of our talk was that the chancellor willed us to bethink us where we
would desire to have a house or houses, that we might come to them
as to our own house, and for merchandise to be made preparation for
us, and they would know our prices of our wares and frise. And we
answered, that for our prices they must see the wares before we
could make any price thereof, for the like in goodness had not been
brought into the realm, and we did look for an example of all sorts
of our wares to come from Vologda with the first sled way, and then
they should see them, and then we would show them the prices of
them. And likewise we could not tell them what we would give them
justly till we did know as well their just weight as their measures
(for in all places where we did come all weights and measures did
vary). Then the secretary (who had made promise unto us before)
said that we should have all the just measures under seal, and he
that was found faulty in the contrary to buy or sell--with any other
measure than that, the law, was that he should be punished. He
said, moreover, that if it so happen that any of our merchants do
promise by covenant at any time to deliver you any certain sum of
wares in such a place, and of such like goodness, at such a day, for
such a certain price, that then because of variance we should cause
it to be written, according as the bargain is, before a justice or
the next ruler to the place. If he did not keep covenant and
promise in all points, according to his covenant, that then look
what loss or hindrance we could justly prove that we have thereby,
he should make it good if he be worth so much. And in like case we
must do to them; and to that we did agree, save only if it were to
come over the sea, then if any such fortune should be (as God
forbid) that the ship should mischance or be robbed, and the proof
to be made that such kind of wares were laden, the English merchants
to bear no loss to the other merchant. Then the chancellor said,