next ensuing the date hereof
bee one bodie, fellowshippe and companie of themselues, both in deede and
in name: And them by the name of Gouernour and companie of marchantes of
the Leuant wee doe ordayne, incorporate, name, and declare by these
presentes, and that the same fellowshippe and companie from hence foorth
shall and may haue one Gouernour. [Sidenote: Sir Edward Osborne appointed
the first Gouernour.] And in consideration that the sayde Edwarde Osborne
Knight hath beene of the chiefe setters foorth and actors in the opening
and putting in practise of the sayde trade to the dominions of the sayde
Grand Signor: Wee doe therefore specially make, ordaine, and constitute the
sayde Edwarde Osborne Knight, to bee nowe Gouernour during the time of one
whole yeere nowe next following, if hee so long shall liue: and after the
expiration of the sayde yeere, or decease of the sayde Edward Osborne the
choyse of the next Gouernour, and so of euery Gouernour from time to time
during the sayde terme of twelue yeeres to be at the election of the sayde
fellowshippe or companie of marchantes of the Leuant or the more part of
them yeerely to be chosen, [Sidenote: A priuiledge for the East Indies.]
and that they the sayde Sir Edward Osborne, and all the residue of the
sayde fellowshippe or companie of Marchantes of the Leuant and euerie of
them, and all the sonnes of them and of euery of them, and all such their
apprentises and seruants of them and of euery of them, which haue beene or
hereafter shall be imployed in the sayde trade by the space of foure yeeres
or vpwardes by themselues, their seruantes, factors or deputies, shall and
may by the space of twelue yeeres from the day of the date of these our
letters Patents freely traffike, and vse the trade of Marchandize as well
by sea as by lande into and from the dominions of the sayde Grand Signor,
and into and from Venice, Zante, Candie and Zephalonia, and other the
dominions of the Signiorie and State of Venice, and also by lande through
the Countries of the sayde Grand Signor into and from the East India,
lately discouered by John Newberie, Ralph Fitch, William Leech, and Iames
Storie, sent with our letters to that purpose at the proper costs and
charge of the sayde Marchants or some of them: and into and from euerie of
them in such order, manner, forme, libertie and condition fo all intentes
and purposes as shall be betweene them of the sayde fellowshippe or
companie of Marchantes