here arriued in safety, thanks be to God, our two ships, and by them we
receiued your letters and inuoices very well perceiuing what you haue laden
in them. The tallowe came euill conditioned and broken, by reason it came
in Corrobias, wee lose and spoyle more then the Caske will cost, and much
of this tallowe is verie euill, blacke, soft and putrified. Touching the
Waxe, as yet wee knowe not howe the weight will rise, by reason that some
of it was lost in the barkes. The weight of the last yeeres waxe did not
rise so well as the other yeeres before it did. There had neede good heede
bee taken in the weighing. Also much of this Waxe had a great foote, and is
not so faire waxe as in times past wee baue had. You must cause the foote
to bee taken off before you doe weigh it, or else you must seeke to haue a
good allowance for it. The traine Oyles which you laded this yeere came
well conditioned, and the caske was good and of a good sise. But if they
were made a little bigger, it were the better, for they be not hogsheads.
You haue written to vs to send you caske which is not heere to be had,
neither doe wee thinke it so best if it were heere, considering it must goe
either shaken and bounde vp, or else emptie, which will bee pesterable, and
likewise will shrinke and drie, and not be fitte to lade oyles in.
Therefore our minde is, you shall cause so much caske to bee made there of
the sise of hogsheads as will serue both for; your oyles and tallowe, and
let them be well trimmed with pitch on the heads and seames, and stand full
of water three or foure dayes before you put Oyles in them; Your Cowper may
bee ouerseer to them that make them, that they be well hooped and cleere
tymber without knottes, the woorst caske you may put the tallowe in. Hee
that seeth the filling of the oyles had neede to looke well to it, for
there was much water in this that, came nowe. Wee perceiue you haue bought
and haue in a readinesse one hundred and fourtie tunnes of oyles, and that
if neede bee you may haue more store. Wherefore we doe minde to send, you
shipping for three hundred tunnes and vpwards, because we would haue this
next Summer as great a returne as you can of the commodities of that
Countrey, as also such of our wares as you haue that are not vendible, or
will not be solde or bartered, because we would haue a ful knowledge and
state of our accounts. The Sables which you sent this yeere be very base,
among them all we could not make one principall timber: wee haue alwayes
written vnto you to send them that bee good or else none. The Woluerings
were indifferent, and some of the wolues, the rest verie base, the Lusernes
but meane, the Lettes not so large skinnes as we hane had: the best is,
they were of a new death. As for the Ermines, they cost more there with
you, then we can sell them for here. Therefore buy no more of them, nor of
Squirels, for wee lost the one halfe in the other. The wares that we would
haue you prouide against the comming of the shippes are, Waxe, Tallowe,
trayne Oyles, Flaxe, Cables and Ropes, and Furres, such as we haue written
to you for in our last letters by the shippes: and from hencefoorth not to
make any great prouision of any rich Furres except principall Sables and
Lettes: for now there is a Proclamation made that no furres shall be worne
here, but such as the like is growing here within this our Realme. Also we
perceiue that there might be a great deale of tallowe more prouided in a
yeere than you send. Therefore our minde is, you should enlarge somewhat
more in the price, and to send vs if you can three thousand podes a yeere:
for we doe most good in it. And likewise the Russes, if you would giue them
a reasonable price for their wares, woulde be the willinger to buy and sell
with you, and not to carie so much to Nouogrode as they doe, but woulde
rather bring it to Vologda to you, both Waxe, Tallowe, Flaxe, Hempe, and
all kinde of other wares fitte for our Countrey. Our minde is you should
prouide for the next ships fiue hundred Losh hides, of them that be large
and faire, and thickest in hand, and to be circumspect in the choosing,
that you buy them that bee killed in season and well dryed and whole. If
they be good we may sell them here for sixteene shillings and better the
piece, wee would haue the whole skinnes that is, the necke and legges
withal, for these that you sent now lacke their neckes and legges.
Neuerthelesse for this time you must sende them as you may get them: if you
coulde finde the meanes that the haire might bee clipped off them, they
woulde not take so much roome in the shippes as they doe. We perceiue by
your letters that the prices of Waxe doe rise there with you, by reason
that the Poles and Lifelanders doe trade into Russia by licence: which, if
there shoulde bee peace betweene them, would be an occasion that all other
commodities in Russia woulde rise to a bigger price, and not be sufficient
to serue them and vs too, and likewise woulde bring downe there the price
of our commodities. Therefore we thinke it good you shoulde make a
supplication to the Emperour in the name of The Companie to returne the
trade from Rye and Reuel to vs, especially for such wares as wee doe buy:
promising that wee will bee bounde to take them at a reasonable price, as
wee haue bought them in times past: and likewise that wee will bring to
them such wares of ours, as are thought fitte for the Countrey, and so sell
them at such reasonable prices as wee haue done. If this shoulde not come
to passe, wee might be out of hope of doing any good by the trade there:
but that we haue a further hope of some good trade to be found out by
Master Antonie Ienkinson: by reason we doe perceiue by your letters, that
raw silke is as plentifull in Persia, as flaxe is in Russia: beside other
commodities that may come from thence. Wee vnderstand by your letters that
you be at a point with the Russe for the Waxe, Tallow, and traine oyles
that he shipped the last yere for 311 robles 20 altines, which is well:
although much be not gotten by it, but because they should not vnderstand
our reckonings. We much maruel what you mean to buy Seale skins and tanne
them. All that you haue sent in times past lie here vnsold, and will yeelde
no money. If you send 100 of them tawed with the haire on, they will bee
solde, or else not. In our shippe we will send you such things as you write
to haue for the ropers: and wee would they should make more store of small
cables and ropes, as cables of 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. inches. For these great
cables be not for euery man; and the greatest cables bee not best laded:
and likewise small ropes for shroudes, sholes, and other small tackeling:
and that you looke better to the spinning of their yarne that it be euen
and well tarred. The sables that you doe mind to send vs let them be
principall and fayre, and not past foure or fine timbars. For they will not
be so commonly worne here as they haue bin with noble men: and likewise of
Luserns send fewe and principal good. We mind to send you in our shippes
100 tunnes of salte. And because we perceiue that balast is hardly to be
had at our lading place there with you, we would you shoulde haue in a
readinesse 100 tunnes of the white stones whereof you sent vs home an
example two yeres past. And likewise to haue in a readinesse mastes of all
sortes for our shippes: for we know not what neede wee shall haue of them.
The bringer hereof is Thomas Alcock, he could not be suffered the last
yeare to passe through Poland. And as we, wrote vnto you in our shippes,
hee is our seruant for yeares: And for that we know him to be honest, true
and painefull, our mind is he shalbe placed where he may do best seruice.
He doth know the commodities and discommodities of all kinde of wares which
you doe send vs. Therefore we would you should credite his sayings both in
quantitie of wares and goodnes, as also wherin is most our profit. We see
by your letters that your opinion is that the rope-makers should remaine
there two yeres more; and that you haue prouided great plentie of hempe,
which we are content withall. But as yet we haue solde none of our cables
or halsers, neither is the proofe of them knowen; because the first you
sent vs were made of flaxe, which are worth no money: for after they be
once wet they will rotte and moulder away like mosse. And those which you
sent vs now last, by misfortune there with you at the lading were wette and
fretted in many places, and haue lost their colour: by meanes whereof they
be not so vendible as if they had come well conditioned. Of an hard
beginning we trust God will send vs a good ending. We hope in your next
letters to heare good newes of the proceedings of Master Antonie Ienkinson.
We perceiue by his letters that Astracan is not so good a Mart towne as the
fame hath gone of it: and maruell much that round pewter should be so good,
and good chepe there, and from whence it should come. And whereas you write
that you wil come for England in our next shippes, we would gladly haue you
to remaine there vntill the next yere following, for the better instruction
of our seruants there; who have not had so long time of continuance for the
language and knowledge of the people, countrey, and wares as you haue had.
[Sidenote: Christopher Hodson and Thomas Glouer appointed Agents 1560.]
Neuerthelesse if you will needs come away, we haue no doubt, but that you
will leaue good order with our seruants there, namely with Christopher
Hodson and Thomas Glouer, whom we appoint to remaine there as Agents in
your roome, till further order bee taken: not doubting but that they will
vse themselues so discreetely and wisely in all their doings, as shall be
to the worship and benefite of this company. And as we haue a good hope in
them that they will be carefull, diligent and true in all their doings: so
haue we no lesse hope, in all the rest of our seruants there, that they
will bee not onely obedient to them (considering what roome they be in) but
also will be carefull, diligent and true euery one in his roome and place
for the benefite and profite of the company: That hereafter in the absence
of others they may be called and placed in the like roome there or
elsewhere. And if you find any to be disobedient and stobborne, and will
not be ruled; wee will you shall send him home in our shippes: who shall
find such small fauour and friendship during the time that he hath to
serue, as by his disobedience and euill seruice hee hath deserued. And
whereas Christopher Hodson hath written to come home, as partly he hath
good cause, considering the death of his father and mother: yet in regard
that Sir George Barne and the Ladie his wife were his special friends in
his absence, we doubt not but that he wil remain in the roome, which we
haue appointed him, if you doe not tarie and remaine there, till farther
order be taken: and for his seruice and paines hee shall be considered, as
reason is, as friendly as if his friends were liuing. Thus we trust you
will take such order the one to remaine at the Mosco, and the other at
Colmogro, or elsewhere, as most neede is. Thomas Alcocke is desirous to be
in the Mosco: neuerthelesse you shall find him reasonable to serue where he
may doe most good. The 62 robles which you receiued of Iohn Boucher we haue
payed him here, and also the 8 robles, which you receiued the yere before
of Christopher Rose, and the money which you receiued more of George
Burton, for the which we haue you our debtors. Thus we rest, referring that
which is here omitted to the report of the bringer: and so God haue you in
his keeping. Also we would that you should send vs in our shippes 200
horse-clothes more. The things before written wee would that you should let
our seruants see and reade, to the intent they may perceiue our mindes.
Another letter to the foresaid parties. 1560.
This letter before written is the copie of one sent you by Thomas Alcock,
trusting that hee was with you long since. [Sidenote: Stockholme.] The 26
day of the last moneth we receiued a letter from him, dated in Stockholme
in Sweden the 14 day of Ianuary, and we perceiue by his letter that hee had
talked with a Dutch man that came lately from the Mosco, who informed him
that our friend Master Antony Ienkinson was returned to the Mosco in
September last past, but how farre he had beene, or what he had done, he
could not tell. [Sidenote: Iohn Luck taken prisoner in Lieflande.] Also he
wrote that one Iohn Lucke a Ioyner was taken by the Liefelanders, and put
in prison. As yet wee haue not heard from the sayd Iohn Lucke, nor know not
whether he be released out of prison or not. We suppose that by him you
wrote some letter which as yet is not come to our hands: so that we thinke
hee is yet in prison, or otherwise dispatched out of the way. The fifteenth
day of December wee receiued a letter from Christopher Hodson, dated in the
Mosco the 29 of Iuly, by the way of Danske: which is in effect a copie of
such another receiued from him in our shippes. [Sidenote: The Swallow.] You
shal vnderstand that we haue laden in three good shippes of ours these kind
of wares following: to wit, in the Swallowe of London, Master vnder God
Steuen Burrow, 34 fardels N'o 136 broad short clothes, and foure fardels
N'o 58 Hampshire Kersies: and 23 pipes of bastards and seckes, and 263
pieces of raisins and 4 hogsheds N'o 154 pieces of round pewter, and ten
hogsheds and poncheons of prunes, and one dryfatte with Almonds. [Sidenote:
The Philip and Marie.] And in the Philip and Marie, Master vnder God Thomas
Wade, 25 fardels N'o 100 broad clothes, and three fardels N'o 42 Hampshire
Kersies and thirtie pipes of seckes and bastards, and 100 pieces of
raisins. [Sidenote: The Iesus.] And in the Iesus of London, Master vnder
God Arthur Pette, 10 fardels N'o 40 broade shorte clothes, and twenty seuen
pipes of bastards and seckes, as by the Inuoices herewith inclosed may
appeare: Also you shall receiue such necessaries as you did write to bee
sent for the rope makers: trusting that you shall haue better successe with
them which you shall send vs in these ships, then with the rest which you
haue sent vs yet: for we as yet haue sold none of them. And whereas we
wrote vnto you in our former letter, that we would send you a hundred
tunnes of salte, by reason it is so deare here we doe send you but nine
tunnes and a halfe, for it cost here tenpence the bushell the first penie:
namely in the Swallow 6 tunnes and a halfe, in the Philip and Marie one
tunne and a halfe, and in the Iesus one tunne and a halfe: The 4 hogsheads
of round pewter goe in the Swallow and in the Philip and Marie N'o 154
pieces, as is aforesaid. We send you three ships, trusting that you haue
prouided according to our former writing good store of lading for them. If
yee haue more wares then will lade the ships, let it be Traine oyles that
you leaue behinde: the price is not here so good as it was; it is worth
here 9 pound the tunne. We thinke it good you should let the smaller ship
bring as much of the traine as she can cary: And that the masters of the
ships do looke wel to the romaging, for they might bring away a great deale
more than they doe, if they would take paine in the romaging: and bestowe
the traine by it selfe, and the waxe and tallowe by it selfe: for the
leakage of the traine doth fowle the other wares much. As for Allard the
skinner, if you thinke good he may come home in these shippes. We haue no
doubt but that you Henrie Lane, if you minde to come home now in these
ships as you requested, will leaue such good order there with our seruants
as shall bee for our most profite and their preferment, if they doe their
dueties diligently and truely. If our friend Master Antonie Ienkinson bee
returned, and meane to come away in these ships to declare his mind and
opinion of his trauaile, if need require and he be so minded he may returne
thither by land and be there by the fine of Ianuarie or before. But as we
be vncertaine whether he be returned or not: so we know not what he hath
done, nor what benefite may arise hereafter of his trauaile. Therefore in
this wee remit it to his and your good discretions. Wee send you Thomas
Hawtrey which is our seruant for yeeres: our minde is he should be placed,
where he may doe best seruice.
Also we send you Nicholas Chancelour to remaine there, who is our
apprentice for yeeres: our minde is hee should be set about such businesse
as he is most fit for: he hath been kept at writing schoole along: he hath
his Algorisme, and hath vnderstanding of keeping of bookes of reckonings.
We send you now but 100 Kersies: but against the next yeere, if occasion
serue, wee will send you a greater quantitie, according as you shall aduise
vs: One of the pipes of seckes that is in the Swallow, which hath 2 round
compasses upon the bung, is to be presented to the Emperour: for it is
special good. The nete waight of the 10 puncheons of prunes is 4300. 2
thirds 1 pound. It is written particularly vpon the head of euery puncheon:
and the nete weight of the fatte of almonds is 500 li. two quarters. The
raisins, prunes, and almonds you were best to dispatch away at a reasonable
price, and principally the raisins, for in keeping of them will be great
losse in the waight, and the fruit will decay. We thinke it good that you
prouide against the next yeere for the comming of our shippes 20 or 30
bullockes killed and salted, for beefe is very deare here. Therefore you
were best to saue some of this salt that we doe send you in these ships for
the purpose. [Sidenote: The salt of Russia is not so good as Baye salt.]
The salte of that countrey is not so good. In this you may take the opinion
of the masters of the shippes. [Sidenote: Foxe skinnes white, blacke and
russet vendible in England.] Foxe skins, white, blacke, and russet will be
vendible here. The last yere you sent none: but there were mariners that
bought many. If any of the mariners doe buy any trifling furres or other
commodities, we will they shall be registred in our pursers bookes, to the
intent we may know what they be. We desire to know how the Emperour tooke
the letter which we sent in our ships, as an answere to the letter that
came in his name and vnder his seale for the sixe thousand dallers.
[Sidenote: May 5. 1560.] Thus wee rest, committing you to God, from London
the fift day of May 1560.
For lacke of time the gouernours haue not firmed this letter: which is the
copie of the other two letters firmed by them.
Yours, William Mericke.
Yours, Blase Sanders.
* * * * *
The maner of Iustice by lots in Russia, written by Master Henrie Lane, and
executed in a controuersie betweene him and one Sheray Costromitskey in
Mosco. 1560.
After the comming home into Russia of Ioseph Napea the first ambassadour to
Queene Marie, I remaining the Agent there, sundrie Russian marchants by
Iosephs procurement obtained letters from the Emperour to freight goods and
passe in our ships for England: which thing vpon good consideration I
answered and refused. They were then driuen to credite vs and compound in
value vntill the next returne. At which time, notwithstanding good accompt
in the value of 600 robles, there grewe question by their double demand.
[Sidenote: Triall by combat or lot.] So in April Anno 1560. before my
comming from Moscouia, they obtained trial by combat or letter to haue
their summe double, or as I proffered 600 robles. For combatte I was
prouided of a strong willing Englishman, Robert Best, one of the companies
seruants: whome the Russes with their Champion refused. So that we had the
words of our priuiledge put in effect, which were to draw lots. The day and
maner of triall appointed by the Emperour at his castle in his palace and
high Court of Moscouia was thus. The Emperours two Treasurers, being also
Chancelours and chiefe Iudges, sate in court. They appointed officers to
bring me, mine interpreter, and the other, through the great presse within
the rayle or barre, and permitted me to sit downe some distance from them:
the aduerse parties being without at the barre. Both parties were first
perswaded with great curtesie, to wit, I to enlarge mine offer, and the
Russes to mitigate their challenge. Notwithstanding that I protested my
conscience to be cleere, and their gaine by accompt to bee sufficient, yet
of gentlenes at the magistrates request, I made proffer of 100 robles more:
which was openly commended, but of the plaintifes not accepted. Then
sentence passed with our names in two equall balles of waxe made and holden
vp by the Iudges, their sleeues stripped vp. Then with standing vp and
wishing well to the trueth attributed to him that should be first drawen,
by both consents among the multitude they called a tall gentleman, saying:
Thou with such a coate or cap, come vp: where roome with speede was made.
He was commanded to holde his cappe, wherein they put the balles, by the
crowne vpright in sight, his arme not abasing. With like circumspection,
they called at aduenture another tall gentleman, commanding him to strip vp
his right sleene, and willed him with his bare arme to reach vp, and in
Gods name seuerally to take out the two balles: which he did, deliuering to
either Iudge one. Then with great admiration the lotte in ball first taken
out was mine: which was by open sentence so pronounced before all the
people, and to be the right and true parte. The chiefe plaintifes name was
Sheray Costromitsky. I was willed forthwith to pay the plaintifes the summe
by me appointed. Out of which for their wrong or sinne, as it was termed,
they payd tenne in the hundred to the Emperor. Many dayes after, as their
maner is, the people took our nation to be true and vpright dealers, and
talked of this iudgement to our great credite.
The former letters dated 1558, 1559, and 1560, should all followe M.
Ienkinsons voyage to Boghar.
* * * * *
The first voyage made by Master Anthonie Ienkinson, from the Citie of
London toward the land of Russia, begun the twelfth of May, in the yeere
1557.
First by the grace of God, the day and yeere aboue mentioned, I departed
from the sayd Citie, and the same day at Grauesend embarked my selfe in a
good shippe, named the Primerose, being appointed, although vnworthy,
chiefe captaine of the same, and also of the other 3 good ships, to say,
the Iohn Euangelist, the Anne, and the Trinitie, hauing also the conduct of
the Emperour of Russia his ambassadour named Osep Nepea Gregoriwich, who
passed with his company in the sayde Primerose. And thus our foure tall
shippes being well appointed, aswell for men as victuals as other
necessarie furniture, the saide twelfth day of the moneth of May, we weyed
our ankers, and departed from the saide Grauesend, in the after noone, and
plying down the Thames, the wind being Easterly, and fayre weather, the 13
day we came a ground with the Primerose, upon a sand called the blacke
taile, where we sate fast vntill the 14 day in the morning, and then God be
praysed, she came off: and that day we plyed downe as ferre as our Ladie of
Holland, and there came to an anker, the wind being Easterly, and there
remayned vntill the 20 day: then we weyed and went out at Goldmore gate,
and from thence in at Balsey slade, and so into Orwel wands, where we came
to an anker: but as we came out at the sayd Goldemore gate, the Trinitie
came on ground on certaine rockes, that lye to the Northward of the said
gate, and was like to be bilged and lost. But by the aide of God, at the
last she came off againe, being very leake: and the 21 day the Primerose
remaining at an anker in the wands, the other three shippes bare into Orwel
hauen where I caused the sayd Trinitie to be grounded, searched, and
repaired. So we remayned in the said hauen, vntill the 28. day: and then
the winde being Westerly, the three shippes that were in the hauen, weyed
and came forth, and in comming forth the Iohn Euangelist came on ground
vpon a sand, called the Andros, where she remained one tide, and the next
full sea she came off againe without any great hurt, God be praised.
The 29 day in the morning all foure ships weied in the Wands, and that tide
went as farre as Orfordnesse, where we came an anker, because the wind was
Northerly: And about sixe of the clocke at night, the wind vered to the
Southwest and we weyed anker, and bare cleere of the nesse, and then set
our course Northeast and by North vntill midnight, being then cleare of
Yarmouth sands. [Sidenote: Iune.] Then we winded North and by West, and
Northnorthwest, vntill the first of Iune at noone, then it waxed calme and
continued so vntill the second day at noone: then the winde came at
Northwest, with a tempest, and much raine, and we lay close by, and caped
Northnortheast, and Northeast and by North, as the winde shifted, and so
continued vntill the third day at noone: then the wind vered Westerly
againe, and we went North our right course, and so continued our way vntill
the fourth day, at three of the clocke in the afternoone, at which time the
wind vered to the Northwest againe and blew a fresh gale, and so continued
vntill the seuenth day in the morning, we lying with all our shippes close
by, and caping to the Northwards: and then the wind vering more Northerly,
we were forced to put roomer with the coast of England againe, and fell
ouerthwart Newcastle, but went not into the hauen, and so plied vpon the
coast the eighth day and the ninth.