Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

A Description of the Empires of Catay and Labin, and other Domi∣nions aswell inhabited, as places of Pasture * 1.1 called Vlusses and Hords, and of the great Riuer Ob, And other Riuers and Land passages.

FRom Kirgis to the Riuer Bakanna is sixe dayes trauell, and from Bakanna to Kinchike, is nine dayes trauell, from Kinchike to the great Lake, (in which Lake Rubies or Saphires grow) is three dayes trauell, and the compasse of that Lake is twelue dayes trauell on horsebacke. There [ 10] falleth also into the said Lake foure Riuers, to wit from the East, South, West and North, yet the water doth not increase in the Lake, nor decrease. There falleth yet another Riuer into the said Lake, which commeth from betweene the East and the North, and is called Kitta, vpon which we went fifteen dayes to the head of it, where we found the King Altine in progresse; the way is very stony. And from the King Altine to an Vlusses fiue dayes trauell;* 1.2 the Vlusses is called Algunat, and the Duke in it is called T••rm••shine; from him to another Vlusses fiue dayes, the V∣lusses is called Chikursha, and the Duke in it is called Carakula; from thence to an Vlusses fiue dayes called Suldussa, wherein is a King called Chaksa••a, from him to an Vlusses called B••su•• fiue dayes, the Dukes name is Chichim; from him to an Vlusses called Iglethin, fiue dayes, the Duke is Taschils Cherekta, from him to an Vlusses called Beskuta, fiue dayes, the Duke is called Cherkar, [ 20] from him to an Vlusses called Girut, foure daies without water, the Duke is called Chiche••••••••. From him to an Vlusses called Isut fiue dayes, the Duke of it is called Chechen. From him to an Vlusses called Tulent Vnient foure dayes, the Duke is called Tayku, Katin. From him to the Vlusses Yo∣gorsin three dayes, there is a King called Bakshuta.* 1.3 From thence to an Vlusses of the yellow Mu∣galls called Mugolehin, wherein is a Dutchesse called Manchika, with her Sonne Ouchai Tai∣chie, it is within two dayes journey of the Land of Mugalla, a very dangerous passage through the cliffes of the Rockes, which being past they came into the Land of Mugalla, wherein are two Castles or Cities built of stone, they are called with them Bashum, in one of them is a Duke called Talaij Taishen; and in the other the Duke is called Egidon Taishen; there is also a third Citie in it called Lobin, wherein doth gouerne a woman called Dutchesse Manchika with her Sonne, [ 30] the said Dutchesse doth command all the Cities of Mugalla, and her command extendeth into Catay. If any man be to trauell ouer the borders, and into Catay, he must haue a Passe vnder her Seale; which if they haue not, they may not passe through Catay. The Land of Mugalla is great and large from Bughar to the Sea; all the Castles are built with stone foure square; at the corners, Towers, the ground or foundation is layd of rough, grey stone, and are couered with 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the gates with counterwards as our Russe gates are,* 1.4 and vpon the gates a••••rum Bels or W••tch-bels of twentie poode weight of metall, the Towers are couered with glazed Tiles; the houses are built with stone foure cornerd high, within their Courts they haue low V••••lts, also of stone, the feelings whereof, and of their houses are cunningly painted with all sorts of co∣lours, and very well set forth with flowres for shew. In the said Countrey of Mugalla are two [ 40] Churches of Friers, or Lobaes, built of square stone, and stand betweene the East and the South; vpon the tops of them are made beasts of stone, and within the Church iust against the doore are set three great Idols or Images, in the forme of women of two and an halfe fathome long,* 1.5 gilt all ouer from the heads to the feet, and sit a fathome high from the ground vpon beasts made of stone, which beasts are painted with all manner of braue colours. Those Idols haue each in their hand a Vessell, and there burne before them three tallow Candles;* 1.6 on the right side of them are erected eight Idols more in the forme of men, and on the left side eight Idols more in the forme of Maydens, gilt all ouer from the head to the foote, their armes stretched out after the manner as the Mugall people, or Religious men vse to pray. And a little way from these Idols stand two Idols more made naked as a man is in all parts, not to be discerned, euen as though he [ 50] were aliue, hauing before them Candles burning, as small as a straw,* 1.7 and burne without a flame only in an Ember or Corall.

Their seruice or singing in these Churches is thus. They haue two Trumpets of a great length, about two fathomes and an halfe long, and when they sound on these Trumpets, an•• beate vp∣on Drummes, the people fall downe vpon their knees and clap their hands againe, ••a••••ing their armes asunder, they fall to the ground and lye so halfe an houre. Their Churches are couered with glazed Tiles. As for bread in the Land of Mugalla there growe••h all manner of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as Pross••, or Russe Rice, Wheate, Oates, Barley, and all sorts of other Graine 〈…〉〈…〉 their Wheate bread is as white as Snow.* 1.8 As for Fruit in Mugalla they haue of all 〈…〉〈…〉 Ap∣ples, Melons, Arbuses, Pompeons, Cheries, Lemons, Cucumbers, Onions, Garlic••••. 〈…〉〈…〉 [ 60] are not faire, but the women exceeding faire, and weare for their Apparell, Veluets and 〈…〉〈…〉,* 1.9 the Capes of their Garments both of the men and women hang downe to their 〈◊〉〈◊〉. They distill Aqua••it•• out of all sorts of Graine, without Hops. As for Pre••ious Stones and Gold they haue none, but for Siluer they haue great store out of Catay.* 1.10 Their Boots they weare of their

owne fashion. They haue no Horses, only Mules & Asses in abundance; they till and plough their ground with great and small Ploughes, as we doe in Siberia at T••bolsk••. Their Cuttuffs are in our Language Patriarkes, and both in Mugalla and Catay are but two Cuttuffs; the one was about twentie,* 1.11 and the other thirtie yeeres of age. Within the Churches are made for them high pla∣ces with seats whereupon they sit: the King doth honour them with bowing downe before them. Their Lobaes are in our Language Friers, which are shorne about twentie yeeres of age, and know no women from their Mothers wombe,* 1.12 they eate flesh continually euery day, and shaue both Beards and Mustachoes: their Garments are of Damaske of all sorts and colours, and their Hoods yellow, they say that their Religion and ours are all one, only the Russe Monkes are blacke, and theirs white. [ 10]

* 1.13Beyond the Land of Mugalla are three other Countreyes or Dominions, stretching towards Bughar, the one called Ortus, the Kings name there is Euakan, the Citie is of stone, and the King∣dome rich.

* 1.14The other is called Dominions of Talguth, the Kings name is Sauelanche, his Cities are also of stone, and his Kingdome rich.

* 1.15The third Countrey where the chiefe Citie is, is called Shar, and the King thereof is called Zellezney, or Iron King, his Kingdome is rich, and not farre from Bughar. From this Iron King come Diamonds, and all these three Kingdomes are vnder the South, and on the other side of the blacke Mugalls are the yellow Mugalls,* 1.16 stretching all alongst the Sea, aswel Townes as walking people, with their Families and Herds.

From the Countrey of Mugalla, where the Dutchesse Manchika dwelleth, to the Citie of [ 20] Shrokalga in Catay, is two dayes trauell on horsebacke: and the bordering or frontier wals stand vnder the South towards Bughar, two moneths trauell, all made of Bricke of fifteene fathome high, whereupon they told about a hundred Towres in sight, on both sides of them, but towards Bughar, and towards the Sea, the Towres are not to bee numbred, and euery Towre standeth from another about a flight shot distant. The said wall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 downe towards the Sea foure moneths trauell. The people of Catay say, that this wall stretcheth alongst from Bughar to the Sea,* 1.17 and the Towres vpon it stand very thicke; it was made, as they say, to be a border betweene Mugalla and Catay. The Towres vpon it are to the end, that when any enemy appeareth, to kindle fires vpon them, to giue the people warning to come to their places where they are ap∣pointed [ 30] vpon the wall. At the entring without the wall dwell the blacke Mugalls; and within is the Countrey and Cities of Catay.* 1.18 In the wall to Catay are fiue gates, both low, and straight or narrow, a man cannot ride into them vpright on horse-backe, and except these fiue gates there is no more in all the wall;* 1.19 there all manner of people passe into the Citie of Shrokalga.

Within the borders or wall is a Citie or Castle of Catay, called Shirokalga, built of stone, the Gouernour thereof is called Duke Shubin,* 1.20 who is sent thither for a time from Tambur King of Catay, the Castle is very high walled and artificially built; the Towres are high after the man∣ner of Mosco Castle, in the Loope-holes or Windowes are Ordnance planted, as also vpon the Gates or Towres; their Ordnance is but short, they haue also great store of small shot, and the Watchmen euery-where vpon the Gates,* 1.21 Towres, and Wals, well appointed; and assoone as [ 40] they perceiue the Sunne going downe, the Watch dischargeth their Peeces of Ordnance thrice, as also at the breake of day in the morning, they shoot out of their Pieces thrice, and doe not open the Castle Gates till the sixt houre of the day. Within the Castle are shops built of stone, and painted cunningly with diuers colours, wherein they haue all manner of Merchandizes, as Vel∣uets, Damaskes, Dorogoes, Taffataes, Cloth of Gold, and Tissue of diuers colours, sundry sorts of Sugars, Cloues, &c. in the Gouernours house is a strong Watch of Partisans and Halberds, and their Drummes made like great Barrels. When the Gouernour goeth abroad, they carry a Cano∣pie ouer him, and make way before him with Rods, as before our Emperour in Mosco.

And from Shirokalga to the Citie Yara is three dayes trauell: this Citie is large, built of stone, and the circuit of it is two dayes trauell,* 1.22 with many Towres, and foure Gates to come in at, the [ 50] Markets in the Citie are well and richly accommodated, with Iewels, Merchandizes, Grocerie, or Spices, the Citie well inhabited hauing no place void or waste in it. The houses and shops are built with stone, with streets betweene; the Gouernours here are called Duke By•• and Duke ••••chake, heere they haue Post Stages as wee, their Markets haue a very odoriferous smell with Spices.

And from this Citie, to a Citie called Tayth, is three dayes iourney, it is built of stone, large, and high walled,* 1.23 & is in compasse two daies trauel about, at the first comming to it are fiue gates barred and bolted with Iron, very thicke and close, fastned with Nailes; the houses and shops, or Ware-houses are all built of stone, wherein are all manner of Merchandizes, Spices, or Groce∣rie, and precious things more abundant then in the aforesaid Cities, they haue Tauernes or Drin∣king [ 60] houses stored with all manner of Drinkes, as Aquanit••, Meade, and Wines from beyond Seas in abundance, there they haue also their Watch, Ordnance, and Munition in great store; the Gouernours of this place are one Duke Tuga, and the other Duke Zumia, there wee saw Si∣namon, Anniseeds, Apples, Arbuzes, Melons, Cucumbers, Onions, Garlicke, Radish, Carrets,

Parsenips, Turnops, Cabbage, Limons, Poppiseeds, Nutmegs, Rice, Almonds, Pepper, Rubarbe, & many other Fruits, which we know not, so that they want nothing whatsoeuer groweth in the World▪ the shops are within the Citie, stored of all manner of Commoditie as is said, as also vi∣ctualling and drinking Houses, stored with all manner of Drinkes, where they haue also Dicers and Whores, as with vs. Their Prisons in the Citie are of stone, for theft they hang the theeues, and for Robberie or Murther they stake the Murtherers, or else head them.

And from Shirokalga to a Citie of Catay, called Shirooan is a dayes iourney: this Citie is built of stone high walled, and large in compasse, it is a dayes trauell, it hath twelue Towres;* 1.24 where∣upon, as also on the Citie Gates is planted Ordnance and small shot great store, with a continu∣all Watch or Guard, night and day, at the first comming are fiue Gates well furnished with Ord∣nance [ 10] and Warlike Munition; and from one Gate to the other through the Citie is halfe a dayes going. The Gouernour of this place is called Duke Sanchik. For Victuals and Merchandizes, here is more then in the Cities mentioned, all their shops very full, and the Citie so populous, that one can hardly passe the streets for the throng of people. The Ambassadors Houses are also faire built of stone, their Wels couered with Brasse, so that this Citie is adorned more with pre∣cious things then the former mentioned, and much more populous.

Now from the Citie of Tayth, to a Citie called White Castle, is two dayes trauell: this Citie is built of white stone, and thereof hath his name, it is high walled and large,* 1.25 being in compasse or circuit three dayes trauell, a•• the first entry it hath three Gates vnder one Towre, the Gates are high and wide with strong Iron barres: and the Gates fastened with Iron Nayles whited with [ 20] Tinne, it hath great Ordnance in the Gates and Towres: some Peeces carrying shot of two Poode waight, the shops within the Citie reach from Gate to Gate, and betweene them are streets paued with stone, all their shops and houses are built of stone before their shops. They haue grates painted cunningly, with all manner of colours, flowres and such like, and vpon the shops are the houses painted cunningly with Pictures and flowres in diuers colours, and the pain∣ting within is vpon Pastboord adorned with Damaske and Veluets; heere is more abundance of Riches and Commodities then in any of the Cities afore mentioned. The Gouernours names here were Duke Toy••an, and Duke Sulan.

From this white Citie, or Castle, to the greatest Citie of all Cataya, called Catay, is two dayes iourney, where the King himselfe dwelleth, it is a very great Citie,* 1.26 built of white stone foure [ 30] square, and in compasse it is foure dayes iourney, vpon euery corner thereof are very great Towres high built, and white, and alongst the wall are very faire and high Towres, likewise white and intermingled with Blue or Azure, vpon the Gates, Wall, and Towres, the Loop-holes or Windowes are well furnished with Ordnance, and a strong Watch. In the midst of this white Citie standeth a Castle built of Magnet, or Load-stone, wherin the King himselfe dwelleth, called Tambun; this Castle standeth so in the midst of this Citie, that euery way you haue halfe a dayes going to it from the Gates, through the streets which hath stone shoppes on both sides with all manner of Merchandizes; vpon their shops they haue their houses built of stone, cunningly pain∣ted more then the former Cities. The Castle of Magnet is curiously set forth with all manner of [ 40] artificiall and precious deuices, in the middest whereof standeth the Kings Palace, the top where∣of is all gilt ouer with Gold. And they would not admit vs to come before their King without Presents, saying, it was not the manner of Catay, to come before their King without some Present, and though (said they) your white Emperour had but sent with his first Am∣bassadours to our King some thing of no great value, our King would haue sent him many precious things, and dismissed you his Ambassadours honourably, and haue sent his Am∣bassadours with you: but now hee only endeth his Letter to your Emperour. The Citie of Catay, where the King dwelleth, is built vpon an euen plaine ground, and is incom∣passed round about with a Riuer called Yo••ga, which falleth into the blacke Sea, which is from the Citie Catay seuen dayes trauell, so that there come no ships neerer the Citie Catay, then se∣uen dayes trauell off, but all things are transported in small Vessels and ship-boats. The Mer∣chandizes [ 50] the King doth send into all parts of his Dominions of Catay, and from thence are car∣ried ouer the borders, into the Land of Mugalla, to the King Altine, to the blacke Kollmakes, to the Iron King, into Boghar and other Dominions, their Patriarkes and Friers, trauell with the Commodities, as Veluets, Sattens, Damaskes, Siluer, Leopard Skinnes, Turkesses, and blacke Zenders, for which they buy Horses, and bring them into Catay, for in Catay are but few hor∣ses, only Mules and Asses, and Cloth they haue none, their Horses and Siluer goeth into strange Countreyes, or as they say, Nem••sij, the Siluer is made in Brickes, which they call Kritsij, va∣lued each Kritsij at fiftie two Rubles, their Apparell they weare with long broad hanging sleeues, like the Gentlewomens Summer-coats or Letti••ks in Russia, the people are very faire but not warlike, timorous & most their endeuour is in great and rich traffick. They told vs that not long [ 60] before our comming, the people of Mugalla had taken two Castles from them by deceit, also

they told vs that their King hath a stone which lighteth as the Sunne both day and night, called in their Language Sarra, and in our Tongue Iacha••t, or Rubie; another stone they say hee hath, which driueth away water from it, it is also called a Rubie. There come to them Strangers, or Nemtsij euery yeere,* 1.27 with all manner of Merchandizes, and barter for Deere Skinnes, and Lo∣shids, Sables, Beuers, Veluets, Taffataes, and Zendews, or Calico; these strangers, they say, come to them out of the blacke Sea, from the East and the South, also, they say, there is a Riuer called Kartalla:* 1.28 which falleth into the great Riuer Ob▪ but they know neyther the head, nor the fall of it, they imagine it commeth out of the blacke Sea, and falleth into it againe, vpon this Riuer dwell many people with walking Herds.

[ 10]

For a triple testimony of Sir Iohn Merikes honourable courtesie, I haue added this succeeding Patent, which howsoeuer in some things it concurre with the former of Boris and Demetrius; Yet those being obscurely translated or written, this may illustrate them; and it also presen∣teth both larger Priuiledges, the Partriarkes name ioyned with the Emperours, and the Gol∣den Seale.

WE the great Lord Emperour and great Duke Michaell Pheodorowich of all Russia, sole Commander of Volodemer, Mosco, and Nouogrod, Emperour of Cazan, Emperour of Astracan, Emperour of Siberia, Lord of Plesco, and great Duke of S••olensky, Twensky, Vgors∣ky, Psermesky, Vatsky, Bolgorsky, and others; Lord and great Duke of Nouogrod, in the lower [ 20] Countreyes, Cheringosky, Rahansky, Rostouskey, Yaraslausky, Belozersky, Vdorskey, Obdors∣ky, Condinsky, and of all the Northerne parts Commander, and Lord ouer the Country of Iuersky, and Caberdynland, Cherkaskey, and of the Dukedomes of Igorskey, and of many other Kingdomes, Lord and Conquerour. Together with the great Lord Philleret Neketich, the holy Patriarke and Head of the Reuerend Clergie of the Imperiall Citie of Mosco, and of all Russia by the flesh our naturall Father, and by the power of the Holy Ghost our Spirituall Past••r and Ghostly Father.

Whereas there was sent vnto vs the great Lord Emperour, and great Duke Michaell Pheodoro∣wich of all Russia, and to our Father, the great Lord, the holy Patriarke of Mosco, and of all Russia, From our louing Brother Iames, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland; and of many others his Maiesties Ambassadour Sir Iohn Merike, Knight and Gentleman of [ 30] his Maiesties Priuie Chamber, vpon both our Princely Affaires.

The said Sir Iohn Merike, in the name of our said louing Brother King Iames requested our Im∣periall Maiestie, and our Father the great Lord, the holy Patriarke, to bee pleased graciously to fauour the English Merchants, to grant them leaue to come with their shippes vnto our Port and Han••ns of Archangell, with all kind of Commoditie••, and freely to traffique from the Sea side, to our Imperiall Citie of Mosco, and to our Patrimoni•• of great Nouogrod and Plesco, and vnto all other our Cities, Townes, and Countreyes of our Empire, with all sorts of Commodities, without paying of Custome in as ample manner as formerly hath beene granted to the English Merchants, and that our Imperiall Ma∣iestie, together with our deere Father the holy Patriarke, would be pleased to grant a new our gracious Priuiledges vnder our Princely Seale, accordingly as our Predecessors Emperours, and great Dukes of all [ 40] Russia, haue heretofore granted vnto them.

We therefore the great Lord Emperour, and great Duke Michaell Pheodorowich of all Russia, sole Commander; together with our deere Father the holy Patriarke of Mosco, and of all Russia; for the loue we beare to our most louing Brother the great Lord King Iames, with whom wee are willing and desirous euer to remayne in the strongest bonds of brotherly loue and friendship, haue graciously granted to his Kingly Maiesties Subiects the English Merchants, Sir Thomas Smith Knight, Sir Iohn Merike Knight, Sir Richard Smith Knight, Sir William Russell Knight, Sir George Bowles Knight, Hugh Hamersley Alderman, Ralph Freeman, Richard Wytch, Morris Abbot, Robert Bateman, Wil∣liam Stone, Rowland Healing, Iob Hanby, Richard Ironside, Edward Iames, Iohn Caslen, Ben∣iamin Deicrow, Fabyan Smith, and their fellowes free leaue to come with their shippes into our King∣domes, into our Countreyes of Dweena, vnto the Port of Archangell, and from thence to our Imperiall [ 50] Citie of Mosco, and of Nouogrod the Great, and vnto Plesco, and into all other the Cities of our Empire, to trade and traffique with all kind of Merchandizes, free of all Customes, as well the great Cu∣stomes as Tole: vnlading of Vessels or Boats, passages through any place by water or Land entries, Head-money, Bridge-money, Ferryings, or any manner of Customes, or Duties whatsoeuer can bee named.

The English Merchants being thus licensed to trade in our Kingdomes, free of all customes for their owne commodities, shall neither colour nor sell strangers wares, as their owne; neither shall our people sell for them any of their goods, nor yet shall they keepe any of our people vnder their protection: and into what Cities the English Merchants themselues, or their Factors, or Seruants shall come with their goods, it shall be lawfull for them freely to trafficke and sell their owne commodities, in barter, or otherwise a∣gainst [ 60] Commodities of our Countrey.

And whensoeuer the said Merchants shall come into our Patrimony of great Nouogrod and Plesco, or into any other the Cities of our Empire; Wee straightly command our Nobles in generall, and all o∣ther

our authorized peopl, that according to this our Imperiall letters of priuiledge▪ they suffer the fore∣said Merchants to passe without all manner of hindrance or lets, & without taking any manner of custom•• of them for themselues, or for their goods; and into what place soeuer they shall come, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with their Merchandize, and shall not desire to buy nor sell with our people▪ those our authorized 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall free∣ly let them passe without taking any manner of customes, according to this our Imperiall gracious priuiledge.

And wheresoeuer the English Merchants shall happen to sell or barter ••ny of their 〈…〉〈…〉 with our Merchants, they are to barter and sell them in their owne house by grosse sale, and not by 〈…〉〈…〉 small measure and weight, as by the yard, pound and ounce; that is to say,* 2.1 their Cloath by whole Cloathes and Packs: Damaske and Veluets by the Pocce; and all other wares that are to be sold by weight accor∣dingly. [ 10] Also the Wi••es by the great, viz. by the Butt, the Pipe, the Hogsh••••d, and by the A••me, and not by small measure, as Veders or Pots.

And the said English Merchants are to sell and barter their owne Commodities themselues in our Empire. But the Russe Merchants shall neither sell nor barter for them; neither shall the English carry or transport to or from any place, any Wares belonging to other Strangers, by way of their owne goods.

And if the said English Merchants shall be desirous, to sell any of their commodities, at Cylmogro, or vpon the Riuer of Dwina, or at Vologda or Yeres••aue or other the Townes and Cities of our Empire, they may sell at their plesures▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 likewise at their owne choise and pleasure, they may transport their goods into all or any part of our Dominions, and hire Carriers, Boats, and men a•• such price as they them∣selues [ 20] can agree.

Also when the English Merchants themselues, or any of their Factors, doe trauell out of our Do∣minions into their owne, or other forraigne Kingdomes, and that wee shall be pleased to deliuer them of our Treasure, they shall take it with them, and sell, and barter it for such commodities as wee shall thinke fit and necessarie for our vse, and Treasury: our Gouernours, and all other our Officers, in all our Ci∣ties and Dominions, shall suffer them and their people freely to passe without taking any custome of them▪ but when the English Merchants haue done their trafficke, and are going from our Citie of Mosco, they shall giue notice thereof vnto the Chancellour of our Office of Ambassadours.

Further, when any English Merchants shall come with their Shippes and Vessels by Sea, into our Do∣minions, and that any misfortune happen vnto them by shipwracke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any of our shoares or coasts, our Go∣uernours [ 30] and Officers shall cause search to be made for their goods, and shall aide and helpe them faith∣fully therein, and the goods gathered together shall be restored to the English Merchants, who shall be at that time in our Kingdomes; and if there shall be at that time none of the English Merchants, or people in our Kingdomes, the said goods shall be taken and laid vp in safety, and deli••ered without delay to the English Merchants when they shall c••me into our Countrey, and shall challenge the same.

Further, of our gracious goodnesse, we gaue free leaue to the English Merchants, and Company, to keepe the house in Mosco by Saint Maxsime behinde the Market place, and shall remaine after their old manner, and therein shall haue one housekeeper a Russe, or else one of their owne Seruants, but no other Russe people: the houses which the English Merchants haue in other places of our Dominions, a•• [ 40] at Yereslaue, Vologda, Collm. and at Saint Michaell Archangell, they shall keepe and vse at their pleasure, according to our former gracious fauour, without paying any duetie, rent, taxe, or any man∣ner of custome whatsoeuer: neither shall the people of the said Townes take any thing of them, of theirs, for any duetie whatsoeuer belonging to their houses: and the said English Merchants shall enioy their said houses peaceably to themselues, without the annoyance of any Stranger or other to lodge in them, whe∣ther in time of their being there, or in their absence.

And in their houses at Yereslaue, Vologda, Collmogro, and Archangell, they shall likewise haue a housekeeper of their owne people, or of our Subiects, a man or two of the meaner sort; but so, that those our people be no merchants.

Their Housekeeper being a Russe shall not vndertake to meddle or sell any of their wares with∣out [ 50] themselues be present, and they the English Merchants, by vertue of this our gracious Letters of priuiledge, shall lay their wares and commodities in their owne houses, and sell them to whom they please.

And it shall be lawfull for the said Merchants, when they shall arriue at our Sea Port, to lade and vnlade their Merchandizes, as in times past, at their pleasures: and when they lade or vnlade their Shippes, it shall be lawfull for them to hire any of our Subiects to helpe them, and shall haue leaue to carry their goods to and fro with their owne Vessels, and howse them in their owne Ware-houses: onely they shall giue a note vnder their hand to our Gouernours, Customers, or sworne men, what goods they bring in, and Shippe out; Whereby it may be knowne what goods commeth in, and goeth out of our King∣domes: [ 60] but in no wise our Officers shall open or vnpacke any of their Wares or Merchandize in any place wheresoeuer.

Also when the English Merchants shall Shippe or transport any of their Countrie Commodities from Saint Michaell Archangell, to our royall Citie of Mosco, or Russe Commodities, into their owne Coun∣trie: our authorised Officers and Customers, by vertue of this our Imperiall Letters of priuiledge,

shall suffer them to passe with their goods in and out, without doing them any manner of hin∣drance.

And whensoeuer any of the said English Merchants or Factors shall haue occasion to send ouerland, out of our Dominions, any of their people, or Seruants, into their owne Countrie ouerland, they shall freely passe by this our speciall command, onely they are to take a passe letter from our Chancellour of the Office of Embassie.

And whosoeuer in any of our Cities, shall haue any matter against the English Merchants by way of co••tention, we command that none of our Gouernours, nor other of our Officers, doe iudge the Eng∣lish Merchants, their Factors or people: neither shall they send Officers for them, except for matter of murther or theft, and th•••• also not to be done, but by manifest t••ken thereof: but the English Mer∣chants, [ 10] their Factors and people, shall onely haue triall, and be iudged in our Imperiall Citie of Mosco, by vertue of this our gracious Letters of priuiledge, before our Chancellour in this Office of Embassie, and in no other place or Towne, and he to heare their causes, and to giue iustice betweene both parties, ac∣cording to equitie and right; and where the truth cannot be found out by Law, it shall be referred to oath and lot, and on whom soeuer the lot fals, to him shall the right be adiudged.

And if any of the English Merchants, in any of our Citie: within our Kingdomes, doe complaine of any wrong offered them by our people, for debts growing by trade or otherwise: we command our Go∣uernours, and all other our authorised people, that they presently minister true iustice vnto them. And for any wrong or other matter of controuersie that the English Merchant shall haue against any of our Subiects, our Gouernours and other our authorised people vpon their complaint for all controuersies [ 20] (matters of debt excepted) shall giue our Subiects so offending vpon suretie, setting them time to appeare at Mosco, to answere the same with the English Merchants, face to face, before our Chancellour, in the Office of Embassy: and in these matters our Chancellour shall truely examine the businesse, and minister true iustice: and what by examination cannot be found, shall be referred, as before, to oath and lot: the Iudges and Iustices through our Dominions shall take no kinde of duetie of the English Merchants for their matters of Law.

We will and command, that those our Imperiall gracious Letters of priuiledge, be strictly obserued in all points, in all parts of our Dominions, and by all our Subiects, Gouernours, Secretaries, and other Officers, without disobeying in any thing.

And whosoeuer shall not obey this our Princely and gracious Letters of priuildge, but shall offer wrong [ 30] to the English Merchants, those our Subiects shall be with vs in our high displeasure.

Th••se our gracious Letters of priuiledges, are sealed with our Imperiall Seale of Gold, in our Princely Pallace of our Imperiall Citie of Mosco,* 2.2 in the yeare from the Worlds creation 7129. in the moneth of May, the eleuenth day.

Subscribed by our Imperiall Maiesties Chancellour of our Office of Embassy, and our priuie Chancellour Euan Corbatouesin Gramotin.

BVt it is now high time to leaue Russia, and all that Barbarous shoare, of Samotees and Tartars: onely we will borrow helpe of some Barbarians to shippe vs thence to Sea. And although Finch, Gour∣don, and others haue in the former Booke inserted so great light: yet seeing Master Marsh hath enter∣tained [ 40] other guides, we will take Sea by Ob, and thence set forth on further discoueries.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Such are the Tartars dwel∣lings or flee∣tings, rather with their beasts.

  Their Iournal, or daily iour∣neyes from place to place. Huge Lake.
• * 1.2

  King Altine. Vlusses, or Tar∣tarian Hords.
• * 1.3

  Yellow Mugals▪ or Moal-Tar∣tars.

  Mugalla, or Ta••taria Orien∣talis from Bug∣har in Bact••ia to the Sea.
• * 1.4

  Their buil∣dings.
• * 1.5

  Friers. Idols.
• * 1.6

  Candles.
• * 1.7

  Candle bur∣ning withou•• flame.

  Rites of Reli∣gion.
• * 1.8

  Corne.
• * 1.9

  Fruits. People and attyre.
• * 1.10

  Distilled wine.
• * 1.11

  Cutuffs, or Pa∣triarkes.
• * 1.12

  Lobas, or Friers Continencie, shauing.
• * 1.13

  Three King∣domes. Ortus.
• * 1.14

  Talguth.
• * 1.15

  Shar.
• * 1.16

  Blacke Mugols, or Cara Catay. Shrokalga in Catay.

  Walls of Catay.
• * 1.17

  Tower-becons
• * 1.18

  Cara Catay.
• * 1.19

  But fiue gates in the wall.
• * 1.20

  Shirocalga.
• * 1.21

  Short Ord∣nance.
• * 1.22

  Yara.
• * 1.23

  Tayth.
• * 1.24

  Shirooan.
• * 1.25

  White Castle.
• * 1.26

  Catay greatest Citie of Catay. If Catay be the same with Chi∣na (as before in Goes and the Iesuites is ob∣serued) many difficulties a∣rise. But this Russian Relati∣on and that of Chaggi Memes seeme to agree to place some Catay, North from China, if this did not speake of the wall. The Tar∣tar names so differ from those of the Portugalls, that it is hard to re∣concile them. And the Iesuit•• make foure moneths tra∣uell from the wall to Pequin, which is here but a few daies: except we say the Rus∣ses entred the wall at the North East part of it: which the shortnesse of their iourney admits not. Perhaps this chiefe Citie was but the chiefe of that Prouince where the Vice-roy resided, and they were willing to make the most of their trauells Russi••a fide Yet the neerenesse of the Sea, there also causeth scruple. I sup∣pose rather that these Russes entred China but a little way, and receiued the Vice-royes Letter only (there obserued with Ragall Rites) and had much by Relation, of that little which they tell. How euer I haue here offered this to thy view at more leisure to vse thy more iudgement.
• * 1.27

  Merchants.
• * 1.28

  Kartalla Riuer. Ob.
• * 2.1

  This doth cleer the doubtfull passages, pag. 760.
• * 2.2

  Sealed with the Golden Seale.