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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




[Footnote: A special house at Mosco, built for Ambassadours.] We were
brought to a house built of purpose by the Emperour for Ambassadours, faire
and large, after the fashion of that countrey.

Two gentlemen were appointed to attend vpon me, the one to see vs furnished
of victuals, and that we lacked nothing of the Emperors allowance: the
other to see that we should not goe out of the house, nor suffer any man to
come vnto vs, in which they left nothing vndone that belonged to their
charge. But specially he that looked to our persons so straightly handled
vs; that we had no small cause to doubt that some euill had bene intended
vnto vs. No supplication, sute, or request could take place for our
liberty, nor yet to come to his presence.

Hauing passed ouer 17 weeks in this sort, the Emperour sendeth word that we
should be ready against Tuesday the 20 of Februarie, at eight a clocke in
the morning.

[Sidenote: Two Pristaues.] The houre being come that I should go to the
Court, the two gentlemen Pristaues (as they call them) came vnto me
apparelled more princely then before I had euer seene them. They presse vs
to depart, and mounted vpon their owne horses, and the Ambassador vpon such
a one as he had borrowed, his men marching on foot, to their great griefe.

The Ambassadour (being my selfe) was conueyed into an office where one of
the chancellors doeth vse to sit, being there accompanied with the two
foresayd gentlemen: I taried two long houres before I was sent for to the
Emperor. In the end message being brought that the Emperour was set, I was
conueyed by my gentlemen vp a paire of staires thorow a large roome, where
sate by my estimation 300 persons, all in rich attire, taken out of the
Emperors wardrobe for that day, vpon three ranks of benches, set round
about the place, rather to present a maiestie, then that they were either
of quality or honor.

[Sidenote: His admission to the Emperors presence.] At the first entry into
the chamber I with my cap gaue them the reuerence, such as I iudged, their
stately sitting, graue countenances and sumptuous apparell required, and
seeing that it was not answered againe of any of them I couered my head,
and so passing to a chamber where the Emperor was, there receiued me at the
doore from my two gentlemen or gouernors, two of the Emperors counsellors,
and shewed me to the Emperor, and brought me to the middle of the chamber,
where I was willed to stand still, and to say that which I had to say. I by
my Interpretor opened my message as I receiued it from the Queene my
Mistresse, from whom I came, at whose name the Emperor stood vp, and
demanded diuers questions of her health and state: whereunto answere being
made, he gaue me his hand in token of my welcome, and caused me to sit
downe, and further asked me diuers questions.

[Sidenote: The Queenes present.] This done, I deliuered her Maiesties
present, which was a notable great Cup of siluer curiously wrought, with
verses grauen in it, expressing the histories workmanly set out in the
same.

[Sidenote: The Emperors speech to the Ambassadour.] All being sayd and done
(as appeared) to his contentment, he licenced me and my whole company to
depart, who were all in his presence, and were saluted by him with a nod of
his head, and sayd vnto me: I dine not this day openly for great affaires I
haue, but I will send thee my dinner, and giue leaue to thee and thine to
go at liberty, and augment our allowance to thee, in token of our loue and
fauor to our sister the Queene of England.

I with reuerence tooke my leaue, being conueyed by two other of greater
calling then those that brought me to the Emperors sight, who deliuered me
to the two first gentlemen, who conducted me to the office where I first
was, where came vnto me one called the Long duke, with whom I conferred a
while, and so returned to my lodging.

Within one houre after in comes to my lodging a duke richly apparelled,
accompanied with fiftie persons, ech of them carying a siluer dish with
meat, and couered with siluer. The duke first deliuered twenty loaues of
bread of the Emperors owne eating, hauing tasted the same, and deliuered
eury dish into my hands, and tasted of euery kinde of drinke that he
brought.

This being donel the duke and his company sate downe with me, and tooke
part of the Emperors meat, and filled themselues well of all sorts, and
went not away from me vnrewarded.

Within few nights after the Emperour had will to speake secretly with me,
and sent for me in the night by the Long duke: the place was farre off, and
the night colde; and I hauing changed my apparell into such as the Russes
do weare, found great incommoditie thereby.

[Sidenote: A second conference with the Emperor.] Hauing talked with him
aboue three houres, towards the morning I was dismissed, and so came home
to my lodging, where I remained aboue six weeks after, before I heard
againe from the Emperour, who went the next day to Slouoda, the house of
his solace. After the end of which sixe weeks, which was about the
beginning of April, the Emperour returned from Slouoda aforesayd, and sent
for me againe to make repaire vnto him. And being come, I dealt effectually
with him in the behalfe of our English merchants, and found him so
graciously inclined towards them, that I obtained at his hands my whole
demands for large priuileges in generall, together with all the rest my
particular requests. [Sidenote: Andrew Sauin Ambassadour to the Queene.]
And then he commended to my conduct into England, a noble man of his,
called Andrew Sauin, as his Ambassadour, for the better confirmation of his
priuileges granted, and other negotiations with her Maiesty. And thus being
dispatched with full contentment, the sayd Ambassadour and my selfe
departed, and imbarked at S. Nicholas about the end of Iuly, and arriued
safely at London in the moneth of September following.

* * * * *

A copie of the priuiledges granted by the right high and mightie Prince,
the Emperour of Russia, &c. vnto the right worshipfull fellowship of
English merchants, for the discouerie of new trades: and hither sent by
Thomas Randolfe esquire, her Maiesties Ambassadour to the sayd Emperour,
and by Andrew Sauin his Ambassadour in the yere of our Lord God, 1569.

One God euerlasting and without and before the beginning, the Father, the
Sonne, and the holy Ghost, the blessed Trinitie, our onely God, maker and
preseruer of all things, replenisher of all things euery where, who by thy
goodnesse doest cause all men to loue the giuer of wisedome our onely
Mediatour, and leader of vs all vnto blessed knowledge by the onely Sonne
his word, our Lord Iesus Christ, holy and euerlasting Spirit, and now in
these our dayes teachest vs to keepe Christianitie, and sufferest vs to
enioy our kingdome to the happy commodity of our land, and wealth of our
people, in despight of our enemies, and to our fame with our friends.

We Iohn Vasiliwich by the grace of God, great lord, Emperour, and great
duke of all Russia, Volodemer, Moscouia, Nouogrod, Emperour of Cazan,
Tuersky, Vgorsky, Permisky, Vadsky, Bulgaria, and many others, lord and
great duke of the Low countreys of Nouogrod, Chernigosky, Resansky,
Polotsky, Rastow, Veraslaue, Bealosera, Owdorsky, Condinsky, and all
Siberland, great commander of all the North parts, lord of Leifland, and
many other Northward, Southward, and Westward.

Whereas our sister Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, France
and Ireland, defender of the faith, hath written vnto vs her letters for
her merchants, who hath made sute that we should grant our goodnesse to the
merchants which are of one company, and giue them free leaue to come to
traffike in our kingdome to Colmogro, and to the countrey of Dwina, and to
our great citie of Moscouia, and to all the cities in our dominions, and
thorow our countrey to Boghar, to Persia, Casbin, and Chardy, and to all
other countreys.

1 We Iohn Vasiliwich Emperour and great duke of all Russia, (for our sister
Elizabeths sake, Queene, of England) haue giuen and granted to the English
merchants, the Gouernors, Cousuls, Assistants and fellowship, sir Wil.
Garrard Knight, Rowland Haiward Alderman, Ioh. Thamworth Esquire, Iohn
Riuers Alderman, Henry Beecher Alderman, Consuls: Sir Wil. Chester Knight,
Edward Iackman Alderman, Lionel Ducket Alderman, Edward Gilbert, Laurence
Huse, Francis Walsingham, Clement Throgmorton Iohn Quarles, Nicholas
Wheeler, Thomas Banister, Iohn Harrison, Francis Burnham, Anthony Gamage,
Iohn Somers, Richard Wilkinson, Ioh. Sparke, Richard Barne, Robert Woolman,
Thomas Browne, Thomas Smith, Thomas Allen, Thomas More, William Bully,
Richard Yong, Thomas Atkinson, Assistants: Iohn Mersh Esquire, Geofrey
Ducket, Francis Robinson, Matthew Field, and all the rest of their company
and fellowship, and to their successours and deputies, to come with ships
and other vessels into our countery at Colmogorod, and Dwina, and to all
the North parts now being ours, or that hereafter shall at any time be in
our possession, by sea, riuer or land, euen to our great Citie of Mosco, in
all the townes of our Countrey, to Cazan and Astracan, to Nouogorod the
great, to Plesko and Leifland, Vriagorod, to Narue, and all other townes of
Leifland. 2 And to passe through our land to Boghar, Persia, Casbin,
Charday, and other Countreyes: And wheresoeuer they come there to be and
abide freely, and to barter and bargaine freely all wares of sale, without
custome of all people, and Marchants strangers whatsoeuer.

And if so be they bring any fine wares out of Englande, or any other
Countrey from Boghar, Persia, Casbin, or from any other place, and those
their wares that come by the way of Narue, or any other part into our
Dominion, to bring the same wares into our treasure, and our Treasurers to
view the same wares, and to take into our Treasurie of the same such as
shalbe needful for vs. And all such wares as we shal not need, our
Chancellour to redeliuer the same: And after the view of our Chancellours,
to barter it freely to whom they will, not selling any of their wares
needful for vs, before our Chancellour haue seene the same. And all other
grosse and heauy wares that shall be needful to our vse not being brought
to Mosco, to declare and tell our Chancellour of the same wares: And to
giue a note thereof by name, and how much they leaue there, not brought to
Mosco; and then if we neede not the said wares, the English Marchants,
their seruants and Factors, to conuey their wares the neerest way to Vstiug
the great, and so to Colmogorod, or elsewhere at their pleasure, there to
barter and sell the same. But those wares that shalbe needfull for our
Treasurie, they shall not hide from vs in any case.

And when our Chancellours shall send our aduenture, with the said Marchants
or their Factors, they to take our aduentures with them, and to sell, and
to barter for such wares as shalbe meete for our Treasurie, and to returne
it into our Treasurie.

And when we shall sende any aduenture into England then our Chancellour to
giue them a yeeres warning, that their ships may be prouided thereafter,
that by taking in of our wares, they leaue not their owne behind them.

And to take our aduenture yeerely when they goe into Persia.

Neither shall the English marchants receiue or colour any of our peoples
goods, nor barter nor sell it in any wise: likewise our people not to
barter for the sayd English merchants or occupy for them.

3 And when they shall come into our Empire of Casan and Astracan, and other
places of our Dominions, then our Captaines of Casan and Astracan, and our
authorised people, quietly to let them passe, not taking any toll or
custome of their wares, nor once to make search thereof.

And when we shal send no adueture with them, yet to suffer them freely to
passe, not viewing their wares, nor taking any kinde of custome. And
whatsoeuer English marchant will bargaine with our Marchants or Factors
ware for ware to barter the same at their pleasure.

And whatsoeuer their Marchant or Factors will sell their wares at their
house at Mosco, which house I granted them at S. Maxims at the Mosco, they
to sell the ware to our people, either strangers as they may best vtter it,
keeping within their house, arshines, measures, and waights vnder seales.

4 We haue granted them the saide house at S. Maxims in the halfe free, and
without standing rent, as heretofore we did grant it the said English
Marchants, sir Wil. Garrard, and the Company, maintayning in the said house
one housekeeper a Russe, and two Russe seruants, or some of their owne
countrey men, and none other Russes besides the aforesayde. And the said
housekeepers that shall liue at their house with the English marchants
neither to buy nor sel any wares for them, but that the said marchants
themselues or their factors, shall buy, sell, and barter their owne wares:
and our Moscouie marchants not to take the said Englishmens wares to sell
them in our townes, nor to buy any wares for them, neither the English
marchant to colour any Russe wares at any towne.

5 And whatsoeuer English marchant will sell his wares at Colmogorod, Dwyna,
Vologda, Yeraslaue, Castran, Nouogorod the lower, Casan, Astracan, Nouogrod
the great, Vopsko, the Narue, Vriagorod, or at any other townes, they to
sel their wares there at their pleasure: And of all wares aswell of other
countreis as of Russia, no officer or other to take any custome, neither in
any place to stay them in any wise, neither take any kinde of toll of them
for their wares whatsoeuer.

6 And whatsoeuer marchant shall bargaine or buy any wares of English
marchants: The said Russe not to returne those wares vpon the marchants
hands againe, but to giue ready money for the said wares, otherwise they to
craue the Iustice to giue right, and to execute the lawe vpon the same with
all expedition. And when the English marchants or factors shal trauaile
from Moscouie after the dispatch of their wares and businesse, then to shew
themselues vnto our Chancellours, whatsoeuer wares of theirs shall goe from
Mosco, they not to shew the same wares to any our officers, nor pay no
custome nor toll in any place.

7 If it so happen the English marchants haue any wracke, and the shippes be
brought to any port of our Dominions, we to command the said goods to be
enquired and sought out, and to be giuen to the English marchants, being
here abiding at that time in our Countrey, the factors, seruants, or
deputies, of the Company aforesayd, to whom we haue granted this our
gratious letter.

And if there happen none of the English merchants, factors, seruants, or
deputies to be in our Countreis at such time, then we wil all the said
goods to be sought out and bestowed in some conuenient place, and when any
of the Company aforewritten, bringing these our letters, shall come for
their goods, we to command their goods to be restored vnto them.

8 Likewise wee haue graunted leaue to the English merchants, their
Gouernours, Consuls, and assistants, namely, sir William Garrard knight,
Rowland Howard, and to the Companie, to builde houses at Vologda, Colmogro,
and the seaside, at Iuangorod, at Cherell, and in all other places our
Dominions, as shall be needeful for their trade. And they to keepe at the
said house one housekeeper, a Russe, and two or three men to keepe their
wares at the said houses, making sale thereof to whom they will, they,
their Factors or deputies: the said housekeeper not to buy or sell for
them.

9 Also we haue giuen and graunted to the English Marchants, their house
which they haue by your goodnesse at S. Maximes in the Zenopski, and other
their houses in the towne of Zenopski, made for the better assurance of
their goods, and all such as they shall set vp hereafter shal be of the
Opressini [Marginal note: Or chosen side.], and will make them knowen to
all them of Opressini.

10 And whereas by our goodnes we haue graunted them a Ropehouse at Vologda,
being farre from the English Merchants house, now we haue giuen them to
build a house for that vse by the said English house, and haue giuen and
graunted them (of our goodnesse) ground, one hundreth and fourescore fadome
long, and fiftie fadomes in breadth, according to their owne request.

11 Also we haue of our goodnesse giuen and graunted to the English
Merchants, leaue to buy them a house at Wichida, and there to search our
mines of yron. And where they shal happily find it, there to set vp houses
for the making of the same yron: and to make the same, of our goodnesse
haue graunted them woods; fiue or sixe miles compasse about the sayd
houses, to the making of the sayd yron, and not to exceede these bounds,
and limits: And where they shall cut the sayde wood, not to set vp any
village or farme there, bringing the artificers for making of their yron,
out of their owne Countrey, and to learne our people that arte, and so
freely occupying the said yron in these our Dominions, transporting also of
the same home into Englande, allowing for euery pound one dingo, or halfe
penie.

12 And if any of the said yron shalbe needfull for our workes, then we to
take of the said yron to our worke, vpon agreement of price, paying money
out of our Treasurie for the same: And when the said English Merchants or
Factors shal send their owne people out of our Realme into their Countrey,
ouer land through any Countrey whatsoeuer, freely to send the same with our
words.

13. Also we of our goodness haue graunted, that if any man misuse the said
English, the Factors or seruants, or the saide English Merchants; their
Factors or seruants abuse any other at Moscouie, or any other out townes
whatsoeuer within our Dominions in trade of Marchandise or otherwise, then
they to haue vpright iustice in all such matters of our counsaile the
Opressini without all let or delay: But if our Iustice may not agree the
parties, then lots to be made, and to whose lotte it shall fall, to him the
right to be giuen, and that only our counsaile at Moscouie, and none of our
Captaines, or authorised people, or officers in any other our townes, giue
iudgement vpon the said English Merchants for any thing.

14 Also, if any stranger shall haue matter of controuersie with any English
Merchant, Factor or seruant, abiding within these our Realmes, or
contrariwise any English Merchant, Factor or seruant, against any other
stranger, in all those causes our Counsaile of the Opressini, to giue them
Iustice, and to make an agreement and end betweene the parties, without all
delay: And none to deale therein, saue our Counsaile of the Opressini.

15 And if any man haue action against any English Merchant being absent,
that then in his absence it shalbe lawfull for any other Englishman at his
assignation to answere his cause.

16 If any Englishman happen to be wounded or beaten to death, or any Russe
or stranger slaine or beaten. 17 Or any stollen goods to be found in the
said English houses, then our Counsellors to cause the guiltie persons to
be sought out, and to doe right and Iustice in the cause, and the partie
that is guiltie, if he deserue punishment, to be corrected accordingly
after his offence: That the said English Merchants, factors and seruant,
sustaine thereby no hinderance or damage.

18 And whatsoeuer English Marchant, Factor, seruant, or deputie, shalbe
guilty of any fault, deseruing our displeasure, then our Counsellors to
cause the guiltie partie to goe vnder suerties, and their goods to be
sealed and kept, vntill our pleasure be further knowen, and our Counsaile
to examine their offence, and so to report it vnto vs, that we may command
what shall be done therein, and none other to be arrested or haue their
goods sealed, which are not guiltie of that offence, nor to stay or
apprehend them in any of our Dominions for the same.

19 If any English Marchant, Factor or seruant shall offend, it shalbe
lawfull for their Agent to doe iustice vpon the said partie, or to send him
home into England at his pleasure.

20 If any English Marchant, Factor or seruant, haue lent or hereafter shall
lende money to any of our people, or credite them with wares, and so depart
into any forreigne Countrey, or die before the debt be due to be payde,
then our people and Marchants to paye the sayde debt, to whom soeuer shall
be appointed to the sayd roome or charge, and the saide English Marchant,
factor, or seruant, to bring his bill of debt to our Counsell, to shewe
them what is due, and what money is owing them for any wares: and thus to
doe truly, not adding any whit to the debt, and our Counsel to command the
debt to be discharged vnto the English Marchant, factor, or seruant,
without delay.

21 And whatsoeuer English Marchant shall be arrested for debt, then our
Counsell to command the partie vnder arrest to be deliuered to the Agent:
and if he haue no suertie, to binde the Agent with him, for the better
force of the bond.

And if any Englishman be endebted, we will the Creditor not to cast him in
prison, or to deliuer him to the Sergeant, lest the officer lose him, but
to take ware in pawne of the debt.

22 Also of our goodnes, we haue granted the English Marchants to send our
Commission to all our Townes, Captaines, and authorised men, to defende and
garde the said Marchants from all theeues, robbers, and euill disposed
persons.

23 If in comming or going to and fro our dominions, the Marchants, the
factors, or seruants be spoyled on the sea, our Counsell shall send our
letters, and will them to be sought out, and where they shall finde the
goods, cause it to be restored againe, and the offender to be punished,
according to our commandement.

24 Also of our goodnes, we haue granted the saide Merchants to take vp
Brokers, Packers, Wayers, and such like labourers, as shall be needefull
for them, paying for their hier as the labourers and they shall agree.

25 We likewise of our goodnes, haue licensed the English Marchants in our
Townes of Mosco, Nouogorod the great, and Plesko, that the Coiners of the
said Townes shall melt Dollers, and coine money for them, without custome,
allowing for coales, and other necessaries, with the workemanship.

26 Also of our goodnes, we haue granted to the sayd English Merchants, to
take poste horse at needfull times, leauing with our officers a note how
many they take, and not else, in no case hindering or diminishing our
treasurie.

27 Also for our sister Queene Elizabeths sake, we of our goodnes haue
granted to the merchants within written, this our letter, and to their
successors, that no Englishman, nor any other stranger, come without the
Queenes leaue to Colmogorode, the riuer of Vob, Vasiagy, Pechora, Cola,
Mezena, Pechingo, Zeleuetskyes Island, the riuer of Shame, nor to no other
hauen of Dwina, nor to any part of the northside of Dwina, by hetherward of
Wardhouse, to any hauen, with shippe, Busse, or any other vessell, nor to
occupie in any kind of waies, but only the said English Companie, and their
successors, to whom we of our goodnes haue granted this priuiledge.

28 Also that no English Merchant, without the Queenes leaue, shall come
With any wares, to the Narue, or Vriogorod.

29 And whatsoeuer English Merchant, stranger, or other, of whatsoeuer
countrey he be, shall come with any shippe; Busse, or any other vessel, to
any of the said hauens, of the north side, to any part of Dwina, by North
the Narue, or Vriogorod, without the Queenes leaue or knowledge, not being
of the company aboue written, we to apprehende and take the same vessell
from those strangers and Merchants, the one halfe to vs the Emperour, and
great Duke, and the other halfe to the company of English Merchants.

30 Also of our goodnes we haue granted the said company of English
merchants, that no English merchants or strangers shall passe through our
dominions, to Boghar, Persia, Casbin, Charday, or other Countreys, saue
onely the company of English merchants and our owne messengers.

31 Also whatsoeuer Englishman, comming out of England or any other
Countrey, into our dominions, without the Queenes leaue, and knowledge, not
being of the sayd company, written within those our letters, mind, and
purpose, to abide in our realme, contrary to the Queenes will and pleasure,
or any way abuse himselfe, the Agent shall freely send him home, to the
Queene his Soueraigne: which if the Agent of himselfe be vnable to do, let
him pray for ayd of the captaines and officers of our townes there being,
and so send him to prison, and will the sayd captaines not to hinder the
sayd Agent from sending home such euill persons into England.

32 And if any man within our countrey runne away to any other towne or
place, the English merchants and factours, to haue free libertie to
apprehend him, and take their goods from him againe.

33 And as for our priuilege giuen to Thomas Glouer, Ralfe Rutter,
Christopher Bennet, Iohn Chappell, and their adherents, we haue commanded
the same priuileges to be taken from them.

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