Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/58

 JASPER CAMPION.

The English trade to Scio. 1539-1570 A.D.

[HAKLUYT'S Voyages. 1599.]

A discourse of the trade to Scio, made in the year 1569, [i.e. 1570] by JASPER CAMPION unto Master MICHAEL LOCK and unto Master WILLIAM WINTER: as by his letters unto them both, shall appear. Written the 14th of February 1569 [i.e. 1570].

WORSHIPFUL SIR, ETC.

As these days past, I spake unto you about the procurement of a safe-conduct from the great Turk for a trade to Scio: the way and manner how it may be obtained with great ease, shall plainly appear unto you in the lines following.

Sir, you shall understand that the island of Scio in time past hath been a Signiory or lordship of itself; and did belong to the Genoese. There were twenty-four of them that governed the island, who were called Mauneses. But in continuance of time the Turk waxed so strong and mighty: that they—considering they were not able to keep it, unless they should become his tributaries: because the island had no corn nor any kind of victuals to sustain them, but only that which must of necessity come out of the Turk's dominions; and the said island being enclosed with the Turks round about, and but twelve miles from the Turk's continent—therefore the said Genoese did compound and agree to be the Turk's tributaries, and to pay him 14,000,000 ducats yearly: always provided that they should keep their laws both spiritual and temporal, as they did when the island was in their own hands. Thus he granted them their privilege,