The second letters Patents graunted by the Queenes Majestic to the Right worshipfull companie of the English Marchants for the Levant , the seventh of Januarie 1592.
ELIZABETH by the grace of God Queene of England,
France, and Irelande, defender of the faith &c. To all
our Officers, ministers and subjects, and to all other
people aswell within this our Realme of England, as
else where under our obeysance and jurisdiction or otherwise unto whom these our letters shalbe seene, shewed,
or read, greeting.
Where our welbeloved subjects Edward Osborne knight
Alderman of our citie of London, William Hareborne
Esquire, and Richard Staper of our saide citie Marchant,
have by great adventure and industrie with their great
cost and charges by the space of sundry late yeeres
travelled, and caused travell to be taken aswell by secrete
and good meanes, as by daungerous wayes and passages
both by lande and sea to finde out and set open a trade
of marchandize and traffike into the landes, Ilandes,
Dominions, and territories of the great Turke, commonly
called the Grand Signor, not before that time in the
memorie of any man now living knowen to be commonly
used and frequented by way of marchandize by any the
marchantes or other subjectes of us or our progenitors:
And also have by their like good meanes and industrie
and great charges procured of the sayde Grand Signor
in our name, amitie, safetie and freedome for trade and
traffike of marchandize to be used and continued by our
subjects within his sayd dominions, whereby we perceive
and finde that both many good actions have beene done
and performed, and hereafter are likely continually to be
done and performed for the peace of Christendome:
Namely by the reliefe and discharge of many Christians
which have beene, and which hereafter may happen to
be in thraldome and bondage under the sayde Grand
Signor and his vassals or subjects. And also good and
profitable vent and utterance of the commodities of our
Realme, and sundrie other great benefites to the advancement of our honour and dignitie Royall, the maintenance
of our Navie, the encrease of our customes, and the
revenues of our Crowne, and generally the great wealth
of our whole Realme.
And whereas we are enformed of the sayd Edward
Osborne knight, William Hareborne, and Richard Staper,
that George Barne, Richard Martine, John Harte knights,
and other marchants of our sayd Citie of London have
by the space of eight or nine yeeres past joyned themselves in companie, trade and traffike with them the sayd
Edward Osborne knight, William Hareborne and Richard
Staper, into the sayde dominions of the sayd great Turke,
to the furtherance thereof and the good of the Realme.
And whereas further it is made knowen unto us, that
within fewe yeeres now past our loving and good subjects
Thomas Cordall, Edward Holmeden, William Garraway
and Paul Banning, and sundry other marchants of our
said Citie of London, have likewise at their great costes
and charges, builded and furnished diverse good and
serviceable shippes and therewith to their like costs and
charges have traded and frequented, and from time to
time doe trade and frequent and traffike by sea with
the commodities of our Realme to Venice
, Zante
, Candie,
and Zephalonia and other the dominions of the Segniorie
and State of Venice, and thereby have made and mainteyned, and doe make and continually maintaine divers
good shippes with mariners skilfull and fitte and necessarie for our service: and doe vent out of our Realme into
those partes diverse commodities of our Realme, and
returne hither into our sayde Realme many good and
necessarie commodities for the common wealth thereof:
All which traffike, as well inward as outward untill it
hath beene otherwise brought to passe by the sayde
endevours, costs, and charges of our sayde subjects, was
in effect by our subjectes wholy discontinued.
Knowe yee, that hereupon we greatly tendring the
wealth of our people and the encouragement of them and
other our loving subjects in their good enterprises for
the advancement of lawfull traffike to the benefite of
our common wealth, have of our speciall grace, certaine
knowledge, and meere motion given and graunted, and
by these presents for us, our heyres, and successours, doe
give and graunt unto our sayd trustie and welbeloved
subjectes Edwarde Osborne Knight, George Barne Knight,
George Bonde knight, Richard Martine knight, John
Harte knight, John Hawkins knight, William Massam,
John Spencer, Richard Saltonstall, Nicholas Mosley Aldermen of our sayde Citie of London, William Hareborne,
Edwarde Barton, William Borrough Esquires, Richard
Staper, Thomas Cordall, Henrie Parvis, Thomas Laurence,
Edwarde Holmeden, William Garraway, Robert Dowe,
Paul Banning, Roger Clarke, Henrie Anderson, Robert
Offley, Philip Grimes, Andrewe Banning, James Staper,
Robert Sadler, Leonarde Power, George Salter, Nicholas
Leate, John Eldred, William Shales, Richard May,
William Wilkes, Andrewe Fones, Arthur Jackson,
Edmund Ansell, Ralph Ashley, Thomas Farrington,
Roberte Sandie, Thomas Garraway, Edwarde Lethlande,
Thomas Dalkins, Thomas Norden, Robert Bate, Edward
Sadler, Richard Darsall, Richard Martine Junior, Ralph
Fitch, Nicholas Pearde, Thomas Simons, and Francis
Dorrington, that they and every of them by the name
of Governour and company of Marchants of the Levant
shall from hence foorth for the terme of twelve yeeres
next ensuing the date hereof bee one bodie, fellowshippe
and companie of themselves both in deede and in name:
And them by the name of Governour and companie of
marchantes of the Levant wee doe ordayne, incorporate,
name, and declare by these presentes, and that the same
fellowshippe and companie from hence foorth shall and
may have one Governour. And in consideration that the
sayde Edwarde Osborne Knight hath beene of the chiefe
setters foorth and actors in the opening and putting in
practise of the sayde trade to the dominions of the sayde
Grand Signor: Wee doe therefore specially make, ordaine,
and constitute the sayde Edwarde Osborne Knight, to
bee nowe Governour during the time of one whole yeere
nowe next following, if hee so long shall live: and after
the expiration of the sayde yeere, or decease of the sayde
Edward Osborne the choyse of the next Governour, and
so of every Governour from time to time during the sayde
terme of twelve yeeres to be at the election of the sayde
fellowshippe or companie of marchantes of the Levant
or the more part of them yeerely to be chosen, and that
they the sayde Sir Edwarde Osborne, and all the residue
of the sayde fellowshippe or companie of Marchantes
of the Levant and everie of them, and all the sonnes of
them and of every of them, and all such their apprentises
and servants of them and of every of them, which have
beene or hereafter shall be imployed in the sayde trade
by the space of foure yeeres or upwardes by themselves,
their servantes, factors or deputies, shall and may by
the space of twelve yeeres from the day of the date of
these our letters Patents freely traffike, and use the
trade of Marchandize as well by sea as by lande into and
from the dominions of the sayde Grand Signor, and into
and from Venice
, Zante
, Candie and Zephalonia, and
other the dominions of the Signiorie and State of Venice,
and also by lande through the Countries of the sayde
Grand Signor into and from the East India, lately discovered by John Newberie, Ralph Fitch, William Leech,
and James Storie, sent with our letters to that purpose
at the proper costs and charge of the sayde Marchants
or some of them: and into and from everie of them in
such order, manner, forme, libertie and condition to all
intentes and purposes as shall be betweene them of the
sayde fellowshippe or companie of Marchantes of the
Levant or the more part of them for the time being
limited and agreed, and not otherwise, without any molestation, impeachment, or disturbance; any lawe, statute,
usage, or diversitie of Religion or faith, or any other
cause or matter whatsoever to the contrarie notwithstanding.
And that the sayde Governour and companie of Marchantes of the Levant, or the greater part of them for
the better governement of the sayde fellowshippe and
companie, shall and may within fortie dayes next and
immediatly following after the date heereof, and so from
thence foorth yeerely during the continuance of this our
graunt, assemble themselves in some convenient place,
and that they or the greater parte of them being so
assembled, shall and may elect, ordaine, nominate, and
appoint twelve discreete and honest persons of the sayde
companie to be assistants to the sayde Governour, and to
continue in the sayde office of assistants, untill they shall
die or bee remooved by the sayde Governour and companie or the greater part of them. And if it happen the
sayde assistantes or any of them to die, or be remooved
from their sayde office at anie time during the continuance
of this our graunt: that then and so often it shall and
may bee lawfull to and for the sayde Governour and
companie of marchantes of the Levant, or the greater
part of them to elect and chuse one or more other persons
of the sayd companie into the place or places of every
such person or persons so dying or happening to be
remooved, as is aforesayde. And wee will and ordaine
that the same person or persons so as is aforesayde to be
elected shall be of the sayd number of assistants of the
sayde companie. And this to be done so often as the
case shall so require. And that it shall and may be
lawfull to and for the sayde Edwarde Osborne Knight,
George Barne Knight, George Bonde knight, Richard
Martine knight, John Hart knight, John Hawkins knight,
William Massam, John Spencer, Richard Saltonstall,
Nicholas Mosley, William Hareborne, Edwarde Barton,
William Borrough, Richard Staper, Thomas Cordall,
Henrie Parvis, Thomas Laurence, Edwarde Holmeden,
William Garraway, Robert Dowe, Paul Banning, Roger
Clarke, Henrie Anderson, Robert Offley, Philip Grimes,
Andrewe Banning, James Staper, Robert Sadler, Leonarde
Power, George Salter, Nicholas Leate, John Eldred,
William Shales, Richard May, William Wilkes, Andrewe
Fones, Arthur Jackson, Edmund Ansell, Ralph Ashley,
Thomas Farrington, Roberte Sandie, Thomas Garraway,
Edwarde Lethlande, Thomas Dalkins, Thomas Norden,
Robert Bate, Edward Sadler, Richard Darsall, Richard
Martine Junior, Ralph Fitch, Nicholas Pearde, Thomas
Simons, and Francis Dorrington aforesayde, or any of
them to assemble themselves for or about any the matters,
causes or affaires or businesses of the sayde trade in any
place or places for the same convenient from time to
time during the sayde terme of twelve yeeres within our
dominions or else where. And that also it shall and may
bee lawfull for them or the more part of them to make,
ordaine and constitute reasonable lawes and orders for
the good governement of the sayde companie, and for the
better advancement and continuance of the sayde trade
and traffike: the same lawes and ordinances not being
contrarie or repugnant to the lawes, statutes or customes
of our Realme: And the same lawes and ordinances so
made to put in ure, and execute accordingly, and at
their pleasures to revoke and alter the same lawes and
ordinances or any of them as occasion shall require.
And we doe also for us, our heyres and successors of
our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion
graunt to and with the sayd Governour and companie
of marchantes of the Levant, that when and as often at
any time during the sayde terme and space of twelve
yeeres as any custome, pondage, subsidie or other duetie
shall be due and payable unto us, our heires, or successors
for any goods or marchandize whatsoever, to be carried
or transported out of this our port of London into any the
dominions aforesayde, or out of or from any the sayde
dominions unto our sayde port of London, that our
Customers, and all other our Officers for receites of
custome, pondage, subsidie or other duetie unto whom
it shall appertaine, shall upon the request of the sayde
Governour for the time being, give unto the sayde companie three monethes time for the payment of the one
halfe, and other three monethes for the payment of the
other halfe of their sayde custome, pondage, or other
subsidie or duetie for the same, receiving good and
sufficient bonde and securitie to our use for the payment
of the same accordingly. And upon receipt of the sayde
bonde to give them out their cockets or other warrants
to lade out and receive in the same their goods by vertue
hereof without any disturbance. And that also as often
as at any time during the sayde terme of twelve yeeres
any goods or marchandize of any of the sayde companie
laden from this our port of London in any the dominions
beforesayde shall happen to miscarie before their safe
discharge in the partes for and to the which they be sent:
That then and so often so much custome, pondage, and
other subsidie as they answered us for the same, shall
after due proofe made before the Treasurour of England
for the time being of the sayde losse, and the just
quantitie thereof, be by the vertue hereof allowed unto
them, by warrant of the sayde Treasurour to the sayde
Customers in the next marchandize that they shall or may
shippe for those partes, according to the true rates of the
customes, pondage, or subsidies heretofore payde for the
goods so lost or any part or parcell thereof.
And for that the sayde companie are like continually
to bring into this our Realme a much greater quantitie of
forren commodities from the forren Countreyes, places, or
territories aforesaide, then here can be spent for the
necessarie use of the same, which of necessitie must be
transported into other countreyes, and there vented, we
for us, our heires and successors of our speciall grace,
certaine knowledge, and meere motion doe graunt to and
with the sayd Governour and companie that at all times
from time to time during the space of thirteene moneths
next after the discharge of any the sayde goods so
brought in, and the subsidies, pondage, customes and
other duties for the same being before hande payde or
compounded for as aforesayd, it shall be lawfull for them
or any of them or any other person or persons whatsoever
being naturall subjects of the Realme which may or shall
buy the same of them or any of them to transport the
same in English bottomes freely out of this Realme without payment of any further custome, pondage, or other
subsidie to us, our heires or successors for the same,
whereof the sayde subsidies, pondage, or customes or
other duties shall be so formerly payde and compounded
for, as aforesayd, and so proved. And the sayd customer
by vertue hereof shall upon due and sufficient proofe thereof
made in the custome house give them sufficient cocket
or certificate for the safe passing out thereof accordingly.
And to the ende no deceipt be used herein to us our
heires, and successors, certificate shall be brought from
our collector of custome inwardes to our customer outwardes that the sayd marchandizes have within the time
limited answered their due custome, subsidie, pondage
and other duties for the same inwards.
And furthermore we of our ample and aboundant grace,
meere motion, and certaine knowledge have graunted,
and by these presents for us our heyres and successours
doe graunt unto the said Governours and companie of
marchantes of the Levant, that they and such onely as
be and shall be of that companie, shall for the sayd terme
of twelve yeeres have, use, and enjoy the whole and onely
trade and traffike, and the whole entire and onely libertie,
use, and priviledge of trading and traffiking, and using
feate of marchandise by and through the Levant
seas
otherwise called the Mediterran seas into and from the
sayd dominions of the Grand Signor, and dominions of
the state of Venice; and by and through the sayd Grand
Signors dominions to and from such other places in the
East Indies discovered as aforesayd. And that they the
sayd Governour and companie of marchants of the Levant
and every particular and severall person of that companie
their and every one of their servants, factors, and deputies
shall have full and free authoritie, libertie, facultie,
licence, and power to trade and trafficke by and through
the sayd Levant
seas into and from all and every the sayd
dominions of the sayde Grand Signor, and the dominions
of the state of Venice, and the sayde Indies, and into
and from all places where by occasion of the sayd trade
they shall happen to arrive or come, whither they be
Christians, Turkes, Gentiles, or others: And by and
through the sayd Levant
seas into and from all other
seas, rivers, portes, regions, territories, dominions.
coastes and places with their ships, barkes, pinases and
other vessels, and with such mariners and men as they
will leade or have with them, or sende for the sayde trade
as they shall thinke good at their owne proper costes and
expenses.
And for that the shippes sayling into the sayde
Countreyes must take their due and proper times to
proceede in these voyages, which otherwise as wee well
perceive can not be performed in the rest of the yeere
following : Therefore we of our speciall grace, certaine
knowledge, and meere motion for us our heyres and
successors doe graunt to and with the sayd Governour
and companie of Marchantes of the Levant, that foure
good shippes well furnished with ordinance and other
munition for their defence, and two hundred marriners
English men to guide and sayle in the same foure shippes
at all times during the sayde twelve yeeres shall quietly
bee permitted and suffered to depart and goe in the sayde
voyages, according to the purport of these presents,
without any stay or contradiction by us, our heyres and
successors, or by the Lorde high Admirall or any other
officer or subject of us, our heires or successours in any
wise: Any restraint, lawe, statute, usage or matter
whatsoever to the contrarie notwithstanding.
Provided neverthelesse, that if wee shall at any time
within the sayde twelve yeeres have just cause to arme
our Navie in warrelike manner in defence of our Realme,
or for offence of our enemies: and that it shall be founde
needefull and convenient for us to joyne to our Navie
the shippes of our subjects to be also armed for warres
to such number as cannot bee supplied if the sayd foure
shippes should be permitted to depart as above is mentioned; then upon knowledge given by us or our
Admirall to the sayde Governour or companie about the
fifteenth day of the moneth of March, or three monethes
before the saide companie shall beginne to make readie
the same foure shippes that we may not spare the sayd
foure ships and the marriners requisite for them to be
out of our Realme during the time that our Navie shall
be upon the seas, that then the sayde companie shall
forbeare to send such foure shippes for their trade of
marchandise untill that we shall retake our sayd Navie
from the sayd service.
And further our will and pleasure is, and wee doe by
these presentes graunt that it shall be lawfull to and for
the sayd Governour and companie of Marchantes of the
Levant to have and use in and about the affaires of the
sayde companie a common seale for matters concerning the
sayde companie and trade. And that also it shall be
lawfull for the Marchants, Mariners, and Sea-men, which
shall be used and imployed in the sayde trade and voyage
to set and place in the toppes of their ships or other
vessels the Armes of England with the redde-crosse in
white over the same as heretofore they have used.
And we of our further Royall favour and of our
especiall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion
have graunted and by these presents for us our heyres
and successors doe graunt to the sayd Governour and
companie of Marchants of the Levant
, that the sayde
landes, territories, and dominions of the sayde Grand
Signor, or the dominions of the Signiorie of Venice,
or any of them within the sayde Levant
or Mediterran
seas shall not be visited, frequented, or haunted by the
sayde Levant sea by way of marchandize by any other
our subjects during the saide terme of twelve yeeres
contrarie to the true meaning of these presentes. And
by vertue of our prerogative Royall, which wee will not
in that behalfe have argued or brought in question, wee
straightly charge, commaunde and prohibite for us, our
heyres and successours all our subjects of what degree
or qualitie soever they bee, that none of them directly or
indirectly doe visite, haunt, frequent, trade, traffike or
adventure by way of marchandise into or from any of the
sayd dominions of the sayd Grand Signor, or the
dominions of the saide Segniorie of Venice, by or through
the sayde Levant sea other then the sayd Governour and
companie of marchants of the Levant
, and such particular
persons as be or shall be of that companie, their factors,
agents, servants and assignes. And further for that wee
plainely understande that the States and Governours of
the citie and Segniorie of Venice have of late time set
and raysed a newe impost and charge over and besides
their auncient impost, custome, and charge of and upon
all manner of marchandize of our Realme brought into
their dominions, and also of and upon all marchandise
caried or laden from their sayd Countrey or dominions
by our subjects or in the ships or bottoms of any of our
subjectes to the great and intollerable charge and hinderance of our sayd subjects trading thither, wee therefore
minding the redresse thereof, doe also by these presents
for us, our heires and successors further straightly prohibite and forbid not onely the subjects of the sayde State
and Segniorie of Venice, but also of all other Nations or
Countries whatsoever other then the sayd Governour and
companie of marchants of the Levant
, and such onely as
be or shall be of that companie, their factors, agents,
servantes, and assignes : That they or any of them during
the sayde terme of twelve yeeres, shall bring or cause to
be brought into this our Realme of Englande, or any part
thereof anie manner of small fruites called corrants, being
the raysins of Corinth
, or wine of Candie, unlesse it be by
and with the licence, consent, and agreement of the sayde
Governour and companie in writing under their sayd
common seale first had and obteyned upon paine unto
every such person and persons that shall trade and traffike
into any the sayde dominions of the State and Segniorie of
Venice by sea, or that shall bring or cause to be brought
into our saide Realme any of the said corrants being the
raysins of Corinth
, or wines of Candia
, other then the
sayd companie in paine of our indignation, and of forfaiture and losse aswell of the shippe and ships with the
furniture thereof, as also of the goods, marchandize, and
thinges whatsoever they be of those which shall attempt
or presume to commit or doe any matter or thing contrarie to the prohibition aforesayd. The one halfe of
all the saide forfeitures to be to us, our heires and
successours, and the other halfe of all and every the sayde
forfeitures we doe by these presents, of our speciall grace,
certaine knowledge, and meere motion clearely and wholie
for us, our heires and successors, give and graunt unto
the saide Governour and companie of marchantes of the
Levant.
And further all and every the sayde offendours for their
sayde contempt to suffer imprisonment during our
pleasures, and such other punishment as to us for so
high a contempt shall seeme meete and convenient, and
not to be in any wise delivered untill they and every of
them shall be come bounde unto the sayd Governour for
the time being in the summe of one thousand poundes or
lesse at no time, then after to sayle or traffike by sea into
any the dominions aforesaide, or to bring or cause to
be brought from any the places aforesayde any corrants,
raysins of Corinth
, or wines of Candia
contrarie to our
expresse commaundement in that behalfe herein set downe
and published.
Provided alwayes, and our expresse will is notwithstanding the premisses that if our sayde subjectes shall at
any time hereafter be recompensed of and for all such
newe impostes and charges as they and every of them
shall pay, and likewise be freely discharged of and from
the payment of all manner of newe imposte or taxe for
any of their marchandise which they hereafter shall bring
into or from any the dominions of the sayde State or
Segniorie of Venice, and from all bondes and other
assurances by them or any of them to be made for or in
that behalfe, that then immediatly from and after such
recompence and discharge made as aforesayde our sayde
prohibition and restraint in these presentes mentioned,
shall not be of any strength or force against the sayde
Citie or State of Venice, or any the subjects thereof, but
for and during such time onely and in such case when
hereafter the sayde State of Venice shall againe beginne
to taxe or levie any manner of newe imposte within the
sayde dominions upon any the goods or marchandizes of
our sayde subjectes heereafter to be brought into any the
dominions of the said State or Segniorie of Venice. Any
thing in these our letters Patents contayned to the contrarie thereof in any wise notwithstanding.
And further wee straightly charge and commaunde, and
by these presentes prohibite all and singular Customers
and Collectors of our Customes, pondage, and subsidies,
and all other Officers within our Porte and Citie of
London and else where, to whom it shall appertaine and
every of them, That they or any of them by themselves,
their clarkes, or substitutes shall not receive or take, or
suffer to be received or taken for us or in our name, or
to our use, or in the name, or unto the use of our heires
or successors of any person or persons, any summe or
summes of money, or other consideration during the sayde
terme of twelve yeeres for any custome, pondage, taxe
or subsidie of any corrants, raysins of Corinth
, or wines
of Candie aforesayd save onely of and in the name of the
sayde Governour and companie of marchantes of the
Levant, or of some of that companie without the consent
of the sayde Governour and companie in writing under
their sayd common seale, first had and obteyned, and unto
them shewed for the testifying their sayd consent. And
for the better and more sure observation thereof wee will
and graunt for us, our heires or successors by these presentes, that our Treasurour and Barons of the Exchequer
for the time being by force of these presentes, and the
inrollment thereof in the sayde Court of our Exchequour,
at all and every time and times during the sayde terme of
twelve yeeres, at and upon the request of the sayde
Governour and companie, their Attourney or Attourneys,
Deputies or assignes, shall and may make and direct
under the seale of the sayde Court one or more sufficient
writte or writtes close or patent, unto every or any of the
sayd Customers or other Officers to whom it shall appertaine, commaunding them and every of them thereby, that
neither they nor any of them at any time or times during
the sayd space of twelve yeeres shall take entrie of any
corants, raisins of Corinth
, or wines of Candia
, or take or
make any agreement for any custome, pondage, or other
subsidie for any of the sayd corants, raisins of Corinth
,
or wines of Candie, with any person or persons whatsoever, other then with, or in the name and by the privitie
of the sayd governour and company or some of the same
company.
And further of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge,
and meere motion we have condescended and graunted,
and by these presents for us our heires and successours
doe condescend and graunt to the sayd Governour and
company of marchants of Levant, that wee our heires and
successours, during the sayd terme, will not graunt
libertie, licence, or power to any person or persons whatsoever, contrary to the tenour of these our letters patents,
to saile, passe, trade, or traffique by the sayde Levant
Sea, into, or from the sayde dominions of the sayd Grand
Signior or the dominions of the State of Venice or any
of them, contrary to the true meaning of these presents,
without the consent of the sayd Governour and Companie
or the most part of them.
And whereas Henry Farrington and Henry Hewet have
not yet assented to bee incorporated into the sayd societie
of Governour and companie of marchants of Levant
,
neverthelesse sithence, as we be informed, they have
bene traders that way heretofore; our will and pleasure
is, and we doe hereby expressely commaund and charge
that if it happen at any time within two moneths next
following after the date hereof, the sayd Henry Farrington and Henry Hewet or either of them, to submit
themselves to be of the sayd companie, and doe give such
assurance as the sayd Governour and companie, or the
more part of them shall allow of, to beare, pay, and
performe such orders, constitutions, paiments and contributions, as other of the sayd company shall be ordered
to beare, pay, and performe, that then every of the sayd
Henry Farrington and Henry Hewet so doing and submitting himselfe, shall upon his or their request unto the
sayd Governour bee admitted into the sayd companie and
corporation of Governour and companie of marchants of
Levant
, and have and enjoy the same, and as great liberties, privileges, and preheminencies, as the rest of the
sayde corporation or companie may, or ought to have by
vertue of this our graunt. Any thing in these presents
contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
And our will and pleasure is, and hereby wee doe also
ordaine that it shall and may bee lawfull, to, and for the
sayde Governour and company of marchants of Levant or
the more part of them, to admit into, and to be of
the sayd companie, any such as have bene or shall bee
employed as servants, factors, or agents in the trade
of marchandise by the sayd Levant
seas, into any the
countries, dominions or territories of the sayd Grand
Signior or Signiorie or State of Venice, according as they
or the most part of them shall thinke requisite.
And where Anthony Ratcliffe, Steven Some, and
Robert Brooke Aldermen of the saide Citie of London,
Simon Laurence, John Wattes, John Newton, Thomas
Middleton, Robert Coxe, John Blunt, Charles Faith,
Thomas Barnes, Alexander Dansey, Richard Aldworth,
Henry Cowlthirste, Caesar Doffie, Martine Bonde, Oliver
Stile and Nicolas Stile Marchants of London for their
abilities and sufficiencies have bene thought fit to be also
of the sayd Company of the saide governour and Company of Marchants of Levant: Our will and pleasure
and expresse commaundement is, and wee doe hereby
establish and ordeine, that every such of the same
Anthony Radcliffe, Steven Some, Robert Brooke, Simon
Laurence, John Wattes, John Newton, Thomas Midleton,
Robert Coxe, John Blunt, Charles Faith, Thomas
Barnes, Alexander Dansey, Richard Aldworth, Henry
Cowlthirst, Caesar Doffie, Martine Bonde, Oliver Style,
and Nicolas Style, as shall pay unto the saide Governour
and company of Marchants of Levante the summe of one
hundred and thirtie poundes of lawfull English money
within two monethes next after the date hereof towards
the charges that the same Company have already bene at
in and about the establishing of the sayde trades shall
from thencefoorth bee of the same company of Marchants
of Levant
as fully and amply and in like maner, as any
other of that societie or Company.
Provided also, that wee our heires and successours at
any time during the sayd twelve yeeres may lawfully
appoynt and authorize two other persons exercising the
lawfull trade of marchandize, and being fit men to bee
of the sayd companie of Governour and companie of
marchants of Levant
, so that the sayd persons to bee
nominated or authorized, shall aide, doe, beare, and paie
such payments and charges touching and concerning the
same trade and Companie of marchants of Levant
,
ratablie as other of the sayd Companie of marchants of
Levant
shall, and doe, or ought to beare and pay: and
doe also performe and observe the orders of the sayd
Companie allowable by this our graunt, as others of the
same doe or ought to doe. And that such two persons
so to bee appoynted by us our heires or successours, shall
and may with the sayd Company use the trade and feate
of marchandise aforesayd, and all the liberties and
privileges herein before granted, according to the
meaning of these our letters patents, any thing in these
our letters patents contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
Provided also, that if any of the marchants before by
these presents named or incorporated, to bee of the sayd
fellowship of Governour and companie of the merchants
of Levant
, shall not bee willing to continue or bee of the
same companie, and doe give notice thereof, or make the
same knowen to the sayd Governour within two moneths
next after the date hereof, that then such person so giving
notice, shall no further or any longer be of that companie,
or have trade into those parties, nor be at any time after
that of the same corporation or companie, or use trade
into any the territories or countries aforesayd.
Provided alwayes neverthelesse, that every such person
so giving notice and having at this present any goods or
marchandises in any the Territories or countreys of the
sayd Grand Signior, or Segniorie or State of Venice, may
at any time within the space of eighteene moneths next,
and immediately following after the date hereof, have free
libertie, power, and authoritie to returne the same or the
value thereof into this Realme, without using any traffique
there, but immediately from thence hither, paying, bearing, answering, and performing all such charges, dueties
and summes of money ratably as other of the same
corporation or company doe or shall pay, beare, answere,
or performe for the like.
Provided also, that if any of the persons before by these
presents named or incorporated to bee of the sayd fellowship of Governour and Companie of the marchants of
Levant
, or which hereafter shall bee admitted to bee of the
sayde Corporation or Companie, shall at any time or
times hereafter refuse to bee of the sayd Corporation
or Companie, or to beare, pay, or be contributorie to, or
not beare and pay such ratable charges and allowances,
or to observe or performe such ordinances to bee made
as is aforesayd, as other of the same company are, or
shall bee ordered, to beare, pale, or performe, that then
it shall and may bee lawfull for the rest of the sayd
Governour and companie of marchants of Levant
, presently to expell, remoove, and displace every such person
so refusing, or not bearing or paying out, of, and from
the sayd Corporation and companie, and from all privilege, libertie, and preheminence which any such person
should, or might claime, or have by vertue of this our
graunt, and in place of them to elect others exercising
the lawfull trade of marchandise to bee of the sayd Companie. And that every such person so expelled, remooved,
or displaced by consent of the sayd Governour and companie of marchants of Levant
, or the more part of them,
shall bee from thencefoorth utterly disabled to take any
benefite by vertue of this privilege, or any time after to
bee admitted or received againe into the same, any thing
in these presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
Provided alwayes, that if it shall hereafter appeare
to us our heires and successours, that this graunt or the
continuance thereof in the whole or in any part thereof,
shall not bee profitable to us our heires and successours,
or to this our realme, that then and from thencefoorth,
upon and after eighteene moneths warning to bee given
to the sayd companie by us our heires and successours,
this present graunt shall cease, bee voyd, and determined
to all intents, constructions and purposes.
And further of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge,
and meere motion, wee have condescended and graunted,
and by these presents for us, our heires and successours,
doe condescend and graunt to the sayde Governour and
companie of marchants of Levant
, that if at the ende of
the sayd terme of twelve yeeres it shall seeme meete
and convenient to the sayde Governour and Companie,
or any the parties aforesayd, that this present graunt shall
bee continued: And if that also it shall appeare unto us,
our heires and successours, that the continuance thereof
shall not bee prejudiciall or hurtfull to this our realme,
but that wee shall finde the further continuance thereof
profitable for us our heires and successours and for our
realme with such conditions as are herein mentioned, or
with some alteration or qualification thereof, that then
wee our heires and successours at the instance and humble
petition of the sayde Governour and Companie, or any of
them so suing for the same, and such other person and
persons our subjectes as they shall nominate and appoint,
or shall bee by us, our heires and successours newly
nominated, not exceeding in number twelve, new letters
patents under the great seale of England in due forme of
lawe with like covenants, graunts, clauses, and articles,
as in these presents are contained, or with addition of
other necessarie articles or changing of these in some
partes, for, and during the full terme of twelve yeeres
then next following. Willing now hereby, and straightly
commaunding, and charging all and singular our Admirals,
Vice-admirals, Justices, Maiors, Shiriffes, Escheators,
Constables, Bailiffes, and all and singular other our
Officers, Ministers, Liegemen and subjects whatsoever,
to bee aiding, favouring, helping, and assisting unto the
sayd Companie and their successours, and to their
Deputies, Officers, Factors, servaunts, assignes and
ministers, and every of them, in executing and enjoying
the premisses as well on land as on Sea, from time to
time, & at all times when you or any of you shal thereto
bee required, any Statute, Acte, ordinance, Proviso,
Proclamation or restraint heretofore had, made, set
foorth, ordained or provided, or any other matter, cause
or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
Although expresse mention of the true yeerely value
or certaintie of the premisses, or any of them, or of any
other gifts or graunts by us, or any of our progenitours
to the sayde Governour and Companie of the marchants
of Levant
before this time made, in these presents is not
made: Or any Statute, Acte, Ordinance, provision, proclamation or restraint to the contrary thereof before this
time had, made, done, or provided, or any other matter,
thing or cause whatsoever, in any wise notwithstanding.
In witnesse whereof wee have caused these our letters to
be made patents.
