A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1585. 



The same in English. 



Right honourable Lord, it hath bene signified unto us 

 by divers letters, what hath fallen out, concerning a 

 certaine shippe of ours, called the Jesus, into which, for 

 the helpe of Richard Skegs, one of our Marchants in the 

 same, nowe deceased, there was admitted a certaine 

 Frenchman called Romaine Sonnings, which for his ill 

 behaviour, according to his deserts, seeking to cary away 

 with him another Frenchman, which was indebted to 

 certaine of your people, without paying his creditours, 

 was hanged by sentence of justice, together with Andrew 

 Dier, the Master of the said ship, who simply and with- 

 out fraude, giving credite to the said Frenchman, without 

 any knowledge of his evil fact, did not returne when hee 

 was commaunded, by your honourable Lordship. The 

 death of the said lewde Frenchman we approove as a 

 thing well done, but contrarywise, whereas your Lordship 

 hath confiscated the said ship with the goods therein, 

 and hath made slaves of the Mariners, as a thing al- 

 together contrary to the privileges of the Grand Signior, 

 granted foure yeeres since, and confirmed by us on the 

 behalfe of the most excellent the Queenes Majestie of 

 England our Mystresse, and altogether contrary to the 

 league of the saide Grand Signior, who being fully 

 informed of the aforesaid cause, hath granted unto us his 

 royall commandement of restitution, which we send unto 

 your honourable Lordship, by the present bearer Edward 

 Barton our Secretarie, and Mahomet Beg, one of the 

 Justices of his stately Court, with other letters of the 

 most excellent Admirall, and most valiant Captaine of 

 the Sea, requiring your honourable Lordship, as well on 

 the behalfe of the Grand Signior, as of the Queenes most 

 excellent Majestie my Mystresse, that the men, oyles, 

 shippe, furniture, money, and all other goods whatsoever, 

 by your Lordship, and your order taken from our men, 

 be restored unto this my Secretary freely, without delay, 

 as the Grand Signior of his goodnesse hath graunted 



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