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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




Then I humbly beseeched his Maiestie, to let me know the particular
offences committed by the said merchants, and the offendors names, to the
intent I might make report thereof vnto the Queenes Maiestie, my mistres,
accordingly, that the said offendors might receiue iust punishment for
their deserts: but he said, I should not know them, because he had cleerely
remitted al offences: and further, that it was not princely to forgiue, and
after to accuse the parties, whereby her Maiesties displeasure might fall
vpon them at home. Notwithstanding I did after vnderstand some part
thereof, by other means.

Then his Maiestie proceeding in talke said: As touching the articles of
request, concerning the merchants affaires which you did yesterday deliuer
vnto our Secretary, we haue not onely read the same our selfe, but also
haue appointed our said Secretary to declare vnto you our minde, and
answere to the same. And for that we are now vpon our iourney towards our
borders, and will depart from hence shortly, we will dismisse you to the
Queene our louing sister, your mistres, with our letters & full mind by
word of mouth, touching all your requests, & will send a gentleman one of
our houshold with you to safe conduct you to your ships: and of our goodnes
will giue you victuals, boates, men, and post horses, so many as you shall
neede. And therewith his Maiestie standing vp, and putting off his cappe,
said vnto me these words, Doe our hearty commendations unto our louing
sister, Queene Elizabeth, vnto whom we wish long life, with happie
successe: and therewith his highnes extended his hand to me to kisse, and
commanded his sunne, sitting by him, to send the like commendations, which
he did, whose hand likewise I kissed. And then his Maiestie caused me to
sit downe, and commaunded wine and drinkes of diuers sorts to be brought,
whereof he gaue me to drinke with his owne hand, and so after I departed.

Then the next day, being the 14. of May aforesaid, I was sent for to come
to the chief Secretary, & one other of the counsel with him, who at our
meeting said vnto me these words; We a appointed by the Emperor his
maiesty, to giue you answere from his Highness, touching your requests
deliuered in writing, which his Maiestie himselfe hath perused & answered
as followeth.

1 To the first request it is answered, that all his Maiesties griefes and
displeasure (now put away from the merchants) did grow, because the Queenes
Maiestie did not accomplish and ende with his Ambassador, his secrete and
waighty affaires, according to his expectation, and the promise made by
Thomas Randolph, at his being here: and also of the ill behauiour of your
merchants resident here in our Countrey, as his Maiestie did himselfe
yesterday declare vnto you.

2 To the second, his Maiesty willeth you to vnderstand that he hath not,
nor will not hereafter be moued to breake friendship with the Queenes
Maiesty, without good and iust cause.

3 To the third, you are answered by the Emperors Maiestie himselfe, that
his great goodnes and fauour againe vnto the merchants shall be restored,
and the same to be knowen by his gratious letters of priuilege now againe
granted.

4 To the fourth, his Maiesty hath commanded, that your merchants here
resident shall exhibite, and put in writing vnto me his Maiesties
Secretarie, all their griefes and complaints, as well for debts, as other
iniuries offred them since the time of his Highnes displeasure, and they
shall haue iustice truly ministred throughout all his Maiesties Dominions
without delay.

5 To the fifth, his maiesty doth not know of any debts due vnto the
merchants, by any of his Noblemen, as is alleaged: and whether it be true
or no, he knoweth not: the trueth whereof must be tried out, and thereupon
answere to be giuen: and hereafter his maiestie would not haue the
merchants to trust his people with too much.

6 To the sixth, it is answered, that his maiesty hath commanded search to
be made what money is owing to the marchants, for wares receiued into his
treasury, as in the article: (the most of the bookes of accompt being burnt
in the Musco) and such as is due, and found meete to be paid, shall be paid
forthwith to the marchants, their factors or seruants, which shall come for
the same. And for paiment of the rest, his maiesties further pleasure shall
be signified hereafter.

7 To the 7 his Maiesties answers is, that letters shall be written
forthwith to his captaines of Astracan, and Cazan, and other his officers,
vpon the riuer Volga, to whom it appertaineth, not onely to suffer your
people, both marchants, and mariners, to passe with their ships, or barkes,
from Astracan, ouer the Mare Caspium, to fetche Thomas Banister and Geofry
Ducket, with their company, and goods out of Persia, but also when they
shall arriue within his Maiesties dominions, to aide and assist them, and
see them safely conducted vp the riuer Volga, from danger of enemies.

8 To the eight, his maiestie hath commanded letters to be written to the
customers, both of Astracan and Cazan, to make restitution to the English
merchants of their goods so deteined by them for custome, and to take
custome for the same, according to his maiesties letters of priuilege.

9 10 To the ninth and tenth articles, his Maiestie will consider of those
matters, and hereafter will signifie his princely pleasure therein.

11 To the eleuenth, as touching an inuentorie giuen into the, treasury what
goods the merchants had burnt in the Mosco, in their houses there, his
Maiesties pleasure was to vnderstand the same, to the intent he might know
the losses of all strangers at that present, but not to make restitution,
for that it was Gods doing, and not the Emperours.

12 To the twelfth, concerning Thomas Glouer, his Maiestie was enformed by
his Ambassador of the Queenes great mercy and clemencie towards the said
Thomas, for his sake, which his Highnes receiued in good part, but what
agreement or dealings was betwixt the said sir William Garrard and his
company, and the said Glouer, or what he doth owe vnto the said merchants,
his Maiestie doth not know. And as for the money which the said Thomas
saith is owing vnto him by the Emperour, his Maiesties pleasure is, that so
much as shall be found due, and growing vpon wares deliuered vnto the
treasurie, out of the time of his Maiesties displeasure, shall be paid
forthwith to the said Thomas, and the rest is forfeited vnto his Maiestie,
and taken for a fine, as appertaining to Rutter and Bennet, accompted
traitors vnto his Highnes, during the time of his displeasure.

13 To the thirteenth article, concerning Rutter to deliuered vnto you, to
be caried home, the answere was, that as his Maiestie will not detaine any
English man in his countrey, that is willing to go home, according to the
Queenes request: euen so will he not force any to depart, that is willing
to tary with him. Yet his Highnes, to satisfie the Queenes Maiesties
request, is contented at this present to send the said Ralfe Rutter home
with you, and hath commanded that a letter shall be written vnto his chiefe
officer at the Mosco, to send the said Rutter away with speed, that he may
be with you at Vologda, by the fine of May, without faile: and touching the
rest of your request in the said article, his Maiesties pleasure shall be
signified in the letters of priuilege, granted to the said merchants.

14 To the fourteenth, touching artificers, his Maiestie will accomplish all
the Queenes Highnes request in that behalfe, and now at this present doth
licence such and so many to depart to their natiue countrey as are willing
to goe.

15 To the 15, touching Besson Messeriuey, the Emperors maiestie is much
offended with him, and will send down a gentleman with you to inquire of
his ill behauior, as wel for speaking of vndecent words against the Queens
maiestie as you haue alleaged, as also against you, and the merchants for
his outrages mentioned in the article, and the said Besson being found
guilty, to be imprisoned and punished by seuere iustice accordingly, and
after to put in sureties to answere the Emperors high displeasure, or els
to be brought vp like a prisoner by the said gentleman to answere his
offences before his Maiestie. And his highnes doth request that the Queenes
highnes would doe the like vpon Middleton and Manlie her messengers sent
thither two yeeres past, and of all others for their ill behauiour towards
his maiestie, as may appeare by letters sent by Daniel Siluester from his
highnes, least by the bad demeanor of such lewd persons, the amity and
friendship betwixt their maiesties might be diminished.

16 To the 16 and last article, touching the corne brought into the Emperors
dominions by the merchants, his maiestie doth greatly commend them for so
wel doing, and hath commanded to giue you a letter forthwith in their
behalf, directed to his officers of Duina, to suffer the said merchants to
selle their corne, by measure great or small at their pleasure without
custome.

Thus I receiued a full answere from his Maiestie by his chiefe Secretarie
and one other of his counsel, to the 16 articles afore rehearsed, by me
exhibited in writing touching your affaires, with his letter also sent by
me to the Queenes maiesty. Which being done, I requested that the new
letters of priuilege granted by his highnes vnto you might be forthwith
dispatched to the intent I might carie the same with me. Also I requested
that such money due to you, which it had pleased his maiesty to command to
be payd, might be deliuered to me in your behalfe.

Touching the letters of priuilege, the Secretary answered me, it is not
possible you can haue them with you, for they must be first written and
shewed vnto the Emperor, and then three to be written of one tenour
according to your request, which cannot bee done with speede, for that his
maiesties pleasure is, you shall depart this night before him, who
remooueth himselfe to morrow toward Nouogrod: but without faile the sayd
letters shall be dispatched vpon the way, and sent after you with speede to
Colmogro. And as touching the money which you require, it cannot be paid
here because we haue not the bookes of accounts, for want whereof we know
not what to paie: wherefore the best is that you send one of the merchants
after the Emperor to Nouogrod, and let him repaire vnto me there, and
without faile I will paie all such money as shall be appointed by his
maiestie to be paid after the bookes seene.

But forasmuch as there was none of your seruants with me at that present
(although I had earnestly written vnto your Agent Nicholas Proctor by
Richard Pringle one of your owne seruants, one moneth before my comming to
Starites, where I had my dispatch, that he should not faile to come
himselfe, or send one of your seruants to mee hither, to follow all such
sutes as I should commence in your behalfs, which he neglected to doe to
your great hinderance) I requested the said Secretarie that I might leaue
Daniel my interpreter with him, aswell for the receipt of money, as for the
speedy dispatch of the letters of priuiledge, but it would not be granted
in any wise that I should leaue any of mine owne companie behind me, and
thereupon I did take my leaue with full dispatch, and departed to my
lodging, and foorthwith there came vnto me a gentleman who had charge as
wel to conduct me and prouide boates, men, post horses and victuals all the
way to the sea side, being a thousand and three hundred miles, as also to
doe iustice of the sayd Bessen, as aforesaid. And he said vnto me, the
Emperours pleasure is, that you shall presently depart from hence, and I am
appointed to goe with you. And that night I departed from the said
Starites, being the fourteenth of May aforesayd. And passing a great part
of my iourney, I arriued at the citie of Vologda the last of the sayd May,
where I remained fiue daies as well expecting a messenger to bring vnto me
the new letters of priuiledge, as the comming of Rutter, whom the Emperours
Maiestie himselfe commanded before my face should bee sent vnto me without
faile, and I did see the letters written to the chiefe officers at the
Mosco for the same. Neuerthe lesse the said Rutter did not come, neither
could I heare of him after, nor know the sudden cause of his stay contrary
to the princes owne word and meaning, as I suppose. But I could not help
the matter being farre from the prince, neither could I tell how to haue
redresse, because by absence I could not complaine. Notwithstanding I vsed
my indeuour, and sent a messenger Iohn Norton one of your seruants from
Vologda to Nouogrod, where the court then lay, expressely with letters, as
well to aduertise his maiestie that the sayd Rutter was not sent vnto me
according to his highnes commandement and order, as also about the dispatch
of the said letters of priuiledge and receit of your money, with straight
charge that he should in any wise returne vnto me againe before the
departing of the ships. And the first day of Iune I departed from the said
Vologda by water towards Colmogro, where I arriued the 21 of Iune
aforesaid, and remained there vntil the 23 of Iuly, looking for the said
Iohn Norton to haue returned vnto me in al that time, which had respite
fully enough in that space both to go to the court to dispatch his busines,
and to haue returned againe vnto me, but he came not, for it was otherwise
determined before his going, as I did after vnderstand, and can more at
large by worde of mouth declare vnto your worships the occasion thereof.

Neuerthelesse, I am well assured before this time your Agent hath receiued
into his hands the sayd letters of priuiledges, and shall haue dispatch
with expedition in all things touching your affaires, according to his
maiesties grant by me obtained, and as he hath written to the Queenes
maiestie at this present, wishing that as now by my going the Emperour hath
withdrawen his grieuous displeasure from you, and restored you againe into
his fauour, so your Agent and others your seruants there resident may
behaue, and endeuour themselues to keepe and augment the same, whose euill
doings haue bene the onely occasion of his indignation now remitted.

* * * * *

The names of such countries as I Anthony Ienkinson haue trauelled vnto,
from the second of October 1546, at which time I made my first voyage out
of England, vntill the yeere of our Lord 1572, when I returned last out
of Russia.

First, I passed into Flanders, and trauelled through all the base
countries, and from thence through Germanie, passing ouer the Alpes I
trauelled into Italy, and from thence made my iourney through the Piemont
into France, throughout all which realme I haue throughly iournied.

I haue also trauelled through the kingdomes of Spaine and Portingal, I haue
sailed through the Leuant seas euery way, and haue bene in all the chiefe
Islands within the same sea, as Rhodes, Malta, Sicilia, Cyprus, Candie, and
diuers others.

I haue bene in many partes of Grecia, Morea, Archaia, and where the olde
citie of Corinth stoode.

I haue trauelled through a great part of Turkie, Syria, and diuers others
countries in Asia minor.

I haue passed ouer the mountaines of Libanus to Damasco, and trauelled
through Samaria, Galile, Philistine or Palestine, vnto Ierusalem, and so
through all the Holy land.

I haue bene in diuers places of Affrica, as Algiers, Cola, Hona, Tripolis,
the gollet within the gulfe of Tunis.

I haue sailed farre Northward within the Mare glaciale, where we haue had
continuall day, and sight of the Sunne ten weekes together, and that
nauigation was in Norway, Lapland, Samogitia, and other very strange
places.

I haue trauelled through all the ample dominions of the Emperour of Russia
and Moscouia, which extende from the North sea, and the confines of Norway,
and Lapland euen to the Mare Caspium.

I haue bene in diuers countries neere about the Caspian sea, Gentiles, and
Mahometans, as Cazan, Cremia, Rezan, Cheremisi, Mordouiti, Vachin, Nagaia,
with diuers others of strange customes and religions.

I haue sailed ouer the Caspian sea, and discouered all the regions
thereabout adiacent, as Chircassi, Comul, Shascal, Shiruim, with many
others.

I haue trauelled 40 daies iourney beyond the said sea, towards the Oriental
India, and Cathaia, through diuers deserts and wildernesses, and passed
through 5 kingdomes of the Tartars, and all the land of Turkeman and
Zagatay, and so to the great citie of Boghar in Bactria; not without great
perils and dangers sundry times.

After all this, in An. 1562, I passed againe ouer the Caspian sea another
way, and landed in Armenia, at a citie called Derbent, built by Alexander
the great, and from thence trauelled through Media, Parthia, Hircania, into
Persia to the court of the great Sophie called Shaw Tamasso, vnto whom I
deliuered letters from the Queenes Maiestie, and remained in his court 8
moneths, and returning homeward, passed through diuers other countries.
Finally I made two voyages more after that out of England into Russia, the
one in the yeere 1566, and the other in the yeere 1571. And thus being
weary and growing old, I am content to take my rest in mine owne house,
chiefly comforting my selfe, in that my seruice hath been honourably
accepted and rewarded of her maiestie and the rest by whom I haue bene
imploied.

* * * * *

A letter of Iames Alday to the Worshipfull M. Michael Lock, Agent in London
for the Moscouie company, touching a trade to be established in Lappia,
written 1575.

I haue in remembrance (worshipful Sir) the talke we had when I was with
you, as touching the trade in Lappia: [Sidenote: He maruelleth the company
do not conferre with him of Lappia.] And certeinly I haue something
marueiled that in all this time the right wor. your societie haue not giuen
order that some little conference (by you, or with some other) might haue
bin had with me touching those parts, considering they know (as I thinke)
that I remained there one whole yere and more, by which meanes reason would
that I should haue learned something. But the cause why they haue not
desired to conferre with me (as I iudge) resteth onely in one of these 4
cases, that is to say, either they thinke themselues so throughly certified
of that trade, as more neede not be spoken thereof, or that they haue no
lust more to deale that waies, or that they hold mee so vntrusty to them
that they dare not open their minds, for feare or doubt, I should beare
more affection to others then to them, and so discouer their secrets: or
els they think me of so simple vnderstanding, that I am not worthy to be
spoken with in these matters. To which 4 cases I answere as followeth:
[Sidenote: 5 English men wintered in Lappia.] First, if they think
themselues so throughly certified as more need not to be spoken: certeinly
I something maruel by whom it should be: for in the winter past there lay
but 5 English persons there, viz. Christopher Colt, Roger Leche, Adam
Tunstal cooper, one lad, and I: for Henry Cocknedge was the whole winter at
Mosco. [Sidenote: Christopher Colt a simple merchant.] And of these
persons, as touching Colt, I think him (if I may without offence speake my
conscience) the most simple person that was there, (as touching the
vnderstanding of a marchant) although indeed he tooke vpon him very much to
his owne harme and others I doubt, for he vsed himselfe not like a
marchant, neither shewed diligence like a worthy seruant or factor, but lay
still in a den al the whole winter, hauing wares lying vpon his hand, which
he would not imploy to any vse: although sundry waies there were that he
might haue put his wares in ready money with gaine, and no great aduenture,
which money would haue bin more acceptable to the poore Lappes and
fishermen at the spring, than any kind of wares: [Sidenote: Good trade in
winter in Lappia.] but his fond head did as he that had the talent in the
Gospel, and yet he had counsel to the contrary which he disdained, so that
men perceiuing his captious head, left not only to counsell him, but also
some, in as much as they might, kept him from knowledge of the trade that
might be in that country, the winter time, which is better peraduenture
then most men think of. Wherefore if Colt haue written or said any thing
touching those countries, it is doubtful whether it toucheth the effect or
not, considering he lay still all the winter without trial of any matter.
[Sidenote: Henry Cocknedge, honest but ignorant.] And for Henry Cocknedge
assuredly speaking so much as I do perfectly know, I must needs say that he
is a very honest young man, and right careful of his business, and in that
respect worthy to be praised. But yet he being absent in the winter other
then by hearesay he could not learne, so that his instructions may be
something doubtful. [Sidenote: Roger Leche expert of Lappia.] And like as
of the lad nothing can be learned, so am I sure that Tunstal the Cooper
hath not yet beene spoken with, so that those of parts certeine knowledge
cannot as yet be learned, except by Roger Leche, of whom I confesse
knowledge may be had, for indeed there is no English man liuing that hath
like knowledge in those countries as he hath, nor that is able to do so
much with the people as he may: he in the winter trauailed one waies and
other nere 300 miles: he of a litle made somthing, and learned not only the
maners, conditions and customs of the people, but also he learned of al
kind of commodities in those regions how they may be bought at the most
aduantage, that gaine may be made of them: So that I confesse, if he hath
giuen intelligence to the right Wor. company, then haue they no neede to
speake with me or any other for to learne of those countries (except it be
to heare mine opinion) which in truth I wil alwaies open unto them. But the
effect of the beneficial secrets of that countrey is to be inquired of him,
& in mine opinion worthy to be learned, except, as in the second case, they
list no more to deale that waies. [Sidenote: If the companie do not enter
into the trade of Lappia, others will preuent them.] To which I answere,
that if they deal not that waies, & that with speede they seeke not to
preuent others that mean to deale there, although not English men, let them
then not thinke long to haue any profitable trade in Russia: for the
greater part of that benefit wil be wiped from them, or 5 yeere to an end,
as I will shew good reason, if I be demanded the question. [Sidenote: The
trade of Vedagoba.] Therefore if they will maintaine the Russia trade with
aduantage, then ought they to looke to this in time, so may they keepe the
Russia trade as it is, and likewise make a trade in Lappia more profitable
then that, and therefore this is to bee considered, rather then to
prohibite Englishmen from the trade of Vedagoba. For if they looke not to
this, and that in time, they may be likened (if it might be without offence
spoken) to two dogs that striue for the bone whiles the third run away with
it: and yet mean I not otherwise, but in such order, as not Englishmen
only, but also Hollanders, Brabanders, & others may be iustly and vtterly
put from the trade in Lappia, and the company to keepe the whole trades to
themselues without interruption of any, to their great benefit, which I
wish from the bottome of my heart, as euer I wished wealth to mine owne
person: And thereby hold me excused in the third case I write of.
[Sidenote: He can say somewhat though not much.] And for the fourth as
touching my iudgment, as I confesse it is not very deepe, so I thanke God I
am not vtterly without vnderstanding (although I be poore) and therefore
peraduenture holden out of reputation, yet God doth distribute his gifts as
it pleaseth him. I haue seen wise men poore in my time, & foolish men rich,
and some men haue more knowledge then they can vtter by speech, which,
fault was once obiected against me by a learned man of this realme: but
surely how weak soeuer my vtterance is, my meaning is faithful and true,
and I wish in my heart to your laudable company al the gaine that may be,
or els I pray God to confound me as a false dissembler. [Sidenote: 1183
barrels of oyle bough by others. Colt sold 27 barrels to a Hollander.] It
greeueth me to see how of late they haue bin brought to great charges,
beating the bush, as the old terme is, & other men taking the birds: this
last yere hauing in Lappia 2 ships, as I am partly informed, they both
brought not much aboue 300 barrels of traine oile, yet am I sure there was
bought besides them of the Russes, Corels, & Lappes, 1183 barrels, besides
27 barrels Colt sold to Iacob the Hollander, at two barrels for one
Northerne dozen. And yet there is a greater inconuenience springing, which
if it take a little deeper roote it will be (I feare) too hard to be pulled
up, which for loue & good will (God is my witnes) I write of, wishing as to
my deare friends that they should looke to it in time, if they meane to
keepe the trade of Russia or Lappia. And thus loue hath compelled me to
write this aduertisement, which I wish to be accepted in as good part, as I
with good will haue written it.

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