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
authoritie For the second point when it pleased your Honour in sommer was two yeeres to haue some conference with me and to demaund mine opinion touching the state of the Country of Guiana and whether it were fit to be planted by the English I then to my no small ioy did admire the exact knowledge which you had gotten of those matters of Indian Nauigations and how carefull you were not to be ouertaken with any partiall affection to the Action appeared also by the sound arguments which you made pro contra of the likelihood and reason of good or ill successe of the same before the State and common wealth wherein you haue an extraordinarie voyce should be farther engaged In consideration whereof I thinke my selfe thrise happie to haue these my trauailes censured by your Honours so well approued iudgement Touching the third and last motiue I cannot but acknowledge my selfe much indebted for your fauourable letters heretofore written in my behalfe in mine honest causes Whereunto I may adde that when this worke was to passe vnto the presse your Honour did not onely intreate a worthy knight a person of speciall experience as in many others so in marine causes to ouersee and peruse the same but also vpon his good report with your most fauourable letters did warrant and with extraordinarie commendation did approue and allow my labours and desire to publish the same Wherefore to conclude seeing they take their life and light from the most cheerefull and benigne aspect of your fauour I thinke it my bounden dutie in all humilitie and with much bashfulnesse to recommend my selfe and them vnto your right Honorable and fauourable protection and your Honour to the mercifull tuition of the most High From London this 24. of October 1599. Your Honors most humble to be commanded Richard Hakluyt preacher ¶ A Catalogue of the English Voyages made by and within the Streight of Gibraltar to the South and Southeast quarters of the world conteined in the first part of this second volume Voyages before the Conquest 1 THe voyage of Helena the Empresse daughter of Coelus king of Britain and mother of Constantine the Great to Ierusalem An. 337. pag. 1.2 2 The voyage of Constantine the Great Emperour and king of Britaine to Greece AEgypt Persia and Asia Anno 339. pag. 2.3 3 The voyage of Pelagius Cambrensis vnder Maximus king of the Britaines into AEgypt and Syria Anno 390. pag. 4 4 The voyage of certaine Englishmen sent by the French king to Constantinople vnto Iustinian the Emperour about the yeere of our Lord 500. pag. 4 5 The memorable voyage of Sighelmus bishop of Shirburne sent by king Alphred vnto S. Thomas of India An. 883. confirmed by two testimonies pag. 5 6 The voyage of Iohn Erigen vnder king Alphred to Athens in the yeere of our Lorde 885. pag. 5.6 7 The voyage of Andrew Whiteman aliâs Leucander vnder Canutus the Dane to Palastina Anno 1020. pag. 6 8 The voyage of Swanus one of the sonnes of Earle Godwin vnto Ierusalem Anno 1052. pag. 6 9 A voyage of three Ambassadours sent in the time of king Edward the Confessor vnto Constantinople and from thence vnto Ephesus Anno 1056. pag. 7 10 The voyage of Alured bishop of Worcester vnto Ierusalem Anno 1058. pag. 8 11 The voyage of Ingulphus afterward Abbat of Croiland vnto Ierusalem An. 1064. pag. 8.9 Voyages since the Conquest 12 A Voyage made by diuerse of the honourable family of the Beauchamps with Robert Curtois the sonne of William the Conquerour to Ierusalem Anno 1096. pag. 10 13 The voyage of Gutuere an English Lady married vnto Baldwine brother of Godfrey duke of Bouillon toward Ierusalem An. 1097. 10.11 14 The voyage of Edgar the sonne of Edward which was the sonne of Edmund surnamed Ironside brother vnto king Edward the Confessor being accompanied with valiant Robert the sonne of Godwine to Ierusalem Anno 1102. 11 15 The voyage of Godericus a valiant Englishman who trauailed with his ships in an expedition vnto the holy land Anno 3. Hen. 1. 12 16 The voyage of Hardine an Englishman and one of the principall commaunders of 200 sayles of Christians ships which arriued at Ioppa Anno 1102 12. 13 17 A voyage by sea of Englishmen Danes and Flemings who arriued at Ioppa in the holy land the seuenth yeere of Baldwine the second king of Ierusalem and in the 8. yeere of Henry the first king of England pag. 13,14 15 18 The voyage of Athelard of Bathe to AEgypt and Arabia in the yeere of our Lord 1130 pag. 15. 16 19 The voyage of William Archbishop of Tyre to Ierusalem and to the citie of Tyre in Phoenicia Anno 1130. 16 20 The voyage of Robert Ketenensis vnder king Stephen to Dalmatia Greece and Asia Anno 1143. 16 21 A voyage of certaine Englishmen vnder the conduct of Lewis the French king vnto the holy land Anno 1147. 17 22 The voyage of Iohn Lacy to Ierusalem Anno 1173 17 23 The voyage of William Mandeuile Erle of Essex to Ierusalem Anno 1177. 17 24 The famous voyage of Richard the first king of England into Asia for the recouering of Ierusalem out of the hands of the Saracens Anno 1190. 20 25 The voyage of Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury vnto Syria and Palaestina in the yeere 1190. 28 26 The voyage of Richard Surnamed Canonicus vnder king Richard the first into Syria and Palaestina Anno 1190. 30 27 The voyage of Gulielmus Peregrinus vnder king Richard the first to Palaestina Anno 1190. 30 28 The voyage of Hubert Walter bishop of Salisbury vnder king Richard also vnto Syria Anno 1190. 31 29 The voyage of Robert Curson a nobleman of England and a Cardinall vnder Hen. the third to Damiata in AEgypt Anno 1218. 31. 32 30 The voyage of Rainulph Earle of Chester of Saer Quincy Earle of Winchester of William de Albanie Earle of Arundel c. to the holy land Anno 1218. 32 31 The voyage of Henry Bohun and Saer Quincy to the holy land in the yeere of our Lord 1222. 32 32 The voyage of Rainulph Glanuile Earle of Chester to the holy land and to Damiata in AEgypt 32 33 The voyage of Petrus de Rupibus bishop of Winchester to Ierusalem Anno 1231. 33 34 The honourable voyage of Richard Earle of Cornwall brother to king Hen. the third accompanied with William Long-espee Earle of Salisburie and diuerse other noblemen into Syria Anno 1240. 33 35 The voyage of William Long-espee or Long-sword Erle of Salisburie into AEgypt with Lewis the French king Anno 1248. 33 36 The voyage of prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Syria An. 1270. 36 37 The voyage of Robert Turneham vnder the said prince Edward into Syria in the yeere of our Lord 1270 38.39 38 The voyage of Frier Beatus Odoricus to Asia minor Armenia Chaldaea Persia India China and other remote parts c. 39.53 39 The voyage of Matthew Gurney an
English HVbert Walter bishop of Sarisburie a vertuous man and famous for his good wit and piety was one of the chiefest of them that followed king Richard into Syria going against the Saracens As he returned from Palaestina and came in his iourney into Sicilia he there heard of the ill fortune of the king being fallen into his enemies handes and thereupon leauing his iourney homewards he went presently and in all haste to the place where the king was captiued whom the king immediatly vpon his comming sent into England that by the authority of the councell a tribute might be collected for his redemption which this Hubert performed with great diligâ—nce and deliuered the king After this he was made Archbishop of Canterburie and after the death of king Richard he shewed the like dueties of fidelitie and trust to his brother Iohn that succeeded him For by a long oration he perswaded the whole nation of the English men that he was a very circumspect man vertuous valiant borne of noble parentage and most woorthy of the crowne Whereupon he was so receiued of all the people and crowned king He wrote certaine books and died at the last with very great griefe of minde in the yeere 1205 hauing beene archbishop the space of 11 yeres 8 moneths and sixe dayes by reason of the ciuil discords abroad whereby all things went topsie turuy and in the reigne of king Iohn The trauailes of Robert Curson RObertus Curson ex nobili quodam Anglorum ortus genere disciplinis tum prophanis tum sacris studiosus incubuit idque quantum ex coniecturis colligo in celebratissima Oxonij Academia Praestantissimis illic institutoribus vsus ex summa circa ingenuas artes industria assiduo literarum labore famam sibi inter suos celeberrimam comparauit Ampliora deinde meditatus Parisiorum Lutetiam aâ—que Romam ipsam perijt illic Theologus Doctor hic verò Cardinalis effectus Vnde vterque Matthaeus Parisius ae Westmonasterius hoc de ipso testimonium adferunt hic libro 2. ille 8. suoâ—um Chronicorum Anno Domini 1218 inquiunt in captione Damiatae AEgypti vrbis sub Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege fuit cum Pelagio Albanensi Magister Robertus de Curson Anglus Clericus celebertimus genere nobilis ac Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalis c Bostonus Buriensis in suo Catalogo Cursonum aliquos libros composuisle narrat Claruit anno superius numerato per praedictos testes in Anglia regnante Henrico tertio Ioannis regis filio fuÃtque hic diebus Honorij tertij Romani pontificis in Angliam Bostono teste legatus The same in English RObert Curson descended of a noble family of England vsed great diligence aswell in prophane as in diuine studies in the famous Uniuersity of Oxford as I coniecture He had there the best scholemasters that were to be gotten and was most industrious in the arts and continual exercises of learning by meanes whereof he grew to be of great renowne where he liued Afterward thinking of greater matters he went to Paris and thence to Rome it selfe and at Paris he proceeded doctor of Diuinity at Rome he was made cardinall whereupon both Matthew Paris Matthew of Westminster produce this testimony of him the one in his second booke the other in his eight booke of Chronicles In the yere of our Lord say they 1218 at the taking of Damiata a city of Egypt vnder Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem M. Robert Curson an English man a most famous clearke of noble parentage and cardinall of the church of Rome was there with Pelagius Albanensis c. Boston of Burie in Suffolke in his catalogue reporteth that he wrote diuers books He flourished in the yeere aforesayd by the witnesses aforesayd Henry the third sonne of king Iohn being then king of England and by the further testimony of Boston this Curson was legate into England in the dayes of Honorius the third bishop of Rome The voyage of Ranulph earle of Chester of Saer Quincy earle of VVinchester William de Albanie earle of Arundel with diuers other noble men to the Holy land in the second yere of K. Henry the third Matth. Paris Holensh pag. 202. IN the yeere 1218 Ranulph earle of Chester was sent into the Holy land by king Henry the third with a goodly company of souldiers and men of warre to ayde the Christians there against the Infidels which at the same time had besieged the city of Damiata in Egypt In which enterprise the valiancy of the same earle after his comming thither was to his great praise most apparant There went with him in that iourney Saer de Quincy earle of Winchester William de Albanie earle of Arundel besides diuers barons as the lord Robert fitz Walter Iohn constable of Chester William de Harecourt and Oliuer fitz Roy sonne to the king of England and diuers others The voyage of Henry Bohun and Saer Quincy to the Holy land THis yere being the sixt yere of Henry the third deceased Henry de Bohun earle of Hereford and Saer de Quincy earle of Winchester in their iourney which they made to the Holy land Matth. Paris Holensh pag. 202. colâ— 2. The trauailes of Ranulph Glanuile earle of Chester RAnulphus Glanuile Cestriae Comes vir nobilissimi generis vâ—roque iure eruditus in albo illustâ—ium virorum à me meritò ponendus venit Ita probè omnes adolescentiae suae annos legibus tum humanis tum diuinis consecrauit vt non prius in hominem per aetatem euaserit quà m nomen decúsque ab insigni eruditione sibi comparauerit Cum profecti essent Francorum Heroes Ptolemaidem inito cum Ioanne Brenâ—o Hierosolymorum rege concilio Damiatam AEgypti vrbem obsidendam constituebant aâ—no salutis humanae 1218. Misitillùe Henricus rex ab Honorio 3 Rom. Pontifice rogatus cum magna armatorum manu Ranulphum ad rem Christian am iuuandam Cuius viâ—tus Polydoro teste in eo bello mitis omnium laudibus celebrata â—uit Quo confecto negotio Ranulphus in patriam reuersus scripfit De legibus Angliae librum vnum Fertur praeterea alia quaedam scripsisse sed tempus edax rerum ea nobis abstulit Claruit anno à Seruatoris nostri natiuitate 1230 confectus senio dum Henricus terâ—ius sub Antichristi tyrannide in Anglia regnaret The same in English RAnulph Glanuile earle of Chester a man of a very noble house and learned in both the Lawes deserues of duetie to be here placed by me in the catalogue of woorthy and notable men He applied so well all the yeeres of his youth to the study of humane and diuine Lawes that he came not so soone to the age of a man as he had purchased to himselfe by reason of his singular learning renowme and honour When the noble men of France went to Ptolomais vpon the counsell of Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem they resolued to besiege Damiata a city
English knight against the Moores of Alger to Barbary and to Spaine 67 40 The voyage of Henrie Earle of Derby after Duke of Hereford and lastly Henry the fourth king of England with an army of Englishmen to Tunis in Barbary 69 41 The trauailes and memorable victories of Iohn Hawkwood Englishman in diuerse places of Italy in the reigne of Richard the second 70 42 The voyage of Lord Iohn of Holland Earle of Huntington brother by the mother to K. Richard the second to Ierusalem and S. Katherins mount Anno 1394. 70 43 The voyage of Thomas Lord Mowbrey duke of Norfolke to Ierusalem in the yeere of our Lord 1399. 70 44 The voyage of the bishop of Winchester to Ierusalem Anno 1417. 71 45 A voyage intended by king Henry the fourth to the holy land against the Saracens and Infidels Anno 1413. 71. 72 46 A voyage made with two ships called The holy Crosse and The Matthew Gunson to the Isles of Candia and Chio about the yeere 1534. 98 47 Another voyage vnto Candia and Chio made by the foresayd ship called The Matthewâ— Gunson Anno 1535. 98 48 The voyage of the valiant Esquire M. Peter Read to Tunis in Barbarie 1538 recorded in his Epitaph 99 49 The voyage of Sir Thomas Chaloner to Alger with the Emperour Charles the fift Anno 1541. 99 50 The voyage of M. Roger Bodenâ—am with the great barke Aucher to Candia and Chio Anno 1550. 99 51 The voyage of M. Iohn Lok to Ierusalem Anno 1553. 101 52 The voyage of Iohn Foxe to the Streit of Gibraltar in a ship called The three halfe-moones Anno 1563. And his worthy enterprize in deliuering 266 Christians from the captiuitie of the Turkes at Alexandria Anno 1577. 131.132 53 The voyage of M. Laurence Aldersey to the cities of Ierusalem and Tripolis in the yeere 1581. 150 54 The voyage of The Susan of London to Constantinople wherein M. William Hareborne was sent first Ambassadour vnto Zuldan Murad Can the great Turke Anno 1582. 165 55 The voyage of a ship called The Iesus to Tripolis in Barbary Anno 1583. 184 56 The voyage of M. Henry Austel by Venice to Ragusa and thence ouer-land to Constantinople and from thence through Moldauia Polonia Silesia and Germany into England Anno 1586. 194 57 The voyage of Master Cesar Frederick into the east India and beyonde the Indies Anno 1563. 213 58 The long dangerous and memorable voyage of M. Ralph Fitch marchant of London by the way of Tripolis in Syria to Ormuz to Goa in the East India to Cambaia to the riuer of Ganges to Bengala to Bacola to Chonderi to Pegu to Siam c. begunne in the yeere 1583 and ended in the yeere 1591. 250 59 The voyage of M. Iohn Eldred to Tripolis in Syria by sea and from thence by land and riuer to Babylon and Balsara Anno 1583. 268 60 The voyage of M. Iohn Euesham by sea into AEgypt Anno 1586. 281 61 The voyage of M. Laurence Aldersey to the cities of Alexandria and Cairo in Aegypt Anno 1586. 282 62 The voyage of fiue marchants ships of London into Turkie and their valiant fight in their returne with 11 gallies and two frigats of the king of Spaine at Pantalarea within the Streits of Gibraltar Anno 1586. 285 63 The voyage of Master William Hareborne ouer-land from Constantinople to London Anno 1588. 289 64 A description of a voyage to Constantinople and Syria begun the 21 of March 1593 and ended the ninth of August 1595 wherein is shewed the manner of deliuering the second present by M. Edward Barton her Maiesties ambassadour which was sent from her Maiestie to Sultan Murad Can the Emperour of Turkie 33 The Ambassages Letters Priuileges Discourses Aduertisements and other obseruations depending vpon the Voyages contayned in the first part of this second Volume 1 A Testimony that the Britons were in Italy and Greece with the Cimbrians and Gauls before the incarnation of Christ. pag. 1 2 A testimony that certain Englishmen were of the guard of the Emperour of Constantinople in the time of Iohn the sonne of Alexius Comnenus 17 3 A great supply of money sent to the Holy land by King Henry the second 18 4 A letter written from Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople vnto Henry the second King of England Ann. 1177 wherein mention is made that certaine of king Henries noblemen and subiects were present with the sayd Emperour in a battel against the Soldan of Iconium 18 5 A note drawen out of a very auncient booke in the custodie of the right Wor. M. Thomas Tilney Esquire touching Sir Fredericke Tilney his ancester knighted for his valour at Acon in the Holyland by king Richard the first 29 6 A large contribution to the succour of the holy land made by king Iohn king of England Anno 1201. 30 7 The comming of Baldwin the Emperour of Constantinople into England An. 1247. 31 8 A testimony concerning Anthony Beck bishop of Duresme that he was elected Patriarke of Ierusalem and confirmed by Clement the 5 bishop of Rome Anno 1305. 39 9 The comming of Lyon king of Armenia into England Anno 1â—86 to make a treaty of peace betweene Richard the second king of England and the French king 67 10 The comming of the Emperour of Constantinople into England to desire the ayde of king Henry the fourth against the Turkes Anno 1400. 70 11 A relation of the siege and taking of the citie of Rhodes by Sultan Soliman the great Turke Wherein honorable mention is made of diuers valiant English knights Anno 1522. 72 12 An ambassage from Don Ferdinando brother to the Emperour Charles the fift vnto King Henry the eight crauing his ayde against Soliman the great Turke An. 1527. 95 13 The antiquitie of the trade of English marchants vnto the remote parts of the Leuant seas Anno 1511 1512 c. 96 14 A letter of Henry the eight king of England to Iohn the third king of Portugale for a Portugale ship fraighted at Chio with the goods of Iohn Gresham William Lok and others and wrongfully vnladen in Portugale Anno 1531. 96 15 The maner of the entring of Soliman the great Turke with his army into Alepo in Syria as hee was marching toward Persia agaiâ—st the great Sophi Anno 1553. 112 16 A note of the presents that were giuen at the same time in Alepo to the Grand Signor and the names of the presenters 113 17 The safe conduct granted by Sultan Soliman the great Turke to M. Anthony Ienkinson at Alepo in Syria Anno 1553. 114 18 A discourse of the trade to Chio written by Gaspar Campion in the yeere 1569. 114 19 A letter of the sayd Gaspar Campion to M. William Winter in the yeare 1569. 116 20 A briefe description of the Isle of Cyprus 119 21 A report of the siege and taking of Famagusta the strongest citie in al Cyprus by Mustafa Bassa Generall of the great Turkes army Anno 1571. 121 22 The
Domini 1172 fundata fuit abbatia de Stanlaw per dominum Iohannem Lacy Constabularium Cestriae dominum de Halton qui obijt in Terra sancta anno sequenti qui fuit vicessimus annus regni regis Henrici secundi ¶ The same in English IN the yere of our Lord 1172 was founded the abbey of Stanlaw by the lord Iohn Lacy Constable of Chester lord of Halton who deceased in the Holy land the yere following which was in the twentieth yere of king Henry the second The voyage of VVilliam Mandeuile to Ierusalem VVIlliam Mandeuile earle of Essex with diuers English lords and knights went to the Holy land in the 24 yere of Henry the second Holinshed pag. 101. English men were the guard of the Emperours of Constantinople in the reigne of Iohn the sonne of Alexius Comnenus Malmesburiensis Curopolata and Camden pag. 96. IAminde Anglia non minus belli gloria quà m humanitatis cultu inter Florentissimas orbis Christiani gentes inprimis floruit Adeo vt ad custodiam corporis Constantinopolitanorum Imperatorum euocati fuerint Angli Ioannes enim Alexij Comneni filius vt refert noster Malmesburiensis eorum fidem suspiciens praecipue familiaritati suae applicabat amorem eorum filio transcribens Adeo vt iam inde longo tempore fuerint imperatorum illorum satellites Inglini Bipenniferi Nicetae Choniatae Barangi Curopolatae dicti Qui vbique Imperatorem prosequebantur ferentes humetis secures quas tollebant cum Imperator ex oratorio spectandum se exhibebat Anglicè vitam diuturnam secures suas collidentes vt sonitum ederent comprecabantur The same in English FRom this time forward the kingdome of England was reputed amongst the most flourishing estates of Christendome no lesse in chiualrie then humanitie So farforth that the English men were sent for to be the guarders of the persons of the Emperours of Constantinople For Iohn the sonne of Alexius Comnenus as our countreyman William of Malmesburie reporteth highly esteeming their fidelity vsed them very nere about him recommending them ouer to his sonne so that long time afterwards the guard of those Emperours were English halberâ—iers called by Nicetas Choniata Inglini Bipenniseri and by Europolata Barangi which alwayes accompanied the Emperour with their halberds on their shoulders which they held vp when the Emperour comming from his Oratorie shewed himselfe to the people and clafhing their halberds together to make a terrible sound they in the English tongue wished vnto him long life A great supply of money to the Holy land by Henry the 2. THe same yeere King Henry the second being at Waltham assigned an aide to the maintenance of the Christian souldiers in the Holy lande That is to wit two and fortie thousand markes of siluer and fiue hundred markes of golde Matth. Paris and Holens pag. 105. A letter written from Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople vnto Henrie the second King of England Anno Dom. 1177. wherein mention is made that certaine of king Henries Noble men and subiects were present with the sayd Emperour in a battell of his against the Soldan of Iconium Recorded by Roger Houeden in Annalium parte posteriore in regno Hen. 2. fol. 316 317. EOdem anno Manuel Constantinopolitanus imperator habito praelio campestri cum Soltano Iconij illo devicto in hac forma scripsit Domino regi Angliae Manuel in Christo deo Porphyrogenitus diuinitùs coronatus sublimis potens excelsus semper Augustus moderator Romanorum Comnenus Henrico nobilissimo regi Angliae charissimo amico suo salutem omne bonum Cum imperium nostrum necessarium reputet notificare tibi vt dilecto amico suo de omnibus quae sibi obueniunt ideò de his quae nunc acciderunt ei opportunum iudicauit declatare tuae voluntati Igitur a principio coronationis nostrae imperium nostrum aduersus dei inimicos Persas nostrum odium in corde nutriuit dum cernetet illos in Christianos gloriari eleuarique in nomen dei Christianorum dominari regionibus Quocirca alio quidem tempore in differentèr inuasit eos prout deus ei concessit sic fecit Et quae ab ipso frequenter patrata sunt ad contritionem ipsorum perditionem imperium nostrum credit nobilitatem tuam non latere Quoniam autem nunc maximum exercitum contra eos ducere proposuit bellum contra omnem Persidem mouere quia res cogebat Et non vt voluit multum aliquem apparatum fecit sicut ei visum est Veruntamen prout tempus dabat rerum status potentèr eos inuasit Collegit ergo circa se imperium nostrum potentias suas sed quia carpenta ducebat armorum machinarum aliorum instrumentorum conserentium ciuitatum expugnationibus pondera portantia idcircò nequa quam cum festinatione iter suum agere poterat Ampliùs autem dum adhuc propriam regionem peragraret antequam barbarorum aliquis aduersus nos militaret in bellis aduersarius aegritudo dissicillima fluxus ventris invasit nos qui diffâ—sus per agmina imperij nostri pertransibat depopulando inteâ—imendo multos omni pugnatore grauior Et hoc maluÌ„ inuslescens maximè nos contriuit Ex quo verò fines Turcorum inuasimus bella quidem primum frequentia concrepabant agmina Turcorum cum exercitibus imperij nostri vndique dimicabant Sed Dei gratia ex toto à nostris in fugam vertebantur barbari Post verò vbi eâ— qui illic adjaceâ— angustiae loci quae à Persis nominatur Cibrilcimam propinquâ—uimus tot Persarum turmae peditum equitum quorum pleraeque ab interioribus partibus Persidis occurrerant in adiutorium contribulium suorum exercitui nostro superuenerunt quot penè nostrorum excederent numerum Exercitu ita que imperij nostri propter viae omnino angustiam difficultatem vsque ad decem milliaria extenso cum neque qui praeibant possent postremos defendere neque versa vice rursus postremi possent praeeuntes iuuare non mediocritèr ab inuicem hos distare accidit Sanè primae cohortes permultùm ab acie imperij nostri diuide bantur postremarum oblitae illas non praestolantes Quoniam igitur Turcorum agmina ex iam factis praelijs cognouerant non conferre sibi à fronte nobis repugnare loci angustiam bonum subuentorem cum inuenissent posteriora statuerunt inuadere agmina quod fecerunt Arctissimo igitur vbique loco existente instabant barbari vndique à dextris â sinistris aliundè dimicantes tela super nos quasi imbres descendentia interimebant viros equos complures Ad haec itaque imperium nostruÌ„ vbi malum superabundabat reputans secum oportunuÌ„ iudicabat retrò expectare atque illos qui illic erant adiuuare expectando vtiquè contra infinita illa Persarum agmina bellum sustinuit Quanta quidem
de pace ad eos legatos mitâ—unt quam nostris dare placuit vt soluta certa pecuniae summa ab omni deinceps Italiae Galliaeque ora manus abstinerent Ita peractis rebus post paucos menses quà m eo itum erat domum repediaâ—um est The same in English THe French in the meane season hauing gotten some leasure by meanes of their truce and being sollicited and vrged by the intreaties of the Genuois vndertooke to wage warre against the Moores who robbed and spoyled all the coasts of Italy and of the Ilandes adiacent Likewise Richard the second king of England being sued vnto for ayde sent Henry the Earle of Derbie with a choice armie of English souldiers vnto the same warfare Wherefore the English and French with forces and mindes vnited sayled ouer into Africa who when they approched vnto the shore were repelled by the Barbarians from landing vntill such time as they had passage made them by the valour of the English archers Thus hauing landed their forces they foorthwith marched vnto the royall citie of Tunis and besieged it Whereat the Barbarians being dismayed sent Ambassadours vnto our Christian Chieftaines to treat of peace which our men graunted vnto them vpon condition that they should pay a certaine summe of money and that they should from thencefoorth abstaine from piracies vpon all the coasts of Italy and France And so hauing dispatched their businesse within a fewe moneths after their departure they returned home This Historie is somewhat otherwise recorded by Froysard and Holenshed in manner following pag. 473. IN the thirteenth yeere of the reigne of king Richard the second the Christians tooke in hand a iourney against the Saracens of Barbarie through sute of the Genouois so that there went a great number of Lords Knights and Gentlemen of France and England the Duke of Burbon being their Generall Out of England there went Iohn de Beaufort bastarde sonne to the Duke of Lancaster as Froysard hath noted also Sir Iohn Russell Sir Iohn Butler Sir Iohn Harecourt and others They set forwarde in the latter ende of the thirteenth yeere of the Kings reigne and came to Genoa where they remayned not verie long but that the gallies and other vessels of the Genouois were ready to passe them ouer into Barbarie And so about midsomer in the begining of the foureteenth yere of this kings reigne the whole army being embarked sailed forth to the coast of Barbary where neere to the city of Africa they landed at which instant the English archers as the Chronicles of Genoa write stood all the company in good stead with their long bowes beating backe the enemies from the shore which came downe to resist their landing After they had got to land they inuironed the city of Africa called by the Moores Mahdia with a strong siege but at length constrained with the intemperancy of the scalding ayre in that hot countrey breeding in the army sundry diseases they fell to a composition vpon certaine articles to be performed in the behalfe of the Saracens and so 61 dayes after their arriuall there they tooke the seas againe and returned home as in the histories of France and Genoa is likewise expressed Where by Polydore Virgil it may seeme that the lord Henry of Lancaster earle of Derby should be generall of the English men that as before you heard went into Barbary with the French men and Genouois The memorable victories in diuers parts of Italie of Iohn Hawkwood English man in the reigne of Richard the second briefly recorded by M. Camden pag. 339. AD alteram ripam fluuij Colne oppositus est Sibble Heningham locus natalis vt accepi Ioannis Hawkwoodi Itali Aucuthum cortupâ—èvocant quem illi tantopere ob virtutem militarem suspexerunt vt Senatus Florentinus propter insignia merita equâ—stri statua tumuli honore in eximiae fortitudinis fideique testimonium ornauit Res â—ius gestas Itali pleno ore praedicant Paulus Iouius in elogijs celebrat sat mihi sit Iulij Feroldi tetrastichon adijcere Hawkwoode Anglorum decus decus addite genti Italicae Italico praesidiúmque solo Vt tumuli quondam Fâ—orentia sic simulachri Virtutem Iouius donat honore tuam William Thomas in his Historie of the common wealthes of Italy maketh honorable mention of him twise to wit in the common wealth of Florentia and Ferrâ—ra The voyage of the Lord Iohn of Holland Earle of Huntington brother by the mothers side to King Richard the second to Ierusalem and Saint Katherins mount THe Lord Iohn of Holland Earle of Huntington was as then on his way to Ierusalem and to Saint Katherins mount and purposed to returne by the Realme of Hungarie For as he passed through France where he had great cheere of the king and of his brother and vncles hee heard how the king of Hungary and the great Turke should haue battell together therefore he thought surely to be at that iourney The voiage of Thomas lord Moubray duke of Norfolke to Ierusalem in the yeere of our Lord 1399. written by Holinshed pag. 1233. THomas lord Moubray second sonne of Elizabeth Segraue and Iohn lord Moubray her husband was aduanced to the dukedome of Norfolke in the 21. yeere of y e reigne of Richard the 2. Shortly after which hee was appealed by Henry earle of Bullingbroke of treason and caried to the castle of Windsore where he was strongly safely garded hauing a time of combate granted to determine the cause betweene the two dukes the 16. day of September in the 22. of the sayd king being the yeere of our redemption 1398. But in the end the matter was so ordred that this duke of Norfolke was banished for euer whereupon taking his iourney to Ierusalem he died at Venice in his returne from the said citie of Ierusalem in the first yeere of king Henry the 4. about the yeere of our redemption 1399. The comming of the Emperor of Constantinople into England to desire the aide of Henry the 4. against the Turkes 1400. SVb eodem tempore Imperator Constantinopolitanus venit in Angliam postulaturus subsidium contra Turcas Cui occurrit rex cum apparatu nobili ad le Blackheath die sancti Thomae Apostoli suscepÃtque prout decuit tantum Heroem duxÃâ—que Londonias per multos dies exhibuit gloriose pro expenâ—iâ— hospiâ—ij suâ—â—oluens eum respiciens tanto falligio donariuis Et paulò post His auditis rumoribus Imperator laetior recessit ab Anglis honoratus à rege donarijs preciosis The same in English ABout the same time the emperor of Constantinople came into England to seeke ayde against the Turkes whom y e king accompanied with his nobilitie met withall vpon Black-heath vpon the day of saint Thomas the Apostle and receiued him as beseemed so great a prince and brought him to London and roially entertained him for a long season defraying the charges of his diet and giuing him many
loose townes and lordships and that hee should not take ouermuch thought for it and as for his promise he bade that he should not doubt in any thing and that he should not feare any displeasure to his person and that he should goe with his people without feare With these wordes the sayd lord thanked him and tooke his leaue and departed FINIS ¶ Lenuoy of the Translator GOe little booke and woefull Tragedie Of the Rhodian fearefull oppugnation To all estates complaining ruthfully Of thine estate and sudden transmutation Excusing me if in thy translation Ought be amisse in language or in werke I me submit with their supportation To be correct that am so small a clerke An ambassage from Don Ferdinando brother to the emperor Charles the 5. vnto king Henry the 8. in the yere 1527. desiring his aide against Solyman the great Turke Holinshed pag. 894. ON the 14. day of March 1527. were conueied from London to Greenwich by the earle of Rutland and others the lord Gabriel de Salamanca earle of Ottonburge Iohn Burgraue of Syluerberge and Iohn Faber a famous clerke after bishop of Vien as ambassadours from Don Ferdinando brother to Charles the emperor newly elect king of Hungarie and Beame after the death of his brother in law king Lewes which was slaine by Solyman the Turke the last Sommer This company was welcommed of the high officers and after brought into the kings presence all the nobilitie being present and there after great reuerence made M. Faber made a notable oration taking his ground out of the Gospell Exijt seminator seminare semen suum and of that hee declared how Christ and his disciples went foorth to sowe and how their seed was good that fel into the good ground and brought foorth good fruite which was the Christian faith And then he declared how contrary to that sowing Mahomet had sowen seed which brought foorth euillfruit He also shewed from the beginning how the Turkes haue increased in power what realmes they had conquered what people they had subdued euen to that day He declared further what actes the great Turke then liuing had done and in especiall he noted the getting of Belgrade and of the Rhodes and the slaying of the king of Hungarie to the great rebuke as he sayd of all the kings christened Hee set foorth also what power the Turke had what diuersities of companies what capitaines he had so that he thought that without a marueilous great number of people hee could not be ouerthrowen Wherefore be most humbly besought the king as S. Georges knight and defender of the faith to assist the king his master in that godly warre and vertuous purpose To this oration the king by the mouth of Sir Thomas Moore answered that much hee lamented the losse that happened in Hungarie and if it were not for the warres which were betweene the two great pruices he thought that the Turke would not haue enterprised that acte wherefore he with all his studie would take paine first to set an vnitie and peace throughout all Christendome and after that both with money and men he would be readie to helpe toward that glorious warre as much as any other prince in Christendome After this done the ambassadours were well cherished and diuers times resorted to the court and had great cheere and good rewards and so the third day of May next following they tooke their leaue departed homeward The antiquitie of the trade with English ships into the Leuant IN the yeeres of our Lord 1511. 1512. c. till the yeere 1534. diuers tall ships of London namely The Christopher Campion wherein was Factor onâ— Râ—ger Whitcome the Mary George wherein was Factor William Gresham the great Mary Grace the Owner whereof was William Gunson and the master one Iohn Hely the Trinitie Fitz-williams whereof was master Laurence Arkey the Mathew of London whereof was master William Capling with certaine other ships of Southampton and Bristow had an ordinarie and vsuall trade to Sicilia Candie Chio and some whiles to Cyprus as also to Tripolis and Barutti in Syria The commodities which they caried thither were fine Kersies of diuers colours course Kersies white Westerne dozens Cottons certaine clothes called Statutes and others called Cardinal-whites and Calueskins which were well sold in Sicilie c. The commodities which they returned backe were Silks Chamlets Rubarbe Malinesies Muskadels and other wines sweete oyles cotten wooll Turkie carpets Galles Pepper Cinamom and some other spices c. Besides the naturall inhabitants of the foresayd places they had euen in those dayes traffique with Iewes Turkes and other forreiners Neither did our merchants onely employ their owne English shipping before mentioned but sundry strangers also as namely Candiots Raguseans Sicilians Genouezes Venetian galliasses Spanish and Portugale ships All which particulars doe most euidently appeare out of certaine auncient Ligier bookes of the R. W. Sir William Locke Mercer of London of Sir William Bowyer Alderman of London of master Iohn Gresham and of others which I Richard Hakluyt haue diligently perused and copied out And here for authorities sake I doe annexe as a thing not impertinent to this purpose a letter of king Henry the eight vnto Don Iohn the third king of Portugale A letter of the king of England Henry the eight to Iohn king of Portugale for a Portingale ship with the goods of Iohn Gresham and Wil. Locke with others vnladen in Portugale from Chio. SErenissimo Principi domino Ioanni Dei gratia Regi Portugallieâ— Algarbiorum citra vltra mare in Africa ac domino Guineae conquistae nauigationis commercij AEthiopiae Arabiae Persiae atque Indiae c. Fratri amico nostro charissimo Henricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae fidei desensor ac dominus Hiberniae Serenissimo Principi domino Ioanni eadem gratia Regi Portugallie AlgarbioruÌ„ citra vltra mare in Africa ac domino Guinee conquistae nauigationis coÌ„mercij AEthiopiae Arabiae Persiae atque Indiae c. Fratri amico nostro charissimo saluteÌ„ Tanto libentiùs promptiúsque iustas omnes causas vestre Serenitati commendandas suscipimus quanto apertiori indiès nostroruÌ„ qui in eiusdem vestre Serenitatis regno ac ditione negociantur subditorum testimonio cognoscimus ipsam ex optimi principis officio ita accuratè exactéque ius suum cuÃque praebere vt ad eaÌ„ nemo iustitiae consequendae gratia frustrà vnquam confugiar Cúm itaque dilectus ac fidelis subditus noster Ioannes Gresham mercator Londoniensis nuper nobis humiliter exposuerit quod quidaÌ„ Willielmus Heith ipsius Factor negotiorum gestor nauim quandam Portugallensem cui nomen erat Sancto Antonio praeerátque Diego Peres Portugallensis superioribus mensibus in Candia conduxerit cum nauisque praefecto conuenerit vtin insulam Chium ad quas dam diuersi generis merces onerandas primo nauigaret in Candiámque mox aliarum
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
THe summe of expenses aswell of wages prests as for the expenses of the kings houses and for other gifts and rewards shippes and other things necessary to the parties of France and Normandie and before Calice during the siege there as it appeareth in the accompts of William Norwel keeper of the kings Wardrobe from the 21. day of April in the 18 yeere of the reigne of the said king vnto the foure and twentieth day of Nouember in the one and twentieth yeere of his reigne is iii. hundreth xxxvii thousand li. ix s iiii d. A note out of Thomas Walsingham touching the huge Fleete of eleuen hundred well furnished ships wherewith king Edward the third passed ouer vnto Calais in the yeere 1359. ANno gratiae 1359. Iohannes Rex Franciae sub vmbra pacis dolose obtulit Regi Angliae Flandriam Picardiam Aquitaniam aliasque terras quas equitauerat vastarat pro quibus omnibus ratificandis idem Rex Edwardus in Franciam nuncios suos direxit quibus omnibus Franci contradixerunt Vnde motus Rex Anglie celeriter se suos praeparauit ad transfretandum ducens secum principem Walliae Edwardum suum primogenitum ducem Henricum Lancastrie ferè proceres omnes quos comitabantur vel sequebaÌ„tur poene mille currusâ— habuirque apud Sanwicum instructas optime vndecies centum naues cum hoc apparatu ad humiliandum Francorum fastum Franciam nauigauit relicto domino Thoma de Wooodstock filio suo iuniore admodum paruulo Anglici regni custode sub tutela tamen The same in English IN the yeere of our Lord 1359. Iohn the French king craftily and vnder pretence of peace offered vnto Edward the third king of England Flanders Picardie Gascoigne and other territories which he had spoyled and wasted for the ratifying of which agreement the foresaid king Edward sent his ambassadors into France but the Frenchmen gain saied them in all their articles and demaunds Whereupon the king of England being prouoked speedily prepared himselfe and his forces to crosse the seas carying with him Edward Prince of Wales his heire apparant and Henry duke of Lancaster and almost all his Nobles with a thousand wagons and cartes attending vpon them And the said king had at Sandwich eleuen hundred ships exceedingly well furnished with which preparation he passed ouer the seas to abate the Frenchmens arrogancie leauing his yonger sonne Thomas of Woodstocke being very tender of age as his vicegerent in the Realme of England albeit not without a protectour c. The voyage of Nicholas de Lynna a Franciscan Frier and an excellent Mathematician of Oxford to all the Regions situate vnder the North pole in the yeere 1360. and in the raigne of Edward the 3. king of England QVod ad descriptionem partium Septentrionalium attinet eam nos accipimus ex Itinerario Iacobi Cnoyen Buscoducensis qui quaedam exrebus gestis Arthuri Britanni citat maiorem autem partem potiora à Sacerdote quodam apud Regem Noruegiae An. Dom. 1364. didicit Descenderat is ex illis quos Arthurus ad has habitandas insulas miserat referebat An. 1360. Minoritam quendam Anglum Oxoniensem Mathematicum in eas insulas venisse ipsisque relictis ad vlteriora arte Magica profectuÌ„ descripsisse omnia Astrolabio dimensum esse in hanc subiectam formam ferè vti ex Iacobo collegimus Euripos illos quatuor dicebat tanto impetu ad interiorem voraginem rapi vt naues semel ingressae nullo vento retroagi possent nequè verò vnquam tantum ibi ventum esse vt molae frumentarie circumagendae sufficiat Simillima his habet Giraldus Cambrensis qui floruit An. 1210. in libro de mirabilibus Hyberniae sic enim scribit Non procul ab insulis Hebridibus Islandia c. ex parte Boreali est maris quae dam miranda vorago in quam à remotis partibus omnes vndique fluctus marinitanquam ex condicto fluunt recurrunt qui in secreta naturae penetralia se ibi transfundentes quasi in Abyssum vorantur Si verò nauem hâc fortè transire contigerit tanta rapitur attrahitur fluctuum violentia vt eam statim irreuocabiliter vis voracitatis absorbeat Quatuor voragines huius Oceani a quatuor oppositis mundi partibus Philosophi describunt vnde â—am marinos fluctus quà m AEolicos flatus causaliter peruenire nonnulli coniectant The same in English TOuching the description of the North partes I haue taken the same out of the voyage of Iames Cnoyen of Hartzeuan Buske which alleageth certaine conquests of Arthur king of Britaine and the most part and chiefest things among the rest he learned of a certaine priest in the king of Norwayes court in the yeere 1364. This priest was descended from them which king Arthur had sent to inhabite these Islands and he reported that in the yeere 1360 a certaine English Frier a Franciscan and a Mathematician of Oxford came into those Islands who leauing them and passing further by his Magicall Arte described all those places that he sawe and tooke the height of them with his Astrolabe according to the forme that I Gerard Mercator haue set downe in my mappe and as I haue taken it out of the aforesaid Iames Cnoyen Hee sayd that those foure Indraughts were drawne into an inward gulfe or whirlepoole with so great a force that the ships which once entred therein could by no meanes be driuen backe againe and that there is neuer in those parts so much winde blowing as might be sufficient to driue a Corne mill Giraldus Cambrensis who florished in the yeere 1210 vnder king Iohn in his booke of the miracles of Ireland hath certaine words altogether alike with these videlicet Not farre from these Islands namely the Hebrides Island c. towards the North there is a certaine woonderful whirlpoole of the sea whereinto all the waues of the sea from farre haue their course and recourse as it were without stoppe which there conueying themselues into the secret receptacles of nature are swallowed vp as it were into a bottomlesse pit and if it chance that any shippe doe passe this way it is pulled and drawen with such a violence of the waues that eftsoones without remedy the force of the whirlepoole deuoureth the same The Philosophers describe foure indraughts of this Ocean sea in the foure opposite quarters of the world from whence many doe coniecture that as well the flowing of the sea as the blasts of the winde haue their first originall A Testimonie of the learned Mathematician master Iohn Dee touching the foresaid voyage of Nicholas De Linna ANno 1360. that is to wit in the 34. yeere of the reigne of the triumphant king Edward the third a frier of Oxford being a good Astronomer went in companie with others to the most Northren Islands of the world and there leauing his company together hee trauailed alone
commandement to handle discusse and finally to determine the foresaid busines and with letters of credence vnto the right reuerend lord and master generall aforesayd Which ambassadours together with Iohn Beuis of London their informer and the letters aforesaid and their ambassage the said right reuerend lord and Master generall at his castle of Marienburgh the 28. of Iuly in the yeare aforesaid reuerently and honourably receiued and enterteined and in his minde esteemed them worthy to treate and decide the causes aforesayd and so vnto the sayd ambassadouurs he ioyned in commission on his behalfe three of his owne counsellers namely the honourable and religious personages Conradus de Walrode great commander Seiffridus Walpode de Bassenheim chiefe hospitalary and commander in Elburg Wolricus Hachenberger treasurer being all of the order aforesaid Which ambassadors so entreating about the premisses and sundry conferences and consultations hauing passed between them friendly and with one consent concluded an agreement and concord in manner following That is to say First that all arrestments reprisals and impignorations of whatsoeuer goods and marchandises in England and Prussia made before the date of these presents are from henceforth quiet free and released without all fraud and dissimulation insomuch that the damages charges and expenses occasioned on both parts by reason of the foresayd goods arrested are in no case hereafter to be required or chalenged by any man but the demaunds of any man whatsoeuer propounded in this regard are and ought to be altogether frustrate and voide and all actions which may or shall be commenced by occasion of the sayd goods arrested are to be extinct and of none effect Moreouer it is secondly concluded and agreed that all and singuler Prussians pretending themselues to be iniuried by the English at the Porte of Swen or elsewhere howsoeuer and whensoeuer before the date of these presents hauing receiued the letters of the foresaide right reuerende lord and Master generall and of the cities of their abode are to repayre towards England vnto the sayd hon embassadours who are to assist them and to propound and exhibite their complaintes vnto the forenamed lord and king The most gracious prince is bounde to doe his indeuor that the parties damnified may haue restitution of their goods made vnto them or at least complete iustice and iudgement without delay Also in like maner all English men affirming themselues to haue bene endamaged by Prussians wheresoeuer howsoeuer and whensoeuer are to haue recourse vnto the often forenamed right reuerend lorde the Master generall with the letters of their king and of the cities of their aboad propounding their complaints and causes vnto him Who likewise is bound to doe his indeuour that the sayd losses and damages may be restored or at the least that speedie iudgement may be without all delayes executed This caueat being premised in each clause that it may and shall be freely granted and permitted vnto euery man that will ciuilly make his suite and complaint to doe it either by himselfe or by his procurator or procurators Also thirdly it is agreed that whosoeuer of Prussia is determined criminally to propound his criminal complaints in England namely that his brother or kinseman hath beene slaine wounded or maimed by English men the same partie is to repayre vnto the citie of London in England and vnto the sayd ambassadors bringing with him the letters of the sayd right reuerend lord the master generall and of the cities of their abode which ambassadors are to haue free and full authority according to the complaints of the men of Prussia and the answers of the English men to make and ordaine a friendly reconciliation or honest recompence betweene such parties which reconciliation the sayd parties reconciled are bound vndoubtedly without delay to obserue But if there be any English man found who shall rashly contradict or contâ—mne the composition of the foresayd ambassadors then the sayd ambassadours are to bring the forenamed Prussian plaintifes before the presence of the kings Maiestie and also to make supplication on the behalfe of such plaintifes that complete iustice and iudgment may without delayes bee administred according as those suites are commenced Moreouer whatsoeuer English man against whom anie one of Prussia would enter his action shall absent himselfe at the terme the sayd ambassadours are to summon and ascite the foresayd English man to appeare at the terme next insuing that the plaintifes of Prussia may in no wise seeme to depart or to returne home without iudgâ—ment or the assistance of lawe Nowe if the sayd English man being summoned shall be found stubborne or disobedient the forenamed ambassadours are to make their appeale and supplication in manner aforesayd And in like sorte in all respects shall the English plaintifes be dealt withall in Prussia namely in the citie of Daâ—tzik where the deputies of the sayd citie and of the citie of Elburg shal take vnto themselues two other head boroughs one of Dantzik and the other of Elburg which foure commissioners are to haue in al respects the very like authority of deciding discussing and determining all criminall complaints propounded criminally by English men against any Prussian or Prussians by friendly reconciliation or honest recompense if it be possible But if it cannot friendly be determined or if anie Prussian shall not yeeld obedience vnto any such order or composition but shal be found to contradict and to contemne the same from thenceforth the said foure deputies and headboroughs are to make their appeale and supplication vnto the Master generall of the land aforesayd that vnto the sayd English plaintifes speedy iudgement and complete iustice may be administred But if it shall so fall out that any of the principall offenders shall decease or already are deceased in either of the sayd countries that then it shall bee free and lawfull for the plaintife to prosecute his right against the goods or heires of the party deceased Also for the executing of the premisses the termes vnder written are appointed namely the first from the Sunday whereupon Quasi modo geniti is to be sung next ensuing vntill the seuenth day following The second vpon the feast oâ— the holy Trinitie next to come and for seuen dayes following The third vpon the eight day after Saint Iohn Baptist next to come for seuen daies following The fourth last and peremptory terme shall be vpon the feast of S. Michael next to come and vpon seuen dayes next following And from thenceforth all causes which concerne death or the mayming of a member with all actions proceeding from them are to remaine altogether voide and extinct And if peraduenture any one of the foresayd ambassadours shall in the meane season dye then the other two shall haue authoritie to chuse a third vnto them And if after the date of these presents any cause great or small doth arise or spring foorth it must bee decided in England and in Prussia as it hath
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
whereupon very many commodities are knowen to haue proceeded haue by occasion of pirates rouing vp and downe the sea sometimes heretofore sustayned both the sayd marchants of our of your dominions do abstaine themselues froÌ„ their wonted mutual coÌ„uersation traffique as they haue likewise carefully abstained at sometimes heretofore and especially from that time wherein at the instant request of your messengers being of late before our presence the free accesse of our marchants vnto your territories and dominions of your marchants vnto our realmes hath bene forbidden Sithens therefore our most deare friend such iniuries if any as haue bene attempted against your subiects were neuer committed by our will and consent as we thinke that your selfe on the other side haue done the like sithens also so much as in vs lieth wee are ready to exhibit full iustice with fauour vnto any of your people being desirous to make complaint so that accordingly iustice may equally be done vnto our marchants by you your subiects which marchants haue in like sort bene iniuried wishing with all our heart that the ancient friendship loue which hath continued a long time between our realme and your territories and dominions may perseuere in time to come and that sweet and acceptable peace which is to be embraced of al Christians may according to the good pleasure of the author of peace be nourished mayntained we do most heartily require the sayd friendship exhorting you in the Lord that you would on your behalf consent ordain euen as if you shall so do we for our part wil consent likewise that from this present vntil the feast of Easter next insuing al molestatioÌ„s iniuries which may be offred ceasing on both parts our subiects by your territories dominions your subiects by our realms may peaceably securely trauel that according to their wonted maner they may friendly coÌ„uerse exercise mutual traffick together because we are determined to send vnto you your counsel in the mean time some of our ambassadors friendly to intreat about the foresaid preteÌ„ded iniuries so far forth as they shal coÌ„cerne our subiects At whose ariual we stand in good hope that by the due administration of iustice on both parts such order by Gods assistance shal be taken that mutual peace and tranquillity may be established between vs in times to come Also our desire is in particular that our marchants liege subiects may haue more free passage granted them vnto the parts of Sconia for the prouiding of herrings and of other fishes there that they may there remayne and from thence also may more securely returne vnto their owne home and we beseech you in consideration of our owne selues that you would haue our marchants and liege subiects especially recommended vnto you safely protecting them if need shall require vnder the shadow of your defence euen as you would haue vs to deale in the like case with your own subiects Moreouer whatsoeuer you shall thinke good to put in practise in this behalfe may it please you of your friendship by our faythfull subiect Iohn Browne the bearer herâ—of to giue vs to vnderstand In the sonne of the glorious virgine fare ye well with continuall prosperity and felicity according to your owne hearts desire Giuen vnder our priuie seale at our palace of Westminster the fift day of Iune and in the fift yere of our reigne Postscriptum RIght reuerend and our most deare friend albeit our welbeloued Arnold de Dassele the procurator of your foresaid messengers being desirous at this time to make his final returne vnto your parts by reason of the affayres for which he hath remained in our realme of England cannot as yet obtaine his wished expedition notwithstanding you of your sincere affection ought not to maruel or any whit to be grieued thereat because troubles of wars arising which in some sort concerned our selues and especially in regard of the continuall assaults of the French men Britons against vs and our kingdome for the offence of whom and our owne defence our liege subiects especially they of whom your subiects damnified haue made their complaints haue armed themselues to combate vpon the sea we could not grant vnto the foresayd Arnold such and so speedy an expedition as he earnestly desired to haue Unto the which Arnold your procurator we haue offered in as short time as may be to administer complete iustice with fauour to y e end that for this cause he might dispose himselfe to remaine in our realme of England yet notwithstanding wee would do the very same euen in the absence of the sayd procurator Giuen as aboue To the most renowmed prince and mighty Lord Henrie king of England c. our gracious Lord. OUr humble recommendations with our most instant and continuall prayers for you being graciously by your Maiestie taken in good part c. Most soueraigne king mighty prince gratious lord and vnto vs most vnfaynedly beloued we receiued of late your gracious letters by your Maiesties liege subiect Iohn Brown the contents whereof seemed to be these following first that of long time heretofore there haue bene between the marchants of your realm of our lands not only quiet peaceable accesse one vnto another but also mutual participation common traffique of their wares being right coÌ„modious auaileable for them both howbeit that now the foresaid profitable conuersation by reason of certain notorious robberies committed vpon the sea by pyrates against both parts the wonted accesse also of your subiects vnto our dominions were altogether forbidden Moreouer you call to remembrance the ancient amity friendship betweene both our lands with the inualuable commodity of sweet amiable peace which are by al faithful Christians to the vtmost of their endeuour to be imbraced Wherupon you of your exceeding clemency do offer your Maiesties ful consent that the foresaid prohibition being released vntil the feast of Easter next ensuing the said marchants of your dominions may in our territories and our marchants likewise may in your realms al molestations ceasing exercise their woonted traffique especially sithens in the mean season your royall wisdome hath determined to direct vnto vs your hono ambassadors in friendly sort to treat and parle with vs as touching the pretended iniuries so far forth as they may concerne your subiects Adding moreouer in particular that when your people shall repayre vnto the parts of Sconia to fish for herrings hauing consideration regard vnto your maiestie we would haue them especially recommended vnto our protection c. Most soueraigne lord king gracious prince wee doe with vnfained and hearty affection embrace the oracles of your maiesties most courteous acceptable offer wherein you haue vsed most diligent effectuall perswasions that coÌ„plement of iustice should be done vnto the parties iniuried that peace friendship should take place making no doubt of your own royall person nor of
our selues or of any appertayning vnto vs but that our inclinations and desires in this regarde are all one and the same neither would we lightly transgresse the limits of your perswasions without some iust weighty reasonable cause forasmuch as the matters perswaded are in very deede most happy preseruatiues of a common weale yea of nature it selfe Moreouer whereas your highnes hath farther requested vs that the prohibition of your subiects accesse vnto our dominions might vntill the feast of Easter next ensuing be released we answere vnder correction of your maiesties more deliberate counsell that it is farre more expedient for both parts to haue the sayd prohibition continued then released vntil such time as satisfaction be performed on both sides vnto the parties endamaged not in words only but actually really in deeds or by some course of law or friendly composition For there is no equall nor indifferent kinde of consort or trade between the impouerished party and him that is inriched betweene the partie which hath obtayned iustice and him that hath obtayned none between the offender and the party offended because they are not mooued with like affections For the remeÌ„brance of iniuries easily stirreth vp inconsiderate motions of anger Also such a kind of temperature or permixtion as it were by way of contrariety breedeth more bitternes then sweetnes more hate then loue whereupon more grieuous complaints aswel vnto your highnes as vnto our selues might be occasioned The lord knoweth that euen now we are too much wearied and disquieted with the importunate and instant complaints of our subiects insomuch that wee cannot at this present by any conuenient meanes release or dissolue the sayd prohibition before wee be sufficiently informed by your maiesties ambassadors of the satisfaction of our endamaged subiects Furthermore whereas your maiesties request concerning your subiects that shal come vnto the parts of Sconia is that we would defend them vnder our protection be it knowen vnto your highnes that for diuers considerations vs reasonably mouing being prouoked by the queene of Denmarke and her people being also vrged thereunto full sore against our wils for the repelling and auoiding of iniuries we haue sent forth our armie against them Howbeit for a certaine time a â—ruce is concluded on both parts so that our people are actually returned home Farre be it from vs also that our subiects being occupied in warres should in any sort willingly molest or reproch any strangers of what landes or nations soeuer not being our professed enemies For this should be to oppresse the innocent in stead of the guilty to condemne the iust for the vniust then which nothing can be more cruel nor a reuenge of greater impietie In very deede most gracious prince and lorde we are mouâ—d with right hearty sympathy and compassion for any inconuenience which might happen in your regiment wishing from the bottome of our hearts that all affayres may right prosperously and happily succeede about the royall person and regiment of your most excellent Maiestie and that continually The like whereof wee hope from you most humbly commending our selues and our whole Order vnto your highnes Giuen at our castle of Marienburgh the 16. day the moneth of Iuly in the yere of our Lord 1404. An agreement made betweene king Henry the fourth and Conradus de Iungingen Master generall of the land of Prussia THis Indentnre made between Sir William Esturmy knight Iohn Kington clerke and William Brampton citizen of London the ambassadors commissioners messengers of the most mighty prince and lord our souereigne lord Henrie by the grace of God king of England and France and lorde of Ireland for the repayring reformaâ—ion and amâ—nds of whatsoeuer damages grieuances excesses violences and iniuries in any sort vniustly attempted done or offered by our sayd soueraigne lord the king and his liege people and subiects vnto the great and mighty lord Conradus de Iungingen Master general of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospitall of Ierusalem or his subiects and for the requiring demanding and receiuing of such like reparations reformations amends by the foresayd lord the Master generall for the behalfe of himselfe or any of his subiects whatsoeuer from in the name of our soueraign lord the king his subiects vnto the sayd Master general into his land of Prussia by our souereigne lord the king appointed as ambassadors on the one party And betweene the hono Lords and religious personages Conradus de Lichtenstein great commander Warnherus de Tetâ—ingen chiefe hospitalary commaÌ„der in Elbing Arnold de Hacken treasurer the procurators commissioners of the great mighty lord the Master general being in like equal sort and in all respects as the ambassadours of England are authorized on the contrary side by the authoritie and power of the sayd Master general on the other part witnesseth That diuers treaties conferences being holden between the said ambassadors messengers procurators or coÌ„missioners of concerning the reparations reformations amends of certaine damages grieuances excesses violences iniuries offered and attempted aswel by the Prussians against the English as by the English against the Prussians and of other actes vniustly committed on both parts in conclusion after the sayd treatise the foresayd ambassadours procurators and commissioners by vertue of the authority committed vnto them appoynted and with one consent agreed vnto the articles vnder written Inprimis that for the consideration of mutuall loue and woonted friendship and of peace and tranquillity hereafter to be continued and maintained and also that the articles vnderwritten may more prosperously be brought vnto a wished effect between our said soueraign lord the king his liege people subiects the subiects people inhabitants of the territories and dominions of the foresayd lord the Master generall it is agreed and concluded that all liege marchants of England whatsoeuer shall haue free licence and libertie to arriue with their shippes goods and marchandises whatsoeuer at any Porte of the land of Prussia and also the sayd goods and marchandises farther vnto any place of the sayd land of Prussia to transport and there with any person or persons freely to contract and bargaine euen as heretofore and from auncient times it hath bene accustomed Which liberty in all respects is granted vnto the Prussians in England Item it is farther agreed betweene the sayd ambassadours procurators and commissioners that whereas of late namely in the yeare of our lord 1403 the sayd Master general by his discreet subiects Iohn Godek of Dantzik and Henry Monek of Elbing his ambassadors messengers for this purpose hath caused certain articles namely 20 in number containing in them matters of damages molestations violences and iniuries committed and offered against the said Master generall his subiects by our sayd soueraigne lord the king his subiects liege people to be exhibited giuen vp and deliuered vnto our lord the king
statutes ordinations and prohibitions al English marchants whatsoeuer resorting vnto the land of Prussia must be firmely bounden and subiect Also it is ordained that whatsoeuer sale-clothes are already transported or at any time hereafter to bee transported out of England into Prussia by the English marchants and shall there be offered to bee solde whether they be whole cloathes or halfe cloathes they must containe both their endes Lastly that the matters aboue-mentioned fall not short and voyde of their wished effect the treaty and conference about all and singular damages and grieuances whereof there is not as yet done but there must be by the vertue of these presents performed a reformation and amendment must be continued and proroged vntill the first of May next ensuing as by these presents they are continued and proroged with the continuation of the dayes then immediately following at the towne of Dordract aforesaide at the which time and place or at other times and places in the meane space as occasion shall serue by both parties to be limited and assigned or else within oue yeere after the said first day of the moneth of May next ensuing bee expired the hurt and damaged parties generally before-mentioned shall haue performed vuto them a conuenient iust and reasonable reformation on both partes Prouided alwayes if within the terme of the saide yeere some conuenient iust and reasonable reformation bee not performed vnto the parties iniuried and endamaged which are generally aboue mentioned that then within three whole moneths after the foresaid yere shall expired the Prussians shall depart out of the realmes and dominions of the saide Soueraigne Lorde the king of England together with their marchandize and with other goods which they shal haue gotten or bought within the space of the foresaide three moneths and that the English men also are likewise in all respects bounden to auoid and no lawfull impediment hindering them to withdrawe themselues and to depart out of the territories and dominions of the saide Master generall without all molestation◠perturbation and impediment whatsoeuer none other intimation or admonition being necessarie in this regard Howbeit least that by the robberies and piracies of some insolent and peruerse people matter should be ministred vnto the said lord the Master generall of swaruing from the faithfull obseruation of the foresaide agreements or which God forbid any occasion bee giuen him of not obseruing them it is also decreed by the often aboue mentioned Ambassadours and messengers that if the goods and marchandize of any of the saide lorde Master generall his subiectes whatsoeuer shall be from hencefoorth vniustly taken vpon the Sea by any English Pirates and shal be caried into the realme of England and there receiued that the Gouernours and keepers of portes and of other places with whatsoeuer names they be called at the which portes and places such marchandises and goods shall chaunce to arriue beeing onely informed of the saide goods and marchandises by sole report or other proofes wanting by probable suspition are bound to arrest and to keep them in safe custodie fauourably to be restored vnto the owners therof whensoeuer they shall be lawfully demaunded which if they shall omit or deny to performe from thenceforth the saide gouernours and keepers are bound to make vnto the parties endamaged a recompease of their losses And for fault of iustice to be executed by the said gouernours and keepers our soueraign lord the king aboue named after he shall conueniently be requested by the parties damnified is bound within three moneths next ensuing all lawfull impediments being excepted to make correspondent iust and reasonable satisfaction vnto the saide parties endamaged Otherwise that it shal be right lawfull for the saide lorde the Master generall to arrest and after the arrest to keepe in safe custodie the goods of the English marchants being in the land of Prussia to the condigne satisfaction of such iniuries as haue bene offered vnto his subiects vntill his said subiects be iustly and reasonably contented Likewise also in all respects the same iustice is to be done vnto the English by the said Lord the Master generall and his subiects in Prussia euen as it hath bene enacted and decreed in the aboue written clause beginning Caeterum ne per c. In English Howbeit least that c. for the said Master general and his subiects by the foresaide ambassadors of England and the commissioners of the said lord the Master generall that in like cases iustice ought to be administred on the behalfe of himselfe and of his subiects in the realme of England And that all and singular the couenants aboue written may in time to come by the parties whom they concerne firmly and inuiolably be obserued the forenamed ambassadors messengers and commissioners all and euery of them for the full credite probation and testimonie of all the premisses haue vnto these present Indentures made for the same purpose caused euerie one of their seales with their owne hands to be put One part of the which indentures remaineth in the custodie of the English ambassadors and the other part in the hands of the commissioners of Prussia Giuen at the castle of Marienburgh in Prussia in the yeere of our Lorde 1405. vpon the 8. day of the moneth of October An agreement made betweene King Henrie the fourth and the common societie of the Marchants of the Hans THis Indenture made betweene the honourable Sir William Esturmy knight and Iohn Kington clearke procurators messengers and commissioners sufficiently deputed and authorized by the most mighty Prince Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England France and lord of Ireland for the performation of y e things vnder written on the one part the hon personages M. Henry Vredeland M. Riman Salum chief notaries Thederic Knesuolt secretary M. Simō Clouesten chief notary and Iohn Zotebotter citizen being sufficiently made and ordained procurators and messengers on the behalfe of the cities of Lubec Bremen Hamburg Sund and Gripeswold for the demanding obtaining seuerally of due reformation and recompense at the hands of our saide souereigne lord the king and of his messengers and commissioners aforesayde for all iniuries damages grieuances and manslaughters any wayes vniustly done and offred seuerally by the liege people and subiects of our soueraigne lord the king vnto the common societie of the marchants of the Hans and vnto any of the Citizens people and inhabitants of the cities aforesaide whatsoeuer on the other part Witnesseth That betweene all and euery of the saide Procurators messengers and Commissioners by vertue of the authoritie committed vnto them it hath bene and is appointed concluded and decreed that the liege marchants and subiects of our said soueraigne lord the king and the marchants of the common societie of the Dutch Hans aforesaide from hencefoorth for one whole yeere and seuen moneths immediately next ensuing and following shal be permitted and licenced friendly freely and securely to exercise mutual traffike
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
and messengers haue put to their seales Giuen in the towne of Dordract the 15. day of December in the yere of our Lord 1405. William Esturmy knight and Iohn Kington canon of Lincolne being in this behalfe sufficiently authorized and deputed as Ambassadours procurators messengers and commissioners by our said soueraigne lord the king namely in regard of the molestations iniuries and damages vniustly done and committed against the liege people and subiectes of the foresaide most excellent Prince and lord Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England France and Lord of Ireland by the commumalties of the cities of Wismer and Rostok vnderwritten their common couÌ„sel being assembled for the same purpose authorized also and as well closely as expresly maintained and ratified by the whole companie of the common society of the marchants of the Dutch Hans doe in this present diet at the towne of Hage situate in the countrey of Holland being appointed for the very same occasion demaund of you Syr Iohn de Aa knight and Hermannus Meyer deputies for the cities of Wismer and Rostok and sufficiently ordeined by authority requisite in this behalfe to be the procurators and messengers of the said cities that conuenient iust and reasonable satisfaction and recompense may certainely and effectually be done vnto the iniuried and endamaged parties who are specified in the articles vnder written Imprimis that about the feast of Easter in the yeere of our Lord 1394. Henry van Pomeren Godekin Michael Clays Sheld Hans Howfoote Peter Hawfoote Clays Boniface Rainbek and many others with them of Wismer and of Rostok being of the societie of the Hans tooke by maine force a ship of Newcastle vpon Tine called Godezere sailing vpon the Sea towards Prussia being of the burthen of two hundred tunnes and belonging vnto Roger de Thorneton Robert Gabiford Iohn Paulin and Thomas de Chester which ship together with the furnâ—ture thereof amounteth vnto the value of foure hundred pounds also the woollen cloth the red wine the golde and the summes of money contained in the said ship amounted vnto the value of 200. marks of English money moreouer they vniustly slew Iohn Patanson and Iohn Russell in the surprising of the shippe and goods aforesaide and there they imprisoned the sayde parties taken and to their vtter vndoing detayned them in prison for the space of three whole yeeres Item that in the yeere of our Lorde 1394. certaine persons of Wismer and Rostok with others of the Hans their confederates robbed one Richard Horuse of Hull of diuers goods anyâ— marchandizes in a ship called the Shipper Berline of Prussia beeing then valued at 160. nobles Item that in the yeere of our Lorde 1395. Hans van Wethemonkule Clays Scheld Godekin Mighel and one called Strotbeker by force of armes and by the assistance of the men of Wismer and Rostok and others of the Hans did vpon the Sea neere vnto Norway wickedly and vniustly take from Iohn Tutteburie fiue pieces of ware foure hundred of werke and halfe a last of osmundes and other goods to the value of foure hundred seuentie sixe nobles Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1396. one Iohn van Derlowe Hans van Gelder and other their complices of the Hans villainously and vniustly tooke a shippe of William Terry of Hul called the Cogge with thirtie wollen broad clothes and a thousand narrow clothes to the value of 200. pounds Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1398. one Iohn van Derlowe Wilmer Hans van Gelder Clays Scheld Euerade Pilgrimson and diuers others of the Hans did vpon the Sea neere vnto Norway villainously and vniustly take a shippe of Iohn Wisedome of Hull called the Trinitie with diuers goods and marchandizes namely oyle waxe and werke to the value of 300. pounds Item in the yeere of our Lord 1399. one Clays Scheld and others aboue written of Wismer and Rostok with certaine others of the Hans their confederates wickedly and vniustly took from one William Pound marâ—hant of Hull two cakes of waxe to the value of 18. poundes out of the ship called the Hawkin Derlin of Dantzik Item in the yeere of our Lord 1394. one Goddekin Mighel Clays Scheld Storbiker and diuers others of Wismer and Rostok and of the Hans wickedly and vniustly tooke out of a ship of Elbing the master whereof was called Henry Puys of the goods and marchandizes of Henrie Wyman Iohn Topeliffe aud Henry Lakenswither of Yorke namely in werke waxe osmunds and bowstaues to the value of 1060. nobles Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1394. certaine malefactors of Wismer and Rostok with others of the Hans their confederats wickedly vniustly took out of a ship of Holland the master whereof was called Hinkensman 140. woollen clothes the price of one of the which clothes was eight nobles from Thomas Thester of Yorke and a chest with armour siluer and golde of the foresaid Thomas to the value of 9. pounds Item in the yere of our Lord 1393. certaine malefactors of Wismer and Rostok and others their complices of the Hans wickedly and vniustly tooke from one Richard Abel of London woollen cloth greene cloth meale and fishes to the value of 133. li.6.s. Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1405. about the feast of S. Michael one Nicholas Femeer of Wismer marchant of the Hans with the assistance of other his complices of the Hans aforesaide wickedly and vniustly tooke from one Richard Morley citizen of London fiue lasts of herrings besides 32. pounds in the sea called Northsound Item in the yeere of our Lord 1398. about the moneth of September one Godekin Wisle and Gerard Sleyre of Wismer and Rostok with others of the Hans their confederats wickedly and vniustly took out of a ship of Prussia wherof the master was named Rorebek from Iohn Seburgh marchant of Colchester two packs of woollen cloth to the value of an 100. markes from Stephan Flispe and Iohn Plumer marchants of the same town two packs of woollen cloth to the value of 60. pounds from Robert Wight marchant of the same towne two packes of woollen cloth to the value of an 100. marks from William Munde marchant of the same town two fardels of woollen cloth worth 40 li from Iohn Dawe and Thomas Cornwaile marchants of the same towne three packs of woollen cloth worth 200. marks Moreouer they tooke and imprisoned certaine English men which were in the said ship namely William Fubborne seruant vnto Iohn Diere Thomas Mersh seruant vnto Robert Wight which Thomas paid for this ransome 20. nobles of English money William Munde marchant of the towne aforesaide which William by reason of the extremity of that imprisonment lost the sight of his eyes and Thomas Cornwaile marchant of the foresaide Towne which Thomas paide for his raunsome twentie nobles Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1394. certaine malefactors of Wismer and Rostok vpon the coastes of Denmarke and Norway
beneath Scawe and at Anold tooke Thomas Adams and Iohn Walters marchants of Yermouth and Robert Caumbrigge and Reginald Leman marchants of Norwich in a certaine shippe of Elbing in Prussia whereof one Clays Goldesmith was master with diuers woollen clothes of the saide Thomas Iohn Robert and Reginald to the value of one thousande marks English and carried the persons and goods aforesaide away with them and the said Thomas Iohn Robert and Reginald they imprisoned at Courtbuttressow and there detained them vntill they paide an hundred markes for their redemption Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1401. some of the inhabitants of Wismer and of Rostok wickedly tooke at Longsound in Norway a certaine shippe of West-Stowe in Zeland the Master whereof was one Gerard Dedissen laden with diuerse goods and marchandises of Iohn Hughson of Yermouth namely with the hides of oxen and of sheepe with butter masts sparres boordes questingstones and wilde werke to the value of an hundred marks and do as yet detaine the said things in their possession some of the Hans being their assistants in the promisses Item in the yeere of our Lorde 1402. certaine of the Hans of Rostok and of Wismer tooke vpon the coast of England neere vnto Plimmouth a certaine barge called the Michael of Yarmouth whereof Hugh ap Fen was the owner and Robert Rigweys the master laden with bay salt to the quantitie of 130. wayes and with a thousand canuasse clothes Britaine and doe as yet detaine the saide goods in their possession the said Hugh being endamaged by the losse of his ship and of his goods aforesaid 800. nobles and the foresaid Master and the mariners loosing in regard of their wages canuas and armour 200. nobles Item in the yeere of our Lord 1405. certaine malefactors of Wismer wickedly and vniustly tooke in a certaine port of Norway called Selaw a ship of Yarmouth the owner whereof was William Oxney and the master Thomas Smith laden with salt cloth and salmon to the value of 40. pound and doe as yet detaine the said ship and goods in their possession some of the Hans their confederates ayding and assisting them at the same time Item in the yeere of our Lord 1395. one Godekin Mighel Clays Scheld Stertebeker and other their accomplices of the Hans tooke vpon the sea a certain ship of one Iohn Dulwer of Cley called the Friday whereof Laurence Tuk of Cley was master and conueighed the said ship vnto Maustrond in Norway and the saide Master and mariners they robbed of diuers commodities namely of artillery furniture and salt fishes being in the same ship to the value of 500. nobles Item in the yeere of our Lord 1395. Godekin Mighel Clays Scheld Stertebeker and other their accomplices of the Hans vnlawfully tooke vpon the sea a certaine ship of one William Bets of Cley called the Margaret wherein Robert Robines was master and conueyed the ship it self vnto Mawstrond in Norway and there robbed the master and his partners of diuers commodities namely of artillerie furniture and salt fishes to the value of 400. nobles and one of the said masters mates they maliciously drowned Item in the yere of our Lord 1395. about the feast of the natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist the forenamed Godekin and Stertebeker with others their accomplices of the Hans vnlawfully took vpon the sea a certain ship of Nicholas Steyhard and Iohn Letis of Cley called the Nicholas wherof Iohn Prest was master and conueyed the said ship vnto Mawstrond and there robbed the said master and his companie of diuers commodities namely of furniture and salt fishes being in the said ship to the value of 320. nobles Item in the yeere of our Lord 1395. about the feast aforesaid the said Godekins and Stertebeker their companions of the Hans vniustly took vpon the sea a certaine ship of Thomas Peirs of Cley called the Isabel whereof William Noie was master and conueyed it vnto Mawstrond and there robbed the said master and his company of diuers commodities as namely of furniture and salt fishes being in the said ship to the value of 406. nobles Item in the yeere next aboue mentioned vpon the Saterday about the foresaid feast the forenamed Godekins and Stertebeker and other their accomplices of the Hans vnlawfully took vpoÌ„ the sea a certain ship of one Thomas Lyderpole of Cley called the Helena wherein Robert Alwey was master also wickedly and vniustly drowned in the bottom of the sea diuers commodities as namely salt fishes together with the ship itselfe Item in the yeere of our Lord 1398. about the feast of S. Michael the archangel the foresaid Godekin Stertebeker with other their coÌ„federats of the Hans took at Langsound in Norway a certain crayer of one Thomas Motte of Cley called the Peter wherein Thomas Smith was master the foresaid crayer they wickedly and vniustly caried away being worth 280. nobles Item in the yeere of our Lord 1395. about the feast of the natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist the forenamed Godekins and Stertebeker and others of the Hans vniustly tooke a certain ship of Simon Durham called the Dogger-ship and the Peter of Wiueton laden with salt fishes whereof Iohn Austen was master vpon the coast of Denmarke And they caried away the saide Dogger with the furniture thereof and the foresaid salt fishes to the value of 170. pound Moreouer the master and 25â— mariners in the same ship they maliciously slewe and a certaine ladde of the saide Dogger they caried with tâ—em vnto Wismer Item in the foresaid yeere and about the feast aforesaid the forenamed Godekins and Stertebeker with other their complices vniustly tooke vpon the sea a certaine ship of Thomas Lyderpole and Iohn Coote of Wiueton and the master and mariners which were in the saide shippe they villanously slue among whom they put to death one Simon Andrew the godsonne nephew and seruant of the foresaid Simon Durham Which ship with the goods and furniture that were therein was worth 410. nobles Item in the very same yeere about the feast aforesaid the forenamed Godekins and Stertebeker other their complices wickedly spoiled a certaine ship of the foresaid Simon Durham called the Dogger wherein Geruase Cat was master lying at an anker while the companie were occupied about fishing and likewise vniustly tooke away with them the salt fishes and furniture of the said ship Moreouer the master and his company that were in the said Dogger they beate and wounded so that they vtterly lost their fishing for that yeere the master and his said companie being endamaged thereby to the summe of 200. nobles Item in the yere of our Lord 1396. the foresaid Godekins and Stertebeker and other their complices vniustly tooke vpon the sea a certain crayer called the Buss of Zeland which one Iohn Ligate marchant and seruant vnto the forenamed Simon Durham had laden in Prussia on the behalfe of
the said Simon to saile for England and spoiled the said craier and also tooke and caried away with them the goods and marchandises of the said Simon being in the foresaid ship to the value of 66. pounds Item in the yeere of our Lord 1397. certaine malefactors of Wismer and Rostok with certaine others of the Hans tooke a crayer of one Peter Cole of Zeland called the Bussship which Alan Barret the seruant and factor of the foresaid Simon Durham had laden with mastes sparres and other marchandize for the behalfe of the said Simon and vniustly tooke from thence the goods of the said Simon to the value of 24. pounds and caried the same away Item in the yeere of our Lord 1394. certaine malefactors of Wismer and others of the Hans vniustly tooke vpon the sea and caried away with them a packe of woollen cloth of the foresaid Simon worth 42. pounds out of a certain crayer of one Thomas Fowler of Lenne being laden and bound for Dantzik in Prussia Item pitifully complaining the marchants of Lenne doe auouch verifie affirme that about the feast of S. George the martyr in the yeere of our Lord 1394. sundry malefactors and robbers of Wismer Rostok and others of the Hans with a great multitude of ships arriued at the towne of Norbern in Norway and tooke the said town by strong assault and also wickedly and vniustly took al the marchants of Lenne there residing with their goods cattels and burnt their houses and mansions in the same place and put their persons vnto great ransoms euen as by the letters of safeconduct deliuered vnto the said marchants it may more euidently appeare to the great damage and impouerishment of the marchants of Lenne namely Imprimis they burnt there 21. houses belonging vnto the said marchants to the value of 440. nobles Item they tooke from Edmund Belyetere Thomas Hunt Iohn Brandon and from other marchants of Lenne to the value of 1815. pounds Concerning this surprise Albertus Krantzius in the sixt book of his history of Norway and the 8. Chapter writeth in maner following IN the meane while Norway enioyed peace vnder the gouernment of a woman vntil Albertus king of Suecia who had now seuen yeeres continued in captiuity vnder Queen Margaret was to be set at liberty Which when the common souldiers of Rostok Wismer called the Vitalians perceiued who whilest their king was holden captiue in the right of the forenamed cities for the behalfe of their lord the king being prince of Mekleburg by birth vndertooke and waged warre al the time of his captiuitie banding their forces together they resolued at their own costs charges but in the right of the said cities to saile into the 3. kingdoms and to take such spoiles as they could lay hold on These common souldiers therfore sâ—eing an end of their tyrannical and violent dealing to approch sassed into Norway vnto the towne of Norbern being a mart town for al the marchants of Germanie who transporting fishes from thence doe bring thither marchandises of all kinds especially corne vnto the scarcitie wherof vnlesse it be brought out of other countreys that kingdome as we haue said is very much subiect Departing out of their ships and going on shore they set vpon the towne and by fire and sword they easily compelled the inhabitants dwelling in weake wodden houses to giue place Thus these Vitalians entring and surprising the towne conueyed such spoiles vnto their ships as them pleased and hauing laden their ships with those booties they returned home frolike vnto the ports of their own cities Without all respect they robbed and rifled the goods aswel of the Germanes as of the Noâ—uagians and like lewde companions wasting and making hauock of all things prooued themselues neuer the wealthier For it is not the guise of such good fellowes to store vp or to preserue ought The citizens at the first seemed to be inriched howbeit afterward no man misdoubting any such calamitie goods ill gotten were worse spent Thus farre Kranâ—zius Item pitifully complaining the foresaide marchants auouch verifie and affirme that vpon the 14. day after the feast of S. George in the yeere of our Lord next aboue written as 4. ships of Lenne laden with cloth wine and other marchandises were sailing vpon the maine sea with all the goods and wares conteined in them for Prussia sundry malefactors of Wismer and Rostok with others of the Hans being in diuers ships came vpon them and by â—orce of armes and strong hand tooke the said ships with the goods and marchandises contained in them and some of the people which were in the saide foure ships they slew some they spoyled and others they put vnto extreame ransomes And carying away with them those foure ships with the commodities and marchandise therin they parted stakes thâ—rwith as them listed to the great impâ—uerishment losse of the said marchants of Lenne namely in cloth of William Silesden Tho. Waterden Ioh. Brandon Ioh. WesenhaÌ„ other marchants of Lenne to the value of 3623 li.5.s.11 d. Item pitifully complaining the foresaid marchants doe affirme that one Henry Lambolt and other his adherents in the yeere of our Lord 1396. looke vpon the maine sea betweene Norway and Sâ—aw one crayer laden with osmunds and with diuers other marchandises perteining vnto Iohn Brandon of Lenne to the summe and value of 443 li.4.s.2.d Moreouer they tooke from Iohn Lakingay 4. lasts and an halfe of osmunds to the value of 220 lib.10.s Item the foresaid marchants complaine that certain malefactors of Wismer with other their compliâ—es of the Hans in the yeere of our Lord 1396. tooke from Thomas Ploker of Lenne out of a certaine ship sailing vpon the maine sea towaâ—ds Sconâ—land whereof Iames Snycop was master cloth and other marchandise to the summe and value of 13 lib.13.s.4.d Item the aboue-named marchants complaine saying that certaine malefactors of Wismer with others of the Hans society in the yere of our Lord 1397. wickedly and vniustly took out of a certaine ship of Dantzik whereof Laurence van Russe was master from Ralph Bedingam of Lenne one fardel of cloth worth 52 li.7.s.6.d Also for the ransome of his seruant 8 li.6.s.8.d Itemâ— they tooke from Thomas Earle diuers goods to the value of 24. pounds Item the foresaid marchants complainâ—â— that certaine malefactors of Wismer Rostok with others of the Hans in the yeere of our Lord 1399. wickedly vniustly tooke one crayer pertayning vnto Iohn Lakingliâ—h of Lenne laden with diuers goods and marchandise pertaining vnto sundry marchants of Lenne namely from the forenamed Iohn one fardel of cloth and one chest full of harneis and other things to the value of 90 lib Item they took out of the foresaid ship from Roger Hood one fardel of cloth and one chest with diuers goods to the value of 58 lib Item from Iohn Pikeron one fardell of cloth and one chest with
diuers goods to the value of 440 lib Item from Andrew Purser one farnell of cloth and one chest with diuers commodities therein to the value of ten pounds Item the aboue-named marchants complaine saying that certaine malefactors of Wismer Rostok and others of the Hans namely Godekin Mighel Henrie van Hall de Stertebeker with other of their confederates in the yeere of our Lord 1399. wickedly and vniustly took from Iohn Priour of Lenne out of the ship of Michael van Buâ—gh namely â—60 nests of maseâ—s worth 100 lib.13.s.4.d Item 30. furres rigges of Kaleber woorth 13 s.4.d a piâ—ce the summe totall amounting to 20 li Item 20. furres wombys of Kalebre worth c. Item one girdle of siluer and one dagger adorned with siluer worth 30 s Item two coates and one long iacket and other goods to the value of 30 s Item he paide for his ransome 4 lib.13.s.4.d Unto all and singular the articles aboue-written the ambassadors of England aforesaid do further adde that the doers and authors of the damages iniuries and robberies set down in the articles aboue written of whom some are named in particular and others in general performed and committed all those outrages being hired thereunto at the expenses and charges of the common societies of the cities aforesaid And that the inhabitants of euery houshold in the foresaide cities ech man according to his ability wittingly purposely set foorth one two or more menâ— for the very same expedition wherein all and singular the foresaid trespasses were committed The foresaid English ambassadors doe exhibite the articles aboue written vnto the procurators of the cities of Wismer and Rostok aforesaid leaue and libertie being alwayes reserued vnto the said ambassadors to enlarge or to diminish or to expound all or euery or any of the said Articles whatsoeuer so often as it shall â—eeme expedient vnto them These be the grieuances and offences whereat the marchants of the Hans of Almaine comming vnto and residing in the Realme of England doe finde themselues aggrieued contrarie to the Articles and priuileges of the Charter graunted vnto them by the worthy Progenitors of the king of England that now is and also by the saide soueraigne Lord the King ratified and confirmed IMprimis whereas the foresaide marchants haue a priuilege graunted vnto them by Charter that they may in cities boroughs and in other towns and villages throughout the whole realme of England exercise traffique in grosse as wel with the natural inhabitants of the kingdome â—s with strangers and priuate personâ— of late those that are free deâ—izens in the cities boroughs and villages within the foresaid kingdome do hinder and restrain all others that be strangers foreners and aliens that they neither câ—n nor dare buy and sel with the marchants of the Hans aforesaid to their great hinderance and losse Item the foresaid marchants by vertue of their charter were wont to haue and to hold Innes and mansions for the reposing of themselues and of their goods wheresoeuer they pleased in any cities boroughs or villages throughout the whole kingdome howbeit of late the foresaide marchants are not suffered to take vp their mansions contrary to the tenoâ—r of their charter Item the foresaid marchants are priuileged not to vndergoe any other burthens or impositions but onely to pay certaine customs as it doeth by their charter manifestly appeare Notwithstanding at y e same time when Simon de Moreden was maior of London the foresaid marchants were constrained in the ward of Doue-gate at London to pay fifteenths tallages and other subsidies contrary to the liberties of their charter Whereupon the saide marchants prosecuâ—ed the matter before the Councel of our soueraign lord the king insomuch that they were released from paying afterward any such tallages fifteenths and subsidies Which marchants a while after of their owne accord and free will gaue vnto the gild-hall of London an hundreth markes sterling conditionally that they of the citie aforesaide should not at any time after exact or demaund of the said marchants or of their successors any tallages fifteenths or subsidies contrary to the tâ—nor of their charter as by records in the foresaid gild-hall it doth more plainly appeare Howbeit of late the officers of our lord the king in the foresaid ward of Doue-gate constrained the marchants aforesaid to pay tallages fifteenths other subsidies And because the saide marchants murmured and refused to pay any such contributions alleaging their priuileges the foresaid officers arrested the goods of those said marchants which are as yet detained vpon the arâ—est notwithstanding that they were released before the councel of our soueraigne lord the king also that they gaue vnto the said gild-hall one hundreth marks to be released as it is aforesaid And also the foresaid marchants were constrained to pay 12.d in the pound and of late 6.d and other subsidies more then their ancient customes to the great damage of those marchants Item the foresaid marchants are priuileged as touching customs of wols by theÌ„ bought within the realm of England y t they are not bound to pay ouer besides their ancient cusâ—oms but onely xl.d. more then the homeborn marchants of England were wont to pay But now y e foresaid marchants are compelled to pay for euery sack of wool besides y e ancient custom the 40.d aforesaid a certain impositioÌ„ called Pence for the town of Cales namely for euery sack of wool 19.d more then the marchants of England doe pay to their great losse against the liberty of their charter Item the foresaid marchants are priuileged by their charter that concerning the quantity of their marchandize brought into the realme of England in regard whereof they are bound to pay 3.d for the worth of euery pound of siluer credit is to be giuen vnto them for the letters of their masters and of their companies if they were able to shew them And if so be they had no letters in this behalfe to shew that then credite should bee giuen vnto themselues and that their othe or the othe of their atturney should be taken without any other proof as touching the value of their marchandize so brought in that thereupon they should be bound to pay customs namely the customes of 3.d iustly for that cause to be paid But nowe the customers of our soueraigne lorde the king put their goods to an higher rate then they ought or were woont to be and heereupon they compell them to pay custome for their goods at their pleasure scanning about their fraight and expenses particularly disbursed in regard of the said goods and marchandize to the great hinderance of the said marchants and against the teâ—or of their charter Item the foresaid marchants by way of pitiful complaint do alleage that whereas the worthy progenitors of our Lord the king that now is by vertue of the saide great charter gâ—aunted libertie vnto them to pay the customes of certain
thankfull mind accept and by the tenour of the said letters of yours totally approue the concord of a certaine satisfaction to be performed with the payment of certaine summes of money howsoeuer due vnto your subiects as well of Prussia as of Liuonia expressed in our former letters within the termes prefixed by our consent and limited in our said letters aud also of other summes which within one whole yeare immediatly following the feast of Easter last past by sufficient proofes on their part to bee made before our chauncelour at our citie of London shall be found due vnto them conditionally that without inconuenience of delay and impediments the premisses be performed as they ought to be And that your selfe also will without fayle vpon the termes appoynted for the said payments procure satisfaction â—o be made accordingly vnto our endamaged subiects with the summes due vnto them by reason of their losses whereof they haue sufficient information Wherefore in regard of those your friendly letters and your courteous auswere returned by them vnto vs as is aforesaid wee doe yeelde vnto you right vnfained thanks But because it will vndoubtedly be most acceptable and pleasing both vnto vs and vnto our people and vnto you and your subiects that the zeale and ferueâ—cie of loue which hath from auncient times growen and increased betweene our progenitours for them and their subiects and your predecessors and their subiects and which by the insolencie of of certayne lewde persons without any consent of the principall lords hath often bene violated betweene vs and you and mutually betweene the subiects of vs both may be put in perpetuall vre and obtaine full strength in time to come sithens hereupon by Gods assistance it is to be hoped that vnspeakeable commodity and quiet will redound vnto both parts may it seeme good vnto your discretion as it seemeth expedient vnto vs that some messengers of yours sufficiently authorised to parle agree and conclude with our deputy about the mutuall contraction of a perpetuall league and confirmation of friendship may with all conuenient speede be sent vnto our presence At whose arriuall not onely in this busines so profitable and behoouefull but also in certaine other affaires concerning the former treaties and conclusions they may yea and of necessitie must greatly auayle Wherefore our entirely beloued friend euen as vpon confidence of the premisses we haue thought good to grant vnto the marchants and subiects of our realme full authority to resort vnto your dominions so we doe in like maner graunt vnto your marchants and subiects free licence and liberty with their marchandises and goods securely to come into our realmes and dominions there to stay and at their pleasures thence to returne home Moreouer if Arnold Dassel who last of all presented your foresayd letters vnto vs shal thinke good in the meane season to make his abode here in our dominions as in very deede it is expedient he may both by serious consideration and deliberate consulting with our commissioners more conueniently and prosperously finde out wayes and meanes for the more speedy expedition of all the premisses Fare ye well in Christ. Giuen vnder our priuie seale at our palace of Westminster the seuenth of March in the yere of our lord 1408 according to the computation of the Church of England and in the tenth yere of our reigne A new concord concluded between king Henry the 4. and Vlricus de Iungingen Master generall of Prussia in the yeare of our Lord 1409. BY this indenture or letters indented be it euidently knowen for the perpetual memory of the matter vnto all faithfull Christians that the noble honourable personages Richard Merlowe Maior and citizen of London Master Iohn Kington clerke and William Askham citizen and Alderman of the same citie the commissioners of the most soueraigne prince and lord L. Henrie by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland and Tidericus de Longenthorpe knight Lefardus de Hereford burgomaster of Elbing and Iohn Crolowe citizen of the citie of Dantzik the procurators commissioners deputies and messengers of the right noble and religious personage Fr. Vlricus de Iungingen Master general of the order of the Dutch knights of S. Maries hospital of Ierusalem hauing in the names of the sayd king and Master by vertue of the power on both parts committed vnto them sufficient authority haue appointed and with one consent agreed vpon all and singular the things vnder written Imprimis for the conseruation of mutuall loue and wonted amiâ—ie and for the tranquilitie of sweete amiable peace it is decreed and ordained that all and singular the liege people subiects of the Realme of England and the Marchants of the territories dominions of the said Realme and all other persons of what state or condition soeuer shall and may safely and securely as well by land as by water enter into the parts of Prussia and there mutually conuerse and freely after the maner of Marchants exercise traffique aswell with the Prussians as with others of what nation or qualitie soeuer there also make their abode and thence vnto their owne homes and dwelling places returne and depart vnto any place whither and so often as they shall thinke good as well by land as by water with their goods marchandize and wares whatsoeuer faithfully paying in the meane time all rights customes due in regard of their said wares and marchandize Reserued alwaies vnto the said Master and his successours all right and remedie ordained granted and vouchsafed in certaine obligations by our Lord the king whereof mention shall be made in the articles following Item it is ordained that all and singular the subiects of the said Master generall and of his order of what state and condition soeuer shall and may as well by water as by land enter into the kingdome of England and into the territories and dominions thereof and there mutually conuerse and freely after the maner of Marchants exercise traffique as well with all English people as with others of what nation or qualitie soeuer and there also make their abode and thence returne vnto their owne habitations and dwelling places and to depart whither they will and as oft as they shall thinke good as well by land as by water with their goods marchandize and wares whatsoeuer truely paying in the meane time all rights and customes due in regard of their said wares and Marchandize Reserued alwayes vnto the said soueraigne king his heires and successours all rights and remedies ordained and graunted vnto them in certaine obligations by the commissioners and procurators of the said Master generall aboue-named and in the name of the said Master generall Item it is with one consent agreed vpon promised and graunted that for all and singular damages grieuances and robberies howsoeuer done and committed before the date of these presents against the foresaid soueraigne Prince and his subiects whatsoeuer and all others which at the time
vnto y e foresaid Matthew Ludekinson Item by Nicholas Scot of Caleis the sonne of Tutbury and Hilg of Hull 256. nobles which are due vnto the foresayd Arnold de Aschen Item by the inhabitants of Scardeburgh Blakeney and Crowmer who had one Iohn Iolly of Blakeney for their captaine 156. nobles which are due vnto Henrie Culeman aforesayd Item by the inhabitants of Bayon Whose Capitaine was one Pideuille 125. nobles which are due vnto the said Iohn Vnkeltop Item by the inhabitants of Plymmouth and Dertmouth whose Captaines were Henry Pay and William Gadeling 600. nobles which are due vnto the foresayde Iohn Halewater in respect of his goods by them violently taken away Item 334. nobles to be payed by the selfe same parties being due vnto the sayde Iohn Halewater by reason that they detained his ship from him three moneths and more which ship was of the burthen of three hundreth tonnes of wine and had in it all the foresayde time fiue and fourtie seruants maintained at the expenses of the sayde Iohn Halewater Item that Sir William de Ethingham knight who was Uice-admirall for the sea must bee summoned to alleage a reasonable cause for that the sayd Sir William with his seruants expelled the said Iohn Halewater out of his ship for the space of fifteene dayes together and tooke of the goods and victuals of the said Iohn to the summe of 114. nobles why he ought not to pay the said summe of 114. nobles vnto Iohn Halewater aforesaid which if hee shall not bee willing nor able to alleage before the first of April next ensuing that then by the kings authoritie hee must be compelled to pay vnto the foresaid Iohn the said 114 nobles Item by the inhabitants of Caleis whose captaines were Michael Scot Bishop and William Horneby 1900. nobles which are due vnto the foresayde Eggard Scoff because the saide soueraigne king hath giuen them in charge by the said Michael Scot and the rest concerning the payment of the summe aforesaid Item by Iohn Bilis neere vnto Crowmer 68. nobles which are due vnto Nicholas Wolmersten of Elbing Which summes of nobles must by the kings authoritie bee leuied at the hands of his subiects aboue-mentioned betweene the time that nowe is and the feast of the Purification of the blessed virgine which shall fall in the yeere of our Lord 1411. effectually to bee deliuered and payed vnto the sayd Master generall or his lawfull procurator or vnto his successours or their lawfull procuratours at the Citie of London vpon the feast aforesaid Item it is couenanted that besides the summes specified in the foresayde letters obligatorie made in the behalfe of the said soueraigne prince there are due to be paied vnto one Iohn Marion of Wersingham lately deceased being in his life-time the liege subiect of the foresaid soueraigne prince 200. nobles of English money in regard of certaine iniuries and robberies done and committed before the date of these presents against the foresayde Iohn by one Eghard Scoff subiect vnto the said Master generall for the full satisfaction of the saide damages and robberies to bee made vnto the said deceased Iohn his wife children heires or exceutors by the said Egghard his heâ—res or by the administrators of his goods at the time and place aboue-mentioned Item it is couenanted confirmed and promised that for all the iniuries and robberies done and committed against one Iohn Dordewant of Elbing being in his life time subiect vnto the sayd Master generall by the liege people and subiects of the said soueraigne king the inhabitants of Scardeburgh before the date of these presents for the full recompense of all such iniuries and robberies there must bee payed vnto one Iohn Gruk of Dantzik eight hundred nobles of English money vpon the feast of Easter next following in the Citie of London by them of Scardeburgh being guiltie and culpable in this behalfe who are by definitiue sentence condemned vnto the said Iohn in the summe of 800. nobles by reason of the iniuries and robberies aforesaid Except the lawfull expenses in this behalfe layed out they are also taxed in due time for the issue And therefore the foresayde condemned parties whose names are in the sentence against them pronounced in this behalfe more expresly contained must in the meane season by the kings authoritie be compelled and constrained really and actually to obey the foresaid sentence namely by deliuering and paying vnto Iohn Gruk the summe of 800. nobles at the time and place aboue mentioned with reasonable expences wherein also the said parties stand condemned their lawfull taxation being reserued Item it is couenanted and granted that the heires of Lord Henrie de Percy the yonger after they shall come vnto lawfull age and shall haue attained vnto the possessions and goods of their inheritance must be compelled by the kings authoritie iustice going before to make satisfaction vnto the great procurator of Marienburgh with the summe of 838. nobles in lieu of certaine corne and graine which the foresaid Lord Henrie in the yeere 1403 bought and receiued of the said great procuratour for the vse of the castle of Zutberwik In testimonie and confirmation of all the which premisses the said Tedericus Lefardus and Iohn Crolow of their certaine knowledges haue put tâ—eir seales vnto these present letters indented in the presence of the aboue-named Richard Merlow Iohn Kington and William Askam commissioners for the behalfe of England Giuen at the Citie of London in England the fourth day of December in the yeere of our Lord 1409. Carta Henrici quarti Anno quinto regni sui concesâ—a mercatoribus Angliae in partibus Prussiae Daciae Norwegiae Swethiae Germaniae de gubernatore inter ipsos ibidem constituendo HEnricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae omnibus ad quos praesentes literae peruenerint salutem Sâ—iatis quod cum vt accepimus ob defectum boni sani regiminis gubernationis diuersa damna dissensiones grauamina angustiae inter mercatores Regni nostri Angliae in partibus Pruciae Daciae Norwegiae Hansae Swethiae commorâ—ntes saepius ante haec tempora mota fuissent perpetrata ac maiora exinde quod absit futuris temporibus verisimiliter euenire formidantur nisi pro meliori gubernatione inter eosdem mercatores mutuò habenda manus nostras adiutrices apponamus Nos damnis periculis in hac parte imminentibus praecauere eosdem Mercatores alios de dicto regno nostro ad partes praedictas venturos iuste fideliter regi pertractari intime desiderantes volumus tenore praesentium concedimus eisdem mercatoribus quod ipsi quoties quando eis placuerit in quodam loco competenti honesto vbi sibi placuerit se congregare vnire certas personas sufficientes idoneas in gubernatores suos in eisdem pattibus inter se ad eorum libitum eligere obtinere valeant libere impune
enterprise vnknowen and by our Marchants and subiects not commonly frequeÌ„ted and to enter and land in the sanle without any maner of denying paine penaltie or forfeiture to be had or taken by anie our lawes customes or statutes to our vse or to the vse of our heires or successors for the same And we haue also granted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe graunt vnto the sayd Gouernours Consuls assistants fellowship and comminalty and to their successours and to their Factors and assignes and to euery of them licence for to reare plant erect and fasten our banners standards flags and Ensignes in whatsoeuer citie towne village castle Isle or maine lande which shall be by them newly found without any the penalties forfeitures or dangers aforesayde and that the sayd fellowship and comminalty and their successors Factors assignes and euery of them shall and may subdue possesse and occupie all maner cities townes Isles and maine lands of infidelitie which is or shall be by them or any of them newly founde or descried as our vassals and subiects and for to acquire and get the Dominion title and iurisdiction of the same Cities Townes Castles Uillages Isles and maine landes which shall bee by them or any of them newly discouered or found vnto vs our heires and successours for euer And furthermore whereas by the voyage of our subiects in this last yeere attempted by Nauigation towards the discouerie and disclosure of vnknowen places Realmes Islandes and Dominions by the seas not frequented it hath pleased Almighty God to cause one of the three shippes by them set foorth for the voyage and purpose aboue mentioned named the Edward Bonauenture to arriue abide and winter within the Empire and dominions of the high and mightie Prince our cousin and brother Lord Iohn Basiliuich Emperour of all Russia Volodomer great duke of Moscouie c. Who of his clemencie for our loue and zeale did not onely admitte the Captaine and marchants our subiects into his protection and Princely presence but also receiued and intertained them very graciously and honourably granting vnto them by his letters addressed vnto vs franke accesse into all his Seigniories and dominions with licence freely to traffique in and out with all his Subiects in all kinde of Marchandise with diuers other gracious priuiledges liberties and immunities specified in his sayde letters vnder his Signet Know yee therefore that wee of our further royall fauour and munificence of our meere motion certaine knowledge and speciall grace for vs our heires and successours haue giuen and graunted and by these presents doe giue and grant vnto the same Gouernours Consuls assistants fellowship and comunalty aboue named and to their successours as much as in vs is that all the mayne landes Isles portes hauens creekes and riuers of the said mighty Emperour of all Russia and great duke of Mosco c. And all and singuler other lands dominions territories Isles Portes hauens creekes riuers armes of the sea of al and euery other Emperor king prince ruler and gouernor whatsoeuer he or they before the said late adenture or enterprise not knowen or by our foresayd marchants and subiects by the seas not commonly frequented nor by any part nor parcell thereof lying Northwards North-eastwards or Northwestwards as is aforesayd by sea shall not be visited frequented nor hanted by any our subiects other then of the sayd company and felowship and their successours without expresse licence agreement and consent of the Gouernour Consuls and Assistants of the said felowship and communaltie aboue named or the more part of them in manner and number asoresayd for the time being vpon paine of forfeiture and losse as well of the shippe and shippes with the appurtenances as also of all the goods marchandises and things whatsoeuer they be of those our subiects not being of the sayd felowship and communalty which shall attempt or presume to saile to any of those places which bee or hereafter shall happen to bee found and â—raffiked vnto the one halfe of the same forfeiture to be to the vse of vs our heires and successors and the other halfe to be to the vse of the sayd fellowship and communaltie And if it shall fortune anie stranger or strangers for to attempt to hurt hinder or endamage the same marchants their factors deputies or assignes or any of them is sailing going or returning at any time in the sayd aduenture or for to saile or trade to or from any those places landes or coastes which by the sayd marchants their factors deputies and assignes haue bene or shall bee descried discouered and found or frequented aswell within the coastes and limites of gentility as within the dominions and Seigniories of the sayd mighty Emperour and Duke and of all and euery other Emperour King Prince Ruler and gouernour whatsoeuer he or they be before the sayd late aduenture or enterprise not knowen by any our said marchants and subiects by the seas not commonly frequented and lying Northwards Northwestwards or Northeastwards as aforesaid then wee will and grant and by these presents doe licence and authorise for vs our heires and successors the said marchants their factors deputies and assignes and euery of them to doe their best in their defence to resist the same their enterprises and attempts Willing therefore and straightly commanding and charging al and singuler our Officers Maiors Sherifes Escheators Constables Barlifes and all and singuler other our ministers and liege men and subiects whatsoeuer to bee aiding fauouring helping assisting vnto the sayd gouernour or gouernours Consuls assistants fellowship and communalty and to their successeors and deputies factors seruants and assignes and to the deputies factors and assignes of euery of them in executing and enioying the premisses as well on land as in the sea from time to time and at all times when you or any of you shall be thereunto required In witnesse whereof c. Apud Westmonasterium 6 die Feb. Annis regnorum nostrorum primo secundo Certaine instructions deliuered in the third voyage Anno 1556. for Russia to euery Purser and the rest of the seruants taken for the voyage which may serue as good and necessary directions to all other like aduenturers FIrst you shall before the ship doth begin to lade goe aboord and shall there take and write one inuentorie by the aduise of the Master or of some other principall officer there aboord of all the tackle apparell cables ankers ordinance chambers shot powder artillerie and of all other necessaries whatsoeuer doth belong to the sayd ship and the same iustly taken you shall write in a booke making the sayd Master or such officer priuie of that which you haue so written so that the same may not be denied when they shall call accompt thereof that done you shall write a copie of the same with your owne hand which you shall deliuer before the shippe shall depart for the voyage to
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
England receiued and conducted there intertained vsed honoured and finally in good safetie towards his returne and repaire furnished and with much liberalitie and franke handling friendly dismissed to the intent that the trueth of the premisses may bee to the most mightie Emperour of Russia sincerely signified in eschewment of all euents and misfortunes that may chance in this voyage which God defend to the Ambassadours person traine and goods this present memoriall is written and autentikely made and by the sayde Ambassadour his seruants whose names be vnderwritten and traine in presence of the Notarie and witnesses vndernamed recognized and acknowledged Giuen the day moneth and yeere vnderwritten of which instrument into euery of the sayde Shippes one testimoniall is deliuered and the first remaineth with the sayde Companie in London Giftes sent to the King and Queenes Maiesties of England by the Emperour of Russia by the report of the Ambassadour and spoyled by the Scots after the Shipwracke 1 First sixe timber of Sables rich in colour and haire 2 Item twentie entire Sables exceeding beautifull with teeth eares and clawes 3 Item foure liuing Sables with chaines and collars 4 Item thirtie Lusarnes large and beautifull 5 Item sixe large and great skinnes very rich and rare worne onely by the Emperour for woorthinesse 6 Item a large and faire white Ierfawcon for the wilde Swanne Crane Goose and other great Fowles together with a drumme of siluer the hoopes gilt vsed for a lure to call the sayd Hawke Giftes sent to the Emperour of Russia by the King and Queenes Maiesties of England 1 First two rich pieces of cloth of Tissue 2 Item one fine piece of Scarlet 3 Item one fine Uiolet in graine 4 Item one fine Azur cloth 5 Item a notable paire of Brigandines with a Murrian couered with Crimson veluet and gilt nailes 6 Item a Male and Female Lions Giftes giuen to the Ambassadour at his departure ouer and aboue such as were deliuered vnto him at his first arriuall 1 First a chaine of golde of one hundred pound 2 Item a large Bason and Ewer siluer and gilt 3 Item a paire of pottle pots gilt 4 Item a paire of flaggons gift The names of all such Russies as were attendant vpon the Ambassadour at and before his departure out of England Isaak Fwesschencke Demetre Gorbolones Symonde Yeroffia Stephen Lowca Andria Foma Memorandum the day and yeere of our Lord aboue mentioned in the house of the worshipfull Iohn Dimmocke Citizen and Draper of London situate within the famous Citie of London in the Realme of England the aboue named honourable Osep Gregorywich Napea Ambassadour and Orator aboue mentioned personally constituted and present hauing declared vnto him by the mouth of the right worshipfull master Anthonie Hussie Esquire the effect of the causes and contents of and in this booke at the interpretation of Robert Best his interpreter sworne recognized and knowledged in presence of me the Notarie personages vnder written the contents of this booke to be true aswell for his owne person as for his seruants aboue named who did not subscribe their names as is aboue mentioned but onely recognized the same In witnesse whereof I Iohn Incent Notarie Publike at the request of the said Master Anthonie Hussie and other of the Marchants haue to these presents vnderwritten set my accustomed signe with the Subscription of my name the day and yeere aboue written being present the right Worshipfull Aldermen of London Knights Andrew Iudde George Barne William Chester Rafe Greeneaway Iohn Mersh Esquier Iohn Dimmock Blase Sanders Hubert Hussie and Robert Best aboue mentioned The voyage of the foresaid M. Stephen Burrough An. 1557. from Colmogro to Wardhouse which was sent to seeke the Bona Esperanza the Bona Confidentia and the Philip and Mary which were not heard of the yeere before May. VPon Sunday the 23. of May I departed with the Searchthrift from Colmogro the latitude whereof is 64. degrees 25. minutes and the variation of the compasse 5. degrees 10. minutes from the North to the East Wednesday we came to the Island called Pozanka which Island is within foure leagues of the barre Berozoua It floweth here at an East and by South Moone full sea Saturday in the morning we departed from Pozanka and plied to the barre of Berôzoua Gooba whereupon wee came to anker at a lowe water and sounded the said Barre with our two Skiffes and found in the best vpon the shoaldest of the barre 13. foote water by the rule It highâ—th vpon this barre in spring streames 3. foote water and an East Moone maketh a full sea vpon this barre Sunday in the morning wee departed from the barre of Berozoua and plied along by the shoalds in fiue fadome vntill I had sight of S. Nicholas roade and then wee cast about to the Northwards and went with a hommocke which is halfe a mile to the Eastwards of Coya Reca which hommocke and S. Nicholas abbey lye Southsouthwest and Northnortheast and betweene them are 11. leagues Coia Reca is halfe a mile to the Eastwards of Coscaynos Coscaynos the middes of the Island called Mondeustoua ostroue which is thwart of the barre of Berozoua lieth South and by East North and by West and betweene them are 4. leagues or as you may say from the Seaboord part of the barre to Coscaynos are 3. leagues and a halfe Munday at a Northeast and by East sunne we were thwart of Coscaynos Dogs nose lieth from Coscaynos Northnorthwest and betweene them are eight leagues and Dogs nose sheweth like a Gurnerds head if you be inwardly on both sides of it on the lowe point of Dogs nose there standeth a crosse alone Iune FRom Dogs nose to Foxenose are three leagues North and by West The 2. day of Iune I went on shoare 2. miles to the Northwards of Dogs nose and had the latitude of that place in 65. degrees 47. minutes It floweth a shoare at this place at an East Moone full sea and the shippe lay thwart to wende a floodâ— in the off at a Southsoutheast moone So that it is to be vnderstoode that when it is a full sea on the shoare it is two points to ebbe before it be a lowe water in the off The variation of the Compasse at this place is 4. degrees from the North to the East This day the Northnorthwest winde put vs backe againe with Dogs nose where a ship may ride thwart of a salt house in 4. fadome or 4. fadome and a halfe of water and haue Landfange for a North and by West winde which Salt house is halfe a mile to the Southwards of Dogs nose Friday at a Southsouthwest Sunne wee departed from this Salt house It is to be noted that foure miles to the Northwards of Dogs nose there growe no trees on the banke by the water side and the bankes consist of fullers earth Ouer the cliffes there growe some trees so that Dogs nose is the better to be
weather in such sort as the one cannot haue sight of the other then and in such case the Admiral shall make sound and noise by drumme trumpet horne gunne or otherwise or meanes that the ships may come as nigh together as by safetie and good order they may 6 It is also to be obserued that euery day once the other three shippes shall send and come aboord the Admirall and there consult and determine of such matter and things as shall be for the assurance of their Nauigation and most expedition of the same 7 Item that notes entries be daily made of their Nauigations put in writing memory and that the yong Mariners and apprentices may be taught caused to learne and obserue the same 8 It is accorâ—ed that the said Captaine shall haue the principall rule and gouernement of the apprentices And that not onely they but also all other the sailers shal be attendant and obedient to him as of duetie and reason appertaineth 9 Also that no beere nor broth or other liquor be spilt vpon the balast or other place of the ship whereby any anoyance stinke or other vnsauorinesse shall growe in the shippe to the infection or hurt of the persons in the same 10 Item that the Captaine by discretion shall from time to time disship any artificer or English seruing man or apprentice out of the Primrose into any of the other three ships and in lieu of him or them take any such apprentice as he shall thinke conuenient and most meete to serue the benefite of the companie 11 Item that great respect be had to the Gunners and Cookes roomes that all danger and perill of powder and fire may be eschewed and auoyded 12 Item that singular care and respect be had to the ports of the ship aswell in Nauigation as in harborow and especially in lading and vnlading of the shippes that nothing be lacking or surcharged and that the bookes may oftentimes be conferred and made to agree in eschuement of such losses as may ensue 13 Special foresight is to be had that at the Wardhouse no treacherie inuasion or other peril of molestation be done or procured to be attempted to our ships by any kings princes or companies that do mislike this new found trade by seas to Russia or would let hinder the same whereof no small boast hath bene made which giueth occasion of more circumspection and diligence 14 If the winde and weather will serue it is thought good rather to goe by the Wardhouse then to come in and anâ—re there lest any male engine or danger may be the rather attempted against vs our goods and ships as aboue 15 It is thought good that Richard Iohnson late seruant to M. Chanceler shall be sent home in this next returne to instruct the company of the state of the Countrey and of such questions as may be demanded of him for our better aduertisements and resolutions in such doubts as shall arise here and that he shall haue the roome of the Captaine in such sort as Master Ienkinson is in this present cocket assigned vnto And if Iohnson can not may not nor will not returne and occupie the said place then any other person to be preferred thereunto as by the discretion of our said Captaine with consent of our Agents shall be thought meete and apt to supply the same 16 Prouided alway that the ships returning be not disfurnished of one such able man as shall occupie the Captainship in like order as is and hath bene in such case appoynted as reason and good order requireth 17 Item that all other former orders rules and deuises made and prouided for the good order of our ships wares and goods being not repugnant contrary or diuerse to these articles and the contents of the same shall be and stand in full force and effect to be in all respects obserued and kept of all and euery person and persons whom the same doth or shall touch or concerne In witnesse of the premisses faithfully to be obserued and kept the owners and Masters of the said foure ships together with the said Captaine to these seuenteene articles contained in two sheetes of paper haue subscribed their hands Giuen in London the third of May in the yeere of our Lord God 1557. ¶ Owners of the Primerose Andrewe Iudde William Chester Anthony Hickman Edward Casteline ¶ Owners of the Iohn Euangelist Andrew Iudde William Chester ¶ Owner of the Anne Iohn Dimocke ¶ Owner of the Trinitie R.T. A letter of the Company of the Marchants aduenturers to Russia vnto George Killingworth Richard Gray and Henry Lane their Agents there to be deliuered in Colmogro or els where sent in the Iohn Euangelist AFter our heartie commendations vnto you and to either of you your generall letter and other particular letters with two bookes of the sale and remainders of our goods and the buying of ware there with you we receiued about the ende of Nouember out of the Edward with heauie newes of the losse of the sayde good shippe and goods at Petslego in Scotland with the death of Richard Chanceler and his Boy with certaine of the Embassadours seruants and he himselfe with nine of his seruants escaped very hardly onely by the power of God but all his goods and ours in maner were lost and pilfered away by the Scots and that that is saued is not yet come to our hands but we looke for it daily and it will skant pay the charges for the recouering of it No remedy but patience and to pray to God to send vs better fortune hereafter As touching the receiuing and entertaining of the Embassadour and his retinewe since his comming to England at the king and Queenes Maiesties hands with the Counsell Lords of this Realme and the Marchants that be free in Russia with feasting and beneuolence giuen him wee referre it to his report and others The like we thinke haue not bene seene nor shewed here of a long time to any Ambassadour The Philip and Marie arriued here tenne dayes past shee wintered in Norway The Confidence is lost there And as for the Bona Esperanza as yet we haue no newes of her We feare it is wrong with her By your billes of lading receiued in your generall letters we perceiue what wares are laden in them both Your letters haue no date nor mention where they were made which were written by Henry Lane and firmed by you George Killingworth and Richard Gray both it and the other Letters and Bookes came so sore spoyled and broken with water that we cannot make our reckoning by them You shall vnderstand we haue fraighted for the parts of Russia foure good shippes to be laden there by you your order That is to say The Primerose of the burthen of 240. Tunnes Master vnder God Iohn Buckland The Iohn Euangelist of 170. Tunnes Master vnder God Laurence Roundal The Anne of London of the burthen of 160. tunnes Master vnder God
praesidio sit illi familiaribus suis seruis tutum liberumque cum mercibus sarcinis equis bonis suis vniuersis inuehendis euehendâ—sque per vestra regna domicilia atque prouincias proficisci ire transire redire a bire istic morati quamdiu placuerit inde recedere quandocunque illi aut suis libitum fuerit Et sicut non dubitamus quin vestra Maiestas haec omnia humanitatis grata osficia pro immensa bonitate suae naturae benignè largiter huic famulo nostro sit concessura ita valdè optamus adeóque petimus vt vestra Maiestas eodem nostrum famulum vnà cum omnibus suis familiaribus ac bonis exteris alijs principibus literis suis dignetur commendare praesertim vero atque seorsim Magno Sophi Persarum Imperatori in cuius etiam imperia ditiones idem noster famulus gratia potissimè experiundi peregrina commercia proficisci vnà cum suis constiâ—â—it Confidimus igitur haec omnia nostra postulata pro famuli spe pro nostra expectatione pro vestra bonitate pro nostrorum vtrinque sub ditorum commoditate fausta illi grata nobis accepta etiam vestrae Maiesti nostris vtrobÃque perquam vtilâ—a euasura Deus vestrae Maiestatis c. Datum in celeberrima nostra Ciuitate Londini anno mundi 5523. Domini ac Dei nostri Iesu Christi 1561. regnorum verô nostrorum terâ—io The same in English ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England c. to the right excellent and right mightie Prnice Lord Iohn Basiliwich Emperour of all Russia c. greeting and most happie increase in all prosperitie Right mightie Prince the amitÃe of your Maiestie towards vs and our subiects is very pleasant to vs to be remembred which being begun by the goodnesse of God in the reigne of our most deare brother of happie memorie King Edward the sixt and afterwards through your not onely singular humanitie fed and nourished but also through your incredible goodnesse increased and augmented is now firmed and established with all maner of tokens of your beneuolence that now we doubt not but that from hencefoorth during many ages the same shall endure to the praise of God to both our glories to the publike great commoditie of our Realmes on either part and to the priuate desired hope and certeine felicitie of all our subiects And although that this your goodnesse hath bene abundantly extended to all our subiects that haue at any time repaired into any part of your Empire for the which wee giue as reason is your Maiestie right heartie thanks and will againe shew the like vnto yours right willingly whensoeuer opportunitie shall require yet the abundance of your benignitie both in receiuing and also in enterteining our faithfull and beloued seruant Anthonie Ienkinson the bringer of these our letters is vnto vs for him priuately very thankefull For besides this that in all places of your Empire he not onely by your Maiesties sufferance but also by your commandement enioyed much libertie and great friendship your goodnesse not ceasing in this your domesticall disposition of clemencie did right willingly and of your owne abundant grace commend the same our welbeloued seruant by your letters sealed with your Imperiall seale to sundrie forren Princes vnto whom he was minded to iourney which your magnificence did purchase vnto him happily according to his desire both passage without all perill through your notable credit and also atchieuing of his iourney through your commendation Therefore like as these your duplicated beneuolences both that one generally exhibited to all our subiects frequenting that your Realme and also this the other extended apart to this our right faithâ—ull â—eruant Anthonie Ienkinson is right assuredly fastened in our remembrance not onely for a perpetuall and gratefull memoriall but also for a mutuall and meet compensation so we desire of your Maiestie to vouchsafe from hencefoorth to conserue and continue the geminate disposition of your beneuolences both generally to all our subiects and also priuately to this our beloued seruant And we doubt not but that at our request you will againe graciously shew vnto the same Anthony now admitted into our seruice the like fauor as heretofore your Maiesty of your meere motion did exhibite vnto him being then a priuate person And therefore we desire your Maiesty eft soones to grant to the same our seruant your letters of licence pasport safe conduct through the tenour authority and helpe whereof he his seruants together with their merchandises baggages horses and goods whatsoeuer that shall be brought in or carried out by or thorow all your empire kingdome dominions and prouinces may surely and freely iourney go passe repasse depart and there tary so long as it shall please him and from thence returne whensoeuer it shall seeme good to him or his and as we doubt not but that your Maiesty in the goodnesse of your nature will graciously and abundantly grant all these good offices of humanity so we do heartily desire that your Maiesty wil likewise vouchsafe to commend the same our seruant together with all his goods by your letters to other forren Princes and specially to the great Sophy and Emperour of Persia into whose empire and iurisdictions the same our seruant purposeth with his for to iourney chiefly for triall of forren merchandises We therefore doe trust that all these our demands shall tend and haue effect according to the hope of our seruant and to our expectation for your wealth for the commodity of both our subiects lucky to him thankefull to vs acceptable to your Maiesty and very profitable to our subiects on either part God grant vnto your Maiesty long and happy felicity in earth and euerlasting in heauen Dated in our famous city of London the 25 day of the moneth of April in the yeere of the creation of the world 5523 and of our Lord God Iesus Christ 1561 and of our reigne the third The Queenes Maiesties Letters to the Great Sophy of Persia sent by M. Anthonie Ienkinson 1561. ELIZABETHA Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Regina c. Potentissimo inuictissimo Principi Magno Sophi Persarum Medorum Parthorum Hircanorum Carmanorum Margianorum populorum â—is vltrà Tygrim fluuium omnium intra Mare Caspium Persicum sinum nationum atque Gentium Imperatori salutem rerum prosperarum foelicissimum incrementum Summi Dei benignitare factum est vt quas gentes non solum immensa terrarum spacia insuperabiles marium vastiâ—ates sed ipsi etiam coelorum cardines longissimè disiunxerunt ipsae tamen literarum bono mentis certa cogitata humanitatis grata officia intelligentiae mutuae multa commoda facilè inter se opportunè possint communicare Itaque cùm perdilectus fidelis noster famulus Antonius Ienkinson qui has literas nostras perfert cum bona venia fauore gratia
heate of the Sunne in the day causeth the deepe lakes of Ladega and specially of Onega to cleaue and if there should come then a sudden thaw as oftentimes in that time of the yeere doeth then doe these lakes open and breake whereby many men are lost and both men and horse drowned although other riuers do remaine frozen a long time after In the towne of Some also there are many warehouses whereof we cannot be destitute for the reposing of our wares as also as many barkes as you wil to transport your wares from thence to S. Nicholas road and that for three pence a poods caryage so that from the Citie of Nouogrod vnto S. Nicholas road you may haue wares caried for two altines The pood commeth vnto 23. altines the tunne Prouided alwayes that you buy your wares there your selfe and send it thence for there is no hope that the natiues will bring their wares from Nouogrod to Some in hope to sell vnto vs considering the great trade that they haue at the Narue which is within 180. miles off them Written by Thomas Southam a seruant to the company An Act for the corporation of Merchants aduenturers for the discouering of new trades made in the eight yeere of Queene Elizabeth Anno 1566. WHereas diuers very good Subiects of this Realme of England in the latter ende of the reigne of the late right high and mightie prince our Soueraigne Lord king Edward the sixt at the gracious incouragement and right good liking of the said king and by his Maiesties liberall example did at their aduenture and to their exceeding great charges for the glory of God the honor and increase of the reuenues of the Crowne and the common vtilitie of the whole Realme of England set forth thrâ—e ships for the discouery by Sea of Isles lands territories dominions and Seigniories vnknowen and by the Subiects of the sayd late king not commonly by seas frequented and after that Almightie God had called to his mercie the said king who died before the finishing and sealing of his most ample and gracious letters of priuiledges promised to the said Subiects as wel in consideration of the said enterprise as for diuers other respects it pleased our late souereigne Q. Mary at the humble suites of the same subiects to graunt by her letters Patents vnder the great Seale of England bearing date at Westminster the 26. day of February in the second yeere of her raigne for the considerations mentioned in the said letters Patents to the saide subiects being specially named in the saide letters Patents and to their successors that they by the name of Merchants aduenturers of England for the discouerie of lands territories Isles dominions and Seigniories vnknowen and not before their late aduenture or enterprise by seas or Nauigations coÌ„monly frequented should be from thenceforth one body and perpetual felowship and communaltie of themselues both in deed and in name and that the same felowship and communaltie from thenceforth should and might haue one or two gouernours foure Consuls and 24. assistants of the said felowship and comminaltie of Merchants aduenturers and that they by the name of the Gouernour Consuls assistants felowship and comminaltie of Merchants aduenturers for the discouery of lands territories Isles dominions and Seigniories vnknowen by the seas and Nauigations and not before their said late aduenture or enterprise by Seas frequented should or might be able in the lawe to implead and to bee impleaded to answere and to be answered to defend and to be defended before whatsoeuer Iudge or Iustice temporall or spiritual or other persons whatsoeuer in whatsoeuer court or courts and in all actions real personal and mixt and in euery of them and in all plaints of Nouel deseison and also in all plaints sutes quarrels affaires businesse and demaunds whatsoeuer they be touching and concerning the said felowship and comminaltie and the affaires and businesse of the same only in as ample maner and forme as any other corporation of this Realme might doe giuing also and granting vnto them by the said letters Patents diuers authorities powers iurisdictions preheminences franchises liberties and priuiledges as by the same letters Patents more at large will appeare And among other things mentioned in the said letters Patents whereas one of the three ships by the said fellowship before that time set foorth for the voyage of discouery aforesaid named the Edward Bonauenture had arriued within the Empire and dominion of the high and mightie Prince Lord Iohn Vasiliwich Emperour of all Russia Volodimersky great duke of Musky c. who receiued the Captaine and Merchants of the saide shippe very graciously granting vnto them freâ—â—y to traâ—fique with his subiects in all kinde of merchandizes with diuers other gracious priuiledges and liberties therefore the said late Queene by the same letters Patents for her her heires and successors did graunt that all the maine lands Isles ports hauens creeks and riuers of the said mighty Emperour of all Russia and great duke of Moâ—co c. and all and singular other lands dominions territories Isles ports hauens creeks riuers armes of the seas of al and euery other Emperour king prince ruler or gouerner whatsoeuer he or they be before the said late aduenture or enterprise not knowen or by the aforesaid merchants and subiects of the said king and Queene by the seas not commonly frequented nor any part or parcell thereof and lying Northwards Northeastwards or Northwestwards as in the said letters patents is mentioned should not be visited frequented nor hunted by any the subiects of the said late Queene other then of the said company and fellowship and their successors without expresse licence agreement consent of the Gouerner Consuls and Assistants of the said felowship and communaltie or the more part of them in maner forme as is expressed in the saide letters patents vpon paine of for feiture and losse as well of the ship and ships with the appurtenances as also of the goods merchandizes and things whatsoeuer they be of those the subiects of the said late Queene not being of the saide fellowship and communaltie which should attempt or presume to saile to any of those places which then were or after should happen to be found and traffiqued vnto the one halfe of the same forfriâ—ure to be to the vse of the said late Queene her heires successors and the other halfe to be to the vse of the said felowship communaltie as by the same letters patents more plainly will appeare Since the making of which letters patens the said fellowship haue to their exceeding great costes losses and expences not onely by their trading into the said dominions of the saide mightie prince of Russia c. found out conuenient way to saile into the saide dominions but also passing thorow the same and ouer the Caspian sea haue discouered very commodious trades into Armenia Media Hyrcania Persia and other dominions in Asia minor hoping by
Gods grace to discouer also the countrey of Cathaia and other regions very coÌ„uenient to be traded into by merchants of this realme for the great benefite and commodities of the same And forasmuch as diuers subiects of this realme vnderstanding the premises and perceiuing that now after the charge and trauel aforesaid diuers wares and merchandizes are brought by the saide fellowship into this Realme out of the dominions already discouered which bee within this realme of good estimation minding for their peculiar gaine vtterly to decay the trade of the â—ayde fellowship haue contrary to the tenor of the same letters patents in great disorder â—raded into the dominions of the said mightie prince of Russia c. to the great detriment of this common wealth And for that the name by which the saide felowship is incorporated by the letters patents aforesaid is long consisteth of very many words Therfore be it enacted by the Queenes most excellent Maiestie the Lords spiritual and temporal the commons in this present parliament assembled and by authoritie of the same that the said felowship company society corporation made or created by the said letters patents shal at al time times from henceforth be incorporated named and called onely by the name of the fellowship of English merchants for discouery of new trades and by the same name for euer shall and may continue a perpetuall body incorporate in deede and name and onely by the same name from henceforth shall implead and be impleaded answere and be answered defend and be defended sue and bee sued in whatsoeuer courts and places and shall and may by the same name bee inabled to purchase haue holde possesse reteine and enioy whatsoeuer manors landes tenements rents reuersions seruices heredicaments not exceeding a hundred marks yeerely not being holden of the Queenes maiestie her heires or successors by knights seruice in Capite and all goods merchandizes chattels and other things whatsoeuer and shall and may by the same name make and do all things as any other corporation may do and also shall haue and enioy all and singular the liberties priuiledges iurisdictions franchises preheminencâ—s powers authorities and things and may doe and execute all other matters and things in the sayd letters patents mentioned or in any wise conteined And that no part nor parcell of the maine lands Isles ports hauens roades creekes riuers armes of the seas of any Emperour king prince ruler or gouernor whatsoeuer he or they be before the said first enterprise made by the merchants of the saide corporation not knowen by the merchants and subiects of this Realme or by them not commonly by seas frequented and lying from the City of London Northwards Northwestwards or Northeastwards nor any part or parcel of the maine lands dominions isles ports roades hauens creeks armes of the Seas that now be subiect to the said high and mightie prince Lord Iohn Vasiliwich his heires or successours or to the Emperour chiefe gouernour or ruler of the said country of Russia for the time beâ—ng his heires or successors nor the countries of Armenia maior or minor Media Hyrcania Persia or the Caspian sea nor any part of them shall be sailed or traffiqued vnto visited frequented or haunted by any person being or that shalâ—â— a subiect or denizen of this realme by themselues their factor or factors or any other to their vse or commoditie by any wayes or meanes directly or indirectly other then by the order agreement consent or ratification of the gouernour Consuls and assistants of the saide fellowship and comâ—â—naltie or the more part of them and their successors for the time being vpon paine that euery person and persons offending in this behalfe shall forfeit and loose Ipso facto euery such ship and ships with the appurtenances and all such goods Merchandizes and things whatsoeuer as by any such person or persons shal be by any wayes or meanes directly or indirectly prouided caried conducted brought or exchanged in at to through or from any of the places prohibited as is aforesaide contrary to the true intent of this statute the one moitie of all which forfeitures to bee to our said souereigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie her heires and successors and the other moitie thereof to the sayde fellowship of English Merchants for discouery of newe trades and their successors to be seized and taken wheresoeuer they may be found by any person or persons to the vse of our said Souereigne Lady her heires and successors and of the said fellowship of English mercâ—hants for discouery of newe trades and of their successors or the same or the value thereof to bee demaunded or sued for by the Queenes highnesse her heires and successors or by the saide fellowship of English Merchants for discouery of newe trades or their suâ—cessors or their atturney or atturneis or by any person or persons being of the same fellowship of English Merchants for discouery of newe trades or their successors in any court of Record or in any other Court or courtes within this Realme or els where by Action of debt action of detinue bill plaint information or otherwise in which suite no essoine protection wager of lawe or iniunction shall be allowed for or on the behalfe of the partie or parties defendant Prouided alwayes that whereas diuers Subiects of this Realme being not of the fellowship aforesaid haue heretofore made aduentures to and from some of the places prohibited by the said letters patents that the said subiects their heires executors administrators and assignes or any of them shall not be impeached impleaded troubled sued nor molested for the same in their goods or persons in any maner of wise either by our saide souereigne Lady her heires or successors or the said fellowship or their successors Prouided also that it shall be lawfull for any subiect of this Realme hauing presently any shipping goods wares or ready money remayning at or in any place of or within the dominion of the said mighty prince of Russia or in any other of the places prohibited to be visited or traffiqued vnto by this statute or the said letters Patents to fetch bring and conuey the same or cause the same to be brought or conueyed from thence by sea or otherwise before the feast of S. Iohn Baptist which shal be in the yeere of our Lord God 1568. any thing conteined in this Statute or in the said letters Patents to the contraâ—y notwithstanding Prouided also that it shall be lawfull for any of the subiects of this Realme to saile to the port towne territorie or castle of Wardhouse or to any of the coastes townes hauens creekes riuers Islands and land of Norway for trade of fishing or any other trade there vsed by the subiects of this Realme any thing in this statute to the contrary notwithstanding And for the better maintenance of the Nauie and Mariners of this Realme be it prouided and inacted that it shall not be lawfull
to the saide fellowship and company nor to any of them to cary and transport or cause to be caried and transported any commodie of this Realme to their newe trade but onely in English ships and to be sailed for the most part with English Mariners nor also to bring into this Realme nor into Flanders from their saide new trade any merchandizes or other commodities but in English ships and sailed for the most part by the English Mariners on paine to forfeit for euery such offence two hundred pounds whereof the one moitie shall be to the Queenes Maiestie her heires and successors the other moitie to the head officers of any port towne hauing any hauen or harborough decayed by what name soeuer they bee incorporate to the reparation of such harborough that will sue for the same in any Court of Record by action bill plaint or information wherein no essoine protection or wager of lawe for the defendant shall be admitted or allowed Prouided also and be it enacted that no maner of person or persons shall from hence forth carrie or transport or cause to bee carried or transported out of this Realme of England any maner of clothes or karsies into any of the partes where the said fellowship and societie is priuiledged to trade by this Act before the same clothes and karsies shall be all dressed and for the most part died within this Realme vpon paine of forfeiture for euery such cloth and karsie otherwise caried and transported fiue pounds the one halfe thereof to the Queenes Maiestie her heires and successors the other halfe to the Master and Wardens of the Clothworkers in the Citie of London for the time being by what name soeuer they be incorporate that wil sue for the same Prouided also that whensoeuer the said societie or company shall willingly withdraw and discontinue wholy by the space of three yeeres in time of peace the discharging of their marchandizes at the road of S. Nicholas bay in Russia and doe not discharge their said merchandizes at some other port or roade lying on that North coast of Russia or other territorie nowe subiect to the saide mightie prince of Russia c. hitherto by the subiects of this realme not commonly frequented that then during the time of any such discontinuance and withdrawing as is aforesaid it shal be lawful to all the subiects of this realme to trade to the Narue onely in English bottoms any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Prouided also that euery of the Queenes Maiesties Subiects inhabiting within the Citie of Yorke the townes of Newcastle vpon Tine Hull and of Boston hauing continually traded the course of merchandize by the space of ten yeeres and which before the 25. of December that shal be in Anno D. 1567. shal contribute ioyne and put in stocke to with and amongst the said company such summe summes of money as any of the said company which hath throughly continued and contributed to the saide newe trade from the yeere 1552. hath done and before the saide 25. of December 1567. shall do for the furniture of one ordinary full and intire portion or share and do in all things behaue himselfe as others of the said societie be bound to doe and hereafter shall bee bound to do by the priuiledges ordinances and statutes of the saide company shall from the same 25. day of December 1567. be and be accompted free and as one of the saide societie and company and subiect to the priuiledges ordinances and statutes of the saide company reasonably made and to be made any thing in this present Act to the contrary notwithstanding A very briefe remembrance of a voyage made by M. Anthony Ienkinson from London to Moscouia sent from the Queenes Maiestie to the Emperour in the yeere 1566. THe fourth day of May in the yere aforesaid I imbarked my selfe at Grauesend in the good ship called the Harry of London and hauing had a prosperous voyage arriued at the bay of S. Nicholas in Russia the 10. day of Iuly following and immediatly I sent in post to the Emperor to aduertise of my comming and traueiling then thorowe the countrey I with my company came to the Mosco where the Emperour kept his court the 23. of August and foorthwith gaue the Secretarie to vâ—derstand of my arriuall who aduertised the Emperours Maiestie of it and the first day of September being a solemne feast among the Russes I came before the Emperours Maiestie sitting in his seate of honour and hauing kissed his hand and done the Queenes Maiesties commendations and deliuered her Graces letters and present he â—ad me to dinner which I accepted and had much honour done vnto me both then and all the time of my abode in Russia The Priuiledges graunted by the Emperour of Russia to the English merchants of that company obteined the 22. of September Anno 1567. by M. Anthony Ienkinson ONe onely strengthener of all things and God without beginning which was before the world the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost our onely God in Trinitie and maker of all things whom we worship in all things and in all places the doer and fulfiller of all things which is the perfect knowledge giuer of the true God our Lorde Iesus Christ with the comforter the holy Spirit and thou which art the strengthener of our faith keepe vs together giue vs health to preserue our kingdome thou giuer of all good fruites and helper of all Christian beleeuers We great lord by the grace of God and great duke Iohn Vasiliwich of all Russia Volodimer Mosco Nouogrod Cazan Astracan Plesco Smolensko Tweria Yougorie Vadika Bulgar Sybier and others Emperour and great duke of Nouogrod of the lower land of Chernygo Rezan Polotski Rostoue Yereslaue Bealozera Oudoria Obdoria Condensa and lord of many other lands and of all the North parts commander and lord of Liffe-land Whereas our sister Queene Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland hath written to vs her letters that wee would graunt her merchants William Gerrard William Chester Rowland Heyward Lawrence Hussie Iohn Marsh Anthony Ienkinson William Rowly and their company of England to come in ships into this kingdome and those merchants William Gerrard and his company haue required of vs that we would graunt and licence them to come into our countrey of Dwina with all kind of wares at wil to our city of Mosco and to all our castles in our kingdomes we for our sisters sake Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland haue licenced her merchants William Gerrard and his company to passe in ships to our kingdome of Colmogro and to the land of Dwina and to all other our inheritances in the North parts with all kind of wares to our city of Mosco and to all castles and townes in our kingdome And sir William Garrard his company desired of vs that we would grant them licence to passe to
victuals and that we lacked nothing of the Emperors allowance the other to see that we should not goe out of the house nor suffer any man to come vnto vs in which they left nothing vndone that belonged to their charge But specially he that looked to our persons so straightly handled vs that we had no small cause to doubt that some euill had bene intended vnto vs. No supplication sute or request could take place for our liberty nor yet to come to his presence Hauing passed ouer 17 weeks in this sort the Emperour sendeth word that we should be ready against Tuesday the 20 of Februarie at eight a clocke in the morning The houre being come that I should goe to the Court the two gentlemen Pristaues as they call them came vnto me apparelled more princely then before I had euer scene them They presse vs to depart and mounted vpon their owne horses and the Ambassador vpon such a one as he had borrowed his men marching on foot to their great griefe The Ambassadour being my selfe was conueyed into an office where one of the chancellors doeth vse to sit being there accompanied with the â—â—o foresayd gentlemen I taried two long houres before I was sent for to the Emperor In the end message being brought that the Emperour was set I was conueyed by my gentlemen vp a paire of staires thorow a large roome where sate by my estimation 300 persons all in rich attire taken out of the Emperors wardrobe for that day vpon three ranks of benches set round about the place rather to present a maiestie then that they were either of quality or honor At the first entry into the chamber I with my cap gaue them the reuerence such as I iudged their stately sitting graue countenances and sumptuous apparell required and seeing that it was not answered againe of any of them I couered my head and so passing to a chamber where the Emperor was there receiued me at the doore from my two gentlemen or gouernors two of the Emperors counsellors and shewed me to the Emperor and brought me to the middle of the chamber where I was willed to stand still and to say that which I had to say I by my Interpretor opened my message as I receiued it from the Queene my Mistresse from whom I came at whose name the Emperor stood vp and demanded diuers questions of her health and state whereunto answere being made he gaue me his hand in token of my welcome and caused me to sit downe and further asked me diuers questions This done I deliuered her Maiesties present which was a notable great Cup of siluer curiously wrought with verses grauen in it expressing the histories workmanly set out in the same All being sayd and done as appeared to his contentment he licenced me and my whole company to depart who were all in his presence and were saluted by him with a nod of his head and sayd vnto me I dine not this day openly for great affaires I haue but I will send thee my dinner and giue leaue to thee and thine to go at liberty and augment our allowance to thee in token of our loue and fauor to our sister the Queene of England I with reuerence tooke my leaue being conueyed by two other of greater calling then those that brought me to the Emperors sight who deliuered me to the two first gentlemen who conducted me to the office where I first was where came vnto me one called the Long duke with whom I conferred a while and so returned to my lodging Within one houre after in comes to my lodging a duke richly apparelled accompanied with fiftie persons ech of them carying a siluer dish with meat and couered with siluer The duke first deliuered twenty loaues of bread of the Emperors owne eating hauing tasted the same and deliuered euery dish into my hands and tasted of euery kinde of drinke that he brought This being done the duke and his company sate downe with me and tooke part of the Emperors meat and filled themselues well of all sorts and went not away from me vnrewarded Within few nights after the Emperor had will to speake secretly with me and sent for me in the night by the Long duke The place was farre off and the night colde and I hauing changed my apparell into such as the Russes do weare found great in commoditie thereby Hauing talked with him aboue three houres towards the morning I was dismissed and so came home to my lodging where I remained aboue six weeks after before I heard againe from the Emperour who went the next day to Slouoda the house of his solace After the end of which sixe weeks which was about the beginning of April the Emperour returned from Slouoda aforesayd and sent for me againe to make repaire vnto him And being come I dealt effectually with him in the behalfe of our English merchants and found him so graciously inclined towards them that I obtained at his hands my whole demands for large priuileges in generall together with all the rest my particular requests And then he commended to my conduct into England a noble man of his called Andrew Sauin as his Ambassadour for the better confirmation of his priuileges granted and other negotiations with her Maiesty And thus being dispatched with full contentment the sayd Ambassadour and my selfe departed and imbarked at S. Nicholas about the end of Iuly and arriued safely at London in the moneth of September following A copie of the priuiledges granted by the right high and mightie Prince the Emperour of Russia c. vnto the right worshipfull fellowship of English merchants for the discouerie of new trades and hither sent by Thomas Randolfe esquire her Maiesties Ambassadour to the sayd Emperour and by Andrew Sauin his Ambassadour in the yere of our Lord God 1569. ONe God euerlasting and without and before the beginning the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost the blessed Trinitie our onely God maker and preseruer of all things and replenisher of all things euery where who by thy goodnesse doest cause all men to loue the giuer of wisedome our onely Mediatour and leader of vs all vnto blessed knowledge by the onely Sonne his word our Lord Iesus Christ holy and euerlasting Spirit and now in these our dayes teachest vs to keepe Christianitie and sufferest vs to enioy our kingdome to the happy commodity of our land and wealth of our people in despight of our enemies and to our fame with our friends We Iohn Vasiliwich by the grace of God great lord Emperour and great duke of all Russia Volodemer Moscouia Nouogrod Emperour of Cazan Tuersky Vgorsky Permisky Vadsky Bulgaria and many others lord and great duke of the Low countreys of Nouogrod Chernigosky Resansky Polotsky Rastow Yeraslaue Bealosera Owdorsky Condinsky and all Siberland great commander of all the North parts lord of Leâ—â—land and many other Northward Southward and Westward Whereas our sister
reigne the fiue and twentieth A Letter sent from her Highnesse to the sayd great Duke of Russia by sir Hierome Bowes aforesayd her Maiesties Ambassadour Serenissimo Principi at Domino Ioanni Basilio Dei gratia Regi magno Duci totius Russiae Volodomerae c. Regi Cazani c. Domino Plescoae c. Domino magno Duci Nouogrodiae c. Gubernatori in tota Prouincia Siberiae c. Fratri amico nostro charissimo ELIZABETHA Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Regina fidei defensatrix c. Serenissimo Principi ac Domino Ioanni Basilio eadem Dei gratia Regi magno Duci totius Russiae Volodomerae Moscouiae Nouogrodiae Regi Cazani Astracani Domino Plescoae magno Duci Smolenscoae Tueri Vgori Permiae Viatskae Bolhare aliarum ditionum Domino magno Duci Nouogrodiae in inferiori regione Chernigae Rezanae Polotscoae Rostouae Iaroslauae Bealozeri Liflandiae Oudori Condensae Gubernatori in tota prouincia Siberiae partium Septentrionalium aliarum fratri amico suo charissimo Salutem Serenissime princeps frater amice charissime ex ijs quae nobiscum egit S. V. illustris legatus intelleximus quà m gratè vobis faceremus satis si legatum aliquem cum mandatis instructum ad S. V. ablegaremus In quo certè quidem instituto adeò nobis ex animo placuit quod est honestè postulatum vt non nisi praestita re possemus nobis quoquo modo satisfacere Atque cum id haberemus apud nos decretum nobis non incommode incurrit in mentem oculos Hieronimus Bowes miles ex nobilibus nostris Domesticis plurimâ—m nobis dilectus quem inpraesentiarum ad S. V. ablegamus cuius prudentiae fidei totum hoc quicquid est quod ad Serenitatum mutuò nostrarum dignitatem ornandam pertinere posse arbitramur commisimus In quo munerè perfungendo quin omnem curam diligentiam sit collaturus neutiquam dubitamus à S. autem V. rogamus velit ei eam fidem habere in ijs persequendis quae habet à nobis in mandatis quam nobis habendam putaret si essemus praesentes Praetereà cùm nobis multum charus sit Robertus Iacobus medicus quem superiori anno ad S. V. misimus rogamus vt eum eo loco S. V. habeat quo virum probatissimum singulari quà m plurimarum virtutum laude ornatum habendum esse boni principes censent Quem à nobis neutiquam able gauissemus nisi amicitiae nostrae studio gratificandi S. V. plurimum tribuissemus In qua dum voluntate manemus erga S. V. non nisi optimè de bonis vestris meritis in praefatum Iacobum nobis pollicemur Et Deum Opt. Max. precamur vt S. V. saluam conseruet incolumem Datae è Regia nostra Grenouici 19 die mensis Iunij Anno Domini 1583 regni verò nostri vicessimo quinto S. vestrae bona soror The same in English ELizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. to the most excellent Prince and Lord Iohn Basiliwich by the same grace of God 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 Permie Vâ—aâ—sca Bolhar and others Lord and great Duke of Nouogrod in the lowe countrey of Chernigâ— Rezan Polotâ—ko Rostoue Iaroslaue Bealozera Lifland Oudor Obdor and Condensa and Gouernour of all the land of Siberia and of the North parts and others her dearest brother and friend Salutations Most excellent Prince most deare brother and friend by those things which the worthy ambassador of your excellency declared vnto vs we haue vnderstood how kindly it would be taken if we should send to your eâ—cellency an ambassador from vs with commandement and instructions In which matter your honourable request hath so much pleased vs that we could not any maner of way satisfie our selues except we performed the same And hauing purposed with our selfe so to doe we thought of and remembred Ierome Bowes Knight a gentleman of qualitie of our householde a man very much beloued of vs whom at this present we send vnto your Maiesty and to whose wisedome and faithfulnesse we haue committed all whatsoeuer we take to apperteine to the aduancement of both our honors indifferently In the discharge of which seruice we doubt not but that all care and diligence shall be vsed on his paâ—t so that we intreat your Maiesty to giue him credence in the prosecuting of those things which he hath from vs in commandement no lesse then to our selfe if we were present And whereas Robert Iacob doctor of physicke is a man very deare vnto vs whom the last yere we sent vnto your excellency we desire that he may haue that fauor and estimation with you which good princes thinke a most honest and vertuous man woorthy of for had we not caried great respect to our mutual friendship and indeuour to gratifie your Maiestie we should in no case haue parted with him And seeing we continue still the same good will towards your excellency we doe euen promise to our selfe your honourable kindnesses towards him and we pray the almightie God to preserue your Maiesty in good safetie and health Giuen at our pallace of Greenewich the 19 day of Iune in the yere of our Lord 1583 and of our reigne the fiue and twentieth Your Maiesties good sister A briefe discourse of the voyage of Sir Ierome Bowes knight her Maiesties ambassadour to Iuan Vasiliuich the Emperour of Muscouia in the yeere 1583. THe Emperour of Russia that then liued by name Iuan Vasiliwich hauing deliberately considered how necessary it were for the strengthening of his estate that a sure commerce and entercourse of merchants should be againe renued betweene him and her sacred Maiesty of England with such further immunities and priuileges for the honor and vtility of both their dominions and subiects of the same as vpon mutuall treatie of persons interposed on both sides might be assented vnto sent ouer into this realme in the yeere of our Lord 1582 as his ambassadour for that purpose an ancient discreet gentleman of his householde called Pheodor Andreuich Phisemsky accompanied with one of his Secretaries for his better assistance in that expedition and besides his many other directions whereof part were to be deliuered by word of mouth and the rest set downe in a letter vnder the Emperours signature addressed to her Maiesty he had in speciall charge to sollicit her Maiesty to send ouer with him to his maister an ambassador from her to treat and contract of such affaires of importance as concerned both the realmes which was the principall end of his imployments hither Whereupon her Maiesty very graciously inclining to the Emperors motion and at the humble sute of the English
for the ayding helping and protecting of her Maiesties merchants by the order and commaundement of our Lord and king his Maiestie And to that ende I haue giuen order to all our authorised people to bee carefull ouerthem and to defende them in all causes and to giue them free libertie to trafficke at their owne willes and pleasures It may bee that your merchants doe not certifie you the trueth of all things nor make knowen vnto your honour my readinesse to protect them And howe my Letters and Commissions are sent to all authorised people for them that they shoulde ayde and assist them according to the tenour of my Letters to all others that bee in authoritie vnder the said Officers or otherwise Also your honour writeth of the debarring of your merchants at the Sea port from their accustomed libertie of enterchangeable trafficke and bartar Touching which complaint search and inquisition hath bene made and commaundement giuen that your Queenes Maiesties merchants at the Seaside and in all places where the trade is doe not sustaine any domage or hinderance hereafter but that they shal be at libertie without any hindering or letting either in the Mosco the Treasurehouse or else where by any of our authorised people but absolutely to bee at free libertie at their owne will and pleasure And also I will continue to be their protectour and defendour in all causes by our Lorde and kings Maiesties order and commaundement as it shal be knowen and certified you by your people resident here in the Mosco Written in our Kings Maiesties royall citie of Mosco from the beginning of the world 7101â— yeere in the moneth of Ianuary A most gracious Letter giuen to the English Merchants Sir Iohn Hart and his company by Theodore Iuanowich the King Lord and great duke of all Russia the onely vpholder thereof THe onely God omnipotent before all eternitie his will be done without ende the Father Sonne and holy Ghost we glorifie in Trinitie Our onely God the maker of all things and worker of all in all euery where with plentifull increase for which cause he hath giuen life to man to loue him and to trust in him Our onely God which inspireth euery one of vs his holy children with his word to discerne good through our Lord Iesus Christ and the holy quickning spirit of life now in these perilous times establish vs to keepe the right sâ—epter and suffer vs to reigne of our selues to the good profit of the land and to the subduing of the people together with the enemies and to the mainteinance of vertue We the great Lord king and great duke Theodore Iuanouich of all Russia the onely vpholder of Volodimer Mosco and Nouogrod King of Casan and king of Astracan Lord of Vobsco and great duke of Smolensko of Otuer Vghorie Permia Viatski Bulgari and other regions great duke also of Nouogrod in the lowe Countrey of Chernigo of Rezan Polotski Rostoue Yaruslaue Bealozero and of Liefland of Vdorski Obdorski Condenski and commaunâ—er of all the Countrey of Siberi and of the North parts and Lord ouer the Countrey of Iuerski Grusinski and King ouer the Countrey of Igorski and ruler ouer many other kingdomes and Lordships more Our princely Maiestie at the request of our brother in lawe Boâ—is Feodorowich Godenoua our seruant and Master of our horses generall Comptroller of our house and gouernour of the Lordships and kingdomes of Casan and Astracan vnto the English merchants Sir Iohn Hart knight sir William Webbe knight Richard Salkenstow Alderman Nicholas Moseley alderman Robert Doue Wilâ— Garrowe Iohn Harbey Robert Chamberlaine Henry Anderson Iohn Woodworth FraÌ„cis Cherry Iohn Merrick Christopher Holmes hath graciously giuen leaue to come go with their ships into our kingdome territories of Duina with all kind of commodities at their pleasures to trafficke froÌ„ the seaside to our roial city of Mosco in al other cities townes countries and territories of our whole kingdom of Mosco vpon the humble petition and sute of the saide English merchants sir Iohn Hart and his company wee haue giuen them leaue to passe and trafficke into all parts of our dominions and territories of Mosco and to our inheritance of Nouogrod and Plesco with their wares and commodities without paying any custome or dueties We the great Lord king and great duke Theodore Iuanowich of all Russia haue firmely giuen and graunted vnto the aforesaide English merchants sir Iohn Hart and his company for the loue we beare to our deare sister Queene Elizabeth we I say of our gracious goodnes haue giuen leaue to trauel and passe to our royal seat of Mosco and to all the parts of our kingdome with all kinde of commodities and to trafficke with all kinde of wares at their owne pleasure without paying any custome of their said wares To you our Customers we wil and command not to take any maner of custome of the said merchants and their company neither for entering weying nor passing by or through any place of our territories nor for custome of iudgement by Lawe or for their person or persons nor any duties ouer bridges or for certificats or processes or for conducting ouer any streames or waters or for any other customes or dueties that may be named we wil and straitly commaund you not to take any of them in any wise Prouided alwayes that the saide merchants shall not colour any strangers wares nor bring them into our countrey nor fauour them colourably nor sel for any stranger To you our subiects also we coÌ„mand not to meddle or deale with any wares of strangers colourably nor to haue them by you in keeping nor to offer to sel their coÌ„modities but themselues to sel their owne coÌ„modities in change or otherwise as they may or can And in al townes cities countreys or any part of our dominions and territories it shal be lawful for the foresaid merchants and their company to sell or barter away their owne commodities in change or otherwise for or at their pleasure as they will And whensoeuer the said merchants or any of them come into our territories of great Nouogrod or Plesco or to any other parts of our kingdome with their wares by vertue of these our Maiesties letters we straitly charge and command you our Captaines generals and all other that be authorised or in office to suffer the aforesaid merchants to passe and repasse and to take no kinde of custome or dutie of them or any of their goods howsoeuer it may haue name nor in no place else where they shal come in all our kingdome Likewise if they sell not nor buy no wares you shall take no custome but suffer them quietly to passe where they will with their goods Of our gratious goodnes and meere goodwill we haue giuen the said merchants leaue to trafficke throughout all our kingdomes and in all townes and cities with all maner of wares and commodities without paying any custome or dutie Wheresoeuer they shal
which falleth into the riuer Ob then doubtlesse hee would conceiue full hope that hee had passed the greatest difficulties for the people dwelling thereabout report which were three dayes sayling onely from that place beyond the riuer Ob whereby the bredth thereof may be gathered which is a rare matter there because that many rowing with their boates of leather one dayes iourney onely from the shore haue bene cast away in tempest hauing no skill to guide themselues neither by Sunne nor Starre that they haue seene great vessels laden with rich and precious merchandize brought downe that great riuer by blacke or swart people They call that riuer Ardoh which falleth into the lake of Kittay which they call Paraha whereupon bordereth that mightie and large nation which they call Carrah Colinak which is none other then the nation of Cathay There if neede require he may fitly Winter and refresh himselfe and his and seeke all things which he shall stand in need of which if it so fall out he doubteth not but in the meane while he shall be much furthered in searching and learning out many things in that place Howbeit he hopeth that hee shall reach to Cathaya that very Sommner vnlesse he be hindered by great abundance of Ice at the mouth of the riuer of Ob which is sometimes more and sometimes lesse If it so fall out hee then purposeth to returne to Pechora and there to Winter or if he cannot doe so neither then hee meaneth to returne to the riuer of Dwina whither he will reach in good time enough and so the next Spring following to proceed on his voyage One thing in due place I forgate before The people which dwell at that place called Yaks Olgush affirme that they haue heard their forefathers say that they haue heard most sweete harmonie of bels in the lake of Kitthay and that they haue seene therein stately and large buildings and when they make mention of the people named Carrah Colmak this countrey is Cathay they fetch deepe sighes and holding vp their hands they looke vp to heauen signifying as it were and declaring the notable glory and magnificence of that nation I would this Oliuer were better seene in Cosmographie it would greatly further his experience which doubtlesse is very great Most deare friend I omit many things and I wish you should heare the man himselfe which promised mee faithfully that he would visite you in his way at Duisburg for he desireth to conferre with you and doubtlesse you shall very much further the man He seemeth sufficiently furnished with money and friends wherein and in other offices of curtesie I offered him my furtherance if it had pleased him to haue vsed me The Lord prosper the mans desires and forwardnesse blesse his good beginnings further his proceedings and grant vnto him most happy issue Fare you well good sir and my singular friend From Arusburg vpon the riuer of Ossella the 20. of February 1581. Yours wholy at commandement Iohn Balak MAster Anthonie Ienkinson in a disputation before her Maiestie with sir Humfrey Gilbert for proofe of a passage by the Northeast to Cathaya among other things alleageth this videlicet that there came a continuall streame or currant through Mare glaciale of such swiftnesse as a Colmak told him that if you cast any thing therein it would presently be caried out of sight towards the West c. A testimonie of the Northeasterne Discouerie made by the English and of the profite that may arise by pursuing the same taken out of the second volume of Nauigations and Voyages fol. 17. of the notable Cosmographer M. Iohn Baptist a Ramusius Secretarie to the State of Venice Written in Italian in the yeere 1557 DAlla parte poi di sotte la nostra Tramontana che chiascune scrittore Cosmographo di questi de passari tempi fin'hora vi ha messo mette mare congelato che la terra corra continuamente fino a' 90. gradi verso il Polo sopra questo mappa-mondo all' incontro si vede che la terra và solamente vn poco sopra la Noruega Suetia voltando corre poi Greco Leuante nel paese della Moscouia Rossia và diritto al Cataio Et che cio sia la verità le nauigationi che hanno fatte gl' Inglesi con le loro naus volendo andare à scoprire al Cataio al tempo del Re Odoardo Sesto d' Inghilterra questi anni passati ne possono far vera testimonianza perche nel mezzo del loro viaggio capitate per fortuna a i liti di Moscouia doue trouarona all hora regnare Giouanni Vasiliuich Imperatore della Rossia gran Duca di Moscouia il quale con molto piacere marauiglia vedutogli fece grandissime carezze hanno trcuato quel mare essere nauigabile non agghiacciato La qual nauigatione ancor che con l'esito fin hora non sia stata bene intesa se col spesso frequentarla col lungo vso cognitione de que ' mari si continuerà è per fare grandissima mutatione riuolgimento nelle cose di questa nostra parte del mondo The same in English MOreouer hauing before spoken of diuers particularities in an excellent Map of Paulus Venetus on that part subiect to our North pole where euery writer and Cosmographer of these and of former times hitherto haue and doe place the frozen Sea and that the land stretcheth continually to 90. degrees towards the pole contrarywise in this mappe is to bee seene that the land extendeth onely a litle aboue Norway and Swethland and then turning it selfe trendeth afterwards towards the Southeast and by East vnto the countrey of Moscouie and Russia and stretcheth directly vnto Cathay And that this is true the nauigations which the English men haue of late made intending to discouer Cathay in the time of Edward the sixt king of England are very sufficient witnesses For in the mids of their voiage lighting by chance vpon the coast of Moscouie where they found then reigning Iohn Vasiliwich Emperor of Russia and great duke of Moscouia who after he had to his great delight and admiration seene the English men entertained them with exceeding great curtesies found this sea to be nauigable and not frozen Which nauigation to Cathay although it be not as yet throughly knowen yet if with often frequenting the same and by long vse and knowledge of those seas it bee continued it is like to make a wonderfull change and reuolution in the state of this our part of the world The testimonie of Gerardus Mercator in his last large Mappe of Europe touching the notable discoueries of the English made of Moscouie by the Northeast MAgnam occasionem certámque rationem emendandae Europae nobis attulit celeberrima Anglorum per Cronium mare nauigatio quae littora Septentrionalia Finlappiae Moscouiae que iuxta coeli situm mundique plagas
c. Andaluzia vnder the conduct of Petro de Valdez 10. Galeons one Patache 800. mariners 2400. souldiers 280. great pieces c. Item vnder the conduct of Iohn Lopez de Medina 23. great Flemish hulkes with 700. mariners 3200. souldiers and 400. great pieces Item vnder Hugo de Moncada foure Galliasses containing 1200. gally-slaues 460. mariners 870. souldiers 200. great pieces c. Item vnder Diego de Mandrana foure Gallies of Portugall with 888. gally-slaues 360. mariners 20. great pieces and other requisite furniture Item vnder Anthonie de Mendoza 22. Pataches and Zabraes with 574. mariners 488. souldiers and 193. great pieces Besides the ships aforementioned there were 20. carauels rowed with oares being appointed to performe necessary seruices vnto the greater ships insomuch that all the ships appertayning to this Nauie amounted vnto the summe of 150. eche one being sufficiently prouided of furniture and victuals The number of Mariners in the saide Fleete were aboue 8000. of slaues 2088. of souldiers 20000. besides noblemen and gentlemen voluntaries of great cast pieces 2650. The foresaid ships were of an huge and incredible capacitie and receipt For the whole Fleete was large ynough to containe the burthen of 60. thousand tunnes The Galeons were 64. in number being of an huge bignesse and very stately built being of marueilous force also and so high that they resembled great castles most fit to defend themselues and to withstand any assault but in giuing any other ships the encounter farre inferiour vnto the English and Dutch ships which can with great dexteritie weild and turne themselues at all assayes The vpperworke of the said Galeons was of thicknesse and strength sufficient to beare off musket-shot The lower worke and the timbers thereof were out of measure strong being framed of plankes and ribs foure or fiue foote in thicknesse insomuch that no bullets could pierce them but such as were discharged hard at hand which afterward prooued true for a great number of bullets were founde to sticke fast within the massie substance of those thicke plankes Great and well pitched Cables were twined about the masts of their shippes to strengthen them against the battery of shot The Galliasses were of such bignesse that they contained within them chambers chapels turrets pulpits and other commodities of great houses The Galliasses were rowed with great oares there being in eche one of them 300. slaues for the same purpose and were able to do great seruice with the force of their Ordinance All these together with the residue aforenamed were furnished and beautified with trumpets streamers banners warlike ensignes and other such like ornaments Their pieces of brasen ordinance were 1600. and of yron a 1000. The bullets thereto belonging were 120. thousand Item of gun-poulder 5600. quintals Of matche 1200. quintals Of muskets and kaleiuers 7000. Of haleberts and partisans 10000. Moreouer they had great store of canons double-canons culuerings and field-pieces for land seruices Likewise they were prouided of all instruments necessary on land to conueigh and transport their furniture from place to place as namely of carts wheeles wagons c. Also they had spades mattocks and baskets to set pioners on worke They had in like sort great store of mules and horses and whatsoeuer else was requisite for a land-armie They were so well stored of biscuit that for the space of halfe a yeere they might allow eche person in the whole Fleete halfe a quintall euery moneth whereof the whole summe amounteth vnto an hundreth thousand quintals Likewise of wine they had 147. thousand pipes sufficient also for halfe a yeeres expedition Of bacon 6500. quintals Of cheese three thousand quintals Besides fish rise beanes pease oile vineger c. Moreouer they had 12000. pipes of fresh-water and all other necessary prouision as namely candles lanternes lampes sailes hempe oxe-hides and lead to stop holes that should be made with the battery of gunshot To be short they brought all things expedient either for a Fleete by sea or for an armie by land This Nauiâ—â—es Diego Pimentelli afterward confessed was esteemed by the King himselfe to containe 37000. persons and to cost him euery day 30. thousand ducates There were in the said Nauie fiue terzaes of Spaniards which terzaes the Frenchmen call Regiments vnder the commaund of fiue gouernours termed by the Spaniards Masters of the field and amongst the rest there were many olde and expert souldiers chosen out of the garisons of Sicilie Naples and Terçera Their Captaines or Colonels were Diego Pimentelli Don Francisco de Toledo Don Alonço de Luçon Don Nicolas de Isla Don Augustin de Mexia who had eche of them 32. companies vnder their conduct Besides the which companies there were many bands also of Castilians and Portugals euery one of which had their peculiar gouernours captaines officers colours and weapons It was not lawfull for any man vnder grieuous penaltie to cary any women or harlots in the Fleete for which cause the women hired certaine shippes wherein they sailed after the Nauie some of the which being driuen by tempest arriued vpon the coast of France The generall of this mightie Nauie was Don Alonso Perez de Guzman duke of Medina Sidonia Lord of S. Lucar and knight of the golden Fleete by reason that the Marques of santa Cruz appointed for the same dignitie deceased before the time Iohn Martines de Ricalde was Admirall of the Fleete Francis Bouadilla was chiefe Marshall who all of them had their officers fit and requisite for the guiding and managing of such a multitude Likewise Martin Alorcon was appointed Uicar generall of the Inquisition being accompanied with more then a hundreth Monkes to wit Iesuites Capuchines and friers mendicant Besides whom also there were Phisitians Chirurgians Apothecaries and whatsoeuer else perteined vnto the hospitall Ouer and besides the forenamed gouernours and officers being men of chiefe note there were 124. very noble and worthy Gentlemen which went voluntarily of their owne costs and charges to the ende they might see fashions learne experience and attaine vnto glory Amongst whom was the prince of Ascoli Alonzo de Leiua the marques de Pennafiel the marques de Ganes the marques de Barlango count de Paredes count de Yeluas and diuers other marqueses and earles of the honourable families of Mendoza of Toledo of Pachieco of Cordoua of Guzman of Manricques and a great number of others While the Spaniards were furnishing this their Nauie the duke of Parma at the direction of king Philip made great preparation in the low Countreys to giue ayd assistance vnto the Spaniards building ships for the same purpose and sending for Pilots and ship-wrights out of Italy In Flanders hee caused certaine deepe chanels to be made and among the rest the chanell of Yper commonly called Yper-lee employing some thousands of workemen about that seruice to the end that by the said chanel he might transport ships from Antwerp and Ghendt to Bruges where hee
of all his Fleet. Which when the Spaniard perceiued being assisted with his strongest ships he came forth and entered a terrible combate with the English for they bestowed each on other the broad sides and mutually discharged all their Ordinance being within one hundred or an hundred and twentie yards one of another At length the Spaniardes hoised vp their sayles and againe gathered themselues vp close into the forme of a roundel In the meane while Captaine Frobisher had engaged himselfe into a most dangerous conflict Whereupon the lord Admirall comming to succour him found that hee had valiantly and discreetly be haued himselfe and that hee had wisely and in good time ouer the fight because that after so great a batterie he had sustained no damage For which cause the day following being the sixe and twentie of Iuly the lord Admirall rewarded him with the order of knighthood together with the lord Thomas Howard the lord Sheffield M. Iohn Hawkins and others The same day the lord Admirall receiued intelligence from Newhauen in France by certaine of his Pinnasses that all things were quiet in France and that there was no preparation of sending aide vnto the Spaniards which was greatly feared from the Guisian faction and from the Leaguers but there was a false rumour spread all about that the Spaniards had conquered England The seuen and twentie of Iuly the Spaniards about the sunne-setting were come ouer-against Douer and rode at ancre within the sight of Caleis intending to hold on for Dunkerk expecting there to ioyne with the duke of Parma his forces without which they were able to doe litle or nothing Likewise the English Fleete following vp hard vpon them ancred iust by them within culuering-shot And here the lord Henry Seymer vnited himselfe vnto the lord Admiral with his fleete of 30. ships which road before the mouth of Thames As the Spanish nauie therefore lay at ancre the duke of Medina sent certaine messengers vnto the duke of Parma with whom vpon that occasion many Noblemen and Gentlemen went to refresh themselues on land and amongst the rest the prince of Ascoli being accounted the kings base sonne and a very proper and towardly yong gentleman to his great good went on shore who was by so much the more fortunate in that hee had not opportunitie to returne on boord the same ship out of which he was departed because that in returning home it was cast away vpon the Irish coast with all the persons contained therein The duke of Parma being aduertised of the Spanish Fleetes arriuall vpon the coast of England made all the haste hee could to bee present himselfe in this expedition for the performance of his charge vainely perswading himselfe that nowe by the meanes of Cardinall Allen hee should be crowned king of England and for that cause hee had resigned the gouernement of the Lowe countries vnto Count Mansfeld the elder And hauing made his vowes vnto S. Mary of Hall in Henault whom he went to visite for his blind deuotions sake hee returned toward Bruges the 28. of Iuly The next day trauelling to Dunkerk hee heard the thundering Ordinance of either Fleet and the same euening being come to Dixmud hee was giuen to vnderstand the hard successe of the Spanish Fleete Upon Tuesday which was the thirtieth of Iuly about high noone hee came to Dunkerk when as all the Spanish Fleete was now passed by neither durst any of his ships in the meane space come foorth to assist the sayd Spanish Fleete for feare of fiue and thirtie warrelike ships of Holland and Zeland which there kept watch and warde vnder the conduct of the Admirall Iustin of Nassau The foresayd fiue and thirtie shippes were furnished with most cunning mariners and olde expert souldiers amongst the which were twelue hundred Musketiers whom the States had chosen out of all their garisons and whom they knew to haue bene heretofore experienced in sea-fights This nauie was giuen especially in charge not to suffer any shippe to come out of the Hauen nor to permit any Zabraes Pataches or other small vessels of the Spanish Fleete which were more likely to aide the Dunkerkers to enter thereinto for the greater ships were not to be feared by reason of the shallow sea in that place Howbeit the prince of Paâ—ma his forces being as yet vnreadie were not come on boord his shippes onely the English Fugitiues being seuen hundred in number vnder the conduct of Sir William Stanleyâ— came in fit time to haue bene embarked because they hoped to giue the first assault against England The residue shewed themselues vnwilling and loath to depart because they sawe but a few mariners who were by constraint drawne into this expedition and also because they had very bare prouision of bread drinke and other necessary victuals Moreouer the shippes of Holland and Zeland stood continually in their sight threatening shot and powder and many inconueniences vnto them for feare of which shippes the Mariners and Sea-men secretly withdrew themselues both day and night least that the duke of Parma his souldiers should compell them by maine force to goe on boord and to breake through the Hollanders Fleete which all of them iudged to bee impossible by reason of the straightnesse of the Hauen But it seemeth that the Duke of Parma and the Spaniards grounded vpon a vaine and presumptuous expectaâ—ion that all the ships of England and of the Low countreys would at the first sight of the Spanish and Dunkerk Nauie haue betaken themselues to flight yeelding them sea roome and endeuouring onely to defend themselues their hauens and sea coasts from inuasion Wherefore their intent and purpose was that the Duke of Parma in his small and flat-bottomed shippes should as it were vnder the shadow and wings of the Spanish fleet conuey ouer all his troupes armour and warlike prouision and with their forces so vnited should inuade England or while the English fleet were busied in fight against the Spanish should enter vpon any part of the coast which he thought to be most conuenient Which inuasion as the captiues afterward confessed the Duke of Parma thought first to haue attempted by the riuer of Thames vpon the bankes whereof hauing at his first arriuall landed twenty or thirty thousand of his principall souldiers he supposed that he might easily haue woonne the Citie of London both because his small shippes should haue followed and assisted his land-forces and also for that the Citie it-selfe was but meanely fortified and easie to ouercome by reason of the Citizens delicacie and discontinuance from the warres who with continuall and constant labour might be vanquished if they yeelded not at the first assault They were in good hope also to haue mette with some rebels against her Maiestie and such as were discontented with the present state as Papists and others Likewise they looked for ayde from the fauourers of the Scottish Queene who was not long before
renewing and great increasing of an ancient trade vnto diuers places in the Leuant seas and to the chiefest parts of all the great Turkes dominions Anno 1575 1578. 136 23 The letters of Zuldan Murad Can the great Turke to the sacred Maiestie of Queene Elizabeth Anno 1579. 137 24 The answere of her Maiestie to the foresayd letters of the great Turke sent by M. Richard Stanly in the Prudence of London Anno 1579. 138 25 The charter of priuiledges granted to the English and the league of the great Turke with the Queenes Maiestie for traffique onely Anno 1580. 141 26 Her Maiesties letter to the great Turke promising redresse for the disorders of Peter Baker of Radcliffe committed in the Leuant Anno 1581. 145 27 The letters Patents or Priuileges granted by her Maiestie to Sir Edward Osborne M. Richard Staper and certaine other marchants of London for their trade into the dominions of the great Turke Anno 1581. 146 28 The Pasport made by the great Master of Malta vnto the English men in the Barke Rainolds Anno 1582. 154 29 The Queenes commission giuen to her seruant M. William Hareborne to bee Her Maiesties Ambassador or Agent in the parts of Turkie Anno 1582. 157 30 Her Maiesties letter to the great Turke written in commendation of M. William Hareborne when he was sent Ambassador Anno 1582. 158 31 A letter of the Queenes Maiestie to Alli Bassa the Turkes high Admiral sent by her Ambassador M. William Hareborne and deliuered vnto him aboord his Galley in the Arsenal 159 32 A briefe remembrance of things to bee indeuoured at Constantinople and at other places in Turkie touching our Clothing and Dying and touching the ample vent of our naturall commodities c. written by M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple Anno 1582. 160 33 Certaine other most profitable and wise instructions penned by the sayd M. Richard Hakluyt for a principall English Factor at Constantinople 161 34 A letter of Mustafa Chaus to the Queenes Maiestie Anno 1583. 171 35 A letter of M. William Hareborne to M. Haruie Millers appointing him Consul for the English nation in Alexandria Cairo other places of Egypt in the yeare of our Lord 1583. 171 36 A Commission giuen by M. William Hareborne the English Ambassador to M. Richard Forster authorizing him Consul of the English nation in the partes of Alepo Damasco Aman Tripolis Ierusalem c. together with a letter of directions to the sayd M. Forster Ann. 1583. pag. 172 37 A letter sent from Alger to M. William Hareborne her Maiesties Ambassador at Constantinople Anno 1583. 173 38 A letter of M. Hareborne to Mustafa chalenging him for his dishonest dealing in translating three of the Grand Signors commandements 174 39 A Pasport graunted to Thomas Shingleton by the king of Alger in the yeare 1583. 174 40 A letter written in Spanish by Sir Edward Osborne in his Maioraltie to the king of Alger on the behalfe of certaine English captiues An. 1584. 175 41 Notes concerning the trades of Alger and Alexandria 176 42 A letter of M. William Hareborne the English Ambassadour to M. Edward Barâ—on Anno 1584. 177 43 A commandement obtayned of the Grand Signor by her Maiesties Ambassadour M. William Hareborne for the quiet passing of her subiects to and from his dominions sent to the Viceroyes of Alger Tunis and Tripolis in Barbary An. 1584. 177 44 A letter of the hon M. William Hareborne her Maiesties Ambassadour with the Grand Signor to M. Tipton appointing him Consul of the English in Alger Tunis and Tripolis in Barbary Anno 1585. 178 45 A Catalogue or register of the English ships goods and persons wrongfully taken by the Galleys of Alger with the names of the English captiues deliuered to Hassan Bassa the Beglerbeg of Alger c. 179 46 A letter of M. William Hareborne her Maiesties Ambassador c. to Assan Aga Eunuch and treasurer vnto Hassan Bassa king of Alger which Assan Aga was sonne to Francis Rowly merchant of Bristol and was taken in an English ship called the Swallow 180 47 A petition exhibited to the Viceroy of the Turkish empire for reformation of sundry iniuries offered our nation in Morea as also for sundry demaundes needefull for the establishing of the trafficke in those parts 181 48 A commandement of the Grand Signor to Patrasso in Morea on the behalfe of the English pag. 181 49 The Grand Signors commandement to Chio on the behalfe of the English merchants 182 50 Two of his commandements sent to Baliabadram and to Egypt for the same purpose 182 51 A commandement of the Grand Signor to the Cadi of Alexandria for the restoring of an English mans goods wrongfully taken by the French Consul 183 52 Another commaundement to the Bassa of Alexandria for the very same purpose 183 53 A coÌ„mandement to the Byes and Cadies of Metelin and Rhodes and to all the Cadies Byes in the way to Constantinople for the courteous and iust vsage of the English merchants 183 54 A commandement sent to Alepo concerning the goods of M. William Barret deceased 183 55 The Queenes letters to the great Turke for the restitution of an English ship called The Iesus and of the English captiues detained at Tripolis in Barbary for certaine other English men which remained prisoners at Alger Anno 1584. 191 56 The great Turkes letters to the king of Tripolis in Barbary commanding the restitution of an English ship called The Iesus with the men and goods c. Anno 1584. 192 57 The letter of M. William Hareborne her Maiesties Ambassadour to Bassa Romadan the Beglerbeg of Tripolis in Barbary for the restoring of the sayd ship called The Iesus Anno 1585. pag. 193 58 The great Turkes Pasport of safe conduct for Captaine Austel and Iacomo Manuchio 198 59 A Pasport of the Erle of Leicester for Thomas Forster gent. traueiling to Constantinople Anno 1586. 198 60 A description of the yearely voyage or pilgrimage of the Mahumetans Turkes and Moores to Mecca in Arabia 198 61 A letter written from the Queenes Maiestie to Zelabdim Echebar king of Cambaia and sent by M. Iohn Newbery Anno 1583. 245 62 A letter written from her Maiestie to the king of China in the yeare of our Lord 1583. 245 63 A letter of M. Iohn Newbery sent from Alepo to M. Richard Hakluyt of Oxford Ann. 1583 pag. 245 64 Another letter of the sayd M. Newbery written from Alepo to M. Leonard Poote at London Anno 1583 246 65 A second letter of the sayd M. Newbery written from Babylon to the aforesayd M. Poore Anno 1583. 247 66 M. Newbery his letter from Ormuz to M. Iohn Eldred and William Shales at Balsara Anno 1583. 248 67 His third letter written to M. Leonard Poore from Goa in the yeare 1584. 248 68 A letter written from Goa by M. Ralph Fitch to M. Leonard Poore abouesayd Anno 1584. pag. 250 69 The report of Iohn Huighen van Linschoten of
French armie as afterwards it appeared ¶ The Voyage of Prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Asia in the yeere 1270. ABout the yeere of our Lord 1267. Octobonus the Popes Legate being in England prince Edward the sonne of king Henry and diuers other Noble men of England tooke vpon them the crosse vpon S. Iohn Baptists day by the sayd Legates hands at Northhampton to the reliefe of the Holy land and the subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ. For which purpose and for the better furnishing of the prince towards the iourney there was granted him a subsidie throughout all the realme and in the moneth of May in the yeere of our Lord 1270. he began to set forward At Michaelmas following he with his company came to Eguemortes which is from Marsilia eight leagues Westward and there taking ship againe hauing a mery and prosperous wind within ten dayes arriued at Tunez where he was with great ioy welcommed and entertained of the Christian princes that there were to this purpose assembleâ— as of Philip the French King whose father Lodouicus died a litle before of Carolus the king of Sicilia and the two kings of Nauarre and Arragon and as this lord Edward came thither for his father the king of England thâ—ther came also Henry the sonne of the king of Almaine for his father who at his returne from the voyage was slaine in a chappell at Viterbium When prince Edward demanded of these kings and princes what was to be done they answered him againe and sayd the prince of this citie and the prouince adioyning to the same hath bene accustomed to pay tribute vnto the king of Sicily euery yere and now for that the same hath bene for the space of seuen yeeres vnpaied and more therefore we thought good to make inuasion vpon him But the king knowing the same tribute to be but iustly demaunded hath now according â—o our owne desire satisfied for the time past and also paied his tribute before hand Then sayd â—e My Lords what is this to the purpose are we not here all assâ—mbled haue taken vpon vs the Lords Character to fight against the infidels enemies of Christ What meane you then to conclude a peace with them God forbid we should do so for now the land is plaine and hard so that we may approch to y e holy city IerusaleÌ„ Then said they now haue we made a league with them neither is it lawful for vs to breake the same But let vs returne againe to Sicilia and when the winter is past we may well take shipping to Acra But this counsel nothing at all liked him neither did he shew himselfe wel pleased there with but after hee had made them a princely banket he went into his closet or priuy chamber from amongst them neither would be partaker of any of that wicked money which they had taken They notwithstanding continuing their purpose at the next mery wind tooke shipping and for want of ships left 200. of their men a shore crying out and pitioufly lamenting for the peril and hazard of death that they were in wherewith prince Edward being somewhat mooued to compassion came backe againe to the land and receiued and stowed them in his owne ships being the last that went aboord Within seuen dayes after they arriued in the kingdom of Sicilia ouer agaynst the Citie Trapes casting their ankers a league from thence within the sea for that their shippes were of great burden and throughly fraught and from the hauen of the citie they sent out barges and boates to receiue and bring such of the Nobilitie to land as would but their horses for the most part and all their armour they kept still within boord At length towards the euening the sea began to be rough increased to a great tempest and a mightie insomuch that their ships were beaten one against anothers sides and drowned there was of them at that tempest lying at anker more then 120. with all their armour and munition with innumerable soules besides and that wicked money also which they had taken before likewise perished and was lost But the tempest hurt not so much as one ship of prince Edwards who had in number 13. nor yet had one man lost thereby for that as it may be presupposed he consented not to the wicked counsell of the rest When in the morning the princes and kings came to the sea side and saw all their ships drowned and saw their men and horses in great number cast vpon the land drowned they had full heauie hearts as well they might for of all their ships and mariners which were in number 1500. besides the common souldiers there was no more saued then the mariners of one onely ship and they in this wise There was in that ship a good wise Matrone a Countesse or an Erles wife who perceiuing the tempest to grow fearing her selfe called to her the M. of the ship asked him whether in attempting to the shoare it were not possible to saue theÌ„selues he answered that to saue the ship it was impossible howbeit the men that were therein by Gods helpe he doubted not Then sayd the countesse for the ship force no whit saue the soules therein and haue to thee double the value of the shippe who immediatly hoising the sailes with all force ran the shippe aground so nere the shore as was possible so that with the vehemency of the weather force he came withall he brast the ship and saued all that was within the same as he had shewed and sayd before Then the kings and princes altering their purpose after this so great a shipwracke returned home againe euery one vnto their owne lands onely Edward the sonne of the king of England remained behinde with his men and ships which the Lord had saued and preserued Then prince Edward renouating his purpose tooke shipping againe and within fifâ—eene daies after Easter arriued he at Acra and went aland taking with him a thousand of the best souldiers and most expert and taried there a whole moneth refreshing both his men and horses and that in this space he might learne and know the secrets of the land After this he tooke with him sixe or seuen thousand souldiers and marched forward twenty miles from Acra and tooke Nazareth and those that he found there he slew and afterward returned againe to Acra But their enemies following after them thinking to haue set vpon them at some streit or other aduantage were espied by the prince and returning againe vpon them gaue a charge and slew many of them and the rest they put â—o flight After this about Midsummer when the prince had vnderstanding that the Saracens began to gather at Cakow which was forty miles from Acra he marching thither set vpon them very earely in the morning and slew of them more then a thousand the rest he put to flight and tooke rich spoiles
marching forward till they came to a castle named Castrum peregrinorum situate vpon the sea coast and taried there that night and the next day they returned againe toward Acra In the meane season the king of Ierusalem sent vnto the noble men of Cyprus desiring them to come with speed to ayd the Christians but they would not come saying they would keepe their owne land and go no further Then prince Edward sent vnto them desiring that at hiâ—â—equest they would come and ioyne in ayd with him who immediatly thereupon came vnto him with great preparation furniture for the warres saying that at his commandement they were bound to do no lesse for that his predecessors were sometimes the gouernors of that their land and that they ought alwayes to shew their fidelity to the kings of England Then the Christians being herewith animated made a third voyage or roadâ— and came as farre as the fort called Vincula sancti Petri and to S. Georgius and when they had slain certaine there not finding any to make resistance against them they reâ—ired againe from whence they came when thus the fame of prince Edward grew amongst his enemies and that they began to stand in doubt of him they deuised among themselues how by some pollicy they might circumuent him and betray him Whereupon the prince and admirall of Ioppa sent vnto him faining himselfe vnder great deceit willing to become a Christian and that he would draw with him a great number besides so that they might be honorably entertained and vsed of the Christians This talke pleased the prince well and perswaded him to finish the thing he had so well begun by writing againe who also by the same messenger sent and wrote backe vnto him diuers times about the sâ—me matter whereby no mistrust should spring This messenger sayth mine author was one ex caute nutritis one of the stony hearted that neither feared God nor dreaded death The fift time when this messenger came and was of the princes sâ—ruants searched according to the maner and custome what weapon and armour he had about him as also his purse that not so much as a knife could be seene about him he was had vp into the princes chamber and after his reuerence done he pulled out certaine letters which he deliuered the prince from his lord as he had done others before This was about eight dayes after Whitsuntide vpon a Tuesday somewhat before night at which time the prince was layed vpon his bed bare headed in his ierkin for the great heat and intemperature of the weather When the prince had read the letters it appeared by them that vpon the Saturday next following his lord would be there ready to accomplish all that he had written and promised The report of these newes by the prince to the standers by liked them well who drew somewhat backe to consult thereof amongst themselues In the meane time the mâ—ssenger kneeling and making his obeisance to the prince questioning further with him put his hand to his belt as though he would haue pulled out sâ—me secret letters and suddenly he pulled out an inuenomed knife thinking to haue stroken the prince into the belly therewith as he lay but the price lifting vp his hand to defend the blow was striken a great wound into the arme and being abouâ— to fetch another stroke at him the prince againe with his foot tooke him such a blow that he feld him to the ground with that the prince gate him by the hand and with such violence wrasted the knife from him that he hurt himselfe therewith on the forehead and immediatly thrust the same into the belly of the messenger and striker and slew him The princes seruants being in the next chamber not farre off hearing the bussing came with great haste running in and finding the messenger lying dead in the floore one of them tooke vp a stoole and beat out his braines whereat the prince was wroth for that he stroke a dead man and one that was killed before But the rumour of this accident as it was strange so it went soone thorowout all the Court and from thence among the common people for which they were very heauy and greatly discouraged To him came also the Captaine of the Temple and brought him a costly and precious drinke against poison least the venime of the knife should penetrate the liuely blood and in blaming wise sayd vnto him did I not tell your Grace before of the deceit and subtilty of this people Notwithstanding sayd he let your Grace take a good heart you shall not die of this wound my life for yours But straight way the Surgions and Physicians were sent for and the prince was dressed and within few dayes after the wound began to putrifie and the flesh to looke dead and blacke whereupon they that were about the prince began to mutter among themselues and were very sad and heauy Which thing he himself perceiuing said vnto them why mutter you thus among your selues what see you in me can I not be healed tell me the trueth be ye not afrayd Whereupon one sayd vnto him and it like your Grace you may be healed we mistrust not but yet it will be very painfull for you to suffer May suffering sayd he againe restore health yea sayth the other on paine of losing my head Then sayd the prince I commit my selfe vnto you doe with me what you thinke good Then sayd one of the Physicians is there any of your Nobles in whom your Grace reposeth special trust to whom the prince answered Yea naming certeine of the Noble men that stood about him Then sayd the Physician to the two whom the prince first named the Lord Edmund and the lord Iohn Voisie And doe you also faithfully loue your Lord and Prince Who answered both Yea vndoubtedly Then sayth he take you away this gentlewoman and lady meaning his wife and let her not see her lord and husband till such time as I will you thereunto Whereupon they tooke her from the princes presence crying out and wringing her hands Then sayd they vnto her Be you contented good Lady Madame it is better that one woman should weepe a little while then that all the realme of England should weepe a great season Then on the morrow they cut out all the dead and inuenimed flesh out of the princes arme and threw it from them and sayd vnto him how cheereth your Grace we promise you within these fifteene dayes you shall shew your selfe abroad if God permit vpon your horsebacke whole and well as euer you were And according to the promise he made the prince it came to passe to the no little comfort and admiration of all his subiects When the great Souldan heard hereof and that the prince was yet aliue he could scarsely beleeue the same and sending vnto him three of his Nobles and Princes excused himselfe by them calling his god to witnesse
I was testifieth those things which I saw to be true Many other things I haue omitted because I beheld them not with mine owne eyes Howbeit from day to day I purpose with my selfe to trauell countreyes or lands in which action I dispose my selfe to die or to liue as it shall please my God Of the death of frier Odoricus IN the yeere therefore of our Lord 1331 the foresayd frier Odoricus preparing himselfe for the performance of his intended iourney that his trauell and labour might be to greater purpose he determined to present himselfe vnto pope Iohn the two and twentieth whose benediction and obedience being receiued he with a certaine number of friers willing to beare him company might conuey himselfe vnto all the countreyes of infidels And as he was trauelling towards the pope and not farre distant from the city of Pisa there meets him by the way a certaine olde man in the habit and attire of a pilgrime saluting him by name and saying All haile frier Odoricus And when the frier demaunded how he had knowledge of him he answered Whilest you were in India I knew you full well yea and I knew your holy purpose also but see that you returne immediatly vnto the couen from whence you came for tenne dayes hence you shall depart out of this present world Wherefore being astonished and amazed at these wordes especially the olde man vanishing out of his sight presently after he had spoken them he determined to returne And so he returned in perfect health feeling no crazednesse nor infirmity of body And being in his rouen at Vdene in the prouince of Padua the tenth day after the foresayd vision hauing receiued the Communion and preparing himselfe vnto God yea being strong and sound of body hee happily rested in the Lord whose sacred departure was signified vnto the Pope aforesaid vnder the hand of the publique notary in these words following In the yeere of our Lord 1331 the 14. day of Ianuarie Beatus Odoricus a Frier minorite deceased in Christ at whose prayers God shewed many and sundry miracles which I Guetelus publique notarie of Vtina sonne of M. Damianus de Porto Gruaro at the commandement and direction of the honorable Conradus of the Borough of Gastaldion and one of the Councell of Vtina haue written as faithfully as I could and haue deliuered a copie thereof vnto the Friers minorites howbeit not of all because they are innumerable and too difficult for me to write The voyage of Matthew Gourney a most valiant English Knight against the Moores of Algier in Barbarie and Spaine M. Camden pag. 159. NEctacendum Matthaeum Gourney in oppido quodam vulgarilingua Stoke vnder Hamden in comitatu Somersetensi appellato sepultum esâ—e virum bellico sissimum regnante Edwardo tertio qui 96. aetatis anno diem obiuit cum vt ex inscriptione videre licuit obsidioni d'Algizer contra Saracenos praelijs Benamazin Sclusensi Cressiaco Ingenos Pictauiensi Nazarano in Hispania dimicasset The same in English IT is by no meanes to be passed ouer in silence that Matthew Gourney being a most valiant warriour in the reigne of Edward the third lyeth buried at a certaine towne in the countie of Somerset commonly called Stoke vnder Hamden who deceased in the 96. yeare of his age and that as it is manifest by the inscription of his monument after he had valiantly behaued himselfe at the siege of Algizer against the Sarazens and at the battailes of Benamazin of Sluce of Cressie of Ingenos of Poictou and of Nazaran in Spaine The comming of Lyon King of Armenia into England in the yeere 1386 and in the ninth yeere of Richard the second in trust to finde some meanes of peace or good agreement betweene the King of England and the French king Iohn Froyssart lib. 3. cap. 56. THus in abiding for the Duke of Berrie and for the â—â—â—stable who were behind then king Lyon of Armenia who was in Franâ—â— and had assigned him by the king sixe thousande frankes by the yeare to maintaine his estate tooke vpon him for a good intent to goe into England to speake with the king there and his Councell to see if he might finde any matter of peace to be had betweene the two Reaâ—mes England and France And so he departed from his lodging of Saint Albeyne beside Saint Denice alonely with his owne company and with no great apparell So he rode to Boloine and there he tooke a shippe and so sayled foorth till he came to Douer and there he found the Earle of Cambridge and the Earle of Buckingham and moe then a hundreth men of armes and a two thousand Archers who lay there to keepe that passage for the brute ran that the Frenchmen should lande there or at Sandwich and the king lay at London and part of his Councell with him and daily heard tydings from all the Portes of England When the king of Armenia was arriued at Douer he had there good cheere because he was a stranger and so he came to the kings Uncles there who sweetly receiued him and at a time conuenient they demaunded of him from whence he came and whither he would The king answered and sayd that in trust of goodnesse he was come thither to see the king of England and his Councell to treate of peace betweene England and France for he saide that he thought the warre was not meete for he sayd by reason of warre betweene these two Realmes which hath indured so long the Saracens Iewes Turkes are waxed proude for there is none that make them any warre and by occasion thereof I haue lost my land and Realme and am not like to recouer them againe without there were firme peace in all Christendome I would gladly shew the matter that toucheth all Christendome to the king of England and to his Councell as I haue done to the French king Then the kings Uncles demaunded of him if the French king sent him thither or no he answered and sayd no there is no man that sent mee but I am come hither by mine owne motion to see if the king of England his Councel would any thing leane to any treaty of peace then was he demaunded where the French king was he answered I beleeue he be at Sluce I sawe not him sithence I tooke my leaue of him at Senlize Then he was demaunded howe he could make any treatie of peace and had no charge so to doe and Sir if yee be conueyed to the King our Nephew and to his Counsell and the French king in the meane season enter with his puissance into England yee may happe thereby to receiue great blame and your person to be in great ieoperdy with them of the Countrey Then the King answered and said I am in suretie of the French king for I haue sent to him desiring him till I returne againe not to remoue from Sluce and I repute him so noble and so well aduised that he
monitions and reasons of the false traitor being vnderstood and pondered by the great Turke and his counsell it was considered of them not to loose so good occasion and time Wherefore hee made most extreme diligence to rigge and apparell many ships vessels of diuers sorts as galliasses gallies pallandres fustâ—s and brigantines to the number of 350. sailes and moe When the prisoner that the sayd de Merall did send into Turkie had done his câ—mmission hee returned into Rhodes whereof euery man had maruell And many folkes deemâ—d â—uil of his comming againe as of a thing vnaccustomed but none durst say any thing seeing the sayd de Merall of so great authoritie and dignitie and he cherished the sayd prisoner more then he was woont â—o doe Therefore belike hee had well done his message and had brought good tidings to the damnable and shamefull mind of â—he sayd traitor de Merall How the great Turke caused the passages to be kept that none should beare tidings of his hoste to Rhodes THe great Turke intending with great diligence to make readie his hoste both by sea and by land the better to come to his purpose and to take the towne vnwarily as hee was aduertised thought to keepe his doings as secret as hee might and commaunded that none of his subiects should goe to Rhodes for any maner of thing And likewise he tooke all the barkes and brigantines out of the hauens and portes in those coastes because they should giue no knowledge of his armie And also hee made the passages by land to bee kept that none should passe Howbeit so great apparell of an armie could not bee long kept close for the spies which the lord great master had sent into Turkie brought tidings to the castle of saint Peter and to Rhodes of all that was sayd and done in Turkie Neuerthelesse the sayd lord gaue no great credence to all that was brought and told because that many yeeres before the predecessours of the great Turke had made great armies and alway it was sayd that they went to Rhodes the which came to none effect And it was holden for a mocke and a by-word in many places that the Turke would goe to besiege Rhodes And for this reason doubt was had of this last armie and some thought that it should haue gone into Cyprus or to Cataro a land of the lordship of Venice Howbeit the great master not willing to bee taken vnwarily but the meane while as carefull and diligent for the wealth of his towne his people vnderstanding these tidings of the Turkes armie did all his diligence to repaire and strengthen the towne Amongst all other things to build vp and raise the bulwarke of Auuergne and to cleanse and make deeper the ditches And the more to cause the workemen to haste them in their businesse they sayd lord ouersawe them twice or thrise euery day How the lord great master counselled with the lordes for prouision for the towne THen the sayd reuerend lord thought to furnish and store the towne with more vitailes for the sustenance thereof and for the same many times hee spake with the lordes that had the handling and rule of the treasurie and of the expenses thereof in his absence and since his comming That is to wit with the great Commander Gabriel de pommerolles lieutenant of the sayd lord The Turcoplier Sir Iohn Bourgh of the English nation and the Chanceller Sir Andrew de Meral of whom is spoken afore and of his vntruth agaynst his religion The which three lordes sayd that hee should take no thought for it for the towne was well stored with vitailes for a great while and that there was wheate ynough till new came in Notwithstanding it were good to haue more or the siege were laide afore the towne and therefore it were behoouefull to send for wheate and other necessaries into the West for succours of the towne and at that time to puruey for euery thing Of the prouision for vitailes and ordinance of warre AS touching the store and ordinance of warre the sayd lordes affirmed that there was ynough for a yeere and more whereof the contrary was found for it failed a moneth or the citie was yeelded It is of trueth that there was great store and to haue lasted longer then it did But it was needfull to spend largely at the first comming of the enemies to keepe them from comming neere and from bringing earth to the ditches sides as they did And moreouer you are to consider the great number of them and their power that was spred round about the towne giuing vs so many assaults and skirmishes in so many places as they did and by the space of sire whole moneths day and night assailing vs that much ordinance and store was wasted to withstand them in all points And if it failed it was no maruell Howbeit the noble lord great master prouided speedily for it and sent Brigantines to Lango to the castle of saint Peter and to the castels of his isle Feraclous and Lyndo for to bring powder and saltpeter to strength the towne but it suffised not And for to speake of the purueiance of vitailes it was aduised by the lord great master and his three lords that it was time to send some ships for wheat to places thereabout before the Turks hoste were come thither And for this purpose was appointed a ship named the Gallienge whose captaine hight Brambois otherwise called Wolfe of the Almaine nation an expert man of the sea the which made so good diligence that within a moneth he performed his voiage and brought good store of wheat from Naples and Romania which did vs great comfort How a Brigantine was sent to Candie for wine and of diuers ships that came to helpe the towne AFter this a motion was made to make prouision of wine for the towne for the men of Candie durst not saile for to bring wine to Rhodes as they were woont to doe for feare of the Turkes hoste and also they of the towne would send no ship into Candie fearing to be taken and enclosed with the sayd hoste by the way Howbeit some merchants of the towne were willing to haue aduentured themselues in a good ship of the religion named the Mary for to haue laden her with wine in Candie But they could not agree with the three lordes of the treasure and their let was but for a little thing and all the cause came of the sayd traitour de Merall faining the wealth of the treasure for he intended another thing and brake this good and profitable enterprise and will of the sayd merchants seeing that it was hurtfull to the Turke whose part the said traitour held in his diuelish heart that notwithstanding the reuerend lord great master that in all things from the beginning to the ende hath alway shewed his good will and with all diligence and right that might bee requisite to a soueraigne captaine and head of warre
ships as gallies galliasses and fusts and passed one after another before the towne and hauen of Rhodes three miles off and came to shore in a place nigh to land called Perambolin sixe miles from the towne In the which place the sayd hoste abode from that time to the end of that vnhappy siege The number and names of the vessels that came to besiege Rhodes THe number of the ships were these 30 galliasses 103 gallies aswell bastards as subtill mahonnets 15 taffours 20 fusts 64 great ships sixe or seuen gallions 30 galleres beside the nauy that waited for Christian men if any came to succour vs. These were the vessels that came at the first to lay the siege And sith that the sayd host came out of Perambolin there came from Syria 20 other sailes aswell gallies as fusts And many other ships came sith and ioyned with the sayd army in the time of the sayd siege And it was sayd that there were 400 sailes and moe The same day that part of the host came to the sayd place the reuerend lord great master ordeined a great brigandine to send into the West to certifie our holy father the pope and the Christian princes how the Turks army was afore Rhodes And in the sayd vessell he sent two knights one a French man named Sir Claude dansoyuille called Villiers and Sir Loys de Sidonia a Spaniard and they went to the pope and to the emperour After the comming of the Turks nauy into the sayd place it was 14 or 15 dayes or they set any ordinance on land great or small or any quantity of men came on shore whereof we marueiled And it was tolde vs by some that came out of the campe and also by the spies that the lord great master had sent abroad arayed as Turks that they abode the commandement of their great lord vntill the hoste by land were come into the campe Howbeit there came some number for to view the towne but they went pâ—iuily for the ordinance of the towne shot without cease All this while the gallies and galliasses went and came to land bringing vitaile and people At the which ships passing nigh the town were shot many strokes with bombards which made some slaughter of our enemies and when the most part of them was past they began to set ordinance on the land with great diligence Then the lord great master departed from his palace and lodged him nigh a church called The victory because that place was most to be doubted and also that at the other siege the great businesse and assault was there How the lord great master made his petition before the image of S. Iohn and offered him the keyes of the towne THe day before were made many predications and sermons and the last was in the church of S. Iohn Baptist. When the sermon was done a pontificall Masse was celebrate with all solemnities and all the reliques taken downe and the lord great master and all his knights with great deuotions and reuerence heard it And when the Masse was ended the lord great master made a pitious oration or prayer before Saint Iohn Baptist his protectour and aboue all other words which were too long to tell he besought him meekly that it would please him to take the keyes of that miserable city The which keyes he presented and layed vpon the altar before the image beseeching S. Iohn to take the keeping and protection thereof and of all the religion as by his grace he had giuen to him vnworthy the gouerning vnto that day and by his holy grace to defend them from the great power of the enemies that had besieged them How the women slaues would haue set fire in the towne THe eight day of Iuly it was knowen that the Turkish women being slaues and seruaunts in many houses of the towne had appointed to set fire in their masters houses at the first assault that should be made to the end that the men should leaue their posterns defenses to go and saue their houses and goods And it was found that a woman of Marchopora being a slaue was first moouer thereof the which was taken and put to execution The same day some of our men went out for to skirmish with the Turkes and many of them were slaine with shot of our artillerie and of our men but one How the Turkes layd their artillerie about the towne and of the maner and quantitie of their pieces and gunshot THe 18. day of Iuly for the beginning and first day they set vp a mantellet vnder the which they put three or foure meane pieces as sacres wherâ—with they shot against the posterns of England and Prouence But the mantellet was soone broken and cast downe and their pieces destroyed with the shot of the wall and they that shot them were most part slaine As this first mantellet was broken by the great and innumerable people that they had they set all their ordinance on land and caried it to the places where it should be bent or nigh thereby And the 29. day of the same moneth they set vp two other mantellets One beside a church of saine Cosme and Damian and another toward the West And from these mantellets they shot great pieces as Culuerings double gunnes and great bombards agaynst the wals of England and Spaine to the which mantellets the ordinance of the towne gaue many great strokes and often brake them And the more to grieue the towne and to feare vs they set vp many other mantellets in diuers places almost round about the towne and they were reckoned foure score the which number was well lessened by the great quantitie of strokes of artillerie shot out of the towne from many places The artillerie of the Turkes was such as followeth FIrst there were sixe great gunnes cannons perriers of brasse that shot a stone of three foote and a halfe also there were 15. pieces of iron that shot stones of fiue or sixe spannes about Also there were 14. great bombards that shot stones of eleuen spans about Also there were twelue basiliskes whereof they shot but with 8. that is to weet foure shot agaynst the posterns of England and Spaine and two against the gate of Italy the other two shot sometime against Saint Nicholas tower Also there were 15. double gunnes casting bullets as basiliskes The meane shot as sacres and pasuolans were in great number The handgunshot was innumerable and incredible Also there were twelue potgunnes of brasse that shot vpward where of eight were set behind the church of S. Cosme and Damian and two at saint Iohn de la Fonâ—aine toward the port of Italy and the other two afore the gate of Auuergne the which were shot night and day and there were three sorts of them whereof the greatest were of sixe or seuen spannes about And the sayd stones were cast into the towne to make murder of people which is a thing very inhumane and fearefull which
it is no maruell if the walles be and haue bene beaten downe and if there be breaches and clifts in many places Of the mines that the Turks made and how they ouerthrew part of the bulwarke of England ANd because as it is sayd before that the greatest hope that the enemies had to get the towne of Rhodes was by mining therefore now after that I haue spoken of the gunshot and beatings I shall shew of the mines that the Turks made the which were in so great quantity and in so many places that I beleeue the third part of the towne was mined and it is found by account made that there were about 60 mines howbeit thanked be God many of them came not to effect by occasion of the countermines that they within made and also trenches that the right prudent lord the great master caused to be made deepe within the ditches vnto two or three foot of water The which trenches and certaine pits that he had caused in the sayd ditches to be wrought or the host arriued serued right well since for night and day there were men in them to watch and hearken when the enemies mined for to meet them and cut their way as was done many times And for to speake of the mines that had effect and damaged vs it is to wit that the fourth day of September about foure houres after noone the enemies put fire in two mines one was betweene the posterne of Spaine and Auuergne which did no hurt but to the Barbican The other was at the bulwarke of England which was so fell and strong that it caused most part of the town to shake and cast down a great part of the sayd bulwarke at the spring of the day and by the earth and stones that fell into the ditches the enemies came vpon the bulwarke with their banners and fought sore and mightily with our men not with hands but with shot of handgunnes The lord great master that was come 15 dayes or more with his succours to the sayd bulwarke went with his company to helpe them that fought After that they had fought the space of two or three houres the enemies repelled and driuen backe by our men from the sayd bulwarke and beaten with ordinance on euery side withdrew them with their losse fhame and damage And this was the first victory that our lord gaue vs and there abode of our enemies a thousand and more When this assault was done they made another at the breach in the wall of Spaine and mounted vpon it but the ordinance of the trauerses of the walles and of the houses made so faire a riddance that they were very willing to withdraw themselues for at the retreat and also at their comming the sayd ordinance of the bulwarke did them great damage albeit that they had made some repaire of earth Of our men died that day 25 or thereabout aswell knights as other And the same day in the morning departed out of this world Gabriel de Pomerolles lieutenant to the lord master which on a certaine day before fell from the wall as he went to see the trenches in the ditches and hurt his breast and for fault of good attendance he fell into a feuer whereof he died How the Turks assailed the bulwarke of England and how they were driuen away THe ninth day of the sayd moneth at seuen in the morning the enemies put fire in two mines one at the posterne of Prouence which had none effect the other was at the bulwarke of England whâ—ch felled another piece nigh to that that was cast downe atorr And the sayd mine was as fierce as the other or more for it seemed that all the bulwarke went downe and almost all they that were in it ranne away And when the sâ—anderd of the religion came into the sayd bulwarke the enemies were at the breach ready to haue entred but wheâ— they saw the sayd standerd as people lost and ouercome they went downe againe Then the artillery of the bulwarke of Quosquino and of other places found them well enough and slew many of them Howbeit their captaines made them to returne with great strokes of swordes and other weapons and to remount vpon the earth fallen from the sayd bulwarke and pight seuen banners nigh to our repaire Then our men fought with morispikes and fired speares against them the space of three whole houres till at the last they being well beaten with great ordinance and small on euery side withdrew themselues And of their banners our men gate one for it was not possible to get any more for assâ—one as any of our men went vp on our repaires he was slaine with small gunnes of the trenches and holes made in the walles of our ditches And there was slaine of our enemies that day at the assault 2000 of meane men and three persons of estate which lay dead along in the ditch with faire and rich harnesse And it was reported to vs from the campe they were three saniacbeis that is to say great sencshalles or stuarde And of Christian men of our part abode about thirty persons And this was the second victory giuen to vs the grace diuine How Sir Iohn Bourgh Turcoplier of England was slaine at an assault of the English bulwarke THe 17 day of the same moneth about midday the enemy came againe to giue another assault to the sayd bulwarke at the same place aforesayd without setting of fire in mines and brought fiue banners with them nigh to the repaires Then was there strong figâ—â—â—g on both parts and there were gotten two of their banners of the which sir Christopher Valdenare that time Castelaine of Rhodes gate one the other was in the hands of sir Iohn Bourgh Turcoplier of England chiefe captaine of the succours of the sayd posterne of England a valiant mâ—n a hardy and in holding of it he was slaine with the stroke of a handgunne which was great damage The sayd banner was recouered by one of our men And after long fighting on both sides the enemies seeing that they go nothing but stripes returned into their trenches At the sayd fray the lord prior of S. Giles pre Iohn was hurt thorow the necke with a handgun and was in great danger of death but he escaped and was made whole The same day and the same houre of the sayd assault the enemies mounted to the breach in the wall of Spaine and came to the repaires to the handes of our men and fought a great while but the great quantity of artillery that was shot so busily and so sharply from our trauerses on ech side and out of the bulwarks of Auuergne and Spaine skirmished them so well that there abode as many at that assault as at the other of England well neere to the number of 5000. And they withdrew themselues with their great losse and confusion which was the third time that they were chased and ouercome thanked be our Lord which
gaue vs the force and power so to doe for they were by estimation a hundred against one Also the 22 day of the same moneth of September they fired a mine betweene Italy and Prouence which did no harme Of the terrible mine at the posterne of Auuergne ANd the 23 day of the same moneth they fired two mines one at the posterne of Spaine and the other by the bulwarke of Auuergne the which mine by Auuergne was so terrible that it made all the towne to shake and made the wall to open from aboue to beneath vnto the plaine ground howbeit it fell not for the mine had vent or breath in two places by one of the countermines and by a rocke vnder the Barbican the which did cleaue and by that cleft the sury and might of the mine had issue And if the sayd two vents had not bene the wall had bene turned vpside downe And for truth as it was reported to vs out of the campe the enemies had great hope in the sayd mine thinking that the wall should haue bene ouerthrowen and then they might haue entred into the towne at their pleasures but when they saw the contrary they were very ill pleased And the captaines determined to giue assault at foure places at once to make vs the more adoo and to haue an entrance into the towne by one of the foure And the sayd day and night they ceased not to shoot artillery and there came in hope of the mine threescore thousand men and moe into the trenches How the bulwarke of Spaine was lost and woonne againe THe 24 day of the same moneth a little before day they gaue assault at the breach of Spaine to the bulwarke of England to the posterne of Prouence and at the plaine ground of Italy all at one houre one time The first that mounted to the breach of Spaine was the Aga of the Ianissaries a valiant man and of great courage with his company and bare three score or three score and tenne banners and signes and pight them in the earth of the breach and then fought with our men and mounted on our repaires making other maner of fray and more rigorous then the other that were passed and the sayd skirmish lasted about sixe houres And forthwith as the assault was giuen a great sort of Turks entred into the bulwarke of Spaine and set vp eight or nine signes or banners vpon it and droue our men out I can not tell how vnwares or otherwise And they were lords of it three houres and more Howbeit there were of our men beneath in the mine of the sayd bulwarke the which bulwarke so lost gaue vs euill hope But incontinently the lord great master being at the defence of the posterne of England hauing knowledge of the sayd losse and that there was great fighting and resistance on both sides at the breach of Spaine marched thither with the banner of the crucifix leauing the charge of the sayd bulwarke in the hands of the bailife de la Moree messieur Mery Combant And the lord mounted on the wall of Spaine whereas then began a great skirmish and euery man layed his handâ—s to worke as well to put the enemies out of the breach as to recouer the bulwarke that was lost And the sayde lord sent a company of men into the bulwarke by the gate of the mine or by the Barbican the which entred at the sayd gate and went vp where they found but few Turkes For the artillery of the posterne of England right against the bulwarke of Spaine had so well met and scattered them that within a while our men had slaine all them that were left And thus the sayde bulwarke was gotten and recouered againe and with all diligence were made new repaires and strengths to the sayd place And in like sort the enemies were put from the breech and few of them escaped and all their banners and signes were left with vs. Surely it may be sayd that after the grace of God the trauerses of Spaine and Auuergne and the small artillery set on the houses right against the sayd breaches as it is sayd with the comming and presence of the lord great master hath giuen vs this dayes victory As touching the murder of the people done by the artillery of the bulwarkes of England and Spaine the quantity was such that a man could not perceiue nor see any ground of the ditches And the stench of the mastifs carions was so grienous that we might not suffer it seuen or eight dayes after And at the last they that might saue themselues did so and withdrew themselues to the trenches and the reuerend lord great master abode victorious of the sayd place and in like sort of the other three assaults the which were but little lesse then that of Spaine for they fought long But in conclusion the enemies beaten on all sides and in so many sorts with artillery were put backe and vanquished that there died that day at all the foure places fifteene or sixteene thousand And the slaughter was so great at the plaine Italy of the cursed enemies that the sea was made redde with their blood And on our side also died to the number of an hundred men or more And of men if dignity in the towne hauing charge died Sir Francis de Frenolz commander of Romania which Sir Francis was chiefe captaine of the great ship of Rhodes and he was slaine at the plaine of Italy wounded with two strokes of harquebushes it was great dammage of his death for he was a worthy man perfect and full of vertues There died also messieur Nastasy de sancta Camilla aforenamed hauing two hundred men vnder him of the lord great masters succours There died also diuers other worthy men that day and many were maimed Among all other that lost any member messieur Iohn de le Touz called Pradines being at the sayd bulwarke with a stroke of artillery had his arme smitten away in great danger to haue lost his life howbeit by the helpe of God he died not In like sort the same day was hurt Sir William Weston abouesayd captaine of the posterne of England and had one of his fingers stricken away with an harquebush which knight behaued himselfe right woorthily at all the assaults Of the Turkes part of great men were two principall captaines slaine vnder the Aga of the Ianissaries and another captaine that was come out of Surey to the campe certaine dayes before with sixe hundred Mamelukes and two or three thousand Moores And of them that were hurt of great men the Beglarby of Natolia had a stroke with an arrow as he was in the trench of Prouence And many other were wounded whose names be not rehearsed here because of shortnesse How the great Turke for anger that he could not get the towne would haue put his chiefe captaine to death and how they made â—1 mines vnder the bulwarke of England DUring this assault the great
it himselfe and speake with him and sayd that he had also a letter of the Grand signior for the lord master Upon this he was bidden to go his way and to set him packing they shot after him a piece of artillery The next day after Ballantis Albanese that was fled thorow the breach of Spaine to the campe came from the sayd Genouois proposing such words or like as the other had sayd saying likewise that the Grand signior had sent a letter to the lord master To whom no words were spoken nor answere made for the lord great master as wise and prudent considering that a towne that will heare intreatings is halfe lost defended vpon the paine of death sith that Siotis had spoken these two times that none should be so hardy to speake nor answere them of the campe without his knowledge commandement but seeing they were such ambassadors they reported the words of the sayd Albanese or euer the sayd lord had knowledge of the words of the Siotis The which words spread thorow the towne put many folke in thought and would haue vndone that that the Siotis said the which is no maâ—uell whereas is much people for with good will and most often they regard sooner to saue the liues of them and their children then they doe to the honour of the residue Howbeit not one durst speake a word openly of that businesse but all secretly and some came and spake to certaine lords of the great crosse for to speake to y e lord great master And in effect some lords spake therof to him persuading him that it should be good to thinke thereon seeing that the towne went to losse To whom the sayd lord shewed many things for his honor and the Religion and that no such things ought to be done or thought for any thing in the world but rather he and they to die The lords hearing this answere went their wayes and then returned againe to the sayd lord aduising him more to thinke well on all things and to the saluation of his towne and of his religion And they sayd moreouer that they doubted that the people would rather haue a peace then to die themselues their wiues and children The lord seeing that such words were as things inforced as who should say if thou do it not we shall do it as wise men and prudent willing to make remedies of needfull things by counsell called the lords of his Councell for to haue aduise in these doings and other And when they were assembled the lord proposed the words that were to him denounced and sayd With these termes and wordes came two or three marchants and citizens of the towne that knocked at the doore of the Councell and presented a supplication to the great master and lords of the Councel whereby they required and besought meekely the sayd reuerend lord to haue respect to them and their poore housholds and to make some appointment with the great Turke seeing that the sayd matter was already forward in purpose that he would do it and that it would please him to consider the pitious sorowfull estate that the towne was in that there was no remedy to saue it and at the lest way if the lord would not make appointment to giue them leaue of his goodnesse to haue their wiues and their children out of the Rodes to saue them for they would not haue them slaine nor made slaues to the enemies And the conclusion was that if the sayd lord would not puruey therefore they would puruey for it themselues And there was written in the said request the names of eight or ten of the richest of the towne Which words of the sayd supplication being heard the sayd lord and his councell were abashed and ill content as reason would seeing that it was but a course game and thought on many things to make answere to the sayd citizens for to content and appease them and also to see if they should intend to the appointment as they required and after as the Genouoys had reported and the better to make the sayd answere and to know more plainly in what estate the towne was in all things that is to wit first of gunpowder and then of men of warre and of the katteries Also were demanded and asked the lord of S. Giles pre Iohn which had the charge of the gunpowder and then the captaine Sir Gabriel Martiningo for being ouer their men of warre as it is said as to him that knew the truth if the towne might holde or not or there were any meanes to saue it The sayd lord of S. Giles arose saying and affirming vpon his honour and his conscience that almost all the slaues and labourers were dead and hurt and that scantly there were folke enow to remoue a piece of artillery from one place to another and that it was vnpossible without folke any more to make or set vp the repaires the which euery day were broken and crushed by the great furious and continuall shot of the enemies artillery As for gunpowder the sayd lord sayd that all that was for store in the towne was spent long agone and that which was newly brought was not to serue furnish two assaults And he seeing the great aduantage of the enemies being so farre within the towne without power to put or chase them away for default of men was of the opinion that the towne would be lost and that there was no meanes to saue it The words of the sayd lord finished the captaine Gabriel Martiningo for his discharge sayd and declared to the reuerend lord and them of the Councell that seeing and considering the great beatings of the shot that the towne had suffered and after seeing the entring which the enemies had so large and that they were within the towne by their trenches both endlong and ouerthwart seeing also that in two other places they were at the foot of the wall and that the most part of our knights and men of warre and other were slaine and hurt and the gunpowder wasted and that it was vnpossible for them to resist their enemies any more that without doubt the towne was lost if there came no succors for to helpe and resist the siege The which opinions and reasons of these two woorthy men and expert in such feats vnderstood and pondered by the lord great master and the lords of the Councell they were most part aduised for to accept and take treaty if it were offered for the sauegard of the common people and of the holy reliques of the church as part of the holy crosse the holy throne the hand of S. Iohn and part of his head and diuers other reliques Howbeit the lord great master to whom the businesse belonged very neere and that tooke it most heauily and was more sorrowfull then any of the other as reason required was alway stedfast in his first purpose rather willing to die then to consent to such a thing
and sayd againe to the lordes of the Councell Aduise you and thinke well on euery thing and of the end that may happen and he proposed to them two points that is to wit Whether it is better for vs to die all or to saue the people and the holy reliques The which two points and doubts were long time disputed and there were diuers opinions neuerthelesse at the last they sayd all that howbeit that it were well and safely done to die for the faith and most honor for vs notwithstanding seeing and considering that there is no remedy to resist against our enemies and meanes to saue the towne and on the other part that the great Turke would not oppresse vs to forsake our faith but only would haue the towne it were much better then and tending to greater wealth to saue all the iewels aboue sayde that should be defiled and lost if they came in the handes of the enemies of the faith And also to keepe so much small people as women and children that they would torment and cut some in pieces other take and perforce cause them to forsake their faith with innumerable violences and shamefull sinnes that should be committed and done if the towne were put to the sword as was done at Modon and lately at Bellegrado Whereby they did conclude that it were better and more agreeable to God for to take the treaty if it were proffered then for to die as people desperate and without hope How the great Turke sent two of his men to the towne to haue it by intreating And how the lord great master sent two knights to him to know his assurance VPon these consultations and words almighty God that saueth them which trust in him and that would not that so many euils and cruelties should come to the poore city inhabitants of it and also that the great Turke might not arise in ouer great pride and vaine glory put him in minde to seeke to haue the sayd towne by treaty which he ought not to haue done for his honour nor by reason for the towne was in a maner his And in like sort he ought not to haue let vs goe as he did seeing that we were his mortall enemies euer and shall be still in the time comming considering the great slaughter of his people that we haue made in this siege Howbeit the eternall goodnesse hath blinded him and hath pleased that these things should be thus for some cause vnknowen of vs. And for conclusion the great Turke sent to haue a communication and parle in following the words of the Genouese aforesayd Then was a signe set vpon the churche of the abbey without the towne to the which was made answere with another at the miles of Quosquino And forthwith came two Turks to speake with them of the towne Then the lord great master sent the Priour of S. Giles pre Iohn and the captaine Gabriel Martiningo to know the cause of their comming And when they came to them without holding of long speech the two Turkes deliuered them a letter for to beare to the lord great master from the great Turke and then returned safely into their tents When the two lords had receiued it they bare presented it to the reuerend lord great master which caused it to be read By the which the great Turke demanded of the lord great master to yeeld the towne to him and in so doing he was content to let him go all his knights and all the other people of what cōdition soeuer they were with all their goods iewels safe without feare of any harme or displeasure of his folks And also he sware and promised on his faith so to do The sayd letter was sealed with his signet that he vseth that is as it were gilded And he sayde afterward that if the lord great master would not accept the sayde treaty that none of the city of what estate soeuer he were should thinke to escape but that they all vnto the cats should passe by the edge of the sword and that they should send him an answere forthwith either yea or nay After the sight of the contents of the sayd letter of so great weight and the time so short for to giue so great an answere and with demand the sayd lord great master and all the lords of the Councell were in great thought howbeit they determined to giue an answere seeing the estate of the towne so ill that it could be no woorse Hearing the report and opinions a day or two before of the two lords ordeined to view the defects of the towne saying that the towne was lost without remedy considering also that the principalles of the towne would haue appointment And in likewise at the other counsell all the lordes had already willed and declared that it were better to saue the towne for respect of the poore people then to put it all whole to the furie of the enemies whereupon they agreed and concluded to take the foresayd treatie After the conclusion taken answere was made readily for a good respect that is to weet to take the Turke at his worde to the ende that he should not repent him of it nor change his opinion For euery houre his people wanne and entered further and further into the towne And for to goe vnto the great Turke were ordained these two knights sir Passin afore named and he bare the token of the White crosse and another of the towne named Robert de Perruse◠iudge Ordinarie When these two ambassadours had made them readie they went out at the gate of Quosquino and went to the tent of Acmek basha capitaine generall And because it was late and that they might not goe that day to the great Turke on the next day in the morning the foresaid captaine Acmek led and conueied our sayd ambassadours to the great Turkes pauillion that they might haue the more knowledge plainely and for to heare his will as touching the wordes which were reported to the reuerend lord great master and after the contents of his letter and writings When the sayd two ambassadours were departed out of the towne there did enter two men of authoritie of the campe one was nephew or kinsman of the sayd Acmek the other was the great Turkes truchman which the lord master caused to be well receiued and they were lodged nigh the sayd gate of Quosquino And then truce was taken for 3. dayes and the enemies came to our repaires and spake with our folke and dranke one with another How the ambassadours of Rhodes spake with the great Turke and what answere they had WHen our ambassadours had made reuerence to the great Turke they sayd that the lord great master of Rhodes had sent them to his Imperiall maiestie to know what he requested and desired that they might talke together and how the great master had receiued his letter The great Turke answered them by his truchman that of demanding to speake
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
lost of the Venetians the 15 of August last past 1571 the chiefe gouernors captaines of theÌ„ being hewen in sunder by the coÌ„mandement of that tyrant Mustafa Basha but all the whole Iland also to be conquered by those cruell Turks ancient professed enemies to all Christian religion In the which euill successe comming to vs as I take it for our offences as I lament the generall losse so I am surely pensiue to vnderstand by this too true a report of the vile death of two particular noble gentlemen of Venice Sig. M. Lorenzo Tiepolo and Sig. M. Giouanni Antonio Querint of both the which I in my trauaile was very courteously vsed the former of them being then as now also he was in this ouerthrow gouernour of Baffo in Cyprus the other captaine of one of the castels at Corcyra in Greece now called Corfu But things past are past amendment and they could neuer die more honourably then in the defence of their countrey Besides that the late blowes which the Turks haue receiued since this their fury in token of Gods wrath against them do much comfort euery Christian heart Moreouer this vniforme preparation which is certainly concluded and forthwith looked for by very many Christian Princes would God by all generally against these barbarous Mahometists whose cruelty and beastly behauiour I partly know and am able to iudge of hauing bene in Turky amongst them more then eight moneths together Whose vnfaithfulnesse also and breach of promise as the Venetians manly courage in defence of themselues and their fortresse your honour may easily reade in this short treatise and small handfull of leaues I hauing set downe also a short description of the Iland of Cyprus for the better vnderstanding of the whole matter The which I not onely most humbly beseech your honour now fauourably to accept as an earnest peny of more to come and of my present good will but with your accustomed goodnesse towards me to defend the same against such persons whose tongues too readily roule sometime against other mens painfull trauels perswading themselues to purchase the sooner some credit of learning with the ruder sort by controlling and ouerdaintie sifting of other mens laboured tasks For I know in all ages to be found as well Basilisks as Elephants Thus nothing doubting of your ready ayd heerein as I assuredly trust of your honours fauourable acceptation of this my poore present wishing long life with the increase of Gods holy spirit to your lordship and to all your most honourable familie vnto whom I haue wholly dedicated my selfe by mine owne choise and election for euer I crauing pardon for my former boldnesse most humbly thus take my leaue From Lambhith the 23 of March Ann. 1572. Your honours most humble and faithfull seruant for euer William Malim A briefe description of the Iland of Cyprus by the which not onely the Venetians title why they haue so long enioyed it but also the Turks whereby now he claimeth it may plainly appeare THe Iland of Cyprus is inuironed with diuers seas for Westward it is washed with the sea called Pamphilium Southward with the sea AEgyptium on the East part with the sea Syrium and Northward with the sea called Cilicium The which Iland in time past had diuers names called once Acamantis as Sabellicus witnesseth Philonides maketh mention that it was called sometime Cerasis Xenogoras writeth that is was named Aspelia Amathusa Macaria There were in times past fifteene cities or famous townes in it but now very few amongst the which Famagusta is the chiefest strongest situated by the sea side There is also Nicosia which was woont by the traffike of Marchants to be very wealthy besides the city of Baffo Arnica Saline Limisso Melipotamo Episcopia Timosthenes affirmeth that this Iland is in compasse 429 miles and Arthemidorus writeth the length of the same to be 162 miles measuring of it from the East to the West betwixt two promontories named Dinaretta and Acamanta This Iland is thought to be very rich abundant of Wine Oile Graine Pitch Rozin Allum Salt and of diuers precious stones pleasant profitable and necessary for mans vse and much frequented of Marchants of Syria vnto the which it lieth very nere It hath bene as Plinie writeth ioyned sometime with Syria as Sicilia hath beene also with Italy It was a long time subiect vnto the Romans after to the Persians and to the Soldan of AEgypt The selfesame Iland was sometime also English being conquered by king Richard the first in his voyage to Hierusalem in the yeere of our Lord 1192. Who as Polydore writeth in his fourteenth booke of our English historie being prohibited by the Cypriottes from arriuall there inuaded and conquered the same soone after by force and hauing left behinde him sufficient garrisons to keepe the same departed from thence to Ptolemayda who afterward exchanged the same with Guy of Lusignan that was the last christened king of Hierusalem for the same kingdome For the which cause the kings of England were long time after called kings of Hierusalem And last of all the Venetians haue enioyed it of late a long time in this order following In the yeere of our Lord 1470 Iohn king of the sayd Iland â—onne to Ianus of Lusignan had by Helen his wife which was of the Emperiall house of Paleologus one daughter only called Charlotta and a bastard called Iames the which Iames was afterward consecrated Bishop of Nicosia This Charlotta was married first to the king of Portingall of whom he had no issue so that he being dead Lewes Duke of Sauoy to whom shee was the second time married sonne to Lewes the second of that name vnto whom the said Iland by the right of this his wife Charlotta did appertaine had the possession of the same Iames the bastard assoone as his father was dead of a Bishop became a souldiour and with an army wanne the Iland making it his owne by force This Duke of Sauoy hearing these newes with a number of well appointed souldiers arriued shortly after in Cyprus and recouering againe the Iland compelled the bastard to flie foorthwith ouer to the Soldan of AEgypt Who making himselfe his subiect in time so wrought and tempered the matter that the Soldan in person at his request passed ouer into Cyprus besieged Duke Lewes in the castle of Nicosia and at length compelled him to depart leauing his kingdome So that this Bishop became againe King of this Iland who shortly after cleauing to the Venetians hauing made a league of friendship with them married by their consent one Catherina the daughter of Marco Cornaro which Catherin the Senate of Venice adopted vnto them soone after as their daughter This Bishop not long after sickened and died leauing this his wife with child who liued not long after his fathers death By the which meanes the Venetians making themselues the next heires to Catherina by the law of adoption tooke vnto them the possession of
Giambelat Bey the Sangiaccho of Tripolis the Begliarbei of Greece the Bassa of Sciuassi and of Marasco Ferca Framburaro the Sangiaccho of Antipo Soliman Bey three Sangiacchos of Arabia Mustafa Bey generall of the Uenturers Fergat gouernour of Malathia the Framburaro of Diuerie the Sangiaccho of Arabia and other Sangiacchos of lesser credite with the number of fourescore thousand persons besides as by the muster made by his Commission might well appeare The Framburaro which was at Rhodes was appointed and left gouernour at Famagusta and the report was that there should bee left in all the Island of Cyprus twentie thousand persons with two thousand horses many of the which I saw being very leane and euill appoynted for seruice It seemeth also a thing not impertinent to the matter to signifie to you how I by the especiall grace of God was deliuered out of their cruel hands I hauing paied within two fortie dayes all the which time I was slaue fiue hundred Zechins for my ransome to him whose prisoner I was by the meanes of the Consul for the French merchants a ligier then at Tripolis who a litle before came from Tripolis in Syria vnto Cyprus into the Turkes campe Yet for all that I had paied this summe of money to him hee would not so set me at libertie but fed mee vp still with faire wordes and promised mee that hee would first bring mee vnto his gouernement which abutted vpon a piece of the famous riuer of Euphrates and afterward dismisse me The which malice and falsehood of his I perceiuing determined with my selfe to giue him the slip and to flee so I waiting my time and repairing often to the Citie at length met with a small Fisher boate of the which a poore Grecian was Owner and master with whom in one night with two onely dares and a small saile made of two shirts I passed ouer from Cyprus vnto Tripolis being a very great danger of drowning whereas I remained in couert in the house of certaine Christians vntill the fiue and twentie of September at what time I departed from thence in a little French shippe called Santa Victor which came into these partes and as wee rode wee touched at a part of Cyprus Westward called Capo delle Garte where as I came on land and talking with certaine of the inhabitants of the Uillages who were then by chaunce a Hauking demaunded of them how they were intreated of the Turkes and after what sort the Island was tilled to the which they answered that they could not possiblie bee in worse pickle then they were at that present not enioying that quietly which was their owne being made villaines and slaues and almost alwayes carying away the Bastonados so that now they sayd they knew by triall too perfectly the pleasant and peaceable gouernment of the Christians wishing and praying God that they might shortly returne And concerning the tillage of the Island they made answere moreouer that no part of it was plowed or laboured sauing onely that mountaine which was towards the West and that because they were litle troubled with the crueltie of the Turkes but as for the plaine and East part of the Island there was small seede sowen therein but became in a maner desert there being left but few inhabitants and lesse store of cattell there Afterward wee departing from thence arriued in Candia I for my part being clothed in sackecloth whereas soone after by the great curtesie of the right honourable Signior Latino Orsino I was new apparelled accordingly friendly welcommed and my necessitie relieued From whence I shortly after sayling in a Cypriottes ship thankes be to almightie God arriued in this Citie in health and â—m safely come home now at the honorable feete of your highnesse The Captains of the Christians slaine in Famagusta THe lord Estor Baglione The lord Aluigi Martinengo The lord Federico Baglione The knight of Asta Uicegouernor The capitaine Dauid Noce Master of the Campe. The capitaine Meani of Perugia Serieant Maior The earle Sigismond of Casoldo The earle Francesco of Lobi of Cremona The captaine Francesco Troncauilla The captaine Hannibal Adamo of Fermo The captaine Scipio of the citie of Castello The captaine Charles Ragonasco of Cremona The captaine Francesco Siraco The captaine Roberto Maluezzo The captaine Caesar of Aduersa The captaine Bernardin of Agubio The captaine Francesco Bugon of Verona The captaine Iames of Fabiano The captaine Sebastian del Sole of Florence The captaine Hector of Brescia the successour to the captaine Caesar of Aduersa The captaine Flaminio of Florence successor vnto Sebastian del Sole The captaine Erasmus of Fermo successor to the captaine of Cernole The captaine Bartholomew of Cernole The captaine Iohn Battista of Riuarole The captaine Iohn Francesco of Venice The names of Christians made slaues THe Earle Herocles Martinengo with Iulius Caesar Ghelfo a Souldiour of Bressa The earle Nestor Martinengo which fled The captaine Marco Criuellatore The lord Herocles Malatesta The captaine Peter Conte of Montalberto The captaine Horatio of Veletri The captaine Aluigi Pezano The Conte Iames of Corbara The captaine Iohn of Istria The captaine Soldatelli of Agubio The captaine Iohn of Ascoli The captaine Antonie of the same towne The captaine Sebastian of the same towne The captaine Salgano of the citie of Castello The captaine Marcheso of Fermo The captaine Iohn Antonio of Piacenza The captaine Carletto Naldo The captaine Lorenzo Fornaretti The captaine Barnardo of Brescia The captaine Barnardino Coco The captaine Simon Bagnese successour to the captaine Dauid Noce The captaine Tiberio Ceruto successor vnto Conte Sigismond The captaine Ioseph of Lanciano successour vnto captaine Francesco Troncauilla The captaine Morgante successor to captain Hannibal The Lieutenant successour vnto the captaine Scipio The Standerdbearer successour to captaine Roberto The captaine Ottauio of Rimini successour to the captaine Francesco Bugon The captaine Mario de Fabiano successour to captaine Iacomo The captaine Francesco of Venice successour vnto captaine Antonio The captaine Matteo of Capua The captaine Iohn Maria of Verona The captaine Mancino The Fortifiers Iohn Marmori slaine The knight Maggio slaue Turkish Captaines at Famagusta MVstafa Generall The Bassa of Aleppo The Bassa of Natolia slaine Musafer Bassa of Nicosia The Bassa of Caramania The Aga of the Giannizers Giambelat Bey The Sangiaccho of Tripolis slaine The Begliarbei of Greece The Bassa of Sciuassi and Marasco Ferca Framburaro The Sangiaccho of Antipo slaine Soliman Bey slaine Three Sangiacchos of Arabia slaine Mustafa Bey General of the Venturers slain Fergat ruler of Malathia slaine The Framburaro of Diuerie slaine The woorthy enterprise of Iohn Foxe an English man in deliuering 266. Christians out of the captiuitie of the Turkes at Alexandria the 3. of Ianuarie 1577. AMong our merchants here in England it is a common voiage to traffike into Spaine whereunto a ship being called The three halfe Moones manned with 38. men and well fensed with munitions
that way that they were now in a newe maze thinking that God had forsaken them and left them to a greater danger And forasmuch as there were no victuals now left in the gally it might haue beene a cause to them if they had beene the Israelites to haue murmured against their God but they knew how that their God who had deliuered them out of AEgypt was such a louing and mercifull God as that hee would not suffer them to be conformded in whom he had wrought so great a wonder but what calamitie soeuer they sustained they knew it was but for their further triall and also in putting them in mind of their farther miserie to cause them not to triumph and glory in themselues therefore Hauing I say no victuals in the gally it might seeme that one miserie continually fel vpon an others neck but to be briefe the famine grew to be so great that in 28 dayes wherein they were on the sea there died eight persons to the astonishment of all the rest So it fell out that vpon the 29 day after they set from Alexandria they fell on the Isle of Candie and landed at Gallipoli where they were made much of by the Abbot and Monks there who caused them to stay there while they were well refreshed and eased They kept there the sworde wherewith Iohn Fox had killed the keeper esteeming it as a most precious iewell and hung it vp for a monument When they thought good hauing leaue to depart from thence they sayled along the coast till they arriued at Tarento where they solde their gallie and deuided it euery man hauing a part thereof The Turkes receiuing so shamefull a foile at their hand pursued the Christians and scoured the seas where they could imagine that they had bent their course And the Christians had departed from thence on the one day in the morning and seuen gallies of the Turkes came thither that night as it was certified by those who followed Fox and his companie fearing least they should haue bene met with And then they came a foote to Naples where they departed a sunder euery man taking him to his next way home From whence Iohn Fox tooke his iourney vnto Rome where he was well entertayned of an Englishman who presented his worthy deede vnto the Pope who rewarded him liberally and gaue him his letters vnto the king of Spaine where he was very well entertained of him there who for this his most worthy enterprise gaue him in fee twentie pence a day From whence being desirous to come into his owne countrie he came thither at such time as he conueniently could which was in the yeere of our Lorde God 1579. Who being come into England went vnto the Court and shewed all his trauell vnto the Councell who considering of the state of this man in that hee had spent and lost a great part of his youth in thraldome and bondage extended to him their liberalitie to helpe to maintaine him now in age to their right honour and to the incouragement of all true hearted Christians The copie of the certificate for Iohn Fox and his companie made by the Prior and the brethren of Gallipoli where they first landed VVE the Prior and Fathers of the Couent of the Amerciates of the city of Gallipoli of the order of Preachers doe testifie that vpon the 29 of Ianuary last past 1577 there came in to the said citie a certaine gally from Alexandria taken from the Turkes with two hundreth fiftie and eight Christians whereof was principal Master Iohn Fox an Englishman a gunner and one of the chiefest that did accomplish that great worke whereby so many Christians haue recouered their liberties In token and remembrance whereof vpon our earnest request to the same Iohn Fox he hath left here an olde sworde wherewith he slewe the keeper of the prison which sword we doe as a monument and memoriall of so worthy a deede hang vp in the chiefe place of our Couent house And for because all things aforesaid are such as we will testifie to be true as they are orderly passed and haue therefore good credite that so much as is aboue expressed is true and for the more faith thereof we the Prior and Fathers aforesaide haue ratified and subscribed these presents Geuen in Gallipoly the third of Februarie 1577. I Frier Vincent Barba Prior of the same place confirme the premisses as they are aboue written I Frier Albert Damaro of Gallipoly Subprior confirme as much I Frier Anthony Celleler of Gallipoly confirme as aforesaid I Frier Bartlemew of Gallipoly confirme as aboue said I Frier Francis of Gallipoly confirme as much The Bishop of Rome his letters in the behalfe of Iohn Fox BE it knowen vnto all men to whom this writing shall come that the bringer hereof Iohn Fox Englishman a Gunner after he had serued captiue in the Turkes gallies by the space of foureteene yeeres at length thorough God his helpe taking good oportunitie the third of Ianuarie last past slew the keeper of the prison whom he first stroke on the face together with foure and twentie other Turkes by the assistance of his fellow prisoners and with 266. Christians of whose libertie he was the author launched from Alexandria and from thence arriued first at Gallipoly in Candie and afterwardes at Tarento in Apulia the written testimony and credite of which things as also of others the same Iohn Fox hath in publike tables from Naples Vpon Easter eue he came to Rome and is now determined to take his iourney to the Spanish Court hoping there to obtaine some reliefe toward his liuing wherefore the poore distressed man humbly beseecheth and we in his behalfe do in the bowels of Christ desire you that taking compassion of his former captiuitie and present penurie you doe not onely suffer him freely to passe throughout all your cities and townes but also succour him with your charitable almes the reward whereof you shall hereafter most assuredly receiue which we hope you will afford to him whom with tender affection of pitie wee commende vnto you At Rome the 20 of Aprill 1577. Thomas Grolos Englishman Bishop of Astraphen Richard Silleum Prior Angliae Andreas Ludouicus Register to our Soueraigne Lord the Pope which for the greater credit of the premises haue set my seale to these presents At Rome the day and yeere aboue written Mauricius Clement the gouernour and keeper of the English Hospitall in the citie The King of Spaine his letters to the Lieutenant for the placing of Iohn Fox in the office of a Gunner TO the illustrious Prince Vespasian Gonsaga Colonna our Lieutenant and Captaine Generall of our Realme of Valentia Hauing consideration that Iohn Fox Englishman hath serued vs and was one of the most principall which tooke away from the Turkes a certaine gallie which they haue brought to Tarento wherein were two hundred fiftie and eight Christian captiues we licence him to practise and giue him
loro per il tempo che restarano qua siportorno da fideli Catholici Christiani che sua sanctita habbia trouato bono il saluo condutto del gran Turko a loro concesso per il timor della armata Tuâ—kesca di altri vaselli de mimici inherendo alla volonta di sua sanctitá massime per che hauera de andare passare per diuersi lochi tanto lontani come Ingilterra Flandra tutti parti di ponente in altroue a noi ha parso farle le presente nostre lettere patente come fidele conuersatore nostro accio piu securamente sensa obstaculo possa andare ritornare quando li parera con detta naue o con alire a loro bennista Per tanto donque tutti ciascun di voi sudetti affectuosamente pregamo che per qual si voglia de vostra iurisditione alla quale detto magnifico Giouani Keale Dauid Filly a nome quo supra con la naue marinari de detti loro principali o altricaschera nauigare passare venire sicuramente alla libera sensa alcuno disturbo o altro impedimento li lasciate facciate lasciare stare passare tornare quando li parera partire talmente che per amore contemplatione nostra il detto magnifico Giouanni Keale a nome quo supra con le naue marinari mercantia non habbi difficulta fastidio ritentione alcuna anzi se gli dia ogni agintâ— fauore cosa degnadi voi giusta a noi gratissima de recompensaruila con vguale maggior seruitio quando dall ' occasione ne saremo rechiesti Et finalmente commandammo a tutti qual si voglia relligiosi frati de nostra relligione di qual si voglia coÌ„ditione grado stato che siano a tutti riceuitori procuratori nostri in tutti qual si voglia priorati nostri deputati deputandi in vertu di santa obedientia atutti nostri vassalli alla giurisditione di nostra relligione soggetti che in tale per tale tenghino reputino il detto magnifico Giouanni Keale a nome vt supra naue marinari mercantia sensa permittere che nel detto suo viaggio o in alcun altro luogo sia molestato o in qual si voglia manera impedito anzi tutte lecose sue negotij loro sian da voi agâ—outati continuamente fauoriti In cuius rei testimonium Bâ—lla nostra magistralis in cera nigra praesentibus est impressa Datae Melitae in conuentu nostro die duodecimo Mensis Iulij 1582. The same in English FRier Hugo of Loubeux Verdala by the grace of God master of the holy house the hospital of S. Iohn at Ierusalem and an humble keeper of the poore of Iesus Christ to all euery prince ecclesiastical secular archbishops bishops Dukes Marqueses Barons Capteines Uicelords Maiors Castellanes Admirals and whatsoeuer patrons of Gallies or other greater shippes and gouernors of cities potentates and magistrates and other officers and persons whatsoeuer of what dignitie degree state and condition soeuer they be dwelling in all places and landes greeting We make it knowne and in the word of truth do witnesse that in the moneth of May last past our gallies came on the voyage from Barbarie where hauing commandement to succour a little ship of the Christians which was driuen ouer into that part being arriued vpon this Iland on the West part they found one English ship vnder the charge of the worshipfull Iohn Keele and Dauid Fillie master and our men willing to know what ship it was they seemed to put themselues in order for their defence doubting that the said our gallies were of the enemies therefore one mariner attempted contrary to the will of the worshipfull Iohn Keele and Dauid Fillie maister and had shot off a piece of artillerie against one of the said gallies and because she would not strike amaine her sayle according to the will of the saide worshipfull Iohn Keele and Dauid Fillie master the said ship was brought backe againe vnto the present port of Malta according to the order of the reuerend generall of the said gallies and in being there maister Inquisitor staid it by authoritie of the holy office and in that behalfe by the holinesse of our Lord pope Gregorie the thirteenth in the end was licenced to depart on her voyage They therefore the said worshipfull Iohn Keele and Dauid Fillie in the name and behalfe of the worshipfull master Eward Osborne Alderman and Richard Staper English marchants of the noble citie of London haue humbly besought together with Thomas Wilkinson the purser pilots master and mariners that we would giue our letters patents and safe conducts that they might goe and returne when they shall see opportunitie with their goods and merchandizes at their pleasure whereupon the thing seeming vnto vs iust and that it might be for the prosite of our religion and of these strangers by the tenor of these presents we haue granted the same to them yet with the conditions here under written viz. That euery time the said marchants of the said ship or with any other shall not bring such marchandize as is forbidden and that by sufficient proofe and letters testâ—moniall it appeareth that they are free from the infections of the plague they may victuall themselues with all necessarie victuals and traffike with vs and in this Iland and dominion and afterwarde may depart and follow their voyage whither they will into the Leuant or else where as all other vessels and especially of France and other nations do and sell and buy whatsoeuer marchandize they shal thinke good Item that they may bring powder for cannon and harquebush saltpeâ—ter cole of Newcastle plates of lattin tinne steele yron coÌ„mon karsies white course canuas to make saile for the gallies balies of yron for shot fine milstones trees masts for gallies litle and others and in conclusion hauing seene that they for the time of their abode here did behaue themselues like faithfull and catholike Christians that his holines hath allowed the safeconduct of the great Turke to them granted for feare of the Turkish armie and other vessels of the enemie submitting our selues to the pleasures of his holinesse and especially because our people haue occasion to passe by diuers places so farre off as England Flanders and all parts Westwards and in other places we haue vouchsafed to make these our letters patents as our faithfull assistant so as more surely and without let they may go and returne when they shall thinke good with the said ship or with others at their pleasure We therefore pray all and euery of your subiects effectually that by what part soeuer of your iurisdiction vnto the which the said worshipfull Iohn Keele and Dauid Fillie by name abouesaid with the ship and mariners of the said principall place or
But the cause of all this was Michael Stropene which came to Ormus not woorth a penie and now hath thirtie or fortie thousand crownes and he grieueth that any other stranger should trade thither but himselfe But that shall not skill for I trust in God to goe both thither and hither and to buy and sell as freely as he or any other Here is very great good to be done in diuers of our commodities and in like manner there is great profite to be made with commodities of this countrey to be carried to Aleppo It were long for me to write and tedious for you to read of all things that haue passed since my parting from you But of all the troubles that haue chanced since mine arriuall in Ormus this bringer is able to certifie you I mind to stay here wherefore if you will write vnto me you may send your letters to some friend at Lisbone froÌ„ thence by the ships they may be conueyed hither Let the direction of your letters be either in Portuguise or Spanish whereby they may come the better to my hands From Goa this 20 day of Ianuarie 1584. A Letter written from Goa by Master Ralph Fitch to Master Leonard Poore abouesaid LOuing friend Master Poore c. Since my departure from Aleppo I haue not written vnto you any letters by reason that at Babylon I was sicke of the fluxe and being sicke I went from thence for Balsara which was twelue dayes iourney downe the riuer Tygris where we had extreame hot weather which was good for my disease ill fare and worse lodging by reason our boat was pestered with people In eight daies that which I did eate was very small so that if we had stayed two dayes longer vpon the water I thinke I had died but comming to Balsara presently I mended I thanke God There we stayed 14 dayes and then we imbarked our selues for Ormuz where we arriued the fifth of September and were put in prison the ninth of the same moneth where we continued vntill the 11 of October and then were shipt for this citie of Goa in the captaines ship with an 114 horses and about 200 men and passing by Diu Chaul where we went on land to water the 20 of Nouember we arriued at Goa the 29 of the said moneth where for our better intertainment we were presently put into a faire strong prison where we continued vntill the 22 of December It was the will of God that we found there 2 Padres the one an Englishman the other a Flemming The Englishmans name is Padre Thomas Steuens the others Padre Marco of the order of S. Paul These did sue for vs vnto the Uiceroy and other officers and stood vs in as much stead as our liues and goods were woorth for if they had not stucke to vs if we had escaped with our liues yet we had had long imprisonment After 14 dayes imprisonment they offered vs if we could put in suerties for 2000 duckats we should goe abroad in the towne which when we could not doe the said Padres found suerties for vs that we should not depart the countrey without the licence of the Uiceroy It doth spite the Italians to see vs abroad and many maruell at our deliuery The painter is in the cloister of S. Paul and is of their order and liketh there very well While we were in prison both at Ormuz and here there was a great deale of our goods pilfered and lost and we haue beene at great charges in gifts and otherwise so that a great deale of our goods is consumed There is much of our things which wil sell very well some we shall get nothing for I hope in God that at the returne of the Uiceroy which is gone to Chaul and to Diu they say to winne a castle of the Moores whose returne is thought will be about Easter then we shall get our libertie and our suerties discharged Then I thinke it wil be our best way either one or both to returne because our troubles haue bene so great so much of our goods spoyled and lost But if it please God that I come into England by Gods helpe I will returne hither againe It is a braue and pleasant countrey and very fruitfull The summer is almost all the yeere long but the chiefest at Christmas The day and the night are all of one length very litle difference and marueilous great store of fruits For all our great troubles yeâ— are we fat and well liking for victuals are here plentie and good cheape And here I will passe ouer to certifie you of strange things vntill our meeting for it would be too long to write thereof And thus I commit you to God who euer preserue you and vs all From Goa in the East Indies the 25 of Ianuarie 1584. Yours to command Ralph Fitch The voyage of M. Ralph Fitch marchant of London by the way of Tripolis in Syria to Ormus and so to Goa in the East India to Cambaia and all the kingdome of Zelabdim Echebar the great Mogor to the mighty riuer Ganges and downe to Bengala to Bacola and Chonderi to Pegu to Iamahay in the kingdome of Siam and backe to Pegu and from thence to Malacca Zeilan Cochin and all the coast of the East India begunne in the yeere of our Lord 1583 and ended 1591 wherein the strange rites maners and customes of those people and the exceeding rich trade and commodities of those countries are faithfully set downe and diligently described by the aforesaid M. Ralph Fitch IN the yeere of our Lord 1583 I Ralph Fitch of London marchant being desirous to see the countreys of the East India in the company of M. Iohn Newberie marchant which had beene at Ormus once before of William Leedes Ieweller and Iames Story Painter being chieflâ— set foorth by the right worshipfull Sir Edward Osborne knight and M. Richard Staper citizens and marchants of London did ship my selfe in a ship of London called the Tyger wherein we went for Tripolis in Syria from thence we tooke the way for Aleppo which we went in seuen dayes with the Carouan Being in Aleppo and finding good company we went from thence to Birra which is two dayes and an halfe trauaile with Camels Birra is a little towne but very plentifull of victuals and neere to the wall of the towne runneth the riuer of Euphrates Here we bought a boate and agreed with a master and bargemen for to go to Babylon These boats be but for one voiage for the streame doth runne so fast downewardes that they cannot returne They carie you to a towne which they call Felugia and there yâ—u sell the boate for a litle money for that which cost you fiftie at Birra you sell there for seuen or eight From Birra to Felugia is sixteene dayes iourney it is not good that one boate goe alone for if it should chance to breake you should haue much a doe to
Then desired he them to giue him the ship-boate with as much of an old saile as might serue for the same promising them therwith to bring Nicholas Lambert and the rest into England but all was in vaine Then wrote he a letter to the court to the marchants informing them of all the matter and promising them if God would lend him life to returne with all haste to fetch theÌ„ And thus was Pinteado kept a shipboord against his will thrust among the boyes of the ship not vsed like a man nor yet like an honest boy but glad to find fauour at the cookes hand Then deparâ—ed they leauing one of their ships behind them which they sunke for lacke of men to cary her After this within 6 or 7 dayes sayling dyed also Pinteado for uery pensiuenesse thought that stroke him to the heart A man worthy to serue any prince and most vilely vsed And of seuenscore men came home to Plimmouth scarcely forâ—y and of them many died And that no man should suspect these words which I haue saide in commendation of Pinteado to be spoken vpon fauour otherwise then trueth I haue thought good to adde hereunto the copie of the letters which the king of Portugall and the infant his brother wrote vnto him to reconcile him at such time as vpon the king his masters displeasure and not for any other crime or offence as may appeare by the said letters he was only for pouertie inforced to come into England where he first perswaded our marchants to attempt the said voyages to Guinea But as the king of Portugall too late repented him that he had so punished Pinteado vpon malicious informations of such as enuied the mans good fortune euen so may it hereby appeare that in some cases euen Lions themselues may either be hindered by the contempt or aided by the help of the poore mise according vnto the fable of Esope The copie of Anthonie Anes Pinteado his letters patents whereby the king of Portugall made him knight of his house after all his troubles and imprisonment which by wrong information made to the king he had susteined of long time being at the last deliuered his cause knowen and manifested to the king by a gray Frier the kings Confessor I The king doe giue you to vnderstand lord Francis Desseaso one of my counsell and ouerseer of my house that in coÌ„sideration of the good seruice which Anthony Anes Pinteado the sonne of Iohn Anes dwelling in the towne called the Port hath done vnto me my will and pleasure is to make him knight of my house allowing to him in pension seuen hundred reis monethly and euery day one alcayre of barly as long as he keepeth a horse to be paid according to the ordinaÌ„ce of my house Prouiding alwaies that he shall receiue but one marriage gift And this also in such coÌ„dition that the time which is accepted in our ordinance forbidding such men to marry for getting such children as might succeede them in this allowance which is 6 yeres after the making of this patent shal be first expired before he do marry I therfore command you to cause this to be entred in the booke called the Matricula of our houshold vnder the title of knightsâ— And when it is so entred let the clarke of the Matricula for the certeintie therof write on the backside of this Aluala or patent the number of the leafe wherein this our grant is entred Which done let him returne this writing vnto the said Anthonie Anes Pinteado for his warrant I Diego Henriques haue written this in Almarin the two and twentie day of September in the yeere of our Lord 1551. And this beneuolence the king gaue vnto Anthonie Anes Pinteado the fiue and twentie day of Iuly this present yeere Rey. The Secretaries declaration written vnder the kings grant YOur Maiestie hath vouchsafed in respect and consideration of the good seruice of Anthony Anes Pinteado dwelling in the port and sonne of Iohn Anes to make him knight of your house with ordinarie allowance of seuen hundred reis pension by the moneth and one alcaire of barley by the day as long as he keepeth a horse and to be paide according to the ordinance of your house with condition that hee shall haue but one marriage gift and that not within the space of sixe yeres after the making of these letters Patents The Secretaries note Entred in the booke of the Matricula Fol. 683. Francisco de Siquera The copie of the letter of Don Lewes the infant and brother to the king of Portugall sent into England to Anthonie Anes Pinteado ANthony Anes Pinteado I the infant brother to the king haue me heartily commended vnto you Peter Gonsalues is gone to seeke you desiring to bring you home again into your countrey And for that purpose he hath with him a safe coÌ„duct for you granted by the king that therby you may freely and without all feare come home And although the weather be foule and stormie yet faile not to come for in the time that his Maiestie hath giuen you you may doe many things to your contentation and gratifying the king whereof I would be right glad and to bring the same to passe I will do all that lieth in me for your profite But forasmuch as Peter Gonsalues will make further declaration hereof vnto you I say no more at this present Written in Lisbone the eight day of December Anno 1552. The infant Don Lewes ALl these foresaid writings I saw vnder seale in the house of my friend Nicholas Liese with whom Pinteado left them at his vnfortunate departing to Guinea But notwithstanding all these friendly letters and faire promises Pinteado durst not attempt to goe home neither to keepe companie with the Portugals his countrey men without the presence of other forasmuch as he had secrete admonitions that they intended to slay him if time and place might haue serued their wicked intent The second voyage to Guinea set out by Sir George Barne Sir Iohn Yorke Thomas Lok Anthonie Hickman and Edward Castelin in the yere 1554. The Captaine whereof was M. Iohn Lok AS in the first voiage I haue declared rather the order of the history then the course of the nauigation whereof at that time I could haue no perfect information so in the description of this second voyage my chiefe intent hath beene to shew the course of the same according to the obseruation and ordinarie custome of the mariners and as I receiued it at the handes of an expert Pilot being one of the chiefe in this voyage who also with his owne hands wrote a briefe declaration of the same as he found and tried all things not by coniecture but by the art of sayling and instruments perteining to the mariners facultie Not therefore assuming to my selfe the commendations due vnto other neither so bold as in any part to change or otherwise dispose the order of this voyage so
well obserued by art and experience I haue thought good to set forth the same in such sort and phrase of speech as is commonly vsed among them and as I receiued it of the said Pilot as I haue said Take it therefore as followeth In the yeere of our Lord 1554 the eleuenth day of October we departed the riuer of Thames with three goodly ships the one called the Ermitie a ship of the burden of seuenscore tunne the other called the Bartholomew a ship of the burden of ninetie the third was the Iohn Euangelist a ship of seuen score tunne With the sayd ships and two pinnesses wherof the one was drowned on the coast of England we went forward on our voyage and stayed at Doâ—eâ— fourteene dayes We staied also at Rie three or foure dayes Moreouer last of all we touched at Dartmouth The first day of Nouember at nine of the clocke at night departing from the coast of England we set off the Start bearing Southwest all that night in the sea and the next day all day and the next night after vntill the third day of the said moneth about noone making our way good did runne threescore leagues The 17 day in the morning we had sight of the I le of Madera which doth rise to him that commeth in the Northnortheast part vpright land in the west part of it and very high and to the Southsoutheast a low long land and a long point with a saddle thorow the middest of it standing in two and thirtie degrees and in the West part many springs of water running downe from the mountaine and many white fieldes like vnto corne fields some white houses to the Southeast part of it and the toppe of the mountaine sheweth very ragged if you may see it and in the Northeast part there is a bight or bay as though it were a harborow Also in the said part there is a rocke a little distance from the shoare and ouer the sayd bight you shall see a great gappe in the mountaine The 19 day at twelue of the clocke we had sight of the isle of Palmes and Teneriffa and the Canariesâ— The Ile of Palme riseth round lieth Southeast and Northwest and the Northwest part is lowest In the South is a round hill ouer the head land and another round hill aboue that in the land There are betweene the Southeast part of the I le of Madera the Northwest part of the I le of Palme seuen and fifty leagues This Isle of Palme lieth in eight and twenty degrees And our course from Madera to the I le of Palme was South and South and by West so that we had sight of Teneriffa and of the Canaries The Southeast part of the I le of the Palme the Northnortheast of Teneriffa lie Southeast and Northwest and betweene them are 20 leagues Teneriffa and the great Canary called Gran Canaria and the West part of Forteuentura stande in seuen and twenty degrees and a halfe Gomera is a faire Island but very ragged lieth Westsouthwest off Teneriffa And whosoeuer wil come betweene them two Ilands must come South and by East and in the South part of Gomera is a towne and a good rode in the said part of the Iland and it standeth in seuen and twentie degrees and three terces Teneriffa is an high land with a great high pike like a sugar loafe and vpon the said pike is snow throughout all the whole yeere And by reason of that pike it may be knowen aboue all other Ilands and there we were becalmed the twentieth day of Nouember from sixe of the clocke in the morning vntill foure of the clocke at afternoone The two and twentieth day of Nouember vnder the Tropike of Cancer the Sunne goeth downe West and by South Upon the coast of Barbarie fiue and twentie leagues by North Cape blanke at three leagues off the maine there are fifteene fadomes and good shelly ground and sande among and no streames and two small Ilands standing in two and twentie degrees and a terce From Gomera to Cape de las Barbas is an hundred leagues and our course was South and by East The said Cape standeth in two and twentie and a halfe and all that coast is flatte sixteene or seuenteene fadome deepe Seuen or eight leagues off from the riuer del Oro to Cape de las Barbas there vse many Spaniardes and Portugals to trade for fishing during the moneth of Nouember and all that coast is very low lands Also we went from Cape de las Barbas Southsouthwest and Southwest and by South till we brought our selues in twentie degrees and a halfe reckoning our selues seuen leagues off and there were the least sholes of Cape Blanke Then we went South vntill we brought our selues in 13 degrees reckoning our selues fiue and twentie leagues off And in 15 degrees we did reare the Crossiers and we might haue reared them sooner if we had looked for them They are not right a crosse in the moneth of Nouember by reason that the nights are short there Neuerthelesse we had the sight of them the 29 day of the said moneth at night The first of December being in 13 degrees we set our course South and by East vntill the fourth day of December at 12 of the clocke the same day Then we were in nine degrees and a terce reckoning ourselues 30 leagues off the sholes of the riuer called Rio Grande being Westsouthwest off them the which sholes be 30 leagues long The fourth of December we beganne to set our course Southeast we being in sixe degrees and a halfe The ninth day of December we set our course Eastsoutheast the fourteenth day of the sayde moneth we set our course East we being in fiue degrees and a halfe reckoning our selues thirty and sixe leagues from the coast of Guinea The nineteenth of the said moneth we set our course East and by North reckoning our selues seuenteene leagues distant from Cape Mensurado the said Cape being Eastnortheast of vs and the riuer of Sesto being East The one and twentith day of the said moneth we fell with Cape Mensurado to the Southeast about two leagues off This Cape may be easily knowen by reason y t the rising of it is like a Porpose-head Also toward the Southeast there are three trees whereof the Eastermost tree is the highest and the middlemost is like a hie stacke the Southermost like vnto a gibet and vpon the maine are foure or fiue high hilles rising one after another like round hommocks or hillocks And the Southeast of the three trees brandiernwise and all the coast along is white sand The said Cape standeth within a litle in sixe degrees The two and twentieth of December we came to the riuer of Sesto remained there vntill the nine and twentieth day of the said moneth Here we thought it best to send before vs the
kept our loose hoised our top-sailes and weathered them and came hard aboord the flieboat with our ordinance prepared and gaue he◠our whole broad side with the which we slew diuers of their men so as we might see the blood run out at the scupper holes After that we cast about and new charged all our ordinance and came vpon them againe willing them to yeeld or els we would sinke them wherupon the one would haue yeelded which was shot betweene winde and water but the other called him traitor Unto whom we made answere that if he would not yeeld presently also we would sinke him first And thereupon he vnderstanding our determination presently put out a white flag and yeelded and yet refused to strike their owne sailes for that they were sworne neuer to strike to any Englishman We then commanded their captaines and masters to come aboord vs which they did And after examination stowing them we sent certaine of our owne men aboord them and strook their sailes and manned their ships finding in them both 126 persons liuing 8 dead besides those which they themselues had cast ouerboord So it pleased God to giue vs the victory being but 42 men and a boy whereof 2 were killed and 3 wounded for the which good successe we giue God the only praise These two rich prizes laden with 1400 chests of quicksiluer with the armes of Castile and Leon fastened vpon them and with a great quantity of bulles or indulgences and guilded Missals or Seruice books with an hundred tunnes of excellent wines we brought shortly after into the riuer of Thames vp to Blacke-wall By the taking of this quicksiluer about 1400 chests the king of Spaine loseth for euery quintall of the same a quintall of siluer that should haue beene deliuered him by the masters of the mines there which amounteth to 600000 pounds More by taking of his bulles to wit two millions and 72 thousand for liuing and dead persons for the prouinces of Noua Hispania Iucatan Guatimala the Honduras and the Philippinas taxed at two reals the piece And more for eighteene thousand bulles taxed at foure reals amounteth all to 107700 pounds Summa totalis 707700 li. More there were taken ten fardels of gil◠missals and breuiaries sent for the kings account So the hinderance that the king receiueth by the losse of his bulles and quicksiluer amounteth as is abouesaid besides the lacking of his wines about 100 tunnes whereby his fleet is disappointed of a great part of their prouision A true report of the honourable seruice at Sea perfourmed by Sir Iohn Burrough Knight Lieutenant generall of the fleet prepared by the honor Sir Walter Ralegh Knight Lord warden of the Stanneries of Cornwall and Deuon Wherin chiefly the Santa Clara of Biscay a ship of 600 tunnes was taken and the two East Indian caraks the Santa Cruz and the Madre de Dios were forced the one burnt and the other taken and brought into Dartmouth the seuenth of September 1592. SIr Walter Ralegh vpon cōmission receiued from her Maiesty for an expedition to be made to the West Indies slacked not his vttermost diligence to make full prouision of all things necessary as both in his choise of good ships and sufficient men to performe the action euidently appeared For his shippes which were in number 14 or 15 those two of her Maiesties the Garland the Foresight were the chiefest the rest either his owne or his good friends or aduenturers of London For the gentlemen his consorts and officers to giue them their right they were so well qualited in courage experience discretion as the greatest prince might repute himselfe happy to be serued with their like The honor of Lieutenant generall was imposed vpon sir Iohn Burrough a gentleman for his manifold good and heroicall parts thought euery way worthy of that commandement with whom after sir W. R. returned was ioyned in commission sir Martin Frobisher who for his speciall skill knowledge in marine causes had formerly caried imploiments of like or greater place The rest of the captaines souldiers and sailers were men of notable resolution and for the most part such as heretofore had giuen to the world sufficient proofe of their valour in diuers seruices of the like nature With these ships thus manned sir Walter Ralegh departed towards the West countrey there to store himselfe with such further necessaries as the state of his voyage did needfully require where the Westerly windes blowing for a long time contrary to his course bound and constrained him to keepe harborough so many weeks that the fittest season for his purpose was gone the mindes of his people much altered his victuals consumed and withall her Maiesty vnderstanding how crosly all this sorted began to call the proceeding of this preparation into question insomuch that whereas the sixt of May was first come before sir Walter could put to sea the very next day Martin Frobisher in a pinnesse of my lord Admirals called The Disdaine met him and brought to him from her Maiesty letters of reuocation with commandement to relinquish for his owne part the intended attempt and to leaue the charge and conduct of all things in the hands of sir Iohn Burrough and sir Martin Frobisher But sir Walter finding his honor so farre engaged in the vndertaking of this voyage as without proceeding he saw no remedy either to salue his reputation or to content those his friends which had put in aduentures of great summes with him and making construction of the Queenes letters in such sort as if her commandement had bene propounded in indifferent termes either to aduance forward or to retire at his owne discretion would in no case yeeld to leaue his fleet now vnder saile Wherefore continuing his course into the sea he met within a day or two with certaine sailes lately come from Spaine among which was a ship appertaining to Monsieur Gourdon gouernor of Caleis and found aboord her one M. Neuel Dauies an Englishman who hauing indured a long and miserable captiuity for the space of twelue yeeres partly in the inquisition in Spaine was now by good fortune escaped and vpon returne to his countrey This man among other things reported for certaine that there was little hope of any good this yeere to be done in the West India considering that the king of Spaine had sent expresse order to all the ports both of the Ilands and of Terra firma that no ship should stirre that yeere nor any treasure be layed aboord for Spaine But neither this vnpleasant relation nor ought els could stay his proceedings vntill a tempest of strange and vncouth violence arising vpon Thursday the 11 of May when he was a thwart the Cape Finister had so scattered the greater part of the fleet and sunke his boats and pinnesses that as the rest were driuen and seuered some this way and some that sir Walter himselfe being in the Garland of her Maiesty was in
the Patents Discourses and Aduertisements thereto belonging The Letters patents of King Henry the seuenth granted vnto Iohn Cabot and his three sonnes Lewis Sebastian and Sancius for the discouerie of new and vnknowen lands HEnricus Dei gratia rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae omnibus ad quos praesentes literae nostrae peruenerint salutem Notum sit manifestum quod dedimus concessimus ac per praesentes damus concedimus pro nobis haeredibus nostris dilectis nobis Ioanni Caboto ciui Veneâ—iarum Lodouico Sebastiano Sancio filijs dicti Ioannis eorum ac cuiusâ— bet eorum haeredibus deputatis plenam ac liberam authoritatem facultatem potestatem nauigandi ad omnes partes regiones sinus maris orientalis occidentalis septentrionalis sub banneris vexillis insignijs nostris cum quinque nauibus siue nauigijs cuiuscúnque portiturae qualitatis existant cum tot tantis nautis hominibus quot quantos in dictis nauibus secum ducere voluetint suis eorum proprijs sumptibus expensis ad inueniendum discooperiendum inuestigandum quascun que insulas patrias regiones siue prouincias gentilium infidelium quorumcúnque in quacunque parte mundi positas quae Christianis omnibus ante haec tempora fuerint incognitae Concessimus etiam eisdem eorum cuilibet eorúmque cuiuslibet eorum haeredibus deputatis ac licentiam dedimus ad affigendum praedictas banneras nostras insignia in quacunque villa oppido castro insula seu terra firma à se nouiter inuentis Et quòd praenominatus Ioannes filij eiusdem seu haeredes eorum deputati quascunque huiusmodi villas castra oppida insulas à se inuentas quae fubiugari occupari possideri possint subiugare occupare possidere valeant tanquam vasalli nostri gubernatores locatenentes deputati eorundem dominium titulum iurisdictionem earundem villarum castrorum oppidorum insularum ac terrae firmae sic inuentorum nobis ac quirendo Ita tamen vt ex omnibus fructibus proficuis emolumentis commodis lucris obuentionibus ex huiusmodi nauigatione prouenientibus praeâ—atus Iohannes filij ac haeredes eorum deputati teneantur sint obligati nobis pro omni viagio suo toties quoties ad portum nostrum Bristolliae applicuerint ad quem omnino applicare teneantur sint astricti deductis omnibus sumptibus impensis necessarijs per eosdem factis quintam partem capitalis lucri facti siue in mercibus siue in pecunijs persoluere Dante 's nos concedentes eisdem suisque haeredibus deputatis vt ab omni solutione custumarum omnium singulorum bonorum mercium quas secum reportarint ab illis locis sic nouiter inuentis liberi sint immunes Et insuper dedimus concessimus eisdem ac suis haeredibus deputatis quòd terrae omnes firmae insulae villae oppida castra loca quaecunque a se inuenta quotquot ab eis inueniri contigem â—on possint ab alijs quibusuis nostris subditis frequentari seu visitari absque licentia praedictorum Ioannis eius filiorum suorúmque deputatorum sub poena amissioâ—s tam nauium quà m bonerum omnium quorumcun que ad ea locasic inuenta nauigare praesumentium Volentes strictissimè mandantes omnibus singulis nostris subditis tam in terra quà m in mari constitutis vâ— praesato Ioanni eius filijs ac deputatis bonam assistentiam faciant tam in armandis nauibus seâ— nauigijs quà m in prouisione commeatus victualium pro sua pecunia emendorum atque aliaâ—um omnium rerum sibi prouidendarum pro dicta nauigatione sumenda suos omnes fauores auxilia impertiant In ouius rei â—estimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium quinto die Martij anno regni nostri vndecimo The same in English HEnry by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland to all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted and by these presents do giue and grant for vs and our heires to our wel beloued Iohn Cabot citizen of Venice to Lewis Sebastian and Santius sonnes of the sayd Iohn and to the heires of them and euery of them and their deputies full and free authority leaue and power to saile to all parts countreys and seas of the East of the West and of the North vnder our banners and ensignes with fiue ships of what burthen or quantity soeuer they be and as many mariners or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships vpon their owne proper costs and charges to seeke out discouer and finde whatsoeuer isâ—es countreys regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels whatsoeuer they be and in what part of the world soeuer they beâ— which before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians we haue granted to them and also to euery of them the heires of them and euery of them and their deputies and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery village towne castle isle or maineland of them newly found And that the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes or their heires and assignes may subdue occupy and possesse all such townes cities castles and isles of them found which they can subdue occupy and possesse as our vassals and lieutenants getting vnto vs the rule title and iurisdiction of the same villages townes castles firme land so found Yet so that the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes and heires and their deputies be holden and bounden of all the fruits profits gaines and commodities growing of such nauigation for euery their voyage as often as they shall arriue at our port of Bristoll at the which port they shall be bound and holden onely to arriue all maner of necessary costs and charges by them made being deducted to pay vnto vs in wares or money the fift part of the capitall gaine so gotten We giuing and granting vnto them and to their heires and deputies that they shall be free from all paying of customes of all and singular such merchandize as they shall bring with them from those places so newly found And moreouer we haue giuen and granted to them their heires and deputies that all the firme lands isles villages townes castles and places whatsoeuer they be that they shall chance to finde may not of any other of our subiects be frequented or visited without the licence of the foresayd Iohn and his sonnes and their deputies vnder paine of forfeiture aswell of their shippes as of all and singuler goods of all them that shall presume to saile to those places so found Willing aud most straightly commanding all and singuler our subiects aswell on land as on sea to giue good
assistance to the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes and deputies and that as well in arming and furnishing their ships or vessels as in prouision of food and in buying of victuals for their money and all other things by them to be prouided necessary for the sayd nauigation they do giue them all their helpe and fauour In witnesse whereof we haue caused to be made these our Letters patents Witnesse our selfe at Westminster the fift day of March in the eleuenth yeere of our reigne Billa signata anno 13 Henrici septimi REx tertio die Februarij anno 13 licentiam de dit Ioanni Caboto quod ipse capere possit sex naues Anglicanas in aliquo portu siue portibus regni Angâ—iae ita quod sint deportagio 200. doliorum vel subtùs cum apparatu requisito quod recipere possit in dictas naues omnes tales magistros marinarios subditos regis qui cumeo exire voluerint c. The same in English THe king vpon the third day of February in the 13 yeere of his reigne gaue licence to Iohn Caboâ— to take sixe English ships in any hauen or hauens of the realme of England being of the burden of 200 tunnes or vnder with all necessary furniture and to take also into the said ships all such masters mariners and subiects of the king as willingly will go with him c. An extract taken out of the map of Sebastian Cabot cut by Clement Adams concerning his discouery of the West Indies which is to be seene in her Maiesties priuie gallerie at Westminster and in many other ancient merchants houses ANno Domini 1497 Ioannes Cabotus Venetus Sebastianus illius filius eam terram fecerunt peruiam quam nullus priùs adire ausus fuit die 24 Iunij circiter horam quintam bene manè Hanc autem appellauit Terram primùm visam credo quod ex mari in eam partem primùm oculos inieâ—erat Nam que ex aduerso sira est insula eam appellauit insulam Diui Ioannis hac opinor ratione quòd a perta fuit eo dieÌ„ qui est sacer Diuo Ioanni Baptistae Huius incolae pelles animalium exuuiásque feraâ—um pro indumentis habent easque tanti faciunt quanti nos vestes preciosissimas Cùm bellum gerunt vtuntur aâ—cu sagittis hastis spiculis clauis ligneis fundis Tellus sterilis est neque vllos fructus affert ex quo fit vt vrsis albo colore ceruis inusitatae apud nos magnitudinis referta sit piscibus abundar ijsque sane magnis quales sunt lupi marini quos salmones vulgus appellat soleae autem reperiuntur tam longae vt vlnae mensuram excedant Imprimis autem magna est copia eorum piscium quos vulgari sermone vocant Bacallaos Gignuntur in ea insula accipitres ita nigti vt coruorum similitudinem mirum in modum exprimant perdices autem aquilae sunt nigri coloris The same in English IN the yere of our Lord 1497 Iohn Câ—bot a Uenetian and his sonne Sebastian with an English fleet set out from Bristoll discouered that land which no man before that time had attempted on the 24 of Iune about fiue of the clockâ— early in the morning This land he called Prima vista that is to say First seene because as I suppose it was that part whereof they had the first sight from sea That Island which lieth out before the land he called the Island of S. Iohn vpon this occasion as I thinke because it was discouered vpon the day of Iohn the Baptist. The inhabitants of this Island vse to weare beasts skinnes and haue them in as great estimation as we haue our finest garments In their warres they vse bowes arrowes pikes darts woodden clubs and slings The saile is barren in some places yeeldeth litle fruit but it is full of white beares and stagges farre greater then ours It yeeldeth plenty of fish and those very great as seales and those which commonly we call salmons there are soles also aboue a yard in length but especially there is great abundance of that kinde of fish which the Sauages call baccalaos In the same Island also there bréed hauks but they are so blacke that they are very like to rauens as also their partridges and egles which are in like sort blacke A discourse of Sebastian Cabot touching his discouery of part of the West India out of England in the time of king Henry the seuenth vsed to Galeacius Butrigarius the Popes Legate in Spaine and reported by the sayd Legate in this sort DOe you not vnderstand sayd he speaking to certaine Gentlemen of Venice how to passe to India toward the Northwest as did of late a citizen of Venice so valiant a man and so well practised in all things pertaining to nauigations and the science of Cosmographie that at this present he hath not his like in Spaine insomuch that for his vertues he is preferred aboue all other pilots that saile to the West Indies who may not passe thither without his licence and is therefore called Piloto mayor that is the grand Pilot. And when we sayd that we knew him not he proceeded saying that being certaine yeres in the city of Siuil and desirous to haue some knowledge of the nauigations of the Spanyards it was tolde him that there was in the city a valiant man a Uenetian borne named Sebastian Cabot who had the charge of those things being an expert man in that science and one that coulde make Cardes for the Sea with his owne hand and that by this report seeking his acquaintance hee found him a very gentle person who intertained him friendly and shewed him many things and among other a large Mappe of the world with certaine particuler Nauigations as well of the Portugals as of the Spaniards and that he spake further vnto him to this effect When my father departed from Venice many yeeres since to dwell in England to follow the trade of marchandises hee tooke mee with him to the citie of London while I was very yong yet hauing neuerthelesse some knowledge of letters of humanitie and of the Sphere And when my father died in that time when newes were brought that Don Christopher Colonus Genuese had discouered the coasts of India whereof was great talke in all the Court of king Henry the 7. who then raigned insomuch that all men with great admiration affirmed it to be a thing more diuine then humane to saile by the West into the East where spices growe by a way that was neuer knowen before by this fame and report there increased in my heart a great flame of desire to attempt some notable thing And vnderstanding by reason of the Sphere that if I should saile by way of the Northwest I should by a shorter tract come into India I thereupon caused the King to be aduertised of my deuise who immediatly commanded two Caruels to bee furnished
pezos of gold neuer were there before that day souldiours so rich in so small a time and with so little danger And in this iourney for want of yron they did shooe their horses some with gold and some with siluer This is to bee seene in the generall historie of the West Indies where as the doings of Pizarro and the conquest of Peru is more at large setforth To this may I adde the great discoueries and conquests which the princes of Portugall haue made round about the West the South and the East parts of Africa and also at Calicut and in the East Indies and in America at Brasile and elsewhere in sundry Islands in fortifying peopling and planting all along the sayd coastes and Islands euer as they discouered which being rightly weyed and considered doth minister iust cause of incouragement to our Countreymen not to account it so hard and difficult a thing for the subiects of this noble realme of England to discouer people plant and possesse the like goodly lands and rich countreys not farre from vs but neere adioyning offring themselues vnto vs as is aforesayd which haue neuer yet heretofore bene in the actuall possession of any other Christian prince then the princes of this Realme All which as I thinke should not a little animate and encourage vs to looke out and aduenture abroad vnderstanding what large Countreys and Islands the Portugals with their small number haue within these few yeeres discouered peopled and plâ—nted some part whereof I haue thought it not amisse briefly in particular to name both the Townes Countreys Islands so neere as I could vpon the sudden call them to remembrance for the rest I doe referre the Reader to the histories where more at large the same is to be seene First they did winne and conquere from the princes of Barbary the Island of Geisera towne of Arzala not past an 140. mile distant from their Metropolitane chiefe city of Fessâ— and after that they wonne also from the said princes the townes of Tanger Ceuta Mazigam Azamor and Azaffi all alongst the Sea coasts And in the yeere of our Lord 1455. Alouis de Cadomosta a Gentleman Uenetian was hee that first discouered for their vse Cape Verd with the Islâ—nds adioyning of which he then peopled and planted those of Bonauista and Sant Iago discouering also the riuer Senega otherwise called Niger and Cape Roxo Sierra Leone and in a few yeeres after they did discouer the coast of Guinea and there peopled and built the castleof Mina then discouered they further to the countreys of Melegetres Benin and Congo with the Ilands of Principe da Nobon S. Matthewe and S. Thomas vnder the Equinoctiall line which they propled and built in the said Island of S. Thomas the hauen towne or port of Pauosan After that about the yeere of our Lord 1494. one Bartholomew Dias was sent foorth who was the first man that discouered and doubled that great and large Cape called de Bon Esperanze passing the currents that run vpon the said coast on the Southeast part of Africa between the said maine land the Island of S. Laurence otherwise called of the antients Madagascar he discouered to y e harbor named the Riuer of y e Infant After that since the yeere of our Lord God 1497. and before the ful accomplishment of the yeere of Christ 1510. through the trauailes and discoueries of Vasques de Gama Peter Aluares Thomas Lopes Andrew Corsalc Iohn de Empoli Peter Sintra Sancho de Toar and that noble and worthy gentleman Alonso de Albuquerque they did discouer people and plant at Ceffala being vpon the East side of Africa in the twenty degrees of latitude of the south Pole and direct West from the Iland of S. Laurence at which port of Ceffala diuers doe affirme that king Salomon did fetch his gold as also vpon the said East side of Africa they did afterward discouer people and plant at Mozambique Quiolâ— Monbaza and Melinde two degrees of Southerly latitude and so vp to the streight of Babel-Mandell at the entring of the red sea all vpon the East coast of Africa from whence they put off at the Cape of Guarda Fu and past the great gulfe of Arabia and the Indian Sea East to Sinus Persicus and the Island of Ormus and so passing the large and great riuer Indus where he hath his fall into the maine Ocean in 23. degrees and an halfe vnder the tropike of Cancer of Septentrional latitude they made their course againe directly towards the South and began to discouer people and plant vpon the West side of the hither India at Goa Mangalor Cananor Calecut and Cochin and the Island of Zeilam And here I thinke good to remember to you that after their planting vpon this coast their forces grew so great that they were able to compell all the Moores the subiectes of the mightie Emperour of the Turkes to pay tribute vnto them euer as they passed the gulfe of Arabia from the port of Mecca in Arabia Foelix where Mahomet lieth buried or any of the other portes of the sayd land euer as they passed to and from the hauens of Cochin Calecut and Cananor and by their martiall maner of discipline practised in those partes the great and mightie prince the Sophie Emperour of the Persians and professed enemie to the Turke came to the knowledge and vse of the Caliuer shot and to enterlace and ioyne footemen with his horsemen sithence which time the Persians haue growen to that strength and force that they haue giuen many mightie and great ouerthrowes to the Turke to the great quiet of all Christendome And from the Island of Zeilam aforesayd they also discouered more East in passing the gulfe of Bengala and so pâ—ssed the notable and famous riuer of Ganges where hee hath his fall into the maine Ocean vnder the tropike of Cancer and to the Cape of Malaca and vnto the great and large Islands of Sumatra Iaua maior Iaua minor Mindanao Palobane Celebes Gilolo Tidore Mathin Borneo Machian Terenate and all other the Islands of Molucques and Spiceries and so East alongst the coasts of Cathaia to the portes of China Zaiton and Quinsay and to the Island of Zipango and Iapan siâ—uate in the East in 37. degrees of Septemerionall latitude and in 195. of longitâ—de These are their noble and worthie discoueries Here also is not to bee forgotten that in the yere of our Lord 1501. that famous and worthy gentleman Americus Vespucius did discouer people and plant to their vse the holdes and forts which they haue in Brasill of whom he being but a priuate gentleman the whole countrey or firme land of the West Indies is commonly called and knowen by the name of America I doe greatly doubt least I seeme ouer tedious in the recitall of the particular discoueries and conquests of the East and West Indies wherein I was the more bold to vrge the patience
gotten and that stormes and tempests began to reigne in New-found land and that we were so farre from home not knowing the perils and dangers that were behind for either we must agree to returne home againe or els to stay there all the yeere Moreouer we did consider that if the Northerne winds did take vs it were not possible for vs to depart thence All which opinions being heard and considered we altogether determined to addresse our seluâ—s homeward Nowe because vpon Saint Peters day wee entred into the sayd Streite wee named it Saint Peters Streite Wee sounded it in many places in some wee found 150 fadome water in some 100 and neere the shoare sirtie and cleere ground From that day till Wednesday following we had a good and prosperous gale of winde so that we trended the said North shore East Southeast West Northwest for such is the situation of it except one Cape of low lands that bendeth more toward the Southeast about twenty fiue leagues from the Streight In this place we saw certaine smokes that the people of the countrey made vpon the sayd cape but because the wind blewe vs toward the coast we went not to them which when they saw they came with two boates and twelue men vnto vs and as freely came vnto our ships as if they had bene French men and gaue vs to vnderstand that they came from the great gulfe and that Tiennot was their Captaine who then was vpon that Cape making signes vnto vs that they were going home to their Countreys whence we were come with our ships and that they were laden with Fish We named the sayd Cape Cape Tiennot From the said Cape all the land trendeth Eastsoutheast and Westnorthwest All these lands lie low very pleasant enuironed with sand where the sea is entermingled with marishes and shallowes the space of twentie leagues then doth the land begin to trend from West to Eastnortheast altogether enuironed with Islands two or three leagues from land in which as farre as we could see are many dangerous shelues more then foure or fiue leagues from land How that vpon the ninth of August wee entred within White Sands and vpon the fift of September we came to the port of S. Malo FRom the sayd Wednesday vntill Saturday following we had a great wind from the Southwest which caused vs to run Eastnortheast on which day we came to the Easterly partes of Newfouâ—dland between the Granges and the Double Cape There began great stormie winds comming froÌ„ the East with great rage wherfore we coasted the Cape Northnorthwest to search the Northerne part which is as we haue sayd all enuironed with Islands and being neere the said Islands and land the wind â—urned into the South which brought vs within the sayd gulfe so that the next day being the 9 of August we by the grace of God entred within the White Sands And this is so much as we haue discouered After that vpon the 15 of August being the feast of the Assumption of our Lady after that we had heard seruice we altogether departed from the porte of White Sands and with a happy and prosperous weather we came into the middle of the sea that is between Newfound land and Britanie in which place we were tost and â—urmoyled three dayes long with great stormes and windy tempests comming from the East which with the ayde and assistance of God we suffred then had we faire weather and vpon the fift of September in the sayd yere we came to the port of S. Malo whence we departed The language that is spoken in the Land newly discouered called New France God the Sunne Isnez the Heauen camet the Day the Night aiagla Water amâ— Sand estogaz a Saylâ— aganie the Heaâ— agonaze the Throate conguedo the Nose hehonguesto the Teeth hesangue the Nayles agetascu the Feete ochedasco the Legs anondasco a dead man amocdaza a Skinne aionasca that Man yca a Harchet asogne a Cod fish gadagoursere good to be eateâ— guesande Flesh Almonds anougaza Figâ— asconda Gold benyosco the priuie members assegnega an Arrow cacta a greene Tree haueda an earthen dish vndaâ—o a Bow Brasse aignetaze the Brow ansce a Feather yco the Moone casmogan the Earth conda the Wind canut the Raine onnoscon Bread cacacomy the Sea amet a Ship casaomy a Man vndo the Haires hoc hosco the Eyes â—gata the Mouth hechâ— the Eares hontasco the Armes ageseu a Woman enraseseo a sicke Man alonedeche Shooes atta a skinne to couer a mans priuy meÌ„bers ouscozon vondico red cloth cahoneta a Knife agoheda a Mackrell agedoneta Nuttes caheya Apples honesta Beanes sahe a Sword achesco A shorte and briefe narration of the Nauigation made by the commandement of the King of France to the Islands of Canada Hochelaga Saguenay and diuers others which now are called New France with the particular customes and maners of the inhabitants therein Chap. 1. IN the yeere of our Lord 1535 vpon Whitsunday being the 16 of May by the commandement of our Captaine Iames Cartier and with a common accord in the Cathedrall Church of S. Malo we deuoutly each one confessed our selues and receiued the Sacrament and all entring into the Quier of the sayd Church wee presented our selues before the Reuerend Father in Christ the Lord Bishop of S. Malo who blessed vs all being in his Bishops roabes The Wednesday following being the 19 of May there arose a good gale of wind and therefore we hoysed sayle with three ships that is to say tâ—e great Hermina being in burden about a hundreth or a hundreth and twâ—nty tunne wherin the foresaid Captaine Iames Cartier was Generall and master Thomas Frosmont chiefe Master accompanied with master Claudius de Pont Briand sonne to the Lorde of Montâ—euell and Cup-bearer to the Dolphin of France Charles of Pomeraies Iohn Powler and other Gentlemen In the second ship called the little Hermina being of three score tunne burden were Captaines vnder the sayd Cartier Mace Salobert and master William Marie In the third ship called the Hermerillon being of forty tunne iu burden were Captains M. William Britton anâ— M. Iames Maingare So we sayled with a good and prosperous wind vntill the 20 of the said moneth at which time the weather turned into stormes and tempests the which with contrary winds and darkenesse endured so long that our ships being without any rest suffered as much as any ships that euer went on seas so that the 25 of Iune by reason of that foule and foggie weather all our ships lost sight one of another againe till wee came to Newfound land where we had appointed to meete After we had lost one another wee in the Generals ship were with contrary windes tost to and fro on the sea vntill the seuenth of Iuly vpon which day we arriued in Newefound land and came to the Island called The Island of Birds which lyeth from the maine land 14 leagues
exchanged with them for other wares who lifting vp their hands toward heauen gaue many signes of ioy we stayed at a place called Hochelai about fiue and twentie leagues from Canada where the riuer waxeth very narrow and runneth very swift wherefore it is very dangerous not onely for that but also for certaine great stones that are therein Many boates and barkes come vnto vs in one of which came one of the chiefe Lords of the countrey making a long discourse who being come neere vs did by euident signes and gestures shew vs that the higher the riuer went the more dangerous it was and bade vs take heede of ourselues The said Lord presented and gaue vnto our Captaine two of his owne children of which our Captaine tooke one being a wench 7 or 8 eight yeres old the man child he gaue him againe because it was too young for it was but two or three yeeres old Our Captaine as friendly and as courteously as he could did entertaine and receiue the said Lord and his company giuing them certaiâ—e small trifles and so they departed toward the shore againe Afterwards the sayd Lord and his wife came vnto Canada to visite his dâ—ughter bringing vnto our Captaine certaine small presents From the nineteenth vntill the eight and twentieth of September we sailed vp along the saide riuer neuer losing one houre of time all which time we saw as goodly and pleasant a countrey as possible can be wished for full as we haue said before of all sorts of goodly trees that is to say Okes Elmes Walnut-trees Cedars Firres Ashes Boxe Willowes and great store of Uines all as full of grapes as could be so that if any of our fellowes went on shore they came home laden with them there are likewise many Cranes Swannes Geese Duckes Feasants Partriges Thrushes Blackbirds Turtles Finches Redbreasts Nightingales Sparrowes of diuerse kindes with many other sorts of Birds euen as in France and great plentie and store Upon the 28 of September we came to a great wide lake in the middle of the riuer fiue or sixe leagues broad and twelue long all that day we went against the tide hauing but two fadome water still keeping the sayd scantling being come to one of the heads of the lake we could espie no passage or going out nay rather it seemed to haue bene closed and shut vp round about and there was but a fadome and an halfe of water little more or lesse And therefore we were constrayned to cast anker and to stay with our Pinnesse and went with our two boates to seeke some going out and in one place we found foure or fiue branches which out of the riuer come into the lake and they came from Hochelaga But in the said branches because of the great fiercenesse and swiftnesse wherewith they breake out and the course of the water they make certaine barres and shoulds and at that time there was but a fadome water Those Should as being passed we found foure or fiue fadome and as farre as we could perceiue by the flood it was that time of the yeere that the waters are lowest for at other times they flowe higher by three fadomes All these foure or fiue branches do compasse about fiue or sixe Ilands very pleasant which make the head of the lake about fifteene leagues beyond they doe all come into one That day we landed in one of the saide Ilands and met with fiue men that were hunting of wilde beastes who as freely and familiarly came to our boates without any feare as if we had euer bene brought vp togither Our boates being somewhat neere the shore one of them tooke our Captaine in his armes and caried him on shore as lightly and as easily as if he had bene a child of fiue yeeres old so strong and sturdie was this fellow We found that they had a great heape of wilde Rats that liue in the water as bigge as a Conny and very good to eate which they gaue vnto our Captaine who for a recompence gaue them kniues and glassen Beades We asked them with signes if that was the way to Hochelaga they answered yea and that we had yet three dayes sayling thither How our Captaine caused our boates to be mended and dressed to goe to Hochelaga and because the way was somewhat difficult and hard we left our Pinnesse behinde and how we came thither and what entertainement we had of the people Chap. 6. THe next day our Captaine seeing that for that time it was not possible for our Pinnesse to goe on any further he caused our boates to be made readie and as much munition and victuals to be put in them as they could well beare he departed with them accompanyed with many Gentlemen that is to say Claudius of Ponte Briand Cup-bearer to the Lorde Dolphin of France Charles of Pommerayâ— Iohn Gouion Iohn Powlet with twentie eight Mariners and Mace Iallobert and William Briton who had the charge vnder the Captaine of the other two ships to goe vp as farre as they could into that riuer we sayled with good and prosperous weather vntill the second of October on which day we came to the towne of Hochelaga distant from the place where we had left our Pinnesse fiue and fortie leagues In which place of Hochelaga and all the way we went we met with many of those countriemen who brought vs fish and such other vicuals as they had still dancing and greatly reioycing at our comming Our Captaine to lure them in and to keepe them our friends to recompence them gaue them kniues beades and such small trifles wherewith they were greatly satisfied So soone as we were come neere Hochelaga there came to meete vs aboue a thousand persons men women and children who afterward did as friendly and merily entertaine and receiue vs as any father would doe his child which he had not of long time seene the men dauncing on one side the women on another and likewise the children on another after that they brought vs great store of fish of their bread made of Millet casting them into our boates so thicke that you would haue thought is to fall from heauen Which when our Captaine saw he with many of his company went on shore so soone as euer we were aland they came clustring about vs making very much of vs bringing their young children in their armes onely to haue our Captaine and his company to touch them making signes and shewes of great â—irth and gladnesse that laâ—ted more than halfe an houre Our Câ—ptaine seeing their louing kindnesse and entertainement of vs caused all the weomen orderly to be see in aray and gaue them Beades made of Tinne and other such small trifles and to some of the men hâ— gaue kniâ—es then he returned to the boates to supper and so passed that night all which while all those people stood on the shore as neere our boates as they might making great fires
the riuer beginneth to be fresh thou shalt sayle in the midst of the riuer and thou shalt leaue the isle on the starreboord which is on the right hand and here the riuer is not past a quarter of a league broad and hath 20 and 30 fathoms water And towards the South shore there is a ledge of Isles all couered with trees and they end ouer against the point of the Isle of Orleans And the poynt of the isle of Orleans toward the Northeast is in 47 degrees and one terce of a degree And the Isle of Orleans is a fayre Isle all couered with trees euen vnto the riuers side and it is about 5 leagues long and a league and an halfe broade And on the North shore there is another Riuer which falleth into the mayne Riuer at the ende of the Island and Shippes may very well passe there From the middest of the Isle vnto Canada the Riuer runneth West and from the place of Canada vnto France-Roy the riuer turneth West Southwest and from the West ende of the Isle to Canada is but one league and vnto France-Roy 4 leagues And when thou art come to the end of the Isle thou shalt see a great Riuer which falleth fifteene or twenty fathoms downe from a rocke and maketh a terrible noyse The Fort of France-roy stands in 47 degrees and one sixt part of a degree The extension of all these lands vpon iust occasion is called New France For it is as good and as temperate as France and in the same latitude And the reason wherefore it is colder in the Winter is because the fresh Riuer is naturally more colde then the Sea and it is also broad and deepe and in some places it is halfe a league and aboue in breadth And also because the land is not tylled nor full of people and is all full of Woods which is the cause of colde because there is not store of fire nor cattel And the sunne hath his Meridian as high as the Meridian at Rochel and it is noone here when the Sunne is at South Southwest at Rochel And here the north starre by the compasse standeth Northnortheast And when at Rochel it is noone it is but halfe an houre pass nine at France-Roy From the sayde place vnto the Ocean sea and the coast of New France is not aboue 50 leagues distance And from the entrance of Norumbega vnto Florida are 300 leagues and from this place of France-Roy to Hochelaga are about 80 leagues and vnto y e Isle of Rasus 30 leagues And I doubt not but Norumbega entreth into the riuer of Canada and vnto the Sea of Saguenay And from the Fort of France-Roy vntil a man come foorth of the Grande Bay is not aboue 230 leagues And the course is Northeast and West Southwest not aboue 5 degrees and ⅓ difference and reckon 16 leagues and an halfe to a degree By the nature of the climate the lands toward Hochelaga are still better and better and more fruitfull And this land is fitte for Figges and Peares And I thinke that golde and siluer will be found here according as the people of the countrey say These landes lye ouer against Tartarie and I doubt not but that they stretch toward Asia according to the roundnesse of the world And therefore it were good to haue a small Shippe of 70 tunnes to discouer the coast of New France on the backe side of Florida for I haue bene at a Bay as farre as 42 degrees betweene Norumbega and Florida and I haue not searched the ende thereof and I knowe not whether it passe through And in all these Countreys there are okes and bortz ashes elmes arables trees of life pines prussetrees ceders great wallnut trees and wilde nuts hasel-trees wilde peare trees wilde grapes and there haue bene found redde plummes And very faire corne groweth there and peason grow of their owne accord gooseberries and strawberries And there are goodly Forrests wherein men may hunt And there are great store of stagges deere porkepicks and the Sauages say there bee Unicornes Fowle there are in abundance as bustards wilde geese cranes turtle doues rauens crowes and many other birds All things which are sowen there are not past 2. or 3. dayes in comming vp out of the ground I haue tolde in one eare of corne an hundred and twenty graines like the corne of France And ye neede not to sowe your Wheate vntill March and it will be ripe in the middest of August The waters are better and perfecter then in France And if the Countrey were tilled and replenished with people it would be as hotte as Rochel And the reason why it snoweth there oftener then in France is because it raineth there but seldome for the raine is conuerted into snowes All things aboue mentioned are true Iohn Alphonse made this Voyage with Monsieur Roberual There is a pardon to be seene fo◠the pardoning of Monsieur de Sain◠terre Lieutenant of the sayd Monsieur de Roberual◠giuen in Canada in the presence of the sayde Iohn Alphonse The Voyage of Iohn Francis de la Roche knight Lord of Roberual to the Countries of Canada Saguenai and Hochelaga with three tall Ships and two hundred persons both men women and children begun in April 1542. In which parts he remayned the same summer and all the next winter SIr Iohn Francis de la Roche knight lord of Roberual appoynted by the king as his Lieutenant general in the countreis of Canada Saguenay and Hochelaga furnished 3. tall Ships chiefly at the kings cost And hauing in his fleete 200. persons aswel men as women accompanied with diuers gentlemen of qualitie as namely with Monsieur Saine-terre his lieutenāt l'Espiney his Ensigne captain Guine-court Monsieu◠Noire fontaine Dieu lamont Frote la Brosse Francis de Mire la Salle and Roieze and Iohn Alfonse of Xanctoigne an excellent pilot set sayle from Rochel the 16. of April 1542. The same day about noone we came athwart of Chefe de boys where we were enforced to stay the night following On Munday the seuenteenth of the sayde Moneth wee departed from Chefe deboys The winde serued vs notably for a time but within fewe dayes it came quite contrary which hindered our iourney for a long space For wee were suddenly enforced to turne backe and to seeke Harborough in Belle Isle on the coast of Bretaigne where wee stayed so long and had such contrary weather by the way that wee could not reach Newfound lande vntill the seuenth of Iune The eight of this Moneth wee entred into the Rode of Saint Iohn where wee founde seuenteene Shippes of fishers While wee made somewhat long abode heere Iaques Cartier and his company returning from Canada whither hee was sent with fiue sayles the yeere before arriued in the very same Harbour Who after hee had done his duetie to our Generall tolde him that hee had brought certaine
and that but at the latter ende thereof and vpon none of the aforesaide causes For all foure especially three were feeble weake and sickly persons before euer they came thither and those that knew them much marueled that they liued so long being in that case or had aduentured to trauaile Seeing therefore the aire there is so temperate and holsome the soyle so fertile and yeelding such commodities as I haue before mentioned the voyage also thither to and fro being sufficiently experimented to be perfourmed twise a yeere with ease and at any season thereof And the dealing of Sir Walter Ralegh so liberail in large giuing and granting lande there as is already knowen with many helpes and furâ—herances else The least that he hath granted hath bene fiue hundreth acres to a man onely for the aduenture of his person I hope there remaines no cause whereby the action should be misliked If that those which shall thither trauaile to inhabite and plant bee but reasonably prouided for the first yeere as those are which were transported the last and being there doe vse but that diligence and care that is requisit and as they may with ease There is no doubt but for the time following they may haue victuals that are excellent good and plentie ynough some more English sorts of cattell also hereafter as some haue bene before and are there yet remayning may and shall be God willing thither transported So likewise our kinde of fruites rootes and hearbes may be there planted and sowed as some haue bene already and proue well And in short time also they may raise so much of those sorts of commodities which I haue spoken of as shall both enrich themselues as also others that shall deale with them And this is all the fruit of our labours that I haue thought necessary to aduertise you of at this present What else concerneth the nature and maners of the inhabitants of Virginia the number with the particularities of the voyages thither made and of the actions of such as haue bene by Sir Walter Ralegh therein and there imployed many worthy to be remembred as of the first discouerers of the Countrey of our Generall for the time Sir Richard Grinuâ—l and after his departure of our Gouernour there Master Ralph Lane with diuers other direcâ—ed and imployed vnder their gouernment Of the Captaines and Masters of the voyages made since for transportation of the Gouernour and assistants of those already transported as of many persons accidents and things els I haue ready in a discourse by it selfe in maner of a Chronicle according to the course of times which when time shall be thought conuenient shall be also published Thus referring my relation to your fauourable constructions expecting good successe of the action from him which is to be acknowledged the authour and gouernour not onely of this but of all things els I take my leaue of you this moneth of February 1587. The fourth voyage made to Virginia with three ships in the yere 1587. Wherein was transported the second Colonie IN the yeere of our Lord 1587. Sir Walter Ralegh intending to perseuere in the planting of his Countrey of Virginia prepared a newe Colonie of one hundred and fiftie men to be sent thither vnder the charge of Iohn White whom hee appointed Gouernour and also appointed vnto him twelue Assistants vnto whom hee gaue a Charter and incorporated them by the name of Gouernour and Assistants of the Citie of Ralegh in Virginia April OUr Fleete being in number three saile viz. the Admirall a shippe of one hundred and twentie Tunnes a Flie-boate and a Pinnesse departed the sixe and twentieth of April from Portesmouth and the same day came to an ancker at the Cowes in the Isle of Wight where wee stayed eight dayes May. THe fift of May at nine of the clocke at night we came to Plimmouth where we remained the space of two dayes The 8 we weyed anker at Plimmouth and departed thence for Virginia The 16 Simon Ferdinando Master of our Admiral lewdly forsooke our Fly-boate leauing her distressed in the Bay of Portugal Iune THe 19 we fell with Dominica and the same eneâ—ing we sayled betweene it and Guadalupe the 21 the Fly-boat also fell with Dominica The 22 we came to an anker at an Island called Santa Cruz where all the planters were set on land staying there till the 25 of the same moneth At our first landing on this Island some of our women and men by eating a small fruit like greene Apples were fearefully troubled with a sudden burning in their mouthes and swelling of their tongues so bigge that some of them could not speake Also a child by sucking one of those womens breasts had at that instant his mouth set on such a burning that it was strange to see how the infant was tormented for the time but after 24 houres it ware away of it selfe Also the first night of our being on this Island we tooke fiue great Torteses some of them of such bignes that sixteene of our strongest men were tired with carying of one of them but from the sea side to our cabbins In this Island we found no watring place but a standing ponde the water whereof was so euill that many of our company fell sicke with drinking thereof and as many as did but wash their faces with that water in the morning before the Sunne had drawen away the corruption their faces did so burne and swell that their eyes were shut vp and could not see in fiue or sixe dayes or longer The second day of our abode there we sent forth some of our men to search the Island for fresh water three one way and two another way The Gouernour also with sixe others went vp to the top of an high hill to viewe the Island but could perceiue no signe of any men or beastes nor any goodnes but Parots and trees of Guiacum Returning backe to our cabbins another way he found in the discent of a hill certaine potsheards of sauage making made of the earth of that Island whereupon it was iudged that this Island was inhabited with Sauages though Fernando had told vs for certaine the contrary The same day at night the rest of our company very late returned to the Gouernour The one company affirmed that they had seene in a valley eleuen Sauages and diuers houses halfe a mile distant from the steepe or toppe of the hill where they stayed The other company had found running out of a high rocke a very fayre spring of water whereof they brâ—ught three bottels to the company for before that time wee drank the stâ—nking water of the pond The same second day at night Captaine Stafford with the Pinnesse departed from our fleete riding at Santa Cruz to an Island called Beake lying neere S. Iohn bring so directed by Ferdinando who assured him he should there find great plenty of sheepe The next day at night our planters left Santa Cruz and
souldiers and the country abandoned as heretofore we haue sufficiently discoursed and as it may more at large be vnderstood by those men which were there in person After the peace was made in France my Lord Admiral De Chastillon shewed vnto the king that he heard no newes at all of the men which Captaine Iohn Ribault had left in Florida that it were pity to suffer them to perish In which respect the king was content he should cause 3 ships to be furnished the one of sixe score tunnes the other of 100 and the third of 60 to seeke them out and to succour them My Lord Admirall therefore being well informed of the faithfull seruice which I had done aswell vnto his Maiestie as to his predecessors kings of France aduertised the king how able I was to doe him seruice in this voyage which was the cause that he made me chiefe Captaine ouer these 3 shippes and charged me to depart with diligence to performe his commandement which for mine owne part I would not gainesay but rather thinking my selfe happy to haue bene chosen out among such an infinite number of others which in my iudgement were very well able to haue quitted themselues in this charge I embarked my selfe at New Hauen the 22 of April 1564 and sayled so that we fell neere vnto the coast of England and then I turned towards the South to sayle directly to the fortunate Islands at this present called the Canaries one of which called the Isle Saluage because as I thinke it is altogether without inhabitants was the first that our ships passed Sayling therefore on forward we landed the next day in the Isle of Teneriffa otherwise called the Pike because that in the middest thereof there is an exceeding high mountaine neere as high as that of Etna which riseth vp like a pike into the top whereof no man can go vp but from the middest of May vntill the middest of August by reason of the ouer great colde which is there all the yere which is a wonderfull strange thing considering that it is not past 27 degrees and an half distant from the Equator We saw it all couered ouer with snow although it were then but the fift of May. The inhabitants in this Isle being heretofore pursued by the Spaniards retired themselues into this mountaine where for a space they made warre with them and would not submit themselues to their obedience neither by foule nor faire meanes they disdained so much the losse of their Island For those which went thither on the Spaniards behalfe left their carkases there so that not so much as one of them returned home to bring newes Notwithstanding in the ende the inhabitants not able to liue in that place according to their nature or for want of such things as were necessary for the commoditie of their liuelyhood did all die there After I had furnished my selfe with some fresh water very good and excellent which sprang out of a rocke at the foote of this mountaine I continued my course toward the West wherein the windes fauoured me so well that 15 dayes after our ships arriued safe and sound at the Antilles and going on land at the Isle of Martinino one of the first of them the next day we arriued at Dominica twelue leagues distant from the former Dominica is one of the fayrest Islands of the West full of hilles and of very good smell Whose singularities desiring to know as we passed and seeking also to refresh our selues with fresh water I made the Mariners cast anker after wee had sayled about halfe along the coast thereof As soone as we had cast anker two Indians inhabitants of that place sayled toward vs in two Canoas full of a fruite of great excellencie which they call Ananas As they approched vnto our Barke there was one of them which being in some misdoubt of vs went barke againe on land and fled his way with as much speede as he could possibly Which our men perceiued and entred with diligence into the other Canoa wherein they caught the poore Indian brought him vnto me But the poore fellow became so astonied in beholding vs that he knew not which way to behaue himselfe because that as afterward I vnderstood he feared that he was fallen into the Spaniards hands of whom he had bene taken once before and which as he shewed vs had cut of his stones At length this poore Indian was secure of vs and discoursed vnto vs of many things wherof we receiued very small pleasure because we vnderstood not his minde but by his signes Then he desired me to giue him leaue to depart and promised me that he would bring me a thousand presents whereunto I agreed on condition that he would haue patience vntill the next day when I purposed to goe on land where I suffered him to depart after I had giuen him a shirte and certaine small trifles wherewith he departed very well contented from vs. The place where we went on shore was hard by a very high Rocke out of which there ran a litle riuer of sweet and excellent good water by which riuer we stayed certaine dayes to discouer the things which were worthy to be seene and traffiqued dayly with the Indians which aboue all things besought vs that none of our men should come neere their lodgings nor their gardens otherwise that we should giue them great cause of ielousie and that in so doing wee should not want of their fruite which they call Ananas whereof they offered vs very liberally receiuing in recompence certaine things of small value This notwithstanding it happened on a day that certaine of our men desirous to see some new things in these strange countries walked through the woods and following still the litle riuers side they spied two serpents of exceeding bignes which went side by side ouerthwart the way My souldiers went before them thinking to let them from going into the woods but the serpents nothing at all astonied at these gestures glanced into the bushes with fearful hyssings yet for all that my men drew their swords and killed them and found them afterward 9 great foote long and as big as mans leg During this combate certaine others more vndiscreete went and gathered their Ananas in the Indians gardens trampling through them without any descretion and not therewithall contented they wēt toward their dwellings whereat the Indians were so much offended that without regarding any thing they rushed vpon them and discharged their shot so that they hit one of my men named Martine Chaueau which remained behind We could not know whether hee where killed on the place or whether he were taken prisoner for those of his company had inough to doe to saue themselues without thinking of their companion Whereof Monsieur de Ottigni my Lieuetenant being aduertised sent vnto me to know whether I thought good that he should lay an ambush for the Indians which had
of our greatest ships remained which cast anker assuring our men of good amity They asked how the chiefe captaines of the enterprise did called them all by their names and surnames I report me to you if it could be otherwise but these men before they went out of Spaine must needs be informed of the enterprise of those that were to execute the same About the breake of day they began to make toward our men but our men which trusted them neuer a deale had hoysed their sayles by night being ready to cut the strings that tyed them Wherefore perceiuing that this making toward our men of the Spaniards was not to doe them any pleasure and knowing wel that their furniture was too smal to make head against them because that the most part of their men were on shore they cut theâ—r cables left their ankers and set saile The Spaniards seeing themselues discouered lent them certaine volleis of their great ordinance made saile after them and chased them all day long but our men got way of them still toward the sea And the Spaniards seeing they could not reach them by reason that the French ships were better of saile then theirs and also because they would not leaue the coasâ— turnâ—d backe and went on shore in the riuer Seloy which we cal the riuer of Dolphines 8 or 10 leagues distant from the place where we were Our men therefore finding themselues beâ—ter of saile then thâ—y followed them to descry what they did which after they had done they returned vnto the riuer of May where captaine Ribault hauing descried them embarked himselfe in a great boat to know what newes they had Being at the entry of the riuer he met with the boat of captaine Cousets ship wherin there was a good number of men which made relation vnto him of all the Spaniards doings and how the great ship named the Trinitie had kept the sea and that she was not returned with them They â—old him moreouer that they had seen three Spanish ships enter into the riuer of Dolphins the other three remained in the rode farther that they had put their sâ—uldiers their victuals munition on land After he vnderstood these newes hee returned to the fortresse and came to my chamber where I was sick and there in the presence of the captaines La Grange S. Marie Ottigny Visty Yonuille and other gentlemen he propounded that it was necessary for the kings seruice to embarke himselfe with all his forces and with the three ships that were in the rode to seeke the Spanish fleete whereupon he asked our aduise I first replyed and shewed vnto him the consequence of such an enterprise aduertising him among other things of the perilous flawes of windes that rise on this coast and that if it chanced that hee were driuen from the shore it would be very hard for him to recouer it againe that in the meane while they which should stay in the Forte should be in feare and danger The Captaines Saint Marie and La Grange declared vnto him farther that they thought it not good to put any such enterprise in execution that it was farre better to keepe the land do their best indeuour to fortifie themselues And that after that the Trinitie which was the principall ship were returned there would be much more likelyhood to enterprise this voyage This notwithstanding he resolued to vndertake it and that which more is after he vnderstoode by king Emola one of our neighbours which arriued vpon the handling of these matters that the Spaniards in great numbers were gone on shore which had taken possession of the houses of Seloy in the most part whereof they had placed their Negros which they had brought to labour and also lodged themselues and had cast diuers trenches about them Thâ—s for the considerations which he had and doubting as he might well doe that the Spanyards would encampe themselues there to molest vs and in the ende to chase vs out of the Countrey he resolued and continued in his embarkment caused a Proclamation to be made that all souldiers that were vnder his charge should presently with their weapons embarke thâ—m and that his two ensignes should march which was put in execution He came into my chamber and prayed me to lend him my Lieutenant mine ensigne and my sergeant and to let all my good souldiers which I had goe with him which I denied him because my selfe being sicke there was no man to stay in the fort Thereupon he answered me that I needed not to doubt at all and that he would returne the morrow after that in the meane space Monsieur de Lys should stay behind to looke to all things Then I shewed vnto him that he was chiefe in this Countrey and that I for my part had no further authoritie that therefore hee would take good aduisement what hee did for feare least some inconuenience might ensue Then he tolde me that he could doe no lesse then to continue this enterprise and that in the letter which he had receiued from my Lord Admirall there was a postscript which hee shewed mee written in these wordes Captaine Iohn Ribault as I was enclosing vp this letter I receiued a certaine aduice that Don Pedro Melendes departeth from Spaine to goe to the coast of Newe France see you that you suffer him not to encroch vpon you no more then he would that you should encroch vpon him You see quoth he the charge that I haue and I leaue it vnto your selfe to iudge if you could do any lesse in this case considering the certaine aduertisement that we haue that they are already on lande and will inuade vs. This stopped my mouth Thus therefore confirmed or rather obstinate in this enterprise and hauing regard rather vnto his particular opinion then vnto the aduertisments which I had giuen him and the inconueniences of the time whereof I had forewarned him he â—mbarked himselfe the eight of September and tooke mine ensigne and eight and thirtie of my men away with him I report mee to those that know what warres meane if when an ensigne marcheth any souldier that hath any courage in him will stay behind to forsake his ensigne Thus no man of commandement stayed behind with mee for ech one followed him as chiefe in whose name straight after his arriuall all cries and proclamations were made Captaine Grange which liked not very well of this entâ—rprise was vnto the tenth of the moneth with mee and would not haue gone aborde if it had not beene for the instant requestes that Captaine Ribault made vnto him which staid two dayes in the rode attending vntill La Grange was come vnto him Who being come abord they set sayle altogether and from that time forward I neuer saw them more The very day that he departed which was the tenth of September there rose so great a tempest accompanied with such stormes
house as much as he will without the cost of any thing but of the letting in Also there is a great caue or ditch of water that commeth through the Citie euen vnto the high place where come euery morning at the break of the day twentie or thirtie Canoas or troughes of the Indians which bring in them all maner of prouision for the citie which is made and groweth in the Countrey which is a very good commoditie for the inhabitants of that place And as for victuals in the said Citie of beefe mutton and hennes capons quailes Guiny-cockes and such like all are very good cheape To say the whole quarter of an oxe as much as a slaue can carry away from the Butchers for fiue Tomynes that is fiue Royals of plate which is iust two shillings and sixe pence and a fat sheepe at the Butchers for three Royals which is 18. pence and no more Bread is as good cheape as in Spaine and all other kinde of fruites as apples peares pomegranats and quinces at a reasonable rate The Citie goeth wonderfully forwards in building of Frieries and Nunneries and Chappels and is like in time to come to be the most populous Citie in the world as it may be supposed The weather is there alwayes very temperate the day differeth but one houre of length all the yere long The fields and the woods are alwayes greene The woods full of popiniayes and many other kinde of birdes that make such an harmonie of singing and crying that any man will reioyce to heare it In the fields are such odoriferous smels of flowers and hearbs that it giueth great cement to the senses About the Citie of Mexico two three or foure leagues off are diuers townes of Indians some of 4000. or 6000. housholds which doe stand in such a goodly soyle that if Christians had the inhabitation thereof it would be put to a farther benefite In my time were dwelling and aliue in Mexico many ancient men that were of the conquerours at the first conquest with Hernando Cortes for then it was about 36. yeeres agoe that the said Countrey was conquered About Mexico there are diuers Mines of siluer and also in other places there about but the principall Mines that are in all New Spaine are in Sacatecas 80. leagues from Mexico and the Mines of S. Martin thirtie leagues both to the Northwestward of Mexico where is great store of gold and siluer Also there is a place called the Misteca fiftie leagues to the Northwest which doth yeeld great store of very good silke and Cochinilla Wine and oyle there is none growing in the Countrey but what commeth out of Spaine Also there are many goodly fruits in that Countrey whereof we haue none such as Plantanos Guyaues Sapotes Tunas and in the wildernes great store of blacke cheries and other wholsome fruites The Cochinilla is not a worme or a flye as some say it is but a berrie that groweth vpon certaine bushes in the wilde field which is gathered in time of the yeere when it is ripe Also the Indico that doeth come from thence to die blâ—w is a certaine heathe that groweth in the wilde fieldes and is gathered at one time of the yeere and burnt and of the ashes thereof with other confections put thereunto the saide Indico is made Balme Salsa perilla Cana fistula sugâ—r oxe hides and many other good and seruiceable things the Countrey doeth yeeld which are yeerely brought into Spaine and there solde and distributed to many nations ROBERT TOMSON A voyage made by M. Roger Bodenham to S. Iohn de Vllua in the bay of Mexico in the yeere 1564. I Roger Bodenham hauing a long time liued in the city of Siuil in Spaine being there married and by occasion thereof vsing trade and traffique to the parts of Barbary grew at length to great losse and hindrance by that new trade begun by me in the city of Fez whereupon being returned into Spaine I began to call my wits about mee and to consider with my selfe by what meanes I might recouer and renew my state and in conclusion by the ayde of my friends I procured a ship called The Barke Fox pertâ—ining to London of the burden of eight or nine score tunnes and with the same I made a voyage to the West India hauing obteined good fauour with the Spanish merchants by reason of my long abode and marriage in the countrey My voyage was in the company of the Generall Don Pedro Melendes for Noua Hispania who being himselfe appointed Generall for Terra Firma and Peru made his sonne Generall for New Spaine although Pedro Melendes himselfe was the principall man and directer in both fleets We all departed from Cadiz together the last day of May in the yere 1564 and I with my ship being vnder the conduct of the sonne of Don Pedro aforesayd arriued with him in Noua Hispania where immediatly I tooke order for the discharge of my merchandise at the port of Vera Cruz otherwise called Villa Rica to be transported theâ—ce to the city of Mexico which is sixty and odde leagues distant from the sayd port of Villa Rica In the way are many good townes as namely Pueblo de los Angeles and another called Tlaxcalan The city of Mexico hath three great causeyes to bring men to it compassed with a lake so that it needeth no walles being so defended by the water It is a city plentifull of all necessary things hauing many faire houses churches and monasteries I hauing continued in the countrey the space of nine moneths returned againe for Spaine with the Spanish fleet and deliuered the merchandise and siluer which I had in the ship into the Contractation house and there receiued my fraight which amounted outwards and homewards to the value of 13000 ducats and more I obserued many things in the time of my abode in Noua Hispania aswell touching the commodities of the countrey as the maners of the people both Spanâ—ards and Indians but because the Spanish histories are full of those obseruations I omit them and referre the readers to the same onely this I say that the commodity of Cochinilla groweth in greatest abundance about the towne of Pueblo de los Angeles and is not there woorth aboue forty pence the pound A notable discourse of M. Iohn Chilton touching the people maners mines cities riches forces and other memorable things of New Spaine and other prouinces in the West Indies seene and noted by himselfe in the time of his trauels continued in those parts the space of seuenteene or eighteene yeeres IN the yeere of our Lord 1561 in the moneth of Iuly I Iohn Chilton went out of this city of London into Spaine where I remained for the space of seuen yeres from thence I sailed into Noua Hispania and so trauelled there and by the South sea vnto Peru the space of seuenteene or eighteene yeeres and after that time expired I returned into Spaine and
piece with souldiers and mariners And hauing good ordinance there are fewe or none of our enemies that can offend vs. For wee shall both leaue and take at all times when we list But it behooueth your maiestie to send both souldiers and mariners to man the Frigats For we haue great want of souldiers and mariners with tackling ankers powder shot caliuers and all kinde of furniture for them For these things are not here to bee had for money and likewise to send some great ordinance for the Zabras For the merchants ships are so weake and so vnprouided that they haue almost none to defend themselues Also we shall be constrained to giue the carena againe vnto al the ships for they are very weake by reason of the long voyage and the mariners and souldiers are wearie with their long trauelling and keeping of them here Thus if it would please your maiestie to command with all expedition that these souldiers and mariners with al kinde of other furniture might be sent vs then the fleete may set forward and so proceede on their voyage God preserue your Catholike royal maiestie FroÌ„ Hauana the of 20 October 1590. Your maiesties seruant whose royall feet I kisse IOHN DE ORIMO General of your Fleete A Letter sent from the Gouernour of Hauana Iohn de Trexeda to the King of Spaine the twentieth of October 1590 touching the wants of that place BY three shippes which departed from this Harbour since the Fleetes arriuall here I haue giuen your maiestie at large to vnderstand what hath happened as much as I can and what thing is here to be done in this citie and what your maiestie must prouide And now once againe I will returne to put your maiestie in minde thereof I beseech your maiestie to command to be prouided and to be sent hither two hundred Negros if you will haue this fortification to goe forwardes because your maiestie is here at great charges with the master workeman and the Officers And for want of Pioners the worke goeth not forwardes For as the worke goeth dayly forward and increaseth farther and farther so we want men to worke and to garde it and likewise to keep it We dare not meddle with those of the Galies And likewise it may please your maiestie to send new working tooles of yron according to a remembrance which I haue sent to your maiestie of late which doeth signifie our wants more at large Likewise it is needefull that your maiestie should send powder and match to furnish these forts And likewise to send money to pay those souldiers which are newly come hither for that companie of souldiers which were sent from Mexico to this place For it behooueth your maiestie not to haue them as yet left till such time as the defences about the forts bee finished and that which is in building vpon the hill which will be ended very shortly if you send the Negros and yron tooles Likewise I haue certified your maiestie that with all speed I am making ready of the fiue Frigates that they may cary all the treasure Also Iohn de Orimo seeing that it is of so great importance to haue them dispatched doeth furnish mee with some money although somewhat scantly vntill such time as your maiestie doth send him some order therefore I beseech you to command it to bee done considering the great charges and expences that we are at here as by the accounts your Maiestie shall more at large perceiue what hath bene spent These Frigats will be made an end of without all doubt by the moneth of Februarie but as yet their tackling and sayles are not here arriued but I doe stay the comming thereof euery day according as the Duke of Medina and Iohn de Ibarra haue written vnto me that those ships which should bring the same were readie to depart from thence All these things it behooueth your Maiestie to send in time for I can assure your Maiestie that you shall not haue vpon the sea such good sâ—ippes as these are For as touching the othee ships of the fleete which are in this harbour it is not conuenient to venture the siluer in them This counsell your Maiestie shall not take of mee for I am a souldier and haue but small skill in nauigation But euery day it is tolde me openly and in secret by many of the pilots captaines masters and mariners As touching the copper I haue put it in practise twise more and haue made proofe thereof wherein there hath bene more spent then I was willing there should haue bene because I haue gotten no fruit thereof I know not the cause but that it is not done effectually by those that haue the working thereof Therefore I beseech your Maiestie to send me that same sounder which I wrote to your Maiestie heretofore of Our Lord keepe your Maiestie many yeeres From Hauana the 20 of October 1590. Your Maiesties seruant whose royall feete I kisse IOHN DE TREXEDA gouernour of Hauana A letter sent to Don Petro de Xibar one of his Maiesties priuie Counsel of the West Indies from Don Diego Mendez de Valdes Gouernour of S. Iuan de Puerto Rico the 20 of Nouember 1590 touching the state of that Citie and Island I Recieued your honours letter the 20 of Februarie whereby I receiued great content to heare that your honour is in good health As touching the imprisonment of our cousin Don Pedro de Valdes it doeth grieue me to the very soule I beseech God to send him his libertie and likewise the imprisonment of Diego Flores de Valdes grieueth me very much I pray God to send good iustice The M. of the fielde Iuan de Texela and the M. workeman Iuan Baptista Antonio arriued here in safetie and haue veiwed this Citie with all the circuite round about and the situation as I haue informed his maiestie thereof They haue marked a place to build a strong Fort whereat the countrey remaineth very well contente And it standeth in a good situation and in a conuâ—nient place on a high mount which doeth lye vpon the entering in of the Harbour so cutteth ouer to a point of land leauing in the Fort as much space as wil containe 3000 persons without ioyning thereunto any part of the coast So the M. del campo hath named the fort Citadella He left me great store of yron worke tooles eight workemen and 200 Negros which are the kings And the Island doth finde 400 pioners which are continually at worke His maiestie hath sent me a warrant to spend the prouision of the Island to take those rents which his maiesty hath here to certifie his maiestie what there is wanting for the maintaining of the workmen that they may haue all things necessary So I haue sent to Nueua Espanna for such things as are here wanting I haue writteÌ„ to the M. of the field which is gone to Hauana informing
with the bulles or indulgences Our Lord keepe your maiesty many yeres in his holy seruice From the city de los Reyes the first of March 1590. Frier Alonso bishop of Mechuacan A letter of Don Iohn de Miramontes Suasola to Don Iohn Garcias de Penalosa from Arica on the coast of Peru the tenth of March 1590. AFter my long trauell and badde successe my fortune brought mee to the Indies where being void of all hope and full of griefe I am become a souldier a thing in this countrey which is most hated of all other things not onely of men but of the wilde beasts and is an occupation which is chosen of idle persons The occasion of this is that there haue bene in these seas and yet are certâ—ine English rouers and in seeking of them I haue trauelled these three yeres the one of the yeres a souldier and the other two yeeres I haue gone for captaine and ensigne-bearer And at this time here is arriued Don Garcias Vrtado de Mendoça viceroy of these realmes who hath chosen me to be chiefe ensigne-bearer of an army which departed from hence to scoure the coast For here we haue newes of the enemy which is comming vpon the coast for wee haue stayed for their comming these foure moneths the same way which they must come in a hauen called Arica which is the first entry of Peru. So I haue 90 pezos a moneth besides other profits at nine reals the pezo foure shares at nine reals the pezo So that I haue 1800 pezos euery yere of pay for the viceroy is my dere friend and maketh great account of me And I haue alwayes 400 ducats in my chest to goe like a man I beseech God send vs quietnesse But yet it is the part of a gentleman to serue the king his master in these actions And thus I rest From the harbour of Arica the tenth of March 1590. I kisse your worships hands and am at your commandâ—ment Don Iohn de Miramontes Suasola There are foure great galeons of 350 tunnes a piece which are in Arica men of warre with a Generall Admirall Uiceadmirall with great store of souldiers which keâ—pe this hauen for the viceroy hath intelligence that there are certeine Englishmen of war comming thither This hauen of Arica is the best harbour in all the South sea for all the siluer which commeth from the mines of Potossi is shipt in this harbour and so brought to Lima. And likewise all the commodities which come from Spaine and all the kings quicksiluer is vnladen in this harbour and so caried to the city of Lima and other places where the mines of siluer are A letter of the Licenciate Christopher Vslano to Gonsaluo de Solana in in the city of Encisa in Spaine written from the city of Potossi in Peru the 20 of Iuly 1590 touching a great plague in Peru and the shortnesse of the pasâ—age from the riuer of Plate into Potossi in Peru. THe last yeere 1588 I receiued letters from your worship and from my sister and since that time I haue receiued none nor in the fleet which came to Cartagena 1589. And this yere 1590 there hath bene great want of corne in this kingdome of Potossi for that there hath beene no raine in this kingdome of long time For in March the husbandmen vse to â—owe their corne and in Aprill Winter doth begin And it in April there be no raine the corne which is sowen will consume away and â—o sor want to raine we haue had two badde yeres of corne And likewise here hath bene in these countreys of Potossi and in the city De la paz great sicknesse among the Indians Mullatos and Mestiços called the small pocks and a certeine plague which hath destroyed all this countrey And there haue no olde people diâ—d nor Spanyards but onely this countrey people from one yeere to 30 yeeres of age so for want of Indians we can not worke in the mines This sicknesse runneth al along the coast of Peru and hath passed into the streights of Magalianes whencâ— we hauâ— nâ—wes that those souldiers which were sent from Spain thither to build those forts are most of them dead especially the workemen which came to make the forts The Generall Don Diego de Abolos hath written to his maiesty to send more souldiers and more workâ—men whereby these three sorts might be builded according to the kings commandâ—mâ—nt This sicknesse câ—me first from Cartagena to this countrey which is 1000 leagues distant and as I sayd it hath gone all Peru ouer to the vtter vndoing of this countrey I pray God to câ—ase it I pray you when you write any letters to mee send them in those shippes which come to Sainct Thomé and take in Negâ—â—s And there are great store of ships which goe to Sainct Thomé for Negros and it is but 15. dayes sailing ouer a gulfe to Brasill And from Brasill their shippes bring their Negros to a hauâ—n called The hauen of Buenos Aeres which is within the entrance of the mightie riuer of Plate And from this harbour all kinde of Spanish and Portugall commodities are caried to this citie of Potossi in carts and on horses for it is but 10. or 12. dayes iourney and the countrey is very plaine for carts to trauaile And from Potossi to this harbour is great store of treasure brought to buy that countrey commodities and so they are shipped for Portugall and the ships go and come againe in short time If his maiestie will consent that we may haue traffique from Spaine to this harbour it will be very profitable and in fiue or sixe moneths I shall heare from you you shall doe the like from me And by the way of Cartagena it is sometime 2. yeres before we can receiue your letters from Spaine By this way my brother may write and so by this meane the lettâ—rs may speedily come to my hand And thus I rest From this citie of Potossi the 20. of Iuly 1590. The Licenciate CHRISTOPHER VSLANO A letter of Steuen de Tresio to Alonso Martines Vaca in Siuil from Panama the 21. of August 1590. touching the kings desire to borrow money vpon priuie seales and the want of the countrey IT may please your worship to vnderstand that I haue receiued a packet of letters from you wherein you write vnto me of the great miseries and the calamities of Spaine And I promise you that these countreys are in no lesse For here is great want of corne and other kind of prouision for here is almost none to be had for any money by reason that from Lima there is no shipping come with maiz Here wee haue had newes from Spaine of the great prouisioÌ„ which is making ready for those great wars which his maiestie is in preparing of the great sinns of money that his maiestie standeth in neede of So that it doth put vs all that are dwellers here
times with all their ships yet would they not set againe vpon vs and those of our men which were farthest off cryâ—d to them â—maine being both within shot of artillerie muskets and caliuers whereby they receiued euident hurt by vs They plyed their great ordinance according to their manner and especially their Uâ—ceadmirall and seeing our resolution how sharpe we were bent towards them they with all expedition and speedâ— possible prepared to flieâ— way hoysing sailes and leâ—uing their boates for haite in the sea but I followed them with nine ships all the night following and with foure more the next day till I made thâ—m double the Cape of S. Antonie and to take the course towards the Câ—anell of Bahama according to the instructions from his Maiestie It little auailed vs to be seene with lesse number of ships neither yet all the diligence we could vse could câ—use them to stay or come neere vs nor to shoot off one harquebuze or peece of artillerie for they fled away as fast as they could and their shippes wâ—re halfe diminished and that the best part of them the cost they repaired in Puerto Bello whereas they were about fortie dayes and so by that meanes they were all wâ—ll repayred and our shippes were very soule because the time would not peâ—mit vs to â—rim them I haue sayled 2 moneths and a halfe in the Admirall since we departed from Cartagena we haue not repaired their pumpes nor clensed them and the same day I departed tâ—enâ—e there câ—me vnto me a small Pinnesse in the like distresse our Uiceadmirall and the rest of our ships haue the like impediment but no great hinderance vnto vs for ought I could perceiue by our enemies It is manifest what aduantage they had of vs and by no meanes was it possible for vs to take them vnlesseâ— we could haue come to haue found them at an anker Neuerthelesse they left vs one good shippe behinde for our share well manned which tolde me that Drake died in Nombre de Dios and that they haue made for Generall of the English fleete the Colonel Quebraran and also by meanes of the small time being straightly followed by vs they had no opportunitie to take either water wood or flesh and they are also in such bad case that I know not how they will be able to arriue in England The number of men we haue taken are about an hundred and fortie and fifteene noble captaines of their best sort and some of them rich as well may appeare by their behauiour I haue no other thing to write at this time Our Lord keepe you who best can and as I desire From Hauaua the 30 of March 1596. DON BERNALDINO DELGADILLO DE AVELLANEDA THe Licenciat Don Iohn Bermudes of Figueroa Lieutenant of the Assistants of the citie of Siuill and the Prouince thereof who doth supply the office of the Assistant in the absence of the Right honourable the Earle of Priego giueth licence to Roderigo de Cabriera to imprint the Relation of the death of Francis Drake which onely he may do for two moneths and no other to imprint the same within the said terme vpon paine of tenne thousand Marauedis for his Maiesties chamber Giuen in Siuill the 15 of May 1596. The Licenciat Don Iohn Bermudes of Figueroa By his Assigne Gregorie Gutierez Notarie THis letter of the Generall Don Bernaldino sent into Spaine declaring the death of Sir Francis Drake and their supposed victorie was altogether receiued for an vndoubted trueth and so pleasing was this newes vnto the Spaniarde that there was present commandement giuen to publish the letter in print that all the people of Spaine might be pertakers of this common ioy the which letter printed in Siuill bearing date the 15 of May 1596 came to the hands of Henrie Sauile Esquire who being employed in that seruice for the West Indies and Captaine of her Maiesties good shippe the Aduenture vnder the conduct of sir Francis Drake and sir Iohn Hawkins hath caused the said printed letter to be translated into English And that the impudencie of the Spanish Generall may the more plainely appeare the sayde Henrie Sauile doth answere particularly to euery vntrueth in the same letter contayned as hereafter followeth The answere to the Spanish letter First the Generall doth say that Francis Drake died at Nombre de Dios as he had intelligence by an Indian THe Generall sent this newes into his countrey confirmed with his hand and seale of Armes It is the first newes in his letter and it was the best newes that he could send into Spaine For it did ease the stomackes of the timorous Spaniards greatly to heare of the death of him whose life was a scourge and continuall plague vnto them But it was a point of great simplicitie and scarcely befeeming a Generall to tie the credite of his report locally to any place vpon the report of a silly Indian slaue For it had bene sufficient to haue sayd that Francis Drake was certainly dead without publishing the lie in print by naming Nombre de Dios for it is most certaine sir Francis Drake died twixt the Iland of Escudo and Puerto Bello but the Generall being rauished with the suddaine ioy of this report as a man that hath escaped a great danger of the enemie doth breake out into an insolent kinde of bragging of his valour at Sea and heaping one lie vpon another doth not cease vntill he hath drawen them into sequences and so doth commende them vnto Peter the Doctor as censor of his learned worke Secondly The Generall doth write vnto the Doctor that Francis Drake died for very griefe that he had lost so many barkes and men A Thing very strange that the Generall or the Indian whom hee doth vouch for his lie should haue such speculation in the bodie of him whom they neuer saw as to deliuer for truth vnto his countrie the very cause or disease whereof hee died and this second report of his is more grosse then the first For admit the mistaking of the place might be tollerable notwithstanding this precise affirming the cause of his death doth manifestly prooue that the Generall doth make no conscience to lie And as concerning the losse of any Barkes or men in our Nauie by the valour of the Spaniard before Sir Francis Drake his death we had none one small Pinnesse excepted which we assuredly know was taken by chance falling single into a fleete of fiue Frigates of which was Generall Don Pedro Telio neere vnto the Iland of Dominica and not by the valour Don Bernaldino the which fiue Frigates of the kings afterwardes had but ill successe for one of them we burnt in the harbour of S. Iuan de Puerto rico and one other was sunke in the same harbour and the other three were burnt amongst many other shippes at the taking of Cadiz This I thinke in wise mens iudgements will seeme a silly cause to make
our pilot withall for being naturall of those riuers we assured our selues hee knew the way better then any stranger could And indeed but for this chance I thinke we had neuer found the way either to Guiana or backe to our ships for Ferdinando after a few dayes knew nothing at all nor which way to turne yea and many times the old man himselfe was in great doubt which riuer to take Those people which dwell in these broken islands and drownâ—d lands are generally called Tiuitiuas there are of them two sorts the one called Ciawani and the other Waraweete The great riuer of Orenoque or Baraquan hath nine branches which fall out on the North side of his owne maine mouth on the South side it hâ—th seuen other fallings into the sea so it disâ—mbâ—queth by sixteâ—ne armes in all betweene Ilands and brokâ—n ground but the Ilands are very great many of them as bigge as the Isle of Wight and bigger and many lesse Fâ—om the first branch on the North to the last of the South it is at least 100 lâ—agues so as the riuers mouth is 300 miles wide at his entrance into the sea which I take to be farre bigger then that of Amazones All those that inhabit in the mouth of this riuer vpon the seuerall North branches are these Tiuitiuas of which there are two chiefe lords which haue continuall warres one with the other The Ilands which lie on the right hand are called Pallamos and the land on the left Horotomaka and the riuer by which Iohn Dowglas returned within the land from Amana to Capuri they call Macuti These Tiuitiuas are a very goodly people and very valiant and haue the most manly speech and most deliberate that â—uer I heard of what nation soeuer In the Summer they haue houses on the ground as in other places in the Winter they dwell vpon the trees where they build very artificiall townes and villages as it is written in the Spanish story of the Weâ—t Indies that those people do in the low lands nere the gulfe of Vâ—aba for betweâ—ne May September the riuer of Orenoque riseth thirty foot vpright and then are those ilands ouerflowen twenty foot high aboue the leuell of the ground sauing sâ—me few raised grounds in the middle of them and for this cause they are inforced to liue in this maner They neuer eat of any thing that is set or sowen and as at home they vse neither planting nor other manurance so when they come abroad they refuse to feed of ought but of that which nature without labour bringeth â—orth They vse the tops of Palmitos for bread and kill deere fish and porks for the rest of their sustenance They haue also many sorts of fruits that grow in the woods and great variety of birds and fowle And if to speake of them were not tedious and vulgar surely we saw in thâ—se passagâ—s of very rare colours and formes not elsewerâ— to be found for as much as I haue either seene or read Of these people those that dwell vpon the branâ—hes of Orenoque called Capuri and Macurâ—o are for the most part carpenters of canoas for they make the most and fairest canoas and sel them into Guiana for golde and into Trinidad for tabacco in the â—xcessiue taking whereof they exceed all natâ—ons and notwithstanding the mâ—istnesse of the aire in which they liue the hardnesse of their diet and the great labours they suffer to hunt fish and fâ—wle for their liuâ—ng in all my life either in the Indies or in Europe did I nâ—uâ—r bâ—hold a more goodly or better fauâ—urâ—d pâ—â—ple or a more manly They werâ— woont to make warre vpon all nations and especially on the Canibals so as none durst without a good strâ—ngth trade by those riuâ—rs but of late they are at peace with their neighbours all holding the Spaniards for a common enemy When their commandâ—rs die they vse greâ—t lamentation and when they thinke tâ—e flesh of their bodies is putrified and fallen from the boâ—es then they take vp the caâ—case againe and hang it in the caciques house that died and dâ—â—ke his scull wâ—th feathers of all colours and hang all his golde plates about the bones of his armes thighs and legs Thosâ— natiâ—ns which are callâ—d Aâ—wacas which dwell on the South of Orenoque of whâ—â—h place and nation â—ur Indian pilot was are disperâ—ed in many other places and doe vse to bâ— at the bones of their lords into â—owder and their wiues and friends drinke it all in their seuerall sorts of drinks After we departed from the port of these Ciawani wee passed vp the riuer with the flood and ankered the ebbe and in this sort we wâ—nt onward Thâ— third day that we â—ntred the riuer our galley came on ground and slucke so fast as we tâ—ought that â—uen there â—ur discâ—uery had ended and that we must haue left fourescâ—re and ten of our men to hâ—ue iâ—haâ—ited like râ—oks vpâ—n trees with those nations but the next morning after we had cast out all her â—allast with tugging and halling to and fro we got her aflote and went on At fouâ—e dâ—yâ—s â—nd wee fell into as gâ—odly a riuer as euâ—r I beheld which was called The great Amana which râ—nne mâ—re dirâ—ctly withâ—ut windings and turnings then the other but soonâ— after the flood of the sea left vs and bâ—ing inforced eitâ—er by maine strength to row against a violent current or to returne aâ— wisâ— as we went out we had then no shift but to perswade the companies that it was bâ—t two or threâ— dayeâ— wâ—rke and therefore desired them to take paines euâ—ry gentleman others taking their turnes to row and to spell â—ne the other at the houres end Euâ—ry day we passed by goodly branches of riuers some falling from the West otheâ—s froÌ„ the East into Amana but thosâ— I leaue to the dâ—scription in the Cart of discouery where euery one shal be namâ—d with his rising and dâ—scent When three dayes more were ouergone our companies began to despaire the weather being extreamâ— hote the riuer bordered with very high trees that kept away the aire and the current against vs â—uery day strongâ—r thâ—n othâ—r but we euermore commanded our pilots to promise an ende the next day and vsed it so long as we were driuen to assure them from foure reaches of the riuer to three and so to two and so to the next reach but so long we laboured that many dayes were spent and wee driuen to drawe our selues to harder allowance our bread euen at the last and no drinke at all and our men and our selues so wearied and scorched and doubtfull withall whether wee should euer performe it or no the heat increasing as we drew towards the line for wee were now in fiue degrees The further we went on our victuall decreasing and the aire breeding great faintnesse wee grâ—w weaker and weaker when wee had most need of
receiue or deliuer vnto others opinions grounded vpon no plaine and manifest places of Scripture for certainties and trueths Deut. 4. and 12. Esay 8. Matth. 27. 2. Tim. 3. Further also that commendation wherewith Munster and Krantzius doe grace the Islanders is meerly contrary to Christian religion namely that they make al one reckoning of their whelps and of their children But more of this matter anone in the 7. section So therefore Munster disagreeth with himselfe whereas those whom he affirmeth to be Christians afterward he maketh to be master-builders of hell Also Krantzius and Munster both together when as those whom they affirme to be engraffed by faith into Christ they exempt from all sense of pietie and honesty in that they write that their sonnes are not dearer vnto them then their whelpes But to returne to the matter In very deed we haue no great thing to say concerning our religion what or of what sort it was when Gentilisme was first put to flight No more I thinke haue other Northern nations neere vnto vs to say concerning y e beginning of their faith For alas we must needs confesse bewaile with deepe sighes that vntill that day which shined vnto vs like the beginning of immortalitie brought vnto vs the pure doctrine of the gospel our countrymen as likewise other churches of the North were ouer-spred with more then Cimmerian darkenesse But we may iustly and religiously thinke thus much that among vs and our neighbors of Norway for I wil not range out of my bounds nor affirme any thing of vnknowen people after heathenish idolatry was rooted out Christian faith religion did florish far more sincere and simple as being lesse infected with the poison of poperie at that time then afterward when as the pestiferous leauen of the see of Rome being augmented the contagious mischiefe growing ripe the poison thereof was dispersed through y e whole world for as it shal afterward appeare Island embraced Christ many yeeres before the new idolatry of the papists began to preuaile and did sound foorth nothing but faith in God the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost like vnto those two most renoumed kings of Norway who as they had one common name so had they one common care and profession to aduance the gospel of Christ. I meane Olaus the sonne of Thryggo who was borne in the yeere of Christ 968. attaining to the kingdom of Norway in the 27. yeere of his age and was the first as we haue heard that offred Christ vnto the Norwegians ouer whom hee reigned fiue yeeres and another of that name called Olaus Sanctus the sonne of Harald who in the yeere of Christ 1013. or thereabout gouerned with more seueritie for the space of 17. yeeres did boldly deliuer the doctrine of Christ. In the yere of Christ 1030. being vniustly slaine by wicked murtherers he shed his blood for y e name of Christ in a town of Norway called Sticfla Stodum Our countrey also had among many other one man of excellent pietie whose name was Nialus who about the yeere of Christ 1000. liued in the village of Berthorsbuol situate in the parish of Island called Landehum who also for his experience in humane affaires for his great wisedome and sage counsell was accompted famous For whereas in his time Island was turmoiled with many fierce mutinies the inhabitants being in subiection to no superiour magistrate he intermedled not in any quarels sauing that by his discreet vertue diligence hee set through and brought to composition a great number hee neuer did nor suffered violence but onely vpon the last day of his life So carefully auoyded he al seditions and strifes and gaue good assistance to others who were desirous also to auoyd and escape them neither did any man euer put in practise his counsel but it turned to his especiall good nor euer any did swerue therefrom but with the danger of his life and possessions The wordes or rather the oracles that came from him were so certaine that it was wonderful from whence any man should haue so great and so sure forecast and counsell of things to come as was found to be in him Whereupon his discreet and prouident wisedome ioyned with counsell became a prouerbe amongst vs Nials byta raden That is to say the counsel of Nialus or the thing is done or succeedeth by Nialus his counsel when any busines was atchieued prudently and with admirable discretion This man when for a slaughter committed by his sonne without his knowledge he was in his owne house beset with a 100. men who had conspired his death and when his enemies began on all sides to set his house on fire seeing his ende approch at length he brake into these words Doubtlesse these things happen by fate that is by the will of God Howbeit I put my hope and confidence in Christ that we meaning his wife and himselfe although this our fraile body shal vndergoe the corruption of death in the fire of our enemies yet that it shal be deliuered from eternal flames And so in the midst of these voyces and in the fury of the flames he with his wife and the manslayer his sonne in the yere of Christ 1010. ended his life A voyce vndoubtedly full well beseeming the sonnes of God arguing the notable comfort of his soule amidst the very pangs of death I therefore added those things to shew by what reason I was moued to thinke that in the very beginning of Christianitie receiued amongst vs mens minds were not so beguiled and ouerwhelmed in the darkenes of errors as of late a little before these our times they haue bene But after the Lord God by Luther and Luthers fellow-labourers in the vineyard of the Lord and by his godly successours did make the doctrine of saluation more manifest and shaking off the heauie slothe and thicke miste of our minds by the finger of his right hand that is by his holy Spirit Matth. 12. v. 28. did plucke the eares of our hearts and opened our eyes that we might behold his sauing health We all and euery of vs do beleeue and confesse that God is a spirit Iohn 4. v. 24. eternal Esay 40. v. 28. infinite Iere. 23. v. 24. Psal. 139. v. 7.8.9 most good Matth. 19. v. 17. almighty Gen. 17. 1. Reuel 1.8 one in being and nature one in prouidence one in the making and gouerning of all things Deut. 6.5 Ephe. 4.5 But distinguished by the persons of the Godhead and their properties the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Matth. 28. 19. 3.17 God the Father the first person of the Godhead creator of heauen and earth and all other things Gen. 1. v. 1. and in those that folow the vpholder gouernor of all Psa. 115.3 Heb. 1.3 Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Psal. 2,7 and verses following and our Father through him Rom. 8. 15. keeper of our soules and bodies Luke 12.12 And that
Iesus Christ the second person of the Godhead is the sonne of God the Father Iohn 1.18 c. onely begotten Iohn 1.29 Heb. 1.2 equal to his Father 1. Chro. 17.13 Ioh. 1. 1. true God Iohn 1.2 c. foreappointed before the creation of all things 1. Pet. 1.20 Reuel 13.8 c. and presently after mans fall promised to be the Messias Gene. 3.15 c. published eftsoones vnto the holy Patriarches as vnto Abraham Gen. 12. 3. c. vnto Isaac Gen 26.4 vnto Iacob Gene. 28.14 and confirmed by promises Gen. 49.9 Esa. 11.1,10 prefigured by y e sacrifices of Moses Leu. 1.2 c. and by other types as namely by the offering of Isaac Gen. 22. by the lifting vp of the brasen serpent Num. 21. by Ionas Ionas 2. c. proclaimed by the testimony of the Prophets Esa. 7.14 and at length in the fulnesse of time truely exhibited true man Iohn 1.14 c. Gal. 4. that he died for our sinnes and was raised againe for our iustification Rom. 4.25 c. Ascending into heauen Acts 1.9 c. and making intercession for vs at the right hand of his Father without ceasing 1. Iohn 2.1 c. by his holy Spirit which is the thirde person of the Godhead coequall and consubstantial to the Father and the Sonne Acts. 5. 4. gathering the Church to himselfe by the Word and Sacraments Matth. 16.18 Rom. 10.14 c. and sanctifying it to eternal life Acts. 9.31 c. And that one day at the end of the world he will come from heauen Acts. 1.11 to iudge the quicke and the dead 1. Thessal 4.15 that he will render vnto the wicked according to their workeâ— and that he wil iudge them to eternal paines Matth. 13.42 25.4 but that he wil reward them with eternal life who beleeue in his Name Matth. 25.34 This Iesus Christ I say wee acknowledge to be our redeemer Matth. 1.21 our head 1. Corinth 12.27 and our Lord Ephe. 4.5 And that wee in our holy baptisme do giue and haue giuen our names vnto him Acts. 2.38 and that we are engraffed into him by baptisme 1. Corin. 12.13 And this we do plainely ingenuously freely and willingly confesse and witnesse And as for all others who inuent any other name in heauen giuen vnto men by which they may be saued we doe earnestly detest curse and condemne them Acts. 4.12 We holde his most holy Word to be the onely rule of our saluation And that alone all mans deuises being cast away and contemned we propound vnto our selues as an infallible rule and leuel of our faith Galat. 1.8 Esai 29.13 Ezech. 20. which we conteine vnder the name of the olde and newe Testament Hebr. 8. deliuered by the Prophets and Apostles Ephe. 2.20 by the singular and infinite goodnesse of God preserued euer vnto this day and to be preserued hereafter alwayes in the Church Matth. 28. last verse Psal. 71.18.1 Cor. 11.26 Therefore we render thankes vnto our most gratious and Almighty God from our soule and from our whole heart because that euen vnto vs being separated an huge distance from the rest of the body of his Church and inhabiting the farthest parts of the world hee would that this light graunted for the reuelation of the Gentiles and prepared before the face of all people and in olde time fauourably shewed to holy Simeon for in Christ are all the treasures of wisedome hidden which now doeth enlighten and cherish with the sauing beames thereof our whole nation that hee would I say this light should come vnto vs. This in briefe running ouer the very summe is our faith and our Religion which by the direction of the holy Spirit and of his Ministers in the vineyard of Christ we haue drawen and that out of the fountaines of Israel In the yeere of our Lord 1070. saw the Islanders conuerted vnto Christ c. IT is doubtful vnto vs whether in these words Kranzius would haue said that y e Islanders were first conuerted vnto Christ in the yeere of our Lord 1070 or whether he doth not deny that they were indeed before conuerted but saith that it was knowne first vnto Adalbert that yeere But whethersoeuer of these he affirmeth notwithstanding the yerely records and most auncient Chronicles of our nation testifying the contrary do make his credite to be suspected in this place vnto which records and Chronicles whether you had rather giue assent concerning our owne proper and domestical affaires done within the bounds of our Island or to Krantzius or any other being ignorant in the story of our countrey I appeale friendly reader vnto your owne discretion For my part I am enforced by many reasons to agree rather vnto our owne writers For our countreymen affirme those things onely that be knowen and in a maner domesticall he writeth matters forreine and vnknowen they haue compiled their histories without the diffaming disgracing or reprehending of any other nations onely that they might assigne vnto their owne acts and exploits the true time or age thereof he hath intermedled in his historie certaine things contrary to the trueth and that to the vpbraiding of our nation being most vnknowen vnto him as it shall immediatly appeare they describe the names yeres order succession of all the Bishops of Island he mentioneth onely one that farre otherwise then the trueth Furthermore that I may make good the credite of our Countreymen I wil impart with strangers a fewe things which I found in our most ancient records of the conuersion of Island vnto Christ and of the succession of Bishops in our Churches Which although they be of litle moment and not altogether worthy to be written yet must they of necessitie bee set downe for the defence of the trueth of our affaires against Krantzius and others Thus therefore standeth the certeintie thereof In the yeere of Christ 874. Island being indeed discouered before that time as is aboue mentioned was then first of all inhabited by certaine Noruagians Their chiefetaine was one Ingulphus from whose name the East cape of Island is called Ingulffs hoffdi These planters are reckoned vp by name in our recordes more then to the number of 400. together with those of their blood and kinred and great families besides neither onely is their number described but it is also plainely set downe what coasts what shores and what in-land places eche of them did occupie and inhabite and what names the first inhabitants did giue vnto Streights bayes harboroughs necklands creekes capes rockes cragges mountaines hilles valleys homockes springs floods riuers And to be short what names they gaue vnto their graunges or houses whereof many at this day are reteined and vsed Therefore the Norwayes with their company peopled all the habitable parts of Island now occupied by them for the space of 60. yeeres or thereabout but they remayned Ethnickes almost a 100. yeres except a very few which were baptised in Norwaie But scarce a 100. yeres from