THE ENGLISH LETTERS ad. 



1403- 

 France, and being welcomed by our said lord with a 

 chearefull and favourable countenance, they presented 

 certaine letters on your behalfe unto the kings Majestie, 

 with that reverence which beseemed them : expounding 

 unto his highnes, sundry piracies & molestations offered 

 of late upon the sea, by his liege people & subjects 

 unto yours, contrary to the leagues of peace and amitie, 

 which hitherto (by Gods grace) have 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 unto 

 the damnified parties, or unto their procurators. We 

 therefore at that time, especially being in the presence 

 of our soveraigne (who with his puissant army tooke 

 his progresse towards the remote part of Wales being 

 subject unto his dominion, to see justice executed 

 upon his people of those parts, who very rashly have 

 presumed to rebell against him their sovereigne, con- 

 trary to their allegeance) right well perceived that it 

 was his highnesse intention, that every one should have 

 due justice faithfully administred unto him, especially 

 your subjects, and that with all favour, whom he hath 

 alwayes in times past right graciously intreated, as if 

 they had bene his owne liege subjects and native coun- 

 trey men, whome also hee purposeth hereafter friendly to 

 protect : insomuch that betweene him and his subjects 

 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 unto 

 your foresayd messengers, after they had particularly 

 declared unto us such piracies and wrongs, to sende the 

 kings letters unto them of whom complaint was made, 

 flrmely injoyning them, under grievous penalties, that 

 without delay they restore or cause to bee restored 

 unto the parties damnified, or unto their procuratours, 

 all ships, marchandises, wares, and goods, by them taken 

 or violently stolne from your subjects. And that your 

 said messengers may partly attaine their desire, we have 



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