e
Marchant, haue by great aduenture and industrie with their great cost and
charges by the space of sundry late yeeres trauelled, and caused trauell to
be taken aswell by secrete and good meanes, as by daungerous wayes and
passages both by lande and sea to finde out and set open a trade of
marchandize and traffike into the landes, Ilandes, Dominions, and
territories of the great Turke, commonly called the Grand Signior, not
before that time in the memorie of any man now liuing knowen to be commonly
vsed and frequented by way of marchandize by any the marchantes or other
subiects of vs or our progenitors: And also haue by their like good meanes
and industrie and great charges procured of the sayde Grand Signior in our
name, amitie, safetie and freedome for trade and traffike of marchandize to
be vsed and continued by our subiects within his sayd dominions, whereby we
perceiue and finde that both many good actions haue beene done and
performed, and hereafter are likely continually to be done and performed
for the peace of Christendome: Namely by the reliefe and discharge of many
Christians which haue beene, and which hereafter may happen to be in
thraldome and bondage vnder the sayde Grand Signior and his vassals or
subiects. And also good and profitable vent and vtterance of the
commodities of our Realme, and sundrie other great benefites to the
aduancement of our honour and dignitie Royall, the maintenance of our
Nauie, the encrease of our customes, and the reuenues of our Crowne, and
generally the great wealth of our whole Realme.

And whereas we are enformed of the sayd Edward Osborne knight, William
Hareborne and Richard Staper, that George Barne, Richard Martine, Iohn
Harte knights, and other marchants of our sayd Citie of London haue by the
space of eight or nine yeeres past ioyned themselues in companie, trade and
traffike with them the sayd Edward Osborne knight, William Hareborne and
Richard Staper, into the sayde dominions of the sayd great Turke, to the
furtherance thereof and the good of the Realme.

And whereas further it is made knowen vnto vs, that within fewe yeeres how
past our louing and good subjects, Thomas Cordall, Edward Holmeden, William
Garraway and Paul Banning, and sundry other merchants of our said Citie of
London, haue likewise at their great costes and charges, builded and
furnished diuerse good and seruiceable shippes and therewith to their like
costs and charges haue traded and frequented,