A compendious and briefe declaration of the journey of
M. Anth. Jenkinson, from the famous citie of London
into the land of Persia, passing in this same journey
thorow Russia
, Moscovia, and Mare Caspium, alias
Hircanum, sent and imployed therein by the right
worshipfull Societie of the Merchants Adventurers, for
discoverie of Lands, Islans, &c. Being begun the
foureteenth day of May, Anno 1561, and in the third
yere of the reigne of the Queenes Majestie that now
is: this present declaration being directed and written
to the foresayd Societie.
FIRST imbarking my selfe in a good shippe of yours,
named the Swallow, at Gravesend
, having a faire and
good winde, our anker then weyed, and committing all
to the protection of our God, having in our sailing
diversitie of windes, & thereby forced to direct and
observe sundry courses (not here rehearsed, because you
have bene thereof heretofore amply informed) on the
fourteenth day of July, the yere aforesayd I arrived in
the bay of S. Nicholas in Russia
: and the sixe and
twentieth day of the same moneth, after conference then
had with your Agents there, concerning your worships
affaires, I departed from thence, passing thorow the
countrey of Vago
, and on the eight day of August then
following, I came to Vologda, which is distant from
Colmogro, seven hundred miles, where I remained foure
dayes, attending the arrivall of one of your boats, wherein
was laden a chest of jewels with the present, by your
worships appointed for the Emperors Majesty: which
being arrived, and the chest received, I therewith departed
toward the
city of Mosco, and came thither the twentieth
day of the same moneth, where I immediatly caused
my comming to be signified unto the Secretary of the
Imperiall Majesty, with the Queenes Highnesse letters
addressed unto the same his Majestie, who informed
the Emperour thereof.. But his Highnesse having great
affaires, and being at that present ready to be married
unto a Ladie of Chircassi, of the Mahometicall law,
commanded that no stranger, Ambassadour, nor other,
should come before him for a time, with further streight
charge, that during the space of three dayes that the same
solemne feast was celebrating, the gates of the citie
should be shut, and that no person, stranger or native
(certeine of his houshold reserved) should come out of
their said houses during the said triumph, the cause
thereof unto this day not being knowen.
The sixt of September following, the Emperour made
a great feast, whereunto were called all Ambassadours
and strangers being of reputation, and having affaires:
amongst whom I was one, but being willed by the
Secretary first to come, and to shew him the Queenes
Majesties letters, I refused so to doe, saying I would
deliver the same unto the Emperours owne hands, and
not otherwise: which heard, the Secretarie answered,
that unlesse he might first peruse the sayd letters, I
should not come into the Emperors presence, so that I
was not at the feast. Neverthelesse, I was advertised by
a noble man that I was inquired for by the Emperours
Majestie, although the cause of my absence was to his
Majestie unknowen. The next day following, I caused
a supplication to be made, and presented it to his Highnesse owne hand, and thereby declared the cause of
my comming, signified by the Queenes Majesties letters,
and the answere of his sayd Secretary, most humbly
beseeching his Grace that he would receive and accept
the same her Highnesse letters, with such honour and
friendship, as his letters sent by Osep Napea were
received by the hands of our late Sovereigne Lady Queene
Mary, or els that it would please his Highnes to dismisse
me, saying that I would not deliver the said letters but
unto his owne hands, for that it is so used in our
countrey. Thus the matter being pondered, and the
effect of my supplication well disgested, I was foorthwith
commaunded to come with the said letters before his
Majestie, and so delivered the same into his owne hands
(with such presents as by you were appointed) according
to my request, which were gratefully accepted, & the
same day I dined in his Graces presence, with great
entertainment. Shortly after, I desired to know whether
I should be licenced to passe therow his Highnesse
dominions into the land of Persia, according to the
Queens Majesties request: hereunto it was answered,
that I should not passe thither, for that his Majestie
meant to send an armie of men that way into the land
of Chircassi, whereby my journey should be both dangerous & troublesome, and that if I should perish therein,
it would be much to his Graces dishonour, but he doubted
other matters, although they were not expressed. Thus
having received his answere, neither to my expectation,
nor yet contentation, and there remaining a good part
of the yere, having in that time solde the most part of
your kersies and other wares appointed for Persia, when
the time of the yeere required to returne for England,
I desired pasport, and post horses for money, which was
granted: but having received my pasport, ready to
depart, there came unto our house there Osep Napea,
who perswaded me that I should not depart that day,
saying that the Emperor was not truely informed,
imputing great fault to the frowardnesse of the Secretary,
who was not my friend: before whom comming againe
the next day, and finding the same Secretary and Osep
Napea together, after many allegations and objections of
things, and perceiving that I would depart, I was willed
to remaine untill the Emperours Majestie were spoken
with againe touching my passage: wherewith I was
content, & within three dayes after sending for me, he
declared that the Emperours pleasure was, that I should
not onely passe thorow his dominions into Persia, but
also have his Graces letters of commendations to forren
princes, with certaine his affaires committed to my charge,
too long here to rehearse: whereupon I appointed my
selfe for the voyage, & the 15 day of March, the yeere
aforesaid, I dined againe in his Majesties presence in
company of an Ambassadour of Persia and others, and
receiving a cup of drinke at his Majesties hands, I tooke
my leave of his Highnesse, who did not onely give me
letters, as aforesayd, but also committed matter of
importance and charge unto me, to be done when I should
arrive in those countreys whither I intended to go, and
having all things in readinesse for the same voyage, I
departed from the
city of Mosco the 27 day of April
1562, downe by the great
river of Volga, in company
of the said Ambassadour of Persia, with whom I had
great friendship and conference all the way downe the
same river unto Astracan, where we arrived all in health
the 10 day of June.
And as touching the situations of the cities, townes,
castles and countreys, aswell of Mahometans as also of
Gentils adjoyning to the same, whereby I passed from
Mosco unto Astracan, I omit in this breviat to rehearse,
for that I heretofore have declared the same most amply
unto you in my voyage to Boghar. Thus being arrived
at Astracan, as is aforesayd, I repaired unto the captaine
there, unto whom I was commended from the Emperours
Majesty, with great charge that he not only should ayd
and succor me with all things needfull during my abode
there, but also to safeconduct me with 50 gunners wel
appointed in two stroogs or brigantines into the
Caspian
sea, until I had passed certaine dangerous places which
pirats & rovers do accustome to haunt, and having prepared my barke for the sea, the Ambassador of Persia
being before departed in a barke of his owne the 15 day
of July, the yeere aforesayd, I and my company tooke
our voyage from the sayd Astracan, and the next day
at a West sunne, passed the mouth of the said river
being twenty miles distant, lying next Southeast. The
18 at a Southwest sunne, we passed by three Islands
being distant nine miles from the said mouth of Volga
,
and Southsouthwest from thence, sailing Southsouthwest
the next day, at a West & by North sun we fel with
the land called Challica Ostriva, being foure round Islands
together, distant from the said three Islands forty miles.
From thence sailing the said course the next day, we
had sight of a land called Tuke, in the countrey of
Tumen
, where pirats and rovers do use: for feare of
whom we haled off into the sea due East forty miles,
and fell upon shallowes out of the sight of land, and
there were like to have perished, escaping most hardly:
then the 22 day we had sight of a goodly Island called
Chatalet, distant from the said Challica Ostriva an
hundred miles, the winde being contrary, and a stiffe
gale, we were not able to seize it: but were forced to
come to an anker to the leeward of the same sixe miles
off in three or foure fathom water, being distant from
the maine land to the Westward of us, which was called
Skafcayl or Connyk a countrey of Mahometans, about
miles, and so riding at two ankers a head, having
no other provision, we lost one of them, the storme and
sea being growen very sore, and thereby our barke was
so full of leaks, that with continuall pumping we had
much adoe to keepe her above water, although we threw
much of our goods overboard, with losse of our boat,
and our selves thereby in great danger like to have
perished either in the sea or els upon the lee shore, where
we should have fallen into the hands of those wicked
infidels, who attended our shipwracke: and surely it was
very unlike that we should have escaped both the
extremities, but onely by the power and mercy of God,
for the storme continued seven dayes, to wit, untill the
thirtieth day of the same moneth: and then the winde
comming up at the West with faire weather, our anker
weyed, and our saile displayed, lying South, the next
day haling to the shore with a West sunne, we were
nie a land called by the inhabitants Shyrvansha, and
there we came againe to an anker, having the winde
contrary, being distant from the said Chatalet 150 miles,
and there we continued untill the third day of August,
then having a faire winde, winding Southsoutheast, and
sailing threescore miles, the next day at a Southeast
sunne we arrived at a city called Derbent in the king
of Hircans dominion, where comming to land, and
saluting the captaine there with a present, he made to
me and my company a dinner, and there taking fresh
water I departed.
This city of Derbent is an ancient towne having an
olde castle therein, being situated upon an hill called
Castow, builded all of free stone much after our building,
the walles very high and thicke, and was first erected
by king Alexander the great, when he warred against
the Persians and Medians, and then hee made a wall
of a woonderfull height and thicknesse, extending from
the same city to the Georgians, yea unto the principall
city thereof named Tewflish, which wall though it be
now rased, or otherwise decayed, yet the foundation
remaineth, & the wall was made to the intent that the
inhabitants of that countrey then newly conquered by
the said Alexander should not lightly flee, nor his enemies
easily invade. This city of Derbent being now under
the power of the Sophy of Persia, bordereth upon the
sea, adjoyning to the foresaid land of Shalfcall, in the
latitude of 41 degrees. From thence sailing Southeast
and Southsoutheast about 80 miles, the sixt day of
August, the yere aforesaid, we arrived at our landing
place called Shabran, where my barke discharged: the
goods layd on shore, and there being in my tent keeping
great watch for feare of rovers, wherof there is great
plenty, being field people, the governor of the said
countrey named Alcan Murcy, comming unto me, entertained me very gently, unto whom giving a present, he
appointed for my safegard forty armed men to watch
& ward me, until he might have newes from the king of
Shirvan. The 12 day of the same moneth newes did
come from the king, with order that I should repaire
unto him with all speed: and for expedition, aswell
camels to the number of five and forty to cary my goods,
as also horses for me and my company were in readinesse,
so that the goods laden, and taking my journey from
thence the said twelft day, on the 18 of the same moneth
I came to a city called Shamaky, in the said countrey
of Hircan, otherwise called Shirvan, and there the king
hath a faire place, where my lodging being appointed,
the goods were discharged: the next day being the 19
day, I was sent for to come to the king, named
Obdolowcan, who kept his court at that time in the high
mountaines in tents, distant from the said Shamaki
twentie miles, to avoyd the injury of the heat: and the
20 day I came before his presence, who gently interteined
me, and having kissed his hands, he bad me to dinner,
and commanded me to sit downe not farre from him.
This king did sit in a very rich pavillion, wrought with
silke & golde, placed very pleasantly, upon a hill side,
of sixteene fathom long, and sixe fathom broad, having
before him a goodly fountaine of faire water: whereof
he & his nobility did drinke, he being a prince of a meane
stature, and of a fierce countenance, richly apparelled
with long garments of silke, and cloth of gold, imbrodred
with pearles and stone: upon his head was a tolipane
with a sharpe ende standing upwards halfe a yard long,
of rich cloth of golde, wrapped about with a piece of
India silke of twentie yards long, wrought with golde,
and on the left side of his tolipane stood a plume of
fethers, set in a trunke of golde richly inameled, and
set with precious stones: his earerings had pendants
of golde a handfull long, with two great rubies of great
value, set in the ends thereof: all the ground within
his pavilion was covered with rich carpets, & under
himselfe was spred a square carpet wrought with silver
& golde, and therupon was layd two sutable cushions.
Thus the king with his nobility sitting in his pavilion
with his legs a crosse, and perceiving that it was painfull
for me so to sit, his highnesse caused a stoole to be
brought in, & did will me to sit thereupon, after my
fashion. Dinner time then approching, divers clothes
were spred upon the ground, and sundry dishes served,
and set in a ranke with divers kindes of meats, to the
number of 140 dishes, as I numbred them, which being
taken away with the table clothes, and others spred, a
banket of fruits of sundry kindes, with other banketting
meates, to the number of 150 dishes, were brought in:
so that two services occupied 290 dishes, and at the
end of the sayd dinner & banket, the king said unto
me, Quoshe quelde, that is to say, Welcome: and called
for a cup of water to be drawen at a fountaine, and
tasting thereof, did deliver me the rest, demanding how
I did like the same, and whether there were so good
in our countrey or not: unto whom I answered in such
sort, that he was therewith contented: then he proponed
unto me sundry questions, both touching religion, and
also the state of our countreys, and further questioned
whether the Emperor of Almaine, the Emperor of Russia,
or the great Turke, were of most power, with many other
things too long here to rehearse, to whom I answered
as I thought most meet. Then he demanded whether
I intended to goe any further, and the cause of my
comming: unto that I answered, that I was sent with
letters from the Queenes most excellent Majesty of
England unto the great Sophy, to intreat friendship and
free passage, and for his safeconduct to be granted unto
English merchants to trade into his Segniories, with the
like also to be granted to his subjects, when they should
come into our countreys, to the honour and wealth of
both realmes, and commodity of both their subjects, with
divers other words, which I omit to rehearse. This sayd
king much allowing this declaration sayd, that he would
not onely give me passage, but also men to safeconduct
me unto the sayd Sophy, lying from the foresayd citie
of Shamaki thirtie dayes journey, up into the land of
Persia, at a castle called Casbin: so departing from the
king at that time, within three dayes after, being the
foure and twentieth day of August the yere aforesaid,
he sent for me againe: unto whom I repaired in the
morning, and the king not being risen out of his bed
(for his maner is, that watching in the night, and then
banketting with his women, being an hundred and forty
in number, he sleepeth most in the day) did give one
commandement that I should ride on hawking with many
Gentlemen of his Court, and that they should shew me
so much game and pastime as might be: which was done,
and many cranes killed. We returned from hawking
about three of the clocke at the afternoone: the king
then risen, and ready to dinner, I was invited thereunto,
and approching nigh to the entring in of his tent, and
being in his sight, two gentlemen incountered me with
two garments of that countrey fashion, side, downe to
the ground, the one of silke, and the other of silke and
golde, sent unto me from the king, and after that they
caused me to put off my upper garment, being a gowne
of blacke velvet furred with Sables, they put the sayd
two garments upon my backe, and so conducted me unto
the king, before whom doing reverence, and kissing his
hand, he commanded me to sit not farre from him, and
so I dined in his presence, he at that time being very
mery, and demanding of me many questions, and amongst
other, how I like the maner of their hawking. Dinner
so ended, I required his highnesse safeconduct for to
depart towards the Sophy, who dismissing me with great
favour, and appointing his Ambassadour (which returned
out of Russia
) and others, to safeconduct me, he gave
me at my departure a faire horse with all furniture, and
custome free from thence with all my goods. So I
returned to Shamaki againe, where I remained untill the
sixt of October, to provide camels, horses, and other
necessaries for my sayd intended journey.
But now before I proceed further, I purpose to write
something of this countrey of Hircan, now called Shirvan,
with the townes and commodities of the same. This
countrey of Hircan in times past was of great renowme,
having many cities, townes, and castles in it: and the
kings thereof in time of antiquity were of great power,
able to make wars with the Sophies of Persia: but now
it is not onely otherwise (for that the cities, townes, and
castles be decayed) but also the king is subject to the
sayd Sophie (although they have their proper king) and
be at the commandement of the sayd Sophy, who conquered them not many yeeres passed, for their diversity
in religion, and caused not onely all the nobility & gentle
men of that countrey to be put to death, but also over
and besides, rased the walles of the cities, townes, and
castles of the said realme, to the intent that there should
be no rebellion, and for their great terror, caused a
turret of free stone and flints to be erected in the sayd
city called Shamaki, and in a ranke of flints of the sayd
turret, did set the heads of the sayd nobility and gentlemen, then executed. This city is distant from the sea
side, with camels, seven dayes journey, but now the same
being much decayed, & chiefly inhabited with Armenians,
another city called Arrash, bordering upon the Georgians,
is the chiefest and most opulent in the trade of merchandise, & thereabouts is nourished the most abundant
growth of raw silke, and thither the Turks, Syrians, and
other strangers do resort and trafficke. There be also
divers good and necessary commodities to be provided
& had in this sayd realme: viz. galles rough and smooth,
cotton wooll, allome, and raw silke of the naturall growth
of that countrey: besides, nere all kinde of spices and
drugges, and some other commodities, which are brought
thither from out of East India, but in the lesse quantity,
for that they be not assured to have vent or utterance
of the same: but the chiefest commodities be there, raw
silks of all sorts, whereof there is great plenty. Not
farre from the sayd city of Shamaki, there was an olde
castle called Gullistone, now beaten downe by this Sophy,
which was esteemed to be one of the strongest castles
in the world, and was besieged by Alexander the great,
long time before he could win it. And not farre from
the sayd castle was a Nunry of sumptuous building,
wherein was buried a kings daughter, named Ameleck
Channa, who slew herselfe with a knife, for that her
father would have forced her (she professing chastity) to
have married with a king of Tartarie: upon which
occasion the maidens of that countrey do resort thither
once every yere to lament her death.
Also in the sayd countrey there is an high hill called
Quiquifs, upon the toppe whereof (as it is commonly
reported) did dwell a great Giant, named Arneoste, having
upon his head two great hornes, and eares, and eyes
like a Horse, and a taile like a Cow. It is further sayd,
that this monster kept a passage thereby, untill there
came an holy man, termed Haucoir Hamshe, a kinseman
to one of the Sophies, who mounted the sayd hill, and
combating with the sayd Giant, did binde not onely him
in chaines, but also his woman called Lamisache with
his sonne named After: for which victory they of that
countrey have this holy man in great reputation, and
the hill at this day (as it is bruited) savoureth so ill, that
no person may come nigh unto it: but whether it be
true or not, I referre it to further knowledge.
Now to returne to the discourse of the proceeding in
my voyage towards the great Sophie. The 6 of October
in the yeere aforesayd, I with my company departed from
Shamachi aforesaid, and having journeyed threescore
miles, came to a towne called Yavate, wherein the king
hath a faire house, with orchards and gardens well
replenished with fruits of all sorts. By this towne passeth
a great river called Cor, which springeth in the mountaines of the Georgians, & passing thorow the countrey
of Hircania aforesayd, falleth into the Caspian or
Hircan
sea, at a place betweene two ancient townes called
Shabran and Bachu, situate within the realme of Hircane,
and from thence issueth further, passing thorow a fruitfull
countrey, inhabited with pasturing people, which dwell
in the Summer season upon mountaines, and in Winter
they remoove into the valleyes without resorting to townes
or any other habitation: and when they remoove, they
doe journey in carravans or troops of people and cattell,
carrying all their wives, children and baggage upon
bullocks. Now passing this wilde people ten dayes
journey, comming into no towne or house, the sixteenth
day of October we arrived at a citie called Ardouill, where
we were lodged in an hospitall builded with faire stone,
and erected by this Sophies father named Ismael, onely
for the succour and lodging of strangers and other
travellers, wherein all men have victuals and feeding for
man and horse, for three dayes and no longer. This
foresayd late prince Ismael lieth buried in a faire Meskit,
with a sumptuous sepulchre in the same, which he caused
to be made in his life time. This towne Ardouill is in
the latitude of eight and thirtie degrees, an ancient citie
in the province of Aderravgan, wherein the Princes of
Persia are commonly buried: and there Alexander the
great did keepe his Court when he invaded the Persians.
Foure dayes journey to the Westward is the citie Tebris
in olde time called Tauris
, the greatest citie in Persia,
but not of such trade of merchandise as it hath bene,
or as others be at this time, by meane of the great
invasion of the Turke, who hath conquered from the
Sophie almost to the sayd citie of Tauris
, which the sayd
Turke once sacked, and thereby caused the Sophie to
forsake the same, and to keepe his court ten dayes journey
from thence, at the sayd citie of Casbin.
The 21 day we departed from Ordowil aforesayd,
travelling for the most part over mountaines all in the
night season, and resting in the day, being destitute of
wood, and therefore were forced to use for fewell the
dung of horses & camels, which we bought deare of the
pasturing people. Thus passing ten dayes journey the
yere aforesayd, the second day of November we arrived
at the foresayd citie of Casbin, where the sayd Sophie
keepeth his court, and were appointed to a lodging not
farre from the kings pallace, and within two dayes after
the Sophie commanded a prince called Shalli Murzey,
sonne to Obdolowcan king of Shirvan aforesayd, to send
for me to his house, who asked me in the name of the
said Sophy how I did, and whether I were in health, and
after did welcome me, and invited me to dinner, whereat
I had great enterteinment, and so from thence I returned
to my lodging. The next day after I sent my interpreter
unto the Sophies Secretarie, declaring that I had letters
directed from our most gracious Sovereigne ladie the
Queenes most excellent
Majestie of the Realme of
England
, unto the sayd Sophy, and that the cause of
my comming was expressed in the same letters, desiring
that at convenient time I might come into his Majesties
presence, who advertising the Sophy thereof, shortly
after answered me that there were great affaires in hand:
which being finished, I should come before his presence,
willing me in the meane time to make ready my present
if I had any to deliver.
At this time, the great Turkes Ambassadour arrived
foure dayes before my comming, who was sent thither
to conclude a perpetuall peace betwixt the same great
Turke and the Sophie, and brought with him a present
in golde, and faire horses with rich furnitures, and other
gifts, esteemed to be woorth forty thousand pound. And
thereupon a peace was concluded with joyfull feasts,
triumphs and solemnities, corroborated with strong othes,
by their law of Alkaron, for either to observe the same,
and to live alwayes after as sworne brethren, ayding
the one the other against all princes that should warre
against them, or either of them. And upon this conclusion the Sophy caused the great Turkes sonne named
Baiset Soltan, a valiant Prince (who being fled from his
father unto the Sophie, had remained in his Court the
space of foure yeeres) to be put to death. In which
time the sayd Turkes sonne had caused mortall warres
betwixt the sayd Princes, and much prevailed therein:
the Turke demanded therefore his sonne to be sent unto
him, & the Sophy refused thereunto to consent. But
now being slaine according to the Turks will, the Sophy
sent him his head for a present, not a litle desired, and
acceptable to the unnaturall father. Discoursing at my
first arrivall with the king of Shirvan of sundry matters,
and being intertained as hath bene before declared, the
sayd king named Obdolocan, demaunding whether that
we of England had friendship with the Turks or not:
I answered, that we never had friendship with them,
and that therefore they would not suffer us to passe
thorow their countrey into the Sophy his dominions, and
that there is a nation named the Venetians, not farre
distant from us, which are in great league with the sayd
Turks, who trade into his dominions with our commodities, chiefly to barter the same for raw silks, which
(as we understand) come from thence: and that if it
would please the sayd Sophy and other Princes of that
countrey, to suffer our merchants to trade into those
dominions, and to give us pasport and safe conduct for
the same, as the sayd Turke hath granted to the sayd
Venetians, I doubted not but that it should grow to such
a trade to the profit of them as never before had beene
the like, and that they should be both furnished with
our commodities, and also have utterance of theirs,
although there never came Turke into their land, perswading with many other wordes for a trade to be had.
This king understanding the matter liked it marveilously,
saying, that he would write unto the Sophy concerning
the same: as he did in very deed, assuring me that the
Sophy would graunt my request, and that at my returne
unto him he would give me letters of safe conduct, and
priviledges. The Turks Ambassadour was not then come
into the land, neither any peace hoped to be concluded,
but great preparation was made for warre, which was
like much to have furthered my purpose, but it chanced
otherwise. For the Turks Ambassadour being arrived,
and the peace concluded, the Turkish merchants there
at that time present, declared to the same Ambassadour,
that my comming thither (naming me by the name of
Franke) would in great part destroy their trade, and that
it should be good for him to perswade the Sophy not
to favour me, as his Highnesse meant to observe the
league and friendship with the great Turke his master,
which request of the Turkish merchants the same
Ambassadour earnestly preferred, and being afterwards
dismissed with great honour, he departed out of the
Realme with the Turks sonnes head as aforesayd, and
other presents.
The 20 day of November aforesayd, I was sent for
to come before the sayd Sophy, otherwise called Shaw
Thomas, and about three of the clocke at afternoone
I came to the Court, and in lighting from my horse
at the Court gate, before my feet touched the ground, a
paire of the Sophies owne shoes termed in the Persian
tongue Basmackes, such as hee himselfe weareth when
he ariseth in the night to pray (as his maner is) were
put upon my feet, for without the same shoes I might
not be suffred to tread upon his holy ground, being a
Christian, and called amongst them Gower, that is,
unbeleever, and uncleane: esteeming all to be infidels
and Pagans which do not beleeve as they do, in their
false filthie prophets, Mahomet and Murtezalli. At the
sayd Court gate the things that I brought to present his
Majestie with, were devided by sundry parcels to sundry
servitors of the Court, to cary before me, for none of
my company or servants might be suffered to enter into
the Court with me, my interpreter onely excepted. Thus
comming before his Majestie with such reverence as I
thought meete to be used, I delivered the Queenes
Majesties letters with my present, which hee accepting,
demaunded of mee of what countrey of Franks I was,
and what affaires I had there to doe? Unto whom I
answered that I was of the famous Citie of London within
the noble
Realme of England, and that I was sent thither
from the most excellent and gracious soveraigne Lady
Elizabeth Queene of the saide Realme for to treate of
friendship, and free passage of our Merchants and people,
to repaire and traffique within his dominions, for to bring
in our commodities, and to carry away theirs to the
honour of both princes, the mutuall commoditie of both
Realmes, and wealth of the Subjects, with other wordes
here omitted. He then demaunded me in what language
the letters were written, I answered, in the Latine, Italian
and Hebrew: well said he, we have none within our
Realme that understand those tongues. Whereupon I
answered that such a famous and worthy prince (as hee
was) wanted not people of all nations within his large
dominions to interprete the same. Then he questioned
with me of the state of our Countreys, and of the power
of the Emperour of Almaine, king Philip, and the great
Turke, and which of them was of most power: whom I
answered to his contentation, not dispraysing the great
Turke, their late concluded friendship considered. Then
he reasoned with mee much of Religion, demaunding
whether I were a Gower, that is to say, an unbeleever,
or a Muselman, that is, of Mahomets lawe. Unto whom
I answered, that I was neither unbeleever nor Mahometan, but a Christian. What is that, said he unto the
king of the Georgians sonne, who being a Christian
was fled unto the said Sophie, and he answered that a
Christian was he that beleeveth in Jesus Christus, affirming him to be the Sonne of God, and the greatest Prophet.
Doest thou beleeve so, said the Sophie unto me? Yea
that I do, said I: Oh thou unbeleever, said he, we have
no neede to have friendship with the unbeleevers, and
so willed me to depart. I being glad thereof did reverence
and went my way, being accompanied with many of his
gentlemen and others, and after me followed a man
with a Basanet of sand, sifting all the way that I had
gone within the said pallace, even from the said Sophies
sight unto the court gate.
Thus I repaired againe unto my lodging, and the
said night Shally Murzey sonne to the king of Hircan
aforesaid, who favoured me very much for that I was
commended unto him from his father, willed mee not to
doubt of any thing, putting mee in hope that I should
have good successe with the Sophie, and good intertainment.
Thus I continued for a time, dayly resorting unto me
divers gentlemen sent by the Sophie to conferre with me,
especially touching the affaires of the Emperour of Russia,
and to know by what way I intended to returne into my
countrey, either by the way that I came, or by the way
of Ormus, and so with the Portingals ships. Unto whom
I answered, that I durst not returne by the way of Ormus,
the Portingals and wee not being friendes, fully perceiving
their meaning: for I was advertised that the saide Sophie
meant to have warres with the Portingals, and would
have charged mee that I had bene come for a spie to
passe through his dominions unto the saide Portingals,
thinking them and us to be all one people, and calling
all by the name of Franks, but by the providence of
God this was prevented.
After this the said Sophie conferred with his nobilitie
and counsel concerning me, who perswaded that he should
not entertaine me wel, neither dismisse me with letters
or gifts, considering that I was a Franke, and of that
nation that was enemie to the great Turke his brother,
perswading that if he did otherwise, and that the newes
thereof should come to the knowledge of the Turke, it
should be a meane to breake their new league and friendship lately concluded: disswading further because he
had no neede, neither that it was requisite for him to
have friendship with unbeleevers, whose Countreys lay
farre from him, and that it was best for him to send
me with my letters unto the said great Turke for a
present, which he was fully determined to have done at
some meet time, meaning to send his Ambassadour unto
the said great Turke very shortly after.
But the king of Hircanes sonne aforesaide, understanding this deliberation, sent a man in post unto his
father, for to declare and impart the purpose unto him,
who as a gracious prince, considering that I had passed
through his dominions, and that I had journeyed for a
good intent, did write to the Sophie al that which he
understood of his said determination, & that it should not
stand with his Majesties honour to doe mee any harme or
displeasure, but rather to give mee good entertainment,
seeing I was come into his land of my free will, and not
by constraint, and that if hee used mee evil, there would
few strangers resort into his countrey, which would bee
greatly unto his hinderance, with many other perswasions :
which after that the saide Sophie had well and throughly
pondered and disgested (much esteeming the same king of
Hircane, being one of the valiantest princes under him
and his nigh kinseman) changed his determined purpose,
and the twentieth of March 1562. he sent to me a rich
garment of cloth of golde, and so dismissed me without
any harme.
During the time that I sojourned at the sayde
City of
Casbin, divers merchants out of India came thither unto
mee, with whom I conferred for a trade of spices: whereunto they answered that they would bring of all sorts so
much as we would have, if they were sure of vent, whereof
I did promise to assure them, so that I doubt not but that
great abundance thereof may from time to time be there
provided and had.
The same twentieth day of March I returned from the
saide Citie of Casbin where I remayned all the Winter,
having sent away all my Camels before, and the thirtieth
day I came to the saide Citie of Ardouil, and the fifteenth
of April unto Zavat aforesayd, where king Obdolowcan
was at that present, who immediatly sent for me, and
demaunding of me many questions, declared that if it had
not bene for him, I had bene utterly cast away, and sent
to the great Turke for a present by the Sophie, through
the evill perswasion of his wicked counsell, that the
Zieties and holy men were the chiefe and principal procurers and moovers thereof: but the Sophie himselfe ment
mee much good at the first, and thought to have given
me good entertainement, and so had done, had not the
peace and league fortuned to have bene concluded
betweene them and the great Turke. Neverthelesse, sayd
he, the Sophie hath written unto me to entertaine you
well, and you are welcome into my Countrey, and so he
intreated mee very gently, in whose Court I remained seven
dayes, and obteined of him letters of safe conductes and
priviledges in your names to bee free from paying custome,
which I delivered unto your servants Thomas Alcocke and
George Wrenne, at their departure towards Persia for
your affaires: and his highnesse did give mee two garments of silke, and so dismissed me with great favour,
sending with me his Ambassadour againe unto the
Emperour of Russia, and committed the chiefest secret
of his affaires unto me, to declare the same unto the
Emperours Majestie at my returne: and thus departing
the tenth day of April, I came to the
City of Shamachi,
and there remayning certaine dayes for provision of
Camels downe to the Sea side, I sent from thence before
men to repaire my Barke, and to make her in a readinesse.
And during my abode in
Shammachi, there came unto me
an Armenian sent from the king of Georgia, who declared
the lamentable estate of the same king, that being enclosed
betwixt those two cruell tyrants and mightie princes, the
said great Turke and the Sophie, hee had continuall warres
with them, requiring for the love of Christ and as I was a
Christian, that I would send him comfort by the said
Armenian, and advise how he might send his Ambassadour
to the sayd Emperour of Russia, and whether I thought
that he would support him or no: and with many other
wordes required me to declare his necessitie unto the same
Emperour at my returne: adding further that the said
king would have written unto me his minde, but that hee
doubted the safe passage of his messenger. Unto whom
I did likewise answere by word of mouth, not onely perswading him to sende his Ambassadour to Russia
, not
doubting but' that hee should finde him most honourable
and inclined to helpe him, but also I directed him his way
how the sayde king might send by the
Countrey of Chircassi, through the favour of Teneruk king of the sayd
Countrey, whose daughter the said king had lately
married. And thus dismissing the saide Armenian,
within two dayes after I sent Edward Cleark your servaunt
unto the Citie of Arrash, where the most store of Silkes
is to be had, giving him Commission to have passed
further into the saide
Countrey of Georgia, and there to
have repaired unto the sayde king. And after my commendations premised, and my minde declared to have
pursued for safeconduct of the same Prince for our
Merchants to trade into his dominions, and that obtained
to have returned againe with speede. The same your
servaunt journeying to the sayd Citie of Arrash, and there
finding certaine Merchants Armenians, which promised to
goe to the sayd
City of Georgia, comming to the borders
thereof, was perceived by a Captaine there, that he was
a Christian, and thereupon demaunded whither he went,
and understanding that he could not passe further without
great suspition, answered that he came thither to buy
Silkes, and shewed the king of Hircanes letters which hee
had with him, and so returned backe againe, and the
fifteenth of April came to Shamachi: from whence I
departed the sixteene of the same moneth, and the one
and twentie therof comming to the Seaside, and finding
my barke in a readinesse, I caused your goods to be laden,
and there attended a faire winde.
But before I proceede any further to speake of my
returne, I intend with your favours somewhat to treate
of the countrey of Persia, of the great Sophie, and of his
countrey, lawes and religion.
This land of Persia is great and ample, devided into
many kingdomes and provinces, as Gillan, Corasan,
Shirvan, and many others having divers Cities, townes
and castles in the same. Every province hath his severall
King, or Sultan, all in obedience to the great Sophie.
The names of the chiefest Cities be these: Teveris, Casbin,
Keshan, Yesse, Meskit, Heirin, Ardouill, Shamachi,
Arrash with many others. The countrey for the most
part toward the sea side is plaine and full of pasture, but
into the land, high, full of mountaines, and sharpe. To
the South it bordereth upon Arabia
and the
East Ocean.
To the North upon the
Caspian sea and the lands of
Tartaria. To the East upon the provinces of India, and
to the West upon the confines of Chaldea, Syria
, and
other the Turkes lands. All within these dominions be of
the Sophies, named Shaw Thamas, sonne to Ismael
Sophie. This Sophie that now raigneth is nothing valiant,
although his power be great, and his people martiall: and
through his pusillanimitie the Turke hath much invaded
his countreys, even nigh unto the Citie of Teveris, wherein
hee was wont to keepe his chiefe court. And now having
forsaken the same, is chiefly resident at Casbin aforesaide,
and alwayes as the said Turke pursueth him, he not being
able to withstand the Turke in the fielde, trusting rather
to the mountaines for his safegard, then to his fortes
and castles, hath caused the same to bee rased within
his dominions, and his ordinance to be molten, to the
intent that his enemies pursuing him, they should not
strengthen themselves with the same.
This prince is of the age of fiftie yeeres, and of a
reasonable stature, having five children. His eldest sonne
he keepeth captive in prison, for that he feareth him for
his vialiantnesse and activitie: he professeth a kinde of
holynesse, and saith that hee is descended of the blood of
Mahomet and Murtezalli : and although these Persians bee
Mahometans, as the Turkes and Tartars bee, yet honour
they this false fained Murtezalli, saying that hee was the
chiefest disciple that Mahomet had, cursing and chiding
dayly three other disciples that Mahomet had called Ovear,
Usiran, and Abebeck, and these three did slay the saide
Murtezalli, for which cause and other differences of holy
men and lawes, they have had and have with the Turkes
and Tartars mortall warres. To intreat of their religion
at large, being more or lesse Mahomets lawe and the
Alkaron, I shall not need at this present. These persons
are comely and of good complexion, proude and of good
courage, esteeming themselves to bee best of all nations,
both for their religion and holinesse, which is most
erroneous, and also for all other their fashions. They be
martial, delighting in faire horses and good harnesse,
soone angrie, craftie and hard people. Thus much I
have thought good to treate of this nation, and nowe I
returne to discourse the proceeding of the rest of my
voyage.
My barke being ready at the
Caspian sea as aforesaide,
having a faire winde, and committing our selves unto
God the 30. day of May 1563. we arrived at Astracan,
having passed no lesse dangers upon the Sea in our
returne, then wee sustained in our going foorth, and
remayning at the said Astracan, untill the tenth day of
June, one hundred gunners being there admitted unto mee
for my safegard up the river Volga
, the fifteenth of July I
arrived at the Citie of Cazan, where the Captaine entertained me well, and so dismissing mee, I was conducted
from place to place unto the Citie of Mosco, where I
arrived the twentieth day of August 1563. in safetie,
thankes bee to God, with all such goods, merchandizes,
and jewels, as I had provided as well for the Emperours
stocke and accompt, as also of yours, all which goods I
was commaunded to bring into the Emperours treasurie
before it was opened, which I did, and delivered those
parcels of wares which were for his Majesties accompt,
videlicet, precious stones, and wrought silkes of sundry
colours and sortes, much to his highnesse contentation,
and the residue belonging to you, viz. Crasko, and rawe
silkes, with other merchandizes, (as by accompt appeareth)
were brought unto your house, whereof part there
remained, and the rest was laden in your shippes lately
returned.
Shortly after my comming to the Mosco, I came before
the Emperours Majestie, and presented unto him the
apparell given unto me by the Sophie, whose highnesse
conferred with mee touching the princes affaires which he
had committed to my charge: and my proceedings therein
it pleased him so to accept, that they were much to his
contentation, saying unto mee, I have perceived your good
service, for the which I doe thanke you, and will recompence you for the same, wishing that I would travell
againe in such his other affaires, wherein hee was minded
to employ mee: to whom I answered, that it was to my
heartie rejoycing that my service was so acceptable unto
his highnesse, acknowledging all that I had done to bee
but of duetie, humbly beseeching his grace to continue his
goodnesse unto your worships, and even at that instant I
humbly requested his Majestie to vouchsafe to graunt unto
you a newe priviledge more ample then the first, which
immediately was graunted, and so I departed. And afterwards having penned a briefe note howe I meant to
have the same priviledges made, I repaired dayly to the
Secretary for the perfecting of the same, and obtained it
under his Majesties broade seale, which at my departure
from thence, I delivered unto the custody of Thomas
Glover your Agent there. The copy whereof, and also of
the other priviledges, graunted and given by the king of
Hircan, I have already delivered unto you. Sojourning
all that winter at Mosco, and in the meane time having
bargained with the Emperours Majestie, I sent away your
servant Edward Clarke hither overland with advise, and
also made preparation for sending againe into Persia in
meete time of the yeere. And committing the charge
thereof unto your servants Thomas Alcocke, George
Wrenne, and Richard Cheinie, the 28. of June last, I
departed in poste from the said Mosco, and comming to
Colmogro and so downe to the Sea side, I found your
ships laden and ready to depart, where I embarked my
selfe in your good ship called the Swallow, the 9. of July,
one thousand five hundred sixtie foure, and having passed
the Seas with great and extreme dangers of losse of
shippe, goods and life, the 28. day of September last (God
be praised) we arrived here at London in safetie.
Thus knowing that the couragious and valiant souldier,
which adventureth both fame, member and life, to serve
faithfully his soveraigne, esteemeth not the perils and
dangers passed (the victorie once obtained) neither for his
guerdon desireth any thing more, then that his service bee
well taken of him for whom he enterprised it: So I perceiving your favourable benevolence to me extended in
accepting my travels in good part to your contentations,
do thinke my selfe therewith in great part recompensed:
beseeching Almightie God so to prosper your adventures,
from time to time hereafter to be made for reaping the
fruits of my travels (at your great charges, and to my no
small dangers) that ye may plentifully gather in and enjoy
the same, to the illustrating of the Queenes most excellent
Majestie, the honour and commoditie of this her highnesse
Realme, and to the ample benefit and abundant enriching
of you and your succession, & posteritie for ever.
