THE LETTER OF MASTER GEORGE KILLINGWORTH, THE COMPANY'S FIRST AGENT
IN MUSCOVY,
Touching their entertainment in their second voyage. Anno 1555, the
27th of November, in Moscow.


Right worshipful, my duty considered, &c.--It may please your
worship to understand that at the making hereof we all be in good
health, thanks be to God, save only William, our cook, as we came
from Colmogro fell into the river out of the boat and was drowned.
And the 11th day of September we came to Vologda, and there we laid
all our wares up, and sold very little; but one merchant would have
given us twelve roubles for a broadcloth (and he said he would have
had them all) and four altines for a pound of sugar, but we did
refuse it because he was the first, and the merchants were not come
thither, nor would not come before winter, trusting to have more;
but I fear it will not be much better; yet, notwithstanding, we did
for the best. And the house that our wares lie in cost from that
day until Easter ten roubles. And the 28th day of September we did
determine with ourselves that it was good for Masters Gray, Arthur
Edwards, Thomas Hattery, Christopher Hudson, John Sedgewicke,
Richard Johnson, and Richard Good, to tarry at Vologda, and Masters
Chanceler, Henry Lane, Edward Prise, Robert Best, and I, should go
to Moscow. And we did lade the Emperor's sugar, with part of all
sorts of wares to have had to the Moscow with us, and the way was so
deep that we were fain to turn back and leave it still at Vologda
till the frost. And we went forth with post-horse, and the charge
of every horse, being still ten in number, comes to 10s. 7.5d.,