A letter of Richard Vscombe to M. Henrie Lane, touching the burning of the Citie of Mosco by the Crimme Tartar: written in Rose Island the 5. day of August, 1571.* 1.1
MAster Lane I haue me commended vnto you. The 27. of Iuly I arriued here with the Magdalene, and the same day and houre did the Swalow and Harry arriue here also. At our comming I found master Proctor here, by whom wee vnderstand very heauie newes•• The Mosco is burnt euery sticke by the Crimme the 24. day of May last,* 2.1 and an innumerable number of people: and in the English house was smothered Thomas Southam, Tofild, Wauerley, Greenes wife and children, two children of R••••••, & more to the number of 25. persons were stife∣led in our Beere seller: and yet in the same seller was Rafe, his wife, Iohn Browne, and Iohn Clarke preserued, which was wonderfull. And there went into that seller master Glouer and master Rowley also:* 2.2 but because the heate was so great, they came foorth againe with much pe∣rill, so that a boy at their heeles was taken with the fire, yet they escaped blindfold into another seller, and there, as Gods will was, they were preserued. The Emperour fled out of the field, and many of his people were cari••d away by the Crimme Tartar: to wit, all the yong people, the old they would not meddle with, but let them alone, and so with exceeding much spoile and infinite prisoners, they returned home againe. What with the Crimme on the one side, and with his cru∣••ltie on the other, he hath but few people left. Commend me to mistresse Lane your wife, and to M. Locke, and to all our friends.
Yours to command, Richard Vscombe.