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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation v. 4

R >> Richard Hakluyt >> The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation v. 4




Supper being brought in, he requested them to eate. After their potage
(which was made of rice) was done, and likewise their boyled meat, there
came in platters of rice sodden thicke, and hony mingled with all: after
all which, came a sheepe roasted whole, which was brought in a tray, and
set before the captaine: he called one of his seruitors, who cut it in
pieces, and laying thereof vpon diuers platters, set the same before the
captaine: then the captaine gaue to M. Garrard and his company one platter,
and to his gentlemen another, and to them which could not well reach he
cast meat from the platters which were before him. Diuers questions he had
with M. Garrard and Christopher Burrough at supper time, about their diet,
inquiring whether they eat fish or flesh voluntarily or by order. Their
drinke in those partes is nothing but water. After supper (walking in the
garden) the captaine demanded of M. Garrard, whether the vse was in England
to lie in the house or in the garden, and which he had best liking of: he
answered, where it pleased him, but their vse was to lie in houses:
whereupon the captaine caused beds to be sent into the house for them, and
caused his kinsman to attend on them in the night, if they chanced to want
anything: he hinselfe with his gentlemen and souldiers lying in the garden.

In the morning very early he sent horse for the rest of the company which
should go to Derbent, sending by them that went tenne sheepe for the
shippe. In that village there was a stoue, into which the captaine went in
the morning, requesting M. Garrard to go also to the same to wash himselfe,
which he did. Shortly after their comming out of the Stoue, whilest they
were at breakfast, M. Turnbull, M. Tailboyes, and Thomas Hudson the M. of
the shippe, came thither, and when they had all broken their fasts, they
went to Bachu: but Christopher Burrough returned to the ship, for that he
had hurt his leg, and could not well endure that trauell. And from Bachu
they proceeded towards Derbent, as it was by the captaine promised, being
accompanied on their way for their safe conduct, with a gentleman, and
certaine souldiers, which had the captaine of Bachu his letters to the
Basha of Derbent, very friendly written in their behalfe. [Sidenote: The
receiuing of the English into Derbent.] In their iourney to Derbent they
forsooke the ordinarie wayes, being very dangerous, and trauelled thorow
woods till they came almost to the towne of Derbent: and then the gentleman
road before with the captaines letters to the Basha, to certifie him of the
English merchants comming, who receiuing the letters and vnderstanding the
matter, was very glad of the newes, and sent forth to receiue them certaine
souldiours gunners, who met them about two miles out of the towne, saluting
them with great reuerence, and afterwardes road before them: then againe
met them other souldiours, somewhat neerer the castle, which likewise
hauing done their salutations road before them, and then came foorth noble
men, captaines, and gentlemen, to receiue them into the castle and towne.
As they entered the castle, there was a shot of twentie pieces of great
ordinance, and the Basha sent M. Turnbull a very faire horse with furniture
to mount on, esteemed to be worth an hundred markes, and so they were
conueyed to his presence: who after he had talked with them, sent for a
coate of cloth of golde, and caused it to be put on M. Turnbulles backe and
then willed them all to depart, and take their ease, for that they were
wearie of their iourney, and on the morrow he would talke further with
them. The next day when the factors came againe to the presence of the
Basha according to his appointment, they requested him that he would grant
them his priuilege, whereby they might traffike safely in any part and
place of his countrey, offering him, that if it pleased his Maiestie to
haue any of the commodities that they had brought, and to write his mind
thereof to the captaine of Bachu, it should be deliuered him accordingly.
The Bashaes answer was, that he would willingly giue them his priuilege:
yet for that he regarded their safetie, hauing come so farre, and knowing
the state of his countrey to be troublesome, he would haue them to bring
their commodity thither, and there to make sale of it, promising he would
prouide such commodities as they needed, and that he would be a defence
vnto them, so that, they should not be iniured by any: wherupon the factors
sent Thomas Hudson backe for the ship to bring her to Derbent, and the
Basha sent a gentleman with him to the captaine of Bachu, to certifie him
what was determined, which message being done, the captaine of Bachu, and
the Bashaes messenger, accompanied with a doozen souldiours, went from
Bachu with Thomas Hudson, and came to the ship at Bildih the 11 day of
Iune. [Sidenote: The latitude of Bildih 40. deg. 25. min. The variation of
the compas 10. deg. 40. min.] After the captaine and his men had beene
aboord and seene the ship, they all departed presently, but the gentleman,
messenger from the Basha, with three other Turks, remained aboord, and
continued in the ship till she came to Derbent: the latitude of Bildih by
diuers obseruations is 40. degrees 25 minuts: the variation of the compasse
10. degrees 40 minuts from North to West. After the returne of Thomas
Hudson backe to Bildih, they were constrayned to remaine there with the
shippe through contrary windes vntill the 16. day of Iune foure of the
clocke in the morning, at which time they weyed anker, set saile and
departed thence towards Derbent, and arriued at anker against Derbent East
and by South from the sayd castle in foure fathome and a halfe water, the
22. day of Iune at ten of the clocke in the morning: then they tooke vp
their ordinance, which before they had stowed in hold for easing the shippe
in her rowling. In the afternoone the Basha came downe to the waterside
against the shippe, and hauing the said ordinance placed, and charged, it
was all shotte off to gratifie him: and presently after his departure
backe, he permitted the factors to come aboord the shippe. The 29. day
their goodes were vnladen and carried to the Bashaes garden, where he made
choyce of such things as he liked, taking for custome of euery fiue and
twenty karsies, or whatsoeuer, one, or after the rate of foure for the
hundred. The factors after his choyce made, determined to send a part of
the rest of the goods to Bachu, for the speedier making sale thereof, for
which cause they obteyned the Bashaes letter to the captaine of Bachu,
written very fauourably in their behoofe: and thereupon was laden and sent
in a small boat of that countrey in merchandize, to the value (very neere)
of one thousand pound sterling: videlicet, one hundred pieces of karsies,
seuen broad clothes, two barrels of cochenelio, two barrels of tinne, foure
barrels of shaffe. There went with the same of the companies seruants
William Wincle, Robert Golding, and Richard Relfe, with two Russies,
whereof one was an interpretor, besides foure barkemen. They departed from
Dertent with the saide barke the 19. of Iuly, and arriued at Bildih the 25.
day: their passage and carriage of their goods to Bachu was chargeable,
although their sales when they came thither were small: they had great
friendship shewed them of the captaine of Bachu, as well for the Bashaes
letter, as also for the factors sakes, who had dealt friendly with him, as
before is declared. Robert Golding desirous to vnderstand what might be
done at Shamaky, which is a dayes iourney from Bachu, went thither, from
whence returning, he was set on by theeues, and was shot into the knee with
an arrow, who had very hardly escaped with his life and goods, but that by
good hap he killed one of the theeues horses with his caliuer, and shot a
Turke thorow both cheeks with a dag. [Sidenote: Zere Island.] On the sixt
day of August the factors being aduertised at Derbent that their ship was
so rotten and weake, that it was doubtfull she would not cary them backe to
Astracan, did thereupon agree and bargen at that place with an Armenian,
whose name was Iacob, for a barke called a Busse, being of burden about 35.
tunnes which came that yere from Astracan, and was at that instant riding
at an island called Zere, about three or foure leagues beyond or to the
Eastwardes of Bildih, which barke for their more safety, they ment to haue
with them in their return to Astracan, and thereupon wrote vnto Wincoll and
the rest at Bachu, that they should receiue the same Busse, and lade in her
their goods at Bildih to be returned to Derbent, and to discharge their
first boate, which was obserued by them accordingly. [Sidenote: The English
suffer shipwracke.] When all their goods were laden aboord the sayd Busse
at Bildih, and being ready to haue departed thence for Derbent, there arose
a great storme with the winde out of the sea, by force whereof the cables
and halsers were broken, and their vessell put a shoare, and broken to
pieces against the rockes: euery of them that were in her saued their
liues, and part of the goods. But there was a Carobia or cheste, wherein
were dollars, and golde, which they had receiued for the commodities, of
the company, which they sold at Bachu, which at the taking out of the
Busse, fell by the Barkes side into the water amongst the rockes, and so
was lost. The packes of cloth which they could not well take out of the
Busse were also lost, other things that were more profitable they saued.

The 18. of August, the Factors receiued from the Basha 500. Batmans of raw
silke, parcell of the bargaine made with him, who bade them come the next
day for the rest of the bargaine.

The 19. day the Factors went to the Basha according to his appointment, but
that day they could not speake with him, but it was deliuered them as from
him, that they should looke and consider whether any thing were due vnto
him or not, which grieued the Factors: and thereupon M. Turnebull answered,
that their heads and all that they had were at the Bashaes pleasure: But
then it was answered there was no such matter in it: but that they should
cast vp their reckonings, to see how it stood betweene them. The 20. day
they cast vp their reckonings. The 21. they went to haue spoken with the
Basha, but were denied audience.

[Sidenote: Arthur Edwards died at Astracan.] The 22. day they heard newes
by a Busse that came from Astracan, that Arthur Edwards (whom the Factors
left at Astracan with the moietie of the goods) was dead, who departed this
life [Footnote: Left blank in Original.] of ...

[Sidenote: September.] The 23. day the Factors receiued more from the Bacha
500. Batmans of silke. The 4. of September newes was brought to Derbent,
that Golding comming from Shamaky was set on by theeues (Turkes) and had
hurt one of them.

The 5. Tobias Atkins the gunners boy died of the fluxe, who was buried the
6. day 2. miles to the Southward of the Castle of Derbent, where the
Armenian Christians do vsually bury their dead. About the 20 of September
newes came to Derbent, that the Busse which they had bought of Iacob the
Armenian as before, was cast away at Bildih, but they receiued no certaine
newes in writing from any of our people.

The 26. of September was laden aboord the ship 40. bales of silke. From the
26. til the 2. of October, they tooke into the ship, bread, water, and
other necessary prouision for their sea store: the said 2. day of October,
the Factors were commanded vpon the suddaine to auoide their house, and get
them with their prouision out of the towne: Whereupon they were constrained
to remoue and carry their things to the sea side against the ship, and
remained there all the night. The cause of this sudden auoyding them out of
the towne (as afterwards they perceiued) was for that the Basha had
receiued newes of a supplie with treasure that the Turke had sent, which
was then neare at hand comming toward him.

The 3. day of October all things were brought from the shoare aboord the
ship: and that day the Factors went to the Basha to take their leaue of
him, vnto whom they recommended those the Companies seruants, &c. which
they had sent to Bachu, making accompt to leaue them behinde in the
Countrey: who caused their names to be written, and promised they should
want nothing, nor be iniured of any. After this leaue taken, the Factors
went aboord purposing presently to haue set saile and departed towards
Astracan, the winde seruing well for that purpose at South Southeast:
[Sidenote: The Armenian village.] And as they were readie to set saile,
there came against the ship a man, who weued: whereupon the boate was sent
a shoare to him, who was an Armenian sent from William Wincoll, with his
writing tables, wherein the said Wincoll had written briefly, the mishap of
the losse of the Busse, and that they were comming from Bildih towardes
Derbent, they, and such things as they saued with a small boate, forced to
put a shoare in a place by the sea side called the Armenian village: Where
upon the Factors caused the shippe to stay, hoping that with the Southerly
winde that then blew, they would come from the place they were at to the
ship, but if they could not come with that winde, they ment to saile with
the shippe, with the next wind that would serue them, against the place
where they were, and take them in, if they could: which stay and losse of
those Southerly windes, was a cause of great troubles, that they
afterwardes sustained through yce, &c. entering the Volga as shalbe
declared.

The 4. day the winde South Southeast, the shippe rode still: This day
Christopher Burrow was sent to shore to Derbent to prouide some necessaries
for the voyage, and with him a Tisike or two, which should goe in the
shippe passengers to Astracan. [Sidenote: The Turke his treasure sent to
Derbent.] And being on shoare he saw there the comming in of the Turkes
treasure, being accompanied with 200. souldiers, and one hundreth pioners,
besides Captaines and Gentlemen: the Basha with his captaines and souldiers
very gallantly apparelled and furnished went out from Derbent about three
or foure miles, to meete the said treasure, and receiued the same with
great ioy and triumph. Treasure was the chiefe thing they needed, for not
long before the souldiers were readie to breake into the Court against the
Basha for their pay: there was a great mutinie amongst them, because hee
had long differed and not payed them their due. The treasure came in seuen
wagons, and with it were brought tenne pieces of brasse.

In the parts of Media where they were, there was no commoditie to be bought
of any value, but raw silke, neither was that to be had but at the Bashaes
hands: who shortly after their comming thither taxed the Countrey for that
commoditie. His dealing with our Merchants as it was not with equitie in
all points according to his bargaine, so it was not extreme ill. Of the
commodities they carried hee tooke the chiefest part, for which he gaue but
a small price in respect of the value it was there worth, and because he
had prouided such quantitie of commoditie for them, which otherwise they
could not haue had, the Countrey being so troublesome, and trauaile by land
so dangerous, he vsed them at his pleasure.

The newes that was reported vnto them at Astracan touching the warres
betweene the Turkes and Persians differed litle from the truth: for the
Turkes armie with the aide of the Crims, (being in number by the
information of two Spaniards that serued in those wars, about 200000)
inuaded and conquered the Countrey of Media in Anno 1577. [Sidenote: Osman
Basha.] When the great Turke vnderstood of the conquest, he appointed Osman
Basha (the said Basha, and now Captaine of Derbent) gouernour of the whole
Countrey, who settled himselfe in Shamaky the chiefe Citie of Media, and
principall place of traffike, vnto whom was sent from the great Turke, in
signification of the grateful acceptation of his seruice and the great
conquest, a sword of great value.

After the said Basha had brought the Countrey in order to his liking, and
placed garrisons where he thought conuenient, the armie was dissolued and
sent backe; when the Persians vnderstood that the Turkes armie was
dissolued and returned, they gathered a power together, and with the Queene
of their Countrey as chiefe, they entred the Countrey of Media, and
ouerranne the same with fire and sword, destroying whatsoeuer they found,
as well people, cattell, as whatsoeuer els, that might be commodious to the
Turkes. And after they had so ouerrunne the Countrey, they came to Shamaky,
where the said Basha Lieutenant generall of the great Turke was settled,
and besieged it: whereupon the Basha seeing hee could not long indure to
withstande them, fled thence to Derbent where he now remaineth.

[Sidenote: Derbent built by Alexander the great.] Derbent is a strong
Castle which was built by Alexander the great, the situation whereof is
such that the Persians being without ordinance, are not able to winne it
but by famine. When the Turkes were fled from Shamaky, the Persians entred
the same and spoyled it, leauing therein neither liuing creature nor any
commoditie, and so returned backe into Persia, and setled themselues about
Teueris, where there grewe some question among them for the kingdome.
Afterwards the Persians hauing intelligence of an armie from the Turke
comming into Media, gathered themselues together in a great armie and
encountring the said Turkes, set vpon them on the sudden, and vanquished
them, putting them all to the sword. This ouerthrow of the Turkes grieued
the Basha of Derbent, and made him to haue the more care for his own
safetie. Moreouer, newes was brought vnto him that the Kisel Bashaes, (that
is to say the nobles and Gentlemen of Persia) were minded to set vpon him,
and that neere vnto Bachu there lay an army ready to besiege it. Whereupon
the Basha oftentimes would ride about the Castle of Derbent viewing the
same, and the springs that did come to it, and where he saw any cause of
reformation it was amended.

[Sidenote: The latitude of Derbent 41. deg. 52. min. The variation of the
compasse.] The latitude of Derbent (by diuers obseruations exactly there
made) is 41. deg 52. min. The variation of the Compasse at that place about
11. degrees from North to West. From Derbent to Bildih by land 46. leagues.
From Shamaky to Bachu about 10. leagues which may be 30. miles. From Bachu
to Bildih fiue or sixe leagues by land, but by water about 12. leagues.
From the Castle Derbent Eastwards, there reach two stone wals to the border
of the Caspian sea, which is distant one English mile. Those walls are 9.
foote thicke, and 28. or 30. foote high, and the space betweene them is
160. Geometricall paces, that is 800. foot. There are yet to be perceiued
of the ruine of those wals, which do now extend, into the sea about halfe a
mile: also from the castle Westward into the land, they did perceiue the
ruines of a stone wall to extend, which wal, as it is reported, did passe
from thence to Pontus Euxinus, and was built by Alexander the great when
the Castle Derbent was made.

The 5 of October about noone the winde Northnortheast they wayed ancre, and
set saile from Derbent, being alongst the coast to the Southwards to seeke
their men: but as they had sailed about foure leagues the winde scanted
Easterly, so that they were forced to ancre in three fathom water.

The 6 day they wayed ancre, and bare further off into the sea, where they
ancred in seuen fathom water, the ship being very leake, and so rotten
abaft the maine mast, that a man with his nailes might scrape thorow her
side.

The 7 day about 7 of the clocke in the morning, they set saile, the winde
Southwest. They considered the time of the yere was far spent, the ship
weake, leake and rotten, and therefore determining not to tarry any longer
for Wincoll and his fellowes, but to leaue them behinde, bent themselues
directly towards Astracan: and sailing Northnortheast vntill midnight about
16 leagues, the winde then came to the Northnorthwest, and blew much, a
very storme, which caused them to take in their sailes, sauing the fore
corse, with which they were forced to steere before the sea, South by West,
and Southsouthwest. And on the 8 day about two of the clocke in the morning
their great boat sunke at the ships sterne, which they were forced to cut
from the ship to their great griefe and discomfort: for in her they hoped
to saue their liues if the ship should haue miscaried. [Sidenote: Nezauoo.]
About 10 of the clocke before noone they had sight of the land about 5
leagues to the South of Derbent, and bare longst the coast to the
Southeastwards vnto Nezauoo, where they came at ancre in three fathoms, and
black oze, good ancre holde, whereof they were glad, as also that the winde
was shifted to the Northwest, and but a meane gale. Wincoll and the rest of
his fellowes being in the Armenian village, which is about 18 versts to the
Westwards of Nezauoo, the place where against they rode at ancre, saw the
ship as she passed by that place, and sent a man in the night following
alongst the coast after her, who came against the ship where she rode, and
with a firebrand in the top of a tree made signes, which was perceiued by
them in the shippe, whereupon they hoisted out their skiffe, and sent her
ashore to learne what was meant by the fire: which returned a letter from
Wincoll, wherein he wrote that they were with such goods as they had at the
Armenian village, and prayed that there they might with the same goods be
taken into the ships. The 9 day it was litle winde, they wayed and bare a
little farther off into the sea towards the said village, and ancred. The
10 day they sent their skiffe to the Armenian village to fetch those men
and the goods they had, with order that if the winde serued, that they
could not returne to fetch the ship, they of the ship promised to come for
them, against the said village. This day it was calme.

The 11 day the winde Northwest they rode still. The 12 day the winde
Southeast they wayed ancre, and bare against and nere to the Armenian
village where they ancred, and then the skiffe came aboord and tolde them
that our people at shore were like to be spoiled of the Tartars, were it
not that the gunners defended them: then was the skiffe sent backe againe
to charge them at any hand they should hasten aboord the ship whatsoeuer it
cost them. Whereupon, all the company came aboord the same day sauing
Richard Relfe and two Russes, but as soone as the skiffe was returned
aboord the ship, the winde blew at Southeast, and the sea was growen, so as
they were forced to take in their skiffe into the ship, and rode stil till
the 13 day, [Sidenote: Two Spaniards deliuered by our Englishmen.] and then
being faire weather, early in the morning the skiffe was hoisted out of the
ship, and sent to shore to fetch the said Relfe and the two Russes, which
were ready at the shore side, and with them two Spaniards that were taken
captiues at the Goletta in Barbary, which serued the Turke as souldiers.
Those Spaniards (of Christian charity) they brought also aboord the ship to
redeeme them from their captiuity, which were brought ouer into England,
and set free and at liberty here in London, in September 1581. The winde
this day at Northnortheast, faire weather. The 14 day they sent the skiffe
to shore, and filled fresh water. The 15 day they rode still, being litle
winde and fog. The 16 day the winde Eastsoutheast, they wayed ancre and set
saile, bearing Northwards towards Astracan, and the same night they ancred
in ten fathoms water, about fiue miles from the shore of the Shalkaules
countrey, which place is eight leagues Northnorthwest from Derbent. The 17
day the winde at North very stormy, they rode still all that day and night.
The 18 the winde all Southeast about one of the clocke afternoone, they
wayed ancre, and sailed thence till foure of the clocke Northnortheast sixe
leagues, then they might see the land Northwest about tenne leagues from
the winde Southeast: from thence they sailed til midnight Northnortheast
twelue leagues. From thence till the 19 day seuen a clocke in the morning
they sailed Northnortheast eight leagues: the winde then Eastsoutheast, a
faire gale, they sounded and had 17 fathoms, and sand, being (as the Master
iudged) about the head of Shetley: from thence till 12 of the clocke at
noone they sailed North 5 leagues, the winde then at East a faire gale,
they sounded and had 5 fathoms. From thence till eight of the clocke at
night, they sailed North 7 leagues, the winde then at Northeast with small
raine, they tooke in their sailes, and ancred in 3 fathoms water and soft
oze, where they rode still all night, and the 20 day and night the winde
Northeast, as before with small raine.

The 21 day the winde Northwest, they likewise rode still. The 22 day about
3 of the clocke in the afternoone, they wayed ancre, the winde
Westnorthwest, and sailed from thence till sixe of the clocke at night
North 4 leagues, then they ancred in 2 fathoms and a halfe soft oze, the
winde at West a small breath.

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