Book XI, Chapter 68

IT is no common Labour to the Riuer Ob to sayle,
Howbeit Burrough did therein, not Dangerles, preuaile.
He through the foresayd frozen Seas in Lapland did ariue,
And thence, to expedite for Ob, his Labours did reuiue.
What he amongst the Vaigats, and the barbarous Samoeds notes,
Their Idols, Deer-skin Tēts, how on their backs they bare their Botes,
In which, but Hides, securely they doe fish those Seas all day,
And how on Deere they ride, and all on Sleds by Deere conuay,
Do eate their Dead, to feast their friends their Children sometime slay,
Their store of Sables, Furres, and Pealts, fetcht thence from farre away,
How, at our […]ra[…] and Lion Signes, their Frost and Snow is greate,
Let be, and many things we might of this new Tract intreate,
By Burrough found: whose Praise not much is Chancelors behinde,
As Master in that Ship with him that first did Russia finde:
And in this Northeast Trade, with Praise, do Pet & Iackman mind.
Yeat longer (for not largelier One yeelds Matter) let vs dwell
Of Ienkinson. But where shall we begin his Lawdes to tell?
In Europe, Asia, Affrick? For these all he saw, in all
Imployd for Englands common good. Nor my reioycing small,
That from Elizabeth to Raigne, and I to liue begunne,
Hath hapned that Commerce and Fame he to his Natiues wonne.

NOw, vnder his Conduct, was hence vnto his Home conuaide
The Russian first Ambassadour, Heere honor'd, whilst he staide:
Nor Captaine Ienkinson was there lesse graced, where he wrought,
That all things to a wished end were for our Traffique brought.
Here-hence also a friendly League twixt either Prince effected:
Nor little is their Amitie of vs to be respected.
For, though the Moscouites from vs be People farre remote,
Yeat, if how Danes, and Norses, haue inuaded vs we note,
And how the Russies, in the like Attempts, might hold them back,
For only it, were thence no Trade, ill might their Friendship lack.
From Mosco then by Iournies long the Caspian Sea he crost,
Himselfe and Goods by Tartars oft in danger to be lost.
Their Hordes of carted Tents like Towns, which Camels drew, their Kings,
By names of Murses, Seltans, Cans, to whō for Passe he brings
The Russian King his Letters, how (and royally they troe)
With Wild-horse flesh, and Mares milke, him the Kings did banquet tho,
Their hawking for the Wild-horse (For their Hawks will seaze vpon
The horses neck, who chaffing tiers, and so is kild anon)
Their oft Remoues for Pastures fresh (nor Grasse their Pasture is,
But heathie Brush, few Cattell though doe thriue as theirs with this)
Their naither vse of Coyne, or Corne (for Tillage none is theare)
Such Warriors, and Horse-Archers, as they liue not whom they feare,
Their crosse-leg eating on the ground, Pluralitie of wiues,
In Turkeman (So the whole is sayd) and more of their rude liues,
And how the Marchants, trauailing by Carauan, that is,
Great Droues of laden Camels, Meate and Water often mis,
And how for vs did Ienkinson in Bactra Mart begin,
Let passe, to passe to it for vs he did in Persia win.
With this Memento, in Returne from Bactra, diuers Kings
Sent in his charge their Legates, whom to Mosco safe he brings.
Thence did he sayle for England, Hence for Mosco back againe,
And, with our Queene Elizabeth her Letters, did obtaine
The Mosicks Letters, to the Kings by whom he then should pas,
For Persian Traffique: And for this he thence imbarked was.

NOw in Hyrcana, Shyruan, or Media, all as one,
Suppose our Ienkinson before King Obdolowcans Throne.
Though sumptious Citties he possest, yeat for the Summers heate,
On airesome Mountaines held he then his Court, in Pleasures greate.
Of silke and gold imbroyderie his Tents, his Robes inchac't,
With Pearles and pretious Stones, and Looks of Maiestie him grac't:
On Carpets rich they trode, rich Traines on him attendance gaue,
With sixe score Concubines, that seem'd so many Queenes for braue.
Before his faire Pauilion was of Water cleere a Fount,
Drinke for himselfe, and his (for most of Water they account.)
Scarce Cleopatras Anthony was feasted with more cheere,
Of varied Meates, and spice-Conceits, than Ienkinson was heere.
In formall Hawking, Hunting, Chace, not thē came Tristram […]eere.
Such was this King for stately, such for affable, and kinde,
There and abroad so lou'd, and feard, as like was rare to finde.
Yeat, notwithstanding such his Wealth, his Signorie, and State,
He of the Persian Sophie held his Land, subdued late.
But in such friendship, as the Shaugh (the Sophie so is saide)
Would yeeld to Obdolowcan in what so he should perswaide:
Which well in Ienkinsons behalfe, but shortly after, made.
Him often questoned this King of Vs, and Europs strength,
And him, with Gifts, and Priuiledge, for Mart, dismist at length.
Silks, raw, & wrought, Spices, & Drugs, & more-els, worth the Mart,
Our Marchants fetch from thence, and there our Marchandize cōuart.

Things wisely thus dispatched there, with men for his defence,
And Letters from that King vnto the Shaugh, he traueld thence.
In trauell thitherwards, he grieues, in wonder, to behold
The down-Fals of those stately Townes, and Castles, which of old,
Whilst Persia held the Monarchie, were famous ouer all,
Nor Alexander wonne of those one Peece, with labour small.
The mightie Citties Tauris, and Persipolis, he past,
Two ruin'd Gates, sundred twelue miles, yet extant of this last:
The Gyants Wonders on the Hill of Quiquiffs heard he tolde,
And of the yearely Obit, which their Maides to Channa holde.
This was indeed a wonder, for this Virgin so was bent
To Chastitie, that by selfe-death, she Marrage did preuent.

Here Mandeuil, perhaps, had bin, and tooke occasion heere,
To feare least Flenor in like might imitate too neere:
Euen Toyes in Loue discourage, Loue frō Toyes resumeth cheere.
Of him therefore, whilst Ienkinson rests at his Iornies end,
With Obdolowcans Sonne, that on the Sophie did attend.