beene accustomed in times past and from ancient times Also it is farther concluded and agreed vpon that all lawfull marchants of England whosoeuer shall haue free licence and authority with all kindes of shippes goods and marchandises to resorte vnto euery port of the land of Prussia and also to transport all such goods and marchandises vp farther vnto any other place in the sayde land of Prussia and there with all kindes of persons freely to bargaine and make sale as heretofore it hath from auncient times bene accustomed Which priuiledge is granted in all things and by all circumstances vnto the Prussians in England And if after the date of these presents betweene the sayd kingdome of England and land of Prussia any dissension or discorde which God forefend should arise then the foresayd souereigne prince and king of England and the sayd right reuerend lord the Master generall are mutually by their letters and messengers to giue certificate and intimation one vnto another concerning the matter and cause of such dissension and discord which intimation on the behalfe of the foresaid souereigne prince king of England shall be deliuered in the forenamed castle of Marienburg but on the behalfe of the sayd right reuerend lord the Master generall such intimation shall be giuen in the citie of London aforesayd vnto the Maior of the said city that then such a denunciation or intimation being made the marchants of England and the subiects of the land of Prussia may within the space of one yeere next following freely and safely returne home with al their goods marchandises if at the least in the mean while some composition friendly league betweene the two forâ—sayd countreis be not in some sorte concluded And that all the premisses may more firmely and faithfully be put in due practise aâ—d execution on both partes for the strong and inuiolable keeping of peace and tranquillity and also for the full confirmation and strengthening of all the sayde premisses the three foresayd honourable and religious personages being by the said right reuereÌ„d lord the Master general appointed as coÌ„missioners to deale in the aboue written ordination and composition haue caused their seales vnto these presents to be put and the sayd ordination also and letter in the same tenour word for word and in all points euen as it is inserted into these presents they haue mutually receiued froÌ„ the abouenamed three ambassadours of the right soueraigne king of England vnder their seales Giuen at the castle of Marienburg in the yeare of our lord aforesayd vpon the twentieth day of the moneth of August And we therefore doe accept approue ratifie and by the tenour of these presents doe confirme the composition ordination concorde and treaty aforesayd In testimony whereof we haue caused these our letters to be made patents Witnesse our selues a Westminster the 22. of October in the thirteenth yeare of our reigne By the king and his counsell Lincolne The letters of Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of Prussia written vnto Richard the second king of England in the yeere 1398 for the renouncing of a league and composition concluded betweene England and Prussia in regard of manifold iniuries offered vnto the Prussians OUr humble commendations with our earnest prayers vnto God for your Maiestie premised Most renowmed prince and mighty lord it is not we hope out of your Maiesties remembrance how our famous predecessour going immediately before vs sent certaine letters of his vnto your highnesse effectually contayning sundry complaints of grieuances iniuries and losses wherewith the marchants of his lande and Order being woont in times past to visite your kingdome with their goods and marchandises haue bene contrary to their liberties and priuiledges annoyed with manifold iniuries and wrongs Especially sithens they haue beene molested in your realme being contrary to the friendly composition made and celebrated by the hono personages master Nicholas Stocket Thomas Graa and Walter Sibil in the yeare 1388 with the assistance of their coarbiters on our part and contrary to God and all iustice oppressed with manifold damages losses and grieuances as in certaine articles exhibited vnto our predecessors aforesayd it doeth more manifestly appeare In consideration whereof being vehemently moued by the damnified parties he humbly besought your highnesse by his messengers and letters for complement and execution of iustice About the which affayres your Maiestie returned your letters of answere vnto our sayd predecessor signifying that the sayd businesse of articles concerned al the communalty of your realme and that your highnesse purposed after consultation had in your parliament to send a more deliberate auswere concerning the premisses vnto our predecessour aforesayd Howbeit he being by death translated out of this present world and our selues by the prouidence of God succeeding in his roome and also long time expecting an effectuall answere from your highnesse are not yet informed as we looked for albeit the complaints of iniuries and losses offered vnto our subiects doe continually increase But from hencefoorth to prouide a remedie and a caueat for the time to come the sayd complaynt doeth vpon great reasons mooue and inuite me Sithens therefore in regard of the sayd composition neither you nor your subiects may be iudged in the empire and sithens plaine reason requireth that the one be not inriched by the others losse as vndoubtedly our subiects should sustaine great damage by the composition aforesayd by vertue whereof your subiects doe enioy all commodities in our lande and contrariwise our subiects in your realme haue suffered as yet sundrie wayes do suffer manifold discommodities losses and iniuries Wherefore most soueraigne prince and mighty lord being reasonably mooued vpon the causes aforesayd we doe by the aduise of our counsellers reuoke and repeale the sayd composition concluded as is aboue written together with the effect thereof purely and simply renouncing the same by these prefents refusing hereafter to haue either our selues or our subiects in any respect to stand bound by the vertue of the sayd composition but from henceforth and for the times heretofore also bee it altogether voide and of none effect Prouided notwithstanding that from the time of the notice of this denunciation giuen vnto the hono Maior of your citie of London for the space of a yeare next ensuing it shall be lawfull for all marchants of your kingdome whatsoeuer with their goods and marchandises to returne home according to the forme in the foresayd compoâ—ition expressed conditionaly thaâ— our subiects may euen so in all respects be permitted to depart with the safety of their goods and liues out of your dominions this present renunâ—iation reuocation and retractation of the order and composition aforesayd notwithstanding Howbeit in any other affayres whatsoeuer deuoutly to submit our selues vnto your highnesse pleasure and command both our selues and our whole order are right willing and desirous and also to benefite and promote your subiects we wil indeuour to the vtmost of our ability
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
and like marchants to buy sell together one of and vnto another euen as in times past namely in the yeere 1400. and before that time also they haue bin accustomed to exercise mutuall traffike and marchandiseâ— and to buy and sell. Also the saide William and Iohn agreed and consented that they themselues or some other perhaps to be appointed in this behalfe by their saide lord the king in their stead shall vpon the first day of the moneth of May next to come with the continuation of the dayes following at the towne of Dordract in Holland or vpon any other terme or termes then perhaps to bee limited competently satisfie and performe conuenient recompence vnto the saide common societie citizens people and inhabitants of the cities aforesaide and also of other cities townes and villages of theâ— Hans of and for all iniuries damages grieuances and drownings or manslaughters done and committed as they alleage against them deliuered and exhibited in written articles vnto the aboue named William and Iohn or els heereafter to bee deliuered and exhibited either by the same procurators or by some others which shall perhaps be authorized in their stead or by the messengers procurators and commissioners of other cities townes and places of the Hans in equall and like maner and forme euen as at the saide terme limited or then perhaps to be proroged there is appointed by the said William and Iohn reparation reformation and recompence vnto the inhabitants of Prussia and Liuonia for the iniuries damages and grieuances uniustly done and committed against them by the liege people and subiects of the saide soueraigne lord the king in the presence of the mightie lord the Master general of Prussia in his land of Prussia as in certain letters indented bearing date in the castle of Marienburgh in Prussia the eight day of the moneth of October in the yeere of our lord 1405. and being made and written about the reparation reformation and recompence of such like iniuries c. the tenour whereof ought here to be vnderstood as if it were inserted it is more manifestly contained It was furthermore promised by the said William and Iohn that they should not inforce nor compell the citizens people or inhabitants of the common society of the Hans or of the aboue named cities or of any other cities of the Hans aforesaid hauing receiued sufficient information of their dwelling and place of abode to more difficult or district proofes of their Articles of complaints alreadie exhibited and in the foresaide termes to come to bee exhibited then vnto the inhabitants of the lands of Prussia and Liuonia according to the forme of the Indentures aboue mentioned Moreouer the saide William and Iohn doe promise that so soone as they shall come into the kingdome of England and before the presence of their king they shall prouide that all and singular the priuiledges graunted vnto the marchants of the saide Hans by the renowmed kings of England and confirmed by the said Soueraigne lord the king that now is must according to al their contents be inuiolably obserued by the said soueraigne king and his subiects and also that from henceforth nothing is vniustly to be attempted vpon any occasion pretense or colour by the saide Soueraigne Prince and the inhabitants of the realme of England to the preiudice of the sayde priuiledges They shall prouide also that all things heretofore attempted and practised against the saide priuiledges shall by reasonable amendement and iust reformation vtterly be abolished But if after the date of these presents which God forfend within the space of the said one yere and seuen moneths prescribed any damages iniuries or grieuances in ships goods or persons should either by the English and the inhabitants of England be vniustly inflicted vpon the cities and marchants of the cities townes and places of the Hans aforesaid or by any marchants or others of the cities or townes of the saide Hans either vnto the English or vnto any of the inhabitants of that Realme vpon any fained pretense whatsoeuer all and singular the foresaide messengers commissioners ambassadours and procurators haue promised that all such damages iniuries and molestations so inflicted by them who shall offer and commit them must bee reformed and amended after the very same forme and manner that in the like case reformation reparation and amends of iniuries damages and molestations committed by the English against them of Prussia is to be performed according vnto a certaine clause contained in the letters aboue mentioned which beginneth Ceterum ne per c. In English Howbeit least that c. continuing vnto that clause Et vt praescripta omnia c. In English And that all the couenants aboue written c. It was also concluded betweene the foresaide messengers commissioners and procurators and with one generall consent agreed vpon that if from the first day of the moneth of May next to come within one whole yeere following some conuenient iust and reasonable reformation be not performed vnto the parties iniuried and damnified generally aboue mentioned in regard of their damages molestations and iniuries then within three moneths after the saide yeere bee expired the marchants of the Hans cities aforesaid are bound without any molestation perturbation and impediment whatsoeuer none other intimation or admonition being necessarie in this behalfe to auoyde and if no lawfull impediment shall hinder them to abstaine and depart from the Realmes and dominions of the said Soueraigne king of England with their marchandize and other goods bought or gotten within the space of the saide three moneths and also the English likewise in all respects shall auoide abstaine and depart from the territories and dominions of the Hans cities aforesaide Also it was promised by the saide William and Iohn that at the terme appointed namely vpon the first of May next following or at some other terme or termes then limited or to bee limited there must be made a due recompense and a proportionall satisfaction for all those persons of the land of Prussia Liuonia and of the cities townes and other places of the Hans who haue vniustly bene drowned and slaine by the English and that according to the tenour of a certain schedule written concerning a recompense to be had in regarde of the saide persons drowned and slaine and presented vnto them by Albertus Rode consul of the citie of Thoren and by the forenamed procurators and messengers of the cities aforesaid they must faithfully and effectually to the vtâ—ost of their abilitie indeuour for the obtaining of the saide recompense and amends In witnesse whereof these letters of Indenture remaining in the possession of the saide William and Iohn the messengers procurators commissioners of England aforesaid and left in their custodie by the aboue named procurators and messengers Henrie Rimarus Thedericus Simon and Iohn Sotebotter of their certaine knowledge and assurance and for the full confirmation and testimonie of al the premisses the foresaid procurators
of y e same And the fourth of August I found meanes to arrest the falsest knaue in this countrey to wit the Customer for 22. tumens and 100. shaughs 200. shaughs is a tumen I haue caused him to put in suerties for his foorth comming at all times what ende I shall haue with him God knoweth the debt will be recouered but not yet for he must pay the Shaugh 1000. rubbles These partes as yet are in no stay for lacke of a Gouernour or head to rule which I thinke shall bee the Mursey Within 5. or 6. dayes we shall know for it is time because men are in feare to trauell for being robbed If there were a prince placed I should soone get in your debts for they dare not disobey the Shaughs letters or priuiledge wherein he hath not onely written that our debts shall be paied but also that we shall be taken heed to so as we need not to doubt God willing in time to come to be here as wel vsed as we are in Russeland The bils of debts that Rich. Iohnson left with me had neither the parties nâ—me nor summe of mony in two of them and in other bils but his owâ— name If I had not vsed discretion in causing to be written in our priuiledge that such debtes as are owing should be paied any of vs in the absence of the other some men would not haue paied one penie but onely to Richard Iohnson who hath written but his owne name onely in the bils I receiued in Casbin of Forackan in part of 29. tumens 300. shaughs in money the rest he will deliuer me here in silke and this is all that I haue receiued to his day And as for Hawrambecks twelue tumens I make accompt that if I could ride to speake with him I should be paid in money and wares Touching Ackons money by meanes of Duke Ameddinbeck who first owed the debt because they meant not to pay a penie he did rather seeke to hinder my sute then to further mee but I found out a present remedie for God sent me friends that were alwayes about the Shaugh and daily put on his apparell who opened all my sute and brought mee to the presence of the Shaugh before that Cozomomet sawe the Shaughs eyes But Cozomomet in the end was my friend for he was sent for and declared vnto the Shaugh what good merchants we were vsing trueth in all our doings and how we were in great fauour with the Emperour of Russia and what good commodities wee might bring into his Countrey with other talke And daily he was sent for to the Shaugh about the affaires in those partes for no man was able to aduise the Shaugh of the state and affaires of those Countreys so much as hee was He owed your Worships seuen tumens and 48. shaughs which was not all this time to be gotten at his hands for hee was at great charges in riding to Casbin and giuing great gifts since his comming which he twise declared vnto me I feeling his griefe became Physicion to ease his paine and forgaue him his debt aboue sayd in recompence of ten pieces of karsies that were promised him by Richard Iohnson and me to giue him at the comming of our goods in consideration that he should with speed doe what lay in him to dispatch me away for I perceiue hee procured other that did helpe me in my sute to delay me of till time he had his purpose I neuer was in quiet till I had the Prâ—nces priuiledge and had got mee out of Casbin for victuals and all other things are very deare there because they are brought thither from farre off As for all other smal debts which may be about 7. tumens when our Merchants are come hither we shall seeke to get them in as we may I wish your Worships to send some bullion to bee coyned here it will please the prince there and be profitable to you Silke is better cheape by two or three shaughs the batman then it was the last yeere You shall vnderstand that I haue written two letters of all my proceedings which I sent from Casbin long since to wit the 24. and 29. of Iune last by one of your seruants to Gilan there to take ship and to goe to Astracan and to deliuer the same vnto your Factors which might haue bene to their quietnes and mine long agoe But I am right sorie to heare since my comming hither that he hath plaied the witering merchant in Gilan not going in those boats that went first but taried for the last boats But I will teach him to the example of other how he shall make haste hereafter in such affaires The karsies which you sent last being bought of M. Quarles were good and full lengths and well sorted The Princes Ambassador of Gilan was in Casbin at my being there I hope in God if I remaine here and may goe to Gilan to obtaine for your worships the like priuiledge at the kings hand there also For I haue somthing moued the matter being put in such comfort that I doubt not the getting thereof with small charges which I had done at this time if I had had other here with me to put in trust for from Casbin to Gilan is but 5. dayes riding which Countrey may be profitable to your Worships There is in that Prouince good store of silke better cheape better in goodnesse then this countrey silke is Also great store of Alom being there sold this townes batman for one bist and a halfe I haue made reckoning al charges borne from hence to Colmogro from thence fraight into England at three pounds the tunne al charges accounted will not stand you in aboue 18. and 20. shillings the hundreth You haue yeerly by report two or three hundred tunnes lading Other commodities there for England I heare not of As for gals here to bee bought there is no profit to be done by them They be brought from Aleppo and sold here not vnder 3. or 4. shaughs their batman being six pounds English waight Graine that you die scarlet withall is worth the batman ready mony 200. shaughs reckoning the shaugh for 6. pence Russe it may be 6. rubbles their batman Your worships may send some portion of mony if you may buy as I thinke you may for 12. and 13. s. a pound the berries so you shall gaine both in the price and waight If one Englishman more had bene here with me to whom I might haue deliuered our bils of debts and other things whatsoeuer should haue chanced of me I would then haue become seruant to mine Interpreter and so haue gone to Ormus and Aleppo which both ioyne on the borders of this countrey being the chiefe Mart townes whereunto from all places merchants resort And thus would I haue spent 4. or 5. months in trauelling for further knowledge of things for to haue certified your worships of
great charges of many customs and other things thereunto pertaining they are at the length brought into your countrey and cities of Persia. What merchandize are those sayd the Sophie Edwards answered that they were great abundance of fine karsies of broad clothes of all sorts câ—lours as skarlets violets and other of the finest cloth of all the world Also that the Venetians brought out of England not onely such clothes ready made but furthermore great plenty of fine wooll to mingle with their wools of which they could not otherwise make fine cloth affirming that there went out of England yeerly that waies aboue two hundred thousand karsies and as many broad clothes beside fine wooll other merchandize beside also the great abundance of like clothes the which were caried into Spaine Barbarie diuers other countries The Sophie then asked him by what means such merchandize might be brought into Persia. Right wel sir said he by the way of Moscouia with more safety and in much shorter time then the Venetians can bring them first from England to Genice and from thence into Persia by the way of Turkie And therefore if it shal please your maiestie to grant vs free passage into all your dominions with such priuileges as may appertaine to the safegard of our liues goods and merchandize we will furnish your countries with all such merchandize and other commodities in shorter time and better cheape then you may haue the same at the Turks hands This talke and much more was between the Sophie and Edwards for the space of two houres all which things liked him so well that shortly after he granted to the sayd Arthur Edwards other priuileges for the trade of merchandize into Persia all written in Azure and gold letters and deliuered vnto the lord keeper of the Sophie his great seale The lord keeper was named Coche Califay who sayd that when the Shaugh that is the king or prince did sit to seale any letters that last priuiledge should be sealed deliuered to Laurence Chapman In this priuiledge is one principall article for seruants or merchants That if the Agent do perceiue that vpon their naughtie doings they would become Busormen that then the Agent wheresoeuer he shall find any such seruant or seruants to take them and put them in prison and no person to keepe them or maintaine them This article was granted in respect of a custome among the Persians being Mahumetans whose maner is friendly to receiue and wel entertaine both with gifts and liuing all such Christians as forsaking their religion wil become of the religion of the Persians Insomuch that before this priuiledge was granted there was great occasion of naughty seruants to deceiue and rob their masters that vnder the colour of professing that religion they might liue among them in such safetie that you might haue no lawe agaynst them either to punish them or to recouer your goods at their hands or elsewhere For before the Sophie whom they say to be a maruelous wise and gracious prince seemed to fauour our nation and to grant them such priuiledges the people abused them very much and so hated them that they would not touch them but reuiled them calling them Cafars and Gawars which is infidels or misbeleeuers But after they saw how greatly the prince fauoured them they had them afterward in great reuerence and would kisse their hands and vse them very friendly For before they tooke it for no wrong to rob them defraud them beare false witnesse against them and such merchandizes as they had bought or sold make them take it againe and change it as often as them listed And if any stranger by chance had killed one of them they would haue the life of two for one slaine and for the debts of any straÌ„ger would take the goods of any other of the same nation with many other such like abuses in maner vnknowen to the prince before the complaints of our men made vnto him for reformation of such abuses which were the cause that no merchant strangers of contrary religioÌ„ durst come into his dominions with their commodities which might be greatly to the profite of him and his subiects The Articles of the second priuiledge deliuered to Laurence Chapman which are to be annexed vnto the former priuiledge 10 Item that the merchants haue free libertie as in their first priuiledge to goe vnto Gilan and all other places of his dominions now or hereafter when occasion shall be giuen 11 Item if by misfortune any of their ships should breake or fall vpon any part of his dominions on the sea coast his subiects to helpe with all speed to saue the goods and to be deliuered to any of the sayd merchants that liueth or otherwise to be kept in safetie vntil any of them come to demaund them 12 Item if any of the said merchants depart this life in any citie or towne or on the high way his gouernours there to see their goods safely kept and to be deliuered to any other of them that shall demand them 13 Item the said merchants to take such camel-men as they themselues wil being countrey people and that no Kissell Bash do let or hinder them And the said owners of the camels to bee bound to answere them such goods as they shal receiue at their hands and the camel-men to stand to the losses of their camels or horses 14 Item more that the sayd Catiers do demaund no more of them then their agreement was to pay them 15 Item more if they be at a price with any Cariers haue giuen earnest the camel-men to see they keepe their promise 16 Item if any of the said merchants be in feare to trauel to giue theÌ„ one or more to go with them and see them in safetie with their goods to the place they will goe vnto 17 Item in all places to say in all cities townes or villages on the high way his subiects to giue them honest roume and victuals for their money 18 Item the sayd merchants may in any place where they shall thinke best build or buy any house or houses to their owne vses And no person to molest or trouble them and to stand in any Carauan where they will or shal thinke good THe commodities which the merchants may haue by this trade into Persia are thought to bee great and may in time perhaps be greater then the Portugals trade into y e East Indies forasmuch as by the way of Persia into England the returne may be made euery yeere once whereas the Portugals make the returne from Calecut but once in two yeeres by a long and dangerous voiage all by sea for where as the citie and Island of Ormus lying in the gulfe of Persia is the most famous Mart towne of all East India whither al y e merchandises of India are brought the same may in shorter time and more safely be brought by land and riuers through Persia euen vnto the
receiued here before their departure 4 Their remaining so late with you shal satisfie your desire for perfecting your accounts and may bring such cordage Waxe Oile other commodities as you can prouide before that time and chiefly may serue vs in stead to bring home our goods that may be sent vs from Persia. Now seeing it may be so many wayes commodious to the commpany to obserue this order without any charge vnto them I wish that you put to your helping hand to further the same A copie of the Commission giuen to Sir Ierome Bowes authorizing him her Maiesties Ambassadour vnto the Emperour of Russia Anno 1583. ELIZABETHA Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hyberniae Regina fidei defensatrix c. Vniuersis singulis praesentes literas visuris inspecturis salutem Cùm Serenissimus Princeps Ioannes Basilius Rex magnus Dux Russiae Volodiomerae Moscoulae Nouogrodiae Rex Cazani Astracani Dominus Plescoae magnus Dux Smolenscoae Tueri Vgori Permiae Valeae Bolharae aliarum ditionum Dominus magnus Dux Nouogrodiae in inferiori regione Chernigae Rezanae Polotscoae Ratsauiae Yeraslauae Bealozeri Liflandiae Oudori Condensae gubernator in tota prouincia Siberiae partium Septentrionalium aliarum frater Amicus charissimus Nobilem virum Feodor Andrewich Spisemski nuper ad nos ablegauerit ad certa quaedam negotia nobiscum agenda quae honorem vtrinque nostrum quà m proximè attingunt queque rectè definiri concludÃque nequeunt nisi Ambassiatorem aliquem oratorem ad praefatum serenissimum principem amandauerimus Hinc est quòd nos de fidelitate industria prouida circumspectione satis magno rerum vsu predilecti nobis famuli nostri Hieronimi Bowes Militis ex nobilibus domesticis nostris vnius plurimùm confidentes praefatum Hieronimum Bowes Militem nostrum verum indubitatum Ambassiatorem Oratorem Commissarium specialem facimus constituimus per praesentes Dante 's concedentes eidem Hieronimo Bowes Militi oratori nostro tenore praesentium authoritatem mandatum tam generale quà m speciale ita quòd specialitas non deroget generalitati nec è contrà generalitas specialitati nomine nostro pro nobis cum praefato serenissimo principe eâ—usque consiliarijs deputatis quibuscunque de praefatis negotijs eorum singulis tractandi coÌ„ferendi concludendi appunctuandÃque prouâ— praefato Oratori nostro ae quum ex honore nostro videbitur Nec non de super huiusmoditractatis conclusis appunctuatÃsque caeterÃsque omnibus singulis praemissa quouismodo concernentibus literas instrumenta valida efficacia nomine nostro pro nobis tradendi literasque instrumenta consimilis vigoris effectus ex altera parte petenâ—i confici sigillari debitè procurandi recipiendi generaliter omnia singula praemissa qualitercunque concernentia faciendi exercendi expediendi in eodem modo sicut nos ipsi faceremus facere possemus si essemus praesentes etiamsi talia sint quae de se mandatum exigant magis speciale promittentes bona fide in verbo Regio omnia singula quae per praedictum Ambassiatorem oratorem nostrum appunctuata promissa conuenta concordata conclusa fuerint in hac parte nos rata grata firma habituras obseruaturas superinde literas nostras patentes confirmatorias approbatorias in forma valida autentica prout opus fuerit daturas In cuius rei restimonium his praesentibus manu nostra signatis magnum sigillum nostrum regni nostri Anglie apponi fecimus Datae è Regia nostra Grenwici quinto die mensis Iunij Anno Dom. 1583. Regni verò nostri vicessimo quinto The same in English ELIZABETH by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. to al and singular to whom these presents shal come to be seen and red greeting Whereas the most excellent prince Iohn Basiliwich king and great duke of all Russia Volodomer Moscouie and Nouogrod king of Cazan and Astracan lord of Plesco and great duke of Smolensco of Tuer Vgor and Permia Valca Bolhar and others lord great duke of Nouogrod in the low country of Cherniga Rezan Polotsco Rostoue Yeraslaue Bealozera Lieâ—â—and Oudor Obdor and Condensa and gouernour of al the land of Siberia and of the North parts and other our most deare brother and frieÌ„d did of late send vnto vs one Feodor Andrewich Spisemsky a noble man of his to deale with vs in certaine speciall businesses respecting very neerely the honour of either of vs and being such as without the speeding of some Ambassadour of ours to the foresaid most excellent prince cannot be sufficiently determined and coÌ„cluded For this cause we hauing great coÌ„fidence in the fidelitie industrie prouident circumspection and conuenient experience of our welbeloued seruant Ierome Bowes knight a gentleman of qualitie of our housholde do by these presents make and constitute the foresaid Ierome Bowes knight our true vndoubted Ambassadour Orator and special commissioâ—er giuing and graunting to the same Ierome Bowes knight our Orator by the vertue of these presents authoritie and commandement as wel general as special so that the special shall not preiudice the generall nor on the other side the general the special to intreat conferre conclude and appoint in our name and for vs with the foresaid most excellent prince and his counsellers and deputies whatsoeuer concerning the foresaide businesses and ech of them according as it shall seeme good and for our honour to our foresaide Orator as also of and vpon such things intreated concluded and appointed as in all and singular other things any maner of way concerning the premisses to deliuer in our name and for vs sufficient and effectual letters and instruments and to require letters instruments of the like validitie and effect of the other part and to procure them lawfully to bee made and sealed and then to receiue them and generally to doe execute and dispatch al and singular other things concerning the premisses in and after the same maner as we our selues would and might do if we were present although they be such things as may seeme of themselues to require a more speciall commandement promising in good faith and in the word of a prince that we will hold and obserue all and singular the things which by our Ambassador aforesayd shall be appointed promised agreed accorded and concluded in this behalfe as lawfull gratefull and firme and thereupon as need shall require will giue our letters patents confirmatory and approbatory in forme effectuall and autenticall In witnesse whereof we haue caused our great seale of our kingdome of England to be put to these presents and signed them with our owne hand Giuen at our pallace of Greenewich the fourth day of Iune in the yeere of our Lord 1583 and of our
he might be Uiceroy But when he once had receiued his patent with full power authoritie from the king to be Uiceroy he changed so much from his former behauior that by reason of his pride they all began to feare and curse him and that before hee departed out of Lisbon as it is often seene in many men that are aduanced vnto state and dignitie The 20 of Ianuarie 1591. there was newes brought out of Portugall into Tercera that the Englishmen had takeÌ„ a ship that the king had sent into the Portugal-Indies w t aduise to the Uiceroy for the returning againe of the 4 ships that should haue gone to India because the ships were come backe againe that ship was stuffed and laded as full of goods as possible it might be hauing likewise in ready money 500 thousand duckets in roials of 8 besides other wares It departed from Lisbon in the moneth of Nouember 1590. met with the Englishmen with whoÌ„ for a time it fought but in the end it was taken and caried into England with men all yet when they came there the men were set at libertie and returned into Lisbon where the captaine was committed prisoner but he excused himselfe and was released with whom I spake my selfe he made this report vnto me At the same time also they tooke a ship that came from the Mine ladeÌ„ with gold 2 ships laden with pepper spices that were to saile into Italy the pepper onely that was in them being worth 170 thousand duckets all these ships were caried into England made good prise In the moneth of Iuly 1591. there hapned an earthquake in the Iland of S. Michael which continued froÌ„ the 26 of Iuly to the 12 of August in which time no man durst stay within his house but fled into the fields fasting praying with great sorow for that many of their houses fel down and a towne called Villa Franca was almost cleane razed to the ground all the cloisters houses shaken to the earth and therein some people slaine The land in some places rose vp and the cliffs remooued from one place to another and some hils were defaced and made euen with the ground The earthquake was so strong that the ships which lay in the road and on the sea shaked as if the world would haue turned round there sprang also a fountaine out of the earth from whence for the space of 4 daies there flowed a most cleare water after that it ceased At the same time they heard such thunder noise vnder the earth as if all the deuils in hell had bin assembled together in that place wherewith many died for feare The Iland of Tercera sâ—ooke 4 times together so that it seemed to turne about but there hapned no misfortune vnto it Earthquakes are common in those Ilands for about 20 yeres past there hapned another earthquake wherein a high hill that lieth by the same towne of Villa Franca fell halfe downe couered all the towne with earth and killed many men The 25 of August the kings Armada comming out of Ferol arriued in Tercera being in all 30 ships Biskaines Portugals and Spaniards and 10 dutch flieboats that were arrested in Lisbon to serue the king besides other small ships pataxos that came to serue as messengers from place to place and to discouer the seas This nauie came to stay for and conuoy the ships that should come from the Spanish Indies and the flieboats were appointed in their returne home to take in the goods that were saued in the lost ship that came from Malacca and to conuoy them to Lisbon The 13 of September the said Armada arriued at the Iland of Coruo where the Englishmen with about 16 ships as then lay staying for the Spanish fleet whereof some or the most part were come and there the English were in good hope to haue taken them But wheÌ„ they perceiued the kings army to be strong the Admiral being the lord Thomas Howard commanded his Fleet not to fal vpon them nor any of them once to separate their ships from him vnlesse he gaue commission so to do notwithstanding the viceadmirall sir Richard Greenuil being in the ship called the Reuenge went into the Spanish fleet and shot among them doing them great hurt thinking the rest of the company would haue folowed which they did not but left him there sailed away the cause why could not be knoweÌ„ Which the Spaniards perceiuing with 7 or 8 ships they boorded her but she withstood them all fighting with them at the least 12 houres together and sunke two of them one being a new double Flieboat of 600 tunnes and Admiral of the Flieboats the other a Biscain but in the end by reason of the number that came vpon her she was taken but to their great losse for they had lost in fighting and by drowning aboue 400 men and of the English were slaine about 100 Sir Richard Greenuil himselfe being wounded in his braine whereof afterwards he died He was caried into the ship called S. Paul wherein was the Admirall of the fleet Don Alonso de Baçan there his wounds were drest by the Spanish surgeons but Don Alonso himselfe would neither see him nor speake with him all the rest of the captaines and gentlemen went to visite him and to comfort him in his hard fortune wondering at his courage and stout heart for y t he shewed not any signe of faintnes nor changing of colour but feeling the houre of death to approch he spake these words in Spanish and said Here die I Richard Greenuil with a ioyful quiet mind for that I haue ended my life as a true souldier ought to do that hath fought for his countrey Queene religion and honor whereby my soule most ioyfull departeth out of this body shal alwayes leaue behind it an euerlasting fame of a valiant true souldier that hath done his dutie as he was bound to doe When he had finished these or such other like words he gaue vp the Ghost with great stout courage no man could perceiue any true signe of heauines in him This sir Rich. Greenuil was a great and a rich gentleman in England had great yeerely reuenues of his owne inheritance but he was a man very vnquiet in his mind and greatly affected to war insomuch as of his owne priuate motion he offred his seruice to the Queene he had performed many valiant acts and was greatly feared in these Ilands and knowen of euery man but of nature very seuere so that his owne people hated him for his fiercenesse spake very hardly of him for when they first entred into the fleet or Armada they had their great saile in a readinesse and might possibly enough haue â—ailed away for it was one of the best ships for saile in England and the master perceiuing that the other ships had left them folowed not after commanded the great