THE LEVANT COMPANY'S CHARTER ad 



1581. 



and place in the tops of their ships and other vessels 

 the armes of England with the red crosse over the 

 same, as heretofore they have used the red crosse, any 

 matter or thing to the contrary notwithstanding. 



And we of our further royal favor, and of our espe- 

 ciall grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion have 

 graunted, and by these presents doe graunt to the said 

 Edward Osburne, Thomas Smith, Richard Staper, and 

 William Garret, their executors and administrators by 

 these presents, that the said lands, territories, and domi- 

 nions of the said Grand Signior, or any of them, shall 

 not be visited, frequented, nor haunted by way of mar- 

 chandise by any other our subjects during the said 

 terme, contrary to the true meaning of these patents. 



And by vertue of our high prerogative royall (which 

 wee will not have argued or brought in question) we 

 straightly charge and commaund, and prohibite for us, 

 our heires, and successours, all our subjects (of what 

 degree or qualitie soever they be) that none of them 

 directly, or indirectly, do visite, haunt, frequent or trade, 

 trafique, or adventure by way of marchandise into, or 

 from any of the Dominions of the sayde Grand Signior, 

 or other places abovesayde by water or by lande (other 

 then the said Edward, Thomas, Richard and William, 

 their executours or administrators, or such as shalbe 

 admitted, and nominated as is aforesaide) without ex- 

 presse licence, agreement, and consent of the said 

 Governour, and company or the more part of them, 

 whereof the said Governour alwayes to be one, upon 

 paine of our high indignation, and of forfeiture and 

 losse, as well of the ship and shippes, with the furniture 

 thereof, as also of the goods, marchandizes, and things 

 whatsoever they be of those our Subjects which shall 

 attempt, or presume to saile, trafique, or adventure, to 

 or from any the dominions, or places abovesaid, contrary 

 to the prohibition aforesaid : the one halfe of the same 

 forfeiture to be to the use of us, our heires & suc- 

 cessors, and the other halfe to the use of the said 



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