Whereas we by Our Letters Patents bearing Date at Our Pallace of Weſtminſter the XXVI. day of February, in the VII yeare of Our raigne of England, France, and Ireland, for the conſiderations therein mentioned, haue giuen and granted for Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors, free Licence, Power, and Authority, vnto Our welbeloued Seruants, Arthur Baſſano, Andrew Baſſano, Ieronimo Baſſano, Edward Baſſano, Scipio Baſſano, Antony Baſſano, and vnto Daniell Baſſano, and William Baſſano, and euery of them. That they the ſaid Arthur Baſſano, Andrew Baſſano, Ieronimo Baſſano, Edward Baſſano, Scipio Baſſano, Antony Baſſano, Daniell Baſſano, and William Baſſano, and euery of them their, and euery of their Aſſignes by themſelues, or by their Deputies, Seruants, or Factors, or any of them being Engliſh-men, Denizens, or Strangers, ſhall or may at their pleaſure liberty and free will for and during the terme of 7 yeares, to begin immediatly from and after the XXVII, day of Auguſt, which then ſhould be in the yeare of Our Lord God 1614. at all times, and from time to time lawfully bargaine for, buy and prouide or cauſe to be bargained for, bought or prouided of any perſon or perſons, and within any Citty, Towne, Burrough, place or places within this Our Realme and Dominions of England and Walles, ſo many Dickers of Leather of Calue-skinnes as ſhall amount in the whole to the number of 6000. Dickers, accompting ten dozen of ſuch Calue-skinnes to euery Dicker. And the ſame ſo prouided and bought at all and euery time and times during the ſaid terme of 7. yeares, before by theſe Preſents granted, in any Ship or Shippes, Veſſell or Veſſells, Bottome or Bottomes, being of Our ſaid Realme and Dominions, Hoyes, and other Veſſells prohibited to croſſe the Seas onely excepted, to ſhip, lade, tranſport, and carry ouer, or cauſe to be ſhipped, laden, tranſported, or carryed ouer from any of the Portes, Hauens, Creekes, or Paſſages of this Our Realme and Dominions of England and Wales, into any the parts beyond the Seas being, or which at the time of ſuch ſhipping or tranſporting ſhall be in amity with Vs, Our Heires or Succeſſors. And in ſuch proportions, quantity, and number, as to them or any of them ſhall be thought meete and conuenient, and there from time to time at their free will and liberty to vtter, ſell, diſtribute, and diſpoſe to their and euery of their, beſt profit commoditie and aduantage, without any danger, forfaicture, loſſe, penalty, or moleſtation, againſt them or any of them, by Vs, Our Heires or Succeſſors, or to Our or their vſe, or behoofe to be had leuied, loſt, forfaicted, or recouered, and without any manner of let, int • rruption, or diſturbance of any other perſon or perſons whatſoeuer. Any Statute, Proclamation, or reſtrainct thereof▪ heer • tofore made to the contrary thereof, notwith • tanding. Paying vnto Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors, for euery Dicker of Calue-skinnes, which ſhall happen to be tranſported by vertue of that Our Licence, fiue ſhillings of Lawfull Engliſh money, the payment thereof to be from time to time made to the hands of Our Collectors of Our Cuſtoms in euery of the ſaid Parts, Hauens, Creekes, or places where any of the ſaid Calue-skins ſhall be ſhipped or laden to be tranſported as aforeſaid, as by Our ſaid Letters Patents amo • gſt diuers other Graunts, Licenſes, Prohibitions, and other things therein contained more plainely may appeare.

The Grant.Know yee that we, aſwell in conſideration of the good & faithfull ſeruice to Vs heretofore done by Our truſty and welbeloued Iames Maxwell Eſquire, one of our Gentlemen Vſhers dayly Wayters, as for the dueties and ſummes of mony herein reſerued to be payable to Vs, Our Heires and Succ • ſſors. Of Our ſpeciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion, haue giuen and granted, and by theſe Preſents for Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors, doe giue and graunt free Licenſe, power, and authority vnto the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes. That he the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes, by him or themſelues, or by his and their Deputies, Seruants, or Factors, or any of them, being Engliſhmen, Denizens, or Strangers, ſhall and may at his and their pleaſure libertie and free will, for and during the terme of XXI. yeares, to begin immediatly from and after the end,The Terme of yeares. expiration, ſurrender or other determination, of the ſaid terme of 7 yeares before mentioned to be graunted, at all times, and from time to time lawfully bargaine for, buy, and prouide, or cauſe to be bargained for, bought, or prouided of any perſon or perſons, and within any Citty, Towne, Burrough, place or places, within this Our Realme and Dominions of England and Wales, ſo many Dickers of Leather of Calue-skinnes, as ſhall or may amount in the whole to the number of Eighteene thouſand Dickers, accounting ten dozen of ſuch Calue-skinnes to euery Dicker. And the ſame ſo prouided and bought,The number of Dickers. at al & euery time & times during the ſaid termes of XXI. yeares, before by theſe preſents granted, in any Ship or Shippes, Veſſell or Veſſell, Botom or Bottomes, being of Our ſaid Realme and Dominions, Hoyes, or other Veſſells prohibited, to croſſe the Seas onely excepted; to Ship, layde, tranſport, and carry ouer, or cauſe to be Shipped, layden, tranſported, and carried ouer from or out of any the Portes, Hauens, Creekes, or paſſages of this Our ſaid Realme and Dominions of England and Walles, into any the parts beyond the Seaes being, or which at the time of ſuch Shipping, or tranſporting ſhall be in amity with Vs, Our Heires or Succeſſors. And in ſuch proportion quantity and number, as to him them or any of them ſhall be thought meete and conuenient. And there from time to time at his and their free will and liberty, to vtter ſell deſtribute and diſpoſe to his and their beſt profit, comodity and aduantage, without any danger, forfaicture, loſſe, penalty, or moleſtation againſt him or them, or any of them, by Vs, Our Heires or Succeſſors, or to Our or their vſe or behoofe, to be had, leuied, loſt, forfaicted or receiued: And without any manner of let, interruption or diſturbance of any other perſon or perſons whatſoeuer. Any Statute, Proclamation, or reſtrainct thereof, heretofore made to the contrary thereof notwithſtanding: Paying vnto Vs,The Payment Our Heires and Succeſſors, for euery Dicker of Calue-skinnes which ſhall be tranſported by vertue of this Our Licenſe, fiue ſhillings of lawfull Engliſh mony, the payment thereof to be from time to time made to the hands of Our Collectors of Our Coſtomes in euery of the ſaid Ports, Hauens, Creekes, or places, where any of the ſaid Calue-skinnes ſhall be Shipped, or layden to be tranſported as aforeſaid.

And wee will, and grant by theſe Preſents for Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors: That the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes, his and their Deputies, Factors, and Seruants, and none other ſhall during the ſaid Terme of XXI. yeares by theſe Preſents granted, haue exerciſe and enioy, the whole full and ſole liberty, Licenſe, and power of and for tranſportation of Calue-skinnes out of Our ſaid Realme & Dominions of England and Wales. And therefore we doe for Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors, ſtraightly charge and commaund all and euery perſon and perſons whatſoeuer, of whatſoeuer eſtate, degree, or condition they be: That none of them other then the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes, and his or their Deputies, Factors, and Seruants, during the ſaid Terme of XXI. yeares, before by theſe Preſents granted, ſhall bring or ſend, or cauſe to be brought or ſent, or by any manner of meanes or coullor, tranſport, conuey, or ſhip out of this our Realme and Dominions of England and Wales, any Calue-skins during the continuance of this Our Graunt and Licenſe.

And we doe expreſſely prohibit and forbid all tranſportation whatſoeuer of any Calue-skinnes, by any perſon or perſons whatſoeuer, out of this Realme and Dominions of England and Wales during the ſaid Terme of XXI.The prohibition yeares, before by theſe Preſents Granted, other then by the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes, his and their Deputies, Factors, or Seruants, vpon paine of ſuch impriſonment, penalty, or forfaicture, as may be lawfully inflicted on them and euery of them for their contempt and diſobedience in that behalfe. And for the better finding out of any ſuch conueying, tranſportation, or coulorable, paſſing of Calue-skinnes contrary to the effect, and true meaning of this our preſent Licenſe or Graunt, we doe by theſe Preſents ſtrictly charge and commaund all Our Cuſtomers, Comptrollers, and Searchers, and all other Our Officers in all Our Ports, Hauens, and Creekes, within Our ſaid Realme and Dominions of England and Wales: That at all times during the ſaid Terme of XXI. yeares, when and as often as they or any of them ſhall be thereunto willed or required by the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, or Aſſignes, his or their Deputies, Factors, or Seruants: That they and euery of them ſhall with all dilligence, and by all lawfull wayes and meanes they can try out and ſearch for all ſuch Calue-skinnes as ſhall be ſhiped, imbarked or laden, to the intent to be carryed or transported out of Our ſaid Realme and Dominions of England and Wales, contrary to the meaning or intent of theſe our Letters Patents, and to arreſt, ſeiſe, and carry away, and detaine the ſame as forfaicted: The one moity of all which forfaictures to be to the vſe of Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors, and the other moity thereof, we do by theſe Preſents giue and Grant to the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors,The Charge. Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes. And further, we will and commaund all Our Cuſtomers, Comptrollers of Our Cuſtoms, and other the Officers of Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors, that they doe not onely permit and ſuffer the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes, his and their Deputies, Factors, and Seruants, quietly and peaceably to prouide, bring, Ship, lade, and tranſport the ſaid number of 18000. Dickers of Calue-skinnes according to the tenor and true meaning of this Our Licence and Grant, at all times during the ſaid Terme of XXI. yeares by theſe Preſents Granted, and by all the ſaid time to haue and enioy the full and whole effect and benefit of this Our Licenſe. But alſo to forbeare by any manner of meanes to trouble or moleſt him, them, or any of them, for the buying, prouiding, lading, ſhipping, tranſporting, or vttering of the Premiſſes or any part thereof as aforeſaid.

Willing and commaunding, all Maiors, Sheriffes, Bayliffs, Conſtables, Cuſtomers, Comptrollers, Searchers, and all other Officers of Our ſaid Realme and Dominions of England and Wales, not onely to permit and ſuffer the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes, his and their Deputies, Factors, and Seruants, to haue take and enioy the full and whole benefit, commoditie and profit of this Our preſent Licenſe and Grant, but alſo that they be ayding, helping, & aſiſting to him and them in the execution thereof, when they ſhall be thereunto required, during the ſaid Terme by theſe Preſents Granted. To which or to a duplicate thereof we do for Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors, charge and commaund all Our Officers, Miniſters, and Subiects, to giue as much credit, as behooueth to be giuen to a Grant and Licenſe vnder Our Great Seale of England: And alſo to permit and ſuffer the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes, his and their Deputies, Factors, and Seruants, to enioy and quietly to vſe the whole effect and benefit of this Our Grant and Licenſe, without any manner of let, impediment, hinderance, impeachment, vexation, denyall, or contradiction, as you and euery of you will anſwere the contrary at your vttermoſt perrills. And to the intent we may be certainly informed during the ſaid Terme of XXI. yeares, what number of Calue-skinnes ſhall be yearely tranſported and carryed out of this our Realme and Dominions of England and Wales, by vertue of this Our Licenſe: And at what Portes, Hauens, Creekes, and places, and may be truely anſwered and ſati • fied of ſuch Cuſtomes and duties as ſhall be due and ought to be payed vnto Vs, Our Heires and Succeſſors, of and for the ſame according to the effect and true meaning of theſe Preſents.

Our will and pleaſure is, and we doe charge and commaund that Our Colectors, Cuſtomers, Comptroulers, and ſuch Our Officers of euery the ſaid Portes, Creekes, Hauens, and places aforeſaid, where any of the ſaid Calue-skinnes ſhall be laden and ſhipped by vertue of theſe Preſents to whom it ſhall appertaine from time to time, not onely make perfect and certaine enteries thereof into their Cuſtome-Bookes. But alſo ſhall indorſe the ſeuerall number and quantity of the ſaid Calue-skinnes ſhall be laden and ſhipped, either vpon this our Licenſe or duplicate thereof, which for that purpoſe ſhall be left, with the ſaid Collectors, Cuſtomes, Comptrollers, and Officers of the ſaid Portes, Creekes, and Hauens, where ſuch entries of the ſaid Calue-skinnes ſhall happen to be made, and ſhall alſo yearely in the Terme of Saint Michaell the Archangell, during the ſaid Terme of XXI. yeares, certifie a true note in writing vnto Our Court of Exchequor at Weſtminſter, of all ſuch number of Calue-skinnes, as by vertue or coulor of theſe Preſents ſhall be there ſhipped, or laden, to be tranſported as aforeſaid, to the end that the certaine quantity and number of the ſaid Dickers of Calue-skinnes ſo to be tranſported, and the time and place of the ſhipping and tranſporting thereof may from time to time plainely appeare, as is aforeſaid.

Prouiſo.Prouided alwaies, and our will and pleaſure is, that the ſaid Iames Maxwell, his Executors, Adminiſtrators, and Aſſignes, nor any of them, their or any of their Aſſignes, Deputies, Factors, or Seruants, ſhall not Ship, lade, tranſport, or carry any Calue-skinnes by vertue or coulor of this Our Licenſe, out of the Ports, Hauens, or Creekes of Cheſter & Leuerpoole, or any of them, or out of any Port, Hauen, or Creeke being member of the ſaid Port of Cheſter, during ſuch time as any other Grant for tranſportation of Calue-skinnes out of any the ſaid Port, Hauen, and Creeke of Cheſter, ſhall happen to continue and be in force. And this Our Licenſe and Grant, nor any thing therein contained, ſhall not extend to auoid, preiudice, or impeach any former Grant or Licenſe whatſoeuer heretofore by Vs, or by Our late deare Siſter Queene Elizabeth, made to any perſon or perſons, bodies politique and corporate, for the tranſporting or carrying of Calue-skinnes out of this Realme and Dominions of England and Wales, but that they and euery of them may from time to time freely enioy the benefit of all ſuch former Grants and Licenſes ſo by Vs, or by the ſaid late Queene Elizabeth formerly made, & Granted in as ample maner as if theſe preſent Letters Patents had neuer beene had or made, any thing before in theſe Preſents mentioned to the contrary notwithſtanding.

Although expreſſe mention of the true yearely value or certainty of the premiſſes or any of them: Or of any other guift or Grant by Vs or any of Our Progenitors or Predeceſſors to the ſaid Iames Maxwell, before theſe times made, in theſe Preſents is not made: Or any Statue, Act, ordinance, prouiſion, Proclamation, or reſtraint before this time, had, made, ſet forth, ordained or prouided, or any other thing, matter, or cauſe whatſoeuer, to the contrary notwithſtanding: In witnes whereof We haue cauſed theſe Our Letters to be made Patents.