THE LEVANT COMPANY'S CHARTER ad. 



1581. 

 Subjects, and also good and profitable vent and utterance 

 may be had of the commodities of our Realme, and 

 sundry other great benefites to the advancement of our 

 honour, and dignitie Royall, the increase of the revenues 

 of our Crowne, and generall wealth of our Realme : 

 Knowe ye, that hereupon wee greatly tendering the 

 wealth of our people, and the incouragement of our 

 Subjects in their good enterprises for the advancement of 

 the Common weak, have of our speciall grace, certaine 

 knowledge and meere motion, given and graunted, and 

 by these presents for us, our heires and successours, doe 

 give and graunt unto our sayd trustie, and welbeloved 

 Subjects Edward Osborne, and unto Thomas Smith of 

 London Esquier, Richard Staper, and William Garret of 

 London Marchants, their executors, and administrators, 

 and to the executours and administratours of them, and 

 of every of them, that they, and every of them, and such 

 other person and persons Englishmen borne, not exceeding 

 the number of twelve, as they the sayde Edward, and 

 Richard shall appoint, nominate, or admit to be parteners, 

 adventurers, or doers with them the sayde Edward, 

 Thomas, Richard and William, in their societie by them- 

 selves, their servants, Factours or deputies, and to such 

 others as shall bee nominated according to the tenour of 

 these our letters Patents, shall and may during the terme 

 of seven yeeres from the date of these Patents, freely 

 trade, trafique, and use feates of Marchandise into, and 

 from the dominions of the sayde Grand Signior, and every 

 of them, in such order, and maner, forme, liberties and 

 condition to all intents and purposes as shalbe betweene 

 them limitted and agreed, and not otherwise, without any 

 molestation, impeachment, or disturbance, any Lawe, [II. i. 147.] 

 statute, usage, diversitie of religion or faith, or other 

 cause or matter whatsoever to the contrary notwith- 

 standing. 



And that it shalbe lawful to the said Edward and 

 Richard their executors and administrators, (during the 

 said terme) to appoint or admit to be parteners and 



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