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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7900-8.txt b/7900-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a2b3c7e --- /dev/null +++ b/7900-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13308 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, v5, by Richard Hakluyt +#8 in our series by Richard Hakluyt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, + and Discoveries of The English Nation, v5 + Central and Southern Europe + +Author: Richard Hakluyt + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7900] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on June 1, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V5 *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +** Transcriber's Notes ** + +The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the +spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this +version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript +abbreviations have been silently expanded: + +- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm' +- q; = -que (in the Latin) +- y[e] = the; y[t] = that; w[t] = with + +This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes +are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling +conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always +systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's +own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the +sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are +labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in +poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. + +** End Transcriber's Notes ** + +THE PRINCIPAL + +Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques + +AND + +Discoveries + +OF + +THE ENGLISH NATION. + +Collected by + +RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER. + +AND + +Edited by + +EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. + +VOL. V. + +CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN EUROPE. + + + + +Nauigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries + +IN + +CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN EUROPE. + +A Catalogue of the great Masters of the Order of the Dutch knights, + commonly called the Hospitalaries of Ierusalem: and what great exploites + euery of the saide Masters hath atchieued either in conquering the land + of Prussia, or in taming and subduing the Infidels, or els in keeping + them vnder their obedience and subiection, taken out of Munster. + +The order of the Dutch knights had their first original at Ierusalem in the +yere of our Lorde 1190. within the Hospitall of the blessed Virgine: and +the first Master of the saide order was called Henrie of Walpot, vnder +whome many good things, and much wealth and riches were throughout all +Germanie and Italie procured vnto the order: and the saide Hospitall was +remoued from Ierusalem vnto Ptolemais, otherwise called Acon, and the +foresaid Order grew and mightily increased, whereof I will hereafter +discourse more at large in my Treatise of Syria. Henrie of Walpot deceased +in the yeere of Christ 1200. The 2. Master was Otto of Kerpen, and he +continued Master of the Order for the space of sixe yeeres. The 3. was +Hermannus Bart a godly and deuout person, who deceased in the yeere 1210. +being interred at Acon, as his predecessors were. The 4. was Hermannus de +Saltza, who thirtie yeeres together gouerned the saide Order, and managed +the first expedition of warre against the Infidels of Prussia, and ordained +another Master also in Prussia to bee his Deputie in the same region. +[Sidenote: Ensiferi fratres.] In the yeere 1239. the knights of the sword, +who trauailed into Liuonia to conuert the inhabitants thereof vnto Christ, +seeing they were not of sufficient force to performe that enterprise, and +that their enemies increased on all sides, they vnited themselues vnto the +famous Order of the Dutch knights in Prussia, that their worthie attempt +might bee defended and promoted by the aide and assistance of the saide +Dutch knights. [Sidenote: The first war moued against the Prussian +infidels, anno dom. 1239.] At the very same time the ensigne of the crosse +was exalted throughout all Germanie against the Prussians, and a great +armie of souldiers was gathered together, the Burgraue of Meidenburg being +generall of the armie, who combining themselues vnto the Dutch knights, +ioyned battell with the Infidels, and slew about fiue hundred Gentiles, who +beforetime had made horrible inuasions and in-roades into the dominions of +Christians wasting all with fire and sword, but especially the land of +Colm, and Lubonia, which were the Prouinces of Conradus Duke of Massouia. +Nowe, the foresaide knights hauing made so huge a slaughter, built the +castle of Reden, betweene Pomerania and the land of Colm, and so by degrees +they gotte footing in the lande, and daylie erected more castles, as +namely, Crutzburg, Wissenburg, Resil, Bartenstein, Brunsburg, and +Heilsburg, and furnished them all with garrisons. The fift Master of the +Order was Conradus Landgrauius, the brother of Lodouick, which was husband +vnto Ladie Elizabeth. This, Conradus, by his fathers inheritance, gaue +great riches and possessions vnto the Order, and caused Ladie Elizabeth to +be interred at Marpurg, within the religious house of his saide Order. +Vnder the gouernment of this Master, Acon in the lande of Palestina was +subdued vnto the Saracens. Moreouer, in the yeere 1254. there was another +great armie of Souldiers prepared against Prussia, by the Princes of +Germanie. For Octacer, alias Odoacer king of Bohemia, Otto Marques of +Brandeburg, the Duke of Austria, the Marques of Morauia, the Bishops of +Colen and of Olmutz came marching on with great strength of their Nobles +and common Souldiers, and inuading the lande of Prussia in the Winter +season, they constrained the inhabitants thereof to receiue the Christian +faith, and to become obedient vnto the knights. After which exploite, by +the aduise and assistance of king Odoacer, there was a castle built vpon a +certaine hill of Samogitia, which immediately after grewe to be a great +citie, being at this day the seate of the Prince of Prussia: and it was +called by Odoacer Kunigsburg, that is to say, Kings Mount, or Mount royall, +being finished in the yeere 1255. Out of this fort, the knights did bridle +and restraine the furie of the Infidels on all sides, and compelled them to +obedience. The sixt Master was called Boppo ab Osterna, vnder whom the +citie of Kunigsberg was built. [Sidenote: The Prussians abandon +Christianitie.] At the very same instant the knights beeing occupied about +the warre of Curland, the Prussians conspiring together, and abandoning the +Christian faith, in furious maner armed themselues against the Christian, +defaced and burnt down Churches, slew Priests, and to the vtmost of their +abilitie, banished all faithful people. The report of which misdemeanour +being published throughout all Germanie, an huge armie was leuied and sent +for the defence and succour of the knights, which marching into the land of +Natan, made many slaughters, and through the inconstancie of fortune +sometimes woonne, and sometimes lost the victorie. Also the Infidels +besieged these three castles, namely, Barstenstein, Crutzberg and +Kunigsberg, and brought extreame famine vpon the Christians contained +within the saide fortes. Againe, in the yeere of our Lord 1262. the Earle +of Iuliers, with other Princes and great chiualrie came downe, and giuing +charge vpon the Prussians, put three thousand of them to the edge of the +sworde. Afterward the Prussians banding themselues together, were +determined to spoile the castle of Kunigsberg, but their confederacie being +disclosed, they had the repulse. And when the knightes had preuailed +against them, they laide in pledges, and yet for all that were not afraid +to breake their fidelitie. For vpon a certaine time, after they had giuen +diuers pledges, they slewe two noble knights of the Order, and so by that +meanes incensed the principall of the saide order, insomuch that they +caused two paire of gallons to be set vp besides the castle, and thirtie of +the Prussians pledges to be hanged therupon. Which seueritie so vexed and +prouoked the Prussians, that in reuenge of the said iniury, they renewed +bloody and cruel warres, slew many Christians, yea, and put 40. knights +with the master of the Order, and the Marshal, vnto the edge of the sword. +There was at the same instant in Pomerania a Duke called Suandepolcus, +professing the Christian faith, but being ioyned in league with the +Prussians, he indeuoured for many yeeres, not onely to expell the knights, +but all Christians whatsoeuer out of the lande of Prussia, in which warre +the foresaide knights of the Order suffered many abuses. For they lost +almost all their castles, and a great number of themselues also were +slaine. This Suandepolcus put in practise many lewde attempts against +religion. For albeit he was baptised, he did more mischiefe then the very +Infidels themselues, vntill such time as the knights being assisted by the +Princes of Germanie, brought the saide Duke and the Prussians also into +such straights, that (maugre their heads) they were constrained to sue for +peace. Afterward Swandepolcus lying at the point of death, admonished his +sonnes that they should not doe any iniurie vnto the knights of the order, +affirming that himselfe neuer prospered so long as he vrged warre against +them. Howbeit his sonnes for a certaine time obserued not their fathers +counsel, vntill at length one of them named Warteslaus, was created one the +Order, and the other called Samborus bestowed by legacie his goods and +possessions vpon the saide Order, receiuing maintenance and exhibition from +the saide Order, during the terme of his life. It fortuned also vnder the +gouernment of the foresayde Master Boppo, that one Syr Martine a Golin +beeing accompanied with another knight, went into the countrey to see howe +the Prussians were imployed. And meeting with three Prussians, they slew +two, and the thirde they reserued to guide them the directest way. But this +guide betrayed them into their enemies handes. Which when they perceiued, +they slewe the Traytour. Then fiue Prussian horsemen came riding and tooke +them, deliuering them bounde to the custodie of two. And the other three +pursued the horses of the two, which broke loose in the time of the fraye. +And they tarying somewhat long, the other two woulde haue beheaded the two +Knightes in the meane season. [Sidenote: A memorable stratageme.] And as +one of them was striking with his drawen sworde, at the neck of Sir +Martine, hee said vnto them: Sirs, you doe vnwisely in that you take not +off my garment before it bee defiled with blood. They therefore loosing the +Cordes wherewith hee was bounde, to take off his garment, set his armes +more at libertie. Which Syr Martine well perceiuing reached his keeper such +a boxe, that his sworde fell to the grounde. Which hee with all speede +taking vp, slewe both the keepers and vnbounde his fellowe Knight. +Moreouer, seeing the other three Prussians comming furiously vpon them with +stoute couragious hearts they made towarde the saide Prussians, and slew +them, and so escaped the danger of death. The seuenth great Master was +Hanno de Sangershusen, who deceased in the yeere one thousand two hundreth +seuentie fiue. The eight was Hartmannus ab Heldringen who deceased in the +yeere 1282. The ninth was Burckardus a Schuuenden beeing afterwarde made +knight of the order of Saint Iohns. The tenth was Conradus a Feuchtuuang: +vnder this man the Citie of Acon in Palestina was sacked by the Soldan, and +manie people were slayne. The Templars which were therein returned home out +of Fraunce, where they had great reuenewes. The Knightes of Saint Iohn, who +also had an Hospitall at Acon, changed their place, and went into the Isle +of Cyprus, and from thence departing vnto Rhodes, they subdued that Islande +vnto themselues. Nowe the Dutch Knights abounded with wealth and +possessions throughout all Germanie, beeing Lordes of a good port of +Prussia, Liuonia, and Curland, whose chiefe house was then at Marpurg, til +such time as it was remooued vnto Marieburg, a Towne of Prussia. The +eleuenth great Master was Godfrey Earle of Hohenloe. Vnder this man the +knights sustained a great ouerthrow in Liuonia: but hauing strengthned +their armie, they slewe neere vnto Rye foure thousande of their enemies. +The twelfth Master was Sifridus a Feuchtuuang. Vnder this man, the +principall house of the Order was translated from Marpurg to Marieburg, +which in the beginning was established at Acon, and from thence was +remooued vnto Venice, and from Venice vnto Marpurg. This Sifridus deceased +in the yeere 1341. The thirteenth Master was called Charles Beffart of +Triers. This man built a fort vpon the riuer of Mimmel, and it was named +Christmimmel. The foureteenth was Warnerus ab Orsele, whome a certaine +knight of the Order slewe with his sworde. The 15. was Ludolphus Duke of +Brunswick, who built the Towne of Ylgenburg, and deceased 1352. The +sixteenth was Theodoricus Earle of Aldenborg, and hee built the Towne of +Bartenstein. The seuenteenth was Ludolphus sirnamed King. The eighteenth +was Henrie a Tusimer. The nineteenth Winricus a Knoppenrodt In this mans +time the knights took the king of the Lithuanians named Kinstut captiue, +and kept him prisoner in Marieburg halfe a yeere, but by the helpe of a +seruaunt, hauing broken out of the Castle, hee escaped away by night. But +fearing that hee was layde waite for in all places, hee left his horse, and +went on foote through vnknowen pathes. In the day time hee hidde himselfe +in secrete places, and in the night hee continued his iourney vntil hee +came vnto Massouia. But all the Knightes ioye was turned into sorrowe, +after they had lost so great an enemie. The twentieth grand Master was +Conradus Zolnerof Rotenstein. The one and twentieth Conradus Walenrod. +[Sidenote: This man sent an ambassage to Richard the Second.] The two and +twentieth Conradus a Iungingen, who deceased in the yeere one thousand +foure hundreth and seuen. The three and twentieth Vlricus a Iungingen. This +man dyed in battell in the yeere one thousand foure hundreth and tenne: +which battell was fought against Vladislaus Father of Casimire. Both partes +had leuied mightie and huge forces: vnto the Polonians the Lithuanians and +the Tartars had ioyned themselues, ouer whome one Vitoldas was captaine: +the Dutch Knights had taken vp Souldiers out of all Germanie. And when +eache armie had encamped themselues one within twentie furlongs of another, +(hoping for victorie and impatient of delay) the great Master of the +Prussians sent an Herault to denounce warre vnto the King, and immediately +(alarme beeing giuen) it is reported that there were in both armies, +fourtie thousand horsemen in a readinesse. Vladislaus commaunded the +Lithuanians and the Tartars to giue the first onsette, and placed the +Polonians in the rerewarde of the battell: on the contrarie side, the +Prussians regarded least of all to reserue any strong troupes behinde, +which might rescue such as were wearie, and renewe the fight, if neede +shoulde require, but set forwarde the flower and chiualrie of all his +Souldiers in the verie forefront of the battell. The charge beeing giuen +certaine vnarmed Tartars and Lithuanians were slaine handsmooth: howbeit +the multitude pressed on, neither durst the fearefull Polonians turne their +backes, and so a cruell battell was fought vpon the heapes of dead +carkases. The combate continued a long time, terrible slaughters were +committed, and the Lithuanians and Tartars were slaine like sheepe. But +when newe and fresh enemies continually issued foorth, the Dutch knights +being wearied, began to fight more faintly. Which Vladislaus no sooner +perceiued, but in all haste hee sends forwarde his mightie and well armed +bande of Polonians, who suddenly breaking in renewed the skirmish. The +Dutch were not able to withstand the furie of the fresh troupes (great +oddes there is betweene the wearied Souldier and him that comes in a fresh) +insomuch that the knights with their people were constrained to flee. The +master of the Order seeing his souldiers giue way vnto the enemie, gathered +a companie together, and withstoode him in the face, howbeit himselfe was +slaine for his labour, the flight of his people proued greater and more +dishonourable, neither did the Dutch cease to flee, so long as the Polonian +continued the chase. There fell on the Knights partie manie thousands of +men, and the Polonians gotte not the victorie without great spoile and +damage. This battell was foughten in regard of the bounds of regions in the +yeere 1410. All Prussia following the happie successe of the Polonian king +(except Marieburg onely) yeelded themselues vnto him being Conquerour. +Howbeit the Emperour Sigismund taking vp the quarell, peace was ordained +between the knights and Polonia, and a league concluded, certaine summes of +money also were paide vnto the Polonian, Prussia was restored vnto the +knights, neither was the saide order disturbed in the possession of their +lands vntill the time of Friderick. The 24. Master was Henrie Earle of +Plaen. This man being deposed by the Chapter, was 7. yeres holden prisoner +at Dantzik. The 25. Master was Michael Kuchenmeister, that is, master of +the Cookes of Sternberg. The 26. was Paulus a Russdorff. The 27. Conradus +ab Ellerichshausen. This man, after diuers and sundry conflicts betweene +the Dutch knights, and the king of Polonia, concluded a perpetuall league +with the saide king. Howbeit the citizens of Dantzig secretely going about +to obteyne their freedome, that the foresaide Order might haue no dominion +ouer them, made sute vnto the Polonian king to be their Protector. This +Conradus died in the yeere 1450. The 28. was Lewis ab Ellerichshausen. +Vnder this man there arose a dangerous sedition in Prussia betweene the +chiefe cities and the knights of the Order. The citizens demanded libertie, +complaining that they were oppressed with diuers molestations. Whereupon +they primly made sute vnto Casimir then king of Polonia. The Master of the +Order seeing what would come to passe began to expostulate with the king, +that he kept not the peace which had bene concluded betweene them to last +for euer. Also Frederick the Emperour commaunded the Prussians to returne +vnto the obedience of the knights, who by the dint of their swordes had +released that prouince out of the hands of Infidels, and had bought it with +the shedding of much blood. Notwithstanding the popular sort persisting +stil in their stubborne determination, proceeded at length to open warre. +The cities adhearing vnto the king vsurped diuers Castles belonging to the +Master, tooke certain Commanders and knights, yea, and some they slewe +also. Fiftie and fiue townes conspired together in that rebellion: but +thinking their estate and strength not sure enough against their own +gouernors without forrein aide, they chose king Casimir to be their lord. +Heereupon the Polonian king marched into Prussia with a great armie, taking +possession of such cities as yeelded themselues vnto him, and proceeding +forward against Marieburg, besieged the castle and the towne. [Sidenote: +The great master ouercommeth the king of Polonia.] In the meane season the +Master hauing hired an armie of Germane souldiers, suddenly surprised the +king at vnawares in his tents, and slewe about 300. Polonians, tooke +prisoners 136. noblemen, spoiled their tents, tooke away their horses, +victuals, and armour, insomuch that the king himselfe hardly escaped vpon +one horse. These things came to passe in the yeere 1455. The Master hauing +thus obtained the victorie, sent his armie into the countrey, and recouered +the castles and cities which he had lost, to the number of 80. putting many +of his enemies also vnto the sword. Moreouer, he recouered Kunigsberg being +one of the foure principall cities, which are by name Thorne, Elburg, +Kunigsberg, and Gdanum, that is to say, Dantzig. [Sidenote: The king by +treason ouerthroweth the Master.] And when the warre was longer protracted +then the Master could well beare, and a whole yeres wages was vnpaid vnto +his captains, those captaines which were in the garrison of Marieburg +conspired against the Master, and for a great summe of money betrayed the +castle of Marieburg vnto the king. Which practise beeing knowen, the Master +fled to Kunigsberg, and newe warre was begunne, and great spoile and +desolation was wrought on both sides: vntill at length, after composition +made, the king retayned Pomerella, and all the castles and townes therein, +together with Marieburg and Elburg: and the master inioyed Samaitia, +Kunigsberg, &c. This composition was concluded in the yere 1466. The 29. +Master was Henrie Reuss, first being deputie, and afterwarde Master of +Prussia. The 30. was Henrie a Richtenberg, who deceased in the yeere 1477. +The 31. called Martine Truchses died in the yeere 1489. The 32. Iohn a +Tieflen died in the yeere 1500. The 33. being Duke of Saxonie, and marques +of Misn, deceased in the yeere 1510. This man began to call in question, +whether the foresaid composition concluded betweene the king of Polonia, +and the Order, were to bee obserued or no? especially sithence [Footnote: +Since, from _siththan_, SAX. + But, fair Fidessa, _sithens_ fortune's guile, + Or enimies power hath now captiv'd thee. + SPENS. _Faerie Queene_, I., IV., 57.] +it conteined certaine articles against equitie and reason. Whereupon he +appealed vnto the Bishop of Rome, vnto the Emperor, vnto the princes and +electors of Germany, and preuailed with them so farre forth, that there was +a day of hearing appointed at Posna in Polonia. And the Legates of both +parts meeting heard complaints and excuses, and dispatched no other +businesse. In the meane time Prince Frederick deceased in the tenth yeere +of his gouernment. The 34. Master was Albertus marques of Brandenburg, +[Footnote: Albrecht of Anspach and Baireuth, a scion of the Hohenzollerns. +He was a man of will and capacity, who reinvigorated the order of the +Teuton knights by renouncing Roman Catholicism and embracing Lutheranism, +while he consolidated its influence by erecting Prussia into a Duchy, whose +crown he placed on his own brow in 1525. After a prosperous reign he died +in 1550, and his son, having lost his reason, the elector John Sigismund of +Hohenzollern obtained the ducal crown in right of his wife Anna, daughter +of Duke Albert.] whom the King of Polonia did so grieuously molest with +war, and oppressed all Prussia with such extreme rigour, that the Prince of +the countrey was constrained to make a league of foure yeeres with him, and +to yeeld vnto such conditions, as turned to the vtter ouerthrowe of the +whole Order. And amongst other conditions are these which follow. Sithence +that the originall of all discorde betweene Polonia and the order doeth +from hence arise, for that hitherto in Prussia, no lawfull heyre and +successor hath borne rule and authority, but diuers and sundry haue had the +gouernment thereof, by whose meanes the nations haue bene prouoked one +against another, much Christian blood hath bin shed, the lands and +inhabitants grieuously spoiled, and many widowes and Orphans made: the +Popes, Emperors, and Princes being often solicited for the establishing of +that perpetual league, which Casimir hath heretofore concluded &c. Sithence +also that the truce which hath bene agreed vpon of both parties is in short +time to be expired; and that it is to bee feared, that bloody warres will +then be renewed, and that all things will proue worse and worse, vnlesse +some lawfull composition be made, and some good and wholesome deuise be put +in practise, as well for the benefit of the King and of his posteritie, as +for the commoditie of the whole common weale of Prussia, especially +considering that Albertus the Marques refuseth not to submitte himselfe to +the Councell of the King, &c. + + * * * * * + +The Oration or speech of the Ambassadours sent from Conradus de Zolner + Master generall of the land of Prussia, vnto Richard the second, King of + England, and France, &c. + +The messengers which are sent from the Master generall of the land of + Prussia, doe propound and declare the affaires and negotiations + vnderwritten. + +[Sidenote: The ancient assistance of the kings of England against +infidels.] Whereas it is apparant, that diuers and sundrie times +heeretofore, your famous progenitours and predecessours the kings of +England haue alwaies bene gratious promoters and speciall friends vnto the +generall Masters of the land of Prussia, and of the whole order: whereas +also they haue vouchsafed, by their Barons, Knights, and other their nobles +of the kingdome of England, vnto the Masters and order aforesaide, sundry +and manifolde fauourable assistance in the conquest of the Infidels (in +whose steppes your excellent Maiestie insisting, haue, in these your dayes +shewed your selfe in like sort right graciously affected vnto the Master +generall which nowe is, and vnto his famous Predecessour) in due +consideration of the premisses, and in regard also of diuers other +affaires, which are at this present to be propounded vnto your Highnes, the +foresaid Master general which now is hath caused vs his messengers to be +sent with letters of credence vnto your Maiestie: humbly praying, and +earnestly beseeching your roial clemency, that in times to come, the said +Master general, his successors, and our whole Order may of your bounty most +graciously obtaine the same fauour, beneuolence, and stedfast amity and +friendship, which hath bin continued from the times of your foresaid +predecessors: in regard whereof, we do offer the said Master of ours, and +our whole company, vnto your highnes, as your perpetual and deuote friends. +Notwithstanding (most souereigne Prince) certaine other things we haue to +propound vnto your Grace, in the name and behalfe of our saide Master and +Order, by way of complaint, namely, that at certaine times past, and +especially within the space of x. yeeres last expired, his subiects and +marchants haue sustained sundry damages and ablations of their goods, by +diuers subiects and inhabitants of your realme of England, and that very +often both by sea and land: the which, for the behalf, and by the +appointment of the Master general aforesaid, and of his predecessor, are +put downe in registers, and recorded in the writings of his cities in the +land of Prussia. [Sidenote: Edward the 3.] Of which parties damnified, some +haue obtained letters from the Master general that now is, and also from +his predecessor, vnto your renoumed grandfather K. Edward of famous memory, +and sundry times vnto your highnes also, to haue restitution made for their +goods taken from them: whereby they haue nothing at al preuailed, but +heaping losse vpon losse haue misspent their time and their charges: both +because they were not permitted to propound and exhibit their complaints +and letters before your maiesty, and also for diuers other impediments. +Certain of them also considering how others of their countriemen had +laboured in vain, and fearing the like successe, haue troubled the Master +general very often with grieuous and sundry complaints, crauing and humbly +beseeching at his hands, that he would vouchsafe graciously to prouide for +them as his faithful and loial subiects, as touching the restitution of +their losses: especially seeing that so much wealth of the English +marchants was euery yeere to be found in Prussia, as being arrested, they +might obtaine some reasonable satisfaction for their losses. Which thing +the Master general aforesaid and his predecessor also haue deferred vnto +this present (albeit to the great losse of their subiects) therby hauing +meere and principal respect vnto those special curtesies and fauours which +your excellent Maiesty and your worthy progenitors haue right gratiously +vouchsafed vpon our Masters and Order: neither yet for the iniuries +aforesaid, was there euer any maner of offence, or molestation offered vnto +any of your subiects noble or ignoble whatsoeuer. Moreouer, in the name and +behalfe of our foresad Master general we do propound vnto your excellency +by way of complaint, that in the yere last past, 6 dayes after the feast of +the Ascension, certain persons of your realm of England, with their ships +and captains comming vnto the port of Flanders, named Swen, and finding +there, amongst sundry other, 6 ships of Prussia resident, which had there +arriued with diuers goods and marchandises: and being informed that they +were of Prussia, and their friends, they caused them and their ships to +remain next vnto their owne ships, protesting vnto them, that they should +in no sort be molested of damnified by themselues or by any other of their +company, and that they would faithfully defend them, as if they were their +own people, from the hands of their aduersaries: and for their farther +security and trust, they deliuered some of their own men and their +standerds into our mens ships: howbeit a while after being stirred vp, and +bent far otherwise, they took out of the foresaid ships al kind of armors, +wherwith they were to gard and defend themselues from pirats, and they +deteined the masters of those ships, not suffring them to return vnto their +own ships and companies, one also of the said ships (hauing taken al the +goods out of her) they consumed with fire. And within 3. daies after they +came with one accord vnto the abouenamed ships, and tooke away from them +all goods and marchandises which they could find, and all the armour and +weapons of the said ships, the chestes also of the marchants, of the +ship-masters, and of other persons they brake open, taking out money, +iewels, garments, and diuers other commodities: and so they inflicted vpon +them irrecouerable losses and vnkind grieuances. And departing out of the +foresaid hauen, they caried 2. of the Prussian ship-masters with them, as +their captiues vnto an hauen of England called Sandwich. Who, being +afterward released were compelled to sweare, that they should not declare +the iniuries offred vnto them, either before your roiall maiesty, or your +hon. Councell, or your chancelor: neither, were they permitted to come on +shore. And being offred such hard measure, when they made pitiful mones and +complaints vnto your foresaide subiects, amongst other matters they spake +on this wise vnto them: Do you complain of iniuries and losses offered vnto +you? Loe, in your own countrey of Prussia there are English marchants, and +goods sufficient, go your waies home therfore, and recouer your losses, +taking two for one: and in this maner they were left, and so departed. +Afterward returning vnto the land of Prussia, they and their friends +repaired vnto the Master general, iointly and with one consent making their +complaint vnto him of the losses which had bin inflicted vpon them by your +subiects. And prostrating themselues at his feet, they all and euery of +them made their humble sutes, yet he would haue compassion on them, as vpon +his poore subiects, regarding themselues, their wiues, and children, and +pitying their distres, and penury, and that he would graciously procure +some redresse for them. And when he offred his letters vnto them, wishing +them to prosecute their cause before your highnes, they answered that they +were no way able to defray the expenses, and that others, who were in like +sort damnified, had laboured that way altogether in vain and to no purpose: +beseeching him again and again, that he would by another kind of means, +namely by arresting of your marchants and their goods procure them +restitution of their losses. [Sidenote: The arresting of the English goods +and marchants.] At length the Master general being moued by so many and so +great complaints, and by the molestation of his subiects, caused (albeeit +full sore against his will) a certaine portion of English marchants goods +to be laid hold on, and to be arrested, in his cities of Elburg and +Dantzik, and to be bestowed in sure places, vntil such time as he might +conueniently by his messengers propound and exhibit all and singular the +premisses vnto your highnes. And forasmuch as the foresaid Master general +and our Order do know no iust occasion, wherby they haue deserued your +maiesties indignation, but are firmely and most vndoubtedly perswaded, to +finde all curtesie, fauour, and friendship at your Highnesse, according to +your wonted clemencie: the said Master generall therefore maketh no doubt, +that al the aboue written damages and molestations, being in such sort, +against God and iustice, offred vnto his subiects by yours, be altogether +vnknown vnto your magnificence, and committed against your mind: wherfore +presently vpon the foresaid arrest of your marchants goods, he dispatched +his messengers vnto your roial maiesty. Wherof one deceased by the way, +namely, in the territory of Holland: and the other remained sick in those +parts, for a long season: and so that ambassage took none effect. Wherefore +the said master general was desirous to send vs now the second time also +vnto your Highnes. We do make our humble sute therfore, in the name and +behalf of our master and Order aforesaid, vnto your kingly supremacy, that, +hauing God and iustice before your eies, and also the dutifull and +obsequious demeanor of the said master, and order towards you, you would +vouchsafe to extend your gracious clemency, for the redresse of the +premisses: wherby the foresaid losses may be restored and repaied vnto our +subiects. All which notwithstanding, that it would please you of your +wisedome and prouidence to procure so absolute a remedy, by meanes whereof, +in time to come, such dealings and inconueniences may be auoided on both +parts, and finally that your marchants may quietly be possessed of their +goods arrested in Prussia, and our marchants may be admitted vnto the +possession of their commodities attached in England, to conuert and apply +them vnto such vses, as to themselues shal seem most conuenient. Howbeit +(most gracious prince and lord) we are to sollicite your Highnesse, not +onely about the articles to be propounded concerning the losses aforesaide, +but more principally, for certain sinister reports and superstituous +slanders, wherwith certaine of your subiects, not seeking for peace, haue +falsly informed your maiesty, and your most honorable and discreete +Councel: affirming that at the time of the aforesaid arrest your marchants +were barbarously intreated, that they were cast into lothsom prisons, +drenched in myre and water vp to the neck, restrained from al conference +and company of men, and also that their meat was thrown vnto them, as a +bone to a dog, with many other enormities, which they haue most +slanderously deuised concerning the master general aforesaid, and his +people, and haue published them in these dominions: vpon the occasion of +which falshoods certain marchants of our parts, and of other regions of +Alemain (who, of your special beneuolence, were indued with certaine +priuileges and fauours in your citie of London, and in other places) were, +as malefactors, apprehended and caried to prison, vntil such time as the +trueth was more apparant. Whereupon, the foresaide master generall +propoundeth his humble sute vnto your maiestie, that such enemies of trueth +and concord, your Maiesty woulde vouchsafe in such sort to chastise, that +they may be an example vnto others presuming to doe the like. + +Moreouer, (high and mighty Prince and lord) it was reported vnto our Master +general, that his former Legats required of your maiesty safe conduct +freely to come into your highnesse Realme. Which when hee heard, he was +exceedingly offended therat, sithence vndoubtedly they did not this at his +commaundement or direction. We therefore humbly beseech your Grace, as +touching this ouersight, to holde the Master generall excused, because +there is no need of safeconduct, between so speciall friends. + +Furthermore, sundry damages and complaints of the foresaid general Master, +and his subiects are briefly exhibited, and put downe in the billes +following. Also all and singular damnified persons, besides other proofes, +were compelled to verifie their losses by their formall othes, taken vpon +the holy Bible. + +Lastly, we doe make our humble suite and petition vnto the prouidence and +discretion of your Highnes, and of your honorable Councell, that concerning +the premisses, and all other matters propounded, or to be propounded vnto +your Maiesty, we may obtaine a speedy answere, and an effectuall end. For +it would redound vnto our great charges and losse to make any long delayes. + + * * * * * + +An agreement made by the Ambassadors of England and Prussia, confirmed by + king Richard the second. + +Richard by the grace of God, king of England, and France, and lorde of +Ireland. To all, vnto whom these present letters shall come, greeting. We +haue seene and considered the composition, ordination, concord, and +treatie, betweene our welbeloued clearke, master Nicholas Stocket, +licentiat in both lawes, Walter Sibel, and Thomas Graa, citizens of our +cities of London and York, our messengers and ambassadors on the one part: +and the honourable and religious personages, Conradus de Walrode, great +commander, Sifridus Walpode de Bassenheim, chiefe hospitalary commander in +Elburg, and Vlricus Hachenberg Treasurer, the messengers and ambassadors of +the right reuerend and religious lord, lord Conradus Zolner de Rothenstein, +master generail of the knightly order of the Dutch hospital of Saint Mary +at Ierusalem on the other part, lately concluded and agreed vpon in these +words. In the name of the supreame and indiuisible Trinitie, the Father, +the Sonne, and holy Ghost, Amen. Forasmuch as the author of peace will haue +peacemakers to be the sons of blessednes, and the execrable enemie of peace +to be expelled out of the dominions of Christians: therefore for the +perpetuall memorie of the thing, be it knowen vnto all men who shall see or +heare the tenour of these presents: that there being matter of dissension +and discord bred betweene the most renowmed prince and king, Richard by the +grace of God king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, and his +subiects on the one part: and the right reuerend and religious lord, lord +Conradus Zolner de Rothinstein, Master generall of the knightly order of +the Dutch hospitall of S. Marie at Ierusalem, and his land of Prussia, and +his subiects also, on the other part: the foresaid lord and generall +master, vpon mature counsell and deliberation had, sent his honourable +ambassadours towards England vnto the forenamed most soueraigne prince and +king, to propound and make their complaint vnto him of violence and +iniuries offered (as it is sayd) by the English vnto the Prussians: in +consideration whereof certaine goods of the marchants of England were +arrested in the land of Prussia. Whose complaint the foresayd most gracious +prince did courteously and friendly admit, receiue, and accept, and after +many speeches vttered in this treaty, louingly dismissed them vnto their +owne countrey againe, promising by his letters vnto the foresayd reuerend +Master generall, that hee would dispatch his ambassadours vnto the land of +Prussia. [Sidenote: 1388.] Whereupon, in the yeere 1388. he sent the hono: +and reuerend personages Master Nicholas Stocket licentiate of both lawes, +Thomas Graa, and Walter Sibill, citizens of London and Yorke, with +sufficient authority and full commandement, to handle, discusse, and +finally to determine the foresaid busines, and with letters of credence +vnto the right reuerend lord and master generall aforesayd. Which +ambassadours, together with Iohn Beuis of London their informer, and the +letters aforesaid, and their ambassage, the said right reuerend lord and +Master generall, at his castle of Marienburgh, the 28. of Iuly, in the +yeare aforesaid, reuerently and honourably receiued and enterteined; and in +his minde esteemed them worthy to treate and decide the causes aforesayd; +and so vnto the sayd ambassadours he ioyned in commission on his behalfe, +three of his owne counsellors, namely the honourable and religious +personages Conradus de Walrode great commander, Seiffridus Walpode de +Bassenheim chiefe hospitalary and commander in Elburg, Wolricus +Hachenberger treasurer, being all of the order aforesaid. Which ambassadors +so entreating about the premisses, and sundry conferences and consultations +hauing passed between them, friendly and with one consent, concluded an +agreement and concord in manner following: That is to say: + +[Sidenote: 1.] First, that all arrestments, reprisals, and impignorations +of whatsoeuer goods and marchandises in England and Prussia, made before +the date of these presents, are from henceforth quiet, free, and released, +without all fraud and dissimulation: insomuch that the damages, charges and +expenses occasioned on both parts by reason of the foresayd goods arrested, +are in no case hereafter to be required or chalenged by any man: but the +demaunds of any man whatsoeuer propounded in this regard, are and ought to +be altogether frustrate and voide, and all actions which may or shall be +commenced by occasion of the sayd goods arrested, are to be extinct and of +none effect. + +[Sidenote: 2.] Moreouer, it is secondly concluded and agreed, that all and +singuler Prussians pretending themselues to be iniuried by the English at +the Porte of Swen, or elsewhere, howsoeuer, and whensoeuer, before the date +of these presents, hauing receiued the letters of the foresaide right +reuerende lord and Master generall, and of the cities of their abode, are +to repayre towards England, vnto the sayd hon: embassadours, who are to +assist them, and to propound and exhibite their complaintes, into the +forenamed lord and king. The most gracious prince is bounde to doe his +indeuor, that the parties damnified may haue restitution of their goods +made vnto them, or at least complete iustice and iudgement without delay. +Also in like manner all English men affirming themselues to haue bene +endamaged by Prussians, wheresoeuer, howsoeuer, and whensoeuer, are to haue +recourse vnto the often forenamed right reuerend lorde the Master generall, +with the letters of their king and of the cities of their aboad, +propounding their complaints and causes vnto him. Who likewise is bound to +doe his indeuour that the sayd losses and damages may be restored, or at +the least that speedie iudgement may be, without all delayes, executed. +This caueat being premised in each clause, that it may and shall be freely +granted and permitted vnto euery man that will ciuilly make his suite and +complaint, to doe it either by himselfe, or by his procurator or +procurators. + +[Sidenote: 3.] Also thirdly it is agreed, that whosoeuer of Prussia is +determined criminally to propound his criminal complaints in England: +namely that his brother or kinseman hath beene slaine, wounded, or maimed, +by English men, the same partie is to repayre vnto the citie of London in +England, and into the sayd ambassadors, bringing with him the letters of +the said right reuerend lord and master generall, and of the cities of +their abode: which ambassadors are to haue free and full authority, +according to the complaints of the men of Prussia, and the answers of the +English men, to make and ordaine a friendly reconciliation; or honest +recompence betweene such parties: which reconciliation the sayd parties +reconciled are bound vndoubtedly and without delay to obserue. But if there +be any English man found, who shall rashly contradict or contemne the +composition of the foresaid ambassadors: then the sayd ambassadours are to +bring the forenamed Prussian plaintifes before the presence of the kings +Maiestie: and also to make supplication on the behalfe of such plaintifes, +that complete iustice and iudgment may without delayes bee administred, +according as those suites are commenced. Moreouer whatsoeuer English man, +against whom anie one of Prussia would enter his action, shall absent +himselfe at the terme, the said ambassadours are to summon and ascite the +foresayd English man to appeare at the terme next insuing, that the +plaintifes of Prussia may in no wise seeme to depart or to returne home, +without iudgement or the assistance of lawe. Nowe if the sayd English man +being summoned shall be found stubborne or disobedient, the forenamed +ambassadours are to make their appeale and supplication in manner +aforesayd. And in like sorte in all respects shall the English plaintifes +be dealt withall in Prussia, namely in the citie of Dantzik, where the +deputies of the sayd citie and of the citie of Elburg shal take vnto +themselues two other head boroughs, one of Dantzik, and the other of +Elburg: which foure commissioners are to haue in al respects, the very like +authority of deciding, discussing, and determining all criminall complaints +propounded criminally, by English men against any Prussian or Prussians, by +friendly reconciliation, or honest recompense, if it be possible. But if it +cannot friendly be determined, or if anie Prussian shall not yeeld +obedience vnto any such order or composition, but shalbe found to +contradict and to contemne the same: from thenceforth the said foure +deputies and head-boroughs are to make their appeale and supplication into +the Master generall of the land aforesayd, that vnto the sayd English +plaintifes speedy iudgement and complete iustice may be administred. But if +it shall so fall out that any of the principall offenders shall decease, or +already are deceased in either of the sayd countries, that then it shall +bee free and lawfull for the plaintife to prosecute his right against the +goods or heires of the party deceased. Also, for the executing of the +premisses the termes vnder written are appointed: namely the first, from +the Sunday whereupon Quasi modo geniti is to be sung next ensuing, vntill +the seuenth day following: The second vpon the feast of the holy Trinitie +next to come, and for seuen dayes following: The third vpon the eight day +after Saint Iohn Baptist next to come, and for seuen daies following: The +fourth, last, and peremptory terme shall be vpon the feast of S. Michael +next to come, and vpon seuen dayes next following. And from thenceforth all +causes which concerne death, or the mayming of a member, with all actions +proceeding from them, are to remaine altogether voide and extinct. And if +peraduenture any one of the foresayd ambassadours, shall in the meane +season dye, then the other two shall haue authoritie to chuse a third vnto +them. [Sidenote: An ancient custome.] And if after the date of these +presents any cause great or small doth rise or spring forth, it must bee +decided in England and in Prussia, as it hath beene accustomed in times +past and from ancient times. + +[Sidenote: 4. The priuileges of the English marchants in Prussia.] Also, it +is farther concluded and agreed vpon, that all lawfull marchants of England +whosoeuer shall haue free licence and authority, with all kindes of +shippes, goods, and marchandises, to resorte vnto euery port of the land of +Prussia, and also to transport all such goods and marchandises vp farther +vnto any other place in the sayde land of Prussia, and there with all +kindes of persons freely to bargaine and make sale, as heretofore it hath +from auncient times bene accustomed. Which priuiledge is granted in all +things and by all circumstances vnto the Prussians in England. And if after +the date of these presents betweene the sayd kingdome of England, and land +of Prussia any dissension or discorde (which God forefend) should arise: +then the foresayd souereigne prince and king of England, and the sayd right +reuerend lord the Master generall are mutually by their letters and +messengers to giue certificate and intimation one vnto another, concerning +the matter and cause of such dissension and discord: which intimation, on +the behalfe of the foresaid souereigne prince and king of England, shall be +deliuered in the forenamed castle of Marienburg: but on the behalfe of the +sayd right reuerend lord the Master generall, such intimation shall be +giuen in the citie of London aforesayd, vnto the Maior of the said city: +that then such a denuntiation or intimation being made, the marchants of +England and the subiects of the land of Prussia may, within the space of +one yeere next following, freely and safely returne home with al their +goods and marchandises: if at the least, in the mean while, some +composition, and friendly league betweene the two foresayd countreis be not +in some sorte concluded. And that all the premisses may more firmely and +faithfully be put in due practise and execution on both partes, for the +strong and inuiolable keeping peace and tranquillity: and also for the full +confirmation and strengthening of all the sayde premisses, the three +foresayd honourable and religious personages being by the said right +reuerend lord the Master general appointed as commissioners to deale in the +aboue written ordination and composition, haue caused their seales vnto +these presents to be put: and the sayd ordination also, and letter in the +same tenour word for word, and in all points euen as it is inserted into +these presents, they haue mutually receiued from the abouenamed three +ambassadours of the right soueraigne king of England vnder their seales. +Giuen at the castle of Marienburg in the yeare of our lord aforesayd, vpon +the twentieth day of the moneth of August. And we therefore doe accept, +approue, ratifie, and by the tenour of these presents doe confirme, the +composition, ordination, concorde, and treaty aforesayd. In testimony +whereof we haue caused these our letters to be made patents. Witnesse our +selues at Westminster the 22. of October, in the thirteenth yeare of our +reigne. + +By the king and his counsell. + +Lincolne. + + * * * * * + +The letters of Conradas de Iungingen, Master generall of Prussia, written + vnto Richard the second, king of England, in the yeere 1398, for the + renouncing of a league and composition concluded betweene England and + Prussia, in regard of manifold iniuries, offered vnto the Prussians. + +Our humble commendations, with our earnest prayers vnto God for your +Maiestie, premised. Most renowned prince and mighty lord, it is not (we +hope) out of your Maiesties remembrance, how our famous predecessour going +immediately before vs sent certaine letters of his vnto your highnesse, +effectually contayning sundry complaints of grieuances, iniuries and +losses, wherewith the marchants of his lande and Order, being woont in +times past to visite your kingdome with their goods and marchandises, haue +bene contrary to their liberties and priuiledges annoyed with manifold +iniuries and wrongs. Especially sithens they haue beene molested in your +realme, being contrary to the friendly composition made and celebrated by +the hono: personages, master Nicholas Stocket, Thomas Graa and Walter +Sibil, in the yeare 1388, with the assistance of their coarbiters on our +part and contrary to God and all iustice, oppressed with manifold damages, +losses, and grieuances: as in certaine articles exhibited vnto our +predecessors aforesayd it doeth more manifestly appeare. In consideration +whereof being vehemently moued by the damnified parties, he humbly besought +your highnesse by his messengers and letters, for complement and execution +of iustice. About the which affayres your Maiestie returned your letters of +answere vnto our sayd predecessor, signifying that the sayd businesse of +articles concerned al the communalty of your realme, and that your +highnesse purposed, after consultation had in your parliament, to send a +more deliberate, answere concerning the premisses, vnto our predecessour +aforesayd. Howbeit he being by death translated out of this present world, +and our selues by the prouidence of God succeeding in his roome, and also +long time expecting an effectuall answere from your highnesse, are not yet +informed as we looked for: albeit the complaints of iniuries and losses +offered vnto our subiects doe continually increase. But from hencefoorth, +to prouide a remedie and a caueat for the time to come, the sayd complaynt +doeth vpon great reasons mooue and inuite me. Sithens therefore in regard +of the sayd composition, neither you nor your subiects may be iudged in the +empire: and sithens plaine reason requireth that the one be not inriched by +the others losse: as vndoubtedly our subiects should sustaine great damage +by the composition aforesayd, by vertue whereof your subiects doe enioy all +commodities in our lande, and contrariwise our subiects in your realme haue +suffered, and as yet sundrie wayes do suffer manifold discommodities, +losses and iniuries. Wherefore (most soueraigne prince and mighty lord) +being reasonably mooued vpon the causes aforesayd, we doe, by the aduise of +our counsellors, reuoke and repeale the sayd composition concluded as is +aboue written, together with the effect thereof, purely and simply +renouncing the same by these presents: refusing hereafter to haue either +our selues or our subiects in any respect to stand bound by the vertue of +the sayd composition: but from henceforth, and for the times heretofore +also, bee it altogether voide and of none effect. + +Prouided notwithstanding, that from the time of the notice of this +denunciation giuen vnto the hono: Maior of your citie of London, for the +space of a yeare next ensuing, it shall be lawfull for all marchants of +your kingdome whatsoeuer, with their goods and marchandises to returne +home, according to the forme in the foresayd composition expressed: +conditionaly that our subiects may euen so in all respects be permitted to +depart, with the safety of their goods and liues out of your dominions: +this present renuntiation, reuocation, and retractation of the order and +composition aforesayd, notwithstanding. Howbeit in any other affayres +whatsoeuer, deuoutly to submit our selues vnto your highnesse pleasure and +command, both our selues, and our whole order are right willing and +desirous: and also to benefite and promote your subiects we wil indeuour to +the vtmost of our ability, Giuen in our castle of Marienburgh 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 William Esturmy, and Iohn Kington concerning their + ambassages into Prussia, and the Hans-townes. + +[Sidenote: 1403.] Inprimis, that in the moneth 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 Iungingen, 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 +abouewritten, 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 be permitted, vntill +the feast of Easter then next after ensuing to remaine in the land of +Prussia, and from thence with their goods and marchandises to returne vnto +their own homes, 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 marchants 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 aforesayd 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 +aforesaide: 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 clerke, 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. + +[Sidenote: 1405.] 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 said 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 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 +sayth) vniustly by English men, vnto his subiects, which amounted vnto the +summe of 5200. nobles. + +[Sidenote: 1406.] 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 immediately following there should bee made a +conuenient, iust, and reasonable satisfaction, for all molestations +vniustly offered 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 and merchandises, 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, and both of them, +without any further admonition, to abstaine and 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, the ambassadors of England, +and the messengers and commissioners of Prussia met together at the towne +of Hage in Holland, the 28. day of August, in the yere of our lord 1407. +And there was a treaty between them concerning the summe 25934. nobles and +an halfe, demanded on the behalfe of the sayd Master generall for amends +and recompence in consideration of wrongs offered vnto himselfe and vnto +his subiects of Prussia, as is aforesayd. Also the sayd Master and his +Prussians, besides the summe not yet declared in the articles, which is +very small, are to rest contented and satisfied with the summe of 8957. +nobles, in lieu of al the damages aforesaid: no times of paiment being then +assigned or limited, but afterward to be reasonably limited and assigned, +by our sayd soueraigne lord the king. Insomuch, that our said soueraigne +lord the king is to write his ful intention and determination concerning +this matter, in his letters to be deliuered the 16. day of March, vnto the +aldermen of the marchants of the Hans residing at Bruges. Otherwise, that +from thenceforth all league of friendship shall bee dissolued betweene the +realme of England and the land of Prussia. + +Also it is farther to be noted, that in the appointment of the summe next +before written to be disbursed out of England, this condition was added in +writing, namely, that if by lawful testimonies it may sufficiently and +effectually be prooued, concerning the chiefe articles aboue written, or +any part of them, that satisfaction was made vnto any of those parties, to +whom it was due: or that the goods, of and for the which complaint was made +on the behalfe of Prussia, in the sayd articles, did or doe pertayne vnto +others, or that any other iust, true, or reasonable cause may lawfully be +proued and alledged, why the foresaid sums or any of them ought not to be +payed: that then in the summes contained in the articles aboue mentioned, +so much only must be cut off, or stopped, as shal be found, either to haue +bene payd already, or to appertaine vnto others, or by any true, iust, and +reasonable cause alledged, not to be due. Neither is it to be doubted, but +for the greater part of the summe due vnto the Prussians, that not our lord +the king, but others (which will in time be nominated) are, by all equity +and iustice, to be compelled to make satisfaction. + +Also, at the day and place aboue mentioned it was appointed and agreed +vpon, that our lord the king and his liege subiects, for the said 4535. +nobles demanded of the English in consideration of recompence to be made +for iniuries offered vnto the Prussians, are to discharge and pay the summe +of 764. nobles, which are not as yet disbursed: but they haue reserued a +petition to them, vnto whom the sayd summe is due, or if they please, there +shalbe made satisfaction: which will be very hard and extreme dealing. + +Item, that in the last assembly of the sayd ambassadors of England and +messengers of Prussia, holden at Hage, made as is aforesayd, for the +behalfe of England, there were exhibited anew certaine articles of iniuries +against the Prussians. The value of which losses amounted vnto the summe of +1825. nobles and three shillings. + +Item, on the contrary part for the behalfe of the Prussians the summe of +1355. nobles, eight shillings and sixe pence. + +Item, forasmuch as diuers articles propounded, as well on the behalfe of +England, as of Prussia, and of the cities of the Hans, both heretofore and +also at the last conuention holden at Hage, were so obscure, that in regard +of their obscurity, there could no resolute answere bee made vnto them: and +other of the sayd articles exhibited, for want of sufficient proofes, could +not clearely be determined vpon: it was appointed and concluded, that all +obscure articles giuen vp by any of the foresayd parties whatsoeuer, ought +before the end of Easter then next ensuing, and within one whole yeare +after, to be declared before the Chancelour of England, for the time being; +and other articles euidently exhibited, but not sufficiently proued, to be +proued, vnder paine of perpetuall exclusion. Which being done accordingly, +complete iustice shall be administred on both parts. + +Item, as concerning the eleuenth article, for the behalfe of the Prussians, +first exhibited, which conteined losses amounting vnto the summe of 2445. +nobles: as touching the first article on the behalfe of England exhibited +in the land of Prussia, containing losses which amounted to the summe of +900. nobles: after many things alleadged on both parts, relation thereof +shall be made in the audience of the king and of the master generall: so +that they shall set downe, ordaine, and determine such an ende and +conclusion of those matters, as shall seeme most expedient vnto them. + + +Now concerning the Liuonians who are subiect vnto the great Master of + Prussia. + +Inprimis, that the Master of Prussia demaunded of the sayd English +ambassadours, at their being in Prussia, on the behalfe of them of Liuonia, +who are the sayd Master his liege people, to haue restitution of their +losses, vniustly (as he sayth) offered vnto them by the English, namely, +for the robbing and rifling of three ships. [Sidenote: These ships were +taken by the English the 20. Iuly 1404.] The value of which ships and of +the goods contained in them, according, to the computation of the Liuonian +marchants, doeth amount vnto the summe of 8037. pound, 12. shillings 7. +pence. + +Howbeit afterward the trueth being inquired by the sayd ambassadors of +England, the losse of the Liuonians exceedeth not the summe of 7498. pound, +13. shillings, 10. pence halfepeny farthing. + +Item, forasmuch as in the sayd ships, on the behalfe of the sayd Master, +and of certaine cities of the Hans, there are alleadged aboue 250. men very +barbarously to be drowned, of whome some were noble, and others honourable +personages, and the rest common marchants and mariners, there was +demaunded, in the first dyet or conuention holden at Dordract, a recompense +at the handes of the sayd English ambassadors: albeit this complaint was +exhibited in the very latter end of al the negotiations, in forme of a +scedule, the tenor whereof is in writing at this present, and beginneth in +maner following: Cum vita hominum &c. Howbeit in the last conuention holden +at Hage, as is aforesaid, it was concluded betweene the ambassadours of +England, and the messengers and commissioners of the land of Prussia, and +of the cities of the Hans; that our sayd soueraigne lord the king, should, +of his great pietie, vouchsafe effectually to deuise some conuenient and +wholesome remedie for the soules of such persons as were drowned. + +Item, that our sayd soueraigne lord the king will signifie in writing his +full purpose and intention as touching this matter, vnto the aldermen of +the Hans marchants residing at Bruges, vpon the sixtenth day of March next +following. Otherwise, that from hencefoorth all amity and friendship, +betweene the realme of England and the land of Prussia shall be dissolued. + +Neither is it to be doubted, but that a great part of the sayd goods, for +the which they of 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. + +[Sidenote: Hamburgh.] Inprimis 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 them of Scardeburg, the summe whereof was +231. pounds, 15s. 8d. concerning the which there was sentence giuen in +England by the commissioners of our lord the king, the execution whereof +was promised vnto the said Hamburgers by the ambassadors of England: leaue +and licence being reserued vnto the sayd Hamburgers, of declaring or +explaining 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 shalbe prooued to be +due vnto any English men, the Hamburgers are to rest contented with those +goods, which they haue already in their possessions. + +[Sidenote: Breme.] Item, they of Breme propounded sixe 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. + +[Sidenote: Stralessund] Item, they of Stralessund propounded 23. articles, +whereof the summe amounted vnto 7415. nobles, 20. d for the which there was +promised satisfaction of 253. nobles, 3. d. 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. + +[Sidenote: Lubec] 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. + +[Sidenote: Gripeswold] 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. + +[Sidenote: Campen.] 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 +aboue mentioned. + +Item, the ambassadors of England demanded of the citizens of Rostok and +Wismer, for damages and 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 negociating or concluding +ought at al. And therefore 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 and conclude +with our said souereigne lord the king about the damages and iniuries +aforesaid at the feast of the natiuitie 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, and the ambassadors of Prussia, +Iohn Godek of Dantzik, and 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 and 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, and 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 and whole, are +incontinently and with al speed to bee restored. And if there bee any +defect in ought, the value of the said defect is to be accounted, and 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, betweene this and the terme appointed for the restoring of the goods +taken away, and vntill there be due payment and restitution of the said +goods performed, the marchants of England and of Prussia are in no wise to +exercise any traffique of merchandise at all in the foresaid lands. + +[Sidenote: 1403.] 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 Lincoln, chancelor, and the right honorable William lord de Roos, high +treasurer of England, both of their 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 Gonradus 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, safety to +trauel vnto the land of Prussia aforesayd, there to remaine, and thence, +with their ships, marchandises, and 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, and 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 Iobn 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 beseemed them: expounding vnto his highnes, sundry +piracies and molestations offered of late vpon the sea, by his liege people +and 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 recompense 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 +highnesse intention, that euery one should haue due iustice faithfully +administred unto 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 [Marginal note: Namely the ship of Edward Scof at +Caleis, The ship of Tidman Dordewant and Tidman Warowen, at Orwel and +Zepiswich.] 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. [Sidenote: +Note well. 1403.] 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 and 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 circularwise too and 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 +merchandise 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 down the sea, sometimes heretofore +sustayned: both the sayd marchants of our and of your dominions do abstaine +themselues from their wonted mutual conuersation and 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, and 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: [Sidenote The auncient friendship betweene England and Prussia.] +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 and +your subiects, which marchants haue in like sort bene iniuried, wishing +with all our heart, that the ancient friendship and 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 and mayntained: we do most +heartily require the sayd friendship, exhorting you in the Lord that you +would on your behalf consent and 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 molestations and iniuries which may be offred +ceasing on both parts) our subiects by your territories and dominions, and +your subiects by our realms, may peaceably and securely trauel, and that +according to their wonted maner, they may friendly conuerse and exercise +mutual traffick together: because we are determined to send vnto you and +your counsel in the mean time some of our ambassadors, friendly to intreat +about, the foresaid pretended iniuries, so far forth as they shal concerne +our subiects. At whose arriual we stand in good hope that by the due +administration of iustice on both parts, such order (by Gods assistance) +shalbe taken, that mutual peace and tranquility may be established between +vs in times to come. Also our desire is in particular, that our marchants +and 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 hereof 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 and 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. Vnto the which Arnold your procurator we haue +offered in as short time as may be, to administer complete iustice with +fauour, to the end that for this cause he might dispose himselfe to remaine +in our realme of England: and yet notwithstanding wee would do the very +same euen in the absence of the sayd procurator. Giuen as aboue. + + * * * * * + +To the most renowned 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 wherof seemed to be these following: first +that of long time heretofore, there haue bene between the marchants of your +realm and of our lands, not only quiet and peaceable accesse one vnto +another, but also mutual participation, and common traffique of their +wares, being right commodious and auaileable for them both: howbeit, that +now the focesaid profitable conuersation, by reason of certain notorious +robberies, committed vpon the sea by pyrates against both parts, and the +wonted accesse also of your subiects vnto our dominions, were altogether +forbidden. Moreouer, you call to remembrance the ancient amity and +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 and regard vnto your maiestie, we would haue them especially +recommended vnto our protection &c. Most soueraigne lord and king, and +gracious prince, wee doe with vnfained and hearty affection embrace the +oracles of your maiesties most courteous and acceptable offer: wherein you +haue vsed most diligent and effectuall perswasions, that complement of +iustice should be done vnto the parties iniuried, and that peace and +friendship should take place, making no doubt of your own royall person, +nor of 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, and reasonable cause, forasmuch as the matters perswaded are in +very deede most happy preseruatiues of a common weale, yea, and 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 and 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 remembrance 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. +[Sidenote: Margaret queen of Denmarke.] 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 truce 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 reproach 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 uniust: then which nothing can be more cruel, nor a reuenge of +greater impietie. In very deede (most gracious prince and lorde) we are +moued 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 Indenture made between Sir William Esturmy knight, Iohn Kington +clerke, and William Brampton citizen of London the ambassadors, +commissioners, and 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, reformation, and amends 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 and amends, by the +foresayd lord the Master generall, for the behalfe of himselfe or any of +his subiects whatsoeuer, from and in the name of our soueraign lord the +king and his subiects, vnto the sayd Master general, into his land of +Prussia, by our souereigne lord the king, and appointed as ambassadors on +the one party: And betweene the hono: Lords and religious personages +Conradus de Lichtenstein great commander, Warnberus de Tettingen chiefe +hospitalary and commander in Elbing, and Arnold de Hacken treasurer, the +procurators and commissioners of the great and mighty lord the Master +general, being in like and equal sort and in all respects, as the +ambassadours of England are, authorised on the contrary side by the +authoritie and power of the sayd Master general on the other part, +witnesseth: That diuers treaties and conferences being holden between the +said ambassadors, messengers, and procurators or commissioners, of and +concerning the reparations, reformations and amends of certaine damages, +grieuances, excesses, violences, and iniuries offered and attempted, as wel +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 vnder written may more prosperously +be brought vnto a wished effect, between our said soueraign lord the king +and his liege people and subiects, and the subiects, people, and +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 these 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. + +[Sidenote: 1403.] Item it is further 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 and +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 and his +subiects, by our sayd soueraigne lord the king his subiects and liege +people, to be exhibited, giuen vp and deliuered vnto our lord the king +aforesaid in his kingdome of England: it is concluded and agreed about the +sayd 20, articles, by the aforesaid ambassadors, commissioners, and +procurators, as in the acts and pleas had and made before the sayd +ambassadors, commissioners and procurators, and in the records made and +written of and about, the examination of such articles, it is more at large +contayned (vnto the which the sayd ambassadors, commissioners, and +messengers doe here in this place referre themselues) of the which articles +also some are receiued by the commissioners aforesayd, and others are +proroged vnto a certaine time vnder written, euen as in the foresayd +registers it is more fully contayned and put downe in writing. + +As touching certaine other articles also exhibited a newe vnto the sayd +English ambassadors, in the land of Prussia being 16 in number (whereof one +is admitted, and the rest are proroged vntil A terme vnder written) the +same course is to be taken and obserued, which was before appoynted and +agreed vpon, about the articles deliuered and exhibited vnto our foresayd +souraigne lorde the king, as is aforesayd. + +Moreouer, as touching the articles exhibited by the English ambassadours in +the name and behalfe of their sayd soueraigne lord the king of England, +vnto the procuratours and commissioners of the foresayd lord the Master +generall (of the which some are declared already, and the declaration of +the rest is proroged vntill a certayne terme vndernamed, euen as in the +registers made of and vpon the examination of the sayd articles, it is more +manifestly prouided) the same course is to be taken, which must be obserued +about the articles of the sayd lord the Master general), exhibited, as well +vnto the foresayd soueraigne prince in England, as vnto his ambassadors in +the land of Prussia, euen as about the sayd articles it is before +concluded. + +[Sidenote: The complaints of Liuonians.] And whereas on the behalfe of the +citizens and marchants of the cities of Rij and Dorp [Footnote: These +cities seem to haue been large commercial centres.], and of other townes in +the land of Liuonia, many and great complaints haue bene by way of articles +exhibited and deliuered vnto the sayd English ambassadours in the land of +Prussia, which for diuers causes, could not as then be ended: therefere it +is concluded and agreed vpon betweene the ambassadours, and the +commissioners aforesayd, that the saide citizens and marchants may in the +towne of Dordract in Holland, vpon the first day of the moneth of May next +ensuing (at the which time and place, the continuation and prorogation of +all other articles not fully declared in the partes of Prussia, shall be +put in vre [Footnote: _Ure_ i.e., use. Norman or law French (See Kelham's +Norman Dict.) + This vickering will but keep our arms in _ure_, + The holy battles better to endure. + --_Four Prentices of London_, VI., 493. +In Chaucer's time it also meant fortune, like the French Neure. (NARES' +_Glossary_).] by themselues or their lawfull procurators, make their +appearance, for the obtayning of a conuenient, iust, and reasonable +reformation of all iniuries attempted against them, then, or at some other +times within one whole yere next following, and not afterward, being +effectually set downe and limited, at the place aforesaid, by the consent +of the ambassadours and commissioners of either parte, all lawfull +impediments ceasing. + +Prouided alwayes, that the value and price of all wares, goods, and +marchandises, whereof the said citizens and marchants of Liuonia, in their +articles receiued by the sayde English ambassadours, as is aforesayd, doe +make mention, shall be iustly esteemed, prized, and approoued, not by any +of England, or of Prussia, or of Liuonia, but by some other indifferent +marchants of good credite, valuing them at the true rate of marchants, +which such like marchandise wonld haue amounted vnto, if, at the time when +they were taken, they had bene to be solde at the town of Bruges in +Flanders. + +Forasmuch also, as diuers and sundry Prussians (who exhibited manifolde +Articles of complaints, being receiued by the said English Ambassadonrs, at +their abode in Prussia) made not their personall appearance, before the +saide English Ambassadours, in the lande of Prussia aforesaide: The +prorogation aboue-mentioned was made vnto the first day of the moneth of +May: and also it was agreed vpon by the saide Ambassadours, Procurators, +and Commissioners, that the saide parties which had not appeared before +shall haue libertie graunted them, lawfully to make their appearance, vpon +the first of May aforesaide, at the towne of Dordract, either by themselues +or by their Procurators, and also to bring with them the letters +testimonial, and patents, sealed with the seale of the saide Lord the +master generall, (he hauing first of all receiued sound and sufficient +information from the cities whereof the parties plaintife are citizens, of +the damages and grieuances any way vniustly inflicted vpon them or any of +them by the English) to the end that they may there by articles +conueniently declare and proue, before the Ambassadours, Procurators, +messengers, and Commissioners of both partes, the rate and value of their +said goods: and that in so doing they may obtaine conuenient, iust, and +reasonable restitution, for all acts vniustly attempted against them, then, +or at some other times effectually to bee set downe and limited at the +foresaid place by the consent of the Ambassadors and Commissioners of both +parts, euen as it was aboue promised vnto the marchants of Liuonia. + +But if they of Prussia last aboue-mentioned, shall not vpon the first of +May, and at the place appointed, for some cause, make their appearance, +that then it shalbe lawfull for them, at any time within one whole yeere +next following, to repaire vnto the lord Chancelor of England, at the citie +of London, and to insinuate and declare vnto him their complaints before +exhibited vnto the saide English Ambassadours in the land of Prussia, or +which complaints should haue bene deliuered at the foresaid terme and +place, or els, the which were not then and there fully finished and +dispatched: and also by articles as is aforesaide, to declare and proue the +true worth and estimation of all damages and grieuances any wayes vniustly +offered by the English vnto them or any of them: to the ende that they may +(as it is aboue mentioned) effectually receiue, and also speedily and +easily obtaine conuenient, iust, and reasonable reformation and +satisfaction, for al acts vniustly attempted against them, which are +contained in the complaints not as yet fully declared and finished. + +Moreouer, it is appointed and agreed vpon betweene the foresaide +Ambassadours and Commissioners: that the forenamed souereign Lord and the +said lord the Master general are to send and set forward their +Ambassadours, messengers, and Commissioners, vpon the first of May vnto the +place appointed, to treate, parle, agree, and conclude about those +affaires, which shal then and there happen to be treated of and handled +among them. + +Furthermore, betweene the often mentioned Ambassadours, Procurators, and +Commissioners, it is enacted and concluded: [Sidenote: Note well.] that +vnto all and singular lawfull statutes, ordinations, and prohibitions +framed, made, and ordained, by the saide lorde the Master generall, in his +land of Prussia, or by his Proconsuls and Consuls, and his gouernours of +cities, townes, villages, and of other places in the land of Prussia, vnto +the obseruation whereof, aswell the subiectes of the said Master general, +as foreners and strangers, are tyed and bound: vnto the very same 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 one 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 vnto 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 haue +expired, the Prussians shall depart out of the realmes and dominions of the +saide Soueraigne Lord the king of England, together with their marchandize, +and with other goods which they shal haue gotten or bought, within the +space of the foresaid 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 foresaid +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 +henceforth vniustly taken vpon the Sea, by any English Pirates, and shalbe +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 merchandises 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 thereof, 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 recompense 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 partes +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, Cęterum 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 concern, 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, and France, and lord of Ireland, for +the performation of the things vnderwritten, on the one part: and the hon. +personages M. Henry Vredeland, M. Riman Salum chief notaries, Thederic +Knesuolt secretary, M. Simon 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 and 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, shalbe permitted and licenced friendly, freely, and +securely, to exercise mutual traffike, and like marchants to buy and sell +together, one of, and vnto another, euen as in times past, [Sidenote: +1400.] namely, in the yeere 1400. and before that time also, they haue bin +accustomed to exercise mutuall traffike and marchandise, 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 the 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, of 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 vniustly 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 +uot 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 shal 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 merchants 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 foresaid +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: Cęterum +ne per &c. In English: Howbeit least that &c. continuing vnto that clause: +Et vt pręscripta 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 iniured 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 upon 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 uniustly 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 unto 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 vtmost 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, and commissioners of England +aforesaid, and left in their custodie, by the aboue named procurotors 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 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 uniustly done and +committed against the liege people and subiects of the foresaide most +excellent Prince and lord, Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England +and France, and Lord of Ireland, by the communalties of the cities of +Wismer and Rostok vnderwritten, their common counsel being assembled for +the same purpose, and 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 iniured and +endamaged parties, who are specified in the articles vnder written. + +[Sidenote: Newcastle. An English ship of 200 tunnes.] 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 furniture 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. + +[Sidenote: Hull.] Item, that in the yeere of our Lord 1394 certaine persons +of Wismer and Rostok, with others of the Hans their confederates robbed one +Richard Horuse of Hull of diuers goods and 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 waxe, 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 tooke from one William Pound marchant +of Hull, two cakes of waxe, to the value of 18. poundes, out of the ship +called the Hawkin Derlin of Dantzik. + +[Sidenote: Yorke.] 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 Topcliffe, and 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 and 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. + +[Sidenote: London.] 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. + +[Sidenote: Colchester.] 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 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 packs 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. and from Iohn Dawe, and Thomas +Cornwaile marchants of the same towne, three packs of woollen cloth, worth +200. marks. Moreouer they tooke and imprisoned certain 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 his 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. + +[Sidenote: Yermouth. Norwich] Item, in the yeere of our Lorde 1394 certaine +malefactors of Wismer and Rostok, vpon the coastes of Denmark and Norway, +beneath Scawe, and at Anold, tooke Thomas Adams and Iohn Walters marchants +of Yermouth: and Robert Caumbrigge and Reginald Leman marchants of Norwich, +in a certaine shippe of Elbing in Prussia (whereof one Clays Goldesmith was +master) with diuers woollen clothes of the saide Thomas, Iohn, Robert, and +Reginald, to the value of one thousande marks English, and carried the +persons and goods aforesaide, away with them: and the said Thomas, Iohn, +Robert, and Reginald they imprisoned at Courtbuttressow, and there detained +them, vntill they paide an hundred markes for their redemption. + +[Sidenote: Yermouth.] Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1401. some of the +inhabitants of Wismer and of Rostok wickedly tooke at Longsound in Norway, +a certaine shippe of West-Stowe in Zealand (the Master whereof was one +Gerard Dedissen) laden with diuerse goods and marchandises of Iohn Hughson +of Yermouth, namely with the hides of oxen and of sheepe, with butter, +masts, sparres, boordes, questingstones and wilde werke, to the value of an +hundred marks, and do as yet detaine the said things in their possession, +some of the Hans being their assistants in the premisses. + +Item, in the yeere of our Lorde 1402. certaine of the Hans, of Rostok, and +of Wismer, tooke vpon the coast of England, neere vnto Plimmouth a certaine +barge called the Michael of Yarmouth (whereof Hugh ap Fen was the owner, +and Robert Rigweys the master) laden with bay salt, to the quantitie of +130. wayes, and with a thousand canuasse clothes of Britaine, and doe as +yet detaine the saide goods in their possession, the said Hugh being +endamaged, by the losse of his ship, and of his goods aforesaid 800. nobles +and the foresaid Master and the mariners loosing, in regard of their wages, +canuas, and armour, 200. nobles. + +Item, in the yeere of our Lord 1405. certain malefactors of Wismer wickedly +and vniustly tooke, in a certaine port of Norway called Selaw, a ship of +Yarmouth (the owner whereof was William Oxney and the master Thomas Smith) +laden with salt, cloth, and salmon, to the value of 40. pound, and doe as +yet detaine the said ship and goods in their possession, some of the Hans +their confederates ayding and assisting them at the same time. + +[Sidenote: Cleye.] Item, in the yeere of our Lord 1395. one Godekin Mighel, +Clays Scheld, Stertebeker, and other their accomplices of the Hans, +vnlawfully tooke vpon the sea a certaine ship of one Iohn Dulwer of Cley, +called the Friday (whereof Laurence Tuk of Cley was master) and conueyed +the ship it self vnto Maustrond in Norway, and the saide Master and +mariners they robbed of diuers commodities, namely of artillery, furniture, +and salt fishes being in the same ship, to the value of 500. nobles. + +Item, in the yeere of our Lord 1395. Godekin Mighel, Clays Scheld, +Stertebeker, and other their accomplices of the Hans vnlawfully tooke vpon +the sea a certaine ship of one William Bets of Cleys called the Margaret +(wherein Robert Robines was master) and conueyed the ship it self vnto +Mawstrond in Norway, and there robbed the master and his partners of diuers +commodities, namely of artillerie, furniture, and salt fishes, to the value +of 400. nobles, and one of the said masters mates they maliciously drowned. + +Item, in the yeere of our Lord 1395. about the feast of the natiuitie of S. +Iohn Baptist, the forenamed Godekin and Stertebeker, with others their +accomplices of the Hans, vnlawfully took vpon the sea a certain ship of +Nicholas Steyhard and Iohn Letis of Cley called the Nicholas (whereof Iohn +Prest was master) and conueyed the said ship vnto Mawstrond, and there +robbed the said master and his companie of diuers commodities, namely of +furniture and salt fishes, being in the said ship, to the value of 320. +nobles. + +Item, in the yeere of our Lord 1395. about the feast aforesaid, the said +Godekins and Stertebeker, and their companions of the Hans vniustly took +vpon the sea a certaine ship of Thomas Peirs of Cley called the Isabel +(whereof William Noie was master) and conueyed it vnto Mawstrond, and there +robbed the said master and his company of diuers commidities, as namely of +furniture, and salt fishes, being in the said ship, to the value of 406. +nobles. + +Item, in the yeere next aboue mentioned, vpon the Saterday, about the +foresaid feast, the forenamed Godekins and Stertebeker, and other their +accomplices of the Hans unlawfully took vpon the sea, a certain ship of one +Thomas Lyderpole of Cley, called the Helena, wherein Robert Alwey was +master, and also wickedly and vniustly drowned in the bottom of the sea +diuers commodities, as namely salt fishes, together with the ship it selfe. + +Item, in the yeere of our Lord 1398. about the feast of S. Michael the +archangel, the foresaid Godekin and Stertebeker, with other their +confederats of the Hans, took at Langsound in Norway a certain crayer of +one Thomas Motte of Cley, called the Peter, (wherein Thomas Smith was +master) and the foresaid crayer they wickedly and vniustly caried away, +being worth 280. nobles. + +[Sidenote: Wiueton.] Item, in the yeere of our Lord 1395. about the feast +of the natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist, the forenamed Godekins and +Stertebeker, and others of the Hans vniustly tooke a certain ship of Simon +Durham, called the Dogger-ship, and the Peter of Wiueton, laden with salt +fishes (whereof Iohn Austen was master) vpon the coast of Denmarke. And +they caried away the saide Dogger, with the furniture thereof, and the +foresaid salt fishes, to the value of 170. pound. Moreouer, the master, and +25. mariners in the same ship they maliciously slewe, and a certaine ladde +of the saide Dogger they caried with them vnto Wismer. + +Item, in the foresaid yeere, and about the feast aforesaid, the forenamed +Godekins and Stertebeker, with other their complices, vniustly tooke vpon +the sea a certain ship of Thomas Lyderpole, and Iohn Coote of Wiueton: and +the master and mariners which were in the saide shippe, they villanously +slue, among whom they put to death one Simon Andrew, the godsonne, nephew, +and seruant of the foresaid Simon Durham. Which ship, with the goods and +furniture that were therein was worth 410. nobles. + +Item, in the very same yeere, about the feast aforesaid, the forenamed +Godekins and Stertebeker and other their complices wickedly spoiled a +certaine ship of the foresaid Simon Durham called the Dogger, wherein +Geruase Cat was master, lying, at an anker, while the companie were +occupied about fishing, and likewise vniustly tooke away with them the salt +fishes, and furniture of the said ship. Moreouer, the master and his +company that were in the said Dogger they beate and wounded, so that they +vtterly lost their fishing for that yeere, the master and his said companie +being endamaged thereby, to the summe of 200. nobles. + +Item, in the yere of our Lord 1396. the foresaid Godekins and Stertebeker, +and other their complices vniustly tooke vpon the sea a certain crayer, +called the Buss of Zeland, which one Iohn Ligate marchant, and seruant vnto +the forenamed Simon Durham had laden in Prussia, on the behalfe of 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. + +[Sidenote: Lenne.] 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, and +affirme, that about the feast of S. George the martyr, in the yeere of our +Lord 1394. sundry malefactors and robbers of Wismer and 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 and cattels, and burnt their houses and mansions in the same +place, and put their persons vnto great ransoms: [Sidenote: 21. houses of +English marchants burnt at Norben in Norway.] 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, Inprimis 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, [Footnote: _Chronica regnorum Aquiloniorum Dania, + Suecia, Norwegia, Argentorati_, 1546. Folio.] 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. [Sidenote: The +Vitalians.] Which, when the common souldiers of Rostok and 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 and 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, seeing an end of their tyrannical and violent +dealing to approach, sailed 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 whereof, 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 Noruagians: 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 Krantzius.] + +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 force 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 +therwith, as them listed, to the great impouerishment and losse of the said +marchants of Lenne, namely in cloth of William Silesden, Tho. Waterden, +Ioh. Brandon, Ioh. Wesenham, and 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. tooke +vpon the maine sea betweene Norway and Scaw, 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 complices of the Hans, in the yeere of our Lord 1396. +tooke from Thomas Ploket of Lenne, out of a certaine ship sailing vpon the +maine sea towards Sconeland (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 +[Footnote: _Fardel_, a burden. (French, _Fardeau_.)] of cloth +worth 52. li. 7. s. 6. d. Also, for the ransome of his seruant, 8. li. 6. +s. 8. d. Item, they tooke from Thomas Earle diuers goods, to the value of +24. pounds. + +Item, the foresaid marchants complaine, that certaine malefactors of Wismer +of Rostok, with others of the Hans, in the yeere of our Lord 1399, wickedly +and vniustly tooke one crayer pertayning vnto Iohn Lakinglich 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 fardell 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 and 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 Burgh, namely 160. nests of masers, +worth 100. lib. 13. s. 4. d. Item, 30. furres rigges of Kaleber woorth 13. +s. 4. d. a piece, 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. + +[Sidenote: Note the secret treasons of the Hans.] Vnto 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 and purposely set foorth one, two, or more men, 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 seeme 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, as with +strangers, and priuate persons: of late, those that are free denizens 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 can, nor dare buy and sel with the marchants of the Hans aforesaid, +to their great hinderance and losse. + +Item, the foresaid 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 tenour 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 the 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 prosecuted 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 +aforesaid shoulde not at any time after exact or demaund of the said +marchants, or of their successors, any tallages, fifteenths, or subsidies, +contrary to the tenor 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, and 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 +arrest) notwithstanding that they were released before the councel of our +soueraigne lord the king, and 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. + +[Sidenote: The ancient customes of wools.] Item, the foresaid marchants are +priuileged as touching customs of wols by them bought within the realm of +England, that they are not bound to pay, ouer and besides their ancient +customs, but onely xl. d, more then the homeborn marchants of England were +wont to pay. [Sidenote: Pence for the towne of Cales.] But now the foresaid +marchants are compelled to pay for euery sack of wool (besides the ancient +custom and the 40. d. aforesaid) a certain imposition 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, and against the liberty of their +charter. + +Item, the foresaid marchants are priuileged by their charter, that +concerning the quantity of their merchandize 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 merchandize so brought in, and 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 tenor of their charter. + +[Sidenote: The great charter of marchants.] Item, the foresaid merchants 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, +graunted liberty vnto them to pay the customes of certain clothes, namely +of skarlet, and cloth died in grayne, and of other clothes of assise, which +were by them to be caried out of the realme of England, euen as by their +foresaid Charter it doeth more plainly appeare: and whereas our soueraigne +lord the king that now is (ratifying and confirming the saide charter, and +being willing that they shoulde haue more especiall fauour shewed vnto +them) granted vnto them by their Charter, that the said marchants should be +exempted and freed from all custome and imposition of small clothes, as in +pieces and in narrow clothes which were not of assise, and in such other +clothes of like qualitie: [Sidenote: A speciall charter.] yet of late the +Customers of our Lorde the King that nowe is, not allowing their saide +speciall Charter so graunted vnto the marchants aforesaid, do compel them +to pay for straight clothes and for pieces of clothes which are not of +assise, (together with other demands particularly and seuerally made) as +great custome as if the clothes were full out of assise. [Sidenote: The +customers of the pety custome.] Moreouer also of late, the customers of the +smal or pety custome and of the subsidie doe demand of them custome for +kersey-clothes equal vnto the custome of those clothes, that be of ful +assise, whereas the foresaid marchants were not wont to pay for those +kerseys by vertue of their Charter, but onely according to the worth of ech +pound of siluer, as namely for other goods which are of golde weight: to +the great hinderance of the foresaid parties, and against the manifest +graunt of our soueraigne Lord the king, as it appeareth in the said +speciall Charter. + +Item, the said merchants alleage, that they are priuiledged by their +Charter, if they pay custome and subsidy for their goods in the behalfe of +our lord the king, at any port of England where those goods haue arriued +and afterward would transport the saide goods or any part of them vnto any +other port within the realme aforesaid: that then they should be quite +released from paying of any other custome for the same goods, if they bring +a warrant that they haue paide the saide custome, as is aforesaide. +[Sidenote: 1405.] Of late it fortuned, that a certaine man of their +societie named Nicholas Crossebaire, being a marchant of the lande of +Prussia, immediately after the concord was concluded betwene the English +and the Prussians, brought vnto the towne of Sandwich a shippe laden with +bowe-staues and other marchandize, and there well and truely paide the +custome of our lord the king for all his ware: and selling there part of +the same goods, he afterward transported parcel thereof in a small barke +vnto London, there to be solde, and caried a warrant also with him, that he +had at Sandwich paid the custome due vnto our lord the king: and yet (the +said warrant notwithstanding) the customers of the pety custome and subsidy +of London came and demanded custome of him at another time contrary to +reason, and against the tenor of their charter: and the said Nicholas +offred pledges vnto them, yea, euen ready money downe into their hands, +vntil the question were discussed and determined, whether he should pay new +custome or no: but this they would not doe. Then the said Nicholas brought +a brief from our lord the king, to get himselfe discharged from paying the +said custome: and for all that, the foresaid customers would not as yet +haue regard vnto him, but kept the said goods within shipboord, vpon the +riuer of Thames, for the space of 15. dayes, vntil he had paid another +custome, to the great losse of the said Nicholas, for that which he sold +first at Sandwich to be deliuered at London for seuen nobles, he could not +afterward haue for it aboue foure nobles, and yet so was it solde, by +reason of the harme which his wares had taken by lying so long vpon the +water, contrary to the tenor of their Charter. + +Item, the said marchants do alleage, that another of their company called +Peter Hertson bought at Bristow certain clothes, and laded the same in a +ship, to be transported for Prussia, for the which he truely paide at +Bristowe, the customs and subsidies due vnto our soueraign lord the king: +which ship with the foresaid goods arriuing at London: the customers of the +pety-custome and of the subsidie there would not permit the said ship with +the goods to passe vnto the parts aforesaid, vntil the said Peter had paid +another custome for the same goods (the warrant, which he brought with him +notwithstanding) to his great hindrance, and contrary to the tenour of +their Charter. + +Item, pitifully complaining the foresaid marchants alleage, that wheras +euery marchant, bringing wares into the realm, was wont to haue a schedule +wherein his name was written, for a specification and certificat of the +quantity of his goods in the said schedule to be found at the arriual of +the ship, without paying therfore ought at all, of late, the customers of +the pety custome do compel them to pay for ech mans name written a peny, at +the arriual of their goods out of euery ship wherin the said goods are +found, what commodities and marchandize soeuer they be: whereas +notwithstanding, if there be a chest or any other smal matter, there should +not therfore be any custome due vnto our lord the king, nor any receiued +vnto his Maiesties vse. [Sidenote: The customers of the subsidie.] In like +maner do the customers of the subsidy deale. Whereas also the foresaid +marchants were not wont to pay for a cocket for the conueyance and +transportation of their goods out of the realme (albeit many names were +written theirne) more then 4. d. of late the customers of the pety custom +do compel them to pay for euery name contained in the same cocket 4. d. and +in like sort do the customers of the saide subsidy deale. Which +contribution in a yere extendeth it self vnto a great summe, to the vnknown +preiudice of our lord the king, more then any man could suppose, (for the +customers enioy their fees and commodities from his Maiestie that they may +doe him faithfull seruice) and likewise to the great damage of the said +marchants. + +Item, pitifully complaining the said marchants do alleage that they are +constrained to pay for subsidy, sometime 12. d. and somtime 6. d. in the +pound, contrary to the tenor of their charter: and yet notwithstanding when +their marchandize commeth to the wharf, the customers prolong and delay the +time 3. or 4. weeks before they wil take custome for their goods, in the +which space other marchants sel their goods, the customers not regarding +whether the goods aforesaid take wet or no: to the great damage aswel of +our lord the king, as of the said marchants: because, if they had quicke +dispatch, they might pay custome vnto his Maiestie oftner then they doe. + +Item, the said marchants doe farther alleage, that the customers of the +petie custome, and of the subsidie in the port of London haue appointed +among themselues certaine men to seale vp the goods of the saide marchants, +so soon as they are arriued at the port of safetie, vntil the said 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 contrarie to iustice and to their +charter. Moreouer, the saide customers haue ordained betweene themselues, +that the saide marchants shall put or make vp no cloth into fardels, to +transport out of the realme, vnlesse certaine men appointed by them for the +same purpose bee there present, to see what maner of clothes they bee, +vnder paine of the forfeiture of the saide goods. Also of late, when the +sayde marchants would haue made up such fardels, the foresayde parties +assigned to be ouerseers refused to come, vnlesse they might haue for their +comming some certain 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 Lord 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 and balifs of the +town of Southampton do compel them to pay for euery last of herrings, +pitch, and sope ashes brought thither by them 2. s. more then the kings +custome: and for ech hundreth of bowstaues and boords called Waghenscot, 2. +d. for euery hundreth of boords called Richolt, 4. d. and for al other +marchandize brought by the foresaid marchants vnto the same towne: which +contributions they neuer paid at any time heretofore, being greatly to +their hinderance, and contrary to the tenour of their Charter. + +Item, the foresaid marchants do alleage, that one of their company; called +Albert Redewish of Prussia, bringing diuers goods and marchandizes vnto +Newcastle vpon Tine, and there laying 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 saide 7. li. according to equity and reason: howbeit, that at the +comming of the said briefe the foresaid balifes would do nothing on his +behalfe, but would haue slaine their foresaid associate, contrary to their +charter and priuiledges. + +William Esturmy knight, and Iohn Kington canon of Lincolne, being by the +most mighty prince and lord, L. Henry by Gods grace K. of England and +France and lord of Ireland, sufficiently deputed and appointed to parle, +treate, and agree with the common society of the marchants of the Hans of +Dutchland or Almain, concerning and about the redressing and reformation of +vniust attempts happening between our said soueraign L. the king his liege +people and subiects on the one part, and between the common society +aforesaid, the cities, towns, And particular persons thereof on the other +part: do (for the behalf of our said soueraign L. the King, with a mind and +intention to haue al and singular the things vnderwritten to come to the +knowledge of the said common society) intimate, declare, and make known +vnto you (hono. sirs) Henr. Westhoff citizen and deputy of the city of +Lubec, Henry Fredelaw, Ioh. van Berk citizen of Colen, Mainard Buxtehude +citizen, and deputy of the city of Hamburgh, M. Simon Clawstern clerk, sir +Iohn de Aa knight deputie of the citie of Rostok, Herman Meyer deputy of +the citie of Wismar, being as the procurators, messengers, and +commissioners of the foresaid cities, assembled together at the town of +Hage in Holland, with the forenamed Will. and Iohn in regard of the +foresaid redres and 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 and vouchsafed vnto the common society of the marchants +aforesaid, by the renoumed kings of England, and the worthy progenitors of +our L. the K. that now is, and by himself also vnder a certain form +confirmed: euen so he is determined (without the preiudice of forren lawes) +vpon iust mature, and sober deliberation, by his royall authorise to +withstand such priuiledges, as by reason of the abuse thereof, haue bene +infinitely preiudiciall 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 and 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 and deliberate common counsel did +appoint and ordain, that 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 immediately 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 immediately after certaine English marchants with +their ships, mariners, and marchandize beeing in a certaine 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, stoutely 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 the terme prefixed, +sel them, imposing grieuous pecuniary mulcts, besides the forfeiture of the +clothes so bought or sold, vpon them that would attempt the contrary. + +Item, that after the said statute and ordinance, the foresaide societie +decreed, that all marchants of the said companie, hauing among their wares +and marchandise any woollen clothes made in England, should either sell the +saide clothes, or within a short space then limited, should, vnder penaltie +of forfeiting the said clothes, utterly renounce the vse and commoditie +thereof: Notwithstanding a grieuous penaltie of money being imposed vpon +the violators of the same statute. + +[Sidenote: The Hans societie determineth the ouerthrow of English +merchants.] Item, that the statutes and ordinances aforesaid might with +more speed and celerity be put in execution, the said authors and +publishers thereof imagining, according to their desire, that by this +meanes an vtter extirpation and ouerthrow of English marchants might, yea +and of necessity must ensue: upon their serious and long premeditated +deliberation, straitely commanded and inioyned, vnder pain of losing the +benefit of all priuileges, wheresoeuer, or by the princes of what lands, or +the Magistrates of what Cities or townes soeuer vouchsafed vnto the said +common societie, that not only the aldermen of that, society in al places +throughout the realme of England, but also al other marchants of the said +company, after the maner of marchants conuersing in the said Realme, +should, without exception of persons, vtterly abstein from all intercourse +of traffike with the marchants of the realme aforesaid: yea, and that they +shoulde depart out of the said kingdome within a very short space limited. +For the dispatching of al which premisses without delay, it was according +to their commandement effectually prouided. + +[Sidenote: Statutes against the English marchants in Norway and Suedland.] +Item, that the society aforesaid hath approued diuers very vnreasonable +statutes and ordinances, made and published by the marchants of the same +society residing in the kingdoms of Norway and Swedland, to the great +preiudice of the kingdome of England, and the marchants thereof: and as yet +both couertly and expresly do approue the same, vniustly putting them in +daily execution. + +Item, wheras in the priuileges and indulgences granted by the renouned +princes somtimes kings of England, the worthy progenitors of our souereign +lord the king that now is, vnto the society aforesaid, it is prouided, that +the said marchants shal not auow any man which is not of their company, nor +shal not colour his goods and marchandize vnder their company; whereas also +in the confirmation of the sayd priuiledges made up by our soueraigne lord +that nowe is, it is manifestly prouided, that the marchants of the Hans +towns, vnder the colour of their priuiledges in England, shall not vpon +paine of the perpetuall frustration and reuocation of the foresayd +priuiledges, receiue any stranger of any other towne in their liberties, by +whom the kings custome may in any sort be withholden or diminished: and yet +the contrary vnto al these prouisoes hath bin euery yere, for these 20. +yeres or thereabout notoriously practised and committed, as well ioyntly by +the generall counsell, and toleration of the foresayd society, as also +seuerally by the aduise and permission of diuers particular cities of the +foresayd Hans company to the great diminution of his maiesties custome, the +estimation whereof the foresayd ambassadors are not able at this present +fully to declare. [Sidenote: How many and which be the Hans townes.] But +that all occasions of the last aboue mentioned diminution may bee preuented +for the time to come, the sayd ambassadors doe demand to haue from the +foresayd societie a declaration in writing, what and what maner of +territories, cities, townes, villages or companies they be, for which the +sayd society challengeth and pretendeth, that they ought to enioy the +priuiledges granted vnto their marchants, as is aboue mentioned. + +Moreouer, it is required by the foresaid ambassadors, if the societie +aforesayd hath not decreed nor ordayned the things aboue written, that the +names of the cities and places decreeing and ordaining such statutes and +ordinances, may by the sayd common society either now or at some other +times and places conuenient for the same purpose, be expressed and set +downe in writing. + + * * * * * + +A letter of Henry the fourth king of England &c. unto Frater Conradus de + Iungingen the Master generall of Prussia. + +Henrie &c. to the most noble and mighty personage of sacred religion F: +Conradus de Iungingen Master general of the order of the Dutch knights of +S. Marie, our most deare friend, greeting, and continual perfection of +amity. + +When as your messengers and ambassadors were of late personally present in +Holland, and there expected the arriual of our ambassadors vntill the first +day of the moneth of Nouember last expired, that there might bee by way of +friendly conference a remedie prouided in regard of certaine iniuries +pretended to be offered, by both our subiects one against another, for the +publique commoditie of both parts, we were determined to haue sent vnto +Dordract, at the foresaid daye, our welbeloued and faithfull knight William +Sturmy, and our welbeloued clerke Iohn Kington, vpon our +ambassage-affayres: hauing as yet in our desires, for a peaceable ending of +the matter, (which, our foresayd ambassadors, by reason of the shortnes of +time, or the finding out of some other remedie and happy conclusion of all +and singular the foresaid attempts concerning the principall busines, could +by no meanes at that instant attaine vnto) that vpon some other more +conuenient day (to the end your ambassadors might not returne home +altogether frustrate of their expectation) there might be, after the wonted +friendly maner, a conference and agreement with your foresaid ambassadors, +euen as by other letters of ours directed vnto your sayd ambassadors the +second day of the moneth of Nouember aforesayd wee haue deliuered our mind +vnto them. But it fortuned not long before the departure of your +ambassadors into their owne countrey, that no sufficient shipping could be +found wherein our sayd ambassadors might haue secure and safe passage vnto +Dordract, or Middleburgh, neither was it thought that they should get any +passage at all, till the ships at Middleborough were returned into our +kingdome, by the force whereof they might be the more strongly wafted ouer. +And so by reason of the departure of your ambassadours, all matters remaine +in suspense till such time as the sayd ambassadors shall againe meete with +ours to adde perfection vnto the busines as yet imperfect. Wherefore (our +friend unfainedly beloued) desiring from the bottome of our heart that the +integritie of loue, which hath from auncient times taken place betweene our +and your subiects, may in time to come also be kept inuiolable, we haue +thought good once again to send one of our foresaid ambassadors, namely +William Esturmy knight to Dordract, giuing him charge thither to make +haste, and there to stay, till some of your messengers, at your +commandement doe in time conuenient repayre vnto that place, there (by Gods +assistance) to bring the matter vnto an happy conclusion. May it please you +therefore of your vnfayned friendship, without all inconuenience of delay, +to returne, not vnto vs, but vnto our forenamed knight an answere in +writing, what your will and determination is. Neither let it seeme strange +vnto you, that we haue not at this present sent our forenamed Iohn Kington +clerke together with the sayd William; for the cause of his abode with vs +is, that he may in the meane season employ his care and diligence about +those matters which muust be preparitues for the finall conclusion of the +foresayd busines. Honorable sir, and most deare friend, we doe most +heartily wish increase of prosperity and ioy vnto your person. [Sidenote: +1407.] Giuen in our palace of Westminster the 14. day of Feb. in the yeare +of our Lord 1407. + + * * * * * + +To the right noble and valiant knight Sir William Sturmy sent at this + present by the most souereigne King of England &c, as his ambassadour + vnto Dordract, his most sincere friend. + +Honorable sir, our most entier friend, wee receiued the royall letters of +the most mighty prince and lord, our lord the king of England and France +and lord of Ireland, sent vnto vs vnder the date of the 14. day of February +(which we receiued at our castle of Marienburgh the 11. of April) +containing, amongst other matters, that his Maiesties purpose was once +againe to sende one of his ambassadors, namely your selfe our very sincere +friend vnto Dordract, giuing you in charge that you would make haste +thither and there stay; vntill some of our subiects might at our +commandement, in conuenient time repaire vnto the same place, there (by +God's assistance) to bring our matters vnto a happy conclusion. And then he +requested that wee should without delay write our determination vnto you, +as the conclusion of the said letter importeth. Howbeit (our most deare +friend) the treaties and conferences about the redresse or reformation of +uniust attempts committed by the subiects of our sayd lord and king and our +subiects, one against another, are both on our behalfe, and on the behalfe +of the common societie of the Hans marchants, hitherto had, made, and +continued common. And so our commissioners vpon our full and absolute +commandement, shal, for the managing of these and of other affaires of the +foresaid societie, many waies vrgent and difficult, vpon the feast of our +Lords Ascension next to come, meet with the said societie at Lubec, there +to giue notice what they haue determined to conclude in this present +busines and in others for their owne behalfe. For we will giue our +ambassadours, which are there to appeare, streightly in charge that +according to the kings request aforesayde they doe without delay procure an +answere to be written vnto your honour concerning the determination of the +foresayd societie. Giuen at the place and vpon the day aboue named, in the +yeare of our Lord 1407. + + + Fr. Wemherus de Tettingen, commander in Elbing, general vice-master and + lieutenant in the roome of the master generall of the Dutch knights of + the Order of S. Marie &c. of late deceased. + + * * * * * + +The letters of Henry the 4. king of England &c vnto Vlricus de Iungingen + Master generall of Prussia, 1408. wherein he doth ratifie and accept the + last agreement made at Hage in Holland. + +Henry &c. vnto the honourable and religious personage Fr. Vlricus de +Iungingen Master generall of the Dutch knights of S. Marie &c. our most +deare friend, greeting and dayly increase of our accustomed amity and +friendship. We doe by these presents giue your honour to vnderstand, that +our faithfull and welbeloued William Esturmy knight, and Master Iohn +Kington clerke, our ambassadours and messengers sent of late on our +behalfe, vnto the presence of your predecessour for the redressing of +certaine grieuances and damages being contrary to iustice offered against +vs and our liege subiects by the people and subiects of your predecessors, +and against them also by our subiects as it is aforesayd, in friendly maner +to be procured, of late returning out of the parts of Alemain made relation +vnto vs and to our counsell, that hauing conferred with your forenamed +predecessour about the foresayd affayres, the particulars following were at +length concluded: namely first of all, that at a certaine day and place +they should meete in Holland with his ambassadors and messengers, to hold a +friendly conference betweene them about the redressing and reformation of +the grieuances and damages aforesayd: and that they should by equall waight +of diligent elimination ponder, and in the balance of iustice discusse and +define al and singular the foresaid grieuances and damages inflicted on +both parts. [Sidenote: A meeting at Hage the 28. of August 1407.] Howbeit +at length after sundry prorogations then made and continued on this +behalfe, our ambassadors and messengers aforesaid vpon the 28. of August +last past, assembling themselues for our part at the towne of Hage in +Holland, the hon. and discreete personages Arnold Heket burgomaster of the +towne of Dantzik, and Iohn Crolowe, for the behalf of your subiects of +Prussia, and Tidman de Meule, and Iohn Epenscheid for the behalfe of +Liuonia, being assembled as messengers and commissioners about the redresse +and reformation aforesayd, did then and there demaund in certaine articles, +of our ambassadours and messengers aboue named 25034. nobles and half a +noble, for the grieuances and damages offered (as it was then said) to your +subiects of Prussia, and 24082. nobles 12. s. 8. d. in recompense of the +damages offered vnto those your subiects of Liuonia. And when the substance +of those articles about the grieuances and losses aforesayd was by the sayd +ambassadours and messengers aboue named 25034. nobles and half a noble, for +the grieuances and damages offered (as it was then said) to your subiects +of Prussia, and 24082. nobles, 12. s. 8. d. in recompence of the damages +offered vnto those your subiects of Liuonia. And when the substance of +those articles about the grieuances and losses aforesayd was by the sayd +ambassadours and messengers throughly examined and discussed, by their +generall consent it was finally agreed, that your subiects, in +consideration of all and singular the foresayd grieuances and damages +offered vnto them by our people, should within three yeares after the feast +of Easter next ensuing, at three equall payments receiue from vs, namely +they of Prussia, 8957. nobles, and they of Liuonia 22496. nobles, sixe +pence, halfepeny, farthing, and no more, so that we our selues thought good +to condescend thereunto. Howbeit, forasmuch as certaine other goods of your +subiects of Prussia, and also certaine articles in the behalfe of our +subiects containing grieuous complaints in them, being propounded before +the ambassadors and messengers aforesaid, for the attaining of reformation +in regard of the damages and grieuances offered on both parts, could not as +then, for the great obscurity of diuers of the sayd articles, and also for +want of sufficient proofe at the last meeting appointed and held by the +foresayd ambassadors at the towne of Hage in Holland, sufficiently to be +examined, discussed, and defined, it was agreed vpon by the ambassadors and +messengers of both partes, that from the 15. day of October then last +expired vnto the feast of Easter now next ensuing, and from thenceforth +within one whole yere immediately following, the plaintifes of both parts +should throughly declare before our chancelour of England for the time +being, the foresayd obscurities concerning the substance of their articles, +and that they should, for the obtaining of execution, and complement of +iustice at our sayd chancelours hands, peremtorily minister necessary +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 satifaction 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 ratifie 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 betwene 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 afore sayd, 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 equal portions. Conditionally that vnto our subiects +which be endamaged correspondent satisfaction be likewise on your part +within the terme of the foresayd three yeres performed, with paying the +summes of 766. nobles and of 4535. nobles, demaunded on our bchalfe, and +also with the payment of such summes as within one yeere immediately +ensuing the feast of Easter aforesayd, shallbe found by sufficient +declarations 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 yeere 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 renowned king, mighty prince, and gracious Lord, we +receiued of late with great reuerence as it becommeth vs, by our +wellbeloued Arnold de Dassel the bearer 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 +parte, and our honorable and religious brethren, namely Conradus +Lichtensten great commander, Warnherus de Tettingen chiefe hospitalary and +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 knowledge 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 Epensheid, 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. +[Sidenote: Here relation is had unto the king of the Romans.] With this +special prouiso that in like manner satisfaction be made in all points, +both vnto other of our damnified 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 counsellors, and +also vnto other of our subiects who haue brought in sufficient proofe of +damages uniustly 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, and 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 reformation, reparation, and amendement of all uniust 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 a halfe, accompting from the feast of Easter last +past, often before mentioned: yet vnder a certaine protestation, namely if +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 thereof vnto your royall Maiestie, +refused finally to approue; being rather desirous to make a true and +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 to be performed in, would haue proceeded from your bountifull +and gracious clemencie. And in very deede (most mighty prince) albeit it +was neuer the meaning of our foresayd predecessor, so for 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 and feruent zeale and speciall affection vnto your royall +crowne of England, and hauing due regard and consideration of your most +excellent Maiestie, upon the aduise of our honourable brethren our +counsellors, doe thankfully recieue, and 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 occasons limited and prefixed by +your highnes as are expressed in your maiesties letters, and also of other +sammes which within one yeare immediately ensuing after the feast of Easter +last past, by sufficient proofes to be madee 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 them: 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. [Sidenote: Septem. 27. 1408.] The +almighty vouchsafe prosperously and longtime to preserue your maieisties +royal person. Giuen at our castle of Marienburgh the 27. of September, in +the yeare of our Lord 1408. + +Fr. Vlricus de Tungingen master generall of the order of the Dutch-knights + of S. Maries hospital of Ierusalem. + + * * * * * + +The letters of king Henry the 4. sent vnto F. 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 and 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, +and restitutions in certaine maner and 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 at 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 again expressly written) what we thought good to haue done in +this behalfe: so that we also might by your friendly letters be certaynly +informed of your will and express consent, being likewise conformable vnto +our 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 beeing mooued with a +feruent zeale and speciall affection (as you write) vnto the royall crowne +of our realme, and hauing due regard and consideration of our royall +maiestie, vpon the aduise of your honourable brethren your counsellers, doe +with a thankful 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, and also of +other summes which within one whole yeare immediately following the feast +of Easter last past, be 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 appointed for the said payments, procure +satisfaction to 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 answere returned by them vnto vs, as is aforesaid, wee +doe yeelde vnto you right vnfained thanks. [Sidenote: A motion for a +perpetuall league.] 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 feruencie 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 +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 +uspeakable 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 +confimation 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 and 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 Ierusalom, 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. + +1. Imprimis for the conseruation and mutuall loue and wonted amitie, and +for the tranquilitie of sweete amiable peace, it is decreed and ordained, +that all and singular the liege people and subiects of the Realme of +England and the marchants of the territories and 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 conuers 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 merchandize, and wares whatsoeuer; faithfully +paying in the meane time all rights and customes due in regard of their +said wares and marchandize. Reserued alwaies unto the said Master and his +sucessours 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. + +2. 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 deport 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. + +3. Item it is with one consent agreed upon, promised, and granted 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 of the +grieuances, damages, and robberies aforesaid, were, or at this present are +the said soueraigne king his subiects; there are due to be payed vnto the +said king or his successours by the said Master generall or his +successours, in full satisfaction and recompence of the damages, +grieuances, and robberies aboue written, certaine summes of English money: +euen as in the letters obligatorie made by the said Master generall his +procurators and messengers aboue named in this behalfe, and sealed with +their seales, and deliuered vnto the forenamed procurators and +commissioners of our said Lord the king it is expressed more at large. + +4. Item it is couenanted, graunted, and promised, that no subiect of the +said Master generall or of his successours, by reason or occasion of the +damages, grieuances, and robberies aforesaid, shall, by the said soueraigne +king or his successours or by their authoritie or commandement, or by +another person whatsoeuer who in regard of the foresaid losses, grieuances +and robberies hath bene molested and damnified, or at the procurement or +instant suite of any, be attached, arrested, imprisoned, or detained; nor +that the goods of the said Master generall, or of his successors, or of any +of them, shal be laid hold on, arrested, or detained. + +5. Item it is couenanted and ordained, that if any of the liege people and +subiects of the sayde Master generall or of his successors shall, contrary +to the forme of the concord and graunt next aboue-written, chance to be +molested or endamaged: that then the foresaid soueraigne Lord the King and +his successors the kings of England are bound to make full satisfaction for +all such losses as the subiects of the said Master generall or of his +successours or any of them shall for that cause haue vniustly sustained, +vnto the parties endamaged. Which thing if the foresaid soueraigne Prince, +or his successours in the Realme of England, being conueniently requested +by the letters of the said Master generall or of his successours shall +refuse to doe, that then after the terme of sixe moneths immediately +following the said deniall or refusall, it shalbe right lawfull for the +Master generall that now is and for any of his successours in time to come +(hauing first made conuenient proofe that the foresaid request was by him +or them exhibited) to arrest so many goods of the foresaid king his +subiects found in the land of Prussia, as may suffice for the reasonable +satisfaction and recompense of any person or persons whatsoeuer vniustly +molested in this behalfe; and also to detaine the said goods under +arrestes, vntil condigne satisfaction and amends be made vnto the party or +parties molested. + +6. Item by the commissioners and procuratours often aboue named it is +couenanted, promised, and graunted, that for all and singular the damages, +molestations and robberies by the foresayde soueraigne king his liege +people and subiects howsoeuer before the date of these presents committed +and offred against the said Master general or against any of his subiects +whether Prussians or Liuonians, and against all others who at the time of +the damages, grieuances and robberies aforesaid were, or at this present +are the subiects of the Master generall aforesaid (except notwithstanding +certaine damages and grieuances hereafter to be mentioned, whereof also +some prouisoes shalbe had in the articles following, which damages were +before the date of these presents by the said soueraigne king his liege +people and subiects inflicted vpon certaine subiects of the foresaid +general Master, especially them of Prussia which hereafter shalbe named) +there are certaine summes of money due to be payed vnto the said Master +generall or vnto his successours by the said soueraigne Prince or his +successours for the full satisfaction of the foresaid damages, molestations +and robberies inflicted vpon the Prussians and Liuonians, and the others +mentioned, euen as in the leters obligatorie of the said soueraigne Lord +the king made in this behalfe, being giuen and deliuered vnto the said +Master generall his procuratours and messengers, it is declared more at +large. + +7. Item, it is couenanted, granted and promised, that none of the liege +people or subiects of the foresaid soueraigne prince or of his heires +shall, by reason or occasion of the damages, grieuances and robberies +aforesaid, by the sayd Master generall or his successours or by their +authoritie and commandement, or by any other who in respect of the said +damages, grieuances and robberies aboue mentioned, hath beene molested or +damnified, or by any of their procurements or instant suites shalbe +attached, arrested, imprisoned or detained: nor that any goods of the +subiects of the said soueraigne king or his heires or any of them, shall +bee attached, arrested, or detained. Reserued always vnto the forenamed +Master generall and his subiects all right and remedie any way requisite or +competent vnto them by meanes of the obligations aforesaid. + +8. Item it is couenanted and agreed that if any of the liege people or +subiects of the sayde soueraigne prince or of his heires and successours +shall (contrary to the forme of concord and graunt next aboue-written) +chaunce to bee molested or endamaged; that then the saide Master generall +and his successours, for all losses and hindrances which the liege people +and subiects of the foresayde soueraigne prince or of his heires or +successours, shall by that meanes haue vniustly sustained, are bound to +make full satisfaction vnto the partie endamage. Which if the Master +generall aforesaid or his successors being conueniently requested by the +letters of the sayde soueraigne prince or of his heires, shall refuse to +doe; that then, after the space of sixe moneths next ensuing the time of +the foresayde request, it may bee right lawfull for the forenamed +soueraigne prince that nowe is, or that then for that time shall be +(conuenient proofe being first brought, that the foresayd request had +conueniently beene exhibited) to arrest so many goods of the sayde Master +generall his subiects founde in the Realme of England, as may suffice for +the reasonable satisfaction and amends of any person or persons vniustly +molested in this behalfe; and also to detaine the sayde goods vnder safe +custodie, vntill condigne satisfaction and amends be made vnto the partie +or parties aggrieued. + +9. Item it is couenanted that besides the summes due vnto the sayde Master +generall and his successours in the behalfe of his subiects both of Prussia +and of Liuonia (whereof mention is made in the former articles) there are +due to be payed vnto the sayde Master generall and his successours, for +sundry other damaged, grieuances, and robberies against himselfe and diuers +other of his subiects of Prussia, namely. Matthewe Ludekensson, Arnold +Ashen, Henri Culeman, Iohn Vnkeltop, Iohn Halewater, Egghard Scoffe of +Dantzik, and Nicolas Wolmerstene of Elbing, done and committed by the sayde +soueraigne king his liege people and subiects vnder-written, euen before +the date of these presents, for the full satisfaction of the sayde damages, +grieuances and robberies, certaine summes of nobles hereafter following. +Namely Imprimis by Tutburie, and Terry of Hull, 82. nobles, which are due +vnto the foresaid Matthew Ludekinson. Item by Nicholas Scot of Caleis the +sonne of Tutbury, and Hilg of Hull, 256. nobles, which are due vnto the +foresayd Arnold de Aschen. Item by the inhabitants of Scardeburgh, +Blakeney, and Crowmer (who had one Iohn Iolly of Blakeney for their +captaine) 156. nobles, which are due vnto Henrie Culeman aforesayd. Item by +the inhabitants of Bayon (Whose Capitaine was one Pideuille) 125. nobles +which are due vnto the said Iohn Vnkeltop. Item by the inhabitants of +Plymmouth and Dertmouth (whose Captaines were Henrie Pay, and William +Gadeling) 600. nobles which are due vnto the foresayde Iohn Halewater, in +respect of his goods by them violently taken away. [Sidenote: A ship of the +burthen of 300. tonnes.] Item 334. nobles to be payed by the selfe same +parties, being due vnto the sayde Iohn Halewater by reason that they +detained his ship from him three moneths and more, which ship was of the +burthen of three hundreth tonnes of wine, and had in it all the foresayde +time fiue and fourtie seruants maintained at the expenses of the sayde Iohn +Halewater. Item that Sir William de Ethingham knight, who was Vice-admirall +for the sea, must bee summoned to alleage a reasonable cause (for that the +sayd Sir William with his seruants expelled the said Iohn Halewater out of +his ship for the space of fifteene dayes together, and tooke of the goods +and victuals of the said Iohn to the summe of 114. nobles) why he ought not +to pay the said summe of 114. nobles vnto Iohn Halewater aforesaid: which +if hee shall not bee willing nor able to alleage before the first of April +next ensuing, that then by the kings authoritie hee must be compelled to +pay unto the foresaid Iohn the said 114 nobles. Item by the inhabitants of +Caleis (whose captaines were Michael Scot, Bishop, and William Horneby) +1900. nobles, which are due vnto the foresayde Eggard Scoff, because the +saide soueraigne king hath giuen them in charge by the said Michael Scot +and the rest concerning the payment of the summe aforesaid. Item by Iohn +Bilis neere vnto Crowmer, 68. nobles, which are due vnto Nicholas +Wolmersten of Elbing. Which summes of nobles must by the kings authority be +leuied at the hands of his subiects aboue-mentioned betweene the time that +nowe is and the feast of the Purification of the blessed virgine which +shall fall in the yeere of our Lord 1411. effectually to bee deliuered and +payed unto the sayd Master generall or his lawfull procurator, or vnto his +successours or their lawfull procuratours, at the Citie of London, vpon the +feast aforesaid. + +Item it is couenanted that besides the summes specified in the foresayde +letters obligatorie, made in the behalfe of the said soueraigne prince, +there are due to be paied vnto one Iohn Marion of Wersingham lately +deceased being in his life-time the liege subiect of the foresaid +soueraigne prince 200. nobles of Knglish money in regard of certaine +iniuries and robberies done and committed before the date of these presents +against the foresayde Iohn, by one Eghard Scoff, subiect vnto the said +deceased Iohn, his wife, children, heires, or executors by the said +Egghard, his heires or by the administrators of his goods at the time and +place aboue mentioned. + +10 Item, it is couenanted, confirmed, and promised, that for all the +iniuries and robberies done and committed against one Iohn Dordewant of +Elbing, being in his life time subiect vnto the sayd Master generall, by +the liege people and subiects of the said soueraigne king the inhabitants +of the Scardeburgh before the date of these presents; for the full +recompense of all such iniuries and robberies, there must bee payed vnto +one Iohn Gruk of Dantzik eight hundred nobles of English money, vpon the +feast of Easter next following in the Citie of London by them of +Scardeburgh being guilty and culpable in this behalfe; who are by +definitiue sentence condemned vnto the said Iohn in the summe of 800. +nobles by reason of the iniuries and robberies aforesaid, except the +lawfull expenses in this behalfe layed out: they are also taxed in due time +for the issue. And therefore the foresayde condemned parties (whose names +are in the sentence against them pronounced in this behalfe more expresly +conteined) must in the meane season by the kings authority be compelled and +constrained really and actually to obey the foresayd sentence, namely by +deliuering and paying vnto Iohn Gruk the summe of 800. nobles at the time +and place aboue mentioned, with reasonable expences, wherein also the said +parties stand condemned, their lawfull taxation being reserued. + +Item it is couenanted and granted, that the heires of Lord Henrie du Percy +the younger after they shall come vnto lawfull age, and shall haue attained +vnto the possession and goods of their inheritance, must be compelled by +the kings authoritie (iustice going before) to make satisfaction vnto the +great procurator of Marienburgh with the summe of 838. nobles in lieu of +certaine corne and graine which the foresaid Lord Henrie, in the yeere +1403, bought and receiued of the said great procuratour, for the vse of the +castle of Zutberwik. In testimonie and confirmation of all the which +premisses, the said Tedericus Lefardus, and Iohn Crolow, of their certaine +knowledges haue put their seales vnto these present letters indented, in +the presence of the aboue-named Richard Merlow, Iohn Kington, and William +Askam, commissioners for the behalfe of England giuen at the Citie of +London in England the fourth day of December, in the yeere of our Lord +1409. + + * * * * * + +That the Brittons were in Italie and Greece with the Cimbrians and Gaules, + before the incarnation of Christ. M. Wil. Camden, pag. 33. + +[Sidenote: Triadum Liber.] Britannos autem cum Cimbris et Gallis permistos +fuisse in expeditionibus illis in Italiam et Gręciam videtur. Nam pręter +nomen commune in Britannico Triadum libro vetustissimo, vbi tres maximi +exercitus, qui č Britannis conscripti erant, memorantur, proditum est, +exterum quendam ducem longč maximum exercitum hinc contraxisse, qui, +populata magna Europę parte tandem ad Gręcum mare (forsitan Galatiam +innuit) consederit. + +Britomarum item ducem inter illos militarem, cuius meminit Florus et +Appianus, Britonem fuisse nomem euincit, quod Britonem magnum significat. +Nec torquebo illud Strabonis, qui Brennum natione Prausum fuisse scribit vt +natione Britonem faciam. + + +The same in English. + +It is not vnlike that the Britons accompanied the Cimbrians and Gaules in +those expeditions to Italy and Greece. For besides the common name, it is +recorded in that most ancient British booke called Liber Triadum, (wherein +also mention is made of three huge armies that were leuied out of Britaine) +that a certaine outlandish captaine gathered from hence a mightie armie; +who hauing wasted a great part of Europe, at length tooke vp his abode +(perhaps the Author meaneth in Gallatia) neere vnto the sea of Greece. + +Likewise that the warrelike captaine Britomarus (of whom Floras and Appian +doe make report) was himselfe a Briton, his very name doeth testifie, which +signifieth A great Briton. Neither will I wrest that testimony of Strabo +(who reporteth Brennus to haue bene a Prause by birth) that I may prooue +him also to haue bene a Briton borne. + + * * * * * + +The trauaile of Helena. + +Helena Flauia Augusta serenissimi Coeli Britannici Regis Hęres, et vnica +filia, Magni Constantini Cęsaris mater, incomparabili decore, fide, +religione, bonitate, ac magnificentiā piā, Eusebio etiam teste, per totum +resplenduit orbem: Inter omnes ętatis suę foeminas, nulla inueniebatur eā +in liberalibus artibus doctior, nulla in instrumentis musicis peritior, aut +in linguis nationum copiosior. Innatam habebat ingenij claritudinem, oris +facundiam, ac morum ornatissimam compositionem: Hebraicč, Gręcč et Latinč +erudita. Caruerat pater alia sobole (inquit Virumnius) quę Regni solio +potiretur. Illam proprerea his instrui fecit per optimos pręceptores, vt eņ +commodius Regni tractaret negotia. Vnde ob incredibilem eius +pulchritudinem, atque alias eximias animi et corporis dotes, Constantius +Chlorus Cęsar illam duxit in vxorem, atque ex eā filium in Britanniā genuit +Constantinum Magnum. Sed eo tandem Eboraci defuncto, cum Annā illā +Euangelicā, in sanctā viduitate perdurauit ad vltimum vitę diem, tota +Christianę religione dedita. Sunt enim authores, qui narrent per instam, +cessante persecutione, pacem Ecclesijs datam: Ad tantam coelestis +Philosophię; cognitionem cam ferunt post agnitum Euangelium peruenisse, vt +olim multos ediderit libros, et carmina quaędam Gręca, quę hucśsque ą +Pontico superesse perhibentur. Visionibus admonita Hierosolymam petijt, et +onmia saluatoris loca perlustrauit. Romę tandem octogenaria foeliciter in +Christo quieuit 15. Kalendas Septembris, filio adhuc superstite, anno +salutis humanę 337. Regnante apud Britannos Octauio. Huius corpus non +minimā nunc curā Venetijs seruatur. + +The same in English. + +Helena. Flauia Augusta, the heire and onely daughter of Coelus sometime the +most excellent King of Britaine, the mother of the Emperour Constantine the +great, by reason of her singular beautie, faith, religion, goodnesse and +godly Maiestie (according to the testimonie of Eusebius) was famous in all +the world. Amongst all the women of her time, there was none either in the +liberall arts more learned, or in instruments of musike more skilfull, or +in the diuers languages of nations more abundant than herselfe. She had a +naturall quicknesse or excellency of wit, eloquence of speech, and a most +notable grace in all her behauiour. She was seene in the Hebrew, Greeke and +Latine tongues. + +Her father (as Virumnius reporteth) had no other childe to succeed in the +kingdome after him but her, and therefore caused her to be instructed in +these things by the best teachers, that thereby she might the better in +time gouerne the Realme: so that by reason of her passing beautie, and +other her excellent giftes of body and minde, Constantius Chlorus the +Emperour married her, and had by her a sonne called Constantine the great, +while hee remained in Britaine. Who at length deceasing at Yorke, this +Helena (no otherwise then Anna of whom mention is made in the new +Testament) continued a vertuous and holy widow to the end of her life. + +There are some writers which doe affirme, that persecution ceased, and +peace was granted to the Christian Churches by her good meanes. + +After the light and knowledge of the Gospel, she grewe so skilfull in +diuinitie, that shee wrote and composed diuers bookes and certaine Greeke +verses also, which (as Ponticus reporteth) are yet extant. Being warned by +some visions she went to Ierusalem, and visited all the places there, which +Christ had frequented. She liued to the age of fourescore yeeres, and then +died at Rome the 15 day of August in the yeere of oure redemption 337. +Octauius being then king of Britaine, and her sonne Constantine the +Emperour then also liuing, and her body is to this day very carefully +preserued at Venice. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauels of Constantine the great, Emperour and king of + Britaine. + +Flauius Constantinus cognomento Magnus post Genitorum Constantium +Britannorum Rex, ac Romanorum Cęsar Augustus, ex Britannica matre in +Britannia natus, et in Britannia creatus Imperator, patriam natalem +magnificč suę gloria; participem fecit, Profligatis Alemanis, Hispanis, et +Francis, eorśmque Regibus pro spectaculo bestijs obiectis, Galliam +subiectam tenuit: Tres Helenę matris auunculos Brittanos, Leolinum, +Traherum, et Marium, quos cęteris semper fidentiores habuerat in suis +fortunis, Italis ą Maxentij tyrannide foelicitčr liberatis, in Senatorum +ordinem Romę promouit. Innumerę in eo (vt Eutropius habet) claruźre tam +animi, quąm corporis virtutes, dum appetentissnnus esset glorię militaris, +successu semper in bellis prospero. Inter literas tam Gręcas quąm Latinas, +ą Christianissima matre Helena Christi fidem edoctus, eos honorabat +pręcipué [Transcriber's note: 'pręciqué' in original] qui in Philosophia +Christiana vitam reclinassent. Vnde ab oceani finibus nempe Britannis +incipiens, ope fretus diuina, religionis curam in medijs superstitionum +tenebris cepit, ab Occiduis ad Indos, innumeras ad ęternę spem vitę erigens +gentes. Animum diuinis exercendo studijs, noctes trahebat insomnes, et +quęsita scribendi diuerticula per otium frequentabat: Imperium oratione, ac +Sanctis operationibus continendum ratus, Egregius Christianę disciplinę +pręco, filios ac proceres docuit, pietatem diuitijs omnibus, atque adeņ +ipsi anteferre totius mundi Monarchię. Falsorum deorum euersor. Imaginum +cultus per Gręciam, Ęgyptum, Persiam, Asiam, et vniuersam ditionem Romanam, +repetitis abrogat legibus, iubens per edicta Christum coli, Euangelium +prędicari sacrum, Ministris honores, et alimenta dari, atque idolorum +vbķque destrui templa. Et vt fidei forma cunctis videretur, Euangelium Iesu +Christi ante se semper ferri fecit, et Biblia sacra ad omnes prouincias +destinari, diademįque Monarchicum primus Britannis regibus dedit: Ecclesijs +infinita pręstitit, agros, annonam, stipem egenis, ęgris, viduis, ac +orphanis, pro quibusque vt pater sollicitus. Eusebium, Lactantium, et +similes, familiarissimos habuit, et hanc ad Deum orationem indičs ipsis in +eius vita testibus fudit. Vnum et Deum esse nouimus, vnum te Regem +intelligimus, appellamus adiutorem, nobis abs te victoria cecidit, ex te +Aduersarium fudimus, &c. Pro delicijs habuit, vt Sextus Aurelianus tradit, +literarum studia colere, bonos artes fouere, legere, scribere, meditari: +composuit Gręcč et Latinč multos libros et Epistolas. E vita Nicomedię +discessit Senex, ętatis suę Anno 66. et Imperij 32. ą Christi verņ +incarnatione 339. Constantinopoli sepultus, Octauio in Britannijs regnante. +Eius vitam in quatuor libris Eusebius Cęsariensis Gręcč scripsit, et +Ioannes Portesius Gallus in Latinum transtulit sermonem. + + +The same in English. + +Flauius Constantine, surnamed the great, king of the Britaines after his +father, and Emperor of the Romanes, borne in Britanie of Helena his mother, +and there created Emperour, made his natiue countrey partaker of his +singular glory and renoume. + +Hauing conquered and put to flight the Almanes, Spaniards, Frenchmen, and +their Kings for a spectacle throwen out to wild beasts, he held France it +selfe as subiect vnto him: and hauing happily deliuered the Italians from +the tyrannie of Maxentius, he preferred three of his mothers vncles, all +Britaines, namely, Leoline, Trahere, and Marius, whom in all his actions he +had found more faithfull vnto him then any others, to be of the order of +the Romane Senators. + +Eutropius reporteth, that he infinitely excelled in the vertues both of the +mind and body also, and that hauing a pleasure in the practise of warre, +and in the iust commendation, of Martiall prowesse, he neuer pitched his +field but his successe in the battel was alwayes victorious. His mother +Helena hauing instructed him in the faith of Christ, although hee made much +of all men that were learned in the Greeke and Latine tongues, yet he +yeelded speciall honor to those that spent their time in the studie of +Diuinitie, which he called Christian Philosophie: so that beginning at the +furthest part of the Ocean sea, which then was taken to be his owne natiue +soyle of Britaine, and trusting in the assistance of God, when the darkenes +of superstition was most thicke, then hee vndertooke a care of Religion, +stirring vp innumerable nations from the West as farre as India it selfe, +to the hope of eternall life. + +Hee passed many nightes without sleepe, hauing his minde occupied in diuine +studies: and whensoeuer his laisure from greater affaires did permit him, +his vacant times should be spent in the vse of writing and other good +exercises, assuring himselfe that his kingdomes and Empire were to be +continued and strengthened to him by prayer and holy workes: and oftentimes +taking vpon him as it were the person of a notable preacher of Christian +discipline, he would teach his children and nobilitie, that godlinesse was +to be preferred before riches, yea, before the Monarchie of all the world. + +He ouerthrew the false gods of the heathens, and by many lawes often +reuiued, he abrogated the worshipping of Images in all the countries of +Greece, Egypt, Persia, Asia, and the whole Romane Empire, commanding Christ +onely by his Edicts to be worshipped, the sacred Gospell to be preached, +the Ministers thereof to be honored and relieued, and the temples of Idoles +euery where to be destroyed. + +Whithersoeuer he went hee caused the booke of the Gospell of Christ to be +still caried before him, that thereby it might appeare to be a forme of +faith to all men, and to appertaine generally to all nations. + +He was the first that appointed an Imperiall Diademe, or Crowne to the +Kings of Britaine. + +He was most beneficiall to all Churches, bestowing vpon them lands and +fields, and vpoh the poore, sicke persons, widowes and orphanes, corne and +wood, being as carefull of them as if he had beene their naturall father. + +He vsed learned men most familiarly, as Eusebius, Lactantius and others, +and they are witnesses that this was his usuall prayer to God. O Lord we +know thee to be the onely God, we are sure that thou art the onely King, +and wee call vpon thee as our helper: through thee we haue gotten the +victorie, and by thee we haue ouerthrowen the enemie. + +Sextus Aurelius reporteth, that it was his greatest delight to imbrace the +studie of learning, to fauour good Arts, to read, write and meditate, and +that he composed many bookes and Epistles both in the Greeke and Latine +tongues. + +He died at Nicomedia, being then 66. yeres of age, in the 32. yere of his +reigne, and in the 339. yeere after the Incarnation of Christ, and was +buried at Constantinople, Octauius being then King of Britaine: whose life +Eusebius bishop of Cęsarea hath written in Greeke in 4 bookes, which +afterwards, were translated into the Latine tongue by Iohn Portes a +Frenchman. + + * * * * * + +Certaine Englishmen sent to Constantinople by the French King to Iustinian + the Emperour, about the yeere of Christ, 500. out of the fourth booke of + Procopius de Bello Gothico. + +Britanniam insulam tres numerosissimę gentes incolunt: Quorum vnicuique +suus Rex imperat. Nominantur hę gentes Angili, Frisones, et qui eiusdem +sunt cum insula cognominis Britones. Tanta vero hominum multitudo esse +videtur, vt singulis annis inde magno numero cum vxoribus et liberis ad +Francos emigrent. Illi autem in eorum terram, quę maximč deserta videtur, +excipiunt. Vnde insulam sibi vendicare ferunt. Vtique non ita pridem, cum +Francorum Rex quosdam č suis Constantinopolim ad Iustinianum legaret, +Anglos etiam misit, ambitiosius vendicans, quasi hęc insula suo subesset +imperio. + + +The same in English. + +The Isle of Britaine is inhabited by three most populous nations, euery of +which is gouerned by a seuerall king. The sayd nations are named Angili, +Frisones, and Britones which last are called after the name of the Island. +In this Isle there are such swarmes of people, that euery yeare they goe +foorth in great numbers with their wiues and children into France. And the +Frenchmen right willingly receiue them into their lande, which seemeth very +desolate for want of inhabitants. Whereupon it is sayd that the French doe +challenge the foresayde Island vnto themselues. For not long since, when +the king of the Frankes sent certaine of his subiects ambassadours to +Constantinople vnto Iustinian the Emperour, he sent English men also, +ambitiously boasting, as though the sayd Isle had bene vnder his +iurisdiction. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of Iohn Erigena. + +Ioannes Erigena Britannus natione, in Meneuia vrbe, seu ad fanum Dauidis; +et patricio genitore natus, dum Anglos Daci crudeles bellis ac rapinis +molestarent, ac omnia illic essent tumultibus plena, longam ipse +peregrinationem Athenas vsque suscepit, annósque quamplures literis Gręcis, +Chaldaicis, et Arabicis insudauit: omnia illic inuisit Philosophorum loca, +ac studia, imo et ipsum oraculum Solis, quod Ęsculapius sibi construxerat. +Inueniens tandem quod longo quęsierat labore, in Italiam et Galliam est +reuersus vbi ob insignem eruditionem, Carolo Caluo, et postea Ludouico +Balbo acceptus, Dionysij Areopagitę libros de coelesti Hierarchia, ex +Constantinopoli tunc missos Latinos fecit, Anno Dom. 858. Profectus postea +in Britanniam, Alphredi Anglorum Regis, et suorum liberorum factus est +pręceptor, atque ipso mox adhortante, inter ocia literaria č Gręco +transtulit in tres linguas, scilicet Chaldaicam, Arabicam, et Latinam, +Aristotelis moralia, de secretis secretorum, seu recto regimine Principum, +opus certe exquisitum. In Malmsburiensi cęnobio tandem, quo recreationis +gratia se contulerat, inter legendum a quibusdam discipulis maleuolis +interimebatur, Anno Christi, 884. + + +The same in English. + +Iohn Erigene a Britane, descended of honourable parents, and borne in the +Towne of S. Dauid in Wales, seeing the Englishmen to be oppressed with the +warres and rapines of the cruell Danes, and all the land in a hurlie +burlie, he in the meane time vndertooke a long iourney, euen as farre as +Athens, and there spent many yeres in the studie of the Greeke, Chaldie, +and Arabian tongues: he there frequented all the places and schooles of the +Philosophers, and the oracle also of the Sunne, which Ęsculapius had built +vnto himselfe. And hauing found at length that which he had with long +trauell searched, he returned againe into Italie, and France, where for his +singular learning, he was much fauoured of the two Kings Charles and Lewes, +and in his being there, he translated into Latine the bookes of Dionysius +Areopagita concerning the Heauenly Hierarchie, which were sent from +Constantinople in the yeere 858. After this hee came backe againe into his +owne Countrey, and was schoolemaster vnto Alphred then King of England, and +his sonnes: and vpon his request, at his times of leasure, he translated +Aristotles Morals, of the Secrets of Secrets, or of the right gouernement +of Princes, out of Greeke into these three tongues, Chaldie, Arabian, and +Latine, which he did very exquisitely. At the last, being in the Abbie of +Malmesburie, whither he went for his recreation, and there according to his +manner disputing, and reading to the Students, some of them misliking and +hating him, rose against him, and slue him in the yeere of Christ, 884. + + * * * * * + +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. + +Iam inde Anglia non minus belli gloria, quam humanitatis cultu inter +Florentissimas orbis Christiani gentes imprimis floruit. Adeo vt ad +custodiam corporis Constantinopolitanorum Imperatorum euocati fuerint +Angli. Ioannes enim Alexij Comneni filius vt refert noster Malmesburiensis, +eorum fidem suspiciens pręcipue familiaritati suę applicabat amorem eorum +filio transcribens: Adeo vt iam inde longo tempore fuerint imperatorum +illorum satellites, Inglini Bipenniferi Nicetę Choniatę, Barangi Curopoatę +dicti. Qui vbique Imperatorem prosequebantur ferentes humeris secures, quas +tollebant, cum Imperator ex oratorio spectandum se exhibebat Anglicč vitam +diuturnam secures suas collidentes vt sonitum ederent comprecabantur. + + +The same in English. + +From this time forward the kingdome of England was reputed among the most +nourishing estates of Christendome, no less 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 Matmesburie 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 halberdiers, called by Nicetas Choniata, Inglini +Bipeniferi, and by Curopolata, 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 +clashing their halberds together to make a terrible sound, they in the +English tongue wished vnto him long life. + + * * * * * + +The woorthy voiage of Richard the first, K. of England into Asia, for the + recouerie of Ierusalem out of the hands of the Saracens, drawen out of + the booke of Acts and Monuments of the Church of England, written by M. + Iohn Foxe. + +King Richard the first of that name, for his great valure surnamed Ceur de +Lion, the sonne of Henry the second, after the death of his father +remembring the rebellions that he had vndutifully raised against him, +sought for absolution of his trespasse, and in part of satisfaction for the +same, agreed with Philip the French king to take his voiage with him for +the recouerie of Christes patrimonie, which they called the Holy land, +whereupon the sayd King Richard immediately after his Coronation, to +prepare himselfe the better towards his iourney, vsed diuers meanes to take +vp summes of money, and exacted a tenth of the whole Realme, the Christians +to make three score and ten thousand pounds, and the Iewes which then dwelt +in the Realme threescore thousand. + +Hauing thus gotten sufficient money for the exploite, he sent certaine +Earles and Barons to Philip the French king in the time of his Parliament +at S. Denis, to put him in mind of his promise made for the recouerie of +Christs holy patrimonie out of the Saracens hands: To whom he sent againe +in the moneth of December, that he had bound himselfe by solemne othe, +deposing vpon the Euangelists, that he the yeere next following, about the +time of Easter, had certainly prefixed to addresse himselfe toward that +iourney, requiring him likewise not to faile, but to bee ready at the terme +aboue limited, appointing also the place where both the Kings should meete +together. + +In the yere therfore 1190. King Richard hauing committed the gouernment of +this realme in his absence to the bishop of Ely then Chancellor of England, +aduanced forward his iourney, and came to Turon to meet with Philip the +French king, and after that went to Vizeliac, where the French king and he +ioyning together, for the more continuance of their iourney, assured +themselues by solemne othe, swearing fidelitie one to the other: the forme +of whose oth was this. + +[Sidenote: The oth of fidelity betwixt King Richard and the French King.] + That either of them should defend and maintaine the honour of the other, + and beare true, fidelitie vnto him, of life, members and worldly honor, + and that neither of them should faile one the other in their affaires: + but the French King should aide the King of England in defending his land + and dominions, as he would himselfe defend his owne Citie of Paris if it + were besieged: and that Richard King of England likewise should aide the + French King in defending his land and Dominions, no otherwise then he + would defend his own Citie of Roan if it were besieged, &c. + +Concerning the lawes and ordinances appointed by K. Richard for his Nauie, +the forme thereof was this. + +[Sidenote: The discipline and orders of the King.] 1. That who so killed +any person on shipboord, should be tied with him that was slaine, and +throwen into the sea. + +2. And if he killed him on the land, he should in like manner be tied with +the partie slaine, and be buried with him in the earth. + +3. He that shalbe conuicted by lawfull witnes to draw out his knife or +weapon to the intent to strike any man, or that hath striken any to the +drawing of blood, shall loose his hand. + +4. Also he that striketh any person with his hand without effusion of +blood, shall be plunged three times in the sea. + +5. Item, who so speaketh any opprobrious or contumelious wordes in reuiling +or cursing one another, for so oftentimes as he hath reuiled, shall pay so +many ounces of siluer. + +6. Item, a thiefe or felon that hath stollen being lawfully conuicted, +shall haue his head shorne, and boyling pitch powred vpon his head, and +feathers or downe strawed vpon the same, whereby he may be knowen, and so +at the first landing place they shall come to, there to be cast vp. + +These things thus ordered, king Richard sending his Nauie by the Spanish +seas, and by the streights of Gibraltar, betweene Spaine and Africa, to +meete him at Marsilia, hee himselfe went as is said to Vizeliac to the +French king. Which two kings from thence went to Lions, where the bridge +ouer the flood Rhodanus with preasse of people brake, and many both men and +women were drowned: by occasion whereof the two kings for the combrance of +their traines, were constrained to disseuer themselues for time of their +iourney, appointing both to meet together in Sicily: and so Philip the +French king tooke his way to Genua, and king Richard to Marsila, where be +remained 8. dayes, appointing there his Nauie to meete him. From thence +crossing ouer to Genua where the French king was, he passed forward by the +coasts of Italy, and entred into Tiber not farre from Rome. + +King Richard staying in Marsilia 8. dayes for his Nauie which came not, he +there hired 20. Gallies, and ten great barkes to ship ouer his men, and so +came to Naples, and so partly by horse and wagon, and partly by the sea, +passing to Falernum, came to Calabria, where after that he had heard that +his ships were arriued at Messana in Sicilie, he made the more speed, and +so the 23. of September entred Messana with such a noyse of Trumpets and +Shalmes, with such a rout and shew, that it was to the great wonderment and +terror both of the Frenchmen, and of all other that did heare and behold +the sight. + +To the said towne of Messana the French king was come before the 16. of the +same moneth of September, and had taken vp the pallace of Tancredus king of +Sicily for his lodging: to whom king Richard after his arriuall eftsoones +resorted, and when the two kings had communed together, immediately the +French king tooke shipping and entred the seas, thinking to saile towards +the land of Ierusalem: but after he was out of the hauen, the winde rising +contrary against him, returned him backe againe to Messana. Then king +Richard (whose lodging was prepared in the suburbs without the Citie) after +he had resorted againe and talked with the French king, and also had sent +to Tancredus king of Sicily, for deliuerance of Ioane his sister (who had +beene somtimes Queene of Sicily) and had obtained her to be sent vnto him, +the last day of September passed ouer the streight del Fare, and there +getting a strong hold called de la Baguare, or le Bamare, and there placing +his sister with a sufficient garrison, he returned againe to Messana. + +The 2. of October king Richard wan another strong hold, called Monasterium +Griffonum, situated in the midst of the streight del Fare, betweene Messana +and Calabria, from whence the Monks being expulsed, he reposed there all +his store and prouision of victuals, which came from England or other +places. + +The Citizens of Messana seeing that the king of England had wonne the +castle and Island de la Baguare, and also the Monasterie of the Griffons, +and doubting least the king would extend his power further to inuade their +Citie, and get if he could the whole Isle of Sicilie, began to stirre +against the Kings armie, and to shut the Englishmen out of the gates, and +kept their walles against them. The Englishmen seeing that, made to the +gates, and by force would haue broken them open, insomuch that the King +riding amongst them with his staffe, and breaking diuers of their heads, +could not asswage their fierceness, such was the rage of the Englishmen +agaynst the citizens of Messana. The King seeing the furie of his people to +be such that hee could not stay them, tooke boate, and went to the pallace +of king Tancred, to talke of the matter with the French king, in which +meane time the matter was so taken vp by the wise handling of the ancients +of the citie, that both parts laying downe their armour, went home in +peace. + +The fourth day of the sayd moneth of October, came to king Richard the +Archbishop of Messana with two other Archbishops also with the French king, +and sundry other Earles, Barons, and Bishops, to intreat of peace, who as +they were together consulting, and had almost concluded vpon the peace, the +Citizens of Messana issuing out of the towne, some went vp vpon the +mountains, some with open force inuaded the mansion or lodging of Hugh +Brune, an English captaine. The noyse whereof comming to the eares of the +King, hee suddenly breaking off talke with the French king and the rest, +departed from them, and comming to his men, commanded them forthwith to +arme themselues. Who then with certaine of his souldiours making vp to the +top of the mountaine (which seemed to passe their power to climbe) there +put the Citizens to flight, chasing them downe the mountaines, vnto the +very gates of the citie, whom also certaine of the kings seruants pursued +into the citie, of whom fiue valiant souldiers and twentie of the kings +seruants were slaine, the French King looking vpon, and not once willing to +rescue them, contrary to his othe, and league before made with the king of +England: for the French king with his men being there present, rode in the +midst of them safely, and without any harme too and fro, and might well +haue eased the Kings partie, more then he, if it had so liked him. + +[Sidenote: Messana won by the English.] This being knowen to the English +hoste how their fellowes were slaine, and the Frenchmen permitted in the +citie, and that they were excluded and the gates barred against them, being +also stopped from buying of victuall, and other things, they vpon great +indignation gathered themselues in armes, brast open the the gates, and +scaled the wals, and so winning the citie, set up their flags with the +English armes vpon the wals which when the French King did see, he was +mightily offended, requiring the King of England that the Armes of France +might also be set vp, and ioyned with his: but King Richard to that would +in no case agree, notwithstanding to satisfie his minde, he was contented +to take downe his Armes, and to commit the custodie of the citie to the +Hospitaleries and Templaries of Ierusalem, till the time that Tancred king +of Sicily and he should agree together vpon conditions. + +These things being done the fift and sixt day of October, it followed then +vpon the eight day of the same, that peace was concluded among the kings. +In which peace, first King Richard, and Philip the French king renewed +againe their oth and league before made, concerning their mutual aide and +societie, during the time of that peregrination. + +Secondly, peace also was concluded betweene king Richard and Tancred king +of Sicily aforesaide, with conditions, that the daughter of Tancrede in +case king Richard should die without issue, should be married to Arthur +Duke of Britaine the kings Nephew and next heire to his crowne, whereof a +formall charte was drawen, and letters sent thereof to Pope Clement being +dated the ninth of Nouember. + +From this time vntill Februarie the next yeere these two kings kept still +at Messana, either for lacke of winde and weather, or for the repairing of +their shippes. And in the aforesayde Februarie, in the yeere 1191. King +Richard sent ouer his gallies to Naples, there to meete his mother Elinore, +and Berengaria the daughter of Zanctius king of Nauarre, whom he was +purposed to marry, who by that time were come to Brundusium, vnder the +conduct of Philip Earle of Flanders, and so proceeding vnto Naples, they +found the kings shippes wherein they sayled to Messana. + +In this meane space, king Richard shewed himselfe exceeding bounteous and +liberall to all men: to the French king first he gaue diuers shippes, vpon +others likewise he bestowed riche rewardes, and of his treasure and goods +he distributed largely to his souldiers and seruants about him, of whom it +was reported, that he distributed more in one moneth, than any of his +predecessors did in a whole yeere: by reason, whereof he purchased great +loue and fauour, which not onely redounded to the aduancements of his fame, +but also to his singular vse and profite, as the sequele afterwards +prooued. + +The first day of March following, he left the citie of Messana, where the +French King was, and went to Cathneia, a citie where Tancredus king of +Sicily then lay, where he was honorably receiued, and there remained with +king Tancredus three dayes and three nights. On the fourth day when he +should depart, the aforesaid Tancredus offred him many rich presents in +gold and siluer, and precious silkes, whereof king Richard would receiue +nothing, but one little ring for a token of his good will: for the which +king Richard gaue againe vnto him a riche sworde. At length when king +Richard should take his leaue, king Tancred would not let him so depart, +but needes would giue 4. great shippes, and 15. gallies, and furthermore +hee himselfe would needes accompanie him the space of two dayes iourney, to +a place called Tauernium. + +Then the next morning when they should take their leaue, Tancredus declared +vnto him the message, which the French King a little before had sent vnto +him by the Duke of Burgundie, the contents whereof were these: That the +King of England was a false Traytour, and would neuer keepe the peace that +was betweene them: and if the sayd Tancredus would warre against him, or +secretly by night would inuade him, he with all his power would assist him, +to the destruction of him and all his armie. To whom Richard the King +protested againe, that he was no traytour, nor neuer had bene: and as +touching the peace, begun betwixt them, the same should neuer be broken +through him; neither could he beleeue that the French King being his good +lord, and his sworn Compartner in that voyage, would utter any such wordes +by him. Which when Tancredus heard, he bringeth foorth the letters of the +French King, sent to him by the Duke of Burgundie, affirming moreouer, that +if the Duke of Burgundie would denie the bringing of the said letters, he +was readie to trie it with him by any of his Dukes. King Richard receiuing +the letters, and musing not a little vpon the same, returneth againe to +Messana. The same day that King Richard departed, the French king came to +Tauernium to speake with Tancred, and there abode with him that night, and +on the morrowe returned to Messana againe. + +From that time, King Richard mooued in stomacke against King Philip, neuer +shewed any gentle countenance of peace and amitie, as he before was woont: +whereat the French king greatly marueiling, and enquiring earnestly what +should be the cause thereof, word was sent him againe by Philip earle of +Flanders from king Richard, what words he had sent to the King of Sicily, +and for testimony thereof the letters were shewed, which he wrote by the +duke of Burgundie to the king of Sicily: which when the French king +vnderstood, first he held his peace as guilty in his conscience, not +knowing well what to answere. At length turning his tale to another matter, +he began to quarrell with king Richard, pretending as though he sought +causes to breake with him, and to maligne him: and therefore he forged +(sayd he) these lies vpon him, and all because he by that meanes would +auoid to marry with Alise his sister, according as he had promised. Adding +moreouer that if he would so do, and would not marry the said Alise his +sister according to his oth, he would be an enemy to him, and to his, while +he liued. + +To this king Richard sayd againe that he could by no meanes marry that +woman, forsomuch as his father had carnal copulation with her, and also had +by her a sonne: for proofe whereof he had there presently to bring forth +diuers and sundry witnesses to the kings face, to testifie with him. + +In conclusion, through counsell and perswasion of diuers about the French +king, agreement at last was made, so that king Philip did acquite king +Richard from this bond of marrying his sister, and king Richard againe +should be bound to pay to him euery yeere for the space of fiue yeeres, two +thousand markes, with certaine other conditions besides, not greatly +materiall for this place. And thus peace being betweene them concluded the +28 day of the sayd moneth of March, the French king launching out of the +hauen of Messana, the 22 day after in the Easter weeke, came with his armie +to the siege of Achon. + +After the departure of the French king from Messana, king Richard with his +armie yet remaining behinde, arriued Queene Alinor the kings mother, +bringing with her Berengaria the king of Nauars daughter, to be espoused to +king Richard: [Sidenote: The Nauie of King Richard.] which being done, king +Richard in April following, about the 20 day of the sayd moneth, departed +from the hauen Messana with 150 great ships, and 53 great gallies well +manned and appointed, and tooke his iourney toward Achon: who being vpon +the Seas on Good friday about the ninth houre, rose a mighty South winde, +with a tempest, which disseuered and scattered all his Nauie, some to one +place and some to another. The king with a few ships was driuen to the Ile +of Creta, and there before the hauen of Rhodes cast anker. The ships that +caried the kings sister, queene of Sicily, and Berengaria the king of +Nauars daughter, with two ships were driuen to the Ile of Cyprus. + +The king making great mone for the ships of his sister, and Berengaria his +wife that should be, not knowing where they were become, after the tempest +was ouerblowen, sent forth his gallies diligently to seeke the rest of his +Nauie dispersed, but especially the shippe wherein his sister was, and the +maiden whom he should marry, who at length were found safe and merry at the +port of Lymszem [Footnote: Lymasol.] in the Ile of Cyprus, notwithstanding +the two other ships, which were in their company before in the same hauen, +were drowned with diuers of the kings seruants and men of worship, among +whom was M. Roger, called Malus Catulus, the kings Vicechancellour, who was +found with the kings seale hanging about his necke. + +The king of Cyprus was then Isakius [Footnote: Isaac Comnenus who became +King in 1184.] (called also the Emperour of the Gryffons) who tooke and +imprisoned all Englishmen, which by shipwracke were cast vpon his land, +also inuegled into his hands the goods and prises of them which were found +drowned about his coastes, neither would suffer the ships wherein the two +ladies were to enter within the port. + +The tidings of this being brought to king Richard, he in great wrath +gathering his gallies and ships together, boordeth the land of Cyprus, +where he first in gentle wise signifieth to king Isakius, how he with his +English men, comming as strangers to the supportation of the holy land, +were by distresse of weather driuen vpon his bounds, and therefore with all +humble petition besought him in Gods behalfe, and for reuerence of the holy +crosse, to let go such prisoners of his as he had in captiuitie, and to +restore againe the goods of them that were drowned, which he deteined in +his hands, to be employed for the behoofe of their soules. And this the +king once, twise, and thrise desired of the Emperour: but he proudly +answering againe, sent the king word, that he neither would let the +captiues go, nor render the goods of them which were drowned. + +When king Richard heard this, how light the emperour Isakius made of his so +humble and honest petition, and how that nothing could be gotten without +violent force, eftsoones [Footnote: The Saxon _Eft_ properly means _after_. +It was beginning to be obsolete in 1400 but Spencer frequently uses it. It +occurs rarely after his time.] giueth commandement thorowout all his hoste +to put themselues in armour and follow him, to reuenge the iniuries +receiued of that proud and cruell king of Cyprus, willling them to put +their trust in God, and not to misdoubt but that the Lord would stand with +them, and giue them the victory. The Emperour in the meane time with his +people stood warding the Sea coasts, where the English men should arriue, +with swords, billes, and lances, and such other weapons as they had, +setting boordes, stooles, and chestes, before them as a wall: few of them +were harnessed, [Footnote: Clad in armour. + This apish and unmannerly approach, + This _harness'd_ masque, and unadvised revel. + KING JOHN v. 2.] +and for the most part all vnexpert and vnskilfull in the feates of warre. + +Then king Richard with his souldiers issuing out of ships, first set his +bowemen before, who with their shot made a way for others to folowe. The +Englishmen thus winning the land vpon them, so fiercely pressed upon the +Gryffons, that after long fighting and many blowes, at last the Emperour +was put to flight, whom king Richard valiantly pursued, and slue many, and +diuers he tooke aliue, and had gone neere also to take the Emperour, had +not the night come on and parted the battell. And thus king Richard with +much spoyle, and great victory, returning to the port Towne of Lymszem, +which the Townesmen had left for feare, found there great abundance of +corne, wine, oyle, and victuals. + +The day after the victory gotten, Ioanna the Kings sister, and Berengaria +the mayden, entred the Porte and Towne of Lymszem, with 50. great ships, +and 14. galliots: so that all the whole Nauie there meeting together, were +254. tall shippes, and aboue threescore galliots. Then Isakius the +Emperour, seeing no way for him to escape by Sea, the same night pitched +his tentes fiue miles off from the English army, swearing that the third +day after, he would surely giue battell to king Richard: but he preuenting +him before, suddenly the same morning before the day of battell should be, +setteth vpon the tentes of the Gryffons early in the morning, they being +vnawares and asleepe, and made of them a great slaughter, insomuch that the +Emperour was faine to runne away naked, leauing his tentes and pauilions to +the Englishmen, full of horses and rich treasure, also with the Imperial +standerd, the lower part whereof with a costly streamer was couered, and +wrought all with golde. + +King Richard returning with victorie and triumph to his sister and +Berengaria, shortly after in the moneth of May next following, and the 12. +day of the said moneth, married the said Berengaria daughter of Zanctius, +king of Nauarre, in the yle of Cyprus at Lymszem. + +The king of Cyprus seeing himselfe ouermatched, was driuen at length to +yeelde himselfe with conditions to giue king Richard 20000. markes in golde +for amends of such spoyles as he had gotten of them that were drowned, also +to restore all the captiues againe to the king: and furthermore, he in his +owne person, to attend vpon the king to the lande of Ierusalem, in Gods +seruice and his, with 400. horsemen, and 500. footemen: in pledge whereof +he would giue to his hands his castles, and his onely daughter, and would +hold his kingdome of him. + +This done, and the Emperour swearing fidelitie to king Richard before Guido +king of Ierusalem, and the prince of Antioche (who were come thither to +king Richard a little before) peace was taken, and Isakius committed to the +warde of certaine keepers. Notwithstanding shortly after he breaking from +his keepers, was againe at defiance with the King: whereupon king Richard +besetting the Iland of Cyprus round about with shippes and gallies, did in +sucn sort preuaile, that the subiects of the land, were constrained to +yeelde themselues to the King, and at last the daughter of the Emperour, +and the Emperour himselfe, whom king Richard caused to be kept in fetters +of gold and siluer, and to be sent to the citie of Tripolis. + +[Sidenote: The Lord Chamberlaine of King Richard left gouernour of Cyprus.] +These things thus done, and all set in order touching the possession of the +Ile of Cyprus, the keeping whereof he committed to Radulphe sonne of +Godfrey Lord Chamberlaine, being then the first day of Iune upon the fift +of the saide moneth, king Richard departed from the Ile of Cyprus, +[Footnote: Cyprus, the third largest island of the Mediterranean, situated +in the N.E. angle, equidistant about 60 miles from the coasts of Syria and +Asia Minor. Its form was compared in ancient times to the skin of a deer. +Its length, from Cape Andrea to Cape Epiphanias, the ancient Acamas, is 140 +miles. Its greatest breadth, from Cape Gatto on the south coast to Cape +Kormakiti on the north, is about 50 miles, but it gradually narrows towards +the east, being no more than 5 miles wide near Cape Andrea. + +The coast of the island consists of a succession of gulfs and bays, many of +which, though not sufficiently land-locked to form natural harbours, would +be capable, with the addition of some artificial works, such as +breakwaters, &c., of affording safe anchorage in all the preuailing winds. +On the north-west and north the principal harbours or roadsteads affording +shelter from certain winds are the Bay of Chrysochon and the roads of Pyros +and Morpha, the harbour of Kyrenia, and the Bay of Exarkos; on the east and +south, the bays and harbours of Salamis and Famagusta, the bay and roads of +Larnaka, the roads of Limasol, which latter were greatly improved by the +opening of an iron pier in 1882, and the small harbour of Paphos (Kuklia). +The great disadvantage of all these harbours and roadsteads is the +shallowness of the water for some distance from the land; this has the +effect of raising a great deal of surf when the wind blows on shore, and +also of compelling vessels of any size to anchor at a considerable distance +out, thus making the operations of landing and embarking cargo both tedious +and expensiue. It would not, however, be a matter of great expense to +construct breakwaters and deepen the old harbours, especially that of +Famagusta, which, at the end of the sixteenth century, was sufficiently +deep and large to afford safe anchorage to the whole fleet of the Venetian +Republic, and when in the outer harbour there is now shelter for about +twelve ironclads. Larnaka is the port at present most frequented by trading +vessels. + +The ancient Olympus, how called Santa Croce, rises in the centre of the +island, and two principal ranges of mountains runs in the direction of its +length, keeping closer to the north than to the south coast. The highest +summit of the range of Santa Croce is mount Troödos, with an elevation of +6590 feet above the sea-level. Here, on the south-east slopes, are the +summer quarters of the troops and the summer residence of the high +commissioner. The most extensive plain, called Messarea, is in the +south-east part of the island, and is watcred by the river Pedęus. The +south of the island is watered by several streams, the principal of which +is the river Kuris, or Lico, which falls into the sea at Episkopi, the +ancient _Curium_. But these streams, which were once rivers of some +importance, had very much decreased, owing to the almost complete +denudation, in the plains and lower slopes of the mountains, of the forests +which anciently covered them. Since the British occupation greater +attention has been paid to the forests, and the beneficial results are +already apparent. The Pedęus is the chief river. This and the other streams +generally overflow their banks in the rainy season, and flood the land; as +the waters subside, they leave behind a fertilizing mud, in the same manner +as the Nile, but during the rest of the year they give but little if any +help in the way of irrigation. The rainy season, although generally +occurring from October to February, is not, however, to be absolutely +depended upon; thus it is recorded that in 1330, during the reign of Hugo +of Lusignan, the rainfall was so heavy and the rivers flooded to such an +extent as to spread desolation far and near; and under Constantine there +was no rain for thirty-six years, so that most of the inhabitants left the +island. Again, in modern times, there was a disastrously small rainfall in +1869. + +The soil is naturally fertile, and formerly maintained a population of +nearly 1,000,000 but the number of inhabitants in 1881 was only 185,906, of +whom the bulk were Greek Christians. Cotton of the finest quality has been +raised from American seed; excellent wine and all kinds of fruit are +produced, but agriculture is in a most backward state. Besides the +productions already named, madder, opium, oranges, lemons, pomegranates, +&c., are grown. The carob-tree abounds in some districts; its succulent +pods are exported to Egypt and Syria, while the fruit called St. John's +Bread is used as an article of food. Of all the agricultural products, +cereals hold the most important place. Wheat was largely grown until +recently, but of late years, it has been in great measure replaced by +barley and oats, which ripen earlier; and are not subject to the attacks of +locusts.] with his shippes and gallies toward the seige of Achon, and on +the next morrowe came to Tyrus, where by procurement of the French king he +was restrained by the Citizens to enter. The next day after, which was the +first day of Iune, crossing the seas, he met with a great carak, fraught +with souldiers and men of warre to the number of a thousand and fiue +hundred, which pretended to be Frenchmen, and setting foorth their flagge +with the French armes, were indeede Saracens, [Sidenote: A great ship of +Saracens taken by king Richard.] secretly sent with wilde fire [Footnote: +Greek Fire was the name given to a composition which was largely used by +the Greeks of the Byzantine Empire in their wars with the Mohammedans. Its +nature was kept a profound secret for centuries, but the material is now +believed to have been a mixture of nitre, sulphur, and naphtha. It burned +with terrible fury wherever it fell, and it possessed the property of being +inextinguishable by water. Even when poured upon the sea it would float +upon the surface and still burn. It was used in warfare for a considerable +time after the discovery of gunpowder, but gradually fell into the disuse +as artillery became more effective. The name is still sometimes used to +designate the inflammable compounds known to modern chemists which have +been designed for use in incendiary shells, and for a composition which has +been used by the Fenians to set fire to public buildings.] and certaine +barrels of unknowen serpents to the defence of the towne of Achon, which +king Richard at length perceiuing eftsoones set upon them and so vanquished +them, of whom the most were drowned and some taken aliue: which being once +knowen in the citie of Achon, as it was a great discomfort to them, so it +was a great helpe to the Christians for winning the citie. + +[Sidenote: King Richard arriued at Achon.] The next day after which was the +seuenth of Iune, king Richard came to Achon, which at that time had bene +long besieged by the Christians. After whose comming it was not long, but +the Pagans within the citie, seeing their wals to be undermined and towers +ouerthrowen, were driuen by composition to escape with life and limme, to +surrender the citie to the two kings. + +Another great helpe to the Christians in winning the citie, was this. In +the said city of Achon there was a secret Christian among the Saracens, who +in time of the siege thereof vsed at sundry times to cast ouer the wals +into the campe of the Christians, certaine bils written in Hebrue, Greeke, +and Latine, wherein he disclosed to the Christians from time to time, the +doings and counsels of the enemies, aduertising them how and what way they +should worke, and what to beware, and alwayes his letters began thus. In +nomine Patris, et Filij, et Spiritus sancti Amen. By reason whereof the +Christians were much, aduantaged in their proceedings: but this was a great +heauines unto them, that neither he would utter his name, nor when the +citie was got did they euer understand who he was. + +To make of a long siege a short narration. Vpon the twelfth day of Iuly the +yeere aforesaid, the Princes and Captaines of the Pagans, vpon agreement +resorted to the tent of the Templaries to commune with the two kings +touching peace, and giuing vp of their citie: the forme of which peace was +thus. + +[Sidenote: The forme of peace concluded between the Kings and Princes of +Achon.] 1 That the Kings should haue the citie of Achon freely and fully +deliuered vnto them, with all which was therein. + +2 That 500. captiues of the Christians should be restored to them, which +were in Achon. + +3 That the holy crosse should be to them rendred, and a thousand Christian +captiues with two hundreth horsemen, whosoeuer they themselues would chose +out of all them which were in the power of the Saladine. + +4 That they would giue vnto the Kings two hundreth thousand Bysants, so +that they themselues should remaine as pledges in the Kings hands, for the +performance hereof, that if in fortie daies, the aforesayd couenants were +not accomplished, they should abide the Kings mercie touching life and +limme. + +These couenants being agreed vpon, the Kings sent their souldiers and +seruants into the citie, to take a hundreth of the richest and best of the +citie, to close them vp in towers vnder strong keeping, and the residue, +they committed to be kept in houses and in streetes, ministring vnto them +according to their necessities: to whom notwithstanding this they +permitted, that so many of them as would be baptized and receiue the faith +of Christ, should be free to goe whither they would: wherupon many there +were of the Pagans, which for feare of death pretended to be baptized, but +afterward so soone as they could, reuolted againe to the Saladine: for the +which it was afterward commanded by the Kings that none of them should be +baptized against their wils. + +The thirteenth day of the said moneth of Iuly, King Philip of France, and +King Richard, after they had obteined the possession of Achon, [Footnote: +Acre, acca, anciently Ptolemais, in Syria, was taken by the Saracens in +638; by the Crusaders under Baldwin I. in 1104; by Saladin in 1187; and +again by Richard I. and other Crusaders 12 July 1191, after a siege of 2 +years, with a loss of 6 archbishops, 12 bishops, 40 earls, 500 barons, +300,000 soldiers. It was then named _St. Jean d'Acre_. It was retaken by +the Saracens in 1291, when 60,000 Christians perished, and the nuns, who +had mangled their faces to preserue their chastity, were put to death.] +deuided betweene them all things therein conteined as well the people as +golde and siluer, with all other furniture whatsoeuer was remaining in the +citie: who in diuiding the spoyle, were so good caruers to themselues that +the Knights and Barons had but litle to their share, whereupon they began +to shew themselues somewhat discontented, which being knowen of the kings, +they sent them answere that their wils should be satisfied. + +The twentieth day of Iuly, king Richard speaking with the French king, +desired him that they two with their armies, would binde themselues by othe +to remaine there stil in the land of Ierusalem the space of 3 yeeres, for +the winning and recouering againe of those countreys: but he sayd he would +sweare no such othe, and so the next day after king Richard, with his wife +and sister entred into the citie of Achon, and there placed himselfe in the +kings pallace: The French king remayning in the houses of the Templaries, +where he continued till the end of the moneth. + +[Sidenote: The French kings shamefull returne home.] About the beginning of +the moneth of August, Philip the French king after that he and King Richard +had made agreement betweene Guido and Conradus the Marques, about the +kingdome of Ierusalem, went from Achon to Tyrus, notwithstanding king +Richard and all the Princes of the Christian armie with great intreatie +desired him to tary, shewing what a shame it were for him to come so farre, +and now to leaue vndone that for which he came, and on the 3. day of August +departed from Tyrus, leauing the halfe part of the Citie of Achon in the +hands of the aforesayd Conradus Marques. + +After his departure the Pagans refused to keepe their couenants made, who +neither would restore the holy Crosse nor the money, nor their captiues, +sending word to king Richard, that if he beheaded the pledges left with him +at Achon, they would choppe off the heads of such captiues of the +Christians, as were in their hands. + +[Sidenote: The captiues of the Saladine slaine by king Richard.] Shortly +after this the Saladine sending great gifts to king Richard, requested the +time limited for beheading of the captiues to be proroged, but the king +refused to take his gifts, and to graunt his request, whereupon the +Saladine caused all the Christian captiues within his possession forthwith +to be beheaded, which was the 28. of August: which albeit king Richard +vnderstood, yet would not he preuent the time before limitted for the +execution of his prisoners, being the 20. day of August: vpon which day he +caused the prisoners of the Saracens openly in the sight of the Saladines +armie to loose their heads: the number of whom came to two thousand and +fiue hundreth, saue onely that certaine of the principal of them he +reserued for purposes and considerations, especially to make exchange for +the holy Crosse, and certaine other of the Christian captiues. + +[Sidenote: A notable victorie against the Saladine.] After this king +Richard purposed to besiege the Citie of Ioppe, where by the way beweene +Achon and Ioppe, neere to a towne called Assur, Saladine with a great +multitude of his Saracens came fiercely against the kings rereward, but +through Gods mercifull grace in the same battell, the kings warriers +acquited themselues so well, that the Saladine was put to flight, whom the +Christians pursued the space of 3 miles, and he lost that same day many of +his Nobles and Captaines, in such sort (as it was thought) that the +Saladine was not put to such confusion 40 yeres before, and but one +Christian Captaine called James Auernus in that conflict was ouerthrowen. + +[Sidenote: King Richard in possession of Syria.] From thence king Richard +proceeding further went to Ioppe, and then to Ascalon, where he found first +the citie of Ioppe forsaken of the Saracens, who durst not abide the kings +comming: Ascalon the Saladine threw downe to the ground, and likewise +forsooke the whole land of Syria, through all which land the king had free +passage without resistance: neither durst the Saracene Prince encounter +after that with K. Richard. Of all which his atcheuances the sayd K. +Richard sent his letters of certificate as well into England, as also to +the Abbot of Clara valle [Footnote: Clairvaux, a famous Cistercian abbey, +founded in 1114 by the celebrated Bernard. It increased so rapidly that +before his death, in 1153, it contained 700 monks, and had connected with +it seventy-six monasteries in various parts of Europe, partly founded by +Bernard and partly induced to join the brotherhood. All sorts of handicraft +and agricultural operations were carried on by the brethren. After +supplying the wants of their community the surplus was disposed of in the +nearest markets. It was suppressed at the Revolution.] in France, well +hoping that he God willing should be able to make his repaire againe to +them by Easter next. + +Many other famous acts were done in this voyage by these two Kings, and moe +should haue bene, had not they falling into discorde disseuered themselues, +by reason whereof Philip the French king returned home againe within short +space: who being returned againe eftsoones inuaded the countrey of +Normandy, exciting also Iohn the brother of king Richard, to take on him +the kingdome of Englande in his brothers absence: [Sidenote: 1193.] who +then made league vpon the same with the French king, and did homage vnto +him, which was about the fourth yeere of king Richard. [Sidenote: King +Richard returneth from Palaestina.] Who then being in Syria, and hearing +thereof, made peace with the Turkes for three yeeres: and not long after, +king Richard the next Spring following returned also, who in his returne +driuen by distresse of weather about the parts of Histria, in a towne +called Synaca, was there taken by Lympold, Duke of the same countrey, and +so solde to the Emperour for sixtie thousand Markes: who for no small ioy +thereof, writeth to Philip the French king, these letters here following. + + * * * * * + +The letter of the Emperour to Philip the French king, concerning the taking + of King Richard. + +Henricus Dei gratia Romanorum Imperator, et semper Augustus, Dilecto et +speciali amico suo, Philippo illustri Francorum Regi salutem, et sincerę +dilectionis affectum. Quoniam Imperatoria Celsitudo non dubitat Regalem +Magnificentiam tuam Iętiorem effici, de vniuersis quibus omnipotentia +creatoris nostri nos ipsos, et Romanum Imperium honorauerit et exaltauerit, +nobilitati tuę tenore pręsentium declarare duximus, quod inimicus Imperij +nostri, et turbator Regni tui Rex Anglię, quum esset in transeundo mare ad +partes suas reuersurus, accidit vt ventus rupta naui sua, in qua ipse erat, +induceret eum in partes Histrię ad locum qui est inter Aquileiam, et +Venetias. Vbi Rex, Dei permissione passus naufragium cum paucis euasit. + +Quidam itaque fidelis noster Comes, Maynardus de Grooxce, et populus +regionis illius, audito quod in terra erat, et considerato diligentius, +qualem nominatus Rex in terra promissionis proditionem et traditionem, et +perditionis suę cumulum exercuerat, insecuti sunt, intendentes eum +captiuare. Ipso autem Rege in fugam conuerso, ceperunt de suis octo +milites: Postmodum processit Rex ad Burgum in Archiepiscopatu +Salseburgensi, qui vocatur Frisorum, vbi Fridericus de Betesow, Rege cum +tribus tantum versus Austriam properante, noctu sex milites de suis coepit: +Dilectus autem Consanguineus noster Lympoldus Dux Austrię, obseruata strata +sępe dictum Regem iuxta Denam in villa viciniori in domo despecta +captiuauit. + +Cum itaque in nostra nunc habeatur Potestate, et ipse semper tua +molestauit, et turbationis operam pręstiterit, ea quę pręmissimus, +nobilitati tuę insinuare curauimus: scientes ea dilectioni tuę bene placita +existere, animo tuo vberrimam importare lętitiam. Datum apud Ritheontum 5. +Kalendas Ianua. + +King Richard being thus traitorously taken, and solde to the Emperour by +the Duke of Austridge for 60000. markes, was there kept in custodie a yeere +and 3. moneths. + +In some stories it is affirmed, that King Richard returning out of Asia, +came to Italy with prosperous winde, where he desired of the Pope to be +absolued of an othe made against his will and could not obteine it: and so +setting out from thence towards England, passing by the Countrey of +Conradus the Marques, whose death (he being, slaine a litle before) was +falsly imputed by the French king to the king of England, there +traiterously was taken (as is aforesayde) by Limpoldus duke of Austridge. + +Albeit in another storie I finde the matter more credibly set forth: which +saith thus. That king Richard slewe the brother of this Limpoldus, playing +with him at Chesse in the French Kings Court: and Limpoldus taking his +vantage, was more cruel against him and deliuered him (as is sayde) to the +Emperour. In whose custodie he was deteined during the time aboue +mentioned, a yeere and 3. moneths. During which time of the kings +endurance, the French king in the meane season stirred warre in Normandie: +and Earle Iohn the Kings brother, made stirre and inuaded England, but the +Barons and Bishops of the land mightily withstood him. + +At length it was agreed and concluded with the Emperour, that king Richard +should be released for a hundreth and foure thousand pound: of which money +part should remaine to the Duke of Austridge, the rest should be the +Emperours. The summe of which money was here gathered and made in England +of chalices, crosses, shrines, candlestickes and other Church place, also +with publike contribution of Friers, Abbots, and other subiects of the +Realme: whereof part was presently paid, and for the residue remaining, +hostages and pledges were taken, which was about the fift yeere of his +reigne: and then it was obteined of the Pope that Priestes might celebrate +with Chalices of latten and tinne. + +[Sidenote: The iust iudgment of God vpon the Duke of Austria.] At what time +this aforesaide money was payde, and the hostages giuen for the ransome of +the King, I haue an olde historie which saith, that the aforesaid Duke of +Austridge was shortly after plagued by God; with 5. sundry plagues. + +First, with the burning of his chiefe Townes. + +2. With drowning of tenne thousand of his men in a flood happening no man +can tell how. + +3. By turning all the eares of his corne fieldes into wormes. + +4. By taking away almost all the Nobles of his land by death. + +5. By breaking his owne leg falling from his horse, which leg he was +compelled to cut off with his owne hands, and afterwards died of the same: +who then at his death is reported to forgiue K. Richard 50000. marks, and +sent home the hostages that were with him. And further a certaine booke +intituled Eulogium declareth, that the sayd Limpoldus duke of Austrich fell +in displeasure with the bishop of Rome and died excommunicate the next +yeere after, Anno 1196. + +But thus, as you haue heard, Richard the King was ransomed and deliuered +from the couetuous captiuitie of the Emperor, and returning home made an +ende of his voyage for Asia, which was both honourable to himselfe and to +all Christian states, but to the Saracens the enemies of Christianitie, +terrible and dishonourable. + +[This historie of King Richards voiage to Ierusalem is very excellently and +largely written in Latine by Guilielmus Neobrigensis, [Footnote: William +Little, died between 1208 and 1220. The best edition of his history is Mr +Howlett's, 1884, published in the Rolls Series. It extends from the +Conquest to 1197.] and Roger Houeden.] [Footnote: Roger of Hoveden, a fine +old English chronicler attached to the household of Henry II. in some +capacity of treasurer connected with minor abbeys and their royal dues, was +also professor of theology at Oxford. His chronicle was chiefly written +under Richard of the Lion Heart, and breaks off at the third year of John, +1201. It is in Latin, and is easily accessible--the _Chronica Rogeri de +Hovedene_ forming part of the magnificent Rolls Series. It is in four vols. +8vo, edited, by Professor Stubbs (London, 1871) The first part of Roger's +chronicle, beginning with the year 732, is really due to Benedict of +Peterborough, under which name the king's treasurer, Bishop Richard Fitz +Neal, wrote. It professes to continue and complete Bede's History. Roger of +Hoveden is of high value for Henry II.'s time, but for that of Richard and +the first year of John he is really admirable. No circumstance is too +trivial for his pen, and in this garrulous diffuseness many touches are +preserved of priceless worth to us, with which better authors would have +disdained to cumber their work.] + + * * * * * + +Epitaphium Richardi primi regis Anglorum apud fontem Ebraldi. + + Scribitur hoc auro, rex auree, laus tua tota + aurea, materię conueniente nota. +Laus tua prima fuit Siculi, Cyprus altera, Dromo + tertia, Caruanna quarta, suprema Iope. [Marginal note: Ciuitas Ioppe.] + Retrusi Siculi, Cyprus pessundata, Dromo + mersus, Caruanna capta, retenta Iope. + + +Epitaphium eiusdem vbi viscera eius requiescunt. + + Viscera Kareolum, corpus fons seruat Ebraldi, + et cor Rothomagus, magne Richarde, tuum. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Gulielmus Peregrinus. + +Gulielmus Peregrinus, Poeta quidem per eam ętatem excellens, genere Anglus +florebat, literarum, vt multi tunc erant, amator maximus, et qui bona +tempora melioribus impenderat studijs. Hic cum accepisset, expeditionem in +Saracenos per Regem Richardum parari, accinxit se ad iter illud, non tantum +vt miles, sed etiam in peregrinus. Vidit ea quę in Mari Hispanico fiebant, +vidit quę in Syria et Palęstina commissa fuerunt, in Sultanum Babylonię +Regem, ac perfidos Sarracenos. Omnia hęc scripsit, et viuis depinxit +coloribus, ita vt quasi prę oculis, totum poneret negotium, idémque +Argumentum cum Richardo Canonico non infoeliciter, Heroico pertractauit +carmine, opśsque iam absolutum Huberto Cantuariorum Archiepiscopo, et +Stephano Turnhamo Capitaneo rerum bellicarum expertissimo dedicauit, addito +hoc titulo, Odeporicon Richardi Regis. Multįque alia edidisse Poetam talem +non dubito, sed num extent illa eius scripta, mihi non constat. Hoc tamen +satis constat, eum fuisse in pretio, Anno ą saluitfero virginis partu 1200. +sub Anglorum Rege Ioanne. + +The same in English. + +William the Pilgrime, a very excellent Poet in those dayes and an +Englishman borne, was of great fame, being much giuen to good letters, (as +many then were) and bestowed his good time in the best kinde of studies. +Hee vnderstanding of the preparation of king Richard against the Saracens, +prepared himselfe also for the same voyage, not onely as a Souldiour, but +as a Pilgrime also. He sawe those things which happened in the Spanish +Seas, and which were done in Syria and Palestina, against the Sultan the +King of Babylon, and the trecherous Saracens. All which things he wrote and +expressed them as it were in liuely colours, as if they had bene still in +doing before his eyes, and handled the same Argument in Heroicall verse +which the forenamed Richard Canonicus did. And hauing finished his worke he +dedicated it to Hubert Archbishop of Canterburie, and to Stephen Turneham a +most expert Captaine of warres, giuing it this Title, The expedition of +King Richard. And I doubt not but that so good a Poet as hee has published +many other things, but whether they be extant yea or no, I know not: but +this I know, that he was a man well accounted of, and flourished in the +yeere after the birth of Christ 1200. vnder king Iohn. + + * * * * * + +The comming of the Emperour of Constantinople called Baldwine into England + in the yere 1247, out of Matth. Paris, and Holensh. page 239. vol. 2. + +About the same time, Baldwine naming himselfe emperour of Constantinople, +came againe into England, to procure sone new ayd of the king towards the +recouery of his empire, out of the which he was expelled by the Greeks. + + * * * * * + +Confirmatio treugarum inter Regem Anglię Eduardum quartum, et Ioannem + secundum Regem Portugallię, datarum in oppido montis Maioris 8. + Februarij, et apud Westmonasterium 13, Septembris, 1482. anno regni 22. + Regis Eduardi quarti, lingua Lusitanica ex opere sequenti excerpta. + +Libro das obras de Garcia de Resende, que tracta da vida č feitos del Rey + dom Ioham secundo. Embaxada que el Rey mandou ą el Rey D'Inglaterra. Cap. + 33. + +Edaqui de Monte Mor mandou el Rey por embaixadores, ą el rey dom Duarte de +Inglaterra Ruy de Sousa-pessoa principal č de muyto bon saber é credito; de +que el Rey muyto confiua: é ho doutor Ioam d'Eluas, é fernam de Pina por +secretario. E foram por mar muy honradamente cum muy boa companhia: hos +quaes foram en nome del rey confirmar as ligas antiquas com Inglaterra, que +polla-condiēan deltas ho nouo Rey de hum zeyno é do outro era obrigado ą +mandar confirmar: é tambien pera monstrarem ho titolo que el rey tinha no +senhorio de Guinee, pera que depois de visto el rey D'Inglaterra defendesse +em todos seus reynos, que ninguen armasse nem podesse mandar ą Guinee: é +assi mandasse desfazer huna armada que pera laa faziam, per mandado do +Duque de Medina Sidonia, hum Ioam Tintam é hum Guilherme fabiam Ingleses. +Com ha qual embaixada e, rey D'Inglaterra mostrou receber grande +contentamento: é foy delle commuyta honra recebida, é em tudo fez +inteiramente ho que pellos embaixadores lhe foy requerido: de que elles +trouxeran autenticas escrituras das diligencias que con pubricos pregones +fizeram: [Sidenote: These writings are in the Towre.] é assi as prouisones +das aprouaēones que eran neccssarias: č com tudo muyto ben acabado, é ha +vontade del rey se vieram. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Matthew Gourney, a most, valiant English Knight against the + Moores of Algier in Barbarie and Spaine. M. Camden pag. 159. + +Nec tacendum Matthęum Gourney in oppido quodam, vulgari lingua Stoke vnder +Hamden in comitatu Somersetensi appellato, sepultum esse, virum +bellicosissimum regnante Edwardo tertio: qui 96. ętatis anno diem obiuit, +cum (vt ex inscriptione videre licuit) obsidioni d'Algizer contra +Saracenos, pręlijs Benamazin, Sclusensi, Cressiaco, Ingenos, Pictauiensi, +et Nazarano in Hispania dimicasset. + + +The same in English. + +[Sidenote: In the reigne of Edward the third.] It is by no means to be +passed ouer in silence, that Matthew Gourney, being a most valiant warriour +in the reigne of Edward the third, lyeth buried at a certaine towne, in the +countie of Somerset, commonly called Stoke vnder Hamden: who deceased in +the 96. yeare of his age: and that (as it is manifest by the inscription of +his monument) after he had valiantly behaued himselfe at the siege of +Algizer against the Sarazens, and at the battailes of Benamazin, of Sluce, +of Cressie, of Ingenos, of Poictou, and of Nazaran in Spaine. + + * * * * * + +The comming of Lyon King of Armenia into England, in the yeere 1386, and in + the ninth yeere of Richard the second, in trust to finde some meanes of + peace or good agreement betweene the King of England and the French king. + Iohn Froyssart lib. 3. cap. 56. + +Thus in abiding for the Duke of Berrie, and for the Constable, who were +behind, then king Lyon of Armenia, who was in France, and had assigned him +by the king, sixe thousande frankes by the yeare to maintaine his estate, +tooke vpon him for a good intent to goe into England to speake with the +king there and his Councell, to see if he might finde any matter of peace +to be had, betweene the two Realmes, England and France: And so he departed +from his lodging of Saint Albeyne beside Saint Denice, alonely [Footnote: +"Merely" "only." (Nare's _Glossary_.) "I speak not this _alonly_ for mine +owne." MIR. FOR MAGIST., p. 367.] with his owne company, and with no great +apparell. So he rode to Boloine, and there he tooke a shippe, and so sayled +foorth till he came, to Douer; and there he found the Earle of Cambridge, +and the Earle of Buckingham, and moe then a hundreth men of armes, and a +two thousand Archers, who lay there to keepe that passage, for the brute +[Footenote: Report, _French_ BRUIT. (Nare's _Glossary_). Compare 3 Ilen, +vi., iv., 7.] ran, that the Frenchmen should lande there or at Sandwich, +and the king lay at London, and part of his Councell with him, and daily +heard tydings from all the Portes of England. When the king of Armenia was +arriued at Douer, he had there good cheere, because he was a stranger, and +so he came to the kings vncles there, who sweetly receiued him, and at a +time conuenient, they demaunded of him from whence he came and whither he +would. The king answered and sayd, that in trust of goodnesse he was come +thither to see the king of England, and his Councell, to treate of peace +betweene England and France, for he saide that he thought the warre was not +meete: for he sayd, by reason of warre betweene these two Realmes, which +hath indured so long, the Saracens, Iewes and Turkes are waxed proude, for +there is none that make them any warre, and by occasion thereof I haue lost +my land and Realme, and am not like to recouer them againe without there +were firme peace in all Christendome: and I would gladly shew the matter +that toucheth all Christendome to the king of England, and to his Councell, +as I haue done to the French king. Then the kings Vncles demaunded of him +if the French king sent him thither or no; he answered and sayd, no: there +is no man that sent mee, but I am come hither by mine owne motion to see if +the king of England and his Councel would any thing leane to any treaty of +peace, then was he demaunded where the French king was, he answered I +beleeue he be at Sluce, I sawe not him sithence I tooke my leaue of him at +Senlize. Then he was demaunded, howe he could make any treatie of peace, +and had no charge so to doe, and Sir, if yee be conueyed to the King our +Nephew and to his Counsell, and the French king in the meane season enter +with his puissance into England; yee may happe thereby to receiue great +blame, and your person to be in great ieoperdy with them of the Countrey. +Then the King answered and said, I am in suretie of the French king, for I +haue sent to him, desiring him till I returne againe, not to remoue from +Sluce, and I repute him so noble and so well aduised, that he will graunt +my desire, and that hee will not enter into the sea, till I come againe to +him. Wherefore, sirs, I pray you in the instance of loue and peace, to +conuey me to speake with the King, for I desire greatly to see him: or else +yee that be his Vncles, if ye haue authoritie, to giue me answere to all my +demaunds. Then the Earle of Buckingham sayd, syr king of Armenia, we be +ordayned here to keepe and defend this passage, and the frontiers of +England, by the King and his Counsell, and wee haue no charge to meddle any +further with the businesse of the Realme, without we be otherwise commanded +by the King. But sith ye be come for a good intent into this Countrey, ye +be right welcome; but sir, as for any firme answere ye can haue none of vs, +for as now we be not of the Councell, but we shall conuey you to the king +without perill or danger. The king thanked them, and said: I desire nothing +else but to see the king and to speake with him. + + +How the King of Armenia returned out of England, and of the answere that + was made to him. + +When the king of Armenia was refreshed at Douer a day, and had spoken with +the kings Vncles at good leasure, then he departed towards London, with a +good conduct that, the Lords appointed to him, for feare of any recounters: +so long he rode that he came to London, and in his ryding through London he +was well regarded, because he was a stranger, and he had good cheare made +him, and so was brought to the king, who lay at the Royall at the Queenes +wardrobe, and his Councell were in London at their lodgings: The Londoners +were sore fortefying of their citie. When the comming of the king of +Armenia was knowen, the kings Councell drew to the King to heare what +tydings the King brought in that troublous season: When the king of Armenia +was come into the kings presence, he made his salutation and then beganne +his processe to the states, how he was come out of France principally to +see the king of England whom he had neuer seene before, and said, how he +was right ioyous to be in his presence, trusting that some goodnesse might +come thereby. And there he shewed by his words, that to withstande the +great pestilence that was likely to be in England; therefore he was come of +his owne good will to doe good therein if he might, not sent from the +French king, willing to set some accorde and peace betweene the two Realmes +England and France. Many faire pleasant words the king of Armenia spake to +the king of England, and to his Counsell, then he was shortly answered +thus: Syr king, ye be welcome into this Realme, for the king our soueraigne +lord, and all we are glad to see you here, but sir, we say that the king +hath not here all his Councell, but shortly they shall be here, and then ye +shall be answered. The king of Armenia was content therewith, and so +returned to his lodging. Within foure dayes after the king was counselled +(and I thinke he had sent to his Vncles to know their intents, but they +were not present at the answere giuing) to goe to the pallace at +Westminster and his Councell with him, such as were about him, and to send +for the king of Armenia to come thither. And when he was come into the +presence of the king of England and his Councell, the king sate downe, and +the king of Armenia by him, and then the Prelates and other of his +Councell. There the king of Armenia rehearsed againe his requestes that he +made, and also shewed wisely how all Christendome was sore decayed and +feeblished by occasion of the warres betweene England and France. And how +that all the knights and Squires of both Realmes entended [Footnote: Attend +to. It is used in the same sense in the Alleyn papers. "Loe that I will now +after Monday, intend your busines carefully." And in _Timon of Athens_ +ii., 2.] nothing else, but alwayes to be on the one part or of the other: +whereby the Empire of Constantinople leeseth, [Footnote: Diminisheth, +dwindleth. Nares does not give this meaning, not have I ever come across a +precisely similar instance of its use.] and is like to leese; for before +this warre the Knights and Squires were wont to aduenture themselues. And +also the king of Armenia shewed that by occasion of this warre he had lost +his Realme of Armenia, therefore he desired for Gods sake that there might +be some treaty of peace had betweene the two Realmes England and France. To +these wordes answered the Archbishop of Canterburie, for he had charge so +to doe; And he sayd, Sir king of Armenia, it is not the manner nor neuer +was seene betweene two such enemies as the king of England and the French +king, that the King my Souereigne lorde should be required of peace, and he +to enter his land with a puissant army, wherefore sir, we say to you, that +if it please you, ye may returne to the French king, and cause him and all +his puissance to returne backe into their owne countreys. And when euery +man be at home, then if it please you ye may returne againe hither, and +then we shall gladly intende to your treatie. + +This was all the answere the king of Armenia could get there, and so he +dined with the king of England, and had as great honour as could bee +deuised, and the king offered him many great gifts of golde and siluer, but +he would take none though he had neede thereof, but alonely a ring to the +value of a hundreth Frankes. After dinner he tooke his leaue and returned +vnto his lodging, and the next day departed, and was two days at Douer, and +there he tooke his leaue of such lords as were there, and so tooke the sea +in a passager, [Footnote: Generally spelt _passenger_, as in the +letter of the Earl of Leicester 1585. Quoted by Nares.] and arriued at +Calais and from thence went to Sluce, and there he spake with the French +king and with his Vncles, and shewed them how he had bene in England, and +what answere he had: the French king and his Vncles tooke no regard of his +saying, but sent him backe againe into France, for their full intention was +to enter into England as soone as they might haue winde and weather, and +the Duke of Berrie and the Constable came to them: The winde was sore +contrary to them, for therewith they could neuer enter into England but the +winde was good to goe into Scotland. [Footnote: The King of Armenia here +referred to was Leon VI., the last of the Cilicio Armenian dynasty founded +by Rupen, a relative of Gagik, the last of the Bagratide Kings: He was +taken prisoner by the Mamelukes of Egypt in 1375, and after a long +captivity wandered as an exile through Europe, dying at Paris in 1393.] + + * * * * * + +The memorable victories in diuers parts of Italie of Iohn Hawkwood English + man in the reigne of Richard the second, briefly recorded by M. Camden, + pag. 339. + +Ad alteram ripam fluuij Colne oppositus est Sibble Heningham, locus +natalis, vt accepi, Ioannis Hawkwoodi (Itali Aucuthum corruptč vocant) quem +illi tantopere ob virtutem militarem suspexerunt, vt Senatus Florentinus +propter insignia merita equestri statua et tumuli honore in eximię +fortitudinis, fideķque testimonium ornauit. Res eius gestas Itali pleno ore +praedicant; Et Paulus Iouius in elogijs celebrat: sat mihi sit Iulij +Feroldi tetrastichon adijcere. + + Hawkwoode Anglorum decus, et decus addite genti + Italicę presidiśmque solo, + Vt tumuli quondam Florentia, sic simulachri + Virtutem Iouius donat honore tuam. + +William Thomas in his Historie of the common wealthes of Italy, maketh +honorable mention of him twise, to wit, in the commonwealth of Florentia +and Ferrara. + + * * * * * + +The comming of the Emperour of Constantinople into England, to desire the + aide of Henry the 4. against the Turkes, 1400. + +[Sidenote: Thomas Walsingham.] Sub eodem tempore Imperator +Constantinopolitanus venit in Angliam, postulaturus subsidium contra +Turcas. Cui occurit rex cum apparatu nobili ad le Blackheath, die sancti +Thomae Apostilo, susceptique, prout decuit, tantum Heroem, duxķtque +Londonias, et per multos dies exhibuit gloriosč, pro expensis hospitij sui +soluens, et eum respiciens tanto fastigio donatiuis. Et paulo post: His +auditis rumoribus, Imperator laetior recessit ab Anglis, honoratus ą rege +donarijs preciosis. + +The same in English. + +About the same time the Emperour of Constantinople came into England, to +seek ayde against the Turkes: whom the king accompanied with his nobilitie, +met withall vpon Blackheath vpon the day of saint Thomas the Apostle, and +receiued him as beseemed so great a prince, and brought him to London, and +roially entertained him for a long season, defraying the charges of his +diet, and giuing him many honorable presents. And a litle afterward: Vpon +the hearing of these newes, the emperor departed with great ioy out of +England, whom the king honoured with many precious gifts. + + * * * * * + +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. + +Willingly 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 sepulchre 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 moued 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 that continuall complaintes of his subiectes as well 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 predecessours, +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 redinesse his armie to the number of three hundreth +sayles purposing for to send them against Rhodes, if mortalitie had not +happened in his host, and he afterwarde by the will of our lorde was +surprised and taken with death: wherefore he being in the latter ende of +his dayes, (as some Turkes and false christian men that were at this siege +shewed me) did charge by his testament, or caused to charge his sonne now +being great Turke, that after this death hee should make his two first +enterprises, the one against Bellegrado in Hungarie, and the other against +Rhodes, for to get him honour, and to set his Countries and subiectes in +rest and suretie. The which fatherly motion easilie entered into him and +was imprinted in the heart and yoong will of the sayde Solyman, his sonne, +the which soone after the death of his father put in effect the first +enterprise, and raised an huge hoste both by water and by land, and went +himselfe in person against Bellegrado, a right strong place in Hungarie. +[Sidenote: The taking of Belgrade.] And after that hee had besieged it the +space of two moneths or thereabout, for fault of ordinance and vitailes, it +was yeelded to him by composition the eight day of September, in the yeere +of our lord, one thousand fiue hundred twentie and one. The sayd Solyman +hauing this victory, being swollen and raised in pride and vaineglory, +turned his heart agaynst Rhodes. Neuertheless, he not ignorant of the +strength of it, and considering the qualities of the people that were +within it, of whom he should be well receiued as his predecessours had bene +aforetimes, doubted much, and knew not how to furnish his enterprise. For +his capitaines and Bashas turned him from it as much as they might by many +reasons, they knowing the force of it, saue onely Mustofa Basha his brother +in lawe, the which councelled and put him in minde to goe thither. Finally, +hee purposed entirely to haue it by treason or by force. [Sidenote: Forren +physicians become spies oftentimes.] And also, for the same cause and +purpose, his father in his dayes had sent a Iewe physician into Rhode as a +spie, to haue the better knowledge of it: the sayd Solyman was informed +that he was there yet, wherefore he sent him worde that he should abide +there still for the same cause. And gaue in charge to one of the chiefe men +in Sio, to send vnto the sayd Iewe all things needefull to maintaine him. +And the same Iewe wrote to him of Sio, vnder priuie wordes, all that was +done in Rhodes to giue knowledge thereof to the great Turke: and the better +to hide his treason, the sayde Iewe made himselfe to bee baptised. And to +bee the more named to be expert in Physike, he did some faire cures to such +such as were diseased, whereby he began to bee well trusted, and came in +fauour with many substantiall folkes of the towne. Among all other things +whereof hee aduertised the great Turke, one was of a wall that was taken +downe for to be new builded at the bulwarke of Auuergne, certifying him +that if hee came hastely with his hoste, hee might easilie and at vnawares +surprise the towne in such estate as it was at that time. Many other +aduertisements and warnings hee shewed the Turke, which shall bee declared +hereafter. [Sidenote: A Portingale traitor.] But beside his aduertisement, +the sayd great Turke stirred and prouoked by a false traitour, a Portingale +knight of ours, that time Chanceller of the sayd holy Religion, a man of +great authoritie, dignitie, and vnderstanding, and one of the principall +lordes of the counsell of the same, named Sir Andrew de Merall, by little +and little was mooued and kindled to the sayd enterprise of treason, +whereof was no maruell, for it was a great hope and comfort to haue such a +person for him, that knew all the estate and rule of the religion and of +the towne. And for to declare the occasions of the cursed and vnhappy will +of the said traitor that had bene occasion of so great losse and damage, +and shall be more at the length, if the diuine power set not to his hand. + +[Sidenote: Philip de Villiers great master.] And here it is manifestly to +bee vnderstood of all men, that after the death of the noble and right +prudent lord, Fabrice of Cacetto, great master of Rhodes, the sayd Sir +Andrew enflamed with ambition and couetousnesse to bee great master, and +seeing himselfe deceiued of his hope, by the election made the two and +twentieth day of Ianuary, of the right reuerend and illustrate lord, Philip +de Villiers Lisleadam, before him: from that time hee tooke so great enuie +and desperation, enmitie and euil will, not onely against the sayde lord; +but against all the holy religion, that hee set all his studie and purpose, +to betray and sell his religion and the citie of Rhodes to the cursed +misbeleeuers, forgetting the great honours and goodnesse that hee hath had +of the religion, and hoped to receiue, with many other particuler pleasures +that the sayd lord master had done to him. But the deuill, vnkindnesse, and +wickednesse had so blinded the eyes of his thought, that hee in no wise +could refraine him, but at euery purpose that was spoken afore him, hee was +short and might not dissemble. And one day among other hee sayde before +many knights, that hee would that his soule were at the deuill, and that +Rhodes and the religion were lost. And many other foolish and dishonest +purposes and wordes hee vttered, whereat none tooke heed, nor thought that +hee had the courage to doe that thing that hee hath done. Howbeit, +obstinate as Iudas, hee put in execution his cursed will: for soone after +that the tidings of the election was sent Westward to the sayde noble lord, +the sayd de Merall did send a Turke prisoner of his to Constantinople, +vnder shadowe to fetch his ransome. By whom he aduertised the great Turke +and his counsell, of the maner and degree of Rhodes, and in what state and +condicion the towne was in of all maner of things at that time, and what +might happen of it, prouoking and stirring him to come with a great hoste +to besiege the towne. And after the comming of the sayd reuerend lord great +master, he gaue other aduise to the great Turke, shewing him that hee could +neuer haue better time to come, seeing that the great master was new come, +and part of the wall taken downe, and that all Rhodes was in trouble by +occasion of some Italian knights, rebels agaynst the lord great master: of +the which rebellion he was causer, the better to bring his cursed mind to +passe: and also gaue the sayde great Turke knowledge that all Christian +princes were busie, warring each vpon other, and that he should not doubt +but if the rebellion lasted among them, the towne should be his without +faile, as it is seene by experience. And for lacke of succours of euery +part, and especially of such as might easily haue holpen vs beyng our +neighbours, with their gallies and men of warre, wherefore it is now in the +handes of the enemies of the christian faith. The which monitions and +reasons of the false traitor being vnderstood and pondered by the great +Turke and his counsell, it was considered of them not to loose so good +occasion and time. Wherefore hee made most extreme diligence to rigge and +apparell many ships and vessels of diuers sorts, as galliasses, gallies, +pallandres, fustes, and brigantines, to the number of 350. sailes and moe. +[Footnote: A Galliasse was a 3 masted galley; Pallandres were manned by 20 +men and Fustes by 12 to 15.] When the prisoner that the sayd de Merall did +send into Turkie had done his commission, hee returned into Rhodes, whereof +euery man had maruell. And many folkes deemed euil of his comming againe, +as of a thing vnaccustomed, but none durst say any thing, seeing the sayd +de Merall of so great authoritie and dignitie, and he cherished the sayd +prisoner, more than he was woont to doe. Therefore belike hee had well done +his message, and had brought good tidings to the damnable and shamefull +mind of the sayd traitor de Merall. + + +How the great Turke caused the passages to be kept, that none should beare + tidings of his hoste to Rhodes. + +The great Turke intending with great diligence to make readie his hoste +both by sea and by land, the better to come to his purpose, and to take the +towne vnwarily as hee was aduertised, thought to keepe his doings as secret +as hee might, and commaunded that none of his subiects should goe to Rhodes +for any maner of thing. And likewise he tooke all the barkes and +brigantines out of the hauens and portes in those coastes, because they +should giue no knowledge of his armie. And also hee made the passages by +land to bee kept, that none should passe. Howbeit, so great apparell of an +armie could not bee long kept close: for the spies which the lord great +master had sent into Turkie, brought tidings to the castle of saint Peter, +and to Rhodes, of all that was said and done in Turkie. Neuerthelesse, the +sayd lord gaue no great credence to all that was brought and told, because +that many yeeres before, the predecessours of the great Turke had made +great armies: and alway it was sayd that they went to Rhodes, the which +came to none effect. And it was holden for a mocke and a by-word in many +places, that the Turke would goe to besiege Rhodes. And for this reason +doubt was had of this last armie, and some thought that it should haue gone +into Cyprus or to Cataro, a land of the lordship of Venice. Howbeit the +great master not willing to bee taken vnwarily, but the meane while as +carefull and diligent for the wealth of his towne, and his people, +vnderstanding these tidings of the Turkes armie, did all his diligence to +repaire and strengthen the towne. Amongst all other things to build vp, and +raise the bulwarke of Auuergne, and to cleanse and make deeper the ditches. +And the more to cause the workemen to haste them in their businesse, the +sayd lord ouersawe them twise or thrise euery day. + + +How the lord great master counselled with the lordes for prouision of the + towne. + +[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Bourgh the English Turcoplier.] Then the sayd reuerend +lord thought to furnish and store the towne with more vitailes for the +sustenance thereof, and for the same many times hee spake with the lordes +that had the handling and rule of the treasurie, and of the expenses +thereof in his absence, and since his comming: That is to wit, with the +great Commander Gabriel de pommerolles, lieutenant of the sayd lord: The +Turcoplier Sir Iohn Bourgh of the English nation: and the Chancellor Sir +Andrew de Meral, of whom is spoken afore and of his vntruth agaynst his +religion. The which three lordes sayd, that hee should take no thought for +it, for the towne was well stored with vitailes for a great while, and that +there was wheate ynough till new came in: Notwithstanding it were good to +haue more, or the siege were laied afore the towne, and therefore it were +behoouefull to send for wheate and other necessaries into the West for +succours of the towne, and at that time to puruey for euery thing. + + +Of the prouision for vitailes and ordinance of warre. + +As touching the store and ordinance of warre, the sayd lordes affirmed that +there was ynough for a yeere and more, whereof the contrary was found, for +it failed a moneth or the citie was yeelded. It is of trueth that there was +great store, and to haue lasted longer then it did. But it was needful to +spend largely at the first comming of the enemies to keepe them from +comming neere, and from bringing earth to the ditches sides as they did. +And moreouer you are to consider the great number of them, and their power +that was spred round about the towne, giuing vs so many assaults and +skirmishes in so many places as they did, and by the space of sixe whole +moneths day and night assailing vs, that much ordinance and store was +wasted to withstand them in all points. And if it failed, it was no +maruell. Howbeit the noble lord great master, prouided speedily for it, and +sent Brigantines to Lango, to the castle of saint Peter, and to the castels +of his isle Feraclous and Lyndo, for to bring powder and saltpeter to +strength the towne, but it suffised not. + +And for to speake of the purueiance of vitailes, it was aduised by the lord +great master and his three lords, that it was time to send some ships for +wheat to places thereabout, before the Turks hoste were come thither. And +for this purpose was appointed a ship named the Gallienge, whose captaine +hight [Footnote: The participle of the Anglo-Saxon verb _Hatan_, to +call: + "Full carefully he kept them day and night; + In fairest fields, and Astrophel he _hight_." + SPENSER Astrophel i., 6.] +Brambois, otherwise called Wolfe, of the Almaine nation, an expert man of +the sea, the which made so good diligence, that within a moneth he +performed his voiage, and brought good store of wheat from Naples and +Romania, [Footnote: The territory around Rome, _not_ Roumania.] which did +vs great comfort. + + +How a Brigantine was sent to Candie for wine, and of diuers ships that came + to helpe the towne. + +After this, a motion was made to make prouision of wine for the towne, for +the men of Candie durst not saile for to bring wine to Rhodes as they were +woont to doe for feare of the Turkes hoste: and also they of the towne +would send no ship into Candie, fearing to be taken and enclosed with the +sayd hoste by the way. Howbeit some merchants of the towne, were willing to +haue aduentured themselues in a good ship of the religion, named the Mary, +for to haue laden her with wine in Candie. But they could not agree with +the three lordes of the treasure, and their let was but for a little thing: +and all the cause came of the sayd traitour de Merall, faining the wealth +of the treasure: for he intended another thing, and brake this good and +profitable enterprise and will of the sayd merchants, seeing that it was +hurtfull to the Turke, whose part the said traitour held in his diuelish +heart: that notwithstanding, the reuerend lord great master, that in all +things from the beginning to the ende, hath alway shewed his good will, and +with all diligence and right that might bee requisite to a soueraigne +captaine and head of warre, found other expedience, and sent a Brigantine +into Candie, in the which he sent a brother sergeant named Anthonie of +Bosus, a well sprighted [Footnote: Loyal.] man and wise, that by his +wisedome wrought so well, that, within a small time he brought fifteene +vessels called Gripes, laden with wine, and with them men of warre the +which came vnder shadow of those wines, because the gouernours of Candie +durst let none of their men goe to the succour of Rhodes for feare of the +Turke. And beside those fifteene Gripes came a good ship whose capitaine +and owner was a rich yong gentleman Venetian, Messire Iohn Antonio de +Bonaldi, which of his good will came with his ship laden with 700. buts of +wine to succour the towne with his person and folkes, whose good and +lowable will I leaue to the consideration of the readers of this present +booke. For hee being purposed to haue had his wines to Constantinople, or +he was enformed of the busines of Rhodes, and was in the porte du Castell +in Candie, would not beare his vitailes to the enemies of the faith, but +came out and returned his way toward Rhodes, forgetting all particular +profite and aduantage. He being arriued at Rhodes, dispatched and sold his +wine, which was a great encrease and comfort for the towne. And when he had +so done, he presented his person, his ship, and his folke, to the reuerend +great master, the which retained him, and set him in wages of the Religion. +And during the siege, the sayd capitaine behaued him woorthily in his +person, and put himselfe in such places as woorthy men ought to be, +spending his goods largely without demanding any paiment or recompense for +his doing, of the Religion. + + +How the corne was shorne downe halfe ripe and brought into the towne for + feare of the Turkes hoste. + +During these things, the reuerend lord great master carefull and busie to +haue euerything necessary, as men and other strengths, sent vessels called +brigantines, for to cause the wafters of the sea to come vnto Rhodes for +the keeping and fortifying of the towne, the which at the first sending +came and presented their persons and ships to the seruice of the religion. + +[Sidenote: Haruest in April and May.] After that the sayd lord caused to +shere downe the Rie of his isle, and caused it to bee brought into the +towne, which was done in Aprill: and then in May in some places, he made to +shere the wheate halfe ripe, howbeit the most part was left in the fields, +because the Turkes hoste was come out of the streights of Constantinople. +And doubting that any number of ships should come before to take the people +of the sayd Isle vnawares, the sayd lord made them to leaue shering of +wheate, and caused the people of the furthest part of the Isle to come into +the towne. + +While that the great master prouided for all things after the course of +time and tidings that hee had, there arriued a Carak of Genoa laden with +spicerie from Alexandria, the which passed before the port of Rhodes the +eight day of Aprill, and rid at anker at the Fosse, 7. or 8. miles from the +towne, for to know and heare tidings of the Turkish hoste. Then the lord +willing to furnish him with people as most behoouefull for the towne, sent +a knight of Prouence named sir Anastase de sancta Camilla, commander de la +Tronquiere to the captaine of the Carak, praying him to come into the hauen +with his ship for the defence of the towne, profering him what he would, +assuring him ship. The captaine excused him, saying, that the merchandise +was not his owne, but belonged to diuers merchants to whom he must yeeld +account. Howbeit at the last after many words and promises to him made hee +came into the hauen, the which captaine was named messire Domingo de +Fournati, and hee in his person behaued him valiauntly in the time of the +sayd siege. + + +How the great master caused generall musters to be made, and sent a vessell + to the Turkes nauie, of whom he receiued a letter. + +After the moneth of April the lord master seeing that the Turkes hoste drew +neere, and that he had the most part of the wafters within the towne, he +caused generall musters of men of armes to be made. And began at the +knights, the which vpon holy Rood day in May made their musters, before the +Commissioners ordained by the sayd lord in places deputed to each of them +called Aalberge. The which Commissioners made report to the lordes that +they had found the knights in good order of harnesse and other things +necessary for warre, and their araie faire and proper, with crosses on +them. When the muster of the knights was done, the lord master thought to +make the musters of them of the towne, and strangers together: but his +wisedome perceiued that harme should come thereby, rather then good, +doubting, that the number of people should not bee so great as he would, or +needed to haue, whereof the great Turke might haue knowledge by goers and +commers into Rhodes, and therefore he caused them of the towne to make +their musters seuerall by bandes and companies, and the strangers also by +themselues, to the end that the number should not bee knowen, +notwithstanding that there was good quantitie of good men and well willing +to defend themselues. And the more to hearten and giue them courage and +good will, some knights of the Crosse, decked their men with colours and +deuises, and tooke with them men of the towne and strangers, and with great +noyse of trumpets and timbrels, they made many musters, as enuying each +other which should keepe best aray and order, and haue the fairest company. +It was a great pleasure to see them all so well agree, and so well willing. + +The number of the men of the towne amounted and were esteemed, three, or +foure thousand, beside men of the villages that might be 1500. or 2000. + +The eight day of the same moneth, the Turkes hearing of those tidings, made +a fire for a token in a place called le Fisco, in the maine land right +against Rhodes. And certaine dayes afore they had made another, that is to +weet, when the ship of a knight named Menetow went thither, and had with +him the clarke of the gallies named Iaques truchman, the which vnder shadow +to speake with him, was withholden of the Turkes. For the great Turke had +commanded to take him or some other man of the Rhodes to haue perfect +knowledge in what estate the towne was then in euery thing. And they of the +towne weening that the second fire was for to deliuer Iaques, the reuerend +lord great master sent one of his galliasses, whose patron was called +messire Boniface of Prouence, to know the cause thereof. And when hee +arriued at the sayd place of le Fisco, he demaunded of the Turkes wherefore +they had made the token of fire. And they said that it was because their +lord had sent a letter to the great master, but as yet it was not come, and +desired him to tary till it were brought. The patron as warie and wise in +the businesse of the sea, thought in himselfe that the Turkes made such +prolonging to some euill intent, or to surprise his vessell being alone, +wherefore hee bade them giue him the letter speedily, or els he would goe +his way, and neither tary for letter nor other thing: and told them of the +euill and dishonest deed that they had done the dayes afore, to withhold +the clarke vnder their words and safeconduct: and therewith he turned his +galliasse to haue gone away. The Turkes seeing that, gaue him the letter, +the which he tooke, and when he was arriued at Rhodes, he presented it to +the lord great master, which assembled the lordes of his counsell, and made +it to be red. The tenor whereof was such as foloweth. + + +The copie of the letter that the great Turke sent to the Iord great master, + and to the people of the Rhodes. + +Sultan Solyman Basha by the grace of God, right mightie emperor of +Constantinople, and of himselfe holding both the lands of Persia, Arabia, +Syria, Mecha, and Ierusalem; of Asia, Europe, Aegypt, and of all the Sea, +lord and possessor: To the reuerend father lord Philip, great master of +Rhodes, to his counsailors, and to all the other citizens great and small, +greeting. Sending conuenient and worthy salutations to your reuerances, wee +giue you to weet, that we haue receiued your letters sent vnto our +imperiall maiestie by George your seruant, the tenor whereof we doe well +vnderstand: and for this occasion we send vnto you this our present +commaundement, to the end that we will that ye know surely how by our +sentence we will haue that Isle of Rhodes for many damages and euill deeds +which we haue, and heare from day to day of the sayd place done to vs and +our subiects, and ye with your good will shall hold it of vs and doe vs +obeisance, and giue the citie to mine imperiall maiestie. And we sweare by +God that made heauen and earth, and by 26000. of our prophets, and by the +4. Misafi that fell from the skies, and by our first prophet Mahomet, that +if ye doe vs homage, and yeeld you with good will vpon these othes, all you +that will abide in the sayd place, great and small, shall not need to feare +perill nor damage of mine imperiall maiestie, neither you, your goods, nor +your men: and who so will goe to any other place with his goods and +houshold, may so doe, and who so will dwell and inhabits in any other +places vnder mine Imperiall maiestie, may remaine where they like best, +without feare of any person. And if there bee any of the principals and +woorthy men among you that is so disposed, wee shall giue him wages and +prouision greater then hee hath had. And if any of you will abide in the +sayd isle, yee may so doe after your auncient vsages and customes, and much +better. And therefore if that Imperiall maiestie, or els know yee that wee +will come vpon you with all prouisions of warre, and thereof shall come as +it pleaseth God. And this wee doe, to the end that ye may know, and that ye +may not say, but we haue giuen you warning. And if ye doe not thus with +your good will, wee shall vault and vndermine your foundations in such +maner, that they shalbe torne vpside downe, and shal make you slaues, and +cause you to die, by the grace of God, as we haue done many, and hereof +haue ye no doubt. Written in our court at Constantinople the first day of +the moneth of Iune. + + +How the Turkes came to land in the Isle of Lango, and were driuen to their + ships againe by the Prior of S. Giles. + +When the lord great master and his counsell had heard the tenor of the +letter, they would giue none answere to the great Turke, but that he should +be receiued with good strokes of artillerie. So that to a foolish demaund +behooued none answere. And it was very like that he would haue nothing. For +sixe dayes after, that was the 14. day of the said moneth of Iune, the +Brigantines that went toward Sio to know of the said armie, came againe and +sayd, that of a trueth the said armie was comming; and that nigh to Lango +an Isle of the religion, and 100. mile from Rhodes, they had seene and told +30. sailes that were most part gallies and fustes: the which vessels set +men on land in the isle of Lango. Then the prior of S. Giles, Messire pre +Iohn de Bidoux commander of the said place, taried not long from horsebacke +with his knights and people of the isle, and he met so well with the +Turkes, that he droue them to their ships, and slew a certaine number of +them: and of the side of Pre Iohn some were hurt, and his horse was slaine. +When the enemies were entered into their gallies, they went to a place +called castle Iudeo on the maine land, betweene the sayd isle of Lango and +the castle of S. Peter. + + +How part of the nauie and armie of the great Turke came before the citie of + Rhodes. + +The 18. day of the said moneth of Iune, these 30. gallies went from the +sayd place, and passed, by the Cape of Crion, entering the gulfe of Epimes +beside Rhodes, and were discouered from the shade of the hill of Salaco, a +castle in the isle of Rhodes. On the morrow they came out of the gulfe by +plaine day, and sailing along by the coasts, they entered into a hauen on +maine land called Malfata, where they abode three dayes. Then they went +from thence, and returned to the gulfe of Epimes, where they abode two +dayes and two nights. + +The 24 day of the same moneth they issued out of Epimes, and trauersing the +chanell, they came to the yle of Rhodes in a place before a castle called +Faues, and they went to land, and burnt a great field of corne the same +day, which was the feast of S. Iohn Baptist our patron. The guard of a +castle named Absito in the yle of Rhodes discouered and spied the great +hoste, and in great haste brought word to the lord master, and sayd that +the sayd hoste, that was in so great number of sailes that they might not +be numbred, was entered into the gulfe of Epimes. The 30 sailes that lay in +the yle arose in the night, and went to the sayd hoste in the gulfe. + +The 26 day of Iune the sayd great hoste arose and went out of Epimes an +houre after the sun rising, and trauersing the chanell, they came to a +place called the Fosse, eight miles from the towne. And the 30 first sailes +turned backe toward the cape of S. Martin and other places to watch for +ships of Christian men, if any passed by to Rhodes. The great hoste abode +still till noone or one of the clocke, and then arose, not all, but about +80 or 100 ships, as gallies, galliasses, and fusts: and passed one after +another before the towne and hauen of Rhodes three miles off, and came to +shore in a place nigh to land, called Perambolin, sixe miles from the +towne. In the which place the sayd hoste abode from that time to the end of +that vnhappy siege. + + +The number and names of the vessels that came to besiege Rhodes. + +The number of the ships were these: 30 galliasses, 103 gallies, aswell +bastards as subtill mahonnets, 15 taffours, 20 fusts, 64 great ships, sixe +or seuen gallions, and 30 galleres, besides the nauy that waited for +Christain men, if any came to succour vs. These were the vessels that came +at the first to lay the siege. And sith that sayd host came out of +Perambolin, there came from Syria 20 other sailes, aswell gallies as fusts. +And many other ships came sith, and ioyned with the sayd army in the time +of the sayd siege. And it was sayd that there were 400 sailes and moe. + +The same day that part of the host came to the sayd place, the reuerend +lord great master ordeined a great brigandine to send into the West, to +certifie our holy father the pope, and the Christian princes how the Turks +army was afore Rhodes. And in the sayd vessel he sent two knights, one a +French man named Sir Claude Dansoyuille called Villiers, and Sir Loys de +Sidonia a Spaniard: and they went to the pope and to the emperour. + +After the comming of the Turks nauy into the sayd place, if was 14 or 15 +dayes or they set any ordinance on land, great or small, or any quantity of +men came on shore, whereof we marueiled. And it was tolde vs by some that +came out of the campe, and also by the spies that the lord great master had +sent abroad arayed as Turks that they, abode the commandement of their +great lord, vntill the hoste by land were come into the campe. Howbeit +there came some number for to view the towne, but they went priuity, for +the ordinance of the towne shot without cease. + +All this while the gallies and galliasses went and came to land, bringing +vitaile and people. At the which ships passing nigh the town, were shot +many strokes with bombards, which made some slaughter of our enemies: and +when the most part of them was past, they began to set ordinance on the +land with great diligence. Then the lord great master departed from his +palace, and lodged him nigh a church called The victory, because that place +was most to be doubted: and also that at the other siege [Footnote: This +refers to the siege of Rhodes in 1480, by Mohammed II., the conqueror of +Constantinople.] the great businesse and assault was there. + + +How the lord great master made his petition before the image of S. Iohn, + and offered him the keyes of the towne. + +The day before were made many predications and sermons, and the last was in +the church of S. Iohn Baptist. When the sermon was done, a pontificall +Masse was celebrate with all solemnities, and all the reliques taken downe, +and the lord great master and all his knights with great deuotions and +reuerence heard it. And when the Masse was ended, the lord great master +made a pitious oration or prayer before Saint Iohn Baptist his protectour: +and aboue all other words, which were too long to tell, he besought him +meekly that it would please him to take the keyes of that miserable city. +The which keyes he presented and layed vpon the altar before the image, +beseeching S. Iohn to take the keeping and protection thereof, and of all +the religion, as by his grace he had giuen to him vnworthy, the gouerning +vnto that day: and by his, holy grace to defend them from the great power +of the enemies that had besieged them. + + +How the women slaues would haue set fire in the towne. + +The eight day of Iuly it was knowen that the Turkish women being slaues and +seruaunts in many houses of the towne, had appointed to set fire in their +masters houses at the first assault that should be made, to the end that +the men should leaue their posterns and defenses to go and saue their +houses and goods. And it was found that a woman of Marchopota being a +slaue, was first moouer thereof, the which was taken and put to execution. + +The same day some of our men went out for to skirmish with the Turkes, and +many of them were slaine with shot of our artillerie, and of our men but +one. + + +How the Turkes layd their artillerie about the towne, and of the maner and + quantitie of their pieces and gunshot. + +The 18. day of Iuly, for the beginning and first day they set vp a +mantellet, vnder the which they put three or foure meane pieces, as sacres, +wherewith they shot against the posterns of England and Prouence. But the +mantellet was soone broken and cast downe, and their pieces destroyed with +the shot of the wall, and they that shot them were most part slaine. As +this first mantellet was broken, by the great and innumerable people that +they had they set all their ordinance on land, and caried it to the places +where it should be bent, or nigh thereby. + +And the 29. day of the same moneth, they set vp two other mantellets. One +beside a church of saint Cosme and Damian, and another toward the West. And +from these mantellets they shot great pieces, as Culuerings, double gunnes, +and great bombards [Footnote: For particulars of the artillery used from +the 14th to the 16th Centuries, see Vol. iii, page 207. note.] agaynst the +wals of England and Spaine, to the which mantellets the ordinance of the +towne gaue many great strokes, and often brake them. And the more to grieue +the towne and to feare vs, they set vp many other mantellets in diuers +places, almost round about the towne, and they were reckoned foure score: +the which number was well lessened by the great quantitie of strokes of +artillerie shot out of the towne from many places. + + +The artillerie of the Turkes was such as followeth. + +First there were sixe great gunnes, cannons perriers of brasse, that shot a +stone of three foote and a halfe: also there were 15. pieces of iron that +shot stones of fiue or sixe spannes about. Also there were 14. great +bombards that shot stones of eleuen spans about. Also there were twelue +basiliskes, whereof they shot but with 8. that is to weet, foure shot +agaynst the posterns of England and Spaine, and two against the gate of +Italy: the other two shot sometime against Saint Nicholas tower. Also there +were 15. double gunnes casting bullets as basiliskes. The meane shot, as +sacres and pasuolans, were in great number. The handgunshot was innumerable +and incredible. Also there were twelue potgunnes of brasse that shot +vpward, whereof eight were set behind the church of S. Cosme and Damian, +and two at saint Iohn de la Fontaine toward the port of Italy, and the +other two afore the gate of Auuergne, the which were shot night and day: +and there were three sorts of them, whereof the greatest were of sixe or +seuen spannes about. And the sayd stones were cast into the towne to make +murder of people, which is a thing very inhumane and fearefull, which maner +of shooting is little vsed amongst christian men. Howbeit by euident +myracle, thanked be God, the sayd pieces did no great harme, and slew not +past 24. or 25. persons, and the most part women and children, and they +began to shoot with, the said pieces from the 19. day of the same moneth, +vnto the end of August, and it was accounted that they shot 2000. times +more or lesse. + +Then the enemies were warned by the Iewe that wrote letters to them of all +that was done and sayd in the towne, that the sayd potgunnes did no harme: +wherefore they were angry, for they thought that they had slaine the third +part of our people: and they were counselled by him to leaue that shooting, +for it was but time lost, and pouder wasted, and then they shot no more +with them. It is of a trueth that they shot with the sayd potgunnes 12. or +15. times with bullets of brasse or copper, full of wild fire, and when +they were in the ayre, they flamed foorth, and in falling on the ground, +they brake, and the fire came out and did some harme: But at the last wee +knew the malice thereof, and the people was warie from comming neere to +them, and therefore they did hurt no more folke. + + +How the captaine Gabriel Martiningo camee to the succor of Rhodes, and all + the slaues were in danger to be slaine. + +The 24. day of the same moneth a brigantine arriued that was sent afore +into Candie, wherein came a worthy captaine named Gabriel Martiningo with +two other captains. And there went to receiue him messieur prou Iohn prior +of S. Giles, and the prior of Nauarre. Then after his honourable receiuing +as to him well apperteined, they brought him before the lord great master +that louingly receiued him, and he was gladly seene and welcommed of the +people, as a man that was named very wise and ingenious in feats of warre. +Then came a Spaniard renegado from the host, that gaue vs warning of all +that was done in the field, and of the approaching by the trenches that our +enemies made. + +And in likewise there arose a great noise in the towne, that the slaues +Turks that wrought for vs in the diches had slaine their keepers, and would +haue fled, which was not so. Neuerthelesse, the rumour was great, and they +rang alarme: wherefore the sayd slaues comming to prison, as it was +ordeined in al the alarmes, were met of the people, which in great anger +put them to death: so that there were slaine an hundred and moe the same +day. And if the lord great master had not commanded, that none should hurt +them, they had bene all slaine, and there were fifteene hundredth of them: +which slaues did great seruice in time of the siege: for they laboured +dayly to make our defences, and to cast earth out of the ditches, and in +all works they were necessary at our needs. + + +How the great Turke arriued in person before Rhodes. + +The 25 day of the sayd moneth many of our men went out for to skirmish in +the field and made great murder of Turks, and in likewise did our +artillery. And it is to be noted that the 28 day of the same moneth the +great Turke in person passed le Fisco a hauen in the maine land with a +galley and a fust, and arriued about noone, where his army lay, the which +day may be called unhappie for Rhodes. For his comming, his presence and +continuall abiding in the fielde is and hath beene cause of the victorie +that he hath had. When the gallie that he came in was arriued, all the +other shippes of the hoste hanged banners aloft in their toppes and on +their sayle yerdes. + +Soone after that the Turke was arriued, he went to land, and mounted on his +horse, and rode to his pauilion which was in a high place called +Megalandra, foure or fiue miles fro the towne but of the danger of the +gunne shot. And on the morrow, as it was reported to vs, hee came to a +Church nigh the towne called Saint Steuen, for to viewe the Towne and +fortresses, whereas they had set vp mantellets for to lay their ordinance. + +The last day of Iuly, one of our briganidines went out with a good company +of men arrayed as Turkes, and some of them could speake Turkish, and went +by night to lande through the Turkes hoste, and demaunded if there were any +that would passe ouer into Turkie, that they should haste them to come. The +Turkes weening that they had beene of Turkie, there entred a 12. persons, +the which were carried to Rhodes, by whom we knew what they did in the +campe. + +The first day of August the Captaine Gabriel Martiningo was made knight of +the order of the religion by the lord great Master, and was made the first +auncient of the Italian nation, of the first baliage or priorie that should +be vacant. And in the meane season the religion should giue him twelue +hundred ducates for pension euery yeere, and the same day he was receiued +to the Councell in the roome of a baylife. + +The fift day of the sayd moneth our master gunner was slaine with a gunne, +which was great losse for vs at that time. + +The 15. day of the sayd moneth was knowen and taken for a traitor, Messire +Iohn Baptista, the physicion aforesayd, which confessed his euill and +diuelish doings, and had his head striken of. + + +Of the marueiloous mounts that the Turks made afore the towne, and how the + capitaines were ordered in the trenches. + +After the comming of the great Turke, the enemies began to shoote with +ordinance of another sort then they did before, and specially with +harquebushes and handguns, and also to make their trenches and approches. +And also they did more diligence then afore, to bring the earth nigh the +towne with spades and pickaxes. And it is to weet, that they mooued the +earth from halfe a mile off, and there were shot out of the towne +innumerable strokes with ordinance against the sayd earth, and innumerable +quantitie of people hid behind the sayd earth, were slaine. Neuerthelesse +they neuer left working till they had brought it to the brimmes of the +ditches: and when it was there, they raised it higher and higher in +strengthning it behind. And in conclusion the sayd earth was higher then +the wals of the towne by 10. or 12. foote, and it seemed a hill. And it was +agaynst the gate of Auuergne and Spaine, and beat our men that were at the +gates and bulwarks, in such wise, that none durst be seene till certaine +defences and repaires were made of plankes and boards to couer our people +and keepe them from the shot. And at the gate of Italy was made such +another heape, and in none other part. + +When the trenches were thus made to the ditches, the enemies made holes in +the wals of the ditch outward: wherethorow they shot infinitely with +handgunnes at our men aswell on the walles as on the bulwarks, and slew +many of them. Then the bashas and captaines entred into the trenches, ech +to his place after their order and dignity: that is to wit, Mustafa Basha +as chiefe captaine entred the trench direct to the bulwarke of England with +his people and captaines vnder him. Pery Bassha went to the trenches +against the gate of Italy with his folkes and captaines vnder him. Acmek +Bassha was in the trenches of Auuergne and Spaine with the Aga of the +Ianizaires and the Beglarby of Romany with him. The Beglarby of Natolia was +in the trenches of Prouence. Allibey was with his company against the +gardins of saint Anthony on the North side, and diuers other captaines with +him, and set his ordinance against the wall of the gate of Almaine, which +was but weake, and set vp seuen mantellets by the milles toward the West: +and by the space of eight or nine dayes they beat vpon the same wall; which +put vs in great feare, if they had continued. Howbeit the noble lord great +master forthwith caused repairs to be made within, and planks and tables to +be set to fortifie the sayde weake wall: and abode there from the morning +til night, to cause it to be the more hasted. The artillery of the gate of +Almaine, and the Massif of the gate of the campe and of the palais beat so +sore and so often vpon the sayd mantellets that it wearied the enemies to +make and repaire them so often: and they tooke vp the pieces, and bare them +away. And also they could not well beat the sayd wall because the brimmes +of the ditch without were almost as hie as the wall that they beat. But or +they bare the artillery away, they beat the steeple of S. Iohns church so, +that the most part was broken and cast downe. The foresayd mantellets were +appointed to beat S. Nicholas tower, and by the space of ten or twelue +dayes they shot sore against it: but they had so sharpe and vigorous +answere, that there was not one mantellet that abode whole an houre. The +captaine of the sayd tower and his folke did such diligence and businesse +in shooting off their pieces, that the enemies durst set up no more +mantellets by day, nor shoot no more but onely by night, while the Moone +did shine, which is a thing worthy of memory, of maruaile, and of praise. +At the last when they had beaten against the sayd tower a certaine time, +seeing that it furthered nothing, they tooke their ordinance from thence, +and bare it where they thought best. + +During the shot in the sayd place, the other captaines were not idle nor in +a sleepe, but without cease night and day they beat the wall of England and +Spaine, and set foureteene mantellets against it, shooting great bombards, +whereof some of the stones were fiue or sixe spannes about, and some other +of nine or ten: and within a moneth and lesse they cast downe the wall +almost euen smooth with the Barbican. And when the sayd wall was so beaten, +they set to beat the bulwarke of Spaine for to raise the defences: and in +their trenches they set three great bombards, which shot stones of eleuen +spannes in compasse, and with the sayd pieces they beat the sayd bulwarke +and wall in such wise, that they made great bracks, and the stones and +earth that fell, serued the enemies for ladders, so that they might come +upon the plaine ground. In like sort they raised the defences from the +height of the bulwarke at the posterne of Prouence, and set three great +pieces on the brimme of the ditch, which shot stones of eleuen spannes +against the wall, and within a while they made a breach as at the posterne +of Spaine. The artillery of the towne did shoot without cease against the +mantellets, and brake many of them, but they made other as it is said in +the nights. For they had all things that belonged to them, and needed. And +out of the posterne of England was shot a gunne that brake downe one of the +sayde mantellets, and hit upon one of the pieces, and slew foure or fiue +men, and bare away both the legs of the master of the ordinance, which died +soone after: whereof the great Turke was very ill content, and sayd that he +had rather haue lost one of his basshas or captaines then the sayd master. +Also it is to be knowen that there were three or foure mantellets addressed +against the plain ground of Italy, and by continuall beating of shot that +they made, there was also a breach, and by the earth and stones that were +fallen, they might come vp to it. + + +Of the politike repaires and defences that the ingenious captaine Gabriel + Martiningo, made within the towne against the breaches in the walles. + +The captaine Gabriel Martiningo, prompt, diligent, and expert to giue +remedies to the needful places, foorthwith caused to make the trauerses +vpon the wall whereas the breach was, with good repaires, and gunnes small +and great which were set in the sayd trauerses, the which shot not onely at +the breaches but to the trenches, and made great murder of enemies aswell +at the assaults that they made as otherwhiles. And beside the trauerses, +the sayd captaine planted small artillery, as harquebushes, and handgunnes +vpon certaine houses within the towne, that stood open against the breach, +with good repaires: and from that place great slaughter of Turks was made +at the assaults. Also it is of trueth that beside the sayd mantellets that +shot against the wall of England and Spaine with great bombards, were two +mantellets in an hie place toward the way to the gardin of Maunas, in the +which were certaine double gunnes, as basilisks with holow stones and wild +fire in them, which shot against the wall into the towne at all auentures +for to make murder of people: howbeit, thanked be God, they did no great +harme but to the houses. + +After these great and terrible beatings, and that the enemies had way to +mount vpon the towne walles, and come to hand with vs by trauersing of +their trenches to the fallen earth within the breach more surely, and +without hurt of our gunshot, shooting, thorow holes that they made in the +walles of the ditch without, they cast vp much stone and earth, because it +should couer them from the shot of the bulwarke of Auuergne. And also they +shot feruently against the bulwarke of Spaine, for to raise the defences, +of the which at the last they raised the most part, reseruing only a few +gunners below in the mine of the sayd bulwarke, which litle or nothing +damaged them. And this is touching the gunshot, whereof I say not the third +part, because it is a thing incredible to them that haue not seene it. For +some dayes they shot with those great bombards that were on the brimme of +the ditch, and from the mantellets bent against the wall of England and +Spaine 20 or 30 times and more. And I beleeue verily that since the +creation of the world such artillery, and so great quantity was neuer bent +and layed before any towne as hath bene against Rhodes at this siege. +Wherefore it is no maruell if the walles be and haue bene beaten downe, and +if there be breaches and clifts in many places. + + +Of the mines that the Turks made: and how they ouerthrew part of the + bulwarke of England. + +And because as it is sayd before, that the greatest hope that the enemies +had to get the towne of Rhodes, was by mining, therefore now after that I +haue spoken of the gunshot and beatings, I shall shew of the mines that the +Turks made, the which were in so great quantity, and in so many places, +that I beleeue the third part of the towne was mined: and it is found by +account made, that there were about 60 mines, howbeit, thanked be God, many +of them came not to effect, by occasion of the countermines that they +within made, and also trenches that the right prudent lord the great master +caused to be made deepe within the ditches, vnto two or three foot of +water. The which trenches and certaine pits that he had caused in the sayd +ditches to be wrought, or the host arriued, serued right well since: for +night and day there were men in them to watch and hearken when the enemies +mined, for to meet them and cut their way, as was done many times. + +And for to speake of the mines that had effect, and damaged vs, it is to +wit, that the fourth day of September, about foure houres after noone, the +enemies put fire in two mines, one was betweene the posterne of Spaine and +Auuergne, which did no hurt but to the Barbican. The other was at the +bulwarke of England, which was so fell and strong, that it caused most part +of the town to shake, and cast down a great part of the sayd bulwarke at +the spring of the day: and by the earth and stones that fell into the +ditches, the enemies came vpon the bulwarke with their banners, and fought +sore and mightily with our men, not with hands, but with shot handgunnes. +The lord great master that was come 15 dayes or more with his succours to +the sayd bulwarke, went with his company to helpe them that fought After +that they had fought the space of two or three houres, the enemies repelled +and driuen backe by our men from the sayd bulwarke, and beaten with +ordinance on euery side, withdrew them with their losse, shame, and damage. +[A thousand and more Turkes slaine before the English bulwarke.] And this +was the first victory that our lord gaue vs, and there abode of our enemies +a thousand and more. + +When this assault was done, they, made another at the breach in the wall of +Spaine, and mounted vpon it, but the ordinance of the trauerses of the +walles and of the houses made so faire a riddance, that they were very +willing to withdraw themselues: for at the retreat, and also at their +comming the sayd ordinance of the bulwarke did them great damage, albeit +that they had made some repaire of earth. Of our men died that day 25 or +there about, as well knights as other. And the same day in the morning +departed out of this world Gabriel de Pomerolles lieutenant to the lord +master, which on a certaine day before fell from the wall as he went to see +the trenches in the ditches, and hurt his breast, and for fault of good +attendance he fell into a feuer, whereof he died. + + +How the Turks assailed the bulwarke of England, and how they were driuen + away. + +The ninth day of the sayd moneth, at seuen in the morning the enemies put +fire in two mines; one at the posterne of Prouence, which had none effect: +the other was at the bulwarke of England, which felled another piece nigh +to that that was cast downe afore. And the sayd mine, was as fierce as the +other, or more, for it seemed that all the bulwarke went downe, and almost +all they that were in it ranne away. And when the standard of the religion +came into the sayd bulwarke, the enemies were at the breach ready to haue +entered: but when they saw the sayd standard, as people lost and ouercome, +they went downe againe. Then the artillery of the bulwarke of Quosquino, +and of other places, found them well enough, and slew many of them. +Howbeit, their captaines made them to returne with great strokes of swordes +and other weapons, and to remount vpon the earth fallen from the sayd +bulwarke, and pight seuen banners nigh to our repaire. Then our men fought +with morispikes and fixed speares against them the space of three whole +houres, till at the last they being well beaten with great ordinance and +small on euery side withdrew themselues. And of their banners our men gate +one, for it was not possible to get any more: for assoone as any of our men +went vp on our repaires, he was slaine with small gunnes of the trenches, +and holes made in the walles of our ditches. [Sidenote: Two thousand Turks +slaine at the Englis bulwarke.] And there was slaine of our enemies that +day at the assault 2000 of meane men, and three persons of estate, which +lay dead along in the ditch, with faire and rich harnesse. And it was +reported to us from the campe, they were three saniacbeis, that is to say, +great seneshalles or stuards. And of Christian men of our part abode about +thirty persons. And this was the second victory giuen to us by the grace +diuine. + + +How Sir Iohn Bourgh Turcoplier of England was slaine at an assault of the + English bulwarke. + +The 17 day of the same moneth, about midday, the enemy came againe to giue +another assault to the sayd bulwarke, at the same place aforesayd, without +setting of fire in mines, and brought fiue banners with them, nigh to the +repaires. Then was there strong fighting on both parts, and there were +gotten two of their banners, of the which sir Christopher Valdenare, that +time Castelaine of Rhodes, gate one: the other was in the hands of Sir Iohn +Bourgh Turcoplier of England, chiefe captaine of the succours of the sayd +posterne of England, a valiant man and hardy: and in holding of it he was +slaine with the stroke of a hand-gunne, which was great damage. The sayd +banner was recouered by one of our men. And after long fighting on both +sides, the enemies seeing that they got nothing but stripes, returned into +their trenches. At the sayd fray the lord prior of S. Giles pre Iohn was +hurt thorow the necke with a handgun, and was in great danger of death, but +he escaped and was made whole. The same day, and the same houre of the sayd +assault, the enemies mounted to the breach in the wall of Spaine, and came +to the repaires to the handes of our men, and fought a great while: but the +great quantity of artillery that was shot so busily and so sharply from our +trauerses on ech side, and out of the bulwarks of Auuergne and Spaine, +skirmished them so well, that there abode as many at that assault as at the +other of England, well neere to the number of 5000. And they withdrew +themselues with their great losse and confusion, which was the third time +that they were chased and ouercome; thanked be our Lord, which gaue vs the +force and power so to doe, for they were by estimation a hundred against +one. + +Also the 22 day of the same moneth of September they fired a mine betweene +Italy and Prouence, which did no harme. + + +Of the terrible mine at the posterne of Auuergne. + +And the 23 day of the same moneth they fired two mines, one at the posterne +of Spaine, and the other by the bulwarke of Auuergne, the which mine by +Auuergne was so terrible, that it made all the towne to shake, and made the +wall to open from aboue to beneath vnto the plaine ground; howbeit, it fell +not, for the mine had vent or breath in two places, by one of the +countermines, and by a rocke vnder the Barbican, the which did cleaue, and +by that cleft the fury and might of the mine had issue. And if the sayd two +vents had not bene, the wall had bene turned vpside downe. And for truth, +as it was reported to vs out of the campe, the enemies had great hope in +the sayd mine, thinking that the wall should haue bene ouerthrowen, and +then they might haue entered into the towne at their pleasures: but when +they saw the contrary, they were very ill pleased. And the captaines +determined to giue assault at foure places at once, to make vs the more +adoo, and to haue an entrance into the towne by one of the foure. And the +sayd day and night they ceased not to shoot artillery: and there came in +hope of the mine threescore thousand men and moe into the trenches. + + +How the bulwarke of Spaine was lost, and woone againe. + +The 24 day of the same moneth, a little before day, they gaue assault at +the breach of Spaine, to the bulwarke of England, to the posterne of +Prouence, and at the plaine ground of Italy, all at one houre and one time. +The first that mounted to the breach of Spaine, was the Aga of the +Ianissaries, a valiant man, and of great courage with his company, and bare +three score or three score and tenne banners and signes, and pight them in +the earth of the breach, and then fought with our men, and mounted on our +repaires, making other maner of fray and more rigorous then the other that +were passed, and the sayd skirmish lasted about sixe houres. And forthwith, +as the assault was giuen, a great sort of Turks entred into the bulwarke of +Spaine, and set vp eight or nine signes or banners vpon it, and droue our +men out, I can not tell how, vnwares or otherwise. And they were lords of +it three houres and more. Howbeit there were of our men beneath in the mine +of the sayd bulwarke, the which bulwarke so lost, gaue vs euill hope. But +incontinently the lord great master being at the defence of the posterne of +England, hauing knowledge of the sayd losse, and that there was great +fighting and resistance on both sides at the breach of Spaine, marched +thither with the banner of the crucifix, leauing the charge of the sayd +bulwarke in the hands of the bailife de la Moree messieur Mery Combant. And +the lord mounted on the wall of Spaine, whereas then began a great +skirmish, and euery man layed his handes to worke, as well to put the +enemies out of the breach, as to recouer the bulwarke that was lost. And +the sayde lord sent a company of men into the bulwarke by the gate of the +mine, or by the Barbican, the which entred at the sayd gate, and went vp, +where they found but few Turkes. For the artillery of the posterne of +England, right against the bulwarke of Spaine, had so well met and +scattered them, that within a while our men had slaine all them that were +left. And thus the sayde bulwarke was gotten and recouered againe, and with +all diligence were made new repaires and strengths to the sayd place. And +in like sort, the enemies were put from the breach, and few of them +escaped, and all their banners and signes were left with vs. Surely it may +be sayd, that after the grace of God (the trauerses of Spaine and Auuergne, +and the small artillery set on the houses right against the sayd breaches, +as it is sayd, with the comming and presence of the lord great master) hath +giuen vs this dayes victory. + +As touching the murder of the people, done by the artillery of the +bulwarkes of England and Spaine, the quantity was such that a man could not +perceiue nor see any ground of the ditches. And the stench of the mastifs +carions was so grieuous, that we might not suffer it seuen or eight dayes +after. And at the last, they that might saue themselues did so, and +withdrew themselues to the trenches: and the reuerend lord great master +abode victorious of the sayd place, and in like sort of the other three +assaults, the which were but little lesse then that of Spaine, for they +fought long. But in conclusion, the enemies beaten on all sides, and in so +many sorts, with artillery were put backe, and vanquished, that there died +that day at all the foure places fifteene or sixteene thousand. And the +slaughter was so great at the plaine Italy, of the cursed enemies, that the +sea was made redde with their blood. And on our side also died to the +number of an hundred men or more. And of men of dignity in the towne, +hauing charge, died Sir Francis de Fernolz, commander of Romania, which Sir +Francis was chiefe captaine of the great ship of Rhodes, and he was slaine +at the plaine of Italy, wounded with two strokes of harquebushes: it was +great dammage of his death, for he was a worthy man, perfect, and full of +vertues. There died also messieur Nastasy de Sancta Camilla aforenamed, +hauing two hundred men vnder him of the lord great masters succours. There +died also diuers other worthy men that day, and many were maimed. Among all +other that lost any member, messier Iohn de le Touz called Pradines, being +at the sayd bulwarke, with a stroke of artillery had his arme smitten away, +in great danger to haue lost his life; howbeit by the helpe of God he died +not. [Sidenote: Sir Will. Weston captaine of the English posterne hurt.] In +like sort the same day was hurt Sir William Weston abouesayd, captaine of +the posterne of England, and had one of his fingers stricken away with an +harquebush: which knight behaued himselfe right woorthily at all the +assaults. + +Of the Turkes part, of great men, were two principall captaines slaine +vnder the Aga of the Ianissaries, and another captaine that was come out of +Surey to the campe certeine dayes before, with sixe hundred Mamelukes, and +two or three thousand Moores. And of them that were hurt of great men the +Beglarby of Natolia had a stroke with an arrow as he was in the trench of +Prouence. And many other were wounded, whose names be not rehearsed here, +because of shortnesse. + + +How the great Turke for anger that he could not get the towne, would haue + put his chiefe captaine to death, and how they made 11 mines vnder the + bulwarke of England. + +During this assault, the great Turke was by his pauillion in a place that +he had caused to be made, and saw all the businesse, and how his people +were so sharpely put backe, and the victory lost on his side, and was very +sore displeased, and halfe in despaire: and he sent for Mustafa Basha with +whom he was angry, and chid him bitterly, saying that he had caused him to +come thither, and had made him to beleeue that he should take the towne in +fifteene dayes, or a moneth at the furthest and he had beene there already +three moneths with his army, and yet they had done nothing. And after these +wordes he was purposed to put him to death in the campe: but the other +Bashas shewed him that he ought not to do iustice in the land of his +enemies, for it would comfort them and giue them courage. Whereby he did +moderate his anger, and left him for that time, and thought to send him to +Cairo, least the people there would rebell, by occasion of the captain of +Cairo which died a few dayes before. Howbeit he departed not so suddenly, +and or he went he thought to assay it he might do some thing for to please +the Turke, aswell for his honour as to saue his person, and was marueuous +diligent to make mines at the bulwarke of England for to ouerthrow it. And +by account were made 11 mines aswell to the sayd bulwarke as elsewhere, +beside them spoken of before, and that they had fired. But the most part of +the sayd mines came to no proofe though they put fire in them, and many +were met with countermines, and broken by our men by the good diligence and +sollicitude of sir Gabriel Du-chef, steward of the house of the lord great +master, which had the charge of the sayd countermines at the same bulwarke. +In the which businesse he behaued himselfe well and worthily, and spared +not his goods to cause the people to worke and trauell, but spent thereof +largely. + + +How the Turks were minded to haue gone their way, and of the traitours + within the towne, and of many great assaults. + +The Turks seeing that by mining they were nothing furthered, nor might not +come to their intentions, and hauing but small store of gunpowder, were in +deliberation and minde to haue raised the siege, and gone their way. And in +deed some of them bare their cariages toward the shippes: and also certaine +number of people went out of the trenches with their standards straight to +the ships. And it was written vnto vs from the campe how the Ianissaries +and other of the host would fight no more: and that they were almost all of +one opinion for to go away, saue some of the captaines of the foresayd +Mustafa Bassha or Acmek Bassha. And in the meane season the false traitours +that were in the towne wrote letters to the campe, giuing them knowledge of +all that was sayd and done among vs. And also an Albanese fled to the +enemies campe, and warned them not to go, for the gunshot was nigh wasted, +and that the most part of the knights and people should be theirs shortly. + +In like sort then wrote the abouesayd Chanceller Sir Andrew de Merall, +whose treason as then was not knowen: but when it commeth to the effect of +his treason, I shall shew the knowledge that he gaue to the enemies at +diuers times. + +When the bashas and captaines of the hoste vnderstood the sayd warnings, +they all purposed for to tary, and caused those tidings of the towne to be +knowen ouer all the army. And beganne againe to shoot artillery faster then +euer they did, for new shot was come into the campe. Then Mustafa Bassha +being in despaire that he could do nothing by mines, by gunshot, nor by +assaults, he being ready to depart for to goe into Surey by the great +Turkes commandement, before his departing hee thought once againe to assay +his aduenture, and made three assaults three dayes together. The first was +on a Saturday the fourth day of October an houre before night. The other on +Sunday in the morning. And the third on Munday after dinner. And the sayd +three assaults were made to the bulwarke of England. And it was assailed +but with stones and bagges full of artificiall fire. And at these three +assaults many of our men were hurt with the sayd fire, and with the stones +that came as thicke as raine or haile. But in the end the enemies got +nothing but strokes, and returned into their trenches euill contented, and +murmuring, and sware by their Mahomet that Mustafa Bassha shoulde not make +them to mount any more to the sayd bulwarke. And that it was great folly +for them to cause them to be slaine at the will and fantasie of one man. +These wordes sayd in Greeke by some of the enemies were heard of our men as +they went downe from the bulwarke. And because (as it is sayd) that the +enemies at the assaults that were made, came vp by the earth and stones +that fell from the breaches, some of our men aduised to clense the +barbican, and take the earth out of the ditch, to the end that the enemies +should not easily come vpon the wall. And in effect weening that it were +well and behoouefull to be done, by great diligence night and day by mines +they voided the barbican, and the most part of the earth that lay in the +ditch was brought into the towne, the which was hurtfull afterward, and was +cause that the enemies got the foot of the wall. Notwithstanding, they had +it but scarsely. But this cleansing furthered the time, and caused them to +get it sooner then they should haue done if the earth had lien still: but +their finall intent was to raise the defence of the bulwarks, and then +passe at their pleasure, and enter into the barbican, as they haue done: +for the enemies seeing that the barbican was clensed, thought to get into +it by the trenches, and so they did, howbeit they were certaine dayes +letted by our handgun shot The enemies seeing, that they might not come +neere it, couered their trenches with tables to saue themselues: and then +they made a mine whereby they might goe to the barbican. So by these two +meanes, afterward they were repaired with earth and with a certaine wall +that they made for to eschew the shot of the bulwarks of Auuergne and +Spain: and in the mine they found but two gunners, which they slew by force +of men. By this manor they being couered on all parts and without any +danger, passed thorow and lept into the barbican, and got the foot of the +wall; which was the 17 day of October, an vnhappy day for the poore towne, +and occasion of the ruine thereof, and winning of the same. + +At this point they slept not, but lightly and with great delight they began +to picke and hew the wall. And weening to make remedy therefore, and to +finde meanes to driue them from the sayde barbican with engines of fire and +barrels of gunpowder, wee slew many of them, but it auailed nothing: for +the quantitie and multitude of people that trauelled there was so great, +that they cared not for losse of them. And if we had had men enow within +the towne, there might haue bene remedy to haue raised them from thence: +but considering that our force and totall hope was in people, wee left to +doe many things that might haue beene done, and that should haue bene good +then and other times also, for fault of men of warre. At the last it was +pondred by Sir Gabriel Martiningo, that there was no remedy but to hew the +wall for to meet them; and beat them with ordinance and with engins of fire +to burne and vndoe them. Then our men began to hew the wall, and made some +holes to shoot at the enemies that slept not, but did as wee did, and shot +at vs, and indeed they slew and hurt many of our men. Then Sir Gabriel +Martiningo ordeined to make repaires within the towne at the front where +they did cut the wall, to the end that after the walles were cut, the +enemies should know with whom to meet. The trauerses were made on ech side +with good artillery great and small: and the sayd trauerses and repaires +were of the length that the enemies had cut the wall, and beganne at the +massife of Spaine made by the reuerend lord great master Mery d'Amboise, +and ended at the church of Saint Saluador. The which trauerses and repaires +the vulgar people call the Mandra, that is to say, the field. + +The meane time that the repaires and trauerses were made with all +diligence, Sir Gabriel Martiningo neuer ceased going to euery place to +puruey for all things: and he being on the bulwarke of Spaine to ordeine +all things that were needfull, there came a stroke of a handgun from the +trenches that smote out his eye, and put him in danger of his life, but +thanked be God, he recouered his health within a moneth and a halfe. His +hurt came ill to passe, for the need that we had of him that time in all +things, and specially to the repaires of the breaches. Neuertheles the lord +priour of S. Giles (not ignorant in all such things) with other men expert +in warre, attended to the sayd repaires and trauerses, there and elswhere. +The enemies on the other side night and day without rest (for the great +number of labourers that they had hourely and newly ready) hewed and +vndermined the sayd wall. + +And the 20 day of October they put fire in the vndermines, weening to haue +cast downe the wall, but they could not: then they would haue pulled it +downe with great ropes and ancres, but the artillery of the bulwarke of +Auuergne brake their ropes, and sent them away lightly. + +At the last they made a mine vnder the sayd wall and breach; and the 26 day +of the same moneth they did put fire to the same mine, weening to haue +ouerthrowen the wall, which it did not, but raised it, and made it to fall +almost straight vpright, which was more disaduantage to the enemies then +profit. Then they shot artillery at it, which in fewe dayes beat it downe, +and they had opening and way to come into the Towne. Neuerthelesse it was +not necessary for them as then to enter: for the artillery of our repaires +beat them in the forepart, and the artillery lying at the two milles at the +posterne of Quosquino, and in that of England, whereas was a basiliske that +beat right vpon the breach with other pieces: and therefore the enemies +sought other meanes, and beganne to raise the earth betweene our two +walles, drawing toward the bulwarke of England on the one side, and toward +Auuergne on the other side, and would haue cut the wall further then, our +trauerses were for to come in vnbeaten of our artillery. Then were the +repaires inlarged and made greater with the wall that was cut, of the +height of twelue, and 16 foot in bredth: and so the enemies might goe no +further forward, but shot great artillery against our repaires, for to +breake and cast them downe, and also they made trenches for to come right +to the breach, and vnto the repaires: and certeinly we looked day by day, +and houre by houre for to haue some assault. The reuerend lord great +master, the which, as it is sayd, had left the bulwarke of England the day +that the great assault was made, and since that time he moued not from +thence while they hewed the wall, and where as the breach was, because that +they were most dangerous and most vnquiet places. And continually the sayd +lord kept him behinde the sayd repaires with his knights and men of +succours, intentiuely ready and prepared to liue and die, and to receiue +his enemies as they ought to bee receiued. And he abode three or foure +dayes at the sayd breach, continuing since it was made, vnto the end, +fighting with his enemies euery day in great perill of his body: for +oftentimes hee put himselfe further in the prease then needed for the +danger of his person, but he did it for to hearten and strengthen the +courage of his people, being so well willing to defend and die for the +faith. + + +How the enemies assailed the posternes of Prouence and Italy, and how they + were driuen away. + +By the will of our Lord, the enemies alway in feare and dread, would giue +none assault, but continually shot against our repaires, and made trenches +for to passe forward into the towne: by the which trenches they shot +infinitely with harquebushes and handgunnes, and slew many of our folke, +and specially of them that wrought and made the repaires that were broken +and crased. And they put vs in such extremity, that we had almost no more +slaues nor other labouring people for to repaire that which they brake +night and day, which was a great hindrance for us, and the beginning of our +perdition. And if we had much to doe in that place, there was not lesse at +the gate of Prouence, and at the plaine of Italy: for dayly they were doing +either with assault or skirmish, and most at the plaine of Italy. Howbeit +by the helpe of our Lorde with the good conducting of the captaine of +succours of the same place, the priour of Nauarre, that was prompt and +intentiue, and could well incourage his men, the enemies had alway the +woorst, and were driuen from the sayde plaine, and from the breach of +Prouence. + + +How the treason of Sir Andrew de Merall was knowen, and of the maraellous + assaults that the Turks made. + +Vpon these termes and assaults, the treason of the chancellour Sir Andrew +de Merall, of whom I spake before, was perceiued: for a seruaunt of his, +named Blasie, was found shooting a quarrell of a crossebow with a letter, +whereof he was accused to the lord great master, which commanded to take +him and examine him by iustice, and he confessed the shot of that letter +and of other before, at the commandement of his master: and sayd that he +had great acquaintance with the Turks bashas, and that it was not long +since he had written a letter, to them, warning them that they should not +go, for gunshot began to faile, and the men were wasted by slaying and +hurting at the assaults in great quantity: and if they abode still and gaue +no more assaults, at the last the towne should be theirs. And diuers other +things the seruant sayd of his master, of the which I haue spoken part +before at the beginning, and of the warning that he gaue to the great Turke +for to come. + +But to returne to the plaine of Italy. After many battels and assaults done +in the said place, by continuall shot of seuenteene great gunnes that beat +the sayde plaine, the repaires and trauerses were almost broken and lost. +And by trenches the enemies were come ioining to the breach, and neuer +ceased to grate the earth and scrape the earth to cause the repaires and +trauerses to fall: and at the last the most part fell downe, and our men +were constrained to leaue the sayd plaine, saue a camell that was toward +the sea, as it were the third part thereof. Certaine dayes afore the +enemies, came to the foot of the plaine, and did cut it and rased the +earth, and at the last they passed thorow vnto the towne wall: and anon +began to hew and cut as they did at that of Spaine. The lord great master +seeing that, anon cast down a part of the church of our Lady de la +Victoria, and of an other church of S. Panthalion. And within they began to +make the repaires and trauerses as at the place of Spaine, whereto was made +extreme diligence, but not such as the lord would, and as was needfull, +because there were no labourers for to helpe. After that the enemies had +woon the most part of the bulwarke of England and the plaine of Italy, they +purposed to make assault to the sayde plaine, and to the breach of Spaine, +and to enter into our repaires to winne them for to make an end of vs. And +for euer to affeeble the repaires and for to abash vs, the 28 day of +Nouember all along the day and night they ceased not to shoot great +artillery both from the brimmes of the ditches with those great pieces, +casting stones of nine and eleuen foot about, and from the mantellets +without. And as it was reckoned, they shot the same day and night 150 times +or more against our repaires and trauerses of the wall. + +And in the morning the 29 day of the same moneth, the vigill of S. Andrew +at the spring of the day, the enemies went thorow the breach with their +banners, and entred into the repaires with greater number of people then +they did at the great battell in September, hardily and furiously for to +fight with vs. But at their comming in, the artillery of the trauerses, and +the handgunnes, and the gunshot of the milles found them so well and so +sharply, that he that came in, was anon dispatched and ouerthrowen, and +there abode aboue 2000 of the Turks slaine. The other that came after +seeing their fellowes so euill welcomed, as people that were astonied and +lost, they turned againe to their trenches: at whome the artillery of the +milles shot victoriously, and hasted them to go apace: and by report from +the campe there died sixe thousand or mo that day: the which day might be +called very happy, and well fortunate for vs, thanked be God, for there was +none that thought to escape that day, but to haue died all, and lost the +towne: howbeit, the pleasure of our Lord was by euident miracle to haue it +otherwise, and the enemies were chased and ouercome. And it is to be noted +that the same day the raine was so great and so strong, that it made the +earth to sincke a great deal that they had cast into the ditches, for to +couer them from the shot of Auuergne. And the sayd earth being so suncken, +the artillery of the sayde bulwarke (vnwares to them) smote them going and +comming, and made great murder of the sayd dogges. The sayd day also the +enemies came to the plaine of Italy for to assault it; but when they +vnderstood that their fellowes had bene put backe so rudely, and with so +great slaughter, they were afrayd, and so they returned againe to their +trenches. + + +How the Turks got the plaine ground of Spaine. + +And that done, Acmek Basha seeing their businesse euery day goe from woorse +to woorse, and that at the assaults were but losse of people, without doing +of any good, and that there was no man that willingly would go to it any +more, he intended to giue no more assaults but to follow his trenches, and +by them enter couertly without losse of a man from the breach to the other +end of the towne. Semblably he intended for to winne the plaine earth +beside Spaine: the which to get, he came at pleasure to the foot of the +wall, and began to beat downe the plaine ground, and to giue many +skirmishes and conflicts to our folke that kept it. And there were slaine +many good men. And at the last, for default of more helpe and of gunshot, +it was left and giuen vp of our men, and so lost. That done, the enemies +came thither as in other places. And this is the third place where they +came nere to the foot of the wall. And whoso wel considereth in what estate +the poore towne was at that time, seeing their enemies haue so great +aduantage, might well say, and iudge, that at length it should be taken, +and a lost towne. + + +How a Genouois came to the gate of the towne for to speake for a treaty and + deliuerance of the same. + +A Few dayes after the saide iourney a Christian man that was in the campe, +the which by his speech was a Genouois or Siotis, came to the gate of +Auuergne, and demanded to parle, and after that he was demanded what he +would haue, he sayd that he had maruell of vs why we would not yeeld our +selues, seeing the pitious estate the towne was in: and he as a Christian +man counselled vs to yeeld our selues with some agreement; and that if we +would looke thereto, that some should be found expedient to do somewhat for +our safeguard. And it is very like that he sayd not such words, nor spake +so farforth in the matter, without commission from some of the chiefe of +the campe, or of the great Turke himselfe. To the which Siotis was +answered, that he should go away with an euill hap, and that it needed not +to speake of appointment: and that though the enemies had great aduantage, +there was yet enough wherewith to receiue and feast them, if they made any +assault. These words heard, he went away: and two days after he came again, +and demanded to speak with a marchant Genouois of the towne named Mathew de +Vra, and he was answered that he which he demanded was sicke, and might not +come, but that he should deliuer the letter, and it should be giuen to him. +The sayd Siotis sayd nay, and that he would giue it himselfe, and speake +with him: and sayd that he had also a letter of the Grand signior, for the +lord master. Vpon this he was bidden to go his way: and to set him packing, +they shot after him a piece of artillery. The next day after Ballantis +Albanese that was fled thorow the breach of Spaine to the campe, came from +the sayd Genouois proposing such words, or like as the other had sayd, +saying likewise that the Grand signior had sent a letter to the lord +master. To whom no words were spoken nor answere made, for the lord great +master as wise and prudent considering that a towne that will heare +intreatings is halfe lost, defended vpon the paine of death sith that +Siotis had spoken these two times, that none should be so hardy to speak +nor answere them of the campe, without his knowledge and commandement: but +seeing they were such ambassadors, they reported the words of the sayd +Albanese, or euer the sayd lord had knowledge of the words of the Siotis. +The which words spread thorow the towne put many folke in thought, and +would haue vndone that that the Siotis said the which is no maruell whereas +is much people, for with good will and most often they regard sooner to +saue the liues of them and their children, then they doe to the honour of +the residue. Howbeit not one durst speake a word openly of that businesse, +but all secretly: and some came and spake to certaine lords of the great +crosse for to speake to the lord great master. And in effect some lords +spake thereof to him, persuading him that it should be good to thinke +thereon, seeing that the towne went to losse. To whom the sayd lord shewed +many things for his honour and the Religion: and that no such things ought +to be done or thought for any thing in the world, but rather he and they to +die. The lords hearing this answere, went their wayes and then returned +againe to the sayd lord, aduising him more to thinke well, on all things, +and to the saluation of his towne and of his religion. And they said +moreouer, that they doubted that the people would rather haue a peace then +to die themselues, their wiues and children. The lord seeing that such +words were as things inforced, as who should say, if thou do it not, we +shall do it as wise men and prudent, willing to make remedies of needfull +things by counsell, called the lords of his Councell for to haue aduise in +these doings, and other. And when they were assembled, the lord proposed +the words that were to him denounced, and sayd: With these terms and wordes +came two or three marchants and citizens of the towne that knocked at the +doore of the Councell, and presented a supplication to the great master, +and lords of the Councel, whereby they required and besought meekely the +sayd reuerend lord to haue respect to them and their poore housholds, and +to make some appointment with the great Turke, seeing that the sayd matter +was already forward in purpose, that he would do it; and that it would +please him to consider the pitious and sorrowful estate that the towne was +in; and that there was no remedy to saue it: and at the lest way, if the +lord would not make appointment, to giue them leaue (of his goodnesse) to +haue their wiues and their children out of the Rodes to saue them, for they +would not haue them slaine nor made slaues to the enemies. And the +conclusion was, that if the sayd lord would not puruey therefore, they +would puruey for it themselues. And there was written in the sayd request +the names of eight or ten of the richest of the towne. Which words of the +sayd supplication being heard, the sayd lord and his councell were abashed +and ill content as reason would, seeing that it was but a course game, and +thought on many things to make answere to the sayd citizens, for to content +and appease them: and also to see if they should intend to the appointment, +as they required, and after as the Genouoy had reported: and the better to +make the sayd answere, and to know more plainly in what estate the towne +was in all things: that is to wit, first of gunpowder, and then of men of +warre, and of the batteries. Also were demanded and asked the lord S. Giles +pre Iohn, which had the charge of the gunpowder, and then the captaine Sir +Gabriel Martiningo, for being ouer their men of warre (as it is said) as to +him that knew the truth; if the towne might holde or not, or there were any +meanes to saue it. The sayd lord of S. Giles arose, saying and affirming +vpon his honour and his conscience that almost all the slaues and labourers +were dead and hurt, and that scantly there were folke enow to remoue a +piece of artillery from one place to another, and that it was vnpossible +without folke any more to make or set vp the repaires the which euery day +were broken and crushed by the great, furious, and continuall shot of the +enemies artillery. As for gunpowder the sayd lord sayd, that all that was +for store in the towne, was spent long agone, and that which was newly +brought, was not to serue and furnish two assaults. And he seeing the great +aduantage of the enemies being so farre within the towne, without powder to +put or chase them away, for default of men, was of opinion that the towne +would be lost, and that there was no meanes to saue it. The words of the +sayd lord finished, the captaine Gabriel Martiningo for his discharge sayd +and declared to the reuerend lord and them of the Councell, that seeing and +considering the great beatings of the shot that the towne had suffered, and +after seeing the entring which the enemies had so large, and that they were +within the towne by their trenches both endlong and ouerthwart; seeing also +that in two other places they were at the foot of the wall, and that the +most part of our knights and men of warre and other were slaine and hurt, +and the gunpowder wasted, and that it was vnpossible for them to resist +their enemies any more, that without doubt the towne was lost if there came +no succors for to helpe and resist the siege. The which opinions and +reasons of these two woorthy men and expert in such feats, vnderstood and +pondered by the lord great master and the lords of the Councell, they were +most part aduised for to accept and take treaty if it were offered, for the +saueguard of the common people, and of the holy reliques of the church, as +part of the holy crosse, the holy throne, the hand of S. Iohn, and part of +his head, and diuers other reliques. Howbeit the lord great master to whom +the businesse belonged very neere, and that tooke it most heauily, and was +more sorrowfull then any of the other, as reason required, was alway +stedfast in his first purpose, rather willing to die then to consent to +such a thing, and sayd againe to the lordes of the Councell: Aduise you, +and thinke well on euery thing, and of the end that may happen, and he +proposed to them two points: that is to wit, whether it is better for vs to +die all, or to saue the people and the holy reliques. The which two points +and doubts were long time disputed, and there were diuers opinions: +neuerthelesse, at the last they sayd all, that howbeit that it were well +and safely done to die for the faith, and most honor for vs, +notwithstanding seeing and considering that there is no remedy to resist +against our enemies, and meanes to saue the towne: and on the other part, +that the great Turke would not oppresse vs to forsake our faith, but only +would haue the towne, it were much better then, and tending to greater +wealth to saue all the iewels abouesayde, that should be defiled and lost +if they came in the handes of the enemies of the faith. And also to keepe +so much small people, as women and children, that they would torment and +cut some in pieces, other take, and perforce cause them to forsake their +faith, with innumerable violences, and shamefull sinnes that should be +committed and done, if the towns were put to the sword, as was done at +Modon, and lately at Bellegrado. Whereby they did conclude, that it were +better, and more agreeable to God, for to take the treaty, if it were +proffered, then for to die as people desperate, and without hope. + + +How the great Turke sent two of his men to the towne, to haue it by + intreating. And how the lord great master sent two knights to him, to + know his assurance. + +Vpon these consultations and words almighty God that saueth them which +trust in him, and that would not that so many euils and cruelties should +come to the poore city and inhabitants of it, and also that the great Turke +might not arise in ouer great pride and vaineglory, put him in minde to +seeke to haue the sayd towne by treaty, which he ought not to haue done for +his honour, nor by reason, for the towne was in a maner his. And in like +sort he ought not to haue let vs goe as he did, seeing that we were his +mortall enemies euer, and shall be still in the time comming, considering +the great slaughter of his people that we haue made in this siege. Howbeit, +the eternall goodnesse hath blinded him, and hath pleased that these things +should be thus, for some cause vnknowen of vs. And for conclusion, the +great Turke sent to haue a communication and parle in following the words +of the Genouese aforesayd. Then was a signe set vpon the churche of the +abbey without the towne, to the which was made answere with another at the +milles of Quosquino. And forthwith came two Turks to speake with them of +the towne. Then the lord great master sent the Priour of S. Giles pre Iohn, +and the captaine Gabriel Martiningo to know the cause of their comming. And +when they came to them, without holding of long speech, the two Turkes +deliuered them a letter for to beare to the lord great master from the +great Turke, and then returned safely into their tents. When the two lords +had receiued it, they bare and presented it to the reuerend lord great +master, which caused it to be read. By the which the great Turke demanded +of the lord great master to yeeld the towne to him, and in so doing he was +content to let him go and all his knights, and all the other people of what +condition soeuer they were, with all their goods and iewels safe without +feare of any harme or displeasure of his folks. And also he swore and +promised on his faith so to do. The sayd letter was sealed with his signet +that he vseth, that is as it were gilded. And he sayde afterward, that if +the lord great master would not accept the sayde treaty, that none of the +city, of what estate soeuer he were, should thinke to escape, but that they +all vnto the cats, should passe by the edge of the sword, and that they +should send him an answere forthwith, either yea or nay. After the sight of +the contents of the sayd letter of so great weight, and the time so short +for to giue so great an answere, and with demand, the sayd lord great +master and all the lords of the Councell were in great thought, howbeit +they determined to giue an answere, seeing the estate of the towne so ill +that it could be no woorse. Hearing the report and opinions a day or two +before of the two lords ordeined to view the defects of the towne, saying +that the towne was lost without remedy: considering also that the +principalles of the towne would haue appointment. And in likewise, at the +other counsell all the lords had already willed and declared, that it were +better to saue the towne for respect of the poore people, then to put it +all whole to the furie of the enemies, whereupon they agreed and concluded +for to take the foresayd treatie. After the conclusion taken, answere was +made readily for a good respect: that is to weet, to take the Turke at his +worde, to the ende that he should not repent him of it, nor change his +opinion. For euery houre his people wanne and entered further and further +into the towne. And for to goe vnto the great Turke were ordeined these two +knights, Sir Passin afore named, and he bare the token of the White crosse: +and another of the towne named Robert de Perruse iudge Ordinarie. + +When these two ambassadours had made them readie, they went out at the gate +of Quosquino, and went to the tent of Acmek basha, capitaine generall. And +because it was late, and that they might not goe that day to the great +Turke, on the next day in the morning the foresaid captaine Acmek led and +conueied our sayd ambassadours to the great Turkes pauillion, that they +might haue the more knowledge plainely, and for to heare his will as +touching the wordes which were reported to the reuerend lord great master, +and after, the contents of his letter and writings. + +When the sayd two ambassadours were departed out of the towne, there did +enter two men of authoritie of the campe; one was nephew or kinsman of the +sayd Acmek, the other was the great Turkes truchman, which the lord master +caused to be well receiued, and they were lodged nigh the sayd gate of +Quosquino. And then truce was taken for 3. dayes, and the enemies came to +our repaires, and spake with our folke and dranke one with another. + + +How the ambassadours of Rhodes spake with the great Turke, and what answere + they had. + +When our ambassadours had made reuerence to the great Turke, they sayd that +the lord great master of Rhodes had sent them to his Imperiall maiestie to +know what he requested and desired that they might talke together, and how +the great master had receiued his letter. The great Turke answered them by +his truchman, that of demanding to speake together, nor writing of letter +to the great master he knew nothing. Howbeit, sith the great master had +sent to him for to know his will, he bade say to them that the great master +should yeeld him the towne. And in so doing he promised by his faith for to +let him goe with all his knights, and all other that would goe with their +goods, without receiuing any displeasure of his people of the campe. And if +he accepted not the sayd treatie, to certifie him that he would neuer +depart from Rhodes till he had taken it, and that all his might of Turkie +should die there, rather then hee would faile of it, and that there should +neither great nor litle escape, but vnto the cats they should be all cut in +pieces, and sayd that within 3. dayes they should giue him an answere, for +hee would not that his people should loose time, and that during the sayd +truce they should make no repaires nor defences within the towne. + +When the great Turke had ended his wordes, our ambassadours tooke their +leaue of him, and returned to the towne, and there was giuen to each of +them a rich garment of branched veluet, with cloth of gold of the Turkish +fashion. Then Acmek basha tooke sir Passin, and led him to his pauillion, +and intreating him right well, caused him to abide all that day and night: +and in eating and drinking they had many discourses of things done at the +siege, questioning each with other. And among all other things our +ambassadour demaunded of Acmek, and prayed him to tell for trueth how many +men died of the campe while the siege was laied. [Sidenote: 64000. Turks +slaine at the siege of Rhodes] The said Basha sware vpon his faithand +certified, that there were dead of the campe of violent death, that is to +say, of gunshot and other wayes, 64000. men or more, beside them that died +of sicknesse, which were about 40. or 50. thousand. + + +How one of the ambassadours made answere of his message, and how the + Commons would not agree to yeeld the towne. + +Returne we now to our purpose and to the answere that our ambassadours +brought to the lord great master. The sayd Robert Perruse made the answere, +and told what the great Turke had sayd, certifying that he would haue an +answere quickly yea or nay. The which answere after the demaund of the +great Turke hath bene purposed and concluded by the whole counsel, and his +offer and treatie accepted, howbeit the sayd ambassadours had it not to do +so soone nor the first time that they went for good reasons, but yet they +would not deferre it, for feare lest he should repent him. And vpon these +determinations that they would haue sent the sayd Peruse to beare the +answere, came some of the common people of the towne to the lord great +master, that was with the lordes of the counsell, and sayd that they were +aduertised of the appointment that he had made with the great Turke, and +that he would yeeld the towne with couenaunts by him taken, which, they +supposed ought not to be done without calling of them. And because they +were not called to it, they sayd that they would not agree thereto, and +that it were better for them to die, for the great Turke by some way would +put them all to death, as was done in Bellegrado in Hungarie. + + +How the lord great master sent two ambassadors for the Commons to the great + Turke. + +When the reuerend lord great master had heard their wordes, he sayd +graciously to them, that as touching the acceptation of the great Turks +offer, it was needful so to do in the degree that the towne was, and the +causes wherefore he bad done it the counsell had seene and discussed, and +that it was a thing that might not, nor ought not to be sayd nor published +in common, for reporting of it to the enemies by traitours, but be kept +still and secret. And moreouer, that it was concluded to make an answere +shortly, for to take the great Turke at his word, lest he repented, him. +For if they had bene called, or the answere had bene giuen, it had bene +ouerlong businesse, and in the meane time the Turke might haue changed his +mind, and that that he had done and concluded with the great Turke, the +lordes of the counsell had well regarded and considered in all things, and +for their profite and aduantage, as much or more as for that of the +Religion. And that they would send to the great Turke againe other +ambassadours, the better to know his will, and to be surer of his promise. +Then the lord great master ordained two other ambassadours for to goe to +the great Turke, which were two Spaniardes, the one named sir Raimon +Market, and the other messire Lopez at whose issuing entered Sir Passin the +first ambassadour, and the other two went to the tent; of Acmek basha, for +to leade them to the great Turke. And when they were within the Turkes +pauillion, and had done him reuerence as appertained, our ambassadours sayd +that the great master had heard and seen his demaund to yeeld the towne. +And for that it is a thing of great weight, and that he had to doe and say +with many men of diuers nations, and because the time of answere was so +short, hee might not doe that that hee demaunded so soone. Howbeit hee +would speake with his people, and then hee would giue him no answere. + + +How the Turke began the assault, and how the Commons agreed to yeeld the + towne. + +When the great Turke heard the answere of our ambassadours, he sayd +nothing, but commaunded his Bashas that they should begin the battell +againe to the towne, the which was done, and then the truce was broken, and +the shot of the enemies was sharper then it was afore. And on the other +side nothing, or very litle for fault of pouder: for that that there was +left, was kept for some great assault or neede. Howbeit the sayd Acmek +Basha kept one of the ambassadours, and messire Lopez onely entered. The +great master seeing the warre begun, and the shot thicker then it was +afore, and the enemies entred hourely by their trenches further into the +towne, called them that before had sayde to him, that they would not the +towne should be yeelded, but had rather for to die. And therefore the sayd +lord sayd that he was content for to die with them, and that they should +dispose them to defend themselues well, or to doe their endeuour better +then they had done in times past. And to the ende that each one of them +should haue knowledge of his will (for as then be spake but to foure or +fiue of them that gainesayd him) he made a cry through all the towne, that +all they that were holden to be at the posternes or gates should giue +attendance, and not to come away day nor night on payne of death: for +afore, the Rhodians came but litle there. And that the other that were not +of the posternes, or that were of his succours, should goe to the breach of +Spaine where the sayd lord was continually, and not to goe away day nor +night on the aboue sayd payne. The sayd cry made, each one were obedient +for a day or twaine, howbeit a yoong Rhodian left his posterne and went to +his house, which on the next day was hanged for breaking of the lordes +commaundement. Notwithstanding that, by litle and litle the people annoyed +them, and their heartes failed; and left the posternes and breaches: in +such wise, that the enemies might come in without finding great +resistaunce, but of a fewe that the lord master caused to abide there (that +is to weet) knightes of his succours. And in the night he sought out more +people for to keep the watch at the said breach, and paied to them as much +as they would. The sayd lord seeing himself thus abandoned and left of his +people, he sent to aske them againe wherefore they did not their endeuour, +and why they came not to day, as they sayd before. Which made answere that +they sawe and knew well that the towne was lost for certaine reasons that +were told them: by occasion whereof they had gainesaid the ordinance of the +sayd lord, and sayd that they had bene wrong enformed of diuers things: and +on the other side, that they feared that the Turke would not hold his word. +But sithens they sawe that there was none other remedie but to abide the +aduenture and fortune, they sayd that they put all to the sayd lord to doe +what he thought good, and that hee would see what were best for them. And +required the lord, to doe them so much fauour as to let them choose one or +two among them for to goe to the great Turke with his ambassadours for to +haue suretie of him. The which was granted, and two ordinarie ambassadours +were chosen for them; one Nicholas Vergotie, and the other Piero of saint +Cretice, and the foresayd Passin should returne with them for to make the +sayd answere. Then the great master or they departed (prolonging the time +as much as he might) aduised to send a letter to the great Turke, the which +his grandfather had written or caused to be written. In the which letter he +gaue his malediction or curse to his children and successours, if they +enterprised to besiege Rhodes. The sayd Robert Perruse bare the sayd +letter, and as he was accustomed, he went to Acmek Basha for to cause him +to haue audience, and to present the sayd letter. And the Basha sayd hee +would see the letter: for it is the guise in the great Turkes court, that +none may speake to him nor giue him a letter, but he be aduertised first +what shall be said, or what shall be written. When the Basha had seene the +wordes written in the said letter, he brake it and cast it on the ground, +and did tread vpon it, saying many iniurious and villanous wordes to the +sayd iudge. And bade him returne apace to his great master, and bid him to +thinke on his businesses and to make answere to the great lord (as he had +sent and commaunded) or els, it should not be long or he sawe his dolorous +and wofull ende. And that same day were taken two men of ours that bare +earth toward the bulwarke of England. Of whom the sayd Acmek caused an +officer to cut off their noses, fingers, and eares, and gaue them a letter +to beare to the lord great master, wherein were great wordes and +threatnings. After the sayd Perruse was returned, messire Passin was sent +againe to the sayde Basha, for to know of him if the great Turke would be +content with any summe of money for his costes and expenses, that he had +made for his armie. The which answered that such wordes or offers of siluer +were not to bee sayd nor presented to the great lord on paine of life, and +that hee set more by honour then by siluer. And therefore hee bade him +returne and say to the great master that hee should make answere to the +great lord after his demaund, to yeeld or not yeeld the towne. The sayd +Passin made relation of the wordes of the Basha to the great master: the +which for the great sorrow that hee had deterred alwayes, saw himselfe in +such pitious estate. Notwithstanding, the sayd lord putting all to the wil +of our lord, and considering that there was no remedie to do otherwise, nor +to resist any more his enemies: and being constrained on all sides to make +the appointment, with great heauinesse, inestimable dolours and bewailings, +at the last gaue his voyce to yeeld the towne (with the treatise or offers +to him presented) which was the 20. day of December, the yeere of our lord +a thousand fiue hundreth and two and twentie. + + +An answere to such as will make question for the deliuerance of the citie + of Rhodes. + +And if by any it were demaunded wherefore the sayde lord great master hath +yeelded the towne to the great Turke, requesting it with treatie and +couenaunts, which was a signe that he feared and would no more fight, but +goe his way. To this I answere: Notwithstanding that the great Turke was +aduertised by some traitours, and by other that fled into the campe, that +the powder almost failed, and that there were but fewe men of warre within +the towne, yet he beleeued not, nor gaue credence of all that was reported +to him, but thought verily that wee had ynough for a great while, and +considered that hee must tary till they were wasted and spent, whereto +behooued time. And seeing all his estate entered into strange places, and +into the lands of his enemies, and had bene there already sixe moneths, +(and not without great danger of his owne person) thinking on the other +side, that taking the towne by assault, he should lose many of his folke; +and yet when hee had ouercome and wonne the towne, they should fall each +vpon other in departing of the bootie or pillage, doubting finally the +hazard of warre. For these reasons and other that may be alleaged, the +great Turke had much rather to haue the towne by composition and treaty +then otherwise. And it suffised him to driue his olde enemies out of the +countreys of Leuant, and set the subiects of his countreys in rest and +suretie. And we of the towne that knew our weaknesse, and that we might do +no more, it seemed better to saue so much small people, then we and they to +fall into the furie of our enemies, for otherwise could we not haue done, +but tempt God, and died as in dispaire. + + +How the citie of Rhodes was yeelded to the great Turke, and of the euill + behauiour of certaine Turkes. + +But to returne to our principall: After that the reuerend great master had +giuen his voyce to the yeelding of the towne, he sent the said Passin +againe for to beare it to the great Turke. And with him went the two men +that were chosen of the Commons, and they went all three together to the +tent of Acmek Basha. To whom the sayd Passin first made this pitious +answere and conclusion to yeeld the towne. Notwithstanding, he sayd the +people had ordained two men among them for to goe to the great Turke, to +speake of their particular doings, and to haue some suretie of their +persons, wiues, and children, to the ende that it were not done to them, as +to those of Bellegrado. The sayd Acmek led the three ambassadours toward +the great Turke. And when they were entered into the pauilion, the sayde +messire Passin made the report of his ambassade to the sayd lord, and sayd +that the great master yeelded him the towne vnder the promise made by his +Imperiall maiestie, with the treatie promised. Of the which promise bee +held him sure and certaine, and that hee would doe no lesse: howbeit, the +people had required him to giue them licence to go to his maiestie for to +aske some request of him. Then the two citizens besought the great Turke +that he would for suretie remooue his campe from the towne, to the ende +that they should haue no maner of harme to their bodies nor goods, and that +they that would goe, should goe, and that they that would abide still, +might be well entreated. The great Turke answered by his interpreter to +messire Passin, that hee accepted the towne, and promised agayne vpon his +faith, and on his honour to the lord great master, that he would performe +that he had promised, and sent to him by the same Passin that he should not +doubt of the contrary: and if he had not ships ynough for to carie his +people and their goods, that hee would let them haue of his, and that he +would deliuer the artillerie that was woont to be in the ships of the +Religion. And as touching the request of the people, he sayd that he would +remooue the campe, and that they that would abide, might abide, and they +should bee well entreated, and should pay no tribute in fiue yeeres, and +their children should not bee touched, and who so would goe within the sayd +space of fiue yeeres, they should goe in good time. These worries ended, +our ambassadours tooke leaue of him, and when they were departed, they +spake againe with the saide Acmed Basba for to haue a letter of the +contents of the promise of the sayd lord. And by his commandement the sayd +letter was made, whereby he promised to let go the great master with all +his knights, strangers and men of the towne that would go with their goods, +without hauing displeasure of any of his people of the campe, or by the +wayes. When the letter was made, it was deliuered to messire Passin. And as +touching withdrawing of the campe, the sayd Basha promised againe that he +would do it, since the great lord would so: howbeit he remooued but from +the trenches, and some of his people went a litle way off. And the sayd +Basha demaunded in the Turkes behalfe, that they should send to him in +hostage foure and twentie knights, whereof two should bee of the great +Crosse, and two and twentie citizens. And the sayd lord should send onely a +captaine with three or foure hundred Ianissaries, for to keepe the towne +when the campe were withdrawen. And so it was done; and beside this he gaue +twelue dayes respite to the lord great master, to prepare him and depart +out of Rhodes. And in conclusion all this done, our ambassadours returned +and made the report to the reuerend great master of all that they had done +and practised with the great Turke, and the sayd Basha, and gaue him the +letter for to goe surely. Then the great master with his counsell ordained +the foure and twentie persons, and other of the towne. When they were +readie, they went to the campe, where they were well intreated foure dayes. +During this time, Ferra Basha passed from the maine land to the campe, with +foure and twentie or fiue and twentie thousand Ianissaries, which by the +commaundement of the great Turke was gone vpon the borders of the countreis +of the Sophie. For the Turke seeing the people of the campe discouraged and +willing no more to goe to the assaults, sent to the sayde Basha to come to +Rhodes with his people, which would haue withstood vs sore as fresh men. +And it was the worke of God and a wonderfull myracle, that they came after +that the appointment was made: for if they had come afore, it is to be +supposed that the deed had gone otherwise, and there had bene many strokes +giuen: but I beleeue that the ende should haue bene pitious for vs, but God +would not that the Turke should haue victory vpon vs as hee might haue had, +seeing the great aduantage that he had in all things, but he blinded him +and would not that he should know his might. And on the other part it may +be sayd and marueiled how it was possible alway to haue ouercome our +enemies in all assaults and skirmishes, and at the end to loose the towne, +it was the will of God that so hath pleased for some cause to vs vnknowen. +It is to bee thought, that lacke of men and gunshot, and the enemies so +farre within the towne, and ready to enter at other places with the +treasons haue caused the towne to be lost. Two or three dayes after the +comming of the sayd Basha, his Ianissaries and other of the campe entred +into the Towne, which was on Christmas day, within the time giuen to vs, +and then the Turkes word was broken, if it were his will or not, I cannot +tell. Neuerthelesse there was no sword drawen, and in that respect promise +was kept. But they made pillage, and entered by force into the houses of +the castle, and tooke all that they might and would. After that they had +ransacked the houses, they entered into the churches, and pilled all that +they found, and brake the images. And there was no crucifix, nor figure of +our lady, nor of other saints, that were left whole. Then with great +inhumanitie they went into the hospitall of poore and sicke folke, called +the Fermorie, and tooke all the siluer vessell that the sicke folke were +serued with, and raised them out of their beds, and droue them away, some +with great strokes and staues, and some were cast down from the galleries. +When these hounds had done that acte, they went to the church of saint Iohn +and tooke downe the tombes of the great masters, and sought if there were +any treasure hid in them, and they forced certaine women and maidens. And +all they that were christened and had bene Turkes afore, were they men, +women or children, and children, that the sayd men had made christians, +they led into Turkie, which thing is of greater importance then any of the +other. The morrow after Christmas day, the reuerend lord great master went +to the great Turkes pauillion for to visite him, and to be better assured +of his promise, the which lord he made to be wel and graciously receiued. +And he signified vnto him by his interpreter, that the case so happened to +him was a thing vsuall and common: as to 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. + + Go little booke, and woefull Tragedie, + Of the Rhodian feareful 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 5. vnto + king Henry the 8. in the yeere 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 Sayluerberge, and Iohn Faber a famous clerke, +after bishop of Vien, as ambassadours from Don Ferdinando, brother to +Charles the emperor, newly elected 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 euill fruit. He +also shewed from the beginning, bow 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 captaines he had, so that he thought, +that without a marueilous great number of people, he could not be +ouerthrowen. Wherefore he 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 princes, [Sidenote: He +meaneth the Emperor and the French King.] 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 and 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 one +Roger 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 somewhiles 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 +Cauleskins which were well sold in Sicilie, &c. The commodities which they +returned backe were Silks, Chamlets, Rubarbe, Malmesies, Muskadels and +other wines, sweete oyles, cotten wool, Turkie carpets, Galles, Pepper, +Cinamon, 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 galliases, +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 Portugallię, et +Algarbiorum citra et vltra mare in Africa, ac domino Guineę, et conquistę, +nauigationis, et commercij Ęthiopię, Arabię, Persię, atque Indię, etc. +Fratri, et amico nostro charissimo. + +Henricus Dei gratia, Rex Anglię, et Francię, fidei defensor, ac dominus +Hibernię, Serenissimo Principi; domino Ioanni eadem gratia Regi Portugallię +et Algarbiorum citra et vltra mare in Africa, ac domino Guineę, et +conquistę nauigationis, et commercij Ęthiopię, Arabię, Persię, atque Indię +etc. Fratri, et amico nostro charissimo, salutem. Tanto libentius, +promptiusque iustas omnes causas vestrę Serenitati commendandas suscipimus, +quanto apertiori indičs nostrorum, qui in eiusdem vestrę Serenitatis regno +ac ditione negotiantur, subditorum testimonio cognoscimus, ipsam ex optimi +principis officio ita accuratč, exactéque ius suum cuķque prębere, vt ad +eam nemo iustitię consequendę gratia frustra vnquam confugiat. Cłm itaque +dilectus ac fidelis subditus noster Ioannes Gresham mercator Londoniensis +nuper nobis humiliter exposuerit, quod quidam Willielmus Heith ipsius +Factor, et negotiorum gestor nauim quondam Portugallensem, cui nomen erat +Sancto Antonio, pręerįtque Diego Peres Portugallensis superioribus mensibus +in Candia conduxerit, cum nauķsque pręfecto conuenerit, vt in insulam Chium +ad quasdam diuersi generis merces onerandas primņ nauigaret, in Candiįmque +mox aliarum mercium onerandarum gratia rediret, omnes quidem in hoc nostrum +regnum postmodłm aduecturus ad valorem circiter duodecim millium ducatorum, +quemadmodum ex pactionis, conuentionisque instrumento apertiłs constat, +accidit, vt pręfatus Diego vestrę Serenitatus subditus, dictis susceptis +mercibus, et iam in itinere parłm fidelitčr, et longč pręter initas +conuentiones, grauissimo certe nostrorum subditorum detrimento, vbi in +Portugallię portum diuertisset, sententię huc nauigandi mutata, in eodem +portu commoretur, nostrorśmque etiam subditorum merces detineat: quam +iniuriam (quum subditis nostris in vestrę Serenitatis regno, et ab eius +subdito illata sit) ex ęquitate, ac iustitia ab ipsa corrigi, emendarķque +confidimus, nostro quoque potissimłm intuitu, qui vestrę Serenitatis +ipsiśsque subditorum causas, mercésque, si quando in hoc nostrum regnum +appulerint, semper commendatissimas habemus, id quod superiori anno testati +sumus: proinde ipsam vehementer rogamus, vt Ioannem Ratliffe pręsentium +latorem, et dicti Ioannis Gresham nouum constitutum procuratorem, huius rei +causa istuc venientem, velit in suis agendis, in dictķsque bonis +recuperandis, impunéque asportandis remittendķsque vectigalibus (quod nos +in vestros subditos fecimus) quum per nauis pręfectum fraude, ac dolo istuc +merces fuerint aduectę, nisi istic vendantur, ac toto denique ex ęquitate +conficiendo negotio, sic commendatum suscipere, sicque ad suos, quos opus +fore intellexerit magistratus missis literis rem omnem iuuare, et expedire, +vi perspiciamus ex hac nostra commendatione fuisse nostrorum subditorum +iuri, et indemnitati quąm maximč consultum. Quod nobis gratissimum est +futurum, et in re consimili, aut grauiori vestra Serenitas nos sibi +gratificandi cupidissimos experietur, quę 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 Ęthiopia, Arabia, Persia, +India, &c. our most deere 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 Ęthiopia, Arabia, Persia, +India, &c. our most deare and welbeloued brother, sendeth greeting. So much +the 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 +couenanted with the patrone of the sayd ship, that he should first saile to +the Isle of Sio, to take in merchandize of sundry sortes, and 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 and agreement more plainly appeareth: it so fel +out, that the aforesaid Diego your highnes subiect hauing receiued the said +goods, very trecherously and much contrary to his couenant, to the +exceeding great losse of our subiects, putting in by the way into an hauen +of Portugale, and altering his purpose of comming into England, he +remaineth still in that hauen, and 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 and right, the rather at our +request, which alwayes haue had a speciall care of the causes and goods of +your Highnes, and of your subiects whensoeuer they come into our kingdome, +whereof we made proofe the last yeere. Wherefore wee instantly request your +Highnes, that you would so receiue Iohn Ratcliffe the bearer of these +present letters, and the new appointed agent of Iohn Gresham, which commeth +into your dominions about this busines, being thus commended vnto you in +this busines, and recouering and freely bringing home of the said goods, +and in remitting of the customs, vnlesse they were sold there (the like +whereof we did towards your subiects) seeing by the fraud and deceit of the +patron of the ship, the wares were brought thither, and finally in +dispatching the whole matter, according to iustice, and so further the same +by directing your highnes letters to your officers whom it may concerne, +that we may perceiue, that our subiects right and liberty hath especially +bene maintained vpon this our commendation. Which we will take in most +thankful part, and your highnes shal find vs in the like or a greater +matter most readie to gratifie you, whom we wish most heartily well to +fare. From our 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 yeere 1592, and went as cooper in + the Mathew Gonson the next voyage after. + +[Sidenote: The Holy Crosse and the Mathew Gonson depart for Turkie.] The +shippes called the Holy Crosse, and the Mathew Gonson, made a voyage to the +Islandes of Candia and Chio in Turkie, about the yeere 1534. And in the +Mathew Crosse 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 arriual 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 wooles, Turkie Carpets, Galles, Cynamon, +and some other spices. The saide shippe called the Holy Crosse was so +shaken in this voyage, and so weakened, that she was layd vp in the docke, +and neuer made voyage after. + + * * * * * + +Another voyage to the Iles of Candia and Chio made by the shippe the Mathew + Gonson, about the yeere 1535, according to the relation of Iohn + Williamson, then Cooper in the same ship, made to M. Richard Hackluit in + the yeere 1592. + +[Sidenote: The Mathew Gonson goeth into Turkie.] The good shippe called the +Mathew Gonson, of burden 300 tunnes, whereof was owner old M. William +Gonson, pay-master of the kings Nauie, made her voyage in the yeere 1535. +In this ship went as Captaine Richard Gray, who long after died in Russia, +Master William Holstocke afterward Controuller of the Queenes Nauie went +then as purser in the same voyage. The Master was one Iohn Pichet, seruant +to old M. William Gonson, Iames Rumnie was mate. The master Cooper was Iohn +Williamson citizen of London, liuing in the yeere 1592, and dwelling in +Sant Dunstons parish in the East. The M. Gunner was Iohn Godfrey of +Bristoll. In this ship were 6 gunners and 4 trumpetters, all which foure +trumpetters at our returne hornewards went on land at Messina in the Iland +of Sicilia, as our ship road there at anker, and gat them into the Gallies +that lay neere vnto vs, and in them went to Rome. The whole number of our +companie in this ship were about 100. men, we were also furnished with a +great bote, which was able to cary 10 tunnes of water, which at our returne +homewards we towed all the way from Chio vntill we came through the +straight of Gibraltar into the maine Ocean. We had also a great long boat +and a skiff. We were out vpon this voyage eleuen moneths, yet in all this +time there died of sicknesse but one man, whose name was George Forrest, +being seruant to our Carpenter called Thomas Plummer. + +In a great lygier booke of one William Eyms, seruant vnto Sir William +Bowyer Alderman of London, bearing date the 15 of Nouember 1533, and +continued vntill the 4. of Iuly 1544. I find that the said William Eyms was +factor in Chio, not only for his Master, but also for the duke of Norfolkes +grace and for many other worshipful marchants of London, among whom I find +the accompts of these especially, to wit, of his said Master, sir William +Bowyer, of William and Nicholas Wilford Marchant-taylors of London, of +Thomas Curtis pewterer, of Iohn Starkey Mercer, of William Ostrige +Marchant, and of Richard Field Draper. And further I find in the said +ligier booke, a note of the said Eyms, of all such goods as he left in the +hands of Robert Bye in Chio, who became his Masters factor in his roome, +and another like note of particulers of goods that he left in the hands of +Oliuer Lesson, seruant to William and Nicholas Wilford. And for proofe of +the continuance of this trade vntill the end of the yeere 1552. I found +annexed vnto the former note of the goods left with Robert Bye in Chio, a +letter being dated the 27 of Nouember 1552 in London. + + * * * * * + +The Epitaph of the valiant Esquire M. Peter Read in the south Ile of Saint + Peters Church in the citie of Norwich, which was knighted by Charles the + fift at the winning of Tunis in the yeere of our Lord 1538. + +Here vnder lieth the corpes of Peter Reade Esquire, who hath worthily +serued, not onely his Prince and Countrey, but also the Emperour Charles +the fift, both at his conquest of Barbarie, and at his siege at Tunis, as +also in other places. Who had giuen him by the said Emperour for his +valiant deedes the order of Barbary. Who dyed the 29 day of December, in +the yeere of our Lord God 1566. + + * * * * * + +A discourse of the trade to Chio, in the yeere 1569. made by Caspar + Campion, vnto master Michael Locke, and vnto master William Winter, as by + his letters vnto them both shall appeare. Written the 14. of February. + +Worshipfull Sir, &c. As these dayes past I spake vnto you about the +procurement of a safeconduct from the great Turke, for a trade to Chio: The +way and maner how it may be obtained with great ease shall plainly appeare +vnto you in the lines following. Sir, you shall vnderstand that the Island +of Chio in time past hath bene a Signiorie or lordship of it selfe, and did +belong vnto the Genowaies. There were 24. of them that gouerned the island +which were called Mauneses. But in continuance of time the Turke waxed so +strong and mightie, that they, considering they were not able to keepe it, +vnlesse they should become his tributaries, because the Island had no +corne, nor any kind of vitailes to sustaine themselues, but onely that +which must of necessitie come out of the Turkes dominions, and the sayd +island being inclosed with the Turks round about, and but 12. miles from +the Turks Continent, therefore the said Genowaies did compound and agree to +be the Turkes tributaries, and to pay him 14000. thousand ducates yeerely. +Alwayes prouided, that they should keep their lawes both spirituall and +temporall, as they did when the Iland was in their owne hands. Thus he +granted them their priuiledge, which they inioyed for many yeeres, so that +all strangers, and also many Englishmen did trade thither of long +continuance, and went and came in safety. [Sidenote: The Prince Pedro Doria +is captaine of 40 gallies vnder the Emperor.] In this meane time, the +prince Pedro Doria (being a Genouois) became a captaine to serue the +Emperour with 30 or 40 gallies against the Turke. And since that time +diuers other captaines belonging to Genoa haue bene in the seruice of king +Philip against the Turke. Moreouer, whensoeuer the Turke made out any army, +he perceiued that no nation did him more hurt then those Genouois, who were +his tributaries. Likewise at the Turkes siege of Malta, before which place +he lay a great while, with losse of his men, and also of his gallies, he +found none so troublesome vnto his force, as one Iuanette Doria a Genouois, +and diuers others of the Iland of Chio, who were his tributaries. +[Sidenote: The Mauneses put out of the Iland of Chio by the Turke.] At +which sight, he tooke such displeasure against them of Chio, that he sent +certaine of his gallies to the Iland, for to seise vpon all the goods of +the 24 Mauneses and to turne them with their wiues and children out of the +Iland, but they would let none other depart, because the Iland should not +be vnpeopled. So that now the Turke hath sent one of his chiefe men to rule +there: whereby now it will be more easie to obtaine our safeconduct then +euer it was before. [Sidenote: The custome thorowout all Turkie is ten in +euery hundreth.] For if the townesmen of Chio did know that we would trade +thither (as we did in times past) they themselues, and also the customer +(for the Turke in all his dominions doth rent his customes) would be the +chiefest procurer of this our safe conduct, for his owne gaine: which is no +small matter: for we can pay no lesse than ten in the hundred thorowout the +Turks whole dominion. Insomuch, that if one of our shippes should go +thither, it would be for the customers profit 4000 ducats at least, whereas +if we should not trade thither, he should lose so much. [Sidenote: English +men do buy more commodities of Chio then any other nation.] Also the +burgesses, and the common people would be very glad of our trade there, for +the Communalty do get more by our countreymen then they do any nation +whatsoeuer: for we do vse to buy many of their silke quilts, and of their +Scamato and Dimite, that the poore people make in that towne, more then any +other nation, so that we would not so gladly trade, but the people of the +countrey would be twise so willing. Wherefore they themselues would be a +meanes vnto their gouernour, by their petition to bring this trade to +passe: giuing him to vnderstand that of all nations in the world we do him +least hurt, and that we may do his countrey great good in consuming those +commodities which his countrey people make. Furthermore, it were farre more +requisite that we should cary our owne commodities, then to suffer a +stranger to cary them thither, for that we can affoord them better cheape +then a stranger can. I write not this by hearsay of other men, but of mine +own experience, for I haue traded in the countrey aboue this 30 yeres, and +haue bene maried in the towne of Chio full 24. yeres, so that you may +assure yourselfe that I will write nothing but truth. [Sidenote: Great +store of sundry commodities to be had in Chio.] Now I will declare vnto you +the wares and commodities that are in the countreys neere about Chio. There +are very good galles, the best sort whereof are sold in England fiue +shillings deerer then any other countrey galles, There is also cotton +wooll, tanned hides, hides in the haire, waxe, chamlets, mocayares, +grogerams, silke of diuers countreys, cordouan skinnes, tanned white, to be +made blacke, of them great quantity, and also course wooll to make beds. +The naturall commodities growing in the Iland it selfe are silke rawe, and +masticke. Of these commodities there are laden yeerely ten or twelue great +ships of Genoa, besides fiue or sixe that do belong to the towne of Chio, +which ships are fraughted for Genoa, Messina, and Ancona. And now that the +Mauneses and the chiefe merchants of Genoa are banished, the trade is +cleane lost, by reason whereof merchandise must now of necessity be better +cheape then they haue bene in times past. But yet when all those ships did +trade to the countrey, and also our ships, we neuer had lesse then three +kintals of galles for a carsie, and in England we sold them for 35 and 36 +shillings the hundred. And whereas now they are brought by the Venetians, +they sell them vnto vs for three pound tenne shillings, and foure pound the +hundred. Also we had three kintals of cotten wooll for a carsie, and solde +the wooll in England for 50 shillings or 3 pound at the most, whereas now +the Italians sell the some to vs for 4 pound 10 shillings and 5 pound the +hundred. In like maner chamlets, whereas we had three pieces, and of the +best sort two and a halfe for a carsie, and could not sell them aboue 20 +shillings and 22 shillings the piece, they sell them for 30 and 35 +shillings the piece. Also grogerams, where we had of the best, two pieces +and a halfe for a carsie, they sell them for foure shillings and foure +shillings and sixe pence the yard. Carpets the smaller sort which serue for +cupboords, we had three for a carsie: whereas we at the most could not sell +them but for 26 shillings the piece, they sell them for 35 shillings the +piece. And so all other commodities that the Venetians do bring, they sell +them to vs for the third part more gaines then we our selues in those dayes +that we traded in those parts. Likewise the barrels of oile that they bring +from Candia, we neuer could sell them aboue foure nobles the barrell, where +they sell them alwayes for 50 shillings and 3 pound the barrell. What great +pity is this, that we should loose so good a trade, and may haue it in our +owne hands, and be better welcome to that countrey then the Venetians. +Moreouer, the Venetians come very little to Chio, for their trade is into +Alexandria. And for to assure you that we had these commodities in barter +of our carsies, looke into your fathers books, and the books of Sir Iohn +Gresham, and his brethren, and you shall finde what I haue sayd to be true. + +[Sidenote: Diuers places where we may haue sweete oiles for our clothing +farre cheaper then out of Spaine.] Also you know, that we are forced to +seeke oiles out of Spaine, and that for these many yeeres they haue bene +solde for 25 pound and 30 pound the tunne: whereas, if we can obtaine the +foresayd safeconduct from the Turke, there are diuers places in his +dominions, where we may lade 500 tunnes, at 5 pound sterling the tunne. The +places are Modon, and Coron, which are but twelue miles distant the one +from the other, and do stand in our way to Chio, as you may plainly see by +the Card. Also these are places where we may vtter our owne commodities, +and not onely these two places, but many others, where we may haue oiles, +and be better vsed then we are in Spaine, where we pay very deare, and also +are very euill intreated many wayes, as to you is hot vnknowen. So that by +these meanes (if the marchants will) we may be eased, and haue such a trade +as the like is not in Christendome. Now, as for getting the safeconduct, if +I were but able to spend one hundred pounds by the yeere, I would be bound +to lose it, if that I did not obtaine the foresayd safeconduct. For I know +that if the inhabitants of Chio did but thinke that wee would trade thither +againe, they at their owne cost would procure to vs a safeconduct, without +any peny of charges to the marchants. So that if the marchants will but +beare my charges to solicit the cause, I will vndertake it my selfe. +Wherefore I pray you speake to M. Winter and the other marchants, that this +matter may take effect And let me haue your answere herein assoone as +conueniently you may, for that the time of the yeere draweth nigh that this +businesse must be done. Thus I commit you to God, and rest alwayes yours to +command. + +Yours as your seruant Gaspar Campion. + + * * * * * + +The first voyage of Robert Baker (to Guinie), with the Minion, and + Primrose, set out in October, 1562. by Sir William Garrard, Sir William + Chester, M. Thomas Lodge, Anthony Hickman, and Edward Castelin. + + As men whose heads be fraught. + with care, haue seldom rest: + (For through the head the body strait + with sorowes is opprest:) + So I that late on bed + lay wake, for that the watch + Pursued mine eye, and causde my hed + no sleepe at all to catch: + To thinke vpon my chaunce + which hath me now betide: + To lie a prisoner here in France, + for raunsome where I bide; + And feeling still such thoughts + so thicke in head to runne, + As in the sommer day the moats + doe fall into the Sunne, + To walke then vp I rose, + fansie to put to flight: + And thus a while I doe purpose + to passe away the night. + Morpheus I perceiu'd [The God of Sleepe.] + had small regarde of me, + Therefore I should be but deceiu'd + on bed longer to lie. + And thus without delay + rising as voide of sleepe, + I horned Cynthia sawe streight way [The Moone.] + in at my grate to peepe: + Who passing on her way, + eke knowing well my case, + How I in darke dungeon there lay + alwayes looking for grace: + To, me then walking tho + in darke withouten light, + She wipte her face, and straight did show + the best countnance she might: + Astonneth eke my head + and senses for a space, + And olde fansies away now fled + she putteth new in place. + Then leaning in my grate + wherein full bright she shinde, + And viewing her thus on her gate + she mazeth streight my minde: + And makes me thinke anon + how oft in Ginnie lande + She was my friend, when I haue gone + all night vpon the sande, + Walking and watching efte + least any boate or ship + At any time, while we had slept + perhaps by vs might slip. + And streight with ardent fire + my head inflameth shee, + Eke me inspires with whole desire + to put in memorie, + Those daungers I haue bid + and Laberinth that I + Haue past without the clue of threede, + eke harder ieopardie. + I then gin take in hand + straight way to put in rime, + Such trauell, as in Ginnie lande + I haue past in my time. + But hauing writte a while + I fall faint by the way, + And eke at night I lothe that stile + which I haue writte that day. + And thinke my doings then + vnworthy sure, to be + Set forth in print before all men, + for eueryone to see. + Eke with dispaire therefore + my pen I cast away, + And did intende this neuer more + hereafter to assay. + My fellow prisoner then + sir Edward Gages sonne [Sir Edward Gages sonne, + Willes me to take againe my pen whose name was George Gage.] + and ende that I begonne. + By this our friends (sayth he) + shall right well vnderstande + And knowe the great trauels that we + haue past in Heathen lande. + Take pen therefore againe + in hande, I you require, + And thinke (saith he) thereof no paine + to graunt this my desire. + Then once againe my hed + my hande a worke doth sette: + But first I fall vpon my bed. + and there deepe sighes I fette, + To see that this to taske + is giuen me silly wight: + And of Minerua helpe I aske + that she me teach aright. + Helpe now without delay, + helpe, helpe, ye Muses nine, + O Cleo, and Calliope, + shew me how to define + In condigne stile and phrase + eche thing in euery line, + To you I giue loe all the praise + the trauell only mine. + Giue care then ye that long + to know of my estate, + Which am in France in prison strong + as I wrote home of late: + Against all lawe or right + as I doe thinke in deede, + Sith that the warre is ended quite, [The warre at Newe hauen.] + and pease is well agreed + Yet least perchaunce you might + much maruell, how that I + Into a Frenchmans powre should light + In prison here to lie: + Giue now attentiue heede, + a straunge tale gin I tell, + How I this yeare haue bene besteede, + scaping the gates of hell, + More harde I thinke truly, + in more daunger of life, + Than olde Orpheus did when he + through hell did seeke his wife, + Whose musike so did sounde + in pleasant play of string, + That Cerberus that hellish hounde + (who as the poets sing + Hauing three huge heads great, + which doe continually + Still breath out firy flames of heate + most horrible to see) + Did giue him leaue to passe + in at the gates of Hell: + Of which gate he chiefe porter was + the Poets thus me tell. + And how he past alone + through great king Plutos Court + Yea ferried ouer with Charon [Caron passenger of Hell.] + and yet he did no hurt. + Well to my purpose now, + in Hell what hurt had hee? + Perchance he might strange sights inow + and vgly spirits there see: + Perhaps eke Tantalus, + there, making of his mone, + Who staru'd always: and Sysiphus + still rolling vp the stone. + Yet Orpheus passed by, + and went still on his way, + There was no torment came him nigh + or heate to make him stay. + And I a Gods name woulde + at hazarde play my life + In Guinie lande, to seeke for golde, + as Orpheus sought his wife. + At which saide lande of Guinie [His first voyage 1562.] + I was eke once before, + And scapt the death as narrowly + As Orpheus did and more. + Which first ill lucke will I + recite, then iudge you plaine, + If loue plagued me not now rightly + this yeare to goe againe. + The other yeere before + when Neptune vs had brought + Safely vnto that burning shore, + for which so long we sought, + One day when shippe was fast + in sea at anker holde, + The sailes vpfirll'd, all businesse past + the boteswaine then I tolde, + That he forthwith shoulde see + the small pinnesse well mande, + Eke all things therin prest to be + that we shoulde haue a lande, + And gunner see that ye + want not bowe, pike, or bill. + Your ordinance well primed be + with lintstocks burning still. + With merchandize a shore, + we hied to traffike then, + Making the sea fome vs before, + by force of nine good men. + And rowing long, at last + a riuer we espie, + In at the which we bare full fast + to see what there might be. + And entring in, we see + a number of blacke soules, + Whose likelinesse seem'd men to be, + but as blacke as coles. + Their Captaine comes to me + as naked as my naile, + Not hauing witte or honestie + to couer once his taile. + By which I doe here gesse + and gather by the way, + That he from man and manlinesse + was voide and cleane astray. + And sitting in a trough, + a boate made of a logge, + The very same wherein you know + we vse to serue a hogge, + Aloofe he staide at first, + put water to his cheeke, + A signe that he would not vs trust + vnlesse we did the like. + That signe we did likewise, + to put him out of feare, + And shewd him much braue marchandise + to make him come vs neare. + The wilde man then did come, + by signes nowe crieth the fiend + Of those gay things to giue him some + and I should be his friend. + I traffikt there that time + for such things as they had, + At night to ship I caried him, + where I with clothes him clad, + Yea, made him there good cheere, + and he by signes againe + Tolde vs that he would fraight vs then + after a day or twaine. + And eene thus as we were + in talke, looking about, + Our boate he sawe with wares that there + was tied at sterne without: + Which boate he viewing still, + as then well stuft with ware. + We thinking he had ment no ill, + had thereof little care. + And the next morne, againe + we caried him a shore, + Eke bartred there that day with them + as we had done before. + But when Phoebus began + somewhat for to draw neare + To Icarus his Court, the sonne + of Dedalus most deare, + (Whose chaunce it is to dwell + amids the Ocean flood, + Because that he obseru'd not well + his fathers counsell good) + We then with saile and ore + to ship began to hie, + That we might fetch aboorde, before + the day had lost his eye. + To ship we come at last, + which rid foure leagues from shore + Refresht vs after trauaile past + taken that day before. + Then, as it was our guise, + our boate at sterne we tie, + Eke therin leaue our marchandise, + as they were wont to be. + With troughes then two or three [The theft of the Negroes.] + this Captaine comes by night + Aboord our boate, where he with wares + himselfe now fraighteth quight. + The watch now hearing this, + the boate they hal'd vp fast: + But gone was all the marchandise, + and they escapte and past. + The next morne then by day + againe we went to shore, + Amends to haue for that which they + had stolne the night before. + But all in vaine was it, + our signes were now too bad, + They would not vnderstand a whit + of any thing they had. + But as though they had wrong [A conflict between the Negros + for to reuenged be, and our men.] + As we row'd downe the streame along + after comes hee and hee. + A hundred boats come fro + the steremost towne I say, + At least meets vs as many mo + before, to make vs stay. + In euery boat two men, + and great long targets twaine: + Most of their darts had long strings then + to picke and pull againe. + Now gunners to your charge, + giue fier all arow, + Ech slaue for feare forsakes his barge, + and ducks in water low. + We downe the streame amaine + do row to get the sea, + They ouertake vs soone againe, + and let vs of our way. + Then did the slaues draw neere, + with dart and target thicke, + With diuelish fixed eyes they peere + where they their darts may sticke. + Now Mariners do push + with right good will the pike, + The haileshot of the harquebush + The naked slaue doth strike. + Through targe and body right + that downe he falleth dead + His fellow then in heauie plight, + doth swimme away afraid. + To bathe in brutish bloud, + then fleeth the graygoose wing. + The halberders at hand be good, + and hew that all doth ring. + Yet gunner play thy part, + make haileshot walke againe, + And fellowes row with like good heart + that we may get the maine. + Our arrowes all now spent, + the Negroes gan approach: + But pikes in hand already hent + the blacke beast fast doth broch. + Their captaine being wood, + a villaine long and large, + With pois'ned dart in hand doth shroud + himselfe vnder his targe. + And hard aboord he comes + to enter in our boat, + Our maisters mate, his pike eftsoones + strikes through his targe and throat. + The capteine now past charge + of this brutish blacke gard, + His pike he halde backe which in targe + alas was fixed hard: + And wresting it with might, + to pull it forth in hast, + A deadly dart strikes him too right + and in his flesh sticks fast, + He stands still like a man, + and shrinkes not once therefore, + But strikes him with his owne dart then + which shot at him before. + Then presse they on, and shake + their darts on euery side, + Which, in our flesh doth light, and make + both deadly wounds and wide. + The gunner in that stound + with two darts strooke at last, + Shrinks not yet though the double wound + with streames of bloud out brast. + And eke the maisters mate, + of stomacke bolde and stout, + For all his wound receiu'd of late, + yet stirred not a foot. + But kept his standing still, + till that a deathful dart + Did strike him through the ribs so ill + that scarce it mist his hart. + The dart out hal'd quickly, + his guts came out withall, + And so great streames of bloud that he + for faintnesse downe gan fall. + The Negros seeing this, + how he for dead doth lie, + Who erst so valiant prou'd iwis, + they gladly, shout and crie: + And then do minde as there + to enter in his place, + They thinke so many wounded were + the rest would yeld for grace. + We then stand by the pike, + and foure row on our boat, + Their darts among vs fast they strike + that few were free I wot. + In legge and eke in thigh, + some wounded eke in th'arme, + Yea many darts stucke vs hard by, + that mist and did no harme. + By little thus at last, + in great danger of life + We got the sea, and almost past + the danger erst so rife. + Then gin they all retire + sith all their darts were spent + They had nought to reuenge their ire, + and thus away they went. + Our boat to ship doth roe, + where two ores make soft way + Sixe of vs nine were wounded so, [Sixe of our men wounded.] + the seuenth for dead there lay. + Lo, heare how cruelly + the fiends ment vs to kill, + Causelesse you see, if they truly + on vs might had their will. + And yet we gaue before + much merchandize away, + Among those slaues, thinking therefore + to haue friendship for aye. + And Orpheus past I wot + the passage quietly, + Among the soules in Charons boat, + and yet to say truly + I neuer read that he + paid for his passage there, + Who past and repast for to see. + if that his wife there were. + Nor yet that he paid ought, + or any bribe there gaue + To any office, while he sought + his wife againe to haue. + Whereby I surely gesse + these men with whom that we + Haue had to do, are fiends more fierce + then those in hell that be. + Well we now scaping thus + the danger I haue tolde, + Aboord we come, where few of vs + could stand now being colde. + Our wounds now being drest, + to meat went they that list, + But I desired rather rest, + for this in minde I wist. + That if I might get once + a sleepe that were full sound, + I should not feele my weary bones + nor yet my smarting wound. + And lying long aloft + vpon my bed in paine, + Vnto Morpheus call'd I oft + that he would not disdaine + To heare me then poore wight, + but sende me helpe with speed + That I might haue good rest this night + of which I had great need. + Me thought then by and by. + there hung a heauie waight, + At ech eye lid, which clos'd mine eye + and eke my head was fraight. + And being streight sleepe, + I fell into a sweauen, + That of my wound I tooke no keepe + I dream'd I was in heauen. + Where as me thought I see + god Mars in armor bright, + His arming sword naked holdes he + in hand, ready to fight. + Castor and Pollux there + all complet stand him by, + Least if that Mars conuinced were + they might reuenged be. + Then came marching along + the great blacke smith Vulcan, + Hauing a staffe of yron strong, + and thus at last began: + O Mars, thou God of might, + what is the cause that thou + Hast chaleng'd me with thee to fight? + lo present am I now. + Wherefore if that thou hast + any great grudge to me, + Before this day be spent and past + it shall reuenged be. + Then spake god Mars and said, + for that thou churlish wight, + Thy brutish blacke people hast made + with those white men to fight + Which cal'd on me for aid, + I bid thee warre for this. + Then answered Vulcan straight and said + that that coast sure was his. + And therefore he would still + his blacke burnt men defend, + And if he might, all other kill + which to that coast did wend, + Yea thus (said he) in boast + that we his men had slaine, + And ere that we should passe this coast + he would vs kill againe. + Now marcheth Mars amaine + and fiercely gins to fight, + The sturdie smith strikes free againe + whose blowes dint where they light. + But iupiter that sat + in his great royall throne + Hearing this noise maruell'd thereat, + and streightway sendeth one + To know the cause thereof: + but hearing them in fight, + Commandeth them for to leaue off + by vertue of his might, + And of Vulcan demands + the cause: then answered he, + O mightie Loue whose power commands + and rules all things that be, + Who at a word hast power + all things to destroy cleane, + And in the moment of an houre, + canst them restore againe, + The same God licence me + to speake now here my minde: + It is not, Loue, vnknowne to thee, + how that I was assign'd, + And pointed king of most + of all the Ginnie land, + A people lo is on my coast + which doth me now withstand. + They do my people strike, + they do this day them kill, + To whom I minde to do the like + if I may haue my will. + Then Iupiter bespake: + O Vulcan then said he, + Let this thy rage and anger slake + for this time presently, + But if at any time + these men chance there againe, + Doe as thou list, the charge is thine + I will not meddle then. + I know, them well (said he) + these men need not to seeke, + They haue so fruitfull a countrey + that there is none the like. + But if they can not be + therewith content, but still + Will seeke for golde so couetously + worke then with them thy will. + And therewith straight doth send. + a pursuiuant in post, + To whom (saith he) see that thou wend + vnto the windie coast, + To Eolus, the king + command him thus from me, + That he straight way without lingring + do set at libertie, + His seruant Zephirus, + which now is lockt so low, + Eke that he do command him thus, + that he straight way do go + To Vulcans coast in hast, + a ship where he shall finde, + Which ship he must with gentle blast + and eke with moderate winde, + Conduct safe to that coast + which Albion was hight, + And that no stormes do them withstand + by day or eke by night. + I sleeping all this space, + as it were in a trance, + The noise of them that hail'd apace + did waken me by chance. + Then looking out to know + what winde did blow in skie, + The maister straight came to me tho + and thus said by and by. + All our ill lucke is past, + we haue a merie winde, + I hope England, if this winde last, + yet once againe to finde. + When this I vnderstand, + to loue I vowed then, + Forswearing cleane the Ginnie land + for comming there againe. + And passing on in post + with fauourable windes, + We all arriu'd on Englands coast + with passing cheerefull mindes. + + * * * * * + +The second voyage to Guinie, and the riuer of Sesto, set out in the Moneth + of Nouember 1563, by Sir William Gerrard, Sir William Chester, Sir Thomas + Lodge, Maister Beniamin Gonston, Maister William Winter, Maister Lionel + Ducket, Anthonie Hickman, and Edward Castelin, with two ships, the one + called the Iohn Baptist, wherein went for Maister, Laurence Rondell: and + the other the Marlin, wherein went also for Maister, Robert Reuell, + hauing for Factors, Robert Baker, Iustinian Goodwine, Iames Gleidell, and + George Gage: and written in verse by the foresaid Robert Baker. + + You heard before, that home I got + from Ginnie at the last, + But by and by, I quite forgot + the sorrowes I had past. + And ships rigged also, + with speed to ship againe, + I being then requir'd to go, + did not denie them plaine, + But granted them to go, + vnhappie foolish wight, + When they command, eke there to do + the best seruice I might. + In fine, to go our way + now serueth time and tide. + We hauing nothing vs to stay, + what should we longer bide? + The hempen band with helpe + of Mariners doth threat + To wey and reare that slouthfull whelpe [The anker.] + vp from his mothers teat. + The Maister then gan cheere + with siluer whistle blast + His Mariners, which at the Icere + are laboring wondrous fast. + Some other then againe, + the maineyard vp to hoise, + The hard haler doth hale a maine, + while other at a trice + Cut saile without delay: + the rest that be below, + Both sheats abaft do hale straitway + and boleins all let go. + The Helme a Mariner + in hand then strait way tooke, + The Pilot eke what course to stir + within his care did looke. + Againe with siluer blast, + the Maister doth not faile, + To cause his mates fortwith in hast + abroad to put more saile. + We then lanch from the shore, + sith warre we knew it right. + And kept in sea aloofe therefore + two dayes and eke a night. + And, as it is the guise, + to toppe a man we send, + Who straight a saile or two espies, + with whom we then do wend. + Aloofe would some with one, + and roomeward would the rest: + But with the tallest ship we gone, + whom we thinke to be best. + At last, in camming neere + as captaines vse to do, + I hale them, and of whence they were + I did desire to know: + Of France when they had said, + we weaued them a maine, + But they nothing therewith dismaid + did like to vs againe. + We then our selues aduant + through hope of purchase here, + Amaine say we, ye iolly gallant + or you shall buie it deere. + To arme the maine top tho + the boatswaine goeth eke, + His mate to the foretop also + makes hast to do the like. + To top both stones and darts + good fellowes hoise apace: + The quarter maisters with glad hearts + do know ech one his place. + Our topsailes strike we tho + and fit our sailes to fight, + Our bulwarke at maine mast also + is made likewise aright. + Vpon our poope eke then + right subtilly we lay + Pouder, to blow vp all such men, + as enter theraway. + Our Trumpetter aloft + now sounds the feats of war, + The brasen pieces roring oft + fling forth both chain and bar. + Some of the yardes againe + do weaue with naked swoord, + And crying loud to them amaine + they bid vs come aboord. + To bath hir feet in bloud + the graigoose fleeth in hast: + And Mariners as Lions wood, + do crie abroad as fast. + Now firie Faulkons flie + right greedie of their pray, + And kils at first stone dead truely + ech thing within their way. + Alarme ye now my mates I say, + see that ye nothing lacke. + At euery loope then gins straightway + a harquebush to cracke. + Their saile to burne, we shoot + our arrowes of wilde fire, + And pikes burning therewith about + lads tosse with like desire. + Eke straightway forth for wine + the steward call I then, + With fiery spice enough therein + I drinke vnto my men, + And then euen with a woord + our lime pot prest to fall, + This iolly gallant we clap aboord + and enter him withall. + Their nettings now gan teare + dint of heauie stone. + And some mens heads witnesse did beare + who neuer could make mone. + The harquebush acroke + which hie on top doth lie, + Discharg'd full of haileshot doth smoke + to kill his enemie. + Which in his enemies top + doth fight, there it to keepe, + Yet he at last a deadly lope + is made from thence to lepe. + Then entreth one withall + into this Frenchman's top, + Who cuts ech rope, and makes to fall + his yard, withouten stop. + Then Mariners belowe, + as carelesse of the pike, + Do hew, and kill still as they goe, + and force not where they strike. + And still the trumpets sound + with pleasant blast doth cheare + Ech Mariner, so in that stound + that they nothing did feare. + The Maister then also, + his mates to cheare in fight, + His Whistle chearefully doth blow, + whereby strait euery wight + So fierce begins to be, + that Frenchmen gin to stoe, + And English men as right worthy + do catch for pillage tho. + What would you more I say + but tell the truth alway: + We vsde our matters so this day + we caried him away, + Vnto a port in Spaine, + which sure is call'd the Groine, + Whereas we for French lading plaine + receiued readie coine. + Well thus this good lucke past, + we through salt Seas did scoure, + To Ginney coast eke come at last, + O that vnhappie houre. + My hand alas for feare + now shakes, of this to write, + Mine eye almost full fraught with teare, + eke lets me to indite. + What should I here recite + the miserie I had, + When none of you will scarce credit + that ere it was so bad? + Well, yet I would assay + to let it, if I might, + But O Minerua, helpe me aye, + my wits astond be quite. + Yea helpe, ye muses nine, + lot no thought me withstand, + Aid me this thing well to define, + which here I take in hand. + Well, thus it fortuned tho, + in Ginney now arriu'd, + Nine men in boat to shoe we go, + where we traffike espide, + And parting at midday + from ship, on good intent + In hope of traffike there I say + to shore away we went. + Our ships then riding fast + in sea at anker bight, + We minded to dispatch in hast, + cke to returne that night. + But being hard by land, + there suddenly doth rise + A mightie winde, wherewith it raind + and thundred, in such wise, + That we by shore did ride, + where we best Port might finde, + Our ships we thinke from anker slide, + a trice before the winde. + This night Vulcan begins + on vs reueng'd to be, + And thunderbolts about he flings + most terrible to see, + Admixt with fierie flame + which cracks about our cares. + And thus gins he to play his game, + as now to him appeares, + He Eolus hath feed + herein to be his friend, + And all the whirling windes with speed + among vs doth he send, + Thus hard by shore we lay, + this wet and weary night, + But on next morne and all the day + of ship we had no sight. + For Vulcan all this night + from fierie forge so fast + Sent thunder bolts with such great light, + that when the night was passed, + The next day there remaind + so great smoke all about, + Much like a mist, eke therewith raine, + that we were wet throughout. + And thus in smoke mindes he + to part vs from our ship: + Thus nere a one ech other see, + and so haue we the slip. + Our ships then backe againe, + thinking we were behinde, + Do saile by shore a day or twaine + in hope there vs to finde. + And we the contrary, + do row along the shore + Forward thinking our ships to be + still sailing vs before. + They sailing thus two dayes or three, + and could not finde vs than + Do thinke in that foule night we + were drowned euery man. + Our ship then newes doth beare + when she to England wends + That we nine surely drowned were, + and thus doth tell our friends: + While we thus being lost, + aliue in miserie + Do row in hope yet on this coast, + our ships to finde truly. + Well thus one day we spent, + tho next and third likewise, + But all in vaine was our intent, + no man a saile espies: + Three dayes be now cleane past + since any of vs nine, + Of any kinde of food hath tast, + and thus gan we to pine, + Till at the last bare need + bids vs hale in with land, + That we might get some root or weed + our hunger to withstand: + And being come to shore, + with Negros we intreat, + That for our wares which we had there + they would giue vs to eat. + Then fetch they vs of roots, + and such things as they had, + We gaue to them our wares to boote + and were thereof right glad. + To sea go we againe, + in hope along the shore, + To finde our ships, yet thinking plaine + that they had beene before. + And thus with saile and ore + twelue dayes we went hard by + The strange vncomfortable shore + where we nothing espie, + But all thicke woods and bush + and mightie wildernesse, + Out of the which oft times do rush + strange beasts both wilde and fierse, + Whereof oft times we see, + at going downe of Sunne, + Diuers descend in companie, + and to the sea they come. + Where as vpon the sand + they lie, and chew the cud: + Sometime in water eke they stand + and wallow in the floud. + The Elephant we see, + a great vnweldie beast, + With water fils his troonke right hie + and blowes it on the rest. + The Hart I saw likewise + delighted in the soile, + The wilde Boare eke after his guise + with snout in earth doth moile. + A great strange beast also, + the Antelope I weene + I there did see, and many mo, + which erst I haue not seene. + And oftentimes we see + a man a shore or twaine, + Who strait brings out his Almadie + and rowes to vs a maine. + Here let we anker fall, + of wares a shew we make, + We bid him choose among them all, + what wares that he will take + To bring to vs some fish, + and fresh water therefore, + Or else of meat some daintie dish, + which their cookes dresse ashore. + They bring vs by and by + great roots and beries eke, + Which grow vpon the high palme tree, + such meat as they do like. + We drinke eke of their wine + much like our whey to see: + Which is the sappe as I haue seene + that runnes out of a tree. + Thus do they bring ech thing + which they thinke to be good, + Sometime wilde hony combes they bring + Which they finde in the wood, + With roots and baggage eke + our corps we thus sustaine + From famine though it be so weake, + that death was figured plaine + In euery ioynt for lacke + of sustenance and rest. + That still we thinke our hearts would breake + with sorrowes so opprest. + We now alongst the coast + haue saild so many a mile, + That sure we be our ships be lost, + what should we do this while? + In Heathen land we be, + impossible it is + That we should fetch our owne countrey + in such a boat as this. + We now gan to perceiue + that wee had ouerpast + The Melegate coast so much, + that we were come at last + Vnto the coast of Myne, + for Niegros came aboord + With weights to poise their golde so fine, + yea speaking euery word + In Portugesse right well + demanding traffike there? + If we had any wares to sell, + and where our ships then were? + We answered them againe, + we had two ships at sea, + The which would come trafike with them + we thought within a day. + The cause why we thus said, + was hope to be well vsde: + But seeing this, as men dismaid + away we went and musde + Whither our ships were gone, + what way were best for vs: + Shall we here perish now saith one? + no, let vs not do thus: + We see all hope is past + our ships to finde againe, + And here our liues do shorten fast + in miserie and paine: + For why the raging heat + of Sunne, being so extreme, + Consumes our flesh away in sweat, + as dayly it is seene. + The Ternados againe + so often in a weeke, + With great lightnings, thunder and raine + with such abundance eke, + Doe so beat vs by night, + that we sleepe not at all, + Whereby our strength is vaded quite. + no man an ore can hale. + How hard liue we, alas? + three whole dayes oft be past, + Ere we poore men (a heauie case) + of any thing doe tast. + These twentie dayes ye see, + we haue sit still ech one, + Which we doe of necessitie, + for place to walke is none. + Our legs now vs deceiue, + swolne euery ioint withall, + With this disease, which, by your leaue, + the Scuruie men doe call. + We cannot long endure + in this case as we be, + To leaue our boat I am right sure, + compeld we must agree. + Three wayes for vs there is, + and this is my request, + That we may of these three deuise, + to choose thereof the best. + The Castle of the Mine + is not farre hence, we know, + To morrow morne we there may be, + if thither you will goe. + There Portingals do lie, + are christened men they be: + If we dare trust their curtesie, + the worst is hanging glee. + Our miserie may make + them pitie vs the more, + Nine such yong men great pains would take + for life to hale an ore. + Their Gallies may perhaps + lacke such yong men as we, + And thus it may fall in our laps, + all Galeyslaues to be, + During our life, and this, + we shall be sure to haue, + Although we row, such meate as is + the allowance of a slaue. + But here we rowe and sterue, + our misery is so sore: + The slaue with meat inough they serue, + that he may teare his ore. + If this you will not like. + the next way is to goe: + Vnto the Negros, and to seeke + what friendship they will shew. + But what fauour would ye + of these men looke to haue: + Who beastly sauage people be, + farre worse then any slaue? + If Cannibals they be + in kind, we doe not know, + But if they be, then welcome we, + to pot straightway we goe. + They naked goe likewise, + for shame we cannot so: + We cannot liue after their guise, + thus naked for to go. + By rootes and leaues they liue, + as beasts doe in the wood: + Among these heathen who can thriue, + with this so wilde a food? + The piercing heate againe, + that, scorcheth with such strength, + Piercing our naked flesh, with paine, + will vs consume at length. + The third and last is this, + (if those two you refuse) + To die in miserable wise, + here in the boate you chuse. + And this iudge by the way, + more trust is to be giuen, + Vnto the Portingals alway, + sith they be christned men, + Then to these brutish sort, + which beastly are ye see: + Who of our death will make a sport, + if Canibals they be. + We all with one consent, + now death despising plaine: + (Sith if we die as innocent, + the more it is our gaine) + Our sayle we hoyse in hast, + wih speed we mind to go + Vnto the castell, now not past + a twentie leagues vs fro. + And sayling all this day, + we spied late in the night. + And we past by thus on our way, + vpon the shore a light. + Then sayd our Boateswaine thus, + by this great light a shore, + Trafique there seemes, will you let vs + anker this night therefore, + And trie if we may get, + this next morning by day, + Some kind of food for vs to eate, + and then to goe our way? + We anker there that night, + the next morning to shore: + And in the place, where we the light + did see the night before: + A watch house now there stood, + vpon a rocke without: + Hard by a great blacke crosse of wood, + which putteth vs in doubt, + What place that this should be, + and looking to the shore, + A Castell there we gan espie, + this made vs doubt the more. + Wherein we saw did stand + a Portingall or twaine; + Who held a white flag in his hand, + and waued vs amaine. + Our flesh as fraile now shakes, + whereby we gan retire, + And he at vs a shot then makes, + a Negro giuing fire. + A piece discharged thus, + the hissing pellet lights, + I thinke within a yard of vs, + but none of vs it hits. + We wisht then we had there + a good ship, eke or twaine, + But helpelesse now, we rowe a shore + to know th'end of our paine. + The neerer that we went + to them vnto the shore, + To yeld our selues, as first we ment + they still did shoot the more. + Now Canons loud gan rore, + and Culuerins now crackt, + The Castell eke it thundred sore, + as though the wals were sackt. + Some shot doth light hard by, + some ouer vs againe: + But though the shot so thicke doth flie, + yet rowe we in a maine, + That now so neere we be + vnto the castell wall, + That none of them at vs we see, + can make a shot at all. + We ment a land to goe, + their curtesie to trie: + But from the wall great stones they throw, + and therewith by and by, + The Negros marching downe, + in battell ray do come, + With dart and target from the towne, + and follow all a dromme. + A bowe in hand some hent, + with poisn'd arrow prest, + To strike therewith they be full bent, + a pined English brest. + But stones come downe so fast + on vs on euery side, + We thinke our boats bottom would brast + if long we thus abide. + And arrowes flie so thicke, + hissing at euery eare, + Which both in clothes and flesh do sticke, + that we, as men past feare, + Cry now, Launch, launch in hast, + hale of the boate amaine: + Foure men in banke let them sit fast + and rowe to sea againe. + The other fiue like men, + do manfully in hand, + Take vp each kind of weapon then, + these wolues here to withstand. + A harquebush takes one, + another bends his bowe, + Among the slaues then downe fals one + and other hurt I trowe. + At those Portingals then shoot we, + vpon the Fort which stand, + In long fine white shirts as we see, + and lintstocks in their hand. + And of these shirts so white + we painted some full red, + Striking their open corps in sight, + with dint of arrow head. + For we sawe they had there + no Gallies vs to take, + Where threatnings them could vs not feare + or make vs once to shake. + Then Canons loud gan rore, + and pellets flie about, + And each man haleth his ore + and mooued not a foote. + Yea, though the poulder sent + the pellets thicke away, + Yet spite of them cleane through we went + at last, and got the sea, + And pieces charging fast, + they shot after vs so, + That wonder was it how we past + the furie of our foe, + The pinned anne felt not + as now, the heauie ore: + With foure such ores was neuer boat + I thinke, row'd so before. + To seaward scaping so, + three Negroes we see there, + Came rowing after vs to know, + what countrey men we were? + We answered Englishmen, + and that thither we came, + With wares to trafique there with them, + if they had meant the same. + They Portuguse doe speake + right naturall iwis: + And of our ship to know they seeke, + how big and where she is. + We answered them again + we had two ships at sea, + Right well appointed full of men, + that streight would take their way + Along the coast for gold, + they tarry but for vs, + Which came with wares there to haue sold + but that they vs'd vs thus. + Then gan they vs to pray, + if we lackt any thing, + To anker there all that whole day, + and they to vs would bring + All things that we doe want, + they sory say they be: + But we their words yet trusting scant, + refuse their curtesie. + We aske them of this hold + what place that it should be, + Then they againe thus straight vs told + that Portingals there lie. + And how that point they sayd, + which there hard by we see, + Was one of Cape three points that lay + the Westernmost of three. + Withouten further speech, + we hoise our saile to sea: + Minding a friendlier place to seech, + and thus we part our way. + We mind truly to prooue + the Portingals no more: + But now t'assay rather what loue + Negroes will shew a shore. + We then with saile and ore, + went backe againe in hast: + A thirtie leagues I thinke, and more + from thence where we were chast. + And here we anker fall, + aboord the Negros come: + We gaue gay things vnto them all, + and thus their hearts we wonne. + At last aboord comes one, + that was the kings chiefe sonne: + To whom by signes I made great mone, + how that I was vndone, + Had lost our ships, and eke + were almost staru'd for meate, + And knew not where our ships to seeke, + or any thing to eate. + I offred him our wares, + and bid him take them all: + but he perceiuing now the teares, + which from our eyes did fall, + Had great pitie on vs, + and sayd he would haue nought, + But streight by signes he will'd vs then, + that we should take no thought. + As one whom God has sent, + and kept for vs in store, + To know in hast away he went, + the Kings pleasure on shore. + And came foorthwith againe, + yea, bade vs come a land: + Whereof God knowes we were ful faine, + when this we vnderstand. + Each man bankes to his ore, + to hale the boate a land: + Where as we see vpon the shore, + fiue hundred Negros stand. + Our men rowing in a maine, + the billow went so hie, + That straight a waue ouerwhelms vs cleane + and there in sea we lie. + The Negros by and by, + came swimming vs to saue: + And brought vs all to land quickly, + not one durst play the knaue. + The Kings sonne after this, + a stout and valiant man, + In whom I thinke Nature iwis, + hath wrought all that she can, + He then I say commaunds + them straight to saue our boate, + To worke forthwith goe many hands, + and bring the same a floate. + Some swimme to saue an ore, + some diue for things be lost: + I thinke there helpe to hale a shore + fiue hundred men almost. + Our boate thus halde vp drie, + all things streight way were brought + The which we mist or could espie, + no man that durst keepe ought. + Then vs they led away, + knowing we wanted meate. + And gaue to us, euen such as they + themselues do daily eate. + Was neuer Owle in wood + halfe so much wondered at, + As we were then poore men, alas, + which there among them sat. + We feared yet our part, + and wisht a moneth were past, + For each man there went with his dart, + which made vs oft agast. + We lay vpon the ground, + with them there all that night: + But fearing still a deadly wound, + we could not sleepe a whit. + Two dayes thus past we well, + no man vs offred wrong: + The cause thereof I gin you tell, + they thought this them among: + Our ships had bene at sea, + and would come there before + Two dayes, to fetch vs thence away, + and giue them wares good store. + But when they thus heare tell + how that our ships be lost, + And that we know not very well, + when ships will come to coast: + They then waxe wearie streight, + and they which did before + At sundry times giue vs to eate, + did giue vs now no more. + Our lowance waxt so small, + that neuer nine gesse, + Were seru'd the like, yet still withall, + it waxed lesse and lesse. + Some run now in the wood, + and there for rootes do seeke, + Base meat would here be counted good + too bad that we mislike + Our clothes now rot with sweat, + and from our backs do fall, + Saue that whom nature wils for shame, + we couer nought at all. + One runs to seeke for clay + to fashion straight a pot, + And hardens it in Sunne all day: + another faileth not + To fetch home wood for night, + and eke for fire sought, + That we our roots and things seeth might + if any home were brought. + The rest the wood doth seeke, + eke euery bush and tree + For berries and such baggage like, + which should seeme meate to bee. + Our fingers serue in steed, + both of pickaxe and spade, + To dig and pull vp euery weed, + that grew within the shade. + Eke diged for rootes the ground, + and searcht on euery brier + For berries, which if we had found, + then streight way to the fire: + Where we rost some of those, + the rest seeth in a pot, + And of this banket nought we lose, + nor fragment resteth not. + The night as beasts we lie + the bare hard earth, vpon, + And round by vs a great fire light + to keepe wilde beasts vs from. + But what should I recite, + or couet to declare + My sorrowes past, or eke t'endite + of my hard Ginnie fare? + I cease here to enlarge + my miserie in that land, + A toy in head doth now me charge, + as here to hold my hand. + In fine, what would ye more, + the heat did so exceed, + That wanting cloths it scorcht so sore + no man could it abide. + The countrey eke so wilde, + and vnhealthfull withall, + That hungry stomacks neuer fill'd, + doth cause faint bodies fall. + Our men fall sicke apace, + and cherishing haue none: + That now of nine, within short space, + we be left three alone, + Alas, what great agast + to vs three liuing yet, + Was it to see, that death so fast + away our fellowes fet? + And then to loue on hie + we call for helpe and grace, + And him beseech vnfainedly, + to fetch vs from this place. + From this wild heathen land, + to Christendome againe, + Or else to lay on vs his hand, + and rid vs from our paine. + Lest that we ouerprest + with too much miserie, + Perhaps as weake breake our behest + which we owe God on high. + And least we liuing here + among this heathen, might + Perchance for need do that which were + right hainous in his sight. + Well, to my purpose then, + when we to loue thus crie, + To helpe vs hence poore silly men + from this our miserie. + He hearing vs at length, + how we to him doe call, + He helps vs with his wonted strength, + and straight thither withall, + A French ship sends at last, + with whom we three go hence: + But six in earth there lie full fast, + and neuer like come thence. + This Frenchman as I say, + through salt and surging seas, + Vs brought from Ginnie land, away + to France, the Lord we praise. + And warre he proues it plaine + when we entered his ship, + A prisner therefore I remaine, + and hence I cannot slip + Till that my ramsome be + agreed vpon, and paid, + Which being leuied yet so hie, + no agreement cant be made. + And such is lo my chance, + the meane time to abide + A prisner for ransome in France, + till God send time and tide. + From whence this idle rime + to England I doe send: + And thus till I haue further time, + this Tragedie I end. + +R. Baker. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of M. Roger Bodenham with the great Barke Aucher to Candia and + Chio, in the yeere 1550. + +In the yeere 1550. the 13 of Nouember I Roger Bodenham Captaine of the +Barke Aucher entered the said ship at Grauesend, for my voiage to the +Ilands of Candia and Chio in the Leuant. The master of my ship was one +William Sherwood. [Sidenote: The Barke Aucher goeth for Leuant.] From +thence we departed to Tilbery hope, and there remained with contrarie +windes vntill the 6. of Ianuarie, 1551. The 6 of Ianuary, the M. came to +Tilbery, and I had prouided a skilfull pylot to cary me ouer the lands end, +whose name was M. Wood, and with all speede I valed downe that night 10 +miles to take the tide in the morning, which happily I did, and that night +came to Douer, and there came to an anker, and there remained vntill +Tuesday, meeting with the worthy knight sir Anthony Aucher owner of the +saide ship. + +The 11 day we arriued in Plimoth, and the 13 in the morning we set forward +on our voyage with a prosperous winde, and the 16 we had sight of Cape +Finister on the coast of Spaine. + +The 30 we arriued at Cades, and there discharged certaine marchandise, and +tooke others aboord. + +[Sidenote: Mallorca.] The 20 of February we departed from Cades, and passed +the straights of Gibraltar that night, and the 25 we came to the Ile of +Mallorca, and stated there fiue daies with contrary windes. + +The first of March, we had sight of Sardenna, and the fift of the said +month wee arriued at Messina in Sicilia, and there discharged much goods +and remained there vntill good Fryday in Lent. + +The chiefe marchant that landed the sayd Barke Aucher was a marchant +stranger called Anselm Saluago, and because the time was then very +dangerous, and on going into Leuant, especially to Chio, without a safe +conduct from the Turke, the said Anselm promised the owner Sir Anthony +Aucher, that we should receiue the same at Messina. But I was posted from +thence to Candia, and there I was answered that I should send to Chio, and +there I should haue my safe conduct. I was forced to send one, and hee had +his answere that the Turke would giue none, willing me to looke what was +best for me to doe, which was no small trouble to me, considering I was +bound to deliuer the goods that were in the ship at Chio, or send them at +mine aduenture. [Sidenote: The Turke prepareth an army to besiege Malta] +The marchants without care of the losse of the ship would haue compelled me +to goe, or send their goods at mine aduenture, the which I denied, and sayd +plainely I would not goe, because the Turkes gallies were come foorth to go +against Malta, but by the French kings means, he was perswaded to leaue +Malta, and to goe to Tripoly in Barbary, which by the French he wan. In +this time there were in Candia certaine Turkes vessels called Skyrasas, +which had brought wheat thither to sell, and were ready to depart for +Turkie. And they departed in the morning be times, carying newes that I +would not goe foorth: the same night I prepared beforehande what I thought +good, without making any man priuie, vntill I sawe time. Then I had no +small businesse to cause my mariners to venture with the ship in such a +manifest danger. Neuerthelesse I wan them to goe all with me, except three +which I set on land, and with all diligence I was readie to set foorth +about eight of the clocke at night, being a faire moone shine night, and +went out. Then my 3 marriners made such requests vnto the rest of my men to +come aborde, as I was constrained to take them in. [Sidenote: The Barke +Ancher at Milcone.] And so with good wind we put into the Archipelago, and +being among the Ilands the winde scanted, and I was forced to anker at an +Iland called Micone, where I taried 10 or 12 daies, hauing a Greeke Pilot +to carrie the ship to Chio. In this meane season, there came many small +botes with mysson sayles to go for Chio, with diuerse goods to sell, and +the Pilot requested me that I would let them goe in my company, to which I +yeelded. After the sayd dayes expired, I wayed and set saile for the Iland +of Chio, with which place I fel in the after noone, whereupon I cast to +seaward againe to come with the Iland in the morning betimes. The foresaid +smal vessels which came in my company, departed from me to win the shore, +to get in the night, but vpon a sudden they espied 3 foystes of Turkes +comming vpon them to spoyle them. My Pilot, hauing a sonne in one of those +small vessels, entreted me to cast about towards them, which at his request +I did, and being something farre from them, I caused my Gunner to shoot a +demycoluering at a foyst that was readie to enter one of the botes. That +was so happy a shot, that it made the Turke to fall a sterne of the bote +and to leaue him, by the which meanes hee escaped. Then they all came to +me, and requested that they might hang at my sterne vntill day light, by +which time I came before the Mole of Chio, and sent my bote on land to the +marchants of that place to send for their goods out of hand, or else I +would returne back with all to Candia, and they should fetch their goods +there. [Sidenote: The towne of Chio is bound in 12000 ducats for the +safegard of Barke Aucher.] But in fine, what by perswasion of my merchant +English men, and those of Chio, I was entreated to come into the harbour, +and had a safe assurance for 20 dayes against the Turkes army, with a bond +of the citie in the summe of 12000 ducats. So I made hast and solde such +goods as I had to Turkes that came thither, and put all in order, with as +much speede as I could, fearing the comming of the Turkes nauie, of the +which, the chiefe of the citie knew right wel. So vpon the sudden they +called me of great friendship, and in secret told me, I had no way to saue +my selfe but to be gone, for said they, we be not able to defend you, that +are not able to help our selues, for the Turke where he commeth, taketh +what he will, and leaueth what he list, but the chiefe of the Turkes set +order that none shal do any harme to the people or to their goods. This was +such news to me, that indeed I was at my wits end, and was brought into +many imaginations how to do, for that the winde was contrarie. In fine, I +determined to goe foorth. [Sidenote: The companie do murmure against their +Captaine.] But the marchants English men and other regarding more their +gaines then the ship, hindred me very much in my purpose of going foorth, +and made the marriners to come to me to demaund their wages to be payed +them out of hande, and to haue a time to employ the same there. But God +prouided so for me, that I paied them their money that night, and then +charged them, that if they would not set the ship foorth, I would make them +to answere the same in England, with danger of their heads. Many were +married in England, and had somewhat to loose, those did sticke to me. I +had twelue gunners: the Master gunner who was a madde brayned fellow, and +the owners seruant had a parlament betweene themselues, and he vpon the +same came vp to me with his sword drawen, swearing that hee had promised +the owner Sir Anthony Aucher, to liue and die in the sayde shippe against +all that should offer any harme to the shippe, and that he would fight with +the whole armie of the Turkes, and neuer yeelde: with this fellow I had +much to doe, but at the last I made him confesse his fault and followe mine +aduise. Thus with much labour I gat out of the Mole of Chio, into the sea +by warping foorth, with the helpe of Genoueses botes, and a French bote +that was in the Mole, and being out God sent mee a speciall gale of winde +to goe my way. [Sidenote: The Turkes Gallies come to seeke the Barke +Aucher.] Then I caused a peece to be shotte off for some of my men that +were yet in the towne, and with much a doe they came aboord, and then I set +sayle a little before one of the clocke, and I made all the sayle I could, +and about halfe an houre past two of the clocke there came seuen gallies +into Chio to stay the shippe: and the admirall of them was in a great rage +because she was gone. Whereupon they put some of the best in prison, and +tooke all the men of the three ships which I left in the port, and put them +into the Gallies. They would haue followed after mee, but that the townes +men found meanes they did not The next day came thither a hundred more of +Gallies, and there taried for their whole companie, which being together +were about two hundred and 50 sayle, taking their voyage for to surprise +the Iland of Malta. The next day after I departed, I had the sight of +Candia, but I was two dayes after or euer I could get in, where I thought +my selfe out of their daunger. There I continued vntill the Turkes armie +was past, who came within the sight of the towne. There was preparation +made as though the Turks had come thither. [Sidenote: Fiue thousand +banished men in Candia.] There be, in that Iland of Candia many banished +men, that liue continually in the mountaines, they came down to serue, to +the number of foure or fiue thousand, they are good archers, euery one with +his bowe and arrowes, a sword and a dagger, with long haire, and bootes +that reach vp to their grine, and a shirt of male, hanging the one halfe +before, and the other halfe behinde, these were sent away againe assoon as +the armie was past. They would drinke wine out of all measure. Then the +armie being past, I laded my shippe with wines and other things; and so +after I had that which I left in Chio, I departed for Messina. In the way I +found about Zante, certaine Galliots of Turkes, laying abord of certaine +vessels of Venice laden with Muscatels: I rescued them, and had but a +barrell of wine for my powder and shot: and within a few dayes after I came +to Messina. I had in my shippe a Spanish pilot called Noblezia, which I +tooke in at Cades at my comming foorth: he went with me all this voyage +into the Leuant without wages, of good will that he bare me and the shippe, +he stoode me in good steede vntill I came backe againe to Cades, and then I +needed no Pilot. And so from thence I came to London with the shippe and +goods in safetie, God be praysed. And all those Mariners that were in my +sayd shippe, which were, besides boyes, three score and tenne, for the most +part were within fiue or sixe yeeres after able to take charge, and did. +[Sidenote: Master Richard Chancellour. Master Mathew Baker.] Richard +Chanceller, who first discouered Russia, was with me in that voyage, and +Mathew Baker, who afterward became the Queenes Maiesties chiefe +ship-wright. + + * * * * * + +Another discourse of the trade to Chio in the yeere 1569, made by Gaspar + Campion, vnto master M. William Winter. + +It may please your worship to vnderstand, that as concerning the voyage to +Chio, what great profit would be gotten, both for marchants, and also for +owners of shippes (as it was well knowen in those dayes when the Matthew +Gonson, the Trinitie Fitzwilliams, and the Sauiour of Bristow, with diuers +other ships which traded thither yerely, and made their voyage in ten or +twelue moneths, and the longest in a yeere) M. Francis Lambert, M. Iohn +Brooke, and M. Drauer can truely informe you heereof at large. And by +reason that wee haue not traded into those parts these many yeeres, and the +Turke is growen mighty, whereby our ships doe not trade as they were woont, +I finde that the Venetians doe bring those commodities hither, and doe sell +them for double the value that we our selues were accustomed to fetch them. +Wherefore, as I am informed by the aboue named men, that there is none so +fit to furnish this voyage as your selfe: my request is that there may be a +shippe of conuenient burthen prepared for this voyage, and then I will +satisfie you at large what is to be done therein. And because the Turke, as +I sayd before, is waxen strong, and hath put out the Christian rulers, and +placed his owne subiects, we may doubt whether we may so peaceably trade +thither as we were woont: therefore I dare vndertake to obtaine a +safeconduct, if my charges may be borne to goe and come. Of the way how +this may be done, M. Locke can satisfie you at large. [Sidenote: Gaspar +Campion maried in Chio 24 yeeres.] Moreouer, I can informe you more of the +trade of that countrey, then any other, for that I haue bene in those parts +these thirty yeeres, and haue bene married in the very towne of Chio full +foure and twenty yeres. Furthermore, when one of our ships commeth thither, +they bring at the least sixe or eight thousand carsies, so that the customs +thereof is profitable for the prince, and the returne of them is profitable +to the common people: for in barter of our wares, we tooke the commodities +which the poore of that towne made in their houses: so that one of our +shippes brought the prince and countrey more gaines than sixe ships of +other nations. The want of this our trade thither was the onely cause why +the Christian rulers were displaced: for when they payd not their yerely +tribute, they were put out by force. Touching the ship that must go, she +must obserue this order, she must be a ship of countenance, and she must +not touch in any part of Spaine, for the times are dangerous, nor take in +any lading there: but she must lade in England, either goods of our owne, +or els of strangers, and go to Genoa or Legorno, where we may be wel +intreated, and from thence she must make her money to buy wines, by +exchange to Candia, for there both custom and exchange are reasonable: and +not do as the Math. Gonson and other ships did in time past, who made sale +of their wares at Messina for the lading of their wines, and payed for +turning their white money into guide after foure and fiue in the hundredth, +and also did hazzard the losse of shippe and goods by carrying away their +money. Thus by the aforesayd course we shall trade quietly, and not be +subiect to these dangers. [Sidenote: Store of hoops laden at Castilla de la +mare for Candia.] Also from Legorno to Castilla de la mar, which is but 16 +milesfrom Naples, and the ready way to Candia, you may lade hoopes, which +will cost carolins of Naples 27 and a halfe the thousand, which is ducats +two and a halfe of Spaine. And in Candia for euery thousand of hoops you +shall haue a but of Malmesey cleare of all charges. Insomuch that a ship of +the burden of the Mathew Gonson will cary foure hundredth thousand hoops, +so that one thousand ducats will lade her, and this is an vsual trade to +Candia, as M. Michael Locke can testifie. Furthermore, it is not vnknowen +to you, that the oiles which we do spend in England for our cloth, are +brought out of Spaine, and that very deare, and in England we cannot sell +them vnder 28 pound and 30 pound the tunne: I say we may haue good oile, +and better cheape in diuers places within the streights. Wherefore if you +thinke good to take this voyage in hand, I will informe you more +particularly when you please. In the meane time I rest your worships to +command. + +Yours at your pleasure Iasper Campion. + + * * * * * + +The true report of the siege and taking of Famagusta, of the antique + writers called Tamassus, a city in Cyprus 1571. In the which the whole + order of all the skirmishes, batteries, mines, and assaults giuen to the + sayd fortresse, may plainly appear. Englished out of Italian by William + Malim. + +To the right honourable and his singular good Lord, and onely Patron the + Earle of Leicester, Baron of Denbigh, Knight of the honourable order of + the Garter, one of the Queenes Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell + &c. William Malim wisheth long health with increase of honour. + +It hath bene a naturall instinct (right honourable and mine especiall good +lord) ingraffed in noble personages hearts, much approued and confirmed +also by custome, for them to seeke from time to time, by some meanes in +their life, by the which they after their death might deliuer ouer their +name to their posteritie: least otherwise with their body, their fame also +altogether might perchance be buried. Vpon the which consideration we reade +many notable and famous things to haue bene erected in time past of noble +personages (hauing had wealth at will) in such sort, that not onely +certaine ruines of the same sumptuous works, builded so many hundred yeres +past, do still remaine, but also the most part of those princes, the +authours of them, do continually by them dwell in our memories. As the +Pyramides made at Memphis, or neere the famous riuer of Nilus, by the great +expenses of the kings of Egypt: the tower called Pharia, made in the Iland +of Pharos by king Ptolomee: the walles of Babylon, made or at least +reedified by queene Semiramis; Dianas church at Ephesus builded by all the +noble persons of Asia; Mausolus toome or sepulchre, made by his wife queene +of Caria: Colossus Solis placed at Rhodes, I remember not by what Princes +charge, but made by the hands of Cares Lindius scholar to Lysippus: and the +image of Iupiter, made of Yuory by the hands of the skilful workman +Phydias. The which monuments made of barbarous and heathen Princes to +redeeme themselues from obliuion deserued both for the magnificence, and +perfect workmanship of the same, to be accounted in those dayes as the +seuen woonders of the world. Since the which time, an easier, readier, and +lighter way, being also of more continuance then the former, hath bene +found out, namely, Letters, which were first inuented by the Caldies and +Egyptians, as we reade, and augmented since by others, to our great +benefit, and now last of all (no long time past) the same to haue bene +committed to Printers presses, to the greatest perfection of the same; men +being first inforced to write their actes and monuments in beasts skinnes +dried, in barkes of trees, or otherwise perchance as vnreadily. By the +which benefit of letters (now reduced into print) we see how easie a thing +it is and hath bene for noble persons, to liue for euer by the helpe of +learned men. For the memory of those two woorthy and valiant captaines +Scipio and Hannibal had bene long before this present quite forgotten, +except Titus Liuius, or some such learned Historiographer had written of +them in time. And Alexander Magnus himselfe that great conquerour had +nothing beene spoken of, had not Q. Curtius, or some other like by his +learned stile reuiued the remembrance of him, and called backe his doings +to his posteritie. For the which cause we see commonly, in all ages learned +men to be much made of by noble personages, as that rare paterne of +learning Aristotle to haue bene greatly honoured of that former renowmed +Monarch Alexander: who affirmed openly, that he was more bound to his +Master Aristotle, then to king Philip his father, because the one had well +framed his minde, the other onely his body. Many other like examples I +could alledge at this present, if I knew not vnto whom I now wrote, or in +what: for your honour being skilfull in histories, and so familiarly +acquainted with the matter it selfe, that is in still entertaining learned +men with all curtesie, I should seeme to light a candle at noone tide, to +put you in remembrance of the one, or to exhort you to doe the other, dayly +being accustomed to performe the same. Crassus sayth in Tullies first +booke, De Oratore: that a Lawyer's house is the oracle of the whole citie. +But I can iustly witnesse, that for these fiue yeeres last past, since my +returne from my trauell beyond the seas, that your lodging in the Court +(where I through your vndeserued goodnesse to my great comfort do dayly +frequent) hath bene a continuall receptacle or harbour for all learned men +comming from both the eyes of the realme, Cambridge, and Oxford (of the +which Vniuersity your lordship is Chanceller) to their great satisfaction +of minde, and ready dispatch of their sutes. Especially for Preachers and +Ministers of true religion: of the which you haue beene from time to time +not onely a great fauourer, but an earnest furtherer, and protectour: so +that these two nurseries of learning (in one of the which I haue before +this spent part of my time, that I may speake boldly what I thinke) should +wrong your honour greatly, and much forget themselues, if by all meanes +possible they should not heerafter (as at this present to their smal powers +many well learned gentlemen of them do) labour and trauell in shewing of +themselues thankefull, to reuerence and honour your lordship, and honest +their owne names: whose studies certeinly would suddenly decay and fall +flat, if they were not held vp by such noble proppes, and had not some sure +ankerholds in their distresse to leane vnto. How ready dayly your trauell +is, and hath long beene besides to benefit all other persons, in whom any +sparke of vertue or honesty remaineth, I need not labour to expresse, the +world knowing already the same. But whosoeuer they be, that in all their +life time haue an especiall care by all meanes to profit as many as they be +able, and hurt none, do not onely a laudable act, but leade a perfect and +very godly life. Whereupon Strabo affirmeth this most truely to be spoken +of them: Mortales tum demum Deum imitari, cum benefici fuerint. That is, +Mortall men then specially to follow the nature of God, when they are +beneficiall and bountifull to others. Great commendation vndoubtedly it +bringeth to any noble personage, that as the Moone, that light and +brightness which she receiueth of the Sun, is wont presently to spread +abroad upon the face of the earth, to the refreshing and comforting all +inferiour and naturall things bearing life: so for him, to bestow all that +fauour and credit, which he hath gotten at the princes handes, to the helpe +and reliefe of the woorthy and needy. Great is the force (my right +honourable lord) of true vertue, which causeth men, as Tully writeth in his +booke De Amicitia, to be loued and honoured oft of those persons, which +neuer saw them. [Sidenote: Master Malim at Constantinople 1564.] Whereof I +neuer had better proofe (I take God and mine one conscience to witnesse, +the which I declared also to certaine of my friends assone as I returned) +then at my last being at Constantinople, in the yere of our Lord 1564, +whereas I oft resorting (as occasion serued) to the right honorable +Christian ambassadors, while I made my abode there (namely vnto Monsieur +Antonio Petrimol, lieger there for the French king, Sig. M. Victor +Bragadino, for the segniory of Venice, Sig. Lorenzo Giustiniano, for the +state of Scio, or Chios, and Sig. Albertacio delli Alberti, for the duke of +Florence) heard them often report and speake very honourably of your +lordship, partly for your other good inclinations of nature, but especially +for your liberality, and courteous intreating of diuers of their friends +and countrymen, which vpon sundry occasions had bene here in this our +realme. So that to conclude, all men iustly fauour your honourable dealings +and deserts: and I for my part haue reuerenced and honoured the same +euermore both here at home, and elswhere abroad, wishing often to haue had +some iust occasion to pay part of that in good will, which my slender +abilitie will neuer suffer me fully to discharge. For vnto whom should I +sooner present any thing any way, especially concerning matters done +abroad, then vnto your lordship, by whom I was much cherished abroad in my +trauell, and mainteined since my returne here at home? For the which cause +I haue enterprised (hoping greatly of your lordships fauour herein) to +clothe and set forth a few Italian newes in our English attire, being first +mooued thereunto by the right worshipfull M. D. Wilson Master of her +Maiesties Requests, your honours assured trusty friend, a great and +painfull furtherer of learning, whom I, and many other for diuers respects +ought to reuerence: who remembring that I had bene at Cyprus, was willing +that my pen should trauell about the Christian and Turkish affaires, which +there lately haue happened: perswading himselfe, that somewhat thereby I +might benefit this our natiue countrey. Against whose reasonable motion I +could not greatly wrestle, hazzarding rather my slender skill in attempting +and performing this his requested taske, then he through my refusall should +seeme to want any iot of my good will. In offering vp the which newes, +although I shall present no new thing to your honour, because you are so +well acquainted with the Italian copy, as I know: yet I trust your lordship +will not mislike, that the same which is both pleasant to reade, and so +necessary to be knowen for diuers of our captaines and other our +countreymen, which are ignorant in the Italian tongue, may thus now shew it +selfe abroad, couered vnder the wing of your lordships protection. +Certeinly it mooueth me much to remember the losse of those three notable +Ilands, to the great discomfort of all Christendome, to those hellish +Turkes, horseleeches of Christian blood: [Sidenote: Rhodes lost.] namely +Rhodes besieged on S. Iohn Baptists day, and taken on Iohns day the +Euangelist, being the 27 of December 1522. [Sidenote: Scio lost.] Scio or +Chios being lost since my being there, taken of Piali Basha with 80 +gallies, the 17 of April 1566. [Sidenote: Cyprus lost.] And now last or all +not only Famagusta the chiefe holde and fortresse in Cyprus to haue bene +lost of the Venetians the 15 of August last past 1571 (the chiefe gouernors +and captaines of them being hewen in sunder by the commandement of that +tyrant Mustafa Basha) but all the whole Iland also to be conquered by those +cruell Turks, ancient professed enemies to all Christian religion. In the +which euill successe (comming to vs as I take it for our offences) as I +lament the generall losse: so I am surely pensiue to vnderstand by this too +true a report of the vile death of two particular noble gentlemen of +Venice, Sig. M. Lorenzo Tiepolo, and Sig. M. Giouanni Antonio Querini: of +both the which I in my trauaile was very courteously vsed, the former of +them being then (as now also he was in this ouerthrow) gouernour of Baffo +in Cyprus, the other captaine of one of the castels at Corcyra in Greece, +now called Corfu. But things past are past amendment, and they could neuer +die more honourably, then in the defence of their countrey. Besides that +the late blowes, which the Turks haue receiued since this their fury, in +token of Gods wrath against them, do much comfort euery Christian heart. +Moreouer this uniforme preparation which is certainly concluded, and +forthwith looked for, by very many Christian Princes (would God by all +generally) against these barbarous Mahometists: whose cruelty and beastly +behauiour I partly know, and am able to iudge of, hauing bene in Turky +amongst them more than eight moneths together. Whose vnfaithfulnesse also +and breach of promise, as the Venetians manly courage in defence of +themselues, and their fortresse, your honour may easily reade in this short +treatise and small handfull of leaues, I hauing set downe also a short +description of the Iland of Cyprus, for the better vnderstanding of the +whole matter. The which I not onely must humbly beseech your honour now +fauourably to accept as an earnest peny of more to come, and of my present +good will: but with your accustomed goodnesse toward me, to defend the same +against such persons, whose tongues too readily roule sometime against +other mens painfull trauells, perswading themselues to purchase the sooner +some credit of learning with the ruder sort, by controlling and ouerdaintie +sifting of other mens laboured tasks, for I know in all ages to be found as +well Basilisks as Elephants. Thus nothing doubting of your ready ayd +herein, as I assuredly trust of your honours fauourable acceptation of this +my poore present, wishing long life with the increase of Gods holy spirit +to your lordship and to all your most honourable familie (vnto whom I haue +wholly dedicated my selfe by mine owne choise and election for euer) I, +crauing pardon for my former boldnesse, most humbly thus take my leaue. +From Lambhith the 23 of March. Ann. 1572. + +Your honours most humble and faithfull seruant for euer, William Malim. + + +A briefe description of the Iland of Cyprus: by the which not onely the + Venetians title why they haue so long enioyed it, but also the Turks, + whereby now he claimeth it, may plainly appeare. + +The Iland of Cyprus is inuironed with diuers seas: for Westward it is +washed with the sea called Pamphilium: Southward, with the sea Ęgyptum: on +the East part, with the sea Syrium: and Northward, with the sea called +Cilicium. The which Iland in time past had diuers names: called once +Acamantis, as Sabellicus witnesseth. Philonides maketh mention, that it was +called sometime Cerasis. Xenogoras writeth, that it was named Aspelia, +Amathusa, and Macaria. There were in times past fifteene cities or famous +townes in it, but now very few, amongst the which Famagusta is the chiefest +and strongest, situated by the sea side. There is also Nicosia, which was +woont, by the traffike of marchants, to be very wealthy: besides the city +of Baffo, Arnica, Saline, Limisso, Melipotamo, and Episcopia. Timosthenes +affirmeth, that this Iland is in compasse 429 miles and Arthemidorus +writeth the length of the same to be 162 miles, measuring of it from the +East to the West, betwixt two promontories named Dinaretta and Acamanta. +This Iland is thought to be very rich, abundant of Wine, Oile, Graine, +Pitch, Rozin, Allum, Salt, and of diuers precious stones, pleasant, +profitable, and necessary for mans vse, and much frequented of Marchants of +Syria, vnto the which it lieth very nere. It hath bene, as Plinie writeth, +ioyned sometime with Syria, as Sicilia hath beene also with Italy. It was a +long time subiect vnto the Romans, after to the Persians, and to the Soldan +of Ęgypt. The selfe same Iland was sometime also English, being conquered +by king Richard the first, in his voyage to Hierusalem in the yeere of our +Lord 1192. Who (as Polydore writeth in his fourteenth booke of our English +historie) being prohibited by the Cypriottes from arriual there, inuaded +and conquered the same soone after by force: and hauing left behinde him +sufficient garrisons to keepe the same, departed from thence to Ptolemayda: +who afterward exchanged the same with Guy of Lusignan, that was the last +christened king of Hierusalem, for the same kingdome. For the which cause +the kings of England were long time after called kings of Hierusalem. And +last of all, the Venetians haue enioyed it of late a long time, in this +order following. In the yeere of our Lord 1476, Iohn king of the said +Iland, sonne to Ianus of Lusignan, had by Helen his wife, which was of the +Emperiall house of Paleologus, one daughter only called Charlotta, and a +bastard called Iames: the which Iames was afterward consecrated Bishop of +Nicosia. This Charlotta was married first to the king of Portingall, of +whom he had no issue, so that he being dead, Lewes Duke of Sauoy (to whom +shee was the second time married) sonne to Lewes the second of that name +(vnto whom the said Iland by the right of this his wife Charlotta did +appertaine) had the possession of the same. Iames the bastard assoone as +his father was dead, of a bishop became a souldiour, and with an army wanne +the Iland, making it his owne by force. This Duke of Sauoy hearing these +newes, with a number of well appointed souldiers, arriued shortly after in +Cyprus, and recouering againe the Iland, compelled the bastard to flie +forthwith ouer to the Soldan of Ęgypt. Who making himselfe his subiect, in +time so wrought and tempered the matter, that the Soldan in person at his +request passed ouer into Cyprus, besieged Duke Lewes in the castle of +Nicosia, and at length compelled him to depart, leauing his kingdome. So +that this Bishop became againe King of this Iland: who shortly after +cleauing to the Venetians hauing made a league of friendship with them, +married by their consent one Catherina the daughter of Marco Cornaro, which +Catherin the Senate of Venice adopted vnto them soone after as their +daughter. This Bishop not long after sickened, and died, leauing this his +wife with child, who liued not long after his fathers death. By the which +meanes the Venetians making themselues the next heires to Catherina by the +law of adoption, tooke vnto them the possession of this kingdome, and haue +kept and enioyed the same almost this hundred yeeres. Now this great Turke +called Sultan Selim in the right of the Soldan of Ęgypt, whom his +grandfather (called also Sultan Selim) conquered, pretendeth a right title +vnto it, and now, as you may vnderstand by reading of this short Treatise, +hath by conquest obtained the same. Whom I pray the euerliuing God, if it +be his holy will, shortly to root out from thence. + + +To the Reader. + +I am not ignorant (gentle Reader) how hard a matter it is for any one man +to write that, which should please and satisfie all persons, we being +commonly of so diuers opinions and contrary iudgements: againe Tully +affirmeth it to be a very difficult thing, to finde out any matter which in +his owne kinde may be in all respects perfect. Wherefore I trust by your +owne iudgement I ought of reason to be the sooner pardoned (my translation +being precisely tied to mine authours meaning) if anything herein besides +be thought to be wanting: I haue learned by the way how comberous a thing +it is to turne the selfe same matter out of the Italian language into our +countrey speech. But who so doeth what he possibly can is bound to no more. +And I now at the request of others (who put me in minde, that I was not +onely borne vnto my selfe) haue accomplished that in the ende, which I +promised and was required. With what paine and diligence, I referre me to +them which are skilfull in the Italian tongue, or may the better iudge, if +it please them to trie the same, casting aside this exampler. I speake it +not arrogantly, I take God to witnesse: but mens painefull trauels ought +not lightly to be condemned: nor surely at any time are woont to be of the +learned, or discreet. By whose gentle acceptation if these my present +doings be now supported, I will perswade my selfe that I haue reaped +sufficient fruit of my trauell. Vnto whome with all my heart I wish +prosperous successe in all their affaires. + +Ann. Dom. 1572. W. M. + + +In Turchas precatio. + + Summe Deus, succurre tuis, miseresce tuorum, + Et subeat gentis te noua cura tuę. + Quem das tantorum finem, Rex magne, laborum? + In nos vibrabit tela quośsque Sathan? + Antč Rhodum, max indč Chium, nunc denique Cyprum, + Turcharum cepit sanguinolenta manus. + Mustafa foedifragus partes grassatur in omnes, + Et Veneta Cypriam strage cruentat humum. + Nec finem imponit sceleri, mollituč furorem, + Nec nisi potato sanguine pastus abit. + Qualis, quę nunquam nisi plena tuménsque cruore + Sanguisuga obsessam mittit hirudo cutem. + Torturam sequitur tortura, cruorque cruorem, + Et cędem admissam cędis alius amor. + Sęuit inops animi, nec vel se temperat ipse, + Vel manus indomitum nostra domare potest. + At tu, magne Pater, tumidum disperde Tyrannum, + Nec sine mactari semper ouile tuum. + Exulet hoc monstrum, ne sanguine terra redundet. + Excutiįntque nouum Cypria regna iugum. + Et quod Christicolę foedns pepigere Monarchę, + Id faustum nobis omnibus esse velis. + Tu pagna illorum pugnas, et bella secundes. + Captiuósque tibi subde per arma Scythas. + Sic tua per totum fundetur gloria mundum, + Vnus sic Christus fiet, et vna fides. + +Gulielmus Malim. + + +The true report of all the successe of Famagusta, made by the Earle Nestor + Martiningo, vnto the renowmed Prince the Duke of Venice. + +The sixteenth day of February, 1571, [Footnote: In Italy and other places +the date of the yere of the Lord is alwayes changed the first of Ianuary, +or on New yeres day, and from that day reckoned vpon: although wee heere in +England, especially the temporall lawyers for certaine causes are not woont +to alter the same vntill the Annunciation of our Ladie.] the fleet which +had brought the ayde vnto Famagusta, departed from thence, whereas were +found in all the army, but foure thousand footmen, eight hundred of them +chosen souldiers, and three thousand (accounting the Citizens and other of +the Villages) the rest two hundred in number were souldiers of Albania. +After the arriuall of the which succour, the fortification of the City went +more diligently forward of all hands, then it did before, the whole +garison, the Grecian Citizens inhabiting the Towne, the Gouernours and +Captaines not withdrawing themselues from any kinde of labour, for the +better incouragement and good example of others, both night and day +searching the watch, to the intent with more carefull heed taking they +might beware of their enemies, against whom they made no sally out of the +City to skirmish but very seldome, especially to vnderstand when they might +learne the intent of the enemies. Whilest we made this diligent prouision +within the Citie, the Turks without made no lesse preparation of all things +necessary, fit to batter the fortresse withall, as in bringing out of +Caramania and Syria with all speed by the Sea, many wool packs, a great +quantitie of wood and timber, diuers pieces of artillery, engins, and other +things expedient for their purpose. + +At the beginning of April Halli Basha landed there with fourscore gallies +or thereabout in his company, who brought thither that, which of our +enemies was desired, who soone after departing from thence, and leauing +behinde him thirty gallies, which continually transported souldiers, +munition, fresh victuals, and necessaries, besides a great number of +Caramusalins, [Footnote: Carumusalini be vessels like vnto the French +Gabards, sailing dayly vpon the riuer of Bordeaux, which saile with a mizen +or triangle saile.] or Brigandines, great Hulkes called Maones, [Footnote: +Maone be vessels like vnto the great hulks, which come hither from +Denmarke, some of the which cary 7 or 8 hundred tunnes a piece, flat and +broad, which saile some of them with seuen misens a piece.] and large broad +vessels termed of them Palandrie, [Footnote: Palandrie be great flat +vessels made like Feriboats to transport horse.] which continually passed +to and fro between Cyprus and Syria, and other places thereabout, which +they did with great speed, standing in feare of the Christian army. And +about the middest of the same moneth the Turkes caused to be brought out of +the Citie of Nicosia, [Footnote: Nicosia, otherwise called Licosia.] which +they had wonne a little before, fifteene pieces of artillery, and raising +their army from whence they were before, making ditches and trenches +necessary, incamped themselues in gardens, and towards the West part of +Famagusta neere a place called Precipola. + +The fiue and twentieth day of the same moneth they raised vp mounts to +plant their artillery vpon, and caused trenches to be made for +harquebuzers, one very nigh another, approaching still very neere the +Citie, in such order, as was almost impossible to stay the same, fortie +thousand of their Pioners continually labouring there the most part of all +the night The intent of the enemie being then knowen, and in what part of +the Citie he minded most to plant his battery, we tooke diligent heed on +the other part, to repaire and fortifie all places necessary within. For +the which cause wee placed a great watch in that way, which was couered +with a counterscharfe, and in the sallies of their priuy. Posternes, for +the defence of the said counterscharfe, there were new flanckers made, also +Trauerses called Butterisses made vpon the Cortaine, with one trench of +Turues two foot high and broad, the which was made on that side of the wall +of the Citie, which was already battered with the shot of the Turkes, with +certaine loopes holes for our Harquebuzers, by the which they defended the +counterscharfe. Two noble personages Bragadino and Baglione [Footnote: Sig. +Bragadino was Proueditore, that is, Gouernour, and Sig. Baglione Generall +of the Christian armie.] personally tooke this charge on them, by the which +meanes the Christian affaires passed in very good order. All the bread for +our Souldiours was made in one storehouse, of the which noble gentleman +Lorenzo Tiepolo captaine of Baffo [Footnote: Baffo of the ancient writers +named Paphos, in the which Citie there was a sumptuous Church dedicated to +Venus.] had charge, who refused no paine, where thought his trauell might +preuaile. In the castle was placed that famous gentleman Andrea Bragadino, +who with a diligent gard had charge on that part of the castle principally, +next vnto the sea side, trimming and digging out new flanckers for the +better defence of the Arsenall. [Footnote: Arsenall in Constantinople and +Venice is the place for munition and artillery to lie in.] + +A valiant knight named Foito was appointed Master of the Ordinance, who was +slain within few dayes after in a skirmish, whose garrison the noble +Bragadino Proueditore before named presently deliuered ouer to me. Three +other captaines were appointed ouer the wilde-fire with twentie footmen for +euery one of them, chosen out of the armie, to vse and execute the same as +occasion should serue. The best pieces of Ordinance were brought foorth +vnto that side of the towne, where the battery was looked for to be made: +and they made priuy fences to couer the better their cannon shot withall. +There was no want in the Christians to annoy their enemies in issuing often +out of euery side against them, as well to hinder their determinations, as +to hurt them otherwise at diuers times. They also rendered to vs the like. +For three hundred of the inhabitants of Famagusta one time issuing out of +the citie, armed onely with their swords and targets, with so many Italian +Harquebuzers also in their company, receiued great dammage, because the +trenches of the enemies were made about so thicke, although at the same +present wee compelled them to flie, and slew also many of them: yet they +increased to such number, that they killed presently thirty, and hurt there +threescore of our company. For the which cause order was taken, that our +men should no more come forth of their holde, committing themselues to +manifest perill to bid their enemies the base. + +The Turkes in processe of time by little and little with their trenches, +came at length to the toppe of the counterscharfe, and hauing furnished +their forts the nineteenth day of May, began their battery with ten forts, +hauing threescore and foureteene pieces of great artillery within their +custody, amongst the which there were four Basilikes (for so they terme +them) of an immeasurable greatnesse, and began to batter from the gate +Limisso vnto the Arsenall, and layed fiue batteries against the towne, the +one against the great high Turret of the Arsenall, which was battered with +fiue pieces of Ordinance mounted vpon that fort of the rocke, the other +against the Cortaine it selfe of the Arsenall, battered by one fort with +eleuen pieces: another against the Keepe of Andruzzi with two commanders, +or caualiers, which were aboue with one fort of eleuen other pieces: +another battery against the Turret of S. Nappa, the which was battered with +foure Basilisks. The gate of Limisso, which had one high commander or +caualier alone, and a Brey and Cortaine without was battered by the forts +with three and thirty pieces of artillery, whereas Mustafa himselfe +Generall of the Turkes army tooke the charge in person. At the first they +seemed not to care much to spoile the walles, but shot still into the city, +and against our Ordinance, which greatly galled them. Whereupon they, who +were within the city, as well our souldiers as the Grecians, assoone as the +battery began, withdrawing themselues, came and dwelt by the walles of the +citie, whereas they continued from that time to the end of the siege. The +noble Bragadino lodged in the Keepe of Andruzzi, Baglioni in that ward of +S. Nappa. The honourable Tiepolo in that which was called Campo Santo. +Wherefore they being present at all that was done, both encouraged, and +punished the souldiers according to their deserts. The right worshipfull +Luigi Martiningo was appointed chiefe ouer the Ordinance, who answering all +mens expectation of him, with great courage diuided the charge thereof vnto +sixe other inferiour captaines, who tooke order and care for that company, +and for the prouision of things necessary for the gunners: one company of +the Grecians being appointed to euery gate of the Citie for to attend vpon +the seruice of the artillery. The valiant captaine Francesco Bagone warded +at the Keepe, and at the great Commander of the Arsenall. Captaine Pietro +Conte attended the Cortaine, at the Commander of the Volti, and at the +Keepe of Campo Santo. I for my part attended vpon the Commander of Campo +Santo, and vpon the Commander of Andruzzi, and of the Cortaine, vnto the +Turret of Santa Nappa. The Earle Hercole Martiningo attended vpon the +Commander of Santa Nappa, and to the whole Cortaine, vnto the gate of +Limisso. Horatio Captaine of Veletri attended vpon the Brey and Cortaine, +toward the Bulwarke. Vpon the high Commander of Limisso, which was more +troubled then all the rest, attended the Captaine Roberto Maluezzi. At the +same time, when the battery began (by the commission of the honourable +Bragadino) victuals were appointed, and giuen to all the souldiers, as well +Grecians, as Italians, and Gunners: namely Wine, Pottage, Cheese, and +Bakon: all the which things were brought to the walks as heed did require +in very good order, so that no souldier there spent anymore in bread than +two souses a day. [Marginal note: Two Venetian souses or Soldi amount but +to one peny English.] They were payed at the end of euery thirty dayes with +the great trauell of that right worshipfull Venetian gentleman M. Giouanni +Antonio Querini, who besides this his ordinary charge was found present in +all weighty and dangerous affaires to the great incouragement of our +souldiers. And wee make a counterbattery against our enemies for ten dayes +space, with so great rage, that we choked and destroyed fifteene of their +best pieces, also we killed and dispatched of them about thirty thousand at +that season, so that they were disappointed at that time, of their battery +in that place, and were greatly dismayed. But we forseeing that we had no +great store of powder left, there was made a restraint, and such order +taken, that thirty, pieces should not shoot off but thirty shot a piece +euery day, and that in the presence of the Captaines, who were still +present, because the Souldiers and Gunners should not shoot off in vaine. + +The nine and twentieth day of May there came towards vs from Candia a +Fregat or Pinnace, the which giuing vs great hope and lightening of ayde, +encreased maruellously euery mans courage. The Turks with great trauell and +slaughter of both sides, had woone at the last the counterscharfe from vs, +with great resistance and mortalitie on both parts. Whereupon they began on +the other side of the fift battery to fill vp the ditch, with the earth +that they threw downe, which was taken neere the wall of the +counterscharfe. But all that earth and falling downe of the wall made by +the shot of their artillery, was carried away of vs within the city, all +our company labouring continually as well by night as day, vntil our +enemies had made certaine loope-holes in the wall, thorow the which they +flancking and scouring all the ditch with their harquebussie, stopped our +former course of carying, or going that way any more, without certaine and +expresse danger. But M. Gioanni Marmori, a fortifier, had deuised a +certaine kinde of ioyned boords, the which being caried of the souldiers, +defended them from the shot of the harquebuzers, so that some other +quantity of earth, but no great store, was caried also away: in the which +place this foresayd fortifier was slaine, who had done especiall good +seruice in all our necessary affaires. And our enemies hauing cast so much +earth into the ditch, as filled it vp againe, and made it a firme way to +the wall of the counterscharfe, and casting before them the earth by little +and little, they made one trauerse euen vnto the wall on two sides in all +their batteries, the which they made thicke and strong with woolpacks; and +other fagots, to assure themselues the better of our flanckers. + +When they had once possessed the ditch, that they could not be hurt of vs +but by chance, they began foorthwith to cast and digge out vndermines to +vndermine the Brey, the Turret of Santa Nappa, the Commander of Andruzzi, +the Keepe of Campo Santo, the Cortaine, and the Turrion of the Arsenatl: so +that being able no longer to serue our turne and inioy those fewe +flanckers, we threw downe wilde-fire into our enemies campe, the which +annoyed them very sore, because it fired their woolpacks, and also their +fagots. And for the better encouragement of the souldiers, the right +honorable Bragadino gaue to euery souldier one duckat, the which could +gaine or recouer any of the former woolpackes, making countermines in all +places. To the which charge Maggio the fortifier knight was appointed, who +in all our businesse serued with such diligence and courage, as he was +able, or was requisite. But the countermines met not, sauing those of the +Commander of S. Nappa, of Andruzzi, and that of Campo Santo, because they +were open, and our men sallied out often both by day and night into the +ditch to perceiue better the way of the mines, and to fire the fagots and +wooll. Nor we ceassed at any time through the vnspeakable trauell of the +Lord Baglione (who had the ouersight of all these matters) to trouble our +enemies intents, by all maner of wit and policie, diuiding the companies +for the batteries, ioyning and planting in all places a garrison of the +Albanois [Footnote: Albanois souldiers, souldiers of Albania, otherwise +called Epirus, who commonly serue the Venetians both on horsebacke and +foot, very skilfull and painfull.] souldiers, who as well on foot as on +horsebacke, shewed always notable courage and manhood. + + +The first assault. + +The one and twentieth day of Iune they put fire to the mine of the Turret +of the Arsenall, whereas Giambelat Bey took charge, who with great ruine +rent in sunder a most great and thicke wall, and so opened the same, that +he threw downe more then halfe thereof, breaking also one part of the +vaimure, made before to vpholde the assault. And suddenly a great number of +the Turkes skipping vpon the ruines thereof, displayed their Ensignes, euen +to the toppe of the same. Captain Pietro Conte with his company was in that +ward, the which was much shaken and terrified by that sudden ruine. I with +my company came first thither, so that they shortly tooke the repulse, and +although they refreshed themselues with new supplies fiue or sixe times, +yet they failed of their purpose. There fought personally the Lord +Baglione: Bragadino and Querini [Footnote: Of this noble and painfull +Venetian gentleman M. Gio. Antonio Querini (who was afterwardes hewed in +sunder by the commandement of Mustafa) I was entertained very courteously +in my trauell at Corcyra, now called Corfu, he being then there Mag. +Castellano or Captaine of one of the Castles.] being armed stood not farre +off to refresh and comfort our Souldiours, and the Captaine of the Castell +with the Ordinance, that was planted vpon the Butteries, destroyed many of +our enemies, when they gaue the assault, the which endured fiue houres +together: so that of Turkes were slaine very many, and of our side betweene +them that were slaine and hurt one hundred: most part of the which number +were cast away by a mischance of our wilde-fire, the which being +vnaduisedly and negligently handled, burnt vp many of our owne company. +There died at that present the Earle Gio. Francesco Goro, the Captaine +Barnardino Agubio: and by the throwing of stones Hercole Malatesta, +Captaine Pietro Conte, with other Captaines and Standerd-bearers, were very +sore hurt. + +[Sidenote: In extremities men haue no regard to spare trifles.] The night +following arriued in Cyprus a Pinasse from Candia, which bringing newes of +most certaine ayde, greatly increased both the mirth and courage of vs all, +so that we made soone after, with the helpe of the Captaine Marco +Criuellatore, and Maggio the knight, certain retreats flancked to all the +places beaten downe, and whereas they suspected that the enemy had digged +up any mines, with hogheads, Chests, Tikes, and Sacks stuffed full of moist +earth (the Grecians with all speed hauing already brought almost all that +which they had) because their hauing dispatched their Canueis about +necessary vses, they brought their hangings, cortaines, carpets, euen to +their very sheets, to make and stuffe vp their foresayd sacks, a very good +and ready way to make vp againe their vaimures, the which were throwen +downe with the fury of the artillery, which neuer stinted, so that we made +vp againe still that in the night, the which was throwen downe and broken +in the day, sleeping very seldome: [Footnote: Prouident and carefull +gouernours or magistrates seldome sleepe all the night at any time, much +lesse in dangerous seasons.] all the souldiers standing alwayes vpon the +walles, visited continually of the Gouernors of the Citie, which slept at +no time, but in the extreame heat of the day, hauing no other time to take +their rest, because the enemie was at hand giuing vs continually alarmes, +not suffering vs long to breath. + + +The second assault. + +The nine and twentieth day of the same moneth they set the mine made +towards the Brey on fire, the which mine was digged in stone, which brake +and cleft all things in pieces, and caused great ruine, making an easie way +for the enemy to assault vs, who with an outragious fury came to the toppe, +whereas Mustafa their General was altogether present, which assault was +receiued, and stayed at the beginning [Footnote: A small thing at the +beginning, or in due time done, helpeth much.] of the Earle Hercole +Martiningo with his garrison, and so were repulsed by our company, who +fought without any aduantage of couert, the vaimure being throwen downe by +the mine. There were slaine of our company Captaine Meani the Serieant +Maior of our armie, Captaine Celio de Fuochi, Captaine Erasmo da Fermo: and +Captaine Soldatello, Antonio d'Ascoli, Captain Gio. d'Istria, Standerd +bearers, with many other officers, were sore wounded, there died also 30 +other of our common souldiers. At the Arsenall they were beaten backe with +greater dammage of our enemies, and small hurt to vs. Fiue onely of our +part being slaine there, whereas Captaine Giacomo de Fabriano also was +killed, and I was wounded in my left legge with an harquebush shot. The +which assault continued sixe houres, the Bishop of Limisso standing vp +there, incouraging the Souldiours. Where also were found present stout +women, [Footnote: That certaine women inhabiting this Iland be viragos, or +mankind, I saw sufficient triall at my last being there, in a city called +Saline.] who came thither with weapons, stones, and water, to help the +Souldiours. Our enemies vnderstanding how great hinderance they had +receiued at these two assaults, changed their mindes, and began againe with +greater fury than euer they had before accustomed to lay battery to all +places, and into our retreats, so that they labouring more speedily then +euer they did, made seuen other forts more, vnder the castle, and taking +away the artillery from them which was farther off, planting of it somewhat +neerer, to the number of fourescore, they battered the holde with so great +rage, that on the eighth day of Iuly, with the same night also were numbred +fiue thousand Canon shot, and after that sort they ouerthrew to the ground +the vaimures, that scarsely with great trauell and paine we could repaire +them againe, because our men that laboured about them were continually +slaine by their Ordinance, and by reason of the endlesse tempest of the +shot of their Harquebuzers. And our men beganne to decrease. For the Turkes +caused vs to retire from our Breyes, by the violence of their artillery and +mining, in such sort, that there being no more standing left for our +Souldiours, because we making our vaimures more thicke, our standing began +to waxe narrower, the which presently we of necessitie enlarged with boords +as a scaffolde to the vaimure, whereby we might haue more elbow room to +fight. Captain Maggio also made one mine vnder the sayd Brey, to the +intent, that we being not able any longer to keepe it, the same might be +left to our enemies to their great hinderance. [Footnote: It is accounted a +good warlike shift, to leaue that to our enemies with hinderance, which we +can not any longer keepe, and vse to our owne commodity.] + + +The third assault. + +To the sayd Brey the ninth day of Iuly they gaue the third assault to the +Turrion of Santa Nappa, to that of Andruzzi, to the Cortaine, to the Keepe +of the Arsenall: the which assault hauing continued more then sixe houres, +they were beaten backe in foure places, but we left the Brey to their great +losse, and ours also: because we being assaulted, our company being not +able to mannage their pikes in good order, by reason of the narrownesse of +the standing where they were, being willing to retire in that order, as the +L. Baglione had prescribed vnto them, and could not, cast themselues at the +last into a confuse order, and retired, they being mingled amongst the +Turks: so that fire being giuen to our mine, the same (with a terrible +sight to beholde) slew presently of our enemies more then one thousand, and +aboue one hundred of vs. There was slaine Roberto Maluezzi, and Captaine +Marchetto de Fermo was grieuously wounded. At the assault of the Arsenall +was slaine Captaine Dauid Noce master of the campe, and I myself was hurt +by the racing of a cannon shot. This assault continued fiue houres, and the +Citizens of Famagusta shewed great courage in euery place, with their women +also, and yoong striplings. The Brey was so defaced by reason of this mine +set on fire, that no body any more attempted to recouer the same, because +there was no apt place remaining to stay vpon. The left flancker onely +remained still, whereas another mine was made. The gate of Limisso was ouer +against this foresayd Brey, and somewhat lower, which was alwayes open, +hauing made to the same a Portall, with a Percollois annexed to it, the +which Percollois by the cutting of a small cord, was a present defence to +the gate, and our Souldiours gaue their attendance by that gate to bring in +the battered earth, which fell in the ditches from the rampaire: and when +they saw that their enemies in foure dayes came not thither, they beganne +to entrench aboue the Brey, and by the flanckers aboue they suffered no +person to passe out of the gate, the which thing brought great suspition +vnto our enemies, because they were often times assailed of our company. + + +The fourth assault. + +Wherefore they came to the foureteenth day of Iuly to assault the gate of +Limisso, and laying their battery to all other places, they came and +planted their Ensignes euen before the gate, whereas the L. Baglione, and +Sig. Luigi were in readinesse, who had taken vpon them to defend that gate +of the Citie. Who assoone as they had encouraged their Souldiours, +[Footnote: The forwardnesse of the captaine at dangerous times not only +much comforteth the common souldier, but also increaseth greatly his credit +and commendation with all men.] sallying swiftly foorth, killed, and put to +flight the greater part of them, and at the last giuing fire to the mine of +the flancker slew foure hundred Turkes, and Sig. Baglione at the same time +woon an Ensigne of our enemies, wrasting it violently out of one of the +Ensigne bearers hands. The day following they gaue fire to the mine of the +cortaine, the which thing not falling out greatly to their purpose, they +followed not their prepared assault. Wherefore they beganne to fortifie, +and aduance higher their trauerses in the ditches, for their better +assurance against they should giue the assault: and they had emptied and +carried away all the earth neere vnto the counterskarfe, where they lodged +in their pauillions, so that we could not descrie them. They shot seuen +pieces of artillery vpon the wall of the counterscharfe so couertly, that +they were not seene: two from the Brey of the Turrion of Santa Nappa, one +from Andruzzi, and two other all along the battery of the Cortaine. And +they came with certaine boordes couered with rawe and greene hides, vnder +which they brought their men to digge in the vaimures, we being nothing +behinde or forgetfull to cast wilde-fire amongst them, and sometime to +issue foorth of our sallies called Posternes, to offend their Pioners, +although to our great hindrance. And we still repaired the vaimures by all +meanes possible, with Buffe skins, being moist and wet, throwing in also +earth, shreads, and cotton with water, being well bound together with +cordes: all the women of Famagusta gathering themselues together into +companies in euery street (being guided of one of their Monkes called +Caloiero) resorted daily to a certaine place appointed to labour, gathering +and prouiding for the souldiers, stones and water, the which was kept for +all assaults in halfe buts to quench the fire, which the Turks threw +amongst them. + +Hauing had no great successe in taking of the gate, they found out a newe +way, neuer heard of before, in gathering together a great quantity of +certaine wood called Teglia, [Footnote: Teglia in Latine called Teda is a +certaine wood which burneth easily, and sauoreth vnpleasantly, of the which +there is great store in Sicilia: sometime it is vsed for a torch.] which +easily burned, and smelt very euill, the which they throwing before the +former gate of the Citie, and fagots fastened to the same, with certaine +beames besmeered with Pitch, kindled suddenly so great a fire, as was not +possible for vs to quench the same, although we threw vpon it whole Buts of +water, which were throwen downe from an high Commander, which Buts +presently brake in sunder. + +[Sidenote: No necessarie thing to bee done was left vnattempted on either +part.] This fire continued foure dayes, wherefore we were inforced by +reason of the extreame heat and stinch, to withdraw ourselues further +inward, and they descended towardes their lower flanckers, beganne other +mines, so that the gate was shut vp, because it would be no longer kept +open and suddenly (a thing maruellous to be spoken) the standing of the +Brey being repaired, and made vp againe, they planted one piece ouer +against the gate, the which of vs with stones, earth and other things, was +suddenly buried vp. + +[Sidenote: Mans courage oft abateth, but hope seldome forsaketh.] By this +time we were driuen to an exigent, all our prouision within the citie +stooping very lowe, sauing onely hope, the noble courage of the Gouernours +and Captaines, and the stout readinesse of the Souldiours: our wine, and +flesh as well powdered as vnpowdered was spent, nor there was any Cheese to +be gotten, but vpon an vnreasonable price, our company hauing eating vp +their Horses, Asses, and Cats, for lacke of other victualls: there was +nothing left to be eaten, but a small quantitie of Bread, and Beanes, and +we dranke water and Vinegar together, whereof was not much left. When that +we perceiued that our enemies had digged and cast vp three mines in the +Commander of the gate, they labouring in all places more diligently then +euer they did before, bringing into the ditch, ouer against the battery of +the Cortaine, a hill of earth, as high as the wall: and already they came +to the wall aboue the counterscharfe ouer against the Turrion of the +Arsenall, and had made one Commander complete, fenced with shares, like +unto plough shares, in proportion and height correspondent to ours. + +Within the Citie were remaining but fiue hundreth Italian Souldiers, who +were not hurt, yet very faint and weary by their long watching and paines +in fighting in those feruent and burning heates, which are in those parts. +[Footnote: In Iuly the heat is so extreme in this Iland, that the +inhabitants thereof are not woont to trauell, but by night onley.] +[Sidenote: A letter of supplication exhibited by the Cypriotes vnto Sig. +Bragadino.] And the greater and better part, also of the Grecians were by +this time slaine, whenas the chiefe of those Citizens remaining did fully +resolue themselues (the which was about the twentieth day of Iuly) to +present a supplication in writing to that noble gentleman Bragadino +Proueditore, desiring and beseeching him, that seeing their Citie and +Fortresse was thus battered and brought to extremitie, without sufficient +ayde to defend the same, without substance or sustenance, hauing no hope of +succour, or any newe supply, they hauing spent and consumed not onely their +goods, but also their liues for the defence of them, and in testifying of +their dutifull seruice towardes the noble and royall state of the Segniorie +of Venice, that it might nowe please him, and the rest of the honourable +Gouernours, that were present, and put in trust, hauing a carefull eye vnto +some honourable conditions, to haue now at the last a respect to the credit +and honour of their long trauelled wiues, and the safegard of their poore +children, which otherwise were shortly very like to be a pray to their +bloodthirsting and rauening enemies. [Sidenote: The answere of the former +letter.] To the which letter or supplication speedy answere was made by the +forenamed honourable Bragadino, comforting them, that they should by no +meanes abate their courage, and that shortly he looked for succour from the +Segniorie, diminishing as much as hee might, the feare which they had +conceiued in their hearts, dispatching and sending away suddenly from +Cyprus into Candia, a Pinnesse to certifie the duke and gouernours there, +in what extremitie they were. The Turkes by this time had ended their +mines, and set them on fire, the 29. of Iuly; in the which space our men, +according as they were woont to doe, renued and made vp againe the vaimures +ruined before by the Ordinance, and hauing no other stuffe left to aduance +them with, made sackes of Kersie, vnto the which the noble Tiepolo +diligently looked. [Sidenote: It standeth with reason, in hope of sauing +the greater, to let the lesser go.] The three mines of the Commander did +great damage to vs, hauing throwen downe the greater part of the earth, +whereas the the gouernour Randacchi was slaine. The mine of the Arsenall +ouerthrew all the rest of the Turrion, hauing smoldered and choked one +whole garrison of our souldiers, the two flanckers onely still remaining. + + +The fift assault. + +The enemies trauelled much to become masters of those foresayd flankers, +and to sally foorth by the other batteries, and this assault lasted from +three of the clocke in the after noone vntil night, where, and at what time +were slaine very many of our enemies. In this assault Sig. Giacomo +Strambali, amongst the rest, shewed much worthinesse, as hee had done +before in other conflicts. + + +The sixt and last assault. + +The next morning following, at the breake of the day, they assailed all +places, the which assault continued more then sixe houres, with very little +hurt on our side, because our enemies fought more coldly then they were +wont to doe, annoying of vs continually on the Sea side with their Gallies, +shooting in all their assaults and batteries continually Cannon shot in all +parts of the Citie, as neere as they might. After we had defended and +repulsed this assault, and perceiued things brought to a narrower straite +then they were wont to be at, wee hauing left in all the whole Citie but +seuen barrels of pouder, the gouernours of the Citie fully determined to +yeelde vp themselues and the Citie, with honourable conditions. [Footnote: +Necessitie oft times presseth vs in the end to that, which our will +continually spurneth against.] Wherefore the first of August in the after +noone, they tooke a truce, one being come for that purpose from Mustafa the +Generall, with whom they concluded the next morning following to giue two +hostages a piece, vntill such time as both armies were agreed. For our +hostages (by the appointment of the right honourable Bragadino) were sent +foorth the earle Hercole Martinengo, and Signior Matteo Colsi a Citizen of +Famagusta, and from our enemies came into the Citie the Lieutenant of +Mustafa, and the Aga of the Gianizzers, [Footnote: Giannezeri be the gard +of the great Turke, so that Aga de Giannizeri is the captaine of the Turkes +gard.] the which were met, euen vnto the gate of the Citie of Signiour +Baglione with two hundreth harquebusers: ours also were met in like maner +with great pompe with horsemen and harquebusers, with the sonne also of +Mustafa in person, who made very much of them. + +The Lord Baglione imparld with these hostages, which were then come for +that purpose of the articles of peace, requiring by them of their Generall, +their liues, armour, and goods, fiue peeces of Ordinance, three of the best +horses, and safe passage from thence vnto Candia accompanied with their +Gallies, and last of all, that the Grecians inhabiting the Island, might +dwell there still quietly, and enioy peaceably their owne goods and +possessions, liuing still Christians hereafter, as they had done before. +All the which requests and articles were agreed vpon, granted, and +subscribed vnto by the hand of Mustafa. [Footnote: Iust Turkish dealing, to +speake and not to meane: sodainly to promise, and neuer to perform the +same.] Foorthwith were sent Gallies, and other vessels into the hauen, so +that our souldiers immediately began to imbarke themselues, of the which +the greater part were already gone aboorde, the Nobilitie and our chiefe +Captaines also being likewise very desirous to depart. + +The 15. of August in the morning, the worthy Bragadino sent me with a +letter vnto Mustafa, by the which hee signified, that the same night hee +would come vnto him to deliuer vp the keyes of the Citie, and that he would +leaue in the holde the honourable gentleman Tiepolo, praying him therefore, +that whilest hee should haue iust cause thus to bee abroad, that there +might be no harme done at home, and in the Citie. The Turkes from our truce +taking vntill that time, practised with vs all familiarly, and without any +suspition of sinister or double dealing, they hauing shewed vs much +courtesie both in word and deede. Mustafa himselfe by worde of mouth +presently answered me to this letter, in this sort, that I should returne, +and make relation to this noble man Bragadino, who had sent mee, that he +should come ouer to him at his owne pleasure, for hee was very desirous +both to see and know him, for his great worthinesse and prowesse, that hee +had tried to be in him, and in the other of his Captaines and Souldiers, of +whose manhood and courage he would honourably report, where soeuer he came, +as occasion should serue thereunto: and to conclude, that hee should +nothing doubt of any thing: because in no maner of condition hee would +suffer any violence to be done to those, which remained behind within the +Citie. So I speedily returning made true report of the same: and towards +night about foure of the clocke, the right honourable Bragadino accompanied +with the L. Baglione, with Signior Aluigi Martinengo, with the right +worshipfull Signior Gio. Antonio Querini, with the right worshipfull +Signior Andrea Bragadino, with the knight of Haste, with the captaine Carlo +Ragonasco, with captaine Francesco Straco, with captaine Hector of Brescia, +with captaine Girolomo di Sacile, and with other gentlemen and fiftie +souldiours, the Gouernours and Noble men with their swordes, and the +souldiours with their harquebuzes came foorth of their hold, and went vnto +the pauillion of Mustafa, of whom, all they at the beginning were +curteously receiued, and caused to sit downe by him, he reasoning and +discoursing with them of diuers things, a certaine time, and drawing them +from one matter to another, at the last vpon a sudden picked a quarell vnto +them, especially burdening that noble Bragadino with an vntrueth, laying to +his charge that he had caused certaine of his slaues in the time that the +truce continued between them, to be put to death. The which thing was most +false. So that hee being angry therewith, suddenly stept foorth, and +commaunded them to bee bound. Thus they being vnarmed (not suffered at that +time to enter into his pauillion, with their former weapons) and bound, +were led one by one into the market place, before his pauillion, being +presently cut and hewen in sunder in his presence, and last of all from +that woorthy and noble Bragadino (who being bound as the rest, and being +commaunded twise or thrise to stretch foorth his necke, as though hee +should haue bene beheaded, the which most boldly hee did without any sparke +of feare) his eares were cut off, and causing him to bee stretched out most +vilely vpon the ground, Mustafa talked with him, and blasphemed the holy +name of our Sauiour, demaunding him; where is now thy Christ, that hee +helpeth thee not? [Footnote: The propertie of true fortitude is, not to be +broken with sudden terrors. Mustafa, cosin germaine to the thiefe, which +hong on the left side of our Sauiour at his Passion.] To all the which no +answere at all was giuen of that honourable gentleman. The earle Hercole +Martinengo, which was sent for one of the hostages, who was also bound, was +hidden by one of Mustafas eunuches vntill such time as his furie was past, +afterward his life being graunted him, hee was made the eunuches slaue. +Three Grecians which were vnder his pauillion were left vntouched. All the +souldiers which were found in the campe, and all sortes of Christians to +the number of three hundred, were suddenly slaine, they nothing mistrusting +any such treason, or tirannie. The Christian souldiers which were embarked +a litle before, were linked and fettered with iron chaines, made slaues, +all things being taken from them; and stripped into their shirtes. + +The second day after this murther was committed, which was the 17. of +August, Mustafa entred the first time into the Citie, and caused the +valiant and wise gouernour Tiepolo to bee hanged, who remained behind, +waiting the returne of Signior Bragadino. I being in the citie at that +present, when other of my countreymen were thus miserably slaine and made +slaues, hid my selfe in certaine of the Grecians houses the space of fiue +dayes, and they not being able to keepe mee in couert any longer for feare +of the great penaltie, which was proclaimed agaynst such transgressors and +concealers, I offred, and gaue my selfe slaue to one Sangiaccho del Bir, +promising him fiue hundred Zechins [Footnote: Zechini, be certaine pieces +of fine gold coined in Venice, euery one of the which is in value sixe +shillings eight pence of our mony, and somewhat better: and equal +altogether to a Turkish Byraltom.] for my ransome, with whom I remained in +the Campe. The Friday folowing (being the Turkes sabbath day) this woorthy +and patient gentlemen Bragadino was led still in the presence of that +vnfaithfull tirant Mustafa, to the batteries made vnto the Citie, whereas +he being compelled to cary two baskets of earth, the one vpon his backe: +the other in his hand slaue-like, to euery sundry battrie, being enforced +also to kisse the ground as oft as he passed by him, was afterward brought +vnto the sea side, where he being placed in a chaire to leane and stay +vpon, was winched vp in that chaire, and fastened vnto the maineyard of a +galley, and hoisted vp with a crane, to shew him to all the Christian +souldiers and slaues (which were in the hauen already shipped) hee being +afterward let downe, and brought to the market place, the tormentors tooke +of his clothes from him, and tacked him vnto the pillorie, whereas he was +most cruelly flaied quicke; with so great constancie and faith on his part, +that be neuer lost or abated any iot of his stedfast courage, being so +farre from any fainting, that hee at that present with most stout heart +reproched them, and spake much shame of his most traitorous dealing in +breaking of his faithfull promise. At the last without any kind of +alteration of his constancie, he recommending his soule vnto almightie God, +gaue vp the ghost. When hee had thus ended his life (thanks be to God) his +skin being taken and filled with strawe, was commanded foorthwith to be +hanged vpon the bowsprit of a Foist, [Footnote: A Foist as it were a +Brigandine, being somewhat larger then halfe a galley, much vsed of the +Turkish Cursaros, or as we call them Pirates or Rouers.] and to be caried +alongst the coast of Syria by the sea side, that all the port townes might +see, and understand who he was. + +This is now so much as I am able to declare to your highnesse by that I +sawe my selfe, and can remember whilest that I was in the Fortresse: that +also which by true relation of others I could understand, and sawe also my +selfe in the campe, whilest I was slaue, I will likewise briefly vtter vnto +you. The enemies armie was in number, two hundred thousand persons of all +sortes and qualities. Of souldiers which tooke pay there were 80. thousand, +besides the which number, there were l4. thousand of Giannizzers taken out +from all the holdes of Syria, Caramania, Natolia, and part of them also +which came from the gate [Footnote: The gate of the great Turke, is as much +to say, as Constantinople: the which they call in the Turkish language +Stanboll.] of the great Turke. The venturers with the sword were 60. +thousand in number. The reason, why there were so many of this sort, was +because Mustafa had dispersed a rumour through the Turkes dominion, that +Famagusta was much more wealthy and rich, then the citie of Nicosia was: so +for that cause, and by the commodious and easie passage from Syria ouer +into Cyprus, these venturers were easily induced to come thither. +[Footnote: Gli Venturieri da spada, are a kind of venturing souldiers, who +commonly are wont to follow the army in hope of the spoile.] In 75. dayes +(all the which time the batterie still continued) 140. thousand iron +pellets were shot of, numbred, and seene. The chiefe personages which were +in their armie neere vnto Mustafa, were these following; the Bassa of +Aleppo, [Footnote: Aleppo, a famous citie neere vnto Antiochia, otherwise +called in Greeke, [Greek: haeliopolis], the city of the Sunne.] the Bassa +of Natolia, Musafer Bassa of Nicosia, the Bassa of Caramaniai, the Aga of +the Giannizzers, Giambelat Bey, [Footnote: Bey in the Turkish language, +signifieth knight with vs.] the Sangiaccho of Tripolis, the Begliarbei of +Greece, [Footnote: Begliarbei signifieth lord Admirall.] the Bassa of +Sciuassi and of Marasco, Ferca Framburaro, the Sangiaccho of Antipo, +[Footnote: Sangiaccho, is that person with the Turkes, that gouerneth a +prouince or countrey.] Soliman Bey, three Sangiacchos of Arabia, Mustafa +Bey generall of the Venturers, Fergat gouernour of Malathia, the Framburaro +of Diuerie, the Sangiaccho of Arabia and other Sangiacchos of lesser +credite, with the number of fourescore thousand persons beside, as by the +muster made by his Commission might well appeare. + +The Framburaro which was at Rhodes, was appointed and left gouernour at +Famagusta, and the report was that there should bee left in all the Island +of Cyprus, twentie thousand persons, with two thousand horses, many of the +which I saw, being very leane and euill appoynted for seruice. It seemeth +also a thing not impertinent to the matter, to signifie to you, how I, by +the especiall grace of God, was deliuered out of their cruell hands, +[Footnote: God suffereth much to be done to his seruants, but neuer +forsaketh them.] I hauing paied within two and fortie dayes (all the which +time I was slaue) fiue hundred Zechins for my ransome to him, whose +prisoner I was, by the meanes of the Consul for the French merchants, a +Ligier then at Tripolis, who a litle before came from Tripolis in Syria +vnto Cyprus, into the Turkes campe. Yet for all that I had paied this summe +of money to him, hee would not so set me at libertie, but fed mee vp still +with faire wordes, and promised mee that hee would first bring mee vnto his +gouernment, which abutted vpon a piece of the famous riuer of Euphrates, +and dismisse me. The which malice and falsehood of his I perceiuing, +determined with my selfe to giue him the slip, [Footnote: Necessitie oft +times sharpeneth mens wits, and causeth boldnes.] and to flie: so I waiting +my time, and repairing often to the Citie, at length met with a small +Fisher boate, of the which a small saile made of two shirts, I passed ouer +from Cyprus vnto Tripolis, being in very great danger of drowning, whereas +I remained in couert in the house of certaine Christians, vntill the fiue +and twentie of September, at what time I departed from thence in a little +French shippe called Santa Vittor, which came into these partes, and as wee +rode, wee touched at a part of Cyprus Westward, called Capo delle Gatte, +where as I came on land, and talking with certaine of the inhabitants of +the Villages, who were then by chaunce a Hauking, demaunded of them, how +they were intreated of the Turkes, and after what sort the Island was +tilled: to the which they answered, that they could not possiblie bee in +worse pickle then they were at that present, not enioying that quietly +which was their owne, being made villains and slaues, and almost alwayes +carying away the Bastonados, so that now (they sayd) they knew by triall +too perfectly the pleasant and peaceable gouernment of the Christians, +wishing and praying God that they might shortly returne. [Footnote: The +nature of euery commoditie is sooner vnderstood by lacking, then by +continuall enioying of the same.] And concerning the tillage of the Island +they made answere moreouer, that no part of it was plowed or laboured, +sauing onely that mountaine which was towards the West, and that because +they were litle troubled with the crueltie of the Turkes, but as for the +plaine and east part of the Island, there was small seede sowen therein, +but became in a maner desert, there being left but few inhabitants, and +lesse store of cattell there. Afterward wee departing from thence we +arriued in Candia, [Footnote: Candia of the old writers called Creta in +Latin, [Greek: Hekatompolis] in Greek, because it had once a 100. Cities in +it, now there remaining but onely 4. thus commonly named, Candia, la Cania, +Retima, and Scythia.] I for my part being clothed in sackecloth, whereas +soone after by the great curtesie of the right honourable Signior Latino +Orsino, I was new apparelled accordingly, friendly welcommed, and my +necessitie relieued. From whence I shortly after sayling in a Cypriettes +ship (thankes be to almightie God) arriued in this Citie in health, and am +safely come home now at the honorable feete of your highnesse. + + +The Captains of the Christians slaine in Famagusta. + +The lord Estor Baglione. +The lord Aluigi Martinengo. +The lord Federico Baglione. +The knight of Asta Vicegouernor. +The Capitaine Dauid Noce Master of the Campe. +The capitaine Meani of Perugia Serieant Maior. +The earle Sigismond of Casoldo. +The earle Francesco of Lobi of Cremona. +The captaine Francesco Troncauilla. +The captaine Hannibal Adama of Fermo. +The captaine Scipio of the citie of Castello. +The captaine Charles Ragonasco of Cremona. +The captaine Francesco Siraco. +The captaine Robeto Maluezzo. +The captaine Cęsar of Aduersa. +The captaine Bernardin of Agubio. +The captaine Francesco Bugon of Verona. +The captaine Iames of Fabiana. +The captaine Sebastian del Sole of Florence. +The captaine Hector of Brescia, the successour to the captaine Cęsar of + Aduersa. +The captaine Flaminio of Florence, successor vnto Sebastian del Sole. +The captaine Erasmus of Fermo, successor to the captaine of Cernole. +The captaine Bartholomew of Cernole. +The captaine Iohn Battista of Riuarole. +The captaine Iohn Francesco of Venice. + + +The names of Christians made slaues. + +The Earle Herocles Martinengo, with Iulius Cęsar Ghelfo a Souldiour of + Bressa. +The earle Nestor Martinengo, which fled. +The captaine Marco Criuellatore. +The lord Herocles Malatesta. +The captaine Peter Conte of Montalberto. +The captaine Horatio of Veletri. +The captaine Aluigi Pezano. +The Conte Iames of Corbara. +The captaine Iohn of Istria. +The captaine Soldatelli of Agubio. +The captaine Iohn of Ascoli. +The captaine Antonie of the same towne. +The captaine Sebastian of the same towne. +The captaine Salgano of the citie of Castello. +The captaine Marcheso of Fermo. +The captaine Iohn Antonio of Piacenza. +The captaine Carletto Naldo. +The captaine Lorenzo Fornaretti. +The captaine Barnardo of Brescia. +The captaine Barnardino Coco. +The captaine Simon Bagnese, successour to the captaine Dauid Noce. +The captaine Tiberio Ceruto, successor vnto Conte Sigismond. +The captaine Ioseph of Lanciano, successour vnto captaine Francesco + Troncauilla. +The captaine Morgante, successor to captain Hannibal. +The Lieutenant, successour vnto the captaine Scipio. +The Standerd bearer, successour to captaine Roberto. +The captaine Ottauia of Rimini, successour to the captaine Francesco Bugon. +The captaine Mario de Fabiano, successour to captaine Iacomo. +The captaine Francesco of Venice, successour vnto captaine Antonio. +The captaine Matteo of Capua. +The captaine Iohn Maria of Verona. +The captaine Mancino. + + +The Fortifiers. + +Iohn Marmori, slaine. +The knight Maggio, slaue. + + +Turkish Captaines at Famagusta. + +Mustafa Generall. +The Bassa of Aleppo. +The Bassa of Natolia, slaine. +Musafer Bassa of Nicosia. +The Bassa of Catamania. +The Aga of the Giannizers. +Giambelat Bey. +The Sangiaccho of Tripolis, slaine. +The Begliarbei of Greece. +The Bassa of Sciuassi and Marasco. +Ferca Framburaro. +The Sangiaccho of Antipo, slaine. +Soliman Bey, slaine. +Three Sangiacchos of Arabia slaine. +Mustafa Bey, General of the Venturers, slain. +Fergat, ruler of Malathia, slaine. +The Framburaro of Diuerie, slaine. + + * * * * * + +The renuing and increasing of an ancient and commodious trade vnto diuerse + places in the Leuant seas, and to the chiefest partes of all the great + Turks dominions, by the meanes of the Right worsh. citizens Sir Edward + Osburne Alderman, and M. Richard Staper marchant of London. + +This trade into the Leuant (as is elsewhere mentioned) was very vsuall and +much frequented from the yeere of our Lord 1511, till the yeere 1534, and +afterwards also, though not so commonly, vntill the yeere 1550, when as the +barke Aucher vnder the conduct of M. Roger Bodenham made a prosperous +voyage vnto Sicilia, Candia, Sio, and other places within the Leuant. Since +which time the foresaid trade (notwithstanding the Grand Signiors ample +priuilege granted to M. Anthony Ienkenson 1553, and the strong and weighty +reasons of Gaspar Campion for that purpose) was vtterly discontinued, and +in maner quite forgotten, as if it had neuer bene, for the space of 20 +years and more. Howbeit, the discreete and worthy citizens Sir Edward +Osborne and M. Richard Staper seriously considering what benefite might +grow to the common wealth by renuing of the foresaid discontinued trade, to +the inlarging of her Maiesties customes, the furthering of nauigation, the +venting of diuerse generall commodities of this Realme, and the inriching +of the citie of London, determined to vse some effectuall meanes for the +reestablishing and augmenting thereof. + +[Sidenote: The voyage of Iohn Wight, and Ioseph Clements to +Constantinople.] Wherefore about the yeere 1575 the foresaid R. W. +marchants at their charges and expenses sent Iohn Wight and Ioseph Clements +by the way of Poland to Constantinople, where the said Ioseph remained 18 +monethes to procure a safe conduct from the grand Signior, for M. William +Harborne, then factor for Sir Edward Osborne, to haue free accesse into his +Highnes dominions, and obtained the same. + +[Sidenote: The first voyage of M. William Harborne to Constantinople.] +Which businesse after two yeres chargeable trauell and suit being +accomplished, the sayd M. Harborne the first of Iuly 1578 departed from +London by the sea to Hamburgh, and thence accompanied with Ioseph Clements +his guide and a seruant, he trauelled to Leopolis in Poland, and then +apparelling himselfe, his guide, and his seruant after the Turkish fashion +(hauing first obteyned the king of Poland his safe conduct to passe at +Camienijecz the frontier towne of his dominions next vnto Turky) by good +means he obteined fauour of one Acmet Chaus the Turks ambassadour then in +Poland, and readie to returne to Constantinople, to bee receiued into his +companie and carouan. And so the fourth of September 1578 he departed with +the said Acmet from Leopolis in Poland, and trauelling through Moldauia, +Valachia, Bulgaria, and Romania, gratifying the Voiauodes with certaine +courtesies, he arriued at Constantinople the 28 of October next insuing. +Where he behaued himselfe so wisely and discreetly, that within few moneths +after he obtained not onely the great Turkes large and ample priuiledge for +himselfe, and the two worshipfull persons aforesaid, but also procured his +honourable and friendly letters vnto her Maiestie in maner following. + + * * * * * + +The letters sent from the Imperiall Musulmanlike highnesse of Zuldan Murad + Can, to the sacred regall Maiestie of Elizabeth Queene of England, the + fifteenth of March 1579, conteyning the grant of the first priuileges. + +In greatness and glory most renowmed Elizabeth, most sacred Queene, and +noble prince of the most mightie worshippers of Iesus, most wise gouernour +of the causes and affaires of the people and family of Nazareth, cloud of +most pleasant raine, and sweetest fountaine of noblenesse and vertue, ladie +and heire of the perpetuall happinesse and glory of the noble Realme of +England (whom all sorts seeke vnto and submit themselues) we wish most +prosperous successe and happie ends to all your actions, and do offer vnto +you such pleasures and curtesies as are worthy of our mutuall and eternall +familiaritie: thus ending (as best beseemeth vs) out former salutations. + + +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 friendship, fauour, and +assistance: 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 friendshippe towards vs, to open the gate thereof vnto vs, and to +nourish by all good meanes this kindnesse and friendship: 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 +ships, 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 friendship 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 terręque Conditoris gratia, +Anglię, Francię et Hibernię regina, fidei Christianę contra omnes omnium +inter Christianos degentium, et Christi nomen falsņ profitentium +Idololatrias inuictissima et potentissima Defensatrix, augustissimo, +inuictissimóque principi Sultan Murad Can, Turcici regni dominatori +potentissimo, Imperķjque orientis, Monarchę supra omnes soli et supremo, +salutem, et multos cum rerum optimarum affluentia foelices, et fortunatos +annos. Augustissime et inuictissime Cęesar, accepimus inuicttissimę Cęsareę +vestrę celsitudinis literas, die decimoquinto Martij currentis anni ad nos +scriptas Constantinopoli, ex quibus intelligimus quąm benignč quįmque +clementer, literę supplices quę Cęsareę vestrę celsitudini a quodam subdito +nostro Guilielmo Hareborno in Imperiali Celsitudinis vestrę ciuitate +Constantinopoli commorante offerebantur, literę profectionis pro se et +socijs eius duobus hominibus mercatoribus subditis nostris cum mercibus +suis ad terras ditionésque Imperio vestro subiectas iam per mare quąm per +terras, indéque reuersionis venię potestatķsque humillimam complexę +petitionem, ab inuictissima vestra Cęsarea celsitudine, acceptę fuerunt. +Neque id solłm, sed quąm mira cum facilitate, dignįque augustissima Cęsarea +cleméntia, quod erat in dictis literis supplicibus positum, ei socķjsque +suis donatum et concessum fuit, pro ea, vti videtur, solłm opinione, quam +de nobis, et nostra amicitia vestra celsitudo concepit. Quod singulare +beneficium in dictos subditos nostros collatum tam gratč tamque beneuolč +accepimus (maximas celsitudini vestrę propterea et agentes, et habentes +gratias) nullo vt vnquam patiemur tempore, pro facultatum nostrarum +ratione, proque ea quam nobis inseuit ter maximus mundi monarcha Deus (per +quem et cuius auspicijs regnamus) naturę bonitate, qua remotissimas nos +esse voluit, et abhorrentes ab ingratitudinis 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 +inpręsentiarum vestrę celsitudini emetimur, benč sentiendo et prędicando, +quantopere nos obstrictas beneficij huius in subditos nostros collati +putemus memoriā sempiternā: longč vberiorem, et ampliorem gratitudinis erga +vestram celsitudinem nostrę testificationem daturę, cum tempora incident, +vt possimus et ą nobis desiderabitur. Quoniam autem quę nostris paucis +subditis, eįque suis ipsorum precibus, sine vlla intercessione nostra +concessa donatio est, in ęquč libera potestate sita est ad omnes terras +ditionesque Imperio vestro subiectas, com mercibus suis tam per mare quąm +per terras eundi et redeundi, atque inuictissimę Cęsareę vestrę +celsitudinis confoederatis, Gallis, Polonis, Venetis, atque adeo regis +Romanorum subditis largita vnquam aut donata fuit, celsitudinem vestram +rogamus ne tam singularis beneficentię laus in tam angustis terminis duorum +aut trium hominum concludatur, sed ad vniuersos subditos nostrus diffusa, +propagatįque, celsitudinis vestrę beneficium eņ reddat augustius, quņ +eiusdem donatio latiłs patebit, et ad plures pertinebit. Cuius tam +singularis in nos beneficij meritum, eņ erit celsitudini vestrę minłs +poenitendum, quņ sunt merces illę, quibus regna nostra abundant, et aliorum +principum ditiones egent, tam humanis vsibus comodę tįmque necessarię, +nulla gens vt sit, quę eis carere queat, proptereįque longissimis, +difficillimķsque itineribus conquisitis non vehementer gaudeat. Cariłs +autem distrabunt alijs, quo ex labore suo quisque victum et quęstum +quęritat, adeo vt in earum acquisitione vtilitas, in emptione autem ab +alijs onus sit. Vtilitas celsitudinis vestrę subditis augebitur liberā hac +paucorum nostrorum hominum ad terras vestras perfectione: onus minuctur, +profectionis, quorumcśnque subditorum nostrorum donatione. Accedet pręterea +quę ą nobis in celsitudinis vestrę subditos proficiscetur, par, ęquįque +mercium exercendarum libertas, quoties et quando voluerint ad regna +dominiįque nostra mercaturę gratia accedere. Quam celsitudini vestrę +pollicemur tam amplam latéque patentem fore, quąm est vlla ą +confoederatorum vestrorum vllis principibus antedictis, regibus videlicet +Romanorum, Gallorum, Polonorum, ac republica Veneta, celsitudinis vestrę +subditis vllo vnquam tempore concessa et donata. Qua in re si honestę +petitioni nostrę inuictissima Caęsarea vestra celsitudo dignabitur +auscultate, faciétque vt acceptis nostris literis intelligamus gratum nč +habitura sit quod ab ea contendibus et rogamus, ea proposita pręstitįque +securitate, quę subditos nostros quoscśnque ad dominia sua, terra, marķque +proficiscentes, indéque reuerentes tutos et secures reddat ab omni +quorumcśnque subditorum suorum iniuria, efficiemus, vt quę Deus opt. max. +in regna dominiįque nostra contulit commoda (quę tam singularia sunt, +omnium vt principum animos pelliceant ad amicitiam, summęque necessitudinis +coniunctionem nobiscum contrahendam, stabiliendįmque quo liberius tantis +summi Dei beneficijs fruantur, quibus carere nequeunt) nostri subditi ad +regna dominiįque Celsitudinis vestrę aduehunt tam affluenter tįmque +cumulate, vt vtrķque incommodo prędicto necessitatis et oneris plenissimč +succurratur. Facit prętereą singularis ista Celsitudinis vestrę in nos +Gentémque nostram summę beneuolentię significatio ac fides, vt eandem, in +causam quorumdam subditorum nostrorum, qui captiui triremibus vestris +detinentur, interpellemus, rogemśsque, vt quoniam nullo in celsitudinem +vestram peccato suo, siuč arma in eam ferendo, siuč iniquiłs pręter fas et +ius gentium se gerendo in suos subditos, in hanc calamitatem inciderint, +soluti vinculis, et libertate donati, nobis pro sua fide et obsequio +inseruientes, causam vberiorem prębeant vestrę Celsitudinis in nos +humanitatem prędicandi: et Deum illum, qui solus, et supra omnia et omnes +est acerrimus idololatrię vindicator, suķque honoris contra Gentium et +aliorum falsos Deos Zelotes, pręcabimur, vt vestram inuictissimam Cęsaream +Celsitudinem omni beatitate eorum donorum fortunet, quę sola et summč iure +merito habentur desideratissima. + +Datę č Regia nostra Grenouici, prope ciuitatem nostram Londinum, +quintodecimo Mensis Octobris, Anno Iesu Christi Saluatoris nostri 1579, +Regni verņ nostri vicessimo primo. + + +The same in English. + +Elizabeth by the grace of the most mightie God, 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 petitions 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 petition 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 God, 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 ingratitude, 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 publishing 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 +God 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 God, 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 assurance 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 God (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 gods 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, terribilibśsque verbis et +nunquam finienda innumerabiliue clementia et ineffabili auxilio sanctissimi +et pura mente colendissimi tremendissimķque modernę ętatis monarcha, totius +orbis terrarum potentribus sceptra diuidere potens, clementię, gratięque +diuinę vmbra, regnorum prouinciarumue, et vrbium ciuitatumue distributor +permultarum: Nos sacratissimus Cęsar Muzulmanicus Mecchę, id est domus +diuinę, Medinę, gloriosissimę et beatissimę Ierusalem, Aegypti +fertilissimę, Iemen, et Zouan, Eden et Canan, Sami paciferę et Hebes, Iabza +et Pazra, Zerazub et Halepię, Caramarię et Diabekiruan, et Dulkadirię, +Babylonię, et totius triplicis Arabię, Euzorum et Georgianorum, Cypri +diuitis, et regnorum Asię Ozakior, Camporum Maris albi et nigri, Gręcię et +Mesopotamię, Africę et Goletę, Algeris et Tripolis occidentalis, +selectissimęque Europę, Budę, et Temeswar, et regnorum transalpinorum, et +his similium permultorum princeps Cęsarué 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 nostrę Cęsareę amicitię +significamus, manifestamus, quņd in temporibus modernis Regina Anglię, +Francię, et Hibernię Elizabetha in Christianitate honoratissima Regina +(cuius mercatorum exitus sit foelicissimus) ad nostram excelsam, et +iustitię plenam, fulgidissimįmue portam, quę omnibus principibus mundi est +refugium et requies, per egregium Gulielmum Harebornum literas misit suas, +quibus sua maiestas significauit, quod tempore pręterito 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 quņd in locis et hospitijs eorum per mare et terram nemo auderet +impedire et illis damnum facere, mandatum Cęsareum fuisset datum: et quņd +hanc nostram gratiam, quam paucis hominibus suę maiestatis +demonstrauissemus, vniuersis suis subditis concederemus petebat. [Sidenote: +Foedus Turcici Imperatoris cum Regina initum.] Quare, quemadmodum cum +serenissimis beneuolentiam et obedientiam, seruitiįue sua demonstrantibus +erga nostram portam excelsam regibus et principibus confoederatis (vt sunt +rex Gallorum. Veneti, et rex Polonorum, et cęteri) pacem et foedus +sanctissimum pepigimus: sic etiam cum pręfata Regina amicitiam +custodiendam, pacem et foedus coniunximus. Illius igitur homines, et +vniuersi mercatores, sine aliquo impedimento cum suis mercibus et oneribus +cunctis ad nostras ditionis Cęsareas pacificč et securč veniant, et suam +exerceant mercaturam, maneant in suis statibus, et secundum suos mores +negocientur. Et adhęc, sua maiestas significabat ex hominibus suis aliquos +iamdudum captos fuisse, et in captiuitate detineri, et quod hi +dimitterentur petebat, et quņd sicut alijs principibus nobiscum +confoederatis priuilegia et mandate Cęsarea super foedus sanctissimum +dedissemus, sic pręfatę quoque Reginę priuilegium et mandata Cęsareę +vt daremus, nostrę Cęsareę celsitudini placeret. Quare secundłm nostram +beneuolentiam et gratiam innatam, optata suę maiestatis apud nos grata +fuere: Et hoc nostrum priuilegium iustitijs plenum dedimus maiestata suę: +Et Beglerbegis, Zanziacbegis famulis nostris, et Kazijs, id est, iudicibus, +et omnibus teloniatoribus omnium locorum, portuum, et vadorum firmiter +mandamus, vt donec ex parte pręfatę reginę foedus, et pax, et eorum +conditiones articulķque (vt conuenit) custodiuntur et seruantur, nostrę +quóque Cęsareę celsitudinis mandata sunt: + +[Sidenote: Articuli huius priuilegij.] 1 Vt pręfatę Reginę homines, et +subditi eius quibusuis rebus et mercibus, oneribus et suppellectilibus per +mare in magnis et paruis nauibus, per terram autem homines cum oneribus et +pecoribus, securč et pacificč ad nostras ditiones Cęsareas veniant, et nemo +illis noceat, sed securč et sine aliquo impedimento negocientur, et in suis +statibus et conditionibus permaneant. + +2 Item, si pręfeti homines et mercatores in suis rectis vijs et +negociationibus aliquo modo caperentur, sine aliqua tergiuersatione +dimittantur liberentśrque. + +3 Item, si naues eorum ad aliquos portus et loca venire voluerint, pacificč +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 nostrę Cęsareę celsitudinis, earśmque homines, et +aliornm naues hominésque 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 cęteri nostri subditi sint auxilio illis, merces et res eorum +quę remanserint iterum reddantur illis, et nemo impediat illos. + +7 Item, si pręfatę reginę homines, eorum interpretes, et mercatores, siue +per terram, siue per mare mercandi gratiā ad nostras ditiones venire +velint, legitimo telonio, et vectigali reddito, pacificč vagentur, +capitanei et reges maris et nauium, et aliud genus hominum per mare +vagantium in personis, et rebus eorum, pecoribśsque, ne noceant illis. + +8 Item, si aliquis ex Anglis debitor, aut ęre alieno esset obstrictus, +inuenirķque non possit, ratione debitorum alterius nullus nisi esset +fideiussor capiatur aut impediatur. + +9 Item, si Anglus testamentum fecerit, et sua bona cuicśnque legauerit, +illi dentur bona illius, et si sine testamento moreretur, consul eorum +cuicśnque 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 quóque accepiant ą iudice, +propterea quņd si aliquid inciderit, videant librum et literas, et secundum +tenorem eorum perficiantur negocia eorum suspecta: si autem néque in librum +inscriberentur, néque literas haberent, iudex falsa testimonia non +admittat, sed secundśm iustitiam legem administrans non sinat illos +impediri. + +11 Item, si aliquis disceret, quod isti Christiani nostrę fidei Muzulmanicę +male dixerint, et eam vituperijs affecerint, in hoc negocio etiam et alijs, +testes falsi minimč 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 Anglicum inueniretur, et consul eorum peteret +illud, examinetur diligenter mancipium, et si inuentum fuerit Anglicum, +accipiatur, et reddatur Anglis. + +14 Item, si aliquis ex Anglis huc venerit habitandi aut mercandi gratiā, +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, vbicśnque +voluerint facere Consules, faciant: Et iterum si voluerint eos mutare, et +in loco priorum consulum alios locare, liberč 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 liberč veniant ad Consules suos, vt +secundłm mores eorum finiatur lis orta. + +18 Item, si post tempus aut datum huius priuilegij, piratę, aut alij aliqui +liberi gubernatores nauium per mare vagarites, aliquem ex Anglis ceperint, +et trans mare vel cis mare venderint, secundłm iustitiam examinetur: et si +Anglus inuentus fuerit, et religionem Muzulmanicam assumpserit, liberč +dimittatur: si autem adhuc esset Christianas, Anglis reddatur, et emptores +suam pecuniam ab illo petant, ą quo emerant. + +19 Item, si nostrę Cęsareę Celsitudinis naues armatę exiuerint ad mare, et +ibi inuenerint naues Anglicas merces portantes, nemo impediat illas, imņ +amicč tractentur, et nullum damnum faciant illis: Quemadmodum Gallis, +Venetis, et cęteris nobiscum con foederatis regibus, et principibus +priuilegium, et articulos priuilegijs dedimus, et concessimus, simili modo +his quņque Anglis priuilegium et articulos priuilegijs dedimus et +concessimus, et contra legem diuinam, et hoc priuilegium, nemo vnquam +aliquid audeat facere. + +20 Item, si naues magnę, et paruę 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 quęrantu latrones et fures, et seuerissimč 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 pręfati, secundum tenorem huius +priuilegij, tenorémue articulorum eius, omnia facere teneantur, et debeęt. +Et donec hoc in priuilegio descriptum foedus, et pax illius Maiestatis ex +parte sanctč seruabitur, et custodietur, ex parte etiam nostra Cęsarea +custodiri, et obseruari mandamus. + +Datum Constantinopoli, anno nostri prophetę 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 God, 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 God, creator of all things, to be +worshipped 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 +Gods 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 principall 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 friendship, 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 passages 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 fashions 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 passages, 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. + +3 Item, if their ships purpose to arriue in any of our ports and hauens, it +shalbe lawfull for them so to do in peace, and from thence againe to +depart, without any let or impediment. + +4 Item, if it shall happen that any of their ships in tempestuous weather +shall bee in danger of losse and perishing, and thereupon shall stand in +need of our helpe, we will, and commaund that our men and ships be ready to +helpe and succour them. + +5 Item, if they shalbe willing to buy any victuals for their money, no +person shall withstande them, but they shall buy the same without any +disturbance to the contrary. + +6 Item, if by any casualtie their shippes shall bee driuen on shoare in +perill of shipwracke, our Begs and Iudges, and other our Subiects shall +succour them, and such wares, and goods of theirs as shall bee recouered +from the losse, shall bee restored to them, and no man shall wrong them. + +7 Item, if the people of the aforesayd Queene, their interpreters and +marchants, shall for traffique sake, either by lande or Sea repaire to our +dominions paying our lawfull toll and custome, they shall haue quiet +passage, and none of our Captaines or gouernours of the Sea, and shippes, +nor any kinde of persons, shall either in their bodies, or in their goods +and cattells, any way molest them. + +8 Item, If any Englishman shall grow in debt, and so owe money to any other +man, and thereupon doth absent himselfe that he can not be found, let no +man be arrested or apprehended for any other mans debt, except he be +surety. + +9 Item, if any Englishman shall make his will and testament to whom soeuer +by the same hee shall giue his goods, the partie shall haue them +accordingly, and if hee die intestate, hee to whom the Consull or gouernour +of the societie shall say the goods of the dead are to bee giuen, hee shall +haue the same. + +10 Item, if the Englishmen or the marchants and interpreters of any places +vnder the iurisdiction of England shall happen in the buying and selling of +wares, by promises or otherwise to come in controuersie, let him go to the +Iudge, and cause the matter to be entred into a booke, and if they wil, let +them also take letters of the Iudge testifying the same, that men may see +the booke and letters, whatsoeuer thing shall happen, and that according to +the tenour thereof the matter in controuersie and in doubt may be ended: +but if such things be neither entred in booke, nor yet the persons haue +taken letters of the Iudge, yet he shall admit no false witnesse, but shall +excute the Law according to iustice, and shall not suffer them to be +abused. + +11 Item, if any man shall say, that these being Christians haue spoken any +thing to the derogation of our holy faith and religion, and haue slandered +the same, in this matter as in all others, let no false witnesses in any +case be admitted. + +12 Item, if any one of them shall commit any great crime, and flying +thereupon cannot bee found, let no man be arrested, or detained for another +mans fact, except he be his suretie. + +13 Item, if any slaue shall be found to be an Englishmen and their Consull +or gouernour shall sue for his libertie, let the same slaue be diligently +examined, and if hee be found in deed to be English, let him be discharged +and restored to the Englishmen. + +14 Item, if any Englishman shall come hither either to dwel or trafique, +whether hee be married or vnmarried, he shall pay no polle or head money. + +15 Item, if either in Alexandria, Damasco, Samos, Tunis, Tripolis, in the +west, the port townes of Ęgypt, or in any other places, they purpose to +choose to themselues Consuls or gouernours, let them doe so, and if they +will alter them at any time, and in the roome of the former Consuls place +others, and let them do so also, and no man shall restraine them. + +16 Item, if their interpreter shalbe at any time absent, being occupied in +other serious matters, let the thing then in question bee stayed and +differed till his comming, and in the meane time no man shall trouble them. + +17 Item, if any variance or controuersie shall arise among the Englishmen, +and thereupon they shall appeale to their Counsuls or gouernours, let no +man molest them, but let them freely doe so, that the controuersie begunne +may be finished according to their owne customes. + +18 Item, if after the time and date of this priuilege, any pirats or other +free gouernours of ships trading the Sea shall take any Englishman, and +shall make sale of him, either beyonde the Sea or on the side of the Sea, +the matter shalbe examined to iustice, and if the partie shalbe found to be +English, and shall receiue the holy religion, then let him freely be +discharged, but if he wil still remaine a Christian, let him then be +restored to the Englishmen, and the buyers shall demaund their money againe +of them who solde the man. + +19. Item, if the ships of warre of our Imperiall highnesse shal at anytime +goe forth to Sea, and shall finde any English ships laden with merchandise, +no man shall hidder them, but rather shall vse them friendly, and doe them +no wrong, euen as wee haue giuen and granted articles, and priuileges to +the French, Venetians, and other Kings and princes our confederates, so +also wee haue giuen the like to the English: and contrary to this our +diuine lawe and priuilege, let no man presume to doe any thing. + +20 Item, if either their great or small ships shall in the course of their +voyage, or in any place to which they come, bee stayed or arrested, let no +man continue the same arrest, but rather helpe and assist them. + +21 Item, if any theeues and robbers shall by force take away any of their +ships, and marchandise, let the same theeues and robbers be sought and +searched for with all diligence, and let them be punished most seuerely. + +22 Last of all the Beglerbegs, and Zanziacbegs, our Captaines, our slaues +and seruants of Captaines vsing the sea, and our Iudges, customers and +gouernours of ships called Reiz, and free Reiz, all these, according to the +tenor of this priuilege and articles, shalbe bound to doe accordingly: and +as long as the Queene of England on her part shall duely keepe and obserue +this league and holy peace, expressed in this priuilege, we also for our +Imperial part, do charge and commaund the same so long to be straightly +kept and obserued. + +Giuen at Constantinople, in the 988. yeere of our most holy prophet, in the +beginning of the moneth of Iune, And in the yeere of Iesus 1580. + + * * * * * + +Her Maiesties, letter to the Turke or Grand Signior 1581. promising + redresse of the disorders of Peter Baker of Ratcliffe, committed in the + Leuant. + +Elizabeth by the diuine grace of the eternall God, of England, France and +Ireland most sacred Queene, and of the most Christian faith, against all +the prophaners of his most holy Name the zealous and mightie defendour, &c. +To the most renowned and emperious Cęsar, Sultan Murad Can, Emperour of all +the dominions of Turkie, and of all the East Monarchie chiefe aboue all +others whosoeuer, most fortunate yeeres with the successe of al true +happinesse. As with very great desire we wish and embrace the loue and +amitie of forreine Princes, and in the same by al good dueties and meanes +we seeke to bee confirmed: so to vs there may bee nothing more grieuous and +disliking, then that any thing should happen through the default of our +Subiects, which any way might bring our faith and fidelitie into suspition: +Although wee are not ignorant how many good princes, by the like +misaduenture be abused, where the doings of the Subiects are imputed to the +want of good gouernment. But such mutters of importance and so well +approued we may not omit: such is to vs the sacred estimation of our +honour, and of our Christian profession, as we would the same should +appeare as well in the concluding of our promises and agreements, as in the +faithfull performing of the same. + +The matter which by these our letters wee specially beholde, is a most +iniurious and grieuous wrong which of late came vnto our vnderstanding, +that should be done vnto certaine of your subiects by certaine of our +Subiects, at yet not apprehended: but with all seueretie vpon their +apprehension they are to be awarded for the same. [Footnote: This was Baker +of Ratcliffe, who with the barke called the Roe, robbed certaine Grecians +in the Leuant.] And as the deede in it selfe is most wicked, so it is much +more intollerable, by how much it doeth infringe the credit of our faith, +violate the force of our authoritie, and impeach the estimation of our word +faithfully giuen vnto your Imperiall dignitie. In which so great a disorder +if wee should not manifest our hatred towardes so wicked and euill disposed +persons, we might not onely most iustly be reproued in the iudgement of all +such as truely fauour Iustice, but also of all Princes the patrones of +right and equitie, might no lesse be condemned. That therefore considered, +which of our parts is ordained in this cause which may be to the good +liking of your highnesse, we are most especially to request of your +Imperiall Maiestie, that through the default and disorder of a son of euill +and wicked disposed persons, you wil not withdraw your gratious fauour from +vs, neither to hinder the traffique of our Subiects, which by virtue of +your highnesse sufferance, and power of your licence are permitted to trade +into your dominion and countreys or that either in their persons or goods +they be preiudiced in their traueyling by land or by water, promising vnto +your greatnesse most faithfully, that the goods whereof your subiects by +great wrong and violence haue bene spoyled, shall wholly againe be +restored, if either by the liues or possessions of the robbers it may any +way be brought to passe: And that hereafter (as now being taught by this +euill example) wee will haue speciall care that none vnder the title of our +authoritie shall be suffered to commit any the like wrongs or iniuries. + +Neither they which haue committed these euil parts had any power vnder your +highnesse safeconduct graunted vnto our subiects, but from some other +safeconduct whether it were true or fained, we knowe not, or whether they +bought it of any person within the gouernment of Marseils: but vnder the +colour thereof they haue done that, which the trueth of our dealing doeth +vtterly abhorre. Notwithstanding howsoeuer it be, wee will surely measure +their euill proceedings with most sharpe and iust correction, and that it +shall repent them of the impeachment of our honours, as also it shalbe an +example of our indignation, that others may dread at all times, to commit +the like offence. Wherefore that our amitie might be continued, as if this +vnfortunate hap had neuer chanced, and that the singuler affection of our +Subiects towardes your Imperiall Maiestie vowed, and dayly more and more +desired, might be conserued and defended, we thereunto do make our humble +suite vnto your greatnesse: And for so great goodnesse towardes vs and our +people granted, doe most humbly pray vnto the Almightie creatour of heauen +and earth, euer to maintaine and keepe your most renowned Maiestie in all +happinesse and prosperitie. + +Dated at our palace of Greenewich the 26. of Iune, Anno 1581. + + * * * * * + +The letters patents, or priuileges graunted by her Maiestie to Sir Edward + Osborne, Master Richard Staper, and certaine other Marchants of London + for their trade into the dominions of the great Turke, in the yeere 1581. + +Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, France and Ireland, +defender of the faith, &c. To all our Officers, ministers, and Subiects, +and to all other people as well within this our Realme of England, as else +where vnder our obeysance, iurisdiction, or otherwise, vnto whom these our +letters shall be seene, shewed or read, greeting. Where our welbeloued +Subiects Edward Osborne Alderman of our Citie of London, and Richard Staper +of our sayde City Merchant, haue by great aduenture and industrie, with +their great costes and charges, by the space of sundry late yeeres, +trauailed, and caused trauaile to bee taken, as well by secret and good +meanes, as by dangerous wayes and passages both by lande and Sea, to finde +out and set open a trade of Marchandize and traffique into the Lands, +Islands, dominions, and territories of the great Turke, commonly called the +Grand Signior, not heretofore in the memory of any man nowe liuing knowen +to be commonly vsed and frequented by way of marchandise, by any the +Marchants or any Subiects of vs, or our progenitours; and also haue by +their like good meanes and industrie, and great charges procured of the +sayde Grand Signior (in our name), amitie, safetie, and freedome, for trade +and traffique of Marchandise to bee vsed, and continued by our Subiects +within his sayde Dominions, whereby there is good and apparant hope and +likelyhoode both that many good offices may bee done for the peace of +Christendome, and reliefe of many Christians that bee or may happen to bee +in thraldome or necessitie vnder the sayde Grand Signior, his vassals or +Subiects, and also good and profitable vent and vtterance may be had of the +commodities of our Realme, and sundry other great benefites to the +aduancement of our honour, and dignitie Royall, the increase of the +reuenues of our Crowne, and generall wealth of our Realme: Knowe ye, that +hereupon wee greatly tendering the wealth of our people, and the +incouragement of our Subiects in their good enterprises for the aduancement +of the Common weale, haue of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge and +meere motion, giuen and graunted, and by these presents for vs, our heires +and successours, doe giue and graunt vnta our sayd trustie, and welbeloued +Subiects Edward Osborne, and vnto Thomas Smith of London Esquier, Richard +Staper, and William Garret of London Marchants, their executors, and +administrators, and to the executours and administratours of them, and of +euery of them, that they, and euery of them, and such other person and +persons Englishmen borne, not exceeding the number of twelue, as they the +sayde Edward, and Richard shall appoint, nominate, or admit to be +parteners, aduenturers, or doers with them the sayde Edward, Thomas, +Richard and William, in their societie by themselues, their seruants, +Factours or deputies, and to such others as shall bee nominated according +to the tenour of these our letters Patents, shall and may during the terme +of seuen yeeres from the date of these Patents, freely trade, traffique, +and vse feates of Marchandise into, and from the dominions of the sayde +Grand Signior, and euery of them, in such order, and maner, forme, +liberties and condition to all intents and purposes as shalbe betweene them +limitted, and agreed, and not otherwise, without any molestation, +impeachment, or disturbance, any Lawe, statute, vsage, diuersitie of +religion or faith, or other cause or matter whatsoeuer to the contrary +notwithstanding. + +And that it shalbe lawful to the said Edward and Richard their executors +and administrators, (during the said terme) to appoint or admit to be +parteners and aduenturers with them the sayde Edward, Thomas, Richard and +William; such persons not exceeding the number of twelue (as afore is said) +to trafique and vse the said trade and feat of marchandise according to our +saide graunt. And that all and euery such person and persons, as shall +hereafter fortune to bee appointed or admitted as parteners in the saide +trade or trafique according to these our letters patents, shall and may +from the time of such appointment or admittance, haue and enioy the +freedome and libertie of the said trade and trafique during the residue of +the said terme of seuen yeeres, according to such limitation and agreement +as is aforesaide, and that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the saide +Edward, Thomas, Richard and William, their executours and administratours, +seruants factours and deputies, and all such as shall be so appointed, +nominated or admitted, to be parteners or aduenturers in the saide trade, +or so many of them as can and will, to assemble themselues for or about any +the matters, causes, affaires or businesse of the saide trade, in any place +or places for the same conuenient, from time to time during the said terme +of 7. yeeres, within our dominions or elsewhere, and to make, ordeine, and +constitute reasonable lawes and ordinances, for the good gouernment of the +said Company, and for the better aduancement and continuance of the said +trade, and trafique, not being contrary or repugnant to the lawes, +estatutes or customes of our Realme, and the same lawes or ordinances so +made to put in vse, and execute accordingly, and at their pleasures to +reuoke the same lawes and ordinances, or any of them, as occasion shall +require. + +And in consideration that the said Edward Osborne hath bene the principall +setter foorth and doer in the opening, and putting in vse of the said +trade, we do therefore especially ordeine, constitute, and prouide by these +patents, that the saide Edward Osborne shall be gouernour of all such as by +vertue of these our letters patents, shall be parteners, aduenturers, or +trafiquers in the said trade, during the said terme of seuen yeeres, if he +so long liue: And that if the saide Edward shall happen to decease during +the saide terme, the saide Richard Staper then liuing, then the said +Richard Staper shall likewise be gouernour during the residue of the said +terme (if he so long liue) and that if the said Edward and Richard shall +both happen to decease during the said terme, then the partners or +aduenturers for the time being, or the greatest, part of them, shall from +time to time as necessitie shall require, choose and elect a gouernour of +the said Company. + +Prouided alwayes, that if there shall happen any great or vrgent occasion +to remoue or displace any person that shall be gouernour of the saide +fellowship, that then it shall, and may be lawfull for vs, our heires and +successours, to remooue, and displace euery such gouernour, and to place +another of the said fellowship in the same office, during such time as such +person should haue enioyed the same, according to this our graunt, if there +had bene no cause to the contrary. + +And we further for vs, our heires, and successors, of our especiall grace, +certaine knowledge, and meere motion, do graunt to the said Edward Osborne, +Thomas Smith, Richard Staper, and William Garret, their executors and +administrators, that nothing shall bee done to be of force or validitie +touching the sayde trade or trafique, or the exercise thereof, without or +against the consent of the saide Edward, during such time as hee shall bee +Gouernour as afore is saide. And after that time without the consent of the +Gouernour for the time being, and the more part of the said Company. + +And further, wee of our more ample and abundant grace, meere motion and +certame knowledge, haue graunted, and by these patents for vs, our heires +and successors, doe graunt to the saide Edward, Thomas, Richard and +William, their executors and administrators, that they, the saide Edward, +Thomas, Richard and William, their executors and administrators, and the +said person and persons, by them the said Edward and Richard to be +nominated, or appointed as afore is said, together, with such two other +persons, as wee our heires or successors from time to time during the sayd +terme shall nominate, shall haue the whole trade and trafique, and the +whole entire onely libertie, vse and priuilege of trading, and trafiquing, +and vsing feate of marchandise, into, and from the said dominions of the +said Grand Signior, and euery of them. And when there shall be no such +persons so nominated or appointed by vs, our heires or successors, that +then the said Edward Osborne, Thomas Smith, Richard Staper, and William +Garret, their executors and administrators, and such persons by them so to +be appointed, shall haue the saide whole trade and trafique, and the whole +entire, and onely libertie, vse, and priuilege of trading and trafiquing +aforesaid. And that they the said Edward, Thomas, Richard and William, +their executors and administrators, and also al such as shal so be +nominated or appointed to be partners or aduenturers in the said trade, +according to such agreement as is abouesaid, and euery of them, their +seruants, factors and deputies, shal haue ful and free authoritie, +libertie, facultie, licence and power to trade and trafique into and from +all and euery of the saide dominions of the saide Grand Signior, and into, +and from all places where, by occasion of the said trade, they shall happen +to arriue or come, whether they be Christians, Turkes, Gentiles or other, +and into, and from all Seas, riuers, ports, regions, territories, +dominions, coastes, and places with their ships, barks, pinnesses and other +vessels, and with such mariners and men, as they will lead with them or +send for the said trade, as they shall thinke good at their owne proper +cost and expenses, any law, statute, vsage, or matter whatsoeuer to the +contrary notwistanding. And that it shalbe lawful for the said Edward, +Thomas, Richard and William, and to the person aforesaid, and to and for +the mariners and seamen to bee vsed and employed in the said trade and +voyage to set and place in the tops of their ships and other vessels the +armes of England with the red crosse ouer the same, as heretofore, they +haue vsed the red crosse, any matter or thing to the contrary +notwithstanding. + +And we of our further royall fauor, and of our especiall grace, certaine +knowledge and meere motion haue graunted, and by these presents doe graunt +to the said Edward Osburne, Thomas Smith, Richard Staper, and William +Garret, their executors and administrators by these presents, that the said +lands, territories, and dominions of the said Grand Signior, or any other +of them, shall not be visited, frequented, nor haunted by way of +marchandise by any other our subiects during the said terme, contrary to +the true meaning of these patents. + +And by vertue of our high prerogatiue royall (which wee will not haue +argued or brought in question) we straightly charge and commaund, and +prohibite for vs, our heires, and successours, all our subiects (of what +degree or qualitie soeuer they be) that none of them directly, or +indirectly, do visite, haunt, frequent or trade, trafique, or aduenture by +way of marchandise into, or from any of the Dominions Of the saide Grand +Signior, or other places aboue sayde by water or by lande (other then the +said Edward, Thomas, Richard and William, their executours or +administrators, or such as shalbe admitted, and nominated as is aforesaide) +without, expresse licence, agreement, and consent of the saide Gouernour, +and company or the more part of them, whereof the said Gouernour alwayes to +be one, vpon paine of our high indignation, and of forfeiture and losse, as +well of the ship and shippes, with the furniture thereof, as also of the +goods, marchandizes, and things whatsoeuer they be of those our Subiects +which shall attempt, or presume to saile, trafigue, or aduenture, to or +from any the dominions, or places abouesaid, contrary to the prohibition +aforesaid: the one halfe of the same forfeiture to be to the vse of vs, our +heires and successors, and the other halfe to the vse of the said Edward, +Thomas, Richard and William, and the said companie, and further to suffer +imprisonment during our pleasure, and such other punishment as to vs, for +so high contempt, shal seeme meete and conuenient. + +And further of our grace speciall, certaine knowledge and meere motion we +haue condescended and graunted, and by these patents for vs, our heires and +successors, doe condescend and graunt to the said Edward, Thomas, Richard +and William, their executors and administrators, that we our heires and +successors during the said terme, will not graunt liberty, licence or power +to any person or persons whatsoeuer, contrary to the tenor of these our +letters patents, to saile, passe, trade, or trafique into or from the said +dominions of the said Grand Signior or any of them, without the consent of +the said Edward, Thomas, Richard and William, and such as shalbe named or +appointed as afore is said, or the most of them. And that if at any time +hereafter during the said terme, the said Edward, Thomas, Richard and +William, or the suruiuors of them, shal admit or nominate any of our +subiects to be partners and aduenturers in the said trade to the number of +12. or vnder as afore is said, that, then we our heires and successors at +the instance and petition of the said Edward, Thomas, Richard and William, +or the suruiuors of them in our Chauncerie to be made, and vpon the sight +of these presents, will grant and make to the said Edward, Thomas, Richard +and William, of to the suruiuors of them, and to such persons as so shall +be nominated or appointed by their speciall names, surnames, and additions +as is aforesaid, new letters patents vnder the great seale of England in +due forme of law with like agreements, clauses, prohibitions, prouisoes and +articles (mutatis mutandis) as in these our letters patents are conteined, +for, and during the residue of the said terme of seuen yeres then remaining +vnexpired. And that the sight of these presents shalbe sufficient warrant +to the Lord Chancellour, or Lord keeper of the great seale for the time +being, for the making, sealing and passing of such new letters patents, +without further writ or warrant for the same to be required, had, or +obtained. + +And the said Edward Osburne, Thomas Smith, and Richard Staper, and William +Garret and such others as shalbe so nominated or appointed, as is +aforesaid, to be of their trade or companie; shall yeerely during 6. of the +last yeres of the said 7. yeres, lade out of this our Realme, and bring +home yeerely, for, and in the feate and trade of marchandizing aforesaid, +so much goods and marchandizes, as the custome, and subsidie inwards and +outwards, shall amount in the whole to the summe of 500. li. yeerely. So +that the said Edward Osburne, Thomas Smith, Richard Staper, and William +Garret and the said persons so to be nominated as is aforesaid, or any of +them, or their ship or shippes be not barred, stayed, restrained or let by +any reasonable occasion from the saide trade or trafique, and so that the +said ship or ships do not perish by any misfortune, or bee spoyled by the +way in their voyage. + +And further, the said Edward Osborne; Thomas Smith, Richard Staper, and +William Garret, and such others as shall be appointed as aforesaide to be +of their said trade or Company, shall giue notice vnto the Lord Admirall of +England, or to some of the principall officers of the Admiraltie for the +time being, of such ship or shippes as they shall set foorth in the same +voyage, and of the number of Mariners appointed to goe in the same ship or +shippes, by the space of fifteene dayes before the setting or going foorth +of the same ship or shippes. And also the said Edward Osborne, Thomas +Smith, Richard Staper and William Garret, and such other as shall be by +them the saide Edward and Richard, nominated to be of the said trade, shall +and will at the setting foorth of their ship, or shippes, for the same +voyage, permit and suffer the Master of the Ordinance of vs, our heires and +successors, or some others, our or their principall officers of the +Ordinance, to take a view of the number and quantitie of such Ordinance, +power, and munition as shall be caried in the said ship, or shippes, and +shall also at the returne of the same ship, or shippes, suffer a view to be +taken, and vpon request made, make an accompt to the saide officers of our +Ordinance, of the expenses, and wastes of the said Ordinance, power, and +munition, so to bee caried in the same ship, or shippes. + +Prouided alwayes, that if any of the said trade or Company, or their +seruants, factors, or sailers, in any ship by them laden, shall commit any +piracie or outrage vpon the seas, and that, if the said Company or societie +shall not, or do not, within reasonable time, after complaint made, or +notice giuen to the said Company, or to any of them, either satisfie or +recompense the parties that so shall fortune to be robbed, or spoiled by +any of the said Company, or sailers, in the said ships, or else shall not +do their endeuour to the vttermost oftheir reasonable power, to haue the +parties so offending punished for the same their offences, that then, and +from thencefoorth, these present letters patents shall be vtterly voyd, +cease, and determine. + +Prouided likewise, that if it shall hereafter appeare vnto vs, our heires, +or successors that this grant, or the continuance thereof in the whole, or +in any part thereof, shall not be profitable to vs, our heires, our +successors, or to this our Realme, that then, and from thencefoorth, vpon, +and after one full yeeres warning, to be giuen vnto the said Company, or to +the Gouernour thereof, by vs, our heires or successors, this present grant +shall cease, be voyd, and determine, to all intents, constructions, and +purposes. + +Prouided also, that we, our heires and successors, from time to time, +during the said 7. yeeres, may lawfully nominate, appoint, and authorise +two persons, being fit men, to be of the saide company, and for want or +lacke of them, two others to be aduenturers in the said trade, for such +stocke and summe of money, as they shall put in, so that the said persons +to bee nominated, or authorised, shall be contributorie to all charges of +the said trade and aduenture indifferently, according to their stockes: and +as other aduenturers of the said trade shall doe for their stockes, and so +that likewise they doe obserue the orders of the said Company, allowable by +this our graunt, and that such persons so to be appointed by vs, our heires +or successors, shall and may, with the saide Company, and fellowship, vse +the trade and feate of marchandise aforesaide, and all the liberties and +priuileges herein before granted, according to the meaning of these our +letters patents, any thing in these our letters patents contained to the +contrary notwithstanding. + +And further of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion, we +haue condescended and granted, and by these presents for vs, our heires and +successors, doe condescend, and grant to the said Edward Osborne, Thomas +Smith, Richard Staper, and William Garret, their executors, and +administrators, that if at the ende of the said terme of seuen yeeres, it +shall seeme meete, and conuenient vnto the saide Edward Osborne, Thomas +Smith, Richard Staper, and William Garret, or the suruiuer of them, that +this present grant shall be continued: and if that also it shall appeare +vnto vs, our heires, or successors, that the continuance thereof shall not +be preiudiciall, or hurtfull to this our Realme, that then we, our heires, +or successors, at the instance and petition of the said Edward Osborne, +Thomas Smith, Richard Staper, and William Garret, or the suruiuor of them, +to be made to vs, our heires, or successors, wil grant and make to the said +Edward, Thomas, Richard and William, or the suruiuor of them, and to such +other persons, as so shall be by the said Edward and Richard nominated and +appointed, new letters patents, vnder the great seale of England, in due +forme of lawe, with like couenants, grants, clauses, and articles, as in +these presents are contained, or with addition of other necessary articles, +or change of these, in some part, for and during the full terme of seuen +yeeres then next following. Willing, and straightly commanding, and +charging all and singuler our Admirals, Viceadmirals, Justices, Maiors, +Sheriffes Escheaters, Constables, Bailiffes, and all and singuler our other +officers, ministers, liege men, and subiects whatsoeuer, to be aiding, +fauouring, helping, and assisting vnto the said Gouernour, and company, and +their successors, and to their Deputies, officers, seruants, assignes, and +ministers, and euery of them, in executing and enioying the premisses, as +well on land as on sea, from time to time, and at all times when you, or +any of you, shall be thereunto required, any statute, act, ordinance, +prouiso, proclamation, or restraint heretofore had, made, set forth, +ordained, or prouided, or any other matter, cause or thing to the contrary, +in any wise notwithstanding. + +In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our letters to be made patents, +witnesse our selfe, at Westminster, the 11. day of September, in the 23. +yeere of our raigne. + + * * * * * + +The Queenes Commission vnder the great seale, to her seruant master William + Hareborne, to be her maiesties Ambassadour or Agent, in the partes of + Turkie. 1582. + +Elizabetha, Dei optimi Maximi, conditoris, et rectoris vnici clementia, +Anglię, Francię, et Hibernię Regina, verę fidei contra Idololatras falso +Christi nomen profitentes inuicta et potentissima propugnatrix, vniuersis, +et singulis pręsentes has literas visuris, et inspecturis, salutem. Cłm, +augustissimus, et inuictissimus princeps, Zuldan Murad Can, Turcici regni +Dominator potentissimus imperiķque Orientis Monarcha, foedus, amicitiįmque +nobiscum percusserit, iurauerķtque, (quam nos perpetuis futuris temporibus, +quantum in nobis erit; inuiolatč seruare destinamus) ad eįmque magis +ornandam, illustrandįmque concesserit idem augustissimus Imperator subditis +nostris liberam suas merces excercendi rationem in omnibus Musulmanici +imperij sui partibus, cum tam ampla priuilegorum concessione, quąm alijs +bonis principibus, socijs, et foederatis nostris largitus est, quoram +priuilegiorum donationem nos gratam, acceptįmque habentes, pari cum animi +gratitudine colere certum habemus deliberatśmque, nihil, in votis, habentes +potiłs, quąm bonorum erga nos principum animos beneuolos honoratissima +mente fouere, promererķque: Sciatis, nos de singulari erga nos, +obsequiśmque nostrum, fide, obseruantia, prudentia, et dextaitate multum +nobis chari Guilielmi Hareborne, č custodibus corporis nostri vnius, +plurimłm confidentes, eum Oratorem, Nuntium, Procuratorem, et Agentem +nostrum certum et indubitatum ordinamus, facimus, et constituimus, per +pręsentes: dantes ei, et concedentes potestatem, et authoritatem, nomine +nostro, et pro nobis prędictum amicitię foedus confirmandi, priuilegiorum +concessionem in manus suas capiendi, ratįmque habendi, omnibus et singulis +subditis nostris, Musulmanicis oris terrķsque negotiantibus, pro Maiestatis +nostrę authoritate pręscipiendi, mandanķque, vt sint in suis commercijs, +quamdiu, quotiésque cum Mansulmanicis versantur, dictorum, priuilegiorum +pręscripto obtemperantes in omnibus, ac per omnia, ad obsequia tanta +amicitia digna se componentes, ac in delinquentes in foedus nostrum +iustitiam exequatur. Potestatem, et authoritatem ei damus in omnes, et +singulos subditos nostros in quibuscunque et locis, et partibus Musulmanici +Imperij dominationi subiectis negotiantes, constituendi emporiorum suorum +sedes in quibus voluerit portubus, et ciuitatibus, in alijs vetandi, in +constitutis autem emporiorum sedibus, consules curandi, leges +pręceptionésque ferendi, condendique, quarum ex pręscripto dicti nostri +subditi, et eorum quilibet sese publicč, et priuatim gerant, eorum +violatores corrigendi, castigandķque omnia denique et singula faciendi, +perimplendķque, quę ad dictorum subditorum nostrorum honestam +gubernationem, et commercij exercendi in illis partibus rationem pertinent: +promittentes bona fide, et in verbo Regio, nos ratum, gratum, et firmum +habituas, quęcunque dictus Orator, et Agens noster, ą legibus nostris non +abhorrentia in pręmissis aut pręmissorum aliquo fecerķt. In cuius rei +testimonium, has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes, et sigilli nostri +impressione iussimus muniri. Datum č castro nostro Windesorię, 20. die +Mensis Nouembris, Anno Iesu Christi 1582. regni verņ nostri, vicesimo +quarto. + + +The same in English. + +Elizabeth, by the clemencie of the most good and most great God, the only +creator and gouernour of all things, Queene of England, France, and +Ireland, inuincible, and most mightie defender of the true faith, against +all Idolaters falsly professing the name of Christ, to all and singuler +persons, to whose sight and view these our present letters may come, +greeting. Whereas the most renowmed, and most inuincible Prince Zuldan +Marad Can, the most mighty gouernour of the kingdom of Turkie, and Monarch +of the East Empire, hath entered into league and friendship with vs, (which +we for our part, as much as lieth in vs, doe purpose solemnly, and +inuiolablie to keepe in all times to come) and whereas for the better +countenancing and authorizing of the same, the foresayd renowmed Emperour +hath graunted vnto our subiects free libertie of traffique, in all the +partes of his sacred Empire, with as ample and large a grant of priuileges, +as is giuen to other good Princes our neighbours and confederates, the +grant of which priuileges, we taking very thankfully, and acceptably, are +certainely, and throughly determined to keepe and mainetaine, with the like +goodnesse and curtesie of minde, desiring nothing more, then with an +honourable respect to nourish, and deserue the beneuolent affections of +good Princes toward vs: Know ye, that wee thinking well, and hauing good +confidence in the singular trustinesse, obedience, wisedome, and +disposition of our welbeloued seruant William Hareborne, one of the +Esquiers of our body, towards vs, and our seruice, doe by these presents, +make, ordaine and constitute him our true and vndoubted Orator, Messenger, +Deputie, and Agent. Giuing and granting vnto him power and authoritie, in +our name, and for vs, to confirme the foresaid league of friendship, to +take into his hands, and to ratifie the grant of the priuileges, and to +command, and enioyne by the authoritie of our Maiestie, all and singular +our Subiects trading and dealing in any of the coastes and kingdomes of +that Empire, that as long as they remaine in traffique with his subiects, +they be obedient to the prescription and order of the foresayd priuileges, +applying themselues in all things, and through all things, to such duties +and seruices as appertaine to so great a league and friendship, and the +offenders agaynst this our league to receiue iustice, and punishment +accordingly. We further giue unto him power and authoritie ouer all and +singuler our Subiects, dealing, and vsing traffique in any place or part +whatsoeuer, subiect to the gouernment of that Empire, to appoint the places +of their traffiques, in what Hauen or Citie it shall please him, and to +prohibite them from all other places, and wheresoeuer their traffiques are +appointed to bee kept, there to make and create Consuls or Gouernors, to +enact lawes and statutes, by the vertue and tenor whereof all our foresayd +subiects, and euery one of them, shall both publikely and priuately vse and +behaue themselues, to correct and punish the breakers of those lawes: and +last of all, to doe and fulfill all and singular things whatsoeuer, which +shall seeme requisite and conuenient for the honest and orderly gouernment +of our said subiects, and of the maner of their trafique in those parts. +Promising assuredly, and in the word of a Prince, that whatsoeuer shall be +done of our sayd Orator and Agent, in all, or in any of the premisses, not +repugnant and contrary to our lawes, shall be accepted, ratified, and +confirmed by vs. In witness whereof we haue caused these our letters to be +made patents, and our seale thereunto to be appensed. Giuen at our Castle +of Windsore, the 20. day of Nouember, in the yeere of Christ 1582. and of +our raigne the 24. + + * * * * * + +The Queenes Letter to the great Turke 1582. written in commendation of + Master Hareborne, when he was sent Ambassadour. + +Elizabeth &c. Augustissimo inuictissimóque principi, etc Cłm ad postulatum +nostrum Cęsarea vestra Maiestas, anno saluatoris nostri Iesu 1580. pacis +foedus nobiscum pepigerit, coniunctum cum liberalissima priuilegiorum +quorundam concessione, quorum beneficio subditi nostri cum omni securitate +tutissimč liberriméque ad vniuersas et singulas Musulmanici imperij vestri +partes terra marķque proficisci, in ijsque commercij exercendi gratia, +negotiari, habitare, manere, exindéque ire et redire cum volent queant, ab +ijs qui sub Cęsarea vestra Maiestate in magistratu sunt vbique locorum +protegendi defendendķque sine vlla vel corporum, vel bonorum lęsione: nos +tantę concessionis beneficium gratum acceptśmque habentes, quantum in nobis +est, approbamus confirmamśsque: pollicentes in verbo regio, quod nos eandem +pacem sine vlla violatione sartam tectįmque conseruabimus: faciemśsque vt +subditi nostri priuilegiorum sibi indultorum concessione ita vtantur, vt +Cęsaream vestram Maiestatem magnificentissimę suę liberalitatis nunquam +poenitere queat. Quoniam autem concessionis huius virtus in vsu potiłs quam +verbis, Maiestatis vtriśsque nostrum sententiā, ponenda videtur, voluimus +hunc mandatarium virum Guilielmum Hareborne, ex satellitibus quibus ad +corporis nostri tutelam vtimur vnum, virum compluribus virtutibus ornatum, +ad Cęsaream vestram, Maiestatem ablegare, qui tum nomine nostro vobis +gratias ageret; tum vt eius opera vteremur ad eam subditorum nostrorum +mercimoniorum rationem stabiliendam, tam in Imperiali vestra ciuitate +Constantinopoli, quąm alijs imperij vestri Musulmanici locis, quę ex +pręscripto priuilegiorum, Cęsareę vestrę Maiestatis benignķtate, +conceditur, et ex vsu subditorum vtriśsque nostrum erit. Ad quam rem +quoniam opus illi erit Cęsareę vestrę Maiestatis authoritate, summa +contentione ab eadem rogarmus, velit id agere apud omnes qui sub se in +magistratu sunt, vt quibuscunque poterunt melioribus modis huic nostro +mandatario in Cęsareę vestrę Maiestatis placito exequendo, adiutores sint +et esse velint. Ei enim hanc curam demandauimus, in qua quąm fidem suam sit +honestč liberaturus erga Maiestatem vtriusque nostrum neutiquam dubitamus: +cui etiam, vt in omnibus sint obtemperantes nostri subditi, quantum Cęsareę +vestrę Maiestatis concessio patitur, volumus. [Sidenote: Mustafa +interpres.] Pręterea, cum pręclarus vir Mustaia sacrę Cęsareę vestrę +Maiestatis Musulmanorum interpres egregiam nauarit operam vt hoc inter nos +foedus fieret, rogamus summoperč vt in nostram gratiam eum in +Mustafaracarum ordinem Cęsarea vestra Maiestas recipere dignetur. Si in his +alijsque omnibus honestis causis hic noster agens subitķque nostri +Imperatorię vestrę sublimitatis ęquanimitatem senserint, florebit inter has +gentes nobile commercium, et nos omnibus officijs huic vestrę Maiestatis +fauori et beneuolentię (si vlla ratione rebus vestris commodare poterimus) +respondere libentissimč semper paratę erimus. Deus optimus maximus mundi +opifex, etc. + + +The same in English. + +Elizabeth by the grace of the most mightie God and only creator of heauen +and earth, of England, France, and Ireland Queene, the most inuincible and +most mightie defender of the Christian faith against all kind of idolatries +of all that liue among the Christians and falsly professe the name of +Christ, vnto the most Imperiall and most inuincible prince, Sultan Murad +Can, the most mighty ruler of the kingdom of Turkie, sole aboue all, and +most soueraigne Monarch of the East Empire, greeting. + +Whereas at our request your Imperiall Maiestie in the yeere of our Sauiour +Iesus 1580. hath entered into a league of peace with vs, whereunto was +vnited a most large and bountifull grant of certaine priuileges, by +benefite whereof our subiects may with all securitie most safely and freely +trauell by Sea and land into all and singular parts of your Musulmanlike +Empire, and in the same exercising the trade of marchandise, may traffique, +dwell, remaine, depart from thence, and returne thither at their pleasure, +and in places be maintained and defended from all damage of bodies and +goods, by such as are in authoritie vnder your Imperiall Maiestie: we +thankfully and gratefully receiuing the benefite of so great a priuilege, +as much as in vs lieth doe approue and confirme the same, promising in the +worde of a Prince, that we will keepe the saide league perfect and +inuiolable, and will cause our subiects so to vse the grant of the +priuileges giuen vnto them, as your Imperiall Maiestie shall neuer haue +occasion to repent you of your most princely liberalitie. [Sidenote: M. +Wil. Hareborne sent ambassador to the Turke.] And because the force of this +grant, in the iudgement of both our maiesties, seemeth rather to consist in +the vse thereof then in the wordes, we thought good to send vnto your +Imperiall maiestie this our ambassadour William Hareborne, one of the +Esquiers of our body, which both on our behalfe should yeeld thanks vnto +your maiestie, and also that we might vse his good indeauour for the +establishing of such order in our subiects trade of merchandise, as well in +your Imperiall citie of Constantinople, as in other places of your +Musulmanlike Empire, as according to the prescript of the priuileges is +granted by your princely maiesties goodnesse, and shall be for the benefite +of both our subiects. For performance whereof because hee standeth in neede +of your Imperiall Maiesties authoritie, wee earnestly beseech the same, +that you would cause all those which bee in authoritie vnder your +Highnesse, by all their best meanes to aide and assist this our Ambassadour +in executing this your Imperiall Maiesties pleasure, for vnto him wee haue +committed this charge: wherein how honestly hee will discharge his credite +toward both our Maiesties, I no whit stand in doubt: to whom also our +pleasure is, that all our subiects shall bee obedient, as farre as the +grant of your Imperiall maiestie doeth permit. [Sidenote: A request for the +preferring of Mustafa Beg.] Moreouer, whereas that woorthie personage +Mustafa, your Imperiall maiesties Interpretor, hath taken speciall paines +for the procuring of this league betweene vs, wee earnestly beseech you +that for our sakes your Imperiall Maiestie would vouchsafe to aduance him +vnto the degree of the Mustafaraks or chiefe pensioners. If in these and in +all other honest causes, our aforesayde Agent and our subiectes shall finde +your Imperiall Highnesses fauour, a noble traffique will flourish betweene +these nations, and wee (if by any way wee may stand your State in steade) +will alwayes most willingly be readie to requite this your Maiesties fauour +and good will with all kinde of good offices. Almightie God the maker of +the world preserue and keepe your Imperiall Maiestie, &c. + + * * * * * + +A Letter of the Queenes Maiestie to Alli Bassa the Turkes high Admirall, + sent by her ambassadour M. William Hareborne, and deliuered vnto him + aboord his gallie in the Arsenal. + +Elizabetha, &c. Illustrissimo viro Alli Bassa, magni Musulmanici Cęsaris +Admiralio, salutem et successus fortunatos. Non ignotum esse Excellentię +vestrę arbitramur, priuilegia quędam ą potentissimo Cęsare Musulmanico +domino vestro clementissimo subditis nostris Anglicis concessa esse, vt +illis liceat in omnibus imperij Musulmarnici prouincijs tutņ et securé +manere ac negotiari: non aliter quąm hoc ipsum Francis, Polonis, Venetis +Germanis antea indultum est. Qua ex causa nos Gulielmum Hareborne nobis +dilectum, č corporis custodibus vnum, ac multis nominibus ornatum ad +inclytam Constantinoplis ciuitatem pro agente misimus: qui, ex +priuilegiorum prędictorum pręscripto nostras et subditorum nostrorum res in +illis locis constitueret. Facere igitur non potimus, quin Excellentię +vestrę. Guilielmum hunc, pro ea qua apud magnum Cęsarem polles authoritate, +commendaremus: petentes summopere vt tutņ in mari sine Classiariorum +vestrorum violentia, et securč in portibus absque ministrorum rapinis et +iniuria, tam ipse quąm omnes Angli subditi nostri possint versori: vti pro +tenore literarum patentium ą magno Cęsare concessarum illis licere ex +illarum conspectione perspicuum esse potest. Gratissimum ergo nobis +excellentia vestra facerit, si portuum omnium, aliorśmque locorum, qui +vestrę iurisdictioni parent, custodibus, item classium et nauium pręfectis +omnibus mandare velit, vt Guilielmus iste, aliķque Angli subditi nostri cum +in illorum erunt potestate, amicč et humaniter tractarentur. Quemadmodum +nos vicissim omnes magni Cęsaris subditos omni humanitatis genere +tructabimus, si in Oceani maria, aliįue loca venerint, quę nostro parent +imperio. Postremo excellentiam vestram pro eo quem in nostros extendet +fauore ijs omnibus officijs prosequemur, quę ą gratissima principe in +optime de semerentes debent proficisci. Benč et foeliciter valeas. Datum č +castro nostro Windesorij die vicessimo mensis Nouembris, Anno Iesu Christi +saluatoris nostri 1582. Regni verņ nostri vicessimo quarto. + + * * * * * + +A briefe Remembrance of things to be indeuoured at Constantinople, and in + other places in Turkie; touching our Clothing and our Dying, and things + that bee incident to the same, and touching ample vent of our naturall + commodities, and of the labour of our poore people withall, and of the + generall enriching of this Realme: drawen by M. Richard Hakluyt of the + middle Temple, and giuen to a friend that was sent into Turkie 1582. + +1 Anile wherewith we colour Blew to be brought into this realme by seed or +roote. + +2 And the Arte of compounding of the same. + +3 And also all other herbes vsed in dying in like maner to bee brought in. + +4 And all Trees whose Leaues, Seedes, or Barkes, or Wood doe serue to that +vse, to be brought into this realme by Seed or Roote. + +5 All little Plants and Buskes seruing to that vse to be brought in. + +6 To learne to know all earths and minerals forren vsed in dying, and their +naturall places, for possible the like may here be found vpon sight. + +7 Also with the materials vsed in dying to bring in the excellencie of the +arte of dying. + +8 To procure from Muhaisira a citie in Ęgypt to Constantinople, the seed of +Sesamum the herbe, and the same into this realme. Common trade is betweene +Alexandria and Constantinople, and therefore you may easily procure the +seeds. Of this seed much oyle is made, and many mils set on worke about the +same in the sayde Muhaisira, and if this seede may prosper in England, +infinite benefite to our Clothing trade may rise by the same. This citie is +situate vpon Nilus the riuer, and thence this is brought to Venice and to +diuers other Cities of Italie, and to Antwerpe. + +9 To note all kindes of clothing in Turkie, and all degrees of their labour +in the same. + +10 To endeanour rather the vent of Kersies, then of other Clothes as a +thing more beneficiall to our people. + +11 To endeauour the sale of such our clothes as bee coloured with our owne +naturall colours as much as you can, rather then such as be coloured with +forren colours. + +12 To seeke out a vent for our Bonettos, a cap made for Barbarie, for that +the poore people may reape great profite by the trade. + +13 To endeuour vent of knit Stocks made of Norwich yarne, and of other +yarne, which brought to great trade, may turne our poore people to great +benefite, besides the vent of the substance, of our colours, and of our +diuers labour. + +14 To endeuor a vent of our Saffron for the benefit of our poore people: +for a large vent found, it setteth many on worke. + + * * * * * + +Remembrances for master S. to giue him the better occasion to informe + himselfe of some things in England, and after of some other things in + Turkie, to the great profite of the Common weale of this Countrey. + Written by the foresayd master Richard Hakluyt, for a principall English + Factor at Constantinople 1582. + +Since all men confesse (that be not barbarously bred) that men are borne as +well to seeke the common commoditie of their Countrey, as their owne +priuate benefite, it may seeme follie to perswade that point, for each man +meaneth so to doe. But wherein men should seeke the common commoditie, and +what way, and by what meane that is to bee brought about, is the point or +summe of the matter, since euery good man is ready to imploy his labour. +This is to bee done by an infinite sort of meanes, as the number of things +bee infinite that may be done for common benefite of the Realme. And as the +chiefe things so to bee done be diuers, so are they to be done by diuers +men, as they bee by wit and maner of education more fit, or lesse fit, for +this and for that. And for that of many things that tend to the common +benefite of the State, some tend more, and some lesse, I finde that no one +thing, after one other, is greater then Clothing, and the things incident +to the same. And vnderstanding that you are of right good capacitie, and +become a Factor at Constantinople, and in other partes in Turkie, I finde +no man fitter of all the English Factors there, then you. And therefore I +am so bold to put you in minde, and to tell you wherein with some indeuour +you may chaunce to doe your Countrey much good, and giue an infinite sorte +of the poore people occasion to pray for you here throughout the Realme +this that I meane is in matter of Cloth, &c. + +1 First, you cannot denie but that this Realme yeeldeth the most fine + Wooll, the most soft, the most strong Wooll, the most durable in Cloth, + and most apte of nature of all other to receiue Die, and that no Island + or any one kingdome so small doeth yeeld so great abundance of the same + and that no Wooll is lesse subiect to mothes, or to fretting in presse, + then this as the old Parliament robes of Kings, and of many noble Peeres + to be shewed may plainly testifie. + +2 There is no commoditie of this Realme that may set so many poore subiects + on worke, as this doeth, that doeth bring in so much treasure, and so + much enrich the merchant, and so much employ the Nauie of this Realme, as + this commoditie of our Wooll doeth. + +Ample and full Vent of this noble and rich commoditie is it that the common +weale of this realme doeth require. + +Spaine nowe aboundeth with Wools, and the same are Clothed. Turkie hath +Wools, and so haue diuers prouinces of Christendome and of Heathenesse, and +cloth is made of the same in diuers places. + +1 But if England haue the most fine, and the most excellent Wools of the +world in all respects (as it cannot bee denied, but it hath). 2 If there +may bee added to the same, excellent artificiall, and true making, and +excellent dying. 3 Then no doubt but that we shall haue vent for our +Clothes, although the rest of the world did abound much more with Wool then +it doeth, and although their workemanship and their dying were in euery +degree equal with ours of England, vnlesse the labour of our people +imployed that way, and the materials vsed in dying should be the cause of +the contrary by dearth. + +But if Forren nations turne their Wools, inferiour to ours, into truer and +more excellent made cloth, and shall die the same in truer, surer, and more +excellent and more delectable colours, then shall they sell and make ample +vent of their Clothes, when the English cloth of better wooll shall rest +vnsold, to the spoyle of the Merchant, of the Clothier, and of the breeder +of the wooll, and to the turning to bag and wallet of the infinite number +of the poore people imploied in clothing in seuerall degrees of labour here +in England. + +Which things wayed, I am to tell you what things I wish you in this Realme, +and after in Turkie, to indeuour from time to time, as your laisure may +permit the same. + + +Before you goe out of the Realme, that you learne: + +1 To know wooll, all kind of clothes made in this realme, and all other +employments of wooll, home or forren, be the same in Felt clokes, felt +hats, in the red knit cap for Barbarie, called Bonettos rugios colorados, +or whatsoeuer, &c. + +All the deceits in Clothmaking; as the sorting together of Wools of +seuerall natures, some of nature to shrink, some to hold out, which causeth +cloth to cockle and lie vneuen. + +The euill sorting of threed of good or bad wooll, some tootoo [Footnote: +Tootoo. The duplication is often used for the sake of emphasis. "A lesson +tootoo hard for living clay." _Spenser, Faerie Queen,_ iii., iv., 26.] hard +spun, some tootoo soft spun deliuered to be wouen. + +The faults in Weauing. + +The faults in Walking, [Footnote: A "Walker" is a fuller of cloth. "She +curst the weaver and the walker." _Boy and Mantle, Percy Rel_., iii., +5.] Rowing, and Burling and in Racking [Footnote: Stretching. "Two lutes +rack's up / To the same pitch." _The Slighted Maid_, p. 53.] the +Clothes aboue measure vpon the Teintors: all which faults may be learned of +honest men, which faults are to be knowen to the merchant, to be shunned +and not to be vsed. + +2 Then to learne of the Diers to discerne all kind of colours; as which be +good and sure, and which will not hold: which be faire, which not; which +colours by the dearth of the substances bee deare, and which by reason of +the cheapenesse of the Materials with which they be died, be cheape +colours. + +3 Then to take the names of all the materials and substaunces vsed in this +Citie or in the realme, in dying of cloth or silke. + +To learne to know them, as which be good, which bad. + +And what colours they die. + +And what prices they be of. + +And of them which bee the Naturals of this Realme, and in what part of the +Realme they are to be had. + +And of all the forren materials vsed in dying to know the very naturall +places of them, and the plentie or the scarcenesse of each of them. + +These things superficially learned in the realme before you goe, you are +the fitter in forren parts to serue your Countrey, for by this meanes you +haue an enterie into the thing that I wish you to trauell in. + + +What you shall doe in Turkie, besides the businesse of your Factorship. + +1 Forasmuch as it is reported that the Woollen clothes died in Turkie bee +most excellently died, you shall send home into this realme certaine +Mowsters or pieces of Shew to be brought to the diers hall, there to be +shewed, partly to remooue out of their heads, the tootoo great opinion they +haue concerned of their owne cunning, and partly to mooue them for shame to +endeuour to learne more knowledge to the honour of their countrey of +England, and to the vniuersall benefit of the realme. + +2 You shall deuise to amend the Dying of England, by carying hence an apte +yoong man brought vp in the Arte, or by bringing one or other from thence +of skill, or rather to deuise to bring one for Silkes, and another for +Wooll and for Woollen cloth, and if you cannot worke this by ordinarie +meanes, then to worke it by some great Bassas meane, or if your owne +credite there be not sufficient by meane of your small abode in those +parties, to worke it by the helpe of the French ambassador there resident, +for which purpose you may insinuate your selfe into his acquaintance, and +otherwise to leaue no meane vnsought that tendeth to this end, wherein you +are to doe as circumstances may permit. + +3 Then to learne to know all the materials and substances that the Turkes +vse in dying, be they of Herbes, simple or compound, be they plants, +Barkes, Wood, Berries, Seedes, Graines, or Minerall matter, or what els +soeuer. But before all other, such things as yeeld those famous colours +that carrie such speciall report of excellencie, that our Merchaunts may +bring them to this realme by ordinarie trade, as a light meane for the +better vent of our clothes. + +4 To know the vse of those, and where the naturall place of them and of ech +of them is, I meane the place where ech of them groweth or is bred. + +5 And in any wise, if Anile that coloureth blew be a naturall commodity of +those parts, and if it be compounded of an herbe, to send the same into +this realme by seed or by root in barrell of earth, with all the whole +order of sowing, setting, planting, replanting, and with the compounding of +the same, that it may become a naturall commodity in this realme as Woad +is, to this end that the high price of forreine Woad (which deuoureth +yeerely great treasure) may be brought downe. So shall the marchant buy his +cloth lesse deare, and so he shalbe able to occupy with lesse stocke, be +able to afoord cloth cheaper, make more ample vent, and also become a +greater gainer himselfe, and all this to the benefit of this realme. + +6 To do the like with herbe and plant, or tree that in dying is of any +excellent vse, as to send the same by seed, berry, root, &c: for by such +meanes Saffron was brought first into this realme, which hath sent many +poore on worke, and brought great wealth into this realme. Thus may Sumack, +the plant wherewith the most excellent blacks be died in Spaine, be brought +out of Spaine, and out of the Ilands of the same, if it will grow in this +more colde climat. For thus was Woad brought into this realme, and came to +good perfection, to the great losse of the French our olde enemies. And it +doth maruellously import this realme to make naturall in this realme such +things as be special in the dying of our clothes. And to speake of such +things as colour blew, they are of greatest vse, and are grounds of the +most excellent colours, and therefore of all other to be brought into this +realme, be it Anile or any other materiall of that quality. + +7 And because yellowes and greenes are colours of small prices in this +realme, by reason that Olde and Greenweed wherewith they be died be +naturall here, and in great plenty, therefore to bring our clothes so died +to common sale in Turkie were to the great benefit of the merchant, and +other poore subiects of this realme, for in sale of such our owne naturall +colours we consume not our treasure in forren colours, and yet we sell our +owne trifles dearely perhaps. + +8 The woolles being naturall, and excellent colours for dying becomming by +this meanes here also naturall, in all the arte of Clothing then we want +but one onely speciall thing. For in this so temperate a climat our people +may labor the yere thorowout, whereas in some regions of the world they +cannot worke for extreme heat, as in some other regions they cannot worke +for extreme colde a good part of the yere. And the people of this realme by +the great and blessed abundance of victuall are cheaply fed, and therefore +may afoord their labour cheape. And where the Clothiers in Flanders by the +Flatnesse of their riuers cannot make Walkmilles [Footnote: Fulling, or the +art of scouring, cleansing, and thickening cloth, &c., in a mill, makes the +material more compact and durable. Walkmill is the old name for a +fullingmill.] for their clothes, but are forced to thicken and dresse all +their clothes by the foot and by the labour of men, whereby their clothes +are raised to an higher price, we of England haue in all Shires store of +milles vpon falling riuers. And these riuers being in temperate zones are +not dried vp in Summer with drought and heat as the riuers be in Spaine and +in hotter regions, nor frozen vp in Winter as all the riuers be in all the +North regions of the world: so as our milles may go and worke at all times, +and dresse clothes cheaply. Then we haue also for scowring our clothes +earths and claies, as Walkers clay, [Footnote: Fuller's earth, which +attains a thickness of 150 feet near Bath.] and the clay of Oborne little +inferior to Sope in scowring and in thicking. Then also haue we some +reasonable store of Alum and Copporas here made for dying, and are like to +haue increase of the same. Then we haue many good waters apt for dying, and +people to spin and to doe the rest of all the labours we want not. +[Sidenote: Supply of the want of oile.] So as there wanteth, if colours +might be brought in and made naturall, but onely Oile: the want whereof if +any man could deuise to supply at the full with any thing that might become +naturall in this realme, he whatsoeuer he were that could bring it about, +might deserue immortall fame in this our Common wealth, and such a deuise +was offered to the Parliament and refused, because they denied to endow him +with a certaine liberty, some others hauing obtained the same before, that +practised to worke that effect by Radish seed, which onely made a triall of +small quantity, and that went no further, to make that Oile in plenty: and +now he that offered this deuise was a marchant, and is dead, and withall +the deuise is dead with him. + +It is written by one that wrote of Afrike, [Sidenote: Leo Africanus lib. +8.] that in Egypt in a city called Muhaisira there be many milles imployed +in making of Oile of the seed of an herbe called Sesamum. Pena and Lobell, +Physicians, write in our time, that this herbe is a codded herbe full of +oily seed, and that there is plenty of this seede brought out of Egypt to +diuers Cities in Italy. If this herbe will prosper in this realme, our +marchants may easily bring of it, &c. + +9 Hauing heerein thus troubled you by raising to your minde the +consideration of certaine things, it shall not be impertinent to tell you +that it shall not be amisse that you note all the order of the degrees of +labour vsed in Turky, in the arte of Clothing, and to see if any way they +excell in that profession our people of these parts, and to bring notice of +the same into this realme. + +10 And if you shall finde that they make any cloth of any kind not made in +this realme, that is there of great vse, then to bring of the same into +this realme some Mowsters, that our people may fall into the trade, and +prepare the same for Turkie: for the more kinds of cloth we can deuise to +make, the more ample vent of our commoditie we shall haue, and the more +sale of the labour of our poore subiects that els for lacke of labour +become idle and burdenous to the common weale, and hurtfull to many: and in +England we are in our clothing trade to frame our selues according to the +desires of forren nations, be it that they desire thicke or thinne, broad +or narrowe, long or short, white or blacke. + +11 But with this prouiso alwayes, that our cloth passe out with as much +labour of our people as may be, wherein great consideration ought to be +had: for (if vent might so admit it) as it were the greatest madnesse in +the world for vs to vent our wooll not clothed, so were it madnesse to vent +our wooll in part or in the whole turned into broad cloth, if we might vent +the same in Kersies: for there is great difference in profit to our people +betweene the clothing of a sacke of wooll in the one, and the like sacke of +wooll in the other, of which I wish the marchant of England to haue as +great care as he may for the vniuersall benefit of the poore: and the +turning of a sacke of wooll into Bonets is better then both &c. And also +not to cary out of the realme any cloth white, but died if it may be, that +the subiects of this realme may take as much benefit as is possible, and +rather to seeke the vent of the clothes died with the naturall colours of +England, then such as be died with forren colours. + +12 And if of necessity we must be forced to receiue certaine colours from +forren parts, for that this climat will not breed them, I wish that our +marchants procure Anile and such other things to be planted in like climats +where now it growes, in diuers others places, that this realme may haue +that brought in for as base prices as is possible, and that falling out +with one place we may receiue the same from another, and not buy the same +at the second or the third hand &c. For if a commodity that is to be had of +meere necessity, be in one hand, it is dearely purchased. + +1. How many seuerall colours be died is to be learned of our Diers before +you depart. + +2 Then how many of those colours England doth die of her owne naturall home +materials and substances, and how many not. + +3 Then to bring into this realme herbs and plants to become naturall in our +soiles, that may die the rest of the colours, that presently of our owne +things here growing we can not yet die, and this from all forren places. + +4 There is a wood called Logwood or Palo Campechio, it is cheape and +yeeldeth a glorious blew, but our workmen can not make it sure. This wood +you must take with you, and see whether the Silke diers or Wooll diers in +Turky can doe it, with this one you may inrich your selfe very much, and +therefore it is to be endeuoured earnestly by you. It may bring downe the +price of Woad and of Anile. + + +Other some things to be remembred. + +If you can finde oat at Tripoly in Syria or elsewhere a vent for the Cappes +called in Barbarie, Bonettos colorados rugios, which is a red Scottish cap +as it were without brims, you should do your countrey much good: for as a +sacke of wooll turned into fine Deuonshire kersies doth set many more +people on worke then a sacke spunne for broad cloth in a grosser threed, so +a sacke of wool turned into those Bonets doth set many more poore people on +worke, then a sacke turned into Kersies, by reason of the knitting. And +therefore if you can indeuour that, you worke great effect. And no doubt +that a maruellous vent may be found out of them into Afrike by the way of +Alexandria, and by Alcayer [Footnote: Cairo.] Southeast and Southwest +thence. + +2 And by the vent of our knit hose of Woollen yarne, Woorsted yarne, and of +Linnen thred, great benefit to our people may arise, and a great value in +fine Kersies and in those knit wares may be couched in a small roome in the +ship. And for these things our people are growen apt, and by indeuour may +be drawen to great trade. + +3 Saffron the best of the vniuersall world groweth in this realme, and +forasmuch as it is a thing that requireth much labour in diuers sorts, and +setteth the people on worke so plentifully, I wish you to see whether you +can finde out ample vent for the same, since it is gone out of great vse in +those parts. It is a spice that is cordiall, and may be vsed in meats, and +that is excellent in dying of yellow silks. This commodity of Saffron +groweth fifty miles from Tripoli in Syria, on an high hill called in those +parts Garian, so as there you may learne at that port of Tripoli the value +of the pound, the goodnesse of it, and the places of the vent. But it is +sayd that from that hill there passeth yeerly of that commodity fifteene +moiles [Footnote: A Mule. "Well, make much of him; I see he was never born +to ride upon a moyle."--_Every man out of his humour_, ii., 3.] laden, +and that those regions notwithstanding lacke sufficiencie of that +commodity. But if a vent might be found, men would in Essex about +Saffronwalden [Footnote: Saffron Walden--_Saffron Weal-den_. The woody +Saffron Hill.] and in Cambridge shire reuiue the trade for the benefit of +the setting of the poore on worke. So would they doe in Hereford shire by +Wales, where the best of all England is, in which place the soile yeelds +the wilde Saffron commonly, which sheweth the naturall inclination of the +same soile to the bearing of the right Saffron, if the soile be manured and +that way employed. + +[Sidenote: Leo Africanus lib. 4.] 4. There is a walled towne not farre from +Barbarie, called Hubbed, toward the South from the famous towne Telensin, +[Footnote: Tlemcen, on a tributary of the Tafna, in Algeria.] about six +miles: the inhabitants of which towne in effect be all Diers. And it is +sayd that thereabout they haue plenty of Anile, and that they occupy that, +and also that they vse there in their dyings, of the Saffron aforesayd. +[Sidenote: This may be learned at Alger.] The trueth whereof, in the +Southerly ports of the Mediteran sea, is easily learned in your passage to +Tripoli, or in returne from thence homeward you may vnderstand it. It is +reported at Saffronwalden that a Pilgrim purposing to do good to his +countrey, stole an head of Saffron, and hid the same in his Palmers staffe, +which he had made hollow before of purpose, and so he brought this root +into this realme, with venture of his life: for if he had bene taken, by +the law of the countrey from whence it came, he had died for the fact. If +the like loue in this our age were in our people that now become great +trauellers, many knowledges, and many trades, and many herbes and plants +might be brought into this realme that might doe the realme good. And the +Romans hauing that care, brought from all coasts of the world into Italie +all arts and sciences, and all kinds of beasts and fowile, and all herbs, +trees, busks and plants that might yeeld profit or pleasure to their +countrey of Italie. And if this care had not bene heretofore in our +ancestors, then, had our life bene sauage now, for then we had not had +Wheat nor Rie, Peaze nor Beanes, Barley nor Oats, Peare nor Apple, Vine nor +many other profitable and pleasant plants, Bull nor Cow, Sheepe nor Swine, +Horse nor Mare, Cocke nor Hen, nor a number of other things that we inioy, +without which our life were to be sayd barbarous: for these things and a +thousand that we vse more the first inhabitors of this Iland found not +here. And in time of memory things haue bene brought in that were not here +before, as the Damaske rose by Doctour Linaker king Henry the seuenth and +king Henry 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 trauell, 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 Archbishop 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 Tobacco hath bene brought hither out of +the West Indies, [Footnote: As these instructions were written in 1582, how +can Tobacco have been introduced by Raleigh in 1586, as generally asserted? +It is not more probable that it dates from Sir John Hawkin's voyage 1565?] +it groweth heere, and with the herbe many haue bene eased of the reumes, +&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 +remembrance, to haue a desire to doe 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 +Almes-houses, 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 Kowes [Footnote: Cowes.] in the Isle of Wight. +[Sidenote: Ianuary the foureteenth.] 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 Capo de Sant +Vincente. The same day we were thwart of Capo Santo 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 Capo de Gates. The 29 at night we had sight +of Capo de Palos. The 30 in the morning we did see the high land of Denia, +[Footnote: Near Cape Antonio.] 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. [Footnote: A small island south of Majorca.] [Sidenote: +February the first.] The first of February we put into a Port in Mallorca, +[Footnote: Maiorca.] 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. [Sidenote: The shippes men goe on land at Porto de Sant Pedro.] +The first man we met on land was a simple Shepheard, of whom we demanded +whether wee 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 be came +aboord once or twise, and had the best cheare that we could make him: and +our Ambassadour himselfe talked with him, and still be 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. +[Sidenote: The Ambassadour betrayed.] 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. [Sidenote: February the sixth.] +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 +manner 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. [Sidenote: +The English men are surprised.] 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, and they sayd to our men it was for no hurt, but that the +Viceroy of the Iland would come aboard to see the shippe. But they +presently sent the Purser to the Towne of Maiorca, where he was examined by +the Viceroy very straightly, what their shippe and captaine were, and what +voyage they intended, but he confessed nothing at all. In the meane time +they in the Towne were likewise straightly examined by a Priest and other +officers vpon their othes: who for their othes sake declared the whole +estate of their voyage. The Ambassadours man was a French man, and +therefore was suffered to goe to the shippe on a message, but he could tell +the Ambassadour none other newes, but that the Viceroy would come aboord +the shippe, and that our men should come with him, but they had another +meaning. For the Marseilian Marchants were stayed in like maner in the +Towne, onely to make a better shew vnto vs. But in the meane time, being +there three or foure dayes, there came men vnto vs euery day, more or +lesse, but one day especially there came two men on horsebacke, whom we +tooke to be officers, being lusty men, and very well horsed. These men +desired to speake with our Captaine (for all things that passed there were +done in the name of our Captaine Iohn Gray) for it was sayd by vs there, +that he was Captaine of one of her Maiesties shippes: wherefore all things +passed in his name: and the Ambassadour not seene in any thing but rather +concealed, and yet did all, because of his tongue and good inditing in that +language. For he himselfe went on land clothed in Veluet, and talked with +these men, and with him ten or twelue lusty fellowes well weaponed, ech one +hauing a Boarespeare or a Caliuer, the Captaine Iohn Gray being one of +them, and our boat lying by very warely kept and ready. For then wee began +to suspect, because the place was more frequented with men than it was +woont. [Sidenote: The Spaniards come to the sea side to speak with the +captaine.] The men on horsebacke were in doubt to come neere, because hee +came so well weaponed. But they bade him welcome, and gaue him great +salutations, in words as their maner is: and demanded why he came so +strong, for they sayd he needed not to feare any man in the Iland. Answere +was made, that it was the maner of English Captaines to goe with their +guard in strange places. Then they tolde our Ambassador (thinking him to be +the Captaine) that they were sent from the Viceroy to know what they did +lacke, for they promised him beefe or mutton, or any thing that was in the +Iland to be had, but their purpose was to haue gotten more of our men if +they could, and they sayde that wee should haue our men againe the next +day: with such prety delusions they fed vs still. Then our Ambassadour did +write a letter to the Viceroy in her Maiesties name, and in our Captaine +Iohn Grayes name, and not in his owne, and sent it by them, desiring him to +send his men, and not to trouble him in his voyage, for he had giuen him no +such cause, nor any of his. So these men departed with great courtesie in +words on both parts. And in all this time we did see men on horsebacke and +on foot in the woods and trees more then they were accustomed to be, but we +could perceiue nothing thereby. [Sidenote: The Spaniards come again to +parle.] The next day, or the second, came either foure or sixe of the best +of them as wee thought (the Viceroy excepted) and very many men besides in +the fieldes, both on foot and on horse, but came not neere the water side. +And those in like order desired to speake with the Captaine and that when +he came on land the trumpets might sound: but then the Ambassadour, whom +they thought to be Captaine, would not goe, nor suffer the trumpets to be +sounded, for that he thought it was a trappe to take himselfe, and more of +his company. But did send one of the principall of the Marchants to talke +with them. And the Captaine Iohn Gray went also with him, not being knowen +of the Spaniards, for he went as a souldiour. Thus they receiued of those +men the like wordes as they had of the other before mentioned, who sayd we +should haue our men againe, for they meant vs no hurt. [Sidenote: The +Ambassadour writeth to the Viceroy.] Then our Ambassadour did write another +letter, and sent it by them to the Viceroy, in like order as he did before, +but he receiued no answere of any of them. In all this time they had +priuily gathered together the principall men of the iland, and had laboured +day and night to bring downe ordinance, not making any shew of their +trecherie towards vs. But the same night following, we saw very many lights +passe in the woods among the trees. [Sidenote: The ninth of February.] And +in the morning when the watch was broken vp, being Saturday the ninth of +Februarie, at faire day light, one of our men looked foorth, and saw +standing on land the cariage of a piece: then was one commanded to goe into +the toppe, and there he did descrie two or three pieces and also many men +on the shore, with diuers weapons that they brought. Then they suddenly +tooke foure or fiue brasse pieces, and placed them on either side of the +harborough where we should go out, and hid them with stones and bushes that +we should not see them. Now I think the harborough not to be aboue the +eight part of a mile ouer. Thus perceiuing their meaning which was most +plaine: wee agreed to take vp our anker and goe out, and leaue our men +there, hauing none other way to take. Then our Ambassadour intreated the +Master of the Marseilian, his friend, to goe on land with his boat, and to +know the trueth: who satisfied his request. And at his returne he tolde vs +that it was very true, that they would lay holde of vs if they could. Then +we weighed our ankers: but hauing little winde, we towed the ship forward +with the boat. The Viceroy himselfe was at the water side with more then +fiue hundred men on both sides of the harbour as we thought. [Sidenote: The +ship Susan prepareth to defend herselfe.] And when we came out with our +shippe as far as their ordinance, our Ambassadour and the Captaine being in +their armour, the Master commanding of the company, and trimming of the +sailes, the Pilot standing on the poope, attending to his charge, with +other very well furnished, and euery man in order about their businesse +very ready, they on land on the contrary part hauing a very faire piece +mounted on the North side openly in all our sights, as the shippe passed +by, they trauersed that piece right with the maine mast or after-quarter of +the shippe, and a Gunner standing by, with a lint-stocke in his hand, about +foureteene or fifteene foot long, being (as we thought) ready to giue fire. +Our whole noise of trumpets were sounding on the poope with drumme and +flute, and a Minion of brasse on the summer decke, with two or three other +pieces, alwayes by our Gunners trauersed mouth to mouth with theirs on +land, still looking when they on land should shoot, for to answere them +againe. The Pilot standing on the poope, seeing this readinesse, and the +shippe going very softly, because of the calmenesse of the winde, he called +to them on the South side, where the Viceroy was, and sayd vnto him: Haue +you warres with vs? If you haue, it is more then we know; but by your +prouision it seemeth so: if you haue, shoot in Gods name, and spare not, +but they held all fast and shot not. Then the Viceroy himselfe held vp a +paper, and sayd he, had a letter for our Captaine, and desired vs to stay +for it. Then we answered and sayd we would not; but willed him to send it +by the Marseilians boat, and our men also, All this while, our trumpets, +drum and flute sounded, and so we passed out in the face of them all. When +they perceiued that they could lay no holde on vs, they presently sent to +the Towne for our men, whom within lesse then three houres after they sent +aboord with the sayd letter, wherein he desired our Captaine and his +company not to take it in ill part, for he meant them no harme, but would +haue seene our shippe. His letter did import these and such like faire +speeches: for it altogether contained courteous salutations, saying that he +might boldly come into any port within his Iland, and that he and his would +shew him what friendship they might: and that the iniury that was offered +was done at the requst of the Shepheards; and poore people of the countrey, +for the more safegard of their flockes, and because it was not a thing +vsuall to haue any such shippe to come into that port, with many other +deceitfull words in the sayd letter. [Sidenote: The effect of the +Ambassadours answere.] Then our Ambassadour wrote vnto him another letter +to answer that, and gaue him thanks for his men that he had sent him, and +also for his good will, and sent him a present. This done, we shot off +halfe a dozen pieces, hoised our sailes, and departed on our voyage. Then +the Purser and the rest of our men that had beene in holde, tolde vs that +they did see the Captaine, and other gentlemen of the Iland, hauing their +buskins and stockings torne from their legges, with labouring in the bushes +day and night to make that sudden prouision. The 12 of February we saw an +Iland of Africa side called Galata, [Footnote: Galita, off Cape Serrat, in +Tunis.] where they vse to drag out of the Sea much Corall, and we saw +likewise Sardinia, which is an Iland subiect to Spaine. The 13 in the +morning we were hard by Sardinia. The 15 we did see an Iland neere Sicilia, +and an Iland on Africa side called Cysimbre. [Footnote: Zembra, off Cape +Bon.] The same day likewise we saw an Iland called Pantalaria, and that +night we were thwart the middle of Sicilia. The 16 at night we were as +farre as Capo Passaro, which is the Southeast part of Sicilia., The 24 we +were put into a port called Porte de Conte, in an Iland called Cephalonia: +it is an out Iland in the dominions of Grecia, and now at this present +gouerned by the Signory of Venice, as the rest of Grecia is vnder the +Turke, for the most part. The 27 we came from thence, and that day arriued +at Zante which is also in Grecia: for at this present wee entred the parts +of Grecia. The second of March we came from Zante; and the same day were +thwart of an Iland called Prodeno [Footnote: Probably Strivali.] and the 4 +we were thwart of an Iland called Sapientia [Footnote: Off Cape Gallo.] +againe. There standeth a faire Towne and a Castle on the maine ouer against +it, called Modon. The same day by reason of contrary windes we put backe +againe to Prodeno, because we could not fetch Sapientia. The ninth we came +from thence, and were as farre as Sapientia againe. The tenth we were as +farre shot as Capo Matapan; and that day we entered the Archipelago, and +passed thorow betweene Cerigo and Capo Malio. [Footnote: Cape Malea.] This +Cerigo is an Iland where one Menelaus did sometimes reigne, from whome was +stollen by Paris faire Helena, and carried to Troy, as ancient Recordes doe +declare. The same day we had sight of a little Iland called Bellapola, and +did likewise see both the Milos, [Footnote: Milo and Anti-Milo, the latter +a rocky islet, six miles north-west of Milo.] being Ilands in the +Archipelago. The 11 in the morning we were hard by an Iland called +Falconara, [Footnote: Falconers.] and the Iland of the Antemila. [Footnote: +Ante-Milo.] The 12 in the morning we were betweene Fermenia [Footnote: +Thermia, so called from the warm springs at the foot of Santa Irene.] and +Zea, being both Ilands. That night wee were betweene Negroponte and Andri, +being likewise Ilands. The 13 in the morning we were hard by Parsa +[Footnote: Probably Psara.] and Sarafo, being Ilands nine or tenne miles +from Chio, and could not fetch Chio. [Sidenote: Sigra, a port in Metelin.] +So we put roome with a port in Metelin [Footnote: Mitylene, the ancient +Lesbos.] called Sigra, and about nine of the clocke at night we ankered +there. The 15 we came from thence, the sixteenth we put into Porto Delfi. +This port is 9 English miles to the Northward of the City of Chio, (and it +may be twelue of their miles) this night we stayed in the sayd port, being +in the Iland of Chio. Then went our Marchant and one or two with him to the +City of Chio. [Sidenote: Ermin, or Customer.] And when the By, who is the +gouernour of the Iland (and is in their language a Duke) had communed with +the Marchant, and those that were with him, and vnderstood of our arriuall +within his dominion, the day following he armed his gallies, and came to +welcome our Ambassadour, accompanied with the Ermine, that is, the Kings +Customer, and also the French Consull, with diuers of the chiefe of the +City, and offered him as much friendship as he could or would desire: for +he did offer to attend vpon vs, and towe vs if need were to the Castles. +The 21 we departed from thence, and thar day passed by port Sigra againe. +This Iland of Metelin is part of Asia, and is neere to Natolia. The 22 we +passed by a head land called Baberno, [Footnote: Cape Baba.] and is also in +Asia. And that day at night we passed by the Isle of Tenedo, part of Asia, +and by another Iland called Maure. And the same day we passed thorow the +straights of Galipoli, and by the Castles, and also by the Towne of +Galipoli it selfe, which standeth in Europa. And that night we were in +sight of Marmora which is neere Natolia, and part of Asia. The 23 in the +morning, we were thwart of Araclia, [Footnote: Erekli.] and that night we +ankered in Silauria. [Footnote: Silivri.] The 24 in the morning the +Marchant and the Pilot were set on land to goe to the City about the +Ambassadours businesse, but there they could not land because we had the +winde faire. That place of some is called Ponte grande, and is foure and +twenty miles on this side of Constantinople, and because of the winde, they +followed in the skiffe vntill they came to a place called Ponte picola, and +there is a little bridge; it standeth eight Turkish miles from +Constantinople, there the Marchant and the Pilot landed. At this bridge is +an house of the great Turkes with a faire Garden belonging vnto it, neere +the which is a point called Ponte S. Stephano, and there the shippe ankered +that day. The 26 day the ship came to the seuen Towers, and the 27 we came +neerer. The 29 there came three gallies to bring vs vp further: and when +the shippe came against the great Turks palace, we shot off all our +ordinance to the number of foure and thirty pieces. [Sidenote: The arriuall +of the Susan at Constantinople.] Then landed our Ambassadour, and then we +discharged foure and twentie pieces, who was receiued with more then fifty +or threescore men on horsebacke. [Sidenote: The Ambassadour giueth a +present to the great Bassa.] The ninth of April he presented the great +bassa with sixe clothes, foure canes of siluer double gilt, and one piece +of fine holland, and to three other Bassas, that is to say, the second +Bassa which is a gelded man, and his name is Mahomet Bassa, to the third +who maried the great Turks sister, and to the fourth whom they call Abraham +Bassa, to euery one of these he gaue foure clothes. [Sidenote: A man halfe +naked goeth before the greaat Bassa.] Now, before the great Bassa, and +Abraham Bassa, at their returne from the Court (and as we thinke at other +times, but at that time for a certaine) there came a man in maner of a +foole, who gaue a great shout three or foure times, crying very hollowly, +the place rebounded with the sound, and this man, say they, is a prophet of +Mahomet, his armes and legges naked, on his feet he did weare woodden +pattens of two sorts, in his hand, a flagge, or streamer set on a short +speare painted, he carried a mat and bottels, and other trumpery at his +backe, and sometimes vnder his arme, on his head he had a cappe of white +Camels haire, flat like an helmet, written about with letters, and about +his head a linnen rowle. Other seruingmen there were with the sayd Bassas, +with red attire on their heads, much like French hoods, but the long flappe +somewhat smaller towardes the end, with scuffes or plates of mettall, like +vnto the chape of an ancient arming sword, standing on their foreheads like +other Ianisaries. [The Ambassadours entertainment with the Bassas.] These +Bassas entertained vs as followeth: First, they brought vs into a hall, +there to stand on one side, and our Ambassadour and gentlemen on the other +side, who sate them downe on a bench couered with carpets, the Ambassadour +in the midst; on his left hand sate our gentlemen, and on his right hand +the Turkes, next to the doore where their master goeth in and out: the +common sort of Turkes stayed in the Court yard, not suffered to come neere +vs. When our Ambassadour had sitten halfe an houre, the Bassas (who sate by +themselues in an inner small roome) sent for him; to whom the Ambassadour +and his gentlemen went: they all kissed his hand, and presently returned +(the Ambassadour only excepted, who stayed there, and a Turks chaus +[Footnote: Interpreter.] with him) with the Ambassadour and his gentlemen +went in also so many of our men as there were presents to cary in, but +these neither kissed his hand nor taried. After this I went to visit the +church of Santa Sophia, which was the chiefe church when it was the +Christians, and now is the chiefe see and church of primacie of this Turke +present: before I entred I was willed to put off my shoes, to the end I +should not prophane their church, I being a Christian. [Sidenote: A +description of their church.] The pillers on both sides of the church are +very costly and rich, their Pulpets seemely and handsome, two are common to +preach in, the third reserued onely for their Paschall. The ground is +couered with Mats, and the walles hanged with Tapistry. They haue also +Lamps in their churches, one in the middle of the church of exceeding +greatnesse, and another in another part of the church of cleane golde, or +double gilded, full as bigge as a barrel. Round about the church there is a +gallery builded vpon rich and stately pillers. That day I was in both the +chappels, in one of the which lieth the Turkes father, and fiue of his +sonnes in tombes right costly, with their turbents very white and cleane, +shifted (as they say) euery Friday, they be not on their heads, but stand +on mouldes made for that purpose. At the endes, ouer, and about their +tombes are belts, like girdles, beset with iewels. In the other chappell +are foure other of his sonnes, and one daughter, in like order. In the +first chappell is a thing foure foot high, couered with greene, beset with +mother of pearle very richly. This is a relique of Mahomet, and standeth on +the left side of the head of the great Turks tombe. These chappels haue +their floores couered, and their walles hanged with Tapistrie of great +price, I could value the couering and hangings of one of the chappels, at +no lesse then fiue hundred poundes, besides their lamps hanging richly +gilded. These chappels haue their roofes curiously wrought with rich stone, +and gilded. And there lie the bookes of their Lawes for euery man to reade. +[Sidenote: The ship cometh to the custome house.] The 11 day of April the +shippe came to the Key of the Custome house. [Sidenote: The Ambassadour +presenteth the Admirall Vchali.] The 16 the Ambassadour and we his men went +to the Captaine Bassa, who is Admirall of the seas, his name is Vchali, he +would not receiue vs into his house, but into his gallie, to deliuer our +present, which was as followeth: Foure pieces of cloth, and two siluer pots +gilt and grauen. The poope or sterne of his gally was gilded both within +and without, and vnder his feet, and where he sate was all couered with +very rich Tapistry. Our Ambassadour and his gentlemen kissed his hand, and +then the gentlemen were commanded out, and our Ambassadour sate downe by +him on his left hand, and the chaus stood before him. Our men might walke +in the gally fore and after, some of vs taried, and some went out againe. +The gally had seuen pieces of brasse in her prowe, small and great, she had +thirty bankes or oares on either side, and at euery banke or oare seuen men +to rowe. [Sidenote: The Susan goeth from the Custome house. The Admirall +departeth to the sea.] The 18 day the shippe went from the Key. And 21 the +Admirall tooke his leaue of the great Turke, being bound to the Sea with +sixe and thirty gallies, very fairely beautified with gilding and painting, +and beset with flags and streamers, all the which gallies discharged their +ordinance: and we for his farewell gaue him one and twentie pieces. Then he +went to his house with his gallies, and the 22 he went to the Sea, and the +Castle that standeth in the water gaue him foureteene or sixteene pieces: +and when he came against the Turks Seraglio he shot off all his caliuers +and his great pieces, and so hee went his way. [Sidenote: The Ambassadour +repaireth to the great Turks court.] The 24 our Ambassadour went to the +Court, whose entertainement with the order therof followeth. When wee came +first on land there was way made for vs by two or three Bassaes and diuers +chauses on horsebacke with their men on foot, to accompany our Ambassadour +to the Court. Also they brought horses for him and his gentlemen for to +ride, which were very richly furnished: and by the way there met with vs +other chauses to accompany vs to the Court. When we came there wee passed +thorow two gates, at the second gate there stood very many men with horses +attending on their masters. When we came within that gate we were within a +very faire Court yard, in compasse twise so bigge as Pauls Church-yard. On +the right hand of the sayd Court was a faire gallerie like an Alley, and +within it were placed railes and such other prouision. On the left side was +the like, halfe the Court ouer: it was diuided into two parts, the +innermost fairer then the other. The other part of that side is the place +where the Councell doe vsually sit, and at the inner end of that is a faire +place to sit in, much like vnto that place in Pauls Church-yard, where the +Maior and his brethren vse to sit, thither was our Ambassador brought, and +set in that place. Within that sayde place is another like open roome, +where hee did eate. [Sidenote: The entertainment at dinner of the +Ambassadours men.] Assoone as wee came in, wee were placed in the innermost +alley of the second roome, on the left side of the Court, which was spread +with carpets on the ground fourescore or fourescore and tenne foot long, +with an hundred and fiftie seuerall dishes set thereon, that is to say, +Mutton boiled and rosted, Rice diuersly dressed, Fritters of the finest +fashion, and dishes daintily dight with pritty pappe, with infinite others, +I know not how to expresse them. We had also rosted Hennes with sundry +sorts of fowles to me vnknowen. The gentlemen and we sate downe on the +ground, for it is their maner so to feede. There were also Greekes and +others set to furnish out the roome. Our drinke was made with Rose water +and Sugar and spices brewed together. Those that did serue vs with it had a +great bagge tied ouer their showlders, with a broad belt like an arming +belt full of plates of copper and gilt, with part of the sayd bagge vnder +his arme, and the mouth in his hand: then he had a deuise to let it out +when he would into cuppes, when we called for drinke. The Ambassadour when +hee had eaten, passed by vs, with the chauses aforesayd, and sate him downe +in an inner roome. This place where he sate was against the gate where we +came in, and hard by the Councell chamber end, somewhat on the left side of +the Court, this was at the East end of the Court, for we came in at the +West. All this time our presents stood by vs vntill we had dined, and diner +once ended, this was their order of taking vp the dishes. Certaine were +called in, like those of the Blacke gard in the Court of England, the Turks +call them Moglans. These came in like rude and rauening Mastifs, without +order or fashion, and made cleane riddance: for he whose hungry eye one +dish could not fill turned two, one into the other, and thus euen on the +sudden was made a cleane riddance of all. Then came certaine chauses and +brought our gentlemen to sit with the Ambassadour. Immediately came +officers and appointed Ianisers to beare from vs our presents, who caried +them on the right side of the Court, and set them hard by the doore of the +Priuy chamber, as we call it: there all things stoode for the space of an +houre. Thus the Ambassadour and his gentlemen sate still, and to the +Southward of them was a doore whereas the great Turke himselfe went in and +out at, and on the South side of that doore sate on a bench all his chiefe +lordes and gentlemen, and on the North side of the West gate stood his +gard, in number as I gesse them a thousand men. These men haue on their +heads round cappes of mettall like sculles, but sharpe in the toppe, in +this they haue a bunch of Ostridge feathers, as bigge as a brush, with the +corner or edge forward: at the lower end of these feathers was there a +smaller feather, like those that are commonly worn here. Some of his gard +had smal staues, and most of them were weaponed with bowes and arrowes. +Here they waited, during our abode at the Court, to gard their Lord. After +the Ambassadour with his gentlemen had sitten an houre and more, there came +three or foure chauses, and brought them into the great Turkes presence. At +the Priuy chamber doore two noble men tooke the Ambassadour by ech arme +one, and put their fingers within his sleeues, and so brought him to the +great Turke where he sumptuously sate alone. He kissed his hand and stood +by vntill all the gentlemen were brought before him in like maner, one by +one, and ledde backewards againe his face towards the Turke; for they might +neither tarry nor turne their backs, and in like maner returned the +Ambassadour. The salutation that the Noble men did, was taking them by the +hands. All this time they trode on cloth of golde, most of the Noble men +that sate on the South side of the Priuy chamber sate likewise on cloth of +golde. Many officers or Ianisaries there were with staues, who kept very +good order, for no Turke whatsoeuer might goe any further than they willed +him. [Sidenote: The Turke is presented with a rich present.] At our +Ambassadours entring they followed that bare his presents, to say, twelue +fine broad clothes, two pieces of fine holland, tenne pieces of plate +double gilt, one case of candlesticks, the case whereof was very large, and +three foot high and more, two very great Cannes or pots, and one lesser, +one basin and ewer, two poppiniayes of siluer, the one with two beads: they +were to drinke in: two bottles with chaines, three faire mastifs in coats +of redde cloth, three spaniels, two bloodhounds, one common hunting hound, +two greyhounds, two little dogges in coats of silke: one clocke valued at +fiue hundred pounds sterling: ouer it was a forrest with trees of siluer, +among the which were deere chased with dogs, and men on horsebacke +following, men drawing of water, others carrying mine oare on barrowes: on +the toppe of the clocke stood a castle, and on the castle a mill. All these +were of siluer. And the clocke was round beset with iewels. All the time +that we stayed at the Councell chamber doore they were telling or weighing +of money to send into Persia for his Souldiours pay. There were carried out +an hundred and three and thirty bags, and in euery bagge, as it was tolde +vs, one thousand ducats, which amounteth to three hundred and thirty +thousand, [Footnote: Blank in original.] and in sterling English money to +fourescore and nineteene thousand pounds. The Captaine of the guard in the +meane time went to the great Turke, and returned againe, then they of the +Court made obeisance to him, bowing downe their heads, and their hands on +their breasts, and he in like order resaluted them: he was in cloth of +siluer, he went and came with two or three with him and no more. Then wee +went out at the first gate, and there we were commanded to stay vntill the +Captaine of the guard was passed by and all his guard with him, part before +him and part behinde him, some on horsebacke and some on foot, but the most +part on foot carrying on their shoulders the money before mentioned, and so +we passed home. There was in the Court during our abode there, for the most +part a foole resembling the first, but not naked as was the other at the +Bassas: but he turned him continually, and cried Hough very hollowly. The +third of May I saw the Turke go to the church: he had more then two hundred +and fifty horses before and behinde him, but most before him. There were +many empty horses that came in no order. Many of his Nobilitie were in +cloth of golde, but himselfe in white sattin. There did ride behinde him +sixe or seuen youthes, one or two whereof carried water for him to drinke +as they sayd. There were many of his guard running before him and behinde +him, and when he alighted, they cried Hough very hollowly, as the aforesayd +fooles. + + * * * * * + +A letter of Mustapha Chaus to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie. + +Serenissima, prudentissima, et sacra Regia Maiestas, domina mihi semper +clementissima, meorum fidelium officiorum promptam paratissimįmque +commendationem. Generosus et virtuosus Gulielmus Hareborne legatus vestrę +sacrę Maiestatis venit ad portam excelsissimam potentissimi et +inuictissimi, et semper Augustissimi Cęsaris Sultan Murad Can, cui Deus +omnipotens benedicat. Et quanto honore, quanta dignitate, quantįque +humanitate aliorum confoederatorum legati accipiuntur, pręfatus quoque +legatus vester tanta reuerentia, tantįque amplitudine acceptus et +collocatus est in porta excelsissima. Et posthac subditi et homines vestrę +sacrę Maiestatis ad ditiones omnes Cęsareas venire, et sua negocia +tractare, et ad suam patriam redire sine impedimento, vt in literis +excelsissimi, potentissimi, et inuictissimi et semper Augustissimi Cęsaris +ad vestram sacram Regiam Maiestatem datis facile patet, tranquillč et +pacificč possunt. Ego autem imprimis diligentem operam et fidele studium et +nunc eodem confirmando nauaui, et in futurum quoque vsque in vltimum vitę +spiritum in negotijs potentissimi et inuictissimi Cęsaris et vestrę sacrę +Regię Maiestatis egregiam nauabo operam. Quod Deus omnipotens ad +emolumentum et vtilitatem vtriśsque Reipublicę secundet. Amen. Sacram +Regiam Maiestatem foelicissimč valere exopto. Datum Constantinopoli anno +1583, die octauo Maij. + + * * * * * + +A letter of M. Harborne to Mustapha, challenging him for his dishonest + dealing in translating of three of the Grand Signior his commandements. + +Domine Mustapha, nescimus quid sihi velit, cum nobis mandata ad finem +vtilem concessa perperąm reddas, quę male scripta, plus damni, quąm +vtilitatis adferant: quemadmodum constat ex tribus receptis mandatis, in +quibus summum aut principale deest aut aufertur. In posterum noli ita +nobiscum agere. Ita enim ludibrio erimus omnibus in nostrum et tuum +dedecus. Cum nos multarum actionum spem Turcicč scriptarum in tua prudentia +reponimus, ita prouidere debes, vt non eueniant huius modi mala. Quocirca +deinceps cum mandatum aut scriptum aliquod accipias, verbura ad verbum +conuertatur in Latinum sermonem, ne damnum insequatur. Nosti multos habere +nos inimicos conatibus nostris inuidentes, quoram malitię vestrę est +prudentię aduersari. Hi nostri, Secretarius et minimus interpres ex nostra +parte dicent in tribus illis receptis mandateis errata. Vt deinceps similes +errores non eueniant precamur. Ista emendes, et cętera Serenissimę regię +Maiestatis negocia, vti decet vestrę conditionis hominem, meliłs cures. Nam +vnicuique suo officio strenuč est laborandum vt debito tramite omnia +succedant: quod spero te facturtum. Bene vale. + + * * * * * + +A petition exhibited to the viceroy for reformation of sundry iniuries + offered our nation in Morea, as also for sundry demaundes needefull for + the establishing of the traffike in those parts. + +1 First that our people may be freed of such wonted molestation, as the +Ianisers of Patrasso haue alwayes from time to time offered them, not +regarding the kings commandements to the contrary. That they be remoued and +called away from thence, and none other remaine in their place. + +2 That where heretofore the kings commandements haue beene graunted to +ours, that no person whatsoeuer shall forceably take from them any of their +commodities, otherwise then paying them before the deliuerie thereof, for +the same in readie money, at such price as they themselues will, and sell +ordinarily to others, as also that no officer whatsoeuer, of the kings or +any other, shall force them to buy any commodities of that countrey, +otherwise then the needfull, at their owne will and pleasure, that the said +commandements not heretofore obeyed may be renued with such straight charge +for the execution of the same, as is requisite for their due effect. + +3 That whereas sundry exactions and oppressions be offered ours by such +Byes, Saniacbies, iustices and Cadies, Ianizaries, Capagies, and others, +officers of the kings comming downe into those parts, who finding there +resident no other nation but only ours, will vnder the name of presents +forceable take from them what they please: We do require to obuent these +harmes, it may be specified by a commandement from the king to which of +such his officers, presents may be giuen, and their sundry values, whereby +both they and ours may rest contented, seuerely prohibiting in the said +Commandement, that they take no more then that appointed them, and that no +other officers but those onely specified in that commaundement, doe +forcibly require of them any thing whatsoeuer. + +4. That the Nadir and Customer of the port, hauing permitted our ship to +lade, doe not after demand of the marchants any other then the outward +custome due to the king for the same goods. And being so laden, may by them +and the Cadie with other their inferiour officers be visited, requiring for +the visiting no more then formerly they were accustomed to pay at their +first comming. After which the said ship to depart at the Consul's +pleasure, without any molestation of them, or any other officer whatsoeuer. + +5. That Mahomet Chaus, sometime Nadir of Lepanto, and Azon Agon his +substitute being with him may be seuerely punished to the example of +others, for often and vniustly molesting our nation, contrarie to the kings +commandement, which they disdainefully contemned, as also that the said +Mahomet restore and pay vnto ours thirtie [Footnote: Blank in original.] +for 300 sackes of currants nowe taken forcibly out of a barke, comming +thither from the hither partes of Morea, to pay the king his custome, and +that from hence forth; neither the said Mahomet, Azon Agon, nor any other +officer or person whatsoeuer doe hinder or trouble any of ours going +thither or to any other place about their affaires. + +6. That whereas certaine Iews of Lepanto owing money to our marchants for +commodities solde them, haue not hitherto satisfied them, notwithstanding +ours had from the king a commandement for the recouery of the same debts, +but fled and absented themselues out of the Towne at the comming of the +same, another more forcible commaundement may be graunted ours, that for +nonpaiement, whatsoeuer may be found of theirs in goods, houses, vineyards, +or any other thing, may be sold, and ours satisfied of their said debt, +according to equitie and reason. + + * * * * * + +A commandement to Patrasso in Morea. + +When this commandement shall come vnto you, know you, that the Consull of +the English Nation in our port of Patrasso, hath giuen vs to vnderstand, +that formerly we granted him a commandement that hauing paied once custome +for the currants bought to lade in their ships, they shall not pay it +again: according to which they bringing it to the port of Patrasso, +informing thereof Mahomet the Nadir of Lepanto, he contrary to the tenor +thereof and former order, doth againe take another custome of him, and +requiring him to know why he so did contrary to our commandement, he +answered vs, he tooke it not for custome, but for a present. Moreouer the +sayd Consull certified vs how that the said Nadir contrary to ancient +custome doth not take for the kings right as he ought currents, but will +haue of the poore men money at his pleasure, and therewith buyeth currents +at a very low price, which after he doth forcibly sell to vs at a much +higher price, saying it is remainder of the goods of the king, and by this +meanes doth hurt the poore men and do them wrong. Wherefore I command you +by this my commandement, that you looke to this matter betweene this +Consull, the Nadir, and this people, and do therein equally according to +right. And see that our commandement in this matter be obserued in such +sort, as they hauing once in the port paied full custome, do not pay it +againe, neither that this Nadir do take any more money of them by the way +of present, for that therein it is most certaine he doth them iniurie +contrarie to the Canon. And if with you shall be found to the value of one +Asper taken heretofore wrongfully of them, see it presently restored to +them, without any default. And from hencefoorth see that he doe neither him +nor his people wrong, but that he deale with them in all things according +to our Canon, that the Consull and his hereafter haue no occasion any more +to complaine here in our Court, and that the Nadir proceed in gathering +corants of the people after the old order and not otherwise. This know you +for certaine, and giue credit to this my commaundement, which hauing read +deliuer againe into the Consuls handes. From Constantinople the yeere of +Mahomet 993. + + * * * * * + +A commandement for Chio. + +Vobis, Beg et Cadi et Ermini, qui estis in Chio, significamus: quņd +serenissimę Reginę Maiestatis Anglię orator, qui est in excelsa porta per +literas significauit nobis, quod ex nauibus Anglicis vna nauis venisset ad +portum Chio, et illinc Constantinopolim recto cursu voluisset venire, et +contra priuilegium detinuistis, et non siuistis venire. Hęc prędictus +orator significauit nobis; et petiuit a nobis in hoc negocio hoc mandatum, +vt naues Anglicę veniant et redeant in nostras ditiones Cęsareas. +Priuilegium datum et concessum est ex parte Serenitatis Cęsareę nostrę: et +huius priuilegij copia data est sub insigni nostro: Et contra nostrum +priuilegium Cęsareum quod ita agitur, quę est causa? Quando cum hoc mandato +nostro homines illorum ad vos venerint ex prędicta Anglia, si nauis venerit +ad portum vestrum, et si res et merces ex naue exemerint, et vendiderint, +et tricessimam secumdam partem rediderint, et res quę manserint +Constantinopolim auferre velint, patiantur: Et si aliquis contra +priuilegium et articulos eius aliquid ageret, non sinatis, nec vos facite: +et impediri non sinatis eos, vt rectą Constantinopolim venientes in suis +negotiationibus sine molestia esse possint. Et quicunque contra hoc +mandatum et priuilegium nostrum aliquid fecerit, nobis significate. Huic +mandato nostro et insigni fidem adhibete. In principio mensis Decembris. + + * * * * * + +A commandement for Baliabadram. + +Serenissimę Reginę Anglię orator literis supplicatorijs in porta nostra +fulgida significauit, quod Baliabadram venientes mercatores, naues et +homines eorum, contra priuilegium impedirentur et molestarentur. Inter nos +enim et Reginam cum foedus sit, vt mercatores, homines et naues eorum +contra priuilegium impediantur aut molestentur, nullo vnquam pacto +concedimus. Mandamus igitur, vt literę nostrę Cęsareę, quąm primum tibi +exhibitę fuerint, has in persona propria cures, secundum quod conuenit, +videasque ex Anglia Baliabadram cum mercibus venientibus mercatoribus, et +alias ob causas venientibus hominibus, in summa Angliensibus et nauibus +eorum, et in nauibus existentibus mercibus et rebus contra foedus et +priuilegium, iniuria, vis aut damnum non inferatur: sed, vt conuenit, +defendas, vt naues, mercatores, et homines, nostri velut proprij subditi, +liberi ab omni vi et iniuria permaneant; et negotijs suis incumbant. Et +quod ilius loci Ianisseri illos impedirent, significatum est: vt illi illis +nocumento sint nullo modo concedimus. Iuxta tenorem mandata huius illos +commonefacias, vt nihil quicquam contra foedas faciant, ita vt nunquam +huiusmodi querela huc veniat, quia quicquid acciderit, a te expostulabimus. +Negligentiam postponito, et insigni Cęsareo fidem adhibeto. + + * * * * * + +A commaundement for Egypt. + +Scito quod orator Reginę Anglię in porta mea existens libellum supplicem ad +portam nostram mittens significauit, quod cum ex Ęgypto Consul eorum +abesset, Consul illic Gallicus existens, Vento nuncupatus, quamuis ante hęc +tempora ne manus in Anglos mitteret mandatum nostrum fuerit datum, Angli +sub vexillo et tutela nostra sunt inquiens, mandatum Cęsareum vili +existimans, non cessauit perturbare Anglos. Quare scito quod Reginę Anglię +priuilegium nostrum est datum. Iuxta illud priuilegium Anglis nulla ratione +Consul Gallicus Consulatum agat, neue manus immittat, mandatum nostrum +postulauit eius legatus. Quare mando, vt contra priuilegium nostrum Consul +Gallicus Anglis iniuriam non inferat, neue Consulatum agat. Iudici Ęgypti +literę nostrę sunt datę: hanc ob causam mando tibi quoque, vt iuxta illud +mandatum nostrum, contra priuilegium nostrum Anglis Gallum Consulatum agere +nunquam patiare. Sic scito, et insigni meo fidem adhibeto. + + * * * * * + +A commaundement of the Grand Signior to the Cadie or Iudge of Alexandria. + +The Embassadour for the Queenes most excellent Maiestie of England +certified vs howe that at the death of one of their marchants in Alexandria +called Edward Chamberlaine, the French Consul Vento sealing vp his fondego +and chamber, tooke vnder his seale al his goods and merchandise into his +power, and required our commandement that all the goods might be restored +againe according to iustice vnto the Englishmen: wherefore we commaund you +that hauing receiued this our commandement, you assemble those of the one +part and of the other together, and if it be not passed fiue yeeres, if you +haue not looked to it heretofore, now carefully looke to it, and if it be +according to their Arz or certificate presented vnto vs, that the foresaid +French Consull Vento hath wrongfully taken into his power the goods of the +deceased English marchant vnder his seale, that then you cause him to +restore all the said goods and marchandise sealed by him, and make good +that which is thereof wanting vnto the English marchants: doe in this +matter according to iustice, and credite this our seale. + + * * * * * + +A commandement to the Bassa of Alexandria. + +The Embassadour for the Queenes most excellent Maiesty of England by +supplication certified vs, how that notwithstanding our priuilege granted +them to make Consuls in al parts of our dominions to gouerne their nation +according to their owne custome and law, to defend them against all wrongs +and iniuries whatsoeuer: yet that the French Consull affirming to thee that +art Bassa, that they were vnder his banner, and that he should gouerne +them, and ouersee their businesse, and hauing got a new priuilege, +mentioning therein the English men to be vnder his banner, did by all +meanes molest and trouble them, insomuch that their Consull oppressed with +many iniuries fled away, and that thou which art Beglerbie didst maintaine +the French Consul herein: whereupon the Embassadour required our +commandement, that they might haue iustice for these iniuries: wherefore we +commaunde thee that hauing receiued this our commandement, you examine +diligently that this priuilege, and send the copie thereof hither, and if +it be found that the French Consull Vento hath by subtilitie got the +aforesaid priuilege written, that you then see him punished, and suffer not +hereafter the French or Venetian Consuls to intermeddle with their +businesse. Obey this our commaundement, and giue credit to the seale. + + * * * * * + +A commaundement to the Byes, and Cadies of Metelin and Rhodes, and to all + the Cadies and Byes in the way to Constantinople. + +To the Saniakbies of Rhodes and Metelin, to the Saniacbies bordering on the +sea coast, and to the Cadies in Rhodes and Metelin, and to the Ermins in +the other ports and coastes. This commaundement comming to you, know that +the Embassadour of England required of vs our commaundement that their +ships comming to Chio, and from thence to Constantinople; no man should +hurt them or offer any violence, either in the way on the sea or on the +land, or in the portes. I haue commaunded, that their ships comming to any +of the said places or ports with marchandise, if they themselues will, they +may sell their commodities, and as much, and as little as they will, and if +it be in a place where custome was not woont to be taken, hauing taken the +custome due by the olde Canon you suffer them not to bee iniuried, either +in the way, portes, or other places, but that they may come in quietnesse +to Constantinople, and certifie vs of those that be disobedient to our +commaundement, and giue credite to our seale. And hauing read this our +commandement, giue it to them againe. + + * * * * * + +A commaundement for Aleppo. + +When my letters shal come vnto you, know that the Queene of England her +Embassador by supplication certified how that before this time we had giuen +our commaundement that the summe of 70 ducats, and other marchandize +belonging to one William Barret in Aleppo, now dead, saying he was a +Venetian, should be giuen to the Venetians. And if they did find that he +was not a Venetian, my will was that they should send all his goods and +marchandize to our port into my treasuries. But because that man was an +Englishman, the Embassadour required that the sayde goods might not be +diminished, but that they might be restored to one of their Englishmen. +This businesse was signified vnto vs in the nine hundred ninety and fourth +yere of Mahomet, and in the moneth of May the 10. day. This businesse +pertaineth to the Englishmen, who haue in their handes our priuilege, +according to which priuilege being in their hands let this matter be done. +Against this priuilege do nothing, aske nothing of them, but restore to +euery one his goods. And I command that when my commandement shall come +vnto you, you doe according to it. And if it be according as the +Ambassadour certified, that they haue the priuilege, peruse the same, looke +that nothing be committed against it and our league, and let none trouble +them contrarie to it, restore them their goods according to iustice, and +take heede diligently in this businesse: if another strange marchant be +dead, and his goods and marchandize be taken, if he be neither Venetian, +nor Englishman, let not his goods perish among you. Before this time one of +our Chauses called Cerkes Mahomet chaus was sent with our commaundement to +sende the money and marchandize of a dead marchant to our port, and +hitherto no letters or newes is come of this matter, for which you shall be +punished. Wherefore beware, and if he that is dead be neither Venetian nor +Englishman in veritie, doe not loose the goods of the said dead marchant, +vnder the name of a Venetian or Englishman, doe not to the discommoditie of +my treasurie, for after it will be hard to recouer it. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Master Henry Austell by Venice and thence to Ragusa ouer + land, and so to Constantinople: and from thence by Moldauia, Polonia, + Silesia and Germanie to Hamburg, &c. + +The 9. of Iune we tooke shipping at Harewich and the next day landed at the +Ramekins in the Isle of Walcheren with very stormy weather, and that night +went to Middleburch in the same Island. + +The twelft we tooke shipping for Holland, and the 13. we landed at +Schiedam: and the same day went to Delft by boat, and so that night to the +Hage. + +The 17. we tooke shipping at Amsterdam, and the 18. we landed at +Enckhuysen. + +The 19. we tooke shipping and by the Zuydersee we passed that day the Vlie, +and so into the maine sea; And the next day we entred into the riuer of +Hamburg called the Elbe. + +The 21. we came to anker in the same riuer before a towne of the bishop of +Breme called Staden, where they pay a certaine toll, and specially for +wine, and so that night wee landed at Hamburg, where we stayde three dayes. + +The 24. wee departed from Hamburg in the company of Edward Parish Marchant, +and that day wee baited at Wyntson, and so ouer the heathes we left +Lunenburg on the left hand, and trauailed all that night. + +The 25. we met with Master Sanders vpon the heathes, and passed by a towne +of the duke of Lunenburg called Geftherne, [Footnote: Gifhorn, on the river +Aller.] and from thence through many waters, wee lay that night within an +English mile of Brunswig. + +The 27. we lay at Halberstat, which is a great towne subiect to the bishop +of that towne. + +The 28. we baited at Erinsleiben: and there wee entred into the duke of +Saxon his countrey: and the same night we lay at a town called Eisleben, +where Martine Luther was borne. [Footnote: 10th November, 1483.] + +The 29. we passed by Mansfield, where there are many Copper mines: and so +that night went to Neuburg vpon the riuer of Sala; [Footnote: Saale.] and +at that time there was a great faire. + +30. we baited at a proper towne called Iena vpon the same riuer and the +same night wee lay at Cone vpon that riuer. + +The first of Iuly we baited at Salfeld: and the same day we entred first +into the great woods of fine trees, and that night to Greuandal. + +The second to dinner to Neustat. + +The 3. day to dinner at Bamberg: and before wee came to the towne wee +passed the riuer of Mayne that runneth towards Arnfurt, and that night to +Forchaim. + +The 4. we came to Nurenberg, and there stayed two dayes. + +The 6. to bed to Blayfield. [Footnote: Pleinfeld.] + +The 7. we passed without Weissenburg to dinner at Monhaim, and that night +we passed the riuer of Danubius at Tonewertd, [Footnote: Donauwerth.] and +so to be to Nurendof. + +The 8. we came to Augspurg, otherwise called Augusta, vpon the riuer of +Lech. + +The 9. we lay at Landsberg vpon the said riuer, in the duke of Bauars +countrey, + +The 10. to dinner at Suanego, [Footnote: Shongau.] and that night to +Hambers [Footnote: Amergan.] against the mountains, where the small toyes +be made. + +The 11. to dinner to Parcberk, [Footnote: Partenkirch.] and that night to +Sefelt in the Archduke of Austria his countrey. + +The 12. to dinner at Inspruck, and that night to bed at Landeck, where +there is a toll, and it is the place where Charles the fift and his brother +Ferdinand did meet. And there is a table of brasse with Latine letters in +memorie thereof. + +The 13. we passed by Stizen, and dined at Prisena, and so that night to +Clusen. [Footnote: Autstell thus crossed the Alps by Trent and not by the +Brenner, which would seem the most direct route to Venice.] + +The 14. to dinner at Bolsan and to bed at Neumark, and by the way we passed +the dangerous place, where so many murthers haue bene committed. + +The 15. to dinner at Trent: That day we entred the borders of Italy, that +night to Lenigo. [Footnote: Probably a misprint for Levigo.] + +The 16. to dinner at Grigno, where the last toll of the Emperour is: and so +we came by Chursa, which is a streight passage. And the keeper thereof is +drawne vp by a cord into his holde. And that night we went to Capana to bed +in the countrey of the Venetians. + +The 17. to dinner at castle Franco: by the way we stayed at Taruiso, and +there tooke coche, and that night came to Mestre to bed. + +The 18. in the morning we came to Venice, and there we stayed 15. dayes. In +which time the duke of Venice called Nicholas de Ponte died, and we saw his +burial. The Senators were continually shut vp together, as the maner is, to +chuse a new duke, which was not yet chosen when we departed from thence. + +The 2. of August at night wee did embarke our selues vpon the Frigate of +Cattaro, an hauen neere Ragusa. + +The 3. we came to a towne in Istria called Citta noua. + +The 4. we came to Parenzo, and so that night to Forcera of the bishop. + +The 5. we passed by Rouigno: and a litle beyond we met with 3. Galies of +the Venetians: we passed in the sight of Pola; and the same day passed the +gulfe that parteth Istria from Dalmatia. [Footnote: Gulf of Quarnero.] + +The 6. of August we came to Zara in Dalmatia, a strong towne of the +Venetians: and so that night to Sebenico, which standeth in a marueilous +goodly hauen, with a strong castle at the entrie thereof. + +The 7. we came to Lezina, and went not on shoore, but traueiled all night. + +The 8. we passed by a very well seated towne called Curzola, which standeth +in an island of that name. + +The 9. in the morning betimes we landed at Ragusa, and there stayed three +daies, where we found many friendly gentlemen. + +The 11 being prouided of a Ianizarie we departed from Ragusa in the company +of halfe a dosen Marchants of that towne: and within 6 miles we entred into +the countrey of Seruia. So trauailing in barren and craggie mountaines for +the space of foure dayes, wee came by a small Towne of the Turkes called +Chiernisa, being the 14. of the moneth; and there wee parted from the +Marchants. + +The 16. we dined in a Cauarsara hi a Towne called Focea, [Marginal note: +Or, Fochia.] [Footnote: Fotchia.] being then greatly infected with the +plague. + +The 17. we lay by a Towne called Taslizea. [Footnote: Tachlidcha.] + +The 20. we came to Nouibazar. + +The 21. we parted from thence, trauailing stil in a countrey very ill +inhabited, and lying in the fields. + +The 22. we passed within sight of Nicea. [Sidenote: Or, Nissa.] + +The 23. we passed in sight of another towne called Circui: [Footnote: +Sharkei.] and about those places wee began to leaue the mountaines, and to +enter into a very faire and fertile countrey, but as euill inhabited as the +other, or worse. + +The 27. we came to Sophia, where wee stayed three dayes, being our +Ianizaries home: and by good chance we lay in a Marchants house of Ragusa, +that came in company with vs from Nouibazar; and also wee had in company, +euer since wee came from Focea, a Turke which was a very good fellow, and +he kept with vs till we came very neere Constantinople. + +The first of September we came to Philippopoli, which seemeth to be an +ancient towne, and standeth vpon the riuer of Stanuch. [Footnote: The +Maritza.] + +The 4. we came to Andrinopoli, a very great and ancient towne, which +standeth in a very large and champion [Footnote: Flat--"the Champion fields +with corn are seen," (Poor Robin, 1694).] countrey, and there the great +Turks mother doth lye, being a place, where the Emperours of the Turkes +were wont to lye very much. + +The 5. we lay in one of the great Cauarzaras that were built by Mahomet +Bassha with so many goodly commodities. + +The 6. we lay in another of them. + +The 8. we came to Siliueri, [Footnote: Silivri.] which by report was the +last towne that remained Christian. + +The 9. of September wee arriued at the great and most stately Citie of +Constantinople, which for the situation and proude seate thereof, for the +beautifull and commodious hauens, and for the great and sumptuous buildings +of their Temples, which they call Moschea, is to be preferred before all +the Cities of Europe. And there the Emperour of the Turkes then liuing, +whose name was Amurat, kept his Court and residence, in a marueilous goodly +place, with diuers gardens and houses of pleasure, which is at the least +two English miles in compasse, and the three parts thereof ioyne vpon the +sea: and on the Northeast part of the Citie on the other side of the water +ouer against the Citie is the Towne of Pera, where the most part of the +Christians do lye. And there also wee did lye. And on the North part of the +saide Towne is the Arsenal, where the Galies are built and doe remaine: And +on the Southside is all the Ordinance, artilerie, and houses of munition. +Note that by the way as wee came from Ragusa to Constantinople, wee left on +our right hand the Countreys of Albania, and Macedonia, and on the left +hande the countreys of Bosnia, Bulgaria, and the riuer of Danubius. + +The 14. of September was the Turkes Beyram [Footnote: Bairam is the +designation of the only two festivals annually celebrated by the Turks and +other Mohammedan nations. The first is also called _Id-at-Fitr_, "the +festival of the interruption," alluding to the breaking of the universal +fast which is rigorously observed during the month Ramazan. It commences +from the moment when the new moon of the month Shewel becomes visible, the +appearance of which, as marking the termination of four weeks of abstinence +and restraint is looked for and watched with great eagerness. The second +festival, denominated _Id-al-Asha_ or _Kurban Bairam_, "the festival of the +sacrifices," is instituted in commemoration of Abraham offering his son +Isaac and is celebrated seventy days after the former, on the 10th of +Zulhijjah, the day appointed for slaying the victims by the pilgrims at +Mecca. The festival lasts four days. At Constantinople the two bairams are +celebrated with much pomp. Amurath III, son of Selim II.] that is, one of +their chiefest feastes. + +The 16. we went to the blacke Sea called Pontus Euxinus, and there vpon a +rocke we sawe a piller of white Marble that was set vp by Pompeius: and +from thence we passed to the other side of the water, vpon the shore of +Asia and there we dined. + +The 25. we departed from Constantinople. + +The 29. we came to an ancient Towne called Cherchisea, that is to say, +fourtie Churches, which in the olde time was a very great City, now full of +scattered buildiugs. + +The 4. of October wee came to Prouaz, one dayes iourney distant from Varna +vpon the Blacke Sea. + +The 9. we came to Saxi [Footnote: Tsakchi, S. E. of Galatz.] vpon the riuer +of Danubius. + +The 10. we passed the said riuer which in that place is about a mile ouer, +and then we entered into the countrey Bogdania [Marginal note: Or, +Moldauia]: they are Christians but subiects to the Turkes. + +The 12. we came to Palsin vpon the riuer Prut. [Footnote: Faltsi.] + +The 14: wee came to Yas [Footnote: Jassy.] the principall Towne of +Bogdania, where Peter the Vayuoda prince of that Countrey keepeth his +residence, of whom wee receuied great courtesie, and of the gentlemen of +his Court: And he caused vs to be safe conducted through his said Countrey, +and conueyed without coste. + +The 17. we came to Stepanitze. [Footnote: Stephanesti, on the frontier +between Moldavia and Bessarabia.] + +The 19. we came to Zotschen, [Footnote: Chotin.] which is the last towne of +Bogdania vpon the riuer of Neister, that parteth the said countrey from +Podolia. + +The 20. we passed the riuer of Nyester and came to Camyenetz [Footnote: on +the river Smokriz.] in the countrey of Podolia, subiect to the king of +Poland: this is one of the strongest Townes by nature and situation that +can be seene. + +The 21. we came to Skala. [Footnote: A market town on the Podhoree, S. of +Zeryz.] + +The 22. to Slothone, or Scloczow. [Footnote: Czorkorw, on the Sered.] + +The 24. to Leopolis [Footnote: Lemberg, also called Leopol.] which is in +Russia alba, and so is the most part of the countrey betwixt Camyenetz and +it. And it is a towne very well built, well gouerned, full of trafique and +plentifull: and there we stayed fiue dayes. + +The 30. we baited at Grodecz, and that night at Vilna [Footnote: Probably +Sandova--Wisznia.] + +The 31. we dined at Mostiska, [Footnote: Mosciska.] and that night at +Rodmena. [Footnote: Radymno.] + +The first of Nouember in the morning before day wee passed without the +Towne of Iaroslaw, where they say is one of the greatest faires in all +Poland, and chiefly of horses, and that night to Rosdnoska. [Footnote: +Rosnialov.] + +The second to diner at Lanczut, [Footnote: Lanaif.] at night to Retsbou. +[Footnote: Rzeszow.] + +The thirde to Sendxizow, [Footnote: Sedziszow.] at night to Tarnow, and +that night wee mette with the Palatine Laski. + +The fourth to Vonuez, [Footnote: Woinicz.] and that night to Brytska. +[Footnote: Brzesko.] + +The fift to Kuhena. [Footnote: Perhaps, Kozmice.] + +The 6. to Cracouia the principall Citie of all Poland: at which time the +King was gone to Lituania: for he doeth make his residence one yeere in +Poland, and the other in Lituania. Cracouia standeth on the riuer of +Vistula. + +The 9. wee departed from Cracouia, and that night wee came to a village +hard by a Towne called Ilkusch, [Footnote: Olkusz.] where the leade Mines +are. + +The 10. wee passed by a Towne called Slawkow: where there are also leade +Mines, and baited that day at Bendzin, [Footnote: Bedzin.] which is the +last tome of Poland towards Silesia; and there is a toll. + +[Sidenote: Salt digged out of mountaines in Poland] Note that all the +Countreys of Poland, Russia alba, Podolia, Bogdania, and diuers other +Countreys adioyning vnto them, doe consume no other salt but such as is +digged in Sorstyn mountaine neere to Cracouia which is as hard as any +stone; it is very good, and goeth further then any other salt. That night +we lay at Bitom, [Footnote: Beuthen.] which is the first Towne of Silesia. + +The 12. we passed by a great towne called Strelitz, and that night we lay +at Oppelen vpon the riuer of Odera. + +The 13. we passed by Schurgasse, [Footnote: Schurgast.] and that night wee +lay without the towne of Brigk: [Footnote: Brieg.] for wee coulde not bee +suffered to come in by reason of the plague which was in those partes in +diuers Townes. + +The 14. we passed by Olaw, [Footnote: Oblau.] and that night we came to the +Citie of Breslaw, which is a faire towne, great, well built and well seated +vpon the riuer of Odera. + +The 16. we baited at Neumargt. [Footnote: Neumark.] + +The 17. wee passed by Lignizt and by Hayn, [Footnote: Hainau.] and that +night to Buntzel. [Footnote: Buntzlau.] + +The 18. we passed by Naumburg through Gorlitz vpon the riuer of Neiss, and +that night lay without Reichenbach. + +The 19. wee passed by Baudzen and Cannitz, [Footnote: Camenz.] and that +night to Rensperg. + +The 20. we passed by Hayn, by Strelen, were we should haue passed the riuer +of Elbe, but the boate was not there, so that night we lay at a towne +called Mulberg. + +The 21. we passed the said riuer, wee went by Belgern, by Torga, by +Dumitch: and at night to Bretch. + +The 22. wee passed the Elbe againe at Wittenberg, which is a very strong +towne, with a good Vniuersitie: and that day we passed by Coswig. + +The 23. wee passed through Zerbst in the morning, and that night at +Magdeburg, a very strong Towne, and well gouerned as wee did heare. The +most part of the Countrey, after wee were come one dayes iourney on this +side Breslawe to this place, belongeth to the Duke of Saxon. + +The 24. wee passed by a castle of the Marques of Brandenburg called +Wolmerstat, and that night we lay at Garleben. + +The 25. wee lay at Soltwedel. + +The 26. at Berg. + +The 27. we baited at Lunenborg, and that night we lay at Winson. + +The 28. we came to Homborg, and there stayed one weeke. + +The 5. of December wee departed from Hamborg, and passed the Elbe by boate +being much frosen, and from the riuer went on foote to Boxtchoede, being a +long Dutch mile off, and there we lay; and from thence passed ouer land to +Emden. + +Thence hauing passed through Friseland and Holland, the 25. being Christmas +day in the morning we came to Delft: where wee found the right honourable +the Earle of Leicester with a goodly company of Lords, knights, gentlemen, +and souldiers. + +The 28. at night to Roterodam. + +The 29. to the Briel, and there stayed eight dayes for passage. + +The fift of Ianuary we tooke shipping. + +The 7. we landed at Grauesend, and so that night at London with the helpe +of almightie God. + + * * * * * + +The Turkes passeport or safeconduct for Captaine Austell, and Iacomo + Manuchio. + +Know thou which art Voyuoda of Bogdania, and Valachia, and other our +officers abiding and dwelling on the way by which men commonly passe into +Bogdania, and Valachia, that the Embassador of England hauing two English +gentlemen desirous to depart for England, the one named Henry Austel, and +the other Iacomo de Manuchio, requested our hignesse letters of Safeconduct +to passe through our dominions with one seruant to attende on them. +Wherefore wee straightly charge you and all other our seruants by whom they +shall passe, that hauing receiued this our commandement, you haue diligent +care and regard that they may haue prouided for them in this their iourney +(for their money) all such necessary prouision as shalbe necessary for +themselues and their horses, in such sort as they may haue no cause +hereafter to complaine of you. And if by chaunce they come vnto any place, +where they shal stand in feare either of their persons or goods, that then +you carefully cause them to bee guarded with your men, and to be conducted +through all suspected places, with sufficient company; But haue great +regard that they conuey not out of our countrey any of pur seruiceable +horses. Obey our commandement, and giue credite to this our Seale. + + * * * * * + +A Passeport of the Earle of Leicester for Thomas Foster gentleman + trauailing to Constantinople. + +Robertus Comes Leicestrię, baro de Denbigh, ordinum Garterij et Sancti +Michaelis eques auratus, Serenissimę Reginę Anglię a Secretioribus +consilijs, et magister equorum, dux et capitaneus generalis exercitus +eiusdem Regię maiestatis in Belgio, et gubernator generalis Hollandię, +Zelandię, et prouinciarum vnitarum et associatarum, omnibus, ad quos +pręsentes literę peruenerint, salutem. Cłm lator pręsentium Thomas Foster +nobilis Anglus necessarijs de causis hinc Constantinopolim profecturus sit, +et inde ad nos quanta potest celeritate reuersurus: petimus ab omnibus et +singulis Regibus, principibus, nobilibus, magistratibus, et alijs, mandent +et permittant dicto Thomę cum duobus famulis liberum transitum per eorum +ditiones et territoria sine detentione aut impedimento iniusto, et +prouideri sibi de necessarijs iustum precium reddenti, ac aliter +conuenienter et humaniter tractari, vt occasiones eius eundi et redeundi +requirent: Sicut nos Maiestates, Serenitates, Celsitudines, et dominationes +vestrę paratos inuenietis, vt vestratibus in similibus casibus gratum +similiter faciamus. + +Datum in castris nostris Duisburgi, decimo die Septembris, anno 1586. stylo +veteri. + + * * * * * + +The returne of Master William Harborne from Constantinople ouer land to + London 1588. + +I departed from Constantinople with 30. persons of my suit and family the +3. of August. Passing through the Countries of Thracia, now called Romania +the great, Valachia and Moldauia, where ariuing the 5. of September I was +according to the Grand Signior his commandement very courteously +interteined by Peter his positiue prince, a Greeke by profession, with whom +was concluded that her Maiesties subiects there trafiquing should pay but +three vpon the hundreth, which as well his owne Subiects as all other +nations answere: [Sidenote: The letters of the Prince of Moldauia to the +Queene. Letters of the Chanceler of Poland to the Queene.] whose letters to +her Maiestie be extant. Whence I proceeded into Poland, where the high +Chanceler sent for mee the 27. of the same moneth. And after most honorable +intertainment imparted with me in secret maner the late passed and present +occurrents of that kingdome, and also he writ to her Maiestie. + +Thence I hasted vnto Elbing, where the 12. of October I was most friendly +welcomed by the Senate of that City, whom I finde and iudge to be +faithfully deuoted to her Maiesties seruice, whose letters likewise vnto +the same were presented me. No lesse at Dantzik the 27. of that moneth I +was courteously receiued by one of the Buroughmasters accompanied with two +others of the Senate, and a Ciuil doctor their Secretarie. After going +through the land of Pomer I rested one day at Stetin, where, for that the +duke was absent, nothing ensued. At Rostoke I passed through the Citie +without any stay, and at Wismar receiued like friendly greeting as in the +other places: but at Lubeck, for that I came late and departed early in the +morning, I was not visited. At Hamburg the 19. of Nouember, and at Stoad +the ninth of December in like maner I was saluted by a Boroughmaster and +the Secretarie, and in all these places they presented mee sundry sorts of +their best wine and fresh fish, euery of them with a long discourse, +congratulating, in the names of their whole Senate, her Maiesties victory +ouer the Spaniard, and my safe returne, concluding with offer of their +ready seruice to her future disposing. Yet the Dantziks after my departure +thence caused the Marchants to pay custome for the goods they brought with +them in my company, which none other towne neither Infidels nor Christians +on the way euer demanded. And notwithstanding the premisses, I was most +certainly informed of sundry of our nation there resident that most of the +Hansetowns vpon the sea coasts, especially Dantzik, Lubeck, and Hamborough +haue laden and were shipping for Spaine, great prouision of corne, cables, +ropes, powder, saltpeter, hargubusses, armour, iron, leade, copper, and all +other munition seruing for the warre. Whereupon I gather their fained +courtesie proceeded rather for feare then of any good affection vnto her +Maiesties seruice, Elbing and Stoad onely excepted, which of duetie for +their commoditie I esteemed well affected. + + * * * * * + +The priuilege of Peter the Prince of Moldauia graunted to the English + Marchants. + +Petrus Dei gratia princeps Valachię et Moldauię; significamus pręsentibus, +vniuersis et singulis quorum interest ac intererit, quņd cum magnifico +domino Guilielmo Hareborne oratore Serenissimę ac potentissimę dominę, +dominę Elizabethę Dei gratia Anglię, Francię, ac Hibernię Reginę apud +Serenissimum ac potentissimum Turcarum Imperatorem hanc constitutionem +fecerimus: Nimirłm vt dehinc suę Serenitatis subditis, omnibśsque +mercatoribus integrum sit hīc in prouincia nostra commorandi, conuersandi, +mercandi, vendendi, contrahendķque, imo omnia exercendi, quę mercaturę ac +vitę humanę societas vsśsque requirit, sine vlla alicuius contradictione, +aut inhibitione: saluo ac integro tamen iure Telonij nostri: hoc est, vt a +singulis rebus centum ducatorum pretij, tres numerent. Quod ratum ac firmum +constitutione nostra haberi volumus. In cuius rei firmius testimonium, +sigillum nostrum appressum est. Actum in castris nostris die 27. mensis +Augusti, anno Domini 1588. + + +The same in English. + +Peter by the grace of God prince of Valachia and Moldauia; we signifie by +these presents to all and singuler persons, whom it doth or shall concerne, +that we haue made this agreement with the worthy gentleman William +Hareborne Ambassador of the right high and mighty prince, the Lady +Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, France and Ireland, with +the most puissant and mightie Emperour of the Turkes: To witte, that from +hencefoorth it shalbe lawfull for her highnesse subiects and all her +Marchants, to remaine, conuerse, buy, sel, bargaine and exercise all such +things, as the trade of marchandise, and humane societie and vse requireth, +without any hinderance or let: the right of our Custome alwayes reserued; +That is, that they pay three ducats vpon all such things as amount to the +price of one hundred ducats. Which by this our ordinance we command to be +surely and firmely obserued; For the more assured testimony whereof our +seale is hereunto annexed. Giuen in our Campe the 27. of the moneth of +August in the yeere of our Lord 1588. + + * * * * * + +The letters of Sinan Bassa chiefe counsellour to Sultan Murad Can the Grand + Signior, to the sacred Maiestie of Elizabeth Queene of England, shewing + that vpon her request, and for her sake especially, hee graunted peace + vnto the King and kingdome Of Poland. + +Gloriosissima et splendore fulgidissima foeminarum, selectķssima Princeps +magnanimorum IESVM sectantium, regni inclyti Anglię Regina Serenissima +Elizibetha, moderatrix rerum et negotiorum omnium plebis et familię +Nazarenorum sapientissima; Origo splendoris et glorię dulcissima; nebes +pluuiarum gratissima, heres et domina beatitudinis et glorię regni inclyti +Anglię; ad quam omnes supplices confugiunt, incrementum omnium rerum et +actionum Serenitatis vestrę beatissimum, exitusque foelicissimos ą Creatore +omnipotente optantes, mutuįque et perpetua familiaritate nostra digna vota +et laudes sempiternas offerentes: Significamus Ser. vestrę amicissimč; Quia +sunt anni aliquot, ą quibus annis potentissima Cęsarea celsitudo bella +ineffabilia cum Casul-bas, Principe nempe Persarum gessit; ratione quorum +bellorum in partes alias bellum mouere noluit, ob eamque causam in partibus +Polonię latrones quidam Cosaci nuncupati, et alij facinorosi in partibus +illis existentes, subditos Cęsaris potentissimi turbare et infestare non +desierunt. Nunc autem partibus Persicis compositis et absolutis, in +partibus Polonię et alijs partibus exurgentes facinorosos punire +constituens, Beglerbego Gręcię exercitu aliquo adiuncto, et Principi +Tartarorum madato Cęsaris misso, anno proximč pręterito pars aliqua Regni +Polonię infestata, turbata et deuastata fuit, et Cosaci alijque facinorosi +iuxta merita sua puniti fuerunt. Quo rex Polonię viso duos legatos ad +Cęsaream celsitudinem mittens, quņd facinorosos exquirere, et poena +perfecta punire, et ab annis multis ad portam Cęsareę celsitudinis missum +munus augere vellet, significauit. Cęsarea autem celsitudo (cui Creator +omnipotens tantam suppeditauit potentiam, et quę omnes supplices exaudire +dignata est) supplicatione Regis Polonię non accepta, iterłm in regem +Polonię exercitum suum mittere, et Creatoris omnipotentis auxilio regnum +eius subuertere constituerat. Verum Legato Serenitatis vestrę in porta +beata et fulgida Cęsareę celsitudinis residente sese interponente. Et quņd +Serenitati vestrę ex partibus Polonię, fruges, puluis, arbores nauium, +tormenta, et alia necessaria suppediterantur significante, et pacem pro +regno et rege Polonię petente, neuč regnum Polonię ex parte Cęsareę +celsitudinis turbaretur vel infestaretur intercedente, Serenitatisque +vestrę hanc singularem esse voluntatem exponente, Legati serenitatis vestrę +significatio et intercessio cłm Cęsareę celsitudini significata fuisset, In +fauorem serenitatis vestrę, cui omnis honos et gratia debetur, iuxta modum +prędictum, vt Cosaci facinoros exquirantur et poena perfecta puniantur, aut +ratione muneris aliquantuli eorum delicta condonentur, hac inquam +conditione literę Cęsareę celsitudinis ad Regem Polonię sunt datę. Si autem +ex parte Serenitatis vestrę foedus et pax sollicitata non fuisset, nulla +ratione Cęsara celsitudo foedus cum regno Polonię inijsset. In fauorem +autem Serenitatis vestrę regno et Regi Polonię singularem gratiam Cęsarea +celsitudo exhibuit. Quod tąm Serenitas vestra, quąm etiam Rex et regnum +Polonię sibi certņ persuadere debent. Serenitatem vestram benč +foelicissiméque valere cupimus. Datum Constantinopoli in fine mensis Sabaum +nuncupati, Anno prophetę nostri sacrati Mahumeddi nongentesimo, nonagesimo, +octauo. IESV vero Anno millesimo quingentesimo nonagesimo, die duodecimo +mensis Iunij. + + +The same in English. + +Most glorious, and the most resplendent of women, most select Princesse, +most gratious Elizabeth Queene of the valiant followers of Iesus in the +famous kingdom of England, most wise gouernesse of all the affaires and +bussinesses of the people and family of the Nazarens, most sweet fountaine +of brightnesse and glory, most acceptable cloud of raine, inheritresse and +Ladie of the blessednesse and glory of the renowmed kingdome of England, to +whom in humble wise all men offer their petitions: wishing of the almightie +Creator most happie increase and prosperous successe vnto all your +Maiesties affaires and actions, and offering vp mutuall and perpetuall +vowes worthy of our familiarity; with eternall prayses: In most friendly +manner we signifie vnto your princely Highnesse, that certaine yeeres past +the most mightie Cesarlike maiestie of the Grand Signor waged vnspeakeable +warres with Casul-bas the Prince of the Persians, in regarde of which +warres he would not goe in battell against any other places; and for that +cause certaine theeues in the partes of Polonia called Cosacks, and other +notorious persons liuing in the same partes ceased not to trouble and +molest the subiects of our most mightie Emperour. But now hauing finished +and brought to some good issue his affaires in Persia, determining to +punish the saide malefactors of Poland, and for that purpose committing an +army vnto the Beglerbeg of Grecia, and the yeere last past, sending his +imperiall commaundement vnto the Prince of the Tartars, he hath forraged, +molested, and layed waste some part of the kingdome of Poland, and the +Cosacks and other notorious offenders haue receiued condigne punishment. +Which the king of Poland perceiuing sent two Embassadours to his imperiall +Highnesse signifying, that he would hunt out the said malefactors, and +inflict most seuere punishments vpon them, and also that he would better +his gift, which he hath for many yeeres heretofore ordinarily sent vnto the +porch of his imperiall Highnesse. Howbeit his imperiall maiestie (vpon whom +the almightie creator hath bestowed so great power, and who vouchsafeth to +giue eare vnto all humble suppliants) reiecting the supplication of the +King of Poland, determined againe to send his armie against the said king, +and by the helpe of the Almightie creator, vtterly to subuert and +ouerthrowe his kingdome. But your Maiesties Embassadour resident in the +blessed and glorious porch of his imperiall Highnesse interposing himselfe +as a mediatour, signifying that from the partes of Poland you were +furnished with corne, gun-powder, mastes of ships, guns, and other +necessaries, and crauing peace on the behalfe of the kingdome and king of +Poland, and making intercession, that the said king might not be molested +nor troubled by the meanes of the Grand Signior, and declaring that this +was your Maiesties most earnest desire; so soone as the report and +intercession of your Maiesties Embassadour was signified vnto the Grand +Signor, for your sake, vnto whom all honour and fauourable regard is due, +vpon the condition aforesaid, namely, that the wicked Cosacks might be +sought out and grieuously punished, or that their offences might be +remitted for the value of some small gift, vpon this condition (I say) the +letters of his imperiall Highnesse were sent vnto the king of Poland. +Howbeit had not this conclusion of league and amitie beene sollicited on +the behalfe of your Maiestie, his imperiall Highnesse would neuer haue +vouchsafed the same vnto the kingdome of Poland. But for your Maiesties +sake his imperiall Higrrnesse hath exhibited this so singular a fauour vnto +the said king and kingdome of Poland. And hereof your Maiestie and the king +of Poland ought cenainely to be perswaded. We wish your Maiestie most +happily and well to fare. Giuen at Constantinople in the ende of the moneth +called Sabaum, in the yeere of our sacred prophet Mahomet 998, and in the +yeere of Iesus 1590, the 12 of Iune. + + * * * * * + +A letter written by the most high and mighty Empresse the wife of the Grand + Signior Sultan Murad Can to the Queenes Maiesty of England, in the yeere + of our Lord, 1594. + +Il principio del ragionamento nostro sia scrittura perfetta nelle quatro +parte del mondo, in nome di quello che ha creato indifferentemente tante +infinite creature, che non haueuano anima ni persona, e di quello che fa +girar gli noue cieli, e che la terra sette volte vna sopra l'altra fa +firmar; Signor e Re senza vicere, e che non ha comparacion alla sua +creatione ne opera, e vno senza precio, adorato incomparabilmente, +l'altissimo Dio creatore; che non ha similitudine, si come č descrito dalli +propheti: a la cui grandessa non si arriue, e alla perfettione sua compiuta +non si oppone, e quel omnipotente creatore e cooperatore; alla grandessa +del quale inchinano tutti li propheti; fra quali il maggior e che ha +ottenuto gracia, horto del paradiso, ragi dal sole, amato del altssimo Dio +e Mahomet Mustaffa, al qual e suoi adherenti e imitatori sia perpetua pace: +alla cui sepultura odorifera si fa ogni honore. Quello che č imperator de +sette climati, e delle quatro parti del mondo, inuincibile Re di Gręcia, +Agiamia, Vngeria, Tartaria, Valachia, Rossia, Turchia, Arabia, Bagdet, +Caramania, Abessis, Giouasir, Siruan, Barbaria, Algieri, Franchia, +Coruacia, Belgrado, &c. sempre felicissimo e de dodeci Auoli possessor +della corona, e della stirpe di Adam, fin hora Imperator, figliolo +del'Imperatore, conseruato de la diuina prouidenza, Re di ogni dignita e +honore, Sultan Murat, che Il Signor Dio sempre augmenti le sue forzze, e +padre di quello a cui aspetta la corona imperiale, horto e cypresso +mirabile, degno della sedia regale, e vero herede del commando imperiale, +dignissimo Mehemet Can, filiol de Sultan Murat Can, che dio compisca li +suoi dissegni, e alunga li suoi giorni felici: Dalla parte della madre del +qual si scriue la presente alla serenissima e gloriosissima fra le +prudentissime Donne, e eletta fra li triomlanti sotto il standardo di Iesu +Christo, potentissima e ricchissima regitrice, e al mondo singularissima +fra il feminil sesso, la serenissima Regina d'Ingilterra, che segue le +vestigie de Maria virgine, il fine della qoale sia con bene e perfettione, +secondo il suo desiderio. Le mando vna salutacion di pace, cosi honorata, +che non basta tutta la copia di rosignoli con le loro musiche ariuare, non +che con questa carta: l'amore singulare che e conciputo fra noi, e simile a +vn'horto di Vccelli vagi; che il Signor Dio la faci degna di saluacione, e +il fine suo sia tale, che in questo mondo e nel' futuro sia con pace. Doppo +comparsi li suoi honorati presenti da la sedia de la Serenita vostra, +sapera che sono capitati in vna hora che ogni punto e stato vna consolation +di lungo tempo, per occasione del Ambassadore di vostra serenita venuto +alla felice porta del Imperatore, con tanto nostro contento, quanto si +posso desiderare, e con quello vna lettera di vostra serenetą, che ci +estata presentata dalli nostri Eunuchi con gran honore; liccarta de la +quale odoraua di camfora e ambracano, et l'inchiostro di musco perfetto, et +quella peruenuta in nostro mano tutta la continenza di essa a parte ho +ascoltato intentamente. Quello che hora si conuiene e, che correspondente +alla nostra affecione, in tutto quello che si aspetta allie cose attenente +alli paesi che sono sotto il commando di vostra serenitą, lei non manchi di +sempre tenermi, dato noticia, che in tutto quello che li occorerą, Io possi +compiacerla; de quello che fra le nostre serenitą e conueniente, accioche +quelle cose che si interprenderano, habino il desiderato buon fine; perche +Io saro sempre ricordeuole al altissimo Imperatore delle occorenze di +vostra serenita, per che sia in ogni occasione compiaciuta. La pace sia con +vostra serenita, e con quelli che seguitano dretamente la via di Dio. +Scritta al primi dell luna di Rabie Liuol, anno del profeta 1002, et di +Iesu 1594. + + +The same in English. + +Let the beginning of our discourse be a perfect writing in the foure parts +of the world, in the name of him which hath indifferently created such +infinite numbers of creatures, which had neither soule nor body, and of him +which mooueth the nine heauens, and stablisheth the earth seuen times one +aboue another, which is Lord and king without any deputy, who hath no +comparison to his creation and worke, and is one inestimable, worshipped +without all comparison, the most high God, the creator, which hath nothing +like vnto him, according as he is described by the Prophets, to whose power +no man can attaine, and whose absolute perfection no man may controll; and +that omnipotent creatour and fellow-worker, to whose Maiesty all the +Prophets submit themselues, among whom the greatest, and which hath +obtained greatest fauour, the garden of Paradise, the beame of the Sunne, +the beloued of the most high God is Mahomet Mustafa, to whom and to his +adherents and followers be perpetuall peace, to whose fragrant sepulture +all honour is performed. He which is emperour of the seuen climats and of +the foure parts of the world, the inuincible king of Graecia, Agiamia, +Hungaria, Tartaria, Valachia, Rossia, Turchia, Arabia, Bagdet, Caramania, +Abessis, Giouasir, Siruan, Barbaria, Alger, Franchia, Coruacia, Belgrade, +&c. alwayes most happy, and possessour of the crowne from twelue of his +ancestours; and of the seed of Adam, at this present emperour, the sonne of +an emperour, preserued by the diuine prouidence, a king woorthy of all +glory and honour, Sultan Murad, whose forces the Lord God alwayes increase, +and father of him to whom the imperiall crowne is to descend, the paradise +and woonderfull tall cypresse, worthy of the royall throne, and true heire +of the imperiall authority, most woorthy Mehemet Can, the sonne of Sultan +Murad Can, whose enterprise God vouchsafe to accomplish, and to prolong his +happy dayes: on the behalfe of whose mother [Marginal note: This Sultana is +mother to Mahumet which now reigneth a Emperour.] this present letter is +written to the most gracious and most glorious, the wisest among women, and +chosen among those which triumph vnder the standard of Iesus Christ, the +most mighty and most rich gouernour, and most rare among womankinde in the +world, the most gracious Queene of England, which follow the steps of the +virgine Mary, whose end be prosperous and perfect, according to your hearts +desire. I send your Maiesty so honorable and sweet a salutation of peace, +that al the flocke of Nightingales with their melody cannot attaine to the +like, much lesse this simple letter of mine. The singular loue which we +haue conceiued one toward the other is like to a garden of pleasant birds: +and the Lord God vouchsafe to saue and keepe you, and send your Maiesty an +happy end both in this world and in the world to come. After the arriuall +of your honourable presents, from the Court of your Maiesty, your Highnesse +shall vnderstand that they came in such a season, that euery minute +ministred occasion of long consolation by reason of the comming of your +Maiesties Ambassadour to the triumphant Court of the Emperour, to our so +great contentment as we could possibly wish, who brought a letter from your +Maiestie, which with great honour was presented vnto vs by our eunuks, the +paper whereof did smell most fragrantly of camfor and ambargriese, and the +incke of perfect muske; the contents whereof we haue heard very attentiuely +from point to point. I thinke it therefore expedient, that, according to +our mutuall affection, in any thing whatsoeuer may concerne the countreys +which are subiect to your Maiesty, I neuer faile, hauing information giuen +vnto me, in whatsoeuer occasion shall be ministred, to gratifie your +Maiesty to my power in any reesonable and conuenient matter, that all your +subiects businesses and affaires may haue a wished and happy end. For I +will alwayes be a sollicitour to the most mighty Emperour for your +Maiesties affaires, that your Maiesty at all times may be fully satisfied. +Peace be to your Maiesty, and to all such as follow rightly the way of God. +[Sidenote: Ann. Dom. 1594] Written the first day of the Moone of Rabie +Liuol in the yere of the Prophet, 1002. + + +END OF VOL. V. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, v5, by Richard Hakluyt + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V5 *** + +This file should be named 7900-8.txt or 7900-8.zip + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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