a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1592. 



Countreyes must take their due and proper times to 

 proceede in these voyages, which otherwise as wee well 

 perceive can not be performed in the rest of the yeere 

 following : Therefore we of our speciall grace, certaine 

 knowledge, and meere motion for us our heyres and 

 successors doe graunt to and with the sayd Governour 

 and companie of Marchantes of the Levant, that foure 

 good shippes well furnished with ordinance and other 

 munition for their defence, and two hundred marriners 

 English men to guide and sayle in the same foure 

 shippes at all times during the sayde twelve yeeres shall 

 quietly bee permitted and suffered to depart and goe in 

 the sayde voyages, according to the purport of these 

 presents, without any stay or contradiction by us, our 

 heyres and successors, or by the Lorde high Admirall 

 or any other officer or subject of us, our heires or suc- 

 cessours in any wise : Any restraint, lawe, statute, 

 usage or matter whatsoever to the contrarie notwith- 

 standing. 



Provided neverthelesse, that if wee shall at any time 

 within the sayde twelve yeeres have just cause to arme 

 our Navie in warrelike manner in defence of our Realme, 

 or for offence of our enemies : and that it shall be founde 

 needefull and convenient for us to joyne to our Navie 

 the shippes of our subjects to be also armed for warres 

 to such number as cannot bee supplied if the sayd foure 

 shippes should be permitted to depart as above is men- 

 tioned ; then upon knowledge given by us or our 

 Admirall to the sayde Governour or companie about the 

 fifteenth day of the moneth of March, or three monethes 

 before the saide companie shall beginne to make readie 

 the same foure shippes that we may not spare the sayd 

 foure ships and the marriners requisite for them to be 

 out of our Realme during the time that our Navie shall 

 be upon the seas, that then the sayde companie shall 

 forbeare to send such foure shippes for their trade of 

 marchandise untill that we shall retake our sayd Navie 

 from the sayd service. 



82 



