1580.
May 15. |
147. Instructions for the two masters, Charles Jackman and Arthur Pet, delivered to them at the court day holden at Muscovy House 17th (sic) May, 1580, with a new chart, made by hand, given to each, “expressing their Cathay voyage, more exactly than any other yet published.” If from Wardhouse to Colgoyeve Island be reckoned 400 miles, from Colgoyeve to Vaygatz 200 miles, from thence to the Promontory Tabin 1,200 miles,—then is the whole course from Wardhouse to Tabin 1,800 miles, allowing in a discovery voyage but 50 miles a day; “the course may be sailed easily in 36 days.” When past Tabin land will probably be found “on your right hand running much southerly and eastward, in which course you are like either to fall into the mouth of the famous river Œchardes, or some other, which yet I conjecture to pass by the renowned city of Cambalu;” or else keeping to the very northern and most easterly point of all Asia, passing by the province of Ania, keeping land on your right hand, “you may enter into Quinsay Haven, the chief city in Northern China, as I term it, for distinction sake, from the other better known.” The whole winter may be occupied in noting the situation of the cities within land, &c., getting charts or maps of the country made and printed in Cathay or China, and some of their books for language. Opportunity may also be had to sail over to Japan, where Christian men, Jesuits of many countries of Christendom, and perhaps some Englishmen, “at whose hands you may have great instruction and advice for our affairs in hand. God be favourable to these attempts greatly tending to His glory and the great honour of His kingdom Amen! 1580, May 15. Byrne, John Dee.” [Two pages and a half. Draught, with corrections, by Dr. Dee. Imperfect; mutilated by fire. Brit Mus., Otho, VIII., fols. 78, 79. The missing portion is supplied by another copy in Lansdowne, CXXII., No. 5. There is a copy printed in Hakluyt, I., 492, 493, but differing at the commencement. In it the last three lines are not given.] |
| May 20. |
148. “Commission given by Sir Rowland Haward, Knt., and George Barne, alderman [aldermen?] and governors of the Company of English Merchants for discovery of new trades, unto Arthur Pet and Charles Jackman for a voyage by them to be made for discovery of Cathay, 1580.” [Thirteen pages. Copy made in 1668, probably for Sir Jos. Williamson. Domestic, Eliz., Vol. CXCVI., pp. 123–130. Printed in Hakluyt, I., pp. 487–490.] |
