spend £100 by the year: I would be bound to lose it, if that I did not obtain the foresaid safe-conduct. For I know that if the inhabitants of Scio did but think that we would trade thither again; they would, at their own cost, procure to us a safe-conduct without a penny of charges to the merchants. So that if the merchants will but bear my charges to solicit the cause, I will undertake it myself. Where I pray you speak to Master WINTER and the other merchants, that this may take effect; and let me have your answer herein as soon as conveniently you may: for the time of the year draweth nigh that this business must be done.
Thus I commit you to GOD; and rest always yours to command,
Yours as your servant,
JASPER CAMPION.
To the Worshipful Master WILLIAM WINTER.
It may please your worship to understand, that as concerning the voyage to Scio, what great profit would be got both for merchants, and also for owners of ships—as it was well known in those days when the Matthew Gonson, the Trinity Fitz Williams, and the Saviour of Bristol with divers other ships which traded thither yearly; and made their voyage in ten or twelve months, and the longest in a year—Master FRANCIS LAMBERT, Master JOHN BROOKE and Master DRAVER can truly inform you hereof at large.
And by reason that we have not traded into those parts these many years; and that the Turk is grown mighty, whereby our ships do not trade as they were wont: I find that the Venetians do bring those commodities hither; and do sell them for double the value of that we ourselves were accustomed to fetch them. Wherefore, as I am informed by the abovenamed men, that there is none so fit to furnish this voyage as yourself: my request is that there may be a ship of convenient burthen prepared for this voyage; and then I will satisfy you at large what is to be done therein.
And because the Turk, as I said before, is waxen strong,
