THE LEVANT COMPANY'S CHARTER a.d. 



1580. 



her subjects in generall, this our favour, which before 

 wee had extended onely to a fewe of her people : there- 

 fore as wee have entred into amitie, and most holy league 

 with the most excellent kings and princes our confederats, 

 shewing their devotion, and obedience or services towards 

 our stately Porch (as namely the French king, the Vene- 

 tians, the king of Polonia and others) so also we have 

 contracted an inviolable amitie, peace and league with 

 the aforesaid Queene. Therefore wee give licence to all 

 her people, and marchants, peaceably and safely to come 

 unto our Imperiall dominions, with all their marchandise 

 and goods without any impeachment, to exercise their 

 traffique, to use their owne customes, and to buy and 

 sell according to the fashions of their owne countrey. 



And further her Majestie signified unto us, that certaine 

 of her people had heretofore bene taken prisoners, and 

 were detained in captivitie, and required that they might 

 bee set at libertie, and that as we had graunted unto other 

 Princes our confederats, priviledges, and Imperiall decrees, 

 concerning our most inviolable league with them, so it 

 would please our Imperial Majesty to graunt and con- 

 iirme the like priviledges, and princely decrees to the 

 aforesaid Queene. 



Wherefore according to our humanitie and gracious 

 ingraffed disposition, the requests of her Majestie were 

 accepted of us, and we have granted unto her Majestie 

 this privilege of ours agreeable to reason & equitie. 

 And we straightly command all our Beglerbegs, and 

 Zanziacbegs our servants, and our Reyz, that is to say, 

 our Judges, and all our customers in all places, havens 

 and passages, that as long as this league and amitie with 

 the conditions, and articles thereof, are kept and observed 

 on the behalfe of the aforesaid Queene. i Our Imperiall 

 commandement and pleasure is, that the people and sub- 

 jects of the same Queene, may safely and securely come 

 to our princely dominions, with their goods and mar- 

 chandise, and ladings, and other commodities by sea, in 

 great and smal vessels, and by land with their carriages 



185 



