The letters of the Queenes most excellent Majestie sent in the yere 1596 unto the great Emperor of China by M. Richard Allot and M. Thomas Bromefield marchants of the citie of London, who were embarqued in a fleet of 3 ships, to wit, The Beare, The Beares whelpe, and the Benjamin; set forth principally at the charges of the honourable knight Sir Robert Duddely, and committed unto the command and conduct of M. Benjamin Wood, a man of approoved skill in navigation: who, together with his ships and company (because we have heard no certaine newes of them since the moneth of February next after their departure) we do suppose, may be arrived upon some part of the coast of China , and may there be stayed by the said Emperour, or perhaps may have some treacherie wrought against them by the Portugales of Macao, or the Spaniards of the Philippinas.
ELIZABETH by the grace of God Queene of England
,
France, and Ireland
, the most mightie defendresse of the
true & christian faith against all that falsely professe the
name of Christ &c. To the most high and soveraigne
Prince the most puissant Governour of the great kingdome
of China
, the chiefest Emperour in those parts of Asia
and
of the Ilands adjoyning, and the great monarke of the
orientall regions of the world; wisheth health, and many
joyfull and happy yeeres, with all plenty and abundance
of things most acceptable.
Whereas our honest and
faithfull subjects which bring these letters unto your Highnesse, Richard Allot & Thomas Bromefield, marchants of
our citie of London
in our foresaid kingdome of England
,
have made most earnest suit unto us, that we would
commend their desires and endevours of sayling to the
regions of your Empire for traffiques sake: whereas also
the fame of your kingdome so strongly and prudently
governed, being dispersed and published over the face of
the whole earth, hath invited these our subjects not onely
to visite your Highnesse dominions, but also to permit
themselves to be ruled and governed by the lawes and
constitutions of your kingdome during the time of their
aboad in those partes of the world, as it becommeth
marchants, who for exchange of marchandize are desirous.
to travell unto regions so farre distant and not hitherto
sufficiently knowen unto these nations of the world, having
this regard onely, that they may present their wares
and certaine examples or musters of divers kinds of marchandizes, wherewith the regions of our dominions do
abound, unto the view of your Highnesse and of your
subjects, & that they may indevour to know, whether
here be any other marchandize with us fit for your use,
which (according to the honest & lawfull custome of
traffique in all countries) they may exchange for other
commodities, whereof in the parts of your Empire there
is great plentie both naturall and artificiall: We yeelding
unto the most reasonable requests of these honest men,
because we doe suppose that by this most just intercourse
of traffique, no inconvenience nor losse, but rather most
exceeding benefite will redound unto the Princes and
subjects of both kingdomes, while by the carrying foorth
of those commodities wherewith we abound, and the
bringing home of others which we want, wee may on
either side at most easie rates helpe and inrich one
another; doe crave of your most soveraigne Majestie, that
these our subjects, when they shall come for traffiques
sake unto any the stations, portes, places, townes or cities
of your Empire, they may have full and free libertie of
egresse and regresse, and of dealing in trade of marchandize with your subjects, may by your Highnesse
clemency most firmely enjoy all such freedomes, immunities, and privileges, as are usually granted to the subjects
of other Princes which exercise traffique in your dominions;
and we on the other side will not onely performe all the
offices of a well-willing Prince unto your Highnesse, but
also for the greater increase of mutuall love and commerce
between us and our subjects, by these present letters of
ours doe most willingly grant unto all and every your
subjects (if it shall seeme good unto your Highnesse) full
and entire libertie unto any of the partes of our dominions.
to resort, there to abide and traffique, and thence to
returne. All and every of which premisses we have caused
to be confirmed by annexing hereunto our royall seale.
(God most mercifull and almighty, the Creator of heaven
and earth, continually protect your kingly Majestie.
Given in our palace at Greenwich
the 11 of the moneth
of July, in the yeere of Christ 1596, and the eight and
thirtie yeere of our reigne.
