the same out of the cold mountaines for in the warme countreyes the most is plaine ground whereas with very fewe men and oxen it may be brought vnto the place where it should be imbarqued There may come flat bottomes and canoas vnto the townes thereabout and lade themselues with victuals For they haue already come by that riuer to the rode of Ometepec made there prouision at the mansion of Don Mattheo and at the farmes at that time when his Maiestie did people the plaines which are betweene these riuers conteining a large and voyde countrey sufficient for the erecting of 20. manours being a countrey well furnished with water and pasture without any danger or perill according to the description hereunto annexed This small harbour of Tecuanapa being seene and viewed seemeth very commodious for to build shippes in by reason of the great abundance of mountaines full of good timber for that purpose with the commodities of riuers and with the seruice and victuals from the townes thereabout which be very good for coast townes The desire of him that made this relation hath bene with zeale to serue your excellencie who therewithall desireth the Lord God to giue the successe THE PRINCIPAL VOYAGES OF the English Nation to the Isles of Trinidad Margarita Dominica Deseada Monserrate Guadalupe Martinino and all the rest of the Antilles As likewise to S. Iuan de Puerto rico to Hispaniola Iamaica and Cuba and also to Tierra firma and all along the coast and Islands therof euen from Cumana and the Caracoâ— to the neckland of Dariene and ouer it to the Gulfe of S. Michael and the Isle of Perles in the South sea and further to Cabeça Catiua Nombre de dios and Venta de cruzes to Puerto Belo Rio de Chagre and the Isle of Escudo along the maine of Beragua to the Cape and Gulfe of the Honduras to Truxillo Puerto de cauallos and all other the principall Townes Islands and harbours of accompt within the said Gulfe and vp Rio dolce falling into this Gulfe aboue 30. leagues As also to the Isle of Coçumel and to Cape Cotoâ—he the towne of Campeche and other places vpon the land of Iucatan and lower downe to S. Iuan de Vllua Vera Cruz Rio de Panuco Rio de Palmas c. within the bay of Mexico and from thence to the Isles of the Tortugas the port of Hanana the Cape of Florida and the Gulfe of Bahama homewards With the taking sacking ransoming or burning of most of the principall Cities and townes vpon the coasts of Tierra sirma Nueua Espanna and all the foresaid Islands since the most traiterous burning of her Maiesties ship the Iesus of Lubeâ— and murthering of her Subiects in the port of S. Iuan de Vllua and the last generall arrest other Highnesse people with their ships and goods throughout all the dominions of the King of Spaine in the moneth of Iune 1585. Besides the manifold and tyrannicall oppressions of the Inquisition inflicted on our nation vpon most light and friuolous occasionâ— The voyage of Sir Thomas Pert and Sebastian Cabot about the eight yeere of King Henry the eight which was the yere 1516. to Brasil Santo Domingo and S. Iuan de Puerto rico THat learned and painefull writer Richard Eden in a certaine Epistle of his to the duke of Northumberland before a worke which he translated out of Munster in the yeere 1553 called A treatiâ—e of new India maketh mention of a voyage of discouerie vndertaken out of England by sir Thomas Pert and Sebastian Cabota about the 8. yere of King Henry the eight of famous memorie imputing the ouerthrow thereof vnto the cowardise and want of stomack of the said Sir Thomas Pert in maner following If manly courage saith he like vnto that which hath bene seene proued in your Grace as well in forreine realmes as also in this our countrey had not bene wanting in other in these our dayes at such time as our soueraigne lord of famous memorie king Henry the 8. about the same yeere of his raigne furnished and sent out certaine shippes vnder the gouernance of Sebastian Cabot yet liuing and one sir Thomas Pert whose faint heart was the cause that the voyage tooke none effect it I say such manly courage whereof wee haue spoken had not at that time beene wanting it might happily haue come to passe that that rich treasurie called Perularia which is nowe in Spaine in the citie of Siuill and so named for that in it is kept the infinite riches brought thither from the newfound land of Peru might long since haue beene in the â—ower of London to the kings great honour and wealth of this realme Hereunto that also is to bee referred which the worshipfull M. Robert Thorne wrote to the sayde king Henry the 8. in the yeere 1527. by doctor Leigh his ambassadour sent into Spaine to the Emperour Charles the fift whose wordes bee these Now rest to be discouered the North parts the which it seemeth vnto me is onely your highnes charge and dutie because the situation of this your realme is thereunto neerest and aptest of all other and also for that already you haue taken it in hand And in mine opinion it will not seeme well to leaue so great and profitable an enterprise seeing it may so easily and with so litle cost labour and danger be followed and obteined Though hitherto your grace haue made thereof a proofe found not the commoditie thereby as you trusted at this time it shal be none impediment for there may be now prouided remedies â—or things then lacked and the inconueniences and lets remooued that then were cause your graces desire tooke no full effect which is the courses to be changed and to follow the aforesayd new courses And concerning the mariners ships and prouiâ—ion an order may be deuised and taken meeâ—e and conuenient much better then hitherto by reason whereof by Gods grace no doubt youâ— purpose shall take effect And whereas in the aforesayd wordes M. Robert Thorne sayth that he would haue the old courses to bee changed and the newe courses to the North to be followed It may plainely be gathered that the former voyage whereof twise or thrise he maketh mention wherein it is like that sir Thomas Pert and Sebastian Cabot were set foorth by the king was made towarde Brasill and the South parts Moreouer it seemeth that Gonsaluo de Ouiedo a famous Spanish writer assudeth vnto the sayde voyage in the beginning of the 13. chapter of the 19. booke of his generall and natural historie of the West Indies agreeing very well with the time about which Richard Eden writeth that the foresaid voyage was begun The authors wordes are these as I finde them translated
naturam bubali quia si vident hominem indutum rubeis insiliunt in eum volentes interficere Post illos sunt Tebet homines solentes comedere parentes suos defunctos vt causa pietatis non facerent aliud sepulchrum eis nisi viscera sua Modo â—amen hoc dimiserunt quia abominabiles erant omni nationi Tamen adhuc faciunt pulchros ciphos de capitibus parentum vt illis bibentes habeant memoriam eorum in iocuâ—ditate sua Hoc dixit mihi qui viderat Isti habent multum de auro in terra sua Vnde qui indiget auro fodit donec reperiat accipiat quando indiget residuum condens in terra quia si reponeret in arca vel in thesauro crederet quod Deus aâ—feâ—ret ei aliud quod est in terra De istis hominibus vidi personas multum deformes Tangut vidi homines magnos sed fuscos Iugures sunt mediocris staturae sicut nostri Apud Iugures est fons radix ideomatis Turci Comanici Post Tebet sunt Langa Solanga quorum nuncios vidi in curia Qui adduxerant magnas bigas plusquam decem quarum quaelibet trahebatur sex bobus Isti sunt parui homines fusci sicut Hispani habent tunicas si cut supertunicale diaconi manicis parum strictioribus habent in capitibus mitras sicut episcopi Sed pars anterior est parum interior quà m posterior non terminatur in vnum angulum sed sunt quadrae desuper sunt de stramine rigidato per calorem magnum limato in tantum quod fulget ad radium solis sicut speculum vel galea bene burnita Et circa tempora habent longas bendas de eadem materia assutas ipsi mitrae quae se extendunt ad ventum sicut duo cornua egredientia de temporibus Et quando ventus nimis iactat eas plicant eas per medium mitrae superius à tempore in tempus iacent sicut circulus ex transuerso capitis Et principalis nuncius quando veniebat ad curiam habebat tabulam de dente elephantino ad longitudinem vnius cubiti ad latitudinem vnius palmi rasam multum Et quandocunque loquebatur ipsi Cham vel alicui magno viro semper aspiciebat in illam tabulam acsi inueniret ibi ea quae dicebat nec respiciebat ad dextram vel sinistram nec in faciem illius cui loquebatur Etiam accedens coram domino recedens nusquam respicit nisi in tabulam suam Vltra istos sunt alij homines vt intellexi pro vero qui dicuntur Muc qui habent villas sed nulla animalia sibi appropriant tamen sunt multi greges multa armenta in terra ipsorum nullus custodit ea Sed cum aliquis indiget aliquo ascendit collem clamat omnia animalia audientia clamorem accedunt circa illum permitâ—unt se tractari quasi domestica Et si nuncius vel aliâ—uis extraneus accedat ad regionem illam ipsi includunt eum in domo ministrant ei necessaria donâ—â— negocium eius fuerit expeditum Quia si iret extraneus per regionem animalia ad odorem eius fugerent efficerentur syluestria Vltra est magna Cathaya cuius incolae antiquitus vt credo dicebantur Seres Ab ipsis enim veniunt optimi pannâ— serici Et ille populus dicitur Seres a quodam oppido eorum Bene intellexi quod in illa regione est oppidum habens muros argenteos propugnacula aurea In ista terra sunt multae prouinciae quarum plures adhuc non obediunt Moallis Et inter* Aliqua desiderantur The iournal of frier William de Rubruquis a French man of the order of the minorite friers vnto the East parts of the worlde An. Dom. 1253. TO his most Soueraigne most Christian Lord Lewis by Gods grace the renowmed king of France frier William de Rubruk the meanest of the Minorites order wisheth health coÌ„tinual triumph in CHRIST It is written in the booke of Ecclesiasticus concerning the wise man He shall trauell into forren countries and good and euill shall he trie in all things The very same action my lord and king haue I atchieued howbeit I wish that I haue done it like a wise man and not like a foole For many there be that performe the same action which a wise man doth not wisely but more vndiscreetly of which number I feare my selfe to be one Notwithstanding howsoeuer I haue done it because you commanded mee when I departed from your highnes to write all things vnto you which I should see among the Tartars and you wished me also that I should not feare to write long letters I haue done as your maiestie inioined me yet with feare and reuerence because I want wordes and eloquence sufficient to write vnto so great a maiestie Be it knowen therefore vnto your sacred Maiestie that in the yeare of our Lord 1253. about the Nones of May we entered into the sea of Pontus which the Bulgarians call the great sea It containeth in length as I learned of certaine merchants 1008 miles and is in a maner diuided into two parts About the midst thereof are two prouinces one towards the North and another towards the South The South prouince is called Synopolis and it is the castle and porte of the Soldan of Turkie but the North prouince is called of the Latines Gasaria of the Greeks which inhabite vpon the sea shore thereof it is called Cassaria that is to say Caesaria And there are certaine head lands stretching foorth into the sea towards Synopolis Also there are 300. miles of distance betweene Synopolis and Cassaria Insomuch that the distance from those points or places to Constantinople in length and breadth is about 700. miles and 700. miles also from thence to the East namely to the countrey of Hiberia which is a prouince of Georgia At the prouince of Gasaria or Cassaria we arriued which prouince is in a maner three square hauing a citie on the West part thereof called Kersoua wherein S. Clement suffered martyrdome And sayling before the said citie we sawe an island in which a Church is sayd to be built by the hands of angels But about the midst of the said prouince toward the South as it were vpon a sharpe angle or point standeth a citie called Soldaia directly ouer against Synopolis And there doe all the Turkie merchants which traffique into the North countries in their iourney outward arriue and as they returne homeward also from Russia and the said Northerne regions into Turkie The foresaid merchants transport thither ermines and gray furres with other rich and costly skinnes Others carrie cloathes made of cotton or bombast and silke and diuers kindes of spices But vpon the East part of the said prouince standeth a
our selues or of any appertayning vnto vs but that our inclinations and desires in this regarde are all one and the same neither would we lightly transgresse the limits of your perswasions without some iust weighty reasonable cause forasmuch as the matters perswaded are in very deede most happy preseruatiues of a common weale yea of nature it selfe Moreouer whereas your highnes hath farther requested vs that the prohibition of your subiects accesse vnto our dominions might vntill the feast of Easter next ensuing be released we answere vnder correction of your maiesties more deliberate counsell that it is farre more expedient for both parts to haue the sayd prohibition continued then released vntil such time as satisfaction be performed on both sides vnto the parties endamaged not in words only but actually really in deeds or by some course of law or friendly composition For there is no equall nor indifferent kinde of consort or trade between the impouerished party and him that is inriched betweene the partie which hath obtayned iustice and him that hath obtayned none between the offender and the party offended because they are not mooued with like affections For the remeÌ„brance of iniuries easily stirreth vp inconsiderate motions of anger Also such a kind of temperature or permixtion as it were by way of contrariety breedeth more bitternes then sweetnes more hate then loue whereupon more grieuous complaints aswel vnto your highnes as vnto our selues might be occasioned The lord knoweth that euen now we are too much wearied and disquieted with the importunate and instant complaints of our subiects insomuch that wee cannot at this present by any conuenient meanes release or dissolue the sayd prohibition before wee be sufficiently informed by your maiesties ambassadors of the satisfaction of our endamaged subiects Furthermore whereas your maiesties request concerning your subiects that shal come vnto the parts of Sconia is that we would defend them vnder our protection be it knowen vnto your highnes that for diuers considerations vs reasonably mouing being prouoked by the queene of Denmarke and her people being also vrged thereunto full sore against our wils for the repelling and auoiding of iniuries we haue sent forth our armie against them Howbeit for a certaine time a â—ruce is concluded on both parts so that our people are actually returned home Farre be it from vs also that our subiects being occupied in warres should in any sort willingly molest or reproch any strangers of what landes or nations soeuer not being our professed enemies For this should be to oppresse the innocent in stead of the guilty to condemne the iust for the vniust then which nothing can be more cruel nor a reuenge of greater impietie In very deede most gracious prince and lorde we are mouâ—d with right hearty sympathy and compassion for any inconuenience which might happen in your regiment wishing from the bottome of our hearts that all affayres may right prosperously and happily succeede about the royall person and regiment of your most excellent Maiestie and that continually The like whereof wee hope from you most humbly commending our selues and our whole Order vnto your highnes Giuen at our castle of Marienburgh the 16. day the moneth of Iuly in the yere of our Lord 1404. An agreement made betweene king Henry the fourth and Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of the land of Prussia THis Indentnre made between Sir William Esturmy knight Iohn Kington clerke and William Brampton citizen of London the ambassadors commissioners messengers of the most mighty prince and lord our souereigne lord Henrie by the grace of God king of England and France and lorde of Ireland for the repayring reformaâ—ion and amâ—nds of whatsoeuer damages grieuances excesses violences and iniuries in any sort vniustly attempted done or offered by our sayd soueraigne lord the king and his liege people and subiects vnto the great and mighty lord Conradus de Iungingen Master general of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospitall of Ierusalem or his subiects and for the requiring demanding and receiuing of such like reparations reformations amends by the foresayd lord the Master generall for the behalfe of himselfe or any of his subiects whatsoeuer from in the name of our soueraign lord the king his subiects vnto the sayd Master general into his land of Prussia by our souereigne lord the king appointed as ambassadors on the one party And betweene the hono Lords and religious personages Conradus de Lichtenstein great commander Warnherus de Tetâ—ingen chiefe hospitalary commaÌ„der in Elbing Arnold de Hacken treasurer the procurators commissioners of the great mighty lord the Master general being in like equal sort and in all respects as the ambassadours of England are authorized on the contrary side by the authoritie and power of the sayd Master general on the other part witnesseth That diuers treaties conferences being holden between the said ambassadors messengers procurators or coÌ„missioners of concerning the reparations reformations amends of certaine damages grieuances excesses violences iniuries offered and attempted aswel by the Prussians against the English as by the English against the Prussians and of other actes vniustly committed on both parts in conclusion after the sayd treatise the foresayd ambassadours procurators and commissioners by vertue of the authority committed vnto them appoynted and with one consent agreed vnto the articles vnder written Inprimis that for the consideration of mutuall loue and woonted friendship and of peace and tranquillity hereafter to be continued and maintained and also that the articles vnderwritten may more prosperously be brought vnto a wished effect between our said soueraign lord the king his liege people subiects the subiects people inhabitants of the territories and dominions of the foresayd lord the Master generall it is agreed and concluded that all liege marchants of England whatsoeuer shall haue free licence and libertie to arriue with their shippes goods and marchandises whatsoeuer at any Porte of the land of Prussia and also the sayd goods and marchandises farther vnto any place of the sayd land of Prussia to transport and there with any person or persons freely to contract and bargaine euen as heretofore and from auncient times it hath bene accustomed Which liberty in all respects is granted vnto the Prussians in England Item it is farther agreed betweene the sayd ambassadours procurators and commissioners that whereas of late namely in the yeare of our lord 1403 the sayd Master general by his discreet subiects Iohn Godek of Dantzik and Henry Monek of Elbing his ambassadors messengers for this purpose hath caused certain articles namely 20 in number containing in them matters of damages molestations violences and iniuries committed and offered against the said Master generall his subiects by our sayd soueraigne lord the king his subiects liege people to be exhibited giuen vp and deliuered vnto our lord the king
statutes ordinations and prohibitions al English marchants whatsoeuer resorting vnto the land of Prussia must be firmely bounden and subiect Also it is ordained that whatsoeuer sale-clothes are already transported or at any time hereafter to bee transported out of England into Prussia by the English marchants and shall there be offered to bee solde whether they be whole cloathes or halfe cloathes they must containe both their endes Lastly that the matters aboue-mentioned fall not short and voyde of their wished effect the treaty and conference about all and singular damages and grieuances whereof there is not as yet done but there must be by the vertue of these presents performed a reformation and amendment must be continued and proroged vntill the first of May next ensuing as by these presents they are continued and proroged with the continuation of the dayes then immediately following at the towne of Dordract aforesaide at the which time and place or at other times and places in the meane space as occasion shall serue by both parties to be limited and assigned or else within oue yeere after the said first day of the moneth of May next ensuing bee expired the hurt and damaged parties generally before-mentioned shall haue performed vuto them a conuenient iust and reasonable reformation on both partes Prouided alwayes if within the terme of the saide yeere some conuenient iust and reasonable reformation bee not performed vnto the parties iniuried and endamaged which are generally aboue mentioned that then within three whole moneths after the foresaid yere shall expired the Prussians shall depart out of the realmes and dominions of the saide Soueraigne Lorde the king of England together with their marchandize and with other goods which they shal haue gotten or bought within the space of the foresaide three moneths and that the English men also are likewise in all respects bounden to auoid and no lawfull impediment hindering them to withdrawe themselues and to depart out of the territories and dominions of the saide Master generall without all molestation◠perturbation and impediment whatsoeuer none other intimation or admonition being necessarie in this regard Howbeit least that by the robberies and piracies of some insolent and peruerse people matter should be ministred vnto the said lord the Master generall of swaruing from the faithfull obseruation of the foresaide agreements or which God forbid any occasion bee giuen him of not obseruing them it is also decreed by the often aboue mentioned Ambassadours and messengers that if the goods and marchandize of any of the saide lorde Master generall his subiectes whatsoeuer shall be from hencefoorth vniustly taken vpon the Sea by any English Pirates and shal be caried into the realme of England and there receiued that the Gouernours and keepers of portes and of other places with whatsoeuer names they be called at the which portes and places such marchandises and goods shall chaunce to arriue beeing onely informed of the saide goods and marchandises by sole report or other proofes wanting by probable suspition are bound to arrest and to keep them in safe custodie fauourably to be restored vnto the owners therof whensoeuer they shall be lawfully demaunded which if they shall omit or deny to performe from thenceforth the saide gouernours and keepers are bound to make vnto the parties endamaged a recompease of their losses And for fault of iustice to be executed by the said gouernours and keepers our soueraign lord the king aboue named after he shall conueniently be requested by the parties damnified is bound within three moneths next ensuing all lawfull impediments being excepted to make correspondent iust and reasonable satisfaction vnto the saide parties endamaged Otherwise that it shal be right lawfull for the saide lorde the Master generall to arrest and after the arrest to keepe in safe custodie the goods of the English marchants being in the land of Prussia to the condigne satisfaction of such iniuries as haue bene offered vnto his subiects vntill his said subiects be iustly and reasonably contented Likewise also in all respects the same iustice is to be done vnto the English by the said Lord the Master generall and his subiects in Prussia euen as it hath bene enacted and decreed in the aboue written clause beginning Caeterum ne per c. In English Howbeit least that c. for the said Master general and his subiects by the foresaide ambassadors of England and the commissioners of the said lord the Master generall that in like cases iustice ought to be administred on the behalfe of himselfe and of his subiects in the realme of England And that all and singular the couenants aboue written may in time to come by the parties whom they concerne firmly and inuiolably be obserued the forenamed ambassadors messengers and commissioners all and euery of them for the full credite probation and testimonie of all the premisses haue vnto these present Indentures made for the same purpose caused euerie one of their seales with their owne hands to be put One part of the which indentures remaineth in the custodie of the English ambassadors and the other part in the hands of the commissioners of Prussia Giuen at the castle of Marienburgh in Prussia in the yeere of our Lorde 1405. vpon the 8. day of the moneth of October An agreement made betweene King Henrie the fourth and the common societie of the Marchants of the Hans THis Indenture made betweene the honourable Sir William Esturmy knight and Iohn Kington clearke procurators messengers and commissioners sufficiently deputed and authorized by the most mighty Prince Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England France and lord of Ireland for the performation of y e things vnder written on the one part the hon personages M. Henry Vredeland M. Riman Salum chief notaries Thederic Knesuolt secretary M. Simō Clouesten chief notary and Iohn Zotebotter citizen being sufficiently made and ordained procurators and messengers on the behalfe of the cities of Lubec Bremen Hamburg Sund and Gripeswold for the demanding obtaining seuerally of due reformation and recompense at the hands of our saide souereigne lord the king and of his messengers and commissioners aforesayde for all iniuries damages grieuances and manslaughters any wayes vniustly done and offred seuerally by the liege people and subiects of our soueraigne lord the king vnto the common societie of the marchants of the Hans and vnto any of the Citizens people and inhabitants of the cities aforesaide whatsoeuer on the other part Witnesseth That betweene all and euery of the saide Procurators messengers and Commissioners by vertue of the authoritie committed vnto them it hath bene and is appointed concluded and decreed that the liege marchants and subiects of our said soueraigne lord the king and the marchants of the common societie of the Dutch Hans aforesaide from hencefoorth for one whole yeere and seuen moneths immediately next ensuing and following shal be permitted and licenced friendly freely and securely to exercise mutual traffike
by the saide gouernour as is saide may take their wages for their paines attendances vpon the said marchants according to the custome of the said countreis and as they haue bene accustomed to take of the said marchants before these presents by vs giuen and graunted And hereupon we haue giuen and doe giue expresse charge and commandement by vs and in our names to all our said subiects common marchants and mariners and to euery of them which shall frequent come remaine passe repaire or inhabite within the countreis aforesaid that they shall not make contract or bargaine sell or buy nor shall not cause any contract or bargaâ—ne to be made nor in the said countreis sell or buy any maner of wares goods or marchandises secretely nor openly by way of fraude barat or deceite whatsoeuer with any person or persons of what estate countrey or condition soeuer they be without he hath some of the said brokers at the bargain making to present report and to testifie the said contracts or bargains before the said gouernor or others if need require and strife or contention should grow therof betweene them nor to packe or cause to be packed any goods or marchandises belonging vnto them in packs bales or fardels coffers chests maunds dryfats or rowles without hauing some deputy present thereat nor to take or cause to be taken or set on worke in the said countreis any other brokers alnagers weighers folders or packers then the aforesaid so chosen admitted established and ordained by the saide gouernor hereto authorized in our name as it is said vnder paine of falling into and incurring of our displeasure and of forfeiture and confiscation of all such goods wares and marchandises which shal be found to haue passed by other hands or order then that or those which are before mentioned the fourth part of which forfeitures and confiscations shall be imployed to the repairing and maintenance of two chappels founded to the honour of Saint Thomas of Canterburie by our saide subiects in the townes of Bruges in Flanders and of Middleborough in Zeland the other fourth part to vs our vse the third fourth part to our said cousin of Burgundie or the natural Lord of the countrey wherein the saide goâ—ds shall be found and the fourth fourth part to him or them which shall discouer detect or finde out the saide fraude And also that none of our said subiects shall vnlade or cause to be vnladen vnder any colour nor otherwise nor vnpacke in the countreis abouesaide no kind of wares goods nor marchandises whatsoeuer which they shall bring or cause to bee brought into the couutreyes aforesaide comming out of our countrâ—yes dominions or obeysance without first and beforehand they make the gouernour or his deputies acquainted with their arriuall and craue leaue and deliuer shewe and declare their cockets that it may duely appeare that the saide goods and marchandises haue truly and lawfully payde vnto vs our rights and customes and not to vnpacke them but in the presence of the saide gouernour his lieuetenants or deputies vpon paine of forfaiture and confiscation of the saide goods in maner and forme before declared in the foresaide article And if it bee found by the visitation of the saide gouernor his lieuetenants or deputies that any goods wares or marchandises whatsoeuer be arriued and discharged in the countreis aforesaid belonging to our saide subiectes not lawfully customed and acquited towarde vs of our right and custome for which they cannot nor are not able to make any due proofe of our letters of coquet as is metioned or if they finde any other fraud we will we ordaine and we grant that the sayd gouernour his lieutenants or deputies may seaze vpon the sayd goods on our behalfe and may confiscate and forfeit the same distributing the same into foure parts in maner aforesayd And also wee will that euery one of the sayd packes fardels baskets maunds cofers tunnes bales roules and other furnitures and geare wherein the sayd marchandises shal be packed to be sent out of the said countreis shall not be laden vpon ships carts nor horses to come into our dominion without being first sealed with a seale ordayned by vs and giuen by the sayd gouernour vpon paine to be forfayted applyed and confiscated to vs and into our hand if they be found vnsigned and not sealed with the seale And for euery piece of marchandise which shall be sealed with the sayd seale they shall pay to the sayd sealer two pence of grosse money of Flanders which shall goe to the profite of the sayd gouernour And forasmuch as according to right and conscience we ought not to vse the labour trauels nor seruice of any man without waging paying and fully contenting him according to reason and equity especially when we doe appoint any person or persons to doe or cause to be done so great trauels labours busines and executions as these which are contayned in this present charter aswell for the benefit and profit of vs and our selues as for the holesome perfect good gouernment of our sayd subiects we by the good aduise and deliberation of the sayd lords of our priuie counsell haue granted and giuen and as before doe grant and giue of our sayd grace to the sayd William Obray our sayd seruant and gouernour abouenamed during our pleasure for part of his wages and fee of the sayd office one pennie of our money of England of the value of a liuer of grosse money of Flanders vpon al and singuler the goods wares and marchandises of our sayd subiects frequenting the sayd countreis to be leuyed gathered receiued and payed vnto the sayd William Obray or to his deputies vpon the sayd wares and marchandises belonging vnto our sayd said subiects buying and selling or which they shall cause to sell buy put away trucke or exchange in the countreys abouesaid aswell of the goods and marchandises which they shall bring or cause to be brought into the sayd countries as of all other goods which they shall lade and carie or cause to bee caried and conueyed out of those countreis into our dominion or elsewhere into any other part whatsoeuer And to cause the same to be gathered receiued leauied and payed we haue giuen and by these presents doe giue full power and speciall authoritie vnto the sayd William Obray and to his lieutenants and deputies aforesayd to leauy gather and cause to bee leauied and receiued the sayd money in forme and maner aboue mentioned to his profite and vse during our pleasure and to enioy and vse the same as his proper goods without any contradiction constraining and arresting if neede bee as well on land as on the water our said subiects their sayd goods and euery of them by way of law and iustice and to cause them to yeelde and pay the sayd money vpon the said goods and marchandises as is aforesayd For such is our pleasure and so will we haue it done without contradiction
or impeachment to him and his during our pleasure And also we will that the sayd William Obray ouer and aboue that which is sayd shall take gather and receiue of our sayd subiects from henceforth yearely during our pleasure all such and like wages and profits as he had and receiued of our sayd subiects in the yeare 1458 when hee held and exercised the said office of gouernour without diminishing or rebating any thing thereof notwithstanding this present augmentation made increased and done vnto him of our grace and fauour and that hee shall gather take and receiue the same in such forme and manner as the other money aboue mentioned is to be gathered And to the ende that the sayd William Obray may haue and take possession season and enterance of the said office of gouernour in our name we haue and doe place him by the deliuery of these presents in possession season and entrance of the said office and of the rights profits stipends wages and moneis aforesayd to begin to exercise the sayd office of gouernour in our name the first day of May next ensuing after the date of these presents for the sayd William Obray to hold and exercise practise and vse the same during our pleasure with the sayd wages moneys rights and profites aboue mentioned without any contradiction or impeachment And all and singular our subiects the common marchants and mariners which shall be contrary rebellious and disobedient to the said gouernour so ordayned by vs to his said lieutenants to the sayd iusticers so chosen or to any of them or to any of the statutes lawes decrees sentences ordinances and customes offices gifts and grants abouesayd let them grieuously be punished by the sayd gouernour or his lieutenants in this behalfe according to the quantity of their offences and the exigencie of the cases We doe sommon commaund straitly and expresly enioine by these presents all and euery our saide subiects that vnto the sayd gouernour so by vs ordained to his lieutenants attorneis or deputies and also to the said iusticers officers and ministers in all and euerie the things aforesaid and others any waie concerning in this behalfe our said ordinances their gouernmeÌ„t and rule the circumstances and dependances theron that they giue their attendance counsayle comfort oâ—edience and aide diligently without fault or difficulty surely safely fully and peaceably without doing inferring or inflicting or suffering to be done inferred or inflicted to them or any of them in body or goods any disturbance or impeachment in any maner whatsoeuer but rather if any thing bee done vnto them contrary and to the preiudice of these presents they shall remoue and cause the same to be remooued and that which shall be hindered they shall set at free deliuerance vpon payne to fall into and to incurre our high displeasure For such is our pleasure and so will wee haue it notwithstanding anie letters falsely crept in obtayned or to be obtayned contrary hereunto And you our subiects the common marchants and mariners so behaue your selues that you may receiue commendation of vs for your good obedience knowing that such as shall be found doing or to haue done the contrary we will see them so punished without redemption that they shall bee an example to all rebellious persons We pray and most instantly require in the ayde of equitie all others our friends allies and well-willers aswell princes and potentates as their iusticers officers lieutenants deputies commissaries and subiects and euery of them in regard of equitie that they would vouchsafe and that it would please them to giue doe and lend comfort ayde assistance and prisons if neede require to our sayd gouernour his lieutenants commissaries deputies iusticers others our officers and ministers aforesayd and herein wee pray them on our behalfe and in our owne name And it may please them herein to doe so much that we may haue occasion to thanke them and to accompt our selues beholding for the same and as they would that we should do for them in the like matter or in a greater which we will willingly doe if we be required thereunto by them In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our letters to bee made patents Witnes our selues at Westminster the sixteenth of April in the second yere our reigne A declaration of the Indies and lands discouered and subdued vnto the Emperour and the king of Portingal And also of other partes of the Indies and rich countries to be discouered which the worshipfull M. Robert Thorne merchant of London who dwelt long in the citie of Siuil in Spaine exhorted king Henrie the eight to take in hand MOST EXCELLENT PRINCE EXperience prooueth that naturally all princes bee destrous to extend and enlarge their dominions and kingdomes Wherefore it is not to be marueileâ— to see them euery day procure the same not regarding any cost perill and labour that may thereby chance but rather it is to be maruelled if there be any prince content to liue quiet with his owne dominions For surely the people would thinke he lacketh the noble courage and spirit of all other The world knoweth that the desires of Princes haue bene so feruent to obtaine their purpose that they haue aduentured and prooued things to mans coniecture impossible the which they haue made possible and also things difficult haue made facill and thus to obtaine their purpose haue in maner tnrned vp and downe the whole world so many times that the people inhabiting in the farthest region of the Occident haue pursued with great distresse labours and perils to penetrate and enter into the farthest regions of the Orient and in likewise those people of the said parts of the Orient haue had no lesse labour and desire to enter and penetrate into the farthest land of the Occident and so following their purchase haue not ceased vntill they could passe no farther by reason of the great seas This naturall inclination is cause that scarsely it may be said there is any kingdome stable nor king quiet but that his owne imagination or other princes his neighbours doe trouble him God and nature hath prouided to your Grace and to your gracious progenitors this Realme of England and set it in so fruitfull a place and within such limites that it should seeme to be a place quiet and aparted from all the foresayd desire One speciall cause is for that it is compassed with the Sea by reason therof it seemes this notwithstanding their desires and noble courages haue beene most commonly like vnto others and with marueilous great labours costes and perils they haue traueiled and passed the Seas making warre not onely with Kings and dominions nigh neighbours but also with them of farre countries and so haue woonne and conquered many rich and fayre dominions and amplified this your Graces Realme with great victory and glory And also now of late your Grace hauing like courage and desire and not without iust cause to enlarge this your kingdome and
Duâ—furth Master of the Considentia 10 Roger Wilson Masters mates 11 Iohn Buckland Masters mates 12 Richard Ingram Masters mates Exemplar Epistolae seu literarum Missiuarum quas illustrissimus Princeps Eduardus eius nominis Sextus Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex misit ad Principes Septentrionalem ac Orientalem mundi plagam inhabitantes iuxta mare glaciale nec non Indiam Orientalem Anno Domini 1553 Regni sui anno septimo vltimo EDuardus sextus Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex c. Omnibus Regibus principibus ac dominis cunctis Iudicibus terrae Ducibus eius quibuscunque est excellens aliqua dignitas in ea cunctis in locis quae sunt sub vniuerso coelo Pax tranquillitas honor vobis terris regionibus vestris quae imperio vestro subiacent cuique vestrum quemadmodum conuenit ei Proptereà quòd indidit Deus Opt. Max. hominibus prae cunctis alijâ— viuentibus cor desiderium tale vt appetat quisque cum aliis societatem inire amare vicissim amari beneficijs afficere mutua accipere beneficia studeat ideò cuique pro facultate sua hoc desiderium in omnibus quidem hominibus beneficijs fouere consetuare conuenit in illis autem maximè qui hoc desiderio adducti à remotis etiam regionibus ad eos veniunt Quo enim longius iter eius rei gratia ingressi sunt eò ardentius in eis hoc desiderium fuisse declararunt Insuper etiam ad hoc nos patrum maiorumque nostrorum exempla inuitant qui semper humanissimè susceperunt benignissimè tractauerunt illos qui tum à locis propinquis tâ—â—â—â—à remotis cosamicè adibant eorum se protectioni commendantes Quod si omnibus id praestare aequum est certè mercatoribus imprimis praestari debet qui per vniuersum orbem discurrunt mare circumlustrantes aridam vt res bonas vtiles que Dei beneficio in regione eorum inueniuntur ad remotissimas regiones regna adferant atque inde vicissim referant quòd suae regioni vtile ibi repeterint vt populi ad quos eunt non destituantur commodis quae non profert illis terra eorum ipsi sint participes rerum quibus illi abundant Nam Deus coeli terrae humano generi maximè consulens noluit vt omnia in quauis regione inueniâ—entur quò regio ope alterius regionis indigeret gens ab alia gente commodum aliquod expectaret ac ita stabiliretur amicitia inter omnes singulique omnibus benefacere quaererent Hoc ita que ineundae ac stabiliendae amicitiae desiderio moti viri quidam regni nostri iter in remotas maritimas regiones instituerunt vt inter nostros illos populos viam mercibus inferendis efferendis aperirent nosque rogauerunt vt id illis concederemus Qui petitioni illorum annuentes concessimus viro honorabili forti Hugoni Wilibâ—o alijs qui cum eo sunt seruis nostris fidis charis vt pro sua voluntate in regiones eis priùs incognitas eant quaesituri ea quibus nos caremus adducant illis ex nostris terris id quo illi carent Atque ita illis nobis commodum inde accedat sitque amicitia perpetua foedus indissolubile inter illos nos dum permittent illi nos accipere de rebus quibus superabundant in regnis suis nos concedemus illis ex regnis nostris res quibus destituuntur Rogamus itaque vos Reges Principes omnes quibus aliqua est potestas in terra vt viris istis nostris transitum permittatis per regiones vestras Non enâ—m tangent quicquam â—x rebus vestris inuitis vobis Cogitate quòd homines ipsi sunt Et si qua re caruerint oramus pro vestra beneficentia eam vos illis tribuatis accipientes vicissim ab eis quod poterunt rependere vobis Ita vos gerite erga cos quemadmodum cuperetis vt nos subditi nostri nos gereremus erga seruos vestros si quando transierint per regiones nostras Atque promittimus vobis per Deum omnium quae coelo terra mari continentur perque vitam nostram tranquillitatem regnorum nostrorum nos pari benignitate seruos vestros accepturos si ad regna nostra aliquando venerint Atque à nobis subditis nostris ac si nati fuissent in regnis nostris ita benignè tractabuntur vt rependamus vobis benignitatem quam nostris exhibueritis Postquam vos Reges Principes c. rogauimus vt humanitate beneficentia omni prosequamini seruos nostros nobis charos oramus omnipotentem Deum nostrum vt vobis diuturnam vitam largiatur pacem quae nullam habeat finem Scriptum Londini quae ciuitas est primaria regni nostri Anno 5515. à creato mundo mense Iiar 14. die mensis anno septimo regni nostri The copie of the letters missiue which the right noble Prince Edward the sixt sent to the Kings Princes and other Potentates inhabiting the Northeast partes of the worlde toward the mighty Empire of Cathay at such time as Sir Hugh Willoughby knight and Richard Chancelor with their company attempted their voyage thither in the yeere of Christ 1553. and the seuenth and last yeere of his raigneâ— EDward the sixt by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland c. To all Kings Princes Rulers Iudges and Gouernours of the earth and all other hauing any excellent dignitie on the same in all places vnder the vniuersall heauen peaceâ— tranquillitie and honour be vnto you and your lands and regions which are vnder your dominions and to euery of you as is conuenient Forasmuch as the great and Almightie God hath giuen vnto mankinde aboue all other liuing creatures such an heart and desire that euery man desireth to ioine friendship with other to loue and be loued also to giue and receiue mutuall benefites it is therefore the duety of all men according to their power to maintaine and increase this desire in euery man with well deseruing to all men and especially to shew this good affection to such as being moued with this desire come vnto them from farre countreis For how much the longer voyage they haue attempted for this intent so much the more doe they thereby declare that this desire hath bene ardent in them Furthermore also the examples of our fathers and predecessors doe inuite vs hereunto forasmuch as they haue euer gently and louingly intreated such as of friendly mind came to them aswell from Countries neare hand as farre remote commending themselues to their protection And if it be right and equity to shew such humanitie toward all men doubtlesse the same ought chiefly to be shewed to marchants who wandering about the world search both the land and the sea to carry
to the saide fellowship and company nor to any of them to cary and transport or cause to be caried and transported any commodie of this Realme to their newe trade but onely in English ships and to be sailed for the most part with English Mariners nor also to bring into this Realme nor into Flanders from their saide new trade any merchandizes or other commodities but in English ships and sailed for the most part by the English Mariners on paine to forfeit for euery such offence two hundred pounds whereof the one moitie shall be to the Queenes Maiestie her heires and successors the other moitie to the head officers of any port towne hauing any hauen or harborough decayed by what name soeuer they bee incorporate to the reparation of such harborough that will sue for the same in any Court of Record by action bill plaint or information wherein no essoine protection or wager of lawe for the defendant shall be admitted or allowed Prouided also and be it enacted that no maner of person or persons shall from hence forth carrie or transport or cause to bee carried or transported out of this Realme of England any maner of clothes or karsies into any of the partes where the said fellowship and societie is priuiledged to trade by this Act before the same clothes and karsies shall be all dressed and for the most part died within this Realme vpon paine of forfeiture for euery such cloth and karsie otherwise caried and transported fiue pounds the one halfe thereof to the Queenes Maiestie her heires and successors the other halfe to the Master and Wardens of the Clothworkers in the Citie of London for the time being by what name soeuer they be incorporate that wil sue for the same Prouided also that whensoeuer the said societie or company shall willingly withdraw and discontinue wholy by the space of three yeeres in time of peace the discharging of their marchandizes at the road of S. Nicholas bay in Russia and doe not discharge their said merchandizes at some other port or roade lying on that North coast of Russia or other territorie nowe subiect to the saide mightie prince of Russia c. hitherto by the subiects of this realme not commonly frequented that then during the time of any such discontinuance and withdrawing as is aforesaid it shal be lawful to all the subiects of this realme to trade to the Narue onely in English bottoms any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Prouided also that euery of the Queenes Maiesties Subiects inhabiting within the Citie of Yorke the townes of Newcastle vpon Tine Hull and of Boston hauing continually traded the course of merchandize by the space of ten yeeres and which before the 25. of December that shal be in Anno D. 1567. shal contribute ioyne and put in stocke to with and amongst the said company such summe summes of money as any of the said company which hath throughly continued and contributed to the saide newe trade from the yeere 1552. hath done and before the saide 25. of December 1567. shall do for the furniture of one ordinary full and intire portion or share and do in all things behaue himselfe as others of the said societie be bound to doe and hereafter shall bee bound to do by the priuiledges ordinances and statutes of the saide company shall from the same 25. day of December 1567. be and be accompted free and as one of the saide societie and company and subiect to the priuiledges ordinances and statutes of the saide company reasonably made and to be made any thing in this present Act to the contrary notwithstanding A very briefe remembrance of a voyage made by M. Anthony Ienkinson from London to Moscouia sent from the Queenes Maiestie to the Emperour in the yeere 1566. THe fourth day of May in the yere aforesaid I imbarked my selfe at Grauesend in the good ship called the Harry of London and hauing had a prosperous voyage arriued at the bay of S. Nicholas in Russia the 10. day of Iuly following and immediatly I sent in post to the Emperor to aduertise of my comming and traueiling then thorowe the countrey I with my company came to the Mosco where the Emperour kept his court the 23. of August and foorthwith gaue the Secretarie to vâ—derstand of my arriuall who aduertised the Emperours Maiestie of it and the first day of September being a solemne feast among the Russes I came before the Emperours Maiestie sitting in his seate of honour and hauing kissed his hand and done the Queenes Maiesties commendations and deliuered her Graces letters and present he â—ad me to dinner which I accepted and had much honour done vnto me both then and all the time of my abode in Russia The Priuiledges graunted by the Emperour of Russia to the English merchants of that company obteined the 22. of September Anno 1567. by M. Anthony Ienkinson ONe onely strengthener of all things and God without beginning which was before the world the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost our onely God in Trinitie and maker of all things whom we worship in all things and in all places the doer and fulfiller of all things which is the perfect knowledge giuer of the true God our Lorde Iesus Christ with the comforter the holy Spirit and thou which art the strengthener of our faith keepe vs together giue vs health to preserue our kingdome thou giuer of all good fruites and helper of all Christian beleeuers We great lord by the grace of God and great duke Iohn Vasiliwich of all Russia Volodimer Mosco Nouogrod Cazan Astracan Plesco Smolensko Tweria Yougorie Vadika Bulgar Sybier and others Emperour and great duke of Nouogrod of the lower land of Chernygo Rezan Polotski Rostoue Yereslaue Bealozera Oudoria Obdoria Condensa and lord of many other lands and of all the North parts commander and lord of Liffe-land Whereas our sister Queene Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland hath written to vs her letters that wee would graunt her merchants William Gerrard William Chester Rowland Heyward Lawrence Hussie Iohn Marsh Anthony Ienkinson William Rowly and their company of England to come in ships into this kingdome and those merchants William Gerrard and his company haue required of vs that we would graunt and licence them to come into our countrey of Dwina with all kind of wares at wil to our city of Mosco and to all our castles in our kingdomes we for our sisters sake Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland haue licenced her merchants William Gerrard and his company to passe in ships to our kingdome of Colmogro and to the land of Dwina and to all other our inheritances in the North parts with all kind of wares to our city of Mosco and to all castles and townes in our kingdome And sir William Garrard his company desired of vs that we would grant them licence to passe to
loose townes and lordships and that hee should not take ouermuch thought for it and as for his promise he bade that he should not doubt in any thing and that he should not feare any displeasure to his person and that he should goe with his people without feare With these wordes the sayd lord thanked him and tooke his leaue and departed FINIS ¶ Lenuoy of the Translator GOe little booke and woefull Tragedie Of the Rhodian fearefull oppugnation To all estates complaining ruthfully Of thine estate and sudden transmutation Excusing me if in thy translation Ought be amisse in language or in werke I me submit with their supportation To be correct that am so small a clerke An ambassage from Don Ferdinando brother to the emperor Charles the 5. vnto king Henry the 8. in the yere 1527. desiring his aide against Solyman the great Turke Holinshed pag. 894. ON the 14. day of March 1527. were conueied from London to Greenwich by the earle of Rutland and others the lord Gabriel de Salamanca earle of Ottonburge Iohn Burgraue of Syluerberge and Iohn Faber a famous clerke after bishop of Vien as ambassadours from Don Ferdinando brother to Charles the emperor newly elect king of Hungarie and Beame after the death of his brother in law king Lewes which was slaine by Solyman the Turke the last Sommer This company was welcommed of the high officers and after brought into the kings presence all the nobilitie being present and there after great reuerence made M. Faber made a notable oration taking his ground out of the Gospell Exijt seminator seminare semen suum and of that hee declared how Christ and his disciples went foorth to sowe and how their seed was good that fel into the good ground and brought foorth good fruite which was the Christian faith And then he declared how contrary to that sowing Mahomet had sowen seed which brought foorth euillfruit He also shewed from the beginning how the Turkes haue increased in power what realmes they had conquered what people they had subdued euen to that day He declared further what actes the great Turke then liuing had done and in especiall he noted the getting of Belgrade and of the Rhodes and the slaying of the king of Hungarie to the great rebuke as he sayd of all the kings christened Hee set foorth also what power the Turke had what diuersities of companies what capitaines he had so that he thought that without a marueilous great number of people hee could not be ouerthrowen Wherefore be most humbly besought the king as S. Georges knight and defender of the faith to assist the king his master in that godly warre and vertuous purpose To this oration the king by the mouth of Sir Thomas Moore answered that much hee lamented the losse that happened in Hungarie and if it were not for the warres which were betweene the two great pruices he thought that the Turke would not haue enterprised that acte wherefore he with all his studie would take paine first to set an vnitie and peace throughout all Christendome and after that both with money and men he would be readie to helpe toward that glorious warre as much as any other prince in Christendome After this done the ambassadours were well cherished and diuers times resorted to the court and had great cheere and good rewards and so the third day of May next following they tooke their leaue departed homeward The antiquitie of the trade with English ships into the Leuant IN the yeeres of our Lord 1511. 1512. c. till the yeere 1534. diuers tall ships of London namely The Christopher Campion wherein was Factor onâ— Râ—ger Whitcome the Mary George wherein was Factor William Gresham the great Mary Grace the Owner whereof was William Gunson and the master one Iohn Hely the Trinitie Fitz-williams whereof was master Laurence Arkey the Mathew of London whereof was master William Capling with certaine other ships of Southampton and Bristow had an ordinarie and vsuall trade to Sicilia Candie Chio and some whiles to Cyprus as also to Tripolis and Barutti in Syria The commodities which they caried thither were fine Kersies of diuers colours course Kersies white Westerne dozens Cottons certaine clothes called Statutes and others called Cardinal-whites and Calueskins which were well sold in Sicilie c. The commodities which they returned backe were Silks Chamlets Rubarbe Malinesies Muskadels and other wines sweete oyles cotten wooll Turkie carpets Galles Pepper Cinamom and some other spices c. Besides the naturall inhabitants of the foresayd places they had euen in those dayes traffique with Iewes Turkes and other forreiners Neither did our merchants onely employ their owne English shipping before mentioned but sundry strangers also as namely Candiots Raguseans Sicilians Genouezes Venetian galliasses Spanish and Portugale ships All which particulars doe most euidently appeare out of certaine auncient Ligier bookes of the R. W. Sir William Locke Mercer of London of Sir William Bowyer Alderman of London of master Iohn Gresham and of others which I Richard Hakluyt haue diligently perused and copied out And here for authorities sake I doe annexe as a thing not impertinent to this purpose a letter of king Henry the eight vnto Don Iohn the third king of Portugale A letter of the king of England Henry the eight to Iohn king of Portugale for a Portingale ship with the goods of Iohn Gresham and Wil. Locke with others vnladen in Portugale from Chio. SErenissimo Principi domino Ioanni Dei gratia Regi Portugallieâ— Algarbiorum citra vltra mare in Africa ac domino Guineae conquistae nauigationis commercij AEthiopiae Arabiae Persiae atque Indiae c. Fratri amico nostro charissimo Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae fidei desensor ac dominus Hiberniae Serenissimo Principi domino Ioanni eadem gratia Regi Portugallie AlgarbioruÌ„ citra vltra mare in Africa ac domino Guinee conquistae nauigationis coÌ„mercij AEthiopiae Arabiae Persiae atque Indiae c. Fratri amico nostro charissimo saluteÌ„ Tanto libentiùs promptiúsque iustas omnes causas vestre Serenitati commendandas suscipimus quanto apertiori indiès nostroruÌ„ qui in eiusdem vestre Serenitatis regno ac ditione negociantur subditorum testimonio cognoscimus ipsam ex optimi principis officio ita accuratè exactéque ius suum cuÃque praebere vt ad eaÌ„ nemo iustitiae consequendae gratia frustrà vnquam confugiar Cúm itaque dilectus ac fidelis subditus noster Ioannes Gresham mercator Londoniensis nuper nobis humiliter exposuerit quod quidaÌ„ Willielmus Heith ipsius Factor negotiorum gestor nauim quandam Portugallensem cui nomen erat Sancto Antonio praeerátque Diego Peres Portugallensis superioribus mensibus in Candia conduxerit cum nauisque praefecto conuenerit vtin insulam Chium ad quas dam diuersi generis merces onerandas primo nauigaret in Candiámque mox aliarum
be examined according to iustice and if the partie shal be found to be English and shall receiue the holy religion then let him freely be discharged but if he wil still remaine a Christian let him then be restored to the Englishmen and the buyers shall demaund their money againe of them who solde the man 19 Item if the ships of warre of our Imperiall highnesse shal at any time goe forth to Sea and shall finde any English ships laden with marchandise no man shall hinder thâ—m but rather shall vse them friendly and doe them no wrong euen as wee haue giuen and granted articles and priuâ—leges to the French Venetians and other Kings and princes our confederats so also wee haue giuen the like to the English and contrary to this our diuine lawe and priuilege let no man presume to doe any thing 20 Item if either their great or small ships shall in the course of their voyage or in any place to which they come bee stayed or arrested let no man continue the same arrest but rather helpe and assist them 21 Item if any theeues and robbers shall by force take away any of their ships and marchandise let the same theeues and robbers be sought and searched for with all diligence and let them be punished most seuerely 22 Last of all the Beglerbegs and Zanziacbegs our Captaines our slaues and seruants of Captaines vsing the sea and our Iudges customers and gouernours of ships called Reiz and free Reâ—z all these according to the tenor of this priuilege and articles shal be bound to doe accordingly and as long as the Queene of England on her part shall duely keepe and obserue this league and holy peace expressed in this priuilege we also for our Imperial part do charge and commaund the same so long to be straightly kept and obserued Giuen at Constantinople in the 988. yeere of our most holy prophet in the beginning of the moneth of Iune And in the yeere of IESVS 1580. Her Maiesties letter to the Turke or Grand Signior 1581. promising redresse of the disorders of Peter Baker of Ratcliffe committed in the Leuant ELizabeth by the diuine grace of the eternall God of England France and Ireland most sacred Queene and of the most Christian faith against all the prophaners of his most holy Name the zealous and mightie defâ—ndourâ— c. To the most renowned and Emperious Caesar Sultan Murad Can Emperour of all the dominions of Turkie and of all the East Monarchie châ—efe aboue all others whosoeuer most fortunate yeeres with the suâ—cesse of al â—rue happinesse As with very great desire we wish and embrace the loue and amitie of forreine Princes and in the same by al good dueties and meanes we seâ—ke to be confirmed so to vs there may bee nothing more grieuous and disliking then that any thing should happen through the default of our Subiects which any way might bring our faith and fidelitie into suspition Although wee are not ignorant how many good princes by the like misaduenture be abused where the doings of the Subiects are imputed to the want of good gouernment But such matters of importance and so well approued we may not omit such is to vs the sacred estimation of our honour and of our Christian profession as we would the same should appeare aswell in the concluding of our promises and agreements as in the faithfull performing of the same The matter which by these our letters wee specially beholde is a most iniurious and grieuous wrong which of late came vnto our vnderstanding that should be done vnto certaine of your subiects by certaine of our Subiects as yet not apprehended but with all seueritie vpon their apprehension they are to be awarded for the same And as the deede in it selfe is most wicked so is it much more intollerable by how much it doeth infringe the credit of our faith violate the force of our authoritie and impeach the estimation of our word faithfully giuen vnto your Imperiall dignitie In which so great a disorder if wee should not manifest our hatred towardes so wicked and euil disposed persons we might not onely most iustly be reproued in the iudgement of all such as truely fauour Iustice but also of all Princes the patrones of right and equitie might no lesse be condemned That therefore considered which of our parts is ordained in this cause which may be to the good liking of your highnesse we are most especially to request of your Imperiall Maiestie that through the default and disorder of a sort of euill and wicked disposed persons you wil not withdraw your gratious fauour from vs neither to hinder the trafique of our Subiects which by vertue of your highnesse sufferance and power of your licence are permitted to trade into your dominions countreys or that either in their persons or goods they be preiudiced in their traueyling by land or by water promising vnto your greatnesse most faithfully that the goods whereof your subiects by great wrong and violence haue bene spoyled shall wholy againe be restored if either by the liues or possessions of the robbers it may any way be brought to passe And that hereafter as now being taught by this euill example wee will haue speciall care that none vnder the title of our authoritie shall be suffered to commit any the like wrongs or iniuries Neither they which haue committed these euil parts had any power vnder your highnesse safe-conduct graunted vnto our subiects but from some other safeconduct whether it were true or fained we knowe not or whether they bought it of any person within tâ—e gouernment of Marseils but vnder the colour thereof they haue done that which the trueth of our dealing doeth vtterly abhorre Notwithstanding howsoeuer it be wee will surely measure their euill proceedings with most sharpe and iust correction and that it shall repent them of the impeachment of our honours as also it shal be an example of our indignation that others may dread at all times to commit the like offence Wherefore that our amitie might be continued as if this vnfortunate hap had neuer chanced and that the singuler affection of our Subiects towardes your Imperiall Maiesâ—ie vowed and dayly more and more desired might be conserued and defended we thereunto do make our humble suite vnto your greatnesse And for so great goodnesse towardes vs and our people granted doe most humbly pray vnto the Almightie creatour of heauen and earth euer to maintaine and keepe your most renowmed Maiestie in all happinesse and prosperitie Dated at our palace of Greenewich the 26. of Iune Anno 1581. The letters patents or priuileges graunted by her Maiestie to Sir Edward Osborne Master Richard Staper and certaine other Marchants of London for their trade into the dominions of the great Turke in the yeere 1581. ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. To all our Officers ministers and Subiects and to all
they were come within 3. English miles of the towne and made after them in all possible haste and although they saw that they were farre out of their reach yet in a vaine fury and foolish pride they shot off their Ordinance and made a stirre in the Sea as if they had bene in the midst of them which vanitie of theirs ministred to our men notable matter of pleasure and mirth seeing men to fight with shadowes and to take so great paines to so small purpose But thus it pleased God to deride and delude all the forces of the proud Spanish king which he had prouided of purpose to distresse the English who notwithstanding passed through both his Armies in the one little hurt and in the other nothing touched to the glory of his immortall Name the honour of our Prince and Countrey and the iust commendation of ech mans seruice performed in that voyage The returne of Master VVilliam Harborne from Constantinople ouer land to London 1588. I Departed from Constantinople with 30. persons of my suit and family the 3. of August Passing through the Countries of Thracia now called Romania the great Valachia Moldauia where ariuing the 5. of September I was according to the Grand Signior his commandement very courteously interteined by Peter his positiue prince a Greeke by profession with whom was concluded that her Maiesties subiects there trafiquing should pay but three vpon the hundreth which as well his owne Subiects as all other nations answere whose letters to her Maiestie be extant Whence I proceeded into Poland where the high Chanceler sent for mee the 27. of the same moneth And after most honorable intertainment imparted with me in secret maner the late passed and present occurrents of that kingdome also he writ to her Maiestie Thence I hasted vnto Elbing where the 12. of October I was most friendly welcomed by the Senate of that City whom I finde and iudge to be faithfully deuoted to her Maiesties seruice whose letters likewise vnto the same were presented me No lesse at Dantzik the 27. of that moneth I was courteously receiued by one of the Buroughmasters accompanied with two others of the Senate a Ciuil doctor their Secretarie After going through the land of Pomer I rested one day at Stetin where for that y â— duke was absent nothing ensued At Rostoke I passed through the Citie without any stay and at Wismar receiued like friendly greeting as in the other places but at Lubeck for that I came late and departed early in the morning I was not visited At Hamburg the 19. of Nouember and at Stoad the ninth of December in like maner I was saluted by a Boroughmaster and the Secretarie and in all these places they presented mee sundry sorts of their best wine and fresh fish euery of them with a long discourse congratulating in the names of their whole Senate her Maiesties victory ouer the Spaniard and my safe returne concluding with offer of their ready seruice to her future disposing Yet the Dantziks after my departure thence caused the Marchants to pay custome for the goods they brought with them in my company which none other towne neither Infidels nor Christians on y â— way euer demanded And notwithstanding the premisses I was most certainly informed of sundry of our nation there resident that most of the Hanse-towns vpon the sea coasts especially Dantzik Lubeck and Hamborough haue laden and were shipping for Spaine great prouision of corne cables ropes powder saltpeter hargubusses armour iron leade copper and all other munition seruing for the warre Whereupon I gather their fained courtesie proceeded rather for feare then of any good affection vnto her Maiesties seruice Elbing and Stoad onely excepted which of duetie for their commoditie I esteemed well affected The priuilege of Peter the Prince of Moldauia graunted to the English Marchants PEtrus Dei gratia princeps Valachiae Moldauiae significamus praesentibus vniuersis singulis quorum interest ac intererit quòd cum magnifico domino Guilielmo Hareborne oratore Serenissimae ac potentissimae dominae dominae Elizabethae Dei gratia Angliae Franciae ac Hiberniae Reginae apud Serenissimum ac potentissimum Turcarum Imperatorem hanc constitutionem fecerimus Nimirùm vt dehinc sue Serenitatis subditis omnibusqúe mercatoribus integrum sit hìc in prouincia nostra commorandi conuersandi mercandi vendendi contrahendÃque imo omnia exercendi quae mercaturae ac vitae humanae societas vÃusqúe requirit sine vlla alicuius contradictione aut inhibitione saluo ac integro tamen iure Telonij nostri hocest vt a singulis rebus centum ducatorum pretij tres numerent Quod ratum ac fitmum constitutione nostra haberi volumus In cuius rei firmius testimonium sigillum nostrum appressum est Actum in castris nostris die 27. mensis Augusti anno Domini 1588. The same in English PEter by the grace of God prince of Valachia and Moldauia we signifie by these presents to all and singuler persons whom it doth or shall concerne that we haue made this agreement with the worthy gentleman William Hareborne Ambassador of the right high and mighty prince the Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland with the most puissant and mightie Emperour of the Turkes To witte that fromhencefoorth it shal be lawfull for her highnesse subiects and all her Marchants to remaine conuerse buy sel bargaine and exercise all such things as the trade of marchandise and humane societie and vse requireth without any hinderance or let the right of our Custome alwayes reserued That is that they pay three ducats vpon all such things as amount to the price of one hundred ducats Which by this our ordinance we command to be surely and firmely obserued For the more assured testimony whereof our seale is hereunto annexed Giuen in our Campe the 27. of the moneth of August in the yeere of our Lord 1588. A briefe extract specifying the certaine dayly paiments answered quarterly in time of peace by the Grand Signior out of his Treasurie to the Officers of his Seraglio or Court successiuely in degrees collected in a yeerely totall summe as followeth FOr his owne diet euery day one thousand and one aspers according to a former custome receiued from his auncestors notwithstanding that otherwise his diurnall expence is very much and not certainly knowen which summe maketh sterling money by the yere two thousand one hundred 92. pounds three shillings eight pence The fiue and fourtie thousand Ianizaries dispersed in sundry places of his dominions at sixe aspers the day amounteth by the yeere to fiue hundreth fourescore and eleuen thousand and three hundreth pounds The Azamoglans tribute children farre surmount that number for that they are collected from among the Christians from whom betweene the yeeres of sixe and twelue they are pulled away yeerely perforce whereof I suppose those in seruice may be equall in number
marchandize to be vsed and continued by our subiects within his sayd dominions whereby we perceiue and finde that both many good actions haue beene done and performed and hereafter are likely continually to be done and performed for the peace of Christendome Namely by the reliefe and discharge of many Christians which haue beene and which hereafter may happen to be in thraldome and bondage vnder the sayde Grand Signor and his vassals or subiects And also good and profitable vent and vtterance of the commodities of our Realme and sundrie other great benefites to the aduancement of our honour and dignitie Royall the maintenance of our Nauie the encrease of our customes and the reuenues of our Crowne and generally the great wealth of our whole Realme And whereas we are enformed of the sayd Edward Osborne knight William Hareborne and Richard Staper that George Barne Richard Martine Iohn Harte knights and other marchants of our sayd Citie of London haue by the space of eight or nine yeeres past ioyned themselues in companie trade and traffike with them the sayd Edward Osborne knight William Hareborne and Richard Staper into the sayde dominions of the sayd great Turke to the furtherance thereof and the good of the Realme And whereas â—urther it is made knowen vnto vs that within fewe yeeres now past our louing and good subiects Thomas Cordall Edward Holmeden William Garraway and Paul Banning and sundry other marchants of our said Citie of London haue likewise at their great costes and charges builded and furnished diuerse good and seruiceable shippes and therewith to their like costs and charges haue traded and frequented and from time to time doe trade and frequent and traffike by sea with the commodities of our Realme to Venice Zante Candie and Zephalonia and other the dominions of the Segniorie and State of Venice and thereby haue made and mainteyned and doe make and continually maintaine diuers good shippes with mariners skilfull and â—itte and necessarie for our seruice and doe vent out of our Realme into those partes diuerse commodities of our Realme and returne hither into our sayde Realme many good and necessarie commodities for the common wealth thereof All which traffike as well inward as outward vntill it hath beene otherwise brought to passe by the sayde endeuours costs and charges of our sayde subiects was in effect by our subiectes wholy discontinued Knowe yee that hereupon we greatly tendring the wealth of our people and the encouragement of them and other our louing subiects in their good enterprises for the aduancement of lawfull traffike to the benefite of our common wealth haue of our speciall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion giuen and graunted and by these presents for vs our heyres and successours doe giue and grount vnto our sayd trustie and welbeloued subiectes Edwarde Osborne Knight George Barne Knight George Bonde knight Richard Martine knight Iohn Harte knight Iohn Hawkins knight William Massam Iohn Spencer Richard Saltonstall Nicholas Mosley Aldermen of our sayde Citie of London William Hareborne Edwarde Barton William Borrough Esquires Richard Staper Thomas Cordall Henrie Paruis Thomas Laurence Edwarde Holmeden William Garraway Robert Dowe Paul Banning Roger Clarke Henrie Anderson Robert Offley Philip Grimes Andrewe Banning Iames Staper Robert Sadler Leonarde Power George Salter Nicholas Leate Iohn Eldred William Shales Richard May William Wilkes Andrewe Fones Arthur Iackson Edmund Ansell Ralph Ashley Thomas Farrington Roberte Sandie Thomas Garraway Edwarde Lethlande Thomas Dalkins Thomas Norden Robert Baâ—e Edward Sadler Richard Darsall Richard Martine Iunior Ralph Fitch Nicholas Pearde Thomas Simons and Francis Dorrington that they and euery of them by the name of Gouernour and company of Marchants of the Leuant shall from hence foorth for the terme of twelue yeeres next ensuing the date hereof bee one bodie fellowshippe and companie of themselues both in deede and in name And them by the name of Gouernour and companie of marchantes of the Leuant wee doe ordayne incorporate name and declare by these presentes and that the same fellowshippe and companie from hence foorth shall and may haue one Gouernour And in consideration that the sayde Edwarde Osborne Knight hath beene of the chiefe setters foorth and actors in the opening and putting in practise of the sayde trade to the dominions of the sayde Gand Signor Wee doe therefore specially make ordaine and constitute the sayde Edwarde Osborne Knight to bee nowe Gouernour during the time of one whole yeere nowe next following if hee so long shall liue And after the expiration of the sayde yeere or decease of the sayde Edward Osborne the choyse of the next Gouernour and so of euery Gouernour from time to time during the sayde terme of twelue yeeres to be at the election of the sayde fellowshippe or companie of marchantes of the Leuant or the more part of them yeerely to be chosen and that they the sayde Sir Edwarde Osborne and all the residue of the sayde fellowshippe or companie of Marchantes of the Leuant and euerie of them and all the sonnes of them and of euery of them and all such their apprentises and seruants of them and of euery of them which haue beene or hereafter shall be imployed in the sayde trade by the space of foure yeeres or vpwardes by themselues their seruantes factors or deputies shall and may by the space of twelue yeeres from the day of the date of these our letters Patents freely traffike and vse the trade of Marchandize as well by sea as by lande into and from the dominions of the sayde Grand Signor and into and from Venice Zante Candie and Zephalonia and other the dominions of the Signiorie and State of Venice and also by lande through the Countries of the sayde Grand Signor into and from the East India lately discouered by Iohn Newberie Ralph Fitch William Leech and Iames Storie sent with our letters to that purpose at the proper costs and charge of the sayde Marchants or some of them and into and from euerie of them in such order manner forme libertie and condition to all intentes and purposes as shall be betweene them of the sayde fellowshippe or companie of Marchantes of the Leuant or the more part of them for the time being limited and agreed and not otherwise without any molestation impeachment or disturbance any lawe statute vsage or diuersitie of Religion or faith or any other cause or matter whatsoeuer to the contrarie notwithstanding And that the sayde Gouernour and companie of Marchantes of the Leuant or the greater part of them for the better gouernement of the sayde fellowshippe and companie shall and may within fortie dayes next and immediatly following after the date heereof and so from thence foorth yeerely during the continuance of this our graunt assemble themselues in some conuenient place and that they or the greater parte of them being so assembled shall and may elect ordaine nominate and appoint twelue discreete and honest persons of the sayde companie
and cary away his barks and Carauels was content to suffer vs there quietly to tary and likewise to depart and neuer charged vs with one Canon-shot And when our Generall sent him worde that hee was there ready to exchange certaine bullets with him the marques refused his chalenge sending him word that he was not then ready for him nor had any such Commission from his King Our Generall thus refused by the Marques and seeing no more good to be done in this place thought it conuenient to spend no longer time vpon this coast and therefore with consent of the chiefe of his Company he shaped his course toward the Isles of the Açoâ—es and passing towards the Isle of Saint Michael within 20. or 30. leagues thereof it was his good fortune to meete with a Portugale Carak called Sant Philip being the same shippe which in the voyage outward had caried the 3. Princes of Iapan that were in Europe into the Indies This Carak without any great râ—sistance hee tooke bestowing the people thereof in certaine vessels well furnished with victuals and sending them courteously home into their Countrey and this was the first Carak that euer was taken comming foorth of the East Indies which the Portugals tooke for an euil signe because the ship bare the Kings owne name The riches of this prize seemed so great vnto the whole Company as in trueth it was that they assured themselues euery man to haue a sufficient reward for his trauel and thereupon they all resolued to returne home for England which they happily did and arriued in Plimouth the same Sommer with their whole Fleete and this rich booty to their owne profite and due commendation and to the great admiration of the whole kingdome And here by the way it is to be noted that the taking of this Carak wrought two extraordinary effects in England first that it taught others that Caracks were no such bugs but that they might be taken as since indeed it hath fallen out in the taking of the Madre de Dios and fyreing and sinking of others and secondly in acquainting the English Nation more generally with the particularities of the exceeding riches and wealth of the East Indies whereby themselues and their neighbours of Holland haue bene incouraged being men as skilfull in Nauigation and of no lesse courage then the Portugals to share with them in the East Indies where their strength is nothing so great as heretofore hath bene supposed A Patent granted to certaine Marchants of Exeter and others of the West parts and of London for a trade to the Riuer of Senega and Gambra in Guinea 1588. ELlizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. To our Treasurer and Admirall of England our Treasurer and Barons of our Exchequer and all and euery our Officers minâ—sters and subiects whatsoeuer greeting Whereas our welbeloued subiects William Brayley Gilbert Smith Nicolas Spicer and Iohn Doricot of our City of Exeter marchants Iohn Yong of Coliton in our country of Deuon marchant Richard Doderige of Barnestable in our saide Countie of Deuon Marchant Anthonie Dassell and Nicolas Turner of our Citie of London Marchants haue bene perswaded and earnestly moued by certaine Portugals resident within our Dominions to vndertake and set forward a voyage to certaine places on the coast of Guinea Videlicet from the Northermost part of the Riuer commonly called by the name of the Riuer of Senega and from and within that Riuer all along that coast vnto the Southermost part of another Riuer commonly called by the name of Gambra and within that Riuer which as we are informed they haue already once performed accordingly And for that we are credibly giuen to vnderstand that the further prosecuting of the same voyage and the due and orderly establishing of an orderly trafique and trade of marchandize into those Countreis wil not only in time be very beneficial to these our Realmes and dominions but also be a great succour and reliefe vnto the present distressed estate of those Portugals who by our princely fauour liue and continue here vnder our protection And coÌ„sidering that the aduenturing and enterprising of a newe trade cannot be a matter of small charge and hazard to the aduenturers in the beginning we haue therefore thought it conuenient that our said louing subiects William Brayley Gilbert Smith Nicholas Spicer Iohn Doricot Iohn Yong Richard Doderige Anthonie Dassell and Nicholas Turner for the better incouragement to proceede in their saide aduenture and trade in the said Countreis shal haue the sole vse and exercise thereof for a certaine time In consideration whereof and for other waightie reasons and considerations vs specially moouing of our speciall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion we haue giuen and graunted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe giue and graunt vnto the said William Brayley Gilbert Smith Nicholas Spicer Iohn Doricot Iohn Young Richard Doderide Anthony Dassell and Nicholas Turner and to euery of them and to such other our Subiects as they or the most part of them shall thinke conuenient to receiue into their Company and society to be the traders with them into the said Countreis that they and euery of them by themselues or by their seruants or Factors and none others shall and may for and during the full space and terme of tenne yeeres next ensuing the date of these presents haue and enioy the free and whole trafique trade and feat of marchandise to and from the said Northermost part of the said Riuer commonly called by the name of the Riuer of Senega and from and within that Riuer all along the coast of Guinea vnto the Southermost part of the said Riuer commonly called by the name of the Riuer of Gambra and within that Riuer also And that they the said William Brayley Gilbert Smith Nicholas Spicer Iohn Doricot Iohn Yong Richard Doderige Anthony Dassel and Nicholas Turner euery of them by themselues or by their seruants or Factors such as they or the most part of them shall receiue into their Company and societie to be traders with them into the sayd Countreis as is aforesaid and none others shall and may for and during the said space and terme of 10. yeres haue and enioy the sole whole trafique or trade of marchandize into and from the said places afore limitted and described for the buying selling bartering and changing of and with any goods wares and marchandizes whatsoeuer to be vented had or found at or within any the cities townes or places situated or being in the countries parts coastes of Guinea before limitted any law statute or graunt matter custome or priuileges to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And for the better ordering establishing gouerning of the said societie and Company in the said trade and trafique of marchandizes the quiet orderly lawfull exercise of the same We for vs our
painefull trauaile and most diligent inquirie Now to be short for I haue bene ouer long by Master Butlers means who cryed on mee to write at large and of as many things as I call to minde woorthy of remembrance wherefore this one thing more I could wish the Island in the mouth of the riuer of Canada should bee inhabited and the riuer searched for that there are many things which may rise thereof as I will shew you hereafter I could find in my heart to make proofe whether it be true or no that I haue read and heard of Frenchmen and Portugals to bee in that riuer and about Cape Briton I had almost forgot to speake of the plentie of wolues and to shew you that there be foxes blacke white gray other beasts I know none saue those before remembred I found also certain Mines of yron and copper in S. Iohns and in the Island of Yron which things might turne to our great benefite if our men had desire to plant thereabout for proofe whereof I haue brought home some of the oare of both sortes And thus I ende assuring you on my faith that if I had not beene deceiued by the vile Portugals descending of the Iâ—wes and Iudas kinde I had not failed to haue searched this riuer and all the coast of Cape Briton what might haue bene found to haue benefited our countrey but they breaking their bands and falsifying their faith and promise disappointed me of the salte they should haue brought me in part of recompense of my good seruice in defending them two yeeres against French Rouers that had spoyled them if I had not defended them By meanes whereof they made me lose not onely the searching of the countrey but also forced mee to come home with greatlosse aboue 600. li. For recompence whereof I haue sent my man into Portugall to demaund iustice at the Kings hand if not I must put vp my supplication to the Queenes Maiesty her honourable councell to grant me leaue to stay here so much of their goods as they haue damnified mee or else that I may take of them in Newfound land as much â—sh as shall be woorth 600. li. or as much as the salte might haue made I pray you aduertise mee what way I were best to take and what hope there will bee of a recompence if I follow the suite many there are that doe comfort me and doe bid me proceede for that her Maiestie and the councell doe tender poore fisher men who with me haue susteined three hundred pound lossâ— in that voyage And to conclude if you and your friend shall thinke me a man sufficiâ—nt and of credite to seeke the Isle of S. Iohn or the riuer of Canada with any part of the firme land of Cape Briton I shall giue my diligence for the true and perfect discouerie and leaue some part of mine owne businesse to further the same and thus I end committing you to God From Bristow the 13. of Nouember 1578. Yours to vse and command ANTHONY PARCKHVRST The Letters Patents graunted by her Maiestie to Sir Humfrey Gilbert knight for the inhabiting and planting of our people in America ELIZABETH by the grace of God Queene of England c. To all people to whom these presents shall come greeting Know ye that of our especiall grace certaine science and meere motion we haue giuen and granted and by these presents for vs our heires and successours doe giue and graunt to our trustie and welbeloued seruaunt Sir Humfrey Gilbert of Compton in our Countie of Deuonshire knight and to his heires and assignes for euer free libertie and licence from time to time and at all times for euer hereafter to discouer finde search out and view such remote heathen and barbarous lands countreys and territories not actually possessed of any Christian prince or people as to him his heires assignes and to euery or any of them shall seeme good and the same to haue hold occupie and enioy to him his heires and assignes for euer with all commodities iurisdictions and royalties both by sea and land and the sayd sir Humfrey and all such as from time to time by licence of vs our heires and successours shall goe and trauell thither to inhabite or remaine there to build and fortifie at the discretion of the sayde sir Humfrey and of his heires and assignes the statutes or actes of Parliament made against Fugitiues or against such as shall depart remaine or continue out of our Realme of England without licence or any other acte statute lawe or matter whatsoeuer to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And wee doe likewise by these presents for vs our heires and successours giue full authoritie and power to the saide Sir Humfrey his heires and assignes and euery of them that hee and they and euery or any of them shall and may at all and euery time and times hereafter haue take and lead in the same voyages to trauell thitherward and to inhabite there with him and euery or any of them such and so many of our subiects as shall willingly accompany him and them and euery or any of them with sufficient shipping and furniture for their transportations so that none of the same persons nor any of them be such as hereafter shall be specially restrained by vs our heires and successors And further that he the said Humfrey his heires and assignes and euery or any of them shall haue hold occupy enioy to him his heires or assignes and euery of them for euer all the soyle of all such lands countries territories so to be discouered or possessed as aforesaid and of all Cities Castles Townes and Uillages and places in the same with the rites royalties and iurisdictions as well marine as other within the sayd lands or countreys of the seas thereunto adioyning to be had or vsed with ful power to dispose thereof of euery part thereof in fee simple or otherwise according to the order of the laws of England as nere as the same conueniently may be at his and their will pleasure to any person then being or that shall remaine within the allegiance of vs our heires and successours paying vnto vs for all seruices dueties and demaunds the fift part of all the oare of gold and siluer that from time to time and at all times after such discouerie subduing and possessing shall be there gotten all which lands countreys and territories shall for euer bee holden by the sayd Sir Humfrey his heires and assignes of vs our heires and successours by homage and by the sayd payment of the sayd fift part before reserued onely for all seruices And moreouer we doe by these presents for vs our heires and successours giue and graunt licence to the sayde Sir Humfrey Gilbert his heires or assignes and to euery of them that hee and they and euery or any of them shall and may from time to time and all times for euer hereafter for
should continue or prosecute the same The voyage of the Grace of Bristol of M. Rice Iones a Barke of thirty fiue sunnes vp into the Bay of Saint Laurence to the Northwest of Newefoundland as farre as the Isle of Assumption or Natiscotec for the barbes or â—ynnes of Whales and traine Oyle made by Siluester Wyet Shipmaster of Bristoll WEe departed with the aforesaid Barke manned with twelue men for the place aforesaid from Bristoll the 4 of Aprill 1594. and fell with Cape d'Espere on the coast of Newefoundland the nineteneth of May in the height of 47. We went thence for Cape Raz being distant from thence 18 or 19 leagues the very same day The 20. day we were thwart of Cape Raz Then we set our course Northwest for Cape S. Marie which is distant from Cape Raz 19 leagues and is on the Eastside of the great bay of Placentia almost at the entrie thereof From thence we shaped our course for the Islands of S. Pedro passing by the broken Islands of the Martyers and when we were thwart of the said Isles of the Martyers our course to the Isles of S. Pedro was West and by North. In these Isles of S. Pedro there is a faire harbour which we went into with our barke and found there 2 ships of Sibiburo fishing for Cod where we stayed 2 dayes and tooke in balest for our ship There are as faire and tall firre trees growing therein as in any other part of Newfoundland Then wee departed thence and as we came out of the harbours mouth we laid the ship vpon the lee and in 2 houres space we tooke with our hookes 3 or 4 hundred great Cods for our prouision of our ship Then we departed from the Isle of S. Pedro to enter into the gulffe of S. Laurence betwene Cape Briton and the said Isle and set our course West North West and fel with Cape de Rey which wee found to be distant from the Isles of S. Pedro 42 leagues From Cape de Rey to Cape de Angullie we set our course Northnorthwest being distant thence 12 or 13 leagues From the Cape de Angullie into the Bay of S. George we ran Northeast and by East some 18 or 19 leagues In this bay of Saint George we found the wrackes of 2 great Biskaine ships which had bene cast away three yeres before where we had some seuen or eight hundred Whale finnes and some yron bolts and chaines of their mayne shrouds fore shroudes al their traine was beaten out with the weather but the caske remained still Some part of the commodities were spoiled by tumbling downe of the clifts of the hils which couered part of the caske and the greater part of those Whale finnes which we vnderstood to be there by foure Spaniards which escaped were brought to S. Iohn de Luz Here we found the houses of the Sauages made of fiâ—re trees bound together â—â— the top and set round like a Doue-house and couered with the barkes of firre trees wee found also some part of their victuals which were Deeres flesh roasted vpon wooden spits at the fire a dish made of a ryne of a tree sowed together with the smowes of the Deere wherein was oâ—e of the Deere There were also foules called Cormorants which they had pulckt and made ready to haue dressed and there we found a wooden spoone of their making And we discerned the tracks of the feete of some fortie or fiftie men women and children When we had dispatched our businesse in this bay of S. George and stayed there ten dayes wee departed for the Northren point of the said bay which is nine or ten leagues broade Then being enformed that the Whales which are deadly wounded in the grand Bay and yet escape the fisher for a time are woont vsually to shoot themselues on shore on the Isle of Assumption or Natiscotec which lieth in the very mouth of the great riuer that runneth vp to Canada we shaped our course ouer to that long Isle of Natiscotec and wee found the distance of the way to the Estermost ende thereof to be about forty foure leagues and it standeth in the latitude of 49. Here we arriued about the middest of Iune at the East end and rode in eighteene fadome water in faire white sand and very good ankerage and for tryall heaued a lyne ouerboorde and found wonderfull faire and great Cod fish we went also seuen of vs on shore and found there exceeding fayre great woods of tall firre trees and heard and sawe store of land and sea foules and sawe the footing of diuers beastes in the sand when we were on shore From the Easter end we went to the Norther side of the Island which we perceiued to be but narrow in respect of the length thereof And after wee had searched two dayes and a night for the Whales which were wounded which we hoped to haue found there and missed of our purpose we returned backe to the Southwarde and were within one league of the Island of Penguin which lyeth South from the Eastermost part of Natiscotec some twelue leagues From the Isle of Penguin wee shaped our course for Cape de Rey and had sight of the Island of Cape Briton then returned wee by the Isles of Saint Pedro and so came into the Bay of Placencia and arriued in the Easterside thereof some ten leagues vp within the Bay among the fishermen of Saint Iohn de Luz and of Sibiburo and of Biskay which were to the number of threescore and odde sayles whereof eight shippes onely were Spaniardes of whom we were very well vsed and they wished heartily for peace betweene them and vs. There the man of Saint Iohn and Sibiburo men bestowed two pinnesses on vs to make vp our voyage with fish Then wee departed ouer to the other side of the Bay where we arriued in an harbour which is callâ—d Pesmarck and there made our stage and fished so long that in the ende the Sauages came and in the night when our men were at rest cut both our pinnesse and our shippes boate away to our great hinderance of our voyage yet it was our good fortune to finde out our pinnesses and get them againe Then for feare of a shrewder turne of the Sauages we departed for Cape Saint Marie and hauing passed Cape Raz we passed Northwaâ—de fourteene leagues and arriued in Farrillon and finding there two and twentie sayles of Englishmen wee made vp our fishing voyage to the full in that harborough the twentieth foure of August to our good content and departing thence we arriued first in Combe and staied there a seuen night and afterward in Hungrod in the riuer of Bristoll by the grace of God the 24 of Sâ—ptember 1594. The voyage of M. Charles Leigh and diuers others to Cape Briton and the Isle of Ramea THe Hopewell of London of the burthen of 120 tunnes whereof was M. William Crafton
Sedgewick at Noâ—ogrode Masts of 30. yards An Arshine is 3. quarters of a yard or more A rope house â—râ—ted at Colmogro A tarre house Robert Austen 1558 Lampas a great mate for the Samoeds in the North. What quantitie of â—empe workmen will worke in a peere White hawks white beares prohibited without licence Master Grayes iourney to Lampas 1558 Doctor Standish the Emperours Phisition An attempt to hinder our trade to Moscouia by the Hans townes Easterlings 1559 Master Ienkensons voyage intended for Cathay The discouery of its Caspian sea Passage to and from Moscouia by Sweden This was a yong Tartar girle which he gaue to the Queene afterward Tallowe Waxe Traine oyles Sables Woluerings Luserns Lett es Ermines Squirels Flaxe Cables and ropes A proclamion against soâ—rnâ— Furres 3000. podes of Tallow a yere 500. Losh hides Note Hope of trade to be found by master Antonie Ienkinson Seale skinnes tawed Small cables best besidible Masts of all sorts to be prepared Astracan no great good marte Christopher Hodson and Thomas Glouer appointed Agents 1560. Stockholme Iohn Luck taken prisoner in Lieflando The Swallow The Philip and Marie The Iesus Nicholas Chancelour The salt of Russia is not so good as Bay salte Fore skinnes white blacke and russet vendible in England May 5. 1560. Triall by combat or loâ— Iune Heilick IslaÌ„ds in 66 degrees 40 minutes Rost Islands Malestrand a strange whirle poole Zenam Island Kettelwike Island Inger sound The North Cape Wardhouse Cattell fed with fish The Monastery of Pechinchow Arzina reca the riuer where sir Hugh Willoughbie was frozen The Lappians couered all sauing their eies The current at Cape Grace The entering of the Bay of S. Nicholas is seuen leagues broad at the least August Pinego riuer The towne of Yemps Vstiug The description of their Nassades Good counsell for trauellers December Presents vsed in Russia are all for the most part of victualâ— The citie of Boghar They arriued at Mosco M. Standish doctor of Phisicke Long dinners Ordinance in Russia A yerely triumph The hallowing of the riuer of Mosco The Russes Lent The Emperor leadeth y e Metropolitanâ— horse in procession Kissing vsed in the Greeke church With these letters M. Ienkinson tooke his voyage the same Apâ—il to Boghar The Emperours wardrobe “ Or Basilius Note The hospitalitie of their monasteries Want of preachers cause of great ignoâ—aÌ„ce and idolaâ—â—y Al their seruice to in their mother tonguâ— The women of Russia paint their faces Bâ—â—ad made of straw The vnmercifulnesse of the Russeâ— toward the poore Stooues 〈◊〉 baths vsuall with the Mascouites Reported by Thomas Bulley Cazan The Island of marchants The riuer of Cama Nagay Tartars Hords The Crimme Tartars The riuer of Samar Licoris in great plentie Astracan Store of Sturgions The length of the Island of Astracan They enter into the Caspian sea Baughleata being 74. leagues from Volga Iaic riuer Serachick The Countrie of Colmack The port of Manguslaue They goe on land The countrey of Manguslaue 20. dayes trauaile in the wildernesse with scarcitie of water Another gulfe of the Caspian sea Will de Rubricis describeth this riuer of Ardok cap. 4. Sellizure or Shayzure Letters of safe-conduct Vrgence The countrey of Turkeman The riuer of Ardock falleth into the lake of Kitay The castle of Kait Diutuation by forcerie Handguns very profitable Bussarmans Caphar The riuer of Oxus A wildernes of sande Boghar a citie of Bactria A strange worme in mens legs The coyne of Boghar Marchandise of India Marchandise of Persia. Marchandise of Russia Marchandise of Cathay Taskent Cascar He returneth the eight of March 1552. Vrgence The king of Baâ—ke oâ— Balgâ— The English flag in the Caspian sea A notable description of the Caspian sea His arriual at Mosco the 2. of September * â—râ— Vrgeâ—â—â— Angrim Mandeuille speaketh hereof Oâ—â—itay Small people Pechora but six dayes iourney by land or water from Ob. Trauelling on dogs harts 1559 The trade to Narue forbidden by the â—â— of Poland The ancient couenants of trafficke betweene England Prussia The olde libertie of trafficke The meanes of increase of the power of the Moscouite This letter was also written in Hebrew and Italian The passage of Noua Zembla Waights and drugs deliuered to M. Ienkinson The maine sea within thirtie dayes Eastward of Colmogro 1561 The Queâ—nes letters to the Emperour of Russia Request to passe into Persia thorow Moscouie Osep Napea Ambassadour from the Emperor of Russia to Q. Mary An ambassador of Persia. Astracan M. Ienkinsons voyage to Boghar He passeth the Caspian sea The countreâ— of Tumen The Island of Chatalet The land of Shiâ—uansha Derbent A mighty wall Or Tiphlis Fortie one degrees Shabran Alcan Murcy the gouernour King Obdolowcan The maiesty attire of king Obdolowcan The Queenes letters to the Sophy Casbin Multitude of concubines The description of Hircania Danger by diuersâ—tie in religion Barbarous crueltie The citie of Arrash or Erex The commodities of thiâ— countreâ— The strong castle of Gullistone defaced The towne of Yauate The city of Ardouil The city Tebâ—iâ— or Tauris M. Ienkinsons arriuall at the Sophies court 2. Nouember 1562. The Turkes Ambassadour to the Sophy The Turkes merchauntâ— withstand M. Ienkinson Shaw Thomas the Sophies name The Queeneâ— letters deliuered The Sophies questions The curtesâ—e of Shally Murzey Warres intended against the Portingalsâ— The king of Hircans sâ—cond letters in M. Ienkinsonâ— behalfe Conference with Indian Merchants M. Ienkinsons returne Priuiledges obtained of Obdolowcan which are hereafter annexed An Armenian sent to M. Ienkinson from the king of Georgia Teneruk king of Chircassi The description of Persia. The chiefe Cities of Persia. The difference of religion The 30. of May 1563. New priuileges obtained hereafter following 28. Sâ—ptemb 1564. A rubble is a marke English Casbin Leuuacta A Boserman to a Renegado Thomas Alcocke slaine in the way betweene Leuuacta and Shammaki Keselbash or Ieselbash Gillan in Persia 1565. Ieraslaue a towne vpon the riuer of Volga Richard Iohnson chiefe of the third voyage into Persia. A barke of 30. tunnes made at Ieraslaue 1564. to passe the Caspian seas 1566 They departed from Astracan the 30. of Iuly 1565. September Presents to the king Obdolowcan A hoâ—se giuen our men in Shamaki by the king The death of Abdollocan the 2. of October 1565. Mursay the new king of Media The death of Alexander Kitchin the 23. of October 1565. The Caspiaâ— sea very shoald in diuers places The murthering of Thomas Alcock Cozamomet a noble man that fauoured our nation The value of a tumen What a batman is Varas a great mart for silke Gilan 7. dayes sailing from Astracanâ— Alom Gilan 4. dayes iourney from Casbin From Casbin to Ormus a moneths trauel with camels The secret doings of the Moscouie company Orient reds of Venice die A shaugh is 6. d. English His arriual at Casbin the 25. of May. Conference demands of the Shaugh All sorts of cloth to be sent specially Westerne
Liuonia doe demaund restitution namely waxe and furres redounded vnto the vse and commoditie of our soueraigne lord the king And also our said soueraigne lord the king gaue commandement by his letters that some of the sayd goods should be deliuered vnto others And a great part of them is as yet reserued in the towne of Newcastle One Benteld also hath the best of the sayd three ships in possession Also it is reported and thought to be true that certaine Furriers of London which will be detected in the end haue had a great part of the sayd goods namely of the Furres Now as concerning the cities of the Hans IN primis the Hamburgers exhibited nine articles wherein they demaunded restitution for certaine damages offered as they sayd by the English men the value of which losses amounted vnto the summe of 9117. nobles 20. pence For the which after due examination there was promised restitution to the summe of 416. nobles 5. shillings Besides the two articles propounded against theÌ„ of Scardeburg the summe wherof was 231. pounds 15. s. 8. d. coÌ„cerning the which there was sentence giuen in England by the coÌ„missioners of our lord the king the execution wherof was promised vnto the said Hamburgers by the ambassadors of England leaue and licence being reserued vnto the sayd Hamburgers of declaring or explaning certaine obscure articles by them exhibited which declaration was to be made at the feast of Easter then next to come or within one yeare next ensuing the said feast vnto the chancelor of England for the time being and of proouing the sayd articles and others also which haue not as yet sufficiently bene proued Which being done they are to haue full complement and execution of iustice Also by the Hamburgers there are demaunded 445. nobles from certaine of the inhabitants of Linne in England Which summe if it shal be prooued to be due vnto any English men the Hamburgers are to rest contented with those goods which they haue already in their possessions Item they of Breme propounded â—â—xe articles wherein the summe conteined amounteth vnto 4414. nobles And there was no satisfaction promised vnto them But the same libertie and licence was reserued vnto them in like maner as before vnto the Hamburgers Item they of Stralessund propounded 23. articles wherof the summe amounted vnto 7415. nobles 20. d. for the which there was promised satisfaction of 253. nobles 3. q. Also here is a caueat to be obserued that they of Stralessund had of English mens goods a great summe particularly to be declared which will peraduenture suffice for a recompense And some of their articles are concerning iniuries offered before 20,22,23,24 yeres past Also their articles are so obscure that they will neuer or very hardly be able to declare or proue them Howbeit there is reserued the very same liberty vnto them that was before vnto the Hamburgers Item they of Lubec propounded 23. articles the summe whereof extended vnto 8690. nobles and an halfe whereupon it was agreed that they should haue paied vnto them 550. nobles There was reserued the same libertie vnto them which was vnto the men of Stralessund Item they of Gripeswold exhibited 5. articles the summe whereof amounted vnto 2092. nobles and an halfe For the which there was promised satisfaction of 153. nobles and an half And the said men of Gripeswold haue of the goods of English men in possession to the value of 22015. nobles 18. s as it is reported by them of Linne And the same libertie is reserued vnto them that was vnto the Hamburgers Item they of Campen propounded ten articles the summe whereof extended vnto 1405. nobles There is no satisfaction promised vnto them but the same liberty is reserued vnto them which was vnto the other abouementioned Item the ambassadors of England demanded of the citizens of Rostok Wismer for damages iniuries by them committed against the subiects of the foresayd souereigne king 32407. nobles 2. s. 10. d. And albeit euery of the foresayd cities sent one of their burgomasters vnto the towne of Hage in Holland to treat with the English ambassadours it was in the end found out that they had not any authority of negotiating or concluding ought at al. And therfore they made their faithfull promises that euery of the said cities should send vnto our soueraigne Lord the king one or two procurator or procurators sufficiently instructed to treat conclude with our said souereigne lord the king about the damages and iniuries aforesaid at the feast of the nauitie of Saint Iohn the Baptist. Compositions and ordinances concluded between the messengers of Frater Conradus de Iungingen master generall of Prussia and the chancelor and treasurer of the realme of England 1403. IN the yere of our Lord 1403 vpon the feast of S. Michael the Archangel the right hono Henrie bishop of Lincoln chancelor of England and the lord de Roos high treasurer of England the ambassadors of Prussia Iohn Godek of Dantzik Henry Monek of Elbing masters of the same cities haue at Westminster treated in maner of composition about the articles vnderwritten between the most souereigne lord the king of England and the right reuerend honorable Conradus de Iungingen Master general of Prussia as concerning the iniuries offered vnto the people of Prussia and Liuonia vpon the sea by the English First that all ships with their appurtenances the commodities of the mariners according vnto the condition of the things and all other goods taken away by the English which are actually vndiuided whole are incontinently with al speed to bee restored And if there bee any defect in ought the value of the said defect is to be accounted with other losses of goods to be restored at the terme of the restitution to be made and deliuered Item that all ships damages and goods as they are conteined in our bill of accusation which are not now immediately restored are to be restored and payd in the land of Prussia between this and the terme appointed with full execution and complement of iustice Item concerning the persons throwen ouer boord or slaine in the sea it shall remayne to bee determined at the will and pleasure of the most mighty prince the king of England and of the right reuerend the Master of Prussia Item betwene this and the terme appointed for the restoring of the goods taken away vntill there be due payment restitution of the said goods performed the marchants of England and of Prussia are in no wise to exercise any traffique of marchandise at all in the foresaid lands Memorandum that the third day of the moneth of October in the yere of our Lord 1403. and in the fift yere of the reigne of the most mighty prince and lord king Henrie the fourth by the grace of God king of England and France c. betweene the reuerend father Henrie bishop of Lincolâ— chancelor and the
right honorable William lord de Roos high treasurer of England both of them counsellers vnto the sayd soueraigne king on the one party and the right worshipfull Iohn Godeke and Henrie Moneke sent as messengers by the right reuerend and religious personage Frater Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of the Dutch knights of the Order of S. Mary on the other party it was at the request and instancie of the sayd messengers appoynted and mutually agreed vpon that all the liege people and subiects of the sayd soueraigne lord and king shall haue free licence and liberty vntill the feast of Easter next ensuing safely to trauel vnto the land of Prussia aforesayd there to remaine and thence with their ships marchandises other their goods whatsoeuer to returne vnto their owne home which on the other side all the subiects of the sayd Master general may within the terme prefixed likewise doe in the foresaid realme of England Prouided alwaies that after the time aboue limited neither the sayd marchants of the realme of England may in the land of Prussia nor the marchants of that land in the realme of England exercise any traffique at al vnles it be otherwise ordained by some composition betweene the foresaid king of England the said Master general in the meane time concluded In witnesse wherof one part of this present Indenture is to remaine in the custodie of the foresaid messengers Giuen in the Chapter-house of the Church of S. Paul at London the day and yere aboue written The letters of the chancelor and treasurer of England vnto Frater Conradus de Iungingen master generall of Prussia 1403. RIght reuerend and mighty lord your honorable messengers Iohn Godeke and Henry Moneke the bearers hereof comming of late before the presence of our most souereigne lord the king of England and of France and being welcomed by our said lord with a chearefull and fauourable countenance they presented certaine letters on your behalfe vnto the kings Maiestie with that reuerence which be seemed them expounding vnto his highnes sundry piracies molestations offered of late vpon the sea by his liege people subiects vnto yours contrary to the leagues of peace and amitie which hitherto by Gods grace haue bene maintained and continued on both parts In consideration of which piracies and molestations your messengers demanded full restitution and recompeâ—se to be made either vnto the damnified parties or vnto their procurators We therefore at that time especially being in the presence of our soueraigne who with his puissant army tooke his progresse towards the remote part of Wales being subiect vnto his dominion to see iustice executed vpon his people of those parts who very rashly haue presumed to rebell against him their souereigne contrary to their allegeance right well perceiued that it was his hignesse intention that euery one should haue due iustice faithfully administred vnto him especially your subiects and that with all fauour whom he hath alwayes in times past right graciously intreated as if they had bene his owne liege subiects and natiue countrey men whome also hee purposeth hereafter friendly to protect insomuch that betweene him and his subiects on the one party and betweene you and yours on the other party great abundance and perfection of mutuall amity may increase And therefore we offered vnto your foresayd messengers after they had particularly declared vnto vs such piracies and wrongs to sende the kings letters vnto them of whom complaint was made firmely inioyning them vnder grieuous penalties that without delay they restore or cause to bee restored vnto the parties damnified or vnto their procuratours all ships marchandises wares and goods by them taken or violently stolne from your subiects And that your said messengers may partly attaine their desire we haue commaunded certaine ships marchandises wares and goods found in certaine hauens to be deliuered vnto them Howbeit as touching other goods which are perhaps perished or wanting by infortunate dissipation or destruction and for the which the said messengers of yours demand satisfaction to be made vnto them within a certain time by vs limited may it please your honor to vnderstand that in the absence of our sayd souereigne lord the king being as yet farre distant from vs wee can in no wise limit or set downe any such terme of time Notwithstanding at the prosperous returne of our soueraigne we are determined to commune with him about this matter Of whose answere so soone as we be certified we purpose to signifie his intention vnto you by our letters Sithens also right reuerend and mighty lord your sayd messengers are contented for the present to accept of our offer aforesayde as indeede by all reason they ought thereat to rest content especially whereas by this meanes they shall the more speedily attaine vnto the effect of their purposes to the shorte and wished execution and performance of which offer we will by Gods helpe endeuour to the vtmost of our ability may it be your will and pleasure that as in the kingdome of England your marchants and subiects are courteously intreated euen so the marchants and liege people of our soueraigne lord the king and of his kingdomes peaceably frequenting your parts either in regard of traffique or of any other iust occasion may there in like manner friendly bee vsed and with your marchants and subiects suffered to communicate and to haue intercourse of traffique inioying the commodities of the ancient league By this also the feruent zeale and affection which you beare vnto the royall crowne of England shall vndoubtedly appeare albeit betweene the famous houses of England and of Prussia the bandes of vnfained loue and friendship haue bin successiuely confirmed and kept inuiolable in times past And thus right reuerend and mighty lord wishing vnto you increase of honour and prosperity wee take our leaues Written at London the fift of October in the yeare of our lord 1403 By the chancelor the treasurer and other lords of the hono counsell of the king of England and France being personally present at London The letters of king Henry the 4. vnto Conradus de Iungingen the master general of Prussia for mutual conuersation and intercourse of traffique to continue between the marchants of England and of Prussia for a certaine terme of time HEnry by the grace of God king of England France and lord of Ireland to the noble and mighty personage of sacred religion Frater Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of the Order of the Dutch knights of S. Marie c. our most deare and welbeloued friend greeting and continuall increase of our auncient and sincere amity By the grieuous complaynts of our liege subiects concerning traffique as it were circular wise too fro both our dominions we haue often bene aduertised that in regard of diuers iniuries and damages which as well our as your marchants who by their dealings in marchandise were woont peaceably to vse mutual conuersation together