whatsoeuer hee or they bee that then and in such case wee will doe all that in vs is to cause restitution reparation and satisfaction to bee duely made to the said English marchants by our letters and otherwise as shall stand with our honour and be consonant to equitie and iustice 10 Item for vs our heires and successours wee doe promise and graunt to performe mainteine corroborate autenticate and obserue all and singular the aforesaide liberties franchises and priuiledges like as presently we firmely doe intend and will corroborate autentike and performe the same by all meane and way that we can as much as may be to the commoditie and profite of the said English Marchants and their successours for euer And to the intent that all and singuler the saide giftes graunts and promises may bee inuiolably obserued and performed we the said Iohn Vasiliuich by the grace of God Emperor of Russia great Duke of Nouogrode Mosco c. for vs our heires and successors by our Imperiall and lordly word in stead of an othe haue and doe promise by these presents inuiolably to mainteyne and obserue and cause to be inuiolably obserued and mainteined all and singuler the aforesayde giftes graunts and promises from time to time and at all and euery time and times heereafter And for the more corroboration hereof haue caused our Signet hereunto to be put Dated in our Castle of Mosco the 20. day of in the yeere The Charter of the Marchants of Russia graunted vpon the discouerie of the saide Countrey by King Philip and Queene Marie PHilip and Marie by the grace of God King and Queene c. To all manner of officers true Iurie men ministers aud subiects and to all other people as well within this our Realme or elsewhere vnder our obeysance iurisdiction and rule or otherwise vnto whome these our letters shall bee shewed séene or read greeting Whereas wee be credibly informed that our right trusâ—ie right faithfull and welbeloued Counsailors William Marques of Winchester Lord high Treasurer of this our Realme of England Henrie Earle of Arundel Lord Steward of our housholde Iohn Earle of Bedford Lord keeper of our priuie Seale William Earle of Pembroke William Lorde Howard of Esfingham Lorde high Admirall of our saide Realme of England c. Haue at their owne aduenture costs and charges prouided rigged and tackled certaine ships pinnesses and other meete vessels and the same furnished with all things necessary haue aduanced and set forward for to discouer descrie and finde Iles landes territories Dominions and Seigniories vnknowen and by our subiects before this not commonly by sea frequented which by the sufferance and grace of Almightie God it shall chaunce them sailing Northwards Northeastwards and Northwestwards or any partes thereof in that race or course which other Christian Monarches being with vs in league and amitie haue not heeretofore by Seas traffiqued haunted or frequented to finde and attaine by their said aduenture as well for the glorie of God as for the illustrating of our honour and dignitie royall in the increase of the reuenues of our Crowne and generall wealth of this and other our Realmes and Dominions and of our subiects of the same And to this intent our subiects aboue specified and named haue most humbly beseeched vs that our abundant grace fauour and clemencie may be gratiously extended vnto them in this behalfe Whereupon wee inclined to the petition of the foresaide our Counsailours subiects and marchants and willing to animate aduance further and nourish them in their said godlie honest and good purpose and as we hope profitable aduenture and that they may the more willingly and readily atchieue the same Of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion haue graunted and by these presents doe graunt for vs our heires and successours vnto our said right trustie and right faithfull and right welbeloued Counsailours and the other before named persons that they by the name of marchants aduenturers of England for the discouery of lands â—erritories Iles Dominions and Seigniories vnknowen and not before that late aduenture or enterprise by sea or Nauigation commonly frequented as aforesaid shal be from hâ—nceforth one bodie and perpetuall fellowship and communaltie of themselues both in deede and in name and them by the names of Marchants aduenturers for the discouerie of lands territories Iles sâ—igniories vnknowen and not by the seas and Nauigations before their saide late aduenture or enterprise by sea or Nauigation commonly frequented We doe incorporate name and declare by these presents and that the same fellowship or communalty from henceforth shal be and may haue one Gouernour of the saide fellowship and communaltie of Marchants aduenturers And in consideration that one Sebastian Cabota hath bin the chiefest setter forth of this iourney or voyage therefore we make ordeine and constitute him the said Sebastian to be the first and present gouernour of the same fellowship and communaltie by these presents To haue and enioy the said office of Gouernour to him the said Sebastian Cabota during his naturall life without amouing or dimissing from the same roome And furthermore we graunt vnto the saine fellowship and communaltie and their successors that they the saide fellowship and communaltie and their successors afâ—er the decease of the saide Sebastian Cabota shall and may freely and lawfully in places conuenient and honest assemble themselues together or so many of them as will or can assemble together as well within our citie of London or elsewhere as it shall please them in such sort and maner as other worshipfull corporations of our saide citie haue vsed to assemble and there yeerely name elect and choose one Gouernour or two of themselues and their liberties and also as well yeerely during the natural life of the said Sebastian Cabota now Gouernour as also at the election of such saide Gouernour or gouernours before his decease to choose name and appoint eight and twenty of the most sad discreete and honest persons of the saide fellowship and communaltie of Marchant aduenturers as is aboue specified and 4. of the most expert and skilfull persons of the same 28. to be named and called Consuls and 24. of the residue to be named and called Assistants to the saide Gouernour or gouernours and Consuls for the time being which shal remaine and stand in their authorities for one whole yeere then nâ—â—t following And if it shall fortune the saide Gouernour Consuls and assistants or any of them so to be elected and chosen as is aforesaid to die within the yeere after his or their election that then and so often it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said fellowship and communalty to elect and choose of themselues other Gouernour or gouernours Consuls and assistants in the place and sleade of such as so shall happen to die to serue out the same yeere And further we do make ordeine and constitute George Barnes knight and Alderman of our
the Queenes most excellent Maiestie from the Lord Boris Pheodorouich Godonoua BY the grace of God great Lord and great Duke Theodore Iuanouich gouernour of Russia Volodimer Mosco and Nouogrod King of Cazan and Astracan Lord of Vobsko and great Duke of Smolensco Otuer Vghori Perme Viatsky Bulgary and other regions Lord and great Duke of Nouogrod in the low countrey of Chernigo of Rezan Polotsko Rostoue Ieroslaue Bealozera and of Lifland of Vdorsky Obdorsky Condinsky and all the countrey of Sibery and commander of all the North parts and Lord ouer the countrey of Iuersky and King of Grusinsky and of the countrey of Kabardinsky Cherchasky and duke of Igorsky Lord and ruler of many countreys more c. Most resplendent Queene Elizabeth of England France and Ireland c. his princely Maiesties seruant Lord and Master of his horses and high Steward of his house and President of the territories of Cazan and Astracan Boris Pheodorouich Godonoua vnto your most excellent Maiesty great Ladie Queene Elizabeth send my humble commendations It hath pleased your Maiestie to write vnto me your gracious and princely letter by your seruant Thomas Lind which letter I receiued with all humblenesse During the time of the abode of your Messenger Thomas Lind here in the Mosco it pleased God of his mercifulnesse and our Lady the mother of God and holy Saints by the prayers of our lord and king his Maiestie Theodore Iuanouich ouer all Russia gouernour the right beleeuer and louer of Christ to send our Queene and gracious Lady Irene a yoong Princesse to the great ioy and comfort of our kingdome named Pheodocine Wherefore we giue all honour and glory to the almightie God vnspeakeable whose giftes had beene manifolde with mercie vnto vs for which all wee Christians laud and praise God After all this your seruant was occasioned to stay vntill the comming of your merchants from the sea port Touching the letters which you haue receiued from your louing brother our Lord and Master by your ambassadour therein you perceiue sufficiently my good meaning in trauailing for the continuance of amitie and friendship betwixt you mighty great princes in the which I will continue mine endeuour Also your merchants I haue taken into my protection for to defend them for the loue I beare to your Maiestie As heeretofore I haue done it willingly and with great care of their good so I meane to continue so farre as God will giue me leaue to the end that brotherly loue be holden betweene you Princes without disturbance As I haue beene to your merchants in times past so now by the permission and commandement of our Lord and Master I will be their defendour in all causes and will cause all our authorised people to fauour them and to defend them and to giue them free liberty to buy and sell at their pleasure The merchants doe not certifie your princely Maiestie of all our friendship and fauour shewed vnto them from time to time And whereas your Maiestie hath now written to our Lord and Master for the debts which your merchants ought to haue of William Turnebull lately disceased I hauing perused your Maiesties letter whereby I am requested to be a meane for the recouerie and obtaining of their sayd debts I haue moued it to our Lord and King his Maiestie that order may be giuen therein and that his kinseman Rainold Kitchin with three persons more may be sent ouer together with the sayd Turnebulles stuffe and other things as billes books and writings All which shall be deliuered to your merchants Agent and his fellowes and in money 600 rubbles of the sayd Turnebulles And touching your merchants I will haue a great care ouer them and protect them whereby they shall suffer no damages in their trade and all kinde of trafficke in merchandise shall be at their libertie Written in our Lord and Kings Maiestie royall citie of Mosco in the yeere from the beginning of the world 7101 in the moneth of Ianuarie A letter from the Lord Boris Pheodorowich to the right honourable Lord William Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England BY the grace of God great Lord King and great Duke Theodor Iuanouich gouernour of Russia Volodimer Mosco and Nouogrod King of Cazan and Astracan Lord of Vobsco and great Duke of Smolensco Otuer Vghory Perme Viatsky Bulgary and other regions Lord and great Duke of all Nouogrod in the low countreys of Chernigo of Liffeland of Vdorsky Obdorsky Condinsky and all the countrey of Sibery and commaunder of all the North parts and Lord ouer the countrey of Iuersky and King of Grosinsky and of the countreys of Kabardinsky Cherchasky and Duke of Igorsky Lord and ruler of many Countreys more c. His princely Maiesties seruant Lord and Master of his horses and high Steward of his house President of the territories of Cazan and Astracan Boris Pheodorowich Godonoua to the most honourable Counseller of the most resplendent mightie great Lady Elizabeth Queene of England France and Ireland William Burghley Lord and Knight of the Garter high Treasurour of England sendeth greeting I perceiue by your letter that your merchants last shippes came home in sastie and that you haue receiued the letters sent by them by the hands of Francis Cherie one from our Lord and great King of all Russia his Maiesty vnto your Queenes most excellent Maiesty and one from me to her Highnesse and one from my selfe to you and the contents thereof you haue caused to be read and well vnderstood at large And whatsoeuer is therein written concerning Ierome Horsey you haue sought out the ground thereof and that he is in great displeasure And her Highnesse hath written in her letter concerning her Maiesties merchants that whereas I haue taken them into protection she taketh it very louingly and kindely that for her sake they haue receiued so great kindnesse And touching the damages and hinderances which your merchaunts haue sustained by meanes of the Emperours authorised people and officers and that they were not permitted to trafficke at libertie at the Sea port in the yeere 1589 for the space of three weekes it hath beene against the Emperours Maiesties will and pleasure as also against mine Where you desire and wish that betweene our Emperours Maiestie and your Queenes Maiestie their loue and amitie may not bee seperated at any time but to continue and you request mee that I should be good vnto the English merchants and to defend them from all such damages hereafter your honours louing letter I haue therein throughly considered and as I haue bene heretofore so I will still continue to be a meane betwixt our Lorde and kings Maiestie and your great Lady the Queene her highnesse for the mainteyning of brotherly loue and amitie most ioyfully and willingly as God knoweth aswel hereafter as I haue bene heretofore praying you to doe the like also Mine onely desire is for your most excellent Princesse sake to do all that lyeth in mâ—e
THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS VOYAGES TRAFFIQVES AND DISCOVEries of the English Nation made by Sea or ouer-land to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the Earth at any time within the compasse of these 1600 yeres Diuided into three seuerall Volumes according to the positions of the Regions whereunto they were directed The first Volume containeth the worthy Discoueries c. of the English toward the North and Northeast by Sea as of Lapland Scrikfinia Corelia the Baie of S. Nicolas the Isles of Colgoieue Vaigatz and Nona Zembla toward the great Riuer Ob with the mighty Empire of Russia the Caspian Sea Georgia Armenia Media Persia Boghar in Bactria and diuers kingdomes of Tartaria Together with many notable monuments and testimonies of the ancient forren trades and of the warrelike and other shipping of this Realme of England in former ages VVhereunto is annexed a briefe Commentary of the true state of Island and of the Northren Seas and lands situate that way As also the memorable defeat of the Spanish huge Armada Anno 1588. ¶ The second Volume comprehendeth the principall Nauigations Voyages Traffiques and discoueries of the English Nation made by Sea or ouer-land to the South and South-east parts of the World as well within as without the Streight of Gibraltar at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres Diuided into two seueral parts c. ¶ By RICHARD HAKLVYT Preacher and sometime Student of Christ-Church in Oxford Imprinted at London by George Bishop Ralph Newberie and Robert Barker ANNO 1599. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY SINGVLAR GOOD LORD THE LORD CHARLES HOVVARD Erle of Notingham Baron of Effingham Knight of the noble Order of the Garter Lord high Admirall of England Ireland and Wales c. one of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell RIght Honourable and my very good Lord after I had long since published in Print many Nauigations and Discoueries of Strangers in diuers languages as well here at London as in the citie of Paris during my fiue yeeres abode in France with the woorthie Knight Sir Edward Stafford your brother in lawe her Maiesties most prudent and carefull Ambassador ligier with the French King and had waded on still farther and farther in the sweet studie of the historie of Cosmographie I began at length to conceiue that with diligent obseruation some thing might be gathered which might commend our nation for their high courage and singular actiuitie in the Search and Discouerie of the most vnknowen quarters of the world Howbeit seeing no man to step forth to vndertake the recording of so many memorable actions but euery man to folow his priuate affaires the ardent loue of my countrey deuoured all difficulties and as it were with a sharpe goad prouoked me and thrust me forward into this most troublesome and painfull action And after great charges and infinite cares after many watchings toiles and trauels and wearying out of my weake body at length I haue collected three seuerall Volumes of the English Nauigations Traffiques and Discoueries to strange remote and farre distant countreys Which worke of mine I haue not included within the compasse of things onely done in these latter dayes as though litle or nothing woorthie of memorie had bene performed in former ages but mounting aloft by the space of many hundred yeeres haue brought to light many very rare and worthy monuments which long haue lien miserably scattered in mustie corners retchlesly hidden in mistie darkenesse and were very like for the greatest part to haue bene buried in perpetuall obliuion The first Volume of this worke I haue thus for the present brought to light reseruing the other two vntill the next Spring when by Gods grace they shall come to the Presse In the meane season bethinking my selfe of some munificent and bountifull Patrone I called to mind your honorable Lordship who both in regard of my particular obligation and also in respect of the subiect and matter might iustly chalenge the Patronage thereof For first I remembred how much I was bound and how deeply indebted for my yongest brother Edmund Hackluyt to whom for the space of foure whole yeeres your Lordship committed the gouernment and instruction of that honorable yong noble man your sonne heire apparant the lord William Howard of whose high spirit and wonderful towardlinesse full many a time hath he boasted vnto me Secondly the bounden duetie which I owe to your most deare sister the lady Sheffield my singular good lady honorable mistresse admonished me to be mindfull of the renoumed familie of the Howards Thirdly when I found in the first Patent graunted by Queene Marie to the Moscouie companie that my lord your â—ather being then lord high Admirall of England was one of the first fauourers and furtherers with his purse and countenance of the strange and wonderfull Discouerie of Russia the chiefe contents of this present Volume then I remeÌ„bred the sage saying of sweet Isocrates That sonnes ought not onely to be inheriters of their fathers substance but also of their commendable vertues and honours But what speake I of your ancestors honors which to say the trueth are very great and such as our Chronicles haue notably blazoned when as your owne Heroicall actions from time to time haue shewed themselues so admirable as no antiquitie hath affoorded greater and the future times will not in haste I thinke performe the like To come to some particulars when the Emperors sister the spouse of Spaine with a Fleete of an 130. sailes stoutly and proudly passed the narow Seas your Lordship accompanied with ten ships onely of her Maiesties Nauie Roiall enuironed their Fleet in most strange and warrelike sort enforced them to stoope gallant and to vaile their bonets for the Queene of England and made them perfectly to vnderstand that olde speach of the prince of Poets Non illi imperium pelagi saeuúmque tridentem sed tibi sorte datum Yet after they had acknowledged their dutie your lordship on her Maiesties behalfe conducted her safely through our English chanell and performed all good offices of honor and humanitie to that forren Princesse At that time all England beholding your most honorable cariage of your selfe in that so weightie seruice began to cast an extraordinarie eie vpon your lordship and deeply to conceiue that singular hope which since by your most worthie wonderfull seruice your L hath more then fully satiâ—fied I meane among others that glorious triumphant and thrise-happy victory atchieued against that huge and haultie Spanish Armada which is notably described in the ende of this volume wherein being chiefe and sole Commander vnder her sacred and roiall Maiestie your noble gouernment and worthy behauior your high wisedom discretion and happinesse accompanied with the heauenly blessing of the Almightie are shewed most euidently to haue bene such as all posteritie and succeeding ages shall neuer cease to sing and resound your infinite prayse and eternall commendations As for the late renoumed expedition
saile out of Norway arriued vpon the Isle of Lewis then that Magnus the king of Norway came into the same seas with 160. sailes and hauing subdued the Orkney Isles in his way passed on in like conquering maner directing his course as it should seeme euen through the very midst and on all sides of the Hebrides who sailing thence to Man conquered it also proceeding afterward as farre as Anglesey and lastly crossing ouer from the Isle of Man to the East part of Ireland Yea there they shall read of Godredus the sonne of Olauus his voiage to the king of Norway of his expedition with 80. ships against Sumerledus of Sumerled his expedition with 53. ships against him of Godred his flight and second iourney into Norway of Sumerled his second arriual with 160. shippes at Rhinfrin vpon the coast of Man and of many other such combates assaults voyages which were performed onely vpon those seas Islands And for the bringing of this woorthy monument to light we doe owe great thanks vnto the iudiciall and famous Antiquarie M. Camden But sithens we are entred into a discourse of the ancient warrelike shipping of this land the Reader shall giue me leaue to borow one principall note out of this litle historie before I quite take my leaue thereof and that is in few words that K. Iohn passed into Ireland with a Fleet of 500. sailes so great were our sea-forces euen in his time Neither did our shipping for the warres first begin to flourish with king Iohn but long before his dayes in the reign of K. Edward the Confessor of William the Conqueror of William Rufus and the rest there were diuers men of warre which did valiant seruice at sea and for their paines were roially rewarded All this and more then this you may see recorded pag. 17. out of the learned Gentleman M. Lambert his Perambulation of Kent namely the antiquitie of the Kentiâ—h Cinque ports which of the sea-townes they were how they were infranchised what gracious priuileges and high prerogatiues were by diuers kings vouchsafed vpon them and what seruices they were tied vnto in regard thereof to wit how many ships how many souldiers mariners Garsons and for how many dayes each of them and all of them were to furnish for the kings vse and lastly what great exploits they performed vnder the conduct of Hubert of Burrough as likewise against the Welsâ—men vpon 200. French ships and vnder the commaund of captaine Henry Pay Then haue you pag. 117. the franke and bountifull Charter granted by king Edward the first vpon the foresayd Cinque portes next thereunto a Roll of the mightie fleet of seuen hundred ships which K. Edward the third had with him vnto the siege of Caleis out of which Roll before I proceed any further let me giue you a double obseruation First that these ships according to the number of the mariners which were in all 14151. persons seeme to haue bene of great burthen and secondly that Yarmouth an hauen towne in Northfolke which I much wonder at set foorth almost twise as many ships and mariners as either the king did at his owne costs and charges or as any one citie or towne in England besides Howbeit Tho. Walsingham maketh plaine and euident mention of a farre greater Fleete of the same king namely of 1100. shippes lying before Sandwich being all of them sufficiently well furnished Moreouer the Reader may behold pag. 186. a notable testimonie of the mightie ships of that valiant prince king Henry the 5. who when after his great victory at Agincourt the Frenchmen to recouer Harflew had hired certaine Spanish and Italian ships and forces had vnited their owne strength vnto them sent his brother Iohn duke of Bedford to encounter them who bidding them battell got the victory taking some of their ships and sinking others and putting the residue to dishonorable flight Likewise comming the next yeere with stronger powers and being then also ouercome they were glad to conclude a perpetuall league with K. Henry propter eorum naues saieth mine Author that is for the resistance of their ships the sayd king caused such huge ships to be built quales non erant in mundo as the like were not to be found in the whole world besides But to leaue our ancient shipping and descend vnto later times I thinke that neuer was any nation blessed of IEHOVAH with a more glorious and wonderfull victory vpon the Seas then our vanquishing of the dreadfull Spanish Armada 1588. But why should I presume to call it our vanquishing when as the greatest part of them escaped vs and were onely by Gods out-stretched arme ouerwhelmed in the Seas dashed in pieces against the Rockes and made fearefull spectacles and examples of his iudgements vnto all Christendome An excellent discourse whereof as likewise of the honourable expedition vnder two of the most noble and valiant peeres of this Realme I meane the renoumed Erle of Essex and the right honorable the lord Charles Howard lord high Admirall of England made 1596. vnto the strong citie of Cadiz I haue set downe as a double epiphonema to conclude this my first volume withall Both of which albeit they ought of right to haue bene placed among the Southerne voyages of our nation yet partly to satisfie the importunitie of some of my special friends and partly not longer to depriue the diligent Reader of two such woorthy and long-expected discourses I haue made bold to straine a litle curtesie with that methode which I first propounded vnto my selfe And here had I almost forgotten to put the Reader in mind of that learned and Philosophical treatise of the true state of Iseland and so consequently of the Northren Seas regions lying that way wherein a great number of none of the meanest Historiographers and Cosmographers of later times as namely Munster Gemma Frisius Zieglerus Krantzius Saxo Grammaticus Olaus Magnus Peucerus and others are by euident arguments conuinced of manifold errors that is to say as touching the true situation and Northerly latitude of that Island and of the distance thereof from other places touching the length of dayes in Sommer and of nights in Winter of the temperature of the land and sea of the time and maner of the congealing continuance and thawing of the Ice in those Seas of the first Discouerie and inhabiting of that Isâ—â—nd of the first planting of Christianitie there as likewise of the continuall flaming of mountains strange qualities of fountains of hel-mouth and of purgatorie which those authors haue fondly written and imagined to be there All which treatise ought to bee the more acceptable first in that it hath brought sound trueth with it and secondly in that it commeth from that farre Northren climate which most men would suppose could not affoord any one so learned a Patrone for it selfe And thus friendly Reader thou seest the briefe summe and scope of all my labours for the common-wealths sake and
the Whale 413. 113 The deposition of William Burrough to certeine Interrogatories mooued vnto him concerning the Narue and Kegor 414. 114 The reasons of M. William Burrough to disswade the vse of a trade to the Narue by the way through Sweden 416. 115 A remembrance of aduise giuen to the Moscouie merchants touching a voyage for Cola abouesaid 416. 116 An Epistle dedicatorie vnto the Queenes most excellent Maiestie written by M. William Burrough 417. 117 The Queenes Maiesties letters to Shaugh Thamas the great Sophy of Persia. 418. 118 The Latitudes and Meridian Altitudes of diuers places in Russia from the North to the South 431. 119 Directions giuen by M. Richard Hakluyt Esquire to Morgan Hubblethorne Dier sent into Persia. 432. 120 A Commission giuen by sir Rowland Heyward knight and George Barne Aldermen and gouernours of the Moscouie Companyâ— to Arthur Pet and Charles Iackman for the discouery by Sea towards Cathay 433. 121 Rules and orders giuen to be obserued by them in that Discouery 435. 122 Briefe aduises giuen by M. Iohn Dee to that purpose 437. 123 Instructions giuen them by Richard Hakluyt Esquire to that purpose also 437,438 124 The letter of Gerard. Mercator to Richard Hakluyt of Oxford touching that discouery 443. 125 Instructions giuen by the Moscouie Company vnto Richard Gibbs William Biggat Iohn Backhouseâ— c. Masters of their ships 453. 126 The opinion of M. William Burrough sent to a friend requiring his iudgement for the fittest time of the departure of our ships toward S. Nicolas in Russia 455. 127 The Queenes Maiesties Commission giuen to sir Ierome Bowes authorizing him her highnesse Ambassadour with the Emperour of Moscouie 455. 128 The Queenes Maiesties letters written to the Emperour by sir Ierome Bowes in his commendation 457. 129 The discourse of the Ambassage of sir Ierome Bowes to the aforesaid Emperour 458. 130 The maner of preferring suites in Russia 463. 131 A letter of M. Henry Lane to M. William Sanderson merchant of London conteyning a briefe discourse of all things passed in our Northren discoueries for the space of 33. yeeres 464. 132 The most solemne and magnificent Coronation of Pheodor Iuanowich Emperour of Russia set downe by M. Ierome Horsey 466. 133 The Priuileges graunted by the newe Emperour to the English merchants and obteined by the foresaid Ierom Horsey 470. 134 The Ambassage of M. Giles Fletcher Doctor of the Ciuil lawe from her Maiestie to the Emperour of Russia 473. 135 A notable description of Ruâ—â—ia 475 c. 136 A speciall note gathered by the excellent Venetian Cosmographer M. Iohn Baptista Ramusius concerning the Northeast passage 495. 137 The Lord Boris Pheodorowich his letter to the right honourable William Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England 498. 138 The Queenes Maiesties letter to Pheodor Iuanowich Emperour of Russia 499. 139 The Queenes Maiesties letters to the Lord Boris Pheodorowich 501. 140 The L. Treasurer sir William Cecil his letter to the Lord Boris Pheodorowich 502. 141 A letter of Pheodor Iuanowich to the Queenes Maiestie 502. 142 An other letter to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie from the Lord Boris Pheodorowich 503. 143 A second letter from the Lord Boris Pheodorowich to the L. William Burghley 504. 144 A most gracious letter of Priuileges giuen to the English merchants by Pheodor Iuanowich 505. 145 The contents of M. Garlands Commission vnto Thomas Simkinson for the bringing of M. Iohn Dee to the Emperour of Russia his Court. 508. 146 A letter to the right worsh. M. Iohn Dee Esquier conteyning the summe and effect of M. Garland his message 508. 147 A branch of a letter from Iohn Merick touching the death of Pheodor Iuanowich 509. 148 A learned Epistle written vnto the famous Cosmographer M. Gerardus Mercator concerning the Countreys Riuers and Seas towards the Northeast 510. 149 The honourable testimonies of diuers strangers touching the notable discoueries of the English made in the North-east parts 513. 150 A briefe Commentarie of the true state of Island 515. 550. 151 A letter written by the graue and learned Gudbrandus Thorlacius Bishop of Holen in Island concerning the ancient state of Island and Gronland 590. THE FIRST VOLVME OF THE principall Nauigations Voyages Traffiques and Discoueries of the English nation made to the North and Northeast quarters of the World with the directions letters priuiledges discourses and obseruations incident to the same Certeine testimonies concerning K. Arthur and his conquests of the North regions taken out of the historie of the Kings of Britaine written by Galfridus Monumetensis and newly printed at Heidelberge Anno 1587. Lib. 9. cap. 10. ANno Christi 517. Arthurus secundo regni sui anno subiugatis totius Hyberniae partibus claslem suam direxit in Islandiam eámque debellato populo subiugauit Exin diuulgato per caeteras insulas rumore quod eâ— nulla Prouincia resistere poterat Doldauius rex Gotlandiae Gunfacius râ—x Orcadum vltrò venerunt promissoque vectigali subiectionem feceiunt Emensa deinde hyeme reuersus est in Britanniam statúmque regni in firmam pacem renouans moram duodecim annis ibidem fecit The same in English IN the yere of Christ 517. king Arthur in the second yeere of his reigne hauing subdued all parts of Ireland sailed with his fleet into Island and brought it and the people thereof vnder his subiection The rumour afterwards being spread thorowout all the other Islands that no countrey was able to withstand him Doldauius the king of Gotland and Gunfacius the king of Orkney came voluntarily vnto him and yeelded him their obedience promising to pay him tribute The Winter being spent he returned into Britaine and establishing his kingdome in perfect peace he continued there for the space of twelue yeres Lib. 9 cap. 12. MIssis deinde in diuersa regna Legatis inuitantur tam ex Gallijs quà m ex collatetalibus Insulis Oceani qui ad curiam venire deberent c. Et paulò post Ex collateralibus autem Insulis Guillaumurius rex Hyberniae Maluasius rex Islandiae Doldauius rex Gotlandiae Gunnasius rex Orchadum Lot rex Noruegiae Aschilius rex Danorum The same in English AFter that king Arthur sending his messengers into diuers kingdomes he summoned such as were to come to his Court aswell out of France as out of the adiacent Islands of the sea c. and a little after From those adiacent Islands came Guillaumurius king of Ireland Maluasius king of Island Doldauius king of Gotland Gunnasius king of Orkney Lot the king of Norway and Aschilius the king of Denmarke Lib. 9 cap. 19. AT reges caeterarum Insularum quoniam non duxerant in morem equites habere pedites quot quisque debebat promittunt ita vt ex sex Insulis videlicet Hyberniae Islandiae Gotlandiae Orcadum Noruegiae atque Daciae sexies viginti millia essent annumerata The same in English BUt the kings of the other Islands because it was not their custome
Giuen in our castle of Marienburg in the yeare of our Lord 1398 and vpon the 22. day of February Frater Conradus de Iungingen master generall of the Order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospital at Ierusalem A briefe relation of VVilliam Esturmy and Iohn Kington concerning their ambassages into Prussia and the Hans-townes IN primis that in the moueth of Iuly and in the yeare of our Lord 1403 and the fift yeare of the reigne of our souereigne Lord the king that nowe is there came into England the ambassadours of the mighty lord Fr Conradus de lungingen being then Master general of Prussia with his letters directed vnto our foresayd souereigne lord the king requiring amends and recompense for certaine iniuries vniustly offered by English men vnto the subiects of the sayd Master generall written in 20. articles which amounted vnto the summe of 19120. nobles and a halfe c. Item that the third day of the moneth of October in the yeare of our Lord aboue written and in the fift yere of the reigne of our soueraigne lord the king between the reuerend father in God Henrie then bishop of Lincolne lord chancelor and William lord de Roos high treasurer of England on the one party and the sayd ambassadours on the other party it was according to their petition amongst other things ordayned namely that the liege people of our soueraigne lord the king should freely he permitted vntill the feast of Easter then next after ensuing to remaine in the land of Prussia and from thence with their goods marchandises to returne vnto their own home and also that the subiects of the sayd Master generall in the kingdome of England should haue licence and liberty to doe the like Prouided alwayes that after the time aboue limitted neither the English marchants in the land of Prussia nor the Prussian marchaÌ„ts in the realme of England should vse any traffique of marchandise at all vnlesse in the meane space it were otherwise agreed and concluded by the sayd king and the sayd Master general Item immediately after our sayd soueraigne lord the king sent his letters by Iohn Browne marchant of Lin vnto the foresayd Master generall for to haue mutuall conuersation and intercourse of dealing to continue some certain space betweene the marchants of England and of Prussia promising in the same letters that he would in the meane season send vnto the foresayd Master his ambassadors to intreat about the pretended iniuries aforesaid which letters the foresayd Master for diuers causes refused to yeelde vnto as in his letters sent vnto our lord the king bearing date the 16. day of the moneth of Iuly in the yeare of our lord 1404. more plainely appeareth Item that after the receit of the letters of the Master aforesaid which are next aboue mentioned our sayd king according to his promise sent William Esturmy knight M. Iohn Kington câ—erke and William Brampton citizen of London from his court of parliament holden at Couentrie very slightly informed as his ambassadours into Prussia Item before the arriuall of the sayd ambassadours in Prussia all intercourse of traffique betweene the English and the Prussians in the realme of England and in the land of Prussia was altogether restrained and prohibited and in the same land it was ordayned and put in practise that in whatsoeuer porte of the land of Prussia any English marchant had arriued with his goods he was not permitted to conueigh the sayd goods out of that porte vnto any other place of the land of Prussia either by water or by lande vnder the payne of the forfeiting of the same but was enioyned to sell them in the very same porte vnto the Prussians onely and to none other to the great preiudice of our English marchants Item that after the arriuall of the sayd English ambassadours in the land of Prussia it was ordayned that from the eight day of the moneth of October in the yeare of our lord 1405 all English marchants whatsoeuer should haue free liberty to arriue with all kindes of their marchandise in whatsoeuer port of the land of Prussia and to make sale of them in the said land as hath heretofore from auncient times bene accustomed Also sundry other commodious priuiledges vnto the realme of England were then ordayned and established as in the indentures made for this purpose it doth more manifestly appeare Item the said English ambassadours being arriued in the land of Prussia demanded of the â—aid Master generall a reformation and amends for the damages and iniuries offered by the Prussians vnto the liege people of our souereigne lord and king written in fifteene articles which losses amounted vnto the summe of 4535. nobles Item the said Master generall besides the articles exhibited vnto our soueraigne lord the king as it is aboue mentioned deliuered vnto the sayd ambassadours diuers other articles of certaine iniuries offered as he â—ayth vniustly by English men vnto his subiects which amounted vnto the summe of 5100. nobles Item it was afterward concluded that vpon the first of May next then insuing namely in the yeere of our Lord 1406 or within the space of one yeare immediatly following there should bee made a conuenâ—ent iust and reasonable satisfaction for all molestatious vniustly ofâ—â—red on both partes as well on the behalfe of our soueraigne lord the king as of the foresayd Master general Which satisfaction not being performed the Prussians with their goods marchandises within three moneths after the end of the sayd yere next following were without molestation or impediment enioined to depart out of the realme of England with their ships and goods and the English men likewise out of the territories and dominions of the said Master general both of them without any further admonition to abstaine separate themselues from both the countreis aforesayd For the performance of which premisses the ambassadors on both parts being sufficiently instructed were appointed to meete the first day of May at the towne of Dordract in Holland Item that the sayd William Esturmy and Iohn Kington in their returne homewards from Prussia towards England passed through the chiefe cities of the Hans and treated in such sorte with the Burgomasters of them that there were sent messengers and agents in the behalfe of the common society of the Hans marchants vnto the towne of Dordract to conferre with the ambassadors of England about the redressing of iniuries attempted on both parts where diuers agreements were set downe betweene the sayd ambassadors and messengers as in the indentures made for the same purpose it doth more manifestly appeare Item that the meeting appointed at the towne of Dordract vpon the first of May was by the letters of the foresayd ambassadors proroged vnto the first of August then next ensuing and afterward by vertue of the kings letters vnto the first day of March next following and there was another day of prorogation also Item that after the prorogations aforesayd
Liuonia doe demaund restitution namely waxe and furres redounded vnto the vse and commoditie of our soueraigne lord the king And also our said soueraigne lord the king gaue commandement by his letters that some of the sayd goods should be deliuered vnto others And a great part of them is as yet reserued in the towne of Newcastle One Benteld also hath the best of the sayd three ships in possession Also it is reported and thought to be true that certaine Furriers of London which will be detected in the end haue had a great part of the sayd goods namely of the Furres Now as concerning the cities of the Hans IN primis the Hamburgers exhibited nine articles wherein they demaunded restitution for certaine damages offered as they sayd by the English men the value of which losses amounted vnto the summe of 9117. nobles 20. pence For the which after due examination there was promised restitution to the summe of 416. nobles 5. shillings Besides the two articles propounded against theÌ„ of Scardeburg the summe wherof was 231. pounds 15. s. 8. d. coÌ„cerning the which there was sentence giuen in England by the coÌ„missioners of our lord the king the execution wherof was promised vnto the said Hamburgers by the ambassadors of England leaue and licence being reserued vnto the sayd Hamburgers of declaring or explaning certaine obscure articles by them exhibited which declaration was to be made at the feast of Easter then next to come or within one yeare next ensuing the said feast vnto the chancelor of England for the time being and of proouing the sayd articles and others also which haue not as yet sufficiently bene proued Which being done they are to haue full complement and execution of iustice Also by the Hamburgers there are demaunded 445. nobles from certaine of the inhabitants of Linne in England Which summe if it shal be prooued to be due vnto any English men the Hamburgers are to rest contented with those goods which they haue already in their possessions Item they of Breme propounded â—â—xe articles wherein the summe conteined amounteth vnto 4414. nobles And there was no satisfaction promised vnto them But the same libertie and licence was reserued vnto them in like maner as before vnto the Hamburgers Item they of Stralessund propounded 23. articles wherof the summe amounted vnto 7415. nobles 20. d. for the which there was promised satisfaction of 253. nobles 3. q. Also here is a caueat to be obserued that they of Stralessund had of English mens goods a great summe particularly to be declared which will peraduenture suffice for a recompense And some of their articles are concerning iniuries offered before 20,22,23,24 yeres past Also their articles are so obscure that they will neuer or very hardly be able to declare or proue them Howbeit there is reserued the very same liberty vnto them that was before vnto the Hamburgers Item they of Lubec propounded 23. articles the summe whereof extended vnto 8690. nobles and an halfe whereupon it was agreed that they should haue paied vnto them 550. nobles There was reserued the same libertie vnto them which was vnto the men of Stralessund Item they of Gripeswold exhibited 5. articles the summe whereof amounted vnto 2092. nobles and an halfe For the which there was promised satisfaction of 153. nobles and an half And the said men of Gripeswold haue of the goods of English men in possession to the value of 22015. nobles 18. s as it is reported by them of Linne And the same libertie is reserued vnto them that was vnto the Hamburgers Item they of Campen propounded ten articles the summe whereof extended vnto 1405. nobles There is no satisfaction promised vnto them but the same liberty is reserued vnto them which was vnto the other abouementioned Item the ambassadors of England demanded of the citizens of Rostok Wismer for damages iniuries by them committed against the subiects of the foresayd souereigne king 32407. nobles 2. s. 10. d. And albeit euery of the foresayd cities sent one of their burgomasters vnto the towne of Hage in Holland to treat with the English ambassadours it was in the end found out that they had not any authority of negotiating or concluding ought at al. And therfore they made their faithfull promises that euery of the said cities should send vnto our soueraigne Lord the king one or two procurator or procurators sufficiently instructed to treat conclude with our said souereigne lord the king about the damages and iniuries aforesaid at the feast of the nauitie of Saint Iohn the Baptist. Compositions and ordinances concluded between the messengers of Frater Conradus de Iungingen master generall of Prussia and the chancelor and treasurer of the realme of England 1403. IN the yere of our Lord 1403 vpon the feast of S. Michael the Archangel the right hono Henrie bishop of Lincoln chancelor of England and the lord de Roos high treasurer of England the ambassadors of Prussia Iohn Godek of Dantzik Henry Monek of Elbing masters of the same cities haue at Westminster treated in maner of composition about the articles vnderwritten between the most souereigne lord the king of England and the right reuerend honorable Conradus de Iungingen Master general of Prussia as concerning the iniuries offered vnto the people of Prussia and Liuonia vpon the sea by the English First that all ships with their appurtenances the commodities of the mariners according vnto the condition of the things and all other goods taken away by the English which are actually vndiuided whole are incontinently with al speed to bee restored And if there bee any defect in ought the value of the said defect is to be accounted with other losses of goods to be restored at the terme of the restitution to be made and deliuered Item that all ships damages and goods as they are conteined in our bill of accusation which are not now immediately restored are to be restored and payd in the land of Prussia between this and the terme appointed with full execution and complement of iustice Item concerning the persons throwen ouer boord or slaine in the sea it shall remayne to bee determined at the will and pleasure of the most mighty prince the king of England and of the right reuerend the Master of Prussia Item betwene this and the terme appointed for the restoring of the goods taken away vntill there be due payment restitution of the said goods performed the marchants of England and of Prussia are in no wise to exercise any traffique of marchandise at all in the foresaid lands Memorandum that the third day of the moneth of October in the yere of our Lord 1403. and in the fift yere of the reigne of the most mighty prince and lord king Henrie the fourth by the grace of God king of England and France c. betweene the reuerend father Henrie bishop of Lincolâ— chancelor and the
right honorable William lord de Roos high treasurer of England both of them counsellers vnto the sayd soueraigne king on the one party and the right worshipfull Iohn Godeke and Henrie Moneke sent as messengers by the right reuerend and religious personage Frater Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of the Dutch knights of the Order of S. Mary on the other party it was at the request and instancie of the sayd messengers appoynted and mutually agreed vpon that all the liege people and subiects of the sayd soueraigne lord and king shall haue free licence and liberty vntill the feast of Easter next ensuing safely to trauel vnto the land of Prussia aforesayd there to remaine and thence with their ships marchandises other their goods whatsoeuer to returne vnto their owne home which on the other side all the subiects of the sayd Master general may within the terme prefixed likewise doe in the foresaid realme of England Prouided alwaies that after the time aboue limited neither the sayd marchants of the realme of England may in the land of Prussia nor the marchants of that land in the realme of England exercise any traffique at al vnles it be otherwise ordained by some composition betweene the foresaid king of England the said Master general in the meane time concluded In witnesse wherof one part of this present Indenture is to remaine in the custodie of the foresaid messengers Giuen in the Chapter-house of the Church of S. Paul at London the day and yere aboue written The letters of the chancelor and treasurer of England vnto Frater Conradus de Iungingen master generall of Prussia 1403. RIght reuerend and mighty lord your honorable messengers Iohn Godeke and Henry Moneke the bearers hereof comming of late before the presence of our most souereigne lord the king of England and of France and being welcomed by our said lord with a chearefull and fauourable countenance they presented certaine letters on your behalfe vnto the kings Maiestie with that reuerence which be seemed them expounding vnto his highnes sundry piracies molestations offered of late vpon the sea by his liege people subiects vnto yours contrary to the leagues of peace and amitie which hitherto by Gods grace haue bene maintained and continued on both parts In consideration of which piracies and molestations your messengers demanded full restitution and recompeâ—se to be made either vnto the damnified parties or vnto their procurators We therefore at that time especially being in the presence of our soueraigne who with his puissant army tooke his progresse towards the remote part of Wales being subiect vnto his dominion to see iustice executed vpon his people of those parts who very rashly haue presumed to rebell against him their souereigne contrary to their allegeance right well perceiued that it was his hignesse intention that euery one should haue due iustice faithfully administred vnto him especially your subiects and that with all fauour whom he hath alwayes in times past right graciously intreated as if they had bene his owne liege subiects and natiue countrey men whome also hee purposeth hereafter friendly to protect insomuch that betweene him and his subiects on the one party and betweene you and yours on the other party great abundance and perfection of mutuall amity may increase And therefore we offered vnto your foresayd messengers after they had particularly declared vnto vs such piracies and wrongs to sende the kings letters vnto them of whom complaint was made firmely inioyning them vnder grieuous penalties that without delay they restore or cause to bee restored vnto the parties damnified or vnto their procuratours all ships marchandises wares and goods by them taken or violently stolne from your subiects And that your said messengers may partly attaine their desire we haue commaunded certaine ships marchandises wares and goods found in certaine hauens to be deliuered vnto them Howbeit as touching other goods which are perhaps perished or wanting by infortunate dissipation or destruction and for the which the said messengers of yours demand satisfaction to be made vnto them within a certain time by vs limited may it please your honor to vnderstand that in the absence of our sayd souereigne lord the king being as yet farre distant from vs wee can in no wise limit or set downe any such terme of time Notwithstanding at the prosperous returne of our soueraigne we are determined to commune with him about this matter Of whose answere so soone as we be certified we purpose to signifie his intention vnto you by our letters Sithens also right reuerend and mighty lord your sayd messengers are contented for the present to accept of our offer aforesayde as indeede by all reason they ought thereat to rest content especially whereas by this meanes they shall the more speedily attaine vnto the effect of their purposes to the shorte and wished execution and performance of which offer we will by Gods helpe endeuour to the vtmost of our ability may it be your will and pleasure that as in the kingdome of England your marchants and subiects are courteously intreated euen so the marchants and liege people of our soueraigne lord the king and of his kingdomes peaceably frequenting your parts either in regard of traffique or of any other iust occasion may there in like manner friendly bee vsed and with your marchants and subiects suffered to communicate and to haue intercourse of traffique inioying the commodities of the ancient league By this also the feruent zeale and affection which you beare vnto the royall crowne of England shall vndoubtedly appeare albeit betweene the famous houses of England and of Prussia the bandes of vnfained loue and friendship haue bin successiuely confirmed and kept inuiolable in times past And thus right reuerend and mighty lord wishing vnto you increase of honour and prosperity wee take our leaues Written at London the fift of October in the yeare of our lord 1403 By the chancelor the treasurer and other lords of the hono counsell of the king of England and France being personally present at London The letters of king Henry the 4. vnto Conradus de Iungingen the master general of Prussia for mutual conuersation and intercourse of traffique to continue between the marchants of England and of Prussia for a certaine terme of time HEnry by the grace of God king of England France and lord of Ireland to the noble and mighty personage of sacred religion Frater Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of the Order of the Dutch knights of S. Marie c. our most deare and welbeloued friend greeting and continuall increase of our auncient and sincere amity By the grieuous complaynts of our liege subiects concerning traffique as it were circular wise too fro both our dominions we haue often bene aduertised that in regard of diuers iniuries and damages which as well our as your marchants who by their dealings in marchandise were woont peaceably to vse mutual conuersation together
best shewe and with some warme Shube of furre vnder it in the winter time But in the sommer nothing but her two shirts for so they call them one ouer the other whether they be within doores or without On their heads they weare caps of some coloured stuffe many of veluet or of cloth of gold but for the most part kerchiefs Without earings of siluer or some other mettall and her crosse about her necke you shall see no Russe woman be she wife or maide The Lord Boris Pheodorowich his letter to the Right Honorable William Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England c. BY the grace of God the great Lord Emperor and great Duke Theodore Iuanowich great Lord King and great Duke of all Russia of Volodemer Mosco and Nouogorod king of Cazan and Astracan Lord of Vobsko and great Duke of Smolensco Tuer Vghori Permi Viatsko Bolgorie and other places Lorde and great Duke of Nouogrod in the Lowe Countrey of Chernigo Rezan Polotsky Rostoue Yeroslaue Bealozera and Lâ—efland of Oudorski Obdorski Condinski and commander of all Sibierland and the North coasts great Lorde ouer the Countrey of Iuerski Grisinski Emperor of Kabardinski and of the Countrey Charchaski and the Countrey of Gorsky and Lord of many other regions From Boris Pheodorowich his Maiesties brother in law master of his horses gouernour of the territories of Cazan and Astracan to William Lord Burghley Lord high Treasurer to the most vertuous Ladie Elizabeth Queene of England France and Ireland and other dominions I receiued your Lordships letters wherein you write that you haue receiued very ioyfully my letters sent vnto you and aduisedly read them and imparted the same vnto her Maiestie and that your Merchants finde themselues agreeued that when they approch these parts and are arriued here they are not permitted to enter into a free and liberall course of barter traffike and exchange of their commodities as heretofore they haue done but are compelled before they can enter into any traffike to accept the Emperours waxe and other goods at high rates farre aboue their value to their great losse and that they are by reason of this restraint long holden vpon these coasts to the danger of wintering by the way Hereafter there shal be no cause of offence giuen to the Marchants of the Queenes Maiestie Queene Elizabeth they shall not be forced to any thing neither are there or shall be any demands made of custome or debts Such things as haue beene heretofore demaunded all such things haue beene already vpon their petition and supplication commaunded to be discharged I haue sollicited his Maiestie for them that they be not troubled hereafter for those matters and that a fauourable hand be caried ouer them And according to your request I will be a meane to the Emperour for them in all their occasions and will my selfe shew them my fauorable countenance And I pray you William Burghley to signifie to her Maiesties Merchants that I promise to haue a care of them and for the Queenes Maiestie of Englands sake I will take her Merchants into my protection and will defend them as the Emperours selected people vnder the Emperors commission and by mine appointment all his Maiesties officers and authorized people shall be carefull ouer them The Emperors gracious fauor towards them was neuer such as it is now And where you write that at the port the Emperors Officers sell their waxe by commission at a set rate giuen them farre aboue the value and that they enforce your Marchants to accept it they deny that they take any such course but say they barter their waxe for other wares and also put their waxe to sale for readie money to your Merchants according to the worth thereof and as the price goeth in the custome house here It hath beene heretofore deare and now is sold as good cheape as in any other place and as they can best agree they enforce no man to buy it but rather kepe it therefore your Marchants haue no iust cause to make any such report I haue expressely giuen order that there shall be no such course vsed to enforce them but to buy according to their owne willes and to tarrie at the port or to depart at their pleasure And as touching the customes alreadie past and debts demanded at your Merchants hands whereof you write Our Lord great Emperour and great Duke Theodore Iuanowich of all Russia of famous memory hath shewed his Maiesties especial fauour and loue for the great loue of his welbeloued sister Queene of England and by my petition and mediation whereas there was commandement giuen to take Marshes whole debt of your Merchants and factors it is moderated to the halfe and for the other halfe commandement giuen it should not be taken and the Merchants billes to be deliuered them And to the end hereafter that her Maiesties Marchants moue no contention betwixt our Lord the Emperor and great Duke of Russia and his welbeloued sister Queene Elizabeth his Maiestie desireth order to be giuen that your Marchants doe deale iustly in their traffike and plainely without fraud or guile And I will be a fauourer of them aboue all others vnder his Maiesties authoritie themselues shall see it Written in our great Lorde the Emperours citie of Mosco in the moneth of Iuly 7099. The Queenes Maiesties letter to Theodore Iuanouich Emperour of Russia 1591. ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. to the right high mighty and right noble prince Theodore Iuanouich great Lord King and great Duke of all Russia Volodemer Mosco Nouogrod King of Cazan and Astracan Lord of Vobsko and great Duke of Smolensko Otuer Vghory Perme Viatski Bolgory and other places Lord and great Duke of Nouogrod in the low countrey of Chernigo Rezan Polotsky Rostoue Yeraslaue Bealozero and Lifland of Oudorsky Obdorsky Condinsky and commander of all Sibierland and the North coasts great Lord ouer the countrey of Iuersky Grisinsky Emperor of Kabardinsky and of the countrey of Charkasky and of the countrey of Gorsky and Lord of many other countreys our most deare and louing brother greeting Right noble and excellent prince we haue receiued your Maiesties letters brought ouer by our merchants in their returne of their last voyage from your port of S. Nicholas which letters we haue aduisedly read and considered and thereby perceiue that your Maiesty doth greatly mislike of our late imployment of Ierome Horsey into your dominions as our messenger with our Highnesse letters and also that your Maiesty doth thinke that we in our letters sent by the sayd messenger haue not obserued that due order or respect which apperteined to your princely maiesty in the forme of the same letter aswel touching the inlargement of your Maiesties stile and titles of honor which your Maiesty expected to haue bene therein more particularly expressed as also in the adding of our greatest seale or
disturbance of our brotherly league and the impeaching of the entercourse And whereas most louing and dearest brother one William Turnebull a subiect of oursis lately deceased in your kingdome one with whom our merchants haue had much controuersie for great summes of money due vnto them by him while he was their Agent in their affayres of merchandises which differences by arbitrable order were reduced to the summe of 3000 rubbles and so much should haue beene payed by hâ—â— as may appeare by your Maiesties councell or magistrates of iustice by very credible information and testimony and whereas also the sayd Turnbull was further indebted by billes of his own hand to diuers of our subiects amounting in the whole to the summe of 1326 pounds which billes are exemplified vnder our great seale of England and to be sent ouer with this bearer of which summes he hath often promised payment it may please your most excellent Maiestie in your approoued loue to iustice to giue order to your fauourable councell and magistrates that those seuerall debts may be satisfied to our merchants and subiects out of the goods merchandise and debts which are due to the state of the sayd Turnbull whereof your Maiesties councell shal be informed by the Agent of our merchants We trust we shall not need to make any new request by motion to your Maiesty that some order might be taken for the finding out of the rest of our merchants goods seised to your maiesties vse in the hands and possession of Iohn Chappel their seruant being a thing granted and no doubt already performed by your Maiesties order We therfore intreat your Maiesty that as conueniently as may be satisfaction or recompense be giuen to our said merchants towards the repairing of their sundry great losses aswell therein as otherwise by them of late sundry wayes sustained And lastly our most deare and louing brother as nothing in all these our occasions is to be preferred before our entire league and amitie descending vpon vs as an inheritance in succession from both our ancestours and noble progenitours so let vs be carefull on both sides by all good meanes to holde and continue the same to our posterity for euer And if any mistaking or errour of either side do rise in not accoÌ„plishing of circumstances agreeable to the fashion of either of our countreys and kingdomes let the same vpon our enterchangeable letters be reconciled that our league and amitie be no way impeached for any particular occasion whatsoeuer And thus we recommend your Maiesty to the tuition of the most High From our royall Palace of Whitehall the 14 of Ianuary anno Domini 1591. The Queenes Maiesties letters to the Lord Boris Pheodorowich ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defendour of the faith c. to the right honourable and noble Prince Lord Boris Pheodorowich Godonoua Master of the horses to the great and mightie Emperour of Russia his Highnesse lieutenant of Cazan and Astracan our most deare and louing cousin greeting Right honourable it hath appeared vnto vs vpon the reading and perusing of the Letters lately sent vnto our Highnesse from our deare and louing brother the Emperour in what part his Maiestie tooke the late imployment of our messenger Ierome Horsey in our affaires into Russia wherein we doe also finde the honourable endeuour vsed by your Lordship to appease his Highnesse mislike and exception taken aswell to the person of our Messâ—nger as to our princely letters sent by him both of which points we haue answered in our letters sent by this bearer directed to our sayd louing brother the Emperour vpon perusing whereof we doubt not but his Maiestie will be well satisfied touching our sayd Messenger and former letters And for the honourable course holden by your Lordship in the interposing of your opinion and fauourable construction in a thing which might grow to the offence of the league and amitie standing betweene your Soueraigne Lord and vs wherein your Lordship performed the office of an honourable and graue Counsellour we take our selfe beholding to your Lordship for your readinesse in that behalfe and doe assure our selfe that the same did proceed of the especiall loue and kinde affection that your Lordship hath euer borne and continued towards vs whereof our princely nature will neuer be vnmindfull We haue bene also from time to time made acquainted by our chiefe and principall Counsellour William Lord Burghley Lord high Treasurour of our Highnesse Realme of England of your letters which haue passed betweene your Lordship and him concerning the entercourse of our Merchants trafficke in your Countreys and of the honourable offices done by your Lordship with the Emperour in fauour of our sayd Marchants And lastly which wee take a most assured argument of your vndoubted loue and affection towards vs that your Lordship hath vouchsafed and of purpose taken into your hands the protection of our sayd Merchants and the heaâ—ing and determining of all their causes and occasions whatsoeuer which shall concerne them or their trade All which wee conceiue to be done for our sake and therefore do acknowledge our selues to be and still will continue beholding vnto you for the same And whereas we haue made mention in our sayd letters written to our louing brother the Emperour of certeine debts due aswell to our merchants as to other of our subiects by one William Turnebull a subiect of ours late deceased in Russia wee pray you to be referred to the sayd letter And forasmuch as the sayd cause will fall vnder your Lordships iurisdiction by reason of your acceptation of all their causes into your patronage and protection we are so well assured of your honourable inclination to iustice and your good affection towards our merchants for our sake that we shall not need to intreat your honourable furtherance either of iustice or expedition in the sayd cause And lastly considering that your noble linage together with your great wisedome and desert hath made you a principall Counsellour and directour of the state of so great a Monarchie whereby your aduice and direction is followed in all things that doe concerne the same we haue giuen order to our sayd principall Counsellour William Lord Burghley treasurour of our Realme of England that as any occasion shall arise to the hinderance of the entercourse betweene these Countreyes or of the priuiledges graunted by his Maiestie to our merchants that he may by aduertisement treat with your Lordshippe thereupon which we by reason of our great princely affayres can not so conueniently at all times doe with such â—â—pâ—â—itâ—on as the cause may require And thus with our princely commendations we bidde you farewell From our royall Pallace of Whitehall the foureteenth day of Ianuariee Anno Domini 1591. To the right honourable my very good Lord the Lord Boris Pheodorowich Master of the horses to the great and mighty Emperour of Russia his Highnesse Lieutenant of Cazan and
Astracan William Cecill Lord Burghley Knight of the noble Order of the Garter and Lord high Treasurer of England sendeth greeting RIght honourable my very good Lord vpon the last returne of our merchants shippes out of Russia there was brought vnto my handes by one Francis Cherrie an English merchant a letter directed to the Queenes Maiestie from the great and mightie Emperour of Russia and another letter from your Lordship directed to me which sayd letter written from the Emperor to her Maiesty hath beene considerately and aduisedly by her Highnesse read and perused and the matter of complaint against Ierome Horsey therein comprised thorowly examined which hath turned the same Horsey to some great displeasure I did also acquaâ—nt our Maiesty with the contents of your Lordships letters written to mee and enformed her of your Lordships honourable fauour shewed to her Highnesse merchants from time to time who tooke the same in most gracious part and confessed her selfe infinitly beholding vnto your Lordship for many honourable offices done for her sake the which she meant to acknowledge by her letters to be written to your Lordship vnder her princely hand and seale And forasmuch as it hath pleased your good Lordshippe to take into your handes the protection of her Maiesties merchants and the redresse of such iniuries as are or shall be offered vnto them contrary to the meaning of the priuiledges and the free liberty of the entercourse wherein in some points your Lordship hath already vsed a reformation as appeareth by your sayd letters yet the continuance of traffique moouing new occasions and other accidents tending to the losse of the sayd merchants whereof some particulars haue beene offered vnto me to treat with your Lordship vpon I thought it good to referre them to your honourable consideration that order might be taken in the same for that they are apparantly repugnant to the Emperours letters written to her Maiestie and doe much restraine the liberty of the trade one is that at the last comming of our merchants to the port of Saint Michael the Archangel where the mart is holden their goods were taken by the Emperours officers for his Highnesse seruice at such rates as the sayd officers were disposed to set vpon them so farre vnder their value that the merchants could not assent to accept of those prices which being denied the sayd officers restrained them of all further traffique for the space of three weekes by which meanes they were compelled to yeeld vnto their demaund how vnwillingly soeuer Another is that our sayd merchants are driuen to pay the Emperours officers custome for all such Russe money as they bring downe from the Mosco to the Sea side to employ there at the Mart within the Emperours owne land which seemeth strange vnto me considering the same money is brought from one place of the Countrey to another and there imployed without any transport ouer of the sayd money These interruptions and impositions seeme not to stand with the liberties of the Emperours priuileges and freedome of the entercourse which should be restrained neither to times or conditions but to be free and absolute whereof it may please your Lordship to be aduised and to continue your honourable course holden betweene the Emperour and her Maiesty to reconcile such differences as any occasion doth offer to their league or trafficke Thus not doubting of your Lordships furtherance herein I humbly take my leaue of your good Lordship From her Maiesties royall palace of Whitehall this 15 of Ianuary 1591. A Letter from the Emperour of Russia Theodore Iuanouich to the Queenes Maiestie THrough the tender merrie of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited vs thereby to guide our feet into the way of peace Euen this our God by mercy we glorifie in Trinitie We the great Lord King and great Duke Theodore Iuanowich gouernour of all Russia of Volodimer Mosco and Nouogrod King of Cazan and Astracan Lord of Vobsco and great Duke of Smolensco Otuer Vghori Perme Viatsky Bulgary and other regions Lord and great Duke also of Nouogrod in the low countrey of Chernigo of Rezan Polotsko Rostoue Yeroslaue Bealozera and of Lifland of Vdorsky Obdorsky Condinsky and all the countrey of Siberia and commander of all the North parts and Lord ouer the countrey of Iuersky and King of Grusinsky and of the countrey of Kabardinsky Cherchasky and Duke of Igorsky Lord and ruler of many countreys more c. To our louing sister Elizabeth Queene of England France and Ireland c. Louing sister your letters sent by your seruant Thomas Lind we haue receiued and read what you haue written in the same touching our title and touching your order holden in your letters heretofore sent vs by your seruant Ierome Horsey wherein you haue answered vs sufficiently and most graciously And whereas your Maiestie hath written in your letter concerning the goods of William Turnebull late deceased in our kingdome that your subiects for whom he was factour should haue debts growing vnto them from him by account we at your Maiesties request haue caused not onely order to be taken but for your Highnesse sake louing sister we haue caused the goods to be sought out and deliuered to your merchants Agent and his company together with his stuffe bookes billes and writings as also money to the value of sixe hundred rubbles which Christopher Holmes and Francis Cherry are to pay for yâ—arie and we haue set at libertie the sayd Turnebulles kinseman Raynold Kitchin and his fellowes and deliuered them to your merchants Agent And further where you write vnto vs for such your subiects as haue departed out of your maiesties Realme secretly without licence that we should giue order to send them home concerning such your subiects for which you haue written vnto our Maiestie by letters we will cause search to be made and such as are willing to goe home into your kingdome we will command forthwith to be deliuered vnto your merchants Agent and so to passe And such of your Maiesties people as haue giuen themselues vnder our gouernment as subiects we thinke it not requisite to grant to let them passe And further where you haue written vnto vs concerning the goods of Iohn Chappell we haue written heretofore the whole discourse thereof not once but sundry times and therefore it is not needfull to write any more thereof And such goods as were found out of the goods of the sayd Chappell the money thereof was restored to your Maiesties people William Turnbull and his fellowes Your Maiesties seruant Thomas Lind we haue sent with our letters the same way whereby he came into our kingdome The long abiding heere of your Maiesties seruant in our kingdome was for the comming of your people from the Sea port Written in our princely court and royall seat in the city of Mosco in the yeere from the beginning of the world 7101 in the moneth of Ianuary To
it be some fewe relations Moreouer as touching Gronland we holde this from the opinion of our auncestours that from the extreeme part of Norway which is called Biarmlandia and from whence the saide Gronland is not farre distant it fetcheth about the Northren coast of Island with an huge circuit in maner of an halfe Moone Our Chronicles likewise doe testifie that our owne countreymen in times past resorted thither for traffique and also that the very same countrey of Gronland had certaine Bishops in the dayes of Poperie More then this we cannot auouch But now it is reported that your Englishmen whom I may almost call the lordes of the Ocean sea make yeerely voyages vnto Gronland concerning which matter if you please to giue me further aduertisement you shall doe me an especial fauour Moreouer whatsoeuer newes you heare concerning the affaires of England or of other Countreys thereabout I pray you make vs acquainted therewith Thus reuerend six wishing you long life for the seruice of God for the increase of learning and the benefit of the people committed to your charge I bid you farewel From Island vpon the feast of the visitation of the blessed Uirgine Mary Anno Dom. 1595. Yours Gudbrandus Thorlacius Bishop of Hola in Island The miraculous victory atchieued by the English Fleete vnder the discreet and happy conduct of the right honourable right prudent and valiant lord the L. Charles Howard L. high Admirall of England c. Vpon the Spanish huge Armada sent in the yeere 1588. for the inuasion of England together with the wofull and miserable successe of the said Armada afterward vpon the coasts of Norway of the Scottish Westerne Isles of Ireland of Spaine of France and of England c. Recorded in Latine by Emanuel van Meteran in the 15. booke of his history of the low Countreys HAuing in part declared the strange and wonderfull euents of the yeere eightie eight which hath bene so long time foretold by ancient prophesies we will now make relation of the most notable and great enterprise of all others which were in the foresaid yeere atchieued in order as it was done Which exploit although in very deed it was not performed in any part of the low Countreys was intended for their ruine and destruction And it was the expedition which the Spanish king hauing a long time determined the same in his minde and hauing consulted thereabout with the Pope set foorth and vndertooke against England and the low Countreys To the end that he might subdue the Realme of England and reduce it vnto his catholique Religion and by that meanes might be sufficiently reuenged for the disgrace contempt and dishonour which hee hauing 34. yeeres before enforced them to the Popes obedience had endured of the English nation and for diuers other iniuries which had taken deepe impression in his thoughts And also for that hee deemed this to bee the most readie and direct course whereby hee might recouer his heredetarie possession of the lowe Countreys hauing restrained the inhabitants from sayling vpon the coast of England Which verily vpon most weighty arguments and euident reasons was thought would vndoubtly haue come to passe considering the great aboundance and store of all things necessary wherewith those men were furnished which had the managing of that action committed vnto them But now let vs describe the matter more particularly The Spanish King hauing with small fruite and commoditie for aboue twentie yeeres together waged warre against the Netherlanders after deliberation with his counsellers thereabout thought it most conuenient to assault them once againe by Sea which had bene attempted sundry times heretofore but not with forces sufficient Unto the which expedition it stoode him nowe in hand to ioyne great puissance as hauing the English people his professed enemies whose Island is so situate that it may either greatly helpe or hinder all such as saile into those parts For which cause hee thought good first of all to inuade England being perswaded by his Secretary Escouedo and by diuers other well experienced Spaniards and Dutchmen and by many English fugitiues that the conquest of that Iland was lesse difficult then the conquest of Holland and Zeland Moreouer the Spaniards were of opinion that it would bee farre more behoueful for their King to conquere England and the lowe Countreys all at once then to be constrained continually to maintaine a warlike Nauie to defend his East and West Indie Fleetes from the English Drake and from such like valiant enemies And for the same purpose the king Catholique had giuen commandement long before in Italy and Spaine that a great quantitie of timber should be felled for the building of shippes and had besides made great preparation of things and furniture requisite for such an expedition as namely in founding of brasen Ordinance in storing vp of corne and victuals in trayning of men to vse warlike weapons in leauying and mustering of souldiers insomuch that about the beginning of the yeere 1588. he had finished such a mightie Nauie and brought it into Lisbon hauen as neuer the like had before that time sailed vpon the Ocean sea A very large and particular description of this Nauie was put in print and published by the Spaniards wherein were set downe the number names and burthens of the shippes the number of Mariners and souldiers throughout the whole Fleete likewise the quantitie of their Ordinance of their armour of bullets of match of gun-poulder of victuals and of all their Nauall furniture was in the saide description particularized Unto all these were added the names of the Gouernours Captaines Noblemen and gentlemen voluntaries of whom there was so great a multitude that searce was there any family of accompt or any one principall man throughout all Spaine that had not a brother sonne or kinseman in that Fleete who all of them were in good hope to purchase vnto themselues in that Nauie as they termed it inuincible endlesse glory and renowne and to possesse themselues of great Seigniories and riches in England and in the lowe Countreys But because the said description was translated and published out of Spanish into diuers other languages we will here onely make an abridgemeut or briefe rehearsall thereof Portugal furnished and set foorth vnder the conduct of the duke of Medina Sidonia generall of the Fleete ten Galeons two Zabraes 1300. Mariners 3300. souldiers 300. great pieces with all requisite furniture Biscay vnder the conduct of Iohn Martines de Ricalde Admiral of the whole Fleete set forth tenne Galeons 4. Pataches 700. mariners 2000. souldiers 250. great pieces c. Guipusco vnder the conduct of Michael de Oquendo tenne Galeons 4. Pataches 700. mariners 2000. souldiers 310. great pieces Italy with the Leuant Islands vnder Martine de Vertendona 10. Galeons 800. mariners 2000. souldiers 310. great pieces c. Castile vnder Diego Flores de Valdez 14. Galeons two Pataches 1700. mariners 2400. souldiers and 380. great pieces
stand vpon her guard because he was now most certainly enformed that there was so dangerous an inuasion imminent vpon her realme that he feared much least all her land and sea-forces would be sufficient to withstand it c. then began the Queens Maiestie more carefully to gather her forces together to â—urnish her own ships of warre the principall ships of her subiects with souldiers weapons and other necessary prouision The greatest and strongest ships of the whole nauy she sent vnto Plimmouth vnder the conduct of the right honorable Lord Charles Howard lord high Admirall of England c. Under whom the renoumed Knight Sir Francis Drake was appointed Uice-admiral The number of these ships was about an hundreth The lesser ships being 30. or 40. in number and vnder the conduct of the lord Henry Seimer were commanded to lie between Douer and Caleis On land likewise throughout the whole realme souldiers were mustered and trained in all places and were committed vnto the most resolute and faithfull captaines And whereas it was commonly giuen out that the Spaniard hauing once vnited himselfe vnto the duke of Parma ment to inuade by the riuer of Thames there was at Tilburie in Essex ouer-against Grauesend mightie army encamped and on both sides of the riuer fortifications were erected according to the prescription of Frederike Genebelli an Italian enginier Likewise there were certaine ships brought to make a bridge though it were very late first Unto the sayd army came in proper person the Queens most roiall Maiestie representing Tomyris that Scythian warlike princesse or rather diuine Pallas her selfe Also there were other such armies leuied in England The principall catholique Recusants least they should stirre vp any tumult in the time of the Spanish inuasion were sent to remaine at certaine conuenient places as namely in the Isle of Ely and at Wisbich And some of them were sent vnto other places to wit vnto sundry bishops and noblemen where they were kept from endangering the state of the common wealth and of her sacred Maiestie who of her most gracious clemencie gaue expresse commandement that they should be intreated with all humanitie and friendship The prouinces of Holland and Zeland c. giuing credite vnto their intelligence out of Spain made preparation to defend themselues but because the Spanish ships were described vnto them to be so huge they relied partly vpon the shallow and dangerous seas all along their coasts Wherfore they stood most in doubt of the duke of Parma his small and flat-bottomed ships Howbeit they had all their ships of warre to the number of 90. and aboue in a readinesse for all assayes the greater part whereof were of a small burthen as being more meete to saile vpon their riuers and shallow seas and with these ships they besieged all the hauens in Flanders beginning at the mouth of Scheld or from the towne of Lillo and holding on to Greueling and almost vnto Caleis fortified all their sea-townes with strong garrisons Against the Spanish fleets arriuall they had prouided 25. or 30. good ships committing the gouernment of them vnto Admirall Lonck whom they commanded to ioine himselfe vnto the lord Henry Seymer lying betweene Douer and Cales And when as the foresaid ships whereof the greater part besieged the hauen of Dunkerke were driuen by tempest into Zeland Iustin of Nassau the Admiral of Zeland supplied that squadron with 35. ships being of no great burthen but excellently furnished with gunnes mariners and souldiers in great abundance and especially with 1200. braue Musquetiers hauing bene accustomed vnto sea-fights and being chosen out of all their companies for the same purpose and so the said Iustin of Nassau kept such diligent ward in that Station that the duke of Parma could not issue foorth with his nauy into the sea out of any part of Flanders In the meane while the Spanish Armada set saile out of the hauen of Lisbon vpon the 19. of May An. Dom. 1588. vnder the conduct of the duke of Medina Sidonia directing their course for the Baie of Corunna aliâs the Groine in Gallicia where they tooke in souldiers and warlike prouision this port being in Spaine the neerest vnto England As they were sailing along there arose such a mightie tempest that the whole Fleete was dispersed so that when the duke was returned vnto his company he could notescry aboue 80. ships in all whereunto the residue by litle and litle ioyned themselues eccept eight which had their mastes blowen ouer-boord One of the foure gallies of Portingal escaped very hardly retiring her selfe into the hauen The other three were vpon the coast of Baion in France by the assistance and courage of one Dauid Gwin an English captiue whom the French and Turkish slaues aided in the same enterprise vtterly disabled and vanquished one of the three being first ouercome which conquered the two other with the slaughter of their gouernours and souldiers and among the rest of Don Diego de Mandrana with sundry others and so those slaues arriuing in France with the three Gallies set themselues at libertie The nauy hauing refreshed themselues at the Groine receiuing daily commandement from the king to hasten their iourney hoised vp sailes the 11. day of Iuly and so holding on their course till the 19. of the same moneth they came then vnto the mouth of the narow seas or English chanel From whence striking their sailes in the meane season they dispatched certaine of their smal ships vnto the duke of Parma At the same time the Spanish Fleete was escried by an English pinasse captaine whereof was M. Thomas Fleming after they had bene aduertised of the Spaniards expedition by their scoutes and espials which hauing ranged along the coast of Spaine were lately returned home into Plimmouth for a new supply of victuals and other necessaries who considering the foresayd tempest were of opinion that the nauy being of late dispersed and lossed vp and downe the maine Ocean was by no means able to performe their intended voiage Moreouer the L. Charles Howard L. high admiral of England had receiued letters from the court signifying vnto him that her Maiestie was aduertised that the Spanish Fleete would not come foorth nor was to be any longer expected for and therefore that vpon her Maiesties commandement he must send backe foure of her tallest and strongest ships vnto Chattam The lord high Admiral of England being thus on the sudden namely vpon the 19. of Iuly about foure of the clocke in the afternoone enformed by the pinasse of captaine Fleming aforesaid of the Spaniards approch with all speed and diligence possible he warped his ships and caused his manners and souldiers the greater part of whom was absent for the cause aforesayd to come on boord and that with great trouble and difficultie insomuch that the lord Admiral himselfe was faine to lie without in the road with sixe ships onely all that night
the imprisonment of M. Newbery and M. Fitch at Goa and of their escape from thence which happened while himselfe was in Goa 265 70 The money weights measures and customes vsed in Babylon Balsara Ormuz Goa Cochin and Malacca written from Alepo in Syria by M. William Barret Anno 1584. 271 71 The charge of a iourney by land and riuer from Alepo in Syria to Goa in the East India 276 72 A declaration of all the places from whence each particular commoditie of the East Indies commeth 277 73 The times or seasonable windes called Monsons wherein the ships depart from place to place in the East Indies 278 74 A description of the Isle of S. Helena frequented by the Portugales in their returne from the East India 280 75 A Priuiledge granted by Peter Prince of Moldauia to the English merchants Anno 1588. pag. 290 76 A briefe extract specifying the certaine dayly payments answered quarterly in time of peace by the Grand Signor out of his treasury to the officers of his Seraglio or Court successiuely in degrees pag. 290 77 The chiefe officers of the great Turkes Empire the number of souldiers attending vpon each of his Beglerbegs the principal officers in his Seraglio or Court his yeerely reuenues and his allowances to forren Ambassadours 292,293,294 78 The letters of Sinan Bassa chiefe counsellor to Sultan Murad Can the Grand Signor An. 1590 to the sacred Maiestie of Elizabeth Queene of England signifying that vpon her request and for her sake especially he granted peace vnto the king of Poland 294 79 The second letters patents granted by the Queenes Maiestie to the right wor. company of the English merchants for the Leuant in the yere of our Lord 1592. 295 80 A letter written by the most high and mighty Empresse the wife of the Grand Signor Sultan Murad Can to her most sacred Maiesty of England Anno 1594. 311 A briefe Catalogue of the principall English Voyages made without the Straight of Gibraltar to the South and Southeast quarters of the world contayned in the second part of this second volume immediatly following Wherein also mention is made of certaine Sea-fights and other memorable acts performed by the English Nation 1 THe voyage of Macham the first discouerer of the Isle of Madera in the yeere 1344. pag. 1 2 The first voyage to Barbary Anno 1551. pag. 7.8 3 The second voyage to Barbary Anno 1552. pag. 8.9 4 The voyage of M. Thomas Windam to Guinea and the kingdom of Benin Anno 1553. pag. 9 5 The voyage of M. Iohn Lok to Guinea Anno 1554. 14 6 The first voyage of Master William Towrson marchant of London to Guinea in the yeere of our Lord 1555. 23 7 The second voyage of M. William Towrson to Guinea and the castle of Mina An. 1556. 36 8 The third voyage of the sayd M. William Towrson to the coast of Guinea and the riuer of Seâ—tos Anno 1557. 44 9 A voyage made to Guinea at the charges of Sir William Gerard Sir William Chester c. Anno 1562. 54 10 The successe of another voyage made to Guinea at the direction of the said Sir William Gerard and others Anno 1564. 56 11 The voyage of M. George Fenner to Guinea and to the Isles of Capo Verde An. 1566. 57 12 The voyage and ambassage of Master Edmund Hogan to the Emperour of Marocco Anno 1577. 64 13 The voyage of Thomas Stukeley into Barbary 1578. 67 14 The voyage of Thomas Steuens about the Cape of Buona Esperanza vnto Goa in the East India Anno 1579. 99 15 The memorable voyage of M. Iames Lancaster about the Cape of Buona Esperanza along the Easterne coast of Africa beyond Cape Comori as far as the maine land of Malacca and from thence home againe begun in the yeere 1591. 102 16 The voyage and ambassage of Master Henry Roberts to Mully Hamet Emperour of Marocco Anno 1585. 117 17 The voyage made by two of sir Walter Raleghs Pinasses called The Serpent and The Mary Spark of Plimouth to the Azores which tooke the gouernour of the Isle of S. Michael and Pedro Sarmiento gouernour of the Streights of Magellan in the yere 1586. 120 18 The voyage of Sir Francis Drake to Cadiz and the memorable exploits and seruices performed by him as well there as at diuerse other places vpon the coast of Spaine and Portugale and his taking of the great East Indian Carak called The Sant Philip neere the Isle of S. Michael Anno 1587. 121 19 A voyage to Benin beyond the countrey of Guinea made by Master Iames Welsh who set foorth in the yeere 1588. 126 20 The second voyage made by M. Iames Welsh to Benin in Africa An. 1590. 130 21 The voyage to Spaine and Portugale written as it is thought by Colonell Anthonie Wingfield An. 1589. 134 22 The voyage of the Right honourable the Earle of Cumberland to the Azores in the yeere 1589. 155 23 A fight performed by ten marchants ships of London against 12 Spanish gallies in the Streit of Gibraltar An. 1590. 166 24 The valiant fight performed in the Streit of Gibraltar by the Centurion of London against fiue Spanish gallies An. 1591. 168 25 A true report of the fight about the Isles of the Azores betweene the Reuenge one of her Maiesties ships vnder the conduct of Sir Richard Grinuile and an Armada of the king of Spaine An. 1591. 169 26 A voyage of certaine ships of London to the coast of Spaine and the Azores Anno. 1591 Reported by M. Robert Flick 176 27 The voyage of Richard Rainolds and Thomas Dassell to the riuers of Senega and Gambra neere the coast of Guinea Anno 1591. 188 28 The taking of two Spanish ships laden with quicksiluer and with the Popes Bulles bound for the west Indies by M. Thomas White in the Amitie of London An. 1592. 193 29 The taking of the mightie and rich Carak called The Madre de Dios and of the Santa Clara a Biskaine of 600 tunnes as likewise the firing of another great Carak called The Santa Cruz Anno 1592. 194 30 The firing and sinking of the stout and warlike Carak called The Cinquo Chaguas or The fiue woundes by three ships of the R. H. the Earle of Cumberland Anno 1594. 199 The Ambassages Letters Priuileges Discourses and other necessary matters of circumstance appertaining to the voyages in the second part of this second volume next ensuing 1 A Note concerning the ayde and assistance giuen to king Iohn the first of Portugale by certaine English merchants for the winning of Ceut in Barbary Anno 1415. pag. 1 2 2 The Ambassage of Iohn the second king of Portugale to Edward the 4. king of England to stay Iohn Tintam and William Fabian Englishmen preparing for a voyage to Guinea Anno 1481. pag. 2. 3 A briefe note concerning an ancient trade of English marchants to the Canarie Isles Anno 1526. 3 4 A description of the Canarie Islands with their strange fruits and
mescium osserandarum gratia rediret omnes quidein in hoc nostrum regnum postmodùm aduecturus ad valorem circiter duodecim millium ducatorum quemadmodum expactionis conuentionis que instrumento apertius constat accidit vt praefatus Diego vestrae Serenitatis subditus dictis susceptis mercibus iam in itinere parùm fidelitèr longè praeter initas conuentiones grauissimo certe nostrorum subditorum detrimento vbi in Portugalliae portum diuertisset sententia huc nauigandi mutata in eodem portu commoretur nostrorúmque etiam subditorum merces detineat quam iniuriam quum subditis nostris in vestrae Serenitatis regno ab eius subdito illata sit exaequitate ac iustitia ab ipsa corrigi emendarÃque confidimus nostro quoque potissimùm intuitu qui vestrae Serenitaris ipsiúsque subditorum causas mercésque si quando in hoc nostrum regnum appulerint semper commendatissimas habemus id quod superiori anno testatisumus proin de ipsam vehementerrogamus vt Iohannem Ratliffe praesentium latorem dicti Iohannis Gresham nouum constiturum procuratorem huius rei causa istuc venientem velit in suis agendis in dictisque bonis recuperandis impunéque asportandis remittendisque vectigalibus quod nos in vestros subditos fecimus quum per nauis prefectum fraude ac dolo istuc merces fuerint aduectae nisi istic vendantur ac toto denique exaequitate conficiendo negotio sic commendatum suscipere sicque ad suos quos opus fore intellexerit magistratus missis literis rem omnem iuuare expedire vt perspiciamus ex hac nostra commendatione fuisse nostrorum subditotum iuri indemnitati quà m maximè consultum Quod nobis gratissimum est futurum in re consimili aut grauiori vestra Serenitas nos sibi gratificandi cupidissimos experietur que foeliciter valeat Ex Regia nostra de Waltham Die 15. Octobr. 1531. The same in English TO the high and mighty prince Iohn by the grace of God king of Portugale and of Algarue on this side and beyond the sea in Africa lord of Ghinea and of the conquest nauigation and traffique of AEthiopia Arabia Persia India c. our mostdeere and welbeloued brother Henry by the grace of God king of England and of France defender of the faith and lord of Ireland to Iohn by the same grace king of Portugale and Algarue on this side and beyond the sea in Africa and lord of Ghinea and of the conquest nauigation and traffique of Aethiopia Arabia Persia India c. our most deare and welbeloued brother sendeth greeting So much y e more willingly and readily we vndertake the recommending of all iust causes vnto your highnesse because by the daily testimonie of our subiects which traffike in your kingdoms and dominions we are informed that according to the dutie of a most worthy prince so carefully and exactly you minister iustice vnto euery man that all men most willingly repaire vnto your highnesse with full trust to obtaine the same Whereas therefore our welbeloued and trustie subiect Iohn Gresham merchant of London of late in humble maner hath signified vnto vs that one William Heith his Factor and Agent certaine moneths agoe had hired in Candie a certaine Portugale ship called Santo Antonio the patrone whereof is Diego Perez and couenaunted with the patrone of the sayd ship that he should first saile to the Isle of Sio to take in merchandize of sundry sortes then eftsoones returne to Candie to be fraighted with other goods all which he was to bring into our kingdome of England to the value of 12000 ducats as by their billes of couenant agreement more plainly appeareth it so fel out that y e aforesaid Diego your highnes subiect hauing receiued the said goods very trecherously much coÌ„trary to his couenant to the exceeding great losse of our subiects putting in by the way into an hauen of Portugale altering his purpose of coÌ„ming into England he remaineth still in that hauen likewise detaineth our subiects goods Which iniury seeing it is done in your Highnes kingdome we hope your Highnes will see reformed according to equity right the rather at our request which alwayes haue had a speciall care of the causes goods of your Highnes of your subiects whensoeuer they come into our kingdome whereof we made proofe the last yeere Wherefore we instantly request your Highnes y t you would so receiue Iohn Ratcliffe the bearer of these present letters the new appointed agent of Iohn Gresham which cuÌ„nteth into your dominions about this busines being thus coÌ„mended vnto you in this busines recouering freely bringing home of the said goods in remitting of the customs vnlesse they were sold there the like whereof we did towards your subiects seeing by the fraud deceit of the patron of the ship the wares were brought thither finally in dispatching y e whole matter according to iustice so further the same by directing your highnes letters to your officers whoÌ„ it may concerne that we may perceiue that our subiects right and liberty hath especially beene maintained vpon this our commendation Which we will take in most thankfull part and your highnes shal find vs in the like or a greater matter most ready to gratifie you whom we wish most heartily well to fare From out Court at Waltham the 15. of October 1531. A voyage made with the shippes called the Holy Crosse and the Mathew Gonson to the Iles of Candia and Chio about the yeere 1534 according to a relation made to Master Richard Hackluit by Iohn Williamson Cooper and citizen of London who liued in the yere 1592 and went as cooper in the Mathew Gonson the next voyage after THe shippes called the Holy Crosse and the Mathew Gonson made a voyage to the Ilandes of Candia and Chio in Turkie about the yeere 1534. And in the Mathew went as Captaine M. Richard Gonson sonne of old Master William Gonson paymaster of the kings nauie In this first voyage went William Holstocke who afterwards was Controuller of her Maiesties Nauie lately deceased as page to M. Richard Gonson aforesaid which M. Gonson died in Chio in this his first voyage The ship called the Holy Crosse was a short shippe and of burden 160 tunnes And hauing beene a full yeere at the sea in performance of this voyage with great danger she returned home where vpon her arriuall at Blackwall in the riuer of Thames her wine and oyle caske was found so weake that they were not able to hoyse them out of the ship but were constrayned to draw them as they lay and put their wine and oyle into new vessels and so to vnlade the shippe Their chiefe fraight was very excellent Muscatels and red Malmesie the like whereof were seeldome seene before in England They brought home also good quantitie of sweete oyles cotton woolles Turkie Carpeâ—s Galles Cynamon
granted vnto Iohn Cabot and his 3. sonnes Lewis Sebastian and Sancius for the discouery of new and vnknowen lands Anno 1495. pag. 4 The signed bill of K. Henry the 7. on the behalfe of Iohn Cabot pag. 5â— 6 A briefe extract concerning the discouery of Newfoundland pag. 10 The large pension granted by K. Edward the 6. to Sebastian Cabota constituting him Grand pilote of England Anno 1549. pag. 10 A discourse written by sir Humfrey Gilbert knight to proue a passage by the Northwest to Cataya and the East Indies pag. 11 Experiences and reasons of the Sphere to prooue all parts of the worlde habitable and thereby to â—onfute the position of the fiue Zones pag. 48 A letter of M. Martin Frobisher to certaine Englishmen which were trecherously taken by the Saluages of Meta incognita in his first voyage pag. 70 Articles and orders prescribed by M. Martin Frobisher to the Captaines and company of euery ship which accompanied him in his last Northwestern voyage pag. 75 A generall and briefe description of the country and condition of the people which are founde in Meta incognita pag. 93 The letters patents of her Maiesty graunted to M. Adrian Gilbert and others for the search and discouery of a Northwest passage to China pag. 96 A letter of M. I. Dauis to M. Wil. Sanderson of London concerning his second voyage p. 108 A letter of M. Iohn Dauis to M. Wil. Sanderson of London concerning his 3. voyage p. 114 A trauerse-booke of M. Iohn Dauis contayning all the principall notes and obseruations taken in his third and last voyage to the Northwest pag. 115 A report of M. Iohn Dauis concerning his three voyages made for the discouery of the Northwest passage taken out of a treatise of his intituled The worlds hydrographical description pag. 119 A testimony of Ortelius for the credit of the history of M. Nicolas M. Antonio Zeni p. 128. A catalogue of sundry voyages made to Newfoundland to the isles of Ramea and the isle of Assumption otherwise called Natiscotec as also to the coasts of Cape Briton and Arambec THe voyage of two ships whereof the one was called The Dominus vobiscum set out the 20 of May 1527 for the discouery of the North parts pag. 129 The voyage of M. Hore and diuers other gentlemen to Newfoundland and Cape Briton in the yere 1536. pag. 129 The voyage of Sir Humfrey Gilbert to Newfoundland An. 1583. pag. 143,165 The first discouery of the isle of Ramea made by for Monsieur de la court pre Rauillon grandpre with the ship called The Bonauenture to kill and make trane-oile of the beasts called The Morses with great teeth Anno 1591. pag. 189 The voyage of the ship called The Marigolde of M. Hill of Redriffe vnto Cape Briton and beyond to the latitude of 44 degrees and a halfe Anno 1593. pag. 191 The voyage of M. George Drake of Apsham to the isle of Ramea in the yere 1593. pag. 193 The voyage of The Grace of Bristoll vp into the gulfe of S. Laurence to the Northwest of Newfoundland as far as the isle of Assumption or Natiscotec Anno 1594. pag. 194 The voyage of M. Charles Leigh and diuers others to Cape Briton and the isle of Ramea 1597. pag. 195 The patents discourses letters aduertisements and other obseruations incident to the voyages vnto Newfoundland next before rehearsed An act against the exaction of money or any other thing by any officer for licence to traffique into Newfoundland and Iseland made Anno 2. Edwardi sexti pag. 131 A letter written to M. Richard Hakluyt of the Midle Temple contayning a report of the true state and commodities of Newfoundland by M. Antony Parkhurt 1578. pag. 133 The letters patents granted by her Maiestie to sir Humfrey Gilbert knight for inhabiting some part of America 1578. pag. 135 A learned and stately Poeme written in Latine Hexamiters by Stephanus Parmenius Budeius concerning the voyage of sir Humfrey Gilbert to Newfound-landâ— for the planting of an English colonie there containing also a briefe remembrance of certaine of our principal English captâ—ines by sea pag. 138 Orders agreed vpon by the Captaines and Masters to bee obserued by the fleete of sir Humfrey Gilbert pag. 147 A briefe relation of Newfound-land and the commodities thereof pag. 152 Reckonings of the Master and Masters mate of the Admirall of sir Humfrey Gilbert in their course from cape Rase to cape Briton and to the Isle of Sablon pag. 155 The maner how the sayd Admirall was lost pag. 156 A letter of the learned Hungarian Stephanus Parmenius Budeius to master Richard Hakluyt the collectour of these voyages pag. 161. 16â— A relation of Richard Clarke of Weymouth master of the ship called The Delight which went as Admirall of sir Humfrey Gilberts fleete for the discouerie of Norumbega 1583 written in excuse of the casting away the sayd ship and the men imputed to his ouersight pag. 163 A discourse of the necessitie and commoditie of planting English colonies vpon the North paâ—tes of America pag. 165 A letter of the right honourable sir Francis Walsingham to master Richard Hakluyt then of Christ-church in Oxford incouraging him in the studie of Cosmography and furthering of new discoueries 1582. pag. 181 A letter of the right honourable sir Francis Walsingham to master Thomas Aldworth marchant and at that time Mayor of the citie of Bristol concerning their aduenture in the Westerne discouerie 1582. pag. 182 A letter written from master Aldworth marchant and mayor of the citie of Bristol to the right honourable sir Francis Walsingham concerning a voyage intended for the discouerie of the coast of America lying to the Southwest of cape Briton 1583. pag. 182 A briefe and summarie discourse vpon a voyage intended to the hithermost parts of America written by master Christopher Carlile 1583. pag. 182 Articles set downe by the committies appointed on the behalfe of the company of the Moscouian marchants to conferre with master Carlile vpon his intended discouery of the hithermost partes of America pag. 188 A letter sent to the right honourable sir William Cecil Lord Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England c. from master Thomas Iames of Bristol concerning the discouerie of the Isle of Ramea 1591. pag. 19â— A briefe note of the Morse and of the vse thereof pag. 191 Certaine obseruations touching the countries and places where master Charles Leigh touched in his voyage to cape Briton and to the Isle of Ramea anno 1597. pag. 200 A catalogue of certaine voyages made for the discouery of the gulfe of Saint Laurence to the West of Newfound-land and from thence vp the riuer of Canada to Hochelaga Saguenay and other places THe first voyage of Iaques Cartier of Saint Malo to Newfound-land the gulfe of Saint Laurence and the Grand Bay Anno 1534. pag. 201 The second voyage of Iaques Cartier by the Grand bay vp the riuer of Canada to Hochelaga Anno 1535. pag. 212
the North side the sea that seuereth it from Groneland thorow which Northren Seas the Passage lyeth which I take now in hand to discouer Plato in Timaeo and in the Dialogue called Critias discourseth of an incomparable great Iland then called Atlantis being greater then all Affrike and Asia which lay Westward from the Straights of Gibraltar nauigable round about affirming also that the Princes of Atlantis did aswell enioy the gouernance of all Affrike and the most part of Europe as of Atlantis it selfe Also to proue Platos opinion of this Iland and the inhabiting of it in ancient time by them of Europe to be of the more credite Marinaeus Siculus in his Chronicle of Spaine reporteth that there haue bene found by the Spaniards in the gold Mines of America certaine pieces of Money ingraued with the Image of Augustus Caesar which pieces were sent to the Pope for a testimonie of the matter by Iohn Rufus Archbishop of Consentinum Moreouer this was not only thought of Plato but by Marsilius Ficinus an excellent Florentine Philosopher Crantor the Graecian and Proclus and Philo the famous Iew as appeareth in his â—ooke De Mundo and in the Commentaries vpon Plato to be ouerflowen and swallowed vp with water by reason of a mightie earthquake and streaming downe of the heauenly Fludgates The like whereof happened vnto some part of Italy when by the forciblenes of the Sea called Superum it cut off Sicilia from the Continent of Calabria as appeareth in Iustine in the beginning of his fourth booke Also there chanced the like in Zeland a part of Flanders And also the Cities of Pyâ—rha and Antissa about Meotis palus and also the Citie Burys in the Corynthian bosome commonly called Sinus Corinthiacus haue bene swallowed vp with the Sea and are not at this day to be discerned By which accident America grew to be vnknowen of long time vnto vs of the later ages and was lately discouered againe by Americus Vespucius in the yeere of our Lord 1497. which some say to haue bene first discouered by Christophorus Columbus a Genuois Anno 1492. The same calamitie happened vnto this Isle of Atlantis 600. and odde yeres before Plato his time which some of the people of the Southeast parts of the world accompted as 9000. yeeresâ— for the maner then was to reckon the Moone her Period of the Zodiak for a yeere which is our vsuall moneth depending à Luminari minoâ—i So that in these our dayes there can no other mayne or Islande be found or iudged to bee parcell of this Atlantis then those Westerne Islands which beare now the name of America counteruailing thereby the name of Atlantis in the knowledge of our age Then if when no part of the sayd Atlantis was oppressed by water and earthquake the coasts round about the same were nauigable a farre greater hope now remaineth of the same by the Northwest seeing the most part of it was since that time swallowed vp with water which could not vtterly take away the olde deeps and chanels but rather be an occasion of the inlarging of the olde and also an inforcing of a great many new why then should we now doubt of our Northwest passage and nauigation from England to India c. seeing that Atlantis now called America was euer knowen to be an Island and in those dayes nauigable round about which by accesse of more water could not be diminished Also Aristotle in his booke De mundo and the learned Germaine Simon Gryneus in his annotations vpon the same saith that the whole earth meaning thereby as manifestly both appeare Asia Africk and Europe being all the countreys then knowen is but one Island compassed about with the reach of the sea Atlantine which likewise prooueth America to be an Island and in no part adioyning to Asia or the rest Also many ancient writers as Strabo and others called both the Ocean sea which lieth East of India Atlanticum pelagus and that sea also on the West coasts of Spaine and Africk Mare Atlanticum the distance betweene the two coasts is almost halfe the compasse of the earth So that it is incredible as by Plato appeareth manifestly that the East Indian Sea had the name Atlanticum pelagus of the mountaine Atlas in Africk or yet the sea adioyning to Africk had the name Oceanus Atlanticus of the same mountaine but that those seas and the mountaine Atlas were so called of this great Island Atlantis and that the one and the other had their names for a memorial of the mighty prince Atlas sometime king thereof who was Iaphet yongest sonne to Noah in whose time the whole earth was diuided betweene the three brethren Sem Cam and Iaphet Wherefore I am of opinion that America by the Northwest will be found fauourable to this our enterprise and am the rather imboldened to beleeue the same for that I finde it not onely confirmed by Plato Aristotle and other ancient Phylosophers but also by all the best moderne Geographers as Gemma Frisius Munsterus Appianus Hunterus Gastaldus Guyccardinus Michael Tramasinus Franciscus Demongenitus Bernardus Pureanus Andreas Vauasor Tramontanus Petrus Martyr and also Ortelius who doth coast out in his generall Mappe set out Anno 1569 all the countreys and Capes on the Northwest side of America from Hoâ—helaga to Cape de Paramanâ—ia describing likewise the sea coastes of Cataia and Gronland towards any part of America making both Gronland and America Islands disioyned by a great sea from any part of Asia All which learned men and painefull trauellers haue affirmed with one consent and voice that America was an Island and that there lyeth a great Sea betweene it Cataia and Grondland by the which any man of our countrey that will giue the attempt may with small danger passe to Cataia the Moluccae India and all other places in the East in much shorter time then either the Spaniard or Portugal doeth or may doe from the neerest parte of any of â—heir countreys within Europe What moued these learned men to affirme thus much I know not or to what ende so many and sundry trauellers of both ages haue allowed the same But I coniecture that they would neuer haue so constantly affirmed or notified their opinions therein to the world if they had not had great good cause and many probable reasons to haue lead them thereunto Now least you should make small accompt of ancient writers or of their experiences which trauelled long before our times reckoning their authority amongst fables of no importance I haue for the better assurance of those proofes set downe some part of a discourse written in the Saxon tongue and translated into English by M. Nowel seruant to Sir William Cecil lord Burleigh and lord high treasurer of England wherein there is described a Nauigation which one Ochther made in the time of king Alfred King of Westsaxe Anno 871. the words of which discourse were these Hee sailed right
there had bene great trade of people to make traine But by such things as there we found wee knew that they were not Christians of Europe that had vsed that trade in fine by searching with our boat we found small hope to passe any farther that way and therefore recouered the sea and coasted the shore towards the South and in so doing for it was too late to search towards the North we found another great inlet neere 40 leagues broad where the water eutred in with violent swiftnesse this we also thought might be a passage for no doubt the North partes of America are all Islands by ought that I could perceiue therein but because I was alone in a small barke of thirtie tunnes and the yeere spent I entred not into the same for it was now the seuenth of September but coasting the shore towardes the South wee saw an incredible number of birds hauing diuers fishermen aboord our barke they all concluded that there was a great skull of fish we being vnprouided of fishing furniture with a long spike nayle made a hooke and fastened the same to one of our sounding lines before the baite was changed we cooke more then fortie great Cods the fish swimming so abundantly thicke about our barke as is incredible to bee reported of which with a small portion of salt that we had we preserued some thirtie couple or thereaboutes and so returned for England And hauing reported to M. Secretarie Walsingham the whole successe of this attempt he commanded me to present vnto the most honourable Lord high Treasurour of England some part of that fish which when his Lordship saw heard at large the relation of this second attempt I receiued fauourable countenance from his honour aduising me to prosecute the action of which his Lordship conceiued a very good opinion The next yere although diuers of the aduenturers fell from the Action as all the Westerne marchants and most of those in London yet some of the aduenturers both honorable worshipfull continued their willing fauor and charge so that by this meanes the next yeâ—e two shippes were appointed for the fishing and one pinnesse for the discouerie Departing from Darmouth through Gods mercifull fauour I arriued at the place of fishing and there according to my direction I left the two ships to follow that busines taking their faithful promise not to depart vntill my returne vnto them which should be in the fiue of August and so in the barke I proceeded for the discouerie but after my departure in sixeteene dayes the two shippes had finished their voyage and so presently departed for England without regard of their promise my selfe not distrusting any such hard measure proceeded for the discouerie and followed my course in the free and open sea betweene North and Northwest to the latitude of 67 degrees and there I might see America West from me and Gronland which I called Desolation East then when I saw the land of both sides I began to distrust it would prooue but a gulfe notwithstanding desirous to know the full certainty I proceeded and in 68 degrees the passage enlarged so that I could not see the Westerne shore thus I continued to the latitude of 73 degrees in a great sea free from yee coasting the Westerne shore of Desolation the people came continually rowing out vnto me in their Canoas twenty forty and one hundred at a time and would giue me fishes dryed Salmon Salmon peale Cod Caplin Lumpe Stone-base and such like besides diuers kinds of birds as Partâ—ige Fesant Guls Sea birds and other kindes of flesh I still laboured by signes to know from them what they knew of any sea toward the North they still made singes of a great sea as we vnderstood them theÌ„ I departed from that coastâ— thinking to discouer the North parts of America after I had sailed towards the West 40 leagues I fel vpon a great banke of yce the winde being North and blew much I was constrained to coast the same toward the South not seeing any shore West from me neither was there any yce towards the North but a great sea free large very salt and blew of an vnsearcheable depth So coasting towards the South I came to the place where I left the ships to fish but found them not Then being forsaken left in this distresse referring my self to the mercifull prouidence of God I shaped my course for England vnhoped for of any God alone releeuing me I arriued at Dartmouth By this last discouery it seemed most manifest that the passage was free without impediment toward the North but by reason of the Spanish fleet vnfortunate time of M. Secretaries death the voyage was omitted neuer sithens attempted The cause why I vse this particluar relation of all my proceedings for this discouery is to stay this obiection why hath not Dauis discouered this passage being thrise that wayes imploied How far I proceeded in what forme this discouery lieth doth appeare vpon the Globe which M. Sanderson to his very great charge hath published for the which he deserueth great fauor commendations The discouerie of the Isles of Frisland Iseland Engroneland Estotilaud Drogeo and Icaria made by two brethren namely M. Nicholas Zeno and M. Antonio his brother Gathered out their letters by M. Francisco Marcolino TN the yere of our Lord 1200 there was in the Citie of Venice a famous Gentleman named Messer Marino Zeno who for his great vertue and singular wisedome was called and elected gouernour in certaine common wealths of Italy in the administration whereof he bore himselfe so discretly that he was beloued of all men and his name greatly reuerenced of those that neuer knew or saw his person And amongst sundry his worthy workes this is recorded of him that he pacified certaine grieuous ciuile dissentions that arose among the citizens of Verona whereas otherwise if by his graue aduise and great diligence they had not bene preuented the matter was likely to breake out into hot broyles of warre He was the first Podesta or Ruler that the Common wealth of Venice appointed in Constantinople in the yeere 1205 when our state had rule thereof with the French Barons This Gentleman had a sonne named Messer Pietro who was the father of the Duke Rinieri which Duke dying without issue made his heire M. Andrea the sonne of M. Marco his brother This M. Andrea was Captaine Generall and Procurator a man of great reputation for many rare partes that were in in him He had a sonne M. Rinieri a worthy Senatour and prudent Counsellour of whom descended M. Pietro Captaine Generall of the league of the Christians against the Turkes who was called Dragon for that in his shield in stead of a Manfrone which was his armes at the first he bare a Dragon He was father to M. Carlo II grande the famous Procurator and Captaine generall against the Genowayes in those cruell warres
his and their defence encounter expulse repell and resist as well by Sea as by land and by all other wayes whatsoeuer all and euery such person and persons whatsoeuer as without the speciall licence and liking of the sayd Sir Humfrey and of his heires and assignes shall attempt to inhabite within the sayd countreys or any of them or within the space of two hundreth leagues neere to the place or places within such countreys as aforesayd if they shall not bee before planted or inhabited within the limites aforesayd with the subiects of any Christian prince being in amitie with her Maiesty where the said sir Humfrey his heires or assignes or any of them or his or their or any of their associates or companies shall within sixe yeeres next ensuing make their dwellings and abidings or that shall enterprise or attempt at any time hereafter vnlawfully to annoy either by Sea or land the said sir Humfrey his heires or assignes or any of them or his or their or any of their companies giuing and graunting by these presents further power and authoritie to the sayd sir Humfrey his heires and assignes and euery of them from time to time and at all times for euer hereafter to take and surprise by all maner of meanes whatsoeuer all and euery person and persons with their shippes vessels and other goods and furniture which without the licence of the sayd sir Humfrey or his heires or assignes as aforesayd shall bee found traffiquing into any harborough or harboroughs creeke or creekes within the limites aforesayde the â—ubiects of our Realmes and dominions and all other persons in amitie with vs bring driuen by force of tempest or shipwracke onely excepted and those persons and euery of them with their ships vessels goods and furniture to detaine and possesse as of good and lawfull prize according to the discretion of him the sayd sir Humfrey his heires and assignes and of euery or any of them And for vniting in more perfect league and amitie of such countreys landes and territories so to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayde with our Realmes of England and Ireland and for the better encouragement of men to this enterprise wee doe by these presents graunt and declare that all such countreys so hereafter to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayd from thencefoorth shall bee of the allegiance of vs our heires and successours And wee doe graunt to the sayd sir Humfrey his heires and assignes and to all and euery of them and to all and euery other person and persons being of our allegiance whose names shall be noted or entred in some of our courts of Record within this our Realme of England and that with the assent of the sayd sir Humfrey his heires or assignes shall nowe in this iourney for discouerie or in the second iourney for conquest hereafter trauel to such lands countries and territories as aforesaid and to their and euery of their heires that they and euery or any of them being either borne within our sayd Realmes of England or Ireland or within any other place within our allegiance and which hereafter shall be inhabiting within any the lands countreys and territories with such licence as aforesayd shall and may haue and enioy all the priuileges of free denizens and persons natiue of England and within our allegiance any law custome or vsage to the contrary notwithstanding And forasmuch as vpon the finding out discouering and inhabiting of such remote lands countreys and territories as aforesayd it shall be necessarie for the safetie of all men that shall aduenture themselues in those iourneys or voiages to determine to liue together in Christian peace and ciuill quietnesse each with other whereby euery one may with more pleasure and profit enioy that whereunto they shall attaine with great paine and perill wee for vs our heires and successours are likewise pleased and contented and by these presents doe giue and graunt to the sayd sir Humfrey and his heires and assignes for euer that he and they and euery or any of them shall and may from time to time for euer hereafter within the sayd mentioned remote lands and countreys and in the way by the Seas thither and from thence haue full and meere power and authoritie to correct punish pardon gouerne and rule by their and euery or any of their good discretions and pollicies as well in causes capitall or criminall as ciuill both marine and other all such our subiects and others as shall from time to time hereafter aduenture themselues in the sayd iournâ—ys or voyages habitatiue or possessiue or that shall at any time hereafter inhabite any such lands countreys or territories as aforesayd or that shall abide within two hundred leagues of any the sayd place or places where the sayd sir Humfrey or his heires or assignes or any of them or any of his or their associats or companies shall inhabite within sixe yeeres next ensuing the date hereof according to such statutes lawes and ordinances as shall be by him the said sir Humfrey his heires and assignes or euery or any of them deuised or established for the better gouernement of the said people as aforesayd so alwayes that the sayd statutes lawes and ordinances may be as neere as conuâ—niently may agreeable to the forme of the lawes pollicy of England and also that they be not against the true Christian faith or religion now professed in the church of England nor in any wise to withdraw any of the subiects or people of those lands or places from the allegiance of vs our heires or successours as their immediate Soueraignes vnder God And further we doe by these presents for vs our heires and successours giue and graunt full power and authority to our trustie and welbeloued counseller sir William Cecill knight lord Burleigh our high treasurer of England and to the lord treasurer of England of vs for the time being and to the priuie counsell of vs our heires and successours or any foure of them for the time being that he they or any foure of them shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter vnder his or their handes or seales by vertue of these presents authorize and licence the sayd sir Humfrey Gilbert his heires and assignes and euery or any of them by him and themselues or by their or any of their sufficient atturneys deputies officers ministers factors and seruants to imbarke and transport out of our Realmes of England and Ireland all or any of his or their goods and all or any the goods of his or their associates and companies and euery or any of them with such other necessaries and commodities of any our Realmes as to the said lord treasurer or foure of the priuie counsell of vs our heires or successours for the time being as aforesayd shall be from time to time by his or their wisedoms or discâ—etions thought meete and conuenient for the better reliefe and supportation of him the
but in very deede they are all firme land and if you come on the South and Southwest side you shall see a hill diuided into 2. parts which I called The three hillockes which is right within the hauen And for another better marke of the sayd harbour you shall see an Isle like vnto a Floure de lice distant from the sayd hauen 6. leagues at the least and this Isle and the sayd hauen lie Northeast and Southwest a quarter to the North and South And on the sayd Isle there is good pebble stone to drie fish vpon But to the West thereof there is a very faire countrey and there is a banke of sand which runneth the length of a cable hauing not past one fathom water vpon it From the sayde Isle along the firme land the coast lyeth East and West and you shall see as it were a great forrest running Eastwaâ—d and the Easterne Cape is called Cape du Chapt and is great and red toward the Sea And betweene the sayd lands you shall see as it were a small Island but it ioyneth to the firme land on the Southwest part and there is good shingle to drie fish on And you must coast the shore with boates and not with ships by reason of the shallowes of the sayd coast For I haue seene without Cape du Chapt in faire weather the ground in two fathoms water neere a league and an halfe from shore and I iudged by reason of the highnesse of the land that there had bene aboue thirtie fathoms water which was nothing so and I haue sounded comming neere the shore in more or lesse depth The coast stretcheth three leagues to the West from Lisle Blanch or the white Isle vnto the entrance of a riuer where we slewe and killed to the number of fifteene hundred Morses or Sea oxen accounting small and great where at full sea you may come on shoare with boates and within are two or three fathoms water From thence the coast trendeth foure leagues to the West ¼ to the Northwest vnto the Isle Hupp which is twentie leagues in circuit and is like the edge of a knife vpon it there is neither wood nor grasse there are Morses vpon it but they bee hard to be taken From thence the coast trendeth to the Northwest and Northnorthwest which is all that I haue seene to wit the two sides and one ende of the Isle And if I had had as good lucke as my Masters when I was on the Northwest side with my shippe I would haue aduenturâ—d to haue sayled South-southeast to haue discouered the Easterne shoare of the sayd Isle In your returne to the East as you come from the hauen of Cape du Chapt vnto the sayde hauen are sandes and sholds And three good leagues from Cape du Chapt there is a small Island conteining about a league of ground where there is an hauen toward the Southeast and as you enter into the sayd hauen on the starreboord side a dented Cape all of redde land And you cannot enter into the said hauen but with the flood because of a barre which lieth halfe a league without the poynts of the sayd hauen The tydes are there at Southeast and Northwest but when the wind is very great it bloweth much into the hauen at halfe flood But ordinarily it sloweth fiue foote and an halfe The markes to enter into the sayd hauen are to leaue the Isle Blanche or White Island at your comming in on the starreboord and the poynt of â—he hauen towarde the West hath a thick Island which you shall see on the other side and it hath a little round Buttresse which lyeth on the East side of the Island There are also two other buttresses more easie to bee seene then hidden these are not to the East but to the West and they haue markes on â—hem Here you shall not haue aboue two fathom and an halfe at a full sea vpon this barre And the sounding is stone and rough ground At your entring in when you shall finde white sand which lyeth next the Southeast of the Cape then you are vpon the barre and bee not afrayd to passe vp the chanell And for markes towarde the West athwart the barre when you haue brought an Island euen which lyeth to the westward without with the thicke part of the high land which lyeth most to the West you shall bee past the barre and the chanell runneth due North. And for your anchoring in the sayd hauen see that you carefully seeke the middest of the sayd Thicke landâ— which lyeth in the bottome of the sayd hauen for you must anchor betweene two bankes of sand where the passage is but narrow And you must anker surely for there goeth a great tyde for the Sea runneth there as swiftly and more then in There is good ground and ankorage here and you shall ride in three fathom water And within the sayde hauen there is nothing to hurt you for you are free from all winds And if by chance you should be driuen Westward of the sayd hauen you may seeke an entrance which is right ouer against the small Island named before which is called The Isle of Cormorants and you may enter in theâ—e as at the other hauen at a full sea And you must passe vp on the West side and you shall finde on the Barre at a full sea foureteene foote water and great depth when you are entred in for the Sea runneth very swiftly in that place and the entrie theâ—eof lyeth Southeast and Northwest Right ouer against you on the other side you may passe with boates at a full sea And all these entrances make all but one hauen which is good within I sayâ— his because I haue passed into the maine Sea by the one and the other passage And the said Isle is not past two leagues ouer in the middest It is but two bankes of sande whereof one is like to that of S. Malo which let the Sea from passing through the middest of all the Isle But the two endes are high mountaines with Islands altogether cut and separated with streames and riuers To anker in the sayd harbour you must not ride farthâ—r then fiue or sixe cables length from the sayd hauen A letter sent to the right Honorable Sir VVilliam Cecill Lord Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England c. From M. Thomas Iames of Bristoll concerning the discouerie of the Isle of Ramea dated the 14 of September 1591. RIght Honourable my humble duetie to your good Lordship done I thought good humbly to aduertise your honour of the discouery of an Island made by two smal shippes of Saint Malo the one 8 daies past being prised neare Silley by a ship of which I am part owner called the Pleasure sent by this citie to my Lord Thomas Howard for her Maiesties seruice Which prise is sent backe to this Port by those of the sayd
euery of them that he and they and euery or any of them shall and may from time to time and at all times for euer hereafter for his and their defence encounter and expulse repell and resist aswell by sea as by lande and by all other wayes whatsoeuer all and euery such person and persons whatsoeuer as without the especiall liking and license of the sayd Walter Ralegh and of his heires and assignes shall attempt to inhabite within the sayde Countryes or any of them or within the space of two hundreth leagues neere to the place or places within such Countryes as aforesayde if they shall not bee before planted or inhabited within the limits as aforesayd with the subiects of any Christian Prince being in amitie with vs where the sayd Walter Ralegh his heires or assignes or any of them or his or their or any of their associats or company shall within sixe yeeres next ensuing make their dwellings or abidings or that shall eâ—terprise or attempt at any time hereafter vnlawfully to annoy eyther by Sea or Lande the sayde Walter Ralegh his heires or assignes or any of them or his or their or any of his or their companies giuing and graunting by these presents further power and authoritie to the sayd Walter Ralegh his heires and assignes and euery of them from time to time and at all times for euer hereafter to take and surprise by all maner of meanes whatsoeuer all and euery those person or persons with their Shippes Uessels and other goods and furniture which without the licence of the sayde Walter Ralegh or his heires or assignes as aforesayd shal be found traffiquing into any Harbour or Harbours Creeke or Creekes within the limits aforesayd the subiects of our Realmes and Dominions and all other persons in amitie with vs trading to the Newfound lands for fishing as heretofore they haue commonly vsed or being driuen by force of a tempest or shipwracke onely excepted and those persons and euery of them with their shippes vessels goods and furniture to deteine and possesse as of good and lawfull prize according to the discretion of him the sayd Walter Ralegh his heires and assignes and euery or any of them And for vniting in more perfect league and amitie of such Countryes landes and territories so to be possessed and inhabited as aforesayd with our Realmes of England and Ireland and the better incouragement of men to these enterprises we doe by these presents graunt and declare that all such Countries so hereafter to be possessed and inhabited as is aforesayd from thencefoorth shall be of the allegiance of vs our heires and successours And wee doe graunt to the sayd Walter Ralegh his heires and assignes and to all and euery of them and to all and euery other person and persons being of our allegiance whose names shall be noted or entred in some of our Courts of recorde within our Realme of England that with the assent of the sayd Walter Ralegh his heires or assignes shall in his iourneis for discouerie or in the iourneis for conquest hereafter trauaile to such lands countreis and territories as aforesayd and to their and to euery of their heires that they and euery or any of them being eyther borne within our sayde Realmes of England or Irelande or in any other place within our allegiance and which hereafter shall be inhabiting within any the Lands Countryes and Territories with such licence as aforesayd shall and may haue all the priuiledges of free Denizens and persons natiue of England and within our allegiance in such like ample maner and forme as if they were borne and personally resident within our said Realme of Eâ—gland any law custome or vsage to the contrary notwithstanding And for asmuch as vpon the finding out discouering or iâ—habiting of such remote lands countries and territories as aforesaid it shal be necessary for the safety of all men that shall aduenture themselues in those iourneyes or voyages to determine to liue together in Christian peace and ciuill quietnesse eche with other whereby euery one may with more pleasure and profit enioy that whereunto they shall atteine with great paine and perill wee for vs our heires and successors are likewise pleased and contented and by these presents doe giue grant to the said Walter Ralegh his heires and assignes for euer that he and they and euery or any of them shall and may from time to time for euer hereafter within the said mentioned remote lands and countries in the way by the seas thither and from thence haue full and meere power and authoritie to correct punish pardon gouerne and rule by their and euery or any of their good discretions and policies aswell in causes capitall or criminall as ciuil both marine and other all such our subiects as shal from time to time aduenture themselues in the said iourneis or voyages or that shall at any time hereafter inhabite any such lands countreis or territories as aforesayd or that shall abide within 200. leagues of any of the sayde place or places where the sayde Walter Ralegh his heires or assignes or any of them or any of his or their associats or companies shall inhabite within 6. yeeres next ensuing the date hereof according to such statutes lawes and ordinances as shall be by him the sayd Walter Ralegh his heires and assignes and euery or any of them deuised or established for the better gouernment of the said people as aforesaid So alwayes as the said statutes lawes and ordinances may be as nere as conueniently may bee agreeable to the forme of the lawes statutes gouernement or pollicie of England and also so as they be not against the true Christian faith nowe professed in the Church of England nor in any wise to withdrawe any of the subiectes or people of those lands or places from the alleageance of vs our heires and successours as their immediate Soueraigne vnder God And further we doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors giue and grant ful power and authoritie to our trustie and wâ—lbeloued Counsailour Sir William Cecill knight Lorde Burghleyâ— our high Treasourer of England and to the Lorde Treasourer of England for vs our heires and successors for the time beingâ— and to the priuie Cousaile of vs our heires and successors or any foure or more of them for the time being that he they or any foure or more of them shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter vnder his or their handes or Seales by vertue of these presents authorise and licence the saide Walter Ralegh his heires and assignes and euery or any of them by him by themselues or by their or any of their sufficient Atturneis Deputies Officers Ministers Factors and seruants to imbarke transport out of our Realme of England and Ireland and the Dominions thereof all or any of his or their goods and all or any the goods of his and their associats and companies and
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
so that this latitude is the measure of the worlde from North to South and from South to North. And the longitude in which are also counted other 360 is counted from West to East or from East to West as in the Card is set The sayd latitude your Lordship may see marked and diuided in the ende of this Card on the left hand so that if you would know in what degrees of latitude any region or coast standeth take a compasse and set the one foot of the same in the Equinoctial line right against the said region apply the other foote of the compasse to the said region or coast then set the sayd compasse at the end of the Card where the degrees are diuided And the one foote of the compasse standing in the line Equinoctial the other will shew in the scale the degrees of altitude or latitude that the said region is in Also the longitude of the world I haue set out in the nether part of the Card conteining also 360 degrees which begin to be counted after Ptoleme and other Cosmographers from an headland called Capo Verde which is ouer against a little crosse made in the part Occidental where the diuision of the degrees beginneth and endeth in the same Capo Verde Now to know in what longitude any land is your Lordship must take a ruler or a compasse and set the one foot of the compasse vpon the land or coast whose longitude you would know and extend the other foot of the compasse to the next part of one of the transuersall lines in the Orientall or Occidental part which done set the one foot of the compasse in the said transuersal line at the end of the nether scale the scale of longitude and the other foot sheweth the degree of longitude that the region is in And your Lordship must vnderstand that this Card though little conteineth the vniuersall whole world betwixt two collaterall lines the one in the Occidentall part descendeth perpendicular vpon the 175 degree the other in the Orientall on the 170 degree whose distance measureth the scale of longitude And that which is without the two said transuersall lines is onely to shew how the Orientall part is ioined with the Occident and Occident with the Orient For that that is set without the line in the Oriental part is the same that is set within the other line in the Occidentall part and that that is set without the line in the Occidentall part is the same that is set within the line in the Orientall part to shew that though this figure of the world in plaine or flatte seemeth to haue an end yet one imagining that this sayd Card were set vpon a round thing where the endes should touch by the lines it would plainely appeare howe the Orient part ioyneth with the Occident as there without the lines it is described and figured And for more declaration of the said Card your Lordship shall vnderstand that beginning on the part Occidental within the line the first land that is set out is the maine land and Islands of the Indies of the Emperour Which maine land or coast goeth Northward and finisheth in the land that we found which is called here Terra de Labrador So that it appeareth the sayd land that we found and the Indies to be all one maine land The sayd coast from the sayd Indies Southward as by the Card your Lordshippe may see commeth to a certaine straight Sea called Estrecho de todos Santos by which straight Sea the Spaniards goe to the Spiceries as I shall declare more at large the which straight Sea is right against three hundred fifteene degrees of longitude and is of latitude or altitude from the Equinoctiall three and fifty degrees The first land from the sayd beginning of the Card toward the Orient are certaine Islands of the Canaries and Islandes of Capo verde But the first maine land next to the line Equinoctial is the sayd Capo verde and from thence Northward by the straight of this sea of Italie And so followeth Spayne France Flanders Almaine Denmarke and Norway which is the highest parte toward the North. And ouer against Flanders are our Islands of England and Ireland Of the landes and coastes within the streights I haue set out onely the Regions diuiding them by lines of their limits by which plainely I thinke your Lordship may see in what situation euerie region is and of what highnesse and with what regions it is ioyned I doe thinke few are left out of all Europe In the parts of Asia and Affrica I could not so wel make the sayd diuisiōs for that they be not so wel knowen nor need not so much This I write because in the said Card be made the said lines strikes that your Lordship should vnderstand wherefore they doe serue Also returning to the foresaid Capo verde the coast goeth Southward to a Cape called Capo de buona speransa which is right ouer against the 60. 65. degree of longitude And by this Cape go the Portingals to their Spicerie For from this Cape toward the Orient is the land of Calicut as your Lordship may see in the headland ouer against the 130. degree Frō the sayd Cape of Buona speransa the coast returneth to ward the line Equinoctial and passing forth entreth the red sea returning out entreth again into the gulfe of Persia and returneth toward the Equinoctiall line till that it commeth to the headland called Calicut aforesayd and from thence the coast making a gulfe where is the riuer of Ganges returneth toward the line to a headland called Malaca where is the principall Spicerie from this Cape returneth and maketh a great gulfe and after the coast goeth right toward the Orient and ouer against this last gulfe and coast be many Islands which be Islandes of the Spiceries of the Emperour Upon which the Portingals and he be at variance The sayd coast goeth toward the Orient and endeth right against the 155. degrees and after returneth toward the Occident Northward which coast not yet plainely knowen I may ioine to the New found lande found by vs that I spake of before So that I finish with this briefe declaration of the Card aforesayd Well I know I should also haue declared how the coasts within the straights of the Sea of Italie runne It is playne that passing the streights on the North side of that Sea after the coast of Granado and with that which pertaines to Spaine is the coast of that which France hath in Italie And then followeth in one piece all Italie which laud hath an arme of the Sea with a gulfe which is called Mare Adriaticum And in the bottome of this gulfe is the citie of Venice And on the other part of the sayd gulfe is Sclauonia and next Grecia then the streits of Constantinople and then the sea called Euxinus which is within the sayd streights and comming
be at his Princes pleasure and commandement Oh that our sturdie rebels were had in the like subiection to knowe their duety towarde their Princes They may not say as some snudges in England say I would find the Queene a man to serue in my place or make his friends tarrie at home if money haue the vpper hand No no it is not so in this countrey for hee shall make humble sute to serue the Duke And whom he sendeth most to the warres he thinketh he is most in his fauour and yet as I before haue sayde hee giueth no wages If they knewe their strength no man were able to make match with them nor they that dwel neere them should haue any rest of them But I thinke it is not Gods will For I may compare them to a young horse that knoweth not his strength whome a little childe ruleth and guideth with a bridle for all his great strength for if hee did neither childe nor man could rule him Their warres are holden against the Crimme Tartarians and the Nagaiâ—â—â— I will stand no longer in the rehearsall of their power and warres For it were too tedious to the reader But I will in part declare their lawes and punishments and the execution of iustice And first I will begin with the commons of the countrey which the gentlemen haue rule on And that is that euery gentleman hath rule and iustice vpon his owne tenants And if it so fall out that two gentlemens seruants or tenaunts doe disagree the two gentlemen examine the matter and haue the parties before them and soe giue the sentence And yet cannot they make the ende betwixt them of the controuersie but either of the gentlemen must bring his seruant or tenant before the high iudge or iustice of that countrey and there present them and declare the matter and case The plaintife sayth I require the law which is graunted then commeth an officer and arresteth the party defendant and vseth him contrarie to the lawes of England For when they attach any man they beate him about the legges vntill such time as he findeth suerties to answere the matter And if not his handes and necke are bound together and he is led about the towne and beaten about the legges with other extreme punishments till he come to his answere And the Iustice demaundeth if it be for debt and sayth O west thou this man any such debt He will perhaps say nay Then sayth the Iudge art thou able to denie it Let vs heare how By othe sayth the defendant Then he commandeth to leaue beating him till further triall be had Their order in one point is commendable They haue no man of Lawe to pleade their causes in any court but euery man pleadeth his owne cause and giueth bill and answere in writing contrarie to the order in England The complaint is in maner of a supplication made to the Dukes Grace and deliuered him into his owne hand requiring to haue iustice as in his complaint is alleaged The duke giueth sentence himselfe vpon all matters in the Law Which is very coÌ„mendable that such a Prince wil take paines to see ministration of iustice Yet notwithstanding it is wonderfully abused and thereby the Duke is much deceiued But if it fall out that the officers be espied in cloking the trueth they haue most condigne punishment And if the plaintâ—fe can nothing prooue then the defendant must take his oth vpon the crucifixe whether he bee in the right or no. Then is demanded if the plaintife be any thing able further to make proofe if hee bee not then sometimes he will say I am able to prooue it by my body and hands or by my champions body so requiring the Campe. After the other hath his othe it is graunted aswell to the one as to the other So when they goe to the field they sweare vpon the Crucifixe that they bee both in the right and that the one shall make the other to confesse the trueth before they depart foorth of the field and so they goe both to the battell armed with such weapons as they vse in that countrey they fight all on foote seldome the parties themselues do fight except they be Gentlemen for they stand much vpon their reputation for they wil not fight but with such as are come of as good an house as themselues So that if either partie require the combate it is granted vnto them and no champion is to serue iu their roome wherein is no deceit but otherwise by champions there is For although they take great othes vpon them to doe the battell truely yet is the contrary often seene because the common champions haue none other liuing And assoone as the one party hath gotten the victorie hee demandeth the debt and the other is carried to prison and there is shamefully vsed till he take order There is also another order in the lawe that the plaintife may sweare in some causes of debt And if the partie defendant be poore he shal be set vnder the Crucifixe and the partie plaintife must sweare ouer his head and when hee hath taken his othe the Duke taketh the partie defendant home to his house and vseth him as his bond-man and putteth him to labour or letteth him for hier to any such as neede him vntill such time as his friends make prouision for his redemption or else hee remaineth in bondage all the dayes of his life Againe there are many that will sell themselues to Gentlemen or Marchants to bee their bond-men to haue during their life meate drinke and cloth and at their comming to haue a piece of mony yea and some will sell their wiues and children to bee bawdes and drudges to the byer Also they haue a Lawe for Fellons and pickers contrary to the Lawes of England For by their law they can hang no man for his first offence but may keepe him long in prison and oftentimes beate him with whips and other punishment and there he shall remaine vntill his friends be able to bayle him If he be a picker or a cut-purse as there be very many the second time he is taken he hath a piece of his Nose cut off and is burned in the forehead and kept in prison till hee finde sureties for his good behauiour And if he be taken the third time he is hanged And at the first time he is extremely punished and not released except hee haue very good friends or that some Gentleman require to haue him to the warres And in so doing he shall enter into great bonds for him by which meanes the countrey is brought into good quietnesse But they be naturally giuen to great deceit except extreme beating did bridle them They be naturally giuen to hard liuing aswell in fare as in lodging I heard a Russian say that is was a great deale merrier liuing in prison then foorth but for the great beating For they haue meate and drinke without any labour
at Vologda and to be out of bondage And thus may we continue three or foure yeeres and in this space we shall know the countrey and the marchants and which way to saue our selues best and where to plant our houses and where to seeke for wares for the Mosco is not best for any kind of wares for vs to buy saue onely ware which we cannot haue vnder seuen pence the Russe pound and it lackes two ounces of our pound neither will it be much better cheape for I haue bidden 6. pence for a pound And I haue bought more fiue hundred weight of yarne which stands mee in eight pence farthing the Russe pound one with another And if wee had receiued any store of money and were dispatched heere of that we tary for as I doubt not but we shal be shortly you know what I meane then as soone as we haue made sale I doe intend to goe to Nouogrode and to Plesco whence all the great number of the best tow flaxe commeth and such wares as are there I trust to buy part And feare you not but we will do that may be done if God send vs health desiring you to prepare fully for one ship to be ready in the beginning of April to depart off the coast of England Concerning all those things which we haue done in the wares you shal receiue a perfect note by the next bearer God willing for he that carieth these from vs is a marchant of Terwill and he was caused to cary these by the commandement of the Emperour his secretarie whose name is Iuan Mecallawich Weskawate whom we take to be our very friend And if it please you to send any letters to Dantiske to Robert Elson or to William Watsons seruant Dunstan Walton to be conueyed to vs it may please you to inclose ours in a letter sent from you to him written in Polish Dutch Latine or Italian so inclosed comming to the Mosco to his hands he wil conuey our letters to vs wheresoeuer we be And I haue written to Dantiske already to them for the conueyance of letters from thence And to certifie you of the weather here men say that these hundred yeres was neuer so warme weather in this countrey at this time of the yeere But as yesternight wee receiued a letter from Christopher Hudson from a citie called Yeraslaue who is comming hither with certaine of our wares but the winter did deceiue him so that he was faine to tarie by the way and he wrote that the Emperours present was deliuered to a gentleman at Vologda and the sled did ouerthrow and the butte of Hollocke was lost which made vs all very sory I pray you be not offended with these my rude letters for lacke of time but assoone as sales be made I will finde the meanes to conuey you a letter with speed for the way is made so doubtful that the right messenger is so much in doubt that he would not haue any letters of any effect sent by any man if he might for he knowes not of these and to say the truth the way is not for him to trauell in But I will make another shift beside which I trust shall serue the turne till he come if sales be made before he be readie which is and shall be as pleaseth God who euer preserue your worship and send vs good sales Written in haste By yours to commaund GEORGE KILLINGVVORTH Draper A copie of the first Priuileges graunted by the Emperour of Russia to the English Marchants in the yeere 1555. IOhn Vasiliuich by the grace of God Emperor of Russia great duke of Nouogrode Moscouia c. To all people that shal see reade heare or vnderstaÌ„d these presents greeting Forasmuch as God hath planted al realmes and dominions in the whole world with sundry coÌ„modities so as the one hath neede of the amity and commodities of the other and by means therof traffike is vsed from one to another and amity therby increased and for that as amongst men nothing is more to be desired then amity without the which no creature being of a naturall good disposition can liue inquietnes so that it is as troublesome to be vtterly wanting as it is perceiued to be grieuous to the body to lacke aire fire or any other necessaries most requisite for the conseruation and maintenance thereof in health considering also how needfull marchandize is which furnisheth men of all that which is conuenient for their liuing and nouriture for their clothing trimming the satisfying of their delights and all other things conuenient and profitable for them and that marchandize bringeth the same commodities from diuers quarters in so great abundance as by meanes thereof nothing is lacking in any part and that all things be in euery place where entercourse of marchandizes is receiued and imbraced generally in such sort as amity thereby is entred into and planted to continue and the inioyers thereof be as men liuing in a golden world Upon these respects and other weighty and good considerations vs hereunto mouing and chiefly vpon the contemplation of the gratious letters directed from the right high right excellent and right mighty Queene Mary by the grace of God Queene of England France c. in the fauour of her subiects merchants the gouernour consuls assistants and communaltie of merchants aduenturers for discouery of lands c. Know ye therefore that we of our grace speciall meere motion and certaine knowledge haue giuen and graunted and by these presents for vs our heires and successours do giue and grant as much as in vs is and lieth vnto Sebastian Cabota Gouernour Sir George Barneâ— knight c. Consuls Sir Iohn Gresham c. Assistants and to the communaltie of the aforenamed fellowship and to their successours for euer and to the successours of euerie of them these articles graunts immunities franchises liberties and priuileges and euery of them hereafter following expressed and declared Videlicet 1 First we for vs our heires and successors do by these presents giue and graunt free licence facultie authority and power vnto the said Gouernour Consuls Assistants and communalty of the said fellowship and to their successors for euer that all and singular the marchants of the same company their Agents factours doers of their businesse atturneys seruants and ministers and euery of them may at all times hereafter for euer more surely freely and safely with their shippes merchandizes goods and things whatsoeuer saile come and enter into all and singular our lands countries dominions cities townes villages castles portes iurisdictions and destraiâ—ts by sea land or fresh waters and there tary abide and soiourne and buy sell barter and change all kind of merchandizes with al maner of marchants and people of whatsoeuer nation rite condition state or degrees they be and with the same or other ships wares marchandizes goods things whatsoeuer they be vnto other empires kingdomes dukedomes parts and to any other place or
times together And as they were thus singing out calling I sawe a thing like a finger of a man two times together thrust through the gowne from the Priest I asked them that sate next to me what it was that I sawe and they saide not his finger for he was yet dead and that which I saw appeare through the gowne was a beast but what beast they knew not nor would not tell And I looked vpon the gowne and there was no hole to bee seene and then at the last the Priest lifted vp his head with his shoulder and arme and all his bodie and came forth to the fire Thus farre of their seruice which I sawe during the space of certaine houres but how they doe worship their Idoles that I saw not for they put vp their stuffe for to remoue from that place where they lay And I went to him that serued the Priest and asked him what their God saide to him when he lay as dead Hee answered that his owne people doeth not know neither is it for them to know for they must doe as he commanded This I saw the fift day of Ianuarie in the yere of our Lord 1556. after the English account A discourse of the honourable receiuing into England of the first Ambassador from the Emperor of Russia in the yeere of Christ 1556. and in the third yeere of the raigne of Queene Marie seruing for the third voyage to Moscouie Registred by Master Iohn Incent Protonotarie IT is here recorded by writing and autenticall testimonie partly for memorie of things done and partly for the veritie to be knowen to posteritie in time to come that whereas the most high and mightie Iuan Vasiliuich Emperour of all Russia great Duke of Volodemer Moscouia and Nouogrode Emperor of Cassan and of Astrachan Lord of Pleskie and great Duke of Smolenskie Tuerskie Yowgoriskie Permskie Viatskie Bolgarskie and Sibierskie Emperour and great Duke of many others as Nouogrode in the nether countries Chernigoskie Rezanskie Polodskie Rezewskie Bielskie Rostoskie Yeraslaueskie Bealozarskie Oudarskie Obdorskie Condenskie and manie other countries and lord ouer all those partes in the yeere of our Lord God folowing the account of y e Latin church 1556. sent by the sea from the port of S. Nicholas in Russia his right honorable ambassador sirnamed Osep Napea his high officer in the towne and countrey of Vologda to the most famous and excellent princes Philip and Mary by the grace of God king and Queene of England Spaine France and Ireland defenders of the faith Archdukes of Austria dukes of Burgundie Millaine Brabant counties of Haspurge Flanders and Tyroll his ambassador Orator with certaine letters tenderly conceiued together with certain presents and gifts mentioned in the foot of this memorial as a manifest argument and token of a mutual amity and friendship to be made and continued betweene their maiesties subiects respectiuely for the commoditie and benefit of both the realmes and people which Orator was the 20. day of Iuly imbarked and shipped in and vpon a good English ship named the Edward Bonauenture belonging to the Gouernor Consuls and company of English marchants Richard Chancelor being grand Pilot and Iohn Buckland master of the said ship In which was laden at the adueÌ„ture of the foresaid Ambassador and marchants at seuerall accounts goods merchandizes viz. in waxe trane oyle tallow furres felts yarne and such like to the summe of 20000. li. sterling together with 16. Russies attendant vpon the person of the said Ambassador Ouer and aboue ten other Russies shipped within the said Bay of S. Nicholas in one other good ship to the said company also belonging called the Bona Speranza with goods of the said Orators marchants to the value of 6000. lib. sterling as by the inuoises and letters of lading of the said seueral ships wherunto relation is to be had particularly appeareth Which good ships comming in good order into the seas trauersing the same in their iourney towards the coast of England were by contrary windes and extreme tempests of weather seuered the one from the other that is to say the saide Bona Speranza with two other English ships also appertaining to the saide company the one sirnamed the Philip and Mary the other the Confidentia were driuen on the coast of Norway into Drenton water where the saide Confidentia was seene to perish on a Rocke and the other videlicet the Bona Speranza with her whole company being to the number of foure and twentie persons seemed to winter there whereof no certaintie at this present day is knowen The third videlicet the Philip and Mary arriued in the Thames nigh London the eighteenth day of April in the yeere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and seuen The Edward Bonauenture trauersing the seas foure moneths finally the tenth day of Nouember of the aforesaide yeere of our Lorde one thousand fâ—ue hundred fiftie and sixe arriued within the Scottish coast in a Bay named Pettislego where by outragious tempests and extreme stormes the said ship being beaten from her ground tackles was driuen vpon the rockes on shore where she brake and split in pieces in such sort as the grand Pilot vsing all carefulnesse for the safetie of the bodie of the sayde Ambassadour and his trayne taking the boat of the said ship trusting to attaine the shore and so to saue and preserue the bodie and seuen of the companie or attendants of the saide Ambassadour the same boat by rigorous waues of the seas was by darke night ouerwhelmed and drowned wherein perished not only the bodie of the said grand Pilot with seuen Russes but also diuers of the Mariners of the sayd ship the noble personage of the saide Ambassadour with a fewe others by Gods preseruation and speciall fauour onely with much difficultie saued In which shipwracke not onely the saide shippe was broken but also the whole masse and bodie of the goods laden in her was by the rude and rauenous people of the Countrey thereunto adioyning rifled spoyled and caried away to the manifest losse and vtter destruction of all the lading of the said ship and together with the ship apparell ordinance and furniture belonging to the companie in value of one thousand pounds of all which was not restored toward the costs and charges to the summe of fiue hundred pound sterling As soone as by letters addressed to the said companie and in London deliuered the sixt of December last past it was to them certainely knowen of the losse of their Pilote men goods and ship the same merchants with all celeritie and expedition obteined not onely the Queenes maiesties most gracious and fauourable letters to the Ladie Dowager and lordes of the Councell of Scotland for the gentle comfortment and entertainment of the saide Ambassadour his traine and companie with preseruation and restitution of his goods as in such miserable cases to Christian pitie princely honour and meere Iustice appertaineth
conuenient being no little hinderance to the worshipfull as also great griefe vnto vs to see To conclude through our dayly calling vpon him he bent himselfe for Casbin taking with him the greatest summe of the goods and two of the worshipfuls seruants to witte Iohn Sparke and my selfe to helpe and procure the better sale for the same and leauing at Shamaki Christopher Faucet and Richard Pingle with three hundred and fiftie pieces of karsies in their handes supposed to be solde there or in Arrash before hee should be able to make his returne from Casbin which so farre foorth as I can vnderstand lie for the greatest part vnsolde And being vpon our way at a certaine towne called Ardouil we chanced to barter nine pieces of karsies with those merchants for fourescore and foure batemans of cynamom selling the karsies at one hundred and fiftie shawghs the piece And being at that present not farre from Teueris called the principal place in this countrey for vttering of cloth or karsies by much intreatie I perswaded your Agent to send thither to prooue what might be done and receiuing from him foure and fiftie pieces of karsies as also his commission for the sale of the same I proceeded on that voyage my selfe and one Tolmach in company with me finding in that place great store of broad cloth and karsies brought thither some part by the Turkes who be resident there some by the Armenians who fetch them at Aleppo and some by the townesmen who trauell vnto Venice and there buy them so that no man offered me one penie more then a hundred and fourtie shawghs for a karsie and hauing speciall commission and charge from your Agent not to stay there aboue the space of seuen dayes after my arriuall there but to repaire to Casbin with all speed and furthermore hauing regard to keepe vp the price of the worshipfuls commodities according to their desire I found meanes to barter them away for spices such as were there to be had neither in goodnesse nor yet in price to my content neuerthelesse considering the colde sales which were there as well for your karsies as also the hot newes that Ormuz way was shut vp by occasion that the Indians do warre against them which is true in deed and againe the desire that the worshipfull hath to haue such commodities bought I thought it necessary to buy them the prices and weight whereof appeareth at large by my accompt sent to the worshipfull and is as I thinke the whole summe of spices bought at this time It chanced me in that place to meet with the gouernours merchant of Grozin who was not a litle desirous to bargen with me for a hundred pieces of karsies for his master called Leuontie and offering me so good bands for the paiment of the money or silke to the merchants cōtentment vpon the deliuery of them as in any place within all this countrey is to be had and offering me besides his owne letter in the behalfe of his master that no custome should be demanded for the same and the obtaining also at his masters hand as large a priuilege for the worshipful to trauel into all parts of his dominion as the Shaugh had giuen them and hearing good report made of him by the Armenians also and that he was a Christian I was much more the willing to bargen with him and sold him a hundred pieces for a hundred and threescore shawghs a piece to be paid to the merchant in Grozin either in money or silke to his contentment within three dayes after the deliuerie of the karsies there hauing a band of him made by the Metropolitanes owne hand for the performance of the same which is as sure as any here is to be deuised and vpon the same I sent my Tolmach from me backe to Shamaki with such goods as I bought at Teueris and to the end hee might cause the worshipfuls seruants there to see this bargen accomplished At whose arriuall there as I do perceiue the Captaine would not accomplish his bargen to take them but saith hee hath no need of them such is the constancie of all men in this countrey with whomsoeuer you shal bargen If the ware be bought and they doe mislike it afterwards they will bring it againe and compel you to deliuer the money for it againe regarding the Shawghs letters which manifesteth the contrary as a straw in the winde by meanes whereof the worshipfull may know whether all be true that hath bene written of this countrey people or not I am informed by all the brokers in Teueris that the way once open to Ormuz from whence commeth no such store of spices as the worshipfull doeth looke for that here will bee put a way in Teueris some for money and other some for barter to the number of three hundred or foure hundred pieces of karsies being in coulers and goodnesse to the examples here sent you the rest of the karsies to make them vp a thousand and broad clothes to the summe of a hundred bee as many as will be put away yeerely in this countrey so farre as yet I can perceiue To breake the trade betwixt the Venetians and the whole company of the Armenians it is not possible vnlesse the worshipful will finde some meanes to receiue of them yerely to the number of 100. catters or mules lading and deliuer them for the same one third part money the rest cloth and karsies fitted in coulers meete for this countrey the examples as aboue said are sent vnto you At Amadia sixe dayes iourney from Teueris grow abundance of galles which are brought vp yerely by the Venetians and be solde there for two bistes the Teueris bateman which as your Agent here saith maketh sixe pound English weight but I doubt it wil not so be proued Neuerthelesse it is supposed much good will bee done by buying of them which might at this present haue partly bene proued if so be that some could do but halfe that which hath bene written Touching drugges I finde many as well at Teueris as also in Casbin but the goodnesse nothing like to such as be brought into England out of other places the price is so high that smal gaine will be had in buying of them albeit if I had bene furnished with money as I might haue bene if some would I would haue bought some to the ende the goodnesse of them might haue bene seene in England At my comming to Casbin I found no maner of sales of any commoditie made but all lying there whole and newes giuen out as your Agent saith that y e Shaugh would buy all such commodities as he had and giue him silke and spices for the same but by report the Shaugh neuer tooke cloth into his treasurie all the dayes of his life and will not now begin his whole trade is in raw silke which he selleth alwayes for money to the Armenians and Turkes and such
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
neighbours as they doe in time of yeere prouide all things necessary for housholde so especially those things which belong to fires and bathes notwithstanding there be certaine among them of the basest sort of people who because they want those things at home and are not able to prouide them from other places are constrained to vse straw for the dressing of their meat But when the sharpe rigor of snowy Winter commeth on these poore people be take them to their ore stalles there setting vp sheds doing their necessary businesse in the day time when they are not able to make fires they borrow heat from their oxen as it hath beene reported to mee by others And so they onely being verie fewe in number doe not willingly enioye but are constrayned to vse the same common house with their oxen But for their liuelihoode and state it is farre otherwise with them then with their oxen of which thing I haue entreated before This is the lot pouertie of certaine men in those pettie parishes the condition whereof is therefore made a common by-worde of the people amongst vs though somewhat iniuriously Where I would willingly demaund with what honestie men can impute that vnto the whole nation which is hard and skantly true of these fewe poore men I am wearie to stay any longer in this matter onely because I haue to doe with Diuines let that of Salomon suffice Prouerbs 17. verse 5. Hee that mocketh the poore reprocheth him that made him And in very deede becauseâ— this our nation is nowe and heretofore hath beene poore and needie and as it were a begger amongest many rich men it hath susteined so many taunts and scoffes of strangers But let them take heede whom they vpbraide Uerely if there were nothing else common vnto vs with them yet we both consist of the same elements and haue all one father and God The fourth section They leade their liues in holy simplicitie not seeking any more then nature doeth afforde A happie Nation whose pouertie no man doth enuie But the English and Danish merchants suffer not the nation to be at rest who frequenting that countrey to transport fishing haue conueighed thither our vices together with their manifolde wares For nowe they haue learned to brew their water with corne and beginne to despise and loath the drinking of faire water Now they couet golde and siluer like vnto our men SImplicitie c. I am exceedingly glad that the commendation of holy simplicitie is giuen vnto vs. But it grieueth vs that there is found so great a decay of iustice and good lawes and so great want of gouernement amongst vs which is the cause of many thousande haynous offences which all honest and godly men doe continually bewayle This inconuenience doth not happen through the negligence of the highest Magistrate that is of our most gracious King but rather by our owne fault who doe not present these thinges vnto his Maiestie which are disorderly committed without his knowledge and which are wanting in the inferiour Magistrate Merchants Moreouer Merchants not onely of England and Denmarke but especially of Germanie as at this time so heretofore frequenting our countrey not to transport fishing but fishes taught not Islanders the arte of brewing corne with water For y e Norvagians themselues the first to our knowledge that inhabited this Iland froÌ„ whom y â— Islanders are lineally descended brought with them out of Norway that arte as also golde and siluer coine so that in old time there was no lesse vse of siluer and golde with vs then there is at this day And it is certaine that before the often nauigations of Danes Germans and English men vnto vs our land was much more fertile then nowe it is feeling the inconueniences of the ages and decayed worlde both from heauen and earth and brought foorth in certaine choyse places corne in abundance The fift section The King of Denmarke and Norway sendeth euery yeere a Lieutenant into the Countrey IN the yeere of our Lord eight hundred fortie and sixe Harald Harfagre which is to say golden haires or faire clockes was borne Who afterward in the yeere eight hundred fiftie and eight being chosen king of Norway when he was growen to age and full strength chaunged the forme of the Noruagian gouernment For whereas before it was deuided into pettie Prouinces which they called Fylki and the pettie kings that gouerned them Fylkis konga he reduced it by force of armes vnto a Monarchie But when some inhabitants of the countrie being mightie and descended of good parentages could not well brooke this hard dealing they chose rather to be banished their countrey then not to shake off the yoke of tyranny Whereupon they in the yeere aboue named eight hundred seuentie and foure transported colonies into Isâ—and being before discouered by some men and found out but vnpeopled as yet And so being the first founders of our nation they called themselues Islanders which name their posteritie reâ—eineth vnto this day And therefore the Islanders liued a long time namely three hundred eightie and sixe yeeres more or lesse acknowledging no submission to any other Nation And although Haquinus that crowned King of Norway who reigned longest of any Noruagian king namely aboue sixtie sixe yeares did oftentimes attempt by Ambassadours to make the Islanders become tributaries vnto him notwithstanding at all times they constantly withstoode him till at length about the yeere of our Lord 1260â— they performed homage vnto him And afterward continued alwayes in their promised loyaltie being subiects to the king of Norway But now at this day since the Empire of the Noruagians was translated by Margaret Queene of Denmarke Suedeland and Norway vnto the Danes they doe honour as their soueraigne Lord and King the most gracious king of Denmarke The sixt section All things are common among them except their wiues HEre Krantzius in the first place beginneth with such agybe There be many notable things in their manners c. Moreouer your wit being too hastie in affirming things vnknowen doth here also deminish your credite The experience as well of all things as of persons and times proueth your ouer greedie desire of noueltie of fame and vaine-glorie and argueth your great negligence in maintaining the truth O worthy writers But whether the aforesayde things bee true or no wee call the lawes of our Countrey to witnesse which the Islanders from the beginning haue vsed all one with the Norwayes of the King and his subiects of the seate of iustice and of law-cases which come to be decided there of inheritances of adoptions marriages theft extortions lending bargaines and the rest all which to what purpose should they be enioyned vnto them with whom all things are common We call to witnesse so many broyles and contentions in our courts and places of iudgement in Island concerning goods mooueable and immooueable we call to witnesse our kings now of
dum ab his circundaretur patrauerit non opus est ad tempus sermonibus pertexere ab illis autem qui interfuerunt forâ—itan discet de his tua nobilitas Inter haec autem existente imperio nostro omne belli grauamen in tantum sustinente postremae cohortes vniuersae Graecorum Latinorum reliquorum omnium generum conglobatae quae iaciebantur ab inimicis tela non sustinentes impactione vtuntur ita violentèr ferebantur dùm ad adiacentem ibi collem quasi ad propugnaculum fâ—stinarent â—ed precedeâ—tes impellunt nolentes Multo autem eleuato puluere ac perturbante oculos neminem permittente videre quae circa pedes erant in praecipitium quod aderat profundissimae vallis alius super alium homines equi sic incontinentèr portaâ—i corruerunt quòd alij alios conculcantes ab inuicem interemerunt non ex gregarijs tantum sed ex clarissimis intimis nostris consanguineis Quis enim inhibere poterat tantae multitudinis importabilem impulsum At verò imperium nostrum tot tantis confertum barbaris saucians sauciatúmque adeò vt non modicamin eos moueret perturbationem obstupentes perseuerantiam ipsius non remittebatur benè iuuante deo campum obtinuit Neque locum illum scandere aduersarios permisit in quo dimicauit cum barbaris Nec quidem e quum suum illorum timore incitauit celerius aliquando ponere vestigia Sed congregando omnia agmina sua de morte eripiendo ea collocauit circa se sic primos artigit ordinatìm proficiscens ad exercitus suos accessit Ex tunc igitur videns Soltanus quod post tanta quae acciderâ—nt exercitibus nostris imperium nostrum sicut oportunumerat rem huiusmodi dispensauit vt ipsum rursùm inuaderet mittens supplicauit imperio nostro deprecatorijs vsus est sermonibus requisiuit pacem illius promittens omnem imperij nostri adimplere voluntatem seruitium suum contra omnem hominem dare omnes qui in regno suo tenebantur captiuos absoluere esse ex toto voluntatis nostrae Ibidem ergo per duos dies integros in omni potestate morati sumus cognito quòd nihil poterat fieri contra ciuitatem Iconij perditis testudinibus machinis bellicis eo quòd boues cecidissent a telis in modo pluuiae iactis qui eas trahebant Simul autem eo quòd vniuersa animalia nostra irruente in illa difficillima aegritudine laborabant suscepit Soltani depraecationem foedera iuramenta peracta sub vexillis nostris pacem suam ei dedit Inde ingressum imperium nostrum in regionem suam regreditur tribulationem habens non mediocrem super his quos perdidit consanguineis maximas tamen Deo gratias agens qui per suam bonitatem nunc ipsum honorauit Gratum autem habuimus quòd quosdam nobilitatis tuae principes accidit interesse nobiscum qui narrabuÌ„t de omnibus quae acciderant tuae voluntati seriem Caeterùm autem licèt contristati simus propter illos qui ceciderunt oportunum tamen duximus de omnibus quae acciderant declarare tibi vt dilecto amico nostro vt permultùm coniuncto imperio nostro per puerorum nostrorum intimam consanguinitatem Vale. Data mense Nouembris indictione tertia The same in English IN the yeere 1177 Manuel the emperour of Constantinople hauing fought a field with the Soldan of Iconium and vanquished him wrote vnto Henry the second king of England in maner following Manuel Comnenus in Christ the euerliuing God a faithful emperour descended of the linage of Porphyrie crowned by Gods grace high puissant mighty alwayes most souereigne and gouernour of the Romans vnto Henry the most famous king of England his most deare friend greeting and all good successe Whereas our imperiall highnesse thinketh it expedient to aduertise you our welbeloued friend of all our affaires We thought it not amisse to signifie vnto your royall Maiestie certaine exploits at this present atchieued by vs. From the beginning therefore of our inauguration our imperiall highnes hath mainteined most deadly feod and hostility against Gods enemies the Persians seeing them so to triumph ouer Christians to exalt theÌ„selues against the name of God and to vsurpe ouer Christian kingdomes For which cause our imperiall highnesse hath in some sort encountered them heretofore and did as it pleased God to giue vs grace And we suppose that your Maiestie is not ignorant what our imperiall highnesse hath often performed for their ruine and subuersion For euen now being vrged thereunto we haue determined to leade a mighty army against them and to wage warre against all Persia. And albeit our forces be not so great as we could wish they were yet haue we according to the time and the present state of things strongly inuaded them Wherefore our Maiestie imperiall hath gathered our armies together but because we had in our army sundry carts laden with armour engines other instruments for the assault of cities to an exceeding weight we could not make any great speed in our iourney Moreouer while our imperiall highnesse was yet marching in our owne dominions before any barbarous enemy had fought against vs our people were visited with the most grieuous disease of the fluxe which being dispersed in our troups destroyed and slew great numbers more then the sword of the enemy would haue done Which mischiefe so preuailing did woonderfully abate our forces But after we had inuaded the Turkish frontiers we had at the first very often and hot skirmishes and the Turks came swarming to fight against our imperiall troups Howbeit by Gods assistance those miscreants were altogether scattered and put to flight by our souldiers But as we approched vnto that straight passage which is called by the Persians Cibrilcimam so many bands of Persian footemen and horsemen most whereof came from the innermost parts of Persia to succour their Allies encountred our army as were almost superiour vnto vs in number Wherefore the army of our Imperiall highnesse by reason of the straightnesse and difficultie of the way being stretched ten miles in length and the first not being able to helpe the last nor yet contrarywise the last to rescue the first it came to passe that they were very farre distant asunder And in very deed the foremost troupes were much separated from the guard of our imperiall person who forgetting their fellowes behind would not stay any whit for them Because therefore the Turkish bands knew full well by their former conflicts that it was bootlesse for them to assaile the forefront of our battell and perceiuing the narownesse of the place to be a great aduantage they determined to set vpon our rereward and did so Wherefore our passage being very straight and the infidels assayling vs vpon the right hand and vpon the left and on all sides and discharging
the materials and substances that the Turkes vse in dying be they of Herbes simple or compound be they Plants Barkes Wood Berries Seedes Graines or Minerall matter or what els soeuer But before all other such things as yeeld those famous colours that carrie such speciall report of excellencie that our Merchaunts may bring them to this realme by ordinarie trade as a right meane for the better vent of our clothes 4 To know the vse of those and where the naturall place of them and of ech of them is I meane the place where ech of them groweth or is bred 5 And in any wise if Anile that coloureth blew be a naturall commodity of these parts and if it be compounded of an herbe to send the same into this realme by seed or by root in barrell of earth with all the whole order of sowing setting planting replanting and with the compounding of the same that it may become a naturall commodity in this realme as Wood is to this end that the high price of forreine Wood which deuoureth yeerely great treasure may be brought downe So shall the marchant buy his cloth lesse deare and so he shal be able to occupy with lesse stocke be able to afoord cloth cheaper make more ample vent and also become a greater gainer himselfe and all this to the benefit of this realme 6 To do the like with herbe plant or tree that in dying is of any excellent vse as to send the same by seed berry root c for by such meanes Saffron was brought first into this realme which hath set many poore on worke and brought great wealth into this realme Thus may Sumack the plane wherewith the most excellent blacks be died in Spaine be brought out of Spaine and out of the Ilands of the same if it will grow in this more colde climat For thus was Woad brought into this realme and came to good perfection to the great losse of the French our olde enemies And it doth maruellously import this realme to make naturall in this realme such things as be special in the dying of our clothes And to speake of such things as colour blew they are of greatest vse and are grounds of the most excellent colours and therefore of all other to be brought into this realme be it Anile or any other materiall of that quality 7 And because yellowes and greenes are colours of small prices in this realme by reason that Olde and Greenweed wherewith they be died be naturall here and in great plenty therefore to bring our clothes so died to common sale in Turkie were to the great benefit of the marchant and other poore subiects of this realme for in sale of such our owne naturall colours we consume not our treasure in forren colours and yet we sell our owne trifles dearely perhaps 8 The woolles being naturall and excellent colours for dying becomming by this meanes here also naturall in all the arte of Clothing then we want but one onely speciall thing For in this so temperate a climat our people may labor the yere thorowout whereas in some regions of the world they cannot worke for extreme heat as in some other regions they cannot worke for extreme colde a good part of the yere And the people of this realme by the great and blessâ—d abundance of victuall are cheaply fed and therefore may afoord their labour cheape And where the Clothiers in Flanders by the flatnesse of their riuers cannot make Walkmilles for their clothes but are forced to thicken and dresse all their clothes by the foot and by the labour of men whereby their clothes are raised to an higher price we of England haue in all Shires store of milles vpon falling riuers And these riuers being in temperate zones are not dried vp in Summer with drought and heat as the riuers be in Spaine and in hotter regions nor frozen vp in Winter as all the riuers be in all the North regions of the world so as our milles may go and worke at all times and dresse clothes cheaply Then we haue also for scowring our clothes earths and claies as Walkers clay and the clay of Oborne little inferior to Sope in scowring and in thicking Then also haue we some reasonable store of Alum and Copporas here made for dying and are like to haue increase of the same Then we haue many good waters apt for dying and people to spin and to doe the rest of all the labours we want not So as there wanteth if colours might be brought in and made naturall but onely Oile the want whereof if any man could deuise to supply at the full with any thing that might become naturall in this realme he whatsoeuer he were that could bring it about might deserue immortall fame in this our Common wealth and such a deuise was offered to the Parliament and refused becaused they denied to endow him with a certaine liberty some others hauing obtained the same before that practised to worke that effect by Radish seed which onely made a triall of small quantity and that went no further to make that Oile in plenty and now he that offered this deuise was a marchant and is â—ead and withall the deuise is dead with him It is written by one that wrote of Afrike that in Egyptin a city called Muhaisira there be many milles imployed in making of Oile of the seed of an herbe called Sesanium Pena and Lobell Physicians write in our time that this herbe is a codded herbe full of oily seed and that there is plenty of this seede brought out of Egypt to diuers Cities in Italy If this herbe will prosper in this realme our marchants may easily bring of it c. 9 Hauing heerein thus troubled you by raising to your minde the consideration of certaine things it shall not be impertinent to tell you that it shall not be amisse that you note all the order of the degrees of labour vsed in Turky in the arte of Clothing and to see if any way they excell in that profession our people of these parts and to bring notice of the same into this realme 10 And if you shall finde that they make any cloth of any kind not made in this realme that is there of great vse then to bring of the same into this realme some Mowsters that our people may fall into the trade and prepare the same for Turkie for the more kinds of cloth we can deuise to make the more ample vent of our commoditie we shall haue and the more sale of the labour of our poore subiects that els for lacke of labour become idle and burdenous to the common weale and hurtfull to many and in England we are in our clothing trade to frame our selues according to the desires of forren nations be it that they desire thicke or thinne broad or narowe long or short white or blacke 11 But with this prouiso alwayes that our cloth passe out with as much
pidimos a Dios omnipotente prospere y accrescente con toda felicitad y honra De la ciudad de Londres a los veynte dias de Iulio del mil y quinientos y ochenta y quatro annos Al seruitio de vuestra Alteza per y en nombre de todos les tratantes en Turquia Io el Mayor de Londres Edward Osborne The same in English RIght high and mightie king May it please your highnesse to vnderstand that the most high and most mightie maiestie of the Grand Signor hath confirmed certaine articles of priuileges with the most excellent maiestie of our Queene of England that her subiects may freely go and come and traffike by sea and land in the dominions of his most mighty maiesty as appeareth more at large by y e said articles whereof we haue sent the copy vnto M. Ioh. Tipton our Commissarie to shew the same vnto your highnes Against the tenor of which articles one of our ships which came from Patras which is in Morea laden with corants and other merchandizes which were bought in those parts was sunke by 2. gallies of your citie of Alger and the greatest number of the men thereof were slain and drowned in the sea the residue being detained as slaues An acte very contrary to the meaning of the aforesaid articles and priuileges which is the occasiō that by these presents we beseech your highnesse very humbly that since it hath pleased the most mightie maiestie of the Grand Signor to fauour vs with the sayd priuileges it would please your Highnesse in like maner to assist vs in the same graunting vs by your authoritie your ayde and fauour according as our hope is that these poore men so detained in captiuitie as is aforesaid may be set at libertie returne into their countrey And likewise that your highnesse would send to giue order to the captaines masters and people of your gallies that from hencefoorth they would suffer vs to vse our traffique with sixe ships yerely into Turkie vnto the dominions of the Grand Signor in peace and safetie that they do not withstand those our said priuileges euery one of our foresaid ships carying with them a passeport of his most high and most mightie maiestie to be knowen by And for that your so singular fauour and curtesie which in so doing we shall receiue we on our part with all bounden duetie vnto your highnesse will seeke to honour you in that behalfe according as the sayd master Iohn Tipton to whom wee referre our selues touching all other circumstances shall more at large enforme your highnesse whose most excellent person and estate we pray and beseech almightie God to prosper and increase with all felicitie and honour From the Citie of London the 20. of Iuly 1584. At the seruice of your highnesse for and in the name of our whole company trading into Turkie I Maior of London Edward Osburne Notes concerning the trade of Alger THe money that is coined in Alger is a piece of gold called Asiano Doublaes and two Doublaes make an Asiano but the Doubla is most vsed for all things be sold by Doublaes which Doubla is fiftie of their Aspers there The Asper there is not so good by halfe more as that in Constantinople for the Chekin of gold of the Turkes made at Constantinople is at Alger worth an 150. Aspers and at Constantinople it is but 66. Aspers The pistolet and roials of plate are most currant there The said pistolet goeth for 130. Aspers there the piece of 4. roials goeth for 40. Aspers but oftentimes is sold for more as men need them to cary vp into Turkie Their Asianos and Doublaes are pieces of course gold worth here but 40. s. the ounce so the same is currant in no place of Turkie out of the kingdom of Alger neither the Aspers for that they be lesse then others be for they coine them in Alger The custome to the king is inward 10. per centum to the Turke to be paid of the commoditie it selfe or as it shall be rated There is another custome to the Ermine of one an halfe per centum which is to the Iustice of the Christians the goods for this custome are rated as they are for the kings custome Hauing paid custome inwards you pay none outwards for any commoditie that you doe lade more then a reward to the gate keepers The waight there is called a Cantare for fine wares as mettals refined and spices c. which is here 120. li. subtil Mettall not refined as lead iron and such grosse wares are sold by a great Cantare which is halfe as big againe so it is 180. li. subtil of ours here The measure of corne is by a measure called a Curtia which is about 4. bushels of our measure and corne is plentiful there and good cheape except when there hapneth a very dry yeere The surest lodging for a Christian there is in a Iewes house for if he haue any hurt the Iew and his goods shall make it good so the Iew taketh great care of the Christian and his goods that lieth in his house for feare of punishment An Englishman called Thomas Williams which is M. Iohn Tiptons man lieth about trade of merchandize in the streete called The Soca of the Iewes Notes concerning the trade in Alexandria ALexandria in Egypt is a free port and when a man commeth within the castles presently the Ermyn sends aboord to haue one come and speake with him to know what goods are aboord and then hee will set guards aboord the ship to see all the goods discharged And then from the Ermin you goe to the Bye onely for that he will inquire newes of you and so from thence to the Consuls house where you lie The Uenetians haue a Consul themselues But all other nations goe to the French nations Consul who will giue you a chamber for your selues apart if you will so haue it The customs inward of all commodities are ten in the hundred the custome is paid in wares also that you buy for the same wares in barter you pay also ten in the hundred at the lading of the wares But if you sell for mony you pay no more custome but the ten aforesaid and one and a half in the hundred which is for the custome of the goods you lade for the sayd mony for more custome you pay not But for all the money you bring thither you pay nothing for the custome of the same And if you sell your wares for mony and with the same money buy wares you pay but two in the hundred for the custome thereof And if you steale any custome if it be taken you pay double custome for that you steale The weight of Alexandria is called Pois Forforeine which is a kintal in that place which maketh at Marseils 109. li. of Marseils waight at 15 ounces the pound which is
fortè nescientibus malè habiti fuerint immaniter diuexati Cesaream vestram Maiestatem beneuolè rogamus vt per Legatum nostrum eorum causam cognoscas postremò earum prouinciarum proregibus ac praefectis imperes vt nostri liberè in illis locis sine vi autiniuria deinceps versari negotia gerere possint Et nos omni opera vicissim studebimus ea omnia praestare quae Imperatoriae vestrae Maiestati vllo pacto grata fore intelligemus quam Deus vnicus mundi conditor optimus maximus diutissime incolumem florentem seruet Daâ—ae in palatio nostro Londini quinto dâ—e Mensis Septembris anno IESV CHRISTI Seruatoris nostri 1584. Regni verò nostri vicessimo sexto The same in English ELizabeth by the grace of the most high God and onely maker of heauen and earth of England France and Ireland Queene and of the Christian faith against all the Idolaters and false professors of the Name of CHRIST dwelling among the Christians most inuincible and puissant defender to the most valiant and inuincible Prince Zultan Murad Can the most mightie ruler of the kingdome of Musulman and of the East Empire the onely and highest Monarch aboue all health and many happy and fortunate yeres with great aboundance of the best things Most noble and puissant Emperour about two yeeres nowe passed wee wrote vnto your Imperiall Maiestie that our welbeloued seruant William Harâ—borne a man of great reputation and honour might be receiued vnder your high authoritie for our Ambassadour in Constantinople and other places vnder the obedience of your Empire of Musulman And also that the Englishmen being our Subiects might exercise entercourse and marchandize in all those Prouinces no lesse freely then the French Polonians Venetians Germanes and other your confederats which traueile through diuers of the East parts endeuouring that by mutuall trafique the East may be ioyned and knit to the West Which priuileges when as your most puissant Maiestie by your letters and vnder your dispensation most liberally and fauourably granted to our Subiects of England wee could no lesse doe but in that respect giue you as great thankes as our heart could conceiue trusting that it wil come to passe that this order of trafique so well ordeined will bring with it selfe most great profits and commodities to both sides as well to the parties subiect to your Empire as to the Prouinces of our kingdome Which thing that it may be done in plaine and effectuall maner whereas some of our Subiects of late at Tripolis in Barbarie and at Argier were by the inhabitants of those places being perhaps ignorant of your pleasure euill intreated and grieuously vexed wee doe friendly and louingly desire your Imperiall Maiestie that you will vnderstand their causes by our Ambassadour and afterward giue commaundement to the Lieutenants and Presidents of those Prouinces that our people may henceforth freely without any violence or iniurie traueile and do their businesse in those places And we againe with all endeuour shall studie to performe all those things which we shall in any wise vnderstand to be acceptable to your Imperiall Maiestie which God the onely maker of the world most best and most great long keepe in health and flourishing Giuen in our pallace at London the fift day of the moneth of September in the yeere of IESVS CHRIST our Sauiour 1584. And of our raigne the 26. The Turkes letter to the King of Tripolis in Barbarie commanding the restitution of an English ship called the Iesus with the men and goods sent from Constantinople by Mahomet Beg a Iustice of the Great Turkes and an English Gentlemen called Master Edward Barton Anno 1584. HOnourable and worthy Bassa Romadan Beglerbeg most wise and prudent Iudge of the West Tripolis wee wish the ende of all thy enterprises happie and prosperous By these our highnesse letters wee certifie thee that the right honourable William Hareborne Ambassadour in our most famous Porch for the most excellent Queenes Maiestie of England in person and by letters hath certified our highnesse that a certaine shippe with all her furniture and artillerie worth two thousand and duckets arriuing in the port of Tripolis and discharged of her lading and marchandize paide our custome according to order and againe the marchants laded their shippe with oyle which by constraint they were inforced to buy of you hauing answered in like maner the custome for the same determined to depart a Frenchman assistant to the Marchant vnknowen to the Englishmen caried away with him another Frenchman indebted to a certaine Moore in foure hundred duckets and by force caused the Englishmen and shippe to depart who neither suspecting fraude nor deceite hoised sailes In the meane time this man whose debter the Frenchman had stollen away went to the Bassa with the supplication by whose meanes and force of the Castle the Englishmen were constrained to returne into the port where the Frenchman author of the euill with the Master of the ship an Englishman innocent of the crime were hanged and sixe and twentie Englishmen cast into prison of whom through famine thrist and stinke of the prison eleuen died and the rest like to die Further it was signified to our Maiestie also that the marchandise and other goods with the shippe were worth 7600. duckets which things if they be so this is our commandement which was granted and giuen by our Maiestie that the English shippe and all the marchandize and whatsoeuer else taken away bee wholy restored and that the Englishmen be let goe free and suffered to returne into their Countrey Wherefore when this our commaundement shall come vnto thâ—e wee straightly commaund that the foresaid businesse be diligently looked vnto and discharged And if it be so that a Frenchman and no Englishman hath done this craft and wickednesse vnknowen to the Englishmen and as authour of the wickednesse is punished and that the Englishmen committed nothing against the peace and league or their articles also if they payd custome according to order it is against law custome of Countreys and their priuilege to hinder or hurt them Neither is it meete their shippe marchandise and all their goods taken should be withholden Wee will therefore that the English shippe marchandize and all other their goods without excepâ—â—on be restored to the Englishmen also that the men bee let goe free and if they will let none hinder them to returne peaceably into their Countrey do not commit that they another time complaine of this matter and how this businesse is dispatched certifie vs at our famous porche Dated in the Citie of Constantinople in the 992. yeere of Mahomet and in the ende of the moneth of October and in the yeere of IESVS 1584. A letter of Master VVilliam Hareborne the English Amâ—assadour Ligier in Constantinople to the Bassa Romadan the Beglerbeg of Tripolis in Barbarie for the restoring of an English shippe called the Iesus with the goods and men detained
they were come within 3. English miles of the towne and made after them in all possible haste and although they saw that they were farre out of their reach yet in a vaine fury and foolish pride they shot off their Ordinance and made a stirre in the Sea as if they had bene in the midst of them which vanitie of theirs ministred to our men notable matter of pleasure and mirth seeing men to fight with shadowes and to take so great paines to so small purpose But thus it pleased God to deride and delude all the forces of the proud Spanish king which he had prouided of purpose to distresse the English who notwithstanding passed through both his Armies in the one little hurt and in the other nothing touched to the glory of his immortall Name the honour of our Prince and Countrey and the iust commendation of ech mans seruice performed in that voyage The returne of Master VVilliam Harborne from Constantinople ouer land to London 1588. I Departed from Constantinople with 30. persons of my suit and family the 3. of August Passing through the Countries of Thracia now called Romania the great Valachia Moldauia where ariuing the 5. of September I was according to the Grand Signior his commandement very courteously interteined by Peter his positiue prince a Greeke by profession with whom was concluded that her Maiesties subiects there trafiquing should pay but three vpon the hundreth which as well his owne Subiects as all other nations answere whose letters to her Maiestie be extant Whence I proceeded into Poland where the high Chanceler sent for mee the 27. of the same moneth And after most honorable intertainment imparted with me in secret maner the late passed and present occurrents of that kingdome also he writ to her Maiestie Thence I hasted vnto Elbing where the 12. of October I was most friendly welcomed by the Senate of that City whom I finde and iudge to be faithfully deuoted to her Maiesties seruice whose letters likewise vnto the same were presented me No lesse at Dantzik the 27. of that moneth I was courteously receiued by one of the Buroughmasters accompanied with two others of the Senate a Ciuil doctor their Secretarie After going through the land of Pomer I rested one day at Stetin where for that y â— duke was absent nothing ensued At Rostoke I passed through the Citie without any stay and at Wismar receiued like friendly greeting as in the other places but at Lubeck for that I came late and departed early in the morning I was not visited At Hamburg the 19. of Nouember and at Stoad the ninth of December in like maner I was saluted by a Boroughmaster and the Secretarie and in all these places they presented mee sundry sorts of their best wine and fresh fish euery of them with a long discourse congratulating in the names of their whole Senate her Maiesties victory ouer the Spaniard and my safe returne concluding with offer of their ready seruice to her future disposing Yet the Dantziks after my departure thence caused the Marchants to pay custome for the goods they brought with them in my company which none other towne neither Infidels nor Christians on y â— way euer demanded And notwithstanding the premisses I was most certainly informed of sundry of our nation there resident that most of the Hanse-towns vpon the sea coasts especially Dantzik Lubeck and Hamborough haue laden and were shipping for Spaine great prouision of corne cables ropes powder saltpeter hargubusses armour iron leade copper and all other munition seruing for the warre Whereupon I gather their fained courtesie proceeded rather for feare then of any good affection vnto her Maiesties seruice Elbing and Stoad onely excepted which of duetie for their commoditie I esteemed well affected The priuilege of Peter the Prince of Moldauia graunted to the English Marchants PEtrus Dei gratia princeps Valachiae Moldauiae significamus praesentibus vniuersis singulis quorum interest ac intererit quòd cum magnifico domino Guilielmo Hareborne oratore Serenissimae ac potentissimae dominae dominae Elizabethae Dei gratia Angliae Franciae ac Hiberniae Reginae apud Serenissimum ac potentissimum Turcarum Imperatorem hanc constitutionem fecerimus Nimirùm vt dehinc sue Serenitatis subditis omnibusqúe mercatoribus integrum sit hìc in prouincia nostra commorandi conuersandi mercandi vendendi contrahendÃque imo omnia exercendi quae mercaturae ac vitae humanae societas vÃusqúe requirit sine vlla alicuius contradictione aut inhibitione saluo ac integro tamen iure Telonij nostri hocest vt a singulis rebus centum ducatorum pretij tres numerent Quod ratum ac fitmum constitutione nostra haberi volumus In cuius rei firmius testimonium sigillum nostrum appressum est Actum in castris nostris die 27. mensis Augusti anno Domini 1588. The same in English PEter by the grace of God prince of Valachia and Moldauia we signifie by these presents to all and singuler persons whom it doth or shall concerne that we haue made this agreement with the worthy gentleman William Hareborne Ambassador of the right high and mighty prince the Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland with the most puissant and mightie Emperour of the Turkes To witte that fromhencefoorth it shal be lawfull for her highnesse subiects and all her Marchants to remaine conuerse buy sel bargaine and exercise all such things as the trade of marchandise and humane societie and vse requireth without any hinderance or let the right of our Custome alwayes reserued That is that they pay three ducats vpon all such things as amount to the price of one hundred ducats Which by this our ordinance we command to be surely and firmely obserued For the more assured testimony whereof our seale is hereunto annexed Giuen in our Campe the 27. of the moneth of August in the yeere of our Lord 1588. A briefe extract specifying the certaine dayly paiments answered quarterly in time of peace by the Grand Signior out of his Treasurie to the Officers of his Seraglio or Court successiuely in degrees collected in a yeerely totall summe as followeth FOr his owne diet euery day one thousand and one aspers according to a former custome receiued from his auncestors notwithstanding that otherwise his diurnall expence is very much and not certainly knowen which summe maketh sterling money by the yere two thousand one hundred 92. pounds three shillings eight pence The fiue and fourtie thousand Ianizaries dispersed in sundry places of his dominions at sixe aspers the day amounteth by the yeere to fiue hundreth fourescore and eleuen thousand and three hundreth pounds The Azamoglans tribute children farre surmount that number for that they are collected from among the Christians from whom betweene the yeeres of sixe and twelue they are pulled away yeerely perforce whereof I suppose those in seruice may be equall in number
together as they haue sinned together to receiue iudgement and therfore the soule alone cannot Their seuen precepts which they keepe so strictly are not for any hope of reward they haue after this life but onely that they may be blessed in this world for they thinke that he which breaketh them shall haue ill successe in all his businesse They say the three chiefe religions in the world be of the Christians Iewes Turks yet but one of them true but being in doubt which is the truest of the three they will be of none for they hold that all these three shall be iudged and but few of them which be of the true shall be saued the examination shall be so straight and therefore as I haue sayd before to preuent this iudgement they burne their bodies to ashes They say these three religions haue too many precepts to keepe them all wel therfore wonderful hard it wil be to make account because so few doe obserue all their religion aright And thus passing the time for the space of three moneths in this sea voyage we arriued at Venice the tenth of Iune and after I had seene Padua with other English men I came the ordinary way ouer the Alpes by Augusta Noremberg and so for England where to the praise of God I safely arriued the ninth of August 1595. A letter written by the most high and mighty Empresse the wife of the Grand Signior Sultan Murad Can to the Queenes Maiesty of England in the yeere of our Lord 1594. IL principio del ragionamento nostro sia scrittura perfetta nelle quatro parte del mondo in nome di quello che ha creato indifferentemente tante infinite creature che non haueâ—ano anima ni persona di quello che fagirar gli noue cieli che la terra sette volte vna sopra l' altra fa firmar Signor Re senza vicere che non ha comparacion alla sua creatione ne opera vno senza precio adorato incomparabilmente l' altissimo Dio creatore che non ha similitudine si â—ome e descrito dalli propheti ala cui grandessa non si arriue alla perfettione sua compiuta non si oppone quel omnipotente creatore cooperatore alla grandessa del quale inchinano tutti li propheti fra quali il maggior che ha ottenuâ—o gracia horto del paradiso ragi dal sole amato del altissimo Dio è Mahomet Mustaffa al qual suoi adherenti imitatori sia perpetua pace alla cui sepultura odorifera si fa ogni honore Quello che è imperator de sette climati delle quatro parti del mondo inuincibile Re di Graecia Agiamia Vngeria Tartaria Valachia Rossia Turchia Arabia Bagdet Caramania Abessis Giouasir Siruan Barbaria Algieri Franchia Coruacia Belgrado c. sempre felicissimo de dodeci Auoli possessor della corona della stirpe di Adam fin bora Imperator figliolo del ' Imperatore conseruato de la diuina prouidenza Re di ognâ— dignita honore Sultan Murat cha Il Signor Dio sempre augmentile sue forzze padre di quello a cui aspettala corona imperiale horto cypresso mirabile degno della sediâ— regale vero herede del comando imperiale dignissimo Mehemet Can filiol de Sultan Murat Can che dio compisca lâ— suoi dissegni alunga li suoi giorni feliâ—i Dalla parte della madre del qual si scâ—â—ue la presente alla serenissima gloriosissima fra le prudentissime Donne eletta fra li triomfâ—nti soâ—toâ—il standardo di Iesu Christo potentissima ricâ—hissiâ—aregiâ—râ—â—â— al mondo singularissima fra il feminil sesso la serenissima Regina d' Ingilterraâ— che â—egue â—e vestigie de Maria virgine il fine della quale sia con bene perfettione secondo il suâ— desidâ—â—â—oâ— Le mando vna salutâ—â—ion di pace cosi honorata che non basta tutta la copia di rosignoli con le lâ—romusiche ariuare non che con quosta carta l' amore singulare che e conciputo fra noi esimiâ—â—â—a â—n horto di Vccelli vagi che il Signor Diola faci degna di saluacione il fine suo siâ— tale che in questo mondo nel ' futuro sia con pace Doppo comparsi li suoi honorati presenti da la sedia de la Serenita vostra sapera che sono capitati in vna hora che ogni punto e stato vna consolation dâ— lungo tempo per occasione del Ambassadore di vostra serenita venuto alla felice porta del Imperatore contanto nostro contento quanto si posso desiderare con quello vna lettera di vostra serenetà châ— ci estata presentata dalli nostri Eunuchi con gran honore la carta de la quale odoraua di camfora ambracano â—â—inchiostro di musco perfetto quella peruenuta in nostro mano tutta la continenza di essa a parte ho ascolâ—ato intentamente Quello che hora si conuiene e â—he correspondente alla nostra affecione in tutto quello che si aspetta alle cose attenente alli paesi che sono sotto il commando di vostra serenità lei non manchi dâ— sempre tenermi dato noticia che in tutto quello che li occorerà Io possi compiacerla de quello che fra le nostre serenità e conueniente accioche quelle cose che si interprenderano habino il desiderato buon finâ— perche Io saro sempre ricordeuole al altissimo Imperatore delle occorenze di vostra serenita per che sia in ogni occasione compiaciâ—ta La pace sia con vostra serenita câ—n quelli che seguitano dreâ—amente la via di Dio. Sâ—ritta all primi dell luna di Rabie Liâ—ol anno del profeâ—a 1002 di Iesu 1594. The same in English LEt the beginning of our discourse be a perfect writing in the foure parts of the world in the name of him which hath indifferently created such infinite numbers of creatures which had neither soule nor body and of him which mooueth the nine heauens and stablisheth the earth seuen times one aboue another which is Lord and king without any deputy who hath no comparison to his creation and worke and is one inestimable worshipped without all comparison the most high God the creator which hath nothing like vnto him according as he is described by the Prophets to whose power no man can attaine and whose absolute perfection no man may controll and that omnipotent creatour and fellow-worker to whose Maiesty all the Prophets submit themselues among whom the greatest and which hath obtained greatest fauour the garden of Paradise the beame of the Sunne the beloued of the most high God is Mahomet Mustaffa to whom and to his adherents and followers be perpetuall peace to whose
Ducks and Pidgeons and great Partridges Wood is the thing that most wanteth and because I haue particularly to intreat of the other sixe Ilands I leaue further inlarging of Canaria which standeth in 27 degrees distant from the Equator The I le of Tenerif THe Iland of Tenerif standeth in 27 degrees and a halfe from the equator and is distant from Canaria 12 leagues Northward This Iland containeth 17 leagues in length and the land lieth high in forme of a ridge of sowen land in some part of England and in the midst of the sayd place standeth a round hill called Pico Deteithe situated in this sort The top of this pike conteineth of heigth directly vpward 15 leagues more which is 45 English miles out of the which often times proceedeth fire and brimstone and it may be about halfe a mile in compasse the sayd top is in forme or likenesse of a caldron But within two miles of the top is nothing but ashes pumish stones yet beneath that two miles is the colde region couered all the yere with snow and somwhat lower are mighty huge trees growing called Vinatico which are exceeding heauy and will not rot in any water although they lie a thousand yeeres therein Also there is a wood called Barbusano of like vertue with many Sauine trees and Pine trees And beneath these sorts of trees are woods of Bay trees of 10 12 miles long which is a pleasant thing to trauell thorow among the which are great numbers of small birds which sing exceeding sweet but especially one sort that are very litle and of colour in all respects like a Swallow sauing that he hath a little blacke spot on his breast as broad as a peny He singeth more sweetly then all the rest but if he be taken and imprisoned in a cage he liueth but a small while This Iland bringeth foorth all sorts of fruits as Canaria doth and also all the other Ilands in generall bring foorth shrubs or bushes out of the which issueth a iuice as white as milke which after a while that it hath come out waxeth thicke and is exceeding good birdlime the bush is called Taybayba This Iland also bringeth foorth another tree called Drago which groweth on high among rocks and by incision at the foot of the tree issueth out a liquor like blood which is a commō drug among Apothecaries Of the wood of this tree are made targets greatly esteemed because if any sword or dagger hit thereon they sticke so fast that it is hard plucking them out This is the most fruitfull Iland of all the rest for corne and in that respect is a mother or nurse to all the others in time of need There groweth also a certaine mosse vpon the high rocks called Orchel which is bought for Diars to die withall There are 12 sugar houses called Ingenios which make great quantity of sugar There is also one league of ground which standeth between two townes the one called Larotaua and the other Rialeio and it is thought that the like plot of ground is not in all the world The reason is that this one league of ground produceth sweet water out of the cliffes or rocky mountaines corne of all sortes fruites of all sortes and excellent good silke flaxe waxe and hony and very good wines in abundance with great store of sugar and fire-wood Out of this Iland is laden great quantity of wines for the West India and other countreys The best groweth on a hill side called the Ramble There is in that Iland a faire city standing three leagues from the sea nere vnto a lake called Laguna wherein are two faire parish churches there dwelleth the gouernour who ruleth all that Iland with iustice There are also aldermen for the publike weale who buy their offices of the king the most of the whole inhabitants of this city are gentlemen merchants and husband men There are other foure townes called Santa Cruz Larotaua Rialeio and Garachico In this Iland before the conquest dwelt seuen kings who with all their people dwelt in caues and were clothed in goat skinnes as the Canaria people were and vsed such like order of diet as they had Their order of buriall was that when any died he was carried naked to a great caue where he was propped vp against the wall standing on his feet But if he were of any authority among them then had he a staffe in his hand and a vessell of milke standing by him I haue seene caues of 300 of these corpses together the flesh being dried vp the body remained as light as parchment These people were called Guanches naturally they spake another language cleane contrary to the Canarians and so consequently euery Iland spake a seuerall language Note gentle reader that the Iland of Canaria the I le of Tenerif and the I le of Palma appertaine to the king of Spaine vnto whom they pay fifty thousand duckats yeerely for custome and other profits All these Ilands ioyntly are one bishopricke which pay to the bishop twelue thousand duckats yeerely And thus I conclude of the I le of Tenerif which standeth in 27 degrees and a halfe as I haue before declared Gomera THe Iland of Gomera standeth Westward from Tenerif in distance sixe leagues this is but a small Iland conteining eight leagues in length It is an Earledome the Lord thereof is called the earle of Gomera But in case of any controuersie the vassals may appeale to the kings superior Iudges which reside in Canaria This Iland hath one proper towne called Gomera which hath an excellent good port or harbour for ships where often times the Indian fleet take refreshing for their voyage There is also sufficient graine and fruit for the maintenance of themselues There is one Ingenio or Sugar-house with great plenty of wine and other sorts of fruits as Canaria and Tenerif hath This Iland yeeldeth no other commodity but onely orchell it standeth in 27 degrees distant from the Equator toward the pole Arcticke The I le of Palma THe I le of Palma standeth twelue leagues distant from the I le of Gomera Northwestward This Iland is fruitfull of wine and sugar it hath a proper city called the city of Palma where is great contraction for wines which are laden for the West India other places This city hath one faire church and a gouernour and aldermen to maintaine and execute iustice It hath also another prety towne called S. Andrewes It hath also foure Ingenios which make excellent sugar two of the which are called Zauzes and the other two Tassacort This Iland yeeldeth but little bread-corne but rather is thereof prouided from Tenerif and other places Their best wines grow in a soile called the Brenia where yerely is gathered twelue thousand buts of wine like vnto Malmsies This Iland standeth round and containeth in circuit neere fiue and twenty leagues It hath plenty of all sorts of fruits as Canaria and
the men in the said shippe the one of them being the Masters mate Ten other persons were hurt by meanes of splinters which the Spaniards shotte yea in the ende when their prouision was almost spent they were constrained to shoote at them hammers and the chaines from their slaues and yet God bee thanked they receiued no more domage but by spoyling and ouerwearying of the Spaniards the Englishmen constrained them to vngrapple themselues and get them going and sure if there had bene any other fresh shippe or succour to haue relieued and assisted the Centurion they had slaine suncke or taken all those Gallies and their Souldiers The Dolphin lay a loofe off and durst not come neere while the other two small shippes fledde away so that one of the Gallies went from the Centurion and set vpon the Dolphin which shippe immediatly was set on fire with their owne powder whereby both men and shippe perished but whether it was with their good wills or no that was not knowen vnto the Centurion but sure if it had come forward and bene an aide vnto the Centurion it is to bee supposed that it had not perished Fiue houres and a halfe this fight continued in which time both were glad to depart onely to breath themselues but when the Spaniards were gone they neuer durst returne to fight yet the next day sixe other Gallies came and looked at them but durst not at any hand meddle with them Thus God deliuered them from the handes of their enemies and gaue them the victory for which they heartily praised him and not long after safely arriued in London ☞ There were present at this fight Master Iohn Hawes Marchant and sundry other of good accompt A report of the trueth of the fight about the Isles of Açores the last of August 1591. betwixt the Reuenge one of her Maiesties shippes and an Armada of the king of Spaine Penned by the honourable Sir Water Ralegh knight BEcause the rumours are diuersly spred as well in England as in the Lowe countreis and elsewhere of this late encounter betweene her Maiesties ships and the Armada of Spaine and that the Spaniards according to their vsuall maner fill the world with their vaine-glorious vaunts making great appâ—rance of victories when on the contrary themselues are most commonly and shamefully beaten and dishonoured thereby hoping to possesse the ignorant multitude by anticipating forerunning false reports It is agreeable with all good reason for manifestation of the truth to ouercome falshood and vntrueth that the beginning continuance and successe of this late honourable encounter of Sir Richard Greenuil and other her Maiesties Captaines with the Armada of Spaine should be truely set downe and published without partialitie or false imaginations And it is no marueâ—le that the Spaniard should seeke by false and slanderous pamphlets aduisoes and Letters to couer their owne losse and to derogate from others their due honors especially in this fight being performed far off seeing they were not ashamed in the yeere 1588. when they purposed the inuasion of this land to publish in sundry languages in print great victories in wordes which they pleaded to haue obteined against this Realme and spred the same in a most false sort ouer all parts of France Italy and elsewhere When shortly after it was happily manifested in very deed to al Nations how their Nauy which they termed inuincible consisting of 140. saile of shippes not onely of their owne kingdome but strengthened with the greatest Argosies Portugal Caracks Florentines and huge huâ—ks of other Countreis were by 30. of her Maiesties owne ships of war and a few of our owne Marchants by the wise valiant and aduantagious conduct of the L. Charles Howard high Admirall of England beaten and shuffled together euen from the Lizard in Cornwall first to Portland where they shamefully left Don Pedro de Valdes with his mighty ship from Portland to Cales where they lost Hugo de Moncado with the Gallias of which he was Captaine and from Cales driuen with squibs from their anchors where thased out of the sight of England round about Scotland and Ireland Where for the sympathie of their barbarous religion hoping to finde succour and assistance a great part of them were crusht against the rocks and those other that landed being very many in number were notwithstanding broken slaine and taken and so sent from village to village coupled in halters to be shipped into England Where her Maiestie of her Princely and inuincible disposition disdaining to put them to death and scorning either to retaine or entertaine them they were all sent backe againe to their countreys to witnes and recount the worthy achieuements of their inuincible and dreadfull Nauy Of which the number of Souldiers the fearefull burthen of their shippes the commanders names of euery squadron with all other their magasines of prouisions were put in print as an Army and Nauy vnresistable and disdaining preuention With all which so great and terrible an ostentation they did not in all their sailing round about England so much as sinke or take one shippe Barke Pinnesse or Cockbote of ours or euer burnt so much as one sheepecote of this land Whenas on the contrarie Sir Francis Drake with onely 800. souldiers not long before landed in their Indies and forced Sant-Iago Santo Domingo Cartagena and the forts of Florida And after that Sir Iohn Norris marched from Peniche in Portugall with a handfull of souldiers to the gates of Lisbone being aboue 40 English miles Where the Earle of Essex himselfe and other valiant Gentlemen braued the Citie of Lisbone encamped at the very gates from whence after many dayes abode finding neither promised partie nor prouision to batter they made retrait by land in despight of all their Garrisons both of horse foote In this sort I haue a little digressed from my first purpose onely by the necessarie comparison of theirs and our actions the one couetous of honour without vaunt of ostentation the other so greedy to purchase the opinion of their owne affaires and by false rumors to resist the blasts of their owne dishonours as they will not onely not blush to spread all manner of vntruthes but euen for the least aduantage be it but for the taking of one poore aduenturer of the English will celebrate the victory with bonefires in euery towne alwayes spending more in faggots then the purchase was worth they obtained When as we neuer thought it worth the consumption of two billets when we haue taken eight or ten of their Indian shippes at one time and twentie of the Brasill fleete Such is the difference betweene true valure and ostentation and betweene honorable actions and friuolous vaine glorious vaunts But now to returne to my purpose The L. Thomas Howard with sixe of her Maiesties shippes sixe victualers of London the Barke Ralegh two or three other Pinnases riding at anker neere vnto Flores one of the Westerly Ilands of the Azores the last
so made captiues Thus at the seuen dayes end we twelue Englishmen the twelue French and the twenty Spaniards were all conducted toward Marocco with nine hundred souldiers horsemen and fotmen and in two dayes iourney we came to the riuer of Fez where we lodged all night being prouided of tents The next day we went to a towne called Salle and lay without the towne in tents From thence we trauelled almost an hundred miles without finding any towne but euery night we came to fresh water which was partly running water and sometime raine water So we came at last within three miles of the city of Marocco where we pitched our tents and there we matte with a carrier which did trauell in the countrey for the English marchants and by him we sent word vnto them of our estate and they returned the next day vnto vs a Moore which brought vs victuals being at that instant very feeble and hungry and withall sent vs a letter with pen inke and paper willing vs to write vnto them what ship it was that was cast away and how many and what men there were aliue For said they we would knowe with speed for to morow is the kings court and therefore we would know for that you should come into the citie like captiues But for all that we were carried in as captiues and with ropes about our neckes as well English as the French and Spaniards And so we were carried before the king and when we came before him he did commit vs all to ward where wâ—e lay 15 dayes in close prison and in the end we were cleared by the English Marchants to their great charges for our deliuerance cost them 700 ounces euery ounce in that country contayning â—wo shillings And when we came out of prison we went to the Alfandica where we continued eight weekes with the English marchants At the end of which time being well apparelled by the bountie of our marchants we were conueyed downe by the space of eight dayes iourney to S. Cruz where the English ships road where we tooke shipping about the 20 of March two in the Anne Francis of London and fiue more of vs fiue dayes after in the Expedition of London and two more in a Flemish flie-boat and one in the Mary Edward also of London other two of our number died in the countrey of the bloodie-fluxe the one at our first imprisonment at Marocco whose name was George Hancock and the other at S. Cruz whose name was Robert Swancon whose death was hastened by eating of rootes and other vnnaturall things to slake their raging hunger in our trauaile and by our hard and cold lodging in the open fields without tents Thus of fiftie persons through the rashnesse of an vnskilfull Master ten onely suruiued of vs and after a thousand miseries returned home poore sicke and feeble into our countrey Richard Iohnson William Williams Carpenter Iohn Durham Abraham Rouse Iohn Matthewes Thomas Henmore Iohn Siluester Thomas Whiting William Church Iohn Fox The letters of the Queenes most excellent Maiestie sent by one Laurence Aldersey vnto the Emperour of Aethiopia 1597. Inuictissimo potentissimóque Abassenorum regi magnóque vtriusque Aethiopiae imperatori c. ELizabetha dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae regina fidei defensor c. summo ac potentissimo AEthiopiae imperatori salutem Quod ab omnibus qui vbiuìs terrarum ac gentium sunt regibus principibusque praestari par aequum est vt quanquà m maximo locorum interuallo dissiti moribus ac legibus discrepantes communem tamen generis humani societatem tueri conseruare mutuaque vt occasio ferret charitatis beneuolentiae officia velint exercere in eo nos de vestra fide atque humanitate spem certissimam concipientes huic subito nostro Laurentio Alderseio in regnum vestrum proficiscenti hasce literas nostras quibus nostra erga vos beneuolentia testata sit illum hinc profectuÌ„ esse conster potissimùm vobis indicandas dedimus Qui cùm orbis terrarum perscrutandi cognoscendique studio permotus multis antehà c regionibus peragratis iam tandem in eas regiones quae vestrae ditionis sunt longum periculosumque iter instituat cùm ipse existimauit tum nos etiam sumus in eadem opinione ad incolumitatem suam atque etìam ad gratiam apud vos plurimum illi profuturum si diplomate nostro munitus beneuolenâ—iae nostrae profectionis hinc suae testimonium ad vos deferret Nam cum summus ille mundi conditor rectorque praepotens deus regibus principibusque qui suam vicem gerunt orbem terrarum suis cuique finibus pro rata portione designatis regendum atque administrandum dederit eoque munere ius quoddam inter eos fraternae necessitudinis aeternumque foedus ab illis colendum sanxerit non erit vt arbitramur ingratum vobis cùm beneuolentiae nostrae significationem tà m immensa maris ac terrarum spatia transgressam ab vltima Britannia ad vos in Aethiopiam perferri intellexeritis Nobisque rursùs ericiucundum cùm subditorum nostrorum praedicatione ab ipsis Nili fontibus ab ijs regionibus quae solis cursum definiunt fama vestri nominis ad nos recurret Erit igitur humanitatis vestrae huic subdito nostro eam largiri gratiam vt in ditionem vestram sub presidio ac tutela vestri nominis intrare ibique saluus incolumis manere possit quod ipsum etiam ab aliis principibus per quorum regiones illi transeundum erit magnoperè petimus nobisque ipsis illud honoris causa tributum existimabimus neque tamèn maiorem hac in re gratiam postulamus quà m vicissìm omnium principum subditis omniumque gentium hominibus ad nos commeantibus liberrimè concedimus Datum Londini quinto die Nouembris anno regni nostri tricesimo nono annoque Dom. 1597. The same in English To the most inuincible and puissant king of the Abassens the mightie Emperour of Aethiopia the higher and the lower ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. To the most high and mightie Emperour of Aethiopia greeting Whereas it is a matter requisite and well beseeming all kings and princes of what lands or nations soeuer be they neuer so much disseuered in place or differing in customes and lawes to maintaine and preserue the common societie of mankinde and as occasion shall be offered to performe mutuall duties of charitie and beneuolence we for that cause conceiuing most vndoubted hope of your princely fidelity and courtesie haue giuen vnto this our subiect Laurence Aldersey intending to trauell into your dominions these our letters to be deliuered without faile vnto your Highnesse to the end they may be a testimony of our good will towards you and of our saide subiect his departure from England Who after his trauels in many forren
The twentieth of Iune at two of the clocke in the morning the General descried land found it to be West Frisland now named west England Here the Generall other Gentlemen went ashore being the first knowen Christians that we haue true notice of that euer set foot vpon that ground and therefore the Generall tooke possession thereof to the vse of our Souereigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie and discouered here a goodly harborough for the ships where were also certaine little boates of that countrey And being there landed they espied certaine tents and people of that countrey which were as they iudge in all sorts vâ—ry like those of Meta Incognita as by their apparell and other things which we found in their tents appeared The Sauage and simple people so soone as they perceiued our men comming towards them supposing there had bene no other world but theirs fled fearefully away as men much amazed at so strange a sight and creatures of humane shape to farre in apparell complexion and other things different from themselues They left in their tents all their furniture for haste behind them where amongst other things were found a boxe of small nailes and certaine red Herrings boords of Firre tree well cut with diuers other things artificially wrought whereby it appeareth that they haue trade with some ciuill people or else are indeede themselues artificiall workemen Our men brought away with them onely two of their dogs leauing in recompense belles looking-glasses and diuers of our countrâ—y coyes behinde them This countrey no doubtâ— promiseth good hope of great commoditie and riches if it may be well discouered The description whereof you shall finde more at large in the second voyage Some are of opinion that this West England is firme land with the Northeast partes of Meta Incognita or else with Groenland And their reason is because the people apparel boates and other things are so like to theirs and another reason is the multitude of Islands of yce which lay betweene it and Meta Incognita doth argue that on the Northside there is a bay which cannot be but by conioyning of the two lands together And hauing a faire and large winde we departed from thence towards Frobishers Streites the three and twentieth of Iune But first wee gaue name to a high cliffe in West England the last that was in our sight and for a certaine similitude we called it Charing crosse Then wee bare Southerly towards the Sea because to the Northwardes of this coast we met with much driuing yce which by reason of the thicke mistes and weather might haue bene some trouble vnto vs. On Munday the last of Iune wee met with many great Whales as they had bene Porposes This same day the Salamander being vnder both her corses and bonets happened to strike a great Whale with her full stemme with such a blow that the ship stoode still and stirred neither forward nor backward The Whale thereat made a great and vgly noyse and cast vp his body and taile and so went vnder water and within two daies after there was found a great Whale dead swimming aboue water which wee supposed was that which the Salamander strooke The second day of Iuly early in the morning we had sight of the Queenes Foreland and bare in with the land all the day and passing thorow great quantity of yce by night were entred somewhat within the Streites perceiuing no way to passe further in the whole place being frozen ouer from the one side to the other and as it were with many walles mountaines and bulwarks of yce châ—ked vp the passage and denied vs entrance And yet doe I not thinke that this passage or Sea hereabonts is frozen ouer at any time of the yere albeit it seemed so vnto vs by the abundance of yce gathered together which occupied the whole place But I doe rather suppose these yce to bee bred in the hollow soundes and freshers thereabouts which by the heate of the sommers Sunne being loosed doe emptie themselues with the ebbes into the sea and so gather in great abundance there together And to speake somewhat here of the ancient opinion of the frozen sea in these parts I doe thinke it to be rather a bare coniecture of men then that euer any man hath made experience of any such sea And that which they speake of Mare glaciale may be truely thought to be spoken of these parts for this may well be called indeede the ycie sea but not the frozen sea for no sea consisting of salt water can be frozen as I haue more at large herein shewed my opinion in my second voyage for it seemeth impossible for any sea to bee frozen which hath his course of ebbing and flowing especially in those places where the tides doe ebbe and flowe aboue ten fadome And also all these aforesayd yce which we sometime met a hundreth mile from lande being gathered out of the salt Sea are in taste fresh and being dissolued become sweete and holesome water And the cause why this yere we haue bene more combred with yce then at other times before may be by reason of the Easterly Southerly winds which brought vs more timely thither now then we looked for Which blowing from the sea directly vpon the place of our Streits hath kept in the yce and not suffered them to be caried out by the ebbe to the maine sea where they would in more short time haue bene dissolued And all these fleeting yce are not only so dangerous in that they wind and gather so neere together that a man may passe sometimes tenne or twelue miles as it were vpon one firme Island of yce but also for that they open and shut together againe in such sort with the tides and sea-gate that whilest one ship followeth the other with full sayles the yce which was open vnto the foremost will ioyne and close together before the latter can come to follow the first whereby many times our shippes were brought into great danger as being not able so sodainely to take in our sayles or stay the swift way of our ships We were forced many times to stemme and strike great rockes of yce and so as it were make way through mighty mountaines By which meanes some of the fleete where they found the yce to open entred in and passed so farre within the danger thereof with continuall desire to recouer their port that it was the greatest wonder of the world that they euer escaped safe or were euer heard of againe For euen at this present we missed two of the fleete that is the Iudith wherein was the Lieutenant generall Captaine Fenton and the Michael whom both we supposed had bene vtterly lost hauing not heard any tidings of them in moe then 20 dayes before And one of our fleete named the Barke Dennis being of an hundreth tunne burden seeking way in amongst these yce receiued such a blow
to the world Gods iudgements inflicted vpon them as shal be declared in place conuenient Thus after we had met with the Swallow we held on our course Southward vntill we came against the harbor called S. Iohn about 5. leagues from the former Cape of S. Francis where before the entrance into the harbor we found also the Frigate or Squirrill lying at anker Whom the English marchants that were alwaies be Admirals by turnes interchangeably ouer the fleetes of fishermen within the same harbor would not permit to enter into the harbor Glad of so happy meeting both of the Swallow and Frigate in one day being Saturday the 3. of August we made readie our fights prepared to enter the harbor any resistance to the contrarie notwithstanding there being within of â—ll-nations to the number of 36 sailes But first the Generall dispatched a boat to giue thâ—m knowledge of his comming for no ill intent hauing Commission from her Maiestie for his voiage he had in hand And immediatly we followed with a slacke gale and in the very entrance which is but narrow not aboue 2 buts length the Admirall fell vpon a rocke on the larboord side by great ouersight in that the weather was faire the rocke much aboue water fast by the shore where neither went any sea gate But we found such readinesse in the English Marchants to helpe vs in that danger that without delay there were brought a number of boates which towed off the ship and cleared her of danger Hauing taken place conuenient in the road we let fall ankers the Captaines and Masters repairing aboord our Admirall whither also came immediatly the Masters and owners of the fishing fleete of Englishmâ—n to vnderstand the Generals intent and cause of our arriuall there They were all satisfied when the General had shewed his commission and purpose to take possession of those lands to the behalfe of the crowne of England and the aduancement of Christian religion in those Paganish regions requiring but their lawfull ayde for repayring of his fleete and supply of some necessaries so farre as conueniently might be afforded him both out of that and other habors adioyning In lieu whereof he made offer to gratifie them with any fauour and priuiledge which vpon their better aduise they should demand the like being not to bee obteyned hereafter for greater price So crauing expedition of his demand minding to proceede further South without long detention in those partes he dismissed them after promise giuen of their best indeuour to satisfie speedily his so reasonable request The marchants with their Masters departed they caused foorthwith to be discharged all the great Ordinance of their fleete in token of our welcome It was further determined that euery ship of our fleete should deliuer vnto the marchants and Masters of that harbour a note of all their wants which done the ships aswell English as strangers were tared at an easie rate to make supply And besides Commissioners were appointed part of our owne companie and part of theirs to go into other harbours adioyning for our English marchants command all there to leauie our prouision whereunto the Portugals aboue other nations did most willingly and liberally contribute Insomuch as we were presented aboue our allowance with wines marmalads most fine ruske or bisket sweet oyles and sundry delicacies Also we wanted not of fresh salmons trouts lobsters and other fresh fish brought daily vnto vs. Moreouer as the maner is in their fishing euery weeke to choose their Admirall a new or rather they succeede in orderly course and haue weekely their Admirals feast solemnized euen so the General Captaines and masters of our fleete were continually inuited and feasted To grow short in our abundance at home the intertainment had bene delightfull but after our wants and tedious passage through the Ocean it seemed more acceptable and of greater contentation by how much the same was vnexpected in that desolate corner of the world where at other times of the yeare wilde beasts and birds haue only the fruition of all those countries which now seemed a place very populous and much frequented The next morning being Sunday and the 4 of August the Generall and his company were brought on land by English marchants who shewed vnto vs their accustomed walks vnto a place they call the Garden But nothing appeared more then Nature it selfe without art who confusedly hath brought foorth roses abundantly wilde but odoriferous and to sense very comfortable Also the like plentie of raspis berries which doe grow in euery place Munday following the General had his tent set vp who being accompanied with his own followers sommoned the marchants and masters both English and strangers to be present at his taking possession of those Countries Before whom openly was read interpreted vnto the strangers his Commission by vertue whereof he tooke possession in the same harbour of S. Iohn and 200 leagues euery way inuested the Queenes Maiestie with the title and dignitie thereof had deliuered vnto him after the custome of England a rod a turffe of the same soile entring possession also for him his heires and assignes for euer And signified vnto al men that from that time forward they should take the same land as a territorie appertaining to the Queene of England and himselfe authorised vnder her Maieâ—tie to possesse and enioy it And to ordaine lawes for the gouernement thereof agreeable so neere as conueniently might be vnto the lawes of England vnder which all people comming thither hereafter either to inhabite or by way of traffique should be subiected and gouerned And especially at the same time for a beginning he proposed deliuered three lawes to be in force immediatly That is to say the first for Religion which in publique exercise should be according to the Church of England The 2. for maintenance of her Maiesties right and possession of those territories against which if any thing were attempted preiudiciall the partie or parties offending should be adiudged and executed as in case of high treason according to the lawes of England The 3. if any person should vtter words sounding to the dishonour of her Maiestie be should loose his eares and haue his ship and goods confiscate These contents published obedience was promised by generall voyce and consent of the multitude aswell of Englishmen as strangers praying for continuance of this possession and gouernement begun After this the assembly was dismissed And afterward were erected not farre from that place the Armes of England ingrauen in lead and infixed vpon a pillar of wood Yet further and actually to establish this possession taken in the right of her Maiestie and to the behoofe of Sir Hâ—mfrey Gilbert knight his heires and assignes for euer the Generall granted in fee farme diuers parcels of land lying by the waterside both in this harbor of S. Iohn and elsewhere which was to the owners a great commoditie being
wicked doctrine But who shall looke into the qualitie of this voyage being directed to the latitude of fortie degrees or there aboutes of that hithermost part of America shal find it hath as many points of good moment belonging vnto it as may almost be wished for 1 As first it is to be vnderstood that it is not any long course for it may be perfourmed too and fro in foure moneths after the first discouerie thereof 2 Secondly that one wind sufficeth to make the passage whereas most of your other voyages of like length are subiect to 3. or 4. winds 3 Thirdly that it is to be perfourmed at all times of the yeere 4 Fourthly that the passage is vpon the high sea wherby you are not bound to the knowledge of dangers on any other coast more then of that Countrey and of ours here at home 5 Fiftly that those parts of England and Ireland which lie aptest for the proceeding outward or homeward vpon this voyage are very well stored of goodly harbours 6 Sixtly that it is to bee accounted of no danger at all as touching the power of any forreine prince or state when it is compared with any the best of all other voyages before recited 7 And to the godly minded it hath this comfortable commoditie that in this trade their Factours bee they their seruants or children shall haue no instruction or confessions of Idolatrous Religion enforced vpon them but contrarily shall be at their free libertie of conscience and shall find the same Religion exercised which is most agreeable vnto their Parents and Masters As for the merchandising which is the matter especially looked for albeit that for the present we are not certainely able to promise any such like quantitie as is now at the best time of the Moscouian trade brought from thence So likewise is there not demanded any such proportion of daily expences as was at the first and as yet is consumed in that of Moscouia and other But when this of America shall haue bene haunted and practised thirtie yeeres to an ende as the other hath bene I doubt not by Gods grace that for the tenne shippes that are now commonly employed once the yeere into Moscouia there shall in this voyage twise tenne be imployed well twise the yeere at the least And if for the present time there doe fall out nothing els to bee found then the bate Fishing yet doubt I not after the first yeeres planting but by that matter only to serue halfe a dozen of your best sort of ships although my supply of people doe not follow me so substantially as in all reason may be well looked for But when it is asked what may be hoped from thence after some yeeres it is first to be considered that this situation in fourtie degrees shall bee very apt to gather the commodities either of those parts which stand to the Southward of it as also of those which are to the Northward In the Northerlie may be expected not onely an especiall good fishing for Salmon Codde and Whales but also any other such commodities as the Easterne Countreys doe yeeld vs now as Pitch Tarre Hempe and thereof cordâ—ge Masts Losshe hides rich Furres and other such like without being in any sort beholding to a king of Denmarke or other prince or state that shall be in such sort able to command our shâ—ppes at their pleasure as those doe at this day by meanes of their strait passages and strong shipping As for those partes which lie West and to the Southwardes it may well bee hoped they will yeeld Wines with a small helpe since the grapes doe growe there of themselues alreadie very faire and in great abundance Oliues being once planted will yeelde the like Oyle as Spaine Prouince and Italie The Countrey people being made to know that for Waxe and honie we will giue them such trifling things as they desire of vs and shewing them once the means how to prouide the same the labour thereof being so light no doubt but in short time they will earnestly care to haue the same in good quantitie for vs. Besides what great likelihoode there is of good meanes to make Salt which may serue for the fishing of those partes may well enough appeare vnto them who can iudge the qualitie of such places as are required to make the same in Thus much for the beginning because they may bee had with an easie kinde of trauell but when it may haue pleased God to establish our people there any such time as they may haue planted amongst them in sundry partes of the Countrey and that by gentle and familiar entreating them they bee made to see what is better for them then they doe as yet vnderstand of and that in so many sorts of occasions as were infinite to be set downe It is to bee assuredly hoped that they will daily by little and little forsake their barbarous and sauage liuing and growe to such order and ciuilitie with vs as there may be well expected from thence no lesse quantitie and diuersitie of merchandize then is now had out of Dutchland Italie France or Spaine And as the bordering neighbours are commonly the aptest to fall out with vs so these parts being somewhat remote are the liker to take or giue lesse occasion of disquiet But when it is considered that they are our own kindred and esteemed our own countrey nation which haue the gouernment meaning by those who shall be there planted who can looke for any other then the dealing of most louing and most assured friends There are further to be considered these two poynts of good importance concerning the matter of trade The one is that by the good prospering of this action there must of necessitie fall out a very liberall vtterance of our English Clothes into a maine Country described to bee bigger then all Europe the larger part whereof bending to the Northward shall haue wonderfull great vse of our sayde English Clothes after they shall come once to knowe the commoditie thereof The like will bee also of many other things ouer many to bee reckoned which are made here by our Artificers and labouring people and of necessitie must bee prouided from hence The other is if there be any possible meanes to finde a sea passage or other fresh water course which may serue in some reasonable and conuenient sort to transport our marchandize into the East Indian Sea through any of these Northerly partes of America it shall be soonest and most assuredly perfourmed by these who shall inhabite and first grow into familiaritie with the Inland people What Minerall matter may fall out to bee found is a thing lest in suspence vntill some better knowledge because there be many men who hauing long since expected some profits herein vpon the great promises that haue bene made them and being as yet in no point satisfied doe thereupon conceiue that they be but wordes purposely cast out
of you to vnderstand that for the present and speedy supply of certaine our knowen and apparant lackes and needes most requisite and necessary for the good and happy planting of vs or any other in this land of Virginia wee all of one minde consent haue most earnestly intreated and vncessantly requested Iohn White Gouernour of the planters in Virginia to passe into England for the better and more assured help and setting forward of the foresayd supplies and knowing assuredly that he both can best and wil labour and take paines in that behalfe for vs all and he not onee but often refusing it for our sekes and for the honour maintenance of the action hath at last though much against his will through our importunacie yeelded to leaue his gouernement and all his goods among vs and himselfe in all our behalfes to passe into England of whose knowledge and fidelitie in handling this matter as all others we doe assure our selues by these presents and will you to giue all credite thereunto the 25 of August 1587. The Gouernour being at the last through their extreame intreating constrayned to returne into England hauing then but halfe a dayes respite to prepare himselfe for the same departed from Roanoak the seuen and twentieth of August in the morning and the same day about midnight came aboord the Flieboat who already had weyed anker and rode without the barre the Admirall riding by them who but the same morning was newly come thither againe The same day both the ships weyed anker and set saile for England at this weying their ankers twelue of the men which were in the Flyboate were throwen from the Capstone which by meanes of a barre that brake came so fast about vpon them that the other two barres thereof strooke and hurt most of them so sore that some of them neuer recouered it neuerthelesse they assayed presently againe to wey their anker but being so weakened with the first sling they were not able to weye it but were throwen downe and hurt the second time Wherefore hauing in all but fifteene men aboord and most of them by this vnfortunate beginning so bruised and hurt they were forced to cut their Cable and leese their anker Neuerthelesse they kept company with the Admirall vntil the seuenteenth of September at which time wee fell with Coruo and sawe Flores September THe eighteenth perceiuing of all our fifteene men in the Flyboate there remained but fiue which by meanes of the former mischance were able to stand to their labour and that the the Admirall meant not to make any haste for England but to linger about the Island of Tercera for purchase the Flyboate departed for England with letters where we hoped by the help of God to arriue shortly but by that time we had continued our course homeward about twenty dayes hauing had sometimes scarse and variable windes our fresh water also by leâ—king almost consumed there arose a storme at Northeast which for sixe dayes ceased not to blowe so exceeding that we were driuen further in those sixe then we could recouer in thirteene daies in which time others of our saylers began to fall very sicke and two of them dyed the weather also continued so close that our Mastâ—r sometimes in foure dayes together could see neither sunne nor starre and all the beuerage we could make with stinking water dregs of beere and lees of wine which remayned was but three gallons and therefore now we expected nothing but famine to perish at Sea October THe 16 of October we made land but we knowe not what land it was bearing in with the same land at that day about sunne set we put into a harbour where we found a Hulke of Dublin and a pinnesse of Hampton riding but we knew not as yet what place this was neither had we any boate to goe ashore vntill the pinnesse sent off their boate to vs with 6 or 8 men of whom we vnderstood wee were in Smerwick in the West parts of Ireland they also releeued vs presently with fresh water wine and other fresh meate The 18 the Gouernour and the Master ryd to Dingen a Cushe 5 miles distant to take order for the new victualing of our Flieboate for England and for reliefe of our sicke and hurt men but within foure daies after the Boatswain the Steward and the Boatswains mate died aboord the Flieboat and the 28 the Masters mate and two of our chiefe sailers were brought sicke to Dingen Nouember THe first the Gouernour shipped himselfe in a ship called the Monkie which at that time was ready to put to sea from Dingen for England leauing the Flyboat and all his companie in Ireland The same day we set sayle and on the third day we fell with the North side of the lands end and were shut vp the Seuerne but the next day we doubled the same for Mounts Bay The 5 the Gouernour landed in England at Martasew neere Saint Michaels mount in Cornewall The 8 we arriued at Hampton where we vnderstood that our consort the Admiral was come to Portsmouth and had bene there three weekes before and also that Ferdinando the Master with all his company were not onely come home without any purchase but also in such weaknesse by sicknesse and death of their chiefest men that they were scarse able to bring their ship into harbour but were forced to let fall anker without which they could not wey againeâ— but might all haue perished there if a small barke by great hap had not come to them to helpe them The names of the chiefe men that died are these Roger Large Iohn Mathew Thomas Smith and some other saylers whose names I knew not at the writing hereof An. Dom. 1587. The names of all the men women and children which safely arriued in Virginia and remained to inhabite there 1587. Anno regni Reginae Elizabethâ— 29. IOhn White Roger Baily Ananias Dare. Christopher Cooper Thomas Steuens Iohn Sampson Dyonis Haruie Roger Prat. George How Simon Fernando Nicholas Iohnson Thomas Warner Anthony Cage Iohn Iones William Willes Iohn Brooke Cutbert White Iohn Bright Clement Tayler William Sole Iohn Cotsmur Humfrey Newton Thomas Colman Thomas Gramme Marke Bennet Iohn Gibbes Iohn Stilman Robert Wilkinson Iohn Tydway Ambrose Viccars Edmond English Thomas Topan Henâ—y Berry Richard Berry Iohn Spendloue Iohn Hemmington Thomas Butler Edward Powell Iohn Burden Iames Hynde Thomas Ellis William Browne Michael Myllet Thomas Smith Richard Kemme Thomas Harris Richard Tauerner Iohn Earnest Henry Iohnson Iohn Starte Richard Darige William Lucas Arnold Archard Iohn Wright William Dutton Mauris Allen. William Waters Richard Arthur Iohn Chapman William Clemenâ— Robert Little Hugh Tayler Richard Wildye Lewes Wotton Michael Bishop Henry Browne Henry Rufoote Richard Tomkins Henry Dorrell Charles Florrie Henry Mylton Henry Paine Thomas Harris William Nichols Thomas Pheuens Iohn Borden Thomas Scot. Peter Little Iohn Wyles Brian Wyles George Martyn Hugh Pattenson Martin Sutton Iohn Farre
departure of our men to Croatoan and assoone as they were departed digged vp euery place where they suspected any thing to be buriedâ— but although it much grieued me to see such spoyle of my goods yet on the other side I greatly ioyed that I had safely found a certaine token of their safe being at Croatoan which is the place where Manteo was borne and the Sauages of the Iland our friends When we had seene in this place so much as we could we returned to our Boates and departed from the shoare towards our Shippes with as much speede as wee could For the weather beganne to ouercast and very likely that a foule and stormie night would ensue Therefore the same Euening with much danger and labour we got our selues aboard by which time the winde and seas were so greatly risen that wee doubted our Cables and Anchors would scarcely holde vntill Morning wherefore the Captaine caused the Boate to be manned with fiue lusty men who could swimme all well and sent them to the little Iland on the right hand of the Harbour to bring aboard sixe of our men who had filled our caske with fresh water the Boate the same night returned aboard with our men but all our Caske ready filled they left behinde vnpossible to bee had aboard without danger of casting away both men and Boates for this night prooued very stormie and foule The next Morning it was agreed by the Captaine and my selfe with the Master and others to wey anchor and goe for the place at Croatoan where our planters were for that then the winde was good for that place and also to leaue that Caske with fresh water on shoare in the Iland vntill our returne So then they brought the cable to the Capston but when the anchor was almost apecke the Cable broke by meanes whereof we lost another Anchor wherewith we droue so fast into the shoare that wee were forced to let fall a third Anchor which came so fast home that the Shippe was almost aground by Kenricks mounts so that wee were forced to let slippe the Cable ende for ende And if it had not chanced that wee had fallen into a chanell of deeper water closer by the shoare then wee accompted of wee could neuer haue gone cleare of the poynt that lyeth to the Southwardes of Kenricks mounts Being thus cleare of some dangers and gotten into deeper waters but not without some losse for wee had but one Cable and Anchor left vs of foure and the weather grew to be fouler and fouler our victuals scarse and our caske and fresh water lost it was therefore determined that we should goe for Saint Iohn or some other Iland to the Southward for fresh water And it was further purposed that if wee could any wayes supply our wants of victuals and other necessaries either at Hispaniola Sant Iohn or Trynidad that then wee should continue in the Indies all the Winter following with hope to make 2. rich voyages of one and at our returne to visit our countrymen at Virginia The captaine and the whole company in the Admirall with my earnest petitions thereunto agreed so that it rested onely to knowe what the Master of the Moone-light our consort would doe herein But when we demanded them if they would accompany vs in that new determination they alledged that their weake and leake Shippe was not able to continue it wherefore the same night we parted leauing the Moone-light to goe directly for England and the Admirall set his course for Trynidad which course we kept two dayes On the 28. the winde changed and it was sette on foule weather euery way but this storme brought the winde West and Northwest and blewe so forcibly that wee were able to beare no sayle but our fore-course halfe mast high wherewith wee ranne vpon the winde perforce the due course for England for that wee were dryuen to change our first determination for Trynidad and stoode for the Ilands of Açores where wee purposed to take in fresh water and also there hoped to meete with some English men of warre about those Ilands at whose hands wee might obtaine some supply of our wants And thus continuing our course for the Açores sometimes with calmes and sometimes with very scarce windes on the fifteenth of September the winde came South Southeast and blew so exceedingly that wee were forced to lye arry all that day At this time by account we iudged our selues to be about twentie leagues to the Wâ—st of Cueruo and Flores but about night the storme ceased and fayre weather ensued On Thursday the seuenteenth wee saw Cueruo and Flores but we could not come to anker that night by reason the winde shifted The next Morning being the eighteenth standing in againe with Cueruo we escryed a sayle ahead vs to whom we gaue chase but when wee came neere him we knew him to be a Spanyard and hoped to make sure purchase of him but we vnderstood at our speaking with him that he was a prize and of the Domingo fleete already taken by the Iohn our consort in the Indies We learned also of thie prize that our Uiceadmirall and Pinnisse had fought with the rest of the Domingo fleete and had foed them with their Adâ—irall to flee vnto Iamaica vnder the Fort for succour and some of them ran themselues aground whereof one of them they brought away and tooke out of some others so much as the tâ—me would permit And further wee vnderstood of them that in their returne from Iamaica about the Organes neere Cape Saint Anthony our Uiceadmirall mette with two Shippes of the mayne land come from Mexico bound for Hauana with whom he fought in which fight our Uiceadmirals Lieutenant was slaine and the Captaines right arme strooken off with fâ—ure other of his men slaine and sixteene hurt But in the ende he entred and tooke one of the Spanish shippes which was so sore shot by vs vnder water that before they could take out her treasure she sunke so that we lost thirteene Pipes of siluer which sunke with her besides much other rich marchandise And in the meane time the other Spanish shippe being pearced with nine shotte vnder water got away whâ—m our Uiceadmirall intended to pursue but some of their men in the toppe made certaine rockes which they saw aboue water neere the shoare to be Gallies of Hauana and Cartagena comming from Hauana to rescue the two Ships Wherefore they gaue ouer their chase and went for England After this intelligence was giuen vs by this our prize he departed from vs and went for England On Saturday the 19. of September we came to an Ancre neere a small village on the North side of Flores where we found ryding 5. English men of warre of whom wee vnderstood that our Uiceadmirall and Prize were gone thence for England One of these fiue was the Moonelight our consort who vpon the first sight of our comming into Flores set sayle and
out of the Indies in such great misery and infamy to the world should be prouided at Gods hand in one moment of more then in all my life before I could attaine vnto by my owne labour After we departed from Mexico our S. Benitoes were set vp in the high Church of the said Citie with our names written in the same according to their vse and custome which is and will be a momonent and a remembrance of vs as long as the Romish Church doth raigne in that country The same haue bene seene since by one Iohn Chilton and diuers others of our nation which were left in that countrey long since by Sir Iohn Hawkins And because it shal be knowen wherefore it was that I was so punished by the Clergies hande as before is mentioned I will in briefe words declare the same It is so that being in Mexico at the table among many principall people at dinner they began to inquire of me being an Englishman whether it were true that in England they had ouerthrowen all their Churches and houses of Religion and that all the images of the Saints of heauen that were in them were throwen downe broken and burned and in some places high wayes stoned with them and whether the English nation denied their obedience to the Pope of Rome as they had bene certified out of Spaine by their friends To whom I made answere that it was so that in deed they had in England put downe all the Religious houses of friers and monks that were in England and the images that were in their Churches and other places were taken away and vsed there no more for that as they say the making of them and putting of them where they were adored was cleane contrary to the expresse coÌ„mandement of Almighty God Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image c. and that for that cause they thought it not lawfull that they should stand in the Church which is the house of adoration One that was at the declaring of these words who was my master Gonsalo Cereso answered and said if it were against the commandement of God to haue images in the Churches that then he had spent a great deale of money in vaine for that two yeres past he had made in the monastery of Santo Domingo in the said citie of Mexico an image of our Lady of pure siluer golde with pearles and precious stones which cost him 7000. and odde pesos and euery peso is 4. s. 8. d. of our money which indeed was true for that I haue seene it many times my selfe where it stands At the table was another gentleman who presuming to defend the cause more then any other that was there saide that they knew well ynough that they were made but of stockes and stones and that to them was no worship giuen but that there was a certaine veneration due vnto them after they were set vp in the Church and that they were set there to a good intent the one for that they were books for the simple people to make them vnderstand the glory of the saints that were in heauen a shape of them to put vs in remembrance to cal vpon them to be our intercessors vnto God for vs for that we are such miserable sinners that we are not worthy to appeare before God that vsing deuotion to saints in heauen they may obtaine at Gods hands the sooner the thing that we demand of him As for example said he imagin that a subiect hath offended his king vpon the earth in any kind of respect is it for the party to go boldly to the king in person to demand pardon for his offences No saith he the presumptioÌ„ were too great possibly he might be repulsed and haue a great rebuke for his labour Better it is for such a person to seek some priuate man neere the king in his Court and make him acquainted with his matter let him be a mediator to his Maiesty for him for the matter he hath to do with him and so might he the better come to his purpose and obteine the thing which he doeth demand euen so saith he it is with God and his saints in heauen for we are wretched sinners and not worthy to appeare nor present our selues before the Maiesty of God to demand of him the thing that we haue need of therefore thou hast need to be deuout and haue deuotion to the mother of God and the saints of heauen to be intercessors to God for thee and so mayest thou the better obtaine of God the thing that thou dost demand To this I answered said sir as touching the comparison you made of the intercessors to the king how necessary they were I would but aske you this question Set the case that this king you speak of if he be so merciful as when he knoweth that one or any of his subiects hath offended him he send for him to his owne towne or to his owne house or palace say vnto him come hither I know that thou hast offended many lawes if thou doest know thereof and doest repent thee of the same with ful intent to offend no more I will forgiue thy trespasse and remember it no more said I if this be done by the kings owne person what then hath this man need to go seeke friendship at any of the kings priuat seruants hands but go to the principal seeing that he is readier to forgiue thee then thou art to demand forgiuenes at his hands Euen so is it with our gracious God who calleth and crieth out vnto vs throughout all the world by the mouth of his Prophets Apostles and by his owne mouth saying Come vnto me al ye that labour and are ouer laden and I wil refresh you besides 1000. other offers and prosters which hee doth make vnto vs in his holy Scriptures What then haue we need of the saints helpâ— that are in heauen whereas the Lord himself doth so freely offer himselfe vnto vs At which sayings many of the hearers were astonied and said that by that reason I would giue to vnderstandâ— that the inuocation of Saints was to be disanulled and by the Lawes of God not commanded I answered that they were not my words but the words of God himselfe looke into the Scriptures your selfe and you shall so finde it The talke was perceiued to be preiudiciall to the Romiâ—h doctrine and therefore it was commanded to be no more entreated of and all remained vnthought vpon had it not bene for a villanous Portugal that was in the company who said â—asta les Ingles para saber todo esto ymas who the next day without impaâ—ting any thing to any body went to the Bishop of Mexico and his Prouisor and said that in a place where he had bene the day before was an Englishman who had said that there was no need of Saints in the Church nor of any inuocation of Saints vpon whose
and 10. hostages vpon either part were receiued And further it was concluded that the two Generals should meet and giue faith ech to other for the performance of the premisses At which being done the same was proclaimed by the sound of a trumpet commandement was giuen that none of either part should violate or breake the peace vpon paine of death thus at the ende of three dayes all was concluded and the Fleete entred the port the ships saluting one another as the maner of the Sea doth require the morrow after being friday we laboured on all sides in placing the English ships by themselues the Spanish ships by themselues the Captaines and inferiour persons of either part offering and shewing great courtâ—sie one to another and promising great amitie vpon all sides Howbeit as the sequel shewed the Spaniards meant nothing lesse vpon their parts For the Uiceroy and gouernour thereabout had secretly at land assembled to the number of 1000. chosen men and wel appointed meaning the next thursday being the 24. of September at dinner time to assault vs and set vpon vs on all sides But before I go any further I thinke it not amisse briefly to discribe the maner of the yland as it then was and the force and strength that it is now of For the Spaniards since the time of our Generâ—ls being there for the better fortifying of the same place haue vpon the same yland built a faire Castle and bulwarke very well fortified this port was then at our being there a little yland of stones not past three foote aboue water in the highest place and not past a bow-shotte ouer any way at the most and it standeth from the maine land two bowshootes or more and there is not in all this coast any other place for ships safely to ariue at also the North windes in this coast are of great violence and force aâ—d vnlesse the shippes bee safely mored in with their anckers fastened in this yland there is no remedie but present destruction and ship wracke All this our generall wisely foreseeing did prouide that he would haue the said yland in his custody or els the Spaniards might at their pleasure haue but cut our cables and so with the first Northwinde that blewe we had had our pasport for our ships had gone a shoore But to returne to the matter The time approching that their treason must be put in practise the same Thursday morning some appearance thereof began to shewe it selfe as shifting of weapons from shippe to shippe and â—lanting and bending their Ordinance against our men that warded vpon the lande with great repaire of people which apparant shewes of breach of the Uiceroyes faith caused our Generall to sende one to the Uiceroy to enquire of him what was meant thereby which presently sent and gaue order that the Ordinance aforesayd and other things of suspicion should bee râ—mooued returning answere to our Generall in the faith of a Uiceroy that hee would bee our defence and safetie from all villanous treacherie this was vpon Thursday in the morning Our Generall not being therewith satisfied seeing they had secretly conueyed a great number of men aboord a great hulke or ship of theirs of sixe hundreth tunne which shippe rode hard by the Mynion hee sent againe to the Uiceroy Robert Barret the Master of the Iesus a man that could speake the Spanish tongue very well and required that those men might bee vnshipt againe wâ—ich were in that great hulke The Uiceroy then perceiuing that their treasen was throughly espied stayed our Master and sounded the Trumpet and gaue order that his people should vpon all sides charge vpon our men which warded on shoore and else where which strooke such a mase and sudden feare among vs that many gaue place and sought to recouer our shippes for the safetie of themselues The Spaniards which secretly were hid in ambush at lande were quickly conueyed ouer to the yland in their long boates and so comming to the yland they shewe all our men that they could meete with without mercy The Minion which had somewhat before prepared her selfe to auoyd the danger haled away and abode the first brunt of the 300 men that were in the great hulke then they fought to fall aboord the Iesus where was a cruel fight and many of our men slaine but yet our men defended themselues and kept them out so the Iesus also got looseâ— and ioyning with the Minion the fight waxed hote vpon all sidesâ— but they hauing woon and got our ordinance on shore did greatly annoy vs. In this fight there were two great shippes of the Spaniards sunke and one burnt so that with their shippes they were not able to harme vs but from the shore they beat vs cruelly with our owne ordinance in such sort that the Iesus was very sore spoyled and suddenly the Spaniards hauing fiâ—ed two great ships of their owne they came directly against vs which bred among our men a marueilous feare Howbeit the Minion which had made her sayles ready shifted for her selfe without consent of the Generall Captaine or Master so that very hardly our Generall could be receiued into the Minion the most of our men that were in the Iesus shifted for themselues and followed the Minion in the boat and those which that small boat was not able to receiue were most cruelly slaine by the Spaniards Of our ships none escaped sauing the Minion and the Iudith and all such of our men as were not in them were inforced to abide the tyrannous cruelty of the Spaniards For it is a certaine trueth that whereas they had taken certaine of our men ashore they tooke and hung them vp by the armes vpon high postes vntill the blood burst out of their fingers ends of which men so vsed there is one Copstow and certaine others yet aliue who by the mercifull prouidence of the almighty were long since arriued here at home in England carying still about with them and shal to their graues the marks and tokens of those their inhumane and more then barbarous cruell dealings Chap. 3. Wherein is shewed how that after we were escaped from the Spaniards wee were like to perish with famine at the Sea and how our Generall for the auoiding thereof was constrained to put halfe of his men on land and what miseries wee after that sustained amongst the Sauage people and how againe we fell into the hands of the Spaniards AFter that the Uiceroy Don Martin Henriques had thus contrary to his faith and promise most cruelly dealt with our Generall master Hawkins at S. Iohn de Vllua where most of his men were by the Spaniards staine and drowned and all his ships sunke and burned sauing the Minion and the Iudith which was a small barke of fiftie tunne wherein was then Captaine master Francis Drake aforesayd the same night the said barke lost vs we being in great necessitie and inforced to remooue
the landing place being but one and that vnder the fâ—uour of many platformes well furnished with great ordinance to depart with the receit of many their Canon-shot some into our ships and some besides some of them being in very deede full Canon high But the only or chiefe mischiefe was the dangerous sea-surge which at shore all alongst plainly thrâ—atned the ouerthrow of as many pinnesses and boates as for that time should haue attempted any landing at all Now seeing the expectation of this attempt frustrated by the causes aforesaid we thought it meeter to fall with the Isle Hierro to see if we could find any better fâ—rtune and comming to the Island we landed a thousand men in a valley vnder a high mountaine where we stayed some two or three houres in which time the inhabitants accompanied with a yong fellow borne in England who dwelt there with them came vnto vs shewing their state to be so poore that they were all ready to starue which was not vntrue and therefore without any thing gotten we were all commanded presently to imbarke so as that night wee put off to sea Southsoutheast along towards the coast of Barbary Upon Saturday in the morning being the 13. of Nouember we fell with Cape Blanke which is a low land and shallow water where we catched store of fish and doubling the Cape â—e put into the Bay where we found certaine French ships of warre whom wee entertained with great courtesie and there left them This afternoone the whole fleet assembled which was a little scattered about their fishing and put from thence to the Isles of Cape Verde sailing till the 16. of the same moneth in the morning on which day we discried the Island of S. Iago and in the euening we ankered the fleet between the towne called the Playa or Praya and S. Iago where we put on shore 1000. men or more vnder the leading of M. Christopher Carleil Lieutenant general who directed the seruice most like a wise commander The place where we had first to march did affourd no good order for the ground was mountainous full of dales being a very stony and troublesome passage but such was his industrious disposition as he would neuer leaue vntill wee had gotteÌ„ vp to a faire plain where we made stand for the assembling of the army And when we were al gathered together vpon the plaine some 2 miles from the town the liâ—utenant general thought good not to make atteÌ„pt til daylight because there was not one that could serue for guid or giuing knowledge at al of y e place And therfore after hauing wel rested euen halfe an houre before day he commanded the army to be diuided into 3 speciall parts such as he appointed wheras before we had marched by seueral coÌ„panies being therunto forced by the badnesse of the way as is aforesaidâ— Now by the time wee were thus ranged into a very braue order daylight began to appearâ— and being aduanced hard to the wall we saw no enemie to resist whereupon the Lieutenant generall appointed Captaine Sampson with thirtie shot and Captaine Barton with other thirtie to goe downe into the towne which stood in the valley vnder vs and might very plainely bee viewed all ouer from that place where the whole Army was now arriued and presently after these Capâ—aines was sent the great ensigne which had nothing in it but the plaine English crosse to be placed towardes the Sea that our Fleet might see Saint Georges crosse storish in the enemies fortresse Order was giuen that all the ordinance throughout the towne and vpon all the platformes which were aboue fiftie pieces all ready charged should be shot off in honour of the Queenes Maiesties coronation day being the seuenteenth of Nouember after the yeerely custome of England which was so answered againe by the ordinance out of all the ships in the fleete which now was come neere as it was strange to heare such a thundering noyse last so long together In this meane while the Lieutenant generall held still the most part of his force on the hill top till such time as the towne was quartered out for the lodging of the whole Armie which being done euery captaine tooke his owne quarter and in the euâ—ning was placed such a sufficient gard vpon euery part of the towne that we had no cause to feare any present enemie Thus we continued in the citie the space of 14. dayes taking such spoiles as the place yeelded which were for the most part wine oyle meale and some such like things for victuall as vineger oliues and some such other trash as merchandise for their Indians trades But there was not found any treasure at all or any thing else of worth besides The situation of S. Iago is somewhat strange in forme like a triangle hauing on the East and West sides two mountaines of rocke and cliffe as it were hanging ouer it vpon the top of which two mountaines were builded certaine fortifications to preserue the towne from any harme that might bee offered as in a plot is plainely shewed From thence on the South side of the towne is the maine sea and on the North side the valley lying betweene the foresayd mountaines wherein the towne standeth the said valley towne both do grow very narrow insomuch that the space betweene the two cliffes of this end of the towne is estimated not to be aboue 10. or 12. score ouer In the middest of the valley commeth downe a riueret rill or brooke of fresh water which hard by the sea side maketh a pond or poole whereout our ships were watered with very great ease and pleasure Somewhat aboue the towne on the North side betweene the two mountains the valley wareth somewhat larger then at the townes end which valley is wholly conuerted into gardens and orchards well replenished with diuers sorts of fruites herbes and trees as lymmons orenges sugar-canes cochars or cochos nuts plantans potato-rootes cucumbers small and round onions garlicke and some other things not now remembred amongst which the cochos nuts and plantans are very pleasant fruites the saide cochos hath a hard shell and a greene huske ouer it as hath our walnut but it farre exceedeth in greatnesse for this cochos in his greene huske is bigger then any mans two sistes of the hard shell many drinking cups are made here in England and set in siluer as I haue often seene Next within this hard shell is a white rine resembling in shewe very much euen as any thing may do to the white of an egge when it is hard boyled And within this white of the nut lyeth a water which is whitish and very cleere to the quantitie of halfe a pynt or thereaboutes which water and white rine before spoken of are both of a very coole fresh tast and as pleasing as any thing may be I haue heard some hold opinion that it is very restoratiue The plantan groweth in cods somewhat like
his right hand stood a page with a fanne in his hand breathing and gathering the ayre to the King The fanne was in length two foote and in bredth one foote set with 8. saphyres richly imbrodered and knit to a staffe 3. foote in length by the which the Page did hold and mooue it Our Gentlemen hauing deliuered their message and receiued order accordingly were licensed to depart being safely conducted backe againe by one of the kings Counsell This Island is the chiefest of all the Islands of Maluco and the King hereof is King of 70. Islands besides The king with his people are Moores in religion obseruing certaine new Moones with fastings during which fasts they neither eat nor drinke in the day but in the night After that our Gâ—ntlemen were returned and that we had heere by the fauour of the king receiued all necessary things that the place could yeeld vs our General considering the great distance and how farre he was yet off from his Countrey thought it not best here to linger the time any longer but waying his anchors set out of the Island and sayled to a certaine litle Island to the Southwards of Celebes where we graued our ship and continued there in that and other businesses 26. dayes This Island is throughly growen with wood of a large and high growth very straight and without boughes saue onely in the head or top whose leaues are not much differing from our broome in England Amongst these trees night by night through the whole land did shew themselues an infinite swarme of fiery wormes flying in the ayre whose bodies beeing no bigger then our common English flies make such a shew and light as if euery twigge or tree had bene a burning candle In this place breedeth also wonderfull store of Bats as bigge as large hennes of Crayfishes also heere wanted no plentie and they of exceeding bignesse one whereof was sufficient for 4. hungry stomacks at a dinner beeing also very good and restoring meate whereof we had experience and they bigge themselues holes in the earth like Conies When wee had ended our businesse here we waied and set saile to runne for the Malucos but hauing at that time a bad winde and being amongst the Islands with much difficultie wee recouered to the Northward of the Island of Celebes where by reason of contrary winds not able to continue our course to runne Westwards we were inforced to alter the sâ—me to the Southward againe finding that course also to be very hard and dangerous for vs by reason of infinite shoalds which lie off and among the Islands whereof wee had too much triall to the hazard and danger of our shippe and liues For of all other dayes vpon the 9. of Ianuarie in the yeere 1579. wee ranne suddenly vpon a rocke where we stucke fast from 8. of the clocke at night til 4. of the clocke in the afternoone the next day being indeede out of all hope to escape the danger but our Generall as hee had alwayes hitherto shewed himselfe couragious and of a good confidence in the mercie and protection of God so now he continued in the same and lest he should seeme to perish wilfully both he and we did our best indeuour to saue our selues which it pleased God so to blesse that in the ende we cleared our selues most happily of the danger We lighted our ship vpon the rockes of 3. tunne of cloues 8. peeces of ordinance and certaine meale and beanes and then the winde as it were in a moment by the speciall grace of God changing from the starreboord to the larboord of the ship we hoised our sailes and the happy gale droue our ship off the rocke into the sea againe to the no litle comfort of all our hearts for which we gaue God such prayse and thanks as so great a benefite required The 8. of Februarie following wee fell with the fruitfull Island of Barateue hauing in the meane time suffered many dangers by windes and shoalds The people of this Island are comely in body and stature and of a ciuill behauiour iust in dealing and courteous to strangers whereof we had the experience sundry wayes they being most glad of our presence and very ready to releeue our wants in those things which their Countrey did yeelde The men goe naked sauing their heads and priuities euery man hauing something or other hanging at their eares Their women are couered from the middle downe to the foote wearing a great number of bracelets vpon their armes for some had 8. vpon each arme being made some of bone some of horne and some of brasse the lightest whereof by our estimation waied two ounces apeece With this people linnen-cloth is good marchandize and of good request whereof they make rols for their heads and girdles to weare about them Their Island is both rich and fruitfull rich in golde siluer copper and sulphur wherein they seeme skilfull and expert not onely to trie the same but in working it also artificially into any forme and fashion that pleaseth them Their fruits be diuers and plentiful as nutmegs ginger long pepper lemmons cucumbers cocos figu sagu with diuers other sorts and among all the rest wee had one fruite in bignesse forme and huske like a Bay berry hard of substance and pleasant of taste which being sodden becommeth soft and is a most good and wholsome victuall whereof we tooke reasonable store as we did also of the other fruits and spices so that to confesse a trueth since the time that we first set out of our owne Countrey of England we happened vpon no place Ternate onely excepted wherein we found more comforts and better meanes of refreshing At our departure from Barateue we set our course for Iaua maior where arriuing we found great courtesie and honourable entertainment This Island is gouerned by 5. Kings whom they call Raiah as Raiah Donaw and Raiah Mang Bange and Raiah Cabuccapollo which liue as hauing one spirite and one minde Of these fiuâ— we had foure a shipboord atonce and two or three often They are wonderfully delighted in coloured clothes as red and greene their vpper parts of their bodies are naked saue their heads whereupon they weare a Turkish roll as do the Maluccians from the middle downward they weare a pintado of silke trailing vpon the ground in colour as they best like The Maluccians hate that their women should bee seene of strangers but these offer them of high courtesie yea the kings themselues The people are of goodly stature and warlike well prouided of swords and targets with daggers all being of their owne worke and most artificially done both in tempering their mettall as also in the forme whereof we bought reasonable store They haue an house in euery village for their common assembly euery day they meete twise men women and children bringing with them such victuals as
China and the East India by the Northwest Ann. Dom. 1577. BEing furnished with one tall ship of her Maiesties named The Ayde of two hundred tunne and two other small barks the one named The Gabriel the other The Michael about thirty tun a piece being fitly appointed with men munition victuals and all things necessary for the voyage the sayd captaine Frobisher with the rest of his company came aboord his ships riding at Blackwall intending with Gods helpe to take the first winde and tide seruing him the 25 day of May in the yere of our Lord God 1577. The names of such gentlemen as attempted this discouery and the number of souldiers and mariners in ech ship as followeth ABoord the Ayd being Admirall were the number of 100 men of all sorts whereof 30 or moe were Gentlemen and Souldiers the rest sufficient and tall Sailers Aboord the Gabriel being Uiceadmirall were in all 18 persons whereof sixe were Souldiers the rest Mariners Aboord the Michael were 16 persons whereof fiue were Souldiers the rest Mariners Aboord the Ayde was Generalll of the whole company for her Maiesty Martin Frobisher His Lieutenant George Best His Ensigne Richard Philpot. Corporall of the shot Francis Forder The rest of the gentlemen Henry Carew Edmund Stafford Iohn Lee. M. Haruie Mathew Kinersley Abraham Lins. Robert Kinersley Francis Brakenbury William Armshow The Master Christopher Hall The Mate Charles Iackman The Pilot Andrew Dier The Master gunner Richard Cox Aboord the Gabriell was Captaine Edward Fenton One Gentleman William Tamfielâ— The Maister William Smythâ— Aboord the Michaell was Captaine Gilbert Yorke One Gentleman Thomas Chamberlainâ— The Maister Iames Beareâ— ON Whit sunday being the 26 of May Anno 1577 â—arly in the morning we weighed anker at Blackwall and fell that tyde downe to Grauesend where we remained vntill Monday at night On munday morning the 27 of May aboord the Ayde we receiued all the Communion by the Miniâ—ter of Graueâ—end and prepared vs as good Christians towards God and resolute men for all fortunes and towards night we departed to Tilbery Hope Tuesday the eight and twenty of May about nine of the clocke at night we arriued at Harwitch in Essex and there stayed for the taking in of certaine victuals vntill Friday being the thirtieth of May during which time came letters from the Lordes of the Councell straightly commanding our Generall not to exceede his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twentie persons whereupon he discharged many proper men which with vnwilling mindes departed He also dismissed all his condemned men which he thought for some purposes very needefull for the voyage and towarde night vpon Friday the one and thirtieth of May we set saile and put to the Seas againe And sayling Northward alongst the East coasts of England and Scotland the seuenth day of Iune we arriued in Saint Magnus sound in Orkney Ilands called in latine Orcades and came to ancker on the South side of the Bay and this place is reckoned from Blackwall where we set saile first leagues Here our companie going on lande the Inhabitants of these Ilandes beganne to flee as from the enemie whereupon the Lieutenant willed euery man to stay togither and went himselfe vnto their houses to declare what we were and the cause of our comming thither which being vnderstood after their poore maner they friendly entreated vs and brought vs for our money such things as they had And here our Goldfiners found a Mine of siluer Orkney is the principall of the Isles of the Orcades and standeth in the latitude of fiftie nine degrees and a halfe The countrey is much subiect to colde answerable for such a climate and yet yeeldeth some fruites and sufficient maintenance for the people contented so poorely to liue There is plentie ynough of Poultrey store of egges fish and foule For their bread they haue Oaten Cakes and their drinke is Ewes milke and in some partes Ale Their houses are but poore without and sluttish ynough within and the people in nature thereunto agreeable For their fire they burne heath and turffe the Countrey in most parts being voide of wood They haue great want of Leather and desire our old shoes apparell and old ropes before money for their victuals and yet are they not ignorant of the value of our coine The chiefe towne is called Kyrway In this Iland hath bene sometime an Abbey or a religious house called Saint Magnus being on the West side of the I le whereof this sound beareth name through which we passed Their Gouernour or chiefe Lord is called the Lord Robert Steward who at our being there as we vnderstood was in durance at Edenburgh by the Regents commandement of Scotland After we had prouided vs here of matter sufficient for our voyage the eight of Iune wee set sayle againe and passing through Saint Magnus sound hauing a merrie winde by night came cleare and lost sight of all the land and keeping our course West Northwest by the space of two dayes the winde shifted vpon vs so that we lay in trauerse on the Seas with contrary windes making good as neere as we could our course to the westward and sometime to the Northward as the winde shifted And hereabout we met with 3 saile of English fishermen froÌ„ Iseland bound homeward by whom we wrote our letters vnto our friends in England We trauersed these Seas by the space of 26 dayes without sight of any land and met with much drift wood whole bodies of trees We sawe many monsterous fishes and strange foules which seemed to liue onely by the Sea being there so farre distant from any land At length God fauoured vs with more prosperous windes and after wee had sayled foure dayes with good winde in the Poop the fourth of Iuly the Michaell being formost a head shot off a peece of Ordinance and stroke all her sayles supposing that they descryed land which by reason of the thicke mistes they could not make persit howbeit as well our account as also the great alteration of the water which became more blacke and smooth did plainely declare we were not farre off the coast Our Generall sent his Master aboord the Michaell who had beene with him the yeere before to beare in with the place to make proofe thereof who descryed not the land perfect but sawe sundry huge Ilands of yce which we deemed to be not past twelue leagues from the shore for about tenne of the clocke at night being the fourth of Iuly the weather being more cleare we made the land perfect and knew it to be Frislande And the heigth being taken here we found our selues to be in the latitude of 60 degrees and a halfe and were fallen with the Southermost part of this land Betweene Orkney and Frisland are reckoned leagues This Frislande sheweth a ragged and high lande hauing the mountaines almost couered ouer with snow
alongst the coast full of drift yce and seemeth almost inaccessible and is thought to be an Iland in bignesse not inferiour to England and is called of some Authors West Frislande I thinke because it lyeth more West then any part of Europe It extendeth in latitude to the Northward very farre as seemed to vs and appeareth by a description set out by two brethren Uenetians Nicholaus and Antonius Zeni who being driuen off from Ireland with a violent tempest made shipwracke here and were the first knowen Christians that discouered this land about two hundred yeares sithence and they haue in their Sea-cardes set out euery part thereof and described the condition of the inhabitants declaring them to be as ciuill and religious people as we And for so much of this land as we haue sayled alongst comparing their Carde with the coast we finde it very agreeable This coast seemeth to haue good fishing for we lying becalmed let fall a hooke without any bayte and presently caught a great fish called a Hollibut who serued the whole companie for a dayes meate and is dangerous meate for surfetting And sounding about fiue leagues off from the shore our leade brought vp in the tallow a kinde of Corrall almost white and small stones as bright as Christall and it is not to be doubted but that this land may be found very rich and beneficial if it were throughly discouered although we sawe no creature there but little birdes It is a maruellous thing to behold of what great bignesse and depth some Ilands of yce be here some seuentie some eightie fadome vnder water besides that which is aboue seeming Ilands more then halfe a mile in circuit All these yce are in tast fresh and seeme to be bredde in the sounds thereabouts or in some lande neere the pole and with the winde and tides are driuen alongst the coastes We found none of these Ilands of yce salt in taste whereby it appeareth that they were not congealed of the Ocean Sea water which is alwayes salt but of some standing or little moouing lakes or great fresh waters neere the shore caused eyther by melted snowe from tops of mountaines or by continuall accesse of fresh riuers from the land and intermingling with the Sea water bearing yet the dominion by the force of extreame frost may cause some part of salt water to freese so with it and so seeme a little brackish but otherwise the maine Sea freeseth not and therefore there is no Mare Glaciale or frosen Sea as the opinion hithertâ— hath bene Our Generall prooued landing here twice but by the suddaine fall of mistes whereunto this coast is much subiect he was like to loose sight of his ships and being greatly endangered with the driuing yce alongst the coast was forced aboord and faine to surcease his pretence till a better opportunitie might serue and hauing spent foure dayes and nightes sayling alongst this land finding the coast subiect to such bitter colde and continuall mistes he determined to spend no more time therein but to beare out his course towardes the streightes called Frobishers streights after the Generals name who being the first that euer passed beyond 58 degrees to the Northwardes for any thing that hath beene yet knowen of certaintie of New found land otherwise called the continent or firme land of America discouered the saide straights this last yere 1576. Betweene Frisland and the straights we had one great storme wherein the Michaell was somewhat in danger hauing her Stirrage broken and her toppe Mastes blowen ouer boord being not past 50 leagues short of the straights by our account we stroke sayle lay a hull fearing the continuance of of the storme the winde being at the Northeast and hauing lost companie of the Barkes in that flaw of winde we happily met againe the seuenteenth day of Iuly hauing the euening before seene diuers Ilands of fleeting yce which gaue an argument that we were not farre from land Our Generall in the morning from the maine top the weather being reasonable cleare descried land but to be better assured he sent the two Barkes two contrarie courses whereby they might discry either the South or North foreland the Ayde lying off and on at Sea with a small sayle by an Ilande of yce which was the marke for vs to meete togither againe And about noone the weather being more cleare we made the North forland perfite which otherwise is called Halles Iland and also the small Iland bearing the name of the sayde Hall whence the Ore was taken vp which was brought into England this last yeere 1576 the said Hall being present at the finding taking vp thereof who was then Maister in the Gabriell with Captaine Frobisher At our arriuall here all the Seas about this coast were so couered ouer with huge quantitie of great yce that we thought these places might onely deserue the name of Mare Glaciale and be called the Isie Sea This North forland is thought to be deuided from the continent of the Northerland by a litâ—le sound called Halles sound which maketh it an Iland and is thought little lesse then the I le of Wight and is the first entrance of the straights vpon the Norther side and standeth in the latitude of sixtie two degrees and fiftie minutes and is reckonâ—d from Frisland leagues God hauing blessed vs with so happie a land-fall we bare into the straights which runne in next hand and somewhat further vp to the Northwarde and came as neere the shore as wee might for the yce and vpon the eighteenth day of Iuly our Generall taking the Goldfiners with him attempted to goe on shore with a small rowing Pinnesse vpon the small Ilande where the Ore was taken vp to prooue whether there were any store thereof to be found but he could not get in all that Iland a peece so bigge as a Walnut where the first was found But our men which sought the other Ilands thereabouts found them all to haue good store of the Ore whereupon our Generall with these good tidings returned aboord about tenne of the clocke at night and was ioyfully welcommed of the company with a volie of shot He brought egges foules and a young Seale aboord which the companie had killed ashore and hauing found vpon those Ilands ginnes set to catch fowle and stickes newe cut with other things he well perceiued that not long before some of the countrey people had resorted thither Hauing therefore found those tokens of the peoples accesse in those parts and being in his first voyage well acquainted with their subtill and cruell disposition hee prouided well for his better safetie and on Friday the ninteenth of Iuly in the morning early with his best companie of Gentlemen and souldiers to the number of fortie persons went on shore aswell to discouer the Inland and habitation of the people as also to finde out some fit