Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/394



A large Charter granted by K. Edward the 4 in the second yere of his reigne, to the marchants of England resident especially in the Netherland, for their chusing of a master and gouernor among themselues, which gouernment was first appointed vnto one William Obray: with expresse mention, what authoritie he should haue.

EDward by the grace of God king of France, and of England, and lord of Ireland, to al those which shal see or heare these letters, sendeth greeting, and good wil. Know ye, that whereas, we haue vnderstood, as well by the report of our louing and faithfull Counsellors, as by the common complaint and report of all men, that many vexations, griefs, debates, discords, annoyes, dissentions, and damages, haue heretofore bene done, moued, committed, and happened, and do daily fal out and happen among the common marchants and mariners, our subiects of our realmes of France and England, and our lordships of Ireland and Wales, and of other our dominions, seigneuries, and territories, because that good discretion and authority hath not bin obserued among our saide subiects, which abide, frequent, conuerse, remain, inhabit, and passe, aswel by sea as by land, into the parts of Brabant, Flanders, Henault, Holland, Zeland, and diuers other countreis and seigneuries belonging aswell to the high and mighty prince, our most deere and louing cousin the Duke of Burgoine, of Brabant, earle of Flanders, &c. as being in the obedience and dominion of other lords, which are in friendship, alliance, and good wil with vs: and that it is to be doubted that through the saide inconuenience and occasion, many discommodities may ensue and fal out in time to come (which God forbid) vnles we should prouide conuenient remedie in this behalfe for our subiects aforesaid: wherefore we desiring most effectually and heartily to auoide the mischiefe of the saide inconueniences and to prouide conuenient remedy for the same, to the end that the said common marchants and mariners and others our subiects of our said realms and dominions, which at this present and hereafter shal haunt and frequent the said countries, may be iustly and lawfully ruled, gouerned, and intreated by right and equity in the countries aforesaid, and that equity, reason, and iustice, may be ministred vnto them and euery of them, according as the cases shal require, we being wel assured and hauing ful confidence, in the discretion, faithfulnes, wisdome, experience, and good diligence of our most deare and welbeloued subiect Will. Obray our seruant, and in regard of the good, faithfull, and acceptable seruices, which he hath done vs in our realm and among our subiects in times past, and hoping that he wil do also hereafter, we haue made, ordained, constituted, committed, and established, and by the tenour of these presents, of our special grace, ful power, and authority royall, we ordaine, appoint, commit, and establish, (during our pleasure) to