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Richard Hakluyt - Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation, 10
thieues. [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. [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
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