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Introduction
In 1553, Edward VI gave letters into the hand of Richard Chancellor, to present to the ruler of Moscow should the Englishman’s dangerous voyage of exploration through the icy waters of the northeast passage succeed. Despite grave hardships the English won through, and following year Tsar Ivan IV (‘the Terrible’) wrote a reply — unaware that Edward was dead, and Queen Mary would be reading it.
Before all right great and worthy of honour Edward, King of England, &c., according to our most hearty and good zeal, with good intent and friendly desire, and according to our holy Christian Faith and great governance, and being in the light of great understanding, our answer by this our honourable writing unto your kingly governance, at the request of your faithful servant Richard Chanceler, with his company, as they shall let you wisely know, is thus.
In the strength of the twentieth year of our governance, be it known, that at our sea coasts arrived a ship, with one Richard and his company, and said, that he was desirous to come into our dominions, and according to his request hath seen our Majesty and our eyes and hath declared unto us your Majesty’s desire as that we should grant unto your subjects, to go and come, and in our dominions, and amoiig our subjects to frequent free marts, with all sorts of merchandises, and upon the same to have wares for their return. And they have also delivered us your letters which declare the same request. And hereupon we have given order, that wheresoever your faithful servant Hugh Willoughbie land or touch in our dominions, to be well entertained, who as yet is not arrived, as your servant Richard can declare.
* King Edward VI ruled England from the death of his father Henry VIII in 1547, when Edward was nine, until his own death in 1553. He was succeeded by his half-sister Mary I. This sentence means that Edward is “right great and worthy of honour before all [other monarchs]”. The translation is that given by Richard Hakluyt (1533-1616). The original letter was in Russian, “in letters much like to the Greek letters, very fair written on paper with a broad seal hanging at the same, sealed in paper upon wax. This seal was much like the broad seal of England, having on the one side the image of a man on horseback in complete harness fighting with a dragon [St George]. Under this letter was another paper written in the Dutch tongue, which was the interpretation of the other written in the Muscovian letters. These letters were sent the next year after the date of King Edward’s letters, 1554.”
* The word ‘heirs’ is used instead of ‘eies’ in one copy of the letter.
* Sir Hugh Willoughby was Sir Richard Chancellor’s partner in the venture, but the party was split up by bad weather and so far, Sir Hugh had not caught up. Sadly, he and his crew never made it to Archangel, and were found frozen to death in their ships the following Spring. See Merchants of Muscovy.
Précis
In 1553, Edward VI of England asked Ivan IV of Russia to guarantee free trade for English merchants in his country. A year later, Ivan sent Edward’s messengers home with his written assurance that he was happy to extend to the English whatever privileges they may want. This included Sir Hugh Willoughby, whose ship had not yet arrived. (58 / 60 words)
In 1553, Edward VI of England asked Ivan IV of Russia to guarantee free trade for English merchants in his country. A year later, Ivan sent Edward’s messengers home with his written assurance that he was happy to extend to the English whatever privileges they may want. This included Sir Hugh Willoughby, whose ship had not yet arrived.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, besides, despite, just, or, since, until, whereas.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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