coste lieth Northbern or Northbergen, and this people are vnder the King of
Denmarke: But they differ in their speech from the Danes, for they speake
Norsh. And North of Northbern lie the Isles of Roste and Lofoot, and these
Islands pertaine vnto Finmarke, and they keepe the laws and speake the
language of the Islanders. And at the Eastermost part of that land is a
castle which is called the Wardhouse, and the King of Denmarke doeth
fortifie it with men of warre: and the Russes may not goe to the Westward
of that castle. And East Southeast from that castle is a lande called
Lappia: in which lande be two maner of people, that is to say, the Lappians
and the Scrickfinnes, which Scrickfinnes are a wilde people which neither
know God, nor yet good order: and these people liue in tents made of Deares
skinnes: and they haue no certaine habitations, but continue in heards and
companies by one hundred and two hundreds. And they are a people of small
stature, and are clothed in Deares skinnes and drinke nothing but water,
and eate no bread but flesh all raw. And the Lappians bee a people
adioyning to them and be much like to them in al conditions: but the
Emperour of Russia hath of late ouercome manie of them, and they are in
subiection to him. And this people will say that they beleeue in the Russes
God. And they liue in tents as the other doe. And Southeast and by South
from Lappia lyeth a prouince called Corelia, and these people are called
Kerilli. And South southeast from Corelia lyeth a countrey called
Nouogardia. And these three nations are vnder the Emperour of Russia, and
the Russes keepe the Lawe of the Greekes in their Churches, and write
somewhat like as the Greekes write, and they speake their owne language,
and they abhorre the Latine tongue, neither haue they to doe with the Pope
of Rome, and they holde it not good to worshippe any carued Image, yet they
will worshippe paynted Images on tables or boords. And in Russia their
Churches, steeples, and houses are all of wood: and their shippes that they
haue are sowed with withes and haue no nayles. The Kerilles, Russians or
Moscouians bee much alike in all conditions. And South from the Moscouians
lye the Tartarians, which bee Mahumetans, and liue in tentes and wagons,
and keepe in heardes and companies: and they holde it not good to abide
long in one place, for they will say, when they will curse any of their
children, I woulde thou mightest tary so long in a place that thou mightest
smell thine owne dung, as the Christians doe: and this is the greatest
curse that they haue. And East Northeast of Russia lieth Lampas, which is a
place where the Russes, Tartars, and Samoeds meete twise a yeere, and make
the faire to barter wares for wares. And Northeast from Lampas lieth the
countrey of the Samoeds, which be about the riuer of Pechere, and these
Samoeds bee in subiection to the Emperour of Russia, and they lie in tentes
made of Deere skinnes, and they vse much witchcraft, and shoot well in
bowes. And Northeast from the river Pechere [Footnote: Or, Pechora.] lieth
Vaygatz, and there are the wilde Samoeds which will not suffer the Russes
to land out of the Sea, but they will kill them and eate them, as wee are
tolde by the Russes: and they liue in heards, and haue all their carriages
with deere, for they haue no horses. Beyond Vaygatz lyeth a lande called
Noua Zembla, which is a great lande, but wee sawe no people, and there we
had Foule inough, and there wee sawe white Foxes and white Beares And the
sayde Samoeds which are about the bankes of Pechere, which are in
subiection to the Emperour of Russia, when they will remoue from one place
to another, then they will make sacrifices in manner following. Euerie
kinred doeth sacrifice in their owne tent, and hee that is most auncient is
their Priest. And first the Priest doth beginne to play vpon a thing like
to a great sieue, with a skinne on the one ende like a drumme: and the
sticke that he playeth with is about a spannne long, and one ende is round
like a ball, couered with the skinne of an Harte. Also the Priest hath vpon
his head a thing of white like a garlande, and his face is couered with a
piece of a shirt of maile, with manie small ribbes, and teeth of fishes,
and wilde beastes hanging on the same maile. Then he singeth as wee vse
heere in Englande to hallow, whope, or showte at houndes, and the rest of
the company answere him with this Owtis, Igha, Igha, Igha, and then the
Priest replieth againe, with his voyces. And they answere him with the
selfsame wordes so manie times, that in the ende he becommeth as it were
madde, and falling downe as hee were dead, hauing nothing on him but a
shirt, lying vpon his backe I might perceiue him to breathe. I asked them
why hee lay so, and they answered mee, Now doeth our God tell him what wee
shall doe, and whither we shall goe. And when he had lyen still a little
while, they cried thus three times together, Oghao, Oghao, Oghao, and as
they vse these three calles, hee riseth with his head and lieth downe
againe, and then hee rose vp and sang with like voyces as hee did before:
and his audience answered him, Igha, Igha, Igha. Then hee commaunded them
to kill fiue Olens or great Deere, and continued singing still both hee and
they as before. Then hee tooke a sworde of a cubite and a spanne long, (I
did not mete it my selfe) and put it into his bellie halfeway and sometime
lesse, but no wounde was to bee seene, (they continuing in their sweete
song still). Then he put the sworde into the fire till it was warme, and so
thrust it into the slitte of his shirte and thrust it through his bodie, as
I thought, in at his nauill and out at his fundament: the poynt beeing out
of his shirt behind, I layde my finger vpon it, then hee pulled out the
sworde and sate downe. This beeing done, they set a kettle of water ouer
the fire to heate, and when the water doeth seethe, the Priest beginneth to
sing againe they answering him, for so long as the water was in heating,
they sate and sang not. Then they made a thing being foure square, and in
height and squarenesse of a chaire, and couered with a gown very close the
forepart thereof, for the hinder part stood to the tents side. Their tents
are rounde and are called Chome in their language. The water still seething
on the fire, and this square seate being ready, the Priest put off his
shirt, and the thing like a garland which was on his head, with those
things which couered his face, and he had on yet all this while a paire of
hosen of deeres skins with the haire on, which came vp to his buttocks. So
he went into the square seate, and sate down like a tailour and sang with a
strong voyce or hallowing. Then they tooke a small line made of deeres
skinnes of four fathoms long, and with a smal knotte the Priest made it
fast about his necke, and vnder his left arme, and gaue it vnto two men
standing on both sides of him, which held the ends together. Then the
kettle of hote water was set before him in the square seat, al this time
the square seat was not couered, and then it was couered with a gown of
broad cloth without lining, such as the Russes do weare. Then the 2. men
which did hold the ends of the line stil standing there, began to draw, and
drew til they had drawn the ends of the line stiffe and together, and then
I hearde a thing fall into the kettle of water which was before him in the
tent. Thereupon I asked them that sate by me what it was that fell into the
water that stoode before him. And they answered me, that it was his head,
his shoulder and left arme, which the line had cut off, I meane the knot
which I sawe afterwarde drawen hard together. Then I rose vp and would haue
looked whether it were so or not, but they laid hold on me, and said, that
if they should see him with their bodily eyes, they shoulde liue no longer.
And the most part of them can speake the Russe tongue to be vnderstood: and
they tooke me to be a Russian. Then they beganne to hallow with these
wordes. Oghaoo, Oghaoo, Oghaoo, many times together. And as they were thus
singing and out calling, I sawe a thing like a finger of a man two times
together thrust through the gowne from the Priest. I asked them that sate
next to me what it was that I sawe, and they saide, not his finger; for he
was yet dead: and that which I saw appeare through the gowne was a beast,
but what beast they knew not nor would not tell. And I looked vpon the
gowne, and there was no hole to bee seene; and then at the last the Priest
lifted vp his head with his shoulder and arme, and all his bodie, and came
forth to the fire. Thus farre of their seruice which I sawe during the
space of certaine houres: but how they doe worship their Idols that I saw
not: for they put vp their stuffe for to remoue from that place where they
lay. And I went to him that serued the Priest, and asked him what their God
saide to him when he lay as dead. Hee answered, that his owne people doeth
not know: neither is it for them to know, for they must doe as he
commanded. This I saw the fift day of Ianuarie in the yere of our Lord
1556, after the English account.
* * * * *
A discourse of the honourable receiuing into England of the first
Ambassador from the Emperor of Russia, in the yeere of Christ 1556. and
in the third yeere of the raigne of Queene Marie, seruing for the third
voyage to Moscouie. Registred by Master Iohn Incent Protonotarie.
It is here recorded by writing and autenticall testimonie, partly for
memorie of things done, and partly for the veritie to be knowen to
posteritie in time to come, that whereas the most high and mightie Iuan
Vasiliuich Emperour of all Russia, great Duke of Volodemer, Moscouia and
Nouogrode, Emperor of Cassan, and of Astrachan, Lord of Pleskie, and great
Duke of Smolenskie, Tuerskie, Yowgoriskie, Permskie, Viatskie, Bolgarskie
and Sibierskie, Emperour and great Duke of many others, as Nouogrode in the
nether countries, Chernigoskie, Rezanskie, Polodskie, Rezewskie, Bielskie,
Rostoskie, Yeraslaueskie, Bealozarskie, Oudarskie, Obdorskie, Condenskie,
and manie other countries, and lord ouer all those partes, in the yeere of
our Lord God, folowing the account of the Latin church, 1556. sent by the
sea from the port of S. Nicholas in Russia, his right honorable ambassador
sirnamed Osep Napea, [Footnote: Ossip Gregorjevitsch Nepeja.] his high
officer in the towne and countrey of Vologda, to the most famous and
excellent princes, Philip and Mary by the grace of God king and Queene of
England, Spaine, France and Ireland, defenders of the faith, Archdukes of
Austria, dukes of Burgundie, Millaine, and Brabant, counties of Haspurge,
Flanders and Tyroll, his ambassador and Orator with certaine letters
tenderly conceiued, together with certaine presents and gifts mentioned in
the foot of this memorial, as a manifest argument and token of a mutual
amity and friendship to be made and continued betweene their maiesties and
subiects respectiuely, for the commoditie and benefit of both the realmes
and people: which Orator was the 20. day of Iuly imbarked and shipped in,
and vpon a good English ship named the Edward Bonauenture, belonging to the
Gouernour, Consuls and company of English marchants. Richard Chancelor
being grand Pilot, and Iohn Buckland master of the said ship. In which was
laden at the aduenture of the foresaid Ambassador and marchants at seueral
accounts, goods and merchandizes, viz. in waxe, trane oyle, tallow, furres,
felts, yarne and such like, to the summe of 20000. li. sterling, together
with 16. Russies attendant vpon the person of the said Ambassador.
[Sidenote: Foure ships.] Ouer and aboue ten other Russies shipped within
the said Bay of S. Nicholas, in one other good ship to the said company
also belonging called the Bona Speranza, with goods of the said Orators and
marchants to the value of 6000. lib. sterling, as by the inuoices and
letters of lading of the said seueral ships (whereunto relation is to be
had) particularly appeareth. Which good ships comming in good order into
the seas, and trauersing the same in their iourney towards the coast of
England, were by the contrary winds and extreme tempests of weather seuered
the one from the other, that is to say, the saide Bona Speranza with two
other English ships also appertaining to the saide company, the one
sirnamed the Philip and Mary, the other the Confidentia, were driuen on the
coast of Norway, into Drenton water, where the saide Confidentia was seene
to perish on a Rocke, and the other, videlicet, the Bona Speranza, with her
whole company, being to the number of foure and twentie persons seemed to
winter there, whereof no certaintie at this present day is knowen. The
third, videlicet, the Philip and Mary arriued in the Thames nigh London the
eighteenth day of April, in the yeere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred
fiftie and seuen. [Sidenote: The Edward Bonauenture arriued in Scotland, in
the Bay of Pettuslego, November 7. 1556.] The Edward Bonauenture trauersing
the seas foure moneths, finally the tenth day of Nouember of the aforesaide
yeere of our Lorde one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and sixe, arriued
within the Scottish coast in a Bay named Pettislego, where by outragious
tempests, and extreme stormes, the said ship being beaten from her ground
tackles, was driuen vpon the rockes on shoare, where she brake and split in
pieces in such sort, as the grand Pilot vsing all carefulnesse for the
safetie of the bodie of the sayde Ambassadour and his trayne, taking the
boat of the said ship, trusting to attaine the shore, and so to save and
preserue the bodie, [Sidenote: Richard Chancelor drowned.] and seuen of the
companie or attendants of the saide Ambassadour, the same boat by rigorous
waues of the seas, was by darke night ouerwhelmed and drowned, wherein
perished not only the bodie of the said grand Pilot, with seuen Russes, but
also diuers of the Mariners of the sayd ship: the noble personage of the
saide Ambassadour with a fewe others (by Gods preseruation and speciall
fauour) onely with much difficultie saued. In which shipwracke not onely
the saide shippe was broken, but also the whole masse and bodie of the
goods laden in her, was by the rude and rauenous people of the Countrey
thereunto adioyning, rifled, spoyled and caried away, to the manifest losse
and vtter destruction of all the lading of the said ship, and together with
the ship apparell, ordinance and furniture belonging to the companie, in
value of one thousand pounds, of all which was not restored toward the
costs and charges to the summe of fiue hundred pounds sterling.
As soone as by letters addressed to the saide companie, and in London
delivered the sixt of December last past, it was to them certainely knowen
of the losse of their Pilote, men, goods and ship, the same merchants with
all celeritie and expedition, obteined not onely the Queenes maiesties most
gracious and fauourable letters to the Ladie Dowager and lordes of the
Councell of Scotland for the gentle comfortment and entertainment of the
saide Ambassadour, his traine and companie, with preseruation and
restitution of his goods, as in such miserable cases, to Christian pitie,
princely honour and meere Iustice appertaineth, but also addressed two
Gentlemen of good learning, grauitie and estimation, videlicet, Master
Lawrence Hussie Doctor of the Ciuill Lawe, and George Gilpin with money and
other requisites into the Realme of Scotland, to comfort, ayde, assist, and
relieue him and his there, and also to conduct the Ambassadour into
England, sending with them by poste a Talmach or Speachman for the better
furniture of the seruice of the sayde Ambassadour, trusting thereby to haue
the more ample and speedie redresse of restitution: which personages vsing
diligence, arriued at Edenborough (where the Queenes court was) the three
and twentieth day of the saide moneth of December, who first visiting the
saide Ambassadour, declaring the causes of their comming and Commission,
shewing the letters addressed in his fauour, the order giuen them for his
solace and furniture of all such things as hee would haue, together with
their daily and readie seruice to attend vpon his person and affaires,
repaired consequently vnto the Dowager Queene, deliuering the letters.
Whereupon they receiued gentle answeres, with hope and comfort of speedie
restitution of the goods, apparell, iewels, and letters: for the more
apparance whereof, the Queene sent first certaine Commissioners with an
Harold of armes to Pettislego, the place of the Shipwracke, commaunding by
Proclamation and other Edictes, all such persons (no degree excepted) as
had any part of such goods as were spoyled and taken out or from the ship
to bring them in, and to restore the same with such further order as her
grace by aduise of her Council thought expedient: by reason whereof not
without great labours, paines and charges (after long time) diuers small
parcels of Waxe, and other small trifling things of no value, were by the
poorer sort of the Scottes brought to the Commissioners, but the Iewels,
rich apparell, presents, gold, siluer, costly furres, and such like, were
conueyed away, concealed and vtterly embezelled. Whereupon, the Queene at
the request of the said Ambassadour, caused diuers persons to the number of
180. or moe, to be called personally before her princely presence, to
answer to the said spoile, and really to exhibit and bring in all such
things as were spoiled and violently taken, and caried out of the same,
whereof not onely good testimonie by writing was shewed, but also the
things themselues found in the hands of the Scottish subiects, who by
subtile and craftie dealings, by conniuence of the commissioners, so vsed
or rather abused themselues towards the same Orator & his attendants, that
no effectuall restitution was made: but he fatigated with daily attendance
and charges, the 14. day of February next ensuing, distrusting any reall
and effectual rendring of the saide goods and marchandizes and other the
premisses, vpon leaue obtained of the saide Queene, departed towards
England, hauing attending vpon him the said two English Gentlemen and
others (leauing neuerthelesse in Scotland three Englishmen to pursue the
deliuerie of such things as were collected to haue bene sent by ship to him
in England: which being in Aprill next, and not before imbarked for London,
was not at this present day here arriued) came the 18. day of Februarie to
Barwike within the dominion and realme of England, where he was by the
Queenes maiesties letters and commandement honourably receiued, vsed and
interteined by the right honourable lord Wharton, lord Warden of the East
marches, with goodly conducting from place to place, as the dayly iourneys
done ordinarily did lie, in such order, maner and forme, as to a personage
of such estate appertaineth. He prosecuting his voyage vntil the 27. of
Februarie [Footnote: 1557.] approched to the citie of London within twelue
English miles, where he was receiued with fourscore merchants with chaines
of gold and goodly apparell, as wel in order of men seruants in one
vniforme liuerie, as also in and vpon good horses and geldings, who
conducting him to a marchants house foure miles from London, receiued there
a quantitie of gold, veluet and silke, with all furniture thereunto
requisite, wherewith he made him a riding garment, reposing himselfe that
night. The next day being Saturday and the last day of Februarie, he was by
the merchants aduenturing for Russia, to the number of one hundred and
fortie persons, and so many or more seruants in one liuerie, as abouesaid,
conducted towards the citie of London, where by the way he had not onely
the hunting of the Foxe and such like sport shewed him, but also by the
Queenes maiesties commandement was receiued and embraced by the right
honourable Viscount Montague, sent by her grace for his entertainment: he
being accompanied with diuers lustie knights, esquiers, gentlemen and
yeomen to the number of three hundred horses led him to the North partes of
the Citie of London, where by foure notable merchants richly apparelled was
presented to him a right faire and large gelding richly trapped, together
with a footcloth of Orient crimson veluet, enriched with gold laces, all
furnished in most glorious fashion, of the present, and gift of the sayde
merchants: where vpon the Ambassadour at instant desire mounted, riding on
the way towards Smithfield barres, the first limites of the liberties of
the Citie of London. The Lord Maior accompanied with all the Aldermen in
their skarlet did receiue him, and so riding through the Citie of London in
the middle, betweene the Lord Maior and Viscount Montague, a great number
of merchants and notable personages riding before, and a large troupe of
seruants and apprentises following, was conducted through the Citie of
London (with great admiration and plausibilitie of the people running
plentifully on all sides, and replenishing all streets in such sort as no
man without difficultie might passe) into his lodging situate in Fant
church streete, where were prouided for him two chambers richly hanged and
decked, ouer and aboue the gallant furniture of the whole house, together
with an ample and rich cupboord of plate of all sortes, to furnish and
serue him at all meales, and other seruices during his abode in London,
which was, as is vnderwritten, vntil the third day of May: during which
time daily diuers Aldermen and the grauest personages of the said companie
did visite him, prouiding all kind of victuals for his table and his
seruants, with al sorts of Officers to attend vpon him in good sort and
condition, as to such an ambassadour of honour doeth and ought to
appertaine.
It is also to be remembred that at his first entrance into his chamber,
there was presented vnto him on the Queenes Maiesties behalfe for a gift
and present, and his better furniture in apparel, one rich piece of cloth
of tissue, a piece of cloth of golde, another piece of cloth of golde
raised with crimosin veluet, a piece of crimosin veluet in graine, a piece
of purple veluet, a piece of Damaske purpled, a piece of crimosin damaske,
which he most thankfully accepted. In this beautifull lodging refreshing
and preparing himselfe and his traine with things requisite he abode,
expecting the kings maiesties repaire out of Flanders into England, whose
highnesse arriuing the one and twentie of March, the same Ambassadour the
fiue and twentieth of March being the Annunciation of our Ladie (the day
tweluemoneth he took his leaue from the Emperour his master) was most
honourably brought to the King and Queenes maiesties court at Westminster,
where accompanied first with the said Viscount and other notable
personages, and the merchants, hee arriuing at Westminster bridge, was
there receiued with sixe lords, conducted into a stately chamber, where by
the lords, Chancellor, Treasurer, Priuie seale, Admirall, bishop of Elie,
and other Counsellers, hee was visited and saluted: and consequently was
brought vnto the Kings and Queenes maiesties presence, sitting vnder a
stately cloth of honour, the chamber most richly decked and furnished, and
most honourably presented. Where, after that hee had deliuered his letters,
made his Oration, giuen two timber of Sables, and the report of the same
made both in English and Spanish, in most louing maner embraced, was with
much honour and high entertainement, in sight of a great confluence of
people, Lordes and Ladies eftsoones remitted by water to his former
lodging, to the which, within two dayes after by the assignement of the
King and Queenes maiesties, repaired and conferred with him secretly two
graue Counsellers, that is, the lord Bishop of Elie, and Sir William Peter
Knight, chiefe Secretary to their Highnesse, who after diuers secret talkes
and conferences, reported to their highnesse their proceedings, the
grauitie, wisedome, and stately behauior of the sayd Ambassadour, in such
sort as was much to their maiesties contentations.
Finally concluding vpon such treaties and articles of amitie, as the
letters of the Kings and Queenes maiesties most graciously vnder the greate
seale of England to him by the sayd counsellers deliuered, doth appeare.
The three and twentieth of April, being the feast of S. George, wherein was
celebrated the solemnitie of the Noble order of the Garter at Westminster,
the same lord ambassadour was eftsoones required to haue audience: and
therefore conducted from the sayd lodging to the court by the right Noble
the lords Talbot and Lumley to their maiesties presence: where, after his
Oration made, and thanks both giuen and receiued, hee most honourably tooke
his leaue with commendations to the Emperour. Which being done, he was with
special honour led into the chappell, where before the Kings and Queens
maiesties, in the sight of the whole Order of the Garter, was prepared for
him a stately seate, wherein he accompanied with the Duke of Norfolke, the
lords last aboue mentioned, and many other honourable personages, was
present at the whole seruice, in ceremonies which were to him most
acceptable: the diuine seruice ended, he eftsoones was remitted and reduced
to his barge, and so repaired to his lodging, in like order and gratulation
of the people vniuersally as before.
The time of the yeere hasting the profection and departure of the
Ambassador, the merchants hauing prepared foure goodly and well trimmed
shippes laden with all kinds of merchandises apt for Russia, the same
Ambassadour making prouision for such things as him pleased, the same ships
in good order valed downe the Riuer of Thames, from London to Grauesend,
where the same Ambassadour with his traine and furniture was imbarked
towards his voyage homeward, which God prosper in all felicitie.
It is also to be remembred, that during the whole abode of the sayd
Ambassadour in England, the Agents of the sayde marchants did not onely
prosecute and pursue the matter of restitution in Scotland, and caused such
things to be laden in an English shippe hired purposely to conuey the
Ambassadours goods to London, there to be deliuered to him, but also during
his abode in London, did both inuite him to the Maior, and diuers
worshipfull mens houses, feasting and banquetting him right friendly,
shewing vnto him the most notable and commendable sights of London, as the
kings palace and house, the Churches of Westminster and Powles, the Tower
and Guild hall of London, and such like memorable spectacles. And also the
said 29. day of April, the said merchants assembling themselues together in
the house of the Drapers hal of London, exhibited and gaue vnto the said
Ambassador, a notable supper garnished with musicke, Enterludes and
bankets: in the which a cup of wine being drunke to him in the name and
lieu of the whole companie, it was signified to him that the whole company
with most liberall and friendly hearts, did frankly giue to him and his all
maner of costs and charges in victuals riding from Scotland to London
during his abode there, and vntill setting of saile aboord the ship, and
requesting him to accept the same in good part as a testimonie and witnes
of their good hearts, zeale and tendernesse towards him and his countrey.
It is to be considered that of the Bona Speranza no word nor knowledge was
had at this present day, nor yet of the arriual of the ships or goods from
Scotland.
The third day of May the Ambassadour departed from London to Grauesend,
accompanied by diuers Aldermen and merchants, who in good gard set him
aboord the noble shippe, the Primrose Admirall to the Fleete, where leaue
was taken on both sides and parts, after many imbracements and diuers
farewels not without expressing of teares.
[Sidenote: The King and Queens second letters to the Emperour of Russia.]
Memorandum, that the first day of May the Councillers, videlicet, the
Bishop of Elye, and Sir William Peter on the behalfe of the Kings and
Queens Maiesties repairing to the lorde Ambassadour did not onely deliuer
vnto him their highness letters of recommendations vnder the great seale of
England to the Emperour, very tenderly and friendly written, but also on
their Maiesties behalf gaue and deliuered certaine notable presents to the
Emperours person, and also gifts for the lord Ambassadours proper vse and
behoof, as by the particulars vnder written appeareth, with such further
good wordes and commendations, as the more friendly haue not bin heard,
whereby it appeareth how well affected their honours be to haue and
continue amitie and traffique betweene their honours and their subiects:
which thing as the kings and Queenes maiesties haue shewed of their
princely munificences and liberalities, so haue likewise the merchants and
fellowship of the Aduenturers, for and to Russia, manifested to the world
their good willes, mindes and zeales borne to this new commensed voyage, as
by the discourse aboue mentioned, and other the notable actes ouer long to
be recited in this present memoriall, doeth and may most clearely appeare,
the like whereof is not in any president or historie to bee shewed.
Forasmuch as it may bee doubted how the ship named the Edward Bonauenture
suffered shipwracke, what became of the goods, howe much they were spoiled
and deteined, how little restored, what charges and expenses ensued, what
personages were drowned, how the rest of the ships either arriued or
perished, or howe the disposition of almightie God hath wrought his
pleasure in them, how the same ambassadour hath bene after the miserable
case of shipwracke in Scotland vnreuerently abused, and consequently into
England receiued and conducted, there intertained, vsed, honoured, and
finally in good safetie towards his returne, and repaire furnished, and
with much liberalitie and franke handling friendly dismissed, to the intent
that the trueth of the premisses may be to the most mightie Emperour of
Russia sincerely signified in eschewment of all events and misfortunes that
may chance in this voyage (which God defend) to the Ambassadours person,
traine, and goods, this present memoriall is written, and autentikely made,
and by the sayde Ambassadour his seruants, whose names be vnderwritten, and
traine in presence of the Notarie, and witnesses vndernamed, recognized,
and acknowledged. Giuen the day, moneth, and yeere vnderwritten, of which
instrument into euery of the sayde Shippes one testimoniall is deliuered,
and the first remaineth with the sayde Companie in London.
Giftes sent the King and Queenes Maiesties of England by the Emperour of
Russia, by the report of the Ambassadour, and spoyled by the Scots after
the Shipwracke.
1 First, sixe timber of Sables rich in colour and haire.
2 Item, twentie entire Sables exceeding beautifull with teeth, eares and
clawes.
3 Item, foure living Sables with chaines and collars.
4 Item, thirtie Lusarnes large and beautifull.
5 Item, sixe large and great skinnes very rich and rare, worne onely by
the Emperour for worthinesse.
6 Item, a large and faire white Ierfawcon [Footnote: Gerfalcon] for the
wild Swanne, Crane, Goose, and other great Fowles, together with a
drumme of siluer, the hoopes gilt, vsed for a lure to call the sayd
Hawke.
Giftes sent to the Emperour of Russia by the King and Queenes Maiesties of
England.
1 First, two rich pieces of cloth of Tissue.
2 Item, one fine piece of Scarlet
3 Item, one fine Violet in graine.
4 Item, one fine Azur cloth.
5 Item, a notable paire of Brigandines with a Murrian couered with
crimson veluet and gilt nailes.
6 Item, a male and Female Lions.
Giftes giuen to the Ambassadour at his departure, ouer and aboue such as
were deliuered vnto him at his first arriual.
1 First, a chaine of golde of one hundred pound.
2 Item, a large Bason and Euer, siluer and gilt.
3 item, a paire of pottle pots gilt.
4 Item, a paire of flaggons gilt.
The names of all such Russies as, were attendant vpon the Ambassadour, at
and before his departure out of England.
Isaak Fwesscheneke.
Demetre.
Gorbolones.
Symonde.
Yeroffia.
Stephen.
Lowca.
Andria.
Foma.