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
East from this our passage And all windes doe naturally driue a ship to an opposite point from whence it bloweth not being otherwise guided by Arte which the Indians do vtterly want therefore it seemeth that they came directly through this our fret which they might doe with one wind 3 For if they had come by the Cape de buona Sperança then must they as aforesaid haue fallen vpon the South parts of America 4 And if by the fret of Magellan then vpon the coasts of Afrike Spaine Portugall France Ireland or England 5 And if by the Northeast then vpon the coasts of Ceremissi Tartarij Lâ—ppia Island Terra de Labrador c. and vpon these coasts as aforesaid they haue neuer bene found So that by all likelihood they could neuer haue come without shipwracke vpon the coastes of Germanie if they had first striken vpon the coastes of so many countries wanting both Arte and shipping to make orderly discouery and altogether ignorant both in the Arte of Nauigation and also of the Rockes Flats Sands or Hauens of those parts of the world which in most of these places are plentifull 6 And further it seemeth very likely that the inhabitants of the most part of those countries by which they must haue come any other way besides by the Northwest being for the most part Anthropophagi or men eaters would haue deuoured them slaine them or at the least wise kept them as wonders for the gaze So that it plainely appeareth that those Indians which as you haue heard in sundry ages were driuen by tempest vpon the shore of Germanie came onely through our Northwest passage 7 Moreouer the passage is certainely prooued by a Nauigation that a Portugall made who passed through this fret giuing name to a Promontorie farte within the same calling it after his owne name Promontorium Corterialis neere adioyning vnto Polisacus fluuius 8 Also one Scolmus a Dane entred and passed a great part thereof 9 Also there was one Saluaterra a Gentleman of Victoria in Spaine that came by chance out of the West Indias into Ireland Anno 1568. who affirmed the Northwest passage from vs to Cataia constantly to be beleeued in America nauigable And further said in the presence of sir Henry Sidney then lord Deputie of Ireland in my hearing that a Frier of Mexico called Andrew Vrdaneta more then eight yeeres before his then comming into Ireland told him there that he came from Mar del Sur into Germany through this Northwest passage shewed Saluaterra at that time being then with him in Mexico a Sea Card made by his owne experience and trauell in that voyage wherein was plainly set downe and described this Northwest passage agreeing in all points with Ortelius mappe And further this Frier tolde the king of Portugall as he returned by that countrey homeward that there was of certainty such a passage Northwest from England and that he meant to publish the same which done the king most earnestly desired him not in any wise to disclose or make the passage knowen to any nation For that said the king if England had knowledge and experience thereof it would greatly hinder both the king of Spaiâ—e and me This Frier as Saluaterra reported was the greatest Discouerer by sea that hath bene in our age Also Saluaterra being perswaded of this passage by the frier Vrdaneta and by the common opinion of the Spaniards inhabiting America offered most willingly to accompanie me in this Discouery which of like he would not haue done if he had stood in doubt thereof And now as these moderne experiences cannot be impugned so least it might be obiected that these things gathered out of ancient writers which wrote so many yeeres past might serue litle to prooue this passage by the North of America because both America and India were to them then vtterly vnknowen to remooue this doubt let this susfise That Aristotle who was 300. yeeres before Christ named Mare Indicum Also Berosus who liued 330 yeres before Christ hath these words Ganges in India Also in the first chapter of Hester be these wordes In the dayes of Assuerus which ruled from India to Aethiopia which Assuerus liued 580 yeeres before Christ. Also Quintus Curtius where he speaketh of the conquests of Alexander mentioneth India Also Arianus Philostratus and Sidrach in his discourses of the warres of the king of Bactria and of Garaab who had the most part of India vnder his gouernment All which assureth vs that both India and Indians were knowen in those dayes These things considered we may in my opinion not only assure our selues of this passage by the Northwest but also that it is nauigable both to come and go as hath bene prooued in part and in all by the experience of diuers as Sebastian Cabota Corâ—erialis the three brethren aboue named the Indians and Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico c. And yet notwithstanding all this there be some that haue a better hope of this passage to Caâ—aia by the Northeast then by the West whose reasons with my seuerall answeres ensue in the chapter following Certaine reasons alleaged for the proouing of a passage by the Northeast before the Queenes Maiestie and certaine Lords of the Counsell by Master Anthonie Ienkinson with my seuerall answeres then vsed to the same Cap. 8. BEcause you may vnderstand as well those things alleaged against me as what doth serue for my purpose I haue here added the reasons of Master Anthony Ienkinson a worthy gentleman and a great traueller who conceiued a better hope of the passage to Cataia from vs to be by the Northeast then by the Northwest He first said that he thought not to the contrary but that there was a passage by the Northwest according to mine opinion but assured he was that there might be found a nauigable passage by the Northeast from England to goe to all the East parts of the world which he endeuoured to prooue three wayes The first was that he heard a Fisherman of Tartaria say in hunting the Morce that he sayled very farre towards the Southeast finding no end of the Sea whereby he hoped a thorow passage to be that way Whereunto I answered that the Tartarians were a barbarous people and vtterly ignorant in the Arte of Nauigation not knowing the vse of the Sea Card Compasse or Starre which he confessed to be true and therfore they could not said I certainly know the Southeast from the Northeast in a wide sea and a place vnknowen from the sight of the land Or if he sailed any thing neere the shore yet he being ignorant might be deceiued by the doubling of many points and Capes and by the trending of the land albeit he kept continually alongst the shore And further it might be that the poore Fisherman through simplicitie thought that there was nothing that way but sea because he saw no land which proofe vnder correction giueth small assurance
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
wit or industrie can be contriued to al purposes sufficient but only by our seaforces preuailing and so by our inuincible enioying al within the sea limites of our British royaltie contained To which incredible political mysterie attaining no easier readier or perfecter plat and introduction is as yet come to my imagination then is the present and continuall seruice of threescore good and tall warlike ships with twentie smaller barkes and those 80. ships great and smal with 6660. apt men furnished and all singularly well appointed for seruice both on sea and land faithfully and diligently to be done in such circumspect and discreet order as partly I haue in other places declared and further vpon good occasion offered may declare This grand nauie of peaceable king Edgar of so many thousand ships and they furnished with an hundred thousand men at the least with all the finall intents of those sea forces so inuincible continually mainteined the order of the execution of their seruice the godly and Imperial successe thereof are in a maner kingly lessons and prophetical incouragements to vs left euen now to bee as prouident for publique securitie as he was to be as skilful of our sea right and royal limits and wisely to finde our selues as able to recouer and enioy the same as he was who could not chuse but with the passing and yeerely sayling about this Brittish Albion with all the lesser Isles next adiacent round about it he could not chuse I say but by such ful and peaceable possession find himselfe according to right and his hearts desire the true and soueraigne Monarch of all the British Ocean enuironing any way his empire of Albion and Ireland with the lesser Islands next adiacent with memorial whereof as with one very precious iewel Imperial hee adorned the title and crowne of his regalitie as with the testimonie annexed of the states and nobles of his Empire to commit to perpetuall memorie the stile of his chiefe worldly dignitie in this very tenor of words before also remembred Ego AEdgarus Anglorum Basileus omniúmque Regum Insularum Oceanique Britanniam circumiacentis cunctarúmque nationum quae infra eam includuntur Imperator Domiâ—us The voyage of Edmund and Edward the sonnes of King Edmund Ironside into Hungarie Anno D. 1017. Recorded by Florentius Wigâ—rniensis pag. 391. DEdit consilium Edricus Canuto regi vt clitunculos Eadwardum Eadmundum regis Eadmundifilios necaret Sed quia magnum dedecus sibi videbatur vtin Anglia perimerentur paruo elapso tempore ad regem Suauorum occidendos misit Qui licèt foedus esset inter cos precibus illius nullatenùs voluit acquiescere sedillos ad regem Hungarorum Salomonem nomine misit nutriendos vitae que reseruandos Quorum vnus scilicet Eadmundus processu temporis ibidem vitam finiuit Eadwardus verò Agatham filiam Germani Imperatoris Henriciin matrimonium accepit ex qua Margaretam Scotorum reginam Christinam Sanctimonialem Clitonem Eadgarum suscepit The same in English EDric counselled king Kanutus to murther the yong princes Edward and Edmund the sonnes of King Edmund But because it seemed a thing very dishonourable vnto him to haue them put to death in England hee sent them after a short space vnto the king of Sweden to be slaine Who albeit there was a league betweene them would in no case condescend vnto Canutus his bloody request but sent them vnto Salomon the king of Hungarie to be nourished and preserued aliue The one whereof namely Edmund in processe of time there deceased But Edward receiued to wife Agatha daughter vnto the Germane Emperour Henry of whom he begot Margaret the Queene of the Scots and Christina a Nunne and Clito Edgar A Chronicle of the Kings of Man taken out of M. Camdens Chorographie IN the yeere of our Lord 1066. Edward King of England of famous memory deceased whom Harald sonne of Godwin succeeded in his kingdome against which Harald the king of Norwaie called Harald Harfager fought a battel at Stainford bridge where the English winning the fielde put all the Noruegians to flight out of which flight one Godredus sirnamed Crouan the sonne of Harald the blacke who had before time fled out of Island repaired vnto Godred sonne of Syrric who then reigned in Man and was right friendly and honourably enterteined by him In the very same yeere William the Conquerour subdued England and Godred the sonne of Syrric king of Man deceased after whom succeeded his sonne Fingal In the yeere 1066. Godredus Crouan gathered a fleete of ships and sailed vnto Man and giuing battell vnto the people of the countrey was vanquished and put to flight The second time also hauing gathered his armie and ships together hee came vnto Man fought with the inhabitants lost the victorie and was chaced away Yea the third time he assembled a great multitude and comming by night vnto the port which is called Ramsa hid 300. of his men in a wood standing vpon the side of the hill called Scacasel The Sunne was no sooner vp but the Mannians arranged themselues and with great furie set vpon Godred And in the midst of the skirmish the foresaid 300. men rising out of their ambush and comming vpon the backes of the Mannians molested them so sore that they were enforced to flie But when they saw y t they were ouercome and had no place of refuge to retire vnto for the tide of the sea had filled the chanel of the riuer of Ramsa and seeing the enemie so fiercely pursuing them on the other side they which remained with lamentable outcries beseeched Godred to spare their liues Then hee being mooued with compassion and pitying their extreme calamitie because hee had bene of late sustained and nourished among them sounded a retreat and forâ—ad his souldiers to make any longer pursuit The day following Godred put his souldiers to their choice whether they would diuide Man among themselues and inhabite it or whether they would take the wealth of the countrey and so returne vnto their owne home Howbeit it pleased them better to waste the whole Island and to enrich themselues with the commodities thereof and so to returne from whence they came Nowe Godred himselfe with a fewe Islanders which had remained with him tooke possession of the South part of the Island and vnto the remnant of the Manâ—ians he granted the North part thereof vpon condition that none of them should at any time afterward dare once to chalenge any parcell of the said ground by title of inheritance Whereupon it commeth to passe that vnto this day the whole Island is the kings owne Fee-simple and that all the reuenues thereof pertaine vnto him Also Godredus subdued Dublin vnto himselfe a great part of Lainestir And he so tamed the Scots that none of them durst build a ship or a boate with aboue three yron nailes in it Hee reigned 16. yeeres and died in the Island called
would withholde from him all other gold within the earth I sawe some of those people being very deformed creatures In Tangut I saw lusly tall men but browne and smart in colour The Iugures are of a middle stature like vnto our French men Amongst the Iugures is the originall and roote of the Turkish and Comanian languages Next vnto Tebet are the people of Langa and Solanga whose messengers I saw in the Tartars court And they had brought more then ten great cartes with them euery one of which was drawen with sixe oxen They be little browne men like vnto Spaniards Also they haue iackets like vnto the vpper vestment of a deacon sauing that the sleeues are somewhat streighter And they haue miters vpon their heads like bishops But the fore part of their miter is not so hollow within as the hinder part neither is it sharpe pointed or cornered at the toppe but there hang downe certaine square flappes compacted of a kinde of strawe which is made rough and rugged with extreme heat and is so trimmed that it glittereth in the sunne beames like vnto a glasse or an helmet well burnished And about their temples they haue long bands of the foresayd matter fastened vnto their miters which houer in the wind as if two long hornes grewe out of their heads And when the winde tosseth them vp and downe too much they tie them ouer the midst of their miter from one temple to another and so they lie circle wise ouerthwart their heads Moreouer their principal messenger comming vnto the Tartars court had a table of elephants tooth about him of a cubite in length and a handfull in breadth being very smoothe And whensoeuer hee spake vnto the Emperor himselfe or vnto any other great personage hee alwayes beheld that table as if hee had found therein those things which hee spake neither did he cast his eyes to the right hand nor to the lefte nor vpon his face with whom he talked Yea going too and fro before his lord he looketh no where but only vpon his table Beyond theÌ„ as I vnderstand of a certainty there are other people called Muc hauing villages but no one particular man of them appropriating any cattell vnto himselfe Notwithstanding there are many flockes and droâ—es of cattell in their countrey no man appointed to keepe them But when any one of them standeth in neede of any beast hee ascendeth vp vnto an hill and there maketh a shout and all the cattell which are within hearing of the noyse come flocking about him and suffer themselues to be handled and taken as if they were tame And when any messenger or stranger commeth into their countrie they shut him vp into an house ministring there things necessary vnto him vntill his businesse he dispatched For if anie stranger should trauell through that countrie the cattell would flee away at the very sent of him and so would become wilde Beyond Muc is great Cathâ—ya the inhabitants whereof as I suppose were of olde time called Seres For from them are brought most excellent stuffes of silke And this people is called Seres of a certain towne in the same countrey I was crediblie informedâ— that in the said countrey there is one towne hauing walles of siluer and bulwarkes or towers of golde There be many prouinces in that land the greater part whereof are not as yet subdued vnto the Tartars And amongst * Somewhat is wanting Part of the great Charter granted by king Edward the first to the Barons of the Cinque portes in the sixt yeere of his reigne 1278. for their good seruices done vnto him by sea wherein is mention of their former ancient Charters from Edward the Confessor William the Conqueror William Rufus Henry the second king Richard the first king Iohn and Henry the third continued vnto them EDward by the grace of God king of England lord of Ireland duke of Gascoigne to all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earles Barons Iustices Shirifs Prouosts Officers to all Bayliffes and true subiects greeting You shall knowe that for the faithfull seruice that our Barons of the fiue Ports hitherto to our predecessors kings of England vnto vs lately in our armie of Wales haue done and for their good seruice to vs and our heires kings of England truly to be continued in time to come we haue granted by this our Charter confirmed for vs and our heires to the same our Barons and to their heires all their liberties and freedomes So that they shall be free from all toll and from all custome that is to say from all lastage tollage passage cariage riuage asponsage and from all wrecke and from all their sale carying and recarying through all our realme and dominion with socke and souke toll and theme And that they shall haue Infangthefe and that they shall be wreckefree lastagefree and louecopfree And that they shall haue Denne and Strande at great Yarmouth according as it is contayned in the ordinance by vs thereof made perpetually to bee obserued And also that they are free from all shires and hundreds so that if any person will plead against them they shall not aunswere nor pleade otherwise then they were wont to plead in the time of the lord king Henrie our great grandfather And that they shall haue their findeâ—â—es in the sea and in the land And that they be free of all their goods and of all their marchandises as our freemen And that they haue their honours in our court and their liberties throughout all the land wheresoeuer they shall come And that they shall be free for euer of all their lands which in the time of Lord Henrie the king our father they possessed that is to say in the 44. yere of his reign from all maner of summonces before our Iustices to any maner of pleadings iourneying in what shire soeuer their lands are So that they shall not be bound to come before the Iustices aforesaid except any of the same Barons doe implead any man or if any man be impleaded And that they shall not pleade in any other place except where they ought and where they were wont that is to say aâ— Shepeway And that they haue their liberties and freedomes from hencefoorth as they and their predecessors haue had them at any time better more fully and honourably in the time of the kings of England Edward William the first William the second Henrie the king our great grandfatherâ— and in the times of king Richard and king Iohn our grandfathers and lord king Henrie our father by their Charters as the same Charters which the same our Barons thereof haue and which we haue seene doe reasonably testifie And we forbid that no man vniustly trouble them nor their marchandise vpon our forfeyture of ten pounds So neuerthelesse that when the same Barons shall fayle in doing of Iustice or in receiuing of Iustice our Warden and the
English lawes that the people and the lawes were in reputation and then were the wisest of the people worship-worthy euery one after his degree Earle and Churle Thein and vnder-Thein And if a churle thriued so that hee had fully five hides of his owne land a Church and a Kitchin a Belhouse and a gate a seate and a seuerall office in the Kings hall then was he thenceforth the Theins right worthy And if a Thein so thriued that he serued the king and on his message rid in his houshold if he then had a Thein that followed him the which to the kings iourney fiue hides had and in the kings seate his Lord serued and thrise with his errand had gone to the king he might afterward with his forâ—oth his lords part play at any great neede And if a Thein did thriue so that he became an Earle then was he afterward an Earles right worthie And if a Marchant so thriued that he passed thrise ouer the wide seas of his owne craft he was thencefoorth a Theins right worthie And if a scholar so prospered thorow learning that he degree had and serued Christ he was then afterward of dignitie and peace so much worthie as thereunto belonged vnlesse he forfaited so that he the vse of his degree vse ne might A testimonie of certaine priuiledges obtained for the English and Danish Marchants of Conradus the Emperour and Iohn the Bishop of Rome by Canutus the King of England in his iourney to Rome extracted out of a letter of his written vnto the Cleargie of England SIt vobis notum quia magna congregatio nobilum in ipsa solemnitate Pascali Romae cum Domino Papa Ioanne imperatore Conrado erat scilicet omnes principes gentium a monte Gargano vsque ad iâ—tum proximum Marâ—â— qui omnes me honorifice suscepere magnificis donis honorauere Maxime autem ab imperatore donis varijs muneribus pretiosis honoratus sum tam in vasis aureis argenteis quam in pallijs vestibus valde pretiosis Locutus sum igitur cum ipso imperatore Domino Papa principibus qui ibi erant de necessitatibus totius populi mei tam Angli quam Dani vt eis concederetur lex aequior pax securior in via RomaÌ„ adeundi ne tot clausuris per viam arcerentur propter iniustum teloneuÌ„ fatigarentur Annuitque postulatis Imperator Rodulphus Rex qui maxime ipsarum clausurarum dominatur cunctique principes edictis firmarunt vt homines mei tam Mercatores quà m alij orandi gratia viatores absque omni anguria clausurarum teloneaâ—iorum cum firma pace Romam eant redeant The same in English YOu are to vnderstand that at the feast of Easter there was a great company of Nobles with Pope Iohn and Conradus the Emperour assembled at Rome namely all the princes of the nations from mount Garganus vnto the West Ocean sea Who all of them honourably interteined me and welcomed mee with rich and magnificent gifts but especially the Emperour bestowed diuers costly presents and rewards vpon mee both in vessels of golde and siluer and also in cloakes and garments of great value Wherefore I conferred with the Emperour himselfe and the Pope and with the other Princes who were there present concerning the necessities of all my subiects both Englishmen and Danes that a more fauourable law secure peace in their way to Rome might bee graunted vnto them and that they might not bee hindered by so many stops impediments in their iourney and wearied by reason of iniust exactions And the Emperour condescended vnto my request and king Rodulphus also who hath greatest authoritie ouer the foresaid stops and streights and all the other princes confirmed by their Edicts that my subiects as well Marchants as others who trauailed for deuotions sake should without all hinderance and restraint of the foresaid stops and customers goe vnto Rome in peace and returne from thence in safetie The flourishing state of Marchandise in the Citie of London in the dayes of Willielmus Malmesburiensis which died in the yeere 1142. in the reigne of K. Stephen HAud longe a Rofa quasi viginti quinque milliarijs est Londonia Ciuitas nobilis opima ciuium diuitijs constipata negociatorum ex omni terra maxime ex Germania venientium commercijs Vnde fit vt cum vbique in Anglia caritas victualium pro sterili prouentu messium sit ibi necessaria distrahantur emantur minore quà m alibi vel vendentium compendio vel ementium dispendio Peregrinas inuehit merces Ciuitatis sinibus Tamesis fluuius famosus qui citra vrbem ad ' 80. milliaria fonticulo fusus vltra plus 70. nomen profert The same in English NOt farre from Rochester about the distance of fiue and twenty miles standeth the Noble Citie of London abounding with the riches of the inhabitants and being frequented with the traffique of Marchants resorting thither out of all nations and especially out of Germanie Whereupon it commeth to passe that when any generall dearth of victuals falleth out in England by reason of the scarcitie of corne things necessary may there be prouided and bought with lesse gaine vnto the sellers and with lesse hinderance and losse vnto the buyers then in any other place of the Realme Outlandish wares are conueighed into the same Citie by the famous riuer of Thames which riuer springing out of a fountaine 80. miles beyond the Citie is called by one and the selfe same name .70 miles beneath it The aforesaid William of Malmesburie writeth of traffike in his time to Bristowe in his fourth booke degestis pontificum Anglorum after this maner IN eadem valle est vicus celeberrimus Bristow nomine in quo est nauium portus ab Hibernia Norwegia caeteris transinarinis terris venientium receptaculum ne scilicet genitalibus diuitijs tam fortunata regio peregrinarum opum frauderetur commercio The same in English IN the same valley stands the famous Towne of Bristow with an Hauen belonging thereunto which is a commodious and safe receptacle for all ships directing their course for the same from Ireland Norway and other outlandish and foren countreys namely that a region so fortunate and blessed with the riches that nature hath vouchsafed thereupon should not bee destitute of the wealth and commodities of other lands The league betweene Henry the second and Fredericke Barbarossa Emperour of Germanie wherein is mention of friendly traffike betweene the Marchants of the Empire and England confirmed in the yeere of our Lord 1157. recorded in the first Booke and seuenteenth Chapter of Radeuicus Canonicus Frisingensis being an appendix to Otto Frisingensis IBidem tunc affuere etiam Henrici Regis Angliae missi varia preciosa donaria multo lepore verborum adornata praestantes Inter quae papilionem vnum quantitate maximum qualitate optimum perspeximus
Kingdome and buy and sell in the Citie of London Wherefore we will and firmely command for vs and our heires that the forenamed Marchants of Colen may enioy the liberties and free priuiledges aboue-mentioned throughout our whole kingdome of England as is aforesaid Witnesses the reuerend father Walter Bishop of Carlil William de Ferarijs Gilbert Basset Walter de Beau-champ Hugh Disspenser Walter Marescal Geofrie Disspensser Bartholomew Peach Bartholomew de Saukeuill and others Giuen by the hand of the reuerend father Ralph Bishop of Chichester and our Chauncellour at Dauintre the eight day of Nouember in the twentieth yeere of our reigne Carta Lubecensibus ad septennium concessa Anno 41. Henrici 3. HEnricus dei gracia Rex Angliae dominus Hiberniae dux Normanniae Aquitaniae Comes Andegauiae omnibus Balliuis suis salutem Sciatis nos ad instantiam dilecti fidelis fratris nostri Ricardi Comitis Cornubiae in Regem Romanorum electi suscepisse in protectionem defensionem nostram saluum securum conductum nostrum Burgenses de Lubek in Alemania cum omnibus rebus mercandisis quas in Regnum nostrum deferent vel facient deferri Et eis concessimus quod de omnibus rebus mercandisis suis nihil capiatur ad opus nostrum vel alterius contra voluntatem corundem sed libere vendant negocientur inde in Regno praedicto prout sibi viderint expedite Et ideo vobis mandamus quod dictis Burgensibus vel eorum nuncijs in veniendo in terram nostram cum rebus mercandisis suis ibidem morando inde recedendo nullum inseratis aut ab alijs inferri permittatis impedimentum aut grauamen Nec eos contra quietantiam praedictam vexetis aut ab alijs vexari permittatis In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes per septennium durantes Dum tamen ijdem Burgenses interim bene fideliter se habuerint erga praefatum electum fratrem nostrum Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium vndecimo die Maij Anno Regni nostri quadragesimo primo Haec litera duplicata est pro Burgensibus mercatoribus Dacis Brunswig Lubek The same in English The charter of Lubek granted for seuen yeeres obtained in the one and fortieth yeere of Henry the third HEnry by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Normandie and Aquitaine and Earle of Anjou to all his Bailifs sendeth greeting Know ye that at the instant request of our welbeloued and trusty brother Richard Earle of Cornewal being of late elected king of the Romanes we haue receiued vnder our protection and defence and vnder our safe and secure conduct the citizens of Lubek in Alemain with all their goods and wares which they shall bring or cause to be brought into our kingdome We haue also granted vnto them that of all their goods and merchandize nothing shal be seized vnto the vse of our selues or of any other without their owne consent but that they may freely sell and exercise traffike therewith according as they shall thinke expedient And therefore we straightly command you that neither your selues do offer nor that you permit any other to offer any impediment or molestation vnto the said Burgers or vnto their messengers either at their comming into our land with their goods and marchandize in the time of their abode there or at their departure from thence and that yee neither molest them your selues nor yet suffer them by others to be molested contrary to the aforesaid Charter In testimonie whereof we haue caused these our Letters to be made Patents during the space of seuen yeeres next following Prouided that the sayd Burghers doe in the meane time behaue themselues well and faithfully towards our foresaid elected brother Witnesse our selues at Westminster the eleuenth day of March in the one and fortieth yeere of our reigne This Letter was doubled namely for the Burghers and the Marchants of Denmarke of Brunswig and of Lubecke Carta pro Mercatoribus Alemanniae qui habent domum in London quae Gildhalla Teutonicorum vulgariter nuncupatur Anno 44. Henriciterty Anno primo 29. Edwardi primi renouata confirmata AD instantiam Serenissimi principis Richardi Romanorum Regis charissimi fratris nostri concedimus mercatoribus Alemanniae illis videlicet qui habent domum in Ciuitate nostra London quae Gildhalla Teutonicorum vulgariter nuncupatur quod eos vniuersos manutenebimus per totum RegnuÌ„ nostrum in omnibus ijsdem libertatibus liberis consuetudinibus quibus ipsi nostris progenitorum nostrorum temporibus vsi sunt gauisi Ipsosque extra huiâ—sinodi libertates liberas consuetudines non trahemus nec trahi aliquatenus permittemus In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes The same in English A charter for the Marchants of Almaine who haue an house at London commonly called the Guildhall of the Dutch graunted in the 44. yeere of Henry the third renued and confirmed in the 1. 29. yeere of Edward the first AT the instant request of the most gracious Prince Richard king of the Romanes our most deare brother wee doe graunt vnto the Marchants of Alemain namely vnto those that haue an house in our citie of London commonly called the Guildhall of the Dutch Merchants that we will throughout our whole Realme maintaine all and euery of them in all those liberties and free customes which both in our times and in the times of our progenitors they haue vsed and enioyed Neither will we inforce them beyond these liberties and free customes nor in any wife permit them to be inforced In witnesse whereof wee haue caused these our letters to be made patents Mandatum regis Edwardi primi de mercatoribus alienigenis MErcatores extranei vendant mercimonia sua in ciuitate London c. infra quadraginta dies post ingressum suum anno 3. Edwardi primi The same in English A mandate of king Edward the first concerning outlandish marchants VVE will and command that outlandish marchants doe sel their wares in the citie of London c. within forty dayes of their arriuall The great Charter granted vnto forreine marchants by king Edward the first in the 31 yeare of his reigne commonly called Carta mercatoria Anno Domini 1303. EDwardus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Dominus Hiberniae dux Aquitaniae Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Baronibus Iustitiarijs Vicecomitibus praepositis ministris omnibus balliuis fidelibus suis salutem Circa bonum statum omnium mercatorum subscriptorum regnorum terrarum prouinciatum videlicet Alemanniae Franciae Hispaniae Protugalliae Nauarrae Lombardiae Thusciae Prouincie Cataloniae ducatus nostri Aquitaniae Tholosanie Caturluni Flandriae Brabantie omnium aliarum terrarum locorum extraneorum quocunque nomine censeantur venientium in regnum nostrum Anglie ibidem
Giuen in our castle of Marienburg in the yeare of our Lord 1398 and vpon the 22. day of February Frater Conradus de Iungingen master generall of the Order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospital at Ierusalem A briefe relation of VVilliam Esturmy and Iohn Kington concerning their ambassages into Prussia and the Hans-townes IN primis that in the moueth of Iuly and in the yeare of our Lord 1403 and the fift yeare of the reigne of our souereigne Lord the king that nowe is there came into England the ambassadours of the mighty lord Fr Conradus de lungingen being then Master general of Prussia with his letters directed vnto our foresayd souereigne lord the king requiring amends and recompense for certaine iniuries vniustly offered by English men vnto the subiects of the sayd Master generall written in 20. articles which amounted vnto the summe of 19120. nobles and a halfe c. Item that the third day of the moneth of October in the yeare of our Lord aboue written and in the fift yere of the reigne of our soueraigne lord the king between the reuerend father in God Henrie then bishop of Lincolne lord chancelor and William lord de Roos high treasurer of England on the one party and the sayd ambassadours on the other party it was according to their petition amongst other things ordayned namely that the liege people of our soueraigne lord the king should freely he permitted vntill the feast of Easter then next after ensuing to remaine in the land of Prussia and from thence with their goods marchandises to returne vnto their own home and also that the subiects of the sayd Master generall in the kingdome of England should haue licence and liberty to doe the like Prouided alwayes that after the time aboue limitted neither the English marchants in the land of Prussia nor the Prussian marchaÌ„ts in the realme of England should vse any traffique of marchandise at all vnlesse in the meane space it were otherwise agreed and concluded by the sayd king and the sayd Master general Item immediately after our sayd soueraigne lord the king sent his letters by Iohn Browne marchant of Lin vnto the foresayd Master generall for to haue mutuall conuersation and intercourse of dealing to continue some certain space betweene the marchants of England and of Prussia promising in the same letters that he would in the meane season send vnto the foresayd Master his ambassadors to intreat about the pretended iniuries aforesaid which letters the foresayd Master for diuers causes refused to yeelde vnto as in his letters sent vnto our lord the king bearing date the 16. day of the moneth of Iuly in the yeare of our lord 1404. more plainely appeareth Item that after the receit of the letters of the Master aforesaid which are next aboue mentioned our sayd king according to his promise sent William Esturmy knight M. Iohn Kington câ—erke and William Brampton citizen of London from his court of parliament holden at Couentrie very slightly informed as his ambassadours into Prussia Item before the arriuall of the sayd ambassadours in Prussia all intercourse of traffique betweene the English and the Prussians in the realme of England and in the land of Prussia was altogether restrained and prohibited and in the same land it was ordayned and put in practise that in whatsoeuer porte of the land of Prussia any English marchant had arriued with his goods he was not permitted to conueigh the sayd goods out of that porte vnto any other place of the land of Prussia either by water or by lande vnder the payne of the forfeiting of the same but was enioyned to sell them in the very same porte vnto the Prussians onely and to none other to the great preiudice of our English marchants Item that after the arriuall of the sayd English ambassadours in the land of Prussia it was ordayned that from the eight day of the moneth of October in the yeare of our lord 1405 all English marchants whatsoeuer should haue free liberty to arriue with all kindes of their marchandise in whatsoeuer port of the land of Prussia and to make sale of them in the said land as hath heretofore from auncient times bene accustomed Also sundry other commodious priuiledges vnto the realme of England were then ordayned and established as in the indentures made for this purpose it doth more manifestly appeare Item the said English ambassadours being arriued in the land of Prussia demanded of the â—aid Master generall a reformation and amends for the damages and iniuries offered by the Prussians vnto the liege people of our souereigne lord and king written in fifteene articles which losses amounted vnto the summe of 4535. nobles Item the said Master generall besides the articles exhibited vnto our soueraigne lord the king as it is aboue mentioned deliuered vnto the sayd ambassadours diuers other articles of certaine iniuries offered as he â—ayth vniustly by English men vnto his subiects which amounted vnto the summe of 5100. nobles Item it was afterward concluded that vpon the first of May next then insuing namely in the yeere of our Lord 1406 or within the space of one yeare immediatly following there should bee made a conuenâ—ent iust and reasonable satisfaction for all molestatious vniustly ofâ—â—red on both partes as well on the behalfe of our soueraigne lord the king as of the foresayd Master general Which satisfaction not being performed the Prussians with their goods marchandises within three moneths after the end of the sayd yere next following were without molestation or impediment enioined to depart out of the realme of England with their ships and goods and the English men likewise out of the territories and dominions of the said Master general both of them without any further admonition to abstaine separate themselues from both the countreis aforesayd For the performance of which premisses the ambassadors on both parts being sufficiently instructed were appointed to meete the first day of May at the towne of Dordract in Holland Item that the sayd William Esturmy and Iohn Kington in their returne homewards from Prussia towards England passed through the chiefe cities of the Hans and treated in such sorte with the Burgomasters of them that there were sent messengers and agents in the behalfe of the common society of the Hans marchants vnto the towne of Dordract to conferre with the ambassadors of England about the redressing of iniuries attempted on both parts where diuers agreements were set downe betweene the sayd ambassadors and messengers as in the indentures made for the same purpose it doth more manifestly appeare Item that the meeting appointed at the towne of Dordract vpon the first of May was by the letters of the foresayd ambassadors proroged vnto the first of August then next ensuing and afterward by vertue of the kings letters vnto the first day of March next following and there was another day of prorogation also Item that after the prorogations aforesayd
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
whereupon very many commodities are knowen to haue proceeded haue by occasion of pirates rouing vp and downe the sea sometimes heretofore sustayned both the sayd marchants of our of your dominions do abstaine themselues froÌ„ their wonted mutual coÌ„uersation traffique as they haue likewise carefully abstained at sometimes heretofore and especially from that time wherein at the instant request of your messengers being of late before our presence the free accesse of our marchants vnto your territories and dominions of your marchants vnto our realmes hath bene forbidden Sithens therefore our most deare friend such iniuries if any as haue bene attempted against your subiects were neuer committed by our will and consent as we thinke that your selfe on the other side haue done the like sithens also so much as in vs lieth wee are ready to exhibit full iustice with fauour vnto any of your people being desirous to make complaint so that accordingly iustice may equally be done vnto our marchants by you your subiects which marchants haue in like sort bene iniuried wishing with all our heart that the ancient friendship loue which hath continued a long time between our realme and your territories and dominions may perseuere in time to come and that sweet and acceptable peace which is to be embraced of al Christians may according to the good pleasure of the author of peace be nourished mayntained we do most heartily require the sayd friendship exhorting you in the Lord that you would on your behalf consent ordain euen as if you shall so do we for our part wil consent likewise that from this present vntil the feast of Easter next insuing al molestatioÌ„s iniuries which may be offred ceasing on both parts our subiects by your territories dominions your subiects by our realms may peaceably securely trauel that according to their wonted maner they may friendly coÌ„uerse exercise mutual traffick together because we are determined to send vnto you your counsel in the mean time some of our ambassadors friendly to intreat about the foresaid preteÌ„ded iniuries so far forth as they shal coÌ„cerne our subiects At whose ariual we stand in good hope that by the due administration of iustice on both parts such order by Gods assistance shal be taken that mutual peace and tranquillity may be established between vs in times to come Also our desire is in particular that our marchants liege subiects may haue more free passage granted them vnto the parts of Sconia for the prouiding of herrings and of other fishes there that they may there remayne and from thence also may more securely returne vnto their owne home and we beseech you in consideration of our owne selues that you would haue our marchants and liege subiects especially recommended vnto you safely protecting them if need shall require vnder the shadow of your defence euen as you would haue vs to deale in the like case with your own subiects Moreouer whatsoeuer you shall thinke good to put in practise in this behalfe may it please you of your friendship by our faythfull subiect Iohn Browne the bearer herâ—of to giue vs to vnderstand In the sonne of the glorious virgine fare ye well with continuall prosperity and felicity according to your owne hearts desire Giuen vnder our priuie seale at our palace of Westminster the fift day of Iune and in the fift yere of our reigne Postscriptum RIght reuerend and our most deare friend albeit our welbeloued Arnold de Dassele the procurator of your foresaid messengers being desirous at this time to make his final returne vnto your parts by reason of the affayres for which he hath remained in our realme of England cannot as yet obtaine his wished expedition notwithstanding you of your sincere affection ought not to maruel or any whit to be grieued thereat because troubles of wars arising which in some sort concerned our selues and especially in regard of the continuall assaults of the French men Britons against vs and our kingdome for the offence of whom and our owne defence our liege subiects especially they of whom your subiects damnified haue made their complaints haue armed themselues to combate vpon the sea we could not grant vnto the foresayd Arnold such and so speedy an expedition as he earnestly desired to haue Unto the which Arnold your procurator we haue offered in as short time as may be to administer complete iustice with fauour to y e end that for this cause he might dispose himselfe to remaine in our realme of England yet notwithstanding wee would do the very same euen in the absence of the sayd procurator Giuen as aboue To the most renowmed prince and mighty Lord Henrie king of England c. our gracious Lord. OUr humble recommendations with our most instant and continuall prayers for you being graciously by your Maiestie taken in good part c. Most soueraigne king mighty prince gratious lord and vnto vs most vnfaynedly beloued we receiued of late your gracious letters by your Maiesties liege subiect Iohn Brown the contents whereof seemed to be these following first that of long time heretofore there haue bene between the marchants of your realm of our lands not only quiet peaceable accesse one vnto another but also mutual participation common traffique of their wares being right coÌ„modious auaileable for them both howbeit that now the foresaid profitable conuersation by reason of certain notorious robberies committed vpon the sea by pyrates against both parts the wonted accesse also of your subiects vnto our dominions were altogether forbidden Moreouer you call to remembrance the ancient amity friendship betweene both our lands with the inualuable commodity of sweet amiable peace which are by al faithful Christians to the vtmost of their endeuour to be imbraced Wherupon you of your exceeding clemency do offer your Maiesties ful consent that the foresaid prohibition being released vntil the feast of Easter next ensuing the said marchants of your dominions may in our territories and our marchants likewise may in your realms al molestations ceasing exercise their woonted traffique especially sithens in the mean season your royall wisdome hath determined to direct vnto vs your hono ambassadors in friendly sort to treat and parle with vs as touching the pretended iniuries so far forth as they may concerne your subiects Adding moreouer in particular that when your people shall repayre vnto the parts of Sconia to fish for herrings hauing consideration regard vnto your maiestie we would haue them especially recommended vnto our protection c. Most soueraigne lord king gracious prince wee doe with vnfained and hearty affection embrace the oracles of your maiesties most courteous acceptable offer wherein you haue vsed most diligent effectuall perswasions that coÌ„plement of iustice should be done vnto the parties iniuried that peace friendship should take place making no doubt of your own royall person nor of
and messengers haue put to their seales Giuen in the towne of Dordract the 15. day of December in the yere of our Lord 1405. William Esturmy knight and Iohn Kington canon of Lincolne being in this behalfe sufficiently authorized and deputed as Ambassadours procurators messengers and commissioners by our said soueraigne lord the king namely in regard of the molestations iniuries and damages vniustly done and committed against the liege people and subiectes of the foresaide most excellent Prince and lord Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England France and Lord of Ireland by the commumalties of the cities of Wismer and Rostok vnderwritten their common couÌ„sel being assembled for the same purpose authorized also and as well closely as expresly maintained and ratified by the whole companie of the common society of the marchants of the Dutch Hans doe in this present diet at the towne of Hage situate in the countrey of Holland being appointed for the very same occasion demaund of you Syr Iohn de Aa knight and Hermannus Meyer deputies for the cities of Wismer and Rostok and sufficiently ordeined by authority requisite in this behalfe to be the procurators and messengers of the said cities that conuenient iust and reasonable satisfaction and recompense may certainely and effectually be done vnto the iniuried and endamaged parties who are specified in the articles vnder written Imprimis that about the feast of Easter in the yeere of our Lord 1394. Henry van Pomeren Godekin Michael Clays Sheld Hans Howfoote Peter Hawfoote Clays Boniface Rainbek and many others with them of Wismer and of Rostok being of the societie of the Hans tooke by maine force a ship of Newcastle vpon Tine called Godezere sailing vpon the Sea towards Prussia being of the burthen of two hundred tunnes and belonging vnto Roger de Thorneton Robert Gabiford Iohn Paulin and Thomas de Chester which ship together with the furnâ—ture thereof amounteth vnto the value of foure hundred pounds also the woollen cloth the red wine the golde and the summes of money contained in the said ship amounted vnto the value of 200. marks of English money moreouer they vniustly slew Iohn Patanson and Iohn Russell in the surprising of the shippe and goods aforesaide and there they imprisoned the sayde parties taken and to their vtter vndoing detayned them in prison for the space of three whole yeeres Item that in the yeere of our Lorde 1394. certaine persons of Wismer and Rostok with others of the Hans their confederates robbed one Richard Horuse of Hull of diuers goods anyâ— marchandizes in a ship called the Shipper Berline of Prussia beeing then valued at 160. nobles Item that in the yeere of our Lorde 1395. Hans van Wethemonkule Clays Scheld Godekin Mighel and one called Strotbeker by force of armes and by the assistance of the men of Wismer and Rostok and others of the Hans did vpon the Sea neere vnto Norway wickedly and vniustly take from Iohn Tutteburie fiue pieces of ware foure hundred of werke and halfe a last of osmundes and other goods to the value of foure hundred seuentie sixe nobles Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1396. one Iohn van Derlowe Hans van Gelder and other their complices of the Hans villainously and vniustly tooke a shippe of William Terry of Hul called the Cogge with thirtie wollen broad clothes and a thousand narrow clothes to the value of 200. pounds Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1398. one Iohn van Derlowe Wilmer Hans van Gelder Clays Scheld Euerade Pilgrimson and diuers others of the Hans did vpon the Sea neere vnto Norway villainously and vniustly take a shippe of Iohn Wisedome of Hull called the Trinitie with diuers goods and marchandizes namely oyle waxe and werke to the value of 300. pounds Item in the yeere of our Lord 1399. one Clays Scheld and others aboue written of Wismer and Rostok with certaine others of the Hans their confederates wickedly and vniustly took from one William Pound marâ—hant of Hull two cakes of waxe to the value of 18. poundes out of the ship called the Hawkin Derlin of Dantzik Item in the yeere of our Lord 1394. one Goddekin Mighel Clays Scheld Storbiker and diuers others of Wismer and Rostok and of the Hans wickedly and vniustly tooke out of a ship of Elbing the master whereof was called Henry Puys of the goods and marchandizes of Henrie Wyman Iohn Topeliffe aud Henry Lakenswither of Yorke namely in werke waxe osmunds and bowstaues to the value of 1060. nobles Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1394. certaine malefactors of Wismer and Rostok with others of the Hans their confederats wickedly vniustly took out of a ship of Holland the master whereof was called Hinkensman 140. woollen clothes the price of one of the which clothes was eight nobles from Thomas Thester of Yorke and a chest with armour siluer and golde of the foresaid Thomas to the value of 9. pounds Item in the yere of our Lord 1393. certaine malefactors of Wismer and Rostok and others their complices of the Hans wickedly and vniustly tooke from one Richard Abel of London woollen cloth greene cloth meale and fishes to the value of 133. li.6.s. Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1405. about the feast of S. Michael one Nicholas Femeer of Wismer marchant of the Hans with the assistance of other his complices of the Hans aforesaide wickedly and vniustly tooke from one Richard Morley citizen of London fiue lasts of herrings besides 32. pounds in the sea called Northsound Item in the yeere of our Lord 1398. about the moneth of September one Godekin Wisle and Gerard Sleyre of Wismer and Rostok with others of the Hans their confederats wickedly and vniustly took out of a ship of Prussia wherof the master was named Rorebek from Iohn Seburgh marchant of Colchester two packs of woollen cloth to the value of an 100. markes from Stephan Flispe and Iohn Plumer marchants of the same town two packs of woollen cloth to the value of 60. pounds from Robert Wight marchant of the same towne two packes of woollen cloth to the value of an 100. marks from William Munde marchant of the same town two fardels of woollen cloth worth 40 li from Iohn Dawe and Thomas Cornwaile marchants of the same towne three packs of woollen cloth worth 200. marks Moreouer they tooke and imprisoned certaine English men which were in the said ship namely William Fubborne seruant vnto Iohn Diere Thomas Mersh seruant vnto Robert Wight which Thomas paid for this ransome 20. nobles of English money William Munde marchant of the towne aforesaide which William by reason of the extremity of that imprisonment lost the sight of his eyes and Thomas Cornwaile marchant of the foresaide Towne which Thomas paide for his raunsome twentie nobles Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1394. certaine malefactors of Wismer and Rostok vpon the coastes of Denmarke and Norway
the said Simon to saile for England and spoiled the said craier and also tooke and caried away with them the goods and marchandises of the said Simon being in the foresaid ship to the value of 66. pounds Item in the yeere of our Lord 1397. certaine malefactors of Wismer and Rostok with certaine others of the Hans tooke a crayer of one Peter Cole of Zeland called the Bussship which Alan Barret the seruant and factor of the foresaid Simon Durham had laden with mastes sparres and other marchandize for the behalfe of the said Simon and vniustly tooke from thence the goods of the said Simon to the value of 24. pounds and caried the same away Item in the yeere of our Lord 1394. certaine malefactors of Wismer and others of the Hans vniustly tooke vpon the sea and caried away with them a packe of woollen cloth of the foresaid Simon worth 42. pounds out of a certain crayer of one Thomas Fowler of Lenne being laden and bound for Dantzik in Prussia Item pitifully complaining the marchants of Lenne doe auouch verifie affirme that about the feast of S. George the martyr in the yeere of our Lord 1394. sundry malefactors and robbers of Wismer Rostok and others of the Hans with a great multitude of ships arriued at the towne of Norbern in Norway and tooke the said town by strong assault and also wickedly and vniustly took al the marchants of Lenne there residing with their goods cattels and burnt their houses and mansions in the same place and put their persons vnto great ransoms euen as by the letters of safeconduct deliuered vnto the said marchants it may more euidently appeare to the great damage and impouerishment of the marchants of Lenne namely Imprimis they burnt there 21. houses belonging vnto the said marchants to the value of 440. nobles Item they tooke from Edmund Belyetere Thomas Hunt Iohn Brandon and from other marchants of Lenne to the value of 1815. pounds Concerning this surprise Albertus Krantzius in the sixt book of his history of Norway and the 8. Chapter writeth in maner following IN the meane while Norway enioyed peace vnder the gouernment of a woman vntil Albertus king of Suecia who had now seuen yeeres continued in captiuity vnder Queen Margaret was to be set at liberty Which when the common souldiers of Rostok Wismer called the Vitalians perceiued who whilest their king was holden captiue in the right of the forenamed cities for the behalfe of their lord the king being prince of Mekleburg by birth vndertooke and waged warre al the time of his captiuitie banding their forces together they resolued at their own costs charges but in the right of the said cities to saile into the 3. kingdoms and to take such spoiles as they could lay hold on These common souldiers therfore sâ—eing an end of their tyrannical and violent dealing to approch sassed into Norway vnto the towne of Norbern being a mart town for al the marchants of Germanie who transporting fishes from thence doe bring thither marchandises of all kinds especially corne vnto the scarcitie wherof vnlesse it be brought out of other countreys that kingdome as we haue said is very much subiect Departing out of their ships and going on shore they set vpon the towne and by fire and sword they easily compelled the inhabitants dwelling in weake wodden houses to giue place Thus these Vitalians entring and surprising the towne conueyed such spoiles vnto their ships as them pleased and hauing laden their ships with those booties they returned home frolike vnto the ports of their own cities Without all respect they robbed and rifled the goods aswel of the Germanes as of the Noâ—uagians and like lewde companions wasting and making hauock of all things prooued themselues neuer the wealthier For it is not the guise of such good fellowes to store vp or to preserue ought The citizens at the first seemed to be inriched howbeit afterward no man misdoubting any such calamitie goods ill gotten were worse spent Thus farre Kranâ—zius Item pitifully complaining the foresaide marchants auouch verifie and affirme that vpon the 14. day after the feast of S. George in the yeere of our Lord next aboue written as 4. ships of Lenne laden with cloth wine and other marchandises were sailing vpon the maine sea with all the goods and wares conteined in them for Prussia sundry malefactors of Wismer and Rostok with others of the Hans being in diuers ships came vpon them and by â—orce of armes and strong hand tooke the said ships with the goods and marchandises contained in them and some of the people which were in the saide foure ships they slew some they spoyled and others they put vnto extreame ransomes And carying away with them those foure ships with the commodities and marchandise therin they parted stakes thâ—rwith as them listed to the great impâ—uerishment losse of the said marchants of Lenne namely in cloth of William Silesden Tho. Waterden Ioh. Brandon Ioh. WesenhaÌ„ other marchants of Lenne to the value of 3623 li.5.s.11 d. Item pitifully complaining the foresaid marchants doe affirme that one Henry Lambolt and other his adherents in the yeere of our Lord 1396. looke vpon the maine sea betweene Norway and Sâ—aw one crayer laden with osmunds and with diuers other marchandises perteining vnto Iohn Brandon of Lenne to the summe and value of 443 li.4.s.2.d Moreouer they tooke from Iohn Lakingay 4. lasts and an halfe of osmunds to the value of 220 lib.10.s Item the foresaid marchants complaine that certain malefactors of Wismer with other their compliâ—es of the Hans in the yeere of our Lord 1396. tooke from Thomas Ploker of Lenne out of a certaine ship sailing vpon the maine sea towaâ—ds Sconâ—land whereof Iames Snycop was master cloth and other marchandise to the summe and value of 13 lib.13.s.4.d Item the aboue-named marchants complaine saying that certaine malefactors of Wismer with others of the Hans society in the yere of our Lord 1397. wickedly and vniustly took out of a certaine ship of Dantzik whereof Laurence van Russe was master from Ralph Bedingam of Lenne one fardel of cloth worth 52 li.7.s.6.d Also for the ransome of his seruant 8 li.6.s.8.d Itemâ— they tooke from Thomas Earle diuers goods to the value of 24. pounds Item the foresaid marchants complainâ—â— that certaine malefactors of Wismer Rostok with others of the Hans in the yeere of our Lord 1399. wickedly vniustly tooke one crayer pertayning vnto Iohn Lakingliâ—h of Lenne laden with diuers goods and marchandise pertaining vnto sundry marchants of Lenne namely from the forenamed Iohn one fardel of cloth and one chest full of harneis and other things to the value of 90 lib Item they took out of the foresaid ship from Roger Hood one fardel of cloth and one chest with diuers goods to the value of 58 lib Item from Iohn Pikeron one fardell of cloth and one chest with
diuers goods to the value of 440 lib Item from Andrew Purser one farnell of cloth and one chest with diuers commodities therein to the value of ten pounds Item the aboue-named marchants complaine saying that certaine malefactors of Wismer Rostok and others of the Hans namely Godekin Mighel Henrie van Hall de Stertebeker with other of their confederates in the yeere of our Lord 1399. wickedly and vniustly took from Iohn Priour of Lenne out of the ship of Michael van Buâ—gh namely â—60 nests of maseâ—s worth 100 lib.13.s.4.d Item 30. furres rigges of Kaleber woorth 13 s.4.d a piâ—ce the summe totall amounting to 20 li Item 20. furres wombys of Kalebre worth c. Item one girdle of siluer and one dagger adorned with siluer worth 30 s Item two coates and one long iacket and other goods to the value of 30 s Item he paide for his ransome 4 lib.13.s.4.d Unto all and singular the articles aboue-written the ambassadors of England aforesaid do further adde that the doers and authors of the damages iniuries and robberies set down in the articles aboue written of whom some are named in particular and others in general performed and committed all those outrages being hired thereunto at the expenses and charges of the common societies of the cities aforesaid And that the inhabitants of euery houshold in the foresaide cities ech man according to his ability wittingly purposely set foorth one two or more menâ— for the very same expedition wherein all and singular the foresaid trespasses were committed The foresaid English ambassadors doe exhibite the articles aboue written vnto the procurators of the cities of Wismer and Rostok aforesaid leaue and libertie being alwayes reserued vnto the said ambassadors to enlarge or to diminish or to expound all or euery or any of the said Articles whatsoeuer so often as it shall â—eeme expedient vnto them These be the grieuances and offences whereat the marchants of the Hans of Almaine comming vnto and residing in the Realme of England doe finde themselues aggrieued contrarie to the Articles and priuileges of the Charter graunted vnto them by the worthy Progenitors of the king of England that now is and also by the saide soueraigne Lord the King ratified and confirmed IMprimis whereas the foresaide marchants haue a priuilege graunted vnto them by Charter that they may in cities boroughs and in other towns and villages throughout the whole realme of England exercise traffique in grosse as wel with the natural inhabitants of the kingdome â—s with strangers and priuate personâ— of late those that are free deâ—izens in the cities boroughs and villages within the foresaid kingdome do hinder and restrain all others that be strangers foreners and aliens that they neither câ—n nor dare buy and sel with the marchants of the Hans aforesaid to their great hinderance and losse Item the foresaid marchants by vertue of their charter were wont to haue and to hold Innes and mansions for the reposing of themselues and of their goods wheresoeuer they pleased in any cities boroughs or villages throughout the whole kingdome howbeit of late the foresaide marchants are not suffered to take vp their mansions contrary to the tenoâ—r of their charter Item the foresaid marchants are priuileged not to vndergoe any other burthens or impositions but onely to pay certaine customs as it doeth by their charter manifestly appeare Notwithstanding at y e same time when Simon de Moreden was maior of London the foresaid marchants were constrained in the ward of Doue-gate at London to pay fifteenths tallages and other subsidies contrary to the liberties of their charter Whereupon the saide marchants prosecuâ—ed the matter before the Councel of our soueraign lord the king insomuch that they were released from paying afterward any such tallages fifteenths and subsidies Which marchants a while after of their owne accord and free will gaue vnto the gild-hall of London an hundreth markes sterling conditionally that they of the citie aforesaide should not at any time after exact or demaund of the said marchants or of their successors any tallages fifteenths or subsidies contrary to the tâ—nor of their charter as by records in the foresaid gild-hall it doth more plainly appeare Howbeit of late the officers of our lord the king in the foresaid ward of Doue-gate constrained the marchants aforesaid to pay tallages fifteenths other subsidies And because the saide marchants murmured and refused to pay any such contributions alleaging their priuileges the foresaid officers arrested the goods of those said marchants which are as yet detained vpon the arâ—est notwithstanding that they were released before the councel of our soueraigne lord the king also that they gaue vnto the said gild-hall one hundreth marks to be released as it is aforesaid And also the foresaid marchants were constrained to pay 12.d in the pound and of late 6.d and other subsidies more then their ancient customes to the great damage of those marchants Item the foresaid marchants are priuileged as touching customs of wols by theÌ„ bought within the realm of England y t they are not bound to pay ouer besides their ancient cusâ—oms but onely xl.d. more then the homeborn marchants of England were wont to pay But now y e foresaid marchants are compelled to pay for euery sack of wool besides y e ancient custom the 40.d aforesaid a certain impositioÌ„ called Pence for the town of Cales namely for euery sack of wool 19.d more then the marchants of England doe pay to their great losse against the liberty of their charter Item the foresaid marchants are priuileged by their charter that concerning the quantity of their marchandize brought into the realme of England in regard whereof they are bound to pay 3.d for the worth of euery pound of siluer credit is to be giuen vnto them for the letters of their masters and of their companies if they were able to shew them And if so be they had no letters in this behalfe to shew that then credite should bee giuen vnto themselues and that their othe or the othe of their atturney should be taken without any other proof as touching the value of their marchandize so brought in that thereupon they should be bound to pay customs namely the customes of 3.d iustly for that cause to be paid But nowe the customers of our soueraigne lorde the king put their goods to an higher rate then they ought or were woont to be and heereupon they compell them to pay custome for their goods at their pleasure scanning about their fraight and expenses particularly disbursed in regard of the said goods and marchandize to the great hinderance of the said marchants and against the teâ—or of their charter Item the foresaid marchants by way of pitiful complaint do alleage that whereas the worthy progenitors of our Lord the king that now is by vertue of the saide great charter gâ—aunted libertie vnto them to pay the customes of certain
goods be customed By meanes of the which sealing the foresaide parties doe compell the marchants aboue-named vpon an vse and custome whereof themselues haue bene the authors to paye a certaine summe of money to the great hinderance of the sayde marchants and coâ—trarie to iustice and to their charter Moreouer the saide customers haue ordained betweene themselues that the saide marchants shall put or make vp no cloâ—h iâ—to fardels to transport out of the realme vnlesse certaine mâ—n appointed by them for the same purpose bee there present to see what maner of clothes they bee vnder paine of the forfâ—iture of the saide goods Also of late when the sayde marchants would haue made vp such fardels the foresayde parties assigned to be ouerseers refused to come vnlesse they might haue for their comming some certaine summe of money delaying and procrastinating from day to day so long as themselues listed to the great losse and vndoing of the foresaide marchants and contrarie to their liberties because the foresaide customers are bound by their office to doe this without any contribution therefore to bee paide vnto them by the saide marchants for that they doe enioy from our soueraigne Lorde the King their fees and commodities to the ende that they may serue him and euery marchant iustly and faithfully without any contribution by them to be imposed anewe vpon the sayde marchants of custome Item the said marchants doe alleage that the customers bailifs of the town of Southhampton do compel them to pay for euery last of herrings pitch sope ashes brought thither by theÌ„ 2 s more then the kings custome and for ech hundreth of bowstaues boords called Waghenscot 2. d. for euery hundreth of boords called Richolt 4.d for al other marchandize brought by the foresaid marchants vnto the same towne which contributions they neuer paid at any time heeretofore being greatly to their hinderance and contrary to the tâ—nour of their Charter Item the foresaid marchants do alleage that one of their company called Albert Redewish of Prussia bringing diuers goods marchandizes vnto Newcastle vpon Tine there paying the vsual custom of 3.d in the pound for al his wares the bailifs of the saide towne against all reason exacted 7. pound sterling at his hands more then the custome whereupon the foresaide marchant got a briefe from the kings maiesty for the recouery of the said 7 li according to equity reason howbeit that at the comming of the said briefe the foresaid bailifes would do nothing on his behalfe but would haue slaine their foresaid associate contrary to their charter and priuiledges William Esturmy knight Iohn Kington canon of Lincolne being by y e most mighty prince lord L. Henry by Gods grace â— of England France lord of Ireland sufficiently deputed and appointed to parle treate agree w t the common society of y e marchants of the Hans of Dutchland or Almain concerning about the redressing reformation of vniust atteÌ„pts happening between our said soueraign L. the king his liege people subiects on the one part between the coÌ„mon society aforesaid the cities towns particular persons therof on the other part do for the behalf of our said souraign L. the king with a mind intention to haue al singular y e things vnderwritten to come to the knowledge of the said common society intimate declare make known vnto you hono sirs Henr. Westhoff citizen deputy of the city of Lubec Henry Fredelaw Ioh. van Berk citizen of Colen Mainard Buxtehude citizen deputy of the city of Hamburgh M. SimoÌ„ Clawsten clerk sir Iohn de Aa knight deputie of the citie of Rostok Herman Meyer deputy of the citie of Wismar being as the procuratorsâ— messengers commissioners of the foresaid cities assembled together at the town of Hage in Holland with y e forenamed Willâ— Iohn in regard of the foresaid redres reformation that euen as our said soueraign L. the king his meaning is not to disturb or hinder such priuiledges as haue bin heretofore granted vouchsafed vnto the coÌ„mon society of the marchaÌ„ts aforesaid by the renoumed kings of England the worthy progenitors of our L. the K. that now is by himself also vnder a certain form confirmed euen so he is determined without y e preiudice of forren lawes vpon iust mature and sober deliberation by his royall authoritie to withstand such priuiledges as by reason of the abuse thereofâ— haue bene infinitely preâ—â—diciall vnto himselfe and his subiects Inprimis the said ambassadours doe affirme as afore that whereas all and euery the Marchants of the said company as often as they would were both in the Realme of England and in other territories dominions subiect vnto our soueraigne lord the king admitted and suffered according to the tenor of the forenamed priuiledges granted vnto them freely friendly and securely to traffique and conuerse with any of his Maiesties liege people and subiects whatsoeuer or with other people of whatsoeuer nation liuing in the realme of England or in the dominions aforesaid the said common society of marchants by their publike deliberate common counsel did appoint ordain y t no society in any cities townes or places neither yet any particular man of any such society there being no lawfull or reasonable cause why shoulde in any wise admit any marchants of the realm of England resorting vnto their cities or other places for marchandise to enioy intercourse of traffike but that the saide English marchants should bee altogether excluded from all traffike and mutuall conuersation among them by denouncing and inflicting grieuous penalties of money as well vpon cities as other places and vpon particular marchants also of the foresaid societie practising the contrary Item that immediatly after the foresaid parties enacting and ordaining published their sayde statute and ordinance in all kingdomes prouinces partes cities and townes wherin any marchants of the said societie were conuersant Item that after that publication the statute and ordinance aforesaid by euery of the marchants of the forenamed society were inuiolably obserued Item that the said statute and ordinance hath bene so rigorously put in execution that whereas immediatly after certaine English marchants with their ships mariners and marchandize beeing in a cerâ—aine part of one of the principall cities of the foresaide societie vtterly destitute of meate drinke and money publikely offred to sell their wollen clothes of England onely to prouide themselues of necessary victuals yet the marchants of the saide citie sâ—outely persisting in their statute and ordinance aforesaid straightly prohibited the buying of such clothes vnchristianly denying meate and drinke vnto the said English marchants Item the foresaid society decreed and ordained that no marchant of the saide company should in any place or countrey whatsoeuer buy any woollen clothes of the realme or dominion of England albeit offered by others and not by English men or hauing bought any should after
probations vnder paine of perpetuall exclusion from the petition of those things which are contayned in the articles aboue mentioned Prouided alwayes that if at the last it shall be by lawfull proofes made manifest concerning the summes aboue written or any part or parcell thereof that due satisfaction hath beene made to him or them vnto whom it was due or that those goods of and for the which complaint hath bene made on the behalfe of your subiects haue pertained or doe appertaine vnto others or any other iust true and reasonable cause may lawfully bee alleaged why the payment of all the foresayd summes or any of them ought not to be performed that then so much only is to be cut off or deducted from the sayd summes as shall be found to be already payd or to pertaine vnto others or else vpon some true iust and reasonable cause as is aforesayd not to be due We therefore considering that the sayd friendly conference and the finall agreement ensuing thereupon are agreeable vnto reason and equitie doe for our part ratiâ—ie and willingly accept the very same conference and agreement And forasmuch as it hath bene alwayes our desire and is as yet our intention that the league of amity and the integritie of loue which hath of olde time bene obserued betweene our and your subiects may in times to come perpetually remaine inuiolable and that your and our people may hereafter not onely for the good of our common weale but also for the commodity and peace of both parts according to their woonted maner assemble themselues and enioy the faithfull and mutuall conuersation one of another we will cause in our citie of London with the summe of 8957. nobles satisfaction to bee made vnto the Prussians and with the summe of 22496. nobles sixe pence halfe peny farthing recompense to be performed vnto the Liuonians in regard of the damages and iniuries which in very deede proceeded not of our consent by our subiects offered vnto them as it is aforesayd and within three yeares after the feast of Easter next ensuing the sayd summes of money to bee payed at three payments and by three equall portions Conditionally that vnto our subiects which be endamaged correspondent satisfaction be likewise on your part within the terme of the foresayd three yeeres performed with paying the summes of 766. nobles and of 4535. nobles demaunded on our behalfe and also with the payment of such summes as within one yeere immediately ensuing the feast of Easter aforesayd shal be found by sufficient delarations and proofes to be made on the behalfe of our subiects as is aforesayd to be due Euen as we in like maner will make satisfaction vnto your subiects within our citie aforesayd Now as touching the request of your ambassadors and of the Liuonians whereby we were required to procure some holesome remedy for the soules of certaine drowned persons as conscience and religion seemeth to chalenge in regard of whom we are moued with compassion and do for their sakes heartily condole their mishaps you are our entier friend of a certaintie to vnderstand that after we shall be by your letters aduertized of the number state and condition of the sayd parties drowned we will cause suffrages of prayers and diuers other holesome remedies profitable for the soules of the deceased and acceptable to God and men religiously to be ordained and prouided vpon condition that for the soules of our drowned countrey men there be the like remedie prouided by you The almighty grant vnto your selfe and vnto your whole Order that you may prosperously triumph ouer the enemies of Christ his crosse Giuen vnder our priuie seale at our palace of Westminster the 26. of March in the yere of our Lord 1408. and in the ninth yere of our reigne The letters of Fr Vlricus Master of Prussia directed vnto the king of England signifying that he is contented with the agreements concluded by his messengers at Hage To the most renowmed prince and mighty lord L Henrie king of England and France and lord of Ireland our most gracious lord VNto your highnes pleasure at all assaies humbly recommending my voluntarie seruice c. Most reuowmed king mighty prince and gracious lord we receiued of late with great reuerence as it be commeth vs by our welbeloued Arnold de Dassel the bearer of of these presents your Maiesties letters of late directed vnto vs making mention amongst other matters of certaine appointments first made and concluded between the noble and worthy personages William Esturmy knight Iohn Kington clerke and William Brampton citizen of London your ambassadours and messengers on the one parâ—e and our houorable and religious brethren namely Conradus Lichtensten great coÌ„mander Warnherus de Tettingen chiefe hospitalary commander in Elbing and Arnold de Hacken treasurer being the procuratours and commissioners of Fra. Conradus de Iungingen our last predecessour of famous memory on the other parte concerning the redressing reformation and amendement of vniust attempts committed on both sides at our castle of Marienburgh and also very lately at the towne of Hage in Holland namely the twenty eight of the moneth August in the yeare immediately past betweene your foresayde ambassadours William Esturmy knight and Iohn Kington clerke for your part and our trusty and welbeloued commissioners and procurators namely Arnold Hecht burgomaster of our citie of Dantzik and Iohn Crolow citizen of the same citie for our parte And for our more perfect knowlege in this behalfe our sayd commissioners made relation vnto vs and vnto our whole counsell that associating vnto themselues our messengers of Liuonia namely Tidman Myeul and Iohn Epenshâ—id together with your foresaid ambassadours and messengers they there finally appoynted and concluded of and about the aboue mentioned summes of money due on both partes of the which mention is made in your letters aforesayd With this speciall prouiso that in like manner satisfaction be made in all points both vnto other of our damnisâ—ed subiects of Prussia namely such whose goods or the true value thereof haue bene finally adiudged by the iudges or professors of our lawes and vnto such who hauing brought their articles of complaints vnto the audience of the most dread and mighty prince and lorde our lord Rupertus king of the Romans alwayes most soueraigne were in conclusion to haue the estimations of their goods to be adiudged by the sentence of the sayd lord with the aduise of two of his counsellers and also vnto other of our subiects who haue brought in sufficient proofe of damages vniustly inflicted vpon them by your subiects ouer and besides the premisses So that in like maner satisfaction be made vnto the common societie of the Hans marchants and by the arbitrament set downe in the conferences had at Marienburgh of the which it was aboue prouided and enacted on their behalfe namely if they will rest contented with our subiects in the courses and meanes then concluded If not we intend not
at all to adhere vnto them in this behalfe Afterward our messengers aforesayd both they of Prussia and of Liuonia demanded conuenient iust and speedy satisfaction with the payment of all and singular the summes aboue mentioned due vnto both parts so farre foorth as equity and reason would yeeld vnto for the recompense of the parties iniuried and endamaged on both sides to be made within one whole yere accompting from the feast of Easter now last expired vnto the very same feast next to come in the yere immediatly following that in three seueral termes of payment by three portions of the said summes equally to be diuided at the towne of Bruges in Flanders as being a place indifferent for all parties in maner and forme as it was before at Marienburgh required and stoode vpon namely that reformaâ—ion reparation and amendement of all vniust attempts committed on both parts ought to bee performed within one yere Howbeit contrariwise your ambassadors aforesayd decreed that the sayd satisfaction should be performed vnto the parties iniuried of both parts within three yeeres beginning to accompt from the feast of Easter last past And when your ambassadours were not contented with the maner of satisfaction set downe by our men nor our commissioners were willing in any sort to consent vnto that course which was thought conuenient by your ambassadors the honorable messengers of the sea-townes of the Hans being there at that time present made a motion that the foresayd satisfaction might be performed within two yeeres and an halfe accompting from the feast of Easter last past often before mentioned yet vnder a certaine proâ—staâ—oâ— namely it both parties should agree vnto that forme of satisfaction and if they should thinke good finally and conclusiuely to yeeld their consent vnto it Which kind of satisfaction also conceiued by the messengers your sayd ambassadours without giuing notice therof vnto your royall Maiestie refused finally to approue being rather desirous to make a true faithfull report of the sayd forme of satisfaction last aboue mentioned vnto your kingly highnesse and that in such sorte that as they hoped effectuall satisfaction and payment of all and singuler the summes due and to bee due on both partes should more conueniently and speedily bee performed Whereupon we might be put in good hope that more speedy and conuenient appointments of termes for the sayd satisfaction friendly on both parts to be performed in would haue proceeded from your bountifull and gracious clemencie And in very deâ—de most mighty prince albeit it was neuer the meaning of our foresayd predecessor so far foorth as these affayres concerned him to protract and delay the execution of the sayd busines so many and such long distances of time and that for diuers respects both because restitution vnto the parties robbed consisted herein and also because the sayd restitutions and satisfactions are to be made vnto poore people widowes orphanes and other miserable creatures diuersly and miserably slaine and oppressed notwithstanding we being moued with hearty feruent zeale and speciall affection vnto your royall crowne of England and hauing due regard and consideration of your most excellent Maiestie vpon the aduise of our honourable brethren our counsellers doe thankfully receiue by the tenour of these presents totally ratifie and approue such satisfactions of the foresayd summes howsoeuer due vnto our subiects both Prussians and Liuonians in friendly sorte to be performed at such times and seasons limited and prefixed by your highnes as are expressed in your maiesties letters and also of other summes which within one yeare immediately ensuing after the feast of Easter last past by sufficient proofes to be made on their part before your chancelour at your citie of London shall be found due vnto them Conditionally that without inconuenience of delay and impediment they be performed as they ought to be according to the premisses In like maner also we our selues within the termes of payment aboue mentioned will procure satisfaction to be without fayle perfourmed vnto your subiects endamaged with the summe of 766. nobles being in regard of their losses of the which they haue giuen vp sufficient informations due vnto themâ— and with other like summes also which are by sufficient proofes within the yeare aforesayd and in maner and forme prescribed to be exhibited before our treasurer at our citie of Dantzik The almighty vouchsafe prosperously and long time to preserue your maiesties royal person Giuen at our castle of Marienburgh the 27. of September in the yeare of our Lord 1408 Fr. Vlricus de Iungingen master generall of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospital of Ierusalem The letters of king Henry the 4. sent vnto Fr. Vlricus master general of Prussia wherein he doth absolutely approue the foresaid conference holden at Hage and treateth about a perpetual league and amitie to be concluded betweene England and Prussia HEnry by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland vnto the noble mighty personage of sacred religion Vlricus de Iungingen master generall of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospitall of Ierusalem our entirely beloued friend greeting and increase of vnfained friendship After diuers conferences had in sundry places beyond the seas betweene the ambassadours and messengers of your late predecessor and of your selfe also on the one parte and betweene our especiall ambassadors and messengers on the other parte concerning reformations reparations restitutions in certaine maner forme to be performed vnto our subiects of both parts in regard of manifold iniuries practised against them both and after that in the last conference holden by the ambassadours of vs both at the towne of Hage in Holland there was a motion made concerning a certaine forme of satisfaction by way of finall conclusion in that behalfe but not being as then by our ambassadours condescended vnto because they durst not proceede vnto the same conclusion without our priuitie relation thereof at length being by them made before vs and our counsel we returned vnto your honour an answere in writing by our letters vnder our priuie seale of our full purpose and intention vnto the which letters we doe at this present referre our selues as if they were here againe expresly written what we thought good to haue done in this behalfe so that wee also might by your friendly letters be certaynly informed of your will and expresse consent being likewise conformable vnto your foresayd intention Nowe whereas since that time we haue of late receiued the certaintie of the matter by your letters written vnto vs from your castle of Marienburgh bearing date the 27. of September last past contayning in effect amongst other matters that you being mooued with a feruent zeale and speciall affection as you write vnto the royall crowne of our realme and hauing due regard and consideratâ—on of our royall maiestie vpon the aduise of your honourable brethren your counsellers doe with a
thankfull mind accept and by the tenour of the said letters of yours totally approue the concord of a certaine satisfaction to be performed with the payment of certaine summes of money howsoeuer due vnto your subiects as well of Prussia as of Liuonia expressed in our former letters within the termes prefixed by our consent and limited in our said letters aud also of other summes which within one whole yeare immediatly following the feast of Easter last past by sufficient proofes on their part to bee made before our chauncelour at our citie of London shall be found due vnto them conditionally that without inconuenience of delay and impediments the premisses be performed as they ought to be And that your selfe also will without fayle vpon the termes appoynted for the said payments procure satisfaction â—o be made accordingly vnto our endamaged subiects with the summes due vnto them by reason of their losses whereof they haue sufficient information Wherefore in regard of those your friendly letters and your courteous auswere returned by them vnto vs as is aforesaid wee doe yeelde vnto you right vnfained thanks But because it will vndoubtedly be most acceptable and pleasing both vnto vs and vnto our people and vnto you and your subiects that the zeale and ferueâ—cie of loue which hath from auncient times growen and increased betweene our progenitours for them and their subiects and your predecessors and their subiects and which by the insolencie of of certayne lewde persons without any consent of the principall lords hath often bene violated betweene vs and you and mutually betweene the subiects of vs both may be put in perpetuall vre and obtaine full strength in time to come sithens hereupon by Gods assistance it is to be hoped that vnspeakeable commodity and quiet will redound vnto both parts may it seeme good vnto your discretion as it seemeth expedient vnto vs that some messengers of yours sufficiently authorised to parle agree and conclude with our deputy about the mutuall contraction of a perpetuall league and confirmation of friendship may with all conuenient speede be sent vnto our presence At whose arriuall not onely in this busines so profitable and behoouefull but also in certaine other affaires concerning the former treaties and conclusions they may yea and of necessitie must greatly auayle Wherefore our entirely beloued friend euen as vpon confidence of the premisses we haue thought good to grant vnto the marchants and subiects of our realme full authority to resort vnto your dominions so we doe in like maner graunt vnto your marchants and subiects free licence and liberty with their marchandises and goods securely to come into our realmes and dominions there to stay and at their pleasures thence to returne home Moreouer if Arnold Dassel who last of all presented your foresayd letters vnto vs shal thinke good in the meane season to make his abode here in our dominions as in very deede it is expedient he may both by serious consideration and deliberate consulting with our commissioners more conueniently and prosperously finde out wayes and meanes for the more speedy expedition of all the premisses Fare ye well in Christ. Giuen vnder our priuie seale at our palace of Westminster the seuenth of March in the yere of our lord 1408 according to the computation of the Church of England and in the tenth yere of our reigne A new concord concluded between king Henry the 4. and Vlricus de Iungingen Master generall of Prussia in the yeare of our Lord 1409. BY this indenture or letters indented be it euidently knowen for the perpetual memory of the matter vnto all faithfull Christians that the noble honourable personages Richard Merlowe Maior and citizen of London Master Iohn Kington clerke and William Askham citizen and Alderman of the same citie the commissioners of the most soueraigne prince and lord L. Henrie by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland and Tidericus de Longenthorpe knight Lefardus de Hereford burgomaster of Elbing and Iohn Crolowe citizen of the citie of Dantzik the procurators commissioners deputies and messengers of the right noble and religious personage Fr. Vlricus de Iungingen Master general of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospital of Ierusalem hauing in the names of the sayd king and Master by vertue of the power on both parts committed vnto them sufficient authority haue appointed and with one consent agreed vpon all and singular the things vnder written Imprimis for the conseruation of mutuall loue and wonted amiâ—ie and for the tranquilitie of sweete amiable peace it is decreed and ordained that all and singular the liege people subiects of the Realme of England and the Marchants of the territories dominions of the said Realme and all other persons of what state or condition soeuer shall and may safely and securely as well by land as by water enter into the parts of Prussia and there mutually conuerse and freely after the maner of Marchants exercise traffique aswell with the Prussians as with others of what nation or qualitie soeuer there also make their abode and thence vnto their owne homes and dwelling places returne and depart vnto any place whither and so often as they shall thinke good as well by land as by water with their goods marchandize and wares whatsoeuer faithfully paying in the meane time all rights customes due in regard of their said wares and marchandize Reserued alwaies vnto the said Master and his successours all right and remedie ordained granted and vouchsafed in certaine obligations by our Lord the king whereof mention shall be made in the articles following Item it is ordained that all and singular the subiects of the said Master generall and of his order of what state and condition soeuer shall and may as well by water as by land enter into the kingdome of England and into the territories and dominions thereof and there mutually conuerse and freely after the maner of Marchants exercise traffique as well with all English people as with others of what nation or qualitie soeuer and there also make their abode and thence returne vnto their owne habitations and dwelling places and to depart whither they will and as oft as they shall thinke good as well by land as by water with their goods marchandize and wares whatsoeuer truely paying in the meane time all rights and customes due in regard of their said wares and Marchandize Reserued alwayes vnto the said soueraigne king his heires and successours all rights and remedies ordained and graunted vnto them in certaine obligations by the commissioners and procurators of the said Master generall aboue-named and in the name of the said Master generall Item it is with one consent agreed vpon promised and graunted that for all and singular damages grieuances and robberies howsoeuer done and committed before the date of these presents against the foresaid soueraigne Prince and his subiects whatsoeuer and all others which at the time
Dante 's vlterius concedentes huiusmodi gubernatoribus per praedictos Mercatores sic eligendis quantum in nobis est potestatem authoritatem speciales omnes singulos mercatores Anglicos ad partes praedictas de caetero venientes declinantes per se vel sufficientes loca sua tenentes regendi gubernandi ac eis eorum cuilibet in suis causis querelis quibuscunque inter eos in partibus praedictis motis vel mouendis plenam celerem iusticiam faciendi quascunque quaestiones contentiones discordias debatas inter ipsos mercatores Anglicos partium praedictarum motas seu mouendas reformandi reformationemque petendi redigendi sedandi pacificandi quascunque transgressiones damna mesprisiones excessus vio lencias iniurias mercatoribus partium praedictarum per praedictos mercatores Anglicos factas seu faciendas redigendi reparandi restaurandi emendandi consimilesque restitutiones reparationes restaurationes emendationes de ipsis mercatoribus partium praedictarum seu deputatis suis requirendi petendi recipiendi Ac de communi assensu mercatorum Anglicorum praedictorum statuta ordinationes consuetudines prout pro meliori gubernatione status eorundem mercatorum Anglicorum in hac parte videbitur expedire faciendi stabiliendi omnes singulos mercatores Anglicos praefatis gubernatoribus sic eligendis vel eorum loca tenentibus seu eorum alicui aut alicui statutorum ordinationum consuetudinum praedictarum contrarios rebelles vel inobedientes iuxta quantitatem delicti sui in hac parte rationabiliter puniendi Volentes insuper omnia iusta rationabilia statuta ordinationes consuetudines per dictos gubernatores sic eligendos in forma praedicta facienda stabilienda nec non omnes iustas rationabiles ordinationes per nuper gubernatores praedictorum mercatorum Anglicorum de communi assensu eorundem mercatorum pro huiusmodi gubernatione sua in partibus praedictis iuxta priuilegia authoritates sibi per magistrum Pruciae seu alios dominos partium praedictarum concessa factas stabilitas seu per praedictos gubernatores nunc vt praemittitur eligendos iuxta priuilegia praedicta seu alia priuilegia eisdem mercatoribus Anglicis per praedictos magistrum dominos in posterum concedenda facienda stabilienda rata firma accepta haberi pro ratis firmis acceptis ibidem firmiter inuiolabiliter obseruari Damus autem vniuersis singulis mercatoribus Anglicis praedictis tenore praesentium firmiter in mandatis quod eisdem gubernatoribus sic eligendis eorum loca tenentibus in praemissis omnibus singulis acâ—alijs gubernationem regimen in hac parte qualitercunque concernentibus intendentes sint consulentes obedientes auxiliantes prout decet Data in palatio nostro Westmonasterij sub magni sigilli nostri testimonio sexto die Iunij Anno regni nostri quinto A Charter of King Henry the fourth graunted in the fift yeere of his reigne to the English Marchants resident in the partes of Prussia Denmarke Norway Sweden and Germanie for the chusing of Gouernours among themselues HEnry by the grace of God king of England and of France and Lord of Ireland to all to whom these present letters shall come sendeth greeting Know ye that whereas according as we are informed through want of good and discreete rule and gouernement sundry damages strifes oppressions and wrongs oftentimes heretofore haue bene moued and committed among the Marchants of our kingdome of England remaining in the parties of Prussia Denmarke Norway the Hans steeds and Sweden and greater hereafter which God forbid are feared to be like to fall out vnlesse we put to our helping hands for the procuring of better gouernement to be maintained among the said Marchants wee heartily desiring to preuent the perrils and dangers which are like to fall out in this case and that the sayde Marchants and others which shall trauaile out of our said Realme into the partes aforesaid may iustly and faithfully be ruled and intreated we will and graunt by the tenour of these presents to the said Marchants that they may freely and without danger assemble and meete together as often and whensoeuer they please in some conuenient and honest place where they shall thinke good and that they may choose among themselues certaine sufficient and fit persons for their gouernours in those parts at their good liking And furthermore we giue and graunt to the said Gouernours which are in such sort to be chosen by the aforesaid Marchants as much as in vs lieth speciall power and authoritie to rule and gouerne all and singular the English Marchants which hereafter shall come or repayre to the parts aforesaid by themselues or their sufficient Deputies and to minister vnto them and euery of them in their causes and quarels whatsoeuer which are sprung vp or shall hereafter fall out among them in the parts aforesaid full and speedie iustice and to reforme all maner of questions contentâ—ous discords and debates moued or to be moued betweene the English Marchants remayning in those parts and to seeke reformation to redresse appease and compound the same And further to redresse restore repayre and satisfie all transgressions damages misprisions outrages violences and iniuries done or to be done by the aforesaid English Marchants against the Marchants of those parts And to require demaund and receiue the like restitutions reparations satisfactions and amends of the Marchants of those parts or of their deputies And by the common consent of the aforesaid English Marchants to make and establish statutes ordinances and customes as shall seeme expedient in that behalfe for the better gouernement of the state of the said English Marchants and to punish with reason according to the quantitie of their fault in that behalfe all and singular the English Marchants which shall withstand resist or disobey the aforesaid gouernours so to be chosen or their deputiâ—s or any of them or any of the aforesaid statutes ordinances or customes Moreouer we doe ratifie confirme and approoue and as ratified confirmed and approoued wee command firmely and inuiolably there to be obserued all iust and reasonable statutes ordinances and customes which shal be made and established by the said gouernors so to be chosen in forme aforesaid and also all iust and reasonable ordinances made established by the late gouernours of the aforesaid English Marchants with the common consent of the sayd Marchants for this their gouernement in the parts aforesayd according to the priuileges and authorities now granted vnto them by the Master of Prussia or other Lords of the partes aforesayd or which shall be made and established by the aforesayd gouernours now as is mentioned to be chosen according to the aforesaid priuileges heretofore graunted or other priuileges hereafter to bee granted to the sayde English Marchants by the aforesayde Master and lords of the Countrey And furthermore
by the tenor of these presents wee straitely commaund all and singular the aforesaid English Marchants that they attend aduise obey and assist as it becommeth them the sayde gouernours so to bee chosen and their deputies in all and singular the premisses and other things which any way may concerne in this behalfe their rule and gouernement Giuen in our Palace at Westminster vnder the testimonie of our great Seale the sixt day of Iune in the fift yeere of our reigne A note touching the mighty ships of King Henry the fift mentioned hereafter in the treatie of keeping the Sea taken out of a Chronicle in the Trinitie Church of Winchester EOdem Anno quo victoria potitus est videlicet Anno Domini 14â—5 regni sui Annotertio post bellum de Agencourt conducti a Francis venerunt cum multis Nauibus recuperaturâ— Harfletum Sed Rex Angliae misit fratrem suum Iohannem Ducem Bedfordiae Andegauiae qui pugnauit cum eis vicit Naues cepit quasdam submersit caeteri fugerunt cum Hispanis nauibus qui venerant cum eis Anno gratiae 1416. Sequenti vero Anno redierunt potentiores iterum deuicti perpetuam pacem â—cum Rege composuerunt propter eorum naues fecit Rex fieri naues quales non erant in mundo De his sic conductis a Francis ita metricè scribitur Regum belligero trito celeberrimus aruo Gallos Hispanos Ianos deuicit Vrget Vastat turbantur caetera regna metu Nauali bello bis deuicti quoque Iani. A branch of a Statute made in the eight yeere of Henry the sixt for the trade to Norwey Sweueland Denmarke and Fynmarke ITem because that the kings most deare Uncle the king of Denmarke Norway Sweueland as the same our soueraigne Lord the king of his intimation hath vnderstood considering the manifold great losses perils hurts and damage which haue late happened aswell to him and his as to other foraines and strangers and also friends and speciall subiects of our said soueraigne Lord the king of his Realme of England by y e going in entring passage of such forain strange persons into his realme of Norwey other dominions streits territories iurisdictions places subdued and subiect to him specially into his Iles of Fynmarke and elswhere aswell in their persons as their things and goods for eschuing of such losses perils hurts damages and that such like which God forbid should not hereafter happen our said soueraigne Lord the king hath ordeined and statuted that all and singular strangers aswell Englishmen and others willing to apply by Ship and come into his Realme of Norwey and other dominions streits territories iurisdictions Isles places aforesaid with their ships to the intent to get or haue fish or any other Marchandises or goods shall apply and come to his Towne of Northberne where the said king of Denmarke hath specially ordained and stablished his staple for the concourses of strangers and specially of Englishmen to the exercise of such Marchandises granting to the said Englishmen that they shall there inioy in and by all thingsâ— the same fauour priuileges and prerogatiues which they of the Hans did enioy Therefore our said soueraigne Lord the king willing the loue affinitie and amities to be firmely obserued which betwixt his said Uncle and his noble progenitors of good memory their Realmes lands dominions streites territories iurisdictions and their said places and the same our soueraigne Lord the king his noble progenitours of famous memory his great men subiects Realmes lands dominions hath bene of old times hitherto continued nor nothing by our said soueraigne Lord the king or his people to be attempted or done whereby such amities by reason of any dissensions enemities or discords might be broken by the aduise of the Lords spirituall temporall of the coÌ„mons of his said Realme of England assembled in this present Parliament hath ordained prohibiting that none of his liege people nor subiects of his Realme of England by audacitie of their follie presume to enter the Realmes lands dominions straits territories iurisdictions places of the said king of Denmarke against y â— ordinance prohibition interdictioÌ„ of y e same his Uncle aboue remembred in contempt of the same vpoÌ„ paine of forfeiture of all their moueable goods imprisonment of their persons at the kings will Another branch of a statute made in the tenth yeere of the reigne of Henry the sixt concerning the state of the English Marchants in the dominions of the king of Denmarke ITem because that our soueraigne Lord the king at the grieuous complaint to him made in this Parliament by the commons of his realme of England being in this Parliament is informed that many of his faithfull liege people be greatly impouerished vndone in point to be destroyed by the king of Denmarke his lieges which be of the amitie of the king our soueraigne Lord because that they do daily take of his said faithful subiects their goods so that they haue taken of marchants of York and Kingston vpon Hul goods marchandises to the valour of v. M.li. within a yeere and of other lieges marchants of y e Realme of England goods cattals to the valour of xx M.li. wherof they haue no remedie of the said king of Denmarke nor of none other forasmuch as none of them coÌ„meth within the Realme of England nor nothing haue in the same Realme of England that y e goods be taken out of the same Realme The king willing to prouide remedy for his said liege people hath ordeined established that if y e goods of any of y e said his lieges be or shal be taken by the said king of Denmarke or any of his said lieges the keeper of the priuie seale for y e time being shall haue power to make to y e partie grieued letters of request vnder the priuie seale wtout any other pursuite to be made to any for restitutiâ—n to be had of y e goods so taken to be taken And if restitution be not made by such letters the king our soueraigne lord by the aduise of his counsel shal prouide to the partie grieued his couenable remedy according as y e case requireth Here beginneth the Prologue of the processe of the Libel of English policie exhorting all England to keepe the sea and namely the narrowe sea shewing what profite commeth thereof and also what worship and saluation to England and to all English-men THe true processe of English policie Of vtterward to keepe this regne in Of our England that no man may deny Ner say of sooth but it is one of the best Is this that who seeth South North East and Wesâ—â— Cherish Marchandise keepe the admiraltie That we bee Masâ—ers of the narrowe see For Sigismond the great Emperour With yet reigneth when he was in this land With king Henry the fift
forsooth in deed Out of Bristowe and costes many one Men haue practised by nedle and by stone Thider wardes within a litle while Within twelue yere and without perill Gon and come as men were wont of old Oâ— Scarborough vnto the costes cold And nowe so fele shippes this yeere there ware That moch losse for vnfreyght they bare Island might not make hem to bee fraught Unto the Hawys thus much harme they caught Then here I ende of the commoditees For which neede is well to kepe the seas Este and Weste South and North they bee And chiefly kepe the sharpe narrow see Betweene Douer and Caleis and as thus that foes passe none without good will of vs And they abide our danger in the length What for our costis and Caleis in our strength An exhortation for the sure keeping of Caleis ANd for the loue of God and of his blisse Cherish yee Caleis better then it is See well thereto and heare the grete complaint That true men tellen that woll no lies paint And as yee know that wriâ—ing commeth from thence Doe nâ—t to England for slought so great offence But that redressed it bee for any thing Leste a song of sorrow that wee sing For litle weaâ—th the foole who so might these What harme it were good Caleis for to lese What wo it were for all this English ground Which wel câ—nceiued the Emperour Sigismound Thaâ— of all â—oyes made it one of the moste That Caleis was subiect vnto English coste Hun thought it was a iewel most of all Aâ—d so the same in Latine did it call And if yee wol more of Caleis heare and knowe I cast to write within a litle scrowe Like as I haue done before by and by In other parteis of our policie Loke how hard it was at the first to get And by my counsell lightly doe not it let For if wee lese it with shame of face Wilfully it is for lacke of grace Howe was Harflew tried vpon and Rone That they were likely for shought to be gone Howe was it warned and cried on in England I make record with this pen in my hand It was warened plainely in Normandie And in England and I thereon did crie The world was defrauded it betyde right so Farewell Harflew Iewdly it was a go Nowe ware Caleis I can say no better My soule discharge I by this present letter After the Chapitles of commodities of diuers lands sheweth the conclusion of keeping of the sea enuiron by a storie of King Edgar and two incidentâ— of King Edward the third and King Henrie the fifth Chap. 11. NOwe see we well then that this round see To our Noble by pariformitee Under the ship shewed there the sayle And our king with royal apparayle With swerd drawen bright and extent For to chastise enimies violent Should be lord of the sea about To keepe enimies from within and without To behold through Christianitee Mastâ—r and lord enuiron of the see All liuing men such a prince to dreed Of such a a râ—gne to bee aferd indeed Thus prâ—ue I well that it was thus of old Which by a Chronicle anon shal be told Right curious but I will interprete It into English as I did it gete Of king Edgar O most marueilous Prince liuing wittie and cheualerous So good that none of his predecessours Was to him liche in prudence and honours Hee was fortunate and more gracâ—ous Then other before and more glorious He was beneth no man in holines Hee passed all in vertuous sweetnes Of English kings was none so commendable To English men no lesse memorable Then Cyrus was to Perse by puissance And as great Charles was to them of France And as to the Romanes was great Romulus So was to England this worthy Edgarus I may not write more of his worthines For lacke of time ne of his holines But to my matter I him exemplifie Of conditions tweyne and of his policie Within his land was one this is no doubt And another in the see without That in time of Winter and of werre When boystrous windes put see men into fere Within his land about by all prouinces Hee passed through perceiuing his princes Lords aud others of the commontee Who was oppressour and who to pouertee Was drawen and brought and who was clene in life And was by mischiefe and by strife With ouer leding and extortion And good and badde of eche condition Hee aspied and his ministers al 's Who did trought and which of hem was fals Howe the right and lawes of the land Were execute and who durst take in hand To disobey his statutes and decrees If they were well kept in all countrees Of these he made subtile inuestigation Of his owne espie and other mens relation Among other was his great busines Well to ben ware that great men of riches And men of might in citie nor in towne Should to the poore doe non oppression Thus was hee wont in this Winter tide On such enforchise busily to abide This was his labour for the publike thing Thus was hee occupied a passing holy King Nowe to purpose in the Soonner faire Of lusty season whan clered was the aire He had redie shippes made before Great and huge not fewe but many a store Full three thousand and sixe hundred also Stately inough on our sea to goe The Chronicles say these shippes were full boysteous Such things long to kings victorious In Sommer tide would hee haue in wonne And in custome to be ful redie soone With multitude of men of good array And instruments of werre of best assay Who could hem well in any wise descriue It were not light for eny man aliue Thus he and his would enter shippes great Habtliments hauing and the fleete Of See werres that ioy full was to see Such a nauie and Lord of Maiestee There present in person hem among To saile and rowe enuiron all along So regal liche about the English isle To all strangers terrours and perile Whose fame went about in all the world stout Unto great fere of all that be without And exercise to Knights and his meynee To him longing of his natall cuntree For courage of nede must haue exercise Thus occupied for esshewin of vice This knew the king that policie espied Winter and Somer he was thus occnpied Thus conclude I by authoritee Of Chronike that enuiron the see Should bene our subiects vnto the King And hee bee Lord thereof for eny thing For great worship and for prostie also To defend his land fro euery foo That worthy king I leue Edgar by name And all the Chronike of his worthy fame Saffe onely this I may not passe away A worde of mightie strength till that I say That graunted him God such worship here For his merites hee was without pere That sometime at his great festiuitee Kings and Erles of many a countree And princes fele were there present And many
whatsoeuer hee or they bee that then and in such case wee will doe all that in vs is to cause restitution reparation and satisfaction to bee duely made to the said English marchants by our letters and otherwise as shall stand with our honour and be consonant to equitie and iustice 10 Item for vs our heires and successours wee doe promise and graunt to performe mainteine corroborate autenticate and obserue all and singular the aforesaide liberties franchises and priuiledges like as presently we firmely doe intend and will corroborate autentike and performe the same by all meane and way that we can as much as may be to the commoditie and profite of the said English Marchants and their successours for euer And to the intent that all and singuler the saide giftes graunts and promises may bee inuiolably obserued and performed we the said Iohn Vasiliuich by the grace of God Emperor of Russia great Duke of Nouogrode Mosco c. for vs our heires and successors by our Imperiall and lordly word in stead of an othe haue and doe promise by these presents inuiolably to mainteyne and obserue and cause to be inuiolably obserued and mainteined all and singuler the aforesayde giftes graunts and promises from time to time and at all and euery time and times heereafter And for the more corroboration hereof haue caused our Signet hereunto to be put Dated in our Castle of Mosco the 20. day of in the yeere The Charter of the Marchants of Russia graunted vpon the discouerie of the saide Countrey by King Philip and Queene Marie PHilip and Marie by the grace of God King and Queene c. To all manner of officers true Iurie men ministers aud subiects and to all other people as well within this our Realme or elsewhere vnder our obeysance iurisdiction and rule or otherwise vnto whome these our letters shall bee shewed séene or read greeting Whereas wee be credibly informed that our right trusâ—ie right faithfull and welbeloued Counsailors William Marques of Winchester Lord high Treasurer of this our Realme of England Henrie Earle of Arundel Lord Steward of our housholde Iohn Earle of Bedford Lord keeper of our priuie Seale William Earle of Pembroke William Lorde Howard of Esfingham Lorde high Admirall of our saide Realme of England c. Haue at their owne aduenture costs and charges prouided rigged and tackled certaine ships pinnesses and other meete vessels and the same furnished with all things necessary haue aduanced and set forward for to discouer descrie and finde Iles landes territories Dominions and Seigniories vnknowen and by our subiects before this not commonly by sea frequented which by the sufferance and grace of Almightie God it shall chaunce them sailing Northwards Northeastwards and Northwestwards or any partes thereof in that race or course which other Christian Monarches being with vs in league and amitie haue not heeretofore by Seas traffiqued haunted or frequented to finde and attaine by their said aduenture as well for the glorie of God as for the illustrating of our honour and dignitie royall in the increase of the reuenues of our Crowne and generall wealth of this and other our Realmes and Dominions and of our subiects of the same And to this intent our subiects aboue specified and named haue most humbly beseeched vs that our abundant grace fauour and clemencie may be gratiously extended vnto them in this behalfe Whereupon wee inclined to the petition of the foresaide our Counsailours subiects and marchants and willing to animate aduance further and nourish them in their said godlie honest and good purpose and as we hope profitable aduenture and that they may the more willingly and readily atchieue the same Of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion haue graunted and by these presents doe graunt for vs our heires and successours vnto our said right trustie and right faithfull and right welbeloued Counsailours and the other before named persons that they by the name of marchants aduenturers of England for the discouery of lands â—erritories Iles Dominions and Seigniories vnknowen and not before that late aduenture or enterprise by sea or Nauigation commonly frequented as aforesaid shal be from hâ—nceforth one bodie and perpetuall fellowship and communaltie of themselues both in deede and in name and them by the names of Marchants aduenturers for the discouerie of lands territories Iles sâ—igniories vnknowen and not by the seas and Nauigations before their saide late aduenture or enterprise by sea or Nauigation commonly frequented We doe incorporate name and declare by these presents and that the same fellowship or communalty from henceforth shal be and may haue one Gouernour of the saide fellowship and communaltie of Marchants aduenturers And in consideration that one Sebastian Cabota hath bin the chiefest setter forth of this iourney or voyage therefore we make ordeine and constitute him the said Sebastian to be the first and present gouernour of the same fellowship and communaltie by these presents To haue and enioy the said office of Gouernour to him the said Sebastian Cabota during his naturall life without amouing or dimissing from the same roome And furthermore we graunt vnto the saine fellowship and communaltie and their successors that they the saide fellowship and communaltie and their successors afâ—er the decease of the saide Sebastian Cabota shall and may freely and lawfully in places conuenient and honest assemble themselues together or so many of them as will or can assemble together as well within our citie of London or elsewhere as it shall please them in such sort and maner as other worshipfull corporations of our saide citie haue vsed to assemble and there yeerely name elect and choose one Gouernour or two of themselues and their liberties and also as well yeerely during the natural life of the said Sebastian Cabota now Gouernour as also at the election of such saide Gouernour or gouernours before his decease to choose name and appoint eight and twenty of the most sad discreete and honest persons of the saide fellowship and communaltie of Marchant aduenturers as is aboue specified and 4. of the most expert and skilfull persons of the same 28. to be named and called Consuls and 24. of the residue to be named and called Assistants to the saide Gouernour or gouernours and Consuls for the time being which shal remaine and stand in their authorities for one whole yeere then nâ—â—t following And if it shall fortune the saide Gouernour Consuls and assistants or any of them so to be elected and chosen as is aforesaid to die within the yeere after his or their election that then and so often it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said fellowship and communalty to elect and choose of themselues other Gouernour or gouernours Consuls and assistants in the place and sleade of such as so shall happen to die to serue out the same yeere And further we do make ordeine and constitute George Barnes knight and Alderman of our
of all his Fleet. Which when the Spaniard perceiued being assisted with his strongest ships he came forth and entered a terrible combate with the English for they bestowed each on other the broad sides and mutually discharged all their Ordinance being within one hundred or an hundred and twentie yards one of another At length the Spaniardes hoised vp their sayles and againe gathered themselues vp close into the forme of a roundel In the meane while Captaine Frobisher had engaged himselfe into a most dangerous conflict Whereupon the lord Admirall comming to succour him found that hee had valiantly and discreetly be haued himselfe and that hee had wisely and in good time ouer the fight because that after so great a batterie he had sustained no damage For which cause the day following being the sixe and twentie of Iuly the lord Admirall rewarded him with the order of knighthood together with the lord Thomas Howard the lord Sheffield M. Iohn Hawkins and others The same day the lord Admirall receiued intelligence from Newhauen in France by certaine of his Pinnasses that all things were quiet in France and that there was no preparation of sending aide vnto the Spaniards which was greatly feared from the Guisian faction and from the Leaguers but there was a false rumour spread all about that the Spaniards had conquered England The seuen and twentie of Iuly the Spaniards about the sunne-setting were come ouer-against Douer and rode at ancre within the sight of Caleis intending to hold on for Dunkerk expecting there to ioyne with the duke of Parma his forces without which they were able to doe litle or nothing Likewise the English Fleete following vp hard vpon them ancred iust by them within culuering-shot And here the lord Henry Seymer vnited himselfe vnto the lord Admiral with his fleete of 30. ships which road before the mouth of Thames As the Spanish nauie therefore lay at ancre the duke of Medina sent certaine messengers vnto the duke of Parma with whom vpon that occasion many Noblemen and Gentlemen went to refresh themselues on land and amongst the rest the prince of Ascoli being accounted the kings base sonne and a very proper and towardly yong gentleman to his great good went on shore who was by so much the more fortunate in that hee had not opportunitie to returne on boord the same ship out of which he was departed because that in returning home it was cast away vpon the Irish coast with all the persons contained therein The duke of Parma being aduertised of the Spanish Fleetes arriuall vpon the coast of England made all the haste hee could to bee present himselfe in this expedition for the performance of his charge vainely perswading himselfe that nowe by the meanes of Cardinall Allen hee should be crowned king of England and for that cause hee had resigned the gouernement of the Lowe countries vnto Count Mansfeld the elder And hauing made his vowes vnto S. Mary of Hall in Henault whom he went to visite for his blind deuotions sake hee returned toward Bruges the 28. of Iuly The next day trauelling to Dunkerk hee heard the thundering Ordinance of either Fleet and the same euening being come to Dixmud hee was giuen to vnderstand the hard successe of the Spanish Fleete Upon Tuesday which was the thirtieth of Iuly about high noone hee came to Dunkerk when as all the Spanish Fleete was now passed by neither durst any of his ships in the meane space come foorth to assist the sayd Spanish Fleete for feare of fiue and thirtie warrelike ships of Holland and Zeland which there kept watch and warde vnder the conduct of the Admirall Iustin of Nassau The foresayd fiue and thirtie shippes were furnished with most cunning mariners and olde expert souldiers amongst the which were twelue hundred Musketiers whom the States had chosen out of all their garisons and whom they knew to haue bene heretofore experienced in sea-fights This nauie was giuen especially in charge not to suffer any shippe to come out of the Hauen nor to permit any Zabraes Pataches or other small vessels of the Spanish Fleete which were more likely to aide the Dunkerkers to enter thereinto for the greater ships were not to be feared by reason of the shallow sea in that place Howbeit the prince of Paâ—ma his forces being as yet vnreadie were not come on boord his shippes onely the English Fugitiues being seuen hundred in number vnder the conduct of Sir William Stanleyâ— came in fit time to haue bene embarked because they hoped to giue the first assault against England The residue shewed themselues vnwilling and loath to depart because they sawe but a few mariners who were by constraint drawne into this expedition and also because they had very bare prouision of bread drinke and other necessary victuals Moreouer the shippes of Holland and Zeland stood continually in their sight threatening shot and powder and many inconueniences vnto them for feare of which shippes the Mariners and Sea-men secretly withdrew themselues both day and night least that the duke of Parma his souldiers should compell them by maine force to goe on boord and to breake through the Hollanders Fleete which all of them iudged to bee impossible by reason of the straightnesse of the Hauen But it seemeth that the Duke of Parma and the Spaniards grounded vpon a vaine and presumptuous expectaâ—ion that all the ships of England and of the Low countreys would at the first sight of the Spanish and Dunkerk Nauie haue betaken themselues to flight yeelding them sea roome and endeuouring onely to defend themselues their hauens and sea coasts from inuasion Wherefore their intent and purpose was that the Duke of Parma in his small and flat-bottomed shippes should as it were vnder the shadow and wings of the Spanish fleet conuey ouer all his troupes armour and warlike prouision and with their forces so vnited should inuade England or while the English fleet were busied in fight against the Spanish should enter vpon any part of the coast which he thought to be most conuenient Which inuasion as the captiues afterward confessed the Duke of Parma thought first to haue attempted by the riuer of Thames vpon the bankes whereof hauing at his first arriuall landed twenty or thirty thousand of his principall souldiers he supposed that he might easily haue woonne the Citie of London both because his small shippes should haue followed and assisted his land-forces and also for that the Citie it-selfe was but meanely fortified and easie to ouercome by reason of the Citizens delicacie and discontinuance from the warres who with continuall and constant labour might be vanquished if they yeelded not at the first assault They were in good hope also to haue mette with some rebels against her Maiestie and such as were discontented with the present state as Papists and others Likewise they looked for ayde from the fauourers of the Scottish Queene who was not long before
authoritie For the second point when it pleased your Honour in sommer was two yeeres to haue some conference with me and to demaund mine opinion touching the state of the Country of Guiana and whether it were fit to be planted by the English I then to my no small ioy did admire the exact knowledge which you had gotten of those matters of Indian Nauigations and how carefull you were not to be ouertaken with any partiall affection to the Action appeared also by the sound arguments which you made pro contra of the likelihood and reason of good or ill successe of the same before the State and common wealth wherein you haue an extraordinarie voyce should be farther engaged In consideration whereof I thinke my selfe thrise happie to haue these my trauailes censured by your Honours so well approued iudgement Touching the third and last motiue I cannot but acknowledge my selfe much indebted for your fauourable letters heretofore written in my behalfe in mine honest causes Whereunto I may adde that when this worke was to passe vnto the presse your Honour did not onely intreate a worthy knight a person of speciall experience as in many others so in marine causes to ouersee and peruse the same but also vpon his good report with your most fauourable letters did warrant and with extraordinarie commendation did approue and allow my labours and desire to publish the same Wherefore to conclude seeing they take their life and light from the most cheerefull and benigne aspect of your fauour I thinke it my bounden dutie in all humilitie and with much bashfulnesse to recommend my selfe and them vnto your right Honorable and fauourable protection and your Honour to the mercifull tuition of the most High From London this 24. of October 1599. Your Honors most humble to be commanded Richard Hakluyt preacher ¶ A Catalogue of the English Voyages made by and within the Streight of Gibraltar to the South and Southeast quarters of the world conteined in the first part of this second volume Voyages before the Conquest 1 THe voyage of Helena the Empresse daughter of Coelus king of Britain and mother of Constantine the Great to Ierusalem An. 337. pag. 1.2 2 The voyage of Constantine the Great Emperour and king of Britaine to Greece AEgypt Persia and Asia Anno 339. pag. 2.3 3 The voyage of Pelagius Cambrensis vnder Maximus king of the Britaines into AEgypt and Syria Anno 390. pag. 4 4 The voyage of certaine Englishmen sent by the French king to Constantinople vnto Iustinian the Emperour about the yeere of our Lord 500. pag. 4 5 The memorable voyage of Sighelmus bishop of Shirburne sent by king Alphred vnto S. Thomas of India An. 883. confirmed by two testimonies pag. 5 6 The voyage of Iohn Erigen vnder king Alphred to Athens in the yeere of our Lorde 885. pag. 5.6 7 The voyage of Andrew Whiteman aliâs Leucander vnder Canutus the Dane to Palastina Anno 1020. pag. 6 8 The voyage of Swanus one of the sonnes of Earle Godwin vnto Ierusalem Anno 1052. pag. 6 9 A voyage of three Ambassadours sent in the time of king Edward the Confessor vnto Constantinople and from thence vnto Ephesus Anno 1056. pag. 7 10 The voyage of Alured bishop of Worcester vnto Ierusalem Anno 1058. pag. 8 11 The voyage of Ingulphus afterward Abbat of Croiland vnto Ierusalem An. 1064. pag. 8.9 Voyages since the Conquest 12 A Voyage made by diuerse of the honourable family of the Beauchamps with Robert Curtois the sonne of William the Conquerour to Ierusalem Anno 1096. pag. 10 13 The voyage of Gutuere an English Lady married vnto Baldwine brother of Godfrey duke of Bouillon toward Ierusalem An. 1097. 10.11 14 The voyage of Edgar the sonne of Edward which was the sonne of Edmund surnamed Ironside brother vnto king Edward the Confessor being accompanied with valiant Robert the sonne of Godwine to Ierusalem Anno 1102. 11 15 The voyage of Godericus a valiant Englishman who trauailed with his ships in an expedition vnto the holy land Anno 3. Hen. 1. 12 16 The voyage of Hardine an Englishman and one of the principall commaunders of 200 sayles of Christians ships which arriued at Ioppa Anno 1102 12. 13 17 A voyage by sea of Englishmen Danes and Flemings who arriued at Ioppa in the holy land the seuenth yeere of Baldwine the second king of Ierusalem and in the 8. yeere of Henry the first king of England pag. 13,14 15 18 The voyage of Athelard of Bathe to AEgypt and Arabia in the yeere of our Lord 1130 pag. 15. 16 19 The voyage of William Archbishop of Tyre to Ierusalem and to the citie of Tyre in Phoenicia Anno 1130. 16 20 The voyage of Robert Ketenensis vnder king Stephen to Dalmatia Greece and Asia Anno 1143. 16 21 A voyage of certaine Englishmen vnder the conduct of Lewis the French king vnto the holy land Anno 1147. 17 22 The voyage of Iohn Lacy to Ierusalem Anno 1173 17 23 The voyage of William Mandeuile Erle of Essex to Ierusalem Anno 1177. 17 24 The famous voyage of Richard the first king of England into Asia for the recouering of Ierusalem out of the hands of the Saracens Anno 1190. 20 25 The voyage of Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury vnto Syria and Palaestina in the yeere 1190. 28 26 The voyage of Richard Surnamed Canonicus vnder king Richard the first into Syria and Palaestina Anno 1190. 30 27 The voyage of Gulielmus Peregrinus vnder king Richard the first to Palaestina Anno 1190. 30 28 The voyage of Hubert Walter bishop of Salisbury vnder king Richard also vnto Syria Anno 1190. 31 29 The voyage of Robert Curson a nobleman of England and a Cardinall vnder Hen. the third to Damiata in AEgypt Anno 1218. 31. 32 30 The voyage of Rainulph Earle of Chester of Saer Quincy Earle of Winchester of William de Albanie Earle of Arundel c. to the holy land Anno 1218. 32 31 The voyage of Henry Bohun and Saer Quincy to the holy land in the yeere of our Lord 1222. 32 32 The voyage of Rainulph Glanuile Earle of Chester to the holy land and to Damiata in AEgypt 32 33 The voyage of Petrus de Rupibus bishop of Winchester to Ierusalem Anno 1231. 33 34 The honourable voyage of Richard Earle of Cornwall brother to king Hen. the third accompanied with William Long-espee Earle of Salisburie and diuerse other noblemen into Syria Anno 1240. 33 35 The voyage of William Long-espee or Long-sword Erle of Salisburie into AEgypt with Lewis the French king Anno 1248. 33 36 The voyage of prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Syria An. 1270. 36 37 The voyage of Robert Turneham vnder the said prince Edward into Syria in the yeere of our Lord 1270 38.39 38 The voyage of Frier Beatus Odoricus to Asia minor Armenia Chaldaea Persia India China and other remote parts c. 39.53 39 The voyage of Matthew Gurney an
English knight against the Moores of Alger to Barbary and to Spaine 67 40 The voyage of Henrie Earle of Derby after Duke of Hereford and lastly Henry the fourth king of England with an army of Englishmen to Tunis in Barbary 69 41 The trauailes and memorable victories of Iohn Hawkwood Englishman in diuerse places of Italy in the reigne of Richard the second 70 42 The voyage of Lord Iohn of Holland Earle of Huntington brother by the mother to K. Richard the second to Ierusalem and S. Katherins mount Anno 1394. 70 43 The voyage of Thomas Lord Mowbrey duke of Norfolke to Ierusalem in the yeere of our Lord 1399. 70 44 The voyage of the bishop of Winchester to Ierusalem Anno 1417. 71 45 A voyage intended by king Henry the fourth to the holy land against the Saracens and Infidels Anno 1413. 71. 72 46 A voyage made with two ships called The holy Crosse and The Matthew Gunson to the Isles of Candia and Chio about the yeere 1534. 98 47 Another voyage vnto Candia and Chio made by the foresayd ship called The Matthewâ— Gunson Anno 1535. 98 48 The voyage of the valiant Esquire M. Peter Read to Tunis in Barbarie 1538 recorded in his Epitaph 99 49 The voyage of Sir Thomas Chaloner to Alger with the Emperour Charles the fift Anno 1541. 99 50 The voyage of M. Roger Bodenâ—am with the great barke Aucher to Candia and Chio Anno 1550. 99 51 The voyage of M. Iohn Lok to Ierusalem Anno 1553. 101 52 The voyage of Iohn Foxe to the Streit of Gibraltar in a ship called The three halfe-moones Anno 1563. And his worthy enterprize in deliuering 266 Christians from the captiuitie of the Turkes at Alexandria Anno 1577. 131.132 53 The voyage of M. Laurence Aldersey to the cities of Ierusalem and Tripolis in the yeere 1581. 150 54 The voyage of The Susan of London to Constantinople wherein M. William Hareborne was sent first Ambassadour vnto Zuldan Murad Can the great Turke Anno 1582. 165 55 The voyage of a ship called The Iesus to Tripolis in Barbary Anno 1583. 184 56 The voyage of M. Henry Austel by Venice to Ragusa and thence ouer-land to Constantinople and from thence through Moldauia Polonia Silesia and Germany into England Anno 1586. 194 57 The voyage of Master Cesar Frederick into the east India and beyonde the Indies Anno 1563. 213 58 The long dangerous and memorable voyage of M. Ralph Fitch marchant of London by the way of Tripolis in Syria to Ormuz to Goa in the East India to Cambaia to the riuer of Ganges to Bengala to Bacola to Chonderi to Pegu to Siam c. begunne in the yeere 1583 and ended in the yeere 1591. 250 59 The voyage of M. Iohn Eldred to Tripolis in Syria by sea and from thence by land and riuer to Babylon and Balsara Anno 1583. 268 60 The voyage of M. Iohn Euesham by sea into AEgypt Anno 1586. 281 61 The voyage of M. Laurence Aldersey to the cities of Alexandria and Cairo in Aegypt Anno 1586. 282 62 The voyage of fiue marchants ships of London into Turkie and their valiant fight in their returne with 11 gallies and two frigats of the king of Spaine at Pantalarea within the Streits of Gibraltar Anno 1586. 285 63 The voyage of Master William Hareborne ouer-land from Constantinople to London Anno 1588. 289 64 A description of a voyage to Constantinople and Syria begun the 21 of March 1593 and ended the ninth of August 1595 wherein is shewed the manner of deliuering the second present by M. Edward Barton her Maiesties ambassadour which was sent from her Maiestie to Sultan Murad Can the Emperour of Turkie 33 The Ambassages Letters Priuileges Discourses Aduertisements and other obseruations depending vpon the Voyages contayned in the first part of this second Volume 1 A Testimony that the Britons were in Italy and Greece with the Cimbrians and Gauls before the incarnation of Christ. pag. 1 2 A testimony that certain Englishmen were of the guard of the Emperour of Constantinople in the time of Iohn the sonne of Alexius Comnenus 17 3 A great supply of money sent to the Holy land by King Henry the second 18 4 A letter written from Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople vnto Henry the second King of England Ann. 1177 wherein mention is made that certaine of king Henries noblemen and subiects were present with the sayd Emperour in a battel against the Soldan of Iconium 18 5 A note drawen out of a very auncient booke in the custodie of the right Wor. M. Thomas Tilney Esquire touching Sir Fredericke Tilney his ancester knighted for his valour at Acon in the Holyland by king Richard the first 29 6 A large contribution to the succour of the holy land made by king Iohn king of England Anno 1201. 30 7 The comming of Baldwin the Emperour of Constantinople into England An. 1247. 31 8 A testimony concerning Anthony Beck bishop of Duresme that he was elected Patriarke of Ierusalem and confirmed by Clement the 5 bishop of Rome Anno 1305. 39 9 The comming of Lyon king of Armenia into England Anno 1â—86 to make a treaty of peace betweene Richard the second king of England and the French king 67 10 The comming of the Emperour of Constantinople into England to desire the ayde of king Henry the fourth against the Turkes Anno 1400. 70 11 A relation of the siege and taking of the citie of Rhodes by Sultan Soliman the great Turke Wherein honorable mention is made of diuers valiant English knights Anno 1522. 72 12 An ambassage from Don Ferdinando brother to the Emperour Charles the fift vnto King Henry the eight crauing his ayde against Soliman the great Turke An. 1527. 95 13 The antiquitie of the trade of English marchants vnto the remote parts of the Leuant seas Anno 1511 1512 c. 96 14 A letter of Henry the eight king of England to Iohn the third king of Portugale for a Portugale ship fraighted at Chio with the goods of Iohn Gresham William Lok and others and wrongfully vnladen in Portugale Anno 1531. 96 15 The maner of the entring of Soliman the great Turke with his army into Alepo in Syria as hee was marching toward Persia agaiâ—st the great Sophi Anno 1553. 112 16 A note of the presents that were giuen at the same time in Alepo to the Grand Signor and the names of the presenters 113 17 The safe conduct granted by Sultan Soliman the great Turke to M. Anthony Ienkinson at Alepo in Syria Anno 1553. 114 18 A discourse of the trade to Chio written by Gaspar Campion in the yeere 1569. 114 19 A letter of the sayd Gaspar Campion to M. William Winter in the yeare 1569. 116 20 A briefe description of the Isle of Cyprus 119 21 A report of the siege and taking of Famagusta the strongest citie in al Cyprus by Mustafa Bassa Generall of the great Turkes army Anno 1571. 121 22 The
Domini 1172 fundata fuit abbatia de Stanlaw per dominum Iohannem Lacy Constabularium Cestriae dominum de Halton qui obijt in Terra sancta anno sequenti qui fuit vicessimus annus regni regis Henrici secundi ¶ The same in English IN the yere of our Lord 1172 was founded the abbey of Stanlaw by the lord Iohn Lacy Constable of Chester lord of Halton who deceased in the Holy land the yere following which was in the twentieth yere of king Henry the second The voyage of VVilliam Mandeuile to Ierusalem VVIlliam Mandeuile earle of Essex with diuers English lords and knights went to the Holy land in the 24 yere of Henry the second Holinshed pag. 101. English men were the guard of the Emperours of Constantinople in the reigne of Iohn the sonne of Alexius Comnenus Malmesburiensis Curopolata and Camden pag. 96. IAminde Anglia non minus belli gloria quà m humanitatis cultu inter Florentissimas orbis Christiani gentes inprimis floruit Adeo vt ad custodiam corporis Constantinopolitanorum Imperatorum euocati fuerint Angli Ioannes enim Alexij Comneni filius vt refert noster Malmesburiensis eorum fidem suspiciens praecipue familiaritati suae applicabat amorem eorum filio transcribens Adeo vt iam inde longo tempore fuerint imperatorum illorum satellites Inglini Bipenniferi Nicetae Choniatae Barangi Curopolatae dicti Qui vbique Imperatorem prosequebantur ferentes humetis secures quas tollebant cum Imperator ex oratorio spectandum se exhibebat Anglicè vitam diuturnam secures suas collidentes vt sonitum ederent comprecabantur The same in English FRom this time forward the kingdome of England was reputed amongst the most flourishing estates of Christendome no lesse in chiualrie then humanitie So farforth that the English men were sent for to be the guarders of the persons of the Emperours of Constantinople For Iohn the sonne of Alexius Comnenus as our countreyman William of Malmesburie reporteth highly esteeming their fidelity vsed them very nere about him recommending them ouer to his sonne so that long time afterwards the guard of those Emperours were English halberâ—iers called by Nicetas Choniata Inglini Bipenniseri and by Europolata Barangi which alwayes accompanied the Emperour with their halberds on their shoulders which they held vp when the Emperour comming from his Oratorie shewed himselfe to the people and clafhing their halberds together to make a terrible sound they in the English tongue wished vnto him long life A great supply of money to the Holy land by Henry the 2. THe same yeere King Henry the second being at Waltham assigned an aide to the maintenance of the Christian souldiers in the Holy lande That is to wit two and fortie thousand markes of siluer and fiue hundred markes of golde Matth. Paris and Holens pag. 105. A letter written from Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople vnto Henrie the second King of England Anno Dom. 1177. wherein mention is made that certaine of king Henries Noble men and subiects were present with the sayd Emperour in a battell of his against the Soldan of Iconium Recorded by Roger Houeden in Annalium parte posteriore in regno Hen. 2. fol. 316 317. EOdem anno Manuel Constantinopolitanus imperator habito praelio campestri cum Soltano Iconij illo devicto in hac forma scripsit Domino regi Angliae Manuel in Christo deo Porphyrogenitus diuinitùs coronatus sublimis potens excelsus semper Augustus moderator Romanorum Comnenus Henrico nobilissimo regi Angliae charissimo amico suo salutem omne bonum Cum imperium nostrum necessarium reputet notificare tibi vt dilecto amico suo de omnibus quae sibi obueniunt ideò de his quae nunc acciderunt ei opportunum iudicauit declatare tuae voluntati Igitur a principio coronationis nostrae imperium nostrum aduersus dei inimicos Persas nostrum odium in corde nutriuit dum cernetet illos in Christianos gloriari eleuarique in nomen dei Christianorum dominari regionibus Quocirca alio quidem tempore in differentèr inuasit eos prout deus ei concessit sic fecit Et quae ab ipso frequenter patrata sunt ad contritionem ipsorum perditionem imperium nostrum credit nobilitatem tuam non latere Quoniam autem nunc maximum exercitum contra eos ducere proposuit bellum contra omnem Persidem mouere quia res cogebat Et non vt voluit multum aliquem apparatum fecit sicut ei visum est Veruntamen prout tempus dabat rerum status potentèr eos inuasit Collegit ergo circa se imperium nostrum potentias suas sed quia carpenta ducebat armorum machinarum aliorum instrumentorum conserentium ciuitatum expugnationibus pondera portantia idcircò nequa quam cum festinatione iter suum agere poterat Ampliùs autem dum adhuc propriam regionem peragraret antequam barbarorum aliquis aduersus nos militaret in bellis aduersarius aegritudo dissicillima fluxus ventris invasit nos qui diffâ—sus per agmina imperij nostri pertransibat depopulando inteâ—imendo multos omni pugnatore grauior Et hoc maluÌ„ inuslescens maximè nos contriuit Ex quo verò fines Turcorum inuasimus bella quidem primum frequentia concrepabant agmina Turcorum cum exercitibus imperij nostri vndique dimicabant Sed Dei gratia ex toto à nostris in fugam vertebantur barbari Post verò vbi eâ— qui illic adjaceâ— angustiae loci quae à Persis nominatur Cibrilcimam propinquâ—uimus tot Persarum turmae peditum equitum quorum pleraeque ab interioribus partibus Persidis occurrerant in adiutorium contribulium suorum exercitui nostro superuenerunt quot penè nostrorum excederent numerum Exercitu ita que imperij nostri propter viae omnino angustiam difficultatem vsque ad decem milliaria extenso cum neque qui praeibant possent postremos defendere neque versa vice rursus postremi possent praeeuntes iuuare non mediocritèr ab inuicem hos distare accidit Sanè primae cohortes permultùm ab acie imperij nostri diuide bantur postremarum oblitae illas non praestolantes Quoniam igitur Turcorum agmina ex iam factis praelijs cognouerant non conferre sibi à fronte nobis repugnare loci angustiam bonum subuentorem cum inuenissent posteriora statuerunt inuadere agmina quod fecerunt Arctissimo igitur vbique loco existente instabant barbari vndique à dextris â sinistris aliundè dimicantes tela super nos quasi imbres descendentia interimebant viros equos complures Ad haec itaque imperium nostruÌ„ vbi malum superabundabat reputans secum oportunuÌ„ iudicabat retrò expectare atque illos qui illic erant adiuuare expectando vtiquè contra infinita illa Persarum agmina bellum sustinuit Quanta quidem
French armie as afterwards it appeared ¶ The Voyage of Prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Asia in the yeere 1270. ABout the yeere of our Lord 1267. Octobonus the Popes Legate being in England prince Edward the sonne of king Henry and diuers other Noble men of England tooke vpon them the crosse vpon S. Iohn Baptists day by the sayd Legates hands at Northhampton to the reliefe of the Holy land and the subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ. For which purpose and for the better furnishing of the prince towards the iourney there was granted him a subsidie throughout all the realme and in the moneth of May in the yeere of our Lord 1270. he began to set forward At Michaelmas following he with his company came to Eguemortes which is from Marsilia eight leagues Westward and there taking ship againe hauing a mery and prosperous wind within ten dayes arriued at Tunez where he was with great ioy welcommed and entertained of the Christian princes that there were to this purpose assembleâ— as of Philip the French King whose father Lodouicus died a litle before of Carolus the king of Sicilia and the two kings of Nauarre and Arragon and as this lord Edward came thither for his father the king of England thâ—ther came also Henry the sonne of the king of Almaine for his father who at his returne from the voyage was slaine in a chappell at Viterbium When prince Edward demanded of these kings and princes what was to be done they answered him againe and sayd the prince of this citie and the prouince adioyning to the same hath bene accustomed to pay tribute vnto the king of Sicily euery yere and now for that the same hath bene for the space of seuen yeeres vnpaied and more therefore we thought good to make inuasion vpon him But the king knowing the same tribute to be but iustly demaunded hath now according â—o our owne desire satisfied for the time past and also paied his tribute before hand Then sayd â—e My Lords what is this to the purpose are we not here all assâ—mbled haue taken vpon vs the Lords Character to fight against the infidels enemies of Christ What meane you then to conclude a peace with them God forbid we should do so for now the land is plaine and hard so that we may approch to y e holy city IerusaleÌ„ Then said they now haue we made a league with them neither is it lawful for vs to breake the same But let vs returne againe to Sicilia and when the winter is past we may well take shipping to Acra But this counsel nothing at all liked him neither did he shew himselfe wel pleased there with but after hee had made them a princely banket he went into his closet or priuy chamber from amongst them neither would be partaker of any of that wicked money which they had taken They notwithstanding continuing their purpose at the next mery wind tooke shipping and for want of ships left 200. of their men a shore crying out and pitioufly lamenting for the peril and hazard of death that they were in wherewith prince Edward being somewhat mooued to compassion came backe againe to the land and receiued and stowed them in his owne ships being the last that went aboord Within seuen dayes after they arriued in the kingdom of Sicilia ouer agaynst the Citie Trapes casting their ankers a league from thence within the sea for that their shippes were of great burden and throughly fraught and from the hauen of the citie they sent out barges and boates to receiue and bring such of the Nobilitie to land as would but their horses for the most part and all their armour they kept still within boord At length towards the euening the sea began to be rough increased to a great tempest and a mightie insomuch that their ships were beaten one against anothers sides and drowned there was of them at that tempest lying at anker more then 120. with all their armour and munition with innumerable soules besides and that wicked money also which they had taken before likewise perished and was lost But the tempest hurt not so much as one ship of prince Edwards who had in number 13. nor yet had one man lost thereby for that as it may be presupposed he consented not to the wicked counsell of the rest When in the morning the princes and kings came to the sea side and saw all their ships drowned and saw their men and horses in great number cast vpon the land drowned they had full heauie hearts as well they might for of all their ships and mariners which were in number 1500. besides the common souldiers there was no more saued then the mariners of one onely ship and they in this wise There was in that ship a good wise Matrone a Countesse or an Erles wife who perceiuing the tempest to grow fearing her selfe called to her the M. of the ship asked him whether in attempting to the shoare it were not possible to saue theÌ„selues he answered that to saue the ship it was impossible howbeit the men that were therein by Gods helpe he doubted not Then sayd the countesse for the ship force no whit saue the soules therein and haue to thee double the value of the shippe who immediatly hoising the sailes with all force ran the shippe aground so nere the shore as was possible so that with the vehemency of the weather force he came withall he brast the ship and saued all that was within the same as he had shewed and sayd before Then the kings and princes altering their purpose after this so great a shipwracke returned home againe euery one vnto their owne lands onely Edward the sonne of the king of England remained behinde with his men and ships which the Lord had saued and preserued Then prince Edward renouating his purpose tooke shipping againe and within fifâ—eene daies after Easter arriued he at Acra and went aland taking with him a thousand of the best souldiers and most expert and taried there a whole moneth refreshing both his men and horses and that in this space he might learne and know the secrets of the land After this he tooke with him sixe or seuen thousand souldiers and marched forward twenty miles from Acra and tooke Nazareth and those that he found there he slew and afterward returned againe to Acra But their enemies following after them thinking to haue set vpon them at some streit or other aduantage were espied by the prince and returning againe vpon them gaue a charge and slew many of them and the rest they put â—o flight After this about Midsummer when the prince had vnderstanding that the Saracens began to gather at Cakow which was forty miles from Acra he marching thither set vpon them very earely in the morning and slew of them more then a thousand the rest he put to flight and tooke rich spoiles
that the same was done neither by him nor his consent Which princes and messengers standing aloofe off from the kings sonne worshipping him fell flat vpon the ground you sayd the prince do reuerence me but yet you loue me not But they vnderstood him not because he spake in English vnto them speaking by an Interpreter neuerthelesse he honourably entertained them and sent them away in peace Thus when prince Edward had beene eighteene moneths in Acra he tooke shipping about the Assumption of our Lady as we call it returning homeward and after seuen weekes he arriued in Sicilia at Trapes and from thence trauailed thorow the middes of Apulia till he came to Rome where he was of the Pope honorably entertained From thence he came into France whose fame and noble prowesse was there much bruted among the common people and enuied of the Nobility especially of the earle of Chalons who thought to haue intrapped him and his company as may appeare in the story but Prince Edward continued foorth his iourney to Paris and was there of the French king honourably entertained and after certaine dayes he went thence into Gascoine where he taried till that he heard of the death of the king his father at which time he came home and was crowned king of England in the yere of our Lord 1274. The trauaile of Robert Turneham RObertus Turneham Franciscanus Theologiae professor insignis Lynnae celebri Irenorum ad ripas Isidis emporio collegio suorum fratrum magnificè praefuit Edwardus Princeps cognomento Longus Henrici textij filius bellicam expeditionem contra Saracenos Assyriam incolentes anno Dom. 1268. parabat Ad quam profectionem quaesitus quoque Orator vehemens qui plebis in causa religionis animos excitaret Turnehamus principi visus vel dignissimus est qui munus hoc obiret Sic tanquam signifer constitutus Assyrios vnà cum Anglico exercitu peâ—ijt ac suum non sine laude praestitit officium Claruit anno salutiferi partus 1280 varia componens sub eodem Edwardo eius nominis primo post Conquestum The fame in English RObert Turneham Franciscan a notable professour of Diuinity was with great dignity Prior of the Colledge of his Order in the famous Mart towne of Linne situate vpon the riuer of Isis in Norfolke Prince Edward surnamed the Long the sonne of Henry the third prepared his warlike voyage against the Saracens dwelling in Syria in the yeere of our Lord 1268. For the which expedition some earnest preacher was sought to stir vp the peoples minds in the cause of religion And this Turneham seemed to the Prince most worthy to performe that office so that he being appointed as it were a standerd bearer went into Syria with the English army and performed his duety with good commendation He flourished in the yeere of Christ 1280 setting foorth diuers works vnder the same king Edward the first of that name after the Conquest Anthony Beck bishop of Durisme was elected Patriarch of Hierusalem and confirmed by Clement the fift bishop of Rome in the 34 yere of Edward the first Lelandus ANtonius Beckus episcopus Dunelmensis fult regnante Edwardo eius appellationis ab aduentu Gulielmi magni in Angliam primo Electus est in patriarcham Hierosolomitanum anno Christi 1305 a Clemente quinto Rom. pontifice confirmatus Splendidus erat supra quâm decebat episcopum Construxit castrum Achelandae quatuor passuum millibus a Dunelmo in ripa Vnduglessi fluuioli Elte shamum etiam vicinum Grencuico ac Somaridunum castellum Lindianae prouinciae ae dificijs illustria reddidit Deinde palatium Londini erexit quod nunc Edwardi principis est Tandem ex splendore nimio potentia conflauit sibi apud nobilitatem ingentem inuidiam quam viuens nunquam extinguere potuit Sed de Antonio eius scriptis fusiùs in opere cuius titulus de pontificibus Britannicis dicemus Obijt Antonius anno a nato in salutem nostram Christo 1310 Edwardo secundo regnante The same in English ANthony Beck was bishop of Durisine in the time of the reigne of Edward the first of that name after the inuasion of William the great into England This Anthony was elected patriarch of Ierusalem in the yeere of our Lord God 1305 and was confirmed by Clement the fift pope of Rome He was of greater magnificence then for the calling of a bishop He founded also the castle of Acheland foure miles from Durisme on the shore of a prety riuer called Vnduglesme He much beautified with new buildings Eltham mannor being nere vnto Greenwich and the castle Somaridune in the county of Lindsey And lastly he built new out of the ground the palace of London which now is in the possession of prince Edward Insomuch that at length through his ouer great magnificence and power he procured to himselfe great enuy among the nobility which he could not asswage during the rest of his life But of this Anthony of his writings we will speake more at large in our booke intitled of the Britain bishops This Anthony finished his life in the yere of our Lord God 1310 and in the reigne of king Edward the second Incipit Itinerarium fratris Odorici fratrum minorum de mirabilibus Orientalium Tartarorum LIcet multa varia de ritibus conditionibus huius mundi enarrentur a multis ego tamen frater Odoricus de foro Iulij de portu Vahonis volens ad partes infidelium transfretare magna mira vidi audiui quae possum veracitèr enarrare Primò transiens Mare Maius me de Pera iuxta CoÌ„stantinopolim transtuli Trapesundam quae antiquitus Pontus vocabatur Haec terra benè situata est sicut scala quaedam Perfarum Medorum eorum qui sunt vltra mare In hac terra vidi mirabile quod mihi placuit scilicèt hominem ducentem secum plusquam 4000 perdicum Homo autem per terram gradiebatur perdices vero volabant per aëra quas ipse ad quoddam castrum dictum Zauena duxit distans à Trapesunda per tres dieras Hae perdices illius conditionis erant cùm homo ille quiescere voluit omnes se aptabant circa ipsum more pullorum gallinarum per illum modum duxit eas vfque ad Trapesundam vsque ad palatium imperatoris qui de illis sumpsit quot voluit residuas vir ille ad locum vnde venerat adduxit In hac ciuitate requiescit corpus Athanasij supra portam ciuitatis Vltra transiui vsque in Armeniam maiorem ad quandam ciuitatem quae vocatur Azaron quae erat multùm opulenta antiquitùs sed Tartari eam pro magna parte destruxerunt In ea erat abundantia pani carnium aliorum omniuÌ„ victualium preterquam vini fructuum Haec ciuitas est multuÌ„ frigida de illa dicitur quòd altius situatur quà m aliqua alia in hoc
of the name of Christ Iesu and in the vertue of his pretious bloud which he shedde vpon the crosse for the saluation of mankinde they doe cast foorth deuils out of them that are possessed And because there are many possessed men in those parts they are bound and brought ten dayes iourney vnto the sayd friers who being dispossessed of the vncleane spirits do presently beleeue in Christ who deliuered them accounting him for their God and being baptised in his name and also deliuering immediatly vnto the friers all their idols and the idols of their cattell which are commonly made of felt or of womens haire then the sayd friers kindle a fire in a publike place whereunto the people resort that they may see the false gods of their neighbors burnt and cast the sayd idols thereinto howbeit at the first those idols came out of the fire againe Then the friers sprinkled the sayd fire with holy water casting the idols into it the second time and with that the deuils fled in the likenesse of blacke smoake and the idols still remained till they were consumed vnto ashes Afterward this noise out cry was heard in the ayre Beholde and see how I am expelled out of my habitation And by these meanes the friers doe baptise great multitudes who presently reuolt againe vnto their idols insomuch that the sayd friers must eft soones as it were vnder prop them and informe them anew There was another terrible thing which I saw there for passing by a certaine valley which is situate beside a pleasant riuer I saw many dead bodies and in the sayd valley also I heard diuers sweet sounds and harmonies of musike especially the noise of citherns whereat I was greatly amazed This valley conteineth in length seuen or eight miles at the least into the which whosoeuer entreth dieth presently and can by no meanes passe aliue thorow the middest thereof for which cause all the inhabitants thereabout decline vnto the one side Moreouer I was tempted to go in and to see what it was At length making my prayers and recommending my selfe to God in the name of Iesu I entred and saw such swarmes of dead bodies there as no man would beleeue vnlesse he were an eye witnesse thereof At the one side of the foresayd valley vpon a certaine stone I saw the visage of a man which beheld me with such a terrible aspect that I thought verily I should haue died in the same place But alwayes this sentence the word became flesh and dwelt amongst vs I ceased not to pronounce signing my selfe with the signe of the crosse and neerer then seuen or eight pases I durst not approch vnto the said head but I departed fled vnto another place in the sayd valley ascending vp into a little sandy mountaine where looking round about I saw nothing but the sayd citherns which me thought I heard miraculously sounding and playing by themselues without the helpe of musicians And being vpon the toppe of the mountaine I found siluer there like the scales of fishes in great abundance and I gathered some part thereof into my bosome to shew for a wonder but my conscience rebuking me I cast it vpon the earth reseruing no whit at all vnto my selfe and so by Gods grace I departed without danger And when the men of the countrey knew that I was returned out of the valley aliue they reuerenced me much saying that I was baptised and holy and that the foresayd bodies were men subiect vnto the deuils infernall who vsed to play vpon citherns to the end they might allure people to enter and so murther them Thus much concerning those things which I beheld most certainely with mine eyes I frier Odoricus haue heere written many strange things also I haue of purpose omitted because men will not beleeue them vnlesse they should see them Of the honour and reuerence done vnto the great Can. I Will report one thing more which I saw concerning the great Can. It is an vsuall custome in those parts that when the forsayd Can trauelleth thorow any countrey his subiects kindle fires before their doores casting spices thereinto to make a perfume that their lord passing by may smell the sweet and delectable odours thereof and much people come foorth to meet him And vpon a certaine time when he was comming towardes Cambaleth the fame of his approch being published a bishop of ours with certaine of our minorite friers and my selfe went two dayes iourney to meet him and being come nigh vnto him we put a crosse vpon wood I my selfe hauing a censer in my hand and began to sing with a loud voice Veni creator spiritus And as we were singing on this wise he caused vs to be called commanding vs to come vnto him notwithstanding as it is aboue mentioned that no man dare approch within a stones cast of his chariot vnlesse he be called but such onely as keepe his chariot And when we came neere vnto him he vailed his hat or bonet being of an inestimable price doing reuerence vnto the crosse And immediatly I put incense into the censer and our bishop taking the censer perfumed him and gaue him his benediction Moreouer they that come before the sayd Can do alwayes bring some oblation to present vnto him obseruing the ancient law Thou shalt not appeare in my presence with an empty hand And for that cause we carried apples with vs and offered them in a platter with reuerence vnto him and taking out two of them he did eat some part of one And then he signified vnto vs that we should go apart least the horses comming on might in ought offend vs. With that we departed from him and turned aside going vnto certaine of his barons which had bene conuerted to the faith by certaine friers of our order being at the same time in his army and we offered vnto them of the foresayd apples who receiued them at our hands with great ioy seeming vnto vs to be as glad as if we had giuen them some great gift All the premisses aboue written frier William de Solanga hath put downe in writing euen as the foresayd frier Odoricus vttered them by word of mouth in the yeere of our Lord 1330 in the moneth of May and in the place of S. Anthony of Padua Neither did he regard to write them in difficult Latine or in an eloquent stile but euen as Odoricus himselfe rehearsed them to the end that men might the more easily vnderstand the things reported I frier Odoricus of Friuli of a certaine territory called Portus Vahonis and of the order of the minorites do testifie and beare witnesse vnto the reuerend father Guidotus minister of the prouince of S. Anthony in the marquesate of Treuiso being by him required vpon mine obedience so to doe that all the premisses aboue written either I saw with mine owne eyes or heard the same reported by credible and substantiall persons The common report also of the countreyes where
honorable presents And a litle afterward Upon the hearing of these newes the emperor departed with great ioy out of England whom the king honoured with many precious gifts The Voiage of the bishop of VVinchester to Ierusalem in the sixe yeere of the reigne of Henry the fift which was the yeere of our Lord 1417. Thomas Walsing VLtimo die mensis Octobris episcopus Wintoniensis accessit ad concilium Constanciense peregrinaturus Hierosolymam post electioneÌ„ summi pontificis celebratam vbi tantum valuit elus facunda persuasio vâ— excitaret dominos Cardinales ad concordiam ad electionem summi pontificis se ocyâ—s praepararent The same in English THe last day of October the bishop of Winchester came to the Councell of Constance which after the chusing of the Pope determined to take his iourney to Ierusalem where his eloquent perswasion so much preuailed that he both perswaded my lords the Cardinals to vnity and concord and also moued them to proceed more speedily to the election of the Pope A preparation of a voyage of King Henrie the fourth to the Holy land against the infidels in the yere 1413 being the last yere of his reigne wherein he was preuented by death written by Walsingham Fabian Polydore Virgile and Holenshed IN this foureteenth and last yere of king Henries reigne a councell was holden in the White friets in London at the which among other things order was taken for ships and gallies to be builded and made ready and all other things necessary to be prouided for a voyage which he meant to make into the Holy land there to recouer the city of Ierusalem from the infidels for it grieued him to consider the great malice of Christian princes that were bent vpon a mischieuous purpose to destroy one another to the perill of their owne soules rather then to make warre against the enemies of the Christian faith as in conscience it seemed to him they were bound We finde sayeth Fabian in his Chronicle that he was taken with his last sickenesse while he was making his prayers at Saint Edwards shrine there as it were to take his leaue and so to proceede foorth on his iourney He was so suddenly and grieuously taken that such as were about him feared least he would haue died presently wherefore to relieâ—e him if it were possible they bare him into a chamber that was next at hand belonging to the Abbot of Westminster where they layd him on a pallet before the fire and vsed all remedies to reuiue him At length he recouered his speech and perceiuing himselfe in a strange place which he knew not he willed to knowe if the chamber had any particular name whereunto answere was made that it was called Ierusalem Then sayde the king Laâ—des be giuen to the father of heauen for now I knowe that I shall die here in this chamber according to the prophesie of mee declared that I should depart this life in Ierusalem Of this intended voyage Polydore Virgile writeth in manner following POst haec Henricus Rex memor nihil homini debere esse entiquius quà m ad officium iustiâ—iae quae ad hominum vellitatem perâ—inet omne suum studium conferre protinùs omisso ciuili bello quo pudebat videre Christianos omni tempore turpitèr occupari de republica Anglica benè gubernanda de bello in hostes communes sumendo de Hierosolymis tandem aliquando recipiendis plura destinabat classemque iam parabat cum ei talia agenti atque meditanti casus mortem attulit subito enim morbo tentatus nulla medicina subleuari potuit Mortuus est apud Westmonasterium annum agens quadragesimum sextum qui fuit annus salutis humanae 1413. The same in English AFterward King Henry calling to minde that nothing ought to be more highly esteemed by any man then to doe the vtmost of his indâ—uour for the performance of iustice which â—endeth to the good and benefite of mankinde altogether abandoning ciuill warre wherewith he was ashamed to see how Christians at all times were dishonourably busied cutered into a more derye consideration of well gouerning his Realme of England of waging warre against the common enemie and of recouering in processe of time the citie of Ierusalem yea and was prouiding a nauie for the same purpose whenas in the very midst of this his heroâ—call action and enterprise he was surprised with death for falling into a sudden disease he could not be cured by any kinde of phisicke He deceased at Westminster in the 46 yeare of his age which was in the yeere of our Lord 1413. A briefe relation of the siege and taking of the Citie of Rhodes by Sultan Soliman the great Turke translated out of French into English at the motion of the Reuerend Lord Thomas Dockwray great Prior of the order of Ierusalem in England in the yeere 1524. WIlling faithfully to write and reduce in veritie Historiall the great siege cruel oppugnation and piteous taking of the noble and renowmed citie of Rhodes the key of Christendome the hope of many poore Christian men withholden in Turkie to saue and keepe them in their faith the rest and yeerely solace of noble pilgrimes of the holy supulchre of Iesu Christ and other holy places the refuge and refreshing of all Christian people hauing course of marchandise in the parties of Leuant I promise to all estates that shall see this present booke that I haue left nothing for feare of any person nor preferred it for fauour And first I shall shewe the occasions that mooued this cruell bloodshedder enemie of our holy Christian faith Sultan Soliman now being great Turke to come with a great hoste by sea and by lande to besiege and assayle the space of sixe moneths night and day the noble and mightie citie of Rhodes The yere of the incarnation of our Lord Iesu Christ 1522. The occasions why the great Turke came to besiege the Citie of Rhodes THe first and principall cause was that he did consider and sawe by experience that there was none other Towne nor place in Leuant that warred against him nor kept him in doubt but this poore rocke of Rhodes And hearing the continuall complaintes of his subiectes aswell of Syria as of Turkie for the domages and prises dayly done of their bodies and goods by Christian men of warre receiued into Rhodes And also of the shippes and gallies of the religion he tooke conclusion in himselfe that if he might put the sayde Towne in his power and subiection that then he should be peaceable lord of all the parties of Leuant and that his subiects should complaine no more to him The second that he might followe the doings of his noble predecessouâ—s and shewe himselfe very heire of the mightie and victorious lord Sultan Selim his father willing to put in execution the enterprise by him left the yeere one thousand fiue hundred twentie and one The which Selim the great Turke put in all
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
mescium osserandarum gratia rediret omnes quidein in hoc nostrum regnum postmodùm aduecturus ad valorem circiter duodecim millium ducatorum quemadmodum expactionis conuentionis que instrumento apertius constat accidit vt praefatus Diego vestrae Serenitatis subditus dictis susceptis mercibus iam in itinere parùm fidelitèr longè praeter initas conuentiones grauissimo certe nostrorum subditorum detrimento vbi in Portugalliae portum diuertisset sententia huc nauigandi mutata in eodem portu commoretur nostrorúmque etiam subditorum merces detineat quam iniuriam quum subditis nostris in vestrae Serenitatis regno ab eius subdito illata sit exaequitate ac iustitia ab ipsa corrigi emendarÃque confidimus nostro quoque potissimùm intuitu qui vestrae Serenitaris ipsiúsque subditorum causas mercésque si quando in hoc nostrum regnum appulerint semper commendatissimas habemus id quod superiori anno testatisumus proin de ipsam vehementerrogamus vt Iohannem Ratliffe praesentium latorem dicti Iohannis Gresham nouum constiturum procuratorem huius rei causa istuc venientem velit in suis agendis in dictisque bonis recuperandis impunéque asportandis remittendisque vectigalibus quod nos in vestros subditos fecimus quum per nauis prefectum fraude ac dolo istuc merces fuerint aduectae nisi istic vendantur ac toto denique exaequitate conficiendo negotio sic commendatum suscipere sicque ad suos quos opus fore intellexerit magistratus missis literis rem omnem iuuare expedire vt perspiciamus ex hac nostra commendatione fuisse nostrorum subditotum iuri indemnitati quà m maximè consultum Quod nobis gratissimum est futurum in re consimili aut grauiori vestra Serenitas nos sibi gratificandi cupidissimos experietur que foeliciter valeat Ex Regia nostra de Waltham Die 15. Octobr. 1531. The same in English TO the high and mighty prince Iohn by the grace of God king of Portugale and of Algarue on this side and beyond the sea in Africa lord of Ghinea and of the conquest nauigation and traffique of AEthiopia Arabia Persia India c. our mostdeere and welbeloued brother Henry by the grace of God king of England and of France defender of the faith and lord of Ireland to Iohn by the same grace king of Portugale and Algarue on this side and beyond the sea in Africa and lord of Ghinea and of the conquest nauigation and traffique of Aethiopia Arabia Persia India c. our most deare and welbeloued brother sendeth greeting So much y e more willingly and readily we vndertake the recommending of all iust causes vnto your highnesse because by the daily testimonie of our subiects which traffike in your kingdoms and dominions we are informed that according to the dutie of a most worthy prince so carefully and exactly you minister iustice vnto euery man that all men most willingly repaire vnto your highnesse with full trust to obtaine the same Whereas therefore our welbeloued and trustie subiect Iohn Gresham merchant of London of late in humble maner hath signified vnto vs that one William Heith his Factor and Agent certaine moneths agoe had hired in Candie a certaine Portugale ship called Santo Antonio the patrone whereof is Diego Perez and couenaunted with the patrone of the sayd ship that he should first saile to the Isle of Sio to take in merchandize of sundry sortes then eftsoones returne to Candie to be fraighted with other goods all which he was to bring into our kingdome of England to the value of 12000 ducats as by their billes of couenant agreement more plainly appeareth it so fel out that y e aforesaid Diego your highnes subiect hauing receiued the said goods very trecherously much coÌ„trary to his couenant to the exceeding great losse of our subiects putting in by the way into an hauen of Portugale altering his purpose of coÌ„ming into England he remaineth still in that hauen likewise detaineth our subiects goods Which iniury seeing it is done in your Highnes kingdome we hope your Highnes will see reformed according to equity right the rather at our request which alwayes haue had a speciall care of the causes goods of your Highnes of your subiects whensoeuer they come into our kingdome whereof we made proofe the last yeere Wherefore we instantly request your Highnes y t you would so receiue Iohn Ratcliffe the bearer of these present letters the new appointed agent of Iohn Gresham which cuÌ„nteth into your dominions about this busines being thus coÌ„mended vnto you in this busines recouering freely bringing home of the said goods in remitting of the customs vnlesse they were sold there the like whereof we did towards your subiects seeing by the fraud deceit of the patron of the ship the wares were brought thither finally in dispatching y e whole matter according to iustice so further the same by directing your highnes letters to your officers whoÌ„ it may concerne that we may perceiue that our subiects right and liberty hath especially beene maintained vpon this our commendation Which we will take in most thankfull part and your highnes shal find vs in the like or a greater matter most ready to gratifie you whom we wish most heartily well to fare From out Court at Waltham the 15. of October 1531. A voyage made with the shippes called the Holy Crosse and the Mathew Gonson to the Iles of Candia and Chio about the yeere 1534 according to a relation made to Master Richard Hackluit by Iohn Williamson Cooper and citizen of London who liued in the yere 1592 and went as cooper in the Mathew Gonson the next voyage after THe shippes called the Holy Crosse and the Mathew Gonson made a voyage to the Ilandes of Candia and Chio in Turkie about the yeere 1534. And in the Mathew went as Captaine M. Richard Gonson sonne of old Master William Gonson paymaster of the kings nauie In this first voyage went William Holstocke who afterwards was Controuller of her Maiesties Nauie lately deceased as page to M. Richard Gonson aforesaid which M. Gonson died in Chio in this his first voyage The ship called the Holy Crosse was a short shippe and of burden 160 tunnes And hauing beene a full yeere at the sea in performance of this voyage with great danger she returned home where vpon her arriuall at Blackwall in the riuer of Thames her wine and oyle caske was found so weake that they were not able to hoyse them out of the ship but were constrayned to draw them as they lay and put their wine and oyle into new vessels and so to vnlade the shippe Their chiefe fraight was very excellent Muscatels and red Malmesie the like whereof were seeldome seene before in England They brought home also good quantitie of sweete oyles cotton woolles Turkie Carpeâ—s Galles Cynamon
haue bene brought in that were not here before as the Damaske rose by Doctour Linaker king Henry the seuenth and king Henrie the eights Physician the Turky cocks and hennes about fifty yeres past the Artichowe in time of king Henry the eight and of later time was procured out of Italy the Muske rose plant the plumme called the Perdigwena and two kindes more by the Lord Cromwell after his crauell and the Abricot by a French Priest one Wolfe Gardiner to king Henry the eight and now within these foure yeeres there haue bene brought into England from Vienna in Austria diuers kinds of flowers called Tulipas and those and other procured thither a little before from Constantinople by an excellent man called M. Carolus Clusius And it is sayd that since we traded to Zante that the plant that beareth the Coren is also brought into this realme from thence and although it bring not fruit to perfection yet it may serue for pleasure and for some vse like as our vines doe which we cannot well spare although the climat so colde will not permit vs to haue good wines of them And many other things haue bene brought in that haue degenerated by reason of the colde climat some other things brought in haue by negligence bene lost The Archboshop of Canterburie Edmund Grindall after he returned out of Germany brought into this realme the plant of Tamariske from thence and this plant he hath so increased that there be here thousands of them and many people haue receiued great health by this plant and if of things brought in such care were had then could not the first labour be lost The seed of Tabacco hath bene brought hither out of the West Indies it groweth heere and with the herbe many haue bene eased of the remnes c. Each one of a great number of things were woorthy of a iourney to be made into Spaine Italy Barbarie Egypt Zante Constantinople the West Indies and to diuers other places neerer and further off then any of these yet forasmuch as the poore are not able and for that the rich setled at home in quiet will not therefore we are to make sute to such as repaire to forren kingdomes for other businesses to haue some care heerein and to set before their eyes the examples of these good men and to endeuour to do for their parts the like as their speciall businesses may permit the same Thus giuing you occasion by way of a little rememembrance to haue a desire to do your countrey good you shall if you haue any inclination to such good do more good to the poore ready to starue for reliefe then euer any subiect did in this realme by building of Almeshouses and by giuing of lands and goods to the reliefe of the poore Thus may you helpe to driue idlenesse the mother of most mischiefs out of the realme and winne you perpetuall fame and the prayer of the poore which is more woorth then all the golde of Peru and of all the West Indies The voyage of the Susan of London to Constantinople wherein the worshipfull M. William Harborne was sent first Ambassadour vnto Sultan Murad Can the great Turke with whom he continued as her Maiesties Ligier almost sixe yeeres THe 14 of Nouember 1582 we departed from Blackewall bound for the Citie of Constantinople in the tall shippe called the Susan of London the Master whereof was Richard Parsons a very excellent and skilfull man in his facultie But by occasion of contrary weather we spent two moneths before we could recouer the Rowes in the Isle of Wight Where the 14 of Ianuary following we tooke in the worshipfull M. William Hareborne her Maiesties Ambassadour to the Turke and his company and sailed thence to Yarmouth in the foresayd Isle of Wight The 19 we put from Wight The 26 we did see Cauo de Sant Vincente The same day we were thwart of Cauo Santa Maria. The 27 we passed by Tariffa and Gibraltar The 28 in the morning we passed by Velez Malaga and that night were thwart of Cauo de Gates The 29â— at night we had sight of Cauo de Palos The 30 in the morning we did see the high land of Denia in the kingdome of Valentia and that night we had sight of the Iland Formentera The 31 in the morning appeared the Iland of Cabrera The first of February we put into a Port in Mallorca called Porto de Sant Pedro where they would haue euill intreated vs for comming into the Harbour we thought we might haue bene as bolde there as in other places of Christendome but it proued farre otherwise The first man we met on land was a simple Shepheard of whom we demanded whether we might haue a sheepe or such like to refresh our selues who tolde vs yea And by such conference had with him at the last he came aboord once or twise and had the best cheare that we could make him and our Ambassadour himselfe talked with him and still he made vs faire promises but nothing at all meant to performe the same as the end shewed In the meane time came in a shippe of Marseils the Master whereof did know our Ambassadour very well with whom our Ambassadour had conference and with his Marchants also They came from Alger in Barbarie which is vnder the gouernement of the Great Turke They did present our Ambassadour with an Ape wherefore he made very much of them and had them often aboord By them I suppose he was bewrayed of his purpose as touching his message but yet still we had faire words of the Shepheard aforesayd and others So that vpon their words our Purser and another man went to a Towne which was three or foure miles from the port and there were well entertained and had of the people very faire speeches and such small things as could be gotten vpon the sudden and so returned to the shippe that day Then wee were emboldened and thought all had bene well according to their talke The next day being the sixth day of Februarie two of our Gentlemen with one of our Marchants and the Purser and one of the Ambassadours men went to the Towne aforesayd thinking to doe as the Purser and the other had done before but it prooued contrary for at their comming thither they had faire wordes a while and had bread and wine and such necessaries for their money vntill such time as they were beset with men and the Maiorcans neuer shewed in their countenance any such matter but as the maner of all the people in the dominions of Spaine is for the most part to be trecherous to vs if they thinke they haue any aduantage For vpon the sudden they layed handes on them and put them in holde as sure as might be in such a simple Towne Then were they well guarded with men both day and night and still deluded with faire words
the Patents Discourses and Aduertisements thereto belonging The Letters patents of King Henry the seuenth granted vnto Iohn Cabot and his three sonnes Lewis Sebastian and Sancius for the discouerie of new and vnknowen lands HEnricus Dei gratia rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae omnibus ad quos praesentes literae nostrae peruenerint salutem Notum sit manifestum quod dedimus concessimus ac per praesentes damus concedimus pro nobis haeredibus nostris dilectis nobis Ioanni Caboto ciui Veneâ—iarum Lodouico Sebastiano Sancio filijs dicti Ioannis eorum ac cuiusâ— bet eorum haeredibus deputatis plenam ac liberam authoritatem facultatem potestatem nauigandi ad omnes partes regiones sinus maris orientalis occidentalis septentrionalis sub banneris vexillis insignijs nostris cum quinque nauibus siue nauigijs cuiuscúnque portiturae qualitatis existant cum tot tantis nautis hominibus quot quantos in dictis nauibus secum ducere voluetint suis eorum proprijs sumptibus expensis ad inueniendum discooperiendum inuestigandum quascun que insulas patrias regiones siue prouincias gentilium infidelium quorumcúnque in quacunque parte mundi positas quae Christianis omnibus ante haec tempora fuerint incognitae Concessimus etiam eisdem eorum cuilibet eorúmque cuiuslibet eorum haeredibus deputatis ac licentiam dedimus ad affigendum praedictas banneras nostras insignia in quacunque villa oppido castro insula seu terra firma à se nouiter inuentis Et quòd praenominatus Ioannes filij eiusdem seu haeredes eorum deputati quascunque huiusmodi villas castra oppida insulas à se inuentas quae fubiugari occupari possideri possint subiugare occupare possidere valeant tanquam vasalli nostri gubernatores locatenentes deputati eorundem dominium titulum iurisdictionem earundem villarum castrorum oppidorum insularum ac terrae firmae sic inuentorum nobis ac quirendo Ita tamen vt ex omnibus fructibus proficuis emolumentis commodis lucris obuentionibus ex huiusmodi nauigatione prouenientibus praeâ—atus Iohannes filij ac haeredes eorum deputati teneantur sint obligati nobis pro omni viagio suo toties quoties ad portum nostrum Bristolliae applicuerint ad quem omnino applicare teneantur sint astricti deductis omnibus sumptibus impensis necessarijs per eosdem factis quintam partem capitalis lucri facti siue in mercibus siue in pecunijs persoluere Dante 's nos concedentes eisdem suisque haeredibus deputatis vt ab omni solutione custumarum omnium singulorum bonorum mercium quas secum reportarint ab illis locis sic nouiter inuentis liberi sint immunes Et insuper dedimus concessimus eisdem ac suis haeredibus deputatis quòd terrae omnes firmae insulae villae oppida castra loca quaecunque a se inuenta quotquot ab eis inueniri contigem â—on possint ab alijs quibusuis nostris subditis frequentari seu visitari absque licentia praedictorum Ioannis eius filiorum suorúmque deputatorum sub poena amissioâ—s tam nauium quà m bonerum omnium quorumcun que ad ea locasic inuenta nauigare praesumentium Volentes strictissimè mandantes omnibus singulis nostris subditis tam in terra quà m in mari constitutis vâ— praesato Ioanni eius filijs ac deputatis bonam assistentiam faciant tam in armandis nauibus seâ— nauigijs quà m in prouisione commeatus victualium pro sua pecunia emendorum atque aliaâ—um omnium rerum sibi prouidendarum pro dicta nauigatione sumenda suos omnes fauores auxilia impertiant In ouius rei â—estimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium quinto die Martij anno regni nostri vndecimo The same in English HEnry by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland to all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted and by these presents do giue and grant for vs and our heires to our wel beloued Iohn Cabot citizen of Venice to Lewis Sebastian and Santius sonnes of the sayd Iohn and to the heires of them and euery of them and their deputies full and free authority leaue and power to saile to all parts countreys and seas of the East of the West and of the North vnder our banners and ensignes with fiue ships of what burthen or quantity soeuer they be and as many mariners or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships vpon their owne proper costs and charges to seeke out discouer and finde whatsoeuer isâ—es countreys regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels whatsoeuer they be and in what part of the world soeuer they beâ— which before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians we haue granted to them and also to euery of them the heires of them and euery of them and their deputies and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery village towne castle isle or maineland of them newly found And that the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes or their heires and assignes may subdue occupy and possesse all such townes cities castles and isles of them found which they can subdue occupy and possesse as our vassals and lieutenants getting vnto vs the rule title and iurisdiction of the same villages townes castles firme land so found Yet so that the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes and heires and their deputies be holden and bounden of all the fruits profits gaines and commodities growing of such nauigation for euery their voyage as often as they shall arriue at our port of Bristoll at the which port they shall be bound and holden onely to arriue all maner of necessary costs and charges by them made being deducted to pay vnto vs in wares or money the fift part of the capitall gaine so gotten We giuing and granting vnto them and to their heires and deputies that they shall be free from all paying of customes of all and singular such merchandize as they shall bring with them from those places so newly found And moreouer we haue giuen and granted to them their heires and deputies that all the firme lands isles villages townes castles and places whatsoeuer they be that they shall chance to finde may not of any other of our subiects be frequented or visited without the licence of the foresayd Iohn and his sonnes and their deputies vnder paine of forfeiture aswell of their shippes as of all and singuler goods of all them that shall presume to saile to those places so found Willing aud most straightly commanding all and singuler our subiects aswell on land as on sea to giue good
Arambec corruptly called Norumbega with the Paâ—entsâ— letters and aduertisements thereunto belonging The voyage of the two ships whereof the one was called the Dominus vobiscum set out the 20 day of May in the 19 yere of king Henry the eight and in the yere of our Lord God 1527. for the discouerie of the North partes MAster Robert Thorne of Bristoll a notable member and ornament of his country as wel for his learning as great charity to the poore in a letter of his to king Henry the 8 and a large discourse to doctor Leigh his Ambassadour to Charles the Emperour which both are to be seene almost in the beginning of the first volume of this my work exhorted the aforesaid king with very waighty and substantial reasons to set forth a discouery euen to the North Pole And that it may be knowne that this his motion tooke present effect I thought it good herewithall to put downe the testimonies of two of our Chroniclers M. Hall and M. Grafton who both write in this sort This same moneth say they king Henry the 8 sent 2 faire ships wel manned victualled hauing in them diuers cunning men to seek strange regions so they set forth out of the Thames the 20 day of May in the 19 yeere of his raigne which was the yere of our Lord. 1527. And whereas master Hal and master Grafton say that in those ships there were diuers cunning men I haue made great enquirie of such as by their yeeres and delight in Nauigation might giue me any light to know who those cunning men should be which were the directers in the aforesaid voyage And it hath bene tolde me by sir Martine Frobisher and M. Richard Allen a knight of the Sepulchre that a Canon of Saint Paul in London which was a great Mathematician and a man indued with wealth did much aduance the action and went therein himselfe in person but what his name was I cannot learne of any And further they told me that one of the ships was called The Dominus vobiscum which is a name likely to be giuen by a religious man of those dayes and that sayling very farre Northwestward one of the ships was cast away as it enâ—â—ed into a dangerous gulph about the great opening betweene the North parts of Newfoundland and the countrey lately called by her Maiestie Meta Incognita Whereupon the other ship shaping her course towards Cape Briton and the coastes of Arambec and oftentimes putting their men on land to search the state of those vnknowen regions returned home about the beginning of October of the yere aforesayd And thus much by reason of the great negligence of the writers of those times who should haue vsed more care in preseruing of the memories of the worthy actes of our nation is all that hitherto I can learne or finde out of this voyage The voyage of M. Hore and diuers other gentlemen to Newfoundland and Cape Briton in the yere 1536 and in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8. ONe master Hore of London a man of goodly stature and of great courage and giuen to the studie of Cosmographie in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8 and in the yere of our Lord 1536 encouraged diuers Gentlemen and others being assisted by the kings fauour and good countenance to accompany him in a voyage of discouerie vpon the Northwest parts of America wherein his perswasions tooke such effect that within short space many gentlemen of the Iâ—â—â—es of court and of the Chancerie and diuers others of good worship desirous to see the strange things of the world very willingly entred into the action with him some of whose names were as followeth M. Weekes a gentleman of the West countrey of fiue hundred markes by the yeere liuing M. Tucke a gentleman of Kent M. Tuckfield M. Thomas Buts the sonne of Sir William Buts knight of Norfolke which was lately liuing and from whose mouth I wrote most of this relation M. Hardie M. Biron M. Carter M. Wright M. Rastall Serieant Rastals brother M. Ridley and diuers other which all were in the Admyrall called the Trinitie a ship of seuen score â—unnes wherein M. Hore himselfe was imbaâ—ked In the other ship whose name was the Minion went a very learned and vertuous gentleman one M. Armigâ—l Wade Afterwaâ—des Clerke of the Counsailes of king Henry the 8 and king Edward the sixth father to the worshipfull M. William Wade now Clerke of the priuie Counsell M. Oliuer Dawbeney marchant of London M. Ioy afterward gentleman of the Kings Chappel with diuers other of good account The whole number that went in the two tall ships aforesaid to wit the Trinitie and the Minion were about sixe score persons whereof thirty were gentlemen which all we mustered in warlike maner at Graues-end and after the receiuing of the Sacrament they embarked themselues in the ende of April 1536. From the time of their setting out from Grauesend they were very long at sea to witte aboue two moneths and neuer touched any land vntill they came to part of the West Indies about Cape Briton shaping their course thence Northeastwardes vntill they came to the Island of Penguin which is very full of rockes and stones whereon they went and found it full of great soules white and gray as big as geese and they saw infinite numbers of their egges They draue a great number of the foules into their boates vpon their sayles and tooke vp many of their egges the foules they flead and their skinnes were very like hony combes full of holes being flead off they dressed and eate them and found them to be very good and nourishing meat They saw also store of beares both blacke and white of whome they killed some and tooke them for no bad foode M. Oliuer Dawbeny which as it is before mentioned was in this voyage and in the Minion told M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple these things following to wit That after their arriuall in Newfoundland and hauing bene there certaine dayes at ancre and not hauing yet seene any of the naturall people of the countrey the same Dawbeney walking one day on the hatches spied a boate with Sauages of those parts rowing downe the Bay toward them to gaze vpon the ship and our people and taking vewe of their comming aloofe hee called to such as were vnder the hatches and willed them to come vp if they would see the natural people of the countrey that they had so long and so much desired to see whereupon they came vp and tooke viewe of the Sauages rowing toward them and their ship and vpon the viewe they manned out a ship-boat to meet them and to take them But they spying our ship-boat making towards them returned with maine force and fled into an Island that lay vp in the Bay or riuer there and our men pursued them into the Island and the Sauages fledde and escaped but our men found a
and like marchants to buy sell together one of and vnto another euen as in times past namely in the yeere 1400. and before that time also they haue bin accustomed to exercise mutuall traffike and marchandiseâ— and to buy and sell. Also the saide William and Iohn agreed and consented that they themselues or some other perhaps to be appointed in this behalfe by their saide lord the king in their stead shall vpon the first day of the moneth of May next to come with the continuation of the dayes following at the towne of Dordract in Holland or vpon any other terme or termes then perhaps to bee limited competently satisfie and performe conuenient recompence vnto the saide common societie citizens people and inhabitants of the cities aforesaide and also of other cities townes and villages of theâ— Hans of and for all iniuries damages grieuances and drownings or manslaughters done and committed as they alleage against them deliuered and exhibited in written articles vnto the aboue named William and Iohn or els heereafter to bee deliuered and exhibited either by the same procurators or by some others which shall perhaps be authorized in their stead or by the messengers procurators and commissioners of other cities townes and places of the Hans in equall and like maner and forme euen as at the saide terme limited or then perhaps to be proroged there is appointed by the said William and Iohn reparation reformation and recompence vnto the inhabitants of Prussia and Liuonia for the iniuries damages and grieuances uniustly done and committed against them by the liege people and subiects of the saide soueraigne lord the king in the presence of the mightie lord the Master general of Prussia in his land of Prussia as in certain letters indented bearing date in the castle of Marienburgh in Prussia the eight day of the moneth of October in the yeere of our lord 1405. and being made and written about the reparation reformation and recompence of such like iniuries c. the tenour whereof ought here to be vnderstood as if it were inserted it is more manifestly contained It was furthermore promised by the said William and Iohn that they should not inforce nor compell the citizens people or inhabitants of the common society of the Hans or of the aboue named cities or of any other cities of the Hans aforesaid hauing receiued sufficient information of their dwelling and place of abode to more difficult or district proofes of their Articles of complaints alreadie exhibited and in the foresaide termes to come to bee exhibited then vnto the inhabitants of the lands of Prussia and Liuonia according to the forme of the Indentures aboue mentioned Moreouer the saide William and Iohn doe promise that so soone as they shall come into the kingdome of England and before the presence of their king they shall prouide that all and singular the priuiledges graunted vnto the marchants of the saide Hans by the renowmed kings of England and confirmed by the said Soueraigne lord the king that now is must according to al their contents be inuiolably obserued by the said soueraigne king and his subiects and also that from henceforth nothing is vniustly to be attempted vpon any occasion pretense or colour by the saide Soueraigne Prince and the inhabitants of the realme of England to the preiudice of the sayde priuiledges They shall prouide also that all things heretofore attempted and practised against the saide priuiledges shall by reasonable amendement and iust reformation vtterly be abolished But if after the date of these presents which God forfend within the space of the said one yere and seuen moneths prescribed any damages iniuries or grieuances in ships goods or persons should either by the English and the inhabitants of England be vniustly inflicted vpon the cities and marchants of the cities townes and places of the Hans aforesaid or by any marchants or others of the cities or townes of the saide Hans either vnto the English or vnto any of the inhabitants of that Realme vpon any fained pretense whatsoeuer all and singular the foresaide messengers commissioners ambassadours and procurators haue promised that all such damages iniuries and molestations so inflicted by them who shall offer and commit them must bee reformed and amended after the very same forme and manner that in the like case reformation reparation and amends of iniuries damages and molestations committed by the English against them of Prussia is to be performed according vnto a certaine clause contained in the letters aboue mentioned which beginneth Ceterum ne per c. In English Howbeit least that c. continuing vnto that clause Et vt praescripta omnia c. In English And that all the couenants aboue written c. It was also concluded betweene the foresaide messengers commissioners and procurators and with one generall consent agreed vpon that if from the first day of the moneth of May next to come within one whole yeere following some conuenient iust and reasonable reformation be not performed vnto the parties iniuried and damnified generally aboue mentioned in regard of their damages molestations and iniuries then within three moneths after the saide yeere bee expired the marchants of the Hans cities aforesaid are bound without any molestation perturbation and impediment whatsoeuer none other intimation or admonition being necessarie in this behalfe to auoyde and if no lawfull impediment shall hinder them to abstaine and depart from the Realmes and dominions of the said Soueraigne king of England with their marchandize and other goods bought or gotten within the space of the saide three moneths and also the English likewise in all respects shall auoide abstaine and depart from the territories and dominions of the Hans cities aforesaide Also it was promised by the saide William and Iohn that at the terme appointed namely vpon the first of May next following or at some other terme or termes then limited or to bee limited there must be made a due recompense and a proportionall satisfaction for all those persons of the land of Prussia Liuonia and of the cities townes and other places of the Hans who haue vniustly bene drowned and slaine by the English and that according to the tenour of a certain schedule written concerning a recompense to be had in regarde of the saide persons drowned and slaine and presented vnto them by Albertus Rode consul of the citie of Thoren and by the forenamed procurators and messengers of the cities aforesaid they must faithfully and effectually to the vtâ—ost of their abilitie indeuour for the obtaining of the saide recompense and amends In witnesse whereof these letters of Indenture remaining in the possession of the saide William and Iohn the messengers procurators commissioners of England aforesaid and left in their custodie by the aboue named procurators and messengers Henrie Rimarus Thedericus Simon and Iohn Sotebotter of their certaine knowledge and assurance and for the full confirmation and testimonie of al the premisses the foresaid procurators