ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
i. Articles of trade, 1604(B.M. Harl. 295 ff. 216–20)
705. A note of all such matters as the English merchants trading Spain and
Portugal do most humbly offer to the consideration of the lords and others
of the king's majesty's most honourable privy council, to be considered of
in the treaty of amity between our king's most excellent majesty and the king
of Spain. (fn. 1)
706. Firstly that all former grants and privileges granted by the predecessors
of the king of Spain to the English merchants may be ratified and confirmed.
707. That none of his majesty's subjects or their ships, goods or merchandise shall be molested, arrested, detained or compelled to answer at law by
the king of Spain or his subjects for any offences committed in the late
queen's day or before the signing of the treaty.
708. That the king's subjects may be free to enter and trade in any port or
haven in the dominions of the king of Spain, and not restrained to any
kingdom, dominion, place or port, but able to trade where they find themselves best treated and most commodious for the sale of their merchandise.
709. That no subject of any nation shall be allowed to take legal action
against Englishmen in Spanish courts, nor sequester their persons, ships or
goods, for any ships, goods or treasure formerly seized, on land or water,
but to be brought to justice in England.
710. That all restraints by proclamation or pragmatic against the import of
any particular types of goods into Spain shall be abolished; thereafter
English merchants shall be free to import goods and merchandise wrought,
made and dyed in England, as well as all types of goods made in any other
country whatsoever, as amply and freely as they did before 1584. They
should pay the import and export duties levied in that year, no more.
711. That English merchants who freight their ships to carry goods to any
of the dominions of the king of Spain, may reload them back again without
molestation or interruption, or any composition made with the officers or
subjects of the king of Spain for the same.
712. All Englishmen committed to the galleys or other prisons, for any
cause except debt, to be released.
713. That the king's subjects may regain the house and land belonging to
it at San Lucar de Barrameda, and enjoy it in as ample a manner as they
did before the late restraint, and that fugitives, who are Englishmen and
enemies to his majesty, and all others may be removed. (fn. 2)
714. That English merchants may be free to keep their houses and warehouses to themselves, as Spanish merchants are at liberty to do in England,
and that they shall not be compelled to keep their books of account in
Spanish. No alcaide de sacas or any other officer may enter their houses or
studies, or take away any books, papers or accounts. (fn. 3)
715. If any subjects of the king of England should die in the dominions of
the king of Spain, then the local English consul with three or four of the
assistants, (or in their absence three or four English merchants of good
credit) should administer the estate of the deceased, taking an inventory of
his goods, wares, books and other things, and certifying its accuracy. The
Inquisition and any other Spanish official or subject shall not meddle with
the matter, under any custom, law or pretence whatsoever.
716. That English merchants shall not be molested in their persons, ships or
goods, or in any other way, for any trade or traffic to Barbary or Turkey.
They should be free to trade there without any interference or restraint. (fn. 4)
717. That English merchants shall not be molested by the Inquisition before
they land their goods, but shall be free to land them in any port within the
dominions of the king of Spain without interference. The Inquisition shall
not search or examine Englishmen for any books or about any services they
have held at sea, nor whether they be Christians according to the romish
religion. The possession of any such books, or participation in such services
at sea, shall not be prejudicial to any Englishman.
718. That Englishmen shall not be forced to land their goods against their
own wishes, and that they shall pay no dues except for goods landed and
sold.
719. That it may be lawful for English merchants to nominate from time to
time one or more consuls and such other officers as they shall think fit,
being natural-born subjects of the king of England; those so elected shall
have power to assemble themselves and to make laws to govern such of his
majesty's subjects as shall be resident in the dominions of the king of Spain.
No Spanish officials shall meddle in these matters. (fn. 5) If any disputes should
arise between England and Spain, English subjects should have at least six
months warning, for the disposal and transporting of their goods and
persons out of the country without impeachment or interruption.
720. If any English merchant shall ship prohibited commodities out of
Spain, then only the guilty party shall incur penalties and then only on the
prohibited goods. The ship and the goods loaded on it by other merchants
shall not be molested or forfeited.
721. All English goods confiscated since the king's majesty was proclaimed
king of England, by virtue of any edict put out by the king of Spain and the
archduke or either of them, shall be restored or satisfaction given for the
same. Any customs duties or deposits paid since the king was proclaimed,
that are over and above the ancient and usual customs and duties, shall
likewise be restored and all bonds taken for the same delivered and discharged.
722. If any Englishman shall marry a subject of the king of Spain, then it
may be lawful for them, their children or any of them separately, to come
into England and to bring their goods, wares and other things belonging to
them, without any let or interruption.