thereof, I haue thought it best to reserue it to our meeting. I hauing made
my solace at Boghar in the Winter time, and hauing learned by much
inquisition, the trade thereof, as also of all the other countries thereto
adioyning, and the time of the yeere being come, for all Carauans to
depart, and also the king being gone to the warres, and newes come that he
was fled, and I aduertised by the Metropolitan himselfe, that I should
depart, because the towne was like to bee besieged: I thought it good and
meete, to take my iourney some way, and determined to haue gone from thence
into Persia, and to haue seene the trade of that countrey, although I had
enformed my selfe sufficiently thereof, as well at Astracan, as at Boghar:
and perceiued well the trades not to be much vnlike the trades of Tartaria:
but when I should haue taken my iourney that way, it was let by diuers
occasions: the one was, the great wars that did newly begin betwixt the
Sophie, and the kings of Tartaria, whereby the waies were destroyed: and
there was a Carauan destroied with rouers and theeues, which came out of
India and Persia, by safe conduct: and about ten daies iourney from Boghar,
they were robbed, and a great part slaine. [Sidenote: He returneth the
eight of March 1559.] Also the Metropolitan of Boghar, who is greater then
the king, tooke the Emperors letters of Russia from me, without which I
should haue bene taken slaue in euery place: also all such wares as I had
receiued in barter for cloth, and as I tooke perforce of the king, and
other his Nobles, in paiment of money due vnto me, were not vendible in
Persia: for which causes and diuers others, I was constrained to come backe
againe to Mare Caspium, the same way I went: so that the eight of March
1559, we departed out of the said Citie of Boghar, being a Carauan of 600
Camels: and if we had not departed when we did, I and my company had bene
in danger to haue lost life and goods. For, ten daies after our departure,
the king of Samarcand came with an armie, and besieged the said Citie of
Boghar, the king being absent, and gone to the wars against another prince,
his kinsman, as the like chanceth in those Countries once in two or three
yeres. For it is maruell, if a King reigne there aboue three or foure
yeres, to the great destruction of the Countrey, and marchants.
[Sidenote: Vrgence.] The 25 of March, we came to the foresayd towne of
Vrgence, and escaped the danger of 400 rouers, which lay in waite for vs
backe againe, being the most of them of kindred to that company of theeues,
which we met with going foorth; as we perceiued by foure spies, which were
taken. [Sidenote: The king of Balke, or Balgh.] There were in my company,
and committed to my charge, two ambaassadors, the one from the king of
Boghar, the other from the king of Balke, and were sent vnto the Emperor of
Russia. And after having taried at Vrgence, and the Castle of Sellysure,
eight daies for the assembling, and making ready of our Carauan, the second
of Aprill we departed from thence, hauing foure more Ambassadors in our
companie, sent from the king of Vrgence, and other Soltans, his brethren,
vnto the Emperor of Russia, with answere of such letters as I brought them:
and the same Ambassadors were also committed vnto my charge by the sayde
Kings and princes: to whome I promised most faithfully, and swore by our
law, that they should be well vsed in Rusland, and suffered to depart from
thence againe in safetie, according as the Emperor had written also in his
letters: for they somewhat doubted, because there had none gone out of
Tartaria into Russia, of long time before.
The 23 of Aprill, we arriued at the Mare Caspium againe, where we found our
barke which we came in, but neither anker, cable, cocke, nor saile:
neuerthelesse wee brought hempe with vs, and spunne a cable our selues,
with the rest of our tackling, and made vs a saile of cloth of cotton
wooll, and rigged our barke as well as we could, but boate or anker we had
none. In the meane time being deuising to make an anker of wood of a cart
wheele, there arriued a barke, which came from Astracan, with Tartars and
Russes, which had 2 ankers, with whom I agreed for the one: and thus being
in a readinesse, we set saile and departed, I, and the two Iohnsons being
Master and Mariners ourselues, hauing in our barke the said sixe
ambassadors, and 25 Russes which had bene slaues a long time in Tartaria,
nor euer had before my comming, libertie, or meanes to get home, and these
slaues serued to rowe, when neede was. Thus sailing sometimes along the
coast, and sometimes out of sight of lande, the 13. day of May, hauing a
contrary winde, wee came to an anker, being three leagues from the shoare,
and there rose a sore storme, which continued 44. houres, and our cable
being of our our owne spinning, brake, and lost our anker, and being off a
lee shoare, and hauing no boate to helpe vs, we hoysed our saile, and bare
roomer with the said shoare, looking for present death: but as God prouided
vs, we ranne into a creeke ful of oze, and so saued our selues with our
barke, and liued in great discomfort for a time. For although we should
haue escaped with our liues the danger of the sea, yet if our barke had
perished, we knew we should haue bene either destroyed, or taken slaues by
the people of that Countrey, who liue wildly in the field, like beasts,
without house or habitation. Thus when the storme was seazed, we went out
of the creeke againe: and hauing set the land with our Compasse, and taken
certaine markes of the same, during the time of the tempest, whilest we
ridde at our anker, we went directly to the place where we ridde, with our
barke againe, and found our anker which we lost: whereat the Tartars much
marueiled howe we did it. While we were in the creeke, we made an anker of
wood of cart wheeles, which we had in our barke, which we threw away, when
wee had found our yron anker againe. Within two days after, there arose
another great storme, at the Northeast, and we lay a trie, being driuen far
into the sea, and had much ado to keepe our barke from sinking, the billowe
was so great: but at the last, hauing faire weather, we tooke the Sunne,
and knowing howe the land lay from vs we fel with the Riuer Yaik, according
to our desire, wherof the Tartars were very glad, fearing that wee should
haue bene driuen to the coast of Persia, whose people were vnto them great
enemies.
[Sidenote: The English flag in the Caspian sea.] Note, that during the time
of our Nauigation, wee set vp the redde crosse of S. George in our flagges,
for honour of the Christians, which I suppose was neuer seene in the
Caspian sea before. We passed in this voyage diuers fortunes:
notwithstanding the 28. of May we arriued in safetie at Astracan, and there
remained till the tenth of Iune following, as well to prepare vs small
boates, to goe vp against the streame of Volga, with our goods, as also for
the companie of the Ambassadours of Tartarie, committed vnto me, to bee
brought to the presence of the Emperour of Russia.
[Sidenote: A notable description of the Caspian Sea.] This Caspian sea (to
say some thing of it) is in length about two hundred leagues, and in
breadth 160, without any issue to other seas: to the East part whereof,
ioyneth the great desert countrey of the Tartars, called Turkemen: to the
West, the countreyes of the Chyreasses, the mountaines of Caucasus, and the
Mare Euxinum, which is from the said Caspian Sea a hundred leagues. To the
North is the riuer Volga, and the land of Nagay, and to the South parte
ioyne the countreys of Media and Persia. This sea is fresh water in many
places, and in other places as salt as our great Ocean. It hath many goodly
Riuers falling into it, and it auoideth not it selfe except it be vnder
ground. The notable riuers that fall into it are first the great riuer of
Volga, called in the Tartar tongue Edell, which springeth out of a lake in
a marrish or plaine ground, not farre from the Citie of Nouogrode in
Russia, and it is from the spring to the Sea, aboue two thousande English
miles. It hath diuers other goodly Riuers falling into it, as out of
Siberia, Yaic, and Yem: Also out of the mountaines of Caucasus, the Riuers
of Cyrus and Arash, and diuers others.
As touching the trade of Shamaky in Media and Tebris, with other townes in
Persia, I haue enquired, and do well vnderstand, that it is euen like to
the trades of Tartaria, that is little vtterance, and small profite: and I
haue bene aduertised that the chiefe trade of Persia is into Syria, and so
transported into the Leuant sea. The fewe shippes vpon the Caspian Seas,
the want of Mart and port Townes, the pouertie of the people, and the ice,
maketh that trade naught.
At Astracan there were merchants of Shamaky, with whom I offered to barter,
and to giue them kersies for their wares, but they would not, saying, they
had them as good cheape in their countrey, as I offred them, which was sixe
rubbles for a kersie, that I asked: and while I was at Boghar, there were
brought thither out of Persia, Cloth, and diuers commodities of our
countries, which were sold as good cheape, as I might sell ours.
The tenth day of Iune we departed from Astracan towards the Mosco, hauing
an hundred gunners in our company at the Emperors charges, for the safe
conduct at the Tartar Ambassadors and me. And the eight and twentieth day
of Iuly folowing, wee arriued at the citie of Cazan, hauing bene vpon the
way from Astracan thither, sixe weekes and more, without any refreshing of
victuals: for in all that way there is no habitation.
[Sidenote: His arriual at Mosco the 2. of September.] The seuenth of August
folowing, wee departed from Cazan, and transported our goods by water, as
farre as the citie of Morum, and then by land; so that the second of
September, we arriued at the citie of Mosco, and the fourth day I came
before the Emperours Maiestie, kissed his hand, and presented him a white
Cowes taile of Cathay, and a drumme of Tartária, which he well accepted.
Also I brought before him all the Ambassadors that were committed to my
charge, with all the Russe slaues: and that day I dined in his Maiesties
presence, and at dinner his Grace sent me meate by a Duke, and asked me
diuers questions touching the lands and countreis where I had bene. And
thus I remained at the Mosco about your affaires, vntil the 17. day of
February that your wares were sent downe: and then hauing a license of the
Emperors Maiestie to depart, the 21. day I came to your house at Vologhda,
and there remained vntil the breaking vp of the yere: and then hauing seene
all your goods laden into your boates, I departed, with the same, and
arriued withall in safetie at Colmogro the 9. of May 1560. And here I cease
for this time, intreating you to heare with this my large discourse, which
by reason of the varietie of matter, I could make no shorter, and I beseech
God to prosper all your attempts.
The latitudes of certaine principall places in Russia, and other Regions.
Deg. Min.
Mosco in 55 10
Nouogrod the great 58 26
Nouogrod the lesse 56 33
Colmogro 64 10
Vologhda 59 11
Cazan 55 33
Oweke 51 40
Astracan 47 9
At the entrance into the
Caspian sea. 46 42
Manguslaue beyond the
Caspian sea. 45 04
Vrgence in Tartary 20.
dayes iourney from the
Caspian sea. 42 18
Boghar a citie in Tartary
20. dayes iourney from
Vrgcnce. 39 10
* * * * *
Certaine notes gathered by Richard Iohnson (which was at Boghar with M.
Anthony Ienkinson) of the reports of Russes and other strangers, of the
wayes of Russia to Cathaya, and of diuers and strange people.
The first note giuen by one named Sarnichoke a Tartarian subiect to the
Prince of Boghar, which are also Tartars bordering vpon Kizilbash or
Persia, declaring the way from Astracan, being the furthest part of
Russia, to Cathaya as foloweth.
First from Astracan to Serachick by land, trauailing by leysure as
Merchants vse with wares, is 10. dayes iourney.
From Serachick to a towne named [Marginal note: Or Vrgema.] Vrgenshe, 15.
dayes.
From Vrgenshe to Boghar, 15. dayes.
From Boghar to Cascar, 30. dayes.
From Cascar to Cathaya, 30. dayes iourney.
* * * * *
By the same partie a note of another way more sure to traueile, as he
reporteth.
From Astracan to Turkemen by the Caspian sea, 10. dayes, with barkes.
From Turkemen by lande specially with Camels, bearing the weight of 15.
poodes for their common burthens, is 10. dayes to Vrgenshe.
From Vrgenshe to Boghar, 15. dayes.
Note. At this Citie of Boghar is the marte or meeting place betweene the
Turkes and nations of those parts and the Cathayans.
Also the toll there is the 40. part to be payed of Merchandizes or goods.
From thence to Cascar is one moneths iourney, and from Cascar (being the
frontier of the great Can, hauing many townes and fortes by the way) is
also a moneths trauel for merchants by land to Cathay.
Further, as he hath heard (not hauing bene in those parts himselfe) ships
may saile from the dominions of Cathaia vnto India. But of other waies, or
how the seas lie by any coast hee knoweth not.
The instruction of another Tartarian merchant dwelling in the citie of
Boghar, as he hath learned by other his countreymen which haue bene
there.
First from Astracan by sea to Serachick is 15 dayes: affirming also that a
man may trauell the other way before written by Turkemen.
From Serachick to Vrgence is 15 dayes.
From Vrgence to Boghar also 15 dayes.
Note. These last 30 daies iourney is without habitation of houses:
therefore trauellers lodge in their own tents, carying with them to eate,
their seuerall prouisions: and for drinesse there bee many wels of faire
water at equall baiting places not farre distant dayly to be had.
From Boghar to Taskent easie travelling with goods, is 14 dayes by land.
From Taskent to Occient 7 dayes.
From Occient to Cascar 20 daies. This Cascar is the head towne or citie of
another prince, lying betweene Boghar and Cathaia, called Reshit can.
From Cascar to Sowchick 30 daies iourney, which Sowchick is the first
border of Kathay.
From Sowchick to Camchick 5 dayes iourney, and from Camchick to Cathay is 2
moneths iourney, all the way being inhabited, temperate, and wel
replenished with innumerable fruits, and the chiefe citie in that whole
land is called Cambalu, which is yet 10 dayes iourney from Cathay.
Beyond this land of Cathay, which they praise to be ciuill and vnspeakeably
rich, is the countrey named in the Tartarian tongue Cara-calmack inhabited
with blacke people: but in Cathay the most part thereof stretching to the
sunne rising, are people white and of faire complexion. Their religion
also, as the Tartars report, is christian, or after the maner of
Christians, and their language peculiar, differing from the Tartarian
tongue.
There are no great and furious Beares in trauelling through the waies
aforesaid, but wolues white and blacke. And because that woods are not of
such quantitie there, as in these parts of Russia, but in maner rather
scant then plentiful, as is reported, the Beares breed not that way, but
some other beasts (as namely one in Russe called Barse) are in those
coasts. This Barse appeareth by a skinne of one seene here to sell, to be
nere so great as a big lion, spotted very faire and therefore we here take
it to be a Leopard or Tiger.
[Sidenote: Angrim] Note that 20 daies iourney from Cathay is a country
named Angrim, where liueth the beast that beareth the best Muske, and the
principal thereof is cut out of the knee of the male. [Sidenote: Mandeuille
speaketh hereof.] The people are taunie, and for that the men are not
bearded nor differ in complexion from women, they have certaine tokens of
iron, that is to say: the men weare the sunne round like a bosse vpon their
shoulders, and women on their priuie parts. Their feeding is raw flesh in
the same land, and in another called Titay: [Marginal Note: or Kitay.] the
Duke there is called Can. [Sidenote: Small people.] They worship the fire,
and it is 34 dayes iourney from great Cathay, and in the way lyeth the
beautifull people, eating with kniues of golde, and are called Comorom, and
the land of small people is neerer the Mosko then Cathay.
* * * * *
The instructions of one of Permia, who reporteth he had bene at Cathay the
way before written, and also another way neere the sea coast, as
foloweth, which note was sent out of Russia from Giles Holmes.
[Sidenote: Pechora but sixe days iourney by land or water from Ob.] First
from the prouince of Dwina is knowen the way to Pechora, and from Pechora
traueiling with Olens or harts, is sixe dayes iourney by land, and in the
Sommer as much by water to the riuer of Ob.
The Ob is a riuer full of flats, the mouth of it is 70. Russe miles ouer.
And from thence three dayes iourney on the right hand is a place called
Chorno-lese, to say in English, blacke woods, and from thence neere hand is
a people called Pechey-cony, wearing their haire by his description after
the Irish fashion.
From Pechey-cony to Ioult Calmachey three dayes iourney, and from thence to
Chorno Callachay three dayes tending to the Southeast.
These two people are of the Tartarian faith, and tributaries to the great
Can.
* * * * *
Here follow certaine countreys of the Samoeds which dwell vpon the riuer
Ob, and vpon the sea coasts beyond the same, taken outof the Russe tongue
word by word, and trauailed by a Russe born in Colmogro, whose name was
Pheodor Towtigin, who by report, was slaine in his second voyage in one
of the said countreys.
Vpon the East part beyond the countrey of Vgori, the riuer Ob is the most
Westernmost part thereof. Vpon the sea coast dwell Samoeds, and their
countrey is called Molgomsey, whose meate is flesh of Olens, or Harts, and
Fish, and doe eate one another sometimes among themselues. And if any
Marchants come vnto them, then they kill one of their children for their
sakes to feast them withall. And if a Marchant chance to die with them,
they burie him not, but eate him, and so doe they eate them of their owne
countrey likewise. [Sidenote: Travelling on dogs and harts.] They be euill
of sight, and haue small noses, but they be swift and shoote very well, and
they trauaile on Harts and on dogges, and their apparell is Sables and
Harts skinnes. They haue no Marchandise but Sables onely.
2 Item, on the same coast or quarter beyond those people; and by the sea
side also doth dwell another kinde of Samoeds in like maner, hauing another
language. One moneth in the yeere they liue in the sea, and doe not come or
dwell on the dry land for that moneth.
3 Item beyond these people, on the sea coast, there is another kinde of
Samoeds, their meate is flesh and fish, and their merchandise are Sables,
white and blacke Foxes (which the Russes call Pselts) and Harts skinnes,
and Fawnes skinnes.
* * * * *
The relation of Chaggi Memet a Persian Marchant, to Baptista Ramusius, and
other notable citizens of Venice; touching the way from Tauris the chiefe
city of Persia, to Campion a citie of Cathay ouer land: in which voyage
he himselfe had passed before with the Carauans.
From Tauris to Soltania. 6 dayes iourney
From Soltania to Casbin. 4 " "
From Casbin to Veremi. 6 " "
From Veremi to Eri. 15 " "
From Eri to Boghara. 20 " "
From Boghara to Samarchand. 5 " "
From Samarchand to Cascar. 25 " "
From Cascar to Acsu. 20 " "
From Acsu to Cuchi. 20 " "
From Cuchi to Chialis. 10 " "
From Chialis to Turfon. 10 " "
From Turfon to Camul. 13 " "
From Camul to Succuir. 15 " "
From Succuir to Gauta. 5 " "
From Gauta to Campion. 6 " "
Which Campion is a citie of the Empire of Cathay in the prouince of Tangut,
from whence the greatest quantitie of Rubarbe commeth.
* * * * *
A letter of Sigismond king of Polonia, written in the 39. yeere of his
reigne to Elizabeth the Queenes most excellent Maiestie of England, &c.
Sigismundus Augustus by the grace of God king of Polonia, great Duke of
Lituania, Russia, Prussia, Massouia, and Samogetia, &c. Lord and heire &c.
to the most Noble Princesse Ladie Elizabeth by the same grace of God Queene
of England, France and Ireland, &c. our deare sister, and kinsewoman,
greeting and increase of all felicitie. Whereas your Maiestie writeth to vs
that you haue receiued two of our letters, wee haue looked that you should
haue answered to them both. [Sidenote: The trade to Narue forbidden by the
K. of Poland.] First to the one in which we intreated more at large in
forbidding the voyage to Narue, which if it had bene done, we had bene
vnburdened of so often writing of one matter: and might haue answered your
Maiestie much better to the purpose. Now we thus answere to your Maiestie
to those matters of the which you writte to vs the 3 of October from
Windsore. [Sidenote: The ancient couenants of trafficke between England and
Prussia.] First, forasmuch as your Maiestie at the request of our letters
hath discharged the arrest of Marchants goods, and of the names of the men
of Danske our subiects, which was set vpon them by the commandement of your
Maiestie: and also haue restored the olde and ancient libertie of
traffique, we acknowlege great pleasure done vnto vs in the same: and also
think it to bee done according to common agreement made in times past.
Neither were we euer at any time of any other opinion touching your
Maiestie, but that wee should obtaine right and reason at your hands.
Forasmuch as we likewise shall at all times be ready to grant to your
Maiestie, making any request for your subiects, so farre as shall stand
with iustice, yet neither will we yeeld any thing to your Maiestie in
contention of loue, beneuolence, and mutuall office, but that we iudge
euery good turne of yours to be recompensed by vs to the vttermost: and
that shall we prooue as occasion shall serue. [Sidenote: The olde libertie
of trafficke.] Therefore we shall commaund the arrests, if any be made by
our subiects (as it is vnknowen to vs) of merchants goods and English names
to be discharged: and shall conserue the olde libertie of trafficke, and
all other things which shall seeme to apperteine to neighbourhood betweene
vs and your Maiestie: so that none of the subiects of your Maiestie
hereafter presume to vse the nauigation to the Narue forbidden by vs, and
full of danger not onely to our parts, but also to the open destruction of
all Christians and liberall nations. [Sidenote: The meanes of increase of
the power of the Muscouite.] The which as we haue written afore, so now we
write againe to your Maiesty that we know and feele of a surety, the
Moscouite, enemy to all liberty vnder the heauens, dayly to grow mightier
by the increase of such things as he brought to the Naure, while not onely
wares but also weapons heretofore vnknowen to him, and artificers and arts
be brought vnto him: by meane whereof he maketh himselfe strong to vanquish
all others. Which things, as long as this voyage to Narue is vsed, can not
be stopped. And we perfectly know your Maiesty can not be ignorant how
great the cruelty is of the said enemy, of what force he is, what tyranny
he vseth on his subiects, and in what seruile sort they be under him. We
seemed hitherto to vanquish him onely in this, that he was rude of arts,
and ignorant of policies. If so be that this nauigation to the Naure
continue, what shall be vnknowen to him? Therefore we that know best, and
border vpon him, do admonish other Christian princes in time, that they do
not betray their dignity, liberty and life of them and their subiects to a
most barbarous and cruell enemy, as we can no lesse do by the duty of a
Christian prince. For now we do foresee, except other princes take this
admonition, the Moscuite puffed vp in pride with those things that he
brought to the Narue, and made more perfect in warlike affaires with
engines of warre and shippes, will make assault this way on Christendome,
to slay or make bound all that shall withstand him: which God defend. With
which our admonition diuers princes already content themselues, and
abstaine from the Narue. The others that will not abstaine from the sayd
voyage shalbe impeached by our nauie, and incurre the danger of losse of
life, liberty, wife and children. Now therefore if the subiects of your
Maiesty will forbeare this voyage to Narue, there shalbe nothing denied to
them of vs. Let your Maiesty well weigh and consider the reasons and
occasions of our stopping of ships going to the Narue. In which stopping,
our subiects of Danske be in no fault, as we haue already written to your
Maiesty, neither vse we their counsell in the same. In any other matter, if
there be any fault in them against your Maiesty or your subiects, we will
gladly do iustice vpon them, that your Maiesty may well vnderstand that we
be careful of you and your subiects. Neither thinke we it meet to take
Hamburgh, or any other place to iudge the matter: for we have our councell
and iudgement seat at Rie, where your Maiesty and your subiects, or any
other shal haue iustice administred vnto them, with whom we haue had
ancient league and amity. And thus much we haue thought good to let your
Maiesty vnderstand. Fare ye well. Dated the sixt of December the 39 of our
reigne. [Footnote: A.D. 1559]
Sigismundus Augustus Rex.
* * * * *
The Queenes Maiesties Letters to the Emperour of Russia, requesting
licence, and safe conduct for M. Anthony Ienkinson to passe thorow his
kingdome of Russia, into Persia, to the Great Sophie, 1561.