A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Z

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




The which passage (vpon authoritie of writers, and great reason) is
conceiued to bee from the Vaigats Eastwards, according to the description
in plat of spirall lines, made by master William Burrough, whereof either
of the saide Arthur Pet, and Charles Iackman, haue one deliuered vnto them,
and also one other sailing carde, and a blanke plat for either of them. But
if it should not be in all points, according to that description, yet we
hope that the continent or firme land of Asia doth not stretch it selfe so
farre Northwards, but that there may be found a sea passeable by it,
betweene the latitude of 70. and 80. degrees. And therefore we haue
appointed you with these two barkes to make triall of the same: wishing you
both to ioyne in friendship together, as most deere friends and brothers,
to all purposes and effects, to the furtherance and orderly performing of
the same voyage. And likewise order your companies, that they of the one
barke may haue such loue and care, to helpe and succour them of the other,
as most deere friends and brothers would doe: so as it may appeare, that
though they be two barkes, and two companies, (which is so appointed for
your greater comfort and assurance) yet that you are wholy of one minde,
and bend your selues to the vttermost of your powers, to performe the thing
that you are both employed for.

Doe you obserue good order in your dayly seruice, and pray vnto God, so
shall you prosper the better.

We would haue you to meete often together, to talke, conferre, consult, and
agree how, and by what meanes, you may best performe this purposed voyage,
according to our intents. And at such meeting we thinke it requisite, that
you call vnto you your mates, and also Nicholas Chanceler, (whom wee doe
appoint as merchant, to keepe accompt of the merchandise you shall buy or
sell, barter or change) to the ende that whatsoeuer God should dispose of
either of you, yet they may haue some instructions and knowledge howe to
deale in your place, or places. And of all your assemblies and
consultations together, and the substance of matter you shal at euery time
agree vpon we would haue you to note them in the paper bookes that wee giue
you for that purpose, vnto each barke one. We do appoint Arthur Pet in the
George, as Admiral, to weare the flagge in the maine top, and Charles
Iackman in the William, as Viceadmirall. For good orders to be taken for
your good and orderly keeping of company together, which we wish may be
such, as you should neuer lose sight the one of the other, except by both
your consents, to discouer about an Island, or in some riuer, when and
where you may certainly appoint to meete together againe, we referre the
same to your discretions.

And now for your good direction, in this voyage, we would haue you with the
next good winde and weather, that God shall send thereunto meete and
conuenient, after the 22. day of this present moneth of May, saile from
this riuer of Thames, to the coast of Finmarke, to the North Cape there, or
to the Wardhouse, and from thence direct your course to haue sight of
Willoughbies land, and from it passe alongst to the Noua Zembla, keeping
the same landes alwayes in your sight on your larboordsides (if
conueniently you may) to the ende you may discouer, whether the same
Willoughbies land be continent and firme land with Noua Zembla, or not:
notwithstanding we would not haue you to entangle your selues in any Bay,
or otherwise, so that it might hinder your speedy proceeding to the Island
Vaigats.

[Sidenote: The land of Samoeda.] And when you come to Vaigats, we would
haue you to get sight of the maine land of Samoeda, which is ouer against
the South part of the same Island, and from thence with Gods permission, to
passe Eastwards alongst the same coast, keeping it alwayes in your sight
(if conueniently you may) vntill you come to the mouth of the riuer Ob, and
when you come vnto it, passe ouer the said riuers mouth vnto the border
land, on the Eastside of the same (without any stay to bee made for
searching inwardly in the same riuer) and being in sight of the same
Easterly land, doe you in Gods name proceed alongst by it, from thence
Eastwards, keeping the same alwayes on your starboord side in sight, if you
may, and follow the tract of it, whether it incline Southerly or Northerly
(as at times it may do both) vntill you come to, the Countrey of Cathay, or
the dominion of that mightie Emperour.

And if God prosper your voyage with such good successe, that you may
attaine to the same, doe you seeke by all meanes you can to arriue to the
Cities Cambalu, and Quinsay, or to the one of them. But if it happen that
you cannot conueniently come to either of those places, or shalbe driuen to
remaine and winter in some other port or place of his dominion, do you
seeke by all meanes possible to winne fauour and liking of the people, by
gifts and friendly demeanes towards them, and not to offer violence, or do
wrong to any people or nation whatsoeuer, but therein to be innocent as
doues, yet wilie as serpents, to auoid mischiefe, and defend you from hurt.
[Sidenote: The Queenes letters.] And when you shall haue gotten friendship
through your discreete ordering of your selues, towards the people, doe you
learne of them what you can of their Prince, and shewe them one of the
Queenes Maiesties, letters, which she sendeth with you (by either of you
one, made of one substance and effect, for ech of you particularly) written
in Latine, whereunto her Maiestie hath subscribed, and caused her signet
seale to be set, the effect of the same letters you haue also written in
English, for your own vnderstanding thereof.

The same her Maiesties letters you shall procure to deliuer vnto the same
mightie Prince, or Gouernour, with some present to be giuen, such as you
shall thinke meete and conuenient, vsing your selues in all points
according to the effect of the same letters, and procure againe from the
same Prince, his letters accordingly.

And if God so prosper your voyage, that you may this Summer passe the
Streights, and compasse about the Northernmost land of Asia, vnto the
country of Cathay, or dominion of that mightie Prince, and wintering in it,
may obtaine from him his letters of priuiledge against the next yeeres
spring, you may then after your first setting foorth, search and discouer
somewhat further then you had discouered before your wintering, so farre as
you shall thinke conuenient with regard had, and alwayes prouided, that you
may returne home hither, to giue vs aduise of your proceedings the same
Summer, or before the sharpenes or extremitie of winter ouertake you.

And if it happen you cannot this summer attaine to the border of Cathay,
and yet find the land beyond the Ob, to stretch it selfe Easterly, with the
sea adioyning vnto it nauigable, doe you then proceed on your discouery (as
before said) alongst the same continent, so farre as you can this summer,
hauing care in the trauel to finde out some conuenient harborow and place,
where you may winter: and when you thinke it conuenient, put your selfe to
wintering, where if you happen to finde people, you shall deale with them,
as we haue before aduised you to do with the people of Cathay, &c. And if
you can learne that they haue a prince or chiefe gouernour, do you procure
to deliuer vnto the same Prince or gouernour one of the Queenes Maiesties
letters, as before said, and seeke to obtaine againe his letters
accordingly. If you so happen to winter and obtaine letters of priuiledge,
finding the countrey and people, with the commodities to bee such, that by
vsing trade thither with the people, and for the commodities, it may be
beneficial vnto vs (as we hope you may) the same wil be some good liking
vnto vs: notwithstanding we would haue you the next summer (by the grace of
God) at your first setting out of your wintering harborough, proceed
alongest that tract of land to Cathay, if you see likelihood to passe it
(for that is the Countrey that we chiefly desire to discouer) and seeing
you are fully victualed for two yeres and vpwards, which you may very wel
make to serue you for two yeres and a halfe, though you finde no other
help, you may therefore be the bolder to aduenture in proceeding vpon your
discouery: which if you do, we doubt not, but you shall atchieue the
Countrey of Cathay, and deliuer to the prince there, one of her Maiesties
letters, bringing from thence the same princes letters answerable: and so
in the yeere of our lord 1582. returne home with good newes, and glad
tidings, not onely vnto vs the aduenturers in this voyage, but also to our
whole Countrey and nation, which God graunt you do, Amen.

But if it happen that the land of Asia, from beyond the riuer Ob, extend it
selfe Northwards to 80. degrees, or neerer the poole, whereby you find it
to leade you into that extremitie, that small or no hope may be looked for,
to saile that way to Cathay, doe you notwithstanding followe the tract of
the same land, as farre as you can discouer this Summer, hauing care to
finde out by the way a conuenient place for you to Winter in, the which (if
you may discouer the same lande of Asia this Summer to extend it selfe to
80. degrees of latitude, and vpwards or to 85. degrees) we wish then that
the same your wintering place may be in the riuer of Ob, or as neere the
same riuer as you can, and finding in such wintering place, people, be they
Samoeds, Yowgorians, or Molgomzes, &c. doe you gently entreat with them as
aforesaide, [Sidenote: The Queenes letters.] and if you can learne that
they haue a prince or chiefe gouernour amongst them, doe you deliuer him
one of her Maiesties letters, and procure thereof an answere accordingly:
do you procure to barter and exchange with the people, of the merchandise
and commodities that you shall cary with you, for such commodities as you
shall finde them to haue, &c.

[Sidenote: The Citie of Siberia.] If you so happen to winter, we would haue
you the next Summer to discouer into the riuer Ob, so farre as conueniently
you may: And if you shall finde the same riuer (which is reported to be
wide or broad) to be also nauigable and pleasant for you, to trauell farre
into, happely you may come to the citie Siberia, or to some other towne or
place habited vpon or neere the border of it, and thereby haue liking to
winter out the second winter: vse you therein your discretions.

[Sidenote: Willoughbies land.] But if you finde the said riuer Ob to be
sholde, or not such as you may conueniently trauell in with your barkes, do
you then the next summer return backe through Buroughs streights: And from
that part of Noua Zembla, adioyning to the same streights, doe you come
alongst the tract of that coast Westwards, keeping it on the starbord side,
and the same alwayes in sight, if conueniently you may, vntil you come to
Willoughbies land, if outwards bound you shall not happen to discouer and
trie whether the said Willoughbies land ioyne continent with the same Noua
Zembla, or not. But if you shall then proue them to be one firme and
continent, you may from Noua Zembla direct your course vnto the said
Willoughbies land, as you shall thinke good, and as you may most
conueniently: and from Willoughbies land you shall proceed Westwards
alongst the tract of it, (though it incline Northerly) euen so farre as you
may or can trauell, hauing regard that in conuenient time you may returne
home hither to London for wintering.

And for your orderly passing in this voyage, and making obseruations in the
same, we referre you to the instructions giuen by M. William Burrough,
whereof one copie is annexed vnto the first part of this Indenture, vnder
our seale, for you Arthur Pet, another copie of it is annexed to the second
part of this Indenture, vnder our seale also, for you Charles Iackman, and
a third copy thereof is annexed vnto the third part of this Indenture,
remaining with vs the saide companie, sealed and subscribed by you the said
Arthur Pet and Charles Iackman.

And to the obseruing of all things contained in this Commission (so neere
as God will permit me grace thereunto) I the said Arthur Pet doe couenant
by these presents to performe them, and euery part and parcell thereof. And
I the said Charles Iackman doe for my part likewise couenant by these
presents to performe the same, and euery part thereof, so neere as God will
giue me grace thereunto.

And in witnes thereof these Indentures were sealed and deliuered
accordingly, the day and yeere first aboue written. Thus the Lorde God
Almightie sende you a prosperous voyage, with happie successe and safe
returne, Amen.

* * * * *

Instructions and notes very necessary and needfull to be obserued in the
purposed voyage for discouery of Cathay Eastwards, by Arthur Pet, and
Charles Iackman: giuen by M. William Burrough. 1580.

When you come to Orfordnesse, if the winde doe serue you to goe a seabord
the sands, doe you set off from thence, and note the time diligently of
your being against the said Nesse, turning then your glasse, whereby you
intende to keepe your continuall watch, and apoint such course as you shal
thinke good, according as the wind serueth you: And from that time forwards
continually (if your ship be lose, vnder saile, a hull or trie) do you at
the end of euery 4 glasses at the least (except calme) sound with your
dipsin lead, and note diligently what depth you finde, and also the ground.
But if it happen by swiftnes of the shippes way, or otherwise, that you
cannot get ground, yet note what depth you did proue, and could finde no
ground (this note is to be obserued all your voyage, as well outwards as
homewards.). But when you come vpon any coast, or doe finde any sholde
banke in the sea, you are then to vse your leade oftener, as you shal
thinke it requisite, noting diligently the order of your depth, and the
deeping and sholding. And so likewise doe you note the depth into
harboroughs, riuers, &c.

[Sidenote: How to note downe in his Iornall of the voyage, his dead
reckoning, and other obseruations.] And in keeping your dead reckoning, it
is very necessary that you doe note at the ende of euery foure glasses,
what way the shippe hath made (by your best proofes to be vsed) and howe
her way hath bene through the water, considering withall for the sagge
[Footnote: i.e., Current.] of the sea, to leewards, accordingly as you
shall finde it growen: and also to note the depth, and what things worth
the noting happened in that time, with also the winde vpon what point you
finde it then, and of what force or strength it is, and what sailes you
beare.

But if you should omit to note those things at the end of euery foure
glasses, I would not haue you to let it slip any longer time, then to note
it diligently at the end of euery watch, or eight glasses at the farthest.

Doe you diligently obserue the latitude as often, and in as many places as
you may possible, and also the variation of the Compasse (especially when
you may bee at shoare vpon any land) noting the same obseruations truely,
and the place and places where, and the time and times when you do the
same.

[Sidenote: For noting the shape and view of the land at first discouery,
&c.] When you come to haue sight of any coast or land whatsoeuer, doe you
presently set the same with your sailing Compasse, howe it beares off you,
noting your iudgement how farre you thinke it from you, drawing also the
forme of it in your booke, howe it appeares vnto you, noting diligently how
the highest or notablest part thereof beareth off you, and the extreames
also in sight of the same land at both ends, distinguishing them by
letters, A. B. C. &c. Afterwards when you haue sailed 1. 2. 3. or 4.
glasses (at the most) noting diligently what way your barke hath made, and
vpon what point of the Compasse, do you againe set that first land seene,
or the parts thereof, that you first obserued, if you can well perceiue or
discerne them, and likewise such other notable points or signes, vpon the
land that you may then see, and could not perceiue at the first time,
distinguishing it also by letters from the other, and drawing in your booke
the shape of the same land, as it appeareth vnto you, and so the third
time; &c.

And also in passing alongst by any and euery coast, doe you drawe the maner
of biting in of euery Bay, and entrance of euery harborow or riuers mouth,
with the lying out of euery point, or headland, (vnto the which you may
giue apt names at your pleasure) and make some marke in drawing the forme
and border of the same, where the high cliffs are, and where lowe land is,
whether sande, hils, or woods, or whatsoeuer, not omitting to note any
thing that may be sensible and apparant to you, which may serue to any good
purpose. If you carefully with great heede and diligence, note the
obseruations in your booke, as aforesaid, and afterwards make demonstration
thereof in your plat, you shall thereby perceiue howe farre the land you
first sawe, or the parts thereof obserued, was then from you, and
consequently of all the rest: and also how farre the one part was from the
other, and vpon what course or point of the Compasse the one lieth from the
other.

[Sidenote: For obseruing of tides and curants.] And when you come vpon any
coast where you find floods and ebs, doe you diligently note the time of
the highest and lowest water in euery place, and the slake or still water
of full sea, and lowe water, and also which way the flood doeth runne, how
the tides doe set, how much water it hieth, and what force the tide hath to
driue a ship in one houre, or in the whole tide, as neere as you can iudge
it, and what difference in time you finde betwene the running of the flood,
and the ebbe. And if you finde vpon any coast the currant to runne alwayes
one way, doe you also note the same duely, how it setteth in euery place,
and obserue what force it hath to driue a ship in one houre, &c.

[Sidenote: To take the plateformes of places within compasse of view vpon
land.] Item, as often, and when as you may conueniently come vpon any land,
to make obseruation for the latitude and variation, &c. doe you also (if
you may) with your instrument, for trying of distances, obserue the
platforme [Footenote: i.e., survey the place.] of the place, and of as many
things (worth the noting) as you may then conueniently see from time to
time. These orders if you diligently obserue, you may thereby perfectly set
downe in the plats, that I haue giuen you your whole trauell, and
description of your discouery, which is a thing that will be chiefly
expected at your hands. But withall you may not forget to note as much as
you can learne, vnderstand or perceiue of the maner of the soile, or
fruitfulnesse of euery place and countrey you shall come in, and of the
maner, shape, attire and disposition of the people, and of the commodities
they haue, and what they most couet and desire of the commodities you see,
and to offer them all courtesie and friendship you may or can, to winne
their loue and fauour towardes you, not doing or offering them any wrong or
hurt. And though you should be offered wrong at their handes, yet not to
reuenge the same lightly, but by all meanes possible seeke to winne them,
yet alwayes dealing wisely and with such circumspection that you keepe your
selues out of their dangers.

Thus I beseech God almightie to blesse you, and prosper your voyage with
good and happie successe, and send you safely to returne home againe, to
the great ioy and reioycing of the aduenturers with you, and all your
friends and our whole countrey, Amen.

* * * * *

Certaine briefe aduises giuen by Master Dee, to Arthur Pet, and Charles
Iackman, to bee obserued in their Northeasterne discouerie, Anno 1580.

If we reckon from Wardhouse to Colgoieue Island 400. miles for almost 20.
degrees difference onely of longitude very neere East and West, and about
the latitude of 70. degrees and two thirde parts: From Colgoieue to Vaigats
200. miles for 10. degrees difference onely in longitude, at 70. degrees of
latitude also: From Vaigats to the promontorie Tabin 60. degrees difference
of longitude (the whole course, or shortest distance being East and West)
in the latitude likewise of 70. degrees, maketh 1200. miles: then is summa
totalis from Wardhouse to Tabin 600. leagues, or 1800. English miles.
Therefore allowing in a discouery voiage for one day with another but 50.
English miles; it is euident that from Wardhouse to Tabin, the course may
bee sailed easily in sixe and thirtie dayes; but by Gods helpe it may be
finished in much shorter time, both by helpe of winde prosperous, and light
continuall for the time requisit thereunto.

[Sidenote: M. Dee gaue them a Chart of his owne making, which here refers
them vnto.] When you are past Tabin, or come to the longitude of 142.
degrees, as your chart sheweth, or two, three, foure, or fiue degrees
further Easterly, it is probable you shall finde the land on your right
hand runne much Southerly and Eastward, [Footenote: Had he said forty
degrees, he would have made a remarkable guess.] in which course you are
like either to fall into the mouth of the famous riuer Oechardes,
[Footenote: The Oechardes is probably the Hoang Ho, and Cambalu may then be
Pekin.] or some other, which yet I coniecture to passe by the renowmed
Citie of Cambalu, and the mouth to be in latitude about 50. or 52. degrees,
and within 300. or 400. miles of Cambalu it selfe, being in the latitude of
45. degrees Southerly of the saide riuers mouth, or els that you shal trend
about the very Northerne and most Easterly point of all Asia, passing by
the prouince Ania, and then to the latitude of 46. degrees, keeping still
the land in view on your right hand (as neere as you may with safetie) you
may enter into Quinsay [Footnote: Query, Canton?] hauen, being the chiefe
citie in the Northern China, as I terme it for distinctions sake, from the
other better knowen.

And in or about either or both of these two warme places, you may to great
good purpose bee occupied the whole winter, after your arriuall in those
quarters, as sometime by sea, sometime in notable fresh riuers, sometime in
discreet view and noting downe the situation of the Cities within land, &c.
and euer assaying to come by some charts or maps of the countrey, made and
printed in Cathay or China, and by some of their bookes likewise for
language, &c. You may also haue opportunitie to saile ouer to to Iapan
Island, where you shall finde Christian men Iesuits of many countreys of
Christendome some, and perhaps some Englishmen, at whose handes you may
haue great instruction and aduise for your affaires in hand.

* * * * *

Notes in writing, besides more priuie by mouth, that were giuen by M.
Richard Hakluyt of Eiton in the Countie of Hereford, Esquire, Anno 1580:
to M. Arthur Pet, and to M. Charles Iackman, sent by the Merchants of the
Moscouie companie for the discouery of the Northeast straight, not
altogether vnfit for some other enterprise of discouery, hereafter to be
taken in hand.

What respect of Islands is to be had and why.

Whereas the Portingals haue in their course to their Indies in the
Southeast certaine ports and fortifications to thrust into by the way, to
diuers great purposes: so you are to see what Islands, and what ports you
had neede to haue by the way in your course to the Northeast. For which
cause I wish you to enter into consideration of the matter, and to note all
the Islands, and to set them downe in plat, to two ends: that is to say,
That we may deuise to take the benefit by them, And also foresee how by
them the Sauages or ciuill Princes may in any sort annoy vs in our purposed
trade that way.

And for that the people to the which we purpose in this voyage to go, be no
Christians, it were good that the masse of our commodities were alwayes in
our owne disposition, and not at the will of others. Therefore it were good
that we did seeke out some small Island in the Scithian sea, where we might
plant, fortefie, and staple safely, from whence (as time should serue) wee
might feed those heathen nations with our commodities without cloying them,
or without venturing our whole masse in the bowels of their countrey.

And to which Island (if neede were, and if wee should thinke so good) wee
might allure the Northeast nauie, the nauie of Cambalu to resort with their
commodities to vs there planted, and stapling there.

And if such an Island might be found so standing as might shorten our
course, and so standing, as that the nauie of Cambalu, or other those
parties might conueniently saile vnto without their dislike in respect of
distance, then would it fal out well. For so, besides lesse danger and more
safetie, our ships might there vnlade and lade againe, and returne the
selfe same summer to the ports of England or of Norway.

And if such an Island may be for the stapling of our commodities, to the
which they of Cambalu would not saile, yet we might hauing ships there,
imploy them in passing betweene Cambalu and that stapling place.

Copyright (c) 2007. famouswriterz.com. All rights reserved.