For if the colour holde in yarne and thrumme, it will
holde much better in cloth.
4 For that in Persia they haue great colouring of silks, it behooues you to
learne that also, for that cloth dying and silke dying haue a certaine
affinity, and your merchants mind to bring much raw silke into the Realme,
and therefore it is more requisit you learne the same.
5 In Persia there are that staine linnen cloth: it is not amisse you learne
it if you can: it hath bene an olde trade in England, whereof some
excellent clothes yet remaine: but the arte is now lost, and not to be
found in the Realme.
6 They haue a cunning in Persia to make in buskins of Spanish leather
flowers of many kindes, in most liuely colours, and these the Courtiers do
weare there: to learne which arte were no harme.
7 If any Dier of China, or of the East parts of the world, be to be found
in Persia, acquaint yourselfe with him, and learne what you may of him.
8 You shall finde Anile there, if you can procure the herbe that it is made
of, either by seed or by plant, to cary into England, you may doe well to
endeuour to enrich your countrey with the same: but withall learne you the
making of the Anile, and if you can get the herbe, you may send the same
dry into England, for possibly it groweth here already.
9 Returne home with you all the materials and substances that they die
withall in Russia, and also in Persia, that your company may see all.
10 In some litle pot in your lodging, I wish you to make daily trials in
your arte, as you shall from time to time learne ought among them.
11 Set downe in writing whatsoeuer you shall learne from day to day, lest
you should forget, or lest God should call you to his mercy: and by ech
returne I wish you to send in writing whatsoeuer you haue learned, or at
the least keepe the same safe in your coffer, that come death or life your
countrey may ioyne the thing that you goe for, and not lose the charge, and
trauell bestowed in this case.
12 Learne you there to fixe and make sure the colour to be giuen by logge
wood: so shall we not need to buy woad so deare, to the enriching of our
enemies.
13 Enquire of the price of leckar, and all other things belonging to dying.
14 In any wise set downe in writing a true note from whence euery of them
doe come, and where, and in what countrey ech of them doth grow, I meane
where the naturall place of ech of them is, as how neere to such a city, or
to such a sea, or to such a portable riuer in Russia, Persia, or elsewhere.
15 If before you returne you could procure a singular good workeman in the
arte of Turkish carpet making, you should bring the arte into this Realme,
and also thereby increase worke to your company.
* * * * *
Commission giuen by sir Rowland Hayward knight, and George Barrie, Aldermen
and gouernours of the company of English Merchants, for discouery of new
trades, vnto Arthur Pet, and Charles Iackman, for a voyage by them to be
made, for discouery of Cathay, 1580. in forme following.
In the name of God Almightie, and euerlasting. Amen. This writing for
commission Tripartite, made the twentieth day of May Anno Dom. 1580. and in
the 22. yeere of the reigne of our Souereigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace
of God, Queene of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c.
Betweene sir Rowland Hayward knight, and George Barne, Aldermen of the
Citie of London and Gouernours of the company of English Merchants, for
discouery of new trades, for the behoofe, and in the name of the said
company, on the first partie, and Arthur Pet of Ratcliffe, in the Countie
Middlesex, Captaine, Master, and chiefe ruler of the good barke, called the
George of London, of the burthen of 40. tunnes, or thereabouts, on the
second partie, and Charles Iackman of the Popler, in the said Countie of
Middlesex, Captaine, Master and ruler of the good barke, called the William
of London, of the burthen of 20. tunnes, or thereabouts, (which barkes are
now riding at anker in the riuer of Thames against Limehouse) on the third
partie: witnesseth, that the said Gouernours, and company haue hired the
saide Arthur Pet, to serue in the said barke, called the George, with nine
men and a boy: [Sidenote: Burroughs streits.] And likewise the said Charles
Iackman, to serue in the said barke, called the William, with fiue men and
a boy, for a voyage by them to be made by Gods grace, for search and
discoueries of a passage by sea from hence by Boroughs streights, and the
Island Vaigats, Eastwards to the countreis or dominions of the mightie
Prince, the Emperour of Cathay, and in the same vnto the Cities of Cambalu
and Quinsay, or to either of them.
The which passage (vpon authoritie of writers, and great reason) is
conceiued to bee from the Vaigats Eastwards, according to the description
in plat of spirall lines, made by master William Burrough, whereof either
of the saide Arthur Pet, and Charles Iackman, haue one deliuered vnto them,
and also one other sailing carde, and a blanke plat for either of them. But
if it should not be in all points, according to that description, yet we
hope that the continent or firme land of Asia doth not stretch it selfe so
farre Northwards, but that there may be found a sea passeable by it,
betweene the latitude of 70.
