First, some cloth of Gold, with cloth of Tissue, and cloth of Botky, as
Veluets wrought with gold.
Item, good veluets, to wit, crimosins, purples, reds, greenes and blackes.
Those colours his maiestie requireth, for they are most worne. And though
there be some of these wares made in his citie of Cassan, yet nothing like
in goodnes, to those that you may procure for him. Small profite I thinke
will be in these wares: yet for diuers considerations, as also to satisfie
the Princes mind, I wish you to send some, and those that be especiall
good.
Item, good damasks and sattins of all sortes, with an hundred pieces of
good chamlets, which are woorth here 80. shaughs the piece, at sixe pence
the shaugh, and those silkes to bee of those colours aboue written, to wit,
crimosins, purples, reds, greenes, blackes, with some light watchet
colours.
Item, three or foure complete harnesses that wil abide the shot of a
handgun with 10. or 12. targets of steele, being good.
Item, ten or twelue good shirts of male being very good or els none, that
may abide the shot of an arrow, and two buffe ierkins.
Item, ten or twelue pieces of Westerne karsies, being thicked well and
close shut in the weauing, and died into scarlets and fine reds. I thinke
there wil be no such cloth for noblemens caps. The prince named them
karangies [Marginal note: By the word Karangies, I thinke they meane
Karsies.], saying, that maidens did make them, and is desirous of them.
Item, six pieces of fine Holland cloth for the Prince, with some other for
Noblemen, of a lower price.
Item, twentie handguns being good, some of them with fire lockes, and also
six good dags, with locks to trauell withall.
Item 100. brusshes for garments (none made of swines haire,) for gifts, and
otherwise to be sold.
Item, six stone bowes that shoot lead pellets.
Item, a mill to grind corne in the field as they goe, finely deuised: for
Cozomomet willed me to write for one to be sent, to giue the Prince.
Item, the Prince requireth of all sortes and colours of London clothes. I
wish you to send no lesse then 40. or 50. for I know they will be sold to
profit, especially such cloth as may be affoorded for 20. shaughs the
arshine, which is longer by two of mine inches then Russia arshine is. Let
there be fine skarlets, violets in graine, fine reds, blacks, browne
blewes, foure or fiue of euery sort, for the Prince and other lords: the
rest of other colours liuely to the sight, as London russets, tawnies, lion
colours, good liuely greenes, with other, as you shall thinke good: for the
prince desireth to see of all sorts, which will be an occasion that the
Venetians and Turkes shall bee in lesse estimation then they are: for they
themselues do feare, and secretly say the same. And truely the Princes
subiects intend to enter into trade with vs for spices and other
commodities that they were woont to sell vnto the Venetians and Turkes.
Thus I commit you all to God, who send you health with increase of worship.
Written in Astracan the 16. of Iune, 1567.
By your seruant during life to command,
Arthur Edwards.
* * * * *
Distances of certaine places in Russia.
The way from Saint Nicholas Baie to Mosco.
versts
To Colmogro 100
To Vstiug 500
To Totma 250
To Vologhda 250
All by the riuer of Dwina 1100
To Yenslaue 180
To Rostoue 60
To Pecaslaue 60
To Mosko 120
By land East and West 440
The way from Mosko to Smolensko.
To Moram 300
To Smolensko 200
The way from Mosko to Nouogrod.
To Ottuer 180
To Torzhoke 60
To Wisnouolloko 60
To Nouogrod 150
Southeast and Northwest 450
The way from Nouogrod to Narue
To Teseua 50
To the Friers 60
To Yria Niagorod 40
To Narue 15
Southwest and Northeast 165
From Nouogrod to Vobsky, is 180. versts by East.
The way from Vobski to Ry in Liefland.
versts
To Newhouse 50
To Gouen on the borders |
To Wenden |
To Trecado | Al is 200
To Newslot | versts.
To Rie |
The way from Mosco to Astracan.
To Costrom
To Nisnoaogrod
To Cazan
To Astracan in all is 2800 versts
The way from Vologhda to Narue.
To Belozerco 140
To Batag 80
To Witergen 40
To Ladiski 60
To Onega lake 80
To Oher 90
To Narue 180
Southwest and Northeast 770 versts
To go with a small boat within the land from S. Nicholas to Wardhouse.
To Newnox riuer |
To Ousca Gouba |
To Lobshanga |
To Oust Nauelocki | To Wardhouse
To Orlouanos | in
To Solusca Monasterie | all 800.
To Candelox | versts
To Oust Colla | Northwest
To Zhemaker | and Southeast
To Poganna Volocki |
To Chibe Nanolocke |
To Kegor |
The way from Colmogro to Mixemske Sloboda, where the Samoeds keep their
Mart.
To Vst Pinnego |
To Palango |
To Vescom |
To Soyaua | Al is 230 versts
To Coula |
To Nendega |
To Lampas |
To Sloboda |
The way to Vromo from Mazemske Sloboda, where the Losh hides are gotten.
To Lampas | All is 115. versts
To Pogorel | Northeast and
To Zapolle | Southwest.
To Vromo |
The way and distances from Saint Nicholas, to the Caspian Sea.
If you goe straight from Saint Nicholas, to the Caspian Sea, you must goe
to Vologhda by water, as by the easiest passage, and that is accomplished,
passing day and night, in foureteene dayes and foureteene nights, in boates
cut out of a tree: (the boates are called Stroogs) 1100. versts it is.
By horse and sleds in 8. dayes you may passe it in Winter. In Summer the
way is dangerous by meanes of marishes and bogs, and not safely then to be
passed.
