The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume V Part 18

In most friendly maner we giue you to vnderstand, that a certaine man hath come vnto vs in the name of your most excellent Regall Maiestie, commending vnto vs from you all kindnesse, curtesie and friendly offices on your part, and did humbly require that our Imperiall highnesse would vouchsafe to giue leaue and libertie to him and vnto two other merchants of your kingdome [Sidenote: These two were Sir Edward Osborne and M. Richard Staper.], to resort hither and returne againe, and that by way of traffike they might be suffered to trade hither with their goods and merchandizes to our Imperiall dominions, and in like sort to make their returne.

Our stately Court and Countrey hath beene euer open for the accesse both of our enemies and friends. But because we are informed that your most excellent Regall Maiesty doth abound with good will, humanitie, and all kind of louing affection towards vs, so much the rather shall the same our Countrey be alwayes open to such of your subiects, as by way of merchandize shall trade hither: and we will neuer faile to aide and succor any of them that are or shal be willing to esteeme of our friends.h.i.+p, fauour, and a.s.sistance: but will reckon it some part of our dutie to gratifie them by all good meanes. And forasmuch as our Imperiall highnesse is giuen to vnderstand that your most excellent Regall Maiestie doth excell in bountie and curtesie, we therfore haue sent out our Imperiall commandement to all our kings, iudges, and trauellers by sea, to all our Captaines and voluntarie seafaring men, all condemned persons, and officers of Ports and customes, straightly charging and commanding them, that such foresaid persons as shall resort hither by sea from the Realme of England, either with great or small vessels to trade by way of marchandize, may lawfully come to our imperiall Dominions, and freely returne home againe, and that no man shall dare to molest or trouble them. [Sidenote: He calleth the Germaine emperor but king of Germanie.] And if in like sort they shall come into our dominions by land, either on foote or on horsebacke, no man shall at any time withstand or hinder them: but as our familiars and confederates, the French, Venetians, Polonians, and the king of Germany, with diuers other our neighbours about vs, haue libertie to come hither, and to returne againe into their owne countreys, in like sort the marchants of your most excellent Regall Maiesties kingdome shall haue safe conduct and leaue to repayre hither to our Imperiall dominions, and so to returne againe into their owne Country: straightly charging that they be suffered to vse and trade all kind of marchandize as any other Christians doe, without let or disturbance of any.

[Sidenote: The Turke demandeth like priuiledges for his subjects in the Queenes dominions.] Therefore when these our Imperiall letters shall be brought to your most excellent Maiestie, it shall be meet, according to our beneuolence, humanity, and familiarity toards your most excellent Maiesty, that you likewise bethinke your selfe of your like beneuolence, humanitie and friends.h.i.+ppe towards vs, to open the gate thereof vnto vs, and to nourish by all good meanes this kindnesse and friends.h.i.+p: and that like libertie may be granted by your Highnesse to our subiects and merchants to come with their merchandizes to your dominions, either by sea with their s.h.i.+ps, or by land with their wagons or horses, and to returne home againe: and that your most excellent Regall Maiestie do alwayes declare your humanitie, good will, and friends.h.i.+p towards vs, and alwayes keepe open the dore thereof vnto vs.

Giuen at our citie of Constantinople the fifteenth day of March, and in the yeere of our most holy Prophet Mahomet. [Marginal note: With vs the yeere 1579.]

The answere of her Maiestie to the aforesaid Letters of the Great Turke, sent the 15 of October 1579, in the Prudence of London by Master Richard Stanley.

Elizabetha Dei ter maximi, et vnici coeli terraeque Conditoris gratia, Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniae regina, fidei Christianae contra omnes omnium inter Christianos degentium, et Christi nomen fals profitentium Idololatrias inuictissima et potentissima Defensatrix, augustissimo, inuictissimoque principi Sultan Murad Can, Turcici regni dominatori potentissimo, Imperijque orientis, Monarchae supra omnes soli et supremo, salutem, et multos c.u.m rerum optimarum affluentia foelices, et fortunatos annos. Augustissime et inuictissime Caeesar, accepimus inuicttissimae Caesareae vestrae celsitudinis literas, die decimoquinto Martij currentis anni ad nos scriptas Constantinopoli, ex quibus intelligimus quam benigne quamque clementer, literae supplices quae Caesareae vestrae celsitudini a quodam subdito nostro Guilielmo Hareborno in Imperiali Celsitudinis vestrae ciuitate Constantinopoli commorante offerebantur, literae profectionis pro se et socijs eius duobus hominibus mercatoribus subditis nostris c.u.m mercibus suis ad terras ditionesque Imperio vestro subiectas iam per mare quam per terras, indeque reuersionis veniae potestatisque humillimam complexae pet.i.tionem, ab inuictissima vestra Caesarea celsitudine, acceptae fuerunt.

Neque id solum, sed quam mira c.u.m facilitate, dignaque augustissima Caesarea clementia, quod erat in dictis literis supplicibus positum, ei socijsque suis donatum et concessum fuit, pro ea, vti videtur, solum opinione, quam de n.o.bis, et nostra amicitia vestra celsitudo concepit. Quod singulare beneficium in dictos subditos nostros collatum tam grate tamque beneuole accepimus (maximas celsitudini vestrae propterea et agentes, et habentes gratias) nullo vt vnquam patiemur tempore, pro facultatum nostrarum ratione, proque ea quam n.o.bis inseuit ter maximus mundi monarcha Deus (per quem et cuius auspicijs regnamus) naturae bonitate, qua remotissimas nos esse voluit, et abhorrentes ab ingrat.i.tudinis omni vel minima suspitione, docuitque nullorum vnquam vt principum, vllis in nos meritis nos sineremus vinci, aut superari, vt apud ingratam principem tantum beneficium deposuisse, se vestra Celsitudo existimet. Proptereaque animum nostrum inpraesentiarum vestrae celsitudini emetimur, bene sentiendo et praedicando, quantopere nos obstrictas beneficij huius in subditos nostros collati putemus memoria sempiterna: longe vberiorem, et ampliorem grat.i.tudinis erga vestram celsitudinem nostrae testificationem daturae, c.u.m tempora incident, vt possimus et a n.o.bis desiderabitur. Quoniam autem quae nostris paucis subditis, eaque suis ipsorum precibus, sine vlla intercessione nostra concessa donatio est, in aeque libera potestate sita est ad omnes terras ditionesque Imperio vestro subiectas, com mercibus suis tam per mare quam per terras eundi et redeundi, atque inuictissimae Caesareae vestrae celsitudinis confoederatis, Gallis, Polonis, Venetis, atque adeo regis Romanorum subditis largita vnquam aut donata fuit, celsitudinem vestram rogamus ne tam singularis beneficentiae laus in tam angustis terminis duorum aut trium hominum concludatur, sed ad vniuersos subditos nostrus diffusa, propagataque, celsitudinis vestrae beneficium e reddat augustius, qu eiusdem donatio latius patebit, et ad plures pertinebit. Cuius tam singularis in nos beneficij meritum, e erit celsitudini vestrae minus poenitendum, qu sunt merces illae, quibus regna nostra abundant, et aliorum principum ditiones egent, tam humanis vsibus comodae tamque necessariae, nulla gens vt sit, quae eis carere queat, proptereaque longissimis, difficillimisque itineribus conquisitis non vehementer gaudeat. Carius autem distrabunt alijs, quo ex labore suo quisque victum et quaestum quaeritat, adeo vt in earum acquisitione vtilitas, in emptione autem ab alijs onus sit. Vtilitas celsitudinis vestrae subditis augebitur libera hac paucorum nostrorum hominum ad terras vestras perfectione: onus minuctur, profectionis, quorumcunque subditorum nostrorum donatione. Accedet praeterea quae a n.o.bis in celsitudinis vestrae subditos proficiscetur, par, aequaque mercium exercendarum libertas, quoties et quando voluerint ad regna dominiaque nostra mercaturae gratia accedere. Quam celsitudini vestrae pollicemur tam amplam lateque patentem fore, quam est vlla a confoederatorum vestrorum vllis principibus antedictis, regibus videlicet Romanorum, Gallorum, Polonorum, ac republica Veneta, celsitudinis vestrae subditis vllo vnquam tempore concessa et donata. Qua in re si honestae pet.i.tioni nostrae inuictissima Caaesarea vestra celsitudo dignabitur auscultate, facietque vt acceptis nostris literis intelligamus gratum ne habitura sit quod ab ea contendibus et rogamus, ea proposita praest.i.taque securitate, quae subditos nostros quoscunque ad dominia sua, terra, marique proficiscentes, indeque reuerentes tutos et secures reddat ab omni quorumcunque subditorum suorum iniuria, efficiemus, vt quae Deus opt. max.

in regna dominiaque nostra contulit commoda (quae tam singularia sunt, omnium vt principum animos pelliceant ad amicitiam, summaeque necessitudinis coniunctionem n.o.bisc.u.m contrahendam, stabiliendamque quo liberius tantis summi Dei beneficijs fruantur, quibus carere nequeunt) nostri subditi ad regna dominiaque Celsitudinis vestrae aduehunt tam affluenter tamque c.u.mulate, vt vtrique incommodo praedicto necessitatis et oneris plenissime succurratur. Facit praeterea singularis ista Celsitudinis vestrae in nos Gentemque nostram summae beneuolentiae significatio ac fides, vt eandem, in causam quorumdam subditorum nostrorum, qui captiui triremibus vestris detinentur, interpellemus, rogemusque, vt quoniam nullo in celsitudinem vestram peccato suo, siue arma in eam ferendo, siue iniquius praeter fas et ius gentium se gerendo in suos subditos, in hanc calamitatem inciderint, soluti vinculis, et libertate donati, n.o.bis pro sua fide et obsequio inseruientes, causam vberiorem praebeant vestrae Celsitudinis in nos humanitatem praedicandi: et Deum illum, qui solus, et supra omnia et omnes est acerrimus idololatriae vindicator, suique honoris contra Gentium et aliorum falsos Deos Zelotes, praecabimur, vt vestram inuictissimam Caesaream Celsitudinem omni beat.i.tate eorum donorum fortunet, quae sola et summe iure merito habentur desideratissima.

Datae e Regia nostra Grenouici, prope ciuitatem nostram Londinum, quintodecimo Mensis Octobris, Anno Iesu Christi Saluatoris nostri 1579, Regni ver nostri vicessimo primo.

The same in English.

Elizabeth by the grace of the most mightie G.o.d, and onely Creatour of heauen and earth, of England, France and Ireland Queene, the most inuincible and most mighty defender of the Christian faith against all kinde of idolatries, of all that liue among the Christians, and fully professe the Name of Christ, vnto the most Imperiall and most inuincible prince, Zaldan Murad Can, the most mightie ruler of the kingdome of Turkie, sole and aboue all, and most souereigne Monarch of the East Empire, greeting, and many happy and fortunate yeeres, with abundance of the best things.

Most Imperiall and most inuincible Emperour, wee haue receiued the letters of your mightie highnesse written to vs from Constantinople the fifteenth day of March this present yere, whereby we vnderstand how gratiously, and how fauourably the humble pet.i.tions of one William Hareborne a subiect of ours, resident in the Imperiall citie of your highnes presented vnto your Maiestie for the obteining of accesse for him and two other Marchants more of his company our subiects also, to come with marchandizes both by sea and land, to the countries and territories subiect to your gouernment, and from thence againe to returne home with good leaue and libertie, were accepted of your most inuincible Imperiall highnesse, and not that onely, but with an extraordinarie speed and worthy your Imperiall grace, that which was craued by pet.i.tion was granted to him, and his company in regard onely (as it seemeth) of the opinion which your highnesse conceiued of vs and our amitie: which singular benefit done to our aforesaid subiects, wee take so thankefully, and so good part (yeelding for the same our greatest thanks to your highnesse) that we will neuer giue occasion to your said highnesse (according as time, and the respect of our affaires will permit) once to thinke so great a pleasure bestowed vpon an vngratefull Prince. For the Almighty G.o.d, by whom, and by whose grace we reigne, hath planted in vs this goodnesse of nature, that wee detest and abhorre the least suspition of ingrat.i.tude, and hath taught vs not to suffer our selues to bee ouermatched with the good demerits of other Princes. And therefore at this time wee doe extende our good minde vnto your highnesse, by well concerning, and publis.h.i.+ng also abroad, how much we repute our selfe bound in an euerlasting remembrance for this good pleasure to our Subiects, meaning to yeelde a much more large and plentifull testification of our thankefulnesse, when time conuenient shall fall out, and the same shall bee looked for at our handes.

But whereas that graunt which was giuen to a fewe of our Subiects, at their onely request without any intercession of ours, standeth in as free a libertie of comming and going to and from all the lands and kingdoms subiect to your Maiestie, both by land and sea with marchandizes, as euer was granted to any of your Imperiall highnesse confederates, as namely to the French, the Polonians, the Venetians, as also to the subiects of the king of the Romanes, wee desire of your highnesse that the commendation of such singular courtesie may not bee so narrowly restrained to two or three men onely, but may be inlarged to all our subiects in generall, that thereby your highnesse goodnesse may appeare the more notable, by reason of the graunting of the same to a greater number of persons. The bestowing of which so singular a benefit your highnesse shall so much the lesse repent you of, by howe much the more fit and necessary for the vse of man those commodities are, wherewith our kingdomes doe abound, and the kingdomes of other princes doe want, so that there is no nation that can be without them, but are glad to come by them, although by very long and difficult trauels: and when they haue them, they sell them much deerer to others, because euery man seeketh to make profite by his labour: so that in the getting of them there is profit, but in the buying of them from others there is losse. But this profite will be increased to the subiects of your highnesse by this free accesse of a few of our subiects to your dominions, as also the losse and burden wilbe eased, by the permission of generall accesse to all our people. And furthermore we will graunt as equall and as free a libertie to the subiects of your highnesse with vs for the vse of traffique, when they wil and as often as they wil, to come, and go to and from vs and our kingdomes. Which libertie wee promise to your highnesse shalbe as ample, and as large as any was euer giuen or granted to your subiects by the aforesaide princes your confederate, as namely the king of the Romanes, of France, of Poland, and the common wealth of Venice. In which matter, if your most inuincible Imperiall highnesse shall vouchsafe to incline to our reasonable request, and shall giue order vpon these our letters, that wee may haue knowledge how the same is accepted of you, and whether it wilbe granted, with sufficient securitie for our subiects to go, and returne safe and secure from all violences and inuiries of your people, we on the other side wil giue order, that those commodities which Almighty G.o.d hath bestowed vpon our kingdomes (which are in deed so excellent, that by reason of them all princes are drawen to enter, and confirme leagues of amitie and good neighborhood with vs, by that meanes to enioy these so great blessings of G.o.d, which we haue, and they can in no case want) our subiects shall bring them so abundantly and plentifully to the kingdomes and dominions of your highnesse, that both the former inconueniences of necessitie, and losse, shall most sufficiently be taken away.

Moreouer the signification and a.s.surance of your highnesse great affection to vs and our nation, doeth cause vs also to intreat and vse mediation on the behalfe of certain of our subiects, who are deteined as slaues and captiues in your Gallies, for whom we craue, that forasmuch as they are fallen into that misery, not by any offence of theirs, by bearing of armes against your highnesse, or in behauing of themselues contrarie to honestie, and to the law of nations, they may be deliuered from their bondage, and restored to libertie, for their seruice towardes vs, according to their dutie: which thing shall yeeld much more abundant cause to vs of commending your clemencie, and of beseeching that G.o.d (who onely is aboue all things, and all men, and is a most seuere reuenger of all idolatrie, and is ielous of his honour against the false G.o.ds of the nations) to adorne your most inuincible Imperiall highnesse with all the blessings of those gifts, which onely and deseruedly are accounted most worthy of asking.

Giuen at our palace of Greenwich, neere to our citie of London, the fiue and twentieth day of October, in the yeere of Iesus Christ our Sauiour one thousand, fiue hundreth, seuentie and nine, and of our reigne the one and twentieth.

The charter of the priuileges granted to the English, and the league of the great Turke with the Queenes Maiestie in respect of traffique, dated in Iune 1580.

Immensa et maxima ex potestate potentissimi, terribilibusque verbis et nunquam finienda innumerabiliue clementia et ineffabili auxilio sanctissimi et pura mente colendissimi tremendissimique modernae aetatis monarcha, totius...o...b..s terrarum potentribus sceptra diuidere potens, clementiae, gratiaeque diuinae vmbra, regnorum prouinciarumue, et vrbium ciuitatumue distributor permultarum: Nos sacratissimus Caesar Muzulmanicus Mecchae, id est domus diuinae, Medinae, gloriosissimae et beatissimae Ierusalem, Aegypti fertilissimae, Iemen, et Zouan, Eden et Canan, Sami paciferae et Hebes, Iabza et Pazra, Zerazub et Halepiae, Caramariae et Diabekiruan, et Dulkadiriae, Babyloniae, et totius triplicis Arabiae, Euzorum et Georgianorum, Cypri diuitis, et regnorum Asiae Ozakior, Camporum Maris albi et nigri, Graeciae et Mesopotamiae, Africae et Goletae, Algeris et Tripolis occidentalis, selectissimaeque Europae, Budae, et Temeswar, et regnorum transalpinorum, et his similium permultorum princeps Caesarue sacerrimus, potentissimus Murad Can, filius principis Zelim Can, qui fuit Zoleiman Can, qui fuit Zelim Can, qui fuit Paiezid Can, qui fuit Mehemed Can, &c.

Nos princeps potentissimos Murad Can hoc in signum nostrae Caesareae amicitiae significamus, manifestamus, qud in temporibus modernis Regina Angliae, Franciae, et Hiberniae Elizabetha in Christianitate honoratissima Regina (cuius mercatorum exitus sit foelicissimus) ad nostram excelsam, et iust.i.tiae plenam, fulgidissimamue portam, quae omnibus principibus mundi est refugium et requies, per egregium Gulielmum Harebornum literas misit suas, quibus sua maiestas significauit, quod tempore praeterito quidam subditi sui venissent ad nostram portam excelsam, et suam obedientiam erga eam demonstrauissent, et ob eam causam illis quoque ad nostras ditiones mercandi gratia venire et redire poscerent venia et potestas fuisset data: et qud in locis et hospitijs eorum per mare et terram nemo auderet impedire et illis d.a.m.num facere, mandatum Caesareum fuisset datum: et qud hanc nostram gratiam, quam paucis hominibus suae maiestatis demonstrauissemus, vniuersis suis subditis concederemus petebat. [Sidenote: Foedus Turcici Imperatoris c.u.m Regina initum.] Quare, quemadmodum c.u.m serenissimis beneuolentiam et obedientiam, seruitiaue sua demonstrantibus erga nostram portam excelsam regibus et principibus confoederatis (vt sunt rex Gallorum. Veneti, et rex Polonorum, et caeteri) pacem et foedus sanctissimum pepigimus: sic etiam c.u.m praefata Regina amicitiam custodiendam, pacem et foedus coniunximus. Illius igitur homines, et vniuersi mercatores, sine aliquo impedimento c.u.m suis mercibus et oneribus cunctis ad nostras ditionis Caesareas pacifice et secure veniant, et suam exerceant mercaturam, maneant in suis statibus, et secundum suos mores negocientur. Et adhaec, sua maiestas significabat ex hominibus suis aliquos iamdudum captos fuisse, et in captiuitate detineri, et quod hi dimitterentur petebat, et qud sicut alijs principibus n.o.bisc.u.m confoederatis priuilegia et mandate Caesarea super foedus sanctissimum dedissemus, sic praefatae quoque Reginae priuilegium et mandata Caesareae vt daremus, nostrae Caesareae celsitudini placeret. Quare secundum nostram beneuolentiam et gratiam innatam, optata suae maiestatis apud nos grata fuere: Et hoc nostrum priuilegium iust.i.tijs plenum dedimus maiestata suae: Et Beglerbegis, Zanziacbegis famulis nostris, et Kazijs, id est, iudicibus, et omnibus teloniatoribus omnium locorum, portuum, et vadorum firmiter mandamus, vt donec ex parte praefatae reginae foedus, et pax, et eorum conditiones articulique (vt conuenit) custodiuntur et seruantur, nostrae quoque Caesareae celsitudinis mandata sunt:

[Sidenote: Articuli huius priuilegij.] 1 Vt praefatae Reginae homines, et subditi eius quibusuis rebus et mercibus, oneribus et suppellectilibus per mare in magnis et paruis nauibus, per terram autem homines c.u.m oneribus et pecoribus, secure et pacifice ad nostras ditiones Caesareas veniant, et nemo illis noceat, sed secure et sine aliquo impedimento negocientur, et in suis statibus et conditionibus permaneant.

2 Item, si praefeti homines et mercatores in suis rectis vijs et negociationibus aliquo modo caperentur, sine aliqua tergiuersatione dimittantur liberenturque.

3 Item, si naues eorum ad aliquos portus et loca venire voluerint, pacifice omni in tempore, et sine impedimento veniant, et discedant in sua loca.

4 Item, si in tempestatibus maris naues eorum essent in periculo et auxilio opus esset illis, naues nostrae Caesareae celsitudinis, earumque homines, et aliornm naues hominesque statim auxilium et opem ferant illis, mandamus.

5 Item, si edulia suis pecunijs emere voluerint, nemo resistat illis, sed sine impedimento edulia emant.

6 Item, si infortunium maris naues eorum in terram proiecerit, Begi et iudices, et caeteri nostri subditi sint auxilio illis, merces et res eorum quae remanserint iterum reddantur illis, et nemo impediat illos.

7 Item, si praefatae reginae homines, eorum interpretes, et mercatores, siue per terram, siue per mare mercandi gratia ad nostras ditiones venire velint, legitimo telonio, et vectigali reddito, pacifice vagentur, capitanei et reges maris et nauium, et aliud genus hominum per mare vagantium in personis, et rebus eorum, pecoribusque, ne noceant illis.

8 Item, si aliquis ex Anglis debitor, aut aere alieno esset obstrictus, inuenirique non possit, ratione debitorum alterius nullus nisi esset fideiussor capiatur aut impediatur.

9 Item, si Anglus testamentum fecerit, et sua bona cuicunque legauerit, illi dentur bona illius, et si sine testamento moreretur, consul eorum cuicunque sociorum mortui hominis dixerit debere dari, illi, dentur bona mortui hominis.

10 Item, si Angli, et ad Angliam pertinentium locorum mercatores et interpretes, in vendendis et emendis mercibus fideiussionibus et rebus aliquid negocij habuerint, ad iudicem veniant, et in librum inscribi faciant negotium, et si voluerint, literas quoque accepiant a iudice, propterea qud si aliquid inciderit, videant librum et literas, et secundum tenorem eorum perficiantur negocia eorum suspecta: si autem neque in librum inscriberentur, neque literas haberent, iudex falsa testimonia non admittat, sed secundum iust.i.tiam legem administrans non sinat illos impediri.

11 Item, si aliquis disceret, quod isti Christiani nostrae fidei Muzulmanicae male dixerint, et eam vituperijs affecerint, in hoc negocio etiam et alijs, testes falsi minime admittantur.

12 Item, si aliquis eorum aliquod facinus patraret, et fugiens non possit inueniri, nullus nisi esset fideiussor pro alterius facto retineatur.

13 Item, si aliquod mancipium Anglic.u.m inueniretur, et consul eorum peteret illud, examinetur diligenter mancipium, et si inuentum fuerit Anglic.u.m, accipiatur, et reddatur Anglis.

14 Item, si aliquis ex Anglis huc venerit habitandi aut mercandi gratia, sine sit vxoratus, siue sit sine vxore, non saluat censum.

15 Item, si in Alexandria, in Damasco, in Samia, in Tunis, in Tripoli occidentali, in Aegypti portubus et in alijs omnibus locis, vbicunque voluerint facere Consules, faciant: Et iterum si voluerint eos mutare, et in loco priorum consulum alios locare, libere faciant, et nemo illis resistat.

16 Item, si illorum interpres in arduis negotijs occupatis abesset, donec veniret interpres, expectetur, et interem nemo illos impediat.

17 Item, si Angli inter se aliquam litem haberent et vellent ad suos consules ire, nemo resistat illis, sed libere veniant ad Consules suos, vt secundum mores eorum finiatur lis orta.

18 Item, si post tempus aut datum huius priuilegij, piratae, aut alij aliqui liberi gubernatores nauium per mare vagarites, aliquem ex Anglis ceperint, et trans mare vel cis mare venderint, secundum iust.i.tiam examinetur: et si Anglus inuentus fuerit, et religionem Muzulmanicam a.s.sumpserit, libere dimittatur: si autem adhuc esset Christianas, Anglis reddatur, et emptores suam pecuniam ab illo petant, a quo emerant.

19 Item, si nostrae Caesareae Celsitudinis naues armatae exiuerint ad mare, et ibi inuenerint naues Anglicas merces portantes, nemo impediat illas, im amice tractentur, et nullum d.a.m.num faciant illis: Quemadmodum Gallis, Venetis, et caeteris n.o.bisc.u.m con foederatis regibus, et principibus priuilegium, et articulos priuilegijs dedimus, et concessimus, simili modo his quque Anglis priuilegium et articulos priuilegijs dedimus et concessimus, et contra legem diuinam, et hoc priuilegium, nemo vnquam aliquid audeat facere.

20 Item, si naues magnae, et paruae in itinere et loco vbi stant detinebuntur, nemo illos audeat impedire, sed potius auxilio sint illis.

21 Item, si latrones et fures vi raperent naues illorum nauiumque merces, magna diligentia quaerantu latrones et fures, et seuerissime puniantur.

23 Ad extremum, Beglerbegij, et Zanziaebegi, Capitanei nostri, Mancipia, et per mare nauigantes serui Capitaneorum, et Indices, et Teloniatores nauium Reiz dicti, et liberi Rez, omnes isti praefati, secundum tenorem huius priuilegij, tenoremue articulorum eius, omnia facere teneantur, et debeaet.

Et donec hoc in priuilegio descriptum foedus, et pax illius Maiestatis ex parte sancte seruabitur, et custodietur, ex parte etiam nostra Caesarea custodiri, et obseruari mandamus.

Datum Constantinopoli, anno nostri prophetae Sanctissimi 988, in principio mensis Iunij, anno autem Iesu 1580.

The iterpretation of the letters, or priuilege of the most mightie and Musumanlike Emperour Zuldan Murad Can, granted at the request of Elizabeth by the grace of the most mightie G.o.d, and only Creator of heauen and earth, of England, France and Ireland Queene, confirming a peace and league betwixt both the said Princes and their subiects.

We most sacred Musolmanlike Emperor, by the infinite and exceeding great power, by the euerlasting and wonderfull clemencie, and by the vnspeakable helpe of the most mighty and most holy G.o.d, creator of all things, to be wors.h.i.+pped and feared with all purenesse of minde, and reuerence of speech.

The prince of these present times the onely Monarch of this age, able to giue scepters to the potentates of the whole world, the shadow of the diuine mercy and grace, the distributer of many kingdoms, prouinces, townes and cities, Prince, and most sacred Emperour of Mecca, that is to say, of G.o.ds house, of Medina, of the most glorious and blessed Ierusalem, of the most fertile Egypt, Iemen and Iouan, Eden and Canaan, of Samos the peaceable, and of Hebes, of Iabza, and Pazra, of Zeruzub and Halepia, of Caramaria and Diabekiruan, of Dulkadiria, of Babylon, and of all the three Arabias, of the Euzians and Georgians, of Cyprus the rich, and of the kingdomes of Asia, of Ozakior, of the tracts of the white and blacke Sea, of Grecia and Mesopotamia, of Africa and Goleta, of Alger, and of Tripolis in the West, of the most choise and princ.i.p.all Europe, of Buda and Temeswar, and of the kingdomes beyond the Alpes, and many other such like, most mightie Murad Can, the sonne of the Emperour Zelim Can, which was the sonne of Zoleiman Can, which was the sodne of Zelim Can, which was the sonne of Paiizid Can, which was the sonne of Mehemed Can, &c.

We most mightie prince Murad Can, in token of our Imperiall friends.h.i.+p, doe signifie and declare, that now of late Elizabeth Queene of England, France and Ireland, the most honourable Queene of Christendom (to whose marchants we wish happy successe) sent her letters by her worthy seruant William Hareborne vnto our stately and most magnificent Porch replenished with iustice, which is a refuge and Sanctuary to all the prince of the world, by which letters her Maiestie signified, that whereas heretofore certaine of her subiects had repaired to our saide stately Porche, and had shewed their obedience to the same, and for that cause had desired that leaue and libertie might also be granted vnto them, to come and goe for traffiques sake too and from our dominions, and that our Imperial commandement might be giuen, that no man should presume to hurt or hinder them, in any of their abodes or pa.s.sages by sea or land, and whereas shee requested that we would graunt to all her subiects in generall, this our fauour, which before wee had extended onely to a fewe of her people: therefore as we haue entred into amitie, and most holy league with the most excellent kings and princes our confederates, shewing their deuotion, and obedience or seruices towards our stately Porch (as namely the French king, the Venetians, the king of Polonia and others) so also we haue contracted an inuiolable amitie, peace and league with the aforesaid Queene, Therefore wee giue licence to all her people, and marchants, peaceably and safely to come vnto our imperiall dominions, with all their marchandise and goods without any impeachment, to exercise their traffique, to vse their owne customes, and to buy and sell according to the fas.h.i.+ons of their owne countrey.

And further her Maiestie signified vnto vs, that certaine of her people had heretofore bene taken prisoners, and were detained in captiuitie, and required that they might bee set at libertie, and that as we had graunted vnto other Princes our confederats, priuileges, and Imperiall decrees, concerning our most inuiolable league with them, so it would please our Imperial Maiesty to graunt and confirme the like priuiledges, and princely decrees to the aforesaid Queene.

Wherefore according to our humanitie and gracious ingraffed disposition, the requests of her Maiestie we accepted of vs, and we haue granted vnto her Maiestie the priuilege of ours agreeable to reason and equitie. And we straightly command all our Beglerbegs, and Zanziacbegs our seruants, and our Reyz, that is to say, our Iudges, and all our customers in all places, hauens and pa.s.sages, that as long as this league and amitie with the conditions, and articles thereof, are kept and obserued on the behalfe of the aforesaid Queene. 1 Our Imperiall commandement and pleasure is, that the people and subiects of the same Queene, may safely and securely come to our princely dominions, with their goods and marchandise, and ladings, and other commodities by sea in great and smal vessels, and by land with their carriages and cattels, and that no man shall hurt them, but they may buy and sell without any hinderance, and obserue the customes and orders of their owne countrey.

2 Item, if the aforesaid people and marchants shalbe at any time in the course of their iourneis and dealings by any meanes taken, they shall be deliuered and inlarged, without any excuse or cauillation.