Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/124

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

sake: whereas also the fame of your kingdome so strongly and prudently gouerned, being dispersed and published ouer the face of the whole earth, hath inuited these our subiects not onely to visite your Hignnesie dominions, but also to permit themselues to be ruled and gouerned by the lawes and constitutions of your kingdome during the time of their aboad in those partes of the world, as it becommeth marchants, who for exchange of marchandize are desirous to trauell vnto regions so farre distant and not hitherto sufficiently knowen vnto these nations of the world, hauing this regard onely, that they may present their wares and certaine examples or musters of diuers kinds of marchandizes, wherewith the regions of our dominions do abound, vnto the view of your Highnesse and of your subjects, and that they may in deuor to know, whether here be any other marchandize with vs fit for your vse, which (according to the honest and lawfull custome of traffique in all countries) they may exchange for other commodities, whereof in the parts of your Empire there is great plentie both naturall and artificiall: We yeelding vnto the most reasonable requests of these honest men, because we doe suppose that by this most iust intercourse of traffique, no inconuenience nor losse, but rather most exceeding benefite will redound vnto the Princes and subiects of both kingdomes, while by the carrying foorth of those commodities wherewith we abound, and the bringing home of others which we want, wee may on either side at most easie rates helpe and inrich one another; doe craue of your most soueraigne Maiestie, that these our subiects, when they shall come for traffiques sake vnto any the stations, portes, places, townes or cities of your Empire, they may haue full and free libertie of egresse and regresse, and of dealing in trade of marchandize with your subiects, may by your Highnesse clemency most firmely enioy all such freedomes, immunities, and priuileges, as are vsually granted to the subiects of other Princes which exercise traffique in your dominions; and we on the other side will not onely performe all the offices of a well-willing Prince vnto your Highnesse, but also for the greater increase of mutuall loue and commerce betweene vs and our subjects, by these present letters of ours doe most willingly grant vnto all and euery your subjects (if it shall seeme good vnto your Highnesse) full and entire libertie vnto any of the partes of our dominions to resort, there to abide and traffique, and thence to returne. All and euery of which premisses we haue caused to be confirmed