Prouided alwayes that they shall keepe one Russe porter or
one of their owne people, & may keepe any other Russe seruant at their
discretion. Also their houses in sundry places, as at Ieraslaue, Vologhda,
Colmogro, and at S. Michael Archangel, all these houses they shall keepe
and vse at their owne pleasure, according to our former letters patents
without paying any dutie, rent, or custome. Nor you the communaltie of the
said townes shal take any thing of them or theirs for any duetie that
should belong to you, especially of the houses aforesaid: but the said
English merchants shal enioy them peaceably for themselues and their
families, but shall not suffer any other strangers Russes or others to vse
the aforesaid houses. Also you shall suffer them to lay their wares and
commodities in their warehouses, and to sell their commodities to whom they
please without let or hindrance, by vertue of this our gratious letter.
Their housekeeper being a Russe shall not vndertake to meddle, or sell any
of their wares without they themselues be present, nor to buy any thing for
them.
Also it shalbe lawfull for the said merchants when they shal arriue at
their port to lade and vnlade their merchandises as in times past they haue
done at their pleasure. And when they lade their ships with Russe
commodities or vnlade them, it shalbe lawfull for them to hire any of our
subiects to helpe them for the present time, and for them to carry their
goods to and fro with their owne vessels to S. Michael Archangel, or
elsewhere.
Also we command you our authorised people at the sea side as wel Customers
as others to take of the foresaid merchants a note, or remembrance, what
goods they bring in and ship out: whereby it may be knowen what goods come
in and go out. But in no wise shall you open or vnpacke any of their wares
or merchandises.
In like maner when as they ship or sende away any of their countrey
commodities from S. Michael Archangel to any other place, or to our royall
Citie of Mosco yee shall not hinder nor let them any maner of wise for the
shipping of their merchandises in or out by virtue of these our gratious
letters of priuiledge giuen them.
And whensoeuer any of the said English merchants haue any occasion to send
ouer land out of our dominions into their own countrey any of their
seruants or factors, by vertue of this our gratious letter we command you
to giue them their passeport out of the office of our Secretariship.
And whensoeuer any of our subiects hath any thing to do with any of the
foresaid merchants by way of contentions: or that they be damnified or
hindered by any of our subiects: then we appoint and ordeine our Chanceller
and Secretary Vasili Shalcan to heare their causes, and finally to
determine on both sides according to equitie and iustice: and that he shall
search the trueth betweene both parties.
And when the trueth cannot be proued or found out, then to cast lots by
order of the foresaide Iudge, and he to whom the lot shall fall to take his
othe.
Furthermore whensoeuer any of the English merchants or their factors shall
come into any parts of our dominions or Cities, and shalbe wronged any
kinde of wayes in trading, or otherwise by any abused, or haue any occasion
of contention with any by way of trade in merchandise or otherwayes: we
straightly charge and commaund you our gouernours, and authorised subiects
within all our realme and territories of the same, to minister iustice vnto
the aforesaid merchants, or to their deputies, and to search the trueth of
the contention: and for want of sufficient proofe cast lots who shall take
his oath for the more ready triall of the cause: And in no wise to take any
fee or duetie of the aforesaid English merchants for the said iudgement in
Lawe.
We wil and commaund all this to be obserued and kept in all parts of our
dominions by all our subiects and authorised people by vertue of these our
royal letters patents: And the said letters not to be diminished in any
part or parsell thereof by any persons howsoeuer they be named. And
whosoeuer shall withstand and not regard these our gracious letters shalbe
in our high displeasure, and shal incurre the losse of his life. [Sidenote:
After our accompt 1596.] This our gracious letter was giuen in our kingdom
and royal City of Mosco, in the yere from the beginning of the world 7104.
in the moneth of May.
Subscribed by the Emperours Chancellour
and Secretarie Vasili Shalean.
* * * * *
The contents of M. Garlands Commission vnto Thomas Simkinson for the
bringing of M. Iohn Dee to the Emperour of Russia his Court.
Friend Thomas Simkinson I pray you goe to Brounswik or Cassil and inquire
if Master Iohn Dee be there or where he is, and when you finde him,
certifie him howe that I haue sent you purposely to knowe where hee doeth
remaine, and at your returne I will come and speake with him my selfe. Also
you may certefie him that the Emperour of Russeland hauing certaine
knowledge of his great learning and wisdome is marueilous desirous of him
to come into his Countrey. And hath giuen me his letter with his hand and
golden seale at it for to bring him into the Countrey with mee if it be
possible, and for his liuing shewe him that he shall be sure of 2000 pound
yeerely, and also all prouision for his table out of the Emperours kitching
free:
