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
see all the solemnitie The Emperor comming out of his Pallace there went before him the Metropolitan Archbishops Bishops and chiefest Monkes and Clergie men with very rich Copes and Priestes garments vpon them carying pictures of our Ladie c. with the Emperours Angell banners censers and many other such ceremonious things singing all the way The Emperour with his nobilitie in order entred the Church named Blaueshina or Blessednes where prayers and seruice were vsed according to the maner of their Church that doâ—e they went thence to the Church called Michael the Archangell and there also vsed the like prayers and seruice and from thence to our Lady Church Prechista being their Cathedrall Church In the middest thereof was a chaire of maiestie placed wherein his Auncestors vsed to sit at such extraordinarie times his robes were then changed and most rich and vnualuable garments put on him being placed in this Princely seate his nobility standing round about him in their degres his imperiall Crowne was set vpon his head by the Metropolitane his Scepter globe in his right hand his sword of Iustice in his left of great riches his 6. Crownes also by which he holdeth his kingdomes were set before him and the Lord Boris Pheodorowich was placed at his right hand then the Metropolitan read openly a booke of a small volume with exhortations to the Emperour to minister true Iustice to inioy with tranquilitie the Crowne of his auncestors which God had giuen him and vsed these words following Through the will of the almighty without beginning God which was before this world whom we glorifie in the Trinitie one onely God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost maker of all things worker of all in all euery where fulfiller of all things by which will and working he both liueth and giueth life to man that our only God which enspireth euery one of vs his only children with his word to discerne God through our Lord Iesus Christ and the holy quickning spirit of life now in these perilous times establish vs to keep the right Scepter and suffer vs to raigne of our selues to the good profit of the land to the subduing of the people together with the enemies the maintenance of vertue And so the Metropolitaâ— blessed and layd his crosse vpon him After this he was taken out of his chaire of Maiestie hauing vpon him an vpper robe adorned with precious stones of all sorts orient pearles of great quantitie but alwayes augmented in riches it was in waight two hundred pounds the traine and parts thereof borne vp by 6. Dukes his chiefe imperiall Crowne vpon his head very precious his staffe imperiall in his right hand of an vnicornes horne of three foot and a halfe in length beset with rich stones bought of Merchants of Ausburge by the old Emperour in An. 1581. and cost him 7000. Markes sterling This Iewel M. Horsey kept sometimes before the Emperor had it His scepter globe was caried before him by the prince Boris Pheodorowich his rich cap beset with rich stones and pearles was caried before him by a Duke his 6. Crownes also were caried by Demetrius Iuanowich Godonoua the Emperors vncle Mekita Romanowich the Emperors vncle Stephan Vasiliwich Gregory Vasiliwich Iuan Vasiliwich brothers of the blood royal Thus at last the Emperor came to the great Church doore and the people cried God saue our Emperour Pheodor Iuanowich of al Russia His horse was there ready most richly adorned with a couering of imbrodered pearle and precious stones saddle and all furniture agreeable to it reported to be worth 300000 markes sterling There was a bridge made of 150. fadome in length three maner of waies three foote aboue ground and two fadome broad for him to goe from one Church to the other with his Princes and nobles from the presse of the people which were in number infinite and some at that time pressed to death with the throng As the Emperour returned out of the Churches they were spred vnder foot with cloth of gold the porches of the Churches with red velvet the bridges with scarlet and stammell cloth from one church to another and as soone as the Emperor was passed by the cloth of gold veluet and scarlet was cut and taken of those that could come by it euery man desirous to haue a piece to reserue it for a monument siluer and gold coyne then mynted of purpose was cast among the people in great quantitie The lord Boris Pheodorowich was sumptuously and richly attired with his garments decked with great orient pearle beset with al sorts of precious stones In like rich maner were appareled all the family of the Godonouaes in their degrees with the rest of the princes and nobilitie whereof one named Knez Iuan Michalowich Glynsky whose robe horse and furniture was in register found worth one hundred thousand markes sterling being of great antiquitie The Empresse being in her pallace was placed in her chaire of Maiesty also before a great open window most precious and rich were her robes and shining to behold with rich stones and orient pearle beset her crowne was placed vpon her head accompanied with her Princesses and Ladies of estate then cried out the people God preserue our noble Empresse Irenia After all this the Emperour came into the Parliament house which was richly decked there he was placed in his royall seat adorned as before his 6. crownes were set before him vpon a table the basin and ewer royall of gold held by his knight of gard with his men standing two on each side in white apparell of cloth of siluer called Kindâ—y with scepters and battle axes of gold in their hands the Princes and nobilitie were all placed according to their degrees all in their rich roabs The Emperour after a short oration permitted euery man in order to kisse his hande which being done he remoued to a princely seate prepared for him at the table where he was serued by his nobles in very princely order The three out roomes being very great and large were beset with plate of golde and siluer round from the ground vp to the vaâ—ts oâ—e vpon the other among which plate were many barrels of siluer and golde this solemnitie and triumph lasted a whole weeke wherein many royall pastimes were shewed and vsed after which the chiefest men of the nobilitie were elected to their places of office dignitie as the Prince Boris Pheodorowich was made chiefe Counseller to the Emperor Master of the horse had the charge of his person Liuetenant of the Empire and Warlike engins Gouernor or Liuetenant of the Empire of Cazan and Astracan and others to this dignitie were by Parliament and gift of the Emperor giuen him many reuenues and rich lands as there was giuen him and his for euer to inherite a prouince called Vaga of 300. English miles in length and 250. in bredth with many townes and great villages populous and wealthy his yeerely reuenue out of that
princes There came also Ambassadors from the Emperor of Almaine the Pole the Swethen the Dane c. And since his coronation no enemie of his hath preuailed in his attempts It fell out not long after that the Emperor was desirous to send a message to the most excellent Queene of England for which seruice he thought no man fitter than M. Ierome Horsey supposing that one of the Queenes owne men and subiects would be the more acceptable to her The summe of which message was that the Emperor desired a continuance of that league friendship amitie and intercourse of traffique which was betweene his father and the Queens maiestie and her subiects with other priuate affaires besides which are not to be made common Master Horsey hauing receiued the letters and requests of the Emperour prouided for his iourney ouer land and departed from Mosco the fift day of September thence vnto Otuer to Torshook to great Nouogrod to Vobsky and thence to Nyhouse in Liuonia to Wenden and so to Riga where he was beset and brought foorthwith before a Cardinall called Rageuil but yet suffred to passe in the end From thence to Mito to Golden and Libou in Curland to Memel to Koningsburgh in Prussia to Elbing to Dantzike to Stetine in Pomerland to Rostock to Lubeck to Hamborough to Breme to Emden and by sea to London Being arriued at her maiesties roiall court and hauing deliuered the Emperors letters with good fauour and gracious acceptance he was foorthwith againe commaunded to repasse into Ruffia with other letters from her maiestie to the Emperor and prince Boris Pheodorowich answering the Emperors letters and withall requesting the fauour and friendship which his father had yeelded to the English merchants and hereunto was he earnestly also solicited by the merchants of London themselues of that company to deale in their behalfe Being thus dispatched from London by sea he arriued in Mosco the 20. of April 1586. and was very honorably welcommed And for y t merchants behoofe obtained all his requests being therein specially fauoured by y e noble prince Boris Pheodorowich who alwayes affected M. Horsey with speciall liking And hauing obtained priuiledges for the merchants he was recommended from the Emperor againe to the Queene of England his mistresse by whom the prince Boris in token of his honorable and good opinion of the Queens maiestie sent her highnesse a roiall present of Sables Luzarns cloth of gold and other rich things So that the Companie of English merchants next to their thankfulnes to her maiestie are to account M. Horseis paines their speciall benefit who obtained for them those priuileges which in twentie yeeres before would not be granted The maner of M. Horseis last dispatch from the Emperor because it was very honorable I thought good to record He was freely allowed post horses for him and his seruants victuals and all other necessaries for his long iourney at euery towne that he came vnto from Mosco to Vologda which is by land fiue hundred miles he receiued the like free and bountifull allowances at the Emperors charge New victuall and prouision were giuen him vpon the riuer Dwina at euery towne by the kings officers being one thousand miles in length When he came to the new castle called Archangel he was receiued of the Duke Knez Vasili Andrewich Isuenogorodsky by the Emperors commission into the Castle gunners being set in rankes after their vse where he was sumptuously feasted from thence hee was dispatched with bonntifull prouision and allowance in the Dukes boat with one hundred men to rowe him and one hundred Gunners in other boats to conduct him with a gentleman captaine of the Gunners Comming to the road where the English Dutch and French ships rode the gunners discharged and the ships shot in like maner 46. pieces of their ordinance so he was brought to his lodging at the English house vpon Rose Island And that which was the full and complete conclusion of the fauour of the Emperor and Boris Pheodorowich toward M. Horsey there were the next day sent him for his further prouision vpon the fea by a gentleman and a captaine the things folowing 16. liue oxen 70. sheepe 600. hens 25. fâ—itches of Bacon 80. bushels of meale 600. loaues of bread 2000. egs 10. geese 2. cranes 2. swans 65. gallons of mead 40. gallons of Aquauitae 60. gallons of beere 3. yong beares 4. hawkes Store of onions and garlike 10. fresh salmons A wild bore All these things were brought him downe by a Gentleman of the Emperors and another of prince Boris Pheodorowich were receiued in order by Iohn Frefe seruant to M. Horsey together with an honorable present and reward from the prince Boris sent him by M. Francis Cherry an Englishman which present was a whole very rich piece of cloth of gold a faire paire of Sables This Gentleman hath obserued many other rare things concerning those partes which hereafter God willing at more conuenient time and laisure shall come to light Pheodor Iuanowich the new Emperors gracious letter of priuilege to the English Merchants word for word obtained by M Ierome Horsey 1586. THrough the wil of the almightie and without beginning God which was before this world whom we glorifie in y e Trinitie one only God the father the sonne and the holy ghost maker of all things worker of all in all euery where fulfiller of all things by which will and workingâ— he both loueth and giueth life to man That our onely God which inspireth euery one of vs his onely children with his word to discerne God through our Lord Iesus Christ and the holy quickning spirit of life now in these perilous times Establish vs to keep the right Scepter and suffer vs of our selues to raigne to the good profite of the land and to the subduing of the people together with the enemies and to the maintenance of vertue We Pheodor the ofspring of Iohn the great Lord Emperor king and great prince of all Russia of Volodemeria Moscouia and Nouogrod king of Cazan king of Astracan Lord of Plesko and great prince of Smolensko of Tuer Yougoria Permia Viatsko of Bolghar and others lord and great prince of the land of the lower Nouogrod Chernigo Rezan Polotsko Rostow Yeraslaue the White lake Liefland Oudor Condensa and Ruler of all Siberia and all the North-side and lord of many other countries I haue gratified the merchants of England to wit sir Rowland Haiward and Richard Maâ—tin Aldermen sir George Barnes Thomas Smith esquire Ierome Horsey Richard Saltonstall with their fellowes I haue licensed them to saile with their shippes into our dominion the land of Dwina with all kind of commodities to trade freely and vnto our kingdom and the citie of Mosco and to all the cities of our empire of Moscouia And the english merchants sir Rowland Haiward his societie desired vs that we would gratifie them to trade into our kingdom of Moscouia and into our
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
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
see 1381. Dieth vpon the Assumption of the blessed Uirgin in the port of Bergen in Norway falling downe from a packe of wares into the botome of the ship He was buried at Bergen in the Church of our Sauiour  XVIII Michael a Dane 1385. Entreth his see 1388. Resigneth and saileth into Denmarke  XIX William a Dane 1394. Entereth the Bishopricke  Dieth  XX. Arnerus sirnamed Milldur that is to say Liberall He was at one time Lord President of all Island bishop of Schalholt and vicebishop of Holen 1420. He died 1432. XXI Ionas Gerickson Sueden either sirnamed or borne is made Bishop ouer the Church of Schalholt and afterward for certaine bolde attempts being taken by one Thorualdus de Modruuolium as it is reported and a great stone being bound to his necke hee was cast aliue into the riuer of Schalholt which taketh name of the bridge and was there strangled 1445. XXII Goswinus bishop of Schalholt 1472. XXIII Sueno called y e wise bishop of Schalholt 1489. XXIIII Magnus sonne of Eiolphus Bishop c.  XXV Stephen 1494. Entreth the see Then liuing at one time with Godschalchus bishop of Holen who seemed worthy to be sirnamed cruel he had the same commendations for mercy and iustice that Godschalchus had The Bishops of Holen In the yeere of CHRIST was sent backe vp thâ—m into Norway that the matter might bee set through by the iudgement of the king The king therefore fauouring his part he obteined the bishopricke of Holen  He dieth 1391. XV. Peter  Consecrated the same yere wherein his predecessour departed out of this present life  Entreth the see of Holen 1392. Dieth  XVI Ionas Wilhelmus English Either borne or sir-named  Entred the see 1432. XVII Godschalcus  Died. 1457. XVIII Olaus son of Rogwaldus nephew to the forenamed Godschalcus by the sisters side both of them being Norwayes  He was established 1458. He died 1497. XIX Godschalchus  The nephewe of Olaus deceased by the brothers side also hee being a Noruagian was elected the same yeere wherein his vncle deceased  He entreth the see And for the space of 20. whole yeres is reported cruelly to haue entreated many of the subiects In the yeere 1520. wheÌ„ he was in the midst of his cups and banqueting dishes heard that Ionas Sigismundus was departed out of this life whom with his wife and children he had for many yeres most cruelly oppressed he presently fell into a sudden disease and so not long after changed that violence for miserable death which in his whole life he had vsed against his distressed subiects 1500. XX. Ionas Araesonius  Entreth the see 1525. This man was the last most earnest mainteiner of Popish superstitions Who stoutely withstanding Gysserus and Martinus bishops of Schalholt was commanded by the  In the yeere of CHRIST The Bishops of Schalholt 1519. He died or thereabout  XXVI Augmundus 1522. Chosen in the yeere wherein Stephen deceased Entreth the see  While he was Bishop the kings Lieu-tenant with some of his followers being inuited to Schalholt in the time of the banquet was slaine by certaine conspirators because hee had in all places wickedly wasted the inhabitants and their goods But Augmundus as the authour of that murther although he purged himselfe with an othe being transported into Denmarke there ended his life  XXVII Gysserus 1540. Elected Augmundus yet liuing 1541. Entred the see 1544. He was the abolisher of Popish traditions about Priests marriages his owne mariage being solemnized at Schalholt  XXVIII Martinus 1547. Bishop c And the yeeres folowing  XXIX Gislaus Ionas 1556. 1587. This man presently in the time of bishop Augmund began in his youth to be enflamed with y e loue of true pietie of the pure doctrine of the Gospel being pastour of the Church of Selardal diligently to aduance the same by which meanes he did so procure vnto himselfe y t hatred of Papists as being coÌ„streined to giue place vnto their craft crueltie he departed ouer to Hamâ—urg from whence coÌ„ming to Copen Hagen in Denmarke painefully proceeding in his former study of diuinitie he liued in the familiaritie and fauour of many but specially of D. D. Peter Palladius who was at that time bishop there Afterward returning into his countrey Martine gaue place vnto him of his owne accord This man died also hauing for the space of 31. yeres or there abouts professed the Gospel of Iesus Christ neither did he helpe further the Church of God by the sound of his voice onely but by all other meanes to the vtmost of his abilitie by teaching preaching writing by his wealth his counsel  XXX Otto Enerus a graue godly and learned man 1588. Being chosen he departeth his country 1589. Hee is consecrated returneth and entreth the sea endeuouring himselfe in the labours of his function The Bishops of Holen In the yeere of CHRIST most religious king Christan the 3. vnder paine of banishment to come with all speed into Denmarke But neglecting the kings commaundement hee tooke Martine bishop oâ— Schalholt and committed him toward At length he himselfe also being taken by a man of great name whom before that time it is saide he had prouoked and being brought to Schalholt was together with his two sonnes by the authoritie of the kings Lieutenant beheaded In reuenge whereof not long after the saide Lieu-tenant with some of his company was villanously slaine by certaine roysters which were once seruants to the parties beheaded 1551. XXI Olaus Hialterus  Departed his countrey 1552. Entreth the see 1553. This man being as yet in the life time of his predecessour fellow-labourer with him was the first that kindled the loue of sincere doctrine at Holen in the hearts of many and then being bishop did openly teache and defend the said doctrine He died 1568. XXII Gudbrandus Thorlacius  The ornament not onely of his age but of posteritie also who besides that by the direction of the holy spirit he hath most notably brought thâ— worke begunne and left vnto him by his predecessour Olaus to that perfectioÌ„ which it hath pleased God to vouchsafe namely his labours and diligence in maintayning the trueth of the Gospel and in abolishing of Popish superstitions euen in this his countrey hee is the first that hath established a Printing house For which cause his countrey besides for many other books translated into our mother tongue shal be eternally bounden vnto him that the sacred Bible also by his meanes is fairely printed in the language of Island Hee I say being at this present Bishop when he was about to take his charge  Departed his countrey 1570. Returned and entred the see of Holen 1571. IN these times therefore light is restored vnto our soules from heauen and the gate of the kingdome of heauen is opened vnto vs by the sincere preaching of Christian doctrine For
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
that both their blessings and their curses they sell vnto the people The nouices of this order before they be admitted goe together two or three thousand in a company vp a certaine high mountaine to doe pennance there three score dayes voluntarily punishing themselues In this time the deuill sheweth himselfe vnto them in sundry shapes and they like young graduals admitted as it were fellowes into some certaine companie are set foorth with white â—assels hanging about their neckes and blacke Bonnets that scarcely couer any more then the crowne of their heads Thus attyred they range abroade in all Iapan to set out themselues and their cunning to sale each one beating his bason which he carieth alwayes about with him to giue notice of their comming in al townes where they passe There is also an other sort called Genguis that make profession to shewe by soothsaying where stollen things are and who were the theeues These dwell in the toppe of an high mountaine blacke in the face for the continuall heate of the sunne for the cold windes and raines they doe continually endure They marry but in their owne tribe and line the report goeth that they be horned beasts They climbe vp most high rockes and hilles and go ouer very great riuers by the onely arte of the deuill who to bring those wreâ—ches the more into errour biddeth them to goe vp a certaine high mountaine where they stande miserably gazing and earnestly looking for him as long as the deuill appointeth them At the length at nonetide or in the euening commeth that deuil whom they call Amida among them to shew himselfe vnto them this shew breedeth in the braines and hearts of men such a kinde of superstition that it can by no meanes be rooted out of them afterward The deuill was wont also in another mountaine to shew himselfe vnto the Iapanish Nation Who so was more desirous than other to go to heauen and to enioy Paradise thither went he to see that sight and hauing seene the deuill followed him so by the deuill perswaded into a denne vntill he came to a deepe pit Into this pit the deuill was wont to leape and to take with him his worshipper whom he there murdred This deceit was thus perceiued An old man blinded with this superstition was by his sonne disswaded from thence but all in vaine Wherefore his sonne followed him priuily into that denne with his bow arrows where the deuill gallantly appeared vnto him in the shape of a man Whilest the old man falleth downe to worshippe the deuill his sonne speedily shooting an arrow at the spirit so appearing strooke a Foxe in stead of a man so suddenly was that shape altered This olde man his sonne tracking the Foxe so running away came to that pit whereof I spake and in the bottome thereof he found many bones of dead men deceiued by the deuill after that sort in time past Thus deliuered he his father from present death and all other from so pestilent an opinion There is furthermore a place bearing name Coia very famous for y e multitude of Abbyes which the Bonzii haue therein The beginner and founder whereof is thought to be one Combendaxis a suttle craftie fellowe that got the name of holinesse by cunning speech although the lawes and ordinances he made were altogether deuillish he is said to haue found out the Iapanish letters vsed at this day In his latter yeeres this Sim suttle buried himselfe in a foure square graue foure cubites deepe seuerely forbidding it to be opened for that then he died not but rested his bodie wearied with continuall businesse vntill many thousand thousands of yeeres were passed after the which time a great learned man named Mirozu should come into Iapan and then would he rise vp out of his graue againe About his tombe many lampes are lighted sent thither out of diuerse prouinces for that the people are perswaded that whosoeuer is liberall and beneficiall towardes the beautifying of that monument shall not onely increase in wealth in this world but in the life to come be safe through Combendaxis helpe Such as giue themselues to worship him liue in those Monasteries or Abbyes with shauen heads as though they had forsaken all secular matters whereas in deede they wallow in all sortes of wickednesse and lust In these houses the which are many as I sayd in number doe remaine 6000 Bonzii or thereabout besides the multitude of lay men women be restrained from thence vpon paine of death Another company of Bonzii dwelleth at Fatonochaiti They teach a great multitude of children all tricks sleights of guile theft whom they do find to be of great towardnes those do they instruct in al the petigrues of princes and fashions of the nobilitie in chiualrie and eloquence and so send them abroad into other prouinces attired like yong princes to this ende that faining themselues to be nobly borne they may with great summes of money borowed vnder the colour and pretence of nobilitie returne againe Wherefore this place is so infamous in all Iapan that if any scholer of that order be happily taken abroad he incontinently dieth for it Neuerthelesse these cousiners leaue not daily to vse their woonted wickednesse and knauerie North from Iapan three hundred leagues out of Meaco lieth a great countrey of sauage men clothed in beasts skinnes rough bodied with huge beards and monstrous muchaches the which they hold vp with litle forkes as they drinke These people are great drinkers of wine fierce in warres and much feared of the Iapans being hurt in fight they wash their wounds with salt water other Surgerie haue they none In their breasts they are sayd to cary looking glasses their swordes they tie to their heads in such wise that the handle doe rest vpon their shoulders Seruice and ceremonies haue they none at all onely they are woont to worship heauen To Aquita a great towne in that Iaponish kingdom which we call Geuano they much resort for marchandise and the Aquitanes likewise doe trauell into their countrey howbeit not often for that there many of them are slaine by the inhabiters Much more concerning this matter I had to write but to auoyd tediousnesse I will come to speake of the Iapans madnesse againe who most desirous of vaine glory doe thinke then specially to get immortall fame when they procure themselues to be most sumptuously and solemnly buried their burials and obsequies in the citie Meaco are done after this maner About one houre before the dead body be brought foorth a great multitude of his friends apparelled in their best aray goe before vnto the fire with them goe their kinswomen and such as bee of their acquaintance clothed in white for that is the mourning colour there with a changeable coloured vaile on their heads Each woman hath with her also according to her abilitie all her familie trimmed vp in white mockado the better sort and wealthier women goe
diuerse stormes and flawes and by nine of the clocke at night the storme was growen so great continued such vntill the morning that it put our ships at sea in no small perill for hauing mountaines of fleeting yce on euery side we went roomer for one and loofed for another some scraped vs and some happily escaped vs that the least of a M. were as dangerous to strike as any rocke and able to haue split asunder the strongest ship of the world We had a scope of cleare without yce as God would wherein we turned being otherwise compassed on euery side about but so much was the winde and so litle was our sea roome that being able to beare onely our forecourse we cast so oft about that we made fourteene bordes in eight glasses running being but foure houres but God being our best Steresman by the industry of Charles Iackman and Andrew Dyer theÌ„ masters mates both very expert Mariners Richard Cox y e maister Gunner with other very carefull sailers then within bord and also by the helpe of the cleare nights which are without darkenesse we did happily auoide those present dangers whereat since wee haue more maruelled then in the present danger feared for that euery man within borde both better and worse had ynough to doe with his hands to hale ropes and with his eyes to looke out for danger But the next morning being the 20 of Iuly as God would the storme ceased and the Generall espying the ships with his new Captiue and whole company came happily abord and reported what had passed a shoare whereupon altogither vpon our knees we gaue God humble and hartie thankes for that it had pleased him from so speedy peril to send vs such speedy deliuerance and so from this Northerne shore we stroke ouer towards the Southerland The one and twentieth of Iuly we discouered a bay which ranne into the land that seemed a likely harborow for our ships wherefore our Generall rowed thither with his boats to make proofe thereof and with his goldfiners to search for Ore hauing neuer assayed any thing on the South shore as yet and the first small Iland which we landed vpon Here all the sands and clifts did so glister and had so bright a marquesite that it seemed all to be gold but vpon tryall made it prooued no better then black-lead and verified the prouerbe All is not gold that glistereth Upon the two and twentieth of Iuly we bare into the sayde sound and came to ancker a reasonable bredth off the shore where thinking our selues in good securitie we were greatly endangered with a peece of drift yce which the Ebbe brought foorth of the sounds and came thwart vs ere we were aware But the gentlemen and souldiers within bord taking great paines at this pinch at the Capstone ouercame the most danger thereof and yet for all that might be done it stroke on our sterne such a blow that we feared least it had striken away our rudder and being forced to cut our Cable in the hawse we were faine to set our fore saile to runne further vp within and if our stirrage had not bene stronger then in the present time we feared we had runne the shâ—p vpon the rockes hauing a very narrow Channell to turne in but as God would all came well to passe And this was named Iackmans sound after the name of the Masters mate who had first liking vnto the place Upon a small Iland within this sound called Smithes Iland because he first set vp his forge there was found a Mine of siluer but was not wonne out of the rockes without great labour Here our goldfiners made say of such Ore as they found vpon the Northerland and found foure sortes thereof to holde gold in good quantitie Upon another small Iland here was also found a great dead fish which as it should seeme had bene embayed with yce and was in proportion round like to a Porpose being about twelue foote long and in bignesse answerable hauing a horne of two yardes long growing out of the snoute or nostrels This horne is wreathed and straite like in fashion to a Taper made of waxe and may truely be thought to be the sea Unicorne This horne is to be seene and reserued as a Iewell by the Queenes Maiesties commandement in her Wardrope of Robes Tuesday the three and twentieth of Iuly our Generall with his best company of gentlâ—men souldiers and saylers to the number of seuentie persons in all marched with ensigne displayde vpon the continent of the Southerland the supposed continent of America where commanding a Trumpet to sound a call for euery man to repaire to the ensigne he declared to the whole company how much the cause imported for the seruice of her Maiestiâ— our counâ—râ—y our credits and the safetie of our owne liues and therefore required euery man to be conformable to order and to be directed by those he should assigne And he appointed for leaders Captaine Fenton Captaine Yorke and his Lieutenant George Beste which done we cast our selues into a ring and altogither vpon our knees gaue God humble thanks for that it had pleased him of his great goodnesse to preserue vs from such imminent dangers beseeching likewise the assistance of his holy spirite so to deliuer vs in safetie into our Countrey whereby the light and truth of these secrets being knowen it might redound to the more honour of his holy name and consequently to the aduancement of our common wealth And so in as good sort as the place suffered we marched towards the tops of the mountaines which were no lesse painfull in climbing then dangerous in descending by reason of their steepnesse yce And hauing passed about fiue miles by such vnwieldie wayes we returned vnto our ships without sight of any people or likelihood of habitation Here diuerse of the Gentlemen desired our Generall to suffer them to the number of twentie or thirtie persons to march vp thirtie or fortie leagues in the countrey to the end they might discouer the Inland and doe some acceptable seruice for their countrey But he not contented with the matter he sought for and well considering the short time he had in hand and the greedie desire our countrey hath to a present sauour and returne of gaine bent his whole indeuour only to find a Mine to fraight his ships and to leaue the rest by Gods helpe hereafter to be well accomplished And therefore the twentie sixe of Iuly he departed ouer to the Northland with the two barkes leauing the Ayde ryding in Iackmans sound and ment after hee had found conuenient harborow and fraight there for his ships to discouer further for the passage The Barkes came the same night to ancker in a sound vpon the Northerland where the tydes did runne so swift and the place was so subiect to indrafts of yce that by reason thereof they were greatly endangered hauing
Angle of the Sunne beames heateth and what encrease the Sunnes continuance doeth adde thereunto it might expresly be set downe what force of heat and cold is in all regions Thus you partly see by comparing a Climate to vs well knowen and familiarly acquainted by like height of the Sunne in both places that vnder the Equinoctiall in Iune is no excessiue heat but a temperate aire rather tending to cold For as they haue there for the most part a continuall moderate heat so yet sometime they are a little pinched with colde and vse the benefite of fire as well as we especially in the euening when they goe to bed for as they lye in hanging beds tied fast in the vpper part of the house so will they haue fires made on both sides their bed of which two fires the one they deuise superstitiously to driue away spirits and the other to keepe away from them the coldnesse of the nights Also in many places of Torrida Zona especially in the higher landes somewhat mountainous the people a litle shrincke at the cold and are often forced to prouide themselues clothing so that the Spaniards haue found in the West Indies many people clothed especially in Winter whereby appeareth that with their heat there is colde intermingled else would they neuer prouide this remedy of clothing which to them is rather a griefe and trouble then otherwise For when they goe to warres they will put off all their apparell thinking it to be combersome and will alwayes goe naked that they thereby might be more nimble in their sight Some there be that thinke the middle zone extreme hot because the people of the countrey can and doe liue without clothing wherein they childishly are deceiued for our Clime rather tendeth to extremitie of colde because wee cannot liue without clothing for this our double lining furring and wearing so many clothes is a remedy against extremitie and argueth not the goodnesse of the habitation but inconuenience and iniury of colde and that is rather the moderate temperate and delectable habitation where none of these troublesome things are required but that we may liue naked and bare as nature bringeth vs foorth Others againe imagine the middle zone to be extreme hot because the people of Africa especially the Ethiopians are so cole blacke and their haire like wooll curled short which blacknesse and curled haire they suppose to come onely by the parching heat of the Sunne which how it should be possible I cannot see for euen vnder the Equinoctiall in America and in the East Indies and in the Ilands Moluccae the people are not blacke but tauney and white with long haire vncurled as wee haue so that if the Ethiopians blacknesse came by the heat of the Sunne why should not those Americans and Indians also be as blacke as they seeing the Sunne is equally distant from them both they abiding in one Parallel for the concaue and conuere Superficies of the Orbe of the Sunne is concentrike and equidistant to the earth except any man should imagine somewhat of Aux Solis and Oppositum which indifferently may be applied aswel to the one place as to the other But the Sunne is thought to giue no otherwise heat but by way of Angle in reflection and not by his neerenesse to the earth for throughout all Africa yea in the middest of the middle Zone and in all other places vpon the tops of mountaines there lyeth continuall snow which is neerer to the Orbe of the Sunne then the people are in the valley by so much as the height of these mountaines amount vnto and yet the Sunne notwithstanding his neerenesse can not melt the snow for want of conuenient place of reflections Also the middle region of the aire where all the haile frost and snow is engendred is neerer vnto the Sunne then the earth is and yet there continueth perpetuall cold because there is nothing that the Sunne beames may reflect against whereby appeareth that the neerenesse of the body of the Sunne worketh nothing Therefore to returne againe to the blacke Moores I my selfe haue seene an Ethiopian as blacke as a cole brought into England who taking a faire English woman to wife begat a sonne in all respects as blacke as the father was although England were his natiue countrey and an English woman his mother whereby it seemeth this blacknes procceedeth rather of some natural infection of that man which was so strong that neither the nature of the Clime neither the good complexion of the mother concurring coulde any thing alter and therefore wee cannot impute it to the nature of the Clime And for a more fresh example our people of Meta Incognita of whom and for whom this discourse is taken in hande that were brought this last yeere into England were all generally of the same colour that many nations be lying in the middest of the middle Zone And this their colour was not onely in the face which was subiect to Sunne and aire but also in their bodies which were stil couered with garments as ours are yea the very sucking childe of twelue moneths age had his skinne of the very same colour that most haue vnder the Equinoctiall which thing cannot proceed by reason of the Clime for that they are at least ten degrees more towardes the North then wee in England are No the Sunne neuer commeth neere their Zenith by fourtie degrees for in effect they are within three or foure degrees of that which they call the frosen Zone and as I saide fourtie degrees from the burning Zone whereby it followeth that there is some other cause then the Climate or the Sonnes perpendicular reflexion that should cause the Ethiopians great blacknesse And the most probable cause to my iudgement is that this blackenesse proceedeth of some naturall infection of the first inhabitants of that Countrey and so all the whole progenie of them descended are still polluted with the same blot of infection Therefore it shall not bee farre from our purpose to examine the first originall of these blacke men and howe by a lineall discent they haue hitherto continued thus blacke It manifestly and plainely appeareth by holy Scripture that after the generall inundation and ouerflowing of the earth there remained no moe men aliue but Noe and his three sonnes Sem Cham and Iaphet who onely were left to possesse and inhabite the whole face of the earth therefore all the sundry discents that vntil this present day haue inhabited the whole earth must needes come of the off-spring either of Sem Cham or Iaphet as the onely sonnes of Noe who all three being white and their wiues also by course of nature should haue begotten and brought foorth white children But the enuie of our great and continuall enemie the wicked Spirite is such that as hee coulde not suffer our olde father Adam to liue in the felicitie and Angelike state wherein hee
was first created but tempting him sought and procured his ruine and fall so againe finding at this flood none but a father and three sonnes liuing hee so caused one of them to transgresse and disobey his fathers commaundement that after him all his posteritie shoulde bee accursed The fact of disobedience was this When Noe at the commandement of God had made the Arke and entred therein and the floud-gates of heauen were opened so that the whole face of the earth euery tree and mountaine was couered with abundance of water hee straitely commaunded his sonnes and their wiues that they should with reuerence and feare beholde the iustice and mighty power of God and that during the time of the floud while they remained in the Arke they should vse continencie and abstaine from carnall copulation with their wiues and many other precepts hee gaue vnto them and admonitions touching the iustice of God in reuenging sinne and his mercie in deliuering them who nothing deserued it Which good instructions and exhortations notwithstanding his wicked sonne C ham disobeyed and being perswaded that the first childe borne after the flood by right and Lawe of nature should inherite and possesse all the dominions of the earth hee contrary to his fathers commandement while they were yet in the Arke vsed company with his wife and craftily went about thereby to dis-inherite the off-spring of his other two brethren for the which wicked and detestable fact as an example for contempt of Almightie God and disobedience of parents God would a sonne should bee borne whose name was Chus who not onely it selfe but all his posteritie after him should bee so blacke and lothsome that it might remaine a spectacle of disobedience to all the worlde And of this blacke and cursed Chus came all these blacke Moores which are in Africa for after the water was vanished from off the face of the earth and that the lande was dry Sem those that part of the land to inhabite in which nowe is called Asia and Iaphet had that which now is called Europa wherein wee dwell and Africa remained for Cham and his blacke sonne Chus and was called Chamesis after the fathers name being perhaps a cursed dry sandry and vnfruitfull ground fit for such a generation to inhabite in Thus you see that the cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse is the curse and naturall infection of blood and not the distemperature of the Climate Which also may bee prooued by this example that these blacke men are found in all parts of Africa as well without the Tropickes as within euen vnto Capo de buona Speranza Southward where by reason of the Sphere should be the same temperature that is in Sicilia Morea and Candie where al be of very good complexions Wherefore I conclude that the blacknesse proceedeth not of the hotenesse of the Clime but as I saide of the infection of blood and therefore this their argument gathered of the Africans blacknesse is not able to destroy the temperature of the middle Zone Wee may therefore very well bee assertained that vnder the Equinoctiall is the most pleasant and delectable place of the worlde to dwell in where although the Sunne for two houres in a yeere be direct ouer their heades and therefore the heate at that time somewhat of force yet because it commeth so seldome and continueth so small a time when it commeth it is not to bee wayed but rather the moderate heate of other times in all the yeere to be remembred And if the heate at any time should in the short day waxe somewhat vrgent the coldnesse of the long night there would easily refresh it according at Honterus sayeth speaking of the temperature vnder the Equinoctial Quódque die solis violento incanduit aestu Humida nox reficit paribusque refrigerat boris If the heate of the Sunne in the day time doe burne or parch any thing◠the moysture of the night doeth coole and refresh the same againe the Sunne being as long absent in the night as so was present in the day Also our Aucthour of the Sphere Iohannes de Sacro Bosco◠in the Chapter of the Zodiacke deriueth the Etymologie of Zodiacus of the Greeke word Zoe which in Latine signifieth Vita life for out of Aristotle hee alleadgeth that Secundum accessum recessum solis in Zodiaco fiunt generationes corruptiones in rebus inferioribus according to the Sunnes going to and fro in the Zodiake the inferiour bodies take their causes of generation and corruption Then it followeth that where there is most going too and fro there is most generation and corruption which must needes be betweene the two Tropickes for there the Sunne goeth too and fro most and no where else but there Therefore betweene the two Tropikes that is in the middle Zone is greatest increase multiplication generation and corruption of things which also wee finde by experience for there is Sommer twice in the yeere and twice Winter so that they haue two Haruests in the yeere and continuall Spring Seeing then the middle Zone falleth out so temperate it resteth to declare where the hottest part of the world should bee for we finde some places more hote then others To answere this doubt reason perswadeth the hotest place in the world to bee vnder and about the two Tropickes for there more then in any other place doe both the causes of heate concurre that is the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames at right angles and a greater continuance of the Sunne aboue the Horizon the Pole there being eleuated three or foure and twentie degrees And as before I concluded that though the Sunne were perpendicular to them vnder the Equinoctiall yet because the same continued but a small time their dayes being short and their nights long and the speedie departure of the Sunne from their Zenith because of the suddeine crossing of the Zodiake with the Equinoctiall and that by such continuall course and recourse of hote and colde the temperature grew moderate and very well able to bee endured so nowe to them vnder the two Tropickes the Sunne hauing once by his proper motion declined twentie degrees from the Equinoctial beginneth to draw neere their Zenith which may bee as before about the eleuenth day of May and then beginneth to sende his beames almost at right Angles about which time the Sunne entreth into the first degree of Gemini and with this almost right Angle the Sunne beames will continue vntill it bee past Cancer that is the space of two moneths euery day at noone almost perpendicular ouer their heades being then the time of Solstitium Aestiuale which so long continuance of the Sunne about their Zenith may cause an extreeme heate if any be in the world but of necessitie farre more heate then can bee vnder the Equinoctiall where the Sunne hath no such long abode in the Zenith but passeth away there-hence very quickly Also vnder the Tropickes