CHAP. XXXIII.

VIEW OF THE TRADE OPENED WITH RUSSIA FROM THE LETTERS OF THE COMPANY TO THE AGENTS-PRICES OF ENGLISH MANUFACTURES-ARTICLES OBTAINED IN RETURN-EXTENSIVE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISHMEN AT MOSCOW WHEN THAT CITY WAS DESTROYED BY THE TARTARS.

It is not a little curious to look back into the early history of the Trade with Russia. The Letters which passed between the Company and its Agents apprise us of the nature and prices of the commodities interchanged, and furnish, probably, the earliest specimens extant of the English mercantile style. In one Letter it is said :*

"You shall understand we have fraighted for the parts of Russia foure good shippes tobe laden t here by you and your order: That is to say, the Primrose of the burthen of 240 Tunnes, Master under God John Buckland: The John Evangelist of 170 Tunnes, Master under God Lawrence Roundal: The Anne of London of the burthen of 160 Tunnes, Master under God David Philly, and the Trinitie of London of the burthen of 140 Tunnes, Master under God John Robins, as by their Charter parties may appeare: which you may require to see for divers causes. You shall receive, God willing, out of the said good ships, God sending them in safety for the use of the Company, these kinds of wares following, all marked with the general marke of the company as followeth, 25 fardels containing 207 sorting clothes, one fine violet in graine, and one skarlet, and 40 cottons for wrappers, beginning with number 1. and ending with number 52. The sorting clothes may cost the first peny 51. 98. the cloth one with the other. The fine violet 181. 6s. 6d. The Skarlet 177. 13s. 6d. the cottons at 97. 10s. the packe, accompanying 7 cottons for a packe more 500 pieces of Hampshire Kersies, that is 400. watchets, 43 blewes, 53 reds. 15 greenes. 5 ginger colours. and two yellowes which cost the first penny 41. 6s. the piece, and 3 packes containing 21 cottons at 97. 10s. the packe, and part of the clothes is measured by Arshines. More 9. barrels of Pewter of Thomas Hasels making, &c. Also the wares bee packed and laden as is aforesayde, as by an invoyce in every shippe more plainly may appearé. So that when it shall please God to send the saide good shipps to you in safetie, you are to receive our said goods, and to procure the sales to our most advantage either for ready money, time or barter having consideration that you doe make good debts, and give such time, if you give any, as you may employ and returne the same

* Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 297.

against the next voyage; and also foreseeing that you barter to a profit, and for such wares as be here most vendible, as waxe, tallowe, traine oile, hempe and flaxe. Of furres we desire no great plentie, because they be dead wares. And as for Felts we will in no wise you send any. And whereas you have provided tarre, and as we suppose, some hemp ready bought, our advise is, that in no wise you send any of them hither unwrought because our fraight is 41. a tunne or little less : which is so deare, as it would not beare the chargés: and therefore we have sent you 7. ropemakers, as by the copies of their covenants here inclosed shall appeare. Whom we will you set to worke with all expedition in making of cables and ropes of all sorts, from the smallest rope to xii inches: And that such taire and hempe as is already brought to the water side, they may there make it out, and after that you settle their work in Vologhda or Colmogro as you shall think good, where their stuffe may be neerest to them: at which place and places you do assigne them a principall overseer, as well to see the deliverie of the stuffe unwrought, as also to take charge of the stuffe wrought, and to forsee that neither the yarne be burnt in tarring, nor the hempe rotted in the watering; and also to furnish them so with labourers, workmen and stuffe, as hereafter when these workmen shall come away, we be not destitute of good workmen, and that these may dispatch as much as possible they may, doing it substancially, for we esteem it a principall commoditie, and that The Counsel of England doth well allowe. Let all diligence be used that at the returne of these shippes we may see samples of all ropes and cables if it be possible, and so after to continue in worke, that we may have good store against the next yeere. Therefore they have neede to have a place to work in, in the winter : and at any hand let them have hempe ynough to spinne their stuffe: for seeing you have great plentie of hempe there, and at a reasonable price, we trust we shall be able to bring as good stuffe from thence, and better cheape then out of Danske : if it be diligently used, and have a good overseer.

"Let the chiefest lading of these foure shippes be principally in waxe, flaxe, tallowe and trayne oyle. And if there be any more wares then these ships be able to take in, then leave that which is least in valeu and grossest in stowage until the next shipping: for wee do purpose to ground our selves chiefly upon those commodities, as waxe, cables and ropes, traine oyle, flaxe and some linen yarne. As for Masts, Tarre, Hempe, Feathers, or any such other like, they would not beare the charges to have any considering our deere fraight. We have sent you a skinner to be there at our charges for meate, drinke and lodging, to view and see such furres as you shall cheap or buye, not minding neverthelesse, that you shall charge yourselves with many, except those which be most vendible, as good marterns mimures, otherwise called Lettis, and Mynkes. Of these you may send us plentie, finding them good and at a reasonable price. As for sables and other rich furres, they bee not every mans money: therefore you may send the fewer, using partly the discretion of the Skinner in that behalfe.

"We heare that there is great plentie of Steele in Russia and Tartarie, whereof wee would you send us part for an example, and to write your mindes in it what store is to be had: for we heare say there is great plentie, and that the Tartars steele is better than that in Russia. And likewise we be informed that there is great plentie of Copper in the Emperours Dominions: we would be certified of it what plentie there is, and whether it be in plates or in round flat cakes, and send us some for an example. Also we would have you to certifie us what kind of woollen cloth the men of Rie and Ruel, and the Poles and Lettoes doe bring to

Russia, and send the scantlings of them with part of the lists, and a full advice of the lengths and breadths, colours and prices, and whether they be strained or not : and what number of them may be utterred in a yeere, to the intent that we make provision for them for the like sorts, and all other Flemish wares which they bring thither and be most vendible there. And to certifie us whether our set clothes be vendible there or not: and whether they be rowed and shorne: because ofttimes they go undrest. Moreover, we will you send us of every commodity in that Country part, but no great quantity other than such as is before declared. And likewise every kind of Lether, whereof we be informed there is great store bought yeerely by the Esterlings and Duches for hie Almaigne and Germanie.

"More, that you doe send us for proofe a quantitie of such Earth, hearbes, or what thing soever it be, that the Russes do die, and colour any kind of cloth linen or wollen, Lether or any other thing withall: and also part of that which the Tartars and Turkes doe bring thither, and how it must be used in dying and colouring. Moreover that you have a special foresight in the chusing of your Tallowe, and that it may be well purified and tried, or els it will in one yeere putrifie and con

sume.

"Also that you certifie us the trueth of the weights and measures, and howe they do answere with ours, and to send us 3 robles in money, that we may try the just value of them.

“Also we doe send you in these ships ten young men that be bound Prentises to the Companie whom we will you to appoint every of them as you shall there find most apt and meete, some to keepe accompts, some to buy and sell by your order and commission, and some to send abroad into the notable cities of the Countrey for understanding and knowledge."

The spirit of commercial enterprise was fully kindled, and an eager desire appears to become the Carriers of the world. What a change from the utter prostration which led, just before, to the appeal to Him whose genius had been thus successfully invoked to quicken and to guide!

"We would you bought as much waxe principally as you may get. For if there be in that country so great quantity, as we be informed there is, it will be the best commodity we may have: for having that wholly in our hands, we may serve our own Country and others. Therefore seeing the Emperour doth minde, that such commodities as bee in his dominions shall not passe to Rie and Revel and Poland as they have done, but be reserved for us: therefore we must so lay for it, that it may not be upon their hands that have it to sell, always having consideration in the price and time as our next dispatch may correspond.

"Also we doe understand that in the countrey of Permia or about the river of Pechora is great quantitie of Yewe, and likewise in the countrey of Ugory, which we be desirous to have knowledge of, because it is a special commoditie for our Realme. Therefore we have sent you a young man, whose name is Leonard Brian, that hath some knowledge in the wood, to shew you in what sort it must be cut and cloven. So our minde is if there be any store, and that it be found to be good, that there you doe provide a good quantitie against the next yeere for the comming of our shippes. And because wee bee not sure what timber they shall finde there to make Casks, we have laden in these ships 140 Tunnes emptie

Caske, that is 94 tunnes shaken Casks and 46 tunnes whole, and ten thousand hoopes, and 480 wrethes of twigs; they may be doing with that till they can provide other timber, which wee would be glad to heare of. They have an example with them of the bignesse of the Caske they shall make. Neverthelesse, all such Buttes and Hoggesheads as may be found to serve we will shal be filled with traine Oyle.

"It shalbe very needeful that you doe appoynt certaine to see the romaging of the ships, and to give the master or Botswaine, or him that will take upon him to romage, a good reward for his labour to see the goods well romaged. If it be iij d. or iiij. d. the tunne, it shall not be amisse. For if it be not substantially well looked into, it may be a great deale of money out of our wayes.

"Also, because we reckon that from the Mosco will bee alwayes better convey ance of letters to us by land: our minde is that from time to time as occasion shall serve, our Agents shall write to him that shall lie at Mosco of all things that shall passe, that he may give us large instructions, as wel what is solde and bought, as also what lading we shall take, and what quantitie and kinde of goods wee shall send. For we must procure to utter good quantitie of wares, especially the commodities of our Realme, although we afford a good penyworth, to the intent to make other that have traded thither, wearie, and so to bring ourselves and our commodities in estimation, and likewise to procure and have the chiefe commodities of that Country in our hands, as waxe and such others; that other Nations may be served by us and at our hands. For wee doe understand that the greatest quantitie of waxe that commeth to Danske, Lubeck, and Hambourgh, commeth out of Russia. Therefore if wee should buy part, and they also buy, it would raise the price there, and would be little worth here. And all such letters of importance and secrecie as you doc send by land for any wares or otherwise, you must write them in Cyphers after the order of a booke sent you in the shippes: alwayes taking goode heede in placing of your letters and cyphers, that we may understand them by the same booke here, and to send them in such so.t, that we may have them here by Christmas or Candlemas if it be possible. And because you cannot so certainly advertise us by letters of your doings, but some doubt may arise whereof we would most gladly be certified: our minde is therefore that with these ships you send us home one such yong man as is most expert in knowledge of that Countrey, and can best certifie vs in such questions as may be demanded, whome we will remit unto you againe in the next ships. We think Arthur Edwards will be fittest for that purpose neverthelesse use your discretion in that matter.

"The prices of wares here at this present, are, bale flaxe twenty pound the packe and better, towe flaxe twenty-eight pounds the hundred, traine oyle at nine pounds the tunne, waxe at foure pound the hundred, tallow at sixteene shillings the hundred, cables and ropes very deare; as yet there are no shippes come out of Danske."

Though matters passed off so smoothly in public with the Ambassador, we are let here behind the curtain, and note some misgivings as to the character of himself and his countrymen:

“Also if the Emperour bee minded to deliver you any summe of money, or good waxe at as reasonable price as you may buye for readie money, wee will that you

shall take it and lade it for our accomptes, and to come at our adventure, and hee to be payed at the returne of the shippes in velvets, sattens, or any other kinde of silke, or cloth of golde, cloth of tissue, or according as his commission shalbe that he shall send us in the shippes, and according to such paternes as hee shall send. Wee doe not finde the Ambassadour nowe at the last so conformable to reason as wee had thought wee shoulde.. Hee is very mistrustfull, and thinketh everie man will beguile him. Therefore you had neede to take heede howe you have to doe with him or with any such, and to make your bargains plaine, and to set them downe in writing. For they be subtill people, and doe not alwaies speake the trueth, and thinke other men to bee like themselves. Therefore we would have none of them to send any goods in our ships at any time, nor none to come for passengers, unlesse the Emperour doe make a bargaine with you, as is aforesaid, for his owne person.

"Have consideration how you doe take the roble. For although we doe rate it after sixteen shillings eight-pence of our money, yet it is not worth past 12 or 13 shillings sterling."

The Agent at Vologda writes thus to the Agent at Colmogro:

"Worshipfull Sir, heartie commendations premised. These may bee to advertise you, that yesterday the thirtieth of this present came hither Robert Best, and brought with him two hundred Robles, that is one hundred for this place, and one hundred for you at Colmogro. As for hempe which is here at two robles and a halfe the bercovite, master Gray has written to buy no more at that price; for John Sedgewicke hath bought for sixe or seven hundred robles worth at Novogrode for one roble and a halfe the bercovite, and better cheape: and white Novogrode flaxe is there at three robles the bercovite. I trust he will doe much good by his going thither. As I doe understand Richard Johnson is gone to Novogrode with money to him, I doubt not but master Gray hath advertised you of all their doings, both at the Mosco and at Novogrod. And touching our doings heere, you shall perceive that wee have solde wares of this fourth voyage of one hundred and fortie robles, besides fiftie robles, of the second and third voyage since the giving up of my last account, and for wares of the countrey, you shall understand that I have bought, tried and untried, for 77 robles, foure hundred podes of tried tallowe, beside four hundred podes that I have given out money for, whereof God graunt good receipt when the time cometh, which is in Lent. And in browne flaxe and hempe I have bought seventeen bercovites, sixe podes and sixteene pound, which cost 28 robles, eleven altines two-pence. And as for other kindes of wares I have bought none as yet. And for Mastes to bee provided, you shall understand that I wrote a letter to Totma the 28 of this present for fiftie mastes, to wit, for 25 of fifteene fathoms, and 25 of fourteene fathoms, to be an arshine and a halfe at the small ende. And more, I have written for 30 great trees to be two archines and a half at the small end, and for the other that were provided the last yeere, I trust they shall be sent downe in the spring of the yeere. And as concerning the Ropemakers, you shall understand that their abiding place shall be with you at Colmogro, as I do thinke Master Gray hath advertised you. For, as Roger Boutinge, Master of the woorkes, doeth say, there is no place more meete for their purpose then with you; and there

* Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 297.