Divers voyages touching the discouerie of America/Chapter 2
The same letters patents in english.
Enrie by the grace of GOD king of England, and France, and Lorde of Irelande, to all, to whom these presentes shall come, greeting. Be it knowen that wee haue giuen and granted, and by these presentes doe giue and grant for vs and our heyres, to our well beloued John Gabote Licence grãted to John Gabot, his sonnes and heires, to discouer vnknowen lands vnder the kings banner.citizen of Venice, to Lewes, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the saide John, and to the heires of them and euery of them, and their deputies, full and free authoritie, leaue, and power to sayle to all partes, countreys and seas of the East, of the West, and of the North vnder our banners and ensignes, with five ships, of what burden or quantitie soeuer they be: and as many mariners or men as they will haue with them in the saide ships, vpon their owne proper costes and charges to seeke out, discouer and finde whatsoeuer iles, countreyes, regions, or prouinces, of the heathen and infidelles whatsoeuer they bee, and in what part of the worlde soeuer they be, whiche before this time haue been vnknowen to all Christians. We haue granted to them also and to euery of them, the heires of them, and euery of them and their deputies, & haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery village, towne, castel, yle,or mainelande of them newely founde. To subdue and possesse those landes as the kings vassalles.And that the foresaid John and his sonnes or their heires and assignes may subdue, occupie, and possesse all such townes, cities, castles and yles of them founde, which they can subdue, occupie, and possesse, as our vassailes and lieutenantes, getting vnto vs the rule, title, and iurisdiction of the same villages, townes, castles, and firme lande so founde.
Yet so that the foresaide John and his sonnes and heires, and their Deputies bee holden and bounden, of all the fruites, profites, gaines & commodities growing of such nauigation, for euery their voyage as often as they shall arriue at our port of Bristoll, (at the which port they shall be bounde and holden only to arriue) all manner of necessarie costes and charges by them made being deducted, to pay vnto vs in wares or money the fifth part of the Capitall gaine so gotten.The fift of all goods to be paid to the king. Wee giuing and graunting vnto them and to their heires and Deputies, that they shall bee free from all paying of customesFreedome from all customes. of all and singuler such merchandize, as they shall bring with them from those places so newely founde.
And moreouer wee haue giuen and graunted to them, their heires and Deputies, that all the firme landes, Iles, Villages, Townes, Castles and places whatsoeuer they be, that they shall chaunce to finde, may not of any other of our subiectes bee frequented or visitedNone but they & their assignes may trauaile thither. without the licence of the foresayd John, his sonnes and their deputies vnder paine of forfayture as well of their shippes, as of all and singuler goods of all them that shall presume to sayle to those places so founde. Willing and most straightly commaunding all and singuler our subiectes as well on lande as on sea appointed officers, to giue food assistãce to the aforesaid John and his sonnes and deputies, and that as well in arming and furnishing their ships or vessels, as in prouision of quietnesse, and in buying of victualles for their money and all other thinges by them to be prouided necessarie for the saide nauigation, they doe giue them all their helpe and fauour. In witnesse whereof wee haue caused to bee made these our letters patentes. Witnesse our selfe at Westminster the fifte day of March in the xi. yeereThe 5. of march 1594. of our reigne.