A.D. 

 1560. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



bung, is to be presented to the Emperour : for it is 

 special good. The nete waight of the 10 puncheons 

 of prunes is 4300. 2 thirds 1 pound. It is written par- 

 ticularly upon the head of every puncheon : and the 

 nete weight of the fatte of almonds is 500 li. two 

 quarters. The raisins, prunes, and almonds you were 

 best to dispatch away at a reasonable price, and principally 

 the raisins, for in keeping of them will be great losse 

 in the waight, and the fruit will decay. We thinke it 

 good that you provide against the next yeere for the 

 comming of our shippes 20 or 30 bullockes killed and 

 salted, for beefe is very deare here. Therefore you 

 were best to save some of this salt that we doe send 

 you in these ships for the purpose. The sake of that 

 countrey is not so good. In this you may take the 

 opinion of the masters of the shippes. Foxe skins, 

 white, blacke, and russet will be vendible here. The 

 last yere you sent none : but there were mariners that 

 bought many. If any of the mariners doe buy any 

 trifling furres or other commodities, we will they shall 

 be registred in our pursers bookes, to the intent we 

 may know what they be. We desire to know how the 

 Emperour tooke the letter which we sent in our ships, 

 as an answere to the letter that came in his name and 

 under his seale for the sixe thousand dallers. Thus 

 May 5. 1 560. wee rest, committing you to God, from London the fift 

 day of May 1560. 



For lacke of time the governours have not firmed 

 this letter: which is the copie of the other two letters 

 firmed by them. 



Yours, William Mericke. 



Yours, Blase Sanders. 



The salt of 

 Russia is not 

 so good as 

 Bay sake. 



Foxe skinnes 

 white, blacke 

 and russet 

 vendible in 

 England. 



410 



