very great traffique, and a very great thorowfare from the East Indies to
Aleppo. The towne is very well furnished with victuals which come downe the
riuer of Tigris from Mosul which was called Niniuie in olde time. They
bring these victuals and diuers sorts of marchandises vpon rafts, borne
vpon goats skins blowenvp full of wind in maner of bladders. And when they
haue discharged their goods, they sel the rafts for fire, and let the wind
out of their goats skins, and cary them home againe vpon their asses by
land, to make other voyages downe the riuer. The building here is most of
bricke dried in the Sun, and very litle or no stone is to be found: their
houses are all flat-roofed and low. [Sidenote: Seldome rain.] They haue no
raine for eight moneths together, nor almost any clouds in the skie night
nor day. Their Winter is in Nouember, December, Ianuary and February, which
is as warme as our Summer in England in a maner. This I know by good
experience, because my abode at seuerall times in this city of Babylon hath
bene at the least the space of two yeeres. As we come to the city, we passe
ouer the riuer of Tigris on a great bridge made with boats chained together
with two mighty chaines of yron. [Sidenote: Eight and twenty dayes iourney
more by riuer, from Babylon to Balsara.] From thence we departed in flat
bottomed barks more strong and greater then those of Euphrates, and were
eight and twenty dayes also in passing downe this riuer to Balsara, but we
might haue done it in eighteene or less, if the water had bene higher. Vpon
the waters side stand by the way diuer townes resembling much the names of
the olde prophets: the first towne they call Ozeah, and another Zecchiah.
Before we come to Balsara by one dayes iourney, the two riuers of Tigris
and Euphrates meet, and there standeth a castle called Curna, kept by the
Turks, where all marchants pay a small custome. Here the two riuers ioyned
together begin to be eight or nine miles broad: here also it beginneth to
ebbe and flow, and the water ouerflowing maketh the countrey all about very
fertile of corne, rice, pulse, and dates. The towne of Balsara is a mile
and an halfe in circuit: all the buildings, castle and wals, are made of
bricke, dried in the Sun. The Turke hath here fiue hundred Ianisaries,
besides other souldiers continually in garison and pay, but his chiefe
strength is of gallies which are about fiue and twenty or thirty very faire
and furnished with goodly ordinance. To this port of Balsara come monethly
diuers ships from Ormuz, laden with all sorts of Indian marchandise, as
spices, drugs, Indico and Calecut cloth. These ships are vsually from forty
to threescore tunnes, hauing their planks sowed together with corde made of
the barke of Date trees, and in stead of Occam they vse the shiuerings of
the barke of the sayd trees, and of the same they also make their tackling.
[Sidenote: Ships made without yron in the Persian gulfe.] They haue no kind
of yron worke belonging to these vessels, saue only their ankers. From this
place six dayes sailing downe the gulfe, they goe to a place called Baharem
in the mid way to Ormus: there they fish for pearles foure moneths in the
yeere, to wit, in Iune, Iuly, August, and September. [Sidenote: Zelabdim
Echebar king of Cambaia.] My abode in Balsara was iust sixe moneths, during
which time I receiued diuers letters from M. Iohn Newberry from Ormus, who
as he passed that way with her Maiesties letters to Zelabdim Echebar king
of Cambaia, and vnto the mighty emperour of China, was traiterously there
arrested, and all his company, by the Portugals, and afterward sent
prisoner to Goa; where after a long and cruell imprisonmeat, he and his
companions were deliuered vpon sureties, not to depart the towne without
leaue, at the sute of one father Thomas Steuens, an English religious man
which they found there: but shortly after three of them escaped, whereof
one, to wit, M. Ralph Fitch, is since come into England. The fourth, which
was a painter called Iohn Story, became religious in the college of S. Paul
in Goa, as we vnderstood by their letters. [Sidenote: He returneth from
Balsara to Aleppo.] I and my companion William Shales hauing dispatched our
businesse at Balsara, imbarked our selues in company of seuenty barks all
laden with marchandise, hauing euery barke 14. men to draw them, like our
Westerne bargemen on the Thames, and we were forty foure dayes comming vp
against the streame to Babylon, [Sidenote: Their provision of victuals.]
where arriuing and paying our custome, we with all other sorts of marchants
bought vs camels, hired vs men to lade and driue them, furnished our selues
with rice, butter, bisket, hony made of dates, onions and dates: and euery
marchant bought a proportion of liue muttons, and hired certaine shepheards
to driue them with vs: we also bought vs tents to lie in and to put our
goods under: [Sidenote: A Carauan of foure thousand Camels.] and in this
our carauan were foure thousand camels laden with spices, and other rich
marchandises. These camels will liue very well two or three dayes without
water: their feeding is on thistles, wormewood, magdalene, and other strong
weeds which they finde vpon the way. The gouernment and deciding of all
quarels and dueties to be payed, the whole carauan commiteth to one
speciall rich marchant of the company, of whose honesty they conceiue best.
In passing from Babylon to Aleppo, we spent forty dayes, trauelling twenty,
or foure and twenty miles a day, resting ourselues commonly from two of the
clocke in the afternoone, vntill three in the morning, at which time we
begin to take our iourney. Eight dayes iourney from Babylon toward Aleppo,
neere vnto a towne called Heit, as we crosse the riuer Euphrates by boates,
about 3. miles from the town there is a valley wherein are many springs
throwing out abundantly at great mouths, a kinde of blacke substance like
vnto tarre, which serueth all the countrey to make stanch their barkes and
boates: euery one of these springs maketh a noise like vnto a Smiths forge
in the blowing and puffing out of this matter, which neuer ceaseth night
nor day, and the noise may be heard a mile off continually. This vale
swalloweth vp all heauie things that come vpon it. The people of the
countrey call it in their language Babil gehenham, that is to say, Hell
doore. As we passed through these deserts, we saw certaine wild beasts, as
wild asses all white, Roebucks, wolfes, leopards, foxes, and many hares,
whereof we chased and killed many. Aborise the king of the wandring
Arabians in these deserts 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 citie
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, and from time to time doe
trade and frequent and traffike by sea with the commodities of our Realme
to Venice, Zante, Candie, and Zephalonia, and other the dominions of the
Segniorie and State of Venice, and thereby haue made and mainteyned, and
doe make and continually maintains diuers good shippes with mariners
skilfull and fitte and necessarie for our seruice: and doe vent out of our
Realme into those partes diuerse commodities of our Realme, and returne
hither into our sayde Realme many good and necessarie commodities for the
common wealth thereof: All which traffike, as well inward as outward vntill
it hath beene otherwise brought to passe by the sayde endeuours, costs, and
charges of our sayde subiects, was in effect by our subiectes wholy
discontinued.
Knowe yee, that hereupon we greatly tendring the wealth of our people and
the encouragement of them and other our louing subiects in their good
enterprises for the aduancement of lawfull traffike to the benefite of our
common wealth, haue of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere
motion giuen and graunted, and by these presents for vs, our heyres, and
successours, doe giue and graunt vnto our sayd trustie and welbeloued
subiectes Edwarde Orborne Knight, George Barne Knight, George Bonde
knight, Richard Martine knight, Iohn Harte knight, Iohn Hawkins knight,
William Massam, Iohn Spencer, Richard Saltonstall, Nicholas Mosley Alderman
of our sayde Citie of London, William Hareborne, Edwarde Barton, William
Borrough Esquires, Richard Staper, Thomas Cordall, Henrie Paruis, Thomas
Laurence, Edwarde Holmeden, William Garraway, Robert Dowe, Paul Banning,
Roger Clarke, Henrie Anderson, Robert Offley, Philip Grimes, Andrewe
Banning, Iames Staper, Robert Sadler, Leonarde Power, George Salter,
Nicholas Leate, Iohn Eldred, William Shales, Richard May, William Wilkes,
Andrewe Fones, Arthur Iackson, Edmund Ansell, Ralph Ashley, Thomas
Farrington, Roberte Sandie, Thomas Garraway, Edwarde Lethlande, Thomas
Dalkins, Thomas Norden, Robert Bate, Edward Sadler, Richard Darsall,
Richard Martine Iunior, Ralph Fitch, Nicholas Pearde, Thomas Simons, and
Francis Dorrington, [Marginal note: The marchants aboue named be made a
fellowship and companie for 12 yeeres by the name of the Gouernor and
companie of the marchants of the Leuant.] that they and euery of them by
the name of Gouernour and company of Marchants of the Leuant shall from
hence foorth for the terme of twelue yeeres 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 of the Leuant or the more part of them for the time
being limited and agreed, and not otherwise, without any molestation,
impeachment, or disturbance; any lawe, statute, vsage, or diuersitie of
Religion or faith, or any other cause or matter whatsoeuer to the contrarie
notwithstanding.
And that the sayde Governour and companie of Marchantes of the Leuant, or
the greater part of them for the better gouernement of the sayde
fellowshippe and companie, shall and may within fortie dayes next and
immediatly following after the date hereof, and so from hence foorth
yeerely during the continuance of this our graunt, assemble themselues in
some conuenient place, and that they or the greater parte of them being so
assembled, shall and may elect, ordaine, nominate, and appoint twelue
discreete and honest persons of the sayde companie to be assistants to the
sayde Gouernour, and to continue in the sayde office of assistants, vntill
they shall die or bee remoued by the sayde Gouernour and companie or the
greater part of them. And if it happen the sayde assistantes or any of them
to die, or be remooued from their sayde office at anie time during the
continuance of this our graunt: that then and so often it shall and may bee
lawfull to and for the sayde Gouernour and companie of marchantes of the
Leuant, or the greater part of them to elect and chuse one or more other
persons of the sayd companie into the place or places of euery such person
or persons so dying or happening to be remooued, as is aforesayde. And wee
will and ordaine that the same person or persons so as is aforesaide to be
elected shall be of the sayd number of assistants of the sayde companie.
And this to be done so often as the case shall so require. And that it
shall and may be lawfull to and for the sayde Edwarde Orborne Knight,
George Barne Knight, George Bonde knight, Richard Martine knight, Iohn Hart
knight, Iohn Hawkins knight, William Massam, Iohn Spencer, Richard
Saltonstall, Nicholas Mosley, William Hareborne, Edwarde Barton, William
Borrough, Richard Staper, Thomas Cordall, Henrie Paruis, Thomas Laurence,
Edwarde Holmeden, William Garraway, Robert Dowe, Paul Banning, Roger
Clarke, Henrie Anderson, Robert Offley, Philip Grimes, Andrewe Banning,
Iames Staper, Robert Sadler, Leonarde Power, George Salter, Nicholas Leate,
John Eldred, William Shales, Richard May, William Wilkes, Andrewe Fones,
Arthur Iackson, Edmund Ansell, Ralph Ashley, Thomas Farrington, Robert
Sandie, Thomas Garraway, Edwarde Lethlande, Thomas Dalkins, Thomas Norden,
Robert Bate, Edward Sadler, Richard Darsall, Richard Martine Iunior, Ralph
Fitch, Nicholas Pearde, Thomas Simons, and Francis Dorrington aforesayde,
or any of them to assemble themselues for or about any the matters, causes
or affaires or businesses of the sayde trade in any place or places for the
same conuenient from time to time during the sayde terme of twelue yeeres
within our dominions or else where. And that also it shall and may be
lawfull for them or the more part of them to make, ordaine and constitute
reasonable lawes and orders for the good gouernment of the sayde companie,
and for the better advancement and continuance of the sayde trade and
traffike: the same lawes and ordinances not being contrarie or repugnant to
the lawes, statutes or customes of our Realme: And the same lawes and
ordinances so made to put in vse, and execute accordingly, and at their
pleasures to reuoke and alter the same lawes and ordinances or any of them
as occasion shall require.
And we doe also for vs, our heyres and successors of our speciall grace,
certaine knowledge, and meere motion graunt to and with the sayd Gouernour
and companie of marchantes of the Leuant, that when and as often at any
time during the sayde terme and space of twelue yeeres as any custome,
pondage, subsidie or other duetie shall be due and payable vnto vs, our
heires, or successors for any goods or marchandize whatsoeuer, to be
carried or transported out of this our port of London into any the
dominions aforesayde, or out of or from any the sayde dominions vnto our
sayde port of London, that our Customers, and all other our officers for
receites of custome, pondage, subsidie or other duetie vnto whom it shall
appertaine, shall vpon the request of the sayde Gouernour for the time
being, giue vnto the sayde companie three monethes time for the payment of
the one halfe, and other three monethes for the payment of the other halfe
of their sayde custome, pondage, or other subsidie or duetie for the same,
receiuing good and sufficient bonde and securitie to our vse for the
payment of the same accordingly. And vpon receipt of the sayde bonde to
giue them out their cockets or other warrants to lade out and receiue in
the same their goods by vertue hereof without any disturbance. And that
also as often as at any time during the sayde terme of twelue yeeres any
goods or marchandize of any of the sayde companie laden from this our port
of London in any the dominions beforesayde shall happen to miscarie before
their safe discharge in the partes for and to the which they be sent: That
then and so often so much custome, pondage, and other subsidie as they
answered vs for the same, shall after due proofe made before the Treasurour
of England for the time being of the sayde losse, and the iust quantitie
thereof, be by the vertue hereof allowed vnto them, by warrant of the sayde
Treasurour to the sayde Customers in the next marchandize that they shall
or may shippe for those partes, according to the true rates of the
customes, pondage, or subsidies heretofore payde for the goods so lost or
any part or parcell thereof.
And for that the sayde companie are like continually to bring into this our
Realme a much greater quantitie of forren commodities from the forren
Countreyes, places, or territories aforesaide, then here can be spent for
the necessarie vse of the same, which of necessitie must be transported
into other countreyes, and there vented, we for vs, our heires and
successors of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion doe
graunt to and with the sayd Gouernour and companie that at all times from
time to time during the space of thirteene moneths next after the discharge
of any the sayde goods so brought in, and the subsidies, pondage, customes
and other duties for the same being before hande payde or compounded for as
aforesayd, it shall be lawfull for them or any of them or any other person
or persons whatsoeuer being naturall subiects of the Realme which may or
shall buy the same of them or any of them to transport the same in English
bottomes freely out of this Realme without payment of any further custome,
pondage, or other subsidie to vs, our heires or successors for the same,
whereof the sayde subsidies, pondage, or customes or other duties shall be
so formerly payde and compounded for, as aforesayd, and so proued. And the
sayd customer by vertue hereof shall vpon due and sufficient proofe thereof
made in the custome house giue them sufficient cocket or certificate for
the safe passing out thereof accordingly. And to the ende no deceipt be
vsed herein to vs our heires, and successors, certificate shall be brought
from our collector of custome inwardes to our customer outwardes that the
sayd marchandizes haue within the time limited answered their due custome,
subsidie, pondage and other duties for the same inwards.