and hath put out the Christian rulers and placed his own subjects; we may doubt whether we may so peaceably trade thither as we were wont: therefore I dare undertake to obtain a safe-conduct, if my charges may be borne to go and come. Of the way how this may be done, Master LOCK can satisfy you at large.
Moreover, I can inform you more of the trade of that country than any other; for that I have been in those parts these thirty years, and have been married in the very town of Scio full four and twenty years. Furthermore, when one of our ships cometh thither, they bring at the least 6,000 or 8,000 kerseys; so that the customs thereof are very profitable for the prince, and the return of them is profitable to the common people: for in barter of our wares, we took the commodities which the poor of that town made in their houses. So that one of our ships brought the prince and country more gain than six ships of other nations. The want of this our trade thither was the only cause why the Christian rulers were displaced: for when they paid not their yearly tribute, they were put out by force.
Touching the ship that must go, she must observe this order. She must be a ship of countenance. She must not touch in any part of Spain, for the times are dangerous, nor take in any lading there: but she either lade in England, either goods of our own or else of strangers, and go to Genoa or Leghorn, where we may be well intreated. From thence she must make her money to buy wines by exchange to Candia, for there both customs and exchange are reasonable: and not do as the Matthew Gonson and other ships did in times past, who made sale of their wares at Messina for the lading of their wines; and paid for turning their white money [silver] into gold after four or five in the hundred, and also did hazard the loss of ship and goods by carrying away their money. Thus by the aforesaid course we shall trade quietly, and not be subject to these dangers.
Also [along the coast] from Leghorn to Castel del Mare which is but sixteen miles from Naples, and the ready way to Candia; you may lade hoops: which will cost 27-1/2 "carolins" of Naples the thousand, which is 2-1/2 ducats of Spain. And in Candia for every thousand of hoops you shall have a butt of Malmsey clear of all charges. Insomuch that a ship of
