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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,

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




You may come in betweene the little Island and the great Island, and keepe
you in the mids of the Sound, and if you borrowe on any side, let it bee on
the greatest Island, and you shall haue at a low water, foure fadome, and
three fadome and a halfe, and three fadome, vntill that you be shot so
farre in as the narrowest, which is between the Northermost point of the
greatest Island, and the Southerne point of the maine which is right
against it, and then hale to the Northwards with the crosse which standeth
in the maine, and you shall haue at a lowe water 10. foote water, and faire
sand. And if you be disposed to goe through the Sound to the Southwards,
keepe the Northwest shoare aboorde, for on the Island side after you be
shotte so far in as the crosse, it is a shoale of rockes halfe the sound
ouer: which rockes do last vnto the Southerly part of the great Island, and
rather to the Southwards. And if you be constrained to seeke a harbor for
Northerly windes, when you come out of the sea hale in with the Southerly
part of the great Island, gluing the Island a faire birth, and as you
shoote towards the maine, you shall finde roade for all Northerly windes,
in foure fadome, fiue, sixe, and seuen fadome, at a lowe water.

Also within this great Island (if neede bee) you may haue a good place to
ground a ship in: the great Island is almost a mile long and a quarter of a
mile ouer.

This storm of Northerly winde lasted vntill the 16. of this moneth and then
the winde came Southerly, but we could not get out for ice. I went on shore
at the crosse, and tooke the latitude, which is 66. degrees, 58. minutes,
30. seconds: the variation of the Compasse 3. degrees and a halfe from the
North to the East.

Thursday (17) being faire weather, and the winde at North we plied to the
winde-wards with sailes and oares: wee stopped the flood this day three
leagues to the Northwards of Cape Race, two miles from the shore, and had
twentie fadome water, faire gray and blacke sand, and broken shels. And
when the slake came wee wayed and made aboord to the shoare-wards, and had
within two cables length of the shoare, eighteene fadomes faire gray and
blacke sand: a man may finde roade there for a North winde, and so to the
Westwards.

Two leagues to the Southward of Corpus Christi poynt, you may haue Landfang
for a North and by East-winde, and from that to the Westwards in 23. fadome
almost a mile from shoare, and faire sand, and amongst the sand little yong
small limpets, or such like as growe vpon muscles: and within two cables
length and lesse of the shoare are eighteene fadomes, and the sounding
aforesayd, but the yong limpets more plentifull. It was a full sea where we
roade, almost a mile from shoare, at a South and by West moone: two leagues
to the Southwards of Corpus Christi point is the vttermost land, which land
and Cape Race lyeth South and halfe a point to Westwards, and North and
halfe a point to the Eastwards, and between them are sixe leagues. Riding
this day (19) sixe leagues to the Northwards of Cape Race, the winde at
Northnorthwest, with mist and frost, at noone the sunne appeared through
the mist, so that I had the latitude in 67. degrees, 29. minutes.

Munday (21) we were thwart of Corpus Christi point, two leagues and a halfe
from shoare, or rather more, where we sounded, and had 36. fadoms, and
broken cocle shels, with brannie sand, but the broken shels very thicke.

Tuesday (22) in the morning we were shotte a head of Cape gallant, which
the Russes call Sotinoz. And as were shot almost halfe a league betwixt it,
and Cape comfort, the wind came vp at the Northwest, and after to the
Northwards, so that we were faine to beare roome to seeke a harbour, where
we found good harbour for all windes, and the least 7. fadome water
betweene S. Iohns Islands and the maine.

After that we came to an ancre, we tooke the latitude, which was 68.
degrees, 1 minute, after noone, the winde at North with plentie of snowe.

At a West Sunne there came aboord us certaine Lappians in a boate, to the
number of sixeteene persons, and amongst them there were two wenches, and
some of them could speake the Russe tongue: I asked them where their
abiding was, and they tolde mee that there was a companie or heard of them,
to the number of 100. men, besides women and children, but a little from vs
in the riuer Iekonga.

They tolde me that they had bene to seeke meate among the rockes, saying,
If wee get no meate, wee eate none. I sawe them eate rocke weedes as
hungerly, as a cowe doeth grasse when shee is hungrie. I sawe them also
eate foules egges rawe, and the yong birdes also that were in the egges.

I obserued certaine wordes of their language, which I thought good to set
downe for their vse, that hereafter shall haue occasion to continue this
voyage.

COWGHTIE COTEAT, what call you this.
PODDYTHECKE, come hither.
AUANCHYTHOCKE, get the hence.
ANNA, farewell.
TEYRUE, good morrowe.
IOMME LEMAUFES, I thanke you.
PASSEUELLIE, a friend.
OLMUELKE, a man.
CAPTELLA, a woman.
ALKE, a sonne.
NEIT, a daughter, or yong wench.
OVUIE, a head.
CYELME, an eye.
NENNA, a nose.
NEALMA, a mouth.
PANNEA, teeth.
NEUGHTEMA, a tongue.
SEAMAN, a beard.
PEALLEE, an eare.
TEAPPAT, the necke.
VOAPT, the haire.
KEAT, a hand.
SOARME, fingers.
IOWLKIE, a legge.
PEELKIE, the thombe, or great toe.
SARKE, wollen cloth.
LEIN, linnen cloth.
PAYTE, a shirt.
TOL, fire.
KEATSE, water.
MURR, wood.
VANNACE, a boate.
ARICA, an oare.
NURR, a roape.
PEYUE, a day.
HYR, a night.
PEVUEZEA, the Sunne.
MANNA, the Moone.
LASTE, starres.
COSAM VOLKA, whither goe you.
OTTAPP, sleepe.
TALLYE, that.
KEIEDDE PIEUE, a weeke.
ISCKIE, a yeere.
KESSE, Sommer.
TALUE, Winter.
IOWKSAM, colde.
PAROX, warme.
ABRYE, raine.
YOUGHANG, yce.
KEATYKYE, a stone.
SELLOWPE, siluer.
SOLDA, golde.
TENNAE, tinne.
VESKUE, copper.
ROWADT, yron.
NEYBX, a knife.
AXSHE, a hatchet.
LEABEE, bread.
IEAUEGOAT, meale.
PENCKA, the winde.
IOWTE, A platter.
KEMNIE, a kettle.
KEESTES, gloues.
SAPEGE, shoes.
CONDE, a wilde Deare.
POATSA, the labouring Deare.

Their wordes of number are these as followeth.

OFTE, One.
NOUMPTE, Two.
COLME, Three.
NELLYE, Four.
VITTE, Five.
COWTE, Six.
KEYDEEM, Seven.
KAFFTS, Eight
OWGHCHTE, Nine.
LOCKE, Ten.
OSTRETUMBELOCKE, Eleven.
COWGHTNUMBELOCKE, Twelve.
COLMENONBELOCKE, Thirteen.
NELLYNOMBELOCKE, Fourteen.
VlTTIENOMBELOCKE, Fifteen.
COWTENOMBELOCKE, Sixteen.
KEYDEMNOMBELOCKE Seventeen.
KAFTSNOMBELOCKE, Eighteen.
OWGHTNOMBELOCKE, Nineteen.
COFFTEYLOCKE, Twenty.
COLMELOCKE, Thirty.
NELLY LOCKE. Forty.
VITTELOCKE, Fifty.
COWTELOCKE, Sixty.
KEYDEMLOCKE, Seventy.
KAFFTSELOCKE, Eighty.
OUGHCHETELOKE, Ninety.
TEWET, One hundred.

Friday (25) in the morning we departed from Saint Iohns Island: to the
Westwards thereof, a mile from the shoare, we sounded, and had 36. fadoms,
and oazie sand.

Iuana Creos is from Cape gallant Westnorthwest, and halfe a point to the
Northwards, and betweene them is 7. leagues. The point of the Island, which
is Cape comfort, lyeth from Iuana Creos, Northwest and by North, and almost
the 3. part of a point to the Westwards, and betweene them are 3. leagues.

The Eastermost of S. Georges Islands, or the 7. Islands, lyeth from Iuana
Creos Northwest, and halfe a point to the Northwards, and betweene them are
14. leagues and a halfe. The vttermost of the 7. Islands, and Cape Comfort,
lieth Northwest, and by North, Southeast, and by South.

Vnder the Southermost Island you shall finde good roade for all Northerly
windes from the Northwest to the Northeast. From the Southeast part of the
7. Islands, vnto the Northwest part of them, are 3. leagues and a halfe.

From the Northwest part of the Islands aforesaid, vnto S. Peters Islands,
are 11. leagues Northwest.

(26). S. Peters Islands rise an indifferent low point, not seeming to be an
Island, and as if it had a castle vpon it.

S. Pauls Islands lie from S. Peters Islands Northwest and to the Westwards,
and betweene them are 6. leagues. Within these Islands there is a faire
sandy bay, and there may be found a good roade for Northerly windes.

Cape Sower beere lyeth from S. Pauls Islands Northwest and by West, and
betweene them are 5. leagues.

Cape comfort, which is the Island of Kildina, lieth from Cape Sower beere,
6. leagues West Northwest, and it is altogether a bay betweene them seeming
many Islands in it.

From Cape Bonauenture, to Chebe Nauoloche are 10. leagues Northwest, and a
litle to the Westwards. Chebe Nauoloche is a faire point, whereon standeth
a certaine blacke, like an emptie butte standing a head.

From Chebe Nauoloch to Kegor, is 9. leagues and a halfe Northwest, and
halfe a poynt to the Westwards. Kegor riseth as you come from the Eastwards
like 2. round homocks standing together, and a faire saddle betweene them.

It floweth where we road this Sunday (27) to the Eastwards of Kegor, at a
Southeast and by East moone, a full sea: we roade in 15. fadome water
within halfe a mile of the shoare: at a Northwest Sunne the mist came downe
so thicke, that we were faine to come to an ancre within lesse then a mile
of the point that turneth to Doms haff, where we had 33. fadome, and the
sounding like to the skurfe of a skalde head.

Munday (28) at afternoone, wee came into the Sound of Wardhouse, although
it were very mistie. Then I sent a man a shoare to know some newes, and to
see whether they would heare any thing of our ships [Marginal note: Which
were the Bona Esperanza, the Bona confidentia and the Philip and Marie.
Whereof the two first were lost].

Tuesday (29) I went on shoare, and dined with the Captaines deputie, who
made mee great cheere: the Captaine himselfe was not as yet come from
Bergen: they looked for him euery houre, and they said that he would bring
newes with him.

At a Northwest and by North sunne we departed from Wardhouse, toward
Colmogro.

Wednesday (30) we came to Kegor, where we met with the winde at East
Southeast, so that we were faine to go in to a bay to the Westwards of the
point Kegor, where a man may moare 2. or 3. small ships, that shall not
draw past 11. or 12. foote water, for all windes, an East Northeast winde
is the worst. It is a ledge of rocks that defendeth the Northerly winds
from the place where they moare. When we came into the bay we saw there a
barke which was of Dronton [Marginal note: Or, Trondon], and three or foure
Norway yeaghes, belonging to Northberne: so when I came a shoare, I met
first with the Dutchmen, amongst whom was the Borrowmasters sonne of
Dronton, who tolde me that the Philip and Mary wintered at Dronton, and
departed from thence for England in March: and withall he shewed me that
the Confidence was lost, and that he had bought her sailes for his ship.
Then the Dutchmen caried me to their Boothe, and made me good cheere, where
I sawe the Lappians chepen of the said Dutchmen, both siluer platters and
dishes, spoones, gilt rings, ornaments for girdles of siluer and gilt, and
certaine things made to hang about the necke, with siluer chaines belonging
to them.

The Dutchmen bring hither mightie strong beere, I am certain that our
English double beere would not be liked of the Kerile and Llappians, as
long as that would last.

Here I sawe the Dutchmen also haue course cloth, both blew, greene, and
redde, and sad horseflesh colour. And hither they bring also Ottars cases
and foxe cases, both blacke and redde: our English foxe cases are but
counterfaits vnto them.

They would not let me vnderstand any of their prises, but as I otherwise
vnderstood they bartered 2. load of siluer for 100 of stockfish, and 2.
loade is a doller. And the Dutchmen told me, and they had made a notable
good yeere this present yeere 1557. They tolde me that they should be faine
to goe to Wardhouse with one lading, and lay it on land there, and so come
againe and fetch another. The Borrowmasters sonne told me, that he would go
to Amsterdam with his lading of stockfish, who gaue me a barrell of strong
beere, and brought it in aboord our ship himseelf.

After this I went among the Russes and Kerils, who offered me fish to sell,
and likewise the Lappians desired me to look vpon their fish. I made them
answere, that I had nowe no wares nor money to barter with them, and said
that I came only to see if I might meete with our English ships. Then they
desired me that I would come thither the next yeere: I said to them, If I
should come the next yeere, I think here would not be fish ynough to serue
the Dutch and vs also. They answered me, that if more ships did resort
thither, there would more people labour to kill and make fish: and further
they said, that some of them came thither a fishing 8 weekes iourney with
Deere, which Deere will trauaile more speedily then horses will.

As I was thus in talke with the Kerils and Lappians, the Emperour of Russia
his deputie (who was there to gather the tribute of the Lappians) sent for
me to come to his tent, who after familiar salutations, made me good
cheere. He demanded of me why none of our ships came thither. I answered
him, because we knew not the place before now, neither yet heard of any
faire that was kept there. Then said he, If you will come hither, here
would more people resort to kill fish, I think it good (said he) that you
make a beginning. I tolde him, that by the grace of God the next yeere, one
English ship should come thither.

Because I sawe the seruants of the King of Denmarke there also gathering
the tribute, I asked Vasilie Pheodoruich the Russie deputie, whether the
Denmarks would not be a let to vs, if we should come to this Kegor. And he
said no, they should not: for this land is my kings, and therefore be bolde
to come hither.

The Kerils and the Lappians solde no fish, vntil the said deputie had
looked upon it, and giuen them leaue to sell. I asked him what wares were
best for vs to bring thither, and he said, siluer, pearles, cloth, blewe,
red, and greene, meale, strong beere, wine, pewter, foxe cases, and gold.

The Lappians pay tribute to the Emperour of Russia, to the king of
Denmarke, and to the king of Sweden. He told me that the Riuer Cola is
little more then 20. leagues to the Southwards of Kegor, where we should
haue great plentie of salmon, if corne were any thing cheape in Russia: for
then poore men would resort thither to kill salmon.

The Dutchmen tolde me that they had made a good yeere of this, but the
Kerils complained of it because they could not sell all their fish, and
that which they sold was as pleased the Dutchmen, and at their own price. I
asked the Kerils at what price they sold their fish to the Russes, and they
said good cheape: wee sell 24. fishes for 4. altines. I thinke they solde
little aboue 20. pence, the 25. fishes this yeere.

The Dutchmen tolde me that the best stockfish is made at Kegor. I sawe at
Vasiltes tent 7. or 8. iauelins, and halfe a dozen of bowes bent, with
their budgets of arrowes, and likewise swords with other weapons: Otherwise
I sawe no weapons there.

I was also conueyed to their lodgings, which gathered tribute for the king
of Denmarke, where I sawe a pair of bilbowes: and I asked whether they were
for the Lappians (if neede were,) and they said no, but onely for their
owne company if they should chance to be vnruly.

The Kerils and the Lappians are not to be trusted, for they will steale as
well as the Russes, if they may conueniently come by any thing.

Concerning my voyage, because the winde was scant to goe backe againe to
Colmogro, I tarried to the Eastwards of the poynt Kegor, and sent to land,
and baked two batches of bread in the ouens that the Kerils haue for their
prouision.

* * * * *

Instructions giuen to the Masters and Mariners to be obserued in and about
this Fleete, passing this yeere 1577. toward the Bay of S. Nicolas in
Russia, for this present Race to be made and returne of the same by Gods
grace to the port of London, the place of their right discharge, as in
the Articles ensuing is deduced.

First, it is accorded and agreed betweene the seuerall proprietaries and
owners, masters and companies of the foure ships, surnamed the Primrose,
the Iohn Euangelist, the Anne and the Trinitie, and the Lieutenant,
Consuls, assistants and companie of the Marchant aduenturers, that the
aboue named foure ships shall in good order and conduct, saile, passe, and
trauaile together in one flote, ging, and conserue of societie, to be kept
indissolubly and not to be seuered, but vnited within continuall sight, so
farre foorth as (by winde and weather) by possibilitie shall or may be
without any separation or departure of one from the other.

2 Item, it is agreed that the good ship named the Primerose, shalbe
Admirall of this flote, and that Anthonie Ienkinson Gentleman, shalbe
captaine thereof: and that all the other 3. ships shall ensue and folow her
in all courses, and that no course or waying (in harborough especially)
shall be made without aduice, consent and agreement of the sayd Captaine,
the Master, his mate, and two other officers of the said ship, or of three
of them at the least.

3 Item, that the said Anthonie is and shalbe reputed and taken for Captaine
general of the said flote together with all such orders, preeminences,
priuiledges and preferments as by the order of seas is due and accustomed
to a Captaine during his abode and exercise of the same.

4 If is also ordeined, that if any one or moe of the said 3. ships shalbe
out of sight either before or behinde the Admirall, that then the rest of
the ships shall tacke or take off their sailes in such sort as they may
meete and come together, in as good order as may be, to the intent to keepe
the consortment exactly in all poynts.

5 It is constituted, that if any ships shalbe seuered by mist or darke
weather, in such sort as the one cannot haue sight of the other, then and
in such case the Admiral shall make sound and noise by drumme, trumpet,
horne, gunne or otherwise or meanes, that the ships may come as nigh
together, as by safetie and good order they may.

6 It is also to be obserued, that euery day once the other three shippes
shall send and come aboord the Admirall, and there consult and determine of
such matter and things as shall be for the assurance of their Nauigation,
and most expedition of the same.

7 Item, that notes and entries be daily made of their Nauigations put in
writing and memory, and that the yong Mariners and apprentices may be
taught and caused to learne and obserue the same.

8 It is accorded that the said Captaine shall haue the principall rule and
gouernement of the apprentices: And that not onely they, but also all the
other sailers, shalbe attendant and obedient to him, as of duetie and
reason appertaineth.

9 Also that no beere nor broth, or other liquor be spilt vpon the balast,
or other place of the ship, whereby any anoyance, stinke, or other
vnsauorinesse shall growe in the shippe to the infection or hurt of the
persons in the same.

10 Item, that the Captaine by discretion shall from time to time disship
any artificer or English seruingman or apprentice out of the Primrose into
any other of the three ships, and in lieu of him or them, take any such
apprentice as he shall thinke conuenient and most meete to serue the
benefite of the companie.

11 Item, that great respect be had to the Gunners and Cookes roomes, that
all danger and perill of powder and fire may be eschewed and auoyded.

12 Item, that singular care and respect be had to the ports of the ship,
aswell in Nauigation as in harborow, and especially in lading and vnlading
of the shippes, that nothing be lacking or surcharged: and that the bookes
may oftentimes be conferred and made to agree in eschuement of such losses,
as may ensue.

13 Special foresight is to be had, that at the Wardhouse no trecherie,
inuasion, or ether peril of molestation be done or procured to be attempted
to our ships by any kings, princes, or companies, that do mislike this new
found trade by seas to Russia, or would let and hinder the same, where of
no small boast hath bene made; which giueth occasion of more circumspection
and diligence.

14 If the winde and weather will serue, it is thought good rather to goe by
the Wardhouse then to come in and ancre there, lest any male engine, or
danger may be the rather attempted against vs, our goods and ships as
aboue.

15 It is thought good that Richard Iohnson, late seruant to M. Chanceler,
shall be sent home in this next returne to instruct the company of the
state of the Countrey, and of such questions as may be demanded of him, for
our better aduertisements and resolutions, in such doubts as shall arise
here: and that he shall haue the roome of the Captaine in such sort as
Master Ienkinson is in this present cocket assigned vnto. And if Iohnson
can not, may not, nor will not returne and occupie the said place, then any
other person to be preferred thereunto, as by the discretion of our said
Captaine, with consent of our Agents, shall be thought meete and apt to
supply the same.

16 Prouided alway, that the ships returning be not disfurnished of one such
able man, as shall occupie the Captainship in like order, as is, and hath
bene in such case appoynted, as reason and good order requireth.

17 Item that all other former orders, rules, and deuises, made and prouided
for the good order of our ships, wares, and goods, being not repugnant,
contrary or diuerse to these articles, and the contents of the same, shall
be, and stand in full force and effect to be in all respects obserued and
kept of all and euery person and persons, whom the same doth or shall touch
or concerne.

In witnesse of the premisses faithfully to be obserued and kept, the owners
and Masters of the said foure ships, together with the said Captaine, to
these seuenteene articles, contained in two sheetes of paper, haue
subscribed their hands. Given in London the third of May, in the yeere of
our Lord God 1557.

Owners, of the Primerose
Andrewe Iudde,
William Chester,
Anthony Hickman,
Edward Casteline.

Owners of the Iohn Euangelist
Andrew Iudde,
William Chester.

Owner of the Anne
Iohn Dimocke.

Owner of the Trinitie
R. T.

* * * * *

A letter of the Company of the Marchants aduenturers to Russia vnto George
Killingworth, Richard Gray, and Henry Lane their Agents there, to be
deliuered in Colmogro or els where: sent in the Iohn Euangclist.

After our heartie commendations vnto you and to either of you: your
generall letter and other particular letters with two bookes of the sale
and remainders of our goods, and the buying of wares there with you, we
receiued about the ende of Nouember out of the Edward, with heauie newes of
the losse of the sayde good shippe and goods at Petslego in Scotland, with
the death of Richard Chancelor and his Boy, with certaine of the
Embassadours seruants, and he himselfe with nine of his seruants escaped
very hardly onely by the power of God: but all his goods and ours in maner
were lost and pilfred away by the Scots, and that that is saued is not yet
come to our hands, but we looke for it daily, and it will skant pay the
charges for the recouering of it. No remedy but patience: and to pray to
God to send vs better fortune hereafter. As touching the receiuing and
entertaining of the Embssadour and his retinewe since his comming to
England at the king and Queenes Maiesties hands, with the Counsell and
Lords of this Realme, and the Marchants that be free in Russia with
feasting and beneuolence giuen him, wee referre it to his report and
others. The like we thinke haue not bene seene nor shewed here of a long
time to any Ambassadour. The Philip and Marie arriued here tenne dayes
past: she wintered in Norway. The Confidence is lost there. And as for the
Bona Esperanza, as yet we haue no newes of her. We feare it is wrong with
her. By your billes of lading receiued in your generall letters we perceiue
what wares are laden in them both. Your letters haue no date nor mention
where they were made, which were written by Henry Lane, and firmed by you
George Killingworth, and Richard Gray: both it and the other letters and
Bookes came so sore spoyled and broken with water that we cannot make our
reckoning by them. You shall vnderstand we haue fraighted for the parts of
Russia foure good shippes to be laden by you and your order: That is to
say, The Primerose of the burthen of 240. Tunnes, Master vnder God Iohn
Buckland: The Iohn Euangelist of 170. Tunnes, Master vnder God Laurence
Roundal: The Anne of London of the burthen of 160. tunnes. Master vnder God
Dauid Philly, and the Trinitie of London of the burthen of 140. Tunnes
Master vnder God Iohn Robins, as by their Charter parties may appeare:
which you may require to see for diuerse causes. You shall receiue, God
willing, out of the said good ships, God sending them in safety for the vse
of the Company, these kinds of wares following, all marked with the general
marke of the Company as followeth. 25. fardels containing 207. sorting
clothes, one fine violet in graine, and one skarlet, and 40. cottons for
wrappers, beginning with number 1. and ending with number 52. The sorting
clothes may cost the first peny 5. li. 9. s. the cloth, one with the other.
The fine violet 18. li. 6. s. 6. d. The skarlet 17. li 13. s 6. d., the
cottons at 9. li. 10. s. the packe, accompting 7. cottons for a packe, more
500. pieces of Hampshire kersies, that is 400. watchets, 43. blewes, 53.
reds, 15. greenes, 5. ginger colours, and 2. yelowes which cost the first
penny 4. li. 6. s. the packe, and 3. packes containing 21. cottons at 9.
li. 10. s. the packe, and part of the clothes is measured by Arshines. More
9. barrels of Pewter of Thomas Hasels making, &c. Also the wares bee packed
and laden as is aforesayde, as by an Inuoyce in euery Shippe more plainly
may appear. So that when it shall please God to send the said good ships to
you in safetie, you are to receiue our said goods, and to procure the sales
to our most aduantage either by ready money, time or barter: hauing
consideration that you doe make good debts, and giue such time, if you give
any, as you may employ and returne the same against the next voyage; and
also foreseeing that you barter to a profit, and for such wares as be here
most vendible, as waxe, tallowe, traine oyle, hempe and flax. Of furres we
desire no great plentie, becuase they be dead wares. And as for Felts we
will in no wise you send any. And whereas you have provided tarre, and as
we suppose, some hempe ready bought, our aduise is, that in no wise you
send any of them hither vnwrought, because our fraight is 4. li a tunne or
little lesse which is so deare as it would not beare the charges: and
therefore we haue sent you 7. ropemakers, as by the copies of their
covenants here inclosed shall appeare. Whom we wil you set to work with al
expedition in making of cables and ropes of al sorts, from the smallest
rope to xii. inches: And that such tarre and hempe as is already brought to
the water side, they may there make it out, and after that you settle their
worke in Vologhda or Colmogro as you shall thinke good, where their stuffe
may be neerest to them: at which place and places you doe assigne them a
principall overseer aswell to see the deliuerie of the stuffe vnwrought, as
also to take charge of the stuffe wrought, and to foresee that neither the
yarne be burnt in tarring, nor the hempe rotted in the watering: and also
to furnish them so with labourers, workemen and stuffe, as hereafter when
these workmen shall come away, we be not destitute of good workmen, and
that these may dispatch as much as possibly they may, doing it
substancially: for we esteme it a principal commoditie, and that the
Counsel of England doth well allowe. Let all diligence be vsed, that at the
returne of these shippes we may see samples of all ropes and cables if it
be possible, and so after to continue in worke, that we may haue good store
against the next yeere. [Sidenote: Danske the old chiefe place for Cables.]
Therefore they haue neede to haue a place to worke in, in the winter: and
at any hand let them haue helpe enough to spinne their stuffe: for seeing
you haue great plentie of hempe there, and at a reasonable price, we trust
we shallbe able to bring as good stuffe from thence, and better cheape then
out of Danske: if it be diligently vsed; and haue a good ouerseer. Let the
chiefest lading of these foure shippes be principally in wexe, flaxe,
tallowe, and traine oyle. And if there be any more wares than these ships
be able to take in, then leaue that which is least in valew and grossest in
stouage vntill the next shipping: for wee doe purpose to ground our selues
chiefly vpon these commodities, as wexe, cables and ropes, traine oyle,
flaxe and some linen yarne. [Sidenote: Commodities not bearing the charges
of long fraight.] As for Masts, Tarre, Hempe, Feathers, or any such other
like, they would not beare the charges to haue any, considering our deere
fraight. We haue sent you a Skinner to be there at our charges for meate,
drinke, and lodging, to viewe and see such furres as you shall cheape or
buye, not minding neuerthelesse, that you shall charge your selues with
many, except those which bee most vendible, as good marterns, miniuers,
otherwise called Lettis and Mynkes. Of these you may send vs plentie,
finding them good and at a reasonable price. As for Sables and other rich
Furres, they bee not euery mans money: therefore you may send the fewer,
vsing partly the discretion of the skinner in that behalfe.

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