would withholde from him all other gold within the earth I sawe some of those people being very deformed creatures In Tangut I saw lusly tall men but browne and smart in colour The Iugures are of a middle stature like vnto our French men Amongst the Iugures is the originall and roote of the Turkish and Comanian languages Next vnto Tebet are the people of Langa and Solanga whose messengers I saw in the Tartars court And they had brought more then ten great cartes with them euery one of which was drawen with sixe oxen They be little browne men like vnto Spaniards Also they haue iackets like vnto the vpper vestment of a deacon sauing that the sleeues are somewhat streighter And they haue miters vpon their heads like bishops But the fore part of their miter is not so hollow within as the hinder part neither is it sharpe pointed or cornered at the toppe but there hang downe certaine square flappes compacted of a kinde of strawe which is made rough and rugged with extreme heat and is so trimmed that it glittereth in the sunne beames like vnto a glasse or an helmet well burnished And about their temples they haue long bands of the foresayd matter fastened vnto their miters which houer in the wind as if two long hornes grewe out of their heads And when the winde tosseth them vp and downe too much they tie them ouer the midst of their miter from one temple to another and so they lie circle wise ouerthwart their heads Moreouer their principal messenger comming vnto the Tartars court had a table of elephants tooth about him of a cubite in length and a handfull in breadth being very smoothe And whensoeuer hee spake vnto the Emperor himselfe or vnto any other great personage hee alwayes beheld that table as if hee had found therein those things which hee spake neither did he cast his eyes to the right hand nor to the lefte nor vpon his face with whom he talked Yea going too and fro before his lord he looketh no where but only vpon his table Beyond theÌ„ as I vnderstand of a certainty there are other people called Muc hauing villages but no one particular man of them appropriating any cattell vnto himselfe Notwithstanding there are many flockes and droâ—es of cattell in their countrey no man appointed to keepe them But when any one of them standeth in neede of any beast hee ascendeth vp vnto an hill and there maketh a shout and all the cattell which are within hearing of the noyse come flocking about him and suffer themselues to be handled and taken as if they were tame And when any messenger or stranger commeth into their countrie they shut him vp into an house ministring there things necessary vnto him vntill his businesse he dispatched For if anie stranger should trauell through that countrie the cattell would flee away at the very sent of him and so would become wilde Beyond Muc is great Cathâ—ya the inhabitants whereof as I suppose were of olde time called Seres For from them are brought most excellent stuffes of silke And this people is called Seres of a certain towne in the same countrey I was crediblie informedâ— that in the said countrey there is one towne hauing walles of siluer and bulwarkes or towers of golde There be many prouinces in that land the greater part whereof are not as yet subdued vnto the Tartars And amongst * Somewhat is wanting Part of the great Charter granted by king Edward the first to the Barons of the Cinque portes in the sixt yeere of his reigne 1278. for their good seruices done vnto him by sea wherein is mention of their former ancient Charters from Edward the Confessor William the Conqueror William Rufus Henry the second king Richard the first king Iohn and Henry the third continued vnto them EDward by the grace of God king of England lord of Ireland duke of Gascoigne to all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earles Barons Iustices Shirifs Prouosts Officers to all Bayliffes and true subiects greeting You shall knowe that for the faithfull seruice that our Barons of the fiue Ports hitherto to our predecessors kings of England vnto vs lately in our armie of Wales haue done and for their good seruice to vs and our heires kings of England truly to be continued in time to come we haue granted by this our Charter confirmed for vs and our heires to the same our Barons and to their heires all their liberties and freedomes So that they shall be free from all toll and from all custome that is to say from all lastage tollage passage cariage riuage asponsage and from all wrecke and from all their sale carying and recarying through all our realme and dominion with socke and souke toll and theme And that they shall haue Infangthefe and that they shall be wreckefree lastagefree and louecopfree And that they shall haue Denne and Strande at great Yarmouth according as it is contayned in the ordinance by vs thereof made perpetually to bee obserued And also that they are free from all shires and hundreds so that if any person will plead against them they shall not aunswere nor pleade otherwise then they were wont to plead in the time of the lord king Henrie our great grandfather And that they shall haue their findeâ—â—es in the sea and in the land And that they be free of all their goods and of all their marchandises as our freemen And that they haue their honours in our court and their liberties throughout all the land wheresoeuer they shall come And that they shall be free for euer of all their lands which in the time of Lord Henrie the king our father they possessed that is to say in the 44. yere of his reign from all maner of summonces before our Iustices to any maner of pleadings iourneying in what shire soeuer their lands are So that they shall not be bound to come before the Iustices aforesaid except any of the same Barons doe implead any man or if any man be impleaded And that they shall not pleade in any other place except where they ought and where they were wont that is to say aâ— Shepeway And that they haue their liberties and freedomes from hencefoorth as they and their predecessors haue had them at any time better more fully and honourably in the time of the kings of England Edward William the first William the second Henrie the king our great grandfatherâ— and in the times of king Richard and king Iohn our grandfathers and lord king Henrie our father by their Charters as the same Charters which the same our Barons thereof haue and which we haue seene doe reasonably testifie And we forbid that no man vniustly trouble them nor their marchandise vpon our forfeyture of ten pounds So neuerthelesse that when the same Barons shall fayle in doing of Iustice or in receiuing of Iustice our Warden and the
weather in such sort as the one cannot haue sight of the other then and in such case the Admiral shall make sound and noise by drumme trumpet horne gunne or otherwise or meanes that the ships may come as nigh together as by safetie and good order they may 6 It is also to be obserued that euery day once the other three shippes shall send and come aboord the Admirall and there consult and determine of such matter and things as shall be for the assurance of their Nauigation and most expedition of the same 7 Item that notes entries be daily made of their Nauigations put in writing memory and that the yong Mariners and apprentices may be taught caused to learne and obserue the same 8 It is accorâ—ed that the said Captaine shall haue the principall rule and gouernement of the apprentices And that not onely they but also all other the sailers shal be attendant and obedient to him as of duetie and reason appertaineth 9 Also that no beere nor broth or other liquor be spilt vpon the balast or other place of the ship whereby any anoyance stinke or other vnsauorinesse shall growe in the shippe to the infection or hurt of the persons in the same 10 Item that the Captaine by discretion shall from time to time disship any artificer or English seruing man or apprentice out of the Primrose into any of the other three ships and in lieu of him or them take any such apprentice as he shall thinke conuenient and most meete to serue the benefite of the companie 11 Item that great respect be had to the Gunners and Cookes roomes that all danger and perill of powder and fire may be eschewed and auoyded 12 Item that singular care and respect be had to the ports of the ship aswell in Nauigation as in harborow and especially in lading and vnlading of the shippes that nothing be lacking or surcharged and that the bookes may oftentimes be conferred and made to agree in eschuement of such losses as may ensue 13 Special foresight is to be had that at the Wardhouse no treacherie inuasion or other peril of molestation be done or procured to be attempted to our ships by any kings princes or companies that do mislike this new found trade by seas to Russia or would let hinder the same whereof no small boast hath bene made which giueth occasion of more circumspection and diligence 14 If the winde and weather will serue it is thought good rather to goe by the Wardhouse then to come in and anâ—re there lest any male engine or danger may be the rather attempted against vs our goods and ships as aboue 15 It is thought good that Richard Iohnson late seruant to M. Chanceler shall be sent home in this next returne to instruct the company of the state of the Countrey and of such questions as may be demanded of him for our better aduertisements and resolutions in such doubts as shall arise here and that he shall haue the roome of the Captaine in such sort as Master Ienkinson is in this present cocket assigned vnto And if Iohnson can not may not nor will not returne and occupie the said place then any other person to be preferred thereunto as by the discretion of our said Captaine with consent of our Agents shall be thought meete and apt to supply the same 16 Prouided alway that the ships returning be not disfurnished of one such able man as shall occupie the Captainship in like order as is and hath bene in such case appoynted as reason and good order requireth 17 Item that all other former orders rules and deuises made and prouided for the good order of our ships wares and goods being not repugnant contrary or diuerse to these articles and the contents of the same shall be and stand in full force and effect to be in all respects obserued and kept of all and euery person and persons whom the same doth or shall touch or concerne In witnesse of the premisses faithfully to be obserued and kept the owners and Masters of the said foure ships together with the said Captaine to these seuenteene articles contained in two sheetes of paper haue subscribed their hands Giuen in London the third of May in the yeere of our Lord God 1557. ¶ Owners of the Primerose Andrewe Iudde William Chester Anthony Hickman Edward Casteline ¶ Owners of the Iohn Euangelist Andrew Iudde William Chester ¶ Owner of the Anne Iohn Dimocke ¶ Owner of the Trinitie R.T. A letter of the Company of the Marchants aduenturers to Russia vnto George Killingworth Richard Gray and Henry Lane their Agents there to be deliuered in Colmogro or els where sent in the Iohn Euangelist AFter our heartie commendations vnto you and to either of you your generall letter and other particular letters with two bookes of the sale and remainders of our goods and the buying of ware there with you we receiued about the ende of Nouember out of the Edward with heauie newes of the losse of the sayde good shippe and goods at Petslego in Scotland with the death of Richard Chanceler and his Boy with certaine of the Embassadours seruants and he himselfe with nine of his seruants escaped very hardly onely by the power of God but all his goods and ours in maner were lost and pilfered away by the Scots and that that is saued is not yet come to our hands but we looke for it daily and it will skant pay the charges for the recouering of it No remedy but patience and to pray to God to send vs better fortune hereafter As touching the receiuing and entertaining of the Embassadour and his retinewe since his comming to England at the king and Queenes Maiesties hands with the Counsell Lords of this Realme and the Marchants that be free in Russia with feasting and beneuolence giuen him wee referre it to his report and others The like we thinke haue not bene seene nor shewed here of a long time to any Ambassadour The Philip and Marie arriued here tenne dayes past shee wintered in Norway The Confidence is lost there And as for the Bona Esperanza as yet we haue no newes of her We feare it is wrong with her By your billes of lading receiued in your generall letters we perceiue what wares are laden in them both Your letters haue no date nor mention where they were made which were written by Henry Lane and firmed by you George Killingworth and Richard Gray both it and the other Letters and Bookes came so sore spoyled and broken with water that we cannot make our reckoning by them You shall vnderstand we haue fraighted for the parts of Russia foure good shippes to be laden there by you your order That is to say The Primerose of the burthen of 240. Tunnes Master vnder God Iohn Buckland The Iohn Euangelist of 170. Tunnes Master vnder God Laurence Roundal The Anne of London of the burthen of 160. tunnes Master vnder God
quod adducent vel adduci facient infra regnum potestatem nostram vnde marinarijs fretum soluere tenebuntur soluent nobis haeredibus nostris nomine Custumae duos solidos vltra antiquas custumas debitas in denarijs solui consuetas nobis aut alias infra quadraginta dies postquam extra naues ad terram posita fuerint dicta vina Item de quolibet sacco lanarum quem dicti mercatores aut alij nomine ipsorum ement è regno educeÌ„t aut emi educi facient soluent quadraginta denarios de incremeÌ„to vltra custumam antiquam dimidie marce quae prius fuerat persoluta Et pro lasta coriorum extra regnum potestatem nostram vehendorum dimidiam marcam supra id quod ex antiqua custuma ante soluebatur Et similiter de trecentis pellibus lanitis extra regnum potestatem nostram ducendis quadraginta denarios vltra certum illud quod de antiqua custuma â—uerat prius datum Item duos â—olidos de quolâ—bet scarlato panno tincto in grano Item decem octo denarios de quolibet panno in quo pars grani fuerit intermixta Item duodecem denaâ—ios de quolibet panno alâ—o sine grano Item doudecem denarios de qualibet aeris quintalla Cumque de praefatis mercatoribus nonnulli eorum alias exercere soleant mercandisas vt de Auerio ponderis de alijs rebus subtilibus sicut de pannis Tarsensibus de setico cindallis de sera alijs diuersis mercibus de equis etiam alijs animalibus blado alijs rebus mercandisis multimodis que ad certam custumam facile poni non poterunt ijdem mercatores concesserunt dare nobis heredibus nostris de qualiber libra argenti estimationis seu valoris rerum mercandisarum huiusmodi quocunque nomine censeantor â—â—es denarios de libra in introitu rerum mercandisarum ipsarum in regnum potestatem nostram praedictâ—m infra viginti dies postquam huiusmodi res mercandisae in regnum potestatem nostram adductae etiam ibidem exoneratae seu venditae fuerint Et similiter tres denarios de qualibet libra argenti in eductione quarum cunque reâ—um mercandisarum huiusmodi emptarum in regno potestate nostris praedictis vltra custumas nobis aut alijs ante datas Et super valore estimatione rerum mercandisarum huiusmodi de quibus tres denarij de qualibet libra argenti sicut praedicitur sunt soluendi credatur eis per literas quas de Dominis aut socijs suis ostendere poterunt Et si literas non habeant stetur in hac parte praedictorum mercatorum si presentes fuerint vel valetorum suorum in corundem mercantorum absentia iuramentis Liceat insuper socijs de societate predictorum mercatorum infra regnum potestatem nostram praedictas lanas vendere alijs suis socijs similiter emere ab ijsdem absque cusâ—uma soluenda Ita tamen quod dictae lane ad tales manus non deueniant quod de custuma nobis debita defraudemur Et praeterea est sciendum quod postquam supra dicti mercatores semel in vnoloco infra regnum potestatem nostram custumam nobis concessam â—uperius pro mercandisis suis in forma soluerint supradicta suum habeant inâ—e warantum siue huiusmodimercandisae infra regâ—um potestarem nostram remaneant siue exterius deferantur exceptis vinis quae de regno potestate nostris praedictis sine voluntaâ—e licentia nostra sicut praedictuÌ„ est nullatenus educantur Volumus ac pro nobis ac haere dibus nostris concedimus quod nulla exactio prisa vel praestatio aut aliquod onus super personas mercatoruÌ„ predictorum mercandisas seu bona eorundem aliquatenus imponatur contra formam expressam superius concessam His testibus veracibus principalibus Roberto Contuariensi Archiepiscopo totius Angliae primate Waltero Couentriae Lichfildie episcopo Henrico de Lacy Lincolniense Humfredo de Bohum comite Herfordiense Essexie Constabulo magno Anglie Adomaro de Valentia Galfrido de Gaymal Hugone de Lespensor Waltero de Bello campo senescallo hospitij nostri Roberto de Burijs alijs Datum per manum nostraÌ„ apud Windesore primo die Februarij anno regni nostri xxxj The aforesaid generall Charter in English EDward by the grace of God king of England lord of Ireland duke of Aquitaine to Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earles Barons Iustices Uicounts gouernours officers and all bayliffes and his faithfull people sendeth greeting Wee haue speciall care for the good estate of all marchants of the kingdomes lands and countreis following to wit of Almaine France Spaine Portugal Nauarre Lombardie Florence Prouence Catalonia of our duchie of Aquitaine Tholosa Caturlune Flanders Brabant and of all other forreine countreis and places by what name soeuer they be called which come into our kingdome of Englandâ— and there remayne that the sayd marchants may liue in quiet and full securitie vnder our dominion in time to come Wherefore that their hearts desires may bee more readily inclined to our seruice and the seruice of our kingdome wee fauourably agreeing to their petitions for the fuller asring of their estate haue thought good to graunt to the sayd marchants for vs and our heires for euer these priuiledges vnder written ordaining in forme as followeth First that all marchants of the sayd kingdomes and countreys may come into our kingdome of England and any where else into our dominion with their marchandises whatsoeuer safely and securely vnder our defence and protection without paying wharfage pontage or pannage And that in Cities Boroughs and market townes of the sayd kingdome and dominion they may traffique onely by the great as well with the naturall subiects and inhabitantes of our aforesayde kingdome and dominion as with forreiners straungers or priuate persons Yet so that marchandises which are commonly called mercerie wares and spices may be sold by the small as heretofore hath bin accustomed And that all the aforesaid marchants may cary or cause to be caried whither they will as well within our realme or dominion as out of the same sauing vnto the countreis of the manifest and knowne enemies of our kingdome those marchandises which they shall bring into our foresayd realme and dominion or buy or otherwise purchase in our sayd realme and dominion paying such customes as they ought to doe except onely wines which it shall not be any wayes lawfull for them to cary out of our sayd realme and dominion without our speciall fauour and licence after they be once brought into our realme and dominion Item that the aforesayd marchants may at their pleásure lodge remaine with their goods in the cities boroughs and townes aforesaid with the good liking of those which are owners of their lodgings
these goods and marchandises shall be brought into our realme and dominion and shall be there vnladen and solde And likewise three pence vpon euery pound of siluer in the carying out of any such goods and marchandises which are bought in our realme and dominion aforesayd aboue the customes beforetime payd vnto vs or any of our progenitors And touching the value and estimation of these goods and marchandises whereof three pence of euery pound of siluer as is aforesayd is to be payd credite shal be giuen vnto them vpon the letters which they are able to shewe from their masters or parteners And if they haue no letters in this behalfe we will stand to the othe of the foresayd marchants if they bee present or in their absence to the othes of their seruants Moreouer it shall be lawfull for such as be of the company of the aforesayd marchants within our realme and dominion aforesayd to sell woolles to other of their company and likewise to buy of them without paying of custome Yet so that the said wools come not to such hands that wee be defrauded of the custome due vnto vs. And furthermore it is to be vnderstood that after that the aforesaid marchants haue once payed in one place within our realme and dominion the custome aboue granted vnto vs in forme aforesayd for their marchandises haue their warrant therof whether these marchandises remayne within our kingdome or be caried out excepting wines which in no wise shal be caried forth of our realme and dominion aforesayd without our fauour licence as is aforesayd we wil and we grant for vs and our heires that no execution attachment or loane or any other burthen be layd vpon the persons of the aforesayd marchants vpon their marchandises or goods in any case contrary to the forme before mentioned and granted The faithfull principall witnesses of these presents are these Robert Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England Walter bishop of CoueÌ„trey and Lichfield Henry Lacie of Lincolne Humfrey de Bohume Earle of Herford and Essex high Constable of England Adomare of Valentia Geofrey of Gaymal Hugh Spenser Walter Beauchampe Seneschall of our house Robert of Bures and others Giuen by our owne hand at Windesore the first day of February in the yere of our reigne xxxi De mercatoribus Angliae in Norwegia arestatis eorum mercimonijs dearrestandis literae Edwardi secundi anno sexto regni sui Haquino regi Norwegie MAgnifico principi domino Haquino Dei gratia regi Norwegie illustri amico suo charissimo Edwardus eadeÌ„ Dei gratia rex Anglie Dom. Hibernie dux Aquitanie saluteÌ„ cuÌ„ dilectione sincera Miramur noÌ„ modicuÌ„ in intimis conturbamur de grauaminibus oppressionibus quae subditis nostris infra regnum vestrum causa negociandi venienâ—â—bus his diebus plus solito absque causa rationabili sicut ex graui querela didicimus inferuntur Nuâ—er siquidem Willihelmus filius Laurentij de Waynfleete Simon filius Alani de eadâ—m Guido filius Mathei eorum socij mercatores nostri nobis conquerendo monstrarunt quod cum ipsi quosdam homines seruientes suos cum tribus nauibus suis ad partes regni vestri ad negotiandum ibidem transmisissent naues illae in portu villae vestrae de Tonnesbergh halece alijs bonis diuersis vsque ad magnam summam oneratae fuissent Et licet nautis nauiuÌ„ praedictarum hominibusque seruientibus praedictis à regno vestro liberè cum nauibus bonis praedictis ad partes Anglie redeundi vestras fieri feceritis de coÌ„ductu postmodum ramen antequaÌ„ naues illae propter venti contrarietateÌ„ portum praedictum exire potuerunt quidam balliui vestri naues praedictas cum hominibus bonis omnibus tunâ— existentibus in eisdem occasione mortis cuiusdam militis nuper balliui vestri in Vikia per malefactores piratas dum naues praedictae in portu supradicto sicut praemittitur remanserunt supra mare vt dicitur interfecti de mandato vestro vt dicebant artestarunt diu sub aresto huiuâ—modi detinebant quousque videlicet homines marinarij praedicti de quadraginta libris sterlingoruÌ„ certo die statuto ad opus vestrum pro qualibetnaui predictarum soluendis inuiti coacti securitatem inuenissent Et similiter de eisdem nauibus cum hominibus praedictis infra portum praedictum citra sestuÌ„ natiuitatis Sancti Ioannis Baptistae proximo futuro ad standum runc ibidem de personis nauibus suis vestre gratie seu voluntatis arbitrio reducendis tres obsides vlterius liberassent quod ipsis valde graue censetur auditu mirabile auribus audientium non immerito reputatur Et quia contra rationem equitatem omnemque iustitiam fore dinoscitur atque legem quòd delinquentium culpe seu demerita in personis vel rebus illorum qui criminis rei conscijvel participes seu de huiusmodi delinquentium societate non fuerunt aliqualiter vlciscantur vestram amicitiam affectuose requirimus rogamus quatenus praemissa diligenti meditatione zelo iustitiae ponderantes obsides predictos iubere velitis ab hostagiamento huiusmodi liberari dictamque securitatem relaxari penitus resolui Scientes pro certo quod si malefactores predicti qui dictum militem vestrum vt dicitur occiderunt alicubi infra regnum seu potestatem nostâ—am poterunt inueniri de ipsis iustitiam iudicium secundum legem consuetudinem eiusdem regni fieri faciemus Non enim possumus his diebus aequanimiter tolerare quod naues predicte seu aliae de regno nostro quae semper prompte ad nostrum seruitium esse debent extra idem regnum ad partes remotas se diuertant sine nostra licentia speciali Quid autem ad hanc nostram instantiam faciendum decreueritis in premissis nobis si placeat reseribatis per presentium portatorem Datae apud Windesore decimo sexto die Aprilis The same in English The letters of Edward the second vnto Haquinus king of Norway concerning the English marchants arrested in Norway and their goods to be freed from arrest TO the mighty Prince lord Haquinus by the grace of God the famous king of Norway his most deare friend Edward by the same grace of God king of England lord of Ireland duke of Aquitaine greeting and sincere loue We maruell not a little and are much disquieted in our cogitations considering the greeuances and oppressions which as wee haue beene informed by pitifull complaints are at this present more then in times past without any reasonable cause inflicted vpon our subiects which doe vsually resort vnto your kingdome for traffiques sake For of late one William the sonne of Laurence of Wainfleete and one Simon the sonne of Alan of the same towne and Guido the sonne of Mathew and their associates our marchants in complayning wise declared vnto vs that
hauing sent certaine of their factors and seruants with three shippes into your dominions there to exercise traffique and the sayd ships being laden in the hauen of your towne of Tonnesbergh with Herrings and other commodities to a great value and also the said mariners men and seruants of the foresayd shippes being licenced by vertue of the safe conduct which you had granted them freely to returne from your kingdome vnto the parts of England with their ships and goods aforesayd but afterward not being able to depart out of your hauen by reason of contrary windes certaine of your bayliffes vpon occasion of the slaughter of a knight being himselfe also of late your bayliffe of Vikia committed by malefactors and Pirates vpon the sea whilest the sayd shippes remained in the hauen aforesayd did at your commandement as they say arrest and for along season also deâ—eiâ—ed vnder that arrest the foresaid ships with all the men and goods that were in them namely vntill such time as the men and mariners aforesaide beeing driuen perforce and constrained thereunto should lay in sufficient securitie for the payment of fortie pounds sterling vpon a certain day appointed vnto your vse for euery of the foresaide ships and also vntill they had moreouer deliuered three pledges for the bringing of the saide ships and men backe againe into the foresaid hauen before the feast of the natiuitie of S. Iohn the Baptist next ensuing then and there to stand vnto your fauour and curtesie as touching the said persons and those ships of theirs which dealing the parties themselues take very grieuously yea and all others that heare thereof thinke it to be a strange and vnwonted course And because it is most vndoubtedly contrary to all reason equitie iustice and lawe that the faults or demerits of offenders should in any sort be punished in such persons or in their goods as neither haue bene accessory nor partakers in the crime nor haue had any society with the saide offenders we doe heartily intreat and request your Highnes that weighing and pondering the matter in the balance of iustice you would of your loue and friendship command the foresaid pledges to be set at libertie and the said securitie vtterly to bee released and acquited And know you this for a certaintie that if the foresaide malefactors who as it is reported slewe your Knight aforesaide shall any where within our realme and dominions be found we wil cause iustice and iudgement to bee executed vpon them according to the Lawe and custome of our sayde Realme For we cannot in these times conueniently and well indure that the ships aforesaide or any other ships of our kingdome which ought alwayes to be in a readinesse for our seruice should without speciall licence depart out of our saide kingdome vnto forreine dominions Nowe what you shall think good at this our request to performe in the premisses may it please you by the bearer of these presents to returne an answere vnto vs. Geuen at Windsore the 16. of April Another Letter of Edward the second to Haquinus King of Norway in the behalfe of certaine English Marchants MAgnifico Principi Dom. Haquino Dei gratia regi Norwegiae illustri amico suo charissimo Edwardus eadem Dei gratia Rex Angliae dominus Hyberniae dux Aquitaniae salutem cum dilectione sincera Querelam dilectorum Mercatorum nostroâ—um Thomae de Swyn de Waynfleâ—te Simonis filij Alani de eadem recepimus continentem Quod cùm ipsi nuper quosdam seruientes suos infrà regnum vestrum pro suis ibidem exercendis mercimonijs transmisissent Thesaurarius vester bona mercimonia praedictorum Thomae Simonis ad valenciam quadraginta librarum quae seruientes praedicti in villa de Northberne in sua custodia habuerunt die Sancti Michaelis vltimò praeterita fecit absque causa rationabili arestari ea adhuc taliter arestata detinet iniustè in ipsorum Thomae Simonis damnum non modicum depauperationem manifestam Et quia eisdem mercatoribus nostris subuenire volumus quatenus suadente iustitia poterimus in hac parte vestram amicitiam requirimus cum affectu quatenus audita querela praedictorum Thomae Simonis vel ipsorum atturnatorum super restitutione bonorum mercimoniorum praedictorum impendere velitis eisdem celeris iustitiae complementum Iâ—a quod pro defectu exhibitions iustitiae super arestatione praedicta non oporteat nos pro mercatoribus nostris praedictis de alio remedio prouidere Nobis autem quid ad hanc nostram instantiam duxeritis faciendum rescribere velitis per presentium portitorem Datae vt suprà The same in English TO the mightie Prince Lord Haquinus by the grace of God the famous King of Norway his most deare friend Edward by the same grace of God king of England Lorde of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine greeting and sincere loue Wee receiued the complaint of our welâ—elo-Merchants Thomas de Swyn of Waynfleet and Simon the sonne of Alanus of the same towne the contents whereof are that whereas of late the saide parties sent certaine of their seruants to traffike in your kingdome your Treasurer vpon the feast of S. Michael last past without any iust or reasonable occasion caused the goods and merchandise of the foresaide Thomas and Simon to the value of fortie pound which their said seruants had vnder their custodie at the towne of Northberne to be arrested and as yet also iniuriously deteineth the same vnder the same arrest to the great damage and impouerishing of the sayd Thomas and Simon And for asmuch as our desire is to succour these our marchants so far foorth as we can Iustice requiring no lesse in this behalfe wee doe right earnestly request you that hauing hearde the complaint and supplication of the foresayde Thomas and Simon or of their Atturneyes you woulde of your loue and friendship vouchsafe them speedie administration of Iustice about the restitution of their goods and merchandise aforesaide least that for want of the exhibiting of Iustice about the foresaid arrest we be constrained to prouide some other remedie for our marchants aforesaid Our request is that you would by the bearer of these presents returne an answere vnto vs what you are determined to doe at this our instant motion Giuen as aboue A third letter of King Edward the second to Haquinus King of Norway in the behalfe of certaine English Marchants MAgnifico Principi Domino Haquino Dei gratia Regi Norwegiae illustri amico suo charissimo Edwardus eadem Dei gratia Rex Angliae dominus Hyberniae dux Aquitaniae salutem cum dilectione sincera Pro mercatoribus nostris Lennae partium vicinarum quos Balliuus Officiarij vestri ciuitatis vestrae Bergen dudum ceperunt stricto carceri manciparunt quorum multi vt iam intelleximus propter alimentorum subtractionem duritiam ac asperitatem carceris perierunt vt ipsorum bonorum
suorum deliberationem praecipere curaretis vestrae serenitati Regiae nostras nuper transmisimus literas speciales Sed vos retentis adhuc in carcere nostris mercatoribus sicut prius nobis perâ— literas vestras quas audiuimus intelleximus diligenter inter caetera rescripsistis quod quidam mercatores de regno vestro de iniurijs violentijs arrestationibus quibus in regno nostro his diebus sunt vt asserunt contra iustitiam aggrauati multipliciter conqueruntur adijciendo in vestris literis memoratis quod quidam iniquitatis silij in villa Lennae ad piscandum vt dicebant halecia venientes quendam militem Balhuum vestrum in Vikia vnà cum decem alijs subditis vestris in vestris regni vestri negorijs existentibus crudeliter occiderunt Super quibus mens nostra grauatur quà m plurimum turbatur praesertim quum nunquam nostrae fuerit voluntatis quod iniuriae violentiae seu arrestationes aliquae mercatoribus vel alijs de regno vestro per aliquos de regno potestate nostris fierent indebitè vel iniustè nec adhuc intelligere possumus quod mercatoribus vestris per aliquem vel aliquos de subditis nostris huc vsque aliter factum fuerit Scientes pro certo quod si nobis per inquisitiones legitimas constare poterit huiusmodi grauamina subditis vestris infra regnum nostrum illata fuisse nos sufficientes emendas satisfactiones debitas super illis celerÃsque iustitiae complementum fieri faciemus Et insuper sâ—malefactores praedicti qui praefatum militem alios secum existentes vt praemiâ—titur occiâ—erunt de regno seu potestate nostra sint vel infrà idem regnum vel potestatem poterunt inueniri de ipsis iudicium iustitiam fieri praecâ—piemus secundùm Leges consuetudines regni nostri Et quia inter nos vos nostrósque vestros subditos hinc inde foueri desideramus mutuam concordiam amorem ita quod mercatores nostri vestri mercandisas suas in nostris vestris regnis dominijs liberè absque impedimento valeant exercere prout temporibus progenitorum nostrorum fieri consueuit ex dictarum literarum vestrarum seâ—ie collegimus euidenter vos promptos esse similiter paratos ad omnia singula quae pro vobis vestris subditis super discordijs contentionibus aut grauaminibus inter nostros vestros subditos qualitercunque suscitatis pro bono pacis iustitiae fuerint aeqâ—animiter facienda Nos consimilia pro nobis nostris quantum ad nos ad ipsos attinet illius amore qui pacis author fore dinoscitur pro quiete commodo populi vtriusque regnorum nostrorum quatenus ius ratio dictitauerint promittimus nos facturos Vestram amicitiam requirentes obnixius roganâ—â—s quatenus mercatores nostros praedictos qui adhuc superstites relinquuntur quos etiam tempore quo dicta felonia committi dicebatur interclusos tenebat custodia carceralis iubere velitis nostri contemplatione zelóque iustitiae ab huiusmodi custodia liberari bona ab ipsis capta eis prout iustum fuerit restitui faciendo Et vt deliberatio mercatorum nostrorum praedictorum bonorum suorum eò facilius concedatur place at vobis cum diligentia debira ponderare quod Galfridus Drewe quidam alij mercatores nostri de Lenne quibusdam mercatoribus de regno vestro occasione eiusdem grauaminis ipsis mercatoribus vestris ad sectam Tideman ni Lippe infrà regnum noâ—trum vt dicebatur illati centum libras sterlingorum perâ—oluerunt sicut in quodam scripto indentato inter Ingelramum Lende de Thorenden quosdam alios mercatores vestros ex parte vna praefatum Galfridum quosdam alios de regno nostro similiter ex altera confecto vidimus contineri Si qui verò de subditis vestris de aliquibus subditis nostris de aliqua iniuria ipsis facta querelas in curia nostra deponere voluerint prosequi cum effectu ipsorum subditorum vestrorum petitiones admitti eis super querelis huiusmodi plenam celerem iustitiaÌ„ fieri faciemus Ita quod ijdem subditi vestri exinde reputare debebunt meritò se contentos Et interim de excessibus grauaminibus subditis vestris infrà regnum nostrum qualitercunque illatis inquiti faciemus cum diligentia veritatem Vestrae igitur voluntatis beneplacitum in premissis nobis rescribere velitis per presentium portitorem Datae apud Westminster tertio die Aprilis The same in English TO the mightie Prince king Haquinus by the grace of God the famous king of Norway his most deare friend Edward by the same grace of God king of England lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitaine greeting and sincere loue We sent of late vnto your royall maiestie our special letters for the behalfe of our late marchants of Lenne and of the coast adioyning whome your baily and officers of the citie of Bergen lately apprehended committing them to close prison many of whome as we vnderstand are for want of due nourishment and by reason of the extremitie loathsomnesse of the prison quite perished that you would cause them and their goods to bee released Howbeit you reteining as yet our marchants in durance as before in your letters which we haue diligently heard and throughly vnderstood haue amongst other matters returned this answere vnto vs that certaine marchants of your kingdome doe make sundrie complaints of iniuries violences and arrests whereby they haue lately as themselues auouch contrary to iustice bene aggrieued and oppressed in our dominions adding moreouer in your sayde letters that certaine sonnes of iniquitie of the towne of Lenne comming as they saide to fish for herrings cruelly murthered a certaine Knight who was in times past your bayliffe of Vikia together with ten others of your subiects being imployed about the affaires of your kingdome In consideration whereof our minde is exceedingly and aboue measure grieued and troubled especially sithence it was neuer any part of our intent that any iniuries violences or arrests should vniustly be inflicted vpon any marchants or any others of your realme by any of our kingdomes neither can we as yet haue any intelligence that any such hard measure hath bene offered vnto any of your marchants by any one or moe of our subiects giuing you for a certaintie to vnderstand that if vpon lawfull inquisition we shal be aduertised of any such grieuances which haue bene offered vnto your subiects within our realme we will cause speedie iustice to be administred and sufficient recompence and due satisfaction to be made in regarde thereof And moreouer if the saide malefactors which as it is aforesaid slewe the forenamed Knight and others of his companie either be appertaining vnto our kingdome and dominion or may at any time be found within our saide kingdome or
bee hindred sore And fayned peace is called no werre herefore Thus they haue bene in diuers coasts many Of our England more then rehearse can I In Norfolke coastes and other places about And robbed and brent and slaiue by many a rowte And they haue also ransomed Towne by Towne That into the regnes of bost haue run her sowne Wich hath bin ruth vnto this Realme and shame They that the sea should keepe are much to blame For Britayne is of easie reputation And Saincte Malo turneth hem to reprobation A storie of Edward the third his ordinance for Britayne HEre bring I in a storie to mee lent That a good Squire in time of Parliament Tooke vnto mee well written in a scrowe That I haue commond both with high and lowe Of which all men accorden into one That it was done not many yeeres agone But when noble King Edward the thrid Reigned in grace right thus it betyd For hee had a maner gelosie To his Marchants and loued them hartily He feld the weyes to rule well the see Whereby Marchants might haue prosperitee That for Harflew Houndflew did he maken And great werre that time were vndertaken betwixt the King and the Duke of Britayne At last to fall to peace both were they fayne Upon the wich made with conuencion Our Marchants made hem readie bowne Toward Britayne to loade their Marchandie Wening hem friends they went foorth boldly But soone anon our Marchants were ytake And wee spedde neuer the better for truce sake They lost her good her nauy and spending But their complaint came vnto the king Then wext he wroth and to the Duke he sent And complained that such harme was hent By conuention and peace made so refused With Duke sent againe and him excused Rehearsing that the mount of Saincte Michael And Sainct Malo would neuer a dell Be subiect vnto his gouernance Nor be vnder his obeysance And so they did withouten him that deede But when the king anon had taken heede Hee in his herte set a iudgement Without calling of any Parliament Or greate tarry to take long aduise To â—ortifie anon he did deuise Of English Townes three that is to say Derâ—mouth Plymouth the third it is Fowey And gaue hem helpe and notable puisance With insistence set them in gouernance Upon pety Bretayne for to werre Those good sea men would no more differre But bete hem home and made they might not cowte Tooke prisoners and made them for to lowte And efte the Duke an ensample wise Wrote to the king as he first did deuise Him excusing But our men wood With great power passed ouer the floode And werred foorth into the Dukes londe And had ny destroyed free and bond But than the Duke knewe that the townes three Should haue lost all his natiue Countrie He vndertooke by suretie true not false For mount Michael and Saincte Malo al 's And other parties of the litle Brytaine Which to obey as sayd was were not fayne The Duke hymselfe for all did vndertake With all his herte a full peace did hee make So that in all the life time of the king Marchants had peace withouten werring He made a statute for Lombards in this land That they should in noe wise take on hande Here to inhabite here to chardge and dischardge But fortie dayes no more time had they large This good king by witte of such appreiffe Kept his Marchants and the sea from mischiefe Of the commodities of Scotland and draping of her wolles in Flanders The fourth Chapiter MOreouer of Scotland the commodities Are Felles Hides and of Wooll the Fleese And all these must passe by vs away Into Flanders by England sooth to say And all her woolle was draped for to sell In the Townes of Poperinge and of Bell Which my Lord of Glocester with ire For her falshed set vpon a fiâ—e And yet they of Bell and Poperinge Could neuer drape her wooll for any thing But if they had English woll withall Our goodly wooll which is so generall Needefull to them in Spaine and Scotland al 's And other costes this sentence is not false Yee worthy Marchants I doe it vpon you I haue this learned ye wot well where and howe Ye wotte the Staple of that Marchandie Of this Scotland is Flaunders sekerly And the Scots bene charged knowen at the eye Out of Flanders with little Mercerie And great plentie of Haberdashers Warâ— And halfe her shippes with cart wheeles bare And with Barrowes are laden as in substance Thus most rude ware are in her cheuesance So they may not forbeare this Flemish land Therefore if wee would manly take in hand To keepe this Sea from Flanders and from Spaine And from Scotland like as from pety Britaine Wee should right soone haue peace for all her bosts For they must needes passe by our English costs Of the commodities of Pruce and High Dutch men and Easterlings The fifth Chapitle NOwe goe foorth to the commodities That commeth from Pruce in two maner degrees For two maner people haue such vse That is to say High Duch men of Pruse And Esterlings which might not be forborne Out of Flanders but it were verely lorne For they bring in the substance of the Beere That they drinken feele too good chepe not dere Yee haue heard that two Flemings togider Will vndertake or they goe any whither Or they rise once to drinke a Ferkin full Of good Beerekin so sore they hall and pull Under the board they pissen as they sit This commeth of couenant of a worthie wit Without Caleis in their Butter they cakked When they fled home and when they leysure lacked To holde their siege they went like as a Doe Well was that Fleming that might trusse and goe For feare they turned backe and hyed fast My Lord of Glocester made hem so agast With his comming and soght hem in her land And brent and slowe as he had take on hand So that our enemies durst not bide nor stere They fled to mewe they durst no more appeare Rebuked sore for euer so shamefully Unto her vtter euerlasting villanie Nowe Beere and Bakon bene fro Pruse ybrought Into Flanders as loued and farre ysought Osmond Copper Bow-staues Steele and Wexe Peltreware and grey Pitch Terre Board and flexe And Colleyne threed Fustian and Canuas Card Bukeram of olde time thus it was But the Flemings among these things dere In common louen best Bakon and Beere Also Pruse men maken her aduenture Of Plate of siluer of wedges good and sure In great plentie which they bring and bye Out of the lands of Beame and Hungarie Which is increase full great vnto their land And they bene laden I vnderstand With wollen cloth all maner oâ— colours By dyers crafted full diuers that ben ours And they aduenture full greatly vnto the Bay for salt that is needefull withouten nayâ— Thus if they would not our friends bee We might lightly stoppe hem in the
Lord Jesu saith Blessed motte they bee That maken peace that is tranquillitee For peace makers as Matthew writeth aright Should be called the sonnes of God almight God giue vs grace the weyes for to keepe Of his precepts and slugly not to sleepe In shame of sinne that our verry foo Might be to vs conuers and turned so For in the Prouerbs is a text to this purpose Plaine inough without any glose When mens weyes please vnto our Lord It shall conuert and bring to accord Mans enemies vnto peace verray In vnitie to liue to Goddis pay With vnitie peace rest and charitie Hee that was here cladde in humonitie That came from heauen and styed vp with our nature Or hee ascended he yaue to vs cure And left with vs peace ageyne striffe and debate Moâ—e giue vs peace so well irradicate Here in this world that after all this selfe Wee may haue peace in the land of beheste Ierusalem which of peace is the sight With his brightnes of eternall light There glorified in rest with his tuition The Deitie to see with full fruâ—â—ion Bee second person in diuinenesse is Who vs assume and bring vs to the blis Amen Here endeth the true processe of the Libel of English policie exhorting all England to keepe the sea enuiron shewing what profit and saluation with worship commeth thereof to the reigne of England GOe furth Libelle and meekely shew thy face Appearing euer with humble countenance And pray my Lords to take in grace In opposaile and cherishing the aduance To hardines if that not variance Thou hast fro trought by full experience Authors and reasons if ought faile in substance Remit to hâ—m that yafe thee this science That seth it is soth in verray fayth That the wise Lord Baron of Hungerford Hath thee ouerseene and verely he saith That thou art true and thus hee doeth record Next the Gospel God wotte it was his worde When hee thee redde all ouer in a night Goe forth trew booke and Christ defend thy right Explicit libellus de Politia conseruatiua maris A large Charter granted by K. Edward the 4. in the second yere of his reigne to the marchants of England resident especially in the Netherland for their chusing of a master and gouernor among themselues which gouernement was first appointed vnto one William Obray with expresse mention what authoritie he should haue EDward by the grace of God king of France of England lord of Ireland to al those which shal see or heare these letters sendeth greeting good wil. Know ye that whereas we haue vnderstood as well by the report of our louing and faithfull Counsellors as by the common complaint and report of all men that many vexations griefs debates discords annoyes dissentions damages haue heretofore bene done moued committedâ—â—nd happened and do daily fal out and happen among the common marchants mariners our subiects of our realmes of France England our lordships of Ireland and Wales of other our dominions seigneuries and territories because that good discretion and authority hath not bin obserued among our saide subiects which abide frequent conuerse remain inhabit passe aswel by sea as by land into y e parts of Brabant Flanders Henault Holland Zeland and diuers other countreis seigneuries belonging aswell to the high and mighty prince our most deere and louing cousin y e Duke of Burgoine of Brabant carle of Flanders c. as being in the obedience dominion of other lords which are in friendship alliance good wil with vs and that it is to be doubted that through the saide inconuenience and occasion many discommodities may ensue fal out in time to come which God forbid vnles we should prouide conuenient remedie in this behalfe for our subiects aforesaid wherefore we desiring most effectually and heartily to auoide the mischiefe of the saide inconueniences to prouide conuenient remedy for the same to the end that the said common marchants and mariners and others our subiects of our said realms dominions which at this present hereafter shal haunt and frequent y e said countreis may be iustly lawfully ruled gouerned and intreated by right equity in the countreis aforesaid and that equity reason iustice may be ministred vnto them and euery of them according as the cases shal require we being wel assured and hauing ful confidence in the discretion faithfulnes wisdome experience good diligence of our most deare welbeloued subiect Will. Obray our seruant in regard of the good faithfull and acceptable seruices which he hath done vs in our realm among our subiects in times past hoping that he wil do also hereafter we haue made ordained constituted committed and established and by the tenour of these presents of our special grace ful power authority royall we ordaine appoint commit and establish during our pleasure to be gouernor iudge warden of iustice and the appurtenances appendances therof which we haue or may haue ouer our said common subiects the marchants trauailing hereafter as wel by sea as by land and abiding in the said countries of Brabant Flanders Henault Holland Zeland and other countreis beyond the sea as is aforesaide together with the wages rights profits and emoluments heretofore accustomed as the said Will. Obray at other times hath had and receiued of our said subiects when he had vsed and exercised the said office of gouernor also with other such rights and profits as hereafter shal more plainly be declared And furthermore for our parts we haue giuen him and by these presents do giue him as much as in vs lieth during our pleasure ful power authority and special commandement to gouerne rule and cause to be gouerned and ruled with good iustice by himselfe or by his sufficient lieuetenants or deputies all aâ—d euery our foresaid subiects the common marchants mariners comming remaining frequenting passing repairing from henceforth into the said countreis of Brabant Flanders Henault Holland Zeland and other countreyes beyond the sea as it is said and to keep and cause to be kept to exercise and maintein for vs and in our place the said office of gouernour and to doe all such things which a faithfull gouernour ought to do and to take knowledge and administration of the causes of the said common marchants and mariners our subiects and of euery of them and of their causes and quarels moued or hereafter to be moued in the countreis aforesaid or within the limits borders therof and to doe them full speedy iustice And to reforme cause reformation gouerne appease and pacifie all contentions discords questions or debates between those our said subiects moued or to moued and to right redresse repaire restore and amend all transgressions domages enterprises outrages violences and iniuries committed or to be coÌ„mitted and like wise to require to aske demand and receiue restitutions reparations
sent his ambassadors vnto the great duke of Moscouia In regard of which his fatherly loue and great benefite vouchsafed on vs wee are ready when occasion shall serue to aduenture our liues and goods praying in the meane season vnto Almightie God who is the onely establisher and confounder of common wealths to bring this excellent woorke the foundation whereof is already laiâ—e vnto a prosperous conclusion But as touching the title which the Moscouite maketh to this prouince to say the very trueth we greatly wondred and were astonished at the declaration thereof For it is most apparant not onely out of all ancient and credible histories but euen from the experience and state of these regions that the said title and allegations are fabulous and fained For out of all auncient monuments by what names soeuer they bee called whereof there are diuers extant among vs it cannot be proued by any mention nor yet by any likelihoode or coniecture that those things which the Moscouite affirmeth concerning the people which were gouernors of these regions in times past and concerning the right and title of his ancestors vnto this prouince are grounded vpon truth For it is not vnknowen by what meanes this prouince partly through the industry of marchants and partly by the benefite of nauigation was first discouered neither is it vnknowen howe the inhabitants thereof beeing wholly addicted vnto heathenish superstitions and idolatrie were by the croised knights who drew other knights professing the same order in Prussia to aide and accompanie them in this their enterprise and that with great labour and difficultie conuerted vnto the Christian faith when as at the same time the â—iuonians had no knowledge at all of the iurisdiction religion maners or language of Moscouie who had not onely no conuersation nor dealings with the Moscouites but were estranged also from all other nations whatsoeuer for leading a miserable poore barbarous and heathenish life in sauage maner among wilde beastes and in the desert and solitary woods they were vtterly ignorant of God and destitute of ciuil magistrates Howbeit this kind of gouernment was peculiar vnto them namely that all of our familie and society vsed a kinde of reuerence vnto their elders more then to any other whom also that their authoritie might be the greater they called by the name of kings and albeit one of their families consisted of a 100. persons thâ—y obeyed them in al respects and after their rude and barbarous maner did them loyal seruice At the very same time the Moscouites had receiued the religion and the Ecclesiasticall ceremonies of the Greeke and Easterne Church which religion they published and dispersed throughout all prouinces subiect to their dominion vsing their owne proper letters and characâ—ers for the same purpose Of all which things the Liuonians which very barbarously inhabited a lande beeing enuironed with Russia Lithuania Samogitia Prussia and the Balthic sea neuer heard any report at all It is moreouer to be noted that neuer at any time heretofore either within the earth or in other places of Liuonia there haue bene found any monuments at all of the antiquitie or letters of the Russes which verily must needs haue come to passe if the Moscouites Russes or any other nations which vse the foresaid particulars had borne rule and authority ouer the Liuonians yea there had beene left some remainder and token either of their religion and diuine worship or of their lawes and customes or at the least of their maners language and letters This indeed we can in no wise deny that euen in Liuonia it selfe there haue bin in times past and at this present are many and diuers languages spoken by the people Howbeit no one language of them all hath any affinity either with the Moscouian tongue or with the tongues of any other nations But whereas the Moscouite pretendeth that there hath bin vsually paide a pension or tribute vnto himselfe and his predecessours out of the whole prouince it is as incredible as the former About the beginning of this tragicall warre the Moscouite to cloke his tyranny and ambition vnder some faire pretense amongst other of his demaunds made mention also of a tribute which should be due vnto him out of the bishop of Dorpat his iurisdiction whereof notwithstanding hee could neither bring any iust account nor affirm any certainty howbeit there is no man liuing to be found which either can tell of his owne remembrance or from the relation of others that any such tribute was euer paid vnto the Moscouite What time therefore he referred al this negotiation vnto the master of the Liuonian order and commanded him to get what knowledge hee could therof from the men of Dorpat vrged the tribute saying if it were worth but one haire that he would not remit it at length it was found recorded in the ancient Chronicles of Dorpat that beyond the memory of man when the territory of Plesco contained nothing but woods and forrests for wilde beastes that the pesaunts of the liberty of Dorpat called Neuhus by the consent of the Russian borderers enioyed Bee-hiues in the said woods and paid euery yeere in lieu thereof vnto the Russian gouernours sixe shillings of Liuonian coine But so soone as the Russians had felled the woods and had built townes and villages in their place the saide pension ceased together with the trees which were cut downe Wherefore the saide sixe shillings were neuer since that time either demanded by the Russes or paid by the Liuonians These things which I knew concerning the causes of the Liuonian warres I thought good to signifie vnto you Giuen the 22. of May in the yeere of our Lord 1576. Ordinances instructions and aduertisements of and for the direction of the intended voyage for Cathay compiled made and deliuered by the right worshipfull M. Sebastian Cabota Esquier gouernour of the mysterie and companie of the Marchants aduenturers for the discouerie of Regions Dominions Islands and places vnknowen the 9. day of May in the yere of our Lord God 1553. and in the 7. yeere of the reigne of our most dread soueraigne Lord Edward the 6. by the grace of God king of England Fraunce and Ireland defender of the faith and of the Church of England and Ireland in earth supreame head FIrst the Captaine general with the pilot maior the masters marchants other officers to be so knit and accorded in vnitie loue conformitie and obedience in euery degree on all sides that no dissention variance or contention may rise or spring betwixt them and the mariners of this companie to the damage or hinderance of the voyage for that dissention by many experiences hath ouerthrown many notable intended and likely enterprises and exploits 2 Item for as much as euery person hath giuen an othe to be true faithfull and loial subiects and liege men to the kings most excellent Maiestie his heires and successors and for the obseruation of all lawes statutes made
Duâ—furth Master of the Considentia 10 Roger Wilson Masters mates 11 Iohn Buckland Masters mates 12 Richard Ingram Masters mates Exemplar Epistolae seu literarum Missiuarum quas illustrissimus Princeps Eduardus eius nominis Sextus Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex misit ad Principes Septentrionalem ac Orientalem mundi plagam inhabitantes iuxta mare glaciale nec non Indiam Orientalem Anno Domini 1553 Regni sui anno septimo vltimo EDuardus sextus Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex c. Omnibus Regibus principibus ac dominis cunctis Iudicibus terrae Ducibus eius quibuscunque est excellens aliqua dignitas in ea cunctis in locis quae sunt sub vniuerso coelo Pax tranquillitas honor vobis terris regionibus vestris quae imperio vestro subiacent cuique vestrum quemadmodum conuenit ei Proptereà quòd indidit Deus Opt. Max. hominibus prae cunctis alijâ— viuentibus cor desiderium tale vt appetat quisque cum aliis societatem inire amare vicissim amari beneficijs afficere mutua accipere beneficia studeat ideò cuique pro facultate sua hoc desiderium in omnibus quidem hominibus beneficijs fouere consetuare conuenit in illis autem maximè qui hoc desiderio adducti à remotis etiam regionibus ad eos veniunt Quo enim longius iter eius rei gratia ingressi sunt eò ardentius in eis hoc desiderium fuisse declararunt Insuper etiam ad hoc nos patrum maiorumque nostrorum exempla inuitant qui semper humanissimè susceperunt benignissimè tractauerunt illos qui tum à locis propinquis tâ—â—â—â—à remotis cosamicè adibant eorum se protectioni commendantes Quod si omnibus id praestare aequum est certè mercatoribus imprimis praestari debet qui per vniuersum orbem discurrunt mare circumlustrantes aridam vt res bonas vtiles que Dei beneficio in regione eorum inueniuntur ad remotissimas regiones regna adferant atque inde vicissim referant quòd suae regioni vtile ibi repeterint vt populi ad quos eunt non destituantur commodis quae non profert illis terra eorum ipsi sint participes rerum quibus illi abundant Nam Deus coeli terrae humano generi maximè consulens noluit vt omnia in quauis regione inueniâ—entur quò regio ope alterius regionis indigeret gens ab alia gente commodum aliquod expectaret ac ita stabiliretur amicitia inter omnes singulique omnibus benefacere quaererent Hoc ita que ineundae ac stabiliendae amicitiae desiderio moti viri quidam regni nostri iter in remotas maritimas regiones instituerunt vt inter nostros illos populos viam mercibus inferendis efferendis aperirent nosque rogauerunt vt id illis concederemus Qui petitioni illorum annuentes concessimus viro honorabili forti Hugoni Wilibâ—o alijs qui cum eo sunt seruis nostris fidis charis vt pro sua voluntate in regiones eis priùs incognitas eant quaesituri ea quibus nos caremus adducant illis ex nostris terris id quo illi carent Atque ita illis nobis commodum inde accedat sitque amicitia perpetua foedus indissolubile inter illos nos dum permittent illi nos accipere de rebus quibus superabundant in regnis suis nos concedemus illis ex regnis nostris res quibus destituuntur Rogamus itaque vos Reges Principes omnes quibus aliqua est potestas in terra vt viris istis nostris transitum permittatis per regiones vestras Non enâ—m tangent quicquam â—x rebus vestris inuitis vobis Cogitate quòd homines ipsi sunt Et si qua re caruerint oramus pro vestra beneficentia eam vos illis tribuatis accipientes vicissim ab eis quod poterunt rependere vobis Ita vos gerite erga cos quemadmodum cuperetis vt nos subditi nostri nos gereremus erga seruos vestros si quando transierint per regiones nostras Atque promittimus vobis per Deum omnium quae coelo terra mari continentur perque vitam nostram tranquillitatem regnorum nostrorum nos pari benignitate seruos vestros accepturos si ad regna nostra aliquando venerint Atque à nobis subditis nostris ac si nati fuissent in regnis nostris ita benignè tractabuntur vt rependamus vobis benignitatem quam nostris exhibueritis Postquam vos Reges Principes c. rogauimus vt humanitate beneficentia omni prosequamini seruos nostros nobis charos oramus omnipotentem Deum nostrum vt vobis diuturnam vitam largiatur pacem quae nullam habeat finem Scriptum Londini quae ciuitas est primaria regni nostri Anno 5515. à creato mundo mense Iiar 14. die mensis anno septimo regni nostri The copie of the letters missiue which the right noble Prince Edward the sixt sent to the Kings Princes and other Potentates inhabiting the Northeast partes of the worlde toward the mighty Empire of Cathay at such time as Sir Hugh Willoughby knight and Richard Chancelor with their company attempted their voyage thither in the yeere of Christ 1553. and the seuenth and last yeere of his raigneâ— EDward the sixt by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland c. To all Kings Princes Rulers Iudges and Gouernours of the earth and all other hauing any excellent dignitie on the same in all places vnder the vniuersall heauen peaceâ— tranquillitie and honour be vnto you and your lands and regions which are vnder your dominions and to euery of you as is conuenient Forasmuch as the great and Almightie God hath giuen vnto mankinde aboue all other liuing creatures such an heart and desire that euery man desireth to ioine friendship with other to loue and be loued also to giue and receiue mutuall benefites it is therefore the duety of all men according to their power to maintaine and increase this desire in euery man with well deseruing to all men and especially to shew this good affection to such as being moued with this desire come vnto them from farre countreis For how much the longer voyage they haue attempted for this intent so much the more doe they thereby declare that this desire hath bene ardent in them Furthermore also the examples of our fathers and predecessors doe inuite vs hereunto forasmuch as they haue euer gently and louingly intreated such as of friendly mind came to them aswell from Countries neare hand as farre remote commending themselues to their protection And if it be right and equity to shew such humanitie toward all men doubtlesse the same ought chiefly to be shewed to marchants who wandering about the world search both the land and the sea to carry
streightly neither doe they eate any thing besides hearbes and salt fish as long as those fasting dayes doe endure but vpon euery Wednesday and Friday in euery weeke throughout the yeere they fast There are very many Monasteries of the order of S. Benedict amongst them to which many great liuings for their maintenance doe belong for the Friers and the Monkes doe at the least possesse the third part of the liuings throughout the whole Moscouite Empire To those Monkes that are of this order there is amongst them a perpetuall prohibition that they may eate no flesh and therefore their meate is onely salt fish milke and butter neither is it permitted them by the lawes and customes of their religion to eate any fresh fish at all and at those foure fasting times whereof we spake before they eate no fish at all onely they liue with hearbes and cucumbers which they doe continually for that purpose cause and take order to grow and spring for their vse and diet As for their drinke it is very weake and small For the discharge of their office they do euery day say seruice and that early in the mornings before day and they doe in such sort and with such obseruation begin their seruice that they will be sure to make an ende of it before day and about nine of the clocke in the morning they celebrate the Communion When they haue so done they goe to dinner and after dinner they goe againe to seruice and the like also after supper and in the meane time while they are at dinner there is some exposition or interpretation of the Gospel vsed Whensoeuer any Abbot of any monasterie dieth the Emperour taketh all his housholde stuffe beastes flockes of sheepe golde siluer and all that he hath or els hee that is to succeede him in his place and dignitie doth redeeme all those things and buyeth them of the Emperour for money Their churches are built of timber and the towers of their churches for the most part are couered with shingle boordes At the doores of their churches they vsually build some entrance or porch as we doe and in their churchyardes they erect a certaine house of wood wherein they set vp their bels wherein sometimes they haue but one in some two and in some also three There is one vse and custome amongst them which is strange and rare but yet it is very ridiculous and that is this when any man dyeth amongst them they take the dead body and put it in a coffine or chest and in the hand of the corps they put a litle scroule in the some there are these wordes written that the same man died a Rusle of Russes hauing receiued the faith and died in the same This writing or letter they say they send to S. Peter who receiuing it as they affirme reades it and by and by admits him into heauen and that his glory and place is higher and greater then the glory of the Christians of the Latine church reputing themselues to be followers of a more sincere faith and religion then they they hold opinion that we are but halfe Christians and themselues onely to be the true and perfect church these are the foolish and childish dotages of such ignorant Babarians Of the Moscouites that are Idolaters dwelling neere to Tartaria THere is a certaine part of Moscouie bordering vpon the countreys of the Tartars wherin those Moscouites that dwell are very great idolaters they haue one famous idole amongst them which they call the Golden old wife they haue a custome that whensoeuer any plague or any calamitie doth afflict the countrey as hunger warre or such like then they goe to consult with their idol which they do after this maner they fall down prostrate before the idol pray vnto it put in the presence of the same a cymbal about the same certaine persons stand which are chosen amongst them by lotâ— vpon their cymball they place a siluer tode and sound the cymball and to whomsoeuer of those lotted persons that tode goeth he is taken and by and by slaine and immediately I know not by what illusions of the deuill or idole he is againe restored to life theâ— doth reueale and deliuer the causes of the present calamitie And by this meanes knowing how to pacifie the idole they are deliuered from the imminent danger Of the forme of their priuate houses and of the apparell of the people THe common houses of the countrey are euery where built of beames of Firre tree the lower beames doe so receiue the round holownesse of the vppermost that by the meanes of the building thereupon they resist and expell all winds that blow and where the timber is ioined together there they stop the chinks with mosse The forme fashion of their houses in al places is foure square with streit and narrow windowes whereby with a transparent casement made or couered with skinne like to parchment they receiue the light The roofes of their houses are made of boords couered without with y e barke of trees within their houses they haue benches or griezes hard by their wals which commonly they sleepe vpon for the common people knowe not the vse of beds they haue stooues wherein in the morning they make a fire and the same fire doth either moderately warme or make very hote the whole house The apparell of the people for the most part is made of wooll their caps are picked like vnto a rike or diamond broad beneath and sharpe vpward In the maner of making whereof there is a signe and representation of nobilitie for the loftier or higher their caps are the greater is their birth supposed to be and the greater reuerence is giuen them by the common people The Conclusion to Queene Marie THese are the things most excellent Queene which your Subiects newly returned from Russia haue brought home concerning the state of that countrey wherfore if your maiestie shall be fauourable and grant a continuance of the trauell there is no doubt but that the honour and renowme of your name will be spred amongst those nations whereunto three onely noble personages from the verie creation haue had accesse to whom no man hath bene comparable The copie of the Duke of Moscouie and Emperour of Russia his letters sent to King Edward the sixt by the hands of Richard Chancelour THe Almighty power of God and the imcomprehensible holy Trinitie rightfull Christian beliefe c. We great Duke Iuan Vasiliuich by the grace of God great lord and Emperor of all Russia great Duke of Volodemer Mosco and Nouograd King of Kazan King of Astracan lord of Plesko and great duke of Smolensko of Twerria Ioughoria Permia Vadska Bulghoria and others lord and great duke of Nouograd in the Low countrey of Chernigo Rezan Polotskoy Rostoue Yaruslaueley Bealozera Liefland Oudoria Obdoria and Condensa Commander of all Siberia and of the North parts and lord of many other
or 24 at the most There are many other trifles in Russia as sope mats c. but I thinke there will bee no great account made of them The letters of king Philip and Queene Marie to Iuan Vasiliuich the Emperour of Russia written the first of April 1555 and in the second voyage PHilip and Marie by the grace of God King and Queene of England France Naples Ierusalem and Ireland defenders of the faith Princes of Spaine and Sicilie Archdukes of Austrich Dukes of Burgundie Millaine and Brabant Countries of Haspurge Flanders and Tiroll To the right High right Mightie and right excellent Prince garnished with all gifts of nature by Gods graâ—e Iohn Vaâ—iliuich Emperour of all Russia great Duke of Volodemer Mosco and Nouogrod King of Cazan King of Astracan Lord of Plesco and great Duke of Smolensko of Tueria Ioughoria Permia Vadska Bulghoria and others Lorde and great Duke of Nouogrod of the lowe Countrey of Chernigo Rezan Polotskay Rostoue Yeraslaue Bealozera Liefland Oudoria Obdoria and Condensa Commander of all Siberia and of the North partes and lord of many other countreys greeting Whereas by the consent and licence of our most deare and entirely beleued late brother King Edward the sixt whose soule God pardon sundrie of our subiects marchants of the citie of London within this our realme of England did at their owne proper costs and aduenture furnish three shippes to discouer serch and find lands Islands regions and territories before this aduenture not knowen ne commonly hâ—unted and frequented by seas The one of the which three shippes named the Edward Bonauenture whereof our right welbeloued Richard Chancelour was then gouernour and great Captaine chanced by the grace of God and the good conduct of the sayd Chancelour to arriue and winter in the North part of your Empire of Russia Forasmuch as we be credibly informed by the report of our trustie and welbeloued subiect that your Maiestie did not onely call him and certaine of his company to your emperiall presence and speech entertayned and banqueted them with all humanitie and gentlenes but also being thereunto requested partly by the letters of our said brother partly by request of the sayd Richard Chancelour haue by your letters patents vnder your seale among other things granted That all such marchants as shall come forth of anie of our realms of England or Ireland withal maner of wares if they wil trauel or occupie within your dominions The same marchants with their marchandises in al your lordship may freely at their libertie trauaile out and in without hinderance or any maner of losse And of your farther ample goodnesse haue promised that our ambassadours if wee send any shall with free good will passe to and from you without any hinderance or losse with such message as shall come vnto you and to returne the same to our kingdomes well answered as by the same your letters written in your lordly Palace and Castle of Mosco in the yeere 7063 the moneth of Februarie more at large appeareth Like as wee cannot but much commend your princely fauour and goodnesse and in like manner thanke you for the aboundant grace extended to the sayd Richard Chancelour and others our subiects marchants Euen so these are to pray and request you to continue the same beneuolence toward them and other our marchants and subiects which doe or heereafter shall resorte to your countrey And for the more assurance and incouragement to trade and exercise the feate of marchandise with your subiects and all other marchants within your dominions that it may please you at this our contemplation to assigne and authorise such Commissaries as you shall thinke meete to trade and conferre with our welbeloued subiects and marchants the sayd Richard Chancelour George Killing worth Richard Graie bearers of these our letters who are by vs authoriseâ— for that purpose and to confirme and graunt such other liberties and priuiledges vnto the Gouernour Consuls Assistants and Communaltie of the fellowship of the saide Marchants as the said bearers in their name propone and require by you to be granted for their safe conduct good gouernment and order to bee erected and continued among them in your saide dominions And this with such your clemencie and expedition as wee vpon the next arriuall of the saide Richard Chancelour may bee enformed of your gracious disposition and answere Which your beneuolences so to bee extended wee bee minded to requite towards any your subiects Marchants that shal frequent this our realme at your contemplation therefore to be made Thus right high right Excellent and right mightie Almightie God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost haue you in his blessed keeping Giuen vnder our seale at our Palace of Westminster the first of April in the yere from the blessed incarnation of our Sauiour Iesus Christ 1555. and in the first and second yeeres of our reignes Articles conceiued and determined for the Commission of the Merchants of this company resiant in Russia and at the VVarhouse for the second voyage 1555. the first of May as followeth FIrst the Gouernour Consuls Assistants and whole company assembled this day in open court committeth and authorizeth Richard Gray and George Killing worth iointly and seuerally to be Agents Factors and Atturneis generall and speciall for the whole body of this companie to buy sel trucke change and permute al and euery kind and kindes of wares marchandizes and goods to the said company appertaining now laden shipped in the good ship called the Edward Bonauenture appointed for Russia the same â—o vtter and sell to the best commoditie profit and aduantage of the said corporation be it for ready money wares marchandises or truck presently or for time as occasion benefit of the company shal require and all such wares as they or either of them shal buy trucke or prouide or cause to be bought for the company to lade theÌ„ homeward in good order and condition as by prudent course of marchandises shall and ought to appertaine which article extendeth also to Iohn Brooke for the Wardhouse as in the 17. and 18. articles of this commission appeareth 2 Item it is also committed as aboue to the said Agents to binde charge the said company by debt for wares vpon credit as good opportunitie and occasion shal serue with power to charge and bind the said company and their successors for the paiments of such things as shal be taken vp for credite and the said Agents to be relieued ab opere satis dandi 3 Item full authoritie and power is committed to the said first named factors together with Richard Chancelor grand Pilot of this fleete to repaire to the Emperors court there to present the king and Queenes Maiesties letters written in Greeke Polish and Italian and to giue and exhibite the marchants presents at such time and place as shal be thought most expedient they or one of them to demand and humbly desire of y
into his dominions and that obtained to haue returned againe with speede The same your seruaunt iourneying to the sayd Citie of Arrash and there finding certaine Merchants Armenians which promised to goe to the sayd City of Georgia comming to the borders thereof was perceiued by a Captaine there that he was a Christian and thereupon demaunded whither he went and vnderstanding that he could not passe further without great suspition answered that he came thither to buy Silkes and shewed the king of Hircanes letters which hee had with him and so returned backe againe and the fifteenth of April came to Shamachi from whence I departed the sixteene of the same moneth and the one and twentie therof comming to the Sea side and finding my barke in a readinesse I caused your goods to be laden and there attended a faire winde But before I proceede any further to speake of my returne I intend with your fauours somewhat to treate of the countrey of Persia of the great Sophie and of his countrey lawes and religion This land of Persia is great and ample deuided into many kingdomes and prouinces as Gillan Corasan Shiruan and many others hauing diuers Cities townes and castles in the same Euery prouince hath his seuerall King or Sultan all in obedience to the great Sophie The names of the chiefest Cities be these Teueris Casbin Keshan Yesse Meskit Heirin Ardouill Shamachi Arrash with many others The countrey for the most part toward the sea side is plaine and full of pasture but into the land high full of mountaines and sharpe To the South it bordereth vpon Arabia and the East Ocean To the North vpon the Caspian sea and the lands of Tartaria To the East vpon the prouinces of India and to the West vpon the confines of Chaldea Syria and other the Turkes lands All within these dominions be of the Sophies named Shaw Thamas sonne to Ismael Sophie This Sophie that now raigneth is nothing valiant although his power be great and his people martiall and through his pusillanimitie the Turke hath much inuaded his countreys euen nigh vnto the Citie of Teueris wherein hee was wont to keepe his chiefe court And now hauing forsaken the same is chiefly resident at Casbin aforesaide and alwayes as the said Turke pursueâ—h him he not being able to withstand the Turke in the fielde trusting rather to the mountaines for his safegard then to his fortes and castles hath caused the same to bee rased within his dominions and his ordinance to be molten to the intent that his enemies pursuing him they should not strengthen themselues with the same This prince is of the age of fiftie yeeres and of a reasonable stature hauing fiue children His eldest sonne he keepeth captiue in prison for that he feareth him for his valiantnesse and actiuitie he professeth a kinde of holynesse and saith that hee is descended of the blood of Mahâ—met and Murtezalli and although these Persians bee Mahometans as the Turkes and Tartars bee yet honour they this false fained Murtezalli saying that hee was the chiefest disciple that Mahomet had cursing and chiding dayly three other disciples that Mahomet had called Ouear Vsiran and Abebeck and these three did slay the saide Murtezalli for which cause and other differences of holy men and lawes they haue had and haue with the Turkes and Tartars mortall warres To intreat of their religion at large being more or lesse Mahomets lawe and the Alkaron I shall not need at this present These persons are comely and of good complexion proude and of good courage esteeming themselues to bee best of all nations both for their religion and holinesse which is most erroneous and also for all other their fashions They be martial delighting in faire horses and good harnesse soone angrie craftie and hard people Thus much I haue thought good to treate of this nation and nowe I returne to discourse the proceeding of the rest of my voyage My barke being ready at the Caspian sea as aforesaide hauing a faire winde and committing our selues vnto God the 30. day of May 1563. we arriued at Asâ—â—acan hauing passed no lesse dangers vpon the Sea in our returne then wee sustained in our going foorth and remayning at the said Astracan vntill the tenth day of Iune one hundred gunners being there admitted vnto mee for my safegard vp the riuer Volga the fifteenth of Iuly I arriued at the Citie of Cazan where the Captaine entertained me well and so dismissing mee I was conducted from place to place vnto the Citie of Mosco where I arriued the twentieth day of August 1563. in safetie thankes bee to God with all such goods merchandizes and iewels as I had prouided as well for the Emperours stocke and accompt as also of yours all which goods I was commaunded to bring into the Emperours treasurie before it was opened which I did and deliuered those parcels of wares which were for his Maiesties accompt videliceâ— precious stones and wrought silkes of sundry colours and sortes much to his highnesse contentation and the residue belonging to you viz. Crasko and rawe silkes with other merchandizes as by accompt appeareth were brought vnto your house whereof part there remained and the rest was laden in your shippes lately returned Shortly after my comming to the Mosco I came before the Emperours Maiestie and presented vnto him the apparell giuen vnto me by the Sophie whose highnesse conferred with mee touching the princes affaires which he had committed to my charge and my proceedings therein it pleased him so to accept that they were much to his contentation saying vnto mee I haue perceiued your good seruice for the which I doe thanke you and will recompence you for the same wishing that I would trauell againe in such his other affaires wherein hee was minded to employ mee to whom I answered that it was to my heartie reioycing that my seruice was so acceptable vnto his highnesse acknowledging all that I had done to bee but of duetie humbly beseeching his grace to continue his goodnesse vnto your worships and euen at that instant I humbly requested his Maiestie to vouchsafe to graunt vnto you a newe priuiledge more ample then the first which immediately was graunted and so I departed And afterwards hauing penned a briefe note howe I meant to haue the same priuiledges made I repaired dayly to the Secretary for the perfecting of the same and obtained it vnder his Maiesties broade seale which at my departure from thence I deliuered vnto the custody of Thomas Glouer your Agent there The copy whereof and also of the other priuiledges graunted and giuen by the king of Hircan I haue already deliuered vnto you Soiourning all that winter at Mosco and in the meane time hauing baâ—gained with the Emperours Maiestie I sent away your seruant Edward Clarke hither ouer-land with aduise and also made preparation for sending againe into Persia in meete time of the yeere And committing the charge thereof vnto
for fish oyle and Salmon chiefly hee that will seeke a better market for the sales then at Hull he must seeke it out of England for the like is not in England This is the best way that I can deuise and most for your profite and if you will I will also set you downe all the commodities that are necessarie for such a voyage and which way also that the Hollanders may within two or three yeeres be forced to leaue off the trade of Cola which may easily be done For if my abilitie were to my will I would vse the matter so that they should either leaue off the trade or els cary light ships with them home againe A dedicatorie Epistle vnto the Queenes most excellent Maiestie written by Master William Burrough late Comptroller of her Highnesse nauie and annexed vnto his exact and notable mappe of Russia briefly containing amongst other matters his great trauailes obseruations and experiments both by sea and land especially in those Northeastern parts To the most high and renowmed Princesse ELIZABETH by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland c. MY minde earnestly bent to the knowledge of nauigation and Hydrographie from my youth most excellent my dread Soueraigne hath eftsoones beene moued by diligent studie to search out the chiefest points to them belonging and not there with sufficed hath also sought by experience in diuers discoueries and other voyages and trauailes to practise the same I was in the first voyage for discouerie of the partes of Russia which begun in anno 1553. being then sixteene yeeres of age also in the yeere 1556. in the voyage when the coastes of Samoed and Noua Zembla with the straightes of Vaigatz were found out and in the yeere 1557 when the coast of Lappia and the bay of S. Nicholas were more perfectly discouered Since which time by my continuall practise in the voyages made yeerely to S. Nicholas in Russia or to the Narue and to some other countreys also by Sea as likewise in passing from S. Nicholas to Mosco and from Mosco to Narue and from thence backe againe to S. Nicholas by land in the yeeres 1574. and 1575. being then Agent in those countreis for the companie of English merchants for discoueries of new trades setting downe alwayes with great care and diligence true obseruations notes of al those countreys Islands coasts of the sea and other things requisite to the artes of Nauigation and Hydrographie and with like diligence gathering exact notes and descriptions of the wayes riuers cities townes c. as I passed by land I finde my selfe sufficiently furnished to giue report vnto your Maiesty and to make description of those North parts of the world in forme and maner of euery leagues distance that I haue passed seene in all those my trauels The places herein described which I haue not seene and tried my selfe I haue set downe by the best authorities that I could finde and therein may erre with the learned Gerardus Mercator Abraham Ortelius and the rest but for the maine part which is from Rochel in France hither to London and from hence Eastward to Narue by sea and from thence to Mosco and to S. Nicholas by land also from hence Northwards and Northeastwards by Sea to Saint Nicholas and to the straight of Vaigatz first crauing humbly your highnesse pardon I dare boldly affirme and that I trust without suspect of arrogancie since truely I may say it I haue here set it open to the view with such exactnesse and trueth and so placed euery thing aright in true latitude and longitude accompting the longitudes from the meridian of London which I place in 21. degrees as till this time no man hath done the like neither is any man able by learning onely except he trauaileth as I haue done For as it may be truely saide of nauigation and Hydrographie that no man can be cunning in the one which wanteâ—h conuenient knowledge in the other and as neither of them can be had without the helpes of Astronomie and Cosmographie much lesse without these two grounds of all arâ—â—s Arithmetike and Geometrie so none of the best learned in those sciences Mathematicall without conuenient practise at the sea can make iust proofe of the profite in them so necessarily dependeth art and reason vpon practise and experience Albeit there are diuers both learned and vnlearned litle or nothing experienced which in talke of nauigation will enter deeply and speake much of and against errours vsed therein when they cannot reforme them Such also haue written therof pretending singular great knowledge therein and would so be accompted of though in very deede not worthy the name of good and sufficient pilots To whom I thinke it shall not be amisse in defence of rules builded vpon reason and in practise allowed thus much to say for answere It is so that there are rules vsed in nauigation which are not perfectly true among which the streight lines in sea-cardes representing the 32. points of the compasse or windes are not holden to be the least but noted of such talkers for principall to condemne the occupiers thereof for ignorant yet hath the famous and learned Gerardus Mercator vsed them in his vniuersal mappe But such as condemne them for false and speake most against their vse cannot giue other that should serue for nauigation â—o better purpose and effect Experience one of the keyes of knowledge hath taught mee to say it Wherein with my abilitie together with some part of my studie I am the rather moued in this my plot to make some triall vnto you maiestie for that I perceiue that such attempts of newe discoueries whereunto this noble Island is most aptly situated are by your royall maintenance so willingly furthered beseeching your highnesse so to accept of these my trauailes as a pledge of my well willing to my countrey and of my loyall seruice to your maiestie whose healthfull happie life and reigne God continue which is Almightie Amen Your Maiesties most humble subiect William Burrough The Queenes Maiesties letters to Shaugh Thamas the great Sophi of Persia sent by Arthur Edwards William Turnbull Matthew Tailbois and Peter Gerard appointed Agents for the Moscouie companie in their sixt voyage to Persia begun in the yeere 1579. To the most noble and inuincible Emperour of Persia King of Shiruan Gilan Grosin Corassan and great Gouernour of the Indies ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defâ—nder of the faith c. To the most noble and inuincible Emperour of Persia King of Shiruan Gilan Grosin Corassan and great gouernour euen vnto the Indies sendeth greeting Most noble and inuincible Prince it is now tenne yeeres since or thereabouts wherein after the honourable ambassade of the noble man Anthony Ienkinson our welbeloued subiect to your most noble and inuincible father performed we laboured to bring to passe by Thomas Bannister and Gefferey Ducket merchants our subiects that
be examined according to iustice and if the partie shal be found to be English and shall receiue the holy religion then let him freely be discharged but if he wil still remaine a Christian let him then be restored to the Englishmen and the buyers shall demaund their money againe of them who solde the man 19 Item if the ships of warre of our Imperiall highnesse shal at any time goe forth to Sea and shall finde any English ships laden with marchandise no man shall hinder thâ—m but rather shall vse them friendly and doe them no wrong euen as wee haue giuen and granted articles and priuâ—leges to the French Venetians and other Kings and princes our confederats so also wee haue giuen the like to the English and contrary to this our diuine lawe and priuilege let no man presume to doe any thing 20 Item if either their great or small ships shall in the course of their voyage or in any place to which they come bee stayed or arrested let no man continue the same arrest but rather helpe and assist them 21 Item if any theeues and robbers shall by force take away any of their ships and marchandise let the same theeues and robbers be sought and searched for with all diligence and let them be punished most seuerely 22 Last of all the Beglerbegs and Zanziacbegs our Captaines our slaues and seruants of Captaines vsing the sea and our Iudges customers and gouernours of ships called Reiz and free Reâ—z all these according to the tenor of this priuilege and articles shal be bound to doe accordingly and as long as the Queene of England on her part shall duely keepe and obserue this league and holy peace expressed in this priuilege we also for our Imperial part do charge and commaund the same so long to be straightly kept and obserued Giuen at Constantinople in the 988. yeere of our most holy prophet in the beginning of the moneth of Iune And in the yeere of IESVS 1580. Her Maiesties letter to the Turke or Grand Signior 1581. promising redresse of the disorders of Peter Baker of Ratcliffe committed in the Leuant ELizabeth by the diuine grace of the eternall God of England France and Ireland most sacred Queene and of the most Christian faith against all the prophaners of his most holy Name the zealous and mightie defâ—ndourâ— c. To the most renowned and Emperious Caesar Sultan Murad Can Emperour of all the dominions of Turkie and of all the East Monarchie châ—efe aboue all others whosoeuer most fortunate yeeres with the suâ—cesse of al â—rue happinesse As with very great desire we wish and embrace the loue and amitie of forreine Princes and in the same by al good dueties and meanes we seâ—ke to be confirmed so to vs there may bee nothing more grieuous and disliking then that any thing should happen through the default of our Subiects which any way might bring our faith and fidelitie into suspition Although wee are not ignorant how many good princes by the like misaduenture be abused where the doings of the Subiects are imputed to the want of good gouernment But such matters of importance and so well approued we may not omit such is to vs the sacred estimation of our honour and of our Christian profession as we would the same should appeare aswell in the concluding of our promises and agreements as in the faithfull performing of the same The matter which by these our letters wee specially beholde is a most iniurious and grieuous wrong which of late came vnto our vnderstanding that should be done vnto certaine of your subiects by certaine of our Subiects as yet not apprehended but with all seueritie vpon their apprehension they are to be awarded for the same And as the deede in it selfe is most wicked so is it much more intollerable by how much it doeth infringe the credit of our faith violate the force of our authoritie and impeach the estimation of our word faithfully giuen vnto your Imperiall dignitie In which so great a disorder if wee should not manifest our hatred towardes so wicked and euil disposed persons we might not onely most iustly be reproued in the iudgement of all such as truely fauour Iustice but also of all Princes the patrones of right and equitie might no lesse be condemned That therefore considered which of our parts is ordained in this cause which may be to the good liking of your highnesse we are most especially to request of your Imperiall Maiestie that through the default and disorder of a sort of euill and wicked disposed persons you wil not withdraw your gratious fauour from vs neither to hinder the trafique of our Subiects which by vertue of your highnesse sufferance and power of your licence are permitted to trade into your dominions countreys or that either in their persons or goods they be preiudiced in their traueyling by land or by water promising vnto your greatnesse most faithfully that the goods whereof your subiects by great wrong and violence haue bene spoyled shall wholy againe be restored if either by the liues or possessions of the robbers it may any way be brought to passe And that hereafter as now being taught by this euill example wee will haue speciall care that none vnder the title of our authoritie shall be suffered to commit any the like wrongs or iniuries Neither they which haue committed these euil parts had any power vnder your highnesse safe-conduct graunted vnto our subiects but from some other safeconduct whether it were true or fained we knowe not or whether they bought it of any person within tâ—e gouernment of Marseils but vnder the colour thereof they haue done that which the trueth of our dealing doeth vtterly abhorre Notwithstanding howsoeuer it be wee will surely measure their euill proceedings with most sharpe and iust correction and that it shall repent them of the impeachment of our honours as also it shal be an example of our indignation that others may dread at all times to commit the like offence Wherefore that our amitie might be continued as if this vnfortunate hap had neuer chanced and that the singuler affection of our Subiects towardes your Imperiall Maiesâ—ie vowed and dayly more and more desired might be conserued and defended we thereunto do make our humble suite vnto your greatnesse And for so great goodnesse towardes vs and our people granted doe most humbly pray vnto the Almightie creatour of heauen and earth euer to maintaine and keepe your most renowmed Maiestie in all happinesse and prosperitie Dated at our palace of Greenewich the 26. of Iune Anno 1581. The letters patents or priuileges graunted by her Maiestie to Sir Edward Osborne Master Richard Staper and certaine other Marchants of London for their trade into the dominions of the great Turke in the yeere 1581. ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. To all our Officers ministers and Subiects and to all
time without the consent of the Gouernour for the time being and the more part of the said Company And further wee of our more ample and abundant grace meere motion and certaine knowledge haue graunted and by these patenâ—s for vs our heires and successors doe graunt to the saide Edward Thomas Richard and William their executors and administrators that they the saide Edward Thomas Richard and Willam their executors and administrators and the said person and persons by them the said Edward and Richard to be nominated or appointed as afore is said together with such two other persons as wee our heires or successors from time to time during the sayd terme shall nominate shall haue the whole trade and trafique and the whole entire onely libertie vse and priuilege of trading and trafiquing and vsing feate of marchandise into and from the said dominions of the said Grand Signior and euery of them And when there shall be no such persons so nominated or appointed by vs our heires or successors that then the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret their executors and administrators and such persons by them so to be appointed shall haue the saide whole trade and trafique and the whole entire and onely libertie vse and priuilege of trading and trafiquing aforesaid And that they the said Edward Thomas Richard and William their executors administrators and also al such as shal so be nominated or appointed to be partners or aduenturers in the said trade according to such agreement as is abouesaid and euery of them their seruants factors and deputies shal haue ful and free authoritie libertie facultie licence and power to trade and trafique into and from all and euery the saide dominions of the saide Grand Signior and into and from all places where by occasion of the said trade they shall happen to arriue or come whether they be Christians Turkes Gentiles or other and into and from all Seas riuers ports regions territories dominions coastes and places with their ships barks pinâ—esses and other vessels and with such mariners and men as they will lead with them or send for the said trade as they shall thinke good at their owne proper cost and expenses any law statute vsage or matter whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding And that it shal be lawful for the said Edward Thomas Richard and William and to the persons aforesaid and to and for the mariners and seamen to bee vsed and employed in the said trade and voyage to set and place in the tops of their ships and others vessels the armes of England with the red crosse ouer the same as heretofore they haue vsed the red crosse any matter or thing to the contrary notwithstanding And we of our further royal fauor and of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion haue graunted and by these presents doe graunt to the said Edward Osbâ—rne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret their executors and administrators by these presents that the said lands territories and dominions of the said Grand Signior or any of them shall not be visited frequented nor haunted by way of marchandise by any other our subiects during the said terme contrary to the true meaning of these patents And by vertue of our high prerogatiue royall which wee will not haue argued or brought in question we straightly charge and commaund and prohibite for vs our heires and successours all our subiects of what degree or qualitie soeuer they be that none of them directly or indirectlâ— do visite haunt frequent or trade trafique or aduenture by way of marchandise into or from any of the Dominions of the sayde Grand Signior or other places abouesayde by water or by lande other then the said Edward Thomas Richard and William their executours or administrators or such as shal be admitted and nominated as is aforesaide without expresse licence agreement and consent of the said Gouernour and company or the more part of them whereof the said Gouernour alwayes to be one vpon paine of our high indignation and of forfeiâ—nre and losse as well of the ship and shippes with the furniture thereof as also of the goods marchandizes and things whatsoeuer they be of those our Subiects which shall attempt or presume to saile trafique or aduenture to or from any the dominions or places abouesaid contrary to the prohibition aforesaid the one halfe of the same forfeiture to be to the vse of vs our heires successors and the other halfe to the vse of the said Edward Thomas Richard and William and the said companie and further to suffer imprisonment during our pleasure and such other punishment as to vs for so high contempt shal seeme meete and conuenient And further of our grace speciall certaine knowledge and meere motion we haue condescended and graunted and by these patents for vs our heires and successors doe condescend and grant to the said Edward Thomas Richard William their executors and administrators that we our heires successors during the said terme will not grant liberty licence or power to any person or persons whatsoeuer contrary to the tenor of these our letters patents to saile passe trade or trafique into or from the said dominions of the said Grand Signior or any of them without the coÌ„sent of the said Edward Thomas Richard William and such as shal be named or appointed as afore is said or the most of them And that if at any time hereafter during the said terme y e said Edward Thomas Richard and William or the suruiuors of them shal admit or nominate any of our subiects to be partners aduenturers in the said trade to the number of 12. or vnder as afore is said that then we our heires and successors at the instance and petition of the said Edward Thomas Richard and William or the suruiuors of them in our Chauncerie to be made and vpon the sight of these presents will grant and make to the said Edward Thomas Richard and William or to the suruiuors of them and to such persons as so shall be nominated or appointed by their speciall names surnames additions as is aforesaid new letters patents vnder the great seale of England in due forme of law with like agreement clauses prohibitions prouisoes and articles mutatis mutandis as in these our letters patents are conteined for and during the residue of the said terme of seuen yeres then remaining vnexpired And that the sight of these presents shal be sufficient warrant to the Lord Chancellour or Lord keeper of the great seale for the time being for the making sealing and passing of such new letters patents without further writ or warrant for the same to be required had or obtained And the said Edward Osburne Thomas Smith and Richard Staper and William Garret and such others as shal be so nominated and appointed as is aforesaid to be of their trade or companie shall yeerely during 6. of the last yeres of
aforesaid The large pension granted by K. Edward the 6. to Sebastian Cabota constituting him grand Pilot of England EDwardus sextus Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae rex omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos praesentes hae literae nostrae peruenerint salutem Sciatis quod nos in consideratione boni acceptabilis seruitij nobis per dilectum seruientem nostrum Sebastianum Caboâ—am impensi atque impendendi de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia mero motu nostro nec non de aduisamento consensu preclarissimi auunculi nostri Edwardi Ducis Somerseti personae nostre Gubernatoris ac Regnorum dominiorum sub ditorúm que nostrorum protectoris caeterorum consiliarioruÌ„ nostrorum dedimus concessimus ac per praesentes damus concedimus eidem Sebastiano Cabotae quandam annuitatem siue annualem reditum centum sexaginta sex librarum tresdecim solidorum quatuor denariorum sterlingorum habendam gaudendam annuatim percipiendam pâ—aedictam annuitatem siue annalem reditum eidem Sebastiano Cabote durante viâ—a sua naturali de thesauro nostro ad receptum scacarij nostri Westmonasterij per manus the sauiariorum Camerariorum nostrorum ibidem pro tempore existentium ad festa annuntiationis beatae Mariae Virginis natiuitatis sancti Ioannis Baptistae Sancti Michaelis Archangeli Natalis Domini per aequales portiones soluendam Et vlteriùs devberiori gratia nostra ac de aduisamento consensu praedictis damus per presentes concedimus prefato Sebastiano Cabotae tot tantas Denariorum summas ad quot quantas dicta annuitas siue annalis reditus centum sexaginta sex libraruÌ„ tresdecim solidorum quatuor denarioruÌ„ à festo sancti Michaelis Archangeli vltimò praeterito huc vsque se extendit attingit habendas recipiendas prefato Sebastiano Cabotae assignatis â—uis de thesauro nostro praedicto per manus predictorum Thesaurariorum Camerariorum nostrorum de dono nostro absque computo seu aliquo alio nobis haere dibus vel successoribus nostris proinde reddendo soluendo vel faciendo eo quòd expressa mentio c. In cuius rei testimonium c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium 6. die Ianuarij Anno 2. Regis Edwardi sexti The same in English EDward the sixt by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the faith to all Christian people to whom these presents shall come sendeth greeting Know yee that we in consideration of the good and acceptable seruice done and to be done vnto vs by our beloued seruant Sebastian Cabota of our speciall grace certaine knowledge meere motion and by the aduise and counsel of our most honourable vncle Edward duke of Somerset gouernour of our person and Protector of our kingdomes dominions and subiects and of the rest of our Counsaile haue giuen granted and by these presents do giue and graunt to the said Sebastian Cabota a certaine annuitie or yerely reuenue of one hundreth threescore sixe pounds thirteene shillings foure pence sterling to haue enioy and yerely receiue the foresaid annuitie or yerely reuenue to the foresaid Sebastian Cabota during his natural life out of our Treasurie at the receit of our Exchequer at Westminster at the hands of our Treasurers paymasters there remayning for the time being at the feasts of the Annuntiation of the blessed Uirgin Mary the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist S. Michael y e Archangel the Natiuitie of our Lord to be paid by equal portions And further of our more speciall grace and by the aduise and consent aforesaide wee doe giue and by these presents doe graunt vnto the aforesaide Sebastian Cabota so many and so great summes of money as the saide annuitie or yeerely reuenue of an hundreth threescore and sixt pounds thirteene shillings 4. pence doeth amount and rise vnto from the feast of S. Michael the Archangel last past vnto this present time to be had and receiued by the aforesaid Sebastian Cabota and his assignes out of our aforesaid Treasurie at the handes of our aforesaide Treasurers and officers of our Exchequer of our free gift without accompt or any thing else therefore to be yeelded payed or made to vs our heires or successours forasmuch as herein expresse mention is made to the contrary In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our Letters to be made patents Witnesse the King at Westminster the sixt day of Ianuarie in the second yeere of his raigne The yeere of our Lord 1548. A discourse written by Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight to proue a passage by the Northwest to Cathaia and the East Indies The Table of the matters in euery Chapter of this discourse Capitulo I. TO proue by authoritie a passage to be on the North side of America to goe to Cataia China and to the East India Capitulo 2. To proue by reason a passage to be on the North side of America to go to Cataia Moluccae c. Capitulo 3. To proue by experience of sundry mens trauailes the opening of this Northwest passage whereby good hope remaineth of the rest Capitulo 4. To proue by circumstance that the Northwest passage hath bene sailed throughout Capitulo 5. To prooue that such Indians as haue bene driuen vpon the coastes of Germanie came not thither by the Southeast and Southwest nor from any part of Afrike or America Capitulo 6. To prooue that the â—ndians aforenamed came not by the Northeast and that there is no thorow passage nauigable that way Capitulo 7. To proue that these Indians came by the Northwest which induceth a certaintie of this passage by experience Capitulo 8. What seueral reasons were alleaged before the Queenes Maiestie and certaine Lords of her Highnesse priuie Council by M. Anth. Ienkinson a Gentleman of great trauaile and experience to proue this passage by the Northeast with my seuerall answeres then alleaged to the same Capitulo 9. How that this passage by the Northwest is more commodious for our traffike then the other by the Northeast if there were any such Capitulo 10. What commodities would ensue this passage being once discouered To proue by authoritie a passage to be on the Northside of America to goe to Cathaia and the East India Chapter I. WHen I gaue my selfe to the studie of Geographie after I had perused and diligently scanned the descriptions of Europe Asia Afrike and conferred them with the Mappes and Globes both Antique and Moderne I came in fine to the fourth part of the world commonly called America which by all descriptions I found to bee an Iland enuironed round about with Sea hauing on the Southside of it the frete or straight of Magellan on the West side Mar del Sur which Sea runneth towards the North separating it from the East parts of Asia where the Dominions of the Cathaians are On the East part our West Ocean and on
other people as well within this our Realme of England as else where vnder our obeysance iurisdiction or otherwise vnto whom these our letters shall be seene shewed or read greeting Where our welbeloued Subiects Edward Osborne Alderman of our Citie of London and Richard Staper of our sayde City Marchant haue by great aduenture and industrie with their great costes and charges by the space of sundry late yeeres trauailed and caused trauaile to bee taken as well by secret and good meanes as by dangerous wayes and passages both by lande and Sea to finde out and set open a trade of Marchandize and trafique into the Lands Islands dominions and territories of the great Turke commonly called the Grand Signior not heretofore in the memory of any man nowe liuing knowen to be commonly vsed and frequented by way of marchandise by anâ— the Marchants or any Subiects of vs or our progenitours and also haue by their like good meanes and industrie and great charges procured of the sayde Grand Signior in our name amitie safetie and freedome for trade and trafique of Marchandise to bee vsed and continued by our Subiects within his sayde Dominions whereby there is good and apparant hope and likelyhoode both that many good offices may bee done for the peace of Christendome and reliefe of many Christians that bee or may happen to bee in thraldome or necessitie vnder the sayde Grand Signior his vassals or Subiects and also good and profitable vent and vtterance may be had of the commodities of our Realme and sundry other great benefites to the aduancement of our honour and dignitie Royall the increase of the reuenues of our Crowne and generall wealth of our Realme Knowe ye that hereupon wee greatly tendering the wealth of our people and the incouragement of our Subiects in their good enterprises for the aduauncement of the Common weale haue of our speciall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion giuen and graunted and by these presents for vs our heires and successours doe giue and graunt vnto our sayd trustie and welbeloued Subiects Edward Osborne and vnto Thomas Smith of London Esquier Richard Staper and William Garret of London Marchants their executors and administrators and to the executours and administratours of them and of euery of them that they and euery of them and such other person and persons Englishmen borne not exceeding the number of twelue as they the sayde Edward and Richard shall appoint nominate or admit to be parteners aduenturers or doers with them the sayde Edward Thomas Richard and William in their societie by themselues their seruants Factours or deputies and to such others as shall bee nominated according to the tenour of these our letters Patents shall and may during the terme of seuen yeeres from the date of these Patents freely trade trafique and vse feates of Marchandise into and from the dominions of the sayde Grand Signior and euery of them in such order and maner forme liberties and condition to all intents and purposes as shal be betweene them limitted and agreed and not otherwise without any molestation impeachment or disturbance any Lawe statute vsage diuersitie of religion or faith or other cause or matter whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding And that it shal be lawful to the said Edward and Richard their executors and administrators during the said terme to appoint or admit to be parteners and aduenturers with them the sayde Edward Thomas Richard and William such persons not exceeding the number of twelue as afore is said to trafique and vse the said trade feate of marchandise according to our saide graunt And that all and euery such person and persons as shall hereafter fortune to bee appointed or admitted as parteners in the said trade or trafique according to these our letters patents shall and may from the time of such appointment or admittance haue and enioy the freedome and libertie of the said trade and trafique during the residue of the said terme of seuen yeeres accordâ—ng to such limitation and agreement as is aforesaide and that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the saide Edward Thomas Richard and William their executours and administratours seruants factours and deputies and all such as shall be so appointed nominated or admitted to bee parteners or aduenturers in the saide trade or so many of them as can and will to assemble themselues for or about any the matters causes affaires or businesse of the saide trade in any place or places for the same conuenient from time to time during the said terme of 7. yeres within our dominions or elsewhere and to make ordeine and constitute reasonable lawes and ordinances for the good gouernment of the said Company and for the better aduancement and continuance of the said trade and trafique not being contrary or repugnant to the lawes estatutes or customes of our Realme and the same lawes or ordinances so made to put in vse and execute accordingly and at their pleasures to reuoke the same lawes and ordinances or any of them as occasion shall require And in consideration that the said Edward Osborne hath bene the principall setter foorth and doer in the opening putting in vre of the said trade we do therfore especially ordeine constitute and prouide by these patents that the saide Edward Osborne shall be gouernour of all such as by vertue of these our letters patents shall be parteners aduenturers or trafiquers in the said trade during the said terme of seuen yeeres if hee so long liue And that if the said Edward shall happen to decease during the saide terme the saide Richard Staper then liuing then the sayd Richard Staper shall likewise be gouernour during the residue of the said terme if he so long liue and that if the said Edward and Richard shall both happen to decease during the said terme then the partners or aduenturers for the time being or the greatest part of them shall from time to time as necessitie shall require choose and elect a gouernour of the said Company Prouided alwayes that if there shall happen any great or vrgent occasion to remooue or displace any person that shall be gouernour of the saide fellowship that then it shall and may be lawfull for vs our heires and successours to remooue and displace euery such gouernour and to place another of the said fellowship in the same office during such time as such person should haue enioyed the same according to this our graunt if there had bene no cause to the contrary And we further for vs our heires and successors of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion do graunt to the said Edward Osborne Thomas Smith Richard Staper and William Garret their executors and administrators that nothing shall bee done to be of force or validitie touching the sayde trade or trafique or the exercise thereof without or against the consent of the said Edward during such time as hee shall bee Goâ—ernour as afore is saide And after that