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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




We the great Lord, king, and great Duke Theodore Iuanowich of all Russia,
haue firmely giuen and graunted vnto the aforesaide English merchants Sir
Iohn Hart and his company, for the loue we beare to our deare sister Queene
Elizabeth, we I say of our gracious goodnes haue giuen leaue to trauel and
passe to our royall seat of Mosco, and to all the parts of our kingdome
with all kinde of commodities, and to trafficke with all kinde of wares at
their owne pleasure, without paying any custome of their said wares.

To you our Customers we wil and command not to take any maner of custome of
the said merchants and their company, neither for entering, weying nor
passing by or through any place of our territories, nor for custome, of
iudgement by Lawe, or for their person or persons: nor any duties ouer
bridges, or for certificats or processes, or for conducting ouer any
streames or waters, or for any other customes or dueties that may be named:
we wil and straitly commaund you not to take any of them in any wise.

Prouided alwayes, that the saide merchants shall not colour any strangers
wares, nor bring them into our countrey, nor fauour them colourably, nor
sel for any stranger. To you our subiects also we command, not to meddle or
deale with any wares of strangers colourably, nor to haue them by you in
keeping, nor to offer to sel their commodities: but themselues to sel their
owne commodities in change or otherwise as they may or can. And in al
townes, cities, countreys, or any part of our dominions and territories it
shalbe lawful for the foresaid merchants and their the sayd Turnebulles
stuffe and other things, as billes, books and writings. All which shall be
deliuered to your merchants Agent and his fellowes, and in money 600
rubbles of the sayd Turnebulles.

And touching your merchants, I will haue a great care ouer them, and
protect them, whereby they shall suffer no damages in their trade: and all
kinde of trafficke in merchandise shall be at their libertie.

Written in our Lord and Kings Maiesties royall citie of Mosco, in the yeere
from the beginning of the world 7101, in the moneth of Ianuarie.

* * * * *

A letter from the Lord Boris Pheodorowich to the right honourable Lord
William Burghley, Lord high Treasurer of England.

By the grace of God great Lord, King, and great Duke Theodor Iuanowich,
gouernour of Russia, Volodimer, Mosco, and Nouogrod, King of Cazan and
Astracan, Lord of Vobsco, and great Duke of Smolensco, Otuer, Vghory,
Perme, Viatsky, Bulgary, and other regions, Lord and great Duke of all
Nouogrod in the low countreys, of Chernigo, of Liffeland, of Vdorsky,
Obdorsky, Condinsky, and all the countrey of Sibery, and commaunder of all
the North parts, and Lord ouer the countrey of Iuersky, and King of
Grusinsky, and of the countreys of Kabardinsky, Cherchasky, and Duke of
Igorsky, Lord and ruler of many Countreys more &c. His princely Maiesties
seruant, Lord and Master of his horses, and high Steward of his house,
President of the territories of Cazan and Astracan, Boris Pheodorowich
Godonoua, to the most honourable Counsellor of the most resplendent mightie
great Lady Elizabeth Queene of England, France, and Ireland, William
Burghley, Lord, and Knight of the Garter, high Treasurour of England,
sendeth greeting.

[Sidenote: M. Francis Cherie.] I perceiue by your letter that your
merchants last shippes came home in saftie, and that you haue receiued the
letters sent by them, by the hands of Francis Cherie, one from our Lord and
great King of all Russia his Maiesty, vnto your Queenes most excellent
Maiesty, and one from me to her Highnesse, and one from my selfe to you:
and the contents thereof you haue caused to be read and well vnderstood at
large. And whatsoeuer is therein written concerning Ierome Horsey, you haue
sought out the ground thereof, and that he is in great displeasure. And her
Highnesse hath written in her letter concerning her Maiesties merchants,
that whereas I haue taken them into protection, she taketh it very louingly
and kindely, that for her sake they haue receiued so great kindnesse.

And touching the damages and hinderances which your merchaunts haue
sustained by meanes of the Emperours authorised people and officers, and
that they were not permitted to traffike at libertie at the Sea port in the
yeere 1589, for the space of three weekes, it hath beene against the
Emperours Maiesties will and pleasure, as also against mine. Where you
desire and wish that betweene our Emperours Maiestie, and your Queenes
Maiestie, their loue and amitie may not bee seperated at any time, but to
continue: and you request mee that I should be good vnto the English
Merchants, and to defend them from all such domages hereafter: your honours
louing letter I haue therein throughly considered: and as I haue bene
heretofore, so I will still continue to be a meane betwixt our Lorde and
kings Maiestie, and your great Lady the Queene her hignesse, for the
mainteyning of brotherly loue and amitie, most ioyfully and willingly, as
God knoweth, aswel hereafter as I haue been heretofore: praying you to doe
the like also. Mine onely desire is for your most excellent Princesse sake,
to do all that lyeth in mee for the ayding, helping and protecting of her
Maiesties merchants, by the order and commaundement of our Lord and king
his Maiestie.

And to that ende I haue giuen order to all our authorised peopie to bee
careful ouer them, and to defende them in all causes, and to giue them free
libertie to trafficke at their owne willes and pleasures. It may bee that
your merchants doe not certifie you the trueth of all things, nor make
knowen vnto your honour my readinesse to protect them: And howe my Letters
and Commissions are sent to all authorised people for them, that they
shoulde ayde and assist them, according to the tenour of my Letters, to all
others that bee in authoritie vnder the said Officers or otherwise.

Also your honour writeth of the debarring of your merchants at the sea port
from their accustomed libertie of enterchangeable trafficke and bartar.
Touching which complaint search and inquisition hath bene made, and
commaundement giuen, that your Queenes Maiesties merchants at the Sea side,
and in all places where the trade is, doe not sustaine any domage or
hinderance hereafter, but that they shalbe at libertie without any
hindering or haue departed out of your maiesties Realme secretly without
licence, that we should giue order to send them home: concerning such your
subiects for which you haue written vnto our Maiestie by letters, we will
cause search to be made, and such as are willing to goe home into your
kingdome, we will command forthwith to be deliuered vnto your merchants
Agent, and so to passe. And such of your Maiesties people as haue giuen
themselues vnder our gouernment as subiects, we thinke it not requisite to
grant to let them passe.

And further, where you haue written vnto vs concerning the goods of Iohn
Chappell, we haue written heretofore the whole discourse thereof, not once,
but sundry times, and therefore it is not needful to write any more
thereof. And such goods as were found out of the goods of the sayd
Chappell, the money thereof was restored to your Maiesties people William
Turnbull and his fellowes. [Sidenote: M. Thomas Lind.] Your Maiesties
seruant Thomas Lind we haue sent with our letters the same way whereby he
came into our kingdome. The long abiding heere of your Maiesties seruant in
our kingdome, was for the comming of your people from the Sea port.
[Sidenote: 1592.] Written in our princely court and royall seat in the city
of Mosco in the yeere from the beginning of the world 7101, in the moneth
of Ianuary.

* * * * *

To the Queenes most excellent Maiestie from the Lord Boris Pheodorouich
Godonoua.

By the grace of God great Lord and great Duke Theodore Iuanouich gouernour
of Russia, Volodimer, Mosco, and Nouogrod, King of Cazan and Astracan, Lord
of Vobsko, and great Duke of Smolensco, Otuer, Vgbori, Perme, Viatsky,
Bulgary, and other regions, Lord and great Duke of Nouogrod in the low
countrey, of Chernigo, of Rezan, Polotsko, Rostoue, Ieroslaue, Bealozera,
and of Lifland, of Vdorsky, Obdorsky, Condinsky, and all the countrey of
Sibery, and commander of all the North parts, and Lord ouer the countrey of
Iuersky, and King of Grusinsky, and of the countrey of Kabardinsky,
Cherchasky, and duke of Igorsky, Lord and ruler of many countreys more, &c.

Most resplendent Queene Elizabeth of England, France, and Ireland, &c. his
princely Maiesties seruant, Lord and Master of his horses, and high Steward
of his house, and President of the territories of Cazan and Astracan, Boris
Pheodorouich Godonoua, vnto your most excellent Maiesty, great Ladie Queene
Elizabeth, send my humble commendations. [Sidenote: The Empresse Irene
deliuered of a daughter.] It hath pleased your Maiestie to write vnto me
your gracious and princely letter by your seruant Thomas Lind: which letter
I receiued with all humblenesse. During the time of the abode of your
Messenger Thomas Lind here in the Mosco, it pleased God of his
mercifulnesse, and our Lady the mother of God, and holy Saints, by the
prayers of our lord and king his Maiestie Theodore Iuanouich ouer all
Russia gouernour, the right beleeuer and louer of Christ, to send our
Queene and gracious Lady Irene a yoong Princesse, to the great ioy and
comfort of our kingdome, named Pheodocine. Wherefore we giue all honour and
glory to the almightie God vnspeakable, whose giftes had beene manifolde
with mercie vnto vs: for which all wee Christians laud and praise God.

After all this your seruant was occasioned to stay vntill the comming of
your merchants from the sea port.

Touching the letters which you haue receiued from your louing qbrother our
Lord and Master by your ambassadour, therein you perceiue sufficiently my
good meaning, in trauailing for the continuance of amitie and friendship
betwixt you mighty great princes, in the which I will continue mine
endeauour. Also your merchants I haue taken into my protection for to
defend them for the loue I beare to your Maiestie. As heeretofore I haue
done it willingly, and with great care of their good, so I meane to
continue so farre as God will giue me leaue: to the end that brotherly loue
be holden betweene you princes without disturbance.

As I haue beene to your merchants in times past, so now by the permission
and commandement of our Lord and Master, I will be their defendour in all
causes: and will cause all our authorised people to fauour them and to
defend them, and to giue them free liberty to buy and sell at their
pleasure. The merchants doe not certifie your princely Maiestie of all our
friendship and fauour shewed vnto them from time to time. And whereas your
Maiestie hath now written to our Lord and Master for the debts which your
merchants ought to haue of William Turnebull lately disceased, I hauing
perused your Maiesties letter, whereby I am requested to be a meane for the
recouerie and obtaining of their sayd debts, I haue moued it to our Lord
and King his Maiestie, that order may be giuen therein: and that his
kinseman Rainold Kitchin with three persons more may be sent ouer together
with company to sell or barter away their owne commodities in change or
otherwise, for or at their pleasure as they will. And whensoeuer the said
merchants or any of them come into our territories of great Nouogrod or
Plesco, or to any other parts of our kingdome with their wares, by virtue
of these our maiesties letters we straitly charge and command you our
Captaines, generals, and all other that be authorised or in office, to
suffer the aforesaid merchants to passe and repasse, and to take no kinde
of custome or dutie of them, or any of their goods, howsoeuer it may haue
name: nor in no place else where they shall come in all our kingdome.
Likewise if they sell not nor buy no wares, you shall take no custome, but
suffer them quietly to passe where they will with their goods. Of our
gratious goodness and meere goodwill haue giuen the said merchants leaue to
trafficke, throughout all our kingdomes, and in all townes and cities with
all maner of wares and commodities without paying any custome or dutie.
Wheresoeuer they shal happen to sel or barter away any of their commodities
to our subiects, they are to barter or sell by wholesale, and not by
retalie, as by the yard or by the ounce in their houses or elsewhere: but
by the packe or whole clothes, veluets, damasks, taffaties by the piece,
and not by the yard: and al other wares that are to be sold by weight, they
are to be sold not by the ounce, but by great sale. Your wines shalbe solde
by hogs heads, pipes or buttes, but not by quartes nor pintes.

The said English merchants are to sel or barter away their owne commodities
themselues, and not to suffer any Russes to buy or sell for them: nor to
cary or tranport any wares of strangers in stead of their owne in no wise.
And if the saide English merchants shall be desirous to sell any of their
commodities at Colmogro, or vpon the Riuer of Duina, or at Vologhda or at
Yeraslaue: when as the saide merchants haue solde in any of the saide
Townes, Cities or territories, then you our officers and authorised people
by vertue of this our gratious letter wee will and straitly commaund not to
take any custome of the aforesaid merchants, howsoeuer it may be named.

Also whensoeuer the saide English merchants or any of their factours shalbe
desirous to hire carriers to carry their wares to any place of our
dominions or Cities, it shalbe at their choyse and pleasure to hier them
the best they can, and where they will, either watermen to rowe, or
vessels.

Also when any of the said merchants themselues, or any of theirs are
desirous to trauel into any part of our dominions, or into any other
kingdomes, or into their owne kingdome if any of our treasure be deliuered
to them, they to take it with them, and to sel it in bartar or otherwise
for such wares as are most requisit and necessary to be brought into our
kingdome and to be deliuered into our treasury. You our nobilitie, generals
& al others in authority suffer them to passe through al our cities, towns
& countries without taking any custome of them. And when the said merchants
haue done their traffick in any place & come to the Mosco, they shal make
it knowen at their arriual at the house of Chancery and Secretariship to
Vasili Shalcan. And further when there come any English Merchants with
their ships or vessels by sea, that by mishap shalbe cast away vpon any of
our shoars or costes, we wil and command you to ayde & helpe them, and to
seeke for their goods so perished by any casualtie, and to be restored
againe to the saide English merchants or their assignes without any
prolonging or detayning. As also if any of the aforesaide merchants goods
be found in any part of our coastes or streames and they not present
themselues, let the sayd goods be taken and layd vp in safetie in some
place or other, and be deliuered to the aforesaid merchants or their
factors, vnder penaltie of our displeasure.

Furthermore we King, Lord and great duke of all Russia, of our gracious
goodnesse giue vnto the English merchants and their company, their house in
the Citie of Mosco lying hard by the Church of S. Marke behinde the market
place: which they shall keepe and remaine therein after their old
accustomed vse. Prouided alwayes that they shall keepe one Russe porter or
one of their owne people, & may keepe any other Russe seruant at their
discretion. Also their houses in sundry places, as at Ieraslaue, Vologhda,
Colmogro, and at S. Michael Archangel, all these houses they shall keepe
and vse at their owne pleasure, according to our former letters patents
without paying any dutie, rent, or custome. Nor you the communaltie of the
said townes shal take any thing of them or theirs for any duetie that
should belong to you, especially of the houses aforesaid: but the said
English merchants shal enioy them peaceably for themselues and their
families, but shall not suffer any other strangers Russes or others to vse
the aforesaid houses. Also you shall suffer them to lay their wares and
commodities in their warehouses, and to sell their commodities to whom they
please without let or hindrance, by vertue of this our gratious letter.

Their housekeeper being a Russe shall not vndertake to meddle, or sell any
of their wares without they themselues be present, nor to buy any thing for
them.

Also it shalbe lawfull for the said merchants when they shal arriue at
their port to lade and vnlade their merchandises as in times past they haue
done at their pleasure. And when they lade their ships with Russe
commodities or vnlade them, it shalbe lawfull for them to hire any of our
subiects to helpe them for the present time, and for them to carry their
goods to and fro with their owne vessels to S. Michael Archangel, or
elsewhere.

Also we command you our authorised people at the sea side as wel Customers
as others to take of the foresaid merchants a note, or remembrance, what
goods they bring in and ship out: whereby it may be knowen what goods come
in and go out. But in no wise shall you open or vnpacke any of their wares
or merchandises.

In like maner when as they ship or sende away any of their countrey
commodities from S. Michael Archangel to any other place, or to our royall
Citie of Mosco yee shall not hinder nor let them any maner of wise for the
shipping of their merchandises in or out by virtue of these our gratious
letters of priuiledge giuen them.

And whensoeuer any of the said English merchants haue any occasion to send
ouer land out of our dominions into their own countrey any of their
seruants or factors, by vertue of this our gratious letter we command you
to giue them their passeport out of the office of our Secretariship.

And whensoeuer any of our subiects hath any thing to do with any of the
foresaid merchants by way of contentions: or that they be damnified or
hindered by any of our subiects: then we appoint and ordeine our Chanceller
and Secretary Vasili Shalcan to heare their causes, and finally to
determine on both sides according to equitie and iustice: and that he shall
search the trueth betweene both parties.

And when the trueth cannot be proued or found out, then to cast lots by
order of the foresaide Iudge, and he to whom the lot shall fall to take his
othe.

Furthermore whensoeuer any of the English merchants or their factors shall
come into any parts of our dominions or Cities, and shalbe wronged any
kinde of wayes in trading, or otherwise by any abused, or haue any occasion
of contention with any by way of trade in merchandise or otherwayes: we
straightly charge and commaund you our gouernours, and authorised subiects
within all our realme and territories of the same, to minister iustice vnto
the aforesaid merchants, or to their deputies, and to search the trueth of
the contention: and for want of sufficient proofe cast lots who shall take
his oath for the more ready triall of the cause: And in no wise to take any
fee or duetie of the aforesaid English merchants for the said iudgement in
Lawe.

We wil and commaund all this to be obserued and kept in all parts of our
dominions by all our subiects and authorised people by vertue of these our
royal letters patents: And the said letters not to be diminished in any
part or parsell thereof by any persons howsoeuer they be named. And
whosoeuer shall withstand and not regard these our gracious letters shalbe
in our high displeasure, and shal incurre the losse of his life. [Sidenote:
After our accompt 1596.] This our gracious letter was giuen in our kingdom
and royal City of Mosco, in the yere from the beginning of the world 7104.
in the moneth of May.

Subscribed by the Emperours Chancellour
and Secretarie Vasili Shalean.

* * * * *

The contents of M. Garlands Commission vnto Thomas Simkinson for the
bringing of M. Iohn Dee to the Emperour of Russia his Court.

Friend Thomas Simkinson I pray you goe to Brounswik or Cassil and inquire
if Master Iohn Dee be there or where he is, and when you finde him,
certifie him howe that I haue sent you purposely to knowe where hee doeth
remaine, and at your returne I will come and speake with him my selfe. Also
you may certefie him that the Emperour of Russeland hauing certaine
knowledge of his great learning and wisdome is marueilous desirous of him
to come into his Countrey. And hath giuen me his letter with his hand and
golden seale at it for to bring him into the Countrey with mee if it be
possible, and for his liuing shewe him that he shall be sure of 2000 pound
yeerely, and also all prouision for his table out of the Emperours kitching
free: and if he thinke this too little, I will assure him that if he aske
asmuch more hee shall haue it, and for his charges into the Countrey, I
haue sufficient of the Emperours allowance to bring him and all his royally
into the Countrey. And because hee may doubt of these proffers, he shall
remaine at the borders vntill the Emperour be certified of him, and of his
requests, which he would haue. And I am sure he shall be conueyed through
the land with fiue hundred horses, and he shallbe accompted as one of the
chiefest in the land next the Emperour. Also shew him howe that my Lord
Protectour at my comming away did take me in his armes, and desired me as
hee should be my friend to bring him with me and he would giue him of his
owne purse yeerly 1000. rubbles besides the Emperours allowance. All these
foresaide grauntes and demaunds doe I Thomas Simkinson acknowledge to be
spoken by Edward Garland to mee, and to be sent to declare the same vnto
Master Iohn Dee. And in witnesse that this is of a trueth I haue written
the same with my owne hand, and thereunto set my name, in Wittingaw,
otherwise called Trebona, the 18. of September, Anno 1586.

By me Thomas Simkinson of Hull.

* * * * *

A letter to the right worshipfull M. Iohn Dee Esquire, conteyning the summe
and effect of M. Edward Garland his message, deliuered to Master Dee
himselfe, (Letterwise) for a more perfect memoriall thereof. Anno 1586.

Right worshipfull, it may please you to vnderstand, that I was sent vnto
you from the most mightie Prince Feodor Iuanowich, Lord, Emperour and great
duke of Russia, &c. As also from the most excellent prince Boris
Feodorowich, Lord Protector of Russia: to giue your worship to vnderstand
the great good will and heartie desire they beare vnto you; for that of
long time they haue had a great good report of your learning and wisedom,
as also of your good counsel vnto Princes: whereupon his Maiesties most
earnest desire and request is vnto you; that you would take the paines to
come vnto his Citie of Mosco, to visite his Maiesties Court: for that hee
is desirous of your company, and also of your good counsell in diuers
matters that his Maiestie shall thinke needfull. And for the great goodwill
that his Maiestie beareth vnto you, he will giue you yeerely toward your
mainteinance 2000. pound starling; and the Lord Protectour will giue you a
thousand rubbles, as also your prouision for your table you shall haue free
out of his Maiesties kitchin: And further whatsoeuer you shall thinke
needefull or conuenient for you, in any part or parts of his dominion, it
shall be at your worships commaundement. And this is the summe and effect
of my message and commandement guien me by his Maiestie and the Lord
Protectour.

In witnesse whereof I haue written this with my owne hand, the 17. of
December 1586.

By me Edward Garland.


In Trebona Castell otherwise called, Wittingaw in Boëmia to which place
this M. Edward Garland, came to M. Dee with two Moscouites to serue him,
&c. He had sixe more which by M. Dees counsell were sent backe.

Witnesse M. Edward Kelley, and M. Francis
Garland, brother to foresaid Edward,
and diuers others.


It seemeth that this princely offer of the Emperour Pheodor Iuanowich, and
of the L. Boris Pheoilorowich Protectour to his Maiestie, was made vnto the
learned and famous Mathematitian M. Iohn Dee, partly to vse his counsell
and direction about certaine discoueries to the Northeast; and partly for
some other, weighty occasions: but because their conquest to Siberia was
not as then fully settled, and for diuers other secret reasons, it was for
that time with al thankfulness refused.

* * * * *

A branch of a letter from M. Iohn Merick, Agent vnto the Moscouie company
in Russia, closed vp in the Mosco the 14. of March, Anno 1597. touching
the death of Pheodor Iuanowich late Emperour of all Russia, &c.

[Sidenote: Febr. 1597.] Hauing thus farre proceeded with this my answere
vnto the chiefest points of your worships letters receiued, my desire was
to haue sent one vnto you long since, as you may perceiue, by the first
date: but by reason I could not get leaue, I haue deferred it of till this
instant, for that there was none suffered to passe out of the land. The
causes may be iudged, for that it pleased God to call out of this world,
the Emperour his Maiestie, who departed about the 7. of Ianuary: and euer
since hath bene a mourning time, and no suites for any matter could be
heard. But it hath bene a very dead season. Yet (thankes be to God) through
the wise gouernment of Lord Boris Pheodorowich the Lord Protector vnto the
saide late Emperour, since his death all things haue bene very quiet
without any dissention; as the like in such a great kingdome I haue not
heard of. [Sidenote: Prince Boris Pheodorowich by generall consent chosen
Emperour of Russia.] And now through the prouidence of Almighie God, and by
surrender of the late Empresse Irenia Feodoruna, and the common consent of
the Patriarch, Nobles, Bishops, and the whole Cleargie, with the whole
Commons besides, choise is made of none other but of the said Lord
Protector, L. Boris Pheodorowich to be Emperour, and great duke of all
Russia, who was most vnwilling to receiue the kingdome, but the people
would make no other choise, nor haue any other. So that with much adoe and
entreatie, it hath pleased his Maiestie to take vpon him the kingdome, and
he is absolute Emperor to him and his heires. And certainly God hath done
much for this Countrey, and hath made the people greatly happy, in that he
hath prouided and, appointed so famous and worthy a Prince: whose excellent
gouernment and experience these foureteene yeeres hath bene manifest to all
Russia. God graunt his highnesse a most prosperous and long raine, with his
Lady the Empresse, the Prince his sonne, and the Princesse his daughter.
All men do reioyce both Russe and strangers for this most famous Emperour.
The Coronation is thought shalbe on the Assension day next, til which time
I cannot depart from Mosco: which is a litle before the time that
ordinarily I doe take my iourney from hence. And touching his Maiesties
fauour towards me on your behalfe, especially for her Maiesties sake, as in
foretime it was extraordinary, and so specially shewed to mee, as to none
the like: so hath his highnesse promised the continuance thereof, with,
further fauour as shalbe desired. Whereof I haue no doubt: for dayly I do
finde the same.

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