The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, vol 4 | Page 5

and to drinke, and were not at
commandement of their king. This Sigismund had to wife the daughter
of Ferdinando, Charles the fifts brother, and he died without issue.
[Sidenote: Polotzko recouered by Stephanus Batore.] Since, which time
their late elected king Stephanus Batore [Footnote: Stephen Bathore,
the second Elected-King, established the Cossacks as a militia. He died
in 1586.] kept the Russe in better order, and recouered Polotzko againe
in the yere 1579. Thus with my hearty farewell I take my leaue of your
worship.
Your assured friend Henrie Lane.
* * * * *
A Letter of the most excellent Maiestie of Queene Elizabeth, sent by
Stephen Twerdico and Pheodata Pogorella, messengers of the
Emperour of Russia, vnto their Master the 9th of May 1568.
Imperatori Moscouitarum, &c.
ELIZABETHA &c. Literas vestræ, Maiestatis superiori anno 1567,
decimo die mensis Aprilis datas, vestri mercatores Stephanus Twerdico,
et Pheodata Pogorella, qui has nostras perferunt, nobis tradidere. Quos
vestros mercatores in omni suo apud nos et nostros obeundo negotio,
ita tractari, et libenti voluntate, et expresso nostro mandato curauimus,
vt non solum vestræ Maiestatis pro illis postulationi, sed eorundem
etiam hominum expectationi plenè satisfactum esse confidamus. Id
quod eò fecimus studiosiùs, quod plane perspectum, probéque
cognitum habeamus, nostros omnes, qui bona cum gratia nostra,

nostrarúmque literarum commendatione, istuc, sub vestro imperio
negotiaturi veniunt, pari, cum vestræ Maiestatis fauore, tum vestrorum
subditorum humanitate, vbiuis acceptos esse. Quæ nostra vtrobique, et
muttuæ inter nos amicitiæ et gratæ inter nostros beneuolentiæ officia,
vt crebra et perpetua existant, nos admodum postulamus. Quem animi
nostri sensnm fusius hi vestri, et opportunius suo sermone coram
declarabunt: Quibus non dubitamus, quin vestra Maiestas amplam
fidem sit tributura. Deus &c. Grenouici nono die Maij 1567.
* * * * *
The ambassage of the right worshipfulll Master Thomas Randolfe,
Esquire, to the Emperour of Russia, in the yeere 1568, briefly written
by himselfe.
[Sidenote: In this voyage went Thomas Bannister, and Geofrey Ducket,
for their voyage into Persia.] The 22 day of Iune, in the yere of our
Lord 1568, I went aboord the Harry, lying in the road at Harwich with
my company, being to the number of fortie persons or thereabout: of
which the one halfe were gentlemen, desirous to see the world.
Within one dayes sailing, we were out of the sight of land, and
following our course directly North, till we came to the North Cape, we
sailed for the space of twelue dayes with a prosperous winde, without
tempest or outrage of sea: hauing compassed the North Cape we
directed our course flat Southeast, hauing vpon our right hand Norway,
Wardhouse, Lapland, all out of sight till we came to Cape Gallant: and
so sailing betweene two bayes, the two and thirtieth day after our
departure from Harwich, we cast ancre at Saint Nicholas road. In all the
time of our voyage, more then the great number of Whales ingendering
together, which we might plainly beholde, and the Sperma Cetæ, which
we might see swimming vpon the sea, there was no great thing to be
woondered at. Sometimes we had calmes, wherein our Mariners fished,
and tooke good store of diuers sorts. [Sidenote: The abbey of S.
Nicholas of 20 monks.] At S. Nicholas we landed the 23 of Iuly, where
there standeth an abbey of Monks (to the number of twentie) built all of
wood: the apparell of the Monks is superstitious, in blacke hoods, as
ours haue bene. Their Church is faire, but full of painted images, tapers,

and candles. Their owne houses are low, and small roomes. They lie
apart, they eat together, and are much giuen to drunkennesse, vnlearned,
write they can, preach they doe neuer, ceremonious in their Church,
and long in their prayers.
At my first arriuall I was presented from their Prior with two great rie
loaues, fish both salt and fresh of diuers sorts, both sea fish and fresh
water, one sheepe aliue, blacke, with a white face, to be the more
gratefull vnto me, and so with many solemne words inuiting me to see
their house, they tooke their leaue.
[Sidenote: The English house at S. Nicholas.] Towne or habitation at S.
Nicholas there is none more then about foure houses neere the abbey,
and another built by the English Company for their owne vse.
This part of the countrey is most part wood, sauing here and there
pasture and arable ground, many riuers and diuers Islands vnhabited, as
the most part of the countrey is, for the coldnesse in Winter.
S. Nicholas standeth Northeast: the eleuation of the pole 64 degrees.
[Sidenote: The riuer of Dwina.] The riuer that runneth there into the sea
is called Dwina, very large, but shallow. This riuer taketh his beginning
about 700 miles within the countrey, and vpon the riuer