foorth at the Wardhouse, that their Agents, with master Chancelor grand
pilot, Iohn Brooke, merchant, deputed for the Wardhouse, with Iohn Buckland
master of the Edward, Iohn Howlet master, and Iohn Robins pilot of the
Philip and Marie, shall conferre and consult together, what is most
profitable to be done therfore for the benefit of the company, and to
consider whether they may bargaine with the captaine of the castle, and the
inhabitants in that place, or alongst the coast for a large quantitie of
fish, drie or wet, killed by the naturals, or to be taken by our men at a
price reasonable for trucke of cloth, meale, salt, or beere, and what
traine oyle, or other commodity is to be had there at this time, or any
other season of the yeere, and whether there will be had or found
sufficient lading for both the sayd shippes, to be bought there, and how
they may conferre with the naturals for a continuance in hanting the place,
if profit wil so arise to the company, and to consider whether the Edward
in her returne may receiue at the Wardhouse any kind of lading homeward,
and what it may amount vnto, and whether it shall be expedient for the
Philip to abide at the Wardhouse the returne of the Edward out of Russia,
or getting that she may returne with the first good wind to England,
without abiding for the Edward, and so to conclude and accord certainely
among themselues vpon their arriuall, that the certaintie may (vpon good
deliberation) be so ordered and determined betweene both ships, that the
one may be assured of the other, and their determinations to be put in
writing duplicate to remaine with ech ship, according to such order as
shall be taken betweene them.
18. Item, that Iohn Brooke our marchant for the Wardhouse take good aduise
of the rest of our Agents, how to vse himselfe in al affaires, whiles the
ship shalbe at the Wardhouse, he to see good order to be kept, make
bargains aduisedly, not crediting the people vntill their natures,
dispositions and fidelities shal be well tried, make no debts, but to take
ware for ware in hand, and rather be trusted then to trust. Note diligently
what be the best wares for those parts, and howe the fishe falleth on the
coast, and by what meane it is to bee bought at the most aduantage, what
kindes and diuersities of sortes in fishes be, and whether it will keepe
better in bulke piled, or in caske.
19. Item, he to haue a diligent eye and circumspection to the beere, salt,
and other liquid wares, and not to suffer any waste to be made by the
companie, and he in all contracts to require aduise, counsel, and consent
of the master and pilot, the marchant to be our houswife, as our special
trust is in him, he to tender that no lawes nor customes of the countrey be
broken by any of the company, and to render to the prince, and other
officers, all that which to them doth appertaine, the company to be quiet,
voide of all quarrelling, fighting, or vexation, absteine from all excesse
of drinking as much as may bee, and in all to vse and behaue themselues as
to quiet marchants doeth, and ought to apperteine.
20. Item, it is decreed by the companie, that the Edward shall returne home
this yeere with as much wares as may be conueniently, and profitably
prouided, bought, and laden in Russia, and the rest to be taken in at the
Wardhouse, as by the Agents shall be accorded. But by all meanes it is to
be foreseene and noted, that the Edward returne home, and not to winter in
any forrein place, but to come home and bring with her all the whole
aduertisements of the marchants, with such further aduise for the next
yeeres prouision, as they shall giue.
21. Item, it is further decreed and ordeined, inuiolably to be obserued,
that when the good ships, or either of them (by Gods grace) shall returne
home to the coastes of England, that neither of them shall stay or touch in
any Hauen or Port of England, other wise then wind and weather shall serue,
but shall directly saile and come to the Port of the citie of London, the
place of their right discharge, and that no bulke be broken, hatches
opened, chest, fardell, trusse, barrel, fat, or whatsoeuer thing it shall
be, be brought out of the shippe, vntill the companie shall giue order for
the same, and appoint such persons of the companie as shall be thought meet
for that purpose, to take viewe, and consider the shippe and her lading and
shall giue order for the breaking vp of the saide bulke, or giue licence by
discretion, for things to be brought to land. And that euery officer shall
shewe the inuoise of his charge to him first committed, and to examine the
wastes and losses, and to deliuer the remainder to the vse and benefit of
the company, according to such order as shall be appointed in that behalfe.
22. Item, the company exhorteth, willeth, and requireth, not onely all the
said Agents, pilots, masters, marchants, clerkes, boatswaines, stewards,
skafemasters, and all other officers and ministers of this present voyage,
being put in charge and trust daily to peruse, reade, and studie such
instructions as be made, giuen, and deliuered to them for perfect knowledge
of the people of Russia, Moscouia, Wardhouse and other places, their
dispositions, maners, customes, vses, tolles, cariages, coines, weights,
numbers, measures, wares, merchandises, commodities, and incommodities, the
one to be accepted and imbraced, the other to be reiected and vtterly
abandoned, to the intent that euery man taking charge, may be so well
taught, perfited, and readily instructed in all the premisses, that by
ignorance, no losse or preiudice may grow or chance to the company:
assuring themselues, that for asmuch as the company hath trauelled and
laboured so in these their instructions to them giuen, that euery man may
bee perfect, and fully learned to eschew all losses, hurts and damages that
may insue by pretence or colour of none knowledge, the company entendeth
not to allow, or accept ignorance for any lawfull or iust cause of excuse,
in that which shall be misordered by negligence, the burden whereof shall
light vpon the negligent offending person, especially vpon such as of their
owne heads, or temeritie, will take vpon him or them to doe or to attempt
any thing, whereby preiudice may arise, without the commission of the
Agents as aboue is mentioned, whereunto relation must be had.
23. Forasmuch as it is not possible to write and indite such prescribed
orders, rules and commissions to the Agents and factours, but that
occasion, time and place, and the pleasures of the princes, together with
the operation or successe of fortune shall change or shift the same,
although not in the whole, yet in part, therefore the said company doe
commit to you their deare and intire beloued Agents and factors to doe in
this behalfe for the commodity and wealth of this company, as by your
directions, vpon good aduised deliberations shalbe thought good and
beneficiall. Prouided alwayes, that the honour, good name, fame, credite,
and estimation of the same companie be conserued and preserued: which to
confirme we beseech the liuing Lord to his glory, the publike benefite of
this realme, our common profits, and your praises.
Finally for the seruice, and due accomplishment of all the premisses, euery
Agent and minister of and for this voyage, hath not onely giuen a corporall
othe vpon the Euangelists, to obserue, and cause to be obserued, this
commission, and euery part, clause and sentence of the same, as much as in
him lyeth, as well for his owne part as for any other person, but also haue
bounde themselues and their friendes to the companie in seuerall summes of
money, expressed in the actes and records of this societie, for the trueth
and fidelities of them, for the better, and also manifester testification
of the trueth, and of their othes, promises, and bands aforesaid, they haue
to this commission subscribed particularly their seuerall hands, and the
company also in confirmation of the same, haue set their seale. Yeuen the
day, moneth, and yeeres first aboue mentioned.
The othe ministred to the seruants of the fellowship.
Ye sweare by the holy contents of that booke, that ye shal wel, faithfully
and truely, and vprightly, and with all your indeuour, serue this right
worshipfull company in that order, which by this fellowships Agent or
Agents in the dominions of the Emperours of Russia, &c. shall bee vnto you
committed, by commission, commandement, or other his direction. And that
you shall bee obedient and faithfull to the same our Agent or Agents, and
that well, and truely and vprightly according to the commission, charge,
commandement, or other direction of the said Agent or Agents to you from
time to time giuen and to be giuen, you shall prosecute and doe all that
which in you lieth, for the good renowme, commoditie, benefite and profite
of the said fellowship: and you shall not directly or indirectly, openly or
couertly doe, exercise or vse any trade or feate of marchandises for your
owne priuate account, commodity, gaine or profite, or for the account of or
for any other person or persons, without consent or licence of this said
fellowship, first obtained in writing. And if you shall know or vnderstand
any other person or persons to vse, exercise or doe any trade, traffike or
feat of marchandise, to or for his or their own account or accounts, at any
time or times hereafter, that then ye shall truely and plainly disclose,
open, vtter and reueale, and shew the same vnto this said fellowship,
without fraude, colour, couin or delay: So helpe you God, &c.
* * * * *
The letter of M. George Killingworth the companies first Agent in Moscouie,
touching their interteinement in their second voyage. Anno 1555. the 27.
of Nouember in Mosco.
Right worshipful, my duetie, considered, &c. It may please your worship to
vnderstand, that at the making hereof we all be in good health, thanks be
to God, saue onely William our cooke as we came from Colmogro fell into the
river out of the boate, and was drowned. And the 11. day of September wee
came to Vologda, and there we laide all our wares vp, and sold very little:
but one marchant would haue giuen vs 12. robles for a broad cloth, and he
said he would haue had them all, and 4. altines for a pound of sugar, but
we did refuse it because he was the first, and the marchants were not come
thither, nor would not come before Winter, trusting to haue more: But I
feare it will not be much better. Yet notwithstanding we did for the best.
And the house that our wares lie in costs from that day vntil Easter ten
robles. And the 28. day of September we did determine with our selues that
it was good for M. Gray, Arthur Edwards, Thomas Hautory, Christopher
Hudson, Iohn Segewicke, Richard Ionson, and Richard Iudde, to tarie at
Vologda, and M. Chancelor, Henry Lane, Edward Prise, Robert Best and I
should goe to Mosco. And we did lade the Emperours suger, with part of all
sorts of wares to haue had to the Mosco with vs, but the way was so deepe,
that we were faine to turne back, and leaue is stil at Vologda till the
frost. And we went forth with poste horse, and the charge of euery horse
being stil ten in number, comes to 10 s. 7 d. halfe penie, besides the
guides. And we came to the Mosco the 4. day of October, and were lodged
that night in a simple house: but the next day we were sent for to the
Emperour his secretarie, and he bade vs welcome with a cheerefull
countenance and cheerefull wordes, and wee shewed him that we had a letter
from our Queenes grace to the Emperour his grace, and then he desired to
see them all, and that they might remain with him, to haue them perfect,
that the true meaning might be declared to the Emperour, and so we did: and
then we were appointed to a better house: and the seuenth day the secretary
sent for vs againe, and then he shewed vs that we should haue a better
house: for it was the Emperour his will, that we should haue all things
that we did lacke, and did send vs meade of two sorts, and two hens, our
house free, and euery two dayes to receiue eight hens, seven altines, and
two pence in money, and meade a certaine, and a poore fellow to make cleane
our house, and to doe that wherunto we would set him. And wee had giuen
many rewards before, which you shal perceiue by other, and so we gaue the
messengers a reward with thanks: and the ninth day we were sent to make vs
readie to speak, with the Emperour on the morow. And the letters were sent
vs, that wee might deliuer them our selues, and we came before him the
tenth day: and before we came to his presence we went thorow a great
chamber, where stood many small tunnes, pailes, bowles and pots of siluer,
I meane, like washing bowles, all parsel gilt: and within that another
chamber, wherein sate (I thinke) neere a hundred in cloth of gold, and then
into the chamber where his grace sate, and there I thinke were more then in
the other chamber also in cloth of gold, and we did our duety, and shewed
his grace our Queenes graces letters, with a note of your present which was
left in Vologda: and then his grace did aske how our Queenes grace did,
calling her cousin, saying that hee was glad that wee were come in health
into his Realme, and we went one by one vnto him, and tooke him by the
hand, and then his grace did bid vs goe in health, and come to dinner
againe, and we dined in his presence, and were set with our faces towards
his grace, and none in the chamber sate with their backes towards him,
being I thinke neere a hundred at dinner then, and all serued with golde,
as platters, chargers, pottes, cuppes, and all not slender but very massy,
and yet a great number of platters of golde, standing still on the
cupboord, not moued: and diuers times in the dinner time his grace sent vs
meat and drinke from his owne table, and when we had dined we went vp to
his grace, and receiued a cuppe with drinke at his owne hand, and the same
night his grace sent certaine gentlemen to us with diuers sortes of wine
and mede, to whome wee gaue a rewarde. And afterwarde we were by diuers
Italians counselled to take heed whom we did trust to make the copie of the
priuiledges that we would desire to haue, for feare it should not be
written in the Russie tongue, as we did meane. So first a Russian did write
for us a breuiat to the Emperor, the tenour wherof was, that we did desire
a stronger priuilege: and when the Secretary saw it, he did deliuer it to
his grace, and when we came againe, his grace willed vs to write our minds,
and hee would see it, and so we did. And his grace is so troubled with
preparations to warres, that as yet wee haue no answere: but we haue byn
required of his Secretary, and of the vnder Chancelor, to know what wares
we had brought into the Realme, and what wares we doe intend to haue, that
are, or may bee had in this Realme: and we shewed them, and they shewed the
Emperor therof. And then they said his graces pleasure was, that his best
marchants of the Mosco should be spoken to, to meet and talk with vs. And
so a day was appointed, and wee mette in the Secretarie his office, and
there was the vnder Chancelor, who was not past two yeeres since the
Emperors marchant, and not his Chancelour: and then the conclusion of our
talke was, that the Chancelour willed vs to bethinke vs, where we would
desire to haue a house or houses, that wee might come to them as to our
owne house, and for marchandize to be made preparation for vs, and they
would know our prises of our wares and frise: and we answered, that for our
prices they must see the wares before we coulde make any price thereof, for
the like in goodnesse hath not bene brought into the Realme, and we did
looke for an example of all sorts of our wares to come from Vologda, with
the first sledway, and then they should see them, and then we would shew
them the prices of them: and likewise we could not tell them what we would
giue them iustly, till we did knowe as well their iust weights as their
measures: for in all places where we did come, al weights and measures did
vary. Then the Secretary (who had made promise vnto vs before) saide, that
we should haue all the iust measures vnder seale, and he that was found
faulty in the contrary, to buy or sel with any other measure then that, the
law was, that he should be punished: he said moreouer, that if it so happen
that any of our marchants do promise by couenant at any time to deliuer you
any certain sum of wares in such a place, and of such like goodnesse, at
such a day, for such a certaine price, and then because of variance, we
should cause it to be written, according as the bargain is, before a
iustice or the next ruler to the place: if he did not keepe couenant and
promise in all points, according to his couenant, that then looke what
losse or hinderance we could iustly proue that we haue therby, he should
make it good if he be worth so much: and in like case we must do to them:
and to that we did agree, saue onely if it were to come ouer the sea, then
if any such fortune should bee (as God forbid) that the ship should
mischance or be robbed, and the proofe to be made that such kind of wares
were laden, the English marchants to beare no losse to the other marchant.
Then the Chancelor said, me thinks you shall do best to haue your house at
Colmogro, which is but 100. miles from the right discharge of the ships,
and yet I trust the ships shall come neerer hereafter, because the ships
may not tary long for their lading, which is 1000. miles from Vologda by
water, and all our marchants shall bring all our marchandize to Colmogro to
you, and so shall our marchants neither go empty nor come empty: for if
they lacke lading homeward, there is salt, which is good ware here, that
they may come loden againe. So we were very glad to heare that, and did
agree to his saying: for we shal neuerthelesse, if we lust, haue a house at
Vologda, and at the Mosco, yea, and at Nouogrode, or where we wil in
Rusland: but the three and twentieth of this present we were with the
Secretary, and then among other talke, we moued, that if we should tary at
Colmogro with our wares, and should not come to Vologda, or further to
seeke our market, but tary still at Colmogro, and then the merchants of the
Mosco and others should not come and bring their wares, and so the ships
should come, and not haue their lading ready, that then it were a great
losse and hinderance for vs: then saide hee againe to vs, that the
marchants had beene againe together with him, and had put the like doubt,
that if they should come and bring their wares to Colmogro, and that they
should not find wares there sufficient to serue them, that then they should
be at great losse and hinderance, they leauing their other trades to fal to
that: and to that we did answere, that after the time that we do appoint
with them to bring their wares to Colmogro, God willing, they should neuer
come thither, but at the beginning of the yere, they should find that our
marchants would haue at the least for a thousand robles, although the ships
were not come: so that he saide, that then wee must talke further with the
marchants: so that as yet I know not, but that we shall haue neede of one
house at Colmogro, and another at Vologda, and that if they bring not their
wares to Colmogro, then wee shalbe sure to buy some at Vologda, and to be
out of bondage.
And thus may we continue three or foure yeeres, and in this space we shall
know the countrey and the marchants, and which way to saue our selues best,
and where to plant our houses, and where to seeke for wares: for the Mosco
is not best for any kind of wares for vs to buy, saue onely waxe, which we
cannot haue vnder seuen pence the Russe pound, and it lackes two ounces of
our pound, neither will it be much better cheape, for I haue bidden 6.
pence for a pound. And I haue bought more, fiue hundred weight of yarne,
which stands mee in eight pence farthing the Russe pound one with another.
And if we had receiued any store of money, and were dispatched heere of
that we tarry for, as I doubt not but we shalbe shortly (you know what I
meane) then as soone as we haue made sale, I doe intend to goe to Nouogrode
and to Plesco, whence all the great number of the best tow flaxe, cometh,
and such wares as are there I trust to buy part. And feare you not but we
will do that may be done, if God send vs health, desiring you to prepare
fully for one ship to be ready in the beginning of April to depart off the
coast of England.
Concerning all those things which we haue done in the wares, you shal
receiue a perfect note by the next bearer (God willing) for he that carieth
these from vs is a marchant of Terwill and he was caused to cary these by
the commandement of the Emperour his secretarie, whose name is Iuan
Mecallawich Weskawate, whom we take to be our very friend. And if it please
you to send any letters to Dantiske to Robert Elson, or to William Watson's
seruant Dunstan Walton to be conueyed to vs, it may please you to inclose
ours in a letter sent from you to him, written in Polish, Dutch, Latine, or
Italian: so inclosed, comming to the Mosco to his hands, he wil conuey our
letters to vs wheresoeuer we be. And I haue written to Dantiske already to
them for the conueyance of letters from thence.
And to certifie you of the weather here, men say that these hundred yeeres
was neuer so warme weather in this countrey at this time of the yeere. But
as yesternight wee receiued a letter from Christopher Hudson [Footnote: Mr.
John M. Read, in his "Historical Enquiry respecting Henry Hudson," printed
by the Clarendon Historical Society, is of opinion that both Christopher
Hudson and the Henry Hudson named in Queeu Mary's Charter as one of the
founders of the Muscovy Company, were related to the discoverer of Delaware
Bay. (Clarendon Hist. Soc. Reprints, Series I. p. 149.)] from a citie
called Yeraslaue, who is comming hither with certaine of our wares, but the
winter did decieue him, so that he was faine to tarie by the way: and he
wrote that the Emperours present was deliuered to a gentleman at Vologda,
and the sled did ouerthrow, and the butte of Hollocke was lost, which made
vs all very sory.
I pray you be not offended with these my rude letters for lacke of time:
but assoone as sales be made, I will finde the meanes to conuey you a
letter with speed: for the way is made so doubtful, that the right
messenger is so much in doubt, that he would not haue any letters of any
effect sent by any man, if he might, for he knowes not of these: and to say
the truth, the way is not for him to trauell in. But I will make another
shift beside, which I trust shall serue the turne till he come, if sales be
made before he be readie, which is and shall be as pleaseth God: who euer
preserue your worship, and send us good sales. Written in haste.
By yours to commaund
GEORGE KILLINGWORTH
Draper.
* * * * *
(George Killingworth was furnished with a copy of the following notice of
the coines, weights and measures vsed in Russia, written by Iohn Hasse,
in the yeere, 1554:--)
Forasrauch as it is most necessary for al marchants which seeks to haue
traffique in any strange regions, first to acquaint themselues with the
coines of those lands with which they do intend to ioyne in traffique, and
how they are called from the valuation of the highest piece to the lowest,
and in what sort they make their paiments, as also what their common
weights and measures be: for these causes I haue thought good to write
something thereof according to mine owne knowledge and experience, to the
end that, the marchants of that new aduenture, may the better vnderstand
how the wealth of that new frequented trade will arise.
First, it is to be noted that the Emperour of Russia hath no other coines
then siluer in all his land, which goeth for paiment amongst merchants, yet
notwithstanding there is a coine of copper, which serueth for the reliefe
of the poore in Mosco, and no where els, and that is but only for quasse,
water and fruit, as nuts, apples, and such other like. The name of which
money is called Pole or Poles of which Poles there goe to the least of the
siluer coines, 18. But I will not stand vpon this, because it is no currant
money among marchants.
Of siluer coines there be three sortes of pieces: the least is a Poledenga,
the second a Denga, the third, Nowgrote, which is as much to say in English
as halfepenie, penie and twopence, and for other valued money then this,
there is none: there are oftentimes there coines of gold, but they come out
of forrein countreys, whereof there is no ordinarie valuation, but they
passe according to the agreement of marchants.
Their order in summing of money is this: as we say in England, halfpenie,
penie, shilling, and pound, so say they Poledenga, Denga, Altine and
Rubble: there goeth two Poledengas to a Denga, six Dengaes to an Altine,
and 23 Altines, and two Dengaes to a Rubble.