serts hath a dutie of 40. s. sterling, vpon euery
Camels lode, which he sendeth his officers to receiue of the Carauans, and
in consideration hereof, he taketh vpon him to conduct the sayd Carauans if
they need his helpe, and to defend them against certaine prowling thieues.
[Sidenote: William Barret Consul in Aleppo.] I and my companion William
Shales came to Aleppo with the Carauan the eleuenth of Iune, 1584. where we
were ioyfully receiued 20. miles distant from the towne by M. William
Barret our Consull, accompanied with his people and Ianissaries, who fell
sicke immediately and departed this life within 8. dayes after, and elected
before his death M. Anthonie Bate Consul of our English nation in his
place, who laudably supplied the same roome 3. yeeres. [Sidenote: Two
voyages more made to Babylon.] In which meane time I made two voyages more
vnto Babylon, and returned by the way aforesayd, ouer the deserts of
Arabia. And afterwards, as one desirous to see other parts of the countrey,
I went from Aleppo to Antioch, which is thence 60. English miles, and from
thence went downe to Tripolis, where going aboord a small vessell, I
arriued at Ioppe, and trauelled to Rama, Lycia, Gaza, Ierusalem, Bethleem,
to the riuer of Iordan, and the sea or lake of Zodome, and returned backe
to Ioppe, and from thence by sea to Tripolis, of which places because many
others haue published large discourses, I surcease to write. Within few
dayes after imbarking my selfe at Tripolis the 22. of December, I arriued
(God be thanked) in safety here in the riuer of Thames with diuers English
marchants, the 26. of March, 1588, in the Hercules of London, which was the
richest ship of English marchants goods that euer was knowen to come into
this realme.

* * * * *

The second letters Patents graunted by the Queenes Maiestie to the Right
worshipfull companie of the English Marchants for the Leuant, the seuenth
of Ianuarie 1592.

Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, France, and Irelande,
defender of the faith &c. To all our Officers, ministers and subiects, and
to all other people aswell within this our Realme of England, as else where
vnder our obeysance and iurisdiction or otherwise vnto whom these our
letters shal be seene, shewed, or read greeting.

Where our well beloued subiects Edward Osborne knight Alderman of our citie
of London, William Hareborne Esquire, and Richard Staper of our saide citi