LETTERS OF PHILIP AND MARY a.d. 



1555- 

 Emperour of all Russia, great Duke of Volodemer, 

 Mosco, and Novogrod, King of Cazan, King of Astracan, 

 Lord of Plesco, and great Duke of Smolensko, of Tueria, 

 Joughoria, Permia, Vadska, Bulghoria, and others, Lorde 

 and great Duke of Novogrod of the lowe Countrey, of 

 Chernigo, Rezan, Polotskay, Rostove, Yeraslave, Bealo- 

 zera, Liefland, Oudoria, Obdoria, and Condensa, Com- 

 mander of all Siberia, and of the North partes, and lord 

 of many other countreys, greeting. Whereas by the 

 consent and licence of our most deare and entirely 

 beloved late brother, King Edward the sixt, whose soule 

 God pardon, sundrie of our subjects marchants of the citie 

 of London within this our realme of England did at 

 their owne proper costs and adventure furnish three 

 shippes to discover, serch, and find lands, Islands, regions, 

 and territories before this adventure not knowen, ne 

 commonly haunted and frequented by seas. The one of 

 the which three shippes, named the Edward Bonaventure, 

 (whereof our right welbeloved Richard Chancelour was 

 then governour and great Captaine) chanced by the grace 

 of God, and the good conduct of the sayd Chancelour to 

 arrive and winter in the North part of your Empire of 

 Russia. Forasmuch as we be credibly informed by the 

 report of our trustie and welbeloved subject, that your 

 Majestie did not onely call him and certaine of his 

 company to your emperiall presence and speech, enter- 

 tayned and banqueted them with all humanitie and 

 gentlenes : but also being thereunto requested partly by 

 the letters of our said brother, & partly by request of the 

 sayd Richard Chancelour, have by your letters patents 

 under your seale among other things granted : That all 

 such marchants as shall come forth of anie of our realms 

 of England or Ireland with al maner of wares, if they wil 

 travel or occupie within your dominions, The same 

 marchants with their marchandises in al your lordship may 

 freely, & at their libertie travaile out and in without 

 hinderance or any maner of losse : And of your farther 

 ample goodnesse have promised that our ambassadours, if 



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