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.