THe Almightie power of God, and the incomprehensible holy Trinitie, rightfull Christian Beliefe, &c. We great Duke Iuan Vasiliuich, by the Grace of God great Lord and Emperour of all Rus∣sia, great Duke of Volodemer, Mosco, and Nouograd, King of Kazan, King of Astracan, Lord of Plesko, and great Duke of Smolensko, of Twerria, Ioughoria, Permia, Vadska, Bulghoria, and others, Lord and great Duke of Nouograd in the Low Countrey, of Chernigo, Rezan, Polotskoy, Rostoue, Yaruslaueley, Bealozera, Liefland, Oudoria, Obdoria, and Conden∣sa, Commander of all Siberia, and of the North parts, and Lord of many other Countries, greeting. Before all, right, great and worthy of honour Edward King of England, &c. according to our most [ 20] heartie and good zeale, with good intent and friendly desire, and according to our holy Christian Faith, and great Gouernance, and being in the light of great vnderstanding, our Answere by this our Honou∣rable Writing vnto your Kingly Gouernance, at the request of your faithfull Seruant Richard Chance∣lour, with his company, as they shall let you wisely know is this. In the strength of the twentieth yeare of our Gouernance, be it knowne, that at our Sea-coasts arriued a ship, with one Richard, and his com∣pany, and said, that he was desirous to come into our Dominions, and according to his request, hath seene our Maiestie, and d our eyes: and hath declared vnto vs your Maiesties desire, as that wee should grant vnto your Subiects, to goe and come, and in our Dominions, and among our Subiects, to frequent free Marts, with all sorts of Merchandizes, and vpon the same to haue warre•• for their returne. And they haue also deliuered vs your Letters which declare the same request. And hereupon wee haue gi∣uen [ 30] order, that wheresoeuer your faithfull Seruant Hugh Willoughbie, land or touch in our Domini∣ons, to be well entertayned, who as yet is not arriued as your Seruant Richard can declare.
And we with Christian beliefe and faithfulnesse, and according to your Honourable request, and my Honourable commandement will not leaue it vndone: and are furthermore willing that you send vnto vs your ships and Vessels, when and as often as they may haue passage, with good assurance on our part to see them harmlesse. And if you send one of your Maiesties counsell to treate with vs whereby your Coun∣trey Merchants may with all kindes of Wares, and where they will make their Market in our Domi∣nions, they shall haue their free Mart with all free Liberties through my whole Dominions, with all kinde of Wares, to come and goe at their pleasure, without any let, damage, or impediment, accor∣ding to this our Letter, our Word and our Seale which wee haue commanded to be vnder sealed. Written in [ 40] our Dominion, in our Citie and our Palace in the Castle of Mosco, in the yeare 7060. the second Moneth of Februarie.
This Letter was written in the Moscouian Tongue, in Letters much like to the Greeke Let∣ters, very faire written in Paper, with a broad Seale hanging at the same, sealed in Paper vpon Waxe. This Seale was much like the Broad Seale of England, hauing on the one side the Image of a man on Horse-backe in complete Harnesse fighting with a Dragon. Vnder this Letter was another Paper written in the Dutch Tongue, which was the Interpretation of the other writ∣ten in the Moscouian Letters. These Letters were sent the next yeare after the date of King Edwards Letters, 1554.
After this, entercourse of Letters and Embassages passed betwixt King Philip and Queene Marie, [ 50] and the Moscouite: and the Moscouie Company was instituted and receiued Priuiledges both from their owne and that Forraine Prince, a second Voyage beeing set forth in May, 1555. and Master George Killingworth was made their first Agent: the particulars whereof are found at large in Master Hakluyts first Tome of Voyages, as also other things touching that Trade then setled: which heere I omit, and come to Master Ienkinsons Voyage to Mosco, and thence to Tartaria.
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