The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, by Richard Hakluyt

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** Transcriber's Notes **

The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the
spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this
version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript
abbreviations have been silently expanded:

- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm'
- q; = -que (in the Latin)
- y'e = the; y't = that; w't = with

This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes
are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling
conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always
systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's
own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the
sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are
labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in
poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on
corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH'

** End Transcriber's Notes **

THE PRINCIPAL

NAVIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES

AND

DISCOVERIES

OF

THE ENGLISH NATION.

COLLECTED BY

RICHARD HAKLUYT. PREACHER

AND

EDITED BY
EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S.

VOL. X.

ASIA.

PART III.

NAVIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOVERIES

OF THE

ENGLISH NATION IN ASIA.

The manner of the entring of Soliman the great Turke, with his armie into
Aleppo in Syria, marching towards Persia against the Great Sophie, the
fourth day of Nouember, 1553, noted by Master Anthony Ienkinson, present
at that time.

There marched before the Grand Signior, otherwise called the great Turke,
6000 Esperes, otherwise called light horsemen very brave, clothed all in
scarlet.

After, marched 10000 men, called Nortans, which be tributaries to the Great
Turke, clothed all in yellow veluet, and hats of the same, of the Tartary
fashion, two foote long, with a great role of the same colour about their
foreheads, richly decked, with their bowes in their hands, of the Turkish
fashion.

After them marched foure Captaines, men of armes, called in Turkish
Saniaques, clothed all foure in crimson veluet, euery one hauing vnder his
banner twelue thousand men of armes well armed with their morrions vpon
their heads, marching in good order, with a short weapon by their sides,
called in their language, Simiterro.

After came 16000 Ianizaries, called the slaues of the Grand Signior, all a
foote, euery one hauing his harquebush, who be his gard, all clothed in
violet silke, and apparelled vpon their heads with a strange forme, called
Cuocullucia, fashioned in this sort: the entering in of the forehead is
like a skull made of white veluet, and hath a traine hanging downe behind,
in manner of a French hoode, of the same, colour, and vpon the forepart of
the said skull, iust in the middes of his forehead there is standing bolt
vpright like a trunke of a foote long of siluer, garnished most richly with
Goldsmiths worke, and precious stones, and in the top of the said trunke a
great bush of fethers, which waueth vp and downe most brauely when he
marcheth.

After this, there cam 1000. pages of honour; all clothed in cloth of gold,
the halfe of them carying harquebushes, and the other halfe, Turkish bowes,
with the trusses of arrowes, marching in good order.

Then came three men of armes well armed, and vpon their harnesse coates of
the Turkes fashion, of Libard skinnes, and murrions vpon their heads, their
speares charged, and all the end of their staffe hard by the head of the
speare, a horse taile died in a bloody colour, which is their ensigne: they
be the chalengers for the Turkes owne person.

After them came seuen pages of honour in cloth of siluer, vpon seuen white
horses, which horses were couered with cloth of siluer, all embrodered and
garnished with precious stones, emerauds, diamonds, and rubies most richly.

After them also came sixe more pages of honour, clothed in cloth of gold,
euery one hauing his bowe in his hand, and his fawchine of the Turkes
fashion by his side.

Immediately after them came the great Turke himselfe with great pompe and
magnificence, vsing in his countenance and gesture a wonderfull maiestie,
hauing onely on each side of his person one page clothed with cloth of
gold: he himselfe was mounted vpon a goodly white horse, adorned with a
robe of cloth of gold, embrodered most richly with the most precious
stones, and vpon his head a goodly white tucke, containing in length by
estimation fifteene yards, which was of silke and linnen wouen together,
resembling something Callicut cloth, but is much more fine and rich, and in
the top of his crowne, a litle pinnach of white Ostrich feathers, and his
horse most richly apparelled in all points correspondent to the same.

After him folowed sixe goodly yong ladies, mounted vpon fine white
hackneis, clothed in cloth of siluer, which were of the fashion of mens
garments, embrodered very richly with pearle and precious stones, and had
vpon their heads caps of Goldsmiths worke, hauing great flackets of haire,
hanging out on each side, died as red as blood, and the nailes of their
fingers died of the same colour, euery of them hauing two eunuches on each
side, and litle bowes in their hands, after an Antike fashion.

After marched the great Basha chiefe conductor of the whole army, clothed
with a robe of Dollymant crimson, and vpon the same another short garment
very rich, and about him fiftie Ianizaries afoote, of his owne gard, all
clothed in crimson veluet, being armed as the Turks owne Ianizaries.

Then after ensued three other Bashas, with slaues about them, being afoote,
to the number of three thousand men.

After came a companie of horsemen very braue, and in all points well armed,
to the number of foure thousand.

All this aforesayd army, most pompous to behold, which was in number foure
score and eight thousand men, encamped about the citie of Aleppo, and the
Grand Signior himselfe was lodged within the towne, in a goodly castle,
situated vpon a high mountaine: at the foote whereof runneth a goodly
riuer, which is a branch of that famous riuer Euphrates.

The rest of his armie passed ouer the mountaines of Armenia called now the
mountaines of Camarie, which are foure dayes iourney from Aleppo, appointed
there to tary the comming of the Grand Signior, with the rest of his army,
intending to march into Persia, to giue battel to the great Sophie. So the
whole armie of the Grand Signior, containing as well those that went by the
mountaines, as also those that came to Aleppo in company with him, with
horsemen and footemen, and the conductors of the camels and victuals, were
the number of 300000 men.

The camels which carried munition and vitailes for the said army, were in
number 200000.

* * * * *

A note of the presents that were giuen at the same time in Aleppo, to the
grand Signior, and the names of the presenters.

First the Basha of Aleppo, which is as a Viceroy, presented 100. garments
of cloth of gold, and 25. horses.

The Basha of Damasco, presented 100. garments of cloth of gold, and twentie
horses, with diuers sorts of comfits, in great quantitie.

The Basha of Aman presented 100. garments of cloth of gold, 20. horses, and
a cup of gold, with two thousand duckets.

The Saniaque of Tripolis presented six camels, charged all with silkes, 20.
horses, and a little clocke of gold, garnished with precious stones,
esteemed worth two hundred duckets.

The Consul of the company of the Venetians in Tripolis, came to kisse the
grand Signiors hand, and presented him a great basin of gold, and therein
4000. duckets Venetians.

* * * * *

The safeconduct or priuiledge giuen by Sultan Solyman the great Turke, to
master Anthony Ienkinson at Aleppo in Syria, in the yeere 1553.

Sultan Solyman, &c. to all Viceroyes, Saniaques, Cadies, and other our
Iusticers, Officers, and subiects of Tripolis in Syria, Constantinople,
Alexandria in AEgypt, and of all other townes and cities vnder our dominion
and iurisdiction: We will and command you, that when you shall see Anthony
Ienkinson, bearer of these present letters, merchant of London in England,
or his factor, or any other bearing the sayd letter for him, arriue in our
ports and hauens, with his ship or ships, or other vessels whatsoeuer, that
you suffer him to lade or vnlade his merchandise wheresoeuer it shall seeme
good vnto him, traffiking for himselfe ['himelfe' in source text--KTH] in
all our countreys and dominions, without hindering or any way disturbing of
him, his ship, his people or merchandise, and without enforcing him to pay
any other custome or toll whatsoeuer, in any sort, or to any persons
whatsoeuer they be, saue onely our ordinarie duties contained in our
custome houses, which when he hath paied, we will that he be franke and
free, as well for himselfe as for his people, merchandise, ship or ships,
and all other vessels whatsoeuer: and in so doing that he may traffike,
bargaine, sell and buy, lade and vnlade, in all our foresayd Countreys,
lands and dominions, in like sort, and with the like liberties and
priuiledges, as the Frenchmen and Venetians vse, and enioy, and more if it
be possible, without the hinderance or impeachment of any man. And
furthermore, wee charge and commaund all Viceroyes, and Consuls of the
French nation, and of the Venetians, and all other Consuls resident in our
Countreys, in what port or prouince soeuer they be, not to constraine, or
cause to constraine, by them, or the sayd Ministers and Officers whatsoeuer
they be, the sayd Anthony Ienkinson, or his factor, or his seruants, or
deputies, or his merchandise, to pay any kind of consullage, or other right
whatsoeuer, or to intermeddle or hinder his affaires, and not to molest nor
trouble him any manner of way, because our will and pleasure is, that he
shall not pay in all our Countreys, any other then our ordinarie custome.
And in case any man hinder and impeach him, aboue, and besides these our
present letters, wee charge you most expressly to defend and assist him
agaynst the sayd Consuls, and if they will not obey our present
commandement, that you aduertise vs thereof, that we may take such order
for the same, that others may take example thereby. Moreouer we commaund
all our Captaines of our Gallies, and their Lieutenants, be they Foister or
other Vessels, that when they shall finde the sayd Ienkinson, or his
factor, his ship or ships, with his seruaunts and merchandise, that they
hurt him not neither in body nor goods, but that rather they assist and
defend him agaynst all such as seeke to doe him wrong, and that they ayde
and helpe him with vitailes, according to his want, and that whosoeuer
shall see these presents, obey the same, as they will auoyd the penaltie in
doing the contrary. Made in Aleppo of Syria, the yeere 961. of our holy
prophet Mahomet, and in the yeere of Iesus, 1553. signed with the scepter
and signet of the grand Signior, with his owne proper hand.

* * * * *

Letters concerning the voyage of M. John Newbery and M. Ralph Fitch, made
by the way of the Leuant Sea to Syria, and ouerland to Balsara, and
thence into the East Indies, and beyond, In the yeere 1583.

A letter written from the Queenes Majestie, to Zelabdin Echebar, King of
Cambaia, and sent by Iohn Newbery. In February Anno 1583.

Elizabeth by the grace of God &c. To the most inuincible, and most mightie
prince, lord Zelabdim Echebar king of Cambaya. Inuincible Emperor, &c. The
great affection which our Subjects haue, to visit the most distant places
of the world, not without good will and intention to introduce the trade of
marchandize of al nations whatsoeuer they can, by which meanes the mutual
and friendly trafique of marchandize on both sides may come, is the cause
that the bearer of this letter Iohn Newbery, ioyntly with those that be in
his company, with a curteous and honest boldnesse, doe repaire to the
borders and countreys of your Empire, we doubt not but that your imperiall
Maiestie through your royal grace, will fauourably and friendly accept him.
And that you would doe it the rather for our sake, to make vs greatly
beholding to your Maiestie; wee should more earnestly, and with more wordes
require it, if wee did think it needful. But by the singular report that is
of your imperial Maiesties humanitie in these vttermost parts of the world,
we are greatly eased of that burden, and therefore we vse the fewer and
lesse words: onely we request that because they are our subiects, they may
be honestly intreated and receiued. And that in respect of the hard iourney
which they haue vndertaken to places so far distant, it would please your
Maiestie with some libertie and securitie of voiage to gratifie it, with
such priuileges as to you shall seeme good: which curtesie if your
Imperiall maiestie shal to our subiects at our requests performe, wee
according to our royall honour, wil recompence the same with as many
deserts as we can. And herewith we bid your Imperial Maiestie to farewel.

* * * * *

A letter written by her Maiestie to the King of China, in Februarie 1583.

Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, &c. Most Imperial and
inuincible prince, our honest subiect Iohn Newbery the bringer hereof, who
with our fauour hath taken in hand the voyage which now hee pursueth to the
parts and countreys of your Empire, not trusting vpon any other ground then
vpon the fauour of your Imperiall clemencie and humanitie, is moued to
vndertake a thing of so much difficultie, being perswaded that hee hauing
entered into so many perils, your Maiestie will not dislike the same,
especially if it may appeare that it be not damageable vnto your royall
Maiestie, and that to your people it will bring some profite: of both which
things he not doubting, with more willing minde hath prepared himselfe for
his destinated voyage vnto vs well liked of. For by this meanes we
perceiue, that the profit which by the mutual trade on both sides, al the
princes our neighbors in the West do receiue, your Imperial maiestie and
those that be subiect vnder your dominion, to their great ioy and benefit
shal haue the same, which consisteth in the transporting outward of such
things whereof we haue plenty, and in bringing in such things as we stand
in need of. It cannot otherwise be, but that seeing that we are borne and
made to haue need one of another, and that wee are bound to aide one
another, but that your imperial Maiestie wil wel like of it, and by your
subiects with like indeuor wil be accepted. For the increase whereof, if
your imperial Maiestie shall adde the securitie of passage, with other
priuileges most necessary to vse the trade with your men, your maiestie
shall doe that which belongeth to a most honorable and liberal prince, and
deserue so much of vs, as by no continuance or length of time shalbe
forgotten. Which request of ours we do most instantly desire to be taken in
good part of your maiestie, and so great a benefit towards vs and our men,
we shall endeuor by diligence to requite when time shal serue thereunto.
The God Almighty long preserue your Imperial Maiestie.

* * * * *

A letter of M. Iohn Newbery, written from Alepo, to M. Richard Hakluyt of
Oxford, the 28 of May, Anno 1583.

Right wellbeloued, and my assured good friend, I heartily commend me vnto
you, hoping of your good health, &c. After we set saile from Grauesend,
which was the 13. day of February last, wee remained vpon our coast vntill
the 11. day of March, and that day we set saile from Falmouth, and neuer
ankered till wee arriued in the road of Tripolie in Syria, which was the
last day of Aprill last past, where wee stayed 14. dayes: and the twentie
of this present we came hither to Alepo, and with Gods helpe, within fiue
or sixe dayes goe from hence towards the Indies. [Sidenote: Abilfada Ismael
his Cosmographie.] Since my comming to Tripolis I haue made very earnest
inquirie both there and here, for the booke of Cosmographie of Abilfada
Ismael, but by no meanes can heare of it. Some say that possibly it may be
had in Persia, but notwithstanding I will not faile to make inquirie for
it, both in Babylon, and in Balsara, and if I can finde it in any of these
places, I wil send it to you from thence. The letter which you deliuered me
for to copy out, that came from M. Thomas Steuens in Goa, as also the note
you gaue mee of Francis Fernandas the Portugal, I brought thence with me
among other writings vnawares, the which I haue sent you here inclosed.
Here is great preparation for the warres in Persia, and from hence is gone
the Bassa of a towne called Rahemet, and shortly after goeth the Bassa of
Tripolis, and the Bassa of Damasco, but they haue not all with them aboue
6000. men from hence, and they goe to a towne called Asmerome, which is
three dayes iourney from Trapezunde, where they shal meete with diuers
captaines and souldiers that come from Constantinople and other places
thereabout, which goe altogether into Persia. This yeere many men goe into
the warres, and so hath there euery yeere since the beginning thereof,
which is eight yeeres or thereabouts, but very fewe of them returne againe.
Notwithstanding, they get of the Persians, and make castles and holds in
their countrey. I pray you make my hearty commendations to master Peter
Guillame, and master Philip Iones, and to M. Walter Warner, and to all the
rest of our friends. Master Fitch hath him heartily commended vnto you: and
so I commit you to the tuition of the Almightie, who blesse and keepe you,
and send vs a ioyfull meeting. From Alepo, the 28. of May 1583.

Your louing friend to command in all that I may.

Iohn Newberie.

* * * *

Another letter of the said M. Newberie, written to Master Leonard Poore of
London from Alepo.

Right welbeloued, my very heartie commendations vnto you, and the rest of
my friends remembred. [Sidenote: March 11.] My last I sent you was the 25.
of February last, from Dele out of the Downes, after which time with
contrary windes wee remained vpon our owne coast, vntill the 11. day of
March, and then wee set saile from Falmouth, and the thirteenth day the
winde came contrary with a very great storme, which continued eight dayes,
and in this great storme wee had some of our goods wette, but God bee
thanked no great hurt done. [Sidenote: The last of April.] After which time
we sailed with a faire wind within the Streights, and so remained at Sea,
and ankered at no place vntil our comming into the roade of Tripolis in
Syria, which was the last day of April. This was a very good passage. God
make vs thankfull for it. The fourteenth day of this present wee came from
Tripolis, and the twentieth day arriued here in Alepo, and with the helpe
of God tomorrowe or next day, wee beginne our voyage towards Babylon and
Balsara, and so into India. Our friend Master Barret hath him commended to
you, who hath sent you in the Emanuel a ball of Nutmegs for the small
trifles you sent him, which I hope long since you haue receiued. Also hee
hath by his letter certified you in what order hee solde those things,
whereof I can say nothing, because I haue not seene the accompt thereof,
neither haue demaunded it: for euer since our comming hither hee hath bene
still busie about the dispatch of the shippe, and our voyage, and I
likewise in buying of things here to cary to Balsara, and the Indies.
[Sidenote: Currall. Amber greese. Sope. Broken glasse.] Wee haue bought in
currall for 1200. and odde ducats, and amber for foure hundreth ducates,
and some sope and broken glasse, with all other small trifles, all which
things I hope will serue very wel for those places that wee shall goe vnto.
All the rest of the accompt of the Barke Reinolds was sent home in the
Emanuel, which was 3600. ducats, which is 200. pound more then it was
rated. For master Staper rated it but 1100. li. and it is 1300. pound, so
that our part is 200. pound, besides such profit as it shall please God to
sende thereof: wherefore you shall doe very well to speake to M. Staper for
the accompt. And if you would content your selfe to trauell for three or
foure yeeres, I would wish you to come hither or goe to Cairo, if any goe
thither. For wee doubt not if you had remained there but three or foure
moneths, you would like so well of the place, that I thinke you would not
desire to returne againe in three or foure yeeres. And, if it should be my
chance to remaine in any place out of England, I would choose this before
all other that I know. My reason is, the place is healthfull and pleasant,
and the gaines very good, and no doubt the profit will bee hereafter
better, things being vsed in good order: for there should come in euery
ship the fourth part of her Cargason in money, which would helpe to put
away our commodities at a very good price. Also to haue two very good ships
to come together, would doe very well: for in so doing, the danger of the
voyage might be accompted as little as from London to Antwerpe. Master
Giles Porter and master Edmund Porter, went from Tripolis in a small barke
to Iaffa, the same day that we came from thence, which was the 14 day of
this present, so that no doubt but long since they are in Ierusalem: God
send them and vs safe returne. At this instant I haue received the account
of M. Barret, and the rest of the rings, with two and twentie duckats, two
medines in readie money. So there is nothing remaining in his hands but a
few bookes, and with Thomas Bostocke I left certaine small trifles, which I
pray you demaund. And so once againe with my hearty commendations I commit
you to the tuition of the almightie, who alwayes preserue vs. From Aleppo
the 29 of May 1583.

Yours assured,

Iohn Newberie.

* * * * *

Another letter of Master Newberie to the aforesaide M. Poore, written from
Babylon.

My last I sent you, was the 29 of May last past from Aleppo, by George Gill
the purser of the Tiger, which the last day of the same moneth came from
thence, and arriued at Feluge the 19 day of Iune, which Feluge is one dayes
iourney from hence. Notwithstanding some of our company came not hither
till the last day of the last moneth, which was for want of Camels to cary
our goods: for at this time of the yeere, by reason of the great heate that
is here, Camels are very scant to be gotten. And since our comming hither
we haue found very small sales, but diuers say that in the winter our
commodities will be very well sold, I pray God their words may prooue true.
I thinke cloth, kersies and tinne, haue neuer bene here at so low prices as
they are now. Notwithstanding, if I had here so much readie money as the
commodities are woorth, I would not doubt to make a very good profite of
this voiage hither, and to Balsara, and so by Gods helpe there will be
reasonable profite made of the voiage. [Sidenote: The best sort of spices
at Babylon. Balsara. Ormus.] But with halfe money and halfe commoditie may
be bought here the best sort of spices, and other commodities that are
brought from the Indies, and without money there is here at this instant
small good to be done. With Gods helpe two days hence, I minde to goe from
hence to Balsara, and from thence of force I must goe to Ormus for want of
a man that speaketh the Indian tongue. At my being in Aleppo I hired two
Nazaranies, and one of them hath bene twise in the Indies, and hath the
language very well, but he is a very lewde fellow, and therefore I will not
take him with me.

Here follow the prices of wares as they are worth here at this instant.

Cloues and Maces, the bateman, 5 duckats.

Cynamon 6 duckats, and few to be gotten.

Nutmegs, the bateman, 45 medins, and 40 medins maketh a duckat

Ginger, 40 medins.

Pepper, 75 medins.

Turbetta, the bateman, 50 medins.

Neel the churle, 70 duckats, and a churle is 27 rottils and a halfe of
Aleppo.

Silke, much better then that which commeth from Persia, 11 duckats and a
halfe the bateman, and euery bateman here maketh 7 pound and 5 ounces
English waight. From Babylon the 20 day of Iuly, 1583.

Yours, Iohn Newberie.

* * * * *

Master Newberie his letter from Ormus, to M. Iohn Eldred and William Shals
at Balsara.

Right welbeloued and my assured good friends, I heartily commend me vnto
you, hoping of your good healths, &c. To certifie you of my voiage, after I
departed from you, time wil not permit: but the 4 of this present we
arriued here, and the 10 day I with the rest were committed to prison, and
about the middle of the next moneth, the Captaine wil send vs all in his
ship for Goa. The cause why we are taken, as they say, is, for that I
brought letters from Don Antonio. But the trueth is, Michael Stropene was
the onely cause, vpon letters that his brother wrote him from Aleppo. God
knoweth how we shall be delt withall in Goa, and therefore if you can
procure our masters to send the king of Spaine his letters for our
releasement, you should doe vs great good: for they cannot with iustice put
vs to death. It may be that they will cut our throtes, or keepe vs long in
prison: Gods will be done. All those commodities that I brought hither, had
beene very well sold, if this trouble had not chanced. You shall do well to
send with all speed a messenger by land from Balsara to Aleppo, for to
certifie of this mischance, although it cost thirtie or fortie crownes, for
that we may be the sooner released, and I shalbe the better able to recouer
this againe which is now like to be lost: I pray you make my heartie
commendations, &c. from out of the prison in Ormuz, this 21 of September,
1583.

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