LETTER TO THE AGENTS ad. 



1557- 

 us large instructions, aswell what is solde and bought, 



as also what lading we shall take, and what quantitie 



and kinde of goods we shall send. For hitherto we 



have had but a slender advise, more like a bill to serve 



a Chapman, then for quantitie of wares to serve a 



kingdome. For we must procure to utter good quantitie 



of wares, especially the commodities of our Realme, 



although we affoord a good penyworth, to the intent 



to make other that have traded thither, wearie, and so 



to bring our selves and our commodities in estimation, 



and likewise to procure to have the chiefe commodities 



of that countrey in our hands, as waxe and such others, [I. 301.] 



that other nations may bee served by us and at our 



hands. For wee doe understand that the greatest 



quantitie of waxe that commeth to Danske, Lubeck, 



and Hambourgh, commeth out of Russia. Therefore 



if wee should buy part, and they also buy, it would 



raise the price there, and would bee litle woorth here. 



And all such letters of importance and secrecie as you Tkemarchants 



doe send by land for any wares or otherwise, you must Otters over 



write them in Cyphers, after the order of a booke sent land w [ ttten 



• iti ciPfiers. 



you in the shippes : alwayes taking good heede in 



placing of your letters and cyphers, that wee may under- 

 stand them by the same booke heere, and to send 

 them in such sort, that we may have them here by 

 Christmas or Candlemas, if it be possible. And because 

 you cannot so certainly advertise us by letters of your 

 doings, but some doubt may arise, whereof we would 

 most gladly be certified : our mind is therefore that 

 with these ships you send us home one such yong man 

 as is most expert in knowledge of that countrey, and 

 can best certifie us in such questions as may be demanded, 

 whome we will remit unto you againe in the next ships. 

 We thinke Arthur Edwards wilbe fittest for that purpose : 

 neverthelesse use your discretion in that matter. 



As touching our goods that were robbed and pilfered 

 out of our ships at Colmogro and Vologda we trust 

 by this time they are restored againe, and the malefactors 



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