principi, D. Ioanni Basiliuich, Imperatori totius Russiæ, Magno Duci, &c.
Salutem, et omnium rerum prosperarum foelicissimum incrementum.
Potentissime Princeps, res est nobis ad memorandum longè gratissima, illa
vestræ Maiestatis erga nos et nostros amicitia. Quæ tempore foelicissimæ
memoriæ Regis Edwardi sexti, fratris nostri charissimi, Dei benignitate
incepta, deinceps verò vestra non solùm singulari humanitate alta atque
fota, sed incredibili etiam bonitate aucta atque cumulata, nunc autem
omnibus beneuolentiæ vestræ officijs sic firmata est atque constabilita, vt
iam minimè dubitemus, quin ea ad laudem Dei, ad gloriam vtriusque nostrum,
ad publicam nostrorum vtrobique regnorum immensam commoditatem, ad priuatam
singulorum vtrinque subditorum optatam spem, certàmque foelicitatem multis
sit deinceps seculis duratura. Et quanquam hæc vestra bonitas, plenissimè
sese effudit in omnes nostros subditos, qui sese in ullas imperij vestri
partes vnquam receperunt, (pro qua ingentes nostras, vt par est, gratias
vestræ Maiestati habemus, vestrísque vicissim in omni opportunitatis loco
libentissimè feremus) tamen abundantia benignitatis vestræ, in accipiendo,
támque humanitèr tractando nostrum fidelem et perdilectum famulum Antonium
Ienkinson, qui has perfert literas, seorsim nobis gratissima existit. Nam
præterquam quòd nullis non locis vestri Imperij et magna libertate, et
summa humanitate vestræ serenitatis non permissu solùm, sed iussu etiam
frueretur, vestra bonitas tamen non in hac domestica benignè feciendi
ratione conquieuit, sed perlibentèr et vltrò eundum nostrum hunc
perdilectum famulum, varijs exteris princibus, quoquouersus ipse iter suum
instituerat, literis suis, suo magno Imperiali sigillo consignatis
commendauit. Quod beneficium illi vbiuis gentium, et viam sine vllo
periculo, propter publicam vestram fidem, et aduentum cum magno fauore,
propter vestram commendationem, optatè quidem et foeliciter communiuit
Itaque quemadmodum gemina hæc vestra beneuolentia, cum illa generalis
exhibita in vestro regno negotiantibus subditis nostris vniuersis, tum ista
seorsim præstita huic Antonio Ienkinson, perfideli nostro famulo, nobis in
mente non solùm ad gratam perpetuamque memoriam, verùm etiam ad mutuam, vel
opportunam compensationem, firmissimè defixa est: ita, petimus à vestra
Maiestate vt vtramque beneuolentiæ vestræ rationem et communem nostris
vniuersis, et priuatam huic nostro dilecto famulo, vtrisque deinceps
dignetur tueri, atque conseruare. Neque nos quidem diffidemus, quin quem
fauorem vestra Maiestas anteà sua sponte Antonio Ienkinson, tum quidem
priuato ostendit, eundem nunc nostra rogatu eidem Antonio in nostrum iam
famulatum cooptato benignè velit denuò declarere. Et proptereà petimus à
vestra Maiestate, vt dignetur iterum concedere eidem nostro famulo literas
suas commeatus, publicæ fidei, ac saluiconductus, quarum tenore,
authoritate, atque præsidio, sit illi, familiaribus suis, et seruis, tutum,
liberumque, cum mercibus, sarcinis, equis, et bonis suis vniuersis,
inuehendis euehendísque, per vestra regna, domicilia, atque prouincias,
proficisci, ire, transire, redire, abire, et istic morari, quandiu
placuerit, et inde recedere quandocunque illi aut suis libitum fuerit. Et
sicut non dubitamus, quin vestra Maiestas hæc omnia humanitatis grata
officia, pro immensa bonitate suæ naturæ benignè et largiter huic famulo
nostro sit concessura ita valdè optamus, adeóque petimus, vt vestra
Maiestas eodem nostrum famulum, vnà cum omnibus suis familiaribus, ac
bonis, exteris alijs principibus literis suis dignetur commendare,
presertim verò atque seorsim Magno Sophi, Persarum Imperatori, in cuius
etiam imperia et ditiones idem noster famulus gratia potissimè experiundi
peregrina, commercia, proficisci vnà cum suis constituit.
Confidimus igitur hæc omnia nostra postulata pro famuli spe, pro nostra
expectatione, pro vestra bonitate, pro nostrorum utrinque subditorum
commoditate, fausta illi, grata nobis, acccpta etiam vestræ Maiestati, et
nostris vtrobíque perquam vtilia euasura. Deus vestræ Maiestatis, &c. Datum
in celeberrima nostra Ciuitate Londini, anno mundi 5523. Domini ac Dei
nostri Iesu Christi 1561. regnorum verò nostrorum tertio.
The same in English
Elizabeth by the grace of God, Queene of England, &c. to the right
excellent, and right mightie Prince, Lord Iohn Basiliwich, Emperour of all
Russia, &c. greeting, and most happie increase in all prosperitie. Right
mightie Prince, the amitie of your Maiestie towards vs and our subiects is
very pleasant to vs to be remembred, which being begun by the goodnesse of
God in the reigne of our most deare brother of happie memorie, King Edward
the sixt, and afterwards, through your not onely singular humanitie, fed,
and nourished, but also through your incredible goodnesse increased, and
augmented, is now firmed and established, with all maner of tokens of your
beneuolence, that now we doubt not, but that from hencefoorth, during many
ages, the same shall endure to the praise of God, to both our glories, to
the publike great commoditie of our Realmes on either part, and to the
priuate desired hope; and certeine felicitie of all our subiects. And
although that this your goodnesse hath bene abundantly extended to all our
subiects that have at any time repaired into any part of your Empire, for
the which wee giue (as reason is) your Maiestie right heartie thanks, and
will againe shew the like vnto yours, right willingly, whensoeuer
opportunitie shall require: yet the abundance of your benignitie both in
receiuing, and also in enterteining our faithfull and beloued seruant,
Anthonie Ienkinson, the bringer of these our letters, is vnto vs for him
priuately very thankefull. For besides this, that in all places of your
Empire, he not onely by your Maiesties sufferance, but also by your
commandement, enioyed much libertie, and great friendship, your goodnesse
not ceasing in this your domesticall disposition of clemencie, did right
willingly, and of your owne abundant grace, commend the same our
well-beloued seruant, by your letters sealed with your Imperiall seale, to
sundrie forren Princes, vnto whom he was minded to iourney: which your
magnificence did purchase unto him happily, according to his desire, both
passage without all perill, through your notable credit, and also
atchieuing of his iourney through your commendation. Therefore like as
these your duplicated beneuolences, both that one generally exhibited to
all our subiects frequenting that your Realme, and also this the other
extended apart to this our right faithfull seruant Anthonie Ienkinson, is
right assuredly fastened in our remembrance, not onely for a perpetuall and
gratefull memorial, but also for a mutuall and meet compensation: so we
desire of your Maiestie, to vouchsafe from hencefoorth to conserue and
continue the geminate disposition of your beneuolences, both generally to
all our subiects, and also priuately to this, our beloued seruant. And we
doubt not, but that at our request, you will againe graciously shew vnto
the same Anthony, now admitted into our seruice, the like favor as
heretofore your Maiesty of your meere motion did exhibite vnto him, being
then a priuate person. And therefore we desire your Maiesty eftsones to
grant to the same our seruant, your letters of licence, pasport, and safe
conduct, through the tenour, authority, and helpe whereof, he, his
seruants, together with their merchandises, baggages, horses, and goods
whatsoeuer, that shall be brought in, or carried out, by or thorow all your
empire, kingdome, dominions, and provinces, may surely and freely iourney,
go, passe, repasse, depart, and there tary so long as it shall please him:
and from thence returne whensoeuer it shall seeme good to him or his: and
as we doubt not, but that your Maiesty in the goodnesse of your nature will
graciously and abundantly grant all these good offices of humanity, so we
do heartily desire that your Maiesty wil likewise vouchsafe to commend the
same our seruant, together with all his goods, by your letters to other
forren Princes, and especially to the great Sophy, and Emperour of Persia,
into whose empire and iurisdictions the same our seruant purposeth with his
for to iourney, chiefly for triall of forren merchandises.
We therefore doe trust that all these our demands shall tend, and haue
effect, according to the hope of our seruant, and to our expectation, for
your wealth, for the commodity of both our subiects, lucky to him,
thankefull to vs, acceptable to your Maiesty, and very profitable to our
subiects on either part. God grant vnto your Maiesty long and happy
felicity in earth, and euerlasting in heauen. Dated in our famous city of
London the 25 day of the moneth of April, in the yeere of the creation of
the world 5523, and of our Lord God Iesus Christ 1561, and of our reigne
the third.
* * * * *
The Queenes Maiesties Letters to the great Sophy of Persia, sent by M.
Anthonie Ienkinson. 1561.
ELizabetha Dei gratia, Angliæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Regina, &c.
Potentissimo, et inuictissimo Principi, Magno Sophi Persarum, Medorum,
Parthorum, Hircanorum, Carmanorum, Margianorum, populorum ris et vltrà
Tygrim fluuium, et omnium intra Mare Caspium, et Persicum sinum nationum
atque Gentium Imperatori salutem, et rerum prosperarum foelicissimum
incrementum. Summi Dei benignitate factum est, vt quas gentes, non solum
immensa terrarum spacia, et insuperabiles marium vastitates sed et ipsi
etiam cælorum cardines longissimè disiunxerunt, ipsæ tamen literarum bono
et mentis certa cogitata, et humanitatis grata officia, et intelligentiæ
mutuæ multa commoda facilè inter se et opportunè possint communicare.
Itaque cùm perdilectus, et fidelis noster famulus Antonius Ienkinson, qui
has literas nostras perfert, cum bona venia, fauore, et gratia nostra hoc
Angliæ nostræ regnum excedere, et in Persiam vsque, vestrásque alias
ditiones Dei benignitate penetrare constituerit, hoc illius institutum
perlaudabile quidem grato nostro fauore prosequi, et promouere studuimus:
id quod eo nos libentius facimus, quoniam hoc eius propositum ex honesto
studio commercij constituendi potissimum cùm vestris subditis, alijsque
peregrinis hominibus, ad vestra regna confluentibus, omninò exortum sit.
Propterea nobis et scribendum ad vestram Maiestatem, ab eaque petendum esse
duximus, vt nostro rogatu dignetur concedere huic famulo nostro Antonio
Ienkinson literas publicæ fidei et salui conductus, quarum authoritate
atque præsidio, licitum, liberúmque sit illi, vnà cum suis familiaribus,
seruis, sarcinis, mercibus et bonis vniuersis, per vestra regna, domicilia,
ditiones, atque prouincias liberè, et sine impedimento proficisci, ire,
transire, redire, abire, et istic morari, quamdiu placuerit, et inde
recedere, quandocunque illi vel suis lubitum fuerit. Si hæc sancta
hospitalitis iura et duleia communis humanitatis officia, inter nos, nostra
regna nostrósque subditos libentèr constitui, sincerè coli, et constanter
conseruari queant, speramus nos, Deum Optimum Maximum effecturum, vt ab
hijs paruis initijs, grandiora rerum momenta, nobis ad magna ornamenta
atque decus nostris ad summa commoda atque vsus, aliquando sint oritura:
siquidem, vt non, terra, non mare, non coelum, ad nos longissimè sperandos
quàm diuina ratio communis humanitatis, et mutuæ beneuolentiæ ad nos
firmissimè coniungendos plus virium habuisse videatur. Deus salutem omnem,
et foelicem in terris, et perpetuam in coelis, vestræ concedat Maiestati.
Datum in Anglia, in celebri nostra vrbe Londino, 25 die mensis Aprilis,
anno mundi 5523. Domini ac Dei nostri Iesu Christi, 1561, regnorum vero
nostrorum tertio.
The same in English.
[Sidenote: This letter was also written in Hebrew and Italian.] Elizabeth
by the grace of God, Queene of England, &c. To the right mightie, and right
victorious Prince, the great Sophie, Emperour of the Persians, Medes,
Parthians Hircans, Carmanians, Margians, of the people on this side, and
beyond the river of Tygris, and of all men, and nations, betweene the
Caspian sea, and the gulfe of Persia, greeting and most happie increase in
all prosperitie. By the goodness of the Almightie God it is ordeined, that
those people which not onely the huge distance of the lands, and the
inuincible widenesse of the seas, but also the very quarters of the heavens
do most farre separate, and set asunder, may neuerthelesse through good
commendation by writing, both ease, and also communicate betweene them, not
onely the conceiued thoughts, or deliberations, and gratefull offices of
humanitie, but also many commodities of mutuall intelligence. Therefore
whereas our faithfull, and right wellbeloued seruant Anthonie Ienkinson,
bearer of these our letters, is determined with our licence, fauor, and
grace, to passe out of this our Realme, and by Gods sufferance to trauell
euen into Persia, and other your iurisdictions; we minde truely with our
good favour to set forward, and aduance that his right laudable purpose:
and that the more willingly, for that this his enterprise is only grounded
upon an honest intent to establish trade of merchandise with your subiects,
and with other strangers traffiking in your realmes. Wherfore we haue
thought good, both to write to your Maiestie, and also to desire the same,
to vouchsafe at our request, to grant to our sayd seruant, Anthonie
Ienkinson, good passports and safe conducts, by meanes and authoritie
wherof, it may be free and lawfull for him, together with his familiars,
seruants, cariages, merchandise, and goods whatsoeuer, thorow your Realmes,
Dominions, Iurisdictions, and Prouinces, freely, and without impeachment,
to iourney, go, passe, repasse, and tarry so long as he shall please and
from thence to retourne whensoeuer he or they shall thinke good. If these
holy dueties of entertainment, and sweet offices of naturall humanitie may
be willingly concluded, sincerely embraced, and firmly obserued between vs,
and our Realmes, and subiects, then we do hope that the Almightie God will
bring it to passe, that of these small beginnings, greater moments of
things shall hereafter spring, both to our furniture and honours, and also
to the great commodities, and vse of our peoples: so it will be knowen that
neither the earth, the seas, nor the heauens, haue so much force to
separate vs, as the godly disposition of naturall humanity, and mutual
beneuolence haue to ioyne vs strongly together. God grant vnto your
Maiestie long and happy felicity in earth, and perpetuall in heauen. Dated
in England in our famous citie of London, the 25 day of the moneth of
April, in the yere of the creation of the world 5523, and of our Lord and
God Iesus: Christ, 1561, and of our reigne the third.
* * * * *
A remembrance giuen by vs the Gouernours, Consuls, and Assistants of the
company of Merchants trading into Russia, the eight day of May 1561, to
our trustie friend Anthonie Ienkinson, at his departure towards Russia,
and so to Persia, in this our eight iourney.
First you shall vnderstand that we haue laden in our good ship, called the
Swallow, one Chest, the keyes whereof we doe heere deliuer you, and also a
bill, wherein are written particularly the contents in the sayd Chest, and
what euery thing did cost: and because, as you know, the sayd Chest is of
charge, we desire you to haue a speciall regard vnto it, and when God shall
send you vnto Mosco, our mindes and will is, that you, with the aduise of
our Agents there, doe appoint some such presents for the Emperour and his
sonne, either wine, cloth of golde, scarlet, or plate, as to your good
discretion shall be thought meet, and when you haue deliuercd vnto him the
Queenes Maiesties letters and our sayd present in the name of the Company,
we thinke it good that you make your humble sute vnto his Highnesse in our
name, to get his licence or safe conduct for you and all other our seruants
or Agents at all times hereafter with such wares and merchandise as you at
this time, or they hereafter at all other times shall thinke good to passe
out of his dominions towards Tartaria, Persia, or other places, and also to
retourne vnto Mosco with such wares and merchandises as you shall bring or
send from any land or countrey that is not in his dominions, and if it be
thought good by you and our Agents there to make composition with the
emperor or his officers for some certeine custome or tole vpon such goods
as we shall passe that way, to the intent we might be the better fauored,
we refer it to your discretion, foreseeing that the opening of this matter
be not preiudiciall vnto our former priuileges.
And for the sale of our cloth of gold, plate, pearles, saphyres, and other
iewels, we put our trust and confidence in you principally to sell them for
ready money, time to good debtors, or in barter for good wares, so that you
make our other Agents priuy how and for what price you sell any of the
premisses, and also deliver such sums of money, billes or wares, as you
shall receiue, vnto our said Agents: thinking good further, that if you
perceiue that the plate or other iewels, or any part thereof will not be
sold for profit before your departure from the Mosco, that then you cause
them to be safe-packed, and set order they may be sent hither againe in our
shippes the next yere; except you perceiue that there may be some profit in
carrying some part of them into Persia, which we would not to be of any
great value.
We have also laden in the sayd Swallow and the other two ships 80 fardles,
conteining 400 kersies, as by youre inuoice doth appeare, which fardles be
packed, and appointed to be caried into Persia: neuerthelesse, if you
chance to finde good sales for them in the Mosco, we thinke it were good to
sell part of them there, and to cary the lesse quantity with you, because
we be vncertaine what vent or sale you shall find in Persia or other places
where you shall come.
If you obtaine the Emperours licence to passe out of his dominions, and to
returne, as aforesaid, and that you perceiue you may safely do the same,
our minde is, that at such time as you thinke best and most conuenient for
that purpose, you do apppoint so many, and such of our hired seruants or
apprentices as you thinke necessary and meet for our affaires, and may best
be spared, to go with you in your said voyage, whereof we would one to be
such as you might make priuy of all your doings for diuers considerations
and causes that may happen: which seruants and apprentises, we will and
command, by this our remembrance, to be obedient vnto you as vnto vs, not
onely to goe with you and to doe such things as you command them in your
presence, but also to goe vnto such countreys or places as you shall
appoint them vnto, either with wares or without wares and there to remaine
and continue so long as you shall thinke good, and if they or any of them
will refuse to do such things as you do appoint them, as aforesaid, or that
any of them (be he hired seruant or apprentise) do misuse himselfe by any
maner of disobedience or disorder, and will not by gentle and faire meanes
be reformed, we will that you send him backe to the Mosco, with straight
order that he may be sent from thence hither, aad let vs haue knowledge of
his euill behauior, to the intent that if he be a hired seruant we may pay
him his wages according to his seruice, and if he be an apprentise we may
vse him according to his deserts.
We will also that you take with you such kersies, scarlet, and other
clothes, or any other such wares of ours, as you shall thinke good, and so
in the name of God to take your iourney towards Persia, either by the way
of Astracan and Mare Caspium, or otherwise as you shall see cause: and when
God sendeth you into Persia, our minde is, that you repaire vnto the great
Sophy with the Queenes Maiesties letters, if he be not too farre from the
Caspian sea for you to trauell, and that you make him such a present as you
shall thinke meet, and if you passe by any other kings, princes, or
gouernors, before or after you come to the presence of the Sophy, likewise
to make them some present, as you see cause, according to their estate and
dignitie, and withall to procure letters of priuilege or safeconduct of the
sayd Sophy or other princes in as large and ample maner as you can, for the
sure establishing of further trade in merchandise by vs heereafter to be
made, frequented and continued in those parts, not onely that we may freely
sell in all places within his dominions such wares as we cary thither, but
also buy and bring away any maner of wares or merchandise whatsoeuer it be,
that is for our purpose and commoditie within his dominions, with free
passage also for vs at all times, to passe as often as we will with our
goods and merchandise into any part of India or other countreys thereunto
adioyning, and in like maner to returne thorow his dominions into Russia or
elswhere.
And for the sale of our kersies or other wares that you shall haue with
you, as our trust is that you will doe for our most profit and commoditie:
euen so we referre all vnto your good discretion, as well in the sale of
our sayd goods, as to make our returne in such things as you shall finde
there, and thinke best for our profit. [Sidenote: The passage of Noua
Zembla.] But if passage cannot be had into Persia by Astracan, or
otherwise, the next Summer, which shalbe in the yere 1562, then our minde
is, that you procure to sell our kersies, and other such wares as are
appointed for Persia, in the Mosco, or other the Emperours dominions, if
you may sell them for any reasonable price, and then to employ your selfe
with such other of your seruants, as you shall thinke meet for the search
of the passage by Noua Zembla, or els you to returne for England as you
thinke good. Prouided alwayes, that if you do perceiue or vnderstand, that
passage is like to be had into Persia the Summer folowing, which shalbe in
the yeere 1563, and that you can not sell our kersies in the Emperours
dominions, as aforesayd, at a reasonable price: then we will rather they
may be kept till the said Summer in the yeere 1563, and then you to proceed
forwards vpon your iourney towards Persia as aforesayd. If passage into
Persia cannot be obteined the next yeere, neither good hope of passage in
the yeere 1563, neither yet in the meane time good sale of our kersies in
the Emperours dominions then we thinke good for you to see if you can
practise to carry your said wares by safe conduct thorow Polonia or any
other wayes vnto Constantinople, or els where you thinke beter sale may he
had, then in Russia.
Thus haue we giuen you to vnderstand our meanings in this intended
aduenture; but forasmuch as we do consider and know that if we should
prescribe vnto you any certaine way, or direct order what you should doe,
we might so worke cleane contrary to our purpose and intent: therefore
knowing your approved wisedome with your experience, and also your carefull
and diligent minde in the atchieuing and bringing to good successe (by the
helpe of almighty God) all things that you take in hand, we doe commit our
whole affaires concerning the said aduenture wholly vnto your good
discretion, praying God so to prosper you as may be first for his glory,
secondly for the honour and commoditie of this realme and next for our
profit, with the increase of your good name for euer.
And yet further desiring, and also most earnestly requiring you, as you
tender the state of our company, that you will haue a speciall regard vnto
the order of our houses and our seruants as well at Colmogro and Vologda,
as at Mosco and to see and consider if any misorder be amongst our seruants
or apprentises wherby you thinke we might hereafter be put to hinderance or
losse of any part of our goods or priuilege there, that you doe not onely
see the same reformed, but also to certifie vs thereof by your letter at
large, as our trust is in you.