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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,

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We Obdolowcan by the mightie power of God maker of heauen and of earth,
appointed and now raigning king of Shiruan and Hircan, of our meere motion
and great goodnes, at the earnest sute and request of our fauoured and
welbeloued Anthonie Ienkinson Ambassadour, haue giuen and graunted vnto the
right worshipfull Sir William Garret, sir William Chester, sir Thomas
Lodge, M. Richard Mallarie, and M. Richard Chamberlaine, with all their
company of merchants Aduenturers of the Citie of London in England, free
libertie, safe conduct, and licence to come or sende their factors in trade
of merchandize into our countreys, and to buy and sell with our merchants
and others, either for ready money or barter, and to tary and abide in our
countrey, so long as they will, and to goe away when they list, without
impediment, let, or hinderance, either of body or goods.

And further our commaundement and pleasure is, that the said English
merchants with their company, shall pay no maner of custome for wares,
which they or their factors shal buy or sel within our dominions. And if at
any time our customers or other officers, or any of them, doe disturbe,
misuse, force or constraine the said English merchants or any of them, or
their factors, to pay any maner of custome or duetie for any wares they
bring in or cary out of our dominions contrary to this our commandement,
and the same be knowen vnto vs, then we will that the saide customers and
officers shall loose and be put out of their said offices, with our further
displeasure, and the saide English merchants to haue restored all such
money and wares as our customers haue taken of them for our said custome.
And whensoeuer the saide English merchants or their factors shall bring any
maner of wares meete for our treasurie, then our treasurer shall take the
said wares into our treasurie, and shall giue vnto the said English
merchants, either ready money or raw silkes, to the value of their saide
wares. And wheresoeuer this our letter of priuiledges shall bee seene and
read within our dominion, we straightly wil and command that it take
effect, and be obeyed in al points.

Dated at our place of Iauat, the day and yere aboue written, and sealed
with our princely seale, and firmed by our Secretarie in the 12. yere of
our raigne.

* * * * *

The second voiage into Persia made by Tho. Alcock, who was slaine there,
and by George Wrenne, and Ric. Cheinie seruants to the worshipfull
companie of Moscouie merchants in Anno 1563. written by the said Richard
Cheinie.

It may please your worships to vnderstand, that in the yere 1563. I was
appointed by M. Antho. Ienkinson, and M. Thomas Glouer your Agent in
Russia, to goe for Persia in your worships affaires, one Thomas Alcock
hauing the charge of the voyage committed to him, and I one of your
worships seruants being ioyned with him in your busines, hauing with vs, as
they said 1500. rubbles. [Sidenote: A rubble is a marke English.] And if it
shall please you I cannot tell certainly what summe of money we had then of
the Emperors: for I received none, nor disbursed any of it in wares for the
voyage. Also, God I take to record, I could not tell what stocke your
worships had there, for the bookes were kept so priuily that a man could
neuer see them. The 10. of May anno 1563, we departed from a towne called
Yeraslaue vpon our voyage toward Persia. The 24. of Iuly we arriued at
Astracan: and the second of August wee departed from Astracan, and the 4.
of the same moneth we came to the Caspian sea, and the 11. day of the said
moneth we arriued at our port in Media: and the 21. of the said August wee
arriued at Shammaki, whereas the king Obdolocan lay in the fielde. We were
wel entertained of heathen people, for the thirde day after our arriuall at
Shammaki we were called before the king: we gaue him a present, and he
entertained vs very well.

At our comming to the Court wee were commaunded to come before the king,
who sate in his tent vpon the ground with his legs a crosse, and all his
dukes round about his tent, the ground being couered with carpets: wee were
commaunded to sit downe, the King appointing euery man his place to sit.
And the king commaunded the Emperour of Russelands Merchants to rise vp,
and to giue vs the vpper hande. [Sidenote: Casbin.] The 20. of October
Thomas Alcock departed from Shammaki towards Casbin, leauing mee at
Shammaki to recouer such debts as the dukes of Shammaki ought for wares
which thay tooke of him at his going to Casbin. In the time I lay there I
could recouer but little. [Sidenote: Leuuacta.] And at Thomas Alcocks
comming from Casbin, who arriued at a towne called Leuuacta, whereas the
king Obdolocan lay, a day and a halfes iourney from the towne whereas I
lay, I hearing of his arriuing there, departed from Shammaki, finding him
there in safetie with all such goods as he had with him. During his abode
there for seuen dayes he made suite to the king for such money as the dukes
ought him. But the king was displeased for that the Emperour of Russelands
merchants had slaine a Boserman at his going to Casbin. [Sidenote: A
Boserman is a Renegado.] Thomas Alcocke seeing the King would shewe vs no
fauour, and also hearing from Shammaki, that the Russes sent their goods to
the sea side, for that they feared that the king of Persia should haue
knowledge of the death of the Boserman, willed mee to depart to Shammaki
with all such goods as he had brought with him from Casbin, I leauing him
at the Court.

[Sidenote: Thomas Alcocke slaine in the way betweene Leuuacta and
Shammaki.] The thirde day after mine arriuall at Shammaki, I had newes that
Thomas Alcocke was slaine comming on his way towards me. Then the king
Obdolocan vnderstanding of his death, demaunded whether he had euer a
brother. Some said I was, some saide I was not his brother. When this fell
out, your worships had no other seruant there but mee among those heathen
people. Who hauing such a summe of goods lying vnder my handes, and seeing
howe the Russes sent their goods with as much hast as they might to the sea
side, and hauing but foure men to sende our wares to the sea side, I vsed
such diligence, that within two dayes after Thomas Alcocke was slaine, I
sent in company with the Russes goods, all your worships goods with a
Mariner, William August, and a Swethen, for that they might the safer
arriue at the seaside, being safely layd in. All which goods afterwards
arriued in Russeland in good condition, Master Glouer hauing the receipt of
all things which I sent then out of those parties into Russeland.
[Sidenote: Keselbash, or Ieselbash.] Concerning my selfe, I remained after
I had sent the goods into Russeland sixe weekes in Shammaki, for the
recouery of such debts as were owing, and at last with much trouble
recouered to the summe of fiftene hundreth rubbles or there about, which M.
Glouer receiued of me at my comming to Mosco, and all such goods as I
brought with me out of Keselbash, as by a note of my hand that hee hath
shall appeare. Also he hauing the receipt of all such goods as I sent into
Russeland by these two aboue named, he then had that voyage in venter of
his owne better then an hundreth rubbles, one Richard Iohnson twentie
rubles, one Thomas Pette fiftie rubles, one Euan Chermisin a Tartar
seuentie rubles. All these had their returne: M. Glouer allowed himselfe
God knoweth howe, I then being in Persia in your worships affaires.

And whereas he saith, the Emperour had but for his part a dobble, as farre
as I can see, knowing what the wares cost in those partes, hee had treble.
If they gaue him so much wares, all charges turned to your worships, as
well of the Emperours as of their owne returnes. I haue sowen the seede,
and other men haue gathered the haruest: I haue trauailed both by lande and
by water full many a time with a sorrowfull heart, aswell for the safegarde
of their goods as yours, how to frame all things to the best, and they haue
reaped the fruites of my trauaile. But euer my prayer was to God, to
deliuer mee out of those miseries which I suffered for your seruice among
those heathen people. Therefore knowing my duetie which I haue done, as a
true seruant ought to do, I beseech your worships (although I haue but
small recompence for my seruice,) yet let me haue no wrong, and God will
prosper you the better.

Also, to informe your worships of your Persian voyage what I iudge: it is a
voyage to bee followed. [Sidenote: Gillan in Persia.] The king of Gillan,
whereas yet you haue had no traffique, liueth al by marchandise: and it is
neere Casbin, and not past six weekes trauaile from Ormus, whither all the
spices be brought: and here, (I meane at Gillan) a trade may be
established: But your worships must send such men as are no riotous liuers,
nor drunkards. For if such men goe, it wil be to your dishonour and great
hinderance, as appeared by experience the yeere 1565. when as Richard
Iohnson went to Persia, whose iourney had bene better stayed then set
forward. For whereas before wee had the name among those heathen people to
be such marchants as they thought none like in all respects, his vicious
liuing there hath made vs to be compted worse then the Russes.

Againe, if such men trauaile in your affaires in such a voyage, you shall
neuer know what gaine is to be gotten. For how can such men imploy
themselues to seeke the trade, that are inclined to such vices? or howe can
God prosper them in your affaires? But when a trade is established by wise
and discreet men, then wil it be for your worships to traffique there, and
not before: for a voiage or market made euil at the first, is the occasion
that your worships shal neuer vnderstand what gaine is to be gotten thereby
hereafter.

* * * * *

The thirde voyage into Persia, begun in the yeere 1565. by Richard Iohnson,
Alexander Kitchin, and Arthur Edwards.

A letter of Arthur Edwards to M. Thomas Nicols, Secretarie to the
worshipful company trading into Russia and other the North parts,
concerning the preparation of their voyage into Persia.

Master Nicols, my bounden duetie remembred, with desire of God for the
preseruation of you and yours: you shall vnderstand that the second of
March I was sent by M. Thomas Glouer (your Agent) vnto Ieraslaue,
[Sidenote: Ieraslaue a towne vpon the riuer of Volga.] appointed to receiue
such goods as should come from Vologhda, as also such kinde of wares as
should be bought and sent from Mosco by your Agent, and M. Edward Clarke,
thought meete for your voyage of Persia. And further, I was to prouide for
biscuit, beere, and beefe, and other victuals, and things otherwayes
needful according to aduise. [Sidenote: Richard Iohnson chiefe of the third
voyage into Persia.] Thus I remained here vntil the comming of your Agent,
which was the 12. of May, who taried here three dayes, to see vs set
forwards on our voyage, and then he departed towards Colmogro, hauing
appointed (as chiefe for your voyage of Persia) Richard Iohnson. For my
part I am willing, as also haue bene and shalbe content to submit my selfe
vnder him, whom the Agent shall appoint, although he were such a one as you
should thinke in some respects vnmeete. Thirtie two packes of carseis are
all of that kinde of cloth that we shall haue with vs. The other 18. packs
that should haue gone, were sold in Mosco. What other goods are shipped for
our voyage, you shall vnderstand by your Agents letters. Whereas Edward
Clarke (being an honest man) was appointed Agent for Persia, as one for
those parts more fit then any I do know here, God hath taken him vnto his
mercie, who departed this present life the 16. of March last past. I wished
for God for my part he had liued: for my desire was in his company to haue
traueiled into Persia. [Sidenote: A barke of 30. tunnes made at Ieraslaue
1564. to passe the Caspian seas.] Your barke or craer made here for the
riuer of Volga and the Caspian sea is very litle, of the burthen of 30.
tunnes at the most. It is handsomly made after the English fashion: but I
thinke it too litle for your goods and prouision of victuals. If the
worshipful company would send hither a Shipwright, being skilfull to make
one of the burden of 60. tunnes or more, drawing but sixe foote water at
the most when it is laden, I thinke it should be profitable. For if your
owne goods would not lade the same, here be Marchants that would bee glad
and faine to giue great fraight to lade their goods with vs, whereby your
charges would be much lessened: And so it may happen, the wages of your men
hired here may be saued, and your seruants and goods in farre greater
assurance: for their boates here are dangerous to saile with and to passe
the Caspian sea. There be Carpenters here that will doe well ynough hauing
one to instruct them. Your wares bought here, and orders taken for those
that goe for your voyage of Persia are yet vnknowen vnto me: wherefore I
cannot (as I would at this present) write to you thereof. Yet, (as you do
know) it was the Gouernors mind I should be acquainted with greater
affaires then these. Howbeit I doubt not but I shall be informed of them
that are appointed, and all things shall be bought when they shall see time
and haue more laisure. Thus in hast (as appeareth) I commit you and yours
into the hands of almightie God; who preserue you in perfect health with
increase of worship.

From Ieraslaue the 15. of May 1565.

By yours to command here or elsewhere during life. Arthur Edwards.

* * * * *

Another letter of the said M. Arthur Edwards, written the 26. of, April
1566. in Shamaki in Media, to the right worshipful Sir Thomas Lodge
Knight and Alderman: and in his absence to M. Thomas Nicols, Secretarie
to the right worshipfull companie trading into Russia, Persia, and other
the North and East partes, touching the successe of Richard Iohnson in
the third voiage into Persia.

Worshipfull Sir, my bounden duetie remembred, with heartie prayer vnto God
for the preseruation of you and yours in perfect health with increase of
worship. It may please you that my last letter I sent you was from Astracan
the 26 of Iuly 1565. [Sidenote: They departed from Astracan the 30. of Iuly
1565.] From whence Richard Iohnson, my selfe, and Alexander Kitchin,
departed as the 30 of the same. And by meanes of contrary windes, it was
the 23 of August before we came to our desired port named Nazauoe. There,
after we had gotten your goods on land, with much labour and strength of
men, as also windlesses deuised and made, we haled your barke ouer a barre
of beach or peeble stones into a small Riuer, sending your ships apparell
with other things to an house hired in a village thereby. And as soone as
we might get camels, being the fift of September we departed thence, and
came to this towne of Shamaki the 11. of the same: [Sidenote: Presents to
the King Obdolowcan.] and the 17. day following, we presented vnto
Abdollocan the king of this countrey, one timber of Sables, one tunne or
nest of siluer cups parsill gilt, three Morses teeth, 4. Arshines of
scarlet, 3. pieces of karseis, with 40. red foxes.

He receiued our presents with giuing vs thanks for our good wils, demanding
if M. Ienkinson were in good-health, and whether he would returne into
these parts againe. He willed vs also himselfe to sit downe before him the
distance of a quoits cast from his tent, where he sate with diuers of his
counsaile and nobilitie, sending vs from his table such meate as was before
him: [Sidenote: A house giuen our men in Shamaki by the king.] And after
certaine talke had with vs, he sayd, if he might perceiue or know any maner
of person to doe vs any wrong, he would punish them in example of others,
whereby we should liue in quietnesse, and haue no cause to complaine,
giuing vs a little house for the time, vntill a better might be prouided in
such place as we should thinke most meete, neuer willing vs to rise or
depart, vntill such time as we of our selues thought it conuenient. At the
taking of our leaue, hee willed vs to put our whole minds and requests in
writing, that he might further vnderstand our desires. [Sidenote: The death
of Abdollocan the 2. of October 1565.] But while we were about to doe so,
God tooke this good king our friend out of this present life the 2. of
October past. The want of him hath bene the cause that as yet wee cannot
receiue certaine debts. Howbeit, we doubt not but we shall recouer all such
summes of money as are owing vs for this voyage. As for Thomas Alcocks
debts they are past hope of recouerie, which had not bene lost if the king
had liued. [Sidenote: Mursay the new king of Media.] We trust in the place
of him, God will send as friendly a king towards vs, which [Transcriber's
note: 'towardswvsoh :' in original.] by report (and as we be credibly
informed,) shall bee his sonne named the Mursay: who since the death of his
father, at our being with him, promised to shew vs more friendship then
ever we found. God grant the same.

Great troubles haue chanced in these parts. Of those which were of the old
kings counsell or bare any rule about him in these quarters, some are in
prison, some are pinched by the purse, and other sent for vnto the Shaugh.
These troubles haue partly bene the let that wares were not sold as they
might, to more profite. [Sidenote: The death of Alexander Kitchin the 23.
of October 1565.] Your Agent Richard Iohnson bought foure horses, minding
to haue sent to Casbin Alexander Kitchin, whom God tooke to his mercy the
23. of October last: and before him departed Richard Dauis one of your
Mariners, whose soules I trust the Lord hath receiued to his mercy. We are
now destitute of others to supply their roumes. Foure Mariners were few
enough to saile your barke, whereof at this present we haue but one, whose
name is William Smith, an honest yong man, and one that doeth good seruice
here. For want and lacke of Mariners that should know their labours, we all
were like to be cast away in a storme. For all the broad side of our barke
lay in the water, and we had much adoe to recouer it, but God of his mercy
deliuered vs. Mariners here may doe you good seruice all the winter
otherwayes: and merchants here will be gladder to ship their goods in vs
giuing good fraight. One merchant at this present is content to pay 20.
rubbles for twentie camels lading fraight to Astracan. [Sidenote: The
Caspian sea very shoald in diuers places.] Such barkes as must passe these
seas, may not draw aboue fiue foote of water, because that in many places
are very shallow waters. Wee mind hereafter to make the Russian boates more
strong, and they shall serue our turnes very well.

And whereas some in time past tooke great paines, trauell and care, and
could not haue their desire in the getting of the Shaughs letters or
priuiledge: Now, I trust (with Gods helpe) they may be obtained: which
being had, will be beneficiall to the company, and great quietnes to those
that shal remaine here, although heretofore things haue chanced ill, as the
like in other countries hath bene. But I doubt not, this priuiledge once
gotten and obtained, we shall liue in quietnesse and rest, and shall
shortly grow into a great trade for silkes both raw and wrought, with all
kind of spices and drugs, and other commodities here, as to M. Anthonie
Ienkinson is well knowen, who (I doubt not) hath long agoe throughly
aduertised the Companie thereof.

[Sidenote: The murthering of Thomas Alcock.] The trueth of the slaughter of
Thomas Alcock your seruant, is not certainly knowen. Some thinke it was by
the meanes of a noble man, with whom your sayd seruant was earnest in
demanding of your debts: vpon whose words he was so offended, that he
procured his death. But other doe thinke verily, that in riding from the
Court without companie, false knaues lay in waite, thinking he had much
about him, and so slew him. I doubt not though this misfortune hath
chanced, that things shall come well to passe, and that we shall be better
beloued when we shall be more knowen.

Honest merchants are glad of our being here, and seeke to grow in
acquaintance with vs, being glad to further vs in that they may, and haue
spoken in our fauours to the chiefest of this Countrey: one being a noble
man, with whom your Agent and I are entred into friendship, who is at this
time in great fauour with the Shaugh. [Sidenote: Cozamomet a noble man that
fauoured our nation.] He hath here and in other places of these parts set a
good stay in things since the kings death: he is well knowen to M.
Ienkinson, his name is Cozamomet. Also another Duke named Ameddin-beck is
our great friend. And his sister is the Shaughes wife. These two haue
promised your Agent by their lawe, not onely to procure to get the Shaughes
priuiledge but also that I shall haue the debts paied me of those that went
from hence to Casbin, if we would send one with them. In consideration
whereof, I was vpon short warning (for want of a better) appointed by your
agent, M. Richard Iohnson, all excuses laied apart, presently to put my
selfe in readinesse, and to depart in company with these noblemen: with
charge, when God should send me to Casbin, to vse my discretion with their
aduise, for the recouering of your debts and priuiledge. I shall haue with
mee one interpreter and two bought seruants: one of which partly
vnderstandeth this tongue, and may be put in trust whatsoeuer should become
of me. [Sidenote: The value of a tumen.] I, haue receuied 6. tumens in
ready money, 200. shaughs is a tumen, reckoning euery shaugh for sixe pence
Russe. I haue further receiued two timbers of Sables, one to be sold, the
other to bee giuen to Thomas the Shaugh: and haue order further to giue as
I shall see good to those that shall further my suite, and as occasion
serueth. And forasmuch as I am commanded to go, I shall willingly do my
best, putting my trust in God that he will send me well to speed in this
iourney.

For all kind of wares bought or sold, you shal throughly be aduertised by
your Agent Richard Iohnson, whose reckonings or accompts at no hands I
might see or be priuie vnto. Your karseis were good and well sorted, they
are and will be sold from 150. shaughs, to 160. the piece. Two hundred
pieces were sold vnder, that needed not: one 100. pieces at 146. and 147.
the piece but more would haue bene giuen, if circumspection had bene vsed.
They were sold to those noble men aforesayd, which as yet it was not knowen
that I should haue gone with them. They may stand vs much in stead, as they
haue promised vs their good wils in that they may doe. [Sidenote: What a
batman is.] Here is at this time bought for England 11. packes of rawe
silke, 25. and 26. batmans being in euery packe: The batman being 7. pound,
which may be 6. pound and a halfe of English waight, being bought here from
66. to 70. shaughes the batman. It is fine and good, litle course at this
time was to be had. And where course silke might be had being at Grosin, we
could not send thither: for that time was neglected at the first. When wee
shall haue lidgers here to remaine in Sommer, we may buy it at the first
hand of the countrey people that bring it to sell hither, and to other
places. I would to God the Companie could find the meanes to haue a vent to
make sales for the one halfe that we may buy here. The Companie may haue
for 30. or 40. thousand pounds yeerely. [Sidenote: Varas a great mart for
silke.] And as appeareth by your Agents wordes being at Varas, he and
others sawe there so great abundance, that by report of diuers, you may
bestow (if it were not for the Turkes) for a two hundred thousand pounds:
besides silke of all colours died in graine, bound vp in pound waights, I
thinke 15. of our ounces to their pound waight, and here sold for 23.
shaughs, at 6. d. the shaugh, may be 11. s. 6. pence.

[Sidenote: Gilan 7. dayes sailing from Astracan.] From Astracan in 7. or 8.
dayes, wee may saile with our barke to a place named Gilan: the which place
in time to come, (I thinke) shall serue our purpose best to goe vnto. Alom
is there good cheape, being brought from thence hither to Shamaki, and sold
here for two bists their batman, which may be 5. pence in our money: and so
I haue bought to bee sent home 223. batmans for example. And at Gilan there
is rawe silke enough for the companies stocke. [Sidenote: Gilan 4. dayes
iourney from Casbin.] I beleeue, if any great store of wares be sent from
you, that must be the place: and from thence a man may trauell in 4. dayes
to Casbin, and there make quicke and better sales, at which place your
commodities are to be sold. For there be the chiefe and best merchants, and
diuers other cities round about, to wit, Teueris, Ardouil, and Caishan,
being the heart of the countrey, where there is more ciuilitie and
merchants are better vsed. Concerning this point I haue inquired of diuers
merchants both Russes and others that haue bene in those parts and found
them all agreeing in one tale, and perceiue the same to be true, and that
all kind of wares come from thence into these parts. [Sidenote: From Casbin
to Ormus a moneths trauel with camels.] And from Casbin to Ormus is about
30. daies trauelling with camels. I haue written the prices of wares in my
letter to the gouernour both for spices and some drugs which I do know.

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