| WHEREAS the Queen's majesty, tendering the good
and welfare of her own natural subjects, greatly distressed
in these hard times of dearth, is highly discontented to understand
the great number of Negroes and blackamoors which (as she is
informed) are carried into this realm since the troubles between
her highness and the King of Spain; who are fostered and powered
here, to the great annoyance of her own liege people that which
co[vet?] the relief which these people consume, as also for
that the most of them are infidels having no understanding of
Christ or his Gospel: hath given a special commandment that
the said kind of people shall be with all speed avoided and
discharged out of this her majesty's realms; and to that end
and purpose hath appointed Casper van Senden, merchant of Lubeck,
for their speedy transportation, a man that hath somewhat deserved
of this realm in respect that by his own labor and charge he
hath relieved and brought from Spain divers of our English nation
who otherwise would have perished there. |
| These shall therefore be to will and require you
and every of you to aid and assist the said Casper van Senden
or his assignees to taking such Negroes and blackamoors to be
transported as aforesaid as he shall find within the realm of
England; and if there shall be any person or persons which be
possessed of any such blackamoors that refuse to deliver them
in sort aforesaid, then we require you to call them before you
and to advise and persuade them by all good means to satisfy
her majesty's pleasure therein; which if they shall eftsoons
willfully and obstinately refuse, we pray you to certify their
names to us, to the end her majesty may take such further course
therein as it shall seem best in her princely wisdom. |
|
|
