2 A commonwealths-man in Russia
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Felicity Jane Stout
Abstract
This chapter examines Giles Fletcher's embassy to Russia by exploring how his own personal history framed his particular experience there and influenced his negotiations at the Muscovite court. Fletcher's life, career and writings consistently demonstrated his commitment to the Elizabethan commonwealth and to reformed religion. All of Elizabeth's ambassadors to Russia had to deal with both the political and mercantile; both royal commissions and the affairs of the company. Fletcher's first ambassadorial mission in his own right was undertaken in May 1587 to Hamburg in order to negotiate the restoration of the Merchant Adventurers' trade rights. Muscovy Company governors and ambassadors, such as Fletcher, hoped to retain English civility abroad, as well as the company's lucrative trading privileges, in a far-off and uncivil land. The foreign emissaries reported the sequestration on arrival in Muscovy, which Daniel Printz von Buchau noted during his embassy to the Russian emperor in 1578.
Abstract
This chapter examines Giles Fletcher's embassy to Russia by exploring how his own personal history framed his particular experience there and influenced his negotiations at the Muscovite court. Fletcher's life, career and writings consistently demonstrated his commitment to the Elizabethan commonwealth and to reformed religion. All of Elizabeth's ambassadors to Russia had to deal with both the political and mercantile; both royal commissions and the affairs of the company. Fletcher's first ambassadorial mission in his own right was undertaken in May 1587 to Hamburg in order to negotiate the restoration of the Merchant Adventurers' trade rights. Muscovy Company governors and ambassadors, such as Fletcher, hoped to retain English civility abroad, as well as the company's lucrative trading privileges, in a far-off and uncivil land. The foreign emissaries reported the sequestration on arrival in Muscovy, which Daniel Printz von Buchau noted during his embassy to the Russian emperor in 1578.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xi
- Note on style, dates and terminology xiii
- Introduction 1
- 1 An adventuring commonwealth 15
- 2 A commonwealths-man in Russia 59
- 3 Creating a feigned commonwealth 93
- 4 A corrupted commonwealth 117
- 5 A commonwealth counselled 147
- 6 A controversial commonwealth 189
- Conclusion 227
- Select bibliography 232
- Index 244
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xi
- Note on style, dates and terminology xiii
- Introduction 1
- 1 An adventuring commonwealth 15
- 2 A commonwealths-man in Russia 59
- 3 Creating a feigned commonwealth 93
- 4 A corrupted commonwealth 117
- 5 A commonwealth counselled 147
- 6 A controversial commonwealth 189
- Conclusion 227
- Select bibliography 232
- Index 244
