Universis, & singulis, cujuscunq; loci, status, gradut, ordinis, ac conditighis ad quos hos præsens scriptum pervenerit, Gulielmus Segar, Eques auratus alias dictus Garterus Principalis Rex Armorum Anglicorum, Salutum. Sciatis, quod Ego prædictus Garterus, notum, testatumque facio, quod Patentitem suprascriptum, cum manu propria prædicti Ducis Transilvaniæ Subsignatum, & Sigillo suo affixum, Vidi: & Copiam veram ejusdem (in perpetuam rei memoriam) transcripsi, & recordavi in Archivis, & Registris Officii Armorum. Datum Londini 19. die Augusti, Anno Domini 1625. Annoque Regni Domini nostri CAROLI Dei gratia Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, & Hibernix Regis, Fidei Defendoris, &c. Prime.
Gulielmus Segar, Garterus.
{MN} Sigismundus Bathori, by the Grace of God, Duke of Transilvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia, Earl of Anchard, Salford and Growenda; to whom this Writing may come or appear. Know that We have given Leave and Licence to John Smith an English Gentleman, Captain of 250 Soldiers, under the most Generous and Honourable Henry Volda, Earl of Meldritch, Salmaria, and Peldoia, Colonel of a thousand Horse, and fifteen hundred Foot, in the Wars of Hungary, and in the Provinces aforesaid under our Authority; whose Service doth deserve all praise, and perpetual Memory towards us, as a Man that did for God and his Country overcome his Enemies; Wherefore out of our Love and Favour, according to the Law of Arms, We have ordained, and given him in his Shield of Arms, the Figure and Description of three Turks Heads, which with his Sword before the Town of Regal, in single Combat he did overcome, kill, and cut off, in the Province of Transilvania. But Fortune, as she is very variable, so it chanced and happened to him in the Province of Wallatchia, in the year of Our Lord 1602. the 18th day of November, with many others, as well Noble Men as also divers other Soldiers, were taken Prisoners by the Lord Bashaw of Cambia, a Country of Tartaria; whose cruelty brought him such good Fortune, by the Help and Power of Almighty God, that he delivered himself, and returned again to his Company and fellow Soldiers, of whom We do discharge him, and this he hath in Witness thereof, being much more worthy of a better Reward; and now intends to return to his own sweet Country. We desire therefore all Our loving and kind Kinsmen, Dukes, Princes, Earls, Barons, Governours of Towns, Cities or Ships, in this Kingdom, or any other Provinces he shall come in, that you freely let pass this the aforesaid Captain, without any hindrance or molestation, and this doing, with all kindness, we are always ready to do the like for you. Sealed at Lipswick in Misenland, the ninth of December, in the year of our Lord, 1603.
{MN} The same in English.
With the proper privilege of his Majesty. SIGISMUNDUS BATHORI
To all and singular, in what Place, State, Degree, Order, or Condition whatsoever, to whom this present Writing shall come: I William Segar, Knight, otherwise Garter, and principal King of Arms of England, wish health. Know, that I the aforesaid Garter, do witness and approve, that this aforesaid Patent, I have seen, Signed, and Sealed, under the proper Hand and Seal Manuel of the said Duke of Transilvania, and a true Copy of the same, as a thing for perpetual memory, I have Subscribed and Recorded in the Register, and Office of the Heralds of Arms. Dated at London, the nineteenth day of August, in the year of Our Lord, 1625, and in the first year of our Sovereign Lord Charles, by the Grace of God, King of great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.
WILLIAM SEGAR.