The copie of the letters missive, which the right noble Prince Edward the sixt sent to the Kings, Princes, and other Potentates, inhabiting the Northeast partes of the worlde, toward the mighty Empire of Cathay, at such time as Sir Hugh Willoughby knight, and Richard Chancelor, with their company, attempted their voyage thither in the yeere of Christ 1553. and the seventh and last yeere of his raigne.
EDWARD the sixt, by the grace of God, King of England,
France, and Ireland
, &c. To all Kings, Princes, Rulers,
Judges, and Governours of the earth, and all other having
any excellent dignitie on the same, in all places under
the universall heaven: peace, tranquillitie, and honour
be unto you, and your lands and regions, which are under
your dominions, and to every of you, as is convenient.
Forasmuch as the great and Almightie God hath given
unto mankinde, above all other living creatures, such
an heart and desire, that every man desireth to joine
friendship with other, to love, and be loved, also to give
and receive mutuall benefites: it is therefore the duety
of all men, according to their power, to maintaine and
increase this desire in every man, with well deserving
to all men, and especially to shew this good affection
to such, as being moved with this desire, come unto them
from farre countreis. For how much the longer voyage
they have attempted for this intent, so much the more
doe they thereby declare that this desire hath bene ardent
in them. Furthermore also, the examples of our fathers
and predecessors doe invite us hereunto, forasmuch as
they have ever gently and lovingly intreated such as of
friendly mind came to them, aswell from Countries neare
hand, as farre remote, commending themselves to their
protection. And if it be right and equity to shew such
humanitie toward all men, doubtlesse the same ought
chiefly to be shewed to marchants, who wandering about
the world, search both the land and the sea, to carry
such good and profitable things, as are found in their
Countries, to remote regions and kingdomes, and againe
to bring from the same, such things as they find there
commodious for their owne Countries: both aswell that
the people, to whom they goe, may not be destitute of
such commodities as their Countries bring not foorth to
them, as that also they may be partakers of such things,
whereof they abound. For the God of heaven and earth
greatly providing for mankinde, would not that all things
should be found in one region, to the ende that one should
have neede of another, that by this meanes friendship
might be established among all men, and every one seeke
to gratifie all. For the establishing and furtherance of
which universall amitie, certaine men of our Realme,
mooved heereunto by the said desire, have instituted and
taken upon them a voyage by sea into farre Countreis,
to the intent that betweene our people and them, a way
may bee opened to bring in, and cary out marchandises,
desiring us to further their enterprise. Who assenting
to their petition, have licensed the right valiant and
worthy Sir Hugh Willoughby, knight, and other our
trusty and faithfull servants, which are with him,
according to their desire, to goe to countreis to them
heeretofore unknowen, aswell to seeke such things as
we lacke, as also to cary unto them from our regions,
such things as they lacke. So that hereby not onely
commoditie may ensue both to them and us, but also
an indissoluble and perpetuall league of friendship be
established betweene us both, while they permit us to
take of their things, such whereof they have abundance
in their regions, and we againe grant them such
things of ours, whereof they are destitute. We therfore
desire you kings & princes, and al other, to whom there
is any power on the earth, to permit unto these our
servants free passage by your regions and dominions:
for they shall not touch any thing of yours unwilling
unto you. Consider you that they also are men. If
therefore they shall stand in neede of any thing, we desire
you of all humanitie, and for the nobilitie which is in
you, to ayde and helpe them with such things as they
lacke, receiving againe of them such things as they shall
bee able to give you in recompense. Shew your selves
so towards them, as you would that we and our subjects
should shewe ourselves towards your servants, if at any
time they shall passe by our regions.
Thus doing, we promise you by the God of all things
that are contained in heaven, earth, and the Sea, and by
the life and tranquillitie of our kingdomes, that we will
with like humanitie accept your servants, if at any time
they shall come to our kingdomes, where they shall as
friendly and gently bee entertained, as if they were borne
in our Dominions, that wee may hereby recompence the
favour and benignitie which you have shewed to our
men. Thus after we have desired you Kings and princes,
&c. with all humanity and favour, to entertaine our
welbeloved servants, we will pray our Almighty God, to
graunt you long life, and peace, which never shall have
ende. Written in London, which is the chiefe Citie of
our kingdome, in the yeere from the creation of the world,
5515. in the moneth of Iiar, the fourteenth day of the
moneth, and seventh yeere of our reigne.
This letter was written also in Greeke, and divers other
languages.
