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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,

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Arthur Edwards.

* * * * *

Another letter of Arthur Edwards written in Astracan the 16. of Iune 1567.
at his returne in his first voiage out of Persia, to the right
worshipfull Companie trading into Russia, Persia, and other the North and
Northeast partes.

It may please your Worships that herein I haue written not onely certaine
articles of your priuiledge, but also the Gouernours names, with the
Consuls, Assistants and generalitie. [Sidenote: The Shaughs letters to the
Moscouy companie.] Also such commodities as the Prince or Emperour of the
Countrey hath written in one of his letters directed to your Worships to be
sent him, with other notes which I thought good to be remembered, as may
appeare hereafter following. Your priuiledge is written, graunted, and
giuen in the names of these sixe persons following: to wit, sir William
Garrard, sir William Chester, gouernours, sir Thomas Lodge, master Anthony
Ienkinson, master Thomas Nicols and Arthur Edwards.

1 First, it is granted that you shall pay no maner of customes or tols, any
kinde of wayes now, nor in time comming, vnto his heires after him. And
that all English merchants, such as you shall appoint now and hereafter,
shall and may passe and repasse into all places of his dominions and other
countries adioining in the trade of merchandise, to buy and sell all maner
of commodities, with all maner of persons.

2 Item, that in all places where any of our merchants shall haue their
resort, or abiding, his chiefe Gouernours, Rulers and. Iustices shall take
heed vnto vs, being our aide and defence against all euil persons,
punishing those that shall do vs any wrong.

3 Item, that for all such debts as shall be owing by any maner of person,
iustice shal be done on the partie, and we paid at the day.

4 Item, that no maner of persons whatsoever estate or degree they be of,
shall be so hardie as to take any kind of wares, or any gifts, without any
leaue and good will.

5 Item, if by chance medley any of our merchants or seruants, as God
forbid, should kill any of his subiects, that no part of your goods shall
be touched or medled withall, neither any partie but the offendour, and
true iustice to bee ministred, and being any of vs, not to suffer without
the Princes knowledge and aduise.

6 Item, that all such debts as are now owing, or hereafter shall be, are to
be paied vnto any of vs, in the absence of the other, be the partie dead,
or aliue.

7 Item, that no person returne any kind of wares backe againe, being once
bought or sold.

8 Item, that when God shall send your goods to shore, presently his people
shall helpe vs on land with them.

These articles before written, I trust in God wil content your minds, vntil
your farther letters be hitherto written vnto the Prince, who I am assured
will graunt your farther reasonable requests, which his maiestie hath
promised. For I moued the question, declaring vnto him that I thought your
worships would write your letters of requests, to craue his farther good
will, as should be thought meet for your better assurance in the trade of
merchandise: you will hardly beleeue what long and gracious, talke he had
with mee, which I assure you continued two houres, which was strange vnto
the people and other merchant strangers. For betwixt euery question that
his maiestie moued, when I had answered him, hee would talke with his
Nobles and other his seruants hauing some knowledge of our Westerne parts
and commodities, and then againe would demaund other questions. He caused
his Secretarie to write the articles before named, in all of his foure
letters giuen me (whereof two as I required, are in the Turkish tongue to
be sent you.) On the, backe side of the one, hee hath written what wares
his Maiestie would haue you to send him. He held me one houre within night
before I departed from him.


These bee the names of the wares or commodities, which on the backe side of
one of his letters the Shaugh hath written to you to be sent him.

First, some cloth of Gold, with cloth of Tissue, and cloth of Botky, as
Veluets wrought with gold.

Item, good veluets, to wit, crimosins, purples, reds, greenes and blackes.
Those colours his maiestie requireth, for they are most worne. And though
there be some of these wares made in his citie of Cassan, yet nothing like
in goodnes, to those that you may procure for him. Small profite I thinke
will be in these wares: yet for diuers considerations, as also to satisfie
the Princes mind, I wish you to send some, and those that be especiall
good.

Item, good damasks and sattins of all sortes, with an hundred pieces of
good chamlets, which are woorth here 80. shaughs the piece, at sixe pence
the shaugh, and those silkes to bee of those colours aboue written, to wit,
crimosins, purples, reds, greenes, blackes, with some light watchet
colours.

Item, three or foure complete harnesses that wil abide the shot of a
handgun with 10. or 12. targets of steele, being good.

Item, ten or twelue good shirts of male being very good or els none, that
may abide the shot of an arrow, and two buffe ierkins.

Item, ten or twelue pieces of Westerne karsies, being thicked well and
close shut in the weauing, and died into scarlets and fine reds. I thinke
there wil be no such cloth for noblemens caps. The prince named them
karangies [Marginal note: By the word Karangies, I thinke they meane
Karsies.], saying, that maidens did make them, and is desirous of them.

Item, six pieces of fine Holland cloth for the Prince, with some other for
Noblemen, of a lower price.

Item, twentie handguns being good, some of them with fire lockes, and also
six good dags, with locks to trauell withall.

Item 100. brusshes for garments (none made of swines haire,) for gifts, and
otherwise to be sold.

Item, six stone bowes that shoot lead pellets.

Item, a mill to grind corne in the field as they goe, finely deuised: for
Cozomomet willed me to write for one to be sent, to giue the Prince.

Item, the Prince requireth of all sortes and colours of London clothes. I
wish you to send no lesse then 40. or 50. for I know they will be sold to
profit, especially such cloth as may be affoorded for 20. shaughs the
arshine, which is longer by two of mine inches then Russia arshine is. Let
there be fine skarlets, violets in graine, fine reds, blacks, browne
blewes, foure or fiue of euery sort, for the Prince and other lords: the
rest of other colours liuely to the sight, as London russets, tawnies, lion
colours, good liuely greenes, with other, as you shall thinke good: for the
prince desireth to see of all sorts, which will be an occasion that the
Venetians and Turkes shall bee in lesse estimation then they are: for they
themselues do feare, and secretly say the same. And truely the Princes
subiects intend to enter into trade with vs for spices and other
commodities that they were woont to sell vnto the Venetians and Turkes.

Thus I commit you all to God, who send you health with increase of worship.
Written in Astracan the 16. of Iune, 1567.

By your seruant during life to command,

Arthur Edwards.

* * * * *

Distances of certaine places in Russia.

The way from Saint Nicholas Baie to Mosco.

versts
To Colmogro 100
To Vstiug 500
To Totma 250
To Vologhda 250
All by the riuer of Dwina 1100

To Yenslaue 180
To Rostoue 60
To Pecaslaue 60
To Mosko 120
By land East and West 440

The way from Mosko to Smolensko.

To Moram 300
To Smolensko 200

The way from Mosko to Nouogrod.

To Ottuer 180
To Torzhoke 60
To Wisnouolloko 60
To Nouogrod 150
Southeast and Northwest 450

The way from Nouogrod to Narue

To Teseua 50
To the Friers 60
To Yria Niagorod 40
To Narue 15
Southwest and Northeast 165

From Nouogrod to Vobsky, is 180. versts by East.

The way from Vobski to Ry in Liefland.

versts
To Newhouse 50
To Gouen on the borders |
To Wenden |
To Trecado | Al is 200
To Newslot | versts.
To Rie |

The way from Mosco to Astracan.
To Costrom
To Nisnoaogrod
To Cazan
To Astracan in all is 2800 versts

The way from Vologhda to Narue.

To Belozerco 140
To Batag 80
To Witergen 40
To Ladiski 60
To Onega lake 80
To Oher 90
To Narue 180
Southwest and Northeast 770 versts

To go with a small boat within the land from S. Nicholas to Wardhouse.

To Newnox riuer |
To Ousca Gouba |
To Lobshanga |
To Oust Nauelocki | To Wardhouse
To Orlouanos | in
To Solusca Monasterie | all 800.
To Candelox | versts
To Oust Colla | Northwest
To Zhemaker | and Southeast
To Poganna Volocki |
To Chibe Nanolocke |
To Kegor |

The way from Colmogro to Mixemske Sloboda, where the Samoeds keep their
Mart.

To Vst Pinnego |
To Palango |
To Vescom |
To Soyaua | Al is 230 versts
To Coula |
To Nendega |
To Lampas |
To Sloboda |

The way to Vromo from Mazemske Sloboda, where the Losh hides are gotten.

To Lampas | All is 115. versts
To Pogorel | Northeast and
To Zapolle | Southwest.
To Vromo |


The way and distances from Saint Nicholas, to the Caspian Sea.

If you goe straight from Saint Nicholas, to the Caspian Sea, you must goe
to Vologhda by water, as by the easiest passage, and that is accomplished,
passing day and night, in foureteene dayes and foureteene nights, in boates
cut out of a tree: (the boates are called Stroogs) 1100. versts it is.

By horse and sleds in 8. dayes you may passe it in Winter. In Summer the
way is dangerous by meanes of marishes and bogs, and not safely then to be
passed. Then from Vologhda to Yeraslaue 180. versts ouer land. This
Yeraslaue standeth vpon the riuer of Volga, 180. versts I say distant from
Vologhda.

To the Caspian sea are 2700. versts from Yeraslaue.

So from S. Nicholas to the Caspian sea, are 3800. 80. versts.

The iourney from S. Nicholas to Yeraslaue is accomplished in foureteene
dayes by water, and two dayes by land. 16. dayes.

From thence to Astracan men trauell by water in 30. dayes and 30. nights.

So between S. Nicholas and the Caspian sea, are 46. dayes iourney.

There passe downe Volga euery Summer, 500. boats great and smal, from all
the vpper parts of the riuer, whereof some be of 500. tunne. They go for
Minerall salt and for Sturgeon.

The salt lieth in rocks (and is whitish red, and in fine sand) as it were
30. miles from Astracan toward the Caspian sea. They dig it themselues and
pay nothing for it, but to the prince a peny a pood, viz. 40. pound waight.

[Sidenote: Fishing for Sturgeon for 3 moneths.] The Sturgeon which they
call Ocetera is taken fiftie miles on this side Astracan. Along the riuer
the space of 20. miles, they make their booties in plaine grounds, and fish
for the space of three moneths, viz. from the end of May till, the end of
August, and hauing salt they vse to salt them.

The riuer is there 5. or 6. miles broad, but with some Islands. The riuer
below Yeraslaue, where it is most narrow, is a mile broad from side to
side.

The riuer runneth vpon red clay, all woods of birch and oke on the riuer
sides, saue about the townes of the fishing places.

Dwina from S. Nicholas to Vstiug runneth all on chalke and sand: the fish
are sweete and fat The Mene a fish with a great head a foot long breedeth
about Vologda, and is fat and delicate.

Between Vobsko and Nouogrod, the space of an 180. miles, groweth flax: the
whole soile in length is so imploied, and as much in breadth: this is vpon
a flat soile.

The hempe groweth about Smolensko vpon the Polish border, 300. miles in
compasse: much of the soile is so imploied.

[Sidenote: The Englishmen in making of cables set on worke 100 men in
Russia.] Of this hempe they bring in Winter to Vologda and Colmogro, and we
set in worke in making of cables aboue 100 men.

The Russians do spin and hachell it, and the English tarre it in threed and
lay the cable. And one cable of those is woorth two of Danzick, because the
Danzickers put in old cable and rotten stuffe, which in fowle weather is
found of no strength.

[Sidenote: Sosnoua tree excellent for the cure of the wolfe.] Sosnoua, a
tree that cureth the wolfe with the shauings of the wood, groweth in these
parts, and of the barks they make ropes as big as a mans arme for their
boats.

The Samoeds lacking linnen make handkerchiefs and towels of the very wood
of this tree. The wood of this tree is as heauie as hollie, and the
shauings tough.

[Sidenote: The description of Rose Island.] Rose Island in S. Nicholas Baie
is full of Roses damaske and red, of violets and wild Rosemarie: This
Island is neere 7. or 8. miles about, and good pasture, and hath the name
of the roses.

The snow here about the midst of May is cleared, hauing bin two moneths in
melting, then the ground is made dry within 14. dayes after, and then the
grasse is knee high within a moneth. Then after September the frost commeth
in, the snow is a yard deepe vpon plaine ground. The Island hath Firre and
Birch, and a faire fresh spring neere the house built there by the English.

* * * * *

The way discouered by water by vs Thomas Southam and Iohn Sparke, from the
towne of Colmogro, by the Westerne bottome of the Baie of S. Nicholas,
vnto the citie of Nouogrod in Russia, containing many particulars of the
way, and distance of miles, as hereafter foloweth. Anno 1566.

We departed from Colmogro about 10. of the clocke afore noone in a Lodia or
Barke, which we hired to bring vs along the coast to a place called Soroka,
and in the sayd barke we hired 6. mariners, and a boy to conduct vs to the
place before rehearsed.

The Lodia or barke was of the burden of 25. tunnes or thereabout, wherewith
we valed downe the riuer of Dwina, the winde being then calme, vnto a
monasterie, called S. Michael where we were, constrained to anker because
of a contrary wind which there met vs.

[Sidenote: A verst is but 3 quarters of an english mile.] From Colmogro to
this monasterie are 50. versts or miles of Russia, at which place we taried
till the 21. day in the morning, and then hauing the wind somewhat faire,
we set saile and departed thence.

21 We departed, from the monasterie of S. Michael, hauing the wind somewhat
faire, and arriued at Rose Island, ouer and against the monasterie of S.
Nicholas, the 22. day at 2. of the clocke in the morning, which is 35.
miles distant from the monasterie of S. Michael. By reason of contrary wind
and tide we were constrained to tary there all that day.

23 We departed from the monasterie of S. Nicholas at 7. of the clocke in
the euening, and came to an anker at the Beacons, and continued there vntil
halfe an houre past 10. of the clocke, and then set from thence, the wind
being South: our course was West vntil 5. of the clock in the morning, when
as we came to an anker against Newnox towne, where we continued vntil the
25. day.

[Sidenote: At this towne Newnox Richard Chanceller in his first voyage,
with his companie ashipboard were relieved.] The sayd towne of Newnox is
from the monasterie of S. Nicholas 35. miles.

25 We departed from Newnox hauen at one of the clocke in the after noone,
the wind at South and Southeast, and our course Northwest and by West.

The point of Tolstick which is the headland before the entrance of Newnox
hauen, and the headland of Seusemski lie next Southeast and by South,
Northwest and by North. We came to an anker there this day at 4. of the
clock in the afternoone being from Newnox hauen 15. miles, where we
continued in harbour til the 27, day of the moneth, by reason of contrary
winds.

27 We departed from Seusemski in the morning at 5. of the clocke, the wind
next at East and by North, and our course Northwest and by West.

The said land of Seusemski and the headland going into Owna riuer lieth
East and by South, west and by North, and between them is 25. miles.

This day at Sunne set we came to an Island called Sogisney passing betwixt
it and the maine, with the wind at South and by East, our course was West
and by South, being 85. miles from Owna riuer.

Being past the said Island 10. miles, the wind came contrary, whereupon we
returned to the Island of Sogisney, where we remained vntil the 29. day.

29 The 29. day we departed from Sogisney aforesayd, at 5. of the clocke in
the afternoone, the wind at East northeast, and our course was Southwest
and by west, passing by an Island called Anger, being 30. miles from
Sogisney, and keeping on our course, we came by the headland of an Island
called Abdon, being from the Island of Anger 15. miles, where we found many
rocks: and if the great prouidence of God had not preserued vs, wee had
there perished, being fallen amongst them in the night time, and our pilot
none of the perfectest, which was contrary to his profession as we found
it.

But whosoeuer will trauell that way must either keepe hard aboord the
shore, for that there is a chanell which goeth along the coast within the
rocks, or els giue the headland a birth of 6. miles at the least, and so
goe a seaboord all: for there are ledges of rocks that lie fiue miles from
the headland.

We gaue the headland a birth of 3. miles, notwithstanding there lay two
rockes two miles to sea boord of vs, so that we were inclosed with them,
and sate vpon the highest of them: but it pleased God to make it calme, and
giue vs the day also, or els we had miscaried.

30 We departed from the headland of the Island of Abdon, at 4. of the
clocke in the morning, directing our course West, and at 10. of the clocke
before noone, we arriued at a monasterie named Solofky, which is 15. miles
from Abdon.

At this monasterie we continued vntill the 31. day of this moneth. We had
here detracted vs by the chiefe monkes of the monasterie, their letter and
house seale, and a seruant of theirs to conduct vs safely through the
dangerous riuer of Owiga.

The people of all those parts are wild, and speake another kind of
language, and are for the most part all tenants to the monasterie. The
effect of the letter was, that they should be ready to helpe and assist vs
in all dangerous places, and carie our boats and goods ouer land in places
needfull, as in deed they did, as hereafter shall appeare.

Note, that at our being at the monasterie, there was no Abbot for the place
as then chosen: for 15. dayes before our arriual there, the Abbot was sent
for by the Emperour, and made Metropolitane of the realme, as he now is.
The number of monkes belonging to the monasterie are at the least 200.

31 Wee departed from the monasterie of Solofky, as is aforesayde, to a
faire stone house of theirs, which is 5. miles from the monasterie, lying
from it South and by West.

[Sidenote: August] 1 We departed from the Stone house at 3. of the clocke
in the morning: our course was West for 60. versts, and then passing
betwixt diuers and sundry rocks, with many small Islands round about vs for
the space of 20 miles, keeping most commonly the same course still, we then
shaped a new course, and yet sundry times shifting, [Sidenote: The riuer
Owiga.] but we alwayes kept the Southwest, and neerest of all South
southwest vntill we came within two miles of the entrance of the riuer
Owiga where we were to beare in, West and by North.

From the riuer Owiga, to the Islands and rocks before mentioned, are 20.
miles.

We arriued about 4. of the clocke in the after noone within the riuer of
Owiga, at a place named Soroka, at which place we forsooke our barke or
Lodia, and continued there in making prouision for small boates to carie vs
vp the riuer vntill the 3. day of the same.

3 We departed from Soroka at two of the clocke in the afternoone, with 3.
boats and 12. men to rowe, and set the foresaid boates vp the riuer of
Owiga, which we hired.

[Sidenote: The fall of a riuer.] We went this day 7. miles to a place
called Ostroue, where we lay all night, but in the way 4. miles from
Soroka, at a place where the water falleth from the rocks, as if it came
steepe downe from a mountain, we were constrained to take out our goods and
wares out of the said boats, and caused them to be caried a mile ouer land,
and afterwards also had our boates in like sort caried or drawen ouer land
by force of men which there dwelled, being tenants to the monasterie
aforesaid.

And when our boats were come to the place where our wares were laid, we
lanched our boats and laded our wares againe, and went to the place before
named, where we continued and remained that night.

We departed from Ostroue in the morning before Sunne rising, rowing and
setting vp the riuer 5. miles, where we came to a place whereas we were
againe constrained to take out our wares, and to carie them and our boats
three miles ouer land, so that with rowing, drawing and setting, we went
this day 7. miles more to a place called Sloboday, where we lay all night.

5 We departed from Sloboday in the morning at Sunne rising, and at sixe of
the clocke in the aftemoone, we came to a village called Paranda, which is
from Sloboday 30. miles, where wee remained all that night.

6 We departed from Paranda at 6. of the clocke in the morning, and all that
day what with setting and drawing our boats, we went but 11. miles, for we
twise vnladed our wares, and drew our boats ouerland, in one place a mile
and an halfe, in another place as it were the eight part of a mile, and so
we came to a place called Voyets, where we taried all that night.

7 We departed from Voyets at 4. of the clocke in the morning, and so came
to an Ozera or lake, called after the name of the riuer, and vnto a place
called Quequenich, wee rowed all this day, and came thither by one of the
clock in the afternoone, which is 25. miles from Voyets, and there we
remained all night to hire men and boats to carie vs forward on our
iourney.

Here departed backe from vs the seruant which we had at the Monasterie,
being sent by the monkes to go thus far with vs. And after that he had
hired the boats and taken the mens names that should conduct vs, and giuen
them charge to deliuer vs with all things in safetie, at a place being a
litle towne called Pouensa, then hee departed from vs without taking any
reward for his paines, for so he was charged and commanded by the monkes.

[Sidenote: A lake very full of Islands.] 8 We departed from Quequenich at
sunne rising, and all that day rowed vpon the lake amongst many Islands.
The inhabitants doe there report that there are as many Islands in their
lake, as there are dayes in the yeere. In the euening we came to a village
named Tellekina, which is 60. miles from Quequenich.

9 We departed from Tellekina in the morning at 5. of the clocke, and so
entring into a riuer, we went that day 13. miles. In one place we caried
our boates and goods ouerland 3. miles. At euening we came to a place
called Oreiche na maelay, where we lay all night.

10 Wee departed thence at 5. of the clocke in the morning, and so rowing,
came to a place where the riuer ended, being 20 miles distant from the
place where wee lay all night, at which place wee forsooke our boates and
vnladed our wares, and sent a man to the towne of Pouensa, which was seuen
mile ony for horses to cary vs and our wares to the said place. The horses
came, and we laded our goods, and at sixe of the clocke in the afternoone
wee arriued at the towne of Pouensa, with all things in safetie.

[Sidenote: The famous lake of Onega.] This towne of Pouensa standeth within
one mile lake of of the famous lake or Ozera of Onega, which is 320. miles
long and in some places 70. miles ouer. But where it is narrowest it is 25.
miles ouer, being fed with many goodly riuers which fall into it. Hard
aboord the shore within 6. miles, you shall haue 40. and 45. fathoms of
depth.

Here it is to bee noted that from this place of Pouensa vnto the village of
Soroka downe those dangerous riuers which wee came through, at no time of
the yeere can or may any man cary or transport any goods that come from
Nouogrod, or the Narue, and such other places: for in the Sommer it is
impossible to cary downe any wares by reason of the great fals of water
that doe descend from the rockes. Likewise in the Winter by reason of the
great force and fall of waters which make so terrible raises, that in those
places it neuer freezeth, but all such wares as come from Nouogrod to
Pouensa, are transported by land to a place called Some in the Winter,
which Some standeth on the sea side, as doth Soroka. The ready way from
Pouensa by land to this place of Some, with the distance of miles I will
shew hereafter.

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