CHAP. XXXII.

CHARTER TO THE COMPANY OF MERCHANT ADVENTURERS-SEBASTIAN CABOT NAMED GOVERNOR FOR LIFE-GRANT OF PRIVILEGES BY THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA TO CABOT AND OTHERS—AN AMBASSADOR FROM THE EMPEROR EMBARKS WITH RICHARD CHANCELLER-SHIPWRECK-CHANCELLOR PERISHES-RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT OF THE AMBASSADOR IN LONDON.

THE Success of Chancellor gave a new impulse, and the dignity of a Charter, to the Association of Merchant Adventurers.*

In the instrument of incorporation Sebastian Cabot is named, as has been stated, Governor for Life, as "the chiefest setter forth" of the Enterprise.

There is preserved† "A copie of the first privileges granted to the English merchants, by John Vasilivich, by the Grace of God, Emperor of Russia, Great Duke of Novogrode, Moscovia," &c. After the recital it grants "unto Sebastian Cabota, Governor, Sir George Barnes, Knight, &c. Consuls, Sir John Gresham, &c., assistants, and to the communaltie of the afore-named fellowship, and to their successors for ever, and to the successors of every of them, these articles, grants, immunities, franchises, liberties, and privileges, and every of them hereafter following, expressed and declared, videlicet." Then follow ten clauses or articles placing the contemplated commercial intercourse on the most liberal and secure footing.

Passing a little onward we find an Ambassador from the Emperor arriving in England. This incident is connected with the melancholy death of Richard Chancellor, in whose ship the Ambassador had embarked. That intrepid navigator

* Dr Robertson (History of America, book ix.) heedlessly represents the Charter to have preceded the voyage of Sir Hugh Willoughby

† Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 265

was doomed to perish when almost within reach of those beloved "two little sonnes," the thoughts of leaving whom "in the case of orphanes if he spedde not well," had saddened his departure. The ship was driven ashore at Pitsligo in the North of Scotland, and by the fury of the tempest was broken to pieces on the rocks. Chancellor

"using all carefulness for the safetie of the bodie of the said Ambassadour and his trayne, taking the boate of the said Ship trusting to attaine the shore and so to save and preserve the bodie and seven of the companie or attendants of the same Ambassadour, the same boat by rigorous waves of the seas, was by darke night overwhelmed and drowned, wherein perished not only the bodie of the said grand pilot with seven Russes, but also divers of the Mariners of the said ship: the noble personage of the said Ambassadour with a fewe others (by God's preservation and speciall favour) only with much difficultie saved."

A long account is given of the Ambassador's reception and entertainment at London. The following is an extract:†

"On the 27th February, 1557, he approached to the Citie of London within twelve English miles, where he was received with fourscore merchants with chaines of Gold and goodly apparell, as well in order of men-servants in one uniforme liverie, as also in and upon good horses and geldings, who conducting him to a marchant's house, foure miles from London, received there a quantitie of Gold, velvet and silke, with all furniture thereunto requisite, wherewith he made him a riding garment, reposing himself that night. The next day being Saturday and the last day of Februarie, he was by the Merchants Adventuring for Russia, to the number of one hundred and fortie persons, and so many or more servants in one liverie, as abovesaid, conducted towards the citie of London, where by the way he had not onely the hunting of the Foxe and such like sports shewed him, but also by the Queenes Maiesties commandment was received and embraced by the right honorable Viscount Montague, sent by her grace for his entertainment: he being accompanied with divers lustie Knights, esquires, gentlemen and yeomen to the number of three hundred horses, led him to the North partes of London, where by foure notable Merchants richly apparelled was presented to him a right faire and large gelding richly trapped, together with a foot cloth of orient crimson velvet enriched with gold laces, all furnished in most glorious fashion, of the present and gifte of the saide Merchants: whereupon the Ambassador at instant desire mounted, riding on the way towards Smithfield barres, the first limits of the liberties of the Citie of London. The Lord Maior accompanied with all the Aldermen in their Skarlet did receive him, and so riding through the Citie of London in the middle, between the Lord Mayor and Viscount Montague, a great number of Merchants and notable personages riding before, and a large troupe of servants and apprentices following, was conducted through the Citie of London (with great admiration and plausibilitie of the people running plentifully on all sides, and replenishing all streets in such

• Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 286.

† Ibid. vol. i. p. 287.

sort as no man without difficultie might passe)' into his lodging situate in Fant church streete, where were provided for him two chambers richly hanged and decked, over and above the gallant furniture of the whose `house, together with an ample and rich cupboard of Plate of all sortes, to furnish and serve him at all meales, and other services during his abode in London, which was, as is underwritten, until the third day of May: during which time, daily, divers Aldermen and the gravest personages of the said companie did visit him, providing all kind of victuals for his table and his servants, with all sorts of officers to attend upon him in good sort and condition, as to such an Ambassadour of honour doeth and ought to appertaine.”

He remained in London until the third May, when he

"departed from London to Gravesend, accompanied with divers Aldermen and Merchants, who in good gard set him aboord the Noble shippe the Primrose, Admiral to the Fleete, where leave was taken on both sides and parts, after many imbracements and divers farewels not without expressing of teares."

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 187. 6s. 6d. The Skarlet 177. 13s. 6d. the cottons at 94. 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 appeare. 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 47. a tunne or little less : which is so deare, as it would not beare the charges: 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 tarre 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 sore 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