Abbey Pechingo, and the bay of S. Nicholas, but they are
all and euery of them farmed out, and the Emperour receiueth the rent for
them.
[Sidenote: The second Interrogatorie.] Item, whether as well before, as
also within the memorie of men, till the time of the graunt of the said
letters patents any of the English merchants (sauing the merchants of the
said societie) subiects of this realme of England, haue commonly exercised
or frequented businesse or trade in the said villages or townes called the
Narue, Kegor, Pechingo, and Cola, or in any of them, or in any ports or
territories of the said Emperour of Russia.
[Sidenote: The deponents answer.] To this Interrogatorie the Deponent
answereth, that the subiects of this realme before the graunt of the said
letters patent did not commonly exercise, neither frequent or trade to any
of the said places called the Narue, Kegor, Pechingo or Cola, or to any of
them.
* * * * *
Certaine reasons to disswade the vse of a trade to the Narue aforesaide, by
way through Sweden.
The merchandise of the Narue are gross wares, viz. flaxe, hempe, waxe,
tallow and hides.
The traffique at that place standeth vpon the agreement and liking of the
Emperour of Russia, with the king of Sweden: for all these merchandises
that are brought thither come from Plescoue, Nouogrod, and other parts of
the Emperours dominions.
For transporting those merchandises from Narue to Stockholm, or what other
place shall be thought conuenient in Sweden, it must be in vessels of those
countries, which wilbe of smal force to resist Freebooters, or any other
that shall make quarrel or offer violence against them.
When the goods are brought into Sweden, they must be discharged, and new
laden into smaller vessels, to cary the same by riuer or lake a part of the
way, and againe to be vnladen and transported by land to Newles.
So as the ordinary charges for transporting of goods from Narue to Newles
by way as aforesaid, besides the spoile by so often lading and vnlading,
cariage by land, and the dangers of the seas, pirats, &c. will be such as
when it shalbe so brought to Newles it wil be as deare to the merchants in
that place as it shall be worth to be sold in London, wherefore the trade
that wayes cannot be profitable to our nation.
Moreouer, when the goods shall be in Newles, it may bee thought doubtfull
to bring it thence quietly without disliking or forcible resistance of the
king of Denmarke, forasmuch as he maketh quarrell, and alleageth damage
vnto him in his tolles of the Sound by our trade to S. Nicholas, how much
more will he now doe by this way, and with how much greater aduantage may
he performe it? The danger that may grow in our trade to Russia, by way of
S. Nicholas, through the displeasure that the Emperour may conceiue by our
trade with the Sweden to Narue is also to be considered.
* * * * *
A remembrance of aduise giuen to the merchants, touching a voyage for Cola
abouesaid. 1578.
Whereas you require my counsell after what order the voyage for Cola is to
be set forth, I answere that I know no better way then hath bene heretofore
vsed, which is after this maner. First of all we haue hired the ship by the
great, giuing so much for the wearing of the tackle and the hull of the
shippe, as the ship may be in bignesse: and if shee bee about the burden of
a hundred tunnes, we pay fourescore pound, and so after that rate: and
thereunto we doe vicual the ship our selues, and doe ship all our men our
selues, shipping no more men, nor giuing them more wages then we should doe
if they went of a merchants voyage, for it hath bene a great helpe to our
voiage hitherto, to haue our men to fish with one boate, & costing vs no
more charges then it should do, if our men should lie and doe nothing
sauing the charges of salt, & of lines, which is treble paid for againe.
For this last yere past our men killed with one boat betwixt 9. or 10.
thousand fish, which yeelded to vs in money with the oile that came of it,
about 15. or 16. score pounds, which is a great helpe to a voyage. And
besides all this, our ship did take in so much pile and other commodities
as we bestowed 100. whole clothes in. But because, as I doe suppose, it is
not the vse of London to take ships to fraight after that order before
prescribed, neither I think that the mariners wil take such paines as our
men will: Therefore my counsell is, if you thinke good, to freight some
ship of Hul or Newcastle, for I am sure that you may haue them there better
cheap to freight, then here at London. Besides al this, one may haue such
men as will take paines for their merchants. [Sidenote: Hull the best
market of England for sale of fish.] And furthermore when it shal please
God that the ship shal returne to come to discharge at Hull, which will be
the most for your profit for the sales of all such like commoditie as comes
from that place, as for fish, oyle, and Salmon chiefly, hee that will seeke
a better market for the sales then at Hull, he must seeke it out of
England, for the like is not in England. This is the best way that I can
deuise, and most for your profite, and if you will, I will also set you
downe all the commodities that are necessarie for such a voyage, and which
way also that the Hollanders may within two or three yeeres be forced to
leaue off the trade of Cola which may easily be done.
