ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1592. 



that the States and Governours of the citie and Segniorie 

 of Venice have of late time set and raysed a newe impost 

 and charge over and besides their auncient impost, cus- 

 tome, and charge of and upon all manner of marchandize 

 of our Realme brought into their dominions, and also 

 of and upon all marchandise caried or laden from their 

 sayd Countrey or dominions by our subjects or in the 

 ships or bottoms of any of our subjectes to the great 

 and intollerable charge and hinderance of our sayd sub- 

 jects trading thither, wee therefore minding the redresse 

 thereof, doe also by these presents for us, our heires 

 [II. i. 300.] and successors further straightly prohibite and forbid 

 not onely the subjects of the sayde State and Segniorie 

 of Venice, but also of all other Nations or Countries 

 whatsoever other then the sayd Governour and companie 

 of marchants of the Levant, and such onely as be or 

 shall be of that companie, their factors, agents, servantes, 

 and assignes : That they or any of them during the sayde 

 terme of twelve yeeres, shall bring or cause to be brought 

 into this our Realme of Englande, or any part thereof 

 anie manner of small fruites called corrants, being the 

 raysins of Corinth, or wine of Candie, unlesse it be by 

 and with the licence, consent, and agreement of the sayde 

 Governour and companie in writing under their sayd 

 common seale first had and obteyned upon paine unto 

 every such person and persons that shall trade and traffike 

 into any the sayde dominions of the State and Segniorie of 

 Venice by sea, or that shall bring or cause to be brought 

 into our saide Realme any of the said corrants being the 

 raysins of Corinth, or wines of Candia, other then the 

 sayd companie in paine of our indignation, and of forfai- 

 ture and losse aswell of the shippe and ships with the 

 furniture thereof, as also of the goods, marchandize, and 

 thinges whatsoever they be of those which shall attempt 

 or presume to commit or doe any matter or thing con- 

 trarie to the prohibition aforesayd. The one halfe of all 

 the saide forfeitures to be to us, our heires and suc- 

 cessours, and the other halfe of all and every the sayde 



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