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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




[Sidenote: Their priests and preaching. Their Lent.] For their religion
they haue certairie priests who are apparelled like vnto other men. They
vse euery morning and afternoone to go vp to the tops of their churches,
and tell there a great tale of Mahumet and Mortus Ali: and other preaching
haue they none. Their Lent is after Christmas, not in abstinence from flesh
onely, but from all meats and drinks, vntill the day be off the side, but
then they eate somtimes the whole night. And although it be against their
religion to drinke wine, yet at night they will take great excesses thereof
and be drunken. Their Lent beginneth at the new Moone, and they do not
enter into it vntill they haue seene the same: neither yet doeth their Lent
end, vntill they haue seen the next new Moone, although the same (through
close weather) should not be seen in long time.

[Sidenote: Their saints and holy men. Pilgrimage.] They haue among them
certaine holy men whom they call Setes, counted holy for that they or any
of their ancestors haue been on pilgrimage at Mecha in Arabia, for
whosoeuer goeth thither on pilgrimage to visite the sepulchre of Mahumet,
both he and all his posteritie are euer after called Setes, and counted for
holy men, and haue no lesse opinion of themselues. And if a man contrary
one of these, he will say that he is a Saint, and therefore ought to be
beleeued, and that hee cannot lie, although he lie neuer so shamefully.
Thus a man may be too holy, and no pride is greater then spirituall pride
of a mind puffed vp with his own opinion of holinesse. These Setes do vse
to shaue their heads all ouer, sauing on the sides a litle aboue the
temples, the which they leaue vnshauen, and vse to braid the same as women
do their haire, and to weare it as long as it will grow.

[Sidenote: Their praier and worshipping of God and Mahumet.] Euery morning
they vse to worship God, Mahumet, and Mortus Ali, and in praying turne
themselues toward the South, because Mecha lieth that way from them. When
they be in trauell on the way, many of them will (as soone as the Sunne
riseth) light from their horses, turning themselues to the South, and will
lay their gownes before them, with their swords and beads, and so standing
vpright worship to the South: and many times in their prayers kneele downe,
and kisse their beads, or somwhat els that lieth before them.

[Sidenote: Washing and outward clenlinesse.] The men or women doe neuer goe
to make water, but they vse to take with them a pot with a spout, and after
they haue made water, they flash some water vpon their priuy parts, and
thus doe the women as well as the men: and this is a matter of great
religion among them, and in making of water the men do cowre downe as well
as the women.

[Sidenote: Their swearing.] When they earnestly affirme a matter, they will
sweare by God, Mahumet, or Mortus Ali, and sometimes by all at ones: as
thus in their owne language, saying, Olla, Mahumet, Ali. But if he will
sweare by the Shaughs head, in saying Shaugham basshe, you may then beleeue
him if you will.

[Sidenote: The king's magnificence.] The Shaugh keepeth a great
magnificence in his court: and although sometimes in a moneth or six weekes
none of his nobilitie or counsaile can see him, yet goe they daily to the
court, and tary there a certaine time vntil they haue knowen his pleasure
whether hee will commaund them any thing or not. [Sidenote: Pursuiuants.]
Hee is watched euery night with a thousand of his men, which are called his
Curshes, who are they that hee vseth to send into the Countreis about his
greatest affaires. When he sendeth any of them (if it be to the greatest of
any of his nobilitie) he will obey them, although the messenger should beat
any of them to death.

[Sidenote: The kings company with his wiues and concubines.] The Shaugh
occupieth himselle alwayes two dayes in the weeke in his Bathstoue, and
when he is disposed to goe thither, he taketh with him fiue or sixe of his
concubines, more or lesse, and one day they consume in washing, rubbing,
and bathing him, and the other day in paring his nailes, and other matters.
The greatest part of his life hee spendeth amongst his wiues and
concubines. Hee hath now reigned about fiftie and foure yeeres, and is
therefore counted a very holy man, as they euer esteeme their kings, if
they haue reigned fiftie yeeres or more: for they measure the fauour of God
by a mans prosperitie, or his displeasure by a mans misfortune or
aduersitie. The great Turk hath this Shaugh in great reuerence, because he
hath reigned king so long time.

[Sidenote: The succession of the kingdom.] I haue sayd before that hee hath
foure wiues, and as many: concubines as him listeth: and if he chance to
haue any children by any of his concubines, and be minded that any of those
children shall inherite after him, then when one of his wiues dieth, the
concubine whom hee so fauoureth, hee maketh one of his wiues, and the
childe whom he so loueth best, he ordaineth to bee king after him.

[Sidenote: Circumcision.] What I heard of the maner of their mariages, for
offending of honest consciences and chaste ears, I may not commit to
writing: their fasting I haue declared before. They vse circumcision vnto
children of seuen yeeres of age, as do the Turkes.

[Sidenote: Their houses, and maner of eating.] Their houses (as I haue
sayd) are for the most part made of bricke, not burned but only dried in
the Sunne: In their houses they haue but litle furniture of houshold
stuffe, except it be their carpets and some copper worke: for all their
kettles and dishes wherein they eate, are of copper. They eate on the
ground, sitting on carpets crosse legged as do Tailors. There is no man so
simple but he sitteth on a carpet better or worse, and the whole house or
roume wherein he sitteth is wholy couered with carpets. Their houses are
all with flat roofes couered with earth: and in the Sommer time they lie
vpon them all night.

[Sidenote: Bondmen and bondwomen.] They haue many bond seruants both men
and women. Bondmen and bondwomen, is one of the best kind of merchandise
that any man may bring. When they buy any maydes or yong women, they yse to
fede them in all partes, as with vs men doe horses: when one hath bought a
yong woman, if he like her, be will keepe her for his owne vse as long as
him listeth, and then selleth her to an other, who doth the like with her.
So that one woman is sometimes sold in the space of foure or fiue yeeres,
twelue, or twentie times. If a man keepe a bondwoman for his owne vse, and
if hee find her to be false to him, and giue her body to any other, he may
kill her if he will.

[Sidenote: Women bought and sold, and let to hire.] When a merchant or
traueller commeth to any towne where he entendeth to tary any time, he
hireth a woman, or sometimes 2. or 3. during his abode there. And when he
commeth to an other towne, he doeth the like in the same also: for there
they vse to put out their women to hire, as wee do here hackney horses.

[Sidenote: Abundance of oile issuing out of the ground.] There is a very
great riuer which runneth through the plaine of Iauat, which falleth into
the Caspian sea, by a towne called Bachu, neere vnto which towne is a
strange thing to behold. For there issueth out of the ground a marueilous
quantitie of oile, which oile they fetch from the uttermost bounds of all
Persia: it serueth all the countrey to burn in their houses.

This oyle is blacke, and is called Nefte: [Footnote: These springs are
still in existence.] they vse to cary it throughout all the Countrey vpon
kine and asses, of which you shall oftentimes meet with foure or fiue
hundred in a company. [Sidenote: Oleum Petroleum.] There is also by the
said towne of Bachu another kind of oyle which is white and very precious:
and is supposed to be the same that here is called Petroleum. There is also
not far from Shamaky, a thing like vnto tarre, and issueth out of the
ground, [Footnote: These springs are still in existence.] whereof we haue
made the proofe, that in our ships it serueth well in the stead of tarre.

[Sidenote: Two sorts of kine.] In Persia are kine of two sorts: the one
like vnto ours in these partes: the other are marueilous euill fauoured,
with great bones and very leane, and but litle haire vpon them: their milke
is walowish sweete: they are like vnto them which are spoken of in the
Scripture, which in the dreame of Pharao signified the seuen deare yeeres:
for a leaner or more euill fauoured beast can no man see.

[Sidenote: Foxes in great plenty.] In the countrey of Shiruan (sometime
called Media) if you chance to lie in the fields neere vnto any village, as
the twilight beginneth, you shall haue about you two or three hundred
foxes, which make a marueilous wawling or howling: and if you looke not
well to your victuals, it shal scape them hardly but they will haue part
with you.

The Caspian sea doeth neither ebbe nor flowe, except sometimes by rages of
wind it swelleth vp very high: the water is very salt. Howbeit, the
quantitie of water that falleth out of the great riuer of Volga maketh the
water fresh at the least twentie leagues into the sea. The Caspian sea is
marueilous full of fish, but no kind of monstrous fish, as farre as I could
vnderstand, yet hath it sundry sortes of fishes which are not in these
parts of the world.

The mutton there is good, and the sheepe great, hauing very great rumpes
with much fat vpon them.

Rice and mutton Is their chiefe victual.

* * * * *

The copy of a letter sent to the Emperour of Moscouie, by Christopher
Hodsdon and William Burrough, Anno 1570.

MOst mightie Empefour, &c. Whereas Sir William Garrard and his felowship
the company of English merchants, this last Winter sent hither to the Narue
three ships laden with merchandise, which was left here, and with it
Christopher Hodsdon one of the sayd felowship, and their chiefe doer in
this place, who when hee came first hither, and vntil such time as hee had
dispatched those ships from hence, was in hope of goods to lade twelue or
thirteene sails of good ships, against this shipping, wherefore he wrote
vnto the sayd Sir William Garrard and his companie to send hither this
spring the sayd number of thirteene ships. And because that in their
comming hither wee found the Freebooters on the sea, and supposing this
yeere that they, would be very strong, he therefore gaue the said sir
William and his companie aduise to furnish the sayd number of ships so
strongly, as they should bee able to withstand the force of the
Freebooters: whereupon they haue according to his aduice sent this yeere
thirteene good ships together well furnished with men and munition, and all
other necessaries for the warres, of which 13. ships William Burrough one
of the said felowship is captaine generall, vnto whom there was giuen in
charge, that if hee met with any the Danske Freebooters, or whatsoeuer
robbers and theeues that are enimies to to your highnesse, he should doe
his best to apprehend and take them. [Sidenote: Fiue ships of Freebooters
taken.] It so hapned that the tenth day of this moneth the sayd William
with his fleete, met with sixe ships of the Freebooters neere vnto an
Island called Tuttee, which is about 50. versts from Narue vnto which
Freebooters he with his fleete gaue chase, and took of them the Admirall,
wherein were left but three men, the rest were fled to shore in their boats
amongst the woods vpon Tuttee, on which he set fire and burned her. He also
tooke foure more of those ships which are now here, and one ship escaped
him: out of, which foure ships some of the men fled in their boates and so
escaped, others were slaine in fight, and some of them when they saw they
could not escape, cast themselues willingly into the Sea and were drowned.
So that in these fiue ships were left but 83. men.

The said Wil. Borough when he came hither to Narue, finding here Chistopber
Hodsdon aforenamed, both the said Christopher and William together, in the
name of sir William Garrard and the rest of their whole companie and
felowship, did present vnto your highnesse of those Freebooters taken by
our ships 82. men, which we deliuered here vnto Knez Voiuoda, the 13. of
this moneth. One man of those Freebooters we haue kept by vs, whose name is
Haunce Snarke a captaine. And the cause why we haue done it is this: When
wee should haue deliuered him with the rest of his felowes vnto the
Voiuodaes officers, there were of our Englishmen more then 50. which fell
on their knees vnto vs, requesting that he might be reserued in the ship,
and caried back into England: and the cause why they so earnestly intreated
for him, is, that some of those our Englishmen had bene taken with
Freebooters, and by his meanes had their liues saued with great fauour
besides, which they found at his hands. Wherefore if it please your
highnesse to permit it, we will cary him home with vs into England, wherin
we request your maiesties fauour: notwithstanding what you command of him
shalbe obserued.

Wee haue also sent our seruant to your highnesse with such bestellings and
writings as wee found in those shippes: whereby your Maiestie may see by
whom, and in what order they were set out, and what they pretended, which
writings wee haue commended vnto Knez Yoriue your Maiesties Voiuoda at
Plesco, by our seruant. And haue requested his futherance for the safe
deliuerie of them to your maiesties hands: which writings when you haue
perused we desire that they may be returned vnto vs by this our seruant, as
speedily as may bee: for these ships which we now haue here will be soone
dispatched from hence, for that we haue not goods to lade aboue the halfe
of them. And the cause is, we haue this winter (by your maiesties order)
bene kept from traffiquing to the companies great losse. But hoping your
maiestie will hereafter haue consideration thereof, and that we may haue
free libertie to trafique in all partes of your maiesties Countries,
according to the priuledge giuen vnto vs, we pray for your maiesties
health, with prosperous successe to the pleasure of God. From Narue the 15
of Iuly, Anno 1570.

Your Maiesties most humble and obedient,

Christopher Hodsdon. William Borough.

* * * * *

A letter of Richard Vscombe to M. Henrie Lane, touching the burning of the
Citie of Mosco by the Crimme Tartar, written in Rose Island the 5. day of
August, 1571.

Master Lane I haue me commended vnto you. The 27. of Iuly I arriued here
with the Magdalene, and the same day and houre did the Swalow and Harry
arriue here also. At our comming I found Master Proctor here, by whom we
vnderstand very heauie newes. [Sidenote: the citie of Mosco burnt by the
Crimme. Englishmen smothered at the burning of Mosco.] The Mosco is burnt
euerie sticke by the Crimme the 24, day of May last, and an innumerable
number of people: and in the English house was smothered Thomas Southam,
Tofild, Wauerly, Greenes wife and children, two children of Rafe, and more
to the number of 25. persons were stifeled in our Beere seller: and yet in
the same seller was Rafe, his wife, Iohn Browne, and Iohn Clarke preserued,
which was wonderfull. [Sidenote: M. Glouer and M. Rowley preserued.] And
there went into that seller master Glouer and master Rowley also: but
because the heate was so great, they came foorth againe with much perill,
so that a boy at their heeles was taken with the fire, yet they escaped
blindfold into another seller, and there, as Gods will was, they were
preserued. The Emperour fled out of the field, and many of his people were
caried away by the Crimme Tartar: to wit, all the yong people, the old they
would not meddle with, but let them alone, and so with exceeding much
spoile and infinite prisoners, they returned home againe. What with the
Crimme on the one side, and his crueltie on the other, he hath but few
people left. Commend me to mistresse Lane your wife, and to M. Locke, and
to all friends.

Yours to command, Richard Vscombe.

* * * * *

A note of the proceeding of M. Anthonie Ienkinson, Ambassadour from the
Queens most excellent Maiestie, to the Emperour of Russia, from the time
of his ariuall there, being the 26. of Iuly 1571, vntill his departure
from thence the 23. of Iuly 1572.

The said 26. day I arriued with the two good ships called the Swalow and
the Harry in safetie, at the Baie of S. Nicholas in Russia aforesayd, and
landed at Rose Island, from whence immediately I sent away my interpreter
Daniel Siluester in post towards the Court, being then at the Mosco,
whereby his maiestie might as well bee aduertised of my arriual in his
Dominions, as also to knowe his highnesse pleasure for my further accesse.
And remaining at the sayd Island two or three dayes, to haue conference
with your Agent about your affaires, I did well perceiue by the words of
the sayd Agent and others your seruants, that I was entred into great
perill and danger of my life: for they reported to mee that they heard said
at the Mosco, that the princes displeasure was such against me, that if
euer I came into his country againe. I should loose my head, with other
words of discouragement. Whereat I was not a little dismaid, not knowing
whether it were best for me to proceed forwards, or to returne home againe
with the ships for the safeguard of my life. But calling to mind mine
innocencie and good meaning, and knowing my selfe not to haue offended his
Maiestie any maner of wayes either in word or deed, or by making former
promises not performed, heretofore by mine enemies falsely surmised: and
being desirous to come to the triall thereof, whereby to iustifie my true
dealings, and to reprooue my sayd enemies, as well here as there, who haue
not ceased of late by untrue reports to impute the cause of the sayd
Emperours displeasure towards you to proceed of my dealings, and promises
made to him at my last being with him (although by his letters to the
Queenes Maiestie, and by his owne words to me the contrary doeth appeare) I
determined with my selfe rather to put my life into his hands, and by the
prouidence of God to prosecute the charge committed unto me, then to
returne home in vaine, discouraged with the words of such, who had rather
that I had taried at home, then to be sent ouer with such credite, whereby
I might sift put their euil doings, the onely cause of your losse.

Wherefore, leauing the said ships the nine and twentieth day of the month,
I departed from the seaside, and the first of August arriued at Colmogro,
where I remaided attending the returne of my said messenger with order from
his Maiestie.

But all the Countrey being sore visited by the hand of God with the plague,
passage in euery place was shut up, that none might passe in paine of
death: My Messenger being eight hundreth miles upon his way, was stayed,
and kept at a towne called Shasco, and might not bee suffered to goe any
further, neither yet to returne backe againe, or sende unto me: by meanes
whereof in the space of foure moneths, I could neither heare nor know what
was become of him, in which time my said messenger found meanes to
aduertise the Gouernour of the Citie of Vologda, as well of his stay, as of
the cause of his comming thither, who sent him word that it was not
possible to passe any neerer the Prince without further order from his
Maiestie, who was gone to the warres against the Swethens, and that he
would aduertise his highnesse so soone as he might conueniently. And so my
said messenger was forced to remaine there still without answere. During
which time of his stay through the great death (as aforesaid) I found
meanes to send another messenger, with a guide by an vnknowen way through
wildernesse a thousand miles about, thinking that way he should passe
without let: but it prooued contrary, for likewise hee being passed a great
part of his iourney, fell into the handes of a watch, and escaped very
hardly, that hee and his guide with their horses had not bene burnt,
according to the lawe prouided for such as would seeke to passe by indirect
wayes, and many haue felt the smart thereof which had not wherewith to buy
out the paine: neither could that messenger returne backe vnto me.

And thus was I kept without answere or order from his Maiestie, and
remained at the saide Colmogro, vntil the 18. of Ianuary following, neither
hauing a gentleman to safegard me, nor lodging appointed me, nor allowance
of victuals according to the Countrey fashion for Ambassadours, which
argued his grieuous displeasure towards our nation. And the people of the
Countrey perceiuing the same, vsed towards mee and my company some
discourtesies: but about the 28. day aforesaid, the plague ceased, and the
passages being opened, there came order from his Maiestie that I should
haue poste horses, and bee suffered to depart from Colmogro to goe to a
Citie called Peraslaue neere to the Court, his Maiestie being newly
returned from the said warres. And I arriued at the said Peraslaue the 3.
of February, where I remained vnder the charge of a gentleman, hauing then
a house appointed me and allowance of victuals, but so straightly kept,
that none of our nation or other might come or sende vnto me, nor I to
them. And the 14. of March folowing, I was sent for to the Court, and being
within three miles of the same, a poste was sent to the Gentleman which had
charge of me, to returne backe againe with me to the said Peraslaue, and to
remaine there vntil his Maiesties further pleasure, wherewith I was much
dismayed, and marueiled what that sudden change ment, and the rather,
because it was a troublesome time, and his Maiestie much disquieted through
the ill success of his affaires, (as I did vnderstand.) And the twentieth
of the same, I was sent for again to the Court, and the 23. I came before
his Maiestie, who caused mee to kisse his hand and gaue gratious audience
vnto my Oration, gratefully receiuing and accepting the Queenes Maiesties
princely letters, and her present, in the presence of all this nobilitie.
After I had finished my Oration, too long here to rehearse, and deliuered
her highnesse letters, and present (as aforesaid) the Emperour sitting in
royall estate stood up and said, How doth Queene Elizabeth my sister? is
she in health? to whom I answered, God doth bless her Maiestie with health,
and peace, and doeth wish the like vnto thee Lord, her louing brother. Then
his Maiestie sitting downe againe, commanded all his nobilitie and others
to depart, and auoyde the chamber, sauing the chiefe Secretarie, and one of
the Counsell, and willing me to approach neere vnto him with my
Interpretor, said vnto me these words.

Anthony, the last time thou wast with vs heere, wee did commit vnto thee
our trustie and secret Message, to be declared vnto the Queenes Maiesties
herselfe thy Mistresse at thy comming home, and did expect thy comming vnto
vs againe at the time we appointed, with a full answere of the same from
her highnesse. And in the meane time there came vnto us at seuerall times
three messengers, the one called Manly, the other George Middleton, and
Edward Goodman, by the way of the Narue about the Merchants affaires: to
whom wee sent our messengers to know whether thou Anthony, were returned
home in safetie, and when thou shouldest returne vnto vs againe: but those
messengers could tell vs nothing, and did miscall, and abuse with euil
words, both our messenger and thee, wherewith wee were much offended. And
vnderstanding that the said Goodman had letters about him we caused him to
be searched, with whom were found many letters, wherein was written much
against our Princely estate, and that in our Empire were many vnlawfull
things done, whereat we were much grieued, and would suffer none of those
rude messengers to haue accesse vnto vs: and shortly after wee were
infourmed that one Thomas Randolfe was come into our Dominions by the way
of Dwina, Ambassadour from the Queene, and we sent a Gentleman to meete and
conduct him to our Citie of Mosco, at which time wee looked that thou
shouldest haue returned vnto vs againe. And the said Thomas being arriued
at our said Citie, wee sent vnto him diuers times, that hee should come and
conferre with our Counsell: whereby we might vnderstand the cause of his
comming, looking for answere of those our princely affaires committed vnto
thee. But hee refused to come to our said Counsell: wherefore, and for that
our saide Citie was visited with plague, the saide Thomas was the longer
kept from our presence. Which being ceased, foorthwith wee gaue him accesse
and audience, but all his talke with vs was about Merchants affaires, and
nothing touching ours. Wee knowe that Merchants matters are to bee heard,
for that they are the stay of our Princely treasures: But first Princes
affaires are to be established, and then Merchants. After this the said
Thomas Randolfe was with vs at our Citie of Vologda, and wee dealt with him
about our Princely affaires, whereby amitie betwixt the Queenes Maiestie
and vs might bee established for euer, and matters were agreed and
concluded betwixt your Ambassadour and vs, and thereupon wee sent our
Ambassadour into England with him to ende the same: but our Ambassadour
returned vnto vs againe, without finishing our said affaires, contrary to
our expectation, and the Agreement betwixt vs, and your said Ambassadour.

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