The copy of a letter sent to the Emperour of Moscovie,
by Christopher Hodsdon and William Burrough, Anno
1570.
MOST mightie Emperour, &c. Whereas Sir William
Garrard and his felowship the company of English
merchants, this last Winter sent hither to the Narve three
ships laden with merchandise, which was left here, and
with it Christopher Hodsdon one of the sayd felowship,
and their chiefe doer in this place, who when hee came
first hither, and untill such time as hee had dispatched
those ships from hence, was in hope of goods to lade
twelve or thirteene sailes of good ships, against this
shipping, wherefore he wrote unto the sayd Sir William
Garrard and his companie to send hither this spring the
sayd number of thirteene ships. And because that in their
comming hither wee found the Freebooters on the sea, and
supposing this yeere that they would be very strong, he
therefore gave the said sir William and his Companie
advise to furnish the sayd number of ships so strongly,
as they should bee able to withstand the force of the
Freebooters: whereupon they have according to his advise
sent this yeere thirteene good ships together well furnished
with men and munition, and all other necessaries for the
warres, of which 13. ships William Burrough one of the
said felowship is captaine generall, unto whom there was
given in charge, that if hee met with any the Danske
Freebooters, or whatsoever robbers and theeves that are
enimies to your highnesse, he should doe his best to apprehend and take them. It so hapned that the tenth day of
this moneth the sayd William with his fleete, met with sixe
ships of the Freebooters neere unto an Island called
Tuttee, which is about 50. versts from Narve, unto which
Freebooters he with his fleete gave chase, and tooke of
them the Admirall, wherein were left but three men, the
rest were fled to shore in their boats amongst the woods
upon Tuttee, on which ship he set fire and burnt her. He
also tooke foure more of those ships which are now here,
and one ship escaped him: out of which foure ships some
of the men fled in their boates and so escaped, others were
slaine in fight, and some of them when they saw they
could not escape, cast themselves willingly into the Sea
and were drowned. So that in these five ships were left
but 83. men.
The said Wil. Borough when he came hither to Narve,
finding here Christopher Hodsdon aforenamed, both the
said Christopher and William together, in the name of sir
William Garrard and the rest of their whole companie
and felowship, did present unto your highnesse of those
Freebooters taken by our ships 82. men, which we
delivered here unto Knez Voivoda, the 13. of this moneth.
One man of those Freebooters we have kept by us, whose
name is Haunce Snarke a captaine. And the cause why
we have done it is this: When wee should have delivered
him with the rest of his felowes unto the Voivodaes
officers, there were of our Englishmen more then 50.
which fell on their knees unto us, requesting that he
might be reserved in the ship, and caried back into
England: and the cause why they so earnestly intreated
for him, is, that some of those our Englishmen had bene
taken with Freebooters, and by his meanes had their lives
saved, with great favour besides, which they found at
his hands. Wherefore if it please your highnesse to
permit it, we will cary him home with us into England,
wherein we request your majesties favour: notwithstanding what you command of him shalbe observed.
Wee have also sent our servant to your highnesse
with such bestellings and writings as wee found in those
shippes: whereby your Majestie may see by whom, and
in what order they were set out, and what they pretended,
which writings wee have commended unto Knez Yorive
your Majesties Voivoda at
Plesco, by our servant. And
have requested his furtherance for the safe deliverie of
them to your majesties hands: which writings when you
have perused, we desire that they may be returned unto us
by this our servaunt, as speedily as may bee: for these
ships which we now have here will be soone dispatched
from hence, for that we have not goods to lade above the
halfe of them. And the cause is, we have this winter (by
your majesties order) bene kept from trafiquing, to the
companies great losse. But hoping your majestie will
hereafter have consideration thereof, and that we may
have free libertie to trafique in all partes of your majesties
Countries, according to the priviledge given unto us, we
pray for your majesties health, with prosperous successe
to the pleasure of God. From Narve the 15 of July, Anno
1570.
Your Majesties most humble and obedient,
Christopher Hodsdon. William Borough.
