Elizabeth, by the grace of God of England, Fraunce, and Ireland, Queene, defender of the fayfche, etc. To all to whome these presents shall come, greeting: Forasmuch as our trustie and well-beloved subject, Adrian Gylbert, of Sandridge, in the Countie of Devon, Gentleman, to his great costes and charges, hath greatly aud earnestly travailed and sought, and yet doth travel and seeke, and by divers meanes indevoureth and laboureth, that the Passage unto China and the Iles of Molluccas, by the Northwestward, Northeastwarde, or Northwarde, unto which part or partes of the worlde, none of our Loyall subjectes have hitherto had any traffike or trade, may be discovered, knowen, and frequented by the subjects of this our Realme: know ye therefore that for the considerations aforesayd, and for divers other good considerations us thereunto specially moving, We of our grace especiall, certaine knowledge and meere motion, have given and graunted, and by these presents for us, our heires and successors, doe give and graunt free libertie, power, and full authoritie to the sayd Adrian Gylbert, and to any other person by him or his heires to be assigned, and to those his Associates and assistants, whose names are written in a sedule hereunto annexed, and to their heires, and to one assignee of eche of them, and ech of their heires at all times, and at any time or times after the date of these presents, under our Banners and Ensignes freely, without let, interruption, or restraint of us, our heires or successors, any lawe, statute, proclamation, patent, charter, or proviso to the contrary notwithstanding, to sayle, make voyage, and by any maner of meanes to passe and to depart out of this our Realme of Englande, or any our Realmes, Dominions, or Territories into all or any Iles, Countries, Regions, Provinces, Territories, Seas, Rivers, Portes, Bayes, Creekes, armes of the Sea, and all Havens, and all maner of other places whatsoever, that by the sayd Northwestward, Northeastward, or Northward, is to be by him, his associates or assignees discovered, and for and in the sayde sayling, voyage, and passage, to have and use so many ships, Barks, Pinnesses, or other vessels of any quantitie or burthen, with all the furniture of men, victuals, and all maner of necessary provision, armour, weapons, ordinance, targets, and appurtenances whatsoever, as to such a voyage shall or may be requisite, convenient or commodious, any lawe, statute, ordinance or proviso to the contrarie thereof notwithstanding.