這封信命運多舛「消失383年」　寫給萬曆帝！伊莉莎白一世從未送達的遺憾

至今仍為世人津津樂道的英國女王伊莉莎白一世，雖終生未婚，但「嫁」給英格蘭的她，治國45年一點都不輸男人，在位期間（1558年至1603年）擊敗西班牙無敵艦隊，平定宗教戰爭，透過軍事、商業、文學、海上霸權奠定英國撐出歐洲強國地位。

然而，伊莉莎白一世離世卸任的前一年，曾寫信給中國明朝萬曆皇帝朱翊鈞，表達商業友好、鞏固兩國友誼，只是，這封信命運多舛，第一次使者走陸路迷路；第二次走海運，先是發生船難，又被西班牙船隊攔捕；第三次走北極但發生內鬥，信件返回英國後便消失無蹤。

直到1952年，英國某農場穀物桶內被發現，整整寄了383年才曝光，而改朝換代、物換星移，這封信目前由英國蘭開夏郡檔案館收藏。



▌信件內容的中文翻譯大概是（歡迎指正 ）
伊莉莎白一世致大明皇帝書 (1602年)

伊莉莎白，蒙上帝恩典，英格蘭、法國及愛爾蘭女王，信仰的守護者，致偉大、強盛且無往不勝的中國（Cathay，當時歐洲常用的中國稱呼）皇帝陛下：致以問候。

我們從我方臣民及曾到訪貴國部分領土的他國人士口中，收到了各種各樣的報告。他們向我們講述了陛下的英明偉大，以及您對那些攜帶商品前來貿易的外國人的仁慈款待。

這些報告鼓勵了我們去尋找一條比現有環繞大半個地球的常規航線更短的海路，以連接我國與貴國。

若能開闢這條較近的航道，將為兩國臣民提供貿易的機會，且隨著航程的縮短，兩國間的友好情誼亦可因此建立與深化。基於此，我們過去曾多次鼓勵一些具備開創精神的臣民，嘗試經由北方尋找這條更近的通道。然而，他們的部分船隻未能返航，從此杳無音訊，推測是受困於冰封的大海與難以忍受的嚴寒。

儘管如此，我們仍願再次嘗試，並已籌備派遣兩艘小船，由我方臣民喬治·韋茅斯（George Waymouth）率領。他因具備豐富的航海知識與經驗，被委任為此次航行的首席領航員。

我們懇請陛下能仁慈對待他們，並給予他們鼓勵，以完成這條迄今尚未被廣泛使用、亦非慣常貿易路線的新航道之開拓。

藉此方式，我們兩國可以互通有無，獲取互利之效，兩國間的友誼亦將隨之增長。

考量到此次為首航，船隻正冒險探索一條未知的航線，且需要裝載探險所需的必需品，因此我們暫未承載大量貨物，而主要攜帶樣本與必要補給。

陛下或可親自察看船上攜帶的我國各類物產樣品，這些物產我們皆能充足供應；亦請陛下向喬治·韋茅斯詢問，下一支船隊可為貴國供應之物資。

在此期間，我們將陛下託付於永恆上帝的庇佑之下，祂的旨意引導並護佑著所有的君王與國度。

發自格林威治王宮，主後 1602 年 5 月 4 日，伊莉莎白在位第 44 年。

伊莉莎白女王（Elizabeth R，其中 R 為拉丁文 Regina，意為「女王」）



▌信件的英文原文：
Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith to the great, mighty and invincible Emperor of Cathay, greetings.

We have received divers and sundry reports both by our own subjects and others, who have visited some parts of Your Majesty’s empire. They have told us of your greatness and your kind usage of strangers, who come to your kingdom with merchandise to trade.

This has encouraged us to find a shorter route by sea from us to your country than the usual course that involves encompassing the greatest part of the world.

This nearer passage may provide opportunity for trade between the subjects of both our countries and also amity may grow between us, due to the navigation of a closer route. With this in mind, we have many times in the past encouraged some of our pioneering subjects to find this nearer passage through the north. Some of their ships didn’t return again and nothing was ever heard of them, presumably because of frozen seas and intolerable cold.

However, we wish to try again and have prepared and set forth two small ships under the direction of our subject, George Waymouth, employed as principal pilot for his knowledge and experience in navigation.

We hope your Majesty will look kindly on them and give them encouragement to make this new discovered passage, which hitherto has not been frequented or known as a usual trade route.

By this means our countries can exchange commodities for our mutual benefit and as a result, friendship may grow.

We decided for this first passage not to burden your Majesty with great quantities of commodities as the ships were venturing on a previously unknown route and would need such necessities as required for their discovery.

It may please your Majesty to observe, on the ships, samples available from our country of many diverse materials which we can supply most amply and may it please your Majesty to enquire of the said George Waymouth what may be supplied by the next fleet.

In the meantime, we commend Your Majesty to the protection of the Eternal God, who providence guides and follows all kings and kingdoms. From our Royal Palace of Greenwich, the fourth of May anno Domini 1602 and of our reign 44.

Elizabeth R

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