Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

Appendix 1
B. The Commandement obtained of the Grand Signior, by her Majestics
Ambassadour, for the quiet passing of her Subjects to and from his
Dominions, sent to the Viceroy of Argier (1584)
To our Beg-ler-Beg of Argier. We certifie thee, by this our Commandement,
that the Right Honourable William Hareborne, Ambassadour to the Queenes
Majestie of England, hath signified unto Us, that the Shippes of that Country, at
their comming and returning to and from our Empire, on the one Part of the
Seas have the Spaniards, Florentines, Sicilians and Malteses, on the other Part
our Countries committed to your Charge; which abovesayd Christians will not
suffer their Egresse and Regresse into and out of our Dominions, but doe take
and make the Men Captives, and forfeit the Ships and Goods, as the last Yeere
the Malteses did one, which they tooke at Gerbi and to that Ende, doe
continually lie in waight for them, to their Destruction; whereupon they are
constrained to (stand to their Defense, at any such Times as they might meate
with them. Wherefore considering by this Meanes they must (stand upon their
Gard, when they shall see any Galley a farre off, whereby if meeting with any
of your Gallies, and not knowing them, in their Defense they doe shoote at
them, and yet after, when they doe certainly knowe them, doe not shoote any
more, but require to passe peaceably on their Voyage, which you would denie,
saying, “The Peace is broken, for that you have shotte at us” and so doe make
Prise of them, contrarye to our Priviledges, and agaynst Reason: For the
preventing of which Inconvenience, the sayd Ambassador hath required this
our Commandement.
We therefore command thee, that upon Sight hereof, thou doe not permit any
such Matter, in no Sort whatsoever but suffer the said Englishmen to passe in
Peace, according to the Tenor of our Commandement given, without any
Disturbance, or Lett, by any Meanes, upon the Way, although that, meeting
with thy Gallies, and not knowing them a farre off, they, taking them for
Enemies, should shoote at them, yet shall you not suffer them to hurt them
therefore, but quietly to passe. Wherefore looke thou, that they may have Right,
according to our Priviledge given them; and finding any that absenteth
himselfe, and will not obey this our Commandement, presently certifie Us to
our Porch, that We may give Order for his Punishment: And with Reverence
give faithful Credite to this our Commandement, which having read, thou shalt
againe returne to them that present it. From our Pallace in Constantinople, the
Prime of June 1584.
Source: Morgan, Complete History of Algiers, vol. 2, pp. 584-5.
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