A. D. 1593. 2ai 



great Eaft-Tndia carrack on fhore at the Azores, -where it was burnt ; 

 foon after they met with the greatefl of all the Eafl-Tndia carracks, 

 homeward bound, of 1600 tons, with 700 men, and 36 brafs cannon, 

 which they took, though with great flaughtcr, and carried her into 

 Dartmouth, where (lie iurpriled all who faw her, being the largeft fliip 

 ever feen in England. The cargo confiding of the richeft fpices, cali- 

 coes, filks, gold, pearls, drugs, China ware, or porcelain, ebony wood, 

 &c. moderately valued at Li 50,000, was divided amongft the adventur- 

 ers, of whom the queen was the principal. The poflellion of fuch im- 

 menfe foreign riches greatly encouraged the Englifh to go diredly to 

 the Eaft- Indies purely on a mercantile account. 



CXieen Elizabeth this year granted a fecond patent for a trade to Tur- 

 key or the Levant. The former one, being only for ieven years from 

 158 1, mull: have expired in 1588 ; yet it does not appear by any thing 

 in Hakluyt, who is in other refpeds an exa61 writer, that it was again 

 renewed till this year, when fifty-three perfons (confifting of knights,., 

 aldermen, and merchants,) had the queen's patent for twelve years. It 

 recites, that Sir Edward Ofborn (hereby appointed the firfl: governor for 

 one year), William Elarborn, Efq. &c. had not only eftabliflied the 

 trade to Turkey, at their great cofi: and hazard, but alfo that to Venice, 

 Zant, Cephalonia, Candia, and other Venetian dominions, to the great 

 incfeafe of the commerce and manufactures of England ; wherefor the 

 queen now incorporates them by the name of the governor and com- 

 pany of merchants of the Levant ; the governor and twelve afliftants to 

 be eleded yearly. The limits of their charter to be,T) The Venetian 

 territories; II) The dominions of the grand fignior by land and fea ; 

 and laftiy, through his countries overland to Eafi;-India, a way lately 

 difcovered by John Newberry, Fitch. &c. as already related. The laid 

 patentees, their Tons, apprentices, agents, fadors, and lervants, folely to 

 trade thither for twelve years ;- — may make bye-laws for their good go- 

 vernment. If their Ihips and goods fhall be loft at fea, the company, 

 may draw back the culloms they had paid for the fame. Shall have 

 thirteen months allowed for re-exportations of the merchandize they 

 bring home, without paying any cufi;om for fuch re-exportation, fo as 

 they belong folely to Englilhmen, and in Englifh bottoms. Four good 

 fliips, with ordnance and munition for their defence, and with 200 Eng- 

 lifii mariners, fliall be freely permitted to go at all times during the faid 

 twelve years ; provided, that if the queen be at war, fo as to have occa- 

 fion for thofe four fliips, then, upon three months notice by the lord 

 admiral, that the queen cannot fpare the faid fliips from the defence of 

 the realm, the company fhall forbear fending them out until her navy 

 fhall return home. The company may have a common feal, and may 

 place in the tops of their fliips the arms of England, with a red crofs in 

 white over the fame, as heretofor they have ufed. No other fubjeds 



Vol. II. C c 



