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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,

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Also we send you Nicholas Chancelour to remaine there, who is our
apprentice for yeeres: our minde is hee should be set about such businesse
as he is most fit for: he hath been kept at writing schoole along: he hath
his Algorisme, and hath vnderstanding of keeping of bookes of reckonings.
We send you now but 100 Kersies: but against the next yeere, if occasion
serue, wee will send you a greater quantitie, according as you shall aduise
vs: One of the pipes of seckes that is in the Swallow, which hath 2 round
compasses upon the bung, is to be presented to the Emperour: for it is
special good. The nete waight of the 10 puncheons of prunes is 4300. 2
thirds 1 pound. It is written particularly vpon the head of euery puncheon:
and the nete weight of the fatte of almonds is 500 li. two quarters. The
raisins, prunes, and almonds you were best to dispatch away at a reasonable
price, and principally the raisins, for in keeping of them will be great
losse in the waight, and the fruit will decay. We thinke it good that you
prouide against the next yeere for the comming of our shippes 20 or 30
bullockes killed and salted, for beefe is very deare here. Therefore you
were best to saue some of this salt that we doe send you in these ships for
the purpose. [Sidenote: The salt of Russia is not so good as Baye salt.]
The salte of that countrey is not so good. In this you may take the opinion
of the masters of the shippes. [Sidenote: Foxe skinnes white, blacke and
russet vendible in England.] Foxe skins, white, blacke, and russet will be
vendible here. The last yere you sent none: but there were mariners that
bought many. If any of the mariners doe buy any trifling furres or other
commodities, we will they shall be registred in our pursers bookes, to the
intent we may know what they be. We desire to know how the Emperour tooke
the letter which we sent in our ships, as an answere to the letter that
came in his name and vnder his seale for the sixe thousand dallers.
[Sidenote: May 5. 1560.] Thus wee rest, committing you to God, from London
the fift day of May 1560.

For lacke of time the gouernours haue not firmed this letter: which is the
copie of the other two letters firmed by them.

Yours, William Mericke.
Yours, Blase Sanders.

* * * * *

The maner of Iustice by lots in Russia, written by Master Henrie Lane, and
executed in a controuersie betweene him and one Sheray Costromitskey in
Mosco. 1560.

After the comming home into Russia of Ioseph Napea the first ambassadour to
Queene Marie, I remaining the Agent there, sundrie Russian marchants by
Iosephs procurement obtained letters from the Emperour to freight goods and
passe in our ships for England: which thing vpon good consideration I
answered and refused. They were then driuen to credite vs and compound in
value vntill the next returne. At which time, notwithstanding good accompt
in the value of 600 robles, there grewe question by their double demand.
[Sidenote: Triall by combat or lot.] So in April Anno 1560. before my
comming from Moscouia, they obtained trial by combat or letter to haue
their summe double, or as I proffered 600 robles. For combatte I was
prouided of a strong willing Englishman, Robert Best, one of the companies
seruants: whome the Russes with their Champion refused. So that we had the
words of our priuiledge put in effect, which were to draw lots. The day and
maner of triall appointed by the Emperour at his castle in his palace and
high Court of Moscouia was thus. The Emperours two Treasurers, being also
Chancelours and chiefe Iudges, sate in court. They appointed officers to
bring me, mine interpreter, and the other, through the great presse within
the rayle or barre, and permitted me to sit downe some distance from them:
the aduerse parties being without at the barre. Both parties were first
perswaded with great curtesie, to wit, I to enlarge mine offer, and the
Russes to mitigate their challenge. Notwithstanding that I protested my
conscience to be cleere, and their gaine by accompt to bee sufficient, yet
of gentlenes at the magistrates request, I made proffer of 100 robles more:
which was openly commended, but of the plaintifes not accepted. Then
sentence passed with our names in two equall balles of waxe made and holden
vp by the Iudges, their sleeues stripped vp. Then with standing vp and
wishing well to the trueth attributed to him that should be first drawen,
by both consents among the multitude they called a tall gentleman, saying:
Thou with such a coate or cap, come vp: where roome with speede was made.
He was commanded to holde his cappe, wherein they put the balles, by the
crowne vpright in sight, his arme not abasing. With like circumspection,
they called at aduenture another tall gentleman, commanding him to strip vp
his right sleene, and willed him with his bare arme to reach vp, and in
Gods name seuerally to take out the two balles: which he did, deliuering to
either Iudge one. Then with great admiration the lotte in ball first taken
out was mine: which was by open sentence so pronounced before all the
people, and to be the right and true parte. The chiefe plaintifes name was
Sheray Costromitsky. I was willed forthwith to pay the plaintifes the summe
by me appointed. Out of which for their wrong or sinne, as it was termed,
they payd tenne in the hundred to the Emperor. Many dayes after, as their
maner is, the people took our nation to be true and vpright dealers, and
talked of this iudgement to our great credite.

The former letters dated 1558, 1559, and 1560, should all followe M.
Ienkinsons voyage to Boghar.

* * * * *

The first voyage made by Master Anthonie Ienkinson, from the Citie of
London toward the land of Russia, begun the twelfth of May, in the yeere
1557.

First by the grace of God, the day and yeere aboue mentioned, I departed
from the sayd Citie, and the same day at Grauesend embarked my selfe in a
good shippe, named the Primerose, being appointed, although vnworthy,
chiefe captaine of the same, and also of the other 3 good ships, to say,
the Iohn Euangelist, the Anne, and the Trinitie, hauing also the conduct of
the Emperour of Russia his ambassadour named Osep Nepea Gregoriwich, who
passed with his company in the sayde Primerose. And thus our foure tall
shippes being well appointed, aswell for men as victuals as other
necessarie furniture, the saide twelfth day of the moneth of May, we weyed
our ankers, and departed from the saide Grauesend, in the after noone, and
plying down the Thames, the wind being Easterly, and fayre weather, the 13
day we came a ground with the Primerose, upon a sand called the blacke
taile, where we sate fast vntill the 14 day in the morning, and then God be
praysed, she came off: and that day we plyed downe as ferre as our Ladie of
Holland, and there came to an anker, the wind being Easterly, and there
remayned vntill the 20 day: then we weyed and went out at Goldmore gate,
and from thence in at Balsey slade, and so into Orwel wands, where we came
to an anker: but as we came out at the sayd Goldemore gate, the Trinitie
came on ground on certaine rockes, that lye to the Northward of the said
gate, and was like to be bilged and lost. But by the aide of God, at the
last she came off againe, being very leake: and the 21 day the Primerose
remaining at an anker in the wands, the other three shippes bare into Orwel
hauen where I caused the sayd Trinitie to be grounded, searched, and
repaired. So we remayned in the said hauen, vntill the 28. day: and then
the winde being Westerly, the three shippes that were in the hauen, weyed
and came forth, and in comming forth the Iohn Euangelist came on ground
vpon a sand, called the Andros, where she remained one tide, and the next
full sea she came off againe without any great hurt, God be praised.

The 29 day in the morning all foure ships weied in the Wands, and that tide
went as farre as Orfordnesse, where we came an anker, because the wind was
Northerly: And about sixe of the clocke at night, the wind vered to the
Southwest and we weyed anker, and bare cleere of the nesse, and then set
our course Northeast and by North vntill midnight, being then cleare of
Yarmouth sands. [Sidenote: Iune.] Then we winded North and by West, and
Northnorthwest, vntill the first of Iune at noone, then it waxed calme and
continued so vntill the second day at noone: then the winde came at
Northwest, with a tempest, and much raine, and we lay close by, and caped
Northnortheast, and Northeast and by North, as the winde shifted, and so
continued vntill the third day at noone: then the wind vered Westerly
againe, and we went North our right course, and so continued our way vntill
the fourth day, at three of the clocke in the afternoone, at which time the
wind vered to the Northwest againe and blew a fresh gale, and so continued
vntill the seuenth day in the morning, we lying with all our shippes close
by, and caping to the Northwards: and then the wind vering more Northerly,
we were forced to put roomer with the coast of England againe, and fell
ouerthwart Newcastle, but went not into the hauen, and so plied vpon the
coast the eighth day and the ninth.

The tenth day the winde came to the Northnorthwest, and we were forced to
beare roomer with Flamborow head, where we came to an anker, and there
remained vntil the seuenteenth day. Then the winde came faire, and we
weyed, and set our course North and by East, and so continued the same with
a mery winde vntill the 21 at noone, at which time we tooke the sunne, and
had the latitude in sixty degrees. Then we shifted our course, and went
Northnortheast, and Northeast and by North, vntill the 25. day. [Sidenote:
Heilick Islands in 66 degrees 40 minutes.] Then we discouered certaine
Islands, called Heilick Islands, lying from vs Northeast, being in the
latitude of sixtie sixe degrees, 40 minutes. [Sidenote: Rost Islands.] Then
we went north and by West, because we would not come too nigh the land, and
running that course foure houres, we discouered, and had sight of Rost
Islands, ioining to the main land of Finmarke. Thus continuing our course
along the coast of Norway and Finmark, the 27 day we tooke the Sunne, being
as farre shot as Lofoot, and had the latitude in 69 degrees. And the same
day in the afternoone appeared ouer our heads a rainebow, like a
semicircle, with both ends vpwarde. [Sidenote: Malestrand a strange whirle
poole.] Note that there is between the said Rost Islands and Lofoot, a
whirle poole called Malestrand, [Footnote: Maelström.] which from halfe
ebbe vntill halfe flood, maketh such a terrible noise, that it shaketh the
ringes in the doores of the inhabitants houses of the sayd Islands tenne
miles off. Also if there commeth any Whale within the current of the same,
they make a pitifull crie. Moreouer, if great trees be caried into it by
force of streams, and after with the ebbe be cast out againe, the ends and
boughs of them haue bene so beaten, that they are like the stalkes of hempe
that is bruised. Note, that all the coaste of Finmarke is high mountaines
and hils, being couered all the yere with snow. And hard aboord the shoare
of this coast, there is 100 or 150 fadomes of water in depth. [Sidenote:
Zenam Island.] Thus proceeding and sailing forward, we fell with an Island
called Zenam, being in the latitude of 70 degrees. About this Island we saw
many Whales, very monstrous, about our ships, some, by estimation of 60
foot long: and being the ingendring time they roared and cried terriblie.
[Sidenote: Kettelwike Island.] From thence we fell with an Island, called
Kettelwicke.

This coast from Rost vnto Lofoot lieth North and south, and from Lofoot to
Zenam Northeast and southwest, and from Zenam to Kettelwike Eastnortheast
and Westsouthwest. [Sidenote: Inger sound.] From the said Kettelwike we
sailed East and by North 10 leagues, and fell with a land called Inger
sound, where we fished, being becalmed, and tooke great plenty of Cods.
[Sidenote: The North Cape.] Thus plying along the coast, we fell with a
Cape, called the North Cape, which is the Northermost land that wee passe
in our voyage to S. Nicholas, and is in the latitude of 71 degrees and ten
minutes, and is from Inger sound East, and to the Northwards 15 leagues.
And being at this North Cape the second day of Iuly, we had the sunne at
North 4 degrees aboue the Horizon. The third day wee came to Wardhouse,
hauing such mists that we could not see the land. [Sidenote: Wardhouse]
This Wardhouse is a Castle standing in an Island 2 miles from the maine of
Finland, subiect to the king of Denmarke, and the Easternmost land that he
hath. There are two other Islands neere adioining vnto that, whereon the
Castle of Wardhouse standeth. The inhabitants of those three Islands liue
onely by fishing, and make much, stockefish which they dry with frost:
their most feeding is fish; bread and drinke they haue none, but such as is
brought them from other places. [Sidenote: Cattell fed with fish.] They
haue small store of cattell, which are also fed with fish. From Wardhouse
we sailed Southsoutheast ten leagues, and fell with a Cape of land called
Kegor, [Footnote: Cape Njemetsky.] the Northermost part of the land of
Lappia. [Sidenote: The Monastery of Pechinchow.] And betweene Wardhouse,
and the said Cape is a great Bay, called Dommeshaff, [Footnote: Varanger
fjord.] in the South part whereof is a Monasterie of Monkes of the Russes
religion, called Pechinchow. Thus proceeding forward and sayling along the
coast of the said land of Lappia, winding Southeast, the fourth day through
great mists and darkenes we lost the company of the other three ships, and
met not with them againe, vntill the seuenth day, when we fell with a Cape
or head land called Swetinoz, [Footnote: Cape Swjatojnos.] which is the
entring into the Bay of S. Nicholas. At this Cape lieth a great stone, to
the which the barkes that passed thereby, were wont to make offrings of
butter, meale, and other victuals, thinking that vnlesse they did so, their
barkes or vessels should there perish, as it hath bene oftentimes seene:
and there it is very darke and mistie. [Sidenote: Arzina reca the riuer
where Hugh Willoughbie was frozen.] Note that the sixt day we passed by the
place where Sir Hugh Willoughbie, with all his company perished, which is
called Arzina reca, that to say, the riuer Arzina. [Footnote: Varzina.]

The land of Lappia is an high land, hauing snow lying on it commonly all
the yere. The people of the Countrey are halfe Gentiles: they liue in the
summer time neere the sea side, and vse to take fish, of the which they
make bread, and in the winter they remoue vp into the countrey into the
woods, where they vse hunting, and kill Deere, Beares, Woolues, Foxes, and
other beasts, with whose flesh they be nourished, [Sidenote: The Lappians
couered all sauing their eies.] and with their skinnes apparelled in such
strange fashion, that there is nothing seene of them bare but their eies.
They haue none other habitation, but onely in tents, remouing from place to
place according to the season of the yeere. They know no arte nor facultie,
but onely shooting, which they exercise dayly, as well men as women, and
kill such beasts as serue them for their foode. Thus proceeding along the
coast from Swetinoz aforesaid, the ninth day of Iuly wee came to Cape
Grace, [Footnote: Cape Krasnoj.] being in the latitude of 66 degrees and 45
minutes, and is at the entring in of the Bay of S. Nicholas. Aboord this
land there is 20 or 30 fadoms water, and sundry grounds good to anker in.
[Sidenote: The current at Cape Grace.] The current at this Cape runneth
Southwest and Northeast. From this Cape wee proceeded along vntill we came
to Crosse Island, which is seuen leagues from the sayd Cape Southwest: and
from this Island, wee set ouer to the other side of the Bay, and went
Southwest, and fell with an head land called Foxenose, which is from the
sayd Island 25 leagues. [Sidenote: The entering of the Bay of S. Nicholas
is seuen leagues broad at the least.] The entring of this Bay from Crosse
Island to the neerest land on the other side is seuen leagues ouer. From
Foxenose proceeding forward the twelfth day of the sayd moneth of Iuly, all
our foure ships arriued in safetie at the road of Saint Nicholas in the
land of Russia, where we ankered, and had sailed from London vnto the said
roade seuen hundred and fifty leagues. The Russian ambassadour and his
company with great ioy got to shore, and our ships here forthwith
discharged themselues: and being laden againe, and hauing a faire winde,
departed toward England the first of August. [Sidenote: August.] The third
of the sayd moneth I with other of my company came vnto the citie of
Colmogro, being an hundred verstes from the Bay of Saint Nicholas, and in
the latitude of 64 degrees 25 minutes. I taried at the said Colmogro vntill
the fifteenth day: and then I departed in a little boate vp the great riuer
of Dwina, which runneth very swiftly, [Sidenote: Pinego River.] and the
selfe same day passed by the mouth of a riuer called Pinego, leauing it on
our lefte hand fifteen verstes from Colmogro. On both sides of the mouth of
this riuer Pinego is high land, great rockes of Alablaster, great woods,
and Pineapple trees lying along within the ground, which by report haue
lien there since Noes flood. [Sidenote: The towne of Yemps.] And thus
proceeding forward the nineteenth day in the morning, I came into a town
called Yemps, an hundred verstes from Colmogro. All this way along they
make much tarre, pitch and ashes of Aspen trees. [Sidenote: Vstiug.] From
thence I came to a place called Vstiug, an ancient citie the last day of
August. At this citie meete two riuers: the one called Iug, and the other
Sucana, both which fall into the aforesaid riuer of Dwina. The riuer Iug
hath his spring in the land of the Tartars called Cheremizzi, ioining to
the countrey of Permia: and Succana hath his head from a lake not farre
from the citie of Vologda. Thus departing from Vstiug, and passing by the
riuer Succana, we came to a towne called Totma. About this place the water
is verie shallow, and stonie, and troublesome for Barkes and boats of that
countrey, which they call Nassades, and Dosneckes, to passe that way:
wherein marchandise are transported from the aforesayd Colmogro to the
citie of Vologhda. [Sidenote: The description of their Nassades.] These
vessels called Nassades, are very long builded, broade made, and close
aboue, flatte bottomed, and draw not aboue foure foote water; and will came
two hundred tunnes: they haue none iron appertaining to them but all of
timber, and when the winde serueth, they are made to sayle. Otherwise they
haue many men, some to hale and drawe by the neckes with long small ropes
made fast to the sayd boats, and some set with long poles. There are many
of these barks vpon the riuer of Dwina: And the most part of them belongeth
vnto the citie of Vologhda: for there dwell many marchants, and they
occupie the said boates with carying of salte from the sea side vnto the
sayd Vologhda. The twentieth of September I came vnto Vologhda, which is a
great citie, and the riuer passeth through the midst of the same. The
houses are builded with wood of Firre trees, ioyned one with another, and
round without: the houses are foure square without any iron or stone worke,
couered with birch barkes, and wood ouer the same: Their Churches are all
of wood, two for euery parish, one to be heated for Winter, and the other
for Summer.

On the toppes of their houses they laye much earth, for feare of burning:
for they are sore plagued with fire. This Vologhda is in 59 degrees, eleuen
minutes, and is from Colmogro, 1000 verstes.

All the way I neuer came in house, but lodged in the wildernesse, by the
riuers side, and caried prouision for the way. [Sidenote: Good counsell for
trauellers.] And he that will trauell those wayes, must carie with him an
hatchet, a tinder boxe, and a kettle, to make fire and seethe meate, when
he hath it: for there is small succour in those parts, vnlesse it be in
townes.

[Sidenote: December.] The first day of December, I departed from Vologhda
in poste in a sled, as the maner is in Winter. And the way to Moscua is as
followeth. From Vologda to Commelski, 27 verstes, so to Olmor 25 verstes,
so to Teloytske 20 verstes, so to Vre 30 verstes, so to Voshansko 30
versus, then to Yeraslaue 30 verstes, which standeth vpon the great riuer
Volga, so to Rostoue, 50 verstes, then to Rogarin 30 verstes, so to
Peraslaue 10 verstes, which is a great town, standing hard by a faire lake.
From thence to Dowbnay 30 verstes, so to Godoroke 30 verstes, so to Owchay
30 verstes, and last to the Mosco 25 verstes, where I arriued the sixt day
of December.

There are 14 postes called Yannes betweene Vologhda and Mosco, which are
accompted 500 verstes asunder.

The 10 day of December I was sent for to the Emperors Castle by the sayd
Emperour, and deliuered my letters vnto the Secretary, who talked with me
of diuers matters, by the commandement of the Emperour. And after that my
letters were translated, I was answered that I was welcome, and that the
Emperour would giue me that I desired.

The 25 day, being the day of the natiuitie, I came into the Emperours
presence, and kissed his hand, who sate aloft in a goodly chaire of estate,
hauing on his heade a crowne most richly decked, and a staffe of gold in
his hand, all apparelled with golde, and garnished with precious stones.

There sate distant from him about two yardes his brother, and next vnto him
a boy of twelue yeares of age, who was inheritor to the Emperor of Casan,
conquered by this Emperor 8 yeares past. Then sate his nobilitie round
about him, richly apparelled with gold and stone. And after I had done
obeisance to the Emperour, he with his own mouth calling me by my name,
bade me to dinner, and so I departed to my lodging till dinner time, which
was at sixe of the clocke, by candle light.

The Emperour dined in a fayre great hall, in the midst whereof was a pillar
foure square, very artificially made, about which were diuers tables set,
and at the vppermost part of the hall, sate the Emperour himselfe, and at
his table sate his brother, his Vncles sonne, the Metropolitane, the young
Emperour of Casan, and diuers of his noble men, all of one side. There were
diuers Ambassadors, and other strangers, as well Christians as heathens,
diuersly apparelled, to the number of 600 men, which dined in the sayd
hall, besides 2000 Tartars, men of warre, which were newly come to render
themselues to the Emperour, and were appointed to serue him in his wars
against the Lieflanders, but they dined in other hals. I was set at a litle
table, hauing no stranger with me, directly before the Emperors face. Being
thus set and placed, the Emperour sent me diuers bowles of wine, and meade,
and many dishes of meat from his own hand, which were brought me by a Duke,
and my table serued all in gold and siluer, and so likewise on other
tables, there were set bowles of gold, set with stone, worth by estimation
400 pounds sterling one cup, besides the plate which serued the tables.

There was also a cupbord of plate, most sumptuous and rich, which was not
vsed: among the which, was a piece of golde of two yardes long, wrought in
the toppe with towers, and dragons heads, also diuers barrels of gold and
siluer, with Castles on the bungs, richly and artificially made. The
Emperour and all the hall throughout was serued with Dukes: and when dinner
was ended, the Emperour called me by name, and gaue me drinke with his own
hand, and so I departed to my lodging.

Note, that when the Emperour drinketh, all the company stand vp, and at
euery time he drinketh or tasteth of a dish of meate he blesseth himselfe.
Many other things I sawe that day, not here noted.

The 4 of Ianuary, which was Twelftide with them, the Emperour, with his
brother and all his nobles, all most richly appareled with gold, pearles,
precious stones, and costly furres, with a crowne vpon his head, of the
Tartarian fashion, went to the Church in procession, with the Metropolitan,
and diuers bishops and priests. That day I was before the Emperour again in
Russe apparell, and the Emperour asked if that were not I, and his
Chancelor answered yea. Then he bad me to dinner: then came he out of the
church, and went with the procession vpon the riuer, being all frozen, and
there standing bare headed, with all his Nobles, there was a hole made in
the ice, and the Metropolitan hallowed the water with great solemnitie and
seruice, and did cast of the sayd water vpon the Emperors sonne and the
Nobility. That done, the people with great thronging filled pots of the
said water to carie home to their houses, and diuers children were throwen
in, and sicke people, and plucked out quickly againe, and diuers Tartars
christened: all which the Emperour beheld. Also there were brought the
Emperours best horses, to drink at the sayd hallowed water. All this being
ended, he returned to his palace againe, and went to dinner by candle
light, and sate in a woodden house, very fairely gilt. There dined in the
place, about 300 strangers, and I sate alone as I did before, directly
before the Emperour, and had my meat, bread and drinke sent me from the
Emperour.

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