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TO THE NORTHERN PARTS OF RUSSIA AND SIBERIA. ny
«¢ My very worfhipful friends, I cannot but greatly commend your prefent godly and
virtuous intention, in the ferious enterprifing (for the fingular love you bear to your
country) a matter, which (I hope) will prove profitable for this nation, and honour-
able to this our land. Which intention of yours we alfo of the nobility are ready to
our power to help and further; neither do we hold any thing fo dear and precious
unto us, which we will not willingly forego, and lay out in fo commendable a caufe.
But principally I rejoice in myfelf, that I have nourifhed and maintained that wit,
which is ike by fome means and in fome meafure, to profit and fteed you in this wor-
thy ation. But yet I would not have you ignorant of this one thing, that I do now
part with Chancelor, not becaufe I make little reckoning of the man, or that his main-
tenance is burdenous and chargeable unto me, but that you might conceive and un-
derftand my good will and promptitude for the furtherance of this bufinefs, and that
the authority and eftimation which he deferveth may be given him. You knew the
man by report, I by experience; you by words, I by deeds; you by fpeech and com-
pany, but I by the daily trial of his life have a full and perfe& knowledge of him.
And you are alfo to remember, into how many perils for your fakes, and his country’s
love, he is now to run: whereof it is requifite that we be not unmindful, if it pleafe
God to fend him good fuccefs. * We commit a little money to the chance and hazard
of fortune: he commits his life (a thing to a man of all things the moft dear) to the
raging fea, and the uncertaintics of many dangers. We fhall here live and reft at
home quietly with our friends, and acquaintance: but he in the mean time labouring
to keep the ignorant and unruly mariners in good order and obedience, with how
many cares fhall he trouble and vex himfelf? with how many troubles fhall he break
himfelf? and how many difquietings fhall he be forced to fufllain? We fhall keep our
own coafts and country: he fhall feek flrange and unknown kingdoms. He fhall
commit his fafety to barbarous and cruel people, and fhall hazard his life amongft the
monitrous and terrible beafts of the fea. Wherefore in refpeét of the greatnefs of the
dangers, and the excellency of his charge, you are to favour and love the man thus
departing from us: and if it fall fo happily out that he return again, it is your part
and duty alfo liberally to reward him.” :
After that this noble young gentleman had delivered this, or fome fuch like fpeech,
much more eloquently than I can poflibly report it, the company then prefent began
one to look upon another, one to queftion and confer with another: and fome (to
whom the virtue and fufliciency of the man was known) began fecretly to rejoice with
themfelves; and to conceive a fpecial hope, that the man would prove in time, very
rare and excellent, and that his virtues, already appearing and fhining to the world,
would grow to the great honour and advancement of this kingdom.
After all this, the company growing to fome filence, it feemed good to them that were
of greateft gravity amongf{t them, to inquire, fearch, and feek’what might -be learned
and known concerning the eafterly part or tract of the world. For which caufe two
Tartarians, which were then of the king’s ftable, were fent for, and an interpreter was
gotten to be prefent, by whom they were demanded touching their country, and the
manners of their nation. But they were able to anfwer nothing to the purpofe; being
indeed more acquainted (as one there merrily and openly faid) to tofs pots, than
to learn the ftates and difpofitions of people. But after much ado, and many things
paffed about this matter, they grew at laft to thisiffue, to fet down and appoint a time
for the departure of the fhips: becaufe divers were of opinion, that a great part of
the beft time of the year was already fpent, and if the delay grew longer, the way
VOL. I. E would
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