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These bee the names of the wares or commodities, which on the backe side of one of his letters the Shaugh hath written to you to be sent him.

  • FIRST, some cloth of Gold, with cloth of Tissue, and cloth of Botky, as Velvets wrought with gold.
  • Item, good velvets, to wit, crimosins, purples, reds, greenes and blackes. These colours his majestic 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 divers 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 above 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 twelve good shirts of male being very good or else none, that may abide the shot of an arrow, and two buffe jerkins.
  • Item, ten or-twelve pieces of Westerne karsies, being thicked well and close shut in the weaving, and died into scarlets and fine reds. I thinke there wil be no such cloth for noblemens caps. The prince named them karangies, saying, that maidens did make them, & 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 locks, and also six good dags, with locks to travel 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 devised: for Cozomomet willed me to write for one to be sent, to give 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 five of every sort, for the prince and other lords: the rest of other colours lively to the sight, as London russets, tawnies, lion colours, good lively 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 themselves do feare, and secretly say the same. And truely the Princes subjects intend to enter into trade with us for spices and other commodities that they were woont to sell unto 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 June, 1567. By your servant during life to command, Arthur Edwards.

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