Articles conceived and determined for the Commission of the Merchants of this company resiant in Russia
, and at the Warhouse, for the second voyage, 1555. the first of May, as followeth.
FIRST, the Governour, Consuls, Assistants and whole
company assembled this day in open court, committeth
and authorizeth Richard Gray and George Killingworth,
jointly and severally to be Agents, Factors, and Atturneis
generall and speciall, for the whole body of this companie,
to buy, sel, trucke, change and permute al, and every
kind and kindes of wares, marchandizes and goods to
the said company appertaining, now laden & shipped in
the good ship called the Edward Bonaventure, appointed
for Russia
, the same to utter and sell to the best commoditie, profit and advantage of the said corporation,
be it for ready money, wares & marchandises, or truck,
presently, or for time, as occasion & benefit of the company shal require and all such wares as they or either
of them shal buy, trucke, or provide, or cause to be
bought for the company to lade them homeward in good
order and condition, as by prudent course of marchandises, shall, and ought to appertaine, which article
extendeth also to John Brooke for the Wardhouse, as
in the 17. and 18. articles of this commission appeareth.
2 Item, it is also committed, as above, to the said
Agents, to binde & charge the said company by debt for
wares upon credit, as good opportunitie and occasion
shal serve, with power to charge and bind the said
company, and their successors, for the paiments of such
things as shalbe taken up for credite, and the said Agents
to be relieved ab opere satis dandi.
3 Item full authoritie and power is committed to the
said first named factors, together with Richard Chancelor
grand Pilot of this fleete, to repaire to the Emperors
court, there to present the king and Queenes Majesties
letters, written in
Greeke, Polish, and Italian, and to
give and exhibite the marchants presents at such time
and place as shalbe thought most expedient, they, or one
of them to demand, and humbly desire of ye Emperour
such further grants and priviledges to be made to this
companie, as may be beneficiall for the same, to continue
in traffike with his subjects, according to such instructions
as bee in this behalfe devised and delivered to the Agents
whereunto relation is to be had, and some one of these
persons to attend upon the court for the obtaining
of the same, as to their discretions shalbe thought
good.
4 Item, that all the saide Agents doe well consider,
ponder and weigh such articles as bee delivered to them
to know the natures, dispositions, lawes, customes,
maners and behaviours of the people of the countreis
where they shal traffike, as well of the Nobilitie as of
the Lawyers, Marchants, Mariners and common people,
and to note diligently the subtilties of their bargaining,
buying and selling, making as fewe debtes as possiblie
may bee, and to bee circumspect, that no lawe neither
of religion nor positive bee broken or transgressed by
them or any minister under them, ne yet by any mariner
or other person of our nation, and to foresee that all
tolles, customes, and such other rites be so duely paid,
that no forfeiture or confiscation may ensue to our goods
either outward or inward, and that al things passe with
quiet, without breach of the publike peace or common
tranquillitie of any of the places where they shall arrive
or traffique.
5 Item, that provision bee made in Mosco or elswhere,
in one or mo good townes, where good trade shall be
found for a house or houses for the Agents, and companie
to inhabite and dwell at your accustomed diets, with warehouses, sellers, and other houses of offices requisite, and
that none of the inferiour ministers of what place or
vocation soever he be, doe lie out of the house of the
Agents without licence to be given, and that every
inferiour officer shalbe obedient to the orders, rules and
governments of the said Agents, and in case any disobedient person shall be found among any of them, then
such person to be punished for his misbehaviour, at the
discretion of the said Agents, or of one of them in the
absence of the other.
6 Item, if any person of the said ministers shall be
of such pride or obstinacie, that after one or two honest
admonitions, hee will not bee reformed nor reconciled
from his faultes, then the saide Agents to displace every
such person from the place or roume to him heere committed, and some other discreete person to occupie the
same, as to the saide Agents by their discretions shal
seeme meete.
7 Item, if any person shall bee found so arrogant, that
he will not be ordered nor reformed by the said Agents
or by one of them in the absence of the other, then
the sayde person to bee delivered to the Justice of the
countrey, to receive such punishment, as the lawes of
the countrey doe require.
8 Item, that the saide Agents and factours shall daily
one houre in the morning conferre and consult together
what shall bee most convenient and beneficiall for the
companie, and such orders as they shall determine, to
bee written by the Secretarie of the companie in a booke
to bee provided for that purpose, and no inferiour person
to infringe or breake any such order or devise, but to
observe the same exactly, upon such reasonable paine as
the Agents shall put him to by discretion.
9 Item, that the said Agents shall in the ende of everie
weeke, or oftener as occasion shall require, peruse, see
and trie, not onely the Casshers, bookes, reckonings and
accounts, firming the same with their handes, but also
shall receive and take weekly the account of every other
officer, as well of the Vendes, as of the empteous, and
also of the state of the houshold expenses, making thereof
a perfect declaration as shall appertaine, the same
accounts also to bee firmed by the saide Agents hands.
10 Item, that no inferiour minister shall take upon him
to make any bargaine or sale of any wares, marchandises
or goods, but by the Commission and Warrantise of
the sayde Agents under their handes, and hee not to
transgresse his Commission by any way, pretense or
colour.
11 Item, that every inferiour minister, that is to
understand, all Clerks and yong merchants, being at
the order of the saide Agents, shall ride, goe, saile and
travaile to all such place, and places, as they or hee shall
be appointed unto by the saide Agents, and effectually
to follow and do all that which to him or them shall
be committed, well and truely to the most benefite of
the company, according to the charge to him or them
committed, even as by their othes, dueties and bondes
of their masters they be bounden and charged to doe.
12 Item, that at every moneths end, all accounts and
reckonings shalbe brought into perfect order, into the
Lidger or memoriall, and the decrees, orders, and rules
of the Agents together with the privileges, and copies of
letters, may and shall be well and truely written by the
secretarie, in such forme as shalbe appointed for it, and
that copies of all their doings may be sent home with
the said ship at her returne.
13 Item, that all the Agents doe diligently learne and
observe all kinde of wares, as wel naturals as forrein,
that be beneficiall for this Realme, to be sold for the
benefit of the company, and what kinde of our commodities and other things of these West partes bee most
vendible in those Realmes with profite, giving a perfect
advise of all such things requisite.
14 Item, if the Emperour will enter into bargain with
you for the whole masse of your stock, and will have the
trade of it to utter to his owne subjects, then debating
the matter prudently among your selves, set such high
prises of your commodities, as you may assure your selves
to be gainers in your owne wares, and yet to buy theirs
at such base prises, as you may here also make a commoditie and gaine at home, having in your mindes the
notable charges that the companie have diffrayed in
advancing this voyage: and the great charges that they
sustaine dayly in wages, victuals and other things: all
which must bee requited by the wise handling of this
voyage, which being the first president shalbe a perpetual
president for ever: and therefore all circumspection is
to be used, and foreseene in this first enterprise, which
God blesse and prosper under you, to his glorie, and
the publike wealth of this Realme, whereof the Queenes
Majestie, and the Lords of the Councell have conceived
great hope, whose expectations are not to be frustrated.
15 Item, it is to be had in minde, that you use all
wayes and meanes possible to learne howe men may passe
from Russia
, either by land or by sea to Cathaia, and
what may be heard of our other ships, and to what
knowledge you may come, by conferring with the learned
or well travailed persons, either naturall or forrein, such
as have travailed from the North to the South.
16 Item, it is committed to the said Agents, that if
they shall be certified credibly, that any of our said first
ships be arrived in any place whereunto passage is to be
had by water or by land, that then certaine of the company
at the discretion of the Agents shall bee appointed to
be sent to them, to learne their estate & condition, to
visite, refresh, relieve, and furnish them with all necessaries and requisites, at the common charges of the
companie, and to imbrace, accept, and intreat them as
oure deare and welbeloved brethren of this our societie,
to their rejoycing and comfort, advertising Syr Hugh
Willoughbie and others of our carefulnes of them and
their long absence, with our desire to heare of them,
with all other things done in their absence for their
commoditie, no lesse then if they had bene present.
17 Item, it is decreed, that when the ships shal arrive
at this going foorth at the Wardhouse, that their Agents,
with master Chancelor grand pilot, John Brooke merchant,
deputed for the Wardhouse, with John Buckland master
of the Edward, John Howlet master, and John Robins
pilot of the Philip and Marie, shall conferre and consult
together, what is most profitable to be done therfore for
the benefit of the company, & to consider whether they
may bargaine with the captaine of the castle, and the
inhabitants in that place, or alongst the coast for a large
quantity of fish, drie or wet, killed by the naturals, or to
be taken by our men at a price reasonable for trucke of
cloth, meale, salt, or beere, and what traine oyle, or other
commodity is to be had there at this time, or any other
season of the yeere, and whether there will be had or
found sufficient lading for both the sayd shippes, to be
bought there, and how they may conferre with the
naturals for a continuance in hanting the place, if profit
wil so arise to the company, and to consider whether the
Edward in her returne may receive at the Wardhouse
any kind of lading homeward, and what it may amount
unto, and whether it shall be expedient for the Philip to
abide at the Wardhouse the returne of the Edward out
of Russia
, or getting that she may returne with the first
good wind to England, without abiding for the Edward,
and so to conclude & accord certainely among themselves
upon their arrivall, that the certaintie may (upon good
deliberation) be so ordered and determined betweene both
ships, that the one may be assured of the other, and their
determinations to be put in writing duplicate to remaine
with ech ship, according to such order as shall be taken
betweene them.
18 Item, that John Brooke our marchant for the Wardhouse take good advise of the rest of our Agents, how
to use himselfe in al affaires, whiles the ship shalbe at
the Wardhouse, he to see good order to be kept, make
bargains advisedly, not crediting the people untill their
natures, dispositions & fidelities shal be well tried, make
no debts, but to take ware for ware in hand, and rather
be trusted then to trust. Note diligently what be the
best wares for those parts, and howe the fishe falleth on
the coast, and by what meane it is to bee bought at the
most advantage, what kindes and diversities of sortes in
fishes be, and whether it will keepe better in bulke piled,
or in caske.
19 Item, he to have a diligent eye & circumspection to
the beere, salt, and other liquid wares, and not to suffer
any waste to be made by the companie, and he in all
contracts to require advise, counsel, and consent of the
master and pilot, the marchant to be our houswife, as our
speciall trust is in him, he to tender that no lawes nor
customes of the countrey be broken by any of the company, and to render to the prince, and other officers, all
that which to them doth appertaine, the company to be
quiet, voide of all quarrelling, fighting, or vexation,
absteine from all excesse of drinking as much as may
bee, and in all to use and behave themselves as to quiet
marchants doeth, and ought to apperteine.
20 Item, it is decreed by the companie, that the Edward
shall returne home this yeere with as much wares as
may be conveniently & profitably provided, bought, and
laden in Russia
, and the rest to be taken in at the Wardhouse, as by the Agents shall be accorded. But by all
meanes it is to be foreseene and noted, that the Edward
returne home, and not to winter in any forrein place,
but to come home, and bring with her all the whole
advertisements of the marchants, with such further advise
for the next yeeres provision, as they shall give.
21 Item, it is further decreed and ordeined, inviolably
to be observed, that when the good ships, or either of
them (by Gods grace) shall returne home to the coastes
of England, that neither of them shall stay or touch in
any Haven or Port of England, otherwise then wind and
weather shall serve, but shall directly saile and come to
the Port of the citie of London, the place of their right
discharge, and that no bulke be broken, hatches opened,
chest, fardell, trusse, barrel, fat, or whatsoever thing it
shall be, be brought out of the shippe, untill the companie
shall give order for the same, and appoint such persons
of the companie as shall be thought meet for that purpose,
to take viewe, and consider the shippe and her lading,
and shall give order for the breaking up of the saide
bulke, or give licence by discretion, for things to be
brought to land. And that every officer shall shewe the
invoise of his charge to him first committed, and to
examine the wastes and losses, and to deliver the
remainder to the use and benefit of the company, according to such order as shall be appointed in that behalfe.
22 Item, the company exhorteth, willeth, and requireth,
not onely all the said Agents, pilots, masters, marchants,
clerkes, boatswaines, stewards, skafemasters, and all
other officers and ministers of this present voyage, being
put in charge and trust dayly to peruse, reade, and studie
such instructions as be made, given, & delivered to them
for perfect knowledge of the people of Russia
, Moscovia,
Wardhouse, and other places, their dispositions, maners,
customes, uses, tolles, cariages, coines, weights, numbers,
measures, wares, merchandises, commodities, and incommodities, the one to be accepted and imbraced, the other
to be rejected and utterly abandoned, to the intent that
every man taking charge, may be so well taught, perfited,
and readily instructed in all the premisses, that by ignorance, no losse or prejudice may grow or chance to the
company: assuring themselves, that forasmuch as the
company hath travelled and laboured so in these their
instructions to them given, that every man may bee
perfect, and fully learned to eschew all losses, hurts and
damages that may insue by pretense or colour of none
knowledge, the company entendeth not to allow, or accept
ignorance for any lawfull or just cause of excuse, in that
which shall be misordered by negligence, the burden
whereof shall light upon the negligent offending person,
especially upon such as of their owne heads, or temeritie,
will take upon him or them to doe or to attempt any
thing, whereby prejudice may arise, without the commission of the Agents as above is mentioned, whereunto
relation must be had.
23 Forasmuch as it is not possible to write and indite
such prescribed orders, rules and commissions to the
Agents and factours, but that occasion, time and place,
and the pleasures of the princes, together with the
operation or successe of fortune shall change or shift
the same, although not in the whole, yet in part, therefore
the said company doe commit to you their deare and
intire beloved Agents and factors to doe in this behalfe
for the commodity and wealth of this company, as by
your discretions, upon good advised deliberations shalbe
thought good and beneficiall. Provided alwayes, that
the honour, good name, fame, credite, and estimation
of the same companie be conserved and preserved: which
to confirme we beseech the living Lord to his glory, the
publike benefite of this realme, our common profits, and
your praises.
Finally for the service, and due accomplishment of all
the premisses, every Agent and minister of and for this
voyage, hath not onely given a corporall othe upon the
Evangelists to observe, and cause to be observed, this
commission, and every part, clause and sentence of the
same, as much as in him lyeth, as well for his owne part
as for any other person, but also have bounde themselves
and their friendes to the companie in severall summes of
money, expressed in the actes and records of this societie,
for the trueth and fidelities of them, for the better, and
also manifester testification of the trueth, and of their
othes, promises, and bands aforesaid, they have to this
Commission subscribed particularly their severall hands,
and the company also in confirmation of the same, have
set their seale. Yeven the day, moneth, and yeeres first
above mentioned.
