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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,

R >> Richard Hakluyt >> The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,




Apud Westmonasterium, 6 die Feb. Annis Regnorum nostrorum, primo et
secundo. [Footnote: Anno 1555.]

* * * * *

Certaine instructions deliuered in the third voyage, Anno 1556. for Russia,
to euery Purser and the rest of the seruants, taken for the voyage, which
may serue as good and necessary directions, to all other like
aduenturers.

1. First you before the ship doth begin to lade, goe aboord, and shall
there take, and write one inuentorie, by the aduise of the Master, or of
some other principall officer there aboord, of all the tackle, apparell,
cables, ankers, ordinance, chambers, shot, powder, artillerie, and of all
other necessaries whatsoever doth belong to the sayd ship: and the same
iustly taken, you shall write in a booke, making the sayd Master, or such
officer priuie of that which you haue so written, so that the same may not
be denied, when they shall call accompt thereof: that done, you shall write
a copie of the same with your owne hand, which you shall deliuer before the
shippe shall depart, for the voyage to the companies booke keeper here to
be kept to their behalfe, to the ende that they may be iustly answered the
same, when time shall require: and this order to be seene and kept euery
voyage orderly, by the Pursers of the companies owne ship, in any wise.

2. Also when the shippe beginneth to lade, you shall be ready a boord with
your booke, to enter such goods as shall be brought aboord, to be laden for
the company, packed, or vnpacked, taking the markes and numbers of euery
packe, fardell, trusse, or packet, corouoya, chest, fatte, butte, pipe,
puncheon, whole barrell, halfe barrell, firken, or other caske, maunde, or
basket, or any other thing, which may, or shall be packed by any other
manner of waies or deuise. And first, all such packes, or trusses, &c. as
shal be brought aboord to be laden, not marked by the companies marke, you
shall doe the best to let that the same be not laden, and to enquire
diligently to know the owners thereof, if you can, and what commoditie the
same is, that is so brought aboord to be laden: if you can not know the
owners of such goods, learne what you can thereof, as well making a note in
your booke, as also to send or bring word thereof to the Agent, and to some
one of the foure Marchants with him adioined so speedily as you can, if it
be here laden or to be laden in this riuer, being not marked with the
companies marke, as is aforesaid: and when the sayd shippe hath receiued in
all that the companies Agent will have laden, you shall make a iust copie
of that which is laden, reciting the parcels, the markes and numbers of
euery thing plainely, which you shall likewise deliuer to the sayd
bookekeeper to the vse aforesayd.

3. Also when the ship is ready to depart, you shall come for your cockets
and letters to the Agent, and shall shew him all such letters as you haue
receiued of any person or persons priuately or openly, to be deliuered to
any person or persons in Russia or elsewhere, and also to declare if you
know any other that shall passe in the ship either master or mariner that
hath receiued any letters to be priuily deliuered to any there, directed
from any persons or persons, other then from the Agent here to the Agent
there: which letters so by you receiued, you shall not carie with you,
without you be licensed so to doe by the Agent here, and some of the foure
merchants, as is aforesaid: and such others as doe passe, hauing receiued
any priuie letters to be deliuered, you shal all that in you lieth, let the
deliuerie of them at your arriuing in Russia: and also if you haue or do
receiue, or shal know any other that doth or hath receiued any goods or
ready money to be imployed in Russia, or to bee deliuered there to any
person or persons from any person or persons, other then such as bee the
companies goods, and that vnder their marke, you shall before the ship
doeth depart, declare the same truely to the sayd Agent, and to some of the
other merchants to him adioyned, as it is before declared.

4. Also when the shippe is ready to depart, and hath the master and the
whole company aboord, you shall diligently foresee and take heede, that
there passe not any priuie person, or persons, other then such as be
authorized to passe in the said ship, without the licence and warrant of
one of the Gouernours and of the assistants, for the same his passage, to
be first shewed. And if there be any such person or persons that is to
passe and will passe without shewing the same warrant, you shall let the
passage of any such to the vttermost of your power: And for that there may
no such priuie person passe vnder the cloke and colour of some mariner, you
shall vpon the weying of your ships anker, call the master and the manners
within boord by their names and that by your bookes, to the ende that you
may see that you haue neither more nor lesse, but iust the number for the
voyage.

5. Also you must have in remembrance, that if it shall chance the shippe to
bee put into anie harbour in this coast by contrary windes or otherwise in
making the voyage, to send word thereof from time to time as the case shall
require, by your letters in this maner. To Master I. B. Agent for the
company of the New trades in S. in London: If you doe hier any to bring
your letters, write that which he must haue for the portage. And for your
better knowledge and learning, you shall doe very well to keepe a dayly
note of the voyage both outwards and homewards.

6. And principally see that you forget not dayly in all the voiage both
morning and euening, to call the company within boord to prayer, in which
doing you shall please God, and the voiage will haue the better successe
thereby, and the company prosper the better.

7. Also in calme weather and at other times when you shall fortune to come
to anker in the seas during the voyage, you shall for the companies
profite, and for the good husbanding of the victuals aboord, call vpon the
Boateswaine and other of the company to vse such hookes and other engines
as they haue aboord to take fish with, that such fish so taken may bee
eaten for the cause aforesayd: and if there bee no such engines aboord,
then to prouide some before you goe from hence.

8. And when God shall send you in safetie into the Bay of S. Nicholas at an
anker, you shall goe a shore with the first boate that shall depart from
the ship, taking with you such letters as you haue to deliuer to the Agent
there: and if he be not there at your comming a land, then send the
companies letters to Colmogro to him by some sure mariner or otherwise, as
the master and you shall thinke best, but goe not your selfe at any hand,
nor yet from aboord the ship, vnlesse it be a shore to treate with the
Agent for the lading of the ship that you be appointed in, which you shall
applie diligently to haue done so speedily as may be. And for the
discharging of the goods therein in the Bay, to be carried from thence, see
that you doe looke well to the vnlading thereof, that there be none other
goods sent a shore then the companies, and according to the notes entred in
your booke as is aforesaid: if there be, inquire diligently for whom they
bee, and what goods they be, noting who is the receiuer of the sayd goods,
in such sort that the company may haue the true knowledge thereof at your
comming home.

9. Also there a shore, and likewise aboord, you shall spie and search as
secretly as you may, to learne and know what bargaining, buying and selling
there is with the master and the mariners of the shippe and the Russes, or
with the companies seruants there: and that which you shall perceiue and
learne, you shall keepe a note thereof in your booke secretly to your
selfe, which you shall open and disclose at your comming home to the
gouernours and assistants, in such sort as the trueth of their secret
trades and occupyings may be reuealed and knowen. You shall need alwayes to
haue Argos eyes, to spie their secret packing and conueyance, aswell on
land as aboord the shippe, of and for such furres and other commodities, as
yeerely they doe vse to buy, packe and conuey hither. If you will bee
vigilant and secrete in this article, you cannot misse to spie their priuie
packing one with another, either on shore or aboord the shippe: worke
herein wisely, and you shall deserue great thanks of the whole company.

10. Also at the lading againe of the shippe, you shall continue and abide
abord, to the ende that you may note and write in your booke all such goods
and marchandises as shall be brought and laden, which you shall orderly
note in all sortes as heretofore, as in the second article partly it is
touched: and in any wise put the Master and the company in remembrance, to
looke and foresee substantially to the roomaging of the shippe, by faire
meanes or threats, as you shall see and thinke will serue for the best.

11. Thus when the shippe is full laden againe, and all things aboord in
good order, and that you doe fortune to goe a shore to the Agent for your
letters, and dispatch away: you shall demand whether all the goods be laden
that were brought thither, and to know the trueth therof, you shal repaire
to the companies storehouse there at S. Nicholas, to see if there be any
goods left in the sayd storehouse: if there be, you shal demand why they be
not laden, and note what kinde of goods they be that be so left: and seeing
any of the shippes there not fully laden, you shall put the Agent in
remembrance to lady those goods so left, if any such be to be laden, as is
aforesayd. And thus God sending you a faire wind, to make speede and away.

12. Finally, when God shall send you to arriue againe vpon this coast in
safetie, either at Harewich, or elsewhere, goe not you aland, if you may
possiblie, to the ende that when you be gone a shore, there may no goods be
sent priuily ashore to be solde, or else to be solde aboord the ship in
your absence, but keepe you still aboord, if you can by any meanes, for the
causes aforesaid, and write the company a letter from the shippe of your
good arriuall, which you may conuey to them by land by some boy or mariner
of the shippe, or otherwise as you shall thinke best: and likewise when God
shall send you and the shippe into the riuer here, doe not in any wise
depart out of the shippe that you be in, vntil the company doe send some
other aboord the shippe, in your steede and place, to keepe the shippe in
your absence.

* * * * *

The Nauigation and discouerie toward the riuer of Ob, made by Master Steuen
Burrough, Master of the Pinnesse called the Serchthrift, with diuers
things worth the noting, passed in the yere 1556.

We departed from Ratcliffe to Blackewall the 23 of April. Satturday being
S. Markes day, we departed from Blackewall to Grays.

The 27 being Munday the right worshipfull Sebastian Cabota came aboard our
Pinnesse at Grauesende, accompanied with diuers Gentlemen, and Gentlewomen,
who after that they had viewed our Pinnesse, and tasted of such cheere as
we could make them aboord, they went on shore, giuing to our mariners right
liberall rewards: and the good olde Gentleman Master Cabota [Footnote:
Sebastian Cabot was then 79 years old.] gaue to the poore most liberall
almes, wishing them to pray for the good fortune, and prosperous successe
of the Serchthrift our Pinnesse. And then at the signe of the Christopher,
hee and his friends banketted, and made me, and them that were in the
company great cheere: and for very ioy that he had to see the towardnes of
our intended discouery, he entred into the dance himselfe, amongst the rest
of the young and lusty company: which being ended, hee and his friends
departed most gently, commending vs to the gouernance of almighty God.

Tuesday (28) we rode still at Grauesend, making prouision for such things
as we wanted.

Wednesday (29) in the morning we departed from Grauesende, the winde being
at Southwest, that night we came to an anker thwart our Lady of Hollands.

Thursday (30) at three of the clocke in the morning we weyed, and by eight
of the clocke, we were at an anker in Orwell wannes, and then incontinent I
went aboord the Edward Bonauenture, [Footnote: The ship that had
successfully carried Chancellor in the expedition of 1553-4.] where the
worshipfull company of marchants appointed me to be, vntill the sayd good
ship arriued at Wardhouse. Then I returned againe into the pinnesse.

Friday the 15 of May we were within 7 leagues of the shore, on the coast of
Norway: the latitude at a South sunne, 58 degrees and a halfe, where we saw
three sailes, beside our owne company: and thus we followed the shoare or
land, which lieth Northnorthwest, North and by West, and Northwest and by
North, as it doth appeare by the plat.

Saturday (16) at an East sunne we came to S. Dunstan's Island, [Footnote:
Bommeloe Island.] which Island I so named. It was off vs East two leagues
and a halfe, the wind being at Southeast: the latitude this day at a South
sunne 59 degrees, 42 minutes. Also the high round mountains bare East of
vs, at a south sunne: and when this hill is East of you, and being bound to
the Northward, the land lyeth North and halfe a point Westerly, from this
sayd South sunne, vnto a North sunne twenty leagues Northwest alongst the
shoare.

Vpon Sunday (17) at sixe of the clocke in the morning, the farthest land
that we could see that lay Northnorthwest, was East of vs three leagues,
and then it trended to the Northwards, and to the Eastwards of the North,
which headland I iudged to be Scoutsnesse. At seuen of the clocke we
changed our course and went North, the wind being at Southsoutheast, and it
waxed very thicke and mistie, and when it cleered, we went Northnortheast.
At a South sunne we lost sight of the Serchthrift, because of the mist,
making our way North. And when we lost sight of the shoare and pinnesse, we
were within two leagues and a halfe of the shoare: the last land that we
saw when this mist came vpon vs, which is to the Northwards of Scoutsnesse,
lay Northnortheast, and Southsouthwest, and we made our way North vntill a
west sunne fiue leagues.

From that vntill Munday (18) three a clocke in the morning ten leagues
Northnortheast: and then we went North and by East, because the winde came
at the Westsouthwest with thicke miste: the latitude this day at a South
sunne sixtie three degrees and a halfe truely taken: at this season we had
sight of our Pinnesse againe.

From that vntill Tuesday (19) a South sunne Northnortheast fortie foure
leagues, and then Northeast From a South sunne vntill eight of the clocke,
fifteene leagues Northeast.

From that vntill Wednesday (20) a South sunne Northnortheast, except the
first watch Northeast: then had we the latitude in sixtie seuen degrees,
thirtie nine minutes. From that vnto a Northwest sunne eighteen leagues
Northeast, and then we were within two leagues off the shore, and saw the
high land to the Southwards of Lowfoot [Footnote: The Lofoden Islands lie
between 67 deg. 30 min. N. Latitude and 12 deg. and 16 deg. E. longitude.
They consist of ten large and many small islands, all rocky and
mountainous. The largest Islands are: Hindoen, E. and W. Waagen, Langoen,
Andoe, Rost &c.] breake out through the mist, and then we went North and by
east.

From the sayd Northwest sunne vntill foure of the clocke in the morning
(21) North and by East ten leagues and a halfe: and then Northnortheast
vntill a South sunne, the latitude being sixtie nine degrees, and a halfe.
From that vntill halfe an houre past seuen of the clocke, Northnortheast
eleuen leagues and a halfe, and then we went Northeast ten leagues. From
that 3 leagues and a halfe Eastnortheast, and then we sawe the land through
the cloudes and hazie thwart on the broadside of vs the winde being then at
Southsouthwest.

From that vntill Saturday (22), at eight of the clocke in the morning
Eastnortheast, and to the Northwards fortie eight leagues, and then the
wind came vp at North, wee being aboord the shore, and thwart of the
Chappell, which I suppose is called Kedilwike [Footnote: Probably
Hammerfest, the most northern town in Europe]: then we cast the shippes
head to the seawards, because thee winde was verie scant: and then I caused
the Pinnesse to beare in with the shore, to see whether she might find an
harborough for the ships or not, and that she found and saw two roaders
ride in the sound: and also they sawe houses. But notwithstanding, God be
praysed, the winde enlarged vpon vs, that we had not occasion to goe into
the harborough: and then the Pinnesse bare her Myssen mast ouer boord with
flagge and all, and lost the flagge: with the mast there fell two men ouer
boord, but God be praised, they were saued: the flagge was a token, whereby
we might, understand whether there were a good harbour there or not.

[Sidenote: The North Cape so named by Steuen Burrowe.] At the North sunne
the North Cape (which I so named the first voyage) was thwart of vs, which
is nine leagues to the Eastwards of the foresayd Chappell from the
Eastermost point of it. [Footnote: This is a slight error, if by the
"Chappell" is meant the present site of Hammerfest, as North Cape, which is
in 71 deg. 10 min. N. latitude, and 25 deg. 46 min. E. longitude, is only
distant 14-1/2 miles N.E. from that town. Von Herbertstein states that
Istoma and other Russians had sailed round the North of Norway, in 1496.
North Cape, or rather Nordkyn, was called then Murmunski Nos (the Norman
Cape). When Hulsius, in his Collection of Travels, gives Von Herbertstein's
account of Istoma's voyage, he considers Swjatoi Nos, on the Kola
peninsula, to be North Cape. (Hamel, _Tradescant_, St. Petersburg, 1847, p.
40, quoted by Nordenskiöld; _Voyage of the Vega_. Vol. I., p. 218.)]


Iune.

The Sunday (7) we weied in Corpus Christi Bay, at a Northeast and by East
sunne: the Bay is almost halfe a league deepe: the headland which is Corpus
Christi point, lyeth Southeast and by East, one league from the head of the
Bay, where we had a great tyde, like a race ouer the flood: the Bay is at
the least two leagues ouer: so doe I imagine from the fayre foreland to
Corpus Christi poynt ten leagues Southeast and by East: It floweth in this
Bay, at a South and by West moone full sea. From that we went vntill seuen
a clocke at after noone twentie leagues Southeast and by South: and then we
tooke in all our sailes, because it was then very mistie, and also we met
with much ice that ran out of the Bay, and then wee went Southsoutheast
with our foresayle: at eight of the clocke, we heard a piece of ordinance,
which was out of the Edward, which bade vs farewell, and then we shot off
another piece, and bade her farewell: wee could not one see the other,
because of the thicke miste: at a Northwest sunne it began somewhat to
cleere, and then we sawe a head lande, and the shoare trended to the
Southwestward, which I iudged to be about Crosse Island: it was off vs at a
Northnorthwest sunne, Westsouthwest.

From this Northnorthwest sunne, vntill Munday (8), we went Southeast, and
this morning we came at anker among the shoales that lie off of point Looke
out, at a Northeast and by East sunne, the wind being at Eastsoutheast. At
this poynt Looke out, a south Moone maketh a full sea. Cape good fortune
lyeth from the Isle of Crosses Southeast, and betweene them is tenne
leagues: point Looke out lyeth from Cape Good fortune Eastsoutheast, and
betweene them are sixe leagues. S. Edmonds point lieth from point Looke out
Eastsoutheast, and halfe a point to the Southwards, and betweene them are
sixe leagues. There is betweene these two points, a Bay that is halfe a
league deepe, and is full of shoales and dangers. At a Southeast sunne we
weyed, and turned to the windwards, the winde being at Eastsoutheast: and
at a Southeast sunne, we came to an anker, being then a full sea, in fiue
fadoms and a halfe water. It hieth at this place where we roade, and also
at point Looke out, foure fadome water. At a Westnorthwest sunne we weyed,
and driued to the windewards, vntill Tuesday (9), a Northnortheast sunne,
and then being a high water, we came to an anker open of the riuer Cola, in
eight fadome water. Cape S. Bernard lyeth from S. Edmondes point, Southeast
and by South, and betwixt them are sixe leagues, and also betwixt them is
the Riuer Cola, into which Riuer we went this euening.

Wednesday (10) we roade still in the sayd riuer, the winde being at the
north: we sent our skiffe aland to be dressed: the latitude of the mouth of
the riuer Cola is sixtie fiue degrees, fortie and eight minutes. [Footnote:
This is another error, the latitude being 68 deg. 51 min.]

Thursday (11) at 6 of the clocke in the morning, there came aboord of vs
one of the Russe Lodiaes, rowing with twentie oares, and there were foure
and twenty men in her. The master of the boate presented me with a great
loafe of bread, and sixe ringes of bread, which they call Colaches, and
foure dryed pikes, and a pecke of fine otemeale, and I gaue vnto the Master
of the boate, a combe, and a small glasse: and he declared vnto me, that he
was bound to Pechora, and after that, I made them to drinke, the tide being
somewhat broken, they gently departed. The Masters name was Pheodor.

Whereas the tenth day I sent our Pinnesse on shoare to be mended, because
she was leake, and weake, with the Carpenter and three men more to helpe
him, the weather chanced so, that it was Sunday before they could get
aboord our shippe. All that time they were without prouision of victuals,
but onely a little bread, which they spent by Thursday at night, thinking
to haue come aboord when they had listed, but winde and weather denied
them: insomuch that they were faine to eate grasse, and such weedes as they
could find then aboue grounde, but fresh water they had plentie, but the
meate with some of them could scant frame by reason of their queazie
stomackes.

From Thursday at afternoone, vntill Sunday (14) in the morning, our barke
did ride such a roadsted that it was to be marueiled, without the helpe of
God, how she was able to abide it.

[Illustration: Russian "LODJA." After G. de Veer.]

In the bight of the Southeast shoare of the riuer Cola, there is a good
roade in fiue fadome, or foure fadome and a halfe, at a lowe water: but you
shall haue no land Northnortheast of you then, I proued with our pinnesse,
that the depth goeth on the Southeast shoare.

Thursday (18) we weyed our ankers in the riuer Cola, and went into the Sea
seuen or eight leagues, where we met with the winde farre Northerly, that
of force it constrained vs to goe againe backe into the sayd riuer, where
came aboord of vs sundry of their Boates, which declared vnto me that they
were also bound to the northwards, a fishing for Morse, and Salmon, and
gaue me liberally of their white and wheaten bread.

As we roade in this riuer, wee sawe dayly comming downe the riuer many of
their Lodias, and they that had least, had foure and twenty men in them,
and at the last they grew to thirtie saile of them: and amongst the rest,
there was one of them whose name was Gabriel, who showed me very much
friendshippe, and he declared vnto mee, they all were bound to Pechora, a
fishing for Salmons, and Morses: insomuch that hee shewed mee by
demonstrations, that with a faire winde wee had seuen or eight dayes
sailing to the Riuer Pechora, so that I was glad of their company. This
Gabriel, promised to giue mee warning of shoales, as hee did indeede.

Sunday (21) being the one and twentieth day, Gabriel gaue me a barrell of
Meade, and one of his speciall friends gaue me a barrell of beere, which
was caryed vpon mens backs at least 2 miles.

Munday (22) we departed from the riuer Cola, with all the rest of the said
Lodias, but sailing before the wind, they were all too good for vs
[Footnote: It is curious to find that the Russian Lodias (of which an
engraving is annexed) were better sailors than the ships of the more
civilised Englishmen]: but according to promise, this Gabriel and his
friend did often strike their sayles, and taried for vs forsaking their
owne company.

Tuesday (23) at an Eastnortheast sunne we were thwart of Cape S. Iohn.
[Footnote: Cape Krasnoj.] It is to be vnderstood, that from the Cape S.
Iohn vnto the riuer or bay that goeth to Mezen, it is all sunke land, and
full of shoales and dangers, you shall haue scant two fadome water, and see
no land. And this present day wee came to an anker thwart of a creeke,
which is 4 or 5 leagues to the Northwards of the sayd Cape, into which
creeke Gabriel and his fellow rowed, but we could not get in: and before
night there were aboue 20 saile that went into the sayd creeke, the wind
being at the Northeast. We had indifferent good landfang.

This aftenoone Gabriel came aboord with his skiffe, and then I rewarded him
for the good company that he kept with vs ouer the shoales with two small
iuory combes, and a steele glasse, with two or three trifles more, for
which he was not vngratefull. But notwithstanding, his first company had
gotten further to the Northwards.

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