A.D. 

 1592. 



The marchants 

 above named 

 be made afel- 

 lozuship and 

 companie for 

 1 2 yeeres by 

 the name of 

 the Governor 

 and companie 

 of the mar- 

 chants of the 

 Levant. 



[ii. i. 297.] 



Sir Edward 

 Osborne ap- 

 pointed the 

 first Gover- 

 nour. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



Leate, John Eldred, William Shales, Richard May, 

 William Wilkes, Andrewe Fones, Arthur Jackson, 

 Edmund Ansell, Ralph Ashley, Thomas Farrington, 

 Roberte Sandie, Thomas Garraway, Edwarde Lethlande, 

 Thomas Dalkins, Thomas Norden, Robert Bate, Edward 

 Sadler, Richard Darsall, Richard Martine Junior, Ralph 

 Fitch, Nicholas Pearde, Thomas Simons, and Francis 

 Dorrington, that they and every of them by the name 

 of Governour and company of Marchants of the Levant 

 shall from hence foorth for the terme of twelve yeeres 

 next ensuing the date hereof bee one bodie, fellowshippe 

 and companie of themselves both in deede and in name : 

 And them by the name of Governour and companie of 

 marchantes of the Levant wee doe ordayne, incorporate, 

 name, and declare by these presentes, and that the same 

 fellowshippe and companie from hence foorth shall and 

 may have one Governour. And in consideration that 

 the sayde Edwarde Osborne Knight hath beene of the 

 chiefe setters foorth and actors in the opening and putting 

 in practise of the sayde trade to the dominions of the 

 sayde Grand Signor : Wee doe therefore specially make, 

 ordaine, and constitute the sayde Edwarde Osborne 

 Knight, to bee nowe Governour during the time of one 

 whole yeere nowe next following, if hee so long shall 

 live : and after the expiration of the sayde yeere, or 

 decease of the sayde Edward Osborne the choyse of the 

 next Governour, and so of every Governour from time 

 to time during the sayde terme of twelve yeeres to be 

 at the election of the sayde fellowshippe or companie of 

 marchantes of the Levant or the more part of them 

 yeerely to be chosen, and that they the sayde Sir Edwarde 

 Osborne, and all the residue of the sayde fellowshippe 

 or companie of Marchantes of the Levant and everie of 

 them, and all the sonnes of them and of every of them, 

 and all such their apprentises and servants of them and 

 of every of them, which have beene or hereafter shall be 

 imployed in the sayde trade by the space of foure yeeres 

 or upwardes by themselves, their servantes, factors or 



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