The New Navigation and Discovery of the Kingdom of Muscovy | Page 6

business rested. This man
was brought up by one Master Henry Sidney, a noble young gentleman
and very much beloved of King Edward, who this time coming to the
place where the merchants were gathered together, began a very
eloquent speech or oration, and spake to them after this manner
following:-
"My very worshipful friends, I cannot but greatly commend your
present godly and virtuous intention in the serious enterprising (for the

singular love you bear to your country), a matter which (I hope) will
prove profitable for this nation, and honourable to this our land. Which
intention of yours we also of the nobility are ready to our power to help
and further: neither do we hold anything so dear and precious unto us,
which we will not willingly forego, and lay out in so commendable a
cause. But principally I rejoice in myself, that I have nourished and
maintained that wit which is like by some means and in some measure
to profit and stead you in this worthy action. But yet I would not have
you ignorant of this one thing, that I do now part with Chanceler not
because I make little reckoning of the man, or that his maintenance is
burdensome and chargeable unto me, but that you might conceive and
understand my goodwill and promptitude for the furtherance of this
business, and that the authority and estimation which he deserveth may
be given him. You know the man by report, I by experience, you by
words, I by deeds, you by speech and company, but I by the daily trial
of his life, have a full and perfect knowledge of him. And you are also
to remember into how many perils for your sakes, and his country's
love, he is now to run: whereof it is requisite that we be not unmindful,
if it please God to send him good success. We commit a little money to
the chance and hazard of fortune: he commits his life (a thing to a man
of all things most dear) to the raging sea, and the uncertainties of many
dangers. We shall here live and rest at home, quietly with our friends
and acquaintance; but he in the meantime labouring to keep the
ignorant and unruly mariners in good order and obedience, with how
many cares shall he trouble and bear himself, with how many troubles
shall he break himself, and how many disquietings shall he be forced to
sustain: we shall keep our own coasts and country, he shall seek strange
and unknown kingdoms. He shall commit his safety to barbarous and
cruel people, and shall hazard his life amongst the monstrous and
terrible beasts of the sea. Wherefore in respect of the greatness of the
dangers, and the excellency of his charge, you are to favour and love
the man thus departing from us, and if it falls so happily out that he
return again, it is your part and duty also liberally to reward him."
After that this noble young gentleman had delivered this or some such
like speech, much more eloquently than I can possibly report it, the
company then present began one to look upon another, one to question
and confer with one another; and some (to whom the virtue and

sufficiency of the man was known) began secretly to rejoice with
themselves and to conceive a special hope, that the man would prove in
time very rare and excellent, and that his virtues already appearing and
shining to the world would grow to the great honour and advancement
of this kingdom.
After all this, the company growing to some silence, it seemed good to
them that were of greatest gravity amongst them to inquire, search, and
seek what might be learned and known concerning the easterly part or
tract of the world. For which cause two Tartars (Tartarians) which were
then of the king's stable were sent for, and an interpreter was gotten to
be present, by whom they were demanded touching their country, and
the manners of their nation. But they were able to answer nothing to the
purpose: being indeed more acquainted (as one there merrily and
openly said) to toss pots than to learn the states and dispositions of
people. But after much ado and many things passed about this matter,
they grew at last to this issue, to set down and appoint a time for the
departure of the ships: because divers were of opinion that a great part
of the best time of the year was already spent, and if the delay grew
longer the way would be stopped and hard by the frost of the ice, and
the cold climate; and therefore it was thought best by the opinion of
them all that by the 20th day