Welsh Journals

our dominions in the prouinces and kingdomes of Algir and Tunes, and other maritine (sic) portes. When this our sublimate and Imperiall signe shall come to you; know that the most illustrious lord the ambassador of his sacred ma[jes]tie of greate Brittaine, hath presented to our mightie porte a petticion, sayeinge that the magnificent Lewes Robertes, English marchant who for some years was resident in this our imperiall port of Constantinople, traficeinge by way of marchandiz, in these our kingdoms and Empire, and desireinge now to returne into his natiue Countrie of England, beseechinge that yer might be graunted him an Imperiall Comandement which may serue him both by land and sea, in all partes and places, accordinge to the tennor of the Imperiall Cappitulacions, that as well his person, as his marchandiz, slaues, and seruantes may be saued and kept from the mollestations, or troubles, whattsoeuer, wherfore accordinge to the tennor of the said Imperiall Capitulation, graunted to the subiectes and slaues of his Ma[jes]tie of Great Brittaine, that it maie be allwaies obserued we haue giuen this our Imperiall Comandement and doe Comand. That when anie of you shall meette with the aboue named Lewes Robertes whither it be by land or sea, or in anie of our territories and dominions beinge about the years of Twentie eight, haueing a ruddie Countenance, with light yellowish long haire, a smale blacke spotte on the left side of his nose and of a midle stature, that then he the said marchant his goodes, faculties, seruantes, and slaues, shall passe quietlie accordinge to our Imperiall Capitulacions to whom you shall giue noe molestation nor damadge whatsoeuer, but in all his occations, protecte, defend and conserue him, his goodes, and slaues, and all you Begges, and Capt[ain]es, both priuat and publique, masteres of shippes that nauigate the seas, meetinge with the said marchant, you shall lett him passe, sound and free without tole, tribute, or head mony, and shall not doe him nor cause to be donne vnto him, his marchandiz and slaues, mollestation damadge or hindrance whatsoeuer. And in summe, know that the said Sacred kinge of great Brittaine, is in scincer, and perfect amitie with vs in this our sublime porte, and that the said magnificent marchant, hath been beneficiall to our yearlie hasna by the Comerse and tradeinge as wee are giuen to vnderstand by the Collector of our Costoms in this our porte of Constantinople, Scio, smirna, Alexandretta and elswhere in our dominions, wherfor it is our Imperiall will and Comand, that the subiect of the said kinge, and in particuler this abounamed Besergen be conserued free and sound throughout all ye partes of our dominions, or other principalites eyther subiect to our Comand, or at league or perfect amitie with vs, and throughout all partes, places, and kingdomes that he shall trauell and passe through, noe trouble or preiudice be done vnto him, his goodes seruantes, or slaues, soe that each of you, haue his eyes oppen, and be watchfull and diligentlie, and Carefullie obserue that noe acte be comitted, against this my will and my imperiall Capitulations, and soe you shalbee freed from my wrath, and giue faith to my imperiall signett, written on the last daye of the moone, of Zillcheede, in the yeare of our hollie, and blessed proffett Mahomett 11033: (marginal note in the same hand as the text, Anno D[omi]ni 1624) and giuen in our Imperiall Cittie of Constantinople, the preserued (sic), and bulwarke of the afflicted'. Possibly because they have survived only in fragmentary form the two Wigfair manuscripts present us with a number of problems all of which are interconnected. These relate to the identity of Lewis Roberts,